Thalia Frost, Her Goblin Protector

Title:  Her Goblin Protector

Author:  Thalia Frost

Rating:  Three Siren Stones

Genre:  Paranormal Erotic Romance

Keywords:  Book 1, Goblins    

Word Count:  9500          

ISBN E-Book:  978-1-61937-262-7

Price:  $ .99 

Publisher:  Musa Publishing 

Buy-Link:  http://musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37&products_id=300 

Reviewer:  Kristin Boyd

Blurb/Summary:

Lizzie Lake’s house sitting job in the hills of Appalachia is about to get very interesting when a sensual fight between man and goblin breaks out...

Lizzie Lake looks forward to a few peaceful months at her aunt’s place, Landry’s Farm, but her first night proves the place is anything but tranquil.

When she sees a non-human but handsome face in the window, she wonders if the superstitions her Aunt Lou holds are true. After finding a dog eared copy of the poem Goblin Market, she suspects that an old myth from the past lives on in the present. Handsome local Riley Mann distracts her from the strange goings on, but an encounter with a goblin man, Lorcan, changes everything. Will he be able to protect Lizzie from danger, and can she trust her heart to him?

Review:

Her Goblin Protector was an enjoyable quick read.  The story seemed to be more of an introduction to characters than an actual complete book, but was entertaining and captivating nonetheless.

Lizzie, a college graduate housesitting for her aunt finds herself spooked by peering eyes her first evening in the secluded home. Thereafter, she finds clues as to who or what was watching her through a classic novel she finds on her aunt's bookshelf.

Lorcan, a goblin, spotted Lizzie upon her arrival and knew in an instant she belonged to him.  He watched her through the window and even haunts her sleep before finally revealing himself during the climax of the tale.

It was a smooth read, descriptive and imaginitive.  There are more books in the Goblin series by this author which might have been better released as a compilation piece. 

Jaye Shields, Addictions of a Sex Demon

Title:  Addictions of a Sex Demon

Author:  Jaye Shields

Rating:  Four And A Half Siren Stones

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Keywords:  Demon, Dragon, F/F, Graphic Language, Light Bondage, The Sex Demon Trilogy    

Word Count:  24,000          

ISBN E-Book:  978-1937325510

Price:  $2.99 

Publisher:  Beachwalk Press, Inc. 

Buy-Link:  http://beachwalkpress.com/addictions-of-a-sex-demon/

Reviewer:  Kristin Boyd

Tagline:   Sephina is about to trade one addiction for another—and his name is Axel

Blurb/Summary:

 Sephina Antara has gotten into a lot of trouble as a sex demon with a drug addiction. Moving to a new village was supposed to help her get clean. But when she relapses, it comes with a side of hot dragon man.

Axel Stavros may be a drug dealer, but he's also the town healer. Half-human, half-dragon, his blood can cure just about anything, but it has some erotic side effects for its user, as the new beauty in town is about to find out…

Content Warning: graphic language, hot foreplay, and even hotter sex, including light bondage and some girl-on-girl action.

Review:

The third book in The Sex Demon Trilogy, Addictions of a Sex Demon, definitely turns up the heat.  A climactic end to a wonderful series.

Sephina is a struggling addict who desperately wants to get clean. Starting fresh in a new town, leaving behind the bad influences, and even worse memories is a good start.  As the story progresses, Sephina struggles internally, not only with her addiction but the fear of being a disappointment to those who love her the most.  Sephina’s character is very well written and balanced.  From the weakness she displays through her struggle with drugs to the strength she demonstrates when it means protecting not only the man she falls in love with but his entire race as well.

Axel is not your ordinary drug dealer; he heals during the day and deals in the night all in an effort to keep the village he lives in safe and clean.  Axel displays chivalry throughout the book but make no mistake, he will kill in order to keep his loved ones safe.  Axel is hot.  Literally and figuratively.  As a quetzalem (dragon demon) his race has been hunted to near extinction for their blood.  He can ignite a flame within his lovers that can actually set them on fire.  Not many women can take the heat that is Axel, but in Sephina he has met his perfect match.

Jaye Shields has proven herself as a highly talented author of fantasy and erotic literature.  Addictions of a Sex Demon is a wonderful story that really draws the reader in and captivates them with sensuality as well as adventure.  This book could easily be read as a stand-alone but be advised that once you read this tale, it will be incredibly hard to resist picking up the other two books.

Jaye Shields, Confessions of a Sex Demon

Title:  Confessions of a Sex Demon

Author:  Jaye Shields

Rating:  Five Siren Stones

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Keywords:  Demons, Wizards, Succubus, Strong Language, Graphic Sex, Light BDSM 

Word Count:  20,000          

ISBN E-Book:  978-1937325404

Price:  $2.99 

Publisher:  Beachwalk Press, Inc. 

Buy-Link:  http://beachwalkpress.com/confession%E2%80%8Bs-of-a-sex-demon/

Reviewer:  Kristin Boyd

Tagline:  Zahra proves that sex demons do it better as she goes from captive to captivator.

Blurb/Summary:

Sex Demon Zahra Aniron is a closet romantic. Too bad she spends her time having hot, kinky sex with paying strangers. But she needs the money to pay off her sister's debt to wizard thugs. There could be worse things than getting paid for pleasure, especially since a sex demon needs climax to survive.

As a blacksmith, Lennox Aegros puts his fury to good use pounding steel into swords. When he arrives at a new town, his real cause for being there isn't to sell weaponry, it's for revenge. When he finds the succubus he's been searching for, her beauty means he can mix business with pleasure. But the joke's on Lennox, because as he succeeds in torturing his victim by repeatedly bringing her to the brink of orgasm and then denying her the release that she so desperately needs, he realizes that Zahra's slow demise means the breaking of a heart he didn't think he had.

Content Warning: strong language, graphic sex, light BDSM scenes

Review:

They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.  Lennox proves otherwise.  Hell hath no fury like a lover scorned.  Determined to take his rage out on somebody, the sister of the demon who stole his wife seems to be the perfect target.  Not only is she his only sister, but she's also a succubus, a whore who doesn't deserve even the slightest empathy.  In this story, we really get to see all sides of Lennox.  From the loving and sensual side that book one painted of him to the tormented soul that the infidelity inevitably creates.  Lennox is so much more than the "psychopath" kidnapper of a succubus whore, and watching his walls all come shattering down is an emotional roller coaster.

Zahra is so much more than a succubus, so much more than a whore, so much more than an ordinary woman.  She is the embodiment of strength, courage, and selflessness as she takes on the debts of not only her adopted sister, but unknowingly her brother as well.  As the story progresses, she proves that although she willingly plays and entertains paying partners and gains vitality from each climax they bring, she doesn't do it simply for her own gain.  When Lennox's torture leaves her on the verge of death, the thought of saving her sister is the only thing that drives her to survive.  Her bravery and resolve combined with her wit and sarcasm make her an easy heroine to fall in love with.

Lennox and Zahra's story is the second in the series and does not disappoint.  This book packs even more emotion, heat, and conflict than the first in the series and definitely keeps the reader captivated from beginning to end.  The author once again paints the realm perfectly and enables the reader to become completely engulfed in the world she created.  There were several points in the story that elicited emotional responses as the reader relates to the characters and their struggles.  The editing is clean and the cover art is alluring.  This book deserves a five Siren Stone rating because it works well as a stand-alone but creates a desire within the reader to become even more familiar with the secondary characters.  Well done.

Michele de Winton, A Talon At Her Throat

Title:  A Talon At Her Throat
Author:  Michele de Winton 

Rating:  Three Siren Stones

Genre:  Fantasy

Keywords: Faery Miniature Rose, Spicy   

Page Count:  89          

ISBN E-Book:  978-1-61217-481-5

Price:  $2.99 

Publisher:  The Wild Rose Press

Buy-Link:   http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4977

Reviewer:  Kristin Boyd 

Blurb/Summary:

Torn between hiding her goddess lineage from mortals and needing her powerful gifts for self-preservation, Yasmin Freeman just wants to be ordinary. But when an assignment leads her to Gray, a Talon shape-shifter able to assume the deadly features of any bird of prey, the true nature of her abilities is revealed.

Fiercely protective of his people, Gray is honor-bound to dispose of intruders, but Yasmin provokes a lustful hunger in him he doesn't understand--a hunger that drives him to disregard the Talon's strict avoidance of humans.

Gray's seductive touch triggers an ancient bonding process Yasmin is powerless to stop. Their bond should hold them together, but without the cooperation of their people, humans, goddesses, and Talons could die. Yasmin must face Gray in battle if she is to plead with the Talon elders for cooperation, yet defeating Grey might mean the end of the fragile trust between them.

Review:

Yasmin is on a mission.  A mission she took in order to redeem herself in the eyes of her people after her previous job went awry.  She wanted nothing more than to go to the landing, survey the land and help her people gain and maintain equal rights and peace within the disputed land.  Gray proves to be a stubborn but very sexy roadblock, whose devotion to his people and their land could potentially deem Yasmin's mission impossible.  She is forced to reveal and use powers that will reveal her true identity in an effort to restore balance.

Gray is an instinctual bird of prey.  One who acts first and asks questions later.  When the Landing that the Talon people have rights to becomes compromised by human invasion, he sees this as a direct threat and will eliminate said threat to preserve his land and his people.  Eliminating weak humans has never proven to be an issue before, but Yasmin is different as are the feelings that he begins to develop for her.  Can this human be trusted?  His first instinct, his sister, and the witches all tell him no while the voice of his deceased mother encourages him to look deeper.

A Talon At Her Throat is a story about balance.  The balance between the people of humans, goddesses, talons, and witches; the balance between love, lust, and manipulation, and the internal balance between the inner beast and humanity within.  Although there were minor inconsistencies throughout, the characters and storyline were written well enough to keep the reader engaged.  The cover art seemed dated and most definitely did not do the hero of the book justice.  The love scenes were steamy and passionate.  This was an entertaining book overall. 

Jaye Shields, Claiming of a Sex Demon

Title:  Claiming of a Sex Demon

Author:  Jaye Shields

Rating:  Four And A Half Siren Stones

Genre:  Paranormal Romance 

Keywords:  Demon, Graphic Erotic Situations, Strong Language,  Extramarital Relations, The Sex Demon Trilogy

Word Count:  19,000          

ISBN E-Book:  978-1937325459

Price:  $2.99 

Publisher:  Beachwalk Press, Inc. 

Buy-Link:  http://beachwalkpress.com/claiming-of-a-sex-demon/

Reviewer:  Kristin Boyd

Tagline:  It's not easy for a sex demon to find a wife; it's even harder when the perfect woman is already taken.

Blurb/Summary:

(The Sex Demon Trilogy, Book 2)

Emmerie Winter has only been married a few months, but depression has made her a fragile stranger in the arms of her husband. She knows she should love him, but she doesn't, and no matter how hard she tries, she can't convince her heart otherwise.

When a sex demon with a boyish grin and a sinful body arrives in town, Emmerie's world is turned upside down. His intense passion for life sends her depression into hiding, but her feelings for the sinful male could get her in deep trouble.

A sex demon needs climax to survive, but that's never been a problem for Reza Aniron as women seem to be unable to resist his charms…all except for one, a timid, blonde angel who treats him with complete indifference. But in her eyes he can see a fire that's just waiting to be released. And he always did love a challenge.

Content Warning: strong language, extramarital relations, and graphic erotic situations

Review:

The relationship between Emmerie and Lennox is both sweet and heartbreaking.  Emmerie is a genuinely good soul trapped by depression fueled by the guilt of not truly loving her husband as a wife should.  Lennox loves his wife and would do anything to earn her adoration in return.  Having known each other since childhood and being betrothed to one another makes their union ideal in the eyes of the community but to Emmerie, just creates endless torment.

Reza is everything a sex demon is notorious for.  He is exotic and charming.  His mischievous grin paired with his sinful confidence make him a magnet to women throughout the world and an unwelcome visitor in this small village.  Afraid his presence will stir the women of the town into a frenzy, the men are constantly on their guard around him.  Still, he continues to swoon and satisfy ladies without hesitation; that is, until he met a forbidden angel.

The relationship between Reza and Emmerie is complex and full of emotional conflict.  His desire for her is undeniable and her skepticism of his sincerity is completely understandable.  Their interactions are passionate and heated and watching Emmerie blossom from an empty shell of a human to a being full of life and zest is wonderful.

Claiming of a Sex Demon is an incredibly sweet story with a satisfying happily ever after.  The author paints a clear portrait of the characters and the realm in which they dwell, making the story easy to become lost in.  The conflict between characters as well as the emotional torment creates a perfect balance to the tenderness throughout.  This book is definitely a book to keep and invokes interest to read the remaining books of the series. 

Charlotte Stein, Raw Heat

Title:  Raw Heat

Author:  Charlotte Stein

Rating:  Three And A Half Siren Stones

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Keywords:  Shape-Shifter, Werewolf    

Length:  Novella          

ISBN E-Book:  978-1419937989

Price:  $4.45 

Publisher:  Ellora’s Cave

Buy-Link:  http://www.ellorascave.com/raw-heat.html

Reviewer:  Kristin Boyd

Blurb/Summary:

Serena has spent her entire life in the underground, hiding with the rest of humanity from the werewolf plague above. Then she begins taking care of Connor—a werewolf the humans have captured to experiment on, in the hopes of uncovering a cure—and finds her entire belief system shaken.

Connor isn’t a vicious animal, hell-bent on the destruction of the human race. He’s kind, thoughtful, and above all—absolutely delicious. The feelings he’s starting to inspire are sending Serena out of control…lewd, filthy, glorious feelings, which could cost her job as a nurse. Not to mention her life.

Lust and love between a wolf and a human are strictly forbidden. But for Connor, Serena may be willing to break all the rules…

Review:

In many ways Serena is more captive than the werewolves caged inside the facility being abused, beaten, and experimented on.  Never knowing anything beyond the sterile harsh environment of the disintegrating community in which she abides, Serena is conflicted by her attraction to Connor and the disgust and hatred that are common within the small society that she lives among.  Having cared for the massive werewolf for over a year, a forbidden relationship develops between the two and she is forced to face her true desires as well as her biggest fears.

Connor is a werewolf unlike any other that they had experimented on. He endured abuse and never attempted escape.  Although infected by the virus for many years he was able to maintain his handsome human form and the memories from his previous life.  His desire for Serena, however, was as feral as the beast forced out of him during the torturous "medical" experiments conducted on him daily.

 

Raw Heat is an action packed quickie that will leave the reader wanting more.  This page turner contains as much carnal heat as it does adventure while Serena and Connor find themselves forced to choose between the possibility of death at the hands of humanity or risking death by living life on the run.

Raw Heat earned 3.5 Siren Stones because this story has clean editing throughout, is a quick and easy read and is certainly a book to come back to on a lazy Sunday afternoon.  I did often find myself wanting to know more; more about the virus and the way it has affected mankind, more about Connor's past, more about Serena's past and more about the circumstances surrounding the climax of the book. Raw Heat seemed more like an excerpt than a short standalone but was enjoyable from beginning to end.

Jianne Carlo, Hades Squad 4: Demon Seed

Title:  Hades Squad 4: Demon Seed

Author:  Jianne Carlo

Rating:  Five Siren Stones

Genre:  Multicultural Romance

Sub-Genre:  Contemporary Suspense

Keywords:  Hades Squad Series, Navy SEAL, Explicit Sexual Situations, Graphic Language, Violence, Voyeurism

Length:  Plus Size Novel        

ISBN E-Book:  978-1-61118-697-0

Price:  $7.99

Publisher:  Loose Id

Buy-Link:  http://www.loose-id.com/hades-squad-4-demon-seed.html

Reviewer:  Kristin Boyd

Blurb/Summary:

“You speak English flawlessly.” With a hint of an Irish accent. Intriguing. “Gracias. Languages are easy. Not like the physics.” What a half-assed conversation to be having in the middle of the ocean with a woman he’d just rescued from certain gang rape, being shot, and who knew what else. A curvy, luscious female whose virginity he’d just taken in front of four armed men. Talk about the best laid plans backfiring; Demon’s carefully plotted plan to capture the man who abused him, Pedro Nunez aka The Smiling Killer, was not off to a good start. “What’s your name?” “Jacinta Nunez.” Jacinta claims to have lived her whole life in a cloistered convent. Claims she’s an orphan. Claims she’s only lived in the outside world for fifty-seven days. Yet she’s the mirror image of Pedro’s sister, Rosa. The sister Pedro murdered fifty-seven days ago. There are no coincidences in life. Not for a SEAL. Is Jacinta Pedro’s ultimate revenge on Demon?

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

Review:

Absolutely riveting from beginning to end.  A steamy romance with enough adventure to keep the reader on their toes.  Demon Seed is an expertly written wild thrill ride.

Jacinta, raised in a cloister by nuns, is a rare combination of naievety and passion.  With her sharp tongue and experience with a variety of weapons, Jacinta may feel that she can handle herself in life beyond the walls of the cloister.  Never could she have imagined the web of violence and deceit in which her journey to discovering her family would cast her.  The book opens with an attempted gang rape orchestrated by her half brother and the evil revelations of her family tree build from there with details of kidnapping, murders, drug activity and a rivalry that makes the classic tale of the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s seem like a playground argument.  Why did her mother send her to live sheltered and hidden away in the cloister?  Would she ever find the family and love of a family that she so desperately yearned for?  Why would her own brother want to cause her harm?

Demon is the epitome of an alpha male.  When he first encounters Jacinta as a damsel in distress, the last thing he expected was to become engrossed in every detail of her; from the body he finds surprisingly irresistible, to the life she has lived and her lineage.  When the puzzle pieces began to come together and he realizes exactly who she is, suspicion arises in him.  The coincidence of their meeting on a beach that he had been surveying, his original mission and her lineage colliding, and the continuous peril that the couple constantly battles all keep Demon (and the reader) wondering exactly who is the puppet master and what needs to be done to ensure the success of his mission as well as Jacinta’s safety?

The plot of this story is thick.  The sensuality and romance shared by Jacinta and Demon is as hot as the steamy jungle nights they share.  Although this book is one of a series, it is written so well that you do not have to have read the previous installments to understand and enjoy Demon Seed but once you do, you will quickly find yourself scrambling to meet the entire rest of the Hades Squad. 

Jayne Kingston, Ink Lust

Title:  Ink Lust

Author:  Jayne Kingston

Rating:  Four And A Half Siren Stones

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Keywords:  Tattoo, Librarian

Length:  Novella        

ISBN E-Book:  978-1419940798

Price:  $4.45

Publisher:  Ellora’s Cave

Buy-Link:  http://www.jasminejade.com/p-10125-ink-lust.aspx

Reviewer:  Kristin Boyd

Blurb/Summary:

Leni Brewster should have been disappointed when her twin sister had to bail on holding her hand during her first tattoo, but going to her appointment solo means time alone with the sexy-as-hell tattoo artist who falls into the Do Not Touch category.

Only Jamie Rodriguez isn’t as off-limits as Leni thinks. Privately single for months, Jamie finds himself more than looking forward to having the hot little librarian in his chair. And when she accidentally reveals a naughty secret about herself, he can’t get his hands on her fast enough—he has to know what else she’s hiding under that buttoned-up exterior.

What he discovers sets his blood to boiling, igniting a burning determination to test every single one of the boundaries, both personal and physical, that she’s set for herself.

Review:

Always falling for the “bad boy” types, Leni has had her share of disappointment in men.  When she falls for the friend of her ex-boyfriend she just knows she’s setting herself up for heartbreak.  Can she take her sister’s advice and enjoy it...while it lasts?

Jamie, a sexy tattoo artist with a hard exterior, proves that you can’t judge a book by its cover.  He’s determined to win the heart of the meek Librarian that he’s been fantasizing about for far too long.  Now it’s time to discover a side of her neither of them knew she had.

Ink Lust is a sweet romance with a hint of edge.  The blossoming romance and steamy love scenes keep the reader engaged and flipping through the pages.  With clean editing and a story line that has the perfect amount of conflict, this book is an excellent addition to any romance lover’s library. 

Suzanne Rock, Unholy Pursuits

Title:  Unholy Pursuits

Author:  Suzanne Rock

Rating:  Three And A Half Siren Stones

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Keywords:  FBI Agent

Length:  Novel     

ISBN E-Book:  978-1419936746

Price:  $5.95

Publisher:  Ellora’s Cave

Buy-Link:  http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9638-unholy-pursuits.aspx

Reviewer:  Kristin Boyd

Blurb/Summary:

Darien let his guard down once, and Arianne stole the demon stone from under his nose. Now he has to get it back, no matter what the cost. It doesn’t matter that the feisty redhead calms the voices in his head, or that her body tempts him beyond reason. Only the stone will ensure his survival. He decides to appeal to her feminine side and use gentle seduction to get it back. As he begins, something inside him changes and the voices in his head compel him to use pain to heighten desire.

As Darien’s touch turns dark, Arianne’s lust escalates and a connection forms between them. Yet despite her need, she can’t let the sexy FBI agent have what he wants. If placed in the wrong hands, the stone would release an unholy force intent on destroying everything she loves—including Darien.

If only he wasn’t so persuasive…

Review:

Arianne wants nothing more than to prove herself to her sister and her people. The survival of her species depends on her stopping the deahmon Lord, Bathin, from once again converging upon Celestial Wood and killing the Iatros.  The Iatros are protectors of the portal from Hell to Earth, thus keeping earth and her home, Celestial Wood, safe from Demonic rule.  She would do anything to protect the Iatros and the portal, even if it means mating with somebody who rejects the idea of bonding with her.  If she succeeds, she will be able to establish herself as a figure of strength and worth and validate her decision to turn her back to a life of royal comfort in favor of the life as a guard and warrior.  If she fails, death is imminent.  Her death, the death of her beloved mate, and the death of her people. In the beginning of the story, Arianne is written as strong, skilled, quick thinking fighter.  As the book progresses, her strengths are not built on and she seems to lose some of her character.

Darien is a charismatic but hardened FBI agent.  Great at his job, he is loyal to his purpose as well as his team.  His strong will keeps him from heeding Arianne's advice not to cross the portal into Hell where he is tortured by Bathin for months. While in Hell, his inner deahmon is awakened and strengthened because he touches the stone.  The one thing that keeps him from giving up is Arianne. Throughout the story, his connection to her is established and reinforced.  While he is in Hell, it is her image that keeps him fighting for his life, once he returns it is her touch that allows him to control the demon within.  Like Arianne, he has the drive to prove himself.  Their goal of destroying the stone, and ultimately Bathin, is the same.  Their ideas of accomplishing this task are very different.  He must learn to compromise and give himself over to Arianne mind, body, and soul.

The existence of a race and the security of Earth are on the line as these two individuals join forces to battle the evil that is Bathin and the deahmon race.  The chemistry between Arianne and Darien is unmistakable and the passion they share both sexually and in the pursuit of realizing their goals keeps the reader engaged.  Although I enjoy the tension the author builds and the descriptive scenarios of bondage and love making, I found myself flipping through pages in order to get back to the plot of the book.  The scales were tipped in favor of impassioned love making scenes where plot could have been thickened and character development could have taken place.  There just didn't seem to be balance.  A great book for the reader who enjoys erotic fantasy, a decent book for the reader who prefers action and adventure with amativeness woven in.

Sapphire Phelan, A Familiar Tangle With Hell

Title: A Familiar Tangle With Hell

Author: Sapphire Phelan

Rating: Four Siren Stones

Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance

Keywords: Witch, Demons, Lucifer, Demon Bunny

Page Count: 120

ISBN E-Book: 978-1-60659-610-4

Price: $4.99

Publisher: Phaze Books

Buy-Link: http://www.phaze.com/book.php?title=A+Familiar+Tangle+With+Hell

Reviewer: Kristin Boyd

Blurb/Summary:

Tina and Charun thought it was all over and that their life would be normal—well, as normal as it could be for an immortal Witch and her demon Familiar. Except there was another prophesy, one that laid claim that if Lucifer snatches Tina and mates with her before the last chime before midnight of the new year and gets her pregnant with his son, that the real Armageddon would begin, spelling the end of life as they knew it.

When Tina is stolen away, Charun, along with Jacokb the archangel, must race against time into the bowels of Hell to rescue her. But with demons, Lucifer, and a cute demon bunny with fangs out of a Monty Python nightmare, out to stop them and Heaven not lending a hand, will Tina

become the mother of the Antichrist and the start of a new Hell on Earth?

Review:

Imaginative and distinct, A Familiar Tangle With Hell stands apart from other Angels vs. Demons Armageddon stories. Bound together through their DNA, the relationship between Tina and her demon, Charun, is much deeper than the standard partnership of Witches and Familiars. Their love for each other grows as the danger increases and the erotic encounters between the two sizzle with explosive magic. Charun’s divine beginnings and demonic status creates a complicated and intriguing character who effectively uses the benefits of his torn existence to not only protect his soul mate but the world as well. After averting Armageddon once and becoming a witch to do so, Tina has honed her skills and is just learning to embrace her new reality when she realizes it is she who is to be the catalyst for Lucifer to wage the ultimate (and possibly final) war between good and evil.

Lucifer, as written by Sapphire Phelan, does not disappoint in all of his sadistic, malevolent, but contrarily sensual pursuit of domination over the heavens and earth. “The Big L” instils fear as well as lust no matter what form he takes throughout the tale. A wide cast of supporting characters on each side of the Good vs. Evil battle create a web of sub plots that adds to, rather than distracts the reader from, the general excitement of the story. From an Archangel turn coat to the fluffy and seemingly harmless soul eating demon bunny, each creature is written with creative vision.

The Holy and Unholy clash at the climax of the story in an epic war, keeps the reader flipping pages furiously. Mortality and all its weaknesses are exploited during the battle, leading the reader on an emotional roller coaster thrill ride. Life will never again be the same for Tina, Charun, or even fluffy, and this book creates a wonderful platform for a continuation to their saga.

Editing oversights and some repetitive dialogue keeps this book from ranking higher during my evaluation, but this book is fantastic read and is a great addition to any paranormal lover’s library.

Miranda Stowe, Caught in Heat

Title: Caught in Heat

Author: Miranda Stowe

Rating: Three Siren Stones

Genre: Erotic Romance

Sub-Genre: Horror

Keywords: Shape-Shifters

Length: Novella

ISBN E-Book: 978-1600886638

Price: $4.99

Publisher: Cobblestone Press, LLC

Buy-Link: http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/books/caughtinheat.htm

Reviewer: Kristin Boyd

Tagline: When her first mating heat hits, only one man can appease the ache.

Blurb/Summary:

Fearful of how she’ll react during her first mating heat, Riley Bane flees toward a sanctuary, hoping to arrive before her fever hits. But she’s caught in an animal trap set by hunter Shaw Griffin, and her fever begins, consuming her with lust. Determined to wipe out the entire shape shifting race after a wolf pack murdered his family, Shaw snares his first shifter, only to capture Riley begging him to fulfill every wicked desire pounding through her. As things turn hot and heavy, the scent of their mating attracts nearby shifters and soon brings Shaw’s monstrous past to their doorstep.

Review:

The prologue of this book sets the tone for an adventure packed erotic thriller. The graphic and descriptive narrative of a family being attacked by a pack of shifters under the influence of “blood lust” is not for the faint of heart.

The book, itself, begins with the main character and shifter, Riley, being caught by shape-shifter hunter, Shaw. Their instant chemistry and sexual attraction is written so well, it’s nearly palpable. Where the development of the individual characters falls short, carnal eroticism fills in the gaps. One begins to wonder how the prologue will tie into the story, nearly getting lost in all the sexual encounters between this female shifter in heat and her human mate, but when Shaw is alerted that another trap has gone off, the reader is whisked back into action as past and present transgressions collide.

Though Caught in Heat is an engaging read, I hungered for more plot, and as referenced above character development, leading up to the climax of the story. That being said, I would recommend this story to anyone who is looking for a quick read full of sexual heat.