Best Women’s Erotica of the Year, Volume 4

Cleis Press generally puts out decent erotica anthologies. While not perfect, they tend to have something for everyone to make it an enjoyable and sexy ride. This latest anthology collects stories starring women who just want a bit of sexy action. Like any collection, the stories tend to run the gamut of styles and themes, so some stories will appeal to certain readers and not others. Like any truly erotic collection, there is always a happy end at the conclusion of the story for the lady involved and her partner. Sadly, despite its best efforts, this collection just kind of falls flat and never really perks up. Many of the stories just feel like a combination of the same elements. Compared to other collections in this series, this might be one of the most boring, and as a whole it feels tame. There is even more than one story that takes place in BDSM clubs; it is rare to have multiple stories happening in the same locale. Maybe it was just an off year for erotic fiction. One can hope next year’s collection is full of sizzle and heat.