Have you ever met a 30-year-old male virgin? Probably not. Well, readers, meet Sorcerer Garon Rothwell. And do not make the mistake of comparing him to Steve Carell in “The 40-Year-Old Virgin.” Considering all the women after him, Garon is a first-rate handsome hunk. He chooses not to have sex because he will lose his power. In fact, he does not even ejaculate. Yes, dear readers, he cannot even masturbate.

I hope you see the picture more clearly now. Garon embodies a person who could have hooked up with numerous women but has tremendous self-restraint to protect his power, a family legacy. He happens to be content to continue with his extreme celibate lifestyle - that is, until Tara Carlisle enters his life. She is very different from all the women he met before; she is an ex-army intelligence officer – a smart, strong, self-reliant, stubborn, and not easily intimidated woman. But more importantly, they feel the attraction and connection with each other from the very start that they have never felt for anyone before.

Garon, of course, tries to stay away from the very tempting Tara. However, Erzebet Bathory’s (the infamous Blood Countess, who killed more than 600 virgin girls around 400 years ago) evil spirit possesses one of the women in Tara’s small town, continuing to kill virgin girls. Together, they will endeavor to stop Erzebet, but it means resisting all temptation which could result in him losing all his power. He definitely cannot afford to fight the Blood Countess without it.

I always enjoy reading a novel wherein an author incorporates a real person into a work of fiction. It surely gives a new meaning to historical fiction (or more accurately, fictionalized history). Erzebet Bathory happens to be one of the most evil, cruel, and interesting women in history. Then, Lynne Connolly added a new twist – a virgin hero and sexually experienced heroine! She certainly broke the mold with Garon and Tara. It was effective because Garon’s being a virgin (not to be equated with innocence) is essential to the story and instead of making him weak, he comes out stronger. Furthermore, Tara’s experience gives her more leverage and strength. She is not your typical damsel in distress. Plus, Helen’s predatory and aggressive sexual style as Tara’s foil also shows how different the two friends are. Not only is this novel well written, it is also well thought out.

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Loose Id
• Book Length: Novel
• Language: English
• ISBN: 978-1-59632-964-5

To purchase an eBook copy of Treasure Laid Bare click here.

Books in the Department 57 series in the order they should be read:
Cat’s Eyes
Topaz Delirium
Liquid Crystal
Chemistry of Evil
Crystal Captive
Treasure Laid Bare

(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Chase Maynord, a powerful sorcerer, was told that his girlfriend, Jillian Miller, died three years ago in a car accident. Even though he did not believe the authorities, he cannot find her, so he forced himself to move on. Then out of nowhere, Jillian walks back into his life, albeit significantly changed with much of her memory of their time together gone. However, his love for her never died, and this time around, he would not let her go.

Jillian comes back into Chase’s life with an agenda. She believes she is Caroline Cross pretending to be Jillian Miller with the task of delivering him to International Research and Development Clinic (IRDC). Sure, she understands that having sex with Chase comes with the job description, what she does not anticipate is the genuine attraction and desire she feels for him. And she realizes that many of the things she was told about him and other Talents like him are not true at all.

Of course, Chase knows she is the real deal. IRDC cannot fool a powerful sorcerer like him with a fake Jillian. It has become his task to help her unlock her memories – whatever is left of it. And, at the same time, make this new Jillian fall in love with him again. But time is running out for them. Dr. Bennett, the person responsible for brainwashing Jillian, wants him and this evil doctor (we met him in Red Alert) will not hesitate using her to get to him.

As we have come to expect from her, Ms. Connolly again delivers an exciting page turner. Red Heat is definitely as strong as Red Alert, and I definitely enjoyed seeing the characters I met in the first book of the Storm series. By the way, this novel is even hotter than Red Alert; from the very first time Chase and Jillian met again, they cannot keep their hands off of each other. Their chemistry just sizzles. Plus, the special way Ms. Connolly handled the second chance formula make this read extremely romantic. What more can you ask for? Definitely nothing more.

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
• Book Length: Plus Novel
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9781419922435

To Purchase an electronic copy of Red Heat click here.

Books in the STORM series in the order they should be read:
Red Alert
Red Heat

(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Some people are out to eradicate the Talents (Shapeshifters, Vampires, Sorcerers, etc.). Thus, STORM (Society of Talented Officers Resisting Mistreatment) is created to fight against the preconceived notions of the “normal” majority. Now, they are finally going to come out in the open, using the media as their outlet. The majority needs to see they are civilized citizens of the world.

Megan Armstrong goes to the doctor to get rid of her very vivid, disturbing nightmares. Surely, all of it is hallucination; no one can be that cruel, immorally experimenting and torturing Ricardo, a professed dragon shape-shifter. She naively shares everything with the doctors and, after going through several tests, believes that she has brain tumor. But while talking with one of the doctors, alarm bells started ringing (and a masculine, velvety voice warns her) something is definitely wrong.

Alessandro (Sandro) Gianetti knows Megan’s dreams are real since Ricardo happens to be his brother. He has been looking for his brother for weeks and found out days ago that Ricardo has telepathically connected with Megan. So, he swoops down and saves her from a similar fate to Ricardo.

For whatever reason, Megan has the telepathic talent to connect with Ricardo despite all the security imposed in the clinic. Thus, she is essential to Sandro in finding his brother and exceedingly important to the IRDC (International Research and Development Clinic), a front for the agency responsible for the cruel experimentation and torture of Talents, including Ricardo.

In their quest to find Ricardo, Sandro and Megan never expected the sexual and emotional pull that they strongly feel for each other. He knows he cannot promise Megan any kind of future and tries hard to stay away. But the dangers and life-threatening experiences Megan goes through (and the irresistible draw between them) compels him to stick by her side. Is their undeniable love for each other enough for them to risk everything to find a way to be together?

Lynne Connolly has written another compelling novel. I could not stop reading until I was done with it. Even though it is all fantasy, she draws a very realistic alternate universe. The Talents and their powers are highly appealing. Without sounding preachy, Ms. Connolly also teaches us a moral lesson regarding our human inclination for prejudice and fear of the unknown. It is certainly action packed from cover to cover, and Sandro and Megan are lovable and relatable characters; so are the other secondary characters. I highly recommend this novel and am looking forward to reading the next book.

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
  
• Book Length: Novel
  
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9781419920639
  

To purchase an electronic copy of Red Alert click here.

(3 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Gina had never forgiven Pure Wildfire or Ryan when her step sister died from a drug overdose. Why did Maria die and not Ryan, her husband, who had taken the same drug, the same amount? Could she forget the pain of losing her sister to be the Public Relations agent assigned to the band?

Ryan has not truly wanted a woman for more than a fling since Maria died. And if he thought that there was a possibility, the vision of Maria and her strange death would rise before him to strangle any affection…that is until he saw a woman in the crowd that somehow managed to touch a part of him he thought long dead.

Gina has tried to keep Wildfire out of her mind for the past five years. The memory of her sister is too harsh, too much, too cutting. But when her father’s PR company is hired to promote Wildfire, she is chosen to lead the team. Can she put aside her personal feelings and be professional enough to do what she can to help Wildfire? Or will her feelings get in the way of her job and in the way of the connection she feels for Ryan?

Icefire started off completely differently than Sunfire, and it made it just as obvious in the tale that this was about Ryan, Maria, and Gina, with the rest of the band only playing as secondary members. I actually enjoyed the difference in the tale. This started with the here and now filtered with memories of the past and hot steamy scenes. It caught my attention in the beginning and held it until the very end. I loved seeing the story develop more, although I think that I would enjoy the story even more if these tales were fleshed to a full 3-400 page novel! I would love to see some more visual aids, more descriptiveness of the surroundings, but even written as it is, it is more than good enough to keep my attention! I fell in love with the headstrong Gina and, as much as I have gotten tired of the morose, emotional hero, I enjoyed Ryan. He was not as embroiled in his past mistakes as trying to ensure that they never happened again. I definitely have enjoyed this series so far and can’t wait to dive into Moonfire!

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
  
• Book Length: Novel
  
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9781419916410
  

To purchase an electronic copy of Icefire click here.

Books in the Pure Wildfire series in the order they should be read:
Sunfire
Icefire
Moonfire
Thunderfire

(2 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Corinne knows that her time as a musician is coming to an end. The music is becoming stale. And she doesn’t know what she wants… at least not until Aidan walks into her father’s home. Can Aidan add some spark to her music? To her life?

Aidan hears music as he walks up to the mansion that his band’s manager lives and works in. Could this be the pure classical guitarist? Or is she more than that? What could she be to him?

When given the chance to escape her father, Corinne must decide:should she just give in to the contract for five more albums or take the easier way out that Aidan is offering? Can he truly give her the freedom she craves or will it just be a different type of prison? Will he really help her to fly free?

