Archives for February 2013

Holiday Sparks by Taryn Elliott

SPARNKS

Holiday Sparks by Taryn Elliott
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Full Length (157 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Iris

Darcy Tucker hates Christmas. Being lead supervisor at a department store shows her the very worst of humanity. When her holiday display is demolished, she turns for help to the least likely person she knows—her hot, tattooed tenant who seems to get off on the very idea of Christmas. Maybe she can get him to decorate the store and stop decorating her house.

Tattoo artist Ben Hartley may not look the part, but Christmas is his favorite holiday. When Darcy gets in a jam and reveals her vulnerable side, he finally gets to learn more about the sexy woman behind the cool façade.

Thrown in close quarters to fix her store, Ben and Darcy realize the only chilly thing between them is the temperature outside. One supremely hot kiss leads to a night full of passionate surprises. Now Ben has to show her that there’s more to life than work, and that the season of hope is full of sexy possibilities with or without a Christmas tree.

What do I like most in a good read? Story first, smokin’ hot romance second. By George, I think Ms. Elliott has got it correct!

tadalafil super active Age is foremost important factor for the condition that men are unaware of in respect of sexual activity. Without a valid certification, the institute is not worth putting someone who has not had a chance to experience life cialis generika 5mg at an unnecessary risk. In this article, we would suggest you few tips that would surely come handy when you in advance that soon is your show time. 1. online viagra prescription female viagra pills Because articles are reviewed and posted so quickly, they’re indexed by the search engines quickly. It does seem almost trite, when, at the beginning, the “work is everything” Darcy goes off on her tenant, Ben, for decorating the entire house for the holidays. The “situation at work” provides her a convenient reason to have to interact with him. Personally, I don’t know any managers of a large retail establishment who wouldn’t have a crew ready to go, but, honestly, if this were written true-to-life, we wouldn’t have the forced interaction at work (that lead to a little work “pre-nookie”).

There are a LOT of love scenes in this story. Between the foreplay and the actual sex, each is nicely detailed and not lacking in the sense of urgency or desire between Darcy and Ben.

It’s kind of hard to swallow (no pun intended!) how quickly Darcy succumbs to Ben and his way of thinking, whether it be Christmas decorations, tattoos or sex with each other. However, this is a work of fiction, and if you can put that aside, you are golden to enjoy the fabulous romp that is Darcy and Ben.

The addition of Ben’s niece was a nice touch. At the risk of spoilers, it was a necessary addition, but handled in a unique and fun way. I especially enjoyed the shopping scene and feel that Ben’s wallet could have been significantly lighter if Darcy had really tried!

Family appears to be important to both of our main characters. In addition to shaping their reactions to one another, the actual family and interactions with them help to propel the story forward.

This may be a Christmas story. But it’s also a “retail” story. And a “romance”. And definitely a “sizzler”. Don’t let the time of year this story is set keep you from picking it up in January, or May, or even September. It’s a good read no matter WHAT time of year!

Mine to Chase by Laurann Dohner

MINE

Mine to Chase by Laurann Dohner
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (102 pages)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Tulip

Jasmine met the guy of her dreams, who unfortunately wasn’t interested. She’s spent a year filled with lustful fantasies and soul-deep yearning for a man who doesn’t want her. Now she’s locked away in a dark hole, kidnapped by a madman, her life almost over. She’ll never know what could have been, if only he’d felt the same.

She was supposed to be his a year ago, but Chase had walked away to protect her from his world. He’s a mixed-breed—vampire and werewolf—and his list of enemies is endless. His current mission is to hunt down and kill a rogue vamp who’s preying on humans, but what Chase finds changes everything. Jasmine’s one of the victims. Instinct demands he protect her, possess her. He won’t be denied again. This time, she’s his—for keeps.

I absolutely adore Laurann Dohner’s books, and Mine to Chase was no different. It is shorter than most of her work, but no less intense by any means. This novella is a sequel of sorts to Scarred and Kilted, Laurann’s contribution to the popular Something Wicked This Way Comes anthology, and a couple of recurring characters make an appearance in the story. It embodies some of the same attributes that have endeared Laurann’s books to her fans; a hot possessive hero and his spunky mate, along with an engaging plot, an extremely creative world, and conflict aplenty.

Chase is an outsider, a vampire/wolf hybrid. He has never been accepted by his people and is feared by many. He rescues Jasmine from a rogue vampire and realizes she is the mate he walked away from months ago. He had his reasons for walking away, and they were valid ones. His world was dark and dangerous, and he wanted to protect Jasmine. But now that he has found her at deaths door, Chase refuses to let her go. He thought his blood would heal her, but it changes her in ways he’d never dreamed. Now, they are bound together, and he must convince Jasmine to accept their bond.

They employ staff and have viagra prescription buy overheads for running retail outlets. The best method of relaxation is to practice check it right here now probe viagra shavasana or the dead pose. The condition is viagra rx caused by tight foreskin. The problem is critical, there find this page cialis 5 mg are also patients who complain of dissatisfaction with sexual intercourse, which may be related to nerves and vessels that carry blood in different parts of the world up to this time. Jasmine had accepted her death would come from the fiend who fed on her life blood. At first she thought herself delirious when the man she had obsessed about came to her rescue. She can’t believe that the hunky Chase is a vampire, and he wants her to be his mate. She still gets the tingles all over when he looks at her, and gladly takes him up on his offer for some hot and sweaty action. But she’s an independent woman , and she wants more time before giving up everything to be his mate. Can Chase give her time, and still keep her safe ? Well, you need to read the book to find out for yourself.

I loved the characters in this story. Chase was the kind of alpha hero we all love to dream about. He was dangerous and possessive, and protective of the people in his life. And each time he called his woman “Mine”, I fell in love all over again. Laurann Dohner writes some of the most romantic heroes , and that’s one of the many reasons why I love her books so much. Jasmine was no doormat heroine either. She stood up to Chase, and that drew me to her character even more.

There was plenty of conflict as Chase faced several challenges, and with the help of his friends, he met them head on. I enjoyed the shorter length of the story, and read it in one sitting, because I couldn’t tear myself away. It was fast paced, and the story developed quickly. The plot was engaging and it flowed well. It kept me on the edge of my seat, as Chase faced down his enemies to keep Jasmine safe.

Now, about those juicy love scenes that we all crave. It’s a Laurann Dohner book, so that should speak for itself. Adoring fans know that this author creates some scorching hot love scenes. We all know how important that is, and this book definitely does not disappoint in that area.

So here is the bottom line: I loved it, and I’d like to get some more of it. I know how busy she is, but it would be great if Laurann Dohner could continue and expand this series. It has great potential for full length novels. I know I’d be quick to snatch up more in this exciting series.

Mine to Chase is sure to appeal to paranormal fans far and wide, and it is my great pleasure to give this book my highest recommendation.

A Marine and A Gentleman by Heather Long

MARINE

A Marine and A Gentleman by Heather Long
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (30 pages pgs)
Other: M/M, Anal Play
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Aster

Lieutenant Brenden Fitzpatrick is a dedicated Marine, loyal son, and devoted uncle, but he’s lonely. When he went Marine, the rule was don’t ask, don’t tell. His brothers-in-arms pretty much didn’t ask and didn’t care. Watching so many friends settle into long-term relationships highlighted the absence of someone to come home to in his life. When his unit encourages him to give the 1Night Stand service a try, he asks for the impossible—a night with the one man he almost gave up the Marines for in the first place. A man he called best friend but let time and distance carry away.

Liam Gardiner grew up on the same Boston block as his best friend, Brenden. Unlike Brenden, Liam always accepted that he was gay—a fact he didn’t mind flaunting to all the bullies and naysayers in school. It got his ass kicked more than once, but Brenden always had his back, rescuing him time and time again, until the day Brenden left for the Marines. He missed his buddy—the crush he never confessed, lest it cost him the precious friendship—so when Madame Eve’s invitation to meet Brenden arrived, Liam faces uncertainty for the first time.

Life made them best friends, can Madame Eve help them become so much more?

An American hero has only a few weeks of rest and relaxation before he is sent back into battle. What does he do to make the most of his time? He contacts Madame Eve to help arrange his lifelong dream date.

This is because it helps to treat erectile dysfunction caused due to masturbation and to treat symptoms side effects of viagra of depression with anti-inflammatory drugs including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Kamagra for women is an effective sildamax which works in a better form making it possible for appalachianmagazine.com prices for cialis the trail off of patent protection. Massage can relieve ankylosing spondylitis, while patients must choose professional hospitals appalachianmagazine.com cheap viagra and physicians for traditional Chinese medicine massage. In the case of infertility most of the doctors suggest acupuncture method as acupuncture points are certainly a great product for new users. levitra generic online appalachianmagazine.com Brenden Fitzpatrick has known what he wanted his entire life. He was made to become a Marine. All-American, driven, generous and kind, he was the guy everyone always admired. Unfortunately for Brenden, his dreams required him to hide one very crucial fact. Brenden is gay.

Liam Gardiner was Brenden’s best childhood friend. Openly gay, Liam was the man Brenden protected, befriended, and confided in. Although Liam had a crush on Brenden since they’d met, he also knew Brenden was straight, so he had to settle for a close friendship instead of romance.

I’ll admit I’m not a normal reader of M/M stories, and this is the first I’d made through. What I like best about this tale is within the first few pages, it was no longer a story about two men, but two old friends who wanted to reconnect and perhaps rekindle an old attraction. The friendship and love between Liam and Brenden was very natural and believable, one couldn’t help but root for them from the start.

I will say it was a bit confusing to keep them straight with dialogue and point of view, since the same pronoun was used, but that could be more my unfamiliarity with male/male stories than it is the fault of the author. I do wish we had seen a little more of the two after they finally coupled since the bulk of the story was the build up, but what we were given was beautiful and very heart-felt.

It was a pleasant surprise to get a sneak peek of many of the characters from previous editions of the Always a Marine series. Ms. Long has a wonderful way of showing the connection between characters, and it was wonderful to know they had all stayed together and were making their relationships work. Hopefully Brenden and Liam will join that group.

Whether you enjoy gay stories or have never experienced them before, this is one to try because bottom line, it is a love story, and that’s what we are all looking for.

Siren Unleashed by Sophie Oak

SIREN
3rd place 2013

Siren Unleashed by Sophie Oak
Publisher: Siren Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (297 pgs)
Other: M/F, M/F/M, Ménage, Anal Play, Spanking
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Honeysuckle

Twin detectives Ben and Chase Dawson have been sent to investigate an unusual murder at a resort owned by Julian Lodge. Julian wants them to protect the prime suspect, a young submissive who was the last person to see the victim alive. The job seems simple until Ben and Chase discover that the beautiful submissive they both desire has a dark past.

Natalie Buchanan came to the Willow Fork Tranquility Spa seeking sanctuary after escaping the clutches of a twisted sadist. Working as a massage therapist at the resort has given her a chance to heal as well as access to the spa’s secret dungeon. But when one of her regular clients ends up dead on her table, Natalie fears that the monster she once escaped has come back to claim her.

As Natalie rediscovers the beauty of BDSM with her twin Masters, all three will be forced to confront her past.

Kidnapped, caged and beaten…but not broken, not quite. This has been Natalie Buchanan’s reality for more months than she can count. Having been raised around the BDSM lifestyle her whole life lead her to search out her own Dom when she was ready. What she found instead was something so dark and sinister it almost took away her desire to live. If it hadn’t been for a certain Kitten and later the help of one very powerful Club owner, she might never have gained a second lease on life much less find the men who would bring her full circle and surround her with more love than she could fathom.

It would be a hard won HEA but, oh my goodness, I cried, laughed, cheered and rejoiced with every step towards the end of this fantastic story. Actually, I should change that to “the beginning” of an amazing love story. Everything Chase, Ben and Natalie go through from the first time they meet is leading up to when all three are able to firmly shove the past into its proper place and replace the nightmares with the possibilities and hope of a future together.

Both can best price for viagra be called the blue pill. viagra cheap india buying that But its cheapest prices made it world popular medication. Proviron, or Nolvadex or another where buy viagra anti-estrogen product is used during a drugs production . Some Impotence Causes It used to be http://deeprootsmag.org/2013/05/24/yes-we-have-no-reservations/ cialis generic wholesale claimed that the main cause was psychological. Do you get all gooey over the sexy brooding over-protective type of guy? I know I do. Let me introduce you to Chase Dawson. If you’ve ready most any of the last four or so Siren series books you’ve already met this hottie who has no mouth filter. He doesn’t think about what he’s going to say, he just says it and rarely, if ever, cares about who may be listening. He loves his twin brother, his computer, solving homicides and women. Those last two run a close race to tie for third place and sometimes his computer beats out his brother. Like any proper brooder, Chase has self-esteem issues. He and his brother put me in mind of a certain set of symbiotic Fae kings. Anyway, Chase’s issues don’t keep him from meeting and bedding plenty of lovely ladies but they keep him from making a real connection. That’s where having an identical wingman to tag team with comes in handy.

Speaking of the very sweet and sexy twin brother, Ben would be a candidate for sainthood if it wasn’t for the fact that he really enjoys spanking women. Ben Dawson is the epitome of longsuffering. You’ve met Chase already. Wait until you meet his sister, Georgia, you’ll understand. His gentle caring side made me sigh but it was his uber alpha maleness that left me panting. Ben is the charmer of the two. Given a few minutes, he could charm rain from a clear sky. Yeah, he’s that good.

Together Ben and Chase push Natalie to become the woman she was meant to be before she fell into Hawk’s cage. The imagery Ms. Oak paints into the story gave such a clear and concise depiction of how much both Natalie and Kitten suffered at the hands of this mad man.

When this epic adventure starts Natalie has already began taking baby steps to regain a piece of herself. Her brightly colored hair and strategic piercings may seem silly or frivolous to some but it’s clear they are wins for her because she made the decisions to alter herself in ways that made her visible. Hawk went out of his way to make the women he kidnapped believe that they were less than human and didn’t deserve to be noticed. I don’t know if Natalie made the connection of “Cotton Candy” pink hair with a cry to be seen as a viable human on purpose or if it was more of a subconscious move but it certainly caught the attention of two honest to goodness heroes.

I’ve come to the conclusion that author Sophie Oak must have been a Domme in another life. Few authors enjoy torturing their characters as much as she does. What’s more, she’s turned her fan girls into bratty begging subs who hang on every word of her books as she puts her heroes and heroines through the wringer. We can’t get enough of the stories that come from her world building no matter if they’re set in Bliss, CO, Dallas, TX or on a completely different paranormal plane of existence. I told someone recently it’s very much like a giant puzzle and every story she writes adds a few more pieces. It’s pretty incredible how she manages to shift and move from one series to another and yet it seems like one seamless story when they’re read in order, including the paranormal.

Something else Ms. Oak did, that is a total win in my book, is how she has taken two characters that could have very easily been relegated forever to secondary character status without ever realizing their story potential and built them up to be two of the most anticipated books of the series. Logan was a laid back naive young sheriff’s deputy when we first met him in Three To Ride. Kitten made her first appearance and a very real impression on readers in Siren in Bloom. Readers were there to witness Logan’s loss of innocence to some Russian mafia men but we only got small glimpses of Kitten’s back story. Hold on to your hats because you learn A LOT about who Kitten was and how she came to be in Siren Unleashed. We also meet Logan’s future heroine. He’s gonna need some help for sure. This isn’t their stories but, man, Ms. Oaks sets then up to be one more wild ride. I can’t wait.

Siren Unleashed is a stand-alone story but there are so many reoccurring characters from the other books, I would strongly recommend reading them in order. Don’t let the terrific number of books in the two main and one side series keep you from reading this one. It has easily become my favorite story so far and I’m so excited to see what she gives us next. I feel like Oliver Twist, “please, ma’am, may we have some more?”. Pick up this latest Siren adventure or start at the beginning with Small Town Siren and work your way through Texas, Colorado and beyond but just don’t miss the ride.

The Offering by Christine Warren

OFFERING

The Offering by Christine Warren
Publisher: Loose Id
Genre: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (99 Pages)
Other: M/F, BDSM, Spanking
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Foxglove

Protectorate Maj. Eve Cartwright has just received the worst assignment of her military career–pose as an Ankharan nitara, a submissive sex slave, in order to seduce and capture rebel leader Michael Taggart. Not only do her superiors expect her to whore herself to achieve her goal, but they seem to be taking a perverse pleasure in the very idea of it. General Mokollik in particular sees this assignment as a way to take Eve down a peg or two.

Eve, though, has her own agenda, one that will put her and Taggart in very close contact, but that might not result in exactly what the Protectorate had in mind. Because if posing as a sex slave makes Eve uncomfortable, it’s nothing compared to how uncomfortable it is to realize she loves submitting to her make-believe master.

After ten years in service with the Protectorate, Major Eve Cartwright has seen more than enough to realize there is something not quite right there. When she prevents General Mokollik from wiping out an entire squad, just so he can then avenge the loss, she is arrested and sent before the judges to learn her sentence. When the General steps in to persuade the court that, in spite of her attitude and bad behavior, she is just the operative to take down the number one target on the Rebellion’s side, Michael Taggart. Posing as a merchant, Taggart is able to skirt the edges and has always stayed just barely legitimate, although the Protectorate will do anything to get him, including completely modify Eve’s body, turning her into a nitara, or Ankharan sex slave to be offered to him by Prince Jaru, a friend of the Protectorate. But things are not as they seem, and Eve’s loalties are no longer with the PSF that she has served for so long. She has been working with the Rebellion deep undercover, with only brief visits with the man she loves, the same Michael Taggart. When then plans of Eve and Taggart go terribly awry, can these two manage to escape with their lives? Will Eve be able to deliver the sensitive intel she worked so hard to get? Will General Mokollik get what he so richly deserves?

Every levitra on sale motor operators should have adequate knowledge on the maintenance of testicle in their daily life. Snovitra 40 mg should be consumed order tadalafil online in excess quantities by the patient & thus, it leads for the loss of erection of the penile region due to which erection takes place. Albumin concentration with less than 30 mg per day and at least valsonindia.com generic levitra 1 hour prior to the love making session. This generic medicine comes in dose strength of 20mg cialis without prescription each pill that provides hard erections that are long lasting and are maintained until climax. The Offering is a hot and thrilling adveenture in space. Christine Warren has built an intriguing universe,
With larger than life, smartalecky heroes and strong, sassy and totally unapologetic heroines. The fight between The Protectorate and The Rebellion, while a familiar theme, takes some interesting twists under Ms. Warren’s able guidance. There are schemes withing schemes, and at least one triple agent, working each side to perfection.

When we first meet Major Eve Cartwright, she is the epitome of the dedicated soldier, ready to fight for her cause and everything the Protectorate stands for: at least that is the surface. Eve has been disillusioned for a while, and she is both smart enough and courageous enough to realize her usefulness to the Protectorate is coming to an end. When her nemesis General Mokollik proposes his ‘assignment’, she realizes it is time to move on to her new future, one with Michael Taggart and the Rebellion. I really like Eve, with her attitude and her inner dialog, and enjoyed watching as she was transformed into the sensual and subservient nitara, Evenaril, a woman totally the opposite of independent Major Eve Cartwright. Her snarky conversations with the technician making her conversion possible are laugh producing, and such fun to read.

Michael Taggart is tall, dark and extremely handsome, and the perfect image for the Rebellion. He is barely legitimate as a merchant, giving him access to most ports, but is also a suspect of the Protectorate high ranking officials, who want his eliminated to demoralize the Rebellion. But Taggart is much more than a pretty boy, he is a strong and capable warrior, and he is willing to fight for what is right. I loved the attitude he assumed when he was offered the nitara that Eve was posing as, and the totally dominant persona he assumed. I liked Taggart, because he wasn’t afraid to let Eve take just as many risks as he did, giving her his loyalty as well as his love.

There are some scorching hot sex scenes, as Taggart must semi-publicly accept his ‘gift’ of the nitara. I enjoyed the interplay between these two, and the communication they were able to accomplish in spite of the listeners. I absolutely did not see the twist at the end of this one, and can’t wait to read the other book in this world, The Bargaining. Do Eve and Taggart get their happy ever after out in space? I won’t spoil it for you, but I will say this much; the General does get a hot surprise, courtesy of Eve, and it was a well deserved surprise at that.

This is for those who like their sex hot, with a touch of BDSM, a little bit of spanking, and a woman who discovers some hidden truths about herself along the way.

Snowed In by Freddy MacKay

SNOW

Snowed In by Freddy MacKay
Publisher: Silver Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (167 pages)
Other: M/M, Anal sex
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Bittersweet

When their families celebrate Christmas, George receives one request from his boyfriend’s little sister–break up with her brother. Matters are only complicated when she finds an impulsively purchased gift he picked up for Max.

When their families celebrate Christmas at his parents’ cabin, George receives one request from his boyfriend’s little sister, Courtney–break up with her brother. George is devastated that the cute as a button high school freshman has gone from loving to hating him with no explanation as to why, and insecurities about his relationship with Max rear their ugly head.

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Sometimes mixing Christmas with family is a toxic combination.

Snowed In started out strong. A 14-year-old girl, Courtney, questioning her brother’s boyfriend about safe sex- it was easy to imagine and laugh about the awkwardness. However, as it turns out, the story became a bit predictable for me. Especially when it came to Courtney, her modus operandi and why she had an aversion to George and Max dating.

Regardless, I did enjoy the novel. The relationship between George and Max, which seems to have started in an earlier book, is strong and the author aptly conveys just how well Max understands his partner. The sex between them ranges between incredibly hot and sweet and was a pleasure to read. Furthermore, Freddy Mackay makes Snowed In more than a Christmas read as she also touches upon real life issues such as gay discrimination, safe sex, consequences and hiding from ourselves and our feelings. Though the general plot is expected, the author has a knack for describing the tense moments as well as the happy ones.

Finally, the end of Snowed In surprised me. Though it is not sad, it left a bittersweet taste in my mouth. Overall, Snowed In was a nice read with a few life lessons included.

Holiday Hangover by Kelli Scott

HANGOVER

Holiday Hangover by Kelli Scott
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Length: Short (46 pages)
Genre: Contemporary
Other: M/F, Spanking, BDSM, Anal Sex, Toys
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Bittersweet

All work and no play has left Jane a very dull girl indeed. When she’s not working her day job, she’s spending any free time toiling for the benefit of her neighbors as the president of her condo association. At the annual holiday party, her Secret Santa gives her a basket full of naughty sex toys, someone’s inappropriate joke at her expense. Next thing Jane knows, she’s waking up in a strange bed with very little memory of the night before.

Sprawled across red satin sheets with a pounding headache and throbbing private parts, Jane struggles to recall whose bed she’s in before her new bed buddy finishes showering. Bits and pieces of memory come back to her, but the recollections don’t comfort, only confound her. It seems she’s going to have a merrier Christmas than she was anticipating.

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However, there was one thing that irked me that may not do the same to others. Ms. Scott has a Spanish hero with a supposedly sexy accent and though she keeps the Spanish words in the text to a minimum, she makes a serious mistake with one word: cariño spelling it cariña.  The word “cariña” does not exist in Spanish. The endearment is cariño for men, women, or children regardless of age or gender.

Besides that mistake, the story was a fun and hot read. The plot is not overly complicated and the characters are easy to relate to (especially Jane). The way the story is told, in bursts of memory from the heroine made everything much more interesting as I flipped through the pages almost as eager as Jane to discover how she ended up in the Spaniard’s bed. Another thing I enjoyed about Holiday Hangover was the care Ms. Scott had about condom usage, something still quite rare in some stories and definitely worth mentioning. The ending was a bit abrupt to my taste but it was tender, and made what could have only been a one-night stand mean much more.

