Mahalia Levey, Only Skin Deep

Title:  Only Skin Deep

Author:  Mahalia Levey

Rating:  Five Siren Stones

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Keywords:  Anthology, Multicultural 

Page Count:  169        

ISBN E-Book:  978-1-61885-377-6

Price:  $4.99 

Publisher:  Secret Cravings Publishing

Buy-Link:  http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=404

Reviewer:  Stacey Krug

Blurb/Summary:

All Woman: Officer Taleena Harris may have looked like one of the guys in her uniform, but underneath lurked a sensual woman. Jason Treadway, her target had no clue he was key to fulfilling all her fantasies. He might be her boss, but she held all the aces. It was far past time to play them.

Jason Treadway had no desire to be a one woman type of man. That was until the Armored Company’s annual theme party. A mystery woman on the mechanical bull commanded his attention. He’d do anything for a night of being skin-to-skin with her. The only question… Would one night be enough?

Flaws and All: Nadja Mederios knows what she wants after months of watching Donato keep order at Club Mist, and an intervention from her best friend Taleena. As a lounge singer, she portrays a sensual, sultry woman, but she’s not the high-maintenance girl people assume she is. In fact, a tomboy lies beneath her protective costume. When the real woman comes to light, she hopes Donato finds her just as sexy as the mask.

Donato Falcone isn’t looking for commitment, but when someone touches Nadja without permission, rational thought leaves him and rage steps in. After his temper cools, he sees a different side of Nadja. Her sleek sophistication may well be a front for the girl who could be his forever, if he can find a way to break down her barriers.

Against All Odds: Four months of casual dating isn’t enough. Not for Derek Tresvant. His Deja may think financial security and a successful career are essential to a good life, but he disagrees. The numerous excuses she uses to push him away only entice him to prove he’s in the forever type.

If there’s one constant in life Deja Crane knows nothing is ever one hundred percent certain. After working her ass off to own her business and succeed on her terms, she’ll be damned if one hot sinful man will take all away from her with a marriage license, a picket fence and two point five kids. She’s got a plan of her own that doesn’t include messing with a man.

Review:

Only Skin Deep is an anthology by Mahalia Levey filled with three wonderful stories.

All Woman is a love story of how a girl gets her man to notice her as a woman.  Taleena has been sitting back and hoping to be noticed, until she decides to take the bull by the horns.  She does what it takes to win the eye of officer Jason Treadway.  His heart will follow.

Taleena and Jason have some steamy love scenes that will have the reader looking for more and Ms. Levey delivers.  There is an excellent segue into the next story Flaws and All that doesn’t leave you feeling like you are reading separate stories.

I just loved Nadja and Danato’s story in Flaws and All.  It pulled at my heartstrings and left me with a wonderful feeling.  God knows that we aren’t short on women with self-esteem issues, but it’s the male that can reassure and build her up again that is in short supply. 

Donato sees Nadja for who she is and supports her and her interests.  It doesn’t hurt that some of their interests coincide.  Donato’s thoughtfulness will help Nadja heal and the reader gets a glimpse.

Deja and Derek’s love story, Against All Odds, is out of this world with twists and turns that will keep you glued to the pages.  There are so many obstacles for these two to overcome that it is questionable to the very end whether they can make it work.  They each carry secrets from their past that may prevent them from sharing a future together. 

Deja and Derek share a tumultuous journey together that was enjoyable to read.  The story ended, but it was left open to continue with other characters in the future.  This is one group of friends and family that I will want to revisit.

I really loved how all the main characters in each story play secondary roles in the other stories.  We get to see them again and get a little update on their lives.  The playfulness, goofing off, texting, and teasing between characters gave them each depth and brought them to life.

Only Skin Deep is a terrific compilation of contemporary stories that will run you through your gamut of emotions.  Don’t miss out.  

Brindle Chase, Depth Charge

Title: Depth Charge

Author: Brindle Chase

Rating: Five Siren Stones

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Sub-Genre: Multicultural

Keywords: Graphic Language

Length: Novella

ISBN E-Book: 978-1-61118-444-0

Price: $4.99

Publisher: Loose Id

Buy-Link: http://www.loose-id.com/Depth-Charge-Maria-Maria.aspx

Reviewer: Cia

Blurb/Summary:

Steve Chambers's supremacy as top diver has never been challenged until now. Not only has he been beat out for the week by a rookie diver, it turns out Rodriguez is a she. Adding injury to insult, he’s paired with her to fix the submerged diving station they use for treasure recovery.

Maria Rodriguez has had to beat every man she’s worked with, just to gain a semblance of equality. Her impoverished family relies on her to make enough money to support them as well as her, and to do that, second best is not acceptable. Beating Chambers was the hardest challenge she’s ever done.

Confined in a diving station at 150 feet below the surface, in arctic waters, the rivals work hard to repair the oxygen lines to the damaged station before it bleeds out. And even harder to one-up the other. The fire of their passionate rivalry blends with their undeniable sexual attraction until it explodes in fiery lust. But can they set aside their egos long enough to realize that together, they make a perfect team?

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: anal play/intercourse.

Review:

Depth Charge by Brindle Chase was a smoking hot read. Maria the heroine comes from a country where the only wealth accumulated is with hardened drug dealers who take from the community and don’t give back to the people. In an effort to save her family she uses her body, brains and talent to gain positions in various tourist attractions. She is a feisty woman and sensual as all get out.

Seth is used to being numero uno. When a slip of a woman gains the edge and knocks him off his longstanding pedestal he is surprised. More than that he is attracted to the young lady in ways he shouldn’t be. Trouble at their station provides them the perfect opportunity to get to know one another while working on fixing the system. Only mother nature, a ticking clock and monsters beneath the deep blue sea stand in their way. I enjoyed this story and the outcome. The setting for treasure hunting was a pleasure. The only question that stemmed for me throughout the read was the lack of nourishment or water while down under. I will be reading it again on a cold day. The fire they burn will definitely warm me up while reading.

Marie Harte, Whispered Words: A Power Up! Story

Title: Whispered Words: A Power Up! Story

Author: Marie Harte

Rating: Five Siren Stones

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Sub-Genre: Multicultural

Keywords: Ménage, Voyeurism, M/F/M, Graphic Language

Length: Short Novel

ISBN E-Book: 978-1-61118-471-6

Price: $5.99

Publisher: Loose Id

Buy-Link: http://www.loose-id.com/Whispered-Words-A-Power-Up!-Story.aspx

Reviewer: Cia

Blurb/Summary:

A casualty of funding wars and an overzealous Defense Department trying to clean up its reputation after several failed experimental programs, the Psychic Warfare Program (PWP) is scrapped in its infancy. Its participants are transferred to other defense agencies, but a few decide to leave the government behind, knowing full well their freedom hinges on keeping a low profile and living under the radar.

Chloe King has worked for the government ever since she left college. First as a cop, then as an agent, she's been putting away the bad guys for more than ten years. A clairaudient who’s always been able to escape trouble at the last minute, she’s now part of a group of people who understand what it means to be different, but now she's with a private organization, without the government's protection. She should be working less dangerous cases, trying to retrieve paranormal objects gone missing. Yet her luck has taken a turn for the worse.

She’s just getting over being nearly murdered by a serial killer when a stalker nearly brings her down. The voices she’s heard more than half her life have disappeared, and she’s afraid her life is coming to an end. If she can’t hear those voices again, she’ll die. She can feel it. But she never counted on the voices being real. Or belonging to two strong, sexy men resolved to keep her for themselves.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: anal sex, ménage (m/f/m with no m/m sexual contact), voyeurism.

Review:

Whispered Words: A Power Up! Story by Marie Harte led me once again into the PWP world. Chloe finds she must leave on hiatus to find her voices, the ones that have quieted while formulating a plan to stay one step ahead of a stalker trying his best to assassinate her.

During her travel she runs into two men who’ve helped her before, Xavier and Josh. Attraction is at an all-time high and Chloe finds she craves both powerful men. Keeping passion locked away proves impossible. Xavier and Josh consume her thoughts, and she theirs as well and not in just a ‘psychic’ way.

Josh needs more than a bedroom affair. Though he and his brother have shared passion before, he wants the illusive, a woman who will take the both of them for life, a pipe dream. Xavier wants Chloe as well; he isn’t as guarded as his brother. While their emotions and sexual tension continue to build, a psychopath is still on the loose. They must embrace their powers and give into the need to bring him down for good. This was one fantastically written story and I can’t wait to read Nathan’s story.

Roslyn Hardy Holcomb, Buttercream

Title: Buttercream

Author: Roslyn Hardy Holcomb

Rating: Four Siren Stones

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Sub-Genre: Multicultural

Keywords: Graphic Language

Length: Novella

ISBN E-Book: 978-1-61118-440-2

Price: $4.99

Publisher: Loose Id

Buy-Link: http://www.loose-id.com/Buttercream.aspx

Reviewer: Cia

Blurb/Summary:

Like the sinfully decadent treats she whips up in her bakery, Poppy Blakemore is irresistible, even to a battle scarred warrior like Matthew McAlister. Unfortunately, except for a love for delicious pastry and a passion so hot it leaves them scorched in its wake, the two of them have nothing in common. He is a straight-as-an arrow helicopter pilot who has been traumatized by combat, while she struggles to reconcile her capitalist tendencies with her counter-culture background.

The passion between them is undeniable, but Poppy knows that anything more than a sexual relationship is out of the question. Matthew wants so much more. Are sex and buttercream going to be enough to hold them together, or is their love doomed like an overcooked madeleine?

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content and graphic language.

Review:

Buttercream by Roslyn Hardy Holcomb gave me insight into the lives of a military pilot and a woman who was raised anti-war. Their passion moved mountains but their core values separated them on opposite sides. I loved the bakery and the ideals that Poppy stood for. At the same time, I also felt for Matthew and the honor he portrayed by protecting the freedom of every united states citizen…even poppy though she was lax to agree. Their sex burned white hot, the intimacy though was missing. Poppy couldn’t find it in herself to walk a mile in her lover’s shoes. In that regard she missed out on the blessings of the love he offered, simply because she didn’t have the same beliefs. I enjoyed the story but felt that there was an element missing. I didn’t get that they were in love with each other by end of the book. I saw the words spoken but with the pregnancy it felt calculated for purpose instead of heartfelt. I’d loved to have seen them have more emotional growth together and deeper intimacy. All in all it was a good story.

Jianne Carlo, Lucifer's Choice

Title: Lucifer’s Choice

Author: Jianne Carlo

Rating: Siren's Best Book Stone

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Sub-Genre: Multicultural

Keywords: Pirates, Runaway Bride

Length: Novel

ISBN E-Book: 978-1-60737-923-2

Price: $6.99

Publisher: Loose Id, LLC

Buy-Link: http://www.loose-id.com/Lucifers-Choice.aspx

Reviewer: Cia

Blurb/Summary:

To avoid a pre-arranged marriage to one of India’s most eligible bachelors, Nalini takes a cruise to New Zealand, finds work on a ship, and hides out for two years. Pirates storm the ship, and Lucifer’s Hades Squad team rescues the crew except for the lone female engineer who vanishes. Then Lucifer, aka Sax Anders, is hired to find the runaway bride, the daughter of close family friends.

Nalini learns Lucifer’s in Santa Fe. Her teenage crush on Lucifer’s never wavered even though she hasn’t seen him in eight years. Now she needs to lose her virginity to avoid marriage--could the fates have been kinder?

Lucifer never loses his cool, never acts on impulse, until one sultry Santa Fe night when he beds a mysterious exotic beauty who seems vaguely familiar. Their shattering sex stuns Lucifer; he suggests another date. Nalini informs him she’s engaged. He’s outraged--she used him.

It doesn't get much better when he learns his mysterious beauty is also that runaway bride.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content and graphic language.

Review:

What a superb read! Once I read the blurb I was hooked. And then I delved into the story and got lost in it. The detail was great, and I fell for Nalini right off the bat. I thought her plan to seduce Sax was great strategy. I did fear for her wellbeing once he found out though. Sax surprised me. I love heroes who have a great sense of responsibility and honourable intentions. I adored that he wasn’t going to just let her slip away.

Sometimes a girl just doesn’t know what’s really good for her, although she believes she knows best. Family can be very intrusive and unbending. I applauded that Nalini found her courage to voice her needs instead of running, and was appreciative to see that she did regret her solution to her problems, it showed tremendous growth.

Culture is a tricky thing, one’s laws and ways aren’t necessarily another’s. I definitely got a feel for traditional ways in this story and it helped cement it all in for me and I wanted to hug Nalini’s mother toward the end. It was great to see her communicate better with her daughter and to see how deep their relationship was.

I also found the team to be a well-oiled machine of males…that I can’t wait to visit. This is one read I’d recommend to others and I’ll be reading it again soon. I can’t wait to see the rest of this fantastic Hades Squad!