Bedded Bliss: A Couple’s Guide to Lust Ever After
-The Facts-
Title: Bedded Bliss: A Couple’s Guide to Lust Ever After
Author: Various – Edited by Kristina Wight (Forward by Mark A Michaels and Patricia Johnson)
Publishing Company: Cleis Press
Trade Paper
ISBN 978-1-57344-964-9
5 1/2 x 8, 248 pages
2013
Bedded Bliss: A Couple’s Guide to Lust Ever After is a book geared toward couples’ who are interested in keeping their lusty passion alive despite the stress and situations that come up in long-term relationships. The book was written primarily for those those in male/female relationships and cover a variety of issues that many married and committed couples often face.
There are many guides available that touch on these important subjects, but Bedded Bliss blends personal experiences, helpful suggestions, and steamy stories into one. If you and your partner are interested in heating things up, this is the book to grab! The pages are written on a more personal level so they don’t feel stuffy, and the erotic elements make it feel less intimidating if you’re interested in reading this along with your partner. Educational and sexy? Sounds like a pretty awesome pairing!
Bedded Bliss is made up of nine chapters and includes a forward from the authors of Great Sex Made Simple. Each chapter is made up of three elements; personal experiences and advice, sensual suggestions, and erotic fiction and are set in that order. Some of the chapters won’t apply to everyone, but there should be at least a little something you’re able to learn and take away from each.
Each chapter contains two erotic stories, other than chapter nine which features eight. Each story is centered around couples and relate to the subject being covered by that particular chapter. There are a total of thirteen individual writers and one married couple. Many of the authors are featured twice, but in separate chapters, providing readers with a variety of writing styles and content.
-My Thoughts-
The concept of this book really interested me, seeing as I’m a married, have children, and am always looking for ways to improve the sexual relationship I have with my husband. It sounded like the perfect book to turn to when our lust starts fading, and I’d rather read it now before we start slipping into a routine that lacks any spark.
I enjoyed reading the personal experiences shared, and found many of the Sensual Suggestions to be very fresh and interesting. However, what I didn’t realize was that this book is primarily erotic fiction with some helpful elements thrown into the mix. Yes, the fiction is well written, centered around couples, and certainly is sexy, but when I saw the word Guide in the title, I assumed there would be less fiction and more suggestions.
That being said, it’s easy to see how many of the stories could excite your own fantasies that could easily spark something within you and your partner, just like most erotica could. The more I read the more I realized this book was truly designed to be read along with your partner, and that might be why there was less suggestions and more stories about sex. I know my husband would be bored out of his mind reading a guide along with me, but getting turned on while we read something sexy? That might be something he’s willing to participate in.
So, while it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, I understand the reason behind it. I think the goal is to draw couples together, trying to find a common ground that blends useful information and erotic fiction to snag your attention and hopefully get some ideas along the way.
Get this book with the intention of reading it with your partner, the information it contains is helpful and is sure to add something new to your (perhaps) routine sex life.
Bedded Bliss: A Couple’s Guide to Lust Ever After is available to purchase through Cleis Press and can be found by clicking the banner below.
Bedded Bliss was provided to me free of charge in exchange for an unbiased review. This is in compliance with FTC guidelines.
-Chapter Overview-
Excluding erotic fiction titles and authors
CHAPTER ONE:
THE BEGINNING OF LUST – HOW IT STARTS, WHY IT LASTS
Sensual Suggestion: This is it
(Do thing together that help make memories)
CHAPTER TWO:
BEYOND NEWLYWED LUST – AFTER THE HONEYMOON
Sensual Suggestion: Keep in Touch
(Tips on how to remain hands-on with your partner)
CHAPTER THREE:
GROWING YOUR LUST TOGETHER – NICE TO MEET YOU…AGAIN
Sensual Suggestion: Make it Current
(Remembering passion and embracing how both your needs are always evolving)
CHAPTER FOUR:
LUST AFTER PARENTHOOD – PREGNANCY, BABIES, AND TODDLERS, OH MY!
Sensual Suggestion: Playtime for Parents
(Ways to still be playful with each others)
CHAPTER FIVE:
MIDDLE-AGED LUST…AND BEYOND – GROWING OLD ALONG WITH ME
Sensual Suggestion: Aging with Grace
(Trying new things/renewing your commitment to each other)
CHAPTER SIX:
LUST FOR BETTER OR WORSE – WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH
Sensual Suggestion: Stuck Like Glue
(Leaning on each other when things are rough)
CHAPTER SEVEN:
DIFFERENT FLAVORS OF LUST – EXPLORING YOUR BOUNDARIES
Sensual Suggestion: Mixing It Up
(Exploring something new together)
CHAPTER EIGHT:
CELEBRATING YOUR LUST – SETTING THE SCENE
Sensual Suggestion: Party of Two
(Creating reasons to celebrate your relationship)
CHAPTER NINE:
ALWAYS TIME FOR LUST – INSPIRATION FOR YOUR OWN ADVENTURES
Sensual Suggestion: Beat the Clock
(Fun ways to liven up a quickie)
CONCLUSION: LUST FOR A LIFETIME
Resource Guide
Acknowledgements
About the Authors
About the Editor
Index
Thanks to your rundown of the chapters; this is going on my list of things to buy. A guide composed mostly of detailed scenarios sounds like a decent idea for sexual fantasy. Keeps the tone from being full of dry “shoulds” and “do this”, hopefully, and provides some starter material for fantasy or roleplay scenarios. It seems to have a little something for everyone, and I like pretty much any good writing about sex.