Comments on: REVIEW: All U Can Eat by Emma Holly

By: Chez Moi

Chez Moi — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 08:33:49 +0000

Well, I don’t care for schoolgirl fantasies either (actually I consider them beeing stupid) but she did make it work – and funnily I didn’t mind with MÃ©nage, because it was from the beginning with two men. I even liked the group scene with the two “outsiders”, damn I think I have to reread this book.
Perhaps this hopping around are some remnants from writing for Black Lace – where this may be a requirement. I haven’t read many books from that line, but monogamy has NEVER been an issue *lol*.

I recently read The Tutor by Portia Da Costa, my first Black Lace since my Emma Holly glom. And up to a certain point I really liked the erotica story, even the bed hopping but then it went downhill and ONE scene turned the book from keeper status into to be sold status.

By: ames

ames — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 04:07:16 +0000

I completely agree re: the gratuitous sex scene. The rest of the book was fine, but that one scene threw me for a loop. She did that in Menage as well (I just finished reading it not too long ago). The scene with the school girl and priest?

By: Melanie

Melanie — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 01:51:50 +0000

I skimmed the part with the menage. I’d picked this book up because of a good review (it was my first Emma Holly) and loved Jack and Frankie. Just wasn’t sure what was with that scene. I felt like I’d stumbled into another book (and was a bit frightened, frankly).

But I’d try her again!

By: Chez Moi

Chez Moi — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 19:51:55 +0000

I’m completely with you Robin. Holly even works at her weakest because she appreciates her characters. For example Frankie in All U Can Eat sees herself as a slut who loves to enjoy men – and Holly is the only author I know who can portray such a woman in a way that I don’t loose respect of her. The sex scene never appear gratuitous or cheap. I can understand the motivation of the heroine and that she enjoys it – even if I personally prefer no bedjumping in an erotic romance. I truly liked Frankie and Jack and my biggest problem with the story was that Jack went (if I remember correctly) eleven years without sex – somehow that made me crazy to think of *lol*.
As to Holly’s paranormals. To be honest, I have problems with paranormals in the first case – especially were demons and such creatures are concerned. Except for Ward and Viehl I prefer paranormals were people have special abilities for example, but all those shifters aren’t my thing :-), and I remember one book of her, I bought it with an amazon voucher I got for my birthday. It was The Demon’s Daughter, and I was so anticipating it – yet couldn’t finish it because I was bored to death. After her upyrs and this demon adventure I gave up on her paranormals.

By: Robin

Robin — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 19:17:09 +0000

I can’t stand her upyrs and only tried demons once but they aren’t for me either. So I am reduced to buy her one? erotica/year *snief*.

How funny; I’m the exact opposite in that Catching Midnight is my favorite Holly, followed by Demon’s Daughter. And all that, despite the fact that I am not a *natural* lover of paranormal Romance. No Holly is bad, though, IMO. The contrast between the way she handles envelope-pushing sex and, say, Brenda Joyce in The Conqueror (I linked to your blog, obviously), makes me even more appreciative of and grateful for Holly, even at her weakest. I think Holly makes it all work because she demonstrates such a clear respect for her characters and her readers; no matter what, there’s always a good-natured sensibility in Holly’s fiction.

By: Chez Moi

Chez Moi — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 18:47:58 +0000

Same with me. I enjoyed it right up to this Menage scene. Though I have to say I still keep it on my shelf because Holly is one of the few authors who can make it work somehow. But my alltime favorite Holly’s are MÃ©nage and Beyond Innocent (despite historical inaccuracies). I can’t stand her upyrs and only tried demons once but they aren’t for me either. So I am reduced to buy her one? erotica/year *snief*.

By: Tara Marie

Tara Marie — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 13:02:37 +0000

You and I have similar thoughts about this book, it was entertaining the characters likable, but that scene does seem rather gratuitous. It doesn’t ruin the book, but it does take you out of the story somewhat.