Wallflowers Don't Wilt by Raven McAllan

WALLFLOWERS DON'T WILT BY RAVEN MCALLAN

Word Count: 19,700

Heat Level: Smoky

Genre: M/F/F Historical Romance

Publisher: Breathless Press

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Two women on the verge of freedom. One man looking for adventure. Can he persuade them that freedom comes in many forms, including three bodies entwined?

Ivo Daranton is bored. What he sees in a busy ballroom soon removes the boredom and replaces it with the thrill of the chase. His quarry? Serena and Arabella—Sappho-following, pinkie-linking, more than just friends.

Although they had not thought they were inclined to include a man in their lives, Ivo decides they are wrong: a man is needed, and that man is him. How he persuades them to give him and his idea a chance—or rather, how the ladies encourage him to persuade them—is as unconventional as the life they intend to lead.

***

This sultry m/f/f short erotika story takes you back into Regency Era England. The author did a great job of putting you directly into the setting, in this case a ball. The author paints a vivid picture of the ladies and their beautiful dresses, the looks and stares of those gossiping and those being gossiped about. The leading ladies: Serena and Arabella are strong willed; they don't care what others think, they have their future together planned. Then they meet Ivo. The story heat up as they determine if Ivo and his teachings will be included in these plans.

B-

A Wild Night's Bride by Victoria Vane

A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE BY VICTORIA VANE

Word Count: 33,529

Heat Level: Smoky

Genre: Erotic Historical Romance

Publisher: Breathless Press

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With the devil in charge, there will surely be hell to pay...

What happens when a struggling actress and a grieving widower come together in a night of unbridled debauchery orchestrated by a bored and machinating rake?

She's a lonely lady down on her luck.

Phoebe Scott, alias Kitty Willis, is a struggling Covent Garden actress with a bruised heart and a closely guarded secret.

He's steadfast and eminently respectable.

Sir Edward Chambers, Ned to his intimates, is guilt-ridden over his beloved wife's death and has avowed to live out a rustic and mundane life...of celibacy.

With the devil in charge, there will surely be hell to pay.

Devil-in-disguise Viscount Ludovic DeVere is determined to return his best friend, Ned, to the land of the living. His meddling machinations result in a night of mind-blowing passion after which "Dull Dog Ned" awakes to find himself in the King of England's bed!

A Wild Night's Bride, a sexy, rollicking Georgian romp!

***

This story starts off with a bang, as the hero and heroine wake up in the king's bed. It certainly piqued my interest! How on earth did they end up there? Why does he not recognize her? What is going on?

I love a good historical and the details in this story are spot on. The author weaves in real historical figures with effortless ease and her descriptions of the time period draw the reader in. Phoebe is a strong heroine who is not afraid to go after what she needs, in this case a protector, when the theater she works at shuts. I liked Phoebe immediately. She struggles with the need to be practical and her own moral convictions. Even though the idea is distasteful to her, she needs to survive, so she makes the most of the situation she finds herself in.

It throws her in the path of the notorious DeVere, and his friend Ned. Ned is a widower, in town to arrange the coming out of his daughter, and he isn't best pleased to be dragged along to a bawdy house. When he encounters Phoebe their mutual attraction is instant, but Ned is sworn to celibacy, following the death of his wife.

DeVere does his best to throw Ned and Phoebe together and when DeVere is challenged to a wager, to 'rut in the king's bed' he accepts.

I shan't tell you what happens next, so as not to spoil the story, but it was both funny and heart wrenching and hot! I wasn't sure what to make of Ned to start with, but as the story unfolds I warmed to him, and once he made up his mind to pursue Phoebe, well, does he make up his mind.

*grins*

All in all this was very enjoyable read and the ending has me all sorts of intrigued!

A-

The Ghost of Vampire Present by Seleste deLaney

THE GHOST OF VAMPIRE PRESENT BY SELESTE DELANEY

Word Count: 15,000

Heat Level: Smoky

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Decadent

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Jocelyn has finally found her knight in shining armor in Chad, and ghosts are the last thing on her mind. Even when one shows up in her bedroom on Christmas Eve, Jocelyn's a bit more concerned about the other guests on the agenda. She'd prefer to never see another vampire, and the ghost tells her to expect not one, but three.

When the one from her past shows up even though he's supposed to be dead, she decides she's dreaming and suffers through the night. By the time dawn breaks, she's not so sure anymore.

But if it's not a dream that means her nightmare is far from over.

***

This is the sequel to 'Of Course I try' and shows Jocelyn happily settled with Chad, who readers will have met briefly in 'Of Course I Try'. I was really looking forward to reading this, and I did enjoy it, but not as much as I thought I would. 

Let me explain why. I still love Ms. deLaney's descriptive writing style, the sex scenes are hot and beautifully written and there are some brilliant action scenes in this story, but I found it confusing. 

I know it is supposed to be confusing because you see the story through Jocelyn's eyes, and with everything that happens to her in one night, no wonder the poor girl is confused, but to me the author didn't give a satisfactory ending. I literally went "What? That's it?" out loud at the end and actually felt cheated at the open ending. Of course it made me wonder what really happened. Did she dream the night or did the events really take place? Is Chad really Mr Nice Guy or are there far more sinister things at play here? No doubt this was the author's intention, but for me personally, it took some of the joy out of the story. 

I believe a longer story is due to be released soon, and I shall look out for it. I would certainly be interested in seeing how it all works out for Jocelyn and Chad, and I liked Jocelyn's no nonsense friend too. 

A solid B from me. It would have been higher with a more satisfactory ending. Of course this may not bother other readers.

B

The Alphas Anthology

THE ALPHAS - A 4 AUTHOR ANTHOLOGY

Word Count: 43,400

Heat Level: Smoky

Genre: Paranormal, Erotic Romance

Publisher: Breathless Press

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When the Wicked Ladies of Fiction meet up in a Scottish bar they don’t expect a night filled with danger, lust and hot supernatural men…
Perfect Timing by Arya Grey

David Malm had given up on love, but on a trip through time he meets Josie. She reignites a lost fire in his soul.

Josie McNair may be all fire on the outside, but her lack of self-confidence has her insides twisted over meeting her writing group. She begins to realize there are more creatures in the world than she first suspected and finds herself thrown into a life where time has no meaning.

Time-traveling peace-keeper David Malm could never believe in love again. When Henri instructed him in 3042 to look in at the Blood Bar on this particular night in 2011, he didn't envision it turning into a supernatural disaster, let alone be in the throws of passion with a beautiful stranger. Josie reignited something in him he'd thought he'd lost forever, and he would do anything to keep her safe.
Alpha’s Vixen by Cherie Nicholls

From IT geek to Mystical Beacon in one night; not the usual WLF meeting it has to be said.

Dora "Dizzy" Williamson is a busy lady, but she finally makes time to meet some of her writing group in a new bar. Surely a couple of hours with the ladies wouldn't be too bad, right?

Xander de Rista is CEO and alpha to his pack, so being drawn to a new bar that prickled his fur doesn't sit too well with him. Tonight feels different; there are too many supernaturals in one place, but one human stands out to him. One he intends to claim and protect, because hell isn't just breaking loose, it is coming to town.
Saving Hope by Doris O’Connor

Fate cannot be denied. When an ancient vampire finds time catching up with him, can he protect the only woman capable of thawing his heart?

Noelle has only one thing on her mind: how to save her sick daughter from a mysterious illness. A night out with the girls ought to be a distraction, but it turns out to change her life forever.

Fate is not something Henri, a two-thousand-year-old vampire, takes lightly. When he steps into the bar teeming with supernaturals, there is only one scent he finds—Noelle, the one woman he’d never forgotten—and she holds a secret that could cause a war. With time finally ticking in his ear, there is only one decision he can make—he has to protect her or die trying.
In Her Element by Jorja Lovett

When quiet Ana Chapman meets Fire Elemental, Zanaan, at the Blood Bar, a night of hot sex makes her realize just what she's been missing.

For the first time in her life, Ana Chapman is ready for a little excitement. Escaping her mother's tyranny in Belfast for one weekend in Edinburgh to meet her online writers' group seems more than enough to cope with. But her visit to the Blood Bar changes everything. Spontaneous public orgasms, supernatural beings, and teleportation weren't on her agenda for the trip. Neither was losing her virginity.

Zanaan is a Fire Elemental, who most humans can't see. When the shy Irish lass locks eyes with him in the bar, he's drawn to her, and this time it isn't the Salamander legend spurring his chase to bed a mortal. After a night of passion with Ana, he feels the effects immediately—he's losing his powers and becoming human. It's what he always wanted. Isn't it?

***

The Blood Bar Chronicles: The Alphas is a tale of friends: Ana, Noelle, Dizzy, Josie, Arielle and Kyla. Members of the Wicked Ladies of Fiction, a group of erotic novelists based in the UK, the women decide to meet up for a night on the town. Little do they know that they’re about to become enmeshed in a series of sexy, supernatural adventures.

Ana, the newest member of the group, meets a fiery Fire Elemental who calls himself Zane and soon, sparks begin to fly. Dizzy hooks up with a hot, horny shifter by the name of Xander, while Josie’s life literally spins out of control due to David’s time-traveling proclivity. Each of the women rally around to help their friend Noelle, a young mother whose six-year old daughter’s life hangs in the balance. Doctors are baffled by her sensitivity to light and the rare qualities in her blood. That is, until the true identity of the child’s father is revealed.

The concept of The Blood Bar is interesting – one of a supernatural portal where humans and otherwordlings mix and mingle. I liked how the storylines of all four authors (Jorja Lovett, Cherie Nicholls, Doris O’Connor, and Arya Grey) intertwined. In particular, I thought Ms. O’Connor’s depiction of Noelle, the forlorn lover left alone with a child to rear was both believable and compelling. However, at times the dialogue in the other tales seemed a bit stilted.

