Sandy M’s review of Shooting Stars by Bella Andre
Time Travel Romance erotic short story ebook published by Bella Andre 15 Oct 10

I’m a huge time travel fan, so I was a pleasantly surprised when I started reading this short story and found time traveling is the main star. Among the shooting starts needed to help our heroines out anyway. I’m glad Bella Andre decided to breathe new life into her older books. I’ve had fun with the two I’ve read so far.

Now, you have to keep in mind Shooting Stars is a short story. It suffers the same fate as pretty much every other short story out there – not enough time for the characters to delve into each other but in bed. Christina and Christiania know what they want, what they need in their lives to be happy. So when they see it, experience it, they know it’s right. Therefore, take this book for what it is and go with the flow. Especially the hot, hot sex!

Christina has picked up another man at another bar. For sex. Same old, same old for her lately. So much so she begins daydreaming this time around instead of enjoying Jake’s ministrations. Suddenly she’s thrown into the past, trading places with the girl who is marrying an alpha-to-the-core Scottish laird, Marcus. He wants a biddable wife to give him sons, and that’s what he’s getting in Christiania. The next thing he knows, however, his wife has become too independent and cusses up a storm.

Christiania is too shy, too timid for the likes of Marcus. She needs gentle wooing and loving. Finding herself thrust into the life and bed of Jake, the one who doesn’t do it for Christina, is just what Christiania needs. Jake is a man who gives more than he takes, seeing to Christiania’s wants before his own. They’re perfect for each other.

Of course, all doesn’t go well for long. After getting exactly what they want, each woman is tossed back into her own time to the man neither wants to be with. Trying to figure out a way to travel back to where they belong isn’t as easy as it was the first time around. Why doesn’t a shooting star work for them a second time?

Don’t look for depth of character or intense plot. Don’t look for believability or reality. Take the steaminess and the twist of fate as it’s meant – a good, fun read in 50 pages. ‘Nuff said.

Grade: B-

Summary:

San Francisco, present: Christina wishes the men she took to bed could be more like the warriors of the past: strong, sexy and just a little bit scary.

Scotland, 1320: Convent-raised Christiania prays for a gentle man to save her from marriage to a warrior. A shooting star and a fervent wish for their heart’s desire are all it takes for both women’s dreams and wildest sexual desires to come true.

No excerpt available.

Sandy M’s review of Ecstasy by Bella Andre
Contemporary Romance erotic short story ebook published by Bella Andre 1 Aug 11

When I read the first few paragraphs of this book, I kept thinking, “Shades of Romancing the Stone” – that first adventure scene where you end up being relieved it’s not really the movie but an excerpt from Joan Wilder’s manuscript. So when reading Charlie Gibson’s erotic story at the beginning of this book, I held my breath, waiting to find out what Bella Andre intended to do. Boy, was I ever surprised!

I’m happy to say Ms. Andre gives readers a fun story with equally fun characters. That isn’t to say there aren’t a couple of issues, but for the most part I enjoyed getting to know Charlie and Candace through their relationship with each other and through their writing.

Deciding to make a change in her writing, Candy wants to write erotic romance novels. She’s finding that a little difficult in more ways than one. The writing group she joins is disgusted with her porn, and her dates only want to get into her pants when they find out what she does for a living. Attending an erotic romance conference changes her life all the way around. All she had to do is bowl over and fall on top of Charlie Gibson, successful erotic writer.

Charlie has suffered pretty much the same fate: when women find out he writes sexy and sensual books, they simply walk out on him, thinking he’s perverted and the scum of the earth. He’d give anything to find that one woman who wouldn’t look at him in such a light. When he’s bowled over by Candace, his destiny is about to change. Agreeing to mentor her during the conference, Charlie comes up with a lesson plan that will teach her all she needs to know to get her words on paper for publication. He’s taken by surprise when Candace takes those lessons a step further.

Lesson by lesson they become lovers, each falling for the other but afraid to say anything due to the circumstances of their attraction. Both vow to tell the other how they feel after the mentoring is over. In the meantime, Candace’s writing has taken on a whole new light, and she even enters her story in a contest just to see how it goes over with the judges. Yes, she wins the contest, but will she lose Charlie when he finds out what she’s really done?

While I definitely enjoy Charlie and Candace as they get to know one another in every carnal way possible, I also want to know more about them personally. They never really talk to each other to learn those little things lovers find out. I think that’s mostly due to this being a short story, but even a short scene or two would make me happy. And I’m a tad irritated with Candace not thinking about Charlie in terms of the erotic contest she enters. I mean, he is an erotic writer, after all. That she doesn’t put two and two together just doesn’t sit right.

But, all in all, Ecstasy is an entertaining romp that will keep you turning the pages to see what these two are up to next.

Grade:B-

Summary:

Candace, a newcomer to writing erotica, is thrilled when Charlie, a veteran of the industry, agrees to be her mentor.  But neither of them ever expected that Charlie’s lessons on new positions, using toys, varying locations and role playing would spiral from verbal instruction into hot, hands on education.  Unfortunately, Candace’s deception about the new erotic romance she’s writing–where Charlie plays the starring role–is about to threaten their one chance at true love.

No excerpt available.

Welcome once again to Duck Chat!

It’s only been two years since Jami Alden’s first book was published. A Taste of Honey started her on her successful and rapid rise in the romance industry.  After a few more releases, then came her Gemini Men series and Jami hasn’t looked back once. Today the second book in that trilogy, Kept, is hitting the shelves.

So we’re getting a peek into the real Jami Alden today.  Be sure to leave a comment because Jami is giving away to five lucky readers copies of Caught, the first book in her Gemini Men series.  Let’s chat!

Duck Chat: You’ve had some wonderful success since your first book was published in 2007. What’s that ride been like for you so far?

Jami Alden: Like anything, it’s had its highs and lows (fortunately mostly highs!) Getting published was amazing, and getting moved into the Brava line was a dream come true. I remember reading my first Shannon McKenna book and thinking, “I want to write books like this!” But I’ve also experienced the reality that even a dream job is a JOB, with all the stress and hard work that goes with that. In the past two years I’ve faced some crushing deadlines amid life stress, sick kids, and all the intrusions of ordinary life. But thankfully, I have fantastic writer friends who help me get through everything,, as well as an agent and an editor who are both incredibly supportive.

DC: If you could retire any question and never, ever have it asked again, what would it be? Feel free to answer it.
JA: You know, I can’t really think of one question. Yeah, I get some of the same questions over and over, but I don’t mind answering, and it’s kind of interesting to see how my answers have changed over the years.

DC: Your Gemini Men sound sexy as hell. Where did the idea for the series come from? Will Danny’s story be the end or will there maybe be a surprise or two down the road for fans of the series?
JA: I have to thank my amazing editor, Hilary Sares, for that. I still remember the email she sent, that she wanted to move me into Brava and that I needed to come up with a write-up for a romantic suspense series NOW. And, oh, can it be about three brothers, maybe two of them are twins? So I called my author buddies, Bella Andre and Anne Mallory, and had them meet me at Starbucks, stat, where we hammered out three ideas for me to send to Hilary. Right now the last scheduled book in the series is Danny’s story, Unleashed in October 2009, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed for at least two more

DC: I’ve heard writers often say their stories take them in surprising directions, or dialogue flows from some unknown place. Is it the same with you? Do your characters surprise you sometimes?
JA: Not really. To be honest, I kind of roll my eyes when authors say, “Oh, I just let my characters tell me their story.” But part of the reason I roll my eyes is because I’m jealous. I would LOVE it if my characters appeared fully formed in my brain and “told” me their story. Sadly, I have to put myself in their places and think it all up myself. That being said, occasionally I’ll be writing a scene and suddenly something happens that I hadn’t planned. Like in Unleashed,  I remember one afternoon I was writing at my local library, and I sat back and said to myself, “Well, that was interesting. Didn’t see that coming.”

DC: Do you ever argue with your characters while you’re writing?
JA: Not really. Because, really, if they’re not acting how I want them to act, that’s my fault, not theirs.

DC: You describe your husband as an alpha male, just the kind of man romance readers love. He has to be inspiration for some of your heroes. Any examples you can give us that you’ve used so far?
JA: Oh, he inspires everything (wink wink, nudge nudge)! Honestly, though, I’ve said my husband is a socially well-adjusted alpha male, and I think there’s a difference. I know part of the fantasy and, I hope, the appeal of my books and my heroes is the idea of cracking the surface of such an emotionally tough guy and watching him fall to his knees for love of the heroine. In reality though, it would be nearly impossible to have a healthy relationship with someone who has such deep, shall we say, intimacy issues. So my husband is kind of the real life ideal – he’s strong and tough and smart (not to mention hot!) who runs a business and does things like build cabins and goes on hundred-mile hiking trips in his spare time, but he’s also very open emotionally and willing to talk about things (more than I am, actually) in a way that I can’t really envision most of my male characters doing.

DC: What is sure to distract you from sitting down and working/writing?
JA: Email.

DC: Get any crazy fan mail? We’d love you to share the funniest or weirdest – your choice!

JA: I’ve never had anything too weird. There was a review of Private Party where the reviewer said she needed to get a toy while reading. It was an erotic romance, so I suppose that was a compliment, but I didn’t really need to know that.

DC: How do you feel your male or female characters have evolved over your career? Do you think you write them differently now than you did when you started?
JA: Wow, that’s really tough. I guess I would say everyone’s gotten a little edgier as I let more of my voice shine through. When I first started out, I tried a variety of things, historical and category among them, and I think I was trying to sound like other authors rather than sounding like myself, if that makes sense. I’m also more conscious now about trying to make sure my men sound like men both in dialog and internal thoughts.

DC: Any works in progress you can share with us?
JA: Right now I’m working on a new romantic suspense idea – and that’s all I’m going to say

DC: Is there a genre you haven’t tackled but would like to try?
JA: When I first started writing, I wrote a western historical. I think some day I’d like to give that another try.

DC: What advice would you give to your younger self?
JA: Quit worrying about the size of your ass and eat something already! Someday you’ll have kids and you’ll relish every opportunity to sit down and eat a meal in peace and quiet. And if you keep slathering yourself with Tropical Blend and baking yourself in the sun, by the time you’re 35, you’re going to look like a leather Muppet.

DC: Are you lucky enough to have any input on those sexy covers that grace your books?
JA: Nope. But I am very grateful to the Kensington art department.

DC: If you had never become an author, what do you think you would be doing right now?
JA: I probably would have stayed in my previous field of corporate marketing.

DC: Favorite author?

JA: I can’t possibly name just one!

DC: Favorite book?

JA: Contemporary: It Had To Be You, by Susan Elizabeth Phillipsl Historical: A Wild Yearning by Penelope Williamson

Lightning Round:
- dark or milk chocolate?   dark
- smooth or chunky peanut butter?   smooth
- heels or flats?    It’s hard to lug around a toddler in heels, so I default to flats.
- coffee or tea?   coffee. Lots.
- summer or winter?   summer
- mountains or beach?   mountains
- mustard or mayonnaise?   dijonnaise
- flowers or candy?   flowers
- pockets or purse?   purse
- Pepsi or Coke?   coke
- ebook or print?   print

And some fun stuff:

1. What is your favorite word?   Schadenfreude  [Ed. [shahd-n-froi-duh] – satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else’s misfortune.]
2. What is your least favorite word?   Fanny – when used to refer to a woman’s butt. Especially in a book, when a male character thinks or says it. What man under the age of 90 uses the word fanny?
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?   Reading a great book, watching a great movie, going for a run
4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?   Craft workshops that claim there’s only one “right” way to do something.
5. What sound or noise do you love?   Wind rustling through leaves
6. What sound or noise do you hate?   My 20-month-old whining
7. What is your favorite curse word?  God, there are so many that I love. But if I have to choose, I’ll go with the classic F-bomb.
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?   I sometimes think about being a chef or possibly a personal trainer.
9. What profession would you not like to do?   Daycare provider
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you
arrive at the Pearly Gates?   “You used the time you had well.”

DC:  Thanks for chatting with us, Jami!

Remember to comment for your chance to win a copy of Caught!

Lawson’s review of Game for Seduction by Bella Andre
Contemporary erotic romance released by Pocket 9 Sep 08

It’s fall, and during fall I love football. College football mostly (and surprisingly my team is doing surprisingly well this year, so I’ll put in a shameless plug for the Texas Tech Red Raiders, Wreck ‘em TECH!), but pro is good as well, since it’s football. When I got this book, it was a good thing, as it’s romance and football. Win-win situation for me all around, though it isn’t the type of book that I normally read.

The reason it’s not my normal sort of book, is it’s erotic romance, which I don’t see a lot of as I’m the Avon historical chick. I’m not complaining, it’s just a fact. Anyway, the book starts out at a photo shoot during the off-season. Melissa McKnight is representing her father’s firm for it’s best client, wide receiver Dominic DiMarco. Melissa has had a huge lust crush on Dominic for years, but she’s never acted on it thinking that Dominic thinks of her as just a little sister. In trying to get a promotion and her father’s respect, she instead pricks her own ego and goes to a sports star only bar seeking new clients.

Drinking too much Dominic ends up taking her home, where though she’s a bit impaired, she’s not plastered and she takes advantage of the situation. Dominic feels guilty and offers to be her client, instead of her father’s, but Melissa doesn’t want him to apologize or feel guilty. Dominic does because he’s always thought she’s off limits, being his agent’s daughter and his deep dark secret from his past. Dominic can’t keep his hands of Melissa, and they end up doing the deed in several places they shouldn’t.

Melissa has a few image issues, coming from an awkward childhood and a disapproving father, but she had a good head on her shoulders and took her fantasies with Dominic into real life. She was a generally likable character, wanting her independence and even though she couldn’t keep her hands off Dominic, she didn’t want him dominating her life. Dominic did get rather possessive of Melissa rather quickly, but he does have the aha! moment and realize that he shouldn’t be railroading her life.

What didn’t work so well was the resolution with Melissa’s disapproving father at the end, it felt a bit rushed. Also, the deep dark secret that Dominic had been carrying around didn’t seem to be something incredibly horrific or life changing. It’s repeated enough times that when the big revelation does come and the reader finds out about his past, it’s almost a side note, added to have the only little extra kink in the plot. The chemistry, anticipation and sex scenes are smoking hot, and definitely well written.

A good story for smoking hot chemistry, a pretty good love story, realistic characters and a touch of football.

Grade: B

Summary:

The daughter of a powerful sports agent, Melissa McKnight has harbored lust-filled fantasies for Dominic DiMarco ever since she was an awkward teenager, when the San Francisco Outlaws’ gorgeous wide receiver became her father’s superstar client. Now Melissa’s a beautiful, tenacious associate in her father’s firm, and being around to-die-for hard-bodies is all in a day’s work…until tangling with Dominic at a photo shoot blindsides her with passion.

Dominic has built a flawless career by being in control — on and off the field. And despite his intense desire for Melissa, he’s not about to seduce his agent’s daughter — until Melissa stages a power play to break free from her domineering father and winds up at an edgy bar on the wrong side of town. Dominic thinks he’s rescuing the innocent Melissa he met years ago…but one night of sizzling passion reveals a woman with no limits — including a penchant for hot sex in public places. If anyone’s breaking all the rules of seduction, it’s sexy, irresistible Melissa.

But Dominic has a secret from years ago — one that could ruin his sterling reputation and take Melissa along with him. Will his bad-boy past bind them closer together? Or will they crash and burn?

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series: