Bedtime Stories for Women

About a year and a half ago, I stumbled across Nancy Madore's "Bedtime Stories for Women." It instantly became one of my favorite erotic story collections, with its elegant prose and naughty retellings of classic fairy tales. As the best books tend to do, my copy was borrowed and never came back, and I was unable to find another copy. Imagine my delight when I found "Enchanted." At first I was thrilled to have something new by the same author, but when I realized it was a reprint of "Bedtime Stories," that was also good news, because my copy was AWOL. So the caveat is that this is Bedtime Stories reprinted. If your copy of the original is still around, you probably don't need this one. However, it's delightful to see this volume getting wider distribution and a gorgeous cover, both of which it always deserved. *clutches book tightly* It's good to have you back, old friend.

I loved this collection of erotic retelling of popular fairytales. Bedtime Stories for Women reminds me of Anne Rice's Sleeping Beauty novels in that they turn a sweet fairytale into something extremely naughty and pleasurable (so to speak) to read. Nancy Madore renames the titles of some of the most memorable stories out there. The author also adds some original stories with a cartoonish setting. My favorites are "The Empress' New Clothes," "Cat and Mouse," "Goldilocks and the Three Barons," "Mirror on the Wall," "Beauty and the Beast," and "East of Sun." Not only are the stories smolderingly erotic, they also empower women to be uninhibited and independent. Some of the stories also deal with issues about one's physical appearance. "The Ugly Duckling" delves into the aforementioned issue in a profound, thought-provoking way. Bedtime Stories for Women is one of the best erotic short-story collections I have read in a long time. Ms. Madore is an excellent writer and I look forward to reading more of her stuff.

Reading "I Can't Believe This"'s review I have to wonder why she bought the book. This is a book about sex and sexual fantasies that's why its called "bedtime" stories. There is lots of sex in the book, but I didn't see any rape or anything else to put women down. I read erotica and romance novels all the time and I can tell you that this book is really tame compared to most (I take it you never read anything by Ann Rice?). "I can't believe this" makes the book sound like vulgar porn, but actually, one of the things that impressed me about it was that it was very sexy without all the tacky inuendos and obsenities you usually find in erotica ("I can't believe this"'s "creamy thigh fantasies" did offend me). I thought Madore presented the fantasies in a very classy way. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy erotica.

BEDTIME STORIES FOR WOMEN are guaranteed to give rise to your senses...and your libido. You will never read fairytales the same way after reading one of these stories. My personal favorites were "Beauty and the Beast," "Cat and Mouse," "Goldilocks and the Three Barons," "East of the Sun and West of the Moon," and "Snow White in the Woods." Each had me fantasizing, wanting more and still leaving much to the imagination.Ms. Madore expresses sensuality/sexuality without using the vulgarity or crass words that have began to plague modern day erotica. BEDTIME STORIES FOR WOMEN are told in an eloquent manner that is insatiable; they may even tempt you to want to create your own ending. Curl up with your significant other and prepare to read him a bedtime story. I must warn you that these stories are not meant to put him to sleep, but to wake him instead. I look forward to reading other erotica stories written by Ms. Madore; I'm sure I won't be disappointed by her fairytales with a twist.Reviewed by Ess Maysof The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers