GENRE:  Erotic Sci-Fi Romance

LENGTH:  109 (Kindle pgs)

HEAT LEVEL (content):  Erotic (see FYI below)

PUBLISHER (pub date):  self (19 March 2014)

SERIES INFO:  n/a

BLURB:

Unexpectedly more :)

* Review copy provided by the author.

What a surprise! Initially expected a quick, enjoyable erotic romp, but by the ending, got a story with greater depth & emotions―with a (presumed) HEA to boot. IDK why but this book reminded me of the movie, Pretty Woman. As with the movie, I wouldn't mind seeing a sequel to see how Kit & Pike fare. :)

Interesting concept of sex trade turned corporate, with licensed 'companions' getting assignment contracts & pay, as well as bonuses for consenting to extra duties. Light world-building, just enough to maintain sci-fi feel. Diverse mix of characters/clients, with plenty of sex scenes (altho some more for plot movement whilst others definitely for arousal).

I liked how Kit's attitude & character slowly changed due to her new assignment. I only wish that I knew how/why she became the way she was in the beginning. As for Pike, I liked him immediately & could relate to his caution.

Also loved Ms. Vora's writing in this one―overall, very well-written, with some sections being almost poetic. Example:

... A breeze ruffled her hair, bearing the sharp scent of greenery, the perfume of live flowers. Real sunlight warmed her cheeks, the backs of her hands.

 

And everywhere she looked, she found something to delight her eyes. Pike's fabulous complex. The trees and towers and shining windows of nearby residences. Parks and fountains and mother-of-pearl paths that glittered from afar.

 

It really was too good to last. Too beautiful, too pleasurable, too perfect. ...

Definitely recommend this for anyone looking for a hot, erotic read with varied sex content. If one were to classify this as 'dark erotica', then I would consider it to be on the 'lighter' side, meaning more grey than black.  But do check to see if anything in the content FYI poses a problem. ;-)

___________

Content FYI: 

Genre:  CR

Length:  226 (Kindle pgs)

Heat Level/Content:  steamy/sensual

Publication Date:  Apr 9, 2012 (orig = Apr 1, 2001)

Publisher:  Beyond the Page Publishing

Series Info:  N/A

BLURB:

* Review copy provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley.

This story is dedicated, with much affection, to all romance authors, especially those whose editors have admonished them to “write the book of your heart.”

 

(With the caveat “so long as it has a cowboy hero, an amnesiac bride, and a marriage of convenience. Oh, and a secret baby wouldn’t hurt.”)

The dedication says it all. The plot seems to use everything but the proverbial kitchen sink (or would that be secret baby? *grins*) and yet somehow, Cowboy in My Pocket rises above the deliberate, tongue-in-cheek clichés to become a fun, sweet, city-meets-country romance. I don't know if Ms. Douglas ever visited a dude ranch for research, but for this city gal, she brought a slice of Colorado ranch to life. :)

Very enjoyable CR from an author mostly known for her rather 'racy' PNR (so TBT, I was a tad *cough* disappointed that this story was more 'sensual'). Enough so that I hunted down a copy of the 2011 anthology, The Promise of Love, so to read the quasi-sequel, “Dime Store Cowboy”.

Full review to be posted shortly.

Genre:  ER-PNR

Length:  @ 127pgs (ebook)

Heat Level/Content:  erotica-lite (m/f; a dash ’o kink)

Publication Date:  April 23, 2013 (orig = Oct 2009)

Publisher:  Loose Id (orig = Changeling Press)

Series Info:  Truckee Wolves #1

BLURB:

* Review copy provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley.

It's rare that I give 4 stars to a novella, especially when it's PNR. But there was so much that I enjoyed about this revised edition of Toxic, starting w/ the luscious hero (or rather, his wolf) who is so infatuated w/ the chocolatey smell of his mate that he forgets that chocolate is a major no-no for canines. Loved the MCs, loved the various secondary characters (especially Briony's mum!), and definitely loved the romance and the HOT! sexy times.

Even tho it's almost to be expected for a novella, lost a star due to less than substantial world-building, as well as sketchy references to common trope of secret military experiments. (TBT, for me, any references to genetic experiments, super-soldiers, traumatised females and such immediately invite comparisons to Lora Leigh's Breeds series.) Also, I found it distracting to have POVs beyond the MCs in a novella-length story; multiple POVs work better for me in a full-length novel with a more substantial plot.

Given the number of interesting characters introduced in Toxic, there's such potential for more stories in this series! If so, hopefully there will be more backstory re: Abraxas, the shadowy organisation involved in the illicit experiments, and how the various pack members came together. Frankly, I'm hoping that Ms. McBride will be inspired to focus on Sage. Or even Dionne. *grins* Oh, and what's the story w/ Kurt and Ethan?!

Whilst I wait, guess that I'll re-read the shorts in the 2 Doms of Dark Haven anthologies so to finally put everything in proper chrono order.  FYI, “Educating Evangeline” (published in Doms of Dark Haven) is first, then Toxic, and then “Hunting Holly” (published in Doms of Dark Haven 2: Western Night).

NB: Review of 2013 revised edition. This got lost in calibre due to being merged with the original 2009 story put out by Changeling Press. B/c of when I read the original version years ago, I didn't remember enough to notice what was different this time around.

* ARC provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley.

Genre: CR

Length: novel

Heat Level/Content: Sexy Hot (m/f vanilla; frank but not overly explicit/graphic)

Publication Date: 5 Nov 2013

Publisher: Forever (Hachette/GCP)

Series Info: #2 in Hot in the Kitchen

Author Info: Publisher's Author Page

BLURB: see BL book page

Another NTM author for another great read! As a foodie, love, love, LOVE that this series uses the backdrop of the restaurant/haute cuisine world.

I got All Fired Up when it came up at NetGalley last fall.  But due to the usual year-end + holiday madness, I wasn’t able to read it before the allotted reading period expired.  Then a friend recently reminded me to check if I had sent it to my Kindle account.  Man, so glad that she did!

All Fired Up was a fast read for me because I was into the story the entire time―smexy with a simmering build-up of UST, a “yup, opposites do attract” theme, and highly likeable and grounded characters (both primary and secondary).  Having worked where I worked, I could immediately relate to some of Cara DeLuca’s personality “quirks” but it may take others a bit longer to warm up to her.  Especially when, in the beginning, she comes across as a control-freak, designer-label-conscious Lemon Tart (the nickname used by the other restaurant workers ^.^).  But give her a chance and she may surprise you.

Shane Doyle, on the other hand... Hmmm, think that the only way Shane could’ve been better for me is if he were Black Irish.  Oh, and older.  But that’s just me. :)  No doubt aided by her background, Ms. Meader did a wonderful job of imbuing Shane with Irish flavour and authenticity via his thoughts and dialogue.  He was an interesting mix of still-youthful determination and optimism overlaid with the sobering influence of his backstory.  Think that most readers will be rooting for Shane from very early on.

However, the best (and a relief) for me was that the angst and conflict moments woven into the storyline, as well as the characters’ behaviour and reactions, weren’t so OTT or grossly manufactured so to be eye-roll inducing.  Instead, they were things which could easily happen IRL.  And honestly, who hasn’t experienced the love/jealousy of a sibling at one point or another? Or a sticky moment or two at family gatherings? ^.~

Highly recommend All Fired Up to those who enjoy sweet and smart CR with occasional (and sometimes unexpected) LOL moments. I, for one, plan to read the rest of this series. :)

NB: I didn’t pay close enough attention so thought that this was the first in series. Although easily a stand-alone read, the couple from Feel the Heat do appear in this one so there are minor spoiler-ish moments. If interested, I would suggest starting w/ Book #1 (plus, Jack & Lili’s story seems to promise some fireworks).

UPDATE: Kindle Smut on GR has chosen Ms. Meader’s Hot in the Kitchen series for a group read, with approximately 3 weeks allocated to each book. The read/discussion for Book #1, Feel the Heat, started on March 1st so if you’re a member, come join us!