Book Review: Mastering Meg by Saskia Walker

Title: Mastering Meg
Author: Saskia Walker
Genre: Erotic Romance
Sensuality Rating: Erotic
Source: bought
Published: November 1, 2010 by Total E-Bound

Meg is enjoying a peaceful log cabin and a hiking holiday in Scotland, until her ex arrives on the doorstep. When she realizes he intends to share the cabin with her, she is outraged.

Piers wants Meg back and he thinks he finally has his lover figured out. He’s been to her London flat and he’s found her secret stash of BDSM material. Meg wants to be mastered, and Piers is determined to be the one to do so. After a breakneck drive north, he stakes his claim.

Meg is furious that her ex has cornered her and heads off into the wilds, but Piers is only a whisper behind her. When he captures and cuffs her, she is astonished. Despite her protestations, Meg is wildly aroused by his dominant approach. She’s always loved him, and now he is kicking aside the final barrier between them.

Never before has Meg been so liberated, so debauched, or so thoroughly pleasured. Getting her to admit that, however, is his biggest challenge. But Piers is determined, he has patience…and he has an arsenal of bondage equipment to master Meg with.
Reader Advisory: This book includes scenes that some readers may find objectionable, including chase and capture, bondage and domination.

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Reviewed by: Monica

Book Review: Paper Towns by John Green

Title: Paper Towns
Author: John Green
Genre: Young Adult
Sensuality Rating: Innocent
Source: bought
Published: September 22, 2009 by Speak

Who is the real Margo?

Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs into his life—dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge—he follows. After their all-nighter ends, and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues—and they're for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees the girl he thought he knew...

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Reviewed by: Monica

Book Review: The Here and Now by Ann Brashares

Title: The Here and Now
Author: Ann Brashares
Genre: Young Adult
Sensuality Rating: Unknown
Source: library
Published: April 8, 2014 by Delacorte Press

Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love.

This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins.

Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth.

But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves.

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Reviewed by: Monica

Book Review: The Shattered Court by M.J. Scott

Title: The Shattered Court
Series: The Four Arts, Book 1
Author: M.J. Scott
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Sensuality Rating: Steamy
Source: bought
Published: April 28, 2015 by Roc

Entangled in a court ruled by tradition and intrigue, a young witch must come to terms with newfound power and desire—and a choice between loyalty and survival.…

The royal witches of Anglion have bowed to tradition for centuries. If a woman of royal blood manifests powers, she is immediately bound by rites of marriage. She will serve her lord by practicing the tamer magics of the earth—ensuring good harvests and predicting the weather. Any magic more dangerous is forbidden.

Lady Sophia Kendall, thirty-second in line to the throne, is only days away from finding out if she will be blessed—or perhaps cursed—with magic. When a vicious attack by Anglion’s ancient enemies leaves the kingdom in chaos, Sophia is forced to flee the court. Her protector by happenstance is Lieutenant Cameron Mackenzie, a member of the royal guard, raised all his life to be fiercely loyal to the Crown.

Then Sophia’s powers manifest stronger than she ever imagined they would, and Cameron and she are inextricably linked in the process. As a witch unbound by marriage rites, Sophia is not only a threat to the established order of her country, but is also a weapon for those who seek to destroy it. Faced with old secrets and new truths, she must decide if she will fight for her country or succumb to the delicious temptation of power.

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Reviewed by: Monica

Book Review: So Tough to Tame by Victoria Dahl

Title: So Tough to Tame
Series: Jackson Hole, Book 3
Author: Victoria Dahl
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Sensuality Rating: Steamy
Source: bought
Published: September 24, 2013 by Harlequin HQN

Tough to tame, but not too tough to love... Charlie Allington is supposed to be on the fast track to the top-a small-town girl who was making it big in her career. Instead, she's reeling from a scandal that's pretty much burned all her bridges. Now, out of options, she needs a place to lick her wounds and figure out her future. True, working at a ski resort in rugged Jackson Hole, Wyoming, isn't her dream job. But if there's one perk to coming back, it's a certain sexy hometown boy who knows how to make a girl feel welcome. 

Cowboy Walker Pearce never expected a grown-up Charlie to be temptation in tight jeans. She's smart and successful-way out of league for a man like him. But he's not about to let that, or his secrets, get in the way of their blazing-hot attraction. Yet when passion turns to something more, will the truth-about both of them-send her out of his life for good...or into his arms forever?

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Reviewed by: Monica

Book Review: Too Hot to Handle by Victoria Dahl

Title: Too Hot to Handle
Series: Jackson Hole, Book 2
Author: Victoria Dahl
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Sensuality Rating: Steamy
Source: bought
Published: March 26, 2013 by Harlequin HQN

This good girl's going bad.

Merry Kade has always been the good girl. The best friend. The one who patiently waits for the guy to notice her. Well, no more. Merry has just scored her dream job, and it's time for her life to change. As the new curator of a museum in Wyoming, she'll supervise a lot of restoration work. Luckily she's found the perfect contractor for the job.

Shane Harcourt can't believe that someone wants to turn a beat-up ghost town into a museum attraction. After all, the last thing he needs is the site of his dream ranch turning into a tourist trap. He'll work on the project, if only to hasten its failure; until the beautiful, quirky woman in charge starts to change his mind.

For the first time ever, Merry has a gorgeous stud hot on her heels. But can she trust this strong, silent man, even if he is a force of nature in bed? When Shane's ulterior motives come out, he'll need to prove to Merry that a love like theirs may be too hot to handle, but it's impossible to resist.

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Reviewed by: Monica

Book Review: Divine by Mistake by P.C. Cast

Title: Divine by Mistake
Series: Partholon, Book 1
Author: P.C. Cast
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Sensuality Rating: Sensual
Source: bought
Published: September 1, 2006 by Luna Books

The most excitement teacher Shannon Parker expected on her summer vacation was a little shopping. But then her latest purchase--a vase with the Celtic goddess Epona on it--somehow switches her into the world of Partholon, where she's treated like a goddess. A very temperamental goddess... It seems that Shannon has stepped into another's role as the Goddess Incarnate of Epona. And while it has some very appealing moments--what woman doesn't like a little pampering now and then?--it also comes with a ritual marriage to a centaur and the threat of war against the evil Fomorians. Oh, and everyone disliking her because they think she's her double.

Somehow Shannon needs to figure out how to get back to Oklahoma without being killed, married to a horse or losing her mind...

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Reviewed by: Monica

Book Review: Love by the Book by Melissa Pimentel

Title: Love by the Book
Author: Melissa Pimentel
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Women’s Literature
Sensuality Rating: Mild
Source: review copy provided by publisher
Published: February 3, 2015 by Penguin Random House

A hilarious and refreshingly honest foray into modern dating, Age, Sex, Location is Bridget Jones's Diary for HBO's Girls generation.

An American living in London, Lauren is intelligent, beautiful and loves to party. So why can't she convince a man she isn't after something more serious than scrambled eggs and goodbye in the morning?

Determined to snare some regular male affection, she embarks on a project: each month she will follow the rules of a different dating guide - from refusing to pay the bill to chatting up every man in her path - and will switch seamlessly to the next book at the end of each month.

Lauren's love life is about to get scientific . .

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Reviewed by: Monica

Book Review & Giveaway: Scandalous Series by Caroline Linden

  

Title: Love and Other Scandals; It Takes a Scandal; Love in the Time of Scandal
Series: Scandalous, Books 1-3
Author: Caroline Linden
Genre: Historical Romance
Sensuality Rating: Sensual-Steamy
Source: review copy provided by publisher
Published: July 30, 2013; April 29, 2014; May 26, 2015 by Avon

Book Review: The Bourbon Kings by J.R. Ward

Title: The Bourbon Kings
Series: The Bourbon Kings, Book 1
Author: J.R. Ward
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Sensuality Rating: Mild
Source: review copy provided by publisher
Published: July 28, 2015 by NAL

For generations, the Bradford family has worn the mantle of kings of the bourbon capital of the world. Their sustained wealth has afforded them prestige and privilege—as well as a hard-won division of class on their sprawling estate, Easterly. Upstairs, a dynasty that by all appearances plays by the rules of good fortune and good taste. Downstairs, the staff who work tirelessly to maintain the impeccable Bradford facade. And never the twain shall meet.

For Lizzie King, Easterly’s head gardener, crossing that divide nearly ruined her life. Falling in love with Tulane, the prodigal son of the bourbon dynasty, was nothing that she intended or wanted—and their bitter breakup only served to prove her instincts were right. Now, after two years of staying away, Tulane is finally coming home again, and he is bringing the past with him. No one will be left unmarked: not Tulane’s beautiful and ruthless wife; not his older brother, whose bitterness and bad blood know no bounds; and especially not the ironfisted Bradford patriarch, a man with few morals, fewer scruples, and many, many terrible secrets.

As family tensions—professional and intimately private—ignite, Easterly and all its inhabitants are thrown into the grips of an irrevocable transformation, and only the cunning will survive.

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Reviewed by: Crissy and Monica

Book Review: Dating the Alphabet by Samantha Napier

Title: Dating the Alphabet
Author: Samantha Napier
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Sensuality Rating: Unknown
Source: review copy provided by publisher
Published: March 1, 2015 by AUS Impulse

From Archie to Zolon, Ramona is determined to find a happy ending to her fairytale. Ramona Rawlings is going to make dating fun again. Armed with an alphabet poster, post-it notes and her best friend Emma, Ramona is going to date the alphabet - from A to Z, Archie to Zolon and everything in between. Throw in the chaos of managing a theatre restaurant with a roster full of strong personalities, unfulfilled dreams and lustful hook ups and Ramona's world is turned upside-down. In between Evan the arrogant, Ivan the emotionally stunted and Glen the racist, Ramona discovers what she really wants: to be a good friend, to emotionally connect with a man and to replace her vodka-tonics with kale smoothies. But how many frogs will she have to kiss before she finds her fairytale?

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Reviewed by: Monica

Book Review: Put Up Your Duke by Megan Frampton

Title: Put Up Your Duke
Series: Dukes Behaving Badly, Book 2
Author: Megan Frampton
Genre: Historical Romance
Sensuality Rating: Steamy
Source: review copy provided by publisher
Published: June 30, 2015 by Avon

He was once happily bedding and boxing, but in the newest Duke's Behaving Badly novel, Nicholas Smithfield has inherited a title and a bride . . .

To keep his estate afloat, the new Duke of Gage must honor an agreement to marry Lady Isabella Sawford. Stunningly beautiful, utterly tempting, she's also a bag of wedding night nerves, so Nicholas decides to wait to do his duty—even if it means heading to the boxing saloon every day to punch away his frustration.

Groomed her whole life to become the perfect duchess, Isabella longs for independence, a dream that is gone forever. As her husband, Nicholas can do whatever he likes—but, to Isabella's surprise, the notorious rake instead begins a gentle seduction that is melting every inch of her reserve, night by night . . .

To his utter shock, Nicholas discovers that no previous exploits were half as pleasurable as wooing his own wife. But has the realm's most disreputable duke found the one woman who can bring him to his knees— and leave him there?

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Reviewed by: J9 and Monica

Book Review & Giveaway: One Night with a Billionaire by Jessica Clare

Title: One Night with a Billionaire
Series: Billionaire Boys Club, Book 6
Author: Jessica Clare
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Sensuality Rating: Steamy
Source: review copy provided by author
Published: June 2, 2015 by Berkley

Kylie may be a makeup artist to the stars, but she knows what it feels like to be overshadowed. Especially by her famous boss, the pop star Daphne. That’s why she’s stunned—and delighted—when one night at a party, she attracts the attention of a gorgeous stranger. But when Daphne decides she wants the handsome billionaire for herself, Cade Archer is suddenly off-limits for Kylie…

Cade has known Daphne for years, and always wondered if she might be the right woman for him—even though she never gave him the time of day. But one sizzling night with Kylie has changed everything. So why is she suddenly avoiding him? Fortunately Cade is determined to get what he wants, and he’ll do anything to show Kylie she can get everything she wants too…

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Reviewed by: Sara and Monica

Book Review: Frankly, My Dear by Sandra Hill

Title: Frankly, My Dear
Series: Creole Historical, Book 1
Author: Sandra Hill
Genre: Time Travel Romance
Sensuality Rating: Sensual?
Source: bought
Published: April 1, 2003 by Leisure Books

Selene has always had three great passions: men, food... and Gone With the Wind. Still the glamorous models seems to always be starving for both nourishment and affection. Weary of the petty world of high fashion, she heads to New Orleans for one last shoot before she chucks it all and begins a whole new life. But she doesn't realize that, thanks to an errant voodoo spell, her new life will happen 150 years in the past....and in the company of a dark and brooding gentleman who could give Rhett Butler a run for his money!

An alarmingly handsome Southern planter, James Baptiste may not have Rhett's cavalier spirit-and his plantation is certainly no Tara! But it's clear as crystal that this virile Creole is a lover worth giving a damn about. And with God as her witness, Selene vows she will never go hungry for this man again!

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Reviewed by: Monica

Book Review: 50 Shades of Pink by KT Grant

Title: 50 Shades of Pink
Author: KT Grant
Genre: Erotic Romance, F/F Romance
Sensuality Rating: Erotic
Source: bought
Published: February 13, 2015 by Riverdale Avenue Books

Living in Manhattan and working at Virago, one of the most successful women’s magazines in the nation is a dream come true for Lindsay Pinke. After five years of being overworked and underpaid in the research department, she’s finally noticed by Colette Duarte, the provocative executive editor of the magazine. She offers Lindsay the coveted role as her personal assistant, but first she must prove she’s worthy of the position. Lindsay must interview Victoria Nox, the elusive and extremely private CEO of Nox Media Holdings. If Lindsay succeeds, Colette promises her great things for her publishing career. If Lindsay fails, her chance as a respected writer will be cut short.

A chance meeting with Victoria at a high class function puts into motion a series of events that leaves Lindsay blindsided by her strong physical reaction to the magnetic but foreboding woman. When Lindsay unwittingly falls into Victoria’s world of dark temptations and complex entanglements, she leans the shocking truth Victoria hides about Colette that rocks Lindsay to her very core.

Now that Lindsay has become a balm on Victoria's soul, is she strong enough to help Victoria confront her shameful past, and stop one woman's sick games once and for all?

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Reviewed by: Monica

Book Review: The New Year’s Fantasy by KT Grant

Title: The New Year’s Fantasy
Author: KT Grant
Genre: Erotic Romance
Sensuality Rating: Steamy
Source: bought
Published: January 5, 2015 (self-published)

Contemporary Romance featuring a forty-four year old hairy chested firefighter hero and a thirty-one year old school teacher heroine whose one night stand on New Year's Eve becomes much more...

Seven years ago, the once overweight Jessica Mulligan made a pact with her best friend that ended up changing her life for the better. Now sixty pounds lighter, Jessica’s self-confidence has soared, but her longtime firefighter crush still won’t notice her.

What she doesn’t count on is catching the eye of his boss, the much older and handsome Captain Douglass Finley, who thinks she’s perfect in so many ways…

Three years ago, Doug Finley’s life took a turn for the worse when his wife admitted to an affair with their next door neighbor. Other than the possibility of a promotion to Deputy Fire Commissioner, the only thing he looks forward to is weekends with his eleven-year-old daughter. With his forty-fifth birthday around the corner, his love life is in the toilet. The ritzy New Year’s Eve bash he has been roped into feels like torture, until he spies a vision of beauty eating chocolate covered strawberries like she’s making love to them…and all he can think about is making love to her.

When Jessica admits she never had an orgasm, he’s determined to give her the ultimate New Year’s fantasy she’ll never forget.

But can he convince her they belong together for longer than one night?

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Reviewed by: Monica

Book Review: The Master by Kresley Cole

Title: The Master
Series: The Game Maker, Book 2
Author: Kresley Cole
Genre: Erotic Romance
Sensuality Rating: Erotic
Source: review copy provided by publisher
Published: February 17, 2015 by Gallery Books

Everyone fears the Master…
Rich, irresistible politician/Mafiya boss Maksimilian Sevastyan prefers tall, obedient blondes to fulfill his…complicated desires. That is, until the icy Russian encounters a disobedient brunette whose exquisite little body threatens his legendary restraint.

Except her.
Catarina Marín was a well-off young wife until her world fell apart. Now she’s hiding out, forced to start working as an escort in Miami. Her very first client is beyond gorgeous, but when he tells her what he plans to do to her, Cat almost walks out of the door.

If pleasure is a game, play to win.
After their mind-blowing encounter burns out of control, the lovers crave more. If they escape the deadly threats surrounding them, can Maksim overcome his past—to offer Cat his future? Only then will she tempt him with what he really wants: her, all tied up with a bow.

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Reviewed by: Monica

Book Review: Wild by Sophie Jordan

Title: Wild
Series: The Ivy Chronicles, Book 3
Author: Sophie Jordan
Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult
Sensuality Rating: Steamy
Source: review copy provided by publisher
Published: November 18, 2014 by William Morrow

Months after her boyfriend dumped her, Georgia can still hear the insults he hurled at her. Boring. Predictable. Tame. Tired of feeling bad, she’s ready to change her image, and go a little wild. What better way to prove her ex wrong than a hot night of sexual adventure at the secret campus kink club?

In the shadowy den of the kink club, she unexpectedly runs into Logan Mulvaney, her friend’s little brother. A player extraordinaire too hot for his own good, he may be younger, but the guy is light years ahead when it comes to sexual experience. Now he’s telling her to go home—“good girls” don’t belong here!

Georgia is tired of having others define her. She’s going to teach Logan a lesson he won’t forget—one white hot, mind-wrecking kiss . . . that leads to another . . . and another . . . and. . . . Realizing she’s way in over her head, Georgia runs.

Only Logan won’t let her go. Everywhere she goes he’s there, making her want every inch of him. Making her forget who she is. Who he is. And just how wrong they are for each other.

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Reviewed by: Monica

Book Review: Dark Skye by Kresley Cole

Title: Dark Skye
Series: Immortals After Dark, Book 14
Author: Kresley Cole
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Sensuality Rating: Steamy
Source: bought
Published: August 5, 2014 by Gallery Books

ETERNAL OBSESSION
As a boy, Thronos, prince of Skye Hall, loved Lanthe, a mischievous Sorceri girl who made him question everything about his Vrekener clan. But when the two got caught in the middle of their families’ war, tragedy struck, leaving Thronos and Lanthe bitter enemies. Though centuries have passed, nothing can cool his seething need for the beautiful enchantress who scarred his body—and left an even deeper impression on his soul.

ENDLESS YEARNING
Lanthe, a once-formidable sorceress struggling to reclaim her gifts, searches for love and acceptance with all the wrong immortal suitors. But she’s never forgotten Thronos, the magnificent silver-eyed boy who protected her until she was ripped from the shelter of his arms. One harrowing night changed everything between them. Now he’s a notorious warlord with a blood vendetta against Lanthe, hunting her relentlessly.

CAN THE HEAT OF DESIRE BURN BRIGHTER THAN VENGEANCE?
With their families locked in conflict and battles raging all around them, will Thronos and Lanthe succumb to the brutal chaos that threatens everything they cherish? Or will the fragile bond they formed so long ago spark a passion strong enough to withstand even the darkest doubts?

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Reviewed by: Monica

Book Review: Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch

Title: Rivers of London
Series: Peter Grant, Book 1
Author: Ben Aaronovitch
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Sensuality Rating: Mild
Source: bought
Published: January 10, 2011 by Gollancz

My name is Peter Grant. Until January I was just another probationary constable in that mighty army for justice known to all right-thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service, and to everyone else as the Filth. My only concerns in life were how to avoid a transfer to the Case Progression Unit - We do paperwork so real coppers don't have to - and finding a way to climb into the panties of the outrageously perky WPC Leslie May. Then one night, in pursuance of a murder inquiry, I tried to take a witness statement from a man who was dead, but disturbingly voluble, and that brought me to the attention of Chief Inspector Nightingale, the last wizard in England. And that, as they say, is where the story begins.

Now I'm a Detective Constable and a trainee wizard, the first apprentice in fifty years, and my world has become somewhat more complicated. I'm dealing with nests of vampires in Purley, negotiating a truce between the warring god and goddess of the Thames, and digging up graves in Covent Garden - and that's just routine. There's something festering at the heart of the city I love, a malicious, vengeful spirit that takes ordinary Londoners and twists them into grotesque mannequins to act out its drama of violence and despair.

The spirit of riot and rebellion has awakened in the city, and it's falling to me to bring order out of chaos - or die trying. Which, I don't mind telling you, would involve a hell of a lot of paperwork.

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Reviewed by: Monica