Category Archives: Erotica

This is Who I Am (Masters of the Shadowland, #7) by Cherise Sinclair

This Is Who I Am (Masters of the Shadowlands, #7)This Is Who I Am by Cherise Sinclair

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When trying to save a woman from slavers, Sam screwed up. Royally. Now Linda wants nothing to do with him. Or with BDSM. She won’t even admit she’s a masochist. As a dominant and sadist, he can give her what she needs, and when an opportunity arises, he slips into her life, intending to make amends. She’s everything he knew she would be…except for her bullheaded determination to be ‘normal’.

Now the horrible time is past, Linda just wants to return to her small conservative town, pick up her quiet life, and be normal. But how can someone who likes pain be ‘normal’? To her dismay, when someone spray-paints her home with obscenities, Sam shows up to rescue her. Again. Doesn’t he understand that the last thing she needs in her life is a sadist? He’s amused by her objections. But his dry sense of humor can’t disguise that he’s tough as nails and dominant and stubborn. He’s not going to let her drive him off this time. Soon she realizes she wants him to stay.

When he takes her to the Shadowlands, she feels as if she’s found a home…until she hears a voice from out of her nightmares.

I have only one thing to say. This author does not write fast enough. I love everything she has written.

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Winter of the Wolf (Wild Hunt Legacy, #2) by Cherise Sinclair

Winter of the Wolf (The Wild Hunt Legacy, #2)Winter of the Wolf by Cherise Sinclair
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I didn’t want to finish this book. I kept putting it down for entire minutes at a time. -grin-

I didn’t want to finish because I loved it so much. Unfortunately, the next book in the series is not due out until who knows when. The author has only just started on it.

Bree, Shay, and Zeb have all had terrible lives. When they join together, you think that finally things are going to work out for them. It’s never that easy though. One thing after another keeps destroying their happiness.

Of course, since it’s a romance, things do work out in the end.

You really need to read Hour of the Lion first. It is the first book in the series and really sets the scene for this one. Actually, you need to read it because it is just that good a book.

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Hour of the Lion (Wild Hunt Legacy, #1) by Cherise Sinclair

Hour of the Lion (The Wild Hunt Legacy, #1)Hour of the Lion by Cherise Sinclair
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love Sinclair’s Shadowland series and she is equally as good at writing a shifter series. My only problem is she doesn’t write fast enough to suit me.

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Justin (Tales of the Shareem, #6) by Allyson James

Justin (Tales of the Shareem, #6)Justin by Allyson James

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have been a longtime fan of the Shareem books and I don’t know how this one slipped by me. I really need to re-read the series.

Like many of them, this book was funny and heartbreaking. I really enjoyed meeting many of the couples/triples from previous books.

The only thing I didn’t care for is when they switched dom/sub roles.  I’m not comfortable with the male as the sub.

I will definitely keep a closer watch on this series to make sure I don’t fall behind again.

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Spank Me, Mr. Darcy by Lissa Trevor and Jane Austen

spank meTitle: * Spank Me, Mr. Darcy
Author: Lissa Trevor and Jane Austen
Series: n/a
Genre: Historical Erotica
Publisher: Riverdale Avenue Books
Format: ebook
Date/Year: January 1, 2013
Reviewed by: ElaineReads

*This book was provided to me by the publisher for review.

Summary from the publisher:

Netherfield, infamous for its debauched parties of excess and luxury, has a new Master.

After finagling an invitation to the ball, Elizabeth Bennet is introduced to the powerful and prideful Mr. Darcy, while her sister Jane has captivated the new owner, Mr. Bingley. Having contented herself with the pleasurable caresses of her best friend, Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth is intrigued with the sensuality she finds at Netherfield. But it isn’t until her sister Jane is taken ill and Elizabeth stays at Netherfield to nurse her back to health that she finds the dungeons of Netherfield and the man in the black mask who becomes her Master.

By the time she leaves Netherfield, Elizabeth will have become disenchanted with her childhood playmate and obsessed with Mr. Darcy, her Master, who has told her that she would be more marriageable as a Netherfield submissive than as a curious virgin. Elizabeth holds on to her affront at his callous regard for her until Charlotte marries Mr. Collins and Jane is discarded by Mr.Bingley. Unwilling to save herself for a man who’ll make a good match and determined not to suffer Jane’s heartbreak, when she meets Mr. Darcy again at Rosings Park, she decides to become his slave and offers him her virginity.

But when she finds out that her cruel Master has destroyed Jane’s chance at marriage with Mr. Bingley, she rejects Mr. Darcy – even as he reluctantly proposes marriage to her. It isn’t until he saves her sister Lydia’s reputation and brings Jane and Bingley together, that Elizabeth realizes that she loves him. If he still loves her, she would be most willing to take her punishment for rejecting him – and live happily ever after.

My Musings:

The title page credits both Jane Austen and Lissa Trevor as authors . . . and that is exactly right.

Entire passages from Austen’s Pride and Prejudice were included in this book. Some were modified, but others were used word for word. I was impressed by how well Trevor’s material kept the flavor of the language.

Any fan of Pride and Prejudice will recognize the opening sentence:

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” (Pride & Prejudice)

Trevor’s twist on this opening clearly shows that her version of the book is going in an entirely different direction.

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a dominant man in possession of a good set of cuffs, must be in want of a much younger, submissive wife.” (Spank Me, Mr. Darcy)

I have to admit, in my opinion, it’s a much more interesting direction and I am already a fan of the original.

What can I say about the plot and characters?

This version follows the general outline of the original plot and the characters, for the most part, keep the same personalities. Darcy is overbearing. He is a dom after all. Surprisingly, Mr. Bingley is also a dom. He is so easily led, I expected him to be a sub.

Elizabeth still has the most character of all of the women and Jane is still a namby-pamby twit. Jane does have an interesting sex life though.

My only issue with the book is it needs closer editing. There was one entire scene in which I never did figure out what was going on.

All in all, this was a fun read which immediately caused me to pull out some of my other BDSM books. That’s definitely what it put me in the mood to read.

Ratings:

Overall: 3
Sensuality level: 5

(originally published at Seductive Musings)

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Mated to the Devil by Eve Langlais

Mated to the DevilMated to the Devil by Eve Langlais
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Title: * Mated to the Devil
Author: Eve Langlais
Series: n/a
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Amira Press
Format: ebook
Date/Year: March 29, 2013
Reviewed by: ElaineReads

*This book was provided to me by the author for review.

Summary from the publisher:

Not all pleasures are a sin…

Mina wants to put her seduction by a golden-eyed devil behind her, but the birth of her son, Jacques, renders that impossible. She tries to forget the only man who ever roused her passion, but when she notices her son exhibiting strange behavior—and less-than-human characteristics—she must face her past and learn to trust, and love, again.

Howling drunk, the one thing Remy clearly remembers is seducing Mina. A pity he didn’t think to get her address, especially since he marks her as his mate. When she disappears, he’s got plenty of time to regret, but he doesn’t get a chance to atone until she comes back into his life with an unexpected surprise.

Thrust into the role of father, Remy works to bond with his son while gaining forgiveness. But will he get the chance to truly make Mina his mate before danger threatens their fragile happiness?

My Musings:

I had great hopes for this book. Unfortunately, the entire plot is based on what has to be the most objectionable trope in romance literature. The entire relationship originates with Remy forcing himself on Mina. He, of course, brings her to orgasm and she remembers that night as the most pleasurable of her life.

Mina and Remy meet when she is 19 and he is 22. Mina has been raised by parents who are religious fanatics, and she, of course, is a virgin. While visiting cousins, she attends a college party where she is almost raped by two frat brothers. Although rescued by an extremely drunk Remy, he proceeds to forcibly seduce her.

And that is where my problem with the book begins. Forcible seduction is just another way of saying rape. Mina fights him and begs him to let her go. Remy continues to be “seduce” her and ends up impregnating her.

The story picks up five years later. Mina has an adorable little boy who happens to snarl and growl and whose eyes sometimes glow. Because she could never find Remy when she discovered she was pregnant, she has been forced to survive on her own and has no idea what is going on with her son. Remy has tried to find her, but he never found out her name before passing out.

The entire forced seduction aspect negatively colored my opinion of the book which is a shame. After Mina and Remy finally find each other, their relationship develops into a caring and loving one. I loved Remy’s joy when he found out he had a son. Pierre, Remy’s father, is so proud to be a grandfather and the most likable character in the book. There are indications that a sequel may be coming and I hope it is about Pierre.

Obviously, I liked the book well enough to want to read the sequel. Without the objectionable beginning, I would have rated it a 4 or 4.5. Hopefully, her next book will not contain such jarring content.

Ratings:

Overall: 3
Sensuality level: 3.5 (MF vanilla sex, but the language is explicit)

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Beautiful Bastard (Beautiful Bastard, #1) by Christina Lauren

Beautiful Bastard (Beautiful Bastard, #1)Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Title: * Beautiful Bastard
Author: Christina Lauren
Series: Beautiful Bastard, #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Gallery Books
Format: ebook
Date/Year: February 12, 2013
Reviewed by: ElaineReads

*This book was provided to me by NetGalley.

Summary from the publisher:

Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He’s exacting, blunt, inconsiderate—and completely irresistible. A Beautiful Bastard.

Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family’s massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who’d been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative—completely infuriating—creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he’s never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe’s so tempting he’s willing to bend the rules—or outright smash them—if it means he can have her. All over the office.

As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they’re willing to lose in order to win each other.

My Musings:

Chloe Mills has worked for the Ryan family firm for months and is highly respected for the job she has done. It’s only after Bennett Ryan returns to the home office that her problems begin. She is a professional, extremely talented intern and Bennett treats her like an idiot. I think the biggest insult is when he calls her an “office girl.” Think of the worst boss you ever had and double it. That would be Bennett.

Chloe does not take his attitude meekly however. She gives as good as she gets within the limits of the employee/employer relationship. The description of this book makes it seem so tame. It does not mention what a jerk Bennett can be. The term “bastard” does not even begin to describe how arrogant, dismissive, insulting, etc. he is to Chloe. Unfortunately, the beautiful term in the title is an understatement. Bennett is gorgeous and Chloe can’t help but notice.

To quote Chloe’s thoughts:

“If only he would keep his mouth shut, he’d be perfect. A piece of duct tape would do the trick. I had some in my desk that I’d occasionally pull out and fondle, hoping someday I could put it to good use.”

It was at this point that I had problems with the book. The first time Bennett touches her, they fall madly in lust. Sex in the office (and it is really good sex) is putting it mildly. From that moment on they can’t keep their hands off each other. Location doesn’t matter . . . his office, the stairwell . . . all places where they could be caught and professionally crucified, they attack each other. And attack is the right word. There is no making love, it is purely sex.

They still hate each other – Chloe because of the way he treats her and Bennett because she makes him want her. Like that’s her fault, right?

Their personal and professional relationship does develop, of course. Otherwise it wouldn’t be a romance novel. I even learned to like Bennett. The beginning however makes it hard for me to say I liked this book. The first time I read it, I only rated it a two. I couldn’t even write this review because my opinion was so negative. I let it rest for several weeks and then reread it. I liked it much better the second time around and upped my rating to a 3.5.

I doubt I’ll read the sequel, but the first book is worth your time. Just don’t let your initial opinion of Bennett keep you from finishing the book. He really is worth it and the sex scenes are hot!

Overall: 3.5
Sensuality level: 4

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Checking it Twice by Jodi Redford

Checking It TwiceChecking It Twice by Jodi Redford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First off, this book is a sequel to The Naughty List which I did not realize until I started reading. It is not necessary to read the first book to enjoy Checking it Twice, but it was so much fun I have already ordered the first one.

Jana and Kevin have know each other for five years and have been in love/lust for most of that time. Due to emotional issues in Kevin’s past, he has resisted his feelings for her although Jana has done her best to seduce him. He knows that he is incapable of giving Jana what she needs in a relationship. Years ago, he even lost his best friend due to his problems.

