Review: In The Dark

In The Dark by Brynn Paulin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Taking place in 1351 - the plague has just swept through England, killing or displacing almost everyone, including Katherine's entire family. Katherine - who has been forced to hide away her entire life because of the "devil's mark" on her face. She lives in a secret tower in the castle and gets around using hidden passageways. She and two of the servants in her father's castle were the only lives spared.

Shortly after, Calen the Black, arrives at the castle. It has been given to him by King Edward. (Because they think the castle is empty, except for the remaining servants. No one knows of Katherine's existence.) Calen and his men immediately starts cleaning out the castle and burning all of its contents. Katherine silently watches from her tower, as Calen burns all memories of her family. As the days go on, Katherine's fascination with Calen continues to grow. She wants to know more about this man. So one night, she visits his room - using her secret passageways. The have a night of passion - in the dark, so Calen can't see her disfigured face, and Katherine is gone before Calen wakes up the next morning. Calen feels that it's a dream, except he has some of her red hair tangled in his hand.

This happens several more times - and each time, Katherine makes her escape before Calen wakes. Finally, knowing that Calen has fallen for her, Katherine decides to leave the castle before Calen tears it apart looking for her. As she's making her escape, she is caught by some of Calen's men. They threaten to rape her and then burn her at the stake for her "devil's mark" on her face.....but before they have a chance, Calen comes in and demands the prisoner be released. Katherine is crying and doesn't want Calen to see her in daylight - because of her hideous scar. As soon as he sees her face and hears her speak....he knows that it's his beloved Katherine. And, of course, he could care less about the scar. He finds her beautiful anyway, and he begs her to stay with him as his mate.

OK - so, what the fuck is up with every single piece of erotica that I read being so damn short! This novella was just BEGGING to be a full length novel! Good Lord. It was sooooo good, but damnit, it was too short. There was enough character development to make you love the characters, but there could have been so much more. I wanted a back story. I wanted an epilogue. I wanted more hot 1300's sex. I wanted to know more about the mark on Katherine's face. Was she truly disfigured or was it just a birthmark? Geez. What was Calen's life like before he arrived at Warg Castle?

I really loved this story - but I can't give it 5 stars because it SHOULD have been a full length novel. Not to make it so was just an injustice to the characters.

Review: Simply Forbidden (#6)

Simply Forbidden by Kate Pearce

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love this series so much, I'm not sure why I ever doubt that I'm going to enjoy one of the books in it. (Especially after I could get through - and COMPLETELY LOVE, I might add - the book about the hated Lorn Minshom.) But this one, featuring Helene's youngest daughter Lisette....I'll admit, I didn't think I would be too keen on. Like I said, why do I have to doubt? LOL

The book starts out with Lisette wondering about the quite Lord Gabriel Swanfield. He's at her father's house to discuss horses, and seems perfectly content to keep to himself. Lisette, ever the curious one, strikes up a conversation with the handsome Lord and is somewhat taken aback by his lack of interest in her. (Or so she thinks!)

Eventually, the two strike up a sort of friendship when Gabriel offers to teach (or reteach) Lisette how to ride a horse. They meet up a few mornings for lessons, and one day after their lessons are over, Gabriel grabs her and kisses her passionately and eventually that leads to an orgasm, although they don't have sex. While the scene was totally hot - I couldn't help but think....."Ewww! They both probably smell like sweaty horses!" But anyway.....

Through their sort of "love to hate you" relationship, Gabriel tells Lisette that he will not bed her because he doesn't want to get married. Being the daughter of Madame Helene of the Pleasure House - sex before marriage isn't exactly a problem for Lisette. Besides, she isn't a virgin anyway. But Gabriel won't budge. He refuses to have sex with her because he absolutely doesn't want to have children out of wedlock.

Lisette knows there is more to Gabriel than meets the eye. Something about his unwillingness to have sex just doesn't sit well with her. After she learns from her twin, Chrisian, that Gabriel often frequents the Pleasure House - Lisette decides to investigate. She goes to the Pleasure House (disguised, of course) to see for herself what kinds of things that Gabriel enjoys. She finds him in the role of a servant and he allows various people to touch him and pleasure him, although she does find out later that he doesn’t have actual sex with anyone at the House.

