Review: No Love Lost - Lexi Blake

When Ezra Fain joined the ranks of the CIA, the last thing on his mind was romance. After meeting Kim Soloman, it was difficult to think of anything else. A tragic mistake drove them apart, leaving him shattered and unable to forgive the woman he loved. But when his greatest enemy threatens her life, Ezra leaps into action, prepared to do anything to try to save her.

Solo accepted long ago that she won’t get over Ezra. She’s worked for years to get back into his life, looking for any way to reignite the love they once shared. Unfortunately, nothing seems to penetrate the wall he has built between them. When she’s arrested for a crime she didn’t commit, she believes she’s on her own.

Racing across the globe, Ezra and Solo find themselves together again, caught in the crosshairs of the agency they sacrificed so much to serve. Days on the run soon turn to steamy nights, but Levi Green isn’t about to let them find their happily ever after. And when the smoke clears, the men and women of McKay-Taggart will never be the same again.

Masters and Mercenaries Series:
The Dom Who Loved Me
The Men with the Golden Cuffs
A Dom is Forever
On Her Master's Secret Service
Sanctum (Novella)
Love and Let Die
Unconditional (Novella)
Dungeon Royal
Dungeon Games (Novella)
A View to a Thrill
Cherished (Novella)
You Only Love Twice
Sweet Child O' Mine (Short Story)
Luscious (Novella) (Topped book 1)
Adored (Novella)
Master No
Just One Taste (Novella) (Topped book 2)
From Sanctum With Love
Devoted (Novella)
Dominance Never Dies
Submission is Not Enough
Master Bits & Mercenary Bites: The Secret Recipes of Topped (Short Story Collection & Recipe Book) (Topped book 2.5)
Perfectly Paired (Novella) (Topped book 3)
For His Eyes Only
Arranged (Novella)
Love Another Day
Master Bits and Mercenary Bites: Girls Night (Short Story Collection & Recipe Book) (Topped book 3.5)
At Your Service (Novella) (Topped book 4)
Nobody Does it Better
Close Cover (Part of the Masters and Mercenaries Crossover Collection)
Protected (Novella)
Lost Hearts (Memento Mori) (Originally published as Memento Mori) (Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten Series book 1)
Lost and Found (Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten Series book 2)
Enchanted (Novella)
Lost in You (Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten Series book 3)
Long Lost (Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten Series book 4)

No Love lost (Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten Series book 5)

Masters and Mercenaries Crossover Collection:
Close Cover - Lexi Blake
Justify Me - J. Kenner
Say You Won't Let Go - Corinne Michaels
His to Protect - Carly Phillips
Rescuing Sadie - Susan Stoker
Her Guardian Angel - Larissa Ione

Visit Lexi Blake's website for more information

Review:
We have been building up to Ezra Fain and Kim Soloman's book since the beginning of the Masters and Mercenaries: The Forgotten series. We've seen first hand that they're both crazy about each other but at the same time there is a lot of resentment between them for things that happened in the past. Ezra blames Kim for the things that happened between them but at the same time he just threw away their relationship without even trying to see her side of things.

Like a lot of fans I've been really looking forward to their book, I wanted to dig deeper into where things went wrong and I knew their chemistry would be explosive when they finally gave in to it. Lexi Blake never disappoints on that front, especially when she can throw in a lot of danger and push her characters over the edge as they fight for their lives. I'm not going to lie, there were moments when I really wanted to shake some sense into Ezra. The way he kept punishing Kim constantly and always immediately jumped to the worst conclusions about her got really irritating after a while but by the end of the book we do see a huge turn around in his character and he works hard to become a better man for her. I always knew Kim had secrets but I could never have even begun to guess all of them so there were some really brilliant revelations throughout the story too.

I loved seeing all of the Lost Boys come together for one last mission with the help of some of the McKay-Taggart crew, one of the things I've enjoyed most about this series is the ongoing camaraderie between the group and they way they always look out for each other and that hasn't changed here. While I really enjoyed the romance and was happy with the way things turned out for Ezra and Kim I was slightly disappointed that they spent so much time apart, really they were only together for such a short time before their relationship imploded and then they were apart for so long that it was a bit hard to understand why they were still so madly in love with each other. I totally got the sparks flying when they were back in each others vicinity but they'd both spent years longing for each other from a distance. 

That's only a slight niggle in the grand scheme of things though and overall this was a fast paced story full of action and intrigue. It ties together a lot of threads that have been ongoing for at least 5 books now and it definitely leaves the whole Masters & Mercenaries crew in a very different place to where they started. I can't wait to see where Lexi takes this world next because I have a strong feeling we're nothing to be saying goodbye to it any time soon!

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Play My Game - Lara Adrian

New York Times bestselling author Lara Adrian returns to the sizzling, emotional world of the 100 Series with Play My Game, a contemporary romance between a tormented, brilliant painter and the beauty he is determined to have at any cost.

She stands out like a flame in the dark. Out of place in my orbit, she is a bright splash of color in an abyss of darkness. An innocent in a den of sin. And I, Jared Rush, am a master of corruption.

Like my paintings—dark, carnal images that have crowned me the king of the avant-garde art world while also making me a very rich man—I don’t flinch away from my baser instincts. And now, every one of those instincts is hungry for the fresh-faced beauty who made the mistake of wandering into my lair.

I don’t know her name yet, but that’s inconsequential. I know who she belongs to. And while she has nothing to do with the bad blood that’s been festering inside me for decades, I can’t help thinking about that old, unsettled score. I’m thinking about payback. And I already have a price in mind. One that begins with her.

