Breaking the Ice by Jessica Lee

xgetthumb,quser=3261,asite=4577,aw=400,ah=400,afile=uploaded,P2Fimages,P2FBreakingTheIce_50.jpg.pagespeed.ic.zSOmR2v1nNTitle: Breaking the Ice
Series: Ariel Estates, #3
Author: Jessica Lee
Genre: Paranormal/ Shape-shifter
Length: Novella (157 Pages)
Publisher: Resplendence Publishing (January 1, 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Blurb: Being the last male standing isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. Mikah Malloy is living proof. His mother and father were both killed during their individual attempts to assassinate the pride leader of Ariel Estates, Silas Murdoch.

Now after the dust has settled on his bloodstained family’s name, Mikah must face life alone among his fellow lion shifters. But Silas and his mate, Theo, have decided a vacation in Alaska is just what the doctor ordered to help Mikah come to terms with his grief and his plans for the future. The only snag with their plan is trouble always has a way of finding Mikah, no matter where he runs.

Gideon Haven, eldest son of the Haven pack’s alpha, would give his soul for a way off the ice. But when a hunter is out to eradicate his pack one by one, skinning them alive for their wolf pelts, Gideon can’t just walk away.

The predators have now become the prey, but they’re determined to hunt down the poacher out to slaughter Theo and Gideon’s pack. As for Mikah, he’s more than ready for the job. Putting one’s life on the line isn’t a hardship when you don’t care whether you live or die.

Even though the heat between Gideon and Mikah becomes nearly impossible to resist, Mikah is determined the tenacious wolf isn’t about to get close enough to break the ice around his heart

ISBN: 978-1-60735-725-4

Product Link: http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/m8/634-978-1-60735-725-4–breaking-the-ice-ariel-estates-series-book-three-by-jessica-lee.html

Reviewer: Lisa

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

I love the way Jessica put together this book that not only fascinated me but kept my attention the whole time. I had a blast reading this and look forward to reading more by this author. My attention was caught with the first sentence and I just couldn’t put the book down.

Mikah’s father planned to assassinate their Alpha but failed. When his mother tried to, he shoved her away but ended up killing her. He felt guilty and couldn’t seem to come back from it. So Silas suggested a trip to Alaska with them. It would change his life in more ways than one.

Gideon was the eldest son of his pack, but he had no desires to be Alpha. Thankfully, he had a twin that could do it. He wanted to travel and experience the world. Things didn’t go as plan, especially after meeting Mikah.

Mikah was not only stuck in the past, but feared coming out. He knew that if he was to get his man, he would have to push him just a bit. Too bad his ex kept popping up at the wrong time. They had hunters killing pack mates, and there was a traitor amongst them.

So they had to deal with more than one idiot at a time. Then something tragic happened, and Gideon is left to take the Alpha position. Mikah had to make a choice.

I love the way all the feelings they felt were involved in this story.

It was the perfect story for me and I loved it. I can’t wait to read the next story.

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *

Changing Tides by Simone Anderson

changingtidesTitle: Changing Tides
Series: New Reality, #14
Author: Simone Anderson
Genre: Science Fiction / Alternate Reality / Dystopian / Fantasy / Futuristic
Length: Novel (153 pages)
Publisher: Resplendence Publishing (April 23th 2014)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥ 3 Hearts

Blurb: Brett DeMarco is a First Lieutenant in Aelland’s Security Forces and hopes to become the head of intelligence someday. After the death of his fiancé, Brett threw himself into his work, dodging his father’s attempts to get him to marry the right woman, never doubting the career path he’d chosen.

Orion Hellman is the base commander’s personal assistant, has never spoken a word to anyone, and follows orders exactly, helping to ensure the base runs smoothly by any means the general deems necessary. Classified as a manual laborer with marriage out of the question, Orion has no intention of getting involved with anyone.

A chance meeting ignites Brett’s long dead desire, changes everything he knew and gives Orion everything he never thought he wanted.

ISBN: 978-1-60735-761-2

Product Link: http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/m8/660-978-1-60735-761-2–changing-tides-new-reality-series-book-fourteen-by-simone-anderson.html

Reviewer: Shorty

Review: This is the fourteenth book in the reality series. I have to say since this is the first book I’ve read in this series I was a little lost. A government controlled world, a soldier, Brett, who is out to gather information thinking he’s doing the right thing and a freedom fighter leader, Orion, who is undercover playing a mute lackey for the commander.

After being set up Brett is rescued and taken to safety by Orion. These two slowly grow closer and things heat up between them.

Though I was confused at points I still enjoyed the feel of the story and the plot.

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *

Between Two Lovers by Carol Lynne, 2nd edition

24920146Title: Between Two Lovers, 2nd Edition
Series: N/A
Author: Carol Lynne
Genre: MMF Ménage
Length: Novella (54 pages)
Publisher: Resplendence Publishing, LLC (February 11th 2015)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Blurb: Morgan Jones, Mojo to his friends, loves his life. He and his long-time partner, Jasper, have the best of both worlds. While they loved each other exclusively, they are free to bring women into their bed. When Mojo spots April in Club Maverick, he knows he has to have her.

When April Lawson sets eyes on the large, bald bartender, she thinks she’s died and gone to heaven. All she wants is to be in Mojo’s bed, as soon as possible. The thought of sleeping with two men is new and exciting for the small-town girl, and April jumps feet first into sex with both men. The idea seems even better when she meets Jasper and finds they have an immediate connection. Still, she knows falling for these two might lead to a broken heart.

Over the years, Jasper has shared Mojo with many different women, but he senses April is different. As they grow closer, he begins to wonder if he and Mojo will walk away with their bond intact or if the affair with April will forever change the face of their relationship.

This book is connected to Joey’s First Time, although it can be read as a standalone book.

**Publisher’s Note: This is a revised and updated version of a previously published title.

ISBN: 978-1-60735-852-7

Product Link: http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/m8/731-978-1-60735-852-7–between-two-lovers-by-carol-lynne.html

Reviewer: Leigh

Review: April is a normal everyday woman. She is easy to relate to. She is not perfect and finds fault with her body. She has been hurt by men in the past by always expecting more from a relationship. When she meets bartender Mojo at a bar she is instantly attracted. She surprised when he shows a mutual attractions. She is even more surprised when she learns he is in a long-term relationship with another man, Jasper.

She takes the bulls by the head and decides to explore a purely sexual relationship with the two men. She gets to live a true fantasy of many women everywhere. Two hot and sexy men giving all focused on her and each other. Hot damn, this was smoking.

The book was short, but it gave all the needed information. The writing was well done and had a good pacing. Honestly MMF is not my preferred reading. However, as April was so relatable I actually enjoyed her being involved. It was nice to see an everyday normal woman get the two sexy men all to herself.

Good read with a very happy ending.

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *

Reunion by Dakota Rebel

81GK-0xgyFL._SL1500_Title: Reunion
Series: N/A
Author: Dakota Rebel
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short (30 pages)
Publisher: Resplendence Publishing (September 3rd, 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts
Blurb: Jim Collins spent all of his high school years pining for the star quarterback, Brock Newhouse. Even after graduation, his thoughts often gravitated to the sexy football star and he couldn’t help thinking about what could have been, but never would have happened.

When he receives an invitation to his high school reunion, and sees that Brock will be attending, he decides he has to see the man one more time.

But the night doesn’t go exactly as he imagined, and Jim soon discovers he wasn’t the only man with fantasies during those four years, and he wasn’t the only one who continued to wonder what if.

ISBN: 978-1-60735-803-9

Product Link: http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/m8/692-978-1-60735-803-9–reunion-erotic-gems-short-by-dakota-rebel.html

Reviewer: Prime

Review: The dreaded high school reunion – Jim Collins remembers back to high school after receiving an invite to his 20-year reunion. The biggest factor that made him accept despite being the “nerd” and “fag boy” was the name of his high school crush, the then quarter back Brock Newhouse. One of the better outcomes of his schoolboy crush was that he has now become a well-known football commentator.

I really liked this one. Though to be honest, since going to my high school reunion, I found I was able to relate to this story. The only problem for me in real life is that I’m a straight person who went to a unisex school, so no hope for romance for me! I like how, despite being the two famous people from their graduating class, they are somewhat humbled by each other. In fact, Brock is very much humbled when it comes to Jim to the point that I find it very sweet.

This is part school crush meets the one that got away story. Easy to read and easy to enjoy, so just sit back and relax if you got some spare minutes for this one. If anything, I want to know more about Jim and Brock!

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *

Sunset Ridge by Carol Lynne, 2nd edition

81HGvLijgvL._SL1500_Title: Sunset Ridge, 2nd edition
Author: Carol Lynne
Genre: Contemporary/Cowboys/Western
Length: Novella (99 pages)
Publisher: Resplendence Publishing (August 12, 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5Hearts
Blurb: After the death of his father, Grayson Conner finds himself running Sunset Ridge Stables, a prosperous horse breeding operation just outside of Wellington, Arkansas. Since riding a horse for the first time, Gray known running the ranch would be his destiny. Years spent watching his father negotiate and build the ranch into a highly respected operation have prepared him well.

In need of a manager to oversee the ranch hands, Gray hires Jack “Ram” Ramsdale, a sexy temptation that could spell nothing but trouble. For years, Gray has managed to keep his sexual preferences away from the ranch, but the introduction of Ram into his life changes everything.

Ram falls in love with Sunset Ridge Stables the first time he steps foot on the ranch with its rolling green hills and views to take a person’s breath away. The handsome ranch owner is definitely a bonus, but more than anything, Ram is searching for a place to belong.

With temptation at his fingertips, Gray gives in to his feelings and begins an intense affair with his new manager. For a few blissful months, he believes he can have it all, the ranch and a man he loves by his side. But when local gossip threatens the reputation of the Sunset Ridge, Gray and Ram are forced to make an important decision. Give up their relationship or lose everything they’ve worked for.

** Publisher’s Note: this title has been previously published by another publisher. **

ISBN: 978-1-30735-798-8
Product Link: http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/m8/687-978-1-60735-798-8–sunset-ridge-by-carol-lynne.html
Reviewer: Prime
Review: I feel rather torn when it comes to this story. I read it a few years ago when it was first published with Totally Bound, which I remembered later. Generally, I love Carol Lynne’s books, particularly the Campus Cravings and Cattle Valley series. However, Sunset Ridge leaves me feeling confused.

After much thought, I figured it out: there is one particularly annoying (bitchy, spoiled) character that quite frankly, ruins the story and makes the first half particularly difficult to get through. It’s Gray’s niece Raleigh, so she is quite a central character throughout. But please, just keep going, because not only does this character mature and do a complete 180, her antics aren’t particularly central to the book. However, I can’t work out why Raleigh had a sudden change in heart and quickly grew up and matured, it would have been better if she started to mature slowly from the beginning.

Otherwise, this is a very enjoyable story. We have two cowboys have hot sex, always a winner. The cowboys in question, Gray and Ram, also have a sweet relationship that forms. Like all cowboys, they start out in the closet, but soon discover that there is a good reason to come out if they need to. There is also the background story between Jesse and Ben, which completely makes up for the Raleigh debacle. I think it would be awesome if Jesse Ben had their own story.

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *

In the Pride's Best Interest by Jessica Lee

81En9DFaBmL._SL1500_Title: In the Pride’s Best Interest
Series: Ariel Estates Series, #2
Author: Jessica Lee
Genre: Paranormal Romance / Shifters
Length: Novel (212 pages)
ISBN: 9781607356417
Publisher: Resplendence Publishing (March 6th 2013)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3 Hearts
Reviewer: Thommie
Blurb: Eli Novak, lion-shifter and Secretary of Ariel Estates has never been more fulfilled. Or more torn and confused in his life. No male has ever heated his blood or crept into his dreams before. Well, except for one. But that was over long before it ever started. So he’s straight, right? He loves women. Always has. So how can this strawberry-blond human male who stumbled onto their land have him questioning everything he ever thought he knew about himself.
Shayne Matthews is lost in the Smokey Mountains when a light in the distance leads the way to what he thinks could be a potential rescue. But it’s a decision that ends up landing him in a cell. Inside a world he never knew existed, fear turns to lust and a whirlwind of an adventure that puts him in the middle of a battle for dominance and power.
When the thirst for blood at Ariel Estates rears its ugly head once more, Eli is forced into a triangle of options where there is no right move. He must choose between his best friend, the human who’s claimed his heart, and what is in the Pride’s best interest.
Purchase Link: http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/m8/558-978-1-60735-641-7–in-the-pride-s-best-interest-ariel-estates-series-book-two-by-jessica-lee.html
Review: Oh my God, what a start! Talk about gripping your attention and stealing your breath away along with your mind from the first chapter.

The second book in the Ariel Estates Series starts with the tried and proved big bang like the first one did. A fast-paced story filled with anticipation, action, and lots of chemistry comes to steal you away for a couple of hours and take you on a ride where big badass lion shifters will fill your senses and make you gasp. What I like most about this series is the fact that the “cats” are mostly very well profiled. They have a very nice balance between their human and animal parts, and their instincts are such that require shifters to remain hidden from the world lest their inner animal surges forward and their secret is revealed.

And it’s precisely that secret the Secretary of Ariel Estates, Eli Novak, tries so hard to protect in the absence of his Alpha and best friend, Silas. But when a lost hiker stumbles upon the Prides lands and trespasses, Eli finds himself in a very peculiar predicament. Having harbored feelings for a male only once and a very long time ago, Eli felt safe in his sexuality until he lays eyes on Shayne. Everything turns upside down and while he makes sure the human is no danger for the pride, Eli can’t stop thinking of him.
I really liked how the author dealt with this dilemma here. The constant agonizing Eli felt gave the text a tension and a hint of despair. Already it has been established in book one how the pride feels for same-sex relationships, but the addition of a human in the mix makes things even more complicated, putting Eli, and Silas by proxy, in a hard and a rock place. When Eli goes to find Shayne outside the Estate, in order to explore his consuming emotions, things become dangerous. As Ariel does not lack for people with grudges and harboring hatred toward their new leader and his friends.

The action that takes place was lovely for me. I just loved the animalistic reaction even as I’d have preferred that “all hell breaking loose” to be a bit more, a bit grander. But even as fast as the villains went down – and at this point I need to highlight the fact that the villains are a bit overdramatic and mad as hell – what made the story a bit awkward was the final intimate scene between Eli and Shayne. The dialogues between them was, how should I this, off-putting, killing the mood, and after paragraphs of talking about the logistics of how and why, the act itself was fast, furious, and unfulfilling. While all other intimate scenes had this very good dose of sensual in them and eroticism was a constant, the final one, where fireworks should be exploding, well it failed. I also have that little thing with the phrase “like it?” It is certainly turning in a deal breaker for me.

Nonetheless, this book was still good and gave a bit more light in the Ariel Estates Pride, albeit we need more lore, but it was a very nice and gripping story, complimenting the first book in the series wonderfully.

Recommended!

Pushy Bottom by Sean Michael

18133648Title: Pushy Bottom

Series:  Sealed with A Kink, Book 2
  
Author: Sean Michael
 
Genre: BDSM

Length: Short Stories

Publisher: Resplendence Publishing LLC (June 26th, 2013)

Heat Level:  Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Blurb:  Darren Black has been watching beautiful, aloof sub Nikolai for some time. Nic is the pushiest bottom he’s ever seen. Doms don’t stick with him for long, but Darren plans on being the one who does.

After spending a night together in one intense scene after another, Darren introduces Nic to the pleasures of waking up with a lover.

Could Darren be the one to claim Nic?


Product Link: http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/m8/587-978-1-60735-668-4–pushy-bottom-sealed-with-a-kink-series-book-two-by-sean-michael.html

Reviewer:   GiGi

Review: This Sealed with A Kink series by Sean Michael is kind of like the petit fours of BDSM. Each story is a scene; each scene is a tasty bite. And Nic might deny it, but all his protests and brattyness aside he sure likes it when Darren takes a bite of him. There may not be any flogging involved, but what Darren can do with his hands (and well-lubed fist) might just tame this bratty bottom!

On Thin Ice by Jessica Lee

Title: On Thin Ice

Series: Ariel Estates #1

Author: Jessica Lee

Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance, Shape-Shifter

Length: Novella (90 pgs)

Publisher: Resplendence Publishing, LLC (February 29, 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts~loved it

Blurb: Silas Murdock, lion Pride leader of Ariel Estates, is on the trip of a lifetime, big game hunting with his entourage in Alaska. Everything had been perfect right up until a freak storm barreled into the area ruining their plans followed by an assassin’s bullet plummeting them into the frozen tundra.

Enter wolf shifter and former pack physician, Theodor Lucas. Returning from a trip to a nearby village, he witnesses the crash and finds the wreckage along with an unconscious and barely alive Silas. Theo’s ethical sense won’t allow him to walk away; leaving the male to suffer and freeze to death when there’s a chance he could be saved. Despite the personal risk and his vow to never be responsible for another soul, Theo takes the lone survivor back to his cabin to care for his injuries.

The stranger’s unusual scent has Theo stumped. The gorgeous male is definitely not human, but exactly what is a mystery. But Theo’s unexpected guest is the only one with any answers as to who he is, and why their pilot ended up with a bullet to the back.

There’s just one problem: now that the male is awake, he doesn’t have a clue. In fact, who, what, and where he is, is a total blank. But for Silas, there is one thing he does know for sure: when it comes to Theo, his hot-as-hell rescuer, a lifesaver has never looked more delicious.

Product Link: http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/m8/423-201-118-500-1–on-thin-ice-ariel-estates-series-book-one-by-jessica-lee.html

Reviewer: Thommie

Review: Silas is a copper hair, green-eyed, lion-shifter, gorgeous man, leader of his Pride and bisexual. That last thing is perhaps a cause for trouble for him. His vision for the Pride, the freedom he wants to give to his people is not viewed with acceptance by everyone. An assassination attempt during the ride home from a hunting trip clarifies that. He has an enemy back home wishing him dead.

Theo is white blond, with beautiful blue eyes, a doctor, oh and yes! He is a shifter, too; a wolf-shifter. He has his own past he’s running away from. Having lost his loved one on an accident after a fight they had, Theo left his pack and isolated himself along with his guilt. He has given up all hopes on love. While leading a lonely life he witnesses a plane crash. After debating with his inner voice that tells him not to interfere, he goes at the crash site only to find Silas barely alive.  Theo takes Silas to his cabin and takes care of him, only to find out when he regains consciousness that Silas suffers from temporary amnesia.

While his body recovers Silas remembers nothing about his life. Where he came from, who he is and what awaits him. All he knows is that his doc is hot and very desirable. Theo tries to help him regain his memory, but Silas’ beauty stirs long-lost feelings in him and he succumbs to all that he’s been trying to bury for a long time. Their lovemaking is breathtaking and he starts to fall in love with Silas and as the days pass by he doesn’t want to let him go as he inevitably must. And that becomes more necessary when two assassins locate Silas and try to kill him. Driven by his despair that his lover might get hurt, Silas allows himself to shift into his lion form and the rush of adrenaline, the fight with the two shifters brings back his memory.

He must go back to his Pride and most importantly he must find the person that wants him dead. To do that he has to leave Theo. A Wolf and a Lion cannot be together, can they? Can Silas make their relationship work?

I enjoyed reading this a lot. It is a very exiting story that has it all. Love, sensuous and hot lovemaking, suspense, mystery, conspiracy, interesting characters and a plot with a twist in the first installment of the Ariel Estate series that will make you want for more. I certainly can’t wait for part two.