Fever by Jamie K Schmidt

The Basics:
Fever by Jamie K Schmidt
Loveswept
Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Book Three in the Club Inferno series
Published March 17, 2015
Source: Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon Kobo Goodreads

Why I picked up this book:

I needed something to break up all the historical romances I'd been reading!

Blog Tour: Play Me series by Tracy Wolff

Today I'm hosting a huge tour for Tracy Wolff's Play Me series published by Loveswept. This is a five part serial that tells the story of Aria, a Vegas casino cocktail waitress, and Sebastian, the son of the casino's owner. I've got blurbs for each part in the series, an excerpt, a review and a giveaway! 

For the rest of the stops on the tour, check out Tasty Book Tours.

His to Claim by Opal Carew

The Basics:
His to Claim by Opal Carew
St Martin's Griffin
Erotica
Published September 2, 2014
Source: Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon.ca Kobo.com

Why I picked up this book:

I read and enjoyed His to Possess which featured the brother of the male main character in His to Claim.

Twice Shy by Jill C Flanagan

The Basics:
Twice Shy by Jill C Flanagan
Wyrd Publishing
Book One in The Restraint Series
Erotica
Published May 26, 2012
Source: Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Why I picked up this book:

The *original* cover made me think that I was getting a Domme story (which is accurate).

The Professional by Kresley Cole

The Basics:
The Professional by Kresley Cole
Gallery Books
Book One in the Game Maker series
Romance, Erotica
Published May 6 2014
Source: Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon.ca Kobo.com

Why I picked up this book:

This book was originally eserialized and I was curious about the final product.

His to Posses by Opal Carew

The Basics:
His to Possess by Opal Carew
St Martin's
Erotica
Published March 18, 2014
Source: Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon.ca Kobo.com

Why I picked up this book:

I was looking for erotica from a reliable publisher.

The Ties That Bind by Constance Munday

The Basics:

The Ties That Bind by Constance Munday
Xcite Books
Erotic Romance
Published February 19, 2014
Source: Received via third party for honest review.
Amazon.ca

Why I picked up this book:

I love being asked to review books. Plus I'm still looking for great 'voluptuous' women romance/erotica.

A Million Guilty Pleasures by C. L. Parker

The Basics:
A Million Guilty Pleasures by C. L. Parker
Bantam
Second in the Million Dollar Duet
Erotica
Published February 11, 2014
Source: Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon.ca Kobo.com

Why I picked up this book:

I was curious about the emotional aftermath suggested in the book blurb and how it would play out in erotic terms.

Slow Seduction by Cecilia Tan

The Basics:
Slow Seduction by Cecilia Tan
Forever
Book Two in the Struck by Lightning series
Erotica
Published Jan 28, 2014
Amazon.ca Kobo.com


Why I picked up this book:

I liked that Karina, in the blurb, is actively going after what she wants - agency!

The Silver Chain by Primula Bond

The Basics:
The Silver Chain by Primula Bond
Mischief Books
Book One of the Unbreakable Trilogy
Erotica, Romance
Published July 4, 2013
Amazon.ca Kobo.com

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blurb:

Bound by passion, she was powerless to resist.

One dark evening in London, photographer Serena Folkes is indulging her impulsive side with a night-time shoot. But someone is watching her – mysterious entrepreneur Gustav Levi. Serena doesn’t know it yet, but this handsome stranger will change her life forever…

Serena is fascinated by Gustav, the enigmatic owner of the Levi Gallery, and she soon feels an irresistible pull of attraction. The interest is mutual, and Gustav promises to launch Serena’s photographic career at his gallery, but only if Serena agrees to become his exclusive companion.

To mark their agreement, Gustav gives Serena a bracelet to wear at all times. Attached to it is a silver chain of which he is the keeper. With the chain Gustav controls Serena physically and symbolically – a sign that she is under his power.

As their passionate relationship intensifies, Gustav’s hold on the silver chain grows stronger. But will Gustav’s dark past tear them apart?

The Silver Chain is the first in the sexy, passionate and addictive Unbreakable Trilogy by Primula Bond. Perfect for fans of erotic romance.

Why I picked up this book:

I was intrigued by the silver chain. Such a simple thing...

My thoughts:

Surprisingly good.

Our heroine, Serena, is a photographer at the very beginning of her career. She's leaving behind a dark, dark childhood of neglect and casual abuse, to embrace the London experience. 

A chance encounter with the darkly dashing and older Gustav appeals to Serena's desire to embrace new experiences. So what if he's older, wealthy, more mature and experienced...? It also turns out that he's a patron of art and he takes her under his wing, contracting her first show with an unusual, sexual stipulation. 

Serena's an exceptionally well-written heroine - she's young and recognizes the limits of her experience, but as Gustav gets to know her, he peels back layers to reveal she's not quite as sheltered as the reader might expect. Her adventures in Venice, in particular, have helped shape (or reveal?) her own sexual longings and Gustav pushes her to explore these despite (or because of?) his own history. I loved that there was more to Serena than her innocence. She waffles back and forth between feeling powerful and confident to feeling unsure and defensive in a way that felt very authentic. Sure, she overreacts at times, and jumps to conclusions, but I think she does it in a way that's genuine rather than forced to create conflict. She's also direct, which is nice. There's not a lot of pussyfooting around, of bitten tongues and so forth - she knows exactly what she's done by agreeing to the contract, and she calls Gustav on whatever crap she thinks he might be slinging.

As for our hero, well.... I couldn't get a clear picture of Gustav in my mind. For one, the name Gustav felt too old-fashioned to me, like it belonged to a much older man - in his late fifties or sixties even.  I couldn't reconcile it with a man nearing forty, and that made it a bit more difficult for me to connect to him and his place in the story. Because he's also cast as Serena's mentor (master, patron, whichever role he seems to fill at the time), the sense of age and maturity is already heightened through the contrast. His vulnerability did appeal to me, but I still couldn't quite embrace the guy.

The sex is sexy, as it should be. There's quite a bit of kink - Gustav's need for control, the silver chain, punishment via spanking and whips, and then the running theme of voyeurism/exhibitionism. The photography, the use of a telescope, windows and doors, there's lots of opportunities to watch and be watched in this book, and it's heady stuff for a heroine who has never truly been seen. I also liked that while Gustav wants to set the pace and control the scenarios, he can be thrown off course through Serena's often small but significant efforts to resist. The first time they're together in his home, I was glad to see that he wasn't a master of self-control, as it were. It made him seem much more relatable.

The settings are gorgeously wild - each one is more *something* than the last. From richly appointed homes to the sublime cliffs and mountain sides that Serena and Gustav seem to favour, there's majesty all around these two. Artistic inspiration is easy to come by, and I think the fairy tale quality of their romance - certainly Rapunzel's name is thrown around a lot - was emphasized by these lush environments. 

I also really like how complete this story felt. Yes, there's an opening at the end to lead into a sequel, and the book is up front about being the start of a trilogy. I don't know that I really need to read more of Serena and Gustav's story. I think because I had that disconnect with Gustav, I probably wouldn't look for a sequel unless a good opportunity to pick it up arises. 

Bottom Line:

I definitely recommend this one. Despite my issues with the hero, I still really enjoyed it. I think Serena is a very appealing heroine - someone who is figuring herself out, but already has a sense of self. She's not just yearning for more, she's going out and working for it, living the life she wants to lead and not feeling guilty for it. I appreciated the novelty of it - there's no guilt here, just pleasure. That's a heady thing.

4.5 stars
For fans of erotica, punishment, voyeurism, older men, fresh starts

Wanted by J. Kenner

The Basics:

Wanted by J. Kenner
Random House Publishing Group - Bantam Dell
Erotica
Published Jan 7, 2014
Amazon.ca Kobo.com

Blurb:

For fans of Fifty Shades of Grey, Bared to You, and Release Me comes an all-new erotic series of three enigmatic and powerful men, and the striking women who can bring them to their knees.

He is everything I crave, all I desperately want—and he is everything I can’t have.

Evan Black embodies my every fantasy. He is brilliant, fierce, and devastatingly handsome. But he is also headstrong, dangerous, and burdened with secrets.

My family warned me to stay away, that I could never handle Evan’s dark dealings or scarred past. Maybe I should have listened. Maybe I should have run. But our desire is undeniable, and some temptations you just can’t fight.

And from the moment we touch—the passion between us consuming us both—I know that I will never be the same.

Wanted is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

What worked for me:

I loved this sexy novel about a woman who wants to let loose and fly and the man who understands her.

So I've written before about being at my limit for overly controlling alpha men - Evan's definitely in the alpha man camp. And he made me realize that perhaps I'm not really over alpha men so much as how they tend to be written. Because Evan was fantastic. He completely understood Angelina's need to let go of herself, to break through all the walls she forced around her true self, and simply fly on pure emotion and adrenaline.
This forms a logical basis for a relationship, one in which Evan controls the scene with the explicit goal of sending  Angelina to ever increasing heights. There seemed, to me, to be a more equal relationship between these two than I've seen in some other novels with a dominant male. Although yes, Evan did set the terms of most of their sexual encounters,  Angelina's motivation to participate, above and beyond her desire for Evan, seemed more defining in many ways. I liked that there was none of this "I take pleasure in your pain, and you'll take pleasure in pleasing me through your pain" stuff. Angelina may have enjoyed submitting, but Evan taking control was about more than that, and that is where this book really succeeded (for me).

There's also Cole and Tyler, Evan's partners and best friends, whose stories I look forward to reading. They have a role in the story that happens around the developing relationship, and I'm curious to learn more about what's really happening in their enterprises.

What didn't work for me:

Not a lot. I would have liked more insight into the dealings of the Knights, to fully flesh that aspect out - but I understand that something has to be held back for Cole and Tyler's stories.

Bottom line:

I lost sleep to finishing this book, which is the highest compliment I can pay. I was swept up in Angelina's attempts to find herself, I was touched by the way Evan provided her with a safety net so she could soar, and I will look forward to the next book in the series!

Check this one out!

5 stars
For fans of erotica and alpha men who aren't unbearable

Control by Charlotte Stein

The Basics:
Control by Charlotte Stein
Sourcebooks Casablanca
Erotica
Published Jan 7, 2014
Amazon.ca Kobo.com

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blurb:

When Madison Morris decides to hire an assistant to help run her naughty bookshop, she gets a lot more than she bargained for. Two very different men are vying for the position...and a whole lot more.

Andy excites her into grasping control, while Gabriel shows her how freeing it can be to just let go. Soon the lines are blurring and Madison is no longer sure who's leading and who's following. In the midst of kinky threesomes and power plays, can she’ll have to finally decide what--and who--she really wants.

What worked for me:

Right off the bat, the bookstore had my heart. I want to own a 'dirty bookstore' called Wicked Words. I imagine in the current economy this wouldn't really be that feasible as far as new businesses go, but who cares! A bookstore that specializes in romance and erotica sounds like an amazing place to work, to me.

Okay, moving beyond my lust for Madison's workplace, this book is straightforward erotica. It starts off in the middle of a sexual encounter and does not let up. There's variety here - lots of sex or sexual moments that are not typical currently in mainstream erotica. Though obviously the control theme is a hot topic, this book explores both male and female dominance.

Though I hadn't previously considered myself interested in reading a female dominant story, Stein adeptly coaxed me into seeing Gabe's submission and desire to be pushed into his various sexual fantasies as extremely hot. I wasn't 'into' all of the scenes, but I did appreciate being exposed to them, and having my horizons broadened.

I also love the cheeky meta nature of having erotic novels inspire Madison's behaviour - some tongue-in-cheek encouragement?

What didn't work for me:

Though the first impression Gabe makes isn't overly favourable, by the end of the story, it's easy to see why Madison is so attracted to him. Unfortunately, Andy never quite did it for me. There was something too smarmy and smug about him to push any of my buttons. I kept picturing him as a sort of unattractive, lout of a fellow, and I'm sure that didn't help. His brand of control was so derogatory that it put me off, though it was in keeping with the book's presentation of control.

Bottom line:

I strongly recommend this to fans of erotica. I thought it was wonderfully inventive within a nearly exhausted sub-genre. I'd love to read more by this author -  Charlotte Stein is definitely on my list now!

4.5 stars
For fans of erotica, BDSM, humiliation, male submissives.

Beg by CD Reiss

Beg by CD Reiss
eXcessica Publishing
Book One in the Songs of Submission
Erotica, Romance
Published April 13, 2013

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Blurb:

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:

My feelings about this episode of the longer e-serial Songs of Submission are so mixed I can't separate pros from cons without discussing them back and forth.

So, Beg introduces a struggling musician - Monica - working as a waitress to make ends meet. She and her friend (also her ex) are shuffling his sister back and forth between them to protect her from herself and the crippling depression she falls into when her meds aren't working. We also meet Jonathan, a wealthy fella who takes a liking to our heroine, and winds up having her under his control for a night of sexy games. 

Problem? He's still hung up on his ex-wife, who broke his heart. So no commitment for Monica. And she's got some relationship issues too. Plenty of tension to go around.

Now, I'm reaching my limit for these hyper-controlling alpha men. Jonathan walks the line for me, and I think if I read more in the series, he'd probably drive me nuts. But this isn't a failing of the book, necessarily. He's got issues, he's sexy, and he's entirely appropriate for the sub-genre, so I can't *really* complain here. 

Monica is a sassy heroine, easy to root for, except for the part where she plays a little loose with her responsibilities to hook up with Jonathan. Still, I liked her, and I'm interested in *her* story.

The whole piece has a certain rawness in tone - everyone's wounds still feel fresh and open despite how long they've been carrying them, there's angry words, jealous words, and plenty of attitude to try to mask how close to the surface a lot of the emotion and baggage everyone's carrying around is. Reiss' ability to manage that rawness alongside a slowly rising sensuality is a real credit. This entry into the series is pretty striking.

The thing that  doesn't work for me is the format for publication. This portion is only about fifty pages long in the e-format I read, and while it works as a short story with many loose ends, knowing that there's at seven more parts to Monica and Jonathan's story is frustrating. I guess because I like my erotica with a side of happy for now or happily ever after, I'd rather read the entire story in one go (with crossed fingers because neither HFN or HEA is requirement for erotica!).

Fortunately, Beg was originally published in April of this year, and it is now available with the two other "Songs of Submission" stories in a three-pack on Amazon and from other retailers. The other parts are also available now, so you can purchase the entire story.

Bottom Line:

Beg was intriguing with lots of different elements to latch onto - I just don't know if I'm in for the rest of the story. It feels like a commitment to follow them to the end and I've been burned on these multi-book erotica stories before - I need the series to end in a happy place!

Still, if you like your erotica with BDSM and alpha males and the like, then this looks like a solid bet, and certainly Beg is a well-rounded start!

The best part? If you don't want to commit to picking up the trilogy - Beg is available right now for *free* in the Kindle format from amazon.com . Check it out and then come back and tell me what *you* thought about it!

4 stars
For fans of BDSM erotica, the e-serial format, erotica with plot

Awakening by Elene Sallinger

The Basics:

Awakening by Elene Sallinger
SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca
Erotica
Published: Nov 5, 2013

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Back Copy:

Claire Ryan is finally coming out of her shell after a devastating breakup. What better way to rejoin the world than through a romance book club. But she never expects to find love for herself... Bookshop owner Evan Lang still harbors deep grief for the death of his wife. He’d introduced her to a world of domination she’d never before known. He thinks he’ll never be able to find someone that open, that responsive again. Until Claire walks through his door...

What worked for me:

Claire and Evan are both compelling, broken individuals. They both need to come to terms with their pasts before they can build anything meaningful together. I like that they weren't perfect people: they each have made and/or make pretty poor choices.

I liked that Evan was very conscious (at least at the start of each encounter) about how careful he needed to be with Claire. This book would not have worked at all if we hadn't seen his thought process - but because we did, we get some really great insight into some of the things that a good Dominant should consider. 

The sex in this book is really hot - maybe it's elevated by the exploration of emotional and psychological issues? Maybe it's just really well written. I thought that the author did a great job of incorporating encounters that *made sense* for someone being introduced to BDSM, and I found *that* sexy. There's no rushing Claire into the deep end; instead Evan eases her into the lifestyle, only pushing when she's overthinking things.

What didn't work for me:

I'm starting to burn out on the dominant/alpha male erotic novel. 

That said, this book was so much more than just a dominant running the show, pushing a submissive past her limits/raising her up to his standards. It was an emotional journey through some serious issues with some sexy play incorporated. If you're looking for fluff, this is *not* that book.

Still, because of my saturation on this particular subgenre, I didn't enjoy this quite as much as I think someone who isn't burned out might. I found some of Evan's controlling behaviour a little annoying, to be honest. Appropriate, sure, but I wanted to tell him to back off more than once.  

I felt the same about the leader of the Book Club, who put Claire on the spot several times. Granted, it helped Claire come out of her shell, but I felt uncomfortable on her behalf. 

Bottom Line:

This is probably the best BDSM book I've read in recent memory - and that's because it's about more than just sex and control. The book explores the emotions involved in BDSM, impact play (a term I learned from this book!) and exploring boundaries. 

4 stars
For fans of BDSM erotica, of erotica with plot/emotion, of impact play