Review: Defending Their Mate Part One - Moira Rogers

It's been three months since her new pack saved Grace from captivity. They're everything she never knew to expect as a werewolf--loyal, devoted, and fiercely protective. But her peace of mind is threatened by the arrival of her mating fever--and the crushing desire it brings.

The last time she went into heat, her wolf would accept none of her captors, and the thwarted need almost drove her mad. Now, she finds herself drawn to two very different wolves. Connor's easy, affectionate nature makes her feel worshiped, sheltered. And Mac's inner darkness calls to her own feral cravings...

Tragedy has left Mac emotionally locked away, unwilling to take a mate. It doesn't matter that Grace sparks lust as well as his instincts. He'll keep her safe, defend her--with his life, if necessary. But he can't risk his heart.

Control over his wolf is all that matters to Connor--until Grace. But claiming the beauty is anything but simple. Falling for her could shatter the bond he shares with Mac, and cost him everything that's kept him sane.

When Grace goes into heat, all bets are off. Because only one thing matters--soothing her fever.

NOTE: Previously published as Defending their Mate Part One & Part Two as Mia Thorne. Though the stories have been reissued, the content is unchanged.

The Last Pack Series:
Protecting Their Mate Part One
Protecting Their Mate Part Two
Protecting Their Mate Part Three
Defending Their Mate Part One

Visit Moira Rogers' website for more information

Review:
Defending Their Mate was previously released as an eight part serial under the pen name Mia Thorne and is now being rereleased in 3 parts under the name Moira Rogers. As far as I'm aware there have been no changes to the original text (apart from reducing the number of instalments) so if you already read the previous version you don't need to purchase this one. This is the second book in the Last Pack series so if you've already read Protecting Their Mate you'll be familiar with the world and the characters in this story. I was actually really excited to find out that Connor and Mac's story was next because I loved them in the first book, Grace is going to be one lucky wolf to catch these two!

It's been three months since the pack saved Grace from the werewolves who were trying to sell her and she's still trying to come to terms with everything that has happened to her since. Her new pack couldn't be more different than the old one, she's no longer a prisoner and here she is treated with respect and welcomed like a member of the family. She has become friends with Ashley but she is still wary of the men, especially because she knows she's coming into heat again and she doesn't really understand what that means or what will be expected of her.

Connor has taken a particular shine to Grace and woos her with all kinds of gifts as he tries to make her feel welcome but he has the worst control of his wolf out of any of them and is terrified of hurting or scaring her. Mac is the one who is always in control of himself and Connor trusts him to keep them both in line, the two of them are incredibly close and have a bond that they don't share with the rest of the pack. Mac is also attracted to Grace but he's had his heart broken once already and he's not willing to take that risk again, especially given Grace's history. All bets are off when she comes into heat though, she desperately needs what only they can offer but all three of them are wary of taking the next step. Especially Connor and Mac who worry they'll lose each other if she picks one of them as her mate.

This is a fab start to the second book in the series, Grace is understandable traumatised from her previous experiences but she was never raped so it wasn't hard to believe that she would be able to give into her attraction to the wolves so quickly. This whole series is definitely erotic romance so the heat ramps up very quickly but I'm definitely not complaining about that and I'm already looking forward to reading the next instalment!

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

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Part One Paperback / Part One Kindle / Complete Serial Kindle:

Review: Protecting Their Mate Part Three - Moira Rogers

Part Three (of Three)

As the full moon raises tensions--and appetites--Ashley indulges her wildest fantasies...and discovers what it truly means to belong to the pack. But Blake's control is tested as outsiders descend on the pack's territory, and Ashley discovers that following her heart may be the only way to find her mate.

Ashley's heart longs for one man, but her wolf demands that she test herself against the alpha. Can she settle for a life of never knowing, or will she risk everything for Blake?

Protecting Their Mate was originally published as an eight part serial under the penname Mia Thorne. It has been repackaged, but the story remains the same.

The Last Pack Series:
Protecting Their Mate Part One
Protecting Their Mate Part Two
Protecting Their Mate Part Three
Defending Their Mate Part One

Visit Moira Rogers' website for more information

Review:
This is part three of a serialised novel so I really wouldn't recommend reading it if you haven't read the first two parts, it's also worth noting that this serial was previously published under the pen name Mia Thorne and although it has a nice new cover the content hasn't changed so there's no need to buy it again if you've read the previous incarnation. Now we've got that out of the way I'm going to say if you like your paranormal romance hot and steamy then this is definitely the series for you, you may actually be familiar with these authors under their other pen name Kit Rocha and if you are a fan of the Beyond books then you're going to love this one too!

Since her rescue Ashley has really started to embrace her werewolf side thanks to Blake and the rest of his pack. They've taught her that her desires are natural and nothing to be ashamed of and now she's started to realise how wonderful life can be surrounded by other shifters. Her wolf still hasn't decided on a mate though and as much as her heart now belongs to Blake they're both worried her wolf will choose another. To add to an already stressful situation they also have to deal with the arrival of a rival pack in their territory, a pack who seem very eager to claim Ashley for themselves.

I really enjoyed the final instalment of this serial, its been great to see how much Ashley has grown in confidence since the beginning and I've really enjoyed meeting all five of the men in her new pack. While I think Blake and Ashley are perfect for each other I've also enjoyed her experiences with the rest of the pack and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing them all find mates of their own. It's actually hard to decide which of the wolves I like the most, they all have unique qualities that draw me to them but I have a feeling that I'm probably going to love Mac and Connor's story the most. What can I say, I just love the way these authors write a triad relationship (Ace, Cruz and Rachel from the Beyond series are still my all time favourites!) so I have great expectations for these two when they find a woman who is willing to take them both on!

This is definitely one of the hottest series that these authors write as Moira Rogers but there is also a nice amount of romance between the main couple and some fun world building as we learn more about the werewolves and how they live. If you're not a fan of multiple partners then this series isn't for you but if you're open to a world where that isn't just accepted but also encouraged (all completely consensual, don't worry there's no dubious content) then you should give this serial a try.

