Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead

When it comes to jobs in hell, being a succubus seems pretty glamorous. A girl can be anything she wants, the wardrobe is killer, and mortal men will do anything just for a touch. Granted, they often pay with their souls, but why get technical?

But Seattle succubus Georgina Kincaid's life is far less exotic. At least there's her day job at a local bookstore: free books; all the white chocolate mochas she can drink; and easy access to bestselling, sexy writer, Seth Mortensen, aka He Whom She Would Give Anything to Touch but Can't.

But dreaming about Seth will have to wait. Something wicked is at work in Seattle's demon underground. And for once, all of her hot charms and drop-dead one-liners won't help because Georgina's about to discover there are some creatures out there that both heaven and hell want to deny. . .

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An intriguing book with a storyline that keeps you guessing, pointing you in one direction then revealing it had sent you down a blind alley so to speak. It will make you think, and to second guess your conclusions at times, just as any good mystery should. While I suspected who the villain was, I wasn't really sure of it until just before it was revealed. Still, there were a few twists at the end I didn't quite see coming, and the ending left me very curious to see what will happen next.

Satin & Oak by Xavier Edwards

Gerome and Sara lived in a small village. They both had small jobs, just enough to pay the bills. It was Christmas time and they had no money to spare between them.

They couldn’t afford the luxury of a Christmas tree, let alone buying each other gifts. Gerome was good with his hands and went off to his small wooden shed to make a special gift for Sara. He knew she loved his wooden handiworks. He would surprise her on Christmas day with a sexy gift that she could use in the bedroom.

Sara on the other hand was more interested in decorating their small stone built house. She decided that they would decorate themselves up for Christmas day rather than beautifying up their home. The only thing she had was red and green ribbon, a set of Christmas lights and a little tinsel. Gerome had told her that all he wanted for Christmas was her. He would have her as the decoration to celebrate Christmas and his gift.

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A sweet "times are hard" Christmas story. It is rather confusing, however, particularly in terms of trying to get a fix on the time period it takes place in. The couple that lives in a cottage by the woods in a small village that serves the lord of the manor, he a carpenter in the lord's employ, and she working at seamstress and midwifing jobs as needed has a very historical, dark ages or medieval feel to it, but then there are mentions of lights, and children that have grown and moved away, and tickets so they can travel, all of which sounds a lot more modern. So I'm confused as to whether this is meant to be a historical or a contemporary, though for the most part it reads like a historical with a few anachronisms thrown in.

A Man for the Season by Xavier Edwards

It was the night before Christmas and Rachel had no boyfriend to celebrate Christmas with.Her friends eagerly tried to fix her up with a date,night after night.No one could find the perfect man for her.

A handsome dark haired stranger walked into the bar as they toasted with Christmas cheer.Rachel's jaw dropped as this delicious looking guy walked straight across to her with mistletoe above his head and smacked a kiss on her lips.Would this be her christmas gift or her man for all seasons?

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A cute story that's sure to leave a goofy smile on your face, even if it's only inside your mind. A little bit whimsical, a little bit hot, with a dash of paranormal flavor thrown in, it's just the thing to fit the bill when you're looking for a steamy little story to spend a little time with, especially on a late night near Christmas. There is just enough revealed about the characters, especially Nick, and their backstories, to make you want to know more, though perhaps the charm here lies in the fact that everything isn't laid out and explained in detail. The hints we're give are enough to fill in the blanks and make the whole thing more intriguing that it might be if everything were spelled out. Recommended for anyone who likes short story erotica who is looking to be entertained and titillated for a short while.

• A Man for the Season on Goodreads
• Xavier Edwards's website

Phantom Lovers by Marie Medina

Lyndsay never believed in ghosts and always nodded indulgently when the old timers in the theater tried to convince her otherwise. But two sexy ghosts have been watching her, and waiting. When they appear to her, she hesitates despite the desire that immediately burns in her veins. At first she wonders how she can trust the two mysterious men, but soon she convinces herself how foolish it would be to resist them. Yet even as she indulges in all the pleasures they offer her, she doesn’t confess her true feelings. She never imagined giving her heart to more than one man in the first place, so how can she give it to two men who aren’t even alive?

Be Warned: menage sex (MMF), anal sex, m/m sex.





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A surprisingly sweet short story that's also smoking hot and unexpectedly developed. Despite the short length, the characters aren't flat stereotypes but have definite personalities of their own, something that is always pleasant to find. We learn the essential parts of John and William's backstory, but not much of Lyndsay's, though that doesn't seem to matter much as there is the sense that her life has been fairly ordinary up until now. From their first encounters it is easy to feel the heat between these three, and when the guys finally reveal themselves to her it quickly becomes electric. I'd expected them to start having sex almost right away after they revealed themselves, but surprisingly it doesn't. Instead, the guy's introduce themselves, kiss her rather thoroughly, but then back off to give her time to get to know them, only gradually easing into a physical relationship. After that, whether it's just John and William together or all three of them, the action is so hot you can almost see steam coming from the screen. Definitely a recommended quick read for anyone that likes menage erotica or paranormal erotica.

• Phantom Lovers on Goodreads
• Marie Medina's website

The Rough Mating of a Vampire by J.S. Scott

Adare Connor is a vampire, the oldest of his kind to ever find his mate. Kristin Sparks, a human, owns his soul. (literally) In a rough, wild and volatile mating, Kristin will return his soul to him, making them bonded mates. Adare knows that the mating will bring out every carnal, possessive and dominant instinct he has. It's the nature of vampire matings. Will his destined mate be able to withstand the rough mating with a vampire of his age and power, or will it crush the love she has for him? Come along to the mating ceremony and find out in "The Rough Mating Of A Vampire" and see if Adare and Kristin get their HEA.

18+ ONLY - This short story contains graphic sex, graphic language, rough sex, restraints, spanking and other subjects meant for adults only.




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A quick story that obviously is mostly just meant to present a hot sex scene and serve as something of an introduction for a new series. Thin on characterization, which is only to be expected, it's hard to really feel the intense emotions that Kristin and Adare supposedly have for one another. Still, they are intriguing enough as characters to make you wish there was more to their story. How did they meet? What are they like as people? We get some sense of the latter, but not enough. Perhaps in the series proper we'll see more of them and get to know them better.

The Keeper of the Key by Debra Smith

Kate, an everyday book store owner, is thrown into a world of danger after receiving a letter from her deceased husband. She follows the clues into the arms of Xander, a tough guy she can’t stop herself from wanting. Her passions ignite from a single glance, and she is unable to control her desires. Her love isn’t enough to save her, because a human can never survive a vampire's hunger.

Xander admires the fiery temper of the seductive human he’s determined to help. She must follow the dangerous trail onto which her dead husband’s message leads, for it ends in the mythical land of Shangri La. In an effort to save her, Xander bonds them together, sentencing her to death unless he can reverse the blood tie. Though he craves her touch, he's forced to push her away while they battle their way to the chaos at the heart of Shangri La. Can he protect her from her family’s secrets and find a way for both of them to survive, or will their love be lost in the pits of a crumbling castle?

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Note: I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting read by a new author who shows a lot of promise. A "return to Eden" kind of story where the protagonists are Kate, a bookstore owner who lost her husband a prior to the opening of the book and Xander, the vampire who had been one of her husband's colleagues. At the start of the book, Kate receives a mysterious package from her late husband that contains a pendant and a cryptic letter telling her that she's in danger and that she needs to find Xander and accomplish some unspecified task with the pendant. She dutifully heads out looking for Xander, and so the adventure begins.

My Life As a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland

Angel Crawford is a loser.

Living with her alcoholic deadbeat dad in the swamps of southern Louisiana, she's a high school dropout with a pill habit and a criminal record who's been fired from more crap jobs than she can count. Now on probation for a felony, it seems that Angel will never pull herself out of the downward spiral her life has taken.

That is, until the day she wakes up in the ER after overdosing on painkillers. Angel remembers being in an horrible car crash, but she doesn't have a mark on her. To add to the weirdness, she receives an anonymous letter telling her there's a job waiting for her at the parish morgue—and that it's an offer she doesn't dare refuse.

Before she knows it she's dealing with a huge crush on a certain hunky deputy and a brand new addiction: an overpowering craving for brains. Plus, her morgue is filling up with the victims of a serial killer who decapitates his prey—just when she's hungriest!

Angel's going to have to grow up fast if she wants to keep this job and stay in one piece. Because if she doesn't, she's dead meat.

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A fun book that I enjoyed far more than I originally thought I would. Zombies aren't normally my thing, but this book made them relatable and normal-seeming. Right from the start Ms. Rowland has you sympathizing with Angel, and rooting for her to figure out how to survive and to thrive in her new life. While there are some scenes and descriptions that are more than a little gross, the ick factor is usually mitigated with humor to help make it less repugnant.