RESCUING CLARICE by Anny Cook

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Date published: May 2009
ISBN: 9781419921407
Paranormal Short
E-book
Reviewed by Dawn


CLICK TO PURCHASE! Poor Clarice, she has had the day from hell. From her new interim boss, hottie Otis Larssen seeing her at her worst and then to find out someone wants her dead, Clarice is stunned beyond belief when Otis decides that Clarice is in need of his strong alpha control. With two elemental dragon shifters finding that love can be rocky with murder, kidnappings and a mystery of Clarice’s heritage butting in, Otis and Clarice find out that the passion that simmers between them is just the tip of the flame as it flares bright and hot whenever they are together. Can they keep their clothes on long enough to find out who the heck wants to kill Clarice before it is too late?

RESCUING CLARICE is one hot ride from start to finish. With two elemental dragons finding out that yes, water and fire do mix and quite well mind you; someone or something is bent on getting something of Clarice’s grandmothers and they won’t hesitate to kill or kidnap to get it. I love the way Otis and Clarice mix together, be it on a wall, floor, bed or other things that even I was amazed at the use for. With just the right touch of mystery, sexual tension and adventure, Ms. Cook delivers a spine tingling ride that will keep you glued to the edge of your seat as you root for Otis and Clarice to solve the mystery and live happily ever after. Can Otis be able to convince Clarice that she can trust that he will always be by her side, always ready to help her in whatever way she needs him to be and can Clarice be able to trust in Otis completely, to give her heart, body and soul?

Ms. Cook delivers one fast paced ride with tight writing, creative characters and some really hot sex scenes that has me looking at utility closets a bit differently now. This is an author who knows the right mix of captivating characters and white hot passion that singes your fingertips as soon as you open the book. I really enjoyed the way Otis would try to order Clarice around and she would stand up for herself, giving him pause for thought as he finds himself with a woman who is neither so meek nor mild. RESCUING CLARICE also gave some really intriguing secondary characters that have me wondering if Ms. Cook will spin off a few into their own stories. I can only hope. If you enjoy a unique paranormal story with some red hot passion that will leave you breathless and some of the most intriguing characters to enjoy, then run to grab RESCUING CLARICE. I am looking forward to seeing if this author will continue with the elemental dragons in the future. I look forward to reading it again…this time with my significant other by my side.

WILD, WILD MOTHER OF THE BRIDE by Lacey Savage

Publisher: Amber Quill Press
Date issued: October 2008
ISBN: 978-1-60272-371-9
Short, erotic contemporary
E-book
Reviewed by Valerie

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When Eliza’s daughter announces that she is getting married at Cowboy’s Hideaway, she is elated. She’s been having fantasies about its owner, Jacob Clarke even though he’s twelve years her junior. She can’t indulge in her fantasies, he is after all the best friend of the groom and as a stand-up comedian, she’s considered a bit eccentric as it is. She needs to play the demure mother-of-the-bride. But the location brings her even closer to her fantasy and even Jacob seems to be always close and seeking every opportunity to get near her. Eliza has had enough; she wants to see if her fantasies can come true. She needs to persuade Jack that she is a naughty madam who needs to be punished, and big, bad, sheriff Jacob is just the man to do so.

No matter which genre Lacey Savage tackles, she always manages to give her readers an exciting, deliciously sexy story with a surprise at the end. Here, we are introduced to the sexy, sassy Eliza, an older woman whose daughter is getting married, and Eliza may be old, but she ain’t dead. I loved how she embraces her femininity and uses it to the full. I think many of ‘us’ older women have a secret fantasy of being seduced by a younger man...oh my! This talented author has the uncanny knack of infusing her stories with a whole lot of emotion so that the reader just takes the characters into their heart. I loved this story and plan to read it again. You can pick up any of Lacey Savage’s books and thoroughly enjoy a fantasy of your own.

THE CHARIOT: SCORPIO RISEN by Desiree Lee

Publisher: Tease Publishing
Date issued: October 2008
ISBN: 978-1-934678-97-8
Short, shapeshifter romance
E-book
Reviewed by Valerie

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Deylen has had to take over the leadership of the Centruoide Clan after his mother and father were killed. He knows who is responsible, but needs to prove it first. Deylen is a scorpion shifter and his clan is very loyal to him. One day he hires a mortal to work with him and things start getting much more complicated. Senca McLaine does all she can to show Deylen she is able to do the work he gives her. She can’t help feeling attracted to the mysterious man. She has a plan while she’s in town and surprisingly Deylen offers to help her. But suddenly, Deylen isn’t the only one who is interested in her and she becomes a pawn in the war between Deylen and his nemesis, Koda.

