TITLE: SEASONS OF SEDUCTION
BY: ANGELA JAMES, EDITOR
Pages: 398
Date: 03/12/02013
Grade: 4+
Details: Received from Carina Press
Through NetGalley
Own/Kindle
The blurb:
What’s on your wish
list?
After indulging in twelve naughty nights in Mexico, a woman
experiences an erotic epiphany. An adventurous elf has her eye on one very sexy
Santa. A married couple hopes to find a very special marine under the
mistletoe. And a holiday mitzvah leads a woman to submit to a man in uniform on
Christmas Day. No matter your fantasies, this collection of four shorts will
add spice and sizzle to cold winter nights.
Edited by Angela James, this anthology
includes:
Five Golden Rings by Jeffe Kennedy
Naughty Nicks by Christine d’Abo
Ménage on 34th Street by Elise Logan and Emily Ryan-Davis
Matzoh and Mistletoe by Jodie Griffin
Stories also available
for purchase separately
Five Golden Rings by Jeffe
Kennedy (4)
The blurb:
On the first day of Christmas, my lover
gave to me…
Matilda
Campbell's plans to spend Christmas solo in the sun take an erotic turn when
she encounters the handsome and enigmatic Miguel D'Oro on the plane to Mexico. As the
CEO of a major firm, Tilda's used to being the one in charge—but now she'll
have to learn how to take orders instead.
In
the spirit of the season, Miguel offers Tilda naughty gifts for each of the
twelve days of Christmas. There's just one rule: she must accept them—and
fulfill his commands—or face the sensual consequences. Intrigued and aroused,
Tilda agrees to let Miguel take control of her pleasure.
What
follows is a week unlike anything she's ever experienced. From choosing her
sexy new wardrobe and naughty accessories, to pushing her boundaries with BDSM
play, Miguel satisfies every forbidden craving. But as their time together runs
out, she must decide if there's room in her real life for her holiday lover and
her newly discovered kinky side.
This was a fun and very kinky story. I loved the idea of ‘The Twelve
Kinky Days of Christmas’ The plans Miguel has for Tilda are original and
inspired, not to mention hot. My only ‘complaint’ is that the story felt a bit
rushed at times, a problem no doubt caused by the length of this novella. The
same is true for the short time span it takes these two characters to decide
that they do want this to be more than just a holiday adventure, especially
since for Tilda everything she experiences is the complete opposite of her
normal persona.
Other than that it was a pure joy
to read this steamy story.
Menage on 34th Street
by Elise Logan & Emily Ryan-Davis (4.5)
The blurb:
“Katrina and Owen Holland
have the perfect marriage, a home in the trendiest part of Baltimore, and a
scorching sex life. As another Christmas approaches, there’s only one thing
still on Kat’s wish list: Hunter Croft. But she made peace long ago with his
decision to choose the marines over their relationship. Until seeing him again
arouses feelings she thought were in the past…
Hunter has spent a decade
outrunning his attraction to both Kat and Owen. But now that he’s stateside,
his self-control crumbles when he comes face to face with the two people who
star in all his favourite fantasies. Their reunion is both erotic and emotional
– and has Hunter wondering if three is really a crowd, after all.
Owen can’t imagine his life
without Kat. But he can imagine a future where the three of them live and love
under one roof. Owen and Kat have shared their bed with other men, but Hunter
is the only one who could ever have a place in their hearts. And this holiday
season, Owen intends to make their dream a reality.
I won’t say a lot more about this story because the full story-line can
be found in the blurb. I will say that I loved it. The dynamic between these
three people is fascinating and realistic. I was so happy that conflicts were
resolved through conversation, and that, although there were emotional
outbursts and reactions, common sense prevailed.
I’m very grateful that the authors didn’t make this story too easy. This
wasn’t a case of they love each other so they’ll live happily ever after. No,
even by the time the story ends you know that these three people will be in a
relationship that requires work and compromise on all sides, that things won’t
always be easy or smooth for them. And because these are three very likeable
characters, you can’t help hoping that they will succeed and find a way to make
it work. I’m delighted to see that there will be a sequel to this story and am
very much looking forward to reading it.
