Book Nibbles

Monster Porn Monday

My monthly review of that sub-sub-sub genre of erotica ~ monster porn. 

I read them so you don't have to.

Erotica ~ Mature 18+

Once Upon a Highland Christmas

*Book source ~ NetGalley

Title ~ Once Upon a Highland Christmas

Series ~ Scandalous Scots, #.5

Author ~ Sue-Ellen Welfonder

Publisher ~ Forever Yours

Published ~ 3 December 2013

Genre ~ Historical | Romance

Pages ~ 100

Wicked Wednesday

Mature ~ 18+

*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Title ~ The Voyeur

Author ~ Kay Jaybee

Publisher ~ Xcite Books

Published ~ 27 July 2012

Genre ~ Erotica

Pages ~ 157

Wicked Wednesday

Wicked Wednesday

Wicked Wednesday is a feature reviewing two or three erotica books, usually under 200 pages, but no page limit. 

*Mature Content ~ 18+

*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Title ~ Base Over Apex

Series ~ Kinky Cupid, #2

Author ~ Kim Dare

Publisher ~ Kim Dare

Published ~ 7 February 2014

Genre ~ Erotica/BDSM

Pages ~ 62

My Rating ~ 5 bites

It’s Valentine’s Day and Jack Bowen is grumpy. Even though he’s hanging out at his favorite club, The Spread Eagle, he lost a bet to Bret, the sub belonging to his friend Marcus. He has to wear a stupid hat provided by Bret all night. Plus, it’s Valentine’s Day and he has no date. Until a young, hot, naked man walks through the club and kneels in front of Jack. Things are looking up after all.

I enjoyed this story much more than Once a Brat. Ricky Douglas is a sub, but not a brat at all like Bret is. I don’t like Bret much, but since he has the best interests of Ricky in mind I’ll give him a smidgeon of credit. I think this story is a great intro to M/M BDSM. It’s not heavy handed and it’s not excessively light. It’s also not fluff. Also, the twist? Loved it! For a short story it packs quite a bit of feeling into it and I found myself loving Jack and Ricky. I’d definitely read more stories about them. This is a self-contained story. It’s not necessary to read book 1 to understand book 2, but if you’re like me you’ll want to read them in order.

*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Title ~ Virgin Territory

Series ~ Kinky Cupid, #3

Author ~ Kim Dare

Publisher ~ Kim Dare

Published ~ 13 May 2013

Genre ~ Erotica/BDSM

Pages ~ 74

My Rating ~ 4 bites and a nibble

Aaron Banks has had a grueling few weeks and he just wants to relieve some tension at the Spread Eagle. When a buddy points out a new sub on the scene and informs him that said sub is a virgin, Aaron isn’t all that interested. Until he gets a look at Danny Clarke, that is. He’s hooked and he wants Danny hooked to him before another Dom claims him. Lucky for Aaron, Danny seems to want the same thing. But when they leave the club Danny surprises Aaron with some important information. You know what they say about assumptions, right?

Hmmm…this one has a bit of a twist that was interesting. Danny is right sick of assumptions and it makes him a bit pissy. But it just seemed to me that he was going to cut off his nose to spite his face. Lucky for him Aaron was more flexible than I would have been. I would have walked out. Anyway, it turns out that Danny and Aaron fit together like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Another great intro to M/M BDSM by Kim Dare. This is a self-contained story. No need to read others in the series to know what’s going on, but you’ll want to seek them out when you’re done.

Showcase Saturday

Mature Content ~ 18+

*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Title ~ Taking

Author ~ Mira Noire

Publisher ~ BookBaby

Published ~ 5 July 2012

Genre ~ Erotica | BDSM

Pages ~ 110

My Rating ~ 4 bites

Samantha Winterbourne loses her mother and her prospects for making ends meet are dismal when her rich grandfather reluctantly agrees to help her find a job back East. Samantha doesn’t want to move near the family and friends that snubbed her mother when she married ‘beneath her station’, but a girl needs to eat. Enter Tera Carlisle, old school chum of her mother’s, and her husband Evan. She offers Sam a personal assistant job and Sam chokes out an agreement. Soon she’s taking up her new duties, but before too many months pass she discovers something startling about her employers. Taking her metaphorical balls in hand, Sam sexually dominates Mrs. Carlisle while Mr. Carlisle is away and when she has Tera well in hand she goes after Evan. Tera is a guppy and Evan is a shark. Is Sam biting off more than she can chew?

