Shattered Heart by Dorothy F. Shaw

Shattered Heart:
The Donnellys, Book 3
By: Dorothy F. Shaw
Publisher: Samhain Publishers
Published: January 19, 2016
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Content: M/F, Spanking, Anal Play, Anal Sex, Oral Sex, Toys
Length: Novel
Heat Level: Scorching
Reviewer: Marchelle
Date: January 21, 2016

 

A crush is just a fantasy. The real thing packs some serious heat.

The Donnellys, Book 3

When Cynthia Donnelly lays eyes on her high school crush at her brother’s wedding rehearsal, she regrets her self-imposed, one-year moratorium on dating. If possible, he’s even hotter now than when they were teens.

Back in school, Shane made a point to ignore his best friend’s cute, sassy little sister. Now that she’s grown into an incredibly sexy woman full of Irish spunk, resisting her is out of the question. Besides, in his book, all “hands-off” rules have expired.

One sizzling night together should have been enough. Instead, the heat rises, tempting Cyn to take a chance on a long-distance relationship and making Shane consider pulling up stakes and moving back to L.A.

Cyn’s recently dumped ex, however, has other ideas. His quest to get her back escalates into violence, shattering Cyn’s faith in herself, and in anyone else of the male persuasion, and leaving Shane with his work cut out for him to repair the damage or lose his shot at a once-in-a-lifetime love.

Warning: This book contains a physical assault. Buckle up for a bumpy emotional journey with the characters as they fall apart and then slowly find their way to healing, and to each other. You might get angry or tearful along the way, you may even get frustrated, but as is with any good love story, it’ll be worth it in the end.

When Book 2 in this series was released I was beyond excited. I had been eagerly awaiting Jimmy’s story and if you read my review of that book, you know it far exceeded my expectations. I never imagined another book in the series could top it. I was so wrong. Shane and Cyn’s journey to each other is at times incredibly frustrating, sweetly touching, laugh out loud funny and burn up the sheets sexy.

Cyn hooks up with her longtime crush/brother’s best friend when he is in town for the wedding of another of her brothers. Their chemistry is off the charts, which leads to Cyn completely disregarding her year long celibacy pact with her sister and inviting Shane into her bed. When her ex-boyfriend goes off the deep end and brutally attacks her, Cyn realizes she cannot trust her own instincts when it comes to choosing a good man. She repeatedly pushes Shane away until he is forced to protect his heart from the one person he wants to give it to.

Cyn and Shane’s romance is heart-wrenching, super sexy and best of all, realistic. I love the scene in the strip club where the brothers basically give Shane permission to pursue their sister when Shane has no real clue yet that he even has any intention to do so. It’s representative of the true dynamics of a big, nosy family. Everyone is in everyone else’s business. It’s believable and it’s heart warming. It’s so easy to connect with these characters and truly care about them when they feel as though they could be part of your own family.

I love how the Ms. Shaw presents all the Donnelly characters without making it confusing. They are a big family and it would be easy to lose track of who is who, but that is not the case here. They are all unique characters with their own stories to tell and hopefully we will be enjoying them for a long time to come.

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Defensive Heart by Dorothy F. Shaw

Defensive Heart: 
The Donnellys Book 2
By: Dorothy F. Shaw
Publisher: Samhain
Published: September 8, 2015
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Content: M/F, Oral Sex
Length: Novel
Heat Level: Scorching
Reviewer: Marchelle
Date: September 8, 2015

 

Uptown girl, tattooed bad boy. Think you know which one is wild? You’d be wrong.

Greenwich Village is home to successful artist Jimmy Donnelly, and the world is his playground. A broken heart in college left him with zero interest in being tied down. But when he meets a sexy, quick-witted Manhattan attorney, he reconsiders his bad boy ways.

Sonja Martin’s life is filled with work, an ex-husband who refuses to stay gone, and a teenage daughter who won’t follow the rules. Jimmy, with his myriad of tattoos and piercings, looks more like one of her clients than a potential lover. But when every argument between them feels more like foreplay, she can’t seem to stay out of his bed.

The heat burns through whatever defenses Sonja thought she had. And Jimmy finds his every fantasy fulfilled—and exceeded—by a woman whose fire burns as bright as her fiercely guarded vulnerability.

But his case for breaking her out of her self-imposed mold might just be dismissed. And he’ll lose the best thing he’s ever found.

Ok so after reading the first book in this series, I was seriously hooked on Jimmy and hoping the second book would be his story. Lucky for me, Miss Shaw did not disappoint. This book totally exceeded my expectations (and they were pretty high to begin with).

Jimmy is tattoed, pierced and an artist. He is pretty much the trifecta of a hot, bad boy. The thing is, he’s not really a bad boy. He’s sweet and just plain adorable, but only with Sonja. He enjoys getting her worked up in all the best physical ways, but isn’t afraid to push her emotional buttons as well. She’s cold to him, without really wanting to be. It just makes him work that much harder to crack her ice.

Sonja is a criminal lawyer who works too much. She wants to let Jimmy in but continues to find ways to convince herself it won’t work - he’s too young, he’s too demanding, she’s not looking for a relationship, etc. Her teenage daughter is a handful. Her rebellious nature creates problems between Sonja and her ex-husband, who incidentally is a real piece of work. All of these things, in Sonja’s mind, are reasons she cannot allow Jimmy to be anything more than a bed buddy.

There are so many amazing parts to this story. I love that Jimmy never really gives up on her. No matter how much she pushes him away, he keeps coming back with a new way to break through her wall. He is determined to be a part of her life. I love how he relates to her daughter and quickly becomes someone she feels comfortable and safe with. What woman doesn’t want a guy as sexy as Jimmy who treats her daughter like something precious to be cared for and protected? Major swoon-worthy! Every time Sonja pushed him away, I found myself wanting to yell in frustration.

This book grabbed me and sucked me right in. I stayed up most of the night reading and reluctantly put it down to go to work. Still, I found every chance I could to continue reading it while I was there. While this book stands on its own, if you haven’t read the first book in the series, you should. Ryan’s story was great and there are several glimpses of Jimmy that made me crave more of him. There is no hint in this book of which Donnelly we’ll meet next, but I have no doubt it will be amazing. Until then I will read Jimmy’s story again and try to be patient.

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Lady Serena Gets a Man of Her Own by Marie St. James

Lady Serena Gets a Man of Her Own
By: Marie St. James
Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing
Published: November 10, 2014
Genre: Historical, Erotic Romance
Content: M/F, F/F
Length: Short Story
Heat Level: Scorching
Reviewer: ReadingPatti
Date: August 6, 2015

 

For Lady Serena there is nothing more embarrassing than being run out of the Wynthmere townhouse because she offered her bountiful breasts to the newly married Treymont Hunt, Earl of Wynthmere. His little wife was a terror! And to add insult to injury, when she’d released her glorious boobs to offer Trey the sustenance he was not getting from his flat-chested wife, she thought she saw him smile!

But all is put to rights when Lady Serena meets the mouth watering Lord Pembroke, gets a lesson in love and passion from the new Countess Annette Wynthmere and finally learns it’s best to have a man of your own

Lady Serena Gets a Man of Her Own, is a historical novel but the sexual content was not what I expect to find in a historical romance but it was still good. 

It begins with two people who were looking for something but they didn't know where to find it. Then Lady Serena meets Lord Pembroke. It didn't take them long to get over societies obstacles. 

Lady Serena Gets a Man of Her Own was a surprise in regards to the sexual nature. I didn't expect the sexual content to be so strong. While I normally don't read erotic romance, which it was, it was not too bad. 

What I really enjoyed about their story was how Lady Serena and Lord Pembroke eventually came together. It was so great how they each found the person that they were meant to be with. Especially when they least expected it. They can't stop thinking about each other. Lady Serena wants him but on her own terms and Lord Pembroke wants to know how he can make Lady Serena marry him.  I also like how they each talked to someone about each other, asking for advice and suggestions on how they could come together. That part was funny.

While I enjoyed Lady Serena Gets a Man of Her Own, I'm not sure I would recommend it to my normal historical reading friends, but if someone wanted to add a lots of spice to their normal reading genre, then this book is for you.

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Pet by Rosina Scott

Pet
By: Rosina Scott
Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing
Published: October 21, 2014
Genre: Contemporary,  Erotic Romance
Content: M/M, BDSM, D/s, Anal Play, Anal Sex, Toys
Length: Short Story
Heat Level: Scorching
Reviewer: Gabrielle
Date: July 28, 2015

 

The Pound, is an exclusive BDSM club in downtown Los Angeles where submissives can go to seek out Dominants able to fulfill their every need, in the safety of the club’s strictly monitored playrooms, where anything goes.

It is here that sinfully submissive Damien hopes to find a Master who will dominate him and fulfill his desires. Damien longs for the day when he will find a Master he can willingly submit to in every way and cater to his Master’s every whim while exploring his own needs.

Could a chance meeting lead to more, when Damien meets the seductive and sexy dominant Gareth? In Gareth, Damien hopes he has found a Master who will respect his limits and his needs.

Could Gareth be the Dominant to fulfill the role of Master that Damien so desperately desires, and give him the collar he craves?

This short story is an engaging read about two men who are looking for more than just a hook up. Could Gareth be the man that Damien has been looking for? Has fate finally brought Damien what he has longed for? Play can be fun but will their times together bring more than just fun?

I enjoyed meeting Gareth and Damien. The two make a great couple; each man getting just what he needs from the other. Gareth is a good Dom and he understands what Damien needs and is more than willing to give it to him. Damien gives with all of his heart and only wants to please Gareth. Seeing their attraction quickly turn to more made for a nice read. As much as I liked these two men I would have liked them to be a little more fleshed out and maybe see a bit more of how they interact together. They are hot together and make you want to know and see more of the two men. More of their time in the club would have also been nice. What we see of the men only wets our appetite and had this reader longing for more.

These two men prove that you never know where or when you might find that one person who is right for you and when you do you had better not let them slip away. Gareth is not about to let Damien get away without letting him know how he feels first. It was nice to see Gareth take that step and show Damien how much he means to him. Both men endeared themselves to this reader and I hope that we get to visit their world again.

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Daring to Chance It by Desiree Holt

Daring to Chance It
By: Desiree Holt
Publisher: Kindle Worlds
Published: June 21, 2015
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: Novella
Heat Level: Scorching
Reviewer: Toni
Date: July 1, 2015

 

Sarah York celebrated passing the bar with a New Orleans weekend with her friends. But then everyone coupled up but her, and she was left getting cozy with her drink. Until a mouthwatering god named Beau Perini, hotshot football player, swept her off her feet and into a night of unbelievable ecstasy. When she fell asleep, she was already trying to figure out how they’d get together again.

Except, when she woke up, Beau had done a disappearing act. And not even a thank you note, the rat.

Fast forward six years. Sarah is the newly minted in-house counsel for the Miami Thunder football team, and Beau is their golden new free agent. Imagine her shock when she sees him at the press conference to introduce him to the Miami media.

Beau has never stopped thinking about Sarah and regretting his hasty exit. Through a bad marriage and divorce, full custody of his three-year-old son, and a fat new contract with the Thunder, he’s never stopped thinking of her. Now, he thinks Fate has given them another chance, and he plans to make the most of it.

Too bad Sarah, who has trust issues, might not see it his way. But then the chemistry between them explodes again and all bets are off.

You can’t beat a novella by Desiree Holt. She rarely doesn’t capture your heart with the depth of her characters and their sizzling romance. She has another hit with Daring to Chance It.

Sarah hasn’t had much luck in the love department. First, she is too busy getting her law degree, then she has a smokin’ one night stand that leaves her feeling stupid and used and then to top off her stellar career with men, she is used by a man who isn’t above sleeping his way to the top. With a new chance of an amazing career in a new city, she is ready to write all men off. It really shouldn’t be a problem. She has her job and her favorite sport, football, to keep her busy.

Beau has life many would dream of. He plays his football with passion and has a career that keeps going beyond his wildest dreams. Though he regrets his departure from an amazing night with an even more amazing woman, he has his son to think about. If he could go back he would have done things differently, but that ship has sailed.

While their initial encounter left me hot and cold, their reunion was nothing but spectacular. Their chemistry was practically visible in the air and their passion was enviable. While Sarah didn’t hold out for long, Beau more than made up for it with his one track mind to win her over for good.

Ms. Holt wrote a second chance novella that had both heart and soul with an overabundance of feelings. Daring to Chance It was well written and such a sweet sexy story. Thank you Desiree for helping me escape the mundane and experience a beautiful love story.

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Yuletide Enchantment by Cindy Spencer Pape

Yuletide Enchantment: 1 (Holiday Hearts)
By: Cindy Spencer Pape
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Published: December 9, 2009
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Erotic Romance, Fantasy, Holiday, Inspirational, Mystery
Content: M/F, Oral Sex, Toys
Length: Short Story
Heat Level: Scorching
Reviewer: Suki
Date: June 20, 2015

 

The company Christmas party goes awry in an erotic way when quiet accountant Shelby Carter is magically whisked into a miniature Victorian village with the boss's gorgeous son, Noel Holiday.

Noel has always honored the policy against fraternization, but when he's trapped for several days with sweet, sexy Shelby, he decides it's time to start breaking the rules. While exploring the enchanted surroundings, they delve into their deepest fantasies, even acting out scenes from a collection of erotic Victorian postcards. After all, what's Christmas without a little magic and a whole lot of sexy fun?

Though Shelby's crazy about Noel, she's sure he'll forget all about her once their interlude is over. But Noel has fallen head over snow boots in love with Shelby. Now he just has to convince her that holiday wishes can come true, and his devotion will last beyond their Yuletide Enchantment.

Yes I am reading a Christmas book in June.  Perhaps I am hoping for some of that snow we got this winter to cool things off a bit. This book is not going to cool anything off. In fact I think it rose the temperature a degree or two. 

Noel Holiday (HERO) works for the family greeting card company as a designer and is asked to check out the new Christmas display to see what is missing from it. When he gets there what he finds is Shelby Carter from accounting who is intent on the village. When they touch hands and the village at the same time they find themselves transported to the Victorian village or at least the house.  Complete with Victorian clothing and condoms. 

Once they discover there is no real way to escape they decide to make the best of it and let their attraction for each other takeover. But will it last when they are returned to reality?

I really enjoyed this book. And when you read any Ellora’s Cave book you know you are going to get sex scenes that are hot and detailed. I personally would have liked more about when they got back to reality, it seemed rushed. A couple more pages might have done the trick. But the book was very well written and edited and I fell in love with the Characters.

If you are looking for something to heat things up, this will do it.

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