I received an ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Once upon a time there lived an evil king who governed the magical land of Zemira bI received an ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Once upon a time there lived an evil king who governed the magical land of Zemira but hated magic. His hatred was so great that – using a powerful crystal – he banished magic from the kingdom as well as any folk who even breathed the word.
Those who refused to believe magic was dead formed a rebellion. Upon its discovery, the king slaughtered every magic wielder he could find, but two survived: a tiny baby Siren and a kindly fisherman who raised her along with his wife.
Twenty years later, Nola, under the careful watch of her all-too human parents, keeps her hair, eyes, and tail concealed. That is, however, until the prince notices her and begins asking questions.
And thus begins Nola’s tale!
I really enjoyed this book because it has something for every taste – pirates, elves, magic, evil kings, slaughtered royalty, betrayal, romance, enemies to lovers, and more! I found Nola to be completely likable, though a bit naïve ... but what can you expect from a young girl who’s been kept concealed so very strictly all of her life?
If you like high seas adventures filled with swashbuckling fun and excitement, then look no further, for here is your happy ending. ...more
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Finn and Elle have been watching each other for a long, long time.
Finn, a demon huI received an ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Finn and Elle have been watching each other for a long, long time.
Finn, a demon hunter, has had his eyes on Elle for decades. With a bounty on her head, he wants to return her to her Dark Lord father, but something else about her pulls at him, too; something he can’t quite identify. She’s different from any other woman he’s ever seen, and Finn has seen a lot of women.
Elle, succubus daughter of Styx, has noticed Fin watching her and now wants to spring her own trap: Seduce him and then feed. But part of Elle wants to stop running from her family, her destiny. She dreams of feeling safe and not killing every man she connects with.
Could an ancient prophecy be fulfilling itself at last?
I’m just going to come out and say I adored this book! Author Stella Del Mar does a lovely job of weaving Greek mythology with erotica and enemies to lovers tropes together into a smart, quick tale.
I loved how most of the narrative took place on the night train – a special train that would deliver Finn and Elle straight to the Lotus resort where Styx and family reside.
I also especially loved the emotional pull Finn and Elle felt toward each other, in addition to the physical. Even without the fantasy aspects, this tale would have been great!
I look forward to reading more from this author. ...more
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Leanna and her sister Violet are orphans bouncing from one foster home to another; I received an ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Leanna and her sister Violet are orphans bouncing from one foster home to another; the only constant in their lives is their strange yet beloved Nan. Violet and Nan, with her string of pearls and stories, make up Leanna’s life.
But strange things happen around Nan every once in a while; strange, unexplainable things. When asked, Nan simply talks about how this world could be just one of many, similar to a single pearl on a string of many.
Gifted the pearls upon Nan's death, Leanna learns that Nan was indeed correct; there are infinite worlds, and Nan was known as a Giant among them. Not a Giant in size, but rather in possibilities and power, something Leanna has inherited along with Nan’s pearls.
I enjoyed this well-written fantasy romance! The book is definitely of the young adult variety with some sweet romance mixed in. Leanna makes a fine main character. She is strong yet reserved; loves deeply but trusts few.
I love Nan as a character, too, and wished she had stuck around longer. Truthfully, the first part of the book where Leanna and Violet were young is my favorite. The “strange things” that happen around Leanna are fascinating, as are Nan’s explanations.
The book ends on a major cliffy, so be forewarned. I am, however, looking forward to part two!...more
Jade is the daughter of Darius - or Satan Himself. Named after a common stone, she is also treated as such. Used as negotiating tool rather than cheriJade is the daughter of Darius - or Satan Himself. Named after a common stone, she is also treated as such. Used as negotiating tool rather than cherished like a jewel, Jade has spent millennia allowing men to spill their seed within her, suffered beatings and humiliations, and is not allowed a moment where she is not watched.
Malcom is the long-time guard and watcher of Jade who has secretly been in love with her since he first held Jade in his arms as an infant. Forbidden by Darius to express his feelings or touch her in any way that is not in the line of duty, Malcom is the one who has striven to protect Jade every moment of her life.
Too bad Jade despises Malcom as much as she does her black-hearted father.
Once again, author Addison Cain has written a book to take you to the netherworlds and back! This book looks at the desperately sad and violent life of Jade, the daughter of Darius and Pearl, from the novella Catacombs. While I am not normally a fan of Cain’s Alpha-Omega novels - I prefer my heroes a little less testosterone-laden - this series is something that sets my heart and others parts asizzle.
