I typically don't read fantasy/futuristic stuff...it doesn't appeal to me all that much. But I read this one anyway. Actually, when I read the summaryI typically don't read fantasy/futuristic stuff...it doesn't appeal to me all that much. But I read this one anyway. Actually, when I read the summary on the back at B&N, I missed the little thing at the top calling it futuristic, and though the summary seemed a little odd to me, I thought maybe it was some covert group-contemporary thing. Oops! My bad. I didn't realize it was a futuristic romance until I got home and looked at the reviews here on GR. But I read it anyway. It sounded pretty interesting, and it's a menage story, which I always find interesting (and hot ;).
Undercover is set in a future time where there are multiple universes, space travel, ruling Families, and opposition fascists causing trouble. Sera Ayers is a lieutenant in the Federation Military Corps. For an unranked (ie non-Family) woman, it's a great accomplishment. And she believes in what she does. It's been the main thing in her life since Ash Walker broke her heart by marrying the woman his family told him to (and he asked her to be his mistress). She's never gotten over what he did to her and has avoided anything to do with him since. Then suddenly, he's back in her life with a vengeance. She's been ordered to join his covert team to work to find traitors who are supplying information to the Imperialists. But to make their investigation work, she'll have to pose as the concubine of the other member of the team, Brandt Pela. Which isn't a hardship for Sera. There's an instant attraction between the two. And soon the attraction becomes more. But there's also Ash, and the feelings she's never gotten over. Ash has made it more than clear he wants her back, and that he has no problem involving Brandt in their relationship. Sera is wary, though. She gave her heart to a man once. She doesn't know if she has it in herself to open up again.
I enjoyed this book, for the most part. The futuristic part didn't really grab me - the whole thing with the multiple universes, finding traitors, advanced technology, etc. I just never find storylines like that all that interesting (in the context of a romance novel). So the plot/setting part of the book was something that was just kind of...there...for me. I read it, didn't mind it too much, but I can't particularly say I liked it. Plus, I thought some of the words/phrasing/ideas reminded me a little too much of things from the Star Wars series.
On the romance angle...I liked the book quite a bit, though there were a few things I thought could have been a little different - more so just on a personal preference level. I liked all the characters...though a couple times I thought Ash got a little Neanderthal, and Sera got on my nerves more than once with her rampant insecurity. But overall, I enjoyed reading their relationship. And the sex was super hot.
It's worth mentioning - because this type of thing doesn't appeal to everyone - that there is a dom/sub aspect to this story. Sera is a bedroom submissive and both Ash and Brandt are Doms. It wasn't a theme extended outside of sex play, though. But it was there. Sera was very submissive when it came to anything sexual. It was something she reveled in. So it that doesn't float your boat, then this might not be a book you'll like. Oh, and it should also be mentioned that there is some M/M play in the book between Ash and Brandt (in case that's not your thing, either).
Which was one aspect of the book I wished there'd been more of. I mean, sheesh, two yummy Alphas enjoying each other? What's not to like?! But some of those scenes were kinda cut off, or not really explored and I found myself disappointed that that aspect of the book didn't go further.
I also thought, to a certain degree, that the sexual aspect of the book didn't quite meet the overall vibe. There's the D/S thing, and this overall tone of sort of sexual freedom, expression, and exploration with the male and female body piercings, tattoos, the D/S thing...but yet the sex stayed more on the, well, not basic side because there was more than basic sex, but...tamer, I guess you could say. I just expected a little more considering the set-up and vibe of the story. That's not to say there wasn't some super hot sex because there was plenty of that. I just thought the boundaries could have been pushed a little more to fit with the image I got from reading the book.
Anyway, still a pretty good book, though. I would have enjoyed it more if it had been set in a contemporary setting, but oh well. For those of you who like futuristic erotic and menage stories, then I think you'd probably like this one.
WARNING, this book contains: explicit sex, M/F/M sex, some light M/M sex, anal sex, dominance/submission, light bondage, toys, body piercings, and probably some other stuff...more
For me, this was an average-borderline good book. It gets bonus points for having a unique starting point to the story and some very steamy scenes, buFor me, this was an average-borderline good book. It gets bonus points for having a unique starting point to the story and some very steamy scenes, but there was just something missing from the story that kept it from being really good. Plus, there was one part that made me want to throw the book across the room...more on that too come.
Bad Girl is an erotic romance - though the label on the back of the book just calls it erotica, it is at heart a romance - about a youngish, full-figured, quiet social worker named Sandy who developed the odd habit of spying on her neighbors. She would sit on her balcony and use a telescope to stare into the windows of the people in the building across the street. Her habit puts her into the sights of cop Zeke, who is covertly investigating one of the neighbors she spies on. Zeke is smitten and worried, so he cooks up a plot to scare her off, but soon finds himself intimately involved with Sandy in a hot and daring affair. Then Sandy catches the attention of the man Zeke is investigating and suddenly her life is in danger. If Zeke can keep her safe, they have a chance for happily-ever-after.
Unfortunately, part of my opinion of this book is colored by a complete and utter TSTL (too-stupid-to-live) moment by the heroine near the end. It made me want to bang my head against a wall and smack Sandy upside the head with a heavy object. Why? Because as mentioned in the summary above, Sandy catches the attention of a bad guy - a sociopathic sexual sadist. He's stalked her and tried to have her kidnapped once. So what does she do? She decides to run out for breakfast, by herself (walking) at six in the morning. Umm...what are you? A total idiot? So yeah, that act of stupidity ends up getting her kidnapped and I just shook my head thinking 'I-told-you-so' because yea, if you're going to do something that dumb, you deserve what you get.
So that monumental stupidity colors my opinion a little bit. I don't mind strong, in-charge heroines, but I prefer they not act like stupid twits. Most of the time, Sandy was a cool character, and I enjoyed the fact that she was fuller-figured and unsure of herself, but that one thing made me question her smarts.
Aside from that, I liked the romance aspect - mostly. Its sweet and hot, but it was also a bit simplistic. Things jump from hot and sweaty sex to romance and kisses rather quickly and I wasn't entirely feeling it.
