31 Flavors

Feb 05, 2012 ♆ BookAddict ~ La Crimson Femme rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: bdsm, sugarkink, author-gift, arc, short-story

I was looking forward to this story as I understand the situation this wife finds herself in. Sidney is looking for something more in her sexual life. She's hoping to convince her husband to try his hand at some BDSM with her. I know several women in this situation, myself included. I eagerly looked forward to how Sidney turned Nick into the "Dom" of her dreams. I've read several other books with this same exact theme in the past year. Since this is based on a true story, I was even more excited...more I was looking forward to this story as I understand the situation this wife finds herself in. Sidney is looking for something more in her sexual life. She's hoping to convince her husband to try his hand at some BDSM with her. I know several women in this situation, myself included. I eagerly looked forward to how Sidney turned Nick into the "Dom" of her dreams. I've read several other books with this same exact theme in the past year. Since this is based on a true story, I was even more excited to see how this played out.

I regret to say, this story is not at all what I expected or hoped to read. There are reasons Sidney has sexual issues. I'm not going to go into the details, but within the first chapter, I'm thinking, Nick is a saint. This story is well written in the that it chronicles a few chapters in the life of a real woman who struggles with sexual satisfaction. Since this story is all from Sidney's point of view, we get to see her hopes, frustrations and confusion. It would be interesting to see what it would be like from Nick's perspective.

I mention this specifically because I'm the chick who ends up listening to men like Nick as they talk about their wife's sexual problems. No, I'm not a sexual therapist or a shrink. I'm the co-worker who travels for work in a male dominated profession. In these critical happy hour sessions which the story character Sidney rails against, people build key work relationships. Those who leave early generally aren't treated to the confessions brought on by drinking. Due to my experience, I'm more empathic to these confused, frustrated and sexually deprived husbands. Sometimes the real life story ends up with a happy reconciliation, many times, it does not. Based on this story, it appears that Sidney is one of the lucky few with a happy reconciliation.

There is a specific thing I'd like to address about BDSM as it relates into this story. In it, Sidney's on-line friends she's just recently met mentioned that forcing a person to be a Dom when he is not will only cause problems. In the story, Sidney takes great offense to this and pretty much goes crazy postal. Now, I don't know what happened in real life nor do I care. What I find interesting in this story is that the authors pounced on this in what I consider a judgmental way, not so different than the accusations of the online friends being judgmental about Sidney. There is a reason why someone who isn't a bit interested in BDSM shouldn't be forced into a role they are not interested in. Now, I don't think it's black or white. Sure there are going to be problems but these problems can be overcome. I personally don't think of people being 100% BDSM or 100% vanilla. That is what I thought the point of this story was going to be - 31 flavours of kink. While the story did lecture this concept with the subtlety of a hammer, it still came across as a mixed message to me.

Why do I find this a mixed message? Because there is criticism of those who felt Sidney was topping from below. In this story, Sidney basically snickered at this and considered it irrelevant. There is a reason why people in the lifestyle caution against topping from below. It can also cause problems - nothing that can't be overcome. Since this is a contemporary romance based on a real story, my concern is that readers without experience and education in BDSM are going to take this book as gospel and with more credit as an accurate BDSM lesson. This would be giving a message which I do not agree with.

Back to the characters. The marital strife between Sidney and Nick is very real. I can actually say I've seen this amongst many a couple. This realism enhanced the story. The flaws in Sidney are all too real. I like my heroines flawed but in this case, I couldn't connect with Sidney. Instead, the entire story, I felt sorry for Nick and wondered why he didn't drink more to get through Sidney's less rational moments. I very quickly disassociated myself from Sidney which is what detracted from my pleasure in this book.