Oh, my. This is one steamy read. The steamy yummy bits take awhile to get to, but they are worth it if you like M/f, F/f, domination and humiliation. Sam is gutsy and pretty much a take no prisoners kind of gal, but she’s a little too…much, I guess, for me. When she goes after Evan I was like, “Are you out of your fucking mind?!” Wow. She’s definitely ballsy. Or has a death wish. And she enjoys pain too much for my tastes. Anyway, this is a great read that will keep you wriggling in your seat.

*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Title ~ Womb of the New World

Author ~ Mira Noire

Publisher ~ BookBaby

Published ~ 1 August 2013

Genre ~ Dystopian | Erotica

Pages ~ 54

My Rating ~ 4 bites and a nibble

It’s been centuries since the war between cyborgs and humans, a war that forced humans underground. Imogenne and her people survive fairly well, coming out for occasional night raids looking for supplemental food and avoiding the Wroks. On the verge of being married off to a man she doesn’t love, Imogenne is restless. She’s not like the other women. She has strange erotic dreams and her sexual appetite is large. She doesn’t understand what is so different about her until the night she is captured in a Wrok raid. Wroks, a mixture of biological and mechanical, have been stealing women in the hopes of finding some to mate with and have children. So far all of the women who mate with a Wrok go insane from the mating. Yoevin, leader of the Wroks, is growing desperate to save his people from extinction. He knows there are certain women out there who can mate with a Wrok and not go insane, but he’s losing hope of finding them. Until he captures Imogenne. She is different, but is she different enough to make his own?

A dark and yummy dystopian erotica. What a combination, but it works! Imogenne is the result of a few centuries of evolution. She is just what the Wroks need to have children. But Yoevin is torn. He needs her to mate with all the available Wroks for the best chance to produce a child, but he wants her, needs her only for himself. Disregarding protocol he treats Imogenne differently from all the other women they have captured.

Imogenne isn’t a bad character, but I felt that Yoevin was more fully developed. I could really feel his struggle to do what was best for his people as a leader and what he selfishly wanted to do for himself. His appearance is frightening, but the pheromones and Imogenne’s own sexual appetite work to bring these two together. And the steamy scenes? Wowzers! This story isn’t going to be for everyone even if you like erotica. It’s dark, there’s captive sex, the guy is far from human looking and the sex is brutal at times. But there’s something else, too. The beginnings of love and hope for a new world.

*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Title ~ A Girl in Paris

Author ~ Mira Noire

Publisher ~ BookBaby

Published ~ 20 January 2013

Genre ~ Erotica| F/F

Pages ~ 21

My Rating ~ 4 bites

A woman walking down the street with a couple of duffel bags decides to lighten her load. Something about a prostitute draws her eye and she makes the decision to give a bag to her. When she approaches the thin woman the prostitute shows her to a ratty apartment and demands payment up front. The anonymous woman pays and then explains she only wanted to give away her duffel bag full of clothes. The prostitute gets angry, but soon the two women are exploring each other in every which way they can.

This is a wonderfully written story, but it wasn’t really my type of thing. While f/f isn’t my usual read, I don’t mind reading stories with woman on woman and the steamy parts are definitely steamy. The part that’s not really my thing is the introspection that goes on. In other words, this story was too deep for me. I know, I’m shallow, but I love me anyway. *winks*

Saturday Shorts

Saturday Shorts

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

*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Title ~ Cruelty: Episode Four

Series ~ Cruelty, #4

Author ~ Edward Lorn

Publisher ~ Edward Lorn

Published ~ 23 March 2014

Genre ~ Horror

Pages ~ 44

My Rating ~ 4 bites and a nibble

Cruelty is an ongoing serial involving a demented serial killer and all of the people whose lives he’s (it) touched, both literally and figuratively.

