Publisher: Siren Publishing

Guest Review: Bunny and the Beast by Heather Rainier

Posted March 31, 2016 by Judith in Reviews | 0 Comments

Guest Review: Bunny and the Beast by Heather RainierReviewer: Judith
Bunny and the Beast by Heather Rainier
Series: Divine Creek Ranch #22
Also in this series: Brokenhearted Beauty
Publisher: Siren-BookStrand
Publication Date: September 22nd 2015
Genres: Erotica
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five-stars
Series Rating: five-stars

Hard-working, strong, and sassy, Bunny Carrigan desires a simple life, far away from the complications of the big city, posh houses, and materialism. She makes her own rules and has no time for pushy men in fancy suits or playing games.

Joseph Hazelle enjoys taking control and has very set ideas about what the ideal submissive looks and acts like. In fact, his ideas are so set they might as well be concrete. Vibrant and full of life, Bunny challenges Joseph's preconceived notions and she's determined that if she submits at all, it's going to be on her own terms. Accustomed to being the instructor, Joseph discovers that Bunny has claimed his lonely heart and has a thing or two to teach him. All he has to do is educate her about his world and convince her that she does indeed "do" submission. What could go wrong? ** A Siren Erotic Romance

[Siren Everlasting Classic: Erotic Consensual BDSM Romance, BDSM, sex toys, HEA]

This is the 22nd book in the Divine Creek Ranch series from this author and it is a series that I continue to read with great enjoyment.  Ms Rainier has managed to bring these characters alive as they interact with community citizens, partying, enjoying a night of dancing and fun at the Dancing Pony club, doing a little matchmaking on the side, and living life and loving on their own terms.

Readers met Bunny Carrigan and Joseph Hazale in the previous Lumberjack Weekend and these two knew then that their was an attraction that couldn’t and wouldn’t be ignored.  They each live a very different lifestyle, guided by very different rules and attitudes, and their personalities are seemingly at odds with each other.  Yet there is no denying that Bunny and Joseph are two individuals who will find a way together, even though their future relationship is iffy.

This is a book that contains very obvious erotic content as well as one that is based in the practice of BDSM.  In fact, Joseph owns a BDSM establishment and it is clear that he is locked into his understanding of the Dom/sub configuration that guides his interaction with the opposite sex.  Bunny is simply a hard-working young woman who has family responsibilities even though she has never been married.  She is open to a love relationship but she is never open to giving up her independence and her ability to call the shots for her life.  The idea of any kind of submission is simply foreign to her.  So where are these two going?  That is the question that drives this novel and it is fascinating to watch how their story unfolds.  Both are really good people but their alternate views of how men and women interact romantically and sexually is the sticking point between them.  Readers will find themselves deeply involved in watching Bunny teach Joseph some romantic realities that he never knew or has long forgotten while Joseph opens Bunny’s awareness to the many facets of BDSM that are healing and empowering.

I greatly enjoyed this story just as I have the 21 books that preceded it.  It is always fun to keep up with characters who have populated previous books and in the community of Divine, Texas, there is always something going on that keeps readers attached to that fictional town.  From the very beginning, Ms Rainier has written her books with the express goal of demonstrating that human love is magnificent and can be expressed in myriad ways.  The people in her books are good, ordinary, hard-working, life-loving persons and all of them are seeking to find love and acceptance.  Many of them find it in very unexpected ways and family configurations.  This book is a case in point.  Ms Rainier continues to grow in her writing expertise and yet there is always that sense of realism, of down home connection that all her books bring alive.  As always, it is a joy to experience her Divine, Texas people.

I give this book a rating of 5 out of 5.

five-stars

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Guest Review: Brokenhearted Beauty by Heather Rainier

Posted March 3, 2016 by Judith in Reviews | 1 Comment

Guest Review: Brokenhearted Beauty by Heather RainierReviewer: Judith
Brokenhearted Beauty by Heather Rainier
Series: Divine Creek Ranch #19
Also in this series: Bunny and the Beast
Publisher: Siren Publishing
Publication Date: October 29th 2014
Genres: Erotica
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five-stars
Series Rating: five-stars

Brokenhearted and grieving, Leah Woodworth's heart is filled with regret for never confessing her love to Patterson Elder. His loss haunts her dreams and she can't set eyes on his brothers, James and Vincent without seeing his face. Having denied her attraction to them until it was too late, how can they possibly still want her?

James and Vincent were sure Leah was the one from the moment they met her. Patterson had always shared that belief, taking every chance to convince her that she was meant to be theirs. With Patterson gone, James and Vincent are deep in their own mourning and at a loss as to why Leah avoids them. When she is offered an opportunity that may take her permanently out of Divine, they realize time has run out and seize what may be the last chance they have to make her theirs forever. ** A Siren Erotic Romance

[Siren Menage Everlasting: Erotic Cowboy Menage a Trois Romance, M/F/M, HEA]

This is the 19th book in the Divine Creek Ranch series and Ms Rainier has nailed it again!  This story is built on happenings just previous to it and is also an emotional commentary on what it means to lose someone that is greatly loved due to their own foolishness.  Thus Leah lost the man she had come to love when he died from head trauma in a motorcycle accident because he wasn’t wearing his helmet.  The ripple effect of that horrible loss for Leah is what drives this story.  It is emotional, sad, riveting, and will keep the reader engaged as the story unfolds.  One of the saddest outcomes of Patterson’s death is Leah’s belief that her relationship with his brothers is now also never going to happen.  This is indeed a menage love story but throughout the tale there is woven the whole reality of what it means to work through the grieving process and heal from the loss of someone who could have survived if they had simply taken the time to be careful.  The hopelessness of that is a clear ingredient in Leah’s story.

I cannot say enough about how Ms Rainier has grown and matured in her writing and story telling abilities.  She manages to put her readers on the front row looking into the lives and feelings of her characters while assuring us that what is taking place is happening to people who are ordinary folks who are experiencing love and acceptance in surprising ways and extraordinary configurations.  The phenomenon of polyamory is growing in the United States and is now spoken about freely by many.  It is certainly not legally accepted but as has been demonstrated in many novels, there are ways to work around the legal ramifications.  James and Vincent were totally on board with Leah being their woman collectively even before Patterson’s death.  They have never wavered in their belief that she is theirs.  But all is not smooth sailing for these three and their story will pull at readers’ hearts and their tear ducts as well.  The sensitive and caring way Ms Rainier tells their story and puts this context together is, in large part, why this story works and why all of us who really like this series keep coming back for more.

This story has been around for a while but it is worth reading and enjoying.  It you haven’t met the folks of Divine, Texas, you are in for a treat.  Like all good romance fiction, this book will entertain as well as feed the imagination.  It is a splendid entertain as well as feed the imagination.

I give it a rating of 5 out of 5.

five-stars

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Guest Review: Cato by Celeste Prater

Posted August 6, 2014 by Tracy in Reviews | 1 Comment

Guest Review: Cato by Celeste PraterReviewer: Tracy
Cato by Celeste Prater
Series: Fueled by Lust #3
Publisher: Siren Publishing
Publication Date: April 10, 2014
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Science Fiction
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three-stars
Series Rating: three-stars

While monitoring the airwaves for potential mates for the earthbound Insedi, Cato Telarius becomes mesmerized with a sensual, feminine voice captured during a pay phone conversation with a hotline operator. Cato’s obsession with finding the woman attached to the voice leads him to a discovery that will shock the Insedivertus race and a love that will test the boundaries of his sanity.

Luna Jasper has been working hard to get out of an unfulfilling relationship, and just as she sees freedom within reach, one small mistake spirals her into a fight for her life, a huge push into the arms of a man she never believed could exist, and a surrealistic encounter with an alien world beyond her wildest imagination.

Luna has made some mistakes in her life but the one she’s involved in currently is the worst ever. She hooked up with an old boyfriend so that she could get out of town after her mother and brother died. At first everything was great but now he’s getting more and more controlling and verbally abusive and she wants out. Of course every time she gets enough money to leave he finds it or finds out she’s leaving and stops her. Now she’s finally had enough and she wants out. She tries to leave but fate is against her and when she stops to make a phone call she is attacked and beaten within an inch of her life.

Cato is a man from another planet. He has been surfing the airwaves trying to find mates for his fellow Insedi. He hears Luna’s voice and is immediately drawn to it. He figures out what phone booth she’s calling from and tries to see her when she makes a call. Unfortunately he is never successful. One night he gets notification that the phone booth is being used and it’s Luna – only he hears her getting beat up and comes to her rescue. He manages to save her life and get her away from the hospital but isn’t sure how to tell her that he believes that she is his mate and that he’s from another planet.

Fueled by Lust: Cato is the third book in the Fueled by Lust series. The story was a little odd going in as I hadn’t read the first two books. On one hand this seemed like a standalone novel but most of the time I was completely lost as I hadn’t read books 1 & 2. When the story began I would have never known that Cato was from another planet had I not read the blurb. There was no indication that he was an alien of sorts but as the story went on it was obvious. It took almost half the book to go by before the MC’s meet and that bothered me a bit.

When Cato and Luna finally meet – after she awakens from being beaten up – Luna trusts Cato more than I thought she would. Yes, she’s suspicious at first but she accepts his explanations far faster than I would think a woman in her position would have.

I thought the descriptions of Cato’s planet were vivid and I could see it all clearly in my head. It was written well and I enjoyed that part of the book. There was a secondary storyline involved with Cato and his father as well as another that had to do with the leader of their people. It was confusing as I had no idea who these people were and I found that frustrating. No explanations were offered so I would suggest reading the previous two books if you plan on reading this one.

Rating: 3 out of 5

three-stars

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Review: Menagerie by Lara Santiago

Posted August 23, 2008 by Holly in Reviews | 5 Comments

Review: Menagerie by Lara SantiagoReviewer: Holly
Menagerie by Lara Santiago
Publisher: Siren Publishing
Publication Date: July 1st 2008
Genres: Fiction, Erotica, Fantasy
Pages: 212
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four-stars

MENAGERIE [Erotic Sci-fi/Multiple Partner Romance] What's a girl to do with five hot guys who need her for their sexual survival? Create a weekly schedule.

Accidentally transported to an alien spaceship, Valerie Thornhill inadvertently volunteers to be a virtual sex slave for five men. A shortage of females and her blatant curiosity aboard the alien vessel conspire and set fate in motion. The fact that the five are sexy and attractive is helpful when she learns the term of service is three years.

Forbidden to show favoritism within her unusual household for the duration of the long trip, Valerie still can't help falling in love with the most intriguing one of her male harem. The fact that she is apprehensive about his demeanor and overall size only heightens her desire for him. When the aliens discover Valerie's indiscretion, the ultimate price for her desire may jeopardize the return trip to Earth for all of them.

 

Valerie is minding her own business on a jog in the park when she sees two people getting into a motorcycle shootout. She hits the ground and wakes up on board a spaceship where she’s about to be “chosen” as a sex slave for up to 5 men. She figures she’s dreaming and just plays along.

On her way to the “gauntlet arena” where she’ll be paraded in front of hundreds of men, she accidentally gets separated from the group and meets Hauser. He’s on his way to the arena for the gauntlet ceremony (where the men vie for the ladies) to find a mate for himself and his 4 roommates. Since this is just a dream anyway, Valerie asks Hauser if she can just pick him and be done with it. He’s attractive and she knows she’s going to wake up before any of the good stuff happens anyway, so why not play along? He agrees and says he’ll meet her in the arena. The arena isn’t quite what Valerie had in mind, and it isn’t long before she’s being mobbed by hundreds of desperate men. For you see, if the men don’t get some w/in 60 days of being there, they die a slow, horrible, painful death.

Eventually Hauser catches up with her and they agree she will become the mate of him and his 4 housemates. She agrees to have sex with each of them twice a month – so a total of 10 times a month she’ll “service” her men. Hauser is overjoyed by this, because apparently that isn’t normal at all. Mostly the women are bitches and only agree to doing it once every 60 days with each guy, which is the minimum requirement. They kiss to seal the deal, but the fun is only beginning. Because this isn’t a dream, and Valerie has just agreed to “service” 5 men for a period of 3 years. Since she sealed the deal with a kiss, she can’t get out of it either.

In a daze, Valerie goes with Hauser to meet the rest of the guys in the group. It turns out all five men are tall, well built and absolutely gorgeous. There’s Hauser, who’s sweet, gentle and compassionate; Johnny, who’s very playful and funny; Frasier is a buttoned down, conservative type; Marcus is very approachable and sweet, but also has an adventurous side; Dominick is the last of them, and he’s the biggest of them all. He has a darkness about him that frightens Valerie, but he’s also the one she’s most attracted to.

I really did end up liking this a lot more than I expected. There was quite a bit more emotional depth here than I thought there’d be, along with quite a bit of humor and a fairly well drawn story arc. There are certain rules Valerie has to follow besides having relations w/ each guy twice a month. She has to cook them breakfast and isn’t allowed to work, which annoys the crap out of her (me? I could probably deal with being loved by 5 men and just chillin’ at home all day, but whatever). She meets a friend, Daisy, and the two of them stir up mischief together. They keep getting called before the “council”, which are 3 aliens who monitor what goes on inside the starship. As time goes on, Valerie finds herself falling for one of her guys, which breaks the cardinal rule in Alien world – don’t give one more attention than another. She can’t seem to help herself, though. Then, as the guilt from keeping the secret starts to weigh on her, she begins having horribly frightening dreams that effect her relationship with all five of them.

In the end it turned out be a fast paced tale and one I enjoyed. Though there’s certainly some cheese involved, it was still rather compelling. I’d recommend it.

4.0 out of 5

This book is available from Siren Publishing. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

four-stars

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