BOOK REVIEW: Teasing Hands by Elena M. Reyes

From Goodreads: The hands kneading my flesh into submission are strong, yet gentle. Rough yet tender. His talented fingers dig deep into my naked flesh applying the perfect amount of pressure, bending me to his will. 

His will which now entices me and burns itself into my every pore, ruining me for any other’s touch—but his. Once a stubborn and independent woman, I find myself wanting to submit; to give him all that I am and power over everything I can be with his guidance.

Camden Daniels has a voice full of sin built to destroy my mental walls. The dulcet sonnet of his tone controls my resolve with but a single utterance from his lips:

"Undress for me."

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R.E. Hargrave's Review:

* * * *

Reyes’ storytelling abilities continue to grow with each new release of hers and Teasing Hands is no exception. While there were a couple of plot points that I had personal issue with-- underage drinking on a college campus and an older man putting the full court press on a barely-21 year old girl-- I can’t deny that these things do happen, and Reyes pulls it off by bringing the reader into her tangled web with an effortless, emotional yank.

Amanda is an independent young woman, part of a championship winning basketball team for the University of Miami, and determined to maintain full control of her life. She’s been burned by the opposite sex before, and isn’t in a hurry to have it happen again anytime soon.

Camden is the mysterious hot older man, masseuse, and tempter of fate where Amanda is concerned.

The catch? While one wants commitment, the other wants to avoid commitment at all costs. Too bad you can’t control your heart. 

Reyes could’ve made this tale all about the hot schmexing, but she’s gone further, bringing in a slew of supporting characters-- friends and family-- that keep the reader guessing what’s going to happen next. 

For my own sake, I’d have liked to seen a cleaner edit job on this, but overall, I promise you won’t be disappointed if you like an engaging fast paced romance. Well done, Ms. Reyes.

**I was given an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review**

NEW RELEASE: The Food Critic by R.E. Hargrave

The Food Critic

by R.E. Hargrave

~an erotic novella~

SUMMARY:

Serena Peters has made her place in life writing an exclusive column for a popular foodie magazine. She has fame and fortune, what she doesn’t have is companionship or love. Chef Stuart Wellings comes from an embittered past and has had to fight for the simple way he lives. When Serena shows up to interview him and his small town diner, will an appreciation for food be the only thing they have in common, or will there be more?

EXCERPT:

She stopped and took a deep breath, then looked up at him from under her bashful lashes. Emboldened by the look on her face, he reached forward, then let his hand linger on her cheek while his thumb caressed the corner of her mouth, grazing her lips.

In silent agreement they gravitated toward each other, their blue eyes staying focused on the others while Stuart lowered his head, seeking out her mouth. He brushed his lips over hers, giving her a chance to back away, and leaving no doubt as to his intent to kiss her. To claim her.

Sera didn’t pull away. Instead, she pushed up on her toes, almost forcing herself on Stuart. When her lips crashed into his, the shock forced him to stumble back against the door, pulling her such that she ended up pressed along his front.

Just like in his shower fantasy last night.

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BOOK REVIEW: Dom Wars 6, the Final Round by Lucian Bane and Aden Lowe

From Goodreads:

When Gladiator Inc, an adult toy company expands their market to familiarize the ‘vanilla’ world with the elements of BDSM, the result is a pay-per-view reality show with video feeds streamed live to subscribers. The show, Dom Wars, is a competition to determine the Top Dom that will become the spokesperson for the company. 

The contestants all wear cameras to film every moment and angle of the competition, while they complete various challenges to determine who has ultimately Dominated various elements of themselves.

The hero and heroine of the series, Lucian Bane and Tara Reese, have barely made it into the Sixth and Final Round of Dom Wars. This week-long Survival Round will determine the Top Dom, once and for all.

The contestants are taken to an uninhabited island, where they will have to cross formidable jungle terrain. First Dom to reach the boat anchored on the other side of the island wins the million dollars and the title. 

Seems simple. Except Lucian’s old adversary, the Sadist Jase Duff from Round One, has been tasked with making sure none of the five teams make it to the boat.

If he is successful, he wins the prize, only it's not money that Jase Duff cares about, its revenge on Lucian and Tara. And his sadistic need to inflict pain makes it game on.

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R.E. Hargrave's Review

* * * *

In Dom Wars Rounds 1 through 5, we got to meet an eclectic ensemble of characters. Some of them, like Lucian, Tara, and Steve, have been central to the ongoing story. Others, like Betty, don’t make return appearances but can’t be omitted from the experience that is Dom Wars. Nothing in the first rounds can really prepare you for the Final Round, however.

Jase Duff, the sadist from Round 1 is back ~ and he’s lost his cotton picking mind. The best way to describe what goes down is to imagine Catching Fire with lots of sex. At times, in fact, the sex seemed almost gratuitous given the intensity of the situations Lucian, Tara, Preacher, and Becca find themselves in. At the same time, one has to wonder if you wouldn’t do the same in their shoes; i.e. trapped on an island with a mad man and the realization that you’re no longer in a game of fame and fortune, but in a fight for your life. In a case of not knowing when the love of your life might suddenly be gone, would you take advantage of every opportunity, no matter how awkward, to savor those last desperate acts of intimacy?

A fast-paced, breath-holding page turner to be sure. Bane and Lowe have teamed up to close this series with a tearful bang. If you’ve been waiting to start, go ahead and dive in. You will laugh, you will get turned on, you might even cry . . . one thing is certain, you won’t regret giving it a shot.

*Disclaimer: I was given an advance copy by the authors in exchange for an honest review. It is my own issues with editing, and lack of resolution with Danielle, that held me back from giving this installment five stars.

BOOK REVIEW: Caught in the Middle by Kira Barker

From Goodreads: 

For years now, resident surgeon Erin Slater has been focused on her career. Sexual frustration has her on edge, and it seems like a wet dream come true when her best friend Jack and his roommate Simon offer to help her scratch that itch. Their afternoon of debauchery leaves her yearning for more, particularly to explore her submissive side – a craving that Simon, an experienced Dom himself, is only too happy to satisfy. But there’s also Jack, who she’s closer to than anyone else in the world. When emotions factor into the equation, things get complicated, forcing Erin to make a decision which man she will choose – but why can’t she have both?

Dive into this vivid tale of friendship, lust, love, bondage, dominance, and submission. Intended for mature audiences.

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R.E. Hargrave's Review:

* * * * *

Long time friends turned lovers: this is the heart of Caught in the Middle. While it sounds simple, Barker’s delivery is anything but. Instead, it's an erotic tale packed with emotional surprises and plenty of plot. Oh, and there’s the bonus twist of there being not two, but three parties involved in said transitioning relationship.

When Erin lets down her walls after a particularly trying week of residency, she finds herself caught between two very different, but lovable, men: Simon and Jack. It doesn’t take Erin long to realize that both can offer her something she wants, and needs. 

With Jack she has a past; years of friendship has resulted in them learning each other to the core and building a trust and respect that can only be gained with time. But Simon is her present as he begins introducing her to the finer points of BDSM, letting her into his secret world. She thrives on the therapeutic outlet it becomes in dealing with her struggles as a young, single woman, pulling long hours~and paying off enormous debts~in pursuit of her medical career. 

What starts as a frolic of physical release quickly escalates, blurring lines. Erin is unprepared when her need and respect of the two men shifts, and romantic feelings begin creeping in . . . for both Simon and Jack. 

With so many nuances and lifestyle adjustments, bumps in the road are expected, but I was floored with how smooth, how seamlessly the story shifted between scenes and moved forward. Well-written and well-edited, always a plus in my book, Caught in the Middle had me laughing, getting angry, longing for my own session, and even crying.

This story has it all. It portrays the BDSM lifestyle with class and grace, yet has no shortage of gratuitous sex for the erotica lover. The philosophical angle~exploring the mental, social, and emotional dynamics while this trio progresses~is insightful, letting the reader enjoy the story and, in my case, be left rooting for Simon, Jack, and Erin to make it.

Kira Barker’s debut novel is engaging and brilliant, and has left me anticipating the next installment in the We Kinky Three series.

*Content warning: story does include m/m scenes, m/f/m scenes, and assorted bondage and discipline scenes. If these aren't your thing, this story may not be for you. If you're curious or open-minded, please give it a shot!

**I was gifted a copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

BOOK REVIEW: Death Wish by Cherime MacFarlane

From Goodreads:

Growing up the only child of an alcoholic mother, Colin didn’t get much love. In the small community he grew up in everyone knew his situation and the boy turned increasingly inward. The only thing that kills the pain is going higher, further and faster. ‘So dare me why don’t you.’ 

One other child sees the hurt. One boy, Paul, a little older brings Colin into his home. They become friends for life. 

Paul finds a girl, just released from foster care. He brings her home to the business and his partner Colin. Colin finds himself in love with his only friend’s wife. For two years Colin hides all from Maria Elena. But Paul knows because Paul knows Colin. 

Colin and Maria lose Paul. Maria chooses alcohol to kill her pain. Colin is faced with losing everything if he can’t get her sober. But what to do about the ache he has been living with for two years? 

A long road trip from Alaska to Bellingham, Washington is necessary. It is a lot of miles. Anything can happen on the Cassiar Highway, the short cut from the Alcan to the Yellowhead Highway in Canada.

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R.E. Hargrave's Review

* * * * 

This was my first time reading Ms. MacFarlane and I'm glad I got the chance. She writes with a detailed gusto that makes it so you can't help but get pulled into the story and the outcome of the characters. 

Death Wish opens with two people who are handling the loss of the same man in different ways. Colin was Paul's best friend; Maria Elena, Paul's wife. The twist is that Colin has been in love with Maria Elena since the day Paul brought her home, and now he must deal with his friend's dying wish for him to "take care of her," while all she wants to do is hide in a bottle.

MacFarlane will take you on an imagery-filled road trip through Alaska while she sits these two down to face their demons, old and new. Sweet moments, sexy times (which make this book for mature readers), and tears await ... 

I'm looking forward to getting a chance to check out some of MacFarlane's other works, as she has many to choose from!

*I was gifted a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

BOOK REVIEW: Roulette: Love is a Losing Game by Sam JD Hunt

From Goodreads:

"You might call me a Dominant or a Top, but really I’m just a very successful woman in my 30s looking for sexy role-play without the complications of a relationship. I need control. Love has never been on my agenda. Until, of course, one day the much younger Thomas Hunt came into my life. He broke down my walls and taught me to let go; he made me feel alive for the first time. I might even be capable of loving him if lies and betrayals don’t tear us apart first." Samantha Drake

Roulette: Love Is A Losing Game is the first book in The Thomas Hunt Submissive Series. Set in Las Vegas, it’s a contemporary love story that incorporates light BDSM themes with modern, steamy role-play.

The modern, sizzling sexual content and language used in this book is intended for mature audiences only.

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R.E. Hargrave's Review

* * * *

A budding romance. Intrigue. Kinky sex. Murder.

Welcome to Las Vegas, and the life of Samantha Drake: lawyer by day, Domme by night. Except that Vegas is the city that never sleeps and it doesn’t take long for her two worlds to begin blending. 

With her defenses locked up tighter than Fort Knox, Sam faces her biggest challenge when she decides to let Thomas Hunt inside her armor. Little by little, she starts relinquishing control to her playful young submissive as he takes his fledgling steps into “Domhood.” What she isn’t prepared for, is exactly what that means or how to separate her growing romantic feelings from the possessive, domineering ones.

When things start going wrong in her professional life, it’s unclear who Sam can really turn to for help. Does she follow her heart, or her head? It seems every decision she makes leads to pain for someone else. Only time will tell when her own life ends up on the line.

Roulette will sweep you up and take you an adventure across the pages. Don’t trust anyone, and be prepared to be left chomping at the bit for more when you reach the end. The next installment in this series is due out in September I believe, and I can’t wait to see where Hunt takes us next.

BOOK REVIEW: Testing the Submissive by Al Daltrey

From Goodreads:  

Abby stood nervously before her Master in the classic submissive pose: fully nude, legs apart, wrists placed behind her back; deeply ashamed of her evident arousal. Worse, she had to recount in exact detail the proceedings of her last whipping. The whipping had been severe; as was the case with most of the clients she was commissioned to serve. Most of these clients were men, some were women, on occasion a couple, or even a group. Nevertheless her body reacted like that of a wanton whore as she retold of the sadistic punishments and extreme sexual use inflicted upon her body.

How far would her Master push her with these ‘tests’? How far would Abigail go? How many times could she stand before him blushing; yet with that unmistakable tingle? Their relationship was surely headed for a collision course. Or was it?

This story contains STRONG BDSM. While fully consensual, it includes submission, dominance, sadism and masochism. Please do NOT buy or read this if you are offended by graphic sexual descriptions including sexual violence. All characters are aged 25+, and it is recommended for an adult audience ONLY (aged 21+). This story is pure fiction and the author does not condone any violent behavior.

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R.E. Hargrave's Review

* * * *

Told from Abigail’s POV, Testing the Submissive is the graphically explicit story of a woman recounting how the pull of darker desires affected the consequences of her life. This is Abby’s journey as an employee of a private network catering to high-paying clients with out-of-the-ordinary sexual fetishes. 

As the summary disclaimer warns, this book is not for the faint of heart.  

Consent. Daltrey's tale drives home the importance of it. Without it, it’s abuse; with it . . .  you find people like Abigail who are aroused by deep, thorough beatings. For them, the more severe the pain, the more heightened their need becomes. If they want to make extra money while they have their own physical needs met, is that so wrong? And isn’t it better that obscure clients with specific tastes seek out a service like the Network, getting their own “fix” with a willing partner who is a masochist. A pain slut. A "whipping bitch."

The Network is an elite group of business partners who ensure that each of their employees, i.e. whores like Abigail, have a sponsor. This person is responsible for handling the security and financial aspects of the pre-arranged sessions. Additionally, the sponsor conducts a very intimate interrogation following each appointment to ensure the employee is not hurt, provide aftercare, and most importantly, that they are still conscientiously willing to go on the jobs.

Enter Lewis, Abigail’s sponsor. 

He sees her sooner than she realizes and fights his own inner control in his need to have her. Lewis watches. He tests, sending Abigail on progressively more challenging assignments~ones that take weeks instead of days to recover from; for all the bruises to fade. Will there ever be a client he deems too harsh to send her to? Will the time come when he stops tap-dancing and claims Abigail as his own?

Testing the Submissive is a page turner, in its own fascinating way. Some readers may be appalled by what lies in the pages, others may find their own inner 'bitch' waking up. Minor editing issues and just a tad too much sex in place of the development of the romantic story line held me back from giving this five stars, but I would not hesitate in recommending this to anyone with an open mind.