*ARC REVIEW* ~ Taken by the Desert Sheikh (boxed set), Mel Teshco, Cathleen Ross and Christina Phillips

#erotic #romance #kidnap #desertsheikh #arrangedmarriage

Blurb

Three Sheikh brothers, three virgin brides…
The Grand Vizier has a plan to save Qutum…
To prevent a war…three royal brothers must wed

My Review ~ 5 stars

Politics and passion unite in this series of hot romantic reads

I loved this collection of contemporary reads featuring three sexy alpha sheikhs and their reluctant brides. The brothers may have had a western education but the blood and passion of their desert ancestors runs hot in their veins and heats up the pages! Each couple have their own unique journey and differences to settle before their respective HEA is assured as they navigate the complex politics and customs of the brothers’ homeland and the challenges of arranged marriages. I had a lot of fun reading the collection and recommend it to readers who enjoy tales of alpha men and strong females!

Stolen by the Sheikh by Cathleen Ross

London interior designer, Lilly Jones has the perfect job. When she lands an account to do up a mansion in Kensington and an old fort in Qutum, she can’t believe her luck. What she doesn’t know is that she is the piece of the puzzle that will prevent a war. When the commanding and sexy Sheikh Jamal El-Amin pays her bridal price, Lilly refuses to believe it means they are married, but it is legal in Qutum. Lilly must decide to escape or stay.

My Review

Designer Lily is thrilled when she secures a commission to redesign the luxury London home and Qutum fort. However, she feels betrayed when she realises that her client is non other than Sheikh Jamal El-Amin and it has all been an elaborate ruse to trap her into a marriage she does not want. Despite her attraction to him she does not take kindly to being deceived. She resolves to escape, not wanting to remain a prisoner in a country that does not recognise women’s freedoms. Why has she been chosen as his bride? When secrets from her family’s past come to light she may have to reconsider her stance. Will she stay or go? It’s a sexy and entertaining fast paced romance which I lapped up.

Lilly and Jamal are well suited. Lilly is a modern and spirited young woman and Jamal committed to modernising his country’s social agenda. Politics dictates that he seeks Lilly out to marry, putting him in  a situation that goes against his values. However, once he sees Lilly he knows she is perfect for him and he want her like no other woman before, yet he has a battle royal on his hands to convince her to stay!

The Sheikh’s Rebel by Mel Teshco

As the daughter of an indulgent sheikh, Amber Al-Fayed has had everything her heart desires, including a western education. But her perfect life is shattered when insurgents try to overthrow her country, killing Amber’s mother in a mortar attack and forcing Amber and her father into battle. Now Amber will do anything she can to reclaim control…even if that means marrying Zafar El-Amin, a wealthy and formidable neighboring sheikh. Except Zafar isn’t quite as separated from the conflict as she believes.

This is another romantic and passionate read. I loved Amber, the heroine, who is one strong and sassy lady committed to protecting her homeland, so much so that she has been living the life of  soldier to help combat the insurgents who killed her mother. Betrayed by one of her advisors she is stunned to find herself in the hands of Zafar El-Amin, sheikh of a neighbouring country. Rather than dishonour her as she fears, Zafar offers her marriage, which he says will help protect her homeland. Amber will do anything to secure peace for her country and as she finds herself wildly attracted to Zafar she believes the liaison will not prove to be much of a hardship.

However, when evidence comes to light that Zafar is more involved with the insurgents than he led her to believe, she feels betrayed. What future can they have when trust has been compromised? Zafar who is used to being in control finds he has one very angry bride on his hands and their future looks bleak. Another read where I was rooting for the couple’s HEA.

The Sheikh’s Reluctant Princess by Christina Phillips

He claimed her body, but can he capture her heart?

The last thing Tariq El-Amin wants to do is marry, but duty is everything and his country requires an heir. A political marriage is all he expects–until he hunts down his unwilling bride and duty becomes pleasure. But he soon discovers Princess Sofia has no intention of being a meek and obedient wife, and Tariq must make a tough choice if he wants to win the heart of his reluctant princess.

