♥♥♥♥♥♥♥: Tantric Sex for Busy Couples by Diana Daffner

Tantric Sex for Busy Couples
Diana Daffner

Release Date: April 1st, 2009

Publisher: Hunter House

Page Count: 212

Source: Directly from publisher for review

In this wonderfully useable and delightfully candid guide, Diana Daffner draws on ancient wisdom and movement practices to create a fun, fresh and meaningful approach to modern sexuality and relationships.
The simple yet powerful exercises she describes—involving eye contact, touch, energy awareness and focused movement—are easy to incorporate into even the busiest day. Although the emphasis is on intimacy rather than orgasm, the practices are designe to provide plenty of both. Whether you are male or female, young or old, gay or straight, they

• deepen connection

• create intimate and sacred space between partners

• awaken sexual energy and direct it toward maximum pleasure and meaning

Real-world, down-to-earth and illuminated throughout by her and her husband's personal experiences, Daffner's innovative Tantra Tai Chi requires no previous experience of Indian Tantra or Chinese Tai Chi. All you need are minutes a day and a desire to share the gift of passion. 

What Stephanie Thought: I've heard so much about Tantric sex and have only known it as some sort of deep, mystical practice whose effects can be even stronger than that of an orgasm. Better than an orgasm? Sign me up!

Tantric Sex for Busy Couples is a compact, informative book that elaborates upon the practice of Tantra and Tai Chi for beginners and people like me who don't want to invest frustrating hours into it. Its simple illustrations and instructional advice really helps with achieving the mental and sexual connection of this ancient practice.

I especially love how Daffner uses her personal events to explain the specific exercises in this manual. It makes it less routine and more individualized. I tried the majority of the activities featured in this book with my boyfriend, and though none of them were mind-blowing, it was a very relaxing and sensually soothing experience. 

This books is for anyone who wants to change their sex life around a little—not necessarily spice it up, but more like slow it down, to attain the comfortable, sated feeling we all crave, after the best of climaxes.

Radical Rating: 7 hearts: Not without flaws, but overall enjoyable. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

♥♥♥♥♥♥: Cosmo's Steamy Sex Games

Cosmo's Steamy Sex Games
Cosmopolitan

Release Date: July 1st, 2007

Publisher: Hearst

Card Count: 240

Source:  As a Babeland affiliate, I received one free box of Cosmo's Steamy Sex Games in exchange for an honest review (thank you!). I was not paid, compensated, nor sponsored in any way to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are purely my own

ARE YOU READY TO PLAY?

WHAT'S INSIDE: Twelve sizzling, couples-only bedroom games, complete with fun, easy-to-use tear-out cards. Heat up your mattress action with these challenges:

• The Sexy Scavenger Hunt

• Dirty Truth or Dare

• Finish the Fantasy

• Titillating Trivia

• Call of the Wild

...AND MORE!

 PLUS  The perfect, handy box to store these red-hot games in... so you can play them over and over again.

What Stephanie Thought: Cosmopolitan is hands-down, my favorite magazine (YES, it even beats Fitness and Interview; they would be runners up, however) which is why I was eager to get my hands on Cosmo's Steamy Sex Games. I will admit, my love for Cosmo is probably directly correlated with my love for sex... but to me, Cosmo is way more than just a sex magazine. It's a health, beauty, self magazine that knows how to make you feel your best and your partner pretty damn good too.

That being said, I am slightly disappointed at how this box of cards doesn't do the magazine justice. Many of the "sexy" suggestions attempt to be flirty and risqué, and almost all of them fall flat. Out of the 240 cards, I'd say only about 40 were really original. The rest, I could have easily come up with myself.

Here's an example I laughed at from the Dirty Truth or Dare segment: dare — I'm a sexy stranger at a bar. Pull out your best on-the-prowl tricks and try to pick me up for a one-night stand. First of all, can you say awkward? Can you imagine roleplaying a "sexy stranger in a bar" in your very own bedroom? Would you use make-believe the alcohol too? Let's say you and your partner both really inventive and could imagine the fantasy clearly (something I still can't do with a straight face); too bad it's too creepy of a scenario to continue with.

A lot of the cards in the box are annoyingly repetitive. I came to a card from the Titillating Trivia section I liked a lot: What's the kinkiest thing we've ever done together? Get the answer right — We act out your lusty wish. Get the answer wrong — We act out my lusty wish. I mean, that's really creative and it's a win-win situation. Either way, you get to have fun sex! However, this was the next card in the deck: What's my all-time favorite sex act? Get the answer right — We get to do your favorite act. Get the answer wrong — We get to do my favorite act. I soon discovered with dismay that there were at least two more cards that went on like this, just with slightly different wording. Who is Cosmo trying to fool? They're all the same thing, just with "sex act" replaced by the words "sex position"!

The book isn't a complete letdown, though. Like I said earlier, there are lots of clever ideas available. In particular, I enjoyed the Kama Sutra section because it has imaginative positions with diagrams and descriptions to guide you along. 

I was entertained by this book for a fun night, I'll admit, but I feel I would get sick of it after a first skim of all the cards. This is mostly due to the fact that many of the games aren't even steamy, but also because all the activities are cute, playful ways to get to know your partner. If you're already intimate with your partner (which I am), this one might be sort of a bore.

Stephanie Loves: "Late-Night Lust

For Her: Set the alarm for 2 am (with the volume low). When the alarm goes off, catch it before he totally wakes up. Then light the candles and place them around the bed. Roll him onto his back, hold onto his member, and move your hand up and down. Then shimmy down and take him in your mouth, sucking very gently until he's completely hard. When he's moaning in pleasure, move back up, rub some lube on his member, and put him inside you.

For Him: Make slow, sweet, dreamy love to her. Then blow out the candles and wrap your arms around her as you both drift off to sleep." — a card with A Night of Naughty Adventure (card five) that I find so romantic!

Radical Rating: 6 hearts: Satisfying for a first read, but I'm not going back. ♥♥♥♥♥♥

♥♥♥♥♥♥: Kama Sutra of Sexual Positions: The Tantric Art of Love by Kenneth Ray Stubbs

Kama Sutra of Sexual Positions: The Tantric Art of Love
Kenneth Ray Stubbs, Ph.D.

Page Count: 64
Release Date: July 2001
Publisher: Secret Garden Publishing
Source: Vibrator.com is an online store that sells not only sex toys, but also other sensual products such as massage oils, love games, and lingerie. I received The Kama Sutra of Sexual Positions from its adult bookstore for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you!). Check out Vibrator.com's blog for exclusive deals, tips, and information!

Over 100 images of lovers in sexual embrace—the best from:

• Kama Sutra

• Ananga-Ranga

• The Perfumed Garden

• Ishimpo

• Song of Songs

• other traditions and other times

Kama Sutra comes to us from fourth-century India. Written by a holy man, this "love scripture" has become known in the West as a "bible of sex". As such, Kama Sutra of Sexual Positions presents many facets of sexual embrace from many cultures where the sexual and the scared together are the weaver of the tapestry of life.

What Stephanie Thought: A variety of  illustrations as well as vivid descriptions of each of the positions are both demonstrated in Kenneth Ray Stubbs's full-color depicted sex guide. Combining the Indian Kama Sutra and Ananga-Ranga, Arabic The Perfumed Garden of Sensual Delight, Japanese Ishimpo, and Hebrew Song of Songs, this book covers an expanse selection of sex positions that any and all lovers can try.

It was wonderful how all of the ancient expert advice was combined into one book, facilitating the search for an ideal position to try. I only wish the descriptions were illustrated accordingly, rather than just being placed on random pages throughout the book. Some of the positions are worded strangely, making it hard to imagine what they should look like.

The pictures are well-drawn, I'll admit, but many of them are ancient drawings or just modern sketches: a bit awkward. Rather than turning me on while reading, they sort of decreased my libido—you can't really be aroused by looking at unattractive pictures. 
I didn't dislike reading this one, but I definitely have seen better Kama Sutra guides. If you want variety, this one is perfect. If you want more detail (and are actually looking into trying new things in the bedroom with a partner), Kama Sutra of Sexual Positions may not be the best for you.

And though the positions are diverse, not many of them seem very conceivable or possible, for that matter. Here's a ridiculous example that made me laugh a bit: 

Stephanie Loves: "'The camel's hump: The woman, who is standing, bends forward till her fingers touch the floor; the man gets behind and copulates, at the same time grasping her thighs. If the man withdraws while the woman is still bending down, the vagina emits a sound like a bleating of a calf, and for that reason some women object to the posture.'"

Radical Rating: 6 hearts: Satisfying for a first read, but I'm not going back. ♥♥♥♥♥♥

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥: The Kama Sutra by Madelyn Carol Dervos

The Kama Sutra
Vatsyayana and Madelyn Carol Dervos

Page Count: 176
Release Date: 2000

For the first time in 120 years, a refreshingly modern version of Vatsyayana's Kama Sutra. This 176-page book keeps the wisdom from centuries ago, but in the language of today.

Included in this Japanese silk-bound edition, are 21 graphic, hand-painted illustrations of the original Kama Sutra love-making positions. This brand new edition makes a beautiful gift for couples who want to learn about the ancient art of making love and provides a perspective on lovemaking that is often lost in the west.

Considered one of the great works of ancient Indian literature, the Kama Sutra offered the people of that time a complete approach to one of their pillars of life; KAMA, the principle of love, pleasure, and sensual gratification. It is a timeless message—those same principles apply equally today.

What Stephanie Thought: Okay, honestly, I don't think the blurb or the book cover really does this book any justice. I got the opportunity to read and review The Kama Sutra Book, which typically in our society is said with a small gasp, or in means of taboo. I know it's a sex book, you guys, but it's not just smut or pornography or anything. It's a book about love and relationships too, not solely the physical stuff.

The Kama Sutra is divided into eight convenient chapters: Love Principles, which describes dharma, artha, kama, and the types of women; Intercourse, which details on sexual union, embrace, kissing, contact, positions, gender roles, and other circumstances; Acquiring a Wife, which lists the ideal marriage and the confidence of women in relationship to men; About a Wife, which explains the virtues of women and conducts of wives; About the Wives of Other People, which analyzes gender characteristics, states of mind, and authority; About Courtesans, which is the "woman's" chapter of the Kama Sutra; Attracting Others, which construes aphrodisiacs, personal adornment, desire, and conquering hearts; and The Illustrated, which displays 20+ original love-making positions in exquisite and breathtaking detail.

So really, the only explicit stuff in the entire book was one chapter out of the complete eight, meaning it was an important, but not a fundamental portion of the book.

With an interest in relationship psychology, I found it really fun to be able to read about the feeling of attraction men have towards women. I loved being able to establish "love" principles, and the end with the detailed illustrations were helpful too ;)

The only thing that irritated me was how it was clearly originally written in a patriarchal society, demeaning women and referring them as "courtesans" often. I understand how in ancient India, that was the social norm, but it was still, from a girl's point of view, slightly insulting. For instance, there was a list from "Acquiring a Wife" containing the types of women that were ideal wives because they were easily won over (whatever that means); these women included women who hated their husbands, women who looked sideways at a man, sociable women (read, sluts), widows, poor women, women fond of sex, vain women, women with many younger brothers, jealous women, cowards, lazy women, and women neglected by their husbands. Ancient India was probably a polygamous society too—but still, that list was just awful to read. A lot of the material in The Kama Sutra was like that, purely macho and undermining, but overall, it was an informative, enjoyable reference read.

Where Stephanie Got It: Vibrator.com is an online store that sells not only sex toys, but also other sensual products such as oils, love games, and lingerie. I received The Kama Sutra book from its adult bookstore for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Check out Vibrator.com's blog for exclusive deals, tips, and information!
 
Radical Rating: 9 hearts: Loved it! This book has a spot on my favorites shelf. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