REVIEW: Crave by Cathy Yardley

LauraD's review of Crave: the Seduction of Snow White by Cathy Yardley
Erotic romance released by Avon Red 3 Jun 08

I'm a sucker for fairy tales, especially "re-told" versions, so I was really excited to get my hands on a copy of Cathy Yardley's erotic version of Snow White. Her decision to set a classic fairy tale in modern times-in a cult, no less-really sets it apart from all the other romantic erotica choices on the bookstore table.

Read more

Tags: 2008, Avon Red, Cathy Yardley, Crave: the Seduction of Snow White, erotic romance, Grade B, June 2008, LauraD, Review

Review: Everything Forbidden by Jess Michaels

Finn’s review of Everything Forbidden by Jess Michaels
Historical erotic romance released by Avon Red 30 Oct 07

Talk about HOT! I really enjoyed this book. Naughty little Miranda Albright has watched her neighbor, Ethan Earl of Rothschild, as he fornicated with his summer lover for years. Well now her family is in dire straights and in need of assistance. Miranda does the sacrificial lamb thing and tells him she will be his summer lover in exchange for coming-out Seasons for her sisters. Yeah, what a hardship! (Giggle)

Read more

Tags: 2008, Avon Red, Erotic, Everything Forbidden, Finn, Grade A, Historical, Jess Michaels, October 2007, Review, romance

Review: Seduced by Darkness (Dark Realm, Book 2) by Delilah Devlin

Sandy M's review of Seduced by Darkness (Dark Realm, Book 2) by Delilah Devlin
Contemporary erotic paranormal romance released by Avon Red on 26 Feb 08

I've been waiting for this book since I reviewed the first book in the series, Into the Darkness. As I said in that review, I really liked Nic and Chessa and was glad they were getting their own book. I liked Chessa's refusal to give in to Nic, his dominance over her when loving her. Now, don't get me wrong, Seduced is a very good book, I liked it, but I'm just a tad disappointed.

Read more

Tags: 2008, Avon Red, Contemporary, Dark Realm series, Delilah Devlin, Erotic, February 2008, Grade B, Paranormal, Review, romance, Sandy M, Seduced by Darkness

Valenduckie: It’s a Wrap!

Before Syb fires me for being the worst Contest Duckie ever (I admit it, I'm Wordpress challenged, or as Syb said, I have bevnical difficulties), I wanted to send some luv out. Read more

Tags: 2008, Avon Red, Bantam Dell, Berkley, Contest, Dorchester, Harper Collins, Jo Goodman, Kresley Cole, Samhain, Valenduckie

Review: Into the Darkness (Dark Realm, Book 1) by Delilah Devlin

Sandy M's review of Into the Darkness (Dark Realm, Book 1) by Delilah Devlin
Contemporary Paranormal Romance published 26 Jun 07 by Avon Red

I love my vampires, and this new series by Delilah Devlin has some of the sexiest and lustiest vampires around. I liked the different take on the age-old vampire legends in this series. There are The Born, those born as vampires, and then there are those who are turned just like we've always read about before. These turned vamps are chosen by The Born when there is a need for more of their kind and those chosen are willing participants. None of that willy-nilly turning against someone's will just for the blood and gore of it. And the virgin vampire part of the story is different also. Read more

Tags: 2008, Avon Red, Contemporary, Dark Realm, Delilah Devlin, Grade A, Into the Darkness, June 2007, Paranormal, Review, Sandy M, vampires

Review: Heat of the Night (Dream Guardians, Book 2) by Sylvia Day

Gwen's review of Heat of the Night (Dream Guardians, Book 2) by Sylvia Day
Contemporary paranormal romance trade paperback published 8 Jan 08 by Avon Red

I am a big Sylvia Day fangirl. I think her sensual scenes are among the best written. Her books are all about the romance. There are, of course, plots and story arcs, secondary characters, but she never takes her eye off the ball - the romance. This book is no exception. We learn more about the Dream Guardians world and their rebellion in this book. There are several moving parts to the story and things become very complicated by the end. Nevertheless, we get an HEA. Read more

Tags: Avon Red, Dream Guardians series, Gwen, Heat of the Night, Review, Sylvia Day

Review: Magic & Mayhem by Cathryn Fox and Sylvia Day

Sandy M's review of Magic & Mayhem by Cathryn Fox and Sylvia Day
Contemporary paranormal anthology eBook published 24 Jul 07 by Avon

Halloween has never sounded like so much fun. I think every woman would wish it was this easy to dream up the perfect lover! These two stories give us a look into what it would be like to have the power to conjure up your dream man and then, on the reverse side, to conjure him without knowing you've done so.

Magic by Cathryn Fox

Brianna James has special powers that not even her best friend knows about. Her powers are to be used for the betterment of mankind and not personal gain. Remembering the legendary Xander, who was banished by the Council when he had used his power for himself and roams the earth as a cat as punishment, Brianna has no desire to have such a life, so she is careful when and when she uses her magic.

Brianna makes up her mind up to start conjuring and writes her incantation down, asking for the man of her desires. As long as she doesn't complete the spell by sprinkling cat's claw over it, things will be fine. But when Max, her pet cat, inadvertently knocks her vial of cat's claw over and it dusts the paper spell, she then notices a man leave the store, wondering why she hadn't seen him come inside beforehand. Read more

Tags: Avon Red, Cathryn Fox, eBook, Grade B, Magic & Mayhem, Review, Sandy, Sylvia Day

Review: Alluring Tales: Awaken the Fantasy

The best description of Alluring Tales can be found on the cover of the book - awaken the fantasy. Most of the stories seem to involve a fantasy of some kind. And as Avon Red is billed as Erotica you won't find a HEA with marriage and baby here. I would argue this is erotic romance more than erotica, as each story ends with the couple together. And with hope there will be there HEA.

Lover's Locket by Cathryn Fox
A young woman frustrated with her love life is given an antique locket, when used with a spell it will bring her true love to her. The downside is it also unleashes an evil darkness she must fight in order to keep her HEA.

Lover's Locket has a great set-up but it was just too big a story for a novella. There is a huge back story here, one I would have like to see more than be told and there wasn't enough time to fully develop the characters or their motivation. So I was left wondering too many things and couldn't just enjoy the story. Why did the family keep this painting hanging in their living rooms and not pass down a story about it. Why didn't he spend time helping her know how to fight the darkness when it came to her instead of having sex with her? And the end was way too pat and nicely tied up. Although it kicks ass the heroine was the one who had to save the day.
Grade C-

Kili's Ice Man by Delilah Devlin
Kili has had it with smart men. She wants a pretty boy toy with more between his legs than ears. In effort to calm down before her presentation in front of her newest fantasy man, she goes for a lunch time virtual fantasy snack. Unfortunately Gunnar "Ice Man" Rydeman's hears her 'all jock and no brains' speech and next thing you know lunch gets a whole lot spicer.

This was better than I expected because I rarely do the funny stuff and I enjoy Delilah's 'darker' stories. The whole caveman can't talk thing almost got old but I have to say it was creative as hell. I would have rated this higher but the idea the smart, strong, professional woman couldn't hold it together when meeting a cute guy, even when he is THE cute guy, set my feminist bells ringing and I never got over it.
Grade C+

Hottest One Night Stand by Lisa Renee Jones
Jessica Montgomery is heading down to Brownsville Texas for a family birthday party. Along the way a storm, car trouble and the old no room in the inn leads to one amazing night with a stranger. Only for as big as Texas is, sometimes it is still a small world and it helps to have connections.

I really liked this story. Part of it is due to the fact it is less fantastic and easier for me to believe and the other is it fits well into a novella. I would have enjoyed the story if it was longer but I didn't feel there was anything I NEEDED to know. We learn a lot about the characters in small ways and that leaves the reader with a better feeling they will get their HEA. The biggest issue I had was his repeated use of Spanish endearments. Yes I am sure many a man does it but damn it is annoying.
Grade B+

Out of the Shadows by Myla Jackson
TJ Evans has just finished a night at work. He is on a special Houston Police Unit set up to hunt and kill vampires. There is a hurricane coming and his wanna be girlfriend slash neighbor hasn't spoken to him since the two of them spent the night getting hot and sweaty. And the night only gets better when he learns Cassidy was attacked and he now has a whole new reason to be chasing her.

I liked the fact it was the girl who was fighting her lust for blood and the one being chased instead of the other way around. TJ was a good guy, which is always nice to see in a romance. And hey was set in Texas. But really there isn't enough story here and I found it flat. When I hit the last word of the story I wasn't really interested in finding out what was next.
Grade C-

A Familiar Kind of Magic by Sylvia Day
As an unattached Familiar, Victoria is something of an oddity and one the High Council wants to deal with by assigning her a new warlock. Enter Hunter Max Westin, who is sent to tame and collar the kitty. Once he has her on a leash, he decides to keep her. Now the trick is getting her to see it the same way.

The story was good in a Catwomanish sort of way. And there wasn't a vampire to be found! But I could have so done without the BDSM stuff. Just running on overkill right now with it. But the grade dropped a good grade level or three because it doesn't end. I hate a cliffhanger and make it one I wasn't expecting and have no clue when and if the next part is coming, I get way cranky.
Grade D

Quick Silver by Viva Anna
A good messenger is contacted from an unknown to deliver a package to Las Vegas for an ungodly sum of money. Only to find out the 'package' was a person, and not just any person but a whore. Now they are on the run and hiding out from one of the most powerful people you can find, well if the year is 2080 and you are in the New States of America.

Typical futurist story or it is until you make the messenger a woman. The whore a man. The powerful person they are running from is the first lady. And... I could go on. The heroine was awesome and completely kicked ass without losing her femininity. She could have weakness without being weak and completely owned her sexuality. So why the low grade you ask? It is a cliffhanger!!! I upped the grade when I read the deal and saw there will be an Alluring Tales II and III. But I am still only ASSUMING that will continue the story. I mean it has to... right? It is one thing to leave the relationship up in the air but even erotica has to close the plot.
Grade C+

Tempting Grace by Sasha White
Grace Walters is just about living her dream life. Her home, job and place in her community mean the world to her because as a former bad girl, runaway, stripper she never thought she would be in the position she is now. Life is nice and stable or at least it would be if it wasn't for Lucas Martin. An emotional crisis is just the thing to make her crack and take Lucas up on his repeated offers. Only now what does she do when the much younger preachers kid wants more than just one night?

It prolly says all sorts of really bad things about me but I rushed and read this story first. I love the tale of the kid who was going to make nothing of herself coming out on top and it seems I have a Thornbird Complex. Lucas was great. He normal and not made out to be holier than thou. My biggest issue was the story was too damn short.
Grade A

Overall this is a really good anthology with something for everyone, well except historical fans, so make that just about everyone. I think the book would have benefited from the stories being in a different order but who knows. Let me know if you pick it up or if you have read it. I would love to hear what you think.

Tags: Alluring Tales, Avon Red, Cathryn Fox, Delilah Devlin, erotic romance, Lisa Renee Jones, Myla Jackson, Sasha White, Sylvia Day, Viva Anna

Book Alert: Pleasures of the Night by Sylvia Day **May 2007**

Pleasures of the Night by Sylvia Day

Aidan Cross is a Dream Guardian. In the Twilight between sleep and wakefulness, a battle ensues between his kind and the Nightmares, with the victor reaping the benefits of the energy created in slumber. Guardians recharge with various skills, Nightmares drain while thriving on distress.To keep the portal locked between reality and dreams is a calling that rules Aidan's life, until he's assigned to protect Lyssa Bates. Unlike the other women whose dreams he's calmed with deeply erotic seduction, Lyssa recognizes him and his purpose. She welcomes him to her bed as he is, without the disguise of her fantasies, and offers him the first true solace he's known in a lifetime of fighting. Her ability is a gift. And a curse.

Because of her rare cognizance, she is said to be The Key they have all been searching for. The Key serves a terrible purpose to open the Gateway and allow Nightmares in unlimited numbers to travel through the Twilight. From there, they have access to the mortal plane through the individuals whose dreams they control.

So Aidan leaves the Twilight to protect her from both his own people and the enemies who need Lyssa to open the door to them. Stripped of the endless possibilities of dreams, they have only their will to live with which to conquer her destiny and grasp the elusive promise of love.

There is a companion site for the series. It's a work in progress and is presently undergoing a full-site redesign, so by November visitors will find a whole new site and lots more content -- deleted scenes, sneak peaks at future installments of the series, games, etc.

But there's an excerpt up now!

And a little mini-trailer. (It's just something I whipped together myself while Circle of Seven works on the "official" trailer. *g*)

Tags: Avon Red, Book Alert, erotic romance, May 2007, Pleasures of the Night, Sylvia Day

The Price of Desire by Leda Swann **Feb 2007**

From Leda Swann:

And then THE PRICE OF DESIRE, a full-length novel, comes out with Avon Red in February next year. Again it's Victorian set, this time in the world of the workhouse.

Excerpt!
Read more

Tags: Avon Red, erotic romance, Excerpt, February 2007, Historical, Leda Swann, The Price of Desire