Audiobook Mini Review- Studs: Edited by Richard Labonté

Title: Studs: Gay Erotic Fiction
Editor: Richard Labonté
Format: Audiobook, 7 hrs and 45 mins
Pub. Date: August 12th 2014
Source: Cleis Press


Book Description via Goodreads:

Rough and surly, smooth and sultry, or quick and raw — however you like it, you’ll find it in Studs, 20 of the hottest and best-written man-to-man sex stories to appear in print this year. In “Underground Operator” two men on a nearly empty subway platform indulge in rough, anonymous sex that lets them momentarily forget the stifling summer heat. “Donuts to Demons” finds a self-described “rock-n-roll artfag” searching for a lover “as patient and gifted and generous as he advertised on Craigslist.”

Review:

★★★

This is an okay mix of m/m erotic short stories, but I think other people will enjoy it more than I did.

Normally with these anthologies, there are a few that I think are mediocre and a few that stand out better than the rest. But honestly, looking back on these stories, I can't name you one specifically. They all just kind of blended together. They weren't altogether bad, but I didn't take away anything from this collection either. For the first time I feel like maybe I'm just not an intended audience for it (which is weird, considering that I normally really enjoy male/male stories). So don't let my opinions deter you too much- if you're a hardcore fan of gay erotica, you might absolutely love it.

I think part of what caused this misclick for me was the audiobook format. When you're listening to erotica, you need that voice to have that special something, otherwise it just feels a bit weird. This narrator didn't do it for me so to speak. There's a good chance that if I read this on my own from a paperback, I would feel differently about the anthology as a whole.

I will admit though, I do love the cover art. I know that's not really pertinent to the discussion of the stories, but I mean look at it. So pretty.

I think that this collection will be up some people's alleys, but unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me. It was an okay read, but it's not something I'm likely to recommend or reread in the future. If you're a fan of m/m erotica, you may enjoy it, and if you end up reading it let me know what you think about it.

Thanks to Cleis Press for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

Blog Tour, Excerpt, and Giveaway: The Big Book of Submission

Title:The Big Book of Submission: 69 Kinky Tales
Editor: Rachel Kramer Bussel
Genre: Erotica, BDSM
Release date: July 15th, 2014
Publisher: Cleis Press
Length: Paperback, 364 pages
Source: Rachel & Cleis Press


Book Description via Goodreads:

Submission takes many forms in this collection of 69 short stories, from straining in bondage to taking a spanking, being put on display, and beyond. By turns bratty and worshipful, these submissives will go to great lengths to fulfill their naughtiest fantasies and are rewarded splendidly by their masters and mistresses. A student returns to show his former teacher who’s really in charge, a photo shoot becomes an opportunity for erotic games, and a man revels in his wife’s past as a former dominatrix. These brats, masochists, and hungry-for-sensation subs go above and beyond for the ones they adore, pushing themselves to new limits while their devious dominants put them through their paces. Edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel, these short stories sizzle with the tension of erotic power play, commands followed, and service willingly performed.

Excerpt:

From Lariat by Michelle Augello-Page

I couldn't move. Pain flashed through my body. The stretch in my arms and legs were severe. He didn't touch me. He just looked at me. His face was sensuous and cruel as he circled me. I was helpless, at his mercy. He could do anything he wanted to me. He had me knotted tightly and bound, completely exposed to him.

"Do you really want this? This is how it is with me."

He walked around the bed, holding a crop, never taking his eyes off me. The lashes from the crop stung my skin. He was hurting me. I wanted him to hold me. I wanted him to touch me. Tears sprang to my eyes. Waves of sensation rippled across my skin. Then the lashes felt like little bites, sharp kisses. I realized that he was already touching me. Intensely. I realized that he was already holding me, more securely than I had ever been held in my adult life.

"Yes," I said through my tears. "This is what I've always wanted."

He freed me, released the ropes binding me, then gathered me into his arms as I cried. "You are mine," he said softly, keeping me bound in his close embrace. Then he kissed my tears, pressed his body against my body, and encircled me with his ruthless and protective love.

Buy it now on Amazon:

Review:

★★★★★

Four and a half stars.

---

It has gotten to the point in my erotica reading career that when I see Rachel Kramer Bussel's name in my email inbox, I quiver in anticipation like a kid on Christmas, eager to unwrap whatever she has next. I was so excited when Rachel and Cleis Press sent me a copy of this book (in exchange for an honest review of course), and I ate it up right away. Why this particular title, you may ask? Well, I identify as a submissive. Ever the bratty little narcissist, I was enamored with the idea of a book of erotica short stories celebrating me!

This anthology is a thick book consisting of 69 hand-plucked kinky tales that all deal with submissives. However, that is the only trait they share. This book has stories and relationship pairings to suit every level of desire and each sexual orientation. There are softer stories, and there are ones that made me wince in the best kind of sympathy pains (I've been there, fictional submissives. I feel your pain). There are stories that contain heterosexual couples, lesbian couples, male/male pairings, and combinations of the bunch. Whether your fantasy is leather, ropes, voyeurism, Femdom.... You like it? The Big Book of Submission has a story waiting for you.

The Big Book of Submission is one of the best erotica collections that I have had the wicked pleasure of enjoying. I'm not going to go into a break down of each of the 69 stories, but I will say that "Sunday in the Art Gallery with George" by Elizabeth Coldwell and "Dear Sir" by Kay Jaybee deserve a special shout out. Coldwell's story is about a bratty submissive who gets punished when she cannot behave herself at an art gallery, and Jaybee's story is written as a letter from a 40 year old submissive to her Dominant, expressing herself beautifully about her feelings about an escapade the two (and a guest) had had.

If I didn't enjoy a short story as much as another, it was simply because I either wasn't feeling the point of view, or it was written about something that is not my particular fetish. I can't win them all.

Another great thing about this collection is that these short stories are not related at all, other than the central theme. This means that you can stop reading at whatever point you'd like. You can jump around and skip stories, because they are each independent. This is great for when you just want a quickie read, say in between classes (like myself).

And though this has absolutely no reflection on the writing inside, I adore the cover of this book. Look at it! Yum.

I would recommend this anthology to anyone who is interested or turned on by BDSM relationships. The heat level is sizzling and the variety of tales is wide. Obviously, this book deals with sex and BDSM themes, so if those types of things bother you, than this is NOT the book for you. Thanks again to Rachel & Cleis Press for my copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

Follow the rest of the blog tour for more teasers and fun by clicking here.

Giveaway:

Rules:
-This giveaway will run from August 26th to September 2nd, 2014
-This giveaway is US ONLY
-This giveaway is open to those 18+
-It is open to anyone over that age who can legally enter, receive, and use their prize.
-One (1) winner will win a copy.
-This giveaway is sponsored wholly by the publisher. I am not responsible.
-This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity.
-Winner will have 48 hours to reply, or a new winner will be chosen. Winner will be chosen using random.org.
-Invalid entries will be removed, so please don't cheat.
-Void where prohibited. Odds will vary. No purchase necessary.
-My opinions are my own. Information will not be stored or sold, and will be used only to contact the winners.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Graphic Novel Review Roundup: Manga Edition

Title: One is Enough
Author: Love Robert
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: July 8th 2014
Source: Netgalley & Diamond Book Distributors
Buy Now: Amazon

★

One Star.

One is Enough is a quick-read graphic novel about sixteen year old Matsumoto-kun. When he runs into, literally, his senpai Mizushima-kun, he wants to make it up to him. Lines quickly become blurred and the boy must decide how far he's willing to go.

This review is going to be short and sweet. I picked up this book because I'm slowly getting into manga, and I like the idea of senpai-related relationships. Unfortunately, this one didn't meet my expectations. The artwork, well, it wasn't very good for a published graphic novel. It was bland, with a plot to match. I was expecting this taboo, steamy relationship but what I was left with was a boring, flat story that wasn't really anything new or interesting. I really wanted to like it, but this just didn't satisfy me on any level.



Title: Manga Classics: Les Miserables
Author: Stacy King, Tszmei Lee, Victor Hugo
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: August 12 2014
Source: Netgalley & Udon Entertainment
Buy Now: Amazon

★★★★

Four stars.

Les Miserables is a classic novel that has been adapted so many times into films, books, plays, and so much more. It's one of my favorite musicals and a stellar book. When I saw that it had been given the manga treatment, I absolutely could not resist picking it up, and I'm very glad I did.

I was very pleasantly surprised at how well Victor Hugo's 1000+ page masterpiece was condensed into a 300-something page graphic novel. I thought that, upon first picking up, that surely they'd have to take huge chunks of story out. Of course stuff is going to be missing, but I'm astounded that the full story, give or take, remained in this adaptation.

The artwork is well done (very similar to that found on the cover), and the writing is too. It was a fairly easy read, and if you've read the novel before, this makes a nice little complement/refresher. If you are a fan of this story and of graphic novels, this is a book you should pick up for sure. Or, if you're intimidated by the length of Hugo's book (I don't blame you), this is a good first stepping stone to familiarize yourself with the general plot and characters.



Title: Manga Classics: Pride & Prejudice
Author: Stacy King, Po Tse, Jane Austen
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: August 12 2014
Source: Netgalley & Udon Entertainment

Buy Now: Amazon

★★★★

Four and a half stars.

I'm going to start this review off with a confession that might make me seem like a bad bibliophile: I'm not a big fan of Jane Austen. I know that they are classics. I know that they are bestsellers. I know that they have adoring fans. I just have never really loved any of them (although, to be fair, I've only ever read them as an assignment in school). However, when I saw the pretty cover of this manga edition, I decided to give it a shot. I'm very glad I did!

This adaptation gets all the major plot points across while keeping the bulk of the text rather simple and light. It made it easier to read and understand, without having to study intricacies. Plus, I absolutely loved the art. It wasn't super detailed, and yet it still managed to convey the sense of elegance and femininity that most readers associate with Austen's work. It was cute.

If you're an Austen fan, this version of a revered story is worth checking out. If you aren't her biggest fan, like me, I still recommend it: I think I may try to read the original text again to see if my views on it have improved at all.

Thank you to Netgalley & Diamond Book Distributors & Udon Entertainment who provided me with digital copies of these books in exchange for my honest reviews.

Review: Saugatuck Summer

Title: Saugatuck Summer (Saugatuck #1)
Author: Amelia C. Gormley
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: May 19th 2014
Source: Netgalley & Riptide Publishing

★★★★★

Five Stars.

---

Topher Carlisle is a twenty-one year old mess. He has a really bad family history of a broken home, is on the verge of losing his college scholarship, and is trying to come into his own as he stays in his best friend's summer house in Saugatuck, Michigan for the summer. Unexpected kinks get thrown into his plan when he has an affair with his best friend's straight and married father, and meets a sexy artist named Jace. Topher has to figure out who he really is and who he wants to be in the whirl of one fabulous roller-coaster ride of a summer.

To be honest, my blurb doesn't really do this book justice. The thing is filled with drama and feelings from cover to cover, and I mean that in the best and most positive way. There were times that I laughed out loud, there were times when I got really angry, and times when my heart broke for Topher. Being a 22 year old queer kid in college from a broken home, I felt that I connected to him on an emotional/mental level and it made me cling to his story from start to finish. I really admire the depth that Gormley gave to her characters without making them seem too cliche.

I'll admit to you all, I picked up this book because I used to go to Saugatuck in the summers of my youth. For me, the setting helped a lot with my enjoyment of this novel. We spent a lot of our summers up near Traverse City, Michigan, stopping at several towns along the way, and while we were there, so when Gormley mentions these towns, I've heard of them and can happily picture them in my mind. Plus, Topher's partner Jace is from Chicago like me, so the references to things like Boystown again helped me to relate to the story.

And then, of course, I have to talk about the sex. This book is the hot, steamy kind of read that is best enjoyed on the beach or by the poolside in the bright summer sun while sipping on something cold and fruity, ideally with a plastic sword of fruit wedged into it. The adult scenes were well-written and detailed without being overtly crass, which in my opinion is a hard line to toe regardless of genre of erotic romance. Another important note is that this book is not about sex. That is, there is plot and rising action and all those things, that just happens to have some intense and smoldering sex scenes peppered throughout.

This book is a fairly rare five out of five stars from me. In a nutshell, the gorgeous Michigan beach setting, the amount of drama, the hot sex scenes, and the likable, relatable characters all meld together to create one really addictive summer read. This is a book that I will need a physical copy of at some point. BUT be warned; this book contains homosexual sex, graphic language, and potential triggers for abuse. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Riptide Publishing for my chance to read this one.

Blog Tour, Giveaway, & Guest Post: The Summer I Wasn't Me by Jessica Verdi

Hello readers. Today, I'm hosting a stop on the blog tour for the new LGBTQ YA novel The Summer I Wasn't Me by Jessica Verdi. Jessica was nice enough to join Bitches n Prose for a guest post on the topic of writing from an LGBTQ perspective. Thanks so much for stopping by, Jessica.

Guest Post:

Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Jill, and for your great question about what it was like to write from an LGBTQ perspective. For me, writing about LGBTQ characters and issues was not really any different than writing any other kind of book. In the end, it’s all the same, right? Life, love, character arcs, story twists. I always include LGBTQ characters in my stories, whether they’re supporting or leading, so writing The Summer I Wasn’t Me felt very natural to me.


That said, I was always aware that this book would be somewhat of a risk, since every single teen character(and most of the adult ones as well) is LGBTQ. But at the same time I wasn’t worried because I know teen readers are eager to understand all different types of characters’ journeys, regardless of whether they mirror their own experience or not. I recently did an interview with an LGBTQ newspaper and was asked if I worried the book would only appeal to gay teens, because it’s a lesbian love story at its core. And I said nope, not at all. I truly believe the YA literary world has made great strides over the past few years and while teen readers still do almost always demand some sort of love interest in the books they read (I don’t blame them! Lexi and Carolyn foreva!), it doesn’t seem to matter all that much whether the couple is straight, gay, or anything else. Love is love, right? And after hearing back from so many readers of my first book, My Life After Now, who had nothing but lovely things to say about the main character’s two wonderful dads, I knew I was on the right path with Lexi’s story.



I’ve always been fascinated by these so-called conversion camps, places where religious leaders claim they can turn gay kids straight. There is no doubt in my mind that they’re claiming to do the impossible, and that telling LGBTQ kids there’s something wrong with them is nothing short of abuse, but the root behind these camps actually, in a twisted way, stems from a good place. The parents who send their kids to these programs truly believe their children are on the wrong path in life and that they will go to hell if they don’t make a change. These parents are desperate to “save” their kids, in their own misguided way. This is something that has long intrigued me, and a world I knew I wanted to explore in the book.

I sincerely wish that more people thought the way you do, in regards to "love is love". Thank you so much for the insightful glimpse into your process of writing The Summer I Wasn't Me.

My Review

Title: The Summer I Wasn't Me
Editor: Jessica Verdi
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: April 1st 2014
Source: Netgalley & Sourcebooks Fire
Purchase: Amazon

★★★★

Four stars.

---

Since the death of her father, Lexi's mother has been acting differently. She's not the same person anymore, void of happiness and life. This only gets worse when she learns that Lexi is a lesbian. Lexi just wants to keep her promise to take care of her mother, and so agrees to attend New Horizons: a gay-to-straight conversion camp. Lexi must decide if she can really change who she is and if love is an emotion that really can be controlled, while discovering what the camp will truly offer her as a "cure."

I loved this book. I'd like to give a little bit of personal insight as to why before giving my review of the actual text itself. It is no secret to my readers that I am an out member of the LGBT community. My girlfriend and I have been together four years now. But of that four years, I have only been out for one. Why? Because I hated myself. I didn't want to believe that I could be attracted to more than one gender. I blocked out that part of me for a long time. I let my guard down when I found a partner in Emily, but still each day I struggled with myself, and with her. How she managed to be patient enough to deal with my screaming at her and constant crying and self-belittlement, I will never know, but I am eternally grateful that she did. I finally cracked when I came home from a visit to her family's house in another state for a holiday, when I called my mom crying and vomiting to tell her the truth. She didn't honestly care. No one in my family really did. I am so lucky for this. The battle I fought, and admittedly still fight, was against myself, not against fear of others.

That being said, I felt a special connection to the young characters in this group who struggled to make sense of a world that too often condemns them and negates their feelings. While I never attended a camp nor thought about it, that feeling of wanting to change is there, was there. I have personally felt what some of these characters have and it broke my heart to read about them. Even the youth campers who are a bit less likable, I felt a connection to. If you, as an author, manage to capture a cast of folks that I bond with, then you have done something great. Lexi and Carolyn, the main couple in this book, of course stood out. But the other two members of their group, Matthew- a rebellious, hilarious, headstrong boy, and Daniel, a younger, more eager to change boy definitely added to the story.

The camp was well written, in a horrid way. The descriptions were really vivid, and I was able to live the program right alongside those seeking their conversion so that they can be saved by God. And, while religion plays a key role in this book (as it is a Christian camp), I didn't feel that Verdi was at anytime mocking or disrespectful to the faith. The "twist" near the end of the book is one that I speculated about halfway through, but still made me irrationally angry and disgusted. (It is 4:26AM as I write this review. I had to finish the shit show that was going down.) I even cried a few times, and may or may not want a tattoo similar to Lexi's. I like the symbolism and girl, I know you're fictional but I know that feel.

Plus, look at the cover. Gorgeous.

I did think that the book ended in a bit of a rush. I would have liked to have seen more... Well, just more. How the relationships between Lexi and both her love interest and her mother pan out. How Matthew's life goes. What happens to the camp. More information about the counselors/employees and the alumni of New Horizons. I was frustrated that I was out of pages. It wasn't a cliffhanger, more of a "write the ending yourself" but -huffs- I don't want to (but I will).

I think this book is a solid addition to the genre of gay and lesbian young adult fiction. This book deals with some serious topics, but tells a story about love, being yourself, and fighting for what you believe in. Thank you truly, Netgalley, Sourcebooks, and Jessica Verdi for the chance to read this. I was given an egalley in exchange for my honest review.

Giveaway!

Now, here's your chance to win a copy of The Summer I Wasn't Me!
The Rules:
-This giveaway will run from May 3rd to May 10th, 2014.
-This giveaway is open to those 18+ and is USA & CANADA ONLY.
-It is open to anyone over that age who can legally enter, receive, and use their prize.
-One (1) winner will win a copy.
-This giveaway is sponsored wholly by the publisher.
-This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity.
-Winner will have 48 hours to reply, or a new winner will be chosen. Winner will be chosen using Rafflecopter.
-Invalid entries will be removed, so please don't cheat.
-Void where prohibited. Odds will vary. No purchase necessary.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt, Review, & Giveaway: Twisted edited by Alison Tyler

Hello my lovelies! I'm really super excited for my post for you all today. Cleis Press was awesome enough to host a giveaway with me for the new bondage anthology Twisted: Bondage with an Edge edited by Alison Tyler. Each short story features a steamy scene of, you guessed it, bondage, but each author approaches the topic in very different but equally arousing ways. As if a giveaway wasn't enough, I have the very extra special treat of an excerpt from the book!

This excerpt is from a story entitled "Sylvia’s Transgression” by Tamsin Flowers.

Sneak Peek:

“If you’re going to be noisy, you know what will happen?”
“Yes, Sir,” I whispered.
“Do you want to be gagged?”
“No, Sir.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure, Sir. I won’t be noisy.”
He slapped me sharply on the butt with a flat palm as if to
test my resolve, but I was biting my lip and stayed quiet.
“Good girl.”
I heard him pacing round the bed.
“Let’s get this over with.”
I lay wondering what sort of punishment he had in mind. Then his arm swooped under my waist and he pushed a bolster cushion in underneath me, drawing my legs up slightly and raising my arse a foot or so above the bed. I knew what that meant; with the spreader pulling my legs wide, my butthole and labia were fully exposed and vulnerable to whatever pain he devised for them. I shut my eyes and chewed on my tongue, determined not to cry.
He must have been aware of my distress because then I felt his hand gently stroking my arse and down the back of one thigh.
“Don’t be frightened, sweet girl,” he whispered in my ear. “You know I’ve got to do this for your own good. You know you’ll feel much better when it’s over.”
“What will you use?” I managed to say, finishing with a slight sob.
“No, no, no. Nothing given away beforehand.”
He moved silently in the darkening room and as the light faded, I felt as if I was losing myself, sliding into a deep pit from which I would never be able to claw free. All I could hear was his breathing, deeper and heavier than when he’d first come in. He was getting ready to punish me now, psyching himself up, deciding what he would use, how many times he would strike and how hard.
He opened the cupboard where he kept his toys and I heard him rifling through his collection: whips, crops, paddles, belts, a flogger…. He’d been collecting them for years and he’d tried them all out on me. I knew exactly how much pain each would cause and as I wondered which one he would pick, a dull, grinding ache of need made itself felt in my clit and my cunt and my arse. I breathed deeply; I was starting to sweat now with the anticipation. I wanted it to start, but I wanted to wait like this on the brink forever. I longed to hear the whoosh of air and feel the first the blow but I was scared, frightened of the pain, frightened of his anger and of his desire. I pressed my forehead into the bed as time seemed to stand still and all sensation was lost apart from the throb of longing that pulsed from my cunt through to my chest.
Then I heard it. The thin, high-pitched whine of his bamboo riding crop. Instantaneously, I felt it too; a shard of pain that seared through my left buttock and up to the base of my throat. I gasped, and then I wretched as the after-burn kicked in. I fought for breath, desperate to regain my equilibrium before the next inevitable blow. This was one of his favorites; a harsh bestower of pain, of bright red welts that stayed for longer than any others in a sharply delineated pattern.
“Look at you, you’re so wet for it,” he whispered near my ear and at that moment I became aware of hot juice that was dripping from my cunt and running down the inside of my thigh.
Swoosh!

My Review

Title: Twisted: Bondage With an Edge
Editor: Alison Tyler
Format: Paperback, 244 pages
Pub. Date: February 18th 2014
Source: Cleis Press
Purchase: Amazon

★★★★

Four chained & begging stars.

Twisted is an anthology of BDSM erotica that offers a story for every kink and every fantasy. Whether you're into girl on girl, chains, voyeurism, and lord knows what in between, Alison Tyler has included a steamy tale in this collection to scratch your itch. Even the cover draws you in, making this book one that tempts you from cover to cover. Of course, as is sure to happen with every anthology or collection, I did enjoy some stories more than others. I'll highlight briefly my top three, in no particular order, in the lines below.

One of the short stories within Twisted is called "The Customer's Waiting" written by Giselle Renarde. This escapade features two lovely ladies, a boring night at work, and a few cable ties. Add in some sexual tension and some great attention to after care and you've got a sizzling story that will leave you hot and bothered.

The next of my picks is "Bondage Blogging" by Meadow Parker. A huge fan of a husband and wife duo's bondage blog gets the chance of a lifetime when she gets an email from the couple saying that they'll be in town if she wants to get dinner. She never suspected that she'd get a very special BDSM experience that is not available online. As a blogger, this one struck me a biiiiiit personally in a great way. Maybe I should follow more naughty blogs!

My final pick is entitled "Rope Drought" and is written by Teresa Noelle Roberts. When the land finally gets some much needed rain, Zeke and Ellie decide to take a walk to get wet- in more ways than one- out on their farm. The descriptions in this one are particularly lovely, and it made me wish I didn't have such a high population of people and neighbors nearby.

From farms to offices, homes to camp there's a fantasy for everyone. Though these three are the ones that stood out to me, each story is worth reading for different reasons. Each author brings a unique set of characters, kink, and voice to make each one arousing, making you want to read more and more. Another plus of this book is that because the stories are only related by theme, bondage, you can stop and start reading with ease. Fans of BDSM erotica, or even erotica in general, will not be left disappointed by this collection.

Thank you so much to Cleis Press for giving me a copy of Twisted in exchange for my honest review.

Giveaway!

Now, here's your chance to win a copy of Twisted!
The Rules:
-This giveaway will run from March 28th to April 4th, 2014.
-This giveaway is open to those 18+ and is USA ONLY.
-It is open to anyone over that age who can legally enter, receive, and use their prize.
-One (1) winner will win a copy.
-This giveaway is sponsored wholly by the publisher.
-This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity.
-Winner will have 48 hours to reply, or a new winner will be chosen. Winner will be chosen using Rafflecopter.
-Invalid entries will be removed, so please don't cheat.
-Void where prohibited. Odds will vary. No purchase necessary.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Made of Stars

Title: Made of Stars
Author: Kelley York
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: October 1st 2013
Source: Netgalley and Entangled Teen

★★★★★

Five shining stars.

Chance is a constant in the lives of half-siblings Ashlin and Hunter. For as long as they can remember, their quirky friend has been by their sides. They're a perfect group of three. The siblings are ecstatic when they come to their Dad's house for the first time in years, knowing that things will pick up where they left off. But they're older now, and Chance's lies don't quite add up. Hunter and Ash start to question why Chance hides so much from them when they're so close..... And then his mother is found dead. Can Ashlin and Hunter protect the boy they love forever, can they make his life okay for the first time?

-----

Wow. I just finished this, and I'm speechless. I need to finish this review while everything is still fresh in my mind and while I'm still emotionally traumatized. This book is incredible, from cover to cover.

Actually, I'd like to mention that first. Look at how beautiful the cover of this book is. It lures you in, effectively, but inside it is a barrage of heartbreak and feelings. So many feelings. You betray me, peaceful cover.

I had never read a book of Kelley York's before, but I know I will be reading them again in the future. Her writing is beautiful. Throughout this story, there's this underlying tone of sadness and false tranquility, of impending mental and emotional shattering. I knew from only a few pages in that this book would leave a scar on me, and I was correct. Yet, despite all this sadness, this book illustrates such beautiful love. Between friends, between siblings, between lovers. Part of what makes the love of these characters so real is the alternating perspectives of both Ash and Hunter. It was executed perfectly in this novel, and gave a better insight into the siblings' feelings towards Chance.

Oh god, Chance. The characters in this book were all likable in their own way, but Chance is by far my favorite. Possibly ever. He's so odd and quirky and broken and lovable and UGH I just want to give him a hug and feed him sandwiches. (Yes, I know he's fictional. Shut up.) His flaws added to his charm, and when he's together with Hunter? They're perfect. In a messed up, imperfect way. I know that doesn't make sense, but that's the great thing about love, isn't it? It doesn't have to make sense. It just IS.

I honestly thought my review copy was missing pages off the end. I wasn't expecting so abrupt of an ending, and that made my pain so much worse. I have not been so emotionally damaged by the end of a book since Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma.

A large part of why I liked this book is that love seems to have no boundaries. True, this book features a romance between two male characters. But that isn't the point of the book. There's no coming out scene, no hate. Ashlin loves Chance. Hunter loves Chance. Chance loves Hunter. It's just pure and simple love between humans.

I recommend this book to everyone, unless male/male romance is something that you're completely against. If not, this book is stunning. I really have no other words, and I hope that this review ends up being coherent. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go eat some chocolate and process and maybe watch something to brighten my mood.

Thank you to Netgalley and Entangled Teen for the chance to read this.

Review: Cheeky Spanking Stories

Title: Cheeky Spanking Stories
Authors: Rachel Kramer Bussel & Various
Format: Paperback, 224 pages
Pub. Date: October 16th 2012
Source: Rachel Kramer Bussel

★★★★★

Four and a half stars, rounded up.

Cheeky Spanking Stories is a collection of over twenty little morsels of writing all centered around the central theme of spanking. The tales inside this book range from hardcore to light and sweet, and involve men, women, and every combination of them in every orientation. Whether you like your spanking stories delivered with a crop, a paddle, or a good old fashioned open palm, Cheeky Spanking Stories has got something to satiate.

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I love the concept of having a collection of erotica stories all centered around the act of delivering a good smack. It lets you know what you're in for throughout the book... But only just. Each individual author takes the idea and runs with it, making each story unique and kinky in its own lustful way.

It goes without saying that there will always be stories that I love and ones that I'm not so crazy about. That's sort of to be expected in an anthology such as this. With that being said, my top three selections deserve a special shout out in my review. The first is Mermaid by Teresa Noelle Roberts. This story features two very lovely ladies, a pretty shoreline, and more than a little rope. The writing was detailed and intriguing, and the unique story line stood out to me. I also really enjoyed Bitch by Elizabeth Silver. It's a story about a sexy, no-nonsense Domme and the new plaything she gets to explore. I felt that the Domme was written really well (which I tend to be picky about in my readings). And last, was the story Marks by Rachel Kramer Bussel, which follows a couple at an adult resort and a very tempting beauty with inviting marks on her perfect bum.

The stories I didn't like so much were either due to a pairing that I'm not so fond of, or more commonly were written from a perspective that I don't enjoy (mostly second person).

Also, I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but just look at it. It's so cute. I love it!

All in all, if this kink is one of yours, this is a great little collection of stories to enjoy and fuel your fantasies further. Fans of Rachel's anthologies definitely won't be disappointed with this one. If explicit sex, kink, or homosexuality bother you, then don't pick this one up.

Thank you so much to Rachel for my copy, in exchange for an honest review.

Review: His Roommate's Pleasure

Title: His Roommate's Pleasure
Author: Lana McGregor
Format: egalley edition
Pub. Date: July 1st 2013
Source: Netgalley and Carina Press

★★★★

Three and a half stars, rounded up.

Adam's computer has seen better days. He's painfully reminded of this as it spazzes right before a paper is due. He's not really friends with his roommate, Josh, but they don't hate each other either... So it makes perfect sense to use his computer, if only for a moment. He accidentally finds some pictures.... Pornographic pictures between men, in BDSM scenes. Josh catches Adam on his computer, and so begins an exploration of kinks, limits, and emotions between two college roomies.

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This is a short, easy to follow M/M erotic read that follows two young men on a journey to discover who they are and what they enjoy in the bedroom.

+I really liked the emotions represented in this book. There's obviously lust and attraction, but there's so much more. Each character feels shame, fear, uncertainty, doubt. This is the first erotic story that I've read in which both main characters are relatively unfamiliar with the kinks that they show interest in. It added a level of depth to an otherwise simple read.

+The sex scenes were vulgar but well written, and took up a considerable portion of this book. So, if you're looking for steam and heat, this novella definitely has you covered. Sex also incorporates paddles, collars, leashes, and verbal degradation. Yum.

-The one thing I'm really not too big a fan of is the description of the photos in question. It got a bit boring and redundant. I understand why it was described in such detail, but those scenes ran a bit long and lost a bit of my interest.

