Format Read: e-Book submitted by Author for review
Release Date: December 21, 2010
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Available: e-Book, Print, Kindle, Nook
Purchase Information: Author’s Website, Publisher, Kindle, Nook, All Romance Ebooks, BookStrand.

Synopsis:

Living in a world where men were treated like a rare commodity, Ethan Spears did what he could in order to survive. But when the proverbial rug was pulled out from under him, desperate measures called for desperate actions. To save his sister, he entered The Lottery, offering himself to one woman for a year.

Karlyn Bowman was a rebel in her family, choosing not to climb the corporate ladder in order to pursue her love of art. Lonely, ostracized by the family who should have loved her, she pushed forward trying to become a success. When her friend gives her a lottery ticket to cheer her up, she puts it aside and forgets it. Imagine her surprise when the knock came to her door and her life—and his—were changed forever.

My Thoughts:

The year is 2106 and Ms. O’Hurley wastes no time in plunging readers into Ethan’s world. A world where men are considered for the most part to be chattel. They are bought and sold on a contract basis by rich women who can afford their company. Ethan has been ‘in service’ since he was a teenager. It’s evident he is an embittered soul who has had to endure a life of sexual slavery to survive. His most recent two year contract with Ophelia (a cruel narcissistic woman) has ended. Ethan hates Ophelia and he plans to move on to his next mistress. Ophelia has purchased another ‘boy toy’ and when she makes demands of Ethan that he finds abhorrent he walks out. Ophelia then sees to it that Ethan is ostracized by the wealthy, and he is unable to procure another contract.

Fast forward 4 years and readers meet gifted artist, Karlyn who is struggling for recognition of her paintings and to make ends meet. Karlyn is a sweet, insecure woman who has been ostracized by her family because of her choice of pursuing her art over a more lucrative career. It is her birthday and Karlyn’s successful, wealthy best friend Sam comes to take her out to dinner to celebrate. Sam recognizes her friend’s talent and has been Karlyn’s number one cheerleader with respect to her artistic endeavors. Sam has even purchased some of Karlyn’s paintings. As a birthday present Sam gifts Karlyn with a silver Federated Lottery ticket giving her the chance to win the company of a man for a year. At first Karlyn declines Sam’s extraordinarily expensive gift but after some convincing Karlyn accepts. After all there’s a chance in a million she will win right?

When a knock comes to the door of Karlyn’s loft and the most gorgeous man she has ever seen in her life, along with reporters and vid crew are standing there, she is beyond surprised. Shocked and scared to the point of being paralyzed is more like it. The fact is, Karlyn has no idea what to do with a man because she has never been in a relationship before. Ethan doesn’t know what to make of his new mistress, she is dressed in overalls covered in paint splotches and doesn’t seem to want him there. At first, Ethan and Karlyn’s relationship is quite adversarial in nature, but sexual tension and attraction increases to the boiling point and, gradually, feelings develop. Karlyn is unlike any woman Ethan has every known and that is saying a lot because he has ‘serviced’ many women.

Ms. O’Hurley has crafted a multlayered sensuous and emotional story in The Lottery. I have to say, I was surprised at the depth of emotion it provoked. Ethan is a man who I felt was a suppressed alpha male in many ways. He has been forced into a subservient sexual role which has lead to horrific unhappiness. To watch him gradually learn to trust Karlyn and grow to love her is sweet and special. Karlyn, as mentioned above is extremely insecure concerning her appearance and ability to succeed regarding her art for a variety of reasons. She is inexperienced sexually because she has by choice and circumstance never had a relationship with a man. With Ethan’s attention and nurturing, she slowly overcomes her insecurities and gains confidence. In this setting her muse flourishes and her art comes to the attention of some wealthy, prominent patrons. Karlyn’s work is in demand.

Ms. O’Hurley pens a couple of surprising plot twists into the The Lottery and she also develops strong secondary characters, in Karlyn’s friend Sam, Ethan’s sister Bailey and his grandmother Evangeline. When Ethan suffers an unbearable loss the tenuous trust and love he built with Karlyn is lost. The question is can they get past his anger and volatile rejection of her, and be reunited?

I had a couple of small niggles with this read, one is there is no indication as to why there are so few men in the population. There is a mention of pre-war clothing so I’m assuming there was a conflict of some description but maybe I missed something? lol Also, there were some grammatical and language issues that I felt should have been addressed in the editing process but this is no fault of the author.

Overall, I enjoyed The Lottery very much. I found it to be a multilayered story, set in a world with a reversal of the male/female role in many respects coupled with an established class system where wealthy women sat on the top rung of the ladder. I really liked Ethan and Karlyn, I felt for them and wanted to learn how their story would end. I will look forward to reading more of Ms. O’Hurley’s work.

The Lottery is a sexually explicit erotic romance that does have a scene with an orgy, light bondage, submission, and anal sex, so be forewarned if this genre isn’t your cuppa.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Genre:
Contemporary Romance, Red Hots!
Series: Cape May Book 1
ISBN: 978-1-60928-144-1
Length: Short Story
Format: e-Book
Available: August 3, 2010

Summer just got a whole lot hotter…

Summer Chase has already loved and lost once and she has no intention of going through that pain again. But when a hunky Camaro-driving P.I. shows up at her B & B looking for a room for the week, she sees something more than a hard-bodied guest. For the first time since her husband’s death, Summer’s sexual interest is awakening, and she’s not about to hit the snooze button!

Gage Knight is a P.I. in desperate need of a vacation. His impromptu trip to Cape May, New Jersey, seems just what he needs to relax and unwind. But when he knocks on the door of Chase’s Bed & Breakfast and comes face to face with sexy owner, Summer Chase, relaxing drops to the bottom of his to-do list. Now all he wants is a tasty Summer treat, and he plans to take his time, savoring the curvaceous beauty one inch at a time.

Question is…can she watch Gage drive off into the sunset when the week comes to an end?