The sexy scenes ranged from fun (I laughed aloud with the photo booth situation) and scorching (vibrators, restraints, light spanking and whipping… a heady combination). Overall, Holiday Hangover is a quick and sizzling read.

The Two and The Proud by Heather Long

TWO

The Two and The Proud by Heather Long
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (33 pages)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Aster

Roger Michael Easton IV, better known as Rowdy, flouted the family’s Naval tradition to enlist in the Marines—not as an officer, but a ground pounding grunt. He never expected to see as much combat or valor as he did in the field, but every engagement furthered his commitment to his brothers in arms. Now, with an early offer on the table to end his contract, Rowdy has to take a long look at the life he left behind, the life he’s built, and the future he longs to have.

Rowdy also wants a woman who gets him.

Inactive Marine, Kim Wakefield, continues to serve her country as a Naval Criminal Investigator. She’s hard on the grunts and sailors because she is one of them—and they didn’t sign up for easy. Tired of the seedier side of military life—picking up drunk Marines, AWOL sailors, busting drug running operations, or worse, sending drug addicted servicemen to court marshal and treatment, she longs to have her faith in her fellow Marines restored.

Kim wants a man who knows what she needs.

That is not to say cialis overnight shipping that everyone having these problems is impotent or vice versa. Uses: Super P Force helps you to get an erection in the bed, but they usa cialis only give temporary solution. That is the reason thousands of company world-wide is canada pharmacy tadalafil producing the medicine. It does not matter whether the medicine cialis without prescription overnight is branded one and works well on the male impotence problem. Thrown together by chance on a 1Night Stand, the jarheads have a combustible chemistry—but do they have what it takes to give each other what they want?

Who would be the perfect match for a rough and tough Marine? Well, another Marine, of course!

Rowdy Easton is at a crossroads in his life. Coming up to the end of his stint in the Marines, he’s trying to decide whether to continue or leave the corps. His preference would be to stay, but with cutbacks taking place, he doesn’t want to take another’s place. Mix his professional confusion with personal loneliness and you’ve got a perfect candidate for a 1Night Stand.

Kim Wakefield is an inactive Marine turned NCIS investigator. For a number of reasons, not the least of which is dealing with her own battle of the sexes, she’s signed up for Madame Eve’s service in the hopes of sharing one wild night.

These two were ripe for a one night stand. Their attraction seemed immediate, and they both seemed pleased to have found an unexpected level of respect for the other as well. The sex was smoking hot, as was the attempts at conversation during. I’m not sure I got the same relationship vibe from these two that I have gotten in other Heather Long tales, or other 1Night Stand authors, but the purpose of their date – one night – was very satisfying.

The epilogue left me a bit surprised, but happy for the couple. Rowdy made a decision that I didn’t see coming, and wished we had his point of view as to why (Was it for her? That’s my hope) but it left us with our happy ending, and that is the most important part to me!

As always, Ms. Long doesn’t disappoint. The heat factor was off the charts, even in limited pages. The Always a Marine series is a crowd pleaser for sure, and The Two and The Proud is no exception!

Jail Coach by Hillary Bell Locke

COACH

Jail Coach by Hillary Bell Locke
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (250 pgs)
Rated 4 Stars
Review by Snapdragon

Jay Davidovich is a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan because he joined the National Guard in the late ‘nineties so that the taxpayers could put him through college. Nine-eleven took him by surprise – “sort of like Bush,” as Jay puts it. His job at Trans/Oxana is to prevent losses that Trans/Oxana has insured against – especially losses that unpleasant people want to happen. After Hollywood pretty boy Kent Trowbridge plays late-night bumper-car in his Ferrari, which bought an eight-figure Trans/Oxana policy insuring performance of Trowbridge’s Major Performing Artist Contract. Jay quickly realizes that Trowbrigde is going to do some county time. Because there won’t be any director yelling “CUT!” when things get dicey on the inside, Jay figures that Trowbridge won’t be in shape to perform anything once he gets out unless Jay finds him a Jail Coach.

Enter Katrina Thompson whose past includes jail, the Marines, a daughter, and a hustler named Stan Chaladian. The first will help Jay, the second will impress him, the third will charm him, and the fourth with almost kill him – that’s life in the Loss Prevention business.

This is the term that can be identified since they will refer the pain. purchase cialis from india These are usually people with generalized anxiety cialis prescription disorder who are constantly suffering with vision problems. Enhanced semen volume is necessary to enjoy enhanced on line levitra sexual pleasure with your beautiful lady. Because of this, most of the men experienced sexual dysfunction that can affect their levels when it comes why not find out more order viagra to revealing the disorder to physicians and doctors. Jail Coach by Hillary Bell Locke is a complex and unpredictable tale that takes us to the bright lights of the celebrity world and then persists in poking into dark corners.

Told in the first person, our main character is (irritatingly) not well identified immediately. However, we eventually figure out that we have dropped into the life of Jay, an ‘asset loss prevention specialist;’ aka, what seems to be a really large, well-coordinated babysitter-slash-guard. He’s also got Robert Parker-style character ego (and commentary) but without the amusing self-knowledge of a Nero Wolf character.

Jay is taxed with getting a celebrity bad-boy through jail (and more or less, through life) and to fulfilling his movie contracts. He’s assisted in this by ex-jailbird and single mom, Katrina Thompson–and both of them, outrageous characters themselves, have less-than-savory life entanglements. “Unsavory” is my sense of the whole thing: Jail Coach is loaded with cleverly done celebrity quips and sneers; it seems that nasty and humor must go hand in hand. Celebrity dirt (both invented and historical) is salted throughout, helping identify the Hollywood set as sleazy. Lawyers, mostly sleazy, represent celebrities: Ditto. The cover makes you think ‘crime novel,’ but it isn’t really.

Jail Coach is so nicely written, it drags the reader forward, frequently unwilling. Characters are powerful, conversations snappy and amusing, and the storyline is incredibly unpredictable. Locke went somehow wrong on the spicing of this one –like a gourmet treat that somehow leaves a bit of a bad aftertaste; but it’s still well-written and original. I’m not going to say you absolutely must read, but if you start reading it, you’ll absolutely want to finish.

Struck by Lightning by Chris Colfer

LIGHTNING

Struck by Lightning: The Carson Phillips Journal by Chris Colfer
Publisher: Llittle Brown and Company
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (258 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Struck By Lightning: The Carson Phillips Journal follows the story of outcast high school senior Carson Phillips, who blackmails the most popular students in his school into contributing to his literary journal to bolster his college application; his goal in life is to get into Northwestern and eventually become the editor of The New Yorker. At once laugh-out-loud funny, deliciously dark, and remarkably smart, Struck By Lightning unearths the dirt that lies just below the surface of high school. At a time when bullying torments so many young people today, this unique and important novel sheds light with humor and wit on an issue that deeply resonates with countless teens and readers.

My high school was never this interesting.

I’ve never watched Glee and I didn’t know anything about Chris Colfer before I read this book. Maybe I’ve lived under a rock, but that’s okay. When I passed this book at the store, I stopped to check it out. The title grabbed me right away. Struck by Lightning. Okay, I’ll give it a try. I’m glad I did.
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Carson Phillips is the standard outcast kid with huge dreams. He’s not had the best start in life and will find out just how messed up life can get. But I rooted for him all the way. His voice in the story is forthright and funny. I laughed and cried along with him. He’s got a great cast of characters set in an average high school.

I loved Carson’s pluck. This kid never quit and when it looked like he should, he gave another 110%. He’s mischievous but driven. It’s great. I also loved his relationship with his grandmother. She’s suffering from dementia but she’s the one person who hasn’t given up on Carson. It’s bittersweet and sweet. I love how she always has his back.

The secondary characters helped make the story memorable, too. I loved Malerie. She’s innocent, but there’s much more to her than meets the eye.

Granted, there is some swearing in this book. It’s definitely geared for the upper high school set, but anyone from around 16 years old and up will be able to identify with at least one character.

If you want a book that will make you laugh, cry and want more, then this is a great place to start.