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Lucky Stiff

by Tonia Brown (Goodreads Author), Stephanie Kincaid (Editor), Philip R. Rogers (Cover Design)

4.09 of 5 stars 4.09 · rating details · 22 ratings · 12 reviews

Paperback, 246 pages

Published June 6th 2010 by Createspace

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Feb 21, 2012 Gef rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: zombies, erotica, humor

Even though I had this book on my wish list after hearing about it through the Funky Werepig podcast, and managed to win a copy through vvb32reads.blogspot.com, I still wasn't sure quite what to expect when I sat down to read it. I've read some zombie fiction, and enjoyed most of it, and I've read some erotica--and enjoyed a fair amount of that too--but I've never read a book where the two genres meet. Now I have.

Peter Lyles is your average college student, although a bit gifted for his age by...more Even though I had this book on my wish list after hearing about it through the Funky Werepig podcast, and managed to win a copy through vvb32reads.blogspot.com, I still wasn't sure quite what to expect when I sat down to read it. I've read some zombie fiction, and enjoyed most of it, and I've read some erotica--and enjoyed a fair amount of that too--but I've never read a book where the two genres meet. Now I have.

Peter Lyles is your average college student, although a bit gifted for his age by entering college life a year or two early, but all that is over when he accidentally overdoses on what he thinks are sleeping pills. Turns out their a party drug. Also turns out he dies. His buddies panic, and the best plan they can come up with to cover their asses is to take Peter's corpse to a witchy woman whom one of the boys used to frequent as a prostitute. Classy. Well, turns out she's pretty gifted--drop dead gorgeous despite her years and magically potent through sexual rituals. How's that for erotica?

As it stands though, I wouldn't describe this as erotic horror so much as erotic fantasy. There are a couple of gruesome moments in the book, but my preconception of a Romero-esque zombie parading around as a gigolo was way off base. It's established fairly early that Peter has a natural gift in the dark arts, and under the tutelage of his lover/mentor/protector Madam Sangrail he learns how to use his magical gifts to feign an appearance that's a little more human. Plus, he feeds not on the flesh of the living--well, he kind of feeds on the flesh--but on the orgasms of those he has sex with. There's a radiance emitted that only he can sense and absorbs that in order to maintain himself, though a literal hunger for flesh lingers under the surface.

The novel is presented as a first-hand account from Peter about his life after death. The first half of the book focuses on his years with Madam Sangrail, and on its own that could have been the entire novel, but the second half of the book gives his accounts of the years after he leaves her and makes his way through the world. The excitement picks up a measure through the second half of the novel, as Peter fucks his way around the world, and tries to avoid being killed along the way--or kill anyone himself for that matter.

The book's an interesting mix of fantasy, comedy, and erotica. And like I said, the horror elements aren't as prevalent as I'd expected. I get the feeling that a lot of the titillation would have been sabotaged if there'd been a stronger element of gore. Then again, there's probably a niche market for something like that. For the rest of us, Tonia Brown has us covered.(less)

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Feb 04, 2013 Angie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I came across this book and sat on the fence on if I wanted to read it. Seeing that it was free at the time I decided to just download it to my kindle, and there is sat for a few days. I read a few other things and kept coming back to it and thinking to myself "Do I really want to read a book about a zombie that involves sex?" The answer kept being no. . .I mean I just couldn't wrap my mind around it so I kept putting of reading it. When I finally pulled it up on my Kindle and started reading it...more I came across this book and sat on the fence on if I wanted to read it. Seeing that it was free at the time I decided to just download it to my kindle, and there is sat for a few days. I read a few other things and kept coming back to it and thinking to myself "Do I really want to read a book about a zombie that involves sex?" The answer kept being no. . .I mean I just couldn't wrap my mind around it so I kept putting of reading it. When I finally pulled it up on my Kindle and started reading it I just couldn't stop. It was truly a great book, and don't be like me and pass it up because of zombie that likes to get it on.

Not many people can take a zombie and turn it into something else, while keeping the important things that same as well. If you ever take the time to read my reviews you will find I love all things zombie. Its strange I know. But I'm also picky about my zombies. . .I like them to be classic, and talking zombies just make me mad. But this wasn't a book about a zombie apocalypse it was a book about a young man that died before his time, and through some very sexy magic was bought back. Because of this I was able to put aside my zombie views and just go for the ride.

Yeah I know its still about a zombie that has sex, and that can seem a little gross. But its not like Peter was rotting and falling apart while he was at it. There is a reason why Peter has so much sex, and its a good one. . .there is also a reason why he isn't rotting as well, but you'll have to read the book to know why.

I enjoyed seeing something a little different from the zombie genre. Though it still doesn't mean I'll be looking out for those talking zombies. . .they still make me mad, well except for Peter and Bub they are the only talking zombies I think I'll ever accept.

Would I recommend this book? Yes, don't be discourage because what its about. . .there is a great story here and I encouraged you to give it a shot and to keep an open mind

This is the same review I gave on Amazon, so don't be surprised if you read it again over there :D(less)

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Sep 10, 2011 T.W. Brown rated it 4 of 5 stars

When I was eighteen, I dated a woman almost twice my age for a while. One night, she brought over an "adult movie" for us to watch. I was eighteen and in the Navy...so I'd seen a few of those movies. This, she insisted, was different. The title was A Dirty Western...It had-gasp! a plot! I know! Crazy.

What am I rambling about? Well, if you didn't catch the double-entendre in the title...then aren't you just the sweetest thing. Lucky Stiff is not for the kids. So, let me put that our and be very...more When I was eighteen, I dated a woman almost twice my age for a while. One night, she brought over an "adult movie" for us to watch. I was eighteen and in the Navy...so I'd seen a few of those movies. This, she insisted, was different. The title was A Dirty Western...It had-gasp! a plot! I know! Crazy.

What am I rambling about? Well, if you didn't catch the double-entendre in the title...then aren't you just the sweetest thing. Lucky Stiff is not for the kids. So, let me put that our and be very clear. I'll hide this from my fifteen-year-old son and hope neither of my daughters ever read it. Hey, I'm a dad, and my little girls are angels. Anybody got a problem with that? But I digress.

This book is nor for the prude. But don't be confused. It is still a zombie book. Taking the trend of sentient zombies to a new level, Tonia Brown has set the bar for "zombie-themed erotica." Hey, I didn't think it could be done either, kids. Yet, Ms. Brown has done something unique and special. If she will forgive my simplistic phrasing here, Lucky Stiff is a PWP; Porno-with-a-Plot.

Tonia has shown the world her Peter. Oh, you are all such cheeky monkies! No, gutter-brain, Peter Lyles. He is the protagonist in what I hope is a series. The story she has offered is funny, sad, happy, sexy, and still manages to be a fine addition to the zombie realm.

Let me sneak in a comment on the technical side. As part of the small-press community, I am aware that many offerings are poorly edited at best in many cases. This is a clean book. The editing is well above the norm and makes Tonia's book even more of a gem. It takes away some of the ammo that more prudish types will be firing. However, I don't think she'll care a whit for those who treat her book like a piñata. The confidence of Tonia's writing voice holds true form beginning to end.

Lucky Stiff is fun. Don't pick it up expecting a gore-fest. Instead, be prepared for a copious amount of ribaldry and well-crafted sex scenes. I know...that doesn't sound quite right in a zombie book, but Tonia pulls it off. Better still, when the time comes for a good, old-fashioned zombie feeding-frenzy...she nails that as well.

Now, my college writing teacher taught me that praise--when due--is fine. Yet, for a writer to grow, there must be criticism. So, here is mine. I felt the story built to a fantastic climax. However, that denouement felt rushed. It seemed she had taken so much time building to the conclusion that there was a bit of a rush to the last page. Endings are tricky, but I have no doubt that, with this title under her belt, Tonia Brown will only get better.

I can easily recommend this book as a fun read. But, I stress, this is a book with a strong NC-17 rating at the very least. So, if you have an open mind, Lucky Stiff is going to give you a good time. I'll give you 4 and 1/2 stars for your Peter! (less)

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Nov 05, 2010 Patrick D'Orazio rated it 5 of 5 stars

Peter Lyles has the misfortune of having friends on spring break who can't tell the difference between sleeping pills and ecstasy. So when he ODs after they give him five pills when he has never taken a drug in his life, this nerdy virgin looks like he is going to have a pretty unimpressive obituary after leading a very dull life. But that is before he hooks up with Madam Sangrail. One of Peter's friends knows the Madam, who is a New Orleans Voodoo priestess that has been known to raise the dead...more Peter Lyles has the misfortune of having friends on spring break who can't tell the difference between sleeping pills and ecstasy. So when he ODs after they give him five pills when he has never taken a drug in his life, this nerdy virgin looks like he is going to have a pretty unimpressive obituary after leading a very dull life. But that is before he hooks up with Madam Sangrail. One of Peter's friends knows the Madam, who is a New Orleans Voodoo priestess that has been known to raise the dead (among other things) and they take Peter's body to her with the hope that she can work her charms on him. Given that she is a Tantra priestess, Peter not only rises from the dead, other parts of him rise as well.

This is the story, told in first person, of a insecure, intelligent, nerdy teenager who has the fortune of dying and coming back for the erotic ride of his unlife. Madam Sangrail not only turns Peter into an intelligent zombie, but she teaches him how to control the hunger for flesh that comes with being undead by feeding off the sexual energies of the women he beds. She tutors him in how to avoid the inevitable rot and unattractive appearance of his dead flesh with a combination of magic and clean living that will allow him to use his endless sexual appetite to his advantage. Understand, this is not a story where the reader is regaled with an endless series of conquests Peter has after leaving the sweet company of his Madam, but instead are treated to the highlights of his journey, which do admittedly include some of his key conquests, but also tells a tale of frustration, sadness, the search for happiness, understanding, and love as he grows to maturity as a man.

I haven't read much in the way of erotica, instead, I have an affinity for the undead and all sorts of stories about them. I have never limited my intake of different creative approaches to the zombie genre, and this book is a great example of a writer really mixing things up in a wonderful way and giving us something entirely new. Tonia Brown has done a nice job of melding the voodoo and Romero variants of undead for this story. Peter is a zombie, but his brain is just fine-he is intelligent and can function as a normal human being as long as he takes precautions and realizes that he must always feed-he has to devour the sexual energies of his partners or he will end up devouring their flesh. It's a nice twist and provides us with a story with plenty of twists and turns as we learn about the unlife of Peter, an undead gigolo with a romantic streak a mile wide and a non-beating heart of gold.

Peter, in many ways, is the ideal lover. He never grows weary, has unlimited stamina, and seems to genuinely appreciate woman for both their inner and outer beauty. This is no rogue account of the lusty conquests of Peter, but more of a coming of age story that allows a boy to become a man. A man who must remain in temperatures below seventy degrees so his body parts don't start to rot off, mind you, but a man never the less.

This is a well written, entertaining novel that will give the fan of romance and the fan of the undead both something new and creative to enjoy.(less)

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Jun 28, 2010 Ben Langhinrichs rated it 5 of 5 stars

I had heard good things about this book, but was frankly a little worried about reading it. Zombie erotica? It sounded like a gimmick. Besides, I am squeamish about zombies, and even more so about erotica. Still, I thought it might be good for a laugh. What I found was much, much more.

Peter is an eighteen year old boy who's never had much of a life, until he loses the one he had. His friends, who accidentally kill him, decide to bring him back to life with the help of Madam Sangrail, an absolute...more

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Aug 23, 2011 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: humorous, standalone, zombies, erotica, indie

Peter's just a young 18 on his first spring break to New Orleans with his friends when he accidentally takes ecstasy instead of sleeping pills and dies. His friends, terrified, drag his corpse off to a local voodoo priestess who raises him with her special kind of magic--tantric magic. Somehow this method of raising Peter combined with the time of year makes Peter into a very special kind of zombie. One who can feed off of female orgasms instead of human flesh if he so chooses.

Brown's concept is...more

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Jan 12, 2011 Heather (HeadshotHeather) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Tonia Brown’s novel Lucky Stiff, Memoirs of an Undead Lover introduces us to Peter Lyles, who was an unremarkable young man in life, but became unforgettable when be became undead! While on Spring Break in New Orleans, Peter accidentally (yes, it really was an accident) overdoses and his friends take him to visit Madam Sangrail where she and her Tantric Voodoo sex magic are used to raise Peter from the dead and that’s not the only thing that rises. (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) Peter, obviously, is...more Tonia Brown’s novel Lucky Stiff, Memoirs of an Undead Lover introduces us to Peter Lyles, who was an unremarkable young man in life, but became unforgettable when be became undead! While on Spring Break in New Orleans, Peter accidentally (yes, it really was an accident) overdoses and his friends take him to visit Madam Sangrail where she and her Tantric Voodoo sex magic are used to raise Peter from the dead and that’s not the only thing that rises. (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) Peter, obviously, is not your everyday zombie. With the Madam’s magic he is able to deny his hunger of flesh by “feeding” off his passions, or more correctly, the passions of his lovers. Horizontal bopping around the world, Peter eventually finds himself with a career and maybe even…love.

Let me start by saying that Lucky Stiff is DEFINITELY not for children and if you do not like reading sexually graphic material then this book is NOT for you. There is sex in it and quite a bit…it’s pretty graphic both with visual description and with use of terminology. You have been warned.

Tonia Brown contacted me with the opportunity to read Lucky Stiff and I will admit, I was hesitant. I love zombies and I *whisper* like erotica on occasion, but together…in the same story…sex and zombies? I was not so sure, but I had heard about Tonia and her writing, so I agreed to give it a go and, wow, am I glad I did! That’s not saying that I still didn’t have a bit of a gnawing at the back of my head telling me that this was a dead thing doing the nasty with this girl, but Tonia’s writing and storytelling allowed that to be pushed to the back.

I liked Peter. Yes it is a zombie, but he is so sweet and so genuine that you can’t help but love him. The things that Peter has to learn, in order to hide his ailment, help him to become an even better person than he already was before he died. Yes, Tonia has taken liberties with the zombie genre in her characterization of Peter, but I applaud her for these liberties. I will always love the slow-moving, flesh-eating mindless zeds of Romero styling; however, I also enjoy seeing what others can come up with to switch things up a bit and Lucky Stiff is about as switched up as you can get. Madam Sangrail is another favored character. She is a 200+ year old spitfire Voodoo priestess in a 20 year old body who teaches Peter who he is, how to get along in the world using the magic within him and provides much-needed “food” for Peter to help him maintain his abilities.

The story itself provided me with a melting pot of emotions as he globe-trotted around the world wooing women of all shapes, sizes from all walks of life. I laughed…first and foremost I laughed. Some of the situations that arose were just plain funny only to turn around and be highly thought provoking. I got nervous for Peter during a certain situation as an undead giggalo and there were, also, moments of sadness. I know I am being a bit vague on some of the exploits of our Undead Lover, but I really don’t want to give anything away, because, honestly, if you can get past the sex…it’s a damn fun story. Kudos, Tonia!(less)

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Sep 14, 2012 Misterg marked it as to-read

Shelves: dumped

The premise of the book was weird, but I'd read other books by the author so I gave it a whirl. However, the formatting on the Kindle degenerated, with several line breaks where they weren't needed on the page. This became a distraction and I gave up :(

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Sep 04, 2012 M. Jones rated it 4 of 5 stars

Lucky Stiff is a rarity among erotic novels--Lots of sex, but a whole lot of story, too. Beneath the sparkle of naughty bits and getting jiggy there is a philosophical tale of love and what it means to truly be living. It can be said that Peter didn't know how to live until he died, and this theme follows throughout the novel, with every new experience providing a heartfelt epiphany.

The dialogue is superb, the descriptions fantastic. The sex is over the top, but then, this is an erotica novel, a...more

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Jun 08, 2011 Pembroke Sinclair rated it 4 of 5 stars

Very intriguing book. You can read my review at http://pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com/...

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Apr 08, 2013 Dawn Jasper rated it 4 of 5 stars

Not bad at all...not what I was expecting but in a good way.

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Mar 16, 2013 Becki rated it 5 of 5 stars

My full review of 'Lucky Stiff' is up on BBB!
- http://beckisbookblog.wordpress.com/2...

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Shelves: zombie-horror

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Shelves: freebie, kindle-tbr

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About Tonia Brown

Tonia Brown is a Southern author with a penchant for Victorian dead things. She lives in North Carolina with her genius husband and an ever fluctuating number of cats. When not writing she raises unicorns and fights crime with her husband under the code names "Dr. Weird and his sexy sidekick Butternut."

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“Sex is just sex. Sometimes it’s really good, true, but it’s nothing in da grand scheme a’ things. We may have fucked, but we never made love.” — 2 people liked it

“The trick to being undead, much like being monogamous, is keeping everything fresh.” — 2 people liked it

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