Heartbeat by Mary Winter

Title: Heartbeat

Author: Mary Winter

Publisher: Pink Petal Books

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN: 978-0-9829099-3-5

Genre: Erotica, Contemporary

Length: 100 pages

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Author Email mary@marywinter.com

Rating:  3 Diamonds     

Heat Level: Erotic

Other:  Oral, Anal, Bondage

Reviewer: Cassandra Parker

Date: October 16, 2010

Reba had a high power, high stress job and unfortunately 4 years ago when she met Todd her job was the dominating force in her life. 4 months later Reba had a heart attack and she had to give up her job for her health. Now living with her friend Hope, Reba has had to completely start over and still struggles with her health. Hope recommends the alternative treatments offered at Healing Hands but Reba knows that means seeing Todd again.

Todd owns Healing Hands, a natural healing center, which helps people lead healthier lifestyles through alternative methods. When Todd receives a call from Reba out of the blue he can hardly believe it. After all Reba is the one who got away. Todd believes that everything happens for a reason and isn’t willing to let Reba get away twice.

This story was good but a little too long for me, which is a surprise because usually I have the opposite problem. The plot moved really slowly and really the book could have ended 50 pages earlier if some of the superfluous sex scenes had been cut. I like a hot read but basically all Reba and Todd did together was either talk about Reba’s health or have sex. It got incredibly redundant. There wasn’t really enough meat to this story for it to be the length it was and it really started to drag to the point where I was becoming incredibly fed up with Reba and just wanted her to do something. This was still a pretty good read and if you’re looking for a story with a lot of sex and not a lot of substance this is the book for you, but if not I would pass on this one.

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Southern Rose by Mary Winter

Title: Southern Rose
Author: Mary Winter
Publisher: Pink Petal Books
Publication Date: October, 2009
Genre: Erotic Historical Lesbian (f/f) Romance
Length: Novella
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Rating: 5 Diamonds
Heat Level: Erotic
Other: sex toys, f/f
Reviewer: Kate
Date: 1/10/10

Southern Rose is a tale of two ladies at the time of the Civil War. Rose is a widow, making her way as a schoolmarm, and Agnes is a seamstress with a past. Can two ladies manage to find romance in each other’s arms in the restrictive society of their time? Read and find out.

The feminist in me always cheers for women who manage to be their own people and find their own happiness in societies where they are little better than chattel. Mary Winter’s heroines are both strong women who manage to do just that. The backdrop against which the story proceeds is illustrative of the restrictions under which many women lived then...and some still do. But if a woman is willing to take chances, she may just find her soulmate. I would love to know what happens with them later. Okay? Please?

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Ride the Lightening by Lex Valentine

Title: Ride the Lightning
Author: Lex Valentine
Publisher: Pink Petal Books
Publication Date: December 2009
ISBN: 978-0-9826023-0-0
Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance
Length: 143 pages
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Rating: 5 Diamonds
Heat Level: erotic
Other: anal/oral play, BDSM,
Reviewer: Gabrielle
Date: 12/2/09

Emily Carrington is a red dragon who has found her mate in Vahid Delrey a black dragon. With a painful past and many misunderstandings between Emily and Vahid they cannot and do not come together. While Emily thinks that Vahid is a pain and that he does not want her, Vahid believes that Emily is a cold-hearted snob. They both have secrets in their past and it seems that they will continue to fight their love and never get together. Until a fateful day years after their first meeting when Vahid finally learns of Emily’s past. He is shaken to the core by what he sees at hears. He vows to fix the mistakes he has made and to help and love Emily forever. He must make Emily understand him and trust in his love for her. With each of the two hiding their past and not trusting enough to tell the other about it the wall between them only gets thicker and taller. Can they finally let it all go and enjoy the mating as only dragons can or will they forever hold their grudges and lose out on their happily ever after?
Emily is a wounded soul that needs help with her healing and only one person can do that healing for her. Vahid is a gruff and rude Alpha Male but his love for Emily knows no bounds. Underneath it all he really is a good guy. The love that these two share shines off of the pages and is a wonderful thing to read.

Ride the Lightning is a fast paced but emotionally charged read. With the reader hoping that Vahid and Emily can put aside their pride and do what comes naturally. Letting nature take it’s course instead of continually fighting against the current.
Lex Valentine is a great author. Whether it be her fantasy or her contemporary stories she always brings the reader into her world and keeps them entertained throughout the whole book. I for one cannot wait to see just what comes next.

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