Midnight's Master by Donna Grant

Midnight's Master, Donna Grant, St. Martin's Press
Dark Warriors #1
Gwynn Austin has no idea why her father has disappeared on a mysterious trip to Scotland. When she goes on a desperate mission to search for him she finds more than she bargains for in a ruggedly handsome, wickedly exciting Highlander who exudes danger and mystery. And when she discovers her own link to Scotland, she’ll have to trust her heart to help lead her...

Propelled through time by powerful Druid Magic, Logan Hamilton uses his immortality and powers of the god inside him to help prevent the awakening of an ancient evil in the modern world. He never expects to find help in the form of a beautiful, alluring, and all too tempting woman whose passion and strength matches his own. Together, Logan and Gywnn must fight for their love—before a demon from the past destroys them both…

Excerpt:

The blackness, the unending void ate away at Logan as he was yanked out of the year 1603 and thrown forward in time. He felt himself falling and desperately reached for something to hang onto

The wind rushed by him, hurting his ears with the high pitched sound and drowning out any noise. The wind took his breath, making it difficult to breath. He was tossed first one way, and then the other. Determining which way was up was soon forgotten.

Where were the others? Ramsey, Arran, and Camdyn? The Druids had told him they didn’t know where any of them would end up. All Logan could pray for as he felt the years and decades pass by was that he landed in the right time.

Around him, the inky darkness began to shimmer – the same shimmer that had appeared when the Druids cast the spell to send Logan and the others traveling through time.

Almost instantly, he was dumped out of the abyss onto his hands and knees into the midst of a vicious rainstorm.

Logan swallowed and gave himself a moment to let his head stop spinning. He pushed his fingers into the wet ground and smiled when he felt the dirt between his hands.

He sat back on his heels and looked around. It was day, but the storm had darkened the sky. An urgent need pulled at him, called to him to return to Eigg, but he pushed it aside. He had to find Ian. That was his duty.

Logan wiped off his hands and took stock of his whereabouts on a hillside, the tall grass swaying with the howling wind. But what grabbed his interest were the dots of light below him.

Logan blinked through the cold, torrential rain and climbed to his feet. Those weren’t fires he saw flickering in the valley. What they were, he didn’t know. Yet.

He rose to his feet and ran a hand through his hair to get it out of his face. It was time to discover just where the Druids had managed to toss him in the future.

On his way down to the valley, Logan crossed a road that had been covered with some hard, black substance with bright white lines painted on it.

He squatted down to touch the surface and felt the rumbling of the ground beneath his fingers. Logan rose and stepped back as something large and loud came rolling down the lane.

As the object passed, Logan spotted a person inside who looked like they controlled the loud contraption.

More confused than ever, Logan walked over the road and down to the town. He could hardly believe his eyes when he reached the village to find buildings lined down the street, one right next to the other. They were all painted the same bright white with many more of those noisy contraptions lining the road as well as traveling down it.

Logan kept to the side of the road where he saw other people walking. A few gave him odd glances but most paid him no heed.

He passed store after store, trying to learn the language written on the signs. The fact that he had a primeval god inside him, a god so ancient his name had been forgotten, was the only way he was able to pick up this new language so quickly.

“You’re soaked through, lad,” said an elderly woman as she opened a door to a store Logan was walking past.

He gave a slight nod and felt the knot in his belly loosen as he heard her brogue. He was still in Scotland. Now, to determine when he was.

“Ah, not much of a talker,” she said and laughed.

Logan smiled. “What year is it?”

She blinked and cocked her gray head at him. “You’ve quite the brogue, lad. It’s been many a years since I’ve heard one so thick.” She smiled, a far away look stealing across her face.

Logan took a step toward her. “The year, lady?”

“Oh.” She chuckled and patted her chest. “Forgive me. It’s 2012. What an odd question.”

“I’ve been living by myself…away from everyone.”

“And everything,” she said as she eyed his kilt.

Logan looked around him and shrugged. “What village am I in?”

This time the old woman frowned as she watched him. “Salen, not far from the Isle of Skye.”

He knew the village, but the last time he had seen it, there had barely been anything there. It had grown tremendously since then.

What else had changed in the four centuries since he had left his friends behind at MacLeod Castle?

“I thank you,” he said to the woman and walked on before she could ask more questions.

Logan looked at the town of Salen with new eyes. If this almost nonexistent village could grow so much in just a few centuries, what had become of Edinburgh or Glasgow? And did he even want to know?

He paused as a young woman ran in front of him to one of the contraptions sitting on the side of the road. She jerked at the handle as she held a bag over her head in an effort to keep from getting wet. It wasn’t working.

“Rory! You wanker! Unlock the bloody door so I can get in the car!” she yelled over her shoulder.

Logan turned his head to see a thin man come out of the shop, walk around the…car, insert something small into the door, and open it.

The woman yanked on her door again then banged on the window above it. “Rory. Unlock the bloody door now!”

After another moment, Rory leaned over the door and pulled on something. A moment later, the woman got in. She was still yelling as the car rolled away. 

So, the contraptions were called cars, and apparently people rode them much as Logan rode horses. He sighed and continued forward. It wasn’t just the landscape that had changed. The people had changed as well.

No lady Logan had known would ever have spoken as the woman with Rory had. Not even whores spoke so crudely.

Logan heard footsteps coming fast behind him. His muscles seized and fangs filled his mouth. Logan spun around, claws lengthening as he readied himself to behead whoever thought to attack him.

He pulled his hand back, stopping himself just in time as two young lads who ran past him, laughing and soaking wet. Logan stepped into the doorway of an unused building and took a deep breath.

Was he so used to fighting that he would attack anyone? Even children? He shook his head and struggled to tamp down the god inside him.

Athleus. He was the god of betrayal inside Logan, an ancient god who wanted nothing but death and destruction. It had taken decades for Logan to gain control over his god. 

But sometimes, that control slipped.

Logan carried enough burdens. He didn’t need to add the death of two young lads to the weight. 

Once his fangs and claws had retreated, and Logan was sure his skin wasn’t the silver of his god, he stepped out of the shadows and lengthened his stride as he exited the town. The urge to return to Eigg was sharp and true in his chest.

If anyone found out that he had a monster inside him, that he could release the god and become a beast, Logan was sure they’d kill him.

But he didn’t just have a god inside him. He was able to use Athleus’ power, a power able to control water. And Logan was going to the Isle of Eigg, an isle surrounded by water.

He wasn’t sure when he had made that decision, only that he had. Logan couldn’t hold back the desperate need to return there as soon as possible.

The last time he had been to Eigg, which to him was just a matter of hours – not centuries – earlier, he had been looking for an artifact hidden there by the Druids.

Not only had he not found the artifact, but his friend and fellow Warrior, Duncan, had been killed by Deirdre. Deirdre was a drough, a Druid who had given herself to evil and black magic. She was on a mission to take over the world, and as great as her magic was, Logan feared she might just win.

It had been Deirdre who had unleashed the gods inside the Warriors. And it would be Warriors who would help end Deirdre once and for all.

But first, Logan had to find Ian, Duncan’s twin.

He couldn’t imagine what Ian was going through. Ian and Duncan, as twins, had shared a god, and with Duncan’s death, the full power and rage of their god would overtake Ian. If he couldn’t control his god, his god would control him and he would be ripe for Deirdre to claim. Which is just what she had wanted when she killed Duncan.

Logan had no idea where Ian had gone, but he knew Deirdre. She had leaped forward in time to 2012 in order to thwart him and the others in their mission to find the artifacts before she did.

He frowned. Or had she?

If Deirdre could travel through time whenever she wanted, why hadn’t she done so before now? She could have changed the outcome to anything that hadn’t gone her way, including gaining the artifacts before the MacLeods. 

If Deirdre hadn’t traveled through time on her own, that meant someone had to have helped her.

But who? And, more importantly, why?

Logan wasn’t sure he’d have those answers anytime soon. Regardless, in order to defeat Deirdre, the Warriors would still need the artifacts. The one he had been sent to get was on Eigg.

He paused and looked around him. None of the other three Warriors who had volunteered to look for Ian had landed with Logan. He wasn’t even sure if they had been taken as he had.

Yet, he knew the Druids at MacLeod Castle. Each one was powerful in her own right, and together, they wielded magic and quite literally took his breath away.

He had no doubt they had succeeded in tossing the others forward in time along with him. He had no means of communicating with anyone, nor could he take the chance of traveling to MacLeod Castle yet. He had to find Ian before Deirdre did.

If she didna have him already.

Review:
Yes this series is a spin off of Donna Grant's Dark Sword series, yes there are character's and couples from that series in this book, no I have not read that series yet(but I plan to) but I did not in any way feel lost because I had not read them. I know most of our long time readers are probably in shock at this statement coming from me. It has been well documented that I am a little OCD about things being read in order. But knowing that, I hope it reaffirms that you do not have to read the DS series to thoroughly enjoy this book.

This book starts with  Gwynn Austin looking for her missing father. She travels to Scotland where her father was last seen, but isn't finding any clues to his whereabouts. Logan Hamilton is one of four who travel from 400 years in the past to the future to find one of the missing Warriors who was brought forth in time by the same entity that brought Deirdre. As both Gwynn and Logan start their search, they find each other and soon learn that they will both need the other if either is to succeed.

This book moves at a fast pace with just enough action, history, back story and romance to make it a very balanced story. Ms. Grant does a great job of weaving the story line from the previous series with this story so that you feel informed but not overwhelmed or bored.

Logan is a man with dark secrets and you can tell from the beginning that he is working towards atonement. His sense of loyalty and honor are his driving force.

The more I learned about Gwynn and her past I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. She needs the  strong family ties that comes from the other druids and warriors at Castle MacLeod.

We get not one, but two truly evil villains in this book with Declan and Deirdre and you really don't know which one you want to die first.

This was a great start to the new series and meshed the best of both the historical and contemporary. This is a definite read for those of you that enjoy any type of fantasy/time travel/sexy highlander books!!!

Buy Links: Midnight's Master
Barnes & Noble
Amazon

RATING: 5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries.  This book was given to us by the author. Many thanks.

Don't forget the contest, we will have three winners.
1. Copy of Midnight's Master(ebook)
2. Copy of  Dark King's Trilogy(ebook)Dark Craving, Night's Awakening & Dawn's Desire
3. Copy of A Forbidden Temptation(ebook)

Donna Grant is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than forty novels and novellas spanning multiple genres of romance.
She was born and raised in Texas but loves to travel. Her adventures have taken her throughout the United States as well as to Jamaica, Mexico, and Scotland. Growing up on the Texas/Louisiana border, Donna’s Cajun side of the family taught her the “spicy” side of life while her Texas roots gave her two-steppin’ and bareback riding.
Her childhood dream was to become a professional ballet dancer and study under the amazing Mikhail Baryshnikov. Though she never got to meet Baryshnikov, she did make it to New York City and performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Later, Donna’s love of the romance genre and the constant stories running through her head prompted her to sit down and write her first book. Once that book was completed, there was no turning back.
Donna sold her first book in November 2005 while displaced from Hurricane Rita, a storm that destroyed portions of the Texas Gulf Coast. Since then, Donna has sold novels and novellas to both electronic and print publishers. Her books include several complete series such as Druids Glen, The Shields, Royal Chronicles, Sisters of Magic, Dark Sword, Dark Warriors, and her new series, Dark Kings.
Despite the deadlines and her voracious reading, Donna still manages to keep up with her two young children, four cats, three fish, and one long haired Chihuahua. She’s blessed with a proud, supportive husband who loves to read and travel as much as she does.

Donna Grant's Dark Warriors

This week we are featuring Donna Grant's Dark Warriors Series.

Dark Warriors

There once was a land of legend, of lore. A land filled with magic and hope. Though the Celtic tribes warred with each other, all of that came to an end with the arrival of Rome to their shores.

The mighty kingdom of Rome, intent on ruling the world, slowly worked their way across Britain. Until they reached the highlands and encountered a foe like none other. Despite their victories, nothing the Celts did could make Rome leave their precious land.

With no other recourse, the Celts turned to their trusted advisors and allies, the Druids.

Respected and revered, the Druids were like any society. Their magic came in the purest form from the earth, but there were ones who wanted more – more power, more control...more of everything.

Inevitably, the Druids split into two sects. The mie stayed true to their magic and continued to heal the sick and offer their knowledge to tribal leaders. The drough, however, chose human sacrifices and black magic to grow their power.

It was the drough who had the answers for the Celts.

The mie cautioned the clan leaders against using black magic, but the Celts knew their hold against the Romans was waning. So they allowed their greatest warriors to step forward and the drough to cast their spells and call up the gods long buried in Hell - gods that once ruled the earth with brutal tactics and violent ends.

But they were the only ones who could defeat Rome.

The gods, freed at last, eagerly answered the Druids call and bound themselves into each tribe’s fiercest warrior. Those warriors, with the aide of the gods inside them, attacked every Roman they encountered. Battle after battle ensued, until, finally, Rome abandoned Britain.

Yet the gods were still thirsty for blood, still hungry for battle. With the Romans gone, the warriors turned on each other...and anyone that got in their way. The rivers and land ran red with the blood of the Celts as death permeated the air.

The drough finding their magic useless joined forces with the mie. Yet, nothing the two sects did could put the gods back in their prison in Hell. The gods refused to relinquish their hold on the warriors, growing stronger with each heartbeat, each kill, until the warrior was no longer the man he had once been.

A gathering of Druids was called. It was unlike anything that had occurred since before the split. Magic pulsed over the land as they put aside their differences and struggled to find a way to help the Celts. But no amount of magic they called up freed the warriors.

Unable to send the gods back, the Druids combined magic and black magic to create a spell that bound the gods, in effect freezing them inside their hosts. The warriors returned to the men they once were and resumed their lives having no memory of the atrocities they had committed.

Yet, inside each warrior, the gods waited. With every generation the gods moved from warrior to warrior, passed down and forever a part of the family’s bloodline.

And so the Warriors were born.

The Druids, knowing what they had created, knowing what would happen in the future, stayed near the Warriors. Forever keeping watch. Even when their faith, the very thing they were, caused them to hide for fear of being killed, they had no choice but to watch. All of mankind was at risk.

The true story of Rome’s departing of Britain was forgotten. It passed into legend and myth amongst the Celts with each retelling of the story. Only the Druids knew the truth.

Then one drough found a hidden scroll. More power hungry than anydrough before her, Deirdre set out to unbind the gods and control them. Thereby giving her the army she needed to rule the world and become a goddess before whom all men would tremble.

The scroll, however, only listed one tribe – the MacLeods.

Deirdre turned her eye to the MacLeod clan. There, she would begin....

This series is a spin off of her Dark Sword series but can be read as a stand alone.

Make a comment during this weeks reviews for a chance to win a digital copy of Donna's Midnight's Master, the first book in the Dark Warriors series!!!

Mrs. Queen Takes the Train by William Kuhn

Mrs. Queen Takes the Train, William Kuhn, Harper Collins
After decades of service and years of watching her family's troubles splashed across the tabloids, Britain's Queen is beginning to feel her age. She needs some proper cheering up. An unexpected opportunity offers her relief: an impromptu visit to a place that holds happy memories--the former royal yacht, Britannia, now moored near Edinburgh. Hidden beneath a skull-emblazoned hoodie, the limber Elizabeth (thank goodness for yoga) walks out of Buckingham Palace into the freedom of a rainy London day and heads for King's Cross to catch a train to Scotland. But a characterful cast of royal attendants has discovered her missing. In uneasy alliance a lady-in-waiting, a butler, an equerry, a girl from the stables, a dresser, and a clerk from the shop that supplies Her Majesty's cheese set out to find her and bring her back before her absence becomes a national scandal.

REVIEW:

Now y’all know I love The Queen. I’ve had this ongoing fascination with the British Royals since I was old enough to read my grandmother’s National Enquirer. (Don’t judge, she had a subscription, I just read it) A couple of weeks ago, I was wandering through Barnes and Noble and came upon “Mrs Queen Takes The Train”. I bought it on a whim and got immediately sucked in. It’s going to make you laugh as The Queen refers to her Twitter account as “Miss Twitter” and to Facebook as “Pastebook”. It’s probably going to make you cry a little bit too. Fair warning! It’s hilariously dramatic and well written and it has a cast of characters that are a diverse as England itself. Now, this is a totally different sort of book than I normally review here at Guilty Indulgence, but there is still some underlying romance to be found. “Mrs Queen Takes The Train” is an awesome read and I give it 5 ooey gooey strawberries dipped in 4 kinds of chocolate! Kudos William Kuhn and I look forward to what comes next from you!

The Selkie by Rosana Leo

This was supposed to be her year. However, after losing her job and discovering her fiancé cheating, Maggie Collins has her doubts. When her grandmother dies, she hits rock bottom. Maggie travels to her grandmother’s home in Orkney, Scotland to sort through her gran’s things, only to discover the old woman has left her a seal pelt as her inheritance. She also learns that others are after the pelt.
To add to her frustration, Maggie’s dreams are filled with luscious images of a long-haired man, images that draw her to the magical beaches in Orkney. Although she’s lost her trust in men, this dream man inspires her with a lust she’s never known before.
Calan Kirk has also been dreaming. Dreaming of Maggie, the mortal woman who arouses him as no other woman ever has. Meeting her in the flesh when she arrives in Orkney is nothing short of spontaneous sexual combustion. But she is a human, and not to be trusted. He needs the seal pelt, not a red-haired temptress.
As a thief ransacks Maggie’s grandmother’s house, Maggie and Calan are thrust together. They must search for the animal skin, a mythical relic which once found, will either bring them together or rip them apart forever.

Yes. I am happy to report that the story is just as SEXY as the cover. I had been swooning over this cover since its first reveal on facebook months ago. The book couldn't move up fast enough on my TBR list - I couldn't wait to read it! Then I had a panic. What if the story was terrible? And I'd been fooled by my lust for delicious covers? I'd be hard-broken, disappointed... oh no. So I took it one page at-a-time, lowering my expectation, because it wasn't likely anything could be as SEXY as the cover. But I was wrong. The book was FABULOUSLY SEXY - FUNNY AT TIMES - SWEET AT OTHERS - AN ULTIMATE INDULGENCE.

Rosana Leo captured Maggie's emotions so well, I made a new friend. I experienced her life while inside this book and it was a wild trip. She's had a rough beginning and then is abruptly thrown into this mythical adventure. Using the secondary characters just enough to add depth, the focus of the story was on Maggie and Calan. Oh, wow, Calan. Now, Calan being a selkie (think were-seal) means the book is built on paranormal mythology. The story has the perfect balance of paranormal elements and romance for me. Maggie and Calan together are a treat. They're quite humorous at times and then there are these crazy sexy and intense scenes. The story has a good blend of descriptive language to make readers feel like they are inside the story. I felt thoroughly immersed in the story and didn't want to put it down.

I am already awaiting future books with Calan's brothers!

RATING: 5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries
This book was given to us by the author. Many thanks.

Happy Hunky Days #12.5

DAY TWELVE.FIVE...Happy Hunky-Days!

Happiest of Holidays from the Guilty Indulgence Book Club. We are pleased to be with you every day and hope you will all join us for our 3rd annual Happy Hunky-days - Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka free books and very yummy eye candy!). All good readers who comment will get a chance to win some really great e-books from our featured authors! Seriously, you can even be quite naughty and still get free books - just remember to register and comment!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Brooke's Wish, Sandra Bunino, Evernight Publishing
The Satin Rose Experience #2

A failed relationship and long hours at her flourishing practice have Dr. Brooke Allaire running on empty. When Brooke accepts a girlfriend’s gift of some holiday pampering at New York City’s posh Satin Rose Experience, she assumes she’s in for a weekend of facials and massages. Brooke soon realizes there’s more to SRE than meets the eye.
Ty Venice is a team player. He’s used to sharing submissives with fellow Dom Jackson Reid. However, if there was ever a game changer, Dr. Brooke Allaire was it. That is, until he gets a glimpse at her ultimate fantasy, to be possessed by two men at once.
The Satin Rose Experience, New York’s elite BDSM club residing on the twentieth floor of Rosebud Resorts, contains ten uniquely themed suites, each with its own story to tell. Fulfill your fantasy at SRE.

Excerpt:

“I like this one,” Jackson said to Ty and he reached over to touch her arm. His hand lingered and trailed up to her shoulder where his thumb worked its magic again.

Brooke swallowed hard. Don’t melt, girl. You’re a successful surgeon, you can handle this.

“Ty must’ve told you my predicament,” Brooke said in a matter-of-fact manner.

“You have to excuse my friend here, Brooke. He’s not too skilled in boundaries.” Ty addressed Brooke but stared at Jackson.

Jackson’s hand left her shoulder and she was shocked to admit she wanted it back. 

“Ty’s right. I’m sorry, sweetheart. He told me about the misunderstanding. I’m sure your friend will get an earful when you get back to St. Louis.”

Brooke waved one hand in the air and took another sip of her drink with the other. “It’s fine. I needed the break and where else would I get the chance to have drinks with not one but two sexy Doms?” Brooke covered her mouth with her hand and giggled. “Oh, my, I can’t believe I just said that. What’s this drink called?”

“It’s the Lavender Rose, named after Miss Mia,” Jackson said.

“Now that I’m on my way to inebriation thanks to Mia and her Lavender Rose, may I ask you two a question?”

Ty leaned back in his chair and laced his fingers together behind his head. “Of course.”

Jackson nodded. “Shoot.”

“Okay, do you two ever, you know, share?”

Ty answered with a question. “You mean, play out a scene together with one submissive?” 

Brooke finished her drink and placed it on the table. “Yes, that’s what I’m asking.” Her eyes darted from one set of brown eyes to the other then holding Ty’s stare. His gaze added another log to the fire growing in her stomach.

Jackson was the first to break the silence at the table. “That’s our thing, sweetheart. We share.”

She turned toward Jackson and shook her head. “Why?” 

“It’s a win-win. The submissive loves the attention and there’s no risk of becoming too heavily involved. Ty and I aren’t looking for anything long-term. Isn’t that right, Brother?”

Ty looked from Jackson to Brooke and lowered his gaze to the drink in his hand. “Yeah, whatever you say, Jax. Anyone up for another drink?”

Jackson rose to his feet. “Not for me. It’s a pleasure to meet you and I hope to see you again this weekend.” Her pussy flooded with heat when he captured her hand and brushed his soft lips across her knuckles.

Releasing her hand, he nodded at Ty before leaving the table. 

“That’s Jax for you, always moving,” Ty said watching his friend make his way through the lounge.

Brooke followed Ty’s glance but was distracted by a woman’s laugh from across the room. Squinting through the crowd, Brooke spotted the source of the laughter. A tall redhead giggled while her hand caressed a man’s shoulder to her right. However, the woman’s attention laid with an older man to her left. She stroked his arm as she teased the younger man’s neck with her other hand. Neither of the men’s attention ever left her. They looked at her as though she were the only woman in the bar.

“Brooke?” Ty’s question broke her focus.

She turned to him and smiled. “Yes, I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize, princess. I was about to ask you if you’ve given any more thought to your fantasy, but I can see that you have,” he said as his eyes flicked at the threesome.

Brooke’s cheeks heated in response to his smile. 

“I think you’ve had enough to drink tonight. Come on, I’ll walk you to your suite.” Brooke stood and stole one more look at the redhead who was sandwiched between both men as they left the lounge in front of Brooke and Ty.

The warmth of Ty’s palm encircled her waist and they followed the threesome down the hallway of suites. Brooke’s room was one of the first. Stopping to fish through her purse for her access card, she glanced at the threesome who stopped at a door a few feet away. The younger of the men opened the door as the older one had the woman pinned against the wall. His hand slid up the redhead’s thigh while leaving a trail of kisses down her neck. Brooke swallowed hard and turned to Ty. His eyes were riveted to hers. A full minute passed before either one spoke. The only sound was the woman’s moans heard down the hall until the soft click of the door indicated she’d entered the suite with her two lovers.

Ty cupped Brooke’s cheek with one hand and held her wrist with the other. “Your fantasy starts now, Brooke. I want you to follow my instructions exactly. Go inside take off your dress, bra and panties but leave your shoes on. Find a pretty little vibe in the drawer and imagine it’s my tongue.” 

Her breath hitched as his words blanketed her mouth. 

“Stand on the floor with your feet apart and bend over the bed so your perfect ass is high in the air. Place the vibrator where you want my mouth. Tease yourself, princess, bring yourself to the top of the cliff. Teeter on the edge but as soon as you feel yourself going over I want you to stop. Then do it again.”

Brooke sighed lifted up on her tiptoes to kiss him. Ty evaded her kiss as his mouth found her earlobe, which he caught between his teeth before continuing with his instruction.

“Continue until your body glistens with sweat, until your heart beats in your ears, until you moan my name over and over. Switch the vibe to full power and touch it to your aching clit. Think of my cock filling you as you climax and milk my dick with your tight little pussy.”

She shifted, her panties moist with the effect of his erotic command. 

“Good night, Brooke,” he said with a nibble on her earlobe.

Review:
What an absolutely decadent way to end our 12 Hunky Days of Christmas! This is definitely one of those books that will warm up a winter night.

It's a quick read with just enough back story that you don't feel lost. It's a sexy, satisfying novella that will have you wanting to go back to the SRE world again and again. Ms. Bunino has created a series with just enough kink to fulfill your naughty desires in the best way possible.

This book explores the what it's like to submit to two men who are focused on nothing but bringing you pleasure. Now if that isn't a Christmas gift then I don't know what one is!!

So if you are looking for a way to explore your fantasies and you like your tension to be of a sexual nature then Brooke's Wish should be on your list!

Rating: 5 Chocolate Dipped Strawberries!

Buy Link: Brooke's Wish

Happy Hunky Days #12

DAY TWELVE...Happy Hunky-Days!

Happiest of Holidays from the Guilty Indulgence Book Club. We are pleased to be with you every day and hope you will all join us for our 3rd annual Happy Hunky-days - Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka free books and very yummy eye candy!). All good readers who comment will get a chance to win some really great e-books from our featured authors! Seriously, you can even be quite naughty and still get free books - just remember to register and comment!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Baby, It's Cold Outside, Vanessa Devereaux, Evernight Publishing
U.S Marshal Ben McGinley decided to work during the holidays. He’s been tracking John Hensen for three days and finally thinks he has him cornered. He comes up empty-handed, but then things take an unexpected turn. While he’s in Hensen’s house, in walks Jade Wallis, daughter of a local bail bond owner. She mistakes him for Hensen…or is she playing with him? Has Jade had her sight set on Ben for months? And was being assigned the job a Christmas bonus from her father? Will a snowstorm be an unexpected gift for both them?





Excerpt:

“You’re hurting me. And I have to warn you that if you do anything to harm me, rape me––anything like that––you’ll be spending lots of time in jail when I haul your ass there.”

He didn’t pay much attention to what she was saying, because he was too busy watching that pretty mouth of hers as she moved her lips. He’d just set eyes upon on her, but he only wanted one thing.

To kiss her.

“I think it’s about time I searched you,” he said.

“I’m warning you. You lay one hand on me, and I’ll…”

He couldn’t help it.

He kissed her.

Not so much to stop her from ranting and raving, but he wanted to taste her, run his tongue along her lips, and plunge it into her sweet little mouth.

She didn’t fight him, but opened up to him. As his tongue greeted hers, he was sure he’d even heard her murmur. He pulled away and looked her in the eye. Her cheeks had a reddish hue to them, despite the cold nip in the air.

“I could have you arrested for that,” she said.

“What…for being a good kisser?”

“You’re so full of yourself. That’s probably how you’re able to con so many innocent people into giving you their money.”

He laughed.

“And what’s so damn funny?”

“You don’t even know who I am.”

“Oh, don’t I, Mr. Hansen?”

“Rule number one––and I don’t suppose daddy taught you this. Check that you’ve got the right guy before you go searching him. Especially before you check out his bits and pieces.”

She bit her lip. Was she about to laugh?

“I’m U.S. Marshal Ben McGinley, and like you, I also tracked John Hansen to this house tonight.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Daddy didn’t give you a photo of Mr. Hansen?”

“Yes, but…”

“He’s not here. I’ve checked. I’m assuming he’s gone somewhere warm this Christmas Eve.”

She didn’t look quite as pissed as he had when he’d found the Montana hideaway, empty. He’d been tracking the son of a bitch for three days, and coming up empty-handed had been the final straw.

“So you know my father?”

“Everyone knows Big Mike. Rumor has it he’s training you and your brother to take over for him.”

“Not exactly. You’re referring to my half-brother, and also half-sister. She slipped on the ice last week and my half-brother’s gone to Vegas for the holidays. Dad thought he’d let me handle this one and keep it in the family.”

“Half-brother and sister?” asked Ben.

“He had a one-night stand with my mother twenty-five years ago. I’m the result. By the way, my name’s Jade.”

Well, well, good old Mike. Judging by her good looks and body, he’d say Big Mike probably got some gorgeous lady blind stinking drunk the night they’d conceived Jade...he even liked her name.

“Are you going to let me go? Because my arms are getting numb from being held up like this.”

He’d forgotten all about that.

“I will…but I think I should search you, just in case,” said Ben.

Now that the tables are turned.

“But you know who I am. You know my father.”

“You want to argue with a U.S. Marshal?”

“No, but I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“You threatened and touched a government official’s private parts.”

“That was before I knew who you were.”

“So you’re admitting that you go around touching criminals’ private parts?”

She was turning as red as Santa’s outfit. He hadn’t teased someone this much in years.

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Turn around, face the wall, and hands flat on it. Don’t forget to spread those legs.”

“I will not.” 

“Do I have to arrest you? Because it’s either me doing the searching, or some fat old lady in the woman’s jail.”

She muttered something under her breath. He was sure he’d heard the word asshole in there somewhere. He grinned. Maybe coming up empty-handed at this house wasn’t so bad after all.

She gave him a dirty look before turning to face the wall.

“You do know that men aren’t allowed to search women, don’t you?” she said before placing her palms on the wall. She spread her legs.

“I’m a U.S. Marshal. Of course I know that, but these are unusual circumstances.”

He looked up and down her body, wondering where he should start. Every inch of it looked so damn inviting.

“You’re not to let your hand linger on any one part of my body,” she said, resting her forehead on the wall. 

REVIEW:

Ok I now know why the polar ice caps are melting and it has nothing to do with global warming and everything to do with this book! This book is muy caliente!

Ben is a strong alpha male who isn't afraid to show his softer side. Jade is a woman who knows what she wants and won't back down till she gets it. You had to know when these two came together it was going to be off the charts.

At the beginning of this book I thought it was just going to be a quick sexy read but the characters are funny and likable. The author does a great job of packing some very heart touching moments into a few pages.

Looking for a quick read to warm up your nights? Then pick up Baby, It's Cold Outside and feel the heat.

Rating: 4 Chocolate Dipped Strawberries!

Buy Link: Baby, It's Cold Outside

Happy Hunk Days #11

DAY ELEVEN...Happy Hunky-Days!

Happiest of Holidays from the Guilty Indulgence Book Club. We are pleased to be with you every day and hope you will all join us for our 3rd annual Happy Hunky-days - Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka free books and very yummy eye candy!). All good readers who comment will get a chance to win some really great e-books from our featured authors! Seriously, you can even be quite naughty and still get free books - just remember to register and comment!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Helping others is not always easy to do, unless you can do so undercover. But hiding your true self brings problems of its own. A homeless shelter at Christmas may seem an odd place to find one's soul mate, but love knows no boundaries - or does it?

Anja has grown fond of the wolf like dog hanging around the shelter. He seems almost human to her. With her soon to be ex -boyfriend putting pressure on her, her canine friend proves to be more reliable than any human could ever be. If only he were more than just a dog.

Finding his soul mate had not been in Ethan's plan of action, but Anja's easy acceptance of Mutt breaks through all of his defenses. The problem is he is not what he seems and will his deception by proxy prove the end of them before they even have a chance at love?


REVIEW:
This is a fun quick read highlighting the needs of the homeless and the joy people can receive by giving to those in need - a great reminder of what's important to keep in mind during the holiday season.  But don't let the somber back story sway you. This is a hot steamy romance full of twists and turns and will have you gripped from the first page.  Reluctant to take a mate, Mutt really tests Anja to see if she is as great of a person as he thinks she is. He is determined that she has to demonstrate that she has his same ideals before he reveals his true identity and claims her.  So he goes undercover at the shelter and in doing so we are taken on a journey with him as he explores her role at the shelter and all that involves.   Once he decides that he believes in her and does reveal himself, Anja rightfully lashes out at the deception but in doing so she endears herself even more to him and the reader demonstrating her strength and depth of character.  Although some of the scenes are a bit far fetched - given that this is a paranormal romance it seems to work.  Overall a fun read to enjoy this time of year.

RATING:  Four Chocolate Dipped Strawberries!

EXCERPT:

"Shower, you say?"

Anja released the breath she'd been holding and nodded.

"I guess that would be a good idea."

"You think? What did you do? Roll in dung?" She slammed her hand on her mouth in horror at her insensitivity, but he just laughed, and murmured something she couldn't quite catch.

"Is everything all right, my dear?" Mary asked.

"Yes, fine. I was about to show him where the showers are. So if you follow me..."

She weaved her way through the throng of people, out into the corridor, and up the steep stairs leading up to the second floor. She didn't need to look over her shoulder to know that he was following her, so aware was she of his presence. The wooden stairs creaked under her feet, yet he didn't make a sound despite his much heavier frame, his footfalls as light and graceful as a predator's. She stopped at the top of the stairs and watched his silent approach. Again she was struck by the contradiction between his appearance and his commanding presence. A presence that had her leaning towards him, even as her nose protested at the noxious fumes coming off his clothing.

She stepped to the side as he came close and gestured toward the door to the shower units. "Showers are in there. I'll see whether I can find you something fresh to wear. Mary just had a new batch of donated clothes in."

She risked a peek at his face and promptly wished she hadn't. The quiet intensity with which he was studying her did strange things to her equilibrium. She leaned against the wall for some support and breathed a sigh of relief when he smiled, turned, and walked through the open door towards the showers all lined up against the wall. He shrugged out of his jacket as he went and even though she knew he would see her staring if he turned around, she couldn't quite get her feet to move. He discarded the jacket on the floor and toed out of the sorry excuse for shoes he was wearing. The muscles in his back bunched and moved as he made short work of his trousers and Anja barely suppressed a gasp. He wasn't wearing any underwear and he had the most perfect male ass she'd ever had the good fortune to ogle. And Anja was no stranger to ogling. The internet was a wonderful thing, after all.

He was surprisingly clean under the clothes. She heard him whistle as he turned the water on and stepped under the stream. Rivulets of dirt created an intricate pattern on his broad back as the filth washed out of his hair and ran down his torso, over the slim hips, trim ass, and powerful thighs, then down toward the tiled flooring of the wet room. He reached for one of the shower gels stacked along the wall and proceeded to lather up his hair. When he turned around Anja prepared herself to flee, but his eyes were closed, and she stood frozen to the spot, unable to tear her gaze away as he soaped up his body. She followed the movement of his hands with her eyes, and bit her lip when he reached his cock. Thick and long, it hung semi-erect between his legs and hardened under his ministrations.

Groaning, he cupped his shaft. He spread his legs and started pumping in earnest, putting one hand against the wall for support. Faster and faster that hand moved and Anja rubbed her thighs together at the answering ache in her pussy. Who'd have thought that watching a man jack himself off would be such a turn-on? His face contorted as though in pain, his balls drew up, and his thighs shook, until finally with a roar of completion he shot his load into the streaming water and sagged back against the wall.

And still, she couldn't bring herself to move. Now that he was washed free of the grime, she could admire the powerful angles of his face. His shoulder-length hair stuck to his skin and his full lips, partially hidden by his goatee, opened in a fanged smile. A smile she had seen countless times in his other form.

The room spun and this time Anja couldn't hide her gasp when he opened his eyes and he stared straight at her. Mutt's golden eyes glowed and the man's growl travelled across the distance separating them, as he grabbed a towel and stalked toward her.

Buy links:
http://www.breathlesspress.com/index.php?main_page=product_free_shipping_info&cPath=10&products_id=399&zenid=361kenl626mlqvdlil4qpamo92

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-fortheloveofmutt-1011061-140.html

Author Bio:

Glutton for punishment would be a good description for Doris... at least that's what she hears on an almost daily basis when people find out that she has a brood of nine children, ranging from adult to toddler and lives happily in a far too small house, cluttered with children, pets, dust bunnies, and one very understanding and supportive husband. Domestic goddess she is not.

There is always something better to do after all, like working on the latest manuscript and trying not to scare the locals even more than usual by talking out loud to the voices in her head. Her characters tend to be pretty insistent to get their stories told, and you will find Doris burning the midnight oil on a regular basis. Only time to get any peace and quiet and besides, sleep is for wimps.

She likes to spin sensual, sassy, and sexy tales involving alpha heroes to die for, and heroines who give as good as they get. From contemporary to paranormal, BDSM to F/F, and Ménage, haunting love stories are guaranteed.

Find Doris on the web here:

Website 
Blog 
Twitter 
Facebook

Happy Hunky Days #10

DAY TEN... Happy Hunky-Days!

Happiest of Holidays from the Guilty Indulgence Book Club. We are pleased to be with you every day and hope you will all join us for our 3rd annual Happy Hunky-days - Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka free books and very yummy eye candy!). All good readers who comment will get a chance to win some really great e-books from our featured authors! Seriously, you can even be quite naughty and still get free books - just remember to register and comment!  

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IT'S A WONDERFUL UNDEAD LIFE, R E MULLINS, 

WILD ROSE PRESS, 2012

It's been a rough couple of years for Cailey Kantor. Facing her first Christmas alone and bad financial news, she prays for an angel to fix her problems. Instead, a sadistic, sociopathic vampire, with the goal of starting a vampire war, attacks her and forces her to drink blood stolen from the Nosferatu Gabriel Blautsauger.


Gabe must complete Cailey's turning or she will die. In doing so he risks losing his yet unfound soulmate. But something about the lovely mortal speaks to his heart. Once her transformation is complete, he and Cailey find themselves embroiled in a battle that could cost them all they hold dear.


Faced with lies, abduction, and betrayal Cailey wonders if the vampire she is falling fangs over heart for is in it for love or if she's just a means to stop a war.


Excerpt:


Cailey’s scrub top was gone, exposing her lacy bra, and she was in the process of stepping out of the drawstring pants. She glanced up, her gaze a bit wild. “Hurry. Hurry. I think I might explode from all this energy inside me. I feel like a popcorn maker and all the kernels are popping at once. So much pressure in here.” She dropped a hand to the juncture of her thighs and pressed it against her.


“Cailey?” Gabe’s tone was an octave higher than normal. When she straightened up, clad only in her underwear, he gulped for air. “What are you doing?”


“Getting ready, of course.” Holding her wadded up pants in front of her, she frowned at him. “I thought you said you knew what you were doing.”


“I thought I did…” His voice trailed off, his gaze locked on Cailey’s tight body. How had he missed just how beautiful she was? Hidden beneath the baggy scrubs was a living miracle. He took in the slight swell of flesh above the lucky bra cupping her breasts, and his fingers itched to run down the indentation of her waist.


She dropped the pants to the floor. “Come on. Come on, Gabe the Babe. I know all about when you were at university and all the female vamps used to chase you around and gloat if they made time with you.”


“Ahem.” Gabe realized he had his sister to thank for this new conundrum. More than a bit leery, he asked, “What else did Metta tell you?”


“That we’re both kind of like virgins.”


“I beg your pardon?”


BUY LINKS:

wild rose press                  Amazon                                    B&N




REVIEW:

There are plenty of holiday tributes out there - enough to fill a month of Hunky Days and then some.  More often than not, they are pre-established stories that pull in a holiday story arc.  These are like the Christmas presents you have asked for and know you're going to love. However, every once in a Christmas moon a rare and exciting thing happens - the gift that you didn't expect but is absolutely perfect.  Finding R E Mullins was my unexpected Christmas gift this year!

It's a Wonderful Undead Life takes the best concepts and themes of the beloved Frank Capra holiday classic and completely reworks them for a creative and captivating read. Yes Virginia, it is another paranormal vampire series but happily one with truly unique features - it's own mythos and rules and an action packed story that the reader doesn't see coming!

The characters are believable, the dialogue fresh and snappy, the story itself full of twists and turns that make for a great page turner. Cailey as the George Bailey archetype wishing for her own Clarence for clarity tugs at the readers' heartstrings without being too painfully maudlin - she makes the best kind of heroine: strong but not invincible, hopeful depite hopeless circumstances and fiercely loyal to those she loves. Even better, the romance between Cailey and Gabe is fun, unfolds at a pace that has that kind of glowing afterburner kick like a Bailey's spiked cocoa - warm and sweet going down with an extra jolt!

Mullins writing style is highly readable and It's a Wonderful Undead Life is extremely well edited.  Scenes flow seamlessly and the secondary characters - namely the rest of the Blautsauger clan and her best friend Morgan - each have moments of stealing the spotlight, delivering witty banter and providing the kind of charm that makes a reader want more stories from this delightfully created world.

Grab yourself a cup of your favorite holiday cheer, a cozy chair and settle in for a not-too-long winter's read with It's a Wonderful Undead Life!  May it be the surprise gift under your tree this year as well!

Rating: 5 Chocolate dipped strawberries, preferably not on a bridge in the snow!

Happy Hunky Days #9

DAY NINE...Happy Hunky-Days!

Happiest of Holidays from the Guilty Indulgence Book Club. We are pleased to be with you every day and hope you will all join us for our 3rd annual Happy Hunky-days - Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka free books and very yummy eye candy!). All good readers who comment will get a chance to win some really great e-books from our featured authors! Seriously, you can even be quite naughty and still get free books - just remember to register and comment!  

Vanilla-Free Christmas
Evernight Publishing
by Doris O'Connor, Sandra Bunino, Giselle Renarde, Seleste deLaney, Lila Shaw, Vanessa Devereaux, Raven McAllan, R. Brennan, and Jorja Lovett.

This Christmas, the best gifts are waiting for those who have been naughty…

And the toys under the tree are not for children. Sexy Santas, naughty elves, and dominant shifters are ready to spread some very kinky Christmas cheer. It's a good thing the ladies in our stories are looking for anything but vanilla.

Be Warned: ménage sex, anal sex, sex toys, BDSM, spanking

REVIEW:
An Anthology is always difficult to review because it includes a variety of authors with a variety of writing styles. But these ladies made it easy for me. Chock full of naughty elves, sexy holiday role playing and delicious Christmas parties, this anthology does not call for any vanilla extract! And the Santa in these stories are not the rolly-polly type!

The tight theme - Non-Vanilla Christmas Stories - was held to perfection. There was not a boring story in the bunch. All were hotter than hot and though I had a few favorites, each were plot-driven sexy short stories. Adventurous readers could enjoy this book while still getting all their Christmas tasks done or sit and revel in the successful holiday as the children play with their new toys. Though the stories have fetish elements, they are not over-the-top so even those who like just a light kink to their romance will enjoy these stories.

It bears mentioning that this anthology features STAND OUT authors: Doris OConnor (read her Club Ink series!), Lila Shaw (just wishing for a company holiday party like hers!) and Sandra Bunino (one of our site's faves). I also enjoyed reading new-to-me author, Jorja Lovett.

RATING: 
5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries... 
Well, maybe we should make that candy canes in this case... 5 Chocolate-Dipped Candy Canes!

JOIN in the Reindeer Games!

DAY 8 (1/2)...Happy Hunky-Days!

Happiest of Holidays from the Guilty Indulgence Book Club. We are pleased to be with you every day and hope you will all join us for our 3rd annual Happy Hunky-days - Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka free books and very yummy eye candy!). All good readers who comment will get a chance to win some really great e-books from our featured authors! Seriously, you can even be quite naughty and still get free books - just remember to register at the bottom of this post with the rafflecopter and leave a comment!  

THE BOOK FEATURE TODAY IS ACTUALLY A DELICIOUS CHRISTMAS SