Line:Spectrum Series: None Book Length: Quickie Book Type: eBook Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing ISBN: 9781419926570 MSRP/List Price: $2.99 Our Cover Price: $2.49 Available in Print: No

Beyond Curious By: Paisley Smith (Read Excerpt) E-mail this product to a friend   Annie’s dreading the piano lessons that her grandmother’s will demanded she take…until she meets her teacher, Emily. Far from the elderly cat lady Annie had envisioned, Emily is sexy, blonde and completely irresistible.   Emily has never been with a woman, but Annie attracts her in a way that no one else has. Despite Emily’s initial misgivings, it doesn’t take long for their relationship to move from teacher and student to something much more than either of them expected—something that might lead to the love of a lifetime. Quantity:

Product Rating: (4.42)   # of Ratings: 12   (Only registered customers can rate) (Only registered customers can rate) 5 - Must Read! 4 - Recommended reading 3 - Enjoyable 2 - Could be better 1 - Not recommended 0% 50% 100% Sort: New to Old RE-SORT COMMENTS: Helpful to Less Helpful Less Helpful to Helpful New to Old Old to New High to Low Rating Low to High Rating Showing comments 1-8 of 8 1. Night Owl Erotica www.NightOwlErotica.com on 12/24/2011, said: A NIGHT OWL REVIEWS BOOK REVIEW 4.25 - Reviewed by: Aiobhan Belen While this is not the first time that I have read a lesbian erotic romance novel this is the first time that the story was actually as good as the sex scenes. While the initial story of a stereotypical butch and femme was a little off putting I quickly out those aside when I found the author put those stereotypes to bed herself. She focuses mainly on the budding relationship with the main characters and uses some of the more realistic insecurities that follow a same sex couple when one is not fully out of the closet. I appreciate the author’s sensitivity to the subject but am glad that I did not have to read about Emily’s struggle to come out. (That may sound harsh but I would rather focus on the fun parts of a couple than the bad.)There is sincerity and openness about both Annie and Emily that made me want to root for them the moment that they met each other. The sex scenes were carnally erotic but sweet at the same time. I just want more!! The only complaint that I have- and it is one that I have used for all of her stories- is that they are all too short. Ms. Smith is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and I am always ecstatic to read her stories. I highly recommend everyone read this story. Was this comment helpful? yes no   (1 people found this comment helpful, 1 did not) 2. Brian on 8/29/2011, said: Outstanding, clear, fantastic, and lucid writing with a well constructed plot. Was this comment helpful? yes no   (1 people found this comment helpful, 0 did not) 3. Jennifer on 9/12/2010, said: Really hot read!! Was this comment helpful? yes no   (2 people found this comment helpful, 1 did not) 4. Della on 6/1/2010, said: After reading BIRTHDAY GIRL I bought BEYOND CURIOUS. I'd never read f/f stories before and was curious as to how the author handled them. This was a fun, very hot read! Was this comment helpful? yes no   (2 people found this comment helpful, 0 did not) 5. Star on 5/11/2010, said: Hot short story. Was this comment helpful? yes no   (1 people found this comment helpful, 0 did not) 6. G.A. on 2/4/2010, said: I have a sudden desire to take piano lessons... Oh my! I had to buy batteries! Was this comment helpful? yes no   (3 people found this comment helpful, 1 did not) 7. A on 1/31/2010, said: ***contains spoilers *** I found lots to like in this delicious love story, but a few quirky issues confused and frustrated me. I read it twice and concluded Smith’s wonderful, imaginative storytelling and excellent hand for erotica are blighted with lazy technical writing and overwritten agenda that didn’t work for me, though I can see how it might work for other readers. The main characters, Annie Prescott and Emily Granger, possess the depth and dimension necessary for readers to connect with them and enjoy their romance. The author provides sufficient description that I also had a good idea the two women made an attractive couple. At the same time, I noted characterization discrepancies that registered “weird” to me. Annie Prescott, a student of veterinary medicine employed at a local animal shelter, perceives Emily’s “fluffy calico cat” as looking “something like a gargoyle.” I’ve never seen this “feline gargoyle look.” In a later scene, Smith refers to the cat as “he.” Male calico cats result from an uncommon genetic defect. If I know this—information obtained from standard pet care type books—I expect aspiring veterinarians to know it. Disclaimer: I am not saying Emily’s fluffy, calico gargoyle-esque cat cannot be male, or that an aspiring veterinarian cannot dislike cats, only that these situations are unusual and worth remarking upon in the story. Annie’s apprehension of her piano teacher being a stereotyped little old lady with dozens of cats and poor sanitation annoyed and confused me, too. A veterinary student alleged to have a close relationship with her late grandmother thinking in terms of ageist stereotype is incongruous at best. Characterization like this impeded my taking Annie seriously, because I perceived her as shallow and unintelligent. Ken’s proprietary air and free run of Emily’s house and bedroom gave me the idea Ken and Emily were lovers or former lovers although this isn’t clarified in the story. Annie’s confrontation and dismissal of Ken is entertaining reading, but I’m left with the sense that Ken had a larger role in a bigger story that got edited down to maintain word count. The author seemed to be writing the path of least resistance to work out her storyline without asking herself who these characters are and are these behaviors and attitudes consistent with who the characters are. Technical writing and editing is substandard. Numerous typos, too many, given the book’s size. A few awkward sentences and sentences missing words distracted my read. Smith’s most common writing mistakes appear to be “pet word/phrase overuse” and chronic repetition. “Reluctantly,” “allure,” and “perhaps” are some examples, often repeated and overused in single paragraphs. “Cream gathers/gathered” a lot in this story. At times the narrative got a bit tell-y and, again, repetitious. Chapter One tells the reader Annie is attracted to Emily five times in about three pages. Adequate editing could have and should have noted these problems so Smith could correct them, allowing for less contrived, better quality “fiction that makes sense.” I can’t imagine how much excess packaging is required to make a butt-plug too large to fit in a mailbox. My biggest gripe is related more to personal taste. I’m not crazy about Smith’s tendency to fetishize F/F erotica. I recognize the author’s agenda is to drive home Emily’s discomfort with her GBLT identity. For me, and perhaps other readers, these kinds of sentences dehumanize the characters and detract from the romance. Is Emily “into” lovemaking with Annie or is Emily most excited by sex with “a woman?” If having “a woman” perform sex on Emily and Emily liking it matters most, the love story loses credibility. It lends the narrative an unpalatable touch of prejudice/homophobia. The heart of “Beyond Curious,” though, is Annie and Emily’s love affair burgeoning into more committed romance and Smith’s well-timed prose doesn’t disappoint. Smith conveys Annie and Emily as individuals whose similarities and differences “spark” into that indefinable something leading to believable compatibility. Tension builds in delectable layers. Sexual chemistry sizzles between them page after page. Annie proves an inventive lover, the more dominant of the pair while Emily thrives on the excitement and attention a new partner brings to her life. Despite society’s inevitable challenges to their relationship, Emily comes to terms with her feelings for Annie and finds happiness in them. Superlative romance and compelling internal conflict are this book’s saving graces and prevent me from awarding “Beyond Curious” a below average rating. This story merited better crafting and editing to so it would be memorable for all the right reasons. I strongly encourage the author to continue developing her craft, pay careful attention to structure, consistent characterization and plotting, and learn self-editing. We haven’t seen Paisley Smith’s best work yet. Was this comment helpful? yes no   (3 people found this comment helpful, 3 did not) 8. Melissa on 1/8/2010, said: I am usually more into menage a trois stories but i throughly enjoyed my only disappointment was that it was a short story Was this comment helpful? yes no   (5 people found this comment helpful, 1 did not) Showing comments 1-8 of 8