Blog Tour: Consume Me

Faithful readers, if you have learned anything about me from reading this blog, you know that I enjoy reading novels that feature some hot headboard rockin'. The more the merrier, in fact.

So imagine my glee over Consume Me by Paige Matthews! Check it out!
 

The blurb: 

Emma O'Connor's interest in bondage and submission has led her to the training program at Devoured. With past sexual experiences less than par, Emma wants nothing more than to submit to a Master. With her need for pleasure and her desire to please, Emma finds herself exploring the desires that have remained subdued; although unsure if she could make a good submissive.

 Marcus, the Dom in charge of the training program at Devoured, is more than interested in the feisty submissive. When Emma walks in for her interview, Marcus knows he's met his match. Consumed by nothing but thoughts of her, Marcus begins to doubt his ability to stay in control and his previous stance on collaring a submissive. Marcus finds himself unsure of his feelings for Emma, and his responsibility to the other trainees.

When a threat surfaces against Emma and her past comes back to haunt her, Marcus must admit his feelings for her in order to protect her, or risk losing her forever.

 Join Marcus, Emma, and the rest of the Devoured Club Doms and Subs in the second installment of the Devoured Club Series.

Author Stalker Links:

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Purchase Links:

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Kindle UK: http://amzn.to/18wb20Y
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1acCCqS
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/15rs857

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 Still not sold? Read some excerpts:

Excerpt 1:

  

“Yes, sir, I am ready.” My voice was full of need and desire. I felt the wetness drip down my legs as the thoughts running through my head mixed with the musky smell of my arousal. I heard Marcus walk toward what I believed was the bed.

When he returned, I felt the energy surging between us. Marcus began to run the thick leather fingers of a flogger over my ass and back; lightly caressing my skin and the insides of my thighs. A shudder went through me as he pulled the flogger across my pussy. My body was on edge, and I could feel every nerve end jump under my skin as the flogger ran across it.

Marcus started to tease me, changing the intensity of his motions; caressing strokes to lighter strikes. My mind was slipping further and further into the euphoric space of the submissive.

“Sub, tell me why you hesitated earlier in the lounge?” His voice broke through the buzz of the room. Marcus ran his hands over my breasts, rolling them through his fingers, pinching my nipples, the pain radiating out and down through my body, causing my pussy to clench at his touch.

“Sir…I...um…” My voice broke as he landed a light strike against my thigh. How the hell did he expect me to think when he was making my body feel so good?

“I’m waiting, pet. Answer me.” His voice full of demand; the flogger landing more forcefully on my ass.

“Sir…Public nudity brought back a bad memory, sir. I’m sorry. I won’t hesitate again.” My voice was shaky at best. Please, please don’t ask more. The speed and rhythm of the strikes picked up, landing on my ass, back and thighs, sending my body and mind back into that wonderful space. Marcus paused, and I dropped my head on to his shoulder.

His fingers ran over my pussy, finding the moisture that was still dripping down my leg. A shiver ran down my spine. Oh God, please, please, please can I come?

“We will talk about that in more detail later, but one more question before I allow you to come.” THANK GOD.

“Yes, sir?”

Excerpt 2:

“What are you doing here, Marcus?” I asked as I made my way around him to go and lock the door.

“I wanted to see you, Emma. Nothing wrong with that, either.” His hand caught my abdomen as I tried to maneuver my way back around him, pulling my back tight to his chest. “You smell good.”

I tried to pull away, but his arms held me tight. “I smell like frosting, pastry and cake batter. But, hey, whatever floats your boat.” I shrugged my shoulders as he let me go. I headed to the work
table to put away the fondant pieces.

Marcus had stopped in the door way, and was now leaning against it. The man was hot, and even though I tried hard to not let my libido be affected by him, I failed. Miserably. His dark hair currently hung down over his forehead into his eye, as he watched me place the fondant pieces onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. “Want help?” he offered standing straight and walking toward the counter.

“It would go faster. Soooo…” I let the word linger in the air. “Again, why are you here?”

“Well,” he started as he washed his hands and took another cookie sheet from my pile, then looked around for the parchment paper. “I wanted to see you. See if you maybe wanted to grab some food.” He looked up at me, and I handed him the roll of parchment and continued placing my pieces onto my sheet.

“I already ate, but thanks anyway.” I finished filling up the sheet I was working on, and began toward the walk-in.

“Why are you being so cold tonight?” I heard him ask as I entered the refrigerator. I paused before answering. Why was I being a bitch? It wasn’t like we weren’t talking.

“I guess I just can’t read you, Marcus. One minute it’s ‘I want to be professional’ and the next minute, you’re texting me all the time, and showing up. It’s confusing, that’s all. And, to top it off, you haven’t told me much about you.” I returned to the metal workstation and pulled another cookie sheet. There were about three hundred fondant pieces that needed to be put away. As I grabbed the

parchment paper, I turned, and walked into Marcus’s rock hard chest. I hadn’t even heard him move to me.
“There’s nothing to be confused about, Emma. I enjoy your company, and I want to see you outside of the club.” His hands encircled my waist and pulled me tight to him. His fingers grazed my chin and tilted my head up to look at him. “As for me, ask away. Anything you want to know, I will tell you. But first…” His eyes bore into mine, and I felt the familiar buzz of electricity hum between us.

Excerpt 3:

Marcus placed me in the middle of the king sized bed. He moved back and swept his eyes up and down my body. My skin felt like it was on fire, every nerve ending was alert and ready for his touch.  I watched him as he shut his eyes and try to regain control.

“Sir?” I asked with anticipation. I was hoping that he would continue. I was as wet as a cat in the rain but happier than one. I wanted him bad. Part of me knew that I shouldn’t let myself get too close – that had ended badly once before – but there was something about him that drew me right into the line of fire.

“Emma, you don’t know what you do to me.” His voice was rough and his body was stiff. He got off the bed and walked over to the armoire on the other side of the room. When he turned around, I saw that he had a blindfold with him.

My pussy clenched in excitement. I enjoy being blindfolded, and the idea of my other senses being heightened made my orgasms that much stronger, well, at least the couple of times that I had agreed to it. I watched as Marcus walked back over to the side of the bed.

“I’m going to blindfold you, okay?”

“Yes, sir.” I nodded and sat up so that he could easily secure it around my eyes.

His hands brushed my hair out of my face and tied the material tightly so that it would not fall down. His fingers lightly grazed down the sides of my neck and over my shoulders before caressing the base of my neck and the tops of my breasts. A shiver ran through me under his light and seductive touch. It was enough to tease my skin but not hard enough to fully acknowledge the motion.

“You are so beautiful.”

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Oh, HELLO. He had me at flogger. For reals. 

While you read, play a little background music to get the mood.

Seriously. How fun does this look? Hot headboard rockin' and a mystery and a romance? And some SPANKY PANKY?

Le swoon.

Even better, you can win yourself your own darn copy.

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The Accidental Call Girl

The Accidental Call Girl
by Portia Da Costa
Published by Virgin Digital
320 pages
Genre: erotica
Thanks to NetGalley for the preview
4 / 5


Say you're in a hotel bar one night, trying to relax a little and perhaps escape a dull party. An attractive man spots you, buys you a drink, and then invites you up to his room. Before you can assume it's a generic pick-up, he mentions payment. You realize that he thinks you are an escort. What do you do?

Lizzie decides to toss aside her otherwise fairly staid and predictable life and head upstairs with the delectably gorgeous John Smith. She figures a night of hot headboard rocking sounds pretty darn fabulous, so off they go. John reveals that he occasionally enjoys spicing up his sexy times with a little spanky panky, and Lizzie is amenable. When he suggests hiring her again, she agrees, fully intending to let him in on the truth about her not really being an escort.

For his part, John is drawn to Lizzie. He suspects she is new to the escorting business, but her lack of experience turns him on even more. And when John Smith is turned on, sexy times ensue. These two don't just rock the headboard, they rock a bathroom stall. Amongst other locales.

Don't go looking for a lot of substance here. This book is what it is, and that's hot. HOT, I tell you. John and Lizzie know how to enjoy the carnality out of each other, and Portia Da Costa can write some hot headboard rocking, let me tell you.

This is the first in a series, and if the rest of them are this steamy, consider me sold.

Missing

Missing
by Noelle Adams
Published by Amazon Digital
194 pages
Genre: erotica
Thanks to NetGalley for the preview
4 / 5


Sometimes you just want to have sex.

Hot, steamy, satisfying, rock that headboard into next week sex. No strings, no commitments. Just rock the headboard right through the wall.