The Blood Bar Chronicles was a wild ride that’d I’d be obliged to recommend to fans of vampires and shape shifters alike.

B

Sinful Urges by Sonia Hightower

SINFUL URGES BY SONIA HIGHTOWER

Word Count: 11,537

Heat Rating: Steamy

Genre: Tragedy - Erotic

Publisher: Breathless Press

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Follow the confessions of Juan and Maria as they fall prey to lust at first sight. Can they stop themselves before it's too late, or will they become victims of their own sinful urges?

A new neighbor sends Juan running to confession to rid himself of the lustful thoughts he experiences. Each confession becomes more erotic, more sinful than the last. Can Juan stop himself, or will he give in to the desire that threatens his very faith?

The man across the street causes Maria to question her own morals. When she seeks out a priest for confession, she weaves a tale of exotic kisses and stolen moments. How can Maria find sanctuary in her prayers when her body demands she finds solace in her neighbor's arms?

***

The blub of this was enough to make me know I had to read the story. And the story more than lived up to the blurb.

I found myself totally gripped by every word, wondering what was going to happen next, wanting to rush through it to see what did happen, but not wanting to miss anything.

I actually read it three times, that's how engrossing it is. And the ending? Let's just say I never expected that.

It's rare I get so engrossed in a story that I don't look for errors, but with this? I have no idea if there was repetition, hesitation or deviation. I was hooked.

To be honest, is enjoyment the right word to describe what I got from Sinful Urges?

I don't think it is, reading this you will get so much more, and even find yourself questioning the very tenets of some important fundamentals of some people's lives.

A great short read. I read it in one sitting…walked around assimilating what I read, and read it again.

Definitely if you like something that's a little bit different and don't mind being shocked in an unexpected way, this is for you.

A-

Forever Summer by Seleste DeLaney

FOREVER SUMMER BY SELESTE DELANEY

Word Count: 7,000

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Level: Smoky

Publisher: Self-Published

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Her dreams of a career by the sea shattered, Katya's trying to be happy with two weeks in the Florida Keys. But when her rental ends up infested, she's ready to go home. At least until Jay, the handyman next door, comes to her rescue.

Sweet, talented & sexy, he's all she ever wanted in a man. Too bad he's only hanging out with her because he's such a nice guy.

Or is he?

 ***

Looking for that perfect story to escape reality and take a mini vacation? Forever Summer is it! This hot little story is short and sweet, and will whisk you away to the warmth of the Florida Keys. The characters were easy to like, I only wished the story had been longer! This is definitely a wonderful read for that rainy afternoon, or something to pass the time while laying out in the sun.

B

BadLands by Seleste DeLaney

BADLANDS BY SELESTE DELANEY

Heat Level: Smoky

Word Count: 33,000

Genre: Steampunk Romance

Publisher: Carina Press

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After a brutal Civil War, America is a land divided. As commander of her nation's border guards, Ever is a warrior sworn to protect her country and her queen. When an airship attacks and kills the monarch, Ever must infiltrate enemy territory to bring home the heir to the throne, and the dirigible Dark Hawk is her fastest way to the Union.

Captain Spencer Pierce just wants to pay off the debt he owes on the Dark Hawk and make a life for himself trading across the border. When the queen's assassination puts the shipping routes at risk, he finds himself Ever's reluctant ally.

As they fly into danger, Ever and Spencer must battle not only the enemy but also their growing attraction. She refuses to place her heart before duty, and he has always put the needs of his ship and crew above his own desires. Once the princess is rescued, perhaps they can find love in the Badlands—if death doesn't find them first...

***

First of all, major thumbs up for uniqueness. I can honestly say this book is nothing like anything else I have read.

What I loved: The role reversal and the tough heroine.

In this story, Ever, the heroine, is the tough one, the one with weapons, the fighter, the one who has sex with who she wants when she feels like. The hero, Spencer, while not a wuss, is the more passive character, the forgiver, the lover.

I love how this was done. Ever's country, the Badlands (and this appears to take place around the Civil War but with lots of clockwork stuff and ships) has been taken over by prisoners and the queen murdered. It's like a country full of bad ass, tattooed women. Ever has to get the next in line to the throne from Philly. Just when she's on death's door, Spencer sees her from his ship.

There's a jealous woman doctor, a temporary bedmate (see above comment about role reversal), sexual tension, crazy mechanical birds, manipulation, lies, a bad man...

Will Ever be able to use Spencer's ship to get the princess safely back to the Badlands? Or will others stand in their way? And then there is the rising feelings between Spencer and Ever.

I found the name Ever a bit irritating. Especially in those instances where there was "for Ever." I had to do double a take sometimes. I think it was an annoying name choice and I felt at times, the characters were slightly robotic...lack of emotion. However, Ever wasn't exactly a typical emotional female...

B