» Erotic Romance

Skin Game by Cara McKenna – SHB Highly Recommends

K.C. — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:00:55 +0000

Kindle $9.29 (cheaper at Ellora’s Cave)

Genre: Exotica (Happy For Now)

Publisher Ellora’s Cave

Seven days, seven challenges. Twelve strangers. Eight thousand cameras. Only one winner.Welcome to The Ant Farm, a social study in the wilds of interior Alaska, documenting the dynamics between a dozen competitors as they take part in a series of physical and psychological face-offs. With five hundred grand up for grabs at the end of the battle royal, the stakes are high and the tension blazing.Could the seemingly mild-mannered nice guy win it all? The cutthroat alpha female? The strongest or the smartest, the idealist or the cynic? It’s anyone’s guess as teams are undercut by alliances, loyalties tendered and tested, and passions enflamed by both affection and animosity.In this contest where even knives and guns are fair game, sex may prove the most dangerous weapon of all.Reader Advisory: This book features the recreational use of illicit substances, and non-explicit references to childhood abuse and trauma. It also features an unlikely mix of romance, lust and hate-sex, plus a ton of way crazier crap that the author delights in not preparing you for

This author has been on my must buy list ever since Fiction Vixen and Dear Author reviewed Willing Victim. So, when I saw this mentioned on Smexybooks May Rec list I immediately pulled up Amazon on my work computer and hit my favorite button ‘But with 1 click’.

Skin Games is about 12 strangers that agree to a psychological experiment to win half a million dollars. Think Survivor but muy creepier.

Chole and Daisy – Cameras 3240,3249

Daisy looks up at her as Pike disappears. “Got anything else you need fillin’, Chole?

She rolls her eyes.” Not by you, redneck.”

“What if you had to bed me to win it?” He asks.

She stops and stares at him, a curious smile curling her wide lips. “I’d drink a handle of gin and f*ck that shit-eating grin right off your face. Then I’d take a decon shower and dance my ass all the way to the bank.”

Wow, I could not put this book down and I mean that literally – in the bathroom, at work sneaking reads on my Kindle app, and my mommy pump breaks. The way McKenna wove in each character point of view with the experiments/games really had me on the edge of my work chair. The main characters out of the twelve are Daisy (southern bad boy, yes he is a dude), Mac (young girl with a huge crush on Daisy), Chole (the tough as nails photographer), Pike (half Korean military doctor), and Ian (Scottish bad boy aka chain smoker/master manipulator). The story reveals, slowly, each person’s point of view so you ‘think’ you have a handle on each character.

If you are hoping for a romance you just aren’t going to get it here. At times I thought I had figured out who would end up with who even until the end, which I was a wee disappointed, but hot damn if Cara Mckenna didn’t keep me on my reading toes.

My fav character was Ian. He was just so conniving but as each game commenced we learned more and more about whom each person was, especially the guess Who Did This Game. I was extremely disappointed on some loose ends about him – I felt like we were left hanging on they why’s of some of his behaviors and I wanted some answers, damn it.

Although there isn’t as much sexy time as I would have expected in an Exotica book from Ellora’s Cave (wink wink), Skin Game even with some of my disappoints is by far one of my favorite reads this year – an intelligent psychological thriller-esk romance.

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What The Heck Has Smokinhotbooks Been Reading Lately

K.C. — Mon, 02 May 2011 23:28:15 +0000

Just What in the H has SHB Been Reading Lately – Our ‘What’s Hot Book List’

Ok, I promised myself I’d never utter the words (air quotes) ‘that’s hot’ because Paris Hilton doesn’t need any more claim to fame. But damn it all if she just didn’t steal an awesome catch phrase. Here are our “That’s Hot” bookie list.

Backstage Pass by Olivia Cunning

Amazon/Kindle

This is the book that brought Rock N ‘Roll back into SHB’s TBR pile. (Head banging and air guitars galore)!

Backstage Pass makes me want to throw up the international hand sign for bad ass music- (bring on the horns!), drool over some hotties with guyliner and find my old Guttermouth T-shirt.

