I know it’s not a Friday, but there are some really good Lovehoney sex toy deals floating around at the moment (particularly in relation to LELO products) and I haven’t done a Freebies and Discounts post for quite a few weeks – naughty me! Ergo, I thought it prudent to let you all know about them before they disappear into the ether. As many of you are aware, I’ve shifted countries recently so, going forwards, I’m going to do my best to keep the various parts of the globe covered with regard to sex toy bargains. Geography shouldn’t impact your ability to obtain good toy discounts, in my opinion.

FREE SWOON CROSS MY PALM VIBRATOR – LOVEHONEY U.K.

Until midnight on Friday 16 May, Britain’s online sex toy giant is giving away a free Swoon waterproof vibrator with all purchases of £10.00 or more. And you get free delivery, too. No idea what to spend that first ten quid on? Check out Lovehoney’s ’3 for £10.00 toy selection, which you can find here.

UP TO 40% OFF LELO – LOVEHONEY AUSTRALIA

For those of you who shopping in the Southern Hemisphere, Lovehoney Australia has a brilliant LELO deal going on at the moment: up to 40% off LELO selected products, including the Smart Wand, the Oden 2 Couples Remote Control Vibrator Ring (one for the men), and the Tara Rotating and Vibrating Clitoral and G-Spot Massager.

UP TO 40% OFF LELO – LOVEHONEY U.S.A

Fear not, those of you in North America, that you’re going to miss out on all the LELO fun to the Aussies and Kiwis. Lovehoney U.S. is also running the 40% off selected LELO products deal. In fact, there are actually more items included on the U.S. site than on the Australian site, such as the Liv 2 Rechargeable Vibrator, the Billy Prostate Massager and the Insignia Alia Clitoral Vibrator.

Wherever you are in the world, I hope you find something to interest you.

Jane

xxx

The post Freebies and Discounts: Lovehoney and LELO sex toy bargains around the globe appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

Similarly, keeping the toy box interesting can leave a pretty serious ding in the old bank account. I don’t tend to buy vibrators and dildos at the same rate I buy books (I doubt I’d be able to stand upright if I did!) but, even so, the good stuff is never particularly cheap.

So in the spirit of preventing whacking great reading bills and giving you frugal orgasms, I thought I’d compile a list of current deals and freebies. I’m going to try and do this every Friday, if I can – so if you fancy a little something for the weekend you’ll (hopefully!) be able to find a book or toy that won’t break the budget.

FREE EBOOKS

*Please note that all of the below were free at the time of this post’s publication but pricing can change at any time. To that end, please double-check that the prices are still at zero before you start downloading.

40 FREE KINDLE BOOKS action, fantasy, paranormal, mystery, romance, YA

This is a brilliant Amazon Listmania list that’s updated by its author every few days. As the title suggests, there’s a bit a genre mix going on, but this compilation is perfect if you’re desperate to read and can’t afford to part with a penny. Just be aware that it’s hosted on Amazon.com so the freebie statuses may not always apply on the Amazon.co.uk site.

Currently includes Heather Bowhay’s YA Amethyst, which has a fair few positive reviews.

You can find the list here.

Masters at Arms (Introduction to Military Romance & BDSM Series) (Rescue Me) – Kallypso Masters

Amazon.co.uk edition
Amazon.com edition

I’ve read some of Kallypso’s other books and this one is definitely worth a look if you have a thing for military men.

‘Masters at Arms is an introduction to the Rescue Me series, which needs to be read first. The book begins the journey of three men, each on a quest for honor, acceptance, and to ease his unspoken pain. Their paths cross at one of the darkest points in their lives. As they try to come to terms with the aftermath of Iraq–forging an unbreakable bond–they band together to start their own BDSM club. But will they ever truly become masters of their own fates? Or would fate become masters of them? (Book One in the Rescue Me series.)’

Anything She Wants, A Lesbian Erotica Anthology – edited by Harper Bliss

Amazon.co.uk edition
Amazon.com edition

One for the ladies:

‘In the office, on the set of a movie or on the bathroom floor, the ladies in this anthology don’t care where they get it on. Power play, first time encounters and office rivalry get the characters in these twelve stories so riled up, the only way to go is down and dirty. Tales of spanking, a wild all-female college party and a waitress with a strap-on grace the pages of Ladylit’s first multi-author lesbian erotica anthology.

Caution: Reading ‘Anything She Wants’ will make you wet!’

Private Paradise – Jami Alden 

Kobo ePub

For those who’re in the mood for something romantic:

‘After years of catering to the whims of the rich and famous at one of the Caribbean’s most luxurious resorts, there isn’t much that can rattle Carla DeLuca. 
Until Sam O’Connell shows up. 
Tall, dark, and sexy, Holley Cay’s new security chief is no stranger. He’s the irresistible bad boy who seduced her over a long, hot summer only to leave her heartbroken, humiliated, and determined to never again fall for a player like him. But though her heart still stings with the memory of his rejection, her body can’t forget the all-consuming pleasure of his touch.

Sam never forgave himself for his too cruel rejection of Carla over a decade before. Young, reckless, and convinced it was only a matter of time Carla regretted hooking up with a trouble maker like him, Sam pushed Carla away before she could realize her mistake. But when Sam lands a job working for Carla in paradise, he seizes the chance to finally make things right. 

When a hurricane strands them alone on the island, Carla is unable to resist the passion simmering between them. She doesn’t fool herself that what they have will last past the storm. But little does she know, Sam will do whatever it takes to make her his – forever this time.’

TOYS

Lovehoney 

Currently have a £10.00 toy deal on until Tuesday 11 June. When I checked earlier today, there were forty-four items in the deal list, including the Cupid’s G-Spot Smoothie Vibrator (reduced from £16.99 to a tenner) and the Satisfy Me Curve Silicone Dildo (reduced from £14.99 to a tenner). G-Spot/squirting orgasm alert!

Full details here.

Bondara

Are offering 15% off their various toy bundles, including the Bargain Anal Sex Toys Bundle and the Ultimate Bondage Bundle.

Full details here.

That Position

Attention pegging fans! That Postion’s Deal of the Week is the Fetish Fantasy Elite 8’’ Hollow Strap-on. It’s made from medical grade silicone and is currently reduced from the RRP of £74.00 to £45.00 (!) and, even better, it’s a hollow strap-on so can be worn by either partner.

Wishing you all a wonderfully saucy weekend.

Jane

xxx

The post Sexy on a Budget: freebies and discounts appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

What we used:  Beginners Basic Lady Lustfinger Mini Vibrator (silver)
From: Lovehoney
Price: £3.99
Material(s): Phthalate-free plastic
Reviewer: Victoria

Small, simple, and inexpensive. Does Lovehoney’s sub-£5.00 Lady Lustfinger Mini Vibrator hit the mark?

First thoughts
Being a bit of a vibrator novice I was very intrigued to receive the Beginners Basic Lady Lustfinger through the post. I hadn’t used a vibrator either with a partner or on my own before (although do own a dildo), so I was looking forward to giving it a whirl.

So first of all, I have to say that I hate the name ‘Lady Lustfinger’; it sounds like a character from an 80s porn film but (thankfully) there’s no porn on the box. On the looks front, the packaging has ‘Basic’ written on the front, and that pretty much sums it up.

The vibrator itself isn’t intimidating at all as it’s only 5.5 inches long (the insertable length is 4.5 inches) but although it is silver I was quite disappointed at how plasticky it felt and therefore how light is was. It didn’t come with any batteries, either, (the Lustfinger requires a single AA) but then for £3.99 you can’t expect everything!

Using it
After giving the Lady Lustfinger a try, I have to say that I was impressed for the money. I wasn’t expecting it to be all singing and dancing, but overall I thought that it was a good entry-level vibrator – especially for someone like me who hadn’t owned one previously.

It’s controlled by a speed dial at the base, which is simple enough, but if you turn it incorrectly you can accidentally open up the battery compartment instead. Also, to change the speed, it really is a two-handed motion as the dial is quite fiddly. Although I used it solo, I think it would definitely be fun with a partner, as changing the speed would be better performed by someone else. I think it would also work well as a cheeky (but useful!) present, and would have happily received it from my partner.

The Lady Lustfinger Mini Vibrator has definitely opened my eyes further to vibrators in general and now it all feels a lot less intimidating.

In summary

• Great entry-level vibrator
• Good value for money
• Lightweight
• Fiddly speed control

Tickle your fancy? Click on the following links to buy the Lady Lustfinger Mini Vibrator from Lovehoney:

Lovehoney U.K.

• Lady Lustfinger Mini Vibrator – gold/silver

Lovehoney U.S.

• Lady Lustfinger Mini Vibrator – gold/silver

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I originally shot a ‘cock wreath’ (read: a cock ring adorned with holly) for this week’s Toy with me Tuesday but got a little distracted by shiny things after the fact. What can I say? I’m such a sucker for a bit of sparkle. In fairness, I had to take some pictures of this little Lady Lustfinger mini vibe before sending it off to its reviewer and it seemed crazy not to stick it next to all the pretty baubles from our Christmas tree before it went in the post.

As this is the last pre-Christmas Toy with me Tuesday, I’d just like to say a big thank you to everyone who’s stopped by Chintz and left comments on my various pics over the past few months but most especially to Ness for organising such a great weekly event.

Have a wonderful Christmas, everybody. May your stockings be filled with many kinky trinkets and shiny, sexy baubles!

Jane x

The post Toy with me Tuesday: A mere bauble appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

How much are you actually paying for a bottle of slippery stuff?

Over the past decade, there’s been something of a lube revolution. Where before we had pretty limited personal lubricant options (K-Y Jelly, basically), we’re now able to choose from a mind-boggling array of products – organic, silicone-based, water-based, sperm-friendly, anal formulations … The options are seemingly endless.

Recently, however, I’ve noticed that there’s considerable variation in the cost of the products out there. Obviously, the ingredients used in the different manufacturer formulations affect price (and a bigger bottle will, generally, have more of an initial impact on your pocket than a smaller one) but what are we actually spending, ml for ml, on the slippery stuff? I decided to do a little experiment and compare a random bunch of popular personal lubricants from different retailers, ml for ml. Here are the results, from least to most expensive  …

* List price may differ from retailer to retailer

That’s a pretty wide cost spectrum. Personally, I’m willing to spend a reasonable amount of money on a decent lube, but in these times of economic austerity I have to admit that I’m much more conscious of the bottom line (pun intended) and would only splash out on a more expensive option if it was truly exceptional. In any case, this little exercise has definitely encouraged me to do a little bit of simple maths before purchasing my next bottle to see just what sort of value I’m getting.

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Fifty Shades of a bawdy board game
Source: Evening Standard

I actually have no words. A Fifty Shades of Grey boardgame with ‘Inner Goddess Tokens’ a ‘Red Room Expansion Pack’ and a non-disclosure agreement between the players and Christian Grey (otherwise know as the ‘Receiving Party’).

As someone who spent nearly a decade protecting the integrity of a rather high-profile brand that shall remain nameless, this kind of cash-in merchandising actually makes me feel slightly ill. Worse, if Susannah Butter’s article is anything to go by, those who fork over their hard-earned cash for this thing aren’t even going to be rewarded with anything particularly titillating or racy. Sample question:

“Which girlfriend would buy the best present for the man who had everything?”

No joke, I can’t decide whether to laugh or cry. Really E.L. James? Really? Stick with Monopoly, people. I guarantee fighting over who gets to be the boot will be more fun.

British sex toy shop makes post-watershed Christmas ads
Source: B&T

Now this is interesting. Adverts for sex toys on British television are almost unheard of. I recall Lovehoney doing one a while back but I don’t recall it being quite as titillating as this Christmas offering from High Street giant Ann Summers. Content-wise, it’s hardly explicit but the censors have deemed that it can only be shown after 11.00pm (although there is an edited version that we’ll be allowed to see from the earlier time of nine o’clock – PM, not AM).

Does this signal that, as a society, we’re becoming more accepting of sex toy advertisements in mainstream media?

Your next sex toy could come out of a 3D printer (NSFW)
Source: io9

I’m married to an engineer. And when he reads this article, the first thing out of his mouth is going to be ‘what did I tell you?’.  We’ve both been aware of 3D printing for some time and have often debated when and how the sex toy industry would begin to embrace the technology. The possibilities are endless (custom shapes, custom sizes, custom colours, etc.) but as this article points out, the resolutions, materials and costs are quite a way from being perfect just yet. It’s only a matter of time, though, and I think we’re going to see a lot more bespoke toys being manufactured in this way in the years to come. This is a great piece to geek out and dream to!

The post Alert Me: No-Sign-of-Sadomasochism – The Boardgame!, Ann Summers on TV, and printing 3D sex toys appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

What we used: Beginners Basic Anal Beads (purple)
From: Lovehoney
Price: £6.99
Material(s): PVC

If you’re new to anal play, this review may be for you. Lizzie and Thomas roadtest a set of anal beads from Lovehoney’s Beginners Basic range.

First thoughts …

Lizzie
Anal toys. There are so many to choose from. Plugs, beads, dildos, hooks – from the small and slender to the eye-wateringly enormous, the choice can be both overwhelming and daunting. Although Thomas and I have played with butt plugs and anal dildos in the past, we’ve never owned a set of anal beads. These were unchartered territory. We’d heard lots of good things about them, though – in particular the effects they have when extracted at the point of orgasm. So this little sex toy road-trip was quite exciting for us – and a product orientated towards first-time users seemed a logical place to kick off our adventure.

Thomas
I’d never used anal beads before but I had heard many a story of their effectiveness when extracted during an orgasm. Since these anal beads are quite a small toy (in butt terms) I was interested to see if their performance would equal their reputation.

The packaging …

Lizzie
Really simple. The beads come in a disposable Lovehoney Beginners Basic-branded blister pack. (After removing our set from their packaging, we washed and sterilised them before transferring them to a clean snap-lock bag, ready for use.)

How they look …
Lizzie
The beads are a really attractive purple – think the lovely rich hue you see on red grapes. This particular set of anal beads is constructed from latex- and phthalate-free PVC, so they’re body-safe as well as flexible. I have to say the do have a very faint plasticky-odour, which you don’t get from silicone toys, but it’s not over-powering (to smell it, you need to hold the beads up to your nose).

Interestingly, these beads have been designed in reverse, by which I mean that the largest bead (which has a tapered tip) is at the top and the sixth and smallest bead is at the bottom, near the extraction loop. Most strings of anal beads are designed the other way around, with the smallest bead leading the way.

Thomas
The look of the beads and of the toy in general is fairly innocuous. The beads are quite small compared so some I have seen. (On initial inspection, the ones at the base seemed very ‘economy sized’ and I wasn’t sure if they would have any effect at all when used.) The loop at the end is large and secure (you don’t want to lose your new friend) and the beads are nice and smooth and sturdily connected, which is also rather important: what goes in must come out again.

In action …

Lizzie
For various reasons that I won’t bore you with, I prefer anal toys to be on the smaller side. As this set of beads has a diameter of three inches (7.62 centimetres) and a diameter of one inch (2.54 centimetres), they fall well within my comfort zone. I did wonder whether having the bigger bead at the top would make them more difficult to insert but because the lead nodule has the aforementioned tapered tip, it didn’t create any issues for us. (Thomas used loads of lube and his fingers before attempting to insert the beads, so I was properly relaxed and warmed up by the time we got to the main event.)

The beads felt really, really nice as they went in as they created gentle and intermittent feelings of pressure. The sensation was very different to that created by a plug, which gives a feeling of constant stretching during insertion. I liked that I wasn’t overwhelmed by the sensation. The back-to-front design also made it easy for my body to hold the beads in place.

Thomas waited until I was actually climaxing before pulling the beads out and, unquestionably, the feeling of them being removed definitely enhanced my orgasm – although I must admit it did feel a little odd and unfamiliar the first time around. Not at all unpleasant – just unusual. I also liked that the most intense sensation came last, as the biggest bead was withdrawn.

Thomas
The beads are easy to insert, provided your partner has been suitably warmed up and lubed to within an inch of their life (always the golden rule of anal play). At around six inches long, they’re not hard to control – and they are flexible so shouldn’t present any problems going in or coming out. Once in place, they are easy to remove at the point of orgasm thanks to the large loop, which is very easy to hold on to. Just be gentle on removal unless you’re an anal veteran – more of an easy action than trying to start a lawnmower, etc.

These did have the desired effect on Lizzie when removed at the critical moment, and on the second or third removal (they are easy to reinsert once your partner’s acclimatised to them) she was really ‘getting in the mood’ as far as this toy was concerned. A case of familiarity breeds enjoyment, so to speak.

Any downsides?

Lizzie
Other than the vague PVC smell, no.

Thomas
Not sure the small beads do much. Make sure you buy some toy cleaner and keep them scrupulously clean.

The verdict?

Lizzie
An inexpensive set of anal beads that are perfect for those who are new to anal play or like their anal toys on the more modest side. There’s some ‘give’ in the PVC and the reverse design is excellent; having the biggest bead ‘first in and last out’ really makes this toy stand out.

Thomas
A nice little toy. Good for beginners and in no way threatening.

In summary

Things we liked:

• The price. Sub £10.00.
• The design. Placing the largest bead at the head of the toy really enhances sensations – particularly at the point of extraction.
• Ease of cleaning. Can be washed with anti-bacterial soap and coated with toy cleaner.

Things we weren’t so keen on:

• The smell. These aren’t entirely odour-free.

Tickle your fancy? Click here to buy this item from Lovehoney.

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‘The Fifty Shades of Grey official collection is beautifully packaged, discreet and couple-friendly. Products are supplied with a luxurious, branded storage bag and each comes with suggestions for use and tips on introducing the toys into a relationship.’

Yes, fans of the series will soon be able to buy ‘Inner Goddess – Silver Pleasure Balls’, ‘You. Are. Mine. – Metal Handcuffs’, a ‘Submit To Me – First Time Bondage Kit’, ‘All Mine – Deluxe Satin Blackout Mask’, the ‘Sweet Sting – Riding Crop’, and the ‘Twitchy Palm – Spanking Paddle’.

Which begs the question: will we see a move towards more book-branded sex toys in the future? I’ve long believed that erotica and erotic romances can have a direct influence on the adult toys we choose to buy, as well as our sexual experiences – in fact, that’s the main premise of this blog! – but I’m curious to know just how many of us use what we read to inspire our purchases (sex-oriented or otherwise). So tell me: does J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood make you want to rush out and buy Biolage, Patek Philippe, and Diamonds by the Yard? Or Maya Banks’ Sweet Persuasion a crop and a butt plug?

Enquiring minds want to know!

The post Lovehoney to release official range of Fifty Shades of Grey sex toys appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

What we used:

First thoughts …

Lizzie
I have been looking for a new rabbit vibrator for AGES. I bought my first one over ten years ago and fell completely in love with it. It was ridiculously cheap, was likely full of terrible un-bodysafe plastics, smelled dreadful, was louder than a 747 at take-off, and had an awful and superfluous bubble of moving beads the colour of boiled sweets near the base. But it could make me orgasm, no problem at all, and it was used on a weekly basis with much enthusiasm.

Unfortunately, after a few months of faithful (heavy) service it gave up the ghost – the battery chamber corroded – and, in any event, I’d started to do a bit of research on phthalates and had decided that I shouldn’t be putting things that were potentially harmful inside myself.

So I bought another more expensive one – and to my great disappointment, it was not a patch on the cheap-as-chips original. The rabbit ear position was slightly different and even though the vibe was quieter and smelled loads better, it wasn’t nearly as easy to orgasm with. Eventually, I got cross with it, threw it away and started experimenting with some different vibrator designs to see if I could find something I liked better.

But nothing I’ve tried so far has given me quite the same pleasure as my first rabbit and I’m desperate to find one that I adore as much as my original.

Bring on the Happy Rabbit.

The packaging …

Lizzie
Nice. This is one of Lovehoney’s own products so carries their revamped branding, which is very simple and stylish. A cardboard sleeve (featuring the product name on one side and an image of the Happy Rabbit on the other) surrounds a heavy, black cardboard case with the words ‘get happy’ printed on the lid in black gloss lettering.

Inside the main product box, a moulded plastic tray holding the Happy Rabbit, a fabric storage pouch, a mains electrical charger and a set of instructions.

How it looks …

Lizzie
Really lovely to see a toy in a non-pastel shade (black). The moulding of the silicone is neat and tidy with a thin joining seam running the vertical lengths of the insertable section of the shaft.

A solid white plastic base means that the vibrator can be stood up easily and size-wise the rabbit looks good, too: it has an insertable length of 5.25 inches (13.33 centimetres) and a diameter of 1.7 inches (4.32 centimetres).

How it feels …

Lizzie
I tend to use vibrators with Thomas as much as on my own, so my criteria for a good one is a device that’s easy for both of us to operate. Although it may seem that there’s no difference, believe me, there is. If you’re handing over a vibrator to your partner, it has to be well designed for the anatomy it’s stimulating because they can’t feel the sensations it’s actually producing. It’s not like using fingers, which give a much better idea of exactly what and how firmly you’re touching.

Let me lead with this: after approximately 30 seconds with the Happy Rabbit, Thomas was crouched between my legs, his face ten centimetres from my vulva saying ‘There?’ every other breath – to which the response was invariably ‘No’.

Although it looks lovely and the main shaft of the Happy Rabbit is nicely curved at the tip to stimulate the G-Spot, I found the vibrator’s rabbit ears to be very awkwardly positioned. They were just were far too long and, rather than stimulating my clitoris, bypassed it completely and actually poked (silicone bends rather than ‘squishes’) the apex of my labia, where the left and right sides meet, in a way that was distinctly uncomfortable. So much so that I used the word ‘ouch’ and asked Thomas to stop so that I could have a turn at trying to position the Happy Rabbit myself.

Unfortunately, the change of operator didn’t make much difference. Even though I knew where I wanted the rabbit ears to touch, I just couldn’t get them to do so, which was a great shame because the main shaft of the rabbit actually felt very nice. We ended up with Thomas moving the shaft of the vibrator and me pressing my fingers down on the rabbit ears trying to get them touch my clitoris. After about a minute or two of this we turned the Happy Rabbit sideways and got out a bullet vibrator, which I held against my clitoris to bring me to orgasm.

The positive points? The girth on the Happy Rabbit is a good size and length and the curve at the end stimulated my G-Spot very nicely. The vibrations themselves were lovely, too. (The Happy Rabbit runs off three motors – two control the vibrations in the shaft and one the vibrations in the ears) but despite all the mechanics it is very quiet – even more so than my LELO vibrators which, up until this point, have been the best I’ve come across on the noise scale.) Another good feature: the operating buttons. There’s a large one that works on a ‘light switch’ format to control the vibrations in the main shaft – you depress the top and bottom ends to change speeds and programmes and hold it down to turn the vibrator on and off – and a smaller round one that controls the vibrations in the ears.

Any downsides?

Lizzie
Pretty obviously, the position of the rabbit ears. They were in completely the wrong place for me and, although everyone’s anatomy is slightly different, I suspect that others may find this, too.

The verdict?

Lizzie
Disappointing. I had high hopes for this rabbit – it’s silicone (and therefore safe for the body), has a nicely sized shaft, is quiet and is easy to operate. Unfortunately, the main event, the rabbit ears, don’t come anywhere close to hitting the mark (for me at least). If I could take the ears away I think I’d have quite a nice non-rabbit vibrator but because the ears actually cause me discomfort during use, I will likely not use this toy again.

My quest for the perfect rabbit continues …

In summary

Things I liked:

• The materials. The silicone is body-safe and odour-free.
• The girth, length and shape of the main vibrator shaft. Good proportions and stimulates the G-Spot nicely.
• Rechargeable – no need to spend a fortune on AA batteries.

Things I’m not so keen on:

• The size and position of the rabbit ears. They don’t come close to my clitoris and are so high up that they actually poke uncomfortably into the pubic area.

Tickle your fancy? You can buy this item from Lovehoney.

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