Misconduct by Samantha Kane

Blurb:
The Birmingham Rebels play both sides of the field, proving that the hottest action isn’t always in the arena.

Rookie running back Tom Kelly loves the perks of football stardom. Men, women—there’s no shortage of companionship for a pro athlete who’s hot, young, and willing, and Tom is definitely willing. But deep down he wants a committed three-way relationship, especially if the female in the middle is Carmina de la Cruz. The undeniably sexy Army veteran may not say much, but her body speaks loud and clear.

After a traumatic tour in Afghanistan, Carmina is struggling to regain her speech and rebuild her life. More than anything, she wants to feel like a woman again. Tom may be a wholesome All-American, but he knows just how she needs to be touched—and he’s not the only Rebel who arouses her interest. With his scorching intensity, Tom’s best friend leaves her wondering if two players might be better than one.

Danny Smith is no stranger to his team’s kinky reputation. He gave in to temptation once, but he’s not going down that road again. Sure, Carmina’s curves promise pleasure, but her eyes guarantee it comes with baggage—and Danny has enough of his own. Still, giving up control can feel so good. And when it comes to everything Danny craves, Carmina and Tom make the perfect team.

     

My Review:
3.5 stars — I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

*heavy sigh*  So, I enjoyed this book.  I enjoyed it more than the previous book in the series (and I’ve only read books 3 and 4, not the first 2).  I came out at the end of it entertained, I thought the character development was pretty good, and I thought the steamy scenes were deliciously…well…steamy.  I even initially pegged this one as a 4 star for me.  And I’m going to round up, b/c I’m trying to keep true to *my* personal feelings at the end of it.

I thought all the characters had something to offer, and I particularly liked the goofiness and just, well, like-ability of Tom.  Like seriously, I really loved him, and his humour, and he was just so adorable.  And I loved the way he pushed both Danny and Carmina, recognizing what he wanted was a relationship with both of them (all three of them together), and after recognizing interest from both of them, I enjoyed how he pushed them out of their comfort zones to get them to that place together.

I thought Carmina’s storyline was interesting, particularly since I didn’t see her past with Richie coming.  I had been looking forward to learning more about her brain injury, b/c she fascinated me in the previous book, and I was a bit bummed that besides putting herself down about it, we didn’t really get as much out of that as I’d wanted.  But I did like seeing her grow more confident, and I appreciated a glimpse into some of the challenges that she faces (particularly in trying to reenter the workforce, and dealing with well-meaning friends/family).

I thought Danny was probably the one I learned the least about, and probably had a few reservations about.  He came across kind of homophobic (even though he ended up being bisexual), and while I understood his hangups about his sexual preferences in light of his past with Marian, I still had a hard time with it…I always have a hard time reading about characters that feel ashamed of what they like, even though I think it’s a valid storyline b/c I’m sure many people go through this.  I’m not sure how much I liked the scene between Tom and Danny in the hotel room, particularly consent-wise, but I let it pass…and I’m not sure what that says about me.

And here’s where the sigh comes in.  I decided to glance at other reviews of the book.  And I realized that, as a white woman, I didn’t see a lot of things surrounding the race of Danny and Carmina that others might.  I subscribe to the philosophy that everyone’s a little bit racist, and I was bummed that I had yet again failed to see the far reaching consequences of some of the elements in the story.  Also, while I am trying to be more conscious of slut-shaming, consent, and all the other little sexual tidbits that crop up in books, I tend to forget about them in eroticas sometimes…is it suspension of disbelief?  I don’t know.  So I guess what I’m trying to say is that while reading other critical reviews, I could see some of the points that they were making, but they hadn’t bothered me while reading, and so I’m going to maintain my rating, b/c it’s how I felt and I’m reviewing my personal experience.  But if you are sensitive to these issues, then you might want to read some other reviews to help you make a better decision.  And hopefully you won’t judge me too much.

Anyways, I do want to say that I did enjoy how the football game against the Rough Riders went at the end there.  I was proud of all the boys for growing and learning and eventually helping each other to do the right thing in such a hard situation.

So yeah.  There you go.  I enjoyed the book.  *shrugs*  I guess I just don’t think as hard as other readers, especially when it comes to eroticas.  And here I was excited that we got so much diversity in this story.  Whatcha gonna do?  Learn and grow I suppose.

Jacked Up by Samantha Kane

Blurb:

The secret about the Birmingham Rebels is out: With a girl in the middle, two mouth-watering football studs are better than one.

Linebacker Sam Taylor feels like a ticking time bomb. He left the army with emotional wounds as fresh as the scars on his back. Sam’s been living like a monk, but his best friend, defensive lineman King Ulupoka, wants to get him laid. Easy for him to say. The larger-than-life Samoan is a hard-bodied, tribal-tattooed fantasy. Sam agrees, under one condition: King stays to watch.

ER nurse Jane Foster is done being a good girl, and nothing says wild like picking up two of football’s sexiest players and bringing them back to your hotel room. Trouble is, she can’t decide which one she wants more. Sam is hot, sweet, and vulnerable. Jane’s more than willing to ride him into oblivion. But King’s intense gaze from across the room promises that the best is yet to come.

Sure, King has had his choice of girls and guys in the past. That doesn’t mean he’ll jeopardize his relationship with Sam over a case of locker-room lust—until a naughty nurse pushes them both out of their comfort zones. Seeing Jane and Sam together turns King on more than he ever imagined. If they’re game, he’s ready to tackle a three-way play.

     

My Review:
3.5 stars — I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

I’ve read a few books in Ms. Kane’s historical menage series (Brothers in Arms) and really enjoyed them, and this modern series is quite entertaining as well!  It had some intriguing characters, a bit of depth (which is always nice for an erotica read), and obviously some hot sex.  And I enjoyed the little glimpses of either past book characters, or potential next book characters in the series.  It’s always fun when a series follows a close knit group of characters, in this case all being involved in the same fictional NFL football team.

I adored King.  I loved that he brought a little bit of diversity with his Samoan heritage, and I didn’t feel as though he was a caricature.  But he was so laid back and accepting, I just wanted to hug him for always thinking the right things and helping Sam and Jane get to the right places.

Sam was a bit up and down for me.  I LOVED the military background story we got with him, and he was so damaged and vulnerable, but willing to make baby steps and try to change and grow and slowly embrace the changes.  I loved some of his conversations with the team psych, Mark.  Heck, I loved some of King’s conversations with Mark too.  But he just brought this book from normal erotica to something with more depth and interest, if that makes sense.

And then there’s Jane.  *sigh*  She was a tough character to love, b/c she spent a lot of the book slut-shaming herself.  And I really don’t deal well with that, but it was kind of the topic of the book and something she was supposed to be learning to deal with and changing and growing about.  But there was just so fricking much of it, it was hard to take.  And it took her so long to learn, and I’m still not sure she really did and accepted it as much.  For all that self-flagellation, I was hoping for more of an obvious breakthrough I guess.  And other than that I’m not sure I really learned enough about her to like her a lot.  Not that I disliked her, she just didn’t make a big impression.  Although I did love how she handled Sam, and his issues from the PTSD to being confused about being bi.

And now onto the major aspect of any good menage erotica: the steamy scenes!!  And oh my gawd, they were a contradiction.  They were sooooo hot sometimes, like really woosh.  And then they would start talking.  And quite frankly, the dirty talking just didn’t work for me in this book.   It might have been just me, but it was just too comical at times.  I know it was supposed to be, but then it just felt forced to me.  Like how I would sound dirty talking.  Like from a script or something.  It was just a personal taste thing.  And it was pervasive through every steamy scene, so it was a mix of good and bad I guess.

So in the end it was a solid erotica, but the little things (like the dirty talking and the slut shaming) just have me rounding down instead of up this time.

Siren in the City by Sophie Oak

Blurb:
[Menage Amour: Erotic Cowboy Menage a Trois Romance, M/M/F, BDSM, public exhibition] When the Dom’s away…the subs will play! Jack and Sam married Abby. It was supposed to be for forever, but lately Abby wonders where her alpha male has gone. Jack has retreated, and life has become decidedly vanilla. It isn’t the true threesome she and Sam wanted. Sam and Abby know the time has come to fight for what they need. A call from his mentor forces Jack to revisit the club where he discovered his sexuality. Jack’s half-brother is in the city and interested in a little blackmail. Can Jack handle two defiant subs and a brother in need of tough love? Sometimes all it takes to find the way home is a little love and a lot of bondage. ** A Siren Erotic Romance

    

Blurb:
ORIGINAL REVIEW: 4 stars — I enjoyed it….I loved the characters from the first one and it was neat to catch up with them and not just assume a happily ever after…

ON REREAD: 4 stars — OK, this is going to sound funny, but I laughed a lot…and you guessed it, it was because of incorrigible Sam.  Seriously, that man is just…awesomesauce.  I laughed so much at the tiny side conversation about them being a line…oh Abby, you are so right.  I really enjoyed that while we got a bit of a HEA in the previous book, this one showed us that life always brings more struggles, and that some traumas can be felt more deeply than we thought.  What Jack struggles through is intriguing.  Again with that shame thing.

I thoroughly enjoyed being introduced to the Club, and all the colourful characters who are going to get their own stories as the series continues.  What makes a great series for me is great secondary characters that intrigue you, and make you *wish* for their stories.  And there were so many, from Julian and Leo to Lucas and even Abby’s daughter.  And what becomes great as the series goes on is glimpses back to characters whose stories have already been told.  You fall in love with Jack, Sam, and Abby, and you know you’ll see them in the future, even if it’s just glimpses.

I will reiterate one thing though — I know NOTHING about BDSM.  So the accuracy of its portrayal in these books is not something I can comment on.  But since I’m not actually interested in the lifestyle in real life, it was thoroughly entertaining for me in a fictional sense.  But if it is something that you participate in in real life, I have a feeling this might not be super accurate, and I could see that pissing people off.  So take these books with a grain of salt.

Small Town Siren by Sophie Oak

Blurb:
[Menage Amour: Erotic Cowboy Menage a Trois Romance, M/F/M, BDSM, sex toys] Jack Barnes and Sam Fleetwood have been best friends since they met in foster care. They share a business as cattle ranchers and a house. All they need now is a woman to share. The men are sure they’ve found that woman when Abigail Moore returns to Willow Fork, Texas. Abby left her hometown twenty years before under a cloud of scandal. She’s raised a daughter, forged a new life for herself, and is ready for the next phase when she meets the handsome cowboys. They’re a dream come true; Jack is the sexy Dom, and Sam the playful lover. It’s everything she’s ever fantasized about. There’s only one problem. She’s still not welcome in Willow Fork, and someone is willing to kill to keep her away. ** A Siren Erotic Romance

     

My Review:
ORIGINAL REVIEW: 4.5 stars — BDSM isn’t high on my list of fantasies, but the characters and interactions in this book were just so delicious. Seriously sweet and vulnerable characters. Nice side plot….

ON REREAD: 4.5 stars — Yeah, you know what?  I’ve learned through the years that I apparently enjoy reading about BDSM.  And maybe that’s because of the way that authors like Ms. Oak portray it.  I still don’t get the impulses personally, but it is hella hot to read about regardless.  And Sam and Jack, well they could sell me anything.  😛  There’s just something so enjoyable about their already established relationship, how they looked out for each other, and how they basically get the green light on Abby and MOVE IN for the strike!  Poor Abby didn’t know what hit her.  And she was a delight in her own right.  Sassy, but so damaged, but still very strong.

It’s got a lot of stretch the imaginations parts — like would a guy like Jack Barnes really rule that town?  And the ruthlessness…damn the ruthlessness.  I mean, I’m not actually a girl who is into revenge and making people pay and all that jazz, but for some reason I enjoy reading about it.  Or maybe Jack just makes it palatable.  He’s so…intriguing.

Alas, I will admit, it is Samuel that stole the show for me.  He’s just so damn incorrigible.  Seriously.  And I loved how Abby helped Sam and Jack move forward themselves.  This one doesn’t get too in to the BDSM stuff, just a taster really.  But again, it’s got some good intrigue going on, and a bit of suspense/action.  All in all, not bad for an erotica.  A great start to a series that I really ended up thoroughly enjoying.

Siren Enslaved by Sophie Oak

Blurb:
[#336 Siren Menage Everlasting: Erotic Cowboy Menage a Trois Romance, M/M/F, BDSM, sex toys] Julian Lodge has everything a man could want. He’s rich, successful and owns the most exclusive BDSM club in Dallas. But something is missing. Finn Taylor has worked his way up in the world from humble beginnings in Willow Fork, Texas. The only thing he still loves in his hometown is Danielle Bay. He never told her he was actually bisexual, and he never confessed his love for her. Now she’s getting married, and Finn is sure he’s lost his chance with the only person he’ll ever love. Julian’s vacation to the Barnes-Fleetwood ranch brings them all together. After Dani jumps into Julian’s car while fleeing her wedding, Julian knows he has to have her. But nothing is easy in Willow Fork. A danger from Julian’s past threatens them all. Julian will have to convince both Dani and Finn that being his will be the best decision they ever made. ** A Siren Erotic Romance

    

My Review:
ORIGINAL REVIEW: 4 stars — OK, seriously fun to get glimpses back in the Barnes household. Loved this story of Julian….didn’t think I would end up liking him. I mean…I like plots in Erotica, but I don’t expect much. I really did enjoy his transition though… Entertaining and arousing.

ON REREAD: 4 stars — I’m in the middle of rereading this series (and the Bliss series) and I figured why not throw my reviews up on the blog!  I pretty much agree with my original review.  Obviously it’s awesome to catch glimpses of so many characters I’ve grown to really love and enjoy…and to see glimpses of stories to come (even though I’ve already read them, seeing the teasers and knowing what is coming can be fun sometimes).  While I thoroughly enjoy reading ménage (particularly M/M/F) erotica, as well as BDSM, it’s more like a reading fantasy than a real one.  What I find, personally, is that these books have made me a bit fascinated with the culture.  Not enough to explore it, but it’s like understanding different kinds of people.  And I’m not naive enough to assume that the author got it all right, but I do enjoy the way it is portrayed.  I love that all the characters have backstory and depth, and that you get to see some of what makes the big bad Dom need his control so badly.

One of the other things I love about this series, and had entirely forgotten, is the element of suspense and…action?  Thriller?  There’s always a bad guy, and a desperate (sometimes life or death) situation.  So I not only get some fabulous steam, I get a dose of (sometimes unrealistic) action too.

But my favourite part in this book comes when Julian chastises Finn for letting his own shame bring Dani down and make her question her desires.  He says ,”You are only on the outside because you’re trying to fit into your idea of the normal world.  The world is what you make it, Finn.  There are as many worlds as there are people.  This is your world.  You are the only one who can force yourself out of it.”  Deep.

Now I need to try to remember how I felt about the previous books so I can write better reviews for them too.  I’m all backwards.

Kara’s Wolves (Wolf Masters #1) by Becca Jameson

Blurb: Kara Shepherd is about to compete in her last gymnastics meet and graduate from college. A week before graduation, her roommates drag her out to a country bar to live a little before entering the real world. She has no idea the course her future is on is about to take a sharp turn.

Justin Masters and his lifelong friend, Trevor Shields, share everything from their home to their women. At twenty-eight years old, neither has met their mate, nor are they in a hurry to find a woman who will end their long-standing arrangement with each other. Their dairy farm, a few miles outside of town, allows them the luxury of shifting to their wolf form any time they want in relative seclusion.

Justin’s world tips when Kara walks into the bar on a random Friday night. Immediately recognizing her scent as that of his mate, he is drawn to her by forces beyond his control. Nervous about sharing the news with Trevor, Justin is relieved to realize Kara is also his best friend’s mate. Now all they have to do is convince Kara she belongs in a permanent menage and track down a stalker who seems hellbent on taking Kara for himself.

2 Stars

This book was mostly sex with little to no climax or plot.  I should have DNF’f it but I’m a sucker for erotica, especially shifter erotica.  I don’t know why I love it so much.  I’m a bit of a weirdo.

The MC’s had no depth but were very sexually active.  The threesome thing wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.  I would have like to seen more in that aspect; it really was just like the girl screwing both dudes.  The guys were best friends but never got involved, a fact I found hard to believe myself.

This review will be short cause the book wasn’t very good.  The end.