Big Bad Wolf by Flesa Black

Title: Big Bad Wolf
Author: Flesa Black
Publisher: Loose Id LLC
Published date: October 2009
ISBN: 978-1-60737-452-7
Genre/Theme: Shape-shifter Paranormal
Length: 127 pages
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Review:
Vivien is having what may be the worst day of her life so far. To top things off she ends it with not only her car breaking down but no cell signal and she must walk to her grandmothers house through the woods. As she nears her grandmother’s house a wolf runs to attack her from the woods. Vivien is rescued by the one and only Rex Samuels, the man she has been lusting after for the last five years. Unbeknownst to her Rex has been watching and wanting Vivien as well.
As the two begin to find each other. Rex must decide on a way to tell Vivien what he is and hopes that she will accept and love him no matter what. Rex must also explain to her that it wasn’t just a feral wolf that attacked her but a feral Werewolf. Rex only has a short time until the next full moon. With every new day it seems there comes a new problem. From Vivien’s ex-husband to her reluctance to understand that weres may be real. Add in the feral werewolf who wants Vivien and you have enough mayhem to last a lifetime. Will Rex’s love for Vivien be enough? Can she learn to trust him before time runs out?

Vivien is a great character. She learns to love again and begins to trust Rex even though it all seems to be right out of a fairytale. Rex is a great Alpha male who loves his mate and is willing to do anything for her. He is a strong and gentle person until push comes to shove and he needs to protect what he considers family. Their growing love was a beautiful thing to read.
This book had me hooked from the very beginning. With well-rounded characters full of depth this was a wonderful story of trust and love. Flesa Black brings the reader into a fantastical world that captures the true fairy tale happy ever after. Big Bad Wolf is one hot read and should not be missed.

Rating: 5 whips

Heat Level: erotic

Other: m/f, BDSM

Reviewer: Gabrielle

Lydia and the Draca by Louisa Kelley

Title: Lydia and the Draca
Author: Louisa Kelley
Publisher: Loose Id LLC
Published date: October 2009
ISBN: 978-1-60737-449-7
Genre/Theme: Shape-shifter Paranormal
Length: 92 pages
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Review:
Lydia has been having the same nightmares for some time now. Upon waking she does not seem to remember much from the nightmares other than fire and large razor sharp fangs. Try as she might Lydia cannot seem to figure out just what these nightmares mean. One night she awakens in a cave and is met by the most sensual beings who call themselves the Draca. Some of the Draca claim that she is the answer to their problems. Yet there is one who is still resistant to the idea. Eremon has decided that his past pain is all he can take. He does not want it to happen all over again but once he meets Lydia he cannot resist or ignore the spark that happens between them. As Lydia begins to discover the awakenings in herself she begins to yearn for Eremon and the Draca world. Will Lydia and Eremon settle things and begin to let the love happen or has time run out for the Draca already?

Louisa Kelley wraps the reader in her wonderful world of fantasy with this story. As a big fan of dragons I found this version of them very intriguing. I enjoyed the myth that was weaved around these creatures of old. They were very sexual creatures and in need of a miracle. Eremon is a great brooding Alpha male that deals with his pain and longing and in turn finds his treasure. Lydia is a strong woman willing to take the risk of giving her heart. Full of sexuality and emotion this book is a quick and entertaining read that is not to be missed.

Rating: 5 whips
Heat Level: Erotic
Reviewer: Gabrielle

More Than Blood by Amanda Vyne

Title: More Than Blood
Author: Amanda Vyne
Publisher: Loose Id
Published date: October 2009
ISBN: 978-1-60737-444-2
Genre/Theme: Urban Fantasy/Vampire Paranormal
Length: Novel
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Synopsis- Gabrial Ferrar is a House Marshal, an enforcer of the laws of his people, the Sanguen. But when his investigation into missing young girls leads him to a dark alley, his path crosses with an incredible crossbreed whose blood promises him a lifetime of pleasure he’s willing to sacrifice everything to gain. Yet her past may be the key to stopping a deranged killer from taking the life of another little girl if he can gain her trust before time runs out.

Kel Sheridan works for a private agency called Incog, a vigilante organization that deals with the dark underbelly of the Arcane. While investigating a local blood ring she finds herself uncontrollably drawn to a stranger, and in the time it takes to press her lips to his he's made her his bloodmate. Kel is furious, especially when she discovers he is a son of the House that turned her out onto the streets as a child. She quickly discovers herself needing the strength of the unwanted blood bond between them to face the truth of a past that may lead them back to the beginning, when their killer first began.

Review- Three pages into Amanda Vyne’s More Than Blood I was hooked hard. The sensual connection between Gabe and Kel burns through the pages hotter than her Guardian blood. I often found myself leaning forward as if I could immerse myself into the scene a little farther. In addition, though the intimate aspects of this novel carry significant impact, I really enjoyed the story as well. Ms. Vyne’s bad guy gave me shivers and not good ones. The mystery is believable, the plot easy to follow yet not too predictable, and the character development well executed.

My only caution to readers: do not sit down with More Than Blood unless you have a block of time available. You will not want to put it down and going to work on two hours of sleep doesn’t always work.

Rating: 5 whips
Heat Level: Erotic
Other: Blood drinking as sexual practice

Flesh: A Blood and Honey Tale by Melissa Glisan

Title: Flesh: A Blood and Honey Tale

Author: Melissa Glisan

Red Rose Publishing

Pub Date: 2009

ISBN: 978-1-60435-374-7

Genre: Horror

Length: 36 pages

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Review:Phaedra is a disturbed young woman. In and out of institutions since adolescence, she's battled the demons in her mind with varying degrees of success. When the voices win and she hurts herself, Dr. Allen Ryder's clinic is her sanctuary. On her way to recovery, Phaedra is nearly raped. Her attacker is found with his throat ripped out, drowning in his own blood. Yet Phaedra is chained and drugged unconscious. The war within rages and Allen can't stop himself from caring more than he should, but will it be enough to save her life?

I was creeped out for three days after I read Flesh. To be fair I am a giant wimp, but there is very little romance presented in this story. It sets up for a possible romance in the future but misses the trademarks for romantic fiction. Is it good horror? Absolutely. Ms. Glisan's characters are disturbing and well developed especially for such a short picture into the ongoing story. Her bio says she loves horror and it shows in the well written story. On the romance side, I give Flesh two flames because the completed series might have more romantic tones later. The horror side of it, I'm too much of a pansy to accurately rank it, but it scared the heck out of me.

Rating: 2 flames

Heat Level: n/a

Other: graphic violence, blood

Reviewer: Steph B.

Consuming the Darkness by Sheila Stewart

Title: Consuming the Darkness
Author: Shiela Stewart
Publisher: Breathless Press
Published date: 2009
ISBN: 978-1-926771-00-7
Genre/Theme: Paranormal
Length: novel
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Synopsis-Lieutenant Sienna Storm and Detective Nathan Powers have one thing in common: they both intend to find the freak known in the media as the Heartless Killer. Sienna however does not plan to share her case with an out of town cop no matter how cute he is. She’s been hurt by cops in the past and has no intention of letting another one get close even for the sake of the case. Nathan, on the other hand, has a vested interest in the killer. He lost his partner and best friend to the demon bastard. He’s not about to walk away without a fight. He’ll just have to make himself indispensable to the hot lieutenant and hope like hell he survives the whole ordeal with his heart where it belongs.

Review- Shiela Stewart’s characters are well drawn and compelling. Though I have not read the other books in her Darkness series, I had no problem jumping into her world, and what a world. Eye candy abounds in Jacob’s Cove where vampires rule, demons work and party freely, and one human cop has to figure out how to survive in a town replete with beings he never knew existed. Lieutenant Storm is hot, stubborn, and vulnerable, and Detective Powers represents every girl’s fantasy. What guy could resist a woman in tight black leather who knows what she wants and goes after it? Too bad she isn’t so sure she wants the unbelievably hot detective. Nathan Powers is sweet and sexy – he worries about his mother without being a mama’s boy, he takes care of Sienna’s puppy without expecting favors in return, and he makes love like a dream. I look forward to finding the time to read my way through the rest of the Darkness series.

Rating: 4.5 / 5
Heat Level: Explicit
Other: none

Mind Games by Olivia Starke

Title: Mind Games

Author: Olivia Starke

Publisher: Cobblestone Press

Published date: 2009

ISBN: 978-1-60088-473-3

Genre/Theme: Paranormal Contemporary

Length: 41 pages

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Fiesty and independent Cassie Archer moves into her late grandmother's home after inheriting it along with a beat up old truck, a nearly as old deaf Yorkshire terrier, and two goats. Her mundane life in the little Kansas town is upended when she meets level headed (and incredibly sexy) Sheriff Garrett Daniels. Suddenly the two are dealing with Cassie's estranged ex-con father, a witch's ghost, and a Book of Spells. Is there one last healing spell in the works for Cassie's jaded heart?

What a great story! Intrigue, sensual romance, witchcraft…I loved it! Cassie was a great heroine and as the blurb says, feisty and independent. The sheriff, Garrett Daniels, all tall, dark and handsome, is easily her match. Together they deal with witchy happenings and a deadly, psycho dad. Can’t ask for much more in a short story! And the sensuality level was off the charts! Definitely a must read!

Rating: 4.5 flames

Heat Level: Spicy

Reviewer: Jillian Carroll

Damn Gorgeous by Jaye Valentine

Title: Damn Gorgeous
Author: Jaye Valentine
Publisher: Noble Romance Publishing, LLC
Published date: 2009
ISBN: 978-1-60592-050-4
Genre/Theme: Paranormal
Length: novella (55 pages)
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Synopsis- Spencer Patterson – writer, reporter, and lover of all things supernatural meets gorgeous and mysterious Virgil Slade – B&B owner / dreadlock adorned, tattooed, sex god. Sounds perfectly normal, right? Except Virgil’s dark glasses and quiet demeanor hide more than anyone suspects, and his friends are literally not of this world. What’s a guy like Spencer to do but go along for the ride?

Review- As a female reviewer I worried that I would not be able to project myself into an all male love story. The author quickly proved me wrong. Jaye Valentine drew me into this fun and bizarre world with ease. Spencer is intelligent, amusing, a little insecure, and all around likable; Virgil is tender, sweet, and very much the protective, romantic hero. Throw in a few vamps, mermaids, and other miscellaneous legends and Damn Gorgeous creates a delightful romp with mythology.

Despite the publisher’s rating, I would prefer not to call this heat level erotic. I say this for two reasons. Though one intimate scene was fairly explicit, overall they lack the details required to be truly erotic. The drawback to calling this writing erotic lies with the readers. Those who are looking for that level of heat may be disappointed, and those who shy away from extreme specificity will miss out on a charming and well written story.

Rating: 4 whips
Heat Level: Erotic
Other: m/m, anal
Reviewer: Becca Dale