Such is the case with Lynn and Nathan, two Washington, DC, denizens who meet every three months to scratch their collective itches. It's great. They enjoy satisfying each others' needs, and the fact that they enjoy an occasional chat or two makes it all the better.

But sometimes you want more than just sex. So what happens then?

In Lynn and Nathan's case, what happens is confusing and discombobulating.

Nathan has a daughter in college who ran away, so to say he is preoccupied with that is to minimize his pain and discomfort. He needs his time with Lynn, not just as a sexual release but for a few hours to forget his personal pain. While Lynn's life is less dramatic, she is just as uncertain and confused as Nathan. She senses she is developing stronger feelings for him than merely sexual, and that thought fills her with fear and dismay.

The sexy times are hot. These two know how to please each other and know what each other want and need. Sometimes several times a night ... wink wink. When their need for each other goes beyond once every three months, they need to figure out why. What is it that they truly want from each other?

The subplot with Nathan's daughter is predictable, but as a vehicle for progressing Nathan and Lynn's relationship, it works.

I enjoyed this book. If you are in the mood for some steamy headboard rockin' and likable characters, you will too.

All He Wants

All He Wants (Book One of the All or Nothing Trilogy)
by C. C. Gibbs
Published by Forever / Hachette Book Group
376 pages
Genre: erotica
Thanks to NetGalley for the preview
4.5 / 5


First of all, don't buy into any comparisons between this book and those Fifty Shades creatures. It's better written, with far more entertaining characters. Okay, yes, I like Christian Grey, bless his tortured soul. But are those books well written? Seriously? Let me bite my lip, roll my eyes, and consult my inner goddess while I ponder that.

This is the first of a three-part series (for those of you in the UK, books one and two have been published under different names - Knight's Mistress and Knight's Game), and I cannot wait for the second one. Like, for reals. Please, CC Gibbs. Help a sister out.

Here is why I liked this book soooo much: the dialogue.

Yes, I know. I'm not one to choose dialogue over hot headboard rockin' (and let me assure you, there is some hot headboard rockin' going on here), but the dialogue hooked me in and kept me turning the pages. Interesting dialogue comes from interesting characters, and both are indicative of interesting writing.

The basic storyline features Dominic Knight, a self-made billionaire whose company is under some sort of cyber sabotage. His right-hand man hires Kate Hart, fresh from college, to suss out the malefactor. Dominic immediately is drawn to her, even if he can't quite figure out why. For her part, Kate is attracted to him, but the stories of his professional and personal acquisitions leaves her quite wary. The fact that his adored wife died suddenly several years earlier only increases Kate's resistance. She refuses to allow Dominic's company to hire her, but she does agree to work for him on a project. Or two or three ...

Work turns to romance when Dominic asks Kate to stay with him in Hong Kong for one week. He's convinced he can change her mind about working for his company, and she is convinced she can say no. And here is where the hot sexy times come in. Strap on your vibrators, girls, because those scenes are deliciously written. Dominic is turned on by dominating (GET IT? DOMinic? DOMinate?), but Kate is reluctant to submit. In fact, those scenes are fairly tame compared to what you read in Sylvia Day's Crossfire series. The vanilla scenes actually are more explicit.

But the dialogue. Oh, kids, the dialogue. Dominic and Kate actually talk to each other. They verbally spar, as each tries to understand what makes the other tick. They bait each other, refute each other, and challenge each other. Their conversations are a lot of fun to read, and because they are so conversationally compatible, it only heightens those scenes in which they rock the headboard.

I liked this book a whole lot. And like I said, let's hurry along the next one, CC Gibbs.

Run to You

Run to You
by Charlotte Stein
Published by HarperCollins
200 pages
Genre: erotica
Thanks to NetGalley for the preview
4 / 5


Strap on those vibrators, girls. This is a hot one.

Alyssa leads a dreadfully dull life, one so uninspiring that when she discovers her roommate's agenda with an appointment titled "assignation," she takes off for the hotel, planning to masquerade as the roomie.

She meets a gorgeous, electric businessman named Janos, and although the two exchange no words (she even hides from him in a closet), she is drawn to him. He leaves her his business card, and the two soon meet again. And again and again.

As their relationship progresses, Alyssa struggles with understanding why Janos is attracted to her. She believes herself the physical embodiment of her dull job and dull life. Janos sees more than that, though, and fights to be with her.

He also, it must be said, brings her a considerable amount of sexual pleasure. So much so that you might want to try and knock some sense into Alyssa.