Regardless of how I felt about the characters and the authors' BDSM view, it was a smooth read. The writing flowed and each scene made sense and painted a clear yet slightly harsh picture of a marriage in trouble yet worth saving. And in the end, the coming together of husband and wife was sweet. I recommend this to women who feel misunderstood and want a husband to become tuned their needs and thoughts. Don't give up hope!(less)

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Feb 13, 2012 Holly rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, must-have-in-paperback, bdsm, erotica, contemporary, romance, read-and-reviewed-from-author-or-pu

May have slight spoilers.

I really, really enjoyed this novel. I do not know what I expected when I started reading but I knew with the first page that I already liked it.

In this novel, we meet, Sidney and Nick a married couple of five years, they only have sex everyone and a while—not because they do not like each other but Sidney just can't seem to ‘get into it’ their sex just doesn’t do it for her. She contributes most of this to her past, but finds she may like sex more than she thought; the...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Silent_count rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adults_only, commented, not_a_series

You wanna know the best thing about e-books? They're malleable - if there's something you don't like, it's easy enough to change. I'm telling you because this book mentions a Mistress Helvetica. The name puts me in mind of a sexy lady in a leather corset (oh, the pain of doing research!) who gets her kicks... by sitting at a desk and designing fonts. Probably not what the authors had in mind but, thanks to the magic that are e-books, it took about a minute to re-christen her to "Mistress Jane" (...more You wanna know the best thing about e-books? They're malleable - if there's something you don't like, it's easy enough to change. I'm telling you because this book mentions a Mistress Helvetica. The name puts me in mind of a sexy lady in a leather corset (oh, the pain of doing research!) who gets her kicks... by sitting at a desk and designing fonts. Probably not what the authors had in mind but, thanks to the magic that are e-books, it took about a minute to re-christen her to "Mistress Jane" (in my copy at least). Try doing that with a printed book!

For intent alone, this book gets a five from me. It tells the story of the struggles faced by a real-life couple who try some kink to spice up an unsatisfying sex life.

For execution, this book gets a five from me. The writing and characterisation are superb. Apart from a few sad moments, this book is mostly playful and inquisitive, and was frankly a joy to read. As a reader you'll never find yourself wondering what's going on in the protagonist's mind, and that is compliments of the wonderful job the authors have done. It would have been interesting to have some insight into what was going on in Syd's husband's head but twas not to be.

The narrative suffers a little from being caught in a no-man's land - between wanting to tell a true story and wanting to be an entertaining tale. As a straight fiction, it works well. Really well. I however would have been interested seeing less off the couple's kinky sex and more of the discussions, of how they made their marriage work, but I'll concede that I'm probably in the minority on that one.

- Edit -
Following sixteen hours of "fixing" computers (hint: scorched-earth reinstalls) for people too retarded to follow the simple advice I gave them less than a week ago, I've concluded thus: Any adult (which you must be to buy this book) who is too dim to reason that playing with ropes and beatings could end badly... we're better off without their stupidity polluting the gene pool.

I really did enjoy this book. Wherever you are, real-life Sidney and Nick, I hope you're keeping well.
(less)

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Feb 29, 2012 MoonGlitter rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, books-reviewed-for-blog

I was a little surprised and immensely curious about 31 flavors when I learned it is an erotic novella based on a true story.

I was even more intrigued to learn that Nick and Sidney are a couple who are in their 30's and have been married for 5 years. Due to circumstances surrounding Sidney's past, she is not able to enjoy making love to her husband. As a matter of fact, I'd say it was barely tolerable.

But there is something that does interest Sidney....right to her core ;) But she's afraid that...more I was a little surprised and immensely curious about 31 flavors when I learned it is an erotic novella based on a true story.

I was even more intrigued to learn that Nick and Sidney are a couple who are in their 30's and have been married for 5 years. Due to circumstances surrounding Sidney's past, she is not able to enjoy making love to her husband. As a matter of fact, I'd say it was barely tolerable.

But there is something that does interest Sidney....right to her core ;) But she's afraid that if she tells Nick what she wants he might think she's a freak! After all, Is it really normal to want to be spanked or to want to lay tied up and helpless to another persons wants and needs?

