Thursday, May 28, 2015

The Highlander's Little Lass


Title: The Highlander's Little Lass
Author: Ava Sinclair
Publisher: Stormy Night Publications
ASIN:  B00Y384EP2
Pages: 90

As the daughter of a powerful highland laird, Glynis McLeod should have made a fine wife for any Scotsman. Having been deprived of discipline by her mother’s untimely passing, however, Glynis grew up wild and unchecked. As a lass of twenty, she has precious little respect for any man, let alone a husband her father might choose for her. 


But even a doting father must obey his king, and when the king demands a marriage to ensure lasting peace between rival clans, Glynis finds herself the very reluctant bride of Bran McKinnon. Known as Bran the Bull—both for his size and his fearsome sexual appetites—he is a man accustomed to being obeyed, a fact which is quickly impressed upon Glynis when her lack of decorum earns her a bare-bottom spanking from her future husband in the great hall of her father’s castle. 



As soon as Bran lays eyes on Glynis, he knows the fiery redhead is exactly what he's been seeking: a woman who needs both the firm hand of a father figure and the dominant lovemaking of a husband. With the help of her childhood nanny, Bran sets about training his feisty highland lass to be the obedient wife he expects. Blushing cheeks and a sore bottom quickly help Glynis become the good little girl her husband desires, but when danger threatens the king's peace, will Bran recognize in time that there's more to his young bride than meets the eye? 



Publisher’s Note: The Highlander’s Little Lass is an erotic romance novel that includes spankings, sexual scenes, extensive age play, anal play, and more. If such material offends you, please don’t buy this book.


1) What prompted you to write historical age play?

Well, I love history and like any other author who writes spanking erotica, I have an obvious sexual tilt towards submission, even though I don't consider myself a lifestyle submissive. I love the alpha male archetype - but not just for his prowess and strength, but for his protectiveness. For me, you can't have the first two in an alpha male without the third.

Over my career, I've written with moderate success under the pen name Fiona Wilde. But when I saw readers trending towards books featuring deeper submission and more explicit content, I decided to step outside my comfort zone and write age play. I find it fascinating, and the submissive part of me appreciates the appeal of the genre and the lifestyle. Who hasn't fantasized about being completely taken care of? Of giving ourselves completely to the care of someone who is strict, but who also has our best interests at heart - a man who is not just a father figure, but a lover who does naughty things to us and gives us permission to enjoy it?

These are the kind of men I wrote in my first age play books - The Eden Series - which were contemporary and penned under the name Elsa Black. Those books have done quite well for my publisher, Blushing Books, but in March I decided to branch out into historical age play with another publisher, Stormy Night, and under a new pen name - Ava Sinclair. I thought historical age play offered not just new challenges but added depth. What would an age play relationship look like in another place and time? The men were more culturally inclined to be dominant, and it may have been easier for women who were expected to be submissive to adapt. 

I decided to chance it, and it paid off. My first historical age play "The Marshal's Little Girl" hit #1 in both the Historical Western and Historical Erotica category. My second one, "The Highlander's Little Lass," just hit #1 in Historical Erotica and is currently #12 in BDSM. I'm quite pleased.


2) How much research goes into your writing?


Quite a bit, but I try not to bog myself down. I realize that readers don't like sloppiness, but they aren't expecting a Ph.D. dissertation, either. I learned a lot about research from writing two non-erotic Amish romance novels. Readers want the mood and feel of the setting without glaring mistakes. That's what I try to give them. I research a culture or a time period and try to fit my characters into that setting as accurately as possible. But I don't forget that the readers are there for the characters, the dynamic and the relationship aspects of the story more than for whether someone is wearing the correct Tartan. 



3) You write under multiple pen names, how are you able to distinguish between them?


I learned a lot about pen names while working for a publisher. I saw some writers branch out with a proven pen name into another genre or into edgier content when they were known for one type of writing, and even though the books were often excellent, they didn't sell because readers seemed to want  what they were used to. I'd originally planned to publish my Eden books as Fiona Wilde, but decided at almost the last minute to start a new pen name that I could brand exclusively as contemporary age play. I did the same with Ava Sinclair with historic age play. Readers know what those names will deliver.

I write under other pen names, too. For  instance, I have written mainstream Amish fiction as Hope Kesler and steampunk fiction as Sidney Swann.


4) When writing historical age play, how do you determine what time period to venture towards?


I go purely by what interests me. It helps, of course, if it's popular, because choosing the wrong time period can kill a book stone cold dead. For instance, since moving to Virginia, I've come to realize that the interest in the Civil War here is almost cult-like. You can't throw a rock without hitting a Civil War park or memorial, and I've gotten interested in learning more about the War Between the States, and had a fleeting fancy to write an erotica based during the antebellum era. But when you really think about the Civil War, it was quite possibly the least sexy period of our history with so many countrymen being cut down and the injustice of slavery going on. 
Sometimes political tension works in the writer's favor, such as in Scottish romance novels that feature the political intrigue of the Jacobite uprising as a backdrop. But full-on war, like World Wars or the Civil War? I think it was just too brutal. I think that's why even though the sixties were a time of free love, you don't see erotica set during that time period because Vietnam was going on and that was just a dark part of history for so many poeple. There's a reason why Highlander, Regency, Victorian and Western settings are so popular. The cultural aspects are easy to romanticize, and you can cherry pick those aspects that will best fit into an erotic storyline.


5) As someone who doesn't practice age play, how is it being involved in the age play community?

It has been absolutely wonderful. The Bigs and Littles I've met are just the greatest. I'm not in the age play lifestyle, but I'm not Amish either, but I don't think you have to be part of a community to write a believable story featuring its culture and lifestyle. You just have to see the appeal and like the people. And with only a few exceptions, most are secure, warm and helpful folks who know the difference between being childlike and childish.  I can - and do - message people who are actually in the lifestyle for advice, and it's a great compliment to have age play life-stylers reach out to me after reading a book and say they hope they find a Daddy like Ethan or Max. It makes me realize that I've delivered for them, and that is incredibly satisfying.

Thank you, Felicity!


Ava Sinclair is an author of erotic who writes across the genre under several pen names including Elsa Black (contemporary age play) and Fiona Wilde (general romantic BDSM).

She lives in the green hills of Virginia with her family, her horses, her little dog and way too many cats.

She's been writing erotica for nearly twenty years

This is the first Highlander Romance I have read ever. I typically don't go for historical romance but the cover drew me in and I knew I had to read this. I recently discovered Ava Sinclair and fell in love. 

Glynis Mcleod has been offered up for marriage as a part of a peace treaty between rivaling clans. Her sassy attitude makes her a spitfire from the beginning but Bryan McKinnon is up for the challenge. Leading an unsatisfying life of bedding women, he longs for the woman that will sate his desires.

Glynis is challenging from the beginning of their relationship but molds into a beautiful little wife. Bryan has found himself in his wife. Together they mold into the perfect blend of age play, spanking, and of course romance.

When I started this I wasn't sure how Sinclair was going to incorporate age play into the time period. I loved that Glynis was learning along the way and didn't know everything about a man and sex. Sinclair thoroughly did her research and scored a home run with The Highlander's Little Lass.


Saturday, May 2, 2015

What She's Looking For

Author: Trent Evans
Publisher: Tritium Press; 1st edition 
ASIN: B00CH5B23A
Pages: 339
 
 What if the very thing you crave is that which you most fear?

Ashley is a woman running from her past -- and from herself. Ten years of marriage to a man who took his dominance too far has left her scared, but defiant ... determined, yet desperate.

Knowing what she doesn't want, but not knowing what she really needs, she moves West, seeking to rebuild her life, for once in control of herself. But inside she suspects it's that control itself that's the real problem -- she doesn't want it. Any of it.

In a beautiful resort town in central Washington, she meets two gorgeous men; the stern, dangerous Parker, and the dark, brawny Drake. Can she risk herself again, surrender to the forbidden pleasure of being subject to these men? Or is the possibility of having her heart broken yet again too much to chance?

In the arms of not one, but two, strict Dominant men, can she find the peace she's looked for all her life? The peace she's only found in the bonds of utter submission, the dark pleasure of being the property of two men at once?

Or, as she learns more about these mysterious men, will she realize that it's not only her heart at risk?
 
 Trent Evans is an independent author of BDSM erotic romance and erotica. Putting pen to paper since he was a wee lad, he decided to try to share some of the tales cooked up in his fevered imagination. Some readers might not be horrified at what he writes. He tries to write stories that appeal to both women and men (wow, threading the needle), but will follow wherever the story takes him.

A long-time resident of the Pacific Northwest, the author believes that the high percentage of authors in the region (compared to the nation as a whole) is chiefly due to the fact that it's so damned wet and miserable all the time there. They tend to use their long hours cooped up inside spinning yarns that depict things they'll never see or experience -- such as sunshine.

If you'd like to be notified of new Trent Evans books, sign up for his New Release e-mail alerts:
Copy and paste ---> http://eepurl.com/Lf42f
 
 I really loved this story and knew when I started it I would finish it in one session. Ashley is running from her past determined to find a fresh start. She is scared to move on after running from her husband of ten years. She is scarred from her past and knows this move will be just what she needs.

Parker and Drake know they want Ashley from the first meeting. They know she is hiding something but cannot quite place their fingers on what. Determined to make her surrender to true desires, they are willing to stop at nothing to show what submitting and being loved really is all about.

Evans has a writing style that pulls you in. You know you're bound for a good story with the level of detail he goes into with his characters. You want to see where the story progresses and how far Ashley will be pushed. You know Parker and Drake are dominants but you also see the softer side that just wants Ashley to be loved.


Bon Bon Beauty

Author: Lynn Cooper
Publisher: Targheda Press 
ASIN: B00WQ4CXSK
Pages: 74
 
 Saffron Butler came up hard and fast on the poor side of town. Now a strong, independent woman and owner of the Bon Bon Beauty Parlor, she is determined to live her life alone. Having spent years constructing a steel cage around her heart, she vows to never let any man get too close. Her mama made that mistake, and it ended in tragedy. Saffron isn’t about to let the same thing happen to her. She is content to bury herself in romance novels, dreaming of the swaggering, shirtless heroes on the covers. That is enough for her until the morning her eyes flutter open to find the sexiest man she has ever seen hovering over her. He is tending to her, protecting her and, before she can blink, he is trying to steal her heart.
Parker Sloan grew up in the lap of luxury. He has every advantage but little freedom. From the day he was born, his parents have had his entire life mapped out. His domineering father—Dr. Nate Sloan—insists his son attend medical school, pursue a career in cardiology and get engaged to a self-centered socialite. But, Parker has other plans. Against his parents’ wishes, he becomes a paramedic. One fateful morning he takes an emergency call that lands him smack in the middle of a beauty parlor. It is there he meets the sweet and beautiful Saffron Butler. From the moment he looks into her big brown eyes, he is a goner. In their dark, chocolatey depths, he can clearly see their future—a lifetime of love and happiness spent in each other’s arms. Wooing Saffron won’t be an easy task. But it is one he is determined to accomplish. Failure isn’t an option. He will do whatever it takes to gain her trust and win her affections.

Bon Bon Beauty is part of the Plus Size Romance Series. Each book is a standalone with no overlapping characters, storylines or cliffhangers. This series is a perfect combination of romance, steamy love scenes and humor. The stories are sensual and romantic, uplifting and lighthearted. Feel-good reads that leave you feeling great! 
 
I grew up in a small town in South Carolina with big dreams of becoming a ventriloquist. I ordered my first and last dummy from a Sears catalog. It didn't take me long to realize that I was never going to be able to talk without moving my lips. Plus, the dummy gave me horrible nightmares.

I got married at the age of twenty-three and worked for a decade in the health field as a surgical technologist and later as a dental assistant. When I grew tired of looking at people's innards, I decided to give writing a try. As it turns out, I'm pretty good at it.

Predominately, I write red hot romance. However, I enjoy writing a variety of books. My other publications include a 1920's period piece that centers around first love, a suspense/psychological thriller, a non-fiction self-help book and a children's book. It is my opinion that a good writer can write in any genre that he or she desires.

Of course my greatest desire is to write stories that entertain my readers and provide them with a temporary means of escape from reality. Other than reading, my favorite form of escapism is watching old movies. My favorite actor is Cary Grant. Between you and me and the bedpost, he is my cinematic boyfriend. Check out my author profile pic and see for yourself. 
 
I had to take an overnight view before writing this review. My goal as a reviewer is to always provide positive feedback without hurting the author. I also feel the need to always be honest in my reviews. With that being said here are my thoughts on Bon Bon Beauty.
 
Parker Sloan has been raised into wealth by his family. His path has already been chosen by his parents and now it's up to him to follow suite. He is determined to stay as a paramedic and not take the next step towards being a doctor. His childhood friend looks like she'll be his bride as well.
 