Overall, this is a great exploratory book. I recommend it to people who haven't read much about BDSM, since I feel those people will relate the strongest to the characters. This book involves sex, BDSM, and homosexuality, so if any of those themes bother you, this might not be up your alley.

Thank you to Netgalley and Carina Press for my copy.

Review: Once a Brat by Kim Dare

Title: Once a Brat
Author: Kim Dare
Format: egalley edition
Pub. Date: February 9th 2013
Source: Netgalley & Riptide Publishing

★★★★

Four stars.

This review will contain crass language. You've been warned.

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Marcus has seen Bret hanging around him at the local BDSM clubs. He's stalking Marcus, and not very discreetly. He's a newbie to this kinky world of Doms and subs, with a bratty attitude and a lot to learn. But from the moment that he saw Marcus, he wanted to obey no others' commands. Eventually Marcus gives in and agrees to do a scene with Bret, but finds himself thinking of Bret as more than just a pet, while Bret will do all that he can to prove to Marcus that he is worthy of a collar.

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This is my first read by Kim Dare, and I've got to say that overall, I'm a fan. This is a short read but manages to have not only steamy sex but an actual plot between two well-developed characters.

+The author is clearly very experienced when it comes to the BDSM scene, and as a member of "the scene" myself, this makes me exceedingly happy. The emotions that she captures, namely from the submissive Bret, are dead on. I sympathized with him completely, and found myself frustrated when he was, and wincing when he stepped out of line. It was nice to see depth and knowledge brought into this. I've read a lot of stories where this was not the case.

+ The sex scenes themselves were very well written. Hot, teasing, steamy, and delightfully vulgar, this story is sure to scratch any itch that the reader may have. It also gets pretty hardcore into bondage, which made it all the better for me.

My only real complaint, at the end of the day, is the use of language. The word "cock" is pretty much exclusively used to indicate that part of anatomy. It seemed a bit redundant and almost irritating at some points. It wasn't enough to really turn me off of the read, but it was enough that it caught my attention.

I recommend this novella to any fan of bondage, m/m romance, and general kinkiness. If gay relationships or BDSM themes are not your cup of tea, than let me assure you, this book isn't either.

Thank you to Netgalley and Riptide Publishing for my copy.

Tart by Lauren Dane

Title: Tart (Delicious #2)
Author: Lauren Dane
Format: ebook, 352 pages.
Pub. Date: November 6th 2012
Source: "I am a book addict...and proud of it" blog

★★★★★

4.5 Stars, Rounded up.

Juliet Lamprey is a strong, assertive woman who knows what she wants. She's her own boss- the owner of the infamous Tart bakery. Up and coming, it's growing in popularity thanks to the artwork and catering company run by her friends in the same building, but because her baking is perfection. Things are getting settled in when Gideon comes back into her life. They'd known each other growing up, but he's definitely more than the boy she remembered. When he's in town helping out with the family farm, Juliet starts a romance with the family loving cowboy that's just too good to resist. Only, one of her best guy friends since forever, Cal, isn't too keen on Juliet seeing people that aren't him. He's pined for her since they were young, but has waited too long to do anything about it. Juliet's world as she knows it comes crashing down around her with an unexpected kiss and a proposition that would leave all three of their delicious appetites satiated....

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This is a book with adult content and situations. If this offends you, please scroll along.

I am pleasantly surprised to say that I loved this book. Not afraid of sounding too shallow, I originally wanted to read this because of the cover. My regular followers know that I'm very picky but just as hopeful when I read romances. Most of the time, I'm left wanting more and regretting my book choices. However, I'm very happy to say that this Tart filled me up in all of the right ways.

+One of the most important aspects of a good romance, in my opinion, lays in the hands of the female protagonist. In Tart, this position is filled by Juliet Lamprey, baker extraordinaire. She is an alpha female who does just fine on her own. She knows what she wants, how she wants it, and just exactly how to obtain it when she needs it. This assertiveness made all the difference. She's not made of stone, and can be a bit bitchy and even weak in moments, but she's not the perpetually useless damsel in distress, and for that reason alone I cheered her on.

+The males in this book are tasty. Cal is a dark haired lawyer with designer clothes and piercing eyes who can be a bit too bossy for his own good. Gideon is a golden haired cowboy with manners and a deep love for his family and the land that he so laboriously looks after. Both men are dominant and it leads to some interesting sex scenes with their "alpha" female. I can't blame Juliet. I'd want to enter a three-way relationship with this fine gents too.

+The element that surprised me the most (in the best of ways) was the actual plot. Too many times in the past, I have picked up a romance that seems generic and weakly written, or in other cases, only sex and no plot. This book actually made me tear up at parts. There's a beautifully narrated wedding full of loving friends and family, there's a hospital scene that brought to surface extreme feelings of rage and "stabbity", as Juliet puts it. Though the sex scenes were great (and I'll get to those later), there was far more than meets the eye in this book. It's got layers to it, and it made it all the more encompassing.

+Now, the part that everyone really cares about: the sex. Lauren Dane has exceeded my erotica-reading expectations. She writes scenes between the three of them with just enough detail to leave the reader hot and bothered, but not too much detail so that it's off-putting. None of the three in their menage is ever left out, nor are any of them slacking at any point. Each of them is aggressive and sexy in their own way, and the three of them together make for steamy happenings. Props to the author for using so-called "naughty words" in her writing. I much prefer them to broad statements like "he touched me there."

+The cover, as I mentioned at the beginning, is gorgeous. It does a great job of summarizing what the book is about: a sexy baker and her two lovers.

+This book does a very good job of leading up to the next Delicious book, which isn't so much a sequel as it is a continuing story with one of Juliet's friends. The expected publication is April 2, 2013. Assuming I'm not lucky enough to snag an ARC -wink wink- (Never hurts to try), I know I'll be getting it upon release.

-One of the things that did irk me about this book was the sentence fragments. They don't occur often, namely when one of the characters is aroused. I understand the theory of characters' thoughts being muddled by sexiness, but it bothered me just a smidge.

+/ My last point is neither positive nor negative, just an observation. There are a LOT of characters in this book. At some points I found it extremely difficult to remember who was who. It wasn't a constant, and it didn't take away from the story. It did just take me a few moments, here and there, to refocus on who was involved.

This book is a very solid 4.5, rounded up. This is my warning/disclaimer: If you are offended, repulsed, or closed-minded to the ideas of polyamory, three-way sex, vulgar language, or male-male sex scenes, do NOT read this book. I promise you, you will not enjoy yourself. However, if you are like me and can't resist the idea of two handsome men together with their darling, delicious bakery owner, are impartial to homosexual scenes and dirty language, then read this book immediately. Your ovaries will thank you (Or man parts. I don't judge).

Thank you to the "I am a book addict...and proud of it" blog for my copy.

Codes and Roses by Julia Talbot

Title: Codes and Roses (Bloodrose #1-3)
Author: Julia Talbot
Format: Paperback, 226 pages
Pub. Date: September 1st 2009
Source: Ramblings From This Chick blog

★★

A weak two stars.

Codes and Roses is a set of three short stories about the customers of a sex club called the Bloodrose. Willing paranormal participants are partnered up according to taste for an optimum time, based on an application and experience. It's sort of an in-real-life eharmony or Fetlife for werewolves and vampires. The stories circle around a werewolf, naked Deacon, who gets off on the bite of vampires. He is paired up with a vampire named Kasey, who wants nothing more than to drink from and ravish the sexy werewolf that he has just obtained. The other stories include a rouge shapeshifter, a weird scientist, and a douchebag werecat.

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First, let me just say, I don't mind reading erotica. I don't mind reading MM erotica. So anything I say about this review should be read with that in mind.

-This is one of the few times that I would judge a book by its cover. It's not well done, in my opinion, and it would never get my attention on a shelf.

-Dare I say- there is too much sex. I like erotica just as much as the next girl, but I would actually like a plot. I was only fifty pages into this collection and I found myself thinking, "Oh, we're doing this again?" And when it did happen, it was rather short and anticlimactic.

-On that note, I didn't feel that the sex was varied. There was a very limited vocabulary that made it seem as though I was reading the same scene over and over again. There are a LOT of words out there to use, other than the "c word". It made the book seem a bit trashy and not all too original.

-On top of that, there was some very poor grammar. There were sentence fragments that irked me, but what bothered me the most was the vampires. It's acknowledged in the mythology of vampires (as well as specifically in this book) that they are old, and come from different times. They should speak eloquently, while these vampires seemed like truckers.

-I'm a bit confused on the chronicling of these stories. This novel is supposed to contain books 1, 2, and 3. But when I clicked on the series page, I saw that the "third" story in this is marked as number four, and that there's another in front of it. I have no idea what that's about.

+That being said, I really do like the concept of this club. Enough so that it bumped this rating to a two star review, instead of one. If properly written, it would have been a delightful setting to read about.

If you're into M/M or paranormal erotica, or like when there's constant, short lived sex scenes, great. Maybe you'll like this better than me. If you prefer detailed, slower moving types of stories, give this a pass. I don't really recommend it to anyone.

Thanks to Danielle of Ramblings From This Chick blog for my copy.

A Thread of Deepest Black by Finn Marlowe

★★★★

Four stars.

Werewolves, whips, and pretty men? Sign me up. I was so excited when I received this book through Goodreads First Reads.

This is a passionate story of two men- one a shifter, and one a werewolf- and the forbidden love they face. Wanting nothing more than an honorable death, Colton comes to a werewolf named Killian to ask for death. Considering it, Killian makes a negotiation- he'll consider it only if Colton spends one night in his bed. After that night, their fates cross paths, and they must work together in a way they never expected. With each flick of the whip, the threads of Colton's identity begin to unravel, showing Killian that there's more than meets the eye, and that all of those secrets, all of Colton, are simply his.

I very much enjoyed this story. The sex scenes were written in a steamy, sexy way without making it come across as crude or rushed. There was a lovely blend of emotions and details from both male characters. It was easy and hot to read. Come for the sex (or from it, I promise not to judge), but stay for the plot. Even if the sex scenes were to be taken out of the novel, though I don't know why you'd want to do that, there is still a decent plot involving corruption and quite a few fights.

There were admittedly a few parts that seemed a bit redundant at times, but as the book pressed on, I stopped noticing or caring (I'm not sure which).

I recommend it for people who enjoy any combination of wolves, erotica, BDSM, and male-male action, and I will definitely be reading it again.