When Katie Came Overby Arden Hill
2008
Contemporary/ Lesbian/ light BDSM-ish/ erotica
4k- $2.00
Ebook
Pub: Loveyoudevine
When an established top who writes erotica under the pen name Sangre hires a woman to assemble a porch swing, she gets more than she pays for. Katie, a college student and novice in the practice of kink, has read much on the subject, including the work of Sangre, and is eager to experience the reality of bottoming to an experienced player. Soon Sangre is taking a break from writing scenes to gather more hands on research. She channels her creative energy into tutoring Katie as to how to turn her on. With the help of some specially designed restraints and a gorgeous glass dildo, Sangre also draws pleasure from Katie making her beg and moan for a well deserved release. In, When Katie Came Over, both top and bottom are rewarded by creative erotic collaboration.
I have just one thing to say about this story. Don’t bother.
Sangre has MS and is a well known erotica writer who hires Katie to put together a porch swing. Katie is a young college student just trying to make some extra money. Sangre is using voice recognition to write her book and Katie overhears her writing/speaking an erotic scene in her book. They quickly establish that they are both are lesbians and that Katie is a bottom. How we know this is because Katie says that she is and hints at being fairly experienced in kinky sex. In short order Sangre is telling her to get into the cuffs and they are getting it on.
First, this story is only a few pages long. It’s an extremely rare author who can do any story justice in a few pages and there was no justice done to this story. Second, it’s not well written, with a complete lack of character build up and plot really. Moreover, the only sexual situation portrayed barely kept me interested enough to even keep reading.
It is erotica, so yeah, I’m not expecting an elaborate well developed story, however, even on the level of erotica, which is pretty much mostly sex, it fell way short. The sexual scenes were very slow and boring with absolutely no chemistry or heat between the characters.
Even the whole light BDSM- bottom/top or what ever was going on came across as unrealistic and a bit off to me. I think if the author had at the very least made me feel some kind of connection between these two women, then I would have had a different feeling. If this book weren’t so short to begin with, I would have dropped it before it did end, with no reason to keep reading.
Sex rating: Technically it’s graphically written. But it was so boring I can’t say it’s too spicy. f/f- lesbian. Minor BDSM- hand cuffs, dildo use.
Grade: D-
*shudders*
ReplyDeleteI really hate to dump on an author like that, but seriously, that should never have been published. Or charged money for that.
ReplyDeleteEven as erotica. I've read lots of erotica and I know that it's possible to create some connection between the characters even if it's through sex.
Leah, don't feel bad. I've purchased ebooks that ended with me shaking my head in disgust at the author (for dreaming his/her work was "ready for market") and the publishers (for contracting and publishing the work.)
ReplyDeleteI think what many people don't know (writers, readers, and publishers alike) is something I learned pretty early: writing good erotic romance is tough.
It takes skill, attention, and, yes, a certain amount of sensual emotion on the author's part to create good quality erotic storylines featuring genuine emotional and/or romantic depth.
As I've mentionned in other threads...It also takes time and word count.
Your description of the plot, alone, had me shaking my head. The storyline sounds like the author has no clear understanding of romance or of BDSM dynamics.
I don't claim expertise on BDSM myself (and I wish I had it, 'cause it's a popular sell in ebooks, lol.)
When I read stories like this myself, or read reviews from credible reviewers, I wonder if epublishing will ever find acceptance as a legitimate provider of quality books.
It takes skill, attention, and, yes, a certain amount of sensual emotion on the author's part to create good quality erotic storylines featuring genuine emotional and/or romantic depth.
ReplyDeleteYeah, see that's my point as well. I've read lots of erotica. And I read lots of well written erotica and I know that it's very possible to create passion and intensity between two people even if the whole book is one long sex scene after another.
I didn't see this as a romance per se so I didn't really judge it on that level, but mainly as erotica.
And I'm not an expert on BDSM or D/s, Bottom/top relationships really, but I've also read enough to know when something reads as authentic or if it seems like the author just gleaned from different places what it's supposed to be like by throwing in the proper accoutrements and someone saying "Thank you" all the time like they are playing the role of a sub.
In fact, it's not a D/s relationship in this book, but supposed to be bottom/top. All bottom/top means I think, is that one likes to be the doer and the other the receiver. Not necessarily having to do with the D/s dynamics, although that's what it seemed to try to be in this book.
Very confusing.
Whatever, the truth is that I've read far better stuff on free literotica site and thought that this wouldn't have made it too well even there.
The fact that I paid $2 for that pissed me off.
Yeah, see that's my point as well. I've read lots of erotica. And I read lots of well written erotica and I know that it's very possible to create passion and intensity between two people even if the whole book is one long sex scene after another.
ReplyDeleteErotic scenes are action scenes, and I think writers don't always get that. Action is always a complicated writing exercise. One has to convey the action and the impact/effects of action.
When "A" touches, slaps, tickles, kisses, licks "B"...how does it feel? What responses occur? How do both characters feel?
And if multiple partners are involved, it ends up something like intricate origami.
I'm gleaning from your review, though, that the real "black mark" against his story is a lack of decent character motivation.
Fiction has to make sense, or readers feel cheated.