Category / Great Read

Rating of 4 Stars

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Expectant Bride by Lynne Graham

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Paperwhite
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: Third Person, Single
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Harlequin
Hero: Dionysios Alexiakis
Heroine: Eleanor Morgan
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: November 01, 1999
Started On: June 28, 2023
Finished On: July 02, 2023

He tasted like water after a long summer drought.
He created a thirst she had never known she had.

First published in November 1999, Expectant Bride by Lynne Graham is a captivating romance that delves into the complexities of love, trust, and redemption, Ms. Graham style. The story explores the angst-ridden relationship that develops between 29-year-old Greek billionaire Dionysios Alexiakis (Dio) and 21-year-old Eleanor Morgan (Ellie) on a chance encounter that upends both their lives in a way neither thought possible.

Ellie is a woman with a mission, working towards the goal of opening her own bookstore someday. Working on the cleaning crew at the building where Dio houses his office headquarters, Ellie and Dio’s first encounter is one that is fraught with misunderstandings when Ellie, trying to avoid harassment from a young man who works at the building, inadvertently overhears sensitive business information and is subsequently discovered by Dio. Forced to accompany Dio to Greece while he sorts out and closes the deal he has been working on, thus Ellie is forced into the life of the powerful and unapologetic womanizer that Dio is.

As Dio’s suspicions regarding Ellie seems to mount, so does the red hot passion that flares to life between the two, a facet of their relationship that neither relishes at the beginning. However, desire of the kind that Dio and Ellie have to contend with is the kind that refuses to be denied and even with the misgivings between the two, Dio and Ellie succumbs to the temptation, leading to consequences which neither bargains for.

While I did find Ellie’s character to be a bit childish at times, Ellie does try hard to exert her independence with a man who is used to getting his way. Dio is a complex character, whose dominant personality and emotional scars from the past adds a compelling edge to the story. Ellie’s softer side and empathy goes a long way towards accepting Dio, scars and all, while at the same time, Dio himself has to go through some soul searching to be able to accept the side of himself that is vulnerable to Ellie.

As is usual, Ms. Graham’s mastery when it comes to depicting the intense attraction and deep emotional connection that is forged through the turmoil that is the beginning of Dio and Ellie’s relationship is well done. The emotional intensity of the story is balanced with moments of tenderness and vulnerability, creating a well-rounded and immersive reading experience. The dialogue is sharp and often laden with underlying tension, perfectly capturing the nature of Ellie and Dio’s relationship.

I believe that what worked for me was how both Ellie and Dio grew out of their initial selves to become better and more emotionally well-adjusted individuals towards the end, making their happily ever after a believable one, one that I rooted for.

Recommended for those who love passionate romances crafted by Ms. Graham. This one too is no exception to that standard.

Final Verdict: Expectant Bride is a captivating romance driven by complex characterization, emotional intensity, & the compelling style of writing that Ms. Graham is synonymous with, making this a memorable read!

Favorite Quotes

‘Make your mind up.’ Dio’s dark drawl was urgent with stress and tension, pure, masculine need stamped on his lean dark features. ‘I’m not made of steel and I am burningfor you…’
Ellie’s taut hands quivered under his. She just couldn’t take her eyes off him. His intensity melted her deep down inside. ‘I want you too…so much.’
Dio settled her gently back onto the mattress. ‘I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do, pethi mou.’
‘Of course not, but—’
‘Open your mouth for me,’ he urged raggedly.
And she did, taking instant fire from that passionate onslaught.

He slid over her, rearranging her with urgent hands. She clashed with blazing eyes and exulted in her femininity, sensing his control was as ragged as her own was non-existent. Fierce hunger seethed in her shamelessly at that instant. She would have walked through fire to lie under him. And then he plunged into her, and the sharp, wrenching pain of that passionate invasion startled her into crying out in surprise.
Dio stilled. Stunned black eyes looked down into hers. ‘Cristos…you can’t be!’ he exclaimed.
‘Not any more…’
Something primitive flared then in his tense gaze. ‘You like shocking me, don’t you?’

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | eBooks | HQ | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Don Joaquin’s Pride by Lynne Graham

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Paperwhite
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: Third Person, Single
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Harlequin
Hero: Joaquin Francisco Del Castillo
Heroine: Lucinda Paez
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: September 26, 2000
Started On: June 23, 2023
Finished On: June 28, 2023

‘Desire is rarely so immediate as it is between us. That intrigues me, but it won’t hold me. Don’t fantasize about a future beyond tomorrow…’

Don Joaquin’s Pride by Lynne Graham brings to readers a passionate and tumultuous romance set against the backdrop of Guatemala’s lush landscape and delivers on the kind of intensity between the main protagonists that Ms. Graham is renowned for in her novels. First published in September 2000, the novel is about the fiery relationship as it unfolds between 30 year old Joaquin Francisco Del Castillo, a proud and intense billionaire industrialist, and 22 year old Lucinda Paez, a young woman caught in a web of deception and desire.

Lucinda, known as Lucy, is thrust into a precarious situation when her twin sister, Cindy, requests her help in impersonating her. Cindy’s motives are far from altruistic, and given the complicated history between the twins, Lucy succumbs to the emotional “blackmail” that Cindy is so effective in wielding.

From the onset of her arrival in Guatemala, Lucy is thrust into close proximity with the intense and complex man that Joaquin is. Lucy who has had very little experience with men, much less men of Joaquin’s worldliness and caliber, finds herself helplessly ensnared in the web of desire that holds her enthralled, while Joaquin makes it no secret of his distrust towards her. The case of impersonation of identity keeps Lucy at a position of disadvantage, even as the passion between Joaquin and Lucy builds and Lucy finds herself falling in love for the very first time in her life.

Ms. Graham as always, excels in the portrayal of the internal conflicts and the evolving dynamics between the main characters, with a side of secondary characters who add nuances to the story. While Joaquin himself is a formidable and deeply conflicted man driven by principles of justice, his mistrust towards Lucy is understandable given the main conflict and confrontations between the two that drives the narrative forward.

Lucy herself is no heroine of the doormat variety. However, given her emotional vulnerabilities and guilt when it comes to her twin Cindy, these facets to her character renders her ineffective when it comes to gaining equal footing with Joaquin, whose pride itself is a force to be reckoned with. Ms. Graham is skillful in the way she portrays Lucy’s emotional vulnerabilities and her unexpected attraction to Joaquin, adding layers of depth to their passionate encounters.

The novel’s setting in Guatemala adds richness to the story, with vivid descriptions of the country’s landscapes and cultural nuances enriching the backdrop against which Joaquin and Lucy’s romance unfolds. Ms. Graham’s attention to detail (not too much because that tends to bog a story down with unnecessary details) brings the setting to life, offering readers a sensory experience that enhances the emotional intensity.

However, while Don Joaquin’s Pride excels in its portrayal of complex characters and compelling conflicts, some may find the story line occasionally predictable. But I believe that it is at times, this predictability itself that makes a story worth your while, based on your mood as a reader.

Recommended for fans of Lynne Graham’s intense romance novels. Joaquin is as intense a hero as any.

Final Verdict: Don Joaquin’s Pride offers a captivating romance with passionate protagonists in a lush setting as the backdrop, delivering a satisfying blend of emotional depth and romance!

Favorite Quotes

Their eyes met. An infinitesimal little tremor ran through Lucy. Her heart skipped a beat, began thundering in her ears instead. Green like emeralds, green like fire. A thought which didn’t make any sense at all, but then nothing that Lucy experienced in that moment had anything to do with normal thought. She watched the colour score his fabulous cheekbones with a level of wonderment that was undeniably mindless. Insidious heat curled up in the pit of her stomach, making her suck in her breath and blink, and at the same moment she blinked he turned away.

Joaquin Del Castillo was a male of innate and fascinating contradictions, Lucy acknowledged sleepily. Fiercely proud and icily self-contained in his hostility towards her, yet too honourable, it seemed, to make her suffer unnecessary discomfort.
Against the backdrop of the flaming sunset, he stood over her like a huge black intimidating shadow. ‘You look like the devil,’ she whispered, with a drowsy attempt at humour.
‘I will not take your soul, señora…but I have every intention of stripping you of everything else you possess.’
Stray words fluttered in the blankness of Lucy’s brain. They did not connect. They did not make sense. With a soundless sigh of relief, Lucy sank into the deep, dreamless sleep of exhaustion.

‘The word you use with me is sí…it means yes, and I like to hear it,’ Joaquin Del Castillo confided in a deep dark drawl that rasped down her spine like sandpaper on silk, and he drew her in to him and banded his arms round her narrow ribcage instead. ‘Say it for me…’
A strange all-pervasive ache stirred deep in Lucy’s pelvis, wiping out her ability to concentrate. ‘No—’
‘Sí…’ Joaquin instructed, slowly crushing her swelling breasts into the hard wall of his chest, one strong arm sliding down her back to curve round her hips and hold her fast as he studied her with flaming mesmeric intensity. ‘Dios…you will say it to please me.’

His dark head lowered to capture her exploring forefinger between his lips. Lucy watched him in shaken fascination. A soft gasp was dragged from low in her convulsing throat. Every pulse in her treacherous body went crazy as he gently sucked, silken black lashes almost hitting his cheekbones. Like ice cream on a hot stove she could feel her flesh melting over her bones in a sweet, strong agony of need so new to her experience it overwhelmed her defences.
‘Sí…’ Joaquin prompted thickly as he lifted his arrogant dark head.
‘Sí…’ Lucy framed without even knowing what she was saying, utterly enthralled by the wash of agonising sensation pulsing up inside her.

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | eBooks | HQ | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: The Monster in the Closet by Anne Stuart

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Paperwhite
Length: Novella
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: Third Person, Dual
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Impeccably Demure Press
Hero: Sebastian Brand
Heroine: Emma Milsom
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: September 01, 1992
Started On: May 28, 2023
Finished On: June 07, 2023

She could tell him that she was obsessed with him. That she wanted him. That for whatever perverse reason, she was crazily, improbably in love with him. But she couldn’t tell him that he didn’t frighten her. She couldn’t lie. He scared her half to death.

The Monster in the Closet by Anne Stuart is a riveting and intense tale that expertly blends themes of horror, romance, and psychological intrigue. Being the avid fan of Ms. Stuart’s dark and complex characters that I am, I found this book to be a great way to keep away the blues that hits every now and then because I am left with very little from Ms. Stuart’s impressive backlist of published books to indulge in.

The story centers around Sebastian Brand, a British horror actor who is as enigmatic as he is troubled. Sebastian owns a house that developers are after him to sell for them redevelop the property, but he stands firm, haunted by the memories that the house holds. His reluctance to let go of the past sets the stage for the unfolding story that brings into his sphere the unsuspecting Emma Milson, whose life turns upside down from the moment they meet.

Emma takes on the role of general manager for the volatile and brilliant Teddy Winters who is directing the movie that would redefine his career, starring none other than Sebastian. Against her better judgment, Emma accepts the job, knowing Teddy’s reputation for pushing people beyond their limits. It is also partly the safe and boring status of her life that pushes her to give in to Teddy’s demands, landing her in a situation more than she bargained for.

Emma’s task is to keep Sebastian out of the public eye, a job that proves more difficult than she anticipated. Sebastian’s initial coldness towards Emma gradually gives way to a reluctant fascination. The chemistry between them is intriguing, and their interactions charged with an intensity that keeps growing with every encounter, until the inevitable happens. Sebastian’s charismatic yet tortured soul contrasts sharply with that of Emma’s vulnerability, creating a dynamic that I reveled in.

Ms. Stuart’s portrayal of Sebastian’s traumatic history is both heartbreaking and compelling, making him a character you can’t help but root for despite his flaws. Emma being the bleeding heart that she is, finds herself unable to walk away from Sebastian, even when he is being his coldest, trying to do his best to push her away, especially when danger increasingly seems to stalk Emma, eerily similar to incidents from Sebastian’s past.

What I particularly appreciated about The Monster in the Closet is Ms. Stuart’s creation of Sebastian, who is deeply flawed and yet incredibly compelling as is usual for her heroes. Sebastian’s struggle with his dark past and his fear of vulnerability make him a complex and intriguing, while Emma’s journey from a life of safety to one of risk and emotional exposure is equally so. The passion between the two is all consuming, one that scares Sebastian and compels Emma to fight for Sebastian in every single way.

Recommended for fans of Anne Stuart and stories that deliver a unique mix of romance, horror, and elements of mystery.

Final Verdict: The Monster in the Closet is a masterfully crafted novella that combines elements of horror, romance, and psychological drama, weaving intricate and emotionally charged narratives.

Favorite Quotes

She’d never been kissed like that. With that much longing and restraint and carefully leashed passion. He kissed her as an artist might paint a picture, delicately, powerfully, thoroughly, so that all she could do was stand there and tremble in helpless response. She brought her hands up to touch him, and despite the fact that his hands were cradling her face so gently, the iron-hard tension in his tightly muscled arms was shocking. The moment her fingers touched him, touched the smooth, hard flesh of his biceps, he broke away, stepping back into the shadows, leaving her suddenly alone.

“The fact of the matter is, Emma,” he whispered, his mouth brushing hers so lightly that she might have imagined it, “I feel the same way. Angry.” He pushed his body closer, up against hers, his hips pressing against hers. “Turned on,” he said, and there was absolutely no doubt of that. “And quite, quite terrified of you.” With that, he released the iron bars and pulled her into his arms, imprisoning her against his hard, tense body.
He kissed her then, and she was lost.

“Stop fighting it,” he breathed in her ear, his own voice ragged, and she knew he understood her body better than she did. “Stay with me, damn it.”
She released the iron bars, turning her hands beneath his above her head. He clasped them, driving his hips against her as his mouth crushed hers, and the fear was gone, burnt away in a flashpoint of cataclysmic proportions as her entire body seemed to arch, shatter, and dissolve.

He covered her, sliding into her, filling her with a deep thrust that brought a cry to her lips. But her arms wrapped around his back, her long, beautiful legs wrapped around his hips, and she buried her face against his shoulder, against his hair, and her voice was muffled, fierce, as she told him what she needed.
He put his hand between their bodies, touching her, and she exploded immediately, her body convulsing around him. He’d gone into some dark, wild place, beyond sense, beyond reason, and all that existed was her body, her soul, her heart racing against his, her breath panting in his ear, as he thrust into her again and again as she clung to him, sobbing.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Kobo

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Dangerous Lover by Anne Stuart

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Paperwhite
Length: Novella
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: Third Person, Dual
Series: Ice, #6.5
Publisher: Impeccably Demure Press
Hero: Luc Dubois
Heroine: Emma O’Bannion
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: March 17, 2023
Started On: May 27, 2023
Finished On: May 28, 2023

Dangerous Lover by Anne Stuart, the latest release in the bestselling Ice series, takes readers on a captivating journey through the shadowy world of covert agents and forbidden romance that is synonymous with the series. As an avid fan of Ms. Stuart’s work, especially her knack for creating irresistibly dark and complex heroes, I was in a sense of anticipation as I dove into this novella, and I was not disappointed.

The story begins with 29-year-old Emma O’Bannion dreading the upcoming Valentine’s Day. It is a holiday she finds particularly depressing, amplifying her restlessness and longing for an adventure that might distract her from her inner musings. Emma’s life is seemingly well-planned, with her ambitious goal of making partner at Kelton and Kelton by the time she turns 35. Yet, there’s a spark of impulsiveness within her that ignites when she encounters Luc Dubois, the enigmatic new tenant in her building.

From the moment Emma decides to send Luc an anonymous lover’s card for Valentine’s Day, believing it to be a harmless gesture, the story takes the turn that I was waiting for. Luc, a retired agent of the Committee, a global covert agency with its own hidden agendas, has been living a life of relative quiet in his retirement until a warning makes him up his guard once again. When Emma’s seemingly innocent card coincides with this warning, Luc deliberately puts himself in Emma’s space and world, something which he had been resisting up till that point.

Luc is a man marked by his past, particularly by betrayal five years ago, also on Valentine’s Day. This haunting memory makes Emma’s “anonymous” gift too much of a coincidence for him to walk away from and consider as harmless. When Luc confronts Emma suspicious of her in every sense, what ensues is a tense, captivating dance between them, culminating in the kind of passion and want that Luc has no place for in his life.

Ms. Stuart excels at crafting heroes who are dark, broody, and dangerously irresistible, and Luc Dubois is no exception. His initial coldness and calculated demeanor hides a deep well of passion and vulnerability, which Emma gradually uncovers. Their chemistry is electric and Luc’s protective instincts towards Emma, despite his better judgment, adds a layer of complexity to their relationship that kept me hooked.

While Dangerous Lover is a novella and shorter than a full-length novel, I found myself wishing for more time with Luc and Emma, as it always happens when you are enamored by a story and want it to continue forever. I wanted to delve deeper into their backgrounds and the intricacies of their relationship and encounter the angst that Ms. Stuart so famously delivers in most of her novels.

Ms. Stuart’s ability to write darker romance with a flair that is uniquely hers is why she remains my go-to author for my dark romance fix. I aim to do a re-read of some of my favorite books of hers sometime soon, having done so a year or so back in recent times. Not every romance reader may appreciate the dark themes and morally ambiguous characters that Ms. Stuart excels at creating, but for those who do, her books are a treasure trove of unforgettable stories, some of which remain permanently on my favorites shelf.

Recommended for fans of the Ice series and those who love their heroes a bit darker than most. While part of a series, Dangerous Lover can totally be read as a standalone.

Final Verdict: Dangerous Lover is a thrilling addition to the Ice series, delivering on the suspense, romance, and dark allure that Anne Stuart fans have come to expect and love from her novels in the series!

Favorite Quotes

The last button went, and her silk blouse hung open, exposing her indecent little wisp of a bra. “And what made you choose my apartment building? What made you decide to move in beneath me, and watch me every time you could catch a glimpse of me?”
“I didn’t even know you were there,” she said wearily. “I told you, I didn’t think anyone lived upstairs until a couple of months ago. And it’s not your apartment building, buster, it belongs to the owners and it’s run by Mr. Habib and I have just as much right as you have…”
“It is my building. I own it.”
She could feel the tip of the knife against her bare skin, a strange, painless caress. A shiver of pure fear ran across her skin. She looked up at him, into his opaque, unreadable eyes, and she held her breath.„
And then he slid the knife between the bra and her skin, cutting it open.

He slid one hand through her hair and kissed her on the mouth again, taking his time, no need for hurry, no need for force. He was willing to wait, to see how long it would take her to respond.
Her mouth opened beneath his slow, deliberate kisses, reaching for breath, reaching for words, reaching for his mouth, letting him, asking him, her lips clinging for a shy second and then falling back, then kissing him again, and this time when he used his tongue it truly was like sex, entering her, pushing inside the dark wetness of her mouth, and she let him, taking him, a hot damp clinging of mouth to mouth.

“Don’t think about it,” he whispered against her mouth. “Don’t think about anything. Just feel.”
She wanted to cry. She lost herself in the taste of him, the sweet texture of his mouth and his tongue, the silken heat of his skin beneath her trembling hands. He hadn’t touched her breasts, yet they felt exquisitely sensitive, almost burning.
He was rocking her against him, a slow, lascivious rhythm, her wispy silk panties against the buttoned fly on his jeans, and the sensation was a powerful one, making her breath catch in her throat. His eyes were half closed, watching her, and she was shy, edgy, her fingers digging into his smooth shoulders, as her stomach knotted and a jolt of something streaked through her body in anticipation.

She didn’t know why she was so wet, and she didn’t care. He was holding her too tightly for her to pull away, her face was pressed close against his shoulder, and she could feel the thunder of his heart, could feel the tension thrumming through his muscles, and she wanted to lick his skin, she wanted his mouth, she wanted everything, she no longer cared what he wanted to do with her. Nothing mattered but the wet, delicious waves of sensation he was coaxing from her, an almost lazy cycle of response that began to build, sharply, until without warning it exploded, and she screamed against his chest and her body arched off the bed in a spasm of hot, prickling response.

“Open your eyes, Emma,” he whispered in a harsh voice, and there was no ignoring him.
Her eyelids fluttered open, and she stared up at him in dazed confusion. He cupped her buttocks, pulling her up closer against him, but she simply wrapped her legs around him, tight, drawing him in deeper still.
His faint smile was answer enough. “You like it?”
“I like it,” she whispered.
“You want more?”
“Yes, please.”

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Tempt Me, Cowboy by Megan Crane

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Paperwhite
Length: Novel
Genre: Western Historical
POV: Third Person, Dual
Series: 75th Copper Mountain Rodeo, #1
Publisher: The Tule Group, LLC
Hero: Jasper Flint
Heroine: Chelsea Crawford Collier
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: September 08, 2013
Started On: May 15, 2023
Finished On: May 17, 2023

Megan Crane’s Tempt Me, Cowboy is a beguiling romance set against the backdrop of a small Texas town, featuring two protagonists whose lives intertwine in unexpected and compelling ways. The story revolves around 30 year old Chelsea Crawford Collier and 35 year old Jasper Flint, two individuals from vastly different worlds who find themselves drawn to each other through a series of chance encounters.

Chelsea, a dedicated schoolteacher, spends her life taking care of her demanding mother and trying to preserve her family’s legacy in Marietta. Her life is turned upside down when the Marietta Railway Depot, a symbol of her family’s heritage, is sold to Jasper Flint, a mega rich oil tycoon looking for a new project. Chelsea’s mission to save the depot brings her face to face with Jasper, leading to the fireworks that explode between the two.

Jasper, a man accustomed to getting what he wants, finds himself intrigued by Chelsea’s honest and genuine nature. He likes the novelty of being accepted for the man he is, rather than being taken at face value as the wealthy tycoon that he is, which draws him to Chelsea in a way that he never thought possible.

Chelsea’s struggle with her own insecurities and her determination to prove herself worthy of love and respect are what endeared her to me. Her internal conflicts and the weight of her family’s expectations are portrayed with nuance and empathy, making her a heroine worth rooting for, and also quite relatable in many aspects.

Jasper’s backstory adds layers to his character, revealing a man who has achieved great success but is still searching for something meaningful. His history outlining life with a broken, bitter father who had shaped his most formulative years and a trophy wife makes him a hero worth empathizing with. The story also culminates in the message of the power of genuinely felt and given love, and its transformative abilities in shaping the best of humanity.

The romance between Chelsea and Jasper is electric, marked by moments of intense passion and tender vulnerability. Their chemistry is palpable, and Ma. Crane does a masterful job in capturing the push and pull factors of their evolving relationship.

Chelsea’s fear of her mother’s disapproval and her own doubts about her worthiness create significant hurdles that she must overcome. The weight of her family’s legacy and the small-town scrutiny add to the pressure she feels. Yet, it is this very pressure that drives her to grow and find her own voice.

Recommended for those who love romances in small-town settings and the heroes who sweep you off your feet!

Final Verdict: This is a beautifully written romance that delves deep into themes of identity, legacy, and love. Megan Crane’s skillful storytelling and rich character development makes this a captivating read.

Favorite Quotes

Chelsea had been kissed before, even well, she would have said.
But Jasper was a revelation.
He kissed her the way he’d driven them on his bike, with an ease and a skill that combined into something liquid and powerful, driving her straight out of her head. He took her mouth like it was his, like she was his and always had been, and he tasted like fire and whiskey.
And she wanted. She yearned.

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Vendetta by Susan Napier

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Paperwhite
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: Third Person, Dual
Series: Bennett Sisters, #1
Publisher: Mills & Boon
Hero: Nicholas James Thorne
Heroine: Vivian Mitchell
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: January 01, 2008
Started On: February 27, 2023
Finished On: February 27, 2023

‘I’m your future now. I’m the one who controls your destiny.’ She gave a little yip as his free hand slipped under the hem of his sweater to splay warmly across her quivering, tautly stretched belly. ‘And I’m the one who controls your fertility. The first child you’ll ever carry in your womb will be mine. The first baby to suckle at your breast will belong to me, as you will…’

Vendetta by Susan Napier, first published in January of 1998 is a very short read, the length of a novella I must say, and even then, Ms. Napier managed to surprise me with just how meaty the story was when all was said and done.

The story begins with the hero Nicholas James Thorne waiting for the arrival of Vivian Mitchell to a remote island that he owns, to close a vital property deal on behalf of Marvel-Mitchell Realties. Nicholas is a man who has been biding his time for ten long years to get his revenge, and he believes that Vivian for all intents and purposes got away scot-free, without a scratch, when he had lost it all.

When Vivian arrives at the godforsaken island, which she had expected more from since it was owned by a millionaire, she finds out that nothing is as as she presumed it would be, starting from the man himself, who aggravates her, intrigues her, and arouses her in equal doses. Once Nicholas reveals his nefarious intentions, it is already too late for Vivian, who knows deep in her heart that Nicholas has managed to steal her heart without much ado.

As outlined earlier in the review, though it is a very short read of just 70+ odd pages, this was still a very compelling story in many ways. The shocking revelations regarding both Vivian and Nicholas made this quite enjoyable. And even though I missed the heady and sensual scenes of passion that Ms. Napier is very capable of delivering in her novels in Vendetta, the simmering sexual tension was definitely in place whenever Nicholas and Vivian were together.

This could have been such a swell read if it had been the length of a usual category romance novel, and I will forever mourn the fact that it was not. Recommended for fans of Susan Napier, stories featuring revenge arcs, and those who love a lightly themed beauty and the beast story.

Final Verdict: Vendetta offers a titillating read of the larger-than-life and scarred to boot Nicholas, whose best laid plans turn to ashes when Vivian makes him forget his best intentions.

Favorite Quotes

‘Poor Vivian, no wonder you look so pale and tense.’ He casually brushed her cheek with his thumb and she nearly went through the roof at the bolt of electricity that sizzled her senses.
They looked at each other, startled. His gaze dropped to her soft naked mouth, open in shock, then to the sliver of thickly freckled skin revealed by the modest cleavage of her blouse and the faint suggestion of lace hinted at by the trembling rise and fall of her lush breasts against the cream silk. In that single, brief glance he stripped her naked and possessed her.

Vivian knew he was talking about Peter. Briefly surfacing from her passion-drugged state, she tried to arch away, but Nicholas shifted his hand from the back of her neck to the front of her silk blouse, slipping his fingers into the prim neckline and ripping it open with a single downward stroke that scattered the pearl buttons like lustrous tears across his chest.
‘Nicholas!’
Her gasp was lost in a spasm of violent sensation as he flicked open the tiny plastic catch between her breasts and allowed them to tumble free of the confining lace. The ginger freckles were stretched over their swollen fullness, the soft pink tips swaying against the hard contours of his chest, contracting instantly into tight points that scraped and caught on his own peaked masculine nipples.

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Haven by Claire Kent

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Paperwhite
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: First Person, Single
Series: Kindled, #1
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Jackson
Heroine: Faith
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: August 26, 2021
Started On: January 03, 2023
Finished On: January 03, 2023

Maybe Jackson would be different if he were in love. If he were in a relationship. Or if the world outside this room hadn’t fallen into violent chaos, hadn’t become a constant war we have no choice but to fight. Maybe he would take his time. Be softer. Gentler. Maybe he would smile or even laugh. Maybe I would be different too.

Haven by Claire Kent is a book that had me psyched for a very good reason. I had just found out that Ms. Kent previously wrote as Zannie Adams, an author who suddenly disappeared after publication of a handful books of which Complicated ended up being a favorite of mine, which as a result is an author I have been trying to find for the past thirteen years! It has been a long wait to re-discover Ms. Adams writing as Claire Kent, and I was so excited to pick this up and indulge to my heart’s content.

First published in August 2021 and told in the first person from the heroine’s point of view, this is a post apocalyptic romance featuring 25 year old Jackson and 21 year old Faith, both survivors of an event known as the Impact. The Impact is an event which took place five years prior to the story, during which an asteroid hit Europe, wiping out the whole continent, wreaking havoc on the environment, and destroying economies and governments across the globe. It was estimated that more than half of the global population had died off since the Impact and its aftermath which continues five years on.

Faith is the daughter of the couple who set up the New Haven Farm years before the Impact, the place where the story mainly takes place. Her parents, wanting to live off the grid, built a farm with all the necessities required for self-sustenance, the main reason behind the survival of those at the farm when the rest of the world had pretty much collapsed.

Faith has known Jackson since she was twelve years old, Jackson having come to live on the farm as an angry and surly teenager having spent his most formative years in foster care. Even though Faith had more or less being fascinated by Jackson since then, which she never would admit to, neither of them show much inclination of having deeper feelings for each other, that is until you peel back the layers which reveals a whole other story.

As the story delves deeper into the lives of Faith and Jackson, readers get to see what simmers underneath; the red hot attraction between the two that blazes to life, consuming both of them. What starts out as an occasional night during which Faith goes to Jackson and they have the kind of sex that most talk about and few ever actually get to experience in their lifetimes, turns into a craving that just a few nights a month won’t satisfy.

What is most interesting is how Faith’s inner turmoil and restlessness with life becomes key to bridging the gap between the physical and emotional connection between the two. Jackson I would say, was a delight in every sense. Sexy, silent, broody, and the kind of man who takes charge in the bedroom, leaving you breathless and wanting more!

As the story is written solely from Faith’s point of view, the reader must understand Jackson through her eyes, and I would say it was delightful, going on that journey of discovery right alongside with Faith. The true depth of Jackson’s feelings for Faith starts becoming more evident as the story moves towards its climax and I loved Jackson for being the man who gives Faith a safe space to just let go and be vulnerable, which was sexiest aspect of the story if you ask me. There is nothing sexier than a man who knows how to treat his woman right, who knows when to nudge, take charge, and offer the comfort of a warm embrace when in need. Such is Jackson, and I loved him to bits for that very fact. The pace at which Faith and Jackson’s relationship develops and progresses was realistic. And the sex scenes outrightly naughty and smutty in the best way possible!

Recommended for readers who like romances in post-apocalyptic settings, with a commanding hero who makes you swoon just by stepping into the pages.

Final Verdict: Rediscovering Zannie Adams as Claire Kent was definitely the best find in recent times. Loved the adventure, the buildup, hot sex, and tenderer emotions explored in this post apocalyptic romance!

Favorite Quotes

It’s dark in his room. He’s already in bed. A board squeaks on my third step, the same board that always squeaks.
I hear his covers rustle. He’s moving now. He knows I’m here. I set the candle down on the table. When I reach the bed, he grabs for me and pulls me onto the mattress, stretching me out as he rolls on top of me.
Without a word, he kisses me, deep and hard and hungry.

His eyes crawl up and down my body. From my face to the place his cock moves in and out of me. My eyes have adjusted more so I can see more details. His messy hair keeps falling into his eyes, and he’ll give his head a quick jerk occasionally to move it out of the way. His bare chest has a scattering of dark, coarse hair, and the impressive definition of his arms—the strong, corded muscles there—flex and tense.
I have a brief impulse to stroke them. Feel the shape of them. To trace his familiar features with my fingertips. To push his thick waves back from his forehead.
I don’t do any of that.

Then he rasps out one word. “Kitten.” Right before he pushes me up against the wall and kisses me hard.
I should be annoyed by the mocking nickname, but I’m not. Irrationally, it gets me really hot. I grab for his neck and open to the kiss, and before I know it, I’m wrapping one leg high around his thighs and grinding my aching pussy against his leg.

He makes a guttural sound and jerks his head slightly, his nostrils flaring. “Tell me you want me.”
I make a sobbing sound as the words trigger something deep. I scratch lines into the skin of his arms. “I want you.”
He speeds up, pounding into me so hard the bed bangs loudly against the wall. “Tell me who you want.”
“You. Jackson. I want you. Jackson. You. Only you!” The last words come out as a hoarse cry because I come hard on the heels of them.

Purchase Links: Amazon

by mvbookreviewer

Review: The Coming Home Place by Mary Spencer

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Paperwhite
Length: Novel
Genre: Historical Romance
POV: Third Person, Dual
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Harpercollins
Hero: James Kagan
Heroine: Elizabeth Marie Kagan
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: July 26, 1994
Started On: December 02, 2022
Finished On: January 03, 2023

“Don’t speak of Maggie,” James warned through set teeth. “She and Elizabeth have nothing to do with one another. I don’t even want them mentioned in the same breath. I always have and always will love Maggie. Nothing’s going to change that. Ever. Elizabeth is simply my wife–the woman who’s going to take care of me and my home and my kids. She’s only my wife, Nate. Not my love, not my sweetheart, not my anything else. It’s an arrangement between us. Love doesn’t have a thing to do with it.”

The Coming Home Place by Mary Spencer is a novel that has a LOT going for it, and by a lot, I really mean, a LOT! First published in July of 1994, told in the third person from dual perspectives of both the hero and heroine, Ms. Spencer brings to readers a remarkable historical romance with a ton of angst that certainly leaves you with one hell of a reading experience.

James Kagan is a man who believes that having lost his fiancée, no other creature alive could suffer as much as he has and continues to, that is until he is “forced” to marry 17 year old Elizabeth Marie (Beth). Beth is traumatized by the loss of her family members one by one, and she had been all alone when she was found, digging a hole to bury her father, the sole remaining member of her family.

James enters into marriage with Beth with his eyes wide open, perfectly confident in his belief when it comes to what he wants from a wife. Viewing Beth to be plain unlike his beautiful fiancée to whom he vows would always belong his heart, James is clear about what he seeks; a wife to continue his family name. He explains to Beth that he has no intention of courting anyone else to seek their hand in marriage as he does not have any love left to give.

Beth has no doubts about what she has to offer when it comes to marriage with the handsomest man she has ever set her eyes on. Knowing that someone as illiterate, plain, and unaccomplished as her is unworthy of the attention of someone like James, Beth agrees to the marriage on three conditions; that he does not swear inside their home, they attend church every Sunday, and that he be faithful to her even if he does not love her.

As these two embark on the tough road that is a marriage of convenience, James learns that he desires his new wife like crazy, something that drives him wild and also makes him feel guilty about the fact. For Beth, she has a tough time setting aside what she was taught about the marriage bed and how it was supposed to be about a woman just doing her rightful duty which goes against allowing herself to enjoy the physical aspects of her relationship with James.

As the story continues and delves deeper into the emotions and the entwined lives of James and Beth, there are moments that makes you hate James for the abominable way that he treats Beth. One particular scene stands out, where James lashes out and makes use of what Beth offers with callous disregard for her emotions that made me really question as to what kind of hero he would turn out to be in the end. But in a strange way, I also understood that for James, that moment had been fraught with him fighting his inner demons, the ones that makes him feel like he is betraying his deceased fiancée by reveling in the heady desire that his wife invokes in him.

When Beth bears him a child, there is more heartache that follows, which perhaps was the last straw for me when it came to James. Beth is a martyr of the highest order if you ask me, always quietly going about her life, doing her best to give her husband a comfortable life, and never asking for anything in return from the man who promised to be bound to her in sickness and health, in the good and the bad times. Such was the lived reality of many women during those times, and even today, and that is a glaring fact that stands prominent.

It is of course when the beloved fiancée makes a comeback from the dead that Beth finally realizes that there is no place in James’ life for her, and as she does everything else, chooses to leave quietly. What follows is probably the reason why I did not end up hating James as the male lead, and fell more in love with Beth for recognizing her own worth, aided along by those who actually love her for who she is and what she has to offer.

James learning the hard way what he actually gave up on and finally wising up to the true gem of a woman he married was why he redeemed himself to some extent. I should not complain much because I am a lover of a true angst fest, and James being James was the reason why this book proved to deliver so well on that score.

What I appreciated the most was how Ms. Spencer explores the complexity of the emotions that run rampant in both the leads. Even as I hated James during certain moments, I also understood where was coming from. His past which involves having a woman since he was sixteen years old, and being in a relationship that addressed his physical and emotional needs had set the bar high for him. With Beth, even though he desires her like crazy, because James holds pieces of himself back, the same is true for Beth, which shortchanges their marriage for both of them, which could have truly being magnificent a union if otherwise.

But then again, some lessons have to be learnt the hard way, and if things were that easily worked out, I would not have enjoyed this as much as I did, minus the angst factor. Even with James being the character that frustrated me to no end, this book ended up being one that made me think deeply, feel just as much, and made me ponder about human psychology and the intricacies of the emotions of the broken.

Recommended for those who love frustrating heroes and are not turned off by realistic story lines that pushes your comfort zones as a romance reader.

Final Verdict: The Coming Home Place delivers an emotionally complex and multi-faceted tale that moves you in ways you never thought possible, delivering a spellbinding read!

Favorite Quotes

“Elizabeth,” he whispered, moving slowly, feeling and savoring all of her. He looked at her, saw the expression of bewilderment on her face and heard her tight breathing match his own. “Sweet,” he said against her mouth. “Sweet wife.”
She tried to resist what was happening to her-he could feel her trying-but when she came, when the pleasure overwhelmed her ability to fight, it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever known, and caused his own fierce pleasure to follow.

by mvbookreviewer

Review: The Wrong Bride by Catharina Maura

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Paperwhite
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: First Person, Dual
Series: The Windsors, #1
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Ares Windsor
Heroine: Raven Du Pont
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: October 15, 2022
Started On: November 25, 2022
Finished On: November 26, 2022

“Does no part of you want me even a little?” Her voice is soft, pleading, and her eyes are filled with an emotion I can’t quite describe.
“No,” I lie to her. “The friction from you moving on top of me made me hard, yeah, but I don’t want you, Raven. I’ll never want you. I’m not sure what you’re thinking, but you need to stop. Do you know how much your actions tonight would hurt your sister? Fuck, it’s hurting me, Rave.”

The Wrong Bride by Catharina Maura is the debut book in The Windsors series, first published in October of last year. Catharina Maura is a new-to-me author, having come across some of her books on Amazon from time to time. The Wrong Bride’s blurb promised the kind of story that I always hanker for, a marriage of convenience between the main protagonists of whom the heroine has been in love with the hero since forever.

Told in the first person from both the hero and heroine’s point of view, The Wrong Bride tells the story of 31 year old Ares Windsor as the hero and 21 year old Raven Du Pont as the heroine. When the story begins, Ares is engaged to be married to Raven’s older sister Hannah who is an actress in whose shadow Raven has always remained. Raven is a model herself, working hard to establish her own business. Raven is the neglected child in the Du Pont family, the one who always has to give in to Hannah’s needs and wants that takes precedence in the lives of her parents. Raven is more than willing to watch her sister get married to the man that she loves beyond anything else in this world, as Ares who considers her as a valuable friend and nothing more.

Ares is one of the six siblings of the Windsor family ruled by the matriarch that is their grandmother. The merger between the Du Pont and Windsor’s family sealed the deal when it comes to the arranged marriage between Hannah and Ares, with the wedding having been postponed multiple times because of Hannah’s busy filming schedule.

However, when Hannah calls off the wedding for the last time, citing her career to be more important to give into the demands of the terms of the arranged marriage, circumstances dictate that Raven take her place instead, something Raven fights till the last minute. While Raven makes it clear that she wants a real marriage and not half-hearted attempts at one, Ares proposes a marriage of convenience for the sake of fooling his grandmother, and promises Hannah that he would wait for her during a moment of weakness that overtakes his faculties.

Thus begins the rocky journey on which Ares and Raven embark upon as husband and wife. Hannah of course, makes things complicated by accusing Raven of trying to take her place, of trying to steal the man who rightfully belongs to her. For the marriage to be given a real chance, Ares would have to fight not only the demons that hound him but also that of Raven’s and convince her once and for all that for Ares, there is no one like Raven and there never would be.

As mentioned earlier, The Wrong Bride is a story that had a lot going for it, elements that would make it a stellar read. I found myself agonized on behalf of Raven for all the heartache and pain that she goes through, which is all well worth it in the end. There were points when the constant advance and retreat on the part of Ares and Raven gave me a whiplash and then there were those moments that I reveled in because Ares was adorable in his absolute cluelessness when it came to his possessiveness and jealousy regarding his wife.

I abhorred Hannah for the despicable way in which she treats both Raven and Ares, but in a way I understood that her sense of entitlement stemmed from parents who had danced to every single one of her tunes and never really fulfilled their responsibility of instilling values and discipline in Hannah. Raven in the shadow of Hannah, grew up to be the graceful one, the one with a backbone of steel and ambitions that made her choose a path that diverged from her family’s and gave her much needed independence.

There were moments that I felt truly frustrated with Raven for how she believes whatever that Hannah tell her to destroy the fragility of what was developing between Raven and Ares, but at the same time I understood that the emotional scars from such sheer neglect that had made Raven believe that she was never going to be good enough played a critical role in the way she reacts every single time.

Ares I believe, is the character that changes all of that, even when I wanted to slap him silly when his actions hurt Raven in a way that was unbearable. But then again, I recognized where Ares was coming from as well, having believed himself to be in love with Hannah for so long, never acknowledging his true feelings for Raven because he never let his heart move in that direction.

Ares is a man of honor in every sense, staying true to the course even when he could have taken undue advantage of the situations that arose at times. He would also have been well justified to do so, given the revelations towards the latter half of the novel. I loved Ares for his patience in dealing with Raven, in understanding the depth of her insecurities and working to make her understand and believe in him and their love. He deserves a medal for his forbearance even when it came to dealing with Hannah, the least deserving of such consideration in my opinion.

The coup de grace of the story was when Raven finally stood up for herself and cut off ties with the toxicity that was her family. I rooted for her big time and brought out the pom-poms at that point! The spice and heat between Raven and Ares was icing on the cake in the tale as it unfolded, and went a long way towards bridging the emotional gap between the two and giving Raven the needed confidence boost to believe in their love. The only thing I could have asked for was more angst – which I believe required Ares to be a bit colder than he actually was. Alas, one cannot have everything I suppose!

Recommended for the true romantics who love a good marriage of convenience story. This one is for you!

Final Verdict: The Wrong Bride by Catharina Maura is a truly remarkable tale that delivers the perfect balance of spice and romance with just the right touch of heartache to make it memorable!

Favorite Quotes

I pull her against me and thread one hand in her hair before tipping her head back to expose her neck. She gasps when I lower my lips to her ear, my teeth grazing over her earlobe. “This is how you posed with Tom Foster, wasn’t it? Tell me, my love, was he as hard as I am when he held you like this?”
I kiss her neck, my teeth grazing over her skin for a moment before I suck down, leaving a small mark. Raven’s breath hitches, and the way she pushes her chest against mine makes me fucking feral. Her hands thread through my hair, her grip tight.

“Do you truly want me? If we weren’t married, would you want me?”
He smiles and walks toward me, his stride confident and impatient. His arm wraps around my waist, and he pulls me into him, his lips finding mine with the same urgency he portrayed earlier. Ares groans as he kisses me, his hands moving over my body impatiently. I’m pushed against the wall, and his hand curls around my thigh as he hooks it around his hip.
I’m panting as he pulls his lips off mine to kiss my jaw, before placing them just below my ear, pressing a soft kiss to my neck that makes me shiver. “Is that enough of an answer, Raven? I want you so fucking badly that it hurts.”

I lower my lips to her neck, my teeth grazing over her skin before I suck down on it, marking her as mine. “I’m fucking obsessed with you,” I admit. “Every little thing you do, every smile, every sigh that leaves your lips. All of it.”
My hand delves underneath her dress, and I smirk when I realize she isn’t wearing underwear. “This,” I groan against her lips. “I love this about you. You always want me just as badly as I want you.”

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Unexpected Pleasures by Penny Jordan

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Paperwhite
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: Third Person, Dual
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Harlequin
Hero: Gabriel Calbrini
Heroine: Sasha
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: January 01, 2012
Started On: September 03, 2022
Finished On: September 06, 2022

Suddenly Sasha turned her head and saw him. For a second she simply stared at him, and then abruptly she turned on her heel and started to run.
Gabriel’s reaction was instinctive and immediate. Sasha could hear the fierce pounding of his feet on the sand above the shocked thud of her own heartbeat. He was closing the distance between them but she still ran on, driven by the instinct of the prey to escape from the hunter.

Unexpected Pleasures by Penny Jordan, first published in January of 2012 is a novel that delves deep into the psych of two characters who have had rotten childhoods and carried the trauma with them for the better half of their lives. It is striking how at times category romances such as this number published under Harlequin, romance novels that people usually pick up for a light read or label as fluff, can end up being stories that pack a significant punch way above what anyone expects of them.

Such is the story of Gabriel Calbrini and Sasha, whose pasts are entwined in a way that makes a clean break from each other impossible. When the story begins, Sasha is mother to nine year old twins and newly widowed, facing the prospect that with her husband’s death she had gone overnight from being the pampered wife of a rich man to a virtually destitute widow.

Sasha had been an impressionable, emotionally vulnerable, and needy seventeen years old when she had met Gabrielle in whose arms she had known true sexual awakening and desire. Her mother having died during childbirth, Sasha had grown up in an environment that had been insufficient to address her great need for love and emotional security.

A year later, Sasha had married the much older Carlo, pregnant and unable to reconcile or accept the depth of devastation that Gabriel had wreaked on her heart when he had so callously turned away from the love that she had to give. In hindsight, ten years on, Sasha is able to understand that it was with Carlo that she had managed to make peace with her past, and had flourished in the safe environment that her husband had provided for her.

Sasha’s past comes calling when Carlo leaves guardianship of the twins to his second cousin, none other than the father of the twins, Gabriel. He has never forgiven Sasha for the way she had left his pride in tatters, and Gabriel has always refused to examine his battered emotions too closely lest he find something he did not want to face particularly.

Gabriel has so much baggage from his childhood, being an unwanted child discarded by his maternal relatives who had been richer than sin, abandoned by his father once he found someone to replace Gabriel’s mother, and a mother who had never looked back once she walked out on him and her father. Foster homes had been it for him until circumstances had forced Gabriel back into the circle of his maternal grandfather, where he had led a loveless existence which had solidified his resolve as a man.

Gabriel is a man in whose heart lies a wealth of bitterness, judging every woman by his own mother’s standards, which makes him the worst sort of cynic. In Gabriel’s opinion, Sasha had proven her worth when she had walked out on him and sold herself to the highest bidder. As Gabriel makes a comeback into Sasha’s life and things start to add up, it is he that must reconcile with the past and examine his own actions which had destroyed what was between Sasha and him at the very beginning. Perhaps they both needed the time apart to really be together, one could argue, and I would be one of them if you ask me.

I had a hard time rating this book, not because this did not deliver a riveting read. I had some issues with how the story handled Gabriel’s issues for the most part. It was evident that Sasha had dealt with her scars from childhood in a healthier manner, her years with her older husband having given her the comfort, luxury, and time to pace herself through the recovery and reconciliation process.

Gabriel however, is a tougher nut to crack, with his childhood having hardened him to a point where he has a tough time separating his mother’s cruelty from every single overture made to him by any woman attempting to establish emotional ties with him. The protective shield around Gabriel’s heart seems almost impenetrable, that is until the truth about Sasha and their past slaps some sense into him. My issue lies with how such a character seemingly healed overnight and changed into a loving man, even though it is evident that Gabriel loved Sasha even before, though he never acknowledged the fact.

That brings me to the other issue I had with the story. While I understood the need for flashbacks, I also felt as if a major portion of the story was told through memories of the past than incidents in the present, which perhaps would perhaps have made more sense in the long run.

Recommended for those who love a good second-chance romance and fans of Penny Jordan. Ms. Jordan is a definite favorite when it comes to category romances.

Final Verdict: With flashbacks into the entwined pasts of the main protagonists, Unexpected Pleasures delivers the ultimate second chance romance with interwoven threads of sensuality in the mix!

Favorite Quotes

As a lover he had opened her eyes to a whole new world of pleasure, and he had imprinted that pleasure on her body in such a way that she knew she would never be able to forget it. There had been long hours when he had held her on their bed and caressed and kissed his way over every inch of her—the curve of her throat, the tender flesh inside her arm, her fingers. If she closed her eyes she knew she would almost be able to feel the slow wet curl of his tongue as he drew slow patterns of almost unendurable erotic stimulation along the whole length of her.

Gabriel leaned down and lifted her bodily against himself. As she wrapped her legs around him he could feel the sharp grittiness of the sand from her feet rubbing abrasively against his skin, a reminder that intense pleasure needed to be edged with the sting of pain.
Maybe that was why he felt this overpowering need for her now. Because without her his life had been bland and dull. Maybe he needed the pain to really feel.

She closed her eyes and ran her hands feverishly over Gabriel’s torso, avidly relearning its shape, tugging buttons free of buttonholes as he kissed her, plunging her straight down into the depths of her own desire to that place where there was no reason, only the voices of her senses, whispering to her to hurry, to take what she could while she could, while there was still time.

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | eBooks | HQ