Engage Your Lover Intimate Gift Guide, Part 1
“Wherever you are, and whatever you do, be in love.” Rumi
For those who celebrate gift-giving this time of year, you have an easy opportunity to deepen intimacy with a partner—or yourself, using sensual and erotic gifts as a springboard.
We offer a range of products to spark your passions from the light-hearted fun and sensual to the intensely erotic. In Part 1, I’ll review a sampling of the books we carry that may enliven your sensual and erotic lives. In Part 2, I’ll profile some of the products and kits we have that will add sizzle to your long dark nights during the holiday season.
Why start with books? Trying new things such as toys can be exciting and incredibly vulnerable all at once. Perhaps a softer introduction for newcomers to erotic play and sex toys is expanding knowledge through reading. Reading can demystify and excite the imagination—and science has shown over and over that our brains are our most important sex organs! Thus, feeding our minds can be key to opening to new ideas and practices.
We carry a varied and fun selection of books that will open and in some cases—blow minds!
Sheri Winston’s Women’s Anatomy of Arousal offers a voluptuous tour of women’s arousal through a comprehensive study of women’s sexual anatomy. With a compelling combination of reverence and science, this is a beautiful read for both women and men.
Betty Dodson’s Sex for One: The Joy of Selfloving is an absolute must read for any person who struggles with masturbation shame. Dodson’s classic book teaches us that masturbation is the key to sexual agency and sexual self-awareness. The person who is in charge of her own sexual expression is also a more present and engaged lover. Dodson’s straightforward, candid no-bullshit style is incredibly refreshing.
Kenneth Ray Stubbs and Louise-Andree Saulnier’s Erotic Massage: The Touch of Love, offers a practical guide to couples to explore full-body touch together. Beautiful sketches and great descriptions make this a lovely resource for couples to connect with one another.
Guillermo Ferrara’s The Ultimate Guide to Tantric Sex: 19 Lessons to Achieving Ecstasy with its gorgeous photography teaches couples the art of Tantra, which he defines as a pathway to discover spiritual evolution though “beauty, art, love, meditation, joy, and meditative sex.” Steeped in eastern tantric traditions, this guide will appeal to purists and others who value spiritual traditions.
Barbara Carrellas’ Urban Tantra: Sacred Sex for the Twenty-first Century is a practical, modern introduction to Tantra that demystifies the practice making it accessible to those who want to explore adding mindfulness and spirituality to their physical connectedness. Written in a straightforward, pragmatic voice, Urban Tantra entices readers to experience ecstasy through Tantric practices.
Sophie Morgan’s Diary of a Submissive: A Modern True Tale of Sexual Awakening is the perfect, real life antidote to Fifty Shades of Grey. A deeply personal exploration of a woman’s process of embracing her erotic submissiveness, Diary of a Submissive is a realistic introduction into the world of BDSM—it’s also a hot read!
Janet Hardy’s Spanking for Lovers provides readers with a fun, commonsense and safe introduction into spanking, which for some couples can spark their erotic play to new levels. Emphasizing safety and communication, this would be a great resources for lovers interested in exploring their edges safely.
For light and fun erotic play we also carry adult coloring books including #1NSFW Totally Naughty Coloring Book; Color my Boobs, A Titillating Coloring Book for Adults; Men in Uniform, Adult Coloring Book; and Cunt Coloring Book.
These are just a few examples of the fabulous books we carry at As You Like It; A Pleasure Shop. Come in and peruse our shelves where you will find many more great reads to enhance sexual understanding, spark eroticism, get hot and much more. Giving a book for the holidays has never been more fun. Our knowledgeable staff can also make recommendations based on your concerns or needs. See you soon!