Choice Matters by Jamie Salisbury

Choice Matters (Southern Heat 1)
By: Jamie Salisbury
Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing
Published: August 17, 2014
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Content: M/F, Oral Sex
Length: Novel
Heat Level: Spicy
Reviewer: Marchelle
Date: March 3, 2015

 

Apolo Choice, master of all that surrounds him. A billionaire at an age when most men are still in college. He has never failed; failure is not in his vocabulary.

Enter Caitlyn White, beautiful, sophisticated and educated. Drawn to the dark and roguish man, she finds her self control teetering on the edge as she enters Apolo Choice's world...a world full of contradictions, mystery and passion.

Finding himself falling deeply in love, Apolo realizes he must come clean with her. He must reveal a secret his family has kept hidden. A past situation his own brother would rather Apolo not share with anyone.

Caitlyn sees his "secret" as a way to boost her man's rising political star. If Apolo Choice can rise like a phoenix, then anyone can. Together they take on not only politicians, but family as well.

Apolo Choice is a self made billionaire running his own company, Choice Enterprises. He’s interviewing for the position of Executive Vice President, which is basically his second in command, running the office when he is away on other business. Caitlyn is interviewing for the position, although having been with the company for four years, she’s sure she is not the right person for the job. To her surprise, she gets the job and quickly finds out that Mr. Choice wants her in more than a professional capacity. They begin a relationship and as they get to know each other, they share their pasts as all new couples do. They learn each other’s family dynamics and Apolo shares a shocking secret with Caitlyn that no one outside his immediate family knows.

I had problems with the plausibility of parts of the story. It didn't seem believable that a shrewd businessman, as Apolo Choice is supposed to be, would promote an unqualified person to such a lofty position. Also, once she was promoted, it seemed that Caitlyn didn’t actually do any real work. It also seemed that the secret he shared with her was glossed over. It is such an integral part of the story as it is the reason behind his complicated relationship with his brother, Anthony. Yet, when it is revealed it is done in an almost innocuous manner.

There were also parts of the story that seemed like they were going to lead somewhere and then didn’t. For example, there were several times Don Turner was mentioned. It seemed as though he was going to become a problem for the couple but after being mentioned a couple of times, he was not heard from again. The same can be said of the ex-girlfriend of Apolo’s who shows up at a couple of important events, even getting into a verbal altercation with Caitlyn at one point. 

I really wanted to like this book. It held my interest enough that I never considered not finishing it. That being said, I kept waiting for something exciting or dramatic to happen but it never did. I found the story a bit flat and the ending left me with more questions than answers.

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Dealer's Choice by Desiree Holt

Dealer's Choice
By: Desiree Holt
Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing
Published: February 3, 2015
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Content: M/F, BDSM, Spanking, Bondage, D/s, Toys
Length: Short Story
Heat Level: Spicy
Reviewer: Dana
Date: March 9, 2015

 

Cut the Cards has become an exciting game at Club Fantasy. As the cards are dealt at each session, the players learn ways to spice up their playtime.

Fiona “Fee” Wilder, as a neophyte submissive, needs the games to guide her as she steps into the D/s world for the first time as anything other than an observer.

Cade Sullivan left Club Fantasy long before the game was introduced and takes a very skeptical view of it.

But as the evening begins, as they cut the cards and choose the night’s activities, the game becomes the foundation on which to build Fee’s introduction to BDSM and provides the base for Cade to ease Fee into a night’s activities. With each turn of the card, each chosen activity, the heat between the two increases in intensity until they wonder if the volcanic blaze they started will consume them both.

In the last book in the Club Fantasy series, we are introduced to Fiona (Fee) Wilder, who works as a manager for Club Fantasy and as an assistant to Dungeon Master Reulas. She has been a watcher on the scene for years, but has never participated, until now. Fee feels that she is a sub who has yet to be tapped, and she wants to start playing, but she wants a Dom who will understand that she is new to the scene and will go at the speed that she is comfortable with. 

Enter Cade. He used to be the best Dom teacher around. Until a scene he was participating in went very, very wrong. He left the BDSM world and vowed to never return. When his old friend Reulas asks him to teach his friend Fee what it's like to be a sub, Cade, at first, is dead set against it. Eventually, he is worn down and agrees to just one night of play, but nothing more. 

Like the other books in this series, all it takes is one look, and Fee wants more from Cade. She wants to be his, in every way possible. However, Cade is still gun shy. He acts out this little fantasy that Fee has, but sticks to only play. There is no sex involved in their first meeting.  When neither can get their minds off of each other, Fee risks her feelings and goes to Cade, hoping that he feels about her as she feels about him.

I have to say, for an erotic BDSM novel, this one was on the vanilla side. I was hoping that the last book in this series would go off with a bang, and tie every book up, but, like Fee on her one night with Cade, I was left wanting. Because this is a short story, there are no cliffhangers, and it ends with a HEA, but there was absolutely nothing new in this story that you can't read elsewhere. 

At least you understand why Cade is the way he is, but still. I expected more, and I didn't get it.

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Blackjack by Desiree Holt

Blackjack
By: Desiree Holt
Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishers
Published: October 13, 2014
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Content: M/F, M/M, BDSM, Spanking, Bondage, D/s, Toys
Length: Short Story
Heat Level: Scorching
Reviewer: Dana
Date: March 7, 2015

 

Who better to play a game of Cut the Cards than Nia “Queen of Hearts” March and Jack “Blackjack” Blackwell. It was just supposed hot be hot, inventive sex, led by the cards in the deck. But from the moment they met in the lounge of Club Fantasy, they both knew there was more in play than erotic activities. Strong emotions zapped the powerful Dom and his sought after sub, emotions neither of them were prepared to deal with. The cards they chose from the deck took them into an evening of sensual play that drove them both to unexpected heights and tightened that invisible bond wrapped around them, The evening was all that was promised and more. At the end of the night, as Blackjack brought his Queen of Hearts down from subspace, they had a big decision to make that would effect their lives going forward.

Nia, also known as the Queen of Hearts, is visiting her friend Kelly and joins both Kelly and Tanner at Club Fantasy as their guest for the night. Nia has been in the scene for a while, but has yet to connect with a Dom. She is looking forward to playing the Cut the Cards game, and hopes to enjoy herself. She doesn't expect to make a connection, but she's open to seeing what the night has to offer.

Jack, Blackjack to his subs, is also visiting and joins his friend Tanner for a night of fun. He's eagerly looking forward to playing this new card game that Tanner brought, and hopes that he enjoys his sub.

When Tanner connects the Queen of Hearts with Blackjack, sparks threaten to set Club Fantasy on fire. Loving that his new sub for the night gets off on pain, Blackjack starts thinking of more than just the one night. Little does he know, his Queen feels the same way.

While this story was beyond hot, for some reason, it left me a little cold. I felt that it was rushed. While it was pretty much the same length as the other three books in Ms. Holt's Club Fantasy series, I felt that this story was over before it had started. I enjoyed that Nia was a bit on the feisty side, but if you blinked, you missed it. Jack also seemed like a really, really nice, caring Dom, but again, you really don't get a chance to know him. I did enjoy catching up with Tanner and Kelly from Cut the Cards, however.

Again, if you are looking to spark your night and get you in the mood, and you don't have a lot of time before your evening begins, pick this up. It will leaving you wanting more!

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The Robber Knight (The Robber Knight Saga #1) by Robert Thier

The Robber Knight (The Robber Knight Saga #1)
By: Robert Thier
Publisher: Amazon Kindle
Published: April 29, 2014
Genre: Historical, Romance
Length: Novel
Heat Level: Sigh
Reviewer: Christie
Date: October 27, 2014

 

When you are fighting for the freedom of your people, falling in love with your enemy is not a great idea.

Sir Reuben, the dreaded robber knight, has long been Ayla’s deadliest enemy. She swore he would hang for his crimes. Now they are both trapped in her castle as the army of a far greater enemy approaches, and they have only one chance: stand together, or fall.

Welcome to "The Robber Knight"—a tale full of action, adventure, and romance.

Special Edition with secret chapters revealed and insights into Sir Reuben’s mysterious past.

For a first book Thier has made a good showing. He spins a great historical tale with amazing detail. I enjoyed reading the rich historical viewpoint. Ayla was a funny heroine who grew leaps and bounds throughout the read.

Reuben was an enigma and really had swoon worthy moments. But Thier seemed to think that saying how wonderfully handsome woman thought Rueben was should be enough for the reader to immediately fall in love with Rueben. But I do have to say his sense of humor is attractive as hell.

However, that is where it ended for me. The love story was halted and stilted and pulled at the main story. There was no sexual tension between Reuben and Ayla, and at times Thier seemed to try to push it down the reader’s throat. And without any sexual tension it just leaves the reader cold.

The worst part of the book is the cliff-hanger ending. I detest cliff-hanger endings, this is of course a personal preference.

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The 13th Guest by Rebecca Royce

The 13th Guest
By: Rebecca Royce
Publisher: Musa Publishing
Published: June 13, 2014
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance
Length: Short Story 
Heat Level: Spicy
Reviewer: Toni
Date: June 28, 2014

 

She snuck aboard his ferry, and if he can save her life, she'll repair the hole in his heart.

Dr. Amelia Everett is a respectable psychologist from New York City. She wants only to find out how so many of her patients are getting healed emotionally from their stay the Wiccan Haus. The only problem? Every time she tries to schedule a visit, she is denied entry What other choice does she have except to sneak on the boat?

Damek Antonov is a ferry boat captain with a broken heart. He spends his days shuttling passengers to and from the island but whatever magic his charges find there, he has not seen any himself. But, when Amelia is made Damek's responsibility, the two will find that taking risks might lead to the great adventure ever: love.

I really liked the idea of The 13th Guest; a stowaway on a ship and the captain who falls for her. Yes, it’s been done over and over, but Ms. Royce adds a little twist; island getaway and a little magical fate to help them along the way to love.

This is a very cute short story of two damaged people who never planned to come to the island to heal. Each were content with their lives. Satisfied in the cards that were dealt them, but Myron has other plans. The islands resident card reader has dealt them a pair and now with the help from the crew on the island, they will heal each other and mend their broken lives.

Their attraction was instant, but in my opinion they needed more time for healing. We are talking deep dark problems that a little slap and tickle really can’t fix. Short stories are hard enough to write, but not to give a potentially gripping story enough time to come together is just criminal. I wish there would have been a deeper connection with the characters. They had a larger story to tell and I think it could have been spectacular.

The 13th Guest is still a very nice short read. It fits nicely in with the Wiccan Haus family and I am left wondering if more of Dr. Everett’s patients will make an appearance on the island. I also hope Damek rediscovers his gift. It would be a shame to have such a strong talent go to waste.

The authors of the Wiccan Haus series have a way to make me want to know more about their characters and Ms. Royce hit this mark. So while The 13th Guest may not be perfect, it is still a sweet escape and filled with love and healing.

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Loving Lord Ash by Sally MacKenzie

Loving Lord Ash
By: Sally MacKenzie
Publisher: Zebra
Published: March 4, 2014
Genre: Historical, Romance
Length: Novel
Heat Level: Spicy
Reviewer: Toni
Date: June 22, 2014

 

A Little Misunderstanding. . .

Kit, the Marquis of Ashton, is in a sticky wicket. He married young and for love—how naïve. He discovered his mistake the very day of his wedding, but he is saddled now with a wife he's reluctant to trust. And however much evidence he gathers against faithless Jess, he can't seem to prove her guilt to the final judge—his foolish heart.

Jessica knows she's bobbled her marriage, however innocently. A fairytale wedding makes no difference if she hasn't got the marquis charmed to show for it. Well, she's had enough of accidental encounters with naked gentlemen and near misses explaining things to her husband. It's time to buck up and go win her man back—even if she has to fight very dirty indeed.

If you have been with the Duchess of Love series from the beginning you know about Ash, the unhappily married Marquis. We get tidbits that something terrible happened early on in his marriage, but we never quite know. He shuts down, doesn’t want to talk about it and his wife’s name is rarely mentioned. Now we get to find out what really happened.

I’m very happy to finally know the whole truth and to revisit the whole Valentine clan, but this one didn’t stack up to the rest. You have two people, who had feelings for each other, but they can’t manage to make it work and they both suffer terribly.

This is one colossal mess of a marriage. While one of the excuses is that they married young. They were not that young for the time period; she was twenty and he was twenty-two. There was no real excuse for this marriage to have lasted eight years with neither trying to work things out or to finish it. When you find out how much each had suffered in those years, it is beyond unacceptable. Ash’s lack of trying or will to end it bothers me. If it had only been a few years I think I could have accepted it better, but in my eyes he’s a scared wimp. Here we have the future Duke of Greycliffe and he can’t confront his wife about something he seen with his own eyes? Then you pile on years of rumors and gossip, yeah I don’t buy it. I enjoyed that the story was finally told, but the reasoning and excuses didn’t do it for me.

Ms. MacKenzie’s writing was wonderful and she was able to convey the pain, anguish, love and devotion into their tale, but I wish it was more realistic. We already have a marquis marrying a groom’s daughter and then you add in the misunderstanding that would make any man in his position run for the hills. I still devoured the story because I’m totally in lust with the series, but this one didn’t stand up to the other two and a half novels.

I really adore the Valentine family and I’m going to miss them. Farewell Duchess of Love; you have been a joy to read about. Great job on a lovely series Ms. MacKenzie. No matter how I felt about this final chapter, I still loved the journey.

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