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Sugar and Spice
There is a place hidden away in Cornwall, unremarkable from the outside, but a haven for the most daring of pleasure seekers...and every husband and wife willing to indulge their most intimate fantasies.
Even the primest Victorian garb cannot mask Gwendolyn's delectable attributes - yet her handsome husband regards her with icy disdain. She has but one chance to save her marriage and avert a future of dashed hopes and despair...and it requires a visit to a house where sensuality reigns.
Unable to satisfy the needs of the man she adores, Lillian is devastated when he seeks the amorous attentions of another. But there are passionate lessons to be learned if she joins the lovers in their erotic hideaway...
To possess a bride as voluptuous and exciting as Cora would be any man's dream, yet Gareth cannot understand why the woman he wed despises him so. Still, he will not give her up without a fight, though it may take extraordinary imagination to make Cora's most wicked secret fantasies come true.
Even the primest Victorian garb cannot mask Gwendolyn's delectable attributes - yet her handsome husband regards her with icy disdain. She has but one chance to save her marriage and avert a future of dashed hopes and despair...and it requires a visit to a house where sensuality reigns.
Unable to satisfy the needs of the man she adores, Lillian is devastated when he seeks the amorous attentions of another. But there are passionate lessons to be learned if she joins the lovers in their erotic hideaway...
To possess a bride as voluptuous and exciting as Cora would be any man's dream, yet Gareth cannot understand why the woman he wed despises him so. Still, he will not give her up without a fight, though it may take extraordinary imagination to make Cora's most wicked secret fantasies come true.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
7 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
About the author
Leda Swann
27 books40 followersLeda Swann is the writing duet of Cathy and Brent. We write out of our home overlooking the sea in peaceful New Zealand. When not writing we have busy lives bringing up four children and enjoying an adventurous outdoor life that ranges from the mountains to the sea.
We often get asked how our name Leda Swann came about. When we decided to write an erotic romance together we wanted a sexy name. We discussed how the Greek gods made for themselves a pretty good time of things, so a name from Greek mythology would be good. In any case, the word erotic comes from the Greek 'erotikos' and 'eros', meaning sexual love. We just needed to find a name that was more or less easily pronounceable. The tale of Leda and the Swan came to mind, and so Leda Swann was born.
We often get asked how our name Leda Swann came about. When we decided to write an erotic romance together we wanted a sexy name. We discussed how the Greek gods made for themselves a pretty good time of things, so a name from Greek mythology would be good. In any case, the word erotic comes from the Greek 'erotikos' and 'eros', meaning sexual love. We just needed to find a name that was more or less easily pronounceable. The tale of Leda and the Swan came to mind, and so Leda Swann was born.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 11, 2008
This anthology was really disappointing because the story ideas have so much promise. Set in the Victorian period, married couples visit this house called Sugar and Spice for “adult entertainment purposes” ;)
In the first story the heroine acts out fantasies that she thinks will win back her husband. She dresses up as a mermaid, a pirate, a harem girl etc etc. It’s fun but the heroine is too insecure,sometimes silly and there’s not enough development.
For the second story the heroine revels in being treated as a slave (tied on a leash, spanked) and that too is well-done but falls short story-wise. It's too rushed.
In the last story the heroine is an exhibitionist. This is the best story but the ending is just stupid as if the author didn’t know what kind of “problem” to put in and so came up with this one. If you took out the ending that story is a 4 star rating.
**There is some f/f/m in this last story.
The sex scenes smolder in all the stories but they lack structure at times, almost like the author didn’t know what to write about apart from the sex so things got thrown in for no real reason.
The book has so much potential. The ideas are worth a 4.5 star rating but the way they are set out just doesn't work. Maybe if it was written as a full-length novel or just 2 stories it would have been better.
In the first story the heroine acts out fantasies that she thinks will win back her husband. She dresses up as a mermaid, a pirate, a harem girl etc etc. It’s fun but the heroine is too insecure,sometimes silly and there’s not enough development.
For the second story the heroine revels in being treated as a slave (tied on a leash, spanked) and that too is well-done but falls short story-wise. It's too rushed.
In the last story the heroine is an exhibitionist. This is the best story but the ending is just stupid as if the author didn’t know what kind of “problem” to put in and so came up with this one. If you took out the ending that story is a 4 star rating.
**There is some f/f/m in this last story.
The sex scenes smolder in all the stories but they lack structure at times, almost like the author didn’t know what to write about apart from the sex so things got thrown in for no real reason.
The book has so much potential. The ideas are worth a 4.5 star rating but the way they are set out just doesn't work. Maybe if it was written as a full-length novel or just 2 stories it would have been better.
October 29, 2008
A steamy Victorian anthology, where all stories take place at Sugar and Spice Health Spa. Adult couples vacation there and participate in any sexual fantasy they may have.
There are lots of great sex scenes in the book, but I had a hard time liking any of the 3 main female charcters. Not liking them could be because each story was only about 100 pages, which was not enough for character development.
I would have given it more than 3 stars if I had liked any of the characters.
There are lots of great sex scenes in the book, but I had a hard time liking any of the 3 main female charcters. Not liking them could be because each story was only about 100 pages, which was not enough for character development.
I would have given it more than 3 stars if I had liked any of the characters.
February 20, 2009
The book is a collection of three novellas, each about a different couple going through some sort of estrangement/whatever. All of the stories revolve around the same house in Cornwall, a sort of “couples retreat”. All of the heroines showed some spunk at the start of each story, but quickly lost what backbone they had once the sex started. Two of the three heroes were complete asshats! The one I hated the most cheated on his wife all the time and when his wife shows up to stop him, he accuses her of “ruining his fun” then forces her to give him oral sex. After all the hell he puts her through, she realizes in the end that she never really hated him, she just loved him too much. It’s like the second he gives her an orgasm for the first time, everything is all forgiven and they go on to have lots of kinky sex.
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This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2008
The book follows the exploits of three different couples, so the book is split into three different sections. All the couples are having martial issues and look to rekindle the romance at this "spa". The first couple was really sweet and explored their relationship. I didn't care for the second couple. I guess because the husband was a womanizer and even though he reconnected with his wife, I found him to be a bit abusive. She was more property than wife. The third couple's story actually had more PLOT than the others, so theirs was interesting and had a suprise twist. Overall, literary value not so much; however, erotica value - A LOT. Needless to say, this was my husband's favorite book club pick. :)
January 17, 2016
There are 3 stories in this one- each centering on a couple with marital problems at a Victorian era resort. The first couple's story was not bad- the other two were not enjoyable simply because the characters were not likeable.
April 9, 2012
I just couldn't get into these stories. Everyone was so angry and then instead of dealing with issues they used sex to fix it. Just didn't do it for me.
October 4, 2022
2 stars, but barely. Only because I have a certain tier of books that deserve a 1 star rating and this one was at least mildly successful in some ways.
February 20, 2023
The general idea was intriguing. The execution was horrible.
January 13, 2009
Hmmm ... "What I learned from this book ..."
Well, I wasn't sure how to review it. If I'm comparing it to other books of this type, I guess it was pretty good, but I'm not well read on erotica! :) It was a quick and easy (no pun intended) read, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you're looking for some good smut. I actually looked up the origin of some of the sexual words because I didn't think they were around in the Victorian Era, when this book takes place. Well, surprise - they were! The F-word has been around since 1495, for example. I had no idea that word was pre-Shakespearean! One word (that I won't type out) has been around since 900. Shocker!
I have to admit that I found myself interested in the storylines of the 3 couples, but my husband wasn't. He simply skimmed until he got to the "good" parts.
I wouldn't have read this if it weren't the chosen book for my book club this past month, but hey, it's always good to try new things.
Well, I wasn't sure how to review it. If I'm comparing it to other books of this type, I guess it was pretty good, but I'm not well read on erotica! :) It was a quick and easy (no pun intended) read, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you're looking for some good smut. I actually looked up the origin of some of the sexual words because I didn't think they were around in the Victorian Era, when this book takes place. Well, surprise - they were! The F-word has been around since 1495, for example. I had no idea that word was pre-Shakespearean! One word (that I won't type out) has been around since 900. Shocker!
I have to admit that I found myself interested in the storylines of the 3 couples, but my husband wasn't. He simply skimmed until he got to the "good" parts.
I wouldn't have read this if it weren't the chosen book for my book club this past month, but hey, it's always good to try new things.
September 19, 2008
The first and third stories were good but the sceond turn me off because the husband been cheating on his wife for 6 years that they have been married and once they start having good sex, all sudden everything is okay with them and the wife trusts her husband to be faithful to her and the husband doesn't want any other women...please like after 6 years of cheating, how can she forgive and forget just because the sex is good?...I don't think so. Besides that, the book is actually really HOT!
January 2, 2009
This was the book club choice for December. It's not exactly a book I would select to read on my own - of course that's the beauty of diverse book club members. It was a quick read missing the more complex character development I look for in a book. I think Swann attempted some development with the third couple, but it was too little too late.
July 7, 2012
Rated NC-17
Most of the book was really good, but there was one major factor in the last story that messed up my enjoyment of the rest of it. Overall, an interesting, erotic read, but I would recommend skipping or skimming the third woman's story. She has a creepy backstory that comes to light toward the end.
Most of the book was really good, but there was one major factor in the last story that messed up my enjoyment of the rest of it. Overall, an interesting, erotic read, but I would recommend skipping or skimming the third woman's story. She has a creepy backstory that comes to light toward the end.
September 22, 2015
I very much like Leda Swann's erotic style of writing. Its very gritty and to the point. I have favourites in this book - I loved all of these stories that made up the whole shebang, except the last one with Cora & her ex coal miner husband. I think it just made me uncomfortable?!
In summary, I do like most of these very hot episodes in this book.
In summary, I do like most of these very hot episodes in this book.
December 19, 2008
Book Club Pick
February 27, 2009
I agree with most here that the stories were too simplistic and the characters not unlikable necessary...but nothing that really grabbed me.
March 4, 2013
I liked this and am inspired to read more.
March 28, 2011
Very steamy trio of stories. Kink for everyone.
August 4, 2013
I think I may have begun reading this when I was here in April... but at anyrate I've finished it now. Novellas which are connected by the characters. Not the best. lets itself be read..
January 7, 2012
Fanbloodytastic!
April 25, 2017
Like most anthologies, a bit of a mixed bag, and I think all of these would have worked better as longer stories.
The first story worked the best for me. Both the conflict and the sex were good, and this was really the only conflict that I could see being resolved in such a short period of time. I do think Adam and Gwendolyn could have used an opportunity to talk without sex being involved, but this obviously wasn't that kind of story. A strong and enjoyable story. 4 stars
I really hated the hero of the second story. He started cheating on the heroine a month after they got married and has been cheating on her consistently for the past six years. He did this supposedly to make her feel something about him because she was so cold, but that's honestly the stupidest reason to cheat that I've ever heard, and as the heroine said, she was a nervous virgin when they married what did he expect? The sex was hot, but I just can't see anyway that this relationship could be saved, at least not in the short story format. 3 stars
I didn't care for the conflict in the final story. Like the previous two stories, the sex was hot, but I hate the type of conflict this story has. I saw it coming and wasn't surprised about it, but I feel like it's the type of storyline that's often poorly handled in longer pieces of media let alone short stories that are 90% sex, and ultimately the way it was all revealed was very dramatic to me even considering the drama. I did like the hero, but the heroine was harder to warm up to, even if her characterization was understandable. 3 stars
Ultimately, 3 stars overall. The writing was good, but I think the conflict in all of these would have benefited from a longer format. I'll be interested to see what Swann does with a novel rather than a short story.
The first story worked the best for me. Both the conflict and the sex were good, and this was really the only conflict that I could see being resolved in such a short period of time. I do think Adam and Gwendolyn could have used an opportunity to talk without sex being involved, but this obviously wasn't that kind of story. A strong and enjoyable story. 4 stars
I really hated the hero of the second story. He started cheating on the heroine a month after they got married and has been cheating on her consistently for the past six years. He did this supposedly to make her feel something about him because she was so cold, but that's honestly the stupidest reason to cheat that I've ever heard, and as the heroine said, she was a nervous virgin when they married what did he expect? The sex was hot, but I just can't see anyway that this relationship could be saved, at least not in the short story format. 3 stars
I didn't care for the conflict in the final story. Like the previous two stories, the sex was hot, but I hate the type of conflict this story has. I saw it coming and wasn't surprised about it, but I feel like it's the type of storyline that's often poorly handled in longer pieces of media let alone short stories that are 90% sex, and ultimately the way it was all revealed was very dramatic to me even considering the drama. I did like the hero, but the heroine was harder to warm up to, even if her characterization was understandable. 3 stars
Ultimately, 3 stars overall. The writing was good, but I think the conflict in all of these would have benefited from a longer format. I'll be interested to see what Swann does with a novel rather than a short story.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews