Priest by Sierra Simone

Priest, Book 1

Synopsis: There are many rules a priest can’t break.
A priest cannot marry. A priest cannot abandon his flock. A priest cannot forsake his God.

I’ve always been good at following rules.
Until she came.
My name is Tyler Anselm Bell. I’m twenty-nine years old. Six months ago, I broke my vow of celibacy on the altar of my own church, and God help me, I would do it again.
I am a priest and this is my confession.

Review: I have this novel for a long time but it took me a lot of motivation to finally start it. It’s not because the reviews were bad, no, but it’s not necessarily my style of romance. Eroticism mixed with religion does not necessarily attract me. But here I am finally and while I was expecting the worst, I found that the novel was pleasant to read. Yes, because the writing is fluid and the style of the author is well mastered.

You can guess with the synopsis that the story is about a priest who will break his vows to sleep with a young woman and we follow their relationship over time. Although everything was quite well done, some things made me a little uncomfortable like the use of holy oil as a lubricant or the intimate relationships on the altar.

It was an ok novel and I’m sure it will please fans of the genre but I must admit that this is not necessarily for me.

 

 

Passion de Sierra Simone

Priest, Tome 1

Résumé : Tyler a vingt-neuf ans. Il est beau comme un dieu, sexy en diable, et son sourire est à se damner… mais il a choisi de devenir prêtre. Quand il receuille la confession de la ravissante Poppy, qui a tourné le dos à la brillante carrière qui l’attendait pour échapper à une liaison destructrice, il est bouleversé. Elle travaille comme hôtesse dans un prestigieux club de strip-tease, une activité qui est loin de lui déplaire. Troublé par les aveux de cette jeune femme à la sensualité débordante, Tyler s’interroge sur sa vocation…

Avis : J’ai ce roman depuis longtemps mais il m’a fallu beaucoup de motivation pour enfin me lancer dans la lecture. Ce n’est pas parce que les avis étaient mauvais, non, mais ce n’est pas forcément mon style de roman. L’érotisme mélangé à la religion ne m’attire pas forcément. Mais voilà, je me suis enfin lancée et finalement alors que je m’attendais au pire, j’ai trouvé que le roman était agréable à lire. Oui, parce que l’écriture est fluide et le style de l’auteur prenant.

Vous vous doutez avec le résumé que l’histoire porte sur un prêtre qui va casser ses vœux pour coucher avec une jeune femme et on suit ainsi leur relation au cours du temps. Même si je conçois que tout était assez bien fait, certaines choses m’ont un peu mis mal à l’aise comme l’utilisation d’huile sainte comme lubrifiant ou encore les relations intimes sur l’autel.

J’ai passé un bon moment avec le roman et je suis sûre qu’il plaira aux fans du genre mais je dois avouer que ce n’est pas forcément mon type de lecture.

 

L’Enjeu d’Angela Behelle

Résumé : « — Que diriez-vous d’aller prendre un verre ailleurs ?
L’invitation est directe. M. Stirvin est un homme habitué à obtenir ce qu’il veut. Il ne doute pas de mon accord. Et il a raison. Je suis prête à le suivre pour trois raisons. La première, c’est que je ne demande qu’à fuir cet endroit étouffant. La deuxième, c’est que je me sens flattée d’être ainsi enlevée par cet homme superbe. La troisième, c’est que Marine n’a pas tort. Presque trois ans passés le nez plongé dans le travail, ça mérite bien un peu de distraction. J’ignore jusqu’où cette invitation va me mener, mais une si belle occasion ne se refuse pas. »
Avocate, Emma Loudhéac, 28 ans, se rend à un vernissage dans la galerie de Marine, sa meilleure amie.
Une seule chose est sûre : elle est loin d’imaginer la tournure que vont prendre les événements…

Avis : Bon j’ai peut-être été un peu naïve mais avec cette couverture je ne m’attendais pas vraiment à trouver une romance érotique. Maintenant que je relis le résumé en ayant fini le livre, je me dis que j’ai été naïve. Oui parce que le souci général c’est que ce genre n’est pas forcément pour moi, même si je comprends son attrait.

Nous découvrons Emma, une jeune femme de 28 ans dont le travail l’accapare jours et nuits. Mais voilà, un soir pour faire plaisir à son amie, elle se rend à un vernissage qu’elle organise et là elle rencontre M. Stirvin, un homme d’affaire très riche. Après une soirée très hot et très particulière entre les deux, ils s’attendaient à ce que leur histoire se termine après ce moment… et pourtant !

Alors que Stirvin a 25 ans de plus qu’elle, elle ne s’attendait pas à tomber sous son charme et encore moins à ce que cet homme très convoité s’intéresse à elle. Mais voilà, étrangement, son fils, qui lui a le même âge, semble aussi tout faire pour la faire succomber. Entre le jeu des deux hommes et leurs manipulations, Emma va devoir faire un choix.

J’avoue que n’étant pas forcément le genre de lectrice visée, c’est vrai que je n’ai peut-être pas été très réceptive. Pourtant l’histoire se lit très rapidement et le style est très agréable et fluide. Et c’est vrai que j’ai passé globalement un bon moment, même si c’est vrai qu’on se doute des grandes lignes de l’histoire.

D’ailleurs pour ceux qui ont eu la série Société que je ne connais pas, il y a quelques références au cours du récit ! J’ai trouvé que c’était une bonne idée pour les fans de la série.

3-5 

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Under His Touch by Jeffe Kennedy

Falling Under, Book 2

Synopsis: Amber Dolors knows better than to get involved with her boss. Devastatingly handsome in his sharp suits and sexy beyond belief, he possesses an air of command that fuels her darkest fantasies. But she’s worked too hard to get this job, and keeping it will lead to a brilliant future. She won’t cross that line—even if his way of giving orders and demanding her best performance gives her delicious warm shivers.

Alexander Knight prides himself on his integrity and self-discipline. After all, he hasn’t risen to the position he enjoys by indulging his whims over ambition. He also isn’t blind. He’s certainly noticed his sharp, young assistant is hot as hell. His self-imposed sexual hermitage doesn’t stop him from watching her. And endlessly fantasizing.

The day Alec’s cool reserve cracks and Amber catches a glimpse of something simmering beneath his apparent indifference is the day everything between them changes. Alec gives her what she’s been looking for sexually—as masterful in the bedroom as he is in the boardroom. He finds himself in the grip of an affair that tests even his boundaries, while Amber’s new role as willing student pushes them both past any consideration other than mutual longing.

Review: I enjoyed the first volume which put forward themes that we don’t usually find in litterature, including the role of women in the video game industry and its consequences. The erotic side was quite well done and light which is why I was curious to get into the second novel.

Unlike the previous volume, we have a rather classic pattern for an erotic BDSM book. Indeed, we find Amber, a girl looking for a man who will satisfy her SM fantasies as it’s not the case for now. The only Problem? The man she wants and who is older than her his also her boss and he is determined not to mix business with pleasure. Still, something is going to appear between them and our heroes will find themselves swept away by a story that will take them unawares.

I was a little less carried away by this novel than with the previous one I confess. Let me explain why … I’m not necessarily a big fan of erotic or BDSM but the first volume brought me something I did not expect with a very interesting context and a good plot. Here, it is a little different because the story revolves around Amber and her desire to develop a special relationship while she does not realize the consequences of certain actions. The story evolves on her relationship with Alexander and her initiation into SM. It’s true that I wanted more, a story behind that could take me, this added to the erotic part. It was an enjoyable and quick read but it still lacked of a stronger plot for me but I think the fans of this genre will appreciate the story and spend a great time.

3-5 

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Going Under by Jeffe Kennedy

Falling Under, Book 1

Synopsis: Knowing all too well the damage online trolls can inflict, game designer Emily Bartwell takes privacy seriously. Living in solitude and working remotely under a male alias gives her a sense of security. The sexy writer renting the house next door ignites desires she’d forgotten she had, and when he invites her to play games of a very different sort, Em is ready and willing. Even if it means breaking all her own rules to abide by his.

Undercover tech reporter Fox Mullins is so close to the biggest scoop of his career: finding the elusive programmer Phoenix. An increasingly erotic adventure with his reserved but passionate new neighbor is the ideal way to heat up the chilly Pacific Northwest nights as he tracks the brilliant gamer.

At first Fox is happy to help Em explore her newly awakened kinky side, no holds barred, no strings attached. But as they push the limits of intimacy, both physical and emotional, Fox discovers he’s not the only one keeping secrets. And revealing hers may mean betraying the one woman who embodies everything he desires.

Review: I’m not a big fan of BDSM or erotic books so it’s true that I tend more often to stay away from them … but now, Carien loves everything related to Jeffe Kennedy’s novels and when she asked me if I wanted to read this one, I admit that I was curious to see how it was. Yes, I could finally get into a complete novel of the author and I was anxious to see how it was and I must say that I finally had a good time, it was different from what I thought.

We discover in this story Emily, a young woman who fled her life after it turned to disaster. Indeed, our heroine is a programmer of video games, yet women are not very accepted in this area and she had paid the price … I’m not going to tell you her story because it’s really worth to discover it but since then, Emily has changed her identity and now works in anonymity while everyone thinks she’s a man, but that’s how she establishes her success. Yet it is not easy either, she must cover her rear at all times, has built a completely different nature from what she really is and tries to live her life without anyone interested in her. She manages pretty well despite the conditions until an undercover reporter appears on her island to discover the identity of the legendary Pheonix who designs all these great games. But like everyone else he is convinced that he is a man.

I admit I was quite carried away by the idea. I have not read many books featuring a geek and yes it was very interesting to see that kind of staging. Moreover, it is also nice to finally have a good plot in addition to the story that binds the two characters. But this relationship is of course important and it was touching to see Emily opening to a man after all she had been through and to understand that the idea of the person she presents is not enough. Her solitude and routine are disrupted but our heroes are a good catch together. Their romance begins with difficulty, by hesitations, games and more. The BDSM side is not unpleasant, but it is written in a way that we do not necessarily stop on what is happening, saying that it goes too far or tiring us. It was a pleasant read where we see two people opening to each other even if it’s difficult, we also see the status of women in some fields and we are finally carried away by all the events. Yes, it was a great find and I admit that I am curious to see what happens in the second novel.

 

4

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Fifty Shames of Earl Grey by Fanny Merkin

Fifty Shames, Book 1

Synopsis: A shrewd, laugh–out–loud parody of E. L. James’ bestselling Fifty Shades of Grey series:

Young, arrogant, tycoon Earl Grey seduces the naïve coed Anna Steal with his overpowering good looks and staggering amounts of money, but will she be able to get past his fifty shames, including shopping at Walmart on Saturdays, bondage with handcuffs, and his love of BDSM (Bards, Dragons, Sorcery, and Magick)? Or will his dark secrets and constant smirking drive her over the edge?

Review: I did read a long time after everyone else, Fifty Shades of Grey, when I was given the opportunity I confess. It wasn’t my favorite book as it was for some but I still had a good time without actually having the urge to read the other volumes in the series. But when I saw the release of Fifty Shames of Earl Grey, I was intrigued right away. It must be said that the summary is quite appealing, and it is true that I thought it could be a great idea to make a good parody of the original novel. Besides, I had seen some very good reviews for this book and I was curious to see how it was in the end. Yet it is true that I didn’t really get into the story and even if it’s possible to read the story fast enough, I think it was a little too crazy for me to really get into the book.

The history between the two novels, as you can imagine, basically remains the same. Some small differences are made without really changing the whole thing. Anna, for example, does not bite at all her lip, but she keeps putting her fingers in her nose. Yes a bad habit that’s for sure. It’s funny because while reading the summary and when I saw the explanation of BDSM (Bards, Dragons, Sorcery and Magic), I thought that the story might not turn out not around their intimate relationships, but ultimately it is still the case and we don’t really have something about Bards, Dragons, Sorcery and Magic. But it might be me and I just made a misconception about what the story was going to be.

It is true that the whole is a fast read, the writing is airy, simple, which is really nice but I think for me the problem is the history itself. I have not really hung on the humor of the author or understood why she had chosen to achieve certain events so. Everything is really crazy, maybe a little too much for we to have a bit of realism. I do not think that this will impair everyone but it’s true that it’s the first parody novel I read and I have perhaps not enough critical sense to really appreciate it. Yet it is still interesting to discover all that but like for the original work, I do not think I’ll read more.

2 

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Nauti Enchantress by Lora Leigh

Nauti Girls, Book 2

Synopsis: When Dawg Mackay made his four half-sisters part of his family, he vowed that he would care for and protect them with everything he had. But what happens now that the girls are all grown up? The Mackay girls are on the loose, and Somerset County will never be the same…

Lyrica Mackay has wanted tall, handsome Marine Graham Brock for as long as she can remember. Unfortunately, Graham only sees her as his friend Dawg Mackay’s “baby sister.” Or so she believes. The truth is, the fiery party girl stirs something in Graham no female ever has. But Graham, like everyone in Somerset County, knows that trouble stalks the Mackays like bears track honey, and when a Mackay runs as hot as Lyrica does, someone’s bound to get burned.

Then Graham discovers that Lyrica’s wild side is just a cover for a frightened and vulnerable woman who needs something true and genuine, something only Graham can offer. But surrendering his heart to Lyrica exposes them both to her shocking past—and a sinister secret that, once exposed, could destroy their only chance at happiness and shake the Mackay family to its core.

Review: I already had the opportunity to read several books by Lora Leigh, but I do not think I’ve ever tried one of her romances. So when I received Nauti Enchantress I was immediately curious as I really liked the cover. Of course, I wonder which book it was in the series and I discovered that there are several different stories related to this series. So if I understand it right, it’s the second book in the Nauti Girls series, but there are several volumes before featuring the Nauti Boys. And I confess that this volume made me want to know more about the stories of each character highlighted here.

We discover Lyrica, a daughter of the Mackay clan who is overprotected by her brothers and uncles. She is now 21 years old but it seems that everyone monitors her actions constantly. Yet since the age of 18, the young woman dreams of a story with the brother of her best friend and while everyone is trying to prevent this at all costs, it seems that the idea is ingrained in her head. Yet there is a big problem … the man she loves, Graham, is known to have a new woman each month and they’re always the perfect bimbos. So yes, even if something would happen, the woman knows that no history will be possible between them. Yet something is actually going on, something that goes farther and farther, but they both know exactly what to expect and the young woman does not want to be heartbroken. But if Graham decides she’s the next one, she is not sure if she’ll be able to refuse. But while she is avoiding him, it seems that someone is after her and wants to kill her. And while the whole Mackay clan decides to overprotect her whether from the killer or Graham by all means, everything seems more difficult than expected … mainly when the history of the two intensifies, and that the killer gets closer and closer, and nobody understands why Lyrica is the target.

I do not read a lot of erotica books, it’s not really a genre that appeals to me particularly, but that does not mean that I can not have a good time with one and this novel is the right proof. I had a great time with this story and discovering Lyrica was very interesting. This young woman is monitored closely by all her family and I confess that I do not know how she does not get mad by this. Oh yes, because she is closely followed! And while her interest in Graham is known by all, every member of her family is determined to prevent it. But Lyrica knows what she’s doing, or at least she thinks she does and she would like to live as she wishes, if only Graham wanted to create a true relationship with her, not to be the next number of months. While Lyrica shows a fairly strong front, rebellious and outgoing, she also has a softer, vulnerable side that is difficult to hide. In contrast, Graham is someone who can seem quite arrogant when we do not know him, but he hides many secrets that could tarnish his life.

Each character will have to make concessions in order to understand these attempted murders and who is behind it all. I confess that at the end of the story, even though I suspected the reason, I was very interested in what really happened. It was a very good story that ends on a cliffy and I admit that I am quite curious about the Zoe’s story now that we have a glimps to her own story.

4

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