Kay's Annual Black Dagger Brotherhood Challenge

For the last three years I have done the Black Dagger Brotherhood Challenge. This consists of trying to have a book that I've read this calendar year for every available entry. I completed the challenge the first two years but fell short last year. I hate to say it but I won't meet it this year either. I got all but two and needed books for the letter Y. My challenge is as follows:

I- Inferno by Sherrilyn Kenyon

L- Let Me Be The One by Bella Andre
O- Once Tempted by Laura Moore
V- Vincente by Melissa Schroeder
E- Easy by Tammara Webber

T- Taking The Stage by Emma Rose
H- Hot Secrets by Lisa Renee Jones
E- Edge Of Dawn by Lara Adrian

B- Big Girls On Top by Mercy Walker
L- Lush by Lauren Dane
A- All Over You by Emily Snow
C- Come Away With Me by Kristen Proby
K- Knight by Kristen Ashley

D- Defying The Odds by Kele Moon
A- An Alpha's Path by Carrie Ann Ryan
G- Going For It by Liz Matis
G- Gabriel's Inferno by Sylvain Reynard
E- Empty Net by Toni Aleo
R- Raphael/Parrish by Laura Wright and Alexandra Ivy

B- Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren
R- Reaper's Property by Joanna Wylde
O- One Good Earl Deserves A Lover by Sarah Maclean
T- Taking Shots by Toni Aleo
H- Highlander Most Wanted by Maya Banks
E- Eyes Wide Open by Raine Miller
R- Reckless Night by Lisa Marie Rice
H- Headed For Trouble by Suzanne Brockmann
O- On Dublin Street by Samantha Young
O- Offsides by Juliana Stone
D- Down To You by M. Leighton

E- Exotica by Eden Bradley
S- Shades Of Gray by Maya Banks
P- Paradise Hops by Liz Crowe
E-
C- Covert Seduction by Callie Croix
I- Into The Fire by Amanda Usen
A- A Taste For You- Sorcha Grace
L- Lover At Last by J. R. Ward
L- Lover Undercover by Samanthe Beck
Y-

M- Midnight Secrets by Ella Grace
Y-

M- Mine To Take by Cynthia Eden
A- Against The Wall by Rebecca Zanetti
N- Naked by Megan Hart

W- Wolf With Benefits by Shelly Laurenston
R- Rush by Maya Banks
A- Against The Ropes by Sarah Castille
T-Trying To Score by Toni Aleo
H- Highlander Taken by Juliette Miller

Oops, I forgot about not getting one for an E entry either. This is always a fun challenge for me and I now challenge Anne and Kate to do it next year. Come on Kate, you know you want to. There, gauntlet thrown down.

Kay's Top Ten List of the Year and More

Here's my top ten list for 2013.

1.) Highlander Most Wanted by Maya Banks. Very pissed that I have to wait for the final book in this wonderful trilogy for a whole other year! Are you listening Maya?

2.) All Over You by Emily Snow. The second full length novel in this series has been pushed back time and time again. Pissed about that too!

3.) Knight by Kristen Ashley. Very alpha male book and I loved it. It was also filthy and I loved that too!

4.) Inferno by Sherrilyn Kenyon. I absolutely can not say enough about this YA series. I love every book and eagerly await the next one.

5.) Wolf With Benefits by Shelly Laurenston. Laurenston writing about non-winged shifters. Enough said. Plus I get to quote exchange with Anne.

6.) Styxx by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Gut wrenching and spectacular. Kenyon at her brilliant best.

7.) Trying To Score by Toni Aleo. Hockey and hotness.

8.) Empty Net by Toni Aleo. Repeat the above.

9.) The Christmas He Loved Her by Juliana Stone. A sweet book about second chance love.

10.) SEAL of Honor by Tonya Burrows. Military romantic suspense. One of my favorite genres.

I read a great number of great books this year. I got to go to the RT book convention with Anne. We had a great time there and I discovered that I'm officially too old to read out of mass market paperback books.

I discovered and met Toni Aleo. She is my favorite find and author of 2013. Her hockey series is fantastic! Here's to 2014 and the hope for more wonderful books to read!

Kate's Year in Review and Best Books List

Way back at the beginning of January, I set some reading goals.

1. I wanted to read 200 books before the end of the year,
2. I wanted to finish reading the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn (I had already read the first one and loved it), and
3. Anne challenged me to read the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward (I reluctantly agreed because I don't read vampires).

So how did I do, you ask?

1. I am at 193 books so far, and I'm pretty confident that I can read 7 more before the end of the year,
2. The last of the Bridgerton books is waiting for me to pick up a the library (and I can't wait), and
3. I not only loved, loved, loved the Black Dagger Brotherhood, I'm anxiously awaiting the release of the next book The King on (*gasp*) 4/1/14.

In reviewing the books I've read this year, I noticed something. I read my way through a lot of new-to-me series. Some were newly published, others have been on bookshelves for years. Here are the ones that I loved and recommend:

Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward-obviously. I'm still not a huge fan of vampires, but I am a huge fan of the brotherhood. If you're one of those few that haven't tried the series yet and you like your romance with a bit of a bite (yes, that was a bad pun), you need to try this series. First book-Dark Lover.

The Bridgertons series by Julia Quinn-although I'm probably the only person who hadn't read this series before this year, I'd recommend these books to fans of historical romance. The humor that runs throughout the books blends perfectly with the romance. I know I'm in love with them. First book-The Duke and I.

Dragon Kin series by G.A. Aiken-independent heroines, strong heroes, arrogant dragons, and humor that will make you snort out loud. What's not to love? If you don't mind shifters that end up with scales and flame-breathing abilities, this series is for you. First book-Dragon Actually.

The Chrysalis series by Elene Sallinger-BDSM relationships that don't happen overnight. The buildup to these relationships is so perfect and the characters will have you following each high and low right along with them. Perfect for BDSM readers who prefer more emotion to their stories. First book-Awakening.

Tucker Springs series by L.A. Witt, Heidi Cullinan, and Marie Sexton-m/m series that mixes emotion and passion to sexy, steamy perfection. I can't pick a favorite among this series. I highly recommend to any readers of m/m romances. First book-Where Nerves End (by L.A. Witt).

The Professor's Rule by Heidi Belleau-m/m BDSM reads. The first one blew me away. It was something completely new. The second one was exactly the story I wanted and the third one left me wanting more and more. Luckily there are more coming to this series. These are around 50 pages each. If you read one series of short m/m BDSM books, this should be it. First book-Giving an Inch.

So now that I'm caught up on all of these series, what series should I attempt to complete for next year's goal?

Anne's Best of 2013 List

My 12 favorite reads of the year, in order from most super favorite to favorite.  I really tried to get this down to 10 but I couldn't cut any more!  These were all wonderful stories!!!

 

1.  Family Man by Heidi Cullinan and Marie Sexton (m/m, contemporary)

 

2.  The Story Guy by Mary Ann Rivers (novella, contemporary)

 

3.  Making It Last by Ruthie Knox (novella, contemporary)

 

4.  The entire Tucker Springs Series especially Dirty Laundry (m/m, contemporary)

 

5.  The Seduction Hypothesis by Delphine Dryden (contemporary, nerd, BDSM)

 

6.  Heating Up the Holidays by Mary Ann Rivers and Serena Bell (novella, contemporary)

 

7.  Wolf With Benefits by Shelly Laurenston (paranormal, shifter)

 

8.  Croc and The Fox by Eve Langlais (paranormal, shifter)

 

9.  College Boys by Daisy Harris (m/m, contemporary)

 

10.  Sweet Young Thang by Anne Tenino (m/m, contemporary)

 

11  Beyond Pain by Kit Rocha (Dystopian, erotic romance)

 

12. Toy Box by Delphine Dryden (novella, contemporary, BDSM)

Kay's Series Lists

After seeing Anne's series lists, I had to do my own.

1.) The Dark-Hunters/Were-Hunters by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Engaging and wonderful series. Some books are hit and miss but overall, fantastic. (Anne, don't be a quitter!)

2.) The Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward. Just fantastic and its keeps getting better. Hot sex and vampires? What's better than that?

3.) The Pride series by Shelly Laurenston. Laugh out loud hilarious. Sexy and endearing. Love Anne and my quote conversations back and forth.

4.) Lords of the Underworld by Gena Showalter. Demon lords who crack me up as I fan myself. And William. you devil!

5.)Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole. Another fun and very sexy series.

Enough paranormal, now historicals.

1.) The Highland Guard by Monica McCarty. Scottish Highlanders! Do I need to say more? Kilts and claymores.

2.) The Smith-Smythe Quartet by Julia Quinn. Not as good as the Bridgertons but pretty darn good.

3.) Maya Banks historical trilogy series. She's put it on hiatus for another BDSM trilogy and I'm very pissed at her!

4.) Hell's Eight series by Sarah McCarty. Historical cowboys? Giddy-up!

And now contemporary.

1.) The Assassins series by Toni Aleo. Hot, sexy and funny. Hockey. Great.

2.)Play-by-Play series by Jaci Burton. Good series with great covers!

3.) One Night With Sole Regret by Olivia Cunning. Series of novella. Hot! Rockers!

4.) Rough Riders/West Boys by Lorelei James. Filthy and funny. Can be very emotional. Kate and I love them. Anne is now hooked too.

5.) Fool's Gold series by Susan Mallery. Small town romances with heat and heart. Love this series!

6.) Lucy Harbor by Jill Shalvis. Small town romances with heat and heart also.

There are a few others but I've just started those.

Anne's Series List

As I worked on my best of the year reads and my list of lists, I ended up with this long list that needed a post of it's own:

Twelve Series I'm Still Reading  I've pretty much given up on Sherrilyn Kenyon and Christine Feehan, too.  But there are some series that I just keep reading...

1. The Rev. Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries by Julia Spencer-Fleming  - contemporary, small town set mysteries I read by audio.  Incredibly good.  I'll even put up with some semi-cliffhanger endings, these are so good.  Start with In the Bleak Midwinter.
2. In Death Series by J.D. Robb - set around 2060 in New York, with Eve, Roarke, and tons of secondary characters that are good enough to steal the scene from Eve and Roarke, which is saying something.  I audio this one, too.  Book 37 just came out this year.  Amazingly I think this series is just as good as when it started!  Start with Naked in Death.
3. Rough Riders Series by Lorelei James - Contemporary set cowboy romance that includes ménage and men who love each other along with more traditional couples.  The first book was a train wreck for me, but I couldn't look away.  Things improved drastically in book 2, and by book 3 I was hooked.  Start with Long Hard Ride, but remember the series gets better within a couple books!
4. Tucker Springs by L.A. Witt, Heidi Cullinan, and Marie Sexton - contemporary set m/m romance takes place in the fictional college town of Tucker Springs. I kind of want to move there.  These books feel so real.  There's humor, there's a bit of angst, but really, really well done!  Start with Where Nerves End, though you're fine to jump in anywhere - I read them terribly out of order!
5. The Adrien English Mysteries by Josh Lanyon - I plowed through these last winter and loved them.  They are contemporary set mysteries with a running m/m romance throughout the series.  I don't know if Lanyon will write more in this series, but I'm there if he does!  Start with Fatal Shadows.
6. The Mercy Thompson series and the Alpha & Omega series by Patricia Briggs - alternate universe (with werewolves, fae, vampires, and magic) urban fantasy with really good romances running through it.  Yes, it's actually two series, but they are set in the same world and often overlap, so they are one series in my head.  Start with Moon Called. 
7. Kate Daniels Series by Ilona Andrews - Another urban fantasy with romantic elements.  Really good romantic elements!  Curran!  Even when the focus switches to Kate's friend Andrea, they are still good reads!  Start with Magic Bites. But have the next ones ready to read, because you won't want to stop!
8. Beyond Series by Kit Rocha - Dystopian Romance in a post apocalyptic world.  The tone reminded me in some ways of the tone of the Hunger Games series, but the content is pure erotic romance and it's done really well.  Start with Beyond Shame.
9. Science of Temptation series by Delphine Dryden - contemporary set romance with nerds and BDSM?  The first one made me think of Big Bang Theory Fan Fiction, except that it worked really, really well!  Smart and kinky is a really good combo!  Start with The Theory of Attraction.
10. Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward - This is total crack.  Just when i think it's getting to be a little too much for me, I read another book and I'm hooked again.  Start with Dark Lover.  Suspend your disbelief and just enjoy the ride!
11. The Pride Series by Shelly Laurenston  (if you want to be hard core, go read the 4 books of the Mangus Pack Series, too) These are laugh out loud, extra violent shifter romances that I just love.  Start with the two short stories in The Mane Event.  For extra fun, text the funniest lines to a friend and make them laugh, too.  (Kay and I do this.)
12. The Kowalski Family Series by Shannon Stacey - this is really, really well done small town contemporary romance that will make you laugh a lot!  Start with Exclusively Yours.

So, what about you?  What are your favorite series?  And am I really missing out on something I need to read next year???

Anne's End of Year Lists

When I sat down to make my best reads of the year list (I'll put them in a separate post) I ended up making a WHOLE BUNCH of lists.  So here you go.  My list of lists:

A. Best Authors I haven't read (yet)  This was determined by how much Kay has nagged me.

1. Tessa Bailey
2. Kristen Ashely

B. Books I read this year that were really new or innovative

1. Wallflower by Heidi Belleau - a romance about a young man coming to terms with his desire to cross dress and understanding what that means and doesn't mean about his sexuality.  Really well done.
2. Choose Your Shot: An Interative Erotic Adventure by Christine d'Abo - a choose your own adventure in a BDSM club where you make choices along the way that direct your encounters.  Kate and I really enjoyed this one.  I'd definitely read another!
3. Never Deal with Dragons by Lorenda Christensen - I like dragon shifter books.  This one stuck out (in a good way) for me because of the interesting world building - a present day where dragons had been created as weapons to fight a world war, but came out to be stronger than any humans could control.  Now these very intelligent beings live all around us and society struggles to adjust.  I felt like the book felt a little flat in the second half, but I'll watch for another in this series because I overall enjoyed it!
4. Caged Warrior by Lindsey Piper - another innovative set up.  Think non-shifting dragons mixed with a gladiator type set up.  Really riveting!
5. Stone Guardian by Danielle Monsch - gargoyles!  There's other supernatural beings in this world, bu she had me at gargoyles!
6. Painted Faces by L.H. Cosway - another cross dressing romance.  This time the cross dressing character is very comfortable with himself and his (hetero) sexuality.  The author has a great voice and it was funny and sweet.

C.  Books that pissed me off or disappointed me this year;

1. Love Overdue by Pamela Morsi  (Worst ending ever)
2. Fearless by Tawny Weber (Gettin' It was just too much for me!)
3. All I Want is You by Elizabeth Anthony (waaay too much drama, and a horrible ending!)
4. Demon Lovers novella series by Kate Douglas (I have enjoyed her books in the past, but this one was disappointing and just got worse with each novella!)

D. New To Me Authors this year:(most with a backlist I still want to read)

1. Delphine Dryden - her Science of Temptation series is Nerd-mance with BDSM and I love it!  I've read a couple novellas on her backlist, too, and really enjoyed them.
2. Cara McKenna - another author with an extensive backlist who is only new to me.  So far Willing Victim is my favorite, but Curio, Unbound, and Brazen were all really good, and they are very different books.  At this point I'll follow McKenna whatever she writes!
3. Mary Ann Rivers - I think she's pretty new to the writing scene, but wow is she incredible!  The Story Guy and her Christmas novella Snowfall (in the Heating Up the Holidays anthology)  She's got a unique voice and writing style that I love.  Goodreads shows she's got more stuff coming next year and I can't wait!
4. Anne Tenino - Again, she has a pretty big backlist, but I just found her this year.  I've read a couple books in her Theta Alpha Gamma series and really enjoyed them.  She writes m/m and does it really well!
5. Heidi Cullinan - A m/m author, I'd heard good things about her, so I can't believe I waited so long to read Heidi Cullinan.  Family Man (written with Marie Sexton) was incredibly good.  It's a book I'd recommend to someone who hasn't read m/m before as an example of how great it can be.  Her entries in the Tucker Springs series are awesome, too!
6. Marie Sexton - Another m/m author.  So far I've only read her entries in the Tucker Springs Series, along with Family Man, but they've been really good!
7. L.A. Witt - Yet another m/m author I met through the Tucker Springs series.  Goodreads shows an extensive backlist, which is really exciting!
8. Daisy Harris - Ok, I'll admit that in 2011 I read a book by Harris called Studenstein.  This sentient robot romance was good, but a little wacky for my taste, so I didn't go back for more.  But then I heard about College Boys, and there was talking through a wall, and it sounded cool, and it was contemporary m/m, which i know I like, so what the heck?  This is the start of my review:

   "I just finished reading this book, and I almost feel like I shouldn't write a review now because I'm too giddy to be coherent."  I'm looking forward to reading more!

9. Ruthie Knox - a contemporary romance author who writes great stories in both full length and novella formats!  She's an author I'll try anything with - bike ride across the country (Ride With Me)?  I'm in.  Marriage imploding (Making It Last)?  I'm in.  (For the record, both were incredible reads!)  And there's more to read!

Elf on the Dirty Girls' Shelf - Merry Christmas!

Elf on the Dirty Girls' Shelf - Commando!

Knock Out by Michele Mannon

Grade-C+
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Worth The Fight #1
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
167 pages

This book is actually more of a three and a half star book for me.

Keane O'Shea is a MMA fighter who is also ex-military. A Marine to be précise. He a big bear of a man in size and temperament. He fights not for the joy but for the release of energy and stress. He also has sex for the release but also because he likes sex. What man doesn't? His sex life is uncomplicated because there's no strings attached. The rest of his life is very complicated though. He has PTSD that he refuses to get treatment for. He's guilt ridden over the death of his best friend and he's surly at best most of the time.

Logan Rettino is a former ballerina still trying to pay off her medical bills. Her fiancé and dance partner dropped her during a performance and she broke her ankle. This injury ruined her career and her fiancé stole money from their accounts that she alone earned. She's been insulted by him through the media relentlessly. She's taken a job as a an Octagon Girl, she carries the cards that announce the upcoming rounds. Because of the humiliation of her injury being made public, people recognize her. She has success at being a Octagon Girl and only needs a few more paychecks to help her open her own dance school. Her boss is a wretch of a man. A surprise kiss starts a media frenzy between her and O'Shea. She's given an ultimatum by her boss that involves O'Shea or she's loses her job.

This was a good, solid read. It did seem a little long at times but was good overall. I enjoyed Logan as a character and she had a good heart. Keane O'Shea is a different animal altogether. This man is in real emotional pain which makes me less than pleasant. The love story was slow building but ended well. The sex was great when it finally happened but you did have to wait for it. I haven't researched to find out if this is a series yet but I would probably read more from this author.

Elf on the Dirty Girls' Shelf - Dancing Queens

As Natural As Breathing by Thianna D.

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Moderate Kink
Series-All They Ever Needed #1
Genre-Contemporary, m/m, BDSM, domestic discipline
Reviewed by Kate
215 pages

Christian returns from the Middle East with more than just scars and a bum leg. He's dealing with depression and questioning his sexuality. Logan is definitely out of the closet and home from college on Christmas break. Both his parents and his good friend Kelli ask him to look out for Christian and see if Logan can't help him figure some things out.

 

I really liked both Logan and Christian's characters. They were deep and complex and together they we so good. Despite being in college, Logan really knows who he is. While a few years older, Christian is struggling with his "damaged" self. When they get together, the relationship is sweet and tender and spicy and hot.

 

As much as I liked Christian and Logan, I was bothered by the secondary characters. Logan's parents are so easy going and accepting. And open...about everything. No kid needs to know that much about their parents' sex life if you ask me. I couldn't help but imagine Logan's parents as Ward and June Cleaver. Christian was so sure that his parents would hate him if he announced that he was gay that when he finally came out (in a very big way) their reaction was a bit of a disappointment. Sad to say, but I was almost relieved when one of the characters actually had a problem with Christian being gay.

 

A few things I want to mention:
1. This is the first book in a same-couple trilogy. So while it has a happy-for-now ending, we know there are more trials ahead for Christian and Logan,

 2. The blurb mentions domestic discipline. While it is discussed in this book, there is no actual practice shown on the pages (although it does appear that it will be a bigger part of the plot in the 2nd book), and

 3. The BDSM doesn't go beyond spanking with bare hand and implements.

 

I found this read enthralling and heartfelt. I can't wait to see what happens to Logan and Christian next.

I've never been a huge fan of same-couple series, but it's reads like this one that just might make me change my mind. Do you have any same-couple series that you would recommend?

 

Elf on the Dirty Girls' Shelf - Good Times (Elf on a Date #10)

Snowbound with the CEO BY Shannon Stacey

Grade: B
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary, Novella

Published: 11/4/13

Reviewed by Anne

66 pages

 

Rachel has a crush on her boss, Adrian.  Adrian owns and runs a very successful construction/rehabilitation company, and unbeknownst to Rachel, he has a crush right back on her.  When they get snowed in together at a mountain resort, they spend some non-working time together, which leads to a weekend fling.

 

If I had a crush on my CEO boss and decided to have some no strings sex with each other, but then ended up falling for him, I think this is exactly how it would go down.  It's emotionally messy.  They work very well together, but when it comes to personal stuff, they stumble around and try not to step on the other's toes.  That was a little frustrating, but it felt so real!

 

It is a pretty short novella, but the story fit well in its pages.  It didn't feel rushed yet it ended well.  The main obstacle they faced seemed realistic and the way they worked through it was believable, too. 

 

The story was still that great Shannon Stacey mix of sweet and funny.  It's a quick and enjoyable holiday read that I recommend.

Elf on the Dirty Girls' Shelf - After Glow (Elf on a Date #9)

Jagger's Moves by Allie Standifer

Grade-B-

Hotness Level-Inferno

Kink Level-No Kink

Series-SEALs on Fire #4

Genre-Contemporary

Reviewed by Kay

66 pages

 

What do you get when you take two childhood friends, whose mothers forced them to remain pen pals after moves separated the families? You get a woman who write erotica for a living and a Navy SEAL.
When Ty, nicknamed Jagger, agrees to pick his former pen pal up from the airport after being pressured by his mother, he sees a woman exit the plane. A drop dead gorgeous woman, no less. His heart almost stops and his world is forever changed.

Alexa is very eager to reconnect with her friend and childhood crush, Ty. She has thought of little else over the years. She's now a grown woman with grown-up desires. She knows that this trip home is when she is gonna make her move.

I enjoyed this book more than the last one I read. Granted, during a short story the love is instantaneous but I didn't really mind the rushing of things. I bought into the whole fantasy of love at first sight. This story didn't have much of a story honestly. But hot sex...WOW, it had that by the boatloads. So far this series has the best quotes. Below are my favorites.

"When you go to your meeting tomorrow or whatever tomorrow evening, your pussy will ache and you won't remember a time when my cock wasn't fucking you."

"You see more in me than I see in myself, and for that, I want to be the person you think I am."

I can't wait to read the rest of this series!

Elf on the Dirty Girls' Shelf - Down All Night (Elf on a Date #8)

Jonesin' For Action by Samantha Cayto

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-SEALs on Fire #3
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
53 pages

Aidan Jones, nicknamed Jonesin', used to be a SEAL. He was wounded in battle and had to have one of his legs amputated right above the knee. He underwent months of physical therapy to regain the ability to do as much as he could. He can never be an active SEAL again and he misses it desperately. There's just one more thing he has to do...have sex. To prove to himself that he is still a man. He goes into a bar to try and find a woman to spend the night with. He wears shorts so that any woman he finds will know right away about his missing limb.

Marissa is a PhD student who works as a bartender to help with her bills. She's working the night he comes in. She had seen him earlier in the day when he was learning how to waterski with his friends and thought he was very attractive. She's not really the one night stand kind of girl but for him she's willing to make an exception. She propositions him and when he hesitates, she assumes it's because she's half Asian. He assures her that's not the case, it's because of his leg.

This was a short and sweet little story. Reading about Aidan's insecurities felt real. You could feel for him on all levels. This was the third installment of the series and I will read the rest of them. I wish there would have been more closure between the two. It's more of a happily ever after for now. It was a good read with lots of hot sex. My favorite quote was from Aidan.

"You're beautiful. I want to go down on you. Is that okay? Like a smart girl, she said yes.

Elf on the Dirty Girls' Shelf - Up All Night (Elf on a Date #7)

Britton by Abby Niles

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-The Awakening #3
Genre-Paranormal
Reviewed by Kay
200 pages

I was very unsure of this book when I started reading it. The blurb sounded good but with paranormal being my least favorite genre, I was cautious.

In Carnal Ridge, yes that's the name of the town, they have a shifter police department. Val is a half-shifter, meaning she can't shift. That power is only for the males of the species. She inherited the position of being in charge after the leader at that time was demoted. His name is Britton and he is a full shifter. Oh, and they hate each other. While he flirts with every woman in the department, he saves his hatefulness for Val. That's okay with Val because she can't stand him but wonders what she has done to make him hate her. I know hate is a strong word but his reactions to seeing her are described with words like cringing and revulsion.

These two are assigned a case together when things are needed that go beyond what Val's abilities are. This is where it gets interesting. See, Britton has had his beast forced into dormancy because of a decision he made that allowed him to be seen as a shifter in front of humans. A twenty year sentence without his beast. But for this case he will get a serum injection that allows his beast to come forth so he can track a child shifter that has been kidnapped by a possible extremist group. With his full capabilities, he is able to track down leads to this case. He also notices that Val isn't as bad as he thought. She's even attractive he notices as he checks out her ass one day.

This was an interesting read after the reason he was repulsed by her was explained. The kidnapping plot made sense but was overall kind of weak in my opinion. I may catch up on this series later but not right now. Abby Niles has a good voice and I would like to read her again but preferably in a non-paranormal genre.

                      

Elf on the Dirty Girls' Shelf - Hands Full (Elf on a Date #6)

Tie Me Down by Tracy Wolff

Grade-DNF
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Mild Kink
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
296 pages

This book should've been so good. It is erotic romantic suspense, two of my favorite things.

Genevieve is a New Orleans homicide detective who knows there's a serial killer loose in her city. The problem is that her superior doesn't believe her. She knows its just a matter of time until he kills again. She picks up a stranger in a bar and they have a no holds barred night of sex. She finds out the next day that he has old articles about her life and these open sex cases. She was looking for a shirt of his to wear since he tore hers to shreds the night before. Needless to say, she gets the hell out of there while he out getting breakfast.

Cole is an award winning documentary director. His sister was murdered years ago when she moved to New Orleans. He comes to town to do a movie and to see Genevieve. He wants to help in her investigation in hopes he finds his sister's killer. He is her one night stand from the bar.

It sounds fantastic doesn't it? I just never worked for me and tried to read it not once but twice. I love romance, romantic suspense and erotic romance. I love hot sex in my books and lots of it. This book was pretty much all sex. Wait, at least the part  that I read. This was a DNF for me, which is rare, and never in the romantic suspense category. I wouldn't say this is a bad book for everybody but it just wasn't for me.

Elf on the Dirty Girls' Shelf - Getting Dirty (Elf on a Date #5)

Twice the Temptation by Beverley Kendall

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-The Temptresses #1
Genre-Regency Historical
Reviewed by Kay
364 pages

Catherine is an English woman with questionable breeding lines. Her half brother is an entitled man so she and her twin sister were somewhat welcomed by the Ton. She tries to be a proper woman, kind of. She's in love with Lucas Beaumont, an American who is a friend of her sister's At the beginning of the story, Lucas has to go home to America to handle some family issues. She's dejected and heart broken because she thinks that means Lucas doesn't feel about her the same way she does him.

She and her two friends devise a scheme to help other young women who are about to enter marriage to test the fidelity of their betrotheds. They are actually very good at it with good results, depending on how you view it. All three woman are beautifully and elegant, so the men of the Ton fall for them time after time. Lucas unexpectedly returns to England to claim Catherine as his own. She then finds out that he proposed to her sister years earlier. Being an identical twin and people viewing them as interchangeable has made Catherine weary.

This was a cute premise and a good story. It dragged on because of the stupidity of both leads. I understood both of their hang ups. My big problem was Lucas. He was a royal ass to her one time. The made love and then he simply walked away. He knew he was walking away even though he made love to her. He even said afterwards that he made love to her knowing it was over and then told her to let him know if there were any consequences to their actions! This made my blood boil! He loved her and treated her this way!

I love Beverley Kendall's historicals and will continue to read her but this hero was an asshat!

Elf on the Dirty Girls' Shelf - Officer and a GentleElf

Because we all want that 'Love Lift Us Up..." moment.

Heating up the Holidays

Grade: A
Hotness Level: Blaze/Inferno
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary, Novella
Published: 10/28/13

Reviewed by Anne

303 pages

 

Snowfall by Mary Ann Rivers (A) - First off, we start with Jenny, a microbiologist.  That's right, a story featuring a female scientist!  Woo hoo!  Her love interest is the physical therapist she's working with - and the conflict of interest there is very well handled.  The story is primarily about her personal journey to accept some changes in her life, and the love story is wrapped into that.  So good.  Mary Anne Rivers also wrote The Story Guy, which is one of my favorite reads of the year.  She is a new favorite of mine.  Fair warning - she writes in first person POV, from the heroine's side only.  And it works.  Very well!  I highly recommend this story.

 

After Midnight by Serena Bell (A) - Miles is in a funk at a New Year's Eve party.  He's been (falsely) accused of embezzling from a charity he runs and was subsequently dumped by his fiancée.  Then he sees Nora dancing across the room.  She is happy and full of life.  They make eye contact and she surprises him by coming over to see him. The story of where things go from there is very good!  Well written with touches of humor that made me smile.  I haven't read Serena Bell before but she going on my good list now!

 

Play With Me by Lisa Renee Jones (DNF) - So, I went into this one a bit hesitant because I associate with more suspenseful reads.  It had a strong start and I liked the heroine, but things started getting icky for me.  First our "hero" reminds one of his employees that she is "only cranky once a month."  That was almost the end for me, but I think I was hoping our strong heroine would put him in his place.  But before we know it she's essentially held prisoner for an entire day having her phone and computer and all contact with the outside world removed and no explanation given other than "there's been a breach in security and we have to follow protocol."  When our hero finally takes time to come tell her what's going on, she quits (yay her!) only to be seduced by the mere touch of his hand shackling her wrist.  Umm.  No.

 

Despite not finishing the Lisa Renee Jones story, I'd still recommend this book based on the strength of the other two stories.  This may turn out to be a favorite year after year for me!  How about you?  Do you have a favorite holiday romance?

Elf on the Dirty Girls' Shelf - Twerk It! (Elf on a Date #4)

Inch by Inch by Heidi Belleau and Amelia C. Gormley

Grade-A-

Hotness Level-Inferno

Kink Level-High Kink

Series-Professor's Rule #3

Genre-Contemporary, m/m, BDSM, multiple partner/non-ménage

Reviewed by Kate

50 pages

 

This book picks up where Giving an Inch left off. James is driving to Professor Carson's house after a dressing room interlude with sales associate Satish. James and Professor Carson haven't seen each other in 2 years, but their relationship starts right back up quickly. This one is all about James setting limits with Professor Carson and trying to explore his feelings for Satish.

 

I loved the first book (Giving an Inch) in this series and the second book (An Inch at a Time) was exactly what I wanted it to be. This third book was a great addition, but definitely left James' relationships with Professor Carson and Satish up in the air-and left me wanting more, more, more. I hope Ms. Belleau has more planned for Professor Carson, James, and Satish.

 

I would recommend reading the first two in this series before picking this one up. Reading them in order will take care of any references to the characters' pasts. Although reading this one first will definitely make you want to buy the first two books.

 

Ms. Belleau has created such unique characters and has a way of quickly pulling you into the story that you don't even realize that the stories are short. She has gotten past my aversion to short story series that feature the same characters. If you read only one m/m BDSM series of short stories, this is the series you have to read.

 

This series has been my introduction to the world of m/m and BDSM together. Do you have any suggestions for more m/m BDSM reads?

Elf on the Dirty Girls' Shelf - Let's Dance (Elf on a Date #3)

Claim by Serena Grey

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-A Dangerous Man #3
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
80 pages

David, David, David! You stupid, stupid man!

This is the last book that's available in this series right now. I'm a little aggravated since I thought it was just a trilogy. But after I started reading it, I realized there would be more novellas.

This book is told from David's point of view and therefore very repetitive of the first two books. You do get a little insight into David's past which was nice. The insight not his past. You also get to see that he does truly care for Sophie but won't take a chance on getting hurt to acknowledge it openly. He has hurt Sophie terribly and must deal with his actions.

Sophie is heartbroken and flees. You don't get much about her until the very end if this book. She stands her ground and I loved it. She is realizing her own strength and independence. Now I have to wait until God knows when to find out if David can dig himself out of the hole he's in.

Elf on the Dirty Girls' Shelf - Getting Acquainted (Elf on a Date #2)

Rebellion by Serena Grey

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-A Dangerous Man #2
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
80 pages

This books starts right where the other book finished. It too is a novella.

David and Sophie are married and headed to where David lives. Sophie is totally enthralled with her new surroundings but David is as aloof as ever with other people. Especially regarding Sophie. The physical part of their relationship is wonderful but she wants to spend more time with him. Get to know him better but his work schedule won't allow it. She spends her days drawing, getting her makeup done, and dealing with her personal shopper.

During her turn with the personal shopper, she finds out that all the people she has come in contact with have had to sign a non-disclosure agreement regarding her. This is just another of the many red flags that come up about their relationship. She loves David but he won't say the same. Her insecurities from her past almost choke her.

Why did he marry her? Who is this Carole? Why does he hate his mother? Why is he apprehensive about them being seen together in public? Is he as dangerous as people say he is? Will he ever love her?

I'm going to read book three now and I hope I get some answers. There are copious amounts of sex in this book, which I love. If you want to read a series that's about the same couple but not a long book commitment, try this one.

Elf on the /Dirty Girls' Shelf - Saying Hello (Elf on a Date #1)

In the spirit of the "series of novellas" approach to telling a story, we bring you this elf story told in pictures.  Please enjoy the elf's date with Ariel and Clitterella the fairy.

Awakening by Serena Grey

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-A Dangerous Man #1
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
50 pages

Wow! This is a really short story that's a teaser to the continuing series. It was free on Amazon so I thought I'd give it a try. I don't know what spoke to me about it but speak it did!

Sophie is a girl whose mother died giving birth to her. She was raised by her aunt who was a total hateful bitch. She was very hard on Sophie and constantly told her that she killed her mother by being born. She was über strict and very emotionally abusive. Always telling Sophie shed end up like her mother, pregnant and discarded.

Sophie works in a gift shop owned by her aunt's lawyer, who took her in after her aunt's death. Sophie loves to draw but was never encouraged by her aunt to pursue it. She knows she needs a change in her life and is going to move to a nearby town.

A wealthy, attractive man comes into the shop after seeing Sophie on the street. This starts a very fast courtship. I mean mind bogglingly fast courtship.

I totally buy into love at first sight. I'm not sure that's what this is but I'm going with it for now. It was steamy even though Sophie is only eighteen and innocent. I don't care, I'm all in.

                      

Elf on the Dirty Girls' Shelf - Willing Victim

 

Another cover of an all time favorite!

Free Agent by Roz Lee

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Moderate Kink
Genre-Contemporary/BDSM
Series-Mustangs Baseball #0.5
Reviewed by Kay
65 pages

Todd is a Major League Baseball player with the Dallas Mustangs. He thinks he needs more money and a better deal for his future. He likes his teammates and the city but feels it's ran its course. He is also a Dom, something most people don't know. He's also become bored with the usual subs he's been around. He hardly goes out much less to his Dungeon of choice. One of his friends talks him into going to the Dungeon one night and he sees Brooke.

Brooke is a successful bakery business owner in Dallas. She also knows she's a sub. She wants a relationship with the right Dom. She sees Todd from across the room and brings herself off in front of him. Then she abruptly leaves the club. This starts a cat and mouse game that changes both of them.

This is a short story of two people who find exactly what there looking for in each other. I liked it but didn't love it. A little too heavy on the BDSM stuff for me but it was a freebie so I took a chance. I would read more by this author and this series.

Elf on the Dirty Girls' Shelf - 50 Shades



I knew it was only a matter of time... today I found the elf doing a scene from 50 Shades of Gray.  I didn't even know we had a spreader bar!

Twilight With The Infamous Earl by Alexandra Hawkins

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Lords of Vice #7
Genre-Regency Historical
Reviewed by Kay
304 pages

Lord Chillingsworth aka Frost is a scoundrel of the highest order. A fighter, gambler and a man-whore. His seduction skills are almost legendary as his friendship with his friends. The infamous Lords of Vice, well former Lords of Vice. He is the only unmarried one now and some of his friends are also fathers. This fact still boggles Frost's mind. In this story someone is trying to take away the Lords club, Nox. Frost and his cohorts know who it is but don't take the man seriously at first. There's something else that has Frost's attention.

Emily Cavell is on a mission. Her mission is to destroy a man named Frost. Her sister whispered his name as she lay dying at her own hands. Emily makes her sister a promise to avenge her heartbreak against the man who seduced and ruined her. See, this is Emily's Season as she is almost on the shelf at age twenty. While her family searches for her a husband, she searches for Frost. After a chance meeting with Lord Chillingsworth (she doesn't know that he's Frost) she finds herself attracted to Chilllingsworth.

There was a little mystery to this novel and I enjoyed it. I read a few online reviews before starting this that were less than favorable. Honestly, I don't agree with those reviews. This was a good book and a nice finish to the series. Frost was his usual self and Emily a great opposite for him. Scenes with the other Lords and their families were entertaining. You also got a little more of Frost's backstory, which was nice since he's always been so aloof. I have so enjoyed this series and it has always been an auto-buy for me. I will miss it and hope to have the time to someday re-read it. If you want a steamy historical series, this is it for you.

                      

M/M Monday - Elf on the Dirty Girls' Shelf - Elf on the Bottom

M/M Monday - Good Boy by Anne Tenino

Grade: B+
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: Mild Kink
Genre: Contemporary, M/M
Series: Theta Alpha Gamma #4

Published: 10/7/13

Reviewed by Anne

83 pages

 

Brad (a college student) and Sebastian (a grad student) have been together for 9 months now.  They love each other very much, but Sebastian's writing his thesis and stressed to the max.  Unfortunately this shows itself in him taking Brad and everything he's doing for granted.  This is especially concerning because Seb and Brad have a D/s relationship.  It usually works very well, but when the story opens, it's not working, and in fact, Seb is feeling entitled and Brad is feeling like a pet begging for attention.  

 

Tenino does such a good job writing this initial set up, I truly wondered how she would redeem Sebastian!  In the end though, I really enjoyed reading a dom who was NOT psychic!  It was interesting to see them work through things.  Oh, and I should mention it was super hot, too!  Their relationship is presented as one that has always been physical, so it's no surprise that working through their issues involves more sex than it does talking.  The sex and the talking were both well written, though and I enjoyed the whole thing!

 

This book is the 4th in the series and only the 2nd I've read.  It's even a novella follow up to the first book in the series, (Frat Boy and Toppy) which I haven't read.  All this means that I can testify that Tenino's writing can stand up to being read out of order.  I really enjoyed this one and look forward to reading more!

Elf on the Dirty Girls' Shelf - Never Enough

Another cover recreation of a favorite book.  Too bad Belle's arms don't bend...