Love Romance Passion » Africa 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 Review: Dark Awakening (Dark Dynasties, Book 1) by Kendra Leigh Castle http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-dark-awakening-dark-dynasties-book-1-by-kendra-leigh-castle/ http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-dark-awakening-dark-dynasties-book-1-by-kendra-leigh-castle/#comments Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:00:00 +0000 Sharon S. http://www.loveromancepassion.com/?p=12640

Reviewed by Sharon S.

This story is set in a closed world. Vampires have divided into dynasties based on a powerful ancestor. Each dynasty has its own special powers and a distinctive mark that appears when you take their blood. The vampire society as a whole functions like a caste system with the “Highbloods”, the aristocracy, and the “Lowbloods” who are treated as slaves. The lowbloods are considered tainted blood and the lowest are the Cait Sith, a cat shifting vampire. Someone is killing off one of the oldest and most powerful dynasties and it looks like the Draculs (yes, Vlad is the head of this dynasty) are behind it, and a brutal war is about to erupt.

This story didn’t ever grab me. The overall plot was predictable and moved in a linear fashion. No plot twists or big reveals, especially considering how complex the world building was. A lot of research went into setting up the dynasties based on actual ancient characters, but I was never able to really buy into it and unfortunately I can’t give you any concrete reasons other than it just didn’t work for me.

Lilly, unknowingly, is a descendant of the ancient dynasty of Lilith that had been wiped out because of jealousy by another dynasty. Our hero, Tynan belongs to the Cait Sith race of vampires and they are considered nothing more than slaves. He is sent to bring her to his Queen to help in the fight against the Dracul. You have a destined queen and a lowly slave whose love will bring back the old ways where everyone is treated equally (expect for the werewolves who are in the next book). The romance between Lilly and Ty never captured my interest. Nothing set them apart from all the other stories out there.

It might just be the author’s writing style didn’t mesh well with me, but this just wasn’t a book for me. I suggest checking out other reviews to see if this one is for you.

Rating: ★★½☆☆

Buy: Dark Awakening (Dark Dynasties, Book 1)

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by Sandra Scholes, guest reviewer

For some men the love of a woman is not enough. In Mem's case, he has had enough of the usual woman who he has around him, so much so he has lost his will to perform in bed with anyone. Feeling he is doomed to failure with the opposite sex, he tries one last time to see if he can get the sensation of love and yearning back in his heart.

Going to the slave market Mem looks around at what is on offer, and goes for an unlikely beauty that catches his eyes for all the wrong reasons. Toomela is the one he buys and takes with him, but is she who she thinks he is?

Only he can find out...

Egyptian Slave by Alcamia Payne is set in the heart of the land of the ancients, where Pharaohs ruled with an iron hand, and one man is his favourite at court.

I liked the cover art, as just from looking at it you can feel as though you are transported to that far away land of sand and sensuality. Of course, it is a depiction of Mem and Toomela in a sand dune having a moment to themselves before the Pharaoh calls upon him for his services.

At first Mem does not take to his new slave girl, in fact he treats her badly, hitting her and such, but this is not shown, only talked about by Mem’s cook, Ati. He finds her useless, and does all he can to reprimand her, but Ati doesn’t know why he is so hard on her. Is it the devilishly sexual look in her eyes that bedazzles him? Or is it something else.

There is a lot of fun to be derived from the fact that Ati has noticed how Toomela is not like the other girls he has seen, as she is flat-chested and has no curves at all – what either Ati or Mem don’t know at first is that Toomela is very different from the girls he has brought home before. Mem has had his fair share of beautiful slaves, yet none of them had brought out the passion in him. On the advice of the court astrologer, Mem takes it upon himself to train Toomela to cater to his every whim by massaging and taking care of him in bed as well as out of it. It is when he discovers Toomela is a boy that he really starts to get excited!

The Egyptian Slave is a read that can only be done on your own as it is so sensual, sexual and as sizzling as a summer barbecue, and you will be forever looking round to see if someone is looking over your shoulder.

Rating: ★★★★★

Buy: The Egyptian Slave, The Egyptian Slave (UK)

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by Susan S., guest reviewer

Roman nocked her arrow, drew back an imaginative bow, took aim, released her words, and hit bull’s eye dead-center!

Desert and Destiny stands alone, and is book three from The Dark Desires of the Druids Series.

