Carnal Connections by Berengaria Brown

Title: Carnal Connections

Author: Berengaria Brown

Publisher: Breathless Press

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN: 978-1-926771-61-8

Genre: Contemporary Gay Erotica

Length: 2,970 words

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Author Email: website contact

Rating: 3.5 Diamonds

Heat Level: Erotic

Other: Gay, ménage

Reviewer: S. K. Fero

Date: 8-30-10

Can a one-night stand between three men turn into something more? There is always hope.

Ithiel, Jason and Toby meet at a wedding and all three are more than ready to leave the celebration afterward. But not alone. An attraction between each of them has sparked an interest to spend the evening together in a very pleasurable way.

This is a very short story and because it is erotica the characters are not developed too far beyond surface level. There is a good amount of heat and this is a nice, quick read.

Dragon Kin: Raen by Michelle Hasker

Title: Dragon Kin: Raen

Author: Michelle Hasker

Publisher: Changeling Press

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN: 978-1-60521-475-7

Genre: Paranormal, Shapeshifters

Length: Novella

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Author Email: michelle@michellehasker.com

Rating: 4.5 Diamonds

Heat Level: Sensual

Other: Masturbation, oral play

Reviewer: Starla Kaye

Date: 8-30-10

Cowboy Dru, Drustan, Dru…whatever name he goes by is hot, and not just because he is a dragon shapeshifter. This was such a fun, romantic story and I wish it had been longer.

Raen has been burned in marriage before and is reluctant to try a serious relationship again. But she has made a friend on the Internet, a cowboy, and he sent her a photo. Now she fantasizes about the handsome cowboy. If only…

Dru is a rancher and a shapeshifting dragon. Out with his friends one night, he meets the local “Ice Queen,” a woman known to emasculate a man for even trying to flirt with her. But he realizes he wants to do far more than flirt with Raen. “All dragons are born with the knowledge of how to find their mate.” He has found his, except convincing her they belong together for life isn’t easy.

The characters are nicely developed for this short of a story. There are all sorts of conflicts: internal concerns of not feeling worthy of being loved by such a handsome man, knowing in his soul that he has found the only mate he could ever have and needing to convince her, external differences (he’s a dragon shapeshifter and she’s a human). Overall, an enjoyable story. Hot, too.

Unclaimed by Amanda Steiger

Title: Unclaimed

Author: Amanda Steiger

Publisher: Liquid Silver Books

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN: 978-1-59578-742-2

Genre: Paranormal/Vampire

Length: 154 Pages

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Author Email: sekuiro@gmail.com

Rating: 5 Diamonds

Heat Level: Hot/Erotic

Reviewer: Shannon

Date: 8/28/2010

From the get go, Ashley has her hands full. In addition to fighting monsters on the side, she has to constantly rebuff Victor, a powerful vampire determined to mate with her.

Must admit, I loved Ashley’s character from the start. While she’s a berretta wielding vampire with a take-no-prisoners attitude, she’s also a woman with a softer side who’s encumbered by heartbreaking memories. When she meets telepath, Will Conner, sparks fly. Ashley struggles with her attraction to him. After all, to be with Will puts his life at risk from Victor. That and the fact she’s a vampire. How could he ever desire her if he knew such a thing? On top of all this, there’s another enemy, Blaine, a powerful telepath and serial killer. The man she’s been hired to kill.

Unclaimed is definitely a thrilling page-turner. I found myself sympathizing with both the hero and heroine as they tried to overcome all to be together. Super sensual, action packed and well-written, Amanda Steiger pens a vampire novel well worth reading. I highly recommend this story!

Must Be Doing Something Right by Wendi Zwaduk

Title: Must Be Doing Something Right

Author: Wendi Zwaduk

Publisher: Total-E-Bound

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN: 978-0-85715-167-4

Genre: Bondage

Length: Short story

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Author Email: wendi.zwaduk@gmail.com

Rating: 3.5 Diamonds

Heat Level: Erotic

Other: Bondage, anal sex, voyeurism

Reviewer: S. K. Fero

Date: 8-27-10

Nate Waterford loves women, has a highly sexual nature, and two secrets. He is in love with Courteney who sees him as her best friend. With his history of playing around, he doubts she would take him seriously if he admitted his attraction to her. And with his fear of letting her know about his “real” life of being a lawyer and part owner of where she works, he is sure she will see him as a liar. But he has his reasons for keeping these secrets.

Courteney Bennett is hesitant to trust men not to lie to her. And she keeps a secret about her highly sensual and sexual interests. Her fantasies are her friends, as is Nate. She is also in love with him but fears losing their closeness if she even admits being attracted to him.

This was a short, fairly hot romance about two characters struggling with believable internal conflicts. The developing heat between them was enjoyable and this was a good read.

An Act of Generosity by Sharon Maria Bidwell

Title: An Act of Generosity

Author: Sharon Maria Bidwell

Publisher: Changeling Press

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN: 978-1-60521-472-6

Genre: Contemporary Gay Romance

Length: Novella

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Author Website

Author Email: theviewoveraonia@yahoo.co.uk

Rating: 5 Diamonds

Heat Level: Sensual, erotic

Other: Gay M/M

Reviewer: Starla Kaye

Date: 8-25-10

Finding that special someone to love can be tricky, even more so in certain circumstances. This was a wonderful story of such a search for that right person to share a life with.

Robert desperately needs to hire a personal assistant and he has found one that he likes but is hesitant to hire. He is drawn to the young man, but Robert is gay. He fears a future sexual harassment problem if he can’t control his desires. Yet, determined that he can, he decides to give Lee a chance.

Lee has been working hard to improve his life from its hard beginnings. He has wanted to thank Rob for something he had done to help Lee a few years ago. An opportunity to do so comes up and he applies for a job he isn’t qualified for, with the hope that he can both finally thank Rob and possibly get the job.

This was a story of people daring to take a chance at helping someone and at trusting their heart. I loved the characterizations, the emotional depths to both Robert and Lee, and their struggles with internal and external conflicts. I was pulling for them both and hoping they could find their well-deserved happiness.

Snow Flower's Bear by Marteeka Karland

Title: Snow Flower’s Bear

Author: Marteeka Karland

Publisher: Changeling Press

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN: 978-1-60521-463-4

Genre: Dark Fantasy

Length: Short story

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Author Website

Author Email: mkarland@gmail.com

Rating: 3 Diamonds

Heat Level: Spicy

Other: Ménage, bisexual, Lesbian

Reviewer: S. K. Fero

Date: 8-23-10

Two Faeries, Snow and Rose, live together as best friends and lovers in the Magical Forest and are content with their life. Their biggest fears are the lightning witches. Until one day they find an injured bear, but they do not fear him and decide to tend to his wounded paw. Balen, the white shapeshifting bear/man, is pleased by their concern for him…even more pleased when the two beauties begin pleasuring each other in front of him. He surprises them by shifting into a prime male specimen, perfect for taking on two horny female Faeries.

The story is very short and the characters unique, but only slightly developed due to the limited length of the story. I didn’t see any real conflicts and had a hard time figuring out just how big the Faeries were in comparison to the man. The idea behind the storyline was good, but I needed a bit more explanation here and there.

Kilt Worthy by Catherine Bybee

Title: Kilt Worthy

Author: Catherine Bybee

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Publication Date: August 2009

ISBN: d3419

Genre: time travel, erotic romance

Length: 41 pages

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Author Email: catherinebybee@yahoo.com

Rating: 4.5 Diamonds

Heat Level: erotic

Other: oral play, sex games

Reviewer: Gabrielle

Date:8/22/2002

When Jane spots the handsome hunk through her camera lens she is spell bound. Even more surprising is when Logan takes notice of her and begins his seduction.

This short story packs a punch. Its characters are full of emotion and depth making it a sweet read. Jane is a smart woman who has some confidence issues and Logan is just the man to help her. He sees what a beautiful woman Jane is inside and out. Logan takes his time showing Jane just what he really thinks of her. Watching these two begin to make their bond was a great read. Showing us that a knight in shining armor or should I say a kilt can find us when we last expect it.

This is an older book from this author but it still stands the test of time. Well written and with an unexpected twist this is a book that should not be missed. If you have not checked out Catherine Bybee’s books you should definitely give them a try. I have yet to be disappointed with any of the works I have read from this author and am eagerly awaiting the next installment in this series.

No Turning Back by Mikala Ash

Title: No Turning Back

Author: Mikala Ash

Publisher: Changeling Press

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN: 978-1-60521-444-3

Genre: Futuristic, Paranormal /Vampires

Length: Novella

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Rating: 4.5 Diamonds

Heat Level: Sensual

Other: na

Reviewer: S. K. Fero

Date: 8-22-10

Can potential enemies become lovers…or more?

Katie Crusoe hasn’t had an easy life. She is determined to rid the world of vampires, especially those who don’t heed her warnings of not turning humans. She hires out as a protector of the innocent, as a vampire killer.

Anton Bezier hasn’t had an easy life either, in spite of being a billionaire industrialist. He is one of the oldest vampires and he has a conscience. Someone important to him needs to be protected from another vampire elder and he hopes Katie can help him. Still, asking your enemy for help is risking a lot. And finding love again after all these years complicates everything even more.

I enjoyed this vampire futuristic romance and the characters. Since the story was short there wasn’t a lot of time to develop the characters, but the author did a good job of giving the reader enough background to care about them. The conflicts were mainly based on the differences in who they were: vampire versus vampire killer. But there was a nice surprise ending.

Hot Blooded by Lizzie Lynn Lee

Title: Hot Blooded

Author: Lizzie Lynn Lee

Publisher: Changeling Press

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN: 978-1-60521-456-6

Genre: BDSM

Length: Novella

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Website

Rating: 3.5 Diamonds

Heat Level: Erotic

Other: BDSM, ménage, gay

Reviewer: S. K. Fero

Date: 8-22-10

Although the main characters involved have both had other relationships, this is really a first chance at love for each one.

Adam is a natural-born submissive with his eye and heart set on winning the attention of the hottest dominant in the French Quarter. His problem is that Jake has another lover and getting his wish seems unlikely. But Jake’s lover has become a problem in his life, changing who he is in a relationship. He is drawn to the submissive who is every bit as hot-blooded as he is and lacks the cruel streak his current lover possesses.

The story is fairly short and yet the characters are developed enough that the reader can care for what happens to them. Conflicts exist both internally and externally. And the sex is hot.

Follow Your Heart by Kathleen Caruthers

Title: Follow Your Heart

Author: Kathleen Caruthers

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN: 1-60154-768-4

Genre: Romantic Suspense (Crimson Rose)

Length: 228 pages

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Rating: 3 ½ Diamonds

Heat Level: Spicy

Reviewer: Alicia Croft

Date: 8/20/10

Ontario police officer, Adian Stone, is frustrated by the lack of clues in the mysterious murders of two young women who have recently given birth so he turns to his sometime partner, psychic Kate Stanhope, for help. Kate receives troubling visions of the victims’ final minutes then nearly collapses when confronted by the possible perpetrator in a line-up. As the case progresses, Kate and Aidan’s relationship develops from strictly business to something much more personal, until demons from her past return to suck her into the murderous events of the present.

I loved the Canadian setting in the southeast Ontario region of the Saint Lawrence Seaway and the Thousand Islands, and the suspense plot had enough twists and hints to keep the reader turning pages. Kate’s mother’s behavior really kept me wondering what secrets she was hiding.

Unfortunately, the formal prose style served to distance the reader from the characters and slow the pace. I wanted to know Kate and Aidan better but felt as if a veil were drawn in front of them, and the long passages of narrative summary dragged down the pace of a plot that had great potential for nail-biting psychological suspense.

A Second Chance At Forever by Liz Strange

Title: A Second Chance At Forever

Author: Liz Strange
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Publication Date: July, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-61650-168-6
Genre: Paranormal/Vampire
Length: Novel
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Author Website
Author Email: lstrange@cogeco.ca
Rating: 5 Diamonds
Heat Level: Sensual
Other: na
Reviewer: Starla Kaye
Date: 7-22-10

I had the honor of reading and reviewing the first book in this series and couldn’t imagine how the series could get any better. But it did. I have no idea what is in store for the final book in the trilogy, but I’ll be reading it for sure!

The main characters from the first book (Rachel, Eli, Charles, and Giovanni) are all back. Their lives have greatly changed as Rachel and Eli adjusted to Giovanni’s death. And new characters were added this time as Rachel, Eli, Charles and others seek revenge from those responsible for their great loss. Yet Rachel is haunted by horrible nightmares, hears her name called out in her head.

As before, the characters are well-developed with complicated backgrounds, difficult obstacles to face, intense emotional conflicts, and lots of sexual tension. This is definitely a good book to spend a night reading.

Necessary Madness by Lisabet Sarai

Title: Necessary Madness

Author: Lisabet Sarai

Publisher: Total E-Bound

Publish Date: December 2009

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Author email: lisabet@lisabetsarai.com

Rating: 4 Diamonds
Heat Level: Erotic
Other: M/M, M/F, BDSM
Reviewer: S. K. Fero
Date: 7-25-10

This is such a combination of story types that it is hard to define. It’s a gay romance, a second chance at love, a first chance at love, a May-December romance, and a paranormal suspense, too.

Kyle McLaughlin is a troubled young psychic who sees visions of disasters. Nobody believes him and his life is getting harder to deal with every day. Then he meets Sgt. Rob Murphy, a cop who has experience with someone from his past who had psychic powers. Rob knows they can be disastrous and wants nothing to do with anyone connected to them. Until he finds Kyle on the street and discovers an immediate attraction to the tortured man thirteen years younger. They struggle with their too-strong-to-resist attraction and with a sadistic practitioner of the black arts.

Overall, this was an enjoyable, hot story involving some complicated characters who face many obstacles to find their happily-ever-after.

Cries of Penance by Roxy Harte

Title: Cries of Penance

Author: Roxy Harte

Publisher: Lyrical Press

Publication Date: September 2010

ISBN: 9978-1-61650-187-7

Genre: Erotica

Length: Novel

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Author Website

Author Email: roxyharte@gmail.com

Rating: 5 Diamonds

Heat Level: Erotic

Other: BDSM during pregnancy, lactation play, M/M/F

Reviewer: Starla Kaye

Date: 8-21-10

Book 5 of The Chronicles of Surrender

Three of my favorite characters return in this book: Celia and her two lovers/masters, Thomas and Garrett. They make up a very interesting ménage living in a dark and different world as part of their lives. Three people who have chosen to participate in a BDSM lifestyle beyond their everyday lives.

As if their chosen relationship and lifestyle aren’t complicated enough, Thomas has a secret identity in a black ops organization. The side of him that he has tried to keep private and not part of their ménage takes a turn for the worse. I won’t go into the many obstacles and complications both he and the others face, but they will keep the reader turning the page and wondering how it can all possibly work out.

Not only does Thomas’s secret job threaten their relationship, but also each of the other two people must deal with some very challenging things in their individual lives. Celia worries about their relationship surviving the many changes brought on by circumstances, including her upcoming new role as a mother to Thomas’s twins and a step-mother to his four children. Garrett faces a serious situation with his parents and has to determine his role in the much more complex ménage. And Thomas tries desperately to keep everyone safe as well as saving their special relationship.

I was fortunate enough to read and review the fourth book in this series, Echo of Redemption, as well. Now I have to go back and read the first three. And I will have to wait anxiously for the next book in the series, Vow of Silence. It isn’t often I find a cast of characters and a storyline that I want to be sure and not miss any books in the series. This is an author I’m definitely adding to my list of favorites.

Summer Heat by K.B. Cutter

Title: Summer Heat
Author: K.B. Cutter
Publisher: Noble Romance Publishing
Publication Date: 2010
ISBN: 978-1-60592-130-3
Genre: Erotic Romance
Length: 27 Pages
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Author Website
Author Email: kbcutter@optonline.com
Rating: 5 Diamonds
Heat Level: spicy
Other: Menage, f/f
Reviewer: Sky
Date: 8/10/10

Madison’s marriage is over, but her relationship with Kate is really heating up. A beach vacation is just what the twosome needs to play house and explore the sizzling physical side of their relationship. And when Kate invites a sexy surfer guy over to play, anything can happen.

I enjoyed this very short summer story. The beach is a perfect backdrop to the girls’ romance, and it was particularly fun to watch Madison drop her inhibitions and cut loose after trying to live a life she was clearly not happy with. Summer is the time to play, and KB Cutter’s characters leap right into the spirit of the season. Made me want a vacation!

Prowleryns: Demitri's Devil by Kate Hill

Title: Prowleryns: Demitri’s Devil

Author: Kate Hill

Publisher: Changeling Press

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN: 978-1-60521-334-7

Genre: Paranormal/Shapeshifters

Length: Novella

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Author Website

Rating: 5 Diamonds

Heat Level: Sensual

Other: Oral

Reviewer: S. K. Fero

Date: 8-16-10

Patricia is the sometimes rebellious, always independent daughter of the tribal leader of a race of shapeshifting cats. She knows her duty about needing to marry and mate in the customary way, but she fears losing herself. She fears giving up her independence to a traditional mate. And the mate she has agreed to marry is inflexible, arrogant and chauvinistic. “The man had irritated her with his pole-up-his-ass attitude…the man stirred her anger, but also weakened her knees and made her clit tingle” She sees her upcoming life as miserable…except she also lusts after Demitri.

Demitri is the adopted son of a shapeshifting cat race in Russia. His life is very complicated what with his not being born of the tribal leader’s blood and having to soon face a challenge to become the new leader. He needs a strong mate, one who will follow the traditional ways. Patricia isn’t really the right mate for him with her tendency not to respect the traditional lifestyle. “Once they were mated, he could help her understand the merits of tradition.” She will be a trial for him, yet she excites him like no other woman ever has.

The characters were well developed and the external and internal conflicts are good as well. The backgrounds and settings pull the reader into the story. There is a delicious romance developing between two people who think oppositely about the traditional ways, but slowly realize they aren’t as opposite as they believed. And I enjoyed how they grew to respect each other and had each other’s backs when serious trouble came about.