Carl's Story by Kissa Starling

Title: Carl’s Story
Author: Kissa Starling
Publisher: Red Rose Publishing
Published date: 2009
ISBN: 978-1-60435-367-9
Genre/Theme: BDSM
Length: 35 pages
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A poor body image and public play at the Dungeon don't mix so what's a submissive to do?
Sylvie and Carl used to be prominent play partners at the dungeon. Fast forward to three kids later and Sylvie is ashamed of her once perfect body. Carl understands that restoring her self confidence is his responsibility but he's not sure how to do it. When her body issues affect their marriage he knows that it's time for drastic action. An upcoming birthday provides him not only with the perfect time but the perfect solution to their problems as well...
Carl’s Story is a great read about love and trust. It is also a story about struggling with self-esteem and the needing of reassurances. After having two children and ageing Carl’s wife Sylvie no longer feels beautiful. Carl disagrees and still thinks she is as sexy as ever and vows to prove it to her. Kissa Starling has written a wonderful story letting the reader get a glimpse into the world of BDSM.
Sylvie still loves to play in private but is not willing to play in public anymore. She has lost her self-esteem thinking that she is no longer sexy or beautiful. For her birthday Carl would like to celebrate and return to the club that they used to frequently play at before. Sylvie reluctantly agrees to go with him to the club.
Carl calls up a dominatrix who does most if not all her scenes at the club in lingerie and asks her to join them at the club. So that Sylvie will be able to be clothed and is able to go and try again to do a scene in public. Sylvie still enjoys the lifestyle and hungers for the club, she wishes to participate in it all again but is having a problem getting over the idea of herself as not being beautiful anymore. Can Carl help Sylvie realize she is still beautiful and sexy? Will Sylvie ever be able to enjoy herself again?
Readers should be aware if they do not realize that this story is an explicit read. A quick glance into the world of BDSM but also a look into the depth of a consentual relationship and the love two people have for one another. Every woman should be made to feel sexy and beautiful no matter what. It is not just the waifs of today’s expected beauty that are sexy. Beauty comes in many sizes and shapes.
I truly enjoyed the message that I got from this book. Being a mother of two myself and not as svelte as I used to be it was nice to see a relationship portrayed with a man who loves his wife and still considered her to be sexy and beautiful no matter what. This book may be explicit but the message of love and acceptance shines through the pages.

Rating: 4 smacks
Heat Level: erotic
Other: f/f, m/f, voyeurism, BDSM
Reviewer: Gabrielle

All She Ever Wanted by Kenzie Michaels

Title: All She Ever Wanted
Author: Kenzie Michaels
Publisher: Freya’s Bower
Published date: 2009
ISBN: 978-1-935013-81-5
Genre/Theme: Contemporary
Length: 40 pages
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When Amber Johnson agrees to fill in as a last-minute chef of a dinner party, she is surprised to learn the client is none other than her ex-boyfriend, Marc Denton. The kitchen sizzles with their unfinished business; will the flames of love reignite, or will Marc's scheming father succeed in keeping them apart? Marc and Amber are furious when they discover lies that have kept them apart for three years. With Amber by his side again, will Marc find the courage to stand up to his father and hold on to his true love?

What a great read! Amber and Marc had fantastic chemistry and I loved Marc’s willingness to take his father to task for past sins while protecting his true love. The sex was hot, the story was fun and I cheered the romance on from the beginning. Kenzie Michaels did a nice job of pulling me in and her writing is excellent. This reviewer’s opinion – buy this story for a very satisfying read!

Rating: 4.5
Heat Level: Spicy

Infinite Possibilities by Maren MacRae

Title: Infinite Possibilities
Author: Maren MacRae
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published date: August 5, 2005
Genre/Theme: Paranormal/Vampire
Length: 21 Pages
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Review:

Magician Cade Hammond is devastated by a trick gone wrong when he loses his one and only love in a tragic accident. When he can take no more, Cade decides to disappear and walks away from the spotlight. When he meets a stranger one year later, he is faced with a woman with secrets and a urge to return to the spotlight. The only thing he must ask himself is, is he ready for a life that will never be the same again?

