bloggingbouteroticabooks

[bloggingbouteroticabooks]

Slow Heat by Leta Blake

This is bit bleak. I wanted to like this but it had so many elements that I just don't enjoy reading in this type of hyper-specific subgenre. Or any romance I read. This is a different take on the fated mates trope. Cool, awesome. [But then the alpha cheats right after??? (hide spoiler)] Then there's the age gap, which I'm never a fan of. 19 and 35? That's such an odd choice. I could've maybe gotten behind it had Jason been old enough to drink at least. Big maybe. But at least it's something Vale really struggled with. The next book is another age gap as well and I'm not interested in that at all. From what I parsed from the story, all the human women died (called the Great Death) some time and scientist spliced male DNA with wolf DNA for some reason. But my question is this: If, presumably, these men have XY chromosomes, would they not be able to birth women by giving their omegas the other X and thus XX, aka AFAB baby? But Blake doesn't go into how women died out, just that they did. Many other questions include: why not use primate DNA? Are they extinct? Why do female cats exist, but not human? Why a wolf-god wolf bible? Why do omegas HAVE to give everything to the alphas? Why are betas second-class citizens? You're brain will explode thinking too much about the logic of it. I know I'm putting too much stock in a thing that will never exist outside of paranormal/fantasy fiction.

The best parts were the sex and sexual tension between Jason and Vale.  I will give it that.  Really hot and wanton. Overall I wanted hot fluff and this decidedly is not that.

Synopsis

[bloggingbouteroticabooks]

Call for work! LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!

Visit nypl.org/nyplzine for more details on how/where to submit.

[bloggingbouteroticabooks]

Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory

This is my first Jasmine Guillory book. I had seen/read a lot of good things about her first two books in her "Wedding Date" series and wanted to check this one out. A successful not-skinny black woman in her mid-late 30s finding love? Sign me up. Admittedly, it took me some time to get into the story. I felt more drawn to Max's impulsive, say-before-thinking personality as my personality is somewhat similar. So while I related to Olivia in that we're both 30+ black women trying to make it in a career/world not meant for us and we both have trouble expressing ourselves, I found her skittishness to be a bit annoying. I found myself frustrated like Max that she would leave him hanging during key conversations during their relationship. But I completely understand being upset about being put on blast. A black woman's #1 dating rule is to not embarrass her in public. Don't do it. I didn't realize this was technically the 5th book in a series, but I'm glad it did well as a standalone. Overall I liked this fluffy and saccharine story. I did think the relationship moved kind of fast for a couple that only saw each other on the weekends, but it worked for them. I would love to see turned into a Hallmark movie. This ARC was given from Netgalley for an honest review.

[bloggingbouteroticabooks]

Hi there, do you happen to know of any good femdom books? Thanks!

I do not unfortunately, but I did find this list

[bloggingbouteroticabooks]

🎄 WRAPPED : A FIT Adjacent Christmas Novella - OUT NOW! 🎄

Following a painful divorce, all pastry chef Shae Kenney wants for Christmas is one good date that doesn’t end in disaster. When Aidan Meyer, a smoking hot hunk from her past, matches with her on a dating app, Shae asks Santa for the strength not to screw it up. But when one perfect date with Aidan rolls into a second date, then a third and a fourth, Shae’s fear of heartbreak might just sabotage one of the best gifts she’s ever received—real love. *This sweet Christmas novella features a slightly anxious plus-size beauty who is a master of all things cupcakes and tarts, and a bespectacled tech guy who just wants to sweep her off her feet.*

AMAZON : http://amzn.to/2CSzFM5

[bloggingbouteroticabooks]

Guest Post and Giveaway: Heat Wave by Elyse Springer

Please help us welcome author Elyse Springer and the Heat Wave blog tour, her newest release in the Seasons of Love universe. Elyse has a confession to make, and there’s […] http://dlvr.it/PZmQTH

[bloggingbouteroticabooks]

Description Sometimes it takes hurt to open your heart… At twenty-two, Thane Wells is the highest-paid pitcher in Major League Baseball—and he owes it all to his adoptive Mama, “Queen” Elizabeth Sommerville, a wise, beautiful, entrepreneurial African-American woman who always encouraged him and his two white brothers to reach for the stars…the woman Thane still talks to daily. He never dreamed their most recent conversation would be their last. With his beloved supporter suddenly gone, Thane is grief-stricken, shaken, and vulnerable—especially to a woman like Kari Meyers. Kari’s had her eye on Thane for a while, but strictly for business. As a junior sports agent, she’s hungry to sign him, especially when she hears his current agent will be retiring soon. When she finally locates Thane, she’s shocked to discover he’s attending his mother’s funeral—and he’s shocked to find Kari in his hotel room. Assuming she’s an escort is just the beginning of their misunderstandings. But one thing that’s clear is their mutual attraction. As a single mom with an NBA ex, Kari has a rule against dating athletes. Yet as circumstances bring the two closer together, they just might find they’re on the same team, heart and soul…

[bloggingbouteroticabooks]

GET SAY YES FREE

[bloggingbouteroticabooks]

Description Review “Her writing is both sexy and smart, and her characters come to life as real people the reader will want to know better. A thrilling and enjoyable read.” (Kirkus Reviews (starred review))

“exquisitely written… soars with passion between scenes of gritty action as a feisty heroine and down-to-earth hero shape their future against race, class, and gender expectations… This heartfelt story and its endearing characters and gratifying ending will leave readers breathing a sigh of pure contentment.” (Publishers Weekly (starred review)) Product Description A strong-willed beauty finds herself in the arms of the handsome drifter from her past, in this second book in the sizzling series set in the Old West, from USA Today Bestselling Author Beverly Jenkins

As manager of one of the finest hotels in Arizona Territory, Portia Carmichael has respect and stability—qualities sorely missing from her harsh childhood. She refuses to jeopardize that by hitching herself to the wrong man. Suitors are plentiful, but none of them has ever looked quite as tempting as the family friend who just rode into town…and none has looked at her with such intensity and heat.

Duchess. That’s the nickname Kent Randolph gave Portia when she was a young girl. Now she’s a stunning, intelligent woman—and Kent has learned his share of hard lessons. After drifting through the West, he’s learned the value of a place to settle down, and in Portia’s arms he’s found that and more. But convincing her to trust him with her heart, not just her passion, will be the greatest challenge he’s known—and one he intends to win…

From the Back Cover All it takes is one touch …

A strong-willed beauty finds herself in the arms of the handsome drifter from her past, in this second book in the sizzling series set in the Old West, from USA Today Bestselling Author Beverly Jenkins.

As manager of one of the finest hotels in Arizona Territory, Portia Carmichael has respect and stability—qualities sorely missing from her harsh childhood. She refuses to jeopardize that by hitching herself to the wrong man. Suitors are plentiful, but none of them has ever looked quite as tempting as the family friend who just rode into town … and none has looked at her with such intensity and heat.

Duchess. That’s the nickname Kent Randolph gave Portia when she was a young girl. Now she’s a stunning, intelligent woman—and Kent has learned his share of hard lessons. After drifting through the West, he’s learned the value of a place to settle down, and in Portia’s arms he’s found that and more. But convincing her to trust him with her heart, not just her passion, will be the greatest challenge he’s known—and one he intends to win …

About the Author Beverly Jenkins has received numerous awards, including five Waldenbooks/Borders Group Best Sellers Awards, two Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times Magazine, and a Golden Pen Award from the Black Writer’s Guild. Ms. Jenkins was named one of the Top Fifty Favorite African-American writers of the 20th century by AABLC, the nation’s largest on-line African-American book club. She was recently nominated for the NAACP Image Award in Literature. From Amazon

[bloggingbouteroticabooks]

Buried Passion by Aiden Bates

Synopsis

Mpreg is my jam. I don’t read it often because there’s quantity in the kindle store, and not much quality.  But I “looked inside” and this book showed some promise.

