Feb 5, 2011

Talk Dirty To Me by Tory Richards

Title: Talk Dirty To Me
Author: Tory Richards

Author Site

Buy Link

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave

Genre: Erotic

Length: 53 pgs.
Reviewed by: yadkny

RATINGS FOR:

Cover: 3.5

Presentation: 3.5

Editing: 4.5

Story: 4

Writing Ability: 4

Overall Card Rating:

About The Book: Lilly has been in love with her brother's best friend Blake for years. She lost her virginity to the oil driller on her eighteenth birthday, only to wake the next morning to find him gone. After he pulled that stunt twice more, she swore never to see or talk to him again. But now he's back for her brother's wedding, and he's as sexy as she remembers.

Blake thinks Lilly's even sexier than ever. Unable to resist one another, they don't make it out of the airport parking lot before taking up where they left off. As the two rediscover their passion for each other, nothing and nowhere is off limits!

The Review:

Lilly hasn’t changed much since the last time Blake had seen. She is determined to not let him get under her skin or in to her bed, but just thinking about him brings all of the memories and feelings rushing back to the surface. When she comes face to face with Blake after not seeing him in over a year, she knows she’s in trouble.

Blake couldn’t resist showing Lilly just how hot they could be together the night she turned eighteen, but when the next morning arrived he couldn’t face his own strong feelings for her. After some time apart, he has come to realize that she is exactly what he wants and needs. Now all he has to do is convince her.

This is one short yet delicious read. Ms. Richards packed a lot of eroticism in such a short storyline with two main characters that are able to hold their own. The physical chemistry between the two characters is off the charts, but their emotional chemistry is a little lacking. Neither can seem to own up to their own feelings for the other and both have somewhat stubborn yet impulsive personalities. It’s no wonder their a perfect match for each other in bed since that’s where they can take out any pent up lustful aggression. However, it will take the one strong enough to put some bold moves on the other to break the emotional cycle.

The story starts out with a nice flow, but the ending did seem to come about a little too fast and although the characters do come to a decision by the end, it still left me wondering what the future holds for them.

Recommended reading for erotic romance fans looking for some steamy action and a little location inspiration.

Pagan Elements: N/A

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Disclaimer: Due to FTC regulations, any book reviewed on this site was sent for free by the author to The Pagan & The Pen. We are not paid to give reviews by Author or Publisher. Once review has been made, said books are deleted.

Claiming The Evil Dead (Soul Catcher Series, #1) by Mary Abshire

Title: Claiming The Evil Dead (Soul Catcher Series, #1)
Author: Mary Abshire

Author Site

Buy Link

Publisher: Noble Romance Publishing

Genre: Paranormal/Romance

Length: 321pgs.
Reviewed by: yadkny

RATINGS FOR:

Cover: 4.5

Presentation: 4.5

Editing: 4.5

Story: 5

Writing Ability: 5

Overall Card Rating:

About The Book: Half-demon Jessie Garrett is searching for an evil vampire that's been preying upon children. She wants to claim the rogue vamp's soul and send it to hell. To find the dead man walking she must partner with another bloodsucker, Drake, even though she doesn't trust him. While Jessie works with Drake, she learns not all vampires are killers and discovers the cold-blooded vamp is a temptation too difficult to resist.
After the fiend abducts another child and Jessie has a near fatal experience with vampires, she turns to Jeremy, a demon she bumped into at a club, and makes a deal with him for his help. Drake disapproves, and Jessie soon finds herself wedged between two volatile creatures. When the chance comes to save the child's life and claim the evil vamp's soul, she must decide whom she can trust—a vampire who cools her feverish desires, or a demon hell-bent on seducing her.

The Review:

Jessie is one hot half demon – literally. Her body temperature is such that every day can feel like the middle of summer. She also has a temper that can flare off the charts at a moments notice, but it’s not all bad. Being half demon also comes with some extraordinary healing capabilities. We're talking break her neck kind of healing. It also comes with one more unexplainable ability that is probably the most important, and one she uses to the fullest extent that she can – soul sucking. Of course, not many people know these things about her and she prefers to keep it that way. It isn’t until the day she meets the enigmatic and quietly charming Drake that everything changes.

Drake has been around for a long time, so he's seen a lot in his immortal life, but all it takes is one look at Jessie from afar and he knows there’s something special and different about her. When he sees firsthand just how special she is, he can’t help but be both awe and frightened of her at the same time. His proposition appeals to her both financially and morally, so with a slight hesitation she accepts. With these two working together the bad guys never stood a chance, alive or dead.

The physical attraction between the two might be immediate but it’s a slow build to something explosive. In many ways, Jessie is Drake’s ultimate temptation, but Jessie gets a few temptations of her own, and it looks like this particular demon flavored one refuses to go away.

Jessie’s character quirks are endearing and she makes quite the first impression, but she is who she is and makes no apologies, which is very admirable. She kicks butt, takes out evil, and does it all in a skirt and heels, no less. She's the kind of heroine that just dives right in to any situation and although her abilities can cause her a great deal of pain, discomfort, and disgust, she doesn't let that stop her from doing what’s right. She might have a tragic past, but she’s definitely not a tragic hero. She survives and moves on.

The pacing is excellent, with tons of suspense, and loads of witty dialogue. From the start, there is no pause in the action, which happens to be very descriptively well done. The rest of the cast of characters might be an odd and humorous assortment, which is perfect for the story, but there’s also enough mystery surrounding each of them that you’ll find yourself wanting to learn more.

The ending is perfectly balanced with enough story to satisfy the reader looking for that happily-ever-after while at the same time setting it up for book two. After having read the first installment to The Soul Catcher series, without reservation I recommend this goose bump inducing, yet dangerously sexy thrill ride of a story.

Pagan Elements: A half demon working for the good of humanity and a demon working for himself.

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Brotherhood Of Fire (Hearts On Fire~ Book 1) by Elizabeth Moore

Title: Brotherhood Of Fire (Hearts On Fire~ Book 1)

Author: Elizabeth Moore

Author Site

Buy Link

Publisher: Noble Romance Publishing

Genre: Erotic/Menage/Contemporary/Romance

Length: 192 pgs.

Reviewer: Janeen

RATINGS FOR:

Cover: 4.5

Presentation: 5

Editing: 4.5

Story: 5

Writing Ability: 4.5

OVERALL CARD RATING:

ABOUT THE BOOK: At the Grand Falls Fire Department, brotherhood is the key to everything. It's the glue that holds firefighters together through thick and thin. When Garrett O'Neal realizes the brotherhood he shares with his mentor and best friend could be something that fulfills the erotic fantasy he has of sharing his wife, Carrie, it begins a journey that none of them will escape without being plunged into the depths of flaming passion. A hot and intense tryst becomes so much more than just a bedtime fantasy. As the three begin to navigate the boundaries of love and desire, the fires of passion and their passion to fight fire threatens to tear the three of them apart forever.

THE REVIEW: Let me begin by saying, Ms. Moore delivers a four-alarm fire straight out of the chute with Brotherhood of Fire. From the opening pages of the book, you are connected to the couple on an emotional level. You get a front row seat into the life of Garrett O’Neal and his wife, Carrie. Garrett immediately resonated with me due to his all encompassing love and passion for Carrie. Their relationship is a solid marriage with enough trust that they can share their wildest fantasies without fear of judgment or rejection from the other. Ms. Moore allowed the characters to approach the subject of a ménage that felt real, and allows the reader a glimpse inside their minds. I felt their internal struggle in bringing the fantasy from the bedroom to actually making it a reality.

I found it surprisingly easy to understand Carrie’s position on bringing a lover into their lives, and her uncertainty of what bringing the fantasy to life could mean to her marriage. Cue Garrett’s best friend, and firefighter mentor, John, and Ms. Moore had my heart on a hook. John tugged on my heartstrings, and had me cheering for him from the sidelines. With the most to lose in this love triangle, John’s fears and needs were palpable.

Not only do the trios' limbs and bed sheets become entangled, so do the emotions and lives of this incredible ménage. Ms. Moore takes the reader on a journey of heart-felt, gut-churning emotion. All the players come across as believable, tangible people.

Ms. Moore crosses her T’s and dots her I’s in this romantic ménage that won’t leave you wanting. The reader experiences a realistic view of the emotions of the characters, and the choices they make along the way, while discovering that love isn’t always packaged in pairs…sometimes it comes in multiples. I look forward to Ms. Moore’s future installments of this series.

Pagan Elements: N/A

Disclaimer: Due to FTC regulations, any book reviewed on this site was sent for free by the author to The Pagan & the Pen. We are not paid to give reviews by Author or Publisher. Once review has been made, said books are deleted.

Roses For My Lady by Allison Knight

Title: Roses For My Lady (coming in Feb.)
Author: Allison Knight

Author Site

Buy Link
Publisher: Champagne Books

Genre: Historical Romance

Length: 78 pgs.
Reviewed by: yadkny

RATINGS FOR:

Cover: 4

Presentation: 4

Editing: 5

Story: 4.5

Writing Ability: 4.5

Overall Card Rating:

About The Book: A misplaced Valentine's Day card inspires a kidnapping, a seduction and a forever kind of love.

Intense, scholarly, big sister Meredith Ward is happy to see her little sister off to a country party until she discovers a Valentine card outlining plans for an elopement between her sister and the brother of an aristocrat. She leaves her cottage to halt their plans only to run into trouble herself.

Baron Gavin Sinclair learns late one evening about his brother's plans to wed a most undesirable young woman. His attempt to stop that union puts Meredith in his arms. Thinking she is the bride-to-be, he holds her hostage never realizing it will be his heart he loses.

The Review:

The story is set in England during a time when the reputation of your family name said a lot about you and for young women it is also a time when who sponsored you during your “come out” party said more about you than just about anything else.

Meredith (Merry) isn’t like most other girls who dreamt all their lives of what their season would be like and then to become married. She just wasn’t interested in the socializing experience, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that she didn’t think about it once in a while. Merry’s stepsister, Charlotte, on the other hand is quite the opposite, but doesn’t let it effect their relationship. Merry’s shy nature gives her the title of being the sensible sister, so when her father leaves on family business, it is up to Merry to see that Charlotte stays out of trouble. A cryptic valentine for Charlotte gone undelivered gives Merry the opportunity to sort through a potential disaster involving a young man. Unfortunately, it also leads to a new level of trouble but the intended isn’t the right sister on the receiving end.

Gavin takes the responsibility of being a big brother very seriously. He believes he knows what is best for his younger brother Lawrence. Having gone through a horrible family tragedy, Gavin sees the world and it’s customs in a much different light. Socializing at parties seems to be a rather unimportant but apparently necessary part of life and his societal views of women and marriage aren’t very flattering. The motivations for women wanting to pursue marriage particularly to his brother have more to do with money and position than love.

Ms. Knight wrote a delightful story about two characters intent on saving their siblings from what they believe to be disaster only to find themselves having fallen for each other. I really enjoyed Merry’s character. She isn’t snobbish or concerned about superficial things. She challenges Gavin’s mind with her intelligent charm instead of boring him with just a physical beauty. Gavin himself brings his own brand of charm with his devilish smiles and his take-charge attitude.

The mistaken identity element in the story is played out brilliantly and it read very fluidly with perspectives of the two main characters evenly balanced throughout, so readers will get the picture from both sides. I can only complain that I would love to have seen a longer ending.

This is a recommended read for anyone who enjoys reading historical romance.

Pagan Elements: N/A

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On The Silver Edge of Time by Ciara Gold

Title: On The Silver Edge of Time
Author: Ciara Gold

Author Site

Buy Link
Publisher: Champagne Books

Genre: Historical/Paranormal/Romance

Length: 244 pgs.
Reviewed by: BettyJean Pryor

RATINGS FOR:

Cover: 4

Presentation: 4

Editing: 5

Story: 5

Writing Ability: 5

Overall Card Rating:

About The Book: An eclipse yields a powerful force, an energy harnessed by those with magic in their souls. When the sun disappears behind the shadow of the Earth, a mighty wizard evokes the elements of nature. With ancient, Celtic incantations, he sends a mighty Viking jarl soaring through time to bring home his destiny.

Erik Lotharsson is sent forward in time to find the mate his people have chosen. He has no idea the journey he travels will be one of heart and soul. Nor can he imagine the trials he must face in taming a modern woman to his point of view.

Keelin Haverland has experienced dreams of a Viking lover for several years and fixates her attention on an acquaintance with a striking resemblance to her dream lover. She soon discovers her dreams are of another, of a man who claims to be from the past. The magic of an eclipse transports her to another time where modern conveniences no longer exist, and love is but a heartbeat away.

The Review:

This book is a page turner.

Have you ever dreamed of being able to travel to a different time? This book will definitely allow you to do that.

Keely is a college student, on her way to graduation and grad school, studying art. Her erotic dreams have her attracted to a very sexy man. She finds out that the man that she thought was the target of her dreams may not actually be the one. When she goes back with Erik, she finds out that all the things she believed about her life are not as she thought.

Erik is the leader of Njord and is sent forward in time to find Keelin and to bring her back with him. He arrives in the 21^st century with no knowledge of English or all the changes over 11 centuries. While in this time, he finds out truths about his life that had been hidden from him.

There are many twists and turns that occur throughout the story. Just when you think that you have things figured out, Ms. Gold throws a curve ball. All of the characters interact very well.

I believe that, whether male or female, the reader will connect with one of the characters in this book. The author does a great job making the hero and heroine seem very real.

On The Silver Edge of Time is a combination of romance and suspense with a dash of science fiction/magic thrown in.

Pagan Elements: Yes, there is some discussion of Pagan beliefs and many references to magic and Pagan gods/goddesses.

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A Piece of My Heart/Constant Craving by Kemberlee Shortland

Title: A Piece of My Heart and Constant Craving
Author: Kemberlee Shortland

Author Site

Piece of my Heart Buy Link
Constant Craving Buy Link

Amazon

Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing

Genre: Romance

Length: A Piece of My Heart: 268 pgs.; Constant Craving: 22 pgs.
Reviewed by: Keri Stratton Alley

RATINGS FOR:

Cover: 3

Presentation: 4

Editing: 4

Story: 4

Writing Ability: 4

Overall Card Rating:

About The Book:
A Piece of My Heart
Mick and Kate thought they were falling in love. Kate hadn’t been just the girl next door. She’d been Mick’s life, and he hers. When an unforeseen force draws them apart they’re left with wounds that refuse to heal. Now, ten years on, Mick’s father’s will should have been straightforward, except his addendum was like ice water in Mick’s face.
It’s essential that Mick and Kate work together to save his family’s farm. Mick doesn’t count on his new manager being accused of murder, and Kate doesn’t expect a dangerously seductive woman from Dublin to claim Mick is the father of her child.

Kate thought she was falling in love with Mick all over again; however this newest revelation is too much for her. She is determined to finally say goodbye to her childhood sweetheart forever, but Mick has other plans for Kate’s future. And none of them involve goodbye.

Constant Craving

The perfect life Mick and Kate thought they had was slowly dissolving. With Mick obsessing about the farm and Kate thrown into a life of domesticity, both lose some of what they'd fought so hard to regain.

It all comes to a head when Kate suspects Mick of having an affair. Kate’s parents step in to give each of them advice from their own years of marriage.

Now, both Mick and Kate have set their own romantic plans in motion, but it could all fall through when Kate nearly blows up the kitchen.

The Review: This pair of books presents an adorable and realistically romantic story of two high school sweethearts who never lost love for each other. Ms. Shortland writes Mick as the kind of many that any woman would love to have the chance to have, hold, and heal. Kate is a powerful, independent but innocent woman with a firm grasp of what love means.

In A Piece of My Heart, Kate and Mick share a lot of commonalities: an inheritance, a need to reconcile the past, and a sense of lost connection. Their reactions to each other and to the situations in which they find themselves are delightfully realistic, and their passion for each other is steamily respectful; a line that most authors have trouble walking. Predictably (why else do we read romance novels?!?) Kate and Mick work through their problems and the story ends with something akin to “…and they all lived happily ever after.”

One of my biggest problems with most romance novels is that they only deal with the heat, the passion, the chase that leads up to the long-awaited (and extremely satisfying) coupling. Yet few novels dare to delve into what happens when the after-glow fades and the couple is forced to live together with normal trials and tribulations. This is where Kemberlee Shortland shines.

Constant Craving is a wonderful short story that takes place a year after Kate and Mick buried the hatchet and shook the standing stones. There is little classical romance to be found here; instead Kate is tired, has baby blues from a recent birth of twins, and finds herself bogged down by housework. Mick is sexually frustrated (gotta wait for a while after babies are born!), tired from working the farm, and spends all his free time working on repairing the house. How they manage to rekindle the romance, and reconnect as lovers is a beautiful story and is more than just icing on the cake; it’s a story of REAL love, and how it endures, perseveres, and grows.

Pagan Elements: N/A

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A Man After Midnight by Beth C. Carter

Title: A Man After Midnight
Author: Beth D. Carter

Author Site

Buy Link
Publisher: Loose ID

Genre: Contemporary erotica

Length: 91 pgs.
Reviewed by: Anna Griffen

RATINGS FOR:

Cover: 3

Presentation: 5

Editing: 4

Story: 3

Writing Ability: 3

Overall Card Rating:

About The Book: Caroline is a recently single woman on a weekend trip to New York City with her best friend. Her friend encourages her to have some fun, including a one night stand, to celebrate her divorce. Caroline meets Wren, a gorgeous, wealthy, sexy man who opens up her mind, and her legs, for a weekend of mind-blowing sex. When the weekend is over, she has to decide if Wren is worth the risk to her heart.

The Review: The idea behind the story is what intrigued me. What woman doesn’t fantasize about having a no-strings weekend fling with a gorgeous man? Especially while getting over an ex-husband! However, the writing style threw me off a bit. There were a lot of adverbs, and the dialogue just didn’t feel natural. Much like while watching a George Lucas movie, I found myself thinking, “People just don’t talk like that.” The fact that Caroline meets Wren when he saves her from a rape attempt didn’t sit well with me either. Especially since it turned out the attacker was one of his employees and he wasn’t even fired. The sex scenes were, for the most part, satisfying. However, the language changed from large flowing words to four-letter “dirty talk” without any real transition. It made the scenes feel jerky and awkward instead of hot and bothered.

All in all, it was a nice, short, easy read. If you’re looking for a quick blast of erotica, this just might do it for you, but if you’re looking for a real story about sex, you might want to keep looking.

Pagan Elements: n/a

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Under The Hood by B.L. Bonita

Title: Under The Hood
Author: B.L. Bonita

Author Site

Buy Link

Publisher: Noble Romance Publishing

Genre: Contemporary/Erotic/Romance

Length: 37 pgs.
Reviewed by: yadkny

RATINGS FOR:

Cover: 4

Presentation: 4

Editing: 4

Story: 4

Writing Ability: 3.5

Overall Card Rating:

About The Book: Sometimes the answer comes from the simple twist of a tool . . . .

Andi Thomas has a problem. Her boyfriend cares little for her sexual satisfaction, and doesn't respect her job as a mechanic. She's beginning to feel like love and lust aren't meant to be a part of her life. To make matters worse, a gorgeous stranger moves in next door, and he's everything her boyfriend isn't. What's a sexually starved woman to do?

When Darren Holloway discovers the fiery vixen next door is the very person he's been looking for, he's caught between his desire to make her his and his mission to strike a business deal. Lured by pure lust, he finds himself falling in love. But how can he convince her to accept him when the woman has been hurt one too many times?

The Review:

Andi hasn't completely grown out of her childhood tomboy ways. She would rather tinker around with cars than get dressed up like some doll, but to her dad she was his "angel in coveralls". While her dad may have been proud of what she's accomplished as a mechanic, her boyfriend Eric thinks it's a turn-off, but the new guy in town is prepared to right the wrong of this misconception.

Darren likes the idea of a woman like Andi getting down and dirty under the hood of a car or with him. Any guy would have to be crazy not to see what a real catch Andi is and she has no idea how much her coveralled first impression has made on him, but first he's got to gain her attention and to do that he needs to learn a little more about her.

The author packs a nice erotic punch in this short story. I learned a few things about a mechanic's tools and how much sexy fun can be had with them. Andi proves that any girl can still be sexy regardless of profession. It's a little disappointing that this story isn't longer since it would have been nice to see more character and relationship development, but it’s still an enjoyable read and worthy of recommendation to any erotic romance reader.

Pagan Elements: N/A

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Two is Twice as Nice by Emily Cale

Title: Two is Twice as Nice
Author: Emily Cale

Author Site

Buy Link

Publisher: Breathless Press

Genre: Romance/Ménage

Length: 33 pgs.
Reviewed by: Gabrielle

RATINGS FOR:

Cover: 3.5

Presentation: 4

Editing: 4

Story: 3.5

Writing Ability: 4

Overall Card Rating:

About The Book:

After a car accident last Christmas, Cara McCourt is left broken inside and out. Since then, no guy has bothered to give her the time of day. Just when she's convinced that no man will ever be interested in her again, she bumps into Anthony while holiday shopping. Unsure at first, Cara is quickly wooed by the man who thinks she is beautiful—despite her disfigurement.

Uncertain if Anthony is too good to be true, she takes a chance, only to find out he's been keeping a secret: His twin brother, Devon. Too late, Cara is drawn into their games. Will her wounded soul survive their deceit or did Santa actually bring her the ultimate gift: two men of her own?

The Review:

Two is Twice as Nice is a fast paced and sweet read.

I liked Cara from the start. Even though an accident has taken some of her outer beauty away she still carries an inner beauty that shines like a beacon. Anthony is a wonderful man who seems to think the world of Cara. The relationship that builds between the two was a nice read. I enjoyed seeing Cara begin to feel better about herself as she continues to see Anthony. His twin brother Devon came off as the total opposite of Anthony. We see the big difference between the brothers when they finally tell Cara about themselves and being twins. Devon seems like a real jerk and happy to play games with women. He was a little too cocky and proud that he got one over on Cara and his brother.

I would have enjoyed a longer story so that we could get to know the brothers personalities and maybe find out just why Devon is the way he is and if he really cares for Cara.

All in all this book was a nice quick read about finding love when you last expect it. I really liked the premise of the story. Showing that love really does conquer all.

Pagan Elements: N/A

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Warrior Women: Bowdancer Book 3 by Janie Franz

Title: Warrior Women: Bowdancer Book 3
Author: Janie Franz

Author Site

Buy Link
Publisher: Breathless Press

Genre: GLBT/Romance/F-F

Length: 146 pgs.
Reviewed by: Kim Clune

RATINGS FOR:

Cover: 3

Presentation: 5

Editing: 4

Story: 5

Writing Ability: 5

Overall Card Rating:

About The Book:

Jan-nell the bowdancer, now pregnant with her second child, and her daughter, Mira-nell, trek up a mountain where bards’ tales have said a village of warrior women exists. Jan-nell makes this trip in winter—and in her condition—in order to find a place for Mira-nell where the child’s precocious abilities will be accepted. The women on the mountain, though, are not fighters or even man-haters. They have chosen to live apart from the world in a village of only women, led by a sisterhood of hunters. Chandro, a beautiful trackfinder, rescues Jan-nell and her daughter, offering them a home and the promise of love.

The Review:

But for the company of her young daughter, Mira-nell, Jan-nell has always been the lone and stoic outsider in search of belonging. Even still, she is consistently grounded in a deep sense of self, a self that she often – if cautiously – opens to exploration.

Jan-nell had once believed that she and her daughter might find their place with Khrin, a handsome and kind traveling bard returning to his family’s village. She and Khrin traded passion for familial love but, without that flame, the home fires cooled. Jan-nell becomes weary of Khrin’s lust for men while she is carrying his child and Mira-nell is often ridiculed by peers who cannot grasp the depth of her sharp wit. Together, Jan-nell and Mira-nell make off silently, embarking on a difficult journey to seek solace within a secluded mountain village of warrior women.

The strong, beautiful Chandro, a tracker, discovers a troubled Jan-nell on the mountain path. When they reach safety, the curious village women, with their fractured history and lack of a knowledgeable healer, must combine their individual talents to help Jan-nell prepare for the delivery of her babe. Intrigued by Jan-nell, they share their sexual flirtations as well, taking Jan-nell to places she never dreamed existed.

What I love about this series is that the characters are not simply beautiful in physically intriguing ways. They also have a great deal of substance. When a pair is drawn together, it is often to solve or relieve a deep personal struggle, if only for a few fleeting moments, and the effects ripple through the community in such beautiful ways. Jan-nell teaches the village much about themselves and the healing they can perform while Chandro teaches Jan-nell to accept the help she so often offers others. The two also discover pleasure in each other simply for the sake of it. Still, they cannot deny that pleasure sparks emotional connection.

Has Jan-nell finally found a place where she is needed, cared for, can care for others, and where her daughter is respected for her varied skills? For a time, perhaps. Once again, a twist of fate allows culture to trump individual relationships, even when those beautiful relationships breathe life into an entire village. Jan-nell must make the most difficult decision of her life as a mother, sister-kin, lover, and as wife to Khrin with another life beckoning in his village below. Will she stay? Will she go? And at what cost?

I bid you great enjoyment as you read to find out.

Pagan Elements:

Franz incorporates extensive use of herbal remedies for healing as well as village dance and lore. Careful attention is paid to their beautiful descriptions, where these herbs are available, and which can be used in substitute. The Warrior Women are as closely connected with the earth as Jan-nell is, albeit in different ways.

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Chance's Game by Eve Langlais

Title: Chance's Game
Author: Eve Langlais

Author Site

Buy Link

Publisher: Champagne Books

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Length: 199 pgs.
Reviewed by: yadkny

RATINGS FOR:

Cover: 5

Presentation: 5

Editing: 3.5

Story: 3.5

Writing Ability: 4

Overall Card Rating:

About The Book:

The God of Chance is bored – mortals beware!

Breanna is a rare sort of shapeshifter even for a world where magic is rampant, rare enough that she catches the attention of the God of Chance who send her on a quest to free magic. Simple you say? Not for this girl who has to keep avoiding the men who would claim her, while getting to know a twin she never knew she had. Then to make things even more fun, Chance throws in a super sexy wizard to go on the quest with her. Well as you can imagine the outcome will be magical.

Magic, danger, meddlesome gods and romance await. And when their quest is done, the world as we know it, will never be the same again.

The Review:

Find the box... release the magic... save the world. Sounds easy enough for an experienced wizard and a rare shapeshifter to handle, but the difficulty in this quest isn't necessarily in the journey itself.

Breanna has made it her goal to avoid men with their unwanted proposals and improper advances as much as possible. She knows they don't want her for her because if they really knew her, they might not feel so inclined to take such drastic measures in gaining her consent. Although lately gaining her consent seems to be the last thing these unwanted suitors seem to offer her. The rare ability she possesses inspires these men to take violent action. After another day of fending off more unfriendly touching, she finds that this time she isn't defending herself alone.

Terrence is a man of many talents with enough charm to have any woman he wants, so when the woman he helps says no to his proposal of lunch he's taken by surprise when he’s rebuffed. However, that’s not the only thing that’s surprising. Why does this sensually curvaceous woman with the sharp tongue look so much like his sister-in-law?

In steps the god of Chance, who just so happens to be bored and decides it's time to create a sort of treasure hunt with a couple of key players of his choosing. The goddess of Love wants to play too, and decides to do what she does best; add a little love to a couple of unbelieving hearts.

Ms. Langlais shines the story spotlight on characters Breanna and Terrence and boy are they characters! Their pride is what hinders them on their journey to finding what will save everyone and it's what hinders them on their journey toward falling for each other. Breanna is more than capable of scaring any man away with just her verbal attacks alone, but Terrence isn’t easily swayed, yet he’s convinced that he doesn’t want to be shackled to any woman like his brother. They both have the same philosophy when it comes to marriage and they both battle inner voices that keep telling them otherwise.

The story itself is fairly fast paced and entertaining with all of the supporting role creatures that make appearances. The dialogue is sharp and humorous. The ending leaves just enough for the story to be picked up again but without leaving a wide-open unsatisfying ending. The world building itself was interesting but left me a little confused at times. This story can be read as a stand alone, but might best be read after reading Take a Chance, which is the story of Terrence’s brother.

Recommended reading for those who’ve always wondered how the gods like to spend their free time, but beware the god Chance might just be rolling the dice in a city near you.

Pagan Elements: Wizardry is abundant and a unicorn makes an appearance along with plenty of other shapeshifting creatures. The gods of Chance and Love play supporting roles as well.

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