Review: Hard Lovin’ by Desiree Holt

Hard Lovin’ by Desiree Holt
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

Erin Braddock, daughter of wealthy and powerful rancher Rance Braddock, has been to hell and back. So has wandering cowboy minstrel Grady Sinclair. But the moment they meet, chemistry ignites, erasing everything else. The sex is scorching, explosive, addictive. They can’t get enough of each other. The same talented fingers that coax seductive music from Grady’s guitar coax powerful orgasms from Erin’s body.

Seduced by his music as well as the sinfully sexy man himself, Erin runs away with Grady. Each night she sits in the bar listening as his come-to-me voice promises erotic delights he more than delivers on when they’re back in their room. But one day soon the past will catch up with them.


Kris' Review

Desiree Holt does it again; creating two well-developed and lovable characters in her story Hard Lovin’.
Erin Braddock is the daughter of a wealthy and powerful rancher, Rance Braddock. After being badly traumatized and abused eight months ago by a man, she’s allowed her father to run her life. Now he’s about to marry her off to the man of his dreams, T. J. Elliott. But Erin doesn’t love T.J. and wants out of the impending nuptials. A few nights before the wedding, her bachelorette party is at Smoky’s bar. Here she meets Grady Sinclair, a cowboy singer who melts her heart through his songs. The night before the wedding, when the wedding stress is too much to handle, she bolts to Smoky’s hoping to find Grady. When he sings a song to her alone, she is drawn to him in ways she didn’t think possible.

Grady Sinclair sees himself as nothing but a wandering cowboy guitarist traveling around Texas from gig to gig. It’s been five years since he’s been home because the guilt of his past has been too much to bear. He’s not attached to anything and doesn’t want to be. Then he meets Erin Braddock and everything changes. Not only do they hook up, but Erin leaves her belongings behind and takes off with Grady. The next morning when Grady leaves for Houston, Erin begs him to take her with him. He is hesitant, but after a wild night of sex, he feels connected to her in a way he can’t explain. He doesn’t know if he believes in love at first sight, but this is as close as it gets for him. He knows Erin isn’t telling him everything and wonders what or who she is running away from. However, against his better judgment he takes her with him.

When they arrive in Houston and Erin sees the broadcast news with everyone from the National Guard to the Governor looking for her she tries to keep Grady in the dark. But will her past catch up with her before she can tell him the truth herself? And what about his past and the guilt that is making him afraid to let someone love him? Can they make a relationship work that’s foundation is based on a couple nights of great sex and a whole lot of mystery?

Desiree Holt’s story ‘Hard Lovin’ is nothing short of a masterpiece. The character creation and development make the story much more than just about sex.

5 Tea Cups!

      

Review: Dishonorable Intentions by Adrienne Davenport

Dishonorable Intentions by Adrienne Davenport

Publisher: Eternal Press
Genre: Historical Romance

Heat Rating: 2

Blurb

Hidden amongst the rolling hills of Scotland’s rugged countryside sits Kinrara Keep, home to the beautiful and spirited Countess of Kinley. Determined to never marry, Jezebel has but one goal: to care for the home she loves and the aging servants who are her only family. But fate it seems has a far different plan for Jezebel.

Aiden Darlington, the wealthy and powerful Duke of Thistledowne has offered Jezebel his hand in marriage. By rejecting him she risks his wrath, but was she to accept she would be risking far more. Now Aiden’s life is threatened and Jezebel is the prime suspect. Caught amidst a maelstrom of passion and danger, either Aiden or Jezebel dares to acknowledge the love that is enfolding between them. Even as they fight to resist its force however they cannot deny that it is that very love which could ultimately be their salvation. If only they could find the courage to reach for it.


Kris' Review

Dishonorable Intentions is a wonderful story well worth the read, topping in at just over 400 pages. The characters of Jezebel McKinley and Aiden Darlington are refreshingly unique and an exquisite match for each other. Both are stubborn, opinionated and are always right. Neither is looking for love because their plans don’t include love. A chance meeting in a meadow in Scotland has Aiden Darlington, the Duke of Thistledowne, hiring a private investigator to find this beautiful woman that he meets. All he knows is that she has red hair as golden as the sun, and eyes as blue as the summer sky.

Jezebel McKinley has led a very hard life in Scotland. She is the Countess of Kinley, and Lady of Kinrara. Her father and brother Robert died three years ago leaving her the sole heir of Kinrara. As such, being a woman, she knew that the men would never do business with her. Since she has no intention of marrying, she devises a plan to dress in men’s clothing and pretend to be her brother Robert McKinley. She has successfully worked this charade for the past three years, until she meets the Duke of Thistledowne who threatens to expose her. She relishes her ability to run Kinrara on her own. She knows that if she were to marry, her husband would take over the business operation and she’d be relegated to nothing more than a trophy wife. She vows that this will never happen.

Aiden Darlington, the Duke of Thistledowne, is a prominent businessman who enjoys the company of his mistresses and hanging out with his bachelor friends at Alcott’s, the local drinking establishment in London. He has never thought much about marriage until he meets Jezebel McKinley. Unfortunately, she despises him on sight. When he propositions her with marriage she states ‘she’d rather be ruined for life than spend one day married to him’. He promises her that if she marries him, he will keep her secret safe and allow her to run Kinrara as she sees fit. The only thing in return is that she must sire an heir for him. Otherwise their marriage will be merely a business proposition. But the attraction between the two is undeniable, though neither will admit it.

In the meantime, someone is making attempts on Aiden’s life and his private investigator is sure that Jezebel is involved. As Aiden finally convinces Jezebel to marry him, he has to wonder if she really is capable of murder.

Ms. Davenport has created two characters that have clearly met their match. Jezebel is definitely not the demure, woman who will obey her husband. Instead she lives to defy his every order. Aiden on the other hand, though mesmerized by Jezebel’s beauty, finds himself wanting to wring her recalcitrant little neck at times. Watching these two characters come to life in this book is a fantastic read.

5 Tea Cups!

      

Review: Locked In by Elizabeth Raines

Locked In by Elizabeth Raines

Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand Publishing
Genre: Menage Romance

Heat Rating: 4

Blurb

Leesa Bouchard hires pilots and fellow wranglers Cain Hammel and Geoff Adams to share her lucrative mission—to bring the Dreaming Death virus from the barren planet of Charos in the war torn Rhotan System to Virus Initiative Corporation on Earth.

On their return flight, they’re arrested for smuggling an “illegal” virus, despite their insistence they were hired for the job. The sentence? Quarantine—thirty days for Leesa to spend with the two men she’s fantasized about for the entire mission. As they explore their mutual attraction and nurture their growing affection, she finds herself the target of a government investigation into who contracted her to collect the deadly virus. Evidence points to terrorists from the Rhotan System who might be targeting Earth.

Can Cain and Geoff help Leesa clear her name and protect her when a government agent wants to use her as bait to capture the terrorists?


Kris' Review

Locked In is book one in the Wicked Mission Series by Elizabeth Raines. It is very well written and has great character development. If Ms. Raines’ other books in the series are as good as Locked In, she has a real winning must-read sextreme series.

The main character Leesa Bouchard is a creature wrangler with a contract from Virus Initiative Corporation (VIC) to go to the Rhotan System and obtain the Charos dreaming death virus from the Thanotos lizard and bring it back to Earth. Since the job pays well she hires two of her friends to help her on the mission. Her teammates are Cain Hammel and Geoff Adams. Unbeknownst to Leesa, the two men are gay and have been happily married for six years now.

When the three return to Earth 60 days later, they find out that Leesa has been framed and there is no contract on record. Now considered criminals smuggling contraband onto Earth, their ship is seized and they are put into quarantine for 30 days until things can be sorted out.

Once in their new quarantine apartment, the men ask Leesa to join their sexual relationship making it a three-some. All three admit they have fantasized about a three-some. They find themselves very compatible in bed and have some mind-blowing sex.

But what will happen when the quarantine is over? Will the guys still want Leesa in their bed or is this merely a monthly fling for the old married couple? When a handsome cop tries to help Leesa prove her innocence, both Cain and Geoff try to mark her as their territory. Will their jealousy squash any hope of a continued relationship with her after the quarantine?

Locked In is a very wonderfully written scorching hot story that will keep your motor running.

4 1/2 Tea Cups!

      

Review: Last Rake Standing by Jayne Fresina

Last Rake Standing by Jayne Fresina

Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Historical Romance

Heat Rating: 2

Blurb

In Victorian London, Emma Hale leads two lives. As Le Petite Oiseau, in corset and pink feathers, she's the reigning queen of the music hall; offstage she's a prim-faced theatre seamstress. For years these two women have shared one body; now they share something else—forbidden love for a man who could destroy them both.

Marcus Craven, Duke of Penhale, wants Le Petite Oiseau as his mistress, but he's also sworn to hunt down and revenge himself on the hazel-eyed girl who once shot at him with a dueling pistol. On this winter's evening when he finds both women in his path, he suddenly faces a dilemma.

What exactly does Marcus want? The fiery, passionate actress or the quiet "mouse" hiding in her shadow?
Perhaps this notorious rake wants them both.


Kris' Review

Ms. Fresina’s characters are refreshing to watch as they develop in this story. Twelve years ago, when she was sixteen, Emma Hale posed as her brother Edward to face the infamous Duke of Penhale, Marcus Craven in a duel. She shot at him wounding him, but when he discovered she was merely a girl she ran off. He vowed to kill her on sight if she ever came back to London. Her Uncle Philip who had managed her mother’s career as a singer and entertainer took the family to Paris.

In Paris, Uncle Philip transforms Emma into the glamorous and talented ‘Le Petit Oiseau’ a woman dressed as a bird with a costume of feathers who sings in a cage as she sweeps across the stage night after night. Now known as Holly O’Neil, an English theatre offers her a large amount of money to come and perform for them. Knowing it is risky, Emma takes the job. The men who come to watch her are intrigued by the woman of mystery and fantasy and they woo her in an attempt to claim her as their mistress. But she will have none of it. By day she is the mousy little Emma Hale, a seamstress; by night she is Holly O’Neil ‘Le Petit Oiseau’.

One night she sees Marcus Craven, the Duke of Penhale in the shadows of the theatre. He pursues her and they have sex in her dressing room. Thankfully he doesn’t recognize her, but she knows she is taking a huge risk. If he finds out her true identity as the young girl who shot at him twelve years ago, she fears what he will do to her. Although the risks are great, her desire for the rake mounts as each night he comes to her dressing room. He makes no qualms about his intentions to make her his mistress. Emma knows that she must resist because the risks are too high. However, she can’t help falling for the rake. Is she willing to risk everything for a man who can not be tamed? How can she resist him, when at his mere touch, she melts like butter?

She knows that portraying herself as both Holly and Emma, can’t end any way but badly. She knows that no one like the Duke of Penhale could ever love someone as meek and mild as Emma, especially after her behavior twelve years earlier. Furthermore, he only wants Holly. What will happens when he figures out who she really is? Will he kill her or will he follow his heart?

Ms. Fresina writes a wonderful story about two people on a journey to discover what the future holds after their pasts collide. Will Emma lose Marcus? Or will his desire for her be enough to intrigue him into following his passion?

4 1/2 Tea Cups!

      

Review: Bomb Pop by Erin O’Riordan

Bomb Pop by Erin O’Riordan

Publisher: Noble Romance
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

Bomb Pop (n): 1. A classic American frozen treat, a fruit-flavored popsicle in the red, white and blue of the American flag. 2. The story of Gretchen Malone, a second-grade teacher who normally keeps her wits about her, especially when it comes to workplace romances. That is, until hunky kindergarten teacher Thom Reno brings up a long-buried memory from summers past and a repressed schoolgirl crush along with it.


Kris' Review

Ms. O’Riordan is known for her deliciously erotic stories dealing with food and “Bomb Pop” is no exception.

This story involves Gretchen Malone, a second grade teacher who has a crush on Thom Reno, the new kindergarten teacher. One day she finds him in the teachers lounge with a Popsicle stick. He explains that his students created art with them. Gretchen is reminded of her childhood memories of summertime and her favorite Popsicle – the bomb pop with its patriotic colors of red, white and blue. Gretchen immediately starts to fantasize about what she would like to do with Thom’s ‘popsicle stick’.

What Gretchen doesn’t know is that Thom has a crush on her as well. When she is invited to Thom’s birthday party, she doesn’t know what to give him as a gift. As a ballsy attempt to show her interest, she gives him a coupon book for him to redeem for some erotic fantasies. Will her gift shock him or taunt him into acting out some of her erotic delicious fantasies?

Ms. O’Riordan’s ability to use food as the basis of an erotic story makes for a sensational story.

4 1/2 Tea Cups!

      

Review: Transatlantic Loving by Rachel Brimble

Transatlantic Loving by Rachel Brimble

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Rating: 2

Blurb

Class of '85 Series

In a desperate bid to escape the bitter reality of her children accepting her ex-husband’s new – and younger – fiancée, Lisa Cavendish travels from the UK to accompany her friend to a high school reunion. The last thing she expects is to fall in love with the school soccer coach who, it appears, holds as much regard for his child as her ex did when he walked out on them.

Aaron Taylor can’t believe his eyes or ears when he is introduced to Lisa. Sexy and funny, she has no idea how her accent enhances the heartbreak he endures waiting for his daughter to ask him to return to the UK. But after spending three short weeks with Lisa, he sees the answer to his pain in the eyes of the most phenomenal British lady he has ever met.



Kris' Review

This is another story from the wonderful ‘Class of ’85 Reunion Series’ set against the backdrop of Summerville, New York. I’ve reviewed a bunch of the reunion stories, and I have to say Ms. Brimble’s is by far one of the best well-written. She creates two believable characters in this story of star-crossed lovers both wounded by their past relationships.

Lisa Cavendish has been best friends with Courtney Weaver for the past few years, ever since Courtney moved to England. When Courtney goes to Summerville, New York, for her high school reunion, she drags Lisa along. After a fifteen year marriage, and two daughters Stephanie and Amber, Lisa has been divorced for two years now. The girls are spending time with their father getting to know Monica, his new thirty (30) year old girlfriend. Lisa decides to go with Courtney to the reunion to get away from reality for awhile. The trip is meant to be a burial for her bitter resentment toward her ex-husband and his new girlfriend. Lisa has to accept the fact that the girlfriend will be in her kids’ lives and there is nothing she can do about it.

Aaron Taylor is also part of the class of 1985. He spent five years in England married to Caroline, who he thought was the woman of his dreams. Their marriage produced a daughter, who is now almost three years old. His marriage also ended in divorce when Caroline cheated on him. Unfortunately, she got custody and he only sees his daughter on holidays and during the summer. He came back to Summerville two years ago to lick his wounds, and try to heal his heart. He teaches physical education at

Instant attraction between the two causes Aaron to want to spend the rest of the three weeks getting to know Lisa a whole lot better. However, Lisa hesitates because she’s been so hurt in the past. When a misunderstanding convinces her that Aaron is just like her ex-husband she refuses to see him again. Will he be able to get her to listen to his side of the story? Will she give him a chance at happiness for a few weeks before she goes back to England? And if she does, can she keep it just casual sex? Will he break her heart?
You’ll just have to read this amazing story to find out whether these two very relatable characters will take the second chance at love they are given. Ms. Brimble’s twist on the reunion series is definitely worth the read.

4 1/2 Tea Cups!

      

Review: Indulge Your Fantasies Anthology

Indulge Your Fantasies Anthology by Nathalie Gray, Dominique Sinclair, Nicole North and Saskia Walker

Publisher: Red Sage Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Rating: 2

Blurb

Chimera by Nathalie Gray


All warfare is based on deception
—Sun Tzu’s Art of war
From the overcrowded slums of a future Earth, he rose as the perfect tool of lethal justice and deception. Cold and stoical by choice, alone by circumstances, he will neutralize any and all threat to his client then move on. Blunt, direct. Nothing personal. But when his next assignment involves a popular politician who’s as smart as she’s attractive, the greatest betrayal would be to deny his heart.


Edge by Dominique Sinclair

The search for the truth leads to the edge of danger, revenge and love… A beautiful hellion, the first woman trained by the Department of International Intelligence, Catlina Demarco left her life without so much as a goodbye. Deep in Mexico, she’s close to finding the man who can give her the truth of her past, or kill her.
Agent Noah Tyler, Cat’s former partner and lover, is the last man she expects to show up with handcuffs and intent to bring her back to headquarters. No one has ever left the agency alive, Cat’s no exception. Only she refuses to go anywhere with Noah, he betrayed her trust. Forced into the jungle by three armed banderos, Cat finds her and Noah once again working as partners, their thoughts as one, their bodies craving, their goals conflicting.
Hot, angry and infuriated, Catalina must rid herself of Noah Tyler before everything is lost, including her heart.

Beast in a Kilt by Nicole North

Scottish lady Catriona MacCain has loved Torr Blackburn, a fierce Highland warrior, since she was a young lass, but Torr only sees Catriona as his best friend’s little sister. When Catriona’s family promises her in marriage to a detestable chieftain, she desperately needs Torr to save her from a fate worse than death. But Torr is under the spell of a witch of the dark arts and is cursed to spend his nights as a kelpie water demon. He doesn’t believe himself worthy of the virginal Lady Catriona. However, she is determined to seduce Torr and claim him… body, heart and soul, if only they can banish the curse and defeat the enemies who have vowed to possess and enslave them both.


Sweet-talking the Opposition by Saskia Walker

London-based journalist, Eliza Jameson, is on assignment on a luxurious Rhine river cruiser when she finds the perfect distraction on board — old flame, Marcus Weston. But Eliza came dangerously close to falling for Marcus last time around, and in order to play him at his own game, she decides to call the shots. Meanwhile, Marcus has his own agenda. In the ensuing battle, who will end up on top?


Kris' Review

Sweet-Talking the Opposition by Saskia Walker is the first story in the anthology. It is the story of Eliza Jameson and Marcus Weston. After a fling two years ago, when Marcus had loved her and left her, Eliza Jameson is not about to let the same thing happen again. Therefore, when she finds herself stuck on the same cruise ship for a week with him, she decides if they start a fling, it will be on her terms, so she can protect her heart. Her fantasy is to be in control of the fling, by setting rules that Marcus must follow. However, are rules enough to keep Marcus at arms-length or will they be Eliza’s undoing? What happens when the cruise ends, will her fantasy with Marcus end as well? Better yet, can she let him go? Ms. Walker’s story of Marcus and Eliza’s voyage is a wonderfully erotic love story set against beautiful, breath-taking settings along the Rhine River.

Chimera by Nathalie Gray is the second story in the anthology. This is a futuristic love story set in 2377. New Heraklion station’s Lady Mayor Selene Delian is on her way to a summit of the Planetary Commonwealth taking place in Iceland on Earth. She wants New Heraklion to be independent but Earth refuses to allow it because they want New Heraklion’s osmium. Her protector is a man she knows only as Agent Corinth from the Aegis agency. He can't tell her his real name, he always wears his helmet and talks through a robotic voice but that doesn’t stop Selene from being attracted to her. An erotic night of passion in the dark allows her to feel his face, hear his voice and know his real name Perseus. What starts as a wonderful affair takes a turn for the worse when at the Planetary Commonwealth Perseus starts hearing the word Chimera. The word programmed into his mind can only stop the voices when he completes his mission – kill Selene or go insane. Ms. Gray’s love story of a tormented soul and a beautiful woman he’s assigned to kill is wonderfully written and leaves you holding your breath. The erotic love scene is worth the read alone.

Edge by Dominique Sinclair is the next story in the anthology. Cat is a spy for the Department of International Intelligence (DII) who has fallen in love with her partner Noah Tyler. That is until she discovers that her entire life has been a lie and those closest to her, including Noah have kept secrets. Her father killed her pregnant mother during a jewelry heist. Cat finds out that he recently got out of prison and is living in Mexico. She goes rogue from the agency to find him. Noah takes off after her. The more she tries to get rid of him the more he hangs on setting the pace for a wild adventure in Mexico. Ms. Sinclair has created a great combination of an alpha female with an alpha male with the characters of Cat and Noah.

The last story in the anthology is Beast in a Kilt by Nicole North. Lady Catriona MacCain has always loved her brother Brody’s friend Torr Blackburn. When an evil witch curses Brodie and Torr into shape shifters, making Brodie a selkie (fish) and Torr a kelpie (a horse) they think they are banished to live out their life that way for all eternity. Without her brother as a man, her mother arranges for her to marry a chieftain that is old enough to be her grandfather. However, when Catriona learns that the curse can be broken if ‘love given and received in equal parts, with complete trust and without reservation’ she defiantly sets off on a quest to get Torr to help her break Brodie’s curse so she won’t have to marry the horrible chieftain. She also realizes that if she can make Torr love her than she can help him break his curse and she can marry him. The problem is that Torr still thinks of Catriona as his best friend’s little virgin sister and he feels he is unworthy of her love. Can Catriona convince Torr that she truly loves him and can help him break the curse? Can Catriona and Torr work together to break Brodie’s curse as well? After all, if one of the curses isn’t broken Catriona will have to marry the ugly, fat, disgusting, swine of a man, the chieftain John MacPeter. Ms. North has written a beautiful love story full of hope and possibilities set against the backdrop of Scotland. Catriona and Torr are wonderfully characters that you can’t help but root for their success.

This anthology has something for everyone: from the present day cruise, to the present day drudges of Mexico, to the future and to the past. All four women have created memorable characters who take you on some wild and erotic adventures. I truly enjoyed reading the anthology and I have to say that all four stories are wonderfully written.

4 1/2 Tea Cups!

      

Review: Exposed Desires by Brandi Evans

Exposed Desires by Brandi Evans

Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

What says I love you like a lap dance?

Sophia Raines has the looks, the charm and the hottest strip club in Dallas. So why is she so glum? The man she loves is deploying to Afghanistan and she hasn’t had the courage to tell him she loves him. Tonight, however, everything will change. Sophia has the perfect plan to show Bret how she feels.

Bret Dowers has loved Soph for years, but between two tours of duty—three if he counts his brief marriage—things have never worked out. But when Soph rocks his world with some serious PDA, their friendship takes a dramatic turn. Can their new-found love survive the separation of deployment?



Kris' Review

Ms. Evans creates two very memorable characters in Sophia Raines and Bret Dowers. This is a very well written story of two ‘best friends’ who are afraid to tell each other their true feelings, for fear of ruining the relationship they have. Friends since college ten years ago, and roommates for the past year, Sophia has often fantasized about Bret.

Sophia Raines owns ‘Exposed Desires’ one of the hottest strip clubs in Dallas. Six years ago, when she was a dancer there, the manager tried to rape her. Now she runs the club and prides herself on ensuring her dancers feel safe and secure. She hasn’t danced since that horrific experience, but tonight she’s about to. She is finally going to ‘show’ Bret exactly how she feels. He is about to be deployed to Afghanistan for the third time in a few days and Sophia can’t wait any longer.

Bret Dowers has been in love with Sophia for years but has always been afraid of telling her for fear of rejection. What happens if he tells her and she doesn’t feel the same way? Will he lose his Brazilian beauty forever? If she only knew how many times, she had been the object of his fantasies over the years, especially during his deployments.

Therefore, when Sophia expresses her feelings for Bret on stage, he is blown away in more ways than one. Could she really have feelings for him? Sophia planned the lap dance to be a great sendoff, but when he responds to her advances, will she tell him that she loves him? The last thing she wants it to have him distracted in a war zone. Moreover, if they do declare their love for each other, will it survive the year of separation that they are about to embark on?

Ms. Evans writes a hot steamy rollercoaster ride of sexual expressions of true love feelings.

4 Tea Cups!