Review: Unbowed

Unbowed: An Erotic Romance by Isabella Belucci
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Unbowed was my first Isabella Belucci story. This one is a roller coaster of emotions as the reader follows Nora, a transgender woman, from the high point of believing that her boyfriend is planning to propose to the gutter, giving head to a stranger in a public bathroom. As she wallows in her misery, she finds that love was right in front of her the whole time. Belucci packs a lot of action and emotion into a short tale, and her writing is good. No distracting errors or overly wordy phrases. A satisfying read for those who enjoy transwoman lesbian sex.

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Review: Landscaper in Love

Landscaper in Love by Robin Stone
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m a big fan of M/M stories—both writing them and reading them. In this series, there is a lot of M/F action (which is excellent), but what keeps me coming back for more is the M/M romance. This one is special. It’s uncertain at times. At others, they both know exactly what they need. The other thing I enjoy is the power struggle between the two men. Kyle is happy to let Eric dictate the action with his wife, be each tries to be the alpha at one time or another. It makes for some panty-dripping hot scenes.

My criticism about this series is that it has the feel of one cohesive novel to me. Not a series of shorter works. That’s just my opinion though, and it doesn’t affect the heat these books generate.

I love the characters. The writing is super-slick. The sex is hot, hot, hot. I highly recommend this series, and I can’t wait for the conclusion.


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Review: Pounded in the Butt by My Irrational Bigoted Fear of Humans Who Were Born as Unicorns Using a Human Restroom

Pounded In The Butt By My Irrational Bigoted Fear Of Humans Who Were Born As Unicorns Using A Human Restroom by Chuck Tingle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of the strangest things I've read in a long time, but I enjoyed the satire. The real-life issue of transgender people using public restrooms is just as ridiculous as the premise of this story and Chuck Tingle brings it to light in a ridiculous manner.

The book came with a bonus story--Pounded in the Butt by My Book "Pounded in the Butt by My Own Butt." I wish it hadn't. The joke wasn't as funny the second time around. It devalued the author's message, making him seem like a one-trick pony. His list of other titles supports that opinion. Despite the good writing and sharp satire, I will probably not read any other Chuck Tingle stories. I did enjoy this one, though, and other readers might as well.

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Review: She Sees in Her Sleep

She Sees in Her Sleep: Three November Snow Shorts by A.M. Manay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I continue to love A.M. Manay’s November Snow series. This book of three shorts gives readers a glimpse into the kinds of visions November the human psychic/demon/vampire has when she is sleeping. They are more than entertainment, however. These stories provide us with information not included in the first or second books. We learn how Lijle, Gul, Ilyn, and Marisha brought together the fairies and vampires in alliance against the werewolves. We learn just how powerful fairy magic is while we get to know Pine’s husband and learn how they met.

Probably the most interesting revelation is about Luka. Is he inherently evil or does he have good reason for his negative feelings for Ilyn? And why does he hate werewolves so much? All of this plus six-year-old Zinnea’s reaction to meeting Tinkerbell at Disneyland will make any November Snow fa.n smile.

A.M. Manay could have TOLD her readers all of this in the other books. Instead she wed her storytelling ability to SHOW her readers. She is one of my favorite authors for good reason.

I have to say, I wish this series was all one novel. I can’t stand waiting for the next one.


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Review: Bending Over for Jeff

Bending Over For Jeff by July Cumming
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I wish I had chosen a different July Cumming as my first, simply because it's hard to judge a smut writer by her satire. Cumming's protagonist is as frustrated as the rest of the indie writing world, and the author wraps this frustration into a fun, smutty story. We are all being held over a barrel by the high and mighty online ebook sellers, and the story's Ms. Cumming takes it. Just like "the others," indie authors' colleagues/competition.

The story hit home on many points (and it's the kind of story in which subsequent readings will reveal details missed on the first reading)--the "all knowingness" of the retailer, the instant delivery of any item imaginable, the "others." It made for awesome satire.

It's difficult to judge the "steaminess" of this story though. I was kind of ticked off the whole time because I understood the author's point so clearly, so I didn't enjoy the sexy parts the way they were meant to be enjoyed. For me, they were the sharpness of the satire. I'll have to read another July Cumming for the full effect. Which sends me right back to the "one-click" button. The circle of smut...

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Review: Compatible Gardens

Compatible Gardens by Angora Shade
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Compatible Gardens is a delightful lesbian tale about fate. It's short, and the sexual contact is limited to a sexy girl-on-girl handjob, but it's woven so well through the fabric of the story. Shade gives an excellent example of erotic realism, even if the idea of a stranger reaching into your pants seems a bit far fetched. Regular people, riding the bus, looking for apartments, real people judging the participants, including a grumpy nun, right in their faces.

Shade's writing is super slick, propelling the reader bus stop-by-bus stop to the climax, both the story's and the young woman's. What I enjoyed the most was the internal dialogue and the uncertainty. Was Ms. Greencoat touching her on purpose or not? I found it entertaining and arousing.

I also noted the realistic description of the moving bus. Anyone who has ever walked to a seat on a moving bus will recognize the exact motions made in the story. It was that extra layer of storytelling that brought it to life.

An excellent quick read. I highly recommend it.

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Review: Celebrity Quickies

Celebrity Quickies by B.J. Taylor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

These stories are some hot little strokers. B.J. Taylor's strong suit is the quickie. Like a nooner at a no-tell motel, these stories get the job done and get the hell out of the way. This collection also displays some of the slickest writing I've seen from Taylor, with relatively few errors (although there are some nagging jumps from past to present tense).

What sold this for me the most was the title, "Celebrity Quickies." I got exactly what I expected--short, stroke stories. I wasn't looking for a complex story or long, slow lovemaking. Taylor could fill volumes with this kind of story--quickies, nooners, afternoon delights, wake-up sex. I'd like to see him do it.

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Review: How the Lotus Blossoms

How The Lotus Blossoms by Fionna Guillaume
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have had a strange fascination with the Chinese foot-binding tradition, ever since I read the book Snowflower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. The practice was absolutely barbaric, and it's difficult to imagine how a tradition so horrible came to be. Fionna Guillaume blends true history with conjecture, creating a fascinating and believable story of a young Chinese woman, born with club feet, to peasants forced to sell her to a circus freak show.

She binds her feet with silk to provide support and hide her deformity, and the pain of walking on her tiny half moons causes her to walk with a seductive sway, which catches the eye of the emperor. When he takes her to his bed for the first time, she displays the acrobatics force on her by her cruel husband and uses her tiny silk-wrapped lotus flowers to bring him to orgasm. He is so smitten by her disability, he takes her as his concubine, develops a deep fetish for her three inch feet, and declares that any woman who comes to his bed must have bound feet, a completely likely explanation for the longstanding tradition.

Guillaume's writing is very slick and efficient, and the story moves at a smooth pace toward a pleasant, happy ending. The sex is titillating and quite unique. An enjoyable story all-around, especially for those with an interest in Chinese women's history.

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Review: Rannigan's Redemption Part 3: Ransoming Redemption

Rannigan's Redemption Part 3: Ransoming Redemption by Pandora Spocks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Pandora Spocks did not disappoint with the final installment of the Rannigan's Redemption series. In addition to the characters I love and the fun sexy scenes, this book is an emotional roller coaster, showcasing Spocks's ability to yank on the heartstrings. Hard.

No spoilers here, but if you read the second book, you know that Michael Rannigan wasn't in good shape. I read the entire book with a sinking feeling in my stomach. Spocks handled his battle so beautifully and with such finesse.

(My little complaint in this one was lack of blowjobs. I'm not sure there were any. Bobby deserved at least a couple oral delights!)

This book is an excellent balance of happiness and sadness, sex and sickness, love and friendship. Read it with your box of tissues.

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Review: Inner Beauty

Inner Beauty by S.J. Hermann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this, not knowing anything about what the author usually writes, and I didn't know if I should expect erotica or what. I was pleasantly surprised to find a sexy short story, rather than a sex scene or a chapter of a story. The author succeeded in making me detest the protagonist, right from the start, and the ending was very satisfying.

The writing is excellent as well. No errors, no extra fluff. Just clean, enjoyable writing. 

This is a great short read!

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Review: Okay Now What by M.S. Tarot

Okay now what? by M.S. Tarot
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

M.S. Tarot can write about anything. In this series, he writes about a man who's been in love with his brother's ex-wife since he was too young to have such intense feelings. When they meet by chance, she's grateful for someone to talk to, and his old feelings rush back.

And this is where M.S. Tarot shines. Older woman, younger man, and a romance which no one else approves of. Their feelings for each other are intense, but Ash's family hasn't forgotten how bitter Melinda's divorce from Ash's brother was. And they don't want him to forget either.

There are scenes in these books that took my breath away with their heat. Kisses so passionate, I reread the passages over and over. And then Ash's family steps in, and they're terribly irrational. Anyone with a crazy family will be able to relate.

With true-to-life conflict and stunningly sensual love scenes, this series is special.

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