Freedom to Submit by Melody Snow Monroe

       
Grade-C-
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Moderate Kink
Series-Freedom, Colorado #1
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kate
164 pages

Danisa “Dani” witnesses a murder and needs some protection from the killer who has already made an attempt on her life. Enter Sheriff Brady (who went to the same high school as Dani, but the two have been out of touch for years) and his friend and housemate, Lucas. Because who better to protect you than the horny sheriff and his even hornier friend? Not to be out hornied, um…horned? Dani, on the night that she almost dies, remembers to pack her sexy underwear when she’s packing to go stay with Brady (who she just re-met earlier that day) and Lucas (who she’s never met).

Unfortunately, neither hero worked for me. Brady, a jock that has never grown up, has to be one of the worst law enforcement heroes I’ve read about. He goes on a dangerous stakeout by himself and moves things around at the crime scene before it’s been processed. Now I’m not saying I’m an expert, but I’ve seen a few CSI episodes-enough to know that both of those are big no-nos.

Lucas was another creature altogether. I found him to be cold and only concerned with satisfying his libido. His speech was almost robotic at times. But the thing that got me most was that he called his dick “him”. Now, I’m generally okay with guys having a cute nickname for their most important possession, but for some reason calling it “him” was just too much.

I struggled with the heroine, Dani. I just couldn’t connect with her character at all. Her connection to Brady and Lucas was instantaneous and unquestioned. There never seemed to be a time that she asked herself if she was moving too fast.

I really wanted to like this book. I’ve enjoyed other books that I’ve read by Melody Snow Monroe before. However, I just couldn’t get past the characters to get into the plot.

Obviously, calling it “him” didn’t work for me. What nicknames for a guy’s member is your favorite? How about your least favorite?

Styxx by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Styxx (Dark-Hunter, #23)
Grade-A
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level- Moderate Kink
Series- Dark-Hunter #23
Genre-Paranormal Romance
Reviewed by Kay
836 pages

Back many months ago when I read the blurb for this book, my heart raced. I’ll admit I was a little tentative about a book featuring Styxx, but the blurb says that we only know half of the story. If you don’t want to read a review with spoilers stop now.
Here’s a little refresher on this very long series. Styxx is the identical twin to Acheron except for the eyes. They shared a womb even though they were not blood related. I’m not going to summarize all the details to Ash’s (Acheron) conception and subsequent birth. Just know that Ash was put in a queen’s womb who was already pregnant as a way to protect Ash from those who were hunting him. See, Ash is the son of the Destroyer and he can bring an end to the world.
In Ash’s book, we learn of his birth and life up until this point. He and his twin, Styxx hated each other. Ash was made to suffer atrocities that no one should suffer, especially a small child. We all developed a hatred so intense for the golden child, Styxx. But in this book, we realize that we only knew Ash’s story. Styxx’s story was in my opinion even worse. Not only was it over one hundred pages longer but it was almost double the size of Ash’s back story. A back story that had me either too stunned to cry or sobbing uncontrollably. I won’t say anything more about the back story other than you have to read it to truly know the story and the ultimate betrayals that take place.
The most beautiful part of this book is the love story between Styxx and Bethany. It was so precious and innocent. Styxx is the future king of his country and became a true war hero and a master strategist. His one and only true love was a blind girl who he met when she was fishing.
He didn’t realize that his love was really the Goddess of Misery as she didn’t realize he was Prince Styxx.
I don’t want to give away too much about the book. Just read it even though it is 836 pages long. It moves quickly and I devoured it in less than 48 hours. I’ll end this review with my favorite quotes from the book.
“Never once in my life did I feel the sunshine on my skin until the day you touched me.”
“And without my Bethany, I dwell in total darkness.”
“It’s not fair that we’re forced to live without them while the world goes on, oblivious to the fact that it’s missing the most vital part of it.”
“I let go of your hand eleven thousand, five hundred thirty nine years, one hundred and eighty three days and roughly ten hours give or take a few mintues ago.”
“You really did count the heartbeats.”
“Oh Beth, you have no idea.”
This time Styxx knew that nothing would ever separate them again. And if anyone or anything was dumb enough to try they were going to learn the lesson he had given both Archon and Apollo. Styxx of Didymos fought for what he wanted. He didn’t back down. He didn’t give up. He didn’t lose. Even if it meant coming back from the dead, he wouldn’t be stopped and he would never again live without his most vital part. Bethany.

Menage Monday – Texas Tangle by Leah Braemel

Texas Tangle (Tangled)
Grade: B+
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: Mild Kink
Genre: Contemporary, menage
Published: 6/28/10

Reviewed by Kate
216 pages


Here’s the run down.  Nikki is alone.  All alone.  Her brother actually just skipped town after bringing a huge truck and emptying her house out.  So not only does she not have anyone left, she doesn’t even have a mattress to sleep on.  Dillon has know Nikki since high school and liked her for just as long.  In fact he even got in a fight with his foster brother Brett over Nikki.  When there’s the slightest chance that her brother’s friends might come back and try to get more money from Nikki, Dillon jumps on the excuse to get Nikki to stay at his house with him.  Oh, and he just happens to have a mattress there too.

Brett is attracted to Nikki.  But he’s terrified that if he pursues her, he’ll lose his best friend, Dillon, and the only family that has ever cared about him (Dillon’s family).  So he backs off.  But despite doing his best to ignore his attraction, Nikki notices.  And she’s torn.  She’s attracted to both men, but doesn’t want to ruin their friendship.  Could there possibly be a way for everyone to get what they want?
 

The relationship between Dillon and Nikki and Brett was deep and complex.  You keep rooting for it to work for them.  They actually talk about the important things, rather than just assuming everything will magically work out.  The sex scenes were scorching hot and I wasn’t ready for the book to end when it did.  I wanted to know more about this trio and their future.

 

My only complaint was that Dillon and Nikki have a relationship before the triad comes together.  Now this is just a personal preference of mine, but I appreciate my menages starting and ending together.  However, the author wrote the addition of Brett very well.

 

Leah Braemel has written a menage with strong characters that I will definitely be rereading.  I also look forward to reading some of her other works.