NAKED CLARE - Julie Farris

 Clare loves to be naked and has booked a weekend at a ranch so that she can enjoy as much time in the nude as possible. But her weekend is surprised when the stranger, Brad - a very good-looking man - shows up and lavishes his attentions on Clare's naked form.  This could prove to be an even more delightful weekend that she at first expected. Until Annabel arrives.  Clare and Annabel were once BFFs, but Annabel had the annoying habit of stealing boyfriends - with her perfect body and her willingness.  Stranger Brad's attention is already wavering toward Annabel's frame.

But Clare is determined not to let Annabel ruin this weekend and challenges Annabel to a nude-off - to be naked all weekend and to do whatever Brad asks, whenever he asks. The trio are in for a thrilling weekend.

As a gimmick to get the lead naked, a lot, this storyline works well.  The jealousy and challenge creates nice conflict to keep the story moving.  And the sexy is hot and steamy.

I'm trying to decide if this a book primarily for female readers or male readers. The fact that I can't decide shows how it really works for any reader.  What guy doesn't want to come upon two women competing with nudity to attract the stranger?  And what women doesn't like the idea of using their body to catch the allure of a handsome stranger?

This was all-around enjoyable.  It's part of a series of "Always Naked' books (where the heroine is naked on every page): Naked Alison, and Naked Bella being the others in the series.

4-1/2 Guilty Pleasure Stars

JAILBAIT WANTON - Clyde Allison

16 year-old Coral Lee is anything but young and innocent. She’s a runaway with the irresistibly curvaceous body of a fully developed woman. She has an unquenchable desire to be handled by every man she encounters and every man is more than willing to oblige her. 

Coral finds herself on the run from police. Her escape tools of sex appeal, womanly ways and knowledge of male hunger for female intimacy get her out of the frying pan into the fire over and over again.

One of the great things about these 1960's 'sleaze' books is that while the goal is definitely to titillate and arouse the reader (okay ... the goal is to sell books and the covers usually did that) there's actually some solid story within. 'Erotic crime drama'? Is that a genre?  It should be, and this could be the defining book for that genre.

It still surprises me that something this 'raunchy' was 'acceptable' for publication in the moralistic early 60's.  I mean ... 16 years old!  And she's a sex freak! She seems to know more than the adult men she plays to.

This definitely made me uncomfortable while reading it - her age definitely presents a barrier to me and anytime author Clyde Allison reminds the reader how young she is, it would put me on edge.  And he does have to remind us because her behavior (and sexual knowledge) does seem to come from someone older than she is.  Though on the other hand, I've certainly known teenagers who've liked to tease their sexuality

What Coral is running from is an early mystery, but here, too, she's not so innocent.  

I like Clyde Allison's work, but this is not my favorite of his works.

Cover art: Harold W. McCauley

3 Guilty Pleasure Stars