Get ready to save a camel and ride a magicker. Yes, I did say that. Go ahead, you can read it again if you’d like. This is erotica, after all!

I felt Roman’s third installment had more. More suspense, more magick, more sex and just flowed better than its predecessors. Lucien and James are still my favorite male characters, but WOW-E-WOW, Gareth can sure rock a heroine’s world. Get ready to pant, plead, scream and whimper because he knows the term foreplay.

Gareth Moore, hero, has just witnessed a murder. As master of his Druidic line and magicker, he knows time is of the essence. Sir John Corwin, witch hunter, is angrier and more desperate than ever. His greed and hatred knows no bounds. He wants the box and he’ll kill…again for it. Which is why Gareth enlists the aid of an Egyptologist at the British Museum in London. Her name is Arabelle Bahari, heroine. Moore and his fellow magickers are relying on Arabelle’s expertise with runes and hieroglyphics to unlock a jeweled box. If she succeeds, it’ll lead them to a book that’s believed to be over 400 years old. Well protected by magicks, after all-it conceals all Druidic knowledge.

Gareth thinks Arabelle only wants a sexual relationship. Arabelle thinks his heart belongs to another. And Corwin can care less…he wants them all dead. It’s a race to the cavern chambers in Egypt! Will anyone make it there…alive?!

Recommendations: If you enjoy historical, erotica, paranormal romances, happily-ever-afters, magick, mystery, and getting caught up in a great series, then there’s a high probability-this book is for you.

The ending will leave you with not one, but three surprises. HEA indeed, this’ll be a re-read for me-no doubt! Will I read book four, titled Temptation and Treachery? Is there an M in the word magick?

Rating: 5 Jeweled Boxes

Buy: Desert and Destiny (Dark Desires of the Druids 3)

eBook, Ravenous Romance, Fantastica, Copyright 2009, Historical, Erotic, Paranormal Romance.
ISBN-13# 978-1-60777-108-1. (Soon to be released in paperback format on September 2010.)

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by Sandra Scholes, guest reviewer

After her previous offering in the Immortal Realms series, Suzanne has wanted to produce a novel totally based on Javier and Catherine alone. As Javier is established as a rather stubborn vampire, and Catherine a sex slave to a fey king in a fairy court, she could not keep the story to herself, and who can blame her. With what she mentions in her To My Reader section at the beginning, readers can expect to be treat to Javier coming to terms with Catherine's newfound freedom and independent character, her forgiving him after all, and bondage, intense sexual scenes between men and women, m/f/m, and m/m too mixed with scenes of flogging.

Starting out on a journey to Egypt’s sand filled desert, Javier is looking for Catherine as she has gone missing, yet in a desert as large as this he knows he will have to work hard in order to discover her whereabouts. He is worried about her as she is an intense, beautiful woman, and would be desirable to many men out there who are mostly nomads who would think nothing of forcing her to do things she might not want to. In this case they are nomadic fey, and he thought the king of these people might have at least seen this beauty at some point.

The viewer might think that what worries Javier is the fey many be lying as such a woman would certainly not be overlooked by men. If that is the case, he knows he has to be firm, yet tactful to the fey if he can get what he wants. The king of the fey court has plenty of things he can take his mind off his mission, though, in the shape of his own beautiful women who try and pleasure him – but when he realizes the king might be stalling him for a reason, he knows he has to be careful.

This sounds like an in-depth and intriguing novel that can be seen as a stand alone novel due to its concentration on mainly two characters throughout it. The minor characters and their places are richly described in this novel, and Suzanne shows how well she can describe them in detail most would leave out. Suzanne has a great grasp of what desire, longing and sensuality are in her work – she can bring her own sense of these desires into her prose and with a little cunning, weave them so that the reader is amazed and entranced by them being there. The reader can feel Javier’s hurt at Christine running away from him, his anger, and his torment at the thought of another man snatching her from him.

Dark Obsession is a fantasy world where anything can happen, and does. It isn’t just about sex, but the sex is there for readers to enjoy, it’s more about loss, and love that has happened over time for one man, Javier, and as he is highly sexed and influenced by this woman, who he would go to the far ends of the earth for. I liked the inclusion of a broad range of sex in this novel, as it will reach more of a readership than standard novels.

Immortal Realms Series:

Rating: ★★★★½

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by Zarabeth, guest reviewer

This is a wonderfully woven book written from our heroine's perspective. The story follows Sally's adventures around the Mediterranean and the Nile as Lady's Maid to Lady Duff Gordon, a progressively ill woman who must leave her home and family for the good of her health.

For the majority of Sally's travels she is indispensable to her Lady and lives a very comfortable life. Once in Egypt, among the beautifully depicted change in landscape and daily life, her relationship with the Lady morphs into something more casual until a man changes the picture.

Now I refuse to tell you anymore. :)

Just trust me that this story is wonderfully narrated by Sally looking back on this time in her life and that Ms. Pullinger has successfully rendered Egypt in the period. I was also very impressed with her obvious research on Arabic and the Muslim cultural differences.

Read it :)

Rating: ★★★★☆

Buy: The Mistress of Nothing

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Mary Margret Daughtridge comes out with another fantastic SEAL story. It’s got everything! A smart savvy heiress heroine to a car empire in desperate need of a name-only husband and a hero with partial amnesia, headaches, scarring, charisma, good looks, and skilled in bed! Yum. Yum. Yum. See, I told you it had everything. Wow!

Davy Graziano is a Navy Seal corpsman. The quote at the beginning of the novel gives real insight to Davy as a hero. He figures he will die in service for the Teams and when he doesn’t he’s adrift. It doesn’t help that his mother passed away shortly after visiting him in the hospital. The situation makes him feel that his mother traded her life for his with God and he doesn’t know what to do with his second chance at life. He wants to continue being a Navy Seal but a head wound resulted in brain trauma. He’s forgetful of things he knows he knows and it’s frustrating to no end.

One thing he forgets is JJ Caruthers. Twice. Poor schmuck. Jane Jessup however is very relieved. The more she learns about Navy Seals and Davy in particular the more she sees them and him as the perfect solution to her husbandless problem. JJ contracts Davy into being her husband in an effort to get one over her grandfather who is trying to manipulate her to his liking. Davy won’t take her original offer and renegotiates the terms to his liking but as the marriage unfolds Davy just wants his life back! What’s JJ to do? I’ll tell you… she’s going to save her hero.

Rating: ★★★★½

Buy: SEALed with a Ring

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by Zarabeth, guest reviewer

Lily of the Nile follows the story of Cleopatra’s daughter in her new life as a Roman captive. She is a child who is forced to grow up fast and really examine her beliefs. With the death of her family and the capture of Egypt under Roman control her faith and her personal safety are in extreme danger.

It is a well-told tale of political intrigue and magic. If you have any interest in Egypt and/or Rome then this is a perfect story for you. I do believe Ms. Dray has done her homework and did a decent job of painting the picture of those times for her readers. Nothing came across glaringly incorrect or even mildly incorrect (but I'm no expert) which will soothe the feathers of historically savvy readers out there who put a lot of stock in that sort of thing.

I should note that this book is historical fiction with very little in the way of romance as that might affect some readers buying decisions (one way or the other!). It's a very intense read and not exactly lighthearted. I thought it was pretty good.

On a side note, do you not think that the cover for this book is gorgeous? Beautiful artwork!

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Buy: Lily of the Nile

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Prelude to a Scandal is an interesting concept (and the author note is pretty fascinating, be sure to read it). The author takes a look at sexual addiction in a Regency setting where they didn’t have a name for it--the closest they had was Rake, but being a Rake was perfectly acceptable for the hero until such a time as it was not.

Determined to cure himself of it, the Duke of Bradford locks himself into seclusion for months on end, firing the women servants and hiring males to replace them. His only concession to his forced isolation is the weekly letters Justine sends to him without fail.

But then he received a letter that undoes him. When Justine offers herself to him in exchange for his aid in securing her father’s release from prison, Radcliffe does the only thing he can… counteroffer with a marriage proposal. Surely he can control himself around his wife?

Justine is confused. Where has the charming man gone that captured her heart from the moment she step foot onto English shores? In his place is a stranger. One who cannot see her desires and when confronted is reluctant to fulfill them. Where has his passion gone?

Spoilers…

Could Have Done Without: Matilda. She was Bradford’s brother’s mistress and someone Bradford had coveted at one point. She is central to the story but I didn’t really like anything that had to do with her… the incident (gang rape… not by hero though from how the narrative read for a while you couldn’t be too sure of that), her weak and dependent behavior that she exhibited repeatedly, and the big reveal to her character.

Favorite Scenes: Barging in while he's bathing, at the opera with the public hand kissing… and the ending where he joins her in South Africa.

Rating: ★★★½☆

Buy: Prelude to a Scandal

Online Stores ]]> http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-prelude-to-a-scandal-by-delilah-marvelle/feed/ 2 Review: Traded to the Sheikh by Emma Darcy http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-traded-to-the-sheikh-by-emma-darcy/ http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-traded-to-the-sheikh-by-emma-darcy/#comments Mon, 27 Sep 2010 09:05:55 +0000 Keira http://www.loveromancepassion.com/?p=1183

bookreview

Sheikh Zageo bin Sultan Al Farrahn is an honest man. He knows it's time to leave behind his fascination with other cultures and their women; especially as he is disenchanted with his latest mistress, Veronique, the very unique supermodel. He wants to be with someone who wants to be with him and not what he can provide. As an honest man, he despises criminals, crooks, and trespassers, which is why he's sneering down at the spineless Frenchman offering up a woman on his boat to be his sex slave in exchange for freedom. Zageo bets that there isn't a girl at all, but much to his surprise there is and she's every bit as beautiful as the Frenchman said.

Emily Ross was making her escape. She was going to get away from Jacques and his dirty drug-running business. She had no idea what she was signing up for when she traded her skills as a sailor for free passage to Zanzibar. Just as she escapes the mango swamp she is caught by some burly guards and dragged in front of a dangerous and powerful looking man. Is he a Sheikh or a Sultan? His title claims both, but Emily has more pressing worries. How will she get out of this mess so she can meet up with her sister Hannah? Truth is, she can't, not unless Zageo says she can.

When she finds out that her sister didn't make the destination point, Emily goes a little crazy. The only help she can think of is Zageo, but how to get him to agree? Emily decides she must play the part he thought she was and proposes a trade. She will be his lover if he will help get her sister and nieces to safety. Zageo is tremendously annoyed and offended by the proposal she offers him and decides to punish her by accepting it. What Emily doesn't know was that Zageo had made arrangements to help her sister and her sister's family the moment they came back from the meeting place. Her trade was for naught and by accepting Zageo has found out to his bitterness that he would have rather won her than have a bed slave.

My favorite part in the novel is at the end so be prepared for a spoiler if you keep reading.

Zageo takes Emily to Cape Point which offers a view of Cape Hope which is where two oceans meet. Emily makes a point of how there's no sign of the meeting, no crashing of waves, no turbulence. Zageo affirms this and tells her they are like two oceans that meld together, their cultures may be different but harmony is natural and finishes with "Are you brave enough to merge your life with mine, Emily?"

Sigh... so sweet. Perfect ending!

Rating: ★★★★½ I wish it had been longer.

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guestreview

By: Cara Lynn, guest reviewer

This one had a few twists and turns I didn't see coming, and it was more believable. The background of the leading characters unfolds throughout the book, and some of it you don't find out until mid-point.

Samantha van Bergen is in a disastrous marriage, mothering a step-daughter that she dearly loves. This little girl is bright and precocious, and knows more than anyone realizes she does. Her mother died, and Samantha had been her nanny.

The book begins with a bang. Samantha's husband, Johann, is a compulsive gambler, who has gambled away a family fortune. He loses it all to Cristiano. And come to find out, he has tossed in Samantha to sweeten the pot, but only after he offers his daughter first (nice guy, right?!) but Cristiano rejects this.

Of course, Cristiano has fallen in love with Samantha at first sight. He knows that the little girl will come with her stepmother.

The question is why is he going to this trouble? And what other unfoldments might we find along the way that unlock the puzzle?

Sam takes Gabriella and goes to England from Monte Carlo. When she is there, we learn more about her early life. She is definitely worthy of the best.

Lucky for her, Cristiano agrees with this. He wants to settle a fortune on her in a pre-nup, but she isn't interested in his money. They marry without a pre-nup, and when a divorce seems imminent, he wants her to use an attorney to guarantee her rights.

Instead, she decides to fight her fears, and she is successful.

She is a plucky heroine and you root for her when she comes out on top. There's very little fighting or whining; there is a strong, wealthy and scarred hero.

I give it a 3. Have you read it?

If you'd like to submit a review on a novel you've read, check out LRP's guidelines for submission.

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