The Gift by Sandra Marton

A romance novella by Sandra Marton, set in the Wilde world – that world inhabited by the Wilde’s, the formidable ranch family of Texas, scion of a general of the US Army.  This is a bit of alright – you get the jet set background, the alpha male and the stars, the violins, the works.  Like all Sandra Marton’s work, it goes a little deeper than the fantasy romance type read.  It touches on the world of high-powered, arranged marriages, where emotions take a back seat and hard bargaining takes precedent.  The plot is classic Lancelot and Guinevere – Kazimir, a security professional, has, because of his connections with Sardovia, a Baltic kingdom, been given a special assignment to deliver – yes, deliver – the future wife of the head of the Sardovian throne safely to her waiting bridegroom.  At first the young lady gives Kaz heartburn and he’s not at all impressed – until he comes to realize that the young lady is a mere pawn in a political game with no say in the (entirely unsuitable) choice of her husband.  Kaz’s exasperation gives way to compassion and then to love.  But while he realizes he can never complete his assignment, to deliver this woman to a life of hell, he also realizes that as a man of his word, his reputation and professional credibility will be forever compromised.  So what is it going to be?  Will he choose to follow his heart?  Or can he dare to risk losing his professional credibility?

For admirers of Sandra Marton’s work, for lovers of romance fiction and for all those who love fairy tales in a modern setting.  An impressive read.

Dangerous Desire by Annie Seaton (Entangled Ignite)

Reviewed by Maria

Annie Seaton's latest release is a real treat.  Romantic suspense at its most suspenseful...you just cannot put the bloody book down and get your washing done.  It's that compulsive.  You don't even want to go into the kitchen and get a cup of coffee for yourself.

Gracie, the kindergarten teacher who is looking for her missing sister reminds me of myself when I was a bit younger.  She is so innocent, she'd go anywhere looking for her missing loved one and find herself in a nest of sharks within minutes.  I loved her willingness to put herself on the line for those she loved.  Jake, the medically retired cop, who accidentally falls for Gracie then spends the rest of the story trying to get her out of trouble.

The world of the ocean with it's sense of danger around the corner and the difficulty of finding a missing person - someone could be lost forever within seconds - gave this story a delicious edge and sense of danger.  Jake and Gracie's love story was enjoyable too.  How this not-too-experienced young woman captures the heart  of this world weary cop makes for an enjoyable read.

The story was pretty hot in comparison to the Annie Seaton's usual work, as this is for a hotter line than those for which this author writes.  The scenes were certainly up to the mark.  But I have to declare here and now that I love this author's work and I read the book because of the author, not because of the fact that the line is smoking hot.

I loved the story and I loved the vividly descriptive language which brought the coast of Australia brilliantly, vividly alive for me.

Giving this one the full five stars.

5/5

Heating Up Hawaii by Carmen Falcone

The very name suggests a hot read and that's exactly what this is.  The wonderful Carmen Falcone's reunion story of the very grounded Penny and the very enigmatic Luc. Their passionate love affair burnt itself out eight years before, owing to misunderstanding and immaturity.  But this time around, they're going to be all mature about this, right?  And no one's going to get hurt....not even slightly scorched.  And therein lies the problem....

Penny's had a sad childhood.  Her parents separated after Penny's mother discovered that her husband and Penny's father had been cheating and not only that, Penny had known about it.  Penny's relationship with her mother was damaged and had her grandmother not been around, the child that Penny was would have suffered too much.  As it was, Penny still lost her grandmother way too early.  Luc had to shoulder the burden of caring for his mother and severely disabled brother way too  young after the death of his father - so Luc and Penny's first encounter ended in tears.  Not to mention a pregnancy which Luc knew nothing about and which tragically miscarried.

It's almost a decade later.  Self-made Luc is now a hotel magnate.  Penny's a PR heavyweight, on the brink of opening her own company.  She accepts a short term contract from Luc, to launch the Maui Leoni, his Hawaiian acquisition.  This job will give Penny prestige, confidence and contacts.  All she needs to go it alone in business.  And of course, her relationship with Luc will be entirely professional....yeah, right!

Working in close proximity, the pair attempt to, but are unable to hide their strong bond and attraction.  It's only a matter of time before their passions ignite and then watch them heat up Hawaii.

As a romance novella, it's quite perfect.  Very reminiscent of the  Presents/Modern imprint of Harlequin Mills & Boon.  The love scenes are scorching, so it might be advisable to wear dark glasses.  It mightn't be any harm to keep a cold drink to hand.  On second thoughts, make that a cold shower.

Alpha male hero, with some lovable flaws, check.  Beautiful heroine who's just the right mixture of vulnerability and woman of substance, check.  The passion quotient, check.  Exotic location, check. The healing power of love, check.Heck, it comes up to standard on every level and is recommended for readers who like bold, romance fiction.

I've no choice but to give it full marks.  Really.

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Reviewed by Nancy Crocker

Heating Up Hawaii by Carmen Falcone

Things really do Heat up in Hawaii, when ex lovers reunite. Will they be able to get pass their issues from eight years ago. And what will happen between these two, when secrets are revealed.

Penny Ashbrook dreams of opening her own PR company, she is currently working for Charles Dawn. Having walked away from his son, Darren Dawn the day before they were to be married. While she came close to getting married six months ago. There has really only been one true love for her, and she is about to come face to face with Luc again. She has a number of secrets, that she has been carrying around for years. I felt so bad for Penny's character and the issue she lived thru alone, when she first left Luc.

Eight years ago Luc Leoni was struggling to make a name for himself. Penny might have set him back eight years ago, but now he is a self made billionaire. Half French and half Italian he makes for one smoking hot Hero. When he accidentally overhears Penny's name mentioned he asks to be introduced. One thing he realizes when he comes face to face with her again, is that the attraction is still there for both of them.

The love scenes were really well written. While I found Darren's character believable, I struggled with his fathers story line. Threatening to fire someone who is working to pay you back money, just has a weird vibe to it for me. But overall really good story.

4/5 stars

Serviced Volume 1 by Various Authors

Reviewed by Desere


I have always found the men in uniform totally irresistible, sexy and just plain HOT!

It has to be the power they can hold or maybe the muscle, or the fact that they will protect their woman like one of their own men in battle or heck maybe it is their "guns", what ever the reason men in uniforms know how to turn a woman on!

In this read I was introduced to sexy soldiers, with various ranks,  from all over doing their thing and doing their woman the way they like.

From being in control, to being kind, sweet and sensitive, to being totally out of control and ensuring their woman get the best sex of their lives, and also in some really public places I might add, which really left the pages ablaze with all kinds of sexual scenario's!

Yes ladies this read had it all ! And I do mean all, the characters ranged from kind, caring souls who fight for what is right to dark dangerous badboys who change the lives of woman all over the world after just one night.

Each and every author made sure to deliver a impact that will say with me as reader for a long time. There was the spectacular For One Night Only by Allie A. Burrow that will leave you breathless and believing that soul mates do exist.

Then there was also the heart-stopping Taking Command by Zara Stoneley that showed taking control of what you want or in this case of who you want is sometimes the only way to get your man!

Each and every story was hot, sexy, fun and flirty! For those ladies out there looking for a hotter than hot read this one is it, the sex scenes of all books were remarkable and guaranteed to get your heart racing and palms sweating, not to mention the drop-your-pants and give me some soldiers!

I highly recommend this read for lovers of short but powerful romances reads with hot, racy and sexy love scenes. After reading this one you will want to go out and get serviced by your very own uniformed hero!

5/5 star review
"Every woman needs a man in uniform"


Reviewed by Maria

With erotica - blatantly sexual writing - we are at the controversial end of the scale with romance fiction.  The total opposite of  so-called 'sweet romance' with its hints and implications.  Romance writing can go from sweet to 'spare my blushes' to full on sexual activity, In actual erotica, the sex scenes are  in-your-face.  Sometimes literally.   No romantic language here.  A spade is most definitely a spade.  Body parts are given their actual names, usually the type of names you won't hear in a church or a hospital.

Which is fine if that's what you like.  Consenting adults in private and all that.  People, women especially, usually read romance fiction for the emotional rush, the heady feeling of falling in love.  From what I know, readers of erotica do so to kick start their libido.  So you could call it a form of sex therapy.  When I was thirteen I remember getting all thrilled when I read a Violet Winspear novel and the hero pushed the heroine a little too firmly then 'claimed her lips in a kiss' or words to that effect..  The next scene, she woke up in bed with him.  Full scene censored.  But that was enough.  I.  Was.  Hooked.   Now I'd say 'OMG what a chauvinist' and if I saw my daughters reading stuff like that, I'd be careful to tell them that that type of male behaviour is unacceptable.  An alpha male is one thing.  A bully is another.  But what did I know back then?

The thing about erotic fiction is that the premises may be different but the aim is always to get 'serviced', shall we say? Sorry if I sound all coy, it's my convent educated background playing up here!.   First you get hints, implications, a little lead on here and there.  Then more.  More.  More and more.  The climax of the story usually coincides with the climax of the sexual activity of the protagonists. Which of course is really  no coincidence.

SERVICED VOLUME I is a collection of erotic novellas within one volume,. by a team of competent authors from Breathless Press.  They're all more than up to the mark to write 'hot' and write it most effectively.  I wouldn't say I was a prude, but I took a few days to read this because I wouldn't read it in front of the kids and also because as a housewife, there was no point in reading this, getting all hot and bothered and then having to go and wash the freaking dishes. I'd have probably ended up breaking half of them.  SERVICED VOL. I.is about service people, i.e. active military personnel.  Well, there couldn't be anyone more hungry for a bit of hot loving than a serviceman on leave, now could there?  Except perhaps his lady?  And then, what of the servicewomen?  Military personnel aren't all male anymore, are they?

As a self-confessed vanilla type, who was brought up to believe that sex was sacred and only for private activity, I'm probably not the best person to review a book like SERVICED.  But as Oscar Wilde said, books are well written or badly written, that is all.  And I can recognize good writing when I see it.  And this is that elusive commodity, good writing. Skilled writing.  After all, if you're going to write hot, you might as well 'get it write' so to speak.  And yes, they do.

So if you're a fan of erotic romance, you won't go wrong to pick this up.  It will certainly get your pulse racing.  And a few more things too, I should think.

Well done, Allie A. Burrow and the rest of the group, you've earned your commissions here.  This volume haS been reported to have been selling wildly, so I guess that Volume II will the virtual shelves in due course. .