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

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Review: Protecting Their Mate Part Two - Moira Rogers

Part Two (of Three)

As Ashley settles in to her life at the lodge, she meets more of her new pack mates--including wicked, intense Jud. His touch arouses her hunger--and Blake's possessiveness. Lucas, the unyielding alpha, grows concerned with the attachment between Blake and Ashley and sends Blake out on a mission.

While Blake is away, Ashley meets the most elusive member of her new pack--the enigmatic Connor, a hacker who, like her, was raised among humans. For Connor, sex is volatile--dangerous--and being near Ashley draws out the feral edge of the wolf inside him. As Ashley's connection with Blake--and with Lucas--grows deeper, an outside force threatens the peace of the Last River pack.

Protecting Their Mate was originally published as an eight part serial under the penname Mia Thorne. It has been repackaged, but the story remains the same.

The Last Pack Series:
Protecting Their Mate Part One
Protecting Their Mate Part Two
Protecting Their Mate Part Three
Defending Their Mate Part One

Visit Moira Rogers' website for more information

Review:
This is part two of Moira Roger's Protecting Their Mate serial and I wouldn't recommend reading it as a stand alone so make sure you've read part one first. If you're looking for a hot new series to try then I'd definitely recommend this though. You may have read these author's books under their other pen name, Kit Rocha, in which case you'll already have a good idea how spicy this is going to be. Imagine the O'Kanes were werewolves and you should have a pretty good idea where it's going!

This continues Ashley's story now that she has been rescued by Blake and taken back to the home of his pack. Blake is already head over heels for Ashley but he knows it's her wolf who will decide who her mate is and he's convinced that her wolf will pick the pack alpha Lucas because he's the strongest but that doesn't mean he won't fight to claim her for himself. Lucas worries that Blake has become too attached since Ashley hasn't made a decision yet so he sends him away from their base on a mission which leaves her with Connor and Mac when the mating fever takes hold.

I'm having a hard time now choosing which of these wolves I like the most, they all have different charms and as much as I'm rooting for Ashley and Blake to end up together I'm already really looking forward to Connor and Mac's story. I'm pretty confident that they'll end up in a triad relationship with some lucky female wolf and I can't wait to see who it is that wins their heart! I hope we get a book for each of the wolves though because I definitely want to see more of Jud and Lucas too.

This serial has a heavy focus on the steamy times and it definitely falls on the more erotic side of paranormal romance but I'm enjoying every minute of it. There is still a plot going on in the background though and now that Lucas and the others are arranging to meet with another pack I think things are going to get even more interesting. I'm looking forward to reading the end of Ashley and Blake's story (I refuse to consider she'll end up with anyone else!) and I'm definitely hoping that Donna and Bree (the writing team behind Moira Rogers and Kit Rocha) are planning more books set in this world.

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

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Review: Protecting Their Mate Part One - Moira Rogers

Part One (of Three)

Blake is on a mission from his alpha--to track down a werewolf whose parents dragged her into the human world years ago, one who may be in danger. He expects the lead to go nowhere, given how few wolves live among humans, but he discovers something rare indeed, caged in a basement: a beautiful, curvy woman gripped by the fever, ready to mate.

Ashley Todd has never fit in. She's always been too much--too big, too demanding, too aware of the wolf hiding beneath her skin. She's been locked away for months--been alone for a lifetime--and in walks Blake to save her from her prison. Her rescuer is hard, intense--a dominant wolf whose bossy attitude makes her growl...and yearn to submit.

Soothing Ashley's mating fever is Blake's responsibility--and his pleasure. Their passion is explosive, undeniable. But what started out as a job for Blake quickly becomes something more, and the toughest part of his mission looms: taking Ashley back to his pack so she can choose her permanent mate from amongst his brethren.

Ashley is drawn to dominant Blake, but meeting the rest of the pack reignites her desire. She is overwhelmed by her new life and all it entails, but embracing her inner wolf means embracing the truth: if she doesn't explore her attraction to the other members of the pack, she'll never find her forever mate.

Protecting Their Mate was originally published as an eight part serial under the penname Mia Thorne. It has been repackaged, but the story remains the same.

The Last Pack Series:
Protecting Their Mate Part One
Protecting Their Mate Part Two
Protecting Their Mate Part Three
Defending Their Mate Part One
Defending Their Mate Part One

Visit Moira Rogers' website for more information

Review:
Protecting Their Mate is a novel that was previously published as an eight part serial under the pen name Mia Thorne and is now being rereleased in just three parts under the name Moira Rogers. Just to be clear the story hasn't changed so if you read it in it's original format you don't need to buy this version. I've been a fan of the writing team behind the Moira Rogers for many years now but it's been a while since they had anything new under this name as they've been focused on their Kit Rocha stories for the last couple of years. If you've read any of their Beyond Series you'll know they excel at writing no-holds-barred but incredibly hot sex and thats exactly what you'll get from this serial. If you're looking for a hot quickie read then you definitely want to check this series out but if that's not your thing then it may be one to avoid.

Ashley is a werewolf but her parents chose to leave their pack when she was very young so she's been raised amongst humans. Her parents were determined to suppress their werewolf nature so Ashley has been taught to keep her wolf locked down tight but when she struggled to hide her mating urge her parents locked her in their basement hoping she would learn control. Instead it's just put her through months of torture as she struggles to deal with feelings that feel completely alien to her. Blake has been sent by his Alpha to track down Ashley, they know her parents chose to live as humans but have heard rumours that she's in danger and want to make sure she's okay. Blake is horrified by the conditions he finds her in, especially when he realises she's in heat, but he will do whatever it takes to give her the relief she needs and take her to safety.

I thought this was a great start to the serial, Blake and Ashley have wonderful chemistry and the authors waste no time getting down to the action so the heat ramps up very quickly! Female werewolves are in short supply and Blake's pack consists of five guys who are all looking to find a mate but they're more than willing to share in the meantime so I think Ashley is going to have a wonderful time while she decides which one of them is her best match. If you've read any of the Beyond series published under the name Kit Rocha then you'll have a very good idea of how hot this story will be (if you like this serial and haven't read the Beyond books - DO IT NOW!). I'm definitely looking forward to continuing the series and I can't wait to see which of the wolves Ashley ends up with!

