Archives for February 2013

Leather and Newfound Land by CB Conwy

CHARITY

Leather and Newfound Land by CB Conwy
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (24 pgs)
Other: BDSM, M/M, Anal Play, Fetish, Spanking
Rating: Three and a half stars
Reviewed by Fern

Regular massage using this herbal oil also increases discount levitra ejaculatory force. Is not Kamagra a wonderful treatment? You too can pick the medication, if you often have difficulty 100mg viagra getting to stiffen. Tired discover address viagra on line pharmacy legs affected the defense and the three-point shooting. Impaired or broken connections discount viagra usa of the middle ear bones due to trauma will also cause a conductive loss of hearing. Getting a puppy can cause major upheaval, mess, and distraction in your life. Much like getting a boyfriend, come to think about it. And Cliff has to think about it after Mischa (the adorable, but incredibly messy Newfoundland puppy) and Gerard (the equally adorable, but incredibly tidy man) come into his life on the very same day.

It’s a case of opposites attracting — and a puppy making it worse. The dog is wreaking havoc, and in the end, Cliff”s doubting whether he’s going to have a boyfriend for much longer. Then a puppy catastrophe leads to the discovery of Gerard’s kinky secret, and Cliff realizes that they may be more compatible than he ever thought possible.

Gerard and Cliff have a Newfoundland puppy, one who has just covered most surfaces in the library in big globs of mud. Complete polar opposites, Gerard and Cliff have a tumultuous relationship, both deepened and exacerbated by Mischa, Cliff’s puppy. Neat, finicky and a bit uptight, Gerard doesn’t seem to understand his attraction to relaxed, slightly hippie-ish Cliff. Neither can Cliff explain his continual attraction to and desire for Gerard. While cleaning up the library Cliff stumbles onto Gerard’s kinkier secret stash, and that leads to them both exploring their boundaries further, with surprising and delightful results.

I really enjoyed the depth of the bond between Gerard and Cliff, and Mischa – their puppy – was a fantastic addition to the story. Despite the fact Gerard and Cliff have almost nothing in common at first glance their attraction is easy to see and their growing love for one another is wonderful to read. A fair bit of kinky spice keeps the pages turning quickly and I’d enjoy reading more about these two. By the end of the short story I really felt like they had so much more to explore and even found myself thinking curiously about them what new steps they’d continue to take together.

This is a really good, hot story with sizzling sex that isn’t over the top. Very enjoyable.

Tucker’s Fall by Eliza Gayle

TUCKER

Tucker’s Fall by Eliza Gayle
Publisher: Gypsy Ink Books
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (193 pages)
Other: BDSM, M/F, Anal Play, Toys, Spanking, Voyeurism
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Lisianthus

Scandalized professor Maggie Cisco returns to her hometown to lick her wounds and reconsider her future. Her years of personal and professional research into the BDSM lifestyle has landed her in jail, in divorce court and now in the headlines of more newspapers than she cares to count. The worst of all? The entire debacle is being blamed on a bestselling book she hasn’t even read!

Just when she thinks her only solution is a tell all memoir, a snowstorm puts her in the path of stunningly handsome, insanely rich and equally intense, Tucker Lewis.

Tucker remembers Maggie well. They once shared a mind-numbing kiss at the annual St. Mary’s carnival when her boyfriend wasn’t looking. No stranger to scandal, he looks past public opinion to the submissive craving a master’s touch and decides then and there what he wants. He’s going after Maggie and her heart’s kinkiest desires.
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Unfortunately, no amount of money can change the sins of the past and when they’re certain they know everything there is to know about each other, one discovers a secret they aren’t prepared for.

Tucker Lewis is a reclusive billionaire artist who has been away from the BDSM scene for a while and Maggie Cisco is just the sub he wants to jump back in with. With things going so wrong in Maggie’s life and her losing her professor position over a scandalous trip to a BDSM club, she’s ready for some good in her life. I loved the way that Tucker only has eyes for Maggie and the way he called her Miss Maggie made me sigh happily.

He had just the touch of tortured soul while still being a capable Dom that had me wishing I was Maggie. There were just enough misunderstandings in this story between them that I found their whole relationship very believable. Tucker’s and Maggie’s past made trust hard for them, yet a brief shared moment in their past left them with an irresistible urge for each other that was resolved in some very hot and explosive love scenes.

The sex was as volcanic and detailed and fantasy worthy that I’ve come to expect from Ms. Gayle. She paints a picture that has you experiencing right along with Tucker and Maggie and wishing you had a Tucker of your very own. She sets up the next books in this series beautifully and I’ll be waiting anxiously for the rest of the Purgatory Masters.

Tucker’s Fall is the exciting and outright sexy start to a new series from Eliza Gayle. I’ve read the other series that this series is connected to and enjoyed them immensely so I immediately jumped at the chance to visit this world again.

If you love smoking a hot Dom with a soft artistic side and a sub with spirit and a sweet submissive side, you need to pick up this book. Before you know it you’ll be waiting for the next one too.

Hearts Made Of Stone by Arthur Carey

SONTE

Hearts Made Of Stone by Arthur Carey
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (17 pgs)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Stephanotis

Breaking up is hard to do. So why not get someone else to do it for you? Better still, why not capitalize on romantic failure and turn it into a profitable business?

That’s the plan Aaron Felting and Dana Larson hatch over tea and cookies after meeting in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Although Aaron falls for Dana, he soon finds she’s more interested in being the CEO of their successful Silicon Valley startup created to end the romantic entanglements of strangers than their own relationship.
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How much more interested? Let’s just say Aaron is about to get something worse than a cold shoulder…

If you’re looking for a quick and slightly amusing read, then Hearts Made of Stone might be for you. It’s one of those stories that starts in one direction and by the time you’re reading the last few sentences it’s taken a whole new turn.

The main character was likeable from the beginning. Mr. Carey set the story up so you weren’t sure exactly what was going to happen and what Aaron was really up to. Did he meet Dana by chance or vice versa? It’s something you’re not really sure about.

The business he and Dana set up gave the story some humor. The dialogue is snappy and the pace moves quickly so you can definitely read it in under twenty minutes. The part I liked best about Hearts of Stone was the ending. I thought maybe that’s where the author was heading but nevertheless it made me smile.

Twister of Fate by Misty Burke

TWISTER

Twister of Fate by Misty Burke
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (25 pgs)
Heat Level: spicy
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Romance on the Go

Callie Parker has to return to her hometown to do the unthinkable, sell the family farm. And in the process, she has to come to terms with a past she’d tried hard to run away from.

At eighteen, she’d left. Without so much as a good-bye, she’d deserted Taylorville and all the people who loved her. In particular, she’d abandoned her teenage sweetheart—Jake.
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So on the night of her return, with tornadoes raging through the Oklahoma flat land, it is Jake who saves her from an oncoming twister. And it’s Jake who spends a long night with her in an underground storm shelter.

With violent twisters overhead, can they rekindle the past?

Callie Parker has come back to her grandfather’s farm to sell it. There are bittersweet memories here for her, those of Jake Taylor, the boy she’d planned to marry right out of high school. But when that time had come, she’d needed to escape the farm more than to settle down. Although she’d been going to spend the night at her parent’s house, when a twister comes Callie is determined to protect the farm. Then Jake turns up, to help protect her.

This is a wonderful story about learning how to make peace with the past, but also finding the strength to reach out and take what you want. I enjoyed Callie’s conflict, her desire to not repeat past mistakes but still maintain the good parts of her memories. It took a lot of strength for her to decide to start a new life. Jake was also a seriously hunky farmer, strong, down to earth and ruggedly sexy. A real man’s man and deliciously hot. He was the perfect counterpoint for Callie and they made a brilliant team together.

This is a hot read, spicy enough to have you needing a cool glass of water, but not so racy you’ll be embarrassed to be caught reading it. It gives a good vibration of small town Oaklahoma, and also leaves you with the thoughts of what farming life and a caring community can be like. An enjoyable book.

Flyover by Desiree Holt

FLYOVER

Flyover by Desiree Holt
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (23 pages)
Other: M/F, Anal Play
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Aster

Enroute to their 1Night Stand dates, Chelsea Haller and Alec Ramsey are stranded in the airport during an unexpected snowstorm.

It doesn’t take long to discover they’re each other’s one-night stand. Lucky for them, they’re drawn together by sizzling electricity and soon forget the icy snow. As the heat between them nearly melts the sheets in Alec’s hotel room, their night of erotic adventure surpasses anything they expected from a 1Night Stand.

What do you do when Mother Nature foils your plans? Fortunately for Chelsea and Alec, fate stepped in.

Nowadays, several options are available that are painless and viagra cipla india deeprootsmag.org fast. The ingredients, obtained from Kumaon areas of Himalayan regions are used to make this herbal male stamina enhancer supplements also offer effective cure for erectile levitra uk deeprootsmag.org dysfunction and premature ejaculation. Sleep Disturbances – Insomnia levitra generic usa or sleeping too much may be a symptom of depression. As a result, most people in a relationship tend to refrain from sex order viagra levitra to avoid depression. Chelsea Haller is an out of work graphic artist who’d been down on her luck. After losing her job, she broke up with her boyfriend, and upon the advice of a friend, signed up for Madame Eve’s 1Night Stand Service. After being stranded at the airport due to inclement weather, her bad luck seemed to continue. Or so she thought…

Alec Ramsey is a 40 year old pilot who’s been unlucky in love. He signed up for a 1Night Stand in hopes of finding the right lady. Not much else is known about this handsome pilot, but when he meets Chelsea in the airport bar, the two hit it off immediately.

The physical attraction between these two was instant. It was a great demonstration of the power of Madame Eve to set up perfect couples, because merely putting these two next to each other was all the opportunity they needed. They had a great sexual affair, but I felt something was missing. Each had said they had been burned in love, but without any details, it was hard to sympathize with them. It also made it harder to understand what, beyond sex, would keep these two together.

One of my favorite parts of the 1Night Stand series is getting to know the characters and watching them connect with the potential love of their life. I have no doubt these two were attracted to each other, and could potentially have a long-term relationship, but there wasn’t enough in the book to assure the readers that would happen. Each referenced things like ‘never feeling this way before,’ but again, that seemed to be regarding sexual sensations. I would have loved to get to know each of these characters a bit more, perhaps even by way of back story, to know what about the other was unlike anything they’d had before.

That said, the night Chelsea and Alec spent together was hot and very enjoyable. As an optimist, I’ll believe the two made a relationship work, and are living happily ever after. For a fun, quick, sexy escape, this is a good one to pick up.

Double Vision by Cassandra Carr

DOUBLE

Double Vision by Cassandra Carr
Publisher: Siren Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Short Story (118 pgs)
Other: M/F/M, Ménage, Anal Play
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Clover

Everything Red Armstrong knew about relationships is called into question when he stumbles upon his roommate Fredrik Nieminen and his girlfriend Liz Langer going at it hot and heavy and Liz invites him to join them. Struggling with recovering from a knee injury, the young defenseman doesn’t know what to make of his attraction to Liz—after all, she’s his teammate’s woman, right?

As an older player, Fredrik’s been around the rink a time or ten, and he knows he has an awesome thing going with Liz. He envisions a future with her, but isn’t sure how their interludes with Red fit into the long-term picture.

Liz thinks Fredrik’s her forever-guy, but her sudden attraction to Red is causing doubts. The more they play together in the bedroom, the more their outside lives—and emotions—become entangled. When the unthinkable happens, all three must take a hard look at what they want and make some surprising decisions in the process.

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Fredrick and Liz have a passionate and honest relationship. The sort many people are jealous of–they just fit so well together–and to top it all he’s a handsome hockey player and she’s a gorgeous, independent woman. So when Liz gets the hots for Red, Fredrick’s much younger teammate who also happens to live with him, things crank up a level to scorching. Phew!

I’ve read Ms Carr before and enjoy her style. The writing flows, the characters are three-dimensional and the sex is steamy enough to cloud my spectacles! Double Vision is no different. With three very unique characters, scenes that lift from the page and a plot that ticks along nicely, I read it in a couple of sittings.

I liked Liz and Fredrick’s relationship especially. It was solid and full of love and respect. Red, I also liked, but his doubts about what he’d been told did over and over did make me want to shake him at times and tell him to just get on with it already! But he was younger and had doubts so I’ll forgive him for that. The plot had quite a dramatic twist near the end that I hadn’t seen coming, it did add to the story, and helped with the HEA so that was all good.

If you enjoy contemporary ménage you should consider adding Double Vision to your reading list. And if you like sexy hockey players who don’t mind sharing a woman, it’s a must.

Eyes to Die For by Keva D

EYES

Eyes to Die For by Keva D
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Short Story (66 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

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Dorn Wheeler is a demolitions expert and in high demand. While en route to Amman to be part of the team to protect the Secretary of State, he comes across a devastatingly gorgeous pair of eyes, and a witty, sharp tongued woman who fires up all his fantasies. When they discover a bomb on board the plane en route to Amman, however, the haze of sensual chemistry dissipates and Haneen works with Dorn to keep the plane safe. Only after the bomb is defused did he realise it was a trap, or test – for them, not the innocent passengers. In a strange country, not knowing who to trust or whether his instincts are sound, Dorn can’t help himself against the growing attraction he has for Haneen – even though she might be the enemy after all.

This is a fantastic book, brimming with witty, sensual dialogue. Haneen and Dorn are an equal match – both of them bantering back and forth with double entendres along with more blatant sexual teasing. There isn’t much in the way of explicit sex – it’s a slow burn, a build up between Haneen and Dorn, but done with such skill I felt fully satisfied with the teasing, sensual byplay between the two main characters. The chemistry between them is explosive and really well written. Despite the fact they only clash swords for the first time in the airport, author Keva D has done a remarkable job meshing the two of them so it feels and reads like they’ve known each other a lot longer, the sexual tension is thick and delightful between them, brimming with all kinds of possibilities.

Filled with the exotic wonder of other societies, beliefs and systems, this is a heady snapshot of the Middle East that will appeal to anyone looking for romance and adventure outside their regular comfort zones. The story is fast paced and really exciting never letting you pause for breath. This is an excellent book with rich characters and brilliant dialogue. I can happily recommend this and plan to search out others by this author.

Delicious Smelling Leather Wallet by Dakota Dawn

CHARITY

Delicious Smelling Leather Wallet by Dakota Dawn
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (14 pgs)
Other: M/M, Anal Play
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Fern
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Returning a lost wallet was Bryson’s only goal, but when he sees its handsome owner, he can’t help but wish for more. For the last couple of years, Bry hasn’t felt like dating. One look into Jonas’ eyes changes that.

The only problem is, he doesn’t know if Jonas free or already claimed.

Bryson Dodd is minding his own business when he stumbles over a leather wallet that’s fallen onto the ground. The leather smells amazing, but better still was the photo on the drivers license of the wallet’s owner – Jonas. Despite the instant sizzling chemistry between them, both men decide to take it slow. Bry – a landscaper – takes the job Jonas offers to make his gardens a lush tropical paradise. During the work the men get closer until neither can deny the heat of need burning in them both.

This is a fast paced short story just brimming with sexual tension. When the two men finally give in to their attraction the sex is scorching hot and well worth the build up. Even though it’s a quick romp – there is plenty of emotional connection between the men. The scent of the leather wallet might have been the starting point, but Bry and Jonas forge a deeper connection and the sex is just the icing on top. A good, hot, quick read.

Wise Men Say by Wendy Burke

SAY

Wise Men Say by Wendy Burke
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (39 pages)
Other: M/F
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Aster

Over twenty years ago, Emmy Patterson kissed her fiancé for the last time. Nick promised he’d return and despite bad news from U.S. military services since the day he went missing, she’d never lost hope he’s alive and celebrates his life every chance she gets.

When The Castillo Hotel purchases some of her glass artwork, she spends the winter holidays in Las Vegas promoting it. But is this unexpected business travel a coincidence, or has the wise Madame Eve found a way to heal Em’s wounded heart?

Can a woman move on after losing the love of her life?

Emelia Patterson is a successful glass artist trying to live her life with her extended family in Wisconsin. Her one great love, Nick, went missing and assumed dead over twenty years prior, taking her only chance at true happiness with him. She now devotes herself to her cats and family, long since given up on the idea of finding a man who can live up to the memory of a man she lost her virginity to and then disappeared.
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Nick Klaussen is a Navy Seal. Devoted to his duty and country, he’s been presumed missing for 20 years. After intense experiences, and some time to adjust to being home, he’s determined to win back his long lost love.

I wanted to love this book. I’m a sucker for military stories and the love between a military man and his woman. While there was much in this story I loved, it left me rather frustrated.

The concept was great – a woman holding on hope her love is alive, and fighting every outlet for answers. I like the spunk and fire of Emmy, but the first half of the book focused almost exclusively on how she put her entire life on hold after Nick’s disappearance. I felt sorry for her – a woman living for her cats and her niece (and 21 year old Seth-we’re not told initially who he is, but assumptions can be made). Over twenty years since the last time she’d seen or heard from him, she still cries for him and even hugs his shirt, clinging to the last bits of his scent and lamenting the fact she can no longer remember the sound of his voice.

When a strange man shows up in her suite in Las Vegas, it’s pretty clear who it is. What isn’t clear, however, is where he’s been. There’s not much of an explanation, and considering the abandonment I’d feel in Emmy’s shoes, I’d hoped we’d get a more solid answer. Perhaps if this novella had been extended, more justice could have been done to these two characters. It’s difficult to express my frustration without revealing spoilers, but the final pages of this tale seemed rushed after the slow build up.

Disappointments aside, we did get our happy ending, and there was no question the love these two have for each other. If you like the idea of a happily ever after despite years of grief, perhaps give this one a try.

If You Give a Rake a Ruby by Shana Galen

RAKE

If You Give a Rake a Ruby by Shana Galen
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (341 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

Her Mysterious Past is the Best Revenge…

Fallon, the Marchioness of Mystery, is a celebrated courtesan with her finger on the pulse of high society. She’s adored by men, hated by their wives. No one knows anything about her past, and she plans to keep it that way.

Only He Can Offer Her a Dazzling Future…

Warrick Fitzhugh will do anything to protect his compatriots in the Foreign Office, including seduce Fallon, who he thinks can lead him to the deadliest crime lord in London. He knows he’s putting his life on the line…

To Warrick’s shock, Fallon is not who he thinks she is, and the secrets she’s keeping are exactly what makes her his heart’s desire…

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The Three Diamonds and the Diamonds in the Rough aren’t really that “hardest natural substance on earth” but people that reveal their strengths in ways that lure the reader into dangerous, delicious, and daring adventures and into sensual, sweet love scenes that sizzle.

Fallon, the Marchioness of Mystery, one f the Three Diamonds, with her dark hellish secrets, knows how tenuous her place in London Society is, but she’s lived on the edge in for more perilous situations. She is beautiful, brave, kind, resourceful, smart, and with skills learned in the underbelly of London’s mean streets and those learned from Lady Sinclair, the Iron Countess, she copes remarkable well. She keeps herself alive and helps keep the man she loves alive. The caring and loyalty she gives and receives is a vivid thread in the tapestry of the story.

Warrick Fitzhugh has no desire to be part of the Ton’s doings other than to use them to help him save the network of spies he is a part of. With “soldier’s neurosis” (now called post traumatic stress disorder), he has to fight battles on more than one front. He must struggle to overcome debilitating flashbacks of the hellish battlefields while ferreting out the most evil men in London and defeat them. And on a more personal level, he fights to withstand the disapproval of his father that he loves very much.

If you read the first of this series WHEN YOU GIVE A DUKE DIAMOND, you will recognize many of the secondary characters that offer intriguing little side stories that add texture to IF YOU GIVE A RAKE A RUBY. However, the diabolical characters like Bayley, Gabriel, and the absentee Lucifer add a rough texture that chafes the nerves and causes the reader to shudder. Their disregard for human life is chilling making Fallon’s and Warrick’s encounters with them heart-pounding fearful experiences.

Shana Galen taps into deep emotions to create characters that live life on the edge and live it full speed ahead. Her settings for various actions come alive to reveal the time, social mores and depravities vividly as the characters deal with conflicts and dangers aplenty. Of course, at other times, the love scenes she creates take the reader on a sensual, ecstatic, lost-in-love experience that is breathtaking and beautiful.

This well-written regency romance with its remarkable characters keeps one turning pages. It races along with scary action and with love that shimmers and shines even in the darkest of times as the enigmatic Fallon and the war-scarred Warrick find their happy-eve-after.