Her Fiery Viking

Title: Her Fiery Viking
Author: A.J. Tipton
Publisher: Self-Published
ASIN: B00NJSVIWY
Pages: 67
Rating: 4 *'s

Synopsis: The heat is on when a cursed Viking clashes with the woman of his dreams. 

Over a thousand years ago, a witch hexed four charming Viking brothers, each with one of the four elements. They live with these curses today, doomed to suffer for their past crimes forever. 

Mikkel just might be too hot to handle. He's an immortal Viking, cursed to burst into an uncontrollable ball of fire when enraged. After centuries of tragedy, Mikkel fears the fury within him will endanger anyone he lets get too close. 

When Joanna--a smart, sexy engineer angry at the world--explodes into his life, Mikkel can’t resist her smoldering allure. Has the time finally come to let someone in and embrace the fire? Or will they be scorched by their fiery passion? 

This mature romance includes incendiary bar room shenanigans, high-speed car escapades, and a love strong enough to heal even the most damaged of hearts. 

This STANDALONE novella is part of the "Her Elemental Viking" series which can be read in any order. There are no cliffhangers, and each short ends as it should: happily ever after.

My Review: Being an immortal viking in the modern age proves to be difficult. Mikkel feels trapped in a world of loneliness. He has to watch his attitude because if gets too upset well he bursts into flames but when Joanna comes again, he begins to feel something he hasn't felt before.

Joanna is  in a class of her own. Haunted by her own demons and full of anger herself, she struggles to maintain normality. Can these two save each other or will they both be swallowed by the fire burning within?

I haven't read A.J. Tipton before and I usually struggle with paranormal because it has to have a certain flavor to keep my interests. Once I started Her Fiery Viking I couldn't put it down. There is such a unique twist to it and I really enjoyed reading it. The only thing I would've liked to see is more of an emphasis on Mikkel's past but overall it was a wonderful story and I look forward to reading more of Tipton's work.

The Ways Of The West

Title: The Ways Of The West
Author: Kelly Dawson
Publisher: Stormy Night Publications
ASIN:  B014LXVSIO
Pages: 105
Rating: 5 *'s

Synopsis: Orphaned by an attack on her family’s wagon train, Jessica finds herself stranded a thousand miles from Boston, the only home she has ever known. Only one man—a rough, dusty cowboy named Johnny—stands between her and the perils of the West, and he quickly makes it clear that he is ready to do whatever needs to be done to keep Jessica safe… whether she likes it or not. 

When the unlikely pair stumble upon a cattle drive and they are offered employment, Johnny doesn’t hesitate to accept. But after Jessica loudly expresses her disdain for his plan and for cowboys in general, Johnny decides it is time for drastic action. After a hard, embarrassing spanking followed by a tearful apology to the trail boss, Jessica is left with both a sore backside and a strange yet undeniably powerful need to be held close and comforted by her handsome protector. 

With Johnny by her side—and claiming an ever bigger place in her heart with each passing day—Jessica begins to adjust to life on the trail. But a cattle drive is a dangerous place for anyone, let alone a city girl with a penchant for disobedience. If he ever wants the chance to make Jessica his wife, Johnny knows he’s going to have to take her firmly in hand before she gets herself hurt or killed. Even if it means a painful, humiliating bare-bottom strapping she’ll never forget, one way or another he’ll teach her the ways of the west. 

Publisher’s Note: The Ways of the West is an erotic romance novel that contains sexual scenes and spankings, including domestic discipline in a historical setting. If such material offends you, please don’t buy this book.

My Review: In the first few pages Dawson had me in tears. My heart ached for Jessica when she became orphaned and without a plan. Stranded in the unknown territory that is the West she isn't sure what she'll do. Johnny knew the moment he placed eyes on Dawson that she would be his bride someday. He'll stop at nothing to protect her and keep her safe.

I love Dawson's writing style because she focuses more on the story line than the spankings and sex. While there are some spankings and sex, it is mostly about Jessica's loss and her way towards rebuilding her future. I have grown to like the easy flow of Dawson's stories. As you read them you can feel the natural rhythm of her writing style.

Seeing Jessica's growth from bratty orphan to hard working cattle woman, I became obsessed and couldn't put this down. With Johnny's firm hand and Jessica's stubbornness to change her attitude about the hand she was dealt, it proved to be a fantastic read.

Realizing Her Dream

Title: Realizing Her Dream
Authors: Laurel Jane and Maggie Ryan
Publisher: Blushing Books Publishing
ASIN: B00Z1GCRNQ
Pages: 162
Rating: 4 *'s

Synopsis: When Casey Reeves loses her husband to an unexpected heart attack, she gives herself a new mantra: To live life as if it were an amazing adventure, as every single day matters. Unfortunately, one of the things on her bucket list looks far better on paper, and when Casey finds herself up in a plane, strapped to a tall, handsome man, about to undertake her very first parachute jump, she realizes that she'd do just about anything to be able to back out. 

Paul Jackson has been a parachute instructor ever since he retired early, and has seen his fair share of terrified women, but when Casey hysterically promises to do anything he asks in return for being able to return to solid ground safely—even let him spank her—he's amused, and not a little intrigued. He's also more than willing to accept her bargain. 

Casey finds herself taking a leap of faith—in more ways than one. The two begin their journey together, spending some time on a luxurious yacht, in a tropical rainforest and even in a ranch in outback Australia, as they work their way through her list. 

What they discover is that life has a tendency not to follow carefully designed plans. With Paul beside her, Casey quickly learns that living every day to its fullest entails far more than she’d ever imagined. And by her side throughout the action, danger and laughter is a man who not only has no hesitation in reddening her bottom when she deserves it, but can send her soaring into ecstasy with a single look or a touch of his hand. 

Finding a new love to equal—or even exceed—her old one was not even on Casey's bucket list but now that she has, can they make it work? Is Paul really the man of her dreams? 

Best-selling author Maggie Ryan and newcomer Laurel Jane have put their heads and their pens together to come up with this, an exciting tale of romance, lust, love, spanking and adventure. If the subject of domestic discipline or explicit erotica offends you, please do not read this book.

My Review: Casey is on a mission to live her life instead of spend her days mourning. She has lost her husband due to an unexpected heart attack. She has decided to make the most of her life and enjoy every moment. With a mantra to live every moment and a bucket list in tow she sets out to achieve her dreams.

Paul feels a fire when he spits the spitfire that is Casey. After hearing Casey promise she can have her bottom spanked raw if she jumps from the plane, Paul knows he wants more. Is it all just a dream?

Jane and Ryan bring us a sweeter erotica filled with love, loss, and renewed hope. There are some twists and heavy erotica scene but there is a sweet undertone throughout the story. I really enjoyed going along for Casey's adventure as she finds herself falling for Paul and hoping that this is her second chance at love. I hope to see more from newcomer Jane.

Captive Mine

Title: Captive Mine
Authors: Trent Evans and Natasha Knight
Publisher: Shadow Moon Press
ASIN: B00U1FYWVW
Pages: 242
Rating: 5 *'s

Synopsis: The day my father agreed to testify against Terrence Randall, one of the most ruthless drug traffickers in North America, was the day I became the target of the drug lord’s enraged vengeance. I was the one thing that stood in the way of Daddy’s testimony, and the one thing that could save Randall. The man would stop at nothing to get his hands on me. 

I was prepared for what was coming — as prepared as one could be when vanishing into the U.S. Marshal’s Witness Protection Program. 

I just wasn’t prepared for him. 

For ex-Navy SEAL turned mercenary Lake Freeman, escorting Lily Cross into the Witness Protection Program was just another job — until a better offer came along. Lake couldn’t have cared less about the life he’d been hired to protect. After all, she was a part of the very organization that had cost him so much already. 

At least he never expected to care. 

But when forced into a decision he never thought he’d have to make, the mission became one of survival for himself and his beautiful charge. Lake knew that in order to protect her, he’d need to bring the feisty and unpredictable Lily to heel — he couldn't keep her safe if he couldn't keep her under control. 

But that protective urge quickly turned into something else, something dark ... and his need to conquer, to claim, overrode all else. 

He would keep her safe. He would keep her protected. But he would make her his, as well. 

Now, all he had to do was figure out how to keep them both alive long enough to do it... 

Publisher's Warning: Intended for mature readers. 18 and over only! 

This is a MF BDSM **dark** romantic suspense. If dark romance is not for you, then you should pass this one by.

Themes include: graphic sexuality, pervasive D/s, exhibitionism, spanking, bondage, anal play and other BDSM activities. If such content might offend you, please do not purchase this book. 

Word count: 66,328 words

My Review: Lily Cross is stubborn as they come. She knows her life is in danger and in to order to keep that safe she has to adhere to Lake's demands. She knew this day was coming but wasn't prepared for the tough as nails man named Lake.

Lake sees this as just another job. This will be his last job. When he finds feelings stirring for her he knows he'll stop at nothing until Lily is his and only his. With a firm hand he sets out to mold Lily into the beautiful submissive she can be if she'd just surrender control.

I have read stories by both Knight and Evans. I love how strong of a story they can weave together. This was my first dark romance so I was hesitant to read it but once I started I couldn't put it down. The best stories are the ones that make you forget where you are. I felt as if I were a shadow on the wall reading Lily's story. While some scenes made me cringe I knew that everything is only temporary. Another hit for Evans and Knight.

Blindsided: Virginia Bluebloods Book One

Title: Blindsided (Virginia Bluebloods 1)
Author: Bj Wane
Publisher: Pink Flamingo Publishing
ASIN: B01591BNEG
Pages: 248
Rating: 5 *'s

Synopsis: Twelve years after a tragic accident changes her life forever, a desperate Eve is driven to seek comfort and pleasure in the arms of strangers. A few hours of anonymous sex with a man named Nate gives her more pleasure than she ever dreamed possible. Once succumbing to his erotic coercion to enter into a sex-only affair, Eve soon discovers all the different ways a man with a creative imagination can give a woman with limitations the exciting, pleasurable adventures she craves. 

Nate Radcliff never has trouble forgetting a woman, until he spends a night of sex with a woman who insists on keeping her face hidden in the dark. A chance meeting few weeks later reveals that Eve is blind, and Nate becomes determined to give her the sex she craves. 

For weeks, Eve basks in the decadent pleasures both Nate and his friends give her. But she keeps herself guarded, even when Nate insists their affair is more than has grown into something more for him. Just as Eve becomes more open to a future with him, her best friend, Holly, returns to town. Soon, Holly’s jealousy and possessiveness drives a wedge between her and Nate that nearly costs her the man she loves and her life.

My Review: It's been twelve years since the accident. Every year since then on the anniversary of the accident Eve immerses herself in a night of anonymous sex to help her forget. What happens though when you meet your fling again?

Nate becomes hooked on Eve after spending a night with her. He has a chance encounter with her and knows he'll stop at nothing until she becomes his. Eve finally begins to open up to being in a relationship with Nate when her best friend comes back to town. Can Eve and Nate remain together despite a jealous best friend?

I have just recently discovered Wane and fallen in love. I know to expect a strong story line, hot sex, and a surprise here and there. Blindsided teaches us that beauty is more than what we can see. Sometimes it's about what we feel. I read this in a matter of hours and know that I will be around for book two in the series. There is an interesting twist in Blindsided and I have to give Wane huge props for taking such a risk because it showcases why readers read Erotica. We read to feel, not see.

Daddy Knows Best

Title: Daddy Knows Best
Author: Normandie Alleman
Publisher: Stormy Night Publications
ASIN: B00ZSAU980
Pages: 95
Rating: 4 *'s

Synopsis: Career woman Tabitha is less than excited when her boyfriend, Neal, insists that she take a break from her high-stress job in Chicago and move with him to Little Haven. Despite her initial disdain for the town, Tabitha eventually begins to find a place for herself in her new community, and Neal’s increasing dominance in the bedroom leaves her longing for more. 

But she’s been keeping an important secret from him about her job back in the city. When he discovers the truth, will it tear them apart or will Neal be able to forgive his little girl? 

Publisher’s Note: Daddy Knows Best contains spankings, sexual scenes, age play, elements of BDSM, and more. If such material offends you, please don’t buy this book. This book is also available as part of a five-book collection entitled Little Haven.

My Review: Tabitha is beyond bratty but it's nothing a firm hand can't fix. She has agreed to take a break from her job in Chicago and move to Little Haven with him for a break. Little Haven gives Tabitha the opportunity to shine and grow closer to Neal but when he finds out about her secret she is keeping there is the chance that will lose her Daddy.

I enjoy Alleman and most stories she writes. Tabitha can be a brat and whiny but once she embraces what Little Haven has to offer she soon finds not only her place but also herself in the process. She realizes that she has let her job take precious time away from Neal and I enjoyed watching her growth throughout the story.

Surrender Your Heart

Title: Surrender Your Heart
Author: Raven J. Spencer
Publisher: Raven J. Spencer
ASIN: B0118DAWUA
Pages: 144
Rating: 3 *s

Description: Penny can’t believe what happened to her: One day she’s studying sociology and paying her tuition with her job at a local café, the next she wakes up in a luxurious house which is the property of a rich and enigmatic woman. Carter Forbes is ready to lay the world at her feet, but what will she expect in return? As she uncovers Carter’s reasons to create this unusual situation, Penny can’t deny the attraction between them. Can she reconcile her desire with her beliefs about herself, or is this passionate affair doomed from the start?

My Review: I've read Spencer before and loved her writing style. Surrender Your Heart was full of mystery and uncertainty that kept you reading. Penny has been struggling to make her way through school and working at the same time. She has always wanted an easier way of life and way out of this pit she's been in. When Carter Forbes has coffee at her job and leaves a rather large tip, she isn't sure what to make of Carter.

Carter Forbes is ready to open the world for Penny and let her see things she has yet to see. In a unique turn of events she is given the chance to get to know Penny and claim her body and heart. But will Penny lose herself in the process?

Surrender Your Heart seems a little shot gun at first but if you keep with it and uncover the mystery around it, it proves to be a wonderful read full of promise. I would have like to see some hints throughout the story as to why Penny is in the situation she is in but all around it was a solid read and I would definitely read more by Spencer.