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

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Review: Taking Sides - Audrey Noire

Daria Griffin has completed her first successful mission as a new operative with ARC, and bagged herself a hot new boyfriend in the form of Augmented human, Nicolai Novik. But with ARC’s higher ups taking a dim view of their relationship, her partnership with Nico is getting split up. She’ll be getting a new partner, another Augmented name Bronson. Flung into the rural backroads of Montana with Bronson, will she be able to successfully pull off a new mission with the new guy? And why does Nico hate Bronson so much?

Author's Note: Taking the Bait is a 20,000-word novella. No cliffhanger, HFN. Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18. The first scene from it's sequel is included as a bonus at the end of the book!

ARC Operatives Series:
Taking the Bait
Taking Sides

Visit Audrey Noire's website for more information

Review:
It's always difficult to write a negative review of a book, especially when the author sent it to you for review but I can only give my honest opinion and what doesn't work for me will more than likely work for other people so don't let me put you off giving the series a try.

I had a few issues with Taking the Bait but I was curious enough about the world and the characters that I was happy to pick up the sequel and I was hoping to see an improvement in Taking Sides. Unfortunately the things that I was hoping to see more of didn't happen and I noticed far more editing errors in this story too, I'm not sure if I just noticed them more because I was enjoying the story less or whether the editing had gone downhill because there were errors in the first book too but it didn't feel like as many.

I was immediately confused when I started reading this, I had wrongly assumed that Daria and Nicolai would still be undercover and working on the investigation that they started in the first instalment, the fact that things picked up a month or more later just left me feel like I was missing something. There was absolutely no resolution to events in the previous book: Who was it that broke into their hotel room? Was the business man they were investigating dirty? Did they manage to take him down? Considering he was a suspected human trafficker who had taken a big interest in Daria at their first meeting I went into this completely expecting him to try and take her captive and for Nicolai to come along and save the day!

Instead that story is just over, it's now sometime later and Daria and Nicolai have been in a relationship for a month and, although they've been working as partners up until now, the big bosses have got wind of their relationship and decided to separate them. We didn't get to see much of the start of their relationship but it doesn't bode well when Nicolai suddenly starts giving Daria the silent treatment for no apparent reason. The two then go on another mission, each working with different partners, and while Nicolai continues to act like a petulant five year old Daria mopes around like a depressed teenager because she's stressing about pointless relationship drama. This is supposed to be a series about secret government agents with superpowers so I expect excitement and action not teenage relationship angst.

I worried for a minute that we were going to have a love triangle introduced, thankfully that wasn't the case but instead we had a showdown with the most obvious bad guy in history. I'm not going to tell you who the bad guy is and I couldn't tell you why he was bad even if I wanted to. I'm also not going to tell you if Daria and Nicolai ever got over their snits and had an adult conversation about what was bothering them so you'll have to read the story for yourself to find out. The best I can say is that these are quick reads but it's unfortunate that a premise that could have been so much fun ended up taking a backseat to boring relationship drama.

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

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Review: Taking the Bait - Audrey Noire

Daria Griffin is a newly-minted undercover operative with ARC on a mission with her partner, Nicolai Novik, an augmented human with super-fast speed. Their first job? Infiltrate a conference of billionaires as a newly-wed couple and dig up the dirt on shady business dealings. Daria's the bait, tasked with luring in businessmen with her unhappy-trophy-wife routine while Nicolai talks shop. But the operation goes all wrong when Nicolai starts acting strangely in the middle of it. Will they be discovered by forces who may not have their best interests at heart? And why is Nicolai acting so possessive of Daria when he never said more than a few words to her during training?

Part one of a three-part romance story in The ARC Operatives series!

Author's Note: Taking the Bait is a 12,000-word novella. No cliffhanger, HFN ending. Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18. The first scene from it's sequel is included as a bonus at the end of the book!

ARC Operatives Series:
Taking the Bait
Taking Sides

Visit Audrey Noire's website for more information

Review:
Audrey Noire's ARC Operatives series is about a group of undercover government agents, some of whom are augmented to have superhuman abilities like extra speed and strength. Daria is a new agent that has just completed her training and is about to take on her first undercover investigation. She is paired with one of her augmented classmates Nicolai and the two are to pose as a wealthy business man and his wife at a conference to try and get close to some billionaires who didn't come by their fortunes honestly. As the danger rises so does the heat between them but is it just the adrenaline rush or could it be something more?

When Audrey Noire asked me if I'd be interested in reviewing her superhero flavoured paranormal romance series I have to admit I jumped at the chance. Afterall who doesn't love a good superhero story? I was intrigued about ARC and wanted to know more about how the agents came by their superpowers but I have to admit that side of the world wasn't as fleshed out as I hoped. I don't think we even found out what ARC stands for (I apologise if I missed it!) and I don't think the superpowers were explained very well. If it's some kind of technology the government has to create augmented agents then why don't they give everyone the upgrade? For that matter why was Daria specifically recruited to the agency? She didn't seem to have any relevant training or special abilities to have been specifically targeted by a secret agency that most people don't even know exists.

It's only fair to point out that Taking the Bait is the first in a three part serialised novel though so the answers to my questions could come in later instalments and I enjoyed this enough that I'll continue reading to find out. The main characters were likeable and I'm curious about what they're going to discover during their undercover mission. There's no denying the chemistry between them but the sexy times fell a little flat for me thank to the lack of a condom (if you're going to have sex with a guy that has a big reputation the least you can do is protect yourself from disease!) and some uncomfortable phrases (let's face it, being split open by a monster cock is not sexy!).

I do think this series has potential though, especially since this was the author's first published work. The banter between her characters was fun, the world could turn out to be really interesting when we've had the chance to learn more about it and Taking the Bait was a fun, fast read with a nice amount of spice to it.