And now, he is leaving town . . . for good.

Jana loves Kevin and cannot understand why he won’t give them a chance. She is also worried about her feelings for Nick. Although they have never met, they have carried on a long distance flirtation through phone and email. Can she really be in love with two men?

So, guess who comes to town and just happens to be Kevin’s long-lost best friend?

Nick has regretted the end of his friendship with Kevin for years. Now that he has found him, he is not going to lose him again. He has also realized his feelings for Jana have gone beyond a flirtation and it is time for them to meet face-to-face. What he did not realize is that Jana is in love with another man. Kevin.

Nick has known Kevin since they shared a room in college and that is not all they shared. Kevin’s voyeurism kink quite often let to M/F/M threesomes. Kevin’s background has made him ashamed of his sexual preferences. He is afraid to get close to anyone because he “knows” they will leave him when they find out what he is really like. But Nick knows that there is no reason Jana should have decide which man she really loves. She can have Kevin and Nick too.

Jana is not at all adverse to a relationship with both men. After all, her brother is in such a relationship already. –Remember book one, The Naughty List?– And Jana is not shy about going after what she wants.

I loved this book. It was a light, fun read, but there was also emotional depth. Kevin, Nick, and Jana are all wonderful characters. There were times I wanted to tell Kevin to get over himself, but that is only because I wanted everyone to be happy.

Read this book! Especially if you like M/F/M menages, light bondage, and some really hot shower scenes.

ORIGINALLY POSTED AT SEDUCTIVE MUSINGS

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Must Love Vampires by Heidi Betts

Author: Heidi Betts
Series: N/A
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Kensington Brava
Format: Paperback & e-book
Date/Year: September 27, 2011
Reviewed by: ElaineReads

*This book was provided to the reviewer by the author in exchange for an honest review

Summary from the publisher:

LOVE AT FIRST BITE

Nightclub dancer Chloe Lamoureaux just met the man of her dreams:  Aidan Raines is charming, considerate, rich, and hot.  Of course, he’s a little mysterious about his age.  And his favorite drink.  And he’s not much for sunlight.  But he’s asked her to marry him, and she’s ready to do it. Sure, she has a few secrets too—but they’ll have plenty of time to work things out while they’re living happily ever after.  Right?

Her identical twin sister, Chuck, isn’t so sure.  Maybe reporting for the local Bigfoot-sighting tabloid doesn’t make her an expert, but to Chuck, Aidan and his brother Sebastian look like honest-to-Dracula vampires.  Especially Sebastian:  beguiling, seductive, and just a hint of dangerous.  Maybe she wouldn’t mind him taking a little taste.  But with Chloe’s life in the balance, she has to know—do they want hot love or hot blood?  Or maybe…a little of both?

 

My Musings:

This book is actually two novels in one with interacting characters.  The first, Vampnapped, focuses on Charlotte “Chuck” Lamoreaux and Sebastian Raines.  The second, Married . . . with Fangs” centers around Chuck’s identical twin sister Chloe and Sebastian’s brother Aidan.  I told you they were interwoven.

Chuck is the down to earth sister, an investigative reporter for the Sin City Tattler, while her sister is a show girl in a Las Vegas casino.  Chuck is determined to write an important expose which will get her a job with a reputable newspaper.  Unfortunately, she decides that Sebastian is the perfect subject of her expose because, after all, she believes he is a vampire.

Sebastian also happens to be the owner of the casino where Chloe works.  Chuck convinces her sister to let her impersonate Chloe so she can follow Sebastian.  Sebastian thinks Chloe is a gold digger who is out to trick his brother Aidan into marriage. So he kidnaps Chuck thinking she is Chloe.

Confused yet?

Meanwhile, Chloe really is a gold digger, but only for the best reasons.  She has a three-years-old son and she wants to make sure he has financial security.  Chloe and Aidan have been dating for several weeks and the sex is magnificent.  They haven’t talked a lot because, hey, the SEX is magnificent!

Aidan does want to marry Chloe and while Chuck is being kidnapped, they run off to a Las Vegas wedding chapel and get married.  Unfortunately, Aidan neglects to tell Chloe he is a vampire until after the wedding.  There is that little matter of him biting her on their wedding night.  Of course, she hasn’t told him she’s a mother either.

I absolutely loved this book.  I knew I was going to before I had read ten pages.  The characters are likable and the dialogue is funny.  The author can make the most insane situations seem reasonable.

Although the books tell separate stories, the last chapter brings them all together again.  The ending is satisfying with no loose ends making you wonder if there is going to be a sequel.

I have not read any of Heidi Betts’ books before, but I certainly will in the future.  I was delighted to find that she has an extensive backlist.  I imagine she will be added to my autobuy list and I am very particular about who goes on that list.

Again, a wonderful, enjoyable book which I highly recommend to anyone wanting a fun read.

FOLLOWUP:  After stating that the book does not need a sequel, I found out that the author has written an epilogue titled One Last Bite and is free at places like Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords.  Although it does not really add anything to the story, I enjoyed visiting Chuck and Sebastian and Chloe and Aidan one more time.

Actually, if the author was going to write an epilogue, I would have preferred it to address the women’s decision on whether or not to stay human.  That is the only area where I felt the reader was left hanging.

Either way, it does not matter.  Read the sequel.  It is just as enjoyable as the book.

(originally posted at Seductive Musings)

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Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts by Mitzi Szereto

Pride and Prejudice: Hidden LustsPride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts by Mitzi Szereto
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Title: Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts*
Author: Mitzi Szereto
Series:N/A
Genre: Erotic Romance
Publisher: Cleis Press
Format: paperback & digital ebook
Date/Year: July 5, 2011
Reviewed by: ElaineReads

*This book was provided to the reviewer by the author for review

Summary from the publisher:

Imagine that Jane Austen had written the opening line of her satirical novel Pride and Prejudice this way: “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a good romp and a good wife—although not necessarily from the same person or from the opposite sex.” In Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts, the entire cast of characters from Austen’s classic is here, caught with their breeches unbuttoned and their skirts raised high in this rewrite that goes all the way – and then some! Mr. Darcy has never been more devilish and the seemingly chaste Elizabeth never more turned on.

In this no-holds-barred account, men are not necessarily the only dominating sex. This time Mr. Bingley and his sister both have designs on Mr. Darcy’s manhood; Elizabeth’s bff Charlotte marries their family’s strange relation, discovering that her husband’s pious nature extends to worship of a different sort; and, in this telling, Lady Catherine de Bourgh takes the disciplining of those in the parish very seriously. As for the handsome Mr. Wickham, he’s wickeder than ever! And of course there’s plenty of good old-fashioned bodice ripping that shows no pride or prejudice and reveals hot hidden lusts in every scandalous page-turning chapter. This is the book Jane Austen would have written, if only she’d had the nerve!

My Musings:

The original Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is a favorite of mine, so I was a little nervous about reading this book. However, I was very impressed that the author was able to maintain the “flavor” of Austen’s writing even though the content was quite obviously added. There was no delineation between the original book and the new content. It flowed beautifully.

The sex scenes were inserted naturally and very well done. Some of the dialogue was comical, but it was meant to be so. For example, Lady Caroline’s attempts to seduce Mr. Darcy and his attempts to ignore her seduction were hysterical. Should I mention Lady Caroline’s fascination with “birching?”

Lydia’s interest in sex in all its forms was wonderfully described. If it would hold still long enough for her to rub against it, she would. That includes pieces of furniture, men’s thighs, or other more interesting parts of the anatomy. Is it any wonder she ends up with the villain of the book?

Do I find the general acceptance of all this raunchy behavior believable for the time period? No, but I enjoyed it immensely anyhow. I think we all expect our predecessors to be a little more circumspect than they actually were. After all, we think we’re the modern ones.

Ratings:

Overall: 5 stars
Sensuality level: 5

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