The Prize

Title:  The Prize

Author:  Ashe Barker

Publisher:  Totally Bound

Publisher URL:  www.totallybound.com

ISBN/BIN:  978-1-78651-122-5

Genre: {M/F/M}, BDSM, Contemporary

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Jessie wins a raffle that entitles her to one free month at the Vivant Club.  Along with the membership, she gets to have a night with two of the Doms in the club.  What she gets is Mark and Greg.

The Prize is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I really enjoyed her knowledge of the subject matter.  This is a fast-paced intense story about the first night Jessie claims her prize. The Vivant Club is an exclusive BDSM club that caters to some very wealthy people and has some very stringent requirements. I loved the butler and Jessie’s reaction to him.

Jessie is very surprised when she first arrives at the club.  Once she finishes the paperwork, she meets Greg and Mark. The scenes and chemistry between the three are very intense.  Both Doms are very knowledgeable and no-nonsense about what they want from Jessie. 

In the future, I would like to know more about the Vivant Club and possibly what happens to Jessie, Greg, and Mark after this first night.  I will be reading The Prize again in the future.  

Readers should be aware that this book was part the His Domain anthology by Totally Bound.

Corian: Ragadon Desire

Title:  Corian: Ragadon Desire

Author:  Kymber Rowean

Publisher:  eXtasy Books

Publisher URL:  www.extasybooks.com

ISBN/BIN:  978-1-4874-0793-3

Genre: {M/F/M}, Ménage, Paranormal, Sci-Fi

Rating:  4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Nierra is a Corian, one of the ‘promised ones.  She is taken by the Confederacy, but until she is mated, they keep her on a short leash.  Nierra is very surprised when it turns out she has two mates, not one, and that they are dragons.

Corian: Ragadon Desire is the first book I’ve read by Kymber Rowean.  I do hope there will be more stories in the future about this world.  I do have to say when I first started reading this book, it was slow and I got a little confused because of the way it started.  There wasn’t a whole lot about this universe and it wasn’t until a third of the way into the book that things started to make sense.  Things do jump around between what is going on with Brok, Colin and Nierra.

General Dolvechz is the man that is keeping Nierra, along with others, prisoner. The General is a very cruel man and has plans to escape the Confederacy since he has lost power because Nierra hasn’t mated in the years she has been a prisoner.  Lots of other characters help the story along, both good and bad.  There are so many twists in this book once you get past the first part. 

Sabotage and intrigue abound as Nierra, Brok, Colin and others try to escape Dolvechz and his manipulations, especially since he is also being hunted.  There are a few light-hearted moments toward the end, and some people are reunited with family.  I did love the ending. 

As I stated above, I would like to read about some of the other characters in the future and hope the author turns this into a series as several threads need answering.

You Belong to Me

Title:  You Belong to Me

Author:  Megan Slayer

Publisher:  Loose Id LLC

Publisher URL:  www.loose-id.com

ISBN/BIN:  978-1-68252-075-8

Genre: {M/M/F}, Ménage, Paranormal, Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Ava escapes from the rogues and ends up with Joachim and Padraig.  In the battle that has heated up, Ava was rescued and has been enlisted in the fight.  She has also been informed by the Sources that she is going to end up with two mates.

You Belong to Me is the third book in the Battle Scarred series.  Joachim and Padraig have been friends forever, it seems. They finally realize the depth of their feelings for each other, after meeting Ava.  They both suspect she is their mate, but some of the signs are slow to come.  Only after a visit to Padraig by the Sources, and a confession by Ava, does the bond manifest itself for the three of them.

Ava, Joachim and Padraig end up going through several trials before they can breathe and trust their bond will hold.  Once they realize it will, they waste no time in finalizing their bond.

As new information about the rogues is revealed, questions abound about them and exactly what they want.  New allies are made among those that are trying to survive.  Several things happened that solidify the alliance among those gathered at the mansion.  The author added new characters as well as several twists and turns.  Things are heating up even more and it looks like there will be more surprises before it ends.  I’m looking forward to the next story. 

Readers should be aware this book was previously published by another publisher, but has been revised for Loose Id.

Centerfold

Title:  Centerfold

Author:  Kris Norris

Publisher:  Totally Bound

Publisher URL:  www.totallybound.com

ISBN/BIN:  9781784303938

Genre:  {M/M/F},  Suspense

Rating: 5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Scarlet is trying to live down her undercover assignment, only to find out that she has to resurrect it due to several murders.  Her former partner, Roman, shows up with his partner, Aiden, to head up the investigation and act as her bodyguards. 

Centerfold is an intense suspense story, as well as a hot love story, with some twists that I did not see coming.  There were a few light hearted moments, especially when they were required to participate in sex games.  The fact that the owner of the magazine had guessed they were cops was not a surprise though they were in the story.

I thought Scarlet was justified in being upset with Roman, especially the way he left.  I would have liked him to come clean about his relationship with Aiden and the fact that both men had fallen in love with her.  There were some interesting times while they tried to get Scarlet to forgive them, especially since they kept getting interrupted and having to playact.  The author also showcased some of the issues that happen in relationships for those in law enforcement.

I was surprised by who the villain ended up being and the reason for the murders.  The way the author ended the storyline was extremely intense and interesting, as it could have gone in several directions.  She kept it right to the storyline. 

This was the first book I have read by Kris Norris and it won’t be my last.  This is one to be read again.  Readers also need to be aware that Centerfold was previously published but has been expanded and revised.

Inked (Box Set)

Title:  Inked (Box Set)

Author:  Kate Hill

Publisher:  Changeling Press

Publisher URL:  www.changelingpress.com

ISBN/BIN:  07233-02331

Genre:  {M/F, M/M, M/M/F}, Ménage, Bisexual, Paranormal

Rating:  4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Rough Waters - 4.5 Nymphs

Samantha finds herself on a yacht with vampires.  Geoffrey thinks she was brought there to make him break his fast on drinking blood.  What happens when they can’t keep their hands off each other?

Cactus Juice - 4 Nymphs

Eric and Adrian meet in the middle of the desert.  Eric is willing to set down roots with Adrian, but is concerned due to Adrian’s insistence that there is no paranormal world.  Until Adrian can accept that, they may not have a future.

Mountain Men - 4.5 Nymphs

Lydia laughs at the notion that someone can have a loving ménage.  That is until she is transported to a tangle involving Jay and Kaelen. 

Climax - 4 Nymphs 

Damon was cursed by his order for falling in love with Angela.  Until he finished his punishment, he couldn’t get back to her.  What he didn’t know about was what they did to Angela.

The Inked Box Set is part of the Mate Marks series by Kate Hill.  All these stories have been published before. 

Damon was a Midlord that could bring soul mates together.  Once he found his own soul mate, he discovered that he would not be allowed to leave his order.  He was tattooed and told once those tattoos brought together those destined to be soul mates, he could leave and pursue Angela.

The first three stories involve the last three tattoos Damon has.  Mountain Men is also related to the last story as that triad actually help him get Angela back.  Each story is interesting in its own way and the relationships are very intense.  

I have not read this series yet, but am looking forward to after reading these stories.  This will be one to re-read.

My Wicked Masters

Title:  My Wicked Masters

Author:  Ann Mayburn

Publisher:  Loose Id LLC

Publisher URL:  www.loose-id.com

ISBN/BIN:  978-1-62300-332-6

Genre: {M/M/F}, Ménage, BDSM

Rating:  5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Master Rory and Master Liam are thinking of parting ways because of some personal issues when Rhiannon asks them to train her.  They realize that Rhiannon is actually a very vulnerable submissive that gives an icy face to the public.  As they go forward, whose heart may be broken?

My Wicked Masters is the fourth book in the Club Wicked series and I think the author outdid herself with this one.  Lots of readers have been waiting to hear Liam’s and Rory’s story, though I would never have seen them paired with Rhiannon.

Rhiannon’s life story may cause triggers in some readers and the author allowed Rhiannon to actually trigger herself in several places in the story.  This is actually a critical part of the story, as it shows how someone that has been abused and wants to life a BDSM lifestyle can do so as long as their Master is aware and takes things slowly.  Both men are very careful about how they treat her, but at the same time, don’t let her get away with things that she shouldn’t.

Part of the story conflict is actually Liam’s and Rory’s relationship, as they have been friends for years.  They had an encounter with each other twelve years ago, but Liam has basically been in denial about that part of himself.  As they train Rhiannon, things come to ahead between them, though both know they need to resolve the issue if they are going to keep Rhiannon for themselves.

The chemistry between the three is very intense and I loved the final scene at Club Wicked.  Several secondary characters threw obstacles in the way, but issues between Rhiannon and Sally were finally resolved.  When Rhiannon realized she actually had friends, several relationships between a few of the characters changed as she started to open up.

One great thing about this book is that communication is showcased in this story.  If a submissive has triggers, they need to let the Dom know as there can be disastrous consequences if that is not communicated.  My Wicked Masters brings this issue to the forefront in a wonderful story.  

This series doesn’t need to be read in order, but I highly recommend readers do.  I am looking forward to more about Club Wicked.

Diagnosis Pleasure

Title:   Diagnosis Pleasure

Author:  Tonya Ramagos

Publisher:  Siren Bookstrand

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

ISBN/BIN:  978-1-62740-682-6

Genre:  {M/F/M}, Light BDSM, Series

Rating:  4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

April can’t forget the two men she spent one night with over a year ago.  After being in Horn Hill a month, she runs into Rick and Adam again. They pick up where they left off with a few bumps along the way, one of which is her job.

The seventh book in The Service Club series, Diagnosis Pleasure, brings April to Horn Hill after she left her job in Birmingham, because of the hostile atmosphere.  She takes her new job very seriously and doesn’t want to jeopardize her reputation.

Rick runs into April at the store, then has her follow him home.  Adam and Rick can’t believe this is the woman they haven’t been able to get out of their mind for a year.  They realize they have their work cut out for them if they want to keep her in their lives.  When they get together, the chemistry is intense between them.

April runs across a similar situation in Horn Hill like the one that forced her to leave Birmingham.  There is one major difference that gives April a lot of relief about her future.  A couple of secondary characters help with the situation, but I couldn’t believe what the one person did especially under the circumstances for the farmer. 

I recommend readers read the series in order to get the most out of it.  This is one book in the series that can be read alone, though.  I am looking forward to reading more about The Service Club and Horn Hill.

Genetic Attraction

Title:  Genetic Attraction

Author:  Tara Lain

Publisher:  Loose Id

Publisher URL:  www.loose-id.com

ISBN/BIN:  978-1-60737-924-9

Genre:  {M/M/F}, Ménage and Polyamory, Contemporary, Series

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Jake and Roan get Emmaline to come home with them and spend the weekend.  Both men talk to her about moving in with them, but she is worried about how this will affect her work.  She also thinks she is way too old for them.

The second book in the Genetic Attraction series, Genetic Attraction, starts a few months after The Scientist and the Supermodel ends with Jake and Roan in their new house.  Jake and Emmaline finally confess their mutual attraction and she finds out that Jake is bisexual.  The author does a good job with the angst that Emmaline goes through regarding her job and starting a relationship with a colleague that is younger than her.  She also takes a look at how society views polyamorous relationships. as well. This book also takes a look at some of the double standards that apply to successful women and men.

I had to laugh at the matchmaking attempts of some of the older professors when the new professor arrived.  I loved the way Genetic Attraction ended, especially since some historical facts were used. 

I am looking forwards to the next book in this series.  The way the first two books flowed together, readers need to read this series in order.    

Legacy

Title: Legacy

Author: Pat Cunningham

Publisher: Siren -Bookstrand

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

ISBN/BIN: 1-61926-314-9

Genre: {M/M/F}, Paranormal, Sequel

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph 

Colleen needs a man but the attraction she feels for one of her student’s uncles can come to nothing after she finds out he’s already married, to a man.  When it turns out that someone, or something, is out to get Colleen, Jeremy and Wallace are there to rescue her.  However, Colleen’s not sure how to handle it when she finds out the men’s secret. 

Legacy is the sequel to Ms. Cunningham’s Belonging.  I was unsure how I would like this story as I did not want anyone coming between Jeremy and Wallace. The way the author weaves the story though canceled my concerns.  The attraction between Colleen and Jeremy is strong from their first meeting; in fact, they are literally drawn to each other.  I was curious how Wallace would handle the obvious attraction between the two.  Not only does the big vampire not have a problem with Colleen joining their flock, but he wouldn’t mind having some time with her himself.  The author did a wonderful job bringing these three together.  The passion that flares between them, regardless of how unwanted in the beginning, is beyond hot.  The story is not only about their relationship, however.   

Colleen is being stalked and they don’t know why.  As the story unfolds, there are many twists and turns, one of which I did not see coming.  As Colleen’s past comes to light, it is easy to see why it was something she wished to hide from.  The way the author chose to end the story made me smile and left me wondering if there was going to be yet another book set in this world. 

Readers should know that it is very necessary to read the first book, Belonging, before starting this one.

Love’s Surrender

Title:  Love’s Surrender

Author:  Samantha Kane

Publisher:  Ellora’s Cave

Publisher URL:  www.jasminejade.com

ISBN: 9781419937460

Genre:  {M/M/F}, Historical, Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph 

Vanessa accidentally came across Nick and Oliver, trying to seduce a young woman in the hall.  Both men pursued her after they realized she caught them and Vanessa fell in love with them. 

The latest installment of the Brothers In Arms series, Love’s Surrender, was not as emotionally catching as the others.  It started a little slow for me, but picked up the pace toward the end.  The author brought out a lot of the expectations faced by those families with titles.  The author did a good job showing that, especially at the end when Vanessa had to make a choice. 

The scene between the three is hot.  A lot of emotions were shown.  The secondary characters from the previous books were mentioned and the societal mores explored.  I had to admire the young man Vanessa’s father brought home for her to marry.  I actually felt sorry for him, especially after he talked with Vanessa.  I found the ending of this book interesting because of the way proposals seem to be carried out.  One thing that was clear was the dowry of a woman when she got married.  The father placed conditions on it, which Nick had to meet before he would actually give permission.   

I have enjoyed this series.  While some stories can be read by themselves, the reader will get much more enjoyments reading them in order as you learn about the various men and how Waterloo affected them.

Prisoner of Love

Title:  Prisoner of Love

Author:  Samantha Kane

Publisher:  Ellora’s Cave

Publisher URL:  www.jasminejade.com

ISBN: 9781419933479

Genre:  {M/M/F}, Historical, Series

Rating:  4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph 

Michael ran from the commitment he was afraid of with Veronica (Very) and Wolf.  Very and Wolf finally decide to get married and hope that Michael will return to them. 

In the eighth book in the Brothers In Arms series, Prisoner of Love brings an emotional intensity that will keep the reader on their toes.  The author created a suspenseful story that had me in tears in some places, and wanting to slap Michael myself at times.  There is a twist toward the end that sort of had me going “what?” but once the explanation was given, it made perfect sense.   

The chemistry between Very and Wolf scorches the pages, then when Michael returns, ramps the heat up even more.  Feelings of betrayal must be overcome but the creative way the author resolved it was fun for all involved.   

One thing that the author did was try to show how traumatic events can affect a person, especially someone that has been sheltered.  Very chose an interesting way to resolve her issue, and then turned around to help one of her friends while she did.  Several characters from other books showed up to help and give support to the main characters, and one secondary character made an interesting reappearance.  I am looking forward to the next book.

Love Under Siege

Title:  Love Under Siege

Author:  Samantha Kane

Publisher:  Ellora’s Cave

Publisher URL:   www.jasminejade.com

ISBN:  9781419956270

Genre:  {M/M/F}, Ménage, Historical, Series

Rating:  4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph 

Phillip and Jonathan have known each other since they were in school, and then purchased commissions together in the military.  Both fell in love with Maggie. Maggie married Phillip, not realizing that both Phillip and Jonathan wanted to be her husbands in a relationship.  During the time that Maggie comes to terms with what both men want, several things happen that make her question her decision about the future. 

The second installment of the Brothers In Arms series is intense and brings some of the characters from the first book, as well as some new secondary characters that add to the story.  Love Under Siege continues the threat from a man all are familiar with, due to his actions in a dual and his revenge against this group of men.  The series also encompasses a lot of men that served together under one commander during wartime.  Part of the salvation of the men was that, as pairs, they shared a woman and were also lovers.  

Some of Maggie’s angst is how she feels about the society she is a part of.  She knows that her reputation will be in shreds among the ton if she chooses to do as Phillip and Jonathan wants.  I can understand some of Maggie’s feelings as she has grown up in a very rigid society with very stringent rules of behavior.  Any deviation could ruin a reputation or family.   

I will warn you right now that the scenes between the three are so hot, they scorch the page.  Keep ice and fans on hand as you will need them while reading this book.  I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.  I will also be reading this again.

Dirty Thirty

Title: Dirty Thirty
Author: Cara McKenna
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Publisher URL: http://www.jasminejade.com/
ISBN: 9781419929885
Genre: {M/F} {M/M} {M/M/F} Contemporary
Rating: 4.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Scandalous Minx

Sometimes wishes do come true…

Evan is on the eve of living out his fantasy, thanks to some excellent champagne, that thing his lover does that drives him wild, and his loose tongue. He’s fortunate to have the type of wife that enjoys giving gifts that he will never forget. Apprehension dulls to a whisper when Margie decides that Paul Seeto will be the perfect person to help deliver his present. Paul’s stature and reputation precede him. The intimidating piece of eye candy is desired by those who frequent the establishment where he serves as a bouncer.

Will Evan get more than he bargained for?

Margie is a caring thoughtful wife, secure in her relationship with Evan. They don’t have an open marriage, which made her gift to him much more precious. Her intuition gives Evan the sexual experiences, which keeps him from straying.

Evan is a versatile lover with the ability to rock his wife’s world. Understanding how Evan’s submissive side morphed over the years from anxiety to straight kink increased my desire to watch Paul play with them. Paul’s dominance pushed the buttons of both husband and wife and under his tutelage, the couple was beautifully submissive.

While Paul does make the scenes hot, he serves more as an accent than a distraction. During the play Margie and Evan enjoyed the events while focusing on their connection. Their love, devotion, and need for one another were never far from the surface.

The story wasn’t just about sex. It was about the love that drives you to keep your mate happy and the trust needed to express your true desires. Those looking for a sensual novel need look no further.

Embracing the Tiger

Title: Embracing the Tiger
Author: Daisy Dexter Dobbs
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Publisher URL: http://www.jasminejade.com/
ISBN: 9781419929137
Genre: {M/M/F} Fantasy, Ménage
Rating: 3.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Scandalous Minx

Princess Aladee is the prisoner of the bloodthirsty tyrant Tordanuk. On a daily basis, the evil sorceress, Shivrane makes her life miserable. But she draws strength from the two Guardians of Zalvanus, Bax’Taran the Brave and Yevlor the Swift, who share in her fate.

There seems to be no way out of the prison, but Shivrane’s own curse will be used as the weapon to help them finally regain their freedom. Their freedom brings hope for a better future for themselves and all of mankind.

Embracing the Tiger is the third story in the Valiant Hearts series. The three have endured pain and suffering that most would have succumb to but thanks to the guardian training and the princess’ determination, their wills would not be broken. Their time imprisoned has given the three an opportunity to develop feelings for one another. The action scenes drew me in and had me thirsty for purple blood, while the erotic encounters between Aladee and her men are written with passion and as a testament to how deeply their love flows. There was one scene where I couldn’t understand how the men thought Aladee would be safer without them by her side. It boggled the mind for a moment, because the enemy was everywhere and relentless. But thankfully they saw the error of their thoughts before it was too late. I found Embracing the Tiger to be an interesting addition to the series and look forward to reading the next release.

Heaven

Title: Heaven
Author: Belinda McBride
Publisher: Changeling Press
Publisher URL: http://www.changelingpress.com/
ISBN: 978-1-59596-919-4
Genre: {M/F, M/M, M/M/F} Dark Fantasy, Interracial
Rating: 4 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Scandalous Minx

Dr. Noemi Gastineau knows Rex and Rion complete her and is ready to build a future with them. Unfortunately, she finds herself trapped in a remote location with no way to return to her lovers. She is unable to feed her succubus and Azrael, the Angel of Death, has orders to end her existence. Will Noemi find a way back to her men before Azrael is able to inflict his lethal blow?

Belinda McBride’s Heaven is the third story in the Bad Angels series. We travel to a few continents in this latest installment, and Ms. McBride transitions to each new location effortlessly. Noemi coped well with all the revelations about her past, and her succubus and angel alter egos. Centuries of abuse, neglect, and loneliness took their toll on Noemi. And while most would have wallowed in pity, Noemi made each experience add strength to her determination and character. Wanting to share her life with Rion and Rex and missing her two lovers was a natural reaction, once you remember the true origin of both men. They make a fantastic ménage and create sizzling sensual scenes in the bedroom.

The ending leads me to believe there is either more to come in the series or there will be a spinoff soon to follow. If you enjoy paranormal romances with action, suspense and passionate erotic encounters, then you don’t want to miss Heaven.

Last Flight of the Ark

Title: Last Flight of the Ark
Author: D.L. Jackson
Publisher: Liquid Silver Books
Publisher URL: http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/
ISBN: 978-1-59578-675-3
Genre: {M/F} Science Fiction, Ménage
Rating: 4 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Goddess Minx

Colonel Kaleb Titan is piloting the Genesis I, aka the Ark. He is a molecular geneticist and in charge of the two woman crew on a mission to transform a planet into one suitable for human habitation. On the last leg of the trip, about twelve hours from arriving at their destination, the women are awake and hostile and he is bitten. They are forced to go through a genetically-altering gamma radiation cloud at the time and there are changes in him. The first thing Kaleb finds different about himself after being bitten is that he has a better sense of smell, and all he wants to do is have sex with his two crew members…..together. These two ladies have been trying for the last eight months to get his attention, and now it might be more than they can handle.

With the early arrival of their sister ship, Kaleb’s sixth sense kicks in and he realizes that there will be trouble with the Genesis II. When he gets a whiff of the visiting crew, he knows everything is not what it should be, and he begins to take steps to find out what is wrong. What he discovers is that the other crew are allergic to the canines on his ship, and he must get to the bottom of exactly what is going on. The steps that he is forced to take is to ensure that the crew of the Genesis II are kept from further danger by the hijackers. It leaves him questioning his actions, morals and everything else he does. Thanks to his crewmates, who work to keep him centered, he is able to take command of the mission and get everyone onto the planet safely.

Last Flight of the Ark left me excited and wanting to read more about the characters of this story. I am impressed with the talent of D.L. Jackson, because of the creativity of the story, and the in-depth details given of the city on Terra II. It seemed that the hijackers were so sure of themselves by taking over planets and with the fact that they thought no one would figure out what they were up. Kaleb being a scientist knew something wasn’t right, and it had him thinking about how he was going to able to find the problem. The efforts he took to preserve everyone’s well being were foremost, and he wanted to salvage the trip.

This is truly a fascinating book, and l hope that there will be more written about some of the secondary characters. They really need a story told of their survival of change and bonding together. Read and enjoy!

Painted Lady

Title: Painted Lady
Author: Roxy Harte
Publisher: Loose Id
Publisher URL: http://www.loose-id.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60737-515-9
Genre: {M/F/M} Multicultural Historical
Rating: 5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Scandalous Minx

Lucy Bowman didn’t know how treacherous traveling the Oregon Trail could be until she loses her owners to sickness. The promise of freedom is quickly washed away and with no protector, Lucy is left to the mercy of the wagon master.

Daniel “Dangerous Dan” Hatch has straddled the fence a time or two. While he tries to be law-abiding, things don’t always work in his favor. When Dan sees Lucy, he knows there’s a beauty lurking under all those layers of trail dust. While Lucy appreciates the handsome outlaw’s assistance, she has no desire to once more become a slave.

The two part ways after arriving in California and Lucy soon discovers making her way isn’t going to be easy. The change of venue allows Lucy to meet the newly appointed sheriff, Rages Like Thunder and presents an opportunity of a lifetime. Lucy purchases a local brothel and begins to live a life she never dreamed possible.

Will she find love or has her long journey hardened her outlook on commitment?

Painted Lady takes us on the adventure of Lucy Bowman, a slave traveling across the plains. Thunder, Lucy, and Dan are all fascinating characters. Each brings a different element to this story, creating a balance that would be missing without all three. We watch the characters change over the course of this story. Their views and desires were tested throughout the tale.

Neither man treated Lucy with what we would recognize as a traditional type of love, but they loved her in their own way and to the best of their abilities. Their actions and words made me question their emotional connection to Lucy at times. Soon, I saw the coldness as a means to protect their hearts and a way to come to terms with wanting what they felt was unobtainable.

The setting is picturesque and harsh, depicting the real struggle of settlers with a desire for change. Ms. Harte’s imagery sucks you into each setting. I could feel the dust in my throat and hear the patter of rain on a tin roof. The characters, both primary and secondary, were believable and well written. Action, suspense, and heated erotic moments are just the tip of the iceberg for this brilliantly written story. If you take nothing else away, you’ll remember the importance of never giving up on your dream. Painted Lady has cemented itself on my favorite books list and I look forward to reading more of Ms. Harte’s works in the near future.

Wicked Sexy

Title: Wicked Sexy
Author: R.G. Alexander
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Publisher URL: http://www.samhainpublishing.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60504-887-1
Genre: [M/F/M] Contemporary Paranormal Ménage
Rating: 3.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Mystical Nymph

Growing up in foster homes left Callie with a deep desire for a family of her own and the closest she’s ever come is being with the family of her best friend, Harrison Abbott. The Abbott’s have the kind of warm, caring and loving relationship Callie’s always craved and never experienced. They’re also powerful witches called Magians. Someone’s killing young female witches during the Triune ritual, which is where they find their two mates. When the Abbotts need her human perspective to discover the killer, she’s more than willing to help, even if it means putting herself in danger and dealing with her friend’s two brothers, Tyghe and Tucker.

Playing the part of a distant Abbott cousin brings Callie fully into the magical life Harrison and her family inhabit. Callie expects to be dazzled by their glitz and powerful world, but she doesn’t expect the blistering hot passion that ignites with the barest of touches from Tyghe and Tucker. The inferno of desire threatens to consume them and reawakens a decades old secret that could get her killed.

Wicked Sexy is the first release in R.G. Alexander’s new series, Wicked³. It’s a fast paced look into the magical world of the Abbott family. It contains a nice blend of paranormal and fantasy, with a healthy dose of lust, passion and desire mixed in.

Callie’s friendship with Harrison is nicely detailed, giving a good feeling of how important the Abbott family is to her life. The unexpected attraction between Tyghe and Callie was handled nicely, as was their first physical intimacy. Think blistering hot…even with a fan. Then later add in Tucker to make their threesome complete and the passion rockets skyward into the stratosphere.

I enjoyed the suspense portion of the story, and was pleased it didn’t overpower what was going on between Callie, Tucker and Tyghe. I must admit the identity of the villain surprised me. The explanation of why the killing occurred was handled well but I felt the resolution came a little quickly and would have benefited by being a little longer. Actually, a longer length would have benefited character development, since I never got a good handle on what made Tucker and Tyghe tick.

Coming Home

Title: Coming Home
Author: Ava Rose Johnson
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Publisher URL: http://samhainpublishing.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60504-895-6
Genre: {M/M}, {M/F}, {M/F/M} Ménage, Western
Rating: 3 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Critter Nymph

When Cade left home he never thought he would return a few short years later to bury his parents. He also did not expect to get the opportunity to act on his feelings for Brett.

Brett is devastated by the loss of his parents. He does not have what it takes to deal with Cade at the moment but it does not look like he has much of a choice.

While I though the premise of Coming Home - two men coming together after the death of their parents - was a good one, I had a little problem with the characters. Brett is straight and always has been. Cade is bisexual and has had a thing for Brett since the two were teenagers. The readers would expect both men to experience grief over the sudden deaths of their parents, uncertainty over taking over the huge ranch they now share, confusion on Brett’s part for the feelings he is developing for Cade, a renewal of feelings Cade has always had for Brett and they get all those. What they don’t get is any real chemistry between the men. Cade and Brett spend so much time having casual sex, either between the two of them or with the female characters in the story, that there does not seem to be any real bond, beyond sex. This lack of any real connection between Cade and Brett made if difficult for me to really enjoy this story.

Night is Darkest

Title: Night is Darkest
Author: Jayne Rylon
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Publisher URL: http://www.samhainpublishing.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60504-800-0
Genre: {M/M} {M/F} {M/F/M} {M/M/F}, Contemporary, Romantic Suspense, Ménage
Rating: 4.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Rose Nymph

When Lacey loses her brother Rob at the hands of a murderer, her world threatens to collapse. No stranger to tragedy to begin with, only the support of best friends Mason and Tyler stop her life from imploding. Thanks to their help, she is able to get through the blur of the funeral and the seemingly never-ending parade of well meaning mourners, without being overwhelmed. She just can’t understand how everybody else is carrying on with their lives. To stave off the bitter loneliness attempting to seep into her soul, Lacey seeks comfort in the two men who have never been far away from her thoughts or fantasies.

Since childhood, Lacey has held a very special place in Mason and Tyler’s hearts. They have watched over her as they all matured; the realization that they wanted so much more than friendship slowly developing. Right or wrong, they decided to shield her from their more adventurous desires in the fear of scaring her away. When, fuelled by woe, Lacey finally makes her own needs clear, the guys are more than a little shocked and start questioning whether they made the right choice back then. Tyler is ready to take the next step but Mason holds back, afraid that if Lacey finds out just what they have been getting up to, plus what they have in store for her, she’ll run a mile. Lacey doesn’t understand his behavior but is determined to get everything out in the open.

As if dealing with the unexpected erotic turn of events wasn’t enough, the two men are working hard to deal with their own grief, as Rob meant the world to them. The trio of handsome guys had all worked hard to get onto the force so to see a fellow officer taken down in the line of duty has them itching to find the culprit who robbed them of their best friend. When Lacey tells them she is getting suspicious emails and telephone calls, they are on high alert – somebody knows what is going on but it is a race to put all the pieces together before the most important person in Mason and Tyler’s world suffers anymore.

With three extremely engaging, interesting characters with scorching chemistry and a plot that kept me hooked from start to finish, Night is Darkness has a little of everything. The introduction to Lacey was very well done as I was immediately became endeared to her. Having a traumatic occurrence so soon in a story doesn’t always work as the reader hasn’t necessarily had time to connect to the characters but that wasn’t a problem at all with Lacey. I really felt the shock and disruption to her life, due to the loss of her beloved brother. Mason and Tyler were intriguing, with early hints of their night-time activities thrilling me into submission. If you like your men to take control of the situation and treat you like you are the most precious stone in existence, these two are your guys. Lacey does what any strong, independent woman would do in this situation, fight the kid gloves with all that she is worth, but in the end, she knows how badly she needs Mason and Tyler in her life.

In some ways, reading Night is Darkness was like reading two books. The story of three friends who have so obviously not been communicating, slowly untangling the truth and delving into their suppressed desires was a delicious three course meal that really satisfied the appetite. On occasion the threesome’s relationship overshadowed the unraveling of the murder plot. However, the author does a very good job for the most part in keeping me riveted as past secrets come back to haunt characters and with a fantastic twist at the end that I did not see coming, I thoroughly recommend Night is Darkness.