Annie Windsor

Weeellllll. I should just come right out and say that I am a wuss. I cry when I get shots at the dentist and bit the hell out of my lip when they take blood. How I could have had two children with no drugs is beyond me, but that's the weirdness of childbirth I guess:) So, why all this sharing? Um, so I can admit that I didn't really like this book. There was a little too much of the pain thing going on for me. I know she liked it (even in the scenes where she had tears running down her face show more and WTF is up with that) and everyone has different tastes, but this one just wasn't my cup of tea. I found myself cringing at times and that's never a good sign...Ah well, live and learn.

She's repressed and depressed since her father-figure/savior recently died and she's now battling with his son to try and save the only home she's known since the crime that took her boyfriend and parents.

He's dominant and masterful and quite pissed since the father who never contacted him has left half HIS inheritance to some money-grubbing chippie.

When these two meet, it's ice vs heat. Then they both realize that together they could fulfill their deepest fantasies, but both of them will have to give a little.

Hot BDSM sex in: a tent, a forest, a study, a bedroom (bummer, eh?), a pleasure tent, and THE DUNGEON. Not for the faint of heart. show less

Vampire Dreams wasn't bad, but it could have been better. I wished the authors placed a little more emphasis on the lore of the Aztec powers that some of the characters had. There was never an explanation as to how they had the powers or why. Some things seemed a bit rushed too. I liked the H/h for the most part and the supporting characters were interesting.
3.5 stars

Throwback by Annie Windsor
#2 in Dungeon Heat

Gillian Markham is a history professor at John's River College, working toward tenure, and also writing a book on Tudor politics. Her mentor, Reggie Blackmoor, recently passed away and has left some surprising complications surrounding his Will. Reggie had been a father figure to her since she was 17. Unknown to her, Reggie also had a son who was now suddenly in the picture demanding his inheritance and wanting to boot her out of the castle which show more for years she has considered her home.

Hawkins Blackmoor is a NYC stockbroker and former Army Ranger, who--after his own mother's death--has taken her place as the leader of the Wanderers, a troupe of actors, horsemen, artisans, etc., who travel around performing at and hosting Renaissance Festivals. He is now responsible for this large group of people, who are like family to him, and he now has the burden of caring for them and their children, some of whom are chronically ill and need medical treatment, and some who are getting older and have no other means of support and need a more stable place to live rather than the tent living they are accustomed to. He is struggling financially trying to provide insurance for everyone as well as keep the business end afloat. He is also feeling the weight of the burden he's been given because he had to give up his previous life in New York in order to care for this motley crew.

He never had a relationship with his father, Reggie, and is now feeling bitter about the fact that instead of receiving the land and money which would be useful to the Wanderers' survival , he was bequeathed the castle--an authentic English castle in the middle of Tennessee--which Professor Markham and her small staff are currently living in. It raises Hawk's ire that Markham was given the land and money as her inheritance, so he enters the picture as a bullheaded, arrogant jerk accusing her of being a gold digger and seducing his father for his inheritance, etc., not taking the time to learn that she was actually a daughter to him with a tragic past. Of course, that sets her off and she responds in kind, not learning that he has legitimate reasons for needing the money.

Their bickering and lack of communication are the extent of their relationship except, however, for the fact that they are physically drawn to each other. He recognizes immediately, being a Master Dom, that she would make a perfect submissive. How he picks up on this when she is looking him eye-to-eye and giving back as good as she gets in their arguments about the Will, I have no idea. Lucky for him, Gillian, for years, has fantasized about being taught by a Master. She had discovered when she was younger that Reggie had a "playroom" in the dungeon of the castle and on one occasion had secretly witnessed him training a D/s couple. That experience had never left her. Now she keeps picturing Hawk, the arrogant guy she hates, in the role as her dom. Good thing for them, it must be true that there's someone for everyone. Because they sure wouldn't make it as a plain vanilla couple.

I wanted to like this for their story, for their romance, but unfortunately, I wasn't convinced they had one. Even their HEA wasn't believable. Other than some public humiliation which was over the line for me, the BDSM didn't bother me. It didn't do anything for me either. The descriptions often were a complete turn-off. TMI on Gillian's body fluid, if you get my drift. I think this is one case where using more euphemisms and less graphic descriptions would have been helpful.

I liked how the author made Gillian a heavier woman who was self-conscious about that fact and the H convinced her of her own beauty; however, there were things thrown in at the wrong moments that ruined that for me. For example, on more than one occasion by more than one person, the issue of her weight and how she must compare herself to others was brought up in a blunt manner to her. In real life, I'm sorry, that would hurt a person's feelings. Secondly, again on more than one occasion, the point is made that she eats a lot of food or eats quickly "scarfing it down". The H watches her with a smirk on his face. Supposedly, that "pleases" him. Maybe it's just me. I didn't get that as being flattering to anyone.

One last thing that threw me was the combination of a modern-day setting, an English castle in the middle of Tennessee, and the overuse of the renaissance faire lifestyle being drawn into how they dressed and spoke--even when the faire itself wasn't going on. I think this would have been better if the setting would just have been in a medieval time period. It didn't work for me, even knowing this is a fantasy story. show less

Elise Aston is kidnapped from Earth by some lizard-like aliens and taken to a slave ship. During her capture she telepathically cries out for help and is heard by her soul mate, Ki Tul'Mar of Arda, who comes to her rescue. While both ships claim her and the courts are deciding Ki rushes to conclude the mating rituals of his planet. Very erotic story involving not only Ki but his siblings.