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

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Review: Play Me: The Complete Story - Tracy Wolff

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Ethan Frost novels—Ruined, Addicted, and Exposed—comes the sultry tale of a young woman searching for a bit of control . . . and the powerful new boss who makes her go wild. Originally released as a five-part serial, this eBook bundle collects the complete saga from beginning to end: a sizzling affair loaded with desire, seduction, betrayal, and dark romance.

My name is Aria Winston. I’ve fought desperately to escape the seedy underbelly of Las Vegas. Now I’m on my own, in control of my own life and my own destiny . . . just the way I like it. Until Sebastian Caine changes everything.

Working as a cocktail waitress at one of Vegas’s hottest five-star casinos means putting up with a ton of bad behavior from the big spenders. But it pays the bills—and that’s all that matters to Aria, who needs every last dollar to escape from her father’s destructive grasp and the brutal man he expects her to marry. But when she lashes out against a billionaire who won’t take no for an answer, she nearly loses everything—until Sebastian steps in. The owner’s son and handpicked successor, Sebastian is dark, sexy, and kinder than any rich man should be. And when he apologizes and offers to keep her job safe, Aria can’t help the way her body reacts to his. Suddenly her job, and the security it brings her, isn’t the only thing Aria wants.

Play Me is intended for mature audiences.

Play Me Series:
Play Me Wild (Part 1)
Play Me Hot (Part 2)
Play Me Hard (Part 3)
Play Me Real (Part 4)
Play Me Right (Part 5)
Play Me: The Complete Story (The entire story in one book)

Ethan Frost Series:
(Ethan makes a cameo appearance in Play Me which fits into the time line between Addicted and Exposed)
Ruined
Addicted
Exposed
Flawed (2016)

Visit Tracy Wolff's website for more information

Review:
This story was originally released as a 5 part serialized novel (Play Me Wild, Play Me Hot, Play Me Hard, Play Me Real and Play Me Right) but has since been released as a bind up called Play Me: The Complete Story. Although I read this in instalments I'm posting a single review for the entire book. This story works as a complete stand alone but it does feature a cameo appearance from Ethan Frost who has his own series.

Aria has left her family and her controlling father behind her and is struggling to make ends meet working as a cocktail waitress in a local casino. When she loses her temper with one of the casino's big spenders who was getting a little too rough she knows she's blown it and is sure to lose her job but she hadn't counted on the new boss. Sebastian never intended to take over his father's casino but when he is called in run the show after his father suffers a heart attack he quickly realises that things have got to change. He won't tolerate his staff being treated poorly no matter who the client is and he's determined to shake things up a bit. The connection between Aria and Sebastian is instant and intense but will Aria risk everything by sleeping with the boss?

One thing I can say for sure about Play Me is that it's hot as hell, Sebastian is a delicious Dom who knows exactly what he wants and he's not used to being denied. The sex scenes in this story are absolutely scorching and it was very, very easy to see why Aria would fall under Sebastian's spell, I'd certainly find him impossible to resist! This is only the second book I've read by Tracy Wolff but it definitely won't be the last, in fact after seeing the cameo from Ethan Frost I'm planning on diving into his series very soon.

As much as I loved the chemistry between Sebastian and Aria I did feel things moved far too quickly between them. I guess that this is probably because of the serialised format - you have to hook readers into the relationship very quickly and keep them there to make sure they want to continue reading. I just think it could have been so much better if we'd been made to wait for the characters to act on their intense attraction, I think as it was everything happened so fast that I struggled to believe it. This was especially true when you learn more about Aria's background, I don't think there is any way that someone who has been through what she had would be so quick to jump into an affair with a man in such a position of power over her. It wasn't even the speed of them getting down to it that I had an issue with (although I think that was fast too!) but within a week of meeting they were head over heels in love and thinking of marriage and I didn't feel like they'd taken enough time getting to know each other outside of the bedroom.

I may have had an issue with the speed of their relationship but I still really enjoyed their story, I love the author's writing style and I would pick up another book about these characters if the author decided to write one. In the meantime I'll definitely be devouring the Ethan Frost series and keeping an eye out to see if Sebastian and Aria make an appearance in there too.

Source: Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Master of the Opera - Jeffe Kennedy

Blurb from Act 1 - Passionate Overture:
In the first tantalizing installment of Jeffe Kennedy's ravishing serial novel Master of the Opera, an innocent young woman is initiated into a sensual world of music, mystery, passion--and one man's private obsession. . .

Fresh out of college, Christine Davis is thrilled to begin a summer internship at the prestigious Sante Fe Opera House. But on her first day, she discovers that her dream job has a dark side. Beneath the theater, a sprawling maze of passageways are rumored to be haunted. Ghostly music echoes through the halls at night. And Christy's predecessor has mysteriously disappeared. Luckily, Christy finds a friend and admirer in Roman Sanclaro, the theater's wealthy and handsome patron. He convinces her there's nothing to fear--until she hears the phantom's voice for herself. Echoing in the labrynths. Singing of a lost love. Whispering her name: Christine.

At first, Christy thinks she's hearing things. But when a tall masked man steps out of the shadows--and into her arms--she knows he's not a phantom of her imagination. He is the master of her desire. . .

Visit Jeffe Kennedy's website for more information.

Review:
This review is for the entire Master of the Opera series which includes the following 6 instalments:
Act 1: Passionate Overture
Act 2: Ghost Aria
Act 3: Phantom Serenade
Act 4: Dark Interlude
Act 5: A Haunting Duet
Act 6: Crescendo

When I started this serialised novel I was expecting a dark and dirty retelling of Phantom of the Opera with added BDSM so I had high hopes and fully expected to love it. Unfortunately that isn't what I got and it turned into a weird and confusing mystical realism that included a bizaire orgy with incorporeal beings in the spirit realm! In all honesty it just got a little bit too weird for me and I came very close to not reading all 6 instalments.

It seemed to start out well and Christy seemed to be the right mix of naive and innocent but it didn't take long before she started to get on my nerves. There were so many times I just wanted to shake some sense into her and I ended up not caring about whether she was going to survive or not. The Master was deliciously creepy in the beginning but he remained too much of a mystery, we never really got to know him well enough for me to connect with his character so I didn't feel invested in what happened to him either.

It didn't help that I hated the other main character Roman, I know we weren't supposed to like him but his character was such a stereotypical controlling (bordering on abusive) boyfriend and I would have liked a bit more depth. I think that's my main issue with all of the characters really, we never really got to see below the surface and that meant I never fully engaged with them.

This isn't a bad story, in fact it has a lot of fantastic reviews so I'm in the minority for not loving it, I guess it just wasn't for me.

Source: Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Highest Bid - Joey W. Hill

To understand her customers’ desires at her lingerie store, Naughty Bits, Madison has been exploring her own deep yearnings with the help of neighboring store owner—and oh-so-sexy Dominant—Logan. After overcoming her fears and allowing herself to truly submit, Madison is ready for her ultimate sexual adventure: an auction where she’ll be offered up to the highest bidding Master.

But when her fantasy brings her face-to-face with her true feelings for Logan, she’ll have to figure out if she’s ready to trust her heart as well as her body to him forever . . .

Naughty Bits Series:
The Lingerie Shop
The Training Session
Bound to Please
The Highest Bid

Visit Joey W. Hill's website for more information.

Review:
This is the final instalment to the Naughty Bits serialised novel and I loved every minute of it. Madison has had time to explore her submissive side, she's even had a go at taking control of the situation and acting like a Dom, but now it's time for her to step up and decide if what she really wants is a life with Logan as his collared submissive.

I have been dying for Madison to take that leap and I'm just going to say it was well worth the wait! This is undoubtedly the hottest instalment yet and Logan takes Madison on a thrilling ride as he guides her through her deepest, darkest fantasy. I loved every minute of this instalment and I'm so glad that I stuck with this story after the first instalment which I have to confess I wasn't a fan of. The series really has got better and better with each new part and I'm definitely planning on reading more from Joey W. Hill now I know what she's really capable of. If you've liked the previous instalments you're going to LOVE The Highest Bid!

Source: Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Bound to Please - Joey W. Hill

Thanks to her new Dom’s exquisitely special set of skills, Madison is discovering how delicious it can be to lose control. Logan is committed to awakening Madison’s long buried desires, and after he shows her the depths of ecstasy they can reach with a little bit of roleplay, he’s ready to take her to the next level.

But when Madison’s old fears resurface, Logan grows wary of pushing her too far too fast. He can sense just how deeply she longs for release from past regrets, but what surprises him the most is the intense yearning his innocent new sub is awakening in him. Now Logan must decide to what lengths he’ll go to convince Madison to give herself over completely . . .

Naughty Bits Series:
The Lingerie Shop
The Training Session
Bound to Please
The Highest Bid

Visit Joey W. Hill's website for more information.

Review:
I'm enjoying this serialised novel so much more now that I waited until all the parts were available so I could read them all quite close together. This story is getting hotter and hotter and I'm desperate for Madison to give in to her desire to let Logan claim her!

Madison has come such a long way since the first book, she is growing in confidence daily and it's clear that her sister really did know what was best for her all along. I loved Logan from the beginning and I've enjoyed seeing him introduce Madison to the BDSM lifestyle. It's something that has intrigued her for such a long time but because of a few disastrous experiences with previous boyfriends she became afraid of her desires and felt that there was something wrong with her. Logan is giving her the information she needs to make an informed decision about what she wants, she gets to see the truth of the lifestyle not just from him but also from Troy and Shay (another couple I adore and would love to spend more time with!) and has started to understand that even though subs give up control they still have a lot of power in their relationships.

I love that Logan encourages Madison to explore her sexuality. He makes it quite clear what he hopes they will become to each other but he knows that she needs to take things slowly and he's willing to wait as long as it takes. He has a lot more patience than I do because I'm desperate to see her finally make the decision to put her trust completely in Logan!

Source: Purchased

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Kindle:

Review: The Training Session - Joey W. Hill

Madison may have ditched her well-ordered Boston life to run Naughty Bits, her sister’s North Carolina lingerie shop, but she didn’t expect to throw herself into such chaos—or to become intimate with the sexiest man she’s ever had the pleasure of meeting. After spending a night observing a submissive’s training session, Madison is ready for Logan to teach her how to feed her own deep fantasies—and get rid of all her lingering fears . . .

Madison’s aching desire to submit is unlike anything Logan’s ever experienced before, and he’s determined to be the man to make her relinquish control. Still, Logan’s unsure if Madison is ready to take that first step to becoming his—until she shows up at his door ready to be commanded. Luckily for them both, Logan’s got more than a few surprises up his sleeve that he knows she’ll enjoy . . .

Naughty Bits Series:
The Lingerie Shop
The Training Session
Bound to Please
The Highest Bid

Visit Joey W. Hill's website for more information.

Review:
So if you read my review of the first instalment to this series you'll already know that I'm not a huge fan of the serialised novel format. It's something that we're seeing more and more frequently and I'll say right now that it isn't a trend I'm happy with. I much prefer to be able to read the whole story in one go and that way I'm more likely to enjoy the experience. So I decided to wait until all 4 parts of the Naughty Bits series were available and give it another chance. After rereading The Lingerie Shop I was able to dive straight into The Training Session and I have to say I enjoyed it much more because of that. I think I'm going to keep my reviews for each of the remaining segments fairly short so that I can dive back into the important business of reading the next part of the story!

I mentioned in my previous review that I found Madison really hard to relate to because she was so incredibly naive and sexually repressed. I had hope that she would grow and become easier to connect with as the series continued and I'm happy to say I liked her much more in The Training Session. She's starting to really come out of her shell, she isn't so embarrassed to admit that she is a woman with sexual desires and she is settling into her role as the new owner of the Naughty Bits lingerie shop. She is also more willing to give into the desire that she feels for her sister's best friend Logan and I'm happy to see how much her confidence is growing.

Logan was the main reason I wanted to carry on reading this story and he didn't disappoint me here, he is sexy as hell and I'm definitely looking forward to spending more time with him. Logan has been helping to train male submissive Troy for his mistress and when he offers Madison the chance to help him with a training session she finds it impossible to resist. Holy hell, that is one hot session and Logan really opens Madison's eyes to what it is really like to submit to a Master. Troy isn't the only one in training and Madison certainly learns a lot over the course of this story. She also starts to understand that although the Dom is the one who is in control it's actually the submissive who is completely in control and she is finally able to admit to herself that having submissive tendencies isn't a bad thing, especially not when you're with the right Dom. I think I fell more than a little in love with Logan in this instalment of the series and I can't wait to dive into Bound to Please to see more of the fantastic chemistry between him and Madison.

Source: Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Kindle:

Review: Roman Holiday: The Complete Adventure - Ruthie Knox

The wait is over with this eBook bundle that includes all ten episodes of Ruthie Knox’s steamy, irresistible serial, Roman Holiday. Like all the greatest road trips, Ashley and Roman’s journey is full of unforgettable twists and turns. But what’s their final destination?

EPISODE 1: CHAINED
EPISODE 2: HITCHED
EPISODE 3: BLINDSIDED
EPISODE 4: RAVAGED
EPISODE 5: IGNITED
EPISODE 6: MISTAKEN
EPISODE 7: RENOUNCED
EPISODE 8: STRIPPED
EPISODE 9: TRANSFORMED
EPISODE 10: CLAIMED

Ashley Bowman has always been impetuous, but even she is a little shocked when she chains herself to a palm tree in the Florida Keys hours before a hurricane is due to blow in. It’s all with the hope of saving her childhood home from a heartless Miami developer. But the moment she meets Roman Díaz she realizes he does have a heart—it’s just encased in ice. Ashley’s determined to get Roman to crack . . . even if she has to drag him all over the eastern seaboard to do it.

Roman can hardly believe he’s been talked into driving across the country with this brazen wild child in a skimpy bikini. He tells himself he had no choice—Ashley insists he meets the elderly snowbirds whose community will be displaced by his career-making development deal. But in truth he knows that there’s something about Ashley that makes him want to get a little wild himself . . . and the closer they get, the more tempted he becomes.

Roman Holiday:
Chained (Episode 1)
Hitched (Episode 2)
Blindsided (Episode 3)
Ravaged (Episode 4)
Ignited (Episode 5)
Roman Holiday: The Adventure Begins (Bind up of episodes 1-5)
Roman Holiday: The Adventure Continues (Bind up of episodes 5-10)
Roman Holiday: The Complete Adventure (Bind up of episodes 1-10)

Visit Ruthie Knox's website for more information.

Review:
I read the first five episodes of Roman Holiday last year when they were first released as individual ebooks but even though I really enjoyed them for some reason I never quite got around to reading the second half of the story. I think it's probably because there was a gap between the ebook releases and by the time the second half of the story had published it had been dropped down on my to read pile thanks to all the new books I'd discovered during the break. I'm glad that I decided to come back to the story though because I always love Ruthie Knox's writing and this story is no exception. I actually started the story from the beginning again which is a good thing because there was so much I'd forgotten about both Roman and Ashley.

These two characters are complete opposites, Ashley is a free spirit who spends her time flitting from one job to the next, travelling the world and collecting friends along the way. She never had much of a relationship with either of her parents and her grandmother was the only person who was ever there for her so she is shocked and horrified to discover after her grandmother's death that her grandmother planned to close the apartment complex that Ashley has always considered home and that she actually sold the plot to Roman so he could develop the land. Ashley doesn't want to see her home destroyed and she will do whatever it takes to change Roman's mind.

Roman is a very buttoned up and straight laced type of guy, he likes order and routine, hates being out of control and he also has a lot of time and money riding on the development of a major new complex on the Florida Keys. Roman has spent years trying to become "respectable" and is terrified that Ashley is going to come along and ruin all his plans.

On the surface the pair are a match made in hell, they have hardly anything in common and they both have completely different hopes and dreams for their futures. However that saying "opposites attract" is perfect on this occasion. The attraction between them is pretty much instant despite the fact they're on opposite sides of a war over the apartment complex and once they start to get to know each other they realise that they aren't quite so different when it comes to the important things. I love the way this couple balance each other out. Ashley teaches Roman to loosen up a bit, he's far too serious without her and probably heading for an ulcer or a heart attack if he doesn't learn to have a bit more fun. Ashley on the other hand has a far too haphazard approach to life, she needs to settle down just a little and start planning for the future rather than just flying by the seat of her pants from one mess into the next. Together they bring out each other's best qualities and tone down some of the worst and they make a surprisingly well matched couple. I really enjoyed seeing their relationship blossom and it happened slowly enough that it was completely believable.

This is another great story from Ruthie Knox, she's an auto-buy author for me when it comes to sweet and sexy contemporary romances - her stories never fail to make me laugh out loud and she has a knack for writing about slightly unusual and messed up characters. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Source: Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Kindle:

Review: The Last Good Knight - Tiffany Reisz

The Last Good Knight is an Original Sinners novella starring Mistress Nora, released in five parts.

Part 1 - SCARS AND STRIPES:
It's lust at first sight when Mistress Nora encounters a sexy newcomer to The 8th Circle. She's happy for the distraction, since she left her lover, Søren, but her session with Lance is cut short when her boss, Kingsley Edge, reveals they're all in danger...

Part 2 - SORE SPOTS:
With a potential stalker on the loose, Kingsley hires Lance as Nora's bodyguard, but stipulates no sex while he's on duty. Frustrated by the ex-SEAL's noble chivalry, Nora is driven to seek release with the one man she's trying to forget...

Part 3 - THE GAMES DESTINY PLAYS:
Shocked to see Nora's bruises, Lance is furious that she put herself in danger and demands to know where she got them. As Nora confesses her true nature, she's equally shocked to learn that Lance has some secrets of his own, drawing them together despite Kingsley's orders...

Part 4 - FIT TO BE TIED:
With her feelings for Lance warring with her recent encounter with Søren, Nora returns to Lance's bed and finds herself toying with the idea of…toying with him on a permanent basis. But after she gets a glimpse into his personal angst, Nora realizes she has the power to rescue this white knight...

Part 5 - THE LAST GOOD NIGHT:
Now that the perpetrator has been apprehended, Nora sadly acknowledges she doesn't need a bodyguard anymore. She adores Lance and wants to keep him but is faced with a dilemma—if she uses her connections to help Lance, she'll have to give him up forever...

The Original Sinners Series:
Seven Day Loan (Novella) (This novella was also released with the title The Gift)
Little Red Riding Crop (Free short story found on the author's website)
Submit to Desire (Novella)
The Last Good Knight (Serialized Novella published in 5 parts)
The Christmas Truce (free short story for the author's newsletter subscribers)
The Siren (The Red Years book 1)
Something Nice (Free short story for the author's newsletter subscribers)
The Angel (The Red Years book 2)
The Prince (The Red Years book 3)
The Mistress Files (Short Story Collection)
The Mistress (The Red Years book 4)
The Saint (The White Years book 1)
The King (The White Years book 2)

Visit Tiffany Reisz's website for more information.

Review:
The Last Good Knight is a serialised novella in Tiffany Reisz's Original Sinners series, it fits into the time line before The Siren but I wouldn't recommend reading any of the prequel novellas until you've read at least the first main book in the series so that you'll be familiar with the characters and their relationships with each other. This novella was published in five instalments (see list below) but I have chosen to review the story as a whole so I'm going to keep my discussions about the plot fairly vague and focus more on how I felt about it.

I have been a huge fan of this series from the get go, Tiffany Reisz has managed to pull me into her world so completely that I feel like she's actually writing from personal experience and that all of these characters really do exist out there somewhere. I can't think of any other series where all of the characters feel so real to me, even the ones we don't get to spend a lot of time with like the newbie in this story Lance.

I have to tell you how much I adored Lance, he was such a wonderful, sweet and caring guy and I really wanted him to find happiness more than anything. I was so angry with life for screwing him over the way it had and it was actually painful to see what he had to give up in order to get the one thing he'd been fighting for for such a long time. I know that sounds vague but like I said, I really don't want to give you spoilers and I'm sure once you've read the story you'll understand exactly what I mean. The chemistry he had with Nora was absolutely wonderful and I really did feel that they could have been perfect together so it was hard to see the world trying to pull them in different directions.

As with any story by this author The Last Good Knight is incredibly hot, and will definitely leave you fanning yourself. Tiffany Reisz never fails to turn up the heat and Nora doesn't like to be kept waiting so you know you're in for a treat when she's in full on Domme mode. Her relationship with Lance isn't just about sex though, there is so much more to it than that and they have a strong emotional connection too. The story also has plenty of drama, action and mystery as well as giving us glimpses of both Soren and Kingsley which always makes me happy. As much as I would have loved a full length novel staring Lance (and I kind of hope we'll get to see more of him in the future!) I still enjoyed every minute of this novella and it's helped tide me over until the release of the next full length novel. I don't think I'll ever get enough of this series so I hope we've got many more stories to come!

Here is the reading order for the instalments in The Last Good Knight serialised novella:
1. Scars and Stripes
2. Sore Spots
3. The Games Destiny Plays
4. Fit to be Tied
5. The Last Good Night

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
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Kindle:

Review: The Lingerie Shop - Joey W. Hill

When finance executive Madison inherits a lingerie shop called Naughty Bits, she decides to leave behind her staid career and explore her every forbidden desire...

Madison is a control freak with one wish—to lose control. Her hidden submissive cravings have led to a string of disastrous relationships. So when she inherits her sister’s North Carolina lingerie shop, Naughty Bits, she jumps at the opportunity to dump her boring finance career and bad history and try her luck down South.

But before Madison can settle in, she catches the attention of the owner of the neighboring hardware store. Sexually dominant Logan Scott can see the hunger for command in Madison’s eyes and is anxious to help unleash her submissive desires. He presents her with three very tempting gifts—handcuffs, erotic cards, and an open invitation to join him at a submissive’s training session.

Faced with the realization that she can’t sell fantasies to her lingerie customers without embracing her own, Madison accepts Logan’s offer. Now, she’s about to discover just how far her desire can take her...

Naughty Bits Series:
The Lingerie Shop
The Training Session
Bound to Please
The Highest Bid

Visit Joey W. Hill's website for more information.

Review:
When Madison's sister dies and she inherits the Naughty Bits lingerie shop she sees it as the perfect opportunity to get away from her boring job and start a new life for herself. She didn't realise how hard it would be to turn her hand to selling sex toys though and it looks like she's going to need some help learning how to make her customers comfortable. She has been burying her submissive side for so long that she has no idea who she really is any more and the incredibly sexy Dom from the shop next door seems to be more than willing to help her loosen up a little. Can she be brave enough to take a risk with Logan or will her new career end in disaster?

I have a confession - I've never read anything by Joey W. Hill before. I've heard so many good things about her books though so when I got the opportunity to review this one I jumped at the chance to read it. I have to admit that while I liked the story it didn't wow me as much as I hoped it would. I have now come to the conclusion that serial novels are just not for me. I want to be able to read the whole story in one sitting and I do honestly think that if this story had been released as a full length novel I would have happily carried on to the end and probably really enjoyed it. The problem is that this part didn't grab me enough to make me spend the money it will cost to buy the remaining three instalments. Another issue with serials is that they nearly always work out more expensive than buying a full length book and that makes me very reluctant to part with my money. Add in the fact that this book is releasing in monthly instalments so the final part won't be available until July and I can pretty much guarantee these characters will be completely off my radar by then (when you consider that I'll probably read at least 80 books between now and then it's no surprise that something has to be INCREDIBLY special to hold my attention for that length of time).

