Escape & Abandoned

Running In Fear Series 1 & 2

by Trinity Blacio

Jaycee Manz has been on the run since her sixteenth birthday. Growing up fast, depending on no one, how is she supposed to handle three men who claim to be her mates? Can she learn to trust them or will she continue to run?

Jaycee Manz has finally found her mates. Among others of her kind, you would think she would be happy. But like everything else, achieving a dream often comes with a price. How can a person feel totally abandoned when surrounded twenty-four hours a day by her mates? Can she trust them not to rip out her heart?

REVIEW

• Feels like an outline with very limited development of events & relationships.

• Intense read - wish it was more in depth, would have really enamored me to the characters.

• As is, Dane's constant quickies drive me crazy.

• The fisting seems so out of place with no build up.

• The caveman attitudes are what ultimately had me setting down this series without moving on to the third book. I just couldn't stand watching Jaycee start to be strong and then turn into a weak wilted turnip once again. And the cavemen never learn.

• Its a good thing the character development wasn't intense or I would have been way more pissed than I was. You can label me "irritated/agitated". I skimmed the last few pages of book 2 to see if the plot developed in a direction I would like to follow. But ultimately I gave up.

Mildly steamy stereotypical menage romp.

Hands On Training
(Extended Version) by Melissa Schroeder

Joey and Heath are stuck working together for a week in Florida. They will be in each other’s presence more time than either of them would like. When Heath’s old friend Grant shows up, things really get out of control. Too close for comfort, and too much temptation to resist, the three of them agree to a one-week affair. None of them wants entanglements, especially Joey who learned firsthand how to survive without help.

With each kiss, each touch, the three of them grow closer. By the time they return to Dallas, they aren’t ready to let go. Will the three of them be torn apart by fear, or will they risk their hearts to find happiness together?

My review guidelines can be found HERE.

COVER ART
• Accurately erotic, smoothly implemented, but generic


SEXUALITY
• M/F
• M/F/M, men are not sexually intimate with each other
• BDSM - mild dominance and submission
• Scarves


REVIEW

• Predictable

• Under developed

• Repetitive emotions, stagnant

• Best scenes for me were at the end with Liam and Mallory (secondary characters).

“Quit pawing my woman,” Liam said as he sauntered into the room, although there was no heat in his voice.

“Shut up,” Marlow said, but her smile belied any anger. “What’s that for?”

“You asked for water.”

“Well, you took too long. Let’s go, Heath has things to do.”

Liam smiled and looked at Heath. “Good. Now, if you fuck it up, you’re fired.” pg. 153

• Hot sex and intense description of first time experience of VDP.

• Minor editing oversights throughout

• Bedroom Dom was well done, though mild. Tone of voice and interaction with his two subs felt spicy and intuitive.


Read a sentence from page 56 with curves HERE.

Read a high flying excerpt HERE.

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Menage Goldilocks Style.

Just Right
by Bronwyn Green

When Department of Natural Resources officer, Gwendolyn Locke, hits a black bear on the way home from work one night, her entire view of reality changes. She discovers that shape-shifters exist, and she’s just become Goldilocks to three gorgeous, very aroused men who also happen to be werebears. Being snowbound has never been so hot.

My review guidelines can be found HERE.

COVER ART
• Not Quite Wicked identifier is well placed
• Washed out images, lighting not the same
• Snow would be better than the water
• The title typography kinda blends into the pictures
• Overall, middle of the road and not something I would want to flaunt in public.


PARANORMALITY
• Werebears

SEXUALITY
• M/F/M/M, no interaction between the men
• sex with a concussion


REVIEW
• This short is a 56 page erotic rendition of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

• The cousins' smart ass attitude was great!

• I wonder if the black bear interaction, dropping off the cub... well, do they really do it that way. If so, cool!

• Great to read on a snowy winter afternoon. But then, I live in northern NY. It is easy to picture this fantasy when the wood stove is burning and the blankets are piled high and you're cuddled up on the couch.

• She was a little crazy to go out in the storm like that. She should have known better. That was asking for hypothermia. It was mentioned a little, but it could have been a much bigger and more life threatening problem.

• I don't know if I would have been able to sit on my hands for three months waiting to do research!

• Classic mixed signals play a role in "the misunderstanding" at the end, but it is quickly and happily resolved.

Read a Tuesday Teaser HERE.

Read a first kiss interrupted excerpt HERE.

I received this book through a contest on Bronwyn's Blog.  Thanks again!

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Flying home to meet the folks goes from orgy to torturous mess.

Blood Noir
Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter 16
by Laurell K. Hamilton

Jason Schuyler is a werewolf. He's also one of Anita Blake's best friends, and sometimes her lover. And right now he needs her --not to be a vampire hunter, or a federal marshal, or a necromancer, or even for her rank in the werewolf pack, but because his father's dying. He needs Anita because she's a pretty woman who loves him, who can make him look like an everyday guy, who agrees to go home with him and help him say good-bye to the abusive father he never loved. The fact that Jason is about as much an everyday guy as Anita is a pretty woman is something they figure they can keep under the wraps for a couple of days in a small town. How hard can that be?

Really, by now, Anita Blake should know better.

Marmee Noir, ancient mother of all vampires, picks this weekend to make a move. Somehow, she has cut the connection that binds Anita and Jean-Claude, leaving Jean-Claude unable to sense what is happening. Dangerous even as she sleeps, buried in darkness for a thousand years somewhere beneath the old country of Europe, Marmee Noir reaches out toward power. She has attacked Anita before, but never like this. In Anita she senses what she needs to make her enemies tremble...

My review guidelines can be found HERE.

COVER ART
• Metallic Scissors... Huh?


PARANORMALITY
• Necromancer, Anita
• Wereleopards, Nathaniel etc.
• Werewolf, Jason
• Vampires, Jean-Claude etc.
• Weretigers
• Bridesmaids and a hysterical bride


SEXUALITY
• M/F/M, with manual restraint and physical restraint
• M/F, sexual healing
• M/F/M/M, psychic rape


REVIEW
• I read this book, 404 pages, in a day. My husband says I read too fast. He might be right, but this IS my third time through this book.

• The story starts out with a very hot threesome, with the men focusing on the woman. I like the way Ms. Hamilton describes Anita's newfound enjoyment of restraint. She is exploring the excitement of being held down/tight but the mental paths are very interesting. Well explained.

• Some hard issues addressed here: Remembered childhood abuse, terminal cancer, and misunderstood sexuality. (See next bullet)

• The story also starts out with an emotional bomb. Jason is one of Anita's closest friends, and he needs her to be a friend. Nothing paranormal, just there for him while he goes through a very hard time in him life. A very natural interaction between two people.

• The first half of the story reads like a contemporary romance. A few paranormal elements thrown in there and there but mostly just Anita and Jason getting through some relationship and family stuff.

• When Anita leaves town, she has to call Jean-Claude (her master) and Micah (her Nimir-Raj). Nathaniel (her animal servant) is already in the loop BUT never does she mention Damian (her vampire servant). A little hole, but one I like to pick at. *wink*

• About a third of the way into the story (really still the set up) there is a big revelation about how Jean-Claude needs to bring his house into order and punishment will have to be doled out, deserved or not. Major stuff here. But all you hear is a synopsis at the end. *sigh*

• Lots of politics flying about here. Weretiger politics, vampire politics and big bad mother-of-all-vampire politics.

• The Ardeur acquires a new flavor for Anita and raises its ugly head inside Richard's.

• This story starts out sweet and understanding. Friends with benefits fighting childhood specters. Then the paranormal creeps in and screws everyone. Insane twists tie up the cliffhanger ending and leave you gasping for air once again.

Read an friends with benefits excerpt HERE.

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Anita Blake takes on her inner demons.

The Harlequin
Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter 15
by Laurell K. Hamilton

Anita Blake is about to face the challenge of her life. Into her world-a world already overflowing with power-have come creatures so feared that powerful, centuries-old vampires refuse to mention their names. It is forbidden to speak of The Harlequin unless you've been contacted. And to be contacted by The Harlequin is to be under sentence of death.

