REVIEW: Searchers by Pepper St. Claire

Searchers by Pepper St. Claire

Available from Whiskey Creek Press

Katie's marriage seems to be falling apart. Her husband Rick ridicules and insults her when she stays heavy after the birth of their son. Then, when she slims down, he bothers her constantly with his need for sex, not understanding how deeply his earlier snubs hurt her. Katie recoils from him, unable to forget or forgive his insensitive behavior. Once high school sweethearts, now they're practically strangers, growing further apart with each passing day.

On a rare night out with her old friend Irene, a handsome younger man buys Katie a drink. Joey is funny, attentive and considerate, as well as unbelievably virile. Fleeing from the misery of her marriage, Katie hurls herself into an intense, passionate affair with Joey. His affection and approval liberate her from her self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy. In his company, she discovers new capacities for pleasure as well as a surprising sexual imagination.

As she and her young lover grow closer, Katie struggles with guilt and the uncertainties of her future. Should she throw away her marriage for a chance at love and fulfillment? External events suddenly force her to choose between Rick and Joey, and Katie suffers terribly, knowing that someone will be hurt regardless of her decision.

In Searchers, Pepper St. Claire has penned a moving, believable piece of erotic fiction. The book is arousing in its depiction of a woman's sexual awakening, but its greatest appeal lies in its vivid depiction of Katie's desire, confusion and guilt.

In a moment of madness, under the influence of alcohol, Katie gives in to her attraction to the delightful Joey (who knows from the first that she's married). The validation he provides is at least as addictive as the physical pleasure. One glorious encounter leads to another. Before long, Katie is lying not only to Rick, but also to her mother and her friend - and she hates it. Her love for Joey is tearing her soul apart.

Ms. St. Claire makes it eminently clear that cheating is not easy for her heroine. Katie is a good person, a good mother, whose husband hasn't given her what she needs. Joey's love restores her self-esteem - but her own dishonesty eats away at her happiness in his company. The book makes Katie's inner conflict very real.

The author comments in her Afterword that writing erotica doesn't come easily for her. Nevertheless, the love scenes between Katie and Joey have a sensual intensity that flows naturally from their mutual passion. I thought that the scenes involving Katie and Rick were somewhat less effective. This may be partly because I'd come to dislike Rick in the early phases of the book, due to his treatment of Katie, and even after he "reformed", I didn't quite trust him. Ms. St. Claire also throws in some light dominance and submission late in the book, which to be honest really didn't seem to fit Katie's character (Katie herself appears to feel the same way).

Despite her own misgivings and an occasional outbreak of euphemisms, though, I'd say that Ms. St. Claire's sex scenes are more effective than many I've read, especially in terms of their emotional intensity. The author understands in detail how her characters feel and really communicates that to the reader, or at least to me.

Overall, Searchers is an erotic tale with a serious message. It's not the light-hearted, bawdy romp one finds in some erotica. Rather, it explores the importance of sexual fulfillment in making marriage work, and portrays, with delicacy and insight, the pitfalls of monogamy.

I, for one, enjoyed the book, and I'd be happy to read another erotic novel by Ms. St. Claire, if she can be convinced to write one.

Searchers

By Pepper Sinclair (Guest Blogger)

An erotic novel from Whiskey Creek Torrid.

Buy now!

Most of our books contain bits and pieces of our lives even though we write fiction. Searchers is based on something that happened to me: how inferior I felt to my best friend, how I craved the male attention she got everywhere we went, and how I found a blessing that still fills my heart with sweet memories and one large secret. Even from mistakes come lessons learned, and Searchers captures mine.

Blurb

Married for seven years to her high school sweetheart, Rick, and mother to three-year-old Brandon, Katie Franklin feels life is passing her by. The only place Rick’s willing to take her is into the bedroom. That isn’t enough.

On a girl’s night on the town with her sexy friend, Irene, Katie meets handsome Joey Arnold, who casts an approving glance in her direction. It’s been a long time since Katie’s felt desirable.

What starts out as an exciting affair of passionate sex soon turns into love and a very complex situation for Katie. Joey brings out the beast in her, but can she be cruel enough to break Rick’s heart and take Brandon away from him?

She has some difficult decisions to make in so little time. Will she choose incredible sex with Joey or work to save her marriage? Come to Searchers and find out.

Excerpt (Unedited)

At the path’s end, Joey led her to a secluded cove where he spread the blanket across the moonlit sand. The tiny grains glistened like broken pieces of glass and lit a walkway that extended for as far as Katie could see down the beach. A refreshing sea breeze picked up the ocean spray then caressed her face with a fine mist.

