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bookloverchelle's review
3.0
A collection of contemporary and historical military erotic romances. Almost all new to me authors so it was nice to try someone new. I’ll admit, I think the collection was a little over crowded. Since there were so many authors included in the collection I felt that almost all of the stories were too short. I didn’t get a chance to be drawn in and fall in love with the characters. I realize that novellas are supposed to be short stories, these were just too short for me. I also would have enjoyed more contemporary stories than were provided. So really, this just wasn’t the collection for me but I am glad I gave it a chance.
erin_oriordan_is_reading_again's review
4.0
When I get a new short story anthology from Cleis Press, I always check first to see who edited it. My favorite anthologies are typically the ones edited by Kristina Wright. After spending several months of 2012 immersed in reading war and sex, combat stress and camaraderie, wounds and healing in James Jones' War Trilogy, I was thrilled when 'Duty and Desire' showed up with Wright's name on the cover. The forward and introduction, by Cat Johnson and by Wright, deal with the sensitive nature of writing about the erotic in relation to military life, which demands sacrifice and, too often, loss. They primed me to accept this collection on its own terms (not glorifying war or minimizing suffering, but celebrating life and acknowledging courage), and I was glad I gave it the chance to move me.
The second thing I always check for are my favorite authors; this anthology contains two of my favorites, [a:Charlotte Stein|3200938|Charlotte Stein|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1282074798p2/3200938.jpg] and [a:Shanna Germain|3013716|Shanna Germain|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1316966911p2/3013716.jpg]. I've come to the conclusion that if one wants to get good at writing erotica, one should read lots of Shanna Germain. Her way of using the English language’s sex words makes them seem neither profane nor mundane, but rather both magical and as necessary as breathing. Germain's contribution, "Shattered," is good erotic writing and just plain good writing period. Charlotte Stein's "Done" hums along breezily, then drops an emotional bombshell on the last page.
The stories in this anthology mostly focus on heterosexual couples, although there are a few exceptions. Most of the tales are modern; a few are set in 20th-century conflicts, including the Cold War. Female code-breakers get a chance to shine in two tales. A particularly nice historical tale is "Night Witch" by Connie Wilkins, based on the true tale of the Russian women who flew missions in rickety planes in World War II. Whether lesbian, straight or gay, set in the past or the present, all the stories have one thing in common: emotionally satisfying endings. If not happily ever after, each pairing is at least happy when we leave them.
Cheerful, upbeat endings are something you don't get with James Jones.
I received a review copy of this book, unsolicited, at no cost from the publisher. I received no other compensation for this review, which represents my own honest opinion.
The second thing I always check for are my favorite authors; this anthology contains two of my favorites, [a:Charlotte Stein|3200938|Charlotte Stein|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1282074798p2/3200938.jpg] and [a:Shanna Germain|3013716|Shanna Germain|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1316966911p2/3013716.jpg]. I've come to the conclusion that if one wants to get good at writing erotica, one should read lots of Shanna Germain. Her way of using the English language’s sex words makes them seem neither profane nor mundane, but rather both magical and as necessary as breathing. Germain's contribution, "Shattered," is good erotic writing and just plain good writing period. Charlotte Stein's "Done" hums along breezily, then drops an emotional bombshell on the last page.
The stories in this anthology mostly focus on heterosexual couples, although there are a few exceptions. Most of the tales are modern; a few are set in 20th-century conflicts, including the Cold War. Female code-breakers get a chance to shine in two tales. A particularly nice historical tale is "Night Witch" by Connie Wilkins, based on the true tale of the Russian women who flew missions in rickety planes in World War II. Whether lesbian, straight or gay, set in the past or the present, all the stories have one thing in common: emotionally satisfying endings. If not happily ever after, each pairing is at least happy when we leave them.
Cheerful, upbeat endings are something you don't get with James Jones.
I received a review copy of this book, unsolicited, at no cost from the publisher. I received no other compensation for this review, which represents my own honest opinion.
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