The entire book, though, was kind of like that (simplistic). It seemed to skate along the surface, but never quite dug in and took a bite. Sandy had issues with her weight and her mother was horrible to her, but though those things were mentioned a lot, they were never truly explored. And they were big issues. Plus, Sandy's in danger from a psycho, and excepting the rush to find her when she's kidnapped, it's treated rather nonchalantly. There's just a lack of depth throughout the book. If the story had been more strictly erotica/sex-based, then it wouldn't have been a problem, but there's an actual storyline and romance so skating the surface didn't work for me.
But it wasn't a bad book. I still enjoyed reading it. I thought it was interesting to have a quiet, social working sitting on her balcony spying on her neighbors. Definitely unique. And her being full-figured was a plus. So it was basically a good story. It just could have been more, in my opinion. Is it worth reading? For the most part. I think if you come across it and think it sounds interesting, then go for it, but I wouldn't say it's a book that you just HAVE to go out searching for or order off the net....more
I finally got to read this book, and I can see now why it was such a popular one, and an award winner. This was Montoya's first book (as far as I knowI finally got to read this book, and I can see now why it was such a popular one, and an award winner. This was Montoya's first book (as far as I know), but you can't tell it by reading it. Maximum Security is an excellent short romantic suspense.
Maggie Reyes was a popular true-crime writer and an excellent crime researcher who added the police. Until she caught the attention of a sadistic serial killer known as the Surgeon. After barely escaping with her life, Maggie goes into hiding, with a fear so great she never leaves her home. Then FBI agent Billy Corrigan comes knocking on her door, pleading for her help in catching the Surgeon - the bastard who murdered his sister. Maggie finally relents, because she knows the Surgeon is coming for her. His crimes show he is on the way. So it's either fight back, and wait for him to try again to kill her.
What Montoya really excels at in this book (and her others) is stuffing in a solid suspense storyline, and a nicely developed romance into the word-count limit imposed by Harlequin. Not all authors manage, but Montoya does. The book is only about 250 pages, but I didn't feel short-changed when I finished. The plot was well-done, the characters interesting, the romance good. I enjoyed every part.
The only real negative I can say doesn't even really deal with this book specifically, but with the recent sequel, I'll Be Watching You which features Maggie's best friend, Adrianna. I read the sequel first and when I finished this book, I kept trying to remember whether Maggie and Billy were mentioned at all in the sequel. So I did a quick reread...and they aren't. There's a minor reference, but no outright mentions. Which doesn't sit right. Maggie and Adrianna were really close, and Adrianna had a sizable supporting role in Maximum Security so to read the sequel and not get even a smidge of info on Maggie and Billy...it didn't work for me. But that's a criticism of I'll Be Watching You, not Maximum Security. This book on it's own was top-notch. I'd definitely recommend this book or anything else by Montoya. And I look forward to more from her....more
Total 5-star keeper here. From the first page, Maya Banks had me completely hooked. I pretty much didn't put it down until I finished. It was a very iTotal 5-star keeper here. From the first page, Maya Banks had me completely hooked. I pretty much didn't put it down until I finished. It was a very interesting, very well-written (and pretty hot) story.
Though in general this book is considered an erotic romance, I'd probably call it a contemporary alternative romance with erotic scenes because the super hot, explicit sex isn't really the dominant part of the story. It's more about the polyamorous relationship the develops between four long-time friends and the problems that arise than about hot and kinky sex.
Reggie, a rich-girl, politician's daughter, and Hutch, Sawyer and Cam, three juvenile delinquent foster, boys became friends around junior high and remained close ever since. Over the years, their feelings grew and changed until one fateful night things turned passionate between the four. For Cam, Sawyer and Hutch, it was exactly what they wanted. Each loved Reggie and each realized they could never make her choose between them. So they decided the solution was for all of them to love her in a menage relationship. The only problem? That one night of love scared Reggie so much she cut herself off from her best friends. A year later, when she's injured in the line of duty by some psycho who seems to want her dead, Cam, Sawyer and Hutch come riding to the rescue and decide it's time to make Reggie face what's between them.
What I loved most about this book was how real it was. With most (all) of the menage books I've read, they've generally been very sex-based and not dealing with much else. Which, hey, is fun to read, but not altogether realistic. But in Be With Me Maya Banks explores the nuances involved in a group of individuals deciding to enter into a multi-partner relationship. Reggie fights herself for a year over the potential relationship, thinking about how it would appear to others and affect her life, and how it would ever be possible to have equality when she would be involved with three men - i.e. how to avoid the appearance of favorites, and who and how she chose to be with at any given time. And the men, despite being the ones to come up with the idea, still have worries about the plausibility. They wonder if they'd feel jealousy or left out. Each freely admits that in a perfect world, they'd have Reggie to themselves. And there was that one scene where one of the guys is hesitant to do something sexually because it meant he might touch another male. Those things all made this book so much more realistic because they are genuine issues related to a menage relationship. And I enjoyed reading that angle. It gave the book a lot of depth.
True, it did mean that the book wasn't as erotic as many expected. But that didn't bother me. I knew before hand (having read others' reviews) what it was going to be like, so I didn't expect a sex-fest. And it ended up not mattering to me because the rest of the book was so engaging. It was very interesting to read.
I also liked how Banks utilized issues from the guys' pasts and how they affected the budding relationship with Maggie - Sawyer's worries about his darker nature, Hutch's protectiveness because of what he went through as a kid, and the incident that resulted in a fight because of those issues. Very nicely done.
Plus there was the added bonus of a mildly suspenseful side story; the part about someone trying to off Reggie. It actually might have been a little superfluous. I could see the book working without it. But it added a nice dimension to the story and was well-written.
Oh, and hey, there was some really yummy sex ;) Can't discount that!
So yeah...I loved this book. There wasn't really anything about it that I didn't like. As for recommending it? I definitely would!...but with a sidenote or two. This is a great book to read for those of you who like to read romance in general, are open-minded, and don't mind very explicit sex. But if you're just looking for erotica with romantic overtones or pure erotica, then you might want to skip this one. Because like I said earlier, this book is more like a contemporary alternative romance with erotic scenes than a straight up erotica novel....more
I have to admit, that most of the time when I read an erotic romance (whether contemporary, historical, or something else), I only readRating: 4.5 / 5
I have to admit, that most of the time when I read an erotic romance (whether contemporary, historical, or something else), I only read a few chapters at a time, then go read something else. Because no matter how hot the book is, or how well written, I get a little bored with the non-stop sex and negligible plot. Sin by Sharon Page wasn't one of those books. Once I got into the story (it starts off a little slow), I was hooked and stuck with the book instead of switching off to a non-erotic book.
Sin is the first book in the Hamilton Sisters trilogy, which is a series about three sisters who are the illegitimate daughters of an erotic artist in early 1800's England. This first book is about the oldest sister, Venetia. Because her father can no longer paint (arthritis in his hands?), she's taken up his passion - painting erotic scenes and publishing them under her fathers name. On the surface, Venetia is an innocent young lady, but beneath that lurks a passionate woman wanting to try all the things she's painted. But her secret life has drawn attention. Marcus Wyndham, Earl of Trent, is soon knocking at her door, demanding she cease painting because little did Venetia know, but the man she often painted is a dead ringer for Marcus. Worse, though, she's drawn the attention of a blackmailer who managed to seduce Venetia's father out of his secrets - that he can no longer paint and his daughter is doing it for him. Venetia's dreams of becoming a painter and becoming independent are crushed. If her secret comes out, everything she's wanted will be gone. She pleads with Marcus to help her seek out Lydia, her blackmailer, so she can beg the woman to stop. Venetia has no idea that Marcus himself is another of Lydia's victims. Soon, the two find themselves at an all-out orgy party in the country. Surrounded by debauchery, the two surrender to their passions. But there's no way they could be together past this time of sin - or so they believe.
What to say about this book? For one thing, it's prudent to point out it's not for everyone! There's a little bit of everything in this book, sexually speaking. Because it's pretty much an all-out orgy with various combinations, acts, and anything else you can imagine. So if you're just looking for some basic hot sex, this might not be for you, but if you've got a high kink-factor, then you'll probably like this one.
Aside from the super HOT sex in this book (which was fantastic), one of the things I liked best about this book was that it had a solid storyline to go along with the super hot sex. Sure, it's not a full-fledged romantic suspense or emotional contemporary romance, but there's enough substance outside the sex to keep you reading and make the book not just a bunch of endless sex scenes. Page did an excellent job weaving in the plot of the blackmailer and involving Venetia and Trent. I wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen next.
Romance-wise, it was pretty good. The relationship (romantically-speaking) between Venetia and Trent could have been a little more solid. For most of the book, there's just a lot of sex between them with each thinking there might be something more. I'm not sure what it was...maybe that there just needed to be a tick more sweetness to the relationship. But aside from that, I enjoyed both Venetia and Trent, and they had a sizzling chemistry.
My only real complaint for this book was some of the terminology...quim, ballocks, etc. Yeah, it's probably more period appropriate, but those terms are damn annoying to read! I would have preferred the modern words. They're so much more fitting to an erotic romance novel (historical or not).
And one other thing, I'm curious to know from anyone else who read this book...did anyone else feel like there was a story they'd missed for Trent's sister Min? When I was reading the parts involving her, just the way it was written made me feel like I'd missed a prequel or something. But maybe that was just me!
Anyway, great book! If you like hardcore historical erotic romance, then I'd definitely recommend this book or if you've read and enjoyed either Kate Pearce or Samantha Kane, then give this one a try.
Warning, this book contains: explicit sex, m/m sex, f/f/f/f sex, m/f/m sex, group sex, toys, anal sex, bondage, exhibitionism, voyeurism, paddling...to name a few!...more
It's kinda funny, as much as I enjoyed the original Wallflowers series, I probably would have waited a while to buy this book. But with everyone talkiIt's kinda funny, as much as I enjoyed the original Wallflowers series, I probably would have waited a while to buy this book. But with everyone talking about it, anxiously waiting for its release, I got caught up. So I had to go buy it the day it got out ;) I enjoyed the book quite a bit, though, so it was worth the hardcover price.
This book introduces a relative of two of the original Wallflowers, Rafe Bowman - who is one of Lillian and Daisy's brothers. He's been at odds with his father all his life, and has a reputation as a quite the wild rake. But now he wants to get in on his father's business. In order to do so, the elder Bowman demands that Rafe marry a woman of his choosing. That woman is Lady Natalie. Rafe is resigned to obeying his father this once, but then he meets Natalie's companion, Hannah. Sparks instantly sizzle between them. At first, all Hannah can see is that Rafe is the wrong person for Natalie, but then she realizes there is so much more to him than meets the eye. And with every meeting their feelings grow. Unfortunately, Rafe has his obligations, and Hannah knows what will happen if he disobeys his father. But neither are willing to give up on what they feel between them.
This was a fun, light-hearted book to read. I loved the fact that Kleypas gave the Wallflowers an active role in the story. It was great to read up on them, see how things were. They weren't just bystanders in the story, but active participants. I love when authors don't neglect their past characters. It adds so much more to a story. So on that point, this book was fabulous.
And I also enjoyed the romance between Rafe and Hannah. The brash American and the quiet, somewhat subdued Hannah. Their first meeting was great and their verbal sparring was fun to read. I liked how Kleypas played out their budding relationship. And the ending was wonderful. Very sweet.
One of my favorite scenes in the book was when Lillian and Hannah go off to talk about Hannah's "big secret" and one by one, the other Wallflowers join in, until the "big secret" has been told to each one. It just came across kinda funny to me - how it got told to one and all despite how Hannah wanted to keep it private. Oh, and the toupee scene...that was hilarious!
If I had one complaint about this book, it would be that the story deserved to be longer. Because even though I could buy into the love the bloomed between Rafe and Hannah, I still thought there needed to be more to their story. More build-up, a little more conflict. Plus there's the fact that Kleypas gave a fair amount of space to the other Wallflowers, which took away time for Rafe and Hannah. When I finished the book, I had a slight disappointment that there hadn't been more to the story. But don't get me wrong, the book worked as it was, I just thought it could have been even better if it had been another 50-100 pages longer.
For you Wallflowers fans, though, I think you'll really enjoy this book. It fits in perfectly with the other Wallflowers stories. I suppose we can only hope Kleypas will revisit these characters again....more
As much as I enjoyed book 1 in this series (Sin), I think I enjoyed this one more! It was a real page turner for me, and every time I put it down, I kAs much as I enjoyed book 1 in this series (Sin), I think I enjoyed this one more! It was a real page turner for me, and every time I put it down, I kept wanting to go back and pick it up!
Black Silk is about the middle Hamilton sister, Maryanne. Like her sister Venetia, Maryanne also has a secret life that delves into the world of erotica. But where her sister paints risque scenes, Maryanne has teamed with a known courtesan and together they edit and publish books of erotica. Now that her sister has married and become part of the ton, though, Maryanne must be very careful about not being discovered. But when her partner sends a letter requesting help, Maryanne rushes to the rescue...only to find herself smack dab in the middle of an orgy and then alone with the debauched Lord Swansborough, Dashiel Blackmore,...the one man of the ton who she has secretly yearned for. Before the night is over, her innocence is lost and she finds herself mired in the mystery where the man she's just slept with is either an evil murderer or the victim of someone even more evil.
It's kind of funny because even though this is an erotic romance, I think I enjoyed all the other parts of the story the most! Actually, compared to book 1, this one is rather tame. There's still enough yummy hot sex, but this book doesn't have that all-out sexual playground feel that book 1 did. Which is a smidge disappointing, but the sex was still hot, and I enjoyed the rest of the book so much I didn't really care.
From a romance perspective, I thought the romance in this book was a lot stronger than in book 1. Stronger emotions, stronger communication between the H/H, a little more sweetness. The story just came across more loving and romantic. Which I enjoyed quite a bit. I really liked Dash (and Maryanne). They worked well together. I wasn't sure about Dash coming into this book because of the way he was portrayed in book 1, but I think author Sharon Page wrote his character well and turns him into a nice borderline tragic hero.
Storyline wise...well, I have to give kudos to Page for surprising me at the end. The revelation of the antagonist...well, I hadn't even considered that character! But it actually fit perfectly. So kudos to Page for sneaking one by me. That doesn't happen often! Aside from that, interesting storyline all around. Someone has it in for poor Dash and Page did a great job weaving in suspects and making you curious about who is actually the bad guy (and then surprising everyone!). The story had me hooked and I read this one straight through.
And honestly, I have no major complaints for this book. Everything worked for me...okay, I still find the use of ballocks, quim, etc a bit annoying, but oh well. The only other thing was that in this one, book 2, Dash and Marcus (from book 1) are referred to as being longtime close friends, but I didn't remember that from book 1. It seemed like a new thing in book 2. And also, I would have liked it if we'd gotten a small scene where Dash thought back to the orgy from book 1, where Marcus and Venetia were in attendance (and he hit on her). There were references to that orgy from both Venetia and Maryanne, but not from Dash. It's a little thing, but I would have liked him to reference that. But all the above are just little minor points. I liked everything else about the book.
So I'd definitely add this one to my recommended reading list. Especially for those of you who read book 1, Sin, or who like erotic historical romance.
Warning, this book contains: explicit m/f sex, anal sex, toys, light bondage, exhibitionism, voyeurism, threesomes not involving the H/H, and references to other stuff...plus some violence involving whipping and hot wax...more
I had to order this one from PBS after I finished the previous book in the Nighthawk Island series by Herron because there's a direct character connecI had to order this one from PBS after I finished the previous book in the Nighthawk Island series by Herron because there's a direct character connection between the two. The hero in this book, Parker, was gravely injured in Up In Flames and this book picks up with him recovering in the hospital. So I was definitely interested in reading this one too see what happened with Parker. And I wasn't disappointed. Herron always tells such interesting romantic suspense tales. I enjoyed all aspects of the book. I had one or two quibbles on details that didn't quite work right and there was one side-detail that I wanted to know that wasn't told. But other than that, a solid book....more
Sixth and last book in the multi-author series from Harlequin Intrigue called "The Curse of Raven's Cliff." And once again I'll mention that this is aSixth and last book in the multi-author series from Harlequin Intrigue called "The Curse of Raven's Cliff." And once again I'll mention that this is a series that really needs to be read in order. It's heavily connected.
This last book wraps up a storyline that began in the very beginning of the first book in the series when bride-to-be Camille Wells was blown off a cliff by a gust of wind right before her wedding ceremony. Believed dead for a while, then found serious injured, she's now awakened from her coma only to discover that the baby she had been secretly carrying before her disappearance is missing. And she has no memory of even giving birth. So she turns to the one man who may be able to help her, Nicholas Sterling. The man many of the townspeople blame for the curse that has plagued them. Camille and Nicholas have a history that ended in broken hearts. But they will put aside their differences to work to find Camille's baby.
Of all six books, I think Webb did the best job of keeping consistent with the previous books. The others were rife with big inconsistencies, but this one kept pretty much inline with past details. I noticed a few small issues, and there was one detail that I could case for a problem, but overall, Webb did well to make this book fit with the overall series.
And the storyline was pretty interesting. I had a good idea who the bad guy was, but the story still kept me reading. The romance, however, was almost non-existent. Which was a big disappointment for these two characters. When the end came around with the HEA (pre-epilogue-HEA) I just wasn't feeling it yet. Not that I didn't think the characters didn't belong together, but I hadn't gotten enough of a sense that they were ready for happily-ever-after. I blame that partially on the fact that Harlequin shortened the intrigue books by about 30 pages (why they did is beyond me).
So this book was good on story, but a bit low on romance. If they romance had been more solid, I'd have said it was the best of the series.
As for the series, overall, it was kind of a disappointment for me. I thought the authors could have done a much better job coordinating their stories because there were some major inconsistencies from book to book. Which gave the series an overall disjointed feel, like they were connected but not connected. I liked the premise, but the execution was lacking. So I wouldn't consider this a must read for HQ Intrigue fans. But if you do want to read it, make sure to get all the books and read them in order....more
I requested this book through my library's ILL program...then put off reading it for like two months. I wanted to read it, but I'd readRating: 4.5 / 5
I requested this book through my library's ILL program...then put off reading it for like two months. I wanted to read it, but I'd read a lot of so-so comments about the book, about it not being as good as her others. So I kept setting it aside. But I had to get it back to the library (it was overdue, actually) so I had to either read it, or just return it. I read it, and I'm glad I did. I really enjoyed it! I'd have probably given it five stars if it weren't for one thing (which I'll talk about shortly).
Twin Fantasies is a erotic romance book about a menage a trois relationship between two brothers and the woman they both love. Jenna and Ryan have been in a long-term committed relationship, but Ryan is a workaholic who keeps blowing Jenna off. She's finally about to break up with him after he ditches her as her date for a wedding when suddenly Ryan shows up...or so she thinks. It's actually Ryan's twin brother Jake. Jenna thinks he's playing out her stranger fantasy and goes along. Then a month later, she realizes she's pregnant. Ryan proposes despite the fact that he's knows he's not the father. He loves her too much, and Jenna just thinks Ryan is the father. But just before the wedding, Jenna finds out that Ryan has a twin brother named Jake, and all three realize what has happened. Now Jenna must figure out which man to choose. The only problem? She realizes she loves them both.
This book was SUPER hot. I really could have used a cold shower more than once, LOL. What I really enjoyed about this book, though, was that even though it was an erotic romance, and there was lots and lots of yummy sex, it wasn't all about the sex. It was about the characters, how they grew and changed, and about the unusual problem of a woman falling in love with two brothers. Sometimes, I get a little bored with erotic romance books when they are just all sex, but this one didn't bore me at all. Carew kept me in the story from start to finish with a solid romance and great characters to go along with the yummy sex.
I knew going into this story that a lot of the mild complaints were about Ryan, about many not liking him, and how Jenna should have picked Jake. But I never really felt that way. I kinda saw them as two halves of a whole. Jake was the fun-loving, laid back half, and Ryan was the intense, serious-minded half. And together they made up a whole that was, well, the perfect man. I could completely see how Jenna loved both of them.
The one thing I wished had been a little more thorough was the epilogue. It was sweet and a nice wrap-up, but I wanted to know more. Did Jenna marry one of them? Or did they just have an unofficial commitment between the three of them? What did their families and friends think of what they were doing? Had they had any serious backlash from it? I wanted to know all that, but instead the epilogue was just a brief glimpse saying they were happy. If I'd gotten some of that info, I'd have given this book five stars.
Great book, despite that, though. I enjoyed it quite a bit. I'd definitely recommend it for those of you whole like menage erotic romance books. And I definitely plan to read more from Carew. ...more
It took me forever to finish this book. Sure, it's got somea ton of super hot, kinky sex, but that's pretty much all there is to the bRating: 2.5 / 5
It took me forever to finish this book. Sure, it's got somea ton of super hot, kinky sex, but that's pretty much all there is to the book. There is a bit of romance, but it was a really weird one, and then ending just didn't have an HEA vibe. I couldn't get into the romance aspect.
The book is centered on the Babylona Institute - a school for sex professionals. People who go there want to do something sex-related with their lives (porn, escorts, etc) or to just learn. Lila is a young woman who just went through a horrible break-up with her high school sweetheart and decides to go to the school because of some desires she's had and stifled in the past. Her first day there, she has a close encounter with her student advisor, Ben. After that she digs in to the school, engaging various and numerous sexual escapades. But she still thinks about Ben. However, despite her romantic feelings, she loves the school and wants to get involved in the new TV channel the Institute is starting. She wants it all but is there a way to have it?
Pleasure U is pretty much pure fantasy with no reference in reality. Take the fact that the author never once brings up the issue of safe sex. Which is just wrong considering all the multiple-partner-stranger sex that goes on. They all screw around like there's no such thing as STDs or pregnancy. There was something rather icky about that. And it was something that could have fairly easily been dealt with - like saying they had to undergo testing before entering, go on mandatory birth control, etc. But there was nothing. Which annoyed me a bit.
Otherwise...yeah, there was A LOT of hot voyeuristic/exhibitionist orgy sex BUT it got old. At least for me. Because honestly? The sex didn't have much variety to it - in my opinion. Just a bunch of random free-for-all sex that after reading half the book started to seem the same. I got bored and read only a chapter at a time. Which is why it took me so long to finish.
And the romance...I guess you could say there was one. But it didn't give me any fuzzy happy feelings. It was just bizarre. And in the end, you're not left feeling like they're going to be able to work things out.
So bottomline?...don't read this for the romance. It's an erotica book about sexual freedom, I guess you could say.
Sexual themes: voyeurism, exhibitionism, group sex, F/F, stranger sex, toys, anal, video...and a bunch of other stuff....more
If I'd noticed back when this book came out that it was about Cam Rohan from the Wallflowers series (I think he was just in one book...Rating: 4.5 / 5
If I'd noticed back when this book came out that it was about Cam Rohan from the Wallflowers series (I think he was just in one book...), I would have read it much sooner! Cam was such an intriguing character when Kleypas gave us a peak at him before. I was actually rather disappointed that he didn't end up with Daisy. But I'm glad Kleypas brought Cam back and let us see more of him. I ended up liking him even more!
The heroine of Mine Till Midnight is a "spinster" named Amelia Hathaway who is the de facto leader of her family. Her older brother should technically have the job, but he's floundering in gut-wrenching grief over the death of his fiance. So Amelia is in charge of taking care of her quirky family. When her brother Leo disappears again, she goes out searching with her family's "adopted" son, Merripen - a gypsy abandoned by his tribe and left for dead. The two encounter gaming club manager Cam Rohan who reluctantly helps them find Leo...and surprises Amelia with a searing kiss before walking away.
She thinks to never see him again, but when her family moves to their new estate (from a title Leo surprisingly inherited) she's shocked to find Cam in residence visiting her new neighbor, Lord Westcliff (from the Wallflowers series). And soon the two are battling an intense attraction...but each has their own "demons" to battle - Amelia taking care of her family, and Cam trying to find his place in the world (be it his gypsy roots, or in the white world).
I've read quite a few reviews that thought something was missing from this book, but I have to admit I really enjoyed it a lot and didn't have any major complaints. Cam was such a fascinating character to read about. He's definitely a drool worthy hero and I'm so glad Kleypas brought him back!
And I actually rather liked Amelia (though I know many others didn't). True she was a bit of a control freak, trying to manage her family, but I don't think she went overboard at all. Leo needed managing, Win was ill and needed support, and the others were young. I thought Amelia was rather strong and valiant in the way she kept things together. And I definitely felt the chemistry between Cam and Amelia. That scene where he sweeps her into the night on his horse was fabulous. I actually sighed ;)
The storyline mostly revolved around Amelia's family and their struggles - Leo's grief, inheriting a title, Win's illness - and all that. I didn't like Leo for most of the book, but once I got to understand his character a bit more, I just felt sad for him because he was totally lost. I'm looking forward to reading his story to see how he puts his life back together.
There's also a side-story in the book of the secret love between Win and Merripen. Those two are definitely interesting...can't wait to read more about them in the next book.
As a bonus for this book, we also got to see the Westcliffs (Wallflowers series) again. It was nice to get an update on them!
The one this that I was rather "blah" about for this book was the minor supernatural element that popped up now and then. It just didn't quite fit, in my opinion and came off kinda awkward. But it was easy to overlook.
Overall...I just enjoyed this one a lot...from the characters to the relationship and the low-key storyine. The book had a rather loving, sweet feel to it (at least for me). And it definitely kept me reading! I finished it in two sittings. Plus the build-up for Merripen/Win has me anxious to read the next book. Can't wait to start it!...more
I sat here and debated for a little bit over what to say about this book. I'm still kind of undecided. Because I liked this book, enjoyed reading it, I sat here and debated for a little bit over what to say about this book. I'm still kind of undecided. Because I liked this book, enjoyed reading it, but there was something...missing. Something just wasn't quite...there. I'll try to explain after writing the obligatory extended summary.
Hot Silk is the third and last book in the Hamilton sisters trilogy - a series about the 3 illegitimate daughters of an erotic artist in early 1800's England. The remaining single sister is Grace, the great beauty of the family. Since she was old enough to understand, Grace decided she would marry well and save her family from financial ruin. At 18, she thought she'd met her prince. But he toyed with her heart, stole her innocence and tossed her away. And on that same night, she met Devlin Sharpe, a dashing, seductive pirate and highwayman. She spends the night in his arms...and the next two years unable to forget about him. Now, he has hijacked her coach and taken her captive. For Devlin had been unable to forget her either. But how could they ever be together, given that she is a Lady, and he is a criminal?
I think that last line of my overview sums up the overriding theme of this book: the star-crossed lovers thing. Because that's what most of this story is about. Grace is always thinking she shouldn't be doing what she's doing and trying to find ways to fit in with the ton. And Devlin is always telling himself he couldn't ever really have her...he's a criminal, etc etc. I won't say it bored me, but it was a little too typical. It didn't have the seductive magic that the relationships in the first two books had.
But I can't really figure out what to say about why this book was a little off for me. It just didn't have that air of mystery or sexual excess that the first two books had. Sexually, this book was very toned down, especially compared to book 1. It's still very much erotic because of the explicit language and acts, but aside from some voyeuristic viewing of what others are doing, the sex is rather basic. In book 1, there was a lot of experimentation, a lot of over the top sexuality. Book 2 lost a lot of that, and book 3 pretty much just had a few token scenes performed by others. It was a bit disappointing because part of what made book 1 so much fun to read was the sexual excess paired with a solid story. But in this book, the star-crossed lovers theme, and the H/H's individual insecurities take over the story and make it more typical of a contemporary romance instead of an erotic romance. The sexuality of this series just decreases with each book, and it took something away from them.
Mystery-wise, this book had the weakest plot, in my opinion. There really wasn't much mystery, compared to books 1 and 2, just some bad guys causing trouble. The book lacked the air of suspense that the others had, and so didn't completely capture my attention. And like I said earlier, the story is kind of dominated by the star-crossed lovers thing.
Lastly, I didn't really care for the resolution of Grace and Devlin's relationship. Personally, I think it came off a little silly (the jail break especially). And I just couldn't see Grace deciding to sail the seas with Dev. It didn't work for me. So I was disappointed in that.
And now that I've done all that complaining, lol...I still liked this book plenty. Which is why I gave it four-stars (though maybe 3.5 would have been more fitting). It wasn't a bad book, it just didn't live up to my expectations and it was the weakest of the three books in the series. Would I still recommend it? If you've read the other three books in the series, then definitely yes. And if you haven't, well, the series as a whole is one I'd definitely recommend....more
I'd probably give this book three thumbs up if I had three thumbs ;) It was a great, if short, read - fun and sweet, romantic and whimsical, with justI'd probably give this book three thumbs up if I had three thumbs ;) It was a great, if short, read - fun and sweet, romantic and whimsical, with just enough emotional angst to keep it from being too light.
The book connects to LLM's McKettrick series and Stone Creek series (which are also connected to each other). Though this is called A Stone Creek Christmas, connecting it to the historical western Stone Creek series, it's a contemporary (i.e. modern) romance. And it more directly connects to The McKettrick Way (also a Silhouette SE release) in that the hero of that one is the brother of the heroine in this current book (and both are descendants of Sam O'Ballivan from the Stone Creek series).
A Stone Creek Christmas features veterinarian Olivia O'Ballivan who has the unique ability to converse with animals. She can hear their calls for help when they need it. Tanner Quinn's not really sure he believes that, but he can overlook the oddity for a chance to get to know the pretty doc. Anything more than a little fun is out of the question, though. Tanner runs from commitment, and has ever since his wife was killed. But with the holidays approaching, Tanner gets a chance to see that maybe he's run long enough.
This was a fun book to read. It's quirky and cute, yet romantic and sweet. And I love books that have animals in them...and there was a lot of animal stuff in this one. Some of it had me laughing out loud. Ginger the dog was hilarious. And done discount Rodney the reindeer. Would have loved to see more of him.
Even though it's a short, sweet holiday story, there was still some substance to it with Tanner having to figure out what to do about the problems in his life. And Olivia and the rest of the O'Ballivan siblings have to face and issue from their past. Those things added some depth to the story so that it wasn't too light and fluffy.
So if you want to read a book that's full of holiday cheer, cute animals, and a nice romance, I'd definitely recommend this one. I loved it, and was smiling when I finished. Plus, if you're a reader of either of the two LLM series mentioned above, you'll probably want to read this one....more
I think I'm one of the few people who like Mine Till Midnight better than this book! Not that I thought this book was bad or anything. Far from it. I I think I'm one of the few people who like Mine Till Midnight better than this book! Not that I thought this book was bad or anything. Far from it. I enjoyed it quite a bit, but for whatever reason, I just like the first book in this series better.
I'll skip over doing a more in depth summary since plenty of other people have done that...
The storyline/romance for Seduce Me At Sunrise was set up in the previous book...a sort of forbidden love between Win and Merripen. I was definitely anxious to read about how their relationship was settled. Kleypas did a great job building this pairing in Mine Till Midnight.
I enjoyed getting to read about Win - how she battled back to good health and became a stronger woman, mentally and physically. And Merripen was a great character. It was good to find out more about him. The chemistry between the two was undeniable. Anytime the two were in a room together, sparks flew.
What turned me off a little about this book was Merripen's back and forth attitude. He's all over Win, then pushing her away. He's attacking Dr. Harrow for being close to Win, then telling her he can't be with her. Plus there was Merripen's constant self-flagellation. It just got a little irritating and old to me after a while. I know it was an important part of the story, Merripen's battle for self, but I thought it was overplayed a little. But that's just my opinion.
Even so, I still enjoyed this one a lot. Merripen and Win were a great couple. And we got more of Cam/Amelia (who I really enjoy), plus a guest appearance by Annabelle and Simon Hunt (Wallflowers series). So all-in-all, a good read, but I just like the first book in the series a little better. It was a bit sweeter to me....more
For those of you who like your erotic-romances to have a solid romance in them, then this is a great book to read! I don't mind erotic romance books tFor those of you who like your erotic-romances to have a solid romance in them, then this is a great book to read! I don't mind erotic romance books that have tons of sex...they're fun to read ;) but sometimes, the romance angle lags behind. That doesn't happen in Cara North's "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off" (by the way - fantastic title!). This is one erotic romance book where you can get the erotica and the romance all in one, which makes it a fun read.
I really enjoyed all parts of this book - the characters, the setting, the romance, and of course, the sex. North does a good job of letting you get to know the characters so that they don't seem like strangers (which unfortunately happens in some books). The relationship that built between Bethany and Jack was sweet and nice to read. I always enjoy books where you can actually see the characters falling in love with each other.
The sex scenes were fantastic. I loved how they played around and how Jack let Bethany explore. I wouldn't have expected him to go along with some of the things she did, but he willingness just made him a better character.
There was really only one thing that annoyed me at times in the book, and that was the wording in some of the dialogue. A lot of the time when Jack spoke (or thought) he didn't contract phrases like "are not" or "they are" (to aren't or they're) and it made him sound very...formal. I could see Bethany speaking like that because of her background, but for Jack, a born and raised cowboy, it just didn't seem to fit. I'd have expected his language to be a little rougher and not so proper. It just made reading his words seem a little awkward, at times. At least to me. But it doesn't really affect the story all that much. I still enjoyed it a lot.
Now that I've finished this one, I can't wait to read the follow-up, "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy", which features Jack's brother Heath and the often mentioned Chance. ...more
It really is a shame that author Katherine Sutcliffe retired after only writing 2 romantic suspense books (and numerous historical romances!). I've reIt really is a shame that author Katherine Sutcliffe retired after only writing 2 romantic suspense books (and numerous historical romances!). I've read both her romantic suspense books now, and both were excellent - though I did like Bad Moon Rising better. She had a real knack for telling a suspenseful story that draws the readers in but doesn't neglect the romance angle.
Darkling I Listen (title based on a Keats poem) is about a Hollywood actor, Brandon Carlyle, who has completely fallen from grace. Once the biggest, most wanted bad boy in Tinseltown, he's now an ex-con and a recovering alcoholic trying to figure out how to put his life back together. Hiding out in his hometown of Ticky Creek at his aunt and uncle's farm he's able to get some peace and quiet because no one else knows where he is. Except for the person who has been stalking him for years, he soon realizes when a new letter arrives. And except for journalist/photographer Alyson James who suddenly falls out of a tree on top of him one day. Brandon knows he should hate her, tell her to get out of his life, but he can't seem to stay away from her. And now his stalker's acts are getting worse and everyone around him is in danger. Just when he's starting to put his life right, it's all falling apart again.
One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was the way that Sutcliffe wrote the character of Brandon. It would be easy for readers to think he's just another Hollywood jerk who tried to get away with too much and lost. But Sutcliffe turns him into a wonderful tragic hero. Reading about all he's gone through, his emotions, you really feel for the guy. More than once I wanted to give him a big hug. Instead of being a jack-ass bad boy, he's really just a nice guy who got caught up in a bad life where he was used and abused constantly. I great to really like his character.
Alyson, on the other hand, I can't say I ever really grew to like her very much. Not that I hated her or even disliked her. I just didn't like certain aspects of her character. She's really a tabloid writer, and I'm not a fan of those, so I was kind of prejudiced against her. Plus, she lies to Brandon big time for most of the story. I didn't particularly feel sorry for her when she got caught.
Romance wise...the story was okay. I thought the romance could have been a little better. I never really felt like Alyson and Brandon resolved their issues arising from Alyson's lies and her true profession. It kinda got swept under the rug and never dealt with. It left a bit of a whole in their relationship, for me. And I'm not a big fan of stories where one of the main characters (in the romantic pairing) totally lies to the other. It kills the whole trust thing. But the romance was still pretty good. Alyson and Brandon were a pretty sweet couple.
