Sunday, January 31, 2016

Friday, January 29, 2016

Sloth: A sad, erotic and unique love story

kindle unlimitedSloth: A Sinful Secrets Romance
by Ella James
A Kindle Unlimited Romance

"Sloth is a 500-page, 150,000-word stand alone novel with many twists, one huge secret, and a non-cliffhanger ending. It will wreck you, but you'll like it."

A warning from the Author Ella James, and she isn't kidding. This is the first steamy romance in a series inspired by a sin; in this case: Sloth.  In Christianity, Sloth refers to laziness, or spiritual and emotional apathy. This isn't a religious book, although there are plenty of sinful themes.  Sloth is the name given to Cleo Whatley in middle school, when she was overweight and took forever getting ready.  It's a word that holds a great deal of meaning and importance to both of the main characters in this story, and one I'll never think about in the same way again.

Cleo: "There’s something bad about me. Years ago, before I learned to hide it, Grans would call it pride— but it’s more than that. It’s recklessness. It’s sin. This stupid bar, these stupid ropes, they’re nothing. There’s a part of me that needs to play this game with him. I didn’t even know my dark spirit could rise to sex, but..."

I don't want to give away any secrets, because that's the best part about this story.  From the very beginning, I had no idea what was going on.  I knew something was up, and I had some guesses.  I was sort of right in some places; wrong in others.  I was saddened and completely addicted.  Instead of giving away too many spoilers, here's a little overview of what's to come if you decide to read this beautifully written masterpiece that I'll never forget.

The Notes
This story starts with a chain of letters...a tiny written snapshot into two strangers lives.  Everything is very cryptic.  Little details are given as months and years move on.  Some of them are sad.  Others are very intriguing:

Sloth,
Please lord?  I'll answer to that.  Happy New Year.
R.

Who is this mysterious R.?  Before we could find out more, the story switches to present day where names change, and it's hard to figure out who's who and what's what.  Initially, before things really started heating up, this is what kept me turning the pages.

The Plot
Cleo Whatley is enrolled in a very expensive college, and deals mj to buy designer clothes, boots and bags.  On a drug deal, she's caught by Kellan Walsh, the schools SGA President and enforcer of the college's zero tolerance drug policy.  When they meet, both of their lives change forever...and that's all I'm going to say about the actual events.
As far as the chapters and scenes - this whole book is mysterious.  Illusive.  Intentionally deceitful.  Sometimes it's manic and over-the-top.  It's also well thought out and detailed in a way that I can only imagine how much time went into lining everything up so brilliantly, especially the key dates that weave this story together.

The Mood
Here's my hybrid take with a few of the story's themes cross-bred in:  Imagine lounging in a tub full of tepid water on a low, gloomy day. Top shelf vodka warms your veins as you're bound by blue tainted ropes. A water bong packed with buds gurgles in the distance, mixing with the sound of rain against the blurry window. Smoke swirls into your nose, silently stalking it's way up into your mind, dulling your senses. Confusing up from down. Distorting right from wrong.  So you can't tell the difference between breathing and drowning. The muscle relaxing bliss that follows is thick with unbelievable pleasure, blocking out all the pain from the past. Burning across your heated skin and toaking at the silky ropes that keep getting tighter. Pulling you away from the truth.

The Characters
All of the characters came to life, not one vivid detail left behind which I absolutely loved.

Cleo:  I wasn't sure if I really liked her at first.  Selling pot just to fit in?  But she's so much more than that.  After a really sad past, I find her to be very optimistic and well adjusted after the life she had growing up.  And I can't blame her for wanting nice things after not having them for so many years.  I think it shows she's young.  She's human.  She's also very loving and compassionate, with an admirable career goal after she graduates.  Last but not least, she's incredibly forgetful - sure you're not sneakin a bit of the chronic there Cleo?

"Mr. Perfect":  Kellan is hot.  And we get to hear just how good looking his is often, which is one hundred percent fine by me.  His features were so well written, I could always picture his body from top to bottom.  Sometimes I think I could even smell him.  He's dominant but not really a jerk.  Never too condescending.  Smart and a deep, inward thinker.  He makes all of his choices based on emotion and need.  He has a temper.  He's moody:

"Kellan calls the shots with us, and that’s a shame, because he’s stormy. Changeable. Sometimes I feel like I’m getting close, and then he flits away. Like now."

I think what happens in Part Two, Chapter Four really says the most about who Kellan Walsh is.  He's a man whose moral compass is set.  He's chosen his path and he's not turning back.  This scene was dark, and in my opinion a really big deal.  I wish it was explored a little deeper - did your decisions haunt you like they haunted me Kellan?

The BDSM
Master/Sub relationships in college?  Rooms with hidden contraptions in the ceiling?  I wasn't sure about that at first, but after the first hookup, you couldn't pry this book away from me with herb laced tongs.  It wasn't BDSM the first time - it was just pure cheek flushing awesomeness.  Kellan orders Cleo to the floor, and she has this special talent that I find extremely refreshing and highly erotic.  After a few minutes of kneeling before him she thinks:

"He’s beautiful. Perfection, really, even more so as he comes undone."

And man does he come undone.  They both do.  The intimate scenes in this book were some of the best ones I've ever read.  They happen often, and each one is hot, slow moving, sensuously described and very kinky.  Kellan is quite the dirty talker!  

The End
My head swelled as I tried to focus on the last chapters, my sinuses stinging so bad I could barely keep reading as I blinked the water away from my eyes.  That's never happened to me before.  Movies, yes.  Books no.  I can't wait to read this sad love story again knowing what I know now, and taking in all the details I'm sure I missed the first time around.  This has become one of my favorite books of all time!

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Kindle Unlimited Erotica - Romantic Kinky Spanking for Him

Erotic SpankingThe Disciplined Husband
by Lucy Appleby

An erotic femdom romance available on Kindle Unlimited

Seriously, this book should come with one of those inflatable donut seat cushions and soothing lotion, because after reading this book your backside is gonna be sore by association!!

The Disciplined Husband is a sexy, endearing tale of Peter and Sylvia, told completely from Peter’s point of view. Both are two professionals in a well-established relationship, living near London in a gorgeous Manor by the sea. The plot is very simple; Peter wants to propose, however Sylvia beats him to it and together they plan their wedding. But it’s really a character driven story about their unique relationship together, the experiences they share with their friends, and the interesting people they meet along the way.
OK - it’s mostly about the spanking. Holy crap - poor Peter! He doesn’t always mean to mess up. Any yet he always seems to. That’s where Sylvia steps in, bringing on punishments like this:

"Bastard spoon!" I growl, shaking my stinging cheeks.
"Lovely spoon," she croons. "It leaves little stinging pink love bites all over your naughty bottom."

At times the pummeling to his “sit spots” can get really brutal…so bad I had to skip a few. But he absolutely loves every minute of it, even when he acts like he doesn’t. And what I like about Sylvia, is that she’s always willing to make sure all of his needs are met too, even if she essentially gives up control. She can be horribly cruel:

"Sounds great. Hey - that means we'll be spending our wedding night here along with fifteen house guests!"
"It does. So I promise to gag you when I spank you so they won't hear you yelling." Sylvia smiles at me, and there is a wicked gleam in her eyes.

And other times she submits herself to him. Peter admittedly loves his life with Sylvia whether he’s physically able to sit down for dinner or not, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Neither would Sylvia, who clearly cares for him a great deal.

Reading from chapter to chapter, I honestly didn’t have any idea where the story was headed, but I didn’t have any intentions of stopping. The dialog is casual and friendly, and Peter’s actions and inner thoughts had me laughing several times. And in other chapters, the writing was absolutely beautiful and vividly serious:

"By the time I reached the cliff path I was panting with exertion, but shivering too as a chill wind raced over the sea to claw at my clothes and lash at my face. The sun had disappeared beneath a big bank of ugly grey clouds, the sea beneath them an ominous green grey mass of seething waves, rising and falling with relentless ferocity.”

Peter loves to be spanked and disciplined, and in the end we learn more about his past, and how he and Sylvia first met. The intimate scenes aren’t always 100% descriptive, and sometimes some of the good stuff is skipped over or brought up with little build-up or easing in. Other times it’s really hot! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and it gave me a wonderful insight into a domestic discipline based relationship. It also had my husband screaming through the hallways with his hands on his backside as I chased him around the house with a spatula. Just kidding :)

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Action Packed Romance

The Vigilante's Lover #2: A Romantic Suspense Thriller (The Vigilantes)

I love this series. Lately I've been watching a lot of movies, and most are either way too boring or unnecessarily gross and disgusting for shock value vs plot. This action packed romance isn't any of those things. It's sexy, exciting and funny too:

"She got hit by a poison dart,” I mention, rubbing the back of my neck. 
“And all her clothes flew off?” Colette shoots back. 

Part II starts out with a really steamy scene - then I was totally pissed because Mia has to go back home & Jax goes on with his adventure. But towards the end they get back together and have an even hotter liaison that's worth the wait.

This book ends with an explosive cliff hanger that had me instantly back to Amazon to buy Part III! I'm really enjoying this exciting ride & can't wait to see what happens next...
Check out the whole series:

Rich CEO Romance/Office Romance

Saving the CEO (49th Floor Novels Book 1)

"Real estate mogul Jack Winter has rules. Lots of rules. After all, a man doesn’t build an empire without a little discipline. And on page one of the rulebook? Don’t sleep with your employees. Especially when there’s a multimillion dollar real estate deal at stake..."

 I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this rich guy romance, but man I really enjoyed it! It takes place in Canada, switching from the towering city skyscrapers to the beautiful lakes of Muskoka towards the end.  The buildup was great, and the intimate scenes were hot. I loved how Cassie wasn't afraid to ask for what she wanted, and how when Jack didn't handle something appropriately he owned up to it later. The ending was sweet and very romantic.

My tags: Strong leading lady, Rich non-jerky hero, Awesome descriptive setting

Saturday, December 26, 2015

The Vigilante's Lover: A Romantic Suspense Thriller

I recently watched Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit and I realized I needed more action in my romance. Normally I don’t prefer first person present tense, and this flip-flops for both characters in every chapter - but I was hooked right away! Maybe because it just accelerates the action.

It starts with a prison break, and reminds me of that show Breakout Kings which I wish they didn’t cancel. Immediately I was thrown into a world of gadgets and mood sensors and all sorts of crazy things. None of them are really explained, but if you watch enough TV like I do they don’t need to be.

Then we get to Mia. Her story starts a little slower, but it’s clear her life is about to change forever & boy does it. They chemistry between the two is incredible. Jax is 100% sure she’s bad news, and she’s freaked out…sort of…and yet strangely turned on and excited at the same time. Her whole character journey is awesome. I love how she looks to her mother for strength.

The whole premise is a little far fetched: bondage love letters = secretly coded messages. But the story is just so good it brings you right in. There aren’t a whole lot of hookup scenes; just teases & building of sexual desire which is hot and well done.

I really enjoyed this first book of the series & plan on reading the rest!
Free at Amazon
or check out the whole series:

Monday, December 21, 2015

Discount Dark Erotica - Review

Forbidden: A Standalone by CD Reiss
Currently $2.99 for all three books!

Fiona
“Sex was my superpower, and I knew when a man wanted me.”
Sex. Drugs. Addiction. Pain. All of these vices hold Fiona tight so she doesn't have to think or feel. A euphoric blanket covering up all the truths she’s smart enough to admit to herself. One she’ll soon be forced to toss forever. This book sinks you deep down into her soul, wrapping us vividly around her life and how she lives it. She's rich. Impulsive. And no matter how frayed and unraveled she feels, she finds freedom in Deacon, a Master who knots her up.

Elliot
“I feel closer to God when I’m with you, and that has meaning to me.”
Nothing gets me hotter than reading about a stricken man. Use was my favorite section, unlocking the angst in Elliot’s life, and how meeting Fiona changed it forever. The character development is exceptional, and I loved reading about all the forbidden lust building up inside him. But I also loved his loyalty and restraint to both his girlfriend and God. And how there was always passion and emotion in every one of his decisions.

“We break down and rebuild ourselves every seven to ten years.”
Every sentence in this book is beautiful, bringing mood and color and atmosphere to life. Or death, depending on the scene. It’s poetic and brutally honest, with too many thought provoking quotes to list. The characters don’t always make the right decisions, and things don’t always work out sunny and bright. But in the end, revenge was totally owned. And love was finally found. As an aspiring author, reading this series solidified the type of writer I want to become, and the types of stories I’d like to tell. And as a woman reaching the second half of my life, it made me think about what I want to do with the rest of it.

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