Dominate Me by Jambrea Jo Jones

Publisher: Total-E-Bound Publishing
Date published: June 2011
ISBN: 978-0-85715-591-7
BONDAGE AND BDSM

CONTEMPORARY
PDF

Reviewed by Gabrielle

Weblink: https://www.totallybound.com/dominate-me
Obtained via publisher

Rating: 3 Hearts

Have you ever wondered just what you would do if you got the chance to indulge in your fantasies?  Elli does just that. She has taken a step closer to her desires but she is beginning to have cold feet.  Before she can run a man comes to her and may be the one to help her. Elli knows Ren is a man that she wants to know more about. He could be what she is looking for, give her what she longs for. Will she trust him enough to explore? Can she take another step towards her goal and enjoy some time with Ren?

This fast paced story takes you right alongside of Elli while she begins her adventure. She finds so much at the club mixer that she attends on a whim. Ren is a good match for her and takes Elli where she wants to go.  Although I was pulled into Elli’s story right from the start and enjoyed her adventures. I did not fall in love with the characters of Elli or Ren.  Their time together is hot and their feelings are strong yet I did not connect strongly with either of them. Ren takes Elli on a ride that she wont soon forget and neither does she want to.  In one short night he teaches her so much. It was nice to see Elli grab for her happiness with Ren.

While Elli and Ren may not be a favorite couple of mine I still enjoyed the concept of the story and the writing style and I will be sure to look for more from this author.

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

We Chat with Donna Gallagher

We recently chatted with Donna Gallagher and asked her a few things we thought readers would like to know.  Here's what she had to say:

How would you describe yourself using only five words?

Reliable, mother, reader, sports-fan, obsessive.

Do you have any guilty pleasures?

I don’t know if it would be classed as a guilty pleasure but I watch eight games of my favorite sport every week.

Name one thing readers would be surprised to know about you. 

I left home and school when I was fifteen and I don’t recommend it.

How do you get yourself in the mood to write?

I usually have to wait for the voices to talk to me and I have the sports channel on in the background.

If someone hasn't read any of your work, what book would you recommend that they start with and why?

I was both thrilled and excited by the release of the first two books in my League of Love series. Talk about a boost to the self-esteem, after spending so many years being a mother and wife finding I could write a story that a publisher would find worthy to contract, was truly a glorious moment. I was forty-eight and finally decided what I wanted to be when I grew up.

But the release of Laura’s Light holds a special place in my heart because with this book I get the chance to step up onto my soap box. We all love a flawed hero, so when my muse began his story I did not hesitate to tell it.

While Trevor may not be real, mental illness is. I don’t presume to be an authority on mental health issues but I do know what it is like when a family is touched by this misunderstood and at times ignored disease. Many don’t like to talk about it or feel uncomfortable when confronted by those who are trying to manage their illness – but it is prevalent in our society.

I believe the more we speak openly about this health problem the easier it will be for those that are struggling to come forward and ask for help.

 

Welcome Morticia Knight/Contest

Welcome to Love Romances & More Reviews Morticia Knight. Comfortable? Let’s begin, shall we? Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Where do you find the inspirations for your stories?

Usually I just let my mind wander when I’m driving! Not having the radio or music on when I drive has done wonders for my story building.

Are your characters able to love or do they need to be taught?

It depends on which ones we are talking about. In my current MM release, “Set Ablaze”, both of the main characters have a lot of love to give, and big generous hearts. But one’s working on recent hurts, and the other is coming out after twenty years of marriage. He’s at a loss as to how to build a relationship with another man, so in some ways, the younger guy has to teach him.

Do you have a book that was easiest to write or one that was the hardest?

The hardest is the current one I’m working on. It’s Part Two in the MM Uniform Encounters series, and is the immediate follow-up to “Set Ablaze”. I really felt completely satisfied with how Part One turned out, and I think I’m second-guessing myself on Part Two. Sort of like the sequel to a film, you don’t want it to disappoint.

So what is your latest/upcoming release all about?

I guess I hinted a bit at that already! *wink* Well, Eric the Fire Chief in Mesa Arizona is the one coming out of the closet, and Tom – the new recruit – is head over heels. Eric is determined to stay away from relationships, and Tom thinks Eric is straight – so they have to get past all of that. In the middle of everything, there’s an arsonist burning up the town’s historic old homes – and it looks like they’re trying to pin it on Eric. There’s a lot of emotion and sexual intensity in this one.

 If you could collaborate with one author who would it be? 

Wow – just about anyone who’s better than me – so that’s a big list! But I’ll say in my genre, it would be Lisabet Sarai or Desiree Holt. In any genre, it would be my all-time fave, Stephen King.

Tell us about your favorite character from your books.

I can only hint at him, because I can’t even announce the title. Let’s just say that he’s from a Historic era, and is in my Clandestine Classic that’s coming out at Total E Bound on May 6^th. Only avid classic literature readers would recognize him – he’s quite secondary in the original story. However, I’ve made him part of the ménage between the two very recognizable characters, and he really is the glue that holds everything together. He’s loving, whip-smart, funny, and oh-so-talented in the bedroom.

When in the day/night do you write? How long per day?

I tried to be a good girl and get up early in the morning – but seriously – I am waaaaay too much of a night person. I finally gave in, and have found that 10 pm – 2 am is my most natural and productive time. Vampire anyone?

What is the hardest part of writing your books?

The sex is easy *blush*. But plot points that make real sense plague me. Even if it has paranormal elements, I have to believe it or else it feels like cheating. (Annie Wilkes anyone? *random Stephen King reference*)

What does your family think of your writing career?

My partner and (adult) children fully support it. My oldest daughter did the covers for my earlier self-pubbed titles. I won’t give my mom any copies of my books though – she keeps begging! I did send her a mug with the cover on it.

What do you think makes a good story?

Great characters. Anything can happen to these people – just as long as I am in love with them, and care what happens to them.

Plotter or Pantser? Why?

A little of both. I like to plot it out so that I have a general idea of where I’m going, but I leave it open so that if something truly inspires me while I’m writing, I’m not hindering the creativity.

How do you develop your plots and your characters? Do you use any set formula?

I have absolutely no formula. I resist spreadsheets and columns, so I think if my writing became formulaic, it would be a huge buzz-kill for me. I’ve always had a wandering mind and bizarre imagination – so I just go with that.

What can readers expect next from you? 

Watch for the announcement on my blog or at facebook of my upcoming Clandestine Classic release. And I have some other interesting things in the works, including an evil Djinn, and a Steampunk Horror Ménage.

Contest Information: leave a comment to be entered in to win a pdf copy of Set Ablaze. Make sure to leave your email address with the comment in case you win we have a way to contact you. Contest is open internationally and will close on March 17th. Winner to be announced on this post's comments.

About Set Ablaze, to be available March 18th from Total E-bound

Book one in the Uniform Encounters Series

Hunky fire chief Eric is out of the closet after twenty years of marriage. Can he find true love, or will a spate of arson fires destroy his chances with Tom, the sexy young fire-fighter?

Eric is a fire chief in Mesa, Arizona where he’s lived all of his life. A hunky Norse god like man, he has finally come out of the closet after twenty years of marriage. Now his wife hates him, his son won’t speak to him, a town crazy wants him fired, and there’s a rash of arson fires destroying some of the beautiful historic homes in the area. To let off steam, he’s been tempted to explore his long repressed sexuality with his son’s twenty year-old friend.

Tom, a twenty-eight year-old fire-fighter from Texas, is desperate to get away from his dad’s prejudice about his sexuality, and an unstable relationship that just recently ended. He takes a temporary position in Mesa where he sets eyes on the most gorgeous male specimen he’s ever seen in the form of the fire chief, Eric Anderson. Convinced the chief is straight, he accidentally catches him one night with a young guy, and is now determined to let the chief know he’s interested.

