Shorts Saturday: A multi book review post.

Bondage with the Boss-- Erin Fraser.

Synopsis: Swinging, ambitious couple Aidan and Sinead use their purpose built basement and mutual love of bondage to impress his boss, but the best laid plans can have unexpected outcomes...
The Nerd's Ramble: A short erotic short that I didn't really enjoy. There wasn't any build up, and the whole short was rushed. I didn't really care too much for the constant bashing of one of the partners involved, and there was something that just rubbed me the wrong way. I received this free from a giveaway. Some people will really enjoy this, I just didn't really care too much for it.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Total Length: 5,700 words
Available Format: Epub
Publication Date: February 2, 2011
Author Link: Erin Fraser on Goodreads










Erotic Blossoms: Iris Sample of Sin-- Elizabeth Woodham.


Synopsis: I discovered a lovely bar with a restaurant attached, accessed by way of steps leading down from the street into a basement. It looked unremarkable from the outside, but on reaching the lower level, large glass doors showcased a welcoming bar, complete with small dance floor, lounge and dining area, the latter had a busy sectioned off room behind glass doors for smokers, smoking appeared popular in the city, more so than in my home town. I don’t smoke, so the waiter sat me in the outer area, took my drink order, left me a menu and disappeared.

The Nerd's Ramble: I received this free as a gift in a giveaway, and frankly I deleted it as soon as I finished it. I was disgusted by it, not because of the sex, but the characters themselves were loathsome to me. I didn't like that the male character was cheating--and bragging about his conquests. Just not my cup of tea. If you're into that sort of stuff, more power to you, but otherwise I'd suggest that you skip this. Which is sad because I enjoyed the other short I've read by Elizabeth Woodham.

Rating:★☆☆☆☆
Total Length: 19 pages
Available Format: Kindle
Publication Date: March 6, 2012 (Erotica Express)

Author Link:  Elizabeth Woodham on Goodreads














Cover Her Eyes-- J.J. Asher.


Synopsis: 'Cover Her Eyes’, an erotic tale of a couple and the games they play is both harsh and erotic; JJ has written two short pieces, linked by the main characters (Adam and Isabel). Isabel yearns to indulge their fantasies and it’s Adam’s business and pleasure to make his wife's wishes come true.

In the first story, ‘Playing with the Boys’, Isabel indulges one of her greatest desires, and in the second, ‘Cover Her Eyes’, Adam arranges for his secretary to take down a little more than simple dictation! Erotic, sexy, but rarely romantic, JJ’s stories are supremely entertaining. Enjoy

The Nerd's Ramble: Gangbang in the locker room, and an affair with a secretary. This was a prize in a giveaway. Again, this isn't really my cup of tea. I don't mind erotica, and it's a genre that I'm getting into, but I prefer more of a buildup and more backstory and less demeaning chit-chat with my smut. I don't mind dirty talk and naughty things, but this crosses the line in more than a couple places. Again, some may really enjoy this, but it's not really my cup of tea.

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆
Total Length: 6,000 words
Available Format: epub
Publication Date: September 3, 2011 (Secret Narrative)
Author Link: JJ Asher on Goodreads

Book Review: Obscura Burning by Suzanne van Rooyen

Synopsis: The world's going to end in fire...and it's all Kyle's fault.

Kyle Wolfe's world is about to crash and burn. Just weeks away from graduation, a fire kills Kyle's two best friends and leaves him permanently scarred. A fire that Kyle accidentally set the night he cheated on his boyfriend Danny with their female friend, Shira. That same day, a strange new planet, Obscura, appears in the sky. And suddenly Kyle's friends aren't all that dead anymore. Each time Kyle goes to sleep, he awakens to two different realities. In one, his boyfriend Danny is still alive, but Shira is dead. In the other, it's Shira who's alive...and now they're friends with benefits. Shifting between realities is slowly killing him, and he's not the only one dying. The world is dying with him. He's pretty sure Obscura has something to do with it, but with his parents' marriage imploding and realities shifting each time he closes his eyes, Kyle has problems enough without being the one in charge of saving the world...

The Nerd's Ramble: Obscura Burning is the story of Kyle Wolf and how his world is slowly crumbling around him. Caught between two different realities, one where his boyfriend is alive and their friend Shira is dead, and the other where Shira lives, but Danny, Kyle’s boyfriend has died.  The shifting reality, the appearance of Obscura, and the fight against time are tearing Kyle apart, and he ends up not only fighting for his life, but the salvation of Earth.

It took me a couple of chapters to get oriented with the world and the events that were going on. I feel that there could have been just a little more back story and set up, but it’s not detrimental to the pacing, or the story overall. I really enjoy the issues that were presented in this book and how the characters deal with them, and the emotions that go along with them. I like that Kyle Wolfe is more of an anti-hero or a dark hero, but I tend to fall for characters who have baggage.

The book is well written, well paced and the characters are ones that I keep thinking about and coming back to. I like the science in this story, and the fact that it’s a very different take on an apocalyptic story. Kyle, whether you love him or hate him, will stick with you for a while. The ending of this book is something that I would not change. I like the way it ends, and the sentiment in the ambiguity.

Obscura Burning is a book that I would recommend to people, even if they’re a bit turned off by the ‘young-adult’ label. It’s mature and fast paced, dealing with some heavy issues. I like that the main character is conflicted with his own personal issues, along with having to deal with the societal labels that go along with them. It’s a great, wild read and I can’t stop thinking about it.

Rating:★★★★☆ 
Total Length:  300 pages
Available Format: Epub and traditional
Publication Date: December 7, 2012 (Etopia Press)
Author's Link: Suzanne Van Rooyen on Goodreads
Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book by BTS Magazine for a review. I was not compensated or influenced in any way. All thoughts and opinions are my own.