Review: Captain Gareth’s Mates by Cassandra Pierce

Captain Gareth’s Mates by Cassandra Pierce

Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

As far as Captain Krys Gareth is concerned, life is perfect. He’s happily commanding a ship for 24th-century Earth’s Border Patrol, and his relationship with another man, the alien ambassador Brennar, is hotter than a supernova.

Then his ship is summoned to Anubis, a small planet facing an attack by space brigands. In exchange for his help, the ruler awards the captain his daughter’s hand in marriage. Gareth and Brennar both know that refusing could result in diplomatic chaos.

To Gareth’s surprise, marriage with the feisty Princess Izbal is better than he imagined. His new bride is even willing to accept a relationship with both men, and before long, the trio has bonded both physically and emotionally. One obstacle remains, though: duty soon calls Gareth back to his ship and Brennar to his home planet. Now the three mates must find a way to stay together without risking intergalactic peace.


Hunter's Review

I really enjoyed this story. Ms. Pierce does a wonderful job of making interesting, well-defined characters admist this hot futuristic romance that has plenty of sex for the reader that likes erotic works.

The book starts out with a sexy high note and does not let go until the end. It isn’t a long tale and I found I was transfixed to my e-reader wanting to know what was going to happen next.

Don’t miss this one.

4 Tea Cups!

   

Review: Fairy Fun by Anita Philmar

Fairy Fun by Anita Philmar


Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Fantasy Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

Dedrick Forester, Prince of Endole, is fast approaching the end of his fairy cycle, which means losing his ability to fly, transforming into a wood gnome, and having to choose a mate. Until then he just wants to have fun...and lots of sex.

King Rosewood of Evermore is determined to see his daughter wed, but Chloe loves the freedom of fairy flight too much to settle down as a frumpy old wood gnome. She escapes and spreads her wings to reach new heights...like air sex with a stranger.

Combine her passion with Dedrick’s and sparks light up the sky. Both discover pleasure beyond their wildest fantasies. But neither is prepared for the emotional connection. Now Dedrick must convince Chloe that losing her wings doesn't mean there aren't other ways to fly?


Hunter's Review

I loved this book. Let me start out by saying that because the next thing I’m going to say is that it is an odd story. Dedrick is a Fairy. He loves to be a fairy because he gets a lot of action. But his time as a fairy is about to end. He can either become a wood gnome, choose a mate, and breed more fairies—which is what he should do because he is royal. Only problem? He has no interest in this. If he doesn’t chose this path, he can have a life without a mate but that will mean he will be sterile and not able to reproduce.

At his friend’s bar, he gets hit on by Chloe who wants to have sex while flying with him. What follows is a hot romp through some incredible world building and fun characters. The author has created this odd setting the likes of which I have never read anywhere before. There were times I found myself going ‘huh?’ But, ultimately I loved this book and I think you will too.

5 Tea Cups!

      

Review: One Night Only by Destiny Wallace

One Night Only by Destiny Wallace

Publisher: Red Rose Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Rating: 2

Blurb

Maleeya Benson is a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force and perfectly content. She has an education, a good job, and even owns a condo on the beach. She has all these things at the expense of a social life.

However, when one of her coworkers decide to have a club crawl for a going-away party, Lee agrees to go just so she can let Logan Wentz know exactly how she’s feels about him. His divorce is pending and Lee sees this one night out as her opportunity.

Easier said than done! If Lee can get some privacy from her coworkers, keep an eye on her drunken best friend, and show Logan that she can be more than a friend.

Maybe the night will come out the way she hopes or maybe not, are you ready to find out?



Hunter’s Review

This book was hard for me to read. From the beginning, it seemed to jump around a lot. Lee was a nice character and Ms. Wallace clearly succeeded in giving us a heroine that we could find amusing and witty.

But, she doesn’t speak to the hero—the man she really, really wants—for most the book. Lots of other things happen but the actual ‘meet’ takes a long time to happen. Also, I found myself frustrated by the ending. But the heroine is very likable and I think if you are looking for a light weight kind of beach read, this might be the book for you.

2 Tea Cups!

Review: Wait for the Wind by Brynna Curry

Wait for the Wind by Brynna Curry

Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Fantasy Romance

Heat Rating: 2

Blurb

Ryan and Kate must reunite to break the second of a three-part thousand-year-old spell.

Kate O’Connell grew up loved by the Corrigan family, all the while suffering from the inescapable reality of her own alcoholic father. At a young age she gave her heart and innocence to Ryan Corrigan. For once happiness seemed within her reach, until in one horror-filled night, the monster she called ‘Daddy’ changed everything.

Too many misunderstandings forced Kate and Ryan apart, but now Kate’s come home to open her clinic and raise her daughter, Allaina, closer to his family. Will she be able to open Ryan’s heart to his magic?

Ryan is glad to be back on Irish soil, but the reason he left still haunts him. As he tries to build a new life and redeem his past, can he forgive Kate and reclaim his healing gift in time to save his sister and her twins?

Content Warning: Steamy love scenes, adult language


Hunter's Review

Wait for the Wind is the third book in a series. I haven’t read the first two books in this series, but I will after this. It is so well written. From moment one, the tension that propels this unique story forward is palpable. Ms. Curry obviously knows how to create and keep action and romance. I was very impressed.

I did find some parts of this book confusing, having not read the first two books. But it was my own choice to pick up a story in the final part. I recommend this book to everyone but I would suggest that perhaps it might be best to start with Book 1.

4 Tea Cups!

   

Review: G’Baena’s Pirates by Rachel Clark

G’Baena’s Pirates by Rachel Clark

Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

Rescued from slavery, G'baena finds life among humans surprisingly satisfying. She's building a new life for herself and happily falling in love with Devlin, but the unexpected arrival of Kam, a man from her past, complicates her bright future.

Kam's twin brother died a few months ago. According to G'trobian law, that makes Kam dead also, so now he roams space trying to survive in any way possible. Discovering G'baena alive was the last thing he expected.

Devlin finds himself struggling with jealousy and an unexpected attraction, but keeping G’baena and Kam safe while rescuing G’baena’s mother and sisters, protecting the pirate ship’s crew from attack, and infiltrating the slave trade may just prove more difficult than anyone ever expected.

G’baena, Kam and Devlin are willing to try love the G’trobian way- -with a twist--but can their fledgling relationship survive confusion, a traitor, and an intergalactic conspiracy?


Hunter’s Review

I can’t remember ever really having this problem with a book before. I have absolutely no clue, really, what went on in this book. Half of it seemed to be in a foreign language. I think the real problem here is that it is so deeply reliant on the first book—which I had not read—that it is nearly impossible to read by itself.

The love scenes are hot, as I would expect from Siren—they do love scenes fantastically well. But, I won’t attempt this again.

1 ½ Tea Cups!

Review: Cat Maiden by Myra Nour

Cat Maiden by Myra Nour

Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Genre: Fantasy Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

What happens when the gods play tricks on humans?

Madria leads a very satisfying life as a cat, until one night when she stumbles upon a pair of arguing gods. When one of them points at Madria, changing her into a human, the stunned and confused ex-feline manages to drag herself home and collapse on her master’s doorstep.

Antonius is astonished when he finds an unconscious, nude woman on his doorstep, and pleased to see her beauty surpasses the ideal he had pictured for a perfect mate.

Soon Antonius is falling deeply in love with the woman, yet her strange behavior makes him wonder if perhaps she’s a mystical being.

Madria has always loved Antonius and finds her experiences as a human exciting, especially the passionate sex they share. But how long before the gods return to wreak more havoc—or return her to her previous form?



Hunter’s Review

Every once in a while, I encounter a book that makes me go, well frankly, ick. This is one of those books. Madria is a cat. Not a shifter. Not a Were anything. She is Antonius’ house cat. He is strangely attached to her, at least according to his friend. She disappears one night and then a naked woman arrives on his doorstep.

The naked woman informs our brilliant hero that she is also called Madria. She purrs when she sleeps. He thinks this is odd, other worldly but he likes having sex with her so he doesn’t give it much thought. They fall in love.

Yes, Antonius falls in love with his house cat in her human form. The sex scenes are well written and hot, if you can get past the ‘ick’ factor that really kept me pretty grossed out. But that might just be my stomach. People looking for something new, looking for something they won’t find elsewhere should give this book a try. It’s unique.

2 Tea Cups!

Review: Braeden and Janne by Kathye Quick

Braeden and Janne by Kathye Quick

Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Fantasy Romance

Heat Rating: 2

Blurb

Duty and desire clash to save a new Camelot from the sons of Mordred.

After his brother is made king by a dying Arthur, Braeden hopes to help Constantine rebuild Camelot and carry on Arthur's vision for the kingdom. Together with the new queen, and her companion Janne, a new era begins.

Although the ways of Merlin and Morganna are banned from court,. Janne holds to the goddess. She finds the mind overrules the heart when she and Braeden are betrothed. Refusing to marry him, she fears their union will bring the fall of the kingdom.

With the sons of Mordred, Melehan and Melou plotting the ultimate revenge…brother versus brother…there is no peace to be had in Camelot.

When Janne is exposed as a Druidess, she and Braeden must find a way to expose the plot to take down Camelot while maintaining the ideals the majestic realm was built upon.


Hunter's Review

There are not enough good words to describe this book. I think this incredibly original take on the Arthurian legends should become a must read for all lovers of romance. The world building in this book is entirely unique. The idea is that Camelot continued after Arthur’s death and that those who remain are fighting to keep it afloat.

Enter Janne and Braeden. He is the brother of the new king—Constantine—and she is a healer who uses earth magic to make people better. Only problem? Magic is forbidden now. (There is a lot of discussion of the role magic played in Arthur’s downfall with Lancelot and the Queen.)

I highly recommend this tale and I will never forget it. If you have been searching for a story of love that has real heart and creativity, you need look no further.

5 Tea Cups and a Recommended Read!

      

Review: At Ease by Olivia Brynn

At Ease by Olivia Brynn

Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

In what’s become her favorite class, Jaycee Hanson sits behind Tyler Johnson, ROTC captain and star of most of her erotic fantasies. She doesn’t think he’d ever be interested in her, because in all the time she’s been watching him, she’s never seen him in the company of a white woman. She resigns herself to her thrice-weekly fantasy session during Psych 301.

But when an accidental touch near the end of class turns into an impromptu foot rub, Jaycee is more than willing to follow Tyler wherever he might lead. She doesn’t expect the stairwell.

Tyler isn’t sure what to make of the woman in his arms. She’s smart as well as beautiful. If he’d had any idea before today that she was interested in him, he would have made a move, but each time he looked her way in the past, she avoided his gaze.

Objections to their relationship come from an unexpected source, causing Jaycee to second-guess herself. She and Tyler have more than sexual chemistry, but will it be enough?



Hunter's Review

I think this is such a good story that five teacups really doesn’t do it justice. I would give it ten teacups if I could. Jaycee and Tyler sit in the same area of their psych class, both noticing each other but never speaking until an impromptu foot massage changes their lives.

The sex between them is HOT but objections to their being from two different races threaten to derail them before it ever gets started. Ms. Brynne, the alter-ego to Romance Novelist Alanna Coca, does a great job of using little touches to create a complete story even with the short word count. I’m thinking specifically of something that takes place in the hall after they almost caught during one of their hot early moments. A third party behaves very realistically and I loved it because she didn’t try to sugar coat how hard some of these issues are. At no time are any of the character vilified or made to be bad people.

It’s complicated and Ms. Brynee lets it be complicated. I loved this book and you will love it for the romance, the writing, the plot, and the hot sex scenes that don’t shy away from real moments. Bravo.

5 Tea Cups and a Recommended Read!

      

Review: Soco Awakening by Vonna Harper

Soco Awakening by Vonna Harper

Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Genre: Fantasy Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

Ranger Bogg has returned to Soco Island off the western tip of southern Florida because his first trip stirred something inside him he doesn’t understand. At the same time, Charli Marsh is at Soco to assess the small resort for her brother, who’s contemplating buying it.

One look and Ranger needs Charli. A single touch and Charli invites the dark, mysterious man to her bed. The small tropical island shelters the lovers throughout a night of frenzied sex, but come morning, Ranger feels compelled to return to the wilderness—taking Charli with him.


Hunter's Review

I found this book moved a little slowly for me. There is a lot of build up to the point of the book, which I don’t want to give away here. The characters are really what make this book work.

Ranger is hot and romantic. Charli is a great character who I could really get behind. The love scenes are hot. All-in-all, I think this is a good read that people will enjoy.

3 Tea Cups!