If ever a book really captured the essence of just what is behind the music, this would be it. Backstage Pass starts off with lead guitarist Brian Sinclair drowning his broken heart in as much liquor as he can handle. Myrna is not your average fan girl, she’s has her doctorate in Psychology and teaches sexual education classes at a University. Usually all the girls fall for lead singer, Sed, but Myrna only has eyes for Brian.

Ok, I suck at writing blurbs there is so much more depth to this book than Myrna and Brian’s relationship. Cunning does a fabulous job introducing all the members of the band into the story line. The male hoe, lead singer Sedric, Eric the drummer who likes to ‘watch’, Jace the newest member of the band who likes S and M and Trey who likes both boys and girls. I honestly thought I was done with erotic romance, but Backstage Pass hooked me in and had me reminiscing my own backstage days.

If you haven’t read Backstage Pass by now, first of all shame on you (j/k), but in all seriousness I highly recommend this book and the next one, Rock Hard (about Sedric). This is one book that captures sex and rock and roll and makes me want to throw my nursing bra on stage.

Big Bad Beast by Shelly Laurenston

Amazon/Kindle

#6 in Pride Series

I almost missed this release. Shame on me! Alas thanks my Goodreads Friends.

Shelly Laurenston has been on my radar for a few years now, and I love how she infuses humor and wit in her series. Big Bad Beast has one of the cutest prologue I’ve read in a long time. Ulrich from the wolf Van Holtz clan is 6 when he first meets Dee-Ann Smith, who like her daddy, is stone cold killer.

“But she’s perfect, Uncle Van. I think I love her.”

“Ric, you’re way too young to love anybody but your parents and, of course me.”

“She needs to eat more,” Ric observed, ignoring Van’s comment. “And I’ll be the one to feed her!”

“Come on Ric, You’re too young for all this crazy mate stuff. You need to focus on other things first.”

“Like what?”

“Food, your hunting skills….even other girls.”

“I hate girls.” He was six. Of course he hated girls.” She’s not a girl, though. She’s amazing.”

………

“I understand Uncle Van.”

“I’ll wait until we are both older,” the kid went on.” And then I’ll nail her.”

This was another cute story there were a few parts that dragged a bit for me in the middle but overall I liked it. The reappearance of Blaine and her crazy OCD 7 foot polar hybrid boyfriend, add some plucky comic relief and it’s nice to see the some of our old friends.

PS it gets a 4 because no one can write humor like SH.

Long Time Coming by Scarlett Parrish

Amazon/Kindle

I first saw this book over at Fiction Vixen’s bloggy and put it on my list. Then my new mommy hormones caused me to forget about it until I saw it again recommended at Smexybooks and I thought, dang it! Buy it already.

At first you might think the main heroine Piper is kind of a man-eater as it starts out with her dumping her boyfriend and then hoping onto the next guy and breaking his heart. But it all gets better as soon as she meets Mr. Leo Carson, sexy Irishman. Piper is not a girl who wants to give her heart away and all bets are off when she meets Leo and spends one freakin’ hawt weekend with him. This book is so much more than hot sex and weekend trysts. I liked how we glimpsed Piper’s vulnerable side and I’d be lying if I was giddy like a school girl whenever Leo appeared.

He put his other hand on my neck, fingertips grazing the hollow below my ear, thumb at my throat and if he pressed a littler harder, my breath would catch again. ”No.”

I blinked. What the–?

“No, I’m not gonna kiss you.”

“Not yet anyway.” Smiling, he broke contact piece by piece. Thumb. Fingers. Hands. “I might get carried away.”

Everyone needs to read this book purely to experience the charm of Leo. He likes to say F*ck, like a lot.

Eleven Scandals to Start To Win a Duke’ Heart by Sarah MacLean

Amazon/Kindle

#3 in Love by Numbers Series

I know the title is very long-winded and trying to type it into the search box à nightmare. But, don’t judge this book by its title. This caught my notice while reading Dear Author’s review and I thought what the heck I’ll give this one a go.

This is the 3^rd book in the Love by Numbers series and you can’t read it as a stand- alone. I’ve mentioned this before but historical romance blurbs always throw me off, so I really never include it because usually the book is so much ‘more’ than what the blurb describes. The Duke, Simon Pearson, has a Darcy like personality (um, yay!) and is nicknamed the Duke of Disdain. He is first attracted to Juliana Fiori until he finds out her background. Her mother the Duchess ran off and caused a huge scandal by having Juliana with an Italian merchant. He will wed a nice, English girl with an impeccable reputation, which you later on find out why.

I have to say I really liked this one. I was worried there might be constant bickering, which I can’t stand; but the author handled their interactions well. There are some pretty intense scenes in how Simon thinks of Juliana that tug on your heart strings. Eleven Scandals is a well-written romance on living one’s life with passion despite the circumstances of one’s birth.

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One of My Fav Lanyon Characters – Review All She Wrote by Josh Lanyon

K.C. — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 06:19:40 +0000

Genre M/M Fiction/Mystery

#2 in Holmes & Morarity

Pages

Publisher Samhain

Kindle $4.40!

Ok, maybe it’s my blond hair and preggie hormones but I didn’t clue in All That She Wrote was sequel to the most awesome(st) Josh Lanyon book evah–> Somebody Killed His Editor. Hand to god, I thought it was another series. If not for Jessewave’s early review I probably would have waited maybe 48 hours to buy this one and that would have been bad, very bad.

All She Wrote starts off with Christopher (don’t’ call me Chris) and JX 3 months after Somebody Killed His Editor. Christopher is still witty, dramatic and horribly bad at relationships. The beginning starts off with JX accepting that Christopher has a case of major cold feet and decides to tentatively break it off with him. Ok, I’m not going to lie; I got chest pains thinking is this going to be like the Adrien English series? Are they never going to get together until book 5 (KC sobs uncontrollably)?! Anyway, not to worry peoples it’ll all work out in the end.

Christopher (who doesn’t travel well FYI) answer’s his mentor, Anna’s summons after she is recuperating from an accident. Only to find out that she doesn’t just want moral support but wants Christopher to help solve the mystery of whom is trying to kill her. Will murder mystery, a broken collar bone bring JX and Christopher back together again…

Christopher is hands down one of my favorite Josh Lanyon character’s aside from Adrien (with an e) English. He’s witty, dramatic, and self deprecating.

“Age really is a state of mind.”

I groaned.” Please. Spare me the Quote.com pep talk. “

Although I almost broke out in hives thinking we were not going to get a romance between Kit and JX, never fear JX does come back into the story and that’s all I’m going to tell you (insert evil laugh here). Even though Christopher is his own worse enemy when it comes to relationship you can’t help but fall in love with his sarcastic defensive humor and his vulnerability with his age. I liked how the mystery and romance had equal page time and I hope to God there are more books coming out in this series.

To tide ya’ll over I give you this delicious snippet:

“What?” I realized what and put up a self-conscious hand to straighten my specs.” Hey, I’ve always worn reading glasses. This is not an age thing.”

“I know that. I remember you wore them to your panel at the conference where we first met. You looked very intellectual – and sexy as hell. I like ‘em. They’re cute.”

Cute? My three-hundred-dollar Armani tortoiseshell glasses were cute? They were supposed to make me look erudite and distinguished.

He added with breathtaking honest, “I want to fuck you in those glasses.”

“Uhhhh….” I made a sound generally only heard when police officers ask what you were doing three Friday nights ago at eight o’clock – and can anyone verify your alibi.

All She Wrote is *now* one of my favorite Josh Lanyon books. Mystery check, witty sarcastic dialog check, and sexual tension that practically sizzles off the page check check check. If you’ve read Somebody Killed His Editor YOU CANNOT MISS OUT ON THS ONE,I mean it.

#1 Somebody Killed His Editor Review

Other Reviews

Jessewave 5/5

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Liberating Lacey by Anne Calhoun 5 Star Erotic Romance

K.C. — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 09:00:14 +0000

Genre: Erotic Romance

Pages: 158

Publisher Ellora’s Cave

Kindle: $9.99

*I believe this book is cheaper if purchased at Ellora’s Cave

I found this book visiting one of my favorite blogs Smexybooks who mentioned it on her addictive (Friday) Top 10 post. When I read ‘favorite erotic romance this year’ I immediately whipped out my iphone Kindle app and hit ‘buy now with one click’ (I swear that thing will bankrupt me). Now, usually when I read ‘older woman…. younger man’ my excitement tends to fizzle and unless I’m peer pressured I don’t tend to read May/Dec romances (my therapist and I are ‘working’ through this issue). Liberating Lacey is a very different kind of erotic romance…

I confess I’ve been a bit bored with my erotica reads lately (I know, I’m broken or something!) and I think its because I want….. more. I want more than just lovin’ and dirty (spells out) s-e-x words and Liberating Lacey has done the impossible and pulled me out of my reading funk.

Do not judge this book by the blurb because it really doesn’t do it justice!

Newly divorced Lacey has put on her revealing going out clothes and is ready to shed her missionary-position -ove life style at hook up club Buff. She shyly bumps into to sexy cop Hunter Green.

“Like what you see?” he asked.

Healthy male musk under the scent of a clean, woodsy cologne remained when he moved back, his green eyes assessing as he waited for her reaction. Despite the cocky arrogance behind them, but rather a challenge.

“Yes,” putting into her smile some of the confidence that served her so well in the brokerage world. “But you must heat that all the time.”

“Not from a woman like you,”

I think why I liked this book so much was the writing style and three-dimensional characters. It didn’t focus so much on Lacey being older than Hunter as a relationship tension builder but more on how the two of them evolved from one sexy encounter against a car (yes, you read that right they have sexy time against a stranger’s SUV) to a relationship. This author writes male characters REALLY well:

“Honey, you can’t hide class under those f*ck-me clothes”

and contemporary relationship issues between a financially successful woman and a blue collar man. I think one of the more poignant scenes had to be when Hunter was thoughtfully replacing Lacey’s comforter and realized his credit card max limit could barely cover the cost of her comforter. This book intelligently handles the socioeconomic differences (Ah-Ha I knew I would some day use my Sociology degree…in a sentence somewhere) between the two; while keeping you engrossed in the story.

Liberating Lacey is one of those rare erotic romances with a lot of depth and makes me wish for more books out there like this.

Other Reviews

Smexybooks Goodreads 5/5

Katidom A

Smart Bitches B-

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Review Trust Me if You Dare by LB Gregg – Awesome Sequel!

K.C. — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 03:13:11 +0000

Genre: M/M Fiction

#2 Romano and Albright

Publisher Samhain

Kindle $4.40

book received for review

Warning: This book includes bad driving, a naughty German, dirty words, heated glances, mutual masturbation, oral sex, an evil scout, a memorable ride, and a fabulously affordable tuxedo. May cause unexpected bursts of laughter.

They’re baaaaaaaaaack. I thought the warning blurb said it best in capturing what Trust Me If You Dare was all about. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be massively “in hearts (my mother’s term)” with this sequel… usually the first in the series tends to be my fav – I should have known better! Shame on me.

Trust Me if You Dare’s beginning in classic LB Gregg style pulls you right in. It had me chuckling so loud I got glares from Mr. KC. I was also crossing my fingers that baby KC didn’t kick my bladder whilst I was reading; otherwise there probably would have been ‘clean up on the SHB reclining couch.

Caesar is at a used car dealership ‘helping’ his sexy PI boyfriend, Dan, do some investigating. In classic Caesar style he ends up hitting the gas too hard and crashing the lovely BMW he’s test -driving into a parked car. After the embarrassing ‘driving fiasco’ he learns that Poppy (his pregnant BFF and catering business partner) has ‘accepted’ to host a party for his ex (that bastard) Shep. Not only must he work with his ex (again), Shep has a popular German soap actor who can’t seem to help himself by flirting with everything with a y chromosome, including new boyfriend Dan. Working with his ex, fending off a flirting German bad boy, public sexy time in a dark alley and putting off meeting Dan’s parents make or break a relationship…

I laughed, I snorted, and ignored my husband until I finished reading Trust Me If You Dare. What I liked most about it was LB Gregg’s ability to keep me interested in Dan and Ceaar’s relationship. Usually once ‘the boy’s have gotten together I tend to loose interest and want to read about new characters. If it was even possible I fell more ‘in hearts’ with these two characters. TMIYD is another great read from one of my favorite m/m authors and if you’ve read other works by this author you will not be disappointed. SHB pinky swears!

#1 Catch Me if You Can Review

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