To get back at Gabriel, she decides to request him for a private session in which she has him masturbate to climax in front of her. (He doesn’t know who she is.) And during another similar session, Lisette actually gives him a blow job and right as he’s climaxing, she reveals who she is as she’s running out the door. (Always the lady, that one.)

Oddly enough (or not) this little event seems to sort of bring them closer together. She feels bad for playing the prank, he feels more comfortable with her because obviously she is just as freaky-deaky as he is when it comes to bedroom fun.

As their psudo-relationship continues down it’s sorrid little path, we learn why Gabriel is so opposed to having bastard children. We also learn that Gabriel has, on occasion, batted for the other team. (Starting when he was a prisoner during the war.....and it most often occurred with his friend/cellmate, Paul.)

Sidenote: We learn during casual conversation that my hated/loved Lord Minshom did indeed have more children - TWIN GIRLS!

Lisette and Gabriel continue along their “no sex that can get Lis pregnant” relationship until one night in the pleasure house. They have a hot night of buttsecks and end up falling asleep together. Lisette wakes up to the sound of some very noisy fireworks and gets out of bed and finds Gabriel huddled in a corner - obviously having some flashback to war. As she’s trying to comfort him, he grabs her and they have sex - you know, like vagina sex. At first Lisette isn’t sure if he even knows that he’s having sex with her, but he calls her name and then has sex with her again. After which he tells her that he will speak to her father and ask for her hand in marriage. (Whoa, there, buddy!)

Lisette is very taken with Gabriel, but she isn’t sure that she wants to get married.....even if their one night of sex might have resulted in a pregnancy. But Gabriel is very insistent. So much so that he ends up sort of kidnapping her and tries to take her to Scotland to elope. Initially, she fights him, but the reality of it is.....she’s fallen for Lord Gabriel and when she has the chance to leave his side, she doesn’t take it.

Lisette and Gabriel do end up coming back to London without getting married, but only because she has agreed to marry him and wants to do so in front of her family. This is done very quickly - like the next day.....I think.....and come to find out, her family was sort of in on the whole elopement thing. This infuriates Lisette because she thinks her family either wants to get rid of her or they don’t trust her enough to make her own decisions. Oddly enough, she isn’t all that upset with Gabriel.

The newlyweds try to settle into married life, but they’re finding it difficult given their “supposed” place in society.....their mutual affinity for kinky bedroom sexy times.....his family troubles.....their iffy reputations, etc. But if you’ve read any of the books in this series, you know the hero and heroine are gonna work it out....even when it seems impossible.

Dear Lord, how much do I love this series. Like I said earlier, even when I think the characters aren’t going to interest me....I’m proven wrong. (And I love to be proven wrong about a book!) I love that these are essentially period pieces but the characters are SO sexual and downright dirty! As I’ve said in another review, those Regency Brits were a randy bunch! And I love it. And by saying that, I’m not implying that this book has just enough story to be able to move sex scene to sex scene. That’s not true for any book in this series. There is a very rich world built in this series, and yes, it does all revolve take place in and around the Pleasure House, but it’s not just just sex that drives this series - it’s the characters and their stories. And if part of their story just happens to involve jade dildos and buttsecks, well, that’s ok too.

And PS - I know the next book is Christian's story.  I'm predicting he ends up with Paul. There SO needs to be a M/M HEA in this series!

Review: Simply Insatiable (#5)

Simply Insatiable by Kate Pearce

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lord. I have tried and tried to write this review....but I found it incredibly difficult considering the roller coaster ride I experienced while reading Simply Insatiable.

First off - I hated Lord Minshom before I even started this book. He was featured in book 4 (and maybe others, I can't remember) and he was a completely despicable, piece of shit, sadistic fuck. I can't remember hating a character so much. So when I found out that book 5 was HIS story.....needless to say, I was less than thrilled. I thought how in the world am I even going to get through this book?

For the first part of the book.....my opinion of him didn't change. We find out that he has a wife named Jane, but he hasn't seen her in 7 years. She lives in their country house and has absolutely no contact with her. He spends his time in London at the pleasure house - on the third (and most extreme) floor of the house, I might add. He gets off on abusing men there. (And let me just say this.....the "abuse" is consensual. He isn't raping anyone. He's being rough, forceful, and violent with them.....he beats them, humiliates them, etc....but they are all asking him to do it. Not that I feel the need to defend Lord Minshom, I just want it made clear that while he IS a sadistic douchebag, he ISN'T a rapist. So there.)

For whatever reason, Jane still loves and wants her husband. AND, she wants a baby. And she wants Lord Minshom to father the child. Jane seems WAY too sweet for a dick like Minshom. Like, you almost have to think that she's an idiot for even wanting him. So, obviously there is something about Minshom that is lovable, if someone so seemingly sweet as Jane is able to have feelings for him even after not being in contact with him for almost a decade.

So, Jane is now in London and is refusing to leave even though Minshom has made it perfectly clear that he doesn't want her in his home or in London even. And he refuses to get her pregnant......again. Come to find out, they had a son who died in infancy. This revelation leads us to learn more about why Minshom left Jane and moved to London in the first place.

It's hard to describe the many plot twists and turns without giving away the whole novel, but I will say this.....I did a complete turnaround in my feelings toward Lord Minshom. While I still consider him a douchebag of epic proportions, I learned why he became that way. Childhood physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at the hands of his father left deep emotional scars that he was incapable of dealing with. This led to his belief that he was a despicable and perverted person that no one was capable of loving. No matter how much Jane professed her love, he refused to believe it until it was almost too late.

In romance novels, I love nothing more than a tortured hero. The trouble is, when I started this book, I considered Minshom so tortured that he couldn't find redemption. Didn't deserve it, even. I found him to be that vile. But after finding out who he really was and the history he had, my heart broke for him over and over. I started to read between the lines and even as he spoke the most hateful words to those who loved him, I saw him as a character so broken and abused that he had no choice but to lash out. Why would he or how could he EVER trust anyone. Of course Lorn Minshom became a hateful bastard. He had to be in order to survive.

So, yea.....I started out hating this book. Hating it before I had even read a page of it. I don't remember exactly when the transition occurred, but after that - I couldn't read quick enough. I had to make sure that this man got his HEA. Because if he didn't, my heart was going to be broken all over again.

Review: Simply Wicked (#4)

Simply Wicked (House of Pleasure, #4) by Kate Pearce

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So, this wasn't really my favorite book of the series.....but I still enjoyed it enough. The 3.5 stars (I rounded up) are because I didn't really start to care about the characters until about halfway through the book.

The story focuses on Anthony Sokorvsky and Marguerite Lockwood. Anthony, half brother of Valentin (from book 1) and Marguerite, bastard daughter of Madame Helene (owner of the House of Pleasure).

So....Anthony. Poor thing. We see him at the beginning of the book, waking up on the 3rd (and most extreme) floor of the House of Pleasure. He is passed out/asleep - still in the punishment corner, covered in blood and several other body fluids that I won't name. His particular brand of sexual excitement involves beatings and humiliation - mostly at the hands of Lord Minshom, a sadistic asshole who is more than happy to beat the hell out of men for his own sick sexual pleasure.

Well, for whatever reason, when Anthony wakes up this time, he realizes that he has got to change. He is essentially killing himself - and he finally realizes it.

Sometime later, Madame Helene's son, Christian, invites Anthony to meet him and his twin sister for tea. At their meeting, Christian invites Anthony to escort his older sister, Marguerite around town. Marguerite, a young widow for two years, has rarely left the house.....and her family is desperate to get her out of mourning and bring some joy back into her life. Why they decide that Anthony is the person for the job....I'm not quite sure. Maybe they see who he is underneath it all.....and they want to help him out of his rut too.

Both Anthony and Marguerite are extremely damaged people - and even though they start out as just friends, they soon realize that they have stronger feelings for each other, feelings that they both try really hard to deny. Anthony is still troubled by the rape he experienced at 19 as well as his sexual need to be punished and dominated. Marguerite is still dealing with the loss of her husband as well as some secrets that she's keeping about her brief marriage.

MOST of the sex in this book was hot enough. While some of it (punishment, humiliation, master/slave, physical abuse) is not something I understand or enjoy.....I can see how that is something that Anthony would turn to as a result of his rape and his trying to come to terms with who he is sexually, versus what he is being told he his. I get all of that. And really - I can't pinpoint exactly what didn't work for me in this book except that I didn't feel much of an emotional attachment to the characters until the book was half over. Eventually, I wanted to see them reach their HEA.....but mostly, I was just meh.

Truthfully, I spent most of my time with this book hating Lord Minshom and wanting him to die a thousand horrible deaths at every possible turn.

Review: Simply Shameless (#3)

Simply Shameless by Kate Pearce

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book. Loved it.....loved it......loved it. I didn't want it to end, I couldn't put it down and the only reason I didn't read it in one sitting was because, you know, I have a job to go to.

Book 3 of this series tells the story of Madame Helene - who is the owner of the House of Pleasure. I love a good tortured hero. I also love a good tortured heroine. Fortunately for me, this book has both.

The book starts out with Helene, traveling alone from France to England to start a new life for herself. On her way there, she meets Philip Ross. Initially, she ignores him....but when a carriage accident forces them to spend a few nights together at an inn in the middle of nowhere - things heat up quickly. At the end of their few days together, they realize that their little fling is really something more. Philip ends up proposing marriage to Helene, but is swiftly turned down because Helene just can't bring herself to trust him or think she's good enough for him. He storms off and they part ways......for the next 18 years.

Through a series of events, Philip comes back into Helene's life 18 years later, and neither of them can deny that the attraction and the passion they once had are still there.

So far, I have loved both books in this series. When I got to this one, I honestly thought I was going to dislike it. I mean, I really didn't care about Helene, the owner of the House of Pleasure......until I learned about her backstory. Oh man. Talk about breaking your heart. And Philip, too. Geez. If two people EVER deserved a HEA - it's these two.

I would give this one more than 5 stars if I could.

Review: Simply Sinful (#2)

Simply Sinful by Kate Pearce

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For the second book in the House of Pleasure series - it was almost a 5 star book for me. Almost.

This one focused on Peter Howard, who we met in book 1. He was also a sex slave in a Turkish bordello, along with Lord Val (from the previous book). At the end of book 1, we see Peter, Val, and his wife Sara involved in occasional threesomes - and all parties are ok with that. While in the bordello, Val was often violent when he was forced to be with male customers, and many times, Peter would step in and take over Val's duties....since Peter had no problem sleeping with men.

So anyway - this book starts with Val telling Peter that Sara is pregnant and he is requesting that Peter stop coming to their bed during this time. Peter takes this to mean that Val and Sara no longer want him, so he storms off without giving Val a chance really explain his request. Shortly after, Peter ends up at the House of Pleasure when he is introduced to Lord Beecham. And they soon have a quick tumble in the sheets and the men part ways. Later on we find out that Lord Beecham is married to sweet Abigail Beecham, and although they have never really had a sexual relationship - she now wants a child. Lord Beecham, knowing of Peter's relationship with Val & Sara, decides that Peter should join him and his wife in bed.....and help the couple come together sexually.

Pretty soon, it's clear that Lord Beecham is falling for Peter - and so is Abigail. On the other hand....Peter finds himself falling for Abigail and Lord Beecham as well. (Though, later on, his feelings do tend to go more to Abigail.)

One of the things I love about this author and this series is that even though it takes place in pre-Victorian England, the language for sexual acts, body parts, etc, and strictly modern. I respect the author's choice to go head first into anachronism-land. I think it's a bold choice for an author to make who is writing a historical romance novel.

The only reason I'm giving this book less than 5 stars is because of this one whole scene/chapter that is all about the sexual slave/master relationship. Granted, it was well written, but it was just a hair outside of my comfort zone. But that being said, the character that is the master does it for a very particular reason - that makes the HEA happen.

All in all - I give this book a solid 4.5 stars. Now....on to book 3.

Review: Simply Sexual (#1)

Simply Sexual by Kate Pearce

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love a tortured hero. And we don't get much more tortured than wealthy and handsome Lord Valentin Sokorvsky. Valentin (or Val) was abducted from his English father and kept as a sex slave in a Turkish bordello for many many years. He was eventually freed, but left with scars - both physical and mental. (He was forced to service both men and women - and was also tortured by one particularly sadistic man named Alaibad.)

The book begins with sweet Sara Harrison seeing Val having wild sex with her maid, Daisy. Val catches her watching and she scrambles off down the hall. Come to find out, Val is about to be engaged to Sara's younger sister, even though the sister is in love with another man. Sara feels an immediate attraction for Val, although she is considered the spinster of the Harrison daughters (she's 26!), she knows she has no chance to ever have a lusty man such as him for a lover. Val also feels an attraction to her, and he finds ways to talk to her and see her during the time he is staying at her house. Well, as it turns out, the reason Val has agreed to marry Sara's sister is because he owes her father his life. Mr. Harrison is the man that rescued him from the bordello.

After Val meets and feels the attraction to Sara - he tells Mr. Harrison that he no longer wishes to marry the sister - the only Harrison girl he wishes to marry is Sara. Even though Mr. Harrison doesn't want that for his favorite child (because he knows of Val's previous life as a sex slave), he eventually agrees to it after Sara begs him.

But let me just say this - Sara is not a blushing flower. A virgin, yes....but she does all sorts of things that are considered "unladylike" for her time. She's a master harpsichord player, a math genius, and she isn't happy to simply sit by and let her husband boss her around. In fact - all her unladylike qualities are exactly what drew Val to her in the first place. Val, who had never been faithful to any one woman, suddenly finds himself unable to desire anyone else BUT Sara.

This book is filled with some crazy hot sex. Sara and Val's relationship is initially JUST about sex, but eventually he begins to realize that he doesn't just want her in his bed - he wants her working with him in his business too. Sara's math smarts help him and his business partner uncover some mistakes in the accounting ledgers and all of that unfolds around the same time they find out that someone is trying to sabotage his shipping company.

Through twists and turns - we see Sara and Val grow as a couple - both sexually and emotionally. There are some bumps along the way, but in any great love story - we know that the bumps are necessary to find the HEA.

I loved Sara's strength and patience with Val. He could be kind of a douche at times - but knowing his painful past....it was kind of hard to imagine him being any other way. Underneath his dickish exterior, you knew he had a huge heart - and that it beats only for Sara.

Just so you know - this book takes place in England in 1815.....which makes the things I'm about to mention all the more interesting. Those pre-Victorian era Brits were a randy bunch, obviously! ;) There is a lot of sex. LOTS OF IT. Starting from basically page one. It wasn't anything I would consider raunchy or perverse - but you will need an open mind to deal with some of it. There are toys involved....made of jade, of all things. Body piercing - which, I have to admit, was very hot and nothing I had read in other books of this sort. Then there is the House of Pleasure, for which the series is named. Scenes in the house contain some m/f/m action, though not much. Also some f/f and m/m, but again....not much. There is a lot more that happens in the House of Pleasure - but I'll leave that up to you to figure out. But like I said - it is nothing that I found to be raunchy or perverse.

I loved this story - and getting to know the characters and watching them develop. Was the story perfect? No. There were some holes and some things I wish the author had explained more in depth. But all in all - I found this story to be beautiful, passionate, and believable. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Review: Pleasure Me

Pleasure Me by Monica Burns

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG. This book. I could not put it down. I stayed up until almost 4 am (on a work night!), trying to finish it.

The story centers around Lady Ruth Attwood and Lord Garrick Stratfield. Ruth is 41 and a courtesan - Garrick is a 29 year old wealthy man of society.

Ruth is dumped for a younger woman - and shortly after, she meets Garrick. They are immediately drawn to each other, although by the day's social standards, a 29 year old man and a 41 year old woman should not be in a relationship together. And there's more.....Garrick is a virgin. He has (what he feels) is a physical impairment that will always prevent him from being intimate with a woman.

As Ruth and Garrick's relationship grows - they begin to have real feelings for each other, despite all that is working against them. Together, they both overcome their own personal demons while finding out what true love is.

Geez. I can't stress enough how great this book was. The sex was so incredibly hot.....but their was true passion behind it - not just wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am.

I would give this more than 5 stars if I could.

Review: If You Deceive (#3)

If You Deceive by Kresley Cole

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the final book of the MacCarrick brothers trilogy.

The story of Ethan and Maddy.....by far, my favorite book of the trilogy. I read it in one six-hour sitting.

Ethan was once a handsome ladies man, but his face was horribly disfigured when was punished for something he didn't actually do. This alone was enough to rip out your heart. Not only does Ethan live under his family's curse.....he's also cursed with (what he considers) a physical deformity as well.

One night Ethan goes with his brother Hugh (from book #2) to a masked ball and he meets the lovely Madeline van Rowen. Sparks fly, they have a bit of passion in a carriage, and Maddy goes back home to France.

I won't say any more, because there are a lot of twists and turns in this book.....and I don't like to give out spoilers. Especially with books that I loved as much as this one. And I did love this book so very much.

Kresley Cole Books = guaranteed HOT SEX

And again with the tortured men finding redemption with the right woman. This is a theme in many Kresley Cole books. But I'm a sucker for them - so keep bringin' it, Cole.

Review: If You Desire (#2)

If You Desire by Kresley Cole

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The 2nd book in the MacCarrick brothers trilogy.

This is the story of Hugh and Jane. Hugh has been in love with Jane for as long as he can remember, but he won't pursue her because of his family's curse. They parted ways and haven't seen each other for years. But Hugh still works for her father, and he's called in to protect Jane when her father believe's that he has some enemies that wish to harm her.

Hugh takes Jane away - to protect her - both the love and passion that both of them still feel for each other can't stay hidden for long.

And, well, you know the rest.

As will all of Cole's books - the sex is oh so hot. And do I really have to mention the Scottish brogue?

Hot Scottish man who will do anything to protect the woman he loves. *sigh* What else do you need to know other than that? I mean, really.

Review: If You Dare (#1)

If You Dare by Kresley Cole

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first of the MacCarrick brothers trilogy - the story of Anna and Court.

The MacCarrick brothers believe they are cursed and can never marry or have children due to an ancient book that predicted the futures of everyone in their clan. Unfortunately for them, all predictions have come true, so they have no reason not to believe that they are indeed cursed.

As with all of Kresley Cole's books - the sex is incredibly hot, and the Scottish brogue is even hotter.

I will give Cole credit - she is the author that turned me on to the romance genre. Her writing is solid and the books are always page-turners. And really, you can't ask for much more than that.

Review: The Price of Pleasure (#3)

The Price of Pleasure by Kresley Cole

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Grant Sutherland, brother to Derek Sutherland from The Captain Of All Pleasures is on a mission to locate members of the Dearbourne family. They were lost at sea many years ago, and the lone member of the family (the grandfather) is convinced that they are out there, alive, somewhere. With the promise of giving him the Dearbourne estate, the grandfather hires Grant for one last mission to locate the family.

Turns out, there were only two survivors from the shipwreck....one of them being granddaughter Victoria. After learning to survive on a deserted island in the middle of nowhere for eight years, Victoria isn't too sure she wants to be rescued....but her lone companion is very sick, so she agrees to go.

Grant is a rigid, play-it-by-the-books kind of guy, and Victoria is (what he considers) a wild child who is going to have problems fitting back into civilized society. But the attraction is there from the beginning, and he fights it, and kind of lies to her....and so on and so forth.

The only thing I do hate about this book is that it sets up the storyline for a 3rd book, the story of Sutherland cousin Ian....but that book has yet to happen. (Mostly, I think, due to the success of the Immortals After Dark series.) I do hope at some point, Kresley Cole will return to the world of the Sutherland family and let us know what happens to Ian.

Review: The Captain of All Pleasures (#1)

The Captain of All Pleasures by Kresley Cole

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm a sucker for pirates. Ok....well, so Derek Sutherland isn't "technically" a pirate....the bulk of this story does take place on a ship that is sailing from England to Australia. There are lies, exotic locations, and most importantly.....really hot sex.

Derek is a captain of a shipping company and Nicole is the daughter of the captain of the rival shipping company. When Nicole's father is sent to jail and can't captain his ship, Nicole takes over....determined to save her father's company and win the race that both Derek and Nicole's father have entered.

When Nicole's ship sinks in a horrible storm, Derek saves her and her crew from certain death on the high seas.

Nicole is feisty and Derek is a huge a$$hole.....when it comes to romance novels, that always equals really REALLY hot sex.