This is an interesting story. Reading about the scorpion shapeshifters, the Scorpion King will come to the mind of the reader. Desiree Lee has written a captivating story with some interesting characters. I haven’t read a story about scorpion and spider shifters before and it was a nice change. There’s plenty of action and intrigue going on and the romance is sensuous and hot. Only a couple of things disturbed me with this story. First of all I felt the main characters were a bit two-dimensional. There could have been a lot more emotion and feeling in the story. Also the dialogue seemed stilted and almost old-fashioned. As a contemporary, I would have expected more colloquial dialogue. But this didn’t stop me enjoying this story and reading more from this author.

VAMPIROPOLIS 2: DISCOVERING PASSION by Selena Illyria

Publisher Changeling Press
Date issued October 2008
ISBN 978-1-60521-049-0
Short, erotic paranormal romance
E-book
Reviewed by Valerie

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Lida Sandros is on a dead end road with her boyfriend and decides to end the relationship. She’d really like to settle down and find someone who will love her and cuddle her, but since Xavier Hido walked out on her she’s having trouble finding Mr. Right. Xavier has been researching the history of Vampiropolis and getting into deep trouble. In order to protect the ones he loves, he left. He’s regretted leaving Lida behind but he didn’t want to put her at risk. Trouble is, Lida has been given an artifact and is now in the very danger that Xavier was trying to protect her from. He now also realises he needs her, but, after breaking her heart once can he convince Lida of that?

I really enjoyed this book. It’s just right for an evening quickie. The romance is so sexy and sensual, it got my motor running. This story should come with a big warning to keep a bucket of ice nearby or your sweetie. The plot is quite exciting too, with strange artifacts doing strange things and even stranger things happening. Yes, altogether strange. But while Xavier and Lida are finding things out, their relationship is going up in flames and they are heating up this book with some delicious love scenes. Selena Illyria gives her readers an emotion packed story with an adventure that keeps the pages turning. The characters leap off the pages and secondary characters add even more spice and everything nice. I want more!

CHRISTMAS COOKIES: CHRISTMAS, WEREWOLF STYLE by Kyla Logan

Publisher Changeling Press
Date published December 2007
ISBN 978-1-59596-774-9
Short, hot paranormal romance
E-book
Reviewed by Valerie

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Alpha werewolf, Nathan and his Enforcer, Aidan from the Melrose Werewolf pack are visitng the Lochinver werewolves to arrange a pact between the two packs. During the talks, they both watch a female leave the home and her scent not only intrigues them but pulls them both into the realisation that she is their mate. Kerry arrives late for the Christmas celebrations at her Alpha’s home. She has been called out at the last moment. When she is able to at last meet the visitng werewolves, she is assaulted by a delicious scent that she surmises belongs to two werewolves. She needs to find them and when she sees them and the heat sizzles, she realises that she has not only found her soul mate, but two!

Kyla Logan has taken the Christmas theme and gives her readers a short, sexy story from the world of her Lochinver Werewolves series. She masterfully creates an emotion filled tale with three very interesting characters and brings them all together weaving a hot, intense, sensual romance. Kyla Logan has, in this short story, given depth and life to her characters so that the reader gets totally involved with the powerful emotions that sizzle between them. I really enjoyed this story. It’s just right for a cold winter night and is sure to get you warm and toasty and the toes curling. I have always enjoyed Kyla Logan’s stories and if you are a fan of werewolf tales, you will too. They are not to be missed.

KING OF CATS: PPB Presents-Shifters: by Jessica Quinn

Publisher Pink Petal Books
Date published October 2008
ISBN 978-0-9820050-3-3
Genre Contemporary Erotic Romance
E-book
Reviewed by Dawn


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Melody Young never expects to find a sexy man in her office when she rescues a stray cat after it got hit by a car. Ty Felix is sexy, sinful and easy on the eyes, Melody finds herself drawn to the mysterious man and finds herself more than she bargains for when the fight to save her No-Kill Shelter gets ugly and Ty is the one man she can count on to help her save the day.

KING OF CATS is a delightful story about cat shifter, Ty Felix, who after being “rescued” by Melody Young, finds the one woman to give his heart to and shower her with a passion that will singe your fingertips. Melody Young is running her late mother’s no-kill shelter and trying to fight a local developer from buying her building and sending her on her way. She never expects to find the cat she rescued is a man who will help her in more ways than one.

