WoWwA The First

Where audiobooks are used as an enticing reward for getting on the dreadmill.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

WoWwA ~ The Raven

Where audiobooks are used as an enticing reward for getting on the dreadmill.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Wicked Wednesday

Wicked Wednesday

 Reviews of two or three erotica books.

*Book source ~ Many thanks to the author for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Title ~Filled

Author ~ Mira Noire

Publisher ~ BookBaby

Published ~ 1 April 2013

Genre ~ Erotica

Pages ~ 55

My Rating ~ 4 bites and a nibble out of 5

Timothy and Marya have settled into a comfortable existence. Timothy is happy, but feels as if something might be missing. The sex is great and Marya is awesome, but he feels as if they are a bit boring. He feels guilty for feeling that way when he really is happy with Marya, so it’s a good thing Marya can read him so well because Timothy is about to have his eyes opened in an extremely non-boring way.

Wowzers! This book is just about the most perfect read for me. It has a lot of the things I love about an erotic BDSM story. It’s short, so it’s not a huge time investment, but it’s packed with hot scenes between awesome characters. The only thing that turned me off was the ball gags, I hate those things and I expected David’s behavior to be a bit more sub-like. He was a little too bossy for my tastes. If you don’t like M/M, M/M/F, Femdom, cuckholding or anal sex then this won’t be the story for you. Otherwise, I recommend picking this one up today!

*Book source ~ Kindle Lending Library.

Title ~ Femme Fatale

Series ~ Slave to My Nature Series

Author ~ Robert India

Publisher ~ Erotica Everywhere

Published ~ 4 January 2013

Genre ~ Erotica

Pages ~ 49

My Rating ~ 4 bites out of 5

Robert is a horndog. He loves sex. He thinks about it all the time and wants to do it all the time and he usually does.  He has a girlfriend he calls Houseguest. Though he says they are both Alpha, fighting for control in the relationship I think Houseguest is the Alpha and Robert is, at most, a switch. She plays him like a fine-tuned instrument. They have an open relationship where they are a couple, but they play with others. Robert is obsessed with the idea of playing with Kate and Mike. He has no idea what they are into so he asks a friend what their kinks are and figuring it isn’t anything he can’t handle, he agrees to go over to their place for dinner. He knows dinner will lead to playing, but he doesn’t really have any idea what’s in store for him. After the fiasco with Kate and Mike Houseguest decides to teach Robert a lesson.

There is a lot of kinky sex going on in this well-written, hot, short story. Robert truly is a horndog and when he decides to be celibate for two weeks it’s hilarious. Poor Robert. He’s a slave to his penis. :D Houseguest is so very devious and I loved it. The only off bit about the story is Robert’s assertion that he’s Alpha. He doesn’t seem very Dominant in this story. Oh, he does some ordering around there towards the end, but it seems to me he’s happiest when he’s submissive. Just my opinion.

Friday Featured Spotlight ~ Entangled Ever After & 4 Reviews

Ever Afters are enticing novellas designed to satisfy readers’ cravings for paranormal, sci-fi, and horror. They contain all the romance you’ve come to love from Entangled, but without the time commitment required to invest in a full-length novel. Priced between $0.99-$1.99 there’s a little something for everyone. So dive in and enjoy a happy ending and the promise of love! Take a chance and find your way to a happily ever after by liking their Facebook Page and following them on Twitter.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

*Books source ~ Many thanks to Entangled Publishing for providing review copies in exchange for honest reviews.

Title ~ Ghosts of the Falls

Author ~ Sarah Gilman

Published ~ 28 October 2013

Genre ~ Paranormal/Romance

Pages ~ 100

My Rating ~ 4 bites and a nibble out of 5

Jade Clarence is an exorcist, but she doesn’t like the way the family business handles exorcisms. Her great-grandfather started the business after his wife was killed by a spirit and his incantations destroy the soul of the spirit causing extreme pain to the ghost. Jade feels that she can find an incantation to send a spirit on without destroying the soul or causing pain. She also feels that a good spirit should have the right to stay if it wants. However, after allowing the spirit of a teen hoodwink her into believing he is benign, he kills the property owner where he is hanging out. A tragedy that falls on Jade’s shoulders since she refused to perform the exorcism. Her older brother is giving her a chance to redeem herself with an exorcism at Hutchinson’s Falls. If she can’t do her job he’ll have no choice but to kick her out of the business. But Jade finds out that Dutch is no ordinary ghost, so she doesn’t do the job. When her brother comes to do what she can’t, Jade is forced to resort to extreme measures to make her point.

This is a great short story with interesting aspects of exorcism and great characters. It could use a bit more character development because I couldn’t get a really good feel for Jade or Dutch, but for a short it is pretty good. I’m a little fuzzy about what Jade did there at the end and how that’s going to work for the long term, but I’ll suspend belief and just go with it. I don’t think I’ve ever read a story involving exorcists, so that aspect of the story was fascinating to me. I look forward to reading more stories by Sarah Gilman.

Title ~ Banshee Charmer

Series ~ Files of the Otherworlder Enforcement Agency, #1

Author ~ Tiffany Allee

Published ~ 24 January 2012

Genre ~ Paranormal/Romance

Pages ~ 159

My Rating ~ 5 bites out of 5

Kiera ‘Mac’ McLoughlin is a Detective with the paranormal unit of the local Chicago Police Dept. As a half-banshee she’s an OW (Otherworlder) and considering the fear people have of banshees, she doesn’t have a lot of close friends. When she and her witch partner Amanda pull a case involving a murdered woman with no apparent COD Amanda decides to use a little witchcraft to try and track down the killer. While Amanda is off doing witchy things Mac goes home to find her house has been invaded by a hunky man named Aidan Byrne with a badge showing he’s from the Otherworlder Enforcement Agency (OWEA). He says he believes her case is connected to his and they should combine forces. But is he who he says he is and is this case what it appears to be? When Amanda is murdered and Mac is pulled off the case, she decides to find out on her own.

Oh, yeah! Another series for me to dive into. This story had everything I enjoy in a paranormal book: an alternate world to our mundane one where paranormal and mundane live side-by-side, many and varied paranormal entities, murder, villains, mystery, humor and hotness. Banshee Charmer is a great start to what looks like a very interesting series.

The characters are wonderful though I didn’t really get a good sense of Aidan. He’s almost a secondary character and that does bug me a bit. I’m hoping there will be more about him, at least in passing, in upcoming books. Several people are mentioned as working for the paranormal unit and I did get to meet a few of them. I look forward to their stories as well as meeting the others. Well-written with a  decent plot, if you like paranormal with suspense and a cop for a heroine then this one should do the trick.

Title ~ One Thousand and One Nights

Author ~ Ruth Browne

Published ~ 30 September 2013

Genre ~ Paranormal/Post-Apocalyptic/Romance

Pages ~ 68

My Rating ~ 4 bites and a nibble out of 5

Sheri and Dani have been in the foster care system since their parents were killed. Sheri is a bit of a rebel who loves stories and she’ll do anything to protect her little sister. When the zombie apocalypse begins Sheri packs up supplies and a shotgun, steals her foster brother’s motorcycle and takes off with Dani. For five years they survive until one day Aleksy comes across the mountain cabin they’re living in while he’s out scouting for supplies and offers to take them back to his Midwestern mountain range fortress where he and some others are protected from the infected. Sheri agrees for Dani’s sake, but once inside the fortress the others discover Sheri has a zombie bite. She’s bitten, yet she hasn’t turned. Aleksy always kills the infected. What is he going to do about Sheri?

This is a retelling of Arabians Nights set in a post-apocalyptic world filled with zombies. I love stories about unusual characters and this story delivers. Sheri is a rebel yet she loves stories. She reads whatever she can get her hands on, but her real talent is in the telling. When Aleksy reluctantly decides he must kill her he’s on his way to her cage when he hears her telling Dani a story of the Beauty and the Beast with Aleksy as the Beast and Sheri as the Beauty. He’s hooked. For four months Sheri tells him stories while chained to his bedroom wall and he occasionally lets her out of the fortress to search for books in libraries and supplies they can use.

Despite having been bitten multiple times, Sheri has not turned. She’s pale as death, doesn’t menstruate, is strong and fast with excellent sight and hearing and yet she’s still a living breathing human, not a zombie. I would have liked to know more about why she hadn’t turned, though I’m sure the characters are just as confused as I am. What has kept her human? The way she treated her bites? Her genetic make up? Her very active brain? A combination of many things? We don’t know. Aleksy’s treatment of her is cruel, but he doesn’t want to be. Conflicted much? This is a great short story that would have been awesome as a longer version with more detail. 

Title ~ From Here to Eternity

Author ~ Paige Cuccaro

Published ~ 17 February 2013

Genre ~ Sci-Fi/Romance

Pages ~ 79

My Rating ~ 5 bites out of 5

Rachel Burns sees her obituary in the paper and immediately calls her husband, Nate. Getting his voicemail, she starts to leave a message only to get an incoming call from her husband’s phone. However, when she answers she doesn’t recognize his voice. This day is getting weirder and scarier as things don’t add up for Rachel. The man on the phone promises everything will be ok and he’ll be right home, but when he shows up Rachel doesn’t know who he is. She has gaps in her memory, the date is wrong, the home security doesn’t acknowledge her voice, she can’t open the front door to leave, the house is a mess and the man who says he is Dr. Nathaniel Burns is not familiar to her. Is Rachel losing her mind? Or has something else happened?

Wow. This is an excellent sci-fi short. Even though it is a short story it feels a lot longer. It’s very well-written, the characters of Rachel and Nate are well-fleshed out, the moral situation they are in is a slippery slope and extremely tricky, not to mention dangerous.  I could feel Rachel’s confusion and fear as she tried to logically work through what Nate tells her. Then there’s Nate. Oh, boy. Nate’s dilemma is one that makes you think really hard, what would you do if you were in his shoes? And the twist? Didn’t see that coming and though it’s a bit far-fetched and quite the stretch, I let it go. If you like sci-fi I recommend picking this one up.

12 Days of a Kensington Christmas ~ Tempted

Title ~ Tempted

Series ~ Dark Protectors, #2.5

Author ~ Rebecca Zanetti

Publisher ~ Kensington

Published ~ 27 March 2012

Genre ~ Paranormal/Romance

*Book source ~ Purchased 

My Rating ~ 4 bites and a nibble out of 5

Sarah Pringle was a school teacher until her nasty brother gets involved with the Kurjans. When one of them kills an employee at their pharmaceutical company right in front of her she thinks they are vampires, but the police don’t believe her and her brother has her committed to a mental institution for evaluation. When she manages to escape and put up a blog about the vampire she witnessed killing a woman this brings her to the attention of the actual vampires, the Dark Protectors. It’s time for damage control, so the vampire King of the Realm, Dage Kayrs, sends his best hunter, Max Petrovsky, to find Sarah and take care of the problem.

Max is the biggest, baddest, fiercest hunter Dage has and most would say his heart is made of stone, but he doesn’t stand a chance against the four-year-old he needs to guard. Max discovers he actually has a heart when he has to spend a good amount of time guarding Janie, so it’s not such a huge surprise when he meets Sarah that there is room for her there, too. Max is an awesome alpha hero with kick ass fighting skills and a great match for Sarah who couldn’t really fight her way out of a wet paper bag though she is stubborn and full to the brim with perseverance. The chemistry between the two is steamy, the plot is good, the characters wonderful and there is humor sprinkled throughout. I’ve enjoyed each book in this series so far and this one, while short, doesn’t disappoint.

Saturday Shorts

Saturday Shorts

 Saturday Shorts is a feature where I review 3-4 short stories that are 100 pages or less. Enjoy! 

*Books source ~ Many thanks to the authors for providing review copies in exchange for honest reviews.

Title ~ Lost Souls: Imperfection

Series ~ Lost Souls, Episode 2

Author ~ Laurel O'Donnell

Publisher ~ Laurel O'Donnell

Published ~ 28 August 2012

Genre ~ Paranormal

My Rating ~ 4 bites and a nibble out of 5

Sam, her brother Ben and freshie Christian are Lost Souls. They are people who have died and, for whatever reason, missed their ride to the other side. Now, they’re stuck between the two places. They try to protect other Lost Souls from being drained of their energy by the Changed and they try to protect humans from being possessed by the Changed after the Changed has accumulated enough energy. They’ve done the best they can, but until recently they didn’t know how to get rid of the Changed for good. While hunting for a missing Lost Soul they stumble across an old Changed nemesis that should have been locked behind iron walls. Something big is coming and Sam’s now Changed husband seems to have something to do with it.

I read Lost Souls: Resurrection almost 2 years ago, so while I remembered the basics of the story, I really appreciated that the beginning of Imperfection gave a recap to jog my memory of major details before plunging into the next episode.

Episode 2 has Sam, Ben and Christian looking for a fellow Soul named Becky, who had gone off looking for a freshie (a new Lost Soul), but she hasn’t checked in with Eugene, a techno geekie Soul who invents really cool tech that the Souls can use. They start with the freshie she was tracking and are surprised by Scala, a Changed that Sam & Ben had locked in an iron cell centuries before. How the hell did he get out? Now, they have a bigger problem on their hands and they still haven’t found Becky. To top it all off, Sam’s husband has shown up and he’s a Changed. Things are going downhill fast.

I really enjoyed this second episode in the series. The mystery, the workings of this world, the characters (though Sam could be less of a bitch to Christian) and the writing make for a great read. I look forward to continuing on with the Lost Souls.

Title ~ Just Like That

Author ~ Margo Candela

Publisher ~ SugarMissile, llc

Published ~ 27 February 2012

Genre ~ Romance/Contemporary

My Rating ~ 4 bites and a nibble out of 5

Leslie Quinn has a job she loves, but a boss she hates and a long term boyfriend who just isn’t doing it for her. After Ryan dumps her, she appeases her friend Paige by going out on the occasional blind date, but she really just wants to focus on climbing the ladder at work. When she finally gets a day off her bitchy boss calls her up to take care of client because she’s too busy with the show that Leslie did all the work setting up. Leslie has no idea that this sudden burden will be a blessing instead.

I could never do the job Leslie loves. She’s a sales associate for a major upscale department store before she gets promoted to assistant stylist. I don’t have the temperament to put up with asshole people who think they’re better than everyone else because they have money. And that boss of hers…oh, boy. Nope. I would never have lasted. LOL Paige is funny, Ryan is a loser and Leslie is the Little Stylist Who Could. This is a great short read and I loved the ending, too! 

Title ~ The Adventures of Mrs. Browning

Author ~ Marcia Carrington

Publisher ~ Marcia Carrington

Published ~ 12 June 2012

Genre ~ Contemporary

My Rating ~ 3 bites and a nibble out of 5

Ever since she has become a widow, Mrs. Browning lives a very drab, boring and lonely life. Or so she wants everyone to think. On Friday night however, she becomes someone else.

I’m not sure I understood this story. Why does Mrs. Browning live in her drab little cottage with her boring clothes, cooking meals for one and leaving the tv on for noise and entertainment? She has a whole other life on the weekends. Why not just ditch the cottage and live in the city? This was an interesting story, but it confused me. And I’d really like to know more about Conrad and her life in the city.

Friday Featured Spotlight ~ Untreed Reads & 4 Mystery Reviews

Founded in 2008, Untreed Reads is a digital-first publisher and ebook distributor with one of the largest distribution channels in the industry, supplying titles to over 200 retailers and 98 percent of libraries worldwide. With a catalog of works covering nearly every genre and the option for publishers to distribute their content through its network, Untreed Reads is a full-service location for authors and publishers.

*Books source ~ Many thanks to Untreed Reads for providing review copies in exchange for honest reviews.

Title ~ Who's There?

Series ~ Nurseryland Mystery, #4

Author ~ Herschel Cozine

Published ~ 15 May 2013

Genre ~ Fantasy/Mystery

My Rating ~ 4 bites and a nibble out of 5

Nathaniel P. Osgood III is a private investigator. But not just any ol’ PI. He works in Nurseryland and takes on cases involving characters from nursery rhymes and fairy tales. When an agitated client hires him to find a man who isn’t there, Nathaniel is up against the hardest case he’s had to date.

Ever since I read Jasper Fforde’s Nursery Crimes books, I’ve been a fan of nursery rhyme and fairy tale alternate stories. Or retellings. Or whatever they’re called. All I know is I enjoy them very much. I’ve never heard of the little man who wasn’t there, but it didn’t matter. This is a well-written short about a PI who has to find someone who isn’t there. How do you do that? No, really. I’m asking. How is that even possible? And how do all these people know this guy isn’t there if he-isn’t-there? Strange! But aren’t most nursery rhymes and fairy tales strange? Anyway, Nathaniel talks to many people in Nurseryland and finally figures out how to satisfy his client. Clever! If you like quirky fantasy/crime then I highly recommend this quick read. Quite enjoyable!

Title ~ Juggernaut

Author ~ Nancy Springer

Published ~ 26 November 2012

Genre ~ Mystery

My Rating ~ 4 bites out of 5

Marietta Becker is working undercover at a singles dance trying to discover who is responsible for the deaths of five very different men, but who most of them had some connection to the singles dance.  She’s just getting an idea of who The Crusher might be when in walks her husband, someone the other women say is a regular. After being faithful all their years of marriage, of her holding up her end of the relationship and all those times he was telling her he was working late, well…let’s just say she decides to make sure he’s the next target.

This short story is very well-written, the characters are well-fleshed and I didn’t figure out who the killer was. The singles dance was kinda depressing. And Marietta’s husband…hmmm, he’s a jerk, but does he deserve to die? Because Marietta sets him up to do just that. And her being a cop and all. Sort of goes against everything she believes in and I wonder if she’ll regret it later. After it’s too late. A quick read that will test your skills as a detective.

Title ~ Throwaways

Author ~ Jack Ewing

Published ~ 22 August 2011

Genre ~ Mystery/Crime

My Rating ~ 4 bites out of 5

One night a homeless man camping out under a bridge sees a garbage bag floating down the river. After pulling the bag to shore he discovers a dead naked woman inside. He sits there stunned for a bit then spends some time wondering who she is and what happened to her, but when a car comes along he grabs his stuff, erases the evidence of his having been there and takes the woman with him to hide beside the river. What he overhears changes something inside him.

This is a great short story about someone who has lost his way. Sometimes it takes a simple thing to get someone back to a ‘normal’ way of life and sometimes it takes a dead body. I hope that for most people who find themselves like this guy that it would take something simple and not something extreme like a murdered person to get them to rejoin the rest of the world. Take a few minutes and read this. You won’t regret it.

Title ~ The Magician

Author ~ Sol Stein

Published ~ 17 April 2013

first published 1971

Genre ~ Mystery

My Rating ~ 4 bites and a nibble out of 5

Sixteen-year-old Ed Japhet performs a magic show at his Prom and that’s what brings things to a head between him and the local gang leader, Urek. After Prom Urek and three of his stooges attack Ed, Ed’s girlfriend Lila and Ed’s dad, causing grievous harm to Ed and smashing up Mr. Japhet’s car. Urek is arrested and brought to trial. But will he be deemed guilty or not?

While this book was first written in 1971 the basic meaning of it hasn’t changed 40 years later. A person is supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, but that doesn’t mean a guilty person is always convicted. Unfortunately, what Ed says in the book is true, back than as well as today. The justice system is a game and the best person to play it wins. Or like Ed with his magic. Slight of hand. Look what I’m doing over here and ignore what’s going on over there. Thomassy knows his client is guilty but he achieves a physical high on playing the game and winning. He doesn’t care that he’s putting a dangerous person back on the street as long as he comes out the winner. Granted, there are many stereotypes in this book, but it doesn’t change the underlying message. Our justice system, on the whole, sucks. Depressing, but true. How can it be fixed? I have no idea. The ending starts the beginning all over again. All-in-all this is an excellently written story about what can (and usually does) happen in a courtroom.

Walking on Wednesday with Audios ~ It's Just Sext

Title ~ It's Just Sext, Perfect Sext, Hotter Than Sext

Series ~ The Right Kind of Wrong, #1-3

Author ~ Felice Fox

Narrator ~ Jessica Rosen

Publisher ~ M. Scribes Press

Published ~ 31 May 2013 (Audible)

Genre ~ Erotica

*Book source ~ Many thanks to the author for providing an Audible box set copy in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating ~ 4 bites and a nibble out of 5

There are three short stories in this box set and they follow Lauren and Marc who have started a relationship online before moving to texting/sexting and then finally meeting in person. Can there be more than sex between them after months living with a ‘no talking’ rule? Or will the sexual tension burn out fast and all turn to ash?

This is an interesting concept. Lauren and Marc have been conducting an electronic affair for months. They’ve exchanged information online and through texting, pictures and videos all while adhering to a ‘no talking’ rule. Lauren went even further by not sending naked photos of herself while Marc laid his hot body out there for her. When Marc’s cruise ship docks nearby her home in California they decide to finally meet in person. Lauren is older than Marc and is self conscious of the fact and of her body. Marc is young and hot. Will he be disappointed in her? All of the nervousness and release of sexual tension in that first meeting (in the first book) is very well written. And very hot. *fans self*

Book 2 is several weeks after the first meeting and they are hooking up again at the same hotel. Only this time, Marc wants to go out in public and sightsee instead of spending the entire time having hot sex. What?! I know, right? Anyway, Lauren lives in the neighborhood and isn’t sure if she’s ready for people to see her with a younger guy, but she gamely puts her self doubts aside and off they go. More adjustments are made between them and it looks like the relationship is making good progress in lasting the test of time. And more hotness ensues. *more fanning of self*

Book 3 sees Marc meeting Lauren’s best friend and having dinner at her own home. Matters come to a head when Lauren finds out Marc has accepted a job offer in New Orleans and hasn’t told her yet. The ending is all about being grown ups and left me smiling. Life isn’t easy, but when two people work together things can be wonderful. If you like books about people overcoming relationship obstacles and also having hot sex then this box set is the one for you.  

Amazon | B&N 

Saturday Shorts

Saturday Shorts

Saturday Shorts is a feature where I review 3-4 short stories that are 100 pages or less. Enjoy! 

*Books source ~ Many thanks to the authors for providing review copies in exchange for honest reviews.

Title ~ Cursed

Series ~ Touched, #1

Author ~ S.A. Archer & S. Ravynheart

Publisher ~ Ravynheart Publishing

Published ~ 28 October 2011

Genre ~ Fantasy

My Rating ~ 4 bites out of 5

London Eyer is a private investigator specializing in the paranormal. When she is blackmailed into working for Rico of the Sidhe her life changes in an instant. She may be forced to work for him, but she’s not doing it without fighting for all she’s worth. She will do the job, but as much on her terms as possible considering the Curse he’s put on her. The question is: Will she survive?

Ok, this story is definitely a good start to a new series. It’s very short, so there’s only a brief glimpse of what this new world and characters are like, but it’s enough to make we want more. I like London. A lot. She reminds me of Harry Dresden (though he’s a wizard) and Anita Blake in the early books (though she’s a necromancer), but the attitude is one that I enjoy reading. She may be forced to do something, but she’s not going to just roll over and play nice. The ending is very intriguing and not how I expected it to turn out, but I very much look forward to reading more in this series.

Title ~ Dragged Into Darkness

Author ~ Lisa V. Proulx

Publisher ~ Lisa V. Proulx

Published ~ 18 October 2011

Genre ~ Paranormal

My Rating ~ 4 bites out of 5

Frankie Morelli is an abusive husband to his wife Angela. Married young she fell into the mindset that she somehow deserved the beatings he gave her. Then one night he went too far and killed her. After he was sentenced to prison he stole from the wrong inmate and was beaten to death. Arriving in Hell, Frankie tries to think of a way to bargain himself out of Hell and into Heaven. He finally hits upon the idea that he could exchange his rotten evil soul for his wife’s purer one. Satan agrees, tells him what he must do and sends him on his journey. Will Frankie succeed? Or will he continue to be a pathetic loser?

This is an interesting idea. Bargain your way out of Hell by trading souls. Angela is a sad case of spousal abuse. If she had just had the courage to get out years before she might have made something of herself. Instead, she fell into the thinking that it was all her fault and making excuses for her pathetic excuse of a husband. Frankie’s journey is interesting and Frankie is completely repellent. I love the twist at the end.  All-in-all an interesting, if painful at times, read.

Title ~ Brightarrow Burning

Author ~ Isabo Kelly

Publisher ~ Samhain Publishing

Published ~ 4 October 2011

Genre ~ Fantasy

My Rating ~ 4 bites out of 5

Layla Brightarrow has been in love with Ulric of Glengowyn all her life. When war breaks out between humans and Sorcerers the elves decide to remain neutral, putting Ulric completely out of Layla’s reach. She is one of the best archers around so she is the one given many of the assassination orders to eliminate traitor elves, those who lure humans to the Sorcerers. Then she is ordered to kill Ulric’s brother Althir and almost dies in the attempt. Will Ulric remain neutral? Is he loyal to family? Or Layla?

Not bad for a short story. The world is described very well and the characters are decently fleshed out. The chemistry between Layla and Ulric is off the charts and the conflict put me on the edge of my seat. Ulric seems to care for Layla, but is he still loyal to his brother? Trust is hard for Layla, but in the end it’s all worth the effort. A wonderful quick read.

Friday Featured Spotlight ~ Malia Mallory

Malia Mallory, Erotica Author

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Malia Mallory lives in Hawaii with her husband and daughter. She's been working with words since alphabet blocks rolled into her crib, not only writing her own work but copy editing and proofreading the work of others. She has loved to read about relationships since she first sneaked off with her mother's Harlequin.

Malia Mallory is the best-selling author of The ABCs of Erotica series, which covers the erotic spectrum from BDSM to ménage and everything in between. More releases in the series are on the way. She has also released the Mia's Cop Craving series and Santa's Backdoor Baby. Malia’s books have hit the bestselling erotica lists at both Amazon and iTunes. Her books are available in electronic format at major retailers.

Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | Sony | Diesel | Smashwords | Bookstrand | ARe

*Books source ~ Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for providing review copies in exchange for honest reviews.

Title ~ His Need, Her Desire

Series ~ Dominating BDSM Billionaires, #1

Author ~ Malia Mallory

Publisher ~ Malia Mallory

Published ~ 15 October 2012

Genre ~ Erotica

My Rating ~ 4 bites and a nibble out of 5

Tabitha Quinn and Marcus Granger meet in Hawaii and begin a vacation fling. However, before they can really settle in and enjoy the red hot chemistry between them, Marcus is called back to New York on business. Tabitha is left alone to finish out her vacation and since they didn’t exchange numbers when she heads back to New York and her job she tries to forget all about Marcus. Yeah, not happening.

This short story is a good start to the Dominating BDSM Billionaires series, introducing Tabitha and Marcus and the problem he’s having with his family’s company, Granger Pharma. The chemistry between Marcus and Tabitha is off the charts and the sex scenes are smokin’ hot. Plus, they each have some insecurities to work out which adds some sweetness to the heat. The BDSM is light with some spanking, bondage and wax play, so those who aren’t into more extreme BDSM should have no problem with this one. All-in-all a sultry read that leaves me wanting more.

Title ~ His Desire, Her Surrender

Series ~ Dominating BDSM Billionaires, #2

Author ~ Malia Mallory

Publisher ~ Malia Mallory

Published ~ 5 March 2013

Genre ~ Erotica

My Rating ~ 4 bites and a nibble out of 5

When Marcus Granger is called away from Hawaii back to New York, Tabitha Quinn thinks she’ll never see him again. She's taken by surprise when he shows up at the New York law firm two weeks after she’s back to work following her Hawaii vacation. After apologizing for the abrupt way he left her, Marcus lets it be known that he wants to continue their relationship.  However, when he asks her to sign a D/s contract she hesitates and Marcus takes it the wrong way. Throw in some corporate espionage plaguing Granger Pharma and it’s a wonder Marcus and Tabitha ever get over the choppy seas for smoother sailing.

This story picks up where the novella left off. The characters are appealing and the sex scenes are smoking hot. The relationship was a little too instalove for me, but sometimes that happens in real life, so I just went with it. Other than that this is an awesome read for those who like light BDSM and romance with a little mystery thrown in. Plus, we meet Jonah, brother to Marcus who is a little rougher looking, not so pretty boy/slick dresser and a lot more nerdy. Now, him I totally like, but that’s just me. I love brainy guys.

Title ~ Her Wish, His Command

Series ~ Dominating BDSM Billionaires, #3

Author ~ Malia Mallory

Publisher ~ Malia Mallory

Published ~ 3 June 2013

Genre ~ Erotica

My Rating ~ 5 bites out of 5

Jonah Granger is a top notch researcher and brilliant scientist, but he’s clueless how to keep a relationship longer than a few weeks. Dr. Anna Granger, fellow researcher and scientist has wanted Jonah from the moment she worked at Granger Pharma for her internship as a graduate student. The following years have not made her want him less. Now, they have to share a lab while renovations are going on and Anna decides it’s time to see if her longing and wanting are legitimate or just a built up fantasy in her head. When Jonah expresses interest, Anna presses full steam ahead and damn the torpedoes since this may be her only opportunity to see if they have a chance. Even when corporate espionage throws a big fat monkey wrench into the works Jonah and Anna work together to protect Granger Pharma. But will they last the long haul?

Ooooh! I love me a brainy hunky absentminded nerd. Anna and Jonah are great characters and they come to life on the page for me. Their sexual chemistry is off the charts and the sex scenes are smokin’ hot and yet there is more to the story (and them) than hot sex. I love that Jonah hadn’t thought about BDSM until Anna requested it from him. And his approach to the issue was typical of a nerd. Research instead of just asking questions. LOL The espionage plot carries on from the other books and advances with a little more detail. The bad guy or guys are still unknown, but the plot thickens. I’m looking forward to Book 4 and Monica’s story to see how it all plays out.

Title ~ His Passion, Her Temptation

Series ~ Dominating BDSM Billionaires, #4

Author ~ Malia Mallory

Publisher ~ Malia Mallory

Published ~ 1 July 2013

Genre ~ Erotica

My Rating ~ 4.5 bites out of 5

When Monica Granger meets a handsome entertaining sexy man at a party she has no idea that he is the son of her father’s biggest competitor and fiercest enemy. The sexual attraction between the two are off the charts, but more than that they really like each other.  After Monica’s father accuses her of helping Coron Health with a hostile takeover Monica is angry and hurt. She doesn’t want to be forced to choose between Ben and family and Ben doesn’t want to come between her and those she loves, but with the espionage escalating someone needs to get to the source of the trouble or they may never have a chance at a happily ever after.

Monica’s story starts at the beginning when she meets Ben and takes us through the first 3 books, all told from her perspective and shows us her relationship with Ben and carries on to the conclusion of the espionage plot. I didn’t feel Ben and Monica’s relationship like I did Jonah and Anna’s. It was more along the lines of Marcus and Tabitha’s, instalove without more substance to back it up. The story is still a good one and it brings all of the lines together from a different viewpoint, so it’s interesting. The sex scenes are smokin’, but then I don’t think Malia Mallory could write a bad sex scene even if she tried. :) All-in-all a satisfying ending to a great series.