Charming, but not earth-shattering, 23 Nov 2008
"Empress of the World" is a nice little novel that showcases Sara Ryan's potential as a writer, but doesn't quite come across as the finished article. The book is charmingly (if unfussily) written and well-observed in places and is very highly readable, but lacks polish in the writing and characterisation.

The story concerns two teenage girls who find romance together at a summer camp for gifted children. Our heroine is very likeable and is an engaging voice for this story, but this relatively slight tale is need of more incisive observation and well-drawn characters. In places, the narrative drifts, and none of the characters has a really strong identity. On the plus side, I did like the fact that towards the ending, the book acquires a thoughtfully realistic tone in terms of what happens in the relationship. Certain crises during the course of the romance might sound somewhat familiar to lesbian readers, and others will resonate with those who have been in love or thought that they might be, regardless of sexuality.

The difficulty is that the book does just not make enough of an impact. Were the romance depicted a heterosexual one, the book may not have found an audience at all. A nice start from Sara Ryan but I think she might be coming out with some truly insightful fiction in a few books' time.

Book description, 14 Apr 2007
What do you do when you think you're attracted to guys, and then you meet a girl who steals your heart?. Sara Ryan tells the story of a teenage girl coming to terms with who she really is, despite who she thought she was.
Nicola Lancaster is spending eight weeks at the Siegel Institute Summer Program for Gifted Youth, a hothouse of smart, articulate, intense teenagers. She soon falls in with Katrina (Manic Computer Chick), Isaac (Nice-Guy-Despite-Himself), Kevin (Inarticulate Composer) ... and Battle. Battle Hall Davies is a beautiful blonde dancer, and everything Nic isn't. The two become friends--and then, startlingly, more than friends.

This book is amazing!, 17 Sep 2003
I am a bisexual and this book just explains the experience of being a girl inlove with a girl. I know the feeling well. I love you munkey!
Its the story of Nicola and Battle two girls who meet at a Gifted and Talented Camp. First they become friends then more then friends. Its a beautiful love story thats been needed for along time.

Charming, but not earth-shattering, 23 Nov 2008
"Empress of the World" is a nice little novel that showcases Sara Ryan's potential as a writer, but doesn't quite come across as the finished article. The book is charmingly (if unfussily) written and well-observed in places and is very highly readable, but lacks polish in the writing and characterisation.

The story concerns two teenage girls who find romance together at a summer camp for gifted children. Our heroine is very likeable and is an engaging voice for this story, but this relatively slight tale is need of more incisive observation and well-drawn characters. In places, the narrative drifts, and none of the characters has a really strong identity. On the plus side, I did like the fact that towards the ending, the book acquires a thoughtfully realistic tone in terms of what happens in the relationship. Certain crises during the course of the romance might sound somewhat familiar to lesbian readers, and others will resonate with those who have been in love or thought that they might be, regardless of sexuality.

The difficulty is that the book does just not make enough of an impact. Were the romance depicted a heterosexual one, the book may not have found an audience at all. A nice start from Sara Ryan but I think she might be coming out with some truly insightful fiction in a few books' time.

Book description, 14 Apr 2007
What do you do when you think you're attracted to guys, and then you meet a girl who steals your heart?. Sara Ryan tells the story of a teenage girl coming to terms with who she really is, despite who she thought she was.
Nicola Lancaster is spending eight weeks at the Siegel Institute Summer Program for Gifted Youth, a hothouse of smart, articulate, intense teenagers. She soon falls in with Katrina (Manic Computer Chick), Isaac (Nice-Guy-Despite-Himself), Kevin (Inarticulate Composer) ... and Battle. Battle Hall Davies is a beautiful blonde dancer, and everything Nic isn't. The two become friends--and then, startlingly, more than friends.

This book is amazing!, 17 Sep 2003
I am a bisexual and this book just explains the experience of being a girl inlove with a girl. I know the feeling well. I love you munkey!
Its the story of Nicola and Battle two girls who meet at a Gifted and Talented Camp. First they become friends then more then friends. Its a beautiful love story thats been needed for along time.

great bed-time reading for bi boys & girls, 20 Jun 2001
This is one of those books that you just can't put down! An eclectic mix of stories covering many aspects of bisexuality, from first-time experiences (Morning Surprises by Clint Jefferies is worth a special mention), to deep down n' dirty romps like After the Light Changed by the wonderful Carol Queen. Whether you're bi, curious or just fancy something different from the usual erotic stories, there's definately something here for everyone (presuming that everyone else is as dirty as me!)

An ecclectic collection of sexy Bisexual erotica, 22 Dec 2000
I wasn't too sure what to expect when I ordered the book. There's so much rubbish which calls itself erotica, that it's a bit of a hit or miss to what you get. As for Bisexual erotica, the majority tends to fall into the cliche's of mens porn magazines, which are a bit dull. So I was pleasantly surprised to find some really excellent writing, which has stories about men to men, women to women, and everything else in between without pandering solely to the cliche of three in a bed. Some really hot writing.

K

A groundbreaking collection, a new erotic genre is born, 11 Sep 2000
Ever wondered what bisexuals do in bed ? Well you're about to find out. At last ! Unlimited Desires is the first collection of bisexual erotic fiction to be collected under one book cover. Dispelling the myths, cliches and stereotypes of bisexual desire, the 24 stories which make up this anthology, go beyond the tired assumption of three in a bed, hetrosexual voyeurism or the quaint gay/lesbian coming out stories. The collection doesn't skirt around the issue but places bisexual desire, lust, life and lives at centre stage to make the natives either side of the picket fence restless.

Having searched hi and low for a collection of bisexual erotic fiction for the last 10 years, I've finally found something that I can call my own, without having to glue the pages of straight and Gay erotica together. I'm in agreement with Tom Robinson, when he describes the book as " really first rate writing, the collection goes right to the heart of the matter. It carries a social punch even more valuable than its ( considerable ) erotic charge. "

There is something to please everyone regardless how you may identify. The collection includes pieces from over three continents, including some firm favourites such as Carol Queen, Thomas Roche, Marylyn Jaye Lewis, Dan Wolff, and Alice Blue as well as Wayne Bryant, D Franklin, Piglet, Dean Durber, Katherine Park and Jamie Joy Gatto. Three cheers for the boys and girls at BiPress, looking forward to volume two.

A happy Bi Bunny

Rasey

Charming, but not earth-shattering, 23 Nov 2008
"Empress of the World" is a nice little novel that showcases Sara Ryan's potential as a writer, but doesn't quite come across as the finished article. The book is charmingly (if unfussily) written and well-observed in places and is very highly readable, but lacks polish in the writing and characterisation.

The story concerns two teenage girls who find romance together at a summer camp for gifted children. Our heroine is very likeable and is an engaging voice for this story, but this relatively slight tale is need of more incisive observation and well-drawn characters. In places, the narrative drifts, and none of the characters has a really strong identity. On the plus side, I did like the fact that towards the ending, the book acquires a thoughtfully realistic tone in terms of what happens in the relationship. Certain crises during the course of the romance might sound somewhat familiar to lesbian readers, and others will resonate with those who have been in love or thought that they might be, regardless of sexuality.

The difficulty is that the book does just not make enough of an impact. Were the romance depicted a heterosexual one, the book may not have found an audience at all. A nice start from Sara Ryan but I think she might be coming out with some truly insightful fiction in a few books' time.

Book description, 14 Apr 2007
What do you do when you think you're attracted to guys, and then you meet a girl who steals your heart?. Sara Ryan tells the story of a teenage girl coming to terms with who she really is, despite who she thought she was.
Nicola Lancaster is spending eight weeks at the Siegel Institute Summer Program for Gifted Youth, a hothouse of smart, articulate, intense teenagers. She soon falls in with Katrina (Manic Computer Chick), Isaac (Nice-Guy-Despite-Himself), Kevin (Inarticulate Composer) ... and Battle. Battle Hall Davies is a beautiful blonde dancer, and everything Nic isn't. The two become friends--and then, startlingly, more than friends.