Oh, and did I mention that this story is incredibly hot? Of course
ménage stories, by definition, allow for a whole host of situations that can’t
be achieved with ‘only’ two characters. Let’s just say the authors of this
story give their readers an enticing and extensive idea of all those
possibilities.
Naughty Nicks by Christine
D’Abo (3.5)
The blurb:
Kim
has been the coordinator at Naughty Nicks, home of the sexiest Santa strippers,
every Christmas for three years—and for just as long, she's lusted after her
boss. She enjoys their flirty banter and heated looks, but she's getting tired
of Blake being nice when she's feeling naughty. This year, there's only one
kind of Christmas bonus she wants.
With
each passing holiday season, Blake's attraction to Kim has grown. But after a
bitter divorce, he's not sure he's ready to jump into a new relationship,
especially with an employee. One passionate kiss under the mistletoe and he
realizes he's had enough of looking and not touching. Fortunately, he knows the
perfect way to seduce Kim—a private striptease to prove she's the only elf for
his Naughty Nick.
Novellas
are strange things. Occasionally they’re just right but more often than not
they feel too short, leaving me with the feeling that I would have gotten more
out of the story if only it had been longer. Not so with “Naughty Nick”. I can’t
help feeling that this story would have been at least as good as it is, if not
better, if it had been a bit shorter. For me the whole will they or won’t they
come to their senses went on for too long.
Other
than that, I enjoyed the story. The characters were nice and vivid; the heat
level was high and the sex hot. I enjoyed this cute story and it most certainly
got me in the mood for Christmas, not to mention a stripping Santa.
Matzoh and Mistletoe by Jodie Griffin (5)
The
blurb:
Every
December twenty-fifth, Rebeccah Rickman volunteers through her synagogue so
that others can celebrate Christmas. Her usual mitzvah, or good deed, is
assisting police officer Jeremy Kohler. But this year is different: this year,
Becca is free to act on the attraction that has long simmered between her and
the sexy cop.
Jeremy
couldn't have asked for a better gift than discovering the woman he's
fantasized about for five long years is single. But when he learns about the
violence that broke up Becca's marriage, he's hesitant to pursue her. He fears
his desires will scare her away—but can't deny his own need for control in the
bedroom. Or his longing to instruct her in the fine art of submission…
Becca
is shocked to learn that Jeremy is a sexual dominant. And despite her past,
she's also aroused. But before she can explore what that means, she's going to
have to put her trust in Jeremy—and her own fledgling desires.
Let
me start by saying that I adore Jody Griffin’s stories. I love her Doms and the
strong submissives she creates. Her books and stories, this one included are romantic,
sexy and very hot. When she takes her readers into the world of BDSM she
introduces them both to the dominating and the caring side of this dynamic. Her
Doms, and Jeremy in ‘Matzoh and
Mistletoe’ is no exception, are
first and foremost loving and caring men who put the needs of the women who
submit to them first. They may not be able to deny their need to dominate, they
make very sure their submissives get what they want and need. Even if the woman
in question doesn’t always know theat what she’s getting is exactly what she
wants.
I
loved the care Jeremy took with Becca in this story. Just as I loved Becca’s
willingness to investigate what the man she had been interested in for five
years had to offer, even if it scared her and brought back memories she’d
rather forget. This is a tender love story first and foremost with BDSM the
vehicle through which the tenderness is shared. It was wonderful to join Becca
on her journey while she discovered what her fantasies – the same fantasies her
ex-husband had shamed her for – where like when experienced for real. Watching
Jeremy while he introduces her to the beauty of power-exchange, taking care to
not push her over the edge, was heart-warming.
I’m
running out of ways to express how much I enjoyed this book, so let me finish
by saying that it’s hard not to adore a book that combines a beautiful love
story, with smoking hot scenes and a wicked sense of humor.
When
I discovered that Jodie Griffin didn’t have any plans to return to her Bondage
& Breakfast books my heart sank. Having read this book my worries have
dissipated. I have ever confidence that this is one author who will not let me down;
regardless of the characters she decides to write about.
TITLE: CHRISMAS WITH CADEN
