Review: A Bolt From The Blue by Georgia Fox

Author - Georgia Fox
Genre - Erotica
Series - N/A
Format - Ebook (30p.)
Rating - 2.5/5 stars

Alix likes her secrets, but one of them is about to draw her out of hiding and make her face a few facts about her life. He's someone she's only chatted with online, yet he already knows more about Alix than any other man she's ever encountered. For some reason she's told him more than she should and when the voice in her head asks what the hell she's doing, she has no answer to give. Nothing can explain the nature of this unusual relationship or why she feels so close to a stranger.

Until they finally come face to face and discover that lightening can strike in the same place twice.

• Review •
This was an okay read. I enjoyed it fairly well right up until the end. Unfortunately the end was so horrible I knocked off 2 points. I would have happily given this a 4/4.5 rating. The end was just too disappointing… not even a HEA. I can't even call it a HFN! Another complaint I had was the constant misspelling of the word Lightning. The author kept spelling it Lightening… which is something I do to my hair every 30 days. >_> There's other definitions of lightening as well. What do teachers do all day?! Pathetic.

I did enjoy the smexy times and the humor though. I would have liked more character development and more story. There's a lot of potential. But as is, we don't even know the guys name! He's referred to as "Him" and "Stranger". And most of the smexiness is in Alix's memories. Actually, I think that's all there was. I'm pretty sure there's nothing going on outside of her memories and just one kiss at the end. Heh, it hasn't even been 12 hours and I've already forgotten! Also, a few things are mentioned but never closed at the end which left a lot of hanging loose ends. Incomplete is incomplete. It's safe to say, I don't recommend this one.

Cover musings:

Unimpressed. Dark and rather blah looking.

★★½

Review: The Dating Game by Jessica Morse

Author - Jessica Morse
Genre - Contemporary Erotic Romance
Series -N/A
Format - Ebook (77p.)
Rating - 4/5 stars
Read an excerpt

Protecting your heart is the hardest part of the game.

Camille and Ethan are kindred spirits: busy professionals with no time for the demands of typical relationships. They devise an arrangement that suits her busy schedule and satisfies their lust for each other. When real feelings develop between them, can either one move past the rules of the game to take a chance on something just as exciting and even more risky?

• Review •
THE DATING GAME wasn't a bad book despite some of the complaints I had. In fact, I really liked it a lot. I didn't think I would though because the first 5 chapters were pretty average. Nothing "wow"ed me and I thought it might turn out to be a 2 or 3 star read. But chapter 6 and on was great and I'm glad I stuck with it. One thing is for certain, a strong suspension of disbelief is required. Almost everything that happens in this story is just way too convenient.

Characters were pretty good, pacing and story is great and was nice to see other aspects to it besides just sex and everyone thinking about sex. I felt the balance between the erotic storyline and the contemporary romance was perfect. For that reason, I'm interested in trying more books from this author. A couple of the complaints I had were a lack of Ethan's POV. It's written in 3rd person but from Camille's side for the whole novella. I would have loved to know what Ethan was thinking and feeling and am quite disappointed. To a lesser extent, I also had problems with the lack of a HEA (only a HFN) and the plethora of spelling errors such as…

"You damn game started it a cab, Ethan—" (p.70)

Spelling mistakes such as this one just left me with a dumbfounded look on my face most of the time. Whoever the author hired to read her books before they go "live" needs to be fired. This is an example of just one of the many, many, many mistakes too. O_o All that aside, I truly enjoyed this novella and would happily read it again.

Cover musings:

Meh. It's pretty bland. At least the people are how I imagine the characters to look, sort of, which is always nice.

★★★★

Review: Christmas Cash by Maggie Casper

Author - Maggie Casper
Genre - Erotic Romance
Series - Raising Cain #1
Format - Ebook (54p.)
Rating - 5/5 stars
Read an excerpt

If you can't beat him, irritate the hell out of him. Moving back home to Chaos, Texas wasn't working out quite the way Noelle had planned. The last thing she expected was a seasonal job that included dressing up as Mrs. Claus while ringing a bell for charity, but thanks to Cash McCain, she wasn't left much of a choice.

Cash can't believe what ten years can do for a woman. The last time he'd seen Noelle, she'd been all knees and elbows. Now a woman grown yet still ten years his junior, thus too young for him, Noelle has filled out in a way that should be illegal.