Long-time rivals for Anita's affections, Jean-Claude, Master Vampire of the City, and Richard, alpha-werewolf, will need to become allies. Shapeshifters Nathaniel and Micah will have to step up their support. And then there's Edward. In this situation, Anita knows that she needs to call the one man who has always been there for her...

My review guidelines can be found HERE.

COVER ART
• They got the mask all wrong!

PARANORMALITY
• Shifters
• Necromancers
• Vampires
• Others

SEXUALITY
• M/F
• M/F/M
• F/F

REVIEW
• Anita gets up close and personal with a lot of people:
Mother of Darkness
Bell Morte
Swan King

• She gets ruthless with the local lion pride while her inner lioness gets ruthless with her. Oh, and cookie is back. I really really like him. Even though he is like almost a bad guy, I just like him. He tries.

• Richard tries too. But it is not enough. Homophobic ass. Too bad he cuts himself off from the salvation of love.

• The arduer plays and ever bigger role and takes on a few new facets.

• Edward is back with Olaf in tow. Ugg, he becomes even more smitten with Anita in really bad ways. *shudder* That man is one awesome bad good guy. I keep wanting to picture him like the old time strong men at the circus. But then he will get described as a slim attractive powerful man. That just doesn't stick in my head.

• Edward's crisis of family is so not like him. But he is morphing. Its very odd to see and his actions do not settle comfortably with me. I can't guess what his character is going to do next, and I used to be able to.

• Nathaniel is finally finding his voice but Anita doesn't know what to do about it. She is figuring it out, but much too slow for my tastes. Maybe because I like a little bit of what Nathaniel is asking for and want to read more about it!

• Requiem takes a larger roll this time around, though he is a big confusing mess. Emotionally twisted. Reminds me of Dolph.

• Dolph makes a few cameos that suggest bigger trouble in books to come. *foreshadowing*

• Anita really is the candy everyone wants in this book and everyone tries to kill her if they can't have her!

• A super rollercoaster of a paranormal ride. Sprinkle in some hot smexin' and just a touch of horror (there have been books in this series that are much worse) and you uncover a classic Anita story with all the important characters and elements.

I received this book from a friend for Christmas. Thanks, Taylor!

Get sucked into the rising tension of the first two chapters HERE.

I read this book in conjunction with the Anita Blake Reading Challenge.

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Sweet daydreams...

Fast and hot twisted cowboy sex with a little love thrown in for fun.

Plays Well With Others
Daly Way Series Book 2
by Brynn Paulin

Paisley Szuzman came to the Laurel Ridge Ranch in Daly, Wyoming to interview for an administrative position, but she’s shocked, and secretly aroused, to find that the job might entail more than she envisioned. Anyone filling this spot must meet the criteria of plays well with others, and the “others” are the joint owners of the ranch— four hunky cowboys who are pure, rugged temptation. Bohemian to the core, Paisley takes the challenge and finds more in store for her than she ever imagined.

My review guidelines can be found HERE.

COVER ART

• I like the distressed look to the images, brings them together and finalizes the cover.


• Good use of typography, though perhaps 3 fonts is pushing it.


• The plaque is a clean way to distinguish the series title from the story title.


• Lots of hunkiness, but why can I see some guys' faces and not others?

SEXUALITY

• M/M


• M/M/F/M/M


• M/F/M

REVIEW

• At 69 *snicker* total pages, this short and sweet cowboy menage is an 8 second thrill ride.


• Emotions build fast, but Ms. Paulin allows her heroine self awareness of that irregular pace.


• Leads nicely into the series. I can see the next couple books clearly from the ending of this one.


• A simple lust story that doesn't get too complicated with a love polygon.


• The sex scenes have the potential to become confusing, but Ms. Paulin guides us admirably.


• My favorite scene is when Paisley requests to be blindfolded... you really get into her head.


• Slightest hint of cheeze in some of the dialogue, but not enough to turn up your nose at.


• A bit of drama and suspense culminates in a sweet HEA.


• Not too deep, not too sweet, not too nasty. Just right for a breezy read.

Read about an astonishing surprise kiss in this excerpt HERE.

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Sweet daydreams...

Incubus Dreams: A very long violent labyrinth of sexual indulgence and Machiavellian plotting.
Incubus Dreams
Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter 12
by Laurell K. Hamilton

Anita’s life is more complicated than ever, as she is caught between her obligations to the living and the undead. A vampire serial killer who preys on strippers is on the loose. Called in to consult on the case, Anita fears her judgment may be clouded by a conflict of interest. For she is, after all, the consort of Jean-Claude, the ever-intoxicating Master Vampire of the City. Surrounded by suspicion, overwhelmed by her attempts to control the primal lusts that continue to wrack her, Anita does something unprecedented: she calls for help.

Anita is pushed to her limits-both professionally and passionately-when she is called in on what appears to be a case involving a vampire serial killer preying on strippers.

My review guidelines can be found HERE.

COVER ART

• Unrelated but good representation of the high content of sex
• Why is the author's name bigger than the title?

Narcissus in Chains
Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter 10
by Laurell K. Hamilton

Anita is back on her home turf and delving into the heart of human—and non-human—darkness.

Men are men. Jean Claude and Richard are each something else entirely. Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, torn between them, has been avoiding both vampire and werewolf for months. But when a kidnapper targets innocents she has sworn to protect, Anita turns to them for help, which will require harnessing both their powers—and their hungers...

Six months of celibacy have made Anita crave the two men in her life like never before. But merging their powers together will give this mortal woman a taste of immortal hunger that she’ll never be able to forget.

My review guidelines can be found HERE.

COVER ART

• Dual cover, flips open (roll over picture to see inside cover)
• Chains are a good suggestion of the trouble between the pages

All Play and No Work
Cattle Valley Series, Book 1
by Carol Lynne

When a three man partnership becomes too much for their small Texas town, Ryan Blackfeather knows it’s time to head for greener pastures. With a new job awaiting him in Cattle Valley, Wyoming, he convinces his men, Nate and Rio to make the move.

A community built on tolerance, Cattle Valley’s one of the few places in the country where the residents won’t bat an eyelash at the threesomes relationship. Nate, Rio and Ryan fit right in. However, with Ryan busy in his new job as town Sheriff, Rio and Nate are left to wonder how they’re supposed to make a living. What use are a highly trained mercenary and a private detective in a peaceful community the size of Cattle Valley?

My review guidelines can be found HERE.

COVER ART
By Anne Cain

• Good classic design
• The three men easily suggest the menage
• Nice integration of the series title with the cowboy bar on top, though I would suggest making it 30% smaller
• Subdued colors do not accurately reflect the tone of the story

SEXUALITY

• M/M/M, long term relationship
• M/M, abuse suggested

REVIEW

• Three gay men in a committed relationship travel to Cattle Valley, Wyoming; a community founded for gays. Reminds me of the Desire, Oklahoma series. (See my reviews here) But that is it for similarities.


• While reading I had to check and see if this was a Stormy Glenn story. The characters would fit right into the Tri Omega Mates mold. (See my reviews here)


• Shallow character development. I have no idea why certain characters do certain things. A solid picture of each main protag does not form in my head.


• Random character variations. Stoic at one moment, playful the next... just doesn't ring true due to the shallow character development.


• Mild plot development. Stuff happens, bad stuff. But none of it is explored in depth.


• I find myself very confused on character motive.


• Suggestive backstory that I would have liked to know more about


• Obvious set up for a series


• My favorite part was the interaction around snow. Childlike and fun.


• Sex was totally irrelevant and lacking explicit extended detail.


• This was an anticlimactic read. While skimming the sex, I would be anticipating the plot. While reading the plot I would be hoping for more development. It never came. And the ending, well, It just ended. No new unabusive possible lover interaction for the victim either.

The Satin Sash
by Red Garnier

Business partners Grey Richards and Heath Solis are best friends, even though they’re as different as night and day. Grey is calm, confident, and always in control. Heath is as passionate as his smoldering looks. No woman can resist them, and it’s always been easy to share. Until now…

Grey is head over heels in love with Antonia Kearny, a woman whose luscious body enflames his senses and whose playful, willing spirit captures his heart. He’ll do anything to see her smile, to hear her breath catch, to make her scream his name. And when he realizes that Toni wants another man—and that it’s Heath—he’ll make the ultimate sacrifice…
On a decadent weekend in Mexico, Toni will experience the hunger, the touch, the taste of two men. But will her desire bring them together, or tear them apart?

Three nights, three lovers, and one choice that may destroy them all.

My review guidelines can be found HERE.

COVER ART

• Grayscale with red accents makes this pop off the shelf
• Multiple hands on her body is a very subtle suggestion to the menage
• Clean, readable, attractive typography
• Where is the sash?

Sin on Skin
Book Six of the Cougar Challenge Series
by Mari Freeman

Wild women do…

That’s the theme for the friends Stevie Jones found at an erotic-romance convention. But as the women share their experiences with younger guys on their Tempt the Cougar blog, Stevie discovers she’s the least wild of the bunch. Finding a younger man isn’t the problem; after a lifetime of unfulfilled desires, Stevie needs a younger alpha man. In the meantime, getting a tattoo is an easy, safe way to begin ramping up her wild side.

Tattoo artist Errol knows instantly what Stevie needs, and it’s not just a bit of ink. He’s hot, young—and he’s just invited Stevie to his private BDSM club. Before you can say “green light”, Stevie is experiencing things she’d only read in her favorite erotic novels. Sinful toys, spanking benches and voyeurism are just some of the stops on what will become the wildest ride of her life.

Reader Advisory: This hot little number contains a scorching scene in which the heroine becomes a plaything for others—three others, in fact—including one very demanding Domme.

My review guidelines can be found HERE.

COVER ART

• Male model is my ideal fantasy man*, I can't help but drool
• Consistent composition and design bring the series covers together into a cohesive set
• Title stands out and series/author/publishing house are evident without confusion, great organization

Going All In
by Jess Dee

The higher the stakes, the harder they fall—in love.

Julia Savage’s weekly poker games are tearing her apart. She’s in love with two of her fellow card players, and much as she’d like to pick and confess her true feelings to one man, she won’t. Not if it means risking the love of the other.

Hunter Miles has wanted Julia for four months, and he’s about to deal a hand she couldn’t see coming. He’s determined to give her a New Year’s Eve celebration she never expected. He’s going to seduce her—in front of his friend and rival for her affections, Jay Baxter. But Jay’s not willing to lay down his cards. He’s going after Julia too, and he’s not above bluffing to get what he wants. Either way, one of them is going to win her over.

Unless they change the rules of the game. If they double up, there’s a chance they can split the pot…

Warning: this book contains two hunky heroes, a heroine worth betting on, sizzling hot three way action (m/f/m and m/m/f), a whole lot of unexpected fireworks, and a New Year’s Eve to remember.

My review guidelines can be found HERE.

COVER ART

Kate's Crew
by Jayne Rylon

Nothing’s sexier than men with power tools.

Sultry summer heat has nothing on the five-man crew renovating the house next door. No one could blame Kate for leaning out the window for a better view of the manscape. The nasty fall that follows isn’t part of her fantasy—but the man who saves her from splattering the sidewalk is definitely the star.

When Mike personally attends to her injuries, she realizes her white knight in a hard hat has a tender side, giving her no choice but to surrender to the lust that’s been arcing between them since day one. In the aftermath of the best sex of her life, she whispers her most secret desire: to be ravaged by his crew.

She never expected Mike would dare her to take what she wants—or that the freedom to make her most decadent desires come true could be the foundation for something lasting…

My review guidelines can be found HERE.

COVER ART

• Good layout with five bodies!
• Where are the power tools?
• Why are only two of the men looking at me? And that front guy, not digging that expression.

F U
by Mia Watts

When a screw-up by the Fullerton University Housing Office leaves Parker Galloway shacked up with four sexy men, Parker thinks four just might be her lucky number... as long as she can get Kei Yamamoto to join in the fun.

But will taking advantage of FU's mistake end up getting all five roomies kicked off campus, or will it be the closest thing to heaven Parker has ever experienced?

My review guidelines can be found HERE.

COVER ART

• Nice representation of characters and location, though I'm not quite sure what the designer has against Dan to cut his head off!
• Typographic clues suggest college life, sweet.

SEXUALITY

• M/M/M/F including slight M/M play
• DP
• Rape, attempted
• M/F

Revelations
Heaven Sent #6
by Jet Mykles

For years, Gretchen’s main objective has been taking care of the boys of Heaven Sent. When her boys decide to take a hiatus, she decides to do the same.

Before she can begin her summer off, Gretchen has one last public commitment. There, she meets tall, mysterious, and wickedly handsome Archer Thanos. Archer’s company has a video game based on Heaven Sent and he’s has been trying to get in touch with her to discuss it. Their first meeting quickly turns into a discussion of another type … in a nearby hotel room, sending Gretchen headlong into a whirlwind affair she hadn’t anticipated.

Only, someone isn’t exactly thrilled about Gretchen and Archer’s romance. Gretchen’s adorable new assistant, Owen, has been pining for his boss since he started working for her but he hasn’t had the courage to assert himself and tell her he wants her. As a result, Gretchen is completely blind to his feelings for her. And after meeting Archer, Owen knows he has no chance against the handsome devil. His own attraction to the older man is instant and overwhelming, the bisexual urges he hasn’t divulged to Gretchen fully awakening.

Owen thinks he’s not enough for Gretchen. Gretchen thinks Owen is far too young for her. Archer thinks they’re both ridiculous. He knows the three of them are just right for each other, if they can survive the revelations.

My review guidelines can be found HERE.

COVER ART
by P.L. Nunn

• Woman pictured looks a little too boy-ish
• Beautifully depicted dynamic between the trio through body language

My One
by January Rowe

Love knows no limits…

Briony considers herself easy to please. All she wants is a Dominant who’s wickedly creative and completely devoted to conquering her—and only her—with joy. She has everything she wants until her Dom takes on another girl. Bri delights in fantasy role play, inventive toys and bondage at Hell Mary’s BDSM club, but she doesn’t do poly.

Now she’s on the hunt for a new play partner who’ll give her exactly what she needs. A little flirtation with Hell Mary’s Dungeon Monitor is just the thing to ease her back into circulation—except the hardass wrapped in khaki treats her like she needs protection.

Behind his imperturbable DM mask, Chris has eyes only for Bri. It’s his job to make sure things don’t get out of control at the club. Despite her bravado, Bri’s broken heart is like a target painted on her back. She needs to learn some things on her own, but when a private scene goes too far, he can’t wait any longer to step in—and show her she doesn’t need fancy trappings.

His body is more than enough.

Warning: this title features kink and imaginative sex in a variety of forms—scalding hot, kinda lukewarm, and juuuust right. Reminders to breathe are clearly marked. Ignore them at your peril.

My review guidelines can be found HERE.

COVER ART
by Scott Carpenter

• Headless Man
• Actually appears to be interacting with the woman instead of just two photos overlaid
• Woman looking at the camera, pulls you in
• Red wash a bit abrasive but after reading the story, it fits
• Generic typography
• Generic imagery... where's the sailboat or jewelry?

Mood Music — Sixx:AM LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL.



Night is Darkest
by Jayne Rylon

Some secrets refuse to stay hidden.

Lacey Daughtry’s perfect weekend is interrupted by tragic news of her brother’s murder in the line of duty. Plagued by a rash of mysterious phone calls, she turns to her brother’s best friends and fellow officers for protection…and comfort.

Spending time in close contact with Mason and Tyler, the two men she’s dreamed of since her first girlhood crush, seems like the answer to a prayer. Especially when they begin to explore the desire she’s harbored for so long.

But the partners are holding out on Lacey. Determined to suppress the most extreme facets of their lust, they agree to settle for sharing the woman they crave while concealing their desire for each other. Until Lacey cracks their resolve, unleashing a torrent of emotions that threatens to distract them when they can least afford it.

Their blossoming relationship is complicated by secrets. And the only way to evade the killer threatening their lives is to bare their souls in the darkest hours of the night. Or everything will come crashing down, just before the dawn.

Warning: After reading this book you’ll never look at a pair of hot cops, a cemetery or a can of Spaghetti-O’s the same way again.

My review guidelines can be found HERE.

COVER ART
by Natalie Winters