Liz Everly's Blog, page 18
September 10, 2017
Strong And Sexy Week Starts At The White House
It’s Strong and Sexy Week at LadySmut where we’re celebrating all things hot and fierce — from Femme Dommes to alpha males. from what makes us feel virile and courageous to what does not. To start, here’s a free excerpt from Elizabeth SaFleur‘s latest, The White House Gets A Spanking where a Femme Domme finds herself in the most famous house in the world and, perhaps, discovers the alpha submissive male she’s dreamed of for six, long years.
EXCERPT
~~~~~
“Tell me Samson—I should call you that?” Stella placed her hand over his fingers that he drummed on his leg.
“You can call me anything you want.”
“Samson then. What are you looking for?”
He blinked up at her. “Dominance.” He phrased it like a question as if she was either an idiot to ask such a thing or he wasn’t sure what that meant. She chose the latter.
“And what does this dominance look like? When you are in complete surrender in your mind, the thoughts you have late at night when you’re alone in bed playing with yourself . . .” she stilled his fingers once more. “Yes, Samson, when you are touching yourself, what is she doing?”
She didn’t need to ask him if he’d thought of her as he jacked off. She knew he did. He wouldn’t have come looking for her otherwise. And, his little gifts throughout the week were finally the right messages she’d sought.
“I haven’t. Touched myself.”
She cocked her head. “You’re telling the truth?”
“I always tell the truth.” His gaze shot to her.
“You forget I’ve been to your briefings.”
“I have never lied to the press.”
“Oh, the Assistant Press Secretary is ill? Or in bed with a certain someone?”
His nostrils flared. “Okay, I touched myself. But I didn’t—”
“You didn’t relieve yourself? Why not? Did Hannah forbid it until she got back?” If she had, that would have been another useful bit of information his former Domme should have shared.
His expression sank a little. “No, she didn’t forbid it.”
“But you wished to prove something to her anyway.”
“No.” He lifted his gaze to her, his eyes beseeching yet clear. “To you.”
Mixed emotion cascaded down her spine: pride, bewilderment, happiness and a little distrust. He still could be playing her. So many did in this town. But Hannah wouldn’t be with a player, despite the fact his job was in the biggest playpen. And, he had shown candor tonight. She’d give him the benefit of the doubt, but she wanted to know more.
“Why?”
He blinked. “You’re different.”
“How?”
He tossed her a small smile. “I didn’t take you for someone who required flattery.”
“Don’t you dare.” She smiled back at him. “Tell me what you’re looking for. Details, Samson.”
His head swiveled immediately upon her words to see who might be around. Three men were walking by them. He angled himself so he leaned into her more.
“You’re among friends, Samson.”
“I want someone to belong to.”
Now they were getting somewhere.
“Belong,” she repeated, not because she didn’t understand, but because she did. The transience of their worlds—media, politics, Washington itself—wasn’t for someone who required constant reassurance. Comfort wasn’t on the menu. But if one’s nature was in direct contrast with who one had to be on the outside, well, having a place to be yourself could be very comforting indeed. Who didn’t long to be themselves, devoid of pretense, pseudonyms, false identities and the niceties everyone must adopt in D.C.?
“What do you want?” he asked.
“I’ll tell you. But, first, tell me more about this belonging.”
His eyes didn’t get that dreamy cast like so many other submissives when they paint their ideal fairytale. His eyes grew fierce.
“You would tell me what to do, of course. We are equals but you understand my need to serve you. You’d love . . . having me. It would be a shared experience.”
His unwavering clarity made her sit back against the couch cushions.
“I know watching is not the same as doing,” he said. “But what I’ve seen, well, I can tell the difference between people who are playing and people who are together and playing.”
The man used words for a living, so she shouldn’t be so surprised at his articulation. But the fact he expressed himself exactly as she would have? His answer rendered her nearly speechless.
It didn’t matter if Hannah had told her to watch over him. She wouldn’t turn her back on this man for anything. He wasn’t just rare. He was perhaps once in a lifetime.
“Is that what you want, to be part of a 24/7 couple?” she asked.
“Eventually. But first I have to know what it’s like. To be sure.”
“That’s wise. There is a vast difference between the fantasy and the reality of what we do.”
“I learned that quickly.” His eyes lit up. “It was better.”
Controlling the squirm that rose inside her, she leveled her voice. She was investigating, not seducing. “So you’re hungry for more?”
He nodded and clenched and unclenched his fists. He had something inside seeking release. She took his hand and he seemed to relax.
“You enjoy being handled.” The words just tumbled from her lips.
“Very much so.”
Every fiber of her being wanted to handle him. Her mind spun with all the possibilities about the apparatus she could connect him to while strapping open his ass cheeks and plugging him, playing with his cock, and making those delectable lips do all kinds of things to her. . . . She told her imagination to take five. There was more investigation to do. Her lady parts complained bitterly.
Stella took a long breath and squared her shoulders toward him. “I wish to see you again. Do you wish to see me again?”
“Yes, but . . .” He leaned forward. “. . . we’re here now.”
She smiled. She could so easily tell him to drop to his knees, crawl with her as she scoped out a quiet corner for them, test him out a little. Perhaps a short spanking scene or binding him with his own clothes and asking him to service her.
She loved to delay sating a man’s lust until he couldn’t take it anymore, and then let him unleash on her, give her pleasure while taking his own. She once thought she’d found such a man. But, no, her last submissive lover had to end things because his wife had found out—a spouse tucked away in Northern Virginia that she didn’t know he had. This time she would be wiser.
“Tonight, we just talk,” she said.
“Hannah has already told me it’s fine, but if you wish to speak to her—” He stopped abruptly likely due to her face coloring. He’d spoken to Hannah, and Hannah hadn’t bothered to call her back? Then again, Samson was under her charge at least some of the time. She would feel obligated to return his call.
“I’m glad she called you.” Sort of. “And, you asked her about me?” She parted her legs a bit more and let one thigh rest against his. Man, he had muscles.
“I said that we saw each other at work, and you were generous in offering to accompany me here.”
Generous? Hardly. Want for the man would make fulfilling Hannah’s request the easiest thing she’d done in years.
She stood and held out her hand. “Let’s take a little walk.”
~~~~~
Pre-Order The White House Gets a Spanking at the discount — $0.99. Releases September 15.
Blurb: Stella Martin, reporter, single, Femme Domme meets the submissive of her dreams in Laird Harkness. Only problem, he’s the assignment she loathes to take. As the White House Communications Director, Laird’s secret desires could end his career. Stella calms his fears, as she sates his craving to submit, serve and belong to someone, but the balance of work and play is a hard line to walk.
Enter Elizabeth’s Rafflecopter giveaway in honor of this new release.
Elizabeth SaFleur is an award-winning author of contemporary erotic romance. Many of her books were inspired from her thirty years as a PR practitioner in and around Washington, DC — where she learned not all power in D.C. is wielded by politicians. She writes, tweets and posts under a pseudonym since her business clients might be (WOULD be) shocked at her new career choice. When not writing, she’s dancing or drinking good wine. Life’s too short for bad wine. And, if her house were to catch fire, she’d grab 3 things: her furry baby, a Westie; her laptop; and her Sally Rand, 5-feet wide, ostrich feather burlesque fans — in that order. (Words of wisdom she shares with everyone: it’s never too late to learn to dance with fans and boas.)
September 8, 2017
Sexy Saturday Round Up
[image error]By Elizabeth Shore
Hey Sexies, pumpkin season is upon us! Or as some people prefer top call it, fall. Whichever term you fancy, we’re talking changing leaves, cozy sweaters, and time for curling up and catching up on some good reads. And wow, have we gathered up some tasty ones for you this week. So grab a cinnamon-something, take a comfy seat, and enjoy.
Sounds like an upstanding time to me! Standing sex positions that’ll make your experience soar.
The best way to get revenge on that a–hole bully from high school? Sleeping with his mom.
Lots of clowning around and yes, It will scare the crap outta you.
Nuru massage – you and your partner get covered head to toe in massage gel and then slip and slide against each other. Count me in!
From Madeline:
Ethical cheating (!) What is it–and is it for you?
What men notice about you during sex.
Links to cool history stuff about women
And you don’t know what you think you might know in this complicated situation that I was talking about with privately to someone else: Dylan Sprouse’s quite amazing response to accusations about cheating.
A NYTimes list of classic films of dramas with strong female leads
Cocktail convo at film parties: Who’s your intimacy choreographer?
Factoids you’ve always wanted to know about Kat Dennings
September 7, 2017
Like Soldiers? My Obsession with Matthias Schoenaerts Continues!
[image error]This week, I’m talking about the hotness factor of Matthias Schoenaerts in two different films where he plays two different kinds of soldiers and brace yourself, because there are a billion shameless plugs at the end.
As devoted LS readers already know, Matthias Schoenaerts is one of those underrated actors we admire as he is becoming more of a hot commodity in Hollywood. He’s gradually creeping his way up the ladder of leading men through a combination of undeniable warm sexiness, excellent acting, and mad language skills. He’s a more accessible Tom Hardy. A less genial Tom Hiddleston. He’s more the quiet guy, more burly, more…Belgian. I’m always drawn in by how unassuming, quietly competent, and totally hot he is.
In DISORDER, Schoenaerts plays a soldier with PTSD who’s either paranoid or–unlike everyone around him–aware of hidden danger when taking care of a woman (Diane Kruger) and her little boy while her Arab husband is away.[image error]
This is different look for Schoenaerts – he’s a little grubby in this film. He usually plays the well dressed man. (With Mr. Oat in FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD being a picturesque variation). Here he’s got a shaved head, scruff-i-licious beard, and a soldier-y look. He’s also playing a different class of character – more middle class with their offhand brusqueness. Ultimately, he’s a man hanging onto his shit as his mind is unraveling. It’s a fast, gripping little movie….
THE HOTNESS FACTOR: He’s all beefy and scruffy and you just kind of want to grip him hard and bite his skin.
And if you like this kind of hero then (shameless plug #1) you’ll lurv of the hero of my friend Adriana Ander’s second book: BY HER TOUCH. You all know Adriana—she’s been featured on this blog a lot. This is her second book with a DEA guy who’s got PTSD, and needs to remove all the gang tattoos he got while he was undercover in a biker gang. He encounters a female doctor willing to take off the tattoos. She’s eager to dig under his skin and sooth his caged soul. (Yum!!!)
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Click to buy!
In the other movie, SUITE FRANCAIS, Schoenaerts plays a German Lieutenant as the Germans roll into a French provincial town to occupy it in the first year of World War II.
Part of the regiment is quartered in the homes in the homes of the townspeople. And as an officer, the lieutenant is quartered in a very nice home that Michelle Williams’s character Lucille. She lives in with her controlling mother-in-law while her husband is away at the front. She was married off to her husband by her father, and clearly doesn’t love him, but goes about with her mother-in-law and generally lives a repressive life, doing her duty. However, she has a deep love of music and playing the piano soothes away the stresses of war. The lieutenant wanted a house with a piano because back in Germany before he became a soldier he was a composer. As they share their love of music, she’s drawn to his room to listen to the piano, and he’s drawn to her fragile, cultured goodness. He swiftly falls in love with her, even as the soldiers begin a series of abhorrent acts that he despises. Eventually, he is commanded to engage in these atrocities as well, and it takes a toll upon him—while he does what he can to help Michelle William’s character when she asks for his influence in certain matters relating to the townspeople. [image error]
The Schoenaerts Hotness factor: he’s tall and crisp–an imposing soldier with power over the town and and all townspeople. (Fans of dark romance would go ape over Schoenaerts in his German uniform.) In addition to that, he’s a sensitive composer, and a reluctant soldier. He brings the whole sane-people- in-a-world-gone-mad factor to the movie – otherwise it’s just a movie about a bunch of very uptight French provincials getting screwed by the Germans.[image error]
Even as Schoenaerts is all super clean shaven and short haired, there’s still something sensitive and sensual about his every look and touch. The combo of being all he-male in uniform and yet a man with no defenses when he’s around Lucille—ready to give her anything he can, and shield her in any way he can—it’s compelling. He’s on the wrong side of the war, and married, etc.
This is one of those movies that knows how romance addicts are. They string you out on the scenes between the two of them—there aren’t as many as you want and they aren’t very long. Instead there is a lot of fraught tension and wind up. And at a certain point – I could tell that things were as good as they were going to get between these two illicit lovers. It was all going to be a rather tragic downhill slide from there on out. I’ll admit I stopped watching and went for a jog instead. While I jogged I continued the story in my own mind, creating scenarios where somehow, despite all the multiple challenges the characters got to be together after the war. So if you like your romance more flavored with bittersweet love, then this movie is your poison.
But speaking of choosing your own ending! (shameless plug #2) My good friend Nara Malone (such an excellent writer) has a new Choose-Your-Own-Romance book out called STORM RUNNERS. You actually choose whom Trella, a singer/songwriter hooks up with — and what kind of Happily Ever After Trella lands. (BTW, Don’t you just lurv this cover?????)
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Click to buy!
And here’s my third shameless plug –if you like military romance–or even better yet, reading romances written by actual soldiers –check out another author–C.M. Moore. C.M. Moore is actually two people –my friends Connor and Monica. Both served tours of duty in Afghanistan and their military infused futuristic romances reflect that experience. Their second book, titled 2:05am is currently available for pre-order on Amazon.
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Final shameless plug which has nothing to do with Matthias Schoenaerts whatsoever, but does have to do with a sexy sorcerer/soldier. My publisher has started uploading my latest work WICKED ENCHANTRESS onto Wattpad. WICKED ENCHANTRESS is book two in my Wicked Magic Series. Here’s a blurb and a cover:
[image error]SHE WILL MASTER THE POWERS OF ENCHANTMENT…TO SAVE THE MAN SHE LOVES
After Rhine the sorcerer and soldier inadvertently saves a kitchen maid named Wart from an evil spell, he tries to reunite the maid with her one remaining friend, Zephyr the Sorceress. Yet the famous sorceress is not in her tower as usual. Her lover, Theo the Black Knight, has taken her to Balfad where elves rule and Theo’s father is the Winter King.
Rhine takes Elspeth all the way to Balfad–yet keeps his distance though Elspeth secretly pines for him. After Rhine is overcome by a deceitful enchantress, Elspeth is the only one determined to do whatever it takes to save him. If that means risking her own life to become an enchantresses too, so be it. When she discovers Rhine half-naked and locked up in chains, she realizes that the sorcerer is almost mad with the sensual torments of his enchantment. In helping him find relief, Elspeth’s inner wickedness begins to take over…one pleasurable deed at a time…
The first episode is going up tomorrow, Friday. Whooo-ha! So follow me on Wattpad and you can start reading …The story will be serialized for at least the next ten weeks, and all episodes will be available until January, 2018.
September 1, 2017
The White House Gets A Spanking
And, brace yourself. It’s a woman.
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The last place Washington D.C. investigative journalist Stella Martin wanted to cover was the White House. But when a friend’s request to watch over her latest submissive plaything when she’s out of town turns out to be the White House Communications Director, Stella’s unwelcomed and unbearable assignment becomes quite interesting.
Laird Harkness hadn’t expected his perfect Domme would show up in his office—the most famous house in the world and a place where his secret desires could end his career. Stella calms his fears, but can she sate his craving to submit, serve and belong to someone?
Releases September 15 [image error]
Want just want ONE email when the book goes live?
>>>FOLLOW Elizabeth on BookBub here.
>>>FOLLOW Elizabeth on Amazon here.
[image error]
PRE-ORDER The White House Gets a Spanking.
About the Justice Series, a Femme Domme series:
Washington, D.C. is full of powerful women. In this series, each book will introduce one of three D.C.-based Femme Dommes—Stella, Candor and Julianna—and the submissive men who get what they need: discipline, love and a larger purpose. The White House Gets a Spanking is book #1.
ENTER Elizabeth’s Rafflecopter giveaway in honor of this new release here:
~~~~~
Elizabeth SaFleur is an award-winning author of contemporary erotic romance. Many of her books were inspired from her thirty years as a PR practitioner in and around Washington, DC — where she learned not all power in D.C. is wielded by politicians. She writes, tweets and posts under a pseudonym since her business clients might be (WOULD be) shocked at her new career choice. When not writing, she’s dancing or drinking good wine. Life’s too short for bad wine. And, if her house were to catch fire, she’d grab 3 things: her furry baby, a Westie; her laptop; and her Sally Rand, 5-feet wide, ostrich feather burlesque fans — in that order. (Words of wisdom she shares with everyone: it’s never too late to learn to dance with fans and boas.)
August 31, 2017
Ingrid Goes West & Discovers O’Shea
O’Shea Jackson Jr. Yowza!
by Madeline Iva
I loved this movie! It’s a satire, and send up of social media crazy. Let’s talk about the juicy acting before tearing into the bloody guts of the film.
WARNING: vague spoilers litter this entire post.
THE CAST OF INGRID GOES WEST IS FAB:
First – O’Shea Jackson Jr. – HELLO!!!!!!
He came into a scene and I just kept watching him – OMG. Cute. Damn. I kept thinking of him as a less cranked Ice Cube – (Who I kind of obsessed over when he was a kangaroo mutant in TANK GIRL, btw.)
From the moment he was on screen kept thinking: Hey! Look at him. Ingrid? Why are you not paying attention to this guy! Go for him, Ingrid. Look!
I loved that he was playing a geeky screenwriter/batman obsessive. It is my opinion that aside from movies, TV, and romances needing hot POC guys in general, that we especially need more cute/hot/black/geeky men. (Like Echo Kellum!)
O’Shea knows how to flirt with the camera, is all I’m saying. And –well, what do you know? I get home from watching the movie, check IMDB, and O’Shea is Ice Cube’s son.
No way! Yes, truly.
In a just world we’ll O’Shea Jackson Jr. rise to super-stardom.[image error]
Side note for Billy Mangusson: I saw him in Damsels in Distress. Do I like his ken-doll good looks? No. Ken dolls have never done it for me. So I don’t feel obliged to mention him here because of his hotness factor—for me he registers a zero on that scale. But his manic energy made an impression. He was good – perfect even, in his loathsome movie role. He’s a character actor in the body of a Ken Doll (which he can’t help of course–) and I first saw him in Damsels in Distress—which is a great daffy movie, btw, check it out.
Finally: Aubrey Plaza. She’s so good it hurts. She’s doing the crazy-manic thing well, of course, as the role calls for. But Plaza is also going through hip moves like a gymnast nailing the landing. She’s so on it when it comes to social tracking. It’s like she knows how to rate social currencies up and down like she’s the Tokyo stock exchange.
But that’s when her character is barely in control. When her character spins out of control, then we are watching straight up humiliation humor of the kind we’ve long been familiar with when it comes to comedic actors like Jerry Lewis (R.I.P.) and Ben Stiller, but that we see far less in women (with the genius exception of Molly Shannon’s Mary Katherine Gallagher on SNL). My sweetie had to hide his eyes during these parts of the film. “I can’t watch.” But I was rejoicing in Ingrid’s social belly flops.
Aubrey Plaza has her own unique persona going on, with a misanthropic attitude and deadpan voice. We think we’d quickly get tired of this one note, but Plaza will surprise you. She has no fear of taking her audience to other dimensions of her comedic range. She also reached into emotional points you didn’t think she’d necessarily be able to handle, giving her stiffly uninflected comedic axe. But this is what we know of Aubrey Plaza – she works it and she works it hard as an actress. She pushes higher, deeper, and lower than one would have thought she could go. I’ve noticed in movies and in TV that Plaza is always better than you think she’s going to be. She’s one to watch.
Here are two other great movies she was in—be sure to check them out: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED and LIFE AFTER BETH. She also had a small role in DAMSELS IN DISTRESS (Hey! Maybe that’s where she met Billy…)
BUT LET’S MOVE ON TO THE MOVIES INNARDS:
STYLING: First of all, the movie, appropriately enough, it was beautifully directed, in a totally classic instagram style. You know what I mean – that understated boho thing (and by understated we do NOT mean inexpensive or second hand.) At the same time ‘the look’ invokes color drenched quirkiness, it also should invoke the clean look of big open spaces: sort of like a fresh ocean breeze off the Malibu shore as it wafts across the bodies of billionaires meditating on the beach. The movie did this very well — well done, movie!
BUT WHAT IS THE MOVIE ACTUALLY SAAAAAAAAAAAYING?
CLAIM ONE: The obvious message: If you’re mistaking social media connections for real relationships—you’re cray-cray!
And yes, we (I) need reminding that:
there is a life beyond social media (I know, so hard for you youngins who’ve never experienced anything but.)
You need a few real people to have relationships with in your life–at least.
It’s okay to have thousands of great acquaintances on social media –just remember they’re acquaintances.
Social media is a reflection of our lives—not our actual lives.
Even so, some might say that social media is a more insidious evil. I had a friend who once gave a critique of the TV show Friends by saying: The problem is that they’re all so funny, so gorgeous, and well dressed. They make me dissatisfied with my real friends. I take her point.
Do all the pretty people on social media ruin us for “real life”? Hmmmm. I want to say I don’t think so – but you have to be strong about limiting your social media intake. And this is where I feel the movie plays an important role in inviting us to examine our lives vis-a-vis social media. For instance, looking back on it, I would say that yes, my Sweetie and I do socialize in person a bit less than we used to in the years before we joined fb.
Which brings us to claim #2 that INGRID GOES WEST makes:
People who are on the other end of the selfie stick – the “influencers” on social media — look down upon their followers/worshipers and, when you meet them in person, they are shallow and inauthentic. My response to this is twofold:
One: Maybe some do — (I’m looking at you, Kim Kardashian) but I don’t. I also don’t think I’m an influencer. So.
Two: The world is chock full of people who were shallow and inauthentic and yet popular and somewhat famous L-O-N-G before social media came along. So what’s really changed?
Yet the film is at it’s best, I think, when it shows that there is more to Taylor’s life than her instagram feed presents. Her nervous monitoring of her husband’s artistic career and satisfaction comes to mind. There was something about the role that radiated a sense of instability (Good job Elizabeth Olsen!) that rang incredibly true to me.
[image error]On the other hand, as expected, Taylor (Elizabeth Olsen) stops the great moments that are happening in her life to capture the moment so it meets her ruthless instagram standards. Ingrid of course, is at that point where if it didn’t get captured on social media, it didn’t count. She takes every instance of these friend selfies as a quasi-religious moment to savor. Personally, I think most of us just wear out before we hit the Taylor point in our lives. Or at least I do — I go to weddings, or author events and I take a lot of pictures and post them on social media –but then I’m done! I’ve experienced something, I’ve put it out there, moving on now!
After seeing the movie I wanted to go out and dig into these issues of social media, our place in them, and the social ethics involved. Sweetie wanted to dismiss the movie. It made him uncomfortable in parts, and he didn’t see it the edgy double-bladed sword of truth like I did. INGRID GOES WEST offers up a chance to examine our relationship to social media–the ways in which we revel and triumph in it, and the ways in which it undercuts what keeps us stable and sane in our real lives. I say these are good conversations worth having.
So FRIEND— go see the movie already! Talk to me about your thoughts regarding the movie down below. : >
And since we’re talking about social media–I’m glad you’ve found us at Lady Smut. I’m glad that you want to take this journey we’re on as we explore the possibilities of a women-friendly, sex-positive world. We’re here to share our favorite romances with you—many of them smoking hot—and we’re glad you took some of your valuable time to park your attention here for a few minutes every day.
I never feel inauthentic when it comes to the people who support Lady Smut. I appreciate you all every day. Whether you’re on a lunch break at work or at home in bed sobbing over a shitty love life—we’re here to cheer you up, and let you know others out there are smart, intelligent women who love romance. We think the way you do.
Hugs!
Madeline Iva is the author of the fantasy romance Wicked Apprentice. You can’t follow her on Instagram, but you can join her newsletter.
Ingrid Goes West & We Discover The Holy Hotness of O’Shea Jackson Jr.
O’Shea Jackson Jr. Yowza!
by Madeline Iva
I loved this movie! It’s a satire, and send up of social media crazy. Let’s talk about the juicy acting before tearing into the bloody guts of the film.
WARNING: vague spoilers litter this entire post.
THE CAST OF INGRID GOES WEST IS FAB:
First – O’Shea Jackson Jr. – HELLO!!!!!!
He came into a scene and I just kept watching him – OMG. Cute. Damn. I kept thinking of him as a less cranked Ice Cube – (Who I kind of obsessed over when he was a kangaroo mutant in TANK GIRL, btw.)
From the moment he was on screen kept thinking: Hey! Look at him. Ingrid? Why are you not paying attention to this guy! Go for him, Ingrid. Look!
I loved that he was playing a geeky screenwriter/batman obsessive. It is my opinion that aside from movies, TV, and romances needing hot POC guys in general, that we especially need more cute/hot/black/geeky men. (Like Echo Kellum!)
O’Shea knows how to flirt with the camera, is all I’m saying. And –well, what do you know? I get home from watching the movie, check IMDB, and O’Shea is Ice Cube’s son.
No way! Yes, truly.
In a just world we’ll O’Shea Jackson Jr. rise to super-stardom.
Side note for Billy Mangusson: I saw him in Damsels in Distress. Do I like his ken-doll good looks? No. Ken dolls have never done it for me. So I don’t feel obliged to mention him here because of his hotness factor—for me he registers a zero on that scale. But his manic energy made an impression. He was good – perfect even, in his loathsome movie role. He’s a character actor in the body of a Ken Doll (which he can’t help of course–) and I first saw him in Damsels in Distress—which is a great daffy movie, btw, check it out.
Finally: Aubrey Plaza. She’s so good it hurts. She’s doing the crazy-manic thing well, of course, as the role calls for. But Plaza is also going through hip moves like a gymnast nailing the landing. She’s so on it when it comes to social tracking. It’s like she knows how to rate social currencies up and down like she’s the Tokyo stock exchange.
But that’s when her character is barely in control. When her character spins out of control, then we are watching straight up humiliation humor of the kind we’ve long been familiar with when it comes to comedic actors like Jerry Lewis (R.I.P.) and Ben Stiller, but that we see far less in women (with the genius exception of Molly Shannon’s Mary Katherine Gallagher on SNL). My sweetie had to hide his eyes during these parts of the film. “I can’t watch.” But I was rejoicing in Ingrid’s social belly flops.
Aubrey Plaza has her own unique persona going on, with a misanthropic attitude and deadpan voice. We think we’d quickly get tired of this one note, but Plaza will surprise you. She has no fear of taking her audience to other dimensions of her comedic range. She also reached into emotional points you didn’t think she’d necessarily be able to handle, giving her stiffly uninflected comedic axe. But this is what we know of Aubrey Plaza – she works it and she works it hard as an actress. She pushes higher, deeper, and lower than one would have thought she could go. I’ve noticed in movies and in TV that Plaza is always better than you think she’s going to be. She’s one to watch.
Here are two other great movies she was in—be sure to check them out: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED and LIFE AFTER BETH. She also had a small role in DAMSELS IN DISTRESS (Hey! Maybe that’s where she met Billy…)
BUT LET’S MOVE ON TO THE MOVIES INNARDS:
STYLING: First of all, the movie, appropriately enough, it was beautifully directed, in a totally classic instagram style. You know what I mean – that understated boho thing (and by understated we do NOT mean inexpensive or second hand.) At the same time ‘the look’ invokes color drenched quirkiness, it also should invoke the clean look of big open spaces: sort of like a fresh ocean breeze off the Malibu shore as it wafts across the bodies of billionaires meditating on the beach. The movie did this very well — well done, movie!
BUT WHAT IS THE MOVIE ACTUALLY SAAAAAAAAAAAYING?
CLAIM ONE: The obvious message: If you’re mistaking social media connections for real relationships—you’re cray-cray!
And yes, we (I) need reminding that:
there is a life beyond social media (I know, so hard for you youngins who’ve never experienced anything but.)
You need a few real people to have relationships with in your life–at least.
It’s okay to have thousands of great acquaintances on social media –just remember they’re acquaintances.
Social media is a reflection of our lives—not our actual lives.
Even so, some might say that social media is a more insidious evil. I had a friend who once gave a critique of the TV show Friends by saying: The problem is that they’re all so funny, so gorgeous, and well dressed. They make me dissatisfied with my real friends. I take her point.
Do all the pretty people on social media ruin us for “real life”? Hmmmm. I want to say I don’t think so – but you have to be strong about limiting your social media intake. And this is where I feel the movie plays an important role in inviting us to examine our lives vis-a-vis social media. For instance, looking back on it, I would say that yes, my Sweetie and I do socialize in person a bit less than we used to in the years before we joined fb.
Which brings us to claim #2 that INGRID GOES WEST makes:
People who are on the other end of the selfie stick – the “influencers” on social media — look down upon their followers/worshipers and, when you meet them in person, they are shallow and inauthentic. My response to this is twofold:
One: Maybe some do — (I’m looking at you, Kim Kardashian) but I don’t. I also don’t think I’m an influencer. So.
Two: The world is chock full of people who were shallow and inauthentic and yet popular and somewhat famous L-O-N-G before social media came along. So what’s really changed?
Yet the film is at it’s best, I think, when it shows that there is more to Taylor’s life than her instagram feed presents. Her nervous monitoring of her husband’s artistic career and satisfaction comes to mind. There was something about the role that radiated a sense of instability (Good job Elizabeth Olsen!) that rang incredibly true to me.
On the other hand, as expected, Taylor (Elizabeth Olsen) stops the great moments that are happening in her life to capture the moment so it meets her ruthless instagram standards. Ingrid of course, is at that point where if it didn’t get captured on social media, it didn’t count. She takes every instance of these friend selfies as a quasi-religious moment to savor. Personally, I think most of us just wear out before we hit the Taylor point in our lives. Or at least I do — I go to weddings, or author events and I take a lot of pictures and post them on social media –but then I’m done! I’ve experienced something, I’ve put it out there, moving on now!
After seeing the movie I wanted to go out and dig into these issues of social media, our place in them, and the social ethics involved. Sweetie wanted to dismiss the movie. It made him uncomfortable in parts, and he didn’t see it the edgy double-bladed sword of truth like I did. INGRID GOES WEST offers up a chance to examine our relationship to social media–the ways in which we revel and triumph in it, and the ways in which it undercuts what keeps us stable and sane in our real lives. I say these are good conversations worth having.
So FRIEND— go see the movie already! Talk to me about your thoughts regarding the movie down below. : >
And since we’re talking about social media–I’m glad you’ve found us at Lady Smut. I’m glad that you want to take this journey we’re on as we explore the possibilities of a women-friendly, sex-positive world. We’re here to share our favorite romances with you—many of them smoking hot—and we’re glad you took some of your valuable time to park your attention here for a few minutes every day.
I never feel inauthentic when it comes to the people who support Lady Smut. I appreciate you all every day. Whether you’re on a lunch break at work or at home in bed sobbing over a shitty love life—we’re here to cheer you up, and let you know others out there are smart, intelligent women who love romance. We think the way you do.
Hugs!
Madeline Iva is the author of the fantasy romance Wicked Apprentice. You can’t follow her on Instagram, but you can join her newsletter.
August 11, 2017
Lady Smut is on Vacay!
And we’ll be back soon! Mmmmmmwha! [image error]
August 10, 2017
When All Else Fails–Find Love: Rogue Desire
Hey political vaginas! If you’re still seeking refuge from the news but wanna romance hero who will fight the good fight–ROGUE DESIRE is the political anthology for you. Â I read Adriana Anders’ story in which a young woman fighting for the community approaches that big spooky house on the block. Â Lurking within it’s shadowy rooms is a recluse. Â Major hacker geek hotness ensues. You should check it out —
Here’s a blurb:
Eight brand new romances for fans of the West Wing, fired-up #resistance fighters, and everyone who ever had a crush on that guy at a protest…
Whether youâre into reclusive hacker heroes, secret billionaire park rangers, or a healthy bout of hate sex, thereâs a story for your heat levelâfrom sweet to scorching hot.
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$2.99 — buy it now!
ROGUE DESIRE anthology buy links:
Amazon:Â http://amzn.to/2vlOOok
iBooks: http://apple.co/2uxymlq
Google play: http://bit.ly/2urDuaY
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2tQWvCl
Authors: Stacey Agdern, Adriana Anders, Emma Barry, Jane Lee Blair, Ainsley Booth, Amy Jo Cousins, Dakota Gray, Tamsen Parker.
STILL HESITATING: Okay, well check out this story by Ainsley Booth and see if that convinces you. Â It’s free right now–but grab it today before it’s gone!
Check out a peek at Tamsen Parker’s story here.
August 6, 2017
Sexy Sunday Snippet: Dancing King by Rayanna James
Rayanna James, right now, right here. This excerpt is from her too hot to handle novella, Dancing King in the Royally Mine anthology, Royally Mine: 22 All New Bad Boy Romance Novellas.
About the book:
Powerful kings. Dirty-talking princes. Insatiable dukes.
They’re ready to rule your heart.
Royally Mine is a sexy collection of bad boy romances featuring HOT royal heroes, brought to you by twenty-two New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling authors. This deliciously naughty bundle of ALL-NEW standalone novellas stars panty-scorching kings, princes, and dukes who are used to being in command. Charge up your e-reader, clear your schedule, and put on your best tiara, because these royal bad boys are ready to conquer your heart while making you blush oh so hard.
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Excerpt from Dancing King by Rayanna James (available exclusively in Royally Mine)
She wanted to hit me again, probably more than once. I wanted to kiss her until we both forgot everything we needed to forget. I won.
My lips covered hers in a kiss that was deep and punishing. I closed the space between our bodies, and held her wrist tight against the wall with one hand, while grabbing her thick hips with the other. I used the leverage to pull her to me, smirking when my cock throbbed against the crotch of her jeans.
She kissed me back, using her tongue like a seductive enchantress. When she kissed me like that, all I could think of was how gorgeous those lips would be curled around the tip of my cock while I watched her blow me.
She knew what she was doing to me, and she used it to her advantage. Before I knew what was happening, her wrist was free, and she slapped me again. At this point, I couldnât tell if she was still just that angry, or if she just liked it rough.
I didnât care. I circled both arms around her waist and lifted her easily, while she shrieked in outrage as I tossed her over one shoulder. Small fists pounded my back as I began the long walk back to my room. Maids, groundskeepers, and security officers stared as we passed, but nobody dared say a damn thing. Apparently, my position in the kingdom had gotten out much faster than I had realized it would.
At this moment, the fact pleased me, though I knew it would annoy me later.
âMazi! Are you crazy? Put me down right this instant, you self-important, Neanderthal bastard! Who do you think you are? You think just because youâre a prince it gives you the right to treat me like this?â
We reached my room then, and I unlocked the door quickly, still keeping a tight grip across her waist, until the door closed behind me.
I kept walking until I reached the middle of the massive suite and then, and only then, did I let her go, dumping her unceremoniously onto the newly made bed.
I had her right where I wanted her. And right where she belonged. Now, I just had to convince her of that.
~~~
Pre-order for this awesome collection is now live! Order yours on Amazon US, B&N and iBooks.
~~~
Rayanna is a coffee drinking, wine loving, sushi obsessed, knee sock fanatic who works her passions into every story she writes. She resides in Southern Utah with her husband, 2 kids, mother, grandfather, 2 dogs, and a lizard named Leo.
In her spare time, she enjoys celebrating life with good food, good drinks, and good friends.
She also writes kinky romance under the pen name Rayanna Jamison.
Website * Newsletter* Facebook
August 5, 2017
Sexy Saturday Round Up
[image error]Howdy cowgirls! Rope yourself a cuppa joe and gather round this week’s sex-gender-romance campfire.
From Madeline:
For Lexi who blogged about this very thing! From Bust mag: Best TV Abortion portrayals
What does the kink community think of kink apps?
Does playing hard to get ever backfire?
The science of passionate sex.
I can’t use exclamation points and I am dead inside
Back from Valley Of the Dolls: The sleeping beauty diet
How to argue in a relationship & how NOT to argue
From Elizabeth Shore:
4 ways to make foreplay the best part of sex.
Badass tattoo guru Kat Von D gets ready to launch a vegan shoe collection.
Why are you sharing all kinds of personal details to this hot guy you just met? Because sexual attraction loosens your tongue
Drone Boning. It’s now a thing.
Fidget spinners – not just for kids! Now you can put one up your bum.
15 hilarious tweets by women for women.
