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Control
When Madison Morris decides to hire an assistant to help run her naughty bookshop, she gets a lot more than she bargained for. Aggressive Andy doesn't quite make the grade, but continues to push her buttons in other areas, while uptight and utterly repressed Gabriel can't quite take Madison's training techniques. One makes her grasp control, while the other makes her lose it. But the lines are blurring and she's no longer sure who's leading and who's following. In the midst of kinky threesomes and power plays, can Madison work out what she really wants?
240 pages, Paperback
First published October 13, 2010
137 people are currently reading
3632 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Stein
112books2,000followersCharlotte Stein is the RT and DABWAHA nominated author of over fifty short stories, novellas and novels. When not writing deeply emotional and intensely sexy books, she can be found eating jelly turtles, watching terrible sitcoms and occasionally lusting after hunks. For more on Charlotte, visit:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews
November 10, 2011
This is one of the best erotica books I’ve read in a very long time. Let’s say� top 5 ever. And that’s coming from someone who’s read a fair amount of erotica and erotic romance (check my GoodReads shelves).
In fact, if you consider what type of erotica this is, it’s the best I’ve ever read. I’m going to try to describe what type it is, though the explanation of that is a tad long. Let’s start with what’s it’s not: it’s not angsty. Which makes it slightly weird that I love it, considering I usually go for the angst. Some erotica greats, like Broken by Megan Hart or The Reluctant Dom by Tymber Dalton, infuse other dramatic subjects with the sex. This book is all about sex.
If you want the short version of this review, it’s “go read this book! It’s amazing. It’s insanely hot. You’ll thank me later.� And to make your life even easier, here’s a link to it on GoodReads and Amazon.
When erotica first exploded as a genre, there was a surplus of brainless smut. It was tab A goes into slot B type of stuff. So readers cried out that they wanted emotion, and erotica swung away from the pornerific Penthouse letters type stuff into romance. Even then, though, it felt circumstantial. Like, our characters really just want to have sex. But that makes some of us uncomfortable, to think about sex without love, without emotion, so we add in that they also happen to love each other. It made the sex more palatable to that puritanical part of us.
That was fine but then we had too much of even that. They fall in love and have sex. Or they have sex and they fall in love. We need MORE, readers cried. We need an actual plot. So authors started putting in plots, things that had absolutely NOTHING to do with sex, or even the relationship. Kind of random, honestly.
Erotica author Tiffany Reisz said on twitter recently that adding a serial killer does not make a plot. That made me laugh, because I knew what she meant, even though I don’t personally mind it. Erotica has a lot of serial killers. And the worst part about them, to me, is that they don’t actually kill that often. We are told that they are big bad murderers, and the heroine is usually stalked by them and scared of them, and that drives some of the conflict, but in the end, the serial killers are toothless. They aren’t villain’s worthy of the title. And so it’s a very superficial subplot, at best, at least when it’s executed as described here.
That said, I’ve still enjoyed some of these books and will continue to in the future. In fact, that is true of ALL the types of erotica I just mentioned. I read erotic suspense and erotic historicals and erotic romance and straight erotica and even Penthouse letter-ish “wank stories�. I like it all.
But the thing that makes this book special, Control by Charlotte Stein, is that it’s all about the sex. There is technically a subplot, about her bookstore, but even that feeds into the sex. And I love it. As soon the book opens, there is crazy hot sex. Not much longer after that, there is crazy hot sex. And� well, you get the idea. A non-stop crazy hot sex book.
So you might think this is one of those tab-A-slot-B stories, but it’s not. The story is so neatly intertwined with the sex that it’s inseparable, like a steel thread in a tightly woven braid. And, even better, the plot isn’t just what happens in those few moments between the sex. The plot IS the sex, which is what erotica should be, but so often is not. The plot is ALL THE TIME. We don’t have to take breaks in the plot for the sex or breaks in the plot for the non-sex. Thank you, Jesus. Or Charlotte, I should say.
But the very best thing about this book is the writing. It’s incredibly beautiful and fluid. As a lover of words, I just want to hug this book, take it for a walk and make it my pet. That sounds kind of silly, but I think if you love words, too, and you read this book, you’ll know what I mean. It’s so precise, so perfectly calibrated to hit the right pitch, it’s almost surreal. But at the same time, it’s incredibly accessible. There’s no overlarge words or flowery language to distract from the story.
The worst part of this book, by the way, is the title. “Control�? Ugh. Yes, control is a major theme of the book, but it feels like a working title. Something to call the project, not something to publish it with. It should have been called Wicked Words (the name of the bookstore in the story) or, well, a lot of other possibilities. It’s just so generic. It doesn’t live up to the story. The title promises me a hum-ho BDSM-esque book and delivers one of the most well written erotica pieces I’ve ever seen. And the cover, bleh. It’s pretty, but too generic as well. I can think of a number of the scenes in the book that would have looked great visually. But really, if those are the worst things I can think to say about this book, I think we are in darn good shape, no?
And lastly, I’m going to talk about something that is TMI (too much information), but it’s erotica and it’s relevant so here goes. One of the subject this book plays with is masturbating while reading erotica. Now, I’ve done it before, but I don’t usually do it. I’m not sure why, exactly. Maybe it’s because I read a lot of erotica, and at some point your fingers get tired, but I don’t think it’s that. Maybe it’s that I’m immune to the hotness after so much erotica. Maybe.
But mostly I think I just enjoy the genre, the way that other people enjoy science fiction or women’s lit. I just like to read it, and despite the subject matter, it’s not about sex for me. If I get aroused, it’s like a pleasant little hum, like squeezing your thighs together on a plane. It’s a way to make passing the time more pleasurable, but it’s not the main event. It’s not the reason you’re there.
But this book� oh my gawd. In the very first scene, I was about to, well, you know. All on its own. I was shocked. Where had that come from? Ah, well, I thought, it was nice that it started with a bang, now we’ll settle down into a nice comfortable erotic story. And then bam, again, and I’m 99% there, all from reading. And yes, I couldn’t help myself. Repeatedly. That wasn’t why I read the book, it wasn’t even the reason why I most enjoyed the book the most (that was still the words), but oh, it was nice.
The bottom line, I want my erotica to have a lot of sex AND I want it to have a plot. Depending on your perspective as an avid erotica reader or an author or whomever you are, you might say to that, “duh,� or you might say, “you ask for too much!� or something else. But I’ve got to tell you, that’s not easy to find. So this delivered exactly what I wanted, and it managed to do it without any of the heartbreaking angst that I usually require to feel anything at all about a book.
In fact, if you consider what type of erotica this is, it’s the best I’ve ever read. I’m going to try to describe what type it is, though the explanation of that is a tad long. Let’s start with what’s it’s not: it’s not angsty. Which makes it slightly weird that I love it, considering I usually go for the angst. Some erotica greats, like Broken by Megan Hart or The Reluctant Dom by Tymber Dalton, infuse other dramatic subjects with the sex. This book is all about sex.
If you want the short version of this review, it’s “go read this book! It’s amazing. It’s insanely hot. You’ll thank me later.� And to make your life even easier, here’s a link to it on GoodReads and Amazon.
When erotica first exploded as a genre, there was a surplus of brainless smut. It was tab A goes into slot B type of stuff. So readers cried out that they wanted emotion, and erotica swung away from the pornerific Penthouse letters type stuff into romance. Even then, though, it felt circumstantial. Like, our characters really just want to have sex. But that makes some of us uncomfortable, to think about sex without love, without emotion, so we add in that they also happen to love each other. It made the sex more palatable to that puritanical part of us.
That was fine but then we had too much of even that. They fall in love and have sex. Or they have sex and they fall in love. We need MORE, readers cried. We need an actual plot. So authors started putting in plots, things that had absolutely NOTHING to do with sex, or even the relationship. Kind of random, honestly.
Erotica author Tiffany Reisz said on twitter recently that adding a serial killer does not make a plot. That made me laugh, because I knew what she meant, even though I don’t personally mind it. Erotica has a lot of serial killers. And the worst part about them, to me, is that they don’t actually kill that often. We are told that they are big bad murderers, and the heroine is usually stalked by them and scared of them, and that drives some of the conflict, but in the end, the serial killers are toothless. They aren’t villain’s worthy of the title. And so it’s a very superficial subplot, at best, at least when it’s executed as described here.
That said, I’ve still enjoyed some of these books and will continue to in the future. In fact, that is true of ALL the types of erotica I just mentioned. I read erotic suspense and erotic historicals and erotic romance and straight erotica and even Penthouse letter-ish “wank stories�. I like it all.
But the thing that makes this book special, Control by Charlotte Stein, is that it’s all about the sex. There is technically a subplot, about her bookstore, but even that feeds into the sex. And I love it. As soon the book opens, there is crazy hot sex. Not much longer after that, there is crazy hot sex. And� well, you get the idea. A non-stop crazy hot sex book.
So you might think this is one of those tab-A-slot-B stories, but it’s not. The story is so neatly intertwined with the sex that it’s inseparable, like a steel thread in a tightly woven braid. And, even better, the plot isn’t just what happens in those few moments between the sex. The plot IS the sex, which is what erotica should be, but so often is not. The plot is ALL THE TIME. We don’t have to take breaks in the plot for the sex or breaks in the plot for the non-sex. Thank you, Jesus. Or Charlotte, I should say.
But the very best thing about this book is the writing. It’s incredibly beautiful and fluid. As a lover of words, I just want to hug this book, take it for a walk and make it my pet. That sounds kind of silly, but I think if you love words, too, and you read this book, you’ll know what I mean. It’s so precise, so perfectly calibrated to hit the right pitch, it’s almost surreal. But at the same time, it’s incredibly accessible. There’s no overlarge words or flowery language to distract from the story.
The worst part of this book, by the way, is the title. “Control�? Ugh. Yes, control is a major theme of the book, but it feels like a working title. Something to call the project, not something to publish it with. It should have been called Wicked Words (the name of the bookstore in the story) or, well, a lot of other possibilities. It’s just so generic. It doesn’t live up to the story. The title promises me a hum-ho BDSM-esque book and delivers one of the most well written erotica pieces I’ve ever seen. And the cover, bleh. It’s pretty, but too generic as well. I can think of a number of the scenes in the book that would have looked great visually. But really, if those are the worst things I can think to say about this book, I think we are in darn good shape, no?
And lastly, I’m going to talk about something that is TMI (too much information), but it’s erotica and it’s relevant so here goes. One of the subject this book plays with is masturbating while reading erotica. Now, I’ve done it before, but I don’t usually do it. I’m not sure why, exactly. Maybe it’s because I read a lot of erotica, and at some point your fingers get tired, but I don’t think it’s that. Maybe it’s that I’m immune to the hotness after so much erotica. Maybe.
But mostly I think I just enjoy the genre, the way that other people enjoy science fiction or women’s lit. I just like to read it, and despite the subject matter, it’s not about sex for me. If I get aroused, it’s like a pleasant little hum, like squeezing your thighs together on a plane. It’s a way to make passing the time more pleasurable, but it’s not the main event. It’s not the reason you’re there.
But this book� oh my gawd. In the very first scene, I was about to, well, you know. All on its own. I was shocked. Where had that come from? Ah, well, I thought, it was nice that it started with a bang, now we’ll settle down into a nice comfortable erotic story. And then bam, again, and I’m 99% there, all from reading. And yes, I couldn’t help myself. Repeatedly. That wasn’t why I read the book, it wasn’t even the reason why I most enjoyed the book the most (that was still the words), but oh, it was nice.
The bottom line, I want my erotica to have a lot of sex AND I want it to have a plot. Depending on your perspective as an avid erotica reader or an author or whomever you are, you might say to that, “duh,� or you might say, “you ask for too much!� or something else. But I’ve got to tell you, that’s not easy to find. So this delivered exactly what I wanted, and it managed to do it without any of the heartbreaking angst that I usually require to feel anything at all about a book.
January 9, 2013
4.5 JUICY Stars!! This book was not at all what I expected, it was so much more. It made me LOSE MY CONTROL!
What started out as a very “juicy� erotic read, turned into a well developed lusty love story! It’s told from Madison’s POV and the style of writing is certainly different. It took more than a few pages to get used to it.
Madison owns an erotic book store. She wants to hire an assistant and ends up have some very bawdy trystssssssss, as in many steamy and sizzling, with Andy, a hot hunky applicant. She certainly was attracted to him, as he was to her, and the man was a living, walking, breathing fantasy, they lust but they don’t love. The misting fan was spinning like mad!!! Yet, she ends up hiring Gabriel, a shy, inhibited, somewhat nerdy, but charming man. Sort of reminded me of Clark Kent…Superman, but he’s Super Sexy! She catches him sneaking reads of the books, eggs him on, teases him, all the while sensing how limited his sexual experience is. Madison takes him on, decides to school in sexual pleasure, and has Gabriel “rising� to the challenge quite easily. He’s a pushover, loves being controlled and the two of them are in a constant state of arousal. All Gabriel wants is to please Madison; he tells her that he’s good at putting the written word into action. Hell yeah, he definitely retained what he read!!! My heart ached for Gabriel, as he slowly revealed pieces of his past and I found him to be as charming and alluring as Madison did.
What I never expected was the sweet love story and the subtle humor that accompanied this book and it really brought it home in the end. It was a wonderful read and left me with a warm fuzzy feeling…and in a sexual haze…it was very HOT!
I find myself taking from the book of “Wendy� and can see how David Gandy fits the role of so many of the heroes we read about. So thanks Wendy, for schooling me in the ways of DG, I’m looking, not touching…he’s all yours, but he sure makes for some great photo ops!
Gabriel
December 28, 2013
Get ready for some naughty! I was pleasantly surprised by not only the content in this smoking hot read, but by how much I enjoyed it. I'm not much for women as the sexual aggressor; in fact, it tends to turn me off, but this author pulled it off and made me want to put on my bossy pants. Alas, Gabe is only just fiction ;)
Synopsis
Madison owns a bookstore and has somehow become known for the naughty books in her store. The big chains want to be family friendly, and Madison doesn't worry about censoring herself. Therefore, her niche is smutty books.
The opening scene is Madison getting bent over the counter by one of the new applicants for her assistant job. He's a dirty talker, a rough and ready, pushy and bossy man who is very (ahem) oral, both with words and in that way. When her second applicant for the job walks in on them, Madison doesn't even have it in her to be mortified. This isn't really the norm for her, but she's rolling with it. Of course, applicant number two is much more qualified for the job...both as her assistant and as her newest obsession.
Gabe is a shy, awkward, sexually repressed but gorgeous man. Madison enjoys messing with him, but she's frustrated as well, because her own antics are turning her on almost as much as him. Gabe needs instruction, and apparently, Madison needs obedience.
My thoughts:
I am so thrilled that I enjoyed this as much as I did. I think what got to me was how different this author's writing style is...it's a bit choppy and abrupt at times. Then it turns around and gets very emotional and flowery with the prose. Being inside Madison's head was somewhat confusing at times, but it didn't take long to realize that was because she's kind of confused herself.
Like I said before, I don't usually like women who are aggressive. Madison was almost more so passive-aggressive, at least at first. She and Gabe had an obvious sexual connection right up front, and her teasing him in the bookstore before finally forcing him to face up to his desires was a lot of fun...and a lot of sexy, as well. Gabe wasn't so much of a pushover as I initially thought. He actually was really open to exploring what he truly desired, and Madison was great at pulling it out of him. Great enough, in fact, that I was completely taken in.
Although there was definitely a romance within these pages, I'd consider this primarily an erotic book. Read it when you need something full of smutty, sweaty, sexy goodness. Don't be shy...try something new :D Just like I did... you may like it.
Synopsis
Madison owns a bookstore and has somehow become known for the naughty books in her store. The big chains want to be family friendly, and Madison doesn't worry about censoring herself. Therefore, her niche is smutty books.
The opening scene is Madison getting bent over the counter by one of the new applicants for her assistant job. He's a dirty talker, a rough and ready, pushy and bossy man who is very (ahem) oral, both with words and in that way. When her second applicant for the job walks in on them, Madison doesn't even have it in her to be mortified. This isn't really the norm for her, but she's rolling with it. Of course, applicant number two is much more qualified for the job...both as her assistant and as her newest obsession.
Gabe is a shy, awkward, sexually repressed but gorgeous man. Madison enjoys messing with him, but she's frustrated as well, because her own antics are turning her on almost as much as him. Gabe needs instruction, and apparently, Madison needs obedience.
My thoughts:
I am so thrilled that I enjoyed this as much as I did. I think what got to me was how different this author's writing style is...it's a bit choppy and abrupt at times. Then it turns around and gets very emotional and flowery with the prose. Being inside Madison's head was somewhat confusing at times, but it didn't take long to realize that was because she's kind of confused herself.
Like I said before, I don't usually like women who are aggressive. Madison was almost more so passive-aggressive, at least at first. She and Gabe had an obvious sexual connection right up front, and her teasing him in the bookstore before finally forcing him to face up to his desires was a lot of fun...and a lot of sexy, as well. Gabe wasn't so much of a pushover as I initially thought. He actually was really open to exploring what he truly desired, and Madison was great at pulling it out of him. Great enough, in fact, that I was completely taken in.
Although there was definitely a romance within these pages, I'd consider this primarily an erotic book. Read it when you need something full of smutty, sweaty, sexy goodness. Don't be shy...try something new :D Just like I did... you may like it.
January 13, 2013
4.5-5 stars
This has got to be one of the hottest books I have ever read.
I was hesitant to pick this up because I have never been a huge fan of the dominant female/submissive male kind of story. However given that most of the BDSM was very light I actually really enjoyed it. There was something about Maddie telling Gabe what to do and his completely uncontrolled reaction to it that just did it for me.
"As though it's something to be ashamed of, to be so completely turned-on. I wish I could explain to him how much I enjoy that- such a sweet guy being a complete slave to his desires and his hormones."
Gabe is pretty much what makes this book so damn hot. He is a 30 yr old virgin, he is the shy silent type but he secretly has untamed desires and a stash of pretty intense erotica books under his bed. Maddie takes one look at him and knows that pulling down his barriers and reducing him to a hot mess will be very fun. And god was it fun for me. I want my own GABE. His responses, his desires and little things like the way he mutters 'god' under his breathe was so damn sexy and really you just need to experience him for yourself.
"Because that's what Andy does. He invites himself around for a cup of tea and Gave says maybe I'll make a Victoria sponge and I think God, what world am I living in?"
However at the same time he was endearning, caring and so obviously in love with Maddie that it was beautiful. The decision he makes at the end of the book made my heart beat for him because he was so obviously insecure in his emotions given that his self esteem issues were prevalent throughout the book. I felt like yelling through the book 'OH God Gabe who wouldn't want to keep you?'.
"Do it now. Don't live through me, don't wait for me to tell you exciting stories, before you go for it. You don't need someone to persuade you into exploring everything there is about yourself, and even if it scares you... even if you're terrified- and probably about all of the wrong things- it's still more bliss than whatever nothing you were living before."
I completely loved this book. It turned me inside out and you should definitely let this book do the same to you.
This has got to be one of the hottest books I have ever read.
I was hesitant to pick this up because I have never been a huge fan of the dominant female/submissive male kind of story. However given that most of the BDSM was very light I actually really enjoyed it. There was something about Maddie telling Gabe what to do and his completely uncontrolled reaction to it that just did it for me.
"As though it's something to be ashamed of, to be so completely turned-on. I wish I could explain to him how much I enjoy that- such a sweet guy being a complete slave to his desires and his hormones."
Gabe is pretty much what makes this book so damn hot. He is a 30 yr old virgin, he is the shy silent type but he secretly has untamed desires and a stash of pretty intense erotica books under his bed. Maddie takes one look at him and knows that pulling down his barriers and reducing him to a hot mess will be very fun. And god was it fun for me. I want my own GABE. His responses, his desires and little things like the way he mutters 'god' under his breathe was so damn sexy and really you just need to experience him for yourself.
"Because that's what Andy does. He invites himself around for a cup of tea and Gave says maybe I'll make a Victoria sponge and I think God, what world am I living in?"
However at the same time he was endearning, caring and so obviously in love with Maddie that it was beautiful. The decision he makes at the end of the book made my heart beat for him because he was so obviously insecure in his emotions given that his self esteem issues were prevalent throughout the book. I felt like yelling through the book 'OH God Gabe who wouldn't want to keep you?'.
"Do it now. Don't live through me, don't wait for me to tell you exciting stories, before you go for it. You don't need someone to persuade you into exploring everything there is about yourself, and even if it scares you... even if you're terrified- and probably about all of the wrong things- it's still more bliss than whatever nothing you were living before."
I completely loved this book. It turned me inside out and you should definitely let this book do the same to you.
December 5, 2013
Don’t let the name Madison Monroe fool you. She’s one part Wicked Words bookstore owner, and nearly three parts badass. She’s into dominance, subservience, and just about anything in between. She has CONTROL issues and monogamy ones too, with a body built for sin, and an active imagination to boot. But if you can capture her attention, you may die butt naked with a smile on your face after emptying your spunk tank.
Putting theory into practice and with a file cabinet full of erotica tales, Madison’s one wicked lady, but neither of her male counterparts utter a single word of protest. In fact, once the action reached the bedroom, or the backroom, there were more than a few incoherent utterances, most of which would have been accentuated with exclamation points. And I couldn’t help doing the wave every time the sexual acrobatics stepped onto the printed page.
Sure, this novel was filthy and raunchy and messy and grubby, and I may have needed to spray myself down with a garden hose after finishing this tale, but that was why it had such a strong appeal. If you like it when the female cracks the whip and dominates you in ways you never thought possible, you might find yourself enjoying a wet dream or two at the end of this tale. Once the sex train ended, I wanted to hop right back on, and enjoy this fantasy ride all over again.
I received this book for free through NetGalley.
Putting theory into practice and with a file cabinet full of erotica tales, Madison’s one wicked lady, but neither of her male counterparts utter a single word of protest. In fact, once the action reached the bedroom, or the backroom, there were more than a few incoherent utterances, most of which would have been accentuated with exclamation points. And I couldn’t help doing the wave every time the sexual acrobatics stepped onto the printed page.
Sure, this novel was filthy and raunchy and messy and grubby, and I may have needed to spray myself down with a garden hose after finishing this tale, but that was why it had such a strong appeal. If you like it when the female cracks the whip and dominates you in ways you never thought possible, you might find yourself enjoying a wet dream or two at the end of this tale. Once the sex train ended, I wanted to hop right back on, and enjoy this fantasy ride all over again.
I received this book for free through NetGalley.
December 13, 2013
I have one word to describe this book: unf!
I thought I’ve read my fair of filthy books. I was wrong until I picked up CONTROL. This book goes beyond dirty. It’s just plain filthy. I don’t think soaking it in bleach could make this clean.
Stein takes a bookstore owner that loves sex and pairs him with a VERY beta hero who stumbles and fumbles over just saying the word “tits�. Part of what I love about this book is the writing. Stein’s voice is so different than what’s already out there. There’s this quirky humor she likes to lace in her books. Paired with the unabashed heroine, you have a book that goes beyond sexy.
The opening scene has Madison having sex with a potential hire. Andy is quite a dominant, dirty-talking sex animal. Their first sex scene is off the charts hot and Gabe, the beta hero just happens to witness it. Gabe ends up getting the job, but that doesn’t push Andy out of the picture entirely. Madison enjoys provoking Gabe, pushing his buttons and making him uncomfortable in her bookstore. It’s a little evil, but so fun to read. Sexual tension like you’ve never seen before scorches these pages until not even the reserved Gabe can stop himself.
Madison is the main reason why I loved this book. She is the opposite of a repressed sexual bookworm. She does and says things that we are all probably fantasizing about without pause. That unfiltered uninhibited attitude is what makes this book so sexy! It’s also what makes the relationship work between her and Gabe. She kind of reminds me of Nora’s character in Tiffany Reisz’s Original Sinners series. She has the same quick wit and unabashed sexuality. Maddie also has a little bit of domme in her.
I haven’t read too many beta heroes that I loved and more importantly, made a lasting impression on me. Gabe is one of the very few that I adored! He is just so adorably shy and dirty at the same time! Part of the thrill of this book I think is coaxing him out of his shell and giving in to his desires. That scene with the vibrator? Omg, I think I may have died when she said she could taste him on it!
Andy is another character that I ended up loving. He’s kind of like the sprinkle on top, or the chocolate syrup to that sundae; he’s offers that finishing touch. When he is brought back into the picture, I don’t think I could describe just how excited I was. The dynamic between Gabe and Andy is amazing and when you have Maddie sandwiched in between, it makes me hungry.
Charlotte Stein has been called the Queen of Filth many times before. That’s because there is truth behind it. This book is concrete evidence of why. I may need to purchase this book in paperback to display on my bookshelves because I don’t think there is another book that will top just how dirty this one is. This will be the book I will give to people who are looking for something just raw and beyond obscene.
This book is like a pair of panties; it can be sexy one minute and then downright filthy in the next.
Here’s a little taste of what you’re missing (and this isn’t even the hottest quote in the book!):
God, you want it so bad,� he says in a voice as roughened as my own, and the juicy sounds my pussy is making don’t deny it.
Read my review for
July 8, 2011
Urgh! If I had six stars to give, I'd give this book six stars. I adored it. I more than adored it, I adored and worshiped it and ate it in three big bites.
One of the most original erotic novels I've ever read. I loved every single character, including the one I wasn't supposed to, but secretly sort of was. Which means this book was pretty much finessed out of its pretty little panties (I imagine them to be yellow for some reason)
The most brilliant part was the tension, sexual and otherwise and I'd read sections where I became so turned on I thought I might die of it (or possibly explode spontaneously) and then I'd turn the page or read the next line and there'd be some incredibly clever line and this huge burble of laughter would just rush up out of me and I'd think: "oh. oral orgasm."
Because that is what it was to a T. A pressure build up and then an extremely well executed release.
Trust me, CONTROL, would make me want to try topping if I weren't such a good bottom. So, bottom line: fabulous, funny, filthy. The perfect erotic novel. I loved Charlotte Stein before but now I'd like to move to Whereverthehellshelives and open a dirty book store with her. Maybe she'd make me stand in a corner. If I'm lucky.
Seventy trillion stars!
One of the most original erotic novels I've ever read. I loved every single character, including the one I wasn't supposed to, but secretly sort of was. Which means this book was pretty much finessed out of its pretty little panties (I imagine them to be yellow for some reason)
The most brilliant part was the tension, sexual and otherwise and I'd read sections where I became so turned on I thought I might die of it (or possibly explode spontaneously) and then I'd turn the page or read the next line and there'd be some incredibly clever line and this huge burble of laughter would just rush up out of me and I'd think: "oh. oral orgasm."
Because that is what it was to a T. A pressure build up and then an extremely well executed release.
Trust me, CONTROL, would make me want to try topping if I weren't such a good bottom. So, bottom line: fabulous, funny, filthy. The perfect erotic novel. I loved Charlotte Stein before but now I'd like to move to Whereverthehellshelives and open a dirty book store with her. Maybe she'd make me stand in a corner. If I'm lucky.
Seventy trillion stars!
March 26, 2012
Story Rating 4 Stars
Character Rating 5 Stars
Romance Rating 4 Stars
Heat Level 5 tars
Overall Rating 4 Stars
If your looking for a HOT one, look no further because this one is flaming Hot. While reading this book the heroine is constantly talking about how wet she is and how soaking her knickers were. I must admit that this book turned me on so much that I swear my panties were wetter than hers and I was squirming in my chair, LMAO! I had to put the book down at certain points because it was getting me too excited I kid you not.
I really liked the unique characters in this book. I have never read any book with characters like these, doing the things they did.
There was two things that kept this book from being a shinning 5 stars, One, the whole story is taken from the heroines POV and I got tired of reading her constant thoughts. I have to say Despite that, I still REALLY LIKED this book. Also I wish there was just a bit more at the end of this book, even though we get a happy ending.
