I was lucky enough to be able to be included at the very end of this month-long Please, Sir blog tour (full list of the tour participants and their posts or blogs below). I received Please, Sir a couple of weeks ago and have been working my way through it. It is an outstanding anthology focused on stories from the submissive perspective of male-dominant and female-submissive parings. I was expecting, like most anthologies, to have a mixed bag of stories, some that turned me on, others that were well-written but less interesting, but that was not the case.

The book starts with a bang with the editor Rachel Kramer Bussel’s Introduction titled Risk and Reward, setting the theme for the entire book. The now over-quoted beginning:

If you ask me, submission is an art form. It requires dedication, focus, commitment and desireæand there’s no single way of doing it. It’s about unlocking something within yourself so you can reach beyond your normal limits, exposing your body and soul in order to go somewhere you cannot get to alone.

I had a lover who always told me that the key to life is “High risk, high reward.” The same is true about kink, and this is evident throughout the stories in Please, Sir, which explores female submission and male dominance from the sub’s point of view. When these characters take risks, they are rewarded…even when those rewards look like “punishment.” They are rewarded in all kinds of ways, from being bound to being praised to being choked, spanked or put on display. They are rewarded by being tested again and again.

You can read the entire introduction here.

I found this theme to be evident in every story, and myself relating to the stories in one way or another, especially coming from a primarilly male-dominant/female-submissive relationship. Each story was well-written and engaging, painting a picture of the world and power in which the couple operated. I was connected with and turned on by every story in the book, regardless of how close or different the characters were from my own experiences, which doesn’t happen often.

Before reading this book I had bought Yes, Sir, another of Rachel Kramer Bussel’s books on the same subject matter, but had not yet gotten around to reading it, and after the amazing experience I have had reading through the exceptional stories in this book I will be pushing it to the top of my reading pile. I am also going to give this to my partner Onyx to read, or perhaps read a story or two aloud to him that I particularly enjoy. There are so many, though, I’m not sure I would know how to choose.

The book showcases a variety of ways to play with power and exchange power between a couple, from casual interactions to long-term committed partners, first-times to experienced players, and a range of topics. Breath Play, bondage, fear, anticipation, teasing, rough sex, and so much more. The writers articulate the varied experiences of the submissive partner in different, interesting, and relateable ways that, I believe, anyone with an interest in female submission would enjoy.

Check out the wonderful trailer, below, featuring bits of two of the stories and lots of sexy images and the rest of the blog posts on the tour. Finishing up the tour tomorrow is the sexy and wonderful Curvaceous Dee.

Name: Please, Sir

Editor: Rachel Kramer Bussel

Publisher: Cleis Press

Published: 2010

Page Count: 206

Story Count: 22

Rating: 4 Lotuses (out of 5) – Good & Recommended

Please, Sir virtual book tour dates for May 2010
May 1 Baser Instincts
May 2 Man Eater Book
May 3 Hard and Fast
May 4 Erobintica
May 5 Dangerous Lilly
May 6 Sugarbutch Chronicles
May 7 The Sex Carnival
May 8 My Kinky World
May 9 Lusty Literati
May 10 Prurient Interests
May 11 Sarah Sloane
May 12 Hello Saraid
May 13 Desk Full of Dildos (That Toy Chick)
May 14 Julian Arancia (Flavius Iulianus)
May 15 Kristina Wright
May 16 Exploring Intimacy
May 17 Erotica Electronica
May 18 Our Goings On
May 19 SpastikFantastik
May 20 Alpine Subdreams
May 21 Orlando Sex & Relationships Examiner
May 22 Beth Wylde
May 23 Heather Lin
May 24 Pieces of Jade
May 25 Heartbreak Nympho
May 26 Yolanda Shoshana
May 27 ¡Qué sinvergüenza!
May 28 Leather Yenta (Lolita Wolf)
May 29 Marilyn’s Room (Marilyn Jaye Lewis)
May 30 Wanton Lotus Reviews
May 31 Curvaceous Dee

The Tantus Vamp came out around Halloween of 2009 and was inspired by Twilight.

Before I go on I just want to say officially for the record Twilight “vampires” are not vampires. Vampires don’t sparkle. The creatures in Twilight are more like emo faeries. Yes, I said it. I haven’t read the Twilight books, though I have (ashamedly) seen the (horrible) movies that are out due to a good friend who dragged me to the latest one. I’m not a fan.

Yes, the Vamp is made to be like a Twilight “vampire’s” cock: pale and sparkly and cold (Silicone retains temperature well, so you can pop it in the fridge or run it under cold water to cool it down for that “fun” necrophilia vampire feeling). So, not being a fan of Twilight, why did I get the Tantus Vamp to review? Well, it’s f’ing awesome. Seriously.

I’m all about fabulous sparkly things (the dildo, not the “vampires”) and so when Fascinations offered me the Vamp to review I couldn’t resist it! It doesn’t really sparkle as in glitter it rather shimmers kind of like the way snow catches the light, or crystals of any sort. If you’ve ever used shimmer body mist it’s that same kind of shimmer, mostly-there-but-sometimes-not kind of shimmer. It is awesome. Don’t take my word for it, here’s a video by Tantus showing off the shimmery sparklyness:

In addition to the awesome color it is also made by Tantus which in and of itself is enough to make me want to try it. Tantus uses their own specially formulated blend of 100% medical grade silicone and is one of the top producers of silicone (and aluminum) toys out there, in my opinion. I have written a number of Tantus reviews, including a recent one of a dildo somewhat similarly shaped the Deuce 2.

Silicone is awesome because it is hypoallergenic, non-porous, phthalate free, and generally body-friendly. It won’t make your insides burn when you use it⁰¹, it can be completely sterilized (see care instructions below) and therefore used in any orifice of any person as long as you sterilize it between people and moving from the back- to the front-door. While silicone toys do tend to be more expensive they are well worth the price because, unlike cheaper materials, they will last forever as long as you take care of them⁰².

I think the Vamp is an excellent size, a little larger than average perhaps, but large enough to satisfy those who enjoy larger toys and small enough for those relatively new to toys or penetration to use. The base makes it very easy to hold on to while using it solo or with a partner and the flared base makes it great for anal play or use within a strap-on harness.

Vamp really is a realistic-looking dildo, aside from the sparklyness and the extremely pale color. It has a wonderful realistic head as well as veins that run along the shaft, not so many that it is unrealistic or uncomfortable, just enough to be aesthetically pleasing. While the shaft is only slightly curved it still does provide some fabulous g-spot stimulation due to the shape of the head.

It’s really just a great dildo in general, but if you are also into Twilight (and it’s fine if you are, I’m not judging just stating my own opinions!) it would be easy to use this during a sexy “vampire” roleplay, and since it is harness-compatible, shareable, and able to be stuck in the fridge to cool it down below body temperature there are many ways to use it in that regard.

A big huge thanks to Fun Love for sending me a Vamp to review!

Name: Vamp.

Manufacturer: Tantus.

Material: 100% medical-grade silicone.

Features: Waterproof/submergeable, non-porous, phthalate-free, body-safe, can be sterilized & shared.

Type: Sparkly Faerie (aka “vampire”) Dildo.

Length: 6 3/4 inches (6 1/4 inches insertable).
Width: 1 1/2 inches (diameter) 5 inches (around).

Lube: Water- or oil-based only! Silicone lube should not be used with silicone toys unless it is specially formulated to do so.

Care: General cleaning- toy cleaner, anti-bacterial soap. Sterilization- 10% bleach solution, top rack of the dishwasher with no soap, or submerged in boiling water for 10 minutes.

Rating: 3 Lotuses (out of 5) – Good & Recommended

1. Yes, I’ve had this happen with jelly toys, which is part of why I stay away from them! [↩]
2. I have a much loved silicone dildo that I bought eight plus years ago and it still looks as good as any of the other newer ones I own [↩]

I keep wanting to pronounce this toy yee-ro like the delicious Greek sandwich, but it is actually named after the action you’re supposed to be able to do with it, gyrate, so it is supposed to be pronounced jy-ro. This makes much more sense, of course, but isn’t nearly as amusing.

Like all Nexus toys Gyro is made from 100% medical-grade silicone and is an amazingly soft and silky silicone like Nexus seems to be known for (or at least is known for in my mind). Their silicone is different than that I have encountered in any other company. Since it is silicone you can share it between partners and orifices as long as you sterilize it between them (going from vagina to anus is okay but do not go the other way around without sterilizing it first!), see care instructions below for further details.

The Gyro is meant to be a hands-free prostate stimulator, though works wonderfully as a g-spot stimulator on a female body as well. Nexus even has a neat how to use the Nexus Gyro guide on their site in case you’re not quite sure. Basically, it has a very firm round base which enables you to sit on it and rock your pelvis around to get more than the usual insertable stimulation without having to use a hand to thrust it inside of yourself.

How does it work? Very well, actually. The delightful curve of the toy hits just the right internal places. I’ve used it on both Onyx and myself, both thrusting and rocking and it is quite exceptional. I don’t think I’ve encountered any other dildos that are made for this kind of hands-free gyrating stimulation.

It is just slightly over average thickness and shorter than a lot of other toys because it is made to be inserted and rocked upon rather than thrusted, though it can be thrusted with as well. For those size queens who enjoy thicker and/or longer toys Nexus also makes the Gyro Extreme.

Since the base is so round and bulbous (about 2 1/2 inches in diameter! Not to be inserted) it is uncomfortable to keep it inserted or wear it for very long periods of time. Nexus also has considered the needs of those who would prefer to use something like the Gyro as a plug and created Silo.

A big thank you to Nexus for providing me with the Gyro!

Name: Gyro

Manufacturer: Nexus.

Material: 100% medical-grade silicone.

Features: Waterproof/submergeable, non-porous, phthalate-free, body-safe, can be sterilized & shared.

Type: Anal Toy/Butt Plug. Hands-free prostate stimulator.

Length: 4 1/2 inches (insertable) 6 inches (total)
Width: 1 5/8 inches (diameter) 5 inches (around)

Lube: Water- or oil-based only! Silicone lube should not be used with silicone toys unless it is specially formulated to do so.

Care: General cleaning: toy cleaner, anti-bacterial soap. Sterilization: wipe down with 10% bleach solution, run through the dishwasher on the top rack with no soap, or submerge in boiling water for 10 minutes.

Rating: 4 Lotuses (out of 5) – Very Good & Highly Recommended

I’m a sucker for hearts, so the moment I saw these restraints I knew I had to have them. I actually already had the matching collar, and also requested the matching cock ring from Adult Sex Toys for my upcoming Cock Ring Week feature.

These cuffs are well made with two straps of sturdy leather, one as the base width and the other thinner strap with the inlayed hearts, and quality metal connectors. Each restraint has an O-ring attached to the thinner leather strip via D-ring. They have red stitching which matches the color of the hearts perfectly and is an excellent elegant enhancement to these already gorgeous cuffs.

I’ve had the matching collar for over a year and a half, possibly two years, so I can speak to the long-term durability of these as well, which is quite high. Unfortunately one of the hearts has come out of the collar I have, though that was due to rather rough use. I wore the collar 24/7 for quite a few months and it still looks great aside from the lack of a single heart.

They are quite comfortable to wear, even for long periods of time, the insides are soft against the skin, and easily adjustable to fit large or small wrists. My wrists are fairly large at around eight and a half inches and these fit easily around them. I especially love to use these in conjunction with my Under the Bed Restraint System, though they don’t come with connector clips so you have to provide those on your own.

What else is there really to say? If you like the look of these they are definitely worth the money, not as expensive as other high-quality cuffs but more than the cheap stuff that doesn’t last too long anyway. In addition to the collar and cock ring there are also matching Ankle Restraints and a matching Flogger! Someday I hope to own the whole set.

Much thanks to Adult Sex Toys for sending me the Red Heart Wrist Restraints to review.

Name: Red Heart Wrist Restraints

Type: Wrist Cuffs/Restraints

Materials: Leather (cuffs) and metal (connectors).

Length: 8 3/4 inches (total)
Width: 2 inches

Rating: 3 Lotuses (out of 5) – Good & Recommended

Now, I am an avid chocolate fanatic, but I was still underwhelmed with the name of Nomi Tang’s Better than Chocolate in general, as if chocolate would automatically win over normal vibrators? Sorry, no, my cunt would choose getting off over chocolate just about any day of the week barring soreness or other impeding factors. The name aside I was intrigued by it’s ability to be used in a shower or bath and the innovative control strip used to set the vibration pattern. Unlike other reviewers I was able to get off with it and therefore it has strong enough vibrations for me, but being able to get off with it is only one part of the puzzle.

BtC comes in a small and elegant white box with a slip-cover and reminds me very much of other luxury toy packaging such as LELO or Njoy. The toy is presented well in the box, nestled in a divider and includes a product manual and white velvety bag beneath it. The storage bag is a little strange for the toy, in my opinion, the drawstring is on the long side rather than the short side of it and barely larger than the toy itself, which makes it odd to close.

The controlls of BtC really are fantastic. Instead of buttons or switches like most vibrators it is controlled by a touch strip. Onyx remarked that it’s what Apple would make if they weren’t prudes, of course. Well, it does have one power button on the opposite tip of it’s diamond-like shape which simply turns it on and off, very handy to have and much easier than having to cycle through the vibration patterns like some other toys require you to do.

There is a little Nomi Tang logo on the touch strip which lights up blue when the toy is turned on. A touch to the opposite end of the touch strip and the logo turns red indicating it is locked, and when there is water or lube covering the touch strip the logo turns purple indicating it has auto-locked. A touch over the logo on the strip changes the vibration pattern and depending on the pattern the light blink. By stroking your finger up or down the touch strip when it is not locked you can increase or decrease either the vibration strength or pulse speed depending on the vibration pattern. BtC has three vibration patterns: constant and two pulses.

The manual gives you all of the needed information, such as how to operate the unique controls of BtC, what the different colors mean, vibration pattern information, various tips, and that it can be submerged in water up to one meter (three feet), which is really quite awesome. I have used it in the bath a few times and it had no water or damage to the battery compartment when I did. I did notice some odd behavior when submerged, however. It would occasionally unlock on it’s own while under water even if I had manually locked it, causing the vibration pattern to change mid-use which was mildly annoying.

While I was able to get off with it, as previously mentioned, I wouldn’t say it was nearly as satisfying to play with as other toys. The vibrations just aren’t that strong, though they were stronger than I expected. If you don’t need much in the way of strength, however, you wouldn’t have a problem.

I was really disappointed that a vibrator of this elegant unique design and high luxury-toy price is not rechargeable. It is powered by two AAA batteries which directly contributes to it’s vibration strength or lack thereof. If it was rechargeable (or less expensive) I think that would fix the problems I have with it and make it that much more fantastic of a product.

Much thanks to Kama Sutra Closet for letting me review Better than Chocolate!

Name: Better than Chocolate.

Manufacturer: Naomi Tang

Material: Non-porous Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE).

Features: Waterproof/submergeable, non-porous, phthalate-free, body-safe, can be sterilized & shared, touch-pad controls.

Type: Clitoral Vibrator.

Power: Two AAA batteries.

Length: 4 1/4″
Width: 2 1/2″

Lube: Any! (water-, oil-, or silicone-based)

Care: General cleaning: toy cleaner, anti-bacterial soap. Sterilization: wipe down with 10% bleach solution.

Rating: 2 Lotuses (out of 5) – Okay & Indifferent