XOXO: Sweet and Sexy Romance is another fantastic anthology from Cleis Press. Thirty-eight contributions promise something for everyone: Married couples, friends to lovers, reunited lovers, lesbian couples, May-December, interracial couples, kinky sex, and exhibitionism, just to name a few. Not every story was my cup of tea. I found a few to be a little too rushed, others were just weird and didn’t read “romance” to me, but I found some standouts and have every intention of looking into those authors for more of their work.

My top picks:

Midnight by Emerald – For the past six years, this married couple upholds their kinky tradition to ring in their birthdays. Romantic and very sexy.

By the Sea by Angela R. Sargenti – Wow! This story deserves a medal for hottest sexual encounter on a beach! I think this made the list on quite a few reviews. Involves facesitting. This was hot!

Dirty Laundry by Martha Davis – The heroine knows how to manipulate her burly, manly firefighter into doing housework which ends in mutual satisfaction. Hot!

Imagination at Play by Brighton Walsh – A couple fantasizes about a threesome without having to cross that line. Very hot with a dirty talking hero and heroine.

One Hot Wet Night by Veronica Wilde – Two divorcees, a skinny dip and possibly the beginning of a new relationship status. Very sexy read.

Wild Naked Bandits Flee the Square Conspiracy by Nikki Magennis – This was probably the most memorable, even though I have no idea how to sum this up in one sentence. I have no idea if Gabriel was a loon or just really clever at playing one to intrigue a woman. This was engaging, sexy and some parts were hilarious.

“We may have been on the point of being eviscerated by a couple of rabid Alsatians, but for the moment I was as stuffed as a Kalamata olive and thoroughly enjoying myself.”

Very, Very Well by Kristina Wright – This couple gets kinky in a dressing room. Good introduction to the couple and what they’re into sexually. A very hot and steamy read that didn’t feel rushed. A very nice and satisfying read to end the anthology.

Other very enjoyable stories:

Control by A.J. Lyle – On their wedding night, the groom coaxes his blushing bride into submitting.

Friend of the Court by Kelly Rand – In this May to December romance, Koryn was fine with the secret relationship and casual sex with the hot DA, but now she wants more. Can Craig give her what she wants?

Designated Driver by Heidi Champa – A married couple gets adventurous in this sexy tale when they need to sober up before driving home. How will they pass the time?

Ouch! by Lily K. Cho – Sexy, playful retaliation between lovers.

Eighty Cupcakes by Neve Black – A quick shopping trip turns into foreplay and leads to a hot car tryst. Quick and sweetly sexy.

A.M. Wood by Rosalia Zizzo – After twenty years of marriage, this couple still has it. Sensual.

The Distraction by Louise Hooker – A husband helps his wife take her mind off conceiving difficulties. Sweet and romantic.

Puzzle Pieces by Rachel Kramer Bussel – Bending over a jigsaw puzzle leads to some sexy times for this couple. It’s evident how well they know each other and what works so well for them. They just fit. Sensual and sexy.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. The views and opinions expressed in this review are my own, and in no way represent the views or opinions of the publisher/distributor. ( )

For some reason I thought this book would be a collection of stories to read with a partner when looking to inject some romance into your relationship. That's not quite what this is. It's an anthology of nicely written stories, but nothing Earth-shattering and not something everyone is going to be comfortable sharing with a partner. If you're looking for an anthology of erotic stories, this is ok but you'd be better off with Best Erotic Romance edited by Kristina Wright. ( )

I won this for the Early Reviewer Giveaway. Nice short story collection. Nothing fancy, easy read. Quite descriptive =) Definitely not a “lets read at lunch” kind of book. Would I purchase in a store, no. Garage sale or thrift store...sure. ( )

Short stories, simplistic and predictable, with amateur writing styles. I would never pay money for this book or others like it. ( )

This book was received in return for reviews as a member of librarything.com Early Reviewers group. Each very short erotic story is about three pages long. Some where interesting, some where boring but they were all different. I though about what to say in review of this book for about two months. I didn't really enjoy it. I wanted to consider if the book was just not written in a style I enjoy or if it just has some boring stories. I decided it is both. Three pages is just not long enough to enjoy even very fast hot sex, much less plain boring sex. I can't really recommend this book. It wasn't entertaining or engaging. ( )