XOXO

Three-dozen short-short erotic stories depict brief moments of sexual intensity in a collection that editor Wright (Duty and Desire) describes as "a box of multi-hued candy hearts." The majority of the stories feature established heterosexual lovers, reconnecting, as in Sommer Marden's "Soldier Boy"; repeating the things they love best, as in Rachel Kramel Bussel's "Puzzle Pieces"; or spicing it up, as in Elizabeth Coldwell's "Miss Organized." A few queer stories, like Sacchi Green's charming "Gargoyle Lovers," and a few casual first times, like Veronica Wilde's "One Hot Wet Night," broaden the focus a bit but seem slightly out of place. Well-composed vignettes with just enough setup provide a little inspiration for the reader who is hopping into bed alone, or for lovers reading aloud to one another to kick off a night together. (Feb.)