This book is amazing!, 17 Sep 2003
I am a bisexual and this book just explains the experience of being a girl inlove with a girl. I know the feeling well. I love you munkey!
Its the story of Nicola and Battle two girls who meet at a Gifted and Talented Camp. First they become friends then more then friends. Its a beautiful love story thats been needed for along time.

great bed-time reading for bi boys & girls, 20 Jun 2001
This is one of those books that you just can't put down! An eclectic mix of stories covering many aspects of bisexuality, from first-time experiences (Morning Surprises by Clint Jefferies is worth a special mention), to deep down n' dirty romps like After the Light Changed by the wonderful Carol Queen. Whether you're bi, curious or just fancy something different from the usual erotic stories, there's definately something here for everyone (presuming that everyone else is as dirty as me!)

An ecclectic collection of sexy Bisexual erotica, 22 Dec 2000
I wasn't too sure what to expect when I ordered the book. There's so much rubbish which calls itself erotica, that it's a bit of a hit or miss to what you get. As for Bisexual erotica, the majority tends to fall into the cliche's of mens porn magazines, which are a bit dull. So I was pleasantly surprised to find some really excellent writing, which has stories about men to men, women to women, and everything else in between without pandering solely to the cliche of three in a bed. Some really hot writing.

K

A groundbreaking collection, a new erotic genre is born, 11 Sep 2000
Ever wondered what bisexuals do in bed ? Well you're about to find out. At last ! Unlimited Desires is the first collection of bisexual erotic fiction to be collected under one book cover. Dispelling the myths, cliches and stereotypes of bisexual desire, the 24 stories which make up this anthology, go beyond the tired assumption of three in a bed, hetrosexual voyeurism or the quaint gay/lesbian coming out stories. The collection doesn't skirt around the issue but places bisexual desire, lust, life and lives at centre stage to make the natives either side of the picket fence restless.

Having searched hi and low for a collection of bisexual erotic fiction for the last 10 years, I've finally found something that I can call my own, without having to glue the pages of straight and Gay erotica together. I'm in agreement with Tom Robinson, when he describes the book as " really first rate writing, the collection goes right to the heart of the matter. It carries a social punch even more valuable than its ( considerable ) erotic charge. "

There is something to please everyone regardless how you may identify. The collection includes pieces from over three continents, including some firm favourites such as Carol Queen, Thomas Roche, Marylyn Jaye Lewis, Dan Wolff, and Alice Blue as well as Wayne Bryant, D Franklin, Piglet, Dean Durber, Katherine Park and Jamie Joy Gatto. Three cheers for the boys and girls at BiPress, looking forward to volume two.

A happy Bi Bunny

Rasey

Lust-tastic!, 13 Dec 2008
Lust is fantastic. It contains 17 smutty stories which, despite the fact they've been penned by the same person, vary wildly. In this book there are tales of prostitution, domination, sex with vegetables, swingers and much more. The one thing they all have in common is they are damn sexy. I had my favourites of course, but they were all fabulously written and incredibly imaginative.

As the title suggests, the stories contain bisexual sex acts, so if this isn't your bag, then you're not going to like this book. If, however, you like reading about this kind of thing, you'll be in heaven. Even the cover of this book is sexy - which is simply a taste of what's to come when you delve in...

Charming, but not earth-shattering, 23 Nov 2008
"Empress of the World" is a nice little novel that showcases Sara Ryan's potential as a writer, but doesn't quite come across as the finished article. The book is charmingly (if unfussily) written and well-observed in places and is very highly readable, but lacks polish in the writing and characterisation.

The story concerns two teenage girls who find romance together at a summer camp for gifted children. Our heroine is very likeable and is an engaging voice for this story, but this relatively slight tale is need of more incisive observation and well-drawn characters. In places, the narrative drifts, and none of the characters has a really strong identity. On the plus side, I did like the fact that towards the ending, the book acquires a thoughtfully realistic tone in terms of what happens in the relationship. Certain crises during the course of the romance might sound somewhat familiar to lesbian readers, and others will resonate with those who have been in love or thought that they might be, regardless of sexuality.

The difficulty is that the book does just not make enough of an impact. Were the romance depicted a heterosexual one, the book may not have found an audience at all. A nice start from Sara Ryan but I think she might be coming out with some truly insightful fiction in a few books' time.

Book description, 14 Apr 2007
What do you do when you think you're attracted to guys, and then you meet a girl who steals your heart?. Sara Ryan tells the story of a teenage girl coming to terms with who she really is, despite who she thought she was.
Nicola Lancaster is spending eight weeks at the Siegel Institute Summer Program for Gifted Youth, a hothouse of smart, articulate, intense teenagers. She soon falls in with Katrina (Manic Computer Chick), Isaac (Nice-Guy-Despite-Himself), Kevin (Inarticulate Composer) ... and Battle. Battle Hall Davies is a beautiful blonde dancer, and everything Nic isn't. The two become friends--and then, startlingly, more than friends.

This book is amazing!, 17 Sep 2003
I am a bisexual and this book just explains the experience of being a girl inlove with a girl. I know the feeling well. I love you munkey!
Its the story of Nicola and Battle two girls who meet at a Gifted and Talented Camp. First they become friends then more then friends. Its a beautiful love story thats been needed for along time.

great bed-time reading for bi boys & girls, 20 Jun 2001
This is one of those books that you just can't put down! An eclectic mix of stories covering many aspects of bisexuality, from first-time experiences (Morning Surprises by Clint Jefferies is worth a special mention), to deep down n' dirty romps like After the Light Changed by the wonderful Carol Queen. Whether you're bi, curious or just fancy something different from the usual erotic stories, there's definately something here for everyone (presuming that everyone else is as dirty as me!)

An ecclectic collection of sexy Bisexual erotica, 22 Dec 2000
I wasn't too sure what to expect when I ordered the book. There's so much rubbish which calls itself erotica, that it's a bit of a hit or miss to what you get. As for Bisexual erotica, the majority tends to fall into the cliche's of mens porn magazines, which are a bit dull. So I was pleasantly surprised to find some really excellent writing, which has stories about men to men, women to women, and everything else in between without pandering solely to the cliche of three in a bed. Some really hot writing.

K

A groundbreaking collection, a new erotic genre is born, 11 Sep 2000
Ever wondered what bisexuals do in bed ? Well you're about to find out. At last ! Unlimited Desires is the first collection of bisexual erotic fiction to be collected under one book cover. Dispelling the myths, cliches and stereotypes of bisexual desire, the 24 stories which make up this anthology, go beyond the tired assumption of three in a bed, hetrosexual voyeurism or the quaint gay/lesbian coming out stories. The collection doesn't skirt around the issue but places bisexual desire, lust, life and lives at centre stage to make the natives either side of the picket fence restless.

Having searched hi and low for a collection of bisexual erotic fiction for the last 10 years, I've finally found something that I can call my own, without having to glue the pages of straight and Gay erotica together. I'm in agreement with Tom Robinson, when he describes the book as " really first rate writing, the collection goes right to the heart of the matter. It carries a social punch even more valuable than its ( considerable ) erotic charge. "

There is something to please everyone regardless how you may identify. The collection includes pieces from over three continents, including some firm favourites such as Carol Queen, Thomas Roche, Marylyn Jaye Lewis, Dan Wolff, and Alice Blue as well as Wayne Bryant, D Franklin, Piglet, Dean Durber, Katherine Park and Jamie Joy Gatto. Three cheers for the boys and girls at BiPress, looking forward to volume two.

A happy Bi Bunny

Rasey

Lust-tastic!, 13 Dec 2008
Lust is fantastic. It contains 17 smutty stories which, despite the fact they've been penned by the same person, vary wildly. In this book there are tales of prostitution, domination, sex with vegetables, swingers and much more. The one thing they all have in common is they are damn sexy. I had my favourites of course, but they were all fabulously written and incredibly imaginative.

As the title suggests, the stories contain bisexual sex acts, so if this isn't your bag, then you're not going to like this book. If, however, you like reading about this kind of thing, you'll be in heaven. Even the cover of this book is sexy - which is simply a taste of what's to come when you delve in...

A good read in addition to a good stroke, 15 Sep 1998
I read the first two chapters of this book as a stand alone story in a women's porn anthology somewhere, and really enjoyed them. They were hot and exciting, as well as being well written. When I saw that Queen had written a book, though a small one, based on that story I snapped it up.

I read the book last night, and it is worth the money. It's hot, exciting, and imaginative. It's also well written with believable characters. I loved it.

Charming, but not earth-shattering, 23 Nov 2008
"Empress of the World" is a nice little novel that showcases Sara Ryan's potential as a writer, but doesn't quite come across as the finished article. The book is charmingly (if unfussily) written and well-observed in places and is very highly readable, but lacks polish in the writing and characterisation.

The story concerns two teenage girls who find romance together at a summer camp for gifted children. Our heroine is very likeable and is an engaging voice for this story, but this relatively slight tale is need of more incisive observation and well-drawn characters. In places, the narrative drifts, and none of the characters has a really strong identity. On the plus side, I did like the fact that towards the ending, the book acquires a thoughtfully realistic tone in terms of what happens in the relationship. Certain crises during the course of the romance might sound somewhat familiar to lesbian readers, and others will resonate with those who have been in love or thought that they might be, regardless of sexuality.

The difficulty is that the book does just not make enough of an impact. Were the romance depicted a heterosexual one, the book may not have found an audience at all. A nice start from Sara Ryan but I think she might be coming out with some truly insightful fiction in a few books' time.

Book description, 14 Apr 2007
What do you do when you think you're attracted to guys, and then you meet a girl who steals your heart?. Sara Ryan tells the story of a teenage girl coming to terms with who she really is, despite who she thought she was.
Nicola Lancaster is spending eight weeks at the Siegel Institute Summer Program for Gifted Youth, a hothouse of smart, articulate, intense teenagers. She soon falls in with Katrina (Manic Computer Chick), Isaac (Nice-Guy-Despite-Himself), Kevin (Inarticulate Composer) ... and Battle. Battle Hall Davies is a beautiful blonde dancer, and everything Nic isn't. The two become friends--and then, startlingly, more than friends.

This book is amazing!, 17 Sep 2003
I am a bisexual and this book just explains the experience of being a girl inlove with a girl. I know the feeling well. I love you munkey!
Its the story of Nicola and Battle two girls who meet at a Gifted and Talented Camp. First they become friends then more then friends. Its a beautiful love story thats been needed for along time.

great bed-time reading for bi boys & girls, 20 Jun 2001
This is one of those books that you just can't put down! An eclectic mix of stories covering many aspects of bisexuality, from first-time experiences (Morning Surprises by Clint Jefferies is worth a special mention), to deep down n' dirty romps like After the Light Changed by the wonderful Carol Queen. Whether you're bi, curious or just fancy something different from the usual erotic stories, there's definately something here for everyone (presuming that everyone else is as dirty as me!)

An ecclectic collection of sexy Bisexual erotica, 22 Dec 2000
I wasn't too sure what to expect when I ordered the book. There's so much rubbish which calls itself erotica, that it's a bit of a hit or miss to what you get. As for Bisexual erotica, the majority tends to fall into the cliche's of mens porn magazines, which are a bit dull. So I was pleasantly surprised to find some really excellent writing, which has stories about men to men, women to women, and everything else in between without pandering solely to the cliche of three in a bed. Some really hot writing.

K

A groundbreaking collection, a new erotic genre is born, 11 Sep 2000
Ever wondered what bisexuals do in bed ? Well you're about to find out. At last ! Unlimited Desires is the first collection of bisexual erotic fiction to be collected under one book cover. Dispelling the myths, cliches and stereotypes of bisexual desire, the 24 stories which make up this anthology, go beyond the tired assumption of three in a bed, hetrosexual voyeurism or the quaint gay/lesbian coming out stories. The collection doesn't skirt around the issue but places bisexual desire, lust, life and lives at centre stage to make the natives either side of the picket fence restless.

Having searched hi and low for a collection of bisexual erotic fiction for the last 10 years, I've finally found something that I can call my own, without having to glue the pages of straight and Gay erotica together. I'm in agreement with Tom Robinson, when he describes the book as " really first rate writing, the collection goes right to the heart of the matter. It carries a social punch even more valuable than its ( considerable ) erotic charge. "

There is something to please everyone regardless how you may identify. The collection includes pieces from over three continents, including some firm favourites such as Carol Queen, Thomas Roche, Marylyn Jaye Lewis, Dan Wolff, and Alice Blue as well as Wayne Bryant, D Franklin, Piglet, Dean Durber, Katherine Park and Jamie Joy Gatto. Three cheers for the boys and girls at BiPress, looking forward to volume two.

A happy Bi Bunny

Rasey

Lust-tastic!, 13 Dec 2008
Lust is fantastic. It contains 17 smutty stories which, despite the fact they've been penned by the same person, vary wildly. In this book there are tales of prostitution, domination, sex with vegetables, swingers and much more. The one thing they all have in common is they are damn sexy. I had my favourites of course, but they were all fabulously written and incredibly imaginative.

As the title suggests, the stories contain bisexual sex acts, so if this isn't your bag, then you're not going to like this book. If, however, you like reading about this kind of thing, you'll be in heaven. Even the cover of this book is sexy - which is simply a taste of what's to come when you delve in...

A good read in addition to a good stroke, 15 Sep 1998
I read the first two chapters of this book as a stand alone story in a women's porn anthology somewhere, and really enjoyed them. They were hot and exciting, as well as being well written. When I saw that Queen had written a book, though a small one, based on that story I snapped it up.

I read the book last night, and it is worth the money. It's hot, exciting, and imaginative. It's also well written with believable characters. I loved it.

a curate's egg, 09 May 2008
I found this book both easy to read and frustrating. The three main male characters are reasonably believable as people. The author has given them enough substance to be interesting and likeable. You want to know how things will turn out for them. The female character is at best two dimensional. Her attitudes, motivation, reactions and responses are somehow unsatisfactory. At the end of the book her responses and reactions do not fit with the character that she was at the start of the book.
The plot is not complex but it does deal with a powerful situation, where a "straight" married man finds himself attracted to a male neighbour and a relationship develops. The author handles the married man very well and the developing affair is well written.
The ending, however, is frustrating and dissapointing. The very butch partner of the sensitive and loveable neighbour, has an unlikely character shift at the end, where he does not get mad and/or violent with the man who has taken liberties with his partner. The sensitive and loveable partner seems able to put the experience in a box and put a lid on it. The wife suddenly becomes far more tolerant and forgiving than she had been throughout the book to that point. The husband, having tasted the forbidden fruit and obviosly found it very much to his taste, finds no difficulty in reverting to straight married husband.
Far too tidy and not real.
Jay Quinn is obviously a good writer. This was an important subject. He could have written with deeper insight and produced a book that would have had greater relevance to people in a confusing situation.

"Sometimes I think marriage can be the loneliest place in the world", 02 Jun 2006
Set in an upscale-gated community in Southern Florida, The Good Neighbor tells of what happens when two families cross paths and inevitably collides in unexpected and surprising ways. Rory Fallon and his partner Bruno have been living at the Venetian Vistas for about two years, when one morning, they meet Austin Harden, his wife Meg and their two young boys Noah and Josh.

Lately Meg has become the "boss" of the family, an aggressive corporate lawyer, and a self-admitted perfectionist; Meg is working hard to provide an elegant and stylish "trophy" home for her devoted husband and her children. Austin has just been retrenched, a victim of downsizing, he now spends most of his days loafing around, working part time pushing medical equipment whilst ferrying Noah and Josh between school and soccer practice.

Rory and Bruno have been off and on since college. Together for nearly seventeen years, they built a life together, spending their years living in family type neighborhoods as Bruno steadily works his way up the corporate ladder. They're both the first to admit they've never met more than a handful of neighbors, certainly none that needed anything other than a nod or smile in the way of interaction.

At first, the arrival of a couple Meg and Austin is seen as a refreshing change. Austin even remembers Rory and Bruno from his college days, and sees them as curiously insular and comfortably coupled now as they had been then. He makes an instant connection with Rory, drawn to the younger man's youthful vulnerability and artistic temperament.

Meg, on the other hand, presents a veneer of pleasant respectably that her thinly disguises a scathing homophobia. "Who'd ever thought we'd have g*ys for neighbors" she comments to Austin. And when she sees the two men out by their pool, she worries her sons might have full view of their lifestyle.

To Meg, homosexuality is an anathema - what kind of life is that no matter how devoted to each other - "no kids to love and raise; it just goes against the grain somehow." Ass the two couples get to know each other, each begins to pursue separate agendas, uniting in an addiction, determined to pursue a type of emotional and sexual reinforcement.

One night, keeping a vigil at his office window, Austin spies Rory and Bruno making love. The incident ignites deep-seated and acutely closeted passions within him. The sight of Rory and Bruno's romantic coupling turning him on in a deeply "male kind of way;" their activities don't disgust him because they are personal, just as his interest is personal.

Austin's desire to be physical with Rory increases, growing from a mild distraction into an ever-increasing itch and he becomes ever more open to the possibilities of an abstract kind of sexual availability that Rory presents. He sees them both as outsiders, accoutrements to their respective partners whims. The friendship becomes intimate and in the growing sexual tension, Rory and Austin become embroiled in an affair, which will leave the weaker to suffer in stillness, an emotionally wrecked and confused man.

In rich, languid and perfectly nuanced prose, author Jay Quinn traces the arc of each character as they are steadily transformed by their experiences living next door to each other. Neither Rory, Bruno, Austin or Meg are particularly sympathetic or likable characters, all are rather fickle, status conscious and materialistic, and all are almost always wounded by their own faults.

Meg is perhaps the least likable. Hardened to the world of men, and often threatened by her husband and two boys - and the world masculinity she sees taking shape around her, she views the world through rose coloured glasses and is threatened by those she sees as different. Yet she's still a woman, and in one instance, she lets herself become flustered by Bruno's physical closeness, all too aware of Bruno's sweaty physicality and well-built mass.

Bruno is the butch he-man, a truculent pig-headed egotist - he disparages Rory's efforts to forge a career in rap music and carries on as though he owns him. Rory, however, constantly plays second fiddle, relentlessly feeding Bruno's ego, telling him he loves him because that's what Bruno wants and needs to hear. His real love for Bruno is a fierce loyalty formed over their many years together.

Materialism, masculinity and sexual fluidity are the central themes of The Good Neighbor, with Quinn ingeniously casting a unique spell over many of the assumptions and stereotypes that we tend make about suburban family life. These are shallow adults - both g*y and straight - who've inadvertently mixed up sex, love and friendship, hoping that it all works out in a mature kind of way.

Quinn's characters eventually discover, however, that what really hurts and what really kills is the sense of betrayal that ultimately comes along with messing in this kind territory. This is an elegant novel that mines the murky underbelly of sex and suburbia, where bigotry and acceptance do a delicate dance, often lying uneasily side-by-side. For Austin, there's a define price to be paid for touching and loving another male, and as these neighbors come full circle, his confusion appears to be far from resolved. Mike Leonard June 06.

Charming, but not earth-shattering, 23 Nov 2008
"Empress of the World" is a nice little novel that showcases Sara Ryan's potential as a writer, but doesn't quite come across as the finished article. The book is charmingly (if unfussily) written and well-observed in places and is very highly readable, but lacks polish in the writing and characterisation.

The story concerns two teenage girls who find romance together at a summer camp for gifted children. Our heroine is very likeable and is an engaging voice for this story, but this relatively slight tale is need of more incisive observation and well-drawn characters. In places, the narrative drifts, and none of the characters has a really strong identity. On the plus side, I did like the fact that towards the ending, the book acquires a thoughtfully realistic tone in terms of what happens in the relationship. Certain crises during the course of the romance might sound somewhat familiar to lesbian readers, and others will resonate with those who have been in love or thought that they might be, regardless of sexuality.

The difficulty is that the book does just not make enough of an impact. Were the romance depicted a heterosexual one, the book may not have found an audience at all. A nice start from Sara Ryan but I think she might be coming out with some truly insightful fiction in a few books' time.

Book description, 14 Apr 2007
What do you do when you think you're attracted to guys, and then you meet a girl who steals your heart?. Sara Ryan tells the story of a teenage girl coming to terms with who she really is, despite who she thought she was.
Nicola Lancaster is spending eight weeks at the Siegel Institute Summer Program for Gifted Youth, a hothouse of smart, articulate, intense teenagers. She soon falls in with Katrina (Manic Computer Chick), Isaac (Nice-Guy-Despite-Himself), Kevin (Inarticulate Composer) ... and Battle. Battle Hall Davies is a beautiful blonde dancer, and everything Nic isn't. The two become friends--and then, startlingly, more than friends.

This book is amazing!, 17 Sep 2003
I am a bisexual and this book just explains the experience of being a girl inlove with a girl. I know the feeling well. I love you munkey!
Its the story of Nicola and Battle two girls who meet at a Gifted and Talented Camp. First they become friends then more then friends. Its a beautiful love story thats been needed for along time.

great bed-time reading for bi boys & girls, 20 Jun 2001
This is one of those books that you just can't put down! An eclectic mix of stories covering many aspects of bisexuality, from first-time experiences (Morning Surprises by Clint Jefferies is worth a special mention), to deep down n' dirty romps like After the Light Changed by the wonderful Carol Queen. Whether you're bi, curious or just fancy something different from the usual erotic stories, there's definately something here for everyone (presuming that everyone else is as dirty as me!)

An ecclectic collection of sexy Bisexual erotica, 22 Dec 2000
I wasn't too sure what to expect when I ordered the book. There's so much rubbish which calls itself erotica, that it's a bit of a hit or miss to what you get. As for Bisexual erotica, the majority tends to fall into the cliche's of mens porn magazines, which are a bit dull. So I was pleasantly surprised to find some really excellent writing, which has stories about men to men, women to women, and everything else in between without pandering solely to the cliche of three in a bed. Some really hot writing.

K

A groundbreaking collection, a new erotic genre is born, 11 Sep 2000
Ever wondered what bisexuals do in bed ? Well you're about to find out. At last ! Unlimited Desires is the first collection of bisexual erotic fiction to be collected under one book cover. Dispelling the myths, cliches and stereotypes of bisexual desire, the 24 stories which make up this anthology, go beyond the tired assumption of three in a bed, hetrosexual voyeurism or the quaint gay/lesbian coming out stories. The collection doesn't skirt around the issue but places bisexual desire, lust, life and lives at centre stage to make the natives either side of the picket fence restless.

Having searched hi and low for a collection of bisexual erotic fiction for the last 10 years, I've finally found something that I can call my own, without having to glue the pages of straight and Gay erotica together. I'm in agreement with Tom Robinson, when he describes the book as " really first rate writing, the collection goes right to the heart of the matter. It carries a social punch even more valuable than its ( considerable ) erotic charge. "

There is something to please everyone regardless how you may identify. The collection includes pieces from over three continents, including some firm favourites such as Carol Queen, Thomas Roche, Marylyn Jaye Lewis, Dan Wolff, and Alice Blue as well as Wayne Bryant, D Franklin, Piglet, Dean Durber, Katherine Park and Jamie Joy Gatto. Three cheers for the boys and girls at BiPress, looking forward to volume two.

A happy Bi Bunny

Rasey

Lust-tastic!, 13 Dec 2008
Lust is fantastic. It contains 17 smutty stories which, despite the fact they've been penned by the same person, vary wildly. In this book there are tales of prostitution, domination, sex with vegetables, swingers and much more. The one thing they all have in common is they are damn sexy. I had my favourites of course, but they were all fabulously written and incredibly imaginative.

As the title suggests, the stories contain bisexual sex acts, so if this isn't your bag, then you're not going to like this book. If, however, you like reading about this kind of thing, you'll be in heaven. Even the cover of this book is sexy - which is simply a taste of what's to come when you delve in...

A good read in addition to a good stroke, 15 Sep 1998
I read the first two chapters of this book as a stand alone story in a women's porn anthology somewhere, and really enjoyed them. They were hot and exciting, as well as being well written. When I saw that Queen had written a book, though a small one, based on that story I snapped it up.

I read the book last night, and it is worth the money. It's hot, exciting, and imaginative. It's also well written with believable characters. I loved it.

a curate's egg, 09 May 2008
I found this book both easy to read and frustrating. The three main male characters are reasonably believable as people. The author has given them enough substance to be interesting and likeable. You want to know how things will turn out for them. The female character is at best two dimensional. Her attitudes, motivation, reactions and responses are somehow unsatisfactory. At the end of the book her responses and reactions do not fit with the character that she was at the start of the book.
The plot is not complex but it does deal with a powerful situation, where a "straight" married man finds himself attracted to a male neighbour and a relationship develops. The author handles the married man very well and the developing affair is well written.
The ending, however, is frustrating and dissapointing. The very butch partner of the sensitive and loveable neighbour, has an unlikely character shift at the end, where he does not get mad and/or violent with the man who has taken liberties with his partner. The sensitive and loveable partner seems able to put the experience in a box and put a lid on it. The wife suddenly becomes far more tolerant and forgiving than she had been throughout the book to that point. The husband, having tasted the forbidden fruit and obviosly found it very much to his taste, finds no difficulty in reverting to straight married husband.
Far too tidy and not real.
Jay Quinn is obviously a good writer. This was an important subject. He could have written with deeper insight and produced a book that would have had greater relevance to people in a confusing situation.

"Sometimes I think marriage can be the loneliest place in the world", 02 Jun 2006
Set in an upscale-gated community in Southern Florida, The Good Neighbor tells of what happens when two families cross paths and inevitably collides in unexpected and surprising ways. Rory Fallon and his partner Bruno have been living at the Venetian Vistas for about two years, when one morning, they meet Austin Harden, his wife Meg and their two young boys Noah and Josh.

Lately Meg has become the "boss" of the family, an aggressive corporate lawyer, and a self-admitted perfectionist; Meg is working hard to provide an elegant and stylish "trophy" home for her devoted husband and her children. Austin has just been retrenched, a victim of downsizing, he now spends most of his days loafing around, working part time pushing medical equipment whilst ferrying Noah and Josh between school and soccer practice.

Rory and Bruno have been off and on since college. Together for nearly seventeen years, they built a life together, spending their years living in family type neighborhoods as Bruno steadily works his way up the corporate ladder. They're both the first to admit they've never met more than a handful of neighbors, certainly none that needed anything other than a nod or smile in the way of interaction.

At first, the arrival of a couple Meg and Austin is seen as a refreshing change. Austin even remembers Rory and Bruno from his college days, and sees them as curiously insular and comfortably coupled now as they had been then. He makes an instant connection with Rory, drawn to the younger man's youthful vulnerability and artistic temperament.

Meg, on the other hand, presents a veneer of pleasant respectably that her thinly disguises a scathing homophobia. "Who'd ever thought we'd have g*ys for neighbors" she comments to Austin. And when she sees the two men out by their pool, she worries her sons might have full view of their lifestyle.

To Meg, homosexuality is an anathema - what kind of life is that no matter how devoted to each other - "no kids to love and raise; it just goes against the grain somehow." Ass the two couples get to know each other, each begins to pursue separate agendas, uniting in an addiction, determined to pursue a type of emotional and sexual reinforcement.

One night, keeping a vigil at his office window, Austin spies Rory and Bruno making love. The incident ignites deep-seated and acutely closeted passions within him. The sight of Rory and Bruno's romantic coupling turning him on in a deeply "male kind of way;" their activities don't disgust him because they are personal, just as his interest is personal.

Austin's desire to be physical with Rory increases, growing from a mild distraction into an ever-increasing itch and he becomes ever more open to the possibilities of an abstract kind of sexual availability that Rory presents. He sees them both as outsiders, accoutrements to their respective partners whims. The friendship becomes intimate and in the growing sexual tension, Rory and Austin become embroiled in an affair, which will leave the weaker to suffer in stillness, an emotionally wrecked and confused man.

In rich, languid and perfectly nuanced prose, author Jay Quinn traces the arc of each character as they are steadily transformed by their experiences living next door to each other. Neither Rory, Bruno, Austin or Meg are particularly sympathetic or likable characters, all are rather fickle, status conscious and materialistic, and all are almost always wounded by their own faults.

Meg is perhaps the least likable. Hardened to the world of men, and often threatened by her husband and two boys - and the world masculinity she sees taking shape around her, she views the world through rose coloured glasses and is threatened by those she sees as different. Yet she's still a woman, and in one instance, she lets herself become flustered by Bruno's physical closeness, all too aware of Bruno's sweaty physicality and well-built mass.

Bruno is the butch he-man, a truculent pig-headed egotist - he disparages Rory's efforts to forge a career in rap music and carries on as though he owns him. Rory, however, constantly plays second fiddle, relentlessly feeding Bruno's ego, telling him he loves him because that's what Bruno wants and needs to hear. His real love for Bruno is a fierce loyalty formed over their many years together.

Materialism, masculinity and sexual fluidity are the central themes of The Good Neighbor, with Quinn ingeniously casting a unique spell over many of the assumptions and stereotypes that we tend make about suburban family life. These are shallow adults - both g*y and straight - who've inadvertently mixed up sex, love and friendship, hoping that it all works out in a mature kind of way.

Quinn's characters eventually discover, however, that what really hurts and what really kills is the sense of betrayal that ultimately comes along with messing in this kind territory. This is an elegant novel that mines the murky underbelly of sex and suburbia, where bigotry and acceptance do a delicate dance, often lying uneasily side-by-side. For Austin, there's a define price to be paid for touching and loving another male, and as these neighbors come full circle, his confusion appears to be far from resolved. Mike Leonard June 06.


Another winner from Social Disease, 19 Apr 2007
I am working my way through SD's first 3 releases - Seizure Wet Dreams, London Pub Reviews and this book - The Swank Bisexual Winebar of Modernity and I am HOOKED. As different from S.W.D.'s as you can imagine, this book has some of Richard Brautigans whimsy, a great big slab of absurdist surrealism, all mixed in with deadpan Mancunian humor. I tore through the whole thing in barely more than a day. The writing is razor sharp and witty, yet this is not just a comedic book: this is a seriously clever and original work of literature.

Charming, but not earth-shattering, 23 Nov 2008
"Empress of the World" is a nice little novel that showcases Sara Ryan's potential as a writer, but doesn't quite come across as the finished article. The book is charmingly (if unfussily) written and well-observed in places and is very highly readable, but lacks polish in the writing and characterisation.

The story concerns two teenage girls who find romance together at a summer camp for gifted children. Our heroine is very likeable and is an engaging voice for this story, but this relatively slight tale is need of more incisive observation and well-drawn characters. In places, the narrative drifts, and none of the characters has a really strong identity. On the plus side, I did like the fact that towards the ending, the book acquires a thoughtfully realistic tone in terms of what happens in the relationship. Certain crises during the course of the romance might sound somewhat familiar to lesbian readers, and others will resonate with those who have been in love or thought that they might be, regardless of sexuality.

The difficulty is that the book does just not make enough of an impact. Were the romance depicted a heterosexual one, the book may not have found an audience at all. A nice start from Sara Ryan but I think she might be coming out with some truly insightful fiction in a few books' time.

Book description, 14 Apr 2007
What do you do when you think you're attracted to guys, and then you meet a girl who steals your heart?. Sara Ryan tells the story of a teenage girl coming to terms with who she really is, despite who she thought she was.
Nicola Lancaster is spending eight weeks at the Siegel Institute Summer Program for Gifted Youth, a hothouse of smart, articulate, intense teenagers. She soon falls in with Katrina (Manic Computer Chick), Isaac (Nice-Guy-Despite-Himself), Kevin (Inarticulate Composer) ... and Battle. Battle Hall Davies is a beautiful blonde dancer, and everything Nic isn't. The two become friends--and then, startlingly, more than friends.

This book is amazing!, 17 Sep 2003
I am a bisexual and this book just explains the experience of being a girl inlove with a girl. I know the feeling well. I love you munkey!
Its the story of Nicola and Battle two girls who meet at a Gifted and Talented Camp. First they become friends then more then friends. Its a beautiful love story thats been needed for along time.

great bed-time reading for bi boys & girls, 20 Jun 2001
This is one of those books that you just can't put down! An eclectic mix of stories covering many aspects of bisexuality, from first-time experiences (Morning Surprises by Clint Jefferies is worth a special mention), to deep down n' dirty romps like After the Light Changed by the wonderful Carol Queen. Whether you're bi, curious or just fancy something different from the usual erotic stories, there's definately something here for everyone (presuming that everyone else is as dirty as me!)

An ecclectic collection of sexy Bisexual erotica, 22 Dec 2000
I wasn't too sure what to expect when I ordered the book. There's so much rubbish which calls itself erotica, that it's a bit of a hit or miss to what you get. As for Bisexual erotica, the majority tends to fall into the cliche's of mens porn magazines, which are a bit dull. So I was pleasantly surprised to find some really excellent writing, which has stories about men to men, women to women, and everything else in between without pandering solely to the cliche of three in a bed. Some really hot writing.

K

A groundbreaking collection, a new erotic genre is born, 11 Sep 2000
Ever wondered what bisexuals do in bed ? Well you're about to find out. At last ! Unlimited Desires is the first collection of bisexual erotic fiction to be collected under one book cover. Dispelling the myths, cliches and stereotypes of bisexual desire, the 24 stories which make up this anthology, go beyond the tired assumption of three in a bed, hetrosexual voyeurism or the quaint gay/lesbian coming out stories. The collection doesn't skirt around the issue but places bisexual desire, lust, life and lives at centre stage to make the natives either side of the picket fence restless.

Having searched hi and low for a collection of bisexual erotic fiction for the last 10 years, I've finally found something that I can call my own, without having to glue the pages of straight and Gay erotica together. I'm in agreement with Tom Robinson, when he describes the book as " really first rate writing, the collection goes right to the heart of the matter. It carries a social punch even more valuable than its ( considerable ) erotic charge. "

There is something to please everyone regardless how you may identify. The collection includes pieces from over three continents, including some firm favourites such as Carol Queen, Thomas Roche, Marylyn Jaye Lewis, Dan Wolff, and Alice Blue as well as Wayne Bryant, D Franklin, Piglet, Dean Durber, Katherine Park and Jamie Joy Gatto. Three cheers for the boys and girls at BiPress, looking forward to volume two.

A happy Bi Bunny

Rasey

Lust-tastic!, 13 Dec 2008
Lust is fantastic. It contains 17 smutty stories which, despite the fact they've been penned by the same person, vary wildly. In this book there are tales of prostitution, domination, sex with vegetables, swingers and much more. The one thing they all have in common is they are damn sexy. I had my favourites of course, but they were all fabulously written and incredibly imaginative.

As the title suggests, the stories contain bisexual sex acts, so if this isn't your bag, then you're not going to like this book. If, however, you like reading about this kind of thing, you'll be in heaven. Even the cover of this book is sexy - which is simply a taste of what's to come when you delve in...

A good read in addition to a good stroke, 15 Sep 1998
I read the first two chapters of this book as a stand alone story in a women's porn anthology somewhere, and really enjoyed them. They were hot and exciting, as well as being well written. When I saw that Queen had written a book, though a small one, based on that story I snapped it up.

I read the book last night, and it is worth the money. It's hot, exciting, and imaginative. It's also well written with believable characters. I loved it.

a curate's egg, 09 May 2008
I found this book both easy to read and frustrating. The three main male characters are reasonably believable as people. The author has given them enough substance to be interesting and likeable. You want to know how things will turn out for them. The female character is at best two dimensional. Her attitudes, motivation, reactions and responses are somehow unsatisfactory. At the end of the book her responses and reactions do not fit with the character that she was at the start of the book.
The plot is not complex but it does deal with a powerful situation, where a "straight" married man finds himself attracted to a male neighbour and a relationship develops. The author handles the married man very well and the developing affair is well written.
The ending, however, is frustrating and dissapointing. The very butch partner of the sensitive and loveable neighbour, has an unlikely character shift at the end, where he does not get mad and/or violent with the man who has taken liberties with his partner. The sensitive and loveable partner seems able to put the experience in a box and put a lid on it. The wife suddenly becomes far more tolerant and forgiving than she had been throughout the book to that point. The husband, having tasted the forbidden fruit and obviosly found it very much to his taste, finds no difficulty in reverting to straight married husband.
Far too tidy and not real.
Jay Quinn is obviously a good writer. This was an important subject. He could have written with deeper insight and produced a book that would have had greater relevance to people in a confusing situation.

"Sometimes I think marriage can be the loneliest place in the world", 02 Jun 2006
Set in an upscale-gated community in Southern Florida, The Good Neighbor tells of what happens when two families cross paths and inevitably collides in unexpected and surprising ways. Rory Fallon and his partner Bruno have been living at the Venetian Vistas for about two years, when one morning, they meet Austin Harden, his wife Meg and their two young boys Noah and Josh.

Lately Meg has become the "boss" of the family, an aggressive corporate lawyer, and a self-admitted perfectionist; Meg is working hard to provide an elegant and stylish "trophy" home for her devoted husband and her children. Austin has just been retrenched, a victim of downsizing, he now spends most of his days loafing around, working part time pushing medical equipment whilst ferrying Noah and Josh between school and soccer practice.

Rory and Bruno have been off and on since college. Together for nearly seventeen years, they built a life together, spending their years living in family type neighborhoods as Bruno steadily works his way up the corporate ladder. They're both the first to admit they've never met more than a handful of neighbors, certainly none that needed anything other than a nod or smile in the way of interaction.

At first, the arrival of a couple Meg and Austin is seen as a refreshing change. Austin even remembers Rory and Bruno from his college days, and sees them as curiously insular and comfortably coupled now as they had been then. He makes an instant connection with Rory, drawn to the younger man's youthful vulnerability and artistic temperament.

Meg, on the other hand, presents a veneer of pleasant respectably that her thinly disguises a scathing homophobia. "Who'd ever thought we'd have g*ys for neighbors" she comments to Austin. And when she sees the two men out by their pool, she worries her sons might have full view of their lifestyle.

To Meg, homosexuality is an anathema - what kind of life is that no matter how devoted to each other - "no kids to love and raise; it just goes against the grain somehow." Ass the two couples get to know each other, each begins to pursue separate agendas, uniting in an addiction, determined to pursue a type of emotional and sexual reinforcement.

One night, keeping a vigil at his office window, Austin spies Rory and Bruno making love. The incident ignites deep-seated and acutely closeted passions within him. The sight of Rory and Bruno's romantic coupling turning him on in a deeply "male kind of way;" their activities don't disgust him because they are personal, just as his interest is personal.

Austin's desire to be physical with Rory increases, growing from a mild distraction into an ever-increasing itch and he becomes ever more open to the possibilities of an abstract kind of sexual availability that Rory presents. He sees them both as outsiders, accoutrements to their respective partners whims. The friendship becomes intimate and in the growing sexual tension, Rory and Austin become embroiled in an affair, which will leave the weaker to suffer in stillness, an emotionally wrecked and confused man.

In rich, languid and perfectly nuanced prose, author Jay Quinn traces the arc of each character as they are steadily transformed by their experiences living next door to each other. Neither Rory, Bruno, Austin or Meg are particularly sympathetic or likable characters, all are rather fickle, status conscious and materialistic, and all are almost always wounded by their own faults.

Meg is perhaps the least likable. Hardened to the world of men, and often threatened by her husband and two boys - and the world masculinity she sees taking shape around her, she views the world through rose coloured glasses and is threatened by those she sees as different. Yet she's still a woman, and in one instance, she lets herself become flustered by Bruno's physical closeness, all too aware of Bruno's sweaty physicality and well-built mass.

Bruno is the butch he-man, a truculent pig-headed egotist - he disparages Rory's efforts to forge a career in rap music and carries on as though he owns him. Rory, however, constantly plays second fiddle, relentlessly feeding Bruno's ego, telling him he loves him because that's what Bruno wants and needs to hear. His real love for Bruno is a fierce loyalty formed over their many years together.

Materialism, masculinity and sexual fluidity are the central themes of The Good Neighbor, with Quinn ingeniously casting a unique spell over many of the assumptions and stereotypes that we tend make about suburban family life. These are shallow adults - both g*y and straight - who've inadvertently mixed up sex, love and friendship, hoping that it all works out in a mature kind of way.

Quinn's characters eventually discover, however, that what really hurts and what really kills is the sense of betrayal that ultimately comes along with messing in this kind territory. This is an elegant novel that mines the murky underbelly of sex and suburbia, where bigotry and acceptance do a delicate dance, often lying uneasily side-by-side. For Austin, there's a define price to be paid for touching and loving another male, and as these neighbors come full circle, his confusion appears to be far from resolved. Mike Leonard June 06.


Another winner from Social Disease, 19 Apr 2007
I am working my way through SD's first 3 releases - Seizure Wet Dreams, London Pub Reviews and this book - The Swank Bisexual Winebar of Modernity and I am HOOKED. As different from S.W.D.'s as you can imagine, this book has some of Richard Brautigans whimsy, a great big slab of absurdist surrealism, all mixed in with deadpan Mancunian humor. I tore through the whole thing in barely more than a day. The writing is razor sharp and witty, yet this is not just a comedic book: this is a seriously clever and original work of literature.

Thoughtful and provocative, 08 Sep 2005
This is a collection of beautifully crafted stories. The prose is beautiful, the plots are full of twists and turns and more than a few stings in the tail, but what really makes this stand out from your average erotic anthology is how real the characters are. Fragile, uncertain, by turns full of bravado or timorous, they are all supremely believable people in very plausible situations. These are tales of ordinary and less ordinary folk struggling to express a sexuality more complex than convention will admit is possible. Touching and arousing by turns. A must-read for anyone "curious".

Charming, but not earth-shattering, 23 Nov 2008
"Empress of the World" is a nice little novel that showcases Sara Ryan's potential as a writer, but doesn't quite come across as the finished article. The book is charmingly (if unfussily) written and well-observed in places and is very highly readable, but lacks polish in the writing and characterisation.

The story concerns two teenage girls who find romance together at a summer camp for gifted children. Our heroine is very likeable and is an engaging voice for this story, but this relatively slight tale is need of more incisive observation and well-drawn characters. In places, the narrative drifts, and none of the characters has a really strong identity. On the plus side, I did like the fact that towards the ending, the book acquires a thoughtfully realistic tone in terms of what happens in the relationship. Certain crises during the course of the romance might sound somewhat familiar to lesbian readers, and others will resonate with those who have been in love or thought that they might be, regardless of sexuality.

The difficulty is that the book does just not make enough of an impact. Were the romance depicted a heterosexual one, the book may not have found an audience at all. A nice start from Sara Ryan but I think she might be coming out with some truly insightful fiction in a few books' time.

Book description, 14 Apr 2007
What do you do when you think you're attracted to guys, and then you meet a girl who steals your heart?. Sara Ryan tells the story of a teenage girl coming to terms with who she really is, despite who she thought she was.
Nicola Lancaster is spending eight weeks at the Siegel Institute Summer Program for Gifted Youth, a hothouse of smart, articulate, intense teenagers. She soon falls in with Katrina (Manic Computer Chick), Isaac (Nice-Guy-Despite-Himself), Kevin (Inarticulate Composer) ... and Battle. Battle Hall Davies is a beautiful blonde dancer, and everything Nic isn't. The two become friends--and then, startlingly, more than friends.

This book is amazing!, 17 Sep 2003
I am a bisexual and this book just explains the experience of being a girl inlove with a girl. I know the feeling well. I love you munkey!
Its the story of Nicola and Battle two girls who meet at a Gifted and Talented Camp. First they become friends then more then friends. Its a beautiful love story thats been needed for along time.

great bed-time reading for bi boys & girls, 20 Jun 2001
This is one of those books that you just can't put down! An eclectic mix of stories covering many aspects of bisexuality, from first-time experiences (Morning Surprises by Clint Jefferies is worth a special mention), to deep down n' dirty romps like After the Light Changed by the wonderful Carol Queen. Whether you're bi, curious or just fancy something different from the usual erotic stories, there's definately something here for everyone (presuming that everyone else is as dirty as me!)

An ecclectic collection of sexy Bisexual erotica, 22 Dec 2000
I wasn't too sure what to expect when I ordered the book. There's so much rubbish which calls itself erotica, that it's a bit of a hit or miss to what you get. As for Bisexual erotica, the majority tends to fall into the cliche's of mens porn magazines, which are a bit dull. So I was pleasantly surprised to find some really excellent writing, which has stories about men to men, women to women, and everything else in between without pandering solely to the cliche of three in a bed. Some really hot writing.

K

A groundbreaking collection, a new erotic genre is born, 11 Sep 2000
Ever wondered what bisexuals do in bed ? Well you're about to find out. At last ! Unlimited Desires is the first collection of bisexual erotic fiction to be collected under one book cover. Dispelling the myths, cliches and stereotypes of bisexual desire, the 24 stories which make up this anthology, go beyond the tired assumption of three in a bed, hetrosexual voyeurism or the quaint gay/lesbian coming out stories. The collection doesn't skirt around the issue but places bisexual desire, lust, life and lives at centre stage to make the natives either side of the picket fence restless.

Having searched hi and low for a collection of bisexual erotic fiction for the last 10 years, I've finally found something that I can call my own, without having to glue the pages of straight and Gay erotica together. I'm in agreement with Tom Robinson, when he describes the book as " really first rate writing, the collection goes right to the heart of the matter. It carries a social punch even more valuable than its ( considerable ) erotic charge. "

There is something to please everyone regardless how you may identify. The collection includes pieces from over three continents, including some firm favourites such as Carol Queen, Thomas Roche, Marylyn Jaye Lewis, Dan Wolff, and Alice Blue as well as Wayne Bryant, D Franklin, Piglet, Dean Durber, Katherine Park and Jamie Joy Gatto. Three cheers for the boys and girls at BiPress, looking forward to volume two.

A happy Bi Bunny

Rasey

Lust-tastic!, 13 Dec 2008
Lust is fantastic. It contains 17 smutty stories which, despite the fact they've been penned by the same person, vary wildly. In this book there are tales of prostitution, domination, sex with vegetables, swingers and much more. The one thing they all have in common is they are damn sexy. I had my favourites of course, but they were all fabulously written and incredibly imaginative.