Thank you Karla for recommending this book to me. I was in the mood for smut and I boy did I get it, hahahahahahaha.
Character Rating 5 Stars
Romance Rating 4 Stars
Heat Level 5 tars
Overall Rating 4 Stars
If your looking for a HOT one, look no further because this one is flaming Hot. While reading this book the heroine is constantly talking about how wet she is and how soaking her knickers were. I must admit that this book turned me on so much that I swear my panties were wetter than hers and I was squirming in my chair, LMAO! I had to put the book down at certain points because it was getting me too excited I kid you not.
I really liked the unique characters in this book. I have never read any book with characters like these, doing the things they did.
There was two things that kept this book from being a shinning 5 stars, One, the whole story is taken from the heroines POV and I got tired of reading her constant thoughts. I have to say Despite that, I still REALLY LIKED this book. Also I wish there was just a bit more at the end of this book, even though we get a happy ending.
Thank you Karla for recommending this book to me. I was in the mood for smut and I boy did I get it, hahahahahahaha.
May 29, 2015
Wow, did this one ever surprise me! It had several things going for it that would normally make me shy away.
First off, most of you know by now that I hate 1st person POV. Can't. Stand. It. But in this case, it worked! The heroine was hilarious...that probably helped. And so DIRTY. This is no shy virginal miss. Which leads me to my next point.
I like my men in control. Love a dirty talkin' bad boy, especially when he's seducing a sweet young virgin. So when I discovered the hero was the virgin in this story, I wasn't so sure it would be for me. Boy, was I ever wrong!
I enjoyed watching the lusty Ms. Morris pull out all the stops to corrupt the shy, yet eager Gabe.
Speaking of Gabe, when I saw this pic, I knew this was my Gabriel.
Absolutely delicious, yes? ;-)
Oh, and there's a second man in the picture as well. The tattooed, take charge Andy. Seems I got my bad boy after all. ;-D
This is smut at its finest, my friends. Witty, engaging prose mixed with HOT HOT action that doesn't disappoint.
First off, most of you know by now that I hate 1st person POV. Can't. Stand. It. But in this case, it worked! The heroine was hilarious...that probably helped. And so DIRTY. This is no shy virginal miss. Which leads me to my next point.
I like my men in control. Love a dirty talkin' bad boy, especially when he's seducing a sweet young virgin. So when I discovered the hero was the virgin in this story, I wasn't so sure it would be for me. Boy, was I ever wrong!
I enjoyed watching the lusty Ms. Morris pull out all the stops to corrupt the shy, yet eager Gabe.
Speaking of Gabe, when I saw this pic, I knew this was my Gabriel.
Absolutely delicious, yes? ;-)
Oh, and there's a second man in the picture as well. The tattooed, take charge Andy. Seems I got my bad boy after all. ;-D
This is smut at its finest, my friends. Witty, engaging prose mixed with HOT HOT action that doesn't disappoint.
Read
May 27, 2018Not entirely sure what I want to rate this one, so I'll leave it without a rating for now.
I read this after reading Never Sweeter by the same author (which I absolutely adored) and it really made me realise just how much Charlotte Stein's writing has improved. This one was published 5 years prior to the other Stein book I've read, so suffice it to say, the writing in this one wasn't very good. I couldn't connect with any of the characters and there wasn't much character or plot development. The sex scenes were okay (this was the first book I'd ever read that involved a threesome, so that was interesting), but I feel they could've been better if I actually felt anything for the characters.
The book was short enough that it kept me interested, but overall it was just kind of meh.
I read this after reading Never Sweeter by the same author (which I absolutely adored) and it really made me realise just how much Charlotte Stein's writing has improved. This one was published 5 years prior to the other Stein book I've read, so suffice it to say, the writing in this one wasn't very good. I couldn't connect with any of the characters and there wasn't much character or plot development. The sex scenes were okay (this was the first book I'd ever read that involved a threesome, so that was interesting), but I feel they could've been better if I actually felt anything for the characters.
The book was short enough that it kept me interested, but overall it was just kind of meh.
December 2, 2010
One thing I love for sure about this story is how complex it ended up being. It's not a series of shorts but because the main protagonist, the owner of an erotica bookstore, is willing to explore her sexuality and is helped by men so diverse and interesting, we are eager and willing to lend a hand and follow her through the discovery.
The story is really multi-dimensional, we feel involved and we enjoy every sexy step of the way. A joy!
The story is really multi-dimensional, we feel involved and we enjoy every sexy step of the way. A joy!
July 22, 2016
I'm at a loss as to how I want to review this one. Although it was a very hot read, I just wasn't able to connect with the story. I didn't see any kind of conflict or character growth for Maddie. Maybe it was the way it was written from a single POV, but the story felt like a whole lot of steamy sex without a lot of plot going on. I'm afraid that I didn't understand Andy's part in the story at all, and Gabe was loveable but an odd bird to say the least. I did like some of the kind of taboo topics that Gabe enjoyed though. Now as for Maddie... well she is pretty sex driven and experimenting with her own sexuality in ways she never thought she would. I don't think any of them anticipated where this adventure would lead, but I'm very happy with the way the story ended. Overall, the sex scenes were intensely erotic, but I found myself struggling to stay interested beyond that.
*I received a review copy of this from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*
*I received a review copy of this from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*
December 7, 2012
[The full review is at jessysbookclub.wordpress.com]
This is hands down the best erotic book i’ve ever read! I was so fascinated by Charlotte Stein’s writing style; its like humorous erotica. And I know that sounds weird, who wants to laugh while reading a sex scene right? Well thats not what I mean, the book is written in the main character Madison’s POV and Madison is downright hilarious�.and oh so kinky! Loved it!
This is hands down the best erotic book i’ve ever read! I was so fascinated by Charlotte Stein’s writing style; its like humorous erotica. And I know that sounds weird, who wants to laugh while reading a sex scene right? Well thats not what I mean, the book is written in the main character Madison’s POV and Madison is downright hilarious�.and oh so kinky! Loved it!
September 19, 2023
The first half of the book is rather iffy. It felt very dubcon.
The second half of the book makes up for it and ends up being super sweet.
All spicy from page one on.
The second half of the book makes up for it and ends up being super sweet.
All spicy from page one on.
March 31, 2012
I love this book. It was so...filthy. It made me giggle. I loved the characters. It is probably not a book for everyone. But for a fantasy erotic book - this one totally worked for me.
Madison owns a romance book store and is looking for an assistant. The first person that interviews is named Adam, and they immediately end up having sex in her flat above the store. He is VERY alpha...and maybe not great for the job (although great in bed). When he says to her "You want it, you slutty bookworm," I was sold.
Next up is Gabe, who is VERY beta. Very. Flustered around any mention of sex etc...He gets hired. Madison can't help but flirt hardcore with him. He gets SO embarrassed - yet he is SO into the kinky stuff. Madison becomes his dominant, and he loves it (but won't admit it). In one scene, Madison makes him stay in her flat above the store all day. He must stay naked and his is not allowed to masturbate. When she walks in at the end of the day, he is watching a dirty porn, wearing her pajama bottoms and has one nipple clamp on. I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe. And of course, he is flustered, and blushing and just all sweet and innocent. But not. I loves.
She enlightens him to sexual play. It's so hot. And then Adam gets all pissy because he is being ignored so he comes back into the picture.
I just love this book. It is very erotic, and just a fun book. Good times were had. :)
Madison owns a romance book store and is looking for an assistant. The first person that interviews is named Adam, and they immediately end up having sex in her flat above the store. He is VERY alpha...and maybe not great for the job (although great in bed). When he says to her "You want it, you slutty bookworm," I was sold.
Next up is Gabe, who is VERY beta. Very. Flustered around any mention of sex etc...He gets hired. Madison can't help but flirt hardcore with him. He gets SO embarrassed - yet he is SO into the kinky stuff. Madison becomes his dominant, and he loves it (but won't admit it). In one scene, Madison makes him stay in her flat above the store all day. He must stay naked and his is not allowed to masturbate. When she walks in at the end of the day, he is watching a dirty porn, wearing her pajama bottoms and has one nipple clamp on. I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe. And of course, he is flustered, and blushing and just all sweet and innocent. But not. I loves.
She enlightens him to sexual play. It's so hot. And then Adam gets all pissy because he is being ignored so he comes back into the picture.
I just love this book. It is very erotic, and just a fun book. Good times were had. :)
November 12, 2011
Wonderful characterization. The narrator, Madison, is hilarious, and it's such fun to be inside her head. It's got the beta-iest of beta guys, Gabe, and the alpha-iest of alphas, a ridiculous (in a good way) amount of sex, and an unexpectedly touching love story. Really, really enjoyed it.
November 13, 2011
An Amber rec, and it is amazing. The writing is fantastic, and I adore adore ADORE the heroine. Witty and alarmingly hot from page one. The characters are so real and wonderful that I am kind of ruined for all books right now.
December 22, 2023
Daaaaaaaaaaaamn lol okay an erotica masterpiece huh? I read the first couple chapters and thought “hot but how in the HELL is this storyline gonna keep going for 350+ Libby pages without flagging or faltering.� Somebody’s gotta analyze this text because somehow she did it!
April 5, 2015
I wasn't sure about this book for about the first half but something intrigued me enough to keep reading. In the end, a beautiful love story blossomed and I really like it!
January 15, 2023
very weird but I kinda liked it.
May 28, 2024
Like a horrible dumpster fire you can’t look away from 😭 I will no longer be taking book recommendations from Reddit after this one 😮�
September 30, 2011
First of all, the title needs to be changed to "The Ultimate Manual of Kinky Sex, BDSM, and Control for Dummies"! If this is your first time crossing the line into the Dark Side, then I recommend this book as a guide!
I fell hard for the hero, Gabriel, who is as angelic as his namesake. I haven't fallen in love with a written hero since...hmm, has it been so long that I have forgotten? So many heroes are cookie-cutter cutouts bulging with muscles and testosterone lacking real brains or even emotions. Romance novel heroes show their emotions by being jealous, over-protective pricks. As if that's healthy! But Gabriel, that man was special! He had a horrific, stickler, prudish past that made me wince in a terrible way! He was mistreated and abused. Whenever Charlotte Stein would delve into his past, I had to clench my teeth just to make it through! But no matter how hard life has been, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel!
Enter Madison, the cutest, most open heroine I have yet to meet! She is a self-described sidekick to the actual straight-laced heroine! The "best friend" who gets into all kinds of kinky trouble but honestly, Madison is the REAL heroine. She is not afraid to express herself sexually, although, she does have trouble with the "L" word--Love. But with all excellent character arcs, she eventually finds herself and becomes completely fulfilled. You go, girl!
I desperately enjoyed this wild romp through erotica even though the heroine wasn't fighting zombies or falling for werewolves. I will warn you, gentle reader, that this isn't a tale for the faint of heart or those who are especially fond of missionary position--this is intense. Every chapter is raging with sex. But this story is more than just sex--If anything, the sexual progression seems to tell the character arcs like "Ballroom Dancing" does with dance.
There is only one thing I had qualm with--the term "arse". It's a UK thing, I guess. I just really like the word "ass" instead. It's so much more hardy! But obviously, that is pure opinion and does not detract from the story!
I fell hard for the hero, Gabriel, who is as angelic as his namesake. I haven't fallen in love with a written hero since...hmm, has it been so long that I have forgotten? So many heroes are cookie-cutter cutouts bulging with muscles and testosterone lacking real brains or even emotions. Romance novel heroes show their emotions by being jealous, over-protective pricks. As if that's healthy! But Gabriel, that man was special! He had a horrific, stickler, prudish past that made me wince in a terrible way! He was mistreated and abused. Whenever Charlotte Stein would delve into his past, I had to clench my teeth just to make it through! But no matter how hard life has been, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel!
Enter Madison, the cutest, most open heroine I have yet to meet! She is a self-described sidekick to the actual straight-laced heroine! The "best friend" who gets into all kinds of kinky trouble but honestly, Madison is the REAL heroine. She is not afraid to express herself sexually, although, she does have trouble with the "L" word--Love. But with all excellent character arcs, she eventually finds herself and becomes completely fulfilled. You go, girl!
I desperately enjoyed this wild romp through erotica even though the heroine wasn't fighting zombies or falling for werewolves. I will warn you, gentle reader, that this isn't a tale for the faint of heart or those who are especially fond of missionary position--this is intense. Every chapter is raging with sex. But this story is more than just sex--If anything, the sexual progression seems to tell the character arcs like "Ballroom Dancing" does with dance.
There is only one thing I had qualm with--the term "arse". It's a UK thing, I guess. I just really like the word "ass" instead. It's so much more hardy! But obviously, that is pure opinion and does not detract from the story!
February 10, 2013
In most of the books I read about a Lady in-charge of making these kinds of decisions, the boss let's say, they inadvertently almost ALWAYS go for the Bad Boy. The Bad boy is cooler. The bad boy is sexier. The bad boy is definitely much more self assured. But leave it to Charlotte Stein to show the other side of the coin. The Nerd can be very sexy in his own right, for a lot of other reasons. Having not experienced much in real life Gabe had all kinds of IDEAS in his head, some of which were quite alluring to Madison. Unfortunately Gabe was almost painfully not self assured. Andy was. That kind of left Madison feeling a bit overwhelmed by Andy. I can't tell any more without setting off the spoiler alarms.
I really loved this book. I got a sweet kick out of it. VERY HOT too. Phew! Somebody turn on the fan. I got a lot of Lols, many smiles, Heat, and some anxious moments as well. I recommend this book to ADULTS over 18 who like their erotic romances with some feeling and thought............and an HEA.
I really loved this book. I got a sweet kick out of it. VERY HOT too. Phew! Somebody turn on the fan. I got a lot of Lols, many smiles, Heat, and some anxious moments as well. I recommend this book to ADULTS over 18 who like their erotic romances with some feeling and thought............and an HEA.
December 11, 2023
This was such a weird book, not my thing at all. I definitely should’ve researched the kinks explored in this book because they were something I don’t wish to ever read about. Besides that, I saw no chemistry between the characters. Their scenes together were lackluster, and I saw no steaminess in their relationship. It was just...boring. I also found the former relationship between the hero and his cousin disturbing, it was sort of gross to me but I just don’t know how to go about talking about it. It was brought about so casually and I don’t think it was given enough attention, given what it is. I’ll add a hint below but hot poker for my eyes please.
TW/CW:
“Pansy� as an insult (twice), slight homophobia, past abuse from cousin (not really incest? But he discovers about his sexual preferences because of her, says that his first boner is due to her).
TW/CW:
“Pansy� as an insult (twice), slight homophobia, past abuse from cousin (not really incest? But he discovers about his sexual preferences because of her, says that his first boner is due to her).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2010
WOW! Wow wow wow! I just finished reading this book today and I absolutely LOVED it!! Charlotte Stein is an erotic genius and this book is amazing. The characters, Madison, Andy and Gabriel will draw you into their world and make you want to live in it with them. From the very start all the way to the last page, the pace is relentless and the sex is raw and hot and incredible. Gabriel's awakening at Madison's hands is knee shakingly sexy, his vulnerability captured perfectly as he slowly let's himself go. I hadn't read anything by Charlotte before this book, but now I want to read everything she's ever written!! Completely fabulous
April 20, 2012
I am at a loss. This book got tons of great reviews. From lots of readers who I usually agree with whole-heartedly! But I just really didn't connect with any character at all. There was no "story/plot"--it was just a messed up stream-of-consciousness that never made sense to me. And Gabe was really strange. I never got a feel for him. I couldn't get past his "pointy incisors" that Madison noticed over and over. Is that supposed to be sexy? In a vampire book--YES. In the "real" world--NO!!!
November 7, 2013
Oh God, it's hot in here.
Gabe, Madison & Andy
This book
Madison is queen of the perverted librarians LOL
Seriously, that woman is worse than all of us horny women on GR combined :D
[image error]
Gabe, Madison & Andy
This book
Madison is queen of the perverted librarians LOL
Seriously, that woman is worse than all of us horny women on GR combined :D
[image error]
January 15, 2013
4 Stars
This book was HOT! I was not sure if I would like it after reading the summary, but I have to say that it exceeded my expectations! Now only if every story had two incredibly sexy hero's.
This book was HOT! I was not sure if I would like it after reading the summary, but I have to say that it exceeded my expectations! Now only if every story had two incredibly sexy hero's.
November 14, 2016
Sooo good. Wish there was a wee romance/erotica bookshop in my neighbourhood. Also the character of Gabe was a revelation, wish there was more of a market for submissive men in these types of stories, though if there were I would probs never stop reading...
April 7, 2023
Pretty hot, kinda weird. Wished we got Gabe’s POV.
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