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Review – Lover’s Return by Rebecca Airies

June 13, 2013 by Donna B. Leave a Comment

Title: Lover’s Return

Author: Rebecca Airies

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave

Buy Link: Buy Lover’s Return Here!

Rating: You Want To Read

Reviewed By: Donna

Blurb:

After her lover left the colony, Charleigh lost herself in work. Now Jericho’s back and intent on renewing their relationship. Desire burns between them as fiercely as ever, but Charleigh wants more than hot sex. She needs to know that this time she’s important enough for him to stay.

Jericho left his home to ensure a future with Charleigh. Now that he’s returned, nothing will stand in the way of getting her back into his arms and bed. Not her stubborn resistance or another man determined to claim her for his own. Getting close to Charleigh again is easy; convincing her to believe in his love is more difficult. But Jericho isn’t willing to accept anything less than everything. Her love, her trust and her delectable body.

A Romantica® futuristic erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Review:

They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, and Charleigh definitely sees herself as having been scorned. Now that Jericho is back on the planet, she doesn’t want to have anything to do with him. He is several years too late if he thinks he can just walk back in her life and take over again.

Jericho is back and has fulfilled his task of making a future for himself and Charleigh. Now, he is taking over, kidnapping her to a certain extent, and demanding that she admit her feelings. Breaking down her defenses is a task that he will enjoy, and he will especially enjoy punishing her for making him wait.

Lover’s Return is a short futuristic story about a very stubborn woman and the man who wants her. The characters are annoyingly stubborn, the plot is interesting, and the setting is earth-like. Overall an entertaining read.

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Donna, Ellora's Cave, You Want To Read

Review – Penthouse Suite By Sandra Chastain

June 8, 2013 by Donna B. Leave a Comment

Title: Penthouse Suite

Author: Sandra Chastain

Publisher: Loveswept

Buy Link: Buy Penthouse Suite Here!

Rating: You Want To Read

Reviewed By: Donna

Blurb:

A tight-laced businessman learns to listen to his heart—not just his head—when a free-spirited beauty turns his orderly life upside down.

Sporting only a towel and a startled grimace, hotel owner Max Sorenson isn’t sure what to make of the cheerful, freckle-faced woman who somehow manages to make plumbers coveralls look so unbelievably sexy. Even with a wrench in her hand, it takes him awhile to understand that she’s the hotel’s new handyman. Mostly because he can’t take his eyes off those perfect, kissable lips.

Kate Weston came prepared to fix a leak, not start a fire, but Max does funny things to her body. A woman devoted to carefree adventure, she believes in living—and loving—without strings. Max has enough reasons not to get close, his private demons see to that. But what starts as spontaneous combustion quickly begins to feel like much more. Desire proves opposites attract. But will love find a way to keep them together?

Review:

Kate is a handyman, in so many more ways than one. After spending years taking care of her sick mother, she is now fulfilling her promise to get out there and explore the world and live the life she put on hold. She has no plans to fall in love. In fact, that would go against every rule she has put in place for herself. Too bad she can’t seem to resist her newest employer.

Max is reclusive, but he is not as staid as everyone thinks he is. One look at his newest plumber and he is a fully functioning, red-blooded male with one thing on his mind…Kate.

Penthouse Suite is a romantic story with likable characters and an interesting setting. There was quite a bit of head hopping, which can be very confusing at times, but overall the story was funny and heartwarming.

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Donna, Loveswept, You Want To Read

Review – Gentle Control By Brynn Paulin

May 30, 2013 by Meingee Leave a Comment

Title: Gentle Control

Author: Brynn Paulin

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave

Buy Link: Buy Gentle Control Here!

Rating: You Want to Read

Reviewed By: Gabrielle

Blurb:

The Cress brothers are back and bad boy Josh Cress is ready to claim his woman. But bad boys aren’t always what they’re expected to be.

A Dom by nature, Josh has been without a submissive for too long. He’s craved the woman who once knelt to him but has been denied him for eight long years. When she returns seeking his forgiveness so she can bring closure to their relationship, he offers her a bargain instead. He wants her to be his for two weeks, under his mastery.

Tempest knows she should refuse, but she can’t say no. Josh might have a rough exterior, but she knows the gentle Dom who resides within. She only hopes two weeks will quench the desire that has tormented her since they parted.

Time, however, is not theirs. The demons from their past won’t wait.

Review:

In this book we get to see Josh; the last of the Cress brothers get his happy ever after or at least we hope he does. Tempest comes back into his life after eight long years. She realizes that she made a huge mistake and comes back to make things right. Little does she know that the past has really never left them and what she longs for his in her grasp but will she be brave enough to take it or will she once again leave her heart behind? Can Josh even think of letting his guard down with Tempest or will he turn her away after the hurt that she caused him?

I enjoyed seeing Josh and Tempest find their way home again. Josh is a great man and loves Tempest with all his heart and once again puts it all on the line. The two make a great couple. I loved the interaction between them. They may be in a D/s relationship but there is fun and love in their relationship. Josh holds the control but much of it is given to him by Tempest, he leads and she follows. He may not use ropes and cuffs but his bindings are just as strong as any of those and sometimes even more so. It was nice to see the trust form between the two and watching Josh let Tempest choose to stand on her own was a nice read. I hoped along with Josh that their love was strong enough to win over her demons. I have enjoyed my visits to the Cress family and hope to come back again.

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Ellora's Cave, Gabrielle, You Want To Read

Review – Friends with Benefits by Rhonda Lee Carver

May 18, 2013 by Rachell Leave a Comment

Title: Friends with Benefits

Author: Rhonda Lee Carver

Publisher: Lyrical Press

Buy Link: Buy Friends with Benefits Here!

Rating: You Want To Read

Reviewed By: Rachell

Blurb:

Cassie’s admirer hides behind a blindfold…could he be somebody she knows?

Cassandra and Sebastian have been friends since college. They know everything about each other, and even own a restaurant together. Now she has a secret admirer—one who asks her to meet him wearing a blindfold…and nothing else. She complies, mostly, and must rely on how he smells, feels, and sounds when they meet. He seems familiar. Familiar enough to be Sebastian? Surely not. Maybe she’s hoping her admirer is Sebastian. Maybe…

Sebastian has a secret Cassie knows nothing of: He’s in love with her. But telling her could destroy their friendship. So he’s got to sit back and watch as she swoons for this secret admirer who uses all the right romantic words to win her heart.

Can Sebastian step forward and reveal himself? Supposing he dares to let Cassie know he loves her, can their friendship survive if she doesn’t feel the same for him?

CONTENT WARNING: strong language, graphic sex

Review:

“Friends With Benefits” was a short read, that left me with mixed feelings. Cassandra and Sebastian run a bakery together, in the past they had tried the whole relationship thing but things hadn’t worked out. They stayed friends but during the years they spend working closely together they secretly began developing feelings for one another again. Only Cassandra saw Sebastian dating many women with no intention of settling down. And that is exactly what she craves; therefore she keeps her thought and feelings to herself. And Sebastian thought he blew his only chance with Cassandra back then and keeps his distance as well.

It was obvious they loved each other, but due to their lousy reasoning they kept each other away from love. This frustrated the heck out of me, their denial but mostly the “why” they didn’t chase after what they wanted bothered me. The secrecy about the secret admirer on the other hand kept me reading. I thought I knew who it was from the beginning, but due to the writing style and the character that appeared so jealous and contradictory I began to question the identity of the secret admirer. In the end I do get it but was kind of disappointed that there was no real dark passionate intention behind the letters.

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Lyrical Press, Rachell, You Want To Read

Review – The First Sword By Anna Kashina

May 17, 2013 by EmeraldDragon Leave a Comment

Title: The First Sword

Author: Anna Kashina

Publisher: Wildside Press

Buy Link: Buy The First Sword Here!

Rating: You Want to Read

Reviewed By: Janelle

Blurb:

ʺThe child must leave … immediately … take the sword … to the Keepers … there’s a diamondcoming…ʺ

A murdered man’s last words, a four-bladed dagger set with a huge diamond, and a hidden sword launch Kyth, his brother Alder, and their friend Ellah on a perilous journey from their home in the Forestlands to the White Citadel, hidden in the distant mountains. Pursued by Knights of the Holy Star and a Majat Assassin, they are joined by Kara, a young mercenary whose fighting skills help save the three teens from their deadly enemies.

In Tallan Dar, bloodlines determine destiny, and Duke Evan Dorn’s line is of the best. Yet the Reverend Haghos wants to put a puppet on the throne — his rightful throne. Surrounded by spies and held prisoner in his own castle, Duke Evan makes a desperate break for freedom. To save his Kingdom, to prevent the Reverend from usurping his power, he must find two things: the child he gave up so many years ago, and the First Sword…

Review:

Political Fantasy is one of those genres that you either love or hate. They take a lot of time to set up, with multiple characters each with their own motives and goals, various locations, as well as some other standard fantasy faire like magic items and armies – all of which needs to be established before the story can move on to the meat of the plot. And once you are into that meat, there is a lot more talk than action.

I do like political fantasy, and I don’t get the read as much as I like. This one has the problem of being too short. The majority of the story is spent on set up or on Kyth’s journey. This leaves everything to be wrapped up very quickly. And important events, like Kyth’s training to meet the Council after being raised as a peasant his whole life, are skipped over. On the other hand we spend several pages with the Assassins’ guild leaders, talking about their own political standing…only to never show up again.

I am also worried about the twenty blank pages I found at the end of the book, and wonder if a chapter is missing.

The characters are a little flat. Kyth, by virtue of being the main character, is the best developed, but most everyone else is fairly two dimensional. They are more vessels to fill their role than people who hold office. Take the assassins as an example. We are supposed to believe that one is trying to kill the boys and the other is trying to save them. The problem is that it is no surprise which turns out to be which. The ‘evil’ assassin does nothing to really be menacing, he just kind of hovers in the background most of the time.

Overall, this story just needs a bit more fleshing out, and to cut away the extraneous scenes that go nowhere.

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Janelle, Wildside Press, You Want To Read

Review – My Lord Eternity By Alexandra Ivy

May 9, 2013 by Meingee Leave a Comment

Title: My Lord Eternity

Author: Alexandra Ivy

Publisher: Kensington Publishing

Buy Link: Buy My Lord Eternity Here!

Rating: You Want to Read

Reviewed By: Gabrielle

Blurb:

Alexandra Ivy, author of the Guardians of Eternity series, draws readers deeper into the world of the Immortal Rogues—three vampires entrusted to protect the future of their kind…

To other vampires, mortals are weak, uninteresting creatures. To Lucien Valin, they are infinitely fascinating. Especially Jocelyn Kingly—once the prize of London society, now an outcast. As the vampire assigned to guard her, Lucien is relishing his task. But her beguiling goodness puts her in terrifying danger. Not just from the traitor intent on claiming her mysterious amulet, but from the desire Lucien struggles to keep in check.

Youthful infatuation already cost Jocelyn her good name. But even with little to lose, instinct tells her that accepting Lucien as a tenant in her home is a devil’s bargain. As she roams London’s streets at night, helping the most wretched, she feels a dark force drawing near. And Lucien—magnetic, charming, irresistible—may turn out to be her savior, her lover, or the means to change her destiny forever.

Review:

I am enjoying this series by one of my favorite authors. It is not be as dark as her other series but it is still an enjoyable read.

Lucien is assigned to protect Jocelyn and the attraction between the two is there right from the start. Lucien is arrogant and Jocelyn is a strong willed woman. Watching the two learn to trust one another and try to understand their feelings was a nice read. Lucien is a good man underneath it all and he is intent on protecting Jocelyn and not acting on his attraction to her but when danger threatens Jocelyn Lucien finds that she means so much more to him than he ever imagined. He will do anything to erase the pain from her past and fill her future with happiness. The love that grows between the two was a beautiful thing to see.

I enjoyed watching the two fight so hard for their happiness and cannot wait to read the next book in this series.

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Gabrielle, Kensington Publishing, You Want To Read

Review – On the Road to Death’s Door By M.J. Williams

May 7, 2013 by Marglee 1 Comment

Title: On the Road to Death’s Door

Author: M.J. Williams

Publisher: Createspace

Buy Link: Buy On the Road to Death’s Door Here!

Rating: You Want To Read

Reviewed By: Marglee

Blurb:

Emily and Stan Remington’s maiden voyage in their newly inherited, second-hand RV goes awry when a body falls off the top of their vehicle. The retired small town police officer and her husband, a retired history professor, find themselves at the center of a murder investigation involving a politician, a corporate executive, and a hippie priest. Emily butts heads with the local sheriff as their search takes them from a backwoods cabin in Wisconsin’s scenic Door County to the Bishop’s Chancery in Madison to an abandoned island in the infamous Death’s Door Straits.

Review:

M.J. Williams serves us up a folksy recipe for a road trip gone wrong. A dash of intrigue, a spoonful of mystery and a peppering of conventional characters are blended gently into a pot of panic and loose ends.

The villagers’ attitudes and emotion are realistic and never over-the-top, lending the tale an even feel from start to finish, overcoming the uncomfortable choppiness of too much direct dialog the first half dozen chapters. This author has a wonderful skill for narratives and could have improved the read dramatically by alternating with third person scene setting.

The reader will be pleased to find more than a handful of possible directions as the story progresses – an absolute ‘must-have’ for an effective and entertaining mystery. Readers will also find a unique landscape and history used as a backdrop for the story. This freshness of location adds to the fog woven so well into this tale’s development.

The most notable success of this effort is attributed to a clever use of enough dissimilar characters to keep me reading beyond the dialog, well done, Ms. Williams.