We watch Nick and Sidney try to relate to each other and try to find that spark in their sex life. It's not easy!! There are a LOT of ups and downs. Leia Shaw and Cari Silverwood have done a fantastic job with bringing us on the ride!!

Honestly, I could feel the love, the angst, the excitement and the turbulence that both Sidney and Nick were feeling. It was a roller coaster of emotions and I was really routing for them to find their happy medium. This is NOT just a novella with incredibly hot, super steamy, intense sex!! *With just the right amount of naughty fun added* This is a look into a loving relationship where a couple learns how to communicate their needs to each other. It shows that love and understanding can overcome some very difficult obstacles. And that we are all different and we all have different needs. If you don't like vanilla but are not completely into rocky road, their are several other flavors out there to try. You just have to find your own personal taste and give it a go!

I do not very often recommend erotic novels to my friends. But I truly loved this little book so much, I will be telling everybody about it! Please, don't miss out on this one. Especially if you might just be a little bit curious about what your flavor might be. ;)

Reviewed for WearVampsRomance. http://werevampsromance.blogspot.com/(less)

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Feb 16, 2012 Guilty Pleasures rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: authorreviews, guiltypleasures-angeline

Recommended Read

Based on a true story, 31 Flavors delves into the lives of two real people discovering how BDSM fits into their lives. It’s serious, funny, sad, and HOT all wrapped up in a wonderful story with very relatable characters.

Sidney and Nick have been married for five years. They are the best of friends with a deep love for one another, just not the best of lovers. Their journey takes us through Sidney’s discovery of her own desires with BDSM; all the way to how they decide to fit it i...more

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Feb 06, 2012 Melanie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really loved the book. A friend of mine said that there are some books that stay with you and affect you for a long, long time. One of those books for me is “The Reluctant Dom” by Tymber Dalton. I think that this one may be another one. I just can’t get it out of my head… It is resonating big-time in my brain… I think it may be because I can relate a lot to it. It seems to be written honestly. What I mean is, even though it was based on a true story, it could have been written to be “larger th...more

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Feb 11, 2012 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: erotica, ebooks, contemporary, read-in-2012

This was one of those books that felt sweetly real to me. Neither Sidney or Nick are experienced in the BDSM lifestyle at the start of their story and they have to feel along and find the things that work for them as the story progresses. And they don't always get things right. They have to figure out their boundaries with one another and they really have no prior experience to draw from. In a lot of ways that's what makes their story so touching because as they're learning the ropes (har, har)...more

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Mar 29, 2012 Annie *Perky Monkey-Buns* rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: a-to-z-challenge-bdsm, bdsm, erotica, i-own, mf, romance

I really wanted to like this book more. Overall it was an okay story and it was well written.

I really did not like Sidney. I found her annoying, but at the same time I have never dealt with what she was going through. Imagine you have the perfect relationship and no sex life, only to finally start having a sex life and have that perfect relationship start to crumble. I do believe I would be an emotional mess to. With that said, I am glad BDSM has helped but by the sounds of it she needs profess...more

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Jul 13, 2012 Erzabet Bishop rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kink, marriage, erotic, bdsm, adventure, review-copy, must-read

This book was a scorcher all the way, but I really liked how it gave you a real life scenario and how one woman was able to bring BDSM into her marriage. Spicy and a real page turner. Must read. Stay tuned for an interview on http://erzabetsenchantments.blogspot....

Join me for a giveaway:

http://erzabetsenchantments.blogspot....

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Jul 07, 2012 Ni_kii rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: conflicted-me, selfish-heroine, previous-abuse, dreamy-men, bdsm

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Really 3.75 Stars

A traumatic past has left Sidney unable to enjoy sex. She doesn’t get aroused by the thought of traditional sex, no matter how hard she tries to please her husband. After five years of terrible sex, she finds something that pushes her buttons in an erotic novel; only question is will her husband be into it?

