Grade: D-
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Sci-Fi
Reviewed by Kate
Aliens (who look like humans) have invited 10 of earth’s top scientists to a sit down, a meeting of the minds if you will. Ashley, a former child star (I kept thinking Lindsey Lohan), poses as a scientist in a publicity stunt to jump start her career again. When they land on the alien planet a probe is inserted into each of their brains, allowing the aliens complete access to the humans’ thoughts and knowledge. Ashley is sent to be executed when the aliens discover her deception. While awaiting execution, her probe links with the probe of ZXQ (all aliens have probes implanted at birth). Now Ashley and ZXQ, or Sam as she names him, can share thoughts and he agrees to help Ashley escape.
Sounds exciting, right? I thought so too. I really looked forward to reading this one. Then I read it. In my opinion Ashley would have been better off sticking to the path other have-been actors take to start a comeback…Dancing With the Stars or any of Fox’s celebrity reality shows.
Unfortunately, she chooses aliens and we embark on the slowest 200+ pages I’ve come across lately. Her character has a sense of entitlement that put a sour taste in my mouth. The entitlement switched to a need to prove herself back on earth. It wasn’t until the last fifth of the book that she showed and character growth at all. On the opposite side of things, Sam goes from alien to full blown human in the blink of an eye. Very little struggle for him to adapt to a new program.
The romance between Ashley and Sam isn’t worth writing home about. Ashley had been there, done that. And probably for all the wrong reasons. Sam is experiencing his first taste of sex. And, of course, he’s magically wonderful at it (eye roll).
The ending that took forever to get to sort of fizzled. A huge build up, then… nothing. Like a lit bottle rocket that never launches. A disappointing ending to a disappointing book.
Kate
Rituals of Passion by Lacey Alexander
Grade: B-
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: High Kink
Genre: Futuristic
Series: Brides of Caralon #1
Reviewed by Kate
Taking place over 1500 years in the future, in a time when it is completely acceptable for the average citizen to have multiple casual encounters but royal daughters must remain pure until marriage, this story starts off with a bang (pun definitely intended). Maven, an aforementioned royal daughter, has finally reached marrying age. Her father gifts her to Dane of Rawley, a man who is known across the land for his brutal and aggressive nature.
Dane has worked hard to earn his reputation. However, he is determined to give this marriage a chance. He knows Maven is innocent and he is looking forward to introducing her to the joys of sex. But Maven is nothing like the shy, timid virgin he was expecting. Maven is very strong willed and though she knows it is the role of a wife to be submissive, she has no intention of submitting to Dane.
While there was a lot of talk of submitting this didn’t really qualify as a BDSM read for me. There is no Dom/sub relationship between the two. No whips or chains. However, don’t doubt the inferno rating I gave the book. There is enough exhibitionism, voyeurism, and multiple partners to satisfy even the highest of heat ratings.
Incredible. Lovely. Beautiful. Marvelous. Tremendous. Majestic (my personal fave). No, I am not describing a unicorn as my husband guessed. These are some of the adjectives used to describe Dane’s *clearing throat* (as a romance reader you know what I mean). By the end of the book, I was so in awe I almost broke into song. “Oh say can you see, Dane’s magnificent…” Well, you get the picture.
Master of the Mountain by Cherise Sinclair
Grade: A
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: Medium Kink
Genre: Contemporary, BDSMSeries: Mountain Masters #1
Reviewed by Kate
Rebecca’s boyfriend can check off every item on her perfect-boyfriend list, but maybe one of those checks should have read “sexually compatible.” Despite a lack luster bedroom life, Rebecca is determine to make the relationship work. When he suggests she join him on a weekend vacation with his swingers group (a group she didn’t know about), she reluctantly agrees to give it a try. She quickly decides the swinging lifestyle is not for her. She actually finds herself drawn to lodge owner Logan and his dominant ways. He doesn’t meet any of the requirements on her list, but he’s strong and assertive and makes her feel comfortable and safe.
Logan has been plagued by horrible nightmares since he returned from the war. His brother has the scar to prove that it’s not safe for Logan to fall asleep around anyone. So Logan knows his relationship with Rebecca will only last until the end of the weekend. Despite the limited time frame, he wants to help Rebecca explore her submissive nature.
This was the first BDSM romance I read and I loved it. It is not terribly intense as far as the BDSM goes. Commands, restraints, and some anal play. No intense pain in this one. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading BDSM without a focus on pain or anyone new to the BDSM romance world.
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