For all of the headboard rockin' that goes on in this book, there is also an equal amount of character development. We understand Alyssa's reluctance to allow herself to fall deeply for Janos, even if it frustrates us. We also understand his attraction to her; she changes him, and he lets her. That he so willingly forsakes certain unproductive patterns in his life for her tells us that he is a good man. Her sexual satisfaction is as important to him as his own - more so even. Connecting with her sexually is Janos' way of showing his affection for her.

I liked these two. I liked how she challenged him, both to admit his weaknesses and shortcomings and to be honest with himself. I liked how he was willing to do both of those things for her and, more importantly, for himself.

The weaknesses are a bit too much time spent in Alyssa's head and an ending that borders on cheesy. Still, though. It's good.

The sex scenes are scorching hot. There is one in an elevator that just ... whoa. Really, all of them are detailed and explicit and seriously hot. Some spanky panky takes place, but unlike the Christian Grey rabbit hole, this truly is a manifestation of Janos' need for power and dominance.

Read it and enjoy. Just make sure you follow the step in the first line of this review.

Too Fast

Too Fast
by Alexia Haynes
Published by Alexia Haynes via Amazon Digital
163 pages
Genre: new adult; romance
Thanks to NetGalley for the preview
4 / 5


So you go out with friends for the evening and promise yourself you will let loose and have some fun. You even allow yourself to be open to the possibility of a one night stand. Have a few drinks, meet a hot guy, take your clothes off, and after the lovin', say goodbye.

Simple, right?

But what if that one night stand turns out to be someone you just can't forget? What if you want more than one night? What if he does too? Do you stick to your original plan or do you reboot?

Savannah finds herself in just this very situation when she wakes up to the gorgeous Luke. Their night of passion was more than she dreamed of, and apparently he enjoyed it just as much. When he pursues her for more than one night, she needs to decide if that's what she wants.

I'm pretty sure you can figure out how this goes. The good news is that despite its transparency, this little novella is fun - and HOT - to read. Alexia Haynes does a solid job of letting us get to know her characters in a compressed amount of time, as well as writing some hot and delicious headboard rockin'.

Let me just say that if I were Savannah, there is no way I could settle for one night with Luke. It's like dark chocolate covered caramels: can I stop at one? Uh, no.

Enjoy this one for what it is: a quick, hot read with characters you'll enjoy.

Eyes Wide Open

Eyes Wide Open: The Blackstone Affair, Book 3
by Raine Miller
Published by Atria Books
352 pages
Genre: erotica
Thanks to NetGalley for the preview
3.5 / 5

And now, the end is near, and Ethan Blackstone must take his final curtain.

Well, not his FINAL curtain. I'm sure he goes on to prosper out there is fictional fantasy land. But for us readers, it's time to say goodbye to hot Ethan.

This is the third and final book in the Blackstone Trilogy, and it sees Ethan and Brynne's story take off after the conclusion of All In, the second of the trilogy (Naked is the first). This review will contain spoilers from the first two books, so if you haven't read them, please do so before you continue.

When we last saw Ethan and Brynne, they had escaped a stalker threatening Brynne. At least temporarily. They have contended with stalkers and threats to Brynne's security before, so in some regard they are used to this stuff.

As CEO of a security firm, though, Ethan takes Brynne's safety extremely seriously. After all, they met when her father hired him to protect Brynne while she's living in England. In the previous books, some political intrigue and espionage has been hinted at and discussed, and those theories continue here. Somewhat frustratingly, they are not as fully developed as we would hope.

Settling into a new relationship can be difficult, all the more so when you are under siege from an unknown force. Ethan cherishes Brynne, and by "cherish," I mean worshiped with his naughty bits. Ethan knows how to rock that headboard, girls, and it does not take Raine Miller long to escort us straight into the bedroom with the two of them. Or straight into a shower. Or up against a wall. Or any place where two crazy kids in love can know each other in the Biblical sense.

The stalker subplot is not all that gripping. It does not take us long to figure out who it is, and some of the stalker's other crimes seem sort of tacked on or overly dramatized to make him fit.

But do we read these books for the mystery? Hell to the NO. We read them for the sexy times, and bless Raine Miller's erotica laden mind for writing some good ones.

I really enjoyed the first two books, and I liked this one. It's a good conclusion to the story, even if it occasionally feels a bit overwrought. Ethan, I'm glad I got to know you, you gorgeous hunk of man, you.

