March 6, 2016 by Tina Williams

REVIEW -Taken by the Sheriff, by Lolita London

Erotic Historical Romance

Adult/18+ Read

Blurb

Widowed Sheriff Terrence Evans has lost it all. No matter how much he throws himself into work, his loneliness is eating him up.

Governess Amanda Carter didn’t plan to fall for her boss, and certainly didn’t plan to submit to him out of wedlock. She quickly finds that his commanding tongue and firm hand, however, ignites something within her that nothing can extinguish.

Or so she thinks.

The passionate whirlwind comes to a halt, however, when they find out that she’s pregnant. Can they have it all together? Or is this a scandal that will tear apart more than just their hearts, but their small town as well?

This book contains explicit sex scenes and is intended for mature readers only.

My Review

***** (Five Stars)

Contains deliciously naughty scenes of spanking and domestic discipline

Taken by the Sheriff is another super read by Lolita London and is guaranteed to hit the spot for lovers of the genre! It combines the charm of the old West with passion and romance, with some deliciously naughty scenes of domestic discipline. I loved it!

In it, the young heroine Amanda leaves her family home in Boston and heads out West to Wyoming, to take up a position as a governess. Unhappy with the placement, she very soon quits and instead becomes governess to the young daughter of the town’s sheriff, Terrance Evans, a widower. Well, as soon as these two meet it is evident that they are attracted to each other big time, The author does a great job of creating the initial sexual tension between them and although the sheriff is a little slow to give into his desires, once he succumbs to Amanda’s charms the lovin’ is pretty non stop and little is left to the imagination!

I loved Amanda, an innocent, yet seething with burgeoning sexuality, a sexuality which is ignited once she claps eyes on her new employer. She is a spunky heroine, who deserves every happiness. As for Terrance, he is a very conflicted hero who lost the love of his life when his wife died and he has been mourning her for years. He resists Amanda for as long as he can, being wracked with guilt. However, as Terrance’s daughter blooms under Amanda’s care, their relationship deepens and the couple eventually come together in some scorching and erotic scenes involving spanking and domestic discipline.

Amanda offers him everything a man could want – a new mother for his daughter and a soulmate who embraces his passionate nature. Yet will this stubborn man realise what a gem he has found before it is too late? Will his devotion to his deceased wife always come between them? Will the town gossips ruin what chance the couple have of a lasting relationship? There are some shocking revelations and turn of events before the couple find their HEA and I was biting my nails to the quick as the read reached its conclusion.

A thoroughly enjoyable erotic historical romance!

Reviewed by Tina Williams

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

Connect with the Author

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14163708.Lolita_London

Purchase Links

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March 4, 2016 by Tina Williams

REVIEW ~ Trapped in His World (Dark Romance, book 1), by Roxy Sinclaire

Dark Romance

Adult/18+ Read

Book Blurb

There is no escape…

I was only supposed to be his replacement secretary for one week. Now he has me trapped in his world of twisted and dark desires. I try to get away and I can’t – but the question is – do I really want to?

Navia Watson is struggling to survive. She has just left school and can’t hold a steady job. Just when she feels that there is no hope, her best friend makes her an offer that she can’t refuse. All she has to do is be a temporary stand in secretary for her friend’s position as the secretary for some billionaire for only a week. One week for some quick cash – how hard can it be? She is in for the surprise of her life when she walks into Jason Black’s office. The dark, sexy billionaire quickly pulls her into his web, one that she can’t unravel herself from. His piercing eyes call to her very soul and the darkness lurking in their depths entices her.

She suspects that the man is dangerous, but she could never have imagined the depth of the mysteries surrounding him. By the time Navia discovers his true nature, it’s too late for her salvation. Even if is she could leave him, there’s no way he will let her go. She is his and she is not sure she really wants to get away.

This is a dark romance novella with NO cliffhanger. Intended for audiences 18+ and not for the fainthearted. Contains situations some readers might find objectionable.

My Review

**** (4 Stars)

Wickedly hot and dark erotic read!

Trapped in his World is a hard-hitting dark novella which pushes the boundaries of non-consent and contains scenes which some readers may find disturbing. It ticks all the boxes for fans of dark romances, such as myself!

When Natvia agreed to step in and cover her friend’s job for a week she did not expect to catch the eye of her boss Jason Black and to be drawn into his dark and dominant desires. Once snared in this web, which combines mind-blowing sex and bdsm bordering on abuse, can she muster up the courage to escape? Does she want to? And even if she does, will Jason permit it?

The novella is told from Natvia’s point of view and we are therefore kept in the dark as to what Jason is thinking, which is effective in creating drama and suspense. When his past is revealed towards the end of the read it therefore comes as a complete surprise and I was left as perplexed as the heroine in how to react.

I found the heroine Natvia to be sympathetic. Although she is shy and retiring by nature, she does exhibit some degree of backbone when dealing with Jason. She is a tad naïve, but given her background this is understandable. She takes all that he wants to give her yet can she cope with his violent desires?

Jason is a hero whom I warmed to as the book progressed. It is clear from the outset that he has issues and is conflicted when it comes to how to conduct himself sexually and emotionally. I did not like some of the experiences he made Natvia endure and the fact that he blows hot and cold with her. I did however enjoy reading how he breaks all the rules when it comes to employer and employee relationships! There are many scorching bdsm scenes where he demonstrates his dominant personality. Their relationship has echoes of beauty and the beast, but it remained to be seen whether this particular beast could be tamed.

All in all a sexy and satisfying dark read, which pushed my emotional boundaries!

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

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February 22, 2016 by Caroline Barker

DOUBLE REVIEW FRENZY & DOOM (A Daniel Jones Story 1 & 2) by Mark King

I am so glad I had Mark King‘s Daniel Jones Story brought to my attention. There is action and adventure every step of the way in this extremely well-written post-apocalyptic fantasy series! Written for YA, it’s an exciting and thrilling series for anybody age 14+. I was totally gripped – a MUST-READ series!!

BANG. BANG. BANG.

And the ground shook.

BANG. BANG. BANG.

And the ground shook with an almighty force.

BANG. BANG. BANG.

And the ground shook with such terrifying power that once again the soul of humanity would cry out in fear tonight.

SILENCE.

Title: FRENZY (A Daniel Jones Story #1)

Author: Mark King

Genre: Fantasy, post-apocalyptic, sci-fi, action/adventure

Date released: March 1st, 2013

Published by: Book Guild Publishing

Length: 226 pages

Blurb: Daniel leads a peaceful life with his family until he finds out a repulsive secret about the Over-seers, the ‘saviours of humanity’, and his security is blown to smithereens. He enters a world where death is the only certainty and quickly learns to kill – or be killed.

Enter Gwendolyn, with the charm of a snake and a bite that’s twice as dangerous. People skills aren’t her thing but she knows how to survive in a post-apocalyptic world; she’s a hotshot with a bow and arrow and can rustle up a mean rat soup.

Mary is the only person left alive over forty. She’s not too good at fighting but she knows where to find the one thing that could save their lives. Only Mary can remember life before the invasion, before humanity was brainwashed into following the procedures.

Pursued by the Over-seers, the Triclops and the barbaric hunters, can the three brave rebels triumph in their quest for survival? The odds are stacked against them – hold tight for a white-knuckle ride through a landscape of devastation!

REVIEW ***** (5* RATING)

I was blown away by Frenzy! Admittedly, it has been a while since I have read a post-apocalyptic adventure series, but author Mark King drew me in with his great story-telling skills, fantasy and some brilliant characters. I was so hooked I went straight on to read the sequel, Doom!

In a world, not as we know it, but only as Daniel and future generations know, we realise that mankind is isolated in small villages, left only alive to ‘farm’ themselves ready for what they believe will be a time for rest and rewards in the ‘Achievement Centre’, which they are due to attend after their fortieth birthday. This is a world, unlike anything we know now, where humans go back to basics, with no reminders of the past, and a world run by other beings: the Over-Seers!

The story gives the reader a true sense of what it is like to be Daniel, describing his home life, daily routines and reactions perfectly. There is no holding back from description when it comes to Mark King‘s terrific writing. The reader is truly drawn in, feeling every moment as Daniel does.

Daniel is a great, young character, living in a hut with his family, and being able to live off the land, felling trees with his father, in order to trade for food. They are living a relatively comfortable life given the circumstances, aside from the usual lack of sanitary conditions and few clothes, etc. After all, this is all Daniel has ever known.

However, after celebrations of a friend departing to the Achievement Centre, Daniel and his young friends decide to wander whilst playing a game. During this turn of events, Daniel discovers something so incredibly horrifying about the Over-Seers and the future of his human friends! Even more terrifyingly, he is found out, and now has no choice but to run for his life throughout the desolate lands, for he simply cannot return to his village and safe haven of his family.

Not only does he fear the Over-Seers, and the prospect that they could attack his family if they are aware of just who he is, he has to outrun human hunters and the terrifying, ground-trembling Triclops! His insubordinate and mischievous actions have landed him in a horror he has never known. His only slight relief comes when he meets survivors Gwendolyn and Mary, who work with him in an attempt to save humanity!

Initially, Frenzy was a story I would have recommended to 11+ readers, however after learning the secret as Daniel did, and the sheer shock, horror and gore I quickly changed my mind. Frenzy, however is an exceptional read, easy to follow, yet at a nice, quick pace for the adventure it holds. You will be hooked! I would advise it for readers certainly 14yrs+.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

Title: DOOM (A Daniel Jones Story #2)

Author: Mark King

Genre: Fantasy, post-apocalyptic, sci-fi, action/adventure

Date released: December 12th, 2014

Published by: Book Guild Publishing

Length: 238 pages

Blurb: Daniel’s peaceful life has been destroyed after discovering the hideous truth about the Over-seers – the new masters of humanity. Hiding in centuries-old flint mines from Hunters and from the terrifying Triclops machines, Daniel’s recurring nightmares lead him, once more, into danger. With mankind brainwashed under the false hope of a glorious new life in the Achievement Centre, he must return home through a devastated landscape to save his father
from certain death.

Daniel reunites with two fellow fugitives – Mary and her young companion Gwendolyn – to undertake a rescue mission so dangerous that death is the only guarantee. Is it too late for Daniel’s family or is it too late for humanity itself? Daniel Jones DOOM, the exciting new sequel to FRENZY a Daniel Jones Story, is another fast-paced, engrossing chronicle of three rebels who once again risk their lives in a vividly depicted world peopled by memorable new and known characters.

REVIEW ***** (5* rating)

DOOM is another incredibly written, fast-paced post-apocalyptic adventure from author Mark King. The sequel to Frenzy, it continues where we left off with young Daniel Jones surviving with Resistance veteran, Mary, and her young companion, Gwendolyn.

Daniel has begun to have terrible dreams after witnessing the horrific methods of the Over-Seers. He is also aware that it is coming up to his father’s fortieth season, where he knows his dad will be preparing for a life of rest and rewards from the Over-Seers in the Achievement Centre. After a life of being brainwashed by these beings his father, and the rest of humanity, simply have no idea of the horrors that await them. It’s simply too much for Daniel to bear; he must return to his home village to warn his family. Only that would be difficult with the Over-Seers sending Hunters and Triclops to hunt him and his companions down! This boy loves a challenge, and with his friends support they are a team to be reckoned with.

Meanwhile, we learn that the consequences of Frenzy (Daniel Jones book 1) has left John, Daniel’s father, in a tired, weary and fragile state. Not only has he lost his son to the desolate lands, without knowing why, he now also works alone, chopping down trees, with no horse to pull his cart. He is emotionally and physically drained with only the hope of the Achievement Centre to relieve him of his exhausting life.

“… but with losing his axe, his horse, and his son in the space of two days John was not going to take any risks with his chance of entering the Achievement Centre, and in receiving a lifetime of the rewards that were promised.”

I am absolutely hooked with this series, longing to read the next instalment. It is a perfect read for young adults and over, with the right dosage of action, horror and gore mixed with great dialogue, brilliant characters and an addictive storyline.

Will Daniel reach his village to warn his father? Or will be captured by the Hunters, along with his companions? Is it too late for his father to be saved? What will become of Daniel, and all of those he cares about? This truly is a MUST-READ that I would recommend to place at the top of your reading list!

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

FRENZY and DOOM, books 1 & 2 of the Daniel Jones Story were provided by the author in return for a fair and honest review.

You can purchase both following the links below:-

FRENZY

Hardcover Amazon UK

Kindle edition Amazon UK

Hardcover Amazon US

Kindle edition Amazon US

DOOM

Hardcover Amazon UK

Paperback Amazon UK

Kindle edition Amazon UK

Hardcover Amazon US

Paperback Amazon US

Kindle edition Amazon US

February 16, 2016 by Caroline Barker

Review Round Up: January ’16

Hello readers, this month we have fourteen great titles for you to check out; some from our more regular authors, such as Beverly Ovalle, Christina Phillips, Nina Mason and Katherine McIntyre, as well as fresh authors to us, in Lolita London, and Krissy V who we had the pleasure to meet at last years Second City Signing event!

Still in the mood for love after your Valentines Day? ❤ With plenty of erotic, contemporary and historical romance reads, there is also a nice blend of sci-fi, fantasy and paranormal romance in our review recap this month. Plus, time to catch up on the last of our festive/wintry reads of the season which would be suitable to read as the cold weather lingers just for the next few weeks, or could urge you to purchase those festive reads well in advance for next Christmas! Author, Deborah Melanie features with a double festive review with her short stories Winter’s Spirit and The Good Girl; whether you’re into sweet romance, or hot, erotic you’ll have the choice of sweet or spicy 😉

Whatever your mood, we hope you find something to whet your appetite!

Happy reading,

Caroline & Tina 🙂 x

Stealing Hope: A Dragon’s Fated Heart by Beverly Ovalle, sci-fi fantasy, post apocalyptic paranormal erotica (reviewed by Tina)

Blurb: Amazon Bestseller in Erotica Paranormal AND Erotica Science Fiction

The apocalypse has come and gone.
Those who survived learned to adapt.
Dragons awaken to once again reign over the skies.

Upon eruption of a volcano, Ari awakens to a changed world, and a knowing that his dragon’s mate is near. He saves her twice—once as a dragon, and again as a man—and wins her confidence.

Hope cried out, moaning, “just change me with pleasure?”

Hope is restless and unfulfilled until she meets Ari, the man of her fantasies. The sensual tension between them heightens with every touch. When their passion explodes, Hope gets pulled into the dragon’s mating ritual…and into a world of erotic sensation she never dreamed existed but now cannot live without. The dragon binds his mate to him with a ritual that shows Hope her true nature in this humorous erotic romance.

East to West by Lolita London, erotic historical western romance (reviewed by Tina)

Blurb: A letter in the mail, a hurried kiss goodbye, and a long train ride to her new life marks the end of Mary’s childhood.

When Mary Gray is informed she’s been selected to be a mail order bride, she’s reluctant to say the least – and not just because she has to leave her old life behind to marry a man she’s never met.

What she finds – or rather, what she doesn’t find – when she gets off the train surprises her. Her husband is nowhere to be found, and she’s informed that she’ll be living by herself until her fiance is finished overseeing a harvest.

To pass the time, she gets a job as a local schoolteacher… but a dangerous flirtation with her eldest student, Tom, threatens to end her marriage before it begins.

What she doesn’t know is Tom isn’t the man he seems to be… and she’ll find out just how little she knows about the man she’s marrying when they finally meet face to face.

This book contains explicit sex scenes and is for mature readers only.

Dark and Stormy Knight (The Knights of Avalon #2) by Nina Mason, paranormal urban erotic romance (reviewed by Tina)

Blurb: She’ll risk everything for their love—even her life.

Aspiring screenwriter Gwyn Morland is ready for her big break. That means securing the film rights to elusive author Lady Ruthven’s acclaimed novel—which means traveling to Scotland. It’s a trip timid Gwyn isn’t prepared for, and her fears seem justified when her tour bus careens over a cliff outside of Castle Glenarvon. But the plot thickens when Gwyn is rescued from the brink of death by a handsome and mysterious stranger…

Leith MacQuill is not only the writer behind Lady Ruthven’s novel, but a shape-shifting faery knight bearing a tragic curse: the woman he gives his heart to will die. Saving Gwyn proves to be a dangerous choice when he finds himself falling for her the longer she stays in the castle. Not even his usual BDSM role-playing games are enough to thwart the intense desire they feel for each other. But to stay together, Gwyn and Leith must embark on a dangerous mission into Avalon, the realm of the faeries. Will their love be strong enough to conquer the curse? Or will Gwyn’s new life be stolen from her before it’s even begun?

To Win Her Trust (Players #2) by Mackenzie Crowne, contemporary romance (reviewed by Tina)

Blurb: Can she trust this player with her heart?

Ever since experiencing a childhood trauma, reclusive artist CC Calhoun has suffered from panic attacks. But when a fateful kiss from handsome wide receiver, Kevin “Tuck” Tucker, is enough to stop one of those episodes cold, she wonders if guarding her heart has been the right choice. Will going on a test date with Tuck open her to trusting someone for the first time in years? Or will she wind up being just another notch in the football player’s bedpost?

Tuck has a reputation for charming women into bed, but after his kiss with CC, he’s left aching for more. When he proposes a second date, his attraction to the sexy blonde looks like the makings of true love—something he’s never quite believed in—until now. But when Tuck discovers CC’s childhood secrets, will the pro athlete be tough enough to stay by her side—or will he betray her hard-earned trust?

Hunting for Spring by Katherine McIntyre, paranormal urban fantasy romance (reviewed by Tina)

Blurb: Hunters are a lonely breed, and Conor’s no exception, until the day he meets Brenna. Even though she slinks in unannounced and kills the wight he was hunting down, the girl’s a mystery and he can’t get that blinding smile or those gorgeous curves off his mind. Since they’re both after the same caster who’s unleashing these monsters, he suggests teaming up, and despite her initial reluctance, the hungry way she scans him down promises something powerful.

However, her secrets have repercussions, and faster than Conor can lift his Glock, he’s drawn into the web of kidnappings and Unseelie mischief, all concealing the machinations of a darker foe—one that plans to bring Philly to ruin.

Sated by Lucy Felthouse, paranormal erotic romance (reviewed by Tina)

Blurb: A human, a vampire and a werewolf walked into a bar. Sexy is what happens next.

Since getting together with her vampire boyfriend, Ace, Aneesa is enjoying a sex life she could never have with a human. Ace has skill, strength, stamina…and is massively adventurous. Aneesa is checking things off her sexual bucket list at a rate of knots. However, she hasn’t even come close to experiencing the ultimate item on her list. So when Ace beats her to it, proposing a threesome with his werewolf friend, Barton, Aneesa’s definitely up for it.

Barton is attractive, smart and sexy—almost too good to be true, in fact. Aneesa decides not to jump straight into things, but makes sure it’s what she truly wants. However, it turns out Barton’s not so easily dissuaded.

Will Aneesa get the ultimate erotic experience she’s desired for so long? Will she be truly sated, or is the plan doomed to failure?

A Cupcake Christmas (Touchstone #5) (short story) by Beth Barany, festive holiday romance adventure(reviewed by Tina)

Blurb: What if you risked losing your baking legacy by cooking up a love truly special? Florian MacMillian needs a final job to complete his baking resume—preferably a job where he’s unlikely to blow things up with his unruly magic—before returning to the North Pole and taking his rightful place as Master Baker to all the elves. Kate Delore desperately needs help in her fast-growing cupcake business. Florian is a perfect fit, so she brings him on as baker. For a short time, Florian is happily up to his elbows in batter, and Kate’s business is booming. But when things heat up between them, Florian wonders if he should risk his legacy to cook up something truly special.

Properly or Not At All (short story) by Lucy Felthouse, erotic romance (reviewed by Tina)

Blurb: How will a husband and wife cope when they’re told one of their favourite kinky pastimes is temporarily off the menu?

Tristan and Jayme are not only devoted husband and wife, they are also Dominant and submissive, with a particular penchant for spanking. They’ve been playing delicious kinky games for the fifteen years they’ve been together and couldn’t be happier. However, when Tristan develops a health issue that means he can’t redden his wife’s backside for a while, it puts both of them under a lot of strain. It’s a big part of their sex life and one they’ll miss badly.

They try to find a way around their unfortunate predicament, but it’s not easy. In the end, Tristan declares that he will either spank Jayme’s bottom properly, or not at all.

The prospect of no spanking at all dismays Jayme, but she has no other choice. Or does she? Continuing to put her mind toward the issue, she indulges in some solo experimentation, with mixed results.

But how will Tristan feel when he finds out his wife has gone behind his back?

Reader Advisory: This book contains anal sex and a scene of female ejaculation.

Publisher’s Note: This book was previously released as part of the Over the Knee anthology by Totally Bound Publishing.

Defaced: A Dark Romance Novel (The Monster Trilogy #1) by Marissa Farrar, dark romance suspense (reviewed by Tina)

Blurb: Monster
Hidden away from society by his criminal father, there lives a man who has never entered the outside world. Now, having taken over his father’s business, he has all the money and power he could dream of, yet still he refuses to let himself be viewed by the rest of society.

Lily
Traumatised by an event in her past, Lily Drayton has a phobia of being touched. Though she helps people externally with her skills as a laser therapist, she refuses to let anyone in, emotionally or physically. When Lily is kidnapped on the way home from work one evening, she discovers she’s not the only person who keeps themselves cut off from the rest of the world.

Defaced
A man owns her now—a man both dangerous and enigmatic. Drawn by his dual beauty and hidden pain, he awakens something inside her, something she believed was long dead. Brought to a room without windows, she’s given an impossible task: to make her owner acceptable to the outside world.

Can altering his face change who he is as a man, or is he truly a monster, both inside and out?

A Taste of Christmas [Dublin Style] by Krissy V, festive holiday contemporary romance, chick-lit (reviewed by Caroline)

Blurb: My name is Nollaig, it’s the Irish word for Christmas. I hate my name. My parents loved Christmas and that’s why they gave me such a festive name, together with the fact that I was born on Christmas Day.

However, my parents are no longer with us after dying in a car accident on Christmas Eve, five years ago.

Now I hate Christmas all together.

I always hated the fact that everyone got presents on my birthday. Now my parents are gone and ever since then I just don’t feel like celebrating Christmas. Everything about this holiday gives me sad memories.

I need a miracle to happen over the Christmas holiday to make me change my mind about Christmas.

Who knew that a quick shopping trip would provide me with the miracle that I so desperately needed?

Winter’s Spirit (short story) by Deborah Melanie, contemporary festive holiday romance, paranormal, fantasy, chick-lit (reviewed by Caroline)

Blurb: Winter McAndrew is on the brink of divorcing her philandering husband, Philip, when he dies in a car crash. One year later and with unfinished business; Philip is still earth bound and interfering in his wife’s love life. Trying to make amends isn’t always easy when you’re dead. Not only has Winter fallen for her old crush, Jack Tobin, but he also happens to be Philip’s cousin. With more complications than a woman needs at Christmas, Winter tries to find peace at her holiday home in The Lake District. However, when she finds herself snowed in with Jack; ghosts, old and new cause quite a stir. Will Winter get her man, or will ghostly Philip put an end to all her festive fantasies?

The Good Girl (short story) by Deborah Melanie, contemporary festive holiday erotic fantasy (reviewed by Caroline)

Blurb: With the festive season almost upon her, plus size model, Sarah, wonders if being naughty not nice, will get her everything her heart and body desires. With two gorgeous neighbours and a unique employment opportunity, could this be the year when Sarah’s naughty Christmas wishes are finally granted?

The book contains adult themes and menage situations.

Taken by the Billionaire (A Collection of Stepbrother romance novellas) by Christina Phillips, Mel Teshco and Cathleen Ross, contemporary erotic romance (reviewed by Tina)

Novella Blurbs:

He’s forbidden…and he’s her every wicked fantasy

Ravished by the Billionaire by Christina Phillips

Dexter Jericho has it all – wealth, good looks and women falling at his feet. The last thing he wants is his little stepsister working in his London casino – until he meets her again. Because now Gabriella is all grown up and sexy as hell, and he can’t keep his hands off her. There’s only one problem – she might be a corporate spy, in which case he’ll keep her close and seduce her secrets from her.

Gabi’s had a crush on her stepbrother for as long as she can remember, and he’s finally noticed her. His scorching kisses and talented tongue make her forget this is a forbidden romance. Until she discovers the truth for his sudden interest and realizes his dirty little secret – is her.

Punished by the Billionaire by Mel Teshco

Isabella wants no part of the Jericho fortune, not if it means being a puppet to her stepfather, Harrison Jericho. Instead she turns to her one skill and passion and becomes a professional gambler. Except no money in the world is enough to make her forget her eldest stepbrother, Max Jericho, or the scorching kiss they shared at a party.

Max has been keeping tabs on his beautiful stepsister, Isabella. He’s been half in love with her for years, and no amount of hard labor and bedding other women makes him forget her. But his feelings won’t mean a thing if she’s guilty of dragging the Jericho name through the mud. He needs to get her alone to uncover the truth. And now that he’s CEO of his very own casino, Bella is drawn to him like a moth to flame.

Except losing a bet to Max and staying in his penthouse for a week just might be Isabella’s biggest gamble yet. Especially when she discovers how far he’s willing to go to clear the Jericho name.

Trapped by the Billionaire by Cathleen Ross

Tom Jericho has never got over the naked body slide his sixteen year old stepsister Christabelle Evernight performed on him when he was twenty-one. Born with a sense of honor, he wouldn’t take her virginity then but he’s certainly interested in having her now. After all, what’s a little dirty fun between step siblings and Christabelle has been a very bad girl.

There’s nothing more humiliating than being knocked back by the hottest, sexiest stepbrother Chrissy has ever seen, so she’s not going to Australia to work under him, except her stepfather leaves her no choice.

Tom Jericho knows her secret and he’s going to make her pay, but Chrissy has grown up now and she happens to enjoy Tom’s brand of punishment – and knows just how to pay him back.

February 15, 2016 by Tina Williams

REVIEW ~ Love Yoga, Serge de Moliere

#Erotic Romance #Erotica

Adult/18+ Read

Blurb

Morgan Love is one of the few African American yoga instructors in town. After her studies in India with the legendary Swami Monda, students flock to her classes. But without her own studio, money remains tight, and her personal life is a wreck after the last man in her life cheated on her.

When an attractive man enters her yoga studio, Morgan is instantly drawn to him. When she discovers the attraction is mutual, things quickly escalate, taking a dramatic and passionate turn. Eli is like no other man she’s ever met, and that includes his incredible sexual prowess.

But when Morgan’s past comes back to haunt her, she finds herself forced to turn to Eli. Are her hopes and dreams safe with this seemingly too-perfect man? Or will Morgan end up once again as a man’s sex toy?

My Review

Love Affirming Erotic Romance 4* (Four stars)

I loved this sizzling short by Serge de Moliere. It’s certainly been a few years since I have taken a yoga class, but this read certainly brought it all back to me. I too remember the solitary male who would now and again venture into a class full of women, never to return again. None of these males were like Eli however!

Once yoga teacher Morgan and Eli catch sight of each other their attraction is mutual and they cannot keep their eyes (or hands) off one another! The many love-making scenes between them are scorching as befits an erotic romance. Yet can Morgan trust Eli with her heart when her last partner used her so cruelly? I waited with bated breath whether Eli would prove himself to Morgan when she needs help.

Serge de Moliere packs a lot into this read which brings Morgan’s yoga studio and the lusty scenes between her and Eli vividly to life. It is a sweet, hot and visceral read as the couple explore each other physically and emotionally. I recommend this to lovers of erotic romance who are looking for a short, hot and satisfying read.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

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

Purchase Links

Amazon.com Amazon UK

Connect with the Author

https://www.facebook.com/Serge-de-Moliere-753266598106095/timeline/

https://twitter.com/Serge_deMoliere

February 11, 2016 by Tina Williams

ARC REVIEW ~ Hunt for the Enemy, by Rob Sinclair (The Enemy Series #3)

International Suspense Thriller

Hunt for the Enemy by Rob Sinclair is a terrific read for lovers of suspense thrillers. It sucked me right into the deadly world of international espionage, where life is bloody and brutal and knowing who your enemies are is often the biggest challenge of all……

Book Blurb

The breathtaking and action-packed finale to the bestselling Enemy series. The Hunt is on. They’ve erased his past. Wiped out his very existence. But Carl Logan isn’t finished yet. On the run in a harsh Russian winter, Logan – once an invaluable asset but now branded a traitor – has been framed for murder. His own firm, the secretive Joint Intelligence Agency, have labeled him a rogue operative after two decades of loyal service. The agency is hunting him down… and they’re not the only ones. But there’s much more at stake than just Logan’s life. One by one, agents and informants from all sides, all allegiances, are dying. And Carl Logan is the only man who can put a stop to it, once and for all.

My Review

A Terrific High -Octane Read – Gritty and Realistic

Five stars *****

I was completely blown away by Rob Sinclair’s Hunt for the Enemy, a fast-paced, high-octane thriller, in which Carl Logan, the hero of the author’s Enemy series, is on the run and fighting for his life. The plot effortlessly weaves together Logan’s past with contemporary events in the shady and dangerous world of international espionage. The read takes us from London to the heart of Moscow, to the Scottish Highlands, the frozen and desolate Kazakhstan, the heat of Morocco and Venezuela and the bustle of China.

We learn much about Logan’s brutal and bloody life in the JIA and how, over the years, his character has developed: his desire to be more than a deadly assassin putting him at odds with his colleagues and the hits he is ordered to make making him deadly enemies he is unaware of. In this novel Logan is reunited with a former lover, a woman who is also on the run. She betrayed him in the past and it remains to be seen whether she will do so again.

Like the hero Logan, I was kept guessing throughout about who was friend or foe and whom he could trust. There is certainly no honour amongst spies in the world depicted in this read! The hero not only has to escape his known enemies but also risks betrayal after betrayal from fellow agents and has to keep his wits about him to survive. The plot is expertly executed, suspenseful with many twists and turns and I was on tender hooks as the body count rises and the net closes in against Logan as we approach the finale.

A fantastic read for lovers of international spy thrillers.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note, a copy of this novel was provided by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Purchase Links

Amazon US Amazon UK

Connect with the Author

http://www.robsinclairauthor.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Rob-Sinclair-746087495413628/

Tweets by RSinclairAuthor

February 10, 2016 by Tina Williams

BOOK BLAST with REVIEW, AUTHOR POST & GIVEAWAY ~ Discovered (The Forsaken Blood Series #1), by Em Taylor

BOOK INFORMATION

TITLE – Discovered
SERIES (& book #) – The Forsaken Blood Series #1
AUTHOR – Em Taylor
GENRE – Vampire Romance/ Science Fiction Romance/ Futuristic Romance
PUBLICATION DATE – 4th December 2015
LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 98,000 words
PUBLISHER – Em Taylor
COVER ARTIST – Veronica Fernandez Munoz and Em Taylor

**NOTE – Book can be read as standalone

BOOK SYNOPSIS

Edinburgh is a city that’s slow to change. Which is why in 2061, Professor Lachlan Mackenzie still lives there. He hasn’t changed in the 1000 years since he and his shipmates abandoned ship, forsaken by the Vampyras millions of light years away and left to fend for themselves, feeding off the blood of humans.

Lachlan is drawn to sexy psychologist Kate the moment he steps into her office. He wants to protect her and help her overcome her PTSD. Ignoring the warning signs of his growing attraction he agrees to be her cabin mate on the journey to the new colony on Mars. But when Kate discovers him feeding on bagged blood, all hell breaks loose. Has he been set up by the Vampyr council leader? Will Kate ever forgive his lies? And how does he explain what he is to his long lost daughter who he meets on their journey?

As Kate starts to trust, outside forces threaten to rip them apart. Will Lachlan lose the only woman he’s ever truly bonded with?

BUY & TBR LINKS

GOODREADS

Discovered - Teaser 2

EXCERPT

He forced himself to move his lips across her cheek, peppering light pecks down her jawline as she tangled her fingers in his hair and whispered his name.

Suddenly she started to struggle. “Lachlan, your teeth.”

“What about them?” he asked, pinning her back to the bed and tugging at the shoulder of her white tennis dress. It moved down to her elbow easily, and he revealed the cup of a white lacy bra. His cock jerked and his heart beat speeded up. Soon, very soon his lips would be around the dusky areola he could see just beneath the material.

“Are they in or out?”

He lifted himself slightly off Kate pulling the other side of the dress down, unconcerned with whatever was bothering her.

“My canines are in for now. Why?” Another perfectly-shaped and perfectly-sized breast. “Lift your hips.” She did as she was bid, and he slipped the sexy little tennis dress off, reminding himself he needed to ask Meg to send some hydrogen peroxide.

“I still have blood on me.”

Lachlan leaned on his elbow and surveyed her, cocking an eyebrow. “You do indeed.”
There was a line of dried blood running from just below her collarbone, under the cup of her bra, and probably pooling just under her breast. He touched it lightly with an index finger, tracing it as far as the edge if her bra. “That…my darling Kate, is every male Vampyr’s wet dream.”

He pressed his tongue to the edge of the lace, and Kate sighed, her eyelids fluttering closed.

“What if your teeth pop out again and you bite me by accident?” she asked as she arched her back, reaching for the touch of his tongue. He chuckled against her breast.

“Did your mother never teach you it’s rude to disturb a man when he’s eating, Katie?

My Review – Five Stars!

Fun, Sassy and Sensual – A fab start to a new series!

Em Taylor’s Discovered is a fun, sassy and sensual read which pairs a sexy space Vampyr/university professor Lachlan MacKenzie with human Psychologist Kate Masters. Set in the future, in Edinburgh, in space and on Mars, it will appeal to readers of paranormal romance and sci-fi romance alike. It is a world where humans are still unaware of the existence of an alien species, Vampyrs, who have been living amongst them for hundreds of years since becoming stranded on Earth.

I loved how the attraction between Lachlan and Kate is so instantaneous. However, their relationship is far from plain sailing due not least to Lachlan’s reticence to get involved with a human again on account of unfortunate experiences in his past. There are a number of misunderstandings and some hilarious scenes as the pair circle around each other even before they embark on their mission to Mars.