I enjoyed reading Infinite Possibilities as it was a fast paced and interesting read. I was intrigued right from the beginning where Cade loses the love of his life. Ms. MacRae does a wonderful job of adding emotion to the story which is hard to find in many short stories. She writes in a way that is informative and attention capturing. I felt like Cade dealt with some very real emotions such as grief, denial and acceptance. I give this book a rating of 4 only because at times it seemed to move a bit fast but with a short, it's almost inevitable. I would have loved to see this book in a longer form so I could have gotten to know the characters better. I recommend this book to all who need their daily literary fix of an emotion filled read. This book covers a lot in a very short amount of time. Kudos to Ms. MacRae for telling such a wonderful story that grips the heart and leaves a smile.

Rating: 4 Smacks
Heat Level: Spicy
Other: m/f
Reviewer: Elizabeth

Thief of His Heart by Carrie Destler

Title: Thief of His Heart
Author: Carrie Destler
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published date: 7-29-09
Genre/Theme: Contemporary
Length: 47 Pages
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The last thing Jade Hollister expects to find while shooting Wildlife pictures are modern day pirates. When she is spotted taking the pictures, she tries to run but finds no matter what she tries, she just can't get away. When captured, a man named Roarke claims ownership of her to "protect her". Well, he sure doesn't act like your typical pirate. Jade has had enough bad luck with men and refuses to think that this bad boy is any different. How will she handle it when Roarke is finally arrested? Will she be able to testify in court?

Jade's character was strong willed and brazen. Being the only woman surrounded by nothing but men, does not discourage Jade from saying what she wants to say or devising a plan to escape. The only problem Jade has is getting over her attraction to Roarke. Poor Jade just couldn't catch a break! With every attempt she tried to make to escape, it was like Roarke could read her mind and was one step ahead of her the entire time. With an amazing sense of humor and smoldering good looks, Roarke was not your everyday foul smelling, ugly as sin pirate. He actually took time to take Jade's needs into consideration. The relationship that Jade and Roarke have is smart, humorous and oh so hot.

Ms. Destler writes with such humor and intelligence. And although this book is short, she manages to cover a lot of emotions within a short period of time. I really enjoyed the time that I spent reading Thief of His Heart because it was so incredibly funny. The end, SIMPLY AMAZING! What a twist of events. I give Thief of his heart 5 smacks for being a highly entertaining read. If you want a short read and a lot of laughs, this book is for you. Beware, Thief of His Heart comes with one sizzling hot pirate! CAN YOU HANDLE IT?

Rating: 5 smacks
Heat Level: Hot
Other: m/f
Reviewer: Elizabeth

Kaydana and the Ruby of Beguilement by Nyki Blatchey

Title: Kaydana and the Ruby of Beguilement
Author: Nyki Blatchey
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Published date: July 6, 2009
Genre/Theme: Erotica/BDSM
Length: 46 pages
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Review:

How do you choose between love and desire? Young sorceress, Kaydana, is caught in a darkly dangerous romance with King Makreth...one she longs to free herself from even while she enjoys it, and Makreth won't let her go without a fight. Attempting to escape, she's seduced by an enslaved winged woman, and loses her magical staff in the process. Emmerin offers to recover the staff in return for Kaydana's help, but will that deal come with a price she's not willing or able to pay? And how will she escape the dark desire when forced to face down Makreth again?

This is the second book of this series of six books. I would definitely recommend reading the first book before this one. You won’t get lost in this book, but there feels to be some pieces missing out. So, with this series it’s best to read it from the first book to the last, in order. But it was a steamy read. I loved the plot and the characters and the entire concept of this book. With some series or even short reads the story gets boring after a while. It feels like the author is just repeating the same thing over and over again. But not with this story Ms. Blatchey keeps the story focused and something new happens every step of the way. She has a goal for her characters and for the plot to reach and I feel like she has done that here. This book has a great level of suspense, passion, desire, and sex. No emotion is overused and no feeling is lacking between the characters. I love that they grow in this story as well. A lot of quickies lack character growth and development. But Kaydana has a lot to learn and Makreth is just the person to teach her. Makreth isn’t perfect either and since Kaydana has come into his life he starts to grow as a character. They learn to trust, respect and love. It’s a truly gripping read that will hold your attention throughout the entire book. I highly recommend this book!


Rating: 5 Smacks
Heat Level: Explicit
Other: BDSM
Reviewer: Tara Starr

Fantasies Incorporated: The Honeymoon by Bridy McAvoy

Title: Fantasies Incorporated: The Honeymoon
Author: Bridy McAvoy
Publisher: Mystic Moon Press
Published date: June 2009
Genre/Theme: Lesbian/Erotica
Length: 13 pages
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Review:

Kiera really didn’t enjoy the flight to their honeymoon hotel. All she wants is a shower and a nap to recover from the nausea. Her new husband, concerned for her, takes himself off to the bar to allow her the time to recover properly. His ideas of what might aid a speedy recovery don’t quite tally with hers; as she is about to discover; and enjoy!

This book is considered a teaser…and I would agree. It’s only a few pages long. But it’s full of explicit sex. Kiera is left alone, her husband goes down to the bar to let her rest. A woman and man come to give her a massage to allow her to rest. Kiera begins to get turned on by this massage. They notice and they help her take care of her needs. If you are looking for a quickie…than this is one for you.


Rating: 3 Smacks
Heat Level: Explicit
Other: f/f, f/m/f
Reviewer: Bella Wolfe

Sinful Treats by Violet Summers

Title: Sinful Treats
Author: Violet Summers
Publisher: Liquid Silver Books
Published date: 2008
ISBN: 978-1-59578-496-4
Genre/Theme: Erotic Romance
Length: 41 pages
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Review:

Ever wonder about the people who work and the customers who frequent the sex club Velvet Ice?
Kendra came to the club to help her best friend celebrate her 21st birthday, on Halloween no less. Her curvy body dressed as a she-devil, her normally sane self agrees to try and gain access to the third floor. With securities distraction she makes it into the forbidden and mysterious playground.

Sinclair is ready to drag the woman back down the stairs where she belongs but finds himself drawn to her. The fascination on her face as she explores the scenes going on around her enthralls Sin. He knows she's a born Submissive and his attraction to an obvious novice is a big no-no.

Kendra gets herself into trouble with a more experienced Dom and its up to Sin to come to her rescue, but he isn't about to let her go. She came to explore a night of wild fantasy and Sin is the person to show her exactly what it means to belong to a man like him.

I will start off by saying that I LOVED this book! This short story by Violet Summers had that transient something that grabs you and makes the story believable and enjoyable. Kendra was this shy woman who wasn’t sure of herself until Sinclair came along and taught her and showed her everything missing. I really enjoyed watching her grow into a more confident woman who was comfortable with her sexuality and being a submissive. The plot of this story, wow, you can tell that the author planned this out, or has some major writing skills that most writers are lacking.

This author just keeps getting better with her stories. The characters are like people we know so well. This is a superb story and although it seems like a “typical” storyline. It’s not. Ms. Summers knows how to take a storyline that has been used in the past and make it her own, make it unique and something the readers will not be expecting. I highly recommend this book to readers.

Rating: 5 Smacks
Heat Level: Explicit
Other: BDSM, Spanking, Sex Club
Reviewer: Tonya Callihan

Goldie and the Three Bares by Kat Duarte

Title: Goldie and the Three Bares

Author: Kat Duarte

Publisher: Eternal Press

Published date: June 2009

ISBN: 978-1-926704-15-9

Genre/Theme: Erotic/Paranormal

Length: 43 pages

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Review:

Being an anthropologist is dirty work, but somebody has to do it. Goldie Locke is searching northern Scotland for the find of her career. Her archaeological partner finds love in the Scottish Highlands. Will Goldie find that tablets she is looking for? Or will she find more than she was looking for?
I loved the story!! It starts out with the main character working at her dig and then her “dream” comes true. I loved the way it all tied together in the end. Travel with Goldie and she searches for the lost tablets. The characters were very interesting and each played their part in true form. I gave this book a 4.5. I would recommend this book for everyone to read. Very sexy love scenes. If you love fairy tales, you'll love the twist this author gives the story.. Find out which love interest is too hard, too soft, and just right!!

