Another Secret Revealed!

moar funny pictures

I'm guest blogging over at the DIK Ladies blog today talking about... well... DIKs! Oh, and Secret Coves. And there are hot menz involved.

Intrigued? Click here.

Phantasmagoria by Madelynne Ellis

Phantasmagoria by Madelynne Ellis
Historical erotic romance released by Virgin Black Lace 29 Apr 2008


Category: Lava Cake - reads like warm Chocolate Lava Cake... à la Mode... sprinkled with nuts (A,A-)
Flame Height: 8.5" out of 9"

This is the long awaited, much anticipated sequel to A Gentleman's Wager!

Read my review on The Good, the Bad, The Unread!

Madelynne also stopped by the pond and answered some of my fangirl questions! Read my interview with Madelynne Ellis here!

And don't forget to comment to be entered in the contest to win one each of A Gentleman's Wager and Phantasmagoria!

One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

One Foot in the Grave (Night Huntress, book 2) by Jeaniene Frost
Paranormal romance/urban fantasy released 04/29/2008

See index for previous commentary



Category: Peanut M&Ms - mmmm...devour... sigh... then reach for the next one. My daily dose of Insanity-B-Gone. (A-,B+,B)
Flame Height: 5.5" out of 9"


Read my review at The Good, the Bad, the Unread

Fairy Dust by Tielle St. Clare

Fairy Dust by Tielle St Clare
Erotic fantasy released by Ellora’s Cave



Category: M&Ms - a bit lighter and/or not quite as satisfying as Peanut M&Ms, but still Oh-So-Enjoyable! (B,B-,C+,C)
Flame Height: 8.5" out of 9"


Read my review at The Good, the Bad, the Unread

A Gentleman's Wager by Madelynne Ellis

A Gentleman's Wager by Madelynne Ellis

See index for more.



Category: Crème Brûlée - My All-Time Favorite (A+)
Flame Height: 9" out of 9"

Yes, FINALLY! This is the book I've squeed about multiple times and it's FINALLY being re-released! Probably the best damn erotic historical ever written with characters you will never forget. Go buy-- it's a must have.

Read my review at The Good, the Bad, the Unread.

Raine: Lords of Satyr by Elizabeth Amber

Raine: Lords of Satyr, book 2 by Elizabeth Amber

See index for previous books.


Category: Peanut M&Ms - mmmm...devour... sigh... then reach for the next one. My daily dose of Insanity-B-Gone. (A-,B+,B)
Flame height: 8" out of 9"

Read my review at The Good, the Bad, the Unread.

Challenge Protocol by Dawn Ryder

Challenge Protocol by Dawn Ryder


See index for previous books.




Category: Dark Chocolate - loved by some, just "meh" to me (C-,D+)
Flame Height: 6.5" out of 9"


Read my review at The Good, the Bad, the Unread

The Beast in Him by Shelly Laurenston

The Beast in Him (Pride, book 2) by Shelly Laurenston


See index for previous books.



Category: Peanut M&Ms - mmmm...devour... sigh... then reach for the next one. My daily dose of Insanity-B-Gone. (A-,B+,B)
Flame Height: 5.5" out of 9"

Read my review over at The Good, the Bad, the Unread.

Audio Book: Kiss of the Highlander by Karen Marie Moning

Kiss of the Highlander by Karen Marie Moning, narrated by Phil Gigante

Historical Fantasy Audio Book (unabridged) released 20 Jan 08 by Brilliance Audio



Category: Lava Cake - reads like warm Chocolate Lava Cake... à la Mode... sprinkled with nuts (A,A-)
Flame Height: 6" out of 9"

Read my review over on The Good, the Bad, the Unread.

And don't forget to comment to be entered to win your own copy of Kiss of the Highlander on unabridged CDs!

Audio Book Buzz on TGTBTU

I've got some audio book buzz posted over on The Good, the Bad, the Unread.

(and, yes, of COURSE, Phil G. is mentioned!)

Mona Lisa Craving by Sunny

Mona Lisa Craving by Sunny
Fiction novel published 02 Jan 2008 by Berkley Trade









1. Mona Lisa Awakening (see previous commentary)
2. Mona Lisa Three - Over the Moon anthology (see previous commentary)
3. Mona Lisa Blossoming (see previous commentary)
4. Mona Lisa Betwining - On the Prowl anthology (see previous commentary)
5. Mona Lisa Craving

Category: M&Ms - a bit lighter and/or not quite as satisfying as Peanut M&Ms, but still Oh-So-Enjoyable! (B,B-,C+,C)
Flame Height: 4.5" out of 9"


Go read my rant review over on The Good, the Bad, and the Unread

This Just In...

WOOT! Phil Gigante news over on The Good, the Bad, and the Unread!

Congrats, Phil!

And, oh yeah... there's news about some other audio book narrators, too.

Ensnared by Innocence by Larissa Lyons

Ensnared by Innocence by Larissa Lyons
Paranormal Historical eNovella published 23 Jan 2008 by Ellora's Cave







Category: M&Ms - a bit lighter and/or not quite as satisfying as Peanut M&Ms, but still Oh-So-Enjoyable! (B,B-,C+,C)
Flame Height: 6.5" out of 9"

Head over to The Good, the Bad, and the Unread to read my review.

Destiny's Warrior by Heather Waters

Destiny's Warrior by Heather Waters
Historical fantasy romance published 4 Dec 07 by Berkley







Category: M&Ms - a bit lighter and/or not quite as satisfying as Peanut M&Ms, but still Oh-So-Enjoyable! (B,B-,C+,C)
Flame Height: 5" out of 9"


Read my review over at The Good, the Bad, and the Unread

The Perfect Cover by Claire Thompson

Teddypig and Bev(QB)’s review of The Perfect Cover by Claire Thompson
Contemporary gay romance ebook released by Ellora’s Cave 26 Dec 07




Category: M&Ms - a bit lighter and/or not quite as satisfying as Peanut M&Ms, but still Oh-So-Enjoyable! (B,B-,C+,C)
Flame Height: 7" out of 9"

So what happens when an opinionated, Big City Gay Man with a deliciously wicked sense of humor teams up with an opinionated, pervy, suburban Ohio soccer Mom to dish about a Gay Romance written by a female author?

Head over to The Good, the Bad, and the Unread to read the words of wisdom (*snort*) imparted by Teddypig and I in our Dual Review.

uh... do I need to point out that neither one of us has a reliable "V-Chip"?

The Devil's Possession by Heather Waters

The Devil's Possession by Heather Waters
Historical paranormal romance published 7 Aug 07 by Berkley Sensation







Category: M&Ms - a bit lighter and/or not quite as satisfying as Peanut M&Ms, but still Oh-So-Enjoyable! (B,B-,C+,C)
Flame Height: 5" out of 9"


Read my review over at The Good, the Bad, and the Unread

At Love's Command by Samantha Kane

Samantha Kane - Brothers in Arms series
(Ellora's Cave)

Series Category: Crème Brûlée - My All-Time Moan-Out-Loud Favorites. (A+)
Flame Height: 9" out of 9"

1. The Courage to Love - Jason, Tony, Kate (see previous commentary)
2. Love Under Siege - Phillip, Jonathan, Maggie (see previous commentary)
3. Love's Strategy - Valentine, Kurt, Leah (see previous commentary)


4. At Love's Command - Ian, Derek, Sophie

Book Category: Crème Brûlée - My All-Time Moan-Out-Loud Favorites. (A+)
Flame Height: 9" out of 9"

To read my "official" The Good, the Bad, the Unread condensed review of At Love's Command, click here. (Just be warned that it was the innocent victim of TGTBTU's recent template and server changes, so it's a bit wonky and the comments have disappeared. Hopefully, everything at TGTBTU will be working smoothly soon.)

The Brothers in Arms series centers around a group of men who fought together in the Peninsular War. In pairs, they protected each other and saved each other many times over. They love each other but, for some of them, they never considered how much they needed to also physically love each other and could only fulfill that unspoken need by sharing one woman. Once they find a woman they can both love, it also frees them to explore their love for each other.

At Love’s Command is the story of two of the men, Ian and Derek, who have already discovered how much they need each other in every way. But Ian dreams of a “new start with someone not associated with the war and all that happened there… Finally they could put the past behind them and live fully in the present, planning for a future. Ian wanted a family. He wanted children. And he wanted to give those things to Derek, too.” Unfortunately, Derek neither needs nor wants any part of it. He is convinced that a wife will destroy his life with Ian.

“A child when they were betrothed, Sophia Middleton has been waiting twelve years for Ian Witherspoon to return and marry her. Preyed upon by her vicious father and older brother, Sophie longs for Ian to rescue her.”

In this series, Samantha Kane shows us another reality within the Regency era ton… woman had no rights and were at the mercy and whim of the men in their lives. They either accepted their lot in life or held out hope that yet another man would change their circumstances. From the vantage point of our modern times, it is hard to comprehend that women had so little personal power. And as romance readers, we are accustomed to seeing women of the ton treated as pampered, protected pets or, at worst, neglected and ignored by indifferent parents/guardians.

