Monday, August 31, 2015

Baked Fresh by Annabeth Albert


Baked Fresh
Baked Fresh by Annabeth Albert

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

Based on my experience with Served Hot, I expected Baked Fresh to be another sweet M/M romance. While it did have its sweet moments, Ms. Albert served up a heck of a lot more heat this time around… no pun intended just because Vic is a baker. There were also more emotional time bombs in Baked Fresh that pushed it over the edge from a four-star read to a five-star read for me as it has made its way to my re-read shelf.

Vic is a big bear of an Italian man who uses his commitment to New Year’s resolutions to affect major changes within his life – attending culinary school, losing over 100 pounds, stop smoking. This year he has decided to try dating. He’s tired of being alone and wants to find someone to fill that void in his life. Interestingly, while Vic does have someone he’s been crushing on, he doesn’t think he’s good enough for the guy and while Robin may have been the why behind the resolution, he’s not Vic’s goal – at least not consciously. But fate has a funny way of giving a guy the opportunity he needs because Robin’s boyfriend just dumped him and it gives Vic the opportunity he needs to become a part of Robin’s life away from the shelter.

What I liked about Vic’s situation is that he approaches much of what he does with Robin with a “hope for the best” mindset, while being happy with just having the opportunity to spend time with Robin. This allows their relationship to develop in a natural progression from friends to lovers to more. Because of the personal issues each man has – Vic’s body image issues and Robin’s sexual anxieties – theirs is a path fraught with plenty of speedbumps and detours. Even though I didn’t get quite to the point of crying, Vic and Robin’s journey certainly had its heartbreaking moments of loss and doubt, but those were well balanced with laughs, friendship, romance, sexy foreplay, seriously hot sex as Vic helped Robin work through his sexual issues, and acceptance. Yes, acceptance is a common theme in M/M romances; however, in Baked Fresh this was not the acceptance of one due to their homosexuality, but rather their acceptance of themselves for who they were and the acceptance by their partner for being the exact person the other needed – baggage and all. Baked Fresh was an excellent addition to the Portland Heat series and I am already anticipating what Ms. Albert serves up next in Delivered Fast.

Check out the Baked Fresh by Annabeth Albert Blog Tour post on Wicked Reads.


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Saturday, August 29, 2015

Reluctant Submission: Educating Meredith by R.R. Greaves


Reluctant Submission: Educating MeredithReluctant Submission: Educating Meredith by R.R. Greaves

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Reluctant Submission: Educating Meredith was a well-written book that proved to be a rather interesting reading experience for me. While I enjoyed it quite a bit, I had to take breaks while reading it because of the main characters. I suppose you could say that they felt just a bit too real for my comfort level and I could only bear to spend time with them for a few chapters at a time. It’s unusual for me to read more than one book at a time, but I had two books of completely different genres whose storylines were such that I had no problem going back and forth between them. But that’s just how realistic and impressive Meredith and Damien were – I could jump right back into their tale with ease.

What is odd about Reluctant Submission: Educating Meredith is that I rarely enjoy a book if I dislike both main characters on some level. Yet Ms. Greaves kept me coming back for more after each dose of Meredith – and to be fair, Meredith was the one I disliked the most. Meredith is a vile woman. As the CEO, she is under the impression that to be successful at her job that she must rule by fear. Add to that, that she seems to hate men and takes great pleasure in humiliating her male subordinates – well you can probably understand why I could only take her in small doses. Accustomed to intimidating the men she deals with on a daily basis, Meredith was unprepared when faced with a man who would not cow down to her. What she did not and could not know was that the contractor hired to remodel her executive bathroom was not only not going to be intimidated by her, he was also a dom who excelled at bringing out a woman’s hidden submissive nature. When faced with Damien’s failure to fall in line and his obvious move to turn the tables on her, she actually flew into a rage and attempted to slap him. As amusing as that sounds, it was just one of the reasons I had to take breaks from the book. The woman is a horrific person. Needless to say, when Damien tires of her attitude and behavior, flips her over his knee and proceeds to spank her, I was quite happy to see her get her comeuppance. Unfortunately for Meredith (but not so much for me), the lesson doesn’t stick and what follows are more spankings as Meredith embarks on a journey of self-discovery as she learns more about herself in the weeks that Damien is on the job than she has in all of her past relationships combined.

My issue with Damien is due to a personal preference in my book doms. In almost all of the BDSM scenes in which Damien is involved, he provides little to no aftercare to his subs or Meredith and I don’t like that. There is a rather lengthy scene in the book in which Damien and a domme play with a sub at the club. When I initially read the scene, I really didn’t understand why the author included it as it seemed to have nothing to do with Meredith other than offering him an opportunity to work off the tension her behavior had created. However, as his interactions with Meredith play out in the book, I realized that it served as a baseline of sorts for his behavior. Because of how Meredith is, there are times when Damien comes off as overly harsh and heavy-handed. By providing the earlier scene in the book, it kept me from seeing Damien as the abusive lout Meredith constantly accused him of being. Thankfully Ms. Greaves balanced out the main characters with a scary sadistic domme and Penelope. Oh my Penelope, you are such a delightful and naughty girl. The BDSM scenes are intense and they, along with Meredith’s fantasies, prove to be quite erotic. Interestingly, Reluctant Submission: Educating Meredith ends in such a way that leads me to believe that we may be seeing more of Meredith and Damien. One can only hope.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the #Spank of the Day: Reluctant Submission blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Rusty Knob by Erica Chilson Blog Tour


The townsfolk of Rusty Knob, West Virginia, see the Gillettes as ignorant wastes of space– worthless drunk sponges. As the youngest, Wynn may be a Gillette, but he doesn’t act, nor think like one. At only seventeen, he studies hard, plays basketball harder, and works the hardest.

Wynn is numb to his core, no longer feeling the hits that keep knocking him down to the ground. He’s unable to see the bright future laid out before him. Royce Kennedy, a distant relative, tries all he can do to save the youngest generation of Gillettes from the dark shroud of bitter ignorance infecting them via their neglectful upbringing.

Wynn’s studying is to the backdrop of drunken chaos, his relationship with friends and family are tainted by a narrow world view, and his life is filled with more questions than answers. His every dollar earned is bled dry come payday, only to have his parents piss it down the toilet or blow caustic smoke to billow in the air.

A warped sense of loyalty forces Wynn to be his family’s enabler, and he’s paying the ultimate price. With the support system of Royce, the mentor of the school district’s LGBTQ online community, and Wynn’s friends, they try to prove to Wynn he deserves anything he needs, whether he earns it or not. Growing up in an ignorant wasteland, he never learned love, friendship, and respect are unconditional, can never be purchased, and should never be abused.

Wynn Gillette is at a crossroads. One thing’s for sure, he cannot continue on this destructive path. Wynn has to end the only life he’s ever known, breaking the bitter legacy passed down from one generation to the next. One way or the other. Permanently.

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Book 1
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Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca



“Are men born with the ability to shut their ears to a woman?”

That warm feeling in my heart is radiating with the force of the Sun. I start chuckling. “Yeah, it’s our only defense against a woman’s momma voice.”

“Shush now, and eat your… plate of gray.” Penny sets our plates on the table, and then nudges my books to the side. “I’m sure it’s tasty.”

I swallow thickly as I stare down at the viscous mass glued to my plate. “Do we have any pepper?”

Penny growls, “No,” while never taking her eyes off of me.

“Kids, did you know kings and queens employ royal food testers to see if they’ve been poisoned?” I stick my fork into the funky-textured food. “We might be getting a dog… and some pepper.” I choke down a bite, holding back a shudder as my taste buds revolt.

Everyone digs in after I swallow.

I down half a glass of water, trying to flush away how it coats my tongue. It’s surprisingly tasteless. I’m not sure how Penny accomplished that feat.







In the interest of full disclosure, I will begin my review by telling you that I was one of the beta readers for Rusty Knob. For those of you who don’t know what a beta reader is, that means I was asked to read the book for storyline continuity, errors, flow, and my general impressions on it. As I have been a huge fan of Chilson’s writing since I stumbled upon her first book Restraint as a freebie three years ago, I was delighted for the opportunity to get my gritty little paws on Rusty Knob as it’s the author’s first venture in this genre – a full-fledged M/M coming of age novel. Although I typically read a book a day, I allotted myself several days for the beta read as I planned to read it twice because I wanted to help the author deliver you the best copy of her work possible. This turned out to be a good decision on my part because I found myself getting so caught up in the storyline that I forgot to look for errors – even on the second read through when I already knew what was going to happen. I was sucked in.

I absolutely loved Wynn and despised his parents and the life he was forced to live because of them. Yet because of it, Wynn knows who he is as a man even if he has no idea who he is as a sexual being. I identified with Wynn so much in this book – not the sexuality issue, but the wanting to do more with his life than tradition called for (and fortunately I had family support that he did not). Because Chilson presents the book from Wynn’s point of view, I felt and experienced his frustration, his confusion, his pain, his ah-ha moments, his relief once he became aware of his sexuality, his lust and love for that person, his anger, his elation, and his overwhelming love for his family (even those who didn’t deserve it). Chilson writes the first person point of view so beautifully that I find myself immersed in her characters (whatever the book) and I am loath for it to end, and Rusty Knob was no exception. Despite the maelstrom of emotions that Wynn experiences, I loved being in his head. Wynn is a good kid, a confused kid who has been forced to grow up long before he should have, but a good kid with a good heart who only wants the best for those he loves. But even Wynn has his breaking point and when he found his, I found myself grabbing for the tissues because I was bawling…on both reads. I repeat. I. Was. Sucked. In.

Now for your warnings. The beginning of Rusty Knob contains a lot of very authentic hillbilly speech, so if you are a reader who cannot deal with a book in which the dialogue is written as the words are spoken you may have an issue with early parts of the novel – but do soldier on because it’s so worth it. As someone who grew up in a redneck area, I recognized many of the ideals and misconceptions fostered by the older generations found in Rusty Knob and this added an authenticity to the book that will drive some readers bonkers because they won’t want to believe people still think and act this way. My final warning is borderline spoilerish so I’ll try to say it without spelling it out. Rusty Knob is a Coming of Age novel about a young man questioning his sexuality and as Wynn is a good kid, there are no full-on sex scenes. But don’t despair because this does not meant that the book is lacking in sexy fun times because what does occur once Wynn embraces his sexuality is HOT!

One of the many reasons I enjoyed Rusty Knob and Chilson’s writing in general is because she makes me laugh and cry and everything in between and it doesn’t matter whether it’s the first time I read the book or the fifth. For me, that’s the mark of a truly enjoyable book and a talented author. Thankfully I have a handful of authors whose writing affects me that way who I can call upon when I’m in need of a cathartic read. And in the case of Rusty Knob, Wynn’s journey is fraught with emotion and I enjoyed every single page of it. In case you haven’t figured it out, I loved Rusty Knob! While I am admittedly biased as Chilson is one of my favorite authors, I do so hope you take a chance and give it a read. As for me, I’m anxiously awaiting the beta read for its sequel and thanks to a rabid muse, I shouldn’t have too long to wait.








Erica Chilson does not write in the 3rd person, wanting her readers to be her characters. Therefore, writing a bio about herself, is uncomfortable in the extreme.

Born, raised, and here to stay, the Wicked Writer is a stump-jumper, a ridge-runner. Hailing from North Central Pennsylvania, directly on the New York State border; she loves the changes in seasons, the humid air, all the mountainous forest, and the gloomy atmosphere.

Introverted, but not socially awkward, Erica prides herself on thinking first and filtering her speech. There are days she doesn’t speak at all. If it wasn’t for the fact that she lives with her parents, giving her a sense of reality, she would be a hermit, where the delivery man finds her months after expiration.

Reading was an escape, a way to leave a not-so pleasant reality behind. Reading lent Erica the courage she gathered from the characters between the pages to long for a different life. Writing was an instrument of change, evolving Erica into the woman she is today- a better, more mature, more at peace thinker.

Erica has a wicked mind, one she pours out into her creations. Her filter doesn’t allow all of it to erupt, much to her relief. Sarcastic, with a very dark, perverse sense of humor, Erica puts a bit of herself into every character she writes.

Connect with Erica

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I was provided a free copy of Rusty Knob (Rusty Knob #1) by Erica Chilson to read and review.

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Barely Restrained by Brenda Cothern


Barely Restrained (Shadows, #3)Barely Restrained by Brenda Cothern

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Yet another awesome installment in the Shadows series. In Barely Restrained we are treated to Roni’s story. Because this is the third book and Roni is a bartender at Shadows and has been in the previous books, I knew what she was and what it meant for her to be a changer as we have met her preferred male and female forms before. But knowing that Roni is a changer doesn’t mean that Roni wasn’t a mystery because she has been a woman of few words despite her constant presence and we find out rather quickly, that there’s a lot about her that she hasn’t told her Shadows family about.

Despite the happiness of the couplings of her friends and co-workers, Roni only dates norms and by all indications, date is a rather generous term for those relationships. So when Zac happens to take notice of her and catch her eye while she’s bartending the Swingers’ Night event at Shadows, she’s relieved that he’s human. However, upon learning that he’s not unattached, she’s not sure that she wants to see where the mutual interest leads. When Zac returns not once, but twice and refuses to be dissuaded by the way she treats him in two of her alternate forms, she gives in to her curiosity and goes home with him. Because she recently accompanied Nick on an undercover venture – in yet another form – she was aware that Zac was in the kink lifestyle, even if she didn’t actually know what that meant. I appreciated that not only did Roni ask questions about Zac and Hunter’s lifestyle throughout the entire book, but also that they encouraged her questions, answered them, and made sure that she understood the information they gave her. This helped to forge a bond of trust between the three that was apparent during their play scenes – scenes that I must say were freaking hot.

There was more of a suspense element in Barely Restrained than in the previous books because Roni’s past was literally stalking her – and while she knew who it was, her refusal to think about it in order to preserve her sanity meant the reader was kept in the dark for quite a while. But when her stalker puts Zac’s life in danger, he learns that Roni is not the same scared pet he controlled years ago and I will only say that Roni proved just how big and bad she could be. As much as I hated the punishment that she was dealt because she thwarted her attacker permanently, it did set the occasion for Zac and Hunter to take care of her and prove to her just how important she was to them – especially when they saw her true form (which sounded pretty creepy when she described it) and did not reject her as she feared they would. Their acceptance of her made it easier for Roni to accept their offer to start a life together – one I expect to hear more about in the next book in the series, Embracing Sin.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Barely Restrained (Shadows, #3) by Brenda Cothern blog post at Crystal's Many Reviewers!


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Monday, August 24, 2015

At War by Andria Large


At War (War Trilogy #1)At War by Andria Large

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



The easiest way for me to express how much I enjoyed At War is to tell you that I got so caught up in the book that I devoured it in 3 hours AND, more importantly, forgot that it was the first book in a trilogy. The closer I got to 100% on my Kindle, the more I worried about how Ms. Large was going to wrap everything up. When I got to the end of the book, I was happy to be reminded that it was the first book in the trilogy. Why? Because that means I’ve got two more books in which I get to spend time with Dennis and Tucker. And I love, Love, LOVE these guys.

At War is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Dennis and Tucker are both veterans who returned from the war with injuries. Tucker lost most of his hearing, while Dennis lost part of his leg and his wife. Because both men suffer from PTSD and nightmares, we relive the events that led to their trauma and injuries and they were devastating. As scary as the scene was, Dennis’s suicide attempt and related depression enhanced the overall realism of his plight. What probably struck me most about the book, was that despite their pasts and everything Dennis and Tucker deal with on a daily basis, these two men retained their ability to laugh. While the sarcasm and humor increased over the course of the book as their relationship strengthened, the stuff they would think and say had me laughing out loud from the very beginning. As hot as the ménage scene was, it was the scenes of sexual exploration as Dennis and Tucker navigated their way through a type of relationship neither had ever contemplated before that really got my juices going. Of course, the pièce de résistance is when they fully commit to the love between them. Sigh!

I found the supporting characters that Ms. Large created to be almost as enjoyable as Tucker and Dennis. Duke was an absolute hoot. I enjoyed how his presence ignited Dennis’s jealousy and how they ultimately were able to become friends – their insult trading was another source of amusement for me. I loved the unwavering support that Dennis received from his sister throughout the entire book. It wasn’t so much a case of “he could do no wrong” in her eyes, but rather unconditional love; and it was vital to each of them considering the dreadful people they had for parents. While Tucker’s entire family was supportive of his adjustment to society, his hesitancy to tell them of his relationship with Dennis was sad. Yet Ms. Large managed to work in the most important source of approval from that camp from Tucker’s mom while she talked to Dennis during an extremely touching moment of lucidity. I loved reading At War and hope that Ms. Large is almost ready to release its sequel because I HAVE to know the answer to the question at the end of the book – not a cliffhanger, but certainly a dun-dun-duuuun moment.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the At War (War Trilogy #1) by Andria Large blog post at Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Texas Heat by R.J. Scott


Texas Heat (Texas, #3)Texas Heat by R.J. Scott

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Texas Heat finds us back on the DD ranch with the Campbell-Hayes family and another wedding. Both Riley and Jack are overseeing the expansion of each of their professional ventures. Of course the Campbell-Hayes clan does nothing by half-measure so the reader knows that while the ventures will be successful, they won’t be without drama. But this family is exactly that, FAMILY, and they will always do what they need to in order to insure they remain a strong family without stooping to the level of the previous patriarch of the Hayes family.

As part of the expansion at the DD, Jack hires on new staff to meet the increased work demands associated with the training of quarter horses. After an initial unintentional slight regarding Jack’s sexuality (which was laughable because Robbie is gay too), Robbie is welcomed into the fold without hesitation. I loved the first night’s dinner scene and how Hayley’s ease with his presence and the cooking rotation conversation dispelled any notions Robbie had about not being welcome inside the main house. However, once Riley’s friend Eli shows up and commandeers the DD for an underwear shoot – yeah, Jack’s still trying to figure out how he got roped into that one – Robbie is probably wishing he had moved on after his friend Neil’s wedding. Due to a health scare, Eli does his best to live his life to the fullest and Robbie quickly becomes part of that plan as they spend time together on the ranch. Theirs is most definitely NOT a drama-free courtship either.

What I enjoyed about Texas Heat is that Ms. Scott does a wonderful job of keeping Riley and Jack as the primary focus of the book and series, yet works in the stories of those people in their lives that are important to them. Robbie and Eli’s romance plays out well within the novel without overshadowing the main characters or getting so underplayed that it’s lost. Donna and Neil’s wedding was a wonderful way for the book to open and because Donna wasn’t the only one wondering how her wedding day was going to go in light of Jack’s recent protestations, it gave the author the opportunity to show Jack’s character grow more. The same can be said of Riley in regards to his sister Eden’s romantic relationship. And the scene at HayesOil when Riley’s mother shows up and proceeds to show the boys how to close a deal without them knowing they’re being finessed was perfect. I LOVED IT! That the author writes the continuation of Riley and Jack’s story in the midst of “life going on around them” adds an element of realism that I enjoy – as does their still smoking hot sex life. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series, Texas Family, to see just how much bigger the Campbell-Hayes family is going to get.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Texas Heat (Texas #3) by R.J. Scott blog post at Crystal's Many Reviewers!