Complete Me

Complete Me (The Stark Trilogy)
by J. Kenner
Published by Bantam
322 pages
Genre: erotica; romance; mystery
Thanks to NetGalley for the preview
4 / 5


This is the third book of a trilogy, so here is a big fat warning for you: this review will contain spoilers from the first two books.

Oh, Damien Stark. You hot, hot, HOT man, you. So tortured, so gorgeous, so successful and rich and sexually sublime. Where are you in my life?

When we first met Damien in Release Me, he was a mysterious former tennis prodigy turned corporate superstar. He sees Nikki Fairchild across the room at a party he's hosting and he instantly is drawn to her. Those of us reading the book perhaps wondered why; Nikki's fine and all, a former pageant queen, but is she worthy? Of Damien Stark? Uh, no.

But as we get to know our happy couple into Claim Me, we could start to see the attraction. Both Nikki and Damien suffered abuse, albeit in very different forms. Nikki was used by her mother for pageant fame and success, forced into being someone she wasn't. Damien's abuse was physical and at the hands of his coach. Both reacted by needing control: for Nikki, it comes in the form of cutting herself; for Damien, it is manifested in his need for BDSM. They recognize this in each other and it cements their bond.

And now we come to the end of the trilogy, where we must face Damien's murder charges in Germany, onslaughts from a mysterious source, and Damien and Nikki's continuing need for each other and a "normal" relationship.

The plot is serviceable. We get caught up in the mystery surrounding Damien's court case, and by now we are fully invested in his and Nikki's relationship. We even like her more, if for no other reason than Damien does. His need for her is so immense that it almost overwhelms us, not to mention her. To her credit, Nikki occasionally is mystified by Damien's obsession with her. We hear ya, sister. However, even I can concede that she's good for him. She understands him the way he needs to be understood; she knows what he doesn't say as much as what he does, and she translates his facial expressions and small gestures.

Yes, there are some overwrought moments. We've come to expect those from this series. Nikki is a pageant queen from Texas, and if it's possible to overreact to something, she might just do it. Some of her problem-solving skills frustrate us to distraction, even as we know that she means well. She really does.

The mystery occasionally feels forced, as if Kenner thinks she needs it in order for us to keep reading. That part could have been better written, although let's be honest. We don't read these for the mystery hooks, do we?

Now, the sexy times. Girls, strap on your vibrators, because there is some super scorching headboard rockin' going on here. Damien doesn't just know how to bed a woman, he knows how to talk about it. His words get you as ready as anything he does with his hands and lips. And other things. The best part is that sex for Damien is a way to connect with Nikki and the way he knows to show her that he loves her. So her pleasure - how she feels when he's with her - is his priority.

Too bad he's a fictional fantasy, right?

Your Room or Mine?

Your Room or Mine?
by Charlotte Phillips
Published by HarperImpulse
108 pages
Genre: chick lit; romance
Thanks to NetGalley for the preview
4 / 5


So you dump your boyfriend after you catch him cheating, and the two of you were supposed to get away for a romantic weekend. What do you do with that hotel room? Izzy Shaw decides to go anyway, and if she can enjoy a hot hook-up, then all the better.

This novella tells a cute story and has characters you will enjoy. Even better, it's hot.

Izzy gets her hook-up, with the adorably inscrutable Oliver Forbes, and she makes the most of it. With Oliver's help, of course. They enjoy the wrinkled bed sheets out of each other, so much so that Oliver starts to wonder if perhaps they could make their one night together into something more.

Charlotte Phillips does a nice job of letting us get to know Izzy and Oliver over this little book, and she writes deliciously hot headboard rockin'.

Enjoy this one for what it is: a fast read with good sex scenes.

Claim Me (Stark Trilogy 2)

Claim Me (Stark Trilogy 2)
by J. L. Kenner
Published by Headline Pb
Genre: erotica, BDSM
Thanks to edelweiss for the preview
4 / 5


Picking up right where Release Me left off, we return to Nikki Fairchild and Damien Stark, two BDSM-crossed lovebirds who just want to be happy. And have tsunami-causing sexy times.

Nikki, she of the former beauty pageants, and Damien, he of the former tennis championships, each know something about pretending to be what you aren't. Nikki can paint a smile on her face, pirouette, and appear to look happy. Damien can conquer and vanquish and appear to be satisfied. What they see in each other is a kindred soul, someone who has ceded control to others and chafes against it.

