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12.31.2011

Uncross My Heart


Uncross My Heart
Jennifer Colgan
ebook, 272 pages
Published January 11th 2011 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
ISBN 9781609283278

Magick made him human. Only love can keep him that way.

After a century of living la vida muerta, Julian Devlin's closest ally casts a de-vamping spell that leaves him defanged and demoted from his hard-won place in Baltimore's vampire hierarchy. Disoriented by his transformation, he can't even find his way home.

The indignities don't end there. Before he can explain to the quirky consignment shop owner why he's hiding in her basement, she's punched the newly re-acquired breath out of him and smacked him upside the head with her knock-off purse.

Zoe Boyd's scream could have peeled paint from the walls-if she could get her heart out of her throat. Common thugs aren't supposed to have a smile so panty-melting that she finds herself apologizing for scaring him.

She's also too busy managing her friends' love lives to take on an ex-vampire with revamping and revenge on his mind. Until she guides him home and ends up neck deep in his world of trouble.

As Zoe risks her life to give him back his death, she warms the soul Julian never thought he'd own again. And when he tracks down a devilish witch who can reverse the spell, immortality without Zoe suddenly seems like cold comfort...

Warning: This novel contains sensual love scenes between a fashion-forward hero and a fashion-unconscious heroine, abuse of Italian loafers, and a few love bites. Don't worry, freshly sharpened fangs don't hurt. Much...

No! This was *not* suppose to disappoint me!

It started out perfectly well-a nice, outside of the box, vampire read- then it was as if this thing started scratching with a vengeance to get back in said box. By the time Julian and Zoe made it to bed together, and wow-could that moment have been any less thrilling?, I didn't have much care for how this story went on. Oh sure, I enjoyed the betrayals and the surprises, but all that damn trouble just to stay a vampire and then all that other trouble to de-vamp a vampire only to turn right back around and say Hey, wanna be a vampire?

The true ick was the Draconus and his cooky magic of turning people into vampires and tweaking the spell like it was a recipe for spaghetti sauce. A little heart here, a little memory loss here. Add a speck of invisibility and mediocrity. Damn, I was just so happy it ended. 2 out of 5 stars.

12.20.2011

Tranquility


Tranquility
Anya Bast
Otherkin, book two
ebook, 28 pages
Published December 2008
Amazon freebie

Roane leaves the Fury werewolf pack to make room for his brother, Merrick, and his new mate. A natural alpha, there's nowhere Roane can go in wolf country and not stir up trouble. He settles in a town called Tranquility and immediately raises the hackles of the local pack leader.

Even worse, Roane gets one look at Scarlet, the pack leader's sister, and will do anything to possess her. Scarlet tries to resist him, but his touch inflames desire she can barely control. And that means heaps of trouble for both of them.

This short story is a free title, offered by New York Times bestselling author, Anya Bast. Tranquility is part two of a two part series. Fury is the title of part one. These titles are highly erotic and meant for those 18 years or older.

Shame on me for having expectations.

Being an Anya Bast read, though a free one at that, I expected better than what I found between the covers of this book. Roane doesn't want to be pack Alpha, but he wants to be a lone wolf even less. He swears he's not out to overtake Marrik's pack, but that's exactly what he does. I didn't care for Scarlet and it sucked that you had to hate Marrik for Roane to appear likeable. This story has a basic structure, typically rushed for its size, and not exceptionally well written. The fault in my displeasure, though, falls to me. Not so much the author. The idea of a 'queen of the pack' may have put me off from the very start. 2 out of 5 stars.

12.14.2011

Mad Love


Mad Love
Paisley Grey
ebook, 2,300 words
Published June 18th 2011 by Paisley Grey Publishing
ASIN B0056VBTSA
Amazon freebie

Can friends ever be lovers?

When Grant's best friend asks him to inseminate her, he fears that intimacy will expose the love he's been hiding all these years.

Never realized how fast 2,300 words can go. Seriously, blink twice and this one's over.

With its shotgun start, it's pretty good. But sometimes you've got to wonder why writers end books the way they do. This one finished with such a dull thud that it completely eclipsed whatever good feelings spawned at the gate.

12.13.2011

Touch Me


Touch Me
Meg Harris
ebook, 37,000 words
Published July 14th 2011 by Meg Harris
ISBN 2940012750594
Amazon freebie

Seasons Change: Two college students make love--and fall in love--across the changing seasons.

Fantasia: She's his best friend, but he can't stop fantasizing about her. Does he have the nerve to turn fantasy into reality?

Pumpkin Pie: When Levi Roberts comes home to visit his childhood friend Kira Anderson, he's surprised to discover that pumpkin pie is the sexiest fragrance he's ever smelled.

Hands On: Lora catches her friend Mason engaging in a hands-on activity, and offers him a helping hand of her own.

Warnings: Explicit sex, self-pleasuring, blunt language.

In Seasons Change, a little summer fun brings two long time best friends together in their first taste of passion. Sex in the mud. Sex in a pile of leaves. Sex in the... snow. It's a sweet tale actually but it lacked a declaration of love and that was the one thing that really would have brought it home for me.

Fantasia is the story of a young cubicle worker who falls hard and fast for the new hire at his place of employment. They click from the start but Rae has a boyfriend, thus dooming Nash to the seemingly eternal role of just a friend. Years later, Rae and her beau call it quits but by now Nash is too afraid to act on his feelings and the subtle hints he may only be imagining Rae is giving him. I liked this one far more than the first. The fantasies are way hotter although the ending was just as anticlimactic.



Levi and Kira have been friends since the third grade. They were inseparable, even through high school. Now, in their late twenties, their time apart has grown more and more, till Levi realizes it's been two whole months since he's seen his best friend. They make plans to have dinner at her place, where her new pumpkin scent inspires Levi to take their relationship to the next level. Again, I liked this one much better than the last. There's a pattern though... no declarations of love whatsoever. Yet.



Lora met Mason when he was still hung up on his ex-wife. Even after all this time, she's convinced that he's still in love with her. So it totally shakes her world to find him one night masturbating to a photograph of herself. Despite having a boyfriend, Lora hasn't been able to keep herself from fantasizing about her best friend and faced with this little reality, she can't fight the need to finally experience what it would be like to be in Mason's arms. Just as hot as the last two, with a declaration of love to seal the deal. The best was totally saved for last.

Katrina's Seduction


Katrina's Seduction
Tina Fine
ebook, 50 pages
Published October 23rd 2009 by Tina Fine
ISBN 2940000723333
Amazon freebie

When Katrina Mitchell shows up on Johnny Mueller's doorstep in LA, she harbors far more secrets than Johnny could ever imagine. Johnny's new tenant has the same first name as a woman from his past, and a body that feels familiar, but he chalks the similarities up to coincidence. After all, she has a very different face than his Katrina. They can't be the same person-right?

Three years ago, Katrina survived a train crash that took her memory and left her face horribly disfigured. Numerous surgeries and uplifting mental therapy sessions later, she's got a new look and a drive to discover her past. With the aid of her therapist/one-time-lover, Blaine, Katrina hops a plane to LA in search of the man that stars in her erotic dreams. The same man who left her for another woman-his wife.

Although the blurb revolves around Katrina and Johnny, the story itself is more focused on she and Blaine, and the hot, dirty sex they share. After she reunites with Johnny, the plot gets somewhat abandoned as Kat realizes there are things more important than the past and all the questions she came in search of stay unanswered. And I wanted those answers! 4 out of 5 stars.

12.12.2011

An Unwanted Hunger

I saw the initial rush of fear as I seized you.



An Unwanted Hunger
Ciana Stone
Kindle Edition, 144 pages
Published December 7th 2009 by Ellora's Cave
First published December 26th 2008
ISBN 9781419919268

Passion this strong is dangerous. They both know it. Mortal enemies, their respective factions have been at war since the dawn of man. Resa is a Dhampir, bred and trained to hunt Vampyres. Constantine is a prince among the Vampyre, the oldest and most lethal.

Nothing good can come of this hunger, this need that drives them relentlessly toward one another. Neither reason nor devotion to duty can stay their need. There is but one way to quench the thirst that drives them. Once sated, they can return to the battle and see which one, if either, is left standing.

But one drink from the cup of desire serves only to magnify the hunger. One act of lust that could alter them forever, changing the course of destiny.

BEST part of this book is the journal entry that makes up the prologue. Instant high for me. What followed, although very well written, fell far into disappointment territory. Every obstacle was was just too easily solved. Resa learns that her entire life has been built on lies and is betrayed by her every ally... no big deal. She easily jumps ship and into bed with Constantine who takes her as his mate unintentionally but wholeheartedly. So what if his people won't accept her. The matter never really even comes up. At war are we? Retreat and somehow everything is better in the morning.

I'm not entirely sure if there was an actually ending to this story. More like Resa and Constantine's parts ended. Nothing solved, just delayed. 3 out of 5 stars.

That Old Black Magic: Living in Eden #3


That Old Black Magic
Michelle Rowen
Living in Eden, book three
ebook, 320 pages
Published December 6th 2011 by Penguin Group
ISBN 9781101552438

Reluctant witch Eden Riley knows that codependent relationships aren't good, especially when you're possessed by a sexy but troublemaking demon. Darrak's physical form makes good girl Eden want to go bad, but the constant itch to use the soul-destroying black magic she's recently acquired might force Eden to explore her dark side in an entirely different way.

And when her magic starts manifesting itself without conscious effort, both Eden's life and the possibility of a future with Darrak are threatened-since only one of them might be able to survive this.

The third installment and it's still only been a month since Darrak came into Eden's life. That's how busy these books of Rowen's are!

For three hundred years the archdemon Darrik has been trapped inside human hosts, slowly absorbing their humanity. Our compassion, our needs, our fears. But only now does the true torture begin as he finds himself in love with his current host, Eden, all the while absorbing some of her angel essence and the battle between good and evil causes a physical ache inside his body.

I found myself missing the old Darrik as this one started off. The new, much more angelic Darrik is sweet and all and certainly doesn't hold much back when confessing his love for Eden but yeah, typical me, I yearned for the demon. Enduring his stress of whether Eden really loved him and having him crushed by her failure to accept his marriage proposal was just too sad. Too vulnerable. And too mushy.

At midpoint though, things take a drastic turn and suddenly, it's a race to conclude the series. The curse gets broken. Eden discovers she's pregnant. Multiple deals get made with Lucifer. And yet another chick falls for Ben. What the hell is the deal with Ben?!

It wasn't my ideal epic ending and honestly, the 'Lucy' name left me with all kinds of icky feelings. And that is *so* not the last memory I want from a series that started out as great as The Demon In Me. 3 out of 5 stars.


Previously in the series:

12.09.2011

Beg Me


Beg Me
Shiloh Walker
ebook
Published November 19th 2010 by Shiloh Walker
ISBN 9781452497


Beg me…there had been a time when those words made her burn with desire. But now, there was only fear.

Once, Tania Sinclair’s life was almost perfect…oh, it had its ups and downs but she was happily married to a guy that adored her, one who had no problem indulging every kinky fantasy she ever had. But a couple of tragedies later, she’s barely holding it together. A car accident took away her husband, and an attack from somebody she should have been able to trust has shaken not only her confidence, but it’s also stripped away her fantasies and even made it painful to look back on her memories of her husband without fear.

Two years after her attack, Tania is determined to take her life back and the first step is taking back herself…her fantasies, her dreams, her memories. There’s only one person she can trust to do it, too. One person she wants enough…Drake Bennett, her husband’s best friend.

Falling for your best friend’s wife—never smart. Drake’s watched Tania quietly for years, watched her…wanted her, knowing he’d never have her. First, she was taken. And then, that night two years ago—a night that still scars her, a night that’s left bruises on her that still haven’t healed. He does what he can, though, because he loves her too much not to. He’s her friend, there when she needs him.

And now she needs him. She’s asked him for a favor…one that just about blows his mind…

Warning: This book involves light bondage play, rape fantasy & role-playing. The acts between the hero & heroine are consensual, but they may not be ideal for all readers.

It's been too long since I've picked up a Shiloh Walker book. Two whole months too long.

Three years ago, Tania lost her husband, Kyle, in a car accident. He was her everything, the one man she could share her sexual fantasies with, no matter how rough and kinky they were. A year after that, those fantasies and the memories linked with them were defiled and destroyed by Kyle's twin brother, Kent, as he used Tania's secrets against her in a savage attack that left her raped and nearly broken.

As she begins to take back her sexuality, and her very self, she turns to the only other person aware of her deviant desires-her husband's best friend, Drake. A man who's been in love with her long before Kyle became her husband.

This story has the kink, but surprisingly it also has the romance factor. Drake doesn't hide behind his feelings long and although he willingly plays Tania's fuck toy he makes it perfectly clear where his heart stands. It's a 4 out of 5 stars for me. The fulfillment of the rape fantasy could have been much hotter.

Demon Touch


Demon Touch
Doranna Durgin
Kindle Edition
Published September 1st 2011 by Harlequin Nocturne Bites
ISBN 9781426834080

Ever since the night Alex Donally found the demon blade in his hand—and in his thoughts—he has been driven to fight evil. When he meets Deb Marchand, he feels compelled to protect her from her violent ex—and aroused by the visions of passionate encounters they both experience when they touch. The blade is showing them what they can have—if Deb can risk giving her trust and heart to a vigilante.

Some time ago, Alex came into the possession of a shapeshifting blade with a thirst for vengeance. I can't say it changed him. I can't even say it bothers him. Things just 'are' in this story, keeping with its repetitive Could be, Would be, Should be mantra. What I can tell you is that I didn't care for the writing technique of this book. It was choppy, vague, and lacking a much needed flow. Being my third read by Durgin, its safe to put into writing that I won't be picking up any more of her work. Two stars seems to be the best I can ever attribute to my experiences with her, as is the best I can do here. 2 out of 5 stars.

Immortal Rider: Lords of Deliverance #2


Immortal Rider
Larissa Ione
Lords of Deliverance, book two
Mass Market Paperback, 414 pages
Published November 22nd 2011 by Grand Central Publishing
ISBN 9780446574471


The signs are everywhere...disastrous world events. Evil rising up, unleashed upon the innocent. The prophecies were there...but no one listened. Until now. The time has come for those who can either usher in Doomsday...or prevent it. They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Arik Wagner, a soldier with the U.S. Army's paranormal unit, the R-XR, kissed a girl and liked it. And then he went to hell as punishment. Where he's spent weeks being tortured...and plotting revenge.

Limos, Horsewoman of the Apocalypse, isn't your average girl. She's immortal, dangerous, and her fiancé is Satan himself. In a moment of weakness, she gave in to her desire and kissed Arik, triggering her fiancé's wrath - and his claim on her. In order to save Arik, and the world, Limos must make a dangerous pact with her recently turned evil brother, Pestilence. A deal that might just cost her her soul...and her heart.

So... first impression here (as far as this particular book is concerned anyway) is that Arik has a very dirty mind. And a fetish for coconuts. Well not really, but I just love how Ione tells a story. Even things a reader finds in numerous other books seem to become something altogether original just by the ways she delivers it.

At an engagement party for and hosted by Ares and Cara, Arik breaks from the crowd for some fresh air. Limos, the third Horseman and destined 'Famine', has been driving his libido wild and the throng of demons isn't helping his control. When she challenges him to spar in an attempt to settle the agitation she senses in him, Arik goes in for a kiss. Then hell itself opens up to swallow Arik whole and he goes on to spend a month being tortured at the hands of Satan's minions.

Release from his prison doesn't come easy. Regaining a sense of reality afterwards is an even greater challenge. Especially since Pestilence (aka Reseph) went all vampire on him in an attempt to claim Arik's soul for a bargaining chip.

The side stories are a wonderful compliment to the book which is a nice change since most are either distracting or a downright nuisance. Regan steps further into the spotlight in this installment and the plot to break Thanatos's seal begins. Oh yeah, it's time to get Than laid and make him a daddy!

Meanwhile Reseph has been in Limos's ear and her scales are tipping (literally) toward the dark side with every lie she's forced, and secretly thrilled, to tell. This is a double whammy as lying seems to be the one thing Arik detests above all else thanks to an abusive, alcoholic father. Just another obstacle in the way of he and Limos getting together. That, and a very aggressive chastity belt. And let's not forget Satan.

(spoilers) Harvester and Reaver, the two watchers, evolve drastically in this book as Reaver becomes a victim of Harvester's cruel plans when she captures and mutilates him with the cutting off of his angel wings. The two do still have a chance in the future, if they don't kill each other first.

We meet Lilith, the Horsemen's mother, and witness a glimpse that Reseph is very much still present inside Pestilence. Limos is forced to reveal her sins against her brothers, earning herself some very scary wrath from Ares and Thanatos. And Lucifer, too, for altogether different reasons. She and Arik manage to break her betrothal contract to Satan just before Regan takes advantage of Thanatos and holy hell, that Guardian better keep running. The fourth Horseman is pissed.

4 out of 5 stars.

Previously in the series:

10.12.2011

Locked in Silence: Grimm's Circle #5

Do you have dark hungers, Vanya? 


Locked in Silence
Shiloh Walker
Grimm’s Circle, book five
Kindle Edition
Published September 20th 2011 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
ASIN B0057WU6T6

Dying is hard enough.
Coming back to life is brutal.


Vanya has been hunting and killing demons ever since one of them scarred her face and killed her sister. Correction—since she was forced to kill the demon possessing her sister. Then some sort of angel offers her a deal she can’t refuse—that if she becomes one of them, she gets to kill even more demons. Tonight, she’s made that choice. The death she smells on the air will be her own—and she welcomes it.

Silence feels a darkness is looming. Change—something he has every reason not to welcome. The deeply hidden memories that robbed him of his past, of his own name, render him unfit to teach anyone the ways of the Grimm. Yet here he is in the dankest sex club in town, waiting to assume his charge—after he stands by and watches her die.

When Vanya awakes, their complicated, dangerous dance begins. And so does something else—a searing need that blisters along their unexpected mental connection. Silence shouldn’t be drawn to his student, but once they touch, he can’t think of a reason to stop. Even though acting out their darkest desires puts them in more danger than they realize.

Warning: This book contains sex-starved demons, lonely angels, demon-angel sandwiches, blood, violence, death and a happy-ever-after.

This cover is far too pink for its dark, and smoking hot!, contents.

I have been loving me some Grimm's Circle books (although, admittedly, I didn't have the room to fit in book four). Book five, despite all, managed to squeeze itself in and helladamn! it's my favorite of the series!

Silence possesses the gift of illusion-control of the shadows-and a fetish for axes. What he lacks, however, is a voice. Cast away by his parents for his 'demonic powers' and eventually betrayed yet again thereafter, he has learned from the world that he is better off alone. He left that life with a promise of a purpose that Will made before he brought him back through the doors of death and remade him into a guardian angel. Even with this new existence, though, he remains mute and ever lonesome.

Vanya has been battling demons for a while now. Even killed her sister to vanquish one. When death finally comes for her, the memory of the deal Will offered her is forefront in her mind. She doesn't fear the transition itself, but being alone through it has her beaten. But Silence is brought to her in time, and sees her though the pain. And her training.

The story of Silence and Vanya, with all its yummy intricacies, is the most beautiful of this series for me. Not to mention it was way, way hotter. Finally, a guardian into voyeurism and rape-fantasy. Vanya's my kind of angel. 4 out of 5 stars

10.06.2011

Working Arrangements


Working Arrangements
Ellen Wolf
ebook
Published August 16th 2011

Laura Martin has every reason to be absolutely happy. After four lonely years following the tragic accident that took the life of her fiancé, Joshua, she is finally ready to embark on a new journey, accepting a marriage proposal.The only obstacle in the way of her happiness comes in the person of Luke Manning, her boss and Joshua’s life long best friend. Luke rejects her engagement for more than one reason.

