A right ripping yarn!, 06 Sep 2008
All the intrigue of Agatha Christie, all the fun of a game of Cluedo, all the innuendo of a Carry On film with plenty of homoerotic scenes thrown in for good measure. Historical and humerous, this is one to enjoy and one to recommend to like-minded friends.

The Holmes/Watson type dynamic of Mitch and Boy Morgan is especially delicious, which I'm sure the butler would endorse! Lots of dastardly villains in the shape of the local constabulary and the manipulative Leonard Eagle. Enjoy!

The Back Passage , 15 May 2008
A Funny, sexy "Who dunnit" book, with quite graphic sex in every chapter.
The main character Mitch takes every opportunity (and there are many) to enjoy his sexuality. James Lear is on to a winner with this character and I hope he takes him further into his adventures as a detective. I can't wait to read more.

Giggle fest almost the whole way through!, 03 Oct 2007
With the exception of a brief interlude of (appropriate to context) police brutality, I laughed the whole way through this book! I read it when working nightshift and my co-workers thought I was mad. Written in a great 1920's style it is very explicit and the sex scenes are very intense (and unrelenting). However, the humour in evident on every page. If you want a nice whodunnit buy agatha christie - want a whodunnit with wit and bite? Try this! Ok, as a straight woman I am maybe not the intended audience but as random purchases go, I am so glad I bought it. Hilarious.

5 stars for the cover!, 08 Aug 2007
Is there a label for this kind of gay lit that has proliferated in recent years? These romps are usually decently written and often quite diverting but their raison d'etre is the endless stream of graphically described sexual encounters in which just about every young guy the handsome hunky hero encounters is ready and willing. If you removed the continuous stream of sex fantasies nobody would be bothered to read these books and presumably the authors wouldn't be bothered to write them. This particular opus in totally anachronistic in the sense that the gay ethos of our modern age is transplanted to a 1920s setting. But it's all fantasy so what does it matter?
Now, are you looking for a dazzling example of a classic whodunnit from the Golden Age of the 20s and 30s? In which case do an Amazon search for the Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley.
Or would you prefer a porny read that's pretty good fun, capably written with a so-so whodunnit stitched on? I thought so. In which case the Back Passage will do nicely.

An Absolute Hoot, 01 Jun 2007
This is an absolute scream, a period piece set in the world of silent cinema and po faced between-the-wars-Britishness. The sexy bits are, ahem, not for the faint hearted, but are never gratuitous, and the plot itself is neatly put together. One of the funniest books I have ever read.

A right ripping yarn!, 06 Sep 2008
All the intrigue of Agatha Christie, all the fun of a game of Cluedo, all the innuendo of a Carry On film with plenty of homoerotic scenes thrown in for good measure. Historical and humerous, this is one to enjoy and one to recommend to like-minded friends.

The Holmes/Watson type dynamic of Mitch and Boy Morgan is especially delicious, which I'm sure the butler would endorse! Lots of dastardly villains in the shape of the local constabulary and the manipulative Leonard Eagle. Enjoy!

The Back Passage , 15 May 2008
A Funny, sexy "Who dunnit" book, with quite graphic sex in every chapter.
The main character Mitch takes every opportunity (and there are many) to enjoy his sexuality. James Lear is on to a winner with this character and I hope he takes him further into his adventures as a detective. I can't wait to read more.

Giggle fest almost the whole way through!, 03 Oct 2007
With the exception of a brief interlude of (appropriate to context) police brutality, I laughed the whole way through this book! I read it when working nightshift and my co-workers thought I was mad. Written in a great 1920's style it is very explicit and the sex scenes are very intense (and unrelenting). However, the humour in evident on every page. If you want a nice whodunnit buy agatha christie - want a whodunnit with wit and bite? Try this! Ok, as a straight woman I am maybe not the intended audience but as random purchases go, I am so glad I bought it. Hilarious.

5 stars for the cover!, 08 Aug 2007
Is there a label for this kind of gay lit that has proliferated in recent years? These romps are usually decently written and often quite diverting but their raison d'etre is the endless stream of graphically described sexual encounters in which just about every young guy the handsome hunky hero encounters is ready and willing. If you removed the continuous stream of sex fantasies nobody would be bothered to read these books and presumably the authors wouldn't be bothered to write them. This particular opus in totally anachronistic in the sense that the gay ethos of our modern age is transplanted to a 1920s setting. But it's all fantasy so what does it matter?
Now, are you looking for a dazzling example of a classic whodunnit from the Golden Age of the 20s and 30s? In which case do an Amazon search for the Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley.
Or would you prefer a porny read that's pretty good fun, capably written with a so-so whodunnit stitched on? I thought so. In which case the Back Passage will do nicely.

An Absolute Hoot, 01 Jun 2007
This is an absolute scream, a period piece set in the world of silent cinema and po faced between-the-wars-Britishness. The sexy bits are, ahem, not for the faint hearted, but are never gratuitous, and the plot itself is neatly put together. One of the funniest books I have ever read.

Good book, 21 Jan 2005
If you want to learn about the females mind, this is the book for you, the emotional content that goes through each womens mind is abosolutly well written.

conclusions
*A good and interestiing read
*if you want to learn how females, as they say "game" other females, its nothing much

Oh, wow., 29 Jan 2004
Though I am not a lesbian, I thoroughly enjoyed getting my curoisty sated through this beautifully written anthology. The only thing I've read that comes close to getting it right--besides this one--is "The Other Woman" by Kim Corum and also "Bad Girl" by Alision Tyler. A truly wonderful book. I would highly recommend it.

hot!, 07 Apr 2003
Definately worth a read, i found it very entertaining and stimulating to read!
It tells of different experiences from in the funeral(very surprising i thought) to phone sex to your normal bedroom on how women have satisfied their curiosity as lesbian virgins to fulfilling their fantasies.
Definately worth reading.

a wonderful book..., 14 Apr 1999
This book is very well written. It captures you so easily and once you begin to read it, you can't put it down. At the time I bought this book, I also bought two other lesbian erotica books...this one was the longest, but yet I finished it first (go figure). If you want something that is going to make your body throb and your heart sing, then this is the book to get.

Tasteful, erotic and a true celebration of lesbian sex, 06 Nov 1998
I have read other books professing to be "lesbian erotica" but they usually have included too much of the role playing and stereotyping I am not a fan of, rather than focusing solely on the mutual pleasure and sensuality that two women can achieve together. Awakening the Virgin appealed to that part of me that believes in the beauty and passion of women loving women while also validating the empowerment all women need to feel around their sexuality and sexual expression. A beautiful testament to the interface between hot sexual encounters and the emotional connection needed to make them so.

A right ripping yarn!, 06 Sep 2008
All the intrigue of Agatha Christie, all the fun of a game of Cluedo, all the innuendo of a Carry On film with plenty of homoerotic scenes thrown in for good measure. Historical and humerous, this is one to enjoy and one to recommend to like-minded friends.

The Holmes/Watson type dynamic of Mitch and Boy Morgan is especially delicious, which I'm sure the butler would endorse! Lots of dastardly villains in the shape of the local constabulary and the manipulative Leonard Eagle. Enjoy!

The Back Passage , 15 May 2008
A Funny, sexy "Who dunnit" book, with quite graphic sex in every chapter.
The main character Mitch takes every opportunity (and there are many) to enjoy his sexuality. James Lear is on to a winner with this character and I hope he takes him further into his adventures as a detective. I can't wait to read more.

Giggle fest almost the whole way through!, 03 Oct 2007
With the exception of a brief interlude of (appropriate to context) police brutality, I laughed the whole way through this book! I read it when working nightshift and my co-workers thought I was mad. Written in a great 1920's style it is very explicit and the sex scenes are very intense (and unrelenting). However, the humour in evident on every page. If you want a nice whodunnit buy agatha christie - want a whodunnit with wit and bite? Try this! Ok, as a straight woman I am maybe not the intended audience but as random purchases go, I am so glad I bought it. Hilarious.

5 stars for the cover!, 08 Aug 2007
Is there a label for this kind of gay lit that has proliferated in recent years? These romps are usually decently written and often quite diverting but their raison d'etre is the endless stream of graphically described sexual encounters in which just about every young guy the handsome hunky hero encounters is ready and willing. If you removed the continuous stream of sex fantasies nobody would be bothered to read these books and presumably the authors wouldn't be bothered to write them. This particular opus in totally anachronistic in the sense that the gay ethos of our modern age is transplanted to a 1920s setting. But it's all fantasy so what does it matter?
Now, are you looking for a dazzling example of a classic whodunnit from the Golden Age of the 20s and 30s? In which case do an Amazon search for the Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley.
Or would you prefer a porny read that's pretty good fun, capably written with a so-so whodunnit stitched on? I thought so. In which case the Back Passage will do nicely.

An Absolute Hoot, 01 Jun 2007
This is an absolute scream, a period piece set in the world of silent cinema and po faced between-the-wars-Britishness. The sexy bits are, ahem, not for the faint hearted, but are never gratuitous, and the plot itself is neatly put together. One of the funniest books I have ever read.

Good book, 21 Jan 2005
If you want to learn about the females mind, this is the book for you, the emotional content that goes through each womens mind is abosolutly well written.

conclusions
*A good and interestiing read
*if you want to learn how females, as they say "game" other females, its nothing much

Oh, wow., 29 Jan 2004
Though I am not a lesbian, I thoroughly enjoyed getting my curoisty sated through this beautifully written anthology. The only thing I've read that comes close to getting it right--besides this one--is "The Other Woman" by Kim Corum and also "Bad Girl" by Alision Tyler. A truly wonderful book. I would highly recommend it.

hot!, 07 Apr 2003
Definately worth a read, i found it very entertaining and stimulating to read!
It tells of different experiences from in the funeral(very surprising i thought) to phone sex to your normal bedroom on how women have satisfied their curiosity as lesbian virgins to fulfilling their fantasies.
Definately worth reading.

a wonderful book..., 14 Apr 1999
This book is very well written. It captures you so easily and once you begin to read it, you can't put it down. At the time I bought this book, I also bought two other lesbian erotica books...this one was the longest, but yet I finished it first (go figure). If you want something that is going to make your body throb and your heart sing, then this is the book to get.

Tasteful, erotic and a true celebration of lesbian sex, 06 Nov 1998
I have read other books professing to be "lesbian erotica" but they usually have included too much of the role playing and stereotyping I am not a fan of, rather than focusing solely on the mutual pleasure and sensuality that two women can achieve together. Awakening the Virgin appealed to that part of me that believes in the beauty and passion of women loving women while also validating the empowerment all women need to feel around their sexuality and sexual expression. A beautiful testament to the interface between hot sexual encounters and the emotional connection needed to make them so.

Rollickingly raunchy story of life on the gay game in 1930s London. , 18 Dec 2008
Paul Lemoyne leaves his home in rural southern England to make his way in London. He gets no further than Waterloo Station before his gay sexual adventures begin. Paul quickly discovers that he can have fun (and this is a guy who is out to enjoy himself) and make money from the punters at the same time. Over the next chapters we have a voyeur's eye view of Paul's commitment to his craft, lovlingly, graphically and explicitly portrayed.
What makes this great erotic writing is the style and humour, as well as Lear's skill at portraying fantastic gay sex. Paul describes his rake's progress,and downfall, with irony. There is a particularly good section on his relationship with a wild Russian modernist paianter, whose picture entitled 'Red Hole' is deemed by later critics to be a prophecy of Stalin's Russia whereas in fact it describes a particularly adventurous episode of sex involoving large quantities of red paint.
This is a re-issue of one of Lear's earlier books. As a fan, I would say this is one of his best. If you lke erotic writing that is also good, witty literature then you will love this.

Sleazy, sexy and highly entertaining..., 18 Nov 2006
This is the book I wish I'd written myself. It's sleazy and highly explicit; not for the faint-hearted. But it summons up brilliantly the atmosphere of the Halls and of the queer subculture of the thirties, (not that I remember!)

Paul Lemoyne is a pretty unpleasant character, but like his few real friends, you can't quite abandon him, and despite yourself, you care what happens to him. I suppose the fact that he knows he's behaving badly is a considerable redeeming feature. The end suggests that this may be the first of a series -- I would guess a trilogy -- a prospect which makes me very happy.

The book is written in spare prose and with a lightness of touch which makes it a pleasure to read.

A right ripping yarn!, 06 Sep 2008
All the intrigue of Agatha Christie, all the fun of a game of Cluedo, all the innuendo of a Carry On film with plenty of homoerotic scenes thrown in for good measure. Historical and humerous, this is one to enjoy and one to recommend to like-minded friends.

The Holmes/Watson type dynamic of Mitch and Boy Morgan is especially delicious, which I'm sure the butler would endorse! Lots of dastardly villains in the shape of the local constabulary and the manipulative Leonard Eagle. Enjoy!

The Back Passage , 15 May 2008
A Funny, sexy "Who dunnit" book, with quite graphic sex in every chapter.
The main character Mitch takes every opportunity (and there are many) to enjoy his sexuality. James Lear is on to a winner with this character and I hope he takes him further into his adventures as a detective. I can't wait to read more.

Giggle fest almost the whole way through!, 03 Oct 2007
With the exception of a brief interlude of (appropriate to context) police brutality, I laughed the whole way through this book! I read it when working nightshift and my co-workers thought I was mad. Written in a great 1920's style it is very explicit and the sex scenes are very intense (and unrelenting). However, the humour in evident on every page. If you want a nice whodunnit buy agatha christie - want a whodunnit with wit and bite? Try this! Ok, as a straight woman I am maybe not the intended audience but as random purchases go, I am so glad I bought it. Hilarious.

5 stars for the cover!, 08 Aug 2007
Is there a label for this kind of gay lit that has proliferated in recent years? These romps are usually decently written and often quite diverting but their raison d'etre is the endless stream of graphically described sexual encounters in which just about every young guy the handsome hunky hero encounters is ready and willing. If you removed the continuous stream of sex fantasies nobody would be bothered to read these books and presumably the authors wouldn't be bothered to write them. This particular opus in totally anachronistic in the sense that the gay ethos of our modern age is transplanted to a 1920s setting. But it's all fantasy so what does it matter?
Now, are you looking for a dazzling example of a classic whodunnit from the Golden Age of the 20s and 30s? In which case do an Amazon search for the Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley.
Or would you prefer a porny read that's pretty good fun, capably written with a so-so whodunnit stitched on? I thought so. In which case the Back Passage will do nicely.

An Absolute Hoot, 01 Jun 2007
This is an absolute scream, a period piece set in the world of silent cinema and po faced between-the-wars-Britishness. The sexy bits are, ahem, not for the faint hearted, but are never gratuitous, and the plot itself is neatly put together. One of the funniest books I have ever read.

Good book, 21 Jan 2005
If you want to learn about the females mind, this is the book for you, the emotional content that goes through each womens mind is abosolutly well written.

conclusions
*A good and interestiing read
*if you want to learn how females, as they say "game" other females, its nothing much

Oh, wow., 29 Jan 2004
Though I am not a lesbian, I thoroughly enjoyed getting my curoisty sated through this beautifully written anthology. The only thing I've read that comes close to getting it right--besides this one--is "The Other Woman" by Kim Corum and also "Bad Girl" by Alision Tyler. A truly wonderful book. I would highly recommend it.

hot!, 07 Apr 2003
Definately worth a read, i found it very entertaining and stimulating to read!
It tells of different experiences from in the funeral(very surprising i thought) to phone sex to your normal bedroom on how women have satisfied their curiosity as lesbian virgins to fulfilling their fantasies.
Definately worth reading.

a wonderful book..., 14 Apr 1999
This book is very well written. It captures you so easily and once you begin to read it, you can't put it down. At the time I bought this book, I also bought two other lesbian erotica books...this one was the longest, but yet I finished it first (go figure). If you want something that is going to make your body throb and your heart sing, then this is the book to get.

Tasteful, erotic and a true celebration of lesbian sex, 06 Nov 1998
I have read other books professing to be "lesbian erotica" but they usually have included too much of the role playing and stereotyping I am not a fan of, rather than focusing solely on the mutual pleasure and sensuality that two women can achieve together. Awakening the Virgin appealed to that part of me that believes in the beauty and passion of women loving women while also validating the empowerment all women need to feel around their sexuality and sexual expression. A beautiful testament to the interface between hot sexual encounters and the emotional connection needed to make them so.

Rollickingly raunchy story of life on the gay game in 1930s London. , 18 Dec 2008
Paul Lemoyne leaves his home in rural southern England to make his way in London. He gets no further than Waterloo Station before his gay sexual adventures begin. Paul quickly discovers that he can have fun (and this is a guy who is out to enjoy himself) and make money from the punters at the same time. Over the next chapters we have a voyeur's eye view of Paul's commitment to his craft, lovlingly, graphically and explicitly portrayed.
What makes this great erotic writing is the style and humour, as well as Lear's skill at portraying fantastic gay sex. Paul describes his rake's progress,and downfall, with irony. There is a particularly good section on his relationship with a wild Russian modernist paianter, whose picture entitled 'Red Hole' is deemed by later critics to be a prophecy of Stalin's Russia whereas in fact it describes a particularly adventurous episode of sex involoving large quantities of red paint.
This is a re-issue of one of Lear's earlier books. As a fan, I would say this is one of his best. If you lke erotic writing that is also good, witty literature then you will love this.

Sleazy, sexy and highly entertaining..., 18 Nov 2006
This is the book I wish I'd written myself. It's sleazy and highly explicit; not for the faint-hearted. But it summons up brilliantly the atmosphere of the Halls and of the queer subculture of the thirties, (not that I remember!)

Paul Lemoyne is a pretty unpleasant character, but like his few real friends, you can't quite abandon him, and despite yourself, you care what happens to him. I suppose the fact that he knows he's behaving badly is a considerable redeeming feature. The end suggests that this may be the first of a series -- I would guess a trilogy -- a prospect which makes me very happy.

The book is written in spare prose and with a lightness of touch which makes it a pleasure to read.

Hot Erotic Romance? Yes!, 19 Dec 2008
Cowboys in Texas. Hot erotic romance. Bit of an oxymoron? Yes. But is it true? Yes. After Brokeback Mountain, gay cowboys may seem a bit of a cliche or at least bandwagon jumping, [and that may well be the case] but it makes a change from the usual staple fare of gay novels, the teenage coming out story. Pacily written, with steamy, nay, explicit sex scenes, [tell me how does a woman know what gay sex can or should be like so accurately?] and yet still romantic. Worth reading? Definitely. High literature? No. The plot is predictable, and some of the characters would strain to be called sketchy, but the main characters are fairly well developed and the pacing is good. The tension is maintained throughout, even though one knows the outcome before the end, in fact probably before the end of the first chapter. A good fun read, escapist and perhaps what one would like to dream of.