Their relationship, begun in Release Me, continues here. You don't need to have read the first one to pick up this one, thanks largely to Kenner's occasional summaries. I do suggest reading the predecessor because of the sex scenes, if for no other reason. Nikki and Damien continue to chart the course of their relationship, each trying to establish autonomy while also relying on the other. They crave independence, but they crave each other more.

The first book hinted at some of Damien's past struggles, and here they are laid to bare, so to speak. He confides everything (or apparently everything) to Nikki, which further cements her affections. Not that all goes smoothly. Of course it doesn't. They get angry with each other, she leaves, they reunite, rinse, repeat. When she heads home, even she knows it isn't permanent. She needs to be apart from him to find her bearings, but just as a compass always points north, so does Nikki's vagina point to Damien.

For reals.

And it should, because MY GOODNESS, Damien Stark can please a woman. There is some BDSM here, but nothing as extreme as what Christian Grey, Nora Sutherlin, or Gideon Cross enjoy. The headboard rocking with Nikki and Damien is, however, extremely passionate and extremely luscious. You will want a Damien of your own.

There is a third installment, due out later in July. I can't say that Damien and Nikki stick with me the way Gideon Cross or Nora Sutherlin do, but I look forward to continuing to read about them.

Enamored: Book II in the Enslaved Trilogy

Enamored: Book II in the Enslaved Trilogy
by Shoshanna Evers
Published by Pocket Star
Genre: erotica, BDSM, romance
Thanks to edelweiss for the preview
4 / 5


When last we saw the BAD Boys, Trevor was happily engaged to Elisabeth, Roman was brokenhearted, and Marc was ... uh ... where was Marc again?

Oh, yeah. Marc was there, aiding and abetting his friends. But in Enamored, Marc gets to aid and abed (GET IT?) Mistress Lauren, whom he has lusted over for quite some time.

Marc and Lauren are besties, and, as two Doms, they understand each other. But Marc has a secret wish: he wants to dominate Lauren, and he wants to take their little friendship and escalate it a bit. A really big bit. When the opportunity arises to become romantically involved with her, Marc jumps at it. Granted, the "opportunity" is one he manufactures to his own advantage, but if he didn't, he wouldn't be a BAD Boy, now, would he.

Whereas Enslaved occasionally made too much of Elisabeth's background, Enamored plays all the right notes with Lauren's. The more we get to know her, the more we like her, and the more we want her with Marc. I didn't see Trevor's attraction to Elisabeth, but I sure can see Marc's to Lauren. She's hot, he's hot, and together they claw, rip, snarl, bite, scratch, and bed each other with roaring hot passion.

The sex scenes ... they are goooood. Also good is the story. It doesn't feel as forced as it did with Trevor and Elisabeth, perhaps because Marc and Lauren are far more kindred souls than their friends. Roman's still around and still brooding (WHY? Elisabeth is NOT THAT FABULOUS, Roman!), and we'll get to him in the third installment.

This is the sort of book that you read for its hotness, and it provides quiet nicely. With characters you enjoy and an entertaining story line, it's a good book.

Beyond Eden

Beyond Eden
by Kele Moon
Published by Ellora's Cave
404 pages
Genre: erotica, BDSM
Thanks to NetGalley for the preview
4 / 5

Strap on your vibrators, girls, because this one is indescribably hot.

Danny appears to have everything. He's rich - wealthy enough that he doesn't really have to work - super good looking, and can have any woman he wants. He also has a roommate, his best friend Paul, and the two share a - um - close relationship.

Wink wink.

Years ago, when the two were in high school, Paul was wildly in love with Eve. After graduation, she decamped from Tampa and headed to New York to pursue art school. But now, ten years later, she's back in town, dumped by her fiancé and ready to make changes in her life. When she bumps into Danny in a grocery store, he invites her for a visit.

Yes, Eve and Paul dated, but Eve and Danny have undeniable chemistry. They are attracted to each other, and when they act on that attraction, you will need to take a cold shower just to finish reading about the action.

But wait. What about Paul?

He still loves Eve, and she still loves him. But she also loves Danny, who also loves Paul. And Paul loves Danny too. So these three crazy kids ought to be happy together, right?

Well ... Paul is engaged.

Not that it stops the three from enjoying each other's company.

