From Pack to Pride

Title: From Pack to Pride
Author: Amber Kell
Publisher: Total-E-Bound
Publisher URL: http://www.total-e-bound.com/
ISBN: 978-0-85715-377-7
Genre: {M/M} Shifters
Rating: 4.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx

Wolf shifter Adrian has an enemy, waiting for the chance to kill him. Adrian’s big brother wishes to send him to live with the lion pride for his own well-being. Talan, the pride Alpha already knows Adrian is his fated mate, just from looking at Adrian’s picture, and cannot wait to claim him.

From Pack to Pride is the first book in the Supernatural Mates series. The plot is well written, as well as well paced. The characters are believable, in addition to being particularly amusing. Adrian is a highly intelligent, feisty man. He is also smaller than most of the wolf pack, as well as the lions. However, Adrian is skillful in combat plus he is fast on his feet. Upon arrival into the pride lands, Adrian makes inquiries regarding the lion etiquette for mating. Adrian is immediately captivated with Talan and did not want to generate any gaffes between them.

Adrian is Talan’s dream come to life. Talan could barely contain his desire to mark Adrian as his own. Nevertheless, both men soon discovered pack law is different from pride regulations. After a small number of slip-ups, Adrian and Talan learn to compromise for their future happiness. Amber Kell has created an impressive, very enjoyable story. I look forward to the next episode in the Supernatural Mates series.

My Yakuza

Title: My Yakuza
Author: A.J. Llewellyn and John Simpson
Publisher: Total E Bound Books
Publisher URL: http://www.total-e-bound.com/
ISBN: 978-0-85715-372-2
Genre: {M/M}, Suspense, Action
Rating: 5 Nymphs
Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

Shiro’s life has always been slightly unusual. He’s never known his father, his mother has no problem sleeping with men for money and his grandmother has an unusual herb garden. His one constant has always been his love for Hawaii. But his hopes of a degree in Hawaiian studies is temporarily derailed when Shiro has to find his missing mother, whose lover just so happens to be a the head of a Yakuza clan in Japan.

My Yakuza is the first collaboration of authors A.J. Llewellyn and John Simpson. Separately they are very good writers; together they are outstanding. I loved the characters Shiro and Kono. The connection between these two men is intense from the beginning, even though Kono is not sure whether or not he can trust the younger man. Watching Shiro trying to be good had me chuckling more than once. There is also a lot of action in this story as Shiro and Kono try to save themselves and Shiro’s mother and friend. Between the intense heat of the two men and the constant action, there is plenty to hold the reader’s attention. There are a few wonderful secondary characters, some are not always what they seem, that help move the story along. Without giving too much away, there is one point in the story when I could not believe who one of the ‘bad’ guys was.

My Yakuza is an excellent story and I hope these two authors have plans to write more stories together.

A Dillon Sandwich

Title: A Dillon Sandwich
Author: Joyee Flynn
Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand
Publisher URL: http://sirenbookstrand.com/
ISBN: n/a

Genre: {M/M/M} Vampires
Rating: 3 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx

Warrior Dillon Dragos is sent to Ireland by the North American East Coast Council to investigate vampires disappearing without a trace. Dillon suspected a demon nest were the culprits. Upon arrival at the O’Hagan farm, Dillon is ecstatic to discover he has twins as his mates. Shane and Sean O'Hagan are also stunned by the knowledge that the gorgeous warrior Dillon is their destined mate. Life, as they knew it, has taken a wonderful turn for all three men.

A Dillon Sandwich is the first book in The O'Hagan Way series. The plot concept is out of the ordinary that quickly changes from one spotlight to another. The repetitive dialog is, to some extent, a distraction to the story’s flow. Other than fangs, there is little to distinguish vampire characteristics. However, the story is amusing as well as having plenty of sexual scenes.

Dillon has been trained since childhood to be a warrior. His mission is to eliminate demons that prey on vampires. Dillon’s life has been lonely until he meets his chosen mates Shane and Sean. Although Dillon never thought about the sex of his future mate, he was aware that his abusive father is homophobic. Mated to men, Dillon must decide how to protect Shane and Sean from his father’s rage. Shane is quiet, in addition to being emotional. Shane is also extremely savvy when it comes to computers. Sean is rational thinking with organizational skills. The individual traits of each man blends well in the relationship. Joyee Flynn has created an interesting saga that fans of spanking will find enjoyable.

Lust & Vamp

Title: Lust & Vamp
Author: Joyee Flynn
Publisher: Silver Publishing
Publisher URL: http://silverpublishing.info/
ISBN: 978-1-920484-50-7
Genre: {M/M}, {M/M/M/M}, Paranormal
Rating: 4.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

After finding out that the halfers are holding several humans, all of whom ‘feed’ the lust demons of Anything Goes at one time, Temp and the rest of the demons head out on a rescue mission. The last thing Temp expects to happen is ending up mated but when he carries out the wounded Reid, that’s just what happens.

Lust & Vamp is the second book in the Anything Goes series. Readers of this story will love it, just as much as the first book. The characters are great and pull you in from the beginning. While neither man is expecting the mating to occur, the connection between them is very strong and the author has done a wonderful job writing their sex scenes. Even the ménage that takes place is well done and does not have the feel of gratuitous sex to it. The story is not just a bit of light fluff, however. Reid has gone through a rough time at the hands of his captors and, as a result, suffers from PTSD. Ms. Flynn has done a great job showcasing the problems Reid is going through, as well as how he reacts to various situations, all of which come across realistically. Temp is the perfect mate for the young vampire as his determination to love and keep Reid helps him realize his true worth. Lust & Vamp brings back many of the characters we meet in the first book and introduces some new ones. I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for the remaining owners of the Anything Goes Night Club and will be patiently waiting for the next installment to come out.

Although I enjoyed this book, there were several typos that throw the rhythm of the story off on occasion. While this is not something that should keep you away from the book, it is something that readers should be aware of.

Deep Within My Heart

Title: Deep Within My Heart
Author: Rie McGaha
Publisher: Silver Publishing
Publisher URL: http://www.silverpublishing.info/
ISBN: 978-1-920468-34-7
Genre: {M/F} Historical, Action-Adventure
Rating: 4 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Goddess Minx

Mary-Michael Murray is grieving after the death of her mother, and she is now alone at the age of sixteen. She still has her nurse to keep her company while she travels to America to her guardian. Her Aunt Margaret, who is her only living relative, will be caring for her. Because her aunt has nothing left for her in the city she’s lived in, the three of them head for New Orleans and a warmer climate.

Now that the long rough journey from one city to another is over, Mary-Michael, Aunt Margaret and Mary-Michael’s nurse, Emma gets settled their new home. What her aunt is now contemplating is an arranged marriage for her but the one thing her aunt doesn’t know is Mary-Michael has no intention to being any man’s wife. She is more interested in is going to school to learn law, which she’s been told is a profession suited only for men. While out at a social function, Mary-Michael is approached by Caleb Jordan and she is never the same afterwards, because she falls in love with him.

Caleb Jordan is a pirate, who had a hard life growing up and swears off marriage to any woman. When he invites himself to a function in town and sees Mary-Michael while he is standing at the top of the stairs, he’s smitten. He knows that he has to find out who she is and after dancing with her, takes her into the garden, where they both realize the attraction they have for the other. After leaving her for the second time, Caleb is shaken badly by what they both feel for each other and swears never to see her again. Then he finds out she is to be married soon and he sails back to New Orleans to stop the marriage.

Deep Within My Heart is truly an adventurous story of pirates, deceit and finding out what the real world is like after living a sheltered life. I felt like I was on board the ship sailing and hearing the cannons roar, living the fantasy life of a pirate. I was totally engrossed with this story, and enjoyed reading every page.

Mary-Michael proved to be a resourceful young lady to have lead, such a very sheltered life and her courage to be independent. When she put her trust in Caleb’s hands and willingly followed him, I thought she would rebel after a while. Caleb turned out to be quite a strong willed man, who learned to let go of his past and to have happiness in his life.

Ms. McGaha is quite a talented writer, whose storytelling ability can captivate her readers and leave them wanting to read more of her books. This is not my first time reading one her great stories and I’m adding this one to my list of keepers.

Xavier’s Way

Title: Xavier’s Way
Author: Diana DeRicci
Publisher: Etopia Press
Publisher URL: http://www.etopia-press.net/
ISBN: 978-1-936751-04-4
Genre: {M/M} Contemporary
Rating: 3.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

Stratler Homes, the construction company owned by Xavier De Los Santos, is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. He’s having problems with his vendors and it looks like his ex-fiancé embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars before disappearing out of his life. To keep his business solvent, he’s desperate to recover as much of his missing money as possible and to do that, he hires the services of Belten and Belten, the prestigious law and accounting firm.

Jordan Belten is the accounting half of the company and he’s nearly struck speechless with desire on seeing their gorgeous new client. Xavier might be straight but that doesn’t mean Jordan can’t enjoy looking at the man everyday as he works to audit his records and discover whether his financial woes is the work of his ex-fiancé. What Jordan doesn’t know is the Xavier isn’t straight. The attraction simmers hot and intense between the men -- the question is what will they do about it?

Xavier’s Way is the newest release by author Diana DeRicci. The blurb for this one caught my attention immediately, and I knew I had to read it. It has all the components needed for an enjoyable read – two hot men, suspense, betrayal, theft and a voyage of discovery. As you can tell, there’s a lot going on in this story but at its center is Xavier, and his sudden realization that he’s attracted to men and how he goes about dealing with it. I liked how the author allowed Xavier the time he needed to get comfortable with his new feelings – how he and Jordan started off as friends before moving their relationship into that of lovers.

Overall, I liked the development of Xavier’s personality, although I must admit, there are times when dealing with his feelings for Jordan that he seems a little immature for someone of his age and responsibilities. Even so, he and Jordan are well suited and as the story closes they have a great potential for a happily-ever-after. If there’s one thing I could wish for, it would be that the ending be just a little longer, as it seemed a bit abrupt.

Over The Mountain of the Moon

Title: Over The Mountain of the Moon
Author: Reiko Morgan
Publisher: MLR Press
Publisher URL: http://www.mlrbooks.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60820-257-7
Genre: {M/M} Samurai
Rating: Golden Blush Award
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx

Tetsuya Matsuyama, a male courtesan, is doing his marketing when he becomes embroiled in a confrontation with an abusive drunk. Observing that Tetsuya is unarmed, samurai Jin comes to Tetsuya’s rescue. It is a meeting that binds Tetsuya and Jin’s destiny together for a lifetime.

Over The Mountain of the Moon is an extraordinary action-packed love story. The plot is well written with a swift pace, displaying deadly sword combat along with sinister plots of greed. The setting is feudal Japan. The love scenes illustrate the incredibly sensual ambience that enhances the period. The main characters are exceptionally convincing, demonstrating an absolute love for each other. Jin is a highly skilled admirable warrior on an honorable quest for justice. He is also a considerate man with uninhibited passion for Tetsuya. When making love to Tetsuya, Jin speaks in lyrical expressions, coupled with lavish touches providing the ultimate pleasure to Tetsuya’s erogenous zones. Jin feels guilty for exposing Tetsuya to danger, yet cannot bear to be separated from Tetsuya, who is his soulmate.

Tetsuya is an intelligent young man with a quiet calming demeanor and well aware of his lowly status. Tetsuya is skilled in the arts of giving sexual pleasure; for years he performs the duties necessary for his survival with dignity. He accepts that he is not equal to Jin in class status. However, Tetsuya chose to follow Jin as well as stay with him as long as Jin desires it, discarding his own happiness.

Over The Mountain of the Moon is packed with vibrant emotional essentials that transport the characters into existence for the readers. Reiko Morgan has created a magnificent saga that I thoroughly enjoyed. I recommend this impressive, heartwarming romance to all male/male fans.

Walking to the Stars

Title: Walking to the Stars
Author: Laney Cairo
Publisher: Torquere Books
Publisher URL: http://www.torquerebooks.com/
ISBN: 978-1-61040-131-9
Genre: {M/M}, Futuristic, Sci-fi
Rating: 4 Nymphs
Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

Sam was injured on his way to Australia but luckily for him, he gets to recuperate with Dr. Nick. Once he’s fit to travel, Sam, along with his new lover, Nick and future featherman, Talgerit, hit the road, hoping to complete his secret mission.

Walking to the Stars is the third installment of the Australis Liminus series. The story introduces several new characters, each of whom is interesting in their own right. When you put them together, you get a story that is, at times, funny and heartwarming. The connection between Sam and Nick is one that starts out slowly as friends but soon turns into a love neither was expecting. While there are a couple of love scenes in the story, they are not the primary focus of Walking to the Stars. The adventures these men face as they set out to finish Sam’s mission for the World Government’s new space program have the readers turning the pages waiting to see what will happen next.

Although I found Walking to the Stars an interesting book, I wondered many times if I had missed a story in the series. While there are some similarities between this story and the previous two, what was there was not enough to show a connection, at least for me, to the series. The book almost had the feel of a spin off or stand alone book, in fact, the main characters from the previous stories don’t even make an appearance till the end of this book. This is still a fun and entertaining story, however, and fans of this series shouldn’t miss it.

Rite of First Claim

Title: Rite of First Claim
Author: Qwillia Rain
Publisher: Loose Id
Publisher URL: http://www.loose-id.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60737-889-1
Genre: {M/F}. BDSM
Rating: 5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Amazon Nymph

Lyssa thinks that Mike doesn’t want her since he canceled a date with her to take photographs. Mike is starting to realize his job as an undercover agent for the CIA is making a big problem for him, as far as Lyssa is concerned.

In the third book of the Diablo Blanco Club series, Rite of First Claim takes you on an emotional journey that made me cry at times. Mike is frustrated because he has fallen in love with an older woman that feels she is not lovable because of the abuse she endured growing up. The author did a good job showing some of the problems when an undercover agent for a government agency is trying to woo the person they love.

Lyssa wants a child and uses an invitation Mike sent her to attend a Masquerade Ball at the club. A friend of Mike’s let him know Lyssa is there and Mike invokes his claim on her. What follows is a very realistic view of someone who has trouble believing that people will stay around and support her and while the chemistry between the two is scorching, Lyssa fights her submissive nature. The author threw in some twists that created more problems between Mike and Lyssa, but were resolved realistically. The cast of secondary characters from the first two books show up, but while I recommend you read them first, you can enjoy this book by itself. I am looking forward to reading more from Qwillia Rain.

Home for the Holidays

Title: Home for the Holidays
Author: Lori Toland
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publisher URL: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/
ISBN: 978-1-61581-706-1
Genre: {M/M} Contemporary, Holiday
Rating: 4 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

Working and touring in the rock and roll world doesn’t leave much “alone time” for lovers Blaze Shinozuka and Jason Stockton, so they’re looking forward to spending a quiet and relaxing holiday together. The passion and desire swirling between them is still hot and intense and in their happiness, have decided to move in together. Unfortunately, their private vacation time is suddenly cut short with the unexpected arrival of Jason’s family for a surprise holiday get-together, which results in an unpleasant fight with his brother. The strain between them is made worse during an impromptu visit to Blaze’s family in Hawaii where it’s made clear that Blaze’s family, especially his grandmother, isn’t accepting of his sexuality or thrilled with his involvement with Jason. These two are crazy about each other, but it’s possible that the stress of the holidays mixed with their families is just too much for lovers who don’t know each other as well as they thought.

Home for the Holidays is a sequel to The Replacement Guitarist. It’s a sweet and charming holiday read following two guys in the beginnings of their relationship. Ms. Toland did a very nice job expanding their personalities, as well as showing how they interact with both immediate families. It’s a stressful time for both men and it’s expressed nicely, showing the tension and hurt both are experiencing during this difficult time.

The passion and desire between Blaze and Jason is just as intense as before, but spending more time together is giving them the chance to really get to know each other and with that comes some uncertainty and misunderstanding. The family dynamics is well done as is the anger expressed by Jason’s brother and Blaze’s grandmother. I liked seeing how easily Jason’s parents accepted Blaze and some of those scenes had me chuckling out loud. I don’t know if the author has more stories planned for these two interesting men, but I certainly hope so.

A Change of Tune

Title: A Change of Tune
Author: JM Cartwright
Publisher: Torquere Press
Publisher URL: http://www.torquerebooks.com/
ISBN: 978-1-61040-102-9
Genre: {M/M} Contemporary, light BDSM
Rating: 3 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx

After ten years of touring and recording studios, lead singer Johnny Rayne says goodbye to the rock music industry. Buying a farm in West Virginia, Johnny is hoping for anonymity. Making his rounds, Sheriff Virgil Grissom notices the big moving van at the previously vacant farm house. The moment Johnny said hello, Virgil was in lust.

A Change of Tune is a well written story, with a little kinky sex interwoven. The characters are mostly believable. As a rock star, Johnny was accustomed to a staff of people catering to his every whim. He is in denial regarding his sexuality until he is forced to acknowledge his attraction to Virgil. Johnny’s behavior images an idealistic, pampered adolescent when it comes to making life changing decisions; he relies on others to tell him what to do.

Virgil’s persona intimidates people, which is an advantage for his profession. However, he has difficulty demonstrating any sentiment other than lust in a relationship. I did not get the impression of love between Johnny and Virgil, more like friends with benefits. JM Cartwright has created an interesting saga intermingled with humor and mild emotional turmoil, as well as a touch of BDSM.

Sam’s Reviews

Title: Sam’s Reviews
Author: Jan Irving
Publisher: Loose Id
Publisher URL: http://www.loose-id.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60737-900-3
Genre: {M/M}, BDSM, Mystery
Rating: 5 Nymphs
Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

Sam’s life became a living hell after returning from Afghanistan. The only thing that kept him going was the romance novel he was determined to write. When his second book is rejected, Sam spirals back into hell. When his family needs him however, Sam is able to pull himself back together. During the process he meets Tall, the man should be his enemy but instead, becomes his everything.

Fans of author Jan Irving come to expect strong characters as well as strong story lines. Readers will be glad to know that they get just that with her latest release, Sam’s Reviews. The characters are amazing. Sam is an injured war veteran, who has not always adjusted well with his limitations. The way the author portrays Sam, his struggles with overcoming his injuries, substance abuse and caring for his family ring true. Sam is also all top. Tall, however, is an easy-going bottom who happens to be the architect for the new high rise going up in Sam’s downtrodden neighborhood. These two are drawn together from the beginning; you can see the pages heating up with every meeting.

There is also a bit of mystery woven into the story, as someone is out to run Sam and his neighbors from their homes. There are a lot of secondary characters who could fit the bill of bad guy and I must admit that it was the last person I expected.

All in all, this was a good story, both on the romance front and as a mystery. Sam’s Reviews is sure to get Jan Irving many new fans.

What Child is This?

Title: What Child is This?
Author: Z. A. Maxfield
Publisher: Loose Id
Publisher URL: http://www.loose-id.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60737-907-2
Genre: {M/M} Contemporary
Rating: 4 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

It’s taken a bit of planning but Michael finally manages to finagle a weekend alone for him and Tristan at Christmas time. They’ve both been working hard at their respective careers and a little away time from the pressure of the jobs they love will do them both good, giving them a chance to reconnect and strengthen their already tight bond. It might even give them some time to talk about what they want for their future together.

The weekend gets totally derailed with a single phone call from the Apple House, telling Michael that three of the young homeless teens living at the LGBT house have gone missing. When one of the three asks the question of what would happen if they found an abandoned baby and didn’t report it to the police, Michael and Tristan don’t have any choice but to head home to straighten things out.

What Child is This? is a holiday sequel to Crossing Borders and while it would be helpful to have read the initial release where Michael and Tristan fell in love, this book can be read as a standalone without a problem.

I loved seeing Michael and Tristan a little farther along in their life together and that their love for each other is just as rock solid as before, but the story is so much more. It’s really two short Christmas novellas interwoven together with the Apple House and the abandoned child at the center. On the other side is the story of two young men, Prim and Jack, on the cusp of realizing their feeling for one another and their struggle to do what they think is right for the baby they find. On the surface, you wouldn’t think these two different storylines would work together, but never fear, with Ms. Maxfield’s creative talent, they mesh into a story that not only makes sense but pulls convincingly at your heartstrings. It doesn’t have a typical Christmas fairy tale ending but it is a satisfying and enjoyable holiday read, nonetheless. Enjoy.

Afterlife

Title: Afterlife
Author: Joey W. Hill
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Publisher URL: http://www.jasminejade.com/
ISBN: 9781419930959
Genre: {F/F}, {M/F/M/M/M} {M/F}, Ménage + more, BDSM,
Rating: Golden Blush Award
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Amazon Nymph

Rachel feels unloved, ugly and has walled her true self inside since her divorce and the death of her son. Jon has been watching and waiting for the right time to make her his.

Wow! The author keeps you on a roller coaster of emotions and sexual heat that factor into Afterlife. My heart kept pounding as Jon made Rachel face her fears because I could identify with a lot of what she was going through. I felt in a lot of ways I was Rachel waiting for someone to really understand her. Jon had so much patience even though sometimes he got very frustrated with Rachel.

The men from Kensington & Associates support each other and go out of their way to help Jon in his quest to make Rachel understand he is there for the long haul, despite their age difference. In the fourth book of the Knights of the Board Room series, the men enlist their wives to help Jon try to break through Rachel’s walls. The incident with her ex brings things to a head and I felt that the author had a wonderful grasp of what it took to make Rachel finally face the fact that she was a beautiful and lovable woman.

Afterlife is also somewhat of a textbook in learning some of the basics within BDSM, though this was more about the submissive/slave side of serving a Master. Ms. Hill did a wonderful job weaving the elements together in the story. The secondary characters were an intricate part and I can’t wait for Ben’s story. This book can be read alone, though you will get the most enjoyment reading the first three in order. Be aware that books two and three are in print. I, for one, will be reading this series again.

Hidden Heart

Title: Hidden Heart
Author: Thom Lane
Publisher: Loose Id
Publisher URL: http://www.loose-id.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60737-892-1
Genre: {M/M} BDSM Fantasy Paranormal
Rating: 4.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Scandalous Minx

Tiffin had no recollection of his past. His present and future have been spelt out clearly to him. He is a slave boy. The brand on his arm and collar around his neck make that clear to everyone around him, as does his state of undress. Being sold to a fortress that none have a kind word to speak of doesn’t make his life seem as if it will get better. But meeting Sergeant Zander adds hope to his dismal existence. Tiffin is prepared to do what is necessary to stay on his Sergeant’s good side, but his past holds something dark that could ruin Tiffin’s chances at the Sergeant and bring about a quick demise. What is a slave boy to do?

Hidden Heart is Thom Lane’s latest installment in the Tales of Amaranth series. Tiffin’s tale made me ache for him. While, for the most part, he took his predicament as well as could be expected, there were those brief moments where his grief could not be batted away like an annoying fly.

What I’ve come to see in the men who claim these slaves is that while they may not be all candy and roses, they have a deep desire to claim and protect what is theirs. They try to work within the rules set forth by the classes when they deal with their lovers, but make it clear that they care for them. Sergeant Zander is no different. While his occupation, appearance and background are different from the past men, his desire to protect his lover is the same. He seemed to fight the attraction a great deal less and was unwilling to let Tiffin slip through his fingers.

I’ve come to enjoy reading these tales. They aren’t your average love story. You have to look within the characters to see the connection and appreciate the bonds that are formed.

Roped Into You

Title: Roped Into You
Author: Marie Rochelle
Publisher: Phaze Books
Publisher URL: http://www.phaze.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60659-573-2
Genre: {M/F} Contemporary, Western, Interracial
Rating: 4 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Amethyst Nymph

A new career was just the change Leila Hilson’s life needed. Her love of children helped her decide upon being a live-in nanny. With the help of her brother, Leila lands a position with a rancher who has an eight-year old daughter. She’s nervous about leaving her family for the unknown, but Leila is positive things will work out. After meeting her new boss, Leila is positive that she can’t load up her luggage and get away from the horrible man fast enough.

Clayton Moore is a widower, who loves his daughter more than anything in the world. If he could keep the little girl happy and protected on their isolated ranch without another soul, Clayton gladly would. After a fiasco with the last nanny, Clayton hopes that Leila is the right woman for the job. In less than five minutes of meeting her, Clayton is torn between tossing her off his property and tossing her into his bed.

Getting off on the wrong foot doesn’t stop the attraction from growing between Clayton and Leila. However, the intrusion of other people and their boss-employee status does cause a few stumbling blocks for Leila and Clayton. Leila put up a good fight but once Clayton made up his mind, it was a done deal. Clayton’s daughter, Sam, was such a cutie that I wanted to take her under my wing. It moved me to see the changes that Leila made in Sam’s life. Never underestimate the power of a woman’s touch. Clayton was a wonderful father, but he certainly needed some guidance. That man is one doable daddy who found his match in Leila. She held her own and turned out to be made of stronger stuff than I originally thought. There are a few supporting characters in this story who add an element of unexpected danger and a twist that could lead to another story. Marie Rochelle has created another happily-ever-after romance, with a family appeal. If you have never read a Marie Rochelle story, Roped Into You is a great one to start with.

Uncaged

Title: Uncaged
Author: Kiernan Kelly
Publisher: Torquere Press
Publisher URL: http://www.torquerebooks.com/
ISBN: 978-1-61040-129-6
Genre: {M/M} Shape-shifters
Rating: 5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx

Gorilla-shifter Kong really hates cages. So when Dakota and his mate, Jax, fly in from Wyoming to the rescue, Kong is really grateful. Meanwhile, Reporter Derek MacCaffrie has a lead on a possible shifter living in the wilds of Wyoming. When Kong decides to leave Shifting Sands Ranch, he comes upon a house bordered by woods. Kong also discovers the wonderful scent of a human like none he has ever encountered before. Unable to resist, Kong enters the house to meet Derek who promptly faints dead away upon seeing a gorilla sitting on the other side the room.

Uncaged is the third book in the superb In Their Own Skins series. Previous books consist of Shifting Sands and Mark of Cain. Three bonus shapeshifter short stories included with the book are Glitter Palms, Divinity Park and Killer Love.

In this installment, the residents of the Shifting Sands Ranch are publicly exposed. It is up to Alpha wolf Jax and bear Dakota to fight for the rights of shifters, along with keeping their family together. The plot illustrates all the unsavory sides of humanity when people are presented with diversity of any kind. Fame and fortune is the main motivators with a side dish of constraining anyone out of the ordinary. The characters are believable. Rather than suffer rejection from humans, as well as other shifters, Kong spends most of his time as a gorilla or adopts strange behaviors when in human form. However, underneath his façade, Kong is a considerate man. Derek is also a considerate man, when he realizes writing an exposé on the shifters may cost him Kong’s affection. Derek’s priorities immediately change, once he comprehends the magnitude of damage his story could cause. Uncaged is humorous, psychologically stimulating in addition to being heartwarming. The gifted Kiernan Kelly has added another extraordinary installment to this exceedingly enjoyable series.

Veiled Deception

Title: Veiled Deception
Author: Amy J. Romine
Publisher: eXtasy Books
Publisher URL: http://extasybooks.com/
ISBN: 978-1-55487-737-9
Genre: {M/F} Suspense, Thriller
Rating: 4.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Goddess Minx

It has been more than a month and Eric Stiles and Rebecca Gailen are still trying to recover from the deep trauma of having a stalker torment her, almost continually, for days. When the stalker wasn’t leaving revolting gifts for her, he was murdering women who favored her and that had Rebecca feeling guilty for their unnecessary brutal deaths.

As the two of them get back to their jobs and work on building a relationship they hope will last, Rebecca is starting to have feelings of dread and wondering if her life is really her own. Eric is forced to cancel an important appointment he has with Rebecca and that may contribute to a chain reaction that will change their lives forever.

Veiled Deception is quite a title and is the second installment in the Trust Me series. I thought that the first book revealed a lot of information on the villain, but I had an eye opener while reading this story. It shows a working love between the two main characters and tells of how much they are willing to go through to keep it.

Ms. Romaine has wowed me again with her generous way of spinning a suspenseful story of a villain who refuses to be stopped. She kept the identity of the true villain until almost the end of this book and I thought for sure it was a totally different person. Let me say here that I was not disappointed at all, and was thrilled at the generosity of the two main characters. If you are looking for a good book, I say read and enjoy.

The O'Brien Way

Title: The O'Brien Way
Author: Carol Lynne
Publisher: Total E-Bound
Publisher URL: http://www.total-e-bound.com/
ISBN: 978-0-85715-371-5
Genre: {M/M} Contemporary
Rating: 4 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

At one time, William ‘Moby’ Haines was one of the hottest male strippers in Vegas and he had all the money, men and freedom he could want. That all changed with the death of his father, forcing him to return home to Sheridan Wyoming to help care for his mother. Without much in the way of options for earning a living, he takes a job at O’Brien’s Pub, a forty-five minute commute from home in hopes of making a better life for himself and his mom.

Sean O’Brien’s been burned before and, despite his attraction to his new employee, has no intention of getting involved with Moby. His customers, on the other hand, have no problem showing their interest in the sexy man, making Sean see red at the disrespectful way they treat him. Sean’s ready to set everyone straight and if that means openly claiming Moby for himself, he’s more than ready to do it.

The O’Brien Way is release twenty-one in Carol Lynne’s ongoing Cattle Valley series and it’s another winner. Even though Sean’s been a resident of Cattle Valley for a while, we haven’t gotten to know him until this release and his family background is a real eye opener. So to is the family that Moby grew up in – a controlling homophobic father and a mother made to feel worthless by her husband. These two men have so much emotional baggage that it’s amazing either one could ever have a successful relationship. Yet, Ms. Lynne uses her creative talent and flair, along with a few interesting twists and turns, to bring them out on the other side stronger – and more importantly together.

I love the passion and desire between Sean and Moby but I also appreciate the new and changing relationship between Moby and his mother. After so many years of having his father stand between them, they now had the chance at the kind of mother/son bond they’d both always wanted. Add to this Sean, who’d never had a mother, and you have a truly tender but heart wrenching plot point that can bring a tear to your eye. It’s also nice seeing a few of the familiar characters from previous releases popping in and out. I can’t wait to see what happens with the next release Ghost from the Past featuring Rio.

Mating Season

Title: Mating Season
Author: Brenna Lyons
Publisher: Loose Id
Publisher URL: http://www.loose-id.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60737-898-3
Genre: {M/F}, BDSM, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Rating: 5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Amazon Nymph

Zondra is looking for a dominant to help sate her quickening and she doesn’t want an Xxan male. She meets Evan Duncan at a club on base and decides he will do.

In the second book of the Xxan War series, Mating Season brings to light some of the societal mores since the war between the Xxan and humans ended. However, most of the book is related to the mating of an Xxan female and human, which has never been done. I found the process that the author created absolutely fascinating. Do keep ice on hand as things get hot and heavy between Zondra and Duncan.

A further complication within the book is the issue of relationships and ranks that also have strict restrictions within the military. I had to laugh about the reaction Duncan had when he ended up striking an admiral. Because of the situation between Zondra and Duncan, it was overlooked, which would never have happened regardless of the circumstances in today’s military. There was also an additional complication because Zondra also happened to be the Xxan’s leader’s granddaughter.

I felt the author also addressed the issue of interracial couples when one partner is from a minority. Though the Xxan have been on Earth for decades, there is still a lot of prejudice against them. The author handled the situation with Zondra and Duncan beautifully, though you are left knowing that nothing has really been resolved about the prejudices against the Xxan.

This book can be read by itself and I, for one, will be reading it again.