When Sidney approaches Nick to try to bring BDSM into their bedroom, he is all for trying anything to get her to enjoy sex. Tentatively they take baby-steps into the lifestyle...more Really 3.75 Stars

A traumatic past has left Sidney unable to enjoy sex. She doesn’t get aroused by the thought of traditional sex, no matter how hard she tries to please her husband. After five years of terrible sex, she finds something that pushes her buttons in an erotic novel; only question is will her husband be into it?

When Sidney approaches Nick to try to bring BDSM into their bedroom, he is all for trying anything to get her to enjoy sex. Tentatively they take baby-steps into the lifestyle, trying out many new techniques to find the ones that fit them. Through pain and bondage, Sidney finds a release she never thought she would get and begins to look forward to being intimate with her husband.

Whereas Sidney needs the pain and control to orgasm, Nick only participates because he wants to watch the woman he loves enjoy herself. Although being in control is fun, it takes a lot of work and sometimes it just seems too much. As resentment starts to breed on both sides, it’s clear that the decision to foray into the world of kink has opened Pandora’s Box. No matter how much you try, those feelings won’t lie back down. Can their marriage survive the awakening of Sidney’s desires?

Confession time; I have read the first version of this book and then this one. The revisions have worked wonders for this book and I enjoyed most of the tale. The fact that it is based on a real story makes it hard to review; the decisions in this book are based on a real marriage and feature real people which makes it crazy hard to judge. The one thing I loved about the whole thing was the mantra that there is no one size fits all in regards to sex; there is a spectrum between Vanilla and a full BDSM relationship that can be filled by anyone. After reading tens of BDSM books, this is not a message that ever came across as fully as I thought it should; I loved the thought that your relationship could contain or omit as many rules as you wanted.

The thing that concerned me about the whole of this book was the fact that Sidney craved BDSM whereas Nick only dabbled for her. This was always going to be a test of who could bend more and unfortunately, I felt that Nick did all of the bending. It was clear that he started practicing with the bondage for her and only enjoyed it because she did; it was a novelty for him for her to crave him as much as he did her. He was bound to want down time and have normal sex; he was only playing at being a Dom and didn’t need to feel that element of control. My bug-bar was she wouldn’t even attempt compromise properly; instead she just flipped it back on him and laid out a massive guilt trip about making her feel like she was “work”. It was work to him. It didn’t come naturally and he didn’t enjoy the research; demanding sex from him constantly and then berating him when he wants her to bend for him was ridiculous. I pitied her character, but I’m not sure that I liked her for what she did to him. I enjoyed that she felt strong enough to ask for what she needed but I hated that she was so self-obsessed with her pain that she couldn’t give her man what he needed too.

Nick was always going to come out of this tale well to me. He was literally doing anything for the woman he loved. He used his words and his actions to prove to her how he loved her; the man was a fricking saint! I have no bad words to say about this man because he was real and he was lovely. He showed how real relationships aren’t based on love and lust, but constant work and compromise. It was only a shame that she was as unwilling to bend.

The sex scenes were fabulously sexy and you could feel the care and love in each scene. He gave her what she wanted, but he did it whilst checking she was OK and not pushing. The scenes are hot and imaginative....I loved the Throbinator! BDSM enthusiasts will hate this because, really, Sidney is giving up very little control. She really does come across as if she doesn’t trust him enough to give him the freedom of her body. I couldn’t imagine how it would feel to have the person you love the most shrink away from you in fear, knowing that you put that look on her face. I knew why she had that fear, but I wondered throughout if she was mentally healthy enough to be a fully functioning part of a relationship.

