Lynne Connolly, Dept. 57: Rubies of Fire

Title:  Dept. 57: Rubies of Fire
Author:  Lynne Connolly

Rating:  One Siren Stone

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Sub-Genre: Fantasy

Keywords:  Vampire, Shape-Shifters, Graphic Language    

Length:  Novel            

ISBN E-Book: 978-1-61118-801-1

Price:  $6.99 

Publisher:  Loose Id 

Buy-Link:  http://www.loose-id.com/dept-57-rubies-of-fire.html

Reviewer:  Marcie Corrao Oropeza

Blurb/Summary:

Vampire and full-time field agent for the CIA, Andreas’s only loyalty is his job with Department 57. Until he sets eyes on sexy Roz Templeton. He already hates his assignment to pose as the office wolf, but he hates it even more when he realizes Roz is also a vampire.

Roz is out to discover who killed two members of her family, and when she does, the culprit will die. Andreas is a distraction. And she can’t understand why she’s drawn to him, anyway--he’s a sleaze. But she can’t resist.

Drawn into a passion neither can fight, they set fire to the night, and then some. For a young vampire, Andreas is fully versed on how to keep a woman happy in bed, even one that is centuries older than he is, and as dominant and demanding as any man. From their first steamy
kiss in the elevator on the way to work, to bed and beyond, Andreas and Roz can’t get enough of each other.

But that passion may be a deadly distraction when Roz's life is on the line.

Publisher's Note: This book is a re-edited, revised book previously released by another publisher, and contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, and material that some readers may find objectionable: anal play.

Review:

I was shocked and appalled that I could not even finish this book. Lynne Connolly is the reason I began reading this genre in the first place years ago.  This novel was confusing, hard to follow, kept referring back to other characters who had not been previously introduced in this story….all together just a mishmash of convoluted plot that was sadly disappointing.

Marisa Chenery, Awakened from Ice

Title:  Awakened from Ice

Author:  Marisa Chenery

Rating:  Five Siren Stones

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Keywords:  Shape-Shifter, Werewolf Sentinels Series, Werewolves

Length:  Short Novel          

ISBN E-Book:  978-1419941221

Price:  $5.20 

Publisher:  Ellora’s Cave

Buy-Link:  http://www.ellorascave.com/awakened-from-ice.html

Reviewer:  Stacey Krug

Blurb/Summary:

Book one in the Werewolf Sentinels series.

Exploring an ice cave on the Mantanuska Glacier in Alaska, Cassidy finds something out of the ordinary—six men dressed in fur and leather, motionless and seemingly dead. But she soon discovers they’re very much alive when her touch awakens one—and she finds herself pinned beneath his muscular heat in the blink of an eye.

Edensaw and his wolf brothers have slept for ten thousand years. As ice age Tlingit Indian hunters, they were chosen to be a new race of man, the first werewolves. They are the sentinels, created to protect against evil that is to come. But the touch of one woman ignites his mating urge and Edensaw awakens before he’s needed, into a world he no longer knows and a passion he cannot deny.

As the couple moves from lust to love, the dark evil brews, threatening not only to destroy the mating bond, but the sentinels themselves.

Review:

I found this story to have an interesting premise for a werewolf series.  The author did a great job of showing the reader how uncomfortable ice age men would be in the twenty first century.  It was refreshing to see our world through the eyes of someone seeing it for the first time.  Marisa Chenery also used a clever explanation to bring the wolf brothers into our time with some current knowledge.

The story had a great pace to it and the characters are interesting.  This is the first story in a series so there was a lot of setting up to do.  Marisa Chenery sets up this new world with good and evil werewolves, pack politics, immortality, and mates yet to be found for the other wolf brothers.

In this story, Awakened from Ice, we get to learn about Cassidy and Edensaw’s mating.  Cassidy is the woman that finds the wolf brothers and is instantly attracted to Edensaw.  Edensaw recognizes her as his mate and goes to great lengths to prove it to Cassidy with patience, understanding, and of course erotic steamy love making.  It was fascinating to see the progression of Cassidy becoming a pack member before she even knew what that meant.  To Cassidy it was like she was inheriting a big family.

Awakened from Ice is a paranormal romance with splashes of humor that keep the pages turning and the reader engaged.  I look forward to seeing where this series goes from here.

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. 

Denysé Bridger, Reckless Assignation

Title:  Reckless Assignation

Author:  Denysé Bridger

Rating:  Five Siren Stones

Genre:  Erotic Thriller

Keywords:  Quickie, Breathless, Halloween    

Page Count:  14,000          

ISBN E-Book:  978-1419942488

Price:  $2.49 

Publisher:  Ellora’s Cave 

Buy-Link:  http://www.ellorascave.com/reckless-assignation.html

Reviewer:  Stacey Krug

Tagline:  Halloween and an abandoned hotel are the lure to a tryst that could prove to be deadly and sexy...

Blurb/Summary:

A haunted and abandoned hotel on Halloween is the setting for a very private party between two lovers, one of them a world-class, sophisticated intelligence operative who’s trying to teach his young and innocent lady that curiosity can sometimes take you places you’d be better not to go. Amid elaborate trappings meant to scare and entice, Rick’s seduction takes some unexpected but wickedly wonderful twists. But, Rick also has a lesson to learn, when his past collides with his present, and almost destroys everything he cherishes most.

Publisher’s Note: This story was originally published in 2004 as Bound, but has been revised and extensively expanded for Ellora’s Cave.

Review:

Reckless Assignation starts out like a wicked horror film.  However, the terror turns to passion as Rick sets up an elaborate play date for his young, inexperienced Cinthya.  The story is a thrilling rollercoaster ride that had me white-knuckling my chair as I read.  It has very appropriately been classified as an erotic thriller.

It’s easy to like this couple.  The reader can tell by the extravagant set up and time that went into orchestrating their liaison, that Rick loves Cindi very much.  Cindi plays along and gives as good as she gets.  Their love making is hot, steamy, and a little bit kinky.  This couple is extremely sexy and likes to play.

As a reader, I was drawn into their world by Denysé Bridger’s wonderful descriptions.  It felt like I was in the old run down hotel.  Quite honestly, I had to stop reading a couple times.  Between the descriptions and my imagination, I scared myself to death.

If you are looking for an erotic thriller then you don’t want to miss out on this story.  Besides being a little scary it is also cute with some plot twists that had me on the edge of my seat.