LIKE CLOCKWORK by Bonnie Dee

Publisher: Carina Press
Date published: December 2010
ISBN: 9781426890963
Steampunk romance
E-book
Reviewed by Valerie
Obtained by: Publisher


CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE! In a Victorian-type London, Victoria has been one of the scientists responsible for the invention of automatons. She invented the exterior of the robots, making them look more human like. What was at first invented to take over the more dangerous jobs has reached into all areas of society. Even nannies have been replaced by automatons. Victoria is alarmed when she hears of some not working properly and even causing danger to humans. She is about to go to the Committee to plead that they be taken from such positions and tested more thoroughly, when she is kidnapped.

Dash, a leader of the underground, a group of people who have been put out of work by these clockwork automatons, thinks that by kidnapping Victoria they can be heard and even get a seat or two on the committee. He is surprised when Victoria not only understands and sympathizes with his cause, but even offers her help.
Then there is that attraction that is brewing between them that is highly inappropriate due to their status. But, Victoria proves that she can and will help, but the Committee is more corrupted than she could imagine and then there is the problem with the Southwark Slasher, who strikes a little too close to home.

Bonnie Dee has created an exciting story that kept me riveted to the pages of this book, devouring every word. This is set in an alternative historical setting with clockwork gadgets thrown in…in other words, your typical steampunk. I really liked Victoria, a woman who has breached conventions and gone into scientific work for the good of mankind. Dash is a hero who although he lives in the underground and is a bit of a rascal, has a heart of gold and is equally concerned about the good of mankind. They match each other perfectly if not for the boundaries of convention. There are several secondary characters, including a colleague of Dash’s whose argument against the suppression is a good old bomb or three.

The plot was somewhat predictable, being an age-old battle of robots and humans, but the identity of the Slasher was a mystery to the end and I loved the twist. The romance is full of sexual tension and I enjoyed that it wasn’t a sex feast, but a really slow sexual simmer until the culmination at the end. This was a real joy to read and I hope that this talented author will take us back to this world for more adventures.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

AWAKENING BEAUTY by Bonnie Dee and Marie Treanor

Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Date published: September 2010
ISBN: 978-1-60928-201-1
Fairytale romance
E-book
Reviewed by Valerie
Obtained from publisher


CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE! Joel Thorne is on holiday, while out hiking he discovers an old castle that is almost hidden by thorns and brambles. He is drawn to the castle and the thorns seem to move out of the way for him. He finds a beautiful, young woman sleeping and awakes her.

Aurora is surprised to see the handsome man. She has been asleep for one thousand years. She had pricked her finger and a wicked fairy godmother tried to take her blood to gain more power. Fortunately, her other fairy godmother’s were able to turn back the worst of the curse. Now, awake in a future so far from her own, she needs to learn as much as she can.

Joel and Aurora are deeply attracted to each other, but Joel is a very practical man. He is about to enter a marriage of convenience to Vee who is going to help him in his political career. But Aurora doesn’t trust Vee and they are soon to find out why.

Again, these two very talented authors have conspired together to bring their readers an up-to-date fairy tale that is entertaining and sensuous. I really enjoyed reading this story…a take on the Sleeping Beauty…and they have presented a realistic version. It’s a kind of time travel, as our Beauty, Aurora has been asleep for 1,000 years! It was really cute to see Joel’s reaction to her strange talk, and Aurora getting used to the machines and inventions of today’s world A trademark of this writing team, are some very sensuous and hot love scenes that bring Joel and Aurora together and are an integral part of the story. This is not a very long story and can be read in an evening, but I can assure you, it will bring you a lot of satisfaction. This story has some clever twists and turns, a romance the hero and heroine have to fight for and a villainess who is determined to undermine their happy end.

If you pick this up, I am sure you will be going back to get the other stories these two talented authors have created. I can highly recommend them.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

DEMON LOVER by Bonnie Dee and Marie Treanor

Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Date published: April 13
ISBN: 978-1-60504-979-3
Erotic fantasy romance
E-book
Reviewed by Valerie
Obtained by publisher


CLICK TO PURCHASE! Gwyneth’s father has been boasting and bragging about how beautiful, how wonderful and what a great wife she’d make someone to everyone. Now the King’s own steward has come to see if the stories are true. In his desperation to get Gwyneth a rich husband, he goes one step further and tells the steward she can spin straw into gold. Gwyneth is now in a big room full of hay and is desperate. If she can’t do the task, the King will have her head. She promises anything for her life and then a man appears. For three nights he helps her spin the hay. Each time he requires payment, first a kiss, then to touch her body, then finally her first born. In a twist of fate, Gwyneth finds herself with her daughter in the strange man’s kingdom. Ragnorak needs Gwyneths child as his own heir, but he needs Gwyneth for his wife. Now, who is seducing who and how can they find a happy ever after?

This is, as you have probably guessed a version of the story of Rumpelstilskin. Add in a little bit of the story of Persephone and these two talented authors have spun their own tale full of interesting characters and lots of hot sex. Even the King, Midas is quite true to the original character we all know, greedy for wealth and selfish. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this tale, it is certainly not your mother’s fairy story and I am sure it will make your toes curl and reaching for a nice big glass of ice water. This is a fast paced story that will have you scrolling the pages to see what will happen next. Ragnorak is a drool-worthy hero and Gwyneth is more than his match. These two authors have collaborated on a few re-telling of some favourite stories and I hope they continue to do so. If you like a fairy-tale with a difference and some well written, sensual sex scenes, then do get this one, and the others too, while you are at it!

THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THIS BOOK. THIS IS AN OBJECTIVE UNBIASED REVIEW.

CINDERELLA UNMASKED by Bonnie Dee and Marie Treanor

Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Date published: August 2009
ISBN: 978-1-60504-649-5
Erotic fantasy romance
E-book
Reviewed by Valerie


CLICK TO PURCHASE! Have you ever wondered what happened to Cinderella? Did she ever really get her happy ever after? Well, in this story, Charming has left Cinderella to ‘find himself’ and now Cinderella is Queen over the Kingdom. She’s doing the best she can with the help of her loyal steward Sebastian. But it’s been a lonely five years and she would love to find pleasure with a man again. Poor Ella is again in need of love and with three masked balls, where she meets three masked men and is brought to new sexual heights, a fairy-godmother who maybe needs a built-in navigation system, a loyal but mysterious steward, Ella is not quite sure if she is coming or going. (Pun intended). Ella is still having problems with her step-mother and step-sisters who are trying to get the throne from her. Ella is learning about love and trust. Will she be able to confront her enemies?

This story’s dedication says that it is for all the little girls in us that can’t get enough happily ever afters and Cinderella stories. Well, I will count myself in this dedication and add that this is not your mother’s fairytale. I really enjoyed this story. These two authors have come together and have woven a story that will entertain and arouse. Cinderella’s dalliances with her masked men will leave you panting and you will need some relief yourself. The plot is well done, with intrigues, betrayals and political situations coming to a boil. The fairy godmother will bring a smile to your face as she bumbles through each situation, yet managing to get everything sorted out in the end. Everything flows really well and every character is very well written. Yes, I can highly recommend this story and hope these two talented story writers get together again very soon and give us another hot fairytale.

CAGE MATCH by Bonnie Dee

Publisher: Loose ID
Cover Artist: Croco Designs
Published date: June 2009
ISBN: 978-1-59632-953-9
Genre: LGBT Futuristic Fantasy
Reviewed by Miss April


CLICK TO PURCHASE! CAGE MATCH by Bonnie Dee is an interesting book filled with a world that is both futuristic and primitive. Andreas is the heir to the biggest dynasty in this new world. Going out with friends and playing is all he’s ever done. Going to a cage match, he wins a bet and his prize is an hour with the man who won the fight, Jabez. But Andreas quickly finds he wants more and for the first time in his life, takes a look at what he does with his wealth and position. Jabez, on the other hand knows nothing but hardship and pain. These two men must somehow come to grips with each other in the midst of discovering evil plots by Andreas’ own company. This coupled with friends who aren’t friends and a father who is cold and seemingly only interested in the business make for a very fascinating read.

This was an enjoyable read. The world building was handled nicely and I’d like to see more stories set in this particular world. Andreas was a wonderful character who stayed true to his upbringing. At first selfish and preoccupied with his own pleasure, he is thrown out of that by the cage fighter, Jabez. Jabez is a study between the primitive world he has grown up in and the artistic world that he longs for. Both men need to learn to trust each other and the heat between them is excellent. I would have liked to have seen more on what happens afterward with the people they try to help. It seemed to me that this book was a good start to a series. There were some excellent secondary characters that should have stories of their own. Andreas’ friend Simeon and Jabez’s friend/enemy Lightning were fascinating. Over all, I enjoyed this book and give it a rating of 3.5.