Sex On A Stick by Penn Halligan

PAGAN & PEN REVIEW

Title: Sex on a Stick
Author: Penn Halligan

Author Site

Buy Link
Publisher: Noble Romance Publishing

Genre: Contemporary/Erotica

Length: 49 pgs.
Other: Exhibitionism /Voyeurism /WM/WF

Reviewed by: Brandi

About The Book: Romany Belle and Macnair Palmer work for the same company, but they've been enemies ever since they lost important funding for a new project. The last thing they want to do is go away together on a business trip.  However, what starts out as office warfare soon becomes hot, driving need and out of control passion to touch and taste, and very soon, enemies become lovers.

Romany goes from hating Mac to needing him, but now she has a new problem. How to keep their little affair out of the hands of office gossips? How can she pretend indifference when she really wants to fuck the stuffing out of Mac?

The Review: My only issue with this book is the flow of the story. The text begins with a prologue and the rest of the book is told as a flashback. The prologue is unnecessary, and I felt the book would have flowed much better if it had been told in a linear timeline.

 Sex on a Stick is a quick and entertaining read. On the surface, Romany and Mac can’t stand one another, but their attitudes are fueled by their secret desire to be together. The author did a great job of connecting the reader to her character’s motivations and fantasies. Romany and Mac have a definite chemistry, and their sexual exploits are exciting and to the point. It’s always nice to see a full figured gal as the focus of a romantic/erotic story. I look forward to reading more titles by the author.

Pagan Elements: none

Cover (Rated 1-10): 6–pretty cover, but a bit generic and doesn’t match the story.

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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

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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.

Chocolate Snake Bite by Selena Illyria

PAGAN & PEN REVIEW

Title:  Chocolate Snake Bite

Author:  Selena Illyria 

Author Site

Buy Link

Publisher:  Aspen Mountain Press

Genre: Contemporary paranormal, romance, erotica

Length:  88 pages

Other:  Light BDSM *  M/F * M/F/M  * Ménage *  exhibitionism

Pagan & Pagan Elements: no

Reviewed by: Karmyn Klein

Card Rating:  3

About The Book: Every relationship has problems and for months now all Dale and Val have been doing is fighting. He wants it to stop, so drastic times call for drastic measures. Dale takes some Love’s Bane potion, hoping that Val will be too busy lusting after him to fight with him—but sex can’t solve every problem. Once the lust has cooled they are able to talk.

Val doesn’t want just part of her lover. She wants all of him, even the dark aspects of his sexual desire. She yearns for his brand, but every time she brings up the subject, he shuts her down. How can they communicate when he won’t open up?

Will the arrival of his brothers and a trip to the Demonic Snake court help their relationship or hurt it?

The Review: In Selena Illyria’s imaginative world snake demons not only exist among us but they are incredible lovers. Chocolate Snake Bite is a fun romp with two sexy, fun characters who can’t seem to find the trust they need to make the relationship work. I grew frustrated with the story when every trouble in the relationship turned out to be no trouble at all. For example, Dale is afraid that his bite will hurt and possibly kill Val but when he does bite her there’s no tension or worry over it. He doesn’t hold his breath and wait to see if she’s in pain or will survive, even though these were the concerns that prevented him from biting/marking her in the first place, and one of the big reasons for the problems in their relationship. These types of inconsistencies litter the story, leaving me confused and frustrated because if the conflict wasn’t really there to begin with, then there could be no resolution either. Despite my frustration, it’s a fun, quick read with many hot, inventive sex scenes. I read it in one sitting and would absolutely purchase new books in this one-of-a-kind series because the author has such a fresh, original voice and a wonderfully creative world.

Cover (Rated 1-10): 2-While I like that this cover didn't have the usual barely-dressed Barbie and Ken doll gazing into each other's lust-filled eyes, this choice of covers left me confused, and worse, unmoved. The font is difficult to read, especially the author's last name. The scene reminds me of a tropical vacation but that's not what this book is about at all. It's a shame that the cover doesn't do justice to the story.

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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.