Love Romance Passion » S-U http://www.loveromancepassion.com Because Books Don't Fall Asleep Afterwards! Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Why is it so Darn Hot When Commitment-Phobes Make the Commitment? http://www.loveromancepassion.com/why-is-it-so-darn-hot-when-commitment-phobes-make-the-commitment/ http://www.loveromancepassion.com/why-is-it-so-darn-hot-when-commitment-phobes-make-the-commitment/#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:15:57 +0000 Guest Blogger http://www.loveromancepassion.com/?p=13771

Guest post by Amanda Usen, author of Scrumptious

Oh, boy. Back in the day, before I met my perfect husband, I never met a bad boy I didn’t want to…date. Emotionally unavailable men were my favorite flavor. The more distant the man, the more I wanted to stand beside him. It started in high school when the uber-cool artistic senior drama dude took an interest, and then gave me my first taste of “it’s not you, it’s me,” a few months later.

I was hooked, so hooked I dated (off and on for THREE YEARS) a psychology major in college who responded to my every legitimate relationship complaint with “I’m sorry you feel that way.” Even my perfect husband appeared to be a bad boy when I met him. I call him my sheep in wolf’s clothing because he tricked me. (Thank goodness.) Oh, yeah, I had it bad. The question is: why?

What is it about the men who don’t want us, the guy we can have for a night but not a relationship, or the one that got away, that enchants us? And why is it so intoxicating when they finally succumb to true love? These questions fascinate me. Although I broke my bad boy addiction and am now unconditionally adored, I still live with the ghosts of boyfriends past. I can’t chase them anymore (marriage will do that to a girl) but I can bring them to life in my characters.

In Scrumptious, I deliberately set out to create the baddest boy of them all, Joe Rafferty. During his two years at Culinary Arts College, he slept with “every available female, a few unavailable ones, three mail clerks, and at least one chef-instructor.” Joe is a traveling chef-for-hire so commitment-phobic that the only thing that could get him to consider settling down is a deathbed command from his mother.

Enter Marlene Bennet, a love ‘em and leave ‘em pastry chef who imagines “a night with Joe would be an experience to remember. Fondly.” When he turns down her proposition, he becomes the ultimate challenge…a man whom everyone has had – but her.

What are the perfect ingredients of a bad boy?

In Joe’s case, he’s tall, dark and delicious. He’s such hot chef hardly anyone can keep up with him on the line. He’s left a trail of broken hearts behind him, so he’s jaded. Most alluring of all, he’s got issues, little holes in his heart just waiting for the right healing touch. In my opinion, that’s what makes a bad boy.

He’s attractive, talented, experienced and hurting, even if he doesn’t know it or won’t admit it – especially if he won’t admit it. If you can get that guy’s attention, then you are special. And if he decides you are the one, then you have triumphed where all else have failed. *Sigh* Triumph is incendiary.

But that’s just my opinion. I’m a sucker for a hot guy with a bored expression and the first one to admit I’ve got a competitive steak. What about you? What do you think makes a bad boy? And why is it so sweet when the “unattainable man” finally commits?

Buy: Scrumptious

Online Stores ]]> http://www.loveromancepassion.com/why-is-it-so-darn-hot-when-commitment-phobes-make-the-commitment/feed/ 2 Review: Dreaming of the Wolf by Terry Spear http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-dreaming-of-the-wolf-by-terry-spear/ http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-dreaming-of-the-wolf-by-terry-spear/#comments Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:04:28 +0000 Sharon S. http://www.loveromancepassion.com/?p=13093

Reviewed by Sharon S.

This is the 8th book in the Dreaming of the Wolf series, and the first one I have read. Each book can act as a stand alone and the author does a good job of explaining the rules of the Lupus Garou pack life, but I didn’t feel as invested in it as I probably would have if I had started with the first book.

When I first started this book I really didn’t want to finish it. Our smexy alpha hero Jake and the heroine, Alicia have an instant connection and are having hot outdoor sex by chapter 4. I have no problem with that, but it seem on every page one of them was thinking how much they liked the other, but nothing could come from it because:

A.) She isn’t one of us, we don’t date humans we only have one night stands with them, or

B.) I don’t have time for love I have to avenge my mother’s death.

I wanted to smack them both. The whole story is cliché and there really wasn’t much depth to it. The plot the romance was built around was weak, and I know what you are thinking…this is a PNR, the plot isn’t important. I know this, and there is an audience for this type of PNR, but it just isn’t me.

