Review: The Art of Control

The Art of Control by Ella Dominguez
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In the final installment of The Art of D/s series, Ella Dominguez combines the best of her prior two novels for one action-packed finale.

Where in book #2, I struggled with some of Dylan’s more sadistic needs – I felt like THE ART OF CONTROL is more like book #1 in that it appeals to a broader spectrum of readers. While Ella doesn’t apologize for her characters’ sadistic needs or lighten up on their kinky explorations, she does keep it more about the joint pleasure, trust, and giving/taking of power/control when Isa and Dylan are in the bedroom/dungeon/clubs… you know what, lets call a spade a spade, basically anywhere they could sit, stand, lean, or bend these two had to have sex – they had no inhibitions when it came to public exposure.

For those readers who really enjoyed the storyline and action-based plot of book #2, THE ART OF CONTROL steps up its game even further and this book from start to finish is full of suspense and ripe with the struggle between Isa and her father. Isa’s father’s hatred knows no bounds and he won’t give up until he’s stopped Dylan from investigating his involvement in Isa’s mom’s death. And with all of Mr. Ibanez’s money, he has plenty of accomplices willing to do his dirty work for him.

I think my favorite of the three books would still have to be THE ART OF SUBMISSION solely for the heat factor – I will never forget how passion-inducing book #1 was with the raw need shared between Isa and Dylan. However THE ART OF CONTROL is a close 2nd for me because the story-line was exciting, thrilling, and full of twists and turns while still showing a relationship with highs and lows and an obsessive/possessive love that invites the reader in and doesn’t let go until the final page!

**Copy provided by the author for an honest review.          


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Review: Vacation

Vacation by S.J. Lewis

Synopsis:
From the author of the BEST SELLING FEMALE PREY. When Claudia leaves the police force to start her own private investigation agency, her partner Dianne decides to make their brief vacation memorable, starting with a playful three way between the two and Dianne's boyfriend. The action quickly escalates when Claudia returns to the vacation bungalow to find Dianne naked and handcuffed with four men waiting to take both women in a hot gangbang. 

The next days are intense, demanding and erotic beyond anything Claudia has experienced, exactly like the intimate sexual fantasies she shared with Dianne. Claudia's bound and forced to serve all of the men, in a wild free for all of sexual submission. When it ends, Claudia vows to put the reckless vacation behind her, but she can-t stop the memories from turning her on. When her favorite of the group, Sam, shows up, her resolve begins to crumble as she-s tempted to take the plunge again and dive into her kinky desirse. Bondage, gangbangs and hard sex combine in this wild ride of sexual pleasure. BSDM erotica.


REVIEW:

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This is a first by this author and I really enjoyed it! Call me crazy, but I am not usually partial to erotica written by male authors, but I am beginning to change my mind about that!

Contrary to my preconceived thoughts about male authors, Lewis did a wonderful job with character development and I loved the way the story played out. The story starts out with a hot and steamy non-con fantasy that I really enjoyed. The story was told over a period of a couple of years which was an aspect that was particularly pleasing - erotic reads tend to be a little on the quick side, but not this one!

If you like non-con fantasy, kidnap fantasy, gang bang and menage...oh and I can't forget a little female-female action...then you should get this book!

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Review: Lover Awakened

Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Its official - just give me bad boys with a ton of issues and I'm pretty much smitten. I don't even know if my opinion can be considered unbiased at this point - before the book even started Zsadist had all the angst and dark secrets that I need in a male ?hero? to fall head over heels (and I don't want to know what that says about me).

The book starts out with Bella still in captivity by the obsessed lesser who abducted her in book 2. Everyone has pretty much given up hope that she could still be alive but Zsadist just won't let her go. And Bella is strong and smart and does everything in her power to make sure she's rescued.

Once Bella is safe, she is able to push Zsadist beyond his comfort zones because she's recovering from her own imprisonment/torture and he can't say no to her the way he usually would. Still, he's got so many repressed issues from being a blood slave/sexually abused that to get through his rough exterior Bella has to put her pride aside and throw herself at Zsadist time and again. This is where Bella proves why she deserves to be the only girl to break through the bad boy's walls - b/c I don't know many people who would have been able to ignore the rejections and push on - even when she didn't believe Zsadist liked her back. And sweet Zsadist, who I have a huge crush on now - his true strength is shown by his desire to overcome any obstacle to DESERVE Bella's love. This was an awesome continuation of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

"Do us both a favor and don't try to think for me, okay? Because you're going to get it wrong every damn time." With that, she marched into the bathroom and slammed the door. Zsadist blinked a couple of times. What the hell just happened? He looked around the room as if the furniture or maybe the drapes could help him out.

He knew he was being overbearing as hell, but he couldn't help it. He was a bonded male. With his pregnant female. There were few things on the planet more aggressive or dangerous. And those bastards were called hurricanes and tornadoes.

**Reviewed by preppea on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews


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Review: Lover Eternal

Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh I loved Lover Eternal :) I'm rating it a 4.5. It was heart-breaking, heart-warming, just good all around! Mary was an average girl looks-wise, which I really liked that pairing with Hollywood hottie Rhage, especially since she was anything but average to him. I loved how she was willing to try and tame the beast - from the bedroom scene to actually confronting him after a brutal Lesser fight. And I really liked the glimpses of Zhadist and Bella - I'm so excited for their story and am desperately hoping they are next in this series!

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Review: Dark Lover

Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I would rate Dark Lover between 4.25-4.5 stars. For the first book in a series, this was a good start. I didn't feel inundated with facts and information and thought that the author did a great job of introducing the concepts and characters in a way that flowed with the story. The book continuously switches point of view between several main characters which I thought worked great for telling the story, even if I hated every time it was Mr. X's turn. But I really don't think there was any way around that, and it definitely added to the action so I'll forgive having to endure being thrust into the bad guy's head.

I loved how Wrath was with Beth. I also liked that Beth had a quality that most lead women in paranormal romance books don't seem to have; she knew when to listen to Wrath and when to stand up to him and she didn't spend half the book fighting him for the wrong stuff and then have him need to rush in to save her. Not to say he never needs to rescue her, just not when it's due to sheer stubbornness, pride, doubt and/or stupidity ;)

My favorite part of the book was what the author did with Butch. I thought that was perfect because I'd already been worrying early on about what would happen to him. I'm excited to see him again in future books. I'm excited to read about all the brothers, though I'm really curious about how the author holds off on the romantic interest of the two involved in book 4 since they're already into each other in the first book, but I'll just wait and see :)

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Review: Once an Heiress

Once an Heiress by Elizabeth Boyce
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

ONCE AN HEIRESS combines everything readers love about historical romance with a twisting, suspenseful story that will have you on the edge of your seat hoping Lily and Ethan can find a way to be together.

I'm not going to lie – my first introduction to Ethan Helling had me wondering if I'd misunderstood the summary. This is the guy I'm supposed to fall in love with? Really? Because he sounds every bit the rake I've been warned about. Not only is he buried in gambling debt, but his lust for a friend's mistress has him agreeing to woo a girl with a large dowry just so he can turn around and take the mistress for himself. I really can't imagine a worse kind of guy: to marry one woman just so you can use her dowry money to purchase another woman you intend to have on the side.

Intelligent and opinionated Lily knew she had to weed through the fortune hunters to find a husband she can respect, but who could anticipate a guy like Ethan? Especially since she's grown up with a father who has treated her like an heir and an equal instead of a bargaining tool in the effort to gain a title.

Fast-forward a few chapters and we get to see not only what hardships in his adolescence have made Ethan the man he has become, but a heart that promises it is more than redeemable. But add a secret obligation, a forced wedding, and collectors demanding their money and Lily and Ethan have a lot to overcome before they can truly trust and love each other.

I loved every second of ONCE AN HEIRESS – it had the intrigue I love about historical romance combined with an excellent storyline that kept me on my toes. I fell completely in love with Lily and Ethan and can't wait for Naomi to get her own story that I'm positive will be filled with its own share of romance and turmoil!

**Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.

**Reviewed by preppea on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews and The Romance Reviews.



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Review: The Edge of Never

The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

J.A. Redmerski, you are one tricky, TRICKY lady! I thought I was different! I knew I'd heard that THE EDGE OF NEVER was a tearjerker, but I thought I'd made it, I really thought I'd gotten out scot-free. Then, BAM, I'm a big, snotty, crying mess and I know my kids want to get up from nap but who can stop reading at a time like THIS!!!!

THE EDGE OF NEVER is an amazing story of finding love in your darkest moments, of finding the other half of your soul when you've all but given up hope. It is a heart-warming, gut-wrenching, all-out must read for every person who dreams of having the kind of love that changes everything!

THE EDGE OF NEVER follows Camryn and Andrew, she on her road to nowhere and he as he was taking the long road.

"I was taking the long road and Camryn was taking the road to nowhere and it just so happens that they led to the same place."

It is the perfect combination of a tale of growing up, making your own way in life, and finding love in the strangest of places. The story takes its time, never rushes the feelings or emotions of the characters, and consequently has the reader falling in love right along with them. There were times I wanted to yell at Andrew because I didn't understand why he kept things from Camryn while simultaneously forcing her to open up and admit her feelings - but the author knew exactly what she was doing and I ended up thinking he was perfect in every way by the end. (And by the way, everything else he did really was perfect so its not like I was mad at him, not by a long shot!)

If all that doesn't convince you to pick up the book immediately, how about my favorite quote from the book and one I will be thinking about for a LONG time:

"If you were to let me fuck you, you would have to let me own you."

Seriously????? Enough said.

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Review: One Step Too Far -->>$1.99 as of 4/29/13

One Step Too Far by Tina Seskis

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Sit up straight and pay attention! There’s a lot going on in ONE STEP TOO FAR and if you zone out for even a second, you could miss something crucial.

ONE STEP TOO FAR is a story of jealousy, greed, heartbreak and madness with a little bit of happiness thrown in for good measure. The manner in which the story is told can be confusing if you are not firing on all cylinders. Told from multiple points of view, the reader gains insight to all the players in this crazy game called Emily Coleman’s life and although it is beneficial, it was also a bit confusing at times.

Emily Coleman had a seemingly perfect life… until you meet her philandering father, self-absorbed twin sister and slightly off-balance mother. There’s more, but that would spoil the story! She’s lived with that nut-house-of-a-family forever and now she has a family of her own that really is fantastic and a great job, so, what makes her wake up one day and walk out on her life? That’s the focus of the whole story, so you will just have to read it to find out.

I really enjoyed the mystery behind the tale that was told, but I felt that there were a few holes in the plot that made me go… hmmm… One of the big questions I had was: Did her husband really look for her? I mean look for her like he really wanted to find her? I’m not so sure of that, but I am getting ahead of myself… Emily Coleman’s adventure into her new life as “Cat” was disconcerting, but interesting. I was disappointed in Emily/Cat’s lack of growth and personal development while living on the wild side, but then again maybe it was time for Emily to be a little selfish and not think too much about consequences and just live for the moment… I was also very disappointed by Emily’s attitude about her twin’s final fate – I don’t believe for a second that is how Emily’s character would have behaved, it lacked believability in my opinion. Despite the bumps, I was engrossed in the story.

Overall, ONE STEP TOO FAR was an enjoyable read and I found myself wondering what on earth could possibly happen next and to my delight, something usually happened that I wasn’t expecting!

New author, Tina Seskis just might be what you are in the mood for if you are looking for a good mysterious drama to keep you entertained. Check it out – I know I will definitely be checking out her other title, A SERPENTINE AFFAIR due out in the fall of 2013.

✳✳ Copy provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews

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Review: Crow's Row

Crow's Row by Julie Hockley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

How have I survived this long without reading Crow's Row? Okay, so I'm being a tad melodramatic but I just LOVED this book! I mean, can't put it down - can't breathe - don't want to talk to anyone until I'm finished - LOVED this book! The storyline (a girl witnesses a murder and is kidnapped by the drug lord who commited the murder, only to find herself falling in love with her kidnapper) immediately made me feel like I was naughty for wanting to read it - but I just HAD to - and immediately! From the second I started Crow's Row, I was not disappointed!

Emily has gone to great lengths to live without the help of her parents money and their subsequent control, but after losing her brother to an overdose she feels completely alone. Cameron grew up with an alcoholic for a mother and a con-artist for a father and has taken every measure to be able to provide for himself so he never has to depend on anyone but himself. The two have a lot more in common than you'd originally think and their slow discovery of each other allows for fully developed characters and a love story you can't help but root for. The author doesn't sugarcoat Cameron's business as a drug lord nor is their love a case of Stockholms, it is a well-fleshed out story of two people who have only been able to rely on themselves finding a common bond within each other.

The story isn't just about their relationship by any means; as you'd expect with drugs and gangs there are attempts to overthrow the leader, quiet the witness, and a lot more that I won't tell you because it'd spoil too much. Leave it to say its a story you won't be unable to put down until the final devastating page. I hear the author is working on a sequel and I will be banging down her door to get my hands on it!!! My life is not complete without finding out how the story continues!!!

P.S. Julie Hockley, I love how you started and ended the story in a different voice - it really added to the story and gave some much appreciated insight! I had to go back and re-read Cameron's first chapter just to fully appreciate what was happening!

**Reviewed by Michelle on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews

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Review: Fifty Shades of Grey

 Shades of Grey by E.L. James
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So I read the fan fiction version of this a long time ago and wanted to wait until it was sufficiently out of my mind before I read the new version - but you just never forget somebody like Christian Grey. That being said, I loved it just as much as I loved it the first time around - and that's saying a lot. I once again stayed up until way into the wee hours, read it every spare second of the day - and a lot of seconds that I really couldn't spare. But you just can't put down a book like this. When I read this as fan fiction it was my first experience reading anything about BDSM (to the point that I, like Ana, did a lot of google searches) - and even though I've read quite a few since, this is still my favorite.

I just like the perspective, the honesty with which Ana struggles with it and the reactions she has along the way. I loved how shocking Christian was - like calling her virginity a "situation". I loved their witty conversations (especially the emails). And I loved the anguish, the love, the depth of the characters, and the darkness of Christian's past.

I was really grateful I was able to read both versions since I could enjoy it with the original names and take from that the parallels in personalities, to now when I can read it with completely fresh names and as the truly original story that it is. I even think I learned to appreciate the inner goddess this time around since I remember that being my only complaint in the fan fiction version and for some reason her dancing and name calling didn't bother me so much this go-round.

This goes down as one of my all-time most memorable books - and I'm not wasting anytime jumping into book #2!

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Review: Willing Victim

Willing Victim by Cara McKenna

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Oh man! He is a hell of a dirty talker! Wow! Sometimes dirty talk makes me cringe, but not in this book. This story was dark and erotic and super hot...these characters had some major chemistry. Both characters had a somewhat tortured upbringing--which did well in lending a hand to the dark sexual passion they shared.

I will be reading more by this author for sure!

Be sure to check out page 69, shouldn't be difficult to remember :-) My favorite line in the whole book:

"Come all over that big dick I’m fucking you with.” It may not sound like much, but in the context and with Flynn's persona, it is so hot!

**And as a side note, there is a warning about this title containing objectionable material...non-consensual or rape fantasy. I was prepared for it to be hard core, but it wasn't...I am not complaining, but if you are teetering because of the non-con fantasy, it's not very extreme.


✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews

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Review: All Jacked Up

All Jacked Up by Lorelei James

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Whoa Nelly! ALL JACKED UP is my favorite ROUGH RIDERS book in the series so far! I loved the dirty talking, dominant, Jack who was able to tame the only female Mckay sibling - wild woman, Keely McKay. Damn they are hot together!

Get it! Got it? Good! Hope you love it like I did!

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Review: VAIN

VAIN by Fisher Amelie

My rating: ★★★★★

Amazing, maddening, humbling and romantic that just about sums up VAIN.

Close your eyes, imagine the alpha bitches from the cult classics HEATHERS, CRUEL INTENTIONS and MEAN GIRLS all rolled into one overindulgent, snobby little slut, then you have successfully epitomized Sophie Price, the main character in this captivating story.

As the "Queen-Bee" of an uber wealthy group of superficial, young adults, Sophie plays those around her with the precision a principle conductor might use in directing an orchestra, having no remorse for those she hurts in her quest to dominate. When Sophie lands herself in jail with another arrest on a possession charge, her family and court system have no mercy on her and exile her to an African orphanage to show her a very different side of life in comparison to the one she is accustomed to living.

Upon arrival, Sophie is greeted by a scowling, but handsome young man who obviously has a tremendous amount of contempt for her - he sees a self-absorbed, prissy princess. She is totally baffled by the lack of effect she seems to have on this guy they call Dingane and even more shocked by the living conditions at the orphanage as well as the maimed and disfigured inhabitants.

The trials and tribulations they are forced to deal with on a daily basis make life in L.A. seem trivial a best. Sophie's transformation during her 6 month stay in Uganda is astounding. VAIN is truly one of the best and most unique stories I have ever read - it was fantastic. This is a great read for anyone looking for an emotional story with adventure and romance in one practically perfect package.

**I say "practically perfect" because there were a moderate amount of editing issues that need to be addressed. Specifically, there were loads of missing words and the sheer volume of missing words were a bit annoying and will knock off some stars for some reviewers. It appears this is self-published so I will push the editing issues to the back of my mind when assigning a rating because I really loved the story. I did notice a "thank you" in the acknowledgements to "the editor who tolerates me" - did she edit strictly for flow and characterization or was she also responsible for copy editing? If she was responsible for copy editing, then you need a new copy editor or consider a few really good Beta Readers.


 ✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews ___________________________________________________

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Review: The Vincent Boys

The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



THE VINCENT BOYS is a love-triangle, new adult romance at it's best!

Ashton is the quintessential good girl. She soon discovers that been the "good girl" isn't what it's cracked up to be. When her perfect-little-boyfriend, Sawyer leaves town for the summer, Ashton decides to keep it in the family and taste the brand of badness his cousin, Beau has to offer and HOT-DAMN! Beau is all delicious and dangerous male perfection... Well, he is perfect except for the fact that he should be totally off-limits for so many reasons.

Although Beau does his damnedest to be good, he just can't resist the chemistry that ignites between them.

THE VINCENT BOYS will suck you in, especially if you like the new adult genre and enjoy emotional stories with dynamic characters. Oh! To be young and in love again :sigh*.

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Review: Picture Perfect

Picture Perfect by Evangeline Anderson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Oh yeah... PICTURE PERFECT was a hot, quick read!

Melanie's mom and Kurt's dad are married, so that means that as step-siblings, they are off limits to each other, right? WRONG! They have resisted the temptation for years, but eventually, the chemistry brewing between them reaches a boiling point and they can fight it no longer.

So, what happens when step brother and sister are thrown together in a compromising situation? A whole lotta hotness is what happens!

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Review: Forbidden

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I am going to have to mull over this review so I don't give too much away, but this one has me so torn...ugh! I can't stand it! But I loved the book.

The characters were fantastic - some were fantastically horrible, but fantastic nonetheless. The characters really came to life. The topic is definitely taboo about a brother and sister who engage in an incestuous relationship - which sounds yuck, but when you see them in their life, it strangely doesn't seem yuck at all. It's a tear jerker, so don't read it when you have to be in a bunch of photos because you will have ugly, puffy, red face and you will not be pretty :-) (or handsome).

This is technically a young adult book, but it was a very heavy and grown up young adult book.


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Review: Be With Me

Be With Me by Maya Banks

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I read this book early on in my adventures in erotica, and to be honest, I wasn't sure how this book would land on me, but I have to say--I really liked it!

Picture the lonely rich girl who befriends the town juvenile delinquents--one is sensitive, smart and self motivated with an alpha side she didn't know existed--another is a "meat head" who is all testosterone and rough around the edges--the other is tender and caring and treats her like a fragile glass doll-- but they are all smokin' hot and totally in love with Reggie. Ten years later, as adults, they realize after a night of passion (when they all have sex with her at the same time) that they would rather share her than make her choose or give her up. Will she go for it? It's going to take some convincing, but they are a pretty persuasive trio...

I enjoyed the entire book. There was no part that lulled--the characters were well developed. In the beginning, I was thinking: I can hardly keep up with the demands of one man, much less 3--good lord, she is a goddess. By the time I finished the book, I was kinda jealous of her ;-)

Warning: If you didn't catch on from the review, there is F-M-M-M sexual situations...guess that would be called a menage a quatro??

✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews

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