Eric is adamant that they can only be friends, even though he finds the sweet young Tom adorable. The pressures on Eric increase as his ex-wife becomes a suspect, and the town crazy tries to blame the arson fires on him. Will he allow himself to find real love with the sexy Tom, or will his world be destroyed by all of the city’s accusations and his family’s lack of acceptance?

Pre-order it at http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=2022

Guest Author Day with Em Woods & a Contest

CONTEST INFORMATION: Em Woods is giving one lucky person a copy of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. All you need to do is leave a comment & your email address in the comment section of this post to be entered. Winner to be announced on this post December 13th.

Welcome to Love Romances & More Reviews, Em Woods. Comfortable? Let’s begin, shall we?

You bet!

Please tell us a little about yourself and how long you've been writing. Have you always gravitated toward being an author?

Well, I'm pretty typical, I think. I have two extremely energetic sons, I've been married for fifteen years, and I work in the automotive industry during my day job. I've been writing since I was a kid - you know, stories in notebooks, working for the school paper in high school, notes jotted down later on. I really got serious about it, though, about three years ago when I wrote my first romance.

How do you balance family life with your writing? 

It is a crazy life, this being a writer. When I initially began writing, my children were younger (and slept more!) so I had more time during the early evening to write, but now I am relegated to the vampire hours of writing. Lol....it helps that my husband is incredibly supportive.

If you could trade places with a character in one of your books, who would it be and why? 

Hmm. I think it might be Jack from Jack's Way. Outside of finding his HEA, he rock solid. He is business savvy and knows how to cowboy up. It's only when it comes to his man that he gets a little twitchy. lol

Anything your fans would be surprised to know about you? 

I'm completely down to earth. I am very organized (OCD, anyone?) and I try to keep everything in its "compartment". Being a mom of two young boys, wife, and also having a full time day job on top of writing semi-full time takes way more skills than I could have imagined.

Dealing with writing deadlines can be a challenge. What do you do to cope with the stress? 

I buckle down. I'm actually more focused the closer a deadline comes.

Is there something special you do to celebrate when one of your books is released? 

I hide under the covers! It doesn't matter what release it is, or how many came before it, I am always nervous about readers' reactions to what I've written.

Tell us about your latest/upcoming release. What is this gem about?

A CHRISTMAS CAROL is my latest release with Total-E-Bound.

Anything else you want to add? Links?

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4347554.Em_Woods
http://authoremwoods.com/
https://www.facebook.com/emwoodsauthor

*~~*

A Christmas Carol by Em Woods

Total E-bound Publishing

M/M, Holiday

Love at first sight is a beautiful thing, but sometimes, true love waits a lifetime to shine...and then needs a little help from the Three Ghosts of Christmas.

As a young man, Ebenezer Scrooge felt the sharp pain of loss and resolved to protect his heart from all others, taking solace in his gold and silver. Years of discarding his own emotions, and those of anyone around him, has turned Scrooge cold.

When deceased lover and partner Jacob Marley pays miserly Scrooge a late night visit, pride and disbelief buoy Scrooge's courage. As the fabled Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet-to-Come arrive to show Scrooge the error of his ways, they also give him brief glimpses of a love so strong it has stood the test of time.

In an inspiring tale of change, a deep-seated need flares to life, leaving Scrooge without a doubt that love and family are what really matter at Christmas.

http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=1940

THE HALLUCINATORY DUKE by Meta Mathews

Publisher: Total-E-Bound Publishing

Date published: 6 August 2012

ISBN: 978-1-78184-063-4

Erotic historical timetravel romance

E-book

Reviewed by Helen

Weblink: http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=1756

Obtained via publisher

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Amelia is a historian working for her former professor as a researcher. Ben Durban wants her to find a link between his family and the Duke of Durbane. When the Duke starts visiting her in her dreams and offering her erotic enticements she considers quitting her job.

