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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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.

High Heels and Bloodsuckers by Casey Pendelton

THE PAGAN & THE PEN BOOK REVIEWS

Title:  High Heels and Bloodsuckers
Author: Casey Pendelton

Author Site

Buy Link 
Publisher: eXstasy Books

Genre: Paranormal/Erotica

Length: 224 pgs.
Reviewed by: Violet Harper

RATINGS FOR:

Cover: 4

Presentation: 5

Editing: 5

Story: 4

Writing Ability: 4

Overall Card Rating:

                                               

About The Book: 

Trish never asked to be the human queen of a vampire Collective. She enjoyed her life as a wedding planner and the long-term fiancée to a prominent doctor. Even so, she can’t deny the sudden thrill of sharing sexual power with hundreds of hungry night creatures turns her on.

Even more exciting than the exhibitionist appeal of her royal duties is king of the neighboring Collective. Remy becomes her mate and partner in harnessing the ritual power needed to overthrow a common foe. Little does she know the pleasure she experiences with him is just the first of many delights she will share with him and Damien, her dark-haired goth-child of an assistant.

The Review:

High Heels and Bloodsuckers has a little something for everyone. The heroine is an easily-manipulated mama’s girl who finds her inner avenging angel. The bad people are clearly labeled with good looks, great manners, and tons of arrogance. The hero is a mountain man whose appearance hides the gentleman inside. It’s a hodge-podge of types who work well together in this vampiric adventure.

The plot is fast-paced and full of action. Nobody gets more than a moment’s rest as threat after threat surfaces. The constant conflict, all of which were easily solved by the ever-increasing power of our heroes, makes this story something you’ll want to spread out over a few readings.

The love scenes were sometimes erotic, sometimes sweet, and sometimes fun, depending upon the situation. It’s different from a straight-up erotic romance because the sex scenes serve to further the plot and develop the characters.

Overall, this was a fun and interesting story. Casey Pendelton definitely knows how to envision an epic tale.

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.

Mr. Postman by A. Campbell

THE PAGAN & THE PEN BOOK REVIEWS

Title: Mr. Postman
Author: A. Campbell

Author Site

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Publisher: Breathless Press

Genre: Erotica

Length: 16
Reviewed by: Strega

RATINGS FOR:

Cover: 4

Presentation: 4

Editing: 4

Story: 4

Writing Ability: 5

Overall Card Rating: 

                                                    

About The Book: Selena is waiting for a very special, top-secret package. When the postman arrives with her delivery and seems to know what the box contains, Selena decides to have a little fun. After all, what’s better than a postman who can deliver more than just your mail?

The Review: When Selena's package arrives it's been a little crushed and she inspects it for damage. After all, there's "vibrators, dildos and butt plugs, oh my!" just waiting to entertain her for the weekend. The postman is described as being hot, hunky, the usual type in these books, which does not describe my postman in any way.

Both of these people are horny and ready to dive right into a sexual encounter with Selena in total control. The story is short, hot and to the point. If you like flowery descriptions and those sweet words to describe human anatomy, this isn't the story for you.

A. Campbell obviously wrote this story for purely titillation purposes but does so with enough humor that the story flows right along. There's a cute little punch line in the end that actually made me laugh. The cover is enticing and suits the story, only because I suppose putting "vibrators, dildos and butt plugs" would probably offend someone, oh my!

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.

The Viper Prince (Desert Princes of Jikkar, #1) by Rebecca Goings

THE PAGAN & THE PEN BOOK REVIEWS

Title: The Viper Prince (Desert Princes of Jikkar, #1)
Author: Rebecca Goings   

Author Site

Buy Link

Publisher: Carnal Passions

Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Erotica

Length: 52,000 words
Reviewed by: yadkny

RATINGS FOR:

Cover: 5

Presentation: 5

Editing: 5

Story: 5

Writing Ability: 5

Overall Card Rating:

About the book: A successful romance author, Sabine Santiago's latest book is about hot desert sands and a sexy caravan prince. She's dreamt of him every night since buying a coiling viper armband at her local flea market. Little does she know the trinket is about to transport her to another world.

Tariq Sayed is the Viper Prince of Jikkar. For a millennia, the six princes of the Golden Desert have ruled their caravans, providing water for their people and protection from the hot desert sun. Punishment for stealing water is death, so what is Tariq to do when the woman he’s been dreaming of is caught drinking from his oasis?

When their worlds collide, Sabine is dropped right into the plot of one of her books. One look at the sexy Viper, and it's clear that the line between fiction and reality is slim to none. But Tariq has been promised to wed the niece of the Jackal Prince, which will form a strong alliance for his people.

Now, the Viper must choose between his duty and the woman who burns his very soul.

The Review: Two totally separate worlds in the cosmos clash because of an enchanted armband. Completely unaware, Sabine and Tariq are thrust together through a series of events that no one would think possible.  Sabine an author from Earth where water is abundant and Tariq the Viper Prince from Jikkar where water is so scarce the death penalty may be enforced if laws are broken against it.

Rebecca Goings literally crash-lands the reader in an exotic and sensual world of princes and hot desert nights. The imagery and writing is fantastic and I wouldn’t change anything about it. I honestly didn’t think very much from reading the synopsis alone on this book, but decided to give it a try anyway. I’m so glad that I did! It is unlike any other story that I’ve read where a romance author is taken out of her own existence and thrown into one of her very own books. The ‘dreams’ Sabine used as the plotline of her book are actual meetings in another existence with Tariq. The rest of the cast played their roles quite nicely to add depth and elements to the story outside of the two main characters. I honestly couldn’t have asked for a more well rounded read other than to say that I wish it was longer so as to give a glimpse of what happens now in the life of Sabine and Tariq. After meeting a few of the other princes featured in this story, the rest of the series looks very promising as well. This story is sexy, romantic, suspenseful, magical, and above all absolutely brilliant! I’m proud to say this book is going in my re-read pile.

Recommended reading for those seeking a highly sensual magic carpet ride and horse ride through the desert with one very sexy Viper Prince.

Pagan Elements: None.

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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.

Fetish Club Series: Dominated (#2) and Fallen (#3) by Ava Delany

THE PAGAN & THE PEN BOOK REVIEWS

Title: Fetish Club Series: Dominated (#2) and Fallen (#3)
Author: Ava Delany

Author Site

Buy Links:

Fallen

Dominated
Publisher: Breathless Press, 

Genre: BDSM/Erotica

Length: Dominated: 19 pages/Fallen: 21 pages
Other: BDSM*M/F*Spanking*Voyeurism

Reviewed by: Violet Harper

About The Book:

Dominated: Jacqueline dominates her world, all day, every day. When she takes her friend to a fetish club, everyone expects her to be in control. Ethan, the owner of the club, has no time for anything other than work. When Jacqueline stumbles into his office by mistake, however, he teaches her the sensual pleasure which can only come from being dominated.

Fallen: Straitlaced Mandy never does anything wild. She's never even had an orgasm, but when friends take her to a fetish club to celebrate her twenty-fifth birthday, all that will change. Peter may be a buttoned-down market analyst, but he'll show Mandy that corporate and wild can mix very well.

The Review: These were two part of a four part series of short stories. The two stories I read had the exact same first chapter. It threw me off at first, but the rest of the chapters more than made up for the repetition. 

Dominated features a submissive woman who finds a hot evening with a male Dom. They don’t know one another beforehand, and they do end it with the promise of a maybe. Ms. Delany does a nice job heating up the place with a hot encounter between strangers. The reader doesn’t need this to develop into something more because this is about Jacqueline finding some bliss. It was a short read, very erotic and very well done.

In Fallen, Ms. Delany did an excellent job of bringing the reader into a fantasy world they may never want to leave. Mandy and Peter are in costume. Neither of them are themselves, and that gives them the freedom to act out a fantasy that will make the reader need a cold shower, a warm body, or a favorite toy afterward. The build-up in Fallen was even better than the rising action in Dominated. I do wish I had the first and fourth stories in the series to make this a complete experience. Luckily, each story is complete and fulfilling. I highly recommend these if you want a high-quality quickie.

Pagan Elements: It’s a little bit of a stretch, but Fallen centers on a scenario where the guy is dressed up like Pan and the woman is dressed up like an angel. It’s more of a role play, completely not meaningful in a Pagan context.

Cover (Rated 1-10): 8- The covers let you know exactly what you’re getting into. They’re attractive and hot.

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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.

Strapless by Honoria Ravena

                                                     

                                                   PAGAN & PEN BOOK REVIEWS

Title:  Strapless
Author:  Honoria Ravena

Author Site

Buy Link
Publisher:  Breathless Press

Genre: Erotica

Length: 6 pgs.
Other:  F/F

Reviewed by: Violet Harper

The Book: Suffering from heartache over her broken engagement, Nadia has sworn off men. Elisheba, who has been a confidant throughout the break up, has always stood by Nadia—but Elisheba has more on her mind than friendship.

The Review: This was a quickie.  Literally.  It’s a six page story about two women having sex. I approached this story with a ton of interest, seeing as how I walk on the lesbian side of things and there is an incredible shortage of good lesbian erotica.  This wasn’t bad.  Because it was a quickie, there was no plot.  Two friends meet at a bar.  One is getting over a failed relationship with a man. The other comes out of the closet and suggests that being with a woman could be a fun way to find uncomplicated sexual release. Some people out there might question how it could escape someone’s notice that their best friend is a lesbian, but you’d be surprised at what people don’t know until they’re told.  It’s a completely believable premise.

I can’t say that either of the women are lesbians—bisexual might be a more appropriate term—and neither of them is looking for something more than multiple orgasms.  I get the sense that they will go back to men and pretend their night never happened, though there are hints that Elisheba is more into women than Nadia.  We’ll never know unless Ms. Ravena delivers another installment. (Hint, hint.)

I liked the writing style.  It was friendly, clean and clear.  It held my interest from the first word to the last, and not because of the topic.  There was a good amount of description, which is essential with erotica, and it was a hot read.  I recommend this to anyone looking to read about a short, hot encounter between women.

Pagan Elements: None

Cover (Rated 1-10): 4-It’s a woman holding a lily. The top half of her face is gone. I kept checking the size and making sure it loaded correctly because it just doesn’t look right. It’s a pretty cover, but I fail to see what it has to do with the story. If I saw this in a store, I would think it was chick lit, not erotica.

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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 Long, Hot, Delicious Slide by H.C. Brown

PAGAN & PEN REVIEW

Title:  A Long, Hot, Delicious Slide
Author:  H. C. Brown

Author Site

Buy Link
Publisher:  Noble Romance Publishing

Genre: Contemporary erotica/Paranormal

Length: 43 pages
Other:  M/F-M/M

Pagan Elements: Yes

Reviewed by: Russ Allen

About The Book: The son of a millionaire, Cooper Merrick's life could not be better, except for his marriage and his father. To solve one problem would only increase the other.  Nevertheless he divorces his wife, Gillian, after both separately have sex with Troy, her tennis coach whom she brings home for a ménage a trois, and he decides he is gay.  He then comes out to his hot gym buddy, Jax Strand, who has lusted after Coop for years. After having sex they decide to pursue a relationship—but will that be possible after Coop discovers Jax's incredible secret? Will both of them survive the homicidal response of Coop’s father to their plans?  In the end will they find a way to live in both their worlds? [Edited from the Publisher’s Book Blurb, in part due to an error in that description].

The Review: This is a fairly average story with a few high points, some weaknesses, and one aspect that, had the author focused and expanded upon it, could have improved the whole.

On the plus side are the events leading to Cooper’s divorce from Gillian, which actually results from Coop’s realizing his true sexual orientation.  Though the gay sex portrayed in the story is typical to that in similar stories: impetuous; acrobatic; exaggerated; promiscuous; originating in lust but, in the case of Coop and Jax, becoming an expression of love; these incidents are well told and adequately erotic.  So too, the description of the developing relationship of Coop and Jax is among the best of the story, though the post-divorce Coop comes across  immature while Jax is clearly the adult.

The spectrum of the response of Coop’s father to his divorce, homosexuality, and decision to stay with Jax, from trying to kill them to approving of their relationship, stretches the imagination.

The most positive aspect of this story is its all too few glimpses into Jax as a gay Faerie [no pun intended] and his “Other World.”  If those parts had been expanded and elaborated upon, including a very open approach to sexual activity, the story would have been more interesting and well above average.

Pagan Elements: This story contains characters that are identified as “ Fae” and “Faerie,” and contains passages that reflect their reality and glimpses into “Other World.”

Cover (Rated 1-10): 3. The two men on the cover look younger than those portrayed in the story, and the expression on the face of one [not the Faerie] lacks any emotion despite the erotic setting. However, the fact that the other is a Faerie is conveyed by his wings suggesting that element of the story.  I am at a loss as to the reason for the title, and would probably not be drawn to the book by it or the cover illustration.

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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.

Far From Innocent by Arlene Knowell

PAGAN & PEN REVIEW

Title:  Far From Innocent
Author:  Arlene Knowell

Author Site

Buy Link
Publisher: Carnal Passions

Genre: Erotica

Length: 92 pgs.
Other:  M/F * M/F/M 

Reviewed by: Violet Harper

About The Book: If Green Beret, Dex McKelvy, hadn't ended their relationship, Rachel Kenyon would have never left town. She would have stayed with him, enjoying the hot lustful sex. But with a broken heart she made her way to start a new life and job in Hopkinsville, KY. She never expected to meet Blake Linden, or to wake up with him in her bed. Blake was more than just a lover, he was a sexual God. He was protective, and it was no surprise that he'd sent the private detective hired by Dex packing back to Denver. It was a surprise however, that he and Dex knew each other. In fact, they'd shared a woman a decade ago. But once they'd shared Rachel, it was far too late to realize that they weren't willing to share after all.

The Review:This story left me with mixed feelings. I’m happy that Rachel ended up with the right man, but I have a hard time believing in any of the relationships. They aren’t developed. We’re told she loves Dex. We’re told she loves Blake. She has a lot of tepid sex with both of them.  At one point, she has them at the same time, but both the men were inebriated and she wasn’t really given a vote. It wasn’t quite rape, but it wasn’t preplanned, and there was no clear consent.

Emotionality was completely lacking in the erotic scenes. It was difficult to connect with the characters because so much of the story was peppered with summaries that tell the reader about the character instead of showing us through their words and actions.

Half of the novella details Rachel’s failed relationship with Dex. While he has issues respecting women, she seems to have issues with falling into bed with every big Special Forces man she meets. I also question why she would abandon a job with a salary and benefits for a waitressing position. She had fifteen years’ experience and good references.  Maybe I’m showing my age, but I kept thinking that a woman who sleeps around as much as she does, having unprotected sex with men who sleep around, really needs health insurance. Then again, if she was that responsible, I’m sure she would have insisted her partners use a condom.

Even though it lacked detail, the writing wasn’t bad, the story was entertaining, and it was a fast read. 

Pagan Elements: None

Cover (Rated 1-10): 5-I would rate the cover higher because it’s very sexy, but the freakishly long nails on the hand holding the one breast didn’t appeal to me. Even after I untangled the arms to realize she’s holding her own breast, the nails were still off-putting.

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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.

Analysis of Love by Fiona McGier

PAGAN & PEN REVIEW

Title:  Analysis of Love

Author:  Fiona McGrier

Author Site

Buy Link 

Publisher: Wings ePress, Inc.

Genre: Erotica 

Length: 248 pgs.

Other: M/F/rape

Reviewed by: Violet Harper

About The Book: Catalina Reyes has always been in charge around men. She is the embodiment of a “hot Latina”, and she has enticed many a man to “take a walk on the salsa side of life”. The only problem for her is that she gets bored so easily. When men are ridiculously easy to get, they are replaceable also. Or so she has always thought.

When her boss’ boss assigns her to pose as a client with the blind analyst who he feels ruined his son’s life, he wants her to first seduce him, then destroy the doctor’s reputation. She has no choice, since firing her is only the first thing he will do to her, if she does not do as he orders. She is at first, thrilled that the doctor is such an attractive man, making the first part of her assignment something she would willingly do anyway. But something about the doctor makes him different from other men she has been with… has Catalina finally met her match?

The Review: If you’ve ever been stuck in a line next to someone who thinks you want to know everything about every member of their family, then you have an idea what the first five pages of this novel are like. This kind of exposition goes in one ear and out the other, and it’s better left unsaid until the appropriate time. Another thing that I found puzzling was the fact that all of the clichéd statements were italicized. (See above.) An author should strive to avoid using overused phrases, not italicize them to draw attention to them.

This novel suffered from head hopping, but that was the least of its problems.  The characters were not likable and the plot, besides dragging on for far too long, was horrifying.  It begins like this: 

Chapter 1:  Catalina enjoys sleeping around and she enjoys the bonuses from helping her boss ruin people.  Chapter 2: Catalina is appalled when her boss wants her to seduce a blind therapist. 

The dialogue only added to the exposition. At times, it felt like alternating between listening to Supermarket Woman speak and reading my old college psychology and sociology textbooks. I wish the author had spent a little more time with those texts because then she might have realized a few things.  First, the therapist does all the talking.  He lets her make him talk. This is completely unprofessional. A therapist who is supposed to be that well-trained isn’t going to be led that easily, especially by someone with whom he has little in common. 

Second, she pretty much rapes him—yes, men can be raped.  They can even ejaculate during the act.  That doesn’t make it consensual.  It isn’t hot or erotic, it’s disgusting and wrong.  Afterward, he continues to ‘see’ her professionally, but the sessions read more like dates, which is seriously creepy.

Some people might overlook the beginning and focus on the drama of Catalina double-crossing the publisher to prove her loyalty to Evan. They might like that the two forge a relationship during the second half of the novel. To me, none of that is relevant in the face of what happened at the beginning.

Pagan Elements: None

Cover (Rated 1-10):

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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.