3.5 Average sorta romance with a very young adult feel. Also with undertones of Grey by E.L James. I enjoyed the traumatic and ongoing backstories fro3.5 Average sorta romance with a very young adult feel. Also with undertones of Grey by E.L James. I enjoyed the traumatic and ongoing backstories from both characters here more than the romance....more
yeah wow. What starts as an indecent proposal becomes so much more. I had a few quibbles but couldn't put this down. Different than anything I've readyeah wow. What starts as an indecent proposal becomes so much more. I had a few quibbles but couldn't put this down. Different than anything I've read before....more
Liked this way better than 50 Shades even if it was just a money grab on James' partLiked this way better than 50 Shades even if it was just a money grab on James' part...more
Opening Line: “Javier Corbray walked into the ICON Bar in the Radisson Blu Hotel, his gaze travelling over the dim interior taking it all in at once -Opening Line: “Javier Corbray walked into the ICON Bar in the Radisson Blu Hotel, his gaze travelling over the dim interior taking it all in at once -the upscale décor, the busy wait staff, the near-to-capacity crowd of expats enjoying Happy Hour. It wasn’t his scene.”
I’m so glad I read this sexy little prequel before starting Striking Distance. A big thank you to Pamela Clare for not just leaving this extended prologue on the editing room floor but sharing 60 fantastic pages with us readers instead.
As an erotic novella First Strike stands perfectly fine on its own; you get to know the couple, it’s sexy as hell and you get a virtual vacation for a weekend in Dubai. But where it really makes a difference is once you get into the meat of their story in Striking Distance (which takes place 3 years later.) By starting here you’re left with a deeper understanding of the characters and who they were. Yeah some “stuff” goes down in the interim that changes everything, so be prepared for the cliff-hanger ending here.
First Strike spans a weekend, just 3 days between two passionate and confident equals who know what they want and go for it. Navy Seal Javier Corbay is between assignments and spending a couple days downtime in Dubai City when he meets broadcast journalist Laura Nilsson in a hotel bar. She’s confident, sexually assertive and just what he needs. Adding to the excitement of their agreed upon no-strings encounter is the fact that they can’t touch each other in public and of course it can’t be known that Javier’s visiting her hotel room every night as this would be breaking the law. I loved this forbidden love aspect as it added an edge of suspense and naughtiness to their affair.
As I said Javi and his “Baghdad Babe” know what they want and they don’t mess about. Personally I would have liked a bit of foreplay before they just started banging each other up against the hotel room wall, but they’re so into each other it’s a wonder they made it indoors let alone into the bedroom, so yeah I get it. Plus as an erotic quickie this is along the lines of what I was expecting.
In saying that though they do still manage to get in a little sightseeing (I loved the exotic location) and enough dialogue so that this ended up feeling more like a super sexy back story than real erotica. I’ll admit though there were still a couple of moments when I was like yeah, yeah get on with it because they were at it again:)
Between all the humping you really do get to know these individuals though and by the end (just like the characters) you’re left wanting more. Lots more. I liked how the intensity of their weekend fling caught them both off guard. *Sigh* the postcard.
Pamela Clare is just the best, she has managed to make this short lived relationship feel like much more than what it is in the mere 60 pages provided. Don’t skip this. Cheers.
Um Wow. So this was not what I was expecting and I couldn’t be happier. For some reason I put off reading “Bite the apple Evie, it’ll blow your mind.”
Um Wow. So this was not what I was expecting and I couldn’t be happier. For some reason I put off reading this book for ages (I think it’s because the cover is just not good) which is unfortunate because Beyond Eden turned out to be one of the better kinky books (BDSM) I’ve ever read. Even now, a week later as I plug along trying to get my review done the characters, story (yes there is one) magic of true love and web of emotions linger. There were just so many things I liked about this story, which I’ll be honest, took me out of my comfort zone more than once but that’s a good thing right?
This whole book is one long drawn out, extended and delicious sex scene. No I mean it, page after page after page of it, but it works because it’s not the same. It’s always different, always changing, revealing itself as layers are peeled away. With each action in the bedroom some kind of emotion or revelation is exposed, nothing is wasted here. I usually find with the erotica when there’s this much bangin the plot suffers but Kele Moon has managed a captivating storyline too. Honestly I can’t stop thinking about this book.
Since there’s already a ton of great reviews out there I won’t go into a synopsis here, I’ll just give you some of my feelings. Ha, now where to start there?
Beyond Eden is a love story, although obviously not in the typical sense; first off there are three people involved, and then of course there’s the whole BDSM scene and the fact that one of our characters has an extreme pain fetish. So yeah, it tends to go to some darker places.
Ultimately this wasn’t an easy read, (which is crazy because I couldn’t stop reading it either) but there were times when I absolutely hated one of the heroes. I couldn’t believe what he was doing to someone he supposedly loved. I mean granted I don’t “get” the whole Dom/sub relationship but this; this “Master” who was also his best friend and lover was too much. As I said earlier though Moon peels the layers away and suddenly you come to understand why he’s doing what he’s doing and you see the love.
Yeah I’m talking about Danny, what a complex character. He did redeem himself to me in the end though and became one of the most intriguing people in the book (which I guess is why I’m still thinking about him.) Evie was another of my favourites. She was the lightness here, all free spirited and quirky, our guide if you will, because it’s through her ”vanilla” eyes that we get to learn and experience the BDSM lifestyle. And Paul, what can I say about him? He sorta broke my heart.
This was a story that surprised me, tested me and haunted me. It’s complicated, tangled, intense, obsessive, violent, forbidden, shameless and beautiful. And oh it’s good. Cheers
**Thanks to NetGalley and Ellora's cave who provided a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. 364jb45...more
There seems to be a lot of mixed reviews for Love The Sinner and while it’s not without its faults it worked for me so Yay. The story piqued my intereThere seems to be a lot of mixed reviews for Love The Sinner and while it’s not without its faults it worked for me so Yay. The story piqued my interest immediately with its intriguing premise; that of a notorious gang leader and a NYPD detective getting together.
Talk about your forbidden love, how the hell is this relationship ever going to get a HEA? I’m also a bit of a sucker when it comes to the gay-for-you romances and ‘Gabe’ as our cop hero has never even looked at another man ”like that” let alone one of his collars. Their first meeting in the interrogation room is all kinds of hot; these polar opposites have sparks and chemistry literally jumping off the pages and I was excited to see where this attraction would go.
Unfortunately that’s where the author missed a fantastic opportunity because instead of drawing out this delicious spark our boys get very familiar very fast. Too fast. She pulls the insta-love card, so that by chapter 2 our straight cop and his Latin lover have not only got it on but are falling in love too. What?!
As well as being a wasted opportunity I had a tough time believing that a man who has never even thought about gay sex would suddenly be up for… anything. Wouldn’t he be weirded out a bit at first and need to take things slowly? I mean his world has just imploded. Yeah their first rough kiss is smoking hot but some pages of foreplay before they humped each other would have been a good idea too. On that note the sex scenes are steamy and plentiful.
There were also moments when both men got a little too bitchy for the tough guys they were meant too be, a few too many tears, emotion and waxing poetic while they were establishing their relationship I sometimes felt like I was reading about girls not cops and gang leaders but whatever.
I did like this book though, the writing is good (there was editing) and I enjoyed the plot even if it wasn’t that deep. There are some decent action scenes and the ever present forbidden love aspect carried through. I wasn’t sure how our couple was going to be able to have a future together and enjoyed how Ashton pulled that together even if the last pages were a little sweet for my taste, it still made me smile.
Detective Gabriel Ashby is straight. But his whole world is about to get rocked when he steps into the interrogation room and locks eyes on Angelo Pagen, one of NYPD’s most wanted and leader of the infamous Los Pescadores gang. There is no explanation for the sudden intense attraction he feels for this criminal staring back at him, taunting him and ultimately haunting his dreams. Living on two different sides of the law this attraction spells suicide for both men. When they meet again it’s during a police raid, Gabe is going to take down his target and send him to jail for a long time and that’s when Angelo locks eyes with the Cop from across the warehouse and shoots him. Which I suppose is one way to start up an illicit affair. ...more
Well holy hell this was fun, a totally addictive read, sucking me right into the underground world of the motorcycle club. I wasn’t actually sure thatWell holy hell this was fun, a totally addictive read, sucking me right into the underground world of the motorcycle club. I wasn’t actually sure that I would like this, I mean I’m not really into reading about woman being considered property but once again my GR’s friends steered me in the right direction, this is so much more than it appears on the surface. Joanna Wylde has also done her homework in regards to showing the ins and outs of club life, so that as well as this being an off the charts, anything goes, sexy-time read it’s also utterly fascinating. Who knew the MC world was such a secret society with so many of its own customs and rules?
Yeah I’ll admit this is also downright outrageous at times, even shocking but it’s a ton of fun, hilarious, romantic, and impossible to put down. Just a great bit of escapism that any of (us) Sons Of Anarchy fans will love.
I was initially a little thrown by our hero “Horse” LOL, yeah that’s right (because he’s hung like one) He is obnoxious, uber alpha, into all sorts of illegal business –which is never deluged just described as “club business” don’t go there. He’s a total chauvinist, considers women property but thank god he’s got soft side too. Pretty much from the moment he meets Marie he’s fucked. He wants her, has to have her and is willing to do anything to get her. I think even he was shocked by the intensity of his feelings. Marie was a great heroine too, adventurous, spirited a bit naïve and loyal to a fault. I had a good time being in her head.
Marie Jenson has just split from her abusive, cheating husband and moved back into the trailer she grew up in with her brother. Her Mom is spending a bit of time in jail so for the time being it’s just the two of them. That’s when the Reapers Motorcycle club comes calling. Her stoner brother is doing some *cough*“web design” for the club and as much as these tattooed badass bikers scare her they also intrigue her especially the one they call Horse, him she can’t top thinking about (me either). The last thing she needs right now though is another man laying claim to her and she can’t help but be wary of his criminal lifestyle and the way he watches her.
Everything goes to shit however when her brother is caught stealing from the club, now they need to be paid in blood or they’re going to kill him. Marie is blood and until her brother finds a way to pay the Reaper’s back, they own her. She’s got 20 minutes to pack a bag before they torch the trailer, then she’s Property of the Reapers, Horse’s very own house mouse. But he may be getting more than he bargained for from this “sweet butt.”
All in this was a great read, I was surprised by how into it I got and how sigh worthy romantic this ended up being. I can’t wait to continue on with the series. 430jb4.5
Opening Line: “My handler is late. I’m on my third Chardonnay of the evening, waiting in the dimly lit bar of my two-star hotel.”
I went into Agent Of Opening Line: “My handler is late. I’m on my third Chardonnay of the evening, waiting in the dimly lit bar of my two-star hotel.”
I went into Agent Of Desire completely blind after receiving an ARC from the author. Lucky me though because this sexy little spy thriller turned out to be a great read. First off I really enjoyed the writing, with its slick, fast paced storyline (containing plenty of twists and turns) and strong, self-assured heroine who goes after what she wants. I’m not usually one for the kickass females but Jessica aka “Lori” kept me smiling here with her witty inner dialogue and veracious sexual appetite.
I think my favourite thing about this novella though would have to be the setting. Ah Paris, and author Charlie Evans does it justice. Her descriptions are just fabulous, in particular the section where “Lori” walks the River Seine at night which managed to transport me back to the city of lights. In that moment I too could smell the French coffee from one of the many café’s and recalled my own reaction at seeing the Eifel tower off in the distance as the entire city reflected off the gently lapping canal.
I guess my only real complaint here would be the lack of any form of sexual tension. Our heroine just gets down to it without any preamble, buildup or even much foreplay. It’s all very alpha and liberating but because of this wham-bam aspect I never felt any real connection to her assorted lovers. Speaking of which she’s a pretty lucky girl because all the men she beds here have huge… is that gunna fit…members. LOL
Jessica Booker is a CIA agent in Paris on her second assignment. In her own words she’s “already over the whole international-woman-of-mystery thing.” After sitting a desk job for the last year in Ireland she’s realized that being a spy is nothing like what you see in the movies and subsequently has been forced to keep herself entertained however and whenever she can.
But Paris is a whole different game and this becomes apparent when her new handler turns out to be none other than the “hot teacher from training camp.” But schools out, he’s no longer her instructor, and now all bets are off.
“Sims takes a sip of his bourbon without breaking eye contact, and I can’t help but feel like he’s drinking me.”
Distractions aside, Jessica does have a job to do. What a shame (wink) that her latest assignment is going to involve seducing a gorgeous French computer genius. Before long she and the hunk are on the run and no one is who they appear to be. Come to think of it, Jessica’s not even sure what she’s protecting anymore. With rogue agents, motorcycle chases, gun play, scaling buildings, and hiding out from double crossing agents she’ll be lucky to come out of this assignment intact. Worst of all she might just be developing feelings for the hottie computer nerd.
Can’t wait to read more from the Jessica Booker series. Cheers.
Thanks Charlie **A copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. ** ...more
Opening Line: "I have survived day three post-Christian, and my first day at work."
Okay now I get what all the fuss has been about. I’m so glad I deciOpening Line: "I have survived day three post-Christian, and my first day at work."
Okay now I get what all the fuss has been about. I’m so glad I decided to continue on with this series after the confusion and bizarreness of ”Grey”. That book was just all over the place for me, very juvenile, and well weird, I think I actually called it YA erotica. Thankfully the characters and writing has matured here and because of this “Darker” turned out to be just a fantastic read. Granted I am a sucker when it comes to the tortured, messed up heroes and with Christian I couldn’t ask for any more shades of f-d up. Especially with his past slowly being reveled throughout, yup, I fell hard.
His lifestyle choices and need for absolute control finally made sense to me so that he didn’t just come across as overbearing and stalkerish. His actions actually made me sad. That scene where he falls to his knees and begs Ana not to leave him and submits to her… Jeez so unexpected and heartbreaking. I actually fell a bit in love with him myself there. Up until that point his over protective, stalker tendencies had kept me wary. Even Ana grew on me here, finally having grown a pair she at last became a worthy companion for Christian and ultimately the one in control of the relationship. Who woulda guessed?
I liked that this story involved a bit of suspense, and I enjoyed a return to the emails which as well as being fun and playful were a way for our characters to show their true selves while hiding behind the mean machine and Blackberry. Ana’s triple axel, back flipping, pouting, cheering inner goddess again kept me in stiches.
On a personal note I would have kept Ana and Christian broken up a bit longer. I mean what was it, like 5 days? Hardly worthy of all the angst and weight loss, plus a longer separation would have made their getting back together that much more meaningful and explained how they were able to grow and be willing to change for each other to not have to face that pain again. I guess I’m also just a bit twisted because I wanted to see them heartbroken, making bad decisions and missing each other longer.
My only real issue with “Darker” would be the very last scene which felt tagged on solely for the purpose of introducing a third book, it was unnecessary. We the readers were already going there. Cheers 335jb5 ...more
Opening Line: “I stare up through gaps in the sea-grass parasol at the bluest of skies, summer blue, Mediterranean blue, with a contented sigh.”
Well IOpening Line: “I stare up through gaps in the sea-grass parasol at the bluest of skies, summer blue, Mediterranean blue, with a contented sigh.”
Well I don’t know what all the haters are on about but I loved this final book in the Fifty Shades trilogy. In fact for me each book just got better, with “Freed” becoming my favourite. Granted I had a few issues, like the constant Mr. Grey/Mrs. Grey every single time they addressed each other, which was all cute and newlywedish at first and then just proceeded to drive me crazy. But I still had trouble putting this one down; I'm such a sucker when it comes to the tortured hero so I understood my falling for Christian but Ana surprised me and I came to appreciate her as she grew a backbone and learned how to handle her man and his many moods.
Plus there’s an actual story here; I mean stuff happens other than in the playroom. We get car chases, assorted stalkers, blips, kidnappings, bar fights, car accidents, drunk Christian, out of control Christian, raging Christian, playful Christian, needy fucked up Christian it was just such an all-out emotional journey and managed to leave me shocked several times. I also found it fascinating to watch Christian lose control and for Ana take it, not what I was expecting as all his shades finally made sense.
Ana’s hilarious inner goddess is still with us and I was happy to see the inclusion of more sexy, fun, playful or in this case argumentative e-mails as Ana tries to stand her ground against a very controlling and used to being in charge Christian. These things were part of what separated Fifty from the Twilight universe for me and also why James’ writing grew on me since that first book which felt immature, you could really hear her voice here and I now can’t wait to see what she writes next.
I also loved the ending which finally “freed” Christian and left me in a very happy place; it just felt so complete, like okay you guys are going to make it, thanks for the journey. Of course this could have something to do with the many assorted epilogues we get, my favourite being the inclusion of Christian’s Midnight Sun-ish POV first meeting of Ana. As a friend said, I would read the whole series again from inside his head -as fucked up as it might be. Laters.
“I need control Ana. Like I need you. It’s the only way I can function. I can’t let go of it. I’ve tried… And yet, with you…” He shakes his head in exasperation. I swallow. This is the heart of the dilemma -his need for control and his need for me. I refuse to believe these are mutually exclusive.”
“Do you want a drink?” I ask super sweetly. “No thanks” he says not taking his eyes off me, and I know that he’s helpless. He does not know what to do with me. It’s comical on one level and tragic on another.”...more
I absolutely adored Chase in Shadow, so how happy was I that Amy Lanes latest book brought us back into that same woOpening Line: “It was okay right?”
I absolutely adored Chase in Shadow, so how happy was I that Amy Lanes latest book brought us back into that same world. Yup, we re-enter “Johnnies” gay-for-pay porn with David ”Dex” Worral, who makes this book a true companion piece by going through parts of Chase’s heartbreaking story all over again from his own POV. Thankfully Dex’s story isn’t as emotionally exhausting or angst filled as Chase’s, I mean it has its moments (this is Amy Lane after all) but I didn’t feel like I’d been hit by a truck and needed therapy after this one -and I mean that in the most fan-girly way:) I also knew the large cast of characters going in so I didn’t have to struggle sorting out their dual names again. And Dex, well I kinda loved him plus there’s his boyfriend Kane and he’s such a laid-back, unassuming sweetie that you can’t help but smile at his view of the world. There are also some really funny bits…
“Could you come and help me edit this last frickin’ video. You’ve fucked girl’s right? You know what a pussy is supposed to look like? Dex winced “Yeah sort of.” “Excellent. I need someone who can tell me if this shit looks hot or just weird.”
David Worral’s life has just been shattered; his best friend, love of his life and first and only male lover has just been taken from him in a tragic accident, destroying his once limitless future and compelling David to flee Montana and its memories. Reinventing himself in California starts out innocently enough, when his parents can no longer afford his college education, and on the suggestion of a girlfriend he arrives at Johnnies, a gay-for-pay porn company. David wasn’t gay but his alter ego “Dex” sure as hell was and Dex was going to make him very wealthy.
8 years later and David/Dex is essentially running Johnnies, spending as much time behind the camera now as in front of it. He’s the go-to guy, the fix it guy, the guy with the plan especially when the owner has a nose full of blow. Dex has finally admitted to himself that he’s gay after having his heart broken by another Johnnies model and is lonely. He needs a friend, someone else in his beautiful empty house and that’s how he finds Kane.
Carlos “Kane” is young, hung, gorgeous, living in the moment and needing a place to crash. He also likes sex, I mean that’s how he ended up doing porn (might as well get paid for it right) who cares if it’s with a man if it feels good. Kane is also a nice guy to a fault, paying for his nieces hospital bills with what his sister dubs his “dirty” porn money and even giving her his apartment so she can avoid an abusive boyfriend. (I really wanted to slap the sister)
“Dex laughed a little. “Aren’t you supposed to be straight? He asked, but his body relaxed into Kane’s, and that made Kane happy. “I am straight”, Kane mumbled. “Except when I’m fucking guys, “I’m plenty straight. Now shut up and sleep. And don’t feel bad. That was amazing.”
So Kane and Dex are playing house, sleeping in the same bed while Kane’s pets take the spare bedroom. I mean they’ve done it at work so they might as well take comfort in each other here too. What starts out as friends with benefits quickly changes into something else though and it’s interesting how Lane manages to make the sex scenes in front of the camera so different from the ones behind closed doors. She also creates a real sense of family within the Johnnies staff and all the obstacles that life throws at them. The HEA here is awesome although if I’m honest a little far-fetched. I mean as nice as it was and as much as I wanted “that” to happen there’s just no way the powers that be would let it. 333jb4
“God made me gay. Dex made me realize it wasn’t a bad thing” *sigh*
Loading...
