The Virgin – Tiffany Reisz

The Virgin
Tiffany Reisz
Mira, Mar 31 2015, $14.95
ISBN 9780778317975

On the eve of their wedding in Scotland, dominatrix Nora Sutherlin the novelist and Father Søren, joined by Kingsley, chat about the year that changed everything. During that pivotal period in their lives, twentyish Elle (Nora’s nee name) and Kingsley left New York; each fleeing from their heartless master Søren.

Elle stayed with her mom at the latter’s convent in Upstate New York where she soon enjoyed a sexual relationship as the dom with a sub virgin nun Kyrie that led to the emergence of the author and dominatrix. Kingsley went to Haiti where he liberated Juliette from the French ambassador and fell in love with her.

The third Original Sinners: The White Years (see The Saint and The King) is a must read for series fans (see The Red Years) as The Virgin fills in the backstory of what happened during that critical year of change. The delightful Kingsley-Juliet subplot adds complexity to both characters especially the female; while the Elle-Kyrie segue lacks that same level of intensity perhaps because the much more mesmerizing mother-daughter relationship overwhelms it.

Harriet Klausner

Darker Than Desire – Shiloh Walker

Darker Than Desire

Shiloh Walker

St. Martin’s Paperbacks, Mar 3 2015, $7.99

ISBN: 9781250032423

Two decades ago David Sutter fled abuse in Madison, Indiana to hide amidst the welcoming Amish as Caine Yoder, taken in by Abraham who recently died.  Though he feels unworthy of love, Caine is attracted to Sybil Chalmers.  Even as she has own issues such as raising her sister’s nephew, Sybil has loved David ever since they first met ten years ago.

Motivated by a mission to shut down his late father’s Cronus Club permanently and feeling no longer needing to hide, David tells Sarah he is going home where half the town considers him a freak and the rest classify him a monster.  In Madison, David visits old Max to learn the truth from the man who helped him flee twenty years ago and cleaned up the mess the then teen left behind.  As he finds out more about his vile heritage, someone kills Max.  Grieving for the old man, he misses and worries about his beloved Sybil and her ward.  Still David adamantly refuses to act on his feelings knowing she deserves better than an emotional cripple like him.

The latest Secrets & Shadows novel (see Sweeter Than Sin and Deeper than Need) is the best entry so far (including three e-books) due to a profound firsthand look at the long term effect of paternal depravity on a teen victim.  As before, this is not an easy read due to the subject matter though even more heart-wrenching than previous works.  Even as the killer’s identity seems over the top of historic St. Michael the Archangel Church, Shiloh Walker authors a compelling romantic suspense that leaves readers once again to root for an HEA between two PTSD sufferers.

Harriet Klausner

Vanilla – Megan Hart

Vanilla

Megan Hart

Mira, Feb 24 2015, $14.95

ISBN: 9780778318040

Elise Klein loves being a Dom to her male subs with her latest partner being Esteban; while her mother and older sister loathe her lifestyle especially the BDSM photo-shoots.  While modeling at an exhibit, Elise meets her twin brother Evan’s co-worker Niall Black.  To her astonishment she is attracted to him although she never moved past the one who abandoned her several years ago.

Reciprocating Elise’s desire and well aware of her sexual appetite from the gala where they just met, Niall explains to her he is uncomfortable with the thought of being her submissive.  Their relationship seems dead until they see each other again at her nephew’s bar mitzvah.

Complex Elise turns Vanilla into a beautiful BDSM relationship romance with her acting on, in spite of family scorn, what she wants; yet ironically she remains obsessively attached to a person she cannot have. That is until Niall shows her the true meaning of loving intimacy while he also struggling between his and her desires.  Whereas the meandering storyline moves at a leisurely-pace, erotic romance readers will cherish this heated character-driven (by the protagonist and enhanced by a three-dimensional support cast) contemporary.

Harriet Klausner

A Last Chance Christmas-Vicki Lewis Thompson

A Last Chance Christmas

Vicki Lewis Thompson

Harlequin Blaze, Nov 18 2014, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373798278

Ben Radcliffe drives the icy roads from Sheridan to Jackson Hole to deliver a custom made saddle that Jack Chance commissioned as a family birthday present to his mom Sarah on her seventieth birthday.  At the Last Chance Ranch, Jack loves Ben’s artistry, which relieves the tense artisan as this is his biggest commission.

Also staying at the spread, Chance relative Molly Gallagher the genealogist works on a family tree.  When she and Ben meet, each feels a powerful uncomfortable attraction.  As they fall in love, the reclusive Ben revises his opinion about family being undesirable hemorrhoid creators since the loving rowdy Chance clan embraced him as one of them and Molly wants him.

The fourteenth Sons of Chance (see Riding Home, Riding Hard and Riding High) Wyoming ranch romance is a pleasing tale as two professionals with polar opposite views of family fall in love.  Although understandable as apparently this is the last entry, the Chance horde at times overwhelms the romantic storyline.  Still Vicki Lewis Thompson provides her appreciative audience with a nice Christmas present.

Harriet Klausner

Taken-Lora Leigh

Taken
Lora Leigh
St. Martin’s, Jul 22 2014, $14.99
ISBN: 9781250045454

“Reno’s Chance.” Raven loves her best friend Morganna’s brother, but Reno treats her like another sister. With Reno on leave, Raven decides this is the time to show him what she wants.

“For Maggie’s Sake.” Grant fooled his wife Maggie and his SEAL friend Joe as part of the vicious Fuentes gang. Joe believes Maggie who he loved but lost to Grant somehow is involved with this dangerous drug lord. He reassesses his belief when his Maggie is abducted.

“Atlanta Heat.” Mason and Emerson are attracted to each other, but he refuses to act on his desire out of fear her godfather Admiral Holloran would fry certain body parts he cherishes. A failed kidnapping brings the pair’s feelings out into the open.

“Night Hawk.” For three years Elite Ops agents “Black Jack” and “Night Hawk” have met clandestinely sharing no personal information. This night is their last time together.

“Cooper’s Fall.” Former army ranger Ethan has the biggest boner of his life when he stares out his window like a pervert seeing virginal Sarah naked (except for nipple rings) masturbating; unaware he is the star of her sexual fantasies.

“Sheila’s Passion.” Nick saw a lot of crap while in combat as a marine. Out of the service, Nick loves Sheila, but believes she sees him as a pal after being hurt recently by a former boyfriend. Sheila wants Nick to admit he passionately loves her. The dynamics change when an adversary threatens Sheila.

These six reprinted erotica tales star “Real Men” (from Lora Leigh’s series) and females proving to be their equals. Though the plots are thin, The Heat Is On (Glenn Frey) every page.

Harriet Klausner