Torn and unable to shake her opinion of her boss as a brilliant yet unreliable womanizer, Laura goes ahead with her engagement party, choosing safety and predictability in her life.

Only the evening goes terribly wrong ...

I must have been in a vulnerable situation of needing to be romanced when I picked this one up because it got to me- good and quick.

This poor book has gotten a number of 1 star ratings from Goodreads. Mostly, of which, for being too similar to In Bed With the Boss by Susan Napier. Well, I've never read that (or anything by Napier) so I didn't give a damn about the comparison. On its own, all by it's lonesome, I loved it!

The whole 'guy on a mission, fed up with the fried role' really worked for Luke. Being a 'Manning' didn't hurt him either. ;) It was all the numbskull things he did that fed into Laura's illusion of him being a player with an ever revolving parade of women that went against him. The man was truly his own worst enemy.

And Laura... well, there's an entire world going on around her that she's oblivious to. Another woman who needs to have it spelled out in block text to understand when a man's got it bad for her. Seven years, damn it!! Everybody else could see the blinking lights but oh no, Laura stayed in her own little cocoon, being cheated on, manipulated, and walked over and through.

Okay, sure... is it an altogether original thought? No. (What contemporary romance is?) Is it predictable? ...Yeah. (What contemporary romance isn't?) But does it deserve one single freaking star? NO.

4 out of 5 stars from me. All on my own, little lonesome me.

10.05.2011

Ragnar and Juliet


Ragnar and Juliet
Lucy Woodhull
ebook
Published September 12th 2011 by Liquid Silver Books
ISBN 9781595788689

Bounty hunting is usually so easy. Flash a little cleavage, mix a roofie cocktail, and Juliet has her man right where she wants him: out cold, ready to be swapped for cash. Her passions are freedom, trashy clothes, and pie -- not necessarily in that order.

Hunky alien ship captain Ragnar doesn't deserve torture at the hands of the psychotic king who hired Juliet; he liberated one of William the Nefarious' illegal concubines. Juliet can't ignore such a noble act. She doesn’t trust men, but this one, with the kindest smile she's ever seen, picks away at her resolve to stay aloof and clothed. He's just so...nice! Crazy she can deal with; sincerity is terrifying.

Before she gives in to her irrational urge to get a timeshare with him (and his cute tail), they're caught by the bad guys. Ragnar disappears and abandons her to her disgusting captors -- so much for togetherness. Perhaps he’s not such a saint. Even worse, Nefarious William (who prefers "Bob") has nominated her for Concubine of the Evening. This dubious honor does not thrill her, and only a few hours remain before the king’s mind-altering drugs obliterate her free will.

Sexual slavery might not be fatal, but Juliet would rather die. Of course, the third option (run away to a beach and hump Ragnar silly) is the best, if they can live that long.

If you like your protagonist to be a smartass, sex-crazed female then this just might be the read for you! With humor on the non-stop priority list and each and every character carefully fit into the plot, there wasn't a single moment left to even consider the idea of becoming bored.

So, yes, you will fall into the typical cliche happenings every now and then but those, combined with the one liners we have all heard at least once in our lives, and multiple times after, make the story too laughable to be passed up.

It works. And because it's so damn simple, you gotta have love for it. 4 out of 5 stars.

9.22.2011

Cast in Ruin: Chronicles of Elantra #7


 You asked me why I love you...
       Can I ask you the same question? 


Cast in Ruin
Michelle Sagara
Chronicles of Elantra, book seven
Paperback, 384 pages
Expected publication: September 29th 2011 by Luna
ISBN 9780373803309

Seven corpses are discovered in the streets of a Dragon's fief. All identical, down to their clothing.

Kaylin Neya is assigned to discover who they were, who killed them—and why. Is the evil lurking at the borders of Elantra preparing to cross over?

At least the investigation delays her meeting with the Dragon Emperor. And as the shadows grow longer over the fiefs, Kaylin must use every skill she's ever learned to save the people she's sworn to protect. Sword in hand, dragons in the sky, this time there's no retreat and no surrender…

First note I want to make is that Cast in Moonlight, the prequel to the series that was released in October 2010 by Michelle Sagara in the Harvest Moon anthology, is directly referenced in Cast in Ruin. It's not a must read, but it's the most helpful if read before starting this book.


The seventh installment kicks off with two Dragon lords, Diarmat and Sannablois, vying for Kaylin's time. Diarmat's aim is to see her properly educated in her etiquette classes while Sannabolis wishes to have her redeployed to the fiefs with the stipulation that Severn accompany her. So *of course* Sannabolis wins out and Grammayre grants his request. Smart man that Grammayre.

I read it in a few other reviews but didn't necessarily believe it to be true, and yet it was... Kaylin does actually mature in this book. The first hundred pages, as far as Severn is concerned, are by far the best and this was one of the most enjoyable reads of the series for me. Delving into the history and culture of the Dragons, there is so much knowledge and explanation to be found. Nightshade, much to my relief, gets very little page time. He does, however, make a long enough appearance to request a leave of absence for Kaylin that she might travel with him to West March.The results of which, I expect, are to be found in the next book, Cast in Peril. Ah, another year of wait.

Cast in Ruin has been promoted as the book in which Kaylin finally puts to words her feelings for Severn and Nightshade. And... she does. But it's in the lamest, most underplayed fashion one could imagine. She knows who loves her, and who does not. She admits what keeps her from being with Severn (and THANK YOU! it's not Steffi and Jade's deaths) and she recognizes the source from which her attraction to Nightshade stems. It certainly wasn't the end all of all romantic issues between the three, and Severn is still being as silent and patient as ever.

"Then I don't see the problem."
     "No, you don't." She rose and began to pace. "And I- I'm not good at talking."
     He waited, because he was good at waiting. "Are you afraid of losing me?"
     "Yes. But not because you leave. Because you'll die." Gods, she hated this. She was squirming, he knew it. "I'm afraid," she finally said in as neutral a voice as she could manage, "that you want me."
     "Want?"
     "Want. Desire."
     He stared at her. This was different from watchfulness. "You're not afraid of wanting me."
     "...No."

What progress was made? There's now a female dragon on the scene. Kaylin is still up for a promotion. And our girl's gained herself a roommate. 4 out of 5 stars.

9.20.2011

Cast in Moonlight
(Harvest Moon anthology)


Cast in Moonlight
part of Harvest Moon anthology
Michelle Sagara
Paperback, 384 pages
Published October 1st 2010 by Luna
ISBN 9780373803224

Barely a teenager, Kaylin Neya is a thief, a fugitive and an attempted assassin. She also has a smart mouth, sharp wits and mysterious markings on her skin. All of which make her perfect bait for a child prostitution sting in the city of Elantra—if she survives her first meeting with the Hawks!

It's that time of the year again... the release of the latest epic installment in the Chronicles of Elantra series!!

But before I dive into what better be the book where Severn gets the chance, and courage, to spell his feelings out for Kaylin-the gods know she'll never figure it out otherwise-I had to catch up on Cast in Moonlight, a short prequel to the series.

This story begins when Kaylin is thirteen, after she has fled the fiefs and very much after her dearest friend, Severn, murdered the two younger girls she considered part of their family. It reveals how Kaylin came to be a Hawk, even at so young an age, and how she came to gain her new surname, Neya.

Many beloved characters do make an appearance: Tia, Tain, Clint, and of course, Marcus. I didn't expect Severn. He had no reason to be here. However, the poor guy wasn't even mentioned. He played a key role in the most traumatic experience of Kaylin's life and yet that doesn't warrant even a roundabout reference? Bah!

This story was a fine compliment to the series, but it did lack the oomph with such a young protagonist. Not an entirely bad concept for a prequel, but let's go back to this time and focus on the Wolves. Let's hear Severn's story. 3 out of 5 stars.

Harvest Moon also contains A Tangled Web by Mercedes Lackey and Retribution by Cameron Haley.

9.19.2011

Needing Nita


Needing Nita
Norah Wilson
(To Serve and Protect #3.5)
ebook, 27 pages
Published September 11th 2010 by Wilson, Norah
ISBN 2940011101700

Attorney Nita Reynolds is hot for Det. Craig Walker, but he's given up asking her out. She doesn't date cops...until a doctor's call makes her re-examine her priorities. Believing she has a brain tumor like the one that killed her father, she vows to make love to Craig Walker while she still has her full faculties. By the time the doctor realizes he's mixed up the scans, she's in way too deep.

One of those skip the dating, let's get married kind of reads. And a damn good one, too! 4 out of 5 stars.

9.14.2011

Fresh Blood


Fresh Blood
Jennifer Colgan
ebook
Published February 13th 2011 by Jennifer Colgan, via Smashwords (first published 2005)
ISBN 2940011208201
Amazon freebie

A desperate call from her missing sister sends Erica Talbot on a dangerous rescue mission. Determined to prevent her twin from becoming a feeder, Erica steps out of her quiet, lonely existence and into a dark underworld where vampires make the rules.

Maxwell Hart is a vampire investigator. Part of his job is to protect humans. The moment he lays eyes on Erica, he knows she doesn’t belong in his world, but that doesn’t stop him from wanting her there.

With Max as her guide, Erica descends into a world where humans willingly give up control to their vampire masters. Posing as Max’s submissive feeder, Erica discovers a strange freedom in relinquishing her hard won self-control to Max.

After just one taste of Erica’s blood, Max finds he hungers for no one else. How can he possess her when drawing her deeper into his dark world will change her forever?

Another too good to be free freebie!

When Erica gets a distress call from her sister, Elena, she's forced into the world of vampires in order to save her. Before she gets in too deep though, Max Hart (vampire and cop) manages to save her from herself and offers what help he can give. It doesn't take Max long to unravel the riddle Elena has put out for her sister. And I certainly wasn't expecting the twist. 4 out of 5 stars.

“How often did you feed from her?” Erica hated herself for asking. Like a self-inflicted wound, the sudden pain of it shocked her. Her eyes stung.
     "Don’t do this, Erica.” Max sounded tired.
     She looked up at him and saw something in his eyes that touched her heart. She’d wounded him, too. “I want to know.”
     “We feed every two to three days by necessity. More if we have a regular feeder. I visited Kyra ... maybe three times a week.”
     “And you slept with her all those times?”
     Max gave Erica a dark look. If she insisted on opening up wounds, he could be coaxed into adding salt to them. He saw it in her eyes. She wanted to hurt. She wanted him to inflict pain. “Most of the time.”
     “Did you love her?”
     “No.”
     “Does Lucas love her?”
     Max laughed, but the sound was cold. “Lucas doesn’t love.”


Lucas' story, La Vida Muerta, can be found on Amazon here.




9.13.2011

Rebound


Rebound
Ann Bruce
Kindle Edition
Published August 25th 2011 by Ellora's Cave
ASIN B005KT7I92

A darkened room…hurried breaths…frenzied touches…impulsive decisions… Wanting her on sight, he manipulated a tryst. Angry and betrayed by another, she let him. Mutual desire leaves no room for rationale. After all, there’s something to be said for a good…rebound.

When Amie catches her boyfriend cheating on her during an elegant event, her distress drives her out onto the balcony and into the arms of a stranger.


Of all the underhanded tactics a man might employ to get a woman... I'm not sure where to begin with a response to Jason's actions. Oh sure, it worked, but damn, was that *really* necessary buddy? 3 out of 5 stars.

9.10.2011

Immortal Heat


Immortal Heat
Lanette Curington
ebook
Published March 18th 2011 by Ellora's Cave
ASIN B004TRNBM4


A goddess in peril…a god in exile…

Aglaia has been sent on a mission to right a love gone wrong. Hephaestus has exiled himself to the caverns, away from his ex-wife and the humiliation he suffered from her infidelity. Only the lusty body and untamed spirit of Aglaia can mend his broken heart.

How does a god, haunted by the infidelity of his wife, come to fall for a servant who committed adultery in his own home with the very same man to whom his own wife cheated on him with???

Hephaestus' true shame lies with his deformity. His evident lack of perfection has always set him apart in Olympus and numerous times, for various reasons, he's been cast from the palace of the gods. Finally, the exile took and he chose to stay away.

When Aglaia is sent on Aphrodite's bidding to set aright an arranged marriage between royal families, it is Aphrodite's ex-husband that comes to her rescue after she's cast from the cliffs and left battered and bruised by Poseidon's merciless sea.

As she heals with Hephaestus' care, the two fall in love and somehow, for some reason, Hephaestus is suddenly ready to yet again return to Olympus. Too many contradictions ate away at my enjoyment of this book. I know the gods are fickle beings but I appreciate things making actually sense in a story. 2 out of 5 stars.

9.07.2011

Renegade Wolf: Devil's Promenade #2


Renegade Wolf
Aileen Fish
Devil's Promenade, book two
Kindle Edition
Published July 24th 2011 by Aileen Fish
ASIN B005EDNFT6

When Stephanie shifts into wolf form for the first time on live TV, she flees to the one man who can protect her from were-hunters, Micah Salway. As attracted as she’d been to him four years ago when they’d met, she’d run scared at the changes he awakened in her after just one kiss. Was it possible he’d turned her into a werewolf?

Micah can hide Stephanie in the caves known as Devil’s Promenade, but the dangers there are worse than facing down the hunter. His choices are few when faced with keeping Stephanie alive: fight the hunter alone or kiss the asses of his former pack-mates and ask for help. His wolf had claimed her the night they met. There was no way he would lose her again.

