Stephanie Bedwell-Grime, Avenging Angel

Title:  Avenging Angel

Author:  Stephanie Bedwell-Grime

Rating:  Three Siren Stones

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Sub-Genre:  Fantasy

Keywords:  Blush, Guardian Angel, Demon

Length:  Novel       

ISBN E-Book:  978-1419933509

Price:  $5.99

Publisher:  Ellora’s Cave

Buy-Link:  http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9860-avenging-angel.aspx

Reviewer:  Nikki

Blurb/Summary:

Blush sensuality level: This is a sweet romance (kisses only, no sexual content).

“I never should have gone to The Purgatory Bar. That’s what started it all.”

Having worked her way through the Heavenly ranks, Porsche’s recently been promoted to Guardian Angel—and if she’d known what trouble lay ahead, she would have stayed in Dream Central.

She’s lost a soul. Well…not lost, per se. Technically it was snatched by a demon, but on Porsche’s watch. With mankind’s faith at an all-time low and Lucifer making a move to buy controlling interest in Heaven Inc., this couldn’t have happened at a worse time. Porsche’s determined to battle every succubi, satyr and she-devil in Hades—and possibly a traitor in Heaven—if that’s what it takes to get Alex Chalmers’ soul back.

And if the handsome human wishes to thank her…there has to be some perk to the job.

Publisher’s Note: This story was previously published elsewhere under the title Guardian Angel and has been revised for Ellora’s Cave.

Review:

The premise of this book sounded so intriguing.  I've read books by this author before and have really enjoyed them, so when I saw this title, I jumped on it.  But Avenging Angel didn't quite hit the spot for me.  The writing is great, easy to read with a good flow, but the story didn't cut it for me.  I wasn't fully involved with the heroine; I didn’t meet much of a connection with her.  Porsche finds herself in a very bad predicament, the story is written in the first person.  The story is a sweet romance, which is a nice change.

Avenging Angel is full of action, fun, and a bit of romance. 

Linda Kage, The Right to Remain Mine

Title:  The Right to Remain Mine

Author:  Linda Kage 

Rating:  Four Siren Stones 

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Keywords:  Cops, Lawyer, Stalker 

Word Count:  79,000       

ISBN E-Book:  978-1926996783

Price:  $4.99

ISBN for Print:  978-1927454039

Price:  $14.95

Publisher:  Champagne Books

Buy-Link:  http://champagnebooks.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&path=20_37&product_id=551

Reviewer:  Nikki


Tagline:  Raith hates lawyers; Willow hates alpha men. Together, they can't keep their hands off each other.

Blurb/Summary:

You have the right to remain cherished. Anything you read or scream out in ecstasy can and will be used against you in the bedroom of Willow DeVane. You have the right to enjoy a big, sexy cop. If you can’t find your own, one by the name of Raith Malloy will be provided for you to enjoy and explore thoroughly within these pages. Tempers flare from the first moment divorce lawyer Willow DeVane crosses paths with sheriff deputy Raith Malloy. Both too stubborn and controlling for their own good, Willow and Raith butt heads until anger turns to passion, and they begin an affair despite their brewing hostilities. But more than one force works against them when they learn Willow’s being targeted by a dangerous stalker.

Review:

Anger, passion, fiery comebacks, and a love that just can't be denied.  The heat and heart in The Right to Remain Mine shine through, and the love that grows only gets deeper.

Raith is a tough cop and a man that can't stand lawyers...in any sense.  Then comes around this feisty woman, one he has a powerful attraction to.  However, he’s having a tough time getting to know her for they can't seem to get along.  Plus...she's a lawyer.  And well, I think you can guess what that does to him.

Willow- wow.  That's what I have to say about her.  She's strong, wilful, stubborn, and one heck of a heroine.  The angst that turns into passion between the couple is imminent and up front.

The Right to Remain Mine sizzles in all the right places and aims to please lovers of hot contemporary romances.  I enjoyed this story.  If you like contemporary romance, don't miss this one. 

Haven Raines, Farnsworth Hall

Title:  Farnsworth Hall

Author:  Haven Raines

Rating:  Four Siren Stones

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Keywords:  Champagne Rose, Spicy

Page Count:  276       

ISBN E-Book:   978-1-61217-239-2

Price:  $4.99

ISBN for Print:  978-1-61217-002-2

Price:  $13.90

Publisher:  The Wild Rose Press

Buy-Link:  http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=175_133&products_id=4756

Reviewer:  Nikki

Blurb/Summary:

[In A Castle It Can Happen]

To ease the heartbreak of a disappointing love affair, Rachel Coulter agrees to help locate a suitable English castle for her mother's spa chain. When her tour bus breaks down, she finds the formidable fortress she is stranded in front of houses more than ghosts. It holds a different horror—the man she's forbidden to love.

Trace Cardiff inherited the falling down Farnsworth Hall. Despite the childhood memories he holds close, he must sell the monstrosity before it bankrupts him. When his son’s former nanny, Rachel, shows up, claiming she's in the market to buy, he doesn’t believe her. But Rachel's persistence not only stirs all the feelings buried in his heart, it awakens family ghosts who would rather see her disappear...forever.

Caught in a passionate web of lies and deceit, Trace and Rachel must battle their way to the truth. Will the skeletons sleep at last, or will family secrets succeed in driving them apart?

Review:

From the start, this book grabbed my attention.  In a rush of events, Rachel was lead to Trace, and it all went uphill from there.  Rachel is dealing with some things, and she throws herself into this project, not expecting all the ups and downs that come with it.

Trace is a little weary of her, but things happen that throw the pair together.  This contemporary title is full of emotion, mystery, and touching moments.  The characterization in the book is strong, with the type of people that stay in your mind when not reading the story.  The plot has twists and turns, it kept me turning the pages, eager to know what's coming next.

Farnsworth Hall is well written, with witty dialogue, and strong leading characters that bring life to this story.  Why not get a copy of your very own?

Rebecca Grace, Shadows From The Past

Title:  Shadows From The Past

Author:  Rebecca Grace

Rating:  Five Siren Stones

Genre:  Romantic Suspense

Keywords:  Crimson Miniature Rose, Sensual

Page Count:  144       

ISBN E-Book:  d5933   

Price:  $2.75

Publisher:  The Wild Rose Press

Buy-Link:  http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=137&products_id=4777

Reviewer:  Nikki

Blurb/Summary:

When Stacey Moreno goes undercover on Evergreen Island, she's looking for answers to a friend's mysterious death, not trouble. After all, Stacey's not adventuresome--she lives vicariously through her cartoon creations and can't tell left from right. But from the moment she moves into spooky Redfern Manor and meets her sexy new boss, trouble starts and sparks fly.

Hobbled by injuries from a plane crash, former journalist Mack Warren came to Redfern Manor looking for escape, not romance. He intends to focus on the biography he's writing of the manor's former occupant and ignore the strange feelings his lively new assistant inspires.

As Stacey digs for answers, she's drawn to her mysterious boss, but he is obsessed with a ghost. With danger drawing near, can Stacey persuade Mack to face the shadows from the past that threaten to destroy their future?

Review:

A spooky house, an old friend dying under strange circumstances....it makes for a suspense novel that while short, it keeps the pace intense until the riveting climax.  Shadows From The Past is a great story that pulled me in immediately. It's haunting, suspenseful, and enjoyable.  Stacey just wants to get to the bottom of her friend's death.  What awaits Stacey are many surprises and even a shot at love.  Mack is mysterious, which draws me to him.  I wondered how he'd finally open up to Stacey.  The town and the house she stays at is full of secrets.  Rebecca Grace has created a thrilling ride with this story.  I had no idea what I would find out next and I rooted for Stacey to find out why her friend died.  If you're a fan of romantic suspense, Shadows From The Past is top notch!  Don't miss it! 

Maggie Montgomery, Screw Me Once

Title:  Screw Me Once

Author:  Maggie Montgomery

Rating:  Four Siren Stones

Genre:  Erotic Contemporary

Keywords:  Graphic Language, Second Chance

Length:  Short Novel       

ISBN E-Book:  978-1-61118-776-2

Price:  $5.99

Publisher:  Loose Id

Buy-Link:  http://www.loose-id.com/Screw-Me-Once.aspx

Reviewer:  Ashleigh


Tagline:  A Night of Passion years in the past, could just lead to the best laid plans when two lovers come back to each other in the most unconventional way.

Blurb/Summary:

It's been fifteen years since Belle gave her virginity to her first love, a boy she'd only known for a week and never saw again. Fifteen years of anger and hurt and secrets. Fifteen years of wanting to tell him exactly what she thinks of him. But now that she has a chance, it's harder than she imagined.

For one thing, her body doesn't much care what her heart fears or her mind thinks. It's ready to jump Brian McKenna's grown-up bones in a remarkable variety of ways and in shockingly risky locations. For another, the atmosphere at the romantic mountain resort proves just as irresistible as it was when she was nineteen.

Add in a seven-year-old goddaughter determined to push them together and a long-hidden secret that could destroy the tentative trust they've established. Can she reconcile her undeniable attraction with her heartbreak, and when everything comes out in the open, and Brian's youthful mistakes are explained, can she let go of the past for a chance at a beautiful future?

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, and material that some readers may find objectionable.

Review:

Bella not only gave her heart and virginity away to Brian fifteen years ago, she gave him a piece of herself that has left her hollow for so long.  The only thing that keeps her going is hating the man that didn’t return the love she had for him, or so she thought.  The only problem with her hatred is, it isn’t a great bed fellow and it sure isn’t keeping her too warm at night.  Will seeing Brian again after all this time give her the courage to give him a piece of her mind or will her traitorous heart fall for him all over again?

She is still as beautiful as he remembered, is the only thing that Brian can think when he sees Bella after fifteen years apart.  If only he could say that they had spent the last fifteen years together, but Brian’s pride and Bella’s ambition caused such a canyon that neither knew how to cross it.  Will the revelation of a long lost secret bring these two old lovers back together or will it tear apart the budding romance that could have been?

This was a wonderful story that really got me vested from the first pages.  Maggie Montgomery is a new to me author, and if this is the caliber of her normal work than she has found a new groupie reader.  The characters were real and the story line was so easy to follow that I hated to see it end with the last page.  I can’t wait to see what else Ms. Montgomery comes up with in the future!  

Mia Downing, Exceeding Boundaries

Title:  Exceeding Boundaries

Author:  Mia Downing

Rating:  Four Siren Stones

Genre:  Erotic Romance 

Keywords:  Scarlet Rose

Page Count:  119       

ISBN E-Book:  978-1-61217-280-4  

Price:  $2.50

Publisher:  The Wilder Roses

Buy-Link:  http://www.wilderroses.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=866

Reviewer:  Ashleigh

Blurb/Summary:

Lawyer Megan Connors wants a man, one that will wine her, dine her, and help her to forget the pain of a date rape she experienced as a teen. Her boss, Adam Wentworth, is just the man--tall, dark-haired, blue-eyed, and a confirmed player. He's perfect for a weekend of non-committal sex that will entice her inner woman out to play for good. So Megan devises a plan for seduction, one that will lure Adam into her arms.

Adam has been attracted to Megan since day one, but his preference for dominance and her fragile air kept him at bay. Megan's kiss under forgotten mistletoe is just the fuel his lust needs to exceed the boundaries she once put in place. He's game, but he wants more than a weekend with the vulnerable yet sexy Megan.

When the weekend is over, will Megan allow the past to keep her bound or can Adam convince her she's strong enough to submit?

Review:

Megan Connors is scheming to get the guy of her fantasies, and she is willing to act the part of whatever he wants to get him into her as soon as possible.  But what happens when the player you thought you were seducing turns out to be the Dom who wants more than just your body, he wants your heart as well?  Can Megan get beyond her burning secrets to get the guy who has owned her from the beginning or will her past be too much to overcome for these two budding lovers?

Adam Wentworth has wanted Megan since the first day he saw her walking down the hall.  Having suffered the worst tragedy of his life a mere two years ago guarding his heart has been priority one, but with Megan all the rules are being thrown out the window.  When a searing kiss and a dare brings these two together, fireworks explode the more they come together, and Adam is finding it harder and harder to walk away from her each day.  But can he help her work past her fears or will he have to put it all on the line and hope that she feels the same way as him?  Will making the ultimate sacrifice be worth the risk of heartache in the end?

This was a great story, not only was the sex amazingly hot, but the characters were real and easy to love.  The story of Megan and Adam was one filled with real emotions and mixed signals from the first page.  The horrible pasts of these two characters made them come to life on the page, and with that the story flowed so well that it ended far too quickly.  I haven’t read too many books by Mia Downing, but this one was grade A-mazing and it is a definite reread for me.  If you are looking for a great love story with some naughty good times in the sack thrown in for good measure than this is the book for you!

Amber Skyze, I Wanna Sext U UP

Title:  I Wanna Sext U UP

Author:  Amber Skyze
Rating:  Two And A Half Siren Stones 

Genre:  Erotic Contemporary

Keywords:  Graphic Language, Bondage

Length:  Novella       

ISBN E-Book:  978-1-61118-775-5

Price:  $4.99

Publisher:  Loose Id 

Buy-Link:  http://www.loose-id.com/I-Wanna-Sext-U-Up.aspx

Reviewer:  Ashleigh


Tagline:  Sometimes winning the makeover lottery can be like winning the lottery of love at the end of the day.

Blurb/Summary:

Tool belt? Check. Rope? Check. Lube? Check. Violet wand? Check. A simple text leads to a case of mistaken communication and before long Riley Anderson finds herself tied to her bed and being driven to distraction. Beckett Manning, host of Room Makeovers, knows how to tease and torture every inch of her skin. He also knows his way around an orgasm, which keeps Riley wanting more. And more. And more. Beckett is ready to give Riley more than a remodeled kitchen. He’s about to bring her to the edge of ecstasy and back. Whether it’s hot sex in the bathtub or Riley hog-tied to the bed, he’s determined to show this brazen beauty how desirable she really is.

Publisher’s Note: This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, and material that some readers may find objectionable: bondage, use of violet wand (erotic electrical stimulation).

Review:

For Riley, remodeling her home was going to be the best way to get her ex exorcised from her life.  Riley’s ex Terry was the worst kind, giving her a taste of happily ever after, and then deciding that she just wasn’t what he wanted in the end.  What Riley wasn’t prepared for was just how intense a home remodel could be, until she got the surprise of her life in the form of Beckett Manning and “Room Makeovers.”  Not only is he a whiz with power tools, but using his own power tool he isn’t half bad either.  Can Riley end up with a better happily ever after with Beckett or will she be just another bump in the road for him?

She isn’t like the others to Beckett.  There is something about Riley that keeps drawing him to her and yet he can’t quite put his finger on it.  Keeping his hands off of her will be a challenge while the cameras are rolling, but once the director yells cut all bets are off.  Does Riley want something more than a stay-cation with the handy man?  If Beckett gets his way then he may just be getting a ready-made life to come home to at the end of the day.

I really wanted to like this book, not only from the premise, but the characters sounded amazing also.  I really wanted this book to just give me something more in the end.  About forty pages into the story the plot was predictable and it made really enjoying the story so much harder for me.  As a seasoned romance reader, I was not only looking for something with spice, but maybe with a bit of a twist at the end.  By the time I turned the final page it just left me disappointed.  This is not my first book of Amber Skyze’s and yet I would have to say that this is probably my least enjoyable one to date.  One bad apple will not stop me from reading her works in the future though, and I hope that those who are new to her style of writing give her a chance because she is unique in her talents.

Evanne Lorraine, A Very Demon Valentine's Day

Title:  A Very Demon Valentine’s Day

Author:  Evanne Lorraine

Rating:  Three And A Half Siren Stones

Genre:  BDSM

Sub-Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Keywords:  Demons, BDSM Theme and Elements, Bondage, Spanking

Length:  Novella       

ISBN E-Book:  978-1-61118-682-6

Price:  $4.99

Publisher:  Loose Id 

Buy-Link:  http://www.loose-id.com/Demon-Hunters-2-A-Very-Demon-Valentines.aspx

Reviewer:  Ashleigh


Tagline: Being the outside isn’t a way that Miranda wants to live anymore, but will reaching for the one man that she wants give her what she needs or will a broken heart be her consolation prize?

Blurb/Summary:

(Demon Hunters Series, book 2)

Miranda has crushed on Tey forever. Demon biology, great timing, and a scarcity of female demons conspire to make mating with the earth demon irresistible. Saving Tey’s life gives her cart blanche to love Tey. If he loved her back she’d be thrilled, but he doesn’t even like her.

Tey avoids inhaling around Miranda because her scent is an aphrodisiac amping up his already out-of-control sex drive. Faced with imminent mating mania and Miranda’s proximity, he succumbs to temptation. After he bonds with her, his priorities change, but he’s determined to do the honorable thing and keep her from mating to him. If lust wasn’t fogging his mind and if he could keep his hands off her, then he might save her from a lifetime of regrets.

Mutual respect, trust, and lots of hot sex will eventually make two very stubborn demons realize how perfect they are for each other, if they can survive long enough for their own kinky little Valentine’s Day miracle.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, and material that some readers may find objectionable: anal play/intercourse, BDSM theme and elements ((which may include scenes of bondage, spanking, and other elements practiced within a BDSM lifestyle).

Review:

Being a demon is one thing, but having to keep it hidden it something else entirely.  For Miranda it just goes with the territory, especially working in the human world.  On a good day Miranda would be able to handle any human or what they bring to the table, but when it comes to Tey Durron the rule book is thrown out the window.  Miranda has lusted for Tey since the first moment she say him and yet he has no idea that she even exists.  When Miranda is the only one who can help Tey from going rogue, can Miranda get beyond her hurt feelings over spurned love?

Tey is in big trouble.  Duec, owner of La Ceinture Noire and his best friend, has just put the biggest temptation right into his pathway with no way to get away from her.  Wanting Miranda has been a constant in his life; when everything started to go wrong he held onto the idea that one day he would be good enough for her.  If only he could prove that being a “mud guppy” didn’t mean that he was unworthy of her affection.  Will a night of BDSM and discovered feelings be enough to get these two together or will this story end unhappy for them both?

Evanne Lorraine has done it again!  After reading the first book I was worried that it couldn’t be topped by a second in the series and yet she was able to not only bring you back into the fold of the characters, but she also made me love her characters even more.  The story of Tey and Miranda was wonderful from beginning to end.  I will definitely be on the lookout for other books in this series, and these two will be rereads for me for sure.  If you are looking for a great love story with paranormal elements than this is the series for you.

Evanne Lorraine, A Very Demon Christmas

Title:  A Very Demon Christmas

Author:  Evanne Lorraine

Rating:  Four And A Half Siren Stones

Genre: BDSM

Sub-Genre: Paranormal Romance

Keywords:  Demons, BDSM Theme and Elements, Exhibitionism, Spanking

Length:  Short Novel       

ISBN E-Book:  978-1-61118-679-6

Price:  $5.99

Publisher:  Loose Id 

Buy-Link:  http://www.loose-id.com/Demon-Hunters-1-A-Very-Demon-Christmas.aspx

Reviewer:  Ashleigh


Tagline: Sexy Demon Hunters fighting his mating urge for the one woman he is afraid to take, it’s hot enough to melt your e-reader.

Blurb/Summary:

(Demon Hunters Series)

Holly loves her job as a private nurse, but the ill and injured offer little chance to explore her secret longings, especially not for a submissive seeking a master worth risking her heart. When she braves the exclusive La Ceinture Noir, a mysterious dom takes charge of her. She never sees his face, but she’ll never forget his powerful mastery.

Demon hunter Colin avoids the sweetly submissive nurse next door because she doesn’t deserve to be drawn into his nightmare world. No one does. All he has to offer her is pain and heartbreak. He damn near trips over his own tongue when he spots her in red lace lingerie at the club. After a too brief interlude with the enchanting little slave, he comes to his senses, and alters her memory of their encounter before leaving.

But there’s more to Holly than he suspects. For openers, she’s immune to his mind games. He can’t erase her memories without serious damage and he can’t bear to hurt her. The more she learns about him, the greater her jeopardy. How can he keep her safe through a very demon Christmas?

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, and material that some readers may find objectionable: anal play, BDSM theme and elements (including/not limited to: exhibitionism, spanking), sex while in non-human form.

Review:

     Holly Anderson has always felt different, a little too round in the hips, too open and willing to care for those that others wouldn’t, whatever it was Holly was an outsider.  For the most part this was just something that made her life a little sad and kind of lonely, but after meeting Colin Donahue that loneliness was even more so.  Holly knows there is a reason that she is drawn to him, but she just can’t put her finger on it.  After an impromptu trip to La Ceinture Noire the blindfold has been lifted from her eyes and the lonely life that Holly had hated before is a thing from the past.

     Colin Donahue craves his neighbor Holly, but he can’t have her.  Colin has a secret, something that could put Holly in real danger if he got too close to her, so he stays as far from her as possible to keep his feelings in check.  After a harmless neighborly act, he sees Holly changing and all his good intentions are out the window.  Will another night at La Ceinture Noire make him forget her or will this night bring both of them just what they were looking for?

     I had my doubts about this book, but after getting into the characters and the simple yet poignant writing that Evanne Lorraine brings to the table, I have been proven wrong.  I truly felt for Holly and Colin and hoped from the first meeting that these two would find a way to be together.  In the end I was happy with the way things worked out, and felt that Ms. Lorraine made sure that there were little to no loose ends with the story.  The sex was incredibly hot, but didn’t make the story too tawdry.  There was a nice balance between the sexual aspect and the story line, and even though this is considered a shorter story, at only 128 pages, the plot line didn’t feel rushed and it seemed that the characters really directed the story instead of the author forcing a plot to characters.  I will definitely be looking for more works by Evanne Lorraine in the future; she has made my paranormal readings a broader spectrum with authors I like.