Boy, do they ever. To say that they are a passionate threesome is to drastically underplay what goes on between them. Danny is the puppet master of sorts, but while he presents a stark, domineering persona, we know that his heart beats tenderly and lovingly for Eve and Paul. He's a bit of a bastard, but he's likable, and we worry for him.

The story line is entertaining enough to keep us going between sex scenes. We learn about Paul and Danny's history together, and we understand - if not exactly relate to - the closeness they share with Eve. But what controls the book are the sex scenes.

Let me warn you that if Fifty Shades of Grey was too much for you, then you need to avoid this book. If you're in the mood for some screaming hot headboard rockin', then this is the one for you. Danny is a Dom, and Paul enjoys it when Danny inflicts pain, so be prepared for some fairly graphic BDSM scenes. Actually, the scenes are graphic, period. But oh so very very hot.

Don't be surprised if you require a certain release after reading those scenes, though.

Lush

Lush: A Delicious Novel
by Lauren Dane
Published by Berkley Trade
320 pages
Genre: romance; erotica
Thanks to edelweiss for the preview
4 / 5


The subtitle of this book offers a perfect description: it is indeed delicious.

Mary Whaley runs a catering company and offers a supper club on the side. She enjoys her life. She has friends, she loves what she does, and she owns her own home. There may not be a man around to share it with, but Mary accepts that. In fact, she's quite okay with it.

But this is a romance novel, so of course a boy has to show up. In this case, it's the immensely hot (and delicious) Damien Hurley, who fronts a rock band with his brothers and a family friend. Damien's reputation as a ladies' man is entirely deserved. But don't judge. Damien can't help it if sex appeal radiates off of him. And what kind of meany pants would he be if he rejected all of the women who offer themselves to him?

When he comes up against Mary Whaley, though, Damien begins to reconsider his life's trajectory. Maybe it's time to settle down and focus on just one woman, especially if she's a dirty little minx like Mary. Yes, she's a caterer with her own business, but she's also a woman who unabashedly enjoys sex and has a healthy appreciation for a little filth in the boudoir.

The sex scenes here are hot, hot, hottttt. These two rock the headboard more vigorously than the drummer in Damien's band. Yes, there are some problems that must be confronted, and you can probably figure out what they are.

Let's face it. We're not reading this for its life changing writing; we read it because we want some escapist fun and some hot lovin'. You get both, thanks to that delicious hero.

Along Came Trouble

Along Came Trouble
by Ruthie Knox
Published by Loveswept
Genre: romance
Thanks to NetGalley for the preview
3.5 / 5

It's one thing to have a famous brother, one known as much for his good looks and womanizing than any discernible talent. It's something else entirely when your famous brother falls in love with your pregnant neighbor, dumps her, and then leaves you and the ex-girlfriend to manage the horde of paparazzi that descends on your otherwise quaint little burb.

Such is the situation for single mother Ellen Callahan, whose quiet Ohio life gets knocked off kilter by her pop star brother's fame, so much so that her brother hires a security guard.

Girls. We should all be so lucky as to need a security guard if they come looking (and acting and thinking and kissing and ... uh ... yeah) like Caleb Clark, an Iraqi war vet. The two aren't exactly smitten at first sight, largely because Ellen is irate that her brother hired a security firm without consulting her first. Worse, Caleb appears inclined toward digging up a beloved tree that Ellen planted.

Ellen happens to like her life with her preschooler son, having made peace with her painful divorce. It isn't that Caleb is wrong for her, either. He's actually exactly what she needs. Only in true romance novel fashion, it takes Ellen a while to figure that out for herself. Meanwhile, her brother and neighbor have to work things out, and then there is the matter of that pesky ex-husband.

Sure, it's predictable. But it's fun, and I'll take fun predictability over dull anything else any day. The love scenes are good - not the hottest I've read, but nonetheless steamy and with just the right amount of detail. After reading them, you will want to clobber Ellen upside the head.

As we enter beach reading season, consider this one a good option. Fun, romantic, and escapist.

All In: The Blackstone Affair, II

All In: The Blackstone Affair, II
by Raine Miller
Published by Atria
256 pages
Thanks to NetGalley and edelweiss for the preview
4 / 5 cupcakes

When we left off with Brynne and Ethan, our happy couple was left torn asunder, Brynne having run off due to Ethan's "lies." But were they lies? Really? Or just certain omissions? See, Ethan was hired by Brynne's father, an American politician,  to protect her, only Ethan wound up "protecting her" with his penis.

If you know what I mean.

So, anyway. Ethan, Brynne, broken up. But do we think that will last? Seriously? How can you have a series if they stay broken up?

The lovebirds reunite, as we could predict, only love does not present an easy path. Naturally, there are complications a plenty. And, naturally, Ethan screws up as much as he possibly can.

The first book in the series, Naked, was told from Brynne's point of view, which perhaps is what made it feel so hackneyed. This one is told from Ethan's, and Ethan - well, in addition to being seriously smokin' hot - brings an element of freshness to could be a trite, predictable plot.

Brynne is at risk, or continues to be at risk, because I'm not sure that situation has changed much from the first book. Having a politician for a father undoubtedly makes her safety unstable, at best, and Ethan is determined to protect her.

There is some plot advancement in this one, but in terms of action, you'll find that most of that occurs between the sheets. Or up against walls. Or in other locations.

The one place where Brynne and Ethan connect, free from any outside stress or worries, is in the metaphorical bedroom. When they have sex, they open themselves to each other, and their mutual trust is clarified. Ethan is a Dominant, and he enjoys having Brynne as his submissive. Brynne happily acquiesces, which is a smart move on her part, because Ethan is HOT. He's intelligent, successful, protective, loving, and he knows how to please a woman. You will find yourself searching for real-life Ethans. (If you find one, please let me know. I'm convinced that none exist.)

As with its predecessor, this one ends with a cliffhanger. We now know more about Brynne's Issues, and a little more about Ethan's. Even though the story is told through Ethan's eyes, however, the focus here is squarely on Brynne: what has happened to get her in these precarious straits and what has happened that makes her trust waver as far as Ethan is concerned.

This is a better, stronger book than Naked. Like I said, perhaps that is due to it being told through Ethan's eyes. Or perhaps it's due to Raine Miller settling in with her characters. Either way, I look forward to the third book. I want Ethan to be happy, and if happiness is with Brynne, then so be it.

And I'd also, uh, like more of that headboard rockin'.

Release Me

Release Me
J. Kenner
Published by Bantam
352 pages
Genre: erotica, some BDSM
4 / 5 cupcakes

I guess we can thank E. L. James for mainstreaming BDSM-laced erotica, because it seems as if a new series crops up (no pun ... okay, pun intended) as often as vampires sprung from Stephenie Meyer.

Stop me if you've heard this before: a young, career-oriented woman meets an older, searingly attractive multimillionaire as drawn to her lush innocence as she is to his sexual (and entrepreneurial) allure. They embark on a relationship, made a bit more challenging due to the battles he wages with his demons. But she is convinced she can "cure" him, even if doing so means allowing him to dominate her sexually.

Sound familiar?

Sure, it does.

A recent entry is Release Me, which is the first of what appears to be a trilogy. (Yes, a trilogy. I'm sure you're shocked.) Young Nikki is fresh off the plane from Texas, trying to use her corporate ambition to help her succeed in business in Los Angeles. She attends a cocktail party and meets Damien Stark and immediately feels a pull toward him. He's hot, no doubt about it, and he makes his interest in her known. The pursuit begins, and, over the course of about four days, the two embark on a romance.

Unlike the Fifty Shades heroine, Nikki actually has something of a backbone. She's feisty, and her reluctance to give into Damien has less to do with moral superiority than with a need to be independent and prove herself. She also has her share of Issues, namely her not-so-loving mother. As for Damien's struggles, you need to keep reading. We get hints, and we get bits of information, but clearly his go much deeper than hers.

What you really want to know about is the sex, though, right? OF COURSE YOU DO. We don't read stories like Release Me because we crave literature or Pulitzer-prize winning writing. We read them for the sexy times, and in that respect J. Kenner does not disappoint. These two scorch up those sheets and rock that headboard straight into the stratosphere. The sex scenes are HOT, people. If for no other reason than that, I look forward to Capture Me.

So here's where we are with this book: it's hot, fun, and has a hot hero. Kenner seems to embrace what she's got on her hands, even if Damien's turmoil seems a bit forced at times. (Just like Christian Grey's, but I need to stop comparing everything to him.) If nothing else, Nikki is a LOT more enjoyable than Ana Steele ever was.

Like I said, the sex scenes are hot. Bring on Capture Me.