That being said…I found myself starting to get interested in a secondary character, Tom. He is the brother of Jake and Darien and by the end of the book the only one that hasn’t found his mate. I was able to connect with him unlike the other characters. Maybe because he wasn’t pining and whining over a woman <G>. Matter of fact, I liked him enough to hope the next book in this series is about him. I want to see him get his HEA.

So, I am giving this 3 stars because Tom found his way into my heart and made me want to read his book. Like I said earlier, this just isn’t my type of PNR, but I’ve read some other reviews and lots of people love it, which means it’s me, not you Dreaming of the Wolf <G>.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Buy: Dreaming of the Wolf

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Reviewed by Sandra Scholes

Cleis are well known for their novels that break the boundaries of what many would call acceptable erotica, but they are also known for their talented writers who push the envelope as far as writing is concerned. Sweet Confessions can be described as that. It pushes the very boundaries of what we normally see and view as normal, so in these stories that can be seen as confessions of a sort, readers will be able to notice the rich range of ideas that have unfolded from every page.

As far as this compilation is concerned, there are many stories that will touch the heart and the mind, as well as many other emotions. The following are only a small selection of what I considered to be the best I read.

Smell as Sweet by Heidi Champa

Liz is usually hard at work in the office, and once the weekend has gone, it's back to work again, yet she finds happiness when she gets news from her boyfriend, Jamie, and he has a surprise in store for her. He sends her panties, special ones from a specific lingerie store he knows she will adore, and she has to come to his office in wait of what he wants.

Her life has been like this for a while, and it all started with an arrangement she had with him when she met up with him at a specific time so he could do all kinds of things to her.

One time she walks into Jamie's office and finds him in a compromising position, one she can't pass up. Heidi explores the kinky confession of underwear and its fetishism among men. Some like the feel of satin and silk on their body, and Jamie certainly does in this tale. I liked the pacing of it, as well as the shock factor she gives Liz when she finds out Jamie's dirty little secret.

Internet Cafe Au Lay by Kayai Silkenvoice

One sunny day, a woman decides she is hot enough for an afternoon of passionate love making, and she hopes her lover agrees. She decides she wants Kurt to please her outside, and refuses any hope of being filled unless it’s to do with him filling her body. She has to settle for a stop off at a net café, Seabiscuits where they can play chess and indulge their fantasies. She ends up indulging her own with her lover in front of some college kids, and shows what kind of vixen she really is.

She knows what she needs, but will he satisfy her long enough? She hopes so and so will the reader once they get into this little short. I liked the honesty in the words she used, and the truth that when you’re in a clinch in public, the slightest thing can cause the giggles.

Silver Screen by Portia Da Costa

One woman is given orders on where to sit and which row in a porno cinema. This she knows is part of her lover’s games. She is well used to them by now and isn’t one to disobey any of his strict rules, not when he satisfies her the way he does. She finds her self in a row next to a couple who are into pretty heavy petting. She imagines everyone around her in a frenzy of sexual ecstasy, but not all of them are. She doesn’t mind though, as at first she thought the place disgusting, now when she sees the actors on screen they remind her of her and Steve.

Silver Screen is what I would call real indulgent wish fulfilment as she is made to wait for sex, and it’s the build up that is as important as the sex itself. Voyeurism never looked so good.

Red by Piper Morgan

Some people have mundane sexual fantasies, while others are out of this world and highly kinky as far as other people are concerned. In this story, Bode shares a deep, dark secret with his lover, hoping she will understand when the opposite happens and he can’t believe it. She’ll do his secret fetish for him. He thinks all his Christmases have come at once and enjoys what she has in store for him.

It felt fun the way the two of them played out their fantasy by using a popular fairy tale as the erotic outlet. Piper keeps all the fun until right at the end.

The Hotel by Anika Ray

A couple, Arianna and Jared plan going for a night out together, but this is a night with a difference. They already know each other, but want to act as if they don’t. It might seem funny, but for the two of them, it’s something they like to do. She enters a hotel, sitting at the bar waiting for her lover, who comes along making it look like he is picking her up for the first time.

Many people wish they could take time back to the way they felt when they first met, when the relationship was at its infancy as there was all the excitement, passion and drive at the start that made it all seem so thrilling. Anika shows how sexy and fun a new start can be even if it is pretending they don’t know each other; it’s comical to read about.

An Age Play by Regina Kammer

Writing is a way of life for some, and for one woman it is one she has to be careful of as she reminds her husband that age in romance writing has to be at a certain level – and there’s no below that age or above it, or the story or novel simply doesn’t sound right, and she also reminds him, she can get into trouble for making the characters too young. She has a great and rewarding relationship with her husband, but gets a shock when she is propositioned by a younger male who she thinks she might not see again if she refuses his request of teaching him how to have sex.

Jean has to make her mind up whether she wants to teach the young man to have sex or not, but at least she isn’t being forced away if she decides to – and it is then she realizes she has a very understanding man for a husband.

Jenna's Gambit by Jeremy Edwards

So far we have had all kinds of kinks and fetishes, but this one is an unusual one for sure. Urinating isn’t one folk would normally think of or talks about in polite company, but with one or two like-minded souls it can be enjoyed. Jenna finds out how intrigued she is with this particular fetish with her lover, Eric who gets turned-on by the sight of her sexy panties.

I found this one very descriptive and even though it was erotic, I thought it left enough to the imagination.

The Female Gaze by Rachel Kramer Bussel

One woman thinks of all the times her lover has been looked at by other men. She finds the whole thing fascinating of other men eying him up, and maybe asking him out. She knows he is desirable to many men of every different kind. They all find him as attractive as she does and sees it as no different from how men find women desirable. He finds that he likes being asked out by guys, but wonders what he will do if he ever takes one up on an offer of rampant sex.

She feels that he should take one guy who asks up on his offer, but he has to be dreamy and very, very sexy if he can please her, but she has to choose the guy.

This story plays on the unlikely event of a woman sharing her man with another man. She gets right to the bottom of her lover’s needs, and what makes her tick too – as most women know, men can have an inner gay, it just has varying degrees!

Cat Sanborn’s choice of stories in this volume is a sensual one, I enjoyed the difference in them all, and the separate fetishes they conveyed. Sweet Confessions is a chocolate box of stories, some with wrappers, and others unabashed and exhibitionistic – who get ready to pounce. Get ready for a sensual eye stroll through some new erotic territory.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Buy: Sweet Confessions: Erotic Fantasies for Couples

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Reviewed by Lynn Reynolds

This is book 1 in the “Sorcerers of Arco” series.

We see Melba trying to escape from being captured. Master Turk appears to be a Robin Hood of sorts. Mel wants to pledge her service to him. He’s impressed by her skills but doesn’t realize that not everything is as it appears.

They have Jinn that inhabit their world. Master Turk has an Earth Jinn that tends his plants. He also has a very smart housekeeper, Gwinnie. No one can pull anything over on her – not even Mel.

Gwinnie is someone you need to get used to. She’s very gruff and brusque. She is a character that takes some getting used to. She also appears to hate Mel – and why is that. You’ll have to keep reading to see if that ever changes.

For some reason Melba wants to be a spy and she feels that Master Turk can do that for her. He also has some special abilities – he can track people and listen to their thoughts just by them having a special stone. If you had that kind of ability, whose thoughts would you want to listen to?

He wants Mel to start acting like a girl instead of the boy he was raised to be. We have to wonder what his motives are. You’ll just have to read the story to find out. We watch as Mel grows into a young lady and that includes the feelings that go along with it.

If you’ve watched the Mummy movies, there is a scene that just reminds you of some of the creepy scenes – it will make you shiver. It definitely makes it a different type of fairytale. Very different from the fairytales that I grew up with.

Vittorio seems to be the evil in this story. He wants to be king and will do anything to make that happen. He also knows how to change his looks that can fool people. He feels that Turk is getting in his way of getting what he wants. How does he accomplish this? This is what will keep you reading – you need to have this question answered.

You’ll need to read this book as a fantasy and not as a romance. If you are looking for a sexy fairytale, this book is not it. There are plots and twists in this tale just like a suspense novel. We have questions that need to be answered – what will happen to Turk, Dante, Vittorio, and Melba? Will good overcome evil? Will we ever see Turk and Melba fall in love?

If you are a softhearted person, this story may not be for you. Even I cringed at some of the cruelty written into the storyline. You will be surprised at how the story ends. This is what will draw you in to reading the second book.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Buy: A Clockwork Fairytale

Online Stores ]]> http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-a-clockwork-fairytale-by-helen-scott-taylor/feed/ 0 Dreaming of the Wolf—A Point of Seduction http://www.loveromancepassion.com/dreaming-of-the-wolf%e2%80%94a-point-of-seduction/ http://www.loveromancepassion.com/dreaming-of-the-wolf%e2%80%94a-point-of-seduction/#comments Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:10:08 +0000 Guest Blogger http://www.loveromancepassion.com/?p=13055

Gust Post by Terry Spear, author of Dreaming of the Wolf

How does a wolf seduce his mate? Every wolf is different. Every hero, every heroine. The setting, the circumstances, all will lead to a different form of seduction.

In the beginning, Jake Silver can’t help the way he is drawn to the heroine, Alicia. Maybe it’s her determination to right a wrong, or her tenacity to fight the bad guys when she’s only a woman, and not all that skilled to take down the kind of men she’s after.

Or maybe it’s something deeper that neither of them can explain logically. But when he’s afraid she’s met a deadly end, he’s angry, running hot, and bothered, and damn if he doesn’t want her. Badly. What can I say? He’s totally all alpha sexy male.

A matter of wolf seduction, an excerpt from Dreaming of the Wolf:

“Admit it. Mario and the other man you mentioned, Danny Massaro, murdered your mother. It’s a vendetta,” he said quietly, but the undercurrent of warning was there. What she was doing was wrong, and it could get her killed.

“Not a vendetta,” she said icily. “I don’t plan to gun them down like they did my mother. Just return them to jail where they belong. Permanently.”

She tried to pull her hand free from his, but he wouldn’t let go. With his free hand, he swept the back of his hand down her cheek with a tender caress. “All right, not a vendetta then.” But he still couldn’t see how she planned to safely take these men into custody.

He wasn’t sure just what about her made his pulse race to such an extent, the way the heat of her hand penetrated his, the way he couldn’t put her out of his mind, stirring a need to be with her and to protect her that he was having a hard time quelling. The expression on her face, though rebellious, appealed to him. Hell, everything about her did.

Her short-waisted suit jacket hung open as if she’d been ready to remove it to dress in a more casual manner. But he knew that had all to do with her having easy access to her gun, although the holstered weapon was still hidden. His gaze drifted down to where the ice-white silken blouse revealed the faint outline of her bra and a hint of lace, baring the sexier side of her outfit. Round pearl-button fasteners on her blouse captured his attention, and briefly, he wanted to touch them, to poke one after another through the slivers of their buttonholes, to see the rest of her as nature had intended.

She cleared her throat, and he returned his gaze to her face. A small smile tugged at her lips, and her brows lifted in a way that said she knew exactly where his thoughts had roamed.

Although he wanted this issue between them resolved—wanted her to promise him she wasn’t going any further with this futile effort to take down these men, when her hand rested on his shirt-covered chest, the vest now open and most of his shirt still unbuttoned because of hastily dressing, he thought she was going to push him away. Or at least try.

But her hand swept up his chest as if tentatively feeling the muscles beneath the shirt, memorizing the sen-sation of him, and judging his reaction, while her eyes focused on his chest as she continued to explore. Her touch left a trail of sizzling heat through the cotton shirt and a craving to touch her in the same way, except that he wanted to touch her skin to skin.

He lifted her chin and leaned down and kissed her. Potent need filled him as his mouth conquered hers, possessing and wanting, the worry that she could have come to harm still making his blood pulse hot and hard. His hands slid underneath the back of her jacket, gliding over the silky blouse while her head still tilted up to encourage his onslaught. Instantly responsive, she reacted as though she needed his comfort, his possessiveness, him, as she molded to his body, pressing harder against him, her hands exploring his back through the dress shirt with eagerness.

If they’d been back home in his own woods, away from civilization, free to do what they pleased, he would have liked to take her, conquer her, make love to her. It wasn’t just sex that he was interested in having with

Alicia either, but something deeper. Although he knew he couldn’t go there with her, not when she was human, and he had no intention of turning her.

With his thoughts shifting to his more primal needs, he barely registered that they were still standing on the path where hikers could come upon them at any moment. He wasn’t familiar with these woods or how frequently visitors to the area might slip off the path and do some exploring on their own. Still, he wanted more, wanted her. And his baser, more primitive instinct told him she was just as willing as he was. To go with the moment, to find pleasure where they could.

But was Alicia truly as willing?

Hey, Love Romance Passion wanted an excerpt of a little werewolf seduction, and so I’m not the only tease around!

LOL

Thanks so much for having me here today, and now I’m wondering, would you take Jake up on a walk in the woods? If his intent is a wolfish seduction?

Yum.

Terry Spear

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy IS reality.”

DREAMING OF THE WOLF by TERRY SPEAR—IN STORES DECEMBER 2011

A fierce hunter…

Alicia Greiston is a no-nonsense bounty hunter determined to bring a ring of mobsters to justice. Her dogged pursuit of the crime family has forced her to avoid relationships—any man would only become a target for retribution. Luckily, Jake Silver is more than a man, and his instincts are telling him to stop at nothing to protect her.

An animal passion…

However, the mob isn’t entirely human either, and soon Alicia must flee for her life. When Alicia and Jake’s passion begins to spill over into their dreams, Jake learns he will have to do more than defend her—he’ll have to show his mate the way of the wolf.

Buy: Dreaming of the Wolf

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning author Terry Spear has written a dozen paranormal romance novels, with over 60,000 copies sold. She received Publishers Weekly’s Best Book of the Year in 2008 for Heart of the Wolf. A retired officer of the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry is a librarian by day. She lives in Crawford, Texas. For more information, please visit www.terryspear.com.

Connect with Terry:

www.facebook.com/terry.spear
www.terryspear.com
www.myspace.com/terryspear
http://terry-spear.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/#!/TerrySpear

GIVEAWAY: I have 2 copies of Dreaming of the Wolf for giveaway. Open to US and Canada only. Enter by sharing what is a werewolf's best seduction technique! Last day to enter: December 23, 2011.

Online Stores ]]> http://www.loveromancepassion.com/dreaming-of-the-wolf%e2%80%94a-point-of-seduction/feed/ 17 Review: Tides of Passion by Tracy Sumner http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-tides-of-passion-by-tracy-sumner/ http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-tides-of-passion-by-tracy-sumner/#comments Sun, 11 Dec 2011 09:18:16 +0000 Lynn Reynolds http://www.loveromancepassion.com/?p=13236

Reviewed by Lynn Reynolds

This book is part of the “Seaswept Seduction” series.

Savannah Connor is seen leading a protest outside of a warehouse. Zachariah Garrett is a Constable sent to stop her protests. He also thinks she’s nothing but trouble. Savannah is fighting for women’s rights – equal rights. She’s been arrested before – same reason, different town. She is a suffragette.

Our minor characters are Zach’s brothers Caleb and Noah. There is also Ellie Beaumont and Miss Lydia. Ellie is married to Noah and Miss Lydia has a crush on Zach. Chapter one seems to set the groundwork for our characters.

I find that the quotes at the beginning of each chapter are both interesting to read and very apropos. It’s also a great way to start each chapter. The quotes also come from the past and not a current person which adds to the history of our story.

Both Savannah and Zach seem to have strong personalities. It will be interesting to see how their romance plays out. It’s interesting to see that Savannah likes her “wanton” novels. They give her some very interesting ideas. They add a sexiness to our couple’s love scenes. You have to wonder what she would think of today’s erotica novels.

Chapter three seemed to be a turnaround for the story. The story seems to flow a little better after this point. Zach and Savannah seem to connect better from here. We see the heat build between the couple. Will our couple take it to the next level? It’s also a plus that she likes Zach’s son, Rory.

One thing that disturbs me is that as our couple gets intimate; our author still has Savannah thinks of him by his full name or as “Constable”. Is this a sign of the times or is this what keeps them apart. If they had feelings for each other wouldn’t both of them have nicknames for the other? Isn’t that what someone does when they have a relationship?

It’s not until they have an altercation that we finally see Savannah use Zach’s first name. But then they have an intimate moment and she’s back to calling him Constable. At this point in your relationship, can you picture doing that to your significant other? How can these moments be personal when you’re calling the love of your life by his full name? Can you see “Constable” being a term of endearment? It doesn’t give us any sense of romance – it’s strictly about the sex.

Savannah makes the perfect suffragette. She stands by her convictions. She would also fit into contemporary society. She stands by her beliefs and she feels that other women need to also start standing up for themselves. She doesn’t need a man to define herself.

Three quarters of the way through the story, Savannah has an epiphany – I’m hoping that this is the point where the story picks up. It’s at this point that I feel that Savannah and Zach are starting to get to the romance in their relationship.

Another downside to the story was that for a man who has a son, we see very little of him. He’s mentioned a lot but we see little interaction of the three of them together. I would have loved to see more scenes where they act like a family. This would be a good lead-in for Rory having his own story.

The romance then continues right up until the end. We see Zach as a hero but he doesn’t think he’s worthy. Savannah is there to let him know he is worthy. Love conquers all! It’s definitely a historical romance. I would read it once and then read again once the series is out. I might get a different perspective once all the brother’s stories have been read.

Rating: ★★★½☆

Buy: Tides of Passion (Seaswept Seduction Series)

Online Stores ]]> http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-tides-of-passion-by-tracy-sumner/feed/ 0 Review: Red Velvet and Absinthe by Mitzi Szereto http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-red-velvet-and-absinthe-by-mitzi-szereto/ http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-red-velvet-and-absinthe-by-mitzi-szereto/#comments Mon, 05 Dec 2011 09:50:33 +0000 Sandra Scholes http://www.loveromancepassion.com/?p=13101

Reviewed by Sandra Scholes

There is nothing like 15 stories of paranormal erotic romance to thrill a reader into each of them, all are different, yet all will leave them with the distinct taste of absinthe on the tongue from the sheer pleasure they bring.

A Foreword and Introduction create enough of a background to the Gothic horror story to set the scene for the stories that the reader will immerse themselves in. Kelley Armstrong goes into all the elements that make up the Gothic story, the darkness, the innocent woman, mysterious man who is interested in her, and the haunting madness that is so often the bread and butter of this genre. They don’t always work out that way, though, there are the stories that bend the rules a little, some are different in they use gay or lesbian characters instead of the usual ones everyone knows about.

Well, everyone doesn't know about these stories - they vary from each one, and all have the distinct elements of the Gothic horror within them. They can surprise, shock, and amaze-all with the intensity of the Gothic drama and feel of the age. These stories bring out an atmosphere of intrigue, full of dark and twisted emotions we can all feel in the right light...in this case it is candle light that will inspire us.

Here are a few of the stories available and my reviews of them:

Snowlight, Moonlight by Rose De Fer

A woman on a journey is attacked and left for dead on a snowy path. The coachman did not survive and the coach itself would not be useable again. Lucky for her she has someone who can help her, a man who encounters her body one night and takes her all the way back to his mansion house. There she wakes up and wonders where she is. The kind gentleman tells her where he found her, yet she has no memory of it. Everything is a blur to her mind until he mentions one thing, the things that attacked her days ago. That is what startles her.

Of particular interest to the reader will be what the man has been studying for a while, and what she really is after the accident. It interested me when a perfect gentleman could be so out of character to tie the lady to his bed - but then again, the reader will find out why. I enjoyed the atmosphere this story conjured for me, and I found it the sort of story that I could read again and again.

Cover Him with Darkness by Janine Ashbless

A young girl remembers seeing a young man tied to a slab of limestone. She sees how handsome he is, and how strong he looks, yet also how vulnerable and unhappy he is too. As she is so young, she doesn't know what the man has done to make her father have him bound so cruelly, but he doesn't tell her anything - just decides to keep her in the dark as far as explanations go. She is persistent though, and soon she will discover who and what he is. When she is older, her father's dying words are that someone has to watch over the man as he had many years ago, and it sounds like she will have to do her duty to the family.

Strangely enough, the reader might not ever find out what he is, they will have to make their own mind up as to whether he is a titan or some kind of Prometheus as Janine makes him out to be. All the reader will know is that he is a muscular and handsome man who has been imprisoned for what seems like generations.

A Rose in the Willow Garden by Elizabeth Daniels

Bierce is wandering around for that special person, but he hasn't found her yet, and being a hunter of a man he does keep on trying until he gets to her, but it isn't easy when he is trawling the bars and inns along the town in search of her. He always finds loose women there who want him as he is a seductive devil, but one eludes him, and whoever she is he can't get her out of his mind.

Readers will soon find out that he is not the sort of man she should mess with even if she does think she loves him. She does have a boyfriend already which annoys him a great deal, but he understands that she will have lovers being a handsome woman. There are things she needs to know about his past and what he has done with other women before she takes the plunge and gets with him, but it's up to her. This is an unusual story with a nice ending.

The Blood Moon Kiss by Mitzi Szereto

The Blood Moon Kiss is a vampire soap opera directed by Mark Gaitzburger and the heroine is the beautiful Christine, while the anti hero is Talen played by Kyle. He is a method actor and everyone knows how good he is at playing his part to the fullest. Christine thinks there is something wrong with him, something the other actors have missed, but she also finds him intriguing to her in a way no other man would, and that, for her...could be dangerous.

Kyle's accent could give him away as she notices it is slightly European, and has a certain twang about it. He does get ill occasionally and tends to shut himself away from the sight of others, and it bothers her that he does this. The Blood Moon Kiss reminded me of Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula, a man who finds the love of his life in the future and can't be without her. This is the perfect Gothic romance story set in the present day in this volume.

Painted by Anna Meadows

You would never think a painting could cause jealousy, but in one woman's wife, it does. She hates the very sight of it, but the husband likes it a great deal, and after winning it in a bet, he finds her dislike of the woman annoying for him. She mentions that the woman looks like a tart, hoping he will remove it some day. The woman in the painting has a certain something that Benjamin likes, and it entices him to keep looking at it even though it sends goose bumps on his skin.

Benjamin feels as though no one is taking his feelings into account about the painting, as he sees the woman in it as almost alive. He is the only one who has a connection with her, and one night when he is alone, he notices that the woman is gone. The rest of his family think Ben should get married, but he isn't interested in anyone other than the woman in the painting and he wonders who she really is. I enjoyed the setting of this story, and the presence it evoked for me.

La Belle Mort by Zander Vyne

Elizabeth Morton is due to be executed, and she is with child too. She has been tried for a crime she did not commit, she did not steal a diamond necklace from the estate where she lived, and worked but she knows who has. This is a journey back in time again to when a woman could be tricked into anything, and the gentleman would get away with it. Taken to prison before this can happen, she is made open to a life of nothingness, and doesn't expect the sorrow and pain life in jail can cause. She does have a visitor though, and he could be the answer to her dreams. When another man arrives she listens to what he has to say, mentioning that if she tells them where she has hid the necklace, they will pardon her. Unfortunately, she hasn't stolen it, and doesn't know where it is.

Elizabeth is the sort of woman from period dramas who was used in those days by rich lords who had affairs with nursemaids and servants when the wife was otherwise indisposed. Tales are numerous about what happens when these women are pregnant and can only do one thing - leave where they are or risk being kicked out anyway. In those days, servants were used and cast out, and this story tells the reality of what happened.

These are only a few of the stories in this book, and I picked my favourites out, but there will be the readers own favourites too and not all of the characters are so obviously monsters either – this is much more than a compilation of the unusual and the monstrous…it is deliciously Gothic.

Rating: ★★★★½

Buy: Red Velvet and Absinthe: Paranormal Erotic Romance

Online Stores ]]> http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-red-velvet-and-absinthe-by-mitzi-szereto/feed/ 2 Review: Desert Warrior by Nalini Singh http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-desert-warrior-by-nalini-singh/ http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-desert-warrior-by-nalini-singh/#comments Fri, 02 Dec 2011 09:57:12 +0000 Lynn Reynolds http://www.loveromancepassion.com/?p=13051

Reviewed by Lynn Reynolds

This is the second story that is in the double book ("Lord of the Abyss") by Nalini Singh.  You will not be disappointed if you buy this double book.  It is a reprint of her August 2003 Silhouette Desire book.

Jasmine Coleridge seems to have a self-esteem problem.  She also wants to design clothing. Tariq al-Huzzein Donovan Zamanat is the Sheik of Zulheil and knows what he wants.  They also knew each other 4 years ago.

There is an intensity between Jasmine and Tariq right from the start.  Mina is the lamb to Tariq's lion.  Tariq treats Mina as a possession and Mina just wants to be loved.  The story appears to be contemporary but because of where the story takes place it would also fit in as a historical romance.  The desert doesn't seem to change very much.  Almost like time stands still - the desert is almost untouched by the outside world.

Tariq's claiming of Mina is very sensual.  You see Mina blossom under Tariq's touch.  The reader also gets a chance to see how romantic sleeping under the stars can be.  It may give you some ideas about getting romantic with your significant other.

The past keeps getting in between Tariq and Mina's relationship.  You will have to keep reading to see if the couple can "weather the storm".  There is a saying "Love conquers all".  Will their love be able to?

The hunks in some of the romance novels always have a way of saying the wrong thing and his lady-love ends up slipping back into her shell.  As I was reading, I had hoped that Tariq wouldn't follow suit - but he did.  Now I have to hope that Mina puts him in his place.

Nalini likes to tease her readers.  Will Mina's love be enough?  Will Tariq realize what he has before it's too late?  Nalini also adds in the evil sister.  You will have to read the story to find out what she does and if she destroys the love that the couple has for each other.

If you are a hopeless romantic, you will love this book.  I'm used to reading Nalini's paranormal romances but this was a very nice change.  The only disappointment I had was that the second story doesn't have its own cover.  With Nalini's description of what Tariq looks like, you would love to see an actual picture.  But you will not be disappointed if you go and buy the double book (unless you already own the original from 2003).

Rating: ★★★★½

Buy: Lord of the Abyss & Desert Warrior:

Online Stores ]]> http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-desert-warrior-by-nalini-singh/feed/ 0 Review: Lord of the Abyss (Royal House of Shadows, Book 4) by Nalini Singh http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-lord-of-the-abyss-royal-house-of-shadows-book-4-by-nalini-singh/ http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-lord-of-the-abyss-royal-house-of-shadows-book-4-by-nalini-singh/#comments Sun, 27 Nov 2011 09:00:00 +0000 Lynn Reynolds http://www.loveromancepassion.com/?p=12912

Reviewed by Lynn Reynolds

This is book 4 in the "Royal House of Shadows Series".

This book is the tale of the youngest of the Elden royals, Micah.  In this story he is known as the Lord of the Black Castle.  He wears a suit of armor that seems to take over his body.  Our heroine's name is Liliana but we find out that her father is the Blood Sorcerer.

At the beginning of this story, the Blood Sorcerer's evil has found its way into Micah's soul.  It's Liliana's goal to get Micah to remember who he is and where he belongs.  But when she sees Micah, he believes her to be a threat and throws her into a cell.  While awaiting to see what her fate will be, she starts to reminisce about what life was like living with the Blood Sorcerer.  As you read this story, you will also see how much this father loves his daughter.  Or does he?

As Liliana and Micah interact with one another she tries to find different ways that he can remember what his purpose is supposed to be.  She tries food and telling him "night-tales".  On one morning Liliana is trying to feed him breakfast but it looks like Micah has other ideas.  We think he wants to steal a kiss but just as she gets close - he makes a remark that will have you laughing.

You will love their interactions after that - it turns quite sensual which shocks Liliana a little.  As you read on, you will see that she has a poor body image of herself.  But we have to remember that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder".  Nalini did a great job with writing their interactions.  I loved them so much that I didn't want to put the book down.

Nalini has made Micah's story dark but it is brightened by the romance that blossoms between Micah and Lily.  She does a great job of building the anticipation.  You just have to keep turning the pages to see what is going to happen next.

There is a part in the story where Micah is trying to protect Lily and this is where he remembers everything.  It also affects how he feels about her - you have to feel sorry for Lily's sense of loss.  But the makeup scene is very erotic.

As you get to the end of this love story, you will see that Lily and Micah are each other's hero.  I found that this was a great way to end the "Royal House of Shadows" series.  I'm sorry to see the series end but it gave me a chance to read some author's work that I may not have read otherwise.

Rating: ★★★★½

Buy: Lord of the Abyss

Online Stores ]]> http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-lord-of-the-abyss-royal-house-of-shadows-book-4-by-nalini-singh/feed/ 0 Get into Bed with Jessica Scott (Author Interview) http://www.loveromancepassion.com/get-into-bed-with-jessica-scott-author-interview/ http://www.loveromancepassion.com/get-into-bed-with-jessica-scott-author-interview/#comments Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:10:19 +0000 Keira http://www.loveromancepassion.com/?p=13207

Today's author interview is with Jessica Scott, author of Because of You

Keira: You're a career soldier, is that where the Coming Home series was inspired?

Jessica Scott: I'm inspired every single day by the soldiers around me. When you think about what we as a nation have asked my brothers and sisters in arms to do for the last decade: to willingly go into harm's way for a war they may or may not support, to miss birthdays and anniversaries, weddings and funerals and to know that the men and women who serve do so willingly? That's pretty awe inspiring. But there are also some pretty intense dynamics beneath that notion of selfless service, too and that's what I find myself continually exploring.

Keira: What's one thing about the military that you think non-military readers should know?

Jessica: That soldier's families sacrifice as much, if not more, than the soldier him or herself. While mommy or daddy is off at war, the kids are home, worrying about whether or not they're coming home. They don't have a way of *doing* to keep themselves from worrying, you know? When you're deployed, you stay busy so the worry from home doesn't eat away at you. When you're the family member on the other side, waiting for the phone to ring, sometimes, all you do is worry.

Keira: I like caretaking plots, where one character helps take care of another, which Because of You is; what do you like best about them? This one in particular?

Jessica: We all have different ways of showing we care. It's not always the most straight forward way that people tend to think of. In Because of You, Carponti helps take care of Shane, but it's not by being supportive and holding his hand, it's by literally by annoying the hell out of him. But the care is still there. So for me, caretaking stories are about the different ways that we care.

Keira: You met and married your husband in the army. What makes military heroes so special?

Jessica: There are so many reasons to love a man in uniform. I love the dichotomy I see every day around me. These Hyper Type A guys who will just as soon rip your face off as smile at you who are complete pushovers with their families. I love looking at the men beneath the surface and wondering who they are around their families that we don't get to see at work.

Keira: What is your favorite scene in Because of You?

Jessica: I think the scene where Jen finally has the courage to show Shane her scars. She not only moves past a critical viewpoint of herself, she willingly shows him the one thing she's been hiding from him the entire time. It's this selflessness that pushes Shane out of his own funk, something he can easily recognize in her. A kindred spirit, so to speak.

Keira: Ideally, who would you have play the hero and heroine in a movie version of the story?

Jessica: Jason Statham as Shane, hands down. As far as Jen? I'd say Christina Applegate.

Keira: Tell us one or two cool things about yourself you haven't shared yet!

Jessica: Sheesh, there's only so much crazy to go around. Um, hmm, I need an organized space but have absolutely zero ability to get it that way or keep it that way myself.

Keira: You and me both! lol :D Thanks so much for dropping by LRP to talk with us today!

Buy: Because of You

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