I don’t see this as a tale with a HEA; I see it as the first chapter in a work-in progress. Hopefully by the end Sidney will be in a place where she can be an equal in that relationship and that is a book I’d like to read. I’m starring it based on the fact that I will read it again, if only for the Balloon scene J(less)

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Mar 08, 2012 Dark Haven rated it 5 of 5 stars

Love is such a powerful feeling and motivator; especially that love for a spouse or life partner. What would any of us do to keep that love in our lives? Would we suffer through 5 years of bad sex? Would we risk losing that love for true sexual expression and fulfillment? Talk about being between a rock and a hard place. Sidney has got to be one of the most courageous ‘characters’ I’ve ever read. In essence, she’s risking her marriage in order to embark on a sexual journey she won’t be 100% sure...more

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Mar 08, 2012 Gina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: finished, recommended-read

Overall Perspective: Highly Recommended. Therepudic in its own way to be honest.

Warning: There may be some triggers for those who have an unsavory history containing sexual abuse.

A gripping erotic romance.

I found 31 Flavors to be a very difficult book to put down and one I couldn't wait to pick up again as soon as I could.

The writing style of the two authors is incredible. Their ability to seamlessly weave the story together left no idea at all that it was co-authored. The plot and pace of the r...more

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Feb 19, 2012 Candace rated it 2 of 5 stars

To be honest, I wasn't sure if I was going to review this book or not. It's based on a true story, and a very emotional and personal one at that. It's not my desire or intention to marginalize anyone's experiences so please keep that in mind before becoming offended by my dislike of this book.

At the risk of sounding like a bitch, I have to ask why in the bloody hell Sidney isn't in therapy if she can't have sex with her husband without feeling the way she does. Clearly she's not over her rape or...more To be honest, I wasn't sure if I was going to review this book or not. It's based on a true story, and a very emotional and personal one at that. It's not my desire or intention to marginalize anyone's experiences so please keep that in mind before becoming offended by my dislike of this book.

At the risk of sounding like a bitch, I have to ask why in the bloody hell Sidney isn't in therapy if she can't have sex with her husband without feeling the way she does. Clearly she's not over her rape or the aftermath and five years into a marriage to a man she loves dearly... she's hurting him. She's depriving him of a healthy sex life by her refusal to handle her own trauma. I'm sorry, but Sidney needed to be in therapy. Lots of it.

I don't feel like Nick's frustration was unwarranted, either. He'd spent the better part of his prime with Sidney and she still can't give herself to him. I have a problem with these kinds of relationships. Shouldn't marriage be all or nothing? Shouldn't she have enough respect and love for Nick and HERSELF to seek better treatment for her rape trauma? Men like Nick deserve a woman who tries as hard as he does. Gritting her teeth and "handling" sex with him isn't trying. Again, why wasn't she in therapy?

Her entire foray into BDSM was really strange to me. She asked for so much from Nick. So much. And I don't buy for a second that after bringing up the efforts he's made for her in the bedroom are taxing on him TWICE, he's just gotten over them. That would come up again, guaranteed. To me this relationship screams failure. The forum members on the site Sidney was a member of were right in a way. Both Nick and Sidney claim to love one another. But it's Nick that makes all the concessions, and does all the work., Sidney gets the dirty sex she wants, and seems to do nothing in return but a couple of awkward blowjobs and a thorough analysis of everything Nick didn't do in bed that she wanted him to.

And the job situation. That wasn't healthy either.

My point is, the balance in this relationship is beyond off kilter. It made me uncomfortable to read, and I couldn't identify with the situation at all. I guess my main beef is that I found out about this book because of a tweet. The blog entry about it was misleading as to the content of the story. It was made out to be a sexy and funny look into a couple's journey into sexual compatibility. Instead, it's an angsty, uncomfortable story that I was unprepared for. It's my opinion that the authors should take into account the gravity of what's being discussed in this book and try to not sell it as humorous so heavily.(less)

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Feb 15, 2012 Riane Kinky Book Reviews rated it 2 of 5 stars

As reviewed on Kinkybookreviews.com:
Sidney is your average married woman. She has a good relationship with her husband, decent job, nice life, but Sidney has a secret. She loves reading BDSM erotic romance. Even her husband doesn't know exactly what she reads. When she finds a book about a married couple where the husband learns to be a Dom and she thinks, "what if...."

I don't know about you, but that sounds a lot like me. I love closing my eyes and placing my husband and myself into a hot scene...more As reviewed on Kinkybookreviews.com:
Sidney is your average married woman. She has a good relationship with her husband, decent job, nice life, but Sidney has a secret. She loves reading BDSM erotic romance. Even her husband doesn't know exactly what she reads. When she finds a book about a married couple where the husband learns to be a Dom and she thinks, "what if...."

I don't know about you, but that sounds a lot like me. I love closing my eyes and placing my husband and myself into a hot scene from one of my books, and, well... **dreamy sigh** So, when I read what this book was about, I was really excited. Based on a true story, interesting. Oooh, and it is co-written by one of my favorite authors! I must read this!! Unfortunately, that was about where my excitement ended.

This was a really hard book for me to review. The story had such promise, but it fell way short. I once heard someone say, "The fact that something really happened, does not make it good fiction." I think this book is a good example of that. When I'm reading a book that is "based on real life," it's nice to know, but while I'm reading, it doesn't make a hill of beans, it's still a book. The phrase 'based on' is used so that some fiction can be added to fill in any gaps or alter things to make a better story. Inconsistencies happen in real life, but did they all need to be included in this story? If the inconsistencies keep pulling me out of the moment, it becomes a chore just to finish the book.

Probably the biggest issue I had, was that I couldn't stand Sidney. There were times in the story that I seriously questioned why Nick stayed with her. At one point, Sidney asked him what would make him happy. I responded "a different wife"... yeah, I'll admit, that was bad of me, but it was how I felt. I found Sidney to be childish and selfish. Every bit of the story was "me me me." If she asked Nick what he wanted, and he gave an answer different than what she expected, take cover!

Now, we get to the part where I will piss some people off, which made me think long and hard before writing this review. The BDSM. Let me state up front. I realize this is "based on a true story", not everyone starts in the same spot, not everyone researches the same way, and not everyone responds the same way. I get that. Now, when experimenting with impact play, most start with a hand, a nice spanking and work their way up to find what works for them. In this book, they go straight to whacking her with a belt. Now, to me, this is like learning to drive by going 70 mph down the interstate the first time you get in the car. I have heard horror stories about people reading fiction BDSM books, saying "oh that sounds cool, let's try it" and getting in way over their heads. Hence the 'safe, sane, and consensual' warnings at the beginning of most BDSM books. I'm concerned some readers are going to read this and say "Oh, but it's a true story, we really can do that!!" My copy did not have any warnings, anywhere. Not sure if the final one did or not.

I also found Sidney extremely confusing, and confused. Several times, she professes a need for pain. Yet, from what I can recall, in nearly every impact scene, she starts fussing that it hurts too much. Then, a few minutes after she's called a stop to it, she's thinking about how to step things up.

Lastly, she gives her husband an article to read about being a Dom, the whole story started with her reading a book called "Training the Dom," she states that she has a need to be dominated, and yet, she spends the entire book telling HIM exactly what to do. During her research, she joined an online BDSM group so she could ask questions to people already in the lifestyle. When they make negative comments about her topping from the bottom or pushing her husband who "doesn't have a dominant bone in his body" to be a Dom, she flips out and decides they don't know what they're talking about. I do not feel that everyone must follow every guideline of BDSM. Different strokes for different folks. As long as both parties are knowledgeable, communicate, and agree on specific limits, great. However, rules and guidelines are usually there for a reason. They are put in place because someone, somewhere, found out the hard way what happens when you DON'T do that. If you break a rule and don't get hurt, does that mean you should just ignore that rule completely? Well, if you play Russian roulette and don't get hurt, should you rule Russian roulette completely safe? If you don't understand WHY many people, experienced in BDSM, have a specific maxim, perhaps you need to learn more before dismissing it. But at minimum, Sidney needed to make up her mind what she wanted.