When Cash refuses her a job at Raising Cain, a Texas honky-tonk run by the McCain siblings, she takes it upon herself to make his life miserable. Who could have imagined the damage a tiny, tinkling bell could cause to a man's sanity? But when things heat up, Cash begins to think that raising a little cane with the likes of Noelle might not be such a bad thing after all.

• Review •
I loved, loved, loved CHRISTMAS CASH! The writing was awesome, as were the characters (I especially loved Noelle), the humor, and yes, the very hot smexy times! This was a fast paced short story that totally hit the spot for me. Despite a couple small hiccups that I'll get to in a minute, I cannot wait to read the other books in this series. Or anything else Maggie Casper might write! Awesome, awesome book. All around quick, fun and hot read that I highly recommend.

So, let me get to those small hiccups that —ultimately— prevented me from adding CHRISTMAS CASH to my Favorites list. First is the lack of anything truly Christmas-y. Even the Mrs. Claus costume was only mentioned once and the rest of the time it was as if she was wearing everyday clothing. Personally, I felt that that part of the plot was pretty weak and could have been left off completely. Secondly, I never got why these characters loved each other. With Noelle it was never even brought up and with Cash his reasoning was shallow and very disappointing. Being an erotic romance I'm sure I don't need to spell it out. I did ease up a little based on the fact he works in a bar and is a man… not exactly the brightest bulb in the box.

Cover musings:

Doesn't do anything for me. I've seen better and I've seen worse.

Favorite moment:

- After Noelle and Cash's first time together and she completely brushes him off… Seriously, PRICELESS! Could not stop laughing at Cash's reaction.

★★★★★

Review: The Ultimate Merger by Delaney Diamond

Author - Delaney Diamond
Genre - Erotic Romance
Series - Hot Latin Men (Prequel to book #4)
Format - Ebook (40p.)
Rating - 3/5 stars

The Ultimate Merger is a short story. It's the prequel to Second Chances, Book 4 of the Hot Latin Men series.

Two workaholics slow down long enough to find love when they least expect it.

Renaldo da Silva is on the verge of entering the U.S. market with the purchase of a hotel in downtown Chicago. After working hard for several days straight, he heads to a local bar and sees a woman who instantly makes him reconsider how to spend his evening.

When another one of her male counterparts unfairly becomes the lead on a project, Sabrina Porter leaves work intent on drowning her sorrows in wine and loud music at a local bar. Instead, she meets a sexy Brazilian who’s intent on showing her a different way to unwind.

• Review •
I didn't love THE ULTIMATE MERGER too much. For an erotic read, the sex was awful. For a romantic read, the romance was glossed over and weak. As the reader, you don't get to see the "love" they feel for each other grow. All you get is… they meet, have sex, weeks go by (that the reader isn't privy to), professing of love all around, and he proposes… the end. To top it off, I didn't like the characters that much either. I feel kind of cheated.

I did enjoy the pacing and writing immensely though. Which is why I didn't DNF the story. And I loved Sabrina up until the second chapter. That accounted for something. At about 40 pages and free, it was better than I expected. Not bad, but not for me. I'd recommend it to those planning on reading the 4th book in this series since THE ULTIMATE MERGER is the prequel to it, or to try out the author (I'm not a fangirl yet, but dying to try another book by her).

Cover musings:

It's kind of dark. I like the gold touch though.

Favorite moment:

- When Renaldo and Sabrina were discussing their future kids… Cute and silly fun.

★★★

Review: Trouble With Harry by Myla Jackson

Author - Myla Jackson
Genre - Time Travel Erotic Romance
Series - Trouble #1
Format - Ebook (142p.)
Rating - 3.5/5 stars

In 1924 Harry, an adventurous archeologist, uncovers his greatest discovery-the tomb of the daughter of Shah Azhi "the devil king," containing the magical stone of Azhi. Legend tells of the stone's power to grant wishes. When Harry lays his hands on the prize, he's sucked into a bottle and stays there for over eighty years.

In the twenty-first century, lonely museum worker Edie Ragsdale has been tasked with cataloging the contents of a sarcophagus. Among the mummified remains of a long-dead princess, Edie finds a bottle. When she brushes away the dust of thousands of years, a naked Harry appears. Because she was the one to wake Harry from his long sleep, Edie is able to wish for anything her heart desires and Harry has to grant it. But when her wishes land her on the set of a porn film and the deck of a pirate ship with a hundred sex-starved pirates ready to teach her a few lessons on sex, Edie has to rely on handsome Harry to bail her out.

Come along for a sexy, rollicking romp and learn why you should be careful what you wish for…

~ What I Liked: I absolutely loved the humor in this book. There was a lot of laugh out loud moments that made this book just so much fun! It also made it easier to forgive some things that didn't always work for me that I will get to in a minute.

I also really enjoyed the storytelling along with the fast pace and the strong characters that were fleshed out extremely well. There's a strong possibility I'll read more from this author in the future. I can't remember how I discovered her, but I'm glad I did. Despite the issues I had with this book. Explanation ↓.

~ What I Didn't Like: I had some issues with quite a few things. First was a major pet-peeve of mine; unprotected sex. I don't give a shit if he's from the past, he can still get her pregnant and she can still give him HIV. It made Edie irresponsible and stupid and I didn't care for her at all after that (her pity-parties didn't help her case either).

I also didn't care for how she went from insecure fragile little virgin to confident exhibitionist having sex in front of people with no care about who watches… and in the case of the library sex, any child that is doing school research. Did I mention how irresponsible and stupid she was?

Another problem I had with Edie was her non-reaction to the almost-rapes on the ship and porn set. I had several more problems with her, but suffice it to say, she belly-flopped into the TSTL pool. Pretty ironic since she constantly reiterates how smart and independent she is.

Some other issues are the biology lesson the author takes us through during the smexy times. That got really annoying really fast. And there's also the incorrect word usage. Seriously? People still haven't learned spellcheck won't fix a wrong word spelled confetti (correctly~ I see what you did there…)? And the ending was so bad it almost made me wish I had never read the book. To say it was rushed and incomplete would be an understatement. So disappointing.

~ Final Analysis: A fun and funny beach read that was enjoyable for the most part. The humor is the life-support for this book though. I wouldn't have liked it without that. Right up until the end I was set to give this book a 5 star rating as well, but the ending (or lack thereof) means I don't want this to be a keeper to reread, so 3.5 stars for the entertainment factor.

★★★½

Review: Leather & Lust by McKenna Chase

Author - Mckenna Chase
Genre - Erotica
Series - N/A
Format - Ebook (@58p.)
Rating - 3/5 stars

Jillian Summers is ready to move past a failed relationship and her best friends have the perfect solution. They convince her to forget the suit and tie kind of guy she has always been attracted to and find herself a cowboy lover during their upcoming vacation to a dude ranch in Wyoming. Only her friends bail on her at the last minute, leaving Jillian to face her sexual re-awakening on her own. A wrong turn lands her at the mercy of Jackson Burke. A cowboy who knows how to seduce a woman with just a look. And seduce her he does, much to her delight. The chemistry between them is explosive. So when he asks her to forget going to the dude ranch and stay at his ranch with him for the week, she accepts, eager to experience more of the fiery passion they’d already shared. But will a week with Jackson be enough to sate the hunger this sexy cowboy has awakened in her?

• Review •
First off, I liked LEATHER AND LUST more than I should have. Okay, now that that is out of the way… There were some editing issues and inconsistencies of some pretty basic things that could have been caught and fixed. The biggest one for me was the magically changing clothing that caused a couple "WTF?" moments on my part.

Jillian (and her girlfriends) are TSTL. She's cowardly and immature. Jackson was okay though from what little info could be gleaned from his dialog. Definitely very hot! Not much character development here, so equally, not much to really say about them. Five minutes after they meet, they're already having wild monkey sex… while I know that might work for some, I prefer some more story and character development. And while, toward the end, there were some romantic elements, they fell flat. This is nothing but porn.

Overall, like I said up top, I liked this one more than I probably should have. The writing was decent, the pacing was great, the sex hot. There was potential for some real romance and I really would have liked to see that developed more. As it stands though, I just couldn't swallow that they loved each other. Not when every scene they were in it was a sex scene. So… it was somewhat enjoyable, but not something I plan on reading again. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes erotica looking for a quick afternoon escape. Personally, Jackson is worth the read! Talk about HOT!!

★★★

Review: Come Monday by Mari Carr

Author - Mari Carr
Genre - Erotica
Series - Wild Irish #1
Format - eBook (138p.)
Rating - 2/5 stars

Monday's child is fair of face…After the death of her mother years prior, Keira Collins became a surrogate parent to her six younger brothers and sisters, her own dreams put on hold. At twenty-seven, she's finally pursuing a college degree. Between classes, working at the family pub and still tending to siblings, she's no time for romance. So why is she spending all her rare free time fantasizing about hot Professor Wallace bending her over his desk?

Will Wallace recognizes Keira's unfulfilled desires, her habit of hiding her beauty, her obsessive need to command every aspect of her life. But Will has needs of his own-and they run far darker than Keira's. As he initiates her into his lifestyle, offering sweet punishments and sweeter rewards, Will's sexual authority slowly strips away some of her precious control. The one thing Keira's not ready to relinquish…

• Review •
This wasn't my favorite read. While there was some really good things, the bad far out-weighed them. The best part of Come Monday is the writing. That was the main point that kept me turning the pages. Although, at 67% on my kindle, I was highly tempted to DNF. But after the 50% mark I refuse to be a cop-out and, no matter what, I will finish what I'm reading.

My biggest beef with Come Monday was the characters. They were the most TSTL people ever! To say I hated them would be a gross understatement. Props to Carr for creating characters that are believable enough as to get such a passionate reaction from me, whether of love or hate. But, that point also had an adverse reaction on the rest of the story too.

I couldn't care less about the main characters. The sex scenes were lukewarm, the scenes between Keira and her family were unbelievable. And worst of all, even though the characters were given decent backstories, they weren't described very well visually. I kept imagining cardboard cut-outs knockin' boots…

Overall, I didn't like Come Monday, but I did like Mari Carr's writing. I plan on reading her again, and probably a book within this series. I'm happy that I found a new author to try. I'm hoping that the characters in the rest of the series are more likable, because I can definitely see Ms. Carr gracing my Keeper Shelf in that case.

★★

Review: Wallbanger by Sable Jordan

Author - Sable Jordan
Genre - Erotica Thriller
Series - Kizzy Baldwin Series #2
Format - eBook (187p.)
Rating - 4/5 stars

A relic from the Cold War that shouldn’t even exist….

After being Shaken and Stirred, secret agent Kizzie Baldwin is again thrust into a world she knows nothing about, and learning on the fly from a teacher she can’t trust. The objective is the same: secure Intel on Formula 3-19. But to do that, she has to give the nefarious Dom, Xander Duquesne, exactly what he wants first.

He’s still not her Master. But she will call him ‘Sir’!

• Review •
Love, love, love Wallbanger! It's intense and gritty and edgy. Kizzy and Xander are, by far, my most favorite non-couple of the year. I had a blast reading this story. The plot was so believable, Ms. Jordans writing voice is perfect, the places were described in vivid detail without being overly wordy. Loved. It.

The characters for the most part are the same cast from Shaken & Stirred. With some new faces added. Characterization is great! But, there were a lot of characters, and we were in the heads of almost every one of them at least once. It made for some busy reading that kind of had me loosing interest when not dealing with the main characters. I was tempted to do some skimming, but was worried I'd miss some vital piece of information. Thankfully those parts didn't last very long though so I just stuck with it. And I'm glad I did.

Even though the plot was busy, and there was a lot of character "mind-hopping", it was easy to follow. I knew who I was with and what was happening and where I was within the main story. I never suffered moments of confusion. It did create some sluggishness in the middle, but the action picked up again at the end.

Overall, Wallbanger is a great book. The only reason I'm not giving it 5+ stars is because I would have preferred less side characters and more Kizzy and Xander! Maybe Phil too with his own little chickadee! Anyway, like I said in my review of Shaken & Stirred, even though this is labeled an erotic thriller… there really is a story here, and it is turning out to be my favorite series of the year.

If you haven't read the first book in the series yet, I highly recommend that you do so before reading this one as it is not a stand-alone. And I emphatically recommend reading Wallbanger to fans of thrillers, erotica, BDSM, and exciting edge-of-your-seat reads!

★★★★

• Favorite Quote •

"Listen, slick. Im guessing you dont speak Russian or Japanese, so we're down to English, French and snark." [Kizzy]

≈ ♥ ≈ ♥ ≈ ♥ ≈ ♥ ≈

He didnt need this right now. He had a stiff cock, an insubordinate sub, and a pain in the ass for a best friend—And a stiff cock. [Xander]

≈ ♥ ≈ ♥ ≈ ♥ ≈ ♥ ≈

The image of Phil in hooker heels was a bright spot in an otherwise emotionally dreary evening, and she laughed. [Kizzy]

Review: Hold Me by Lucianne Rivers

Author - Lucianne Rivers
Genre - Erotic Thriller
Series - Caldwell Sisters #1
Format - eBook (69p.)
Rating - 3/5 stars

Still reeling from her mother’s death, news anchor Jane Caldwell’s life is upended further when she learns the father she lost twenty years ago is still alive. Her mother’s will unleashes a manhunt—the Caldwell sisters must find their father, or their mother’s estate will not be settled, and their questions about his disappearance will remain unanswered.

Jane’s search leads her to Guatemala to investigate a man who claims to be her father and heir to the family fortune. Needing a translator, she enlists enigmatic Harrison DeNeuve, a sexy ex-patriot with a penchant for wearing dark sunglasses in public.

As Jane struggles to reunite with her would-be father, Harrison fights to suppress his desire for Jane. He has a secret—one he’s sequestered himself in a third-world jungle hideaway to keep safe—and falling for Jane puts more than his heart at risk.

Jane finds two men in Guatemala—a father and a lover—but can she trust either of them?

• Review •
I had mixed feelings about Hold Me. I wanted to love it, but it was kind of "meh". The greatest aspect of this novella was Cady. OMG! Was that man hot! As much as I loved him, I hated Jane on an equal level, if not more so. Ugh… TSTL to the nth degree.

She's pathetic, desperate, weak, immature, and dependant. I'm surprised she can manage to go to the bathroom without having someone hold her hand. I had violent urges to beat her with a tire-iron. Or just, you know, throw my ereader. I'm getting really tired of reading about these types of women. I'm pretty sure those types are the minority and not the majority in the real world.

Anyway, despite that, the book was decent. Not great, but not bad. The sex was a scorcher though! I think my ereader started to steam during a few of those scenes. o_o The writing, overall, was pretty average. For an ebook the editing was great. Only one misspelled word, if I remember correctly. Pacing was fast… Maybe a bit too much at the end though, because it definitely felt rushed.

I wasn't happy with the "HEA" at all. It was tossed in as an afterthought I believe, because it was only one sentence. Not even consisting of a declaration of love. What is up with that lately?! "Hey, I don't know if I love you or not, but the sex is great… so let's get married!!" O_o

Overall, it was a fun, HOT, sexy, fast-paced, intriguing read. I'm glad I read it because Cady is sooo worth it! The suspense plot was lame, but if you look at Hold Me as strictly an erotic novella with a dash of story you'll be good. I'm looking forward to reading the other books in the series.

★★★

Review: Take Me by Grace Samuels

Author - Grace Samuels
Genre - Erotica
Series - Naughty Nooners
Format - eBook (@16p.)
Rating - 2/5 stars

"I want to taste you." His voice seduced her. His body, costumed in a linen kilt and a mask of the ancient Egyptian lion-headed god of the massacre, made her body burn.

It was inappropriate, unprofessional, but when he spoke, "I'm not a gentle lover. I'll take you fast. I'll take you hard, and I won't stop until we've both come," Diana willingly took the plunge into decadence, forgetting where they were and who she was.

• Review •
This review will be harder than most to write because every issue I had was due to one single matter that would be a spoiler for me to discuss here. So I will start by talking about what I liked—which isn't much.

I loved all the little details that Take Me had. Things were described so vividly that in my minds eye I could see every little nuance of something. And, I just have to say, I want Diana's dress! Another aspect I loved was the ending. It was a twist that was so totally unexpected. Pretty sure my mouth fell open and stayed like that for several minutes.

The writing was done well and had a nice flow to it that I wasn't expecting either. I really need to work on my pre-judging of a book based on price/genre. I'm such a snob sometimes! The writing almost had a lyrical flow to it. I quite enjoyed it.

Now for my issues… Thad struck me as some sort of creepy, perverted stalker type. I did not like him at all. (And, seriously… tattoos and piercings are not attractive to everybody… *gag* I could have done without that completely, thanks o_O). I also thought he was a sociopath, which in turn built a strong dislike for Diana, whom I affectionately refer to as Dimwit. I thought she was TSTL. If it hadn't been for the writing and the fact that this was a short story I would have walked away and DNF'ed it then and there.

There wasn't much characterization done in Take Me either. And the plot? What plot? There was none. This book can be summed up in three parts. Epic-fail for the start, mediocre sex, then surprise end. There isn't much else. I'm glad it was free, that's for sure. Had the "spoiler issue" been made evident at the start of this short story, I would have been much happier with matters and Take Me would have been given a higher grade. It had potential, but failed to deliver.

★★

Review: Saying Yes by Barbara Elsborg

Author - Barbara Elsborg
Genre - Erotic Comedy
Series - Naughty Nooners
Format - eBook (28p.)
Rating - 5/5 stars

Zadie’s negative attitude leads to the loss of her boyfriend, job and flat. Now she’s determined to be a yes girl. Yes, she’d love to flat sit while the owner is away, but one look at the mess and she wishes she’d said no.

No is the last thing Tristan expects to hear when he proposes in front of his girlfriend’s family. Humiliated, he hides out in his brother’s empty flat without asking because he really doesn’t want to hear another no.

What he needs is a woman who’ll say yes…yes…yes… Could that be Zadie?

• Review •
So friggin funny! I loved this story. It was hot, hilarious, silly, fun, cute, and sweet. All that and more in only 28 pages! It could have been a lot longer though. I seriously want more of Tristan (Dibs!) and Zadie. I'd love to watch their love unfold naturally. And learn more about them in the process.

The conflict was a bit lame. I could have done without that completely. In a story this short, detracting from the happy vibes is a major faux pas for me. And the epilogue seemed forced. These characters weren't done, but they were silenced nonetheless. I had some trouble with the British (?) terminology too. But it wasn't bad enough to totally take away from the story, and at least I knew what a flat was!

Overall, I'm happy with this short story. I couldn't stop laughing… and I'm still laughing at some scenes and it's been awhile already! It's categorized as an erotic story but I didn't feel that was accurate. It's certainly sexy and the sex is the main focus, but it wasn't raunchy enough for me to claim it as an erotic read in my opinion. I highly recommend Saying Yes! It's a super hot, fast, funny read that will have you sniggering your lunch break away.

★★★★★

• Favorite Quotes •

"You've probably used all the hot water," he said. "Can I get in?"
"Yes." Oh fuck, did I say that? The word had slipped past her brains quality control.

≈ ♥ ≈ ♥ ≈ ♥ ≈ ♥ ≈

The almost smile on his face turned into a full-on beam, and Zadie's pussy gurgled "I'm here".

≈ ♥ ≈ ♥ ≈ ♥ ≈ ♥ ≈

"Oh God, can I keep you? You don't need batteries, do you?" she whispered.

Review: Wild Card by Lora Leigh

Author - Lora Leigh
Genre - Erotica
Series - Elite Ops #1
Format - Paperback (418p.)
Rating - 2/5 stars
Read an excerpt

It was supposed to be simple. All Navy SEAL Nathan Malone had to do was rescue three young girls from a Colombia drug cartel, then allow himself to be captured just long enough to draw out a government spy. That was before his mission went disastrously wrong…and before his wife, Bella, was told that Nathan was never coming home.

Bella’s mourned her husband’s death for three long years. But she has no idea he’s still alive. Forced to assume a new identity, the man Nathan was is now dead. If he can get back to his wife, can he keep the secret of who he really is…even as desire threatens to consume them? And as danger threatens to tear Bella from Nathan’s arms once more?

• Review •
This book was like a train wreck. I should have DNF'd it right off the bat, but there was something that kept sucking me in. I have no clue what that something was though. And that's very frustrating because it makes writing this review especially hard. It's certainly not the worst book I've ever read, although it is close. I think it was the promise of a plot that kept me going. But, alas, it never came.

The characters are awful! Even though they were written well enough they were still TSTL for me to care about them. Speaking of writing… WTF?! First Nathan/Noah has been dead for 6 years, then it's 3 years, then 6 again, then 4 years, then 2 years! Really?! Make up my damn mind already… jaysus!

And what is up with all the animal crap? Was half expecting the characters to drop and start smelling strangers crotches… Yeah, no that is so not cool. More like disturbing/disgusting. Just stay away from me, my kids and my pets and it's all good though.

Overall, this book was trying to be a like a porno but fell seriously flat. There's no plot, shoddy writing, horrid characters, 300 out of the 418 pages are redundant (constantly repeating the same crap over and over again does not make it more believable). It angers me because there is sooo much potential here with a husband that dies in the line of duty, but isn't really dead and comes back to his wife years later. I mean, really… how can you screw that up? But it was and it's a shame.

One thing I loved about this book; after a few sex scenes you can start skipping/skimming them (they're not indicative to the story or that interesting anyway, removing wallpaper is more interesting), and the book will start to fly. This was a wallbanger, that I am so unbelievably happy that I finished. I recommend that if you see this book you run away… fast, like it's a carrier of the black plague itself. But, if this book is your type of thing, Happy reading! :)

★★

Review: Dane by Liliana Hart

Author - Liliana Hart
Genre - Erotica
Series - The MacKenzie Brothers Quartet #1
Format - eBook (63p.)
Rating - 2/5 stars

Bad boy, Dane MacKenzie, is coming home to Surrender, Montana. It’s been ten years since he left the woman he loved behind to make a name for himself, and now he’s bound and determined to claim her once and for all.

But Charlotte Munroe has no desire to welcome home the Prodigal Son with a fatted calf. The bitterness of Dane’s betrayal runs deep, and she has no plans of letting him back into her life. Especially since she’s trying to protect the son Dane isn’t aware exists from heartbreak, since she’s sure he’s only going to walk out of their lives again.

• Review •
For a short story, I realize that there's some aspect that has to suffer. I get that. In Dane it was the conflict and the subsequent resolution that really irked me. It was too tidy, I guess. I wanted and expected more reaction from the characters in regards to the secret child. This short story was an alright read though.

The suspension of disbelief is needed, at least it was for me. I also loathed Charlie from the get-go. She is the ultimate definition of TSTL in my eyes. Dane would have been better off finding a lawyer and going for custody of the kid. Lord knows Charlie is an unfit mother…

I did like some things about Dane though. The concept—while unoriginal—was written well enough to be intriguing. A good amount of detail went into characters, more so with the brothers because of the series of course, than with Charlie… but that was a good thing. And Dane is hot enough to melt my screen. He did have a little inbred redneck moment with his brothers at the bar, but it ended quick enough.

Ultimately, it was an okay, quick read with superb pacing. I'm glad I got it for free though, because Charlie makes it unworthy of a .99c price tag in my opinion. I will try the other books in the series only if they're free too. I can't recommend Dane, but my opinions and judgements were formed early on, so maybe a sample would be a good idea.

★★

Review: Shaken & Stirred by Sable Jordan

Author - Sable Jordan
Genre - Erotic Thriller
Series - Kizzy Baldwin series Book #1
Format - eBook (51p.)
Rating - 4/5 stars

Secret agent Kizzie Baldwin has a mission with a simple objective: Steal a formula while attending the festivities on the villainous Xander Duquesne's luxury yacht. There's just one problem—she has no idea it's a BDSM party.

Dom and criminal mastermind Xander is a man who likes to be prepared. But the unexpected run-in with Kizzie throws him for a loop. Will he give her what she came for, or a little something extra?

• Review •
I was completely blown away by Shaken and Stirred. It wasn't what I was expecting at all. It's a well written, fast-paced, edgy read. The plot is believable, the characters to die for, the dialog off the hook. I'm seriously trying not to squee at the moment.

I love Kizzy! She is smart, quick, sarcastic. I think I may have a girl-crush here. Xander is intriguing and mysterious, and insanely hot. I even liked the side characters! Only thing is, it would have been nice to get to know them all a little bit more. But I understand being a short story some things need to be cut.

I had just one major problem with Shaken and Stirred; the cliffhanger. And it was no subtle cliffhanger which is somewhat tolerable. This one was an in-your-face kind which means the next book, due out in October, will either be epic or highly disappointing. I'm eagerly awaiting an epic continuation.

Anyway, Shaken and Stirred is not a typical erotic read. There's an actual story here that is highly compelling, one that sucked me in from the very start, and didn't let go until the last word. I was hooked.

★★★★

Review: Exotic Indulgence by Various

Author - Various
Genre - Erotica
Series - Bandicoot Cove #1
Format - eBook (101p.)
Rating - DNF

It’s time for an indulgence, or two…or three.

Bandicoot Cove, Book 1

There’s something magical about Bandicoot Cove. It’s where Kylie Sullivan’s dream of managing a luxury, five-star resort is about to come true. And it’s where people tend to fall in love. Kylie should know. She’s fallen hard—for three very different men.

There’s Brad, who knows just how to relieve her stress and send her body on a crash course through pleasure. Hemi, her untamed Maori, who awakens her primitive side. And Finn, the sexy bartender whose specialty is Screaming Orgasms.

The three men fulfill all her sexual fantasies, but Kylie knows reality will eventually set in and she’ll have to choose. But how? For now she decides not to decide—at least until she makes sure the resort’s soft opening comes off without a hitch.

As far as Brad, Hemi and Finn are concerned, Kylie’s life is too much work and not enough play. The only choice they plan to give her is to say yes to their wildly passionate proposal…

Warning: Three sexy men pleasing one uninhibited woman—how much more warning do you need? This short story is long on heat, with a drool-worthy setting and sexual interludes in the office, at the beach and the bar. You want a day job like this.

• Review •
Yawn… This short story just did not work for me. It seemed forced. And the internal monolog was oppressive. (Or maybe that was just the info-dumps.) The characters are juvenile. Especially Kylie. Who, by page 3, was already TSTL. And across 3 authors, she never improved. Even the sex was lame. Exotic Indulgence had so much potential, but the ball was dropped before it even made it out of the factory.

I really dislike DNFing books. I was able to make it partway through chapter 3. The only thing that makes this easier, is the fact that it was free. Had I paid… I would not be a happy camper. Overall, there was nothing there to hold my interest. It was boring. Plot… nothing but a crutch to get to the sex. The sex… sub-par. Writing… nothing special. Dialog, what there was of it… contrived. I can't recommend this one, but if you decide to risk it, I hope you enjoy it more than I did.

DNF

Review: Thrill of the Hunt by Nathalie Gray

Author - Nathalie Gray
Genre - Erotica
Series - Naughty Nooners
Format - eBook (25p.)
Rating - 4/5 stars

She wakes in a cell, darkness her only garment. Spec-ops soldier Clara Steel knows the price of capture behind enemy lines. And she is not alone. There is a man with her, one who fires her senses. His voice is velvet. His wicked words an electric current on her skin. They thrill and stir, stimulate and shock. Each decadent threat fills her mind’s eye with images of raw abandon. He is a professional, he assures her, sent to break her. And when he begins, Clara’s world becomes a feverish voyage into surrender and ecstasy.

• Review •
Loved it! The only thing that could have made it better was making it longer. This is an extremely short story, but for some reason, I felt connected to Clara and Kane. They were so believable. I want to know more!

As for Ms. Gray… wow! Why have I not heard of this author before?! Her writing is off the hook. She seems to like using metaphors a lot, but it worked in Thrill of the Hunt. Even though this is an erotic story, it is relatively tame. It'd be a nice intro for someone thinking about dipping their toes in this genre.

The reason for the lower grade is simply due to the length. There is so much potential here. But overall I'm very happy… and I have a new author to look into! I highly recommend this short to fans of erotic romances or those looking to try the genre out. At only about 30 pages and free, what do you have to lose?

★★★★

Review: Ecstasy by Bella Andre

Author - Bella Andre
Genre - Erotica
Series - N/A
Format - eBook (158p.)
Rating - 1/5 stars

Candace, a newcomer to writing erotica, is thrilled when Charlie, a veteran of the industry, agrees to be her mentor. But neither of them ever expected that Charlie's lessons on new positions, using toys, varying locations and role playing would spiral from verbal instruction into hot, hands on education. Unfortunately, Candace's deception about the new erotic romance she's writing—where Charlie plays the starring role—is about to threaten their one chance at true love.

• Review •
This book was disappointing. I had heard so many great things about this author, but I really struggled with Ecstasy. Not in the writing sense but with plot and characters. Although, the writing did delve into the cheesy category too. Especially during the sex scenes. Which, being an erotic novella, there was a lot of. No, the writing flowed well enough, even though it tended to be exaggerated and over-the-top. Actually, some of the cheesy cliches were silly enough to make me laugh.

I felt the story was lacking, for the most part. I thought the plot was weak, the sex was ho-hum, the characters were a joke. Outside of the mediocre sex, nothing was believable. Character development is another weak link, I have no clue who these people are, and why they do what they do. Or, in the case of falling in love, why they feel the way they feel.

As for the conflict… it was elementary level at best in predictability. Which made me feel like my intelligence was being insulted. I don't think I will give this author another shot in the future for that reason. That and the fact that not a lot of thought went into character creation when one of them is named after one of the most famous news anchors in American history… I can understand not watching much TV… but, hello? Charlie Gibson?! Overall, this book just did not work for me at all. I finished it because it was short and I had never read anything that cliched before. By the time I was done though, the novelty had worn off.

★