Hot drama, sizzling sex and true love., 29 Oct 2008
Older ranch owner has had the secret hots for Jamie ever since the lad was an adolescent. When Jamie comes out to his dad and is chucked off the family ranch guess who he turns to for help? The author could keep the secret longing of the book's heroes simmering undeclared until the last chapter but she prefers (thankfully)to have the two guys get it on within a few pages. Thereafter, they do not seem to have much time for ranching,as opposed to raunching but who's complaining? This is a graphically erotic novel, hugely enjoyable. And there is some real adventure outside the bedroom as well lots of adventurous sex within it.

The Tin Star, 15 May 2008
A fabulous love story between two hot, sexy men. I loved it from the first chapter. Very good book and well worth a bedtime read.

Just Brilliant, 20 Jan 2008
I was drawn in from the first page, you can't help but fall for Ethan and Jamie. Cowboys, sex and so much more. A great read!

DALLAS GOES GAY!, 29 Oct 2007
Fabulous - what a truely great read!

A gay, romantic lovestory (taken straight from the pages of a Dallas TV script!). This great story includes family woes, mystery, evil, love, brothers, sisters, cattle, ranch hands, a steakhouse, trucks, homophobia, secrets and MOST IMPORTANT fabulous gay characters!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - its lighthearted, romantic fun, with gay characters taking centre stage. ENJOY!!

A right ripping yarn!, 06 Sep 2008
All the intrigue of Agatha Christie, all the fun of a game of Cluedo, all the innuendo of a Carry On film with plenty of homoerotic scenes thrown in for good measure. Historical and humerous, this is one to enjoy and one to recommend to like-minded friends.

The Holmes/Watson type dynamic of Mitch and Boy Morgan is especially delicious, which I'm sure the butler would endorse! Lots of dastardly villains in the shape of the local constabulary and the manipulative Leonard Eagle. Enjoy!

The Back Passage , 15 May 2008
A Funny, sexy "Who dunnit" book, with quite graphic sex in every chapter.
The main character Mitch takes every opportunity (and there are many) to enjoy his sexuality. James Lear is on to a winner with this character and I hope he takes him further into his adventures as a detective. I can't wait to read more.

Giggle fest almost the whole way through!, 03 Oct 2007
With the exception of a brief interlude of (appropriate to context) police brutality, I laughed the whole way through this book! I read it when working nightshift and my co-workers thought I was mad. Written in a great 1920's style it is very explicit and the sex scenes are very intense (and unrelenting). However, the humour in evident on every page. If you want a nice whodunnit buy agatha christie - want a whodunnit with wit and bite? Try this! Ok, as a straight woman I am maybe not the intended audience but as random purchases go, I am so glad I bought it. Hilarious.

5 stars for the cover!, 08 Aug 2007
Is there a label for this kind of gay lit that has proliferated in recent years? These romps are usually decently written and often quite diverting but their raison d'etre is the endless stream of graphically described sexual encounters in which just about every young guy the handsome hunky hero encounters is ready and willing. If you removed the continuous stream of sex fantasies nobody would be bothered to read these books and presumably the authors wouldn't be bothered to write them. This particular opus in totally anachronistic in the sense that the gay ethos of our modern age is transplanted to a 1920s setting. But it's all fantasy so what does it matter?
Now, are you looking for a dazzling example of a classic whodunnit from the Golden Age of the 20s and 30s? In which case do an Amazon search for the Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley.
Or would you prefer a porny read that's pretty good fun, capably written with a so-so whodunnit stitched on? I thought so. In which case the Back Passage will do nicely.

An Absolute Hoot, 01 Jun 2007
This is an absolute scream, a period piece set in the world of silent cinema and po faced between-the-wars-Britishness. The sexy bits are, ahem, not for the faint hearted, but are never gratuitous, and the plot itself is neatly put together. One of the funniest books I have ever read.

Good book, 21 Jan 2005
If you want to learn about the females mind, this is the book for you, the emotional content that goes through each womens mind is abosolutly well written.

conclusions
*A good and interestiing read
*if you want to learn how females, as they say "game" other females, its nothing much

Oh, wow., 29 Jan 2004
Though I am not a lesbian, I thoroughly enjoyed getting my curoisty sated through this beautifully written anthology. The only thing I've read that comes close to getting it right--besides this one--is "The Other Woman" by Kim Corum and also "Bad Girl" by Alision Tyler. A truly wonderful book. I would highly recommend it.

hot!, 07 Apr 2003
Definately worth a read, i found it very entertaining and stimulating to read!
It tells of different experiences from in the funeral(very surprising i thought) to phone sex to your normal bedroom on how women have satisfied their curiosity as lesbian virgins to fulfilling their fantasies.
Definately worth reading.

a wonderful book..., 14 Apr 1999
This book is very well written. It captures you so easily and once you begin to read it, you can't put it down. At the time I bought this book, I also bought two other lesbian erotica books...this one was the longest, but yet I finished it first (go figure). If you want something that is going to make your body throb and your heart sing, then this is the book to get.

Tasteful, erotic and a true celebration of lesbian sex, 06 Nov 1998
I have read other books professing to be "lesbian erotica" but they usually have included too much of the role playing and stereotyping I am not a fan of, rather than focusing solely on the mutual pleasure and sensuality that two women can achieve together. Awakening the Virgin appealed to that part of me that believes in the beauty and passion of women loving women while also validating the empowerment all women need to feel around their sexuality and sexual expression. A beautiful testament to the interface between hot sexual encounters and the emotional connection needed to make them so.

Rollickingly raunchy story of life on the gay game in 1930s London. , 18 Dec 2008
Paul Lemoyne leaves his home in rural southern England to make his way in London. He gets no further than Waterloo Station before his gay sexual adventures begin. Paul quickly discovers that he can have fun (and this is a guy who is out to enjoy himself) and make money from the punters at the same time. Over the next chapters we have a voyeur's eye view of Paul's commitment to his craft, lovlingly, graphically and explicitly portrayed.
What makes this great erotic writing is the style and humour, as well as Lear's skill at portraying fantastic gay sex. Paul describes his rake's progress,and downfall, with irony. There is a particularly good section on his relationship with a wild Russian modernist paianter, whose picture entitled 'Red Hole' is deemed by later critics to be a prophecy of Stalin's Russia whereas in fact it describes a particularly adventurous episode of sex involoving large quantities of red paint.
This is a re-issue of one of Lear's earlier books. As a fan, I would say this is one of his best. If you lke erotic writing that is also good, witty literature then you will love this.

Sleazy, sexy and highly entertaining..., 18 Nov 2006
This is the book I wish I'd written myself. It's sleazy and highly explicit; not for the faint-hearted. But it summons up brilliantly the atmosphere of the Halls and of the queer subculture of the thirties, (not that I remember!)

Paul Lemoyne is a pretty unpleasant character, but like his few real friends, you can't quite abandon him, and despite yourself, you care what happens to him. I suppose the fact that he knows he's behaving badly is a considerable redeeming feature. The end suggests that this may be the first of a series -- I would guess a trilogy -- a prospect which makes me very happy.

The book is written in spare prose and with a lightness of touch which makes it a pleasure to read.

Hot Erotic Romance? Yes!, 19 Dec 2008
Cowboys in Texas. Hot erotic romance. Bit of an oxymoron? Yes. But is it true? Yes. After Brokeback Mountain, gay cowboys may seem a bit of a cliche or at least bandwagon jumping, [and that may well be the case] but it makes a change from the usual staple fare of gay novels, the teenage coming out story. Pacily written, with steamy, nay, explicit sex scenes, [tell me how does a woman know what gay sex can or should be like so accurately?] and yet still romantic. Worth reading? Definitely. High literature? No. The plot is predictable, and some of the characters would strain to be called sketchy, but the main characters are fairly well developed and the pacing is good. The tension is maintained throughout, even though one knows the outcome before the end, in fact probably before the end of the first chapter. A good fun read, escapist and perhaps what one would like to dream of.

Hot drama, sizzling sex and true love., 29 Oct 2008
Older ranch owner has had the secret hots for Jamie ever since the lad was an adolescent. When Jamie comes out to his dad and is chucked off the family ranch guess who he turns to for help? The author could keep the secret longing of the book's heroes simmering undeclared until the last chapter but she prefers (thankfully)to have the two guys get it on within a few pages. Thereafter, they do not seem to have much time for ranching,as opposed to raunching but who's complaining? This is a graphically erotic novel, hugely enjoyable. And there is some real adventure outside the bedroom as well lots of adventurous sex within it.

The Tin Star, 15 May 2008
A fabulous love story between two hot, sexy men. I loved it from the first chapter. Very good book and well worth a bedtime read.

Just Brilliant, 20 Jan 2008
I was drawn in from the first page, you can't help but fall for Ethan and Jamie. Cowboys, sex and so much more. A great read!

DALLAS GOES GAY!, 29 Oct 2007
Fabulous - what a truely great read!