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Sunday, August 23, 2015

Lust and Ice by M.A. Church


Lust and IceLust and Ice by M.A. Church

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I so enjoy it when a book contains a bit of a moral without being preachy and in Lust and Ice, Kain learns the lesson of karma – what goes around comes around. As the blurb says, Kain is a spoiled rich kid; actually all of the members of the Bad Boys Club seem to be. Whether it is due to his obscene wealth and the privileges it affords him or if he was just born that way, Kain seems to be very egocentric and doesn’t care about his sexual partners beyond the night. Granted, by all indications he is not so narcissistic that he leaves them hanging, but his insuring that they get their “O” is more a point of pride for his ability than any concern for their sexual satisfaction.

It is Kain’s cold and calculated way that attracts the attention of Asmodeus, the Prince of Lust and ruler of one of the seven circles of Hell. I found Kain’s sexual encounter with Jim quite amusing. The sex itself was pretty hot, but it was Asmodeus’s presence and commentary that added an unexpected bit of humor to the book. I also liked the inclusion of the gym scene as it gave the reader the perspective of someone outside of Kain’s circle of friends regarding his behavior and cemented the need for Kain to learn his lesson. I suppose it was only appropriate that it be a demon to teach Kain his lesson and as the demon of lust, Asmodeus was superbly capable of hammering home Kain’s comeuppance. While I realize that Lust and Ice is the first book in the series, I suspect that the next book, Into the Darkness, is not a continuation of Kain’s story – but I do so hope that we get a little information on how Kain is faring in his new position.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the #Throwback: Lust and Ice (The Bad Boys Club #1) blog post at Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Into the Darkness by M.A. Church


Into the Darkness  (The Bad Boys Club, #2)Into the Darkness by M.A. Church

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Into the Darkness takes place during the same night that Lust and Ice opens with, but it reveals the night’s events from the perspective of the brothers – Jordan and Allen. Just like their friend Kain, Jordan and Allen are among the elite VIPs at Night Moves and see each visit there as a chance to wager on who will capture their prey for the night first. While the brothers are definitely competitive (which plays out rather humorously later in the story), they have no problem sharing their man for the night and prefer to hunt tag-team style. And boy are their moves smooth and seductive! It’s no wonder so many men have fallen prey to them.

Alas, their preference for gingers leads them down the wrong path as their prey is actually a predator, just not one they’ve dealt with before…or ever will again…at least not as humans. Chaus is a vampire looking for his pet – something he has been doing for centuries. Much like Asmodeus in book one, Chaus is excited by the potential he detects among the members of The Bad Boys Club. That his search seems to have led him to two pets instead of one pleases him immensely. I like how Ms. Church includes at least one scene with the bad boy(s) of interest in each book so that I know that they are deserving of what happens to them. Karma definitely came a-callin’ on Jordan and Allen and it was hot. And funny when the brothers kept ratting each other out on sexual likes so that Chaus could force the other to orgasm faster. Competitive is an understatement. I found the BDSM aspect to the story to be an added bonus that played well with the brothers’ personalities. I enjoyed Into the Darkness and am looking forward to Haunting the Night to find out what happened to Hugh on this fateful night.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the #Throwback: Into the Darkness blog post at Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Haunting The Night by M.A. Church


Haunting The Night
Haunting The Night by M.A. Church

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



And then there were none. Haunting the Night brings us the final bad boy’s tale of woe as he falls prey to a more powerful predator… or does it? While each of the novelettes in The Bad Boys Club series can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading them in order as you’ll benefit from a fuller telling of the tales because not only do the bad boys talk about one another in each book, the supernatural creatures they have attracted reveal info about one another as well. And I do believe that Ms. Church saved the best for last with Hugh’s story. No, Hugh is no more likeable or redeemable than his friends – Kain, Jordan, and Allen – and Tobis is no more formidable of a supernatural than Asmodeus or Chaus. The reason I think I enjoyed Haunting the Night more than the others is that Hugh seems to be more self-aware of his deep, dark desires. This is not to say that he submits to Tobis without a fight, because he certainly does try to fight the werewolf’s claim on him. But because Hugh is not satisfied with the life his father has chosen for him and how he must deny his wants in order to maintain the image his father demands, Hugh is quicker to realize the freedom Tobis’s claim offers him. Once he does, he readily accepts his place as Tobis’s mate and it was hot! Gotta love a mating knot. I also enjoyed that the Epilogue was not just for Haunting the Night but also for the entire series, so we got to catch up with all of the boys to see how their new “lives” were. The Bad Boys Club has been an enjoyable series with Haunting the Night being my favorite installment.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the #Throwback: Haunting the Night blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Saturday, August 22, 2015

A Dom's Dilemma by Kathryn R. Blake


A Dom's DilemmaA Dom's Dilemma by Kathryn R. Blake

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A Dom’s Dilemma poses quite the reviewer dilemma for me because there were parts of the book I enjoyed immensely and then parts that irked me. Fortunately the parts I enjoyed were really good and balanced out the parts I didn’t. I found the romantic suspense element to be the best part of the book and it’s actually what saved the read for me. As gruesome as the perpetrated crimes were, it heightened the action in the book as well as the intrigue once they were linked to Kelly’s past. The criminal investigation and the stakeout were great and I loved how that part of the storyline played out. While I found Jim’s Dom-mode to be on just this side of bullyish, I liked that Ms. Blake tempered his personality with concern and caring for Kelly and showed him comfortable with what can only be described as sweet moments of affection. For the most part (the non-bratty part), I liked Kelly and loved that her antics often forced Jim to actively refrain from laughing (thankfully as the reader I didn’t have to hold my laughter).

As for what I didn’t like, my biggest complaint was that their relationship moved WAY TOO FAST. Even taking into consideration that Jim had been watching Kelly at the club for three years, the fact that she scurried away from him almost every time he approached means that he didn’t know her. So for him to suggest that they spend the weekend together after only playing together once in the club surprised me. But what absolutely flabbergasted me was that she accepted. Granted, she said no at first, but before their session was over for the night she changed her mind. With everything that occurred during their session pointing at a history of abuse, Kelly agreeing to spend a weekend alone in the home of a man whose presence terrified a week ago made absolutely no sense to me. When we learn later on in the book the extent of the abuse she suffered in the past, her decision to spend the weekend with him becomes even more questionable. As if that were not bad enough, Kelly’s declaration of love coming after spending the weekend together was unbelievable and only outdone by Jim returning the sentiment and asking her to move in within a week’s time of becoming her Dom. If this had been a new adult book I may have accepted the speed with which the relationship moved (<= notice I didn’t say developed), but at 28 and 35 they are too old for such rash relationship decisions, especially for people who have been in the lifestyle as long as they had. Considering the book’s length, the storyline would have been more palatable had the author shown their relationship developing over an extended time period rather than the less than two-week period we’re given.

That said, A Dom’s Dilemma is a well-written book that will make many readers happy. This is not the first book I have read by Ms. Blake, so I know it’s not an issue with her writing style. I just didn’t enjoy A Dom’s Dilemma as much as I had hoped I would. As I have enjoyed her writing in the past I know I will read more of Ms. Blake’s work. This is one of those times where the book didn’t fit the reader (me). I recommend you download a sample and try it out for yourself – just because I didn’t love, doesn’t mean you won’t.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the #Spank of the Day: A Dom’s Dilemma blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Sunday, August 16, 2015

Fallout by Lisa Henry & M. Caspian

Fallout
Fallout by Lisa Henry & M. Caspian

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Freaking hell that was a horrific story! I don’t know what I thought Fallout was going to be about, but it wasn’t this. And I really, Really, REALLY wasn’t expecting to have the bejeezus scared out of me…again, by Ms. Henry. While this is the first book I’ve read of M. Caspian’s, I have read two books by Ms. Henry before and one of them left me with a similar level of fear from just how real such a story could be. Fallout is one of those books in which, as the story unfolds, you stop expecting or even hoping for a happily ever after and start wondering if maybe death would be the happy ending because there really are some things people shouldn’t have to live through.

The book actually starts out harmless enough as Jack and Bastian are going camping for the weekend so that Jack can collect data for his PhD project. It’s clear from the outset that there is a boatload of tension between them and I got the impression that this was going to be a make it or break it weekend for their relationship. While my assessment was spot on, it certainly did not play out as I expected. Despite a rocky start when they have a run in with a biker gang, they make it to the campsite relatively unscathed and Jack gets in a good day of data collection. After another argument about Bastian’s back pain, flared tempers lead to an extremely heated round of rough sex, far rougher than I would have expected considering Jack’s concern about Bas’s back. But it seems like it’s exactly what the guys needed to reconnect and both the weekend and the relationship seem to be looking up. That is until they wake the next morning and see the results of a natural disaster raining down upon them and everything they can see around them. Due to his course of study, Jack knows that what they are seeing does not bode well and insists they leave the mountain and go back into town for safety, but when they arrive at the parking lot they find that the car has been vandalized. Jack has to leave Bas at the car and hike into town for help and THIS is where the story goes in a direction I never saw coming as Jack and Bastian learn just how evil and how good the human race can be.

Fallout is a very compelling read. Unfortunately it is missing some serious trigger warnings regarding extreme violence and sexual assault. If either of these are triggers for you or topics you don’t enjoy reading, this is NOT the book for you. But if these are not deal breakers for you and you enjoy books about the human condition, then I strongly recommend it. Fallout is a story about survival and the lengths to which a person will go to in order to survive – both as a victim (Bas) and as a protector (Jack). It’s not pretty and it’s not for the faint of heart. And because it takes place during a natural disaster, the realism factor ratchets up the intensity significantly. This is one of those books that as I read, I really had no idea as to whether or not Bas and/or Jack would survive and even if they did, would they really want to live with the knowledge of what they did to survive. I don’t want to go into specifics because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone else. I will say that I do love how the book ended and was glad to see that Grace and Nina were exactly what I thought they were. Fallout is on my shortlist of books that I may never read again, but because it affected me so deeply it’s a 5–star read.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

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Saturday, August 15, 2015

Taming Kat by Aubrey Cara


Taming KatTaming Kat by Aubrey Cara

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I really, REALLY enjoyed Taming Kat. I absolutely adored Kat. She’s mouthy, sassy, and independent almost to a fault – she is the classic hot-tempered redhead without being clichéd. At the same time, her inexperience with the opposite sex magnifies her insecurities, especially when faced with an attractive man outside of work and it’s even worse when she is faced with Caleb. Once Caleb enters the scene, it becomes abundantly clear why Kat’s insecurities rear their ugly head – the man is a seriously sexy alpha male whose voice alone can make her shiver.

Kat Martin moved to Texas to get away from her judgmental mother and sister in hopes that she could find out who she wanted to be. While she’s not happy waitressing at the local bar, she has to in order to make ends meet so that she can afford to work at the Circle F ranch – a job she enjoys because she gets to work outside, but not what she sees herself doing for the long haul. Despite having finally lost her v-card at twenty-five, her love life is still nonexistent and the only man she responds to is the one man she has no intention of being intimate with again – Caleb McCrae. But Caleb and fate have different plans for Kat and after being attacked when leaving work one evening, Caleb comes to her aid and she soon finds that the man she’s been avoiding is now the center of her life. Caleb’s constant presence flusters her because his threats to spank her both excite her and make her ashamed of her body’s responses. Thankfully she finds herself unable to hold out for long and as their relationship develops, the author treats us to a stimulating combination of hot sex and spanking as Caleb introduces Kat to the elements of BDSM that he enjoys. It was HAWT!

I have to say that Ms. Cara did something in this book that I do typically do not like, but she somehow managed to make it work in Kat and Caleb’s case. Within 24 hours of Kat’s attack, she and Caleb have sex. I usually find such a sequence of events unbelievable because the trauma from the assault would preclude sex both mentally and physically. And yet, I did not have that reaction this time. I don’t know how the author did it, but it actually felt right for them in my opinion. The interactions between Kat and Caleb are intense – the woman can argue most anything and has no problem standing up for herself. At the same time, she is sexually submissive in Caleb’s presence and this adds to the intimacy of their relationship. I was glad that Kat’s attacker was caught and couldn’t blame her one bit for the threats she made that evening, nor could I blame Caleb for laughing at her because the situation was hilarious. I really enjoyed Taming Kat and was excited when I learned that Ms. Cara has written two other books set in the same town about some of the characters I encountered in this book. I cannot wait to read them because I really liked her style of writing.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

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Sunday, August 9, 2015

My Life Without Garlic by Bailey Bradford


My Life Without Garlic (The Vamp for Me, #1)My Life Without Garlic by Bailey Bradford

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Is it wrong that I had no idea whatsoever that Ms. Bradford could write comedy? I’m not talking about a humorous scene here or a funny line there, but a full-fledged comedy. I laughed my butt off while reading My Life Without Garlic and I can only hope that with as snarky as the author made Augustin that that was her intent because that’s what made it a 5-star read for me.

As far as vampire stories go, the idea of a “fake” vampire dating site established by vampires to weed out the crazies was one I’ve never encountered before. Nor have I encountered a character as real and in your face as Augustin. I LOVED Augustin because he’s not perfectly chiseled and has a mouth on him that would make him one of my favorite people to hang out with. Augustin deals in sarcasm and snark and both increase significantly when he’s scared. Needless to say, learning that vampires do exist and that you might not be allowed to live because you have said knowledge sent his fear, sarcasm, and snark through the roof. And this is exactly why I loved this book. Rather than trembling in fear, Augustin faces the situation head on and does so hilariously.

Because My Life Without Garlic is a novella, the relationship between Augustin and Tony moves very quickly. There is an obvious physical attraction between the two men and it is hot! While they both fight moving beyond attraction, or at least admitting that it may be more than just physical, they do get to the love stage by the end of the book – which is typical of the other books I have read by Ms. Bailey. With this being the first book in the series, there were a lot of side characters introduced and most of them were quite delightful. I can only hope that the next book in The Vamp for Me series continues to center around this vampire coven because I look forward to hanging out with them all again.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

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Saturday, August 8, 2015

Captive's Desire by Natasha Knight


Captive's DesireCaptive's Desire by Natasha Knight

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Despite my love of sci-fi romances, I was very hesitant to review Captive’s Desire. I really wasn’t sure how Ms. Knight was going to successfully integrate a Domestic Discipline relationship into a futuristic setting and make it believable. Truth be told, the first time that Hayden spanks Olivia had me rolling my eyes due to its timing. However, because the author got right into the action within the first few pages of the book, I was already hooked by the sci-fi romance portion of the storyline so I continued on without hesitation. I thought that at the very least, I would find my enjoyment in that portion of the story and just deal with the spanking scenes as they occurred. However, the farther into the relationship that Ms. Knight took the reader, the more natural and more believable the spanking became to me.

When Olivia’s first solo mission and final test flight ends with her being shot down in the contaminated zone, she knows her life is over because no one can survive the poisoned air. When she is plucked from the crash site by a man, she is so overwhelmed by the crash and being caught by a rebel that she doesn’t realize that the poisoned air isn’t killing her. One by one, Olivia learns that much of what she was taught about the land and people outside of the dome is not true and that her government has been lying to her. While the idea of drugged air inside a government-controlled dome is not new, that doesn’t mean that Ms. Knight wasn’t able to make it work for her. I enjoyed how Olivia’s sexual awareness increased as the effect of the drugs left her system. The spanking which enraged and humiliated her in the beginning soon became a source of arousal and pleasure – even if done by her enemy. As a highly trained soldier, I actually wasn’t surprised that Olivia was submissive to Hayden because all of the information the reader receives about the government would indicate that they would seek out persons with submissive personalities as they could capitalize on it in training.

I enjoyed the way in which the relationship between Hayden and Olivia developed. Yes, there was a time or two when I felt like things were moving a little quickly, but I found it easy to dismiss in light of their situation. Due to the heavy emphasis on punishment spanking in the beginning of the relationship, I wouldn’t categorize it as a Domestic Discipline relationship because Olivia was technically Hayden’s prisoner. That said, I felt as though (after the first spanking) his punishment was appropriate to her transgressions. While I personally do not go in for humiliation, I understood where Hayden was coming from by wanting to make that particular punishment session as memorable as possible as failure to “learn her lesson” was not an option. And as the relationship progressed, it began to look more like the Domestic Discipline relationships I’m accustomed to. The actual sci-fi portion of the storyline proved to be action-packed and really upped the ante when Olivia had to go back to the dome, but because I don’t want to spoil the story for potential readers I will say that Ms. Knight did an excellent job at satisfying my inner sci-fi romance junkie. I found Captive’s Desire to be a thoroughly enjoyable read and look forward to checking out more of the author’s work.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

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Friday, August 7, 2015

The Temptress by C.J. Fallowfield


The TemptressThe Temptress by C.J. Fallowfield

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


As a fan of Ms. Fallowfield’s For the Night series I was excited to get the chance to read more of her work and The Temptress proved to be just as enjoyable of a read. I found the way in which the author began the book by alternating chapters in the present with those from the past worked well to set the stage for the conflict that would play out later in the book. We were afforded a view of Lulu today and how she compared to the Lulu of six years ago and how her personal life came to be what it is. This not only helped me to connect with her character, but gave me a perspective into her mindset as she was torn between whether or not she could allow herself to fall in love with Luc.

I found the concept of Lulu’s business intriguing and the scene in the beginning when she had to fire one of her employees for breaking one of the company’s most important rules illustrated how seriously she took her venture. It was because of her standards that I found myself shocked when she accepted Mrs. Le Grand’s assignment – actively enticing a man to cheat is one thing, but to be willing to fabricate evidence seemed to be the antithesis of Lulu’s business model and contrary to what I had learned of her character up to then. Yet it was necessary for the story to move forward and provide an opportunity for Luc to reenter her life. As Luc tries to convince Lulu that they deserve a future together, she does her best to stick to her convictions to not get involved with a married man – not even one who is in a loveless marriage of convenience and who has never once cheated on his wife. The alternating past-present format provides the reader the opportunity to be seduced by Luc as Lulu was and to experience the sizzling attraction between them and compare it to the way they respond to one another in the present. Not to mention we were treated their first night together and it was HAWT!!! It seems as though Luc may have been cut from a similar cloth as Logan Steele when it came to sexual prowess and his willingness to exert his will to get what he wanted – and I loved it. The inclusion of chapters from Luc’s point of view enriched the story for me immensely as I got to see how he dealt with the various obstacles that appeared as they worked toward an eventual future together. And the showdown with Mrs. Le Grand at the end of the book was tremendously pleasing to watch. There is another relationship that is built in The Temptress that I won’t explain because of spoiler issues, but its development tugged at my heartstrings several times.

