"When I Fall (An Uncommon Whore 2)" by Belinda McBride

Title: When I Fall (An Uncommon Whore 2)
Author: Belinda McBride
Publisher: Loose ID
Sub-Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: 154 pages
Heat Rating: Erotic
Rating: 4 Cups

Available at:
Amazon | B&N

Blurb:
As king, Helios Dayspring is desperate to secure the future of his people and their new homeworld. His lost memories are slowly returning, bringing with them danger and betrayal.

As the king’s consort, Griffin Hawke wrestles with growing isolation from his lover. When Helios’s secrets begin to come to light, Griffin finds that he barely recognizes him anymore. And Griffin is haunted by his own secrets, nightmares that bring torture and death in his sleep.

Surrounded by enemies and allies, seductive aliens and dangerous operatives, Helios and Griffin find themselves tested to their physical and moral limits. Not knowing who to trust, they can only turn to each other.

Will you be there to catch me when I fall?

pechedete's Review:
Helios Dayspring and Griffin Hawke are settling in to their new roles on Neo Domus. While Lio's memories haven’t returned,some things are coming back due to the amount of practice he received while training to be a priest. Not everyone is happy that Lio has returned and, due to his faulty memory, he’s not sure who he can trust. This begins to cause problems with Griffin because he knows that Lio’s keeping things from him; he just can’t figure out why.

I loved learning more about Astrum as well as the cast of characters introduced in An Uncommon Whore. Ms. McBride explained more about the invasion of Arash and the vulnerability of both the Astrums and Talisians face on Neo Domus. While I enjoyed the interactions between Lio and Griffin, it was the secondary characters such as Carlotta, Raven, and Caius that made When I Fall work for me. The introduction of the new races and the unanswered questions appear to be the perfect setup for a third book in this series, which I hope Ms. McBride will write.

When I Fall is the second book in the Uncommon Whore series and is a solid read. There is enough back story that it can be read alone. However, I would suggest that you read An Uncommon Whore as it is simply a captivating story.
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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.

Women on the Edge of Space, featuring Elizabeth Black, Shanna Germain, Kaysee Renee Robichaud and Laurel Waterford

Title: Women on the Edge of Space

Author: Elizabeth Black, Shanna Germain, Kaysee Renee Robichaud and Laurel Waterford

Sub-Genre(s): Erotic, F/F, Sci-fi/Fantasy

Publisher: Circlet Press, Inc.

Publication Date: April 12, 2011

ISBN #: Unknown

Format: eBook from Author

Reviewer: Dawne

Rating: 4 Cups

Blurb:*

In these four stories, women explore the uncharted trails of human desire as they rocket through space and transcend time and place. They inspire fear and hope in the face of danger and uncertainty, and the thrills of satiating a hunger for intimacy in a strange new world. Women on the Edge of Space features stories by Elizabeth Black, Shanna Germain, Kaysee Renee Robichaud, and Laurel Waterford.

Space is a place that is full of mystery. Traveling through outer space is a journey unlike any other, letting go of the usual sense of place and time and opening up to new possibilities. Just as one may never find the edge of the universe, one can never truly know why she falls in love with certain people; she can only embrace her feelings, or deny them. To map out the course of a human’s sexuality, as making a complete chart of the universe, is futile, for like space, the capacity for love and desire is infinite.

Space is also a place of escape, where one can let go of all her earthly worries and inhibitions and just drift away, allowing the forces of a more mysterious nature overcome. The space opera combines the improbability of science fiction and the impossibility of fantasy, and when the erotic is added to the mix, our desires can find a place even within the farthest reaches of nothingness. Outside of the earthly limitations of prejudice and discrimination, women can claim space for their own, living how they want and loving whomever they choose, exploring their sexuality in ways they never thought possible.

Review:
The book is an anthology with eclectic authors like Elizabeth Black, Laurel Waterford, Shanna Germain, Cecilia Tan and Danielle Bodnar. These five women lose themselves in this collection of short novels. The dialogue of Black and Tan are priceless as well as their writing styles. While sci-fi isn't my normal genre, I thought I would try it as I am an erotic author myself and love the genre. The romances that all five women have are on the lighter side (vanilla) of erotic but very well written and the endings to every story had me craving more. Aside from not being able to understand the space lingo and circumstances, I was impressed and MUST commend these women for going where no woman has gone before. (Sorry for the bad pun there, couldn't help myself.)

If the reader is not a fan of sci-fi and can set aside the outer space and sci-fi lingo, I recommend these shorts for ALL lovers of romance.

Available at:
Amazon (Kindle Edition)

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*Blurb Courtesy of Goodreads.

**Disclaimer: This book has been provided to CBLS Reviews free of charge by the author. No money has been exchanged for the review of this eBook. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the other CBLS reviewers or this blog’s administrator/editor.

Purr (Twisted Fairytales, Book 9), by Elizabeth Black

Title: Purr (Twisted Fairytales, Book 9)

Author: Elizabeth Black

Sub-Genre(s): Erotic, Multiple Partners, Sci-fi/Fantasy

Publisher: New Dawning Bookfair

Publication Date: June 1, 2011

ISBN #: 9781458065414

Format: eBook from Author

Reviewer: Felicia

Rating: 2 Cups

Blurb:*

The alluring puss in boots Muca aspired for her master to become the richest and most respected man in the land, but her job was cut out for her. Could she convince the local farmers to trust in her against the vicious ogre who ruled the region?

Review:
This is a short story, an erotic retelling of Puss n’ Boots. This does not tell the entire story, just a day and night in the life of Muca, the cat trying to help her poor master become the great Marquis of Carabas. Muca meets some villagers who are being forced to work for the ogre Derp. If they complain or put up a fight, they are usually killed. Muca agrees to help the villagers fight Derp but before she does, she spends an interesting night with a few of the villagers.

As mentioned before, this is a short story, and I am glad because I did not like it too much. Maybe if the author did the entire story instead of just doing a little part it would have been better, but it looks like she just wrote this so Puss could have an orgy with some villagers. I love to read erotica, but I would like some story to be there among all the sex. The ending…well, it was very rushed and I was hoping for a lot more. I have read other retellings of Puss n’ Boots that were much better, perhaps because it was the entire story. I have read other stories from this author that I loved, so I was hoping for a lot more.

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*Blurb Courtesy of Goodreads

**Disclaimer: This book has been provided to C&R Romance eBook Reviews free of charge by the author. No money has been exchanged for the review of this eBook. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the other C&R reviewers or this blog’s administrator/editor.

Elfin Blood, by Gracen Miller

Title: Elfin Blood

Author: Gracen Miller

Sub-Genre(s): Erotic, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Publisher: Noble Romance Publishing

Publication Date: October 19, 2009

ISBN #: 9781605920597

Format: eBook from Author

Reviewer: Laurielu

Rating: 4 Cups

Blurb:*

Scorned by her own kind for her half-breed elf status, Julija lives a lonely existence among her Ivory Elf kin. She is the only one the elves can trust when a magical book in elf lore is stolen. Relegated to steal the Book from the vampire thief, Landau Jamieson, she's surprised to discover he has the ability to walk in daylight. Refusing to be deterred by developing setbacks, she’s committed to executing the heist for an Ivory King who grows more desperate to possess the Book. Nothing about the vampire is as it appears and Julija begins to doubt her mission. Worse, she begins to worry she won't have the strength to guard her heart from her sworn enemy.

Landau is fascinated by the elf stalking him and baffled by the potent hunger she elicits after ten thousand years of celibacy. Soon he discovers the lovely sprite is a pawn in a dangerous game--orchestrated by none other than a reviled enemy from his past. While blind-sided by her beauty and her magical powers, the least of which is the spell she casts on his heart, the sinister plot unfolds. What started out as folly to catch a thief, blossoms into a love that casts aside bloodlines and forges all boundaries.

Review:
Julija is hybrid form of Elf comprised of Ivory Elf and Wood Elf. She is very unique to her race in that the different races of elves to not inter-breed with each other. As the story unfolds, Julija finds out there is more to her heritage than the fact that she has mixed blood. In this novel, she grows from a person who is distrustful and unsure of herself in regard to her standing in the elf community to a woman who becomes bold in her heritage and circumstances.

When Julija meets Landau, their world as they know it is upended. Their attraction defies all of the rules and boundaries biology and society have placed on them, as well as their self-inflicted limitations. Their hunger for each other jumps of the pages causing the reader to be completely caught up in their relationship and the repercussions resulting from it.

Adding to the excitement of the book is the conflict. Julija is sent by the Elfin King to retrieve a magical book from Landau. The king’s need to obtain the book is overshadowed by the manipulations he has concocted to achieve his goals that is truly depraved. Figure in Julia’s relationship with the king and its dynamics, the plot molds itself into a fulfilling intrigue because the truth of that relationship and her birthright adds another layer of interest the story.

While the nature of the king’s corrupt need for the magical book drives the conflict in the story with its rough edges, it is the romance in it that smoothes those edges, melding the book into a sensual bouquet of thought and feeling. Add to it the vindication of Julija’s metamorphosis from “just” a hybrid elf into a powerful being, the author gives the reader a very good book to read.

Elfin Blood by Gracen Miller offers redemption, mystery, betrayal, lush sexual tension, and sweltering, soul-bending love to the reader. How could a romance aficionado pass up this read? The originality of the tale inspires me to earnestly recommend this book to readers of the paranormal romance genre.

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*Blurb Courtesy of Goodreads

**Disclaimer: This book has been provided to C&R Romance eBook Reviews free of charge by the author. No money has been exchanged for the review of this eBook. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the other C&R reviewers or this blog’s administrator/editor.

A Ranger's Tale, by Mysti Parker

Title: A Ranger's Tale (Tallenmere Series, Book 1)

Author: Mysti Parker

Sub-Genre(s): Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Publisher: Melange Books, LLC

Publication Date: January 29, 2011

ISBN #: 9781612351209

Format: eBook from Author

Reviewer: Babs

Rating: 3 Cups

Blurb:*

In the fantasy world of Tallenmere, the high elf, Caliphany Aranea, nearly a century old, has never been allowed to travel farther than a few miles out of the capital city of Leogard. Her father, Sirius, leads the Mage Academy, and after losing his only son, he expects Caliphany to take his place one day. The trouble is, she doesn't want to study magic and doubts she'll ever be as good a wizard as her father. She dreams of leaving Leogard to explore the world and strike out on her own--lofty goals for Sirius' daughter, who also happens to be King Leopold's niece.

When two brutes at Leogard Harbor attempt to kidnap her while she dreams of faraway lands, half-elf ship captain and ranger, Galadin Trudeaux, comes to her rescue. From their first chance encounter, to the finale, where Caliphany must decide where her heart truly lies, she and Galadin will face more adventure, more love, more heartache, than they ever thought possible. Through it all, they discover the power of forgiveness and of a love that stands the test of time.

Review:
At first it has hard for me to get into the book. It was slow paced for a bit and then picked up. Once it did it was interesting. The characters were well thought of and took form. For me the secrets that we find out about made the book happen. There were some twists that keep you on the edge of your seat.

I give 3 cups because of the slowness. Over all the storyline is not bad at all just needs some tweaking.

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*Blurb Courtesy of Goodreads

**Disclaimer: This book has been provided to C&R Romance eBook Reviews free of charge by the author. No money has been exchanged for the review of this eBook. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the other C&R reviewers or this blog’s administrator/editor.