Review: Temptation's Edge by Eve Berlin (Pleasure Dome #3)

Publisher - Black Lace
Publication Date - 23rd May 2013
Paperback - 336 pages
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - What happens when you let yourself fall…
Mischa Kennon isn’t one to take it lying down, at least not until she meets sexy Connor Galloway , a green-eyed Irishman with an air of authority she finds hard to resist. While performing duties as maid of honor to her best friend, Mischa indulges in a casual relationship with Connor. She’s surprised by the thrill of his dominance, and lusts for more feisty battles before surrender.

…over the edge
It’s all fun and games in the BDSM Pleasure Dome Club, until Mischa realizes Connor could master her heart.

…and into temptation?
If she gives in to desire, will it be too much to handle, or will it open her to a kind of love she never thought possible?

My Thoughts - I have read the first two books in this series already and I really enjoyed the first one, liked the second one a little less and, if I'm honest, liked the third one the least in the trilogy. I think the problem is that they all feel a little bit the same to me so by the time I got to the third book I was already bored of the regular format.

I like how the characters in the book are strong. Mischa and Conner have both had a tough time of it through their lives but they have managed to pull themselves up and become successful people in life and in their chosen careers. And I like that it shows that the submissive partner can also be strong with a personality of their own, as well as just the dominant partner. What did irritate me a little bit, and this has been becoming more of an issue as the series has progressed, is how all of the characters seem to believe that love is a weakness and something to be avoided at all costs. I understand that there has to be some kind of conflict in a romance novel otherwise the Happy Ever After will happen too soon and there will be no story. But I just wish there could be more variety with what that conflict is. It just made all the books feel much the same and even now they are all starting to blur into one another a little bit.

I did enjoy the steamy scenes, as I always do with any of Eve Berlin's work. They are always well written and in this one I found that she pushed things a little further in terms of the kink aspect and didn't just stick to spankings, which has been a complaint of mine of the previous books in the series. So because of that, the power play between Mischa and Conner felt a little more real than it had in the first two books. I also really enjoyed the ending, but I can't say a whole lot about that as I don't want to include any spoilers.

Summary - Overall, Temptation's Edge was an enjoyable read with likeable characters and a more believable sense of the power play than the previous books in the series. However, some elements of the books were all very similar so by book three I was starting to get a little bored. But still well worth a read for fans of the erotic romance genre.

Other books in the series:
1. Pleasure's Edge
2. Desire's Edge
3. Temptation's Edge

Review: Private Paradise by Jami Alden (Private Series #2)

Publisher - Self-published
Publication Date - 5th October 2011
Ebook - 150 pages
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Kindle freebie

Rating - 3.5 out of 5: I liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - After years of catering to the whims of the rich and famous at one of the Caribbean's most luxurious resorts, there isn't much that can rattle Carla DeLuca.

Until Sam O'Connell shows up.

Tall, dark, and sexy, Holley Cay's new security chief is no stranger. He's the irresistible bad boy who seduced her over a long, hot summer only to leave her heartbroken, humiliated, and determined to never again fall for a player like him. But though her heart still stings with the memory of his rejection, her body can't forget the all-consuming pleasure of his touch.

Sam never forgave himself for his too cruel rejection of Carla over a decade before. Young, reckless, and convinced it was only a matter of time before Carla regretted hooking up with a trouble maker like him, Sam pushed Carla away before she could realize her mistake. But when Sam lands a job working for Carla in paradise, he seizes the chance to finally make things right.

When a hurricane strands them alone on the island, Carla is unable to resist the passion simmering between them. She doesn't fool herself that what they have will last past the storm. But little does she know, Sam will do whatever it takes to make her his - forever this time.

My Thoughts - Last year I read Jami Alden's Gemini Men series and loved them so much I rushed through the entire trilogy in just a week because I couldn't put them down. So when I saw Private Paradise on Amazon for free, I couldn't resist it. And although I didn't enjoy it as much as her other series, this is still well worth a read.

Part of the problem for me was that it lacked the excitement and suspense of the Gemini Men series, but then they are two very different types of books. The Gemini Men series is romantic suspense (with LOTS of sexy times!) and kept me on the edge of my seat. So I was kind of expecting the same thing from this one, especially when I read about the hero being hired as the chief of security. It just put images in my head of him having to be all alpha male and protective. And that is almost there, but it isn't as obvious in this series as the extreme outside forces aren't really there. In fact, not much really happens in this story and it is very much a story of the emotional development of the two main characters. The main thing that happens is that a hurricane hits but really that is just a plot device used to force Carla and Sam together into close proximity for a while.

But, as much as that all makes it sound as though I didn't enjoy it, that's not really true. It is a good, quick read that is full of steamy sex and sizzling chemistry. I liked reading about Sam. He was a typical bad boy when he was younger who broke Carla's heart, but over the years he has pulled himself together and made something of himself. Carla on the other hand, although I did like her independent spirit and strength, at times she came across as a little cold and heartless which affected the way that I saw her as a character. I know that Sam broke her heart but there were a few times I found myself cringing at things she said in her attempt to get back at him. But then there were also a lot of times when she was soft and caring towards him too, so I found that I had mixed feelings about her.

Summary - A very hot quick read that is perfect for warming up the cold evenings. Fans of erotic romance will enjoy Private Paradise a lot.

Other books in the series:
1. Private Party
2. Private Paradise
3. Private Pleasures
4. Private Passions

Review: Beg by CD Reiss (Songs of Submission #1)

Publisher - Self Published
Publication Date - 16th January 2013
Ebook - 103 pages
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Received for review via NetGalley

Rating -  3 out of 5: I liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - My name is Monica. I’m a singer born and raised in Los Angeles.
I’ve stopped dating. When I cut a record, or win a Grammy, maybe then I’ll be with someone, but every man in my past has done everything he could to make me submit myself to him, and it’s gotten in the way of my career. I won’t do it again.

But there’s Jonathan. He owns the high-rise hotel where I work, and he is gorgeous and charming. I refuse to fall in love with him, even though when he asks me to submit to him, I want nothing more.

My Thoughts - When I saw this book available on NetGalley, it looked intriguing. And for the most part it was an enjoyable read. There is a fair amount of talk about music, the band that Monica is a part of and her band mates, and for me, they added an interesting backdrop to the romantic element between Monica and Jonathan. Well, not that I'd go so far as to call it a romance just yet. The chemistry between the two main characters is sizzling but as this is quite a short novella they haven't yet made the move from lust to love yet. Which I think works well as they haven't really spent enough time together for it to be any more than just lust yet. But I did enjoy the chemistry between the two of them.

As this novella is written in first person point of view from Monica's perspective the reader only knows a limited amount about Jonathan, so it's hard to get a real feel for him. But so far I like him. He's a bit of a womaniser but he is upfront about that and as far as I can tell isn't in it to hurt women. He just seems a bit like a loveable rogue and personally I can see why the women seem to fall into his bed so easily.

I had a bit more trouble with Monica as a main character though. She has been hurt in the past and is reluctant to get involved in a relationship with anybody. But she comes across as incredibly cold. Not just to men who may possibly be interested in her, but also to the people who are supposed to be her friends, which I found hard to understand. She is incredibly driven when it comes to her music and singing, but this seems to be the only thing she cares about and I felt that she was very selfish. At one point, Monica leaves her suicidal friend to go home on her own for the night all because she wants a night of passion with Jonathan. I wasn't particularly fond of Monica and that was why i didn't give this novella a higher rating.

Summary - An interesting and enjoyable plot, with a likeable hero. Unfortunately, trouble connecting with the main female character meant that I didn't enjoy this story as much as I possibly could have done.

Other books in the series:
1. Beg
2. Tease
3. Submit
3.5. Jessica and Sharon
4. Contol
5. Burn
5.5. Rachel
6. Resist
7. Sing
7.5. Monica

Review: The Mistress by Tiffany Reisz (Original Sinners #4)

Publisher - Mills and Boon
Publication Date - 2nd August 2013
Paperback - 560 pages
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - Nora Sutherlin is being held, bound and naked. Under different circumstances, she would enjoy the situation immensely, but her captor isn't interested in play. Or pity.

As the reality of her impending peril unfolds, Nora becomes Scheherazade, buying each hour of her life with stories-sensual tales of Søren, Kingsley and Wesley, each of whom has tempted and tested and tortured her in his own way. This, Nora realizes, is her life: nothing so simple, so vanilla, as a mere love triangle for her. It's a knot in a silken cord, a tangled mass of longings of the body and the heart and the mind. And it may unravel at any moment.

But in Nora's world, no one is ever truly powerless-a cadre of her friends, protectors and lovers stands ready to do anything to save her, even when the only certainty seems to be sacrifice and heartbreak....

My Thoughts - Please note that this review will contain spoilers for previous books in the series, so if you haven't already read them, look away now. As you've probably seen from my earlier reviews, I am a big fan of this series. Huge fan. So I was expecting this book to deliver something very special, much like the previous books, but I have to admit that I was rather disappointed.

When Nora got kidnapped at the end of The Prince, I couldn't wait to get started on The Mistress to find out what happened next. But not a lot really happens. Nora is held captive by a woman hell bent on revenge and her two henchmen, while Soren, Kingsley, Wesley and a few other characters try to figure out the best way to rescue her. And it should have been fraught with tension to keep the reader on the edge of their seat... but that just wasn't there for me. I have to admit that the first 300 or so pages were really hard to get through and it took me a long time to read this book as a result. The only reason that I didn't give up with it is because I loved the previous books in the series and I have come to love the characters and needed to know how things ended for them in this book, even if the journey to finding that out wasn't an easy one.

A majority of the book was dedicated to Nora telling her kidnapper stories about her relationships with the many men in her life. And, although this was interesting as it was a closer look at the complex relationships that I have come to love so much during the course of the series, I didn't feel as though it pushed the plot forward at all. In fact, I'd already heard about many of the stories in previous books, but they were just covered here in more detail. For this reason, it felt as though a lot of the book was just "filler".

However, the last 150 or so pages were just fantastic. As everything came to a very dramatic conclusion I was pulled right into the story again and couldn't put the book down. I wasn't sure how it was all going to end with the kidnapper and there were some very good twists and revelations along the way that had me turning the pages avidly. And I can't wait to see how things continue for this intriguing cast of characters.

Summary - A very slow start which I found to be fairly disappointing, but it was made up for by the ending which wrapped everything up nicely with a bang. Definitely not the best book in the series, but still worth a read.

Other books in the series:
1. The Siren
2. The Angel
3. The Prince
4. The Mistress

Stand-Alone Sunday Review: Tempted by Two by Portia Da Costa

Publisher - Self Published
Publication Date - 26th May 2013
Ebook - 101 pages
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Received for review via NetGalley

Rating -  4 out of 5: I really liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - When executive woman Katie Warren arrives in the picturesque village of Little Marplethorpe for a country holiday, to reassess her life and her future, she doesn't bargain on ending up in a hot three way love affair with a man she's admired from afar... *and* his gorgeously handsome male partner.

Marcus Dane and Owen Foster are lovers, committed for a lifetime, but they both enjoy the company of women as friends and bedmates too. Encountering Katie at an exhibition of his work, Marcus knows she's just the kind of bold, daring, imaginative woman who'll relish erotic games shared with Owen and himself.

But what none of the trio expects is that their intense, steamy threesome will quickly deepen into a bond that's a lot more than just mind-bendingly fabulous sex.

My Thoughts - When I saw this novella up on NetGalley I have to admit that I was intrigued by the premise. I have read a couple of other ménage books in the past but they have really focused on the sexual side of things, and this one seemed to hold promise of bringing more to the table than just steamy sex. I was hopeful that Tempted by Two would give the reader a look at the emotions behind a relationship between three people, and I wasn't disappointed.

This story was incredibly hot, with threesome action as well as some man on man action, and my ereader was close to combusting with the heat. But, as well as it just being about the heat factor, the intimate scenes also showed a close bond between Katie, Marcus and Owen and were actually very romantic. It wasn't just about the sex for them, although there sure was a lot of it, there was also a genuine connection between the characters which I loved reading about.

But because it was a novella, I felt that there were some areas that were glossed over a little too much for my liking. Although I still felt that it was a complete story and didn't affect my enjoyment of the story overall or my connection with the characters. It was more that I enjoyed their story so much that I wanted more. I would have been happier if this had been a full length novel but I mean that as a compliment rather than a criticism. For example, a hint is given of Owen's tragic past, but I would have liked to know more about that. And they spend two weeks together and it's briefly mentioned that during that time they spent time doing some romantic things together as a trio that I would have enjoyed reading about. Also, at one point, it is mentioned that they have been playing with bondage and pain play but it could have been elaborated on much more than it was. Overall, these weren't huge things, but things I found myself curious about them anyway.

My one main criticism about this book was the large number of spelling and grammatical errors. I just find things like that very distracting when I am reading a novel and there were plenty in Tempted by Two.

Summary - A quick and easy to read novella, full of steamy sex and sweet romance. I enjoyed this one a great deal and would definitely recommend it to fans of this genre.

Review: At His Request by Silvia Rhodes (At His Request #1)

Publisher - Self Published
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Kindle Freebie

Rating - 2 out of 5: It was okay

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - 26 year old submissive Lara, leads a normal but boring life.
Until...
Lara's online exploits connect her with a guy by the name of "Narcissio."
What Lara doesn't know is that "Narcissio" is actually Padraig Mannix, a very successful Dom.
A brief encounter with Padraig will leave her confused and interested to venture even further.
Padraig will lay obstacles, but... is Lara willing to clear these obstacles in order to cure her curiosity...and "feed" her needs?

My Thoughts - I got this novella as a free download from Amazon, and I have to admit that I wasn't all that impressed with it. This will only be a short review though as it was only a very short novella.

The first problem that I had with this novella is that there isn't really much to either of the main characters. The reader really doesn't get to know much about Lara other than the fact that she works in a bank and that she enjoys being sexually submissive. And that just wasn't enough for me to get any true feeling of the kind of person that she is, so I ended up having real trouble connecting with her. As the whole story is told from Lara's first person point of view, we don't get to know anything about Padraig other than that which he chooses to reveal to her, and he is obviously a "somebody" and he feels the need to protect himself by not giving too much away. Hence his need for a non-disclosure agreement to be signed before anything can happen between them. Sound familiar, anybody?

Plus it was difficult to really pick up on the connection between the two. Apparently, Lara and Padraig had been communicating for quite some time online before they meet near the beginning of the novella. But the author doesn't really cover this very well and so they end up seeming more like strangers. I really didn't feel much between the two of them. I just feel that if this guy is already her Master (which is what she calls him at several points in the story) there should be some kind of deeper connection there, but there isn't. They barely know each other.

Summary - A story that seems to lack any kind of substance or depth of feeling between the two main characters. I had trouble feeling very much at all for the characters, their story or anything at all really. I don't think I'll be carrying on with this series.

Review: The Prince by Tiffany Reisz (Original Sinners #3)

Publisher - Mills and Boon
Publication Date - 20th November 2012
Paperback - 416 pages
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating -  4.5 out of 5:It was amazing!

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - Keep your friends close and your enemies closer...preferably in bed. That's always been Kingsley Edge's strategy with his associate, the notorious New York dominatrix Nora Sutherlin. But with Nora away in Kentucky, now it's Kingsley's chance to take her place at the feet of the only man he's ever wanted - Søren, Nora's on-again, off-again lover - until a new threat from an old enemy forces him to confront his past.

Wes Railey is still the object of Nora's tamest yet most maddening fantasies, and the one man she can't forget. He's young. He's wonderful. He's also thoroughbred royalty and she's in "his" world now. But Nora is no simpering Southern belle, and her dream of fitting into Wesley's world is perpetually at odds with her dear Søren's relentlessly seductive pull.

Two worlds of wealth and passion call to her and whichever one Nora chooses, it will be the hardest decision she will ever have to make... unless someone makes it for her....

My Thoughts - Well, if you have been following my reviews you will already know how I feel about this series so far and to recap for those of you who don't know... I am loving these books. And The Prince was no exception. I was literally hooked from page one, unable to put the book down to get on with my ordinary and mundane life because I wanted to stay in the world created by the author. I just didn't want to leave Nora, Soren and Kingsley behind and am loving these characters more and more as the series progresses. I'm sorry, I warn you now that this may be a gushing kind of review. Also, there may be some spoilers for the first two books in the series so if you haven't read them yet you should probably stop reading this review now... and head on down to the bookshop/library/Amazon/wherever to pick up  copies of The Siren and The Angel.

The Prince tells three different stories alongside each other, that all weave together and form a stunning conclusion, although I will admit that I did see where it was all heading with regards to who was behind the threats being made towards Nora and the gang. The chapters alternate between these three stories and this helped make the book even more compelling as I found I was always wanting to know what was going on with each of the other characters. The first was the tale of Soren and Kingsley's past and how they met and ended up falling in love with each other, which was beautiful and heart-breaking all at the same time. This again gave more of an insight into Soren and who he really is, as well as making me fall a little bit in love with Kingsley. Up until this book I've never really felt one way or the other towards Kingsley, he was simply there but I didn't really care much for him. But now, after seeing the way he felt (and still does feel) about Soren, he is a much more likeable and real character. This book shows the true depth of emotion that he is capable of feeling rather than him just being the King of the Underground who everybody fears.

The second tale was that of Kingsley in the present day as he is investigating who is making the threats towards Nora, Soren and himself. This part of the story was intriguing but as I have already said, I was able to work out from the stories of the past who was behind the threats way before Kingsley did himself. But what I loved about these chapters was the insight into Kingsley's complicated love/hate relationship with Soren.

The third part of the tale was about Nora herself. She has travelled south to stay with Wesley, the man who was her intern in the first book of the series and who is the third part of the love triangle with Nora and Soren. He is young (twenty I believe) a virgin still at the start of this novel and very, very vanilla. He is basically the complete opposite of Nora, but it is obvious that they love each other a great deal. And although these two are very sweet together, these chapters were probably the least favourite of mine in the book. In the first two books of the series, Nora is vibrant and loud and just leaps out at you from the page. I loved her, both as a Dominatrix and as Soren's submissive because she was never apologetic for who she was. She loved her kinky lifestyle and knew that it was a big part of who she is as a person so she made no excuses for the way she lived her life. In The Prince, she is staying with Wesley and his family, and she just seemed to lose a lot of her edginess as she tried too hard to fit in with her new surroundings. Don't get me wrong, there are a few glimpses of the sassy Nora that the reader has come to know and love within these pages, but because of the strength of the other characters and their stories within this novel, Nora seemed to take a bit of a backseat in this one. But I do still love Nora and she is one of my favourite characters from a series that I have come across in a long time.

And the ending. Wow, what an ending it was, although it is quite a cliffhanger so please make sure you have the fourth book, The Mistress, to hand before finishing this one as, like me, I'm sure you will need to pick up the next book straight away to see what happens to Nora.

Summary - An amazing series that is giving a very close look at the relationships between Nora, Soren, Kingsley and Wesley. What I love most is that the author doesn't shy away from raw emotions to deal simply with the kink element of BDSM. She also explores the deep emotional and psychological connections between Dominants and submissives. This series is a must-read for all fans of novels focusing on BDSM.

Other books in this series:
1. The Siren
2. The Angel
3. The Prince
4. The Mistress

Review: The Angel by Tiffany Reisz (Original Sinners #2)

Publisher - Mills and Boon
Publication Date - 5th October 2012
Paperback - 416 pages
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it!

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - She wanted him...

Nora Sutherlin is hiding. On paper, she's following her master's orders - and her flesh is willing.

More deeply, more strongly than she'd wanted anyone.

But her mind is wandering to a man from her past, whose hold on her heart is less bruising, but whose absence is no less painful. Instead of letting him make love to her, she'd let him go.

This is the story of a summer that proves that love hurts.

My thoughts - I absolutely loved the first book in this series (you can read my review of The Siren here) so I couldn't wait to read this one. And, although I felt that this book took a little longer to get into than The Siren, the second half was amazing and I had a lot of trouble putting it down.

What I loved the most about the first book was the complex relationships between Nora and the men around her. Unsurprisingly, all the men who meet Nora end up falling in love with her. And Nora can't help loving them all back in her own way. She seems to have a love for everybody and everything and, even though she can end up hurting the people around her, her joy is contagious and it's so easy to see why everybody feels the way that they do about her.

There is Soren, her master, who she has been in love with since she was just fifteen. They have had a rocky past and they finally reunite after a long separation at the end of The Siren. The Angel starts up again a year after their reunion and they are happy and strong together as a couple. They both know what the other needs without a word needing to be spoken and their bond is something that is very special. Then there is Wesley, who was Nora's live-in intern in The Siren, and he is the complete opposite of Soren in almost every way. He is sweet and funny and kind, and innocent... he is still a virgin. He loves Nora and Nora loves him. Where the love between Nora and Soren is dark and passionate, Wesley's love for her is pure and innocent. But my one reservation about Wesley is that because of his innocence, both when it comes to sex and life, he can't understand or accept Nora's need for pain and domination, which is a large part of the person that she is. To deny her that would be to change her completely, but he doesn't seem to understand that. Whereas Soren accepts her and loves her unconditionally. But, although I can't see things ending between Soren and Nora, I am very interested to know where this love triangle is heading... especially after the cliffhanger at the end of The Siren!

The reader gets to find out a lot more about Soren in this book as he is being investigated by a journalist and so much comes out about his past, which I found completely fascinating. It's no wonder he's such a complex character. And I felt that this new information added a whole new depth to him as, even though the reader doesn't get to spend much time with him during the events of The Siren, I found him to be rather one dimensional in the first book.

Also in this book, we get to read the story of a secondary couple... Michael and Griffin. Michael is a seventeen year old boy who the reader first meets in The Siren. He has had a troubled life up until now, including a suicide attempt where Soren found him and got him to a hospital therefore saving his life. He is a submissive and is incredibly shy. Soren sends Michael away for the summer with Nora so that she can train him as a submissive and they go to stay with a friend of Nora's called Griffin, who happens to be a dominant. It is pretty much a story of love at first sight for Griffin and Michael but nothing happens between them for a long time as Michael battles to come to terms with the fact that he is bi-sexual. But, for me, this romance was my favourite part of the novel. To see Michael blossoming under the care and adoration from Griffin was just beautiful. I can't put into words just how special the relationship is between these two and I am looking forward to reading more about them as the series progresses. I may have cried a happy tear or two over Griffin and Michael over the course of The Angel.

Summary - An amazing novel that, as well as focusing on the kink of BDSM, also takes a close look at a range of complex and often confusing relationships... between lovers, between friends, between family. I am absolutely loving this series and can't wait to read book three... which judging by the title is all about Wesley so I'm very excited to see what happens!

Other books in this series:
1. The Siren
2. The Angel
3. The Prince
4. The Mistress

Review: Beauty Touched the Beast by Skye Warren (Beauty #1)

Publisher - Self Published
Publication Date - 25th December 2011
Ebook - 26 pages
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Free download from Amazon

Rating - 2 out of 5: It was okay.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - Erin cleans Mr. Morris's house twice a week, soaking up every moment with the reclusive ex-soldier she secretly loves. Blake Morris knows he's scarred both inside and out and is no good for the beautiful young woman who cleans his house to pay for college. But when Erin walks in on Blake touching himself and moaning her name, all bets are off.

My thoughts - I saw this as a free download on Amazon and thought it looked interesting, so I decided to give it a try. As it was such a short story, this will only be a quick review as well.

I have to admit that my feelings on this one were fairly neutral... I neither really liked it nor disliked it. I think the problem was that it was so short that I found out very little about the characters and I found myself not really caring all that much about what happened to them. I would definitely have liked a little more of an insight into Erin and Blake's characters and their backgrounds. Because so little is learnt about them it was really quite difficult to feel any kind of connection between the two of them, which meant really it was just about the sex. Although I did enjoy the sexual elements in this short story, they were both passionate and loving and they were very sweet together.

Summary - All in all, a very quick read and something to help pleasantly pass a spare few minutes you might have. But don't expect to feel anything too deep for the characters as there just isn't time for that.

Other books in the series:
1. Beauty Touched the Beast
2. Beneath the Beauty
3. Broken Beauty

Review: Come Undone by Madelynne Ellis (Rock Hard #1)

Publisher - Mischief
Publication Date - 29th August 2013
Ebook - 200 pages
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review via NetGalley

Rating - 2 out of 5: It was ok.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - When red-hot, Goth-metal band, Black Halo, split live on stage, fate throws Daniella Fosbrook into the path of sexy vocalist Xane Geist. Initially, Xane’s only looking for a ride home, but Dani tempts him in a way a thousand other women haven’t. Determined to explore their heady chemistry and avoid hashing things out with the band, Xane whisks Dani off to Monaco for a steamy weekend.

There, Dani tries her best to hang onto her heart and some clothing, while Xane soon loses both. However, Xane isn’t being entirely honest about the reason for the band’s demise. When the truth comes out, can Dani accept the facts, or will everything come undone.

My Thoughts - When I first saw this book on NetGalley I thought it sounded really good. However, it was not as good as I was hoping. The first problem that I had with this book was the amount of spelling errors in it. At one point the main character's name even changes from Dani to Danny which really confused me for a moment. I just found this problem to be very distracting and it kept on jolting me out of the story.

Also, I didn't really feel as though I connected with the characters, and with Dani in particular. She comes across very much as a doormat and I did find this slightly irritating at some points. Especially when it came to all things sexual with Xane. He is the lead singer of a rock band who has women throwing themselves at him every single day, so he obviously has way more sexual experience than Dani does. But there were at least a couple of moments where she did something that she obviously wasn't sure about just to please him, to the point where I actually felt uncomfortable reading it. He doesn't force her to do anything but I just kept on wanting him to stop things so that she would be spared doing something that she wasn't ready for. It just meant that some of the sex just wasn't as hot as it was supposed to be... and there was a lot of sex. I'd say too much as I felt the story suffered a little for it. I would have preferred it if more time was spent on character development than working through what felt a little like a checklist of sexual scenarios.

And as for Xane, I wasn't really sure I liked him either, although I did like him more than Dani. When we first meet him he is up on stage singing in a concert literally straight after finding out that his girlfriend (who is also a member of the band) has married his best friend (another band member) behind his back... without even having the decency to break up with him first. Understandably he is upset. But he storms off stage deciding he can't be in the group any more with the two people who have betrayed him so badly and runs straight into Dani. And then starts one of the biggest whirlwind romances I have ever read about. Although I think on some level he does care for Dani, it's also obvious that it is way too soon after getting hurt to be thinking about starting another relationship. He ends up coming across as a little desperate and needy, and he needed to take some time to actually grieve the first relationship before starting the next.

The ending was very frustrating for me. Without wanting to give too much away, it's not so much a cliffhanger as it just kind of... stops. Things are far from stable between Dani and Xane at that point due to some issues that have come up between them (but won't say anymore than that for fear of spoiling things) and it just suddenly comes to an end. Things did not feel wrapped up at all and I know that this is the first in the series but I hope that the second book carries on with Xane and Dani's story in order to give them their happily ever after rather than moving onto another couple, otherwise it will feel as though a big portion of the story is missing.

Summary - I had a lot of issues with this book and found some of it to be very frustrating. To be honest, I'm not sure if I will continue reading the rest of the series, although if I do it will be out of curiosity to see if the author does wrap up Dani and Xane's story.

Review: The Siren by Tiffany Reisz (Original Sinners #1)

Publisher - Mills & Boon
Publication Date - 1st September 2012
Paperback - 432 pages
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 4.5 out of 5: I really liked it!

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - Some love stories you never forget.

She tore herself from the man she adored, who transformed her, who possessed her...who would have destroyed her. Now she is adored by a man she must not have.

Some books will change your world.

She thinks she knows what it means to be pushed to her limits. She's wrong.

Be prepared...this is one of them.

My Thoughts - I had been wanting to try this series for quite some time, so when the publishers asked if I'd like review copies I jumped at the chance. And I have to say that the first book was even better than I was expecting, if somewhat different from what I thought it would be.

Nora is an erotica author by day and Dominatrix by night. She is working on her latest novel and is having to work hard to prove herself as a real writer to her new editor, Zach. I absolutely loved the grit and determination that Nora showed throughout the whole novel when it came to her writing. She knows she is good and she is determined to make Zach see just how really good her writing is. Of course, it doesn't take Zach long to fall under her spell... both as a writer and as a woman. But they have to keep things professional until the contract for the new book has been signed so there is a lot of chemistry and fireworks between them throughout the novel as they have to try incredibly hard to keep their hands off each other.

Zach was an okay character, but I found I had trouble really connecting with him. I'm not sure if it was because next to the vivacious and bubbly Nora he just looked bland... but then who wouldn't next to Nora! It wasn't until later in the novel when he started to loosen up a little that I began to like him more.

Nora is surrounded by men who are in love with her. There's Zach, as I've already mentioned. Soren, her ex-Dom who she still loves but can't be with for reasons that I won't go into for fear of giving away spoilers. And Wesley, her 19 year old live-in intern who is still a virgin. They are all drawn to her like moths to a flame, and it was the intensity and complexity of these relationships that really helped to draw me into this book until I was unable to put it down. Of course, with one woman and three men, it was obvious that not all of the characters were going to get their happy ending and the need to know how it would all end for everybody was one of the things that made me speed through this book. Although I will admit to feeling a little frustrated with Nora at times. There is no doubt in my mind that she had feelings of some kind for each of these three men but because of her need to feel loved she kept them all around her despite the fact that it could only have disastrous consequences for everybody involved.

I loved the fact that the novel had real substance and storyline to it and wasn't just about the sex. It was about complex matters of the heart that really make the reader think. There are even a few deep conversations about literature and religion and the like that all helped to build the book up into something well worth reading. Although I will admit that the sex that was there was very hot and I enjoyed reading those elements a lot. I will warn you though that the sex is very BDSM orientated and rough at times so may not be for the faint hearted.

Summary - A great, although at times heart-breaking, start to the series. I can't wait to get started on book two!

Other books in this series:
1. The Siren
2. The Angel
3. The Prince
4. The Mistress

Series Spotlight: Submissive Series by Tara Sue Me

Series Spotlight is a new weekly feature here on Once Upon a Series, where I will be highlighting a series that I would either like to read if I get a chance to, or would like to finish reading at some point. Hopefully it will give you all some ideas for other series to read... or if you've read something similar that you think other fans of the series featured would like, then please do mention it in the comments.

I think it's fair to say that I have been reading a lot of Erotic Romance recently, most of them with a BDSM flavour, and this is a series that has caught my eye more than once. I'm definitely hoping to read these some time in the near future.

1. The Submissive

Abby King has a secret fantasy.

New York knows Nathaniel West as the brilliant and handsome CEO of West Industries, but Abby knows he's more: a sexy and skilled dominant who is looking for a new submissive. Yearning to experience a world of pleasure beyond her simple life as a librarian, Abby offers herself to Nathaniel to fulfil her most hidden desires.

After only one weekend with the Master, Abby knows she needs more, and fully submits to Nathaniel's terms. But despite the pleasure he takes in Abby's willing spirit, the Nathaniel hidden behind the rules remains cold and distant.

As Abby falls deeper into his tantalizing world of power and passion, she fears that Nathaniel's heart may be beyond her reach—and that her own might be beyond saving.…

2. The Dominant

Nathaniel West doesn't lose control.

As the playboy CEO of West Industries, he governs the boardroom during the day; as a strict dominant with exacting rules, he commands the bedroom at night. He never takes on inexperienced submissives, but when Abigail King's application comes across his desk, he breaks his own restrictions and decides to test her limits.

Abby's combination of innocence and willingness is intoxicating, and Nathaniel is soon determined to collar her as his own. As long as she follows his orders and surrenders herself fully to him, no one will get hurt.

But when Nathaniel begins falling for Abby on a deeper level, he realizes that the trust must go both ways—and he has secrets which could bring the foundations of their entire relationship crashing down...

3. The Training

It started with a hidden desire.

Millionaire CEO Nathaniel West has always played by his own strict set of rules, ones he expects everyone to follow - especially the women he's dominated in his bedroom. But his newest lover is breaking down all his boundaries and rewriting his rule book.

Abby King never imagined that she would capture the heart of Nathaniel West, one of New York City's most eligible bachelors - and its most desirable dominant. What began as a weekend arrangement of pleasure has become a passionate romance with a man who knows every inch of her body and her soul - yet remains an enigmatic lover. Though he is tender and caring, his painful past remains a wall between them.

Abby knows the only way to truly earn his trust is to submit to him fully and let go of all of her lingering inhibitions. Because to lead Nathaniel on a path to greater intimacy, she must first let him deeper into her world than anyone has ever gone before...

Review: Heat of the Storm by Elle Kennedy (Out of Uniform #3)

Publisher - Samhain Publishing
Publication Date - 23th July 2009
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Purchased

Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it.

Book Info - Lieutenant Will Charleston has waited fifteen long years to show up as anything other than a one-pixel blip on Mackenzie Wade's romantic radar. If a powerful storm is what he needs to send her into his arms, he'll take it. Once the hot sex is over, though, she seems determined to kick him right back into the friend zone.

Not this time. This time, he's going to teach her the meaning of tenacious.

Mackenzie has always had feelings for Will, feelings she fights with all her strength. He's her best friend, her safety net. The one man who's not scared of her accursed psychic gift. No doubt he drives her wild in bed, but their night of passion was more than a mistake. It generated a tragic vision of the future, one that leaves her more confused--and afraid--than ever.

Problem is, Will knows her too well. Plus he's a SEAL to the bone. And they don't like to lose...

My Thoughts - Heat of the Storm is the third instalment in Elle Kennedy's Out of Uniform series, about a bunch of SEALs and the women who love them. I absolutely loved the first two books so held very high hopes for this novella. And i was not disappointed in the slightest.

This is Will's story. He has always kept a bit of a distance from the other SEALs that he works with - he's the quiet, reserved member of the group who likes to keep his business to himself. I really liked Will. He has been in love with Mackenzie for a number of years and he is her best friend and confidant. He has stood by her side as men have come and gone in her life and has been the only constant in her life as other, weaker men have decided that Mackenzie's visions of the future are too much for them to deal with. And I have to admit that I fell a little bit in love with him because of his loyalty to her, despite the fact that they've never taken things further than just being friends. Will would have been perfect for me, except for one small thing... in this novella Will has become convinced that Mackenzie has feelings for him and so is no longer willing to sit on the sidelines anymore, and his desperation to make her trust him and love him means that he makes some pretty big mistakes. These mistakes are completely understandable and, in some ways do make Mackenzie come to her senses, but as I was reading I did start to feel pretty frustrated that the patience and loyalty that I'd loved about him right from the very first page... no, when his situation with Mackenzie was first bought to the readers attention in the previous novella... seemed to disappear before my very eyes. But Will is still the type of character that will have the reader cheering for him from the very offset.

Mackenzie is also a character that will have the readers caring for her and cheering her on to find her happiness with Will. She has been plagued with visions from the future her whole life - some of them pretty horrific ones - but she is stuck with the awful knowledge that no matter what she does she can't do anything to stop these tragedies that she witnesses ahead of time. Because of this, men have never stuck around in the past meaning that she's had her heart broken a time or two, so now she is unwilling to get involved with another man. Especially Will, her best friend, the only man who has stuck around in her life. She doesn't want to lose him when he realises that her visions are too much to cope with. It is impossible not to feel for Mackenzie and the burden she carries through life.

And the chemistry between these two characters, right from the very first page is smokin' hot! Elle Kennedy is certainly very good at writing a sex scene that will leave the reader feeling hot under the collar. Will is very much a take charge man in all aspects of life, what with being a SEAL and all, and this doesn't change in the bedroom. He knows that Mackenzie always keeps herself under very tight control because of her visions - but he also knows she craves a lover who will take control for a while so that she doesn't have to worry about a thing - and the results are quite spectacular!

Summary - Another great instalment from one of my favourite erotic romance series. I really can't recommend this series enough.

Other books in the series:
1. Heat of the Moment
2. Heat of Passion
3. Heat of the Storm
4. Heat it Up
5. Heat of the Night
6. The Heat is On
7. Feeling Hot
8. Getting Hotter
9. Hotter Than Ever

Review: Desire's Edge by Eve Berlin (Pleasure Dome #2)

Publisher - Piatkus
Publication Date - 14th March 2013
Paperback - 320 pages
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - Kara Crawford doesn't expect to find anyone who can fulfil her dark fantasies until she experiences one of the most incredible nights of her life with a man she's always admired from afar.

Dante De Matteo may be a master of control now, but his troubled past means he won't let anyone ever get too close...

My Thoughts - I read the first book in this series, Pleasure's Edge, a while ago and absolutely loved it. So I picked up this book with some very high expectations for it to live up to... and I'm pleased to say that it met them with no real trouble at all.

As I have now come to expect from this author, the chemistry between the two main characters was off the charts! This is made more believable by the fact that Kara and Dante have known each other since school so it isn't some kind of insta-lust situation. What heats up the pages even more is the fact that they work together so there is a whole "forbidden" element to their relationship too.

The plot line was fairly basic and, with it being a romance, the ending was pretty predictable. I didn't really feel as though the events from their past that were given as reasons for their fear of commitment really warranted the amount of drama that they were treated with. But this was just a minor peeve of mine about the book and didn't really spoil my enjoyment of it at all.

Summary - A very enjoyable second instalment to the Pleasure Dome series... one full of passion, amazing sex and a great pair of main characters. I can't wait to get started on the third book of the series - Temptation's Edge.

Other books in the series:
1. Pleasure's Edge
2. Desire's Edge
3. Temptation's Edge

Review: Forbidden Fruit by Eden Bradley

Publisher - Black Lace
Publication Date - 6th December 2012
Paperback - 320 pages
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 2 out of 5: It was ok

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - While Mia Curry's university students cram into her class on sexuality, Mia has always kept her own private fantasies carefully under wraps - until now...

Jagger James is everything Mia wants and everything that is taboo: he's young, gorgeous - and a student.

But how can Mia resist?

My thoughts - I recently read another book by this author writing under a different name (Pleasure's Edge by Eve Berlin) which I loved, so I was very excited to be starting this book. But unfortunately, I just didn't enjoy this book as much.

I love this author's style of writing. It's clear and easy to read and it's easy to get swept up in her words. In particular, the sexy times in this book are very very hot. If there is one thing this author knows how to do it's write a sex scene that will leave the reader feeling hot under the collar.

However, my main problem with this book was the ratio of sex to storyline... it was weighted far too heavily on the side of sex, leaving me with a feeling that the little plot that was there was rushed and used only to lead onto the naughty bits. I know that this is an erotic romance and that there will be a lot of sex in it... that's fine by me. But I still want to feel as though I know the characters. I want to feel as though I've connected with the them and that I actually care about what happens to them. But in Forbidden Fruit, that just wasn't the case. As far as I could see, there was a small amount of introductory story, lots of sex and then a very rushed and convenient feeling happy ever after, which I didn't really find all that satisfying.

The story goes backwards and forwards between two couples - Mia Rose and Jagger (teacher and student) and Karalee and Gideon (two other teachers at the same school) and although there is some background given for the main couple, very little is learnt about Karalee and Gideon. In fact I struggled to see why their story was included... other than to allow the author the opportunity to write about more sexy times. Now this is purely a personal gripe, but in Forbidden Fruit, one person in each of the couples has had a partner pass away which isn't a plotline that I particularly enjoy. Having been through that kind of experience myself I just feel that it is difficult for an author to handle that kind of grief effectively and realistically. And in this book, especially in the case of Gideon, it felt as though it was just mentioned in passing as an excuse for fearing commitment rather than actually being used for any real kind of character development.

Summary - Despite the author's writing style and the hot and steamy sexy times in this book, I will admit to having struggled to finish this one. I just didn't connect with the characters and I found it to be pretty unsatisfying overall.

Review: Pleasure's Edge by Eve Berlin (Pleasure Dome #1)

Publisher - Black Lace
Publication Date - 3rd January 2013
Paperback - 320 pages
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it.

Book Info - Alec Walker should come with a warning.

A man who lives on the edge, he is famous for his love of dangerous sports, kinky sex and independent women.

Dylan Ivory has come to interview him for her latest book but instead he issues her with a challenge - and the perfect way to do her research.

My Thoughts - As soon as I got this book through the post I knew that I really really wanted to read it. And it didn't disappoint in the slightest.

I fell in love with the characters from the very first page. Dylan is a great character and as the reader learns more about her past and her terrible experiences with her mother, it becomes clear that she is incredibly strong and brave. She has always had to be in control of her own life, and often responsible for others, so when she first meets with Alec to do research for her new erotic novel, she believes that she has dominat tendencies. However, Alec has many years experience as a Dom and he can see her natural submissiveness from the start. This leads to Alec setting her a very interesting challenge - one that she couldn't possibly refuse. I loved reading about the struggle that occurs inside Dylan as she comes to realise that she does have a submissive side and eventually comes to accept that part of herself.

Alec is another character that I enjoyed reading about. He is a very experienced Dom and this dominance is obvious through his every word and action (please excuse me while I fan myself). He also cares deeply for Dylan and takes care of her, which just made me swoon even more. The only thing that I didn't like quite so much is that he is a self-confessed commitment-phobe and the reason that the author gives for this just didn't seem enough for the extent of this fear that he feels. But even so, I still fell a little bit in love with Alec.

What I really liked about this book is how it doesn't just focus on the sexual aspects of BDSM. A lot of the emotional side is explored too through talking about issues such as subspace and subdrop. And the sex in this book is seriously hot, although if I were being picky I would probably say that for a BDSM novel the sex felt pretty "vanilla". It was only the very frequent spankings that gave it a BDSM feel and I even felt that the spankings were over-used a little, to the point where I became a little bored with it. I would have liked a little bit more variety. But this was only a minor gripe I had with the book - it didn't hinder my enjoyment of it at all.

Summary - A great novel that explores the world of BDSM, while giving the reader characters to fall in love with and a very sweet romance. This is a must-read for fans of erotic romance

Other books in the series:
1. Pleasure's Edge
2. Desire's Edge
3. Temptation's Edge

Review: Slow Ride by Lorelei James (Rough Riders #9.5)

Publisher - Samhain Publishing
Publication Date - 9th November 2010
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Free download from Amazon

Rating - 2 out of 5: It was ok

Book Info - Keely McKay Donohue is enduring the longest wedding reception of her life: her own. The only saving grace is that Jack Donohue is finally hers. Usually her hunky man gives her everything she wants, so why is her groom denying her the one thing she wants right now?

Jack thought his secretive wait-for-the-honeymoon plan was romantic, until he realizes he’s only put Keely in a fighting mood. If he wants to get back on his temperamental bride’s good side, he’d better find a way to sweep his cowgirl off her boots…fast.

Review - This is only going to be a quick review as Slow Ride is a very short read. I saw that this was available as a free download from Amazon and as I had heard a lot of good things about Lorelei James I decided to give it a try. It was an enjoyable read but as it was number 9.5 in the series there are a lot of people mentioned who I assume I would have heard of if I'd read the previous books in the series. They didn't really have much bearing on the story so it's not as if you need to have read the others first, but it does disturb the flow of reading whenever yet another name is mentioned as you end up wondering who that person is rather than concentrating on the story.

Slow Ride starts at Keely and Jack's wedding reception, where Keely is trying her best to get him to, ahem, consumate the marriage then and there. But Jack has a plan to wait until the honeymoon as he wants to start off their married life in a romantic way rather than with a quickie at the reception venue. Unfortunately for both of them, the honeymoon destination is a day's worth of travel away. What ensues is Keely taking every opportunity that she can to seduce Jack. The author manages to build up the sexual tension really well between the two of them and it was a perfect escalation to that moment where Jack takes Keely for the first time as husband and wife.

But the main problem I had with Slow Ride was that it stops before that happens. Just as Jack and Keely are about to finally get it on, after all that teasing and seducing, building up all that tension, the story just stops and the reader is left hanging. It just felt like a little bit of a let down.

Summary - A quick and sexy read that does a great job of building up the sexual tension for the big moment. However, it would have been much better if the reader got to read about that moment rather than being left hanging.

Review: Hostile Takeover by Joey W. Hill (Knights of the Boardroom #5)

Publisher - Ellora's Cave
Publication Date - 27th January 2012
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review via NetGalley

Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it

Book Info - Ben is the last unattached member of the five-man executive team of K&A Associates. The other four, all Masters, have found the submissives of their dreams. That's fine. The sharp-edged lawyer knows he's the most hardcore of them all, with extreme tastes as a Master he satisfies physically through experienced club submissives. He doesn't really need anything more.

Marcie has loved Ben since she was sixteen. He's never behaved as anything more than a protective big brother, a family friend. But now she's twenty-three and starting her career as a corporate investigator. She may be a blood-and-bone-deep submissive, but she won't hesitate to use her aggressive talents to prove she's meant to be his. With a Master as tough as Ben, she'll have to take whatever measures are needed-even if her deepest desire isn't a hostile takeover of his heart, but an unconditional surrender to it.

Reader Advisory: Marcie's sexual journey contains a group scene of female/female sexual exploration. The Masters also share her in a brief group scene. Both these beautifully erotic moments are essential to deepening Marcie's bond with Ben.

My Thoughts - When I saw Hostile Takeover on Netgalley I was very intrigued by both the blurb and the cover. And luckily, I was not at all disappointed by this book.

I have read a few books recently focusing on BDSM - it seems to be difficult to avoid the topic these days in erotic romance ever since the popularity of Fifty Shades - but this definitely seems to be one of the better ones in my opinion. What I liked most about it was that it didn't just focus on the sexual side of BDSM, but gave a lot of insight into the psychological aspects of being both a submissive and a dominant. I found this absolutely fascinating and it's not something I've come across much in this genre. This is the fifth book in the series so I've come to this party very late but, according to the little hints the reader gets about the previous couples from the series, they all seem to have very different types of relationships and I'll be going back to the beginning of the series to see how the author describes the psychological aspects of these relationships.

The sexual aspects of the book were pretty hot but, as Ben is a sadist and hardcore Master, there were some elements that made me feel a little uncomfortable. But this is just a personal thing and I still enjoyed the book as a whole.

I really liked Marcie as a main character. Although this might sound contradictory considering the fact that she is a submissive, she is a very strong and feisty character who knows exactly what she wants in life and will stop at nothing to get it. She challenges Ben a lot and I loved seeing the chemistry and change in dynamics between the two of them that this brings about.

