Rants and Raves – Of Must Read Books…

As an avid reader and a blogger, I realize that almost weekly there’s a new ‘must-read’ book that all the bloggers are raving about. Yet I sometimes come across books that I love so much and wonder why they’re not the talk of (blog) town. So today I thought I’d give a shout-out to books I wish everyone would read.

Broken by Megan Hart

I’ll start with a book that I still think about over and over and over again. Everytime someone asks me about my favorite book, the answer is always the same – Broken by Megan Hart. Of course I think it’s wonderfully written if it’s a favorite. But the best thing about this book is how much emotion it evoked. I cried A LOT, but it also contains so much steam. It’s ridiculous how many times I would go from wiping my tears to fanning myself 😉 So yes, try it and let me know 🙂 -> My Review

My name is different every month — Brandy, Honey, Amy…sometimes Joe doesn’t even bother to ask — but he never fails to arouse me with his body, his mouth, his touch, no matter what I’m called or where he picks me up. The sex is always amazing, always leaves me itching for more in those long weeks until I see him again.

My real name is Sadie, and once a month over lunch Joe tells me about his latest conquest. But what Joe doesn’t know is that in my mind, I’m the star of every x-rated one-night stand he has revealed to me, or that I’m practically obsessed with our imaginary sex life. I know it’s wrong. I know my husband wouldn’t understand. But I can’t stop. Not yet.

Confessions Collection by Leila DeSint

The next book would be the Confessions Collection by Leila DeSint. This is Dark Erotica, so be warned… but what I loved so much about it wasn’t the shocking dark moments, it was how much it played with my mind. It was like a psychological thriller. My heart was beating so hard in some scenes, it reminded me of Jeffrey Archer’s Shall We Tell The President? in how thrilling it was. And Sidney Sheldon’s Tell Me Your Dreams in the psychological element. Highly recommended. -> My Review.

 

Descend into a world of deception, depravity, decadence, desire and desperation… 

In the opulent setting of London’s aristocracy, lives a young woman fractured into two distinct individuals, one face with multiple facets. 

One façade, a whore, London Brown, who will confess unfathomable truths, the other, a loving daughter, Desniah Williams will pull back the curtain to reveal what lurks in the shadows. 

Caden Jacob Carrington V, a politician will do anything to reclaim the woman he lost, including dredging up pains of the past. 

Rhys Christos Edward Stowell, a philanthropist will fight to win the woman he loves while baring the darkness of his soul. 

Nature of Desire Series by Joey W. Hill

Ice Queen, Mirror of my Soul and Rough Canvas by Joey W. Hill. Actually, any book by Joey W. Hill. She’s a BDSM Erotica genius. Ice Queen and Mirror of my Soul have to be read together as it’s the continuing story of Tyler a Dominant and Marguerite a Dominant. One must submit right? It’s so beautifully told… I’m not sure I can express HOW beautiful their story is. There’s a scene where Tyler writes a letter to Marguerite… sigh. Tears! -> My Review for Ice Queen. My Review for Mirror of my Soul.

 

They call her the Ice Queen. At the exclusive BDSM club known as The Zone, Mistress Marguerite is a legend. Tyler Winterman has been fascinated with her since he’s known her, though the rules of their world say they shouldn’t share more than mutual admiration. He is her male counterpart, one of the most powerful male Doms practicing at The Zone.

Due to a computer error, Marguerite lacks the mentoring program stipulation required of all Zone Doms, which includes spending a number of hours learning about BDSM from the submissive’s perspective. Tyler considers it an act of fate that Marguerite chooses him to be the Dom who helps her fulfill that requirement. He is convinced she is a “switch”, a closet submissive, but the truth will be even more remarkable than the theory, changing their lives in ways neither of them anticipates.

Having no equal except one another in their skills at stripping a sub’s defenses bare, these two Dominants will turn their considerable talents on each other and discover that who is Master and who is slave doesn’t matter, not when two souls have found their mate.

Which brings me to Rough Canvas. For all those MM lovers out there. This is up there with my favorite books of all time. As a blogger, I have thousands of books to read for review, yet I re-read Rough Canvas 3 times! It’s BDSM Erotica, about Marcus a dominant and Thomas his submissive. But the angst in this one, the love… I just might go and re-read it right now! My Review.

 

When his father dies, Thomas is forced to abandon a burgeoning art career in New York. As difficult as it was to give up his lifelong dream, it’s nothing next to walking away from the man he loves. Marcus taught him to embrace who he is, a sexual submissive who responds to the touch of only one Master. But why would the sophisticated Marcus need some farm kid from the South?

Then Marcus shows up and offers him a way to continue his art career and help his family. There’s only one hitch — he asks Thomas to spend a week with him in the Berkshires. Thomas knows he should refuse. But he’s never been able to say no to his Master.

The Fifth Favor by Shelby Reed

The Fifth Favor by Shelby Reed was part of my favourite books of 2013. I remember expecting plain old smut. I mean, the story is about a male prostitute and the ‘client’ who falls for him. But it was so much more. A tormented guy learning to believe more in himself, learning how to love and be loved… My Review.

 

Imagine a world where a woman’s every pleasure, every wish and wildest fantasy is granted by the man of her dreams…

Such a world exists inside the walls of Avalon, an elite private club that caters to women’s deepest desires. Billie Cort, a reporter from the raunchy magazine Illicit, has come to Avalon to interview the club’s most popular escort, the breathtakingly sexy Adrian.

Expecting nothing less from a place like Avalon, Billie is still stunned at how effortlessly Adrian brings out her sexual side. Adrian, too, is surprised to find himself thinking about Billie long after their interview is over. Adrian, of course, is irresistible, but Billie isn’t accustomed to being pursued by outrageously attractive male escorts. Adrian wants her, but soon realizes that she can fill a role in his life that’s more than just physical…

Blindfolded Innocence by Alessandra Torre

Blindfolded Innocence by Alessandra Torre, and again to be honest, anything by Alessandra Torre. She has this underlying theme of female sexual empowerment in all her books. At least that’s what I get from them. I love strong heroines and hers are amongst the strongest. There’s Candy the stripper who falls in love with a billionaire in The Dumont Diaries, Madison in a relationship with two men in Sex Love Repeat and then there’s my favorite, Julia the 21 year old intern who tames her 40 year old womanizing boss in Blindfolded Innocence. The wit, the banter = brilliant. -> My Review.

 

“I’m not sure what you have been told about me, but I’m not nearly as bad as they make me out to be.” His deliciously deep voice carried a little bit of ego. 

I’m sure you are exactly as bad as they make you out to be…. 

Brad De Luca is used to getting whatever and whomever he wants. The premier divorce attorney in town, he’s a playboy who’s bedded half the city—including his own clients. And when the newest intern at his firm poses a challenge, his seductive prowess goes into overdrive. 

Pre-law student Julia Campbell is fresh off a failed engagement and happy with her new independence. Even if she weren’t warned away from Brad at every turn, she’d know he was bad news. The last thing she needs is a man who could destroy her job prospects, not to mention her innocence. But before she knows it, the incorrigible charmer has her under his spell. His deviant tastes plunge her deep into a forbidden world of sexual exploration…but her heart may not survive the fall.

Deceptive Innocence by Kyra Davis

Kyra Davis is another author after my heart 🙂 She writes what I like to refer to as Smut for the Smart. Her Erotic Romance books contain twists and turns all engineered by the heroines. There’s Kasie who takes the Art of War to another level in Just One Night and my newest favorite, Bell, seeking revenge in Deceptive Innocence. The latter is an absolute addiction. If you like your erotica clever and thrilling… then pick up Deceptive Innocence… please 🙂 -> My Review.

 

A beautiful young woman is out for revenge—only to find the man she’s targeting has secrets as dangerous as her own, and a passion she cannot resist.

Ever since her mother died while serving time for a murder she didn’t commit, Bell’s been focused on one thing: revenge. She knows her mother was set up by the head of the powerful Gable family, international bankers who will crush anyone for profit, or amusement. Now she’s determined to take the Gables down—from the inside.

Seducing her way into the life—and bed—of the family’s rebellious youngest son, Lander, she figures it should be easy to uncover the secrets she needs to destroy his family. But Lander turns out to be much more complicated than Bell ever could have imagined. He’s enticing, intelligent, mysterious—and their sexual chemistry is off the charts. Lander is still the target, but once Bell gives in to her desire to touch him, he starts seeming much less like an enemy… Which is why her anger is more necessary than ever: Memories of her mother must help fuel her quest for justice to the very end.

Deeper by Robin York

Deeper by Robin York reminds me a bit of Unteachable by Leah Raeder. I will honestly say that I feel weird reading about characters younger than me. It’s silly, I know, but it weirds me out which is why I avoid Young Adult books. The reason these two books are so similar is not only that the characters are younger, at least the heroines are… but also how beautiful written the books are. Lyrical, clever and witty, just how I like it. There’s a scene in Deeper where the heroine talks about botulism and I can’t get it out of my head! Absolutely loved this book. My Review. 

 

When Caroline Piasecki’s ex-boyfriend posts their sex pictures on the Internet, it destroys her reputation as a nice college girl. Suddenly her once-promising future doesn’t look so bright. Caroline tries to make the pictures disappear, hoping time will bury her shame. Then a guy she barely knows rises to her defense and punches her ex to the ground.
 
West Leavitt is the last person Caroline needs in her life. Everyone knows he’s shady. Still, Caroline is drawn to his confidence and swagger—even after promising her dad she’ll keep her distance. On late, sleepless nights, Caroline starts wandering into the bakery where West works.
 
They hang out, they talk, they listen. Though Caroline and West tell each other they’re “just friends,” their feelings intensify until it becomes impossible to pretend. The more complicated her relationship with West gets, the harder Caroline has to struggle to discover what she wants for herself—and the easier it becomes to find the courage she needs to fight back against the people who would judge her.
 
When all seems lost, sometimes the only place to go is deeper.

If you’ve read these books or happen to read them, do come back and tell me what you think. I don’t squee often (read: never) but I’ll be REALLY happy to know who enjoyed them as much as I did, and who didn’t and why 🙂