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28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
An Average Showing, February 16, 2006
This review is from: Strictly Taboo (Mass Market Paperback)
Three short stories make up the content of this rather average read by one of today's hottest romance authors.
In the story "Barbarian" Lady Elen of Godeuart has been taken captive by Ivar. At one time these two were betrothed but Elen is not aware of this and when Ivar makes a claim to her she thinks he is out of his mind. But what happens when Elen starts to feel something for her Viking master?
In the story "Nemesis" Diane needs to rethink her plans regarding her decision to take a cruise on the Rhine as waitress in the buff especially when her high school nemesis boards the ship. Now Diane needs to deal with Garek Ennis and the feelings he makes her feel.
In the story "Naught Nancy" Nancy Lombardo dresses up as Xena for a Halloween party but this is not just any kind of party. She is about to be swept off her feet by a witch and their destination is a planet that is not earth. And their mutual attraction is out of this world.
Sadly these three stories are only average and not what most readers expect from Ms. Black. There is very little romance and the execution of these stories leaves them stiff and instead of sizzling heat...the heat here fizzles. Ms. Black is capable of much better fare and if you are new to this talented author I encourage you to pick up some of her pervious titles.
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22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Better in theory than execution, January 15, 2006
This review is from: Strictly Taboo (Mass Market Paperback)
Strictly Taboo is composed of three stories set in the past, present, and future.
In Barbarian, Lady Elen of Godeuart is captured, along with her injured brother Lothar, by the Viking, Ivar. Ivar has vowed revenge on Elen after she masterminded an attack against his men. His revenge is to make her his slave and keep her in his bed. He doesn't plan on falling in love.
Nemesis finds Diane Sullivan second-guessing her week-long job on the Carnal Voyage cruise when she spies Garek Ennis, her nemesis from high school, boarding. Garek has long harbored lust for Diane and now he plans to act on that.
And finally in Naughty Nancy, Nancy Lombardo, dressed as Xena for a Halloween party, finds herself whisked away to a faraway planet by a mysterious witch. Mistaken identity has a shape-shifting alien lusting after her. Naughty Nancy is set in Jaid Black's Trek Mi Q'an series universe and was previously released in a now out-of-print ebook anthology.
Unfortunately, as much as these stories sound interesting, they just aren't up to snuff. Barbarian consists of cardboard characters who are little different from every other Viking romance out there. And while the explicit language is consistent with an erotic romance, there's actually little romance or sex. Yes, it's short, but I still expect some sexual tension in an erotic romance. Lady Elen plays the stereotypical virginal heroine and one wonders just what is so different about her that makes Ivar want her and only her. It's certainly not explained in the story.
Nemesis was my favorite and while it's still not as erotic as I expected, it's still an enjoyable short story.
Naughty Nancy is certainly unique. It has a shape-shifting hero who looks like a gargoyle and thinks the heroine is an animal who feeds on ejaculate. And he's only too happy to oblige what he thinks is a starving animal. It's certainly humorous in a campy way, but I didn't really believe in the romance. Too much of it depended on changes she had no control over (don't want to veer too much into spoiler territory).
So, I can't really recommend this one unless you are a die-hard Jaid Black fan. If you're looking for a good erotic romance filled with intensity, sexual tension, romance and well-written sex scenes, I'd suggest looking elsewhere.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Three Delights!, May 31, 2006
This review is from: Strictly Taboo (Mass Market Paperback)
To use the publisher's words, this is a "paranormal collection of three sexy, original stories of men who are totally off-limits", a bit misleading as only the third one can be described as paranormal; the first story is set in the past and the second in the present, with no paranormal elements.
In "Barabrian", Lady Elen of Godeuart's home is besieged by Vikings, but her ingeniousness saves it. Ivar Hrolf is incensed by her defensive maneuver (it maimed some Vikings...), the next night he steals into her home and kidnaps her to make her his bed slave. I tell no more of this story, you go read it. Worth it!
As for "Nemesis", well, it is worth it also! Diane Sullivan, after 11 years of unsuccessfully trying to be an actress, has decided to move on to something else with her small daughter. To start this new life on the right foot however, she needs money, so she signs up as a waitress on a cruise ship, for one cruise... which pays so well because she has to be naked for the whole trip. But it's ok: as long as she doesn't have to sleep with anyone she doesn't want to, she's all right. All right that is, until Garek Ennis boards the ship, the Garek Ennis who tormented her in high school, the Garek Ennis she had such a big crush on despite his being so nasty. As for Garek's reaction when he sees her... no, I shall tell no more of it either. Go read it too!
"Naughty Nancy" was my favorite story of this book, mainly because of Vorik F'al Vader, eighteen-years-old and a Khan-Gori newly full-grown, so eager for his first yenni hunt!(yenni=luscious and stupid female animal whose food is male seed...) Although the beginning of the story is awkward and the seventh dimension could use a bit more description, the shape-changing predator who find Nancy there is just too cute/funny!
I first came accross JB in the "Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down" and "Palying Easy To Get" anthologies; I bought them for Sherrilyn Kenyon, but it's J. Black stories which ended up being my favorites. Despite sketchy worlds and holey plots, I really ENJOY her writing: her heroines are strong, resourceful and thoughtful; as for her heroes... I want one! They're tender, strong **darn it, is there any way to write this without sounding soppy and cliché?!?** and cute, an excellent counterpart to the heroines. (Better yet, we don't feel they're wasted on them!)
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