It Stings So Sweet contains three short stories that centers around loosely connected characters. What interested me the most about this book is the fact that it takes place during the 1920s. The roaring 20s is known as a time of frivolity, economic prosperity and cultural change. I don't think I've ever read a romance novel set during this time.Love Me or Leave Me is about Nora Richardson, a society girl who married a man beneath her station. After suffering a miscarriage, her husband has not touched her for a year. In desperation, Nora kisses another man. Jonathan, Nora's husband, wants a divorce. Nora doesn't want to lose him. While at a distinguished friend's party, Nora desperately tries to appeal to her husband that the kiss meant nothing. Jonathan decides to punish her, thinking it would push Nora away. But instead it awakens her sexually.This was my favorite story of the book. Jonathan comes off as a little rough and strong so I kinda cringed when he first started dishing out Nora's punishment. But as the story progressed, you learn that Jonathan has been keeping that side of himself locked away for fear of hurting and scaring his wife. Nora may be a society girl but when it comes to sex, she likes it rough and dirty. Jonathan doesn't scare her and she wants him to show that side. She begs for it and yearns for it. I liked the dynamic of Jonathan and Nora's relationship and enjoyed their story a lot.When I'm Bad I'm Better is about silent screen vixen Clara Cartwright. She falls for a WWI pilot, Will. He sees beneath Clara's Hollywood persona and there's something about Will that she is drawn to. Will and Clara don't immediately have sex. There's a slow build-up that has the reader and Clara anxious for more. I was surprised at the mention of pornographic movies. I have to remember that porn didn't start in the 70s. Heh. There's an intense menage scene that flows over into the third story. Overall I liked this novella and enjoyed watching Will and Clara's relationship develop.Let's Misbehave is the final short story. There is a brief interlude prior to this story told from one of the male character's POV that sets up this one. Sophie works in a boutique at a posh hotel. She is all about social change. She wants better working conditions for the employees at the hotel. Equal pay for the women workers. Birth control access for women. She is steeped in social change. What changes for Sophie when her diary lands in her sexy boss' hands is sexual freedom.I liked that this story touched on the social issues that were going on at that time. Robert and Sophie's sexual tension is sizzling. There's some f/f action in this story that I didn't fully believe but other than that, I enjoyed the story.It Stings So Sweet is a different kind of erotic romance that centers around a time that I don't read about. I enjoyed being taken back to a time that was so different. I liked the characters and the setting. I definitely recommend reading this book.
