Devon Guest EBuzz: Mistress of Redemption by Joey Hill

Nature of Desire - Mistress of Redemption By Joey W. Hill The white-collar life Jonathan Powell created for himself is gone. Standing outside Wentworth prison after serving his five-year sentence, he knows he has to start over. No more hooking up with Dominant women so he can enjoy the challenge of screwing up their minds. But who knew his last target would be a psychopathic killer who tried to off two cops? No, it wasn't the game that was the problem. He just made some key mistakes. Mistakes he won't make again. Then Mistress Dona shows up to give him a ride from the prison into his new life, and his resolve goes out the window. She's everything he can't resist. Dona knows she has to help Jonathan make the right choice this time, because Hell doesn't offer options. He has to understand and accept what surrender truly means. His only hope is a Mistress of Redemption. The problem is she may lose her own soul in the attempt to save his. Reader Advisory: This book contains a very gritty and frank journey to Hell and contains many BDSM elements. Some of the situations and scenes may be disturbing to some readers. It is not for the faint of heart. Features Jonathan from Natural Law. Devon can be found at her blog, Is that a stake in your pocket? Devon's Ebuzz Mistress of Redemption by Joey Hill, is the author's most recent installment in her "Nature of Desire" series, in which she explores BDSM and what draws people to it. The hero of this book (and I use that term loosely), is Jonathan Powell, who previously appeared in Natural Law, and was mentioned in Holding All the Cards. Jonathan is an all-around bastard, and a sub who tops from the bottom. He manipulates his lovers into thinking that he cares about them, then destroys them emotionally. He ends up in prison for his role in the attempted murder of Mac Nighthorse (the hero of Natural Law.) MoR picks up with his release after five years in prison. He is picked up by the mysterious Mistress Dona, who takes him to Hell and back. Literally. This is Jonathan's journey through Hell, as Dona forces him to face his crimes, and hopefully cleanse his soul. Mistress Dona is not only Lucifer's minion and Jonthan's torturer, but also his soulmate. And she hopes that she can actually help him. But she's going to have to make him suffer at first, but that's cool, she's into that too. This was a fascinating read. Ellora's Cave gave it the X-treme rating, and it is that. Not for the faint of heart. There was some rough stuff here. I winced a couple of times, and I'm pretty hardened. But it never came off as exploitative or unnecessary. It was more like a bizarre form of therapy to help Jonathan to face his crimes and understand his true self. But therein also lay the problem for me. There was some heavy psychological stuff here, and I found the exploration of what motivated both Jonathan and Dona to be very interesting, but not particularly erotic. I was much more caught up in the psychological elements than the romantic ones. I was much more curious to read why Jonathan was so fucked up than in the HEA. I think the difficult subject matter required a certain amount of readerly distance, to make it more palatable. I was happy that they did find some happiness, though. So, in short, this was a very compelling read, but not so much a romance for me. But one thing is undeniable, I think that Hill is one of the strongest, most intelligent writers of romantica that I have read. She has a great grasp of what makes her characters tick and of the strange hold of BDSM on some people. If you're curious, try Natural Law. One's got to build up to this one. You can buy this here and find her other titles here. Thanks Devon!

Lauren, Megan and Anya's Ebuzz: Adrianna Dane's Eluria's Enforcer

Adrianna Dane book information and blog Devon Andromeda, a Nanus-altered Argadian Enforcer of the First Level, is assigned the mission to hunt down and eliminate Eluria Zydon, a rebel leader, who also happens to be the daughter of an Elite Tribunal Commander. Enforcers are altered and trained as assassins who retain no memories, or humanoid emotions that would hamper their purpose. Aggression is the only emotion unblocked in an Enforcer; the Tribunal directs their existence. Eluria Zydon's life is filled with more than enough memories and emotions for both Devon and her. She lives with the guilt of past injustice and her life has been dedicated to finding the cure to set Devon and those like him free. It is a payment she prays will also free her soul once and for all from her tormenting past. Confrontation on the lifeless planet, Serdion, will change them both forever. An explosion delivers Devon into Eluria's hands. An experimental drug opens the floodgates to Devon's emotions...and his memory. The first emotion he faces, and must learn to control, is desire. Eluria has been trained as a Twilight Companion and has the knowledge to help him harness his passions. Will he accept her help? Or is his only intent to complete his mission—her termination? Ebuzz bought to you today by the letter M and the number 3. Lauren Dane, Megan Hart and Anya Bast aka Maverick Authors can be found causing trouble together OR on their own Scissors, Sparkles and Piston EBuzz ( Key: Lauren Dane=Scissors, Megan Hart=Sparkles, Anya Bast=Piston) Piston- I really love how Adrianna Dane created a unique world in her novel, Eluria's Enforcer, complete with its own laws, customs and religion. I loved it so much that I wanted more of it. I wish this book had been about twice as long and had really delved into this planet and its peoples. Scissors - I did really like the worldbuilding here. I love sci fi and futuristics and I don't see nearly enough of them in the romance world so I was thrilled to see that (the other) Dane had done it. I also felt like I wanted more. I looked her up though and she's got a second installment that comes after this one. I'd love to have seen her fleshed this out to at least twice the length it was! But she left me wanting more and that made me go to look and see if she had it, all very good signs. Sparkles: One of the great things about a good SF story is the world building and use of different languages, history and cultures. I found a lot to enjoy in Eluria's Enforcer. Adrianna Dane obviously put a lot of thought into her world, including religion, politics and society. I had a little problem with the vocabulary sometimes, keeping all the new words straight, but overall really liked what she did with the story and weaving background in without overloading it all at once. And alien sex! Woo! Let me say that reading alien sex is ALWAYS interesting, but the physical make up of Eluria and Devon surely did leave an impression on me. It was familiar and yet different enough to keep me reading. Piston - The story is set mostly in a cave and the plot focuses on the resumption of a former romance between Devon and Eluria. After reading Eluria's Enforcer, I feel confident that Ms. Dane is completely capable of writing a substantial science fiction plot and wish there had been more of that. However, as an author I know you can't please everyone, and every reader brings different expectations to a book. Scissors - I quite liked that she narrowed the focus to that cave. I thought it gave a depth and intensity to the storyline that it wouldn't have necessarily had if they'd been all over the place throughout, especially at this length. Sparkles: I both agree and disagree. I think narrowing it to the cave worked for this story, but I'd have loved to read more about what was going on in the rest of the world. Sequel? :) Piston - Perhaps this world will be more thoroughly explored in a sequel or two? I definitely scented a couple spin off characters in there. Perhaps Devon's brother Alekos and maybe even Kierra, Devon's sister. On a final note, the only quibble I had with the worldbuilding were the foreign words Dane uses for sexual organs and sexual slang. I find these distance the reader from the eroticism. So, in my opinion, the book could have been a little hotter. Scissors - this is the kind of thing that bugs me in all sci fi/fantasy books. I understand that it's a different world and they'd use different words and all, but at some points it got to be too much and I had to stop to look back or remember what it is she was referring to. A little of this convention goes a long way, IMO. Sparkles: I didn't mind the vocabulary referring to body parts. Those I kept straight. LOL! The ones I had problems with were the names of the rocks and minerals, and stuff in the cave though to be honest, had they been the "real" words I wouldn't have done any better keeping them straight. Piston - The writing was clear and the plot was well structured, I just wanted more of it. That said, I found this to be an engaging and enjoyable story and I'd definitely read any sequels that Dane releases. Scissors - While I wouldn't call Eluria's Enforcer an "erotic" romance, it was a very readable and enjoyable romance. I did like the chemistry between the H/H and I thought both were likeable and three dimensional characters. I truly enjoyed Eluria's Enforcer and I'll be checking out the sequel to continue on in this world Adrianna Dane had created. Sparkles: I liked the sex. It was well thought out and in keeping with the world. I must admit to a personal "squick" about all things anal, but hey, everyone's got their own thing. I thought how she created a new reproductive system was well thought out and worked in the story. As for it being erotic, I will say I found myself fascinated by the actual goings on more than turned on by them, but that's coming from a writer's viewpoint and not a reader's. I was saying things like "cool!" and "ooh, how neat!" I really liked the effort she put into the s/f aspect of the story. It left me satisfied on many levels. Great job! Thanks for the buzz guys! Always nice to hear of a new author to try. Eluria's Enforcer can be purchase here. And the fearsome threesome have a nice size back list, well if size matters I think Hart is the biggest. I highly recommend Playing the Game by Megan Hart, Triad by Lauren Dane and Winter Pleasures: The Training by Anya Bast.

Beverly Havlir EBUZZ: Miss October By Madison Hayes

Bolt Hardin is many things, and comforting ain't one of them. He's too hard-edged, too big, too brutal... and too damn sexy for Tavia's own good. Balancing caution with a frustrating dose of sexual attraction, Tavia takes the rugged stranger home with her. After all, she won't be alone with him. Not when she has a houseful of construction workers underfoot and a boyfriend coming for dinner. She's cool, calm and in control-until Bolt sets his sights on gaining what he wants. And what he wants is Tavia, laid out and spread for his pleasure. And then there's his own special method of nailing a woman to the floor. With nothing more than a sexy saunter and a low-slung pair of jeans, Bolt worms his way into Tavia's heart. Lucky for her... Tavia's heart is exactly what Bolt's after. Beverly Havlir, author of Irresistible (read!) should really update her website and tell us what she has coming out next. ::waiting:: oh ok, at least come tell us, or better yet send it to me *g* Beverly Havlir's Buzz Tavia doesn't think she's gorgeous, being on the voluptuous side, and she's pragmatic enough to know that men are after her money. Until one hot, dry day, Bolt Hardin comes into her life and shakes up everything she’s ever believed in. Ah, Bolt. What can I say? I'm a sucker for a man's man. I love a man who's unapologetically masculine and swaggers with the unshakable confidence of someone sure of his sex appeal. Bolt is all that and more. There were a couple of times when I wanted to hit him over the head for being a chauvinist, but in the next second, he was melting my heart with his sweetness, which was all the more potent and effective because it was so not like him to be sweet. I love books that engage my emotions. I want to love and empathize with the hero and heroine, but I also want to see displays of human nature, a dash of realism. He made Tavia mad, made her cry, but he also made her feel good about herself. I felt all those emotions right along with her. And in so doing, fell a little in love with Bolt myself. He's certainly no pansy ass hero. He knows what he wants and he's not afraid to go after it! And does he ever! The sex scenes are simply scorching, nearly melting my poor laptop's hard drive. *g* Miss October is a fun, sexy, engrossing, though short read. If anything, I wish Miss Hayes would have made it longer. I wanted to read more. That’s how much I liked it. You can find Madison Hayes here and purchase Miss October here. Thanks for the Buzz, Beverly!