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Showing posts with label erotic romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label erotic romance. Show all posts
Friday, June 7, 2013
Review: My Wicked Devil by Ann Mayburn
My Wicked Devil
Author: Ann Mayburn
Release Date: May 21, 2013
Publisher: Loose ID
Club Wicked #3
Genre: BDSM, Contemporary Romance
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Author
About the book:
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After a motorcycle accident left her with a fractured pelvis, former dare devil and actress Kira Harmony cannot have sex without pain. Unwilling to give up on her dreams of someday having a normal love life, she has come to Club Wicked to find a Dom. And not just any Dom. Kira is looking for the best sadist she can find, a Master who can help her learn how to turn her pain into pleasure and help her escape the prison her body has become.
Lord Bryan Sutherland has always had a taste for meeting the needs of masochistic submissives. When Kira contacts him, her plea for his help intrigues him. He's always loved curvy redheads, and they certainly have an explosive chemistry together, but he doesn't know if it is possible to establish the kind of trust needed in order to train her mind to convert agony into ecstasy. That trust is sorely tested when Kira continually pushes herself too far and refuses to safeword out.
Bryan must make a decision; continue to train Kira and run the risk of seriously hurting her, or walk away from the uncontrollable woman who holds the key to his heart.
What I’m talking about:
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Kira, former Hollywood actress and friend of Master Hawk, is a new member at Club Wicked. Injured performing a motorcycle stunt on a movie shoot, she cannot have intercourse without experiencing a lot of pain. Now a size 16 and uncertain of her own appeal and sensuality, Kira hopes that she can find a Master who will help teach her how to derive pleasure from pain.
Lord Bryan is THE Master sadist at Club Wicked. When Kira witnesses him performing a scene, she is immediately taken with his raw sexuality and dominance, and she realizes he is the Master for her training. Masters Hawk and Jesse help put the pair together for a “get to know you meeting,” and their fierce attraction is instantaneous. Yet Brian is cautious, knowing the skeletons from his past may end up harming Kira.
Ms. Mayburn returns to her Club Wicked series with another intense and deeply romantic tale. Although it can be read stand alone, this series is fabulous, and I recommend starting at the beginning. For those that have read the previous books, My Wicked Devil overlaps in time with My Wicked Nanny during the period Anya is in Paris.
Mmmm... I just love how wicked Lord Bryan is. The man enjoys driving a willing submissive to the point of extreme pleasure and exquisite pain. What makes him so sexy is the fact that he is completely shaken by Kira's presence. He wants her with a need even he can't explain, and because of this, he is so very cautious with her. There is a gentle lion underneath the tiger exterior, and that is so sexy.
Kira is the most spirited submissive of the series to date. She's got a mind of her own and doesn't like to be told she's wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed her strong will and watching her learn to love submitting to her Lord. However, she is sometimes stubborn to absurdity and she doesn’t even realize it. She reminded me of a teenager.
One of the things I love most about this story is the open honesty that both partners model. For example, Lord Bryan has a pretty dark secret that drove him from his British estate to the US. When Kira discovers the secret, she is honest about what she found out and how it makes her feel. This is so much better than letting it linger and having a horrible misunderstanding over it later in the book. (However, Kira’s sister also knows the truth, and having that out there added a nice bit of tension to the mix.)
Although Kira is honest, she has a lot of growing up to do before Bryan can completely commit. Bryan’s struggles over his lust and desire for Kira versus his need for her to be safe, are so raw and moving. I love how honest Bryan is with Kira when he tells her he can’t leave her but can't live with the fear of hurting her. He is very mature, but Kira gets so defensive when he tries to discuss the truth of her adrenaline junkie behavior.
My Wicked Devil is filled with tremendously sexy and naughty scenes. Once again, Ms. Mayburn pushes boundaries and explores kink in the arena of pleasure and romance. Sex is not used to shock or punish, but is one aspect of a healthy relationship.
The ending of the book is ushered in with a twist that I, for one, did see coming much earlier in the book. However, it works for the story and this couple, even if it wasn’t the shock perhaps it was intended to be. I enjoyed that Bryan and Kira worked out their issues and are both willing to compromise. They will have a bumpy road, but as long as they talk to each other, they will make it.
Overall, My Wicked Devil is another excellent addition to Ms. Mayburn’s Club Wicked series. I appreciate that each book in the series tells a different story, each with unique characters, styles and issues. Lord Bryan and Kira are a fiery, passionate pair that warmed my heart. I look forward to reading many more wicked tales in this series.
My Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Reviews in the Series:
Labels:
Monday, June 3, 2013
Review: Kiss Across Swords by Tracy Cooper-Posey
Kiss Across Swords
Author: Tracy Cooper-Posey
Release Date: May 25, 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Kiss Across Time #2
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Erotic, Historical Elements
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Author
About the book:
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To save them all they must win back one reluctant heart…again.
Taylor Yates never dreamed growing up she would end up happily living with two drop-dead sexy vampires and time-hopping through their thousand years of personal history. Her life is complete…or is it?
When she finds herself at the siege of Jerusalem during the first crusade, Veris doesn’t know her at all and doesn’t want to. Worst of all, he and Brody are total strangers, and Taylor drives a wedge in deep between them by trying to seduce Veris at their first meeting—not something a lady of the day does if she wants to keep her head.
Taylor and Brody must woo Veris using the customs of medieval England, win his heart and his full commitment before Jerusalem falls in four days’ time—or when they return to their own time, their lives as they know them will be gone…
What VampBard’s talking about:
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Ohhh Emmmm Geeee! This was my mantra as I burned through the second book in the Kiss Across Time series. I couldn't get enough of the sensuality and intimacy between Brody, Veris and Taylor. Kiss Across Swords is definitely a must-buy for connoisseurs of paranormal menage with a historical bent. Pretty specific audience, huh? Not really. The series would be a great introduction to any of these genres for the novice reader. I'll walk y'all through my thought process on this one!
We definitely have to classify the series as paranormal. Veris and Brody are centuries old vampires. However, even if you're not into paranormal/ vampires, don't worry. It's really not something that is 'in-your-face' throughout the storyline. Some biting, some feeding (and feedings are off-stage), but nothing obnoxious. Historical elements. Um. Hello?!?! this story takes place, almost in its entirety, during the Crusades! There is DEFINITELY a historical influence to this title, and Ms. Cooper-Posey did some great research with regard to garments of the time, and available resources. Menage erotica is a gimme. Threesome in detail. Even when it's just M/M or M/F, the well-written scenes bring something to the story – their purpose is clearly to get the reader further immersed in the relationship between the partners. Which can be tricky, as intimacy is something shared between the three main characters, but not exclusively with all three at once. The M/M/F, M/M, and M/F content is flaming hot, earning 4.5 out of 5 for Heat Index.
There's a strange twist that I never expected to happen when I was reading the first title in the series, Kiss Across Time. Taylor is pregnant. Even though the present-day Veris and Brody are unable to father children, and Taylor would never dream of straying, the time-traveling escapades of this trio has landed them in unexpected waters. I found it especially emotional when both Brody and Veris found out about the pregnancy.
The conflict was so high throughout this title I felt like I expelled a huge sigh of relief when this installment of the Kiss Across Time trilogy ended. There's definitely a different 'feel' to Kiss Across Swords when compared to Kiss Across Time. Swords is more intense, whereas Time was giving us a quick introduction to the vampiric society and getting our buy-in as readers for the plot. We also became invested in the relationship between Veris, Brody and Taylor. Swords is definitely a continuation of the first installment, but is heavier in feel in comparison.
There are major implications should Brody and Taylor fail to cause Veris to fall in love with Brody again. This is one of those times where I'm pretty sure, were I in Taylor's position, I'd be pretty pissed about the time-travel thing, even if it allows her to catch a glimpse and live side-by-side with Brody and Veris in their past. The potential for unraveling the current space-time continuum is entirely too high for me. And, I'm pretty sure that Brody and Taylor never watched Star Trek, because they completely ignored the Prime Directive during their time-travel escapade. At the end of the story, there IS a HFN – the promise of a third book leads me to believe that there will be a HEA, and that the 'present-day' appeared to be nearly as they left it prior to their leap to 1066 Jerusalem.
Veris. He is definitely the logical thinker. It's always difficult to get someone that thinks logically to ditch that way of thinking and follow their heart. Veris is definitely not an exception to the rule. I liked the fact that Veris needed to be wooed by Brody for time-space to be restored. After all, some wooing would have taken place in the past, right? The last comment I want to make about Veris is a personal observation. I. Adore. Veris. The silent, thoughtful warrior is the type of person that seems to be wary of others, but once he lets them in, he is whole-heartedly committed to a relationship. I think that is why is was so difficult for Taylor (and Brody) to miss him. They knew he was committed to them, but didn't want him to necessarily have to work through his inner conflict on his own.
Brody. I think Brody is definitely the temperamental musician. He appears to lead with his emotions, but that occasional quiet, brooding exterior shouldn't fool us. He's a deep-thinker and capable of so much more than anyone can see on the surface. He loves with all his heart, and doesn't enter into a relationship unless he's going in with his all. I had a few 'awww' moments when Brody was with Taylor. He is SOOOO sweet! I look forward to hopefully seeing a LOT more about Brody in the next title.
Taylor. I'm going to be honest. I wasn't all 'Team Taylor' for this book. While she still remains a strong, positive heroine, I think that hers was the first story. I was meant to dote on her during the first title, and this time, it's Veris's turn to shine. Taylor, however, remains the intelligent, quick-witted, and creative woman that needs to simply figure out how to get her little family back together. With Veris away in Europe in the present, the travel back to the Crusades was one way that she could see him. And, I think that it was kind-of cool that she got to see how Brody and Veris met. It was even more awesome for the reader to watch!
I truly adored Kiss Across Swords. One of my personal quirks is that I bog myself down in keeping timelines straight, and ensuring that I understand how things align. Ms. Cooper-Posey did a fantastic job with the various timelines and resolving them back to present-day. Discrepancies in the present-day reality were explained so that I didn't feel as though they were continuity issues. I am infinitely happy with the Kiss Across Time series thus far, and I can't wait to dive in to the third title, Kiss Across Chains in a few weeks. Look for it July 1st!
VampBard’s Rating:
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Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Review: Kiss Across Time by Tracy Cooper-Posey
Kiss Across Time
Author: Tracy Cooper-Posey
Release Date: May 1, 2013
Publisher: self-published
Kiss Across Time Book #1
ISBN: 1927423864
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Erotic
Format(s): paperback (162 pgs), e-book
Book Source: author
About the book:
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A single kiss can change more than one life...or two.
Taylor Yates is fired for insisting the 5th Century Arthurian poet, Inigo Domhnall, existed. When she hears Domhnall's lyrics in a death metal song, she engineers a meeting with lead singer, Brody Gallagher. An unintended kiss sends them spinning back to the poet's time, when Saxons were pillaging King Arthur's Britain.
Brody's all for kissing her again. More, he wants her to kiss his friend and lover, Veris, to see what will happen. When Veris' kiss sends them back to the time of the Vikings neither man is willing to let Taylor simply walk out of their lives.
But Brody and Veris are more than lovers and sexual playmates, as Taylor learns when they investigate the kisses that send them across time. The secrets they share have the power to completely alter her life.
What VampBard’s talking about:
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This is the paranormal version of The Time Traveler's Wife...except everyone can travel, and it happens DURING SEX!!!! How freakin' cool is that?!?! HEAT INDEX: 4.75 – Holy Smokin' Hotness! **fans self**
This is gonna be a down-n-dirty review, my friends. With only 162 pages, Kiss Across Time packs a powerful punch. World-building, character-building, and the construction of powerful and intricate relationships are carefully woven into the novella. Each fact, detail, sensory impression are purposeful and meant to tantalize the reader. And tantalize, Ms. Cooper-Posey did.
I'm pretty sure that the hot rockstar vamp and his partner-in-immortality were two of the most intuitive characters I've read in a long time. Brody and Veris are magnetic personalities. I was simply drawn to them, and cannot wait to read more about them! With Arthurian, Saxon and Viking references, the historical aspect wasn't over-done, and greatly added to my enjoyment of the title (because I'm a bit of a Viking, Saxon and Arthurian legend geek, naturally).
Taylor, the professor-next-door that was canned from her university position before being granted tenure because she dared to think differently. I was really intrigued by the premise of Taylor's thesis, and would LOVE to spend time hanging out with someone like her... except I'd want to discuss the literature aspect versus the historical aspect. Seemed like she'd be the type that would be able to discuss both. One thing that concerned me about Taylor was the fact that she seemed content to be 'bought out' of her theory... you'll understand when you get to that part of the story.
Menage. Smokin' HOTTTT! What I really enjoyed about this trio was the fact that Brody and Veris had an existing relationship, and Taylor appeared to fit seamlessly into what appeared to be a love and respect-filled pairing. It looked like they'd been traveling through time simply waiting for Taylor to arrive. Readers will love the time traveling, as well as what it represents for the trio.
I'm eager to read subsequent titles in Ms. Cooper-Posey's Kiss Across Time series. Book 2, Kiss Across Swords is available June 1, and a third title, Kiss Across Chains is slated for July 1. Sounds like I've got myself at least two fabulous titles to enjoy in the summer sun!
VampBard’s Rating:
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Personal favorite - a must read (A+)
Purchase Info:
Friday, May 17, 2013
Review & Giveaway of Blush by Lauren Jameson
Blush
Author: Lauren Jameson
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Publisher: NAL Trade
ISBN: 978-0451419729
In Vino Veritas #1
Genre: Erotic Romance
Format(s): paperback (304 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher/ NetGalley
Keep reading for the details about a special GIVEAWAY of Blush!
Book Spotlight:
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Madeline Stone is determined to heal from her tragic past, one difficult step at a time…and she doesn’t need any distractions. Then she meets a mysterious and captivating stranger—and over a glass of outrageously expensive wine, her world turns upside down. Try as she might to banish the wealthy business mogul from her thoughts, Madeline can’t fight Alex’s staggering appeal or his enticing offer of intimate discovery.
Alex doesn’t date—at least, not in the traditional sense. Still, he wants Madeline…and his sexual intensity provides her with a much-needed escape. They embark on a tumultuous erotic affair, one that takes them to the pinnacle of obsession and desire. But underneath each explosive encounter lie dangerous secrets waiting to consume them both.…
What VampBard’s talking about:
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I have an unbidden love for Blush, the first in Lauren Jameson's new trio of titles surrounding rich guys that share ownership of a BDSM club near Vegas. While my logical brain says, “Um, WTH?” my heart has a bookmance going on with this story.
With that stuff out of the way, I have to tell you why my heart has a 'thing' for Blush.
I read this title in ONE EVENING. I even made dinner (yes, a real dinner, not picking up pizza or making box mac & cheese), ran laundry, helped with homework, and nursed a sick child. There's some serious internal conflict for our leading lady, Maddie; this conflict keeps Alex at arms-length, until secrets that have the potential to tear them apart are revealed. Wrap it up with some stellar external conflict, predicted earlier in the title, and tie off with a gorgeous red happily-ever-after bow. Mmmhm. That is Blush. HEAT INDEX: 3.5 out of 5. Sweet & spicy story.
I liked Maddie as a main character. I like her sassy-ness, and I like the fact that even though she's messed up in the head, she thinks before she acts. Even when it comes to signing a D/s contract for the hottest dude ever born. Even when Maddie doesn't think she deserves to be with Mr. Hottie Alex, she uses calming strategies to suck out the anxiety she feels. Let me tell you, I can totally identify with Maddie. Mr. VampBard is my anxiety sucker. I liked Maddie as a charcter, but I think that she could have been better developed, with more details about her at the end. When you read the last chapter and the epilogue, you'll understand. It's almost as though I'm waiting for the rest of the story. Ms. Jameson could be wrapping up Maddie & Alex's story in her next title of the series, however.
Alex is the billionaire-du-jour. I must admit that I'm a bit smitten by his ability to complete tasks and how he seems to love so completely, and with assurance. I fell in love with the way Alex portrayed a D/s relationship. How gentle he was with Maddie. How he seemed to worship her. It's all about TRUST. And, after all, isn't that what ALL relationships should be built upon?
One of the most awesome things about this title is that neither party appears to be coerced into divulging things about themselves before they're really ready.
While Blush, on the surface, seems to be another stab at the 50 bandwagon, it really isn't in the same category. With healthy relationships, boundaries clearly established, and a female lead character that has a set of steel cajones, I am totally in a bookmance with this title simply because it's REAL.
VampBard’s Rating:
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Enjoyed, strongly recommend (A-)
NOTE: There are a couple things in the NetGalley version that I read that really troubled Ms. Nit-Picky-English-Teacher. I mean **really** bothered. There were many usage errors, left-out words, as well as one significant (for me, anyway) inconsistency in the plot, that I was annoyed enough to go back and fact-check for consistency myself. I based my rating of the book trusting that one last pass by an eagle-eyed editor will snagged these issues.
About the author:
Lauren Jameson is a writer who lives in the shadows of the great Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada. She also writes erotic romance as Lauren Hawkeye. Visit her online at www.laurenjameson.com and twitter.com/LaurenHJameson.
Special Giveaway!
Thank you to the publisher, NAL/Penguin, for offering three (3) copies of Blush to 3 lucky winners (US/CAN only). To enter, please complete the RAFFLECOPTER form, below. Prize offered by publisher; I am not responsible for items lost in the mail.
Purchase Info:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Review: Dark Wolf by Kate Douglas
Dark Wolf
Author: Kate Douglas
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Spirit Wild #1
Publisher: Kensington Aphrodisia
ISBN: 978-0758288189
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Erotic
Format(s): paperback (352 pgs), e-book
Book Source: NetGalley
About the book:
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It is a new beginning for the Chanku. For so long they kept their shapeshifting ability secret, but now they have assimilated into the world in ways they once never thought possible. Still there are those who want to destroy them, with dark powers of their own...
A Bold New Beginning
The CEO of Cheval International, Lily Cheval chooses to live alone, but a series of rapes and murders leave her wary and worried for her fellow Chanku. Then she meets Sebastian Xenakis and the connection is intense and immediate. The son of a charismatic cult leader, Sebastian is a mysteriously sensual man who uses magic to shift into wolf form. He and Lily come together in a moment of supreme ecstasy, succumbing to a primal passion that leaves Lily shaken but utterly alive. Is Sebastian her lifetime mate or is he her worst enemy?
What VampBard’s talking about:
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Kate Douglas's Sprit Wild series is a promising beginning to what could potentially be one of the most beautifully written and smokin' hot series debuting this year. Dark Wolf was erotic, tender, and intimate. Yet, it was exhilarating, and provided the reader with an adrenaline rush at the apex of the plot arc. HEAT INDEX: 4.75 out of 5... Um. Wow!
What I found most intriguing about Ms. Douglas's writing was the fact that instead of focusing on the 'main couple' as most traditional romances do, she had two couples. Along with both couples, there was some definitely interesting sexual escapades! Keep in mind, the Chanku are pack animals. Primarily shifting to a wolven form, Lily, Alex and Annie had been pack mates – Lily and Alex from birth – and they 'knew' and loved one another. Just learning about his magically shifting side was Sebastian, who proved to be a fantastic hero for this story.
Set in San Francisco and Montana, the descriptiveness of the settings was breathtaking. Especially the Chanku 'home base' in Montana. The compound in which Lily's family, as well as Alex's parents, lived truly came alive for me. Practically every room in which the characters spent time was described so the reader felt as though they were a voyeur, intruding on a private conversation or intimate moment.
As far as the smokin' hot sexy time, um. Yeah. I think this book contained pretty much every combo. M/M, F/F, M/F, M/M/F...even one scene bordering on M/F/M/F that felt a little like tag-team wrestling. Even though there were multiple partners, there was definitely backstory that prepared the reader for this plot device. And these characters truly cared for one another. They were respectful of one another, and love and pleasure were the driving force behind the couplings/groupings.
The main conflict in the title involved the rape and murder of several women. The details aren't explicit, but I still felt as though I was connected to the events. I'm going to try to remain spoiler-free here.... While the events point to one person as the culprit, I vehemently fought against this conclusion. The only reason I can't give this beautifully written book five stars is because I thought that the conflict could have been developed a bit more; giving the reader more clues as to who the villain truly was. I felt as though the ultimate reveal was predictable, and could have easily had an extra twist or two that would have broken the title out of this pattern. But... not enough to detract from the over-all story for me.
Wolfies and leopards and mages – Oh my! Dark Wolf, debut title in the Spirit Wild series by Kate Douglas is definitely a hot read for paranormal fans! I'm definitely looking forward to the next title in the series, Dark Moon. Those that fall in love with the world of the Chanku can, fortunately, pick up Ms. Douglas's backlist Wolf Tales titles to keep themselves occupied until the next release in this spin-off series.
VampBard’s Rating:
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Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
Purchase Info:
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Review: My Wicked Nanny by Ann Mayburn
My Wicked Nanny
Author: Ann Mayburn
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Publisher: Loose ID
Club Wicked #2
Genre: Erotic Romance, Contemporary Romance, BDSM
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Author
About the book:
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Young nanny Anya Kozlov takes a job at the elite BDSM club, Wicked, in order to pay for her upcoming trip to Paris. Donning a mask to disguise herself she uses the fake name of Dove. On her first night she is shocked when she finds out that the man she is a nanny for and has an enormous crush on, Jesse Shaw, is also a member of Wicked. When Jesse expresses his interest in teaching her about the dark pleasures of Dominance and submission Anya is helpless to resist, even though she is lying to him about who she is.
Jesse can't seem to get Dove, out of his mind. It's been five years since his wife passed and for the first time he feels something beyond physical lust or friendship for a woman. He is angry and hurt when he finds out that Dove is really Anya, his meek and mousy nanny. With only a few weeks left before Anya leaves for Paris, Jesse is determined to get her to not only tell the truth, but also mark her heart and soul so that she doesn't forget him when they are an ocean apart.
What I’m talking about:
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Anya Kozlov has dreams to travel to Paris to become a fashion designer, and her salary as a nanny isn’t going to get her there soon enough. Her design mentor recommended Anya take a job as a server at a private, exclusive BDSM club so she can earn the cash needed to get to Paris. After passing their extensive background checks and training, Anya is ready to start her new job. She takes the name Dove and dons a mask, keeping the “real” Anya private. However, on her first night when she sees her boss (father of the children she cares for), she’s worried her cover will be blown.
Anya has had a crush on Jesse ever since he hired her. So when he doesn’t realize who Dove truly is, Anya takes up his offer of pleasure. Although Anya wants to come clean about who Dove is, she is too afraid he’ll fire her and hate her. She struggles between her growing feelings and her desire to do what’s right.
I absolutely LOVED reading My Wicked Nanny! The combination of the couple’s budding romance, innocent love and deliciously naughty sex made this story one of my favorites. Right from the start, I was enamored with Jesse and Anya and couldn’t help but get wrapped up in their mutual attraction. I highly recommend this story to anyone who loves a sweet romance with a healthy dash of smuttiness.
My Wicked Nanny shifts the point-of-view between both Anya and Jesse, allowing the reader insight to both characters innermost feelings. This enhanced every interaction, allowing me to understand both the characters’ desires and fears, creating a deeper connection.
Anya is written perfectly. I adore her mixed emotions when at first she struggles with the knowledge that Jesse doesn't recognize her and then later when she weighs her options of how to “come clean” with Jesse. I absolutely loved her first “morning after tirade” over getting intimate with Jesse yet not revealing who she was. Her warring emotions are well detailed with a pinch of sarcasm and wit to make it incredibly entertaining.
Again, I also love the mixed feelings of Jesse when he discovered the truth about Dove. He is angry and feels betrayed, but realizes he cares for her and wants more. Then he feels she needs to be free and not tied to him and a little ashamed he didn't see it sooner. The details Ms. Mayburn pours into the characters feelings is sublime.
There is one particularly intense scene when Jesse confronts Anya over her true identity. I admire that rather than drawing out the secrecy, the couple must deal with their situation head-on. The scene had me in tears, and my heart ached for them both. It is a very well-written exchange.
In addition to the beautifully detailed emotional journey, the story is filled with intense and erotic sex scenes. This story is not for those that prefer fade to dark and behind closed doors lovemaking. This is a BDSM story and the pair learn to enjoy each other and the joys of a Master/sub relationship. They engage in rough, kinky sex because it's what they like… it's not a tool used to punish or get over any messed-up past. This quote, stolen from Jesse’s thoughts, sums it up perfectly:
Sometimes his girl was in the mood for it rough and nasty-well, most of the time-but he also liked to make love to her.
Except he liked to make love with ropes and clamps.
In the end, I was just head-over-heels happy for Jesse and Anya. I adored their budding romance and friendship set along side their developing Master/submissive relationship. The romance is simple and sweet, and although there are a few minor complications, they are dealt with quickly, leaving any contrived drama behind. Their sex is mind-blowingly hot and kinky, but it’s the sharing of their inner-most feelings that makes My Wicked Nanny such a great story.
My Rating:
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Personal favorite - a must read (A+)
and has also earned the title of one of...
Reviews in the Series:
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Review: Fever by Maya Banks
Fever
Author: Maya Banks
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Breathless Trilogy #2
ISBN: 978-0425267066
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Format(s): paperback (416 pages), e-book
Book Source: Publisher / NetGalley
About the book:
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Jace, Ash, and Gabe: three of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the country. They’re accustomed to getting anything they want. Anything at all. For Jace, it’s a woman whose allure takes him completely by surprise...
Jace Crestwell, Ash McIntyre, and Gabe Hamilton have been best friends and successful business partners for years. They’re powerful, they’re imposing, they’re irresistibly sexy, and Jace and Ash share everything—including their women.
When they meet Bethany, Jace begins to feel things he’s never experienced before: jealousy, and a powerful obsession that threatens him, overwhelms him—and excites him beyond control.
Jace isn’t sharing Bethany—with anyone. He’s determined to be the only man in her life, and it’s jeopardizing a lifelong friendship with Ash. Bethany will be his and his alone. Even if it means turning his back on his best friend.
What VampBard’s talking about:
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Maya Banks certainly left me Breathless whilst reading the second title in that trilogy! LOL. Couldn't resist... but, seriously. Fever certainly ratchets up the heat index with the turn of each page.
When we left the Breathless hunks, Gabe had proposed to Mia, Jace's sister. Jace & Ash were OK with the idea, and neither were threatening beat his ass any longer. We pick up the story, rather seamlessly, at Gabe and Mia's engagement party. The focus has shifted from Gabe and Mia to Jace and Ash, as well as the beauty in their sights for the night. I have to say, I was really surprised that we had a menage at the beginning. Yeah. Starts hot, stays hot! HEAT INDEX: 4 out of 5. (I need to blush to issue a 5!)
I knew that this story was about either Jace or Ash after reading the first chapter at the end of Rush. It was obvious from the beginning that Jace would be our focus, however. I'm not quite sure what drew me to Jace as a hero. It could be his intent focus, his selflessness, or his compulsion to 'possess' Bethany. Over time, I think that as we grow and we have to control so much in our environment, it's important to have someone that will simply take over and make sure that everything is 'taken care of'. Don't think I'm talking about a D/s lifestyle being the be-all, end-all for everyone. I think that, at times, everyone needs someone to call the shots so they don't have to in SOME aspect of their lives, in a controlled manner. I'm not sure, but Jace feels like he's more THAT type of person than the complete Dom. While he SAYS he wants to dictate every minute of her day, it doesn't seem to me that he really wants to completely control Bethany. He wants her safe. He wants her taken care of. He wants her to be happy. Rarely were we shown that Jace dictated what Bethany should wear, or activities she was to attend. We weren't privy to the concept that Bethany was less than amenable to anything that Jace suggested, and we learned through the course of the book that Bethany was not an over-all sub. Jace was constantly trying to please Bethany without completely compromising his own perspectives on life. He did things FOR HER HAPPINESS that he never would have considered, previously.
I do think, however, that Jace wins the award for biggest transformation in this book. He changed from someone that resisted making connections with people – except for Gabe, Mia, and Ash – to being completely enamored with Bethany. His connection to Bethany caused him to grow as a character, for me. He was no longer the dude that wanted to kick the shit out of one of his best friends because he fell in love with his little sister. He had transformed into the person that KNEW what it was like to be so wrapped up in another human being that he understood the changes in his friend and sister. Jace seems to be the 'love at first sight' kind-of dude in this book. Realistic or not, Jace does fall for her from square-one.
Bethany, formerly homeless, was living in the lap of luxury, under the 'protection' of Jace. We learn some truths about Bethany, and while they don't 'make a difference' to Jace, I don't think they're completely forgotten. We see Bethany asserting her independence while concurrently thinking that it would be nice to have someone take care of her, as she's been on her own for pretty much her entire life. This is a totally realistic mentality, BTW. I work with kids that have been in the 'system' for a really long time. I work with the 'troubled' kids. In reality, they need to learn skills, and they need someone to give a shit long enough to help them learn these things. Bethany totally needed someone like that in her life, and it wasn't Jack (more on him later). Bethany was a totally believable character for me. She wanted to be cared for, but not in a smothering, all-encompassing way. I'm not sure whether that was expressly stated during the course of the book – in her actions and reactions – or whether it's me reading into the text, based upon my own experiences. Bethany is a pretty complex character, and I feel we could have seen more from her. Maybe there will be a wrap-up with Bethany in the next book. I felt like she wasn't fully developed, and that leaves me with a 'meh' feeling.
There were a couple major conflicts in this title, and I was comfortable with them both. The first involved Jace's relationship with Ash, and ensuring that he involvement with Bethany didn't push them apart. He had to make it OK with Ash, or his relationship with Bethany would be tainted. The other conflict involved Jack, Bethany's 'brother'. That was a hum-dinger...you'll have to read to figure out THAT situation! I was satisfied with the resolution of both, and I felt comfortable that the resolutions would be OK with the supporting characters as well as the main characters.
Overall, I felt that Fever, the second title in Maya Banks's Breathless trilogy, lived up to it's name. It raised the temperature with it's hotness, and ratcheted up the intensity of the characters. Since I read both Rush and Fever, I can't wait to read Burn (August 2013 release), and anticipate the words will cause incineration to the pages. Ash, after all, is our central character!
VampBard’s Rating:
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Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)
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