Saffron Butler was raised in poverty by a drug addicted mother who didn't care for her and an African American Father who walked out on her at birth. She has insecurities and is afraid to become like her mother. She works hard at the beauty salon while making sweet treats on the side. 
 
I had trouble with this story in the first few pages. I took offense to the "slang" that the African American's spoke in the story. It made me feel like the author assumed that all people of that race aren't able to talk properly. 
 
Then you have Parker. He was raised in wealth, you know that it is expected of him to follow his father's path. You know he is expected to become a doctor and to marry Tiffany. I didn't understand why someone of such wealth would walk into a salon on the "poor side" of town and swoon over Saffron upon first meeting her.
 
This wasn't a story of love at first sight but of lust at first sight. You wouldn't let someone you barely knew have a fling with you in the ambulance nor would the son of a wealthy doctor risk his career. 
 
Bon Bon Beauty held a lot of potential for a great story. If the author would have taken time to really let the story breathe and give more detail as to Saffron's and Parker's relationship then I think it would have been a solid read but unfortunately this fell very short for me. 


Soft Serve Sweetie

Author: Lynn Cooper
Publisher: Targheda Press 
ASIN: B00VF7KJZS
Pages: 84

 Cherry Mercer has a degree in biology, but due to the crappy economy, she finds herself working at Pete’s Ice Cream Parlor. As far as jobs go, it isn’t that bad. It enables her to pay back her student loans while indulging her love of soft serve. In her wildest dreams, she never imagines the decadent chocolate and vanilla swirl can get her into so much trouble with the law. When she runs into Officer Zane Barrett, her whole world is turned upside down. He’s as hot as the day is long. And even though a gal can’t be arrested for what she’s thinking, Cherry still finds herself being hauled downtown.
Zane Barrett—a seventeen-year veteran of the police force—spends his days serving and protecting his community. He lives in a nice house, loves his job and spends his spare time with his partner, Knox, and his wife Sadie. Despite Knox’s badgering, Zane insists he isn’t lonely and doesn’t feel the need to actively look for “Miss Right.” In fact, his philosophy is: Not everyone’s meant for love and marriage. But once he crosses paths with Cherry Mercer, he quickly realizes his philosophy has more holes than a firing range target. Unfortunately, Cherry has erected some emotional walls that could prove to be impenetrable. Zane offers her an irresistible proposition intended to tear down those carefully constructed barriers. The question is, will Cherry take the bait and give both of them a chance for a happily ever after?

Soft Serve Sweetie is part of the Plus Size Romance Series. Each book is a standalone with no overlapping characters, storylines or cliffhangers. This series is a perfect combination of romance, steamy love scenes and humor. The stories are sensual and romantic, uplifting and lighthearted. Feel-good reads that leave you feeling great! 

 I grew up in a small town in South Carolina with big dreams of becoming a ventriloquist. I ordered my first and last dummy from a Sears catalog. It didn't take me long to realize that I was never going to be able to talk without moving my lips. Plus, the dummy gave me horrible nightmares.

I got married at the age of twenty-three and worked for a decade in the health field as a surgical technologist and later as a dental assistant. When I grew tired of looking at people's innards, I decided to give writing a try. As it turns out, I'm pretty good at it.

Predominately, I write red hot romance. However, I enjoy writing a variety of books. My other publications include a 1920's period piece that centers around first love, a suspense/psychological thriller, a non-fiction self-help book and a children's book. It is my opinion that a good writer can write in any genre that he or she desires.

Of course my greatest desire is to write stories that entertain my readers and provide them with a temporary means of escape from reality. Other than reading, my favorite form of escapism is watching old movies. My favorite actor is Cary Grant. Between you and me and the bedpost, he is my cinematic boyfriend. Check out my author profile pic and see for yourself. 

 Cherry Mercer is a plus sized woman working at Pete's Ice Cream Parlor. While it's not an award winning job, it pays the bills and keeps her afloat. It doesn't hurt that it allows her to indulge in soft serve ice cream. She knows she wants more for life but doesn't expect to crash into the hunky officer.

Zane Barrett is a long serving veteran on the force. He has dedicated his life to career and knows there is something missing. When he meets the cutie with the ice cream on her face, he knows that he needs to delve deeper into getting to know Cherry.

Overall, this wasn't a bad story. It felt rushed and it could of used more detail but there was enough there for a solid story. I enjoyed watching Zane break down Cherry's walls and show her that she deserves love despite her size.