Reserved for the "BM8 Erotic Book Spiral".
Set around 200 years ago in England, with smugglers and more or less "noble" families. Rather bland and at times very crude. Disappointing.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This book is now off to the Swiss Alps. Enjoy!

Next in the spiral now in the Alps. As the previous two are about to travel, and I know there was a bit of a traffic jam in Athens, I think I won't rush with these. Hope that's ok.

Here as part of the spiral. Fascinating -- although I had started to think I would never again enjoy one of these books, this one somehow worked for me. I found it rather reminiscent of Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier, with sex added, of course... and a rather particular brand of that, for what it's worth. But somehow the story worked and I thought it was a fun read. I guess it's hard to predict what will work and what won't.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On its way to Greece, the spiral continues.

Arrived in Athens, just when I was beginning to wonder whether I should be expecting another spiral book or if I'd read all the books already.

Link to the spiral's journal.

Some stock characters, and a handful of antiquated words, thrown in and there you have it, a historical setting. OK, I know this is merely erotica, I shouldn't have expectations. The author, though, has explicit intentions of aiming for authenticity, what with all the footnotes emphasising the historical accuracy of the plot's details!
Beyond the book's title, it doesn't qualify as a take/parody on Jane Austen. There's not much in terms of parlour-room machinations between the sexes. The plot doesn't develop, it merely alternates back and forth between the men's world and the women's world, but the contrast between the two sensibilities is so clearcut that at times it's like reading two different stories spliced together. What goes on in the men's arena (Henry Truscott & de Cachaliere's conquests, also Fairbrother at the harlot's) isn't narrated with any particular interest, these segments are more often than not irrelevant, not to mention the subplot of the pirated contraband cognac and the pseudo-historical references redundant as well as an irritating distraction. The Lucy segments are light and playful, even if the precise descriptions of certain body parts may remind you of....Penny Birch.
The story develops through the standard upstairs/downstairs dichotomy - the contrast between the 'fun and games' thought up by Lucy's frivolous schemes & her father's air of entitlement versus the forthright animality of the underlings and the outlaws. Actually, it's this secondary plot line - the goings on at the Coppinger hideout, at Molly the harlot's room, or the travails of Polly the scullery maid - which makes it worthwhile, despite the morbid aspect of these encounters. Or maybe because of it.

There are several elements which could have been expanded on, as a postmodern parody of fairy tale motifs: the crone at Coppinger's, Lucy the evil stepsister (Cinderella), Saul Mudge the jester (gone mad), the stinging nettles (the briars from Sleeping Beauty), Molly the samaritan girl, Addiscombe the Beast (in search of his Beauty), etc.

P.S.
On the back cover there are symbols identifying the explicit content of the book -> "This novel contains [uniforms] [CP - traditional] [spanking] [CP - modern]."
What's the difference - regarding the scenes contained in this book - between traditional and modern corporeal punishment, and why is spanking a category of its own?

Received today!

Received yesterday - I have quite a few spiral books still to read, having got a lot in one go, so it may take me a while to get round to this one.

I think this is the best book of the spiral so far...funny, a plot that makes sense and some great characters. I don't really understand why Lucy got away with as much as she did, but her comeuppance was brilliant. I did feel as if I was reading a novel instead of a bunch of sexual encounters stringed together in one binding. I'm now looking forward to reading the other books by this author that are on the spiral.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

sent on its way along the spiral...enjoy

Arrived today, thanks so much:)

Ehm, I did not like it much, infact I did not read the whole thing, just glanced through it!!

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sending this one and Strip Girl to JennyC1230. Hope the volcano ashes will not delay it but it should be fine as it´s going to the States and not to Europe.

This book is here now! I will read soon and get it moving again. Thanks for sharing your books, Book-man-8!

I couldn't get into this one, so it's ready to go visit awakeagain!

Awakeagain is dropping out of the spiral. Sending to IceAgent to continue the Book Spiral! Enjoy!

rec'd in mail, TBR~ thank you!