“Buried Passion” is about two detectives forced together to solve a 40 year old double-murder/hate-crime case. They’re like oil and water--alpha and omega, specifically--and can never mix.  But the attraction is there and I love a good enemies-to-lovers story.

I loved Ryan.  He was witty and adorable and didn’t take shit from anyone even though he was expected to because he was an omega. AND he was Asian (Vietnamese), not fetishized, which is so rare in the romance genre. 

Nick, on the other hand, not so much.  I just didn’t understand his damage with regards to Ryan’s work ethic.  Like, Nick insisted that Ryan’s work was sloppy, Ryan jumped to conclusions, and his overall detective skills were suspect, but I didn’t see it.  He was a jerk to Ryan pretty much the entire book and I just didn’t/couldn’t see how they loved each other beyond the physical.  But I’m glad there were characters in the book that called him out on his shit.

I liked the mystery/crime-solving aspect of the book.  You could tell that Bates really researched the time and history of Boston in the 1970s.  I got a great sense of the racial divide and how things were back then and still drive how things are now. I loved that it was about race, but not overtly racist.  Usually when white authors write about race, especially relating to black people, they drop all kinds of N-words, for no real reason other than to have it in there.  I’m glad it wasn’t the case in this book.  I also liked that there wasn’t any red herrings and that the author told you who it was from the beginning without any twists.  However, I thought the investigative parts overshadowed the romance I was looking for.

What I like so much about Bates is that his mpreg stories are in the hear and now without the shifter element.  It’s just a thing that is.  Though I was a bit confused as to whether Ryan and Nick’s ‘scents’ made them fated mates or they were just attracted to each other.  I just needed a bit more world building in that regard.

Overall, this book is a decent start to a new series and I already bought the next book.

3.5 Stars

[bloggingbouteroticabooks]

All Romance Ebooks is shutting down

So download all your books and back up your libraries.

It was my first ebook site when I was anti-kindle

I’m sad to see it go.

[bloggingbouteroticabooks]

The Layover by L. Loren

Synopsis

I had to tap out of this book at 51%.  Honestly, I’m surprised I made it so far a long.

Warning: Review may contain some spoilers

To say this book wasn’t for me, is an understatement.  When I was relaying snippets of this book to my best friend, she articulated exactly what I was having trouble putting into words about what I didn’t like about this book:

The author, an obvious romance reader, put every possible romance novel trope in her book and all of them were executed terribly.  Over the top extra for extra’s sake that did nothing for the overall plot and point of the story.  

I had to stop reading after Renea confessed her feelings for Lynn to which Lynn threw a tantrum and destroyed her home for no real sensical reason.  But I really should’ve stopped at the unnecessary rape story.

I showed my best friend screen grabs of the rape scene and she had the most apt and to-the-point reaction: yuck.  Firstly, and admittedly biased, I HATE rape in romance books.  I especially hate them when there’s no reason for them to be in the story.  Lynn describing her rape to Connor in vivid, gory detail was tasteless and unnecessary.  I mean, I can see in real life, telling a potential partner that you’ve been raped and gauging their reaction.  And it can also be argued that Lynn telling Connor was testing their friendship, but again, it was extra for extra’s sake. Lynn’s “harrowing” tale was just too much and should have been/could be a novel on its own.

With regards to the main characters, I didn't really like Connor and Lynn, together or separately. Connor came off as a spineless fetishist. When the “hero” himself says in the beginning he only had sex with black women/women of color because he “preferred independent women with kind personalities and big asses. If that kind of woman came with smooth chocolate skin and a pretty smile, I was even more intrigued,” but never actually pursued a relationship with any of them, it sends so many red flags. As I read that little bit all I could think was “is she really going to end up with this guy?” He's spineless because he let himself get married to some white woman he didn't love and whose mother picked for him, and stayed with for years while lusting after another woman.  I'm not even going to get into him getting a boner at Lynn’s dead sister’s funeral. Talk about slimeball. Connor's character hadn't really improved by the time I stopped reading. In between lusting for Lynn, Connor treated her like his therapist under the guise of a friend venting to another friend and I was constantly asking what Lynn saw in him.  

Where do I start with Lynn? I guess my best way to describe her was bougie but not classy. Yes she was a successful business woman and I give her props. But her haughty way of speaking just made her seem less genuine. The author made her a ‘sexy independent black woman who did need a man’ but she was just as immature and fake-deep as Connor was. And everyone wanted her? From Connor to the client to Renea? Please. Okay that's not everyone, but still. Plus, she wasn't the most feminist of heroines.

But what this novel really suffered the most from was telling-not-showing storytelling. It would've been nice if the author spent more time in the present instead of fast forwarding to the future and telling past stories that truly needed to be in their own books. So many times I asked “why is this relevant? What does this have to do with the actual layover?” I would've loved to have seen Connor and Lynn together more on page fighting their attraction despite that he was married, more on page interactions between Lynn, Connor, and the twins. The things that were on page were just so irrelevant and I didn't care about them at all.

And the long ass paragraphs that were pages long? Girl, the enter-key is your friend and I'm a huge fan of using it liberally.

I know I have a lot to say for someone that couldn't finish this book, but there was so much I couldn't digest and let slide. I won't be reading the rest of the series, but I do wish L. Loren well in her writing career and hope to like her future works.

1 Star

This book was provided by the author in an exchange for an honest review.

[bloggingbouteroticabooks]

Poppy Jenkins by Clare Aston

Poppy Jenkins was provided by the author via The Lesbrary for an honest review.  Review originally posted here.

I wouldn’t call this a retelling, but Poppy Jenkins is very reminiscent of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.  The setting is similar, a small community of good albeit sheltered people.  Far from the hustle and bustle of the big city life.  I could imagine the quaintness of it all.  The way author Clare Ashton describes it, I see the shire in my minds.  Old, rustic, charming.

The titular character, Poppy, is Ashton’s Elizabeth Bennett, and her love interest, Roselyn Thorn (I love name puns, by the way) is, in this case, Ms. Darcy.  A key difference is that Poppy and Roselyn were childhood friends who had a falling out as teens and reconnect fifteen years later.  I love the second chance at love romance trope, which made me excited to read this novel.

The more I read on, the more frustrated I got with the story and Poppy in particular.

Like Fitzwilliam Darcy, Roselyn isn’t thought well of by the small town she lived in.  The citizens of Wells found Roselyn (and her parents) to be snobbish interlopers who don’t fit into the the culture of the town.  Rosalyn was blamed for a lot juvenile trouble in the town, and was thought of badly by most townspeople--members of Poppy’s family included.  I didn’t understand why Poppy was so obtuse as to why Roselyn had such a negative feelings towards Wells.  It’s not necessarily a character flaw to call out bullcrap when you see it and to not take actions and people at face value.  I understood why Roselyn was reluctant to come out at such a young age and was miffed that Poppy didn’t get it.

Poppy’s entire life, or at least from what we’ve seen on page, has been relatively easy.  Everybody loved her, there wasn’t a mean thing to say amongst the townsfolk.  For the most part, Poppy being accepted as a lesbian was simple with very minimal negative reactions.  She’s never really had to fight for anything and that was made clear in both instances when she just let Roselyn go without much flare.  Poppy immediately thought the worst seeing Roselyn with her ex-girlfriend going off into the night.  Didn’t go investigate, didn’t go lay claim to the woman she loved.  Poppy just went home and had a pity party and at that point I was well and truly done with her.

I don’t want to say I didn’t like Poppy.  Her Disney princess schtick was cute at first, but her gullible optimism started to grate.  I know what’s it’s like to have pride in my hometown, where no one is allowed to talk bad about it (except me, and others from there).  But you can have pride in your town and call out the issues you see in it, not just be willfully ignorant because you don’t like what an ‘outsider’ is saying.

This story dragged on a bit too long.  Once the town’s crook got caught and Roselyn made her grand gesture, I just needed that happy ending.  I needed Poppy to get off it and see and accept all the good Roselyn did and KISS ALREADY.  And by the time I finally got to the end, I just wasn’t as satisfied.

Roselyn lowkey saved the town Poppy loved so much, saved the best friend’s wedding, uprooted her life, altered her career, provided Poppy a stage to expand her cafe business, provided a solid business plan to put roots down and settle, remodeled a house that the two could share together, and Poppy still was mistrustful.  But an apology (that personally I don’t think was needed) about a misunderstanding that happened fifteen years ago was what made Poppy take her head out of her behind?

By the end I was left wondering if Poppy Jenkins truly deserved a woman like Roselyn Thorn.

3 Stars

[bloggingbouteroticabooks]

Loud and Clear by Aidan Wayne

Synopsis

This was a really cute short story. I liked Caleb and Jaxon and how they communicated with each other. Though I did feel like I didn't get to know them as in depth as I wanted. Hopefully there's a sequel? I received a copy of this book from the Publisher through Netgalley for an honest review.

[bloggingbouteroticabooks]

What Remains by Garrett Leigh

Synopsis

Took a break from my mpreg kick to read this upcoming release from one of my favorite authors.  

I like Leigh because she’s really good at delivering angst.  Not just the melodramatic angst, but real life/plausible angst that could happen to anyone in the real world.  Her characters can be/tend to be utter messes, but I’m sure you know or have have met the types of people she writes about.

Jodi and Rupert are like any other couple until a tragic accident leaves one of them without the memories of the past five years of their relationship.  I liked this aspect of the story a lot.  I especially liked how sex and love didn’t cure Jodi.  That he had an accident, worked through it and had to figure out the “new” him.  He didn’t suddenly remember the past five years through Rupert’s love and devotion.  Rupert had to learn to love the new Jodi too.

Admittedly, this took a bit to get into.  Part I jumping between past and present made me apprehensive and wonder where the story was going.  Hoped it wasn’t going to be this way the entire book, and I’m glad it wasn’t.  Once Part II got underway, I really got into the story.  Given the circumstances, I still thought Rupert and Jodi were cute together and rooted for them to really make it.  Though I wanted Jodi to be a bit more angry that Rupert kept things from him.  I know what the doctors said, but taking away Jodi’s right to information just didn’t sit right with me.

I was just whelmed by ‘What Remains.’ I felt the story was fragmented, albeit coherently put together.  Rupert came off too passive and sometimes spineless.  And it isn’t an m/m novel without the bitchy/jilted ex. Massive eye-roll.

3.5 Stars

[bloggingbouteroticabooks]

ImageOut seeks previously unpublished fiction, non-fiction, and poetry entries for the 2016 ImageOutWrite literary journal celebrating LGBTQ authors/allies. Volume #5 (editor, Gregory Gerard) will be published during this year’s ImageOut Film Festival (October 2016). ImageOut presents LGBT arts and cultural experiences showcasing films, other creative works and artists to promote awareness, foster dialogue, and build community. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Submissions accepted from April 15 – June 15, 2016. 

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, or Straight-Ally authors are encouraged to submit original literary work (fiction/non-fiction limit: 8,000 words; poetry limit: 2,000 words). 

Submissions should seek to capture some aspect of LGBTQ lives. 

Electronic submissions only (.doc, .docx, .rtf or .txt file attached to email) in 12 pt, double-spaced font, to OutWrite@imageout.org, Submissions should include a separate cover sheet with author’s name, street address, email, title of submission, and author bio (50 words max). There is no fee to submit original work. Rights revert to author after publication. 

Authors whose work is selected for publication will be notified by August 1, 2016, and will receive 1 hard copy of the journal as payment.

Facebook Event Link Here

Mod Note: the final product can be overwhelming white, so please submit your work!

[bloggingbouteroticabooks]

Erotica Book Reviews turned 4 today!

Can’t believe I’ve been doing this for four years.