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.

Nona Raines, Uncollared

Title:  Uncollared

Author:  Nona Raines

Rating:  Five Siren Stones

Genre:  BDSM Contemporary

Keywords:  D/s, Graphic Language, BDSM Theme and Elements    

Length:  Short Novel           

ISBN E-Book:  978-1-61118-943-8

Price:  $5.99 

Publisher:  Loose Id

Buy-Link:  http://www.loose-id.com/uncollared.html

Reviewer:  Cia

Blurb/Summary:

Submissive Mia Manetti is devastated when her first Master uncollars her just as she was hoping for a permanent relationship with him. Trying to move on, she agrees to sub for a powerful and sexy new Dom.

Chess Ryan has wanted Mia from the first moment he saw her at Club
Restraint, but it was always "hands off" because she belonged to his friend Philip. Now, thanks to that friend's maneuvers, Mia is finally his. But only for a little while.

Mia finds it increasingly difficult to keep her feelings in check as she experiences erotic delights with Master Chess, sensual and sexual fantasies that she's never known before. But she fears she’s setting herself up for another heartache. Guilt, secrets and misplaced pride all keep Chess and Mia from being completely honest with each other. As they connect sexually and emotionally, they realize their relationship has grown too serious to be called "play".

How far are they willing to go as Master and slave?

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

Review:

What a fantastic story.  Mia’s life crumbles before her when she is out of the blue uncollared without explanation.  My heart broke during the opening scene of this story, because even I felt she, as a slave, deserved a reason for such a life changing decision.

When Chess came to her rescue, I breathed a sigh of relief hoping maybe this man might help her find the reasons for his friend’s unwarranted dismissal of Mia.

Soon after it was apparent that Mia and her previous master didn’t share a full relationship and I questioned if maybe that was why he wanted her to find a new master, believing he’d served his purpose for their time together.

In time, I witnessed Mia flourish under Chess’ control.  Although he has his own issues that prevent them from moving completely forward, the sizzling chemistry between them made me hope they’d find a happy ending.  In the end when the twist gave me clarity, I saw how two caring individuals put aside their personal relationship to help a friend in need.  This book is one I enjoyed reading, although the roller coaster made me need a tissue or two.

Marie Harte, Silver Tongue: A Power Up! Story

Title:  Silver Tongue: A Power Up! Story

Author:  Marie Harte

Rating:  Siren's Best Book Stone

Genre:  Mystery and Suspense

Sub-Genre: Fantasy and Paranormal

Keywords:  Psychics, Empath, Marine, D/s, Graphic Language    

Length:  Novel          

ISBN E-Book:  978-1-61118-732-8  

Price:  $5.24 

Publisher:  Loose Id

Buy-Link:  http://www.loose-id.com/silver-tongue-a-power-up-story.html

Reviewer:  Cia

Blurb/Summary:

Kitty Nelson works for the PowerUp! gym as the day manager. But the empath does a lot more than run the gym. She keeps the team in shape, tempering emotions in a high strung group of psychics. It's not easy, but Kitty keeps the peace, until one day she meets her match in a man who won't cave to her looks, her smiles, or her psychic skills. Who knew meddling with a couple in love would lead to man straight out of her fantasies...and nightmares? Because with Dane, she knows he won't accept less than total control.

Dane Hanson did his time for the Marine Corps. He also got shot and
found himself medically retired, leaving him aching for the excitement of a job he loved. He found solace in his artwork, and it's that ability to create that has Kitty needing his help. He's back in the
thick of things on an undercover assignment, but everything's
different. Kitty is psychic, her skills don't work on him, and she's
the hottest thing he's ever seen.  Even better, the woman has
submissive tendencies he's dying to explore. But when the mission
turns deadly, Dane realizes he doesn't just want to play with Kitty,
he wants to own the feisty redhead for a lot longer than this mission.
That's if she'll let herself surrender, the bad guys don't shoot them,
and the weird statue they're sent to retrieve doesn't curse them to
death.

Warning: This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic
language, and material that some readers may find objectionable: anal play/intercourse, Domination/submission.

Review:

Hello!  Talk about a sizzling, smoldering, smoking hot read.  Marie led me into the Power Up member’s lives once again with Kitty’s book.  I enjoyed the new article they were meant to steal and the mystic surroundings of the piece.  Kitty is everything I love in a woman, a little shy when it comes to things not in her control, sexy and smart, and saucy as hell.

The team members’ mannerisms and easy banter made the story a fun read.  When Dane enters and the story kicks up full throttle, I was enthralled with the decision Kitty makes to give what he suggests a thought and the ride they took me on during their assignment.

From the villains to long-time friend relationships. I’ve enjoyed reading all the stories.  I cannot wait until the next one releases.  I definitely have them on my kindle to pick up and read again. 

Cherise Sinclair, Doms of Dark Haven: My Liege of Dark Haven

Title:  Doms of Dark Haven: My Liege of Dark Haven

Author:  Cherise Sinclair

Rating:  Siren's Best Book Stone

Genre:  BDSM Contemporary

Keywords:  Graphic Language, BDSM Theme and Elements    

Length:  Long Novel          

ISBN E-Book:  978-1-61118-978-0  

Price:  $7.21 

Publisher:  Loose Id

Buy-Link:  http://www.loose-id.com/doms-of-dark-haven-my-liege-of-dark-haven.html

Reviewer:  Cia

Blurb/Summary:

Threatened by university cutbacks, Professor Abigail Bern’s only hope
is to publish a provocative research paper—soon. Planning to covertly
observe behavior in the notorious Dark Haven BDSM club, she takes a receptionist job. When the owner calls upon her to assist in a
demonstration, she’s appalled. Then fascinated. Under the unyielding
hands of the master known as my Liege, she discovers a need to be more than an observer.

His late wife had been the center of his life, and Xavier Leduc wants
no other. But when his new receptionist does her utmost to keep an
emotional distance from him, he’s intrigued and digs deeper. She’s
adorable. Intriguingly intelligent, beautifully submissive, sweetly
vulnerable. He soon realizes her defenses are keeping her on the
fringe of her sexuality—and her life. As he draws her into fuller
participation, she unconsciously does the same for him. She begins to
fill his world.

Ever since the night she met my Liege Xavier, Abby has questioned
everything she believes about herself. She’s falling for the stern
owner of Dark Haven and thinks he’s beginning to care for her...until
the day he learns why she’s in his club.

Note: This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language,
and material that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play, BDSM theme and elements.

Review:

I was so excited to finally read Xavier’s story.  Cherise crafted a delicious story.  In the beginning I had reservations about the sneaky way Abigail chose to enter the lifestyle and worried about the repercussions of her choices.  I also felt bad for the way her previous boyfriend treated her and wanted badly for her to find out who she was and what she truly wanted.

Xavier’s rules of not letting anyone too close made me question if he was capable of allowing himself to be loved and sad for his inability to move on after the love of his life died.  I felt the chemistry between Abigail and Xavier was extraordinary and his masterful way of bringing her into the lifestyle a worthy move a chess player might have made.

The emotional and physical connection between the two lit the pages up, along with understanding, forgiveness, and courage.  I will be reading this story again for sure on a rainy day.