There is so much that can go wrong in a book of erotica. The stories can be either mind-numbingly repetitive or so "out there" that few readers can relate, even in fantasy. The word choice can be excessively crude or such purple prose that it inspires laughter more than anything else. And so on. However, IRRESISTIBLE does a nice job of avoiding the problems in modern erotica anthologies.

Instead, it brings together a bunch of short stories primarily about long-term couples. In addition, several works weave in interesting themes about relationships and personalities that are refreshing.

Janine Ashbless's "Repaint the Night" appears to be a sweet, sexy romp in a hayfield until it reveals so much more. Alyssa Turner's "Hypocrites" is fascinatingly written, demonstrating how little we know about others' private lives, even if we think we know everything. The writing style used for it, snippets of flashbacks and narrative combined with present day, is well done and fascinating. Elizabeth Coldwell's "The Pact"'s uniqueness is not so much in the plot itself, as that's fairly expected once the foundation is set, but in how well the work is written and how sweetly it takes the reader where it is headed. Rachel Kramer Bussell's "Exposing Calvin" provides a nice combination of sweet intimacy and sexy escapade, particularly in the exposition depicting the couple's relationship. Kris Adams' "Six Eyes, Two Ears" slowly develops into something intricately satisfying in the themes beneath the work. Finally, Delilah Night's "Renewal" is just brilliant on so many levels, particularly the development of the protagonist.

Book Summary

In this new collection of erotica, Rachel Kramer Bussel, has gathered couples' most popular fantasies and created a sizzling, no-holds-barred series of explicit encounters in which couples turn their deepest desires into reality. These powerfully written stories meld the nasty and the sweet to fill 24 hours of sex—fom early morning wake-up calls, through mid-afternoon quickies, to late evening romps, Irresistible is filled with sex around the clock. Featuring work by Cole Riley, Delilah Night, Justine Elyot and many more including the editor herself, Rachel Kramer Bussel.