Historicals Anyone?

The latest in Sarah McCarty’s Promises series, is Promises Reveal, about preacher, Reverend Brad Swanson and Evie Washington, the woman he is forced to marry because of a portrait she painted of him naked. Her uncle and mother, along with the loving yet nosy townspeople assume Brad and Evie were intimate, because how would Evie know about certain scars on Brad’s body let alone knowing what he looks like naked? When the story begins, there is literally a shotgun wedding about to happen and both Brad and Evie are not too happy about being the bride and groom. Brad is one of those McCarthy heroes who thinks he is bad, way down to his bones and marrying such an innocent yet troublesome lady like Evie is not a good thing, because what if he impregnates her with his demon seed? Keep in mind this is not a paranormal demon western, but an erotic romantic western that Sarah usually excels writing in the past.

Brad and Evie finally get married after a lot of jibber jabber back and forth, which becomes a very prevalent thing in Promises Reveal. Other than Brad and Evie constantly lusting after each other, and acting on it, they tend to go on and on about their feelings and so forth to the point where Brad becomes so frustrated with his bride, that he ravishes her every chance he can get just to shut her up. Evie tends to grate on Brad’s nerves, except when they are making love. I am all for a good ravishing now and then, especially when this occurs during a very intimate moment in the town chapel between the two. But overall I was very bored with Brad and Evie. Other than both trying to work on a marriage that should have never happened in the first place, there is Brad’s mysterious past that he is trying to keep a secret. And he believes he is really evil because of his father who used to beat him everyday and life he soon led in a criminal gang. As you can see, there is quite a lot of nonsense about Brad being an evil demon spawn.

I had great hopes for Promises Reveal because it is a continuation of a popular series that Sarah first started to write for Ellora’s Cave. We see many past characters from the other Promises book in this one, but unfortunately if you haven’t read those, you will be confused because certain couples appear on the scene talk about past events. So, if you are new to reading a Sarah McCarty book, Promises Reveal is not a good place to start. You do get a small taste of Sarah’s writing style and those smoldering sex scenes she is so well known for, but here they are a bit tame, because after all this is being published by Berkley, a more mainstream line and not an erotic publisher like Ellora’s Cave who allows their authors to expand on the heroine’s flowing cream and the hero’s adoration for certain inmate acts that deals with the heroine’s posterior. (Berkley, October 2008)

2 stars out of 5 stars

Laura Lee Guhrke’s next book in her Bachelorette Girls series called, Secret Desires of a Gentleman, is a fitting title because the hero, Philip Hawthorne, The Marquess of Kayne has many hidden desires for Maria Martingale, who opens a pastisserie, which is a high end bakery for the upper London elite. Philip and Maria have history together because she was his family’s cook’s daughter, and at seventeen, Maria and Philip’s younger brother Lawrence were going to elope. Philip put a stop to that by offering Maria a thousand pounds to leave and never see Lawrence again. Maria couldn’t refuse the offer because she was all alone in the world after her father died, and was quiet penniless. She took the money and did what Philip requested. Lawrence went to the United States and Maria went on to work on her baking craft. After twelve years, the Hawthorne brothers come in contact with Maria again just on coincidence.

Philip thinks Maria is up to no good and will ruin Lawrence’s plans to finally settle down and marry, which he is in the process of courting an American heiress. Philip threatens to take Maria’s shop away from her because he owns the building, but this time Maria won’t slink away because her dream is about to come true, and appeals to Lawrence who is all too happy to make her acquaintance yet again. There is nothing Philip can do, and hopes that Lawrence won’t fall for Maria again because Philip has a very important deal with Lawrence’s future father-in-law.

Maria is on cloud nine because everything she has worked so hard for is coming to pass. But Philip won’t leave her alone because his excuse is to watch over her and make sure she doesn’t seduce Lawrence with her feminine wiles and excellent baking techniques. And before long, these two can’t keep their hands off one another. Maria doesn’t want Lawrence, and longs for Philip, who is so out of her league because of the different circles they belong to. Philip is quite the snob who wants Maria, but can’t marry her because he is a lofty and rich Marquess and she is a just a poor cook’s daughter who will never belong in his world.

Secret Desire of a Gentleman is a sweet and fluffy read and those readers who enjoy this on-going series by Laura will certainly enjoy this latest by her. Philip and Maria’s relationship is very reminiscent of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy’s one from that classic novel, Pride and Prejudice. Philip feels Maria is still very much below him, much like Darcy felt Elizabeth was. Philip even asks for Maria’s hand in marriage after an interesting episode in his carriage with Maria, and that proposal reminded me very much like the one Darcy gives to Lizzy. Actually the first few times Philip and Maria see each other, Philip’s disdain for Maria runs very deep. He truly can’t stand her because of what occurred twelve years ago. But then suddenly, for no reason, Philip begins to remember the times they spent as children and his feelings turn from ones of disapproval to lust, and finally love.

Whenever I read a Laura Lee Guhrke story, I always finish with a smile on my face and I did the same with Secret Desires of a Gentleman. Maria is a lovely heroine who won’t back down from those who think they can tell her what to do, which mainly happens to be Philip. I never really warmed up to Philip because he does tend to insult Maria, just because he thinks he is so high and mighty and so right. It was great to see him fall down a notch when he begins lusting after Maria, but again, that came on so suddenly that even when we find out he has kept a keepsake of Maria’s from when she was a little girl, it felt a bit hollow. If the reader can put their opinions aside about Philip’s sudden turn about feelings for Maria, then Secret Desires of a Gentlemen is a great read to loose yourself in for a few hours. (Avon, October 2008)

2 ½ stars out of 5 stars

Katiebabs (KB)

Sam's Creed Book Review... warning this one gets a bit scandalous!

I have never been a big fan of western romance in particular, but ever since Sarah McCarty came on the scene with her erotic and perhaps scandalous westerns, I have been hooked. I started reading Sarah’s books during her Ellora’s Cave days and I have a complete set in her Promise Series. So, when Sam’s Creed came out a few weeks ago, I just had to get it. And let me tell you, some of the sex scenes are so very creatively written that I had to re-read some a few times to get the full understanding about what is happening between Sam, our sexy Texas Ranger, and Isabella, the spunky heroine who steals his heart. The majority of Sam and Isabella’s shocking loving happens on a horse. One such act that happens from page 210-216 had my head spinning because I couldn’t understand how it was possible. But, I will get to that in a moment.

Sam’s Creed is book two in the Hell’s Eight series about Sam “Wildcard” MacGregor, who was first introduced in Caine’s Reckoning, book one. Sam is part of Hell’s Eight, a group of men who uphold the law as Texas Rangers set in Texas during the mid 1850’s. This is the time of the Wild West where men used their guns proudly to defend their honor. The Hell’s Eight have such a scary reputation that you do not want to mess with any of them and who they lay claim to. Sam is on a mission to find the missing sister of Desi, who is Caine’s wife. Sam does find a woman but she is not the one he is looking for. He and his trusty sidekick dog, Kell, find a group of wagons that were ambushed. He doesn’t think he will find another living soul since the ground is littered with dead bodies. He is wrong, because under one of these wagons, is a young Spanish woman very much alive and one who is very annoyed. Isabella is the last person alive from this wagon train heading to San Antonio where her family home is. She is on the run from Tejala, a nasty man who wants to marry Isabella because of her fortune and her nice ranch spread. Sam, being the man that he is, decides to bring Isabella safely to her family.

Isabella has a lot of sass and doesn’t mine telling Sam the way to do things. She has become one of my favorite McCarty heroines because of this. Isabella is no weeping violet and will defend herself, even against Sam. Sam threatens to beat her butt too many times to could because she doesn’t listen to him and if Isabella wanted to, she would bend over and allow Sam to have his way. Isabella may be a virginal little miss, but she believes the evil Tejala will get his way even with Sam protecting her. She fears she will be raped by Tejala, so, why not give up her innocence to a man like Sam? Sam would love nothing more to introduce Isabelle to sex. Sam just can’t get over the fact that he is not good enough for his Spanish Duchess. Still, this doesn’t stop Sam from giving Isabella some interesting foreplay, which leads to some eye popping love scenes.

If you have read Sarah’s erotic westerns in the past, you know about one such act that Sam introduces Isabella to. I call it, “fun with the butt-butt”, but not only does this intimacy happen out in the wide open desert, but on a horse while it is in motion! Of course there are some other straight forward intimacies that I have enjoyed between these two. The majority of them happen in a cave or as they are camping down for the night. But again, since this is the desert and with that lack of water, well, bathing is not really an option. I would say both Sam and Isabella have been traveling for a few days to a week, but that doesn’t stop Sam and Isabella from having fun, which includes Sam rubbing a certain type of fluid into Isabella’s skin as to mark her as his own.

Overall, I found Sam and Isabella to have nice chemistry and Isabella is a wonderful heroine who stands by her man. I would have liked to see Sam act a bit more alpha, like most of Sarah’s heroes have been in the past, but Sam was quieter and more subdued which seemed to work especially as Sam tries to handle Isabelle. It was nice to see one of Sarah’s heroines take control of the relationship for a change. Sarah also showed that the Wild West is a place where the townspeople don’t always smile and welcome strangers with opens arms. It is a harsh vast wilderness and if two people such as Sam and Isabella can find some sort of happiness, then, more power to them.

I give Sam’s Creed 3 out of 5 stars….

That is not all! Earlier in this post I had mentioned another sex act that starts on page 210 that Isabella and Sam engage in on horse that I could not wrap my mind around. I was so confused by what Isabella does to Sam that I needed advice. About a week ago, I emailed about twenty-five of the smartest and funniest ladies in blog land to help me out. 180 emails later, my initial question started an email conversation, the likes I couldn’t believe!
DISCLAIMER: WARNING!!
What you are about to read is very graphic, somewhat shocking and so funny that you may want to put down whatever you are drinking or eating because you may laugh so hard you may just pee your pants. Some names have been changed to protect the innocent, and others didn’t mind at all as I asked permission to post their emails.

Without further ado, I give you the condensed version of, BJ on a Horse:

Katiebabs: I have an interesting question, so maybe you can help me out. I am in the middle of a book where the heroine is riding with the hero on a horse. She is sitting behind him. He is quite large, the manly muscular cowboy type and she is a bit petite. While they are riding along, she decides to relieve some of his tension and give him a blow job. The thing is I have read this scene three times and I can't figure out how it is possible! Even if she put her head under his arm, how can she reach her face around to his crotch and get a good grip on his penis and with her mouth? Can someone explain how this is logistically possible?

Katie R: Honestly, unless she's an acrobat, I don't see how this is possible. She'd definitely have to put her head under his arm, but if she's small and petite, what the hell is she holding onto? They'd have to be riding bareback since it's two of them so it's not as if she could hold onto the saddle horn....yeah, I don't think this could happen.
Ana: It's doable, it's doable .If she grew up as a contortionist on a circus and if his wee (tee hee) is not wee at all, if it is loooooooooooong and if points north, she could contort herself around his waist, lift her bottom, turn her face around sideways, I say it's totally doable.
SB Sarah: Or if she's not human, and instead is made of a flexible protein compound that lets her bend and stretch in any number of ways, like that guy on the X-files who could slither through the mail slots.
DA Jane: So you are saying it’s a Western paranormal with a shape-shifting heroine?
Katiebabs: It is from Sam's Creed by Sarah McCarty. And yup, she decides since Sam was so kind to her the night before, why not give him a helping hand or a nice kiss. Nope, not a western paranormal at all. Straight up erotic western romance.
SB Sarah: Erotic western romance with... bendy girl! I'm seriously still pondering how that would work. I think it might be impossible. Like that one Susan Johnson novel I read where the hero carried the heroine still joined at the naughty bits down a hill into a cold lake, and she had, like, two orgasms on the way there just from the walking bounce. Then another in the cold water. But that was just sexually suspicious. this is just plain anatomically - wait. What if the hero has a giant hole in his abdomen, and she crawled through?
MaryKate: I would think the bite down instinct if jarred would be enough to get the fella to say no. ;o)
Kristie(J): I believe in the cartoon Mr. Gadget, he could extend his neck for quite some distance. They made a real live movie out of the cartoon. While I didn't see the movie, if the heroine had the same kind of ability - it might be possible. Or if she shape shifts to a snake.
DA Jane: Hmm. the shape shifting snake heroine. Sounds really, um, non-erotic.
LisaBea: Well her jaw would dislocate to swallow that thing down. Now that's sexy. Experience? I mean in a CAR across the console is one thing...
Carolyn Jean: I'm going to be the voice of dissent here. I could see it. Assuming, of course, we are not talking gallop here. I have been sitting here imagining it. I have done a scientific thought experiment! Further clarification from my mind: I think that man would have to lean to the side a bit, and aid in the stabilization of his lady as she goes to. Oh, yes! I'm seeing it, cowgirls. I could also see a BJ position riding with both legs on one side of the horse while behind the man. I could see bending around him then.
Jen B: I have done lots of crazy things in lots of crazy positions, but I can honestly say I've never given head to a guy that's sitting in front of me on the back of a horse. I'm totally impressed. I need to read that book, if only to try to draw a diagram as I'm reading the scene.
Shannon M: I have to admit that I am just not seeing how it is possible. Perhaps I have a limited mind. Having only ridden a horse 2 or 3 times, I just imagine her sliding right off the side. Oh, and the whole BJ in a moving car? I just read a book by Shannon McKenna called Extreme Danger in which the heroine finds out her fiancé is cheating on her the day before the wedding because his ex was giving him head in a moving car. They crashed. The ex ended up with a neck injury and the fiancé had a nice set of teeth marks.Of course, this is what sets things in motion for the heroine to meet the hero. Sadly, I could not buy into their relationship. But yes, a cautionary tale about giving BJs in a car.
Katiebabs: Well I am almost done with this book and want to hear another interesting thing that goes on? Sam has this habit after he blows to rub his jizz all over the heroine. This happens a lot and a week later or so, she still hasn't had a bath or nothing. But, hey, Sam enjoys her feminine musk, so who am I to complains? Thoughts?
DA Jane: What? They are in the desert? No creeks? No little water holes to fill the canteen? No cacti to break open to gain access to aloe vera?
Jen B: Well, some women like being marked that way. ;) But not without a bath every day. That would get pretty nasty.
Carolyn Jean: have come across men who think their sperm is really, really precious. Like a gift.
Shannon M: Yeah, that's not a gift I want to be carrying around with me all week.
SB Sarah: OH HOLY MOTHER OF STANK. Is this the new sequel to Oil of Olay Body Wash? Essence of Sam Jizz Lotion?
DA Jane: I have no problem with the marking thing. I just read Jasmine Haynes's Show and Tell (hot) and she spreads it on her chest and that makes her excited BUT there is definitely washing that is going on. There is nothing wrong with a little hygiene.
SB Sarah: I mean, let's be honest: there is nothing better than the hot shower after really fun sex, because you're clean and the water is warm and maybe you're not in there by yourself. (ahem) Cleanliness is very sexy. Fun. And A GOOD THING. Smelling like day old wank is NOT.
Carolyn Jean: Maybe it scares the coyotes away.
DA Jane: Plus, could all that jizz be comfortable? I mean, like a face mask when it tightens as it dries is not very comfortable. Layers and layers of dried jizz? Baked on dried jizz. Desert hot dried jizz? Maybe she could peel it off and eat it. Jizz Jerky.
Holly: I'd think it would be more crispy, like potato chips, no? Mmm, week old jizz potato chips.
Katiebabs: I am so scarred at this moment in time. I will never look at the WISE owl the same way again.
Tracy: Ok - after rubbing his "jizz" as you put it all over her for a week and her not having a bath it wouldn't really be HER feminine musk now wouldn’t it? It would be his. Ok, a mixture of both, but still! Ah the old west! Gotta love it!
Little Alys: Oh, could we stop with jizz jerky? It's a horrid imagine and now I think of glue (like when were kids and use to dry glue on our hands just to peel it off).
DA Jane: It's a human salt crust. When you peel it away, the meat is all juicy and tender underneath. I think it’s the fountain of youth.
SB Sarah: dunno, I think "jizz jerky" might be the new trend in erotic romance.
Agent 69: Mmm, the horse thing. I could see how it would be possible. But, I don't see how it would be a good BJ. Too many variables at work. The horse's gait, the contortionism, etc. If she is small and he's big I guess she could sneak under his arm, but she'd be uncomfortable as hell while doing that, and who wants to read about a BJ where at least one person isn't having fun? Was this the first time she'd done it? Maybe if this was a regular part of her repertoire, with other guys maybe? then she could do a credible job. But the first time? Like I said, doable, but not that enjoyable, unless you're the guy. They seem to like it no matter how inexpertly it's done. Does she deep throat him at all, or just keep it relatively superficial, you know just sucking the head or something? Cause the deep throating is the part that would be really hard I'd think. A lick or two sure, but anything more would be really hard.
DA Jane: I pretty sure you just described how all the cirque de soliel acrobats do it.
Katiebabs: These are very interesting questions I didn't think of. It was her first time and she swallowed it like it was water, probably because she was so thirsty because they haven't bathed in days and were all dusty and the bodily fluids were being rubbed in their skin. I may never eat pudding again.
DA Jane: Oh, so the blowjob was like a medical necessity. Of course, it all makes perfect sense now. She had to do it or they might not live.
Agent 69: Well, if she was that thirsty, I could see it as a life-saving last-ditch maneuver. Pretty much this exchange has ruined pudding for me. And while I wasn't a big jerky fan to begin with, I will never eat it again. Potato chips are now on the iffy list. And I will never call anyone a lard ass again without laughing till I cry.
Kristie(J): This reminds me of a book I read years ago - either Hotel New Hampshire or The Word According to Garp - where the wife is giving another guy a bj in the car in the driveway. The husband drives in the driveway real fast and smacks into the back of the car. The wife's teeth chomp down and bites said instrument right off.

And this says it all:
Jen B: Hotmail just told me I have "sent the maximum number of messages allowed in a 24-hour period". Shit. I'm so pissed. Hotmail just *grounded* me. Sonofabitch.

Katiebabs (KB)

Recent Reads - Part 2

As I said, I've been reading quite a bit lately. This is the second batch though- which is really the first batch since I read them first.




The Power of Two by Patti O’Shea
Even though I’ve read this one before, I’m going to cheat a little and consider it part of the Keishon’s paranormal challenge for October. This is the third book in the 2176 series started by Susan Grant with The Legend of Banzai McGuire. Cai and Jake, both members of a special forces team, have a special relationship. Something to do with her being a receptor and having nanodes in both their brains and advising him on missions. I didn’t really understand it but I just went with it anyway. Jake thinks all along he has been mind talking to a computer but when Cai gets information on her parents mysterious disappearance, she goes to Jake to ask him for his help. He is stunned to realize all along that rather than a computer, his closest friend is a young woman. He manages to get over it and together along with the rest of the team, they travel to the raft cities to locate Banzai McGuire and her lover, UCE Commander, and Navy SEAL, Tyler Armstrong. She is also hoping to find her parents as she has reason to suspect they are being held against their will be a megalomaniac billionaire.
Obviously, since this is a reread, I quite enjoyed the book. I love both the characters of Jake and Cai. Even though Jake feels betrayed when he first realizes who Cai is, he get’s over it and becomes very protective of her. The sexual tension is great as they are both attracted to the other, but both fighting it. I really enjoyed this whole series and this was a great entry.
Grade: 4 out of 5




Mac’s Law by Sarah McCarty
This one was my first foray into romantica and while I had some issues with parts of it, this won’t be my last. Now – to discuss those issues without getting spammed is a challenge and just for the heck of it, I decided to give it a whirl. As I expected, there is sex and a lot of it in this book. However, one aspect was new to me and that was the amount of alternate entry – um – usage. I’d never read this before and decided very quickly that nope, no sir, never tried it, never will. And that’s probably even TMI. I had a bit of a head scratching while I was reading this book as to whether I was reading something cutting edge or I was just a dirty old lady. If I was 10 to 15 years younger there wouldn't have been any question. Anyway, on to the story. Mac Hollister is local law as well as a rancher. He has advertised for a cook and Jessie or J.C. Sterns is the one who has accepted the job. Mac has been thinking J.C. to be a guy and now way, now how, is he going to take on a woman for the job. Well, she finally talks him into letting her stay on a trial basis and before long they give in to their mutual attraction – again and again and again. In addition to the..um… alternate entry scenes, there was also some laying on of the hand to the lower portion of the heroine which is located behind her, which is also something I’d never read before. And a third party viewing scene which was also new to me. It looks like they are smaller that printed books too which doesn’t leave as much time for character development – but then the same can be said for Harlequins and anthologies. I think I would have liked this one better without some of the alternate scenes, but overall I liked it – I think
Grade: 31/2 out of 5




Master of the Moon by Angela Knight
This was another paranormal for Keishon’s challenge. Unfortunately this was a DNF. I loved Jane’s Warlord and if she ever goes back and revisits that universe, I’m there. But this one creeped me out with its evil elves and satanic theme. I don’t mind violence – as I liked Jane’s Warlord – but this really wasn’t for me.




Dark Lover by JR Ward
I decided to read this one based on Sybil’s DIK review and the fact that this is one the books that everyone else is reading and I didn’t want to miss the reading party. Normally, as I’ve said before, I don’t do vampire books, but decided to make an exception. And I must confess I’m quite glad I did. I like this one. A lot. As most everyone has either read or is planning on reading this one, reviews are all over the place so I don’t need to really add my 2 cents – other than to say everyone is right. This is a good book and I will again break my vampire ban when the next one comes out.
Grade 41/2 out of 5