Ms. Quinn delves into a story of magical shifter and the one woman who steals his heart away. With a fast pace and some “melt your panties” sex scenes, this reviewer was hard pressed not to groan when the last page was read. The only complaint I had was it was too short and I really wanted to now what happens next with Ty and Melody. KING OF CATS is a charming tale full of fire, spice and everything nice. Full of delightful characters, fast paced storyline and sizzling passion, this reviewer is hoping to find more from Ms. Quinn in the future. If you enjoy an entertaining story, then grab KING OF CATS on a cold winter afternoon.

THE NEW GUY by Jennifer Mueller

Publisher Red Rose Publishing
Date published May 2008
ISBN 978-1-60435-118-7
Short, erotic multi-racial romance
E-book
Reviewed by Valerie

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There’s a new guy in town. Tall, chocolate brown and handsome. He fixes cars and Kate now looks forward to taking her car in for an oil change so she can stare at him while he works. Then one day, when everyone is gone and McLain is just finishing up on Kate’s car, he takes her down to the Pit and gives her an orgasm she’s never had before, and he never even entered her. Seems that some of the older, gossipy ladies in town have been telling him all about her, and the fact that she stares at him all the time. Then follows an evening rendezvous with even more mind shattering sex and Kate is wondering if maybe she’s found her man at last.

Wow, I didn’t know that Jennifer Mueller could write an erotic romance, but she can and she does it well too. This is a short, but very hot story. Kate is a woman the reader will root for and McLain a man that the reader can drool over. Jennifer Mueller, in her usual uncomplicated style, puts a lot of emotion into the story, some very hot sex and the reader will get some nice thrills with this one. I have always enjoyed Jennifer Mueller’s work and she delivers a good, well rounded story. The short story, in my opinion is always a challenge, which Ms. Mueller has managed with flying colors. I enjoyed this quickie very much and hope that Jennifer Mueller will thrill us with some more erotic romances.

OH YUM! - TEMPTING TESS by Regina Carlysle

Publisher Ellora's Cave
Date published June 2008
ISBN 9781419916069
Short, Erotica Contemporary
E-book
Reviewed by Valerie




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Tess Garrity is forty-five and a widow. She rents a cabin in the mountains to take some down time and re-evaluate her rather boring life. She’s quite attracted to the handsome young man who lives in the cabin next door and who she spies from time to time. Daniel Rios is more than attracted to the sexy, older woman. He wants her with a yearning he’s never felt before but first he needs to get rid of an unwelcome houseguest before approaching Tess. When he makes his move however, who knew the sparks would fly and the nights would become hot and sultry. Daniel now needs to tempt Tess to take a second chance on love, with him. It’s a seductive challenge he is prepared to meet and win.

Regina Carlysle has written an uber-hot story with lots of hot sex. Tess is a woman who has had a mediocre marriage and since her husband passed on has had no sex. Daniel meets her in a moment of vulnerability and things take off pretty fast. In my opinion though, although this book is well written, I did find the relationship progressing a little too fast, and there were too many sex scenes. I believe that if the sex scenes were all taken out, there wouldn’t be much left of the story. I usually like a good story with an older heroine and a younger man. I have nothing against graphic sex, though I found one sex scene slightly distasteful. Apart from these points, it was an ok story.

THUNDER’S PASSION by Kai Leah and R. B. Michaels

Publisher Forbidden Publications
Date published April 17, 2008
ISBN None Available
Fantasy novella
E-book
Reviewed by Dawn




Click to Purchase! Thunder rules the mighty skies and searches for his love, Lightening. When she succumbs to his allure, Lightening revels in his fiery embrace and longs for more. Destined to be together in all eternity, their night time trysts are found out by the Sun and she is not happy. Determined to destroy these two and rule the skies alone, can Thunder and Lightening stop Sun from destroying their love and keep the balance in the sky?

THUNDER’S PASSION is a delightful fantasy novella that will keep you entertained from start to finish. R. B. Michaels and Kai Leah create a world that inhabits the sky and draws you in inch by inch, page by page.

Meet Thunder, he rules the sky and searches for his love, Lightening. When she answers his call with a flash, they both revel in their fiery ecstasy. Until Sun finds out about their nighttime trysts and doesn’t like it. She wants to rule the skies and to do that she will destroy Thunder and Lightening any way she can.

WOW is all I can say. These two authors deliver a fast pace ride amid the sky as the reader is drawn to a world that inhabits the skies. With captivating characters, an intriguing story and hot passion, the pages light up like a lightening clash. THUNDER’S PASSION delivers a heart pounding ride and this reviewer will never think of a thunderstorm the same again. Get ready for a storm as THUNDER’S PASSION delivers a pulse pounding ride from start to finish!