Madison is an interesting character but I found it very hard to relate to her, she is so sexually repressed and embarrassed about her desires and I don't like the way she pushes everyone away. We do see her start to explore her fantasies a little by the end of the novella though and I have a feeling she's going to go on a real emotional journey as well as a sexual awakening throughout the series which should be interesting to see. I'm hoping she'll become a lot more likeable by the end of the series because I really did want shake her and tell her to get a grip at times. I enjoyed the humour of seeing Madison thrown in the deep end with her sister's lingerie shop though, she is so incredibly naive and now she's supposed to be advising customers and selling sex toys which was very amusing.

At the moment I think Logan is the main draw for me to want to continue the series, he runs the hardware shop next door to Naughty Bits but he also builds custom made BDSM equipment and trains submissives on the side. Logan was also good friends with Madison's sister Alice and she asked him to keep an eye on her after she was gone. Alice knew Madison inside out even though they've been estranged so I think she was aware of how much Madison needs to be pushed if she's ever going to learn to let herself go and loosen up and I'm pretty sure Logan is the perfect man for the job. My main complaint was that we didn't get enough of him in this instalment but hopefully that will be remedied as the series continues.

Unfortunately this novella cuts off the story just as things are starting to get interesting, I would like to know what happens next but I doubt I'll continue with the series unless it is released as a bind up for a reasonable price. I'm not going to be forced into paying more than normal for a novel just because it has been split into four chunks. Die hard Joey W. Hill fans or people who like this new trend of serial novels will probably be happy to start the series now but otherwise my suggestion is to wait until July & then give it a try when at least you're not going to have to wait on a cliffhanger between each new instalment.

Source: Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Kindle:

Review: The Professional - Kresley Cole

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole comes The Professional—the first scorching instalment in her Game Maker series, an erotica collection that has readers asking: How hot is too hot?

He makes the rules...
Mafiya enforcer Aleksandr "The Siberian" Sevastyan’s loyalty to his boss is unwavering, until he meets the boss’s long-lost daughter, a curvy, tantalising redhead who haunts his mind and heats his blood like no other. Ordered to protect her, Sevastyan will do anything to possess her as well—on his own wicked terms.

Rules are made to be broken...
PhD student Natalie Porter had barely recovered from her first sight of the breathtakingly gorgeous Sevastyan before the professional hit man whisks her away to Russia, thrusting her into a world of extreme wealth and wanton pleasures. With every day she spends under his protection, she falls deeper under his masterful spell.

Are you ready to play?
Yet all is not as it seems. To remove Natalie from an enemy’s reach, Sevastyan spirits her into hiding. From an opulent palace in Russia to the decadent playgrounds of the mega-wealthy in Paris, the two lovers will discover that even their darkest—and most forbidden—fantasies can come true...

Visit Kresley Cole's website for more information.

Review:
The Professional is a serialised novel currently available in 3 separate ebooks. The whole story will be released as a full length novel in May 2014 both as an ebook and in print. This is a combined review for the entire story written after I read all three instalments. As a fan of Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark paranormal series I was excited when I heard that she was going to be writing a more edgy, dark erotic romance and I couldn't wait to get my hands on The Professional. A friend who read the first instalment before me had warned me about the killer cliffhangers though so I decided to wait until all three parts were available before I started reading and I'm glad I did because I devoured them all one after the other!

Natalie is an American student who has her whole life turned upside down when she manages to track down her birth parents. She knew she was adopted and that she was born in Russia but the last thing she expected was to discover that her father is a powerful and incredibly wealthy Russian mobster. When her parentage becomes public knowledge Natalie will be a natural target for her father's enemies so he sends his most trusted enforcer, Sevastyan, to bring her home to Russia so they can keep her safe. As much as Natalie has been longing to meet her father she isn't sure what to make of the new world that she suddenly finds herself in, a world of wealth and privilege where she can have everything she's ever dreamed of but one where she has completely lost her freedom. As if adjusting to her new surroundings and getting to know her father wasn't enough to cope with she is also trying to fight her growing attraction to Sevastyan, someone she knows has dark secrets that he's keeping from her. She's desperate to explore her deepest darkest desires with Sevastyan but scared that it may cause trouble between him and her father.

It's always interesting to see an author try out a new genre, I knew Kresley Cole had a knack for writing great sex scenes but hot damn does she take that up a level in The Professional. The chemistry between Natalie and Sevastyan is off the charts and veers into "melt your kindle while you read" territory, I don't think a cold shower was enough after reading this book - I was more in need of an ice bath LOL. The scenes at the club were some of the hottest I've ever read! I never thought I'd find a domineering, arrogant, hit man quite so sexy but there is something irresistible about Sevastyan. I'm going to be honest and admit that there were a couple of times I wanted to slap the man but overall I just wanted to eat him up. This story includes some incredibly well written and super sexy BDSM scenes so if that's something you're not into then this might not be the book for you but if you like pushing your boundaries then I can't recommend it highly enough.

Natalie and Sevastyan's story isn't all happiness and rainbows, it's intense, dark and disturbing but that just makes it even more compelling to read. Both characters make mistakes, they react badly to certain events and push each other away when they get scared of how strong their feelings are. In fact they both have a lot of growing up to do if they're going to figure out a way to make their relationship work but in spite of the difficulties it is obvious they're meant to be together. In a lot of ways they are complete opposites but their personalities compliment each other and if they can just learn to actually talk things through and make compromises then they'll have something really special.

I loved The Professional so much that I've already pre-ordered a copy of the full length novel so I can have it sitting on my bookshelves. I'm really hoping that this will be the first book in a new series because I'm dying to learn more about Maksim and I have a feeling that he might have even more secrets than Sevastyan does. Kresley Cole has proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that she knows how to write erotic romance and I really hope she's going to give us more of her deliciously dark, hot Russian mobsters!

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
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Parts 1, 2 & 3 on Kindle:


Bind up of the entire story Paperback / Kindle: