Review: Dakota Ranch Crude by Leah Brooke

Dakota Ranch Crude
Leah Brooke
Series: Dakota Heat #2
Publisher: Siren Publishing
Publish Date: March 27, 2009
Kindle {p.108}
Source: Personal Library
Genre: Erotica, Menage
Samantha Cross, Jackson & Shayne Montgomery
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

When Samantha Cross goes to her brother's employers to ask for help, she had no idea that it would change her life forever. To repay their debt, they both have to live and work at the Dakota Ranch for one year. Samantha has no option but to accept.

Her brother's employers, Shayne and Jackson Montgomery, are not what she expected. Jackson, the younger brother is too handsome and charming to resist, especially when he sets his sights on her. He wants her to share her life with not only him, but his older brother, Shayne.

She realizes that the only way is to show Shayne he's not the crude animal he's become convinced he is.

Shayne is hard headed and won't believe it, convinced that he would only hurt her. Can Samantha convince this tender giant that he and his brother are perfect for her?

What little character development this story had (too short for a lot) was surprisingly good. I liked Samantha and Shayne a bit more than Jackson though. Jackson just seemed like an unnecessary third to Samantha and Shayne’s relationship. I think the book would have been fine without him.

Shayne has had issues in the past with getting women due to his size, but with Samantha she’s not frightened by it. My only issue other than the unnecessary addition of Jackson, is the near assault of Samantha and the sex she had immediately after said assault. That just didn’t seem all that conceivable to me.

Other than that, I really enjoyed it, and look forward to seeing more from this series.

Review: Unexpected Control by Ann Jacobs

Unexpected Control
Ann Jacobs
Series: Club Rio Brava #3
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Publish Date: January 1, 2009
Kindle
Source: Personal Library
Genre: BDSM
Elle Drake, Trace Williams
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

Pediatric surgeon Elle Drake may be conventional in her professional life, but she likes her sex kinky and hot-hot enough that she can shed her inhibitions and let go. Though she enjoys playing with the Doms at Club Rio Brava, she's beginning to wish for a Dom of her own. Not a masked partner at the club, but someone she can count on for hot sex as well as friendship. She's fairly sure no such man exists for her.

Rancher Trace Williams is everything she's ever wanted in a man, except his lovemaking's almost pure vanilla. A word from his sister sets him on the path to Dominance-and the key to Elle's heart.

Trace is in love with Elle and wants to make her his wife. The only problem is she doesn’t seem to enjoy having sex with him. Of all their sexual encounters she’s only reached completion once and faked the rest. When he pops the question she needs time to think it over.

Elle seems like a very nice person; although she has a few hang ups about sex. She can only climax from being dominated. Trace on the other hand was what every woman dreams of, but Elle still didn’t want him without being his submissive.

I didn’t really care for the fact that Elle only seemed to love Trace after he started commanding her in the bedroom. It made her love for him seem conditional.

Review: Her Dakota Men by Leah Brooke

Her Dakota Men
Leah Brooke
Series: Dakota Heat #1
Publisher: Siren Publishing
Published: December 29, 2008
Kindle {p.73}
Source: Personal Library
Genre: Erotica, Menage
Stacy Daniels, Wolfe, Travis, Cash Dakota
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

Stacy Daniels left the ranch she loved so much years ago. Not being able to cope with her abusive father, she'd stayed away as much as possible. Infrequent visits to the ranch to visit those she loved caused her heartache, but she couldn't stay away.

Wolfe, Travis and Cash Dakota, the foreman's three sons, lived and worked on the ranch and she'd loved them forever. Realizing the futility of loving all three, she carefully kept her love for them hidden as guilt consumed her.

She wanted more than anything to stay on the ranch she loves so much with the only real family she's ever known. But if she gives in, loving all three of them the way she does, she'll ruin everything.

Not wanting to cause anyone pain, she has no choice but to flee.

Wolfe, Travis and Cash Dakota have other plans for her and won't let her go. They've waited for years to be Her Dakota Men.

I’m not sure if it’s due to the length of this story or not, but I didn’t feel like any of these characters had any depth. Stacy is torn because she’s in love with all three brothers and has slept with all three on separate occasions. And they’re just suppose to live happily ever after?

By the end of the story, I wasn’t any better off than I was at page one.

Review: Slapping Leather by Desiree Holt

Slapping Leather
Desiree Holt
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: July 29, 2011
Kindle {p.94}
Source: Publisher
Genre: BDSM, Erotica
Liz Gillibrand, Alex Wright
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

Liz Gillibrand wants a man she can submit to in the bedroom but still keep her sex life a secret from the conservative ranching community. When she discovers her neighbor owns Rawhide, a private bondage club, she might have found the answer.

But the first Dom she meets is Alex Wright, a man she's already connected with physically and emotionally. Once before she tried to merge her private life with the lifestyle but with disastrous results.

Can Alex be the one to finally free her from the past and give her the life she longs for.

Liz is a female submissive working in a male dominated field where she has to keep a tight hold on being the authority. But in the bedroom she wants to let go of the control and let someone else have the control. Then enters Alex Wright.

Both Alex and Liz have an immediate connection and attraction to one another, but Liz can’t afford to have her employees know about her secret lifestyle. In an effort to keep it just that, she wants nothing to do with Alex outside of Rawhide.

The storyline of these two trying to get their relationship beyond the club was not without its bumps. Some of the problems they faced were due to some events from Liz’s past. The relationship they have inside Rawhide is smoking hot. With their interaction, you can see it’s about more than sex to the both of them.

The absolute trust Liz had with Alex at Rawhide but not outside its doors was a bit questionable. I didn’t understand how she could trust him so thoroughly with her body and safety, but not trust him to let her make her own decisions and live her own life outside the bedroom.

Review: Once and Again by Lauren Dane

Once and Again
Lauren Dane
Series: Petal, Georgia #1
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Publish Date: August 30, 2011
Kindle {p.184}
Source: Kindle Loan
Genre: Erotica
Lily Travis, Nathan Murphy
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

Seven years ago, Lily Travis was only too glad to see her hometown of Petal, Georgia in her rearview mirror. Thanks to her father running off with a twenty-year-old, though, here she is, trying to pick up the pieces. First order of business: meet with her brother’s teacher in a quest to pull his grades out of a downward spiral.

Nathan Murphy is pretty much resigned to his bachelor status—until he looks up from his desk to see an all-grown-up Lily walking into his classroom. Of all the women who turned out to be totally wrong for him, she’s the only one who felt right. At least until his foolish, immature mistake drove her away.

Lily has to admit that time has been more than kind to gorgeous, sexy Nathan. Except there’s no room on her full plate for another complication. Especially with a man who broke her heart once before.

With a little help from his friends, Nathan has a plan to rekindle the flame. It isn’t long before they’re burning up the sheets. Winning her heart? That’s another matter.

I was truly excited to be revisiting Petal, GA since the completion of the Chase Brothers. I have to say, catching up with the entire Chase family was the only highlight of this book.

Lily and Nathan used to be an item in college until she caught him kissing her cousin. Fast forward to present day, she’s back in Petal to take care of her little brother and alcoholic mother. Upon seeing Lily after all that time, Nathan realizes he wants her back. That didn’t ring all that valid to me.

Nothing about Nathan stood out to me as leading man material. He didn’t really do much throughout the book other than get frustrated with Lily’s need for space.

I wasn’t invested in the outcome of their relationship one way or the other because it didn’t seem to be about anything but sex.

Review: Out of Bounds by Ann Jacobs

Out of Bounds
Ann Jacobs
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Publish Date: August 30, 2006
Kindle {p.262}
Source: Personal Library
Genre: Erotica, BDSM
Dani Murdock, Brand Carendon
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

Young love that had to end...
He loved his rag doll, pretty Dani Murdock from the wrong side of the tracks. She filled his heart, his life with the kind of love he'd only ever dreamed could be his. But as college loomed, even their love and a rushed marriage couldn't keep them together when malicious lies and harsh words ripped them apart. The worst day of his life was the day Dani ran away, not only leaving him brokenhearted, but taking with her a secret that would take years to be revealed.

Lust destined to be satisfied...
Twelve years later, all-pro quarterback Brand Carendon rediscovers his first love...and their son. But the years-and time apart-have changed them both. For Dani, the golden boy she loved is gone, replaced by a man hardened by life, with no love for any other but the son he never knew he had. For Brand, the only woman he's ever loved, who can fire his blood with just a look, the lightest touch, Dani is the perfect submissive, his perfect mate, if only he dares trust her after she left him years ago without a word.

Dani and Brand had been apart for 12 years but picked back up like it had only been a day. These two couldn’t seem to get enough of each other.

Brand and Dani were both likeable, relatable characters that could pass as your next door neighbors. Even though there was a heavy amount of sex, the storyline was strong enough to stand on its own without the sex.

The few struggles they did face were within their own family. Most of which were with Brand’s mother and daughter and some from their son. Although I did feel Dani could have stood up for herself a little more, especially where her son was concerned. I just don't think that was realistic of her to stand by and take a lot of that from a child.

Out of Bounds was an enjoyable read with strong, well-written characters.

Review: Chasin' Eight by Lorelei James

Chasin' Eight
Lorelei James
Series: Rough Riders #11
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Publish Date: June 28, 2011
Kindle {p.288}
Source: Kindle Loan
Genre: Erotica, Western
Characters: Ava Dumond, Chase McKay
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

Bull rider Chase McKay has finally landed in a pile too big to charm his way out of. Caught with his pants down, he finds himself bucked right off the PBR tour until he can get his act together.

Hollywood actress Ava Dumond became the tabloids’ favorite target when her longtime boyfriend was outed as gay. Now she wants a place to lay low and a chance to prove to herself that she can satisfy a red-blooded man between the sheets. The sexy, rugged cowboy she finds holed up in her Wyoming hideaway seems like the answer to her every fantasy.

But Chase has sworn off women. Forever. Or at least a month. Whichever comes first.

When they take to the road to get Chase more hands-on bull riding experience, they have every intention of keeping their hands off each other. But the two headstrong stars quickly end up riding a hot and heady rodeo circuit all their own—until the press gets wind of their affair. When the dust clears and the lights of the paparazzi fade, are they ready to give up chasing the dream for a chance of finding forever?

It took me a while to warm up to this one. For me, it started off a bit slow and the characters, Ava and Chase, were just okay. I guess going in I was expecting a little more from Chase. It took me to about half-way through this one before I really started to connect with the characters and their story.

At first it seemed more like a behind the scenes look of the rodeo lifestyle than a budding romance between Chase and Ava. But when it got going, I was drawn in. The unexpected turn with Chase’s parents added a whole new interesting aspect to the overall story. Now that really piqued my interest. And the tragic that Chase and Eva witnessed was truly heart wrenching. I believe that was one of the major turning points in my connecting with the both Ava and Chase.

Review: Their Taydelaan by Rachel Clark

Their Taydelaan
Rachel Clark
Publisher: Siren Publishing
Publish Date: April 12, 2011
Kindle
Source: Publisher
Genre: Sci-Fi, Menage
Characters: Jade, Mitchell, Zack
Challenge: 100+, Ebook
Buy the Book: Amazon

How did bumping into a man in a hospital corridor develop into dreams of red-hot threesomes? Jade can't understand why she's dreaming of the man she literally bumped into three months ago, but when she actually meets the men from her dreams at her sister's party, things seem to spiral even further out of her control. Unwilling to believe her sister's explanation, Jade still can't deny the telepathic link she now shares with the two men. Zack and Mitchell have finally found their third, the woman who completes them-their Taydelaan-but she seems intent on denying their future together. Can they convince Jade that being loved doesn't mean being dependent?

Jade encounters her mates while at the hospital for the birth of her sister’s child.

Their Taydelaan is an erotic adventure of Jade, Zack, and Mitchell becoming a permenant triad. These three were having amazing sex before ever truly meeting each other.

I really enjoyed the fact that Jade questioned the whole situation and didn’t just accept what was being told to her. She didn’t automatically accept the that these people were aliens and her life partners.

Once again Ms. Clark does a great job in getting across the emotions of all the parties involved.

Review: Surrendering to Summer by Kortny Alexander

Surrendering to Summer
Kortny Alexander
Series: Whispering Mountain #2
Publisher: Siren Publishing
Publish Date: May 18, 2011
Kindle
Source: Publisher
Genre: Erotica, Menage
Characters: Summer Showers, Dalton, Denver, Dillon Durden
Challenge: 100+, Ebook
Buy the Book: Amazon

Summer Showers was excited about moving to Whispering Mountain for a better job and triple the pay. When her living situation changes, she is persuaded to move in with the Durden men temporarily. Staying with the men only makes her undeniable attraction grow stronger. She finds it difficult to suppress the desire growing inside of her.

Dalton, Denver, and Dillon Durden knew they were in trouble the minute they invited Summer to stay with them. While all three men tried to fight their attraction to her, they found it difficult to stay away.

Someone is lurking in Whispering Mountain and they won’t stop until they get what they have come for. Will the stranger rip their world apart or will the Durden men fight to protect everything they love and surrender to Summer?

Summer finds herself attracted to not one man but three, who just so happen to be brothers. Although it seems as if only two of them return her feelings.

The story started out straight to the point. No big build up to the romance between the involved parties because it was already in progress. This to me is a plus. You don't have all the filler pages distracting you from the story. But in this case I didn't really feel that there was more going on between Summer and her men other than the physical attraction.

Denver and Dillion were great guys in the fact that they treated her well, but beyond that I didn't really feel that I knew anything about them. Dalton on the other hand, came across as a jerk until he opened up ad became the wounded hero.

The overall chemistry between the three of them was very well written. Ms. Alexander manages to write some very vivid and descriptive sex scenes that will keep you wanting more.

Review: The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton

The Perfect Play
Jaci Burton
Series: Play by Play #1
Publisher: Berkeley Heat
Publish Date: February 1, 2011
Trade Paperback {p.299}
Source: Personal Library
Genre: Erotica
Characters: Tara Lincoln, Mick Riley
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

The last thing event planner Tara Lincoln needs is the jet-set lifestyle of a football pro like Mick Riley; even though their steamy and passionate one-night stand proved that Mick is an all-star-both on the field and in the bedroom.

Tara played the game of love once and lost big, and she doesn't intend to put herself out there again, especially with a certified heartbreaker. But when Mick sets his mind to win, nothing will stop him. And he has the perfect play in mind to catch this sultry vixen.

The Perfect Play took a while for me to warm up to it. I think it was around chapter 13 or 15 before I actually got into it.

Mick and Tara set the sheets, among other things, on fire throughout the entire book. there was loads and loads of steamy sex. They had great chemistry in and out of the bedroom. Although they had great chemistry, they were a bit boring at times.

I enjoyed the fact that Mick wasn't perfect, because from the outside looking in, it sure appeared that way. Both he and Tara had troubled past. I liked Mick from the start, but Tara and I had our moments. Her back and forth attitude became a little annoying, especially near the end.

I adored Mick's family. His mother, father, sister, and brother were such warm, welcoming characters. Elizabeth, Mick's agent, provided me with all the entertainment. I loved her interaction with both Mick and Tara, although I didn't really care for her as a person because of her meddling. I do look forward to seeing how she redeems herself in the next installment.

Review: Colters' Lady by Maya Banks

Colters' Lady
Maya Banks
Series: Colters' Legacy #2
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Publication Date: June 1, 2010
Kindle {p.199}
Source: Kindle Loan
Genre: Erotica
Characters: Lily Weston, Dillon Colter, Michael Colter, Seth Colter
Challenge: 100+, Summer Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon

Can their love give her the strength to overcome the tragedy in her past?

When police officer Seth Colter sees the delicate, shabbily dressed beauty in line at the soup kitchen where he's serving, he's gut shot over the idea of her being on the streets cold and alone. More baffling is the dark, possessive instinct that tells him she belongs to him.

For Lily Weston, home is a secluded nook in a back alley?until Seth offers her a place to stay. She's wary of his offer, but even one night out of the cold is too much temptation to resist.

Seth is convinced Lily is his. The problem is, when his brothers lay eyes on her, the same primitive instinct comes roaring to the surface. The Colters never imagined they'd follow the unconventional path of their fathers, but they can't ignore their mutual need to offer Lily their protection?and their love. But before Lily and the brothers can forge a future together, they must heal the deep wounds of her past.

Lily is a woman who has seen great pain and sorrow in her life, and feels that she is responsible for it. In a effort to punish herself because she feels she's not worthy, she lives her life on the streets. But when she meets the Colter brothers, all that changes.

I truly enjoyed revisiting the Colter family and seeing them thiry years down the road. I loved Colters' Woman, so I was excited to read about their children.

Lily seemed like she could be a strong female but lost her way. I didn't quite get a full understanding of her until the very end. Each and every one of the brothers were great, but at times I felt as though Seth was a little left out.

This addition was more of a sweet romance than a steamy erotica. Lily and her men spent the bulk of their rime in the kitchen either cooking or eating. Don't get me wrong, it did have some steamy sex, but the overall story was sweet which was a nice thing.

Review: Strong, Silent Type by Lorelei James

Strong, Silent Type
Lorelei James
Series: Rough Riders #6.5
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Publication Date: May 5, 2009
Kindle {p.81}
Genre: Erotica, Western
Characters: Libby McKay, Quinn McKay
Challenge: 100+

Wyoming rancher Quinn McKay thought he’d only have to bide time until his level-headed wife came to her senses and called a halt to this “trial separation”. He never believed the marital rough patch would drag on for a coon’s age.