Lastly, the romantic suspense angle...it was well thought out and well written. I have to admit I had a pretty good idea who the antagonist was, though Sutcliffe threw a few surprises in. I thought she tried a little too hard with her red herring...it was too obvious so I zeroed in on the more subtle one. And I was right. But it was still an interesting story. And a sad one at times. Poor Brandon. The guy just couldn't catch a break!
Overall, a solid four-star book. I enjoyed reading it, and I disappointed that there aren't any other romantic suspense books by Sutcliffe for me to read. If there were, I'd definitely go find them. So if you're a fan of romantic suspense, I'd definitely recommend this book!...more
Swap is pure sex from the very first page to the very last page. I would consider it more an Erotica novel than an erotic-romance. TherRating: 3.5 / 5
Swap is pure sex from the very first page to the very last page. I would consider it more an Erotica novel than an erotic-romance. There is an element of romance between the members of both couples, but the book overall doesn't have a very romantic feel to it. Mostly, there's just a lot of sex and experimentation.
Mia and Jaime have been best friends for a long time, but they are the exact opposites of each other. Mia is the good girl who isn't very adventurous and has only had one lover, her current boyfriend, Aiden. While Jaime is all about adventure. She's got a reputation for being up for anything and everything, which her lover, Caleb goes along with.
Jaime is preparing to leave the small town she and Mia grew up in because it's too small and hampers her need for adventure. She's also got another reason for wanting to leave - she sexually desires her best friend but doesn't want to do anything about it an possibly ruin their friendship. Mia doesn't want her best friend to leave, but she also has other things on her mind. She's wondering about her relationship with Aiden. He's a bit of a Dom and the fact that she enjoys it so much scares her. She wonders what else is out there. When she talks to Jaime about it, Jaime suggests that Mia hook up with Caleb for a little experimentation. Mia is at first appalled, but soon opens to the idea. But would everyone else go along.
They do. And for one weekend, the four engage in a sexual free-for-all where each person involved has their own secret motivation.
If you focus too much on all those behind-the-scenes motivations, this book gets a little confusing. Everyone says one thing but is thinking another, and then they'll suddenly be thinking/doing something else. It gets kinda twisted. But honestly, all that is easy to overlooked because this book is all about the sex.
There's a bit of everything in this book...voyeurism, exhibitionism, group sex, anal, toys, F/F action, F/M strap-on action, bondage, D/S...to name a few, LOL. And it's definitely not a story for everyone. It's mostly about sexual experimentation and exploration. It's got a swinger vibe to it, so if that's not really your kind of thing, then I wouldn't suggest this book because the romance angle is very low-key.
As for me, it was an interesting book to read. Very hot and kinky. I can't say I loved it. There wasn't enough emotion and meat to the story for me to like it that much. But it wasn't bad. I think the book would have benefited being a bit deeper. I hardly felt like I knew the characters. I'm not sure any of them even had last names or ages mentioned. And if they had families, readers certainly didn't know. So it leaves you feeling rather detached from everyone. A little more depth and the story wouldn't come across so sexually superficial.
As an erotica book, I'd give it maybe a 4.5, but as a romance, a low 3. ...more
Great book; I loved it! It's a total sizzler and I would have given it five-stars if I hadn't been kind of annoyed by something near thRating: 4.5 / 5
Great book; I loved it! It's a total sizzler and I would have given it five-stars if I hadn't been kind of annoyed by something near the end. But aside from that one thing, this was a really great erotic historical romance. Highly enjoyable.
Simply Sinful is the second book in Kate Pearce's House of Pleasure series. It focuses on a secondary character from book 1 (Simply Sensual), Peter Howard. Peter's had a rough life, having been kidnapped into sexual slavery at a young age and remaining there for many years. Because of that, his sexuality works in overdrive. For a long time, he's reveled in doing anything and everything. Lately, though, he's become a bit disenchanted. And he sees the happiness of his occasional bed partners Val and Sara and part of him yearns for something like that. Then his new lover, James Beecham, comes to Peter with a strange request - help James and his wife Abigail learn to satisfy each other in bed. Peter agrees. But what started out as a challenge becomes so much more as Peter gets to know Abigail. Soon, emotions are involved...Abigail is married to James, though. Neither is sure there is a way for them to find happiness together.
This book is definitely not one for everybody. Sexually, it's got a little bit of everything from straight up explicit sex, to male/male sex, to threesomes, toys, bondage and more. So it's not for the feint at heart.
Pearce does a fantastic job writing erotica, though, and makes each scene interesting and unique so that you're never bored or feeling like you're reading the same sex scene over and over. And this is definitely a cold shower-worthy book!
One of the things I really enjoyed about this book, and this series, is that it's an erotic historical romance that actually feels like a historical. I've read some others that come across more contemporary because of the dialogue, actions, and whatnot, but Pearce's writing makes this book feel more true to the period. The sex-language, though, is more modern...but I have no complaints on that. It makes the book more readable.
Aside from all that...I really enjoyed the character of Peter. He's definitely a unique guy, and mentally strong to have gone through what he did and managed to survive rather well. Abigail was great character as well. And the romance between the two was good. I thought this book had a more romantic feel to it than book 1 did. The love was a little more palpable. And the James-aspect definitely made things interesting!
My one big complaint on this book was with regards to the relationship between Peter and Valentin (book 1). The two have a very complex relationship as friends and sometimes lovers. Early in the book, Val tells Peter that he doesn't want Peter in his (Val's) and Sara's bed any longer. It creates a nasty conflict between the two. Then near the end, Val relents and says he misses him and wants Peter to come back to him and Sara. And it's just left like that. When I finished the book, I had no idea if Peter actually would still sleep with both Val and Sara...or how that would involve Abigail. And it annoyed the heck out of me! I really, really wanted to know how that was going to work out. I thought Peter should have talked to Abigail about him and Valentin. But it was just left very vague. I hate things like that! So that's why I couldn't give this book the full five-stars.
But otherwise, I'd highly recommend this book and this series for those of you who like erotic historical romance and who don't mind the various sexual themes. ...more