The Celtic God Who Loved Her by Selene Noreen

Title: The Celtic God Who Loved Her

Author: Selene Noreen

Publisher: Freya’s Bower

Publication Date: March 2010

ISBN: 978-1-936222-25-4

Genre: Fantasy

Length: 44 pages

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Author Website

Author Email: selenenoreen@gmail.com

Rating: 4 Diamonds

Heat Level: Erotic

Other: anal/oral play, sex games, BDSM,

Reviewer: Gabrielle

Date: 6/30/2010

Wanting a new start after a painful year Jade picks up and moves herself and her kids to a castle that she has just learned is her ancestral home. During their Halloween party danger comes lurking and the Celtic God Dagda comes to her rescue. Will Dagda be able to keep Jade safe as he claims her as his mate?

This short story was a good read. I enjoyed watching the bond grow between Dagda and Jade. As gruff as Dagda is he shows what a soft heart he has underneath it all. Jade is a wonderful mother trying to find peace after so much pain. The love that they share is powerful and together they fight for their love and against the threat of Bres. It was nice to see such devotion and caring from people of such power.

I enjoyed meeting each of the Gods from Dagda to Danu. Each of them endears themselves to the reader. My only complaint was that this book was too short. I would love to read more of these Celtic gods and their lives. With characters full of depth and emotion this is a book that should not be missed.

Within Reason by Mima

Title: Within Reason

Author: Mima

Publisher: Liquid Silver Books

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN: 978-1-59578-702-6

Genre: Paranormal/Shapeshifters

Length: Novella

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Author Website

Author Email: runemima@yahoo.com

Rating: 5 Diamonds

Heat Level: Spicy, erotic

Other: M/M; ménage; voyeurism

Reviewer: Starla Kaye

Date: 6-30-10

If you want to read a complex, hot, romance, this is definitely a good choice. Within Reason has a fascinating shapeshifter world, conflicts and obstacles galore, two seriously hot men truly devoted to one another, and a woman who falls in love with them both.

For Isabo and Trey this is a second chance at love. In the past, she had been drawn by his sexual fire yet confused because he loved Niko, another shapshifting warrior. She’d chosen to bond with another man. But she’d never forgotten Trey. When her bonded mate dies, she finds she might have another chance with Trey.

As before, Trey will never give up Niko, his male lover. Yet he has long dreamed of having Isabo in his life. He is torn and wants them both. Niko, in turn, wants Trey above all others, although he is drawn to Isabo now as well. Their society is concerned about the two male lovers and when Isabo is added into that mix… Well, you need to read the story to find out what happens.

The Last Resort by Emly Forrest

Title: The Last Resort

Author: Emly Forrest

Publisher: Lyrical Press

Publication Date: June 2010

ISBN: 978-1-61650-158-7

Genre: chic lit

Length: 121

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Author Website

Author Email: emlyforrest@gmail.com

Rating: 3 Diamonds

Heat Level: spicy

Other: oral, toys

Reviewer: Brecken Stevens

Date: June 30, 2010

Murph’s life takes a major change when her husband of over twenty years has a midlife crisis and marries a younger woman. Left on her own to rediscover herself, she travels America in her Class C camper, looking for the next thing in her life. She finds it on a Louisiana beach. The Last Resort is a beautiful, albeit rundown campground. The locals are interesting to say the least and the opportunities for new and old romances are too plentiful for Murph to pass up.

The Last Resort is Murph’s story of discovery and remembering. She sees some amazing things and meets some very interesting characters I enjoyed immensely. But there is very little romance in the story. Sex, certainly, but no relationships were built to be the story’s main focus, so the story is chick lit or fiction, not a romance which is why I gave it three diamonds. So, if a reader is looking for romance and deep building of intimate relationships, this isn’t going to cut it. A fun, interesting account of one woman’s journey to finding happiness, however, will be found in Emily Forrest’s quick and sexy, The Last Resort.

Banished Witch by Anita Philmar

Title: Banished Witch

Author: Anita Philmar

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Publication Date: June 2010

Genre: Paranormal/Witch

Length: Novella

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Author Website

Author Email: anitaphilmar@yahoo.com

Rating: 4 Diamonds

Heat Level: Erotic

Other: Explicit language, anal sex, ménage, light bondage

Reviewer: S. K. Fero

Date: 6-29-10

This is a second chance at love story with a paranormal twist involving a witch and shape-shifters. The characters were fairly well done and their emotions tugged at the reader’s heart. The obstacles they face are difficult, but with determination conquerable.

Danella is a princess who was sold into slavery to protect her family. After becoming a witch and doing many things she believes her family could never accept, she is certain she can never go home again. But her childhood sweetheart, Omar Mandel, has been sent to find her and bring her back. She’s no longer the innocent young girl he knew, but he desires and loves the sexy woman she’s become even more. But can he convince her to trust his love for her? Can he help her face her past and return where she belongs?

Illusion of Night by C.J. Black

Title: Illusion of Night

Author: C. J. Black

Publisher: Liquid Silver Books

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN: 978-1-59578-724-8

Genre: Paranormal

Length: Novel

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Author Website

Rating: 5 Diamonds

Heat Level: Spicy erotic

Other: M/M/ spanking, bondage

Reviewer: Starla Kaye

Date: 6-28-10

Great characters that are well-developed, emotional and external conflicts difficult to deal with, villains to hate, setting descriptions that put the reader right there, and lots of spicy, erotic sex. This book has it all and I definitely recommend it to anyone who likes paranormal stories.

Dane Tanderes was once a mortal man, now cursed to exist as a fiend, who can also appear as a mortal. He fights who he has become and fights against enemies of fiends who would kill them all. He believes their best hope lies in kidnapping their enemy’s youngest son with the hope of using him as trade for peace or in some other way. Vanlyn Sarn is the second son of a cruel lord determined to kill all fiends, refusing all attempts at negotiation for peace. Being taken prisoner by Dane is both dangerous and sets him free from a life of nothing but cruelty. And the imprisonment changes not only his life but also Dane’s.

Love Most Inconvenient 3 by D.J. Manly

Title: Love Most Inconvenient 3

Author: D. J. Manly

Publisher: Liquid Silver Books

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN: 978-1-59578-733-0

Genre: Contemporary romance anthology

Length: Novella

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Author Website

Author Email: djmanly@djmanly.com

Rating: 5 Diamonds

Heat Level: Hot erotic

Other: M/M, anal play/intercourse, mild bondage, sex toys, violence

Reviewer: Starla Kaye

Date: 6-28-10

Three stories:

Man On

This was a wonderful story, hot and involving two great characters. Brody Montgomery is a physical therapist coming out of a bad relationship and reluctant to start another one. Vittorio Brilla is an injured soccer play worried his career is over, unhappy with his life, and reluctant to accept anyone’s help. Two men “wounded” in different ways. Two men who need each other.

Man Closet

Another wonderful short story about two gay men proud of who they are, with one trying to bring prominent other gay men come out of the closet and one believing their sexual preference is a private matter. On different sides of the issue at first, Noah Daniels, a magazine publisher, and Ace Taylor, a popular drummer in a rock band, find common ground and share some hot sex as well.

Man Inside

And yet another great short story, this one about two men from a rough kind of life, ending up in prison, and eventually finding a way out of there and into love. Yan Torres didn’t have an easy life. He was young, trying to finish high school, trying to help his mother, and trying to keep out of the street gangs. Then he tried to help his older brother by taking the rap for him and ended up in prison. Yet his life begins turning around when he finds a protector there, Diego Mendez. Diego is a hardened, ex-leader of a biker gang and feared by many, not wanting anyone bothering him while he does his time. He hadn’t counted on falling hard for Yan.

Moonlight and Magick by Isobael Liu

Title: Moonlight and Magick

Author: Isobael Liu

Publisher: Lyrical Press

Publication Date: May 2010

ISBN: 978-1-61650-148-8

Genre: fantasy/paranormal romance

Length: 170

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Author Website

Author Email: Isobael.Liu@gmail.com

Rating: 4 Diamonds

Heat Level: spicy

Other: oral

Reviewer: Brecken Stevens

Date: June 28, 2010

Lilian Quinn is a woman with a past, one she is desperately trying to escape. She finds solstice in a quiet little town and though it’s far from exciting, it is safe. Or at least it was for a time. With powers she can’t explain, Lilian has been made a target by the Custodes Secreti, a secret organization dedicated to using people with Lilian’s kind of powers. Matthias Romulus, alpha of his werewolf pack sees Lilian is troubled, but couldn’t have imagined all the change one female could bring.

I asked the review coordinator for a sexed up werewolf story, and wow, Moonlight and Magick blew that request out of the water. There are plenty of sexy werewolves, but there is so much more. I loved the characters, not just Lilian and Matthias (both of whom were fantastic) but also the supporting ones as well. I want to read all of their stories, so I’m hoping Ms. Liu has them in the works. Paranormal stories that cover so much territory sometimes get difficult to follow, but Moonlight and Magick had no such trouble. It was clear and I loved the back story for the werewolf clans. All the details led to a completely satisfying story, but with enough left over for future stories from Matthias’ pack to be just as interesting. Anyone looking for a sexy werewolf or Sidhe story will find it here.

All in the Family by Suzanne Rossi

Title: All in the Family

Author: Suzanne Rossi

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN: 1-60154-726-9

Genre: Suspense romance

Length: Novel

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Rating: 5 Diamonds

Heat Level: Spicy

Other: Oral

Reviewer: Starla Kaye

Date: 6-25-10

Good guys, sort-of-good guys, bad guys, attraction and resistance, spice…this book has it all.

Gabriella Vicelli is a mafia princess, working for the FBI, and on her own personal vendetta against the mafia. She’s determined, independent, and hot, at least in Lane Hamilton’s opinion. Unfortunately, he’s also her FBI controller and he can’t control her. As they work together after one of the men she helped send to prison escapes, Gabriella constantly tries Lane’s patience. And strains the limits of his resistance to her.

The cast of characters is well developed, their conflicts believable, and the settings and action keep the reader turning the pages. A very nice read.

Mirror Image by Mima and Bonnie Dee

Title: Mirror Image

Author: Mima and Bonnie Dee

Publisher: Liquid Silver Books

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN: 978-1-59578-674-6

Genre: science fiction

Length: 52 pages

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Author Website Bonnie Dee and Mima

Author Email: Bonnie Dee - bondav40@yahoo.com and

Mima - runemima@yahoo.com

Rating: 3 1/2 Diamonds

Heat Level: erotic

Other: anal/oral play, ménage

Reviewer: Gabrielle

Date: 6/24/2010

Agent Mara Brannigan is on a mission to bring in the Captains Fredrick Ravenscraft. She finds her marks but begins to have doubts. Mara is tired of being alone and these two men may be just the thing she is longing for. Can Mara keep her heart safe as well as her job?

This quick read did not pull me in too much. I enjoyed the heroes and the depth of their emotions but found it hard to connect with Mara. As hot as the love scenes were I just could not feel the love that was proclaimed between the characters. I did like the other parts of the book. I enjoyed the space parasites and the fight scene very much.

As a short read this was a nice introduction to find out whether or not the reader enjoys these writers and their writing styles. If you enjoy science fiction with a bit of romance thrown in you may want to try this book out.

Earth Awakened by Rae Morgan

Title: Earth Awakened

Author: Rae Morgan

Publisher: Liquid Silver Books

Publication Date: 2009

ISBN: 978-1-59578-364-6

Genre: Paranormal

Length: 165 Pages

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Author Website

Author Email: monettemichaels@gmail.com

Rating: 5

Heat Level: Erotic

Reviewer: Shannon

Date: 6/22/2010

Only two people can save Earth from imminent destruction…

Lily Redfern is not your average woman. An Earth Keeper, she’s one of the chosen ones─an Earth Talisman from the prophesies of Sorhineth.

Captain Carr Madoc is not your average guy. He’s a protector-consort to Lily.

From the get-go, I was on the edge of my seat. Lily and Carr drew me right in. The way the author interwove geology with suspense and astral sexuality was stunning and very different. I couldn’t wait for them to actually meet! Bet you’re wondering what I mean. But that’s part of the thrill of this story…the build-up.

Once they do connect─trust me─you won’t be disappointed…steaming hot!

The enemies in this tale were fantastic. Cruel, decisive, yet hard to predict─Darcy Miller and Algernon Brody will make your rhetorical hackles rise. I suppose I loved to hate them?

Intelligent, thought-provoking, mind-blowing, Rae Morgan is a true talent. Earth Awakened is the ultimate good versus evil story done erotica style. Well written, this is by far one of the best novels I’ve read. Highly recommended!

To Have and to Hold by Dana Littlejohn

Title: To Have and To Hold

Author: Dana Littlejohn

Publisher: Red Rose Publishing

Publication Date: 2009

ISBN: 978-1-60435-622-9

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novella

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Author Website

Author Email: authordanalittlejohn@gmail.com

Rating: 3.5 Diamonds

Heat Level: Erotic

Other: Oral

Reviewer: S. K. Fero

Date: 6-22-10

This is a second chance at love story with a twist. Sometimes a good marriage can turn boring after time. Sometimes a woman can wonder about what her life might have been like with the first love of her life, instead of with the man she married.

Andrea Cooper loves her husband of twenty-some years. But now that their children are grown and gone, and Christian has started a new business, she is feeling unsure of her place. And she misses the intimacy and passion they once had. By chance meeting, she runs into Raymond Reyes, her first love. Their friendship renews, but things start heating up between them. She must make a hard choice now.

The characters are fairly well developed and the situation realistic. My only problem was that the writing could have been smoother.

Retribution: the Unsaid Trilogy Book 2 by Sally Royer Derr

Title: Retribution: The Unsaid Trilogy Book 2

Author: Sally Royer Derr

Publisher: Red Rose Publishing

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN: 978-1-60436-630-0

Genre: suspense romance

Length: 51

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Author Website

Author Email: sallyroyer-derr@hotmail.com

Rating: 4 Diamonds

Heat Level: spicy

Reviewer: Brecken Stevens

Date: June 21, 2010

Danny and Amy lived through a nightmare in finding each other. Now, they are happily married with two kids and lives they love sharing with their family. That happiness is threatened when Alex, the cause of their original strife and terror is paroled from prison. He says he’s a changed man, but Danny and Amy don’t believe it for a minute. As questions are asked, the threat from Alex increases until he starts assaulting Danny and Amy’s children, all with the goal of taking out the two people who’d put him behind bars in the first place.

When a story already has the love interests deeply in love, there is some serious work to be done to keep it romantic, but Ms. Royer-Derr did without a problem. Amy and Danny were warm and interesting. Alex was evil and sane enough to keep me flipping my epages, just waiting to see what he was going to do to the other characters that I already enjoyed very much and I wasn’t disappointed. There is one more story left in this quick trilogy and with the clues and points already set, I’m sure it’ll be another one to add to the to-read pile.

Pure Sin by Rynne Raines

Title: Pure Sin

Author: Rynne Raines

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Publication Date: 12.19.09

Genre: Erotic Romance

Length: 150 pgs

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Author Website

Author Email: rynneraines@rynneraines.com

Rating: 5 Diamonds

Heat Level: erotic

Other: anal, oral, BDSM

Reviewer: Sasha Evins

Date: June 22, 2010

Whips. Blindfolds. Restraints. And a man rumored to be the most skilled Dom in the city... As the BDSM instructor at the hottest fetish club in Los Angeles, Bianca Alexander prides herself on being open, honest, and informative with her clientele when it comes to kink. The fact that she hasn’t knelt before a master of her own in four long years doesn’t affect her ability to teach, though a part of her longs to be back in her Dom's arms. But when her boss hires Cade Sinclair--her primary rival from a competing club--to assist teaching her classes, Bianca’s comfortable solo act becomes a sinful duet drenched in Pure Sin.

This is a work of art for those dig a little BDSM in their play. Smartly written, Rynne does an excellent follow up to her Welcome to Eden short. Bianca was a relatable character with her witty personality and a bit of a stubborn streak, perfect for her work as a Dominatrix. Cade is, of course, a finely written alpha hunk we would all like to be dominated by—I know I would.

You can see that Rynne did some research before writing this tale. The Dom/sub subculture isn’t just thrown in for the kink alone, you get a glimpse into their society.

Excellent read!

Voice in the Night by Kat Holmes

Title: Voice in the Night

Author: Kat Holmes

Publisher: Red Rose Publishing

Publication Date: 2009

ISBN: 978-1-60435-625-0

Genre: Contemporary 40+

Length: 27 pages

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Author Website

Rating: 4 Diamonds

Heat Level: Erotic

Other: Self-play

Reviewer: S. K. Fero

Date: 6-21-10

If you want a quick, fairly hot read about an older woman and a younger man, then you’ll like this story.

Phaia Mykos is a librarian. She hasn’t had an easy life, but she loves her college-age daughter enough to do anything to help her, including extra money as a phone sex operator. She also has spent a while fantasizing about her much younger neighbor. He doesn’t even speak to her, so she doubts those fantasies will ever come true. Until trouble develops for the phone sex ladies. Until Derek Hoffman, a policeman, is assigned to set a trap in her home.

For a very short story, the plot was fairly well developed.