Cain’s strengths lie in her character development and figurative language. You can see, touch, taste, smell, and feel everything happening to the characters, and my goodness, it’s sensory overload at times.
As Cain is known as a writer of erotica, there is also plenty of that here, and it's presented masterfully. This book is scorching hot while still managing to repulse, shock, and sadden.
Anyone looking for a dark romance with lots of blood, demons, vampires, and more absolutely MUST thrust themselves into this book.
You’ll never be the same for the experience....more
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"Been dreaming about mirrors. Millions of mirrors. An endless army of mirrors ouI received an ARC from the author and am leaving a review voluntarily.
"Been dreaming about mirrors. Millions of mirrors. An endless army of mirrors out of control, reflecting people to death.” - Jim Steinman
There can be only one. Of everything, really.
When the Celestials of New Heaven arrive in Anthem and demand Johnny and company hand over their thrones, the Viridian clan knows war is again upon them. New Heaven wants to invade Johnny’s timeline and take control of it all: Hell, Nastrond, and Limbo.
Now Johnny - aka Lucifer - has gone full Seraph; he feels no love for his family, nor does he believe he’ll ever be able to again. His only objective is to keep his family HIS. And once granddaughter Pru is snatched by these heavily posers, Lucifer knows those from the alternate timeline must somehow be eliminated without eliminating themselves in the process.
This is, as usual, an excellent addition to author Amanda Johnston’s Jim Steinman-inspired Anthemverse. Following Saints of the Sinners and its time travel trope, this novel adds a bit of Star Trekishness to the mix. More of a sci-fi fantasy, you can prepare to suspend disbelief even farther than before as you try to wrap your head around the unfolding events.
As there always seems to be deeply-coded lessons in Johnston’s books, my personal takeaway is that everyone we meet is a reflection of ourselves. I thought of mirrors while reading, or as Jim Steinman says, “millions of mirrors.” For here we see two of everything - two Heavens, two sets of rulers, two … well, you get the picture.
As humans are dualistic in nature already - created of light and dark - my lesson from this book is that both sides are equally important and must be amalgamated, unified, to form a cohesive whole. Kind of, the total is more than the sum of its parts thinking. In short, we are neither good nor bad, nor should we fight to label ourselves as either/or. In order to live a full life, we, like those in the Anthemverse, must merge the light and dark to become who we were truly meant to be.
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
When a book opens with a fiery sex scene between the protagonist and a smoldering iI received an ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
When a book opens with a fiery sex scene between the protagonist and a smoldering incubus, you know you’re on the right track.
Layla, dedicated nursing student and newbie witch, sees her life change when Ink - a smoking hot incubus - shows up on Halloween night ready not only to tutor her but also to satisfy every dark desire for which she yearns. And having a naked incubus ready to please her is shatteringly awesome, except now Layla’s long-time crush is finally paying attention to her … in THAT way.
Cal, a gorgeous blonde hunk of a study partner, is suddenly making moves, but Ink lounging about her apartment au naturel puts a kink in her potential relationship with Cal. Add in the fact that Layla discovers a dismembered woman in an alley dumpster and the fact that Cal is a werwolf shifter, and life has all of a sudden become complicated.
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book! In all honesty, I wasn’t necessarily looking forward to another shifter book, but something tugged at my mind to take a chance on this one, and I’m glad I did. There is a ton going on here: Sultry sex scenes, a serial killer, buried secrets, a smoking hot (and nude) Incubus, a smexy werewolf, a sentient Book of Shadows, and Layla; a girl just trying to balance all of the above with passing her nursing exams.
Author Ellen Mint has created a delightful world where one can really relate to the protagonist, for who among us has not juggled a myriad of challenging classes, hot guys, and a black Sharpie that won't write when wet?
The character I adore the most is Ink. He’s genuinely funny naturally, which in my opinion is the best kind of funny. But Ink has secrets of his own, as does Cal. And what’s this about a weird werewolf cult again?
There’s plenty of blood and guts, sex, slow-burn moves, and mysteries to make this book a fun romp. A sequel (with INK!) is also in the works.
Now go and pre-order Claw.
No need to wait for the full moon with this one....more
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All work and no play makes Hell a very dull place.
When smoldering demon Belia I received a free copy of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
All work and no play makes Hell a very dull place.
When smoldering demon Belial beats Satan at a poker game with the Almighty, Loki, and Zeus, Belial needs to think quickly to distract his boss from tossing him in the Lake of Fire as punishment. Betting he can corrupt a woman of the Almighty’s choice in just a few weeks, all parties accept.
Belial’s target is widowed nurse Dara Strong, granddaughter of famous demon hunters. Aside from the clinic she founded in her husband’s memory to help those less fortunate, Dara lives a dull existence … until now.
Once Belial shows up as Ben, a gorgeous doctor willing to volunteer at Dara’s clinic, he realizes - for once in his infernal life - that he faces an uphill battle in seducing Dara. For Dara is keen not only on demons, but also men who seem to have just one thing on their minds.
I loved this book! The story was so much fun to read, and while it wasn’t necessarily hard to guess where the tale would end, I enjoyed every single minute of it.
First of all, Belial is hot; like scorching hot. Had I been Dara, there is no way I could have held out the way she did. Dara is cute in her focus on her clinic, her grandmother, and her goal of not letting Belial get what he wants!
I also loved all of the sides characters, notably Satan Himself and Lilith.
This is not an insta-love or insta-sex tale. I would classify it more as an enemies to lovers trope with obviously lots of paranormal elements thrown in.
Author Jeanne Oates Estridge adds tons of little details throughout to really make the reader feel as if you are right there with Dara, struggling against the dark, sensual powers of Belial, yet caving in a little each day!
If you love paranormal slow burns with hot characters, then read this book now!
I received an ARC of this book from the author and am leaving a review voluntarily.
According to Albert Einstein, time is relative. Or rather, the rateI received an ARC of this book from the author and am leaving a review voluntarily.
According to Albert Einstein, time is relative. Or rather, the rate at which time passes depends upon one’s frame of reference. While reading Amanda Johnston’s Saints of the Sinners, time sprinted for me, because before I knew it, I had reached the end of the book and found myself in a dazed stupor wondering what day it even was.
Luc Caelestis holds within him great power yet has never felt a real sense of what he should do with his life. But when teenagers and their families begin turning up missing in Anthem, he decides to help Siggy Viridian search for his girlfriend Heather and her family. Although Luc possesses the gift of knowledge - passed down from his father Zaphkiel - neither one has any inkling of where these missing people have gone. With not even a stray strand of hair left in these people’s homes, it’s almost as if they never were.
After years of fruitless searches Heather finally shows up, and she is … weirdly euphoric. Zeke King, the powerful son of Ezekiel, is to blame for the vanishings, as well as Heather's bizarre joy, but Zeke hasn’t gotten to where he is on his own. Someone within the Viridian family has turned traitor.
It was so much fun to delve back into author Amanda Johnston’s new creation. Although Sinners is book one of The Seraph Chronicles, in my mind I see it as book 11 of the Anthem series because here we are reunited with all of the characters I’ve learned to love in previous books: Johnny and Jenny Viridian - aka King and Queen of Hell; Lili, Billy, and more. And these lovable and celestial infernals are just as wild as they always have been. The novel also continues Johnston’s innovative take on songwriter Jim Steinman’s Bat Out of Hell aesthetic that shines so brightly throughout the entire Anthem universe.
Johnston experiments with an additional creative trope here, but I shall not say any more on it lest I ruin the surprise. I will say, however, that her inventive flexing works. I love the additional dimension she adds to the story.
And once again, Johnston threads her narrative with a deeper meaning, and for me it is this: Light cannot exist without darkness. Darkness in the world gives shape and shadows to events, and the more profound the gloom, the more brilliant the light will be when it shines down upon us. Without darkness, in other words, how would one even recognize light?
Now, take a step closer to this new adventure, and open your mind.
Release all you know or believe you know, because really, you don’t know anything at all....more
I received a free copy of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
This. Book. Is. Amazing.
It’s 1984, and Rachel is celebrating her birthday at I received a free copy of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
This. Book. Is. Amazing.
It’s 1984, and Rachel is celebrating her birthday at the local pub. Her mother is confined to a sanitarium, and Rachel has suffered a lifetime of abuse at her hands. Finding her release through sex, Rachel promises her mother’s health aide that she will refrain from hookups for seven days in the hopes of discovering herself.
But when Rachel sees temptation literally walk through the door in the form of the smoldering Scotsman Angus, her mind and will are torn. From here, we are treated to a delectable story that weaves in horror, mental illness, emotional abuse, and sex.
Set firmly in the ‘80s, author Cheryl Cowtan adds just the right details to make one forget about the internet, cell phones, and social media. At that time, relationships had to be formed through actual human contact, an activity quite often forgot about in today’s world.
Cowtan’s story dips into the past and back to Rachel’s present but connects the two in the end. My favorite thing about this book and Cowtan’s writing is the absolutely gorgeous details she creates. I felt as if I were there with Rachel and the rest of the gang, sitting at the scarred wooden tables, listening to the jukebox, and getting buzzed from the beer.
I also love that the story delves very deeply into mental health and split personalities. I was entranced from the beginning of the book by the story, but then the added layers make it that much more amazing.
Lastly, Rachel is real. She’s authentic. Rachel is broken and knows it.
I don’t know how this book remained off of my radar so long, but I am thrilled to have discovered it at last. ...more
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Marigold - or just plain M - is a top-notch hacker. Raised by hippy parents, home s I received an ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Marigold - or just plain M - is a top-notch hacker. Raised by hippy parents, home schooled, and sheltered, M wants the real-life excitement that her life online can’t give her. When she hacks into one of the Covington boys’ systems - Rafael’s - she decides to take a visit to get a glimpse of Raf up close and personal-like, never guessing that two could play at the hacker’s game.
M’s sheltered off-line life drives her right into the midst of the Covington boys’ hood, but desperate to escape her claustrophobic home life she offers her hacking services to them in return for a place in their gang. And when Rafael finally shows himself, M realizes she’s definitely bitten off more than she can swallow.
As a follow-up to Deana Birch’s Escape, Hack goes above and beyond and continues the overall narrative arc beautifully. We are reunited with our old friends Anton, Lisa, Scooter, and more.
What I really appreciate about Birch’s books is the utter devotion she gives to describing her characters and environments. So many authors just skip this critical aspect of writing, but not Birch. From M’s rainbow hair to Raf’s mesmerizing tattoos and even the diner’s mouthwatering pie overflowing with canned cherries, I can visualize every detail.
Birch’s characters are also as distinct from one another as can be. From drug addicted Bridget to musclebound Anton, I’ve slowly come to know and love every one of them.
Although not billed as such, the novel also has some scorchingly hot sex scenes. I’ve read so many disappointing erotica books lately that it’s a complete joy to find such stimulating scenes in a non-erotica novel!
This book is not a standalone, so make sure you’ve read Escape before diving into Hack. You won’t regret it....more
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Portia is an ancient vampire who longs for the simple life: Running her burlesque cI received an ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Portia is an ancient vampire who longs for the simple life: Running her burlesque club, dancing, and only using men for one thing. But all of that changes when she receives a message saying her territory is about to be taken over and she will be expected to serve as a consort. When Portia sends the messenger away with his tail between his legs, Portia’s club is burned to the ground.
However, two other vampires - Calvus and Louis - have hovered in the shadows and protected Portia for centuries. When they find her club a pile of smoking cinders, they fear for her, but Portia has been aware of their presence all this time because she comes to them for help. But Portia doesn’t come alone, for she brings yet another vampire with her, Tir. Will the four of them be enough to ward off this encroaching evil?
This book is amazing. First of all, Portia is stunning. She is sarcastic, smart, gorgeous, and takes no flack from anyone, especially men. But the three male vampires are … hot. Smoldering. Absolutely sex on a stick. For the first time in centuries, Portia finds herself thawing to these three very different males and enjoying the attention.
Author Colette Rhodes is a phenomenal writer. The three gentleman are written so clearly that I felt I could just have reached out and touched them through the pages. The voices of each character in this novel are distinct, and there is no misremembering in trying to decipher who is whom like there can be in other books.
The story was also unique. I love vampire tales, but the market is so saturated with them that it’s hard to find original ideas. Rest assured, you will find originality here.
Portia’s existence reaches back to ancient Rome, as do Calvus and Louis’s, and there are circles within circles linking all of these characters together.
This is also a RH. I am not normally a RH reader, but the book intrigued me so much that I actually loved it. So if you’re in the mood for a unique vampire story with loads of sexy hotness, wait no further. ...more
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Fiona wants nothing more than to escape Covington Heights. Living with her drug-addI received an ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Fiona wants nothing more than to escape Covington Heights. Living with her drug-addicted mother and taking care of her baby sister, Fiona’s life changes in a blink when she misses her stop on the subway.
Trying to make her way through rival gang territory, Fiona is almost home when she is spotted and pursued. Only after crying for help and being saved by Covington Heights Crew member Leo is she at last safe. Or is she? Discovering her safety comes at a price, Fiona learns the wages she must pay are herself: She must give herself over to the Heights leader Anton. Fiona knows there is no way she is giving herself to Anton, and although she hates Leo for getting her wrapped up in this mess, she also feels a pull toward him.
