YA meets Erotica - successfully
344520
Since other reviewers gave pretty thorough plot summaries, I won't repeat that here. What I will say is that I don't agree that Rush was being "selfish." He was being loyal to family, which isn't something you can dislike him for.

The tone of this book is very YA-lit, perhaps because of the age of the heroine. She's nineteen, and the book is written in the first person, so it definitely shows. It reminds me a bit of the book "Hush" - except that the sex scenes here are explicit. Not gratuitous, just not for young readers. I thought they were both tasteful and arousing, but your preferences in erotic literature may differ from mine.

Overall I think this book is worth reading, but its not the next great American novel. It's a solid, engrossing romance novel with a contemporary setting. It's not obnoxiously "contemporary" though (have you read the ones that seem like a 1980 book with the word 'Internet' chucked in every other page just to make it 'modern'? No thanks!), and the focus is mainly in Blaire and her coming-of-age.

The one thing I'd change? I'd make Blaire older. You usually don't stay with the person you date at 19, so my imagined happily-ever-after (which isn't in this book - it presumably will come in a sequel, coming out in March) would be a bit more plausible if she were older and slightly more experiences. That age aspect is why I gave four stars rather than five.

In sum: No, it's not "North and South." It's not even "Flowers of the Storm." But its good, and if you've got a spare evening or morning to yourself, you should give it a go :-)
257068
Well, that was a pleasant surprise. I went through a YA phase a couple years ago, but almost every YA book I've read since them has made me all sorts of ragey. This was an exception.

I thought Katsa was a marvelously strong female characters, but also able to be compassionate and kind. (Not just a man with tits, which is a very common misrepresentation of strong women in my experience.) In fact, learning this fact was one of her biggest challenges of the book.

I liked seeing a common gender trope turned on its head, as it's usually the tortured hero, instead of a heroine. The few other times I have encountered this, it's been accompanied by an inference that she struggles with her own violence because she's female and a man wouldn't be so bothered, because he's strong enough to handle it. Making her reluctance to kill a gendered fault, not a moral dilemma. I never felt that here, even as Katsa fought to move past being little more than a brute. It was personal growth, not personal weakness.

We had male/female platonic friendships. We had supportive female/female friendships. (It passes the Bechdel test.) We had a same sex couple. We had a male romantic partner that was empathic, expressive and liked pretty things. We had a romantic pairing that was presented as valid, even when it didn't end in wedding bells and baby bonnets. We had men willing to accept a woman as their leader and be more skilled than themselves, without feeling humiliated. So much to appreciate.

I did think Katsa's dislike of dresses and hair and such pretty things compromised the authors attempt to make her both strong and female. Why can't she be a strong fighter and like female things? It's like she can be female and strong, but not feminine and strong. She can remain a woman, but she has to give up the trappings of her gender before she can be convincingly strong and valiant? (This is one of the few man-with-tits strong female character traps I noticed Cashore falling into.)

This and some of Katsa's obliviousness and 'specialness' felt a cliched. As was the use of sexual deviance to make the villain especially evil. This is plot device that has been used so often that it's lost all effectiveness for me. I see it and think, well, the author just grabbed a pre-formed baddie for this one, didn't she? Sexual deviance is frequently used in books to telegraph that a man is not just a bad man (a bad man might just be violent), but a very bad man and if he targets children a very, very bad man. No depth or exploration of character needed, because these actions are already conveniently placed on the continuum of evil for reader connivance. Plus, I didn't really think it matched the tone of the res of the book.

Lastly, I thought there was a notable change of pace between the first and the second half of the book and Katsa was a little too resilient, accomplishing things that really should have killed her, even with her Grace. But all and all, I enjoyed this book.

Note: I bought a physical copy.
411078
I bought this author because I saw that L. James had a lot of "top selling on Amazon" titles and thought it would be a good idea to see what the fuss was about.  I started with this novel because I was looking for something a little racier than the average romance, and have a fondness for Emma Holly's Menage.  It was an excellent choice; I enjoyed this book tremendously.

Should you try it? Plot wise, this book revolves around an M-M-F love triangle and ranchers/rodeo cowboys.  If you find the MMF concept unacceptable or dislike erotica generally, this might not be the book for you.  If you rate that concept anywhere from potentially intriguing to smoking hot fantasy, give yourself a treat and read it. (Plus, the Kindle price is currently under $5 so err or the side of "buy it now".)  You don't even have to like cowboys or westerns to like this story.  Unless you're a freak about series order, this story can stand alone.

The main characters are Chassie, our good, giving, and game heroine, along with macho cowboy Trevor and his old rodeo partner Ed.  There was more to Trevor and Ed's rodeo experience than most realized and they broke things off roughly.  In the intervening years, Trevor has tried to grow up and settled down with Chassie on her family's ranch.  Then Ed shows up and the rekindled fireworks explode their ordered life, despite everyone's best intentions.

Rough, Raw, and Ready is about how Chassie, Trevor, and Ed manage their way through their emotional, financial, and sexual minefield to find a solution that can work for them.  All bonds in this triangle work things out with each other in pairs, CT, CE, and TE as well as for the triad. I think the author manages their paths skillfully and compassionately. (According to her website FAQ where she admits needing to hustle things along, some readers found the timeline a little quick, but it worked for me without the explanation.)  Given the context that this takes place within a family starring in erotica, the acceptance/DADT they do/don't get for their relationships from friends and family seems reasonable.  Their solution and their place in the community reads for me as how I would like reality to work, even if it might be a little too optimistic, and I'm ok with that.

Secondary characters do play a large role in this book, something I find adds to stories when it's done well and it is here.  The good friends give good advice, and are generally supportive.  The bad actors are dealt with.  The family members who are needed for the plot are explained simply and well, without going through a whole family tree (as happens in Book 4).  The backstory with regard to series regulars is sufficient to the task and not intrusive.  I didn't have any trouble reading it out of order as a standalone novel.

Based on enjoying this book (#5 of the Rough Riders), I started buying the series in order, and have since read nearly everything available through Amazon by LJ.  After doing so, I re-read this book, and it held up its 5 star status easily. Lorelei James writes excellent erotic romance.  In my experience this makes her one of few who can pull it off well.  Usually the story or the characterization suffers to get in all the "good parts".  But I don't enjoy "good parts only" erotica; I require good plots and engaging characters who learn and grow. I find the series as a whole quite recommendable, rating most stories at 4 or 5 stars and only a couple less than that.  But I have a definite fondness for this one.

I was very satisfied with how things wrapped up and how they got there.  The emotions were at times wrenching. The sex was extremely hot and somewhat adventurous without getting into overly fetishistic kink - I found it a near perfect balance. The main characters acted like grown ups throughout. To my reading, everyone wins in this story.  I'm recommending it to all my romance reading friends, and now to you too.
4860124
I approached this text with some reluctance, as YA isn't really my genre, but found to my surprise and delight that it was something I looked forward to picking up of an evening. Page's writing style is young, and occasionally a bit saccharine, but her characters are sound and interesting and her worldbuilding, while not at Brandon-Sanderson levels, is fun and detailed.

Primrose Goodwing bets everything on one illicit attempt to become a fairy godmother, handicapped by the inability to keep any magical effect operable past midnight. She discovers the Mortal Vale to be unpredictable and dangerous, and her chosen "Cinderella," Ember, is an uncooperative kid with a good heart but a bad attitude. The pair's dynamic is honest and entertaining, as Prim tries to herd Ember into a life of princes and palaces while Ember remains stubbornly set on helping those around her despite the inconvenience her disinterest causes her fairy godmother. A supporting cast of unlikely allies, annoying villains, and one quixotic unicorn round out the cast. Though the text contains some of the errors typical of self-publication, and the rules of magic are more convenient than stringent, Iffy Magic is an enjoyable piece of YA fantasy and a promising first work for a new author.
4776194
I downloaded The Boss on a whim because 8 liked the author's blogging, particularly her deconstruction of 50 Shades. The Boss is basically 50 Shades with well-rounded characters, a sense of humor, and non-abusive relationships. Oh, and the BDSM stuff is both hotter and more realistic. Totally worth a try, especially as the first book in the series is free. (I  paid for the two sequels, not even for the porn but because I wanted to find out what happened to the characters.)
3026577
Where to begin, where to begin... With that title? Perfect. With the cover? Divinely beautiful. With the genre? Steampunk fab. With the language? Playful, clever goodness. World building? Amazing. Plot? Tight. Protagonists? Super powered teens take on the world.

I think you get the picture. I was supposed to write this review months ago, but the minute I opened this book I realized I wanted to make it last. So I did, rationing out pages here and there and rereading whole chunks of the book. And I think it spoke to me because of the attention to detail by Ms Cross and, of course, because it is this amazing marriage between urban fantasy and historical romance, two genres I love but so rarely coexist in a satisfying way. All the amazing action combined with sinister class wars, the battle between man and machine, and a fantastic lead in Finley as she struggles with her Mr Hyde.

I think I can safely say this is the ONLY YA book I've read that I totally forgot was YA as I was reading it. And that, for me, is high praise. So really, all I have left to say is, my apologies for taking so long to review this because everyone should get their hands on a copy and demand a sequel ASAP.

Disclosure: I received a Advanced Reader's Copy for review .
3022228
Title: Perv
Author: Dakota Gray
Series: Filth #1
Genre: erotica
Theme: enemies to lovers
Heat: 4/5
Rating: 3/5

I enjoyed this one. It was somewhat refreshing, and I felt that Gray managed to write in Nate's voice particularly well. The style was short, sharp and snappy, reminding me of an episode of Scandal (if Scandal were a show about a cunnilingus fetish). However, due to this snappy style, there were a couple of occasions, particularly towards the end, that lost me very slightly, requiring an extra read-through just to ensure I'd understood what was being said.

Much of this felt like a study in female pleasure, with the detail provided about Nate's skills and his process of sex. There was a danger of this being too clinical, but actually it worked as not only did it make the scenes steamier, and Nate's mouth filthier, it described the female body, "warts and all", contributing to the crude nature of the narrative and, once again, being something rarely found in any romance or erotica.

The crudeness of this novel and its characters was a breath of fresh air, no hold barred, some parts making me chuckle, others surprising me with their pure filth, and I loved it. There's nothing better than a filthy mouthed hero in an erotica novel, even if he's pretty unlikeable. And this, I feel, is the core of the novel - Nate is not a nice guy. It's difficult to get to know him, to approve of his actions, even though he is nothing if not honest. Despite the humour, despite some of his questionable actions, I actually felt, in some places, an underlying feeling almost of pity, but not quite. A softer feeling I can't quite name yet, but one which contributed to the depth of the novel, along with the ending big reveal which provided a more serious tone.

I really did enjoy reading this one. The sex scenes were deliciously filthy, the underlying depth was a nice surprise, as was the style. I just wish, after all that, I had left the novel feeling like I really knew Stealth (I won't use her real name as I don't like spoilers) and Nate, so I could really be invested in their relationship. But, if you enjoy erotica and dirty talking heroes, definitely give this a read.
2250343
YA, especially YA Paranormal, is one of the genres that tends to be either very good or very bad. In spite of a few small issues I very much enjoyed this YA paranormal by Wendi Wilson.
I found the teenage characters believable, the relationship and dialogue between Melanie and her best friend Tara in particular seemed especially strong. The main characters felt like real people and I found Melanie's journey from self-loathing to strength, with the support of her mother, best friend and handsome new boyfriend, quite delightful.
The plot is somewhat predictable but the story is well written, and because of the strength of the characters, the predictability doesn't detract from an entertaining read. The pace varies enormously, it's mostly just right for the story but it does feel a little sluggish in parts, Melanie's insistence on doubting herself and in particular doubting Jeremy's feelings for her do become the tiniest bit repetitive.
I've become accustomed to YA books in the first person, this is written in the third person, but with a strong narrative voice. The character of Melanie is detailed quite quickly and held consistently to the end of the story. The ending is great  it's a bit of a cliffhanger and I'm sure it leads nicely into the next book  but Melanie's biggest problem is neatly resolved.
I have no hesitation in recommending this book to anyone who enjoys YA paranormal reads.
3475185
I think I might have mentioned that I haven't read a lot of YA M/M before. But I was introduced to this genre when I read a great book as a reviewer and blog host for someone's blog tour. I thought 'Wow' this is pretty good stuff and decided to add another bow to my string as a reviewer. And once again, I'm pleased I did. I like a well written, well structured story as much as anyone else.

'On the Right Track' is a wonderfully written love story between two young men that as a mother myself, made me want to scoop both of these young men into my arms and simply hug them both.

Adam Corbin is sixteen, a track team star , definitely not out. He's shy, quiet and a little confused about his sexuality and how to manage it. He tries hard to fit in with his school and team mates and Adam doesn't want to show himself as different.

Seventeen year old Ru Nakimura is a boy band star, former song writer and vocalist for 'Vocal Growth'. He was outed publicly and disgraced in a case of double standards in the music industry he works in. He also had his heart broken when he found the man he thought was his boyfriend being unfaithful. Ru is starting to build a new career for himself but it's tough going.

The two teenagers meet in a crowded library when they share a glance. Adam is smitten with Ru's dark haired, blue eyed visage and the sheer exoticism of Ru's looks. Ru finds Adam's pale blonde hair and delicate features something beautiful. For the first time Ru feels the stirrings of hope in his being that perhaps he can have someone special in his life. When the two young men get together for the first time for pizza and movies, Ru is determined to take it slow. He's much more experienced than Adam and the last thing he wants to do is scare this amazing young man away.

I just loved Ru's friend Tommy and the wonderful out and open Bas, friend of Adam. Adam's parents were incredibly supportive too and I'm sure every teen who dreads coming out wishes they could have the same reaction Adam had. Alas, we all know that's not the case. This book deals with the issues faced by the LGBT youth. It's a sobering reflection on the way things are but it's also a story of hope and triumph over adversities. Of course, this is a fictional story about a young man who leads an ordinary life being catapulted into the life of his boyfriend rock star, and in some ways, this is a fairy tale that not many young people will get to experience, but this book tackles issues and emotions that are relevant and topical despite this fact. After all, that's what fiction is all about.

The inter play between these two young men, the patience Ru had with Adam and Adam's sweet, trusting nature (although he was feisty when it counted, believe me!)was a pleasure to read, as they developed their relationship with all its up and downs. The supporting characters of Bas and Tommy were well rounded and added a lot to the story. I found it a very entertaining read and one where I wanted to turn the pages faster to find out what happened next.

I'd definitely recommend this to anyone wanting to read an emotional and uplifting story of two people finding love. I look forward to reading more books by Sam Cadence.
2082304
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. It is a proper erotic novel, not some fan-fiction-25-page-long story with two sex scenes. Ella is an interesting character and the sex scenes have so much more sense and impact when you have a fully fleshed character in a book.
This is still primarily an erotic novel so it has plenty of explicit sex, but it also has a plot that you can follow and that actually make things better for the reader. Well, for me, at least. Although the sex scenes are detailed and graphic, they are not in the bad taste or tacky at all. It shows that the author has good writing skills because that is hard to pull off.
I definitely recommend this one.
1264458
I'm not a big fan of first person POV, and while I do enjoy more than one POV in a book, shifting between several in first person can be confusing--not to mention irritating, at least to me. I started this book reluctantly and pushed through the first few chapters despite my misgivings. I'm glad I did. I enjoyed this book a lot, which surprised me.

Ms. Douglas looked behind the mythos of the Fallen and the Nephalim, of Lucifer and Uriel, and gives a nod to the legends of vampires and cannibal zombies. I find the idea of "fated mates" intriguing and an author can handle it well, making the trope a vital part of the story, or can flub things and make it an "easy out." The author gave her characters permission to fight the attraction and each other. The verbal (and mental) sparring was fun to read. Well done, Ms. Douglas.

Allie is a likeable heroine and Raziel is definitely the strong, silent type. The action bits were well written and the sexy bits were...both hot and sweetly endearing. I look forward to the next book in the series and hopes it maintains the standards of storytelling displayed by the first book.
3570315
Putney's debut YA book is an excellent crossover from her normal adult romance novels. It has a very interesting take on the magical/supernatural theme that's so popular lately and Putney is a seasoned writer.

What's so impressive about this book is how quickly it grabbed me and drew me into the story. It's an interesting take on the magical powers YA theme, and it reminded me of Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle trilogy. I only hope that it continues in that direction.

At first, I was unimpressed with Putney's book because of how quickly it launched into the plot. Tory's magical powers are revealed nearly instanteously and that ruined my first impression.

However, the characters do grow on you. My only complaint at the end was that some details were explained more than necessary.

I was extremely satisfied with the ending, however, and I would most likely enjoy a sequel as well. Putney does not turn this into an adult romance novel although she does maintain the passionate feelings between Tory and Allarde which is extremely well-written.

(I received a copy of M.J. Putney's debut YA novel Dark Mirror in a Goodreads giveaway but this review isi 100% my own opinion.)
4313095
I received a print copy of Touched By A Phoenix, by Sophia Byron for review.

This book is identified on the back cover as an erotic romance. Had that been the only identification given when I was offered the book, I'd have declined. Fortunately, this book is much, much, more. It is also a very good action/adventure story. It also has aspects of fantasy, and even spirituality.

There is a section about 100 pages long that was literally impossible to put down, the action was that good. The entire book is very close to 600 pages long so it's not a quick read per se. The erotic passages definitely live up to that moniker, they are scorching! Again, erotica is not my first choice in genres, and there is a lot of it here. Not so much as to put me off the book. In fact I found it very interesting to note the differences in sexual passages written by a female author versus others I have read by male authors. The sex in Touched By A Phoenix is presented as an emotional connection rather than just gratuitous body bumping.

The action picks up as the story progresses, and the reader finds themselves engrossed in a top notch action/adventure/espionage story. The relationship of the main characters is not diminished at all when the action takes center stage (page). At first I was worried that author Sophia Byron would not be able to carry the intensity of the romantic story line over into the more action oriented parts of the story. I need not have worried. The intensity and suspense flowed and built to a great climax (pun not intended, but you have to admit it is a pretty good one).

Another thing I really liked was that after the action story line was resolved, the book didn't end there. This is often a complaint I have, abrupt endings with little to no epilogue. Although Byron does not identify it as such, there is a very satisfying epilogue here.

I believe my copy of Touched By A Phoenix is an ARC, so I won't belabor the typos, not too many but vile and vial are not interchangeable ('nuff said).

Touched By A Phoenix, by Sophia Byron though primarily an erotic romance, does have much more to recommend it. There are bad guys, humorous sidekicks (Demi is great), cool cars, and plenty of action. A very good read over all. Enjoy!

Mike
2634911
Purchased: On Amazon in a bundle package titled 10 Sexy Stories, VR Dunlap (one of the ten authors)

*the bundle was a free download, but worth it*

Product Warning: This is an graphic sex scene short-story, an erotica. This erotica is tailored for female readers, not male readers. This is a very short story - not a full length novel.

I entered this short-story with trepidation. I'd only ever read one or two other erotica shorts before, and they were geared toward men - with male oral sex and actions with a woman that I didn't believe where pleasurable for her, despite writing they were. However, I was delightfully surprised with this erotica short - it was very much so written for the pallet of a woman.

To being with, this erotica short had a story-line, one that actually surprised me a little. After the male lead was introduced, it was very predictable, but still enjoyable. However, I misjudge who the male lead would be early on, and a good switch up start is nice to see. The story centered around sex, but it wasn't just some emotionless porn video. I love that it was nothing like a Reality Kings movie, but instead a real short story.

The sex scenes where nice, a steady mix of dirty talk, and standard romance sex scene replacement words. The who sex scene was about her, and her enjoyment. As a woman, I need that. In my fantasy, I'm selfish - so in a fantasy sex novel it should be all about her, at least for my tastes. I would have liked some oral sex for her, but that is alright because all the foreplay and actual sexual act was believable toward her enjoyment. I feel like VR Dunlap knows what makes a woman tick, and how to get a girl off. I would totally read this author again, and I plan to read this author again. Dunlap won me over, and I'm totally hooked now on the short-story moments of pleasure this author puts out.
4529501
PNR is a genre that has a lot of recycled ideas, but Priya delivers a fresh story centered around mystical warriors and the star-crossed lovers caught in the middle of a war between two legendary races. For once the teens actually sound their age and not too old or too immature; the dialogue especially shows this. Being a mixture of urban fantasy and PNR, Priya brings up real problems and situations teens are faced with today, such as handling peer pressure, partying, and deciding to have sex for the first time. (Don't worry. This book is perfectly clean, though I would recommend it for the older YA crowd due to some fantasy violence and the choices listed above that the teens face.)

The sensual chemistry between the two leads shines. Priya slowly develops the hero and heroine's friendship alongside their romance, which is the focus of the story. There are a lot of YA books billed as PNR, but I'm disappointed when I find the majority of them focused on the world-building and plot rather than the romance. The hero is the perfect blend of devil and gentleman, and he isn't perfect unlike some heroes. Neither is his relationship with the feisty, courageous heroine. They have to work at it and overcome obstacles, just the same as any real-life couple.

If you want a strong paranormal romance underscored by urban fantasy action, Dracian Legacy is definitely the book for you.

*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
4150387
Title: Owned
Author: Leigh Stone
Series: Domination series, Book 2
Genre(s): Erotic
Page Count: 39 pages
Heat Level: # 5 flames out of 5
Rating: # 4 stars out of 5
Blurb:
The second in the Domination series. Six sexy little tales of female submission.

Ive known Owen for about five years now. I met him in a bar when I went to play some pool at the local universitys bar with a few of the students I worked with. Owen was in his twenties, from Wales, a student in the same university. I was in my early thirties. We flirted, we teased each other, we even had a bit of a very short period of dating, but in the end we became best friends. I never would have dreamed that it would turn out to be a lot more than that. My hot Welsh friend had a secret that I didn't find out for a few years. Hes a dominant, a Dom, a Master, a Sir.
At first I thought nothing of it, I knew that I wasn't like that, but the more Owen gave me glimpses into his world the more and more intrigued I became. He led me down the path to submission, like the white rabbit leading Alice into Wonderland. Now I am hooked, I am addicted to the pleasure that only he can generate in me. I am his. I am OWNED.

They say that some of the best things can be short and sweet, but I think I have found one that just proved it can be short, sweet and so very decadent! I must admit that I was very surprised to know that Owned was 39 pages long, roughly an hour to read depending on the speed of the reader, and yet, never did it feel rushed, shortened or even as though there were missing parts to it. It was hot and forbidden, and for all the fans of the erotica genre, this is one novel that will absolutely get the gears, or other... parts, running. It's one of those novels where if you're not comfortable with the subject, then I wouldn't suggest it for you - either you like it, or you don't. Simply because there isn't any time to 'grow to love it', it's a short story and there isn't the time to wait until the story picks up to sweep you off your feet or to get to know these new characters more. But for a fan like me, boy was I in for a shock and the best treat ever! I loved it and I truly can't wait for the next instalment in the series. As a first time of Leigh Stone's, I was gobbling up her novel like it was candy, hoping I wouldn't get caught with my hand in the cookie jar!! My only regret is not having had the chance in reading the first novel in the series and being able to compare the evolution between the two, however, I didn't feel as though I was missing a great deal in terms of background or relations between them since it can be read as a standalone. The only advice I can give: bring ice, water, a fan and if need be, run to your shower once you're done reading, trust me, you'll need it!
**Received a copy in exchange for an honest review.  Read and reviewed by Kathleen for Alpha Book Club**
2139993
This is a very enjoyable read that quickly engages the reader. The characters are all established beautifully, yet continuously develop throughout the plot. There is also a brilliant twist that was worked in, seamlessly and believably, which helped create the foundation for Sasha's evolution from loyal, well-behaved girlfriend to an escort. While the transformation of Sasha feels a bit rushed at first, the story never loses its plausibility.

This is not your typical tale, though this is exactly what erotica should be. The spicy scenes are written to be explicit, but the author does so with finesse and tact.

Overall this is a fun and sensual story, and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.