"The 18th Floor" by Margie R. Church

Title: The 18th Floor
Author: Margie R. Church
Publisher: Sizzler Editions
Sub-Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 120 pages
Heat Rating: Erotic
Rating: 3 Cups

Available at:
Amazon | Sizzler Editions | B&N

Blurb:
Alexa Robbins is so consumed by her career, the only sex she has is listening to her nymphomaniac neighbors go at it. When Sebastian Law discovers her in the eighteenth floor conference room early one morning, the table becomes a pallet for making one of her fantasies come true. Will he enjoy her extensive repertoire?

On the outside, Sebastian appears a buttoned-up, well-dressed, techno geek. Inside, he's a Dom with a hearty appetite for all types of carnal pleasures. He risks alienating Alexa by revealing his true nature, but he won't keep the secret for long.

Together, they explore all the things that turn them on. And discover whether they're a perfect match for life beyond the 18th Floor.

Content advisories: bi-racial m/f, m/m, BDSM, ménage, spanking, flogging, oral sex, anal sex, voyeurism, exhibitionism, sex in public places, phone sex.


Denise's Review:

The 18th Floor tells the story of an overworked Rocket Scientist Alexa and her journey with the very sexy IT consultant Sebastian.

After an encounter in the 18th Floor conference room Sebi as he is called takes Alexa on a journey into his world as a Dom.

Overall, I enjoyed this story.

There were some well written hot scenes, the story did develop beyond the sex but for me I personally needed more.

Sebi speaks to Alexa about how she must trust him for this relationship to work; but when it comes to key aspects of her life, like doing something that could led her crazy ex-boyfriend to her, Alexa neglects to tell him. This to me left me feeling like the relationship had no matured yet.

As an example of let wanting more Alexa buys Sebi as gift, the story tell you about it; then he uses it but you do not see his reaction to getting it.

Alexa also speaks to herself about herself and her fantasies but the book never has her telling Sebi most of them, I found this disappointing. I found myself wanting Alexa to fully trust Sebi, to open up and share her desires. So again a place I was left wanting more.

The BDSM was on the light side of the spectrum and Ms Church did a good job showing that Sebi cared about Alex and wanted her to see what his lifestyle was. There was a whipping scene but it did not involve the main characters and again the authors outlined Alexa's enjoyment of the scene and Sebi's desire to show her.

For me the story felt incomplete, early on Sebi says he would consider moving around less if he meet the right girl but the story did not tie that up for me.

I much prefer to see a happy down the road, this to me felt like happy for now and happy after a major incident. The ending felt a bit rushed and I was left thinking that's it, thats the end.

I will read another book by Ms Church as this book had potential.


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**Disclaimer: This book has been provided to Coffee Beans & Love Scenes (“CBLS”) Reviews free of charge by the author in exchange for an honest review of this title. No money has been exchanged for this review. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any other CBLS reviewer or this blog’s owner, editor or administrator.

"Night Music" by Margie Church

Title: Night Music
Author: Margie Church
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Sub-Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 19 pages
Heat Rating: Erotic
Rating: 3.5 Cups

Available at:
Amazon | Decadent Publishing | B&N | ARe

Blurb:
A quiet, lakeside vacation is just what Brielle needs to decompress after her busy concert season. She expects the weeks to pass uneventfully. Until she meets the men next door.

Tyler and Zeke are as adventurous and sexy as the Harleys they ride. The passion they hear in Brielle’s music draws them to her.

Convinced the hunks are gay, Brielle lets down her inhibitions. That turns out to be the best decision she’s made in a long time.


Denise's Review:

Brielle is a musician taking a vacation at her Uncle's caibn; there she meets his new nieghrbors Tyler and Zeke. After first thinking they are gay she quickly discovered these men are bi and happy to play with her.

Tyler and Zeke have a well developed relationship; the author allows you see how they can communicate without using many words, just with looks; the bond between them is tangible.

I enjoyed this book and I am happy maniac readers has a 3.5 star option as this book is better than average.

I personally thought for a short story it was well written, my problem was as a reader I prefer a longer story so I personally could not give it the 4 stars I gave other more developed menage stories.

I will say this book has me wanting to read more Margie Church, I plan to read The 18th Floor next.


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**Disclaimer: This book has been provided to Coffee Beans & Love Scenes (“CBLS”) Reviews free of charge by the author in exchange for an honest review of this title. No money has been exchanged for this review. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any other CBLS reviewer or this blog’s owner, editor or administrator.

"The Naughty List" by Jodi Redford

Title: The Naughty List
Author: Jodi Redford
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Sub-Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 143 pages
Heat Rating: Erotic
Rating: 3.5 Cups

Available at:
Amazon | B&N | Samhain Publishing | ARe

Blurb:
Makin’ a list, and rocking it…twice.

Perpetual good girl Lacey McGuire has two Christmas wish lists. One suitable for public consumption…and a private one that’s too hot to handle. Right at the top: wild, wicked fantasies about her best buddies and business partners Ryan Hollister and Bram Colton.

Besides the fact they’re both poster boys for Hunks ’R’ Us, they’ve been there for her through thick, thin and the heartbreak of a cheating fiancé. So what if her boys will never know they star in her sexiest daydreams? In her fantasy world, her heart will never get trampled again.

Ry and Bram are pretty sure Lacey never meant to email a list of some of her raunchiest wants. Particularly the one that tightens their shorts—she wants a threesome. With them. Although they’ve loved her for years, they made a pact to keep Lacey off limits in order to protect their friendship. Now all bets are off. And the quest to give her all she wants—and more—is on.

Warning: This book contains a wickedly hot M/F/M ménage that will heat up the holidays. Friends steaming things up in a hot tub. Bondage and blindfolds. Sexy shenanigans at a Christmas tree lot. And maybe even a glimpse of Santa…in a Speedo.


Denise's Review:

Bram, Ryan and Lacey, three friends who have been close since high school and now run a restaurant together. The author does a good job laying out how Bram and Ry both desire Lacey but agreed they will not act on their feelings. The men are protective of her and even confront her prior fiancée for betraying her. The author does a wonderful laying out Lacey's fantasies about both the men in her life and highlighting why she be unable to make a choice between the two. It was engaging to see how well each character understood each other, the years of friendship played out in their interactions with each other. After a confrontation with former lover of Bram's and some wine......Lacey questions herself and her life. I loved how the authored used an email error ( haven't we all sent the wrong email to someone) as a reason for the men to accidentally get a copy of Lacey's in a naughty list of sexual desires and fantasies When the men guys realize how she feels about them they set out to make her list reality. Ry and Bram work around to show her how they truly feel. The did not give this book 5 stars because I would have preferred a bit more at the end of the story This was a quick and entertaining with hot M/F/M sex.


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**Disclaimer: This book has been provided to Coffee Beans & Love Scenes (“CBLS”) Reviews free of charge by the author in exchange for an honest review of this title. No money has been exchanged for this review. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any other CBLS reviewer or this blog’s owner, editor or administrator.

"Floor Time" by Liz Crowe

Title: Floor Time
Series: The Realtors, #1
Author: Liz Crowe
Publisher: Tri Destiny Publishing
Sub-Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 170 pages
Heat Rating: Erotic
Rating: 4.5 Cups

Available at:
Amazon | B&N | Tri Destiny Publishing | All Romance eBooks

Blurb:
Jack Gordon is Ann Arbor's most delectable bachelor. At age thirty-five, he's made millions as a top-selling Ann Arbor real estate broker and has the right connections to close a deal by any means necessary. With his rugged good looks and compelling personality, he has a virtual black book most men would kill for and he uses it often, never settling for one woman for very long.

While his D/s past remains buried, exactly where he wants it, an undercurrent of boredom and dissatisfaction runs through his life now. A disastrous experience years earlier made him swear off the whole scene, but the more Jack suppresses his natural Dom, the more his frustration grows.

Sara Thornton, a rookie in the real estate game, has fast-tracked herself to the top of the Ann Arbor market. Her life reflects a disciplined and focused routine, exactly the way she wants it. However, as her career takes off, the fulfillment she seeks remains inexplicably out of reach. The one thing she knows for sure, she will not join the Jack Gordon groupies in her company, no matter how tempting that might seem.

A chance encounter, then a difficult transaction, throw Jack and Sara together and the sparks fly high and hot and often. Forced to confront the compulsions that gain momentum with each sizzling encounter, their relationship seems to spiral out of control until Jack finally admits what he needs, and shows Sara what she's been missing.


Denise's Review:

I tried a few things after Fifty... but the Realtors Series by Liz Crowe was the one thing I found that was a captivating! The relationship between Jack and Sara will draw you in... and ladies Sara is a successful women with her own career, watching her interact with Jack (an alpha male) is powerful. The other characters in the book are developed over the series, it is enjoyable to watch them all interact.

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**Disclaimer: This book has been provided to Coffee Beans & Love Scenes (“CBLS”) Reviews free of charge by the author in exchange for an honest review of this title. No money has been exchanged for this review. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any other CBLS reviewer or this blog’s owner, editor or administrator.

"Essence Of Time" by Liz Crowe

Title: Essence Of Time
Series: The Realtors, #4
Author: Liz Crowe
Publisher: Tri Destiny Publishing
Sub-Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 332 pages
Heat Rating: Erotic
Rating: 5 Cups

Available at:
Amazon | B&N | Tri Destiny Publishing | All Romance eBooks

Blurb:
For years, Rob Frietag has resisted anything resembling a true emotional connection, preferring instead to explore life, and his own desires, without committing to anyone for very long. The reason remains known only to a few, among them Jack Gordon, his college cohort in female conquests, and life-long friend. At thirty-seven, while he is close to achieving his career goal, head chef at a five-star restaurant in Chicago, he is still very much alone.

After an intensely emotional relationship with Suzanne Baxter in Ann Arbor, Blake's heart is left shattered. Completely broken by what he believes was his one true love, he arrives at a Chicago food and beer festival, prepared to drink his sorrow away. When the two men meet, their lives change forever. But time is of the essence. When Rob acknowledges his true feelings, he will stop at nothing to keep them together, including finding a surrogate mother for the child Blake so desperately wants.

Lila Warren is recovering from a nasty divorce, needs cash and believes carrying their baby will fulfill her in ways marriage never did. None of them could suspect that the connection they share would provide the final emotional key to their life-long puzzle.

When Rob’s secret is revealed, time becomes the one luxury they don't have, setting in motion a chain of events that destroys the fragile illusion of happiness for them, and everyone who loves them.


Denise's Review:

The Essence of Time by Liz Crowe is 4th book in her Realtors Series; it's arguably the best of the 4. Liz does an amazing job creating backstory for characters from Floor Time, Sweat Equity and Closing Costs. It provides true prospective into many of the decisions they make and made in the prior books; decisions that on the surface were beyond frustrating but with the backstory make so much sense. Liz's ability to develop more than just two main characters provides the Essence of Time with so many layers. You will enjoy watching them all interact as their story develops. This story has wonderful and very sexy love scenes that intertwine with the raw emotions associated with building and maintaining a long-term relationship. This book is engaging; a true can't put me down read. Liz's writing compels you to become engaged with her characters; you will find yourself truly vested in their relationships and well being. It is the kind of book that sits with you after you are done; sitting and wanting more. I highly recommend this book and the other three in the series; prior to reading Fifty Shades a few months ago I had not read in years (everyone knows the busy life drill); I then started to read all the time; tried a few books but nothing special until I found Liz's The Realtors Series, it is truly captivating! I think I am more obsessed with these characters than I was with Christian. Liz's character developing is great; and her female characters are strong and relatable to most women. Her male characters strong, vulnerable, and driven to show they women in their lives how much they need to love them. Liz pleased keep up the wonderful story telling!

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**Disclaimer: This book has been provided to Coffee Beans & Love Scenes (“CBLS”) Reviews free of charge by the author in exchange for an honest review of this title. No money has been exchanged for this review. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any other CBLS reviewer or this blog’s owner, editor or administrator.

"Conditional Offer" by Liz Crowe

Title: Conditional Offer
Series: The Realtors, #5
Author: Liz Crowe
Publisher: Tri Destiny Publishing
Sub-Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 175 pages
Heat Rating: Erotic
Rating: 5 Cups

Available at:
Amazon | B&N | Tri Destiny Publishing | All Romance eBooks

Blurb:
Craig Robinson and Suzanne Baxter had no reason to meet, no real excuse to be friends. But when heart calls to heart...blood to blood...should two people who seem destined to be together heed the spin of Fate's wheel?

Craig spent years floating through life on cruise control, using directionless jobs, his rock band, swimming, and a string of older women in his bed to smother feelings of loneliness and loss. He finally thought he had found his true love in one Sara Thornton -- A sexy, beautiful, fellow real estate agent and mentor. But his self-doubt and innate sense of failure is only reinforced when he realizes her heart belongs to another man.

When Sara introduces him to Suzanne, a woman fighting her own demons from an abusive marriage and subsequent feelings of inadequacy and deep unhappiness, that simple, chance moment snaps Craig's hazy existence into crystal-clear focus. A bond of instant physical attraction, nurtured by time and shared experience, and plenty of erotic energy, is born.

As Suzanne's past continues to haunt her, making her push Craig away just as he thinks he’s getting closer, each of them must come to terms with their true selves and face their ultimate realities.


Denise's Review:

Conditional Offer by Liz Crowe is the 5th book in the Realtors Series; first please do not try to read this book if you have not read the first four books in the series, second if you have you are going to enjoy Conditional Offer; oh third if you have not read the Realtors Series by Liz Crowe, read Floor Time, Sweat Equity, Closing Costs and Essence of Time then read Conditional Offer. Conditional Offer tells the story of Craig Robinson and Suzanne Baxter, two not so secondary characters in the Realtors Series. Much of Suzanne's backstory was told in Essence of Time; this book lays out Craig's backstory and then relives many of the critical scenes from the series through Craig's perspective. It was enjoyable and often heart breaking to relive the events through his eyes. You now really understand Craig knowing Sara was not his meant to be. The characters in this series have overlapping and intertwined relationships that again will not make sense to someone picking this book up as a stand alone but those reading in order will develop a larger understanding of events that is captivating. This book then moves Craig and Suzanne's story forward. You gain such an understand of Craig and his desires to push Suzanne past the horrific events of her past. The passion between Craig and Suzanne is undeniable but will they be able to take the final jump and embrace each other... well for that you will have to read the book. I am a reader who truly enjoys understanding why characters behave a certain way and why things unfolding; Liz truly delivers on both. I also love seeing how things end up... and on that Liz delivers as well. Liz great job; now more than ever I am looking forward to reading Escalation Clause book 6 of the Realtors Series, releasing in November 2012.

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**Disclaimer: This book has been provided to Coffee Beans & Love Scenes (“CBLS”) Reviews free of charge by the author in exchange for an honest review of this title. No money has been exchanged for this review. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any other CBLS reviewer or this blog’s owner, editor or administrator.