Sparks certainly fly between Tariq-El-Amin and Princess Sofia. They get off to far from a stellar start. Sofia is an independent young woman and has her future mapped out and it certainly does not include a husband, especially one from a country where women’s rights fall far behind those in the West and where her sole purpose is to be little more than a brood mare for her aristocratic husband. I enjoyed the growing relationship between the couple, as they navigate their differences and there are some super hot passionate scenes!

Yet although the couple are most definitely compatible in the bedroom Tariq’s behaviour  in his homeland is far from Sofia’s liking and the couple have a lot of soul searching and compromising to do if their relationship is to last. Can Tariq change his ways or will he lose his new bride? Their romance is far from plain sailing and I definitely enjoyed their journey as Sofia chafes at the controls Tariq puts on her and Tariq seeks to both accommodate her and protect her from harm, whilst ensuring that his people love and respect her as much as he does.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note that an ARC of this book was given to me for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Connect with the Authors

Mel:        Facebook    Twitter

Christina: Facebook    Twitter

Cathleen: Facebook   Twitter 

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*ARC REVIEW* ~ Death and Beauty, by Samantha MacLeod

#norse #mythology #erotic #romance

Blurb

Desperate to get back to his privileged role as Óðinn’s favorite son, Baldr strikes a bargain with Hel, the terrifying half living and half skeletal queen of the realm of the dead. He offers her the only thing he’s got: knowledge from the living world. Hel gives him three days. If he can teach her something new, she will return him to the realms of the living.

But the icy Hel seems completely impervious to Baldr’s charms. What’s worse, she already knows everything. By the end of the third day, Baldr realizes he’s only got one chance left to impress her.

Returning to his former life looks like it’s going to depend on Baldr the Beautiful seducing the most formidable woman in the Nine Realms.

My Review ~ 5 stars

Seductive and Spellbinding

Do yourself a favour and grab hold of this new release from Samantha MacLeod now! It’s a beautifully written erotic novella which presents the reader with a highly original twist on one of my favourite tropes – Beauty and the Beast, this time delving deep into Norse mythology.

Baldr the Beautiful awakes to find himself in the realm of the dead and is desperate to return to his life to help keep the peace. He sets out to petition Queen Hel with this in mind. However, the queen is not so easily persuaded and sets him the task of teaching her something new about the living word before she will grant him his wish.

Hel has a terrifying appearance, half flesh and half skeletal and this contrasts with Baldr the Beautiful’s own good looks, good looks that he has used to charm his way out of many a situation, yet which appear to of little use in his current predicament. As Hel and Baldr are thrown together we are treated to a series of enlightening scenes as we learn more about their characters. I loved the verbal sparing and the growing sexual tension between them as Baldr strives to meet Queen Hel’s task.

Hel is more knowledgeable and accomplished than Baldr could ever have imagined and bests him at every turn. Indeed, she is like no other woman he has met before and he quickly realises that it is not just her appearance that sets her apart – there is a lot more to this complex woman that he ever envisaged. When it is obvious that he has no knowledge to impart that she cannot already know about he embarks on the one thing that may just work – the seduction of Hel, which has unforeseen consequences for them both…

This original tale is one hot erotic read (there are plenty of scorching scenes) and Hel and Baldr are just perfect for each other.

Recommended for lovers of erotic romance, especially those who enjoy stories which involve inventive twists on mythology.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note that an ARC of this book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Amazon UK      Amazon US

Connect with the Author

https://sammacleod.wordpress.com/about-me/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012016893561

 

*ARC REVIEW* ~ A Dragon’s Treasure, by Beverly Ovalle

#erotic #paranormal #dragons #shifter #romance

Blurb

Kai has been hunting for his mate for a very long time. Drawn to a singular place on earth, filled with treasures, he still seeks the greatest treasure of them all. His mate. Fleeing danger, Connie runs into the arms of destiny, but she has plans already, and a Dragon mate is not on the agenda. Kai has waited centuries for Connie, and he will claim his mate. Patience may not be a Dragon’s virtue, but he always gets his treasure. Sparks fly in this humorous erotic tale of mating and mayhem.

My Review ~ 5 stars

Fun and frolics in this sizzling dragon shifter read

A Dragon’s Treasure is a humorous and smoking hot read as Dragon shifter Kai attempts to persuade his reluctant mate to reconcile herself to the fact that she is his. He has been waiting centuries for her and now she has walked into his life he is not going to be put off by this small spitfire of a woman who calls herself Connie! He has plans a plenty for her and he will not be thwarted. I loved Kai’s visceral reaction on finally finding his mate and also how his friends wolf shifters Breccan and Maxwell in particular have fun at his expense as they can see that he is faced with a reluctant mate!

As for Connie she is on the run from a dangerous situation, escaping to her childhood friend Ellen and hoping to lie low for a while. She has her life pretty much planned out and it did not include falling for a hottie like Kai, let alone an uber controlling Dragon shifter – she is wary of the intensity of the feelings he invokes, not to mention the danger she is in from her predicament. However, you know what they say about the best made plans of mice and men…

Kai and Connie get off to a bad start and sparks fly between them as Kai tries to reign in his dominant side which does not go down with the strong willed and feisty Connie! I enjoyed  the fact that despite her instant attraction to Kai she is no pushover and loved witnessing their mating dance and their verbal sparring. There are a host of sizzling scenes and Kai is one lusty dragon! Kai will succeed in making Connie his for life and he will do all in his power to protect her from the danger she is in.

Fans of erotic romance will love this read especially if they like their heroines to get down and dirty with some hot blooded shifter types (and they don’t come much hotter than dragon shifters)!

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note that an ARC of this book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Purchase Links

Amazon UK  Amazon US

Connect with the Author

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/BeverlyOvalleAuthor

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/ovalleba

Website: http://ovalleba.wix.com/beverly-ovalle

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6982787.Beverly_Ovalle

 

 

 

*REVIEW* ~ Along Came The Rain, by Alison R. Solomon

#suspense #psychological #thriller #womensfiction #lesbian

Blurb

Wynn Larimer would be the first to admit she has a bad memory and that lately it’s been getting worse. But that doesn’t explain how she has ended up in jail, accused of kidnapping two teenage foster kids. Now she’s in the fight of her life to clear her name. Her burning question: who has framed her and why?
Wynn’s partner, Barker, is hanging by an emotional thread. Not only are the missing girls her social work clients, but to make matters worse, her beloved Wynn seems to be losing her mind. How can she ensure the girls are brought to safety while dealing with a partner who is increasingly scattered?

Wynn and Barker must race to uncover the truth before Wynn is charged with a serious crime that could imprison her for years. But what will happen to their relationship when both discover things about each other that will change their lives forever?

My Review

Twists and turns a plenty ~ 4 sand a half stars

There’s twists and turns a plenty in this page turning psychological thriller from Alison R. Solomon. It is the author’s debut novel and she has done an excellent job in creating a suspenseful read which kept me on my toes and guessing until the end.

Wynn is shocked when she is accused of kidnapping two teenage foster children. There is no question of her innocence in her own mind. However, when the police produce a series of evidence which points to her guilt, she begins to feel a net closing in on her, a net of someone else’s making. Can she prove to them and to her partner Barker that she had nothing to do with the crime? With issues round her memory loss that appear to be worsening she battles against the odds to gather evidence that the police may have overlooked as the fate of the girls hangs in the balance. Meanwhile her partner Barker, a social worker to the two girls, struggles to prove Wynn’s innocence whilst maintaining her own and Wynn’s sanity.

Barker and Wynn are a loving couple: Barker a social worker, well thought of by her colleagues and clients, and Wynn the homemaker  trying to get her jewellery making business off the ground. They have a good life together but will their relationship survive? Has Wynn been framed and if so why? In the course of their efforts to uncover the truth revelations about their respective pasts come to life and they will have to live with the consequences, that is if they can prove Wynn’s innocence and keep her out of jail.

I was gripped as Wynn struggles to clear her name whilst grappling with her own issues around memory loss. The author tackles this issue in a knowledgeable and sensitive way as she does with other issues explored in the read: dementia, memory loss, mental health, abuse and aging. The trials and tribulations of the foster system are also explored in the book and again this is done in a knowledgeable and insightful fashion.

The novel is cleverly written, with different POV and timelines and I was totally gobsmacked at how the plot unravelled. Recommended for lovers of a suspenseful read.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note a copy of this nook was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Amazon UK  Amazon US

Connect with the Author

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15095074.Alison_R_Solomon

 

*ARC Review* ~ Ruined by Power (Empire of Angels #2), by Zoey Ellis

#erotic #paranormal #angel #romance #urbanfantasy

Adult/18+ read

Book Blurb

Not all habits can be broken…

Powerful, half-angel Thea faces the scrutiny of the Angel Realm and is beginning to realize that angels are nothing like how they are depicted in the human world. She is intrigued to hear information about her family and pursues the history that has been hidden to her for so long. As Thea tries to get the answers she needs, her trust in Cam is shaken when truths about him are revealed.

Power angel Cam is concerned when he realizes the Angel Realm has plans for Thea he wasn’t made aware of. He fights to keep her close and protect her from all the changes she faces. However when the pressures on their relationship bear down, he teeters on the edge of a darkness that could cause her to walk away from him forever.

Ruined by Power is the second book in the Empire of Angels series, a paranormal alpha angel romance series. If you’re a fan of alpha heroes, powerful heroines, paranormal worlds and falling in love, start with the first book, Claimed By Power.

About the end: This book is a continuation of Cam and Thea’s story and there is cliff-hanger at the end.

Sexual scenes and strong language included. Not suitable for readers under 18.

Empire of Angels series

Claimed By Power
Ruined By Power
Awakened By Power (August 7th)

My Review ~ 5 stars

Addictive, emotional and sexy

Just wow! Ruined by Power, the second book in the Empire of Angels series, is one hell of an addictive and sexy read. The tempestuous relationship between Power Angel Cam and half angel Thea continues apace in a spellbinding read with action taking pace in the Angel Realm and the human world.

In the previous book Claimed by Power (click on title for review), Cam was reluctantly sent on a mission to train the Nephilim Thea, who was previously unaware of both her heritage and her powers. Although both try to resist the pull between them Cam realises that Thea is his natural mate and he takes Thea to the Angel Realm determined to make her his. However, in this read we witness how Cam’s superiors have other plans for Thea and seem to know a lot more about her parentage than what they are willing to reveal…

A combination of internal politics and their respective duties conspire to keep the couple apart until they partner on a mission of great personal interest to Thea, one which forces her to confront painful issues from her past. It is an emotional time for Thea and my heart went out for her: she is trying to come to terms with her new life in the Angel Realm; the loss of her life in the human world; finding out about her family and the challenges of her relationship with Cam. When she discovers that Cam has not been entirely truthful about his own past her confidence in him is lost and she begins to question her trust in him. Cam is such a damaged alpha male, unused to dealing with the emotions of humans, and despite some of his actions I found it impossible not to love him.

I enjoyed how Thea’s character grew in maturity in this instalment in the face the major upheavals in her life. Can she trust Cam? Can she trust those in charge of the Angel Realm? When Cam is sent on a dangerous mission he begins to descend into darkness, a darkness that Thea is not sure she can cope with. Nevertheless I was rooting for Cam too as his determination to make Tea his is thwarted at every turn.

The plot is full of action, suspense and scorching scenes of passion between the couple (this book is most definitely an adult read). I enjoyed finding out more about the Angel Realm and its role in protecting and supporting the human world and combatting demon kind. The author does an excellent job of world building and also introducing the reader to a number of secondary characters, some of whom play a key role in the story. I was particularly interested in Zak and Asteroth and would be very interested to learn their stories too.

The read ends on a major cliff hanger, which I did not see coming, and it is fortunate that the next book is due for release in August as I am impatient to find out what happens next!

Recommended for fans of paranormal romance and urban fantasy, especially where readers enjoy damaged alpha heroes and strong heroines.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note that an ARC of this book was given to me by the author for the purpose of  fair and honest review.

Purchase Links

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Author Links

Facebook Author Page: http://bit.ly/jf02o78

Twitter: http://bit.ly/oe934ujr7

Website: http://www.zoeyellis.com