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Marglee, Self Published, You Want To Read

Review – Command and Compliance By Tadgh Faolan

May 7, 2013 by Meingee

Title: Command and Compliance: Of Werewolves and Men

Author: Tadgh Faolan

Publisher: IRE Werewolf

Buy Link: Buy Command and Compliance Here!

Rating: You Want to Read

Reviewed By: Gabrielle

Blurb:

Next in line to the Alpha position, Corey hides his submissive nature from his family and clan.

After abusing both werewolves and slave boys, Kailum, owner of Southport’s BDSM clubs, is both hated and feared.

Love brings the young werewolf and harsh dominant together but will it be enough to keep them alive?

Review:

Kailum has lived a hard life and when people learn the truth of his past he is usually shunned. For years Kailum has lived with his secret. He may be a successful business owner but he fails to pay attention and he does not understand compassion. When he harms those under the protection of the local wolves he is punished but one man sees the kindness inside of Kailum. Will Corey be able to show Kailum what love truly is or is Kailum lost forever to him?

This is a fast paced story that is full of emotion. Along with trying to understand their feelings for each other Kailum and Corey both must also find their true selves. Life is not easy for either man and their relationship will only bring on more hardships for them. I enjoyed seeing the two begin to understand and fight for their love. There is so much more to each man than what they show to the world. Lust helps to bring these two together but the trust and the love is what keeps them fighting for each other no matter what happens. While this book can be read as a standalone it is better to read the whole series to understand this world and its characters.

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Gabrielle, IRE Werewolf, You Want To Read

Review – Delight Me By Desiree Holt

May 4, 2013 by Meingee Leave a Comment

Title: Delight Me

Author: Desiree Holt

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave

Buy Link: Buy Delight Me Here!

Rating: You Want to Read

Reviewed By: Gabrielle

Blurb:

Part of the 1-800-DOM-help series.

Dani thinks her growing dissatisfaction with the lifestyle might be because she needs a role reversal. When a mysterious business card appears she calls the number, 1-800-DOM-help and at the club, Unfettered, is paired with Ethan, a sexy-as-sin sub. Dani learns the erotic effect of wielding the single tail whip on her sub and the intense arousal that stimulating him with toys can bring. As their sessions progress, she explores with Ethan every aspect of D/s play, from restraints to punishment to the exercise of control to achieve mind-blowing orgasms, and understands the value of receiving trust as well as giving it. But she develops very strong emotional feelings for Ethan that scare her to death. This could change her life forever. Will she be brave enough to accept what’s being offered?

Review:

Being a sub is not for everyone. Dani finds herself needed more than she can get as a sub and finds the help she needs with 1 – 800 – DOM – help. Little did she know that calling the number on that card would not only help her get her feet wet but that it would also find her so much more.

This is a well written story about not only finding yourself but also finding love in the process. I enjoyed watching Dani go through her self-discovery and find just what she needed. She is a strong woman and she is not afraid to go after what she wants, and what she wants is to be a Domme. When she meets her first sub she finds that she may want more than just to be a Domme. Ethan is a great man. He finds release in being a sub but has never found someone that he connects with until he meets Dani. I enjoyed seeing the relationship build between these two. Dani and Ethan’s story is a quick and fast paced read that is not only hot but also brings the reader a story full of emotions and awakenings.

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Ellora's Cave, Gabrielle, You Want To Read

Review – Baby, It’s Cold Outside by E Jamie

April 30, 2013 by Rachell 1 Comment

Title: Baby, It’s Cold Outside

Author: E Jamie

Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing

Buy Link: Buy Baby, It’s Cold Outside Here!

Rating: You Want To Read

Reviewed By: Rachell

Blurb:

After suffering a devastating loss, Madeline Delaney is back in her hometown with her little girl to celebrate the holidays with her grandmother. Next door is her old teenage crush, Jack DeLuna. The feelings he stirs within her are most definitely adult in nature, and this time, Jack has no intention of letting her go. Will Madeline give in to the passionate and loving future Jack promises her or will guilt overshadow this new chance for happiness?

Review:

“Baby, It’s Cold Outside” is a short emotional story. A year ago Madeline lost her husband in a tragic accident. Now she’s returned home with her daughter and sees her old crush again. Years ago due to a misunderstanding Madeline gave up on winning Jack’s love and left. Upon her return she discovers those old feelings are coming back to life, but she’s angry herself for feeling this way, she feels like she’s betraying her late husband. And when she sees that her daughter is also quite taken with Jack she lashes out.

The story self was nicely written and felt realistic, Madeline’s grief moved me, where the way Katie melted me with her sweet gestures. I did want to read more about Jack and Madeline’s past. I also wanted to read more about Madeline’s time with her late husband. But overall was it a nice read.

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Rachell, Secret Cravings Publishing, You Want To Read