Banged Up by Jeanne St. James

Title: Banged Up
Author: Jeanne St. James
Publisher: Liquid Silver Books
Publication Date: 2009
ISBN: 978-1-59578-594-7
Genre: Erotic, Contemporary Thriller
Length: 107 Pages
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Author Website: www.jeannestjames.com
Rating: 5 Diamonds
Heat: Erotic
Other: Anal play, violence
Reviewer: Missy Martine
Date: November 25, 2009

Mace Walker has been undercover for two years. He’s finally home where he hopes to enjoy some peace and quite while he heals his wounded body and soul. He’s not expecting to walk through the door and be held at gunpoint by a slip of a woman he thinks is a burglar. Colby Parks is hiding out from an abusive ex-lover. She’d become friends with Mace’s sister and was happy to act as a house sitter while her friend went off on her honeymoon. Too bad nobody ever told her there was a brother. She thinks she protecting herself from an intruder when she pulls her gun on Mace. The two of them can’t fight their physical attraction, but have a little trouble learning how to trust enough to share the secrets of their lives.

Banged Up is an action packed, erotic adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. The sexual tension starts building as soon as Mace and Colby lay eyes on one another, and their relationship just gets hotter and hotter until their passion explodes. The dialog is fast paced and evocative, leading their relationship along at a fast pace. There’s humor, drama, tragedy, and some really hot sex. This book has something for everyone and will keep you guessing about the ending right up to the last page. I couldn’t put it away and I plan to read it again. I definitely give this book 5 Heats and recommend you read it as soon as possible.

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Table for Three by Missy Martine

Title: Table for Three

Author: Missy Martine

Publisher: Siren Publishing

Publication Date: November 2009

ISBN: 1-60601-548-6

Genre: Menage

Length: 223 pages

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Rating: 3 Diamonds

Heat Level: Erotic

Other: Anal/oral play, menage

Reviewer: Jillian Carroll

Date: 11/30/2009

Cass Abernathy is forty-three and she's getting a second chance at life, and maybe even love. She's finally divorced, after years of abuse, when she learns an unknown uncle in Oregon has left her his estate, and more importantly, his house. Filled with hope for her future and excited to have a place of her own, Cass heads west not knowing what she'll find. What she finds are hot and sexy twin brothers intent on making her a part of their lives. It's too bad they're so much younger because they bring out feelings she's never had before. Meanwhile, there's someone else interested in Cass' inheritance, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to make sure he wins. Will Cass overcome her fears and open her heart to the two men who love her, and will she discover the truth about her inheritance before it's too late?



I was excited to read this book because of all the buzz and great reviews it has been getting. The story was great, the characters were funny, loving and kind. But it had issues and I had a hard time getting past them. The editing left something to be desired, there were odd, misspelled words and twice a sentence ended in a partial word, like it got cut off. I did read an ARC copy, I hope the final editing was better than this. If not, I hope the author takes her editor to task for letting so many problems get past her. Table for Three deserved better. I also got totally distracted by how many times the brother, Matt, called Cass "baby". I love a sweet endearment but wow, in some paragraphs of dialogue he used it in every sentence. Truthfully, it annoyed me, I began to feel like he was being phony when I knew he really wasn't and I'm sure that wasn't the author's intention. And what happened to the phone call Serena made to Cass's horrid ex-husband, telling him where Cass was? That was a big deal, I kept waiting for Eric to show up and beat the hell out of her or worse...but nothing ever happened. He never showed up, so what was the point of that scene? If the author was setting that situation up for a sequel, it should have been dealt with before the end of the story, as a cliffhanger ending perhaps?



All in all, I didn't dislike this story, it had a wonderful premise and the characters were fantastic (other than the "baby" thing) and I would definitely read the sequel, which I assume is coming. The sex was very hot and in that regard, Ms Martine was spot on - she can definitely write a great sex scene! For a first book, she's done a good job!

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Scion Book 1: House of Bardin by Miriam Newman

Title: Scion Book 1: House of Bardin
Author: Miriam Newman
Publisher: DCL Publications
Publication Date: July 2009
ISBN: 978-0-9823610-4-7
Genre: Futuristic Romance
AdultLength: 100 Pages
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Author website
Rating: 4.5 Diamonds
Heat : Erotic
Other: Dubious consent, slavery
Reviewer: Missy Martine
Date: 11/26/09
Lela was sixteen years old and a virgin when she is sold into slavery by her father so that her brothers might live, and stay with the family. Her life is a constant cycle of rape, beatings, degradation, and misery.

For eight long years she fights her captors at every opportunity. She can’t accept their vile attentions and rebels every chance she gets. It’s not long before she’s up for sale again.Caius is a handsome man that takes notice of her and buys her for what he thinks will be a night of pleasure. Neither of them is expecting the feelings they develop for one another. Lela finds herself not wanting to ever be put on the auction block again.

Miriam Newman’s tale of a young girl forced into slavery is heart wrenching. Her words force you to feel the pain, and anguish of her main character. You find yourself pulling for her to find happiness with Caius.The characters are strong, and vividly portrayed so that you feel you know what’s in their hearts and mind. It’s a story you won’t be able to walk away from once you start the first chapter. I’m definitely going to be looking for more of Ms. Newman’s writing in the future.

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