When it comes to getting what I want, I always play to win. But in the end, will the cost of my vengeance be more than I can bear to lose?

While this novel is Book 5 in the 100 Series, featuring characters introduced in earlier books, PLAY MY GAME can be read as a complete standalone with a swoon-worthy HEA and no cliffhangers. 

100 Series:

For 100 Days
For 100 Nights
For 100 Reasons

100 Series Standalone Romances:
(These stories are set in the same world as the 100 Series but can be read completely separately with each book featuring a HEA for a different couple)
Run To You
Play My Game

Visit Lara Adrian's website for more information

Review:
I've been a huge fan of Lara Adrian's Midnight Breed series for years now but I also really love her contemporary romances and Play My Game was right up there with the best of them. We've met the mysterious and brooding artist Jared in previous instalments of the 100 series so I was already looking forward to his book, I'm not sure if we saw Melanie before but she is friends with Eve so does have a link too. As always it was fun spotting previous character cameos but Jared and Melanie rightly take centre stage for their story.

Melanie is actually pulled into Jared's circle when she finds out that her boyfriend has a gambling problem and has got himself in trouble. Jared offers to bail him out but only if Melanie agrees to pose for his latest painting. She has no idea that she's been caught up in a revenge plot that Jared has been planning for months though and her life is about to get extremely complicated. I was glad to see that the boyfriend became an ex the minute Melanie discovered how much he'd been lying to her so if you're worried about any potential cheating issues you can dive into this book without fear. I actually had a huge amount of respect for Melanie from the beginning, she knows her own value and she won't put up with anyone treating her badly which makes her easy to root for. I always love a heroine with a backbone!

Jared is dealing with some pretty big demons and has been using alcohol as a crutch but when he sees how much it upsets Melanie he realises that he needs to do something differently. The attraction between them was pretty instant but I liked that it took time to develop into a relationship. Even though Jared went into things with an agenda he realises pretty quickly that Melanie is important to him and this didn't end up being a story with a huge amount of drama. I don't know about anyone else but 2020 has been bringing more than enough stress into my life so I really appreciated being able to just relax and enjoy this story! If you enjoyed the previous books in this series then you're bound to love Play My Game too but it would work just as well for someone who is new to the series as there are only a few cameos to link it to previous books.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Snowed in - Lexi Blake

Previously released in the Alphas Confess All anthology with the name In From the Cold.

Winter might be cold, but this threesome is heating up …

Jessica Phillips never imagined that Gideon Michaels would be at the seminar she was attending in the snowy Aspen wilderness. Gideon broke her heart six months before but introduced her to a lifestyle that calls to her. She’s curious, so she’s attending a conference to teach her more. Unfortunately, Gideon is teaching the classes, and he doesn’t want her anywhere near them.

Reid Watkins is Jessica’s best friend and, unknown to her, Gideon’s longtime lover. He’s always thought Jessica was the woman to complete the threesome they’ve wanted forever, but Gideon’s been hurt before. Can three friends become lovers in a winter wonderland?

Visit Lexi Blake's website for more information

Review:
Reid has spent three years trying to figure out a way to get his best friend Jessica, and his long term lover Gideon, to join him in a permanent menage relationship. He knows they're all attracted to each other but Gideon is being stubborn and they're both nervous about introducing Jessica to the BDSM lifestyle in case she walks away from them forever. Then Gideon manages to mess things up completely and ends up breaking Jessica's heart. Luckily for Reid he has plans to bring them back together and this time he's not backing down until he gets exactly what his heart desires.

I always love Lexi Blake's romances, especially her menage stories. She writes such great characters and makes it very easy to fall in love with them. Snowed In is a novella so it's a little shorter than most of her books but because the characters have so much history their romance never felt rushed. I enjoyed seeing all three of them figuring out what they want and need from their relationship and finding a way to make things work.

While this isn't part of the Nights in Bliss or Texas Sirens series if you enjoy those books you'll be sure to enjoy this one too. I half wonder whether we'll see these characters pop up again as side characters in the Masters and Mercenaries books, I love the way all of Lexi's books seem to link together even if it's only loosely.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Sanctum - Lexi Blake

A contract broken…

Ryan Church and Jill Paxon enjoyed their life as Master and submissive until the day Ryan's entire world crumbled. No longer able to fulfill his end of the contract, Ryan did what he thought was best for Jill. He let her go.

An unexpected reunion…

Eighteen months later, Ryan is working for Ian Taggart as the Dom in Residence at the elite BDSM club Sanctum when his former submissive walks through the door looking for a job. Jill has changed, but his desire for her is still insatiable. Jill, shattered by his past rejection, can't trust Ryan, but she needs the job. Back in the community where she once felt safe and secure, she longs for the life she lost and the man she loved.

A last chance for love…

Ryan is presented with an opportunity to restore his wealth and name, but it could cost him his last chance at rebuilding a life with the woman he loves. When the secrets Jill has carefully hidden from Ryan are exposed, a terrible twist of fate might take her out of his life forever.

Masters and Mercenaries Series:
The Dom Who Loved Me
The Men with the Golden Cuffs
A Dom is Forever
On Her Master's Secret Service
Sanctum (Novella)
Love and Let Die
Unconditional (Novella)
Dungeon Royal
Dungeon Games (Novella)
A View to a Thrill
Cherished (Novella)
You Only Love Twice
Sweet Child O' Mine (Short Story)
Luscious (Novella) (Topped book 1)
Adored (Novella)
Master No
Just One Taste (Novella) (Topped book 2)
From Sanctum With Love
Devoted (Novella)
Dominance Never Dies
Submission is Not Enough
Master Bits & Mercenary Bites: The Secret Recipes of Topped (Short Story Collection & Recipe Book) (Topped book 2.5)
Perfectly Paired (Novella) (Topped book 3)
For His Eyes Only
Arranged (Novella)
Love Another Day
Master Bits and Mercenary Bites: Girls Night (Short Story Collection & Recipe Book) (Topped book 3.5)
At Your Service (Novella) (Topped book 4)
Nobody Does it Better
Close Cover (Part of the Masters and Mercenaries Crossover Collection)
Protected (Novella)
Lost Hearts (Memento Mori) (Originally published as Memento Mori) (Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten Series book 1)
Lost and Found (Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten Series book 2)
Enchanted (Novella)
Lost in You (Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten Series book 3)
Long Lost (Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten Series book 4)

No Love lost (Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten Series book 5)

Masters and Mercenaries Crossover Collection:
Close Cover - Lexi Blake
Justify Me - J. Kenner
Say You Won't Let Go - Corinne Michaels
His to Protect - Carly Phillips
Rescuing Sadie - Susan Stoker
Her Guardian Angel - Larissa Ione

Visit Lexi Blake's website for more information

Review:
Eighteen months ago Ryan's life came crashing down around him, he lost his business, his money and was potentially facing jail for a crime he didn't commit unless he could find a way to prove his innocence. Instead of talking to Jill and letting her help him he made the foolish choice of ending their relationship thinking he could no longer provide her with everything she needed.

Jill was heartbroken when Ryan walked away from her and after months of living a vanilla lifestyle she is finally feeling ready to play again. She's also desperately in need of a new job so when a position opens at the Sanctum BDSM club it seems like the perfect opportunity. She had no idea that Ryan is now working as one of the Doms in residence though. Ryan wants nothing more than to have Jill back in his life but it's not going to be easy to win her trust back after the way he abandoned her before.

Lexi Blake definitely manages to pack a lot into her shorter stories, Sanctum is full of heart with a touch of humour and a heavy dose of spice. Ryan and Jill fit together perfectly and it was easy to root for them as a couple. Ryan made a huge mistake by not letting Jill know what was happening in his life and instead just pushing her away but Jill wasn't perfect either and she hadn't been fully honest with him about what she wanted from their relationship. Seeing them work through their past was extremely satisfying and their story definitely left me with a smile on my face.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Long Lost - Lexi Blake

A stolen past

The only thing Tucker remembers of his past is pain. Used in a doctor’s evil experiments, his memories and identity were erased, and his freedom taken. He believed his nightmare was over when he was liberated by the men and women of McKay-Taggart, until he heard the name Steven Reasor. The idea that he could have been involved in the terrible experiments that cost his “brothers” everything crushed him. A desperate attempt to force him to remember the truth almost cost him his life. Now his world is in chaos and his only path to finally uncover the truth and atone for his sins leads to Veronica Croft.

A painful present

Veronica “Roni” Croft knew Dr. Steven Reasor was bad for her, but she also saw a side of the man that no one else knew. Even as she began to believe their employer was hiding something sinister, she was drawn to him like a moth to a flame. Their affair was passionate and intense, but also fraught with danger. When he disappeared under mysterious circumstances, she took her first chance to run and never looked back. She has stayed hidden ever since, running from forces she knows are too powerful to overcome. But now the man she believed was dead, the man she mourned, has returned and needs her help.

A dangerous future

As Tucker and Roni unravel the secrets of his past, a dark force rises and threatens to destroy them. Their only chance for survival will require them to join forces with the Lost Boys’ worst enemy. Only together can they finally unlock Tucker’s past. But as Tucker’s memories begin to come back, will it free them both or tear them apart forever?

Masters and Mercenaries Series:
The Dom Who Loved Me
The Men with the Golden Cuffs
A Dom is Forever
On Her Master's Secret Service
Sanctum (Novella)
Love and Let Die
Unconditional (Novella)
Dungeon Royal
Dungeon Games (Novella)
A View to a Thrill
Cherished (Novella)
You Only Love Twice
Sweet Child O' Mine (Short Story)
Luscious (Novella) (Topped book 1)
Adored (Novella)
Master No
Just One Taste (Novella) (Topped book 2)
From Sanctum With Love
Devoted (Novella)
Dominance Never Dies
Submission is Not Enough
Master Bits & Mercenary Bites: The Secret Recipes of Topped (Short Story Collection & Recipe Book) (Topped book 2.5)
Perfectly Paired (Novella) (Topped book 3)
For His Eyes Only
Arranged (Novella)
Love Another Day
Master Bits and Mercenary Bites: Girls Night (Short Story Collection & Recipe Book) (Topped book 3.5)
At Your Service (Novella) (Topped book 4)
Nobody Does it Better
Close Cover (Part of the Masters and Mercenaries Crossover Collection)
Protected (Novella)
Lost Hearts (Memento Mori) (Originally published as Memento Mori) (Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten Series book 1)
Lost and Found (Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten Series book 2)
Enchanted (Novella)
Lost in You (Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten Series book 3)
Long Lost (Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten Series book 4)

No Love lost (Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten Series book 5)

Masters and Mercenaries Crossover Collection:
Close Cover - Lexi Blake
Justify Me - J. Kenner
Say You Won't Let Go - Corinne Michaels
His to Protect - Carly Phillips
Rescuing Sadie - Susan Stoker
Her Guardian Angel - Larissa Ione

Visit Lexi Blake's website for more information

Review:
I've been waiting for Tucker's story ever since I first started reading about the Lost Boys. He's always been so protective of his brothers, proven at the end of the last book when he sacrificed himself so that one of their wives wouldn't be hurt, but there have also been hints at a much darker side to his past where he might even have been involved in the early experiments they were used in. He still has no memory of his past thanks to Dr Hope's mind wiping drugs but rumours that he might at one point have been her right hand man are driving him insane. He can't bear the thought that he might have been responsible for anyone else's suffering so when Levi Green offered him an experimental cure he took it.

After taking the cure Tucker spent two weeks in a coma while his brothers continued their desperate search for answers. The only lead they have is Roni, a woman who once worked as an intern for Hope but who has been in hiding for the last few years. Roni knew Tucker when he was Steven Reasor and she's the only one who might be able to help him figure out how involved he was in Hope's experiments. Roni remembers two very different sides to Steven, there was the guy at work who most people were terrified of, and the one she knew privately and had a brief but intense affair with. When she meets Tucker she discovers yet another side to his personality she's not quite sure what to make of him.

Tucker may not remember the time he spent with Roni but for years he has dreamed of her face and he knows she was important to him. Now the two of them, along with the rest of the Lost Boys, are desperately trying to piece everything together so they can all learn their true identities and hopefully get their lives back. But their enemies are circling and as Tucker's memories start to return it places them in more danger than ever before.

This series is just getting better and better with each and every book. Tucker is easily my favourite of the Lost Boys and it was so good to see him finally figure out exactly what had happened before his mind was wiped. There were some really heartfelt moments in this book between him and his brothers and I loved the romance between him and Roni. Roni had very good reasons for being wary of Tucker and the rest of the team but she's a fighter so with her mother's support she does her best to help them all. I can't stand Levi so I'm really hoping we'll see him brought down soon, he's been causing trouble for the team for far too long so I'd be very happy to see Ezra or Solo put a bullet in him in the next book (fingers crossed!).

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Venus Rising Boxset - Golden Angel

All four books of the Venus Rising Quartet and the final chapter in the saga - Venus Wedding!

Venus School - Eager to learn more about herself, Jessica enrolls at the Venus School... but when she discovers just how attracted she is to two of her instructors, she's becomes less interested in the pleasure-centered program and more interested in fulfilling her fantasies with the two men.

Venus Aspiring - After graduating from the Venus School, Jessica returns home only to find that her instructors are closer than she thought. Even though both men are willing to fight for Jessica, she's not ready to choose one over the other... but she can't have both of them, can she?

Venus Desiring - Jessica, Justin, and Chris are ready to take their relationship to the next level, but the painful rejection of Jessica's family is keeping her from fully investing in the relationship. Meanwhile, Jessica's best friend Hilary has become entangled with Justin and Chris' friend Liam, but the path to love is never easy even as a couple.

Venus Transcendent - Jessica is determined to face her family and choose her own happiness, but as the trio approaches their future more united than ever, it's Liam and Hilary who begin to falter. Can a Happily-Ever-After be in the cards for all of them?

Venus Wedding - It's the wedding of the season! But one of the guests arrives with ulterior motives - will Jessica, Chris, and Justin's triad be undermined just before they finally get everything they ever wanted?

Editor’s note: The Venus Rising series is a high-heatromantic adventure that contains elements of MF, MFM, and other extremelymature themes. Proceed with caution (or excitement, whichever)!

Venus Rising Series:
The Venus School
Venus Aspiring
Venus Desiring
Venus Transcendent
Venus Wedding
Venus Rising Boxset (Contains all 5 books in the series)

Visit Golden Angel's website for more information

Review:
I've already reviewed each of the Venus Rising books separately but rather than just copying and pasting those reviews here I wanted to give you an overview of the series since this box set contains all 5 stories.

This series starts with Jessica attending the Venus School of sex where she gets to experiment with her sexuality and fulfil all of her wildest fantasies. She went there hoping to learn her preferences but she didn't expect to develop feelings for two of her instructors. She's thrown for an even bigger loop when she returns home only to discover that Justin and Chris both work for the same company as her and that they're both interested in dating her outside of the school. Their developing relationship is the focus of the whole series and while they have fantastic chemistry from the get go what I really appreciated was that this series also shows how difficult it can be to maintain an unconventional relationship when the rest of the world start passing judgement.

There's no denying that this series is hot as hell but these characters also go on an emotional journey that was really satisfying to read about. Not only do they have all of the normal relationship issues but they also have to deal with disapproval from family and friends who can't understand how a triad relationship could ever work. Luckily they do have supportive friends though. Jessica's best friend Hilary has her back from the beginning (and the relationship that develops between her and Liam, one of Justin and Chris's fellow Dom friends, is another highlight of the series!) and they also get a lot of support from members of the Stronghold sex club where they all like to hang out on a regular basis.

I'm not going to lie there are definitely some editing issues with this book with missing or incorrect words etc and I wasn't always comfortable with some of Golden Angel's word choices but there was something compelling about the characters that kept me hooked throughout. The Venus Rising series also introduces a lot of characters who get their own books in the Stronghold series and I honestly can't wait to start reading those too.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Venus Wedding - Golden Angel

You are cordially invited to the wedding of the season...

Having found each other and their happily-ever-after, Jessica, Justin, and Chris are preparing to make their commitment as official as a threesome can. In the presence of their supportive family and friends, they plan to exchange their vows and celebrate the love and uniqueness of their relationship.

But what awaits them on their special day is no fairy tale. Not everyone in their lives has accepted their uncommon bond. And one of the guests isn't attending the wedding... he's trying to stop it.

Venus Wedding is a follow-up to the Venus Rising Quartet and the Stronghold Series. While it may be read as a standalone, it will be more enjoyable for those who have completed the Venus Rising Quartet. Like the Venus Rising books, this is a high-heat MFM romantic adventure. Proceed with caution (or excitement ;)!

Venus Rising Series:
The Venus School
Venus Aspiring
Venus Desiring
Venus Transcendent
Venus Wedding
Venus Rising Boxset (Contains all 5 books in the series)

Visit Golden Angel's website for more information

Review:
The wedding of the year has arrived and we've been given front row seats with this final book in the Venus Rising series. Jessica, Justin and Chris have come a long way since the beginning of the series and they're now all proud to announce their relationship to anyone who cares to listen. They are head over heels in love so although they can't all get married legally they still want to have a ceremony to celebrate their relationship and their love for each other. Not everyone is quite so happy about their wedding though and one guest in particular has only accepted their invitation because they want to stop the ceremony from going ahead. So will this be the wedding that the triad has been dreaming of or will it all end in disaster?

I really enjoyed this final book in the series, I don't want to say too much about what happens at the wedding or how things turn out but I will say that some characters I've had low opinions of in the past really turned things around here. It's not all smooth sailing but I was really happy with how everything came together at the end and it was great to see so many happy couples. My only minor niggle is that we didn't get anything from Hilary or Liam's perspective. Their relationship has been almost as front and centre as the triad for most of the series so although they appeared in this book I was really hoping we'd get to hear where they're at in their relationship in their own words. It would have been so easy to just have a scene with them reminiscing about how far they've come together while sharing a dance at the wedding or something and that would have been hugely satisfying.

I'm going to give a slight warning to people who are planning on reading the Stronghold series after this and say if you don't like spoilers then I'd recommend reading the first four Venus Rising books, followed by the Stronghold series and then finish out with Venus Wedding. Only because all the previously single characters we met in the other books are now loved up and in relationships of their own (that occurred during the Stronghold books) so I now know who everyone is going to end up with. It's not really a major spoiler though as you can get that information just from reading the blurbs so as long as that's not something that will bother you feel free to go ahead with this book first.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Paperback / Kindle or Series Box Set containing all 5 stories:

Review: Venus Transcendent - Golden Angel

Outed by her ex-boyfriend, Jessica is determined to get comfortable with her unconventional, polyamorous relationship with both Justin and Chris. And that means facing her family and choosing her own happiness, and the happiness of her men, over anyone else’s judgment.

But as the trio approaches their future more united than ever, it’s Liam and Hilary who begin to falter as Liam discovers Hilary has kept him a secret from her own parents. While he’s been falling head-over-heels for his honey-girl, it seems she doesn’t feel quite the same.

Editor’s note: Venus Transcendent is a high-heat romantic adventure that contains elements of MF, MFM, and other extremely mature themes. It is book four in the Venus Rising series and is intended to be read and enjoyed after Venus School, Venus Aspiring, and Venus Desiring. Proceed with caution (or excitement, whichever)!

Venus Rising Series:
The Venus School
Venus Aspiring
Venus Desiring
Venus Transcendent
Venus Wedding
Venus Rising Boxset (Contains all 5 books in the series)

Visit Golden Angel's website for more information

Review:
In the fourth book of this series we see Jessica start to become more comfortable in her relationship with Justin and Chris. She's still extremely self conscious around strangers but she's starting to realise that it doesn't really matter what people think about them as long as they're happy. She's fed up with her family ignoring the issue though and is going to take matters into her own hands to force them to face the issue. Let's just hope it doesn't backfire on her. Meanwhile Liam is ready to take the next step with Hilary but she's nervous about how quickly their relationship is moving and that's got them both on edge.

All I'm going to say about this is that I was really happy with the progress made on both of these relationships. I've been invested in Jessica, Justin and Chris since the beginning and it's great to see them with such a supportive community around them, they may not have all of the family approval that they'd hoped for but they've created their own family of supportive friends. Not all of Jessica's vanilla friends have abandoned her and they've all been welcomed with open arms by the kink community in Stronghold. I also really love Hilary and Liam, they're a ridiculously cute couple and I think they're pretty perfect together.

I'm definitely looking forward to reading the Stronghold spin off series, we've met so many great side characters and I hope they'll all be getting their own books.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle or Series Box Set containing all 5 stories:

Review: Venus Desiring - Golden Angel

Spend enough time around a submissive and eventually you’ll meet a Dom. And that’s exactly what happens to Jessica’s best friend Hilary. Liam is gorgeous, irresistible, and ready for relationship. But despite seeing how happy Justin and Chris make Jessica, Hilary’s just not sure if the lifestyle is right for her. And despite how attracted he is to Hilary, Liam definitely isn’t ready to train a newbie to the scene.

Meanwhile, Jessica, Justin, and Chris are ready to take their relationship to the next level but the painful rejection of Jessica’s family is keeping her from fully investing in everything they could be. Hilary and Liam just might thrive if they can ever get it together, but will Jessica, Justin and Chris survive all of the pressure that they’re under now?

Editor’s note: Venus Desiring is a high-heat romantic adventure that contains elements of MF, MFM, and other extremely mature themes. It is book three in the Venus Rising series and is intended to be read and enjoyed after Venus School and Venus Aspiring. Proceed with caution (or excitement)!

Venus Rising Series:
The Venus School
Venus Aspiring
Venus Desiring
Venus Transcendent
Venus Wedding
Venus Rising Boxset (Contains all 5 books in the series)

Visit Golden Angel's website for more information

Review:
Jessica and her men couldn't be happier when they're spending time alone together or around understanding friends like Hilary or the other members of Stronghold but it's not so easy in the real world. Chris' parents have disowned him, Justin's mother is slowly coming around to the idea of their relationship but Jessica's parents are just refusing to deal with the issue and have stopped returning her phone calls. The lack of communication is driving Jessica crazy but she's also finding it difficult to know how to introduce her two boyfriends to the other people in her life because she's scared of the judgement she'll receive.

The triad have a lot to deal with in this instalment, the family pressure is one thing but it's all made a million times worse when Jessica's evil ex-boyfriend gets wind of her new relationship and starts trying to cause trouble for her. I really love these three, I appreciate the way they communicate with each other and I think Golden Angel does a brilliant job of showing how hard this kind of relationship can be because of other people's reactions. It's not common to find three people in a committed relationship and it's not something that can easily be hidden in the long term unless they never want to be able to date outside of their own homes. Most erotic romances focus on the sex and romance side so it's refreshing to come across a series that shows the potential issues too.

While Venus Desiring gives us the chance to see how Jessica, Justin and Chris are settling into their relationship we also get a whole new romance between Hilary and Liam which I loved. I definitely have a new book boyfriend in Liam, I think one of the things I find most interesting about him is that although he's a Dom he's not so hardcore into the scene as most of the Dominant characters I come across. Yes he likes to be in charge but apart from the odd minor spanking he's far more interested in pleasure than any kind of pain which suits Hilary perfectly as she's still very new to the BDSM scene and has no interest in being whipped. The scenes with Jessica, Justin and Chris are as hot as always but I think Liam and Hilary's romance ended up being even hotter, I loved their role playing and they definitely left me in need of a cold shower by the end of the book!

I'm so glad I started reading this series, it's been a lot of fun and I'm fully invested in all of the characters now so I can't wait to see what happens next. I REALLY hope that Jessica's ex is made to suffer in the next book for his actions in this one.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Paperback / Kindle or Series Box Set containing all 5 stories:

Review: Venus Aspiring - Golden Angel

After graduating from The Venus School and returning to reality, Jessica learns that both Justin and Chris deceived her while she was studying her every fantasy with them. Though the betrayal does nothing to quell her equal desires for each man, now she can’t be sure if either man she fell for was even real.

And even though both men are willing to fight for Jessica in an effort to earn her trust once more, she’s not ready to choose one over the other, and she’s certainly not prepared to navigate a relationship with both of them. After all, what would people think?

Editor’s note: Venus Aspiring is a high-heat romantic adventure that contains elements of MF, MFM, and other extremely mature themes. It is book two in the Venus Rising series and is intended to be read and enjoyed after Venus School. Proceed with caution (or excitement)!

Venus Rising Series:
The Venus School
Venus Aspiring
Venus Desiring
Venus Transcendent
Venus Wedding
Venus Rising Boxset (Contains all 5 books in the series)

Visit Golden Angel's website for more information

Review:
This second book in the Venus Rising series deals with the fallout of Jessica coming home from the Venus School and realising that two of her teachers, ones who she had started to have feelings for, are actually colleagues who work at her company and who knew exactly who she was the whole time. Not only does Jess feel betrayed that they never told her their true identities but she's also embarrassed and worried that they're going to tell everyone she works with exactly what she got up to on her holiday. Luckily for Jess that is the last thing Justin and Chris want. They may have gone about it badly but both of them had been trying to pursue her for months and now they know she is into the same kinks as them they're both hoping that she'll be willing to let them woo her now they're home.

Jess may have been annoyed by the way Justin and Chris handled things but these two are REALLY good at grovelling and it doesn't take them long to get back in her good graces. Both of them want the chance at a relationship with her but Jess is having real problems making a choice because she's got strong feelings for both of them. The more time they all spend together the more they start to realise that perhaps she doesn't need to make a choice but a triad relationship is hardly conventional and they're walking a difficult line when it comes to deciding what to tell other people.

It was great seeing Jess, Justin and Chris become more secure in their relationship but Jess still isn't sure she's ready to deal with the fallout of making things public. Luckily their friends have been fairly supportive but breaking the news to their families doesn't go down well so they've still got plenty of hurdles to overcome. I have to say I really love how open and accepting Jess' best friend Hilary is and I have very high hopes for the potential romance between her and Liam. I also really enjoyed meeting the Doms (& Domme) from Stronghold so I'm pretty sure I'll be diving into that series as soon as I finish this one!

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Paperback / Kindle or Series Box Set containing all 5 stories:

Review: The Venus School - Golden Angel

Eager to learn more about herself and embrace her submissive fantasies, Jessica enrolls at The Venus School with every intent of excelling at the pleasure-centered program. But when she discovers just how attracted she is to her instructors, her dedication to expanding her horizons wavers. Fortunately, both Justin and Chris consider Jessica a star student and teacher’s pet, and each of them seems intent on winning her for himself.

When Jessica unexpectedly falls for both men, she decides to ace their Menage A Trois course. But will she be forced to choose between them when it’s finally time to graduate?

Editor’s note: Venus School is a high-heat romantic adventure that contains elements of MF, MFM, and FF. It’s the first installment of the Venus Rising series and is intended to be read and enjoyed first. Proceed with caution (or excitement)!

Venus Rising Series:
The Venus School
Venus Aspiring
Venus Desiring
Venus Transcendent
Venus Wedding
Venus Rising Boxset (Contains all 5 books in the series)

Visit Golden Angel's website for more information

Review:
I've heard great things about Golden Angel's erotic romances and have been wanting to try her books for a while so when I was offered a chance to review the Venus Rising Boxset I couldn't resist diving into this series. The boxset contains all 5 Venus Rising stories but I'm going to review them all individually as I go, along with a series overview when I've read them all.

The Venus School is all about getting to know the main character Jessica and watching her explore her sexual fantasies by enrolling for a two week course at the Venus School for Sex. Students get to choose what lessons they'd like to take part in, everything from sensual touching and massage, masturbation through to anal sex and/or menage with anything else you can think of in between. There are plenty of experienced instructors around or students are welcome to practise together after classes so as you can imagine this is a book with multiple partners and a huge amount of kinky sex.

Jessica has never had much of a chance to explore her fantasies, her ex-boyfriend made her feel dirty for wanting to try out things like spanking but staff and students at the school are all so open and happy about their own kinks that it gives her the freedom to explore things she'd never considered before. I'm all for stories where sex as seen as something positive and fun rather than something to be ashamed of so I really liked the open atmosphere. We get to know Jessica quite well in this first instalment but while she's spent time exploring with Justin and Chris they're still a bit of a mystery so I'm looking forward to getting to know them both better as the series continues.

I don't tend to read a lot of erotic romance with quite this much partner swapping but I have to admit this was one of the hottest books I've read in absolutely ages so I'm really looking forward to diving into Venus Aspiring. Justin and Chris have a lot of explaining to do if they're going to get Jessica back on side but I have a feeling it won't be too hard to bring her around to their way of thinking.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Paperback / Kindle or Series Box Set containing all 5 stories:

Review: Siren Reborn - Lexi Blake

Cole Roberts and Mason Scott loved each other since childhood, but they needed something more to make them whole. They searched for a woman who could complete them, but a terrible accident tore them apart. Their perfect life shattered, they were each left angry and alone.

Kitten Taylor’s past is filled with heartache. She yearns to be part of a family she can call her own. When Cole takes her in, she hopes to finally find the place she belongs, but quickly realizes something is wrong. There is a chasm between them and every day it seems to get worse. When they are alone together, she can sense the wonderful bond they could share, but they can’t seem to find a way to connect.

Everything changes when Kitten meets Mason for the first time. She instantly feels a connection and realizes how perfect their lives could be if Mason and Cole could look beyond the past.

When a killer puts the trio in their crosshairs, Cole and Mason will have to put aside the betrayal and hurt they allowed to consume them in order to forge a future with the woman they love.

Re-released in a second edition. Re-edited but no substantial changes.

Texas Sirens Series:
(Originally published under the pen name Sophie Oak)
Small Town Siren
Siren in the City
Siren Enslaved
Siren Beloved
Siren in Waiting
Siren in Bloom
Siren Unleashed
Sirens in Bliss (Crossover with the Texas Sirens Series)
Siren Reborn

Nights in Bliss Series:
(Originally published under the pen name Sophie Oak)
Three to Ride
Two to Love
One to Keep
Lost in Bliss
Found in Bliss
Pure Bliss
Chasing Bliss
Once Upon a Time in Bliss
Back in Bliss
Sirens in Bliss (Crossover with the Texas Sirens Series)

Visit Lexi Blake's website for more information

Review:
Kitten has been a side character in both the Texas Sirens and Nights in Bliss series for quite a while now so I've been looking forward to her story for what feels like forever. We already knew that she'd been abducted from college as an innocent and pretty naive teenager and treated appallingly by the man who held her prisoner, we've seen her trying to deal with the consequences of that with the help of Julian, Leo and other members of the club for a couple of years now and slowly starting to regain her confidence.

All Kitten has ever really wanted is a family to call her own but it's only after years of therapy that Julian and the others believe she is finally ready for a proper relationship. She recently signed a six month D/s contract with Cole and although she is starting to develop feelings for him there is still something missing from their relationship because he's afraid to take the next step with her in case it brings back memories of the trauma she experienced. Kitten is longing for something more but she's having trouble asking for it while Cole is trapped in a vicious cycle of wanting to protect Kitten but ending up smothering her by mistake. It isn't until Mason walks into their lives that things start to change. Cole and Mason have an incredibly complicated history but Mason is able to understand exactly what both Cole and Kitten need and he helps them learn to communicate.

This was probably the most emotional story in either of these series, Kitten has been through so much but she's still such a joyous character. She's seen the worst life has to offer and now she's determined to always find the positives no matter what situation she's in, she looks for the beauty in life and her personality is infectious to the people around her. Mason is also fantastic, his history with Cole was really difficult and I felt so sorry for the way he had been treated so it was very easy to root for him as a character. Cole had made some really stupid decisions in the past, mainly down to his own guilt I think, which is the reason I was able to forgive his actions reasonably quickly. I'm glad he was able to prove to Mason that he'd changed and show both Mason and Kitten what a wonderful life they could have together.

These series have an incredibly high heat level but the sex always compliments the romance and never talks away from it. The relationships are so well developed that I never have a problem believing that the triads can make it work long term once they work through whatever issues are facing them becoming a thruple in the first place. My only minor complaint is that it was really easy to figure out who was messing with Cole's business but since I'm far more interested in the romance and relationship that is really not worth worrying about. I'm sad that we seem to have come to the end of both of these series now, well all of the original stories have now been rereleased anyway, but I really hope Lexi Blake decides to write more books around these characters and set in Bliss. I know some of them pop up in the Masters & Mercenaries books from time to time but I'm not ready to say goodbye completely.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Girls' Night Out - Kit Rocha

Caution: this story is not meant to stand alone. The Beyond Happily Ever After stories are vignettes and outtakes showing the O’Kanes in their daily lives, in between the adventures and often after their happy endings. These stories were written exclusively for readers and fans of the series, and will probably not make very much sense to anyone not familiar with the characters.

Fight Night is part of our Girls Night Out series of shorts, written for our Patreon supporters. In it, Nita, Ana, Laurel, Grace & Avery are scouting out locations for Maricela’s big pre-wedding bash…with hijinks to follow. Their first stop: Fight Night.

(Note: Patreon stories are exclusive to subscribers for the first six to nine months. After that, they’ll be available to download free on our website.)

Length: ~3000 words
Characters: Nita, Grace, Laurel, Ana, Avery, Jyoti, Nessa
Timeline: Set after Ivan

Beyond Series:
Beyond Shame
Beyond Control
Beyond Denial (A Beyond Happily Ever After free short story)
Beyond Pain
Flash (Free short story)
Beyond Temptation (Novella in the Marked Anthology or as a separate ebook)
Beyond Jealousy
Beyond Solitude (Novella in the Alpha's After Dark Anthology or as a separate ebook)
Beyond Addiction
Beyond Possession (Novella)
Beyond Innocence
Closed Doors (A Beyond Happily Ever After short story)
Blank Canvas (A Beyond Happily Ever After free short story)
Beyond Ruin
Beyond Ecstasy
Beyond Surrender
Creative Incentives (Free short story)
Beyond Doubt (An O'Kane for Life novella)
Cravings (Free short story)
Beyond Forever (An O'Kane for Life novella)
Dessert (Free short story)
Ravished (Free short story)
Efficient (Free short story)
Memorial (Free short story)
Fierce Protector (Free short story)
A Little Bit Bad (Free short story)
Diplomacy (Free short story)

Gideon's Riders Series:
(Spin off series)
Ashwin
Makhai (Free short story)
Deacon
6th Sense (Free short story)
Ivan
High Priestess (Free short story)
Girls' Night Out (Free short story)

Visit Kit Rocha's website for more information.

Review:
Girls' Night Out is a short story that was originally available through Kit Rocha's Patreon page where you can sponsor the author and read a short story every month. After six months these stories become available on Kit Rocha's website so you can now read this one for free. These stories aren't meant to be standalone, they're written to give fans of the series a chance to catch up with favourite characters and just give us little glimpses into what's happening in this world now that the main series has finished.

In Girls' Night Out we see a bunch of the women from Sector One head to the O'Kane Fight Night. They're on a mission to find a suitable venue for Maricela's bachelorette party, I'll let Nita explain exactly what they're looking for in this quote:

“So, I don’t know what a bachelorette party is supposed to be like. What are we looking for?”
“It’s not really a Sector One tradition,” Nita replied. “But it should be. I have researched this extensively and according to all vids we need intense fun, mild debauchery and maybe some light crime.”

This was a really fun snippet & I hope we get to see the girls try out a few of the other venues mentioned, as well as the actual hen night, in future stories!

Source: Read for free on Kit Rocha's website

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Review: High Priestess - Kit Rocha

Caution: this story is not meant to stand alone. The Beyond Happily Ever After & Patreon stories are vignettes and outtakes showing the O’Kanes & Riders in their daily lives, in between the adventures and often after their happy endings. These stories were written exclusively for readers and fans of the series, and will probably not make very much sense to anyone not familiar with the characters.

High Priestess: a 2019 patreon story. (Del POV & Mad POV) This story is a short vignette (usually) voted on by our Patreon supporters. In it, the high priestess Del reflects on the path she took to her current place of power as she tries to find the right way to immortalize Carter Maddox as a saint. And Mad grapples with his family legacy as he sees his father remembered. (Note: Patreon stories are exclusive to subscribers for the first six months. After that, they’ll be available to download free on our website.)

Length: 2750 words
Characters: Del, Mad & Jyoti
Timeline: Set after Ivan

Beyond Series:
Beyond Shame
Beyond Control
Beyond Denial (A Beyond Happily Ever After free short story)
Beyond Pain
Flash (Free short story)
Beyond Temptation (Novella in the Marked Anthology or as a separate ebook)
Beyond Jealousy
Beyond Solitude (Novella in the Alpha's After Dark Anthology or as a separate ebook)
Beyond Addiction
Beyond Possession (Novella)
Beyond Innocence
Closed Doors (A Beyond Happily Ever After short story)
Blank Canvas (A Beyond Happily Ever After free short story)
Beyond Ruin
Beyond Ecstasy
Beyond Surrender
Creative Incentives (Free short story)
Beyond Doubt (An O'Kane for Life novella)
Cravings (Free short story)
Beyond Forever (An O'Kane for Life novella)
Dessert (Free short story)
Ravished (Free short story)
Efficient (Free short story)
Memorial (Free short story)
Fierce Protector (Free short story)
A Little Bit Bad (Free short story)
Diplomacy (Free short story)

Gideon's Riders Series:
(Spin off series)
Ashwin
Makhai (Free short story)
Deacon
6th Sense (Free short story)
Ivan
High Priestess (Free short story)
Girls' Night Out (Free short story)

Visit Kit Rocha's website for more information.

Review:
High Priestess is a short story that was originally available through Kit Rocha's Patreon page where you can sponsor the author and read a short story every month. After six months these stories become available on Kit Rocha's website so you can now read this one for free. These stories aren't meant to be standalone, they're written to give fans of the series a chance to catch up with favourite characters and just give us little glimpses into what's happening in this world now that the main series has finished.

Maddox has never really been comfortable with his family history or the way his father's legacy has been forgotten but High Priestess Del is organising something very special for him. This was a sweet read but it wasn't my favourite of the short slices of life that Kit Rocha has written.

Source: Read for free on Kit Rocha's website

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.