Really well written and so sexy and very entertaining. If you're looking for a good, quick read this is for you.

Honestly, I breezed through this novel and ended up having more fun and feeling more amused than I expected. For an erotica, this was incredibly steamy (no surprise there) but also ridiculously entertaining!

I could not help but think of this as fun, well-written porn for readers and writers. Or like an adult bedtime story that will, ironically, keep you up all night.

I'm not sure I have the right headspace to write complete sentences so I'll just be throwing out key phrases, okay? Creative premise. Daring and lovable characters. Electric sex scenes with a helping of kink. Past trauma and trust issues. More than slightly addictive. 1001 Tales of the Arabian Nights but a million times more erotic.

Strangely enough, I'd actually recommend this one.

Disclosure: I received a digital ARC of Tell Me a Story from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

Tell Me a Story by Tamara Lush takes a page out of the legend of Sheherazade and the 1001 tales of the Arabian Nights and blends it with the tried and true formula of rich man/poor girl hot sex mix that is so popular in today's erotica. While hanging herself with using such a formulaic story might have normally doomed Lush's (which by the way is a cool name for a writer of erotica) her gift of storytelling elevates this book above the crowd.

Emma is a book store owner who is struggling to keep her business going, but has come up with new and inventive ways to attract customers. One of her more popular is an evening event called Story Brothel. This is an event where customers pay writers to read aloud to them privately, including cocktails. The client and writer go into a private cabana where they can relax and have privacy. This is usually a very quiet time, but this time a handsome businessman hires Emma and she decides to read to him from her new book of erotica. It doesn't take them for the story to effect the both of them, but before anything can happen they are interrupted.

Caleb, Emma's businessman client is a real estate mogul who is often out of the country to work on his investments. But he cannot get Emma out of his mind. She is unlike anything he has ever experienced before and he finds himself drawn to her. They begin to share her stories and one another. But Caleb cannot break through to who she really is. Emma is a closed book when it comes to her personal history.

When Emma finds her bookstore in danger of being destroyed, can she trust Caleb? Or worse, when she finds out that he may actually be behind it?

In summary, this story seems to be very much like all the deluge of erotica (or women's fiction depending on your ability to be honest with yourself) that is in the marketplace. Rich guy. Poor or struggling to make ends meet girl. Hot sex. Some romance. Traumatic past and trust issues. You can basically pick up any book in the genre and find that this is the backbone of the story. Pretty much like a steady drumbeat that runs not through one song, but every song that the band has ever done.

So what makes this one so much more? Tamara Lush's writing and her ability to create characters that refuse to be defined by the genre raise this book above its normal fair. Caleb is not the rich man who is closed off to the world and is only interested with how he makes his fortune and who he can control with it. The early interaction between Caleb and his sister show a man whose responsibilities weigh heavily upon him. A man who has not really allowed himself to experience joy and happiness.

Emma is driven. Whether its in saving her bookstore or enjoying her life. But she is day to day and as such this mantra serves to protect her from emotional attachments as well as lead her to disastrous results. No matter how she tries to succeed. She is inwardly convinced that she is not worthy of success or love.

In all this is the romantic and erotic relationship they develop. It takes take and moves along at a pace that is not only extremely hot, but very secure. The reading has a voyeuristic sense to their foreplay and it is what brings the emotional attachment to the forefront of their sex.

If you enjoy erotica, and there is no reason not to, this is a good read.

I really loved this book! This was short, sweet, sexy, and yes, a love story!

Emma, who owns her own bookstore, and is an author of romance novels, including erotica, is determined to save her store and those of the business owners in her building from a developer who is looking to takeover and demolish it. In an effort to build business, she begins holding special nights at the bookstore, including “Coloring Book” nights for adults, storytelling for children, and “Story Brothel” night where the author reads a book to the customer. I loved the whole premise of this book and that was what made me want to read it in the first place.

Caleb is a rich businessman. He comes to Emma’s store one night and hires her to read him a story. Gah! Not only was he incredibly hot and sexy, but his intelligence and kindness (and his love for reading) made him even more sexy! The chemistry between him and Emma was hot and steamy, like really hot and steamy! Did I say hot and steamy?!? I loved it!

I did not realize when I started this book (which is pretty much a serial) that there were more to the series, but I will definitely continue with it because I fell in love with Emma and Caleb and I need more!!

If you are looking for a sweet, SEXY, short book, with substance, I highly recommend this one!

4.5 Stars ✨

Tell Me a Story: Episode One
Tamara Lush

The beginning of the Emma and Caleb story. Great start to what seems is going to be an awesome series.

Emma is a bookstore owner in Orlando. She does certain events to draw customers in to try and save her bookstore. One of her events is called a Story Brothel. It is where a person can pay another to read them a story. But things take a steamy turn when a handsome, urbane businessman hires Emma for a session in a private cabana. Daringly, she shares with him a reading of her erotica. Emma’s wondering what kind of lover is underneath his expensive suit.

Caleb is a real estate billionaire. And has decided that Emma is who he wants. They spend all their time together, with him opening up to her. But Emma can't seem to share her past of growing up poor with him.

Are they gonna be able to move past this hurdle?



Definitely will continue the story with the next book Tell Me a Desire: Episode Two

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair review.