In Episode Four: William Longmire is in danger from Twon and Ollie, Trooper Morgan is in a coma, Markum and Holden are planning on doing a little poking around, Sheriff Miser and Merlo hook up, Momma is introduced and strolling amongst them all is Forgiveness. Sweet Baby Jane! I’ve said before that Cruelty doesn’t really scare me. Yes, the things it does are awful and ewwwww, but Cruelty doesn’t really do it for me when it comes to the heebie jeebies. Forgiveness on the other hand…

*Book source ~ Picked up for free on Amazon.

Title ~ The Piano Tutor

Author ~ Anthea Lawson

Publisher ~ Anthea Lawson

Published ~ 11 May 2011

Genre ~ Historical/Romance

Pages ~ 42

My Rating ~ 4 bites and a nibble

The Viscountess Merrowstone, Lady Diana Waverly is just coming out of mourning when her stepdaughter’s piano tutor, Mr. Bent, is called away and a new tutor, Mr. Nicholas Jameson, is recommended to her. Much younger and quite a bit more handsome than Mr. Bent he makes Diana’s heart flutter like it has never done before. In addition, he plays like a dream and her stepdaughter Samantha likes him. So, even though he makes her think of things no lady should think of she hires him as the piano tutor for her Samantha and even considers taking lessons herself. But the looks he’s giving her added to her own naughty thoughts have her believing he might teach her more than the piano. She’s always been so proper. Dare she risk making her desire known to him?

Very well-written this short story is a wonderful quick snack. Diana is a lovely character and Nicholas nearly sets the pages on fire. Well, this is an ebook, but if I had pages they’d be red hot. He’s so yummy! I like the twist at the end, too. Lawson is a new-to-me author, but I’ll be looking into more of her books.

*Book source ~ Picked up for free on Amazon.

Title ~ Welcome to Hell

Series ~ Mel Goes to Hell, #1

Author ~ Demelza Carlton

Publisher ~ Lost Plot Press

Published ~ 21 February 2014

Genre ~ Paranormal/Humor

Pages ~ 20

My Rating ~ 4 bites and a nibble

Mel is an angel sent to get a job at Health, Environment, Life and Lands Corporation, AKA HELL. Angel intel has Lucifer up to his usual sneaky take over the world tactics and using a mundane business as his front. Raphael begs Mel to get a job inside so they can get the 411 on what’s going on and whether they need to send in the heavy hitters, the archangels. She reluctantly agrees to take the job, but does she really know what’s she’s getting into?

This is a really short intro to the Mel Goes to HELL series. Well-written and funny if this is an example of what is upcoming then this series promises to be amusing. I’m looking forward to reading Book 2 See You in HELL.

Saturday Shorts

Book source ~ Purchased at Amazon.

Title ~ Cruelty

Series ~ Cruelty, Episode 1

Author ~ Edward Lorn

Publisher ~ Edward Lorn

Published ~ 4 October 2013

Genre ~ Horror/Serial

Pages ~ 53

My Rating ~ 4 bites out of 5

There’s a serial killer out there and it’s name is Cruelty. But Cruelty is just the tool for the true serial killer. Who else is out there waiting for some unsuspecting stranger to cross paths with Cruelty?

This is Episode One of a 10-part serial and it starts out with a prostitute and a deaf guy walking down the road. No, really. I was like…wtf is going on here? But having read Lorn’s work before I knew this was only the benign beginning and everything was about to go to shit for the characters. I hate when I’m right.

Poor 19-yr-old Will only wants to get laid. His friend Kirk sets him up with a prostitute he happens to know to get the job done, but Will has no idea this one little decision by his small head is going to be the absolute worst one in his entire life. I’m sure there are many guys who have made those same kinds of decisions at one point or another, but for Will it means his decision puts him in the path of Cruelty.

Then there’s Innis who catches her skunk of a boyfriend cheating on her. Her heat of the moment decision to grab her dog Merlo and take off is another such bad decision that certainly didn’t seem bad at the time.