My Thoughts:

When I am in the mood for a sweet, hot erotic romance that has a strong alpha hero and that special woman in his life, I reach for a story written by Anne Rainey. The first tale in Ms. Rainey’s “Cape May” series, “What She Wants” is about a hard working young widow who has etched out a living by turning her home into a bed and breakfast following the sudden death of her husband 2 years earlier. While Summer Chase keeps very busy seeing to the day to day running of her little establishment she hasn’t been involved with a man since she lost her husband and is lonely. Then sexy as hell Gage Knight arrives for a one week stay at her B&B and sparks fly.

Once Gage does a little gentle prodding and learns that the lovely Summer isn’t involved with anyone he wastes no time and asks her out. This is a short story and their relationship blossoms into intense intimacy quickly. It is also a Samhain “Red Hot” contemporary romance, and is sexually explicit. Ms. Rainey writes sizzling love scenes, and while her heroes do tend to be dominate alpha males she always adds just the right amount of tenderness and kindness making them that much more appealing.

Gage has no intention of staying in Cape May, New Jersey, or settling down. He has a lucrative private investigation business in Ohio, he therefore has some decisions to make when he develops strong feelings for Summer. And, Summer knows Gage will be leaving after his one week vacation and she resolves herself to the fact she will have to say goodbye. Summer struggles with guilt over their hot and heavy affair and for developing feelings for Gage in such a short span of time. She feels this sullies her husband’s memory.

I loved the setting of “What She Wants”, Summer’s B&B overlooks the ocean, it is very picturesque, Ms. Rainey writes with a sensuous descriptive prose that makes Gage and Summer’s story all the more special. If you enjoy a hot erotic, contemporary short story, you may like to give “What She Wants”, a try.

Genre:
Contemporary Romance, Red Hots!
Series: Cape May Book 2
ISBN: 978-1-60928-267-7
Length: Short Story
Format: e-Book
Available: December 14, 2010

Unwrapping these gifts could get a girl in a world of trouble.

Tory Jeffries likes things simple. A modest home, a web design business, easygoing men. Except there’s never one around when she needs one—and she needs a date for the event of the year, her friend Con Walker’s annual Christmas party. Not that she couldn’t go alone, but spending the evening as a third wheel doesn’t appeal.

When her old friend Devon Mason turns up dateless as well, she anticipates a fun evening with her flirty, bad-boy buddy. Then Devon and Con offer her a Christmas treat that her inner slut begs her not to refuse. A night with both delicious, muscular men. In Con’s bed. Naked.

After growing up together with an up-close-and-personal view of life’s ugly side, it doesn’t surprise Devon and Con that they’ve fallen for the same woman. They’ve watched her date men who aren’t nearly good enough for her, and now it’s time to show the fiery blonde just how perfectly she fits in their sinful fantasy sandwich. When they take their first long, slow taste, something extraordinary happens. They fall in love.

Now all they have to do is convince their suddenly skittish princess that fairy tales can come true…

My Thoughts:

Tory Jeffries is Summer Chase’s best friend and is introduced in “What She Wants”. As well as operating he own web design business, she helps Summer out at the B&B. “What She Craves”, is friends to lovers romance which is my favorite theme and Anne Rainey offers two for the price of one in this story because as the synopsis alludes it is a menage a trois involving Tory and her two closest male friends Devon and Con. Ms. Rainey characterizes two very strong alphas in these guys who are best friends. They both come from meagre beginnings and have worked very hard and built up lucrative businesses. They have shared women in the past and both have wanted Tory for a long time, a woman who has never seen them as anything more than good friends.

So, the guys concoct a scheme to finally woo their strong willed and independent friend into a sexual relationship. Devon invites her to Con’s yearly Christmas Eve party, Tory accepts and the plan is hatched. While Tory is quite astounded to find that both Con and Devon want her, she does succumb to their charms. “What She Craves”, is another very sensuous, sexually explicit short story, but it isn’t just hot sex. Con and Devon want a long term relationship with Tory, which sends her running scared. Despite having strong feelings for both the guys she experiences guilt about what has transpired in Con’s bedroom, and cannot foresee a relationship with both these strong alpha men working out.

I loved the sensuality of both these stories but what I also enjoyed is that Ms. Rainey develops a strong supportive friendship between Tory and Summer. They are there for each other through the good and bad times.

If you enjoy a hot erotic friends to lovers menage a trois short story, you may like to give “What She Craves”, a try. I would suggest reading these stories in order as Ms. Rainey, does develp the storyline over the course of the series. I also have to comment that if you are a fan of Ms. Rainey’s “Vaughn” series, I think you may enjoy her “Cape May” series equally.

My Ratings:

“What She Wants”: 4/5 stars
“What She Craves”: 5/5 stars

Heat Level: Check the Samhain Warnings.

Looking Forward To:

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Red Hots!
Cape May, Book 3
ISBN: 978-1-60928-370-4
Length: Short Story
Publication Date: February 22, 2011

Taking turns was never their strong suit…

Devon Mason and Con Walker are sexy, honorable, loving, and completely devoted. In other words, everything Tory looks for in a relationship. But what’s she supposed to buy her two lovers on V Day? Chocolate? How average is that? Their little love triangle is anything but average!

When Con surprises her with a weekend in Cancun, just the three of them, Tory is all over it—until she realizes Con forgot to include Devon in the package. Now their little love triangle is suffering, thanks to a couple of hard-headed men who both want to be numero uno.

Con was content to let Devon take control at Christmas, but now it’s his turn. A weekend in Cancun seems the perfect place for a romantic getaway—then Devon says he’s planning to surprise Tory with a trip to Aruba, and Con’s possessive instincts kick in. He’d always been happy to share Tory with the guy he cares for like a brother. But the deeper Con falls in love, the harder it is to keep from ripping Tory away from Devon.

Sooner or later something—or someone—is going to give.

Warning: This title contains lots of steamy, explicit sex. Hot, jealous men in need of a strong, intelligent woman. And a warm, loving ménage a trois relationship.

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Suspense
Format: Trade Paperback

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His touch would consume her—if it didn’t kill her first…

Dr. Sophie Gable wasn’t expecting her peaceful getaway to be shattered by the arrival of a half-dazed, dead-sexy guest. Thomas Nicasio has obviously been traumatized, and Sophie thinks she knows by what. There’s something about Thomas’s father that he can’t—or won’t—remember. Something that could get them both killed. Still she can’t resist Thomas’s electrifying seduction—or her instincts to help him…

An ex-Navy explosives specialist, Thomas has never felt this type of volatile need for a woman. Even while he’s grieving the deaths of his brother and nephew, something in Sophie makes Thomas want to overtake her, and each time he does, her willing submission makes him want her all the more. But danger is lurking close by, and if he can’t face the demons of his past, he and Sophie could be the next victims in a pattern of meaningless violence…

Excerpt

My Thoughts:

As a reader, I don’t think I could find a more apt description of
Dr. Sophie Gable and Thomas Nicasio’s love story then the title of the novel. ~“Explosive”~ As a character, Thomas himself is a powder keg of whirling emotions related to something that has happened to him during a short period of time when he suffered memory loss. Sophie knows something horrible has happened to Thomas, but what? She has her suspicions and is very worried about the man who turns up on the dock of her summer retreat, obviously traumatized. She has previously only had a passing flirtatious acquaintance with Thomas, so why has he sought her out at Haven Lake? Then there is Thomas’ explosive sexual need for Sophie which Ms. Kery deftly depicts in scenes describing their passionate encounters throughout the narrative. Lastly there is a suspense subplot that involves murder and an FBI investigation into the mechanizations of the ‘Outfit’ a Chicago crime organization.

Dr. Sophie Gable is a well respected specialist who works in a group practice in the same building that houses the office of Thomas Nicasio a reputable businessperson. Thomas’ brother Rick Carlisle was seeing a psychologist who is Sophie’s friend and colleague. She would often see Thomas on Wednesday nights waiting for his brother. I think it is safe to say, that Sophie has been infatuated with Thomas but never acted on the attraction.

“Thomas liked women, and they typically liked him. He was experienced enough to know that Sophie Gable was very aware of him, as well; knew instinctively she returned his interest.

But he’d always shied away from her, wary of her clean scent, girl-next-door glow . . . an appeal like body-warmed, sex-mussed sheets on a sunny bed. He was too complicated for Sophie Gable. Too dark. He’d get her dirty; mess her up. It amazed him to know he’d actually avoided her to protect her as much as himself.

In Thomas Nicasio, Ms. Kery developed a complex, very strong, appealing alpha hero who is accustomed to being in control. He has lost two of the people closest to him on earth and is grieving this loss. In addition, the FBI is investigating his father’s involvement with the Outfit. As Thomas’ life and emotions spiral out of control he reaches out to Sophie, who responds not as a physician would to an ill patient, but to his need for her as a lover. Thomas doesn’t understand his desire to consume Sophie, he just knows it is insatiable, and making love to her is the only way he can quench the fire burning him from the inside out.

“He pressed his forehead to her temple, wanting the small contact with her while his body recovered from the raging storm. He wanted to hold her, but his heart and lungs demanded their due, paralyzing him for a moment.”

There are a number of plot twists and surprises in “Explosive”. While yes, it is an emotional, erotic love story about two people who are perfectly suited for a variety of reasons, it also offers nail biting suspense involving murder and subterfuge, as well as an action packed conclusion. I loved the main setting for “Explosive”, beautiful, peaceful Haven Lake and Sophie’s rustic cottage. If you enjoy an emotional, erotic romantic-suspense story, that will draw you into a web of intrigue and danger, you may like to give “Explosive”, a try.

My Rating: 5/5 stars
Heat Level: Very Hot, Sexually explicit, some light bondage and submission.

Other Reviews:
Fresh Fiction
Goodreads

Read the “Explosive” Interview with Beth Kery.

Book 2 of the Shadow Force series
Dell Books

ISBN-10: 0440245974
ISBN-13: 978-0440245971

On the run, in each other’s arms, with one last chance to survive.

A rugged Navy SEAL, Zane Scott was part of a failed mission to rescue Dr. Olivia Strohm from abduction by the terrorist group Dead Man’s Hand (DMH)—and her anguished screams have haunted him ever since. So when he gets word that the beautiful physician has escaped from her captors in Africa, he’s got personal reasons to storm the continent and save her.

Like her would-be liberator, Olivia carries the burden of a dark secret from her past. Ruthless and relentless, the DMH has threatened to hunt her down – and to systematically hurt anyone she’s close to. The last thing she wants is to be rescued—even by someone as shockingly handsome as Zane. Yet the hot-headed special ops hero has come for her, and together she and Zane just might have a shot at not only stopping DMH’s reign of terror, but also saving what’s left of their souls.

My Thoughts:

In the second book of the Shadow Force series Stephanie Tyler returns readers to the heart of darkness–Africa, specifically Sierra Leone and the shadowy world of black ops mercenary soldiers. “Promises In The Dark” opens 6 months following the action packed conclusion of “Lie With Me”. After witnessing and being powerless to prevent the violent abduction of Dr. Oliva Strohm by the terrorist organization DMH (Dead Man’s Hand), Zane Scott has been haunted by her cries for help and a picture of her that he holds close. Zane’s brother Dylan, who we met in “Lie With Me” has finally gathered enough intel to enable Zane to find Olivia and bring her home. Zane therefore takes leave from his duties as a Navy SEAL and travels to Sierra Leone, a place that for him holds traumatic childhood memories.

Olivia Strohm is a brilliant transplant surgeon who has been to hell and back twice in her life, once as a child and now at the hands of DMH. Olivia has cleverly escaped her captors and been on the run from village to village trying to do what she can to help people in need. She has been living by her wits and trying to reconcile what she had to do to escape her captors. She is a lost, tortured soul, and trusts no one.

Zane expected Olivia wouldn’t willingly accept that he was there to rescue her and comes armed with a number of tools to nurture her trust. Olivia however, doesn’t want to leave Africa she as is terrified she will not be able to assimilate when she returns home. It takes all of Zane’s patience and strength of character to convince Olivia, a woman whose psyche has been damaged nearly beyond repair. There were occasions while reading this story that I along with Zane nearly gave up on her.

Back in the US, Zane’s brother, Delta Force operative Caleb Scott and his team have received intel indicating software developed by computer genius Vivienne Clare’s father has come into the hands of DMH. The software has the potential to cause catastrophic events at home and abroad if used by the terrorists. Caleb therefore follows orders and brings Vivienne in for interrogation, and while it seems she has no knowledge of DMH or that they have come into possession of the software evidence suggests otherwise. Vivi isn’t at all what Caleb expected and despite being involved in a dangerous mission with DMH breathing down their necks he is sexually attracted to her and she to him.

Readers are also introduced to the enigmatic Dr. J., a missionary with military background who runs a number of clinics throughout the country offering health care to the people in the surrounding villages. Additionally, he recruits mercenary soldiers who are sent to defend the clinics from any number of threats. Dr. J’s right hand man is Tristan, a former Army Ranger with a traumatic history related to his youth and discharge from the service. Tristan is tough, lethal and sexy as hell. While he has not formerly attached himself to anyone or anything, Dr. J has earned his allegiance and Tristan has established relationships with the people in the neighboring villages. Enter Rowan, newly discharged from the Army where she served as a medic in Iraq. Rowan is a widow having lost her husband years earlier under the most horrific of circumstances. These two people can only be described as part of humanity’s walking wounded, they act on an instantaneous attraction and find love under the worst, most dangerous of circumstances.

Ms. Tyler therefore wrote two romantic subplots into the narrative of this story which intersect with the main plot making for a tale that is suspenseful, frightening, sensual and action packed. The personal stories that are crafted for all three couples are bittersweet and at the same time beautiful. I experienced a number of emotions while reading “Promises In The Dark”, fear, anguish, I cried, I smiled, but at the end of the day I was relieved. I wasn’t sure until the closing pages whether Zane and Olivia were going to survive. I mentioned in my review of “Lie With Me” that I loved Zane from the first paragraph he was introduced in that novel, that feeling hasn’t changed, in fact it intensified. IMHO “Promises In The Dark” is an extraordinary story.

If you enjoy an emotional, fast paced, sensual and dark romantic military suspense, you may like to give “Promises In The Dark” a try. I think this book could be read in isolation because Ms. Tyler does give enough background information for readers to be able to follow along without reading “Lie With Me”. However, as with most series I think if you read “Lie With Me” first it would enrich your enjoyment of this story.

My Rating: 5/5 stars

I’m still thinking about this one.

A special thank you to Stephanie Tyler for submitting “Promises In The Dark” for review. I am so looking forward to reading “In the Air Tonight” due out in 2011.

It’s my great pleasure to welcome National Bestselling, multi-published Author Beth Kery to Closetreader today. As any of you know who have visited here, I’m a huge fan of Beth’s work, all of her books have a special spot on my keeper shelf. I’m pleased to say her next publication “Explosive”, hits bookstores on December 7, 2010. As with Beth’s other work, “Explosive” was a highly emotional, suspenseful and exciting read for me and I hope any of you who choose to read it will enjoy it as much as I did.

Lea: Welcome back to Closetreader Beth! Just watch you don’t trip over any snouts, dog treats or toys on your way past the closet there! LOL

Beth: Thanks so much, Lea! I brought a treat for Tori so she won’t have nightmares about me popping out of the closet.

Lea: I want to cut right to the chase and talk about, “Explosive” which is a raw and gripping erotic love story about Dr. Sophie Gamble and Thomas Nicasio, who I found both to be fascinating characters. Can you tell readers a little about Sophie and Thomas, Beth?

Beth: Thanks very much, Lea. I think raw is an apt descriptor, given Thomas’ emotional state in this book.

In Thomas and Sophie, you have a couple that were meant to be together, but don’t really find their way to one another until fate opens up a pathway, and they crash together…well, explosively. Thomas is a classic alpha male, an ex-Navy explosives expert and current businessman and Sophie is a physician. He likes to observe her as she works, and part of him knows—touch her, and you’ll never go back. So in the way of men–;)–he’s hesitant. When tragedy strikes though, he reaches out for Sophie without thought, instinctively. Because of his inner turmoil, his need for her is very intense and, as you said, raw.

Lea: You penned some extraordinarily emotional and sensual scenes between these two characters in this book Beth, I was moved to tears on more than one occasion. I think it wasn’t only the depth of passion Thomas feels for Sophie and her response to him, but it was his confusion because he has in essence lost his short term memory. Thomas has had essentially what one could call an emotional accident hasn’t he?

Beth: Well, Thomas is having a combination of a post traumatic stress response and also has been hit in the head, so it’s difficult to pull apart whether his memory loss of about an eighteen hour period of time is entirely psychological or physical, but in my mind, it was both. He’s essentially not recalling a span of a day or so. His emotional turmoil gives him a dark, edgy tone and his anguish sort of heightens his primal instincts, highlighted by the sexually intense hunger he experiences for Sophie. That’s important, because Sophie understands his grief and angst better than Thomas does, and she assumes part of the reason Thomas wants her so intensely is because of his anguish. Really, he wants her for reasons way beyond that, but they have to make that journey together to figure that out.

Lea: When you visited over at Desert Island Keepers in December of last year I asked you the DIK question:

“What hero is most like your significant other?”

You were penning “Explosive”, at the time and this was your response:

“Well, not entirely of course, and this isn’t from a book, but Will from Good Will Hunting. Like Will, hubby comes from a working class family and he lived by his fists for a lot of his childhood. But he’s got a brilliant mind, as well, and it took him a long way. I love that contrast…the richness. He can blend in with corporate America and construction guys with equal aplomb. I can give him almost anything, and he’ll be able to fix it, a busted coffee maker or complex business problem.

Just as aside, Thomas Nicasio, from the currently unnamed novel I’m working on at the moment (due out December of 2010) is suspiciously built along those lines as well. Hmmmm….”

Do you still think Thomas is built suspiciously along the lines of your husband? LOL

Beth: Ooh, you are bad for remembering such a thing.

Now that you mention it, I like writing heroes that have working class roots or perhaps have even come from poverty, and have struggled. Vic, from Wicked Burn, and Sean, from Release come to mind. I think it adds depth and richness to their character.

Lea: Thomas has a background as a Navy explosives expert, you were able to tap into some first hand knowledge and experience regarding this type of dangerous work in the military as part of your research for the book weren’t you?

Beth: I was still in the beginning phases of deciding on Thomas’ character when I met up with a really wonderful lady—a reader from Lexington named Sabra—whose husband happens to work for Explosive Ordnance Disposal, the elite unit of the Navy responsible for safely disarming bombs or other types of ordnance, including chemical, biological, and nuclear. I talked with her about the unit a lot, and her husband’s work, and I decided I liked the idea of having Thomas belonging to that unit. It takes an enormous amount of psychological resilience to disarm bombs and do that type of work—look death in the face, essentially, and remain cool and calm. I liked the idea for several reasons, but mainly because Thomas is extremely alpha, and I wanted to show that the particular type of stress he was undergoing in the book was of a personal, private kind. As a reader, you have to wonder why this really confident, masculine man could become vulnerable. Because his life was once daily danger, then the reader gets the idea that whatever he’s experiencing in the book must be even more anxiety provoking then disarming a bomb—and that’s a lot of stress and hurt.

So I suppose the moral of the story is, if I get to gabbing with you, watch out, because I might steal little portions of people you know for my characters—with your permission, of course.

Lea: There is a riveting suspense subplot that snakes through the narrative of “Explosive” and neither Sophie nor Thomas are aware of the danger they are in. It is quite brilliant because you kept this reader guessing until the final pages.

Do you tend to plot out your stories first or do your characters come to you and then you develop the storyline around them?

Beth: I do plot out a story. On a scale of 1-100, with one being the barest skeleton of a plot and 100 being the tightest, twenty page synopsis, I’m at around a 50. LOL. Berkley does require a synopsis, and it has to be fairly detailed. However, I do make some changes as I write and characters develop and their motivations become clearer to me.

Lea: I felt the tone of “Explosive” is similar to your most recent Berkley Heat publication “Release”, would you agree Beth?

Beth: I agree, Lea. Release and Explosive do have a similar tone, and both have suspense subplots. I’d also put Sweet Restraint in that little grouping.

Lea: You’ve got an amazing year coming in 2011 with books from not one but two new series to be published, one by Berkley Heat under a new pseudonym. The other is by Harlequin called “Harbor Town”. In addition you have a new novella coming out as part of an Anthology with Berkley. Care to share some of the details with readers?

Beth: 2011 is a pretty big year. I have Velvet Cataclysm coming out in print from Samhain in March, in April I have the first book in the Harlequin Harbor Town series, The Hometown Hero Returns, in May the Berkley anthology with Emma Holly, Lauren Dane and Megan Hart called Three to Tango (I will be writing under Bethany Kane for that one). In June, I have a Berkley Heat novel called Addicted to You (once again, under Bethany Kane) and then in August, the second book in the Harbor Town series from Harlequin.

I’d love to have the second book in the Princes of the Underground series out next year from Samhain, but that all depends on whether or not I can get my s**t together and get it written this year.

I was wondering if you would like to share a short excerpt from Explosive with readers today?

Beth: Sure Lea, here is an excerpt I haven’t previously shared:

Explosive, Synopsis:

His touch would consume her—if it didn’t kill her first…

Dr. Sophie Gable wasn’t expecting her peaceful getaway to be shattered by the arrival of a half-dazed, dead-sexy guest. Thomas Nicasio has obviously been traumatized, and Sophie thinks she knows by what. There’s something about Thomas’s father that he can’t—or won’t—remember. Something that could get them both killed. Still she can’t resist Thomas’s electrifying seduction—or her instincts to help him…

An ex-Navy explosives specialist, Thomas has never felt this type of volatile need for a woman. Even while he’s grieving the deaths of his brother and nephew, something in Sophie makes Thomas want to overtake her, and each time he does, her willing submission makes him want her all the more. But danger is lurking close by, and if he can’t face the demons of his past, he and Sophie could be the next victims in a pattern of meaningless violence…

Excerpt:

“Sophie found herself chewing on her nails again and made a disgusted sound. She stood and began pacing next to her desk. The fact of the matter was the circumstances had left her in the singular, uncomfortable position of having slept with a man she knew a hell of a lot about, unbeknownst to him. And she had a feeling Thomas Nicasio was not only ill in some fashion, but in a hell of a lot of trouble because of those circumstances.

She glanced at her watch. It was 7:45 p.m. The authorities must have finished talking to Thomas by now. She stood from her desk, intending to take the elevator to the forty-sixth floor . . . to walk into Thomas Nicasio’s offices for the first time in her life.

Someone knocked on her door instead.

“Come in,” she called, thinking it was probably the cleaning staff. It was late on a Friday and the office was empty, save for Sophie. The door swung open and Thomas walked in.

Sophie froze, shocked by the unexpected sight of him. He kept his eyes trained on her as he shut the door behind him. She’d always thought her private office large enough, but the walls shrunk with Thomas Nicasio in the room.

“Thomas. Are you all right?”

“No.”

She saw him push the lock on the door handle. He stepped toward her. She recognized that hot look in his eyes. Recognized it all too well. She’d seen it countless times last night.

“I’m not going to be all right until I bury myself in you.” He stalked across the room and reached for her.

“Tom—”

He cut off her soft whimper of mixed need and uncertainty when he seized her mouth with his own. He proceeded to consume her.”

Explosive © Beth Kery

Lea: Thanks so much for agreeing to come by today Beth, as always it’s wonderful to chat with you.

Beth: Thank you for having me, Lea. Really terrific interview.

You are most welcome Beth.

I’m pleased and honored to welcome New York Times Bestselling Author Stephanie Tyler to Closetreader! I’ve been hooked on Stephanie’s stories ever since I read her novella “Night Vision” which is part of the “Hot Nights Dark Desires”, anthology in 2008. Stephanie’s “Hard To Hold”, trilogy was published in 2009 and 2010 by Dell Books and I can only say Jake, Nick and Chris’s stories hold a special place on my keeper shelf.

Stephanie is now delighting fans of her hot, action packed and gritty military romances with a new series from Dell Books called “Shadow Force”, the first book “Lie With Me” is available now and the second story, “Promises In The Dark” will be published on November 23, 2010! “In The Air Tonight” will be coming in 2011 and it is to be followed by two more Shadow Force Books! (WOOT)

Lea: Welcome to Closetreader Stephanie!

Stephanie: Thanks for the wonderful introduction, Lea! I’m so honored to be on your keeper shelf Thanks for having me back here!

I have to say, I’m pretty impressed at how a sweet wholesome mother of two can develop and write such gritty, tough and lethal military heroes Stephanie! Was military romantic suspense always your first love when writing?

Absolutely on the milrom / suspense – it was what I started out reading when I got back into reading romance (Lucky from Lucky’s Lady was former military and he was the first romance I read back in 2002 and it was that book that made me say, I can do this and I want to write this!)…there’s just something about military men that makes them so incredibly fun and fulfilling to write. Plus, they curse a lot and they can kill with their pinky and I like that.

So much for sweet and wholesome – LOL!

Your books tell stories about the lives and loves of the exceptionally strong and driven men who are in the elite military, namely Navy SEALs, and as in Cameron Moore’s case in “Lie With Me”, Delta Force. The Shadow Force novels in particular are about these tough military men who basically straddle the line between accomplishing their missions while on duty, however whether by choice or not they step into the shadowy world of black ops. What was the impetus behind the Shadow Force series Steph?

I’m always so intrigued by that gray area – how people tune their own moral compass. You know, I’ve always loved the quote, “We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm,” and I think, without getting too political here, we have to remember that, although some things might be personally distasteful, they’re done to give us our freedom and peace of mind. Having lived ½ an hour away from 9/11 – and having my husband in Manhattan at the time (he got home safely, unlike many others)…well, I think after you’ve gone through something like that, everything changes. You appreciate those rough men even more than you did before…and I’m so grateful for all my friends and family who serve in the military and law enforcement.

So I don’t know if I set out to write about a group of mercs, but Cam walked onto the scene during the Hold series and then Dylan and Zane and Caleb showed up and I was like, oh, okay, I get it now. These are men who have a little more freedom, men who do the right thing because it’s the right thing on their black ops mission, not because they’re told it’s the right thing.

Readers met Cameron very briefly in “Hold On Tight”, as he was part of the failed mission that was the foundation of that story. Did you have Cameron’s character mapped out in your mind when you wrote Chris’s story or did he come to your before that?

I didn’t know his full story, but I did know that he had a lasered-off tattoo and he felt completely trapped. I also knew he was a hero for sure. The rest unfolded when I started writing his story – but I knew he was a man of many secrets, and that when the time was right, he’d let me in on them.

“Lie With Me”, is a multi layered story with a number of sub-plots that involve not only the a hot romance between the hero and heroine, but also a very tumultuous relationship between secondary characters Dylan and Riley, and you have written in a pretty scary home grown terror group. The story is gritty, fasted paced and edge of the seat suspenseful. I felt the sub-plots flowed well and you cleverly tied everything together, essentially unraveling a mystery surrounding Cameron’s history. You seem to like to have a number of sub-plots running concurrently through your narratives, any particular reason why?

You know, Pearl recently asked me the same question – and it’s a good one. I do love subplots, but it’s more than that. I think the post I did explains a lot, so I invite you to read that.

Your heroes are hot, tough, lethal military men, and they all have a lot of personal and emotional baggage. I guess one would say “tortured heroes” but I think it makes them all the more appealing. You match them with equally strong heroines who also have a lot of issues. It makes the romance more special I think because these guys really need someone who understands them. Do you characterize your heroes first and then develop that special woman for them Steph?

My heroes and heroines really do kind of walk on in my mind. I don’t have to do a whole lot of work on who they are and their backgrounds, although sometimes I have to dig to get them to spill their secrets. But the heroes always come first. And then it’s a matter of waiting for the right heroine to show up.

I just had this problem with Kell’s book – NIGHT MOVES – because it was supposed to be Reid’s book. But Kell kept jumping in when he wasn’t supposed to and I couldn’t get going and then I was like, duh, this is Kell’s heroine and Kell’s book. It’s going much better now.

“Lie With Me” is a cliff hanger of sorts because heroine Skyler Slavin’s physician Dr. Olivia Strohm is kidnapped by the terrorists. Navy SEAL Zane Scott who is introduced and plays a role in “Lie With Me”, is a witness to her abduction and is unable to save her which leads nicely into the next book “Promises In The Dark”, their story. (I’m chewing my nails for Olivia! lol)

I’ve got to say all your heroes are hot, but Zane? Uber hot!! This guy loves to live on the edge. I just want to share a little snippet from “Lie With Me” where you introduce Zane.

“Getting Zane involved, though, wasn’t an issue. His youngest brother was always up for anything, especially a party. Dylan knew that facade let Zane keep his past tamped down—so far, it had worked for his brother. A Navy SEAL with a penchant for black ops, gray ops and any other color in between, Zane always approached Dylan for work when he was on leave. Mainly because Zane tended to get into trouble when he didn’t keep busy.

Dylan figured that if Zane was going to get into trouble, at least it would be trouble Dylan would be able to help him out of.

And Zane had gotten damned good at getting places Dylan couldn’t, which annoyed the shit out of Dylan and made Zane pretty damned pleased with himself.

Fucking and fighting were all part of the same game for Dylan’s youngest brother, and Zane seemed to always have the fucking part outweighing the fighting by a mile.

It was why Zane was able to get more intel on Riley in twenty-four hours than Dylan had been able to get in three years between his CIA contacts and others.

“You weren’t looking in the right place,” Zane told him now over the phone. “I’ve got the scratches down my back to prove it.”

Lie With Me © Stephanie Tyler

LOL

I can just hear this cool, calculating, lethal guy talking on the phone Steph. Just awesome! Can you tell readers a bit about where you will be taking the series next in Promises In The Dark, and in Mace’s story “In The Air Tonight”?

Ah, Zane – I adore him! He’s a SEAL from Jake’s team and he’s pretty wild. Okay, so in Promises, yes, Zane goes after Olivia to rescue her…and it doesn’t go all that smoothly. I won’t say much more except he and Liv are completely perfect for one another.

Mace’s book – IN THE AIR TONIGHT – is kind of a cabin romance, set in the Catskills in Upstate New York – and Caleb and Vivi’s subplot will continue in that book.

Was the title for “In The Air Tonight”, inspired by the Genesis song by the same name?

Yes!!! I love music and always write to it and that was a song on the original soundtrack I created for that book. So my editor and I have been on a songs for titles kick (Promises in the Dark is an old Pat Benetar tune and then Kell’s book, Night Moves, is inspired by the Bob Seger song!)

Stephanie, thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with me today. For what it’s worth, I think your series ROCKS.

I think you rock, Miss Lea – thank you for all your support!

Thank you Steph and you are most welcome!

Contest Now Closed!

Winners will be posted soon. Thanks Everyone!

Excerpt from “Lie With Me”:

From Chapter One

Lie With Me © Stephanie Tyler

October 26, 2010
Book 1 of the Shadow Force series
Dell Books
ISBN-10: 0440245966
ISBN-13: 978-0440245964

Forced together by fate, bound together by desire.

Framed for a double murder, Delta Force operative Cameron Moore is given a new lease on life by the CIA—provided he pays them back by doing their black ops dirty work. Now Cam is ready to renegotiate their deal, and he thinks he’s found the perfect bargaining chip: Skylar Slavin, bestselling author of espionage thrillers and the daughter of the CIA man who saved him from a prison sentence.

Skylar has been living in anonymity, never suspecting that someone so dangerous—and so desirable—would plunge her into a world as treacherous as one of her spy novels. But how can Cam go through with his plan to kidnap Skylar when just the sight of her sets off an explosive attraction he’s never experienced before? And when Skylar falls prey to an even more perilous threat, this special ops soldier must call upon all his combat skills to protect the one person who can help him win his freedom—and the only woman he’s ever loved.

Excerpt

Watch The Shadow Force Video:

My Thoughts:

Holy. Hell….

In the first book of Stephanie Tyler’s ‘Shadow Force’ series readers are introduced to the suspenseful and deadly world of men who straddle the line between working covert black ops missions and serving in the elite military. As the synopsis of the book indicates, after being framed for a double murder he didn’t commit Delta Force leader Cameron Moore was imprisoned and serving 2 consecutive life sentences. Cameron was 19 years old, and while street wise and tough, being caged in prison and subjected to inmate brutality left deep scars. Then 2 years after his conviction Cameron was approached in prison by CIA chameleon extraordinaire Gabriel Creighton who arranged for his record to be erased, and freedom. However, Cameron was pressed into another type of imprisonment. After entering military service and becoming an elite warrior, Cameron was threatened and forced by Gabriel to do his bidding and complete black ops jobs that had chipped away at his conscience and soul over a period of 10 years.

The good work Cameron does on his missions with Delta Force are what keep a man such as himself with pride and a soul, honorable. It was during one of these missions that he saved a wounded Dylan Scott who eventually became his close friend and confidant. After a near death experience, when Cameron is forced to take out one of Gabriel’s ‘people’ Dylan reveals some valuable Intel regarding the man who has had a noose around his friend’s neck for a decade. Dylan has discovered that Gabriel has a daughter, Skyler Slavin and he convinces Cameron that he must use his military background to ingratiate himself, kidnap her and do whatever is necessary to finally rid himself of Gabriel Creighton.

Skyler Slavin has come back from the dead, literally. After her kidneys failed she required extensive dialysis treatment, a donor was located and she underwent a transplant. Following a dicey recovery where she hovered between life and death, Skyler continues a long road to regain her health and strength but is back on her feet. Needing a break, she takes a working/vacation in the mountains of the Adirondacks. Skyler is an author and she lost her muse following her recovery and she needs to start writing again. When a knock comes to the door and Cameron Moore flashes his military ID indicating he has been sent by her father to protect her, she is naturally suspicious. However, Skyler has been receiving threatening notes and tried without success to reach her father, she therefore accepts the handsome military officer’s story.

In the meantime Dylan uses his numerous contacts, inside and outside the military to try and unravel the mystery surrounding Cameron being framed for the murders. As well, he looks for a now missing Gabriel. One of the people he approaches is Riley, a woman who is ex-military, a deadly killer turned black ops for hire, and she has a major grudge against Gabriel. Dylan and Riley have had an explosive on again off again affair and Ms. Tyler weaves a very hot romantic subplot into the narrative concerning these two people.

Skyler is very attracted to Cameron and the last thing he plans or expects happens, he wants the daughter of the man he hates most in the world. As I’ve mentioned here before, one of the reasons I love romantic suspense so much is that I think danger amplifies the sexual tension and sensuality of the interaction between the hero and heroine exponentially. Skyler and Cameron’s story is no exception. Cameron Moore is Alpha, sexy as hell, a trained killer, but he is also written to possess an innate sensitivity and kindness that comes rocketing to the surface during intimate encounters with Skyler. Trouble does arrive in spades, and Cameron is forced to protect and save a still recovering Skyler from hired guns, intent on kidnapping her. As they fight and flee these aggressors their feelings for one another intensify, but can they forge a relationship founded on lies and betrayal?

Ms. Tyler also introduces the sociopathic and elusive Elijah, leader of Dead Man’s Hand (DMH), a home grown terrorist organization that began by funding terror camps, and then branched out to black market weapons and organ trafficking. This is one scary group and Elijah is in the background, pulling the levers of what is an extraordinarily fasted paced, action packed plot that takes a number of surprising and exciting twists and turns.

If you read this review, you may think there is a lot going on in “Lie With Me”, and you would be right. However, Ms. Tyler deftly ties the subplots together, making for a conclusion that is not only exciting but hosts a number revelations. If you enjoy a heart wrenching, thrilling, gritty and action packed military romantic suspense, you may like to give,“Lie With Me,” a try. Ms. Tyler sets the foundation for the next story in her “Shadow Force,” series “Promises In the Dark,” which is Navy Seal, Zane Scott (I love this guy) and Dr. Olivia Strohm’s story. I’m SO primed to read this one!

What is the Shadow Force? Read “Lie With Me,” and you will get an idea as to how it begins.

Stephanie Tyler will be here on November 9th to talk about her new series, and for those interested I will be reviewing “Promises In The Dark,” prior it’s release on November 23, 2010.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 big stars! This is one of the best books I’ve read this year.
Heat Level: Hot. You’ve got the danger sex, angry sex, and ‘damn I love you’ sex.

Promises In The Dark: Coming November 23, 2010
In The Air Tonight: (Mace’s Story) Coming August 2011

Jaguar Warriors — Book 2
HarperCollins
October 26, 2010
ISBN-13: 9780061808807
ISBN-10: 0061808806

A solitary hunter with no regard for the human world, Jagger Castille is a shifter living on the edge. It will take the woman who calls him enemy to give him a reason to live.

Jagger is a creature of the night—Skye Knightly soars in the sun. Natural adversaries, they have been joined by destiny in a mission entrusted to Skye’s family centuries ago: Nothing less than the salvation of the Earth.

Wounded and bitter, Jagger sought escape in the solitude of the jungle, driven by a need to disappear forever… until a mysterious shifter who calls to his soul and feeds a yearning long forgotten, pulls him from his dark path. A courageous warrior, Skye’s passion is equal to Jagger’s own—but can she trust a man on the edge? A man whose secrets are as devastating as her own?

Each is the other’s sole hope for survival. But a dark and twisted truth is leading them toward the ultimate sacrifice for a love they may never live to claim.

Excerpt

Watch The Video:

My Thoughts

“His Darkest Embrace”, opens 3 months following the action packed conclusion of “His Darkest Hunger”, jaguar warrior shifter Jagger Castille has been living in the sultry jungles of Belize in his animal form. He has no inclination or desire to return to civilization or his family, as he is dealing with painful memories from his experience while serving in the military special ops in Afghanistan and Iraq. He therefore attempts to find solace in what is his natural habitat, hunting and living for the most part under the cloak of darkness.

While exploring a cave in the mountains of Belize Eagle Knight and shifter Skye Knightly loses track of time and when she emerges the sun has already set, she is alone in the dark jungle unable to find her way back to base camp. To make matters worse, she is being hunted by ruthless mercenaries of the DaCosta jaguar warrior clan who are under orders to bring her in alive. Skye’s family are the protectors of a magical portal that has the potential to unleash the demon underworld into the human world, causing untold destruction.

The DaCosta and Castille jaguars are mortal enemies and when Jagger finds the two nasties about to brutalize and take Skye against her will a lethal battle ensues between the shifters. As a black jaguar warrior, Jagger is extraordinarily strong and deadly when provoked. He quickly dispatches the two terrorizing Skye but when he shifts to human form she flees in fear. He finds her, injured, and takes Skye to his lair for protection and to give her time to recuperate.

Ms. Stone creates a fascinating heroine and species in Skye, powerful and proud, eagle shifters have one Achilles heel, they need the sun’s glow and warmth to activate the special majics required to enable them to change. Skye is a golden beauty and when the sun rises, she is able to shift into a magnificent, golden eagle, a fierce raptor, and lethal warrior. Warrior jaguar shifters of the past had hunted the eagles to near extinction she therefore sees Jagger not as her savior, but as a mortal enemy. While Skye is strong kick ass heroine, she also has vulnerabilities.

Much to her chagrin Skye eventually realizes she has no choice but to work with Jagger to accomplish her family legacy of finding and sealing the portal. So with mercenaries and worse hunting her, they set out on a long trek through the jungle to find a contact of Jagger’s who may be able to help locate specific cave that is foretold to house the portal.

Jagger and Skye’s story is rife with sexual tension and conflict. Despite a simmering mistrust they are inexorably drawn to one another and Ms Stone really ramps up the sensuality in this story. As two shifter warriors their intimate encounters are intense, passionate and animalistic. Jaguar warriors have a special soul deep bond with their mate and once a union is forged they feel an overwhelming need to protect. However, Jagger meets his match in Skye, she is stubborn and independent, and isn’t about to be told what to do. It’s a HOT match..

The plot of “His Darkest Embrace“, is extremely fasted paced and action packed as Jagger and Skye race against time to find and retrieve the portal before Cormac O’Hara, the powerful and evil sorcerer readers met in “His Darkest Hunger”. Cormac, knows Skye holds the key to finding the portal and he wants her and it, badly. There is also another evil demonic presence haunting Skye, manipulating the outcome of their quest.

What I really loved about this story was that Ms. Stone involves the key characters introduced in “His Darkest Hunger”, they help to advance the plot but do not overtake the storyline. She is building her world with just the right amount of momentum, and introduces two new characters who play a pivotal role in a climax that was as explosive as the ending of the first novel. I’m know they will likely have key roles in the next book, “His Darkest Salvation,” Julian’s story (I can’t wait!). I also found Ms. Stone’s graphic imagery outstanding, the lush darkness of the jungle and her portrayal of the advancing evil that the jaguars and animal life can feel rippling in the earth. I could literally envision the jaguars shift from animal to human and Skye to her eagle form. There are back to back awesome scenes in this novel and I hope other readers love it as much as I did.

I found “His Darkest Embrace”, to be sexy, at times bittersweet, action packed and suspenseful. If you enjoy a dark, erotic paranormal romance, you may like to give this story a try. Ms. Stone gives enough of background in her narrative to allow new readers to enjoy the novel in isolation, but IMHO the read would be a much richer experience if “His Darkest Hunger” was read first.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Heat Level: Hot, Sexy and Passionate

Sincere thanks to HarperCollins Avon and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review “His Darkest Embrace.