Customer Reviews

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

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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

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

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
For Real Page Turners

This cheeky trilogy features three romance writers who have taken a slight detour into the blue. Beverly Jenkins, Katherine Johnson, and Gwyneth Bolton have collaborated on an erotic anthology in 3 stand-alone stories, 1 historical and 2 contemporary.

It begins with Beverly Jenkins' Prisoner. Elizabeth Franklin needs a helping hand around her farm, and not being satisfied with any of the local community prospects, she takes a gamble on a tall drink of water, Jordan Yancy. Jordan has two choices, hanging by a wedding band or a rope--he chooses the wedding, and in a matter of minutes he is switched and hitched. Although he is actually a law enforcement officer, he is ready and willing to break the rules to get to the gem of Elizabeth underneath her prim exterior.

In Katherine Jones' Guns and Roses, All business Corrections Officer Stephanie Gunn wears a mask of professionalism that hides erotic fantasies about one of her prisoners' frequent visitors. Bryant Wilson smolders every time he thinks about her. They both engage in an unspoken, and unbeknownst to each other, mutual attraction to each other. They cross paths when Bryant's baby brother tries to warn Stephanie about illegalities in the prison, but not soon enough to keep himself alive. Driven by guilt, Stephanie reaches out to Bryant to solve the mysterious death, and in so doing, finds that the man of her dreams is very real.

Gwyneth Bolton's Handcuffs Mean Never Having to Say You're Sorry is the last installment. Tamara "Lil Bit" Downing is a tough undercover officer, whose exterior hides the insecurities of a foster child grown to adulthood. Lance King is her foster brother, 1st love and 1st lover. Ten years later finds them crossing paths, mostly by Lance's design as a DEA Agent. When Lance intrudes on Tamara's latest assignment, Tamara vows revenge, only to find herself held against her ever-weakening will and Lance's determination to win her heart. Tamara finally gives in to the love she's buried in her heart for 10 years.

Erotica is one of the newest and fastest growing genres in romance, and as such, new submissions are being added constantly. Within the genre, there are extremes, from mild to nearly gynecological. Personally, I prefer a happy medium. Ms. Jenkins has written a strong story which focuses on newfound intimacy driven by emotion. Her story is solid, her writing poignant, and her characters well developed. Ms. Johnson's story is designed to scorch the reader (pleasantly), which it does. Although there is some back-story, it more or less fades as the author focuses on the two main characters. The writing is sharp, crisp, and descriptive, and the passion practically jumps off of the page. The final story, as seems appropriate, has the most erotic tilt. Although definitely not an "X" rating, it certainly leans towards a steamy NC-17. While I though the writing was superb, I found the characters a little inconsistent, and the background story was presented, but never fleshed out, a minor detail, but a detail nonetheless.

Overall, I found this anthology an enjoyable read, and special commendation to the editor for the story arrangement. They are all sensual, packed with power, and definitely to be read with access to a "special friend" close by. Take notes--you're going to use them all!

Reviewed by: Angela T. Hailey, Black Butterfly Review

PRISONER by Beverly Jenkins
Elizabeth is a homesteader. In order for her to receive the title to her land she must turn a profit by the third year. Her husband asked for a divorce in favor of another woman and now it looks like turning a profit alone is a seemingly impossible task. Fortunately the local sheriff has a solution - take advantage of a law that allows her to marry a man facing the gallows.

Convicted felon Jordan Yancy has two choices - the gallows or marriage. He chooses marriage. He's a big man who's not afraid of hard work, especially once he discovers that Elizabeth is an excellent cook. He's actually in awe of everything she's managed to accomplish on her land by herself. What he really likes is the fiery spirit she possesses and her sexual innocence despite her former marriage.

Elizabeth and Jordan are determined to make their marriage work but it won't be easy. Will they be able to withstand the negative vibes and backlash from some members of the community?

Beverly Jenkins writes fantastic historical novels so I was thrilled to see her as a contributing author to this anthology. In PRISONER she tells an exciting tale of a woman who boldly does what she has to in order to save what is important to her and finds love at the same time. Jordan is a great character with a fascinating background. Oh my goodness does he ever teach Elizabeth a thing or two about intimacy.

GUNS AND ROSES by Katherine D. Jones
Stephanie Gunn works as an officer at Palo Vista Corrections Facility. She zealously abides by all the institution's rules and codes and remains professional at all times during working hours. The only threat to her calm, cool persona is her desire for Bryant Wilson.

Going to the corrections facility to visit his brother is not high on Bryant's list of favored things to do. The only upside to the visits is that Bryant's developed a crush on Officer Gunn. Unfortunately, she won't acknowledge him as any more than a visitor to one of the inmates.

Bryant's brother Mac has six more months on his sentence and then Bryant fully intends to see about getting to know Officer Gunn in a more personal manner.
Plans change when Mac dies under suspicious circumstances. The warden claims it was a suicide but Stephanie and Bryant don't believe that to be true. Just yesterday Mac had tried to get them to help him. Neither one of them took him seriously. It's up to them to uncover the truth, and if they find comfort in each other's arms . . . well who can blame them for that?

I was pleasantly surprised with this tale. I had all sorts of wicked preconceived ideas involving love behind bars, but Katherine D. Jones delivers a well thought out emotional story full of heat, heart, passion and intrigue. Stephanie and Bryant are genuinely likeable characters whom readers will adore and find themselves anticipating each red hot scene between the two.

HANDCUFFS MEAN NEVER HAVING TO SAY YOU'RE SORRY by Gwyneth Bolton
Tamara Downing takes great pride in her job as a detective. Currently she's undercover posing as a receptionist for Murder Row records. The owner, Tommy Coles, is suspected of running a prostitution ring.

DEA agent Lance King is about to bust Tommy Coles on drug charges and wants Tamara safely out of the line of fire. Tamara has been a part of Lance King's life since she was a little girl. He still refers to her as "Lil' Bit." Ten years ago, they engaged in one night of sexual bliss which he regretted the following morning.

Tommy Coles has taken notice of Tamara and she's ecstatic that she's getting so close to bringing him down. The last thing she expects is a team of DEA agents posing as NPD blue to arrest her and pull her into her own precinct, but that's exactly what happened. There's no doubt in her mind that Lance is behind this farce and she intends to skin him alive for jeopardizing her case. Lance is determined to keep her safe and prove to her that he loves her. If he has to break out the handcuffs in order to make her listen then he's already well equipped.

Gwyneth Bolton finals out this thrilling anthology with a fantastic storyline and kick butt heroine whom readers are going to love. Tamara is brave, daring, and not about to sit back and let Lance play the `knight in shining armor' for her. I had to laugh at the dialog between Tamara and Lance. It's so obvious that they have unresolved issues and neither of them is willing to back down or admit to needing each other. This story is feisty and filled with all the emotional turmoil that I've come to expect when picking up one of Ms. Bolton's tales.

All of the stories contained within the CUFFED BY CANDLELIGHT anthology are simply delightful. The one thing I did notice that all three stories have in common is brave women who are not afraid to stand up for what they believe or the men they love. Each of these authors brought daring characters, thrilling plots, and super hot sex into this one dynamic anthology. Handcuffs have never been so sexy.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

CUFFED BY CANDLELIGHT is an erotic romance anthology of three tales involving characters that you wouldn't necessarily associate with having anything remotely in common when you think of the word erotic. However, once authors, Beverly Jenkins, Gwyneth Bolton and Katherine D. Jones are finished, you'll be reaching for a fan or searching for a cigarette.

In "Prisoner" by Beverly Jenkins, we meet Elizabeth Franklin in the year 1884. She was callously divorced by her husband during the dead of winter and left to maintain the farm on her own. In order to save her farm and stop the harassment from the town's eligible bachelors, she accepts a proposal from the sheriff to marry a prisoner. Although Jordan Yancy was wrongly imprisoned himself, he quickly accepts the marriage as a condition of his release. What he finds is that Elizabeth was just as imprisoned in a marriage that was cold and unfeeling. Once things settle down some, he gives Elizabeth a real lesson in loving as she learns his real identity and he awakens the siren in her.

"Guns and Roses" by Katherine D. Jones introduces Stephanie Gun who is a corrections officer with a serious love jones for an inmates' brother. Her thoughts concerning him are downright nasty and threaten to surface each time she sees him. When the inmate unfortunately finds himself in a hot bed of trouble and ends up dead, Stephanie realizes too late she should have done something. She contacts his brother, Bryant Wilson, who has dreams just as dirty about her. The two take a roller coaster ride of lusty passion and what amounts to a serious game of "I Spy" that could end their lives.

In "Handcuffs Mean Never Having to Say You're Sorry," Gwyneth Bolton shows us the steamy side of being a police officer in the Newark Police Department. Detective Tamara Downing was enjoying her accomplishments a member of NPD until her teenage nemesis appeared again. If only DEA Agent Lance King would leave her alone, she could enjoy her career, but he is always under foot trying to protect her and running interference. Lance is not about to leave her alone since he realizes what a stupid mistake he made ten years ago with Tamara, and he thinks her current job is too dangerous. His answer: kidnap her for the weekend and keep her in handcuffs until she understands what he wants. What he doesn't factor in is Tamara turning the tide on him as he ends up handcuffed at her mercy.

Sensual, sultry, exciting, and suspenseful are all words that could be used to describe CUFFED BY CANDLELIGHT. Each of the three stories are very good and worthy of being independent books. I loved this combination of authors in this anthology and the theme characterized in their individual tales. My only regret is that each one wasn't a little longer.

Reviewed by Brenda M. Lisbon
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Reader you will not be disappointed in this book you get 3 great authors and each of there story is wonderful.
Bevely Jenkins: Meet a young woman who start off being a scorn woman, but oh she meet a man (was in prison)who teaches and shows her how a man is suppose to treat and love their woman. You are going to love it.

Katherine Jones: You meet a woman who is a correctional officer and meet secretly dreams of one of the inmate brother and oh what a dream it is. At the very beginning of the her story to hot, and it's get better. You knoe the saying "Don't Judge a Book by it Cover" You will love it.

Gwyneth Bolton: Old love new love, you grew up rough and was taken in by your best friend family and fall in love with the brother althought he treats her like his sister, but very protected of who she dates and all of that good stuff. Things happen and instead of talking about guess who does something STUPID. Later as they get older feeling are still there and at some point you work through your problem, but there is nothing wrong with HAND CUFF smile.........

Each story is differentm but OH THEY ARE SO GOOD.

Louise

Being a die hard Beverly Jenkins fan, I didn't think twice about purchasing this book, and her stepping outside the box did not disappoint me at all. Her story was in true Bev Jenkins fashion one word-Great!!. It also introduced me to 2 new authors that I had never considered reading in Gweneth Bolton and Katherine D Jones. All of the stories were filled with intense characters, Hot romantic love scenes, and lots of dramatic suspense. It was a good read and I will definitely be adding these 2 authors to my bookshelf.

I am a die hard Beverly Jenkins fan so I had no problem purchasing and reading this book. Ms. Bev gives us another hot historical romance story and I hope she will include these characters in her future historical books. All 3 stories are hot and you will not be disappointed with any of the stories. All 3 authors did a fantastic job with their novella's and I applaud each one.

The stories were great. I loved Beverly Jenkins story. I ALWAYS love Beverly Jenkins story. It was a great romance. The woman knows her stuff. Gwnyeth Bolton's story was my first read from her and all I have to say is 'HOLLA. BACK.' Hot, hot, hot. I was fanning myself through her love scenes. It was funny and erotic as hell. I definitely will have to read more of her books. The second story "Guns & Roses" was good as well. Good read.