Texas State Trooper Tom Morgan is on his routine nightly patrol when the B&E call comes in. He probably figured it would be a typical call, teens causing trouble or drug addicts trying to score some cash. Little does he know…

This story is well-written and the different POVs come together to dovetail very nicely. The creepiest POV is Cruelty’s. Who wants to be in the mind of a giant baby doll serial killer? Not me. My only complaint about this story is Cruelty’s physical self. I just can’t seem to get scared enough of a giant baby doll. Yes, it is a serial killer. That part of Cruelty is definitely Depends-worthy, but maybe I’m not appropriately scared of Cruelty because baby dolls don’t creep me out. I’m not sure, but the rest of this story is creeptastic and horrifying in a Holy Shit! kind of way and don’t get me started on Cruelty’s Master. Gah! I’m hooked and can’t wait to see what happens next.

Book source ~ Purchased at Amazon.

Title ~ Cruelty

Series ~ Cruelty, Episode 2

Author ~ Edward Lorn

Publisher ~ Edward Lorn

Published ~ 9 November 2013

Genre ~ Horror/Serial

Pages ~ 48

My Rating ~ 4 bites out of 5

Cruelty Episode Two picks up right after Episode One left off. This is a serial after all. This episode contains more about the people who have been forced into Cruelty’s path either directly or indirectly, so we revisit old friends and gain some new ones.

Turtle is the meth addicted boyfriend of Jennifer the prostitute of Episode One. The description of his addiction is…frightening. But he is only a stepping stone for more characters, Twon and Ollie who are the ones behind the meth operation in the area.

Kirk is Will’s roomie and seriously addicted to working out. He can thank Turtle for sending Twon and Ollie his way.

Will has so many questions to answer when the police show up at the gas station where he dialed 911. The investigation of the seriously fucked up shit that has gone down this night is only beginning and we’re introduced to Sheriff Randy Miser, Deputy Nick Wuncell, Trooper Natalie Holden and State Investigator Frank Markum.

Innis is in a nightmare, both waking and sleeping. Sweet Baby Jane! And we get Cruelty’s skin crawling POV as well. *shudders*

The book ends on Merlo’s POV and I’m beginning to wonder what role the dog is going to play in this tale.

Another well-written episode and Lorn is really layering an excellent story here. Having several POVs to follow gives me a chance to see and hear how other characters/players are connected in this seriously fucked up story about a baby doll serial killer. Again, I’m not very freaked out about Cruelty’s appearance, but being in its mind? Oh yeah…makes my skin crawl. Bring on Episode Three!

Book source ~ Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

Title ~ Cruelty

Series ~ Cruelty, Episode 3

Author ~ Edward Lorn

Publisher ~ Edward Lorn

Published ~ 25 February 2014

Genre ~ Horror/Serial

Pages ~ 50

My Rating ~ 4 bites out of 5

Episode Three takes us back a bit to give us an idea of who John Landover is and how he’s connected. I’m glad because that loose end was bugging me a bit.

The investigation proceeds with Trooper Holden and SI Markum leading the charge.

Trooper Morgan is still in surgery and his wife, Nell is introduced.

Innis is still in Hell. I can’t revisit that, so I’m not gonna.

Will is in danger from more than Cruelty, but he doesn’t know it yet. He heads out to see what is up with Kirk and why he’s in the hospital.

Ending this episode with Cruelty’s POV was diabolical. All I can do is shudder and shudder some more.

Layer upon layer this picture is growing like a giant painting being laid out on a once white canvas, the creepy spine-tingling-lose-bladder-control kind of picture that can’t be unseen. I’m not sure I want to see the next layer, yet I know I won’t be able to resist continuing. I will want to know what happens even if it means running the risk of nightmares. Bring it!

Vampire for Christmas

*Book source ~ Free on Amazon

Title ~ Vampire for Christmas

Author ~ Felicity Heaton

Publisher ~ Dark Rose Publishing

Published ~ 2 November 2010

Genre ~ Paranormal/Romance

Pages ~ 78

My Rating ~ 4 bites and a nibble out of 5

Shannon is a demon hunter and Rafe is her partner. Only he isn’t just her partner. He’s a vampire and she hates vampires. But for two years she’s had to work side-by-side with him because the agency said she had to. Now, after one last mission she’ll be free to go. She’ll finally be free of her vampire partner, a reminder of everything she lost. But is she really ready to go? And will Rafe let her walk away without telling her how he feels about her?

