Cuffed by Candlelight: An Erotic Romance Anthology (Noire Passion) [Paperback]

Beverly Jenkins (Author), Gwyneth Bolton (Author), Katherine D. Jones (Author), Simone Harlow (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 2007

What do a farmer in the past, a correction and police officer in the present, and a bounty hunter in the future have in common? A desire that won't abide by the rules of engagement. Cuffed by Candlelight is four erotic tales of women bound to uphold the law and obey the rules. But when desire and the rules clash, love and passion ignite with some handcuffs and a little candlelight.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Beverly Jenkins is an African-American, historical romance writer. She and her family live in southeastern Michigan. She is married, and the mother of two children. Born in Detroit, she graduated from Cass Technical High School and attended Michigan State University, where she majored in journalism and English literature. Ms. Jenkins has written nine books to date and received numerous awards for her works, including: two Waldenbooks Best Sellers Awards; two Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times Magazine a Golden Pen Award from the Black Writer's Guild, and in 1999, Ms. Jenkins was voted one of the top 50 favorite African-American writers on the 20th Century by AABLC, the nation's largest on-line African-American book club. Ms. Jenkins has been featured in many national publications, including the Wall Street Journal, People Magazine, Dallas Morning News and Vibe Magazine. She has lectured at such prestigious universities as Oberlin University, the University of Illinois, and the University of Michigan. She speaks widely on both romance and 19th century African-American history. She is active in both her church and community, and in November 2001, Ms. Jenkins was named a winner of the YWCA Woman of Achievement Award. Gwyneth Bolton was born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey. She lives in Syracuse, New York with her husband, Cedric Bolton. When she was 12-years-old, she became an avid reader of romance by looking into her mother's stash of romance novels. In the 90s, she was introduced to African American and multicultural romance novels, and her life hasn't been the same since. While she had always been a reader of romance, she didn't feel inspired to write them until the genre opened up to include other voices. And even then, it took finishing graduate school, several non-fiction publications, and a six-week course at the Loft Literary Center titled Writing the Romance Novel before she gathered the courage.

Product Details

• Paperback: 242 pages
• Publisher: Parker Publishing, LLC (February 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600430074
• ISBN-13: 978-1600430077
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #279,250 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unbridled Heat (4.5), February 27, 2007

By 

Angelia Menchan "acvermen.blogspot.com" (Florida) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cuffed by Candlelight: An Erotic Romance Anthology (Noire Passion) (Paperback)

Cuffed by Candlelight by Beverly Jenkins, Gwyneth Bolton and Katherine D. Jones is a compilation of three romantically, erotic short stories with the connecting theme being an involvement in law enforcement. Otherwise the stories could not be more diverse.

Beverly Jenkins' Prisoner is set in Kansas in 1884. The heroine, Elizabeth Franklin, found herself abandoned by her husband, William. Six-months after his departure, she finds herself agreeing to marry prisoner Jordan Yancey. The marriage would allow him to be released from prison, while providing her with assistance on her sixty-acre farm. What she does not realize is Jordan will awaken desires in her she did not know existed and their marriage will become more than an arrangement. Ms. Jenkins pens a believable romantic tale with a few unexpected twists. Prisoner will let you know passion is not just a 21st Century phenomenon.

In Katherine Jones' Gunns and Roses the setting is more contemporary. Stephanie Gunns is a corrections officer who finds herself attracted to Bryant Wilson. Bryant has his own fantasies about Stephanie. The problem is Bryant's brother, Mac, is an inmate at the facility where Stephanie works. She forces herself to stay away from Bryant because she assumes he and Mac must be the same type. However, fate intervenes, Mac ends up dead. Bryant is determined to find out the truth, with Stephanie's help. What follows is a fast-paced, erotically-charged connection between the two.

Handcuffs Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry by Gwyneth Bolton is a hip-hop influenced wild ride of a story. Police Officer Tamara Downing is working undercover to bring down Murder Row music's Tommy Coles. Coles' music business is a front for drug activity and prostitution. Just when she is about to close the case, DEA Officer Lance King intervenes. Lance and Tamara's lives have been linked since childhood and he feels a need to protect her. Tamara is not interested because what she wants from Lance has nothing to do with protection. What she is going to find out is Lance has his own plans where she is concerned.

I recommend this anthology to anyone interested in romantic heat and diversity in stories. Prisoner is a historical, romantic adventure. Gunns and Roses boasts contemporary flavor, while Handcuffs is cutting-edge and hip-hop influenced. What they all have in common is unbridled heat.

Angelia Menchan
APOOO BookClub

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Romance and Great Sex?, March 2, 2007

By 

K. Kimbrough "kkimbr7" (Bakersfield, Ca United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cuffed by Candlelight: An Erotic Romance Anthology (Noire Passion) (Paperback)

No one can resist the idea of romance and great sex, right? Well if you are not privy to a nightly dose of both you can get it through Cuffed by Candlelight, an anthology debut by the new Parker Publishing house. Coming under the Noire passion imprint, this anthology features top-notch romance writer Beverly Jenkins, the multi-published Katherine D. Jones, and a new author in the romance arena, Gwyneth Bolten.

Ms Jenkins sets the pace with a wonderful erotic adventure, "Prisoner." In this story, we meet a young woman forced to marry a prisoner in order to keep her land after her husband sent her a Dear John letter. While marriage to a ex-con has its disadvantages, we find that advantages outweigh any of the negatives. As a huge Beverly Jenkins fan I could not wait to read it and was not disappointed. Her ability to create heroes and heroines that I fall in love with is unyielding. She has the gift of setting her reader smack dab in the time period and feeling all the sensations they encounter. My only regret is that it was a short story rather than a full-length novel. (Ms. Bev you can change all that you know. :) )

Ms. Jones continues the journey in the story "Guns and Roses." The story takes place in a present day correctional facility where a young female correctional officer has it bad for one of the prisoners' brother. This serves as a problem because it is a relationship that could cause her to lose her job. The feeling is mutual with the young man ,however, that is not discovered until unexpected events bring them together. This story has a nice flow and believable situations. The character chemistry was there but the confessions of love came too quickly for me. With that said, this is a good read.

Rounding out this anthology is Ms. Bolten's "Handcuffs Mean Having Never to Say you are Sorry." We meet a female undercover cop ready to break a case on prostitution when her bust is taken over by a fine DEA agent who also happens to be a young man she has history with. Knowing that she is irritated with him, our hero vows to make it all up to her-- all present and past mistakes. I loved the way this novella was setup. The author established a history with the two main characters, which made the quick trip to love and happiness more realistic.

Overall, I enjoyed this read. When I finished all three stories, I checked to see if there was more. I wanted more. It definitely fed the romance that women crave and the sex that everyone wants. If this is the kind of work that Parker Publishing will be making available I will be reading more.


Kotanya
APOOO BookClub

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ignite Your Passion Read This Erotic Tale, March 4, 2007

By 

M. Bruner ""Deltareviewer" Real Page ... (Oklahoma!) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cuffed by Candlelight: An Erotic Romance Anthology (Noire Passion) (Paperback)

Cuffs, candlelight and cuddling are essentials for an erotic tale. Imagine intimate time with your lover with a pair of handcuffs, the mood lights of candles and unmasked sexual energy. Jenkins, Jones, and Bolton will ignite your passion with their unique storylines and unbridled sex.

PRISONER BY BEVERLY JENKINS is a historical erotic story set in the late 1800's that recounts the life of Elizabeth Franklin. Her first husband, William, left her for a younger woman by sending a letter to demand a divorce. Elizabeth spent the next year tormented by the disrespect of her husband, tolling long days preparing, planting and caring for the animals on the farm. Then the sheriff made her a proposition - by marrying a convicted felon she could have free help on the farm. Jordan Yancy would rock her world in more ways then she ever imagined possible. After marrying Jordan she was ostracized by the community and William threatens to return and reclaim what is rightfully his.

GUNS & ROSES BY KATHERINE D. JONES centers on Stephanie Guinn and Bryant Wilson. Stephanie dreaded her dead end job as a correctional officer. Bryant Wilson was a successful businessman that loved his brother, Macklin. That is where their lives intertwine - Macklin was serving time on drug trafficking charges in the prison where Stephanie worked. Stephanie and Bryant had two things in common - both loathed Palo Vista Correctional Center and neither could stop daydreaming about the other. When Mackin turns up dead in his cell Stephanie and Bryant join forces to uncover the real deal. Their working together may turn their sexual daydreams into romantic realities.

HANDCUFFS MEAN NEVER HAVING TO SAY YOU'RE SORRY BY GWYNETH BOLTON introduces Tamara Downing. Tamara has worked hard to overcome her difficult childhood without the love and support of her mother. Tamara is a Newark Police Detective working undercover to build a case against Tommy Cole, CEO of Murder Row Records. That is until Lance King used his DEA clout to override her authority and force her off the case. But Lance and Tamara have history - they grew up in the same home and 10 years ago had a brief sexual relationship. Lance is determined to put meaning on what has occurred and what could develop between them. Recounting the past could bind them together forever.

Have you ever had a sexual interlude with handcuffs? Made steamy passionate love by candlelight? Rekindled the flame of a long lost lover? If you answered no to any of these questions then CUFFED BY CANDLELIGHT is a must read for you. Throw caution to the wind, get relaxed and be ready to experience erotic romance loaded with action and excitement. CUFFED BY CANDLELIGHT is a collection of sensual stories that will engage all of your senses turning the pages of this tastefully written plot driven erotic romance.

Reviewed By - Deltareviewer
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