As the title suggests, the stories contain bisexual sex acts, so if this isn't your bag, then you're not going to like this book. If, however, you like reading about this kind of thing, you'll be in heaven. Even the cover of this book is sexy - which is simply a taste of what's to come when you delve in...

A good read in addition to a good stroke, 15 Sep 1998
I read the first two chapters of this book as a stand alone story in a women's porn anthology somewhere, and really enjoyed them. They were hot and exciting, as well as being well written. When I saw that Queen had written a book, though a small one, based on that story I snapped it up.

I read the book last night, and it is worth the money. It's hot, exciting, and imaginative. It's also well written with believable characters. I loved it.

a curate's egg, 09 May 2008
I found this book both easy to read and frustrating. The three main male characters are reasonably believable as people. The author has given them enough substance to be interesting and likeable. You want to know how things will turn out for them. The female character is at best two dimensional. Her attitudes, motivation, reactions and responses are somehow unsatisfactory. At the end of the book her responses and reactions do not fit with the character that she was at the start of the book.
The plot is not complex but it does deal with a powerful situation, where a "straight" married man finds himself attracted to a male neighbour and a relationship develops. The author handles the married man very well and the developing affair is well written.
The ending, however, is frustrating and dissapointing. The very butch partner of the sensitive and loveable neighbour, has an unlikely character shift at the end, where he does not get mad and/or violent with the man who has taken liberties with his partner. The sensitive and loveable partner seems able to put the experience in a box and put a lid on it. The wife suddenly becomes far more tolerant and forgiving than she had been throughout the book to that point. The husband, having tasted the forbidden fruit and obviosly found it very much to his taste, finds no difficulty in reverting to straight married husband.
Far too tidy and not real.
Jay Quinn is obviously a good writer. This was an important subject. He could have written with deeper insight and produced a book that would have had greater relevance to people in a confusing situation.

"Sometimes I think marriage can be the loneliest place in the world", 02 Jun 2006
Set in an upscale-gated community in Southern Florida, The Good Neighbor tells of what happens when two families cross paths and inevitably collides in unexpected and surprising ways. Rory Fallon and his partner Bruno have been living at the Venetian Vistas for about two years, when one morning, they meet Austin Harden, his wife Meg and their two young boys Noah and Josh.

Lately Meg has become the "boss" of the family, an aggressive corporate lawyer, and a self-admitted perfectionist; Meg is working hard to provide an elegant and stylish "trophy" home for her devoted husband and her children. Austin has just been retrenched, a victim of downsizing, he now spends most of his days loafing around, working part time pushing medical equipment whilst ferrying Noah and Josh between school and soccer practice.

Rory and Bruno have been off and on since college. Together for nearly seventeen years, they built a life together, spending their years living in family type neighborhoods as Bruno steadily works his way up the corporate ladder. They're both the first to admit they've never met more than a handful of neighbors, certainly none that needed anything other than a nod or smile in the way of interaction.

At first, the arrival of a couple Meg and Austin is seen as a refreshing change. Austin even remembers Rory and Bruno from his college days, and sees them as curiously insular and comfortably coupled now as they had been then. He makes an instant connection with Rory, drawn to the younger man's youthful vulnerability and artistic temperament.

Meg, on the other hand, presents a veneer of pleasant respectably that her thinly disguises a scathing homophobia. "Who'd ever thought we'd have g*ys for neighbors" she comments to Austin. And when she sees the two men out by their pool, she worries her sons might have full view of their lifestyle.

To Meg, homosexuality is an anathema - what kind of life is that no matter how devoted to each other - "no kids to love and raise; it just goes against the grain somehow." Ass the two couples get to know each other, each begins to pursue separate agendas, uniting in an addiction, determined to pursue a type of emotional and sexual reinforcement.

One night, keeping a vigil at his office window, Austin spies Rory and Bruno making love. The incident ignites deep-seated and acutely closeted passions within him. The sight of Rory and Bruno's romantic coupling turning him on in a deeply "male kind of way;" their activities don't disgust him because they are personal, just as his interest is personal.

Austin's desire to be physical with Rory increases, growing from a mild distraction into an ever-increasing itch and he becomes ever more open to the possibilities of an abstract kind of sexual availability that Rory presents. He sees them both as outsiders, accoutrements to their respective partners whims. The friendship becomes intimate and in the growing sexual tension, Rory and Austin become embroiled in an affair, which will leave the weaker to suffer in stillness, an emotionally wrecked and confused man.

In rich, languid and perfectly nuanced prose, author Jay Quinn traces the arc of each character as they are steadily transformed by their experiences living next door to each other. Neither Rory, Bruno, Austin or Meg are particularly sympathetic or likable characters, all are rather fickle, status conscious and materialistic, and all are almost always wounded by their own faults.

Meg is perhaps the least likable. Hardened to the world of men, and often threatened by her husband and two boys - and the world masculinity she sees taking shape around her, she views the world through rose coloured glasses and is threatened by those she sees as different. Yet she's still a woman, and in one instance, she lets herself become flustered by Bruno's physical closeness, all too aware of Bruno's sweaty physicality and well-built mass.

Bruno is the butch he-man, a truculent pig-headed egotist - he disparages Rory's efforts to forge a career in rap music and carries on as though he owns him. Rory, however, constantly plays second fiddle, relentlessly feeding Bruno's ego, telling him he loves him because that's what Bruno wants and needs to hear. His real love for Bruno is a fierce loyalty formed over their many years together.

Materialism, masculinity and sexual fluidity are the central themes of The Good Neighbor, with Quinn ingeniously casting a unique spell over many of the assumptions and stereotypes that we tend make about suburban family life. These are shallow adults - both g*y and straight - who've inadvertently mixed up sex, love and friendship, hoping that it all works out in a mature kind of way.

Quinn's characters eventually discover, however, that what really hurts and what really kills is the sense of betrayal that ultimately comes along with messing in this kind territory. This is an elegant novel that mines the murky underbelly of sex and suburbia, where bigotry and acceptance do a delicate dance, often lying uneasily side-by-side. For Austin, there's a define price to be paid for touching and loving another male, and as these neighbors come full circle, his confusion appears to be far from resolved. Mike Leonard June 06.


Another winner from Social Disease, 19 Apr 2007
I am working my way through SD's first 3 releases - Seizure Wet Dreams, London Pub Reviews and this book - The Swank Bisexual Winebar of Modernity and I am HOOKED. As different from S.W.D.'s as you can imagine, this book has some of Richard Brautigans whimsy, a great big slab of absurdist surrealism, all mixed in with deadpan Mancunian humor. I tore through the whole thing in barely more than a day. The writing is razor sharp and witty, yet this is not just a comedic book: this is a seriously clever and original work of literature.

Thoughtful and provocative, 08 Sep 2005
This is a collection of beautifully crafted stories. The prose is beautiful, the plots are full of twists and turns and more than a few stings in the tail, but what really makes this stand out from your average erotic anthology is how real the characters are. Fragile, uncertain, by turns full of bravado or timorous, they are all supremely believable people in very plausible situations. These are tales of ordinary and less ordinary folk struggling to express a sexuality more complex than convention will admit is possible. Touching and arousing by turns. A must-read for anyone "curious".

Male Bisexuality, 04 Feb 2008
As a male in my mid-40's, married with two children, recently realising that I am bisexual came as a devastating shock. Bisexuality in the Lives of Men cemented my view that male bisexuality is relatively "common" yet for a variety of reasons it is little talked about or discussed. The first chapters are quite dry but I found two chapters on the integration of male bisexuality in marriage and use of the internet as a means of support to be useful and encouraging. I wish there were more on the subject but this book is a good start in an otherwise barren literary landscape.