ARC Review: Sabine by Moira Rogers

Blurb:

A curse can erase her from his mind, but never from his heart.

…and the Beast, Book 1

After three years at war, the High Lord of the Forest returns to his lands, a victorious wolf leader intent on claiming his mate. Instead Ciar finds an empty bed and a court with no recollection of the woman he loved. Following her long-cold trail proves far easier than facing what awaits him at the end.

Sabine’s first instinct is to beg her beloved to leave. The High Lord’s mother hired a witch to curse Sabine, desperate to wipe the lowborn wolf from her son’s mind. But the spell worked too well, and Sabine has vanished from the thoughts of everyone who sees her. Including her own family.

The edges of his memory already blurring, Ciar and Sabine must race to find a way to reverse the spell. Yet every searing moment together is not enough to stop the curse’s inexorable progress. His only chance is to bind Sabine to him too tightly to be forgotten, before she disappears once and for all.

Product Warnings
This story contains cruel betrayal, destined love, vile curses, smoldering reunions, wicked deeds between wanton shapeshifters and a happily-ever-after worthy of any fairy tale.

Susi's Review:
This novella is set in a wonderful fantasy world with all the things we usually love about Moira Rogers work- sexy shifters. *g* I myself have a very soft spot for those so I was thrilled to realize we would find those in this series too. The setting itself is very dfifferent from what we're used to "Moira Rogers"- wise. We jump headfirst into  a world where the 4 shifter nations are at war with each other- or better said the war just ended.

Our hero, Ciar- just came back to his mansion(more like  a castle actually) to realize that nothing is as he left it behind. His one big love is gone without any trace. Everyone seems to deny even her existence. So he starts searching for her and when he finds her everything gets only more complicated even though he thought all his problems are solved.Ciar is a warrior with a very good heart. He's compassionate and cares deeply for his people. He's the kind of leader you have to wish for- he isn't above actually joining a battle. I loved how is strength stood in contrast to his feelings and the way he actually showed his emotion. He's over head and heels for Sabine and would do anything to get her back. He feels guilty for what happened to her even though he only had her best interests in mind.

Sabine is only a shadow of the woman she once was. Life wasn't fair to her and after living a live of forced exclusion she is lonely. She's hurting and all this loneliness nearly destroyed the strong and teasing woman she was. At first glance she seems to have resigned- but after a few pages into this story we discover how much strength she still has left. I highly admired her and her strength of character. She and Ciar are made for each other and with every beat of heart she wants to be near him but she also knows what's at stake when she actually risks it.

The tension in this novella is extreme high. Our protagonists are drawn to each like magnets but they still have to keep their distance. Only through talk and a glance here and there they actually bring their attraction to a new high and we as the reader are taken on a ride we won't forget that easily. I loved how their relationship rebuilt from page to page. It was fascinating to see how deep their connection is and even more that it survives so much durance.

The plot was nicely woven into the love story and through the story I often wondered how Moira Rogers would solve this whole mess. In the end it was easier than I thought it would be and perhaps I would have like some more struggle.

Sabine is a wonderful fantasy romance- spicy emotional and romantic. A bit more thrill at the end would have spiced things up a bit but I can't say that this really made the book any less worth my time. Highly recommended for the short and very enjoyable break in between.

with a very happy happy sunshine HEA

Caro reviewed this one at Book Lovers Inc. 

Author Links:
Moira Rogers Website, Bree Twitter, Donna Twitter, Facebook

Book Links:
Goodreads, Amazon, Samhain Publishing

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ARC Review: Three to Tango by Lauren Dane, Megan Hart, Emma Holly, Bethany Kane

Blurb:

Four of erotic fiction’s most talented authors carry readers away with all-new tales of ecstasy that prove that the most delectable things in life come in threes…

In Emma Holly’s FLIPPING FOR CHELSEA, Shay and Liam shared an unforgettable night with their lifelong friend, Chelsea, awakening a rush of forbidden feelings—feelings they have to reckon with when the three reunite, and the unrequited lust between them is too much to bear.

Though Ava left her hard-knock Georgia childhood behind, she never forgot Luca and Angelo. Together they were best friends with a bond that could never be broken. But when she returns, the three must decide whether to face the fires that burn between them, or forgo their desires forever in Lauren Dane’s DIRTY/BAD/WRONG.

In Megan Hart’s JUST ONE NIGHT, fun-loving couple Kerry and Jeremy find themselves in a triangle of trouble when Kerry’s old crush, Brian, returns for a school reunion, and Jeremy gives her his enthusiastic approval to seduce him. But while Jeremy has no trouble sharing Kerry, Brian isn’t sure he can handle what’s coming.

Years ago, Walker walked out on Madeline when she needed him most. Now, the ex-Secret Service agent is back—hired to protect Madeline by her billionaire boss, Tony. Madeline is determined to make him pay for denying her desires—and she’s not above bringing Tony in to sweeten the deal in Beth Kery’s ON THE JOB.

Susi's review:
When I got the chance to review this anthology I actually jumped up and down like a madwoman. I love Ms Dane's and Ms Hart's writing and both in one book was just too good to be true. In retrospect I'm even more happy I read it because I discovered another great author.

Dirty/Bad/Wrong by Lauren Dane - 5 stars

This story has all the reason why I love Lauren's writing. It's sexy as hell- we have some serious dirty talking and the general sexual openness I admire in her work. She isn't afraid to take the unconventional route even in a genre that already is exactly that. We get a menage where the guys are also in love. *swoon* I love that. Why? Because I always doubt these scenarios where the guys just love the woman and still live together happily forever after. I like when the love is more balanced out and for me it's just what I want to read about in a book like this.

Second fact why I love her books- she has a way to create these family bonds- even when the "family" isn't the real blood related one. She threads all the emotions together and you won't be able to stay detached. She just grabs your heart and you will fall in love with her characters. Just wonderful.Her characters are wonderful fleshed out and each one of them has a special feel- it makes them special in their own and give the story itself more vibrancy. One of my favorite stories by Ms Dane.

Just One Night by Megan Hart - 4 stars

Again Ms Hart chose one of the harder ways to approach the threesome topic. I love the way she always does that- she catches your interest with raising one of those "moral" questions (okay that sounds weird but it kind of is like this) and then pushes you through the story on your way to discover how she will solve it

Jeremy is the mysterious boyfriend that likes the idea of letting his girlfriend fuck her teenage crush. At first he really seemed fun and yes some people have kinks like that but a bit into the story I started thinking about what kind of boyfriend that is? Does he actually love her? These are also some questions Kerry asks herself. She is concerned about what her actions will actually mean to the working relationship she lives in. Will she ruin this? Does she care if she does? Because when she really is honest she wants it too. Brian isn't only her teenage crush- he still is one of her fantasies and don't we love it when those are even better in real life?
Brian is a nice guy in contrast to our first 2 protagonists- the guy you would fall in love with in high school and always dream about later in your life. He's not as "dirty" as these two are and he's a bit thrown headfirst into the mix without any real warning. But he learns fast and with the passion he and Kerry have going between each other it's no real surprise.
In the middle of the story the tension rose so much I just couldn't stop reading..- a heart-wrenching sitution that will make you ache. Again a very emotionally intense story I love through and through.

Flipping for Chelsea by Emma Holly - 5 stars

Okay i admit my first thought was WTF seriously? But luckily my misinterpretation of the beginning solved itself really fast and nearly immediately changed into OMFG hawt. Shay and Liam are very different characters. The young Shay we meet in the first chapter really broke my heart. He is a nice guy with a tragic past that was just so cute. He's a teenage boy with a huge crush not only on his best friend, Chelsea, but also on his "brother" (who isn't really his brother *whew*) Liam. He can't help it but he wants them both and he knows that if he ever shows his attraction in front of Liam he will lose the precious friendship they share. This made me so sad- love should never be something you have to hide but unfortunately sometimes it's the only way to keep something you treasure more than anything save. Liam on the other side is more mature and let's say it as it is more built. *swoon* I loved him- the young and the older one. He's demanding but not overbearing. Caring but not to mushy- just the right mix for my taste. When the story progressed into the present time the tension between our characters was even stronger. I loved how everything in this story fit together- the characterization, the story and the sex scenes just fit and made it a whole thing that was wonderfully balanced.
The sex scene in the first chapter really caught me off guard and made me sit around with an open mouth- now I'm not even sure why. It wasn't something I never read about before but Ms Holly wrote it in a way that blew me away- in a really burning hot way. I don't know why I never read her books before but I already order 3 other books- so you can see it was awesome. 

On The Joby by Bethany Kane - 3 stars

This one was sadly my least favorite in this anthology. It seems Ms Kery's writing is a hit or miss for me. For my taste the characterisation was too shallow and the sex to intense in comparism. I couldn't really follow why the attraction between them was burning so hot and even more I didn't get why Madeline submitted so easily to Walker. My connection to the characters didn't grow enough- so I actually felt pretty detached while reading it. I also thought that Walker got away with too much but perhaps that resolutes in my non-understanding of their relationship. The story was still really hot even though it pushed some of my buttons. The plot was nice at first but it resolved too easily. It really took the second row and the sex was too much the focus. Don't get me wrong I like my smut like any girl but I actually would have more depth around it.

Three to Tango is one of the best anthologies I ever read. It kept me glued to the pages and actually prevented me from doing the important stuff for one whole day. A great collection of erotic romance which also delivers the emotional depth I love in my books. Highly recommended read!

and the HEAs are devilishly good. *g*

Author Links:

Lauren Dane, Megan Hart, Emma Holly, Bethany Kane

Book Links:

Goodreads, Amazon, The Book Depository

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I'm alone here today so it's Paris time!!

Hey everyone! Caro left town for a working trip to Paris today and I know she hates every second of it. Not only is it work she isn't a real Paris fan in contrast to me. I love Paris with all my heart so I thought I use this moment of uncontrolled freedom to post about my love for Paris.

Seine

I only visited Paris twice in my live but what I loved most about both times is not only typical for Paris but more a whole France thing- the French are way more relaxed than we Germans are. They have a smoother way of life, don't worry so much about the tiny unimportant things in life and they aren't as pedantic. So going to France for me is always like getting rid of the world around me which is always too correct and actually be free to be me- sit around and drink wine (they have wonderful wine) and just enjoy my time.

Notre Dame

Then their is the architecture. I'm a real sucker for old buildings and could walk around just staring at buildings for hours. For me those are the mirror of time and I like to imagine how it was to live at the time a certain building was finished. Okay I admit the Middle Ages aren't very nice but I always blend out the not so nice facts- that's what fantasy is for after all. ;) But imagine sitting in a street cafe enjoying a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and just looking at Notre Dame (not that I could actually afford that- the prizes there are just O_o).

Dôme des Invalides

Then we have the Art. Paris has some of the best museums and I love to look at art nearly as much as at buildings.

Louvre

I only have a picture of the Louvre but I actually prefer Musé d´Orsay- they have a wonderful collection of the most famous impressionists. Unfortunately no wine in there.

Grave Jim Morrison      -      Grave Heinrich Heine

Then we have the history and I don't mean only the heavy on ewe heard about in school. I mean pop culture history. and yes I actually agree to make a trip to a graveyard is kind of weird but we were young and didn't know any better (let's blame it on the wine).

Anon in the Metro Station *wink

And then we have the fun you will have while being drunk in the Metro. And finally it's just pure bliss to be on the Eiffel Tower just look over Paris.

So that is why I love Paris. Perhaps someday Caro will tell us why she doesn't. ;)

Do you have a favorite city? Which is yours and why?

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