Picture This by Kaily Hart

Picture This by Kaily Hart
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (45 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4.5 cherries
Reviewed by Tiger Lily



Desperate and young, Jillian Moore did something she knew would one day come back to bite her in the ass. She’d posed nude. For money. Years later, and on the fast track to a successful career, she’s still haunted by her mistake. She can’t help but wonder when her past will catch up with her.

Samuel Steele is not short on female attention, but the women who warm his bed pale in comparison to the fantasy he’s created of the seductive temptress in the painting hanging prominently in his bedroom. A fantasy that has ruined his once-satisfying sex life. When he discovers that her exact likeness works in his building—works for him, in fact—things get interesting. Perhaps there’s hope for his sex life after all...

Ever done something in the past that you thought would be a blip on the radar only to have it come back and bite you in the butt? Then you can sympathize with Jillian. Want to know more? You’ll have to read Picture This.

Picture This is the debut short story by Kaily Hart, but it doesn’t read like a debut story. Ms. Hart has a way with words that drew me in immediately and a style that kept me in my seat through the story. Once I started it, I couldn’t put it down.

I liked the idea of a one-time, throwaway action having life-long repercussions. It’s easy to identify with, because how many people have done something they thought would be nothing, only to have it be a huge something? I have.

Sam, the hero is brash and he makes no bones about it. He’s at the top of his game in the business world and a force to be reckoned with. Although he wasn’t my favorite early on, I loved how he evolved and came to terms with his emotions. More heroes should be like him. Maybe they should take notes. When he put his mind to something, he went for it. I loved that about him.

Jillian is an interesting heroine. Why? We all have to eat and pay bills. Posing for a painting shouldn’t be a scourge forever. I liked her chutzpah in posing and her blunt honesty in regards to the painting. Although with her, as with Sam, there were a few tense moments when I wasn’t keen on what she did, I totally understood and still rooted for her to get her happily ever after.

If you want a story that packs an emotional punch, steams the computer screen, and is one you won’t soon forget, then you need to read Picture This. I give it 4.5 cherries.

Ruined Hearts by Natasha Perry

Ruined Hearts by Natasha Perry
Publisher: Midnight Showcase Fiction
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (186 pgs)
Other: BDSM, M/F, Spanking
Rating: 3.5 Cherries
Reviewed by Fern

Melissa Markham, daughter of an Englishman and a Chinese concubine, wants something her mother never had—respectability. Wealthy lumber baron, Ethan Trent, a man of erotic, dominating appetites, decides he wants the exotic woman for himself. Even though Melissa fights her attraction for Ethan, she also finds herself craving his domination. Can two headstrong people find a way to heal their ruined hearts, find love, and discover they both want to share the same thing—an unusual passion for each other?

Ruined Hearts is an erotic romance of a different sort. Not necessarily because it is a historical romance and provides a unique reading experience, but rather the themes are both heartbreaking and gut-wrenching.

When the story begins you are introduced to Mei Lin, the daughter of a Chinese concubine and an Englishman. She’s fleeing a life of servitude and sexual slavery to a man who has abused her and has assumed another identity using the name given to her by her father. Now Melissa Markham, she is in the United States prepared to start a new life. When she sets out to seek justice for her only sibling -- her brother -- she is devastated to learn the man she’s blamed for his murder isn’t guilty of a crime at all.

Ethan Trent is a recently retired US Marshall, and from the moment he sees Melissa, he wants her. A tempestuous relationship soon follows, with Melissa and Ethan attempting to stem their feelings. However, it’s not their flourishing attraction that places them into danger. Rather, the man who once laid claim to Mei Lin without her consent returns to bring her back to her place as his concubine.

While the writing is very well done, as is the pacing, there were a few moments when I had to re-read portions of the story as there is a bit of head-hopping that occurs and I needed to clarify whose point of view I was experiencing. Aside from this, the story flowed nicely and provided a few twists and turns, as well as some heavy emotional scenes that cause your heart to ache. The BDSM elements are definitely present, which create a significant amount of heat for those in the mood for a good, steamy erotica. Yet there is enough romance and tension between the hero and heroine to allow the reader to connect to them on a deeper level.

I would recommend Ruined Hearts to fans of historical romance that enjoy a bit more heat in their reading material. If you like tortured heroes, feisty heroines, and something apart from the norm, this just might be what you’re searching for.

Hidden Treasure by Tea Trelawny

Hidden Treasure by Tea Trelawny
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Short Story (51 pgs)
Other: M/F, Voyeurism
Rating: 4 cherries
Reviewed by Tiger Lily

Lara Lacy inherits her family’s Victorian home with its impossible mortgage—and a ghost that could reveal a hidden treasure. If only Lara believed in ghosts. But too many fake mediums have convinced her that anyone claiming to communicate with ghosts is a liar and a thief.

When Lara’s inventive lover Nate Hoffmann claims he can contact the ghost, her anger flares and she flees their Caddo Lake love nest. But when Nate follows her home, determined to help the woman he loves, Lara gives in to physical and emotional hunger. Stripped bare—in all ways possible—the lovers engage in deep exploration and eager discovery.

Passionate reconciliation opens Lara’s eyes to her deepest feelings. But will the greatest treasure of all remain hidden?

Missing jewels, a couple of odd noises, a spirit, and a love that never died. Want to know more? Then you need to read Hidden Treasure.

There is a lot going on in this little story. Ms. Trelawny brought out the big guns. I was captivated from page one and things didn’t let up until the last page. The characters, though with paranormal tendencies, are realistic. I wanted to see them get together for good. Although I’m not a big fan of the hero and heroine being in a relationship when the story starts, it wasn’t a hindrance in this one. I felt like I was right there with Lara and Nate throughout and wanted to know what happened after the story, I was so involved.

Nate is a great hero. He knows when to push and when to let go. My heart squeezed for him at times because I felt his hurt as deeply as if it were my own. He wanted what was best for Lara, even if it meant his destruction — how sexy!

Lara, though, caused me to pause. There were times when she came across as a bit too defeated. I totally understood why she felt as she did, but I almost wanted to see her pull herself up by her bootstraps and move on. Still, the gut-wrenching severity of her situation made me root for her to get her wish and deepest desire.

If you want a breezy read for a lazy summer afternoon, then you can’t go wrong with Hidden Treasure. I give it 4 cherries.

Good With His Hands by Michelle M. Pillow

Good With His Hands by Michelle M. Pillow
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (38 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4 Cherries
Reviewed by Fern

Photographer Teresa Kelley is on assignment to shoot old ghost towns and desert scenery. What she doesn’t anticipate is that scenery including the delicious Max Draper. The sizzling desert sun isn’t the only thing heating up the abandoned mining town when the hot, muscled and oh-so-sexy mechanic offers to give her a hand. Dusty floorboards and ghost tales aside, Teresa finds herself on the other end of the lens when she and Max are caught in flagrante delicto by an unexpected…assistant.

If you like stories with ghosts, sexy mechanics, and risqué photographers then Good With His Hands is exactly what you’re looking for. This short, yet unmistakably naughty, novella hits the ground running, introducing you to a heroine whose car has broken down at the most inopportune time possible and a hero who’s more than willing to get her motor running.

As with most erotic stories, mucho sex ensues. Teresa and Max are attracted to each other the moment they meet and, considering her vehicle is broken and she has no way to travel until Max fixes the problem, he’s the perfect person to chauffer her around the all-but-abandoned ghost town. As the sparks fly, their romance blooms. The progression is undeniably fast but it works here, as their time is truly limited and each chooses to seize the day. I was curious about how things would end for them and felt pleasantly surprised by the ending.

Good With His Hands is a story that readers with a limited amount of time, who want something sizzling hot, yet sweet, are sure to enjoy. There is plenty of story to engage the attention while the chemistry between Teresa and Max will keep you flipping the pages to learn what happens next.

Talk Dirty to Me by Tory Richards

Talk Dirty to Me by Tory Richards
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (53 pgs)
Other: M/F, Spanking, Voyeurism, Anal Sex, Fetish
Rating: 4 cherries
Reviewed by Tiger Lily

Lilly has been in love with her brother’s best friend Blake for years. She lost her virginity to the oil driller on her eighteenth birthday, only to wake the next morning to find him gone. After he pulled that stunt twice more, she swore never to see or talk to him again. But now he’s back for her brother’s wedding, and he’s as irresistible as she remembers.

Blake thinks Lilly’s even sexier than ever. Unable to resist one another, they don’t make it out of the airport parking lot before taking up where they left off. As the two rediscover their passion for each other, nothing and nowhere is off-limits!

Can your worst addiction be the best thing you’ve ever wanted? Can love, like lightning, strike twice? What if it never died, and a frank phrase made it so much hotter?

I have your attention, don’t I? Then read Talk Dirty to Me.

Tory Richards captivated me with the title. Yes, she drew me in with the four short words and that cover. Whew! Once I opened the ebook, I was smitten with the characters as well. Ms. Richards tugged me in immediately and didn’t let go until the last page. I felt the emotions of the characters as if they were my own and never wanted the story to end. In fact, I’d love to know what happens next!

Blake is a gruff man, no doubt. He’s not a hearts and stars hero and that is just fine by me. He was my favorite character because he was so frank. There were times when I didn’t agree with his actions, but his overall need for Lilly swept me up as much as it did her.

Lilly was an acquired taste. I understood her push-pull reaction to him. Sheesh, their history spoke volumes. But there were times with her that I wasn’t sure why she acted as she did. She came across as a conundrum and though it worked for the character, it took some getting used to.

But the sex? The sex sizzled. Who knew an airport parking lot could hold so much... promise? Yes, the love scenes were carefully crafted to create a reaction. I needed a fan.

If you want a steamy story for a chilly summer night, then you need to read Talk Dirty to Me. I give it 4 cherries.

Boss With Benefits by Lelani Black

Boss With Benefits by Lelani Black
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (95 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4 Cherries
Reviewed by Fern

Hot Honolulu bachelor Jack Sloane has finally fallen in love. Problem is, he can't find his woman--a mysterious beauty who showed up after-hours at his Waikiki office is nowhere to be found. Worse, she doesn't seem interested in a repeat of the erotic night they spent together. The one person who can help him find his heart's desire is his frumpy secretary.

Dowdy office wallflower Keely St. John has no intention of fanning her gorgeous boss's flame. It's bad enough she's spent the last three months fantasizing about him. To make things even more complicated, her “sister” spent one lusty night with the island tycoon! When Jack finds out Keely's secret, she could lose more than just her job and a Boss With Benefits.

Boss With Benefits is a wicked novella that takes a case of mistaken identity and merges it with copious amounts of humor and sexual tension.

Keely has been lusting for her boss for months. He’s gorgeous, he’s intelligent, but unfortunately, he’s a ladies’ man. She’s seen the devastation caused when he’s moved from woman to woman, and she’s vowed it will never happen to her. It’s a good thing she wears the dumpiest clothes around to keep her good looks under wraps, otherwise Jack might be tempted and Keely knows she wouldn’t have the power to tell him no. Then one day after changing in the bathroom at the office, Jack returns to retrieve something he’s forgotten. The moment he sees Keely without the drab garments, horn rimmed glasses, and support shoes, he’s smitten. Sparks fly, Keely becomes Lei -- a fictitious sister -- and from this point on it’s a game of cat and mouse that will have you grinning and laughing out loud.

I was captivated by Keely, a saucy woman who has secrets that force her into the guise of a hermit, as well as Jack, who isn’t the player a reader will initially perceive him to be. There are also a few plot twists and turns that come together in the end that you certainly won’t see coming, as well as enough heartfelt emotion to satisfy the romantic at heart.

I’d recommend Boss With Benefits to anyone who wants something hot and steamy, yet, contains a little something more as well. Aside from some formatting issues that caused me to pause here and there, the story kept me entertained from start to finish. Be sure not to miss out on this steamy novella.

Sweet Caroline by Lissa Matthews

Sweet Caroline by Lissa Matthews
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (88 pgs)
Other: BDSM, M/F, Spanking
Rating: 4.5 Cherries
Reviewed by Fern

The second time around is even sweeter…with cherries on top.

Blue Jeans and Hard Hats, Book 1

Buck doesn’t do personal projects. Until he runs into a woman wandering the aisles of the local home-improvement store, looking lost and confused. Just the way this fantasy looks at him nearly buckles his knees. In a hot second, the successful owner of a contracting company becomes a simple handyman, ready and willing to get as personal as the lady will allow.

Since her less-than-golden marriage to the local golden boy ended, Caroline’s declaration of independence includes her own business, road trips…and nipple piercings. Now it’s time to cut the last tie to her old life, but the house needs some work before she can unload it and move to her dream cabin in the mountains. Hard as it is to admit, she needs a little help.

Over the next few months, he shows her his toys, like hammers and drills, and she shows him hers—like floggers and paddles. And their attraction is the tinder that could send Caroline’s plans for an independent life up in flames…

Utterly delicious, devilishly sinful, and impossible to forget are a few ways to describe Lissa Matthew’s latest release, Sweet Caroline; a story that is equal parts heat and heart. From the moment I started reading I was hooked, drawn in by a woman who is older and wiser following a painful divorce, and the younger man who brings her back to life. It’s both wicked and sexy, with enough emotion and story to entertain those who enjoy having a bit of conflict in their erotic romance.

Caroline was a heroine I could identify with on many levels. She’s finally standing on her own after a twenty-year marriage that ended when her husband began seeking out other women for private play versus the sharing Caroline had become accustomed to. Determined not to let the circumstances of her divorce break her, she vows to find her own path in life. So when Buck, the sexy handyman who is a few years younger than she is expresses an interest, it’s impossible for her to deny their mutual attraction. I enjoyed watching her growth as a character and felt the progression was very natural, as well as scorching hot.

Equally memorable is the hero, Buck; a man who knows what he wants and goes after it. His assertive manner and dominance in the bedroom is made all the more delicious by his gentle treatment of Caroline. He knows she’s been hurt and he’s determined to show her exactly how important she is as a person, a woman, and his lover. Their sensual scenes are nearly as potent as the sexual ones and managed to bring out the romantic in me on more than one occasion.

The writing is fantastic and while the story does deliver on heat Ms. Matthews also directs her focus to matters of the heart. Sweet Caroline is a definite must read for the TBR pile and is a story you can escape into when time is limited but you want something exiting and enjoyable.

Research Required by Amber Skyze

Research Required by Amber Skyze
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (79 pgs)
Other: M/F
Book Rating: 4.5 cherries
Reviewed by Honeysuckle

Ethan’s on the run from the mob. He’s in for a surprise when he knocks on the door of his sister’s neighbor. The last thing he needs is a distraction like Bailey. She’s sexy and sassy and dressed in skimpy shorts—and he wants to take her where she stands.

Sex with a stranger? Bailey would never think of it. Ethan’s no stranger though, he’s her friend Jenna’s brother, so that makes him a friend too, right? Sex in the kitchen, sex in the bedroom, sex on the couch, it doesn’t matter. Bailey can’t get enough of this hot-blooded stranger.

Will Ethan’s past catch up to him and ruin any hopes for their future?

Are you looking for a quick little romp with just enough plot to keep it interesting? Look no further than Amber Skyze’s Research Required.

I have to admit, I was totally drawn in by the premise in the blurb. Bailey opens the door expecting to see the pizza guy and instead meets sexy and somewhat mysterious Ethan King. Ethan just happens to be the brother of her best friend and neighbor, Jenna. Bailey needs him. Ethan wants her. What ensues is sexy as sin, fun and even gets a little dangerous when the mob gets involved.

Bailey’s character had me blushing and grimacing at the same time. For a large portion of this short story she walks around in nothing more than short shorts and a tank top. She wants Ethan, whom she just met, to notice her sexually. But she then acts alarmed when he not only notices but acts on her teasing glances and their shared sexual chemistry. She’s worried that he’s a player, but then flirts outrageously in the next breath. To be honest, though, I could hardly blame her -- Ethan is one hot and hunky hero!

Despite Bailey’s confusing personality, I honestly enjoyed this novella. Ms. Skyze never fails to entertain. Her characters are always multi-dimensional and her stories keep the reader thoroughly engaged from beginning to end. Pick up a copy of Research Required for some fun, a little danger and lots of steamy sex. You won’t be disappointed.

Darkling Lust by Marteeka Karland

Darkling Lust by Marteeka Karland
Publisher: Changling Press LLC
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (33 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4 cherries
Reviewed by Ambrosia

A Darkling is a creature charged with protecting humanity from things that go bump in the night. His reward is one human woman to call his own.

Mary first learns about Darklings and all they do when she reads a book that clearly states, "Don't read this!" When she does, and the reality of what she's unleashed upon herself hits her, she snaps it shut. But it's too late. Her Darkling comes for her, and she has to learn to accept him before the very creatures he has protected humans from during his long time as a Darkling destroy her.

Imagine a monster comes to you after you read a forbidden book and sweeps you away to be his mate. Imagine finding a love like no other with another species and never looking back at your life as it was. Fantasies can come true if you allow them to.

When Mary ignores the warnings on a book that speaks of consequences once read, she finds herself taken off to another world by a Darkling, a creature who fights to keep humans safe from things that go bump in the night. After she realizes her error, the winged, leathery dark-green beast allows her one last day on Earth to choose whether she wants him or not.

As prophecy stated, by serving God for a millennia, the Darkling would receive a gift of a human woman for his own to love. When Mary summons him through the book, he believes he’s struck gold, yet allows her freedom of choice to stay or leave.

This story spans two dimensions where love is sought and found. Mary renames her Darkling Drykin after the first name she gives him proves lacking. He protects her and in return offers her his heart. When she chooses to stay with him, unafraid as she gives him her own heart, they mate and prove that no matter the color, race, or species, where there’s love, there’s joy.

The power of a belief in God, good, and hope for those who are evil, is refreshing and gives this tale wings that lift you up. Anything is possible if you open your heart to love. This is a pleasant story that makes things that go bump in the night less scary knowing that there are creatures in the dark to protect us from harm. No need for nightlights.

This story deserves a 4.0. Great job, Marteeka Karland.

Pretend with Me by Amber Skyze

Pretend With Me by Amber Skyze
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (89 pgs)
Other: BDSM, M/F, M/F/M, Ménage, Anal Play, Toys, Spanking, Voyeurism
Rating: 4 cherries
Review by: Mistletoe

After threatening divorce, Paige gives up her fantasy of hot sex with two men, especially when Tommy, the other man she wants to have sex with, is the reason for her divorce threats. When Paige confesses she’s considering leaving Jed to her best friend and owner of Freedom Fantasies sex club, life takes an unexpected turn. Paige finds herself pretending she’s having a hot, sordid affair.

Paige appreciates all the pleasures she’s unable to find at home. Being spanked in the corner, tied to the bed or getting it on in the shower, Paige experiences more orgasms than she thought possible. To heighten the excitement, her pretend lover brings in a friend…

Hoping to jolt him into trying to save their marriage, Paige asks Jed for a divorce. She is tired of playing second fiddle to his work and friends. Will Jed finally see how he is neglecting Paige or will he fail to act, and push Paige to explore her friend's erotic club Freedom Fantasies to find her relief?

This book was an interesting story about two people who love each other yet are drifting apart. Paige is a smart woman who only wants things back the way they used to be, when her husband paid attention to her and didn't neglect her. Jed is a strong man who loves Paige with all his heart, and to that end is willing to fight for her. He tries to balance his time between his wife, his job and his friends but it is much harder than he thought and his wife is the one who is being pushed to the side.

I enjoyed reading about a husband and wife who love one another enough that they are willing to fight for their marriage. Jed and Paige show us that there is hope, and love does exist. The bond that the two have was a wonderful read - especially while they try to fix their marriage, even to the point of bringing another person into their play. Jed and Paige share a bond that few of us ever find.

Amber Skyze brings the reader into a world of love and trust. Keeping you interested in the story all the way through to the end. I enjoyed this quick-paced and well-written story. With characters full of emotion this is a book that should be on everyone’s "to be read" list.

Sex and Chocolate: Charly’s Chocolate Factory by Celia Kyle and Lizzie Lynn Lee

Sex and Chocolate: Charly’s Chocolate Factory by Celia Kyle and Lizzie Lynn Lee
Publisher: Changeling Press LLC
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (31 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 5 cherries
Reviewed by Peppermint

Charlene owns Charly's Chocolate Factory where she produces premier sexual favors in all kinds of chocolate flavors. She loves her small chocolate shop and business is booming, if only she had a little somethin' somethin' to share her life with...

Linc manages the Dewitt building for the owners and has been charged with his most distasteful task yet. Get Charly's Chocolate Factory out or just plain get out. And it's not just the chocolate that he loves at the shop, but the chocolate flavored beauty that runs the store as well. The attraction is undeniable. Especially one night when he wanders into the store to find Charlene elbow-deep in chocolate, the sweet flavors blending and coating her luscious skin. He just can't wait to lick it off. Lick it all off.

With a name like Sex and Chocolate this story was bound to be tasty, and I don’t mean the chocolate. The moment Linc walked into Charlene’s shop she knew she wanted to lick him. As the owner of a candy shop she was used to indulging herself occasionally.

I really liked the fact that this was not only an interracial story but also that Charlene was a curvy woman. In the times we live in today, it is important for the characters to feel like real people. The reality is that many relationships nowadays are interracial, and women are curvier more often than not. I am happy these authors went for the realistic woman and not the "perfect" female we read about so often.

Linc went to Charly’s Chocolate shop bearing bad news. Quickly the bad news turned into pleasure for him and for me. These authors know how to write a great sex scene! It was nice, slow and seductive just the way a woman wants her first time with the most attractive man she has ever seen. I was in awe over how well written the scene was. It left me feeling wonderful because Charlene was cherished and appreciated.

This story also had a nice plot. Linc was putting everything in jeopardy when he went with his gut and indulged in Charlene’s sweets. The last thing he wanted to do was to destroy their newly budding relationship. But how does a man keep the woman he wants happy and not upset the boss who is determined to evict her? I felt it was all handled admirably and I really enjoyed how it all worked out.

While this is a quickie, I will be reading Charly's Chocolate Factory again when I need a pick me up.

Under My Umbrella by Karen Erickson

Under My Umbrella by Karen Erickson
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (71 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4 Cherries
Reviewed by Fern

It’ll take more than a fire hose to cool down this attraction…

Fated, Book 1

Rain, rain, go away. That’s Jenna’s mantra as she suffers through yet another rain-soaked walk home from work. At least the tight butt of the guy walking in front of her offers some distraction. When he turns around and asks to share her umbrella, she realizes his front view is as smokin’ as the back. What better way to get up close and personal with the object of her ogling?

Brett noticed his hot little neighbor weeks ago, but until now hadn’t worked up the nerve—or found the opportunity—to approach her. Too many hours at the fire station has left him longing for something more out of life. Like the company of a sweet, sexy woman. Maybe, if he’s lucky, kindling a relationship.

Jenna surprises herself again when she offers to let him dry off in her apartment. One minute he’s toweling off his hair, the next their chemistry explodes in the hottest sex either of them have ever experienced. And suddenly they’re both wondering if he’s the match to her tinder, or if it’s too much, too fast…

Under My Umbrella is a novella that contains a ton of heat and a healthy dose of emotional tension. From the moment Jenna and Brett meet on the street on their way home, dodging a heavy downpour of rain, you’ll sense their chemistry and attraction. As they take shelter from the storm inside Jenna’s apartment, their desires are given free reign. After they share a night together, they both discover there is far more present than lust and physical attraction. Can two people who hardly know one another fall in love at first sight? Is it possible to meet that one special person and realize it in a moment?

As with other stories by Ms. Erickson, the heat index should be identified as hot, hot, and hot. Jenna and Brett positively sizzle when they are together and their banter is both playful and sexy. I enjoyed reading about their mutual attraction, especially as their inner thoughts give you a better understanding of their desires and fears. When unavoidable concerns and doubts arise as a consequence of their fast-moving relationship, the progression feels very natural and organic which is something that is essential in a story of this length. I was curious to see how everything would play out and was pleasantly surprised when I learned the answer.

Readers who are in the mood for something that sizzles, yet, contains enough heart and emotion to satisfy the romantic within are sure to enjoy Under My Umbrella. Be sure to pencil this one onto your TBR list.

Gambler by Eryn Blackwell

Gambler by Eryn Blackwell
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Genre: Historical
Length: Short Story (45 pgs)
Other: M/F, Voyeurism
Rating: 3.5 cherries
Reviewed by Tiger Lily

From the moment he set eyes upon the beautiful Regina, Draven McCormick wanted her for his own, preferably in his bed. He never dreamed her husband would gamble her away. Draven hasn’t made The Southern Belle into the most well-loved gambling establishment in Galveston in 1887 because he let chances pass him by.

Regina’s learned most men lie, but Draven commands her trust as he awakens her passion. She’d lost all hope until the night her husband lost a card game to the gambler, who instructed her in the art of pleasure. And for the pleasure Draven offers her, she’d give almost anything.

Won in a card game? Really? Sounds like Gambler.

I’m not big on historical stories. Many times the authors don’t really make me feel like I’m there in the time period. Not so with Eryn Blackwell. This story had me interested from the first page. I wanted to know how a man could sink so low that he’d gamble away his own wife. The emotion written into such a short amount of space simply pours from each page. I felt for both Draven and Regina. I loved how Ms. Blackwell showed the lunacy of the west.

Draven was an interesting hero. He didn’t want to be in the position he was in, but he took it with grace and passionate humility. He wasn’t hard on the eyes, either. But what rubbed me wrong about him was the unanswered questions. Was it just that his past bothered him? Was it just that he wanted to be his own person? If those questions had been answered, I think I would’ve understood and liked him more.

Regina was another quandary. Again, there were plenty of unanswered questions with her. I liked that she followed Draven’s lead and explored her sexuality. The discovery and the journey were written with heart and passion. But again, there were things in her past that really bothered me — things I wanted to know about and almost felt short-changed on. I realize this is a short story and there is only so much space, but I wanted to get to know her more in order to like her and understand her better.

But this story sizzled with emotion that belied the quickness by which they met. The sex is hot, involved, and unforgettable.

If you want a story that’s red-hot, you need to read Gambler. I give it 3.5 cherries.

The Dungeon Gourmet by Nara Malone

The Dungeon Gourmet by Nara Malone
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (104 pgs)
Other: BDSM, M/F, M/F/M, Toys, Spanking
Rating: 4 cherries
Reviewed by Mistletoe

The Marquis de Bond blogs about cooking and kinky sex. While it may be easy to blog about sensual domination, applying it in real life has challenges. Recipes for love don’t follow plans. New ingredients show up unannounced, other ingredients turn stubborn and refuse to be what they are.

Sarai’s free-spirited submission drives Bond crazy but captures his heart. Sarai doubts the survivability of a relationship forged in fantasy. To prove her wrong, Bond invites the one man capable of stealing her away to join their sex play.

Now all three will discover if two dominant men are a recipe for love…or war.

Talk about a dynamic story! Nara Malone definitely delivers that - in spades.

Although she comes with a wild side, Sarai is a sub at heart and wishes nothing more than to satisfy her master. It was interesting to see her grow and fall in love. Marquis de Bond is a great Dom who has fallen for Sarai and her wild side. Gotta love when a strong Alpha is brought to his knees by a fiery sub. I enjoyed the bond that the two have. Marquis de Bond knows just what Sarai needs, even if it is something as mundane as how to help her write her paper. The two share a trust and love that is hard to come by. As Sarai builds up her courage to tell Bond what she wants, he is patient and willing to wait, and no matter what others may say, Sarai trusts Bond to know what it is she needs. As each comes to terms with their feelings and decisions the reader can see the love that they have for each other is strong.

Nara Malone writes an interesting book with many different characters. This story is a deep and touching one, centered more around the emotions of the characters than the sex scenes. Don't get me wrong, the sexual tension and the sex scenes are definitely hot in this book, but the author takes the characters and readers on one emotional ride. If you are looking for an intense and satisfying read, this is one book that should not be missed.