Four years ago, Stephanie and Micah shared a kiss that awakened the dormant wolf inside of Stephanie. She ran away from it then, but now being hunted has forced her back to Micah to save her life. It's a task Micah isn't confident he can handle alone and calls upon some friends, the Guardians to the door to their world, for aid, and even those of the pack he'd abandoned.

This story is quick paced and makes for very light reading. The characters are likeable enough as they sort through and conquer the obstacles rather easily. I'm not sure however what was up with Jarrod, Michah's cousin and former pack's Alpha. What kind of wolf, let alone Alpha, responds to a packmate's plea for help with the solution of 'Get a gun'?

3 out of 5 stars.

9.06.2011

Must Be Magic


Must be Magic
Lani Aames
ebook, 93 pages
Published February 24th 2010 by Ellora's Cave Publishing Inc. (first published February 2005)
ISBN 9781419926174

To save his princedom from the greedy Faerie King, the Prince of Pixieland must marry by the next Equinox. A desperate spell hurls him into the realm of his Heart Match—who just happens to be a mortal woman!

Cast into the Other Realm—the human world—on St. Patrick’s Day, Prince Myghal pursues Kerry O’Neill with physical pleasures beyond her wildest dreams. He has only three days to convince her they are meant to be together.

Kerry has to believe that the man she had fantastic sex with and is falling hard for is actually the Prince of Pixies. She must accept it, because she has to brave the tunnels of the Troll who lives under the bridge across the street to save Myghal. And her heart has known all along that their incredible connection must be magic.

Publisher’s Note: Previously published in the Enchanted Rogues anthology.

9.01.2011

Snow Blind


Snow Blind
Kara Lynn Russell
ebook
Published January 21st 2011 by White Rose Publishing
ISBN 2940012653345

A woman scarred by the past...

Spurred by obligation, Robin Spencer drives through blizzard conditions to find the one person she never wanted to see again: Shale Anderson. When her trip turns deadly, Robin's only hope is to trust this man who broke her heart. But can she, when he's more like the dark, reclusive hero in the graphic novels he creates than the caring Shale she once knew?

A man in need of forgiveness...

Shale Andersen is poison. When the only woman he's ever loved shows upon his doorstep, he'll do anything to send her away. If he doesn't, he will end up ruining her life, or worse, killing her-just like every other woman who's ever gotten close to him.

A danger so complete, it threatens to consume them both...

Robin's only chance at happiness lies in acceptance. Shale's only chance at freedom lies in forgiveness. Can they weather the storm and begin their lives anew, or will someone with a thirst for revenge destroy their future?


Shale is an artist/writer who believes God is done with him. Burdened by an insurmountable guilt, he portrays his despair in his dark themed graphic novels starring the character Midnight Soul. Shale's one of those people who believes that everything that happens bad in life is somehow a consequence of their own actions.

Robin is his childhood best-friend who was once his lover for a short time. That was before the allure of Allison and freedom from his father's tainted legacy led Shale astray. On her deathbed, Shale's grandmother makes a plea for Robin to bring Shale home so that they may mend things between them. When she ventures to do just that, Robin finds Shale is only a fraction of the man she once knew.

I've never felt that warm, ooey gooey feeling from these stories who offer spiritual and emotional healing through banal visions and cheesy life lessons. They actually make me gag. What was worse was Robin and her holier than thou attitude against Shale's books. She has the nerve to deem them trashy because they build upon the dark, pessimistic side of life. That's the beauty of them! That's *inspirational*.

I liked Snow Blind but, if it existed, I'd have rather read the chronicles of Midnight Soul. 3 out of 5 stars.



Snaring the Huntress


Snaring the Huntress
Sylvia Day
ebook, 25 pages
Published by Sylvia Day (first published 2005)
ISBN 9780982857120
Amazon freebie

Star is an Interstellar Council judge. Her position requires her to pass sentence, hunt down the offenders, and administer punishments. She’s considered one of the best, and if she plays her cards right, she just might become the first of the Hunter species to ascend to the Supreme Court–her life’s goal. When she’s ordered to hunt down a rogue Jacian ambassador in heat, the precedent is death. Sympathetic, but following the law she holds so dear, she pursues him with the intent to kill.

Roark has entered his mating cycle. By Council law, he should be locked in a room with his pre-assigned partner for a week of non-stop sex that will get him through his heat. But he doesn’t want his pre-assigned. He wants Star, the luscious blonde judge whose compassion and intelligence has won his regard. The penalty for going rogue while in heat is death, but that’s a small price to pay for a week of sensual pleasure with the woman he desires more than anything.

Now the huntress is the prey, and when she’s snared by a man in heat, it’s passion that rules, not the law. Or does it? Roark still has his sentence, and his lover Star is judge, jury… and executioner.

This book had everything I normally gravitate to in my paranormal-futuristic erotica: shared dreams, intense physical demands to mate, and even a secret love. The actual smut is, for the most part, skipped over and the way everything resolves itself in the end was a bit corny. Aside from that, it was a nice, little read. Great characters. 3 out of 5 stars.

Love in the Elevator | Jumping Bones

If the fantasy of just being taken by a man does it for you, you might want to check these out. They're each a swift, three minute read and very similar in the plot department, but pretty damn good for quickies.


Love in the Elevator
Lizzie Lynn Lee
ebook
Published March 29th 2011 by Summerhouse Publishing
AllRomanceEbooks.com freebie

Sometimes a man can get it up... while they're going down.


Jumping Bones
Lizzie Lynn Lee
ebook
Published March 29th 2011 by Summerhouse Publishing
ISBN 2940011248306

AllRomanceEbooks.com freebie

Sometimes, it only takes a glimpse to realize that you want to jump his bones...

Wish List: September 2011





September 5


September 6


September 12


* * * September 20 * * *


September 27

8.31.2011

Pleasure with Purpose


Pleasure with Purpose
Lisa Renee Jones
ebook, 57 pages
Published April 18th 2011 by Lisa Renee Jones
ISBN 2940012336224
Amazon freebie

Heather and Brad have been close family friends for ten years but both have secretly pined for each other, secretly fantasized about one sultry hot night together. So when fate delivers them a chance at that night -- will they take it -- and risk a lifetime of friendship being destroyed? Or will they pretend they can really wake up tomorrow and pretend it never happened?

8.30.2011

Immortal Temptress: Devil's Promenade #1


Immortal Temptress
Aileen Fish
Devil's Promenade, book one
ebook
Published July 24th 2011 by Aileen Fish
ISBN 2940012759429
Amazon freebie

May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead.


Enya’s job is to escort the dying on their final journey, to make sure their souls get to heaven before a demon can steal their bodies. For centuries she has done this without emotion, until the body in question belongs to Kane Sullivan. Not only does she desire his rock-hard body, she can't bear the thought of him dying. But she’s not supposed to become emotionally involved in a death. Kane's sudden run of near-fatal accidents always happen when Enya is present. She might be hot, but he's not willing to die to get to know her. Then he discovers she’s fighting for his soul. That damned immortal temptress might be the death of him.

I really enjoyed this one. It doesn't have any huge declarations of love although there is somewhat of a soulmate factor as Kane feels driven to keep Enya by his side. Everything else though is a matter of choice-not fate-even one's choice to become an immortal. That, and the Council's easy deference to Enya, were the few details I felt a resistance to.

The smut is mild, and not at all graphic, and the romance is based around attraction more than anything else. All in all, it certainly did the trick of urging me to continue on with this series. 3 out of 5 stars.




Other books in the series:
Renegade Wolf (Devil's Promenade) 99¢ on Amazon

Wild


Wild
Madison Scott
ebook
Published June 2010 by Liquid Silver
ISBN 9781595787149

Catrina Reynolds has a secret. By day, she cares for the daughter of her boss, Hunter James, but by night, she pens naughty fantasies about him in her journal. A man like Hunter, gorgeous, wealthy and confident would never return the affections of a sweet, mousy, nanny like Catrina, so when journaling is no longer enough, she's forced to act out her fantasies alone...

While his daughter is away for the weekend, Hunter plans to get to know his quiet, shy nanny. He senses there's more to the woman than meets the eye. When he stumbles upon her calling out his name while showering, he wants nothing more than to lure the wildcat out of her sugary, sweet shell.

Catrina and Hunter embark on a weekend of erotic fantasies all geared toward bringing out the naughty girl hiding inside her. But is there more between them than their sexual games? Will he make all her fantasies come to life?

Sweet Cat, kitty cat, wild cat-- enough al-freaking-ready!

I'm not typically the shut-up-and-fuck type, but Hunter was so damn annoying with his blah blah blah and never ending sentences. Sometimes a grunt is all a woman needs. And I hate it when they grunt! But I would have snatched it up in a heartbeat with this guy. Every time he opens his mouth this long stretch of nothingness comes pouring out.

The smut itself actually had potential. However, chopped to bits by the grating pet names and kitty this/kitty that, and tossed in amongst Hunter's love of hearing himself dirty talk, I just couldn't take it. 0 stars

8.25.2011

Skin Dive: Skin #4


❝  Sweet, sweet girl, I want to dive under your skin. ❞



Skin Dive
Ava Gray
Skin, book four
ebook, 280 pages
Published May 21st 2011


She can’t remember what home is like
Gillie is a fugitive. She has the scars to prove her long-term incarceration, but it’s the kind of story that would land her in another cell if she tried to present it to the authorities. Now that she’s free, she’s determined never to be bound again. She has a powerful healing gift—and a fierce resolve never to use it, unless it’s her choice.

He can’t remember wanting anything more
Taye is keeping a powerful secret. He cannot remember everything about his past, but he knows he used to be homeless, one of the crazy-tinfoil-hat-wearing brigade. He knows his own family threw him away when he became too much trouble. He also knows he has a limited amount of time to make sure Gillie gets the life she’s always wanted. It just hurts because he can’t be a part of it. Because his ability is killing him, and there’s nothing he can do about it.

But he’s determined not to seduce her, and to do one thing right before he dies–save Gillie Flynn. But she’s busy making plans of her own…

Taye met Gillie while they were incarcerated in an institution where Rowan and his people inflicted horrible tests and abuse upon the captives. Taye swore he'd get Gillie out of there- she was too good and innocent to waste away in such a place.

With her help, he succeeds. And even though they have no identity, they're still hunted by the facility through mercs and more.

This book so didn't feel like a fourth in a series. Numerous characters, all with their own twisted back stories, and it certainly doesn't help that they each have so many identities. Gillie Flynn becomes Grace aka Cardinal. Taye, aka T-89, was once Tyler Golden, and is now Crow.

The new identities come after they survive alone in the real world for a while and come to work for Mockingbird who runs an elite rebel alliance against the Foundation. This guy is the shyt. He even wipes the memories of his own soldiers and has a strict no contact policy between agents.

All of the supporting characters- Tanager, Hawk, Heron- have their own hidden identities so I couldn't identify them if I wanted to in ties to the other books. Cale, though, had me from the get go, despite the issue that he's a merc working for the wrong team. The redeemable qualities were there, and honestly, I've never met a 'Cale' who was all bad.

The ending was just perfect for me. It was about time Taye straightened himself out. He had it way too easy. It was only fitting that he had to win Gillie over after all that pushing her away. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

After a moment, Gillie opened the door. The first thing he noticed? Her red hair. Symbolic, he figured, for taking back the sense of self she’d lost while pretending to be someone else. He was so glad she didn’t have to do that anymore, however this turned out.
     “You bastard,” she snarled.
     That was his only warning. A heavy book flew at his head, then a lamp, and then the contents of the bowl she kept beside the door; coins and keys pelted him. Still cussing him, she backed into the apartment and laid hands on a pretty crystal vase. Heavy, it looked like. Her aim was better, too, because despite his attempt to dodge, she nailed him with it; hurt his shoulder more than he would’ve expected, and then it smashed into shards at his feet.
     “Just let me explain,” he said.
     But inwardly, he was smiling. Bent as it was, her outrage meant she still loved him. He just had to talk her past it. Admittedly, it could take a while, but he had an ace up his sleeve.
     “There’s nothing to explain, you fuckhead. I hate you and I hope your balls rot off. I hope you die in the woods alone, bears eat your bowels, and then your spirit’s cursed to wander the earth for all eternity.”

8.20.2011

Creative License


Creative License
Lynne Roberts
ebook, 92 pages
Published February 15th 2011 by Samhain Publishing
ISBN 9781609283636

Loose ends have a way of tripping you up…

Years ago, a law school graduation weekend in Vegas had been part of Lily MacPherson’s plan. Waking up next to a naked Adonis with a ring on her finger was not. After a quick annulment, she relegated Caleb Anderson to her late-night fantasies—and very short list of mistakes—until his voice on the other end of the phone asks a favor that could shake the foundations of her neat and tidy future.

Caleb is still haunted by Lily’s horrified expression that morning in Vegas. At least it had made it easy to set her free…except they aren’t. The papers were never filed. And when the nosy patroness who could launch his painting career insists on meeting his “wife”, does he confess, or call Lily? He calls Lily.

When she steps off the plane, Caleb’s determination to play tour guide disappears in the San Francisco fog. Lily thought she could keep up the pretense for one weekend, cut the last tie to her past, and move on. But their chemistry still pops and sizzles, finally exploding into passion at Caleb’s studio.

It’s everything they remember…but so is the yawning chasm of differences that, in the end, could once again drive them apart.

Warning: Contains balmy ocean breezes, coffee as seduction, the creative use of melted chocolate, and naughty shower lovin’ that gives new meanings to the term “shower head”.

Three years ago, Lily spent a weekend in Las Vegas where she met Caleb and the two shared a passionate, drunken night together. By morning they were married, with no recollection of the ceremony. Filing for an annulment, Lily thought the entire ordeal was behind her until out of the blue Caleb calls her up and relays news that the paperwork had never been processed.

Next thing you know, she's on a plane going across the country to play her part as his wife for a woman who holds Caleb's career in her hands.

Lily and Caleb fall into an easy rhythm while playing pretend and find the attraction didn't die in Vegas. Despite Lily being in a relationship, it's one that doesn't require her fidelity and neither is she inclined to give it. I will never understand those types of 'relationships'.

The romantic in me was all sighs at the end of this book. Props to Caleb for such a grand display. He's been hung up on Lily for the entire three years although he doesn't see himself ever living up to her ten year plan. But they click and the passion carries them from there. Very nice. 4 out of 5 stars.


A Little Harmless Sex


A Little Harmless Sex
Melissa Schroeder
ebook, 200 pages
Published February 6th 2007 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
ISBN 9781599984230

Is it love, or just a little harmless sex?

Max has always been Anna's knight in shining armor. But Max has always seen her as a charming, and very sexy, little sister. Until Max's cold fiance dumps him, Anna unloads another of her many conquests and she invites him over for margaritas and Mexican food. Too much tequila, too much flirting, and too many years of fighting the attraction-Max loses control and has mind-blowing sex with Anna on her couch. And in her shower. And in her bed. When the sun rises the next morning, both of them must face that their night together is just the first of many.

For Max, he knows he wants Anna forever, but convincing a commitment-phobe like Anna is no easy task. For Anna, she can't believe she has finally slipped beneath Max's steely self-control. He is every woman's dark, wet fantasy come true. But what happens when the Max pushes Anna for more than just A Little Harmless Sex?


Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic terms for body parts, torture via silk stockings, a little spanking, and shower and office sex.

First off, there is no office sex. And it's bad to tease about stuff like that.

The blurb sums this one up nicely. Max and Anna have always had a thing for eachother but the timing just never fit, until now. With the sexual tension out of the way, Anna realizes she always been in love with her best friend, the reason no other guy was worthy enough to keep around.

Max, meanwhile, decides he's figured out the details which contributed to the failure of all others before him. One, they were boys with no skill at dominating Anna's determination to control everything. And secondly, no other male has ever romanced his best friend. So he sets out to do just that and a battle of wills commences.

This was my first read of Melissa Schroeder and I have to admit that even though the story was very good, my biggest thrill actually came from her bio, specifically her dreams in life. Having lived in Georgia for most of my existence, I too wonder if there is such a place where bugs die. 4 out of 5 stars.

8.19.2011

A Forever Kind of Love

❝  Blindly, she reached up and he caught her hand, twined their fingers.
"My girl," he teased. ❞


A Forever Kind of Love
Shiloh Walker
ebook, 101 pages
Published April 29th 2011 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
ISBN 9781609284312

You can always come home. Second chances come a little harder.

Chase and Zoe were the high school golden couple. Football captain, cheerleader, prom royalty. After graduation, though, Chase couldn’t resist the urge to experience life outside their small town. He didn’t exactly expect Zoe to wait twelve years for him, but now that he’s back, he finds some small part of him hoping she did.

It’s no big surprise she’s married. The kick in the face is she married his best friend.

Zoe was devastated when Chase left, but she’s filed those bittersweet memories under “Moved On”. She loves her life, and loves her husband. She has all she needs. And Chase keeps an honorable distance.

One cold, wet, miserable day, tragedy turns Zoe’s world upside down. Chase never expected her to simply fall into his arms, but a man can dream. Except his dream doesn’t include the fact that this time, she’s the one hitting the road…and he’s the one left behind.

Product Warnings: This story contains heartbreak, heartache and one last chance for two lovers to find each other.

Fifteen years ago, just after graduation, Chase escaped his small town home and ran away to see the world. He left behind a loving father, and a brokenhearted girlfriend. What he took with him was a golden necklace that held a charm-the letter Z. Zoe moved on, ended up dating Chase's best friend, Roger, and the two were married soon after.

Chase never expected Zoe to wait for him, but he never in his wildest nightmares imagined she'd marry his best friend. His heart shattered upon hearing that revelation.

And months pass.

Roger is diagnosed with a brain tumor and once more Zoe's world begins to fall apart.

I knew, from the theme of this book, that something was going to happen with Roger. I didn't expect a tumor. And I certainly didn't plan on Walker making me like the guy before ripping him from the pages. Should have though. Walker is wicked like that. She delves not just into the reality of brain tumors, but into the poison that eats away at the victim and their loved ones. Not just the despair, but the rage.

And into the unparalleled power of love.

Sixteen years... Unfathomable. Such a stirring, beautiful story, I can't begin to list the many emotions I sailed through with this one. The cover, much to my surprise and glee, captures the essence of Chase and Zoe so very well. 5 out of 5 stars.

Sex Stalker


Sex Stalker
Darren G. Burton
Kindle Edition
Published August 23rd 2010
ASIN B0040JHR8K
Amazon freebie

Ryan's life is dull and boring. That is, until the mysterious M comes along. Ryan's life goes from mundane to exciting when a secret admirer starts leaving messages on his car and sending him lewd emails. She calls him for phone sex with the promise of meeting in the flesh.

Will Ryan finally meet the mysterious M and discover her true identity? And what promiscuous acts does she have in store for him when they do meet?

I was there. This was there. The price was free. And that's the story of how I came to read this book.

Caught in the rut of his mundane life, Ryan's world becomes a tangle of excitement when he begins to receive simple but lascivious messages from a secret admirer. When the mysterious M ups the ante with phone sex calls, things get even more interesting.

I admit it. I'm a giggler when it comes to reading phone sex. And it certainly doesn't help when neither of the participants are very good at it. Of course, that may be a question of personal taste but I don't know. Shouldn't it be... artistic?

The language is crude and to the point with a number of indelicate metaphors. The identity of M never does get revealed, although I'm thinking 'Man' might be a fitting shocker. But, for only $1.99 you can learn the true identity in the sequel. For now, I'm going to remain blissfully unaware. 2 out of 5 stars.





Darren G. Burton has been a writer and photographer for more than 25 years. He has written numerous full length works of fiction and non-fiction. In addition to his books, he has had many articles and short stories published in major publications.