Reconstructing Meredith by Lauren Gallagher

The Pagan & The Pen Book Reviews

Title: Reconstructing Meredith
Author: Lauren Gallagher 

Author Site

Buy Link
Publisher: Carnal Passions

Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance/ BDSM

Length: 231 pgs.
Reviewed by: Violet

RATINGS FOR:

Cover: 5

Presentation: 5

Editing: 5

Story: 5

Writing Ability: 5

Overall Score:

                             

The Book:

“Scott, I need your help.”

Five words from a woman he hasn’t seen in five years, and Scott Moore’s world is thrown off its axis. Ex-girlfriend Meredith has resurfaced with a past full of horrific abuse at the hands of a man who called himself a Dom, and she has the scars to prove it. Now she needs Scott’s help to reclaim her sexuality and put the past behind her.

Scott is more than willing to help, but he has no idea the toll it will take on him, not to mention his other polyamourous relationships. What’s more, while Scott and Meredith face down her demons, their own past won’t be forgotten. Neither will Scott’s feelings for Meredith…

The Review:

Having read Light Switch last time around, I had to dive right into Reconstructing Meredith if only to see what happened with Scott, Kristin, and Matt.  When reading the second book in a series, I think most people expect to read something with the same tone and a similar plot.  With Reconstructing Meredith, Gallagher blows that completely out of the water.

The incredible writing with the fast pace and layered plot was definitely there.  The riveting characters, who become real to the reader from the first page are there.  However, the tone of the novel is completely different.  Where Light Switch was a deep, emotionally-entangling read, it’s completely light-hearted when compared to the heavy issues Gallagher takes on. Now that she’s addressed many of the popular misconceptions about some BDSM relationships, she’s taking on what happens when an abusive person hides behind the “Dom” label.

This wasn’t an easy read.  Parts were hard to take, in large part because Scott is so affected by the abuse his ex-girlfriend, Meredith, suffered at the hands of her ex-husband.  His big heart—how many guys can carry on loving relationships with two or three women in a way that none of them are jealous of the other—leads him down the long road of helping Meredith recover sexually from the years of imprisonment and abuse she endured. That’s the hard part.  He has to help her heal, and of course he still loves her. The processes are long and messy, heart breaking and hope building. It’s always been difficult for me to read about abuse of any kind, and this was no different. Scott helped me get through it as much as he helped Meredith. That really says something about the talent and skill of an author when they can do that.

In a lot of ways, this is more the second part of Light Switch and less a sequel.  Threads left dangling are all neatly wrapped up at the end of Reconstructing Meredith. Scott and Meredith really worked for their happily-ever-after, and I was happy to see that Kristin and Matt got one, too. I’m not sure which two books I’m going to have to kick out of my top ten list in order to fit these in, but they’re up near the top.

Pagan Elements: N/A

Light Switch by Lauren Gallagher

                                  

THE PAGAN & THE PEN BOOK REVIEWS

Title: Light Switch
Author: Lauren Gallagher 

Author Site

Buy Link

Amazon
Publisher: Carnal Passions

Genre: Erotic/Contemporary/Romance

Length: 324 pgs.
Reviewed by: Violet

RATINGS FOR:

Cover: 5

Presentation: 5

Editing: 5

Story: 5

Writing Ability: 5

Overall Card Rating:

                                                                                                

About The Book:

After far too much lackluster sex with her now-ex-boyfriend, Kristen Locke isn’t just ready to try something new - she’s ready to try everything. And as luck would have it, two of her good friends are more than willing to introduce her to the kinkier side of life.

Experienced dominant Scott Moore wants to bring out the submissive in her.

Neighbor and voyeur Matt Sommers quite literally sees the exhibitionist in her.

Little by little, they open up a whole new world to her, and Kristen’s about to learn that love can be found in the most unusual places…

The Review:

Light Switch is a slow introduction into the BDSM lifestyle. With one smoking hot scene after another, Gallagher takes us on an incredible journey through Kristin as she discovers the delights of BDSM with one of her close friends, Scott, and the delights of exhibitionism with her other close friend, Matt.  As she learns about what it means to be a submissive from Scott, Kristin learns about what it means to be loved and cherished.  Matt is a neighbor who starts out as a spectator and later becomes part of the action.

One of the many things I loved about this novel was the way Gallagher went out of her way to portray the intimacy that springs up between a Dom and a sub in a healthy relationship. Nobody can hand over that much control to another person without profound emotional repercussions.  Light Switch, which is a pun I’ll leave you to figure out when you read this novel—because you’re really missing out if you don’t—is erotic, fun, and romantic. It’s a novel that will have you reading it again and again and again. These are characters that stay with you, and this is a story that resonates on the deepest levels of your soul.

As Kristin’s relationship with Scott, which comprises the bulk of the action, develops, her relationship with Matt blossoms. As a reader, I was torn because both Kristin and Matt make it clear early on that they aren’t the kind of people who could be happy in a polyamorous relationship. I didn’t want her to end things with Scott because he helped her grow so much as a person, and I didn’t want to see her lose Matt because he seemed to be another piece of her soul.  I’m still not sure I like the ending, though it is a happily-for-now for everyone, because I think both Kristin and Matt compromised rather than lose each other. Perhaps this will all be ironed out in Reconstructing Meredith, which is next on my Must Read list and features Scott.

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.

Dinner Delights by Berengaria Brown

THE PAGAN & THE PEN BOOK REVIEWS

Title: Dinner Delights
Author: Berengaria Brown

Author Site

Buy Link
Publisher: Breathless Press

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

Length:10 pgs.

RATINGS FOR:

Cover: 3-The cover features a couple dressed for a night on the town, which is close to how the story starts, but it cuts off their faces. It would have been more effective with faces.

Presentation: 4-The only issue I had was the number of blank pages. The document is 18 pages long. The story takes only ten of those pages.

Editing: 5

Story: 4

Writing Ability: 5

Reviewed by: Violet Harper

About The Book: Krystal and Troy attend a retirement dinner as friends and leave as lovers.

 The Review: The story begins with two friends at a retirement dinner party.  He’s hot and she’s accepted that people will judge her for the little bit of extra weight she carries. Krystal values her friendship with Troy and she is excited when he makes an unexpected pass at her. The erotic scene was hot and sweet. 


The only thing that gave me pause was that Krystal hopped into bed with Troy after the narration discloses that she would never consider sleeping with him because it would compromise their friendship. It seems like a one-nighter until the next morning when Troy says they belong together. Krystal, true to character, won’t make the first move at suggesting a permanent relationship.  The reader expects Troy to be the aggressor there, too. I was worried that she ruined the friendship, even though she didn’t seem to be concerned about that anymore.


Overall, it was an enjoyable quick read with likeable characters, a quick burst of eroticism, and a plot that will fulfill the fantasies many people have about their attractive co-workers. The writing was interesting and it flowed naturally. Ms. Brown clearly has talent. 

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.

Devon Falls Series by Raine Delight

 

                                          

PAGAN & THE PEN BOOK REVIEWS

Title:  Devon Falls Series: Fiery Magic, Haunting Magic, Red Hot Magic, Sticky Magic
Author:  Raine Delight

Author Site

Buy Link: 

Fiery Magic

Haunting Magic

Red Hot Magic

Sticky Magic
Publisher:  Aspen Mountain Press

Genre: Erotic Romance/Paranormal 

Length: 25-48 pages each
Other: M/F

Reviewed by: Violet Harper

About The Book: Fiery Magic: Damien Dracon is back in Devon Falls, and he is about to woo the one lady he left three years ago. Family secrets and youthful pride forced him to give up the one good thing in his life: the love of Alicia Stevens. What he doesn't expect is that Alicia has a secret of her own, and it may just tear them apart. Can two former lovers find it in themselves to forgive one another and let love grow between them? Or will past secrets haunt them and tear them apart? This 4th of July is about to get explosive in Devon Falls.

Haunting Magic: Rodrick Dracon is the twin heir to the Dragon Inn. When he finds himself longing for a mate after being footloose and fancy free, he finds himself drawn to the most obnoxious, brassy woman he has ever met: Jaxon Sinclair. She is the one woman who doesn't melt when he goes by or hangs on his every word. She is just aggravating and down right sexy as sin! Soon the sparks fly, passion goes into boiling and Halloween approaches. Can a wolf shifter get this woman to heel before the full moon? Or can Jax turn the tables on this ladies man and tame the wolf?

Red Hot Magic: With the help of a charity fundraiser, Jenna sets her friend, Raven, up to find Mr. Perfect.  Raven though, has found Mr. Perfect...in her dreams. Now, if she could only find the sexy man in real life.

Sticky Magic: When a stranger stops in at her shop, Jenna is surprised by the immediate attraction. Apparently, Marc is too because he wants to get to know Jenna. A whole lot better and won’t take no for an answer.

The Review: The town of Devon Falls is home to some different kinds of people. From a family of shapeshifters to mages and dreamwalkers, the men have a little bit of everything. This idea creates a setting ripe for a series of stories about this town’s unique inhabitants.

Each of the short stories is set up along similar plot lines.  Two people, destined to be together, meet and have sex, which means they live happily ever after.  In two of the stories, the couples had established a previous relationships, whether as former lovers or as mutual antagonists. The other two operated on the love-at-first-sight premise.

Of all the stories, Haunting Magic is the best and the longest. It’s the only one where there was more than a minimal attempt to let the story unfold and to develop the characters at all. It was also free of plot incongruities that plagued the rest of the stories. The remaining of the stories read like summaries until the obligatory sex scene. I can honestly say that I didn’t feel much heat or emotion in any of the stories, and this was due to the lack of character development. Of course, the repeated phrase ‘drunken monkey sex’ doesn’t do much to set the mood, either.

The writing style is very amateurish. Clichéd statements pepper prose that is at times awkward and unwieldy. For example: ‘Raven walked into the Inn decorated with flying cupids and hearts hanging from the ceiling.’ According to this sentence, Raven (the character) is decorated with cupids and hearts.

All of the stories suffered from head-hopping. A section might start out from the woman’s point of view and shift to the man’s point of view and back again within four paragraphs.  Things like this, when added to the numerous grammatical errors, make it seem like this is something that came out of a freshman creative writing class. While there is potential here, and I saw growth from the first to the last story, it has yet to be realized.

Pagan Elements: None. Though the books contain magical creatures, everything is firmly rooted in Christianity.

Cover (Rated 1-10): 5-The covers were average as far as production quality goes.  The content of each was sweet, but they were generalized and they could have gone with any book.  Nothing visual ties the four together as a series.

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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.

The God's Wife by Lena Austin

The Pagan & The Pen Reviews

Title:  The God’s Wife

Author:  Lena Austin

Author Site

Buy Link

Publisher: Aspen Mountain Press

Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance

Length: 222 pgs.

Other:  M/F/rape

Reviewed by: Violet Harper

The Book: Hatshepsut is a God’s Wife, a member of a secret political society of Egyptian noblewomen who use whatever it takes for the good of Egypt—money, assassination, even sex. Royal by birth, her entire life is spent in training to be the consort of the Pharaoh, Tutmose.

Despite her love for Senmut, who as a humble scribe is an unacceptable husband, Hati succeeds in winning the Pharaoh’s affections. But when Tutmose dies unexpectedly she is left as Regent of Egypt and pregnant with the dead Pharaoh’s heir.

Akenmose, her husband’s brother, is plotting to kill her and the babe—and to take the throne of Egypt for himself. Hati must protect Egypt against his deadly schemes until her son is old enough to take the throne. With Senmut and the God’s Wives standing behind her, Hati will use every weapon she finds to keep her infant son alive. Will her sacrifices be enough to save Egypt? Or will Akenmose’s schemes succeed despite the power of the God’s Wife?

The Review: Hatshepsut has long been a controversial figure from ancient Egypt.  She was the first female regent to exercise the full power of a Pharaoh.  She assumed the appearance of a man to keep others from challenging her claim.  Not much is known about her historically because everything she left behind was obliterated.  Her name and face were removed from pillars and tombs.  The discovery of her existence was accidental.  Scholars have ideas about why this might have happened, but no hard evidence.

Lena Austin takes the mystique behind Hatshepsut and spins a wonderfully believable tale about what kind of person she might have been and how the events in her life might have unfolded. Adding in the concept of the God’s Wives, a group of women who secretly wield all the power in Egypt, Ms. Austin creates one of the best tales I’ve had the pleasure to read. The God’s Wives are good women, charged with keeping all of Egypt safe and healthy. Not since I, Claudius have I been so enraptured by the tale of an ancient ruler. 

Rarely does historical fiction take a reader so into a time period that an interruption in reading causes the reader to blink and wonder why she isn’t in Egypt. The details of the description create vivid pictures for the reader without overwhelming them with information and needless facts. Even someone unfamiliar with ancient Egyptian culture would have an easy time figuring it all out.

Though it was not a quick read, it moved fast and it kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was going to happen next. This is one of those undiscovered gems that should be on the New York Times Bestseller list. Lovers of historical fiction will find this one of those novels you want to read over and over again because the characters and the story are so riveting. Upon rereading it, discoveries will be made about details that seemed irrelevant or just there for the sake of description. They will reveal themselves to be important background knowledge or foreshadowing.

I loved the strong characters and how real they became to me. This story had it all—love, hate, sacrifices, murder, betrayal, sword fights, espionage, royal intrigue, soul-searching, and true friendship. The complex plot is worthy of the complex characters.  The God’s Wife is an expertly woven epic tale that should be read by everyone.

Pagan Elements:

The God’s Wives are a group of women with different abilities. Some have the gift of precognition, others can sense or control the emotions or thought of people around them, and others are trained in the properties and uses of herbs, flowers, etc. The secretly rule Egypt, keeping it safe from evil. Whether or not you recognize the specific Egyptian Gods and Goddesses they cite, all Pagans will recognize and appreciate the underlying principles guiding The God’s Wives.

Cover (Rated 1-10): 7-Shades of gold and hieroglyphics catch the eye, but it’s a generic cover that could go with any Egyptian romance novel.

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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.

Off Limits by Stella Noble

                                        The Pagan & The Pen Reviews

Title: Off Limits

Author: Stella Noble 

Author Site

Buy Link

Publisher: Juke Joint Press

Genre: Erotic/Contemporary/Romance

Other: M/F/Interracial

Length: 39 pgs.

Reviewed by: Violet Harper

About The Book:

Jake knew Selena was trouble from the first moment he saw her. She's smart, funny, and sexy as hell, and he aches every time he gets near her. But she's also his best friend's sister - so he is determined to stick to the "look but don't touch" policy. But after a wild evening out, Jake is ready to admit his true feelings - regardless of the consequences.

The Review:

This story is one hot little bite. Jake and Selena are perfectly matched in every way.  They’re good friends who find one another very attractive. This quick read is a snippet detailing the moment when they both decide to take what they want and not worry about the consequences. The problem of the brother is handled the way a strong woman who knows what she wants in life handles things. 

I like when a strong woman finds the right lover. Stella Noble’s characters are charismatic and full of life. The writing flows and the storyline moves quickly without leaving out important details. The sex is steamy and the story is satisfying. Or the sex is satisfying and the story is steamy. Either way, you won’t be sorry you read this one.

Pagan Elements: none

Cover (Rated 1-10): 7

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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.

Hell Bent by Arlene Knowell w/Judith Noelle

The Pagan & The Pen Reviews

Title:  Hell Bent
Author: Arlene Knowell with Judith Noelle 

Author Site

Buy Link

Publisher: Carnal Passions

Genre: Contemporary/Erotic Romance

Length: 96 pgs.
Other:  M/F

Reviewed by: Violet Harper

About The Book:

While living with her two Special Forces brothers, the last thing Mindy Austin expected was a stalker. After growing up in a military family, she wanted no part of a military man. So why was she naked on the California Cliffs with the military policeman assigned to her case?

The Review:

You know you’re enjoying a book when you argue with decisions a character makes, even when the decisions are stupid ones you can relate to because you’ve made the same mistakes yourself. Mindy is a woman trying to break free from an upbringing she wants to reject, but she can’t. Falling for Shane means she is consigning herself to the very life she doesn’t want. However, her objections must have been superficial because she sure got over the implications of loving Shane quickly. 

Knowell and Noelle have created four characters that are easy to like, which was a bit of a problem. I liked Mindy’s brothers Pat and Pete as much as the author intended for the reader to like them, but the story should have been told only from Mindy and Shane’s POV. During one point, the narrative shifts to Pat’s point of view, and while I’d love to read both Pat’s and Pete’s stories—this one isn’t it. An editor should have caught that.

In some parts, the order of events is confusing. I overlooked it in the first chapter because I figured that Mindy was so distraught she would be thinking in a random order, and so pertinent information made sense coming out of order. It was a little confusing at first, but it didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the story. However, it happens again when Pat confronts Shane, and then Shane describes getting the phone call that brought him face-to-face with Pat in the first place. This could have been solved by writing the entire scene from Shane’s point of view.

I liked the friendly writing style, and I laughed at some of the similes during sexual situations, like “hovered over her like a plane waiting for permission to land” and “The pressure building within her was intense. It would soon release like her grandmother’s pressure cooker on the stove.” Hell Bent is a cute tale full of romance and suspense, and it’s a great way to spend a relaxing afternoon.

Pagan Elements: None

Cover (Rated 1-10): 7-Two people embracing in front of a postcard view. It’s a pretty cover, but generic.

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 Next Move by Lauren Gallagher

The Pagan & The Pen Reviews

Title: The Next Move

Author: Lauren Gallagher 

Author Site

Buy Link

Publisher: Carnal Passions

Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance

Length: 238 pgs.

Other: (light) BDSM, M/F

Reviewed by: Violet Harper

About The Book: After a quiet evening of chess and wine turns into a sizzling hot night in the bedroom, Christian Bailey and Katrina Morgan think they’ve done irreparable damage to their longstanding friendship. When they sit down to talk things over, though, it isn’t long before they’re in bed again. The sexual chemistry is undeniable, but neither wants to risk their friendship with a relationship, so they agree to a casual arrangement as friends with benefits. The rules are simple: No lying, no strings, and nothing more than friends with benefits. 

What they don’t realize is that at least one of those rules may be harder to follow than they thought, and Chris and Kat may very well be putting their friendship in checkmate. 

The Review: Friends make the best lovers. This is a recurring theme in Ms. Gallagher’s novels, but she treats it differently each time, so it’s not repetitious.  There’s nothing worse than reading an author’s second book to find out that only the character’s names are different.

From the first page, The Next Move drew me in. Like a game of chess, Chris and Kat move through their developing relationship going through great lengths to hide their next move. It’s a story that’s been done before, so it ultimately comes down to the writer’s skill. Ms. Gallagher delivers realistic, likeable people whose yearning for one another that they won’t admit out loud creates a tension that carries through the entire novel. They are friends first and lovers second. As I read, that old Gloria Loring/Carl Anderson song, Friends and Lovers, played through my head. Chris and Kat learn that they can be both to each other.

My only criticism is that the story seemed to drag on for too long. I understand that neither of them wanted to admit a deeper emotional involvement because it would violate the terms of their agreement, thus ending their affair. The scenes that hop back and forth from Chris to Kat fall short of furthering the tension in the novel because the reader isn’t allowed to stay with one character long enough to feel their pain. As a reader, I felt short-changed because I was looking forward to feeling that pain with Kat, and then I wanted to experience her joy when things finally worked out. Later, when Chris ends the affair and we see only Kat’s side, this happens.

Overall, I liked the novel and I recommend it to anyone looking for a good read. I liked the way the metaphor of chess was carried through the entire novel. The sex was hot and erotic, more so as Kat and Chris admitted their feelings for one another to themselves, heightening the emotionality of the scenes. I’m looking forward to reading more from Lauren Gallagher.

Pagan Elements: None

Cover (Rated 1-10): 8-The chess pieces tumbling from the embracing couple catch my eye and make me want to read the book. The come-hither expression on Kat’s face is inviting, but I would have liked to have seen Chris’s eyes.

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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.