When I first started this book, I was not sure that I would like it. Oh goody, a classic guitarist turned rock guitarist. I figured it would just be a whole bunch of wild rides, pun intended. And I was never happier to be wrong! I had read the fourth book first - a big no no with series, I know, but because of that, I was expecting a great story with some hot scenes. When it started off with the sensuality with no true story yet, I figured that I might be wrong. But as I read, I found myself being pulled further and further into the story behind it all. I found myself being drawn into the plot and rooting in my head for Corinne and Aidan. The uniqueness of the characters is not in the fact that they are shape shifters; it is in the act of their love. I enjoyed the story behind the story, in this case. Not the fact that they were shifters, not that they were a rock band, but the feelings of love and family that this entire story provokes. I was looking for something more than just a shifter romance when I started reading Sunfire, and Lynne Connolly definitely gave me what I was looking for! Looking for something that is hot and heavy, yet still manages to be sweet and poignant? Then you should definitely check into the Wildfire series.

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
  
• Book Length: Novel
  
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9781419914386
  

To purchase an electronic copy of Sunfire click here.

Books in the Pure Wildfire series in the order they should be read:
Sunfire
Icefire
Moonfire
Thunderfire

(2 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Ashley Westfall knows what makes her older sister and husband’s double guitar solo so fantastic: telepathy. And she envies her sister that wonderful closeness. But while her sister deserves that special bond, she doesn’t feel as though she does. Could she be wrong? Could that special someone have been right there the whole time? Or is she just imagining things?

Chris has a secret, one that only a select few know. And although he has known Ashley a while, she is just recently bringing that Alpha “got to protect the woman” kind of feeling. He feels as though she could be “the one”. But if she is, then he must take a chance on telling her.

Sometimes life sneaks up and bites you in the butt! Something old can turn into something new, as Ashley and Chris come to find out. They have been buddies for a while now, each able to take their pleasure and move on making no demands for anything else. But one night of soft passion changes that. Can they make more of what they have had, or is it just a passing fancy?

Lynne Connolly definitely gets the” READ THIS SERIES!” cheer! I was immediately drawn into the story with the intensely erotic scenario of the concert, and Ashley’s thoughts and feelings. The scenes and fantasies played out are done with great imagination and written so that it is easy to live vicariously through Ashley. And the action that fills the pages make this a could-not-put-it-down kind of book! I could empathize with Ashley in her dilemma of self knowledge and sanctity of family ties. I loved the caring that Chris starts to show, not just to Ashley but all the way around! When you get to grow with the characters, and never lose interest, it is the mark of a good book and a great author. I highly recommend this series and this book! And best of all, it can be read as a standalone or as a part of the series. So if you have yet to read the series, go get it! You won’t be disappointed.

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
  
• Book Length: Novel
  
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9781419920219
  

To purchase an electronic copy of Thunderfire click here.

Books in the Pure Wildfire series in the order they should be read:
Sunfire
Icefire
Moonfire
Thunderfire

(2 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Jake Keys lives his rock and roll life to it’s fullest as the bass player for Wildfire. He’s married to a woman named Cheryl, but in name only. Jake and Cheryl married so that Cheryl could get the money from her mother’s estate. Now Cheryl’s dead, and Jake is on a mission to find out who did it.

Teri is the main suspect in Cheryl’s murder. Rumors abound that Teri and Cheryl were lovers, but in truth they were only business partners. Cheryl did tell Teri a secret about her mock-husband…he’s a firebird shapeshifter. Teri knows Jake can get in her mind, so when he returns to his hometown to look for Cheryl’s murderer, she allows him into her mind to prove her innocence. Will he invade her heart as well?

Moonfire is the third novel in the Pure Wildfire series. I have to say that I really enjoyed this book. It was different and it put a fresh spin on the world of the shapeshifters. The hero Jake was sexy and humble, which was something I didn’t expect from the rocker playboy. The sex scenes are H-O-T hot. The relationship between Jake and Teri moved a little fast for me. Other than that, Moonfire was a great read and comes highly recommended from me. I would suggest that you read her series in order – Sunfire is first and Icefire is second. The fourth installment is Thunderfire.

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
  
• Book Length: Novel
  
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9781419919015
  

To purchase an electronic copy of Moonfire click here.

Books in the Pure Wildfire series in the order they should be read:
Sunfire
Icefire
Moonfire
Thunderfire

(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

 Loading ...