Riding the Circuit

Title:  Riding the Circuit

Author:  Sofia Hunt

Publisher:  Siren-Bookstrand

Publisher URL:   http://www.sirenbookstrand.com

ISBN: 1-61034-593-2

Genre:  {M/F/M}, BDSM, Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph 

The NARA Queen has a stalker, so Mitzi’s father hires Riley and Jonah to guard her since they are going on the same rodeo circuit for the summer.  Riley and Mitzi have a history but neither man is sure she’s worth the trouble, due to her reputation. 

The first book of the Rodeo Riders series, Riding the Circuit gives a small look at behind the scenes rivalries, rumors and summer flings during the rodeo season.  While I enjoyed the book, there were a few confusing areas, such as a scene between Jonah and Mitzi that starts outdoors in an alleyway, then, suddenly they are in bed then back outside. Other than having to go back a couple of times, this, in no way, detracted from the story itself.   

Both men reluctantly accept the task of guarding Mitzi because the money they will earn will let them implement their plans of owning their own ranch.  The relationship between Mitzi, Riley and Jonah is hot.  The author did a credible job of showing how families perceive various issues and how it affects the children even when they are adults.  There were a few secondary characters that you know are going to show up in later books, especially Mitzi’s friend.  

I did keep hoping Mitzi’s stalker was not who I thought it was, but even though I guessed, the end result could have caused a confrontation in any family.  One lesson that the author conveyed very well was that you cannot live your life on someone else’s terms.  I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Steven’s Journey

Title: Steven’s Journey

Author: Lynn Hagen

Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand

Publisher URL: http://www.sirenbookstrand.com

ISBN: 1610347129

Genre: {M/M}, Shape-sifter, Series

Rating:  4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph 

Steven doesn’t have any other choice but to trust the young man who offers to help him escape his abusive boyfriend.  When he gets to the shelter that’s still being built, he meets the most amazing man, Roman.  Unable to stay away from the handsome construction foreman, Steven wonders if he has traded in one possessive boyfriend for another. 

Steven’s Journey is different from the other books in the Brac Pack series.  For a start, this is the first book in which neither character is a member of the pack, second, this is also the first book without a wolf shifter as one of the main characters.  Steven is a human running from an abusive ex, while Roman is one of the Lakeland’s,  a family of bear shifters who have received permission from Maverick to stay in the area.  Since several members of the pack show up throughout the story and some loose ends from other books are tied up, Steven’s Journey flows perfectly with the rest of the series. 

Readers are sure to find this story entertaining.  There is the strong connection between the two men which the author does a wonderful job bringing across.  There are also many great scenes in this newest release that are sure to have you laughing out loud.  The first time Steven meets Roman in his bear form is just one of them.  New characters are also introduced that are sure to find their way into stories of their own.  And of course, there are the mates.  While there are no outlandish adventures this time around, Cecil’s reputation does proceed him.   

Steven’s Journey makes a great addition to this fun series and will leave you wanting more while you wait for the next installment.

Better Than Friends

Title: Better Than Friends

Author: Sean Michael

Publisher: Torquere Press

Publisher URL: www.torquerepress.com

ISBN: 978-1-61040-292-7

Genre: {M/M} BDSM Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx 

Hank and Jason have been best friends since high school, long before Hank came out of the closet. In the intervening years, they’ve grown up, become successful and shared many things but not every secret desire. 

When Hank gets a huge promotion to senior partner, he’s finally able to finance his long-held dream, membership in the best BDSM club around—The Hammer. Stepping inside, he meets a sexy but bratty sub dressed in silk and his eyes just about pop out of his head…Jason? They agree to have dinner together and discuss what learning about this new side of each other means. Will their long friendship survive the change or can it become even better if they become more than just friends? 

Better Than Friends is the newest release by Sean Michael and in my opinion, one of the best stories added to the Hammer family of books in a while. It’s the unusual premise for the story—two old friends unaware of the other’s interest in the lifestyle and their sudden discovery of the truth that makes it so appealing. It’s something not done before in the series and tackling the topic was a nice change since it allowed the author to express the fun and ease of Hank and Jason’s long association—things not usually seen in a Dom/sub relationship. And you certainly saw that, even in their first meeting at the club. Knowing each other so well added more complexity and depth to the story and their changing relationship. I loved how both Hank and Jason wanted the friendship they relied on the stay unchanged; that was a very heart wrenching moment for me. 

It’s a short read at just a little over 11K, so things move along at a pretty fast clip. I loved the bantering, snappy conversation and how comfortable they were with each other, despite the change happening in their old relationship. The flow of the story is smooth, it was nice seeing flashes of a few old characters and there is plenty of kink as Hank and Jason explore the new sexual side of each other. All in all, this story of an old friendship turned to love is very satisfying. Enjoy.

Submissive Beauty

Title:  Submissive Beauty

Author:  Eliza Gayle

Publisher:  Resplendence Publishing

Publisher URL:  www.resplendencepublishing.com

ISBN: 978-1-60735-336-2

Genre:  {M/F/M}, BDSM, Recommended Read

Rating:  Golden Blush Award

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph 

Gabrielle is supposed to meet a friend at The Sanctuary to watch a demonstration but gets stood up.  Thomas sees her and decides he, along with his friend David, wants to train her.  Gabrielle is curious, but wary, especially after her nasty divorce. 

Submissive Beauty is the first book I have read by Eliza Gayle but it will not be the last.  From the beginning this book grabbed me and kept me interested to the end and caused my heart to start racing.  The emotions that Ms. Gayle invokes while reading this book are intense.  I even started crying at one place toward the end because I was so wrapped in Gabrielle’s story. 

Gabrielle is like a lot of us in that we are curious but sometimes the societal mores we grow up with causes us to either repress our desires, or if we follow them, guilt.  Thomas and David give Gabrielle intense training, while trying to break down her barriers.  Trust is the biggest issue that they had, which is something most of us experience.  I did have to laugh when Thomas changed Gabrielle’s safe word. 

The book is mostly about Gabrielle’s journey and shows how betrayal can wreck havoc in relationships, especially if one party is insecure about themselves.  Ms. Gayle has a very good understanding of BDSM and it shows in this story.  I highly recommend that Submissive Beauty be added to every BDSM lover’s library.

Song of Oestend

Title: Song of Oestend

Author: Marie Sexton

Publisher: Total-E-Bound Publishing

Publisher URL: www.total-e-bound.com

ISBN: 978-0-85715-630-3

Genre: {M/M} Paranormal

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx   

Aren Montrell travels from his home on the continent across the sea to his new job and hopefully to a new life at the BarChi Ranch, located in the Oestend prairie.  For the last leg of his journey, Aren is escorted by the ranch Forman Deacon.  Aren is secretly attracted to Deacon and as Aren later discovers, the attraction is mutual.  

Song of Oestend is an intriguing mystery romance set in an imaginary world that mirrors early America.  The storyline illustrates a social class structure.  Oestend has a shortage of men with property, a requirement for marrying a landowner’s daughter.  Single working class men were only allowed contact with working class women.  Race discrimination is also a factor illustrated.  Natives were killed or enslaved by the first settlers, annihilating a culture with only two survivors. 

Deacon is one of those survivors. Deacon, as well as the BarChi Ranch’s cook, is the only source of knowledge regarding Oestend’s true history, the wraiths, along with the meaning of the symbols painted over doors and windows.  The characters are convincing.   

Aren’s employment as the ranch’s bookkeeper was a convenient way for his former lover to dispose of Aren.  Being pursued by matchmaking fathers with daughters causes Aren moments of terror so he avoids contact when he can.  Deacon is a contradiction. Born of a race of enslaved people, Deacon craves being sexually submissive.  However, Deacon forcefully demands respect from the workers.  The secondary characters including the wraiths add drama, jealousy as well as a touch of violence to the plot. Overall, Marie Sexton has produced a remarkable saga.  I enjoyed the cultural mysteries presented in this well written plot.

Reader Advisory: This book is set in an alternate reality and contains scenes of violence, mild D/s and bondage, plus a M/M/M ménage scene.        

White Paws and a Dream

Title: White Paws and a Dream

Author: Stormy Glenn

Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand

Publisher URL: www.sirenbookstrand.com

ISBN: 1-61034-710-2

Genre: {M/M} Paranormal Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx 

When Ifan Vashnikov is called to the UPAC Conference, he isn’t thrilled. He attends because he doesn’t have a choice but when he learns of their plan, he’d rather go feral than have a mate forced on him. Not that the Elders care what he think and Ifan finds himself mated, even without drinking the spiked champagne.  To irritate him more, he learns his mate is a human, being cared for to insure his safety. 

Misha is a dreamwalker, the most powerful in a thousand years and his father wants to use his ability for evil. He’s being tortured when he’s rescued and taken to the UPAC Council to recover. Misha hopes to meet the man he’s been sharing dreams with but when they meet, Ifan doesn’t remember him. He’s hurt and doesn’t know what to do. Should he give life with Ifan a chance or would it be better to run? 

White Paws and a Dream is release eight in the Midnight Matings series and is by Stormy Glenn. It’s a much darker and more serious tale than any of the other books, which took me by surprise. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it and Ms. Glenn has again wrote a well plotted, smooth flowing and entertaining story but this one had little to even smile about. Misha’s life is hard. He’s been emotionally and physically abused by his power-hungry father for years and then the Elders turn around and assign him a mate. It makes for a tense and painful introduction between Ifan and Misha. 

Misha is very interesting and vastly different from others in the series, so far. He’s the first human mate and the first with an ability so out of the mainstream in the paranormal world. I loved the creativity of this selection and putting him with the protective and isolationist Ifan worked perfectly. He’s a dominant guy others don’t want to mess with since his white tiger is uber-protective. 

Secondary characters are numerous and weave in and out of the story. I liked Brodelyn, the UPAC Historican that showed up at important spots along the way and I’d like to see him again. Then there was the villain and his minion. The scenes involving these two unsavory individuals are handled well - filled with action and result in a satisfying ending.

Nature of the Beast

Title: Nature of the Beast

Author: Amylea Lyn

Publisher: Silver Publishing

Publisher URL: https://spsilverpublishing.com/

ISBN: 9781920484910

Genre: {M/M}, Shape-sifter, Fantasy, Series

Rating:  5 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph 

Raine is special but in a place like The City, being special can be dangerous.  When Raine winds up in prison, he knows that all hope is lost.  Then he meets The Beast. 

Nature of the Beast is a great story and a wonderful beginning to a series that is sure to bring the author many fans.  As the first book in the Outside the City series, it does all the things it should.  The readers are introduced to a variety of characters, some they will come to care about and others they will be glad to see get their just desserts.  This story also introduces the readers to the world in which the series takes place.  The City is repressive, with a governing body that is corrupt in more ways than one, leaving those that want to survive no choice but to break the rules. 

Raine and Ash are the main characters and they grab the readers’ attention from the moment they are introduced.  Raine has a special connection to planets that lands him in prison.  The scenes that take place there are intense and may be uncomfortable for some readers.  While there, Raine is given to The Beast.  Ash is a shifter that has been betrayed by someone close to him.  Landing in The City’s prison, he has no memory of who or what he is.  When Raine tries to find out The Beast’s name,  the scene will remind many of Jane and Tarzan’s first meeting.  There is a strong connection between the two, which the author does a great job of showing to the readers.  There is plenty of action as the men try to find their way to freedom, as well as find the person responsible for sending Ash to prison in the first place.  While at times, it may seem as if there are more lows in the story than highs, the problems Ash and Raine face are necessary to further the story.  I loved the epilogue, as it does a wonderful job wrapping up the story between Raine and Ash without giving anything away on the upcoming sequel. 