A gay, romantic lovestory (taken straight from the pages of a Dallas TV script!). This great story includes family woes, mystery, evil, love, brothers, sisters, cattle, ranch hands, a steakhouse, trucks, homophobia, secrets and MOST IMPORTANT fabulous gay characters!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - its lighthearted, romantic fun, with gay characters taking centre stage. ENJOY!!

Sexy love triangle, 03 Feb 2008
A young doctor and a paramedic move into together simply to share the rent. Soon, they are sharing a passionate relationship. Until they take on a third house-sharer, afirefighter, who soon becomes a roommate as well. Sounds corny but the growing love between the three men is plausibly portrayed and since they spend a lot of time having great sex who wants to be too picky?

A right ripping yarn!, 06 Sep 2008
All the intrigue of Agatha Christie, all the fun of a game of Cluedo, all the innuendo of a Carry On film with plenty of homoerotic scenes thrown in for good measure. Historical and humerous, this is one to enjoy and one to recommend to like-minded friends.

The Holmes/Watson type dynamic of Mitch and Boy Morgan is especially delicious, which I'm sure the butler would endorse! Lots of dastardly villains in the shape of the local constabulary and the manipulative Leonard Eagle. Enjoy!

The Back Passage , 15 May 2008
A Funny, sexy "Who dunnit" book, with quite graphic sex in every chapter.
The main character Mitch takes every opportunity (and there are many) to enjoy his sexuality. James Lear is on to a winner with this character and I hope he takes him further into his adventures as a detective. I can't wait to read more.

Giggle fest almost the whole way through!, 03 Oct 2007
With the exception of a brief interlude of (appropriate to context) police brutality, I laughed the whole way through this book! I read it when working nightshift and my co-workers thought I was mad. Written in a great 1920's style it is very explicit and the sex scenes are very intense (and unrelenting). However, the humour in evident on every page. If you want a nice whodunnit buy agatha christie - want a whodunnit with wit and bite? Try this! Ok, as a straight woman I am maybe not the intended audience but as random purchases go, I am so glad I bought it. Hilarious.

5 stars for the cover!, 08 Aug 2007
Is there a label for this kind of gay lit that has proliferated in recent years? These romps are usually decently written and often quite diverting but their raison d'etre is the endless stream of graphically described sexual encounters in which just about every young guy the handsome hunky hero encounters is ready and willing. If you removed the continuous stream of sex fantasies nobody would be bothered to read these books and presumably the authors wouldn't be bothered to write them. This particular opus in totally anachronistic in the sense that the gay ethos of our modern age is transplanted to a 1920s setting. But it's all fantasy so what does it matter?
Now, are you looking for a dazzling example of a classic whodunnit from the Golden Age of the 20s and 30s? In which case do an Amazon search for the Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley.
Or would you prefer a porny read that's pretty good fun, capably written with a so-so whodunnit stitched on? I thought so. In which case the Back Passage will do nicely.

An Absolute Hoot, 01 Jun 2007
This is an absolute scream, a period piece set in the world of silent cinema and po faced between-the-wars-Britishness. The sexy bits are, ahem, not for the faint hearted, but are never gratuitous, and the plot itself is neatly put together. One of the funniest books I have ever read.

Good book, 21 Jan 2005
If you want to learn about the females mind, this is the book for you, the emotional content that goes through each womens mind is abosolutly well written.

conclusions
*A good and interestiing read
*if you want to learn how females, as they say "game" other females, its nothing much

Oh, wow., 29 Jan 2004
Though I am not a lesbian, I thoroughly enjoyed getting my curoisty sated through this beautifully written anthology. The only thing I've read that comes close to getting it right--besides this one--is "The Other Woman" by Kim Corum and also "Bad Girl" by Alision Tyler. A truly wonderful book. I would highly recommend it.

hot!, 07 Apr 2003
Definately worth a read, i found it very entertaining and stimulating to read!
It tells of different experiences from in the funeral(very surprising i thought) to phone sex to your normal bedroom on how women have satisfied their curiosity as lesbian virgins to fulfilling their fantasies.
Definately worth reading.

a wonderful book..., 14 Apr 1999
This book is very well written. It captures you so easily and once you begin to read it, you can't put it down. At the time I bought this book, I also bought two other lesbian erotica books...this one was the longest, but yet I finished it first (go figure). If you want something that is going to make your body throb and your heart sing, then this is the book to get.

Tasteful, erotic and a true celebration of lesbian sex, 06 Nov 1998
I have read other books professing to be "lesbian erotica" but they usually have included too much of the role playing and stereotyping I am not a fan of, rather than focusing solely on the mutual pleasure and sensuality that two women can achieve together. Awakening the Virgin appealed to that part of me that believes in the beauty and passion of women loving women while also validating the empowerment all women need to feel around their sexuality and sexual expression. A beautiful testament to the interface between hot sexual encounters and the emotional connection needed to make them so.

Rollickingly raunchy story of life on the gay game in 1930s London. , 18 Dec 2008
Paul Lemoyne leaves his home in rural southern England to make his way in London. He gets no further than Waterloo Station before his gay sexual adventures begin. Paul quickly discovers that he can have fun (and this is a guy who is out to enjoy himself) and make money from the punters at the same time. Over the next chapters we have a voyeur's eye view of Paul's commitment to his craft, lovlingly, graphically and explicitly portrayed.
What makes this great erotic writing is the style and humour, as well as Lear's skill at portraying fantastic gay sex. Paul describes his rake's progress,and downfall, with irony. There is a particularly good section on his relationship with a wild Russian modernist paianter, whose picture entitled 'Red Hole' is deemed by later critics to be a prophecy of Stalin's Russia whereas in fact it describes a particularly adventurous episode of sex involoving large quantities of red paint.
This is a re-issue of one of Lear's earlier books. As a fan, I would say this is one of his best. If you lke erotic writing that is also good, witty literature then you will love this.

Sleazy, sexy and highly entertaining..., 18 Nov 2006
This is the book I wish I'd written myself. It's sleazy and highly explicit; not for the faint-hearted. But it summons up brilliantly the atmosphere of the Halls and of the queer subculture of the thirties, (not that I remember!)

Paul Lemoyne is a pretty unpleasant character, but like his few real friends, you can't quite abandon him, and despite yourself, you care what happens to him. I suppose the fact that he knows he's behaving badly is a considerable redeeming feature. The end suggests that this may be the first of a series -- I would guess a trilogy -- a prospect which makes me very happy.

The book is written in spare prose and with a lightness of touch which makes it a pleasure to read.

Hot Erotic Romance? Yes!, 19 Dec 2008
Cowboys in Texas. Hot erotic romance. Bit of an oxymoron? Yes. But is it true? Yes. After Brokeback Mountain, gay cowboys may seem a bit of a cliche or at least bandwagon jumping, [and that may well be the case] but it makes a change from the usual staple fare of gay novels, the teenage coming out story. Pacily written, with steamy, nay, explicit sex scenes, [tell me how does a woman know what gay sex can or should be like so accurately?] and yet still romantic. Worth reading? Definitely. High literature? No. The plot is predictable, and some of the characters would strain to be called sketchy, but the main characters are fairly well developed and the pacing is good. The tension is maintained throughout, even though one knows the outcome before the end, in fact probably before the end of the first chapter. A good fun read, escapist and perhaps what one would like to dream of.

Hot drama, sizzling sex and true love., 29 Oct 2008
Older ranch owner has had the secret hots for Jamie ever since the lad was an adolescent. When Jamie comes out to his dad and is chucked off the family ranch guess who he turns to for help? The author could keep the secret longing of the book's heroes simmering undeclared until the last chapter but she prefers (thankfully)to have the two guys get it on within a few pages. Thereafter, they do not seem to have much time for ranching,as opposed to raunching but who's complaining? This is a graphically erotic novel, hugely enjoyable. And there is some real adventure outside the bedroom as well lots of adventurous sex within it.

The Tin Star, 15 May 2008
A fabulous love story between two hot, sexy men. I loved it from the first chapter. Very good book and well worth a bedtime read.

Just Brilliant, 20 Jan 2008
I was drawn in from the first page, you can't help but fall for Ethan and Jamie. Cowboys, sex and so much more. A great read!

DALLAS GOES GAY!, 29 Oct 2007
Fabulous - what a truely great read!

A gay, romantic lovestory (taken straight from the pages of a Dallas TV script!). This great story includes family woes, mystery, evil, love, brothers, sisters, cattle, ranch hands, a steakhouse, trucks, homophobia, secrets and MOST IMPORTANT fabulous gay characters!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - its lighthearted, romantic fun, with gay characters taking centre stage. ENJOY!!

Sexy love triangle, 03 Feb 2008
A young doctor and a paramedic move into together simply to share the rent. Soon, they are sharing a passionate relationship. Until they take on a third house-sharer, afirefighter, who soon becomes a roommate as well. Sounds corny but the growing love between the three men is plausibly portrayed and since they spend a lot of time having great sex who wants to be too picky?

Loved It!, 02 Sep 2008
I loved this book from start to finish.

When I got past the first few chapters, I did wonder if the story would be able to continue to be so good, all the way to page 371, but it did. It has all the elements of a good story, in my opinion. Believable characters who I actually cared about, angst, hot sex and excellent writing that never allowed the story to become stale. I enjoyed it so much, I have just ordered another book by Chris Owen.


PORN, 23 Apr 2008
I was bitterly disappointed when after a couple of chapters, realised the formula was the same, minimal dialogue, followed by maximum sex, like reading a porn film script. Minimal story line wrapped around chapter after chapter of well-written but gratuitous sex. Any discerning reader will be disappointed, however arousing it may be.


Sexy cowboys in a heartwarming romance. , 03 Oct 2007
The heroes of this story are two tough cowpokes who start out as rivals and quickly find that they are irresistibly attracted to each other. A fight turns into a love match, followed by the blossoming of their love, which is vividly and excitingly portrayed. Suspicion and infidelity provide the drama which almost breaks the relationship. But love triumphs and the reconciliation is worth waiting for.

Do Not Miss This Book, 09 Mar 2007
I've read almost every gay novel written and run an extensive gay novel review website, and this is one of my all time favourites, although I believe the author had to originally self-publish. What is wrong with publishers? This book does the very rare thing of being able to cross over from blisteringly hot gay porn to a beautifully crafted, superbly written novel. I really can't fault this story; it satisfies on every level. The sex is overwhelmingly well written, and never repetitive, and it's sex between two beautiful men you will really care for and love. I sat up to the early hours of the morning with this one as I just could not put it down, so tense, so desperate for the love story to end happily. Of all the books I've reviewed on my site, this is the one I said I would like to have written myself.
Definitely an adult book, but buy and adore....


Two cowboys find love, 15 Feb 2007
Present day cowboy Jake Taggart is in his thirties, he is foreman on an Arkansas ranch, working for a descent boss, Doug. Doug took Jake on at the ranch over ten years ago when he was released from prison having served a hefty sentence, the result of a drunken misspent youth. He was also punished by being disowned by his family. But he has since proved himself, and now loves his work at the ranch, that is apart from one dark haired, handsome and arrogant younger cowboy named Tornado, or Tor, who causes him nothing but trouble. Then one day Tor goes missing in a storm and Jake, none to pleased, sets out to find him, a search which takes several hours. Tor, whose truck has broken down, on the other hand is furious that it has taken Jake so long to reach him; fury leads to a violent argument and a fight in the mud and wet. But in the heat of the battle Tor's secret passions of a different sort are aroused and Jake finds Tor's lips pressed against his, and soon the two men are engaged in a very intense physical enjoyment of each other. The two cowboys subsequently carry on a secret affair until a false accusation from the boss's daughter forces them to reveal their relationship. While their boss Doug and most of the other hands are understanding, they do encounter and have to overcome a few attitude problems. But eventually things settle, and soon they are even able to live openly together on the ranch.
The biggest problem they face though is each other; they frequently argue, until thing come to a head after four years, when Jake discovers Tor in an act of betrayal. The fall out is disastrous, they split and finally Tor leaves the ranch. But can they live apart, and if not, how do they get back together? There seems no solution until one of them accepts some advice from some unlikely sources. But do they still have the will to give things another go?
This is a passionate and moving love story, admittedly it did not seem that way from the beginning of the novel, but as we get to know Jake and Tor it is hard not to feel for them; they have each had a difficult life with past problems to confront. The other characters are interesting and varied, some faithfully supporting the couple, others causing trouble in one way or another.
Jake and Tor, and occasionally others, enjoy some pretty extravagant sex, and Chris Owen does not hold back in vividly describing their activities together in the bedroom and any number of other locations.
I found this an enjoyable and moving tale that became more and more involving and intense as the plot progressed.

A right ripping yarn!, 06 Sep 2008
All the intrigue of Agatha Christie, all the fun of a game of Cluedo, all the innuendo of a Carry On film with plenty of homoerotic scenes thrown in for good measure. Historical and humerous, this is one to enjoy and one to recommend to like-minded friends.

The Holmes/Watson type dynamic of Mitch and Boy Morgan is especially delicious, which I'm sure the butler would endorse! Lots of dastardly villains in the shape of the local constabulary and the manipulative Leonard Eagle. Enjoy!

The Back Passage , 15 May 2008
A Funny, sexy "Who dunnit" book, with quite graphic sex in every chapter.
The main character Mitch takes every opportunity (and there are many) to enjoy his sexuality. James Lear is on to a winner with this character and I hope he takes him further into his adventures as a detective. I can't wait to read more.

Giggle fest almost the whole way through!, 03 Oct 2007
With the exception of a brief interlude of (appropriate to context) police brutality, I laughed the whole way through this book! I read it when working nightshift and my co-workers thought I was mad. Written in a great 1920's style it is very explicit and the sex scenes are very intense (and unrelenting). However, the humour in evident on every page. If you want a nice whodunnit buy agatha christie - want a whodunnit with wit and bite? Try this! Ok, as a straight woman I am maybe not the intended audience but as random purchases go, I am so glad I bought it. Hilarious.

5 stars for the cover!, 08 Aug 2007
Is there a label for this kind of gay lit that has proliferated in recent years? These romps are usually decently written and often quite diverting but their raison d'etre is the endless stream of graphically described sexual encounters in which just about every young guy the handsome hunky hero encounters is ready and willing. If you removed the continuous stream of sex fantasies nobody would be bothered to read these books and presumably the authors wouldn't be bothered to write them. This particular opus in totally anachronistic in the sense that the gay ethos of our modern age is transplanted to a 1920s setting. But it's all fantasy so what does it matter?
Now, are you looking for a dazzling example of a classic whodunnit from the Golden Age of the 20s and 30s? In which case do an Amazon search for the Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley.
Or would you prefer a porny read that's pretty good fun, capably written with a so-so whodunnit stitched on? I thought so. In which case the Back Passage will do nicely.

An Absolute Hoot, 01 Jun 2007
This is an absolute scream, a period piece set in the world of silent cinema and po faced between-the-wars-Britishness. The sexy bits are, ahem, not for the faint hearted, but are never gratuitous, and the plot itself is neatly put together. One of the funniest books I have ever read.

Good book, 21 Jan 2005
If you want to learn about the females mind, this is the book for you, the emotional content that goes through each womens mind is abosolutly well written.

conclusions
*A good and interestiing read
*if you want to learn how females, as they say "game" other females, its nothing much

Oh, wow., 29 Jan 2004
Though I am not a lesbian, I thoroughly enjoyed getting my curoisty sated through this beautifully written anthology. The only thing I've read that comes close to getting it right--besides this one--is "The Other Woman" by Kim Corum and also "Bad Girl" by Alision Tyler. A truly wonderful book. I would highly recommend it.

hot!, 07 Apr 2003
Definately worth a read, i found it very entertaining and stimulating to read!
It tells of different experiences from in the funeral(very surprising i thought) to phone sex to your normal bedroom on how women have satisfied their curiosity as lesbian virgins to fulfilling their fantasies.
Definately worth reading.

a wonderful book..., 14 Apr 1999
This book is very well written. It captures you so easily and once you begin to read it, you can't put it down. At the time I bought this book, I also bought two other lesbian erotica books...this one was the longest, but yet I finished it first (go figure). If you want something that is going to make your body throb and your heart sing, then this is the book to get.

Tasteful, erotic and a true celebration of lesbian sex, 06 Nov 1998
I have read other books professing to be "lesbian erotica" but they usually have included too much of the role playing and stereotyping I am not a fan of, rather than focusing solely on the mutual pleasure and sensuality that two women can achieve together. Awakening the Virgin appealed to that part of me that believes in the beauty and passion of women loving women while also validating the empowerment all women need to feel around their sexuality and sexual expression. A beautiful testament to the interface between hot sexual encounters and the emotional connection needed to make them so.

Rollickingly raunchy story of life on the gay game in 1930s London. , 18 Dec 2008
Paul Lemoyne leaves his home in rural southern England to make his way in London. He gets no further than Waterloo Station before his gay sexual adventures begin. Paul quickly discovers that he can have fun (and this is a guy who is out to enjoy himself) and make money from the punters at the same time. Over the next chapters we have a voyeur's eye view of Paul's commitment to his craft, lovlingly, graphically and explicitly portrayed.
What makes this great erotic writing is the style and humour, as well as Lear's skill at portraying fantastic gay sex. Paul describes his rake's progress,and downfall, with irony. There is a particularly good section on his relationship with a wild Russian modernist paianter, whose picture entitled 'Red Hole' is deemed by later critics to be a prophecy of Stalin's Russia whereas in fact it describes a particularly adventurous episode of sex involoving large quantities of red paint.
This is a re-issue of one of Lear's earlier books. As a fan, I would say this is one of his best. If you lke erotic writing that is also good, witty literature then you will love this.

Sleazy, sexy and highly entertaining..., 18 Nov 2006
This is the book I wish I'd written myself. It's sleazy and highly explicit; not for the faint-hearted. But it summons up brilliantly the atmosphere of the Halls and of the queer subculture of the thirties, (not that I remember!)

Paul Lemoyne is a pretty unpleasant character, but like his few real friends, you can't quite abandon him, and despite yourself, you care what happens to him. I suppose the fact that he knows he's behaving badly is a considerable redeeming feature. The end suggests that this may be the first of a series -- I would guess a trilogy -- a prospect which makes me very happy.

The book is written in spare prose and with a lightness of touch which makes it a pleasure to read.

Hot Erotic Romance? Yes!, 19 Dec 2008
Cowboys in Texas. Hot erotic romance. Bit of an oxymoron? Yes. But is it true? Yes. After Brokeback Mountain, gay cowboys may seem a bit of a cliche or at least bandwagon jumping, [and that may well be the case] but it makes a change from the usual staple fare of gay novels, the teenage coming out story. Pacily written, with steamy, nay, explicit sex scenes, [tell me how does a woman know what gay sex can or should be like so accurately?] and yet still romantic. Worth reading? Definitely. High literature? No. The plot is predictable, and some of the characters would strain to be called sketchy, but the main characters are fairly well developed and the pacing is good. The tension is maintained throughout, even though one knows the outcome before the end, in fact probably before the end of the first chapter. A good fun read, escapist and perhaps what one would like to dream of.

Hot drama, sizzling sex and true love., 29 Oct 2008
Older ranch owner has had the secret hots for Jamie ever since the lad was an adolescent. When Jamie comes out to his dad and is chucked off the family ranch guess who he turns to for help? The author could keep the secret longing of the book's heroes simmering undeclared until the last chapter but she prefers (thankfully)to have the two guys get it on within a few pages. Thereafter, they do not seem to have much time for ranching,as opposed to raunching but who's complaining? This is a graphically erotic novel, hugely enjoyable. And there is some real adventure outside the bedroom as well lots of adventurous sex within it.

The Tin Star, 15 May 2008
A fabulous love story between two hot, sexy men. I loved it from the first chapter. Very good book and well worth a bedtime read.

Just Brilliant, 20 Jan 2008
I was drawn in from the first page, you can't help but fall for Ethan and Jamie. Cowboys, sex and so much more. A great read!

DALLAS GOES GAY!, 29 Oct 2007
Fabulous - what a truely great read!

A gay, romantic lovestory (taken straight from the pages of a Dallas TV script!). This great story includes family woes, mystery, evil, love, brothers, sisters, cattle, ranch hands, a steakhouse, trucks, homophobia, secrets and MOST IMPORTANT fabulous gay characters!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - its lighthearted, romantic fun, with gay characters taking centre stage. ENJOY!!

Sexy love triangle, 03 Feb 2008
A young doctor and a paramedic move into together simply to share the rent. Soon, they are sharing a passionate relationship. Until they take on a third house-sharer, afirefighter, who soon becomes a roommate as well. Sounds corny but the growing love between the three men is plausibly portrayed and since they spend a lot of time having great sex who wants to be too picky?

Loved It!, 02 Sep 2008
I loved this book from start to finish.

When I got past the first few chapters, I did wonder if the story would be able to continue to be so good, all the way to page 371, but it did. It has all the elements of a good story, in my opinion. Believable characters who I actually cared about, angst, hot sex and excellent writing that never allowed the story to become stale. I enjoyed it so much, I have just ordered another book by Chris Owen.


PORN, 23 Apr 2008
I was bitterly disappointed when after a couple of chapters, realised the formula was the same, minimal dialogue, followed by maximum sex, like reading a porn film script. Minimal story line wrapped around chapter after chapter of well-written but gratuitous sex. Any discerning reader will be disappointed, however arousing it may be.


Sexy cowboys in a heartwarming romance. , 03 Oct 2007
The heroes of this story are two tough cowpokes who start out as rivals and quickly find that they are irresistibly attracted to each other. A fight turns into a love match, followed by the blossoming of their love, which is vividly and excitingly portrayed. Suspicion and infidelity provide the drama which almost breaks the relationship. But love triumphs and the reconciliation is worth waiting for.

Do Not Miss This Book, 09 Mar 2007
I've read almost every gay novel written and run an extensive gay novel review website, and this is one of my all time favourites, although I believe the author had to originally self-publish. What is wrong with publishers? This book does the very rare thing of being able to cross over from blisteringly hot gay porn to a beautifully crafted, superbly written novel. I really can't fault this story; it satisfies on every level. The sex is overwhelmingly well written, and never repetitive, and it's sex between two beautiful men you will really care for and love. I sat up to the early hours of the morning with this one as I just could not put it down, so tense, so desperate for the love story to end happily. Of all the books I've reviewed on my site, this is the one I said I would like to have written myself.
Definitely an adult book, but buy and adore....


Two cowboys find love, 15 Feb 2007
Present day cowboy Jake Taggart is in his thirties, he is foreman on an Arkansas ranch, working for a descent boss, Doug. Doug took Jake on at the ranch over ten years ago when he was released from prison having served a hefty sentence, the result of a drunken misspent youth. He was also punished by being disowned by his family. But he has since proved himself, and now loves his work at the ranch, that is apart from one dark haired, handsome and arrogant younger cowboy named Tornado, or Tor, who causes him nothing but trouble. Then one day Tor goes missing in a storm and Jake, none to pleased, sets out to find him, a search which takes several hours. Tor, whose truck has broken down, on the other hand is furious that it has taken Jake so long to reach him; fury leads to a violent argument and a fight in the mud and wet. But in the heat of the battle Tor's secret passions of a different sort are aroused and Jake finds Tor's lips pressed against his, and soon the two men are engaged in a very intense physical enjoyment of each other. The two cowboys subsequently carry on a secret affair until a false accusation from the boss's daughter forces them to reveal their relationship. While their boss Doug and most of the other hands are understanding, they do encounter and have to overcome a few attitude problems. But eventually things settle, and soon they are even able to live openly together on the ranch.
The biggest problem they face though is each other; they frequently argue, until thing come to a head after four years, when Jake discovers Tor in an act of betrayal. The fall out is disastrous, they split and finally Tor leaves the ranch. But can they live apart, and if not, how do they get back together? There seems no solution until one of them accepts some advice from some unlikely sources. But do they still have the will to give things another go?
This is a passionate and moving love story, admittedly it did not seem that way from the beginning of the novel, but as we get to know Jake and Tor it is hard not to feel for them; they have each had a difficult life with past problems to confront. The other characters are interesting and varied, some faithfully supporting the couple, others causing trouble in one way or another.
Jake and Tor, and occasionally others, enjoy some pretty extravagant sex, and Chris Owen does not hold back in vividly describing their activities together in the bedroom and any number of other locations.
I found this an enjoyable and moving tale that became more and more involving and intense as the plot progressed.



Sex and the Civil War. Does what it shows on the cover., 20 Sep 2007
Do judge this book by its cover - and its title.
Jack, the younger son of a rich southern family, celebrates his coming of age by getting laid by half the guys in his nearest town. He then turns his attention to Aaron, the serious, upright black servant on his father's eatate, who turns out not to be immune to Jack's seduction techniques, though singularly unimpressed by his charms. As the civil war breaks out both men enlist and the book recounte their separate stories. For both, the civil war turns out to have been limitlessly inventive hot sex with most of the confederate army and several obliging civilians on the side. Oh, and the occasional battle too. True love between the two men also finds its course. But this book is a lustily, graphically glorious excuse to put its two heroes through their sexual paces and no one does hot gay sex with such obvious relish as Lear. The best raunchy read I have had in a while.

Hot Valley is just hot..., 26 Aug 2007
For some reason, I got the impression that 'Hot Valley' was going to be more serious than James Lear's earlier work. I was wrong -- up to a point. Readers whose experience begins with his previous novel, 'The Back Passage', might be surprised at a difference in tone here; but if you've read 'The Low Road' or 'The Palace of Varieties', you'll discover a familiar Lear theme; the selfish, wanton young man, indulging in wild and indiscriminate gay sex until he's finally redeemed by the pricking of conscience and the cleansing salve of love.

Jack Edgerton is the scion of a rich Vermont family, sowing his wild oats - and believe me, they're wild - in the years just before the American Civil War. One of my favourite episodes has the nineteen-year-old Jack, determined to lose his virginity, going in search of the roughest of rough trade on the wrong side of the tracks. And so beginning a wonderful career of debauchery.

Later, he meets his match, in all senses, in Aaron Johnson, the son of a southern plantation owner and a slave woman. Aaron is everything Jack is not; studious, hard-working, thoughtful and restrained. (Though not for the whole book, you'll be glad to hear.)

Inexorably, both men get drawn into the war, and Jack's long journey to salvation begins. I know a bit about this period, and it all felt very authentic to me. Lear has a great broad-brush technique; he doesn't bombard the reader with historical information - something which must have been a temptation here. But the picture he creates is vivid. Yes, the preponderance of willing homosexual partners is wonderfully coincidental, but then it's a gay fantasy; one might say a historical fairy story. And indeed, some amazing coincidences are needed to make the story work, but somehow it doesn't matter too much.

Most of Lear's readers will buy this book for its sexual passages, and they won't be disappointed. This is real, raw sex; full of pain and pleasure, tastes, sounds, smells and bodily fluids. It's raunchy, rough and utterly without restraint.

But there is a serious aspect. After all, the themes are war and racism and prejudice, and Lear doesn't dodge them. Given the nature of his writing, there's something endearingly naïve about the simple moral message the story conveys. But the frankly sentimental and deeply satisfying ending is rescued from mawkishness, in typical Lear style, by the introduction of a wild orgy.

His prose is simple and flowing; easy, clear sentences which are a pleasure to read.

Readers will know how likely they are to be affected by the sex scenes; my advice would be not to read 'Hot Valley' on the Metropolitan line, or indeed, any other form of mass transport. And if, like me, you're assailed by sudden tears at times of emotion, that's another reason not to read it in public.

But do read it. This is Lear at his outrageous, raunchy best.




More Emmanuel than Rhett Butler, I'm afraid..., 05 Jun 2007
I was so enamoured of Mr Lear's last novel "The Back Passage" that I looked forward to this book rather a lot. I was rather dissapointed. Whilst it won't dissapoint readers who like a hot scene to excite them on every other page, that's where the book failed for me.

In The Back Passage, the hero goes from sexual encounter to sexual encounter in his quest to find out clues for a murder in an Agatha Christie style romp and although the sex is possibly gratuitous its cleverly done and never feels like it. There's also much wit and humour.

But Hot Valley - set in the American Civil war - it just felt to me that sex scene after sex scene after sex scene... were linked tenuously with the hero's travels. It felt like the background of the war is added as an afterthought. It also feels hugely anachronistic as surely 1860 America wasn't so accepting of gay sex. Every single man that the protagonist meets, from his co-workers, his father's employers, drinking companions, fellow soldiers - everyone! Wants to (and does) have sex with him in many various ways. As much as I enjoy (heaven knows!) an erotic book, there is a case for Too Much - and I found myself hoping that the next man that Jack met simply wanted to have a chat. Or a cuppa tea. Or anything! I found myself skipping the sex to find the next piece of plot.

I'm sorry, James, that I didn't like it. I wanted to, but I was hoping for a good historical romp but didn't find it in Hot Valley.

A right ripping yarn!, 06 Sep 2008
All the intrigue of Agatha Christie, all the fun of a game of Cluedo, all the innuendo of a Carry On film with plenty of homoerotic scenes thrown in for good measure. Historical and humerous, this is one to enjoy and one to recommend to like-minded friends.

The Holmes/Watson type dynamic of Mitch and Boy Morgan is especially delicious, which I'm sure the butler would endorse! Lots of dastardly villains in the shape of the local constabulary and the manipulative Leonard Eagle. Enjoy!

The Back Passage , 15 May 2008
A Funny, sexy "Who dunnit" book, with quite graphic sex in every chapter.
The main character Mitch takes every opportunity (and there are many) to enjoy his sexuality. James Lear is on to a winner with this character and I hope he takes him further into his adventures as a detective. I can't wait to read more.

Giggle fest almost the whole way through!, 03 Oct 2007
With the exception of a brief interlude of (appropriate to context) police brutality, I laughed the whole way through this book! I read it when working nightshift and my co-workers thought I was mad. Written in a great 1920's style it is very explicit and the sex scenes are very intense (and unrelenting). However, the humour in evident on every page. If you want a nice whodunnit buy agatha christie - want a whodunnit with wit and bite? Try this! Ok, as a straight woman I am maybe not the intended audience but as random purchases go, I am so glad I bought it. Hilarious.

5 stars for the cover!, 08 Aug 2007
Is there a label for this kind of gay lit that has proliferated in recent years? These romps are usually decently written and often quite diverting but their raison d'etre is the endless stream of graphically described sexual encounters in which just about every young guy the handsome hunky hero encounters is ready and willing. If you removed the continuous stream of sex fantasies nobody would be bothered to read these books and presumably the authors wouldn't be bothered to write them. This particular opus in totally anachronistic in the sense that the gay ethos of our modern age is transplanted to a 1920s setting. But it's all fantasy so what does it matter?
Now, are you looking for a dazzling example of a classic whodunnit from the Golden Age of the 20s and 30s? In which case do an Amazon search for the Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley.
Or would you prefer a porny read that's pretty good fun, capably written with a so-so whodunnit stitched on? I thought so. In which case the Back Passage will do nicely.

An Absolute Hoot, 01 Jun 2007
This is an absolute scream, a period piece set in the world of silent cinema and po faced between-the-wars-Britishness. The sexy bits are, ahem, not for the faint hearted, but are never gratuitous, and the plot itself is neatly put together. One of the funniest books I have ever read.

Good book, 21 Jan 2005
If you want to learn about the females mind, this is the book for you, the emotional content that goes through each womens mind is abosolutly well written.

conclusions
*A good and interestiing read
*if you want to learn how females, as they say "game" other females, its nothing much

Oh, wow., 29 Jan 2004
Though I am not a lesbian, I thoroughly enjoyed getting my curoisty sated through this beautifully written anthology. The only thing I've read that comes close to getting it right--besides this one--is "The Other Woman" by Kim Corum and also "Bad Girl" by Alision Tyler. A truly wonderful book. I would highly recommend it.

hot!, 07 Apr 2003
Definately worth a read, i found it very entertaining and stimulating to read!
It tells of different experiences from in the funeral(very surprising i thought) to phone sex to your normal bedroom on how women have satisfied their curiosity as lesbian virgins to fulfilling their fantasies.
Definately worth reading.

a wonderful book..., 14 Apr 1999
This book is very well written. It captures you so easily and once you begin to read it, you can't put it down. At the time I bought this book, I also bought two other lesbian erotica books...this one was the longest, but yet I finished it first (go figure). If you want something that is going to make your body throb and your heart sing, then this is the book to get.

Tasteful, erotic and a true celebration of lesbian sex, 06 Nov 1998
I have read other books professing to be "lesbian erotica" but they usually have included too much of the role playing and stereotyping I am not a fan of, rather than focusing solely on the mutual pleasure and sensuality that two women can achieve together. Awakening the Virgin appealed to that part of me that believes in the beauty and passion of women loving women while also validating the empowerment all women need to feel around their sexuality and sexual expression. A beautiful testament to the interface between hot sexual encounters and the emotional connection needed to make them so.

Rollickingly raunchy story of life on the gay game in 1930s London. , 18 Dec 2008
Paul Lemoyne leaves his home in rural southern England to make his way in London. He gets no further than Waterloo Station before his gay sexual adventures begin. Paul quickly discovers that he can have fun (and this is a guy who is out to enjoy himself) and make money from the punters at the same time. Over the next chapters we have a voyeur's eye view of Paul's commitment to his craft, lovlingly, graphically and explicitly portrayed.
What makes this great erotic writing is the style and humour, as well as Lear's skill at portraying fantastic gay sex. Paul describes his rake's progress,and downfall, with irony. There is a particularly good section on his relationship with a wild Russian modernist paianter, whose picture entitled 'Red Hole' is deemed by later critics to be a prophecy of Stalin's Russia whereas in fact it describes a particularly adventurous episode of sex involoving large quantities of red paint.
This is a re-issue of one of Lear's earlier books. As a fan, I would say this is one of his best. If you lke erotic writing that is also good, witty literature then you will love this.

Sleazy, sexy and highly entertaining..., 18 Nov 2006
This is the book I wish I'd written myself. It's sleazy and highly explicit; not for the faint-hearted. But it summons up brilliantly the atmosphere of the Halls and of the queer subculture of the thirties, (not that I remember!)

Paul Lemoyne is a pretty unpleasant character, but like his few real friends, you can't quite abandon him, and despite yourself, you care what happens to him. I suppose the fact that he knows he's behaving badly is a considerable redeeming feature. The end suggests that this may be the first of a series -- I would guess a trilogy -- a prospect which makes me very happy.

The book is written in spare prose and with a lightness of touch which makes it a pleasure to read.

Hot Erotic Romance? Yes!, 19 Dec 2008
Cowboys in Texas. Hot erotic romance. Bit of an oxymoron? Yes. But is it true? Yes. After Brokeback Mountain, gay cowboys may seem a bit of a cliche or at least bandwagon jumping, [and that may well be the case] but it makes a change from the usual staple fare of gay novels, the teenage coming out story. Pacily written, with steamy, nay, explicit sex scenes, [tell me how does a woman know what gay sex can or should be like so accurately?] and yet still romantic. Worth reading? Definitely. High literature? No. The plot is predictable, and some of the characters would strain to be called sketchy, but the main characters are fairly well developed and the pacing is good. The tension is maintained throughout, even though one knows the outcome before the end, in fact probably before the end of the first chapter. A good fun read, escapist and perhaps what one would like to dream of.

Hot drama, sizzling sex and true love., 29 Oct 2008
Older ranch owner has had the secret hots for Jamie ever since the lad was an adolescent. When Jamie comes out to his dad and is chucked off the family ranch guess who he turns to for help? The author could keep the secret longing of the book's heroes simmering undeclared until the last chapter but she prefers (thankfully)to have the two guys get it on within a few pages. Thereafter, they do not seem to have much time for ranching,as opposed to raunching but who's complaining? This is a graphically erotic novel, hugely enjoyable. And there is some real adventure outside the bedroom as well lots of adventurous sex within it.

The Tin Star, 15 May 2008
A fabulous love story between two hot, sexy men. I loved it from the first chapter. Very good book and well worth a bedtime read.

Just Brilliant, 20 Jan 2008
I was drawn in from the first page, you can't help but fall for Ethan and Jamie. Cowboys, sex and so much more. A great read!

DALLAS GOES GAY!, 29 Oct 2007
Fabulous - what a truely great read!

A gay, romantic lovestory (taken straight from the pages of a Dallas TV script!). This great story includes family woes, mystery, evil, love, brothers, sisters, cattle, ranch hands, a steakhouse, trucks, homophobia, secrets and MOST IMPORTANT fabulous gay characters!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - its lighthearted, romantic fun, with gay characters taking centre stage. ENJOY!!

Sexy love triangle, 03 Feb 2008
A young doctor and a paramedic move into together simply to share the rent. Soon, they are sharing a passionate relationship. Until they take on a third house-sharer, afirefighter, who soon becomes a roommate as well. Sounds corny but the growing love between the three men is plausibly portrayed and since they spend a lot of time having great sex who wants to be too picky?

Loved It!, 02 Sep 2008
I loved this book from start to finish.

When I got past the first few chapters, I did wonder if the story would be able to continue to be so good, all the way to page 371, but it did. It has all the elements of a good story, in my opinion. Believable characters who I actually cared about, angst, hot sex and excellent writing that never allowed the story to become stale. I enjoyed it so much, I have just ordered another book by Chris Owen.


PORN, 23 Apr 2008
I was bitterly disappointed when after a couple of chapters, realised the formula was the same, minimal dialogue, followed by maximum sex, like reading a porn film script. Minimal story line wrapped around chapter after chapter of well-written but gratuitous sex. Any discerning reader will be disappointed, however arousing it may be.


Sexy cowboys in a heartwarming romance. , 03 Oct 2007
The heroes of this story are two tough cowpokes who start out as rivals and quickly find that they are irresistibly attracted to each other. A fight turns into a love match, followed by the blossoming of their love, which is vividly and excitingly portrayed. Suspicion and infidelity provide the drama which almost breaks the relationship. But love triumphs and the reconciliation is worth waiting for.

Do Not Miss This Book, 09 Mar 2007
I've read almost every gay novel written and run an extensive gay novel review website, and this is one of my all time favourites, although I believe the author had to originally self-publish. What is wrong with publishers? This book does the very rare thing of being able to cross over from blisteringly hot gay porn to a beautifully crafted, superbly written novel. I really can't fault this story; it satisfies on every level. The sex is overwhelmingly well written, and never repetitive, and it's sex between two beautiful men you will really care for and love. I sat up to the early hours of the morning with this one as I just could not put it down, so tense, so desperate for the love story to end happily. Of all the books I've reviewed on my site, this is the one I said I would like to have written myself.
Definitely an adult book, but buy and adore....


Two cowboys find love, 15 Feb 2007
Present day cowboy Jake Taggart is in his thirties, he is foreman on an Arkansas ranch, working for a descent boss, Doug. Doug took Jake on at the ranch over ten years ago when he was released from prison having served a hefty sentence, the result of a drunken misspent youth. He was also punished by being disowned by his family. But he has since proved himself, and now loves his work at the ranch, that is apart from one dark haired, handsome and arrogant younger cowboy named Tornado, or Tor, who causes him nothing but trouble. Then one day Tor goes missing in a storm and Jake, none to pleased, sets out to find him, a search which takes several hours. Tor, whose truck has broken down, on the other hand is furious that it has taken Jake so long to reach him; fury leads to a violent argument and a fight in the mud and wet. But in the heat of the battle Tor's secret passions of a different sort are aroused and Jake finds Tor's lips pressed against his, and soon the two men are engaged in a very intense physical enjoyment of each other. The two cowboys subsequently carry on a secret affair until a false accusation from the boss's daughter forces them to reveal their relationship. While their boss Doug and most of the other hands are understanding, they do encounter and have to overcome a few attitude problems. But eventually things settle, and soon they are even able to live openly together on the ranch.
The biggest problem they face though is each other; they frequently argue, until thing come to a head after four years, when Jake discovers Tor in an act of betrayal. The fall out is disastrous, they split and finally Tor leaves the ranch. But can they live apart, and if not, how do they get back together? There seems no solution until one of them accepts some advice from some unlikely sources. But do they still have the will to give things another go?
This is a passionate and moving love story, admittedly it did not seem that way from the beginning of the novel, but as we get to know Jake and Tor it is hard not to feel for them; they have each had a difficult life with past problems to confront. The other characters are interesting and varied, some faithfully supporting the couple, others causing trouble in one way or another.
Jake and Tor, and occasionally others, enjoy some pretty extravagant sex, and Chris Owen does not hold back in vividly describing their activities together in the bedroom and any number of other locations.
I found this an enjoyable and moving tale that became more and more involving and intense as the plot progressed.



Sex and the Civil War. Does what it shows on the cover., 20 Sep 2007
Do judge this book by its cover - and its title.
Jack, the younger son of a rich southern family, celebrates his coming of age by getting laid by half the guys in his nearest town. He then turns his attention to Aaron, the serious, upright black servant on his father's eatate, who turns out not to be immune to Jack's seduction techniques, though singularly unimpressed by his charms. As the civil war breaks out both men enlist and the book recounte their separate stories. For both, the civil war turns out to have been limitlessly inventive hot sex with most of the confederate army and several obliging civilians on the side. Oh, and the occasional battle too. True love between the two men also finds its course. But this book is a lustily, graphically glorious excuse to put its two heroes through their sexual paces and no one does hot gay sex with such obvious relish as Lear. The best raunchy read I have had in a while.

Hot Valley is just hot..., 26 Aug 2007
For some reason, I got the impression that 'Hot Valley' was going to be more serious than James Lear's earlier work. I was wrong -- up to a point. Readers whose experience begins with his previous novel, 'The Back Passage', might be surprised at a difference in tone here; but if you've read 'The Low Road' or 'The Palace of Varieties', you'll discover a familiar Lear theme; the selfish, wanton young man, indulging in wild and indiscriminate gay sex until he's finally redeemed by the pricking of conscience and the cleansing salve of love.

Jack Edgerton is the scion of a rich Vermont family, sowing his wild oats - and believe me, they're wild - in the years just before the American Civil War. One of my favourite episodes has the nineteen-year-old Jack, determined to lose his virginity, going in search of the roughest of rough trade on the wrong side of the tracks. And so beginning a wonderful career of debauchery.

Later, he meets his match, in all senses, in Aaron Johnson, the son of a southern plantation owner and a slave woman. Aaron is everything Jack is not; studious, hard-working, thoughtful and restrained. (Though not for the whole book, you'll be glad to hear.)

Inexorably, both men get drawn into the war, and Jack's long journey to salvation begins. I know a bit about this period, and it all felt very authentic to me. Lear has a great broad-brush technique; he doesn't bombard the reader with historical information - something which must have been a temptation here. But the picture he creates is vivid. Yes, the preponderance of willing homosexual partners is wonderfully coincidental, but then it's a gay fantasy; one might say a historical fairy story. And indeed, some amazing coincidences are needed to make the story work, but somehow it doesn't matter too much.

Most of Lear's readers will buy this book for its sexual passages, and they won't be disappointed. This is real, raw sex; full of pain and pleasure, tastes, sounds, smells and bodily fluids. It's raunchy, rough and utterly without restraint.

But there is a serious aspect. After all, the themes are war and racism and prejudice, and Lear doesn't dodge them. Given the nature of his writing, there's something endearingly naïve about the simple moral message the story conveys. But the frankly sentimental and deeply satisfying ending is rescued from mawkishness, in typical Lear style, by the introduction of a wild orgy.

His prose is simple and flowing; easy, clear sentences which are a pleasure to read.

Readers will know how likely they are to be affected by the sex scenes; my advice would be not to read 'Hot Valley' on the Metropolitan line, or indeed, any other form of mass transport. And if, like me, you're assailed by sudden tears at times of emotion, that's another reason not to read it in public.

But do read it. This is Lear at his outrageous, raunchy best.




More Emmanuel than Rhett Butler, I'm afraid..., 05 Jun 2007
I was so enamoured of Mr Lear's last novel "The Back Passage" that I looked forward to this book rather a lot. I was rather dissapointed. Whilst it won't dissapoint readers who like a hot scene to excite them on every other page, that's where the book failed for me.

In The Back Passage, the hero goes from sexual encounter to sexual encounter in his quest to find out clues for a murder in an Agatha Christie style romp and although the sex is possibly gratuitous its cleverly done and never feels like it. There's also much wit and humour.

But Hot Valley - set in the American Civil war - it just felt to me that sex scene after sex scene after sex scene... were linked tenuously with the hero's travels. It felt like the background of the war is added as an afterthought. It also feels hugely anachronistic as surely 1860 America wasn't so accepting of gay sex. Every single man that the protagonist meets, from his co-workers, his father's employers, drinking companions, fellow soldiers - everyone! Wants to (and does) have sex with him in many various ways. As much as I enjoy (heaven knows!) an erotic book, there is a case for Too Much - and I found myself hoping that the next man that Jack met simply wanted to have a chat. Or a cuppa tea. Or anything! I found myself skipping the sex to find the next piece of plot.

I'm sorry, James, that I didn't like it. I wanted to, but I was hoping for a good historical romp but didn't find it in Hot Valley.

Unsettling home truths from a brilliant teacher, 02 Jul 2001
Jonathan Dollimore with wit and clarity culls the sacred cows milked by friends and foes alike. With a remarkable combination of philosophic acuity and poetic sensibility he teases from literary evidence the perverse paradoxes we live our often fragile identities through. Particularly impressive is the brilliant resetting of central perceptions of Freud and other materialist writers - rescuing them from the contemporary complacent assumption that they have been, as it were, disproved. The result is that new spaces have been opened up enabling an exciting reengagement with the works of writers otherwise dismissed through lazy politically correct consensus. Still more importantly