| Title | : | Duty and Desire |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1573448230 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781573448239 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 244 |
| Publication | : | First published November 13, 2012 |
Duty and Desire Reviews
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I'll be honest--I felt a slight twinge of apprehension about this book. I personally feel deeply disturbed by war and by what seems to be humanity's collective propensity to see it as inevitable. I felt a small degree of concern that I might see the final version of this anthology as filled with "us vs. them" bravado, anti-"enemy" sentiment, and/or lacking the considerable reverence I feel even a peripheral association with the topic of war calls for.
In reading this collection, I discovered my concerns to be unfounded. Never in these stories did I feel that a reverence for this theme wavered in a way I found discomfiting. This I found not only a relief but also something that noticeably impressed me, and I appreciate the sensitivity with which I feel the editor compiled this anthology, as well as the depth and sincerity the authors brought to each of the contributions within it.
I found this book beautiful, and I feel the authors in it outdid themselves, offering stories of a world with which some of us are wholly unfamiliar and possibly can hardly imagine and illuminating what is both unique to that and what is universal. The expression of this universality--namely, that of erotic and personal connection, and its capacity to arise under virtually any circumstances--is something I see as a hallmark of successful erotica writing. This volume, as I experienced it, is full of that, and I recommend Duty and Desire without any of the reservations I thought I might have. -
Reviewed by Lori
Book provided by the publisher for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
This was an anthology of short stories all revolving the military with contributions from a plethora of authors. I understand that I put Kristina’s name down as the author, but she edited the book and there were so many authors to list, so I felt it was easier to put her name down.
I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about reading an anthology to be honest. I like one author, one story, one plot line. Simple, basic, that’s me. Well, was I put in my place when I read this book. Each story is on average around five to seven pages. The stories are quick, but as a reader I felt satisfied with how the author left the ending. There were no ambiguous endings in these stories, which I liked because I want to know how each story ends and I like knowing where the characters are going in their lives. I know this is fiction and it’s not real, but in my head I’m emotionally invested in these people and I like to know what’s going on.
There are eighteen short stories in this book and each story is unique, which cuts down on boredom. I would like to review the short stories that really stuck out for me the most and because this review would be a short story itself if I reviewed each one. I’m not going to go to deep into each story because I don’t want to give each plot line away. I would like the reader to be just as surprised as I was with each story, so I’ll apologize in advance for my ambiguity but it’s extremely imperative.
The Long Ride Home by Delilah Devlin. This story got to me because of the raw passion each character brought to the pages. It was hot, steamy, and plenty of emotional intensity to make me happy.
Shattered by Shanna Germain. I really liked this one because it deals with loss and redemption and I loved the final outcome, and I loved the intensity.
Fighting for Fresno by Ericka Hiatt. This one was good because it was so sweet. Two people meet and fall in love and I got to see what happens to them. It was so exciting to read. I loved it.
Homecoming by Kelly Maher. This was another tear jerker and I almost got mad and threw the book away until I got to the end and then all was forgiven.
The Thunder of War by Anya Richards. This was so good as well because of a man’s intense love for his wife and his will and desire to be with her and demonstrate his desire for her.
Each author dealt with sensitive topics that are associated with being in the military such as PTSD, death, breaking up with a boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse with tact, sensitivity, and humor to make each of these stories entertaining and believable. Being in the military is not easy whether as the military person or the spouse and it takes a special person to be able to deal with the challenges associated with military life. As an aside, the guy on the front cover….is so hot……whew! I have to fan myself. -
I've read a lot of erotica but have never picked up a collection of erotic romance, so when the opportunity to read & review this book, I jumped at it.
I am so happy that I did. Kristina Wright has collected a wonderful cross section of stories showcasing the incredible men & women who choose to serve their country in the armed forces, and by extension, the people (military and civilian) who love them.
The sex is hot - the romance aspect of the guidelines did absolutely nothing to dilute that. The depth of emotion behind each story actually made the the sexual aspects hotter because they were more meaningful. Despite the differences between the stories, each one does manage to find a way to catch at the heart. Quite a few of them made me choke up, and couple actually made me cry.
The biggest surprise for me was the breadth of time and setting these stories covered. Plenty dealt with the current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, but other time periods were represented as well. Two of my favorite pieces were Catherine Paulson's "Against the Wall", which described an encounter during the construciton of the Berlin Wall; and Connie Wilkins' "Night Witch", which followed a member of a Russian all-female flight squad fighting the Germans during World War II.
The standout, though, was Shanna Germain's "Shattered", which showed the aftermath of war and the consequences both on the bodies of the fighters and the relationships that resume once an injured soldier comes home. Absolutely beautiful & devastating - this one was defintely a "cry on the subway" story.
Definitely one of the strongest collections I've read recently - highly recommended. -
Being born & raised in the Hampton Roads area ~*~ I appreciate an erotic book about our service people ~*~ It is a great read & I look forward to reading more of her work
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REVIEW TO COME
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Title: The Long Ride Home
Author: Delilah Devlin
My Rating: B+
A Little about the Story: A hot little piece about 2 soldiers finally home where they can let off steam without the strictures of regulations to hold them back.
Title: Night Witch
Author: Connie Wilkins
My Rating: B-
A Little about the Story: After the crash of her plane, Yelena finds safe harbor and much more in this wounded soldier's home.
Title: Shattered
Author: Shanna Germain
My Rating: D
A Little about the Story: This piece was too dark for me to enjoy, but the prose is interesting. It has an almost poetic feel to it.
Title: The Grunt and the Ditty Bop
Author: Craig J. Sorenson
My Rating: C
A Little about the Story: There were a ton of similes in this story...to the point that it got annoying. Overall it was an interesting little read though.
Title: Fighting for Fresno
Author: Ericka Hiatt
My Rating: B
A Little about the Story: Interesting story about a hook-up. The story jumps back and forth between the present (in the bedroom) and the past (the date). A really creative method for telling the story.
Title: Homecoming
Author: Kelly Maher
My Rating: A
A Little about the Story: A gorgeous, emotional story of what happens when the most inconceivable news possible arrives.
Title: Passing Out Passion
Author: Lucy Felthouse
My Rating: A
A Little about the Story: A great little story about a couple who lost each other several years before and now have a second chance at love.
Title: Against the Wall
Author: Catherine Paulssen
My Rating: B
A Little about the Story: Enemies find passion for a single night in a rainstorm. Fun read.
Title: The Thunder of War
Author: Anya Richards
My Rating: B
A Little about the Story: A soldier suffering from PTSD and nightmares has problems separating his erotic dreams from reality.
Title: Sergeant Rae
Author: Sacchi Green
My Rating: C
A Little about the Story: An f/f story which I never read so it was hard to review. Two former soldiers who were both wounded, one more permanently than the other.
Title: Dead on Her Feet
Author: Elizabeth L. Brooks
My Rating: A-
A Little about the Story: A beautiful coming home for a female soldier from the warzone. Her boyfriend has a huge surprise for her at the airport on her way home.
Title: Out of Time
Author: J. K. Coi
My Rating: A+
A Little about the Story: A wounded soldier and another about to deploy who make a connection during his recovery. A really romantic story.
Title: Done
Author: Charlotte Stein
My Rating: C+
A Little about the Story: Hmm, what an interesting twist after a story that was almost too hard to read because of the lack of feeling. It makes it hard to rate.
Title: Wilco
Author: Christine D'Abo
My Rating: A+
A Little about the Story: Best story in the whole anthology. Really, seriously HOT!
Title: Christmas Presents
Author: Mercy Loomis
My Rating: A
A Little about the Story: An m/m story during the era of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Really sweet.
Title: Snake Dance
Author: Lynn Townsend
My Rating: A
A Little about the Story: A waitress in Vegas helps an airman fighting his nausea after too many beers and they both get much more than they expected.
Title: Home
Author: Michelle Augello-Page
My Rating: B-
A Little about the Story: The difficulty of being the military spouse at home alone.
Title: For Better or Worse
Author: Kristina Wright
My Rating: A-
A Little about the Story: Two active duty married soldiers finally get to see each other again in the middle of their six month deployment.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review. -
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,
Charlotte Stein and
Shanna Germain. 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. -
As everyone knows I have soft spot in my heart for men and women in uniform. I love a good military romance. Why? These are the people that make is possible for me to read all my wonderful smuttiness! It’s smut-tastic!
May is Military Appreciation Month. Monday was Memorial Day. So, what better way to honor our men and women in uniform than to read some wonderful smut all involving men and women in uniform.
Duty and Desire is an anthology of short stories about men and women in uniform. There are so many stories in this, there is no way I could write a review for each one. So, I’ll do an overview!
Just as with any anthology, some of the stories were more enjoyable than others, but I have to admit, I liked all of them in this anthology. It was interesting mix of stories. The stories varied in time period from World War II to Afghanistan. They also included some stories about foreign soldiers. We had some Army, Navy, Marines and of course, Air Force!
We had a MM story, a FF story a little BDSM and of course, strangers having sex! Woo Hoo! We had it all!
Not only did it include different genres, we had men in uniform and women in uniform. We had men waiting for their women who were deployed to return and women waiting for their men.
This was a wonderful, quick read and I loved them all! So, if you love stories of men and women in uniform, pick up the book! You will NOT be disappointed! -
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.
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This book is not for the modest or faint of heart, but it definitely is a mild read for beginners to erotica and each story will pull you deeper into wanting more. I highly suggest adding this title to your nightstand reading....
Read Full Review Here -
TOO HOT FOR WORDS
I always found people in uniform sexy as hell, but this book, these stories... I actually felt my heart open and burn for the men and women for whom this is not just a story. I cant wait to get all my military girlfriends to read this with their men and hear how the sparks flew! Whew! Just Awesome! -
As with all anthologies, some stories are better than others. My favorite pieces were by
Elizabeth L. Brooks and
Lynn Townsend, but I have a totally biased opinion. -
I loved this diverse collection of erotic military shorts. Some were hot and heavy, some were sweet and sentimental but they were all well written. I love that duty to family and country was honored, and even the saddest story left us a sliver of hope.
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Very good erotica. Yummy stories look forward to reading some of the authors that had short stories in this book.
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This is a great compilation of short military erotica. You really can't get any better than the sweet, always scorching stories written here.
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I bought this one from Diesel.
A pretty good collection of love, lust and sex in all types of military and many eras. -
Yummy....
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A must read sexy and emotional collection of erotic romance that includes military men and women and their loved ones at home.
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Well written, well plotted stories. I really enjoyed the inclusion of LGBT stories.
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Meh. Was expecting more..
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Don't know why I didn't realize this is a collection of short stories. Would have liked some of them to be expanded.
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Only read:
Done by Charlotte Stein -2* -
I could not finish this book. I was not impressed at all!
