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CONTENTS
| BTS Book Reviews | September 2013 |
CONTEMPORARY & HISTORICAL
21
Featuring: Jill Shalvis Julia Tracey
Book Reviews
EROTIC
45
Featuring: Lexi Adair Caridad Pineiro
Book Reviews
SCI FI & FANTASY
15
67
Featuring: Adrian Phonenix Jason M. Hough J.W. Baccaro Jennifer Estep
Book Reviews
PARANORMAL & SUSPENSE
81
Featuring: Angie Fox Jonathan Maberry Alexa Grace
Book Reviews
KAT MARTIN
New York Times Bestselling Author 4 | www.BTSeMag.com
YOUNG & NEW ADULT Featuring: Devri Walls Angela Brown Kelly Keaton
Book Reviews
103
COLUMNS
SHORT STORIES & SERIALS
The Lowdown with Laurie 9 Romance vs. Erotic Romance vs. Erotica
So many readers and retailers are confused with the differences between romance, erotic romance...
Organized Terror Pedro Cerda and Daniel Stiles
Why I Love Regency England 35 The Clothes: Part I
Sometimes people ask me, why Regency novels? Why not write about some other time period, like...
Chic Trends in Romance 37 A Five Course Meal of Romance
Let’s face it, folks: Food is sexy! I love good food. Who doesn’t? While editing my last book, I realized my...
The Heat Diva 47 Not Your Mom’s Historical Romance
We all started somewhere in our reading career. I loved books from an early age, but the kind I...
The Scrying Eye 83 Are You Prepared?
The Scrying Eye opens! You’re just in time, dear, precious hearts, for a glimpse into the future, the past...
FEATURES
99 Rain always makes me nervous. Only so many places exist nowadays where a man can smoke in peace. Can’t smoke in buildings. Can’t smoke near entrances. I have to wander from society, isolate myself, exposed. Whenever it rains, the chance always exists that my cigarette will die, ruined before I can claim its poisons. I’m at war, and I’m under the impression that Mother Nature’s on the other side. She’s not a patriot like me. How could she be? Maybe I should buy a hat. Walking the soaked sidewalk, streetlights bringing sparse illumination to the city’s night, I experience the wet chill...
63 Join us as we continue our search for: MR. BTS
41
I sat at my keyboard, listening to the humming of my hard drive while I tried to muster the mental fortitude to get some work done. My mind had been wandering aimlessly in a million different directions ever since Jack had abruptly left just an hour before. My entire week had been stressful...
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From the Desk of
Myra Nour BTS CEO
Get Well: The BTS staff sends get well wishes to Mike Milliken, one of our talented designers, who recently underwent back surgery. BTS Book Reviews a hit at Authors After Dark: Our wonderful Designer & Tour Coordinator, Nikki McCarver, attended Authors After Dark and had a blast. She reported that our magazine was very popular at the Expo. Look for her article in the October issue.
BTS
Book Reviews Book & Trailer Showcase
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REVIEWERS: Annette Stone, Nikki McCarver, Grinelda Markowitz, Angelique Elgelbrecht, Drue DePompei-Hoffman, Francine Alli, Leslie Ferdinand, Lynda K. Frazier, Marie Haney, Kimberly Klemm, Niina C, Rachel Flash, Rhonda Dennis, Stephanie Phillips, Susan Frances, Michele Biring-Pani, Sally Manson, Krissy Malott, Shelly Schulz, Desiree Reilly, Nila Bi, Shan McKinney, Shelly Hammond, Beckey White, Iris Montalvo Pross, Patricia Costa Melo, Gypsie Holley, Anita Rivers, Cassandra Graham, Tim Davis, Gayle Pace, Abbie Foxton, Nicky Peacock, Michelle Willms, Dianne Solberg, Julie L Canfield, Michele Page, Tobyann Aparisi, Adesh Rampat, Jacqueline Driggers, Danielle S., Susan Arden, Taunya Wells, Crystal Guidroz
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COLUMNISTS: Sandra Bunino, Christy English, Laurie Garrison, Kelly Hudson, Nikki McCarver, Nicole Morgan
Interviews: Interviews start on the BTS website in mid-September. Be sure and check out authors Julie Shelton, Melissa Bourbon, Dorothy Bell, S. R. Howen, and Bev Irwin in September interviews. To schedule an interview write Myra@btsemag.com. Cost $15. Interviews will be archived.
Virtual Tours: Our old website Book & Trailer Showcase has been revamped, and now will concentrate on virtual tours. Drop by and see the difference. Still some tweaking to do but mostly finished. - booktrailershowcase.com
WEBSITE: BTSeMag.com EMAIL: info@BTSeMag.com Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/BtsBookReviews No material in this magazine can be used or copied without BTS or the author’s permission. © Copyright 2013. BTSeMag, BTS Book Reviews, All Rights Reserved. By submitting material to BTS Book Reviews or its affiliates, authors certify they own the rights to all published information.
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The Lowdown The withLowdown Laurie with Laurie Laurie Garrison
Laurie Garrison
Romance Erotic Romance Erotica
vs.
So many readers and retailers are confused with the differences between romance, erotic romance, and erotica. I find erotica tags on regular romances, and I see reviews that state a book is erotica when there is only one page of sex in the whole novel. Giving a book the wrong tag and adding the wrong category in your review will not only confuse readers, but it will also be a put-off to some readers who would enjoy it. Romance is a book with a story line or a world building. The main hero and heroine will have a Happy Ever After at the end of the story. Most of these books will have some sex in them, but some do carry a lot of sex. Take, for instance, Dark Lover by J.R. Ward. Most will categorize this as erotica, but it’s not—it’s romance. Just because there are more sex scenes and oral sex doesn’t mean it’s not romance. Again, Dark Lover has creative world building, romance as the main focus of the story—while adding to the series plot as well—and a couple that ends up with a Happy Ever After, so it’s called romance not erotica. Erotic romance is romance with a story line or world building, and the main characters will have a Happy Ever After at the end. The reason they are labeled as erotic is
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because of these factors below. • More explicit and descriptive sex, no fading to black or taking place off scene like in regular romance. Also, the body parts are called by actual names, meaning no nicknames or pet names. • BDSM (bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, sadism, masochism), D/s (Dominance/submission) and ménages may be found in these types of books. • Cussing can be very heavy. Again, as long as you find a romance buildup with a natural progression from meeting to the declaration of strong feelings, usually love, between the hero(s) and heroine(s), and they have a Happy Ever After or a Happy for Now at the end, it’s romance. Therefore, this is called erotic romance. Examples books are The Brown Siblings series by Lauren Dane or Skin Deep by Anna J Evans. Erotica is in a category all alone and is not romance. These books are stories about sexual journeys of characters, and they talk about how these journeys impact them as individuals. You won’t find a romance buildup between characters, you also won’t find world building or story lines, and you won’t find a Happy Ever After. An easy way to tell if it is erotic romance or erotica is to take out the sex scenes. Is there still a legitimate story there? With erotic romance, yes; with erotica, no, because it relies on the sex to tell the story. It’s no wonder why authors hate seeing their romance books under erotica. I wouldn’t like it either. An example of erotica is Last Caress by Luxie Ryder. You’ll find most romance authors would rather you label their books sensual than label their books erotica. I noticed a lot of readers throwing novellas under erotica because they feel the works have a lot more sex than story but, again, look at the factors. Does the book still have a small world build or story and do the main characters have a romance build and a Happy Ever After ending? If
so, then you can label it as erotic romance to let readers know it has more sex than your typical romance book, but please don’t label it erotica. As a romance reviewer and reader, it’s your responsibility to make sure you know what you’re tagging and labeling. Look at it this way, if you’re a romance reader and you see something with an erotica tag on it, and you don’t read books without a romance build or story lines or a Happy Ever After, then you will stay away from that book. Therefore this author can lose sales just because you labeled it wrong. So dig in and find out before you add your tags or state things in your review. If you’re not sure what category it is, then just don’t tag the book and let the readers find out for themselves.
e Sex v o L Steamy
AllRomanceebooks.com got rid of their erotica tags last year, and it’s time Amazon and the rest of the retailers get rid of their erotica tags. This is for our romance authors. They deserve to be called what they are, and it’s up to everyone who supports romance authors to help out. If we all start labeling books right and sending messages to these giants, then they will change but not until we do. Look at it this way, if you were to be labeled something that you’re not, would you want change that? I know I would. You might think this column is crazy, but if you’re a book blogger just post a question on your blog or Facebook to your authors and ask, “Do you like your book being called erotica?” You might be surprised at what you get. This will also help readers to know why romance authors don’t like their books being labeled erotica.
Hello, my name is Laurie. I’m a mom that found the love for reading again late in life. I opened a book review blog a few years back and have been nonstop since. My review blog has led me to do different things in the writing world, such as the opening of the Indie Romance Convention and this column. I live in Tennessee with my hubby, daughter, and lots of fur babies. bittenbyparanormalromance.com
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AUTHOR SHOWCASE
COVER feature
On the Raines of Wind Canyon Of the 9 books in the series, do you have one closest to your heart? I loved AGAINST THE LAW. Dev Raines was such a hunk. But I tend to fall in love with whoever is my current hero. Ty Brodie in AGAINST THE MARK is only 30 years old, a fun kind of guy but under it all, he’s a real macho man--So I am currently in love with him. For readers who haven’t read the series, how are the Raines of Wind Canyon (the characters from the initial trilogy) connected to the next six books? They aren’t connected, except distantly. Dev Raines in book #3 needed help to bring a kidnapped child home from Mexico. His friends, Trace Rawlins, Johnnie Riggs, and Jake Cantrell went down to help him. They were such great guys they had to have their own stories. In my current book, AGAINST THE MARK, Ty Brodie works with Johnnie Riggs, the hero of AGAINST THE NIGHT. The new AGAINST books will go forward with more of the Brodie’s, starting with Dylan Brodie in AGAINST THE WILD, out next year. Most of the heroes are ex military menSEALS, Army Rangers, Navy pilots. Are they based on anyone you know? We have two boys who served. One in the Navy, one in the Marines. Servicemen are near and dear to my heart. I like that they are strong and capable and have the knowledge to defend themselves and the women they love.
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Book 2
Book 3
Book 4
Book 5
Book 6
Book 7
Book 8
Book 9
READING ORDER
Book 1
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| Cover Feature |
Please tell us a little bit about AGAINST THE MARK. As I said, Ty Brodie, the hero of the book, works with John Riggs as a private investigator in Los Angeles. He also made an appearance in AGAINST THE EDGE with Ben Slocum. In AGAINST THE MARK, Ty meets Haley Warren, a sexy blonde from Chicago who hires him to help her uncover the truth about her father’s death. Was the explosion that killed James Warren an accident? Or was it murder, as Haley’s stepmother believes? Fighting the attraction neither of them want to feel, they follow a trail of clues that leads them into the art world, where old master paintings sell for tens of millions of dollars--plenty of motive for murder. AGAINST THE MARK is a sexy, high-action adventure I hope it will keep readers turning the pages. I hope you’ll watch for it and that you enjoy.
New York Times bestselling author Kat Martin is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara where she majored in Anthropology and also studied History. Before she started writing in 1985, Kat was a real estate broker. During that time she met her husband, L.J. Martin, author of thirty western, non-fiction, historical, and suspense novels. A resident of Missoula, Montana, Kat and her husband spend their winters in Ventura, California. She is currently writing her next Romantic Suspense. With fifty five novels to her credit and more than fifteen million copies of her books in print, Ms. Martin has been published in twenty-one foreign countries including France, Japan, Greece, Argentina, Russia, Sweden, Turkey, China, and Spain. http://katbooks.com
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“I’ve got another client for you. Tyler Brodie, I’d like you to meet my grandniece, Haley Warren. Haley’s out here from Chicago. Her grandmother was my sister.” Just to regain a little of his dignity, Ty let his gaze roam over her, starting at the frosted-pink toenails peeking out of strappy high-heeled, open-toed sandals, sliding up a pair of long legs in snug fitting jeans, across that bare midriff with its glittering bellybutton ring over a set of nicely rounded breasts to a pretty face framed by long, softly curling honey blond hair. She had big blue eyes, and an Angelina Jolie mouth that made him think of dirty sex. Maybe she read his thoughts for a faint blush rose in her cheeks. Good. A little payback only seemed fair. Besides, she was a real pleasure to look at. Not beautiful in the classic sense like some of the women he knew, but with those dimples and big blue eyes, she was way beyond cute. “Nice to meet you, Ms. Warren.” The smile was gone and she assessed him coolly. “Aunt Ellie tells me you’re a friend, as well as an investigator.” “I like to think that’s true.” “Of course it’s true,” Ellie said. “That’s why I know we can count on Ty to help us.” AGAINST THE MARK is Ty Brodie’s story. Ty is a private investigator who agrees to help sexy blond Haley Warren uncover the truth about her father’s death. Was the explosion that killed James Warren an accident? Or was it murder, as Haley believes? As the pair fights the attraction between them, they are drawn into the art world, where old-master paintings sell for tens of millions of dollars--plenty of motive for murder.
Wariness slid through him. Ellie had a way of bringing him clients who were nothing but trouble. “How’s that?” “Well, you see, three months ago Haley’s father died when his power boat exploded.” “I’m sorry for your loss,” he said to her.
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| Cover Feature | Grief flashed in her eyes an instant before she glanced away. “Thank you.”
there was nothing to indicate any sort of foul play. But my stepmother isn’t convinced and if she’s right--“
“At the time everyone thought it was an accident,” Ellie continued, “a gas leak of some kind that turned deadly. Haley’s stepmother doesn’t believe it. About a month ago, Betty Jean started emailing Haley, trying to convince her to come to Los Angeles and help her find out the truth.”
“I’ll tell you what. I’ll look into the circumstances of the accident, see if anything looks suspicious. I’ve got friends in the department. If something’s not right, I’ll talk to them myself.”
Ty focused on the leggy blonde. “And you think she’s right because...?” “I don’t know if she’s right or not. I’ve never met her. Before he died, my father and I had been estranged for nearly five years, ever since he left my mother and ran off with another woman.” “Betty Jean,” he said, just to make sure he was getting this straight. “That’s right. After he moved to L.A., Dad tried to mend our relationship, but I just...I couldn’t get past his desertion.” She glanced down and her eyes misted. “Now my father’s gone.” Ty nodded, beginning to get the picture. “So your dad’s dead and you regret not mending your fences.” “Yes, I do. Very much. But the thing is, some of the things Betty Jean says make sense. I owe it to my father to find out what really happened.” He flicked a glance at Ellie, whose features looked a little too bland to suit him. “I take it you’re here to convince me to help her.” “That’s right. You know how good you are at these things, Tyler. Johnnie’s out of town on some case or other. And Haley will be helping you. That’ll save you from having to do everything by yourself.”
Haley reached over and caught his arm. He felt a little zing of awareness and figured she must have felt it too since she stepped back as if she’d been burned. She glanced away, took a deep breath and forced her eyes back to his face. “I want to be involved in this, Mr. Brodie. I need to find out for myself. I owe it to my father to find out the truth.”
Buy it now at Amazon REVIEW: When you see Kat Martin you are pretty much guaranteed an edge of your seat suspenseful read and Against the Mark does not disappoint. A bit slow to get off the ground, you first get a taste of the chemistry between the main characters. It’s a sexual tension that builds until you can practically cut it with a knife. You eagerly anticipate that next brush of their fingers or next touch. Not to mention that very first kiss between Haley and Ty. Haley, a product of a privileged upbringing at first sounds like your typical poor little rich girl. However, Martin makes us revise our opinion as the book progresses and we get to know this young woman during her single-minded quest to uncover the truth behind her estranged father’s death. As for Ty, the daily phone calls from all his ex girlfriends and ex lovers aside, he was anything but the playboy the multitude of phone calls implied.
“Have you talked to the police?”
If the sexual tension isn’t enough to keep you turning the pages, Martin gives you such a well thought out mystery that even the most diehard sleuth might have a hard time solving this case. With villains that never do what you expect them to do and characters behaving so realistically to situations that you’d think you’re reading a true crime novel instead of a work of fiction, you’ll find it difficult to put this down until the very end. I for one read until I couldn’t keep my eyes open any more, then I read a couple chapters more.
“Betty Jean has,” Haley answered. “The police said
| Reviewer: Iris Montalvo Pross |
Haley would be helping him. He could think of any number of things he’d like her to do for him, but none of them had anything to do with business. The fact was Haley Warren was Ellie’s niece. Seducing her probably wasn’t a good idea.
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CONTEMPORARY & HISTORICAL
the HAPPILY ever AFTER
Featured Authors,
REVIEWS and more
BTS REVIEW RATINGS: 5 Stars awesome book, read it now! 4 Stars a must read 3 Stars really good read 2 Stars this was OK 1 Star hard to finish, flawed
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CONTEMPORARY
& HISTORICAL | book reviews |
The Art of Losing Lisa Troy
Contemporary Romance Heat Rating: 5
Her heart is off limits. She’s only looking for fun and sex. Emily Stone is sick of men and their lying, cheating, self-centered ways. A stranger stealing a kiss on New Year’s Eve is the last drop. She makes the resolution to turn the tables on the opposite sex and beat them in their own game. But when the stranger turns out to be Blake Edwards, the brother of one of her students, Emily’s plans start to go awry. REVIEW: This story is about the relationship between Emily Stone and Blake Malone who meet accidentally at a club on New Year’s Eve and it turns out that she is his stepsister’s teacher. What happens between them is part denial on Emily’s part based on the fact that she just came out of a cheating relationship and does not want to trust men and finds herself falling for Blake. Of course there are obstacles in their way as their relationship progresses such as jealously, anger issues and with Emily’s job. The premise of the story is good, but it starts to drag, but picks up again. It starts out like your typical love story, but has a few twists and turns that keep the reader guessing just when you feel the story is going nowhere. A good read if you like love stories. | Reviewer: Anita Rivers |
Unsafe Haven Char Chaffin
Contemporary Romance Heat Rating: 3
For Kendall Martin, a remote village in Southwest Alaska seems like a good, safe place to start over. On the run from a dangerously abusive relationship, she leaves everything familiar behind and begins a new life as owner of a small souvenir and sportsman trading post in picturesque Staamat. The locals are friendly, the town welcoming, and she quickly acclimates to the slower, easier pace. When she meets Denn Nulo, Staamat’s Chief of Police, Kendall begins to believe there truly are good men in the world. Denn is everything she wants: strong, loving, dedicated to family, protective ... and patient. Instant attraction blooms between them, but Kendall is leery of men, and Denn craves a serious relationship that includes marriage and children. Their courtship is a conflicting mix of hesitancy and passion. As Kendall learns how to trust again and her romance with Denn grows more intense, a local woman who has had her eye on Denn for years releases a torrent of damaging jealousy ... and the nightmare from Kendall’s past discovers where she’s hidden herself. REVIEW: The author effortlessly weaves together separate tale threads into one glorious, master story. As an Alaskan Sleeping with the Enemy with an extra love triangle twist, this book appears to have a predictable main plot and yet you are still not sure how these individual, tangential storylines will play out right up to the end. Forgetting the sometimes contradictory damsel-in-distress and the occasional missing of the mark with the younger characters, this is how I would I like to read romantic suspense novels. It’s full of belly-tingling romance, good and often humorous banter between welldeveloped characters, and an unstoppable suspense which
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| CONTEMPORARY & HISTORICAL book reviews | barrels you through the book. With all the pushing around, put-downs, profanity, and petting, I recommend this book for mature adult audiences.
Silk & Scandal Cassandra Dean Historical Romance
| Reviewer: Michele Biring-Pani |
Eight years ago…
Cinderella Dreams Cate Masters
Contemporary Romance Heat Rating: 3
Thomas Cartwright and Lady Nicola Fitzgibbons were friends. Over the wall separating their homes, Thomas and Nicola talked of all things – but all things end. All things end.
Once a successful wedding photographer, Genevieve Fuller’s life changed the day her ex-boyfriend wed someone else. Heartbroken for decades, she realizes too late who she truly loved and makes one desperate call to Madame Evangeline. She risks everything to right the wrongs of her past. Can Gen alter the course of her own future to include the Cinderella happy ending she should have had the first time? REVIEW: Now this is my kind of short story, or any story to be fair. It had me hooked from the first word, and I guess that is because of the way it is written. It brings forth a bit of mystery, without confusing the reader altogether. It gives you a chance to ponder what is going on as you read further, trying to see if you can guess where this is going to lead. I didn’t expect the short story to be so hot and steamy and be written with such elegance. The writing was well thought out and brought forward all the major things needed for it to be a good read. However, I think it ended too abruptly; the ending could have been more subtle. But I enjoyed it nonetheless. A good read in my eyes. I recommend this short story, worth a go. | Reviewer: Niina Cord |
When a bored Nicola follows her diplomat father to Hong Kong, she falls into scandal. Mired in his studies of the law, Thomas feels forced to sever their ties. But now Lady Nicola is back…and she won’t let him ignore her. REVIEW: From the very start, this feisty little novella promises a delightful jaunt back in time to the 19th century. Romantic, scandalous and fun, the author dives right in to the meat of the story with Nicola and Thomas being thrown together after ten years of separation. Nicola is tenacious and stubborn, refusing to let Thomas give up their chance at love for his job as a barrister. Thomas is intelligent, stuffy and unsure of Nicola after her title as the Queen of Scandal follows her all over the world. Through a few ups and downs, the two very different former friends rekindle their previous feelings for one another and follow their hearts to finally find happiness. Although far too short, this story is very well written and a great light read for fans of historical romance. | Reviewer: Marie Haney |
Red Card (Black Jack Gentlemen: Book Two) Liz Crowe Contemporary Romance Heat Rating: 4
Free will makes us human. Choice makes us individuals.
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| CONTEMPORARY & HISTORICAL book reviews | Love makes us unique. A saga of family dynamics and gender politics that cuts across cultures and circumstance, Red Card illustrates the human capacity for forgiveness through the life of one man as he attempts to rebuild his shattered existence.
Marine Ever After Heather Long
Contemporary Romance
REVIEW: Few books have pulled such a visceral reaction from me as Red Card. Heartache. Joy. Sorrow. Anger. Laughter. Tears…Yes, the list goes on. Ms. Crowe has written anyone’s story of love found and lost. Many of us know the hopelessness of believing we’ll never come out of our pit of despair. Somehow, we do, usually stronger and wiser. In the process, we learn something about our resiliency. I have a little experience with soccer, which deepened my enjoyment. If you aren’t a soccer fan, however, Red Card will not overwhelm the reader with facts about the game. The sport is flawlessly interwoven into the storyline. Red Card is an amazing story of what happens after the happily-ever-after with a powerful message of love, forgiveness, and second chances. It is tender and passionate and so achingly heartwrenching I had to remind myself this work of art was fiction.
Marine Paul Torres is used to women who enjoy the pleasure of the moment and whom he can bed with a wink and a smile. But with so many of his friends settling down, he’s turned on by the allure of finding the right partner as well. Even more so when he meets Lillianna Hansen while attending a wedding.
| Reviewer: Leslie Ferdinand |
REVIEW: Paul Torres meets Lilliana Hansen at her best
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After a passionate night, Paul wakes to find her gone and though he wants more than a one-night stand with the alluring Lily, his limited leave is up and he’s forced to return to active duty…
| CONTEMPORARY & HISTORICAL book reviews |
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| CONTEMPORARY & HISTORICAL book reviews |
friend’s wedding to a marine. Paul is a marine himself. He’s a Master Sargent and she’s a trauma nurse who works insane and crazy hours. They quickly hit it off and they end up having a really “good time”. Lilliana leaves in the morning before he awakes and he has no way of contacting her and he’s kicking himself because he didn’t bother to get her number. Anyways, after a couple of months he manages to get in contact with her and she tells him some rather unexpected news. He wants to get married she resist until friends tell her their story about life as a military wife. Lilliana was an army brat as a kid and she really resisted, but he persisted and eventually managed to change her mind and have a kid who they named after the man who married her best friend and introduced her to the love of her life. It was a quick read, but it had a little bit of everything and definitely worth reading.
sympathized with the characters and hoped they finally got what they wished for and they’d be happy once they received it. Definitely worth reading. | Reviewer: Cassandra Graham |
Fake Fiancé, Real Revenge Roxanne Snopek Contemporary Romance Heat Rating: 3
| Reviewer:Cassandra Graham |
Destiny Karen Wiesner
Inspirational Romance Heat Rating: 0
How do you know destiny when it knocks on your door, or recognize it if it’s always been there? Too little, too late—has Chris Riley fallen in love when his angel of mercy is no longer available to him? Destiny… Do you believe? REVIEW: It was a very nice story. And if you like, Christian romances, you’ll like this one. You rooted for the characters to find the peace and love; they needed in order to feel whole. Chris has his issues with his family, in the form of an uncle who had just gotten out of prison and a former friend. Elizabeth (also a childhood friend) is in love with Chris. Oscar, who used to be Chris‘s childhood friend is in love with Elizabeth and can’t understand why she’s crazy about Chris. Oscar may have been in love with Elizabeth, but there was another childhood friend who was in love with him and he didn’t even know it. There is friction every time Oscar and Chris get together, so they generally try to stay away from one another. There were some serious issues and Chris faces them head on. You
This cowboy doesn’t know what he’s in for… Real-estate tycoon Mitchell Granger has a problem. In order to secure a lucrative deal with an eccentric client, he told the teeny white lie that he was engaged…and now he needs to prove it Sabrina doesn’t mind posing as Mitch’s fake fiancée—no, she doesn’t mind at all. One, she’ll make him pay with new construction for her business. And two, Sabrina’s got a plan to exact revenge on her first love, the boy who left her and Three River Ranch behind.
REVIEW: Not everyone is brave enough to give the person who practically destroyed their life second chance. Fake Fiancé, Real Revenge is just that: two persons, seemingly perfect for each other fell in love at a wrong time. Because of an unlikely circumstance, the two of them were brought together again. To be read with the other books in the series, this novel has a great story idea, dynamic and colorful characters, and amusing and relatable scenes. It has exciting, multi-layered, and fairly-made plot with inspiring character development, a reader-friendly narrative and witty dialogue. | Reviewer: Francine Alli |
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| CONTEMPORARY & HISTORICAL book reviews |
Speed Dating Keara J. Clifford
Contemporary Romance Heat Rating: 4
A crappy bartending job four times a week, a cheating ex-boyfriend who won’t leave her alone, dogs refusing to be housetrained and a best friend in love with a man who doesn’t give a toss about her -- and no luck so far finding herself a diCaprio lookalike who isn’t only into supermodels. What’s a girl to do? If you’re Chloe, start dating ... as fast as you can ... racing the clock to find The One before graduation!
REVIEW: This is a light sort of whimsical story of a girl who is looking for the perfect boyfriend and she encounters a string of somewhat one-night stands and relationships in her quest for the perfect guy. I liked the story and the premise behind Chloe’s quest and at times I thought she was very picky, but who isn’t? In her way is her ex-boyfriend Reese who she is still friends with and at times feels that she should get back together with until he does things that make her want to distance herself from him. Chloe dates different types of guys and she considers the end of each relationship as her “Last Dating Disaster”. I was happy for her when she finally met the right guy. My only drawback with the story was that it was too short and the ending left me wanting more. This is a good story if you are looking for a book to pass the afternoon with, but it will leave you wanting more. | Reviewer: Anita Rivers |
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| CONTEMPORARY & HISTORICAL book reviews | Marine with Benefits Heather Long Contemporary Romance
From cradle to grave, Derek and Keith grew up together, enlisted, served, and rose through the ranks together. When Keith died in the field, the last thing he asked was for Derek to keep watch over his sister. But every time Derek is around Kara, he wants to touch her. A promise stands between them and he refuses to seduce his best friend’s baby sister. Determined to get her out of his mind, he signs up for a one-night stand... REVIEW: It was a fast paced and much too short. Definitely, wanted more, but it was an enjoyable read. The chemistry
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between the two main characters was great. He’s slight older. He was her brother’s best friend (they had grown up together), even joined the marines with her brother. He stayed away because of a promise to her brother and, he was finding it to be quite a challenge. She’s had a crush on him for years and he knew about it. They end up on a date and take everything to the next level once the barriers come down. So in the end they both get what they want, even though it took a very long time to get there. | Reviewer: Cassandra Graham |
| CONTEMPORARY & HISTORICAL book reviews |
Love on a Midsummer Night Christy English
Arabella is the woman who betrayed him. Forced into a marriage with an old man against her will, Arabella never saw Pembroke again. But now her elderly husband is dead, can Pembroke forgive her?
The charming, dissolute Raymond, Earl of Pembroke, is the most notorious rake in London. Home from the war against Bonaparte’s forces, he spends his life gaming, drinking and bedding courtesans, trying to forget the only woman he ever loved.
REVIEW: Love on a Midsummer Night comes not once, but twice in a lifetime for Arabella. A past of abuse and heartache, ten years of a loveless marriage, a funeral that may lead to happiness and an unexpected friendship takes her on an emotional journey. This book has it all. A man who was duped, another who wants it all as though it is his right and always the best friend. Throw in Shakespeare, faeries and the whispering ton and you have a wonderful summer of starting over and finding yourself. Can Arabella find what she has been longing for all her life or will she run for the nearest coach when trouble of the worst kinds makes an appearance?
Historical Romance Heat Rating: 3
| Reviewer: Gypsie M. Holley |
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Why I Love Regency England Christy English
The Clothes: Part I Sometimes people ask me, why Regency novels? Why not write about some other time period, like my other favorite, medieval times for example? Well, one of the main reasons I am obsessed with Regency England: the clothes. My favorite are Regency gowns. Gone were the full panniers and wide skirts of Marie Antoinette’s court during the 18th century. The huge gowns that required a lady to turn sideways to get through a door, to sit on the very edge of her chair, on special chairs with extra wide arms designed to accommodate the bulk. Gone were the extra tight bodices which ladies had to be sewn into daily by their maids.
style in America, the Regency gown was made of silk or satin for evening wear and of muslin or wool for morning gowns. The high-waisted gowns had narrow skirts, for a looser, more freeflowing line. Though ladies still wore stays, the were no longer contained and bound by the very tight corsets of the 18th century, and no longer needed to be sewn into their clothes. Though this style did not last, it looks much more comfortable than the corseted styles that came both before and after. The gowns are just one more reason to love Regency England.
One of the best examples of this type of gown is on the cover of Leslie Carroll’s fabulous novel THE CONFESSIONS OF MARIE ANTOINETTE. Later in the 19th Century, wide skirts come back into fashion in the 1830’s and 40’s, and stay in fashionm until late in the Victorian era. On the cover of my latest novel, LOVE ON A MIDSUMMER NIGHT, you can see a lady half dressed in just such a gown. But the Regency style is different from either of these. Also sometimes known as the Federal
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After years of acting in Shakespeare’s plays, Christy English is excited to bring the Bard to Regency England. When she isn’t drinking tea, hiking or chasing the Muse, Christy writes historical novels (The Queen’s Pawn and To Be Queen) from her home in North Carolina. Please visit her at www.ChristyEnglish.com.
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Chic Trends in Romance Sandra Bunino
A Five Course Meal of Romance Let’s face it, folks: Food is sexy! I love good food. Who doesn’t? While editing my last book, I realized my characters share my love of food and boy, do I feed them well. Very well. Steak, seared salmon, spaghetti and meatballs, scones, fine liqueurs and wines, gourmet coffee drinks . . . the list goes on and on. I developed my love of literary food descriptions from the truly gifted Lawrence Sanders and his McNally series. Sexy, wannabe detective Archy McNally loved two things: beautiful women and really great food. I loved Sanders’ voice and the way he described a meal had reader drooling on the page. Food elicits the same responses as sexual arousal. In fact, many of the words we use to describe food are also interchangeable with sex: luscious, delicious, sensual, sumptuous, saucy. You get the picture. Romance and food go together like filet mignon and a full-bodied merlot. The passion burning in chefs, bakers, restaurateurs, or just about anyone who enjoys a great meal transfers from the kitchen to the bedroom quite well. What’s sexier than the act of preparing a meal? Think about it! One person is committing their time and passion to give pleasure and sustenance to another. Here are a few foodie recommendations you won’t want to miss! Let’s start off with a little appetizer, shall we?
| Chic Trends in Romance |
Bite Jenny Lyn’s Bite (Heated Measures, Etopia Press— available now) is twenty-seven pages of goodness and the perfect snack for bedtime or a lunch hour read. Elle Conner can barely boil water, but that doesn’t stop her from lusting after hot celebrity chef, Kevin Lattimore. When her best friend sets her up with cooking classes as a birthday present, who shows up to teach but Elle’s sexy obsession himself. After only two classes, Elle’s certain her culinary ineptitude has made her the most despised student ever to tie on an apron. And her smart mouth probably hasn’t helped.
of a little payback: a scathing review of his restaurant. Revenge is a dish best served the first chance you get... And the restaurateur... With three months to make his family’s struggling Italian restaurant successful, a bad review is Gavin’s worst nightmare. But this isn’t just about the meal. He’s finally realized what he left behind and is determined to spend the next eight weeks proving himself to her in the kitchen... and in the bedroom! This is one dish she won’t be able to refuse...
Feel The Heat Kate Meader’s debut Feel the Heat (Hot in the Kitchen, #1, Hachette Books—available now) is not to be missed. Meader has a gift for romantic comedy and well-written sexy characters.
But the steamy attraction is not so one sided after all. Kevin has cooked up a plan, and he intends to teach Elle a lesson—how to heat up the kitchen without turning on the stove. A dash of bondage and a pinch of pain all sweeten the sauce, and after this, Elle may never look at artichokes the same way again.
All The Way How about this combo: the food critic and the restaurateur? That’s what is on the menu with All the Way by Jennifer Probst (Entangled Indulgence—available now). The food critic... Miranda Storme never expected to see Gavin Luciano again. Three years ago, they had an intense affair—and then he bolted. Now he’s back, and Miranda has the pleasure
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If You Can’t Stand the Heat... Photographer Lili DeLuca spends all her time managing her family’s Italian restaurant, instead of following her dream of getting an MFA. When famous British chef Jack Kilroy unexpectedly challenges her father to a cook-off, Lili decides she’s tired of playing it safe and vows to seduce the tempting Brit. …Get into the Bedroom Jack Kilroy’s celebrity has left him feeling used and used up. While Lili’s oh-so-sexy moans when she tastes his delicious creations turn him on, he’s even more aroused by how unimpressed this beautiful, funny woman is with his fame. He knows they could be amazing together, if she could only see past his bitch fork-wielding fan base.
The Chocolate Touch Laura Florand’s The Chocolate Touch (Amour et Chocolat, #3, Kensington Books— available now) is the sequel to The Chocolate Kiss and The Chocolate Thief. Romance in Paris with chocolate... need I say more? La Vie en Chocolat
Love On The Line What do you get when you take one personal chef and add a sexy detective? The recipe for Kimberly Kincaid’s Love on the Line (Curtis Brown Digital—available now). Violet Morgan puts the personal in personal chef, catering to clients who want the full cooking experience rather than a culinary drop-and-dash. But when her brother’s police detective partner is injured in the line of duty and needs help during recovery, she makes an exception. Violet lost her father to the job seven years ago, and worries for her brother’s safety every day. The last thing she wants is to get upclose with her brother’s career-cop partner . . . again. For Noah Blackwell, being a detective isn’t just a lifestyle, it’s a legacy. So when he’s forced to take mandatory leave and deal with the trauma amnesia keeping him from identifying his shooter, it’s as if insult and injury have joined forces—and now he’s got to deal with an unwanted caregiver on top of it. Never mind that he and Violet shared a steamy, secret kiss last New Year’s Eve. Despite their differences, Violet and Noah share a surprising bond in the kitchen that grows into something neither of them expect. I hope you saved room for dessert because I’m pulling out the chocolate!
Dominique Richard’s reputation says it all—wild past, wilder flavors, black leather and smoldering heat. Jaime Corey is hardly the first woman to be drawn to all that dark, delicious danger. Until he touches her... Chocolate, Dominique understands—from the biting tang of lime-caramel to the most complex infusions of jasmine, lemon-thyme, and cayenne. But this shy, freckled American who sits alone in his salon, quietly sampling his exquisite confections as if she can’t get enough of them—enough of him—is something else. What a delicious five course meal! Best of all, it’s calorie free. Books are the ultimate guilt-free indulgence.
Sandra Bunino began a love of romance stories while penning a creative writing assignment in high school. The story ended with the heroine receiving a long-stemmed red rose in her locker on Valentine’s Day. Since then, all of her stories feature the hero presenting the heroine with roses. Sandra is constantly searching for different ways to achieve a heart-pumping, stomach-flipping, breathcatching reaction from her readers..
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see BEHIND closed DOORS
EROTIC
Featured Authors,
REVIEWS and more
BTS REVIEW RATINGS: 5 Stars awesome book, read it now! 4 Stars a must read 3 Stars really good read 2 Stars this was OK 1 Star hard to finish, flawed
The Heat Diva Nikki McCarver
Not Your Mom’s Historical Romance We all started somewhere in our reading career. I loved books from an early age, but the kind I craved was always kept at the top of the closet, just out of my reach. My romance obsession began with my mother’s historical romance books and a reading chair that gave me that extra inch to reach them. Windswept Passion by Sonya T. Pelton was an exciting adventure during colonial times when pirates and plantations existed. My young heart was lost and devoured more on continuous basis. The heroes were strong, stubborn, dominate, and fierce. But I grew weary of the female leads. They were all the same. Spoiled, naïve, scared, dramatic, basically everything I wasn’t in my youth. Then I picked up a Sabrina Jeffries book and fell in love all over again. I was shocked, delighted, and extremely hot and bothered. She went into such detail in a masturbation scene that I swear I was there watching him stroke. My love for naughty historicals was born and with it, a pressing need to find more! So for those of you starting out, Sabrina is a lovely break in, for those of you who want a little bit more? The Diva is here to deliver the historical heat!
| The Heat Diva |
Heat Level A Breach of Promise by Victoria Vane (Ellora’s Cave—available now) This debut book for author Victoria Vane shocked and delighted me. I enjoyed Lydia’s character very much. She was strong willed and ahead of her time while giving that cocky gentleman exactly what he deserved! Now in the bedroom? He plays her body like a fine instrument. This little short will get you going and in the mood for more historical naughtiness!
The Second Son by Elise Marion
(Kings of Cardenas, # 2, Indie Book—available now) In this hot little number, we follow Isabella through her transformation from a sheltered, scared princess into a warrior. And the great thing about warriors? They know what they want . . . inside and outside. This book isn’t filled with a bunch of between-the-sheets play, but what is in there will definitely light a fire!
Heat Level My first author in this heat category has two books in my need-to-read lineup because these both are favorites of mine for different reasons. I adore her work, and she writes heat and erotic situations like no other.
Grey’s Lady by Natasha Blackthorne (Carte Blanche, #1, Total-E-Bound Publishing—available now) In Grey’s Lady, Beth is a woman who does not allow any man free rein over her body or her heart. She takes what she wants and then leaves. Her first carriage scene will have you squirming in your seat and you’re not even out of the first chapter in the book! It’s simply addicting and slams you right into the action... literally!
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| The Heat Diva | A Measured Risk by Natasha Blackthorne
(Regency Risks, #1, Total-E-Bound Publishing—available now) In A Measured Risk, Anne is hiding a secret. Closed off and reserved, Anne has a problem reaching out and connecting with people, at least until she meets Jonathan. Drawn to him, she knows deep inside that he is the one man that can help her overcome her fear. What she doesn’t plan on is losing her heart in the process. This book has some stable scenes that literally burn your fingers as you turn the pages. It has light BDSM (bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, sadism, masochism), but it is still beyond hot!
The Haunting of a Duke by Chasity Bowlin (The Wild Rose Press—available now) The Haunting of a Duke is a naughty, naughty historical with a paranormal twist. Emme has been able to commune with spirits all of her life, definitely a curse/gift complex. She is either loved or hated, but all view her with suspicion and caution. Her latest job introduces her to a duke that is beyond haunted, and way beyond sexy. The chemistry between these two is remarkable, and the sex scenes will have you readjusting yourself in your seat. This is a go-to for all paranormal/historical/erotic lovers... you won’t be disappointed!
Only Scandal Will Do by Jenna Jaxon (Lyrical Press—available now) Jenna Jaxon proves that she was born to write decadent historicals in this hot-to-hold book, Only Scandal Will Do. Lady Katarina is kidnapped and forced into a slave auction of the erotic kind. She is made to play out the scene that she really is involved in. You almost feel sorry for the man who purchases her . . . almost. This book brings the heat with its steamy sex scenes and smoking sword fights in less than appropriate dress!
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Heat Level An Improper Wife by Kyann Waters and Tarah Scott (Total-E-Bound Publishing—available now)
Did I save the hottest for last? Why yes, I did! This doubletrouble team-up of talented writers birthed a beyond hot historical book. The title says it all because Caroline is no proper wife. Betrothed to a callous lord, Caroline looks toward a life devoid of love and passion. She is released from her obligation by his untimely death and then forced into another arrangement with his younger brother. Determined to find the passion she longs for, Caroline comes up with an improper plan that proves she is not quite a lady. I strongly suggest a cool room and a significant other to be on hand after (and during) this reading . . . you’ll need it!
.................................................. Well my erotic historical lovers, that’s a wrap! I hope you’ll give these improper authors a try because their books will make your night a memorable one! Until next time...Stay Naughty.
I have been an avid reader for as long as I can remember and erotica has brought my favorite pasttime to a whole new level. After the birth of my daughter, I started learning about blogging and all the wonderful ways to share my passion for reading and dived right in. I created my own blog to share my love of paranormal, historical, dark, and erotic books. I have had the opportunity to work with many great authors and look forward to working with many more. Come Closer and look me up at: http://closeencountersofthenightkind.blogspot.com
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Available now at Freya’s Bower, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iTunes and All Romance eBooks.
www.freyasbower.com
Sneak Peek
For Love or Vengeance Caridad Pineiro
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author THE CALLING series is REBORN for Entangled Ignite! FOR LOVE OR VENGEANCE is the first of four books in the REBORN Vampire Novel series starting on September 23rd. FBI Special Agent Helene Alexander is a goddess. An actual frickin’ goddess. And her mission is clear, see that justice is served at all times or her days as a goddess are numbered. Helene’s new FBI partner defines good-looking, but Miguel Sanchez, wants nothing to do with her ends-justifythe-means attitude. He knows through experience the type of guilt her actions can bring and Miguel wants nothing to do with Helene’s careless ways. Even if she’s so damned hot she makes him burn with the need. When the serial killer they’re tracking strikes again, Helene and Miguel are drawn into a case that will challenge their most fundamental beliefs about justice and vengeance. But it’s the passion between them that forces a goddess to choose: eternal life with all her powers...or death—to save the man she loves.
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For nearly two millennia, Nemesis had assumed various guises in order to fulfill the pledge she had made to her father, Zeus. In the early days she’d only had to stir up the crowd and let vigilantes exact justice. As the mortals evolved, however, her task had become more difficult, until it had become necessary for her to work within their crippled legal system to see justice was done, one case at a time—currently as FBI Special Agent Helene Alexander. But while being human and following their rules might be a pain at times, being forced to return to her life as a goddess on Olympus should she fail was way worse. In Olympus, she would have no control over her life, and would face the constant threat of her father’s so-called affections. With a shudder at those thoughts, Helene rose from her desk, deciding to kill some time by grabbing a cup of coffee before her meeting with the ADIC. Weaving her way through the rat’s nest of desks where her fellow agents had settled as they’d arrived at the office, she noticed the glances shot her way. Lots of looks that said they thought she was hot —not hard to do since she was an immortal who could choose whatever shape or persona she wished. Suspicious looks from a few others, possibly the ones aware of her time in Philadelphia and the reputation she had earned there. Neither fazed her, human emotions being unreliable and not something she generally cared about. Even after so many centuries among the mortals, she couldn’t comprehend their reactions. Sadness at an honorable death instead of joy. Happiness at the birth of another when they were only born to suffer. She wouldn’t even consider the weirdness of human love, a condition that had confused her more than once. That desirefilled look from a loved one that somehow was also filled with sadness, peace, and wonderment… No, she didn’t understand human love and she didn’t want to experience it, she told herself as an unexpected pull came from deep within as she reached the door to the break room. She stopped at the entry since someone was already at the machine busily preparing a cup of coffee. Someone hot. His back was to her, giving her a good look at broad shoulders and a deliciously formed butt . Although she didn’t really care for half-assed mortal involvements, she did have her physical needs while in this form, and was not above a one-night stand with some fine man candy. Based on what she was seeing so far, this mortal had great potential.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author and RITA® Finalist Caridad Pineiro wrote her first novel in the fifth grade when her teacher assigned a project – to write a book for a class lending library. Caridad is now the author of nearly 40 published novels and novellas. When not writing, Caridad is an attorney, wife, and mother to an aspiring writer and fashionista.
caridad.com
EROTIC | book reviews | Private Viewing Christie Butler
Contemporary Erotic Heat Rating: 5
Nick Damon is desperately in love with his sexy Claire, a former lingerie model. Whenever they’re out, men gawk at her and flirt. Most men would be pissed, but not Nick. He loves it, is so aroused by it that it leads to mindblowing sex. It’s become a game for them. Living the dream life, Claire had no complaints. Used to being ogled and fantasized about, she loves how her husband always wants to show her off. Then Grayson Hill moved in next door. He’s hot and sexy and makes no secret of his desire for her. REVIEW: Private Viewing is a red-hot scorcher of a read. Totally enticing in how Claire related to her hotter than Hades husband, Nick. Attorney and go-getter, this hunky sex-in-asuit is walking a razor edge in his desire to satisfy his sexy wife aka retired lingerie model. These two sex-time-bombs explode in the presence of neighbor, Grayson. A man of privilege and Gray’s no slacker rich boy. Gray wants Claire and his way of displaying his craving is total craft in this story. Not a creeper although there was a minor peep show, but only to whet the appetite. We’re about to have a bit of fun in the tag-team duo of Nick and Gray. A man sandwich with Claire in between. One night and anything goes. Nick gives his wife the ultimate fantasy that they both can enjoy. Heck, all three in this alpha driven ménage. From swimming pool to the well-directed Grayson tool in bed, this is a fast-paced erotica novella that will grab your attention, burn your eyeballs, and have your motor reeving from start to end.
Women of War Lisa Beth Darling Paranormal Erotic Heat Rating: 5
Explore the history of Alena’s family. With intensity, lust, fear, and strength these Women of War make their way in the world revealing the hidden truths of the past and Ares’ true connection to his beloved Wife, Alena. REVIEW: Having never read one of the books in the “Of War” series, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised at how incredibly well written this book was! I was a little bit lost when it came to the back story of the characters, but I was able to catch up throughout the story. From the very first page, this book captured me, intrigued me and bewildered me. It is full of characters that are raw and sexy, each one very well rounded and deep. Their emotions are felt with every word the author has penned, and the sex, while sometimes strange (i.e. incest), is oddly erotic at the same time. The mythological aspect of the story makes it all the more exciting as well. While I haven’t read the entire series, this book has solidified my belief that the series is very well worth the read for anyone who enjoys a spicy and erotic romance. | Reviewer: Marie Haney |
| Reviewer: Susan Arden |
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| EROTIC book reviews | On Display Cassandra Carr Erotic Romance Heat Rating: 4
Hunter wants Olivia, and the feeling is mutual. She decides to take her secret attraction public and show up at the club where he’s bouncing, ready to lay everything on the line to snag him. Hunter can’t believe his luck, and soon makes his own move on the woman he’s lusted after for months. REVIEW: For months, personal trainer Hunter has had his eye on Olivia and unbeknownst to him, the feeling is quite mutual. He hasn’t quite come up with the courage to approach her and likewise, she can’t approach him. You see,
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| EROTIC book reviews |
Olivia isn’t the beautiful confident woman she portrays to her co-workers at the gym where she teaches Pilates and spin classes. Normally a shy individual, Olivia doesn’t know how to show Hunter that she’s interested. When they both decide to pursue the other the chemistry between them is practically explosive. The sexual tension between the characters is palpable from the moment their eyes meet. On Display is a prime example of when great characters and a great story meet. Although a short in length, this hot and steamy read is both sexy and entertaining. Cassandra Carr will leave you satisfied and wishing for more. A definite must read for lovers of erotic contemporary romance. | Iris Montalvo Pross |
Haunting Melody St. Claire Dawn Montgomery & Ditter Kellen Paranormal Erotic Heat Rating: 4
Melody St. Claire doesn’t believe in ghosts. Until a fire destroys her whole world, forcing her into a beautiful haunted house and the territorial domain of one very real, incredibly mysterious resident spirit. Sexy Travis Santiago haunts the walls of his family home. Resigned to being alone, he merely exists in a place between the living and the dead until the frustrating little brunette enters his life and his heart. He can give her what she needs, if she would just believe.
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| EROTIC book reviews |
The passion he ignites threatens to consume her, heart and soul, but may not be enough to hold back the nightmares. And Melody can’t possibly hope to spend forever with a man who is already dead. REVIEW: Bringing us a unique storyline, Dawn Montgomery ups the heat with its sexy and steamy love scenes. This fast-paced paranormal erotica is filled with bizarre ghosts and unexplained circumstances, and delivered in a frank and compelling narrative. The beginning, wherein an unassuming Melody moved into an old abandoned house owned by a friend and encounters several unexplainable situations gives this novel a slightly eerie yet adventurous and exciting feel. Haunting Melody St. Claire offers the readers a taste of the spooky taboo yet forbidden enticing love between two beings, where at least one of them is a ghost. | Reviewer: Francine Alli |
A Taste of Paris Lucy Felthouse Erotica Heat Rating: 5
Ryan Stonebridge and his friend Kristian Hurst are traveling on their year off before going to university. Unfortunately Kristian has been called back home due to a family emergency. Ryan continues on to Paris alone, hoping his friend will join him again soon. In the meantime, Ryan’s lucky streak with women continues, and by the time Kristian makes it to Paris, Ryan’s bumper box of condoms is depleting rapidly. However, there are more than enough women to go around, and Kristian intends to have some sexy fun of his own, and when the boys get a chance to
Available at Freya’s Bower, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and All Romance eBooks.
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| EROTIC book reviews |
play with two sexy ladies at once, they certainly aren’t going to turn it down. REVIEW: This tasty morsel begins with Ryan’s surprise encounter aboard a train bound for Paris. Talk about a hot quickie. That’s pretty much what the name of the game is in this tale. Ryan arrives footloose in Paris as he takes in the sights that are filled with chance encounters and sexual adventure a la mode. The story doesn’t delve into the realm of emotional parlance. This is all about the here and now as told strictly through Ryan. A supersonic journey into erotica with a Parisian flair. | Reviewer: Susan Arden |
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Sneak Peek
Rockstar
Lexi Adair
It’s not the act. It’s the details. Incredibly tight-lipped and painfully private, Anthony Phoenix has been known to make lesser women cry. Luckily, Summer Staite is by no means a lesser woman. It’s her job to know his type—rich, handsome, famous and used to getting what he wants. A dangerous, seductive combination. Luckily for her it’s not the man she’s after. It’s his story. A story that’ll earn her the respect she craves—one they tell her is impossible to get. “They” have no idea how far she’ll go. With his freight-train vocals, dark intensity and brooding good looks, Anthony is well aware he presents a challenge to the brazen columnist from Stripped Magazine. Yet she intrigues him more than he cares to admit. Beneath her soft, girl-next-door façade, she drips with the kind of sensuality that makes him edgy. High. And completely stupid. Stupid enough to let her get into the act…and under his skin.
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“You came a damn long way just to see me.” His words were harsh, terribly uncaring and might have made a lesser woman cry. Perhaps if she had been some lovesick fan his reaction might have brought tears to her eyes. But Summer wasn’t a fan and she was more than capable of dealing with his type without losing her head. She couldn’t have cared less about his pretty face, celebrity status, gold records or millions of dollars. There was only one thing she wanted from Anthony Phoenix and it wasn’t an autograph. “Let’s make it worth the trip then.” She didn’t bother to wait for an invitation as she took a seat beside him in the adjoining armchair. In the shadowed corner of the dimly lit café a half-drawn velvet curtain shielded him from public view. It created a deceptive sense of privacy and solitude amidst the chaos. It muffled the chatter of other patrons, the hiss of the espresso machine, even the clatter of dishes. The curtain created a barrier between their world and his. Rumor had it that this was his favorite hangout whenever he was back in his hometown. Her sources, damn secretive sources that had been almost impossible to crack, had told her he always made it a point to stop in for a cup of coffee. Though he’d managed to escape the notice of the other patrons in the quiet Seattle café, he hadn’t escaped Summer, and he certainly wasn’t happy to see her. “You want an interview you’ll have to contact my agent. I don’t get friendly with the media and I don’t like reporters.” “So they tell me.” That was just fine by her. She sure as hell wasn’t looking to get friendly with him either—his reputation as a womanizer had made him as famous as his chart-topping records. Despite her repugnance for celebrity womanizers Summer forced a smile. She might not have been interested in seducing the man, but she had every intention of putting his story to bed. The story they told her was impossible to get. The story that would make her career and prove once and for all to her prick of a boss that Summer Staite was worthy of her own byline. “This isn’t your typical interview, darling.” “Really? What is it then?” “A bedtime story.” A hint of a smile curved her ruby-painted lips. “I don’t do celebrity weddings. I don’t do dirty gossip. I don’t give a damn where you grew up, who you’re dating or when your next album is dropping. Stripped Magazine is all about the sex. We’re the best magazine to expose it all without ever exposing a thing.”
Author Lexi Adair has always been a hopeless romantic. She is an avid reader having cut her teeth on her mother’s Harlequin romances. Her stories stem from a deep love affair with the happily-ever-after, although the road taken is sometimes steeped in heartache and deception.
lexiadair.com
Nicole Morgan
I sat at my keyboard, listening to the humming of my hard drive while I tried to muster the mental fortitude to get some work done. My mind had been wandering aimlessly in a million different directions ever since Jack had abruptly left just an hour before. My entire week had been stressful enough, but the events of the past twenty-four hours only added to my mounting anxiety. Jack was married, not anymore of course, but he had been. It unnerved me that I didn’t know that about him before now. We’d been dating for a few months now, we were planning a beautiful trip down to the tropics, and we’d truly connected. At least I thought we had. Now I wasn’t so sure. Never being married myself, I didn’t have any firsthand experience to base anything off of, but it seemed to me that he should have said something before now. I shouldn’t have found out by the ex-wife herself that he was once married. To add to this news, there was also the revelation that not only was he divorced, but according to him his ex-wife, Mary, was unstable. Then he threw in the part about her supposedly residing in a mental institution, and I was nearly done with bombshells. My head nearly swam with the plethora of information dropped at my feet. What happened to my love story? The one where my prince charming appears out of nowhere and sweeps me off my feet to my happily ever after? How did my life suddenly become a made-for-TV movie? I drummed my fingers against my mouse pad as I stared blankly at the screen. I needed Jack here. I needed him to explain to me just what in the hell was going on. Something wasn’t adding up. I didn’t
| Sex and the Single Woman | know what, but I felt uneasy. As I replayed the last week’s events in my mind I tried to rationalize everything and not overanalyze it all, but the more I tried the more I found myself pinpointing every scenario and why there was something wrong with it. First there was Jack, the wonderful Jack, the caring and romantic Jack, the Jack that literally had swept me off my feet. He was the man I’d been falling in love with. He was the man that had shown me such joy and happiness in the past months. Then poof, he just changed on a dime. He’d gone from this attentive and incredibly charming man to someone who was nonexistent in my life. It had happened virtually overnight too. One day he was fine, and the next he became distant, almost like he was looking for reasons and excuses to not spend time with me. Sure I’d written it off to my overly sensitive feelings at first. I wasn’t so foolish that I couldn’t acknowledge my own insecurities and see them for what they were. After his third cancellation in as many days, I no longer blamed it on my girlish paranoia. Something had changed. Something definitely was different. I could feel it. I knew it. That was exactly why I’d had the talk with Kim, Courtney, and Jen. I knew what they were going to tell me to do. I just needed to hear it from them to be sure. Walking away from Jack really was my only option. I had to, before I got in deeper than I already was. So I’d resolved myself to this decision. I had every intention of ending things with him officially too. I couldn’t continue things, go on the trip with him, and share a bed with him when I had this sick feeling in my gut that things weren’t right. He’d thrown a wrench in that plan though. His one phone call last night had snapped me out of my thought process and right back into being head over heels for the guy. Typical to Jack’s nature, he’d been able to explain it all away. He was working hard. He hadn’t meant to avoid me. It sounded reasonable at the time, yet with the events since then, I still couldn’t help but wonder if I knew him at all. When Mary had shown up on my building’s front steps, I had been shocked silent with her news that I was sleeping with her husband. I hadn’t wanted to believe it, and I hadn’t, not until I was shown pictures of them together on their wedding day. Then she’d offered to pay me off, giving me a check to ensure I’d stay out of his life. It all seemed so surreal. Who did that type of thing? Wasn’t that something that I’d seen on some movie on Lifetime?
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I opened the door and knew instantly it was a mistake Hurt and confused, I was ready to end things, but once again, he’d calmed me down. He’d explained how he was no longer married, how his ex-wife was sick and needed to be institutionalized. Then just as I was ready to ask him a laundry list of questions I not only wanted but needed the answers to, he’d gotten a mysterious phone call and had to leave. Of course, he’d promised to return as quickly as possible, so we could talk, but something seemed off. I didn’t know what it was. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but a part of me felt as though he had managed to talk his way out of my ending things once again. He had a gift of finesse. His silver tongue knew exactly the right words to say in order to smooth over a situation. I wondered if I was a fool. Because no matter how much I wanted to believe him, a part of me knew that I shouldn’t. A quiet knock at my door tore me away from my thoughts. I was thankful for the reprieve. The more I thought of it, the more I felt my mind spin. I opened the door and knew instantly it was a mistake, that I should have checked the peephole. “Mary . . . what are you doing here?” “I thought I made myself clear. I can see now I’m going to have to make sure you understand that I am dead serious.” The light of the hallway reflected off the barrel of the gun and cast an eerie glare in my eye. There were so many times in my life I thought I’d felt afraid—now I knew that I’d never known fear. Not until that very moment.
Nicole Morgan is a multi-published author of erotic romance novels, which more often than not have a suspensefull backstory. Erotic romance mixed with a good old-fashioned whodunit. While she’s written everything from contemporary to paranormal, her leading men will more than likey be wearing a uniform of some kind. From military to police, she has a love for writing about those who protect and serve. -nicolemorgan1.webs.com
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SCI FI & FANTASY
OUT of this WORLD
Featured Authors,
REVIEWS and more
BTS REVIEW RATINGS: 5 Stars awesome book, read it now! 4 Stars a must read 3 Stars really good read 2 Stars this was OK 1 Star hard to finish, flawed
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SCI FI & FANTASY | book reviews |
The Exodus Towers Jason Hough Sci-Fi/Post-Apocalyptic/ Dystopian
The Exodus Towers features all the high-octane action and richly imagined characters of The Darwin Elevator—only the stakes have never been higher. REVIEW: The second helping in this uniquely addictive trilogy is an absolutely wild and shocking ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Diving back into the dystopian world of author Jason Hough, the strong willed, courageous heroes from book one are tested by loyalty, strength and survival. Everything around them isn’t what it seems as they fight plague immune soldiers, creatures from Darwin, and ultimately each other, all the while trying to solve the great mystery of the alien Builders and their elevator. Full of action and betrayal, every page turn will leave you anticipating each character’s next move, as their actions set up a wonderful segue to what I have no doubt will be an unforgettable end to this blockbuster trilogy. | Reviewer: Marie Haney |
The Plague Forge Jason M. Hough
Sci-Fi/Post-Apocalyptic/ Dystopian
The Plague Forge delivers an unbeatable combination of knockout action and kick-ass characters as the secrets to the ultimate alien mystery from The Darwin Elevator and The Exodus Towers are about to be unraveled. REVIEW: This book is FANTASTIC! It is, dare I say, my favorite of the three books in the trilogy, and the perfect ending to an amazing trilogy that I will recommend for years to come. The author has done it again with his flawed and brave heroes fighting against the evils of their world and finally solving the mystery that has plagued the characters from day one. Every character is given their due and it’s woven beautifully through the exciting and unique world the author has created. It’s nearly impossible to put this book down; as it is given a brilliant plot full of unbelievable twists and turns leaving you grasping for so much more. This author has a real gem of a masterpiece in this trilogy, and I look to see his name amongst some of the greatest to ever grace the best seller’s lists in the very near future. And I honestly cannot wait. | Reviewer: Marie Haney |
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| SCI FI & FANTASY book reviews |
On Midnight Wings
#5 - The Maker’s Song Series
Adrian Phoenix Urban Fantasy
TORN BETWEEN THREE WORLDS—A DANGER TO THEM ALL. Even as Dante Baptiste’s identity as both True Blood and Fallen ripples throughout New Orleans, his powers are expanding in surprising, devastating directions. Forsaking the FBI she once loved, Heather Wallace has likewise fallen into malevolent hands.
REVIEW: The much anticipated book five in Adrian Phoenix’s The Maker’s Song series is finally here and it was well worth the wait. Picking up where the book four cliffhanger left off Dante and Heather should really have their names changed to trouble with a capital “T” with how it always seems to find them and the huge mess they find themselves in. Ms. Phoenix does not disappoint with making the reader feel as if they are actually standing within the story themselves watching as each scene unfolds. Be prepared for an intense story that will leave you guessing will Dante survive and will Heather find her way back to him in time. If you have not read any of this series then I suggest going out and getting it and yes it is one of those series that should be read in order to get the full effect. | Reviewer: Annette Stone |
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| SCI FI & FANTASY book reviews |
Where the Rain is Made Keta Diablo Historical Fantasy Heat Rating: 3
A decadent-looking savage has captured Francesca DuVall and her brother Marsh. Now she spends every waking moment planning an escape from the camp of the brutal Dog Soldiers. Ethan Gray is a curator at a national museum . . . until he travels through time to help his beloved People. In the Cheyenne world he’s known as Meko, leader of the most revered tribe of the plains.
Cultures and hearts battle, violence and death haunt the road ahead, but when kindred souls collide, anything is possible. From the windswept plains of Colorado to the placid life of a curator, their love is fueled by passion and kindled by destiny. REVIEW: I loved this book. It has a bit of everything, romance, mystery, time travel, strong warriors, a strong female lead, a great plot and heartbreaking twists and turns. Ethan Gray is a time traveler and aide to his People, the Cheyenne is sent back to prevent a tragedy. He captures Francesca, Cesca, on a raid and the story of their love and destiny unfolds from there. The story feels so real, the setting as much of a character as the Cheyenne. A lot of love and research went into this story and it really shows. Brilliantly written, heartbreaking in places, I cannot get enough of this story, or their love. | Reviewer: Beckey White |
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| SCI FI & FANTASY book reviews |
Prophecy of the Guardian J.W. Baccaro Fantasy
Abaddon the Demon Lord is searching for the four ancient Wizard Crystals of the Elements to destroy the forces of Light upon the earth, and transform the world into eternal darkness. But Darshun Luthais, one of the last Nasharin warriors, sets out on a quest to find the crystals first.
REVIEW: Mirabel and Seth rescue an infant named Darshaun (Dar) who is what some believe to be the prophesied guardian/warrior. There are many hurdles that Dar need to overcome in order for his growth into which he is destined to be. There are so many elements and characters/creatures that in this book that is it interesting how the author created and put everything together this story. Some spots were slightly confusing and complex but overall a well interesting and written story. | Reviewer: Beckey White |
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| SCI FI & FANTASY book reviews |
Heart of Venom Jennifer Estep
Cold Warriors Clare Dargin
When I say you’re a dead man, take that literally.
Left in cryogenic stasis for nearly a century, Caitlin Driskoll is awakened and drafted into a war she knows nothing about. Expected to defend a world where her kind is despised and expendable, she discovers love and respect from the one man who can’t be associated with her.
Urban Fantasy Heat Rating: 2
My last spa day ended redder than my freshly painted nails after a twisted Fire elemental and his goons kidnapped my close friend Sophia Deveraux and nearly killed her sister Jo-Jo in the process. I will get Sophia back, over their dead bodies. REVIEW: The past has a way of sneaking up into the present… A “new terror” is created from someone’s past and it is wreaking havoc on some… Sophia finds herself in the path of being abducted but by whom and will Gin get to her in time… And will Owen ever forgive Gin and will he settle on a decision on what he wants … Heart of Venom is the ninth book in the Element Assassin series. The book has several recapping scenes to make this book an almost single read but still being a part of series as a whole. In addition, the book had what seemed to me being a predictable storyline like you knew what was going to happen before you even read it. Overall the story was a good story; one that fans of the series won’t be disappointed to reading. | Reviewer: Beckey White |
Sci-Fi Heat Rating: 2
Lieutenant Colonel Medoro Keegan has spent a lifetime in the Marines. With no family to speak of, the Corps and his ship, the USS Blanchard, are all the loved ones he needs…until Caitlin sparks a fire within, that threatens to consume him if he doesn’t walk away. REVIEW: For Colonel Medoro Keegan, Caitlyn Driskoll is just another century-old cryogenically frozen, thawed out, warm body in the war raging between Earth’s allies and an alien race. Or is she? This science fiction novella’s mysterious plot attributes and the style of writing drive this story forward. You wonder about the society in the future and in space, the war, the aliens, and everything having to do with cryogenically frozen humans. And yet, refreshingly enough, the world doesn’t need to be built because it simply exists. It’s a futuristic world where racism has evolved providing the foundation of a new kind of impossible romance. If you are looking for a good love story, the romance here was underdeveloped and fell flat. Falling in love after two kisses just doesn’t ring true. No, the science fiction aspects were the heroes here. The action was good. The aliens were in the background but still cool. The space military was great and its jargon seemed spot on. I would recommend this for any science-fiction or fantasy fans but not so much for romance fans. Given the level of violence, some coarse language, and barely there sexual content, this is suitable for a mature young adult audience. | Reviewer: Michele Biring-Pani |
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PARANORMAL & SUSPENSE
BEYOND the EXPECTED
Featured Authors,
REVIEWS and more
BTS REVIEW RATINGS: 5 Stars awesome book, read it now! 4 Stars a must read 3 Stars really good read 2 Stars this was OK 1 Star hard to finish, flawed
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The Scrying Eye Kelly Hudson
Are you Prepared? The Scrying Eye opens! You’re just in time, dear, precious hearts, for a glimpse into the future, the past, and the present of genre fiction. Prepare to be amazed, prepare to have your tiny hearts broken, and prepare to be scared witless! For the Scrying Eye knows all, and when it reveals its secrets, you must pay heed or suffer the consequences...
Fantasy/Science Fiction The Mad Scientist’s Daughter by Cassandra Rose Clarke (Angry Robot—available now) is the story of young Cat, who is given a robot named Finn to serve as her tutor, friend, mentor, and more. As she grows into a beautiful young woman, the robots are given human rights, and Finn suddenly finds himself a free “man.” The choices he makes with his newfound freedoms will alter Cat’s destiny. If you like interesting, arresting ideas, this book is for you. It is compelling and hard to put down, this story of love, loss, and robots. The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters (Quirk Books—available now) is the story of a police detective trying to solve a murder during the last six months of life on Earth before an asteroid will collide with our planet and destroy it. Why does Detective Hank Palace seek
| The Scrying Eye | the truth behind the death of a hanged man when dozens of people commit suicide every week? The world is falling apart, and people are walking off their jobs, but not Hank. He stays, steadfast and true, determined to solve this mystery. This book delivers the goods with plenty of intrigue, human drama, and genuine humanity in a world that is quickly losing focus on its priorities.
Mystery
Horror
Low Pressure by Sandra Brown (Grand Central Publishing—available now) is yet another interesting mystery by the terrifically talented Sandra Brown. Eighteen years after Bellamy Lyston’s sister was murdered, Bellamy has published a best-selling novel based on her sister’s death. Unwittingly, she sets off a series of events all related to this unsolved mystery, including threats to her own life. Is it the long-lost killer coming to silence her, or is it revenge for a wrongfully accused man? You can discover the truth like Bellamy herself does one page at a time. Filled with terrific suspense and compelling characters, Low Pressure is a do-not-miss read.
Beyond the Barriers by Timothy W. Long (Permuted Press—available now ) is a zombie book that forces its way from the past into our present and future. Much like the living dead that inhabit its pages, Beyond the Barriers shambles on, smart and voracious, eager to chew on new brains that have not yet been absorbed into its pages. Eric Tragger, an ex-special forces soldier, flees to the mountains as the zombie plague spreads. There he lives for a short time before deciding to come back down and see what has become of the world. He finds zombies, of course, and pockets of human survivors. What he finds next chills the blood and leads to an epic fight for the survival of the human race. Read if you dare!
The Wrong Girl by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Forge Books— available September 10, 2013 ) is the gripping tale of Boston newspaper reporter Jane Ryland, who uncovers a conspiracy by a local adoption agency that is reuniting birth parents with the wrong children. Why are they doing this? As she digs deeper, Jane finds more trouble at every turn, including a killer on the loose and a missing infant who is central to this mystery. Will she find the truth before the truth finds her? Read on, dear hearts, but be warned, like Jane Ryland, you may not survive the answers you find...
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Doctor Sleep by Stephen King (Scribner—available September 24, 2013) is the sequel to his classic The Shining. This novel features a grown Danny Torrance as he must use his waning “shining” talents to help a twelve-year-old girl with very special abilities who is being hunted by a group of murderous paranormals. Can he save her in time, or will these “vampires” claim another victim? Most readers have been waiting over thirty years for this sequel. Will it be worth the wait? Given King’s recent track record, the swirling mists of
the Scrying Eye say yes! Seek this out for true horror pleasure awaits! And with that, the Eye closes, weary from gazing into the future, into the past, and into our present. You must take this forbidden knowledge and use it wisely. Your reading future depends upon it.
Kelly M Hudson is the author of two horror novels and dozens of short stories, including a piece in the recent D.O.A. II collection by Blood Bound Books. You can find links to all of his works by visiting www.kellymhudson.com if you dare!
Until the next SCRYING EYE...
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PARANORMAL
& SUSPENSE | book reviews |
Immortally Embraced Angie Fox
Abducting Casey Cheryl Yeko
Even during a truce, Dr. Petra Robichaud has her hands full as the M*A*S*H surgeon to an army of warring gods—especially when Medusa herself turns up pregnant. But when her ex-lover shows up, with a startlingly dangerous request, Petra must decide if peace and love are worth the risk.
Held captive for blackmail, Casey Gillette’s only hope is to trust one of her captors. Undercover cop, Matt Sash needs to protect the beautiful woman being used as a pawn in a deadly game. A desperate race ensues to stop an act of terror and save the woman he loves.
Paranormal Romance Heat Rating: 3
REVIEW: Dr. Petra (a half fairy who can see things that others can’t) was recruited seven years earlier by the New Order Army. Dr. Petra current love interest, Galen, has suddenly been ordered back to the line of duty, which before he leaves he breaks things off with her but why... History has a way of coming back when her first boyfriend (the one that she thought had passed away 10 years earlier) returns asking for her assistance in helping him. But how and will she help him since she knows that he is enemy of the army that she with? For me personally I found that I liked how Angie Fox put together this concept idea of an M*A*S*H unit for paranormals (which some of the things reminded me of the 1970’s sitcom which to me was funny as well as intriguing). The elements as well as the unique story itself made this book one I devoured in matter of couple hours cause it was captivating and easy get into read. | Reviewer: Beckey White |
Romantic Suspense Heat Rating: 5
REVIEW: Action Packed from the very first page. Fast pace right from the get go and doesn’t let up till the end. If you like suspense with a little criminal element too with characters who may or may not be what they seem, you will enjoy this one. The action between Casey and Rock (Aka Matt) is distrust because she thinks he’s a criminal whose part of the kidnapping gang who kidnapped her to get her father’s attention so he’d do what they wanted. And Rock (Aka Matt) is perceived that way because in actuality he’s an undercover agent trying to get the mastermind behind her kidnapping and trying to protect her at the same time he’s doing his job and she’s giving him a run for his money. So basically her plan is not get hit anymore by the bad guys and try and find a way to escape and maybe, just maybe trust the man she only know s as Rock and Rock’s plan is, protect her from the vicious kidnappers, find the mastermind, and get out alive. A very good and suspenseful read, you’ll root for Rock and Casey and hope the bad guys get what they truly deserve, and you’ll enjoy it from beginning to end. | Reviewer: Cassandra Graham |
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| PARANORMAL & SUSPENSE book reviews |
Betrayal Anne Patrick
Mystery/Suspense
Drew Presley’s wife was murdered while he was serving his country in Iraq. Leaving the army behind, he’s returned to Dauphine Island to care for his son and try to make a new life for them. The unsolved murder of his wife continues to plague him. The more he searches for answers though the more dangerous it becomes. Just as troublesome is his attraction to his son’s second-grade teacher, Trudy Walsh.
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REVIEW: Army Sergeant Drew Presley is in search of his wife’s (Nora) killer; How did she die? He is disappointed by the police lack of interest in solving the case. Drew had taught her the basics of how to protect herself – yet the way she was murdered was mind boggling. With a young son (Reed) to take care of, Drew had to decide on his next move. Focusing too much on Nora’s death can spell disaster for Drew as he will pay little attention to raising Reed. Did Nora’s Close friend Trudy (Reed’s teacher) who is battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma and her boyfriend Jack, the fireman, know more about her death and they are not telling Drew the whole story? Trudy was very supportive of Drew and Reed and as the plot progresses their relationship became very close. What would Jack think? Drew being chased by Nora’s murderer this book presents a nice mix of mystery, deceit and drama. | Reviewer: Adesh Rampat |
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| PARANORMAL & SUSPENSE book reviews |
Whispers in the Wood Kelly Madden
home and threaten his life. Falling for the beguiling Hana brings her closer to the danger and he’ll fight his growing feelings for her if it will appease the mysterious malevolent spirit and keep her safe from harm.
Paranormal Romance Heat Rating: 2
Respect the hawthorn... Hana Brown is an architect with an unusual talent; wood speaks to her--literally. Dubbed the “house whisperer” by her satisfied clients who don’t know her unusual secret, Hana has no reason to believe her next job could be her last. Lord William Hawthorn, the last in his line, has one more chance to right the terrible wrongs that overshadow his family
REVIEW: Hana walked into what she thought would be just another restoration as that was her job. Although how she came about her resources was in the secret language of listening to the wood, literally. Her client, an old fashioned peer of Old England is quite the eccentric. His strangeness is heightened when things begin to happen to Hana and with no explanation, she realizes just how different this job was going to be. While researching her client she finds that questions ask of her are also found buried deep in wood lore and legacies. An unusual but wonderfully told romantic short story that wouldn’t let go of me till its end. | Reviewer: Gypsie M. Holley |
Available at Freya’s Bower, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and All Romance eBooks.
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| PARANORMAL & SUSPENSE book reviews |
Profile of Evil Alexa Grace
Grace uses good transitions and the characters’ conversations sparkle and move the plot forward. Minor characters such as Cameron Chase engage in as much dialogue as the principal characters, building a realistic portrayal of human relationships.
Romantic Suspense
Profile of Evil depicts hard situations of child molestation and murder with effective imagery. The descriptions fill in a bit too much without action. Grace is overly wordy in lengthy expositions. Settings are arranged carefully for crime scenes, but Grace does not definitively describe locations such as Shawnee County or Carly’s hometown in Florida.
Leaving the FBI, Carly Stone becomes a consultant for Indiana County Sheriff Brody Chase, who needs her profiling skills to catch an online sex predator luring preteen girls to their death in his community. A life hangs in the balance and time is running out. REVIEW: Profile of Evil is a fast paced, action packed romance novel. The novel flows well and is easy to read. The main characters Brody Chase and Carly Stone are reminiscent of television’s best romantic detectives with sexual tension and dedication to the job.
Questions posed to the reader interspersed in the narrative detract from readers’ decisions about the story by forcing attention on the author’s further answers. Most of Profile of Evil is straightforward and Grace could have let action speak for itself. Alexa Grace’s Profile of Evil is an enjoyable romance, not boring or cliché. | Reviewer: Kimberly Klemm |
SHATTERED The only thing that multi-published, award winning horror author, Tom Elliot, wanted was to move to the country for a change of scenery and relaxation, to a quiet part of southern Illinois. It seemed he’d picked out a wonderful spot, miles away from the closest neighbor and even further away from civilization.
Available at Wild Child Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, OmniLit, and Kobo.
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| PARANORMAL & SUSPENSE book reviews |
Magick Touch Eden Elgabri
Paranormal Romance Heat Rating: 2
Calista Carlyle is running for her life. A new age shop in Salem needs a temporary employee, and Calista sees it as great opportunity to lay low in a place her bank manager boss and ex-boyfriend would never look for her. But will the owner of the store, a sensuously mysterious Wiccan, be too much to handle? Or will his magic touch be just what she needs? Henry Fraser has been biding his time. For the past two years he’s had psychic visions of his soul mate. He knows her body
intimately, knows just where to touch. But can he touch her heart before she flees from her past again? REVIEW: An erotic paranormal fantasy, Magick Touch emphasizes sensual touching and has little paranormal activity. Callista Carlyle is a bit of a drifter hiding in Salem from a stalker. Her situation is dire written with an intensity that seeps under the reader’s skin. She meets Henry Fraser, a Wiccan who becomes her lover. It’s a love at first sight romance with the couple jumping into a sensual relationship shortly after they meet. A physical connection is developed long before an emotional bond is which hurts the story making the affair seem more like a flirtation than a permanent union. Callista and Henry’s attachment is mostly based on superficial elements. The author injects a spark of suspense when Callista’s stalker finds her, but the climatic fight scene between her stalker and Henry does little to pull the reader into the story. The characters need for one another is the real clincher. | Reviewer: Susan Frances |
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Organized Terror Pedro Cerda and Daniel Stiles Rain always makes me nervous. Only so many places exist nowadays where a man can smoke in peace. Can’t smoke in buildings. Can’t smoke near entrances. I have to wander from society, isolate myself, exposed. Whenever it rains, the chance always exists that my cigarette will die, ruined before I can claim its poisons. I’m at war, and I’m under the impression that Mother Nature’s on the other side. She’s not a patriot like me. How could she be? Maybe I should buy a hat. Walking the soaked sidewalk, streetlights bringing sparse illumination to the city’s night, I experience the wet chill of the rain through my clothing. I’d like to say the cold penetrates all the way to the bone. It doesn’t. That would be too easy. The raindrops fall, spread far enough apart to allow the cherry to remain burning. Occasional splatters closer to the filter evaporate from the heat. The battle continues. They say smoking will kill me. If I don’t kill my lungs, they’ll kill me. I keep walking, keep smoking. Another block in the rain and I succeed in reaching the filter. Tossing the expended weapon aside, I scan the area. A battlefield reveals itself by way of a buzzing neon sign. Flo’s Foodery reflects in the puddles. Grime-crusted windows conceal the interior, paint missing from wide patches of the wall. Walking to the door, I note the cracked glass. Pushing it open, I enter. The odor of rancid grease reaches my nostrils, perfumed by fried potatoes and decaying meat. Vinyl booths cling to faded red, webbed cracks running through to expose cushion material the shade of fermented mustard. Various crude drawings and slogans etch the tables and the long counter area with the thick lines of permanent markers. The floor might have been white once. Now it’s the grayish shade of a corpse. The place’s walls sweat grease.
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| Organized Terror |
I step up to the counter, sitting on a wobbly stool. Even though I only spot two other customers in the entire place, and I’m sure they’re homeless, it takes several minutes for the chubby waitress in pink to approach me. She pulls a pencil from frizzy blonde hair, a pad of paper from a darkly streaked apron. Watching me beneath caked blue eye shadow, she parts her unnaturally bright red lips. “What’ll it be?” she asks in exactly the nasal voice I’d expect. Her adenoids might be attempting to claim dominance in her skull. That’s why I had mine removed. “Well?” she presses even though I haven’t seen a menu at all. It doesn’t appear this place has menus. They must not expect anyone to order anything. I consider a preemptive strike against my kidneys. They’ve fallen into complacency. Now’s the time to take them by surprise. Kidneys favor nice, clean liquidlike water. I need the opposite of that. “I’ll have some motor oil,” I announce. She nods as though people order such a thing every day. Watching her shuffle away, my mind drifts to when it began, when I realized the truth of my predicament. I remember a clear day, warm air, the comfort of routine. The attack came from nowhere, my appendix exploding in a suicide assault. It nearly killed me. After something like that, you can never look at the world the same way. With innocence frozen by ice cream and gelatin, you recognize the enemies you never thought to consider. They lurk within, entrenched. Caring nothing for their fate, only desiring to destroy you, they make the worst kind of enemies. Yeah, it’s true. My internal organs happen to be terrorists. They hate me, and they want me dead. Who knows how long they planned the appendix attack. It must have angered them when I survived. They tipped their hand . . . my hand . . . . Whichever one, it allowed me to fight back.
brown ceramic mug onto the counter before me. Retreating, she leaves me to my beverage. It’s dark and thick, the way motor oil should be. Picking it up, I take a gulp. It’s only cold coffee. Glaring to where the waitress leans on the counter’s edge opposite me, worshipping the small glowing box pinned to the wall, I hold the stare for several seconds. I don’t think she notices, continuing to chew her gum with sloppy smacking of withered lips. Shrugging, I take another drink. I suppose it’ll have to do. I know those damn kidneys have to be whining about it already. I take a deep inhale of the air, imagining it singeing the hair of my nostrils. Turning on the stool, I attempt to watch the rain through the diner’s window. Everything’s blurred, indistinct, exactly like my memories. Remembering her used to be easier. Happy times existed, could have continued if not for the attack. I can only clearly recall our final moment together. I told her I couldn’t get close to anyone. I didn’t want my pancreas to hurt her. She’s gone. Whether she hates me or not, at least she’s safe. Maybe, if I ever win this battle, I’ll find her again. Victory might not be possible, yet it’s something to hope for, something to keep me fighting. My liver’s plotting. I need some vodka. I call to the waitress, demanding some. She shouts over her shoulder that they ain’t got no vodka. Finishing the substance in the coffee mug, I mutter about how my spleen doesn’t like her. Standing, I leave some coins on the counter and walk out. It’s not raining anymore. The humidity in the air lifts the city’s odors from the asphalt, leaves them hanging, clinging, a mixture of feces, urine, and gasoline.
Some might, and have, called it a foolhardy endeavor. They claim it’s a war I can’t win, a self-destructive path. We’ll see if they still say that after I’ve won.
If they’d come out of hiding and fight me face to face, maybe it could be different. Because they’re cowards, we’ll all suffer until one of us gives up.
The waitress returns, dropping a cracked, leaking
Perhaps if we had some sort of open dialogue, a
peaceful conference, we might come to an arrangement where we could exist in harmony. It’s the course of action reasonable beings would pursue. How reasonable can they be? They suicide bombed me. Reaching into my pocket, I grasp the item contained within without looking to it. They can’t know my intentions. Its bumpy exterior presses into my palm, assuring me of success. I lift it from my pocket, other hand taking hold as well. A finger finds the pin, yanking it free. It hits the ground with a metaltinkling noise. It’s too late for that small warning to save them. Shoving the grenade into my mouth, I attempt to swallow without success. I should have done some measurements. That would have tipped them off. Oh well. They’ll get the message.
Striking out to make names for themselves in the brutal desert land of Tucson, Arizona, Pedro Cerda and Daniel Stiles chose the profession of security by which to build their renown. The process of vocational evolution brought sarcasm from exuberance, irritation from helpfulness, and most importantly, apathy from vigilance. Through the natural selection of a shopping mall, they learned the path for survival could be arrived at by way of detachment from care. It exists as a lesson others might comprehend through the pages of their stories, testimony put forth as the ladder of salvation from the balcony perch of chaos. You can be saved, but if not, that’s your own problem. Our current credits include “The Erratic Blueprint of Desperation” from Wild Child Publishing, The Jack the Mac Chronicles from Wild Child Publishing, and Battle for Blood—The Blood Feud from Penumbra Publishing. http://www.hellsambrosia.com/
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www.jennifergibson.ca
Author of SWAY, finalist in the 2012 InD'tale Magazine RONE Awards!
Jessie is determined not to let her hearing loss hold her back. She aims her sights even higher as she ventures in a new direction. With a Black Belt on the horizon, and so close to achieving it, she is unaware of the danger closing in on her. Until one day, everything suddenly changes and she finds herself standing on the precipice of life. Will she be strong enough to hold on or will she succumb to the darkness that surrounds her? NOW AVAILABLE AT AMAZON - KOBO - BARNES & NOBLE
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| book reviews | Kesh Ralph L. Wahlstrom YA Fantasy
Kesh was a scrawny kid, too small to play football, too short for basketball, and not great at sports in general. The other old boys would goad him, “Go home. Does your mother know you’re not in your crib?” Once, he found a baby bottle and a rattle in his locker. Another time someone had left a dirty diaper in his backpack.
REVIEW: Exciting, fun, yet infused with deep meaning and an important message, Kesh is a story of how a bullied 12 year old boy played an important part in saving a town. With a sober yet reader-friendly narrative suited for children, this novel’s plot is filled with magic giving it a surreal feel. Each character’s portrayal is creative and unique to each character; one can see the how the main character, Kesh, has developed into who he’s expected to be. This inspiring novel is indeed a wake-up call for each of us to help protect mother nature from the “factories” that poison it. | Reviewer: Francine Alli |
The old Ojibwe prophecy had foretold, “The air and waters will run with poison.” Twelve-year-old Kesh Jones would soon learn that it was more than a story. The Garou Chemical plant outside town held deep, disturbing secrets, and its owner, Louis Garou, would stop at nothing to destroy anything that got in his way. Kesh and his friends soon found themselves fighting for their lives and their world.
September 2013 | 105
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| YOUNG & NEW ADULT book reviews |
Reaching for the Moon: More Diaries of a Roaring Twenties Teen (1927-1929)
Julia Park Tracey Young Adult
Reaching for the Moon: More Diaries of a Roaring Twenties Teen (19271929) contains the true-life diaries of Doris Bailey. She flirts with boys, sneaks sips of whiskey, breaks rules and hearts. In Oregon, she’s the belle of the ball; in Arizona, she wins horseraces and kisses cowboys. Doris lives with passion, aplomb and an unquenchable thirst for life.
REVIEW: Julia Park Tracey sets out to breathe life into her great aunt’s private diaries and does a marvelous job of conveying to readers the atmosphere and economic and social conditions of America’s west coast during the Prohibition Era. Her writing style engages the reader’s imagination and curiosity as told in the voicing of an impressionable teenage girl eager to jump into the adventures life has in store for her. The narration moves at a comfortable pace allowing readers to grasp every nugget of information being supplied as her aunt Doris Louise Bailey travels along the west coast from Washington State to Arizona soaking in her environment, meeting new people, indulging her passion to explore new lands, and facing setbacks with humor. It’s a charming read that will appeal to a wide range of readers from history buffs to teenagers who are ready to embrace what life has to offer. | Reviewer: Susan Frances |
September 2013 | 107
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| YOUNG & NEW ADULT book reviews |
Love’s Intensity Cassandra Ulrich
to be a ninja warrior. Despite her efforts, she finds herself desperately longing for a friendship with the one boy who scowls at her. Matters are only made more complicated when his family and hers clash. When he goes on a dangerous mission, she wonders, will he return so she can tell him he’s won her heart or will their families manage to keep them apart?
YA Paranormal Romance Heat Rating: 2
Brad loves fast horses, cars, and bikes. Life would be perfect if his stepmother could only mind her own business. Instead, his father hired a longtime friend and her family to work in their home, turning his world into a feudal mess.
REVIEW: Love’s Intensity is an interesting read. It blends the young adult and paranormal worlds nicely, with a dash of romance and plenty of action. What I really love about this book is the fact that the two main characters are different ethnicities. I haven’t read a lot of stories featuring this, so I was pleased to find that I really fell for the character’s relationship. Kressa is an interesting female lead, and I like how she and Brad work together. It took me a little while to warm up to Brad, but in the end I was rooting for this couple. Check this book out, it’s a great blend of lots of things, and the story is pretty great.
He wants to hate the new arrivals and it doesn’t help that Kressa, daughter of the newcomers, is the most gorgeous girl he’d ever laid eyes on. With a scent that draws him to her, Kressa causes him more internal conflict than he ever dreamed possible. He falls for her so deeply, he tells her a secret he’d never even told his best friends – that he’s training
| Reviewer: Shelly Schulz |
“a fabulous mid-grade novel...” ~Maegan, Cuzin Logic Join Alexander and General Drake for a thrilling adventure in Azra's Pith, a place of beauty and magic... but beware--something evil lurks in the shadows.
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Available at Wild Child Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, OmniLit, and Kobo.
www.wildchildpublishing.com September 2013 | 109
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