An excellent short story about two broken people falling in love. So what if one’s a vampire and the other has been traumatized by one? I love great characters who can overcome difficulties to find their HEA and still manage to work together to do their jobs. Because that gross slimy snot demon is not going to sit around twiddling his um, thumbs(?) while they work out their feelings.

Saturday Shorts

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

Title ~ Crawl

Author ~ Edward Lorn

Publisher ~ Edward Lorn

Published ~ 31 January 2014

Genre ~ Horror

Pages ~ 50

My Rating ~ 4 bites out of 5

Colton is driving Juliet to her mom’s house, so she can have some space away from her cheating idiot of a husband and decide whether their years together make it worth staying with him or if she should just cut-n-run. Apparently Colton felt Juliet wasn’t ‘”there for him”, so he decided to do the dog sitter, most likely doggy style, because she was available. However, before they get to their destination they’re in a terrible car crash and Juliet’s world abruptly changes.

Ok, I have to take a deep breath here and remain calm because this book freaked me the fuck out. I’m just riding along loving Juliet’s inner monologue and narrowing my eyes at Colton and then there’s the Mercury with the screwed up plate and bumper sticker. Woah. Dafuq kind of weirdo is driving that thing? Uneasy feeling number 1 intrudes in my enjoyment of Juliet’s thoughts. Rest stop makes me all jumpy, the uneasy feelings multiply like compound interest and now I’m wishing they’d hurry up and get to Juliet’s mom’s place. Foggy night, lonely highway? Umm…can we turn around, go home and work things out? Guys? Hello? Oh, shit…the car crashes and afterwards Juliet passes out. Then wakes up. Wait. Sweet Baby Jane. I cannot relive those moments after she wakes up. The stomach in knots, the tense shoulders, the biting of the fingernails, the crawling skin, the cringing, no, no, no. I’m not going back there and you can’t make me. I’m still checking my feet, just to make sure and that’s bad enough.

The only reason this story didn’t get a 5 from me is the ending. I didn’t understand it.  I am in no way blaming the author. I *feel* as if I should get it, that I’m the only one not getting it and it’s frustrating me. It's Chemistry class all over again. I fully believe I will wake up from a sound sleep in the not-so-distant future and say, “Holy fucking shit! I get it!” Before I curl into a ball and sob.

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

Title ~ Night School Vampire Hunter

Series ~ Night School Vampire Hunter, #1

Author ~ Michelle Cornwell-Jordan

Publisher ~ Michelle Cornwell-Jordan

Published ~ 19 March 2012

Genre ~ YA/Paranormal/UF

Pages ~ 62

My Rating ~ 3 bites out of 5

Dasheen ‘Angel’ Bellamy turned 15 on Halloween night, the same night she freaked out seeing a creepy little girl, that no one else saw, before passing out. After getting a full medical she’s deemed fine and she goes back to school, but one day she sees the creepy girl again, this time at school, before her brain checks out for a few weeks. She can’t recall that time, but she spent a month in the hospital on the psychiatric floor while they tried to figure out what was wrong with her. The day she returned home was the last one she saw her dad and surrogate mom, Jocelyn. She woke up feeling as if someone was choking her, so she fought back. When the police showed up she was covered in blood and her parents were gone. Six months in a hospital later, she and her 12-yr-old brother Jordan end up at Ame Academy. However, Ame Academy isn’t a normal kind of school as Angel is about to find out.

This is a bit different story than I’ve seen in awhile. There’s a special academy for ‘freaks’, but they have normal kids attending also which seems to me to be a tad dangerous. The school runs 24 hours and is split into Day and Night School. Dasheen tells the story in blog form and the writing is pretty good. The story itself  is where I have a problem. There are some students breaking the rules, serious rules, and the adults in charge aren’t doing anything about it. I have a hard time believing they’re just going to sit back and let a teenager handle the problem especially when what the others are doing is this huge no-no. I’m also not hip to how the academy, which has grades 5-12, lets the older grades mix with the younger grades. Another problem I had is that Dasheen’s powers or whatever they are aren’t really explained; not about what she is, what the powers are or how exactly they kicked into gear. Finally, some mention is made of some council or other, but that is also not explained. The ending resolves nothing and is a cliffhanger. So, overall the story is interesting, but I had some issues with it.

*Book source ~ Many thanks to NetGalley and Riptide for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Title ~ Once a Brat

Series ~ I Blame Bret, #3

Author ~ Kim Dare

Publisher ~ Riptide Publishing

Published ~ 9 February 2013

Genre ~ Erotica/BDSM

Pages ~ 95

My Rating ~ 3 bites out of 5

Marcus Tremayne is a Dom who frequents the local BDSM club Spread Eagle. When twenty-year-old hot and sexy Bret Daniels spies Marcus minutes after entering the club he decides Marcus is the Dom for him. When Marcus ignores him, Bret stalks him for weeks, waiting for Marcus to speak to him. The moment Marcus gives in is the moment both of their lives change.

This is the 3^rd book in the series, but I didn’t feel as if I had missed anything by skipping books 1 & 2. Which is a good thing. While I do love a series that expands as each book comes along, I also prefer each book to stand alone. Contrary much? Yep. Anyway, this book made me curious enough to want to seek out the others, but didn’t irritate me by feeling as if I had missed something leading up to this book. Does that make sense? Well, it does to me. *winks*

I really love the writing. This is the first Kim Dare book I’ve read and I’ll definitely be checking out more of her books. I also love Marcus. What a yummy Dom. Though I have to admit I was a little disappointed he gave in so quickly to Bret. Bret, on the other hand, him I didn’t like so much. He was too bratty, too forward for my tastes. The steamy goodness of the scenes makes up for my opinion of Bret though. All-in-all I like this M/M BDSM story.

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 NetGalley & Forever Yours (Dead Sexy Dragon) and the authors for providing review copies in exchange for honest reviews. 

Title ~ Dead Sexy Dragon 

Series ~ Dragon Heat, #1

Author ~ Lolita Lopez

Publisher ~ Forever Yours

Published ~ 6 August 2013

Genre ~ Paranormal/Romance

Pages ~ 128

My Rating ~ 4 bites out of 5

Cora Cardenas has gotten into some deep and pretty scary trouble, so she heads to the only person she trusts to help her out and keep her safe. Stig Wyvern, best friend to her deceased brother told her if there was ever anything she needed she could come to him. And boy, does she need him. So she arrives on his doorstep, but it’s the worst possible time for her to come knocking. Stig is a dragon and is in his mating heat. With the way he’s always felt about Cora, well…let’s just say Stig is stuck between a rock and a hard on, I mean, place. Hard place.

I enjoyed this short story. I like both Stig and Cora, they are fairly well-fleshed out as characters. Smart, funny, a bit insecure but courageous. It’s also a well-written story, but since it’s short there isn’t a lot of world-building going on. However, there is enough, combined with Cora and Stig and a glimpse at Stig’s compatriots that I’m interested in continuing on with the series. Oh, and did I mention the steamy scenes? Yeah, those are hot. *fans self* I am so looking forward to book 2, Red Hot Dragon.

Title ~ Choosing Chase

Series ~ Old Enough to Love You, #1

Author ~ Julie Raust

Publisher ~ Julie Raust

Published ~ 12 August 2013

Genre ~ Contemporary/Romance

Pages ~ 45

My Rating ~ 4 bites out of 5

Tess is approaching 40 and feeling very middle-aged even though she is far from that in body or spirit. Her best friend Chase is nearly a decade younger and no matter how hot he is, she is determined she will not be a cougar. Plus, he’s her best friend. If by some chance they do the horizontal polka, she’s likely to lose the best friend she has when they stop sleeping together. Having been burned in the past, she’s too afraid to take that chance. But Chase is made of sterner stuff. He loves Tess and he means to have her for all time. He just needs to convince her he’s in for the long haul.

This is a great story about overcoming fears ingrained from the past and really living life. Even though this is a short story I got a pretty good feel for both Tess and Chase since it was told from both POVs. Well-written and fairly spicy, this is one steamy read. Chase did do something that was pretty dumb (he’s not the only guy to do it and you’d think all guys would learn by now, like that’s ever going to happen) and he’s lucky it didn’t screw everything up for good. Anyway, that’s my only complaint.  This one will leave you smiling.

Title ~ Fated Hearts

Author ~ P.R. Mason

Publisher ~ P.R. Mason

Published ~ 14 January 2012

Genre ~ YA/Fantasy/Romance

Pages ~ 70

My Rating ~ 3 bites and a nibble out of 5

Eve is at a high school dance with a loser when she spots a guy she’s never seen before but who seems oddly familiar to her. She’s sure she’s never met him, but he acts like he knows her yet won’t reveal the facts. It frustrates her that evening, but the next morning she’s about to get the surprise of her life. Will she be able to let go of the past and go with him or will she play it safe and stay?

A very interesting concept! I like it! The story is too short to get a good sense of Eve and Holden, but I love the plot. While the dialogue is a bit stilted at times and the background is sparse, the story is still a decent one. I wonder what happens after the end?

Saturday Shorts

Saturday Shorts

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

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

Title ~ The Magick of Christmas

Author ~ Susan Mac Nicol

Publisher ~ Buroughs Publishing Group

Published ~ 16 November 2012

Genre ~ Fantasy/Short

Pages ~ 42

 My Rating ~ 4 bites out of 5

Stacey Beaumont is a witch living in London and working for a law firm. She’s just been promoted from the pool of secretaries to the position of Legal Secretary to the son of one of the senior partners and she’s happy. However, she has a daily obsession with a hot guy that visits her local coffee shop. Every day she stands behind him in line and admires his sexy self, but never makes the first move because she’s self conscious about her limp. It turns out to be her lucky day when the same sexy man, Nicholas Connolly, shows up as a big client of her new boss. Now, if she can put just a little bit of witchy zap on him maybe he’ll ask her out. But is that the right way to go about it and will she like the consequences?

Well-written with great characters this short is a cute and yet also hot read that will leave you with a big smile.

Title ~ Caught White Handed

Author ~ Allen Dusk

Publisher ~ Carnal Morgue Press

Published ~ 22 December 2011

Genre ~ Erotica/Short

Pages ~ 16

 My Rating ~ 4 bites out of 5

Alison lives in a small town and wants out so badly that she resorts to stealing from the carnies when the circus is in town. Her decision to rob just one more trailer before hightailing it out of there turns out to be a bad one. Sort of. When she is caught by Michael in the clown trailer she thinks the jig is up, but instead she gets a hot moment with a hot guy.

I like this short hot read. I’m not one of the many people who are scared or freaked out by clowns, but if you are then don’t worry. No clowns are harmed or do any harm in this story. In fact, it is very fan inducing. *fans self* And the ending? It was a surprise for sure.

Title ~ The Viscount and the Witch

Series ~ The Riyria Chronicles, #1.5

Author ~ Michael J. Sullivan

Publisher ~ Ridan Publishing

Published ~ 1 October 2011

Genre ~ Fantasy/Short

Pages ~ 43

 My Rating ~ 4 bites out of 5

In the world of Riyria Royce Melborn and Hadrian Blackwater are unlikely partners. Royce is a thief and assassin and Hadrian is an honorable soldier determined to see the good in people and to help where he can. Royce decides to teach his new partner a lesson in trusting strangers.

Ok, I have no idea how these two guys became partners in the procurement business in the first place, but I am officially hooked on this world and on Royce and Hadrian in particular. There isn’t a lot of world-building in this short tale, but what there is only makes me want more. The hook is the back and forth between Royce and Hadrian. The dialogue and dynamics between the two is awesome. I am seriously chomping at the bit to read more and I’m thankful there are several stories about them out there for me to devour.