Were there parts I liked? Actually, yes. Usually, they were parts where Sidney didn't talk, which, considering this is from her point of view, wasn't all that often. Some of the sex scenes were nice and steamy. I did find her visit to the adult toy store amusing. Some of the scenes between Nick and Sidney were sweet. I just wish there had been a lot more of the good parts, and less of the rest.(less)

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Jan 31, 2012 Dawn rated it 5 of 5 stars

31 Flavors is different from anything I’ve read before. A large part of that is probably because I know it is based on a true story. It’s one thing to jump into a book and go along for the ride when you know none of it is real, but it’s an entirely different experience to realize there are real people and real emotions behind the story.

The authors, Cari Silverwood and Leia Shaw, have put together a book that touches the reader on so many levels. Be prepared for a wonderfully emotional ride that...more

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Jan 30, 2012 Sara rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was intrigued by the fact this novella is based on a true story. It made it so much more romantic and touching for me. Being based in fact changed the story for me and gave it more depth than the other BDSM stories I’ve read. This was a lot of fun to read, a definite page turner. Funny, sweet and incredibly sexy!

Sidney and Nick have been happily married for five years, the only problem they have is the awful sex. Sidney decides she wants to try out some of her bondage and spanking fantasies,...more

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Oct 02, 2012 Cheryll Stevens rated it 4 of 5 stars

Not having an in-depth knowledge about the BDSM lifestyle, the psychology and the emotional investments especially, I can only review this story based on the level of interest it piqued and the level of enjoyment I derived from it.

Structurally, the book was well-written. The characters, mostly because they were based on real persons, were very relatable. The plot, or more specifically the condition of their marriage and sexual life, was also intriguing; not because it was unique, but because wh...more

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Mar 26, 2012 Heather in FL rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: a-i-own-it, elements-bdsm, elements-erotic-smut, elements-romance, mix-m-f, z-from-amazon

This book was very interesting. My heart broke for Sidney so many times in the story. It broke for Nick as well. But you knew there was real love between them. I thought Sidney was brave for telling Nick what she felt she needed, even though it would likely be out of his comfort zone. But I loved that when Sidney got negative reaction from the forum she was on, how Nick explained the "31 flavors"... somewhere between vanilla and rocky road. They could pick where they wanted to be... it didn't ha...more

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Mar 18, 2012 Trillium rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bdsm-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 23, 2012 Cec rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: bdsm

I found, 31 Flavors to be a very emotional read and with lots of laugh out loud moments.
Nick and Sidney, have been married for 5 years.
Their once in a while sex life is very boring and vanilla.
A lot has happened in Sidney's past, which makes her feel broken and damaged.

Nick loves his wife and he'll do anything to make her happy, even
trying BDSM. Sidney wants it and needs it. They realise they don't need a book or
people to tell them whats right for them.They both make lots of mistakes
and learn...more

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Feb 13, 2012 Laurielu Book Savvy Babes rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Romance genre fans that like their story spicy and emotional; BDSM erotica readers

Recommended to Laurielu by: authors

Shelves: 2012, arc, author-request, bdsm, contemporary, erotica, review, romance-reading-challenge, romance, reading-romance-challenge

4.5 Stars

31 Flavors by Leia Shaw and Cari Silverwood is a poingant journey of Sidney’s sexual awakening and the toll it could possibly take on her marriage if she reveals her predilections in the bedroom to her husband of five years, Nick. This book is very beguiling and written from the perspective of Sidney. Her personality is heartwarmingly organic. The reader is not being sold on a made up feeling person with a perfect figure and beautiful features much like a Barbie doll. Sid is a “real” pe...more

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Jul 24, 2012 Cassandra Carr rated it 5 of 5 stars

A realistic (it's a true story) look at a couple trying to liven up their marriage by injecting a little kink into it. This is going to sound corny, but you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll see yourself or someone you know in one of the characters. I applaud the way Leia Shaw and Cari Silverwood seemed to handle the telling of the story with great care. It was obvious they wanted to portray the experience accurately and with tact, but also with truth. If you're looking for a BDSM that "tells it like...more

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Jul 10, 2012 Mandy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I know there is a newer edition to this, but I have the original published version and that is one I read and am reviewing.

Honestly, I thought I would like this more. I knew it was based on the true story of a woman seeking to add some BDSM into her marriage to help her get through her sexual issues. I could relate. However, once I started reading - my relating stopped there. Sidney has issues, and Nick is awesome for dealing with and staying with her for so many years. I wondered why they had...more

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Feb 14, 2012 Pam rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bdsm-ish, naughties

Mark it down as a Valentine's treat! Loved the concept...that love/sex isn't vanilla OR BDSM...that real life allows for "Rocky Road" and many flavors.

It was engaging to see Sid struggle with being honest about her needs and sexy to see Nick interpret those wishes. Honestly, it was more good experimental home sex than BDSM, but great look at what real people might do with what they read.

My only complaint was that Nicks behavior 2/3 through the book didn't ring true for me, though it's a small qu...more

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Feb 11, 2012 Ava rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was unlike any book that I have read in the BDSM genre. Sidney and Nick have been married for 5 year and due to abuse issues in Sidneys past, enjoyment of sex is a huge issue for her. Through reading erotic novels Sidney finds the key to what her heart desires. Nick is willing to do whatever it takes for Sidney and he to have that intimate connection. But just like the real life story this is based on....Life, emotions, and disappointments get in the way. T...more

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Dec 23, 2012 Angela Verdenius rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is based on a true story, of a woman unable to tolerate 'vanilla sex', possibly due to a trauma in her past, and she is intrigued by BDSM. This is her journey into it, along with her husband. They don't go the whole hog, they don't fit the 'category', and her husband points out that they don't need to be vanilla or rocky road (love that description!) but can be 31 flavors! Her husband is awesome, and this book is a good read. It's not kinky, it's not pantie wetting to read but it's heartwar...more

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Jan 30, 2012 Casea Major rated it 4 of 5 stars

Sidney is a woman who has a loving husband but issues with sex due to childhood trauma. After five years of "bad" sex. She and her husband determine to try BDSM, which ends up revolutionizing their sex lives and brings them closer together.

I really loved this story. I don't read a lot of BDSM. I prefer DD/HOH stories. But this one rang genuine and sincere. It didn't surprise me to learn it was based on a true story. The voice is authentic, and the story well-written. Even if you're not into BDSM...more

4 likes · like · see review

Mar 29, 2012 Angeline rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: bdsm, reviewed-for-guilty-pleasures

5 Stars

1 like · like · see review

Jun 25, 2012 TheMadHatter rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, fiction, real-life, romance-erotic

I think this book is one where the ratings are going to fall at both ends of the spectrum and your rating is going to depend on whether you can relate to the lead character or whether you can't. Unfortunately I couldn't.

I bought this book as (a) it was co-written by Leia Shaw who has quickly become my favourite self-published author, (b) it was $2.99 and (c) I needed something light and quick to read.

The book is based on real people and real events which always makes it really hard to review ob...more

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Apr 11, 2012 SassySami rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned

Still suffering from an adolescent trauma, Sydney has never enjoyed sex and often freaks out when her husband touches her, instinctually afraid. She is, however, unexplainably interested in stories of bondage and pain. One evening, when her husband asks what she is reading, she tells him the truth, that she is reading a book about bondage, and is happily surprised when he reacts with interest rather than disgust. She soon discovers that not all sex frightens her. What follows is the story of how...more

3 likes · like · see review

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