What a ride! I’ve never read anything by Deana Birch, but I really enjoyed this. Right away I could tell there was intense chemistry between Fiona and Leo. Leo is tall, dark, and hot, and it’s obvious that Anton wanting first dibs on her is driving him crazy. But Leo is second in command, and what Anton says, goes.
And while the vortex of the book centers around the cat and mouse game between Fiona and Leo, there are other story arcs unfolding.
Anton is the boss of the Heights crew, but just how Leo fits in is a mystery. Leo hints that he is only in the Heights to escape something worse; a former life, people, and situations. As a second, Leo defers to Anton, but one can see this is really only a front, for away from prying eyes they are more than equals.
I like how well rounded the characters are, too. Unlike some books in which the characters never shed their one-dimensional selves, Fiona and Leo are easily imagined into reality. Fiona is a firecracker, and Leo is just … well, dreamy. But be warned: Though the book delivers a slow burn, there is no sex, so don't go looking for it.
Escape is book one of this new series, and I’m eagerly looking forward to the next installment in order to get to know this gang of hotties better....more
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Reading this almost felt like reading two different books.
When her father is caughI received an ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Reading this almost felt like reading two different books.
When her father is caught trespassing in a mysterious man’s castle and accused of stealing a precious jewel, Belle offers herself in her father’s stead as recompense for the alleged pilferage. What Belle doesn’t expect is the soul-deep attraction she feels toward the stranger when he accepts her offer to remain with him for three months as his housekeeper. The stranger - referred to as a beast by Belle’s father - keeps his face hidden in the shadows for fear of frightening her away. But when Belle finally sees Leo, she doesn’t back away. Instead, she moves forward.
Now this may sound like the beginnings of a fairy tale retelling, and it certainly felt that way to me with its deep, dark forest; hidden palace, hot stranger, and peculiar bargain, but it’s not. This is, instead, a completely contemporary story that executes a quick switchback shortly after Belle agrees to remain with Leo.
From here, the book turns into an insta-love obsession on both character’s parts. I mean, as soon as the front door closes on Belle’s father, Belle and Leo are pretty much getting it on on the foyer floor. And right then, Leo voices his plan to impregnate Belle and make her his forever. Creeper much? For her part, Belle isn’t too bothered by this, actually.
And this is pretty much where the fairy tale-feel ends. As events unfold, we are witness to a dark Mafia romance, which is quite a switch from the charming fairy tale-like exposition of the tale.
That isn’t to say this is a bad thing, because it’s not; the story carries itself on its own merit because the writing is pretty darn solid. And make no mistake; there is quite a bit of erotica in it, and they are not short scenes, either. Leo is the quintessential dirty talker, and Belle doesn’t do too badly herself.
Aside from the quick plot switch, the biggest dings I’m giving the book are for its title and cover. The title is really completely repulsive; I’m surprised I even chose to read the book because it was that much of a turn off. Secondly, Leo is described as having long, golden hair and dark blue eyes. The dude on the cover is NOT Leo.
I would be open to reading more from author Aria Blue because I feel she has some real writing talent. I hope, however, she rethinks her titles and cover choices more carefully next time....more
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I went into this book with eyes wide open, and I’m so pleased.
Sophie works a dull fI received an ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
I went into this book with eyes wide open, and I’m so pleased.
Sophie works a dull fast food job by day so she can play out her fantasies with rope kink and take care of her 14-year-old sister Melanie the rest of the time. Life is as normal as can be until Melanie, wanting to help bring in some money, visits the Lavender Club for a job offer and barely escapes with her life.
Hellbent on getting revenge on Melanie’s attackers, Sophie decides to infiltrate the club by getting hired. Dying her blond locks a bright red and transforming into another persona entirely, Sophie wades into Lavender’s elegant tea club atmosphere knowing more than simply beverages are up for consumption.
Aided in her task by mysterious notes and texts, Sophie realizes that something far more nefarious is happening when she stumbles across a bound man in an unused freezer. Could he be the Lavender Phantom of which the myths whisper?
Not knowing exactly what I was getting into this one, I was happy to become so engrossed in the tale that I still am not sure how to classify the book. Dark romance? Thriller? Kink? How about all of the above?
When Melanie comes home after escaping the Lavender Club, Sophie knows nothing will stop her from finding something which will close the club permanently, but Sophie discovers more than she bargains for. The soothing colors and scents call to her aesthetic, but the underlying poison is unable to be ignored. Part refined tea club for wealthy gentlemen callers on the surface, a different current swirls below, one with drugs, money, and abuse. There are a lot of mysteries to be solved within these pages, and the author lays them out beautifully.
But if you’re easily triggered, be wary. Included as well are dub con and non con situations; abuse, sexual cruelty, rope and air play, bondage, attempted rape, and more.
If none of the above bothers you, then I say go for it. ...more
I received an ARC of this book from the author and am leaving a review voluntarily.
While reading the nine-volume Anthem saga, what I wished for most wI received an ARC of this book from the author and am leaving a review voluntarily.
While reading the nine-volume Anthem saga, what I wished for most were the deets on the origins of this stunning world.
Having just finished Rearview Mirror, I can happily say that author Amanda Johnston delivers.
Mirror is an innovative trek through the genesis of Lucifer and Anthem City. Johnston begins Lucifer’s (aka Johnny’s) narrative when the Light Bringer was the hottest and most beloved of Heaven on High’s angels until … he wasn’t. Until he crossed a celestial line in the sand that saw Lucifer hurled to earth to live out his days as the Father of Lies.
But as we’ve witnessed in previous Anthem novels, Heaven on High and its cohorts cannot be trusted. Sure, they’re beautiful and silvery and minty-fresh, but their empyrean visages cloak a most serpentine nature. They were, after all, responsible for the great war between Heaven and Hell and all realms in between which resulted in the deaths of millions.
What’s different about Rearview Mirror as opposed to the Anthem saga is the way in which Johnston presents the tale. The chapters unfold in alternating timelines, and not necessarily linear lines, either. But rather than confuse, as I thought it might, the pattern draws in the reader to be not only a witness to history, but also a participant.
The chapters unwind organically while Johnny shares jewels of wisdom with family, and we are pulled into a past that involves not only Adam and Eve, but also Queen Isabella of Spain, William Shakespeare, and Nero.
There is also no great war brewing in Rearview Mirror, another shift from Johnston’s previous works.
Once again, Johnston brings us face to face with the reality that our decisions as mortals make us what we are. Infinite choices sprawl before us like a smorgasbord; it is we who determine our ultimate destiny, for our decisions in each moment create us much like a painter adds highlights and shadows to a portrait to create depth.
Still have burning questions after reading through the nine-volume saga as I did? I suggest getting your favorite beverage and curling up by the fire with Johnny as he unravels the tangled skein of this narrative tapestry.
Because too much time spent in Anthem is never enough.
Wendy has completely transformed herself into her authentic self after shedding the persona Peter Pan thrust upon her: ReOne can never trust a pirate.
Wendy has completely transformed herself into her authentic self after shedding the persona Peter Pan thrust upon her: Red-Handed Jill the Pirate Queen. Living out her deepest desires with Capt. James Hook after leaving behind Neverland forever, life can’t get any sweeter.
But it can get more complicated.
Just a few days out of Neverbay, the Jolly Roger crew seizes a ship (as pirates do) and takes as part of its spoils the ship’s surgeon - Dr. Hanover - and his lovely daughter. But Hanover develops an unholy fascination with Wendy aka Jill and will go to any lengths to win her favor and do her bidding. Now Hanover has plans to rescue Jill from Hook and make her his wife. And Eliza, Hanover’s daughter, is cooking up her own plot to snatch Hook away from under Jill’s very nose and make him her own.
Not everyone is as they appear to be; beware the evil lurking in sheep’s clothing.
This book, like its predecessor, is for adults, period. Author Andrea Jones continues the dark, sensual tale of empowering womanhood and grasping pleasure that she began in Hook and Jill. But this time, the villains aren’t nearly as easy to spot at first. I mean, a doctor and his sweet, beguiling daughter; what danger could there be?
I love this series because, as someone who never cared about Peter Pan and the Lost Boys, Jones has made the tale relevant and powerful for all women. We are all Wendy waiting and wanting to let our Red-Handed Jill burst forth and take control. And I so appreciate an excellent re-imagining of a mythical story.
The only ding I’m giving the novel is that too many pages were used to set up the exposition; at least 200 or so. I felt a bit weary trudging through it all and wondered if I’d even be able to continue at one point. But once Jones gets all the set-up out of the way, the plots within plots exploded into a mind-numbing haze of love triangles, deceit, and power grabs.
If you love the idea of a woman finding a man who will let her live out her deepest fantasies while embracing all that she is, then read on, my darlings. Read on. ...more
Tory has been ensnared by Lionel as his guardian, and sucked in by the shadows as she is, Tory has no sense of her old self left to her.
And the rest Tory has been ensnared by Lionel as his guardian, and sucked in by the shadows as she is, Tory has no sense of her old self left to her.
And the rest of the gang is trying to pick up pieces of the mess left behind when Lionel and Clara - the Shadow Princess - wreaked their havoc on Solaria.
Orion still languishes in Darkmore Penitentiary for his illicit and illegal relationship with Darcy, and Darcy is alone without her twin for the first time in her life. And the heirs are trying to figure out how things got so out of hand so quickly. But all is not lost as Darcy and the heirs - along with Darcy and Tory’s brother Gabriel - begin working together for one common cause: Destroy Lionel and rescue the throne.
As usual, Susanne and Caroline’s Zodiac Academy series continues in spectacular fashion. The characters we all know and love continue evolving which is wonderful to witness. I feel the heirs have finally realized how their horrible treatment of the royal twins helped bring all of this madness down upon their heads. They are genuinely sorry and doing everything in their power to help Darcy deal with not only the loss of her twin Tory but also Orion.
One of my favorite aspects of Fated Throne is Seth and Darcy’s ever-changing relationship. I admit I absolutely loathed Seth from book one on. He always seemed the cruelest of all the heirs, and something about him just rubs me the wrong way. But now I have to say I am slowly growing to like him and think he’s even cute, in a shaggy puppy sort of way.
I did not, however, give this book five stars for a couple of reasons. Maybe the time between reading books five and six was too long for me, because part of me had lost all of my reserves of Solaria energy, and it took a while to build back up. I’m also a bit disappointed there were so few sexy scenes here. These sister authors always deliver lots of hot eroticism, and that was blatantly missing from this installment.
Overall the novel is excellent, if a bit predictable. I am, however, looking forward to the conclusion of the Solaria saga as soon as possible. ...more
In my search for pirate erotica I was disappointed to find mainly pirate romance.
Imagine my delight when I discovered The Blond Devil of the Sea, bilIn my search for pirate erotica I was disappointed to find mainly pirate romance.
Imagine my delight when I discovered The Blond Devil of the Sea, billed as pirate romance, was actually pirate erotica in disguise.
Capt. Rowan MacNeil gets more than he bargains for when, after plundering a small village and making away with all of their goods and a loud-mouthed lad, he ends up with a lovely wench instead. Caragh Pedrick, however, is no sniveling wallflower, for she runs her village’s smuggling ring. And being captured by Rowan may just be the best thing that’s happened to her in a while.
This book is really about the sex between Rowan and Caragh, and trust me when I say the sex in this book is plentiful and glorious. I believe there was/is probably a narrative beneath all of the ripped bodices and thrusting codpieces, but I honestly don’t remember much of it. All I remember are the pages and pages of entwined arms and legs and copious amounts of fluids they were always washing away afterwards.
Now this is not to say the book was all smut and nothing else. The writing was clean, and the characters well rounded (very well …. rounded) in most cases. Author Celeste Barclay’s writing captures the feel of the time on the high seas when ne'er-do-wells and ruffians made their livelihood by what they could pillage from various settlements.
The only issue I have with the reality of the book is that Rowan and Caragh fell into the insta-love trope very early on. Within moments of arriving on his ship, the two were already doing it 16 different ways to Sunday in Rowan’s cabin, and for heaven’s sake, I even picked up some pointers. Of course Rowan deflowered Caragh’s maidenhood on top of a table (I think), but with ruffians like these, what else could one expect? Nevertheless, Caragh enjoyed it immensely from her uninhibited screams. The insta-love followed almost immediately after.
And while I enjoyed the frolicking, I do believe the book is mis-categorized as this is clearly erotica rather than romance. There are quite a few triggers, too, so be warned if you’re sensitive to light BDSM, captivity, anal, doing it on a table, floor, or against a door; or have a gag reflex of any kind.
If you’re willing to have a go, then I say to you - Avast ye! What are you waiting for?...more
I received a free copy of this book from the author and am leaving a review voluntarily.
When author Isabella Johns sent me My Hot Teacher for review, I received a free copy of this book from the author and am leaving a review voluntarily.
When author Isabella Johns sent me My Hot Teacher for review, my first reaction was … eeeew. Being a teacher myself, I couldn’t even imagine how I was going to make it through this novel - or whether I even wanted to try. Never one to shy away from a challenge, however, I discovered Johns’s hot romance takes place on a college campus, so I was able to fully indulge in her naughty delight.
Suffering through a mess of drunken athletes and insecure college boys with her V card still intact, Celine decides her senior year will be most epic and begins boldly by surprising her English professor with a hot kiss after class. From here Celine is awarded a fully-funded erotic education courtesy of Professor Beard. My Hot Teacher is definitely a coming of age novel, but it’s also more complex than that.
Celine’s after-class tutoring sessions always begin the same; Celine shows up at Beard’s home at the assigned day and time, and an intricate fantasy staged by the professor plays itself out. Strange thing is, though, that as soon as the session finishes, Beard is up and out of bed and into his shower - alone - leaving Celine bewildered and curious. She makes it her goal to find out just who Alan Beard is and what mystery in his past makes him so closed off emotionally outside of the fantasies.
This book was BLISTERING. Like, don’t touch the stove or you’re going to get burned type of scorching. It’s difficult to write effective erotica without either saying too little or too much. No reader wants to be left poised at the edge of the climactic cliff only to turn the page and find herself out of the scene and into a different chapter (Noooooo!!!!! WTH? OMG, really?). Likewise, no one wants to read a thousand words about how sharp a jawline is, either (get to the tip; I mean the POINT already!).
Johns is able to both sprinkle and saturate her writing with plenty of erotic scenes - long and short; pulsing and throbbing; breathy and earsplitting. It’s definitely a one-handed read, but it’s also more than that. I love the secondary story lines just as much as the sexy stuff. There is a full story arc here with numerous mini arcs sheltered beneath it, and the result is a well-rounded narrative that hits all of the right physical, emotional, and mental knobs … spots. Buttons; I actually meant buttons there. As for triggers, aside from the entire professor/student taboo, you can expect a lot of Dom/Sub scenes, role play and some bondage.
So now I suggest you gather your strength for the read ahead, for you may just find yourself wanting to enroll in the nearest college literature class to expand your own education....more
I received an ARC of this book from the author and am leaving a review voluntarily.
The world now exists as a glazed-covered sphere of ice thanks to HeI received an ARC of this book from the author and am leaving a review voluntarily.
The world now exists as a glazed-covered sphere of ice thanks to Heaven on High.
Ezekiel has continued his reign of terror on the realms of Hell, Limbo, and Nastrond. No humans are left on Earth; they have all been conscripted to fight in the final battle against Johnny, Jenny, and any with infernal blood.
Now a new terror - Malgs - is unleashed to bring down any remaining. A new-wave Dr. Frankenstein is constructing Malgs - amalgamations of angels created by grafting parts of some angels onto other angels - for a fresh wave of terror. The Viridians are outnumbered in battle, and Heaven wants to end its experiment with free will and wipe the slate clean to begin anew.
The journey that began decades ago on July 13, 1997 - when Johnny first laid eyes on Jenny and her winking silver anklet - comes to a cataclysmic conclusion in this final battle between Heaven, Hell, and all who reside within.
In the End, the final book in author Amanda Johnston’s Anthem saga inspired by songwriter Jim Steinman's heated visions, gathers all of her on-going narrative threads into a beautifully woven tapestry of a denouement.
From the beginning, it’s been clear that Heaven has overflowed with corruption and pitched to Earth any who dared disobey its tenets. And from the beginning, we have witnessed the war between infernals and celestials play itself out upon the innocent who seem to always be the ones to pay the price in any power struggle.
I believe Johnston’s final message, however, is that those who claim to know the path (here it’s Heaven on High) are the most corrupt simply because they wish to impose their belief system on everyone else. In other words, anyone who says he has the only answer couldn’t, ironically, be more wrong.
The most admirable in Johnston’s saga are those who accept they are a balance of both: Celestial and infernal; light and dark; good and evil. Johnny and company never claim to know the answer, which makes them the obvious heroes in the narrative. From the very beginning, the Viridians have wrestled with making the best decisions they can with the limited amount of knowledge they have. We see them rise and fall; die, and then live again, and not just physically.
If I’ve learned anything from the Anthem novels, it’s a reminder that death is never an ending; it’s only the beginning to a new chapter. A door is closed only so that a new one may open.
And life is about persisting and making choices - good, bad, and in-between - for only by doing so are we actually able to LIVE to fight another day....more
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