The Bartered Bride by Reece Butler

The Bartered Bride (Climax, Montana #3)
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Moderate Kink
Series-Climax, Montana #3
Genre-Contemporary/Menage
Reviewed by Kate
 
Jane is trying to escape an abusive father and an arranged marriaged to an even more vile man. She’s stuck at a bar with no way of leaving when Travis and Riley show up. Travis and Riley seem like the only ones at the bar who might not take advantage of her, so she stows away in their truck. While the men are helping Jane get away, can they also help her discover herself?
 
I’m a sucker for cavemen heroes. The kind that can say “You’re going to do what I say because I know what’s best for you.” The kind that are protective and dominant without being abusive. The kind that, quite honestly, can come across as being a huge ass. And Reece Butler does a very good job writing those cavemen heroes I adore.
 
As a heroine, Jane struggles to be independent when she never has had a chance to stand on her own. She’s had a lot of terrible things happen in her past and we get to watch as Travis and Riley support her on her journey. We get to see a lot of character growth for Jane.
 
The only complaint that I had with this book was that there was a section in the middle that started to go down a hero-taking-the-place-of-daddy path and a trying-to-fix-the-heroine path. Those are themes that I don’t typically enjoy reading, but seemed to be rather short lived in this book. I was quickly able to loose myself in the story after getting past that section.
 
This book met all the preferences I have in erotic menage books. Strong heroes and heroines, character growth, a plot that is fast paced, and scenes steamy enough to fog your glasses. If you enjoy erotic menage with a bit of cowboy, I suggest you give this one a try.
 
An additional note: While this one is considered to be the third book in her Climax, Montana series, it can definitely be read by itself. The first 2 books in this series take place back in the 80s and are worth checking out. If you like historical menage, I’d recommend Reece Butler’s earlier Bride Train series.
 
I’m caught up on all of Reece Butler’s books now. Do you have recommendations for any other erotic menage series to try?

Hot Zone by Anne Marsh

Hot Zone (The Hotshots, #2)
Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-The Hotshots #2
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
102 pages

Dade is a Hotshot and helps out the Smoke Jumpers at a fire camp. This camp is very bust during fire season and this requires cooking and other staff to be available. Sarah Jo is a cook at the fire camp. One day while working, the other cooks dare her to kiss the first fire guy that comes up in line. Sarah Jo wants to fit in, so she does it.

Dade and Sarah Jo both know that the kiss they shared wasn’t enough. As these two get closer, a secret from Sarah Jo’s past comes to the surface. She doesn’t want anyone to know because she wants to handle it on her own but Dade has other plans.

This was an okay story. A little too cut and dried for me. A tiny bit of suspense and a lot of sex. Hot sex, so that part was good. Will I go on with the series? I don’t know.

Consumed by Emily Snow


                      
Consumed (Devoured, #2)

       
Grade-B+
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Devoured #2
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
176 pages
 
Lucas is a rock star and he and Sienna have a troubled past. He threw her out of his house when she wouldn’t submit and then he ended up buying her Grandma’s house that was in foreclosure. That led to Sienna signing a contract to work for him for an appointed amount of time and then he’d sign the house over to her. She did this but then he freaked out about his ex-wife and dismissed her.

Now, he’s back and begs for Sienna to take him back bascially. She’s gunshy but she is in love with him. Head over heels in love. His ex is still causing trouble, malicious trouble but Sienna keeps it from Lucas because he’s on tour and she doesn’t want him disturbed. There were a lot of obstacles for this couple to overcome: the band, the tour, Cilla, Tyler and Sam (the ex).

I really liked this book even with the wait. I hope she writes about the rest of the band. I know she’s written about Kylie and Wyatt. When I first read this series early last year, it just spoke to me. I loved everything about it. The chemsitry, hot sex scenes and believable emotions. I fell in love with Lucas Wolfe for two reasons:

1.) He played Britney Spears for her on his guitar. He’s a heavy metal guy but Sienna likes Britney.

2.) He says this to her- “I could have the shittiest day and then come within a hundred feet of you, and the only thing that matters is you.”

If you want something sweet and hot, read it.