Review: The Elusive Highlander by Ju Ephraime

The Blurb:

 
A WARRIOR TOO ELUSIVE TO CAPTURE
He is a Scottish Laird who live in a world of Druid magic and ancient customs, hand fasted to the sister of his rival clan, MacDougall. Alasdair thought he was doing the right thing trying to bring peace to the region. But he is murdered on the eve of his wedding. Not willing to accept his death, his mother, a Druid princess, performs a geas to keep him alive. But something went awry because, as the last word of the geas was spoken, Alasdair is trapped in time where he wanders the earth for centuries. The only one who can bring him back home is his betrothed. He has given up on ever finding her until she walks into his office in twentieth century Manhattan.
A WOMAN TOO STRONG WILLED TO TAME
Coira Ainsley is a happy-go-lucky young woman living in twentieth century Manhattan. Her job as a travel agent took her all over. She love the work she did and is excellent at it. That was until she follows her client into his office and finds herself in fourteenth century at Inveraray Keep in the Highlands of Scotland. At first, Coira thinks a prank is being played on her until she saw the giant, wearing nothing but a kilt and a studded leather strap across his massive chest approaching her. Not one given to swooning, Coira finds herself welcoming the darkness that come over her as she loses consciousness, without learning that the naked giant is her betrothed from another time… another place. Will she give in and accept what has been pre-destined or will she fight to get back to the life she knows and loves?

 

ARC generously provided by author in exchange for my honest review:

Whew! Haven't picked up a good old-fashioned bodice ripper in some time. This one did not disappoint. Coira finds herself suddenly transported to a castle in 14th century Scotland. The Laird is Alasdair, who she just had a business meeting with in present-day Manhattan. This magical dilemma has Coira out of sorts, understandably (no matter how hot the Laird is).

Ephraime is true to the historical elements of the period, even in dialect. And I’m a sucker for men with accents.


Among other things.

Swoon-worthy historical romance, with a lot of devotion to the details of the era. As a slow burn junkie, I must also add that I loved that we had to wait for Coira to adjust to her circumstances before she develops the connection with Alasdair. The sexual tension was so good and so maddening!



If you like steamy historical romance, this book is definitely for you!

Review: Sex and Sushi by Tassa DeSalada

The Blurb:

 These highly detailed, short, to-the-point, stories are narratives of one couple's actual sex sessions as written by the woman. They're written by the wife for her husband to learn what goes thru her head when they're having sex. The stories are a form of communication between the couple. In honest and painstaking detail, the wife shares her thoughts, actions, comments, conversations, and sexy feelings, before, during, and after their sex sessions. It's Mummy Porn at its sizzling best. They're laugh-out-loud sexy funny - not in a funny joke way, but in a sexy, OMG, I'm-too-red-in-the-face, way. This is where the reader finds herself fully immersed in the stories. The stories engulf the reader in such a way that the reader becomes fully heated and aroused. This super-racy book is too hot to read in one sitting. It's a steamy, hot, dirty, naughty bundle of erotic sexcapades of real-life taboo sex sessions between a happily married, adventurous couple who both love pussy and anal sex with each other. That might seem odd in today's society, but these stories are first-hand descriptions of mind-blowing sex at its finest. The sultry thoughts that fill the woman's head during foreplay, sex, orgasm, and post-orgasm are beautifully illustrated in these stories. This is the complete must-read unabridged version. Well, there's no abridged version, everything's in here. The abridged version would be one empty page. You want the full version. Read the book for some great entertainment.

 

ARC generously provided by author in exchange for my honest review:

This is a book about sex. And sushi. Mostly sex. Sometimes sushi.



I thought I had an idea what I was getting into. Then I read the introduction. Okay, I think to myself. "She likes to f*ck her husband." Got it. Understood. Let’s do this. Then we get to Chapter One.



This is the most sex I’ve read in a book in quite some time. What’s more, there is a very different vibe to it, as other readers have noted. It’s very intimate, as though we’re reading something we shouldn’t. I feel like I’ve just read the author’s journal. I’ll never actually know this woman, and yet I know about this. Huh.

As a piece of erotica, I’d say this book would also have quite a bit of appeal with the voyeur crowd. Stylistically, it’s not a passionate bodice ripper, nor is it a heated connection taking place after a sloooow burn. This is an established married couple getting it on like bunnies, with graphic descriptions that leave very little to the imagination. And for a snippet, we’ve essentially been invited to watch.


Should I...should I look now?

The “dickie meets pussy” thing was the only bit that was a little unsettling to me. Reminded me too much of those friends with kids we all know that constantly refer to themselves in the third person. “Mommy needs a nap! Daddy needs a snack! Dickie needs pussy!”

All in all, gotta say this was different, raw, and empowering. It's a quick read that is to the point, and DAMN. Hope my sex life is that exciting in 25 years!


Get that dickie!

Review: Camouflage by Mariyam Hasnain

Actual rating: 3.5 stars.  

 

 The Blurb:

“She looked gorgeous in off white bathrobe clung to her voluptuous wet body with her wet hair clumsily wrapped in a white towel. I couldn't take my eyes off her shiny toned long legs protruding out of the knee-length bathing gown as she led me in. I felt envious of the water droplets still hovering on her waxed legs.”

Thailand 2013, Mark a corporate executive quits his job and migrates to the city of Bangkok where he meets the love of his life. Sheina is the girl of his dreams, young gorgeously pretty, and his next door neighbor. Mark falls for Sheina, though unknown of the future.

What follows next is the deadly game of drugs, sex, and deceit as Mark discovers that his very own neighbor is not all what she claims to be.

Set in contemporary Bangkok, city of temples and brothels, Camouflage is an insightful must read for all those who are embarking on their first trip or a seasoned traveler to Thailand.

 
ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for my honest review:

Mark Statler is a bestselling crime author living in Bangkok. Lately, someone has been messing with him in a big way--including hacking into his emails and replacing his latest book with nonsense. Coincidentally, he has also recently begun a relationship with his young Thai neighbor, Sheina.

From the start, I was quick to point the finger at Sheina because of timing, but lo and behold the answer to what has been happening is much more complex. In that regard, I was definitely surprised by the direction the plot took. I can't really describe it without spoiling it, but trust me when I say that whatever your initial gut feeling is, just wait, there's more!



The character dialogue is very formal, which takes a bit of getting used to. At times I felt it didn’t really reflect how casual acquaintances would speak to one another. But then, etiquette around the globe is different when it comes to expected formality. Considering this is set in Bangkok, I presume that could be a factor.

For example:
"Yes...I do remember and I can't forget the way you behaved that day. Clad in an outfit that I’d ensconced in an aloof corner of my closet just to wear it on our first date, I desperately wanted your eyes on me, and you didn't just notice me," she spoke her heart.



That being said, the formality doesn't take away from the intrigue. Hasnain weaves a complex mystery with many layers to peel away as you go. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a good mystery with a splash of romance to spice things up.

Review: Start Again by J. Saman

The Blurb:

Kate Taylor had the perfect life. That is until an accident took everything she had away. For two years she has been living moment to moment and day to day. She's lost and can't seem to find her way back. Finally, in a last ditch effort, she decides to leave town in search of a fresh start. In walks Ryan Grant. The perfect man with dark hair and sexy green eyes. Doesn't hurt that they have smoldering chemistry either. Too bad Kate's heart and mind are trapped in the past.

Ryan Grant is stuck in limbo, floating through life with work as his only focus. Probably because he's been betrayed a time or two by the people he thought he could trust. Needing a change, he plans on moving his company west to Seattle. There is just one big problem. He doesn't fly. So when a girl from his past offers to drive him across the country, how could he say no? Katie is his dream girl after all. Always has been.

Fair warning, this book begins by ripping your heart out and slamming it down on a plate in front of you. Tragedy befalls Kate from page fucking one. And as a mom, I freely admit that I was sobbing like a little bitch.



Fast forward to two years later. Kate is a basket case (understandably so). So in the grand tradition of people who no longer have any fucks left to give, she decides a cross country road trip is in order. Her mother convinces her to at least take a childhood acquaintance along for her journey, since he is afraid to fly and needs to also be across the country within the next few weeks.

Can I just say that this back and forth exchange with her mother is just the realest thing ever? When Kate points out she doesn’t even know this dude, her mom answers thusly:

“You know him. I just told you. You met him when you were six.”

Mom logic. I accept this premise completely because I also have a mom.

Ryan is a 6’3 giant with a beard and glasses (I’m not sure if I should be picturing a hipster but what the hell, he’s moving to Seattle, so I did). Get the man some free trade coffee.



He’s cool, we know he is because he calls his mom a bitch, calls Kate's mom batshit crazy, and refuses to call Kate by anything other than ‘Katie’, despite Kate's protests.


I see.

My first impression of Ryan, therefore, was one of annoyance. But as the story progresses, he grew on me exponentially. He knows from the moment go that Kate has been through a lot and while others tiptoe around it and refuse to acknowledge the elephant in the room, he does the exact opposite. I thought it was incredibly endearing the way he talked to her about what had happened and helped her explore different ways to cope.

I also appreciate the author’s devotion to Kate’s mindset and mental health. The romance here is slow-building, with every step forward turning into several steps backwards for Kate when she cannot overcome the guilt inside her heart.

The two embark on a weeks-long road trip that brings them closer and closer. It’s a sweet story about love, loss, and learning to love again. Much mushiness. Cue the “I Don’t Wanna Wait” song.



Story is well written, dialogue is true to how people actually speak, which is something I always look for. POV switches up to give us insight into both characters, which is also nice because they each have a lot to say. I wish there had been a little more detail in the love scenes, because I'm a perv. Definitely a five star romance for those who can handle the emotional slap at the beginning!

Review: Amatore's Restaurant by James Sillwood

The Blurb:

The international cast of the Recreative Theatre Company meet for their end-of-season dinner at Ristorante Amatore. As the evening progresses, each guest recalls a past liaison, an encounter which has made an impression in their life: narratives of love and tales of deceit. Will Prudence ever discover the identity of the elusive stranger she meets on a train? Just how much of a con-man is Monsieur Raul? Has Cordelia's unconventional approach to men proved to be a success?
A common theme begins to unfold: hidden truths behind the motives for seduction.
As the evening draws to a close emotions rise to the surface, declarations of love are expressed, jealousies and resentments run deep. Who will think back to the evening as a success and who will regard it as nothing more than a disaster?

Intriguing, erotic, insightful and perceptive. This novel explores the relationship between characters with a refreshing approach to the theme of seduction.
(Suitable for adult readers only)

Writer was generously provided with ARC by the author in exchange for my honest review:
 
This book is comprised of a series of short stories, all of them intertwined on the larger scale. A formal dinner party at Signore Mario Amatore’s restaurant inspires its participants to recall various erotic interludes preceding the event (and allowing us, the readers, to see how everyone is connected in some way). And Holy. Hell.



These were not your run-of-the-mill erotic stories. Sillman writes beautifully, the attention to detail is magnificent, and the way everything is woven together is quite an impressive feat. Not only that, the narratives are so intimate and personal that at times, it felt straight up voyeuristic to be reading this. Additionally, some of the stories are so dark and intense they really do require a bit of a break, as another reviewer pointed out.



This was a really different read for me when it comes to the erotica genre. The way each story manages to combine eloquent prose and impressively naughty language makes the entire book feel like a peephole, with us, the reader, as the Peeping Tom. Sinfully delicious read!



5 stars!!!

Review: Igniting the Countess by Lisa Torquay

The Blurb:

With the shadow of scandal looming over her, the countess, Loraine Durant, had to stay away from Garth Evans.

Loraine Durant, widowed Countess of Crawford, lives her life for her toddler son, the heir of the late count. But the world seems to go out of its axis when she lays eyes on the new breath-taking footman. She fights arduously the flaming attraction she feels for him, deeming it inappropriate, failing notoriously. With the shadow of scandal looming over her, she had to stay away from him. When she discovers he is much more than a servant, it is too late and he already hates her.

Garth Evans is the bastard son of a Marquis, trying to make his unprivileged way in the world and holding back from trouble with women. Being constantly in the presence of the Countess proves to be a hellish temptation and he can hardly keep his hands off her. After they part, he thinks she is as whimsical and frivolous as any other lady of her rank. Now, he hates her for all she represents. Wrenching passion threatens to break his resolve to keep her at arm's length, his desire for her about to burst at any moment.

ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for my honest review:

Oh my goodness!



Loraine Durant, Countess of Crawford, widow to a self-absorbed cheating douchebag, leads an emotionally dissatisfying life in British high society. Only raising her young son brings her joy. Until the handsome new footman shows up, that is.


I mean come on, Tom Hiddleston was made for a role such as this.

Garth Evans is not the typical servant. He is the bastard son of a Marquis, well-educated, struggling to figure out where he fits in the world. He’s also drop dead gorgeous.


Fine, I just wanted to post another pic of Tom
(And pretend that Crimson Peak didn’t happen)

As one can imagine, being attracted to one of the servants is quite scandalous in British aristocracy. Loraine’s main concern is the well-being and social acceptance of her son, heir to her dead husband’s Earldom. With a powerful (and bitchy) mother-in-law watching closely, Loraine is under a lot of social pressure.

Nonetheless, Tom...I mean, Garth...is very persistent and pleads a good case for the Countess to cave in:


Risky though it may be, the pair can’t keep their hands to themselves. And these are some steamyyy love scenes!!!

"He did not spare her because she was a lady. He did not deny her because she was sheltered. He did not recoil because she stood above his rank. He treated her like a flesh-and-blood woman and that ignited her to explosion point."



This was a quick, easy read even with the era-appropriate lingo. An enjoyable combo of scandal, smut, just the right amount of mushiness, and a HEA that does not disappoint.

5 smoldering stars to this sexy bodice ripper!

Review: Darkest Obsessions by Sheree Smith

 The Blurb:

All Sadie wanted was a normal life and when her ex-boyfriend, Matthew, was finally sent to jail she thought she could start that normal life in a little village on the Scottish Borders. Tom, a small county veterinary had spent the last five years just surviving. A tragic accident had left him riddled with guilt. But when the beautiful Sadie Buchanan waltzed into her parents cafe, his meaning for life is questioned. Now he has to overcome his demons before he can start living again. But Matthew has already hurt Sadie before, would he allow Sadie to have the happiness she always longed for.......

I really enjoyed this book. This is, for me, a more desirable Eat, Pray, Love fantasy (err...minus the tragic portions).

Sadie, a young architect from London, is a survivor of domestic violence. Though narrowly escaping with her life, her ex-douchebag, Matthew, has only been given 18 months behind bars ::::cough::::DISTURBINGLY COMMON::::cough:::: What’s more, he’ll likely be out sooner on good behavior. The poor lad was depressed, you see.


Just sayin’.

Sadie needs a mental health break, as anyone would, and decides to take a leave of absence from her job to go stay in her parent’s cottage at the Scottish Borders:


I would also drop everything to move here.

Tom is the local vet. He lost his family in tragic circumstances years ago and he’s still pretty hung up on it. But he’s dreamy, he’s sweet, and come on...he works with hypothermic puppies and helps his mom with horses.


Pictured above: Tom, with a dog. Because Tom.

What I wouldn’t give to just take off to a beautiful countryside, start baking cupcakes for gossiping old ladies, and staying in a cottage where you can see your parents every day. What I really enjoyed about this book was the effort it spends wrapping you, the reader, in a warm security blanket as Sadie sets out to redefine her life.

That said, it is also a bitter reminder to any survivor of domestic violence that it seldom feels completely over (and indeed, often it’s not). The looking over your shoulder, the bad memories, the impact it can have on future relationships, etc. I liked that the writer took the time to address periodically what kind of psychological toll such an ordeal can cause. It was one of those details that meant a lot to me personally. Lotta women share these experiences to some degree.

Stylistically, the pacing is good and it was an easy read. Narrative breaks a few times from 3rd person to 1st, nothing that distracts from the story.

5 stars to this one!!!