My only real complaint about the book is that I found Lulu’s surprise at Mrs. Le Grand’s “trump card” a tad unbelievable. With Lulu running an investigation firm and making use of background checks on a regular basis, the thought that she would not expect an obscenely wealthy woman as connected as Mrs. Le Grand not to have run a background check and investigation on her didn’t ring true. Other than that minor detail, I found the book to be a real treat to read. I also liked that the author included cameos from a few characters from the For the Night series and did so in such a way that fans of that series will enjoy seeing them again, yet those who have not read it will not feel as though they’re missing out on any backstory. And I’m glad that I read Ménage for the Night prior to this book so that I had a better appreciation of who Trey was. The Temptress was a wonderfully stimulating erotic romance and I look forward to catching up with Coco, Hunter, and Dominic in All That Glisters.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

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Thursday, August 6, 2015

Lead Me Home by Candi Wall

Lead Me Home
Lead Me Home by Candi Wall

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Having met Chloe and Nick in the first book in the series, Bring Me Home, I was looking forward to reading their story in Lead Me Home. The pleasant surprise I discovered when I began reading the book is that it takes place after Bring Me Home rather than during the same time period. Chloe has returned to Dead End, Texas to spend a few days with her best friend Miya and hopefully get a fresh perspective for the magazine she works for. While there, she and Nick agree upon a no-strings attached weekend – each of their personal preference for “relationships” – and all goes well until Nick decides that once might not be enough. Chloe might be used to a man getting more attached than agreed upon, but what she isn’t used to is wanting more herself and realizing that she might be feeling more for Nick than sexual attraction sends her back to New York lickety-split. But Nick isn’t going to let a couple thousand miles come between him and the first woman who has ever made him want more than a night or two, so when the opportunity to face Chloe on her home turf arises, he’s on his way to New York to show her just how good cowboy lovin’ can be.

I loved the banter between Chloe and Nick. Their competitive nature made for one of the more amusing book openers I’ve ever read and while Lead Me Home is not a romantic comedy, it has plenty of laugh-inducing scenes throughout. While this is the second book in the Home is Where the Heat Is series and can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading Bring Me Home first because you’ll not only get a better picture of Dead End, Texas, you’ll also get a better picture of who Chloe is in her interactions with Miya and Shawn. It also helps prevent the insta-love feel the book may have for someone who hasn’t read book one first as Chloe and Nick met in that book and their attraction was immediate. The sexual chemistry between Chloe and Nick is intense and this makes for some seriously steamy sex scenes. One of the things that I really enjoyed was that Nick didn’t take Chloe’s rejection at face value and persisted in his pursuit of her. He realized that she was a lot like him when it came to relationships and kept at her until she admitted why she was so resistant to “more.” Lead Me Home was a great addition to the series and I look forward to the next book to see what else Dead End, Texas has to offer.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Lead Me Home (Home is Where the Heat Is #2) by Candi Wall blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Hell or High Water by Julie Ann Walker


Hell or High Water (Deep Six, #1)Hell or High Water by Julie Ann Walker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

I’m going to start my review off with a warning to Key West residents and geography buffs, if you can’t read a book without getting stuck on some of the geographical details that Ms. Walker takes liberty with, then don’t bother – you’ll be missing out on a great book, but you’ll avoid the heartburn. As geography is NOT my strong suit and I actually have no problem with an author shifting the locations of real places to suit his or her story, it was not a sticking point for me. So if you’re a reader who can go with the flow and you enjoy romantic suspense novels, then I suggest you dive right in (pun intended) and enjoy the adventure because Hell or High Water delivers the gut-wrenching action and suspense I’ve come to expect from Ms. Walker’s storytelling…and this time it’s in a much warmer climate.

While fans of Ms. Walker will likely draw parallels between the men of Deep Six and the Black Knights Inc. as in both cases we are dealing with some seriously sexy and dangerous alpha males, this band of ex-SEALs and their salvage company is not a front for a black ops group. Deep Six is an actual salvage company with their eye on finding a sunken treasure before the lease on the island that Leo’s family holds expires. And while you can take the SEAL out of the Navy, you can’t take the SEAL out of these six guys, especially when the request for help comes with a hefty payday that will fund their treasure hunt, but more importantly when it comes from Leo’s “the one that got away” – Agent Olivia Mortier. What follows is a high octane adventure as Deep Six faces off against a band of terrorists and a CIA mole in a race to retrieve the makings for one of the most dangerous chemical weapons known to the military. Of course no Walker novel would be complete without a searing romance and Leo and Olivia seem out to prove that if it’s worth having, it’s worth fighting for in the first book of the series.

As a fan of Ms. Walker’s writing, I was excited when I learned that she was writing a new series (I actually squealed out loud when I read the email). As a resident of Key West for 13 years, my excitement level rose when I learned that it was set on and around the island because seriously, what better place is there to set a novel about treasure hunting ex-SEALs? So forgive me if I seem a bit fangirly because I not only got to read a book set in my backyard, I got to read a book by one of my favorite romantic suspense authors…set in my backyard. All that aside, the author does a great job of introducing the men of Deep Six so that we get to know some better than others in this installment, giving us friends we’ll see in the next installment while leaving an air of mystery around the others to give us even more to look forward to. Not surprisingly – at least not to me – Leo and Olivia proved to be a great match. Their banter was entertaining, their resolve to get the job done was equally matched, and their chemistry was hotter than the Caribbean sun. Leo definitely knew how to make the most of cramped spaces and held nothing back when it came to making sure Olivia was taken care of – physically, emotionally, and sexually. The ending of Hell or High Water was perfect and already has me craving the next book in the series. Well done Ms. Walker, you seem to have created a new series that has the same feel as the Black Knights Inc. without leaving me feeling as though I’ve already read the book. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for the men (and women) of Deep Six.

Check out the Hell or High Water by Julie Ann Walker Spotlight Tour post on Wicked Reads.


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Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Must Love Cakes by Virginia Nelson

Must Love Cakes
Must Love Cakes by Virginia Nelson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Must Love Cakes was a quick and sexy read as Carolyn finds out that her two best friends may want more than just friendship. When Carolyn gets dumped by her current boyfriend via text [insert nasty derogatory thought about boyfriend], she calls in Grady and Ben to accompany her to an important social outing so that she doesn’t have to face her ex alone. Because of the conversations between Grady and Ben that the reader is privy to, it was not a surprise that they did so nor that they were more than happy to play mind games with her ex when he acts like a jerk during the party. And while the public make-out session was hot, Carolyn fled the party to go home alone because she couldn’t bear finding out whether or not the guys meant it – and she wasn’t sure which answer she really wanted.

As a plus-size gal, Carolyn has plenty of insecurities about her looks and cannot believe that her super-hot besties would be attracted to her at all. Because of this, I was excited for her when she realized that the guys really did want her; at the same time, I understood her reservations when she thought she had to choose between them. With the way both of the guys stood up for her and how much their friendship meant to all of them, I got why she wasn’t willing to risk it, especially with the guys’ track record. Thankfully for everyone (the reader included) Ben and Grady were willing to talk about the issue – or stop talking about it and act on it in Grady’s case. Once they were able to make Carolyn understand that they were interested in a relationship between the three of them and how very little would change from what it currently was, the sex scene that followed was both sweet and hot as can be. Unfortunately this is a novella and the story ended far too soon for my liking – mainly because I wanted to see more of the trio, bedroom time included. While Must Love Cakes is the third book in the Watkins Pond series, I read it as a standalone and enjoyed it without having read the prior books in the series. If you’re looking for a short and steamy ménage romance, then you might want to check this one out.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

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Monday, August 3, 2015

Snowcroft Safehouse by Christi Snow


Snowcroft Safehouse (Snowcroft Men, #2)Snowcroft Safehouse by Christi Snow

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Snowcroft Safehouse was one heck of a ride. The prologue is explosive and starts the book off with a bang…literally. Despite already looking forward to reading this book, Ms. Snow managed to hook me in even further and I was quickly immersed in Declan’s story as he finds himself in the Witness Protection Program – the only surviving member after his rock band was targeted by a mobster. I liked that the author included a note at the end of the book stating that she took procedural liberties regarding WITSEC within the story, but for me it was unnecessary as I had no problem going with the flow as Declan was transferred from the custody of the US Marshalls to the FBI for his protection. The believability factor was upped after Declan and Law’s conversation about the homophobic agents Declan was forced to deal with and that Law just so happened to have access to property in Snowcroft, New Mexico.

As it’s been over a year since I read Snowcroft Lost, I wasn’t sure of how welcoming the community would be to Finn (Declan’s alias) as an openly gay man. However, Law managed to make Finn’s sexuality a non-issue by obtaining him employment in a job that guaranteed him immediate acceptance into the community – the middle school band teacher. I enjoyed how fate kept throwing Finn and Jack into one another’s paths – at Jack’s bar, the music store, and the middle school as Jack’s daughter quickly became Finn’s most promising student. Despite Jack being firmly in the closet and having no intention of coming out of it in fear of how it would impact his daughter and Finn not wanting a relationship with anyone while having to lie about his identity, neither man is able to resist the other for very long. The chemistry between Finn and Jack is intense and the sex scenes between the guys are hot. But when Declan’s survival becomes public knowledge and his past comes back to finish off the job, Jack and his daughter get caught in the crossfire and Declan’s chance at a happily ever after is at risk.

Snowcroft Safehouse definitely delivered on the action. I was quite surprised with just how far Ms. Snow took the story in regards to Declan facing off against the mobster at the end of the book, but it certainly added to the suspense. In addition to the relationship that Declan (Finn) is building with Jack, we are treated to the bond that is forged between Declan and Law. Although the underlying circumstances are different, the fact that both men suffer from PTSD and are able to understand the other’s suffering and lend support as needed added to the richness of Declan’s character. It also laid the foundation for Law’s book – which I look forward to reading once it’s released. Fans of Snowcroft Lost will be pleased to know that Trevor and Jamie do make an appearance in this installment so we get to find out how they are faring. Snowcroft Safehouse was an excellent addition to the Snowcroft Men series and I cannot wait for Snowcroft Restoration.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

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Sunday, August 2, 2015

The Captain's Pet by Samantha Cayto


The Captain's Pet (Alien Slave Masters, #1)The Captain's Pet by Samantha Cayto

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Captain’s Pet was an interesting twist for me. While I have read some M/M sci-fi romance, the majority of the genre that I have read in which the human becomes an alien’s sex slave have been those in which the sex slave is a human female. So for me this was a new twist on a classic plot in the sci-fi romance genre. And I REALLY liked it.

The Travians are a matriarchal society, with the males being the warriors and the females having the political power. When Wid and some of his acquaintances are caught vandalizing Travian property on a disputed planet, they find themselves sentenced to duty on a Travian ship – as sex slaves. Because of how the Travian is society is structured, there is no infidelity should a mated male take on a male lover; actually, a mated female can replace her male mate with another at any time or add a second male mate to the family. As the captain of the ship, Kell is expected to accept the “gift” of one of the sex slaves even if he feels that having a “pet” will be a burden on his time. Although Wid didn’t know it at the time, he was fortunate that the captain found his fair-hair intriguing as he narrowly escaped being chosen by the sadistic second in command. Contrary to one of his fellow captive’s laughable suggestion that being gay would make it easier for Wid to endure being Kell’s sex slave, Wid wanted nothing to do with the situation. Despite their less than ideal start, Wid eventually begins to see Kell as more than his captor and vice versa, until affection (not love) develops between the men. But this closeness does not discourage Wid and the others from plotting their escape. When a mutiny occurs, the human pets find themselves under the control of much harsher masters and they must choose between the devil they know (their old masters) and the devil they don’t (their new masters). Fortunately for Kell and those loyal to him, it wasn’t a difficult decision for the humans to make.

I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Kell and Wid. There was no instant love between the men and in fact there were times when Kell’s behavior would undo the progress he had made with Wid. The eventual bond that forms does not occur because of Stockholm syndrome, but rather two men getting to know one another. I loved how Wid’s opinion of Kell changed when he overheard part of Kell’s conversation with his mate. In the same vein, I liked how Kell developed an appreciation for why the humans refused to leave the disputed planet after talking to Wid – there wasn’t much he could do with the information externally, but it did shape his opinions on the humans and their plight. While the sex was indeed hot between Kell and Wid, the true action was when the human pets took their fate into their own hands and came to the rescue of their masters. Kell and his men were forced to exercise a level of trust in the humans they weren’t accustomed to and it made for a more interesting fight. Kell’s final battle and subsequent adrenaline relieving activity was the height of alpha male dominance and it was freaking awesome. As The Captain’s Pet is the first book in the Alien Slave Masters series, I can only hope that Ms. Cayto gives fans the opportunity to catch up with Kell and Wid again as she spins someone else’s tale, but either way, my eyes are peeled for book two.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

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