Reviewed by Jess

 

 

TITLE: Holidays & More: A LesFic Short Story Collection

AUTHOR: Erzabet Bishop

PUBLISHER: Naughty Nights Press

LENGTH: 354 pages

RELEASE DATE:  October 24, 2018

BLURB:

Variety is the spice of life and this selection of lesfic stories delivers. Fall in love with old flames, play at a kinky bookshop, tame the rink with derby girls, and fall in love with a shifter cop in this collection of a dozen short stories by USA Today Bestselling Author Erzabet Bishop!

The collection includes:

Mosaics and Mermaids- When a cruise brings two former lovers together, sparks fly.

Pumpernickel- The sting of rejection isn’t the only sensation Libby is going to experience in a steamy night in with her Mistress.

Hooked- Crochet class will never be the same again.

Derby Girls- All’s fair in love and war, and derby girls love a little bit of both.

Mermaids and Mistletoe- This holiday cruise is brimming with possibilities.

Kink the Shelves- Surprises tantalize this new hire at every turn during her first day at a very unique bookstore.

Naughty Cookie- It’s Christmas Eve and Nadine is determined to make it count.

Red Lipstick- A little red lipstick can lead to all kinds of invitations.

First Night- The first night of any marriage can hold all kinds of truth. And sometimes little pink rollers.

Kinky Cupcakery- This bondage themed bakery will ignite your passion for all things naughty and nice.

Silver Bells & Old Flames- A silver bell paves the way for old flames to ignite this holiday season.

Wolf Moon-A sexy cop and an ornery fichus will make this a Comicon Lindsay will never forget.

In December- Bright lights and peppermint dreams bring a pair of lovers together one December night.

REVIEW:

“Mosaics and Mermaids”

I was impressed with the amount of depth and backstory included in such a short story. The two women, who find themselves unexpectedly reunited after their mutual heartbreak, feel real and unique right off the bat. I like how this collection opens with a story of second chances.

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“Pumpernickel”

I could certainly relate with the rejected-writer woes of the main character in this story! The idea of her Mistress using a scene as a way of creative rejuvenation is clever and sexy. But I ended up being so invested in Libby’s writing career that I felt a little bereft when it ended without much closure! A steamy story, but one that left me wanting more.

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“Hooked”

Do sexy crochet classes really exist, and if so, where can I sign up? The easy, fun comradery between instructors and pupils alike made me smile throughout the story. I think I liked the setting (and the idea of a handmade vibrator cozy) more than I got into the actual romance, but it’s a cute read all around.

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“Derby Girls”

I stand by my opinion that roller derby is so underutilized in lesbian romance, so this one was a wonderful treat! The locker room steam between two bad-ass derby girls heats up quickly, but their chemistry begins in the rink before they even exchange a word. I wanted a little more of the actual derby, though.

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“Mermaids and Mistletoe”

What a perfect setting for a lesbian love story! Rachel’s friends have dragged her on a mermaid-themed lesbian holiday cruise with them, but Rachel isn’t expected to feel sparks with the cruise planner herself. The erotic tension they share in a dressing room is some of the best in the collection. Definitely a highlight of the book!

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“Kink the Shelves”

I’m pretty sure this story has supplied me with a new dream job—manager of an erotic-themed, LGBT-inclusive bookstore-slash-bakery. Oh, the possibilities! I was excited about the setting, but the very quick and kinky love scene didn’t land perfectly. There’s still the niggling feeling in the back of my mind that wants the main character to keep the job and avoid any entanglements with her boss, especially after just meeting and interviewing with her.

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“Naughty Cookie”

This is one of the broader-themed holiday stories in the collection. Nadine craves more out of her friend-with-benefits and bakes her favorite cookies to show she’s ready to take the leap, but the story takes a kinky direction instead of a dramatic one. I’m all for some kitchen-themed BDSM, but I was more invested in the romance itself!

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“Red Lipstick”

This one will please all of you more hardcore readers out there. What starts as an innocent flirtation between a makeup counter girl and a customer turns into a steamy affair involving a very public BDSM club. The public activity isn’t to my personal taste, but it will definitely push someone’s buttons!

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“First Night”

This is the story with the lowest heat level in the collection, but it’s also one of my favorites. It’s a sweet snapshot of a realistic long-term couple starting off on their not-so-perfect honeymoon. It’s earnest, funny, and feels cozy from start to finish.

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“Kinky Cupcakery”

This story is fun and steamy, but besides the difference in professions (bookselling to baking), it feels almost identical to “Kink the Shelves.” An unwitting outsider enters a seemingly-innocuous location to discover a gorgeous woman who will fill all of her hidden sexual desires. Bishop certainly has a talent for this type of story, but they just felt way too similar. I do like the added thrill of a “will they catch us?” moment, though.

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“Silver Bells & Old Flames”

This is one of a few stories about lost love rekindled in this collection, and I’m finding it is a strong suit for Bishop. Though we get so few pages with these two ladies, we can feel that spark that has existed between them for so many years. That’s pretty hard to do in a short story. The holiday theme in this one makes it feel like a wonderfully romantic Hallmark movie.

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“Wolf Moon”

This is the longest story in the collection and the definite outlier in terms of genre and plot. It’s half holdup thriller, half paranormal romance, and all good, campy fun. I do think this story about a tough werewolf cop and her newly-found mate feels more like the climax of a longer book than a short story on its own, though. I know I would want to read more!

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“In December”

This is a fitting story to end the book because it is unfortunately pretty forgettable. It includes some steamy solo action before the main character catches the eye of her hot neighbor, but it pales in comparison to the other, longer stories before it.

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Conclusion

These stories all feel fun, warm, and woman-centric. There are moments of pure kinky heat, but there’s also a lot of laughs and familiar settings, like knitting circles and coffee shops. This is an excellent erotica collection to accompany a warm bath, some scented candles, and a night to yourself.

I don’t think Bishop is an incredibly diverse writer in terms of story arc. There are a lot of common threads to be found—semi-public sex, spanking, and ultra-femme protagonists can be found in nearly every story. The shorts tend to blend into one another from time to time, especially ones that take place within similar settings (roller derby rinks, bakeries, bookstores, etc.). Also, despite the festive title and cover, there isn’t anything overtly holiday-centric about any of these stories. But all in all, there was never a below-average read in the bunch. I think there will be something for every type of F/F reader in this collection.

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BUY LINK: 

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