In At Love's Command, it is truly horrifying to learn what Sophia has endured at the hands of her father and brother, made more so by the fact that she really had no choice but to survive it or take her own life… until Ian sends for her. It was heart wrenching to watch her fear of Ian’s rejection and her willing debasement of herself as she grasped at the only hope she would ever have in her life. From her POV, the fact that Ian already had Derek in his life (I assume her brother told her about them) meant that he would make few demands on her sexually and she would feel some measure of freedom and control for the first time.

When I first read the previous books in this series, they immediately landed on my all time favorites list. It still amazes me that, even with this fourth book, Kane’s mastery of erotic scenes somehow allows us to perceive each erotic act to be unique to that set of participants. But as much as I loved those previous books, they almost pale in comparison to At Love’s Command.

Kane’s writing has matured exponentially with this rich, exquisite, multi-dimensional story. Each of the men reminisces about their history together which makes their bond all the more believable and allows us to see their current situation from both viewpoints. And watching Sophie bloom and discover her true personality and sexuality is a delightful journey. Kane weaves Ian’s dreams of a loving triad, Sophie’s dreams of freedom from men’s cruelty, and Derek’s cynicism together and gradually a pattern of mutual respect and caring starts to appear.

I think At Love’s Command could probably be read as a standalone, but I recommend you read them all just for the enjoyment. Most of the characters from the previous books appear but I don’t think it would be difficult to catch the gist of their stories in relation to Ian, Derek, and Sophie’s story. In fact, Kate, her friend Kitty, and her niece Very (all of whom we meet in book 1, The Courage to Love) play important roles in At Love’s Command, but just enough of their back story is mentioned that their presence would make sense to those who haven't read the previous books. FYI: the Majors Richards and Randall who appear in Derek’s and Ian’s Peninsular War reminiscences are the Tony and Jason from The Courage to Love who also appear here in At Love’s Command.

Kane wisely brings an end to a continuing subplot from the previous books that had run its course, although I feel it was a bit out of place and unnecessary here—Sophie’s family member provided more than enough villainy without the need for the additional villain. Thankfully this subplot makes a relatively brief appearance. And I have to admit to a bit of selfish disappointment that this story ends before the ball. I hope the next story opens there.

A note regarding Kate’s niece Very... Very (Veronica) is extremely likeable and a welcome contrast to the other women in the series who have suffered at the mercy of various men. Considering the circumstances in which we meet her and Kate in The Courage to Love, I will concede that Very might be more worldly than the average teen girl within the ton. But in At Love’s Command, I think her precocious adult insight and sexual knowledge strained credulity.

On a more personal note, her erotic scene with Michael and Wolf had me metaphorically cringing behind my hands and peeking out between my fingers to zip through it (FYI: heavy petting, no intercourse). Yes, I realize that it would not be unheard of for a teenager of that era to be married, but since the adults in the story relate to Very as a child, that is how I relate to her too. So the scene had my squick-o-meter alarms clanging and I fervently hope that Kane allows a few years to pass in Very’s life before the triad consummates their relationship.

You know, one of the joys of having a voice in Romancelandia is that I have a platform which allows me to champion authors and books that I consider “MY” squee-worthy discoveries (I bet you have some you feel the same way about). Samantha Kane is a shining example of the gems offered by ePubs at their very best. As it stands now, NY would never touch her bisexual storylines, yet I assert that At Love’s Command deserves to be front and center on the mass market new releases display at every major bookstore.

I can summarize this book, indeed this entire series, in one word… exquisite.

Read an excerpt.

Piquant Opines: Ecataromance, RJ, Teddy Pig, Euro-Reviews,

Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, book 1) by Jeaniene Frost
Paranormal Romance published by Avon 30 October 2007





Category: Peanut M&Ms - mmmm...devour... sigh... then reach for the next one. My daily dose of Insanity-B-Gone. Most books I read fall in this category. (A-,B+,B)
Flame Height: 5.5" out of 9"

Head over to The Good, the Bad and the Unread to read my review.

Anthology: Beyond the Dark by Knight, Holly, Leigh, Whiteside

Beyond the Dark anthology with novellas by Angela Knight, Emma Holly, Lora Leigh, Dianne Whiteside
Paranormal romance published by Berkley Sensations 04 Dec 2007





Category: Peanut M&Ms - mmmm...devour... sigh... then reach for the next one. My daily dose of Insanity-B-Gone. Most books I read fall in this category. (A-,B+,B)
Flame Height: 8" out of 9"

Head over to The Good, the Bad and the Unread to read my review.

TGTBTU Mayhem

Have you been following the Duodecimal mayhem over on TGTBTU? In a salute to the Twelve Days of Christmas, we've got lists of 12-- from 12 favorite cookies to books to characters, etc. with contributers from authors to bloggers to reviewers.

Bev's All-Time Favorite Book Series went up today. Head on over and read all the the Duodecimals. Today's 12 Days of Smart Bitchery is freakin' hilarious!