Meanwhile Ben’s nephew Jack has his own problems, as a Regency-era lady keeps offering him sex. Is everything connected? And is there a reason why these things are happening?

As always Meta Mathews offers a delightful historical romance that is excellently researched, full of fascinating historical details and is both romantic and erotic as well. I really appreciate these historical facts and situations because they make the story so much more real, not just modern characters dressed up in Regency clothing or thrown into a situation with some historical wallpaper. Here, the history is part of the plot and resolution, intrinsic to the story.

This time she’s added a neat paranormal twist with some ghosts or spirits. Or are they just the products of an overactive imagination?

Ben, Jack and Amelia are fascinating characters as are the two historical ones. The reader will be wanting them all to sort out their problems and find their happy endings.

This is novella length. A short read, but with plenty of story and characterization in it for the length, and some delightful sex scenes as well.

I truly enjoyed it.

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

 

PRIVATE INVESTIGATION by Fleur T Reid

Publisher: Total-E-Bound
Date published: 11 June 2012
ISBN: 978-1-78184-013-9
Steampunk
E-book
Reviewed by Helen
Obtained via Publisher

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE!Miss Elizabeth James has just graduated from the Metropolitan School for Shorthand top of her class in typing, shorthand, filing and arithmetic, and is looking for a job that will allow her to eat better and bathe in hot water more often. When she sees a position advertised for the princely sum of six pounds per week, she’s determined to get it.

Inventor John Dermott needs a secretary to bring order to the total chaos that is the home he shares with private detective Lucien Doyle. Teetering piles of papers, and steam-powered inventions that hiss, bubble and explode don’t deter Lilly. She wants those six pounds a week.

This story is a mixture of steampunk inventions and Sherlock Holmes allusions with a dose of the paranormal. There are a couple of annoying typos such as Caine’s name spelled with and without the final e, and missed capital letters, but overall the book is quite clean.

I enjoyed the characters. Both Lilly and her landlady are women of their times, but with an underlying hint of steel when things get tough. Lilly adjusted to her situation with great flexibility and a sense of fun and curiosity that was very endearing. The two male leads have great chemistry and a sense of humor. Their relationship was hot and flexible, although there was one time their hygiene was rather icky to a modern-day reader.

I especially liked the running gag about marmalade and I defy anyone to have it on toast for breakfast with a straight face after reading the book.

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

I’LL STAND BY YOU by Carol Lynne

Publisher: Total-E-Bound
Date published: March 2012
ISBN 9780857159182
MM
E-book
Reviewed by Helen
Obtained via publisher


CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE! Mike is in love with Sidney, but Sidney loves Nash, so Mike accepts a construction job for the family firm in Kansas. There, he’s instantly attracted to Ray, but Ray is partnered with Brent, although Brent seems interested in Mike.

As the construction of the Brookside Athletic Club progresses, so the relationships become more entangled and it seems impossible any of the men involved will have happy endings. Throw in a few family disagreements with parents and the stage is set for an emotional time.

Mike, from this story, was first introduced in the Seasons of Love series as a minor character.

This story is vintage Carol Lynne, men in tangled relationships, damaged men with hurts, messy family situations, and the reader wondering how things can possibly be sorted out. There is even an almost last minute hurdle when everything seemed to be coming together.

It’s always good to read the first book from a new series of prolific authors like Ms. Lynne, to see the potential for the future, and a gay athletic club is an excellent place for the men to meet. Also there are a few characters who were introduced who I’m sure will get their own stories later.

The sex is hot and varied, MM and MMM, and the characters draw the reader into their stories. There was one timeline inconsistency, but the overall story was sufficiently engrossing I could ignore it. The sex and the emotions are the body of the story. The construction provides a framework and some opportunities for the sex and arguments.

A good read.

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