Lachlan is one sexy Vampyr – he has looks and brains and manages to combine old world charm with an outlook which is not out of place in the world of 2061 when the novel is set. He tries not to give into his attraction to Kate as he wants to protect her from what his true nature is, lest he frightens her. Nonetheless, sharing quarters on board ship inevitably leads to some intimate scenes and the sexual tension and mayhem increase and the inevitable happens! Of course initially Kate has no ideas that Lachlan is an alien, least of all a Vampyr and she is suitably shocked when this comes to light: cue a great deal of soul searching amongst some sizzling love-making scenes as to what their future together will be! The read contains a great deal of humour, but also touches on some dark issues from both Lachlan’s and Kate’s past.

I really enjoyed the premise of the novel, that of aliens having lived amongst us for centuries, giving rise to the vampire myths. The novel contains a lot of humour, in particular the character of Meg, the leader of the Vampyr Council, and her interactions with both Kate and Lachlan were priceless! If Lachlan comes across as a little world-weary from his long life as a Vampyr, Meg is positively jaded and I am curious to know exactly what she is plotting and if she too will find her other half!

I recommend Discovered to readers of sci-fi and paranormal romance. Fans of Lindsay Sands Argeneau Vampire series and Evangeline Anderson’s Brides of the Kindred series will especially love this novel. Readers who up until now are only familiar with Em Taylor’s Regency Romances may also wish to indulge. It is a fab start to what promises to be an addictive series.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

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

AUTHOR POST

What do you love best about writing sci-fi romance and what are the challenges?

Hi everyone and thanks for joining me on this blog blast. I was asked to talk about what I love best about writing sci-fi romance and what are the challenges. That’s a big question. My first foray into writing as an adult was science fiction romance—albeit fan fiction. I hadn’t written since school. English at school put me off. After my first year at secondary school (aged about 12) I never really had an English teacher who inspired me. Don’t get me wrong, most were competent teachers, but they taught the syllabus, no more no less—a bit of Shakespeare, some Arthur Miller (The Crucible was probably the only thing I remember remotely inspiring me), the war poets, Oscar Wilde, and of course, the obligatory Of Mice and Men.

In a slightly alcohol-induced bet one night, I tried my hand at fan fiction and my Star Trek Voyager loving friends seemed to approve. I gave myself a pen name (Libby Kim) and set myself up on fanfiction.net. After a year of writing a prolific amount of Star Trek Voyager—mostly Janeway/Chakotay—fan fiction, I decided I wanted to make the leap and write my own stuff and that meant creating my own worlds and that’s the biggest challenge in Science Fiction Romance.

When writing fan fiction, the world is already created. Of course, you can create new planets and species according to your story but the weaponry, ships, technology is already they. How they travel through space is already there. My book, Discovered, is set just 45 years from now. I’d like to think we have better and quicker ways of cooking healthy food by 2061, but I suspect it won’t be quite as technologically advanced as the Star Trek replicator. So I had to come up with something else. I made hover trams instead of regular trams and although we can get to Mars, it still takes three weeks.

I thought that science fiction would be easy and I could just make it up as I went along as you can in fantasy. But when it came to creating the planet that my aliens came from, it turns out I was still bound by the laws of physics. So I spend a couple of hours on the Nanowrimo forums getting help on how I could have a planet that had half the planet always in darkness and half always in the light. Then I had to spend hours learning about nuclear combustible elements on the periodic table—something that’s always a worry if MI5 ever turn up at my door and want to see my browser history. Having spent a few years writing Regency novels and being very aware I had to get the minutia of Regency life correct or I would soon hear about it through my Amazon reviews, I hadn’t quite expected that I would have to become knowledgeable in nuclear science overnight to avoid the same fate again.

But to be honest, creating my own worlds and species is also the best part about writing sci fi romance. Although my hero is a vampyr, I could choose which parts of the vampyr myth I wanted to keep and what could remain as myth in my story. Just as I could, in some instances play with science. I could also play with what will happen in the future. Who will be Prime Minister in the UK in 2061? What will have happened politically? Will Scotland have gained her independence? Let’s just say the PM is very cute, because he’s the hero of book 2.

In some ways writing Science Fiction Romance is the same as writing any other romance. It doesn’t really matter what pegs you hang your story on, they story is still sexy man meets cute girl and things get very hot. I have to say I was never a fan of Science Fiction until I was in my 30s. I still haven’t watched Star Wars. A friend and I were both big fans of The West Wing and I was off sick from work. She told me she’d send me a boxed set of DVDs to cheer me up. When it arrived, I couldn’t believe it. It was nothing like West Wing. It was some sci fi thing called Firefly. I gave it a couple of days then out of sheer boredom I started to watch it. Well…. Nathan Fillion…. There is nothing more to be said. If you’ve never watched Firefly or Castle then you haven’t lived (Castle didn’t exist back then). I was a convert to sci fi. Star Trek Voyager was playing every day at 3pm and I started watching that. I then bought all the DVDs because I couldn’t wait for the stupid TV and had to find out what happened. So if you don’t know if you fancy Discovered, have a look at the reviews. A few of the reviewers weren’t sure and took a chance and loved it. Sci fi doesn’t have to be scary or dull. Happy reading. And thanks for having me.

AUTHOR BIO

Em was born and brought up in the Central Belt of Scotland and still lives there. She was told as a child she had an over active imagination–as if that is a bad thing. She’s traded her dreams of owning her own island, just like George in the Famous Five to hoping to meet her own Mr Darcy one day. But her imagination remains the same.

AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS

GIVEAWAY PRIZES

18ct White Gold Plated Swarovski Crystal Black Pearl Necklace and Earrings, Red silk scarf and signed paperback copy of Discovered

Giveaway Image

CLICK TO ENTER THE AUTHOR’S GIVEAWAY

This event has been organized & hosted by

February 9, 2016 by Tina Williams

BOOK BLAST & REVIEW – Sinful Possession (Cynfell Brothers # 5) , by Samantha Holt (includes excerpt and giveaway)

BOOK INFORMATION

TITLE – Sinful Possession
SERIES (& book #) – Cynfell Brothers # 5
AUTHOR – Samantha Holt
GENRE – Historical Romance
PUBLICATION DATE – 25th January
LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 37000

NOTE – Can be read as standalone

BOOK SYNOPSIS

Lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride. The Cynfell brothers are the very embodiment of a sinful existence. But could the right woman change that?

Sloth

Miss Lila Radley was set to be the belle of the ball this summer. With her charming manners, beautiful looks and excellent connections, everyone anticipated her receiving endless proposals.

However, no one expected her to be kidnapped.

After she witnesses a murder, Lila finds herself in the hands of two overwhelmingly attractive brothers—entirely against her will. However, while the twin Cynfell brothers might be as devastating in looks as each other, only one intrigues her—the brooding Lord Ash Cynfell.

Unfortunately, he is the very reason she is in danger.

Already battling with his own demons, Ash finds himself with an additional burden to bear—Miss Lila Radley’s safety. He cannot very well abandon her as it was due to his inaction that a man ended up dead and a serial killer is now targeting her. Unfortunately, keeping the vivacious Lila protected until the murderer is found is going to test him in every way possible.

Can he resist her charm and beauty, aware a worthless man like himself is no good for a woman like her? All he knows is that when Lila turns her sunny smile onto his twin brother, his finds himself unable to summon his usual relaxed attitude. Has Ash Cynfell, the most reclusive brother, finally found something worth fighting for?

BUY LINKS

AMAZON KINDLE US – http://amzn.to/1TPGbFQ

EXCERPT

“What were you thinking?”

Ash narrowed his gaze at Harris. “There’s a serial killer out there. A powerful and dangerous one.”

His brother paced in front of him while Ash sat on a chair too small for his build outside of the bedroom.

The bedroom that held a currently enraged Lila. The crashes of furniture had stopped only a short while ago. It seemed no one had noticed that Lila had gone. Her family, according to Harris, had assumed she’d retreated to bed. They were, as his brother said, a little scatter-brained.

He couldn’t deny he had come to that conclusion from his short acquaintance with them, but Harris spent more time in society so his opinion was likely correct.

So that at least gave him time to decide what to with Miss Lila Radley.

Pin her to the bed and kiss away her fury?

He smirked to himself. No. Tempting as that was, he suspected that would only increase her ire. Since she’d awoken from her faint, she’d been full of fire. He wouldn’t tell her that he had enjoyed picking up her soggy form and carrying her to his brother’s carriage far more than he should have done. He also certainly wouldn’t mention how she’d curled a hand around his neck and burrowed herself against him.

He released a sigh. If it wasn’t enough he’d already near fallen for her on sight, she was now appealing to his need to protect. There was nothing quite like being needed by the opposite sex. And when she’d tucked her face into his neck, he’d been lost.

My Review

Five stars *****

Scandalous and Sexy Victorian Escapade

I just loved Sinful Possession, the latest addition to Samantha Holt’s Cynfell series. In this scandalous and sexy read, the hero is compelled to kidnap a debutante in an effort to save her from the clutches of a serial killer.

The romance between the handsome and reclusive Ash and the feisty and headstrong Lila sizzles with sexual tension from the off. At first she is enraged that Ash and his twin Harris have whisked her away from the marriage mart, despite the duo being sinfully attractive and (at least in Harris’ case) charming. Yet it is the brooding Ash who draws her and the banter between them and the results of their enforced proximity is highly diverting. Even his occasional grumpiness and his propensity to fall asleep at inappropriate times does not put her off. She starts to view this man who places her well-being above his own as a keeper. Yet does he want her for his own and what is he hiding? It takes a very determined Lila to persuade this man of his true worth.

I just adored Ash’s determination to protect Lila, even at the expense of her reputation and his good name. He is instantly attracted to her and it is not long before he wants to protect her not just from the killer on the loose but other men who covet her. There are some highly amusing scenes where these protective instincts come to the fore.

Samantha Holt certainly excels at both scenes of sexual tension and sensual love-making and she delivers both with alacrity in this novella. Recommended for historical romance lovers who are looking for a sexy, satisfying and diverting read.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note, a copy of this book was given to me as part of this blog tour for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

AUTHOR BIO

Samantha lives in a small village in England with her twin girls and a dachshund called Duke. She enjoys writing historical romance involving chivalrous knights, hot highlanders and cravatted men. Writing is her (more than) full time job but on the rare occasion, she’s not writing, she loves to visit the many stately homes and castles nearby.

AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE – WEBSITE / BLOG – FACEBOOK – TWITTER

GIVEAWAY PRIZES

Signed Paperback of Tempting His Mistress
2 ecopies of Sinful Deeds

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event has been organized & hosted by

February 8, 2016 by Caroline Barker

REVIEW Antihero (Imperfect Heroes prequel) by C.J. Pinard (novella, part of the Sexy Bastards Anthology by a collection of authors)

SEXY BASTARDS ANTHOLOGY

Bad Boy, Biker, Alpha, Motorcycle Club, Contemporary Romance Collection

Available February 8th, 2016!!!

Featuring New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Authors. 12 top selling authors bring you 12 never-before-published Hot and Steamy Romance stories

Christine Bell – SWITCHBLADE
Michael Blade has always thought of Kaitlin Pepper as the irritatingly prissy girl next door, but when she mistakes him for his twin and shows up at his house wearing only a trench coat and a shaky smile, he starts to reconsider…

Bella Wild – BAD BOY BIKER
Jessie used to think being a parolee psychologist was her way of helping ex-cons get a second chance as they integrated back into society–until she met Jace. He’s the angry, inked, biker ex-con who refuses rehabilitation and insists on getting under her skin.

Sierra Rose – FORBIDDEN
This is the fu—- up version of Romeo and Juliet MC Club style…imagine Juliet a pistol, and Romeo a sexy, bad ass with wicked tats….oh, did I mention there’s lots of cursing, leather-clad bikers, motorcycles, and sex?

Lexy Timms – BILLIONAIRE BIKER
Katie’s not your usual rich girl, and Morgan’s not your typical biker. Falling for each other is inevitable, but what will happen when their worlds collide?

Dale Mayer – SALVATION
Beaten. Broken. Finished.
An abused wife meets the most unlikeliest of angels – a man who looks like the very devil himself. He won’t let her give up. Nor will he let her go. Will he be yet another captor or will he become her salvation?

Lisa Ladew – THE BIKER’S SECRET TORMENT
He’d loved her for as long as he could remember, but he would never pursue her, because he alone knew he was responsible for the one thing she would never forgive anyone for. When she starts to pursue him though, he doesn’t think he can keep his distance.

Cassie Alexandra – TAMING THE BIKER
After a short fling with hell-raising womanizer, Taylor (Tail) Adams, Lauren Macey discovers that she’s pregnant with the biker’s child. Knowing that the MC lifestyle isn’t what she wants for their baby, and that Tail isn’t exactly ‘father’ material, Lauren decides not to tell him. This proves challenging, especially when she realizes that he isn’t ready to end their affair…

Tasha Lyons – BIKER BLUES BABY
Morgan and Jazz have dealt with most of the horrific problems that plagued their fledging relationship, at least they hope so. But just as one horrific set of troubles falls away, another interesting one comes into play. Will they survive this one too?

C.J. Pinard – ANTIHERO
Can a street punk on the wrong path be transformed into a Special Forces killing machine? Once he’s been “rehabilitated”, Ellis Anderson is determined to show the woman he loves that he’s nothing like both the lives he’s left behind. But actions speak louder than words – and he has a lot of work ahead of him.

C.C. Cartwright – JUST LOVE ME
Justin can’t get Sloane out of his head. He pushes her away for being his little sister’s best friend, but now that she’s filled out in all the right places, will he be able to resist the innocent, yet enticing woman she has become?

Bella Love-Wins – DOG
Kane is now top dog in the Rugged Angels MC, and has slept with half the eligible biker chicks in Tucson. He meets his match when Kim, daughter of his club’s former president, just won’t give in to his usual tricks.

Kylie Walker – INDECENT DESIRES
District Attorney Eric Steel is used to getting his way, and when he meets the new intern hired for his team, he wants her: preferably stripped down and bound to his bed. From the moment Crystal Reid first obediently whispers “Yes, Mr. Steel,” he knows she’s perfect for him. He has less than 1 week to convince her…and he doesn’t plan on taking no for an answer.

Kendra Wild – BADASS
The company recruited Nick Taylor from the US Army Special Forces and turned him into a mean machine. His first undercover assignment – to pursue and protect Nicole Hunt.

Antihero by C.J. Pinard – REVIEW ***** (5* rating)

As a fan of C.J. Pinard‘s work I have enjoyed every book, and feel that this author comes back stronger and stronger with each new story. If you enjoyed the previous military romance series, Duty & Desire, you will absolutely LOVE Antihero.

Ellis Anderson is given an ultimatum in his young life after being caught doing wrong with a bad crowd. His choice could define exactly what sort of a man he will become. Yet, from one troublesome background to one of violence and terror in the military, Ellis is finding it a little difficult to settle into a civilian lifestyle.

When he first sets eyes on Talia he knows he wants her. But after a couple of dates, he finds himself in a rut of only seeing her during the evenings, sharing in some mad, hot passionate sex, and then leaving before she wakes. Is this really how it will be? Is this their relationship? She never lets on if she does want any more than this. Could he even give her more?

“I wanted to “wine and dine” her. I wanted to show her off to the world and let her meet my mom and new stepdad. But I didn’t know how to broach that conversation. I didn’t know how to do anything but strip her bare and love her with my body and feel her body loving mine back. I always wished that would be enough, but with what little I knew about women, I just knew it wouldn’t and couldn’t be.”

In Antihero, the reader gets to hear both sides of the story; we read Ellis’s thoughts about his current predicament with Talia, his powerful feelings towards her, as well as his concerns regarding his troubled past and how it affects him now. He tends to doubt himself; wondering if he’ll ever be able to provide for Talia and her needs. Is deep, hot passion all he can offer?

Meanwhile, Talia struggles with fitting in her studies after a long day at work, especially as Ellis is quite demanding of her time. And yet, he doesn’t do the whole boyfriend/girlfriend routine; they don’t go anywhere together, and he obviously has some issues. But then again, she has some too. Maybe she should try and break free of him. They’re just no good for each other. But, he’s just so god damn sexy she can’t say no!

Talia: “I’m a weak addict and he was my fix.”

Contemporary and military romance readers will find Antihero sweet, sexy, hot and fun, as well as having a serious undercurrent with two well-developed characters. I didn’t want to put this book down, and it has left me wanting more! Being a short read it can easily be read in a day or two. It provides a great escapism as you find both characters in your head and don’t want to let them go.

Will Talia decide to say ‘no’ once and for all? Or, will Ellis tackle his inner demons and show her how he really feels? Will it be too much for them both if his past raises it’s ugly head?

The Antihero novella was provided by the author in return for a fair and honest opinion.

The Sexy Bastards Anthology is available on Amazon US and Amazon UK from February 8th!

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

You can catch up with C.J. Pinard’s books with our review list below:

Contemporary Military Romance

Patriotic Duty (Duty & Desire, Book 1)

Tour of Duty (Duty & Desire, Book 2)

Boots Beneath My Bed (Miranda’s Story) (Duty & Desire #3)

Playing the Field (Duty & Desire #4)

Paranormal

Enchanted Immortals (Enchanted Immortals Book 1)

Enchanted Immortals: The Vortex (Enchanted Immortals Book 2)

Enchanted Immortals: The Vampyre (Enchanted Immortals Book 3)

Enchanted Immortals: The Vixen (Enchanted Immortals Book 4)

BSI: Bureau of Supernatural Investigation (an Enchanted Immortals novella)

Unscathed (written with Tim O’Rourke)

Soul Rebel (Rebel Riders #1)

Soul Redemption (Rebel Riders #2)

Soul Release (Rebel Riders #3)

Lotus (Daughter of Darkness): Lotus’s Journey Part I

Watcher (Daughter of Darkness): Lotus’s Journey Part II

February 2, 2016 by Tina Williams

REVIEW ~ Discovery (the Iron Web, #1), by Kristin Ravelle

New Adult Dystopian

Book Blurb: Discovery (the Iron Web, #1)

Penrith, Wales. Bryn is turning 22 and must register for One Earth Dynamic ID.

Buried in the mysterious N800 texts is a horrifying secret, an ancient evil that Bryn feels compelled to unearth. A secret that may underpin One Earth, the global agency that monitors and tracks everyone.

Curran, gorgeous, tortured OED fugitive, finds sanctuary with Penrith’s underground, Luxent, and discovers Bryn and her strange ability to throw condensed light. And unexpected love in a world suddenly seeming to go mad.

Can Bryn’s primeval earth magic help Luxent overcome other-worldly forces and the OED or will her growing feelings for Curran and learning the horrifying reality of the OED only lead down the road that goes straight into its ancient and evil web?

***

Discovery is book I in the Iron Web series. Immortelle, Book II, finds Bryn and Curran on the run from One Earth to the mythological Dinas Affaraon. If they find Dinas in the Snowdonia mountains, they may learn new ways of fighting the OED.

Original and compelling dystopian read

Four stars ****

In Discovery -The Iron Web, the heroine Bryn becomes involved with an underground organisation which is battling to resist and expose the mysterious and secretive One Earth Dynamic which governs society. I found it to be a compelling read, full of danger, mystery and suspense, which references otherworldly influences and earth magic. I also enjoyed the romance between the Bryn and Curran, a young man who is on the run.

Bryn is working hard to uncover secrets contained in a some ancient texts which have been deposited in the library where she works. She is convinced that they hide a deadly and ancient evil. Due to her interest in the documents, she attracts the attention of Luxent, a body committed to exposing the horrific truth about the One Earth Dynamic.

Luxent also want to learn about Bryn’s ability to produce condensed light, an ability which Luxent wishes to harness for its own use in its battle against some of the darker manifestations of the OED. The author does an excellent job of revealing the terrible lengths the organisation will go to in order to maintain control and protect its secrets. I was on the edge of my seat as danger mounts and Bryn is put under pressure to put herself under the control of the OED by registering her ID.

I also enjoyed the growing friendship and romance between Bryn and the mysterious fugitive Curran. We are also introduced to a number of other characters, including Bryn’s best friend Lys and members of Luxent. Whilst this read very much focuses on Bryn’s journey, my interest was very much piqued by Curran and I am looking forward to finding out more about their relationship in future instalments as Luxent’s resistance against the OED develops.

The book is set in Penrith in Wales and I enjoyed how the author created the alternative dystopian world in which her characters inhabit. It was believable and chilling in how it incorporated modern day and future technologies and I loved how it wove ancient earth magic into the plot. The read ends on a cliff hanger which serves to set up the forthcoming book in the series, Immortelle really well. I am now very curious to know more and am looking forward to how the story develops.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

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