LauraJ’s review of One On One by Cathryn Fox
Contemporary erotic romance eBook shortstory released by Samhain Publishing 3 Feb 09

I know if I want a good, very steamy, hot, sexy read all I have to do is look for a book by Cathryn Fox. Sandy M.’s review of The Hot Line convinced me to try Ms. Fox’s books and I have been hooked every since. Christian was a secondary in that book and I hoped that someday he would get his own story. Not only did he get his own story, it’s one of my favorite type of stories: friends to lovers.

Christian and Taylor are neighbors and good friends. They get together to watch movies and eat Chunky Monkey ice cream with, but neither one realizes that the other is attracted to them. Taylor thinks that she is pretty much invisible to him as anything but a friend. He always has girls around him. Taylor’s friend offers a suggestion to use to seduce Christian. Christian is a little shocked at Taylor’s odd behavior, not that he is complaining.

I’m going to start with a small complaint (don’t worry, it’s more of a compliment IMHO): the story was too short but that is my only complaint though because the story itself, was very good. Ms. Fox was still able to squeeze a lot into just a few pages and what was there was H-O-T.

Christian had me somewhat curious since his first appearance in The Hot Line. Was he a player, a womanizer or would he be a sweet, tender guy waiting for “the one”? While he does come across as more of the first two in The Hot Line he is really more of the third in this story. He (as well as Taylor) have never acted on their attraction to each for fear of loosing their friendship if things don’t work out. Thanks to Taylor’s friends, who give her push to take the risk, she and Christian find out that they can have both.

I highly recommend this for those who have read The Hot Line and wanted Christian’s story, but if you have not read it, this story will stand well on its own. I also recommend it for anyone who has yet to try one of Ms. Fox’s story. I don’t think you will be disappointed especially if you like really hot stories.

Grade: B+

Summary:
It was just a sexy game. Then things went south…

Taylor Dayton has been holding back a secret from her best friend, firefighter Christian Bain: he’s the only man who can douse the flames inside her. It’s time he noticed her as more than an ice cream and movie pal. What better way to melt the blinders from his eyes than propose an irresistibly sexy grooming session?

Christian can hardly believe the woman from his erotic dreams has just issued a siren call no red-blooded male can resist. He’ll give her what she wants, and when he’s done with her, she’ll need more than a fire hose to cool her down.

When their little game leads them to discover their secret fetishes and fantasies, they realize that this sexy seduction is no longer just a game.

This time, it’s for keeps.

Warning: Hot sex in creative places, may leave reader salivating for more…

Read an excerpt here.

Other Books in the Series:

Limecello’s review of Mistress Ménage (Mistress Diaries, Book 3) by Jenesi Ash
Erotic romance short story eBook released by Harlequin Spice 1 May 08

I think I need to preface my review with the statement that I like Harlequin as a publisher. A lot. In fact, I probably spend twice as much on Harlequin books as I do on groceries. [And I buy from the site with discount codes - so imagine. Scary.]

That being said, I’m still undecided about the Spice Line. First of all, the book blurb lies [Ed.: Like a rug.]. Good thing I read that after reading the Brief. Still, I started reading this, and 1/5 through the first page, I was checking grammar. This is bad news, because I am not a grammar girl. I am the girl who told her 8th grade English teacher, “If someone held a gun to my head and told me to find the gerund in the sentence, I’d tell them to pull the trigger.” She thought I was joking.

The heroine starts out with all the depth of a sidewalk puddle. She’s full of contradictions, and frankly, not that bright. Within the first page or so, she’s bragging about being shown off, and then complaining about… being shown off. I’m not a fan of sweeping generalizations or stereotypes, so, “I always seem to take the riskiest option. I guess it’s a quality all mistresses have” rubbed me the wrong way. And while I’m generally not for taking pot shots, but I couldn’t resist this one. The author just handed it to me when Amaris thought, “I’m not going to get into this… He’s smarter and quicker than me.” No – really?

Unfortunately, I found myself mainly bored during the sex scenes. There was also a major emphasis on speed. “Demonic speed” “lightening speed” “already?” The Spice Brief was like reading a poor description of a really bad porno. The comments the characters made were exceedingly inane, and it would have been better if they had not spoken at all. There’s a twilight zone switch, and the real purpose of the “story” comes out. The first 15 pages [out of 20, mind you] were pointless. Much like gratuitous boob shots in a porno. But no, after some purely awful dialog, it ends – just when you think the story is about to get going, you find out that’s the next installment. Unfortunately, my first foray into Spice Briefs was not a good one.

My suggestion is to read the blurb, and leave it at that. It’s the best part – but here’s a spoiler: Amaris isn’t thrilled. The end.

Grade: F

Summary:

In this third installment of The Mistress Diaries, the bawdy, naughty adventures of Amaris Martin, ambitious career mistress to a millionaire, Amaris’s lover Leon loses at a high-stakes Vegas poker game, and a night with Amaris is part of the bet. Rather than being outraged, Amaris is delighted–the man who won her is very sexy…and even richer than Leon! Approaching the night as a potential job interview, Amaris is dismayed to discover the guy’s already got a mistress who’s not too keen on the ménage a trois he has in mind. But by the end of the night, Amaris is sure she’s got herself a new benefactor…until she wakes up the next morning to find his dead body in her bed, and her rival claims Amaris killed him.

No excerpt available.

Alicia Thomas’s review of Sundial by Carrie Lofty
Time travel short story ebook published Dec 07  by Wild Rose Press

Sundial is a short story, only 67 pages and is the first thing I’ve read from Wild Rose Press.

The biggest factor in Sundial is the style. The whole feel of this story is disjointed but in an artsy kind of way. It’s like Picasso does time-travel romance. I enjoy some of the weird IFC movies, etc., so once I figured out what I was reading I enjoyed it. I did have immediate negative reaction, though, and had to come up from there.

First off, we aren’t told just how young Mark is so his attitude seems really off. Also, the masturbation scene is really stupid. He gets caught because he sets himself to get caught, in my opinion. Who does that sitting outside a door the other person may walk through soon? And this brain damaged person has the nerve to act surprised! This is in the very beginning, though, and things got better quickly.

The author calls Mark shy but I’d say wary is a better word. He’s a consummate actor, with a natural talent and having honed his skills out of necessity. he is direct and strong, so he’s not shy. He’s been living in an unstable environment since he was 16, which is a vulnerable age, and he never knows when he may just disappear into his old life. He comes across as cold, at first, but bitterness toward circumstances isn’t an unusual response for a teenager. Due to what’s happened with his life, in some ways he’s less mature for his age and in other ways he’s much more.

I haven’t said much about Amber but really, Mark is the star of the show. She’s a good enough heroine and in the end she pulls off a good climax but there’s not a lot to say about her. The vast majority of the struggle, pain and growth are Mark’s.

Now I have to grade this. This one is hard. It will be sad if it misses the audience who will enjoy it because it definitely isn’t for everyone. It will be a gem for those looking for something unusual. I’ll give a general grade with a strong recommend if you think you may go for the style. I’ll be looking for more from this author.

Grade C+

Blurb:   Amber Schulman stepped into a lush English garden in 2007, only to arrive in breathtaking Sorrento, Italy in 1958. The only person who understands her confusion is fellow time traveler Mark Lacey, a New Yorker who comes from the land of cassette tapes and Reaganomics. His dark, world-weary eyes beckon her with secrets and sensuality. But why does he seem so familiar?

Trapped in the past since he was a teen, Mark wants nothing to do with another whining newcomer. But the blue-eyed Aussie might be able to answer the one question that haunts him: Do I ever get back to 1987?

From soccer to samba to sex, Amber tempts him with a zeal for life and love, pulling him free of his lonely isolation.

But getting home could prove easier than they imagined. How will their love endure if Amber returns to her time and Mark to his?”

Read an excerpt.