Nature of the Beast is an entertaining story and one that should not be missed.

Inferno

Title: Inferno

Author: Jocelyn Michel

Publisher: Changeling Press

Publisher URL: http://changelingpress.com

ISBN: 978-1-60521-584-6

Genre: {M/F} Paranormal, Series

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amethyst Nymph 

Running her florist shop is keeping Bianca busier than usual, with Valentine’s Day just around the corner.  No matter how hectic her schedule gets, Bianca always sets aside time for her favorite hobby, hunting werewolves.  One particular wolf has been giving her the slip for a while.  Bianca is looking forward to the day she can add him to her list of kills. 

Bianca’s innocent, kid-sister looks doesn’t fool Raffe at all.  This wolf knows the sexy vampire won’t give up until she has him exactly where she wants him.  After Bianca’s apartment is destroyed by fire, Raffe suggests they take a break from trying to kill each other.  He’s more interested in exploring the sparks flying between them.

I’ve been dying to know why vampires and werewolves became enemies since I read the first story in the Assassins in Lace series.   After reading Inferno, the fourth book, I don’t think it matters any more.  As long as Jocelyn Michel continues to give me witty comebacks and spontaneous love scenes, I say ignorance is bliss.  It thrills me reading the pivotal moment when the werewolf and vampire realize they can’t actually go through with killing the other.  Bianca and Raffe talked about this serious topic as if they were discussing the weather, while their lovemaking was far from tepid.  I appreciate how the characters contradict themselves.  Sure, they’re both lethal paranormal beings who most would think twice about messing with.  But, at the end of the day Bianca and Raffe are just a couple with the hots for each other.  That never gets old.  I hope there are more assassins waiting in the wings, because I’m not ready to say good-bye to them.

Bend

Title: Bend

Author: Bailey Bradford

Publisher: Total E-Bound

Publisher URL: www.total-e-bound.com

ISBN: 978-0-85715-614-3

Genre: {M/F/M} Contemporary Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx 

Annabelle Calhoun is an independent woman and has never been interested in any relationship with a man longer than a one-night stand. Even then she’s determined to be in control and usually doesn’t want to even know her partner’s name. And forget about a monogamous relationship. It isn’t going to happen. Not even seeing the loving commitment between her brother Rory and his partner, Chance, changes her mind.  

She’s been with two men before and then she meets Justin and Evan, who want more from her than just one night. They want forever. She’s never been able to give up being in charge before but if she wants to find happiness with these two hunky ranchers who drive her crazy, Annabelle is going to have to learn to bend. 

Bend is the fourth release in Bailey Bradford’s Love in Xxchange series and is my favorite so far. Please note that it can be read as a standalone. 

I liked Annabelle. There is something about her character that appeals to me. She’s a strong-willed woman but deep down, she’s tired of being alone but is still unwilling to give up the control she needs. Ms. Bradford’s done a fine job of crafting her personality, giving her plenty of attitude and enough personal issues to sink just about any relationship. Enter Justin and Evan, two determined men who know what they want…Annabelle. Yet, they too have issues and past hurts to deal with. That didn’t stop the threesome’s quick move to an intense, passionate and blistering hot sexual relationship.  

The plot flow is smooth, the personalities are believable and the integration of the secondary characters, many met previously, is seamless. I enjoyed meeting Annabelle’s friend Josh. Ms. Bradford outdid herself with the creation of his quirky personality and I can’t wait to find out what happens with him in What Matters Most. There are also plenty of twists and turns with Annabelle’s family to add pain and drama. My only niggle is how quickly Annabelle changed her mind about wanting a real relationship with Justin and Evan. It seemed she was dead set against it one minute and then suddenly she’s changed her mind and is taking off to their ranch. I didn’t really get what had finally made her change her mind, but that still didn’t negate my enjoyment of the story.