7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Rating it individually..., September 11, 2007
This review is from: Exclusive (Mass Market Paperback)
Two out of 3 stories anyways.
Sanctuary was a good story. Not the best but not the worst either. I guess it's because I'm not overly fond of complete submission type of drama. The scenes were hot but the storyline was a little "not my cup of tea". However I must admit that it was pretty well written in my standard. I did enjoy it just not into it. 3 stars for me
Wild Nights is more to my taste. I was very thrilled to know that Mike got his own story after me being extremely disappointed in Laci Burton last installment "Wild, Wicked, and Wonton". As much as I like Seth, I felt that it was a sad ending because Mike was left out of the equation. I wasn't disappointed for long was I? Thank goodness for that. Anyways, Wild Nights was a fairly awesome and well written story. The scene was sizzling hot and the ending was tearful. In a happy way of course. Wild Nights is actually the reason why I gave this rating a 4 star. If it was a stand alone, I would probably give it a 5 being that we would get more story out of it of course.
Purple Magic is the only story that I didn't bother finishing. I'm not saying that it started out horrible. I read the first 3 pages but then I found that it's not my type of read. If I were to continue just to finish it, I might give it a truely unbiased opinion. So I opt not to. I do enjoy reading paranormals because I am a fan of Christina Feehan,Nalini Singh and Karen Marie Moning and WAS a huge fan of Sherrilyn Kenyon but I don't think i can be a fan of paranormals eroticas. At least not yet. Maybe one day when I'm back into those vampire fetish zone, I'll come back and read this story. So I won't give this story a rating.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
5 Klovers! Courtesy of CK2S Kwips & Kritiques, September 3, 2007
This review is from: Exclusive (Mass Market Paperback)
**This is my Recommended Read for the month of September 2007!**
When I was offered the anthology Exclusive for review, I jumped at the chance to read it! There is not a single author in this book whose previous work I do not love, and I expected at the very least an entertaining trio of stories, and at the best a book guaranteed to keep me up way past my bed time in order to finish it. I had a strong feeling it would be the latter, and I was not wrong.
Each of these authors is already on my must-buy list, and this anthology proves to be an excellent representation of each of their writing talent. I think the only negative thing I have to say about any of the stories in Exclusive is that they ended! LOL
If you have never read any of these authors, then this book is a perfect way to get a taste of their work. If you have read these authors before, then you are most certainly already a fan yourself and will not want to miss this one! If you enjoy erotic novellas with unconventional romances and plenty of steamy scenes, then run to your nearest bookstore and pick up your own copy of this gripping book!
~Sanctuary by Eden Bradley~
Until the night her best friend drug her to the fetish club, Devin never thought she would find herself in such a place. And she most certainly never expected to find herself enjoying it, even drawn to it.
But since that night at he Ring inside Club X, Devin has been unable to get the sights out of her head. Nor can she forget Master Shaye, who flirted with her so shamelessly, and delivered `punishment' to his willing submissives so deliciously as she watched...
Eden Bradley has a knack for creating BDSM stories that make even us vanilla lovers a bit curious... I first enjoyed her work with her full length novel,
The Dark Garden, but she really moved up a notch in my list of favorite authors with her entry in this anthology, Sanctuary.
Shaye's job at 'Club X' playing Master to various subs fulfills his urges quite well without risking emotional entanglements. Charismatic, playful, and a touch dangerous, Shaye is the kind of man who could charm a woman into most anything he wanted.
Devin is a bit gun shy, and understandably nervous of the BDSM lifestyle, which she never in a million years expected to be drawn too. We feel her nervousness and excitement as if they were our own, and lose our hearts to Shaye right along with her.
~Wild Nights by Jaci Burton~
Mike Nottingham has seen it all, done it all. Having become a bit jaded, he is looking for something, anything different during his stay in Las Vegas. When a friend secures an invitation for him at an exclusive club catering to the sexually adventurous, he is intrigued by the idea. Upon his arrival at the club, he is even more intrigued by the reality of Grace Wylde, the sexy and untouchable proprietor.
However, Grace is not something different. In fact, she is all too familiar to Mike - almost a mirror image of himself. Finding himself on the receiving end of the treatment he typically doles out to the women in his life, he finds it doesn't set well with him. But is his interest piqued solely because of her seeming lack of interest, or do his feelings run much deeper? And how does a player who has met his match convince her he wants forever with her?
While Jaci Burton's story, Wild Nights, works perfectly as a standalone novella - even to readers as anal as I am about reading series books or connected books in order - it will be greatly enhanced for those readers who have already read her novel
Wild, Wicked, & Wanton (Berkley Heat). Continuing the story of Mike Nottingham, a supporting character from that previous book, Burton explores what happens when a player falls head over heels for a woman who is more than his match and even more reluctant than he is to commit. Watching him fall is fun, but decidedly most fun for readers who met him in Wild, Wicked, and Wanton!
Grace is the kind of heroine that can keep both her lover and the audience guessing. Determined to prove to herself and to Mike that their brief tryst meant nothing and that she doesn't need a relationship, she does everything she can to drive him away. When Mike's tenacity and devotion prove unshakeable, she finally gives in, much to our delight and her own, not to mention Mike's.
Be aware, this story does not follow the typical romance `rules'. Remember I described these novellas as unconventional romances, and none fit that description better than Burton's Wild Nights. What the author does deliver in this tale is a story that totally fits the two main characters involved, and leaves the reader with a more than satisfying ending.
~Purple Magic by Lisa Renee Jones~
Half-human, half-vampire Jolene will do anything to save her mortal friend Carrie from the clutches of the dastardly vampire Alex - even if it means asking the help of the fearsome Drago, one of the vampire council's deadly Slayers. But it is either that or walk into the lion's den all by herself and, even as intimidating as the Drago is, the first scenario is definitely the preferable one.
Posing as a traitor to the vampire council while working undercover to bring Alex down, Drago is nearer his goal than ever. He definitely does not need another Slayer's daughter compromising his investigation, no matter how his instincts scream that Jolene is his mate and must be protected at all costs. But he knows Alex is drawing Jolene into a trap, and to save her, he must force her submission to him...
I've been a fan of author Lisa Renee Jones for some time now, and whether she is writing a contemporary romance or a paranormal romance, it is always fantastic! In Purple Magic, Jones introduces us to a whole new world, one I am very hopeful we will see more of in her future releases. With vampires and humans knowingly co-existing peacefully as races, and the oh-so-hunky and powerful team of Slayers who I am sure can slay a woman's heart as easily as they defeat their enemies, this story is surely only an introduction into a fascinating new series. This is purely wishing on my part, but a fan can hope, right? J
Drago is the typical reluctant hero who will do anything it takes to save the day, but shrugs off the acclaim that comes with his own successes. His sense of duty to both his friends, his team, and to those under his protection is commendable. But it is his ability to combine fierce passion with tender caring that was my undoing- er, I mean Jolene's undoing! LOL
Jolene's loyalty and determination are noble, if ill-advised in the matter of rescuing her friend. Unwaware that Drago is working undercover to rescue all the women imprisoned by Alex, not just her roommate, she rushes headlong into danger only Drago can save her from. Once apprised of his mission, however, she easily follows his lead, trusting the sexy warrior with not only her own life, but her father's and her friend's. And there is the little matter of trusting him with her heart...
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
5 Kisses, TwoLips Reviews, July 1, 2008
It's not every day that you'll find an anthology with all stories being equally engaging. Exclusive by talented authors Eden Bradley, Jaci Burton and Lisa Renee Jones is a rare treat. Be prepared to explore the darker side of desire.
Sanctuary by Eden Bradley
Devin gets talked into going to a fetish club, and discovers she likes it. One of the guys putting on the show, Shaye, notices her and she's instantly hot for him and for what she sees him doing in the club's Ring. He asks her to come and play and she resists, but she finds she can't get him or his commanding sexuality out of her head. She knows it would be dangerous to get involved with him and she thinks she doesn't want to relinquish control to him, but he's irresistible and they connect. Shaye is shocked by how much he feels for Devin. He doesn't want her to have the power to hurt him. But neither of them can stop what they're feeling.
This story is HOT! I really liked that Shaye's self control extends to not taking the domination thing too far. His obvious care for her pleasure is really nice. I'd like to see that happening more often in D/s stories. My one issue is that love seems to come a bit too quickly for these two, but they're so fabulous together that you can easily overlook it.
Wild Nights by Jaci Burton
Mike Nottingham is a veterinarian from Oklahoma, attending a convention in Las Vegas. His friend gives him an invitation to an exclusive sex club called Wild Nights. Mike has been looking for that elusive something that will satisfy him, to no avail. He has had great sex, but always feels like there's something missing.
Grace Wylde is the owner of the club, and Mike's friend says she's unattainable. Just the kind of challenge Mike has been looking for. They meet and they feel a connection and a feeling of being comfortable with one another that they haven't felt with anyone else. Mike knows he won't get anywhere with Grace unless he's different than all the other men who usually try to put the moves on her. He also knows how to make this a unique encounter for Grace, and in doing so he finds his own elusive pleasure. But Grace doesn't want to get entangled with a man who's leaving in a couple of days, and the connection she feels with Mike scares her. Will two strong-willed individuals be able to make it work? Will they even care enough to try?
I wasn't completely happy with Grace throughout this story, but I think I understand why she does the things she does. This is a fantastic tale of two jaded people who finally find that special someone. Jaci Burton really makes these characters sizzle.
Purple Magic by Lisa Renee Jones
Jolene Morrison is searching underground sex clubs for her missing best friend, Carrie Wright. She seeks out an ancient warrior vampire named Drago in the hopes that he'll be willing and able to help her find her friend. When they meet, they both feel a profound chemistry. Their mutual attraction is so intense that Drago wonders if Jolene might be his mate. He never thought he'd find his mate, and he's not even sure he wants it to happen because it will make him soft and vulnerable. Jolene will have to trust Drago if she wants to save Carrie. But at what cost to her own safety?
I enjoyed seeing the strong slayer agree to share control with his mate. It goes against everything that he is, and it illustrates the depth of their bond. Lisa Renee Jones has done a great job of world building in a relatively short story.
Three tales, all exceptionally well written and power packed with emotion and steamy sensuality. You'll love Exclusive.
5 Kisses, 2 Peppers (anal sex)
~Lindy
Reviewer, TwoLips Reviews, LLC
www.TwoLipsReviews.com
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