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Curio #1
Curio
Caroly Evardt never expected to find herself patronizing a male prostitute. Then again, she never expected to be weeks from her thirtieth birthday and still a virgin.
When a friend mentions that a gorgeous male model in Paris sells his body as well as his image, Caroly's intrigued. Finally, a chance to sample the gifts of a beautiful man—no strings, no stakes, no fear of rejection.
But she soon discovers that Didier Pedra amounts to more than a striking face and talented body. He's a kind, charming, damaged man, and after a few evenings of pleasurable education, Caroly's interest blossoms into something far deeper than mere lust. Her simple arrangement is suddenly feeling downright dangerous . . .
When a friend mentions that a gorgeous male model in Paris sells his body as well as his image, Caroly's intrigued. Finally, a chance to sample the gifts of a beautiful man—no strings, no stakes, no fear of rejection.
But she soon discovers that Didier Pedra amounts to more than a striking face and talented body. He's a kind, charming, damaged man, and after a few evenings of pleasurable education, Caroly's interest blossoms into something far deeper than mere lust. Her simple arrangement is suddenly feeling downright dangerous . . .
111 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 28, 2011
31 people are currently reading
2,603 people want to read
About the author
Cara McKenna
55books2,219followersSince she began writing in 2008, Cara McKenna has published nearly forty romances and erotic novels with a variety of publishers, sometimes under the pen names Meg Maguire and C.M. McKenna. Her stories have been acclaimed for their smart, modern voice and defiance of convention. She was a 2015 RITA Award finalist, a 2014 RT Reviewers� Choice Award winner, a 2012 and 2011 RT Reviewers� Choice Award nominee, and a 2010 Golden Heart Award finalist. She lives with her husband and baby son in the Pacific Northwest, though she’ll always be a Boston girl at heart.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 260 reviews
May 13, 2016
3 stars. Review posted May 13, 2016
A male prostitute and a virgin�
“To trust someone when you can barely see their eyes,� he murmured. “To give up your own comfort and control and take pleasure in their commands, their experience. And for the one who receives, the vulnerability of being seen so close up, smelled and tasted.�
The heroine's beauty worship is irritating. Other than that, I'm liking it. And, of course, the hero is yummy!
****
Thoughts after finishing the novella
I'm a sucker for escort stories and the premise of Curio looked promising. Though the execution didn't quite do it for me. The ever-present beauty worship was the most irritating aspect of this first installment and made the heroine look shallow. Fact was, I didn't particularly care for the main protags, especially not for Caroly.
The most extraordinary man in a city of two million. In all of Europe or the rest of the wide world.
The most gorgeous man on the planet he may be, but I had everything I needed from Didier in this union.
In fact, at the risk of sounding shallow, I’m proud to be seen with you. You’re the best-looking man I’ve ever met.�
I stared up at the sky. I was holding hands with the most beautiful man alive, watching the clouds drift past miles above Paris.
And, while I liked the first third (or first half, I don't remember anymore), the story kind of petered out afterwards. It was pretty much insta-love on behalf of the virginal heroine and the way Didier overcame his severe case of made me roll my eyes. Of course he didn't need any therapy. Nope. Caroly was reason enough for him Well, what a simple interest in a human being can accomplish is rather astounding, isn't it? I am being a bit sarcastic. His explanation:
Puleeze.
I also thought that the times where female leads talk about their pussy as "down there" are over. Obviously I was wrong. I really don't need to be reminded of Fifty Shades of Shit, thank you very much.
Then we have the usual issue when authors make use of a foreign language: The translations are flawed.
"Il te rehausse les yeux."
Let's just say, " Ça met en valeur tes yeux."
"A mon lit."
"Sur mon lit." is correct.
"Regardez-moi."
Didier and Caroly certainly don't use the formal form to address each other.
"Regarde-moi." would be correct in this case.
While we're on it, the German translation Blick Der Stille is wrong too. Correct is, Blick der Stille.
I've read and enjoyed plenty of Cara's books already. Thus it is unfortunate that Curio didn't rock my little book world this time.
A male prostitute and a virgin�
“To trust someone when you can barely see their eyes,� he murmured. “To give up your own comfort and control and take pleasure in their commands, their experience. And for the one who receives, the vulnerability of being seen so close up, smelled and tasted.�
The heroine's beauty worship is irritating. Other than that, I'm liking it. And, of course, the hero is yummy!
****
Thoughts after finishing the novella
I'm a sucker for escort stories and the premise of Curio looked promising. Though the execution didn't quite do it for me. The ever-present beauty worship was the most irritating aspect of this first installment and made the heroine look shallow. Fact was, I didn't particularly care for the main protags, especially not for Caroly.
The most extraordinary man in a city of two million. In all of Europe or the rest of the wide world.
The most gorgeous man on the planet he may be, but I had everything I needed from Didier in this union.
In fact, at the risk of sounding shallow, I’m proud to be seen with you. You’re the best-looking man I’ve ever met.�
I stared up at the sky. I was holding hands with the most beautiful man alive, watching the clouds drift past miles above Paris.
And, while I liked the first third (or first half, I don't remember anymore), the story kind of petered out afterwards. It was pretty much insta-love on behalf of the virginal heroine and the way Didier overcame his severe case of made me roll my eyes. Of course he didn't need any therapy. Nope. Caroly was reason enough for him Well, what a simple interest in a human being can accomplish is rather astounding, isn't it? I am being a bit sarcastic. His explanation:
Puleeze.
I also thought that the times where female leads talk about their pussy as "down there" are over. Obviously I was wrong. I really don't need to be reminded of Fifty Shades of Shit, thank you very much.
Then we have the usual issue when authors make use of a foreign language: The translations are flawed.
"Il te rehausse les yeux."
Let's just say, " Ça met en valeur tes yeux."
"A mon lit."
"Sur mon lit." is correct.
"Regardez-moi."
Didier and Caroly certainly don't use the formal form to address each other.
"Regarde-moi." would be correct in this case.
While we're on it, the German translation Blick Der Stille is wrong too. Correct is, Blick der Stille.
I've read and enjoyed plenty of Cara's books already. Thus it is unfortunate that Curio didn't rock my little book world this time.
August 29, 2017
3.5 stars!
I've been wanting to read this series for the longest it seems, and I'm glad I finally got the chance to start it. This was not I what I was expecting not in a bad way. By reading the blurb I thought it was going to start with a sex marathon but instead it had a sexual build up to it.
In "Curio" book 1 Caroly is almost 30 years old she's a virgin she decides to go to an escort to experience her first sexual encounter. Didier is an escort who is intrigued by Caroly's virginity.
I was blown away by Didier he was so caring and patient with caroly. I really liked how they talked first and got to know each other. Like I said their sexual relationship was a build up but so sensual. But then I shouldn't be surprise miss Mckenna has a way that makes her plots feel different and her characters so real. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series and seeing how Caroly/Didier more into their relationship.❤️
I've been wanting to read this series for the longest it seems, and I'm glad I finally got the chance to start it. This was not I what I was expecting not in a bad way. By reading the blurb I thought it was going to start with a sex marathon but instead it had a sexual build up to it.
In "Curio" book 1 Caroly is almost 30 years old she's a virgin she decides to go to an escort to experience her first sexual encounter. Didier is an escort who is intrigued by Caroly's virginity.
I was blown away by Didier he was so caring and patient with caroly. I really liked how they talked first and got to know each other. Like I said their sexual relationship was a build up but so sensual. But then I shouldn't be surprise miss Mckenna has a way that makes her plots feel different and her characters so real. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series and seeing how Caroly/Didier more into their relationship.❤️
August 10, 2016
4.5 Holy-Hotness Escort Stars!
Curio is a fantastic dichotomy of familiarity of plot we see in many escort books added with a total twist I've never encountered in plot lines. Unfortunately, the twist I shall not reveal as it needs to be experienced. But awesome it was...hot, mysterious, and intriguing.
Caroly is an almost 30-year old virgin (enter well-used escort plot line). She hires a well-known Parisian model and escort to fulfill her desire to dispense of said V-Card. Enter Didier, a perfect specimen of male perfection, dark hair, chiseled jaw and famous for his sexual prowess.
Caroly is the epitome of an awkward girl with low self esteem. She has no experience with men because she aims high in looks and knows deep down she will be denied. So she chooses to not date men at all. It's worked out fine...until the big 3-0 arrives.
I loved this aspect of the book. Didier was perfection for Caroly. He broke the mold on typical escort hotness. He was borderline psychologist more than male prostitute and was just what Caroly needed. He broke down her walls, letting her progress at her own pace, one baby step at a time.
Curio is in Caroly's 1st person POV and it was just what we as readers needed. She's quirky, comical at times, and likable. Experiencing everything she experienced was like being a voyeur in their love scenes. Witnessing her first experience watching a man give himself a hand job...holy shizzle! Seems mundane but through Caroly's eyes...it was scorching hot. All the scenes were scorching, in fact.
Her inner dialogue cracked me up!
A lie- I was already in love with him. Jesus Christ, give a frigid girl four nights with a French prostitute and what happens? Like I never drank a drop, then one pub crawl and I wake up with cirrhosis.
The author has a great writing style and the setting in Paris was beautiful. There was zero use of contractions which tended to distract me but I'm thinking she meant to do this to bring light to his first language being French. I understand that...but she's American so I think contractions in her dialogue would've been appropriate and more realistic to the English language (on an American speaking standpoint).
Moving on to their novellas!
And I thank you,
September 9, 2014
A book about a gorgeous French escort?!?!? Why yes, yes please!!
But seriously...
The first half of this book was such an erotic slow burn. Didier and Caroly's first night together....just.....just WOW!! Watching a man pleasure himself.....for your enjoyment....
By the time you get to the main attraction, you are beyond primed!
Overall, each evening, each interaction was perfectly paced, perfectly unfolding the story for the twist towards the end. Is it some jaw dropping revelation? Nope....but it's an interesting twist to a story that could have fallen into the category of "typical" or "mundane."
In a nutshell, hop on the ho train.....enjoy the ho ride and be prepared to be ho ho horny most of the time.
But seriously...
The first half of this book was such an erotic slow burn. Didier and Caroly's first night together....just.....just WOW!! Watching a man pleasure himself.....for your enjoyment....
By the time you get to the main attraction, you are beyond primed!
Overall, each evening, each interaction was perfectly paced, perfectly unfolding the story for the twist towards the end. Is it some jaw dropping revelation? Nope....but it's an interesting twist to a story that could have fallen into the category of "typical" or "mundane."
In a nutshell, hop on the ho train.....enjoy the ho ride and be prepared to be ho ho horny most of the time.
January 3, 2015
*4.5 stars*
Cara McKenna, not only did you seduce my body, you seduced my mind! Damn, girl, this book was awesome!
I've wanted to read some older Cara McKenna for a VERY long time. I have to say, I'd almost given up on M/F erotic romances. It is very rare that a M/F book... ehem... "lights my fire," so I was purposefully keeping my expectations low. However, this book shocked the crap out of me by being amazing.
Appearances can be deceiving. The main character is an almost 30 year old virgin, and the prostitute that she employs looks like a god. But there is so much more to them than their facade. Caroly is strong and more self-assured than I imagined, and Didier is incredibly in tune with her needs. I'd even go so far as to say that Didier is on the submissive side, taking pleasure from his female client's pleasure much more than what the job would dictate.
But the plot goes even deeper than that, and as I peeled back the layers of this incredibly HOT story, I found myself really caring about these characters, more than I had expected to.
My only issue is the ending, which felt rushed. However, overall, this was an exceptional read.
Cara McKenna, not only did you seduce my body, you seduced my mind! Damn, girl, this book was awesome!
I've wanted to read some older Cara McKenna for a VERY long time. I have to say, I'd almost given up on M/F erotic romances. It is very rare that a M/F book... ehem... "lights my fire," so I was purposefully keeping my expectations low. However, this book shocked the crap out of me by being amazing.
Appearances can be deceiving. The main character is an almost 30 year old virgin, and the prostitute that she employs looks like a god. But there is so much more to them than their facade. Caroly is strong and more self-assured than I imagined, and Didier is incredibly in tune with her needs. I'd even go so far as to say that Didier is on the submissive side, taking pleasure from his female client's pleasure much more than what the job would dictate.
But the plot goes even deeper than that, and as I peeled back the layers of this incredibly HOT story, I found myself really caring about these characters, more than I had expected to.
My only issue is the ending, which felt rushed. However, overall, this was an exceptional read.
July 19, 2014
A huge thanks to C for this recommendation and for starting me off with the perfect image of Didier, he was a perfect fit for this.
Caroly is on the verge of turning thirty and because of high expectations and fears she has yet to take a lover. With little experience with men, Caroly begins a journey to finally lose her virginity. But her choice of lover is not typical. Didier is a whore. He is gorgeous, a body of male perfection and there is no risk of her being rejected by a man that holds so much more beauty than she believes she deserves.
Curio is not told in a typical story fashion. We don't get to know the characters outside of the walls of his flat, but we don't need to. We know everything there is to know about them from what they share, what they experience. I loved that there was no down time between their encounters and I loved how they exposed one another to each other willingly. It was odd to become so connected to characters where there was so little interaction beyond what they shared together.
I felt like a voyeur, watching erotic and intimate moments between two lovers in secret. Silently pleading for more, more touching - more sharing - more exploring.
There is just something so erotic and primal about scenes describing a man touching himself.
Caroly's eyes devoured the scenes that played out before her, watching him touch himself and wanting to reach out and touch him; to be the reason for his ecstasy. His drawn out pleasure was intoxicating and with such a slow build to the actual sex, it keeps you completely captivated.
Didier is nothing that she expected to find when she arrives at the flat. And at first you do question whether or not if it's all an act. After all his job is catering to what women want, to be whatever they need and desire. But you slowly start to see that with Caroly and her lack of experience that he is giving her the experience she needs to be able to let go, he is giving her reality.
Simply erotic, without it being forced. Cara McKenna masterfully captures some of the most intimate moments between lovers that leave you completely breathless.
December 26, 2011
Story Rating 5 stars
Character Rating 5 stars
Romance rating 5+ stars
Heat Level 4 stars
Over all Rating 5 stars
Recommended by Kris (KindleRomance)
OH MY for a short story this one made me feel all sorts of emotions. Sometimes I felt that there was too much thinking and talking but it was so beautifully worded that I got over that feeling really quick. There were only two Characters in this book, the H&h. I have NEVER read a book with Characters quite as unique as these two were. It just seemed that these two really needed each other to move on with life in the most basic way. The love scenes were done with extreme care and wonderfully written. The ending is a bit different than most erotic romance book's are done but I loved it and if you decide to give this book a try, I hope you do too.
Thank You Kris for the recommendation it was a phenomenal read for me.
