Call Me Sir, Too by Stormy Glenn

THE PAGAN & PEN BOOK REVIEWS

Title:  Call Me Sir, Too
Author:  Stormy Glenn 

Author Site

Buy Link
Publisher:  Noble Romance Publishing LLC

Genre: Contemporary/Gay/Erotica

Length: 146 Pages: 
Other:  M/M/Discipline-Spanking/Kidnapping

Pagan & Pagan Elements: None

Reviewed by: Russ Allen

About The Book: Dante knew Daniel was the man for him the minute he said his first curse word. He was everything Dante could ever want in a sub: gorgeous, spunky, and totally into the lifestyle Dante enjoyed most. But nothing's ever as simple as it should be. When Dante gets called away on business he expects to be gone for a couple of weeks. He figures to claim Daniel when he comes home, but two weeks quickly turn into six months.

When Dante finally returns, everything he'd been looking for in a mate is gone. Daniel's been assaulted and beaten by a Dom out of control. He no longer trusts anyone—including Dante.

Determined to find the man he knows Daniel can be, Dante moves Daniel into his home and his life. But along with Daniel's insecurities and lack of trust, Dante has to fight the

Dom that assaulted Daniel in the first place and a host of other misunderstandings before he can prove to Daniel that what they have is worth fighting for.

The Review: This is a moderately well-written, if a little on the long side, story that conveys the nature of a specific aspect of the gay lifestyle. It has its drawbacks, but overall, it succeeds.

The author introduces some elements that prove undeveloped or unnecessary to her story, while leaving others unresolved. Among the former are the reference to Joey’s father and the 23-year old still-in-school son of one of the street thugs [that section is not convincing]; the latter includes, importantly, the reasons for Dante’s six month disappearance and details regarding the abuse experienced by Daniel. Also, somewhat convincing are the actions of the fake policeman who kidnaps Daniel.

Unfortunately, the key characters come across as two-dimensional, almost stereotypes for some types of homosexuals. That makes their stories somewhat unbelievable, more fantasy than factual in their fictional presentation.

That being said, the real plus in this story is its insight into an aspect of the gay lifestyle, which is not really BDSM, but D. A better understanding of the dynamics, rules, limitations, and actions of gays involved in orchestrated sexual scenes is to be gained from this story, as well as an appreciation of the way by which love developes between men within this context. 

For that alone I recommend this story.

Pagan Elements: None  

Cover (Rated 1-10): 8. The cover aptly suggests the main characters as well as the homoerotic nature of the story, though not its key element of discipline.  I would be interested in examining the book further based on this cover.

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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.

Letting Go by Michele Zurlo

PAGAN & PEN REVIEW

Title:  Letting Go

Author:  Michele Zurlo

Author Site

Buy Link

Publisher:  Siren Publishing

Genre: Erotic Romance, Contemporary, BDSM

Length: 278 pages 

Other:  BDSM *  M/F * Spanking *  Voyeurism *Exhibitionism *

Pagan & Pagan Elements: No

Reviewed by: Brandi

About The Book: No man has ever satisfied Sabrina Breszewski in bed. She doesn’t want a husband, but thanks to her grandfather’s will, she needs one, and soon. Impulsively, she proposes to a stranger in the conference room at the advertising agency for which she works.

Jonas Spencer has been married before. He’s a cynic, but the chance to be with the beautiful, powerful advertising executive is too good to let pass. He accepts Sabrina’s proposal in exchange for the promise of the passion boiling just below the surface, the passion into which she cannot tap.

Layer by layer, he peels away her carefully-constructed façade, helping Sabrina find passion and showing her the power was always hers. As Sabrina falls in love with Jonas, she must confront the lingering shadows of his first marriage. Can she help him let go of the past, or will he use it to throw away the future?

The Review: At the book’s center is the story of two people involved in a BDSM relationship, trying to make it work within the course of their everyday lives. Michele Zurlo has done an excellent job of creating characters that are easily relatable, and desirable. The reader is led through family issues, love, betrayal – but in such a way that every situation, regardless of how implausible it seems, is fun to read.

My one complaint is on Ms. Zurlo’s writing style. It took me awhile to get into the flow of the story, as the first few chapters involve much ‘telling’ – just plainly explaining to the reader the background story and what’s going on, instead of investing words in description and dialogue. The pattern continues through the book, and left me feeling bored in some spots.

However, Ms. Zurlo’s erotic scenes are superb. She combines the sensual with the forbidden, the romantic with the kinky, in such a way that has you panting and ready to find someone to  “play” with. The characters emotions are clearly revealed, and their desires, while not conventional, are definitely  sexy.

All in all, a good read.

Pagan Elements: no

Cover (Rated 1-10): 7 -  the cover is very sexy, and well done, but generic. It is not specific to the story, and could be used for any title.

Reviewer Top Pick: Her Master's Gift by Dena Celeste

PAGAN & PEN REVIEW

Title:  Her Master’s Gift

Author:  Dena Celeste 

Author Site

Publisher:  Noble Romance Publishing

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance 

Length:  41 pgs.

Other:  BDSM, M/F, M/F/F, whipping, spanking, voyeurism, exhibitionism

Pagan & Pagan Elements: no

Reviewed by: Violet Harper

About The Book: Now that Katie's been collared, she's settling quickly into life with her master, Sam. But she thinks she's ready to expand her experiences and he's quick to help. In fact, Sam has a special gift planned that is sure to delight her, if only she can gather the courage to move beyond the past and accept it without regrets.

The Review: This is easily one of the best BDSM stories I’ve ever read.  I love the way the characters are developed, and the way their relationship is portrayed.  Katie is a real woman, a strong woman who knows what she wants.  Sam is an enviable Dom who makes sure Katie gets what she needs to grow emotionally.  Dena Celeste portrays the D/s relationship in a completely realistic light, including scenes where Sam and Katie do the everyday, mundane things people do in relationships, like have breakfast and discuss their day.  The sex scenes are erotic, sensual, and romantic.  Because it is a short story, we are only treated to glimpses, but it is enough for us to see how completely Sam and Katie love one another.

I’m a sucker for a great love story, and this is definitely one of the best I’ve encountered.  Sam takes care of Katie.  He makes sure she has what she needs, from a chat with a friend to a session in the playroom to help her work past her fear, so that she can successfully pursue the things she wants in life.  I loved that he wasn’t threatened by her attraction to women, that he encouraged her to embrace all the sides of her sexuality without fear, guilt, or regret.  At the end of the day, isn’t that what we all want from a life partner—someone who helps us be a better version of ourselves?

This is the second story by Dena Celeste I’ve read and liked.  I’m definitely a fan, and I’m looking forward to more from her.

Pagan Elements: None

Cover (Rated 1-10): 9—Wow.  Two pairs of sexy female legs and a masculine pair of feet.  I’m not a huge fan of feet, but I am a huge fan of BDSM and this cover definitely announces its intentions.  The ‘G’ in ‘Gift’ is made from a coiled whip.  This cover would entice me to pick this book up and never put it down.

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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.

Reviewer Top Pick: Lush Velvet Nights by Tina Donahue

PAGAN & PEN REVIEW

Title:  Lush Velvet Nights

Author:  Tina Donahue

Author Site

Buy Link

Publisher:  Ellora's Cave

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

Length: 135 pgs.

Other:  M/F/Spanking/Voyeurism/Bondage

Pagan & Pagan Elements:  No/ No

Reviewed by:  Kim Earley

About The Book:  During the day, Adriana's a lonely corporate heiress, helming a supermarket empire. At night, she hires escorts, scripting provocative fantasies of kidnapping, lust, submission and endless longing. It's all she has to excite her until she meets Nathan Wynn. Tall, blond and muscular―like a modern-day Viking―Nathan's a labor relations attorney representing Adriana's union employees. His imposing presence intensifies her basest desires. When he protects her from an escort he believes is an attacker, she knows he's wonderfully dominant and unrestrained. Fascinated by Adriana's underlying sensuality, Nathan brings her to his secluded mountain estate, determined she submit fully to his hunger. At a gentleman's club, he makes certain she denies him nothing. Engaging in a seductive sexual journey, Nathan's caught off-guard by his stunning need for Adriana. An attraction he fears because of past events in his life. A growing emotional connection she will not let him deny.

The Review:   When I see a title from Ellora's Cave, it doesn't take much thought to snatch it up.  I've never read anything by Tina Donahue before, but after reading Lush Velvet Nights, she'll be on the top of my must read list! 

The characters jump off the page and straight into your heart, and the story line is romantic, pulling you in from the first page.  Adriana is an heiress, but far from spoiled.  Tired of dealing with men that want her for her money, she makes a first attempt at hiring an escort service to fulfill a kidnapping fantasy.  Nathan unknowingly rescues her from her would-be attacker, and instead of being repulsed by her hiring the escort service, he finds his attraction to her such that he decides to step into the kidnapper's place, and takes her to his mountain estate. 

Adriana is flawed, she's strong, and she believes wholeheartedly in the love she's found with Nathan.  Nathan is a hedonist, fearful of any sort of commitment.  His words tell her from the first moment that this is a non-relationship, that it's no strings.  She agrees, but longs (at one point weeps, saying to her father figure, “I lied, I want strings.”) for Nathan to return her love.  Will Adriana change Nathan's mind about love, and reach his heart?

Lush Velvet Nights has made it to my Reviewers Top Picks and is likely to stay there for quite some time.  Steamy sex, fantasy pleasures, and characters that pull you into their lives and their hearts will have you reaching for Lush Velvet Nights again and again.  This one is a must-read!

Pagan Elements:   None

Cover (Rated 1-10): 9-The cover is super sexy, and leaves no question as to the heat you'll find inside.

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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.