Book Review The XXX Files Episode 1

The XXX Files Episode 1

Lexi Maxxwell
ASIN: B007QM9NW6

You can get a copy of this book for free here. 

"They stayed for a few more minutes asking questions that led nowhere. Brad couldn't shake the feeling that Willow was hot for him - like scorching. He woudn't say anything to Grayson since she would've thought it was his ego yelling like it always did, but there was something more and he could feel it. Sure, Brad thought most girls were hot for him because they usually were , but he could practically smell it on Willow Monroe"

I'd be interested in some other other opinions of this first book of this series. Lexi Maxxwell is a competent writer, though I am guessing (this is the first of her books I have read) that she is a man, so the book has a flavour of trying to cynically dupe the reader right from the start. It's not that I have a problem reading erotica written by a man, nor do I have a problem with alternate identities when writing erotica, It's just that Lexi herself (in the blurbs about her and in the forward) reads like a male fantasy, and while that has its place, its a stereotype that has been done to death, and can be a little dull in its transparency, particularly when it lacks irony. The XXX files was capably written (typo in the first line of the book not withstanding) but it seemed like a young male saying "erotica will make me rich because I'm smarter than everyone else" right from the start. 

The tone is very brash and much more suited to a 1950's gangster parody than a piece of X Files fan fiction, and I would have preferred, Lexi choose one or the other, rather than combine the two, as I think the separate genres could comfortably be different series. There is no X Files tone here at all. Having said all that, if you can get past those problems, it is an engaging piece of writing, with a strong plot line, and interesting side characters. 

The main character. Brad Hammer is a bit dull, and again a total stereotype (just how many references to enormous penis' do there have to be in erotica, plus his obvious performance anxieties barely masked by his incessant bragging are a bit of a cold shower) and it would have improved the novella greatly if we'd had a chance to hear from his female counterpart, Grayson a little more. Her perspective was missing and more of that right from the start would have lessened the sledge hammer approach of the main character. According the plot line, a persuasive drug that seduces everyone unconditionally into wild (pedestrian) sex scenarios is does not affect her at all, and seeing as random women in bars, or even women not physically present race toward this man tearing their clothes off, it seems odd that his partner doesn't even register and seems to just fade out of the story. 

The XXX Files is free, and I'd be really keen to hear what other people have to say about this novella. It's a fast read and some of the sex scenes are titillating. If you have a read, let me know what you think in the comments below. 

Book Review - The Bucket List (Part One)

The Bucket List - Part One

Author: Annie Oakfield

Publisher: Steam eReads
ISBN: 978-0-9874581-2-4

It is a testament to the excellent writing of Annie Oakfield that The Bucket List part one is as sexy as it is - not to mention her wild imagination. I was following the new publications at Steam ereads at the time and I confess the thought of erotica centered around a women's only sex toy party wasn't a premise I was expecting to be that exciting, particularly because I had attended some of these gatherings in my past and they were giggly and fun, but erotic? No.

Boy was I wrong. Annie Oakfield is a fine writer for one, so that makes a very big difference when approaching any subject matter. She takes her time too, despite the short length of this novella, to expand into eroticism, which is the heart and soul of a good erotic novel, but particularity necessary when the subject matter is unusual. This all helps the reader build to the burn (so to speak) and work their way into an erotically charged scenario that is really more about absorbing experience rather than titillation.

Quiet, reserved Lucy lives with sexy wild Amber. They're room mates who occasionally provide for each other benefit-wise, though one senses Lucy might like something a little more from Amber who seems to enjoy teasing everyone, male or female. When a shy , but wild underneath woman attaches herself to an extrovert, it is often a set up to facilitate some action they don't have the talent to create for themselves. Not only does Annie Oakfield know this about her protagonist Lucy, but Amber knows it too, and steps in to provide access to secret fantasies Lucy doesn't even like to admit she has.

One night when drinking they create a 'Bucket List' of erotic experiences, a 'dumb things I gotta do before I die' list. Lucy coquettishly thinks this is all fun, but to her horror, Amber starts setting up each scenario. My understanding (and hope) is that the future novels will continue with this premise. Book one is Lucy's fantasy of being the try out model at a sex toy party filled with women, and the rest is... as they say, history.

The relationship between the two women, emphasized at the start of The Bucket List is underplayed for the rest of the novella, but one assumes this will be the long running theme that works through the other stories. The sexual premise is unusual, and therefore the sexual writing becomes very interesting, transporting the reader into a world they might not have experienced before. This is part of the purpose of erotica, (like all good literature) to transport the reader into an experience they may not have had, and in fact may be intrigued by, but have no intention of having. With such lovely writing, the novella is not only a physical pleasure, but also a well written one. Below is an example of a sentence from the start that I loved:

"My jeans were draped over the back of a nearby wicker chair, the empty legs hovering over my walking boots like a deflated version of myself."

This is the quality of image and sentence deceptively simple, but lovely sentence structure one can expect, and it brings Lucy and Amber alive.

I am currently reading the second in the novella series, and will review when done. This first is a strong recommendation from me.

You can purchase The Bucket List Part One here.