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-- Chosen (House of Night #3) P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast.

Synopsis:  Dark forces are at work at the House of Night and fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird’s adventures at the school take a mysterious turn.  Those who appear to be friends are turning out to be enemies.  And oddly enough, sworn enemies are also turning into friends.  So begins the gripping third installment of this “highly addictive series” (Romantic Times), in which Zoey’s mettle will be tested like never before.  Her best friend, Stevie Rae, is undead and struggling to maintain a grip on her humanity. Zoey doesn’t have a clue how to help her, but she does know that anything she and Stevie Rae discover must be kept secret from everyone else at the House of Night, where trust has become a rare commodity.  Speaking of rare: Zoey finds herself in the very unexpected and rare position of having three boyfriends. Mix a little bloodlust into the equation and the situation has the potential to spell social disaster.  Just when it seems things couldn’t get any tougher, vampyres start turning up dead. Really dead. It looks like the People of Faith, and Zoey’s horrid step-father in particular, are tired of living side-by-side with vampyres.  But, as Zoey and her friends so often find out, how things appear rarely reflects the truth…

The Nerd's Ramble:  Despite the spelling of vampire (yes, I will mention that in probably every review of this series, it just gets under my skin, and I can't let it go) and the teenage angst/cliches I really liked the first two books of this series. They were so promising. The House of Night presented a different take on vampires, one that really stuck with me and made me think. Not to mention, on a purely superficial level the covers of the books that I own are absolutely gorgeous.

Chosen, however, is a whole different kettle of fish. Rather than the amazing plot and conflict that is hinted at by other characters, or events in the previous two books, and bits and pieces throughout the third, this book instead focuses on Zoey's 'ho-ish behavior.'

Zoey doesn't have a boy problem, she has a honesty problem. She's leading around two boys who in their own way care very much about her, and somehow she's managed to attract the attention of a very 'young and hot' teacher. Teacher/student relationships bother me on a slight level, but for the most part I can ignore it. Not here. Every other paragraph Zoey is slathering on about whatever boy she's daydreaming about for that half second. I understand that romance conflict is interesting, but this is a little much. Especially for a high school student-- who is still the top fledgling and super unique (inching scarily close to the Dreaded Mary Sue Line), has a great group of friends and has to deal with the change.

Also? The constant presentation of stereotypical homosexual cliches in one character have gotten out of hand. Please stop that. This character is way too cool to have this done to him. It's only gotten worse as the series progressed. I wish the Casts had focused on this plot that they've created. The changes that happen to two other supporting characters are interesting and continue to lead the reader into what's going to happen.

I will continue to read this series, as it's sucked me in just enough. I'm hoping Untamed is a bit better.

Marked (House of Night #1)
Betrayed (House of Night #2)

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆
Total Length: 307 pages
Format: Kindle, Epub, Traditional.
Publication Date: March 4, 2008 (St. Martin's Griffin)