Category: Retro Book Reviews

The Bear’s True Mate by Elizabeth Monvey *Retro Review*

Title: The Bear’s True Mate

Series: Divergent Species 01

Author: Elizabeth Monvey

Genre: Paranormal

Length: Novella (78 pages)

Publisher: Evernight Publishing (23 Sept 2015)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts

Blurb: Henry McBane had a wife. And a true mate. And they weren’t the same person. He once made a terrible mistake and it cost him everything. When he found his wife dead from a group of shifter hunters, he gets work as an enforcer to the Shifter Council in order to bring the hunting club down. 

Ajay Orbin has been a prisoner for months, trapped with others as living science projects and held at the whim of a horrible scientist. When he’s finally rescued, he can’t believe it’s by the man he once loved with his whole heart. 

Can he find it in himself to forgive Henry? And what happens when he finds himself…pregnant? 

ISBN: 978-1-77233-514-9

Product Link: Evernight | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Prime

Review: This is not the first time I’ve read a book by Elizabeth Monvey. I’ve only read one or two other books and they had me a bit reluctant to go again because the writing style did not agree with me. However, I have to admit that this is the first time I really and truly connected with the characters and absolutely fell in love with her story.

Honestly, the story is something of a tried and true formula, and fans of that formula will not be disappointed by the story. I suppose in some ways it really does come under the banner of cheesy paranormal romance. But, hell, I’m a sucker for that and I ate it right up! The story starts with Ajay Orbin, who has been trapped by scientists in a lab; let’s call that tried and true #1. He’s a bear shifter who has met his mate, another bear shifter, Henry, tried and true #2. However, circumstances have kept them apart and hurt Ajay, namely the fact that Henry had a wife, tried and true #3. Henry is a bear shifter who goes around with a team to free shifters who are being experimented on, tried and true #4.  And that is where the M-preg stuff comes in, tried and true #5, and is of course something that is more niche in terms of tastes than everything else in this story. So, now our heroes are forced to be together again despite not all having the time to heal the rift that had formed between them – really, I would have liked a little more self flagellation (all mental!) on Henry’s side.

Look, despite my rating because I really did love this book, you can tell by my brief analysis there are plenty of holes in this story. Most glaring would be the rushed pace of story and character development. Part of me wanted to bring the rating down to 3.5 because I think with more words and time this could be a truly awesome book. It is something that you could expect from a Flynn Eire or Lynn Hagen type of story and without the detail of a Stormy Glenn book. But as it is, I loved the story, I loved the shifters, I love the M-preg stuff – all the elements were there to suck me into the world of Ajay and Henry and I enjoyed every second of it.

Going Deep by Silvia Violet *Retro Review*

Title: Going Deep

Series: Fitting In 04

Author: Silvia Violet

Genre: Contemporary, Ménage

Length: Novella (161 pages)

Publisher: Silvia Violet Books (22 Feb 2016)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Blurb: Gray, Jack, and Mason are back. Their threeway relationship keeps growing stronger, and Gray ‘s feelings for his partners run deeper than he ever thought possible. While he’s learned to be romantic at home, at work, he’s still a big tough cop that nobody wants to cross. So, when the murders of several young prostitutes falls to him to solve, and he has no suspects and no motive, his confidence takes a hit. Every dead end, every day that goes by, adds to the urgency he feels to find the murderer.

Gray desperately needs a break, with the case and for himself. He excels at taking care of both his men, in bed and out, but when it comes to accepting comfort in return, he shuts down, even with everything at work going to hell. Jack and Mason want him to take a vacation when the case ends, but Gray knows he sucks at down time unless it’s spent in bed.

With his case weighing on him and his partners trying their best to help, Gray is going to have to figure out how a high-handed man like himself can let go. 

ISBN: 9781311799982

Product Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N | Kobo

Reviewer: Prime

Review: This is the fourth installment of Silvia Violet’s Fitting In series. By now I’ve gone through a number of Silvia Violet books and in addition to loving the plot lines she creates, I also thoroughly enjoy her writing style. For me it is just so easy to zoom through just about every book that I’ve picked up. But back to the Fitting In series, we are back with our primary trio – Mason, Gray and Jack – after a departure from the guys in the previous book. The guys are in love and work so well together.

After book 2 being written from Jack’s POV, we are now back to having the story told from Gray’s POV. I must admit that Gray still annoys me at times, mostly because he seems to value his work above his personal life on a regular basis. But no one is perfect and something we are all guilty of, I think, in real life. The other thing to remember about Gray, which is why he is so good, is that he is a tough cop – a detective since his promotion in book 2 but it is nice to see that Mason and Jack are working their magic on the man and there are definite traces of a cuddly teddy bear. I wouldn’t say that Gray is the glue holding them together – I love how Silvia Violet has written it that each man has his own role in the relationship – but Gray is definitely a the dominate player in their trio. There is some light BDSM but nothing major beyond some bondage and spanking, although the guys talk about plans for a play room.

As for Mason and Jack, through Gray’s eyes it is clear that Jack and Mason a certain strength to the relationship that he cannot. This is especially true since it becomes increasingly clear that Gray is stressed from work and I definitely think that he needs the strength of both his men to help him through, even if Gray does not want to go on the holiday that Jack and Mason so desperately want.

My only criticisms are that the ending was a little abrupt, although I like to hope that there is more from the guys. It was danger, danger, danger… then bam! HEA! Not that I’m complaining, I think that it still worked really well. Part of me longs for a book written from Mason’s POV. Because that is something that I felt throughout all the previous books, part of me really wanted to hear from other characters in the ménage besides the man that is narrating (in Book 2 that was Jack and in book 3, with a different trio, it was Bryce).

All in all, though, this is a book I recommend without reservation, especially those that love to read a hot ménage relationship that works.

Burning Up by Silvia Violet *Retro Review*

Title: Burning Up

Series: Fitting In 03

Author: Silvia Violet

Genre: Contemporary, Ménage

Length: Novel (148 pages)

Publisher: Silvia Violet Books (18 Feb 2015)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Blurb: Bryce has been a firefighter for ten years, but when a horrific house fire leaves him reeling, he moves to a new city, hoping to shove those memories behind him. As he adjusts to his new station, Bryce keeps to himself until Matt and Toby, two hot young men in his unit, throw temptation in his path. Bryce knows better than to mess around with men he works with, especially two newbies who are in the closet. But after a difficult day, Matt and Toby offer him compassion and friendship, which slips so easily into sex Bryce finds the combination irresistible.

Matt and Toby want to expand their relationship to include a third, and they’ve set their sights on their sexy bear of a lieutenant. Their first night together is a scorcher, and, more than that, it feels right, to all of them. But since Bryce refuses to hide who he is, and dating men on his shift is against the rules, all three men are going to have to make some tough choices if they want to stay together. 

ISBN: 9781311307828

Product Link: Amazon  US | Amazon UK | B&N | Kobo

Reviewer: Prime

Review: I am seriously in love with the Fitting In series by Silvia Violet. Burning Up, however, is a bit of a departure from the previous two series which concentrated on three other men making their relationship work. For that reason this book works as a standalone if you want. Most importantly, though, you have three hot, gay fire fighters who seem to need little or no coercion to become a thruple.

The story follows established – and closeted couple – Matt and Toby, who are keen to add a third to their relationship. They need a dominant male, which means that there is some very light BDSM. That’s when we throw Bryce into the mix. He’s a bit older than Matt and Toby and has been a firefighter for ten years. After a horrific house-fire he picks up his life and ends up at the same station as Matt and Toby in an effort to get over the horrors in his life. However, Bryce also has a strict rule of not being in a relation with a co-worker and for damn good reasons.

This is hot and sexy. There are hot firefighters in dangerous situations and a good dose of sexual healing so that a trio of men who just fit together can get their HEA.

The Wolf in Your Cabin by Alexia Ward

Alexia Ward - The Wolf In Your Cabin CoverTitle: The Wolf in Your Cabin

Series: Magnificent Beasts 03

Author: Alexia Ward

Genre: Paranormal

Length: Novella (96 Pages)

Publisher: Siren Publishing (August 20, 2016)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts

Blurb: Freddie Dark is looking forward to some rest and relaxation at a ski resort. When he gets stuck with a hunky human named Justin Isaac as his roommate in a luxurious cabin, he is none too pleased. In his mind, shifters and humans don’t mix. But his predisposition quickly changes when he realizes that Justin is his mate.

Justin Isaac is about to be evicted from his apartment when he wins a ski trip. Hoping to escape his dire financial woes for a little while, he sets out on his vacation. To his delight, his new roommate, Freddie Dark, is a giant wolf shifter with super good looks and strength. It may be cold and snowing outside, but things soon get hot and steamy in their cabin.

There’s a murderer in the ski resort who’s killing guests one by one. Freddie and Justin are next on his hit list. Can they figure out who the killer is before he strikes again?

ISBN: 9781682954539

Product Link: Siren-BookStrand | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: Each book in the Magnificent Beasts collection features a different romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, I would recommend reading the series in sequential order.

Freddie was about to go crazy. He is going through the empty nest syndrome. Two of his three younger brothers have found their mates and the third is never home. He is going bored with each minute. That is until he wins a free skiing trip. He is paired off with one hell of a sexy human.

Justin is broke, soon to be homeless and nothing good in sight. Then he won a trip of a lifetime. He might as well have a bit of fun with it. Then he gets an eye of his sexy roommate and well we shall see. Then things start happening that just might end them both.

It is a pretty sweet story, but it doesn’t flow off the pages as it should. It came off rushed and a bit off. Freddie might be an alpha wolf, but he comes off as a paranoid idiot in parts. In other parts, like with his brother, the alpha shows. Also is it just a pack of three, because even in real life wolves need packs.

I honestly not really sure about this story, but it is still a nice read.

All About the Boy by P.A. Friday

Title: All About the Boy

Series: Anthology

Author: P.A. Friday

Genre: Contemporary, BDSM, Erotic

Publisher: NineStar Press (July 25, 2016)

Length: Short Story (51 Pages)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥ 2.5 Hearts

Blurb: Some men like gentle loving—others like to switch up the power. In P.A. Friday’s collection of stories, explore the raunchier, edgier side of lust—a space where domination and control can be the greatest turn-on.

From Stefan finding out the hard way just how straight he isn’t, Jake who has to learn to behave or take his punishment, to Kel juggling two very different lovers at his workplace, doing what you’re told has never been sexier.

ISBN: 978-1-91115-364-1

Product Link: NineStar Press | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: What I thought was a short story turned out to be 3 very short stories. The problem was they were not really stories, just some hot sex scenes.

Pretty Little Straight Boys

Rufus came out to his friends that he was gay but what he had not told anyone was how he wanted Stefan. One of his best friends but the man was straight, or so he thought. One hot night of drinking leads them all into a game of hide and seek. The one found had to forfeit something, but when Stefan was found it turned out to be something else.

For such a very short story, the author did a good job of making it seem just a bit longer. It was not really my taste, but it was a bit hot.

Making Amends

Jake is in trouble with his master and he needs to be punished. Alessandro has one major rule for him to behave. The problem was Jake like his punishment just a bit much. Except maybe this punishment might just be a bit to much. Just give him to Leo.

No real story here but it was still pretty hot. Just a bit of kink to go with the day I suppose. However it was really just to much for me. I think giving your boy to another is degrading and gross in my eyes. Especially if you know your boy doesn’t like the other man. It was a complete turnoff for me.

Office Politics

Kel has two sexy lovers at his work place and liked to be bossed around a bit. Dean and Peter who would have thought.

Just a bit to much for me. Sounded a bit violent and I don’t much care for the way they were treating one another, although it was still hot I suppose. Kel has two lovers who don’t know about each other. He is a dominant and a submissive, basically a switch. Dean is a violent dom, where as Peter is a complete submissive. To me two lovers who don’t know about the other is cheating, and the book dropped completely.

Overall

I really need to pay attention to blurbs on books. I came close to liking the first book, but the other two books were complete flops. I don’t like cheating and I can’t stand a man giving away his boy to a gross man whom the boy doesn’t like. So all in all, total degradation in my eyes. The first book has a chance of being turned into a complete story, but the other two were just porn to me. I am afraid this book will go straight to the discard pile. Definitely not a book for me.