Blistering!

5.0 out of 5 stars

By Erobintica

Make sure you have some ice water handy while reading this new anthology, "Playing With Fire," from "literary siren" Alison Tyler. The twenty-two stories contained within the hopefully fire-proof cover are all crackling hot. Subtitled, "Taboo Erotica," this collection aims to sear the edges of our imaginations. And does. The titles of the stories alone could blister your tongue.

There's "Fire Boy" (Christopher Tolian's poetic wildfire) and "Fire Woman" (Sommer Marsden's story about incendiary, invisible ink notes). Thomas S. Roche's "Hot Off The Press" is about a journalist with a burning desire.

In "Out of the Frying Pan" (P.S. Haven) a score gets evened. Jolene Hui takes us along to "The Salsa Bar" for a snapshot of a vacation never to be forgotten. "Just Add Water" by M. Murphy lets us peek in on a little home improvement.

There's matches. Jeremy Edward's "Three on a Match" and "Lucifer and Venus" (Nikki Magennis). There's smoke. Heidi Champa's "The Last Cigarette" and Shanna Germain's "White Heat, White Light." And of course, "Where There's Smoke"(Kristina Wright), there's "Trial By Fire" (Bella Dean).

I could go on, but really, you might as well just get the book. All the stories are great bedtime reading. Be sure to wear your asbestos jammies.