The inlet hadn’t been visible from above. "How did you find this place?" she asked.

"I used to come here when I was a kid. Mom always loved the beach - I guess that’s where I get my love for the ocean. It was a place we came as a family and did what we all enjoyed. Mom and I waded out into the ocean and let the waves carry us back. No matter how far down the beach we drifted, we never lost sight of Dad lying underneath our big multi-colored umbrella while reading the paper or listening to his portable radio." Joey fell silent and stared out to sea. “You know, I miss those times."

He turned and smiled at Katie. “It was also my favorite make-out spot when I was in high school, but I haven’t been here for years."

The tension running along her shoulders eased at hearing she wasn’t just one in a string of women he brought here. "So this is where you took your girlfriends. I feel honored to grace your special hideaway."

Katie giggled as she curtsied before him.

He took her hand and pulled her into a close embrace. Her breasts flattened against his broad expanse, enabling her to feel the pounding within his chest. Placing her palm against his shirt, she mentally counted the pulsing beats. "Does your heart always race like this?"

He gazed into her eyes with such lust, she knew he wanted her. "Only with you, Katie. You make me wild."

So much time had passed since she saw eyes filled with desire, she discarded any reservations. The pulsing in her body moved to the juncture between her thighs. Her breath came in wisps.

"Then show me just how wild, Joey."

Strong hands cupped her buttocks and pulled her against the length of him. His erection poked against her thigh, not where she wanted it. She adjusted her stance in order to enjoy the ramrod hardness of his penis.

He gazed down at her and smiled. "Do you want that?"

"Yes…yes, I do. I want every bit of it."

Like candle wax melting in the sun, they oozed to the blanket below. His hands worked methodically until he’d removed her clothing, then his own. The cool ocean breeze caressed her bare skin and turned her nipples into stone. The slight smell of fish drifted in with each wave.

Joey bent and sucked one hardened nub into his mouth and lapped at it with his tongue, then pulled away. He straightened and leaned back on the balls of his feet. Naked astride her, his chocolate eyes assessed her from head to toe, and he licked his lips like a chef satisfied with his best recipe. His words were barely audible above the wave crashing on the beach. "Katie, do you want me to make love to you, or do you want me to fuck you?"

Her mind raced. Was there a difference? They had made love, at least that’s what she considered it, but now she felt naughty and adventuresome.

"Fuck me, Joey. Fuck me hard." Her preference tumbled out.

"Mmm...not...just...yet."

He pushed her knees apart and insinuated himself between them. Bending his head, he buried his face between her legs. His fingers held her womanly folds apart as he dove deeper into her moist recesses. His tongue searched for and found her pulsing knob. As if using a straw, he suctioned the very strength from her body.

She raised her hips from the blanket and twined her fingers through his wavy hair, holding his head against her core until her own crashing wave subsided. "Oh, baby. That was wonderful," she said, fighting to find her breath.

Joey wiped the wetness from his mouth against the back of his hand. "That was just the start. Now it’s your turn, Katie."

He reclined alongside her, but propped himself up with his elbows. His erect penis stood at full attention. Her exhaustion quickly passed as thoughts of what was yet to come enticed her to take hold of his silky cock.

Katie closed her fingers around his girth and slid her hand up and down the length of his satiny skin. Her tongue licked at the tip of his penis and probed the small opening in the end. His gasp stirred her onward.

She lowered her open mouth over his waiting shaft, delighting in the way it massaged the sides of her throat. As her lips and tongue savored his manliness, her own body reacted to his pleasure. The place where his mouth had just been, now pulsed with desire to be filled to the brim. She sucked with all her might, circling him with her tongue and nipping gently with her teeth. She wanted to bring him the same pleasure she had just enjoyed.

His breath quickened. "Oh! Suck me, Katie. Ewww, yes." His hands grasped both sides of her head. Suddenly, her mouth filled with his sticky cum forcing her to swallow several times. His body went limp.

The salty taste lingered in her mouth, and she curled up beside him. "How was that?"

"Lady, you can do me anytime." His forearm rested across his brow, his breathing fast and loud.

Bio: My pen name is Pepper St. Claire and this is my first and last "erotica" offering. Writing this genre is more difficult than any other for me since I'm a "behind the door" kind of gal. Now that I've revisited this story, I feel inspired to re-write it and make it better, as I've made a few minor alterations in my excerpt. I hope you'll forgive the few improvements...tags following instead of preceding, eliminating a few word echoes, adding some missing quotations.... This was written in 2004 and I've learned a ton since then and also become quite proficient at editing. Also, I'm going to have a new cover, which is why I've included an image of Joey's cove instead of a proper book cover. I truly hope you enjoy the bit I offered, because the book delivers a message I really would like to share. You have to read Searchers to find out what it is.

Senior Sex

By Ginger Simpson (Guest Blogger)

Today I'm revealing two secrets. One: I’m so not the sexy type. No matter how hard I try to pretend, there is nothing about this sixty-five-year-old body that makes me think I could make a man shiver with desire. Therein lies the problem with being successful in writing erotica…at least from my POV. When I write, the characters tell me a story and I have to envision the concept to put it into words. There are just no words adequate enough to drag something sexy from this brain to my fingertips. All I can see is myself, and believe me, no one wants to share that image. Someone forgot to secure the baggage and the package shifted during travel. Seriously!

There once was a time when I could put on a black nightie and feel somewhat desirable, but that ship sailed…and I believe sunk some years ago. Truth is, age steals so many things from you that you’ve always taken for granted. All those graphic stories that tell of “his” manhood delving into her “moist” woman’s cave. HA! Once you become a senior citizen, if you don’t have a bottle of lube by the bedside, you’d better be prepared to scream…and not in ecstasy. Drier than dust comes to mind!

And those perky breasts! Maybe twenty years ago they were. Now they’ve migrated North and South. When an older woman is flat on her back, it’s not quite so easy to “capture a nipple" when her breasts reside in her armpits.

Once, I was flexible, now I’m arthritic. Sex is about as appealing to me as having a blood test. And of course, those positions that once brought delight now bring Charlie Horses and achy hips. Of course, some may say, “be on top.” NO friggin way! Then I keep flashing back to Dorothy’s advice to Blanche on the Golden Girls to bend over and look in a mirror. OMG! I did and I believe I’m a direct descendant of the Char Pei dog line. That didn’t do a darn thing for my missing self-esteem.

Oh, I know men could have sex with a knot hole, but I’ve always liked to think I was more attractive than a piece of wood. Now I’m not to sure, and sometimes, I actually wish we had a fence. *lol*

I think the main reason I can’t write erotica is that I’m a “behind the door” kind of girl—both in writing and my personal life. I love romance. I want to feel the attraction, the heat, but I like things left to my imagination. Close the door at that point and let me picture what goes on behind it. I don’t need to read about every lick, suck or plunge. Honestly, I don’t. But to those of you who do, and write or read it with such ease and comfort, I applaud you. I do have to mention that there are a few of my fellow authors who write with the door wide open and I love their style. Lisabet is one of those, Sloane Taylor is the other.

Erotica is a hot seller, but I guess I’ll miss the boat on this one. Same goes for fairies, werewolves, shape shifters, and vampires. Readers are really into fantasy, and if you throw in sex, you’re got a winning novel. Unfortunately, most of my characters pop out of the Old West, and in order to make the story somewhat believable, even if it is fiction, the author has to show the story to the reader. I can’t if I can’t imagine it. Besides, the only thing howling at the moon in my books is going to be a coyote, and if someone’s shape shifts, it’s because she’s with child. I can’t ever recall seeing a fairy or vampire on Little House on the Prairie or Bonanza, so I think I’ll stick with writing what I can see in my mind’s eye. I just had cataracts removed, but maybe that eye still has one.

Second secret revealed: Just so you know...I did FORCE myself to write an erotica book some time ago. I'm Pepper St. Claire. Writing the genre was one of the most difficult things I've ever done. Normally words flow with ease from my mind to my fingers, but, I really struggled to get the story finished. It's entitled Searchers and is still available at Whiskey Creek Press.

Ellora's cave rejected it back then because, GASP!!!!, my heroine had an affair. How offensive is that in this day and age? But, my rejection letter cited that the concept would be offensive to readers and not something they endorsed. Like I said in one of my humorous books...you can have sex with a vampire, a hairy werewolf, or an alien in any body orifice, time-travel to another century and screw a count or duke, but God forbid your heroine actually strays to someone else's bed while she's married. That NEVER happens!

Thanks to Lisabet for letting me take up space today and hosting a stop on my blog tour. There's a little break between this one and my last tour appearance, but I hope you'll visit me at Lindsay Below's site at http://lbelow.blogspot.com where I have no idea what I'll talk about, but I'm thinking I need to share some of Odessa with you since it's a February release and you may not have heard about it. In the meantime you can always visit my website http://www.gingersimpson.com and read about any of my books. And you're always welcome at my blog, Dishin' It Out. Never know what the heck (or who) you'll find there!

See you soon!

SPICE UP YOUR LIFE WITH GINGER