Spanking Cupid by Dana Littlejohn

THE PAGAN & THE PEN BOOK REVIEWS

Title: Spanking cupid
Author: Dana Littlejohn

Author Site

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Reviewed by: Gabrielle
Publisher:  Secret Cravings Publishing

Genre: Interracial romance/light bdsm/spanking

Length: 35 pgs.

RATINGS FOR:

Cover: 3

Presentation: 4

Editing: 4

Story: 3.5

Writing Ability: 4

Overall Card Rating: 

                                                 

The Book: Sabena Darin had the equivalent of a school girl crush on Gavin Brooks, a guy 
she worked along side of for the last two years. He was volunteered to be the 
office Cupid and pass out the goodies.

As she walked by his office, Sabena saw him bent over retrieving something 
that fell to the floor. Her imagination went crazy and she pictured herself 
slapping his butt with gusto. Gavin caught her eying him and warned her that 
spanking Cupid had consequences.

Despite his warning and with his permission, Sabena gave into her urge. It 

wasn’t until later in the day did find out warnings were put in place for a reason. 

The Review:

Spanking Cupid was an interesting story. I enjoyed much of the bantering that goes on in this story. Sabena is a strong woman who knows what she wants and is not afraid to reach for it. When she finally decides to indulge and play with Gavin her fantasies may become reality. Gavin is a good man who decides to take the matter of Sabena in his own hands, literally. Watching the two reach for their happy ever after was a nice read.

The author does a wonderful job of pulling the reader into the story and kept me entertained all the way to the end. As the title implies, this story does include spanking so if that offends you, you may want to think before reading it. I myself enjoyed this story. I loved seeing a woman who is strong enough to want to explore her needs and wants, as well as a man who is more than willing to help her out.

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.

Aries Rising by Syrell Starr

PAGAN & PEN REVIEW

Title: Aries Rising

Author: Syrell Starr

Author Site

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Publisher: Carnal Passions

Genre: science fiction/erotic romance/M/F

Length: 103 pgs.

Other: Voyeurism; Foot Fetish; Mild Bondage; Spanking

Pagan & Pagan Elements: None

Reviewed by: Karmyn Klein

About The Book: One man has the unique gift of being able to read photographs, and he uses his skill to provide mates for men who pay well for the privilege. Gondar Lem is such a man. Selected to guard a secret that could destroy worlds, he secludes himself on a far away outpost in the middle of nowhere. For nine years he’s lived alone but hopes for the day the matchmaker will find him a special woman.


Sierra Madison poses nude to help raise funds that will pay for her brother’s surgery. Little does she realize what that photograph will cost her. Kidnapped by an alien who claims she was chosen for his mate, she’s whisked away to exotic planets on an adventure that brings her more pleasure than she ever dreamed possible.

The Review: Sierra and her best friend, Candy, are abducted by aliens who treat them little better than property. Luckily, neither of the young women have family ties to earth so they might as well enjoy the intergalactic ride.

Gondar, a man of few words but lots of angst, is determined that Sierra marry him—so much so that he slaps a bonding bracelet on her wrist that not only prevents her from escaping but also makes her more receptive to his advances.

At their first stop over, an alien matchmaker offers up Candy as a bride to a bartender with a knobby, vibrating head. She bulks at the idea at first but quickly jumps into bed with her new husband, leaving Sierra alone with Gondar who makes short work of seducing her with the help of his extra alien “appendage that aids sexual stimulation.”

Although I felt rushed by the author and wish that I was allowed to see more details of the alien worlds, their inhabitants and cultures, Sierra and Candy are likable and fun, and the love scenes are imaginative and unique.

Pagan Elements: None

Cover (Rated 1-10): 10 The cover is amazing! The artist did a fabulous job!

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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. 

A Perfect Game by Reno MacLeod & Jaye Valentine

The Pagan & The Pen Reviews

Title:  A Perfect Game

Author:  Reno MacLeod and Jaye Valentine 

Author Site

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Publisher: Noble Romance Publishing, LLC

Genre: Contemporary Erotic/M/M

Length: 150 pages 

Other: BDSM/Spanking/Gay Lifestyle/Relationships/Teacher/Student Relationships/ Parent/Child Conflict

Pagan & Pagan Elements: None

Reviewed by: Russ Allen

About The Book: Twenty-year-old Christopher "Kit" Pennington dreams of becoming a professional baseball player. He has the talent and the drive needed for the sport, but finds his lack of interest in formal education barring his way. Under threat from his wealthy father, an important alumnus and contributor at the private Christian college Kit attends, Kit has been barely muddling through. Not until the very handsome Liam Dalton replaces one of Kit’s regular professors at the exclusive school does higher learning take on any real meaning.

The Review:  This is an interesting and very readable story of how a relationship between a college professor and one of his students grows from reflecting the fringe elements of homosexual activity to love and marriage. There are a few flaws in its telling, as well as some unresolved problems or unanswered questions, but they do not distract from the overall narrative. The story sheds light on the more extreme aspects of the homosexual lifestyle [called “The Scene”], which might arouse some readers and turn others off.  However, even straight men, as well as gays and bi-sexuals, may find themselves reacting enjoyably to the erotic, and somewhat graphic nature of the descriptions it offers of homosexual activity.

Among the aspects that reduce the quality of the story, in part because of their limited believability or unresolved nature, is Kit’s use of his father’s credit card to fund his sexual exploits, seemingly without his father ever becoming aware of it; the coincidence of Kit running into Liam in an erotic store in Provincetown days after they first meet; the way the story seeks to resolve Kit’s shaky relationship with his father; Liam’s experience with an anal vibrator while teaching his class; the occasionally unfulfilled promised sexual activity, and the idea that a sexual relationship between teacher and student could actually end up in marriage. 

More positively, the way that the story shines light on that part of “The Scene” that includes domination, discipline, ownership of one person by the other, sexual slavery, exhibitionism, physical abuse, and purely physical sex is actually educational for anyone unfamiliar with those practices. This aspect is complex, for while both Liam and Kit are supposedly into these activities, Kit has carefully avoided being dominated, (he is an anal virgin when he meets Liam), while Liam, for all his talk, has very real limits when it comes to these activities. How emotional and physical intimacies interact in the context of this extreme form of homosexuality is not fully resolved, for Liam and Kit move back and forth toward the edge without ever fully engaging in what they say they want. 

More details as to how Liam and Kit came to be who they are when they first meet, especially in terms of their sexual interests, might have helped flesh out the story and enabled the reader to understand why in time their growing personal relationship established limits on their sexual activities.

Nevertheless, taken as a whole this is a revealing look into the dynamics of homosexuality, the difficulties and the risks facing those who engage in its more extreme practices, the prejudice that gays encounter, and the steps men take to achieve a loving and committed relationship.

I recommend this story especially to non-gays as a way of gaining an appreciation for the differences and commonalities that exist between straights and homosexuals.

Pagan Elements: None

Cover (Rated 1-10): 3.  The cover is attractive, but this book is not about baseball, which the cover might lead one to believe.  “A Perfect Game” is actually about the interplay of two people exploring a gay relationship, not the national pastime.  I would not be drawn to, much less purchase or read the book based on the 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.

Do As I Say by Penn Halligan

 PAGAN & PEN REVIEW

Title:  Do As I Say
Author:  Penn Halligan 

Author Site

Buy Link
Publisher:  Noble Romance Publishing

Genre: Contemporary Erotic

Length:  41 pgs.

Other:  BDSM, M/F, Spanking, Voyeurism

Pagan & Pagan Elements: No

Reviewed by: Violet Harper

About The Book:

Mae Southall is an independent woman who is not above breaking the rules if it suits her. She relies on no one but herself. Sex is fine but on her terms. When she meets the darkly handsome and mysterious Rob, Mae learns that sexual submission has its benefits.

Robert Parker is Mae’s new boss. She just doesn’t realize it yet. He has a few rules of his own. The first one is that he’s in control when it comes to sex. Her mind may be her own but her body is his to do with as he wishes. He requires her total surrender to him.

The Review:

One of the biggest misconceptions about BDSM is that it’s forced upon the submissive. Quite the opposite is true. The submissive always has a choice and control. They’re the ones whose needs dictate what the Dom will and won’t do. Those rules and signals are worked out ahead of time for the safety and pleasure of all involved. This story threw all those norms out the window. Robert doesn’t tell Mae she has a choice until after the sex act is accomplished. Even then, it’s not completely believable, but more like a lame attempt to vindicate his actions. He threatens her with having to endure rape at the hands of a random passing (willing?) man if she doesn’t “suck him off”. As a woman and someone well-versed in the BDSM lifestyle, I was appalled at the conditions under which this story set. Rape is about control. BDSM is about pushing boundaries and fulfilling role-playing fantasies. It’s about trust and sharing.

All good relationships—friendly and sexual—are built on a foundation of respect. Refusing to wear a condom isn’t respectful, no matter what a man’s future intentions are with his partner, especially when he doesn’t make them clear to the partner. The lack of a relationship made Rob’s repetitious use of the term ‘baby’ demeaning, though it was probably meant to be a term of endearment.

The character development contradicted itself. First Rob is thinking he would like something more with Mae, then he gets jealous when the male hooker he paid to ‘play’ with Mae (without her prior knowledge or consent—or a condom) gets frisky with her. The reasoning tends to start like this: “He needed Mae to understand and accept what he had already concluded himself. They were meant for each other, destined to be together.” Then, a few paragraphs later: “He knew she was confused. That was understandable. He was feeling a little the same way.” He either thinks they belong together, he isn’t sure, or he doesn’t think they belong together. Vacillating feelings in the last pages do not an HEA make.

The morning after, he leaves her to wake up alone (did he at least leave cab fare?). Then he has the nerve to explain it by saying he left her to think about how much she needs him? Whether or not she realizes it, she’s a victim. She needs a cop and a therapist.  Margaret Atwell wrote a short story called Rape Fantasies. In it, she alludes to the fact that many women have fantasies of being kidnapped and raped by a handsome stranger. I agree Atwell’s premise that women don’t actually want to be raped. (The main character of that story fantasized about talking rapists out of committing this crime.) They want to be surprised, pleasured, pleased. There is a huge difference between setting up a kidnap/bondage scenario with someone you know and trust, and with being forced into various sex acts by a handsome stranger you don’t know and have no reason to trust.

The author clearly has writing talent. Her style was engaging and her characters were realistic. With more attention to the story’s intended message, this could have been a really good tale.

Pagan Elements: none

Cover (Rated 1-10): 5- It has a generic bondage-themed cover with indistinct faces.

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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.