He was blind. Eyes wide open yet couldn’t see a thing. Voices, smells of camphor and ammonia. But no image. Where was he?
Burning pain shut up his nape. As a needle would. A click from inside his skull made him blink and work his jaw against the strange pressure accumulating in his ears and behind his eyeballs. How could something “click” inside one’s head? Nausea rose in his throat. He felt wired yet lethargic. The last thing he remembered was sitting inside the shuttle on his way from New Heraklion for some time off down planet-side. Then this.
“Is he linked yet?” a man asked. Thirties, educated, careful. Familiar. Was he talking about him? Linked to what?
“No,” replied a woman. Gravelly voice, low. Older, smoker. “You’ll know when he is.”
“Download complete,” chimed a computer-generated, genderless voice.
He tried to sit but couldn’t even move his hands. Panic bubbled closer to the surface. He pushed it down. No time for that. Later. Always had to be calm, focused and alert so he could do his job. People depended on him, dammit.
Maybe he wasn’t blind. Maybe they’d just put something over his eyes. Had he been kidnapped by some renegade force, terrorist group, a political party maybe? Well, he wasn’t going to make it easy for the fuckers. They better have strapped him tight because he wasn’t staying.
Grunting, he curled his torso up by a few inches so he could rub his face against his shoulder… And wished he hadn’t. His world vacillated. He squeezed his eyes shut against the nausea.
Just breathe.
Panic made a grand comeback and this time, this time he couldn’t push it down, just as when he’d been a child, a scared little boy who’d stuffed teddies and pillows in all the menacing recesses of a too-large bed. Only way to stop the monsters. And even then, sometimes it didn’t stop them. They’d wait for him to fall asleep so they could crawl out from underneath the bed and claw into his skull, plague him night after night with horrific nightmares. Even now as an adult, he still couldn’t sleep in a bed without waking half a dozen times each night, prey to the monsters, half-remembered but always in the back of his head. Sleeping on a mattress on the floor wasn’t a fashion statement for him. Survival, sanity, fuelled this peculiar habit.
Terror seized him by the throat. His breathing accelerated. A moan escaped him. He could talk!
“What’s going on with him?” the man asked. “He's not awake, is he?”
“Of course he is,” the older woman snapped.
“My god… Will he remember this? Won’t he fight it when it’s time?” Fear rendered the man’s voice high-pitched, made him instantly contemptible.
“Do you think they’ll believe him? After he’s been triggered, he’ll have six hours, then the implant will self-destruct, leaving nothing behind. As for fighting it, no one has ever been able to. Pain is a great motivator.”
His heart beat so fast it hurt. “Where am I?” he managed to croak. His throat burned.
“Your codename will be Chimera,” the woman replied, her voice near his left ear. She smelled of ashtray and old-woman perfume, a mix of roses and some unknown chemical.
Codename? What the hell for? Chimera. How fitting to the monsters plaguing him.
Another intracranial click a split second before the very word Chimera blazed like white-hot steel behind his eyelids. Then pain hit. Hard. In his brain, over his face, every limb. He thought he heard a man screaming, realized with shock it was him. Between desperate gulps for air, he felt they’d lowered something against his face, some kind of lid or cover. It almost touched his nose. He started panting. His breath hit him in the face, smelled of medication and sour beer. But he never, ever drank alcohol, not in his profession and certainly not after having been raised in a household of drunks.
He was suffocating!
A moment later, something whistled near his forehead, sending a tiny ribbon of air down on his face. A sweet smell filled whatever contained him. Pod, stasis chamber…or coffin. He felt sleepy. Stopped screaming.
Inside, the computer voice accompanied him into oblivion.
“Launch sequence activated.”
Excerpt from Beast in a Kilt
“Aye, the lass will make a fine bride,” John MacPeter, chieftain of the MacPeter clan said. His bug-eyed gaze raked Catriona MacCain head to toe. He near drooled, and his belly jiggled when he chuckled.
Catriona cringed, hoping the dim candlelight of Farspag Tower’s great hall hid her expression. Unable to abide the sight of him, she lowered her gaze to the Turkish carpet covering the stone floor. She envied her selkie older brother, Brodie, at the moment. Even though he was cursed, at least he was free and frolicking with the other selkies in seal form. She was trapped here in hell.
“Splendid.” Her mother clapped her hands once and gave an almost imperceptible bounce on her toes. “We shall hold the rèiteach on the morrow to determine the dowry and bride price, and if all goes well in the negotiations, the wedding a fortnight hence.”
The MacCain clan elders stood behind her mother, smiling and nodding.
Were they all daft? The lecher before her had already buried three wives. Catriona wondered if they’d perished from the stench of him. She swallowed the disgust rising in her throat. Death would be preferable to bedding down with him.
Why, dear God, isn’t Brodie here to prevent this?
After John MacPeter headed up the spiral stone staircase toward his guest room, her mother walked Catriona to her chamber.
“Please change your mind, Mother. I detest that beslubbering, clay-brained horn-beast. His very nose is like an anvil. And by the size of his belly, you would think he is set to deliver twins. I do not believe he has bathed in more than a—”
“Catriona!” Her mother blanched, her skin contrasting sharply with her black hair. “Do not say such things about this noble man,” she whispered, checking behind herself in the dim corridor. “What if he should hear? You have spent too much time with your grandfather.”
“On the contrary, I have not spent enough time with him. Could I return to England?” Please, God, anything but to be thrown to the swine-laird.
“No.” Her mother urged her into the bedchamber and closed the door. “You are old enough to marry and must do your duty for the clan. You will secure peace and protection. You will grow to love John MacPeter.” She smiled as if Catriona were a silly child. “It takes time for affection to grow between a man and his wife. I detested your father when we first married, but soon I was mad about him.”
“When you married Father, he was not as old as the MacPeter. Even were he alive now, Father would not be as old as the MacPeter. Perhaps you shouldmarry him.”
“Oh, no. That wouldn’t do at all. He wants a young wife who will bear him many sons. Besides, as the daughter of a chieftain, you know you must marry someone of consequence. Since your father passed, the MacPeter is the most powerful chieftain in these parts and we need his protection. Not to mention that your ne’er-do-well brother has taken himself off somewhere.”
“Brodie is a selfish lackwit,” Catriona muttered.
“And you are fortunate John MacPeter found you to his liking. When first he heard you had red hair, he was displeased.”
“What?” Why, that bastard. He objected to her red hair, when everything about him was revolting? What an arse.
“My darling, you know I love your red curls.” Her mother kissed her cheek. “Sleep well, my child, and dream of your future husband.”
“Ugh!” Catriona grimaced and slammed the door behind her.
“Your mother is right.” Her maid, Aggie, approached from the corner to help her undress.
“What? You wish me to marry that swine?”
“Aye, and ye’ll be lucky to have him. He’s a powerful man with much land. If ye’d been a crofter’s wife, ye’d ken what I mean—hard work, day in, day out.”
“Surely there is a younger, less repulsive chieftain somewhere in the Highlands.”
“A man is a man. Doesna make much difference his age.”
Catriona doubted the truth of that. “If Brodie were here, he would prevent this. What must I do?”
“Obey your mother, that’s what.” Aggie hung up her clothes and left.
Catriona crawled between the featherbed and counterpane, but she was sure to get no sleep this night. She stared up at the rose velvet canopy held aloft by carved wooden posts. As the minutes passed, her desperate thoughts shifted into dreams. She held in her hand a missive with her brother’s name scrawled on it. She turned it over, broke the red wax seal and opened the paper. But she couldn’t read the words. Not enough light. The harder she strained to see them, the blurrier they became. Blast!
Excerpt from Edge
The search for the truth leads to the edge of danger, revenge and love… A beautiful hellion, the first woman trained by the Department of International Intelligence, Catlina Demarco left her life without so much as a goodbye. Deep in Mexico, she’s close to finding the man who can give her the truth of her past, or kill her.
Agent Noah Tyler, Cat’s former partner and lover, is the last man she expects to show up with handcuffs and intent to bring her back to headquarters. No one has ever left the agency alive, Cat’s no exception. Only she refuses to go anywhere with Noah, he betrayed her trust. Forced into the jungle by three armed banderos, Cat finds her and Noah once again working as partners, their thoughts as one, their bodies craving, their goals conflicting.
Hot, angry and infuriated, Catalina must rid herself of Noah Tyler before everything is lost, including her heart.
Excerpt from Sweet-talking the Opposition
Eliza walked into his cabin and dropped her evening bag on the chair. "There are two rules that you must agree to follow."
She delivered the line, and then strolled into the center of the space, willing herself to see it through. If he played along she could do it. If he laughed at her, or didn’t want her enough, she’d fail. She didn't want to fail. She wanted to know what it would be like to conquer a dominant man like Marcus. Pivoting on one tall heel, she turned to look at him.
"Two rules…for my fantasy to be realized." She folded her arms and eyed him up and down.
"Rules?" he repeated, stripping off his tie, throwing it on the floor.
She nodded. He was so aroused that he wasn’t thinking fast, she liked that. Dark slivers of anticipation raced through her veins. The constant, low hum of the engines through the cruiser only seemed to make her more sensually aware. She took a deep breath. “Do you agree to follow the rules?”
It was the only way she could deal with it, but she wasn’t going to say that. She wanted him to think she was sure of herself, that she had the upper hand and knew what to do with it.
Marcus gave a quick shrug. “I’m game, if it means I get to be inside you.”
He’d much rather be in control, she knew that. But he clearly wasn’t going to let that worry him, not now he was all fuelled up. He wanted her—that gave her strength, and it gave her power. "First, you must do everything I ask, follow my every instruction."
"Ah, I see. In that case, I am your servant." He licked his lips, his hungry gaze covering her body.
She turned away, and gestured to the back of her dress. “Unzip me, please.”
He moved behind her and lowered the zipper, keeping his hand on it when it reached its end in the small of her back. She could feel the weight of his hand there at the base of her spine, and his breath hot against her shoulders. He rested a kiss on her skin at the base of her neck, a fleeting touch that sent skitters of sensation under her skin. Her spine seemed to melt. She swayed, her eyes closing.
"That's enough." She turned away, holding the dress loosely in place with her hand. "The second rule...you are not allowed to touch me, or touch yourself, unless I say so."
A flash of confusion crossed his face, but he quickly masked it. His body emanated tension. There was a more serious look in his eyes now, and his voice when he replied was husky. "It'll be hard to keep my hands off you."
“Do you agree?”
The tension escalated.
"I agree."
Lowering the dress from her shoulders, she let it drop to the floor and stepped out of it. He stared at her, transfixed, slowly taking in the whole ensemble, from the polished elegance of her shoes, up the length of her legs and all the way up to the neat line of choker, devouring everything in between—from lace balconette bra, to lace G-string, and stockings, just as she had intended.
His hands clenched at his sides. "Making me promise not to touch such an attractive body seems like a pretty mean thing to do, Eliza."
“Maybe.” She bit her lip to stop from smiling, then threw her dress over the back of a chair, being sure to show him her “derrriere,” as he called it, as she did so. She’d been unsure she could do this, but the way he was looking at her was making her even hotter. Keeping him at bay made her feel emotionally guarded and safe too. When he was in charge he overwhelmed her, leaving her vulnerable. Not that she didn’t like that, she liked it a lot. Too much, in fact. Right now, she wanted to try this tactic. It had a built-in reward all its own. Besides, it was a secret fantasy, and it was making her incredibly horny. “Do you still agree to follow the rules?"
His eyebrows flickered, his eyes dark with lust. He was taut as a bow. "I agree."
Power throbbed in her veins, her body hot and clutching inside, hungry for him. He was so male, so strong, and he was agreeing to do her bidding. She wanted him ever more with each passing second.
From the overcrowded slums of a future Earth, he rose as the perfect tool of lethal justice and deception. Cold and stoical by choice, alone by circumstances, he will neutralize any and all threat to his client then move on. Blunt, direct. Nothing personal. But when his next assignment involves a popular politician who’s as smart as she’s attractive, the greatest betrayal would be to deny his heart.
To my readers Chimera is about the forbidden fruit, that minute of intimacy carved from danger, that stolen glance and stubborn hope it’s going to be all right as the enemy reloads its guns. All of which are bigger than yours. Chimera is love in the face of bullets. But primarily, it’s the story of a woman who shares her sanctuary while the man she loves shares his wounded soul.
Edge by Dominique Sinclair
The search for the truth leads to the edge of danger, revenge and love… A beautiful hellion, the first woman trained by the Department of International Intelligence, Catlina Demarco left her life without so much as a goodbye. Deep in Mexico, she’s close to finding the man who can give her the truth of her past, or kill her.
Agent Noah Tyler, Cat’s former partner and lover, is the last man she expects to show up with handcuffs and intent to bring her back to headquarters. No one has ever left the agency alive, Cat’s no exception. Only she refuses to go anywhere with Noah, he betrayed her trust. Forced into the jungle by three armed banderos, Cat finds her and Noah once again working as partners, their thoughts as one, their bodies craving, their goals conflicting.
Hot, angry and infuriated, Catalina must rid herself of Noah Tyler before everything is lost, including her heart.
To my readers I’ve fallen in love with every hero I’ve written about and my, oh, my, Noah Tyler is no exception. Sexy, strong and packing more than just a powerful gun, Noah is a true hero. And every great hero needs a woman to complete him. I didn’t make it easy on Noah; I gave him a beautiful hellion to test his patience, to challenge his mind, to arouse his body to point of madness. I love Catalina, her strengths, her weakness, her kick ass self. I see beauty in the love I have brought to her on a dangerous path.
I hope you, too, fall in love along Noah and Cat’s journey.
Love,
Dominique
Beast in a Kilt by Nicole North
Scottish lady Catriona MacCain has loved Torr Blackburn, a fierce Highland warrior, since she was a young lass, but Torr only sees Catriona as his best friend’s little sister. When Catriona’s family promises her in marriage to a detestable chieftain, she desperately needs Torr to save her from a fate worse than death. But Torr is under the spell of a witch of the dark arts and is cursed to spend his nights as a kelpie water demon. He doesn’t believe himself worthy of the virginal Lady Catriona. However, she is determined to seduce Torr and claim him… body, heart and soul, if only they can banish the curse and defeat the enemies who have vowed to possess and enslave them both.
To my readers: I’m in love with Scotland and those hot hunks in kilts who are equally capable on the battlefield or in bed. Find out what happens when a virginal lady seduces the cursed Highlander she’s been in love with since childhood. Will she claim his body as well as his heart and destroy the curse which imprisons him? I hope you enjoy Beast in a Kilt, the second in my kilted shape shifter series for Red Sage, the first being Devil in a Kilt in Secrets, Volume 27.
I dedicate this story and all the others to my wonderful husband, who endlessly supports and encourages me. I couldn’t have done it without you.
Sweet-talking the Opposition by Saskia Walker
London-based journalist, Eliza Jameson, is on assignment on a luxurious Rhine river cruiser when she finds the perfect distraction on board — old flame, Marcus Weston. But Eliza came dangerously close to falling for Marcus last time around, and in order to play him at his own game, she decides to call the shots. Meanwhile, Marcus has his own agenda. In the ensuing battle, who will end up on top?
Dear Reader, when these two characters decided to take up residence in my imagination I thought they were perfect for each other, but they had other ideas. They just wanted a quick fling, but I wasn’t going to let them get away with it. I decided to trap them together on a boat, for a week, to see what happened. I had such a lot of fun watching as Marcus and Eliza’s story unfolded, and I hope you do too!
SECRETS VOL 29 SASKIA WALKER, NATHALIE GRAY, DOMINIQUE SINCLAIR, NICOLE NORTH ISBN # 978-1-60310-124-0
Red Sage Publishing www.eredsage.com 305 pages Rating: 5 Cups!!!!
Sweet Talking the Opposition
Eliza is a celebrity reporter expanding her skills when she signs up to write about Rhine cruises. It is there she sees Marcus, the one who loved and left her.
Marcus is covering the Rhine tour as a favor, but when he sees Eliza, all he wants is another chance with her. The couple may have a chance on the romantic tour, but this time Eliza is making sure she does not get hurt.
This was such a great “second chance” story. I could understand Marcus’s reasons and Eliza’s worry. The sex is exceptional but the romance is always in the forefront. The background adds to the sensuality of the story.
Ms Walker is a genius as bringing the caring into carnal and her use of dialogue to show emotions is nearly perfect.
Chimera
Mayor Selene Delian is about to announce her planet’s readiness for independence. With numerous forces acting against her, she trusts her guard Agent Corinth to protect her.
Corinth loves Selene, but unknown to him, he has an implant that turned him into a sleeper agent programmed to attack Selene when given the command. Treachery and treason surround the couple but will Corinth’s love be strong enough to save Selene.
Chimera is an interesting futuristic political sci-fi. The plot is so intriguing that the super-hot and madly enjoyable sex was a secondary aspect of the story. The characters are well developed, the action convincing and the dialogue worked well.
As a lover of politics, getting to read Ms Gray’s sexy thriller was exceptionally wonderful and her thoroughly outlined story was a page-turner from the very beginning.
Edge
Catalina has left everything, including the Department of International Intelligence, to find her father, who killed her mother years ago. She misses her old life, including her ex Noah, but nothing will stop her.
Noah knows Catalina will fight him when he accepts the assignment to bring her back. When the two realize more is at stake than finding her father, they work together. As a team, they can face anything, including the cold hard truths that will shake them to their core.
Edge is a very busy and touching story. The action is face-paced with numerous villains. It is a really adventure filled story that is touching in the way it shows how important love and trust are in the world.
Ms Sinclair is a romantic adventure writer that is setting the standard. Her characters are as compelling as her storylines.
Beast in a Kilt
Lady Catriona has loved Torr for years. Now that she has been bartered off to a hideous chieftain, Catriona knows it is time for Torr to save her and find her missing brother, Brodie.
Torr has been cursed but will protect Cat from the danger he has become. The soon realize their love is binding them as much as the witch’s curse is cursing Torr and Brodie.
How can one not love a cursed hottie in a kilt? This is a spine tingling story that has a wonderful romance within. The paranormal abounds as does noble politics. Of course the sex is thrilling as is the plot.
I love Ms North’s work, and it helped knowing her previous Secret story, Devil in a Kilt, but was not completely necessary.
The record of fantastic sensual romantic books in the Secrets series continues. There is not a book I did not enjoy, and each is good on its own. More than just the sex, which is wonderful by the way, the storylines are well developed. This book has everything a romance readers needs and more. All I need now is more room on my bookshelf.
Beast in a Kilt by Nicole North from Red Sage Secrets, Vol. 29
Genre: Historical Erotic Romance Novella (Scottish/Shapeshifter) Publisher: Red Sage
What I Liked: After reading Nicole North's first historical erotic romance novella (also a Scottish/Shapeshifter book), Kilted Lover, and enjoying it, I was thrilled to hear that her next book had come out. So I immediately bought it. Given the fact that sequels usually disappoint me (I'm looking at you, Legally Blonde, X-Men, George Lucas, Matrix, Pirates of the Carribean... okay, I have to stop somewhere, but I could really go on and on and on... Disney... okay, I'm back), I was leery of this sequel. First of all, I'm not super crazy about the time-travel elements (which this story did not have), although I thought she handled that element in her first book better than most. And second, my fear of sub-par sequels nearly kept me from buying this book.
It would have been a shame if it had. I actually thought this book was better than the first. It had all the elements of the first story that I loved: the sensuality in addition to the hot sex, a really fantastic alpha hero, and of course the Scottish Highlands. There is something magical about the way Nicole North writes erotic romance relationships. Whatever magic wand she's got in her head to make it work, she Tim-Gunn's it right out of the park. She manages to make each sex scene absolutely vital to the progression of the relationship while also integrating important character development into the non-sensual parts of the book.
With erotic romance on everyone's radar now, I wouldn't be surprised to see Nicole North on the list of authors who have won an erotic romance RITA when RWA finally adds that category. She is an excellent writer, and I hope she writes many more of these Scottish Shapeshifter erotic romances in the future.
Book Blurb: Scottish lady Catriona MacCain has loved Torr Blackburn, a fierce Highland warrior, since she was a young lass, but Torr only sees Catriona as his best friend’s little sister. When Catriona’s family promises her in marriage to a detestable chieftain, she desperately needs Torr to save her from a fate worse than death.
But Torr is under the spell of a witch of the dark arts and is cursed to spend his nights as a kelpie water demon. He doesn’t believe himself worthy of the virginal Lady Catriona. However, she is determined to seduce Torr and claim him… body, heart and soul, if only they can banish the curse and defeat the enemies who have vowed to possess and enslave them both.
Four sizzling, erotic tales take you from the past to the future. Each unique story features memorable characters, conflict and tangible passion. This highly anticipated antho- logy is a great add to your collection.
In “Sweet-Talking the Opposition” by Saskia Walker, London journalist Eliza Jameson runs into an old flame. This time she plans to call the shots, but Marcus has his own agenda. On a future Earth, Nathalie Gray’s “Chimera” is the perfect killing tool. But his assignment involves a beautiful politician who he can’t resist. In “Edge” by Dominique Sinclair, former agent Catalina is in Mexico looking for a killer. Her ex-partner Noah shows up with handcuffs to bring her back to the agency. Torr, a fierce Highland warrior, is under the spell of a witch in “Beast in a Kilt” by Nicole North. Though she’s promised to a chieftain, Catriona has loved Torr since childhood. Catriona wants to seduce Torr and help him banish his curse.
RED SAGE, Jul., 320 pp., $12.99
Reviewed By: Gail Pruszkowski
Deviant Divas Review Page
AUTHOR:
Nicole North, Nathalie Gray, Saskia Walker and Dominique Sinclair
Can her love break his curse? Scottish lady Catriona MacCain has loved Torr Blackburn, a fierce Highland warrior, since she was a young lass, but Torr only sees Catriona as his best friend's little sister. When Catriona's family promises her in marriage to a detestable chieftain, she desperately needs Torr to save her from a fate worse than death. But Torr is under the spell of a witch of the dark arts and is cursed to spend his nights as a kelpie water demon.
He doesn't believe himself worthy of the virginal Lady Catriona. However, she is determined to seduce Torr and claim him. body, heart and soul, if only they can banish the curse and defeat the enemies who have vowed to possess and enslave them both.
Chimera by Nathalie Gray
All warfare is based on deception - Sun Tzu's Art of war From the overcrowded slums of a future Earth, he rose as the perfect tool of lethal justice and deception. Cold and stoical by choice, alone by circumstances, he will neutralize any and all threat to his client then move on. Blunt, direct. Nothing personal. But when his next assignment involves a popular politician who's as smart as she's attractive, the greatest betrayal would be to deny his heart.
Edge by Dominique Sinclair
The search for the truth leads to the edge of danger, revenge and love. A beautiful hellion, the first woman trained by the Department of International Intelligence, Catlina Demarco left her life without so much as a goodbye. Deep in Mexico, she's close to finding the man who can give her the truth of her past, or kill her.
Agent Noah Tyler, Cat's former partner and lover, is the last man she expects to show up with handcuffs and intent to bring her back to headquarters. No one has ever left the agency alive, Cat's no exception. Only she refuses to go anywhere with Noah, he betrayed her trust. Forced into the jungle by three armed banderos, Cat finds her and Noah once again working as partners, their thoughts as one, their bodies craving, their goals conflicting.
Hot, angry and infuriated, Catalina must rid herself of Noah Tyler before everything is lost, including her heart.
Sweet-talking the Opposition by Saskia Walker
London-based journalist, Eliza Jameson, is on assignment on a luxurious Rhine river cruiser when she finds the perfect distraction on board - old flame, Marcus Weston. But Eliza came dangerously close to falling for Marcus last time around, and in order to play him at his own game, she decides to call the shots. Meanwhile, Marcus has his own agenda. In the ensuing battle, who will end up on top
PUBLISHER:
Red Sage Press
GENRE:
Romance
REVIEWS:
Secrets Volume 29 Indulge Your Fantasies is 4 novellas that are all hot reads in their own rights. In Sweet Talking the Opposition, Eliza sets out to make a point on her own terms. In Chimera, Selene falls for her quiet sentinel Perseus and finds that one person in whom she can trust and give up control to. In Edge, Cat finds a way to forgive and let's herself love Noah. In Beast in a Kilt, Catriona takes matters into her own hands and proves to Torr love can overcome anything. The female characters are all strong will women. Who can stand up when needed and let their partners take over. I was pulled into each story very quickly and loved every minute. Would love to see these authors try writing full length novels very well written ladies!
Reviewed by Kitty
5 Divas
Normally, I don't like short stories because too often they don't give you enough meat to enjoy the stories. I was very happily surprised! Each of the stories captured you from the first few pages and kept you interested to the very end. I even cheered at the end of the first story with Eliza! I think people were looking at me funny since I was reading it in my car at lunch time!( lol ) I controlled myself a little better with the second and third story and only told the characters when they were doing something stupid. This book gives you a good mix of stories from differnt genres from present day, Science Fiction, and Victorian. There is a good blend of spice mixed with a meaty story!
Reviewed by Wicked 5 Divas
Sweet-talking the Opposition by Saskia Walker
Two journalists with a past evening of passion, meet unexpectedly on a new cruise line they are both assigned to for the maiden voyage. He has a reputation of a "Love them and Leave them". She hasn't thought of another man since their one night together. She sets out to take control and tame him. Realizing she can't, she leaves the cruise early to go back home. He realizes his mistake and follows her.This story was a pleasant sweet romance. Very predictable and there were a couple of times that I had to make myself keep reading. Had a good ending which made reading the book worth the effort.
Chimera by Nathalie Gray
In a futuristic setting, a young politician is battling for an elected position of multiple worlds. Bringing fair sanctions and rights to her home planet is her goal in life as it was for her parents before her. With bodyguards protecting her, she escapes multiple try to end her life. Her personal bodyguard knows she is important to the planet, and she has become important to him. Unknown to him, she has become attached to him. With several reasons keeping them apart the sexual tension builds thru the book. Futuristic books are not my favorite, but this one held my attention. The tension between them that the author produced palpable. It was an easy quick read and enjoyable.
Edge by Dominique Sinclair
She escaped the agency over a year ago, leaving behind the love of her life. So, she could hunt down. The monster that killed her mother. The monster also happened to be her biological father. When the agency told him, He needed to find her and bring her back in. He was none too happy to have to track down his former lover. When he finds her the sparks fly, they still love each other but are too stubborn and not admit it. I liked this book… action, adventure and a fast paced read. The author has done an excellent job making you feel like you're as sweaty as they are living in the jungle.
Beast in a Kilt by Nicole North
This was my favorite book out of the four stories. Childhood friends cursed by a dark witch, unknown to them; the only way to break the spell is for each of the three men to find their true love.. Catriona has been promised to a man thrice her age, Her brother, chieftain of the household is only one that can get her out of this arrangement. He is hiding because of the curse he bears. Since childhood she has always known that her brother's best friend, Now also cursed, is who she wants to marry. Convincing him that admitting that he loves her will break the curse is tougher than she thought. Finding her brother in time to call off the wedding, is not possible…. This had the sexual tension that kept you engaged in the story, an easy fluid read and well written.
Reviewed by SubPage 3.5 Divas
This book was awesome. I feel guilty for not reading it as soon as I got it. The books contained within this novel just got better and better.
Sweet-Talking the Opposition by Saskia Walker
Damn looking for a relaxing cruise and an introduction to a new job she finds herself face to face with an old lover. Eliza decides that she has had enough of being hurt and wants to turn the table and teach Marcus a lesson in feelings. This decidedly back fires and the sex that follows is out of this world. Who is teaching who? The relationship between these two show how a wonderful growing and sexually fulfilling relationship can be. The sex scenes in this book are wonderful and beautifully written. I recommend this author and will be keeping an eye out for her books.
Chimera by Nathalie Grey
From the first page you could tell that the relationship between Selene and her bodyguard Agent Corinth (aka Perseus) was going to end in explosive mind numbing sex. The pressure of being her bodyguard and having to withstand her little touches without reacting were going to end on this trip. I want this man he is hot. From the description of this man the author created the man every woman wants protecting them. How could you not want this man, he would willingly die for you and then after everything they go through he came back for more…*sigh*…yum yum
Edge by Dominque Sinclair
Handcuffs and the forest how can you go wrong. All she wanted was to find her Father, and in steps her previous partner and lover Noah. Damn this is not going to work out as she expected. Catalina must work out how she is going to get out of being taken back after going awol from her team and walking away from her lover and also fulfil the need to meet her dad. The verbal play between Catalina and Noah results in a Climatic scene and she has to work to get past the betrayal that she has felt. Well written book and really enjoyable read. Will be looking up this author.
Beast in a Kilt by Nicole North
OMG this is a story I could read and re read. The sensual play between Catriona and Torr was amazing. Catriona has wanted Torr for such a long time and will no longer be denied and he is not even her betrothed. After trying to rescue her brother from his curse she in turn manages to free Torr from his curse. I can honestly say that I will be looking up more books from this author. Well worth the read and an awesome book to play with!!!
All in all I loved this book. It started with a slow burn and then got to completely orgasmic. I am tonight going to be looking up the other Secrets Books on amazon. Thank you so much for introducing me.
Reviewed by Noushie 5 Divas
Secrets are an interesting volume with different genres to keep each person happy. This is the first Secrets, I have read and am looking forward to reading both before released volumes and future ones.
From the overcrowded slums of a future Earth, he rose as the perfect tool of lethal justice and deception. Cold and stoical by choice, alone by circumstances, he will neutralize any and all threat to his client then move on. Blunt, direct. Nothing personal. But when his next assignment involves a popular politician who’s as smart as she’s attractive, the greatest betrayal would be to deny his heart.
I think the author was torn between writing a short story versus a longer one. The world she built was amazing but took up too many of the pages that I wished would have been spent on the wonderful relationship between the lovers. They were such wonderful characters and I wanted to get to know them better. I would have loved to have seen more dialogue between them, but you could definitely feel the emotions!
Edge by Dominique Sinclair
The search for the truth leads to the edge of danger, revenge and love… A beautiful hellion, the first woman trained by the Department of International Intelligence, Catlina Demarco left her life without so much as a goodbye. Deep in Mexico, she’s close to finding the man who can give her the truth of her past, or kill her. Agent Noah Tyler, Cat’s former partner and lover, is the last man she expects to show up with handcuffs and intent to bring her back to headquarters. No one has ever left the agency alive, Cat’s no exception. Only she refuses to go anywhere with Noah, he betrayed her trust. Forced into the jungle by three armed banderos, Cat finds her and Noah once again working as partners, their thoughts as one, their bodies craving, their goals conflicting. Hot, angry and infuriated, Catalina must rid herself of Noah Tyler before everything is lost, including her heart.
This wasn’t as much of a romance. The characters were just fighting with each other too much for my tastes. It was certainly interesting and well written if you enjoy suspenseful stories.
Beast in a Kilt by Nicole North
Scottish lady Catriona MacCain has loved Torr Blackburn, a fierce Highland warrior, since she was a young lass, but Torr only sees Catriona as his best friend’s little sister. When Catriona’s family promises her in marriage to a detestable chieftain, she desperately needs Torr to save her from a fate worse than death. But Torr is under the spell of a witch of the dark arts and is cursed to spend his nights as a kelpie water demon. He doesn’t believe himself worthy of the virginal Lady Catriona. However, she is determined to seduce Torr and claim him… body, heart and soul, if only they can banish the curse and defeat the enemies who have vowed to possess and enslave them both.
I really enjoyed this story and liked the author’s style of writing. It was very romantic. I loved the world she built for them. I also really enjoyed both of the characters.
Sweet-talking the Opposition by Saskia Walker
London-based journalist, Eliza Jameson, is on assignment on a luxurious Rhine river cruiser when she finds the perfect distraction on board — old flame, Marcus Weston. But Eliza came dangerously close to falling for Marcus last time around, and in order to play him at his own game, she decides to call the shots. Meanwhile, Marcus has his own agenda. In the ensuing battle, who will end up on top?
I loved both of the characters in this steamy romance. I also loved how the author spread out the description of the steamy scenes so it almost seemed like they were doing something different each time. What a thrill! Interesting story and a real treat to watch him come to his senses. After reading her story, I bought her book of erotic shorts “Unleashed” which I am thoroughly enjoying!
Great review Kris. I like reading these not so much because of the stories thats in them, but its a good way to get a fell on how an authors writes, that way you know if you'll like them or not.
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Posted by Kris
Great review Kris. I like reading these not so much because of the stories thats in them, but its a good way to get a fell on how an authors writes, that way you know if you'll like them or not.
Thanks! I love shorts and finding new authors so these are perfect!