Review: Republic by Lindsay Buroker

Read from January 04 to 23, 2016 — I own a copy

Synopsis: After the notorious outlaws Amaranthe and Sicarius helped overthrow the corrupt faction controlling the empire and brought in a great war hero to lead the nation to prosperity, they finally earned their pardons–and some time off. A tropical vacation cruising around in a private submarine? Perfect. But their trip is interrupted by a summons from the new president: they’re needed back at home. Trouble unlike anything they’ve ever dealt with threatens to destroy the capital city and throw the fledgling republic into chaos.

The follow-up to The Emperor’s Edge series, Republic takes place a few months after the events of Forged in Blood I & II. It is a complete 210,000-word novel.

AWW 2016 Review: Lord Somerton’s Heir by Alison Stuart

Read from January 01 to 04, 2016

Synopsis: Can the love of an honourable man save her from the memory of a desolate marriage?

From the battlefield of Waterloo to the drawing rooms of Brantstone Hall, Sebastian Alder’s elevation from penniless army captain to Viscount Somerton is the stuff of dreams. But the cold reality of an inherited estate in wretched condition, and the suspicious circumstances surrounding his cousin’s death, provide Sebastian with no time for dreams — only a mystery to solve and a murderer to bring to justice.

Isabel, widow of the late Lord Somerton, is desperate to bury the memory of her unhappy marriage by founding the charity school she has always dreamed of. Except, her dreams are soon shattered from beyond the grave when she is not only left penniless, but once more bound to the whims of a Somerton.

But this Somerton is unlike any man she has met. Can the love of an honourable man heal her broken heart or will suspicion tear them apart?

Review: Paladin

Read from December 08 to 13, 2015

Blurb: The debut novel from the #1 Fantasy writer on Wattpad is finally here!

Brash, cocky, and unbeatable with a sword (well, almost), Sam of Haywood is the most promising Paladin trainee in the kingdom of Thule… and knows it. The only problem is that Sam is really Lady Samantha, daughter of the seventeenth Duke of Haywood, and if her father has his way, she’ll be marrying a Paladin, not becoming one.
But Sam has never held much interest in playing damsel-in-distress, and so she rescues herself from a lifetime of boredom and matrimonial drudgery. Disguised as a boy, Sam leaves home behind to fight demons-—the most dangerous monsters in Thule—-alongside the kingdom’s elite warriors. Pity that Tristan Lyons, the Paladin assigned to train her, is none other than the hero of her childhood. He hasn’t recognized her–yet–but if he does, he’ll take away her sword and send her packing.
Sam is not the only trainee hiding secrets: Braeden is a half-demon with a dark past that might be unforgivable. Whether he can be trusted is anyone’s guess, including his.
As demons wreak havoc across the land, rebellion stirs in the West, led by a rival faction of warriors.
A war between men is coming, and Sam must pick a side. Will saving the kingdom cost her life–or just her heart?

Review: The Picture of Cool

Read from November 28 to 29, 2015 — I own a copy, read count: 1
Recommended for: m/m newbies and lovers of sweet romance

Synopsis: Television producer Charlie Trager spends his days working with beautiful women on a daytime talk show. But underneath his cool façade, there’s a hollow spot in his heart, waiting for the right man to ease his loneliness. Then he meets the show’s next guest, a handsome young politician with a bad case of nerves—and a secret that could turn both their lives upside down.

word count: 14,000

Bookish Things: The cover isn’t catchy enough, especially because the writing is awesome. I wish this book and the others in the Trager Family Secrets series had catchier covers.

Where to buy: Amazon on kindle for $0.81.

My Review: 

Bookshelves: indie-author, m-m, 4-star-review, a-lil-sexy, awesome-authors, romance, smirk-worthy, too-short

The rather quick introduction to Charlie and Adam (Joshua), otherwise known as the Trager Family Secrets Series. Laurie makes the budding romance between the two men both delicious and sweet, and sexy as hell.

Absolutely nothing explicit or in-your-face in terms of sex, this is a very soft opening to the romance, which will build into an amazing series.

I read book 3 first, so the events in this part are not new, but I got more information about the supporting characters, particularly Xander and Freddie. Both of which I adored already from their parts in book 3, and it helped to see them in this opening short story. It made the whole thing more realistic.

ETA: This book has a few themes that might bother some readers: cheating and children are part of the existing family.

If you want to try a glorious, sweet and sexy m/m romance try Laurie’s Trager Family Secrets series, you won’t be disappointed.

Review: Cupid In Bondage

Read in November, 2015 — I own a copy

Synopsis: “Without apologies, White tears through your emotions, from sympathy to hate, humor to shock…” -Horror Web Wrath James White, the celebrated master of extreme sex and violence, offers up a collection of perverse stories that explore the powerful relationship between pleasure and pain. From extreme BDSM to self-mutilation and death, “Cupid in Bondage” is his most unflinching view into the darkest corners of the human heart. In these twenty-three stories and poems of extreme erotic horror, White shows just how far some people will go to satisfy their lust.

Bookish Things: 132 pages. The cover is intriguing.

Where to buy: Amazon on kindle for $4.24 or paperback for $8.95

My Review: 

Bookshelves: a-lil-sexy, erotic, gore-and-blood, horror, indie-author, swear-tastic, wtf-moments-galore, not-for-the-faint-hearted, 4-star-review

Looking for a night time tale to put you off to sleep? Well don’t pick this one up
You’ll be in for nightmares.

Full of short stories and poetry of the darkest nature I’ve read in a long time, Cupid in Bondage will not fail to deliver if you want gore and erotica in the same breath.

My favourite (if you could call it that), was by far Larger than God, despite the gruesome occurrences, the writing was divine (pun totally intended). Some of the poetry also was a glorious look at the macabre. Sickening was my favourite poem. Sexxxy was an interesting idea, despite the rather lurid descriptions.

I was extremely pleased to see a raft of different types of characters, including age, body type, sex, race, and kinks. And the varying POV from top to bottom, male and female was a delightful mix.

The further into the book you go, the further down the rabbit hole you go, the more grotesque and extreme the stories. It got to the point where I wasn’t enjoying the reading, merely observing it as I read. The actions of the characters so far outside of the realm of my reality it placed it into the realm of complete fantasy.

Definitely not for those who are squeamish or value keeping their lunch down. Cupid in Bondage should only be read by adults who want to experience erotic gore and horror at fever pitch.

Review: Sacrifice by Kate Pearce

Read on October 31, 2015 — I own a copy

Synopsis: Awaiting execution on a foreign planet, Anna Lee has nothing left to lose—until Commander Rehz Akran offers her a chance to escape her fate. Anything is better than death, but when her training for Akran’s mysterious mission begins, the brutality is hard to take . . . especially since Anna has no idea what the workouts, beatings, and endless sexual demands are preparing her for.

Rehz Akran doesn’t deal with failure. He’s determined that his last trainee will survive her immersion in an unimaginably alien world and return alive—even if it means she’ll hate him forever. He needs to stay detached, but his new recruit makes that impossible. Soon he’s willing to defy his own training for a chance to forge a true connection with Anna.

It’s Rehz’s job to teach Anna to survive as a Tribute. And if she does, it’s his task to help her overcome the trauma of the experience. But this time he isn’t doing it to save his planet. This time he’s doing it for love.

Reader discretion advised. This title contains the following sensitive themes: Dubious Consent, Non-Consent, Explicit Violence, Heavy Kink.