Forbidden Fantasies- Jodie Griffin

Roughly 27,000 words

Published: 5^th March 2012

Genre: BDSM/ Erotica/ Adult

Format: Ebook [Courtesy of Carina Press]

Date Finished: 5^th March 2012

Synopsis:

After fifteen years of marriage, Jessica Meyers's sex life is, well, a little predictable. Her handsome husband turns her on, but missionary style once or twice a week? It just can't compare to the hot new world she discovers in the pages of erotic romances. Her fantasies fuel the fire of her desire, adding a new spark to her and Alex's lovemaking. But Jess is afraid to tell her husband what she really wants in bed—and her secrets start coming between them.

State trooper Alex Meyers is a master at uncovering the truth—except when it comes to his sweet, shy wife. She's clearly keeping something from him. An affair? She wants out? When he finally confronts Jess, he's shocked to learn she wants to turn her forbidden fantasies into nightly realities. But when he takes her to a unique B and B—Bondage and Breakfast—catering to couples and multiples, Alex is about to find out just how far he'll go.

Review/ Thoughts:

Don’t get me wrong. There are days when like most people I want to read the raunchiest erotica available. Something with no plot and that is more pornographic than romantic, but going into Forbidden Fantasies I was soon delighted to know that I could enjoy both aspects in a way that would leave me feeling sated [erotically] and yet romantically satisfied as well.

I am a big fan of progression and growth and you don’t get to read a lot of adult fiction where the couple is married and who truly love one another to the point that they would try and do anything. Forbidden fantasies hits close to home and is relatable and hilarious with warmth and sensuality and yet there were so many emotional layers that made me enjoy this story so much more. Jodie touches on the key elements of a relationship and explores them, opening a chest of possibilities and a world to her characters and to her readers.

Forbidden Fantasies was one of the best novella’s I have read. I loved the gradual learning between the two main characters Jess and Alex and the understanding that comes from experiencing their fantasies together. It truly is a beautiful and believable story. There were times when it was so hot and I was so emotionally engaged with the plot that I had to put it down for a few hours just to calm myself.

Jodie’s writing style is easy and it flows with every page full anticipation and delight. Will I be reading anything by this author again: Hell yes anything I can get my hands on and if you aren’t afraid to dip your toe into some dark water or are already a fan of BDSM with realistic emotions than you will be sure to love Forbidden Fantasies.

★★★★.5

The Last Rising - Rachel Firasek

Pages: 102

Published: September 6th 2011 by Entangled Publishing

Genre: Paranormal Romance/ Adult

Format: Ebook

Date Finished: 5^th February 2012

Synopsis:

After paying two millennia’s penance to Osiris, world-weary Phoenix Ice has had enough. Saving souls without any hope for her own redemption isn’t how she imagined spending eternity. Fed up, she decides her next death will be her last. But when she sacrifices her own life for a sexy Texan in a catastrophic plane crash, she has no idea the consequences will be so great…or that she’ll end up back in his life for her next assignment.

Now that Turner Alcott has survived the worst, finding a wife and mother for his son matters more than ever before. When the mysterious Ice comes into his life, Turner knows she’s the one—but love is the last thing Ice wants. If he wants to win her heart, Turner must teach Ice how to forgive herself, and prove that love is the ultimate sacrifice.

Review:

I was recently offered the chance to read the third book in the Curse of the Pheonix series – The Last Beginning of Net Galley, but without much information I had no idea that it was the third book and that I would have to go back and read the first two to begin with. The premise sounded fantastic and unique and when February rolled around I wanted to get straight into it.

Let me tell you for 2.99 it was more than a bargain.

The Last Rising has one of the best first chapters I have read in a long time. Not only that, it is one of those stories that I was thinking about when I was not reading it and growing more excited knowing that there were more stories written by Rachel.

From the get go I could feel the heat, the passion and compassion of the characters. I fell in love with Ice and her sassy yet sweet personality. Ice wasn’t generic to me and the author gave her a wonderful balance of flaws and likable traits. I enjoyed the layered background history as the story progressed and the emotional inflictions she had with her past, present and future.

I loved the concept of an Ancient Goddess Isis and the Phoenix being reborn into a new life and not having any memories of their previous mark. It is here that the tables are turned and Ice is brought back into the world where her previous mark starts to become a big part of her life. Turner was a fantastic character as well and despite Brodie being a bit annoying he was so darn cute and very like his father.

It does help that I am in love with Egyptian Mythology and this was the perfect reason to rekindle my love of romance and interest in mythology. You also get to see a little of Osiris who’s history is blended in with the story and it made me fall even more in love with Rachel’s writing.

For once here is a romance that I admired and grew to love and that had reason not just fate. I loved Rachel’s writing it had fantastic pace and always had me guessing. There were some parts that I predicted, but it never once took away the great story that was The Last Rising and I cannot wait to get started on book Two The Last Awakening.

This is a must read for fans of Paranormal Romance who like a little steamy sex but who also love their mythology and enjoy that heartwarming love that grows on you from page one. I will certainly be devouring anything Rachel has written.

★★★★★

If you are interested in learning more about Isis click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isis

If you are interested in learning more about http://www.rachelfirasek.com/

Loving Richard Feynman – Penny Tangey

· Pages: 199

· Published: Published 2009 by University of Queensland Press

· Genre: Contemporary/ Australian Y.A

· Date Finished: January 9^th 2012

· Rating/ Recommendation: 3 stars ***

Synopsis:

Richard Feynman was a Nobel Prize-winning physicist. Catherine is a science-loving fifteen-year-old. Richard helped build the atom bomb. Catherine's just trying to survive school. When your life is falling apart around you, is talking to a dead physicist normal?

Review:

Loving Richard Feyman was not entirely my cup of tea but it was worth the read. Catherine the main character keeps a diary in which she writes to her idol Richard Feynman, almost in the same manner I did when I was younger and my idol was Anne Frank.

I did enjoy the context and the concept of the novel as it was original and the format made it such an easy read. I think my biggest problem was there wasn’t really a middle ground for me, it either lacked substance or overwhelmed me with it and trust me I am all for new concepts and learning about science and the history so that aspect really fascinated me, but I also got bogged down by the sheer information dump of it all sometimes and it made me want to put the book down. Of course there were parts of the novel that had me turning pages and most of Catherine’s outlook at school and academia was similar to my own.

I love that this is an Australian book, and I cannot get enough of that, especially when the story is set in a town only a few hours away from me. This is definitely more an early young adult book in my opinion and while easy and quick to read it did grate on my nerves one too many times- reason being that the main character was a self-absorbed, rude and challenged bitch. When she wasn’t being judgmental of her friends or family she was self deprecating and frustrating and it made the reading experience tainted, especially because there is a lot of promise in the story itself.

Overall I did enjoy this book, it wasn’t revolutionary and I wouldn’t read it again, but I would recommend it for those who enjoy history, facts, a little bit of friendship and a whole lot of self –drama.