Saturday, September 24, 2011

Evernight Publishing Birthday Bash

Evernight Publishing celebrates its first birthday October 1st, 2011. If you join in the Author Blog Hop, you'll be eligible for great prizes, such as a $40 Evernight gift certificate or even $50 credit on your paypal account. But the grand prize is even better: a Kindle e-reader! That's right. Go here for more details, and get hopping!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Review of Georgia Fox's "The Virgin Proxy"

Author: Georgia Fox
Title: The Virgin Proxy
Length: Full




Author's Blurb

When the Normans conquered England, Deorwynn lost almost everything, including her family. Only one beloved brother survives.  To rescue him, she must sacrifice her virginity in the enemy’s bed.  She should be well prepared.  After spending fifteen years in a grim convent, punished for every sinful thought, Deorwynn can withstand any torment at the hands of a merciless, Norman warrior.

But nothing, she soon learns, could prepare her for falling in love.

Guy Devaux is delighted with the amorous virgin waiting for him on his wedding night.  There’s only one problem.  The saucy-mouthed wench is not his bride. Oh yes, he knows the veiled woman in his bed is an imposter, but he’ll go along with the game.  For now.  The punishment for her deception will come later. 

Just as soon as he conquers this foolish desire, this yearning to hear her say she loves him.




What I Thought


The positive points:
The romance was fiery, showcasing the wildness of both the hero and the heroine. Their physical attraction was clear, and Georgia Fox's descriptions of their sex were varied and vivid, with period-appropriate terminology which added to the atmosphere. The pacing was strong, and the book did not flag. The ending was satisfying, with Deorwynn well-settled into her new life, enjoying her new love. The growth of Guy was equally enjoyable, and his behavior was consistent and believable, given his established personality.


The negative points:
There were not many, as Georgia Fox's style is easy and polished, her command of her characters strong and good. The largest difficulty was in the anachronistic behavior of the hero. A fear of "settling down" in marriage would not have been a feeling that a Norman of the period would have.


Adonis says...

Get it here.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Review of Kelly Yeakle's "Forbidden Desires"

Author: Kelly Yeakle
Title: Forbidden Desires
Length: Full




Author's Blurb

When Dani meets the delicate beauty that is Carmen she knows instantly that she wants her—in her life and in her bed. But can Miss. Commitment-phobic look beyond the sex to see the woman beneath?


To Carmen, the wildly beautiful Dani is a new and exciting friend. What she hadn't counted on is the simmering desire she feels when in Dani's presence. As her relationship with her boyfriend sours, Carmen begins to wonder if there is more to Dani than she realizes.


Should she give in to this, the most forbidden of desires?


What I Thought


The positive points:
The romance developed at a pace which I found believable, and the story arc was satisfactory, showing both Dani's growth from a commitment-phobic flirt to a one-woman girl as well as Carmen's realization of her bisexuality. Their physical attraction was displayed from the beginning, and the alternating points of view showed both sides clearly. The ending was fitting, giving Carmen the happily-ever-after she had always longed for and Dani the one she had never known she needed. Both characters were well-developed, and their interactions were believable.


The negative points:
The sex scenes were repetitive, and there was insufficient description of the "naughty things" which Dani fantasized about doing to Carmen. Instead of showing what Dani had in mind, Kelly Yeakle gives only a light gloss of the sex between the two women. In particular, the scene in Carmen's parents' house, where the pair first have sex, ought to have received a more thorough treatment. It was the first time Carmen had had sex with another woman, and the description ended after Carmen was brought to climax for the first time. More description would have helped to explain the change in Carmen between that night and the next morning.

Adonis says...

Get it here.

Review of Carolyn Rosewood's "Hunted"

Author: Carolyn Rosewood
Title: Hunted
Length: Novella




Author's Blurb

For the past four hundred years, Jahi Wickes has made forged documents and credit cards for the female demons who seduce men into signing away their souls. While enjoying the parades at Mardi Gras, she's ambushed by two angels. One is her former guardian angel, and the other is the Nephilim who’s tracking him.


Dagon has been chasing Vassago for three years. His first big break comes in the form of a cute, sexy demon. When he learns the real reason Vassago is hunting her, Dagon has more trouble than he bargained for. Not only was Vassago sent to guard souls in Purgatory after screwing up his assignment with Jahi, but the person who paid him to destroy her is one of her fellow demons.


What I Thought


The positive points:
I enjoyed the skill with which Carolyn Rosewood drew me into the story. From the first page, with its Mardi Gras parade and attempted capture of the heroine, I was interested. I wanted to know what happened next. I also appreciated that I did not have to have read the previous installment in her series to understand and enjoy this one. The sex scenes were steamy; each one was hot without being repetitive, which was quite a feat considering the proportion of the novella which was taken up with the sex. The plot had just enough twists to keep it interesting without overburdening the novella. Do not assume, however, this book, despite its angels-and-demons motif, to follow standard Christian mythology.


The negative points:
There were not many because Carolyn Rosewood writes in a smooth, readable style, well-suited to her subject matter. The biggest drawback for me was the rushing of the romance between Jahi and Dagon. It was not precisely a "love-at-first-sight" romance, despite the physical attraction so clearly present on both sides. Had it been a full love-at-first-sight, that would have been different. As it was, however, the love which grew up between Dagon and Jahi was not given, in my opinion, sufficient scope or time. This is a necessary constraint of the novella form, though, and not something I could legitimately hold against the otherwise extremely well-executed story.


Look for longer works from Ms. Rosewood in the future!


Adonis says...

Get it here.
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