Rating: 4.5 Smacks

Heat Level: Explicit

Other: m/f

Reviewer: Chris

Forbidden Island by Samantha Gentry

Title: Forbidden Island
Author: Samantha Gentry
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press (The Wilder Roses)
Published date: July 2009
Genre/Theme: Erotic Scarlet Rosette (contemporary)
Length: Novella (49 pages)
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Review:

When Chantal Stevens first laid eyes on Murphy Abbot, it was at her college graduation. The moment she looked into his eye and shook his hand, the fantasies ran rampant through her mind and would do so for the next ten years. Fast forward ten years and Chantal is determined to seduce Murphy and plans to deceive him in order to find out if reality will live up to the fantasies she has been having all these years.

Forbidden Island had a very sexually stimulating plot line. Who wouldn't want to go back and answer all the "what ifs" that ran through their minds through the years about someone from their paths. Chantal's character was a woman bound and determined to get answers to her questions. Murphy's character was that hot rich industrialist who I couldn't help but get weak in the knees for. In just a short time, I was able to take a peek into the lives of these two very sensual people.

Forbidden Island is a very erotic and sultry read. Ms. Gentry paints a breathtaking portrait of an island that was like no other. I did feel as though this book centered on the sexual aspect of their lives and the majority of the book was about their sexual escapades. There was not that much of a plot to this book which saddened me because I believe Chantal and Murphy's characters had such a potential to flourish in this book. I would have liked to see a little less of the sexually explicit scenes and more of the relationship building throughout the story.

If you are looking for a stimulating and sexually arousing read, then this is the book for you. It's short enough to read when you have just a few moments and you want to find a book to escape into. I do look forward to reading more of Ms. Gentry's work.

Rating: 3 smacks
Heat Level: Explicit
Other: m/f anal play
Reviewer: Elizabeth

Sweet Inspiration by Tierney Linn

Title: Sweet Inspiration

Author: Tierney Linn

Publisher: Liquid Silver Books

Published date: 2007

ISBN: 978-1-59578-378-3

Genre/Theme: Contemporary

Length: 49 pages

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Recently divorced romance writer Shelby O’Neill is burnt out and ready for a change. She packs up everything she owns and moves to Florida hoping new scenery and a change in climate will inspire her. When she’s caught accidentally watching her gorgeous neighbor having sex, she knows instantly he’s the key to ending her creative dry spell. She’s inspired to sit down and write for the first time in a year. The man is a god and quickly features as the new hero in her book. NFL star Christian LaCroix is outraged when he catches the woman next door spying on him while he’s having sex and is sure she’s just another celebrity-hounding journalist looking for a story. When he confronts her and discovers she’s nothing more than his new neighbor, he is immediately attracted to her feisty attitude and shapely figure. Shelby is nothing like the usual groupies he encounters and he pursues her with a vengeance. Her block is a thing of the past as she writes about each sexual encounter with her new lover. Given his feelings for journalists, Shelby is careful not to let Christian know she has cast him as the hero in her new book, much less that each caress, every kiss, and passionate embrace is inspiration for her writing. Shelby is sure this new romance novel is going to be the best she’s ever written thanks to her gorgeous lover—until Christian accidentally discovers her secret. Quickly she realizes that she’s lost her heart to this fierce man and that he’s more important than any bestseller. Shelby must prove that her deception was harmless but it’s up to Christian to trust his heart and accept the love Shelby offers.

As a writer myself, I can relate to Shelby’s muse-less state. I only wish my muse found its way back in such an erotic way! Watching her huge, sexy neighbor having sex from afar on New Year’s Eve, Shelby’s life takes an interesting turn from recently divorced and unable to write, to excited and creative. Christian unknowingly provides all the fodder she needs for a new book as he introduces her to a world of passion she’d never experienced except through her books. Unfortunately, Christian makes his hatred for the media very clear and Shelby’s intuition keeps her from revealing to him that he has the starring role as hero and sex god in her latest story. When he finds out, he’s furious. I loved the way Tierney Linn manages to fuse hot sex with tenderness. If she hadn’t, the forgiveness by the end of the story would not have seemed believable to me. Christian is a very sexual man with a romantic side. Shelby is a giving woman, willing to give love a second chance. If you want an erotic read with sweet elements, this is a great story for you.

Rating: 4.5

Heat Level: Very spicy

Other: voyeurism, public sex, masturbation