Demon Heart by Nicole Dennis

THE PAGAN & THE PEN BOOK REVIEWS

Title: Demon Heart
Author: Nicole Dennis

Author Site

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Publisher: Breathless Press

Genre:  Contemporary/Fantasy

Length: 63 pgs.
Reviewed by: Gabrielle

RATINGS FOR:

Cover: 4

Presentation: 4

Editing: 4

Story: 4

Writing Ability: 4

Overall Card Rating:   

                                      

About The Book: Running errands before Halloween, Constance Morelli passes a window display and is drawn to a dazzling ruby necklace. Not quite believing the story behind the piece, but intrigued by the possibilities, Constance takes the jewel home, only to find herself in possession of a naked demon-hunk, bound as a sex slave.

After four thousand years of dealing with various mistresses in one sexual way or another, Aramir knows what to expect when he appears in the moonlight. Only this mistress is different. He's fed, clothed, and treated like a real man. Not a slave. What is a bound demon to do with such a lady?

The Review:

I was drawn in to this sweet story right from the beginning. I found myself in a beautiful town with characters full of emotions and depth.

On a whim Constance recites the spell to bring Aramir to her but she is not prepared for it to really work. Once Aramir comes to Constance she finds that she wants more than just a sex slave. I enjoyed watching the bond of love form between Aramir and Constance. Aramir is a demon and when he was young and stupid he was tricked into becoming a sex slave yet one can see he has a heart and a mind. He is willing to fight for whom he loves. Constance is a strong woman who loves with her whole heart and only wants the best for the people she cares about. The relationship that blooms between the two is a great read.

This story is well written and fast paced. It kept me turning the pages to find out just what happen next. I would have liked to have seen a different ending though. With out spoiling the story I can say it just seemed a bit quick for me and did not satisfy my own feelings for Constance and Aramir. The story as a whole is a great read and should not be missed. I would love to meet more of the inhabitants of the quaint little town and will definitely be on the lookout for more books from this author in the future.

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.

Kindred by Rebecca Goings

THE PAGAN & THE PEN BOOK REVIEWS

Title: Kindred

Author: Rebecca Goings  

Author Site

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Publisher: Champagne Books

Genre: Sci-Fi / Fantasy

Length: 84 pgs.
Reviewed by: yadkny

RATINGS FOR:

Cover: 4

Presentation: 4

Editing: 4

Story: 5

Writing Ability: 5

Overall Card Rating: 

                                                         

About The Book: While caring for her dying grandmother, Alana Capria hears the most shocking news of her life.  She's not human, she's a dragon-shifter.  Not only that, she's from the extremely rare and powerful House of the Sun, brought to Earth as a baby to save her from assassins. 

Rionshalintaris is her betrothed, the Crown Prince of Dragoran, and a blue dragon-shifter from the House of Ice.  He's been looking forward to bonding with Alana ever since they were children.  Rion is overjoyed she has returned to Dragoran, and is most eager to claim her as his own.

But the red dragons of the House of Fire endeavor to kidnap Alana in an attempt to overthrow the Crown.  Can Rion protect the woman he loves and bind Alana as his Kindred before it's too late?

The Review: What would you do if you were told by a dying loved one that you weren't completely human? Would you chalk it up to temporary insanity or would you take it to heart and investigate? Interesting question and one that I personally wouldn't know how to respond to, but it's exactly what attracted me to this story.

Alana's life is forever changed when she decides to "humor" her dying grandmother. The life she lead is not at all as it seemed and by taking a leap of faith, she plunges through a magical mirror and right into something out of a story with castles and dragons. Now Alana must face this fantasy world as her new reality and as the betrothed to Crown Prince Rion. Suppressed early memories begin to resurface of her time on Dragoran, as well as the rekindling of an innocent love she'd had for Rion since infancy. Unbeknownst to her, her unique abilities and position in the Dragoran realm puts her in danger of by another dragon clan. It's a race to see who will claim Alana as their Kindred first.

Ms. Goings provided a beautiful setting by taking us to the land of Dragoran where magical creatures take to the skies in amazing colors. I'd like to make mention that the character names are fantastically original and you'll have to read the story to know what I mean. Alana is a very likable character and she embraces the changes to her life with much more grace than I would have. The romance is very sensually written with bursts of passion throughout that will excite any fan of romance. I love being able to immerse myself in a story and that is exactly what this book does. The surrounding details, imagery, and plot points were very well established and creatively clear. There is only one drawback - once you start this story please note that there is an ending and it does come much too quickly.

Recommended reading for those of us who would love to have the ability to fly.

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.

High Heels and Bloodsuckers by Casey Pendelton

THE PAGAN & THE PEN BOOK REVIEWS

Title:  High Heels and Bloodsuckers
Author: Casey Pendelton

Author Site

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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.

Gambling With Love by Kaye Spencer

THE PAGAN & THE PEN BOOK REVIEWS

Title: Gambling With Love
Author: Kaye Spencer

Author Site

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Publisher: Breathless Press

Genre: Erotic Romance

Length: 118 pgs.
Reviewed by: Violet Harper

RATINGS FOR:

Cover: 5

Presentation: 4

Editing: 5

Story: 4

Writing Ability: 4

Overall Card Rating: 

                                                  

About The Book:
Disowned by her wealthy Charleston family when she married a gambler, Lainie Conrad lived a charmed life of European travel, good times, and gambling until Rutherford Tolliver decided to claim Lainie for his own. Now, widowed and certain that Tolliver killed her husband, Lainie plots revenge, but she doesn't want Ford's life. She plans to ruin him in a high-stakes poker game. The problem is, she's fallen for U.S. Marshal Nick Foster, who is duty bound to arrest her for a murder she didn't commit. Derringers, poker, and her feminine wiles become weapons in her quest for retribution.

The Review:

Gambling With Love is an apt title for this novella, and not because the heroine is a gambler. Nick, a U.S. Marshall, is in love with Lainie, a card-playing woman wanted for murder. The writing style is impeccable. It flows and the story moves.

The erotic scenes were by turns funny, sweet, and erotic. Lainie’s love for Nick comes through in each scene, as does her need to find the man who killed her husband and deliver justice to him. Her cleverness in escaping Nick time and again is endearing, as is the fact he doesn’t give up. He wants to make sure no unscrupulous bounty hunters go after her.

I was with the story right up until she seduces both Nick and his partner, AJ. Though everyone consented, they were drunk and it seemed more like a betrayal than anything else. That aside, the ending is exciting, and Nick and Lainie end up together. Overall, I enjoyed my trip to the Wild West.

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.

Carnal Connections by Berengaria Brown

THE PAGAN & THE PEN BOOK REVIEWS

Title: Carnal Connections
Author: Berengaria Brown 

Author Site

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Publisher: Breathless Press

Genre: Erotic/M/M/M

Length: 18 pgs.
Reviewed by: Russ Allen

RATINGS FOR:

Cover: 4

Presentation: 3

Editing: 4

Story: 2

Writing Ability: 3

Overall Card Rating: 

                                                 

About The Book:  Three gay guys meet at a gay wedding and spend the night in a hotel having acrobatic sex that leads them to consider a future relationship built on their orgies.

The Review: The above summary reveals the problem with this story: That is all there is.  The significance of its context: a same-sex wedding; is overlooked; the connection between the three men and the happy couple is barely mentioned; there is no real character development of the three main participants.  All we now is that they are gay, come on to each other, and retire to a hotel room for their orgy. 

As with many efforts to describe acrobatic sex, this writer is not able to do so in more than a mechanical way, similar to the way many adult movies get bogged down in 15-minute blowjobs or prolonged and unrealistic non-orgasmic intercourse.  In each case, after a while the reader/viewer is bored and turned off.  A story that wishes to be erotic needs to engage the reader’s imagination in what the participants are doing, otherwise the result is pornography that in times becomes tedious and pointless.  Whatever the intention of this author, gay porn is the result.

The author writes well [not great], and has an ability to imagine what a gay three-some orgy might be like.  Unfortunately, the absence of fuller development of the story before, during, and after the events in the hotel room leaves the reader only with that scene, and its mechanical description of sexual acrobatics fails in the end to engage the reader as the author might have wished.

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 Unnecessary Bodyguard by Evie Balos

THE PAGAN & THE PEN BOOK REVIEWS

Title: The Unnecessary Bodyguard
Author: Evie Balos   

Author Site

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Publisher: Cobblestone Press

Genre: Erotic/Romance/M-F

Length: 45 pgs.
Reviewed by: Strega

RATINGS FOR:

Cover: 3

Presentation: 4

Editing: 4

Story: 4

Writing Ability: 4

Overall Card Rating: 

                                               

About The Book: Nina Bradley doesn't pay attention to her friend's premonition that she'll be attacked by a vampire. She discovers Daphne's assigned a dhampir bodyguard to her and clearly objects. Worse, she finds him terribly attractive, but he’s half vampire. They don’t suit. A good reason to stop fantasizing about him. 

Jovan Markovic wants to keep things professional between him and his beautiful client, but his desire for her is spiralling out of control. He ought to assign someone else to the case, but he won’t. He ought to use his lover to erase Nina from his mind, but he can’t…  

The Review: I enjoyed this story and found the beginning paragraphs very interesting and original. However, when the switch was made to the heroine's POV, I found the story turning a bit more generic. I also felt the story could have benefited from being longer as it seemed a bit rushed in some parts. I felt as if the characters were jumping ahead too fast and I was left behind. The Dhampir history is new to me and I think perhaps more emphasis should have been put on that part rather than on the heroine. I think perhaps female authors tend to think the heroine in a story is more appealing to female readers, perhaps they are able to relate more to the female lead or something. Perhaps they are. As for me, I much prefer the male lead's story, and that is especially true in The Unnecessary Bodyguard.

This is a short story, only about fifty pages but it's a quickie worth your money for a hot little snack with your lunch!

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.