I did like Ben, although not quite as much as I liked Marcie. His background is explained, therefore detailing why he is reluctant to give up his heart to anybody, but this information seemed to mostly be given by others and I didn't really feel as though I got into Ben's head as much as I would have liked to when it came to his past. This meant that I didn't really connect with him as well as I did Marcie. Plus, he does something to Marcie that is pretty unforgivable (I won't go into any more detail than that though so as to avoid spoilers) and this made me like him a little less too. Although he was very sorry for what he did and he did willingly atone for his sins so it didn't make me completely hate him. I can see that this event was pretty essential to the development of the plot though so that made it slightly easier to forgive him.

Summary - An enjoyable Erotic Romance that gives a very detailed and interesting look into the dynamics of a BDSM relationship. A great read!

Other books in the series:
1. Board Resolution
2. Controlled Response
3. Honor Bound
4. Afterlife
5. Hostile Takeover

Review: Heat of Passion by Elle Kennedy (Out of Uniform #2)

Publisher - Samhain Publishing
Publication Date - 24th March 2009
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Purchased

Rating - 5 out of 5: It was amazing!

Book Info - Carson Scott is the king of one-night stands, so a naughty encounter with a sexy brunette in a nightclub supply closet is right up his alley. When his mysterious seductress disappears, he’s blindsided by an unfamiliar emotion—disappointment. One thing’s for sure…if he ever encounters his lady of the evening again, he won’t let her slip away so easily.

Between her catering business, family issues, and her broken heart, Holly Lawson has too much on her plate to think about committing to a serious relationship. Hot, sweaty, anonymous sex with a Navy SEAL…now that sounds like the perfect appetizer to take the edge off. With no plans to ever see him again, she indulges in a fling. Only to come face to face with him weeks later while working a wedding.

Worse, Carson is hell-bent on the one thing she doesn’t want. The R word. She has no intention of falling for him, but in the face of his seductive, mind-changing methods, her resistance is crumbling…

Warning: This title contains a ridiculously hot Navy SEAL, a sassy heroine, and sex in a supply closet. Read only if you have time to take a cold shower afterwards. Graphic sex, explicit language.

My Thoughts - Wow, this book is HOT! The chemistry between the two main characters means that you have to take the warning in the book blurb very seriously - only read it if you have time to take a cold shower afterwards! The sex between Carson and Holly made steam come out of my Kindle (okay, not literally otherwise I may have cried over the loss of my beloved Kindle, but you know what I mean).

I fell for Carson from the first page. He is used to having women fling themselves at him and he has had way more than his fair share of one-night stands. But now that his best friend is settling down and getting married (Garrett from book one in the series) he can't help but think he'd like to do the same. But a one-night stand in a night club supply closet makes him see that his lifestyle is getting a little out of control. He hates himself for succumbing to anonymous sex with somebody he's never going to see again so he vows to stop fooling around and look for somebody to get serious with - ideally the woman from the nightclub who he hasn't been able to stop thinking about since their encounter.

What I loved most about Carson was the way that, after finding Holly again, he did everything he could to let her know how serious he was about being in a relationship with her. I love books that have a hero who isn't afraid to go after the woman he loves and Carson is definitely that kind of guy. He's fun, sexy, charming and a Navy SEAL. What more could a girl want?

Holly is also a great character. She is the mother figure for all of her brothers and sisters since her mother died a couple of years ago and they literally can't do a thing without her. They are constantly phoning her for help with things that they are more than capable of doing themselves, especially since Holly is the youngest of them all. But she does it all with a smile on her face and never complains - her family are everything to her. She is incredibly strong, being able to take on the responsibility of her family whilst grieving the death of her own mother. But I loved how Carson brings out her fun side and makes her realise that it is also time for her to start living her own life rather than running around after everybody else.

Summary - A steaming hot romance with characters that are so easy to fall in love with. I am loving this series and I can't wait to get started on book three.

Other books in the series:
1. Heat of the Moment
2. Heat of Passion
3. Heat of the Storm
4. Heat it Up
5. Heat of the Night
6. The Heat is On
7. Feeling Hot
8. Getting Hotter (released November)

Review: Haven of Obedience by Marina Anderson

Publisher - Sphere
Publication Date - 28th June 2012
Paperback - 336 pages
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Purchased

Rating - 2 out of 5: It was ok

Book Info - Twenty-something Londoner Natalie Bowen is envied by many, but her personal life is a disaster. Men can't cope with her career success and Natalie thinks she'll never find real happiness.

Then she hears about an exclusive weekend retreat called The Haven, a place that specialises in introducing you to pleasures you could never have imagined. Shocked at the idea, but unable to resist finding out more, Natalie decides it's time to put her fears behind her.

Once at The Haven, Natalie meets the enigmatic and disciplined Simon, a man who is used to getting what he wants. And Natalie may very well have met her match...

My Thoughts - I saw a lot of hype surrounding this book on Twitter around its release date so I was very excited to read this book. Unfortunately though, it did not live up to my expectations at all.

Natalie has booked herself into The Haven as she is fed up of having one failed relationship after the other. The purpose of The Haven is to teach people to completely surrender their control in the bedroom in order to find happiness. Along the way, there are some incredibly hot sex scenes involving pretty much anything you can think of: group sex, exhibitionism, bondage and so on. I will admit to enjoying some of these parts a lot. Also, the authors style of writing was so quick and easy to read I was able to finish this book all in one sitting, even though it was over 300 pages long - something I am never normally able to do.

Well, that's the good part of the review done. Now onto the not-so-good part. The characterisation is severely lacking in this novel. What little we learn about Natalie is all introduced in the first couple of chapters in the book and, to be honest, she comes across as pretty unlikeable. She is spoiled and looks down upon others. Plus, I didn't really feel as though her character grew at all during the course of the book - she just learns how to have great sex whilst still managing to be the same unpleasant person that she was before.

And as for Simon, he was a complete and utter mystery! All we learn about him is that he is a freelance journalist during his working week and that he considers himself to be such an expert in the bedroom that he feels he needs to teach others how to have amazing sex. I would really have liked to get to know him a lot better, to get a better understanding of him, but as the story was told from Natalie's point of view the reader doesn't get to find out much about him.

The romance between the two of them felt rushed and unsatisfactory. As I've already said, Natalie knows very little about Simon so it is difficult to tell why she falls so deeply in love with him so quickly. They spend very little time getting to know each other so, as a consequence, their relationship feels as though it really does all revolve around sex. As Simon gets to have amazing sex with women every weekend at The Haven, and because the story is all told from Natalie's point of view, the reader never gets to see why Natalie is the one woman out of the many that he's met at The Haven to capture his heart.

Summary - If you are looking for a book that will leave you feeling hot under the collar then this is the one for you. However, if you are looking for a believable romance, likeable characters and plot or character development then you may be better off looking elsewhere.