Who Needs Fall Colors When There's Romantica?

Ok, I have been reading, reading, writing, and reading some more. Not easy fitting in 31 stories, especially with life getting in the way. (^.~)

I have over 35 stories picked out to read, just gotta narrow it down. I will try and have a variety of authors, publishers and genres-contemporary to mystery to paranormal (and all that entails) to just plain weird. I recommended some books that I would love to expound on, but I don't want to have repeats on this blog. Since I'm mentioning them twice, that should tell 'ya I really like them!

Demon Seed by Desiree Acuna is a hot, hot demonic love tale that might be too much for some readers.

Spells at Midnight by Jenna Castille

I Put a Spell on You by Bronwyn Green

When Angels Fall by Lena Matthews

Read these, and get in the mood for October's chilly nights.

October Reviews

Since this is a religiously followed blog and I have adoring fans clamoring for more, I've decided to appease them and have a themed month of reviews. Yeah right! So, cutting out the booze, drugs and paying no mind to my delusions of granduer, I will be doing an Autumn and Halloween special that will probably only be looked at by myself. Thirty-one days of reviews that will follow an Autumn, Halloween, Samhain or a theme I think will fit. For the most part it will be older releases, but I hope to get new releases as well. It just depends on how much I can afford for the ebooks! I will be suspending the Rubenesque theme requirement. I will do as much of those as I can, but as these stories are already difficult to find, refining that to suit this month will be even harder.

So, come back October 1st and enjoy the releases.

Miss February (Calander Girls) by Madison Hayes

Miss February (from publisher):

Bret Haverston is flash enough to date centerfold models — Miss January to be specific. What could he possibly want with ordinary, size fourteen Callie Stamos? But what Callie doesn't know is that Bret is ready for more. He's ready for Miss February.

Seven years ago, in high school, Bret asked Callie to the Valentine's Day Dance. Seven years ago, she turned him down. And for seven years, he's waited for a second chance at the girl who got away. Bret's not taking any more chances on Callie's love. He'll lie if he has to, cheat all the fates and steal her away for a romantic weekend — then tie her down if that's what it takes. One way or another, Bret's going to live out his long-awaited fantasy. And at the end of this Valentine's Day, he's marrying his Miss February.

Review: This is the first in Madison Hayes' Calendar Girls series. The month of the the woman depends on her name, when the couple met or in some other way that is significant to the characters but not readily understandable to the reader. Miss February, though, comes from the month Bret first realized he was in love with Callie. It also comes from the fact that he actually dated a Miss January centerfold and was ready for his Miss February. I liked Bret more that Callie. Honestly, Callie was annoying as hell. Constantly making self-deprecating remarks about her weight and looks. She was only a size 14, damn the way she goes on you'd think she weighed four or five hundred pounds. When I first read this book, I really liked it. The second reading kinda burned that glow I had for this book. Callie was so annoying that it really took away from the story. I would recommend this as a quick one-time read more for the steamy love scenes and how to read about how Bret fell in love with Callie. I have read all but Miss September and Miss January, which are the last two published at the time of this post, and I don't see the characters come up or mentioned much. I believe Bret may have a popup, but not significant to any story lines. In other words, you really don't have to read this to read the other stories and to be able to enjoy them. ***Note, I will review this entire series. Maybe I can squeak Miss September in before the month ends!***

Binding Gillian by Melinda Barron

Binding Gillian (from publisher):

In college, Brad Claybourne and Gillian York were soul mates. But their relationship could not survive the manipulations of a conniving woman, and ended in heartbreak.

Now Brad is a world-famous journalist and Gillian is an on-the-rise author. When her agent unwittingly sets Gillian up to be interviewed by Brad, Gillian vows that she will not allow old feelings to surface.

But Brad has other ideas. He intends to remind Gillian of how good they were together. All he will need is a little bit of holiday magic… and a few feet of rope.

Review: This is a short story of lovers reunited. While the title suggests a heavy bdsm tale, there is really not that much and consists of light bondage. This is a fast paced tale and as such leaves me wishing for a further fleshing out of the tale. There was not an emotional connection to the characters and I really wish that more about there past had been went through, plans for the present, etc. The sex was not overly titillating. This is somewhat of a bland and generic read. I've read better books by Melinda Barron. At the same time, I enjoyed this story and feel that it could have been fleshed out more. I would recommend this as a great one-time read because it is a fun way to pass a rainy afternoon or a lazy morning. There isn't much there to want to revisit.

Tied Up, Tied Down by Lorelei James

Tied Up, Tied Down (from publisher):

Businesswoman Skylar Ellison is firmly in control of her life. So getting tangled up with a sexy Wyoming cowboy—and conceiving a baby in the parking lot of a honky-tonk—wasn’t in her plan. Since it appears the daddy has taken off for greener pastures, the only thing to do is pull up her bootstraps and carry on alone.

Cattle rancher Kade McKay returns home after a year on the range, and is knocked for a loop when he learns he’s the father of a three-month-old baby girl. When Skylar refuses to marry him, Kade grits his teeth, moves in and plays house by her rules to prove he’s a man in for the long haul.

Despite Skylar’s insistence they are to remain strictly parenting partners, their old passions flare hot as a brush fire, spurring Kade to demand absolute sexual surrender from the headstrong woman. Skylar willingly submits her body to the hot-blooded cowboy but she’s leery of handing Kade the reins to her heart.

Can Kade convince Skylar the wicked sex games aren’t a temporary distraction? Or will he have to bust out the ropes to show her he wants to be tied to her…forever?

Review: This is part of the Rough Riders series but does not appear that they have to be read in order. Especially since I have read only this story and had no problem following the story line or any comments about secondary characters. This was such an appealing tale that it makes me want to start at the beginning and read them all. I loved this unique tale. Kade and Skylar were wonderful. Kade truly was loving to Eliza and tried hard to be a good dad. Skylar bravely went it alone. I find no faults in the characters. I could gush on and on about this story. One thing that I particularly like is that Eliza is a part of the story. They interact with her, change diapers, bath, feed, etc which is usually left out. Eliza felt like a real child to Kade and Skylar not just this plot device the author used to force them together. No a child is seen and not heard in this, she is there. Wonderful tale about the "womanly curved" Skylar and the "gentlemen cowboy" Kade that I highly recommend as a keeper and reread.

Swept Off Her Feet by Camille Anthony

Swept off Her Feet (from publisher):

Glendevtorvas has never faced a challenge like the one Glennora offers him. He advances...she retreats, yet each time, he leaves more of his heart in her possession. He can only hope the same is true with her, because he may have swept her off her feet, but she's swept the game board of all other players. If he can't have her, he'll have no one. His hopes lie in the searing heat that flares between the two of them whenever they come together.
Both these two stubborn rulers will have to give up control long enough to give in to love.

Review: First off I don't know who I should be offended at, or just how much, that this story is labeled "full-figured heroine". Glennora, or Nnora, is a seven foot tall woman and weighs 238 pounds. Hardly a plus size. I mean, she is an alien species, not a plus size person. When does height equate full-figured. Her bmi would not even put her at overweight when comparing height to weight. So that is deceiving. She is not a plus-size heroine, just a tall alien living on Earth. This story has little plot and few intercourse scenes. The story mostly consists of oral sex and "seating" her nipples, which is explained in the story and is a little creepy to me. I failed to fully enjoy this story. I struggled to be turned on by the intimate scenes and the lack of any real meat and potatos plot left me feeling unfulfilled. It is not a bad story and what is there is probably gratifying to most readers, I just wanted more. It is a one-time read, but not a quick one. At $7.99 for this novel plus, be aware of what you're getting: a non full-figured heroine story, with little plot outside the bedroom of Dev and Nnora. It does have a neat cover, though.

The Sweet Shoppe: Tempting Prudence by Melissa Schroeder

Tempting Prudence (from author):

This is a free web read from Melissa. It is the first book of the The Sweet Shoppe Series.

From the time of Arthur and Camelot, she has traveled the world, dispensing her magical sweets. Her spells allow anyone who eats the confections to fulfill their hidden fantasies with the one they love. But if the recipient doesn’t believe their love is returned, then they are condemned to a life of knowing their lack of faith caused them to lose the one person they were destined to love.

Review: This is a great little free read from an author I have never read before. Believe me, I will now. Usually free reads leave me felling like nothing was said or done, but this one is really good. Prudence sounds like me. Brown hair, deep blues, porcelain skin and full-figured with a dominant streak in bed (not in the whole bdsm, D/s, Domme way). I liked her a lot. Jonas is super cute. Going out of his way to impress her. I like that the guy who could have anyone, worries that the one he wants won't want him. Nice change from uber alphas thumping their chests and dragging their knuckles. The guy even wears glasses to read, my favorite thing.Why are you still reading this?! You should hop on over to Melissa Schroeder's site and get this little Keeper gem for yourself.

Payback by Elizabeth Lapthorne

Payback (from publisher):

Caroline Thompson went to Nevada to have a much needed two-day holiday far away from work and family. She was planning on enjoying herself - gambling a little and having a lot of sex. Instead, she found herself tied to a bed and erotically teased by a disgruntled wanna-be employee.
Justin Stormcloud has been driven to the breaking point. It's time to teach Ms. Thompson a lesson she won't quickly forget...
And payback is a bitch.

Review: This story is confusing from the blurb to how it starts out. It is a mistaken identity, bondage, captive story. Caroline is the not fat, and boy does Ms. Lapthorne want you to know that, size 14 with ample boobs and rounded hips and ass. She's not fat, she's curvy! Got it people, just cause she's plus size, she's not fat! Yeah, whatever. What little there is to this story is overshadowed by the author's, thus the character's own, denial of her size. Like all plus size women, women in general for that matter, should realize the beauty about themselves. This wanted to lock that away and deny that. By saying she accepted her size and then denying it, it is not accepting and just gave me a headache and indigestion. This story is a guilty sort of pleasure in that it is full of sex, sex, anal sex, ticklish sex with a feather, etc and a HEA with a picket fence, golden retriever and 2.4 kids. I would recommend this as a one-time read. There are better, ahem, "curvy" women stories out there, and worse ones, too. (^.~) I would have liked this book better if Caroline would have owned her size, plus and fat, instead of denying it. Pandering to those edge line overweight/obese people who don't want to be fat and deny it by saying at least I'm not as fat as that person. She believed herself to be sexy because of her chest size. Why not be a sexy fat person who can work their curves? Sexy and fat is not an oxymoron. Believe me, I got plenty of attention with my fat self when I was out in New Orleans. Gets off soap box!!

Gamer Love by Melissa Lopez

Gamer Love (from publisher):

After months of roleplay gaming online, Lindsey's finally meeting her cyber playmate and veteran gamer, Sandulf, in the flesh in Las Vegas. And what gorgeous flesh he is. He's everything the shy librarian dreamed of and more.
Abram has never met anyone like Lindsey. Her sweetness dulls aches he never knew he had, and her body fires his every desire. He longs to come to her as Abram, not Sandulf. Soon, they're having more than cyber sex, they're exploring their every fantasy and then some. In real life. And both of them discover they'd rather have a real relationship than cyber-love.
When tattooing makes the fantasy real, Lindsey begins to have second thoughts about their quick relationship, magnified by the prejudices of her family and friends. Bowing to her desires, Abram disappears from her life. And so does Sandulf. She finds herself missing them both. But it's Abram and the real closeness they shared that she longs for most of all. How can she show the gamer she wants to give him real love?

Review: As a gamer myself, I have been wanting to read this story for a little while. I'm glad I did. I have to admit my gaming is not online, role playing. I'm a console gamer who prefers shooters and rpgs. So, different. I enjoyed that they met online, though I believe it is hard to fall in love, especially under the whole role playing aspect and even through IM. The hopeless romantic in me loved this whirl wind romance and sex filled tale. It is caliente! Sorry, couldn't help myself, after all Abram is a hot Mexican-American who knows his way around the bedroom. I really liked his character, beyond his hottiness. Lindsey was likable, though a little bit immature. I mean, really, what 27 year old lives with mom and is scared to tell her about marrying a *gasps* Hispanic! I know racism exists, prejudices abound, but if you really love someone, really really, you be with them. It was time Lindsey got of the tit and got a life. A wonderful tale that made me feel good. I recommend this as a keeper and reread.

Possession Obsession by Ciarra Sims

Possession Obsession (from publisher):

Gypsy magic woven through the fabric of time…
When Chloe inherits her Great Aunt Antonia's legacy -- a mysterious trunk filled with lovely lingerie -- her life takes an unforeseen turn. The beautiful old undergarments have magical powers -- and a mind of their own. For the first time in her life, Chloe finds herself irresistible to men. But there's only one man Chloe wants -- and that man just happens to be world famous rock star Slade Brandt -- Sam Brandenburg, her high school crush.
Fame has it's price, and Sam has his own demons to battle. Caught up in his own myth, he can't seem to escape. The way things are going, stardom may cost him his sanity -- or his life. He’s slipping farther and farther into the dangerous underground world of freaky BDSM role-playing -- and he’s about to sacrifice himself to a cult of real life wannabe Vampires. Chloe knows she’s his last hope. Can she save Sam from the thing Slade’s become?

Review: This is a short novella about a plump and plain woman with little sexual or just relationship experience. This is due to her obsession to unrequited high school crush turned mega rocker who has plenty of skinny women to sleep his way through, Sam/Slade. Honestly, her obsession is way creepy in that she lights candles for his high school photo, "Sam", and his "Slade" persona both. Sam was a "good" guy in that he didn't pick on her, even though his friends did. He didn't go out of his way and stop them either. I'm on the fence about that. Seems like an ass to me and kinda deserved the situation he got himself in. Chloe should have grown up and found someone who loved her and not hid behind this demigod she made out of Sam. Overall, a story best read for its sexuality than for much else. I felt little empathy for the characters. Their problems were a web of their own making. At the same time, it wasn't completely non entertaining. I would read this if you were bored and wanted a quick, one time read based on sex and little else. Some elements were nice, but it wasn't a keeper to me.

**EDIT: It seems like I have been reading Mrs.Giggles too much, because all other reviewers loved this. Maybe I'm just getting jaded.**

Back from New Orleans!!!!!

OH MY GOD!!! Well, I had a good time at Gulf Shores, Alabama. The beach there is sugary grained and white. Nothing like the beaches I've been to before. The surf was rough and I've got bruises to prove it. As I am whiter than white, I burned. I applied almost a whole can of spray sunblock during the time I was out and still got pink, but the real kicker was walking the French Quarter in New Orleans. I had a awesome time in N.O., though I admit I was so, uhm, yeah.....that I don't remember a whole lot, just glimpses. I had my share of margaritas, amaretto sours and hand grenades. I did not realize that these were equal to 4 1/2 mixed drinks. So I remember having at least 3. In total, my friend and I believe we had about 17 or so mixed drinks. Which led me to buying a black satin corset and strutting my stuff up and down Bourboun street. Got plenty of beads, though. It was Southern Decadence, aka Gay Mardi Gras. Man meat as far as the eye could see. Missed the parade though. :( We went to Bourbon Strip Tease (I think) anyway, kisses to Travis, my fat sistah, you made me look fabulous darling! We are family, I'll check on you again soon, I hope. Second Skin Leather has all your fetish needs, mostly gay male, but lots of fun things and loved those leather fetish masks, but were over $100.oo, yikes! Went to a couple of strip clubs and admit, I wasn't impressed with the boobs, mine were bigger. But Suki and some other chick were cute. My hubbie let me know, when I was telling him about my trip, that all men are worried about is naked boobs and that is it. Had tons of photos taken by gay men, straight men, women and even had cell video of me and my friend bumping and grinding. Asked for menages, asked if I wanted to buy acid and so much else I don't even remember. But damn, I felt sexy even in my size 28 ass! Awesome! Yeah, the GLBT weren't the only thing out and proud, so where my DD's! There was one really, really hot bouncer guy that, well, lets just say he was definitely fantasy material and he was working that accent! Overall a great party place and would highly recommend going and hope to go back again with just a little less alcohol this time around. (^.~) I was only slightly upset when a freak kept following us around and pulled on my arm, but three gay men came to my rescue. Loved it! ~Just hope the pics and vid don't end up on the internet or at least I hope I don't see it~

Books I've Read

O.k., I've been away. Busy reading and planning a trip. So no "reviews" this week. I've been on a Violet Summers kick. Saving Jenna and Hungry Like the Wolf are both books that contain plus size heroines and are fantastic stories. I highly recommend Hungry Like the Wolf and recommend it as a keeper and reread. Saving Jenna is good, but as it begins a series, some things are left open. I recommend you read it at least once. Read these if you have the time and money.

I also read Her Wolf by Rebecca Royce but was not completely in love with it. I never felt connected with the couple, especially because it felt that most of the story they were apart. This went with the storyline. It sets up the series, Westervelt Wolves, but left the romance feeling, eh. Okay, but not a reread for romance, but not a bad story. I just didn't feel an emotional connection to the characters.

Too Tempting by Karen Erickson is and ow/ym story, I don't like big age differences whether it is a om/yw or ow/ym, but this was an awesome-ly hot story and really good plot, too. So it's not just all sex.(^.~) I definitely will be rereading this one again.

So, got my son off to school, a huge issue since he is Autistic and transitioning into mainstream kindergarten. Then, hubbie packed off to college. Now, me off to the beach and N.O.!!! See 'ya after Labor Day.