Switch: An Anthology

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'Top or Bottom?' by Desiree Holt

When you think something is missing from your BDSM relationship  maybe it's time to ask 'top or bottom?'

Both Keith and Shea were looking for something a little different in the BDSM world. Their chance meeting in an adult toy store gave them the opportunity to switch for an afternoon.

But when their playtime was over, would they be fulfilled? And could they go back to their normal roles or would they still crave something more?

***

'Mastering Maya' by Lisabet Sarai

Behind the mask of control hides a spirit aching to surrender.

Mistress Maya bears the nickname 'The Ice Queen'. Her precision in administering discipline, her skill in evoking a submissive's devotion, and her unshakable self—control are legendary in the small but active Boston kink community.

From the moment newcomer Master Shark sees Maya flogging a sub at Club Inferno, he's obsessed with her beauty and power. He'd determined to break through her defenses and bring her the same release she grants to the lucky slaves she tops. When Maya dismisses Shark as young and inexperienced, he offers her a challenge: a night together, during which he'll show her what it means to be mastered. If he fails to bring her to new heights of sensation, he agrees to become her slave.

What begins as a test of wills evolves into something deeper and more intense. As the younger man uses his insight and skill to coax Maya into submission, he comes to understand the wounded spirit hiding behind her mask of control. Can he make Maya trust him enough to surrender? Or will the flawless, untouchable dominatrix take possession of his body as well as his heart?

***

'Wagers of Sin' by Elizabeth Coldwell

Selina will never be a true dominant until she learns to submit...and Marcus bets he can show her how.

Selina prides herself on her skills as a dominatrix, with a string of pretty slave boys as her lovers. But these affairs never last, and her equally dominant best friend, Marcus, knows she needs something more. He claims she'll never be a true dominant until she learns what it means to submit, and during a day at the races, he offers her a wager to prove it. If his horse wins, she must submit to him for a month. If it loses, he'll switch and become her slave.

When the horse takes first place, Selina's world is turned upside down. Mistress becomes servant, as Marcus puts her through her paces, issuing instructions she's forced to obey and making her endure the most public of punishments. But Selina can't deny she loves the feeling of submitting to her gorgeous friend, even as he tests her to her limits. She might have lost the bet, but has she won the love of a true master?

***

'Still The One' by Wendi Zwaduk

She'll be his salvation if he's willing to switch.

Being stressed out sucks, especially when you're in charge of a team. Just ask Eric Trask. The pit crew of the Fifty—Four truck team depends on him. The stress of keeping things running smoothly is wearing Eric down. What's a guy to do to get a little relief?

Janine Walters knows exactly what Eric's up against. She's the public relations face of the team. Pressure is all a part of the job. Her outlet for stress just happens to be wielding a crop.

Can Eric embrace her methods for stress relief or will her suggestion tear their fragile relationship apart?

***

'Switching Off' by Amy Valenti

With his collar around her throat and her pulse pounding through her body, can she switch off enough to submit to his every whim?

Nina loves her job in middle management—her dominant personality and organisational skills make her indispensable to her employers. But, when her boss puts too many demands on her department, she finds it impossible to leave her job at her desk and enjoy her weekend with her sexy best friend, Jon.

When Jon takes away her phone and tells her she's not allowed to check her emails until Monday morning, Nina challenges his right to order her around. His response is to kiss her into silence, then to order her to her knees. What's even more startling is that Nina finds herself obeying—though not without a fight.

Can Jon succeed in getting Nina to switch off her managerial self as well as her phone? Or will she safeword before she can reach the sublime subspace he's promised to guide her into?

***

'Who Compels My Strength' by Lauren Gallagher

Can switching roles restore their confidence in their Dom/sub relationship, or are these doubts happening for a reason?

After some seemingly open—minded friends turn up their noses at Bridget and Ian's kinky lifestyle, both start having doubts of their own. Ian wonders if he truly is mistreating his wife, and Bridget can't shake her friend's accusation that she's a wimp and a doormat for letting her husband beat her.

To put their worries to bed, Bridget and Ian switch roles. Tonight, she's in charge, and they're each walking in the other's shoes.

But what happens if those shoes don't fit?

Today we have with us a new contributing reviewer, Victoria Storm, who will be sharing her thoughts on Switch. Please welcome her!

Top or Bottom -Totally enjoyed the trip to the toy store. The mental conversations were delightful and entertaining all the way through. The characters were engaging and I couldn't stop turning the pages! Enjoyed the ending and best of all I didn't see it coming. Twists are so much fun!

I agree Victoria. This one was pure fun and I loved the ending as well!

Mastering Maya was interesting reading and had you seconding guessing at what she would do. The tension between Maya and Master Shark was drool worthy. The school room scene was super hot!! Nothing like those underlying emotional conversations that were ever present and the ending was perfect. Great author! Would like to read more of her work.

Every book I have read by Lisabet Sarai has been well written and full of depth. There is an edgy darkness to her work that compels me to read more and I found this short story original and delightfully full of power shifts and BDSM dynamics abounding. 

Wagers Of Sin was a table turning event that was easy to get into. Having a Domme become a sub and watching the roles get reversed was so much fun! Eric really tests Selina's limits and what a page turner! Very hot!

I think I may have drooled in the opening scene in the box office. Yes. I am pretty sure I did. Hot read from beginning to end!

Still the One- If you are into racetracks and the mental stress that goes with keeping things tuned up and safe, you will enjoy this little behind the scene action. You will be in for a big surprise as to who ends the winning round. Good reading and a fresh bit of scenery I wasn't expecting.  Such a fitting end to an exciting read with fantastic humor and comments that were happily left to the readers imagination. This was completely different from the other stories in the collection.

This one was so different from the others in the book. It had a softer feel and was not held in a club or the more extreme sexual scenarios you saw in the other stories where it was a given that the characters were into kink. That is what made it different and a fun read. Victoria is so right that the power shifting hands made for a compelling read.

Switching Off was a fantastic read with a delightful insight to what many may feel about themselves and doubts they may have about how they live their lives.   Well expressed and fun reading all the way through and most definitely a good way to switch off and realign a much needed part of life for most all of us.  I realize this does not work for all but under the right circumstances could be fantastic. The wit and saucy undercurrents made the story so realistic that you could just see it unfolding all around you. Loved it.

First off, I just want to say that if I had a friend like Jon...well. Ummm. Yummy. What are friends for if not to spank you when you need a reality check and give you some quality time devoted to stress relief. Nina was a little cranky, but she warms up quick to some of the tricks Jon has up his Dominant and oh so sexy sleeve. This story gives new meaning to the term friends with benefits.

Who Compels My Strength-  This just goes to prove you never really know our neighbors and I think most of us are thankful that we don't.  This gave interesting insight to how we view our lives and how others may see things. Are we truly happy with what we have or is there more maybe that we never considered?  Time to check it out and what delightful things we learn! This story was definitely different but well written and effectively portrayed emotions and desires of two unique people and how they have found peace and happiness in their place in this crazy world of ours.

This may have been one of my favorite stories in the book. How many of us wonder what our friends and neighbors are up to behind closed doors? Admit it. You wonder. Is the nice school teacher down the street a closet drinker or is the block captain a secret kinkster? You just never know. This story is so there, with the secrets we keep to get along with the people around us in our everyday lives. 

What do you do when someone you thought you could talk to suddenly judges you? That is the thing about this story that really rocketed it in the right direction for me. It is hard to admit to someone that you are a kinkster, let alone have them rub your face in it. It is a betrayal of trust and the characters in this story decide to take that feeling of hurt and the questions that arise from the experience and turn it into a night of experiences they will not forget any time soon.

5/5

I found this collection to be a whole lot of fun and a worthy investment of my time. The array of stories was entertaining and if you are looking for a different set of scenarios from the usual BDSM erotic romance, then you may just enjoy this book. I agree with Victoria's assessment of the stories and found them to be a great mix, with some very in depth story lines. Great read!! I look forward to more books from this publisher and thank them for sending a copy for review. Thanks Victoria for your review inputs and we look forward to having you back for more in depth reviews!