Libby McKay knew when she married the gruff, laid-back cowboy that he wasn’t prone to blathering about his feelings. But three months have passed and her stubborn-as-a-mule husband is still living by himself in the horse trailer. It seems he’d rather hold onto his pride than hold onto her.

Quinn realizes Libby is determined to move on if he doesn’t loosen his tongue and he’ll lose the only woman he’s ever loved. In a last-ditch effort to keep her in his life, he offers her one weekend of uninterrupted sexual decadence.

Reigniting the passion is easy. The hard part comes after the sheets have cooled and they find out if what remains is strong enough to survive past mistakes.

Libby and Quinn’s marriage is falling apart and neither knows how to fix it. Libby is to the point of not even wanting to try any longer. Like the title states, Quinn is the strong, silent type. He doesn’t communicate with his wife at all.

Libby is withdrawn due to pressure from her mother-in-law to have a baby and her lack of being successful at that. The two of them decide to give it another go by having a no holds barred weekend of all you can take sex.

They rediscover the love and passion they have for one another as well as learn what pleases their partner.

This was a nice short read of an established couple working to making a marriage work. So often we get to take the journey with a couple falling in love, but we rarely get to take the journey of them working to stay in love.

Review: Tangled Past by Leah Braemel

Tangled Past
Leah Braemel
Publisher: Carina Press
Publication Date: June 13, 2011
Kindle
Source: Publisher/Net Galley
Genre: Historical, Western
Characters: Sarah McLeod, Jackson Kellar, Nate Campbell
Challenge: 100+, Summer Romance

Forced to marry a man she just met, Sarah McLeod clings to the hope that she’ll finally find the love and acceptance she’s always craved. Her tenuous dreams of a happy life on the frontier are in danger of being dashed by the one thing she can’t change—her husband’s love for another man. Jackson Kellar’s determined to do right by his bride, yet he’s torn between his newfound love for Sarah and his still-burning desire for Nate.

Ranch owner Nate Campbell loves them both. He hates to see Jackson’s loyalties so divided, and doesn’t want Sarah hurt either. How can they fix the tangled mess they find themselves in? Nate suggests a possible solution—a permanent threesome.

With the open frontier closing in around them, is Nate’s solution their path to happiness—or will others destroy what they’ ve found together?

Once Sarah's stepfather catches her in the barn with Jackson, who is in a state of undress, he forces them to marry. Jackson was attracted to Sarah and seen how poorly her stepfather treated her, so he didn't mind marrying her. Except for the fact that he was in love with his best friend Nate.

The triad relationship felt to me like Jackson was the glue that held them together. Sarah was in love with Jackson and he in love with Nate. It didn't seem that Sarah had a relationship with Nate other than friendship. Since Jackson loved him, and she wanted to please him, Sarah invited Nate into their bed.

The overall read was pretty steamy, it just lacked a little on emotional connection.

Review: Here Kitty, Kitty by Joyee Flynn

Here Kitty, Kitty
Joyee Flynn
Series: Purrfect Mates #1
Publisher: Siren Publishing
Publication Date: December 30, 2010
Kindle {p.106}
Source: Publisher
Genre: Erotica, Menage, Paranormal
Characters: Avery Donovan, Cord Hartwell, Tyson Fitzgerald
Challenge: 100+, Ebook

Avery Donovan has escaped after being held captive almost thirty years. He is injured and on the run seeking refuge. While making his way across a ranch in southern Montana, he catches the unique smell of his mates. Alone and scared, he decides to trust fate and follow the scent of his men. Childhood friends, Cord Hartwell and Tyson Fitzgerald, have spent decades denying their feelings for each other until one day, an injured saber tooth tiger shows up on their front porch, shifts into a gorgeous man, and changes their lives. Avery has forty-eight hours to convince them he is their mate and claim them, or he will die. Will Cord and Ty finally admit their feelings for each other and their desire for Avery, or will they continue to deny their feelings and risk losing their chance at happiness?

Here Kitty Kitty starts out with Avery showing up on Cord and Tyson’s doorstep. Tyson and Cord have always been in love with each other, but it takes the appearance of Avery to get them to act on their feelings. I felt that Avery making them act on their feelings made Ty and Cord’s love for one another somewhat lesser.

The interaction between the three of them was great. Even the interaction between Ty and Avery or Cord and Avery was good. It was the interaction between Ty and Cord that was lacking.

I truly enjoyed the coming together of the werecats and werewolves. Avery’s family seemed like really likeable characters. I would enjoy seeing more from his siblings.
This is a nice start to an interesting series.