Character Rating 5 stars
Romance rating 5+ stars
Heat Level 4 stars
Over all Rating 5 stars
Recommended by Kris (KindleRomance)
OH MY for a short story this one made me feel all sorts of emotions. Sometimes I felt that there was too much thinking and talking but it was so beautifully worded that I got over that feeling really quick. There were only two Characters in this book, the H&h. I have NEVER read a book with Characters quite as unique as these two were. It just seemed that these two really needed each other to move on with life in the most basic way. The love scenes were done with extreme care and wonderfully written. The ending is a bit different than most erotic romance book's are done but I loved it and if you decide to give this book a try, I hope you do too.
Thank You Kris for the recommendation it was a phenomenal read for me.
June 8, 2022
I'm afraidthis novella didn't really work for me, which is too bad because I've liked all the other McKenna I've read. I picked this one up because I wanted something (very) short that I could read with my id, and based on the plot summary Curio seemed like it would deliver. Caroly is about to turn 30 and, dissatisfied with her lack of sexual experience, she decides to hire Didier, a male sex worker who lives in a small apartment in Paris. This is short, erotic, unabashed wish-fulfillment type stuff, and does pack a lot of content into a small number of pages. But overall I just struggled with how it presented some of Caroly's attitudes towards sex (and gender), and how it seemed to want to position me as a reader in relation to those attitudes.
I'll start with the good, becausethere was some: Didier was a lovely character, and had an incredibly open, patient, and sex-positive attitude. Despite him not having POV chapters, I got a good sense for who he was and what motivated him, and he got a bit of his own growth arc around his struggles with agoraphobia (though those were resolved rather too quickly). The sex was well-written, as always, and contained McKenna's hallmarks of two imperfect people, imperfectly working their way towards what they want. I also appreciated that the text didn't seem to be ridiculing or looking down on Caroly for her lack of sexual experience.
The thing I struggled with was, to put it simply, Caroly's attitude that she needed to lose her virginity via penetrative sex because that would "make her a woman." There's a TON of gendered language in here around what makes a man and what makes a woman, and the latter especially seems to be focused on a very heteronomative sexual experience, and specifically PIV. At one point Caroly describes Didier when aroused as a man who is "everything the gender ought to be... yet so frequently isn't, in this day and age" which... seems to me to be approaching some really gross gender prescriptivism. As for Caroly's own experience, I think it's totally valid for individuals to place personal importance on certain acts, to define sex how they want, and to go about fulfilling what desires they have. And I could, very easily, empathize with the kind of social pressure Caroly might have been under to engage in certain acts that society has been telling her, all her life, represent a box to be checked before adulthood. But nonetheless, I really chafed at the idea that none of the other (very hot!) sex she has with Didier counts as sex, and that only once they have PIV, she is "normal and functional," a "real" woman.
To be fair to the book, Caroly's attitude towards sex was not presented as the only possible one to have: Didier is right there, with much less prescriptive attitudes about what kinds of sex "count." But all the while I was reading (and I acknowledge that this is really intangible) I couldn't help but feel like the book was... expecting me to align with Caroly? As if her attitude represented a common ground of understanding between her as the character and me as the reader, and Didier was just there as a sex-positive unicorn to... not even challenge it, but present an outlying alternative to it? Caroly does a lot of direct address to the reader ("you might wonder what sort of woman would visit a male prostitute") and I kept feeling like I was being drawn into a conversation that I found, at times, actively hostile to my own worldview and experiences. Ultimately, I couldn't get past it.Maybe this was a "published in 2010 thing"? I mean, it's not that long ago, but I do think that romance as a genre moves quickly, and some of this felt simply dated.
I'll start with the good, becausethere was some: Didier was a lovely character, and had an incredibly open, patient, and sex-positive attitude. Despite him not having POV chapters, I got a good sense for who he was and what motivated him, and he got a bit of his own growth arc around his struggles with agoraphobia (though those were resolved rather too quickly). The sex was well-written, as always, and contained McKenna's hallmarks of two imperfect people, imperfectly working their way towards what they want. I also appreciated that the text didn't seem to be ridiculing or looking down on Caroly for her lack of sexual experience.
The thing I struggled with was, to put it simply, Caroly's attitude that she needed to lose her virginity via penetrative sex because that would "make her a woman." There's a TON of gendered language in here around what makes a man and what makes a woman, and the latter especially seems to be focused on a very heteronomative sexual experience, and specifically PIV. At one point Caroly describes Didier when aroused as a man who is "everything the gender ought to be... yet so frequently isn't, in this day and age" which... seems to me to be approaching some really gross gender prescriptivism. As for Caroly's own experience, I think it's totally valid for individuals to place personal importance on certain acts, to define sex how they want, and to go about fulfilling what desires they have. And I could, very easily, empathize with the kind of social pressure Caroly might have been under to engage in certain acts that society has been telling her, all her life, represent a box to be checked before adulthood. But nonetheless, I really chafed at the idea that none of the other (very hot!) sex she has with Didier counts as sex, and that only once they have PIV, she is "normal and functional," a "real" woman.
To be fair to the book, Caroly's attitude towards sex was not presented as the only possible one to have: Didier is right there, with much less prescriptive attitudes about what kinds of sex "count." But all the while I was reading (and I acknowledge that this is really intangible) I couldn't help but feel like the book was... expecting me to align with Caroly? As if her attitude represented a common ground of understanding between her as the character and me as the reader, and Didier was just there as a sex-positive unicorn to... not even challenge it, but present an outlying alternative to it? Caroly does a lot of direct address to the reader ("you might wonder what sort of woman would visit a male prostitute") and I kept feeling like I was being drawn into a conversation that I found, at times, actively hostile to my own worldview and experiences. Ultimately, I couldn't get past it.Maybe this was a "published in 2010 thing"? I mean, it's not that long ago, but I do think that romance as a genre moves quickly, and some of this felt simply dated.
March 5, 2013
I loved Cara McKenna's Willing Victim so I decided to try another one of her books. This one tells the story of a male prostitute, Didier, and his client, the sexually inexperienced Caroly, and how they help each other with their problems. It was dark in places, beautiful in others and very erotic. I loved every minute of it and plan on reading the follow-up vignettes.
Highly recommended for erotica fans who like a good story along with lots of very steamy scenes.
Highly recommended for erotica fans who like a good story along with lots of very steamy scenes.
December 27, 2011
Wow, did I enjoy this! It’s hard to explain how I felt about the book, let alone the characters, especially Didier. This was a very sensual, tender, loving and caring story.
Didier’s only concern is that Caroly experience what she is capable of handling sexually. He just gives her as much as she asks for, doesn’t push her, and slowly and gently eases her into her first sexual encounter. He accommodates her every need and desire with the utmost care and concern for her well being and pleasure. Told from Caroly’s POV, you can feel her apprehension, curiosity, and eventually her admiration for this amazing man. I know we’re talking male prostitute here, but if there was a real Didier, I might pay to go see him myself.
A huge part of the story is the fantastic dialogue, both in and out of the bedroom that takes place between Didier and Caroly. Through these relaxed and sometimes erotic exchanges, we are given a glimpse into the lives of these intriguing characters. Just lovely! Well done Ms. McKenna. I will be reading this one again.
Thanks for the recommendation on this Kris. You picked another winner!
Didier’s only concern is that Caroly experience what she is capable of handling sexually. He just gives her as much as she asks for, doesn’t push her, and slowly and gently eases her into her first sexual encounter. He accommodates her every need and desire with the utmost care and concern for her well being and pleasure. Told from Caroly’s POV, you can feel her apprehension, curiosity, and eventually her admiration for this amazing man. I know we’re talking male prostitute here, but if there was a real Didier, I might pay to go see him myself.
A huge part of the story is the fantastic dialogue, both in and out of the bedroom that takes place between Didier and Caroly. Through these relaxed and sometimes erotic exchanges, we are given a glimpse into the lives of these intriguing characters. Just lovely! Well done Ms. McKenna. I will be reading this one again.
Thanks for the recommendation on this Kris. You picked another winner!
December 22, 2022
This was surprisingly emotional with beautiful depth for a short novella with a 30 year old Virginia and the male model Parisian prostitute she hires.
September 29, 2011
Five Reasons to Read Curio
1. The hero is a male prostitute.
I don’t know about you, but that is a major, major plus in my book. Ever since I saw that horrible Spielberg movie, AI, in which Jude Law briefly plays a robotic male prostitute of the future, I’ve been fascinated with the whole idea. Curio‘s prostitute, Didier, is by no means a manbot. I mean, come on, he’s French. The French don’t make good bots. They do, however, make excellent male prostitutes. As you will soon learn when you buy the book.
2. The heroine is a virgin.
I don’t even think I need to explain this one, but I will anyway. Caroly is an American living in Paris, working at a museum, and her virginity has become such a ridiculous burden to her that she decides The hell with it and hires Didier to put her out of her misery. I don’t know about you, but I like her already.
3. The sex is hot.
Of course it is. Cara McKenna wrote the book, and Cara McKenna knows how to write hot sex. Hot peopled sex, with great insight into what the characters are thinking and why they’re aroused and what’s going on in their odd little minds as they strip each other down and get busy. Lots of hot sex in this book. It is erotica, after all (not erotic romance � but it’s romantic erotica, as is often Cara’s way). Very smart, very sexy erotica.
4. The people are fascinating.
I submit that only Cara McKenna could convincingly write a male whore who doesn’t need to be rescued from himself (at least, not the way you might think). Only Cara McKenna could make the interactions between these two quirky, flawed, slightly broken people so damned interesting. If you’ve read her other books, you probably know this already. If you haven’t, for shame. (And also, I recommend Ruin Me and Willing Victim for your starter kit, along with Curio.)
5. The romance is small and memorable.
I’ve said before that I think Cara excels at writing tiny romantic moments that have great impact, and this is a tiny, romantic book with great impact. The focus is tight � it’s a novel set in the small space of Didier’s Paris flat, in the small space between Didier and Caroly, as they learn about each other and talk and screw around and fumble their way into romantic entanglement. Curio imprints in the most lovely, memorable way, so that you’ll want to revisit it again after you’ve finished reading it.
1. The hero is a male prostitute.
I don’t know about you, but that is a major, major plus in my book. Ever since I saw that horrible Spielberg movie, AI, in which Jude Law briefly plays a robotic male prostitute of the future, I’ve been fascinated with the whole idea. Curio‘s prostitute, Didier, is by no means a manbot. I mean, come on, he’s French. The French don’t make good bots. They do, however, make excellent male prostitutes. As you will soon learn when you buy the book.
2. The heroine is a virgin.
I don’t even think I need to explain this one, but I will anyway. Caroly is an American living in Paris, working at a museum, and her virginity has become such a ridiculous burden to her that she decides The hell with it and hires Didier to put her out of her misery. I don’t know about you, but I like her already.
3. The sex is hot.
Of course it is. Cara McKenna wrote the book, and Cara McKenna knows how to write hot sex. Hot peopled sex, with great insight into what the characters are thinking and why they’re aroused and what’s going on in their odd little minds as they strip each other down and get busy. Lots of hot sex in this book. It is erotica, after all (not erotic romance � but it’s romantic erotica, as is often Cara’s way). Very smart, very sexy erotica.
4. The people are fascinating.
I submit that only Cara McKenna could convincingly write a male whore who doesn’t need to be rescued from himself (at least, not the way you might think). Only Cara McKenna could make the interactions between these two quirky, flawed, slightly broken people so damned interesting. If you’ve read her other books, you probably know this already. If you haven’t, for shame. (And also, I recommend Ruin Me and Willing Victim for your starter kit, along with Curio.)
5. The romance is small and memorable.
I’ve said before that I think Cara excels at writing tiny romantic moments that have great impact, and this is a tiny, romantic book with great impact. The focus is tight � it’s a novel set in the small space of Didier’s Paris flat, in the small space between Didier and Caroly, as they learn about each other and talk and screw around and fumble their way into romantic entanglement. Curio imprints in the most lovely, memorable way, so that you’ll want to revisit it again after you’ve finished reading it.
June 14, 2013
I REALLY REALLY wanted to love this book and I did for the first 50%. But then I just had a few issues with it which had me thinking
There are some spoilers below so you have been warned
* I don't mind reading about virgins but I had slight issues with it
* I don't mind reading about hero's who have issues as it adds to their character
I was really eager to read this series but now sadly I'm not so sure???
This is the next book in the series, hopefully I will still give it a try
There are some spoilers below so you have been warned
* I don't mind reading about virgins but I had slight issues with it
* I don't mind reading about hero's who have issues as it adds to their character
I was really eager to read this series but now sadly I'm not so sure???
This is the next book in the series, hopefully I will still give it a try
August 30, 2012
Amazing! One of my top favorite reads of 2011. Ms. McKenna delivers authentic erotic prose in this beautifully raw and captivating story. The desire is palpable for both characters and you are taken on a journey of great anticipation, discovery and ultimately a satisfying and realistic ending of hope.
Wow, just wow! Many thanks to Cara McKenna for sharing her voice in two amazing characters.
"I realized something I never had before. Deep down, I want to be coveted and sought after. I want to be taken apart and understood, reassembled, filed away in Didier's cabinet. I don't even need to be pretty to have this. I only have to allow him to open me up."
September 30, 2011
I love Cara McKenna books. On release day, I pour a cup of coffee and the very next thing I do is go to Ellora’s Cave and download the book. I never know what to expect � and Curio is no exception. What I thought was just going to be a naughty erotic book, turned into something a little more…deep.
Caroly is an American, living in Paris and working at an art museum. She is just shy of thirty, and has never had sex. She has really never had any type of intimacy with a man. She has heard through her co-worker that there is a very attractive model, turned prostitute that she could hire to finally get the deed over with. Caroly has always been attracted to very beautiful men, which terrifies her because she feels like she could never live up to their expectations. But she has exhausted herself worrying about this - about lying to friends that she has never has sex to hide her embarrassment. and so she finds herself, slightly panicked on the door step of Didier Pedra’s apartment.
Didier loves to please women. That is his current goal in life. He is a woman’s dream come true. Too perfect? Maybe? Or is it just his job?
“Well, what do you like? If the woman had no preference and it was all up to you, what do you like best?�
“I cannot divorce the two that easily. Even in my own head, by myself, what I imagine has everything to do with the woman in my thoughts.�
“Even if she was just a totally neutral, up-for-anything woman?�
He smiled. “As much as I love clockwork, I would never want to fuck a woman as soulless and without preference as a robot.�
I sighed, pretending to be outrageously exasperated.
Didier laughed, a glorious noise. “Do you really want me to have some singular need? Do you want some secret key to pleasing me? Because you don’t need one. You’re doing just fine, right now. What excites you excites me.�
We go through these series of visits. Visit one, Caroly is nervous. And not ready for actual intercourse. Instead she is interested in watching…him. We go on for pages and pages (oh yes) of Didier pleasuring himself as Caroly cautiously observes. Didier never pushing her for anything she doesn’t want � and will do whatever it is she desires.
The next visit, they get a little more physical, and so on until, and as Didier puts it, “I want mine to be the first cock you ever know.� And she comes to know it alright.
I find this book very interesting because, yes � this is a very erotic book. But there is more examined here. Didier is this prostitute that services many women. He is very open about it and Caroly is very interested in what the other women want from him compared to her wants. They have a lot of conversation about this that I think helps Caroly explore her own sexuality. But Caroly also finds herself falling in love with this man. And as we go down the path towards the end of this book, you start to think � oh � maybe there is something genuine between these two. Honestly, I couldn’t help but question how genuine Didier is at the beginning and even middle of this book when he doles out the compliments to Caroly. Are we to assume he does this with every woman in his bed? He is a very popular prostitute so we know ladies don’t go away feeling disappointed. Or are we to believe he is genuine from the get go because this is a romance book and these two may be headed towards a somewhat happy ending? Is there a happy ending for these two? Maybe? Like I said, this book goes from Caroly wanting to change her life, to maybe a hint of something new for Didier too. Didier makes it clear that being a prostitute is who he is, and that although he has dated, he still works in this profession. So, I honestly didn’t know where this book was headed. In a way, I loved the end, but I wanted more. I’m greedy.
I did think there is one aspect of Didier, that we learn later in the story that is..resolved too quickly…or rushed at the end. But it also proves something to Caroly which is important..so I’ll go with it. As I said, this is a novella, and I think the very end needed a little more time to explore. Otherwise, this is a very, very sexy and warm read. It made me smile and made me happy.
Caroly is an American, living in Paris and working at an art museum. She is just shy of thirty, and has never had sex. She has really never had any type of intimacy with a man. She has heard through her co-worker that there is a very attractive model, turned prostitute that she could hire to finally get the deed over with. Caroly has always been attracted to very beautiful men, which terrifies her because she feels like she could never live up to their expectations. But she has exhausted herself worrying about this - about lying to friends that she has never has sex to hide her embarrassment. and so she finds herself, slightly panicked on the door step of Didier Pedra’s apartment.
Didier loves to please women. That is his current goal in life. He is a woman’s dream come true. Too perfect? Maybe? Or is it just his job?
“Well, what do you like? If the woman had no preference and it was all up to you, what do you like best?�
“I cannot divorce the two that easily. Even in my own head, by myself, what I imagine has everything to do with the woman in my thoughts.�
“Even if she was just a totally neutral, up-for-anything woman?�
He smiled. “As much as I love clockwork, I would never want to fuck a woman as soulless and without preference as a robot.�
I sighed, pretending to be outrageously exasperated.
Didier laughed, a glorious noise. “Do you really want me to have some singular need? Do you want some secret key to pleasing me? Because you don’t need one. You’re doing just fine, right now. What excites you excites me.�
We go through these series of visits. Visit one, Caroly is nervous. And not ready for actual intercourse. Instead she is interested in watching…him. We go on for pages and pages (oh yes) of Didier pleasuring himself as Caroly cautiously observes. Didier never pushing her for anything she doesn’t want � and will do whatever it is she desires.
The next visit, they get a little more physical, and so on until, and as Didier puts it, “I want mine to be the first cock you ever know.� And she comes to know it alright.
I find this book very interesting because, yes � this is a very erotic book. But there is more examined here. Didier is this prostitute that services many women. He is very open about it and Caroly is very interested in what the other women want from him compared to her wants. They have a lot of conversation about this that I think helps Caroly explore her own sexuality. But Caroly also finds herself falling in love with this man. And as we go down the path towards the end of this book, you start to think � oh � maybe there is something genuine between these two. Honestly, I couldn’t help but question how genuine Didier is at the beginning and even middle of this book when he doles out the compliments to Caroly. Are we to assume he does this with every woman in his bed? He is a very popular prostitute so we know ladies don’t go away feeling disappointed. Or are we to believe he is genuine from the get go because this is a romance book and these two may be headed towards a somewhat happy ending? Is there a happy ending for these two? Maybe? Like I said, this book goes from Caroly wanting to change her life, to maybe a hint of something new for Didier too. Didier makes it clear that being a prostitute is who he is, and that although he has dated, he still works in this profession. So, I honestly didn’t know where this book was headed. In a way, I loved the end, but I wanted more. I’m greedy.
I did think there is one aspect of Didier, that we learn later in the story that is..resolved too quickly…or rushed at the end. But it also proves something to Caroly which is important..so I’ll go with it. As I said, this is a novella, and I think the very end needed a little more time to explore. Otherwise, this is a very, very sexy and warm read. It made me smile and made me happy.
July 17, 2012
At first the description of this book sounded really shallow - American woman living in Paris and about to turn 30 is a virgin and hires a former model-turned-male-prostitute to help her "join the club". (her words.) Then I read the review of another reader and it led me to believe there was a lot more to this story than I had thought so I gave it a shot. I did finish the whole thing but the female character (Caroly) was so bizarre I couldn't connect with her at all. She had some weird mind set that kept her from having any sort of normal relationship with a man and the only reason she hired Didier (the prostitute) was because he was so handsome. (I guess no other man was handsome enough for her.) A lot of the book was her thoughts and I almost felt like she had a split personality. Example - she had no clue about how to touch a man but then the things she would think once she did touch him sounded like she was a prositute herself. I know it's fiction but it's impossible for me to believe that an adult would have as little experience as she did but then come up with ideas for him to do. I also thought it was unbelievable that she would go from being uncomfortable having him touch her shoulder to grinding against him a few hours later. The character of Caroly was so shallow and self-centered I just wanted to slap her. On the other hand, the character of Didier had a lot of depth and his circumstances made me feel sad for him. This was a quick read but so annoying I almost wish I hadn't read it.
December 17, 2011
This story felt very intimate to me. I hesitate to drop in the the erotica genre. It was sexy and hot, but it was a lot more than that. I found myself nodding along when Caroly would describe her insecurities and desires, her fears, reactions, ideas, dreams, etc. She was such a real character to me and really brought the story alive.
At first Didier was just another erotic male construct, which is exactly as one is supposed to feel about him. He's a male prostitute. He takes money to fuck women. But you get to know him, learn more about the "person" behind the fantasy object he initially is and you wish you could know someone just like him. He became just as real as Caroly did to me.
I'm having a difficult time figuring out how to explain why this book struck such a deep chord with me. I followed Caroly and Dider's emotional journey and found myself on one as well. Cara McKenna is officially one of my favourite authors.
At first Didier was just another erotic male construct, which is exactly as one is supposed to feel about him. He's a male prostitute. He takes money to fuck women. But you get to know him, learn more about the "person" behind the fantasy object he initially is and you wish you could know someone just like him. He became just as real as Caroly did to me.
I'm having a difficult time figuring out how to explain why this book struck such a deep chord with me. I followed Caroly and Dider's emotional journey and found myself on one as well. Cara McKenna is officially one of my favourite authors.
June 7, 2012
I find it really hard to review this book. I felt so sad and emotional reading it and it wasn't until almost the end that I felt hope for these characters!! It is a very emotional, tender, sensual and intriguing read!
This story is about Caroly and Didier. Caroly seeks out Didier who she has been admiring from photos and art he has modeled for. She knows Didier is a male prostitute and seeing as she is 30 and has never had a sexual experience she seeks him out to help her. She views him as a man of perfection. Didier is (besides gorgeous!!) gentle, listens and only gives as much as he is asked for. He doesn't push her, and slowly and with much care he eases her into her first sexual encounter.
Didier and Caroly each begin a journey of an individual self-discovery, through each other, a meeting of two broken souls, each seeking and needing each other for their own reasons.
This story is very well written and very different!
This story is about Caroly and Didier. Caroly seeks out Didier who she has been admiring from photos and art he has modeled for. She knows Didier is a male prostitute and seeing as she is 30 and has never had a sexual experience she seeks him out to help her. She views him as a man of perfection. Didier is (besides gorgeous!!) gentle, listens and only gives as much as he is asked for. He doesn't push her, and slowly and with much care he eases her into her first sexual encounter.
Didier and Caroly each begin a journey of an individual self-discovery, through each other, a meeting of two broken souls, each seeking and needing each other for their own reasons.
This story is very well written and very different!
May 25, 2020
3.5 stars
This book was purely erotic. Like if you want pure smutty smut, then this is the perfect candidate.
Although the smutty smut is like 95% (okay, maybe 97%) of the book, McKenna managed to create a plot out of it.
Caroly (with no ‘n� at the end) is thirty and a virgin. So what does she do? She hires hotty ass Didier as her guide into losing her v card, and boy does she lose it.
As a reader, you get to see her and her fear of rejection slowly leave her body. She, in my opinion, is the epitome of a beautiful woman that doesn’t know/understand her beauty and instead is stuck inside her head with all insecurities. Didier is that guy that helps her see some light, though in the end, I didnt get that feeling.
Didier not just a super hot guy though, he seems to also dear the outdoors � as in anything beyond the walls of his apartment. Just as he helps Caroly, we see that Caroly helps him in the end.
Though there wasn’t an epilogue or that idea of HEA, we get a semi HFN ending (which to be honest, I was not happy about lol, I wanted/expected more). But then again, there are about six books in this series sooo maybe I will get the HEA I totally yearn for in Didier and Caroly.
In all though, this was a pretty realistic and attention-catching book.
This book was purely erotic. Like if you want pure smutty smut, then this is the perfect candidate.
Although the smutty smut is like 95% (okay, maybe 97%) of the book, McKenna managed to create a plot out of it.
Caroly (with no ‘n� at the end) is thirty and a virgin. So what does she do? She hires hotty ass Didier as her guide into losing her v card, and boy does she lose it.
As a reader, you get to see her and her fear of rejection slowly leave her body. She, in my opinion, is the epitome of a beautiful woman that doesn’t know/understand her beauty and instead is stuck inside her head with all insecurities. Didier is that guy that helps her see some light, though in the end, I didnt get that feeling.
Didier not just a super hot guy though, he seems to also dear the outdoors � as in anything beyond the walls of his apartment. Just as he helps Caroly, we see that Caroly helps him in the end.
Though there wasn’t an epilogue or that idea of HEA, we get a semi HFN ending (which to be honest, I was not happy about lol, I wanted/expected more). But then again, there are about six books in this series sooo maybe I will get the HEA I totally yearn for in Didier and Caroly.
In all though, this was a pretty realistic and attention-catching book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2015
2,5 stars. Unfortunately.
I had been meaning to read Curio for such a long time, and after left me craving more escort books, the time had finally come to pick it up, and enjoy this escort hero. With that hero also being French, I was expecting fireworks. I'm sorry to say I didn't even get a sparkler. Maybe it's because I had too high expectations; my ideas about what would happen in the book and what actually happened certainly didn't come anywhere near. I think that's what happens when you wait too long to read something you really want to read.
I can't say this was a total bust for me--really, it wasn't. 2,5 stars means it was okay, with some parts I liked. I did have some issues with it, of course (if I hadn't, I'd have given it a higher rating), but despite that, I am curious enough about this couple to read the vignettes, or at least the first one, because a) Curio ended in such a way a lot was left to the reader's imagination, and since the vignettes are follow-up stories, I'd like to see what happened afterwards b) despite my rather low rating I'm not ready to give up on this series just yet (I've been wanting to read it for ages!) c) from what I can see, the vignettes are written from Didier's perspective, which appeals to me, because I wasn't too happy with Caroly's POV in Curio.
Now, why only 2,5 stars? There were three reasons for that, I think. One was Caroly, the heroine. To be honest, I had problems with her. She was close to her thirtieth birthday, and still a virgin, and she wanted to change that. Okay. BUT, then she explained how she was always attracted to extremely good looking men, and since she wasn't as attractive, she thought they would turn her down, and the men who would show interest in her, wouldn't be enough to her liking to give them the honor of sleeping with her. Then she found out about Didier, and chose him to have that privilege because he was hot enough, and was a sure thing since she was paying him. I'm not sure if this shows it, but to me she came across as a shallow person. Then her visits with Didier started. I thought it was weird his clients came to his home, but that was explained, so it's no longer odd. But, I did find it odd that Caroly came to Didier to "get it over with", but then did everything but that. She asked a lot of questions, I can tell you that. And a lot of those questions were very personal; it made me want to tell her that it's none of her damn business, but sweet Didier answered them all. Perhaps he was telling her what she wanted to hear, perhaps he was glad to have someone to share that with--I'm not sure which it is. Overall, I found their client-escort relationship a bit too girlfriend-boyfriend. But I guess that was what Caroly wanted, and the client is always right, and Didier only wanted to please women. He certainly appeared to be exactly what Caroly wished him to be. I only have theories about some of the things that happened between them. Without Didier's POV, I can only guess.
What I am sure of is that their excess of talking is my reason number two. Ah, so much talking... Even when they finally got down to business--talking. They ruined it for me with their talk.
Shockingly, the third reason is Didier. It's not that I didn't like him, it's just that I found him too depressing. He gave off the vibe of a deeply sad person, especially after some revelations about him. I wanted to save him from all the evil women who came to him and used him. Who could have seen that coming? I was not expecting to find a French gigolo so depressed. I had an urge to hug him and tell him it would be okay. A weird thing to do with an escort, huh?
To summarize, a heroine I never started to like, a depressed hero, and too much talking, are mostly to blame for the star deficit. However, in the end I could see there was still hope for them and me. Hopefully, will prove me right. All I wish from it is to find Didier if not happy, then at least happier. I'm not even ruling out finally liking Caroly.
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March 25, 2012
4 Stars, but didn't happen for me until I was about 70% complete.
Let me tell you why ... Caroly.
Caroly is fast approaching 30 and is still a virgin. She is a virgin because, as described in the very first chapter or so, she was only attracted to very good looking men. Model perfect looking men. The men she felt she could attract, she wasn't attracted to and therefore, didn't want to "award" them her virginity. She learns about Didier, who is a male prostitute, and absolutely gorgeous from a co-worker at the art gallery where she works. He is a former model for several artists. She becomes very attracted to him and decides, she could work with this man to lose her virginity, and makes contact.
Caroly repelled me. I found her and her attitude so abhorrent, I was very tempted to not finish this book. But, I went back, read a few GR reviews of my friends, and thought, "got to be more here" and pushed to the finish.
Didier -- all the way through this book, you absolutely love this man. He is kind, intuitive, gentle, everything. For me, thinking he was with Caroly, further added to my displeasure and almost hatred of this story.
As we push forward, we find out why these two are the way they are. We learn there is a bit more to Caroly, who turns out isn't as shallow as we first think. And, we find out that Didier isn't as self assured as we first believe. I wasn't entirely pleased with these new turn of events, but it did make me back off my first impressions of Caroly and I don't usually change from my first impressions. For this alone, the author deserves additional credit [my opinion].
I did enjoy this book - quite a bit. It obviously took me to the end to appreciate it fully, but am glad I stuck it out. If I find something appealing, or rated highly by my GR friends, I may read more by this author.
Happy Reading!
Let me tell you why ... Caroly.
Caroly is fast approaching 30 and is still a virgin. She is a virgin because, as described in the very first chapter or so, she was only attracted to very good looking men. Model perfect looking men. The men she felt she could attract, she wasn't attracted to and therefore, didn't want to "award" them her virginity. She learns about Didier, who is a male prostitute, and absolutely gorgeous from a co-worker at the art gallery where she works. He is a former model for several artists. She becomes very attracted to him and decides, she could work with this man to lose her virginity, and makes contact.
Caroly repelled me. I found her and her attitude so abhorrent, I was very tempted to not finish this book. But, I went back, read a few GR reviews of my friends, and thought, "got to be more here" and pushed to the finish.
Didier -- all the way through this book, you absolutely love this man. He is kind, intuitive, gentle, everything. For me, thinking he was with Caroly, further added to my displeasure and almost hatred of this story.
As we push forward, we find out why these two are the way they are. We learn there is a bit more to Caroly, who turns out isn't as shallow as we first think. And, we find out that Didier isn't as self assured as we first believe. I wasn't entirely pleased with these new turn of events, but it did make me back off my first impressions of Caroly and I don't usually change from my first impressions. For this alone, the author deserves additional credit [my opinion].
I did enjoy this book - quite a bit. It obviously took me to the end to appreciate it fully, but am glad I stuck it out. If I find something appealing, or rated highly by my GR friends, I may read more by this author.
Happy Reading!
December 14, 2012
There are a ton of things I loved about this book. That she managed to make a 29 year old virgin heroine a grown-up member of the real world is one of them. Caroly may have had self-image issues and a fear of rejection that turned her off dating and on to patronizing a prostitute, but she had a libido and a sexuality of her own. She was the virgin, but she wasn't an ingenue. Their first encounter has Caroly asking Didier to masturbate in front of her, and her increasingly confident requests throughout the night showed a woman taking an active role rather than submitting passively to a seduction.
I also loved that while Didier clearly enjoyed the concept of being her first sexual partner, she was neither the first virgin who'd come to him nor was she the first woman he wanted to date since he'd become a prostitute. He'd had two relationships before that fell apart over perfectly normal issues. Avoiding the old "tortured soul healed by a pure woman's love" cliche was awesome. Didier wasn't the least bit emotionally closed off. He's just an agoraphobic lover of women.
Where the book faltered was the dialog. While I thought lots of Caroly's personality came through it the first-person narration, the dialog often felt wooden. They often spoke in paragraphs, Didier especially, and it felt scripted for the sake of the plot.
I also loved that while Didier clearly enjoyed the concept of being her first sexual partner, she was neither the first virgin who'd come to him nor was she the first woman he wanted to date since he'd become a prostitute. He'd had two relationships before that fell apart over perfectly normal issues. Avoiding the old "tortured soul healed by a pure woman's love" cliche was awesome. Didier wasn't the least bit emotionally closed off. He's just an agoraphobic lover of women.
Where the book faltered was the dialog. While I thought lots of Caroly's personality came through it the first-person narration, the dialog often felt wooden. They often spoke in paragraphs, Didier especially, and it felt scripted for the sake of the plot.
December 29, 2012
Whew.... I need a cold shower after that book! HOT! HOT! HOT! Just on the steam factor alone, I very nearly bumped this up to a 5� rating... it was well done and organic. I did not hear any kind of *Bam*Chicka*Bow*Wow* background track while reading the book.
Didier was a little odd to get used to at first. A French male prostitute that is so beautiful he appears as a model in art galleries. A little daunting in his seeming perfection, but we get to see behind the visage shown to his regular clients. He became very real once his imperfections were explored and I loved how he and Caroly interacted together.
There were surprises and even romance which worked very well with this. It's not your average 'whore' story and I liked how real it seemed. This book really shows what I think erotica is all about. Hot, pushing boundaries, giving in to your carnal nature without cheapening it. My main reservation was the ending seemed a little rushed. I was happy overall with the book, but I wanted more at the end. I'm curious if this series follows the same couple or if it moves on to another. I would LOVE to read more about Caroly and Didier.
I most definitely recommend giving it a try, but be careful about where you read it. Not necessarily a good idea to get all worked up in public or at work!
Didier was a little odd to get used to at first. A French male prostitute that is so beautiful he appears as a model in art galleries. A little daunting in his seeming perfection, but we get to see behind the visage shown to his regular clients. He became very real once his imperfections were explored and I loved how he and Caroly interacted together.
There were surprises and even romance which worked very well with this. It's not your average 'whore' story and I liked how real it seemed. This book really shows what I think erotica is all about. Hot, pushing boundaries, giving in to your carnal nature without cheapening it. My main reservation was the ending seemed a little rushed. I was happy overall with the book, but I wanted more at the end. I'm curious if this series follows the same couple or if it moves on to another. I would LOVE to read more about Caroly and Didier.
I most definitely recommend giving it a try, but be careful about where you read it. Not necessarily a good idea to get all worked up in public or at work!
January 7, 2013
Since I read the first two books in the Curio series together, I'm reviewing them together.
This plotline has a kind of sentimental precision. This ability to turn a few nights of seduction into a psychological case study is an exceptional gift, and CM gets full mileage out of it by offering it in stingy portions across six short overpriced novellas. Accumulated, this average length story will cost you $18.99 USD today. Feels like a bait and sucker-punch kind of move.
But if you can disregard the financial toll, this is one of those stories with characters you care about intensely. You won't simply observe them through words, you will get involved in their decisions and hope they make the right ones. The revelation about Didier at the end of book 1 makes it worth reading alone without book 2. COERCION doesn't add anything to story, rather it drags it out.
So, while you might enjoy the truthful, compassionate nature of this series, it's difficult to care enough about the story to continue, knowing how much it will cost you to do so.
This plotline has a kind of sentimental precision. This ability to turn a few nights of seduction into a psychological case study is an exceptional gift, and CM gets full mileage out of it by offering it in stingy portions across six short overpriced novellas. Accumulated, this average length story will cost you $18.99 USD today. Feels like a bait and sucker-punch kind of move.
But if you can disregard the financial toll, this is one of those stories with characters you care about intensely. You won't simply observe them through words, you will get involved in their decisions and hope they make the right ones. The revelation about Didier at the end of book 1 makes it worth reading alone without book 2. COERCION doesn't add anything to story, rather it drags it out.
So, while you might enjoy the truthful, compassionate nature of this series, it's difficult to care enough about the story to continue, knowing how much it will cost you to do so.
September 3, 2017
I really wanted to like this book. I don't know why but I didn't enjoy it much, I mean it started off good, the characters are okay. I think nearer towards the end I lost interest. I will probably go back and read this again in the future to see if I can enjoy it anymore than I do now, I'm having a hard time finding a book that I thoroughly enjoy so it's probably just me. LOL.
October 11, 2012
2 ½ stars. Not the kind of story I want to read, but I give the author credit for something different.
This is relationship fiction. Two people meet and get to know each other. There is a lot of explicit sex, but it did not turn me on. I was uncomfortable watching it. There was no passionate desire. It’s maybe 2/3 or half the length of a regular novel.
Caroly is a 29 year old virgin visiting a male prostitute. Her first few visits are Caroly telling Didier to do things like bathe and pleasure himself while she watches. Her thoughts and ponderings are about how perfect and beautiful his body is. Later when she is ready to lose her virginity, she tells him to pretend he is her boyfriend. Instead of passionate sex, I felt like he was a Ken doll she was putting in various positions. It did not appeal to me.
I was also unsettled with how she took a sincere interest in him, talking about his interests and his life - as if she were not a client. She wanted a permanent loving relationship with him. He appeared accommodating, but it made me think of prostitutes who say what they think their clients want to hear. We are never in his head, so we don’t know if he’s acting or being honest. Although his action at the end implied something positive. I felt self-conscious and uncomfortable for her. I wanted to give her advice about finding someone else.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 1st person Caroly. Kindle count story length: 2857 (274 KB). Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: about 7. Setting: current day Paris, France. Copyright: 2011. Genre: erotic relationship fiction. Ending: happy-for-now, sort of.
OTHER BOOKS:
I’ve reviewed the following Cara McKenna books. Dates are copyright dates.
4 ½ stars. Willing Victim 2010 (He and she like the following: she fights him, he overpowers her.)
3 stars. Skin Game 2011 (12 contestants participate in something similar to the TV show Survivor.)
This is relationship fiction. Two people meet and get to know each other. There is a lot of explicit sex, but it did not turn me on. I was uncomfortable watching it. There was no passionate desire. It’s maybe 2/3 or half the length of a regular novel.
Caroly is a 29 year old virgin visiting a male prostitute. Her first few visits are Caroly telling Didier to do things like bathe and pleasure himself while she watches. Her thoughts and ponderings are about how perfect and beautiful his body is. Later when she is ready to lose her virginity, she tells him to pretend he is her boyfriend. Instead of passionate sex, I felt like he was a Ken doll she was putting in various positions. It did not appeal to me.
I was also unsettled with how she took a sincere interest in him, talking about his interests and his life - as if she were not a client. She wanted a permanent loving relationship with him. He appeared accommodating, but it made me think of prostitutes who say what they think their clients want to hear. We are never in his head, so we don’t know if he’s acting or being honest. Although his action at the end implied something positive. I felt self-conscious and uncomfortable for her. I wanted to give her advice about finding someone else.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 1st person Caroly. Kindle count story length: 2857 (274 KB). Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: about 7. Setting: current day Paris, France. Copyright: 2011. Genre: erotic relationship fiction. Ending: happy-for-now, sort of.
OTHER BOOKS:
I’ve reviewed the following Cara McKenna books. Dates are copyright dates.
4 ½ stars. Willing Victim 2010 (He and she like the following: she fights him, he overpowers her.)
3 stars. Skin Game 2011 (12 contestants participate in something similar to the TV show Survivor.)
September 5, 2012
Posted on
CURIO is my first read by Cara McKenna and I was pleasantly surprised by this short novella. First of all, I don’t think I can recall reading a book about a male prostitute. Didier Pedra stands out in that regard, but there’s so much more about this book than just the sex.
At almost thirty, Caroly is a virgin and is looking for someone to change that. Her friends tell her about Didier and she takes them up on that offer. CURIO starts off with Caroly outside Didier’s Paris apartment, settling her nerves until she can make that big step.
Fortunately, Didier is a complete sweetheart and manages to keep her at ease. At times, I wondered if Didier’s niceness was really just his personality or if that is how he treats all his clients. I will admit that I was suspicious of him at first. He seemed too good to be true!
Though he is professional, as their sessions continue, there is a spark of intense heat that Didier seems to notice as well. The fact that he has done this so many times doesn’t make a night with Caroly seems like all the others. He says that every woman is different, but his words cannot be more true when he realizes that maybe Caroly really IS different than the women he’s been with in the past.
Cara McKenna infuses the sexiness of the book with much more than heat and passion. There’s an emotional attachment underlying each sexual act and slowly, but surely a bond is formed between the two. I’m very excited to explore more of this explosive connection between them in the next book!
CURIO is my first read by Cara McKenna and I was pleasantly surprised by this short novella. First of all, I don’t think I can recall reading a book about a male prostitute. Didier Pedra stands out in that regard, but there’s so much more about this book than just the sex.
At almost thirty, Caroly is a virgin and is looking for someone to change that. Her friends tell her about Didier and she takes them up on that offer. CURIO starts off with Caroly outside Didier’s Paris apartment, settling her nerves until she can make that big step.
Fortunately, Didier is a complete sweetheart and manages to keep her at ease. At times, I wondered if Didier’s niceness was really just his personality or if that is how he treats all his clients. I will admit that I was suspicious of him at first. He seemed too good to be true!
Though he is professional, as their sessions continue, there is a spark of intense heat that Didier seems to notice as well. The fact that he has done this so many times doesn’t make a night with Caroly seems like all the others. He says that every woman is different, but his words cannot be more true when he realizes that maybe Caroly really IS different than the women he’s been with in the past.
Cara McKenna infuses the sexiness of the book with much more than heat and passion. There’s an emotional attachment underlying each sexual act and slowly, but surely a bond is formed between the two. I’m very excited to explore more of this explosive connection between them in the next book!
December 8, 2011
4 1/2 stars. I’ve joked before that I’m the only person in the world who reads erotic romance for the story, but reading Curio made me realize that it’s really not a joke. Story is always the most important part of a book to me -- it’s just that in interesting erotica, the story is about how people feel about sex.
On an obvious plotline level, very little happens for the first three-fourths of this relatively short book: a repressed older virgin goes to visit a male prostitute several times and they talk a lot and have sex. Not even very obviously adventurous sex; the fact that he’s a prostitute is the most shocking thing about the story, at least in that area. What’s fascinating is what’s going on for them and between them: what we learn from Caroly, our narrator, about how it makes her feel, and what we slowly learn about Didier’s feelings. The utter newness and overwhelming beauty of everything for Caroly is masterfully written.
I don’t want to say much more, because I really enjoyed being surprised by how everything played out. I’ll just say that the ending brought tears to my eyes, and that though this book doesn’t exactly fit the standard “rules� of romance fiction, the romantic in me was completely satisfied.
On an obvious plotline level, very little happens for the first three-fourths of this relatively short book: a repressed older virgin goes to visit a male prostitute several times and they talk a lot and have sex. Not even very obviously adventurous sex; the fact that he’s a prostitute is the most shocking thing about the story, at least in that area. What’s fascinating is what’s going on for them and between them: what we learn from Caroly, our narrator, about how it makes her feel, and what we slowly learn about Didier’s feelings. The utter newness and overwhelming beauty of everything for Caroly is masterfully written.
I don’t want to say much more, because I really enjoyed being surprised by how everything played out. I’ll just say that the ending brought tears to my eyes, and that though this book doesn’t exactly fit the standard “rules� of romance fiction, the romantic in me was completely satisfied.
October 2, 2011
I'll preface this not-really-a-review with a confession: I am in complete awe of McKenna/Maguire's talent. She's not just a writer, she's a word artist. If I want to be transported to another place, to live vicariously through a set of characters for a couple hours, she is without doubt the author whose books I would pick. And IMO, this one is her finest thus far.
Curio is probably my favorite erotic romance I've ever read.
Curio is probably my favorite erotic romance I've ever read.
May 29, 2013
3.5* because it is a serial with a cliffhanger to entice.
This is one of the few m/f erotica apart from Remittance Girl's books which I recently read which was genuinely erotic and actually had me squirm with arousal.
I'd have given this 5* but can't bring myself not to criticise this format, which I have come to seriously hate.
This is one of the few m/f erotica apart from Remittance Girl's books which I recently read which was genuinely erotic and actually had me squirm with arousal.
I'd have given this 5* but can't bring myself not to criticise this format, which I have come to seriously hate.
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