Virginia Nelson, Taming Tabitha

Title:  Taming Tabitha

Author:  Virginia Nelson

Rating:  Four And A Half Siren Stones

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Sub-Genre:  Paranormal Erotic Romance

Keywords:  Seer, Ménage, M/F/M, Bond Of Three Series

Page Count:  Quickie            

ISBN E-Book:  978-1419949852  

Price:  $2.49

Publisher:  Ellora’s Cave

Buy-Link:  http://www.ellorascave.com/taming-tabitha.html#

Reviewer:  Stacey Krug 

 Blurb/Summary:

Book 1 in the Bond of Three series.

As a Seer, Tabitha has always known the day would come when she’d have to face her destiny and succumb to her future mate, as only then would her powers fall fully under her command. Tradition dictates that Tabitha run, forcing her intended to prove his worth—and his desire. But it is the discovery that Tabitha is destined for two mates, creating a bond of three—unheard of among her people—that sends her running faster than she’d ever expected.

Gage and Lancaster have been chasing Tabitha for over a decade. Though sharing goes against their basest instincts, the primal urge to find and seduce Tabitha overrides any desire to fight between themselves. As Gage and Lancaster close in, Tabitha must face the truth—though her people may scorn a bond of three, there’s nothing on earth strong enough to destroy the chemistry and soul-deep longing Tabitha feels when she finally stands her ground and faces her men.

A Romantica® paranormal ménage erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Review:

This is the first story to the Bond of Three Series.  Taming Tabitha sets up the stage for the next book with hints of magic and darkness in the future.  There is mention of a queen and I’m hoping the next book will go into a more involved explanation as to what exactly they are as a people.  We are led to believe they are immortal and a different species all together, but how did they end up with humans?

In this short story we are introduced to Tabitha Hoffman who is a Seer and has visions.  Lancaster and Gage are her mates and on the hunt to claim her together.

We get a little back story on each character and the path they traveled that led them to the decisions they made.  Fear and uncertainty ruled Tabitha and kept her running.  Lancaster and Gage have been searching for answers.  When the three of them finally start communicating there is an explosion of passion.

Taming Tabitha is hot and steamy just how an erotic romance should be.  These three eager characters get down and dirty, but their loving intentions and actions keep it sweet too.  I’d like to see more of Tabitha, Lancaster, and Gage and what Virginia Nelson has in store for them.

S.J. Drum, Sinful Southern Hero

Title:  Sinful Southern Hero

Author:  S.J. Drum

Rating:  Four Siren Stones

Genre:  Romantic Suspense

Sub-Genre:  Contemporary Erotic Romance

Keywords:  Rubenesque Novel, BDSM Elements

Page Count:  Novel            

ISBN E-Book:  978-141-9948121    

Price:  $5.95

Publisher:  Ellora’s Cave

Buy-Link:  http://www.ellorascave.com/sinful-southern-hero.html

Reviewer:  Yvette Lowe

Blurb/Summary:

Sinful South, book 2.

Lucy escapes an abusive marriage and moves to Clifton, Tennessee, looking for a fresh start and somewhere safe to rebuild her life. She isn’t prepared for Dalton, a tattooed construction company owner with a penchant for dominating in the bedroom, or the feelings he awakens.

When Lucy’s ex-husband proves he’s unwilling to allow his reign of terror to end along with the marriage, she must learn to set her fears aside and place her trust—and her body—in Dalton’s hands.

Inside Scoop: Lucy is a curvy heroine who has never felt beautiful until she finds herself in Dalton’s strong arms. However, her memories of abuse and his protective instincts may be triggers for some readers with the same background.

A Romantica® contemporary erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Review:

Sinful Southern Hero is the second book in the Sinful South series and can be read as a standalone.  S.J. Drum has done a great job in this story about Lucy and Dalton.

Lucy is running from her abusive ex and the parents who didn't believe her and chose his side.  Lucy picks Clifton, Tennessee as the place to start her new life, what she didn't expect was Dalton and his all too hard to handle Alpha attitude.  What Lucy does know is that her life is about to change and she doesn't know if she is ready.

Dalton’s life just got tipped upside down by a cute little package named Lucy and he will overcome anything to make her his forever.

After a slight misunderstanding between the both of them they must decide if what they have is worth fighting for.  S.J. Drum did an excellent job with every aspect of this story, I truly enjoyed it and felt all the emotion Lucy had to fight or embrace to figure out what she really wanted.  Dalton was one hundred percent Alpha, and sometimes I wanted to smack him upside the head, but in a loving way.  There is a great flow to the story and the characters are very well developed and the secondary characters are also engaging and funny.  All in all, this story is very well written and I look forward to the other stories to come from the series and also the author.

Amy Redwood, Alien Surrender

Title:  Alien Surrender

Author:  Amy Redwood

Rating:  Five Siren Stones

Genre:  Erotic Science Fiction

Keywords:  BDSM Elements, Futuristic, Ménage, D/s

Page Count:  Novella            

ISBN E-Book:  978-141-9949388    

Price:  $4.45

Publisher:  Ellora’s Cave

Buy-Link:  http://www.ellorascave.com/alien-surrender.html

Reviewer:  Stacey Krug

Blurb/Summary:

Alien Surrender is a standalone sequel to Alien Best Man; To read Kyra and Garrett’s story, check out Alien Threesome.

Jana is happy. After all, it's her wedding day, also known as the Joining of the Three. Her mates are two alien males who couldn't be more different. One is loving while the other has a cruel streak and dominates her in the bedroom. In love with one, in lust with the other, she expects to live the rest of her life in blissful ecstasy. If it weren't for an alien envy that threatens to destroy her relationship with her two mates.

Inside Scoop: Dominance and submission, pain that hurts so good, sexy aliens, threesomes and a loving relationship for a human girl who gets not one but hot TWO hot alien males.

A Romantica® Futuristic, ménage erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Review:

Alien Surrender is a wonderful sequel to Alien Best Man.  The story can definitely be read on its own, but either way as a sequel or standalone you won’t be disappointed.  In this story the author is able to develop the characters further and give us some insight as to how the three of them will work as a family unit.

Jana is human, now married to two Dezrian aliens, and living on their planet.  She is the only human on the whole planet and is feeling lonely, homesick, and out of place.  She is also unaware that her two husbands are dealing with issues of their own.

Zyn is Dezra’s King and Qay is Dezra’s elected ruler, but both are Jana’s husbands.  In this story we get to find out how each of the men deals with Jana and helping her assimilate to her new life.  There are plenty of insecurities for Jana and her men to overcome and each husband has his own approach.  The one thing that Zyn and Qay both have in common is their love for Jana.

The story sucked me in at the beginning and spit me out at the end wanting more of these characters.  It’s a page turner that will have you engrossed so that you don’t realize the end is coming.  It’s always sad when you are enjoying a good story and it has to end.  Hopefully there will be more about Jana, Zyn, and Qay in future books.

Lisa Carlisle, Gargoyle's Embrace

Title:  Gargoyle’s Embrace 

Author:  Lisa Carlisle

Rating:  Four Siren Stones

Genre:  Paranormal Erotic Romance

Keywords:  Shape-Shifter, Gargoyle

Page Count:  Quickie            

ISBN E-Book:  978-141-9948954    

Price:  $2.49 

Publisher:  Ellora’s Cave

Buy-Link:   http://www.ellorascave.com/gargoyle-s-embrace.html

Reviewer:  Stacey Krug

Blurb/Summary:

Fifth in the Underground Encounters series.

Tracy isn’t sure why she’s drawn to a particular gargoyle statue in the Goth club where she works. After the stone takes human form to protect her from her abusive ex, she brings the handsome, naked male to her apartment. It’s impossible to ignore the seductive appeal of a man sculpted like a Viking warrior.

Danton has only hours in human form to spend with the woman he has hungered for. He’s convinced what’s between them is more than hot sex, but he needs to convince Tracy of that before he turns back to stone.

A Romantica® paranormal erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Review:

Gargoyle’s Embrace is short and sweet with some dark drama to spice it up.  It is a short story so there is not a lot of time for character building or finding out more about Danton’s life as a gargoyle.  The story takes place over a period of less than forty-eight hours so the reader gets just a glimpse of Tracy’s life.

Tracy’s ex-boyfriend, Brian, is somewhat of a stalker.  Danton the gargoyle that Tracy meets at work feels it is his job to protect Tracy.  Herein the dark drama ensues with some surprising results.

Between her stalker and supernatural revelations, Tracy gets to know Danton on a very intimate level.  Their erotic sexual encounters quickly turn to something more.

Lisa Carlisle does a nice job of wrapping up the story and leaving the reader with a happy feeling, but still some unanswered questions.  

Marisa Chenery, Burning Ice

Title:  Burning Ice

Author:  Marisa Chenery

Rating:  Four And A Half Siren Stones

Genre:  Paranormal Erotic Romance

Keywords:  Shape-Shifter, Werewolves, Werewolf Sentinels Series    

Length:  Novella          

ISBN E-Book:  978-1419941771

Price:  $4.45 

Publisher:  Ellora’s Cave

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

Reviewer:  Stacey Krug

Blurb/Summary:

Book six in the Werewolf Sentinels series.

Riya is a bit of a klutz. And how. Not only does she head-butt the most gorgeous man she’s ever seen, but she also manages to put them both in the path of a charging bear. She’d only thought to spend an enjoyable afternoon fly-fishing for salmon, not doing her best to repel the sexiest man alive. Luckily he’s made of sterner stuff.

Capac is more than thrilled to find his mate, even if she’ll forever keep him on his toes. But with the change in leadership of the dark wolves, Riya will be in greater danger than his wolf brothers’ mates ever were. Capac has no choice but to integrate Riya into his world post-haste, or risk the chance of losing her forever.

A Romantica® paranormal erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Review:

Burning Ice is book six in the Werewolf Sentinels series.  The story jumps right into the ‘meeting of the mate’ with no introduction of the characters or set up.  Due to the fast start of the storyline, I felt like I was behind and missing a lot of information.  It felt a little rushed.  Burning Ice is not a standalone story and you will want to read the other books in the series so you know what is going on and what has taken place already.  There are some references to the past throughout the book, but much of the explanations come at the end of the story.

With that being said, I did like the story of Capac and Riya.  Capac wastes no time putting a claim on Riya after a little excitement involving a bear.  He’s thrilled that there is an end in sight to his long dry spell with the meeting of his mate.  Capac is determined to make Riya his and make her happy.

Riya’s klutzy nature lends to quite a few laugh out loud moments.  She’s very entertaining in a train wreck kind of way.  Riya is excited and apprehensive regarding Capac.  She’s excited that such a handsome man is interested in her and apprehensive because she has a history of failing relationships.  Men didn’t find her klutzy nature appealing, but Capac takes everything in stride.

There are plenty of fireworks between Capac and Riya.  Even Riya’s apprehension can’t stop the feelings that she’s having for Capac.  The two set the sheets on fire and we get to see the beginnings of their love for one another.

The evil werewolves persist in this book and take more casualties with them.  While the wolf brothers learn more about their powers and a new character is introduced.  The secondary characters and the evil plot help move the story along but leave the reader with many questions at the end.     

If you have followed the Werewolf Sentinels series then you are not going to want to miss this installment.

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.

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.

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.

Aline Hunter, Make Me Shiver

Title:  Make Me Shiver

Author:  Aline Hunter

Rating:  Five Siren Stones

Genre:  BDSM Contemporary Romance

Keywords:  Spanking, Voyeurism, Exhibitionism    

Page Count:  198          

ISBN E-Book:  978-1419936814

Price:  $5.95 

ISBN For Print:  978-1419967061

Price:  $10.99

Publisher:  Ellora’s Cave

Buy-Link:  http://www.ellorascave.com/make-me-shiver.html

Reviewer:  Stacey Krug

Blurb/Summary:

When Lacey loses control of her vehicle and finds herself trapped by ice and snow, she knows there’s only one person to call for help. Unfortunately, Michael may cause more turmoil than relief. She’s lusted for the gorgeous Dom ever since she first laid eyes on him. Trouble is, he doesn’t do vanilla and she’s not a submissive…or is she?

Michael’s hungered for Lacey for months, so when he notices her fleeting glimpses and blush-stained cheeks as he rescues her from an altercation with a guardrail, he decides it’s time to push the sultry beauty’s boundaries…only to discover Lacey’s not as reserved as she thinks.

Physical attraction blossoms into something neither anticipates, taking Michael and Lacey beyond kink, dominance and submission. Their newfound connection is strong, until a flame from Michael’s past returns, shatters the fragile trust he and Lacey have only just developed and threatens to destroy something neither wants to surrender.

Review:

Make Me Shiver by Aline Hunter is a sweet BDSM contemporary romance.  The author does a great job of giving the reader all the erotic BDSM elements without the degradation of the submissive.  The ongoing theme is trust between the main characters.

Lacey and Michael are well developed, likable characters.  As the reader, you feel outraged on Lacey’s behalf and betrayed on Michael’s behalf, but through it all hope that they will realize how special they are together.  Their love scenes are hot and steamy and leave the reader wanting more.

The secondary characters add plot gems throughout and will hopefully lead to some future stories and a revisit to Lacey and Michael.

Make Me Shiver is a page turner that envelops and consumes you from page one.  I would recommend this book to anyone that likes erotic fiction with BDSM themes and elements. 

My only question to Aline Hunter is did Lacey make her book deadline?

Aline Hunter, Enemy Mine

 Title:  Enemy Mine

Author:  Aline Hunter

Rating:  Five Siren Stones

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Keywords:  Shape-Shifters, Vampires, Alpha and Omega Series    

Length:  Plus-Size Novel          

ISBN E-Book:  978-1419938535

Price:  $6.99 

ISBN For Print:  978-1419967085

Price:  $14.99

Publisher:  Ellora’s Cave

Buy-Link:  http://www.ellorascave.com/enemy-mine.html

Reviewer:  Stacey Krug

Blurb/Summary:

Book two in the Alpha and Omega series.

Divided by blood. Destined by fate.

Emory is a shifter living on the edge. For years he’s struggled with his Alpha nature. Then he meets the one woman capable of soothing the savage beast—Mary incites a carnal hunger that leaves him eager and burning. Sweet, kind and impossibly beautiful, Mary is everything he and his wolven half have been craving. Unfortunately, she’s also something else, something dangerous—a Shepherd, bred of the line of hunters determined to destroy his kind.

Emory discovers earning Mary’s trust is the least of his concerns. Her relatives want Mary back. If Emory won’t hand her over, they’ll do everything in their power to take her from the pack. As danger closes in, the passionate connection between them flares into a lascivious bond that refuses to be broken.

If Emory wants to keep his mate, he’ll have to protect her—at any cost.

Publisher’s Note: While Enemy Mine is a standalone story, readers who start with book one, Omega Mine, may find added pleasure in the adventure.

Review:

It doesn’t matter that Enemy Mine is book two in the Alpha and Omega series; the prologue sets the story up and includes background information to bring the reader up to speed.  You’ll want to read the previous book, not because of feeling lost, but because the characters are simply intriguing.

Aline Hunter’s writing style is wonderful.  While we have the main characters, Emory and Mary, we are introduced to a menagerie of secondary characters.  The reader gets Emory and Mary’s personal story while several other story lines are happening at the same time.  The plot and suspense keep the pages turning as fast as you can read.

Emory is the perfect alpha male, all protective and bossy, but still uncertain of himself when it comes to Mary.  All the while, Mary blossoms before our eyes, step by step, into a confident young woman.  She overcomes adversity and horror and Emory is there to help her rebuild her life into something wonderful.

Their journey together was a joy to read.  The story as a whole is an emotional rollercoaster.  Aline Hunter had me laughing and crying because her characters were likable and relatable.

I will be seeking out the first book in this series, the next book in this series, and other works by Aline Hunter.  I highly recommend Enemy Mine.

Sidney Bristol, Personal Adventures

Title:  Personal Adventures

Author:  Sidney Bristol

Rating:  Four And A Half Siren Stones

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Keywords:  Best Friends, Secrets 

Length:  Novella          

ISBN E-Book:  9781419939952

Price:  $4.45 

Publisher:  Ellora’s Cave

Buy-Link:  http://www.ellorascave.com/personal-adventures.html#

Reviewer:  Stacey Krug

Blurb/Summary:

Carey’s had the hots for his best friend and outdoor adventures coworker Elise for two years, but the timing has never been right. Now they’re both single, and Carey wants to entice her into an adventure for just the two of them. In the bedroom, in the hot tub, under the beautiful Colorado sky…

Elise doesn’t buy into the idea of love, but lust she understands. Carey’s friendship is important, but a relationship doesn’t fit into Elise’s five-year plan. She isn’t looking to repeat her parents’ mistakes.

With secrets coming out from under every rock and desire unchecked, this adventure might make more than the water on their rafting trips rush.

Review:

Personal Adventures by Sidney Bristol is a great contemporary romance story.  Carey and Elise’s story had me laughing out loud one moment and in the next it was tugging at my heartstrings.  The secondary characters add depth and realism.

I loved the setting that the author chose and the beautiful cover helps set the mood.  I could see and smell the trees, mountains, and air, respectively.  The descriptions put me in the moment with the characters. 

Carey and Elise knew each other in their business setting and from doing things together.  However, they didn’t know each other’s separate worlds and backgrounds and how hard it would be to try and merge them without understanding how they grew up.  We get to see this come to light as the story progresses.

There is a special bond that comes with being a best friend and with that the ability to talk about anything with each other.  Carey and Elise share this bond and it comes across in the story by making their love scenes even more special.  Their love scenes, of course, are hot and steamy, but then there is the added extra bonus of banter between the two.

Personal Adventures is a fun read and held my focus from beginning to end.  The characters are sweet and lasting and it had just the right amount of secrets and intrigue.  I would recommend this story to anyone that enjoys contemporary romance.