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A Flight of Imagination by Helena Harker

5/7/2014

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Caroline, an aspiring novelist, is attending a historical
romance workshop run by Jackson McGrath, senior editor at Secret Passions. Even across the room from each other, a flame ignites between them as Jackson gives his audience creative prompts to spark their imaginations. Caroline heats up the page by writing a steamy story involving a love triangle between her, Jackson, and his controlling, soon-to-be ex-wife. In reality, however, Jackson’s wife wants him back, and Caroline must overcome her reluctance to stand up to strong women in order to claim Jackson as her own. Can Caroline hold her own against the powerful Janelle McGrath, and if she does, can she cope with the strict  limitations Jackson wants to set on their relationship until he signs the divorce papers?

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Title: A Flight of Imagination
Author: Helena Harker
Publisher: Secret Cravings 
Genre: Erotic romance
Short Story (Aprox 42 pages)
Reviewed by Brandi



3 Stars – Good



Okay, how do I review this without giving too much away? Here it goes.  
A Flight of Imagination is a tale within a tale told in first person. Caroline attends a writer’s conference that doesn’t go well when she pitches her work to the first publisher who is the soon-ex of the man Caroline is trying to have a relationship with. From there her options for publication improve with other publishers, then Caroline goes to a writer workshop. Caroline, is now in the room with Jackson, the man in question. She must scrawl a quick piece by hand during the workshop using a prop for inspiration. Here’s where the story changes up. Now I’m taking a foray into the heroine’s imagination as that story is being written, then back into the reality of Caroline’s life. 
 

After reading other works from Ms. Harker, I was looking forward to reading this story, but I must admit, I did have a hard time getting into this read even though I wanted to be engrossed. I think the reason was mainly due to the fact I just didn’t connect with the heroine or the hero, and the premise didn’t really hook me either, however that doesn’t mean the story is bad, it’s not. I guess I can sum the book up by giving it a good, when I was hoping for great.
   
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Blood and Fire by R. Brennan

5/1/2013

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College student, Francesca Morgan has finally met the Dominant man of her dreams. Kevin Stevenson is sexy, sure of himself, and knows just how to make her knees quake.

When he takes Frankie to her first fetish party, she is reminded being collared  means her Master can do what he wishes with her, including offering her  "services" for the evening to a Dominant business associate he is trying to  impress.

It doesn't take long for Frankie to realize their host,
Bartholomew Andrews is nothing like any Dom she has ever served. Aside from his devastating looks and heaping financial fortune, Bartholomew can read her thoughts, and knows just how to make her body react.

Can Frankie keep her wits about her and serve at his feet without falling for him, or will Master Amazing steal both her heart and her soul in one steamy night of servitude? 



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4 Flames-Sizzling Hot
3 Stars-Good


Title: Blood and Fire
Author: R. Brennan
Genre: Erotic Horror, Dark Erotica
Publisher: MuseItUp Publishing
Short Story
Reviewed by Maven

 
I read and then read this story again, because the first time I read it I was
unsure of what I actually thought of it. The second time around, I took some
time to let it simmer. Blood and Fire is Dark Erotica and Horror. An interesting combination to be sure. Ms. Brennan used her creativity in the way she mixed horror with the darker side of what I would consider BDSM within a party/fetish setting. 
 
Frankly, there were a few things that gave me pause about this book, and since I don’t
like giving too much of any story away, I’m going to try to explain my concerns
without exposing a lot of spoilers on this review. So, let me start where the
real “meat” of the story begins. Frankie (Francesca) is given to another DOM, by
her Master (Kevin). Being a good sub, not to mention Frankie is totally turned
on and attracted to the other master, she leaves Kevin’s side to go with
Bartholomew. During Frankie’s and Bartholomew’s sex play, she witnessed a
macabre scene taking place on the main floor of the party that moments ago, she
left. Here’s where I began to have some issues. 

 #1. Frankie is witness to people she knows, as well as strangers, being mutilated.
In fact, her master (Kevin) isn’t what he seems, and is mutilating an
acquaintance. On top of that, Frankie finds out the true identity of
Bartholomew. With all the horror and carnage going on, she’s not freaking-out
like I would suspect one would be. She just continues with the sex play, while
people are dying, bleeding, etc. 

#2. My next issue came when I was quickly whisked into the finish, which yes, was
done in an interesting twist, but left me feeling a bit woozy. This dizziness
didn’t come from the blood, gore, and sex I just finished reading about, but at
the so-quick-my-head-spun, ending. While I totally understand this is a short
story, I still felt as if there should have been more of a transition into the
conclusion, and perhaps a little more character building and explanation between
Frankie and Bartholomew before the abrupt finale. My justification for that
thought came from the fact Frankie and Bartholomew had one brief encounter, then
I’m reading about her waking with a dead body in her bed, and her new lot in
life—The End.

Overall, Blood and Fire is a fast paced story that is vividly descriptive. And I feel it is only fair to warn, this short story isn’t for the faint of heart. If you’re not a fan of horror, BDSM, heavy on the SM, this might not be the read for you. However, and it’s true, while I did have issue with some of the story-line, fans of horror, that like darker story lines mixed in with dark erotica, might find this book is what they’ve been looking for.

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Abby's Twin Mates by Darlette Clarke

2/5/2013

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After her grandmother's untimely death, Abby Morgan returns to the small Southern town that was once her home to handle the affairs that have been entrusted to her. Shortly after arriving, Abby comes into contact with the ruggedly handsome Mitch Beaumont and is seeing double after she
meets Mitch's identical twin brother, Taylor.

Abby discovers that everything in Midnight Creek isn't as it seems, and after a couple of hot encounters together, Abby is drawn more than ever to the twins. They make her feel special and wanted. It's something she's never had before in her life, and with them in her bed, it leads to her craving more pleasure from them. But when her life is suddenly put into peril, she must rely on the twins to save her.

Romance, mystery, and intrigue fill the air around Abby. Nothing is as she had ever known it before. But hey, this is Midnight Creek in Midnight County after all, where convention is tossed straight outta the window.

Note: There is no sexual relationship or touching for titillation between or among siblings.

Note: This book is written in one point of view.


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Warm
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Good. We Recommend.


Title: Abby's Twin Mates
Author: Darlette Clarke
Publisher: Siren Publishing
Genre: MFM Ménage/Paranormal
Reviewed by Maven



Abby’s Twin Mates was one of those books that left me teetering with the question, “Did I really
love this book or not?” It was obviously the first book in a series to come, and  I suppose after some thought, I edged on over to the conclusion that it may not  be love, maybe more of a like. Now here comes the “but” moment. BUT, there were some problems that were a little hard to overlook.


The author left some things unanswered. Because of that, it feels like an unfinished read. Along with that sticky point, the heroine wasn’t exactly relatable, and her quick acceptance of the paranormal without any real moments of questioning her own sanity or perhaps even a brief freak-out moment, didn’t happen. And then there are the twins… It’s one thing to be a strong alpha, and another to come across as a bit of an ass. 
 

As a reader I want to be pulled into the story, and love my heroes and heroines. For me, that love moment just didn’t happen with Abby, Mitch, and Taylor.


I believe the author is talented, and has started something with Midnight County that could be built upon, and turned into something great.


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Windswept by Diana MacArthur

1/3/2013

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Cadence Bennett is a talented flutist who dreams of a  performance career.
Her father's rigid discipline has helped her to develop prodigious technique, but
her music lacks the emotion needed to make her truly great. She has always
avoided anything that might distract her from her studies, including men. When
the opportunity to audition for a woodwind trio comes up, she decides to
take a chance.

Chris Clements and Ryan Matias are handsome and talented. They
are the cofounders of the group Windswept who are searching for the right person
to complete their trio. Recognizing Cadence's potential, they ask her to join
them. Together they help Cadence unlock the passion in her music and in her
heart.

But just when her romance and her career are heating up,
Cadence's father steps in and threatens to bring it all to an end.

 

BUY HERE
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Sizzling Hot
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Good
Title: Windswept
Author: Diana MacArthur
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Menage
Publisher: Siren
Publsihing
Novella Length
Reviewed by Brandi


Skinny, awkward, redhead, Cadence Bennett is a shy, musical prodigy who is having a hard time finding the true emotion of the music she plays, even though she plays technically perfect, and when she answers a call for an audition to join a woodwind trio, things change for her.

There is an immediate attraction for Cadence with both Ryan and Chris, and when they ask her to join their musical group, and help her out with her recent housing problem, offering her a room in their plush apartment; she takes them up on both offers. From there the relationship between the three of them begins, rather quickly.

I thought a musical trio was an original idea for a ménage story, and the author did a good job of showing the frustration of Cadence who has a demanding, cold father, whom instilled a need within her to be perfect, but while she has reached technical perfection with the music, she doesn’t   understand the passion within the music she plays, and therefore she herself has a coldness about her and her music that she doesn’t like, yet doesn’t know how to fix it on her own.

While the sex was hot, the storyline sort of fizzled out. There were times I felt the dialog was a bit rough around the edges, and it did feel as if parts of the story were rushed, with something missing. That caused me to have mixed emotions about the story while I read it. I vacillated back and forth
regarding how I felt after completing it and read it for a second time, because I really wanted to like Windswept a lot. In the end, instead of being really jazzed about it, I felt it was good; I just wasn’t swept away.



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Fire of the Wolf (The Gray Pack 1) By Lori King

11/19/2012

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Introverted nurse Caroline Trainor’s apartment burns to the ground, and she is rescued by a sexy fireman. Waking up in the hospital, she finds the delicious fireman and his identical twin brother waiting for her. 
 
Devin and Damon Gray claim that they are alpha leaders of a pack of werewolves, and that she is destined to be their mate. Her logical nature resists this unreal situation, but her body craves their every touch. Struggling with unresolved pain from her past and her need for her own identity, she has no desire to be their house wolf—until another wolf pack’s alpha threatens their lives and relationship with a challenge to the death. Scared
to lose the men she has grown to love like she lost her parents, she runs
directly into the arms of the lethal alpha challenger, and the brothers must
save her before they all wind up dead.


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Sizzling Hot!
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Good

Title: Fire of the Wolf (The Gray Pack 1)
Author: Lori King
Genre: Paranormal Ménage
Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand
Novel
Reviewed by: Rose




I am so torn on how to rate this book. I’m torn because while I
really wanted to love this book, I couldn’t find it in myself to do so. One
MAJOR issue that I had with the book was Caroline’s backstory. According to the
book Caroline was so broke that she barely could feed herself, yet she was a
nurse. She was so broke because she was not only paying back her student loans,
but she also had to pay back the debts that her parents had before they were
killed in the attack on 9-11? 

Now come on, really? Both parents worked for insurance companies
so therefore it stands to reason that both would have had insurance policies.
Not only that but no child is responsible for their parent’s debts when they
pass. And finally, NO ONE who survived that attack or were the child of a parent
who was in that attack was denied benefits, however mysteriously Carolyn was? I
just don’t buy it. 

Now, besides that serious issue that I had with Carolyn I have
to say that I really did like the character Carolyn. She was honestly good and
friendly; I just wish that the writer would have given her a better backstory
and why she has no money. 

The Grey Pack however – they are amazing! I loved the
interactions for the men in this book, and overall it actually really was a good
book, it’s just me and my issue with the background for Caroline and a few other
things that I don’t want to say because I don’t want to give away spoilers and
ruin the surprise for others. 

In the end I would give this book four flames because the sex
was squelching hot.




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