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Beach Challenge
A collection of five sexually explicit erotic stories with male on male themes.
- GenresM M RomanceErotica
62 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2010
15 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Coldwell
346 books77 followersI am Rotherham’s foremost (okay, only) writer of quality erotica and erotic romance. Though I’m now based in London, family and football take me back North on a regular basis. Indeed, if you’re ever at a Rotherham United match (I know, what are the chances?) and you spot a small blonde with a large ‘London Millers’ flag, that’ll be me.
For twenty years, I worked on the UK edition of Forum magazine, for most of those years as editor. In that time, I built up the fiction side of the magazine, and was responsible for publishing the first stories by lots of now well-known and established erotic authors – most notably Portia da Costa and Lindsay Gordon, who was until recently Black Lace’s series editor.
However, I love writing even more than I love editing, and I’ve finally taken the plunge to write full-time. I’ve had stories published by Black Lace, Xcite Books, Cleis Press, Circlet Press, Mammoth, Ravenous Romance, Total-e-bound and more, and my collection of three gay erotic novellas, Wild Rides, will be coming out as a print book from Xcite in 2012. And I’m happy in my work…
For twenty years, I worked on the UK edition of Forum magazine, for most of those years as editor. In that time, I built up the fiction side of the magazine, and was responsible for publishing the first stories by lots of now well-known and established erotic authors – most notably Portia da Costa and Lindsay Gordon, who was until recently Black Lace’s series editor.
However, I love writing even more than I love editing, and I’ve finally taken the plunge to write full-time. I’ve had stories published by Black Lace, Xcite Books, Cleis Press, Circlet Press, Mammoth, Ravenous Romance, Total-e-bound and more, and my collection of three gay erotic novellas, Wild Rides, will be coming out as a print book from Xcite in 2012. And I’m happy in my work…
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 28, 2010
This book has five short stories in it. I'll review them each individually:
1. Beach Challenge
Delightfully fun and cute. The Beach Challenge is a way for Rueben to get his man right where he wants him: naked, at night, on the beach.
2. A Birthday Present
I'm not much into hoods, but if this is your thing, then read this story. The main character gives a birthday present to his partner. Much bondage.
3. The Anniversary Gift
This one was my favorite in the whole series. Sug and Huston have been together for 15 years, and their sex has gotten a little boring. So Huston suggests something, but Sug hates it. After a bit of contemplation, though...
4. Slash and Burn
The two characters in here have a very peculiar relationship, but it seems to work for them. One of them stops a mugger with his skateboard and things change from there on out.
5. The Collaring
My least favorite in the collection, along with #2. This was a really strange take on the whole master-slave ceremony and really turned me off. Sex in front of people is okay, but not in a ceremony like this. It could have been a good story, but wasn't much to my liking.
1. Beach Challenge
Delightfully fun and cute. The Beach Challenge is a way for Rueben to get his man right where he wants him: naked, at night, on the beach.
2. A Birthday Present
I'm not much into hoods, but if this is your thing, then read this story. The main character gives a birthday present to his partner. Much bondage.
3. The Anniversary Gift
This one was my favorite in the whole series. Sug and Huston have been together for 15 years, and their sex has gotten a little boring. So Huston suggests something, but Sug hates it. After a bit of contemplation, though...
4. Slash and Burn
The two characters in here have a very peculiar relationship, but it seems to work for them. One of them stops a mugger with his skateboard and things change from there on out.
5. The Collaring
My least favorite in the collection, along with #2. This was a really strange take on the whole master-slave ceremony and really turned me off. Sex in front of people is okay, but not in a ceremony like this. It could have been a good story, but wasn't much to my liking.
November 4, 2010
This is an anthology of five erotic short stories, it was short and sweet. I enjoyed most of the stories so I will review each one briefly so as not to spoil the fun :)
1. Beach Challenge by Elizabeth Coldwell (5 stars)
Reuben seems to have the right challenge to get the guy he wants, in a very fun way. Giving them a chance for privacy and a night he will never forget. Very sweet and nice :)
2. A Birthday Present by Ruth Ramsden (3 stars)
A guy gives his lover a birthday gift different than any other, introducing him to a new level of bondage.
3. The Anniversary Gift by Garland (5 stars)
Huston is an erotic writer who tries to add some flare into his love life with his lover Sug when things start to get dull. Is Sug ready for this addition? Really sweet! My favorite from the collection!!
4. Slash And Burn by Michael Bracken (3 stars)
Two skateboarding partners/lovers have a new encounters that changes their lives and portraying one of them as the Skateboard Hero.
5. The Collaring by Penelope Friday (2 stars)
A formal binding celebration is to be attended to bind the Master to his Slave. It includes some public humiliation.
Some quotes I enjoyed from the book:
"Like what you see?" he asked
"You know I do, Sug," I answered.
"You don't look like you do,"
"Sug," I spoke gently and laid a hand on his beating heart. "Please, don't take this personally."
"Are you giving me the, we-need-to-take-some-time-apart, speech?" he asked still not looking at me.
"You'd cry too, Huston, if you couldn't turn on the man you loved."
"I'll be home late," he said pecking my lips. "Behave." He indicated the basement . I can't believe he actually implied that! Maybe he had heard the unwarranted guilt in my voice after all.
"Don't worry, Sug. You know the only other men in my life are the ones I write about."
1. Beach Challenge by Elizabeth Coldwell (5 stars)
Reuben seems to have the right challenge to get the guy he wants, in a very fun way. Giving them a chance for privacy and a night he will never forget. Very sweet and nice :)
2. A Birthday Present by Ruth Ramsden (3 stars)
A guy gives his lover a birthday gift different than any other, introducing him to a new level of bondage.
3. The Anniversary Gift by Garland (5 stars)
Huston is an erotic writer who tries to add some flare into his love life with his lover Sug when things start to get dull. Is Sug ready for this addition? Really sweet! My favorite from the collection!!
4. Slash And Burn by Michael Bracken (3 stars)
Two skateboarding partners/lovers have a new encounters that changes their lives and portraying one of them as the Skateboard Hero.
5. The Collaring by Penelope Friday (2 stars)
A formal binding celebration is to be attended to bind the Master to his Slave. It includes some public humiliation.
Some quotes I enjoyed from the book:
"Like what you see?" he asked
"You know I do, Sug," I answered.
"You don't look like you do,"
"Sug," I spoke gently and laid a hand on his beating heart. "Please, don't take this personally."
"Are you giving me the, we-need-to-take-some-time-apart, speech?" he asked still not looking at me.
"You'd cry too, Huston, if you couldn't turn on the man you loved."
"I'll be home late," he said pecking my lips. "Behave." He indicated the basement . I can't believe he actually implied that! Maybe he had heard the unwarranted guilt in my voice after all.
"Don't worry, Sug. You know the only other men in my life are the ones I write about."
November 5, 2010
One of the four short anthologies that together make up the Boy Fun anthology, Beach Challenge features five gay erotic short stories.
Despite having two BDSM stories, this is one of the most varied and strangely romantic short erotica anthologies I have read. The highlight for me was Penelope Friday's "The Collaring", where a Master and slave formalise their relationship in front of an appreciative audience. Friday's writing is superb, and she manages to make a public D/s display far more romantic than I would have believed possible, without ever stooping to being slushy.
The other BDSM story, Ruth Ramsden's offering, was harder for me to swallow. I'm creeped out by masks and ball gags, but despite this I could appreciate how well written and atmospheric the story was. Despite its claustrophobic setting and lack of any references outside of the scene, Ramsden still somehow manages to convey just how much the two anonymous characters mean to each other.
Garland's "Anniversary Gift" made me chuckle with it's gay porn writer's foursome fantasy. Elizabeth Coldwell and Michael Bracken's offerings were more plotty. I could have done with some more dialogue to bring Bracken's characters to life, but I loved the skater scenario and the author hooked me in with his voice.
Despite having two BDSM stories, this is one of the most varied and strangely romantic short erotica anthologies I have read. The highlight for me was Penelope Friday's "The Collaring", where a Master and slave formalise their relationship in front of an appreciative audience. Friday's writing is superb, and she manages to make a public D/s display far more romantic than I would have believed possible, without ever stooping to being slushy.
The other BDSM story, Ruth Ramsden's offering, was harder for me to swallow. I'm creeped out by masks and ball gags, but despite this I could appreciate how well written and atmospheric the story was. Despite its claustrophobic setting and lack of any references outside of the scene, Ramsden still somehow manages to convey just how much the two anonymous characters mean to each other.
Garland's "Anniversary Gift" made me chuckle with it's gay porn writer's foursome fantasy. Elizabeth Coldwell and Michael Bracken's offerings were more plotty. I could have done with some more dialogue to bring Bracken's characters to life, but I loved the skater scenario and the author hooked me in with his voice.
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March 30, 2015Currently reading in the Boys Fun anthology.
Beach Challenge - one of the more romantic stories in the Boys Fun anthology. Well written and enjoyable. 4*
Beach Challenge - one of the more romantic stories in the Boys Fun anthology. Well written and enjoyable. 4*
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews