Category Archives: Erotic Romance

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Review Round-Up – March ’15

Hello readers, we hope you are all well, and reading plenty of gripping stories, of course! Wow – I have to say I was shocked myself when writing this post up, due to the amount of reads that Tina and myself have reviewed over this past month! From Christmas and Valentine’s box sets, to full length novels, and through to short story serials, we really do have more than a mixed bag here!

With many of our ratings now being 5* I am convinced the writing is getting better and better! And, we haven’t even finished with March yet – making for a brilliant year of reading!

Here are our latest reviews, covering our many genres; romance, paranormal, sci-fi, erotica, historical, drama, dark reads, crime and thrillers. We hope you enjoy them just as much as we have. And, with Easter just around the corner – why not treat yourself to a read or two?

(Please click on the titles for our full review posts.)

Love to all our readers, Caroline & Tina ❤

516RdlENJcL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-v3-big,TopRight,0,-55_SX364_SY364_PIkin4,BottomRight,1,22_AA364_AA346_SH20_OU02_Naughty List by The Naughty Literati’s, erotica, romance (reviewed by Tina)

Blurb: The Naughty Literati are a group of authors who’ve come together to showcase their epic talents in stories filled with powerful eroticism and satisfying romance. Our tales range from heartwarming and sweet to scorching hot erotic; medieval to futuristic; humans to aliens and shape-shifters; vanilla committed couples to kinky ménage fun. Keep an eye out for more of our steamy boxed sets coming soon. Thank you for joining us on this naughty journey!

The Nightwind’s Visit by Charlotte Boyett-Compo: Be careful what you wish for. The NightWind hears every whisper, every sigh, every need and he’s coming to grant your every wicked, wanton desire.

Dear Santa…I Want a Man for Christmas by Marianne Stephens: Frustrated with untrustworthy men, Melissa orders a man doll. When delivery guy, Nick, shows up, she has second thoughts about how to satisfy her needs.

Prelude to a Most Unusual Marriage by Katherine Kingston: Guilty secrets torment widowed Elizabeth Fitzhugh. A Christmas visit to the Earl of Chisenholm offers redemption, if she can find the courage to grasp it.

No Gentleman by Francesca Hawley: Librarian Abby Kelly comes west finding a roguish shapeshifter who desires her. Will Goldwolf is no gentleman, but Abby discovers he’s just what she wants.

Jewel’s Menage Christmas by Berengaria Brown: The excitement has left Jewel, Donovan, and Oscar’s relationship. Jewel plans to spice things up, but will Donovan and Oscar rise to the challenge?

Tune Me Up by Lainey-Jo Charles: Jason catches Dani having an intimate moment with a recording of him singing to her, and is ready to move them from friends to forever.

On the Eighteenth of January, ’78  or, A Night at Valley Forge by Regina Kammer: During the infamous winter of ‘77-‘78 at Valley Forge, two soldiers fanboy over their  charismatic leader, General George Washington.

The Christmas Leopard by Lynne Connolly: Two gorgeous Italian hunks save art restorer Sandi when she accidentally summons an ancient evil from a mosaic. Their methods are unconventional—and scorching hot!

Christmas Bad Girl by Trinity Blacio: She only had one wish this Christmas. To find the one man who was strong enough to master her in bed and out.

How the Alien Stole Christmas by Belle Scarlett: On board a deep space station Christmas Trent learns her sexy cyber lover, who may not be human, wants to steal her for his own.

Merry Christmas, Kitten by Nicole Austin: Sirena Petra wants one thing for Christmas—an orgasm. And sex toy expert Kenyon Fort has exactly what the lion shifter needs to find more than just her happy place.

Viking in Tartan by Suz deMello: Medieval romance from the Highland Vampires series. A Viking raider brings change to little Clan Kilbirnie, especially to the chieftain’s daughter, Rhona.

Holdin’ On by Alexa Silver: Rock star Max is terminally ill. When Aislin falls into his life, rocking his world, everything changes. Is she his Christmas miracle?

Naughty Hearts (boxed set) by the Naughty Literati, erotic/dark fantasy, paranormal, contemporary, sci-fi (reviewed by Tina)

Blurb: Twelve Naughty Valentine’s Short Reads including Contemporary, Dark Fantasy, Menage, M/M, M/M/F, M/F/M, New Adult, Paranormal, Shape-shifter, Steampunk & Time Travel from Amazon bestselling authors.

Naughty Balls by Suz deMello: Two college basketball players find themselves alone on V-Day evening. M/F)

Love Potion #69 by Alexa Silver: When Keith and Jenna accidentally fall under the spell of one of her Valentine’s Day love potions, lust is in the air!

My Valentine Lovers by Nicole Austin: All I want for Valentine’s Day is to get barbed by a feline shifter and act out a few of my naughty twin fantasies getting me hot and bothered.

Valentime by Belle Scarlett: Valerie buys a South Carolina plantation and discovers a Valentine addressed to her from a previous owner who bids her to return to him in 1865.

Delia’s Heartthrob by Regina Kammer: Gadzooks! Valentine’s Day is fast approaching – what’s a scientist to do? Edward knows naught of romance. Can steam power prevail over chocolates to win Delia’s heart?

Two Into One Goes Great by Lynne Connolly: A booker at a top model agency learns she’s anything but ordinary when two sexy photographers point their lenses—and more—at her.

Under the Hood by Lainey-Jo Charles: How do you choose between an online crush you’ve never met and a secret crush that you have? Maybe you don’t have to…

Buy Me a Rose by Francesca Hawley: Jessica and Nathaniel Whitewolf celebrate their thirtieth anniversary as True Mates but they’ve lost their bond. Now a hot couples’ retreat will get it back.

Chocolate-Coated Reunion by Berengaria Brown: Jake refuses to talk to Matt after he was very late on Christmas Eve. Matt’s determined to reconnect with Jake on Valentine’s Day.

Cupid’s Curious Case by Marianne Stephens: Alan’s last job as Cupid 84 involves neighbor Amy and a special box of candy. Both secretly desire the other. Can they find true love?

Fifty Shades of Valentine’s Day by Katherine Kingston: Dumped on Valentine’s Day! Melissa only thinks the day can’t get any worse. Until she damages her hot neighbor’s car, and he demands unexpected compensation.

The Reaper’s Valentine by Charlotte Boyett-Compo: Sometimes a Reaper has to do what a Reaper does. It would be wise for a life-mate to remember that!

Werewolves of Shade (Book Two)Werewolves of Shade (Beautiful Immortals #2 & #3) (short story series) by Tim O’Rourke, paranormal romance (reviewed by Caroline)

Blurb: When the entire population of Shade go missing, investigative reporter Mila Watson knows this could be the big break she has been waiting for. Setting off into the mountains to the village of Shade, Mila soon learns that the village isn’t as deserted as she first believed it to be and that creatures lurk in the shades…

For readers 16+

Werewolves of Shade (Beautiful Immortals #2)

Werewolves of Shade (Beautiful Immortals #3)

Deception (Dark Alpha 3)Deception/Escape/Penance (Dark Alpha #3, #4 & #5) (short story series) by Alisa Woods, paranormal romance (reviewed by Caroline)

Blurb: Shifters live in the shadows of Seattle, just under the skin of the alpha male, dot-com billionaires who are building a new Silicon Valley in the Emerald City.

Deception (Dark Alpha #3) blurb: Jak has a plan to free Arianna without the witch’s help… but the best laid plans of wolves and men rarely turn out as they hope.

Escape (Dark Alpha #4) blurb: With Arianna’s family looking for her, Jak’s plan to flee the state just got a lot more complicated. But before he can worry about that, he has to break her free of Mace’s hold.

Penance (Dark Alpha #5) blurb:  Jak’s plan is a dangerous one… but will he even get the chance to carry it out? 

Is love stronger than magic? Or will breaking an unbreakable bond destroy them both?

23356789Willow (Secret Confessions: Sydney Housewives #9) by Christina Phillips, erotic romance (reviewed by Tina)

Blurb: Meet the Housewives of Sydney. They are wealthy, elegant, poised, and constantly in the public eye. But what goes on behind closed doors, in the private homes and parties where the cameras and paparazzi aren’t welcome? Delve into the most personal details of their relationships, their friendships and their lives. The only question is: can you handle the heat?

Willow has loved Seb for as long as she can remember, but he has a past that she can’t handle, so she’s never done anything about it. But to not have him in her life is unthinkable, so she holds on to him the only way she can – through friendship. Now his writing career is taking off, and Willow finds herself increasingly jealous of his groupies and increasingly unable to keep her feelings to herself.

An unexpected visit leads to an unanticipated kiss – and Seb and Willow end up in her bed. It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to Willow, but can she trust that Seb wants more than a bit of afternoon delight – and can she trust herself to let go of the past in order to gain a future?

Love Bites: V. 1: A Collection of Short StoriesLove Bites: A Collection of Short Stories by Valeria Kogan, contemporary romance, dark read (reviewed by Caroline)

Blurb: Love Bites is the provocative debut collection of short stories by Valeria Kogan. From heartbreak to redemption, Love Bites provides a spellbinding interpretation of love and friendship, glamour and guilt, secrets and deceit.

Each story provides a captivating insight into the world of love; its profound impact and effect; and how women relate to their partners.

This cleverly constructed collection of short stories will leave you tantalized and yearning for more. Love Bites is a must-read for every modern woman, reader of romance and romantic enthusiast.

kissed-at-midnight-coverKissed at Midnight by Samantha Holt, historical romance (reviewed by Tina)

Blurb: August Avery, a renowned civil engineer, has found himself the sole custodian of his cousin’s six month old daughter and he needs assistance—fast. He understands how to build railways, to construct bridges and to save the railway tycoons thousands of pounds. He doesn’t understand, however, how to care for a child.
 
When Ivy Davis turns up at his door looking for work, he believes his prayers are answered. If only the exotic, exuberant young woman did not prove to be such a distraction from his busy workload.
 
Unsure if she is even up to the task of looking after a baby, Ivy finds herself swayed by the handsome and slightly desperate August into working for him. With her singing career failing before it even started and no other talents, she decides looking after a young child cannot be so hard, surely?
 
But the child may turn out to be the least of her worries. Her handsome, brooding master seems to keep her awake more than the baby. Add to that her desire to achieve her dreams of singing on stage and the machinations of the indomitable Mrs. Pepperwhite who sees her as competition for August’s hand, Ivy finds this simple job growing harder by the day—as does her desire for her master…

thumbnail (2)Devil in Duke’s Clothing by Nina Mason, erotic historical romance, (reviewed by Tina)

Blurb: Maggie York, a convent-raised foundling, knows the Duke of Dunwoody’s sexual tastes are a shade or two darker than normal, but marries him anyway—partly because she has no other prospects and partly because, try as she might, she can’t seem to exorcize her desire for the dashing ducal devil. Two years ago, she watched him swive and spank her lady’s maid, luring her from the garden of innocence into the orchard of fleshly delights–and she’s been hungry for more ever since.

Robert Armstrong, the duke, is a Roman Catholic whose extreme devotions as a child warped his desires as a man. He’s also a slave to the times in which he lives–and to his king. Everything he is, everything he holds dear, depends on staying in Charles II’s good graces. Unfortunately, Maggie isn’t the bride the king selected for him. Now, to make amends, the duke must choose between the lesser of two evils: whore his wife or be reduced to a penniless commoner.

Whose interests will Robert choose to serve, his own, the king’s, or the woman he loves?

Cautious Surrender (Unearthly World #4)Cautious Surrender (Unearthly World, book IV) by C.L. Scholey, sci-fi erotic romance (reviewed by Caroline)

Blurb: Adan went from a living hell on Earth, only to be thrown into a new purgatory. The Zargonnii vessel she’d thought was her savior is blown to bits in an alien war attack. A wormhole sends Adan and her warrior protector to an unknown world. Her only hope of surviving the ungodly planet is in the hands of Blu, whom she loves. Unfortunately, Blu has another agenda.

Blu’s body burns for the little human female, but his entire adult life has one purpose, to father a son and create a family. If he mates with Adan and makes it back home, he’ll need to keep her close to his side, protecting her from his dangerous life. Human females only produce female offspring in Blu’s world. If they survive this planet, Blu has to decide if he’s willing to give up one dream for another.

Three Rules Marie DrakeThree Rules by Marie Drake, dark mystery drama, romance (reviewed by Caroline)

Blurb: Hope Wellman has a childhood full of horrific memories, a bone chilling recurring nightmare, and a persistent paranoid sense of being followed that she would rather keep repressed. Is evil reaching from beyond the grave to capture the tattered remnants of her soul once and for all, is it only a machination of her disturbed mind, or is there something happening more sinister than even she can imagine?

Attending the funeral of her abuser is the first step in putting her life back together. She struggles with the fact she never told anyone what happened to her, and that the grave they are mourning over is empty. She’d find it a lot easier to move on and believe in the future if he were in the box, ready to be covered with dirt. She fears the last thread of her sanity has snapped when she sees Lucas everywhere she turns, and can’t escape a recurring nightmare. Is her tormentor alive, or is she imagining it? Is her dream triggered by past fears or is it a prediction of the future?

The_Color_of_Happiness_KINDLEThe Color of Happiness by K.P. Gazelle, young adult contemporary drama, romance (reviewed by Caroline)

Book Blurb: Faith Lane is the girl who has everything. At least, that’s what everyone thinks when they see her rocking a killer dress while laughing with her best friend, Tiffany. But Faith’s life is far from flawless. Her peers torment her relentlessly, and her parents expect her to be the epitome of perfection. Criticized and pressured at school and home, Faith retreats into silent acceptance and finds an escape in her passion of dancing. Then she meets Alex – quirky, forever with a pass, and concealing a mysterious secret of his own. And through his encouragement, Faith starts believing in her gift for dance and gains courage to stand up for herself. But will she be able to keep her footing when the events of one night consume her with the need to jump off the rocky cliffs near her coastal home? And what has pushed her to the edge of reason?

Her Gaze CoverHer Gaze (short story) by Angel A., romantic suspense (reviewed by Tina)

Blurb: At that moment, Gabe knew he had fallen for her. The first time he laid eyes on Sofy he knew that she was for him and he was hers. However, she was already taken by a dangerous man. A man that would kill before letting her go. But Gabe was willing to put his life in harm’s way to be with the woman he was in love with.

This suspenseful and sexy short story is full of excitement. It gives joy to the imagination and makes the heart beat a little faster.

24916749In Expert Hands by Lily Harlem, erotic BDSM romance (reviewed by Tina)

Blurb: Imogen White has it all—a high-flying career, a prestigious London home and friends she knows will fight her corner. She’s going up, and she’s in control, she’s also got the hots for one very important, very sexy client.

Kane Ward is a self-made billionaire whose determination to be the best of the best has left him alone. He has everything money can buy, yachts, jets, and villas in all four corners of the globe, but even he can’t buy time to suit his needs.

And his needs are very specific, his desires a particular shade of kink and his tastes anything but vanilla. So when he sets his sights on Imogen it’s a given that things are going to get dark, that pleasure will be laced with pain and determining his success will be measured by her blushes and gasps and cries of delight. But Imogen doesn’t need to worry, she’s in expert hands and her every fantasy is about to come true—and then some she’d never imagined even in her wildest dreams.

Fallen (Coyote Moon Book 1)Fallen (Coyote Moon #1) by Ann Simko, action thriller, crime, sci-fi paranormal (reviewed by Caroline)

Blurb: Dr. Dakota Thomas isn’t prepared for the gunshot victim who rolls through his emergency room doors. Michael Ricco looks like a young Marine in a world of trouble, his dog tags, however tell a different story.
How could the military have no record of him? Why was he shot in the back in the middle of the desert, and why were thirteen people murdered to keep his secret? More than that, how could he have a birth date of 1898?
In a world where genetic experimentation pushes the boundaries of what someone would do to live a little longer, the question may be, how many will die in order to keep one person alive?

YesterdayYesterday by Sheila Norton, period/historical drama (1960’s), mystery, crime, romance (reviewed by Caroline)

Blurb: During the riots between the Mods and Rockers in the early Sixties, teenager Cathy finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time, and the events which follow will haunt her for the rest of her life. Forty years later she’s forced to revisit her past, deal with her unhappy memories and try to find out exactly what did happen back in 1964. 

LoveTheWayYouLie-SkyeWarren-500x750Love the Way You Lie by Skye Warren, dark, erotic romance (reviewed by Tina)

Blurb: A dark romance about the lies that lead us down…

I’ll do anything to get safe, even if that means working at the scariest club in town.

I’ll do anything to stay hidden, even if it means taking off my clothes for strangers.

I’ll do anything to be free. Except give him up. When he looks at me, I forget why I can’t have him. He’s beautiful and scarred. His body fits mine, filling the places where I’m hollow, rough where I am soft.

He’s the one man who wants to help, but he has his own agenda. He has questions I can’t answer. What are you afraid of?

You.

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REVIEW ~ **In Expert Hands** by Lily Harlem

Erotic BDSM Billionaire Romance

Adult/18+ Read

Blurb 

24916749Imogen White has it all—a high-flying career, a prestigious London home and friends she knows will fight her corner. She’s going up, and she’s in control, she’s also got the hots for one very important, very sexy client.

Kane Ward is a self-made billionaire whose determination to be the best of the best has left him alone. He has everything money can buy, yachts, jets, and villas in all four corners of the globe, but even he can’t buy time to suit his needs.

And his needs are very specific, his desires a particular shade of kink and his tastes anything but vanilla. So when he sets his sights on Imogen it’s a given that things are going to get dark, that pleasure will be laced with pain and determining his success will be measured by her blushes and gasps and cries of delight. But Imogen doesn’t need to worry, she’s in expert hands and her every fantasy is about to come true—and then some she’d never imagined even in her wildest dreams.

My Review *****

Smoking Hot BDSM Romance

In Expert Hands is the first book that I have read by Lily Harlem and the author is certainly at the top of her game when it comes to crafting an erotic romance bursting with sexual tension and deliciously smoking hot scenes. The relationship between Imogen and Kane is a joy to read. Although there are plenty of scenes which will satisfy those (like myself) who are partial to reading kink, I loved that the novel is above all a romantic one which explores if two strong minded individuals can possibly come together when their worlds are so far apart.

Imogen is a modern and inspirational heroine, a successful and independent minded bank manager, who has caught the eye of Kane, one of her globetrotting billionaire business clients. Unbeknown to her is that Kane is also a Dom, who is intent on introducing her to his penchant for kink. Imogen knows nothing of the practicalities of dominance and submission, and I adored how Kane gently but (very) firmly takes her in hand to expose her to hitherto unfamiliar experiences which combine pleasure and pain. Oh my goodness, these scenes are hot! The activities which they and others who live the lifestyle indulge in give Imogen and the reader a real insight into the lifestyle and what the concept of dominance and submission between two loving individuals means.

As for Kane, he is definitely on my list of top fictional Doms! He ensures that he has Imogen’s consent before he introduces the BDSM scene, whilst encouraging her to push her boundaries. There is a succession of scorching scenes between the couple, balanced by a heavy dose of old school romance and seduction.

As an independent woman who relishes making her own decisions. How far will Imogen allow herself to go into the lifestyle that Kane embraces? Will her level of submission be enough for him or is he asking too much? How much control (if any) can she relinquish to this dominant man who adores her? The novel certainly has plenty of tension between the couple as it explores these themes but overall it is a deliciously sexy and sizzling read. Readers who enjoy erotic romance laced with kink will certainly want to check this novel out!

Reviewed by Tina Williams

A copy 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

Author Links

http://www.lilyharlem.com/

https://www.facebook.com/LilyHarlemAuthor

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**COVER REVEAL** ~ Rafe (Inked Brotherhood 5), by Jo Raven (includes excerpt)

 New Adult Contemporary Erotic Romance

Sexy dude

RAFE (Inked Brotherhood, #5) COVER REVEAL

New Adult contemporary (erotic) romance

by Jo Raven

Cover by Jo Raven

Model: Matt Sallis

Photographer: Gilles Crofta

RELEASE DATE: End March/Beginning April 2015

RAFE - COVER NEW_smaller

 

SYNOPSIS:

His name is Rafaele Vestri, Rafe to his friends.

He’s tall, strong, handsome. Distant. He often comes to the café where I work, but we don’t talk much. He looks at me, though. Stares at me, his gaze heated, and I can’t help but stare back. I want him, I won’t deny it. I’ve never seen anyone that beautiful, anyone that powerful, in my life.

But he’s growing more withdrawn by the day. Something’s up, and he won’t tell. I know about his past – the murder of his family when he was fifteen. I can imagine how much it must have cost him. So much violence contained in that strong body, waiting to be unleashed. What is he seeking? What is he training so hard for? Why is looking at me like he’s dying to touch me, but won’t dare?

Even as I try to stop thinking about him, get interested in other boys, I realize I can’t. I’m caught, body and soul, just like that. And I tell myself, Megan, girl… What have you gotten yourself into this time?

This is book 5 in the Inked Brotherhood series which started with Asher. It is a stand-alone work. No cliffhanger.

The expected publication date is end March/beginning April 2015, on all of your favorite e-book websites.

 

Bare Chested Muscle Man

ADD THIS BOOK ON GOODREADS!!!

 

EXCERPT:

I’m staring at Rafe’s hand. Big, strong, callused. A scar runs from his thumb to the index finger.

He’s looking at me, waiting. What does he want?

I lift my hand, place it in his. It fits on his palm, smaller, darker, thinner. He seems as entranced by the contrast as I am. His fingers slowly curl, closing around mine. His lips part, but no sound comes from his mouth, and his gaze remains fixed on our entwined hands, pale lashes hiding the gold of his eyes.

Now I’m the one caught, transfixed. His mouth looks soft, vulnerable, at odds with his strong, angular features and the broad set of his shoulders. The need to touch his face is overwhelming, and I step closer, so close I can sense his scent. Not a cologne, but the deep scent of his skin, like musk and warm metal. I can see the rise and fall of his chest underneath the black Deathmoth T-shirt he’s wearing under his open jacket, see the outline of his strong pecs.

We’re standing so close our breaths mingle, and our bodies touch in places as we shift, feathery brushes that send fire across my skin, into my belly, making me ache. He places his hands on my waist and I grip his thick, sinewy forearms. My stomach drops as if I’m standing at the edge of a precipice, on the edge of a moment that can change everything.

What’s happening? It’s as if in the hollow darkness, the barrier between us is crumbling, the wall he’s set between himself and the world is falling.

His hands tighten on my hipbones and his lashes lift, his gaze moving to my mouth. His breathing is ragged. He tugs me against him, his fingertips digging painfully into my flesh, his arms flexing with barely controlled strength.

His arousal presses into my stomach, hot and thick, caught sideways in his jeans.

My mind fills up with static. Rafe wants me. There’s the solid proof of his desire. The heated gaze I’ve felt so often on me is translated into a physical reaction, and it makes me feel so hot I might burst into flames. He’s so handsome, I can’t help myself. I want to stroke his square jaw, drag my fingertips over the golden stubble on his cheeks, kiss those damnable dimples.

I whimper, the sound coming from deep inside me, and he freezes, goes so still I’m not even sure he’s breathing.

Then he jerks back, releases me so fast I’m left reeling.

“Fuck,” he hisses. He buries his fingers in his short blond hair, pulls, his mouth now hard like the rest of him, pressed into a flat line. “This is a mistake.”

A knot is gathering in my throat, in my chest, cutting off air.

I want to be mad at him, but his hands are trembling, and his amber eyes so full of pain I forget my anger before it even forms. He’s like mist, here and suddenly gone, lost into thin air. I have to touch him, touch his bare skin, prove he’s real.

“Wait.” I lift my hand to his face, fingertips skimming over the smooth skin of his cheekbone. Warm. Satin soft.

A pang goes through my chest, an ache that feels too much like sorrow, and I’m not sure if it’s mine or his.

He jerks away, his eyes wide on his pale face. He reaches up, his hand hovering over the spot I touched. Then he turns and rushes off into the crowd.

My hand is still hovering in midair. I don’t know for how long I stand there, staring at my splayed fingers, trying to figure out what happened. Or maybe trying to find another explanation for his reaction, desperate for him to be different to any other handsome, arrogant guy. Maybe I imagined the pain in his gaze – or maybe that pain is real but doesn’t make a difference. Traumatic past or not, he’s sorry he touched me, sorry he desired me. Big surprise. Why would he desire me, of all girls? There are so many vying for his attention. Girls who have witty, sexy things to say, and who don’t go stiff like cardboard when he touches them.

The thought of him touching other girls shouldn’t hurt quite as much as it does. And this is a bad sign. Very bad sign, Megan, I tell myself and lower my hand that touched him. I feel as if my fingertips are numb, burnt by the feel of his skin.

AUTHOR BIO:

Jo Raven writes New Adult erotic contemporary romance. She loves sexy bad boys and strong-willed heroines, and divides her time between writing and reading. When not cooking up plots, she putters in her cluttered kitchen and dreams of traveling to India and Japan.

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Cover Reveal *~Tarnished ~* by Ethan Radcliff (includes excerpt)

Erotic Romance

18+/Adult Read

We are super excited to share with you the cover reveal for Ethan Radcliff’s upcoming novella *Tarnished* which is scheduled for release on 17th March. The blurb and the excerpt below already has be hooked on another smoking hot read from this author! I hope that you enjoy reading them as much as I did. Tina ❤

joe

Title: Tarnished

Author: Ethan Radcliff

Release Date: March 17, 2015

Published by: Bitten Press, LLC

Genre: Erotic Romance

gr logo 1

 

✦✦Synopsis✦✦

boxer3Joe Murphy is a boxer. He’s twenty-eight years old and what most women would call hot. He’s a player, and his lifestyle is ruining his career.

Joe always hooks up with the wrong women, head jobs and debutantes looking to further their own careers. Joe’s had it, he’s crashing and he’s doing nothing to stop his decent into his own personal hell.

Darlene Russo is a single mom and a huge boxing fan. Except she can’t afford to attend any of the bouts, she watches from afar, she’s a cleaning lady for the biggest sports arena in Brooklyn, New York.

Darlene finds the drunken boxer, and helps him get home. The next morning she wakes up in his bed, scared and confused. Their night together comes in on her, the lovemaking and their use of no protection. Her worries were just beginning and Joe Murphy would face the test of his life.

 

✦Excerpt✦

“Look at me,” Joe said as his fingers went under Darlene’s chin. “You’re very attractive.” Darlene trembled his touch was warm, gentle and his voice soothing so confident. He ran a finger over her bottom lip.

“You’re trembling, I like that. Tells me a woman’s body is reacting and I love a wet soft pussy.” Her heart leapt in her chest and her nipples hardened. She’d never had a man talk to her like that. There mere mention of her pussy made her body ache.

“I bet right about now, if I slipped a finger into you, you’d be sopping wet. Should I try and see?” Darlene swallowed, she couldn’t move because he was right, he was so right.

 

✦✦Ethan Radcliff✦✦

I’ve been writing since I was a kid. I love creating and tried my hand at art, not bad but not good enough. A guy’s gotta eat. Through high school I wrote erotic stories, kept them in a notebook, let a few of my girlfriends read them. Yeah, played football, baseball, but my brain never stopped thinking of sex. I guess we think about it all the time. Been on face book for a while never did anything interesting when I was on until I started to see all the writers and then some poets posting their erotic prose. Men who were writing erotic romance and stories, I knew it was my time to get out the old note book and throw on some poems. Some are old and some are new, the ones about BDSM are newer. In high school or college I wasn’t on that train of thought. I see a picture it sets me off. A see an attractive women it sets me off. The jiggle of a full ass or heavy breasts, gets me going. Yeah, my mind always is on a beautiful face or body.

 

✦✦Social Media Links✦✦

FaceBook ♦ Blog ♦ Twitter ♦ Tumblr ♦ Amazon Author Page ♦ Goodreads

 

→Purchase Ethan’s other books←

 

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The Taming of Molly Jenkins

Amazon US ♦ Amazon UK ♦ Kobo ♦ B&N ♦ ITunes

COLLAR

The Collaring of Molly Jenkins

Amazon US ♦ Amazon UK ♦ B&N ♦ ITunes

wait cover

The Wait, Britt’s Undoing

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The Magician, Male Escort

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Dom CoverDOM, a man apart

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Sometime Poet: The Erotic Edge Poetry

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Vampire(Desires of Blood #1)

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Warlock(Desires of Blood #2)

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Super Sale: Irrevocable, by Skye Callahan, buy for 99c!

Dark Erotic Romance

If you love dark erotic romances and for some reason this super read has slipped you by then here is your chance to purchase it for 99c! Tina 🙂

Irrevocable (#1)

99 cents for a limited time!
Irrevocable front

Sometimes when you can’t go back, the only way out is to descend into the darkness.
my Captor
When I woke in that place, I just wanted to survive. But survival came at a cost, for which they demanded my will and body.
my Master
With pain came acceptance. Fully-dependent on the man who claimed me, I learned to appreciate what I had-life and relative safety.
my Protector
I watched him spill blood and tend my injuries. With betrayal came a revelation.
The only way out was to bring them all down or die trying.

Goodreads

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Excerpt:

Copyright 2014, Skye Callahan

My head ached and I slumped against the wall, rubbing my temple. Between the pain and swelling in my body and the fog threatening to reclaim my mind, each breath and thought became more and more of a struggle.

“Do you remember what happened?” Kirk asked, keeping his voice low—almost calmingly low. A misleading façade to hide whatever beast he locked inside.

I shook my head, unwilling to give into his mock concern.

The elevator halted and my stomach slammed into the lungs, adding to my nausea. I feared I’d lose its contents for a moment, but I managed to swallow as Kirk dragged me out of the elevator and down a hall.

“What is this place?”

“Quiet,” he hissed, wrenching my arm.

“Please, just—”

He hauled me around to face him, lifting me by my upper arms. “Not listening is a good way to get yourself killed here, which is exactly what would have happened if I hadn’t come downstairs to see what trouble our resident dipshits had dragged in. You have yet to be ripped to pieces or to be removed of your ability to speak. If you want to keep it that way, I suggest that you learn to obey simple commands. Shut up.”

I clenched my jaw. I didn’t want to admit the truth in what he said, but with every breath I took, my ribs sent a sharp reminder of what could happen. Regardless of that warning, my brain didn’t stop screaming. All I wanted to do was go home, where neither of us would have to worry about my body parts being ripped off. But, I nodded, and he pulled me forward so quickly I tripped over my own feet and wouldn’t have stayed upright if not for his grasp.

Reviews:

You HAVE to read this book. It really is one of the best that I have read in a while, and definitely one of the best of 2014. It has everything I look for in a dark read. The twist that the author throws in is, just wow. I just cannot emphasis just how much I love this book!”
★★★★★ Alicia, Mean Girls Luv Books

“Not only did Irrevocable gut me, it took me on a roller coaster ride full of emotions that I usually don’t experience while reading romances…. You start to hate, you start to sympathize, and you begin to fall in love in every way. Ms. Callahan has turned my world upside down with her writing. Dark, sensual, and at times overwhelming, Irrevocable will bring you on a dark journey that you will never forget..” (read more…)
★★★★★ Shayna Renee’s Spicy Reads TOP PICK of 2014!

99cent-2“Finally a good DARK read, that has it ALL!!
The characters are well developed and believable, the story-line is intriguing, the “dark” factor was HIGH but at the same time there were “light” points…. This is really a story of survival and overcoming obstacles. It’s a story of trust and safety and honor and ultimately, love.
Overall – the characters drew me in, the situation jangled my nerves, the sexy scenes were HOT, and the story just blew me away.” (read more…)
★★★★★ Shelby, Wicked Reads

“Beautifully written! Great characters and story line. Skye made me a fan of dark reads. A must read for all who dare to step out of the light and into the darkness!” (read more…)
★★★★★ Summer’s Book Blog

 

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~SPOTLIGHT~ on **AUTUMN HARVEST: Maiden** and Interview with its author Tof Eklund

 Erotic Fantasy Romance

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Today we are thrilled to welcome author Tof Eklund to our blog. Tof has just released Autumn Harvest: Maiden, an erotic fantasy romance, published alongside eighteen short stories from the world of Autumn Harvest. You can find out more about this novel, including some excerpts, by reading the rest of this post, in which Tof also shares with us some of the many and varied experiences of being a writer. Tina 🙂

Interview with Tof Eklund

1. Hi Tof. Thank you for being with us today. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I think all writers are odd ducks, but I may be a bit odder than most. I earned a Ph.D. in English with a dissertation on comic books and videogames, I’m non-binary transgender (closer to “androgynous,” than male or female), I’m a proud parent of two, and I teach creative writing and game design at my day job.

2. Please tell us about Autumn Harvest: Maiden and the other tales contained in the novel and what inspired you to write them.

I’ve always had a very active, very visual imagination (and a rather wild libido). Most of these AHM_02stories began with vivid impressions in my mind’s eye and grew from there. The romance of Yelen and Kaye in Maiden has a unique origin: it began as a story written for my spouse when she was pregnant with our first child, and I was torn between excitement at becoming a parent and fear of complications during pregnancy.

3. The tales are set in fantasy worlds. What do you think prompted you to write these tales in the fantasy realm rather than other settings?

I have a love-hate relationship with fantasy that goes all the way back to grade school. I love the idea of new worlds and magic, but not the paternalism and ethical simplicity that often go with fantasy. I wanted to write a romance that didn’t idealize feudalism, a world where the existence of magic reflected the complexity of human nature and ethics.

4. What is your writing process like? To what extent do you plan and how much do you just let the words flow?

AHM_01Because Maiden was originally serialized online by Big World Network (http://bigworldnetwork.com/site/), I had to outline my episodes and plan ahead, but that’s only part of it for me. When I’m into a story, I obsess over it, planning scenes and trying out ideas in my head, coming up with more plot threads and themes than I will ever use. Then, when I sit down to write, all of that stuff’s there, but I’m much more focused on the immediate, and what comes out on the page often surprises me.

5. What about the personalities of your characters – are they always fixed in your head before you start writing or do they develop a will of their own?

There’s always a concept, but I don’t feel like I’ve “found” a character until they surprise me. Honestly, my characters tend to be a step ahead of me. Maybe it’s a subconscious result of my ruminating on my own plots, but I often find I reach a point where I go “oh, that’s why they did that thing thirty pages ago.”

6. Are any of the characters in your novels based on people you know or reflect elements of your own personality?

There’s a little of me in each of my characters, even the unlikeable ones, maybe especially the unlikeable ones. There are also bits and pieces of people I know in there, but I’ve never written a character that was a straight-up fictionalization of a real person.

7. What is the best thing about being an author? What do you find the most challenging?

The best thing is getting to create the stories, the worlds and people, that you always wanted to read about but couldn’t find. For me, it’s promotions, getting the word out that’s the hardest part. I find it helps to think of it as something I’m doing for my characters and worlds, rather than for myself.

8. If you could give an aspiring author one tip, what would it be?

Write the stories you want to read, the ones that are telling themselves in your head. It’s the only way to remain passionate about writing, and writing is too hard and too demanding to be worth it if it doesn’t satisfy an inner need.

9. What type of books do you like to read? Have you any favourite authors?

Octavia Butler and Ursula K. Le Guin, have influenced me greatly. Le Guin’s short story “Coming of Age in Kaehide” is great speculative fiction and very sexy at the same time. Lois McMaster Bujold as well: the way she combines romance and action, magic and scientific understanding had a huge impact on Autumn Harvest. Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona’s Staples’ comic book Saga is another inspiration: it’s a borderline surreal science-fantasy, but it’s really all about family. Oh, and there are some seriously hot moments in Saga as well.

10. Can you tell us about what you working on at the moment?

In between teaching and co-parenting, I’m working on a tie-in game called Autumn Harvest: Rites AHM_03of Spring. We’re not talking about anything too fancy, it’s basically going to be like a “choose your own adventure” book. The story in Rites of Spring is from over a thousand years before Maiden, but with implications about where the plot will go in Autumn Harvest: Mother, the second novel.

11. And finally, have you a message for readers?

I have a lot of stories I want to tell in the world of Autumn Harvest. The continuation of Yelen and Kaye’s story is the biggest one, but I have tales to tell about Isa and Bess and their lovers, plans for the literal subculture of the dwarves, and secrets to reveal about the saphhic temple in Rites of Spring. If you want to see more of any particular part of that world, let me know! There’s a big picture I’m working towards, but your input can help me decide what order the stories get told in.

Tof, many thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer these questions. It is always interesting to find out where authors find their inspiration and how they develop their stories and characters.

Autumn Harvest: Maiden certainly sounds like an entertaining and fascinating read, which I am looking forward to reviewing. I think that when it comes to writing fiction the fantasy genre is a great forum in which authors and readers can explore both major societal issues or those affecting the individual. Authors in the genre produce many entertaining and thought provoking reads. When I first started to read fantasy novels many years ago it was sometimes difficult to find stories where the romance was central to the plot and I am pleased to see that today many authors write fantasy romances and erotic fantasy romances.

Your plans for future tales set in the world of Autumn Harvest and the tie-in adventure game sound really exciting and we’d be more than happy to help you spread the word on these. Tina 🙂

Book Blurb

24911349Autumn Harvest: Maiden is a sensual and socially conscious tale of irrepressible longing in a court full of intrigue and inequality. Yelen is a long-lived witch of the Order sent to the patriarchal kingdom of Thrycae, where witchcraft is punishable by death. Kaye is the young prince of that kingdom, and becomes attached to Yelen after she saves his life (but not the use of his legs) from a deadly childhood disease. As the years pass, Kaye grows into a handsome and thoughtful adult, and Yelen finds herself drawn to him despite the mortal peril inherent in such an affair. Eighteen short stories from the world of Autumn Harvest are also included in this volume, including a jilted young man’s life-changing encounter with an emerald-eyed dwarf, the inner monologue of a lady’s maid in need of a helping hand, the frustrations of a dominant dryad, and a series of tales about a polyamorous trio.

Amazon UK     Amazon US

Excerpts

Excerpt 1:

Summer passed into autumn, and the weather cooled. I was reviewing some of Kaye’s geometrical AHM_04proofs when he broached a topic that I should have expected, but was unprepared for.
“One of the maids offered herself to me.”
I was struck silent, so after a moment, he continued.
“I refused her.”
I managed to nod and, after a moment, said, “Well, Kaye, that was very responsible of you. You shouldn’t let anyone push you into a sexual relationship before you’re ready.”
“That’s not why…” he trailed off, then started over. “I don’t know how to love a woman. You once told me that it’s more than just putting it in – that only barbarians ignore a woman’s, uh…pleasure.” He blushed.
Embarrassed at his discomfiture, I replied, “You do have a right to know about these things. And any lovers you have in the future will appreciate your, ah, consideration. I’ll see that you get uncensored copies of the Codex Anatomica, the Garden of Seventy Paths, and…let’s see, Timor’s Way of Love is probably the best general introduction.”
“Yelen…you have been my tutor in everything – will you be my tutor in this?”
I felt the blood rushing to my cheeks at this, and had to take a moment to compose myself before answering. “I…if there is anything that confuses you about the texts, let me know and I will attempt to explain it.”
Kaye’s face twisted up in a conflicted expression. “Thank you,” he replied, his voice quiet and flat. “I couldn’t ask for more.”
I felt simultaneously flushed and queasy looking at him, so I returned my gaze to the parchment in my hand and launched into a lecture on the various applications of geometry to architecture and sealing sigils. Kaye was silent and downcast, quite unlike his usual self. After a couple of minutes, I sputtered out in mid-sentence, and declared our lessons over for the day.

Excerpt 2:

“Kaye…” I started, then trailed off as my voice began to tremble.
“No!” His voice was soft, but intense. “Please, Yelen, don’t reject me. I’ve loved you for years. I can’t remember not loving you.”
“I’m older than your mother,” I started, a bit feebly.
“So? I’m not a child anymore.”
“No, but you are the heir to the throne of Thrycae.”
“The throne can go to Nestor or another noble house for all I care.”
“You should. You have a chance to improve upon your father’s reforms, make Thrycae a better place. Others would undo what progress has been made.”
“You yourself told me that I don’t have any great destiny. I will help someone else towards greatness, but I will not achieve it myself.”
“That’s not quite what the wyrding means. I’m more worried that you could destroy yourself.”
“For you, Yelen, I’d—”
“Stop! I didn’t save your life—twice—just for you to throw it away!”
“Yelen, give me your hand.”
I reached out and let him clasp my hand.
“Yelen,” he whispered, “you’ve given so much to me, so much for me. I don’t know if I can be your lover. I don’t know if that’s what you really want. I know that’s what I want. I want to be close to you, any way I can. You tell me how, and that’s what I’ll do. I’m not afraid for myself.”
“Oh, Kaye, I want to remain close to you as well, but I don’t think I can bear it. If we become lovers, one of us is going to die.”
Kaye stared at me in shocked incomprehension.
I continued, “I’ve seen it, in true dreaming and waking omen. We have a child, and then only one of us is left to raise her—or him. That part of the vision is unclear.”
Kaye lurched forward, pressing off the wall in a half-controlled fall toward me. I caught him and held him close. For some time we stood there, just supporting each other like fallen branches in the path of the firestorm.
In that sudden silence, I heard Kaye whisper in a voice husky with awe, “Our child.”

Excerpt 3 (from “Delta,” one of the included short stories):

AHT_DeltaNot far from the coast of Pa’an, in the delta of the lifegiving Lwan river, there lived an old fisherman. Every morning he would cast his net into a fork of the delta and fasten it on either side with bamboo pegs, hoping to catch a great salmon swimming upstream to spawn, or even a handful of herring. Every evening he would return, and most days the net would be empty.
When he caught small fish he would fillet them by the side of the river and eat them raw. On the rare occasion he caught a salmon or other large fish, he took it back to his hut and smoked it carefully to preserve it. When he had no fish, he would take a small handful of rice and prepare it in a large pot of boiling water. As the rice cooked, he would stand over the pot and breathe in deeply, not letting the rice-steam go to waste.
One day, when the old fisherman went to check on his net, the pegs had been pulled out and the entire net dragged upstream by some great fish that now lay tangled and beached on the near side of the river. The fisherman was confused, as he’d never caught a salmon that large, and from between the close-woven strands of the net, the fish’s scales gleamed in the dimming light, catching and throwing the sunset like flashing fire.
Picking his way through the wild yarrow, the fisherman stopped still when the fish spoke.
“Fisherman, you have caught me in your net. Free me and I will grant you a wish.” The voice was high and undulating, moving over itself like waves coming to shore.
The old man stared, dumbstruck.
“Please, good fisher, do not leave me here. I grow dry.”
A talking fish was a wonder, and wonders were dangerous things. The fisherman hesitated a moment, then gave a slight nod and knelt by the fish’s tail. The net was a mess, torn and twisted by the fish’s struggles. There would be no simply pulling it free.
Taking out his boning knife, the old fisherman began cutting his net, carefully sliding the flat of the blade between strand and scale, then turning the sharpened edge out and slicing away from the great fish. The tail, a wondrous fan-like spread of glittering color, was soon free, but that was the barest beginning. It was slow work, and grew slower as the blade dulled on the hemp, but the old man was immune to boredom, as all his work was slow.
Completely focused on the task at hand, he did not look ahead, and so was surprised when iridescent scales gave way to pale skin. Smooth, flawless skin, and so light in color as to be translucent; he could make out fine blue veins traversing that milky map, and thought of the familiar forks and windings of the river delta.

The awesome artwork featured above is the work of Rebecca Schauer (http://fruitbeat.smackjeeves.com/) .

Connect with the Author

http://www.tofeklund.net/

http://www.gameology.org/blogs/tof-eklund

Purchase Links

Amazon UK     Amazon US

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Release Blitz ~ **City Nights: One Night in Madrid** by JD Martins

Erotic Romance

We are thrilled to be taking part in the release blitz for another sizzling novella to the City Nights series:

 One Night in Madrid by JD Martins 

One Night in Madrid by JD Martins

 

Blurb:

Danny left Dublin for Madrid two years ago, but still scans the crowd in the Irish pubs for the face of someone from home. Though doubtful he’ll ever recognise anybody, one evening he sees Aisling, a girl he’d known – or wished he’d known – at university. Beautiful but haughty, she’d always ignored Danny, and though he’d fantasised about making love to her, she’d never so much as smiled at him. 

To his amazement, Aisling is extremely friendly when she meets him all these years later and away from home. She is still snobby and condescending, but Danny decides to make her night as enjoyable as he can, hoping for one last chance to impress her and make his teenage fantasies come true. As the sultry Madrid night progresses, mere lust grows into affection, and Danny begins to see her snobbery as something else entirely. Will Aisling see Danny as more than just a way to pass her night in Madrid?

Purchase Links:

http://tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Martins_JD/one-night-in-madrid.htm

Amazon US:    Amazon UK:   Amazon CA:     Amazon AU:

Smashwords:    iBooks US:   iBooks UK:    Kobo:

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~**BLOG TOUR & REVIEW**~ Devil in Duke’s Clothing, by Nina Mason (includes excerpt and giveaway)

(Erotic Historical Romance Adult/18+ read

 

We are delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for Nina Mason’s latest release, Devil in Duke’s Clothing. I was lucky enough to receive a copy of the novel from the author and you can read my review below – fans of erotic historical romance will not want  miss this novel. You can also scroll down to read a sizzling excerpt, check out a promotional video and enter the Rafflecopter giveaway where a signed copy of the novel is up for grabs. Tina ❤ 

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Devil in Duke’s Clothing, an erotic historical romance by Nina Mason, tells the story of an innocent bride’s struggles to adapt to her new husband’s eccentric erotic tastes amidst the instability and hedonism of the reign of Charles II. The book is the latest by Nina Mason, the author of The Queen of Swords and The Tin Man. Book One in the Royal Pains Trilogy, Devil in Duke’s Clothing is highly erotic and features scenes of voyeurism, bondage, flagellation, and a voyeuristic menage.

Available in e-book and paperback. Buy it now!

Here’s the blurb:

Maggie York, a convent-raised foundling, knows the Duke of Dunwoody’s sexual tastes are a shade or two darker than normal, but marries him anyway—partly because she has no other prospects and partly because, try as she might, she can’t seem to exorcize her desire for the dashing ducal devil. Two years ago, she watched him swive and spank her lady’s maid, luring her from the garden of innocence into the orchard of fleshly delights–and she’s been hungry for more ever since.

Robert Armstrong, the duke, is a Roman Catholic whose extreme devotions as a child warped his desires as a man. He’s also a slave to the times in which he lives–and to his king. Everything he is, everything he holds dear, depends on staying in Charles II’s good graces. Unfortunately, Maggie isn’t the bride the king selected for him. Now, to make amends, the duke must choose between the lesser of two evils: whore his wife or be reduced to a penniless commoner.

Whose interests will Robert choose to serve, his own, the king’s, or the woman he loves?

Here’s the trailer (18+ only, please):

My Review

Deliciously Decadent Restoration Romp ***** 

Erotic Historical Romance – contains explicit language, scenes of voyeurism, menage, flagellation

I LOVED this deliciously decadent Restoration romp where the hero the Duke of Dunwoody is to die for and the heroine is strong and spirited. It is full of desire and debauchery and gives the reader an insight into the political machinations and excesses of the court of Charles II.

The read is one of the most erotic romances that I have read this year, the teachings of the church, so prevalent at the time, (especially in the mind of the convent raised heroine Maggie), make the scenes appear more daring and debauched than they ever could in a contemporary novel. Nina Mason’s clever use of language, manners and internal dialogue of the characters and her colourful descriptions evoked the time period perfectly.

There are plenty of explicit language and scenes as the Duke instructs his young virginal wife in the delights of the marriage bed and his own very particular tastes. The read is most definitely HOT! It is certainly the case of move over Mr Grey and make way for your replacement. Indeed, the Duke of Dunwoody has his own dark desires and proclivities which put Mr Grey well in the shade! The love the couple develop for each other is palpable and the scenes between them sizzle.

The journey that the heroine Maggie embarks on in this novel is a wild one. The ward of the Duke she has been attracted to him for a long time and knows something of his dark desires, desires which she fears, yet is excited by at the same time. Fortunately despite her convent upbringing, she is a spunky and adventuresome lass and is able to give as good as she gets. I love the deal she strikes with her husband whereby she will permit him to train her in the erotic arts if he also educates her in knowledge usually reserved for men. Whilst Maggie comes to enjoy her husband’s debauchery,  it remains to be seen whether she can stomach what the King has in store for her and if the love she is developing for her husband can endure. The Duke’s decision to make her his bride has certainly put her in a pretty pickle and I devoured he read to find out her fate and that of the Duke.

The author has certainly researched the time period well, referencing not just the political and religious nuances of the time but the literature and the sexual excesses of King Charles and his contemporaries. Indeed, her descriptions of the debauchery and decadence of the Stuart court, presided over by its licentious king, which play a pivotal role in the plot, are truly sublime.

This is one of my favourite reads so far this year and I wholeheartedly recommend it to lovers of erotic historical romance.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

A copy of this novel was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Here’s an excerpt:

Maggie


The duke pushed the sleeves off her shoulders and halfway down her arms before about-facing her. Stooping, he pressed his mouth to her décolletage.

His lips were deliciously warm and moist against the bulging tops of her flattened bosoms. His hair tickled her flesh in a pleasing sort of way and smelled faintly of lavender.

He moved upward, kissing her collarbone, her throat, the side of her neck, and her earlobe. After blowing in her ear, he whispered in a voice like velvet, “Why did you marry me, knowing what you knew?”

A hot lump formed at her core. “Because.”

He ran his tongue around the folds of her ear, sending delicious shivers through her. “Because why?”

“Because you are a duke.” Mouth suddenly parched, she licked her lips.

“And you dreamed of being a duchess?”

“No.”

“Then why?”

“I would prefer not to say.”

“Why?”

“Because it will make me sound small and petty.”

His tongue’s explorations undermined her concentration. “Now I really must know.”

She heaved a sigh of surrender. “Survival, “ she said, forcing the half-truth from her throat. “Since you insist upon an answer, I married you because you asked me to…and I had nowhere else to turn for protection.”

His mouth returned to her neck and proceeded to kiss, lick, and nip her flesh, turning her insides to syrup.

“Thank you,” he said betwixt kisses.

“For what?”

“Your candor.”

Guilt crushed her chest like a boulder. Yes, she’d married him to gain security, but she’d left out the part about lusting after him deep in her heart. She moved away, removed the full-sleeved bodice, and laid it over the bench at the foot of the bed.

He came up behind her, slipped his arms around her waist, and kissed the back of her neck, setting her aflame.

She spun in his embrace and looked at him. His dark hair tumbled in soft waves over his broad shoulders. His features were shadowed, making him look dangerous. The need she’d stuffed down for so long erupted from her core, thick and molten.

Bringing his mouth to hers, he kissed and nibbled her lips as his hands untied the strings of her petticoat. It billowed to the floor, leaving her in only her fancy wedding stays and shift.
“Now, ’tis my turn.”

Stepping back a wee ways, she pulled the diamond stick-pin from his cravat, loosened the knot, and unfurled the long strip of linen encircling his neck. Was it the same one he’d used to tie the maid’s hands?

“Why did you dismiss Mistress Honeywell?” she asked, letting his neck cloth slip from her fingers to the floor.

His beguiling mouth hitched into a crooked grin. “Had I known you’d seen me swive her, I could have saved myself the trouble—and a few sovereigns.”

“I’m sorry for your trouble, but do not regret her loss. Truth be known, I never liked her—though I do not doubt part of my aversion stemmed from what I witnessed.”

He lifted her chin, pulling her gaze to his. “Were you jealous, Rosebud?”

“Not at the time, but afterward, I resented her relationship with you.”

“There was no relationship. ‘Twas merely a one off.”

Unsure what to say in response, she unbuttoned his collar, opened the front of his shirt, and slipped both hands inside. As her fingertips met the warm, hair-garnished flesh of his chest, she nearly swooned.

How many times she had fantasized about touching him in this way. How much better he felt in real life—a pleasing quilt of smooth skin, solid bone and muscle, wiry hairs, and petal soft nipples. She pinched one until it grew erect.

“You feel good, husband” she said. “You are well put together.”

“It gets better.” He laughed.

“I know.” She blushed at the memory. “I saw everything you own that day in Mrs. McQueen’s closet.”

“And you married me anyway?”

“Oh, no. I married you because of it.”

The smile he gave her warmed her all the way down to her toes.

She swept her hands downward, shuddering when they touched the tartan draped around his hips. The wool was finely woven, soft. She brushed the apron, pleased to find he was aroused. So was she. Mightily.

Since that day in the closet, she’d pictured his hard phallus a thousand times—in her hand, her mouth, and her cunny, and now ’twas at last within grasp. She bent to unbuckle the belt circumnavigating his hips, but, changing her mind, reached underneath the curtain of plaid instead.

He sucked in a breath as she ran her hands up the backs of his thighs. They felt exactly as she’d dreamed they would. Lean, hard, and flocked in bristly hair. Would his phallus feel the way she’d imagined, too?

Here’s the link to the rafflecopter giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here’s a wee bit about the author:

 

Nina Mason is a hopeful romantic with strong affinities for history, mythology, and the metaphysical. She strives to write the same kind of books she loves to read: those that entertain, edify, educate, and enlighten.

She has two books out at present: The Queen of Swords, a darkly erotic Scottish paranormal romance/urban fantasy, and The Tin Man, a political thriller.

Ms. Mason is currently at work on two new series’: an erotic historical trilogy titled Royal Pains and a four-part erotic paranormal/fantasy series titled The Knights of Avalon. Devil in Duke’s Clothing is book one in Royal Pains. Starry Knight, book one in the Knights of Avalon will be released on August 4, 2015 by Lyrical/Kensington>

When not writing, she works as a communications consultant, doll maker, and home-stager. Born and raised in Orange County, California, Ms. Mason currently lives with her husband, teenage daughter, two rescue cats, and a Westie named Robert just north of Atlanta, Georgia.

Here are the author’s stalker links:

Nina Mason’s website

Amazon Author’s Page

Facebook

Goodreads

Twitter

Pinterest

YouTube

Nina Mason’s Blog

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**PRE-RELEASE BLITZ** ~ Hell’s Kitchen (book #1), by Hart Saint Germain (includes excerpt)

PREMA Romance

Presents

Pre-Release Blitz: Hell’s Kitchen (book #1)

By Hart Saint Germain

Hell's Kitchen Pre_Release Banner

Release Date: March 3, 2015

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 Pre-Order Links

Exclusive iBooks Pre-Order – http://bit.ly/1DqsA1t
Goodreads – http://bit.ly/1MkUqQV

**The Hell’s Kitchen series will be available on Amazon on release day. No pre-order option.

 Blurb

Hell’s Kitchen (Hell’s Kitchen #1)

*From International Bestselling authors Callie Hart and Lili St. Germain comes a tale of two families co-existing in a melting pot of violence, murder and drugs in the seedy underbelly of New York City*

Hell’s Kitchen

Theo and Sal Barbieri are brothers, tasked by their Mafioso father Roberto with a very clear purpose: kidnap Kaitlin McLaughlin. The beautiful daughter of Roberto’s Irish enemy. It’s high time Kaitlin was punished for her father’s sins—not to mention, her own.

And Operation: Kidnap Kaitlin is a roaring success… until it isn’t. When Kaitlin escapes into the busy streets of New York City, it’s a race against the clock to find her before Sal and Theo become the hunted.

Zeth Mayfair has traded his life as a hitman for a quieter existence, but it isn’t long before the past catches up with him in the form of Roberto Barbieri. Will he succumb to the lure of power that Roberto is offering? Or will he retaliate by killing every last Barbieri in New York to get them off his back?

Jason Ross is running. Woken in the night by a tip that the Gypsy Brothers are coming for him, he packs a bag and gets his girlfriend the hell out of dodge. Arriving in New York City in the midst of a heatwave is one thing, but being tailed by an entire drug cartel is another.

Worlds collide in Hell’s Kitchen as secrets come to light and sins are punished. Because we might be different in the light of day, but in the darkness, we’re all connected somehow.

Hell’s Kitchen is a serial comprising three volumes: Hell’s Kitchen, Tribeca and Bleecker Street. Volume One releases on March 3rd with a limited-time sale price of 99 cents

Teasers- Meet some of the players…

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Excerpt

“What time they due to land?” Sal asks. He loops a tie, pre-knotted and ready to go, over his head.
“Twenty minutes.” With traffic the way it is, we’ll be there in ten.

Sal tightens the tie around his neck, placing the ridiculous fucking chauffeur’s hat on his head. He tucks his hair back behind his ears. He needs to cut it, but will the bastard listen? Hell, no. He never listens to a word I say. “Are you ready?” he asks.

I take my eyes off the road, arching an eyebrow at him. Who the hell does he think he’s talking to? I’ve been doing this job longer than him, after all. I’ve never blinked. Never not been ready. He gets the point pretty damn quickly.

“All right, man, I’m sorry.”

When we arrive at the airfield, we’re directed to hangar twelve, no questions asked. Paddy McLaughlin’s own men would have arrived around now—if we hadn’t already beaten the shit out of them and handcuffed them to a pillar inside an old cardboard factory down on the wharf—so we’re expected. Kaitlin McLaughlin’s plane is delayed. I’m already bored and itching to go by the time the private jet touches down. Sal climbs out of the car and leans against the front passenger door, waiting for the prissy Irish princess and her entourage to exit the plane. When she does, we’re in luck.

Normally, Paddy doesn’t send his little girl anywhere without two personal bodyguards. Today, she’s only accompanied by one. Sal taps the hood of the car as he goes out to take her bags. I have the engine purring in anticipation as he opens the back passenger side door for her and she climbs inside.

Huge sunglasses cover her eyes. That full mouth of hers is perfectly visible in the rearview, though. “Where the fuck is Ray?” she asks. Her father may be first generation Irish, but Kaitlin was born and raised in the States—she sounds like a spoiled little Yank bitch.

“Mr. McLaughlin needed him for something else. He sent us instead.”
She slides the sunglasses down the bridge of her nose, peering at me over the car’s half-raised privacy screen. “And who are you?”
I give her a tight-lipped smile, doing my best to keep my tongue in my head. We need the bodyguard to get in the car, and then we’re golden. Until then, I’m Jerry, the friendly town car driver. “Jerry. My buddy there, that’s Gareth. We’re new.”

“I can see that.” She makes a low, humming sound at the back of her throat. She sounds like she approves. Sorry, sweetheart. I don’t touch crazy pussy. But I will introduce you to my old man, all the same. He just can’t wait to fucking meet you.

The door behind me opens and I feel the car dip as someone gets in—I didn’t notice before, but the lone bodyguard with Kaitlin is a woman. Must be the chick Roberto was talking about. I get a good look at her in the rearview and find myself taking a second one for good measure. She’s blisteringly hot. Maybe in her mid-twenties? Long dark hair, tied back into a braid. High cheekbones. A mouth to rival Kaitlin’s. Her tits strain against her tight black shirt as she twists to put on her seatbelt. You can tell she works out; her clothes fit her far too well for her not to know she looks good in them, too.

Just like Kaitlin, she asks, “Where’s Ray?”

“Busy doing something for Daddy,” Kaitlin informs her, which saves me from spinning the lie again.
“Okay. Straight to the bar, then.” The body guard’s head doesn’t even lift, but she’s a professional. She assesses me in the mirror just as I’ve assessed her. I pretend not to notice as Sal folds himself into the passenger seat.

“Of course.” I press the button for the privacy screen, raising it the rest of the way, blocking out all sound from the back of the car. Sal turns and gives me one of his wicked, crazy-ass grins. He’s enjoying this already. “All right, then, big brother. Let’s do this.” He leans forward and hits a button on the dash—and every single door on the town car automatically locks. “No backing out now.”

I burn out of the hangar to the sounds of muffled thuds from the back of the car. The bodyguard’s not stupid. She’s heard the doors locking and knows something isn’t right. “Motherfucker! Open this up right now!”

Normally there’s an intercom in these cars, but this one’s different. Sal and I smashed the shit out of this car’s intercom with two lump hammers and ripped out the wiring. We also lined the roof with lead. The girls in the back aren’t striking up a conversation with us any time soon. And they aren’t making any phone calls to dear old Papa McLaughlin, either.

As I head back toward the city, the shouting from the back gets louder. It’s accompanied by the dull thudding of feet trying to smash out the privacy screen. Sal raps his knuckles against the glass, grinning again. “Bitch sounds crazy back there. I don’t think she likes the modifications we’ve made.”

I allow myself a small smile as we hit the George Washington Bridge, heading back toward North Manhattan. So far Operation: Kidnap Kaitlin has been a roaring success. Sal pulls out his cell and starts tapping into it with quick fingers. “Telling the old man we’re on our way?”

He nods. “Bastard better give us credit where credit’s due. He’s probably still organising his own fucking birthday party. Meanwhile, we have just successfully taken our mark hostage. We’re on the homeward stretch.”

The fucking homeward stretch.

The thing about saying you’re on the homeward stretch is that often it’s like waving a red flag at a bull. Fate must hear that phrase and decide to fuck over the poor schmuck who was dumb enough to utter it every single fucking time. It’s only seconds after Sal’s parted with those words that the electric window behind me—the bodyguard’s side window—shatters. We knew the bodyguard would be armed, but we didn’t expect anyone to be shooting out the damn side windows. An eruption of fragmented diamonds explodes sideways, spraying a bright yellow smart car with a million shards of glass. The sound of the firing gun is almost deafening.

“What the fuck?”

The smart car veers sideways, smashing into us; I press my foot to the floor, grinding my teeth at the sound of screeching metal and more hammering from the back as I swerve through the traffic. Sal twists in his seat, pulling his gun and pressing it to the glass of the privacy screen. His finger’s on the trigger. “She’s going fucking crazy. I’m gonna shoot the bitch.”

About the Authors

Callie Hart

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Callie has experienced many changes throughout her life, and gone through many ups and downs that have all worked towards shaping and molding her into the person she is today: fun loving, active, social, and hard working. The only thing that has remained a constant throughout her life is writing. Creating characters who will tear your conscience in two is a favorite pastime of Callie’s. There are few real saints and sinners in her books; more often, the denizens of her stories are all very human. Broken, flawed, and always with the potential for redemption.

Despite the subject matter being markedly hot and heavy in comparison to the stories she wrote in elementary school, there will always be an element of fairytale to her work.

Stalk Her: Website –Facebook – Twitter – Goodreads –Join Callie’s Newsletter

Lili Saint Germain

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Lili writes dark romance, suspense and paranormal stories. Her serial novel, Seven Sons, was released in early 2014, with the following books in the series to be released in quick succession. Lili quit corporate life to focus on writing and so far is loving every minute of it. Her other loves in life include her gorgeous husband and beautiful daughter, good coffee, Tarantino movies and spending hours on Pinterest.

She loves to read almost as much as she loves to write.

Website |Facebook |Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

Vegas Signing


Leather & Lace – Las Vegas

 

BUY TICKETS HERE:http://bit.ly/LLLasVegas

Callie Hart & Lili St. Germain are coming back to the US! Just in time for the release of their joint projectHell’s Kitchen. Join Callie and Lili, Saturday March 14th, at the super cool Inspire News Cafe from 5-7 for a special printing and signing of their newest book and a Q& A session.

Then, come upstairs to the Wayfarer Bar, from 7-9 for cocktails (cash bar) and laughs. It’ll be a fun evening with Hell’s Kitchen chatter, some themed cocktails, light bites and a chance to spend some more time talking about all things Hart St Germain.

**Books that are printed will be available for purchase for around $10. Exact price to be confirmed closer to event date. This is pretty awesome! The machine that prints books while you watch is one of only 30 in the world! You’ll be able to take away your unique, limited edition of Hell’s Kitchen, signed by both authors – There will never be others that look like the ones printed in Vegas.

**Snack foods will be provided.
**All drinks are your responsibility

The Venues

Inspire News Cafe (downstairs) and Wayfarer Bar (upstairs) are both gorgeous, hip venues with kick ass atmosphere! The Wayfarer bar is where we’ll finish the night and is a gorgeous, mad-men inspired bar that will be closed just for attendees!

BUY TICKETS HERE:http://bit.ly/LLLasVegas

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**REVIEW** Cautious Surrender (Unearthly World book IV) by C.L. Scholey

Cautious Surrender (Unearthly World #4)Author: C.L. Scholey

Title: Cautious Surrender (Unearthly World book IV)

Genre: Sci-Fi, Romance, Erotic

Date Released: January 5th, 2015

Published by: Whiskey Creek Press LLC

Length: 139 pages

Blurb: Adan went from a living hell on Earth, only to be thrown into a new purgatory. The Zargonnii vessel she’d thought was her savior is blown to bits in an alien war attack. A wormhole sends Adan and her warrior protector to an unknown world. Her only hope of surviving the ungodly planet is in the hands of Blu, whom she loves. Unfortunately, Blu has another agenda.

Blu’s body burns for the little human female, but his entire adult life has one purpose, to father a son and create a family. If he mates with Adan and makes it back home, he’ll need to keep her close to his side, protecting her from his dangerous life. Human females only produce female offspring in Blu’s world. If they survive this planet, Blu has to decide if he’s willing to give up one dream for another.

REVIEW

Cautious Surrender is another fantastic read from author, C.L. Scholey. As well as the sci-fi, romance and erotic scenes, we have a brilliant fast-paced fantasy adventure, with some moments of humour too, making for a super fun read!

Book 4 of the Unearthly World series carries on from Bethany’s Heart (Book 3), but can be read as a stand-alone as it focuses on different love interests in Adan and Blu. But it is still nice to hear the odd mention of the previous characters. After being saved from planet Earth, Adan and her friends found themselves being cared for by the Zargonii. Only, just as she is trying to learn of the new planet she is now living on they are attacked by an enemy, forcing Blu to escape with Adan on a smaller vessel, where they then end up travelling through a wormhole and landing on the planet Brax!

Without Zargonii warrior, Blu, to protect her Adan wouldn’t last a minute on Brax. The inhabitants of Brax are all alien creatures, most of which are exiled assassins and extremely deadly! The Braxians themselves are the assassins overseers, but many assassins do as they wish – and killing is their favourite pastime. Not only does she have to worry about these, but there is also the deadly green gasses of the atmosphere during the night that she needs safety from. With many dangers to overcome, and only a small hope that the Zargonii will come to their rescue, Adan is left in fear of her life, but with Blu at her side she knows he will do all he can to save her.

Adan is in love with Blu, and has been since the moment she met him. It is his strength and over-protectiveness of her that attracts her. Blu is attracted to Adan too, but his conflict lies with him wanting a son. If he mates with Adan he will be mated for life, but a human female cannot bear him a male offspring. He also knows that he can’t expect Adan to wait for him while he Holidays (mates) with a female of his own kind in the hope for a son (which may not happen), only to mate for life with her after. This would be disrespectful and selfish of him.

At the same time, his desire burns for her whenever she is near and this is another conflict he has to fight if he wants a son when he returns to his home planet. For now his honour is in keeping Adan safe, and so whilst they are on this godforsaken planet he can’t let her out of his sight!

“… He would need to keep her as close as possible. There was only one problem with his plan – she drove his body into a sexual nightmare when she was nearby.The attraction she emitted in her pheromones was almost too much for him to resist…”

However, being brought together during some intense moments of danger, and with his honour to care for her and ensure her safety, situations do become much more intimate between the two of them – both emotionally and physically. Will Blu decide to give in to his need and desire for Adan, or will he stay true to his dream of wanting a son?

Another aspect of the story that I loved was the humour. There is the sarcasm that Adan uses on Blu, and the one-liners from Blu every once in a while.

“… I have a hard on so bad I could beat an assassin in the head to death with it.”

These moments create a relief during times of high tension and fear, enlightening the mood and bringing the characters closer. It certainly made me smile at times.

One of my favourite characters was an assassin called Veikko. He is equally deadly and fearsome but there are moments when he shows compassion for Blu, and Adan in particular. This feeling is something the other assassins do not have. And yet, there are times when the reader will question his motives. Is he really helping them? Does he want Adan for himself? Is he tricking them?

“… The assassins she had met so far excluding Veikko were disgusting and brutal. Veikko was creepy enough but possessed compassion…”

I found Cautious Surrender to be a thrilling, exciting read with plenty of tension and fear, as well as romance and fun in between. There is a tremendous amount of adventure packed into the 139 pages, making it fast-paced, thus a quick read, that will leave you on a high and looking forward to the next C.L. Scholey read!

Cautious Surrender (Unearthly World book IV) was provided by Torrid Press (part of Whiskey Creek Press) in return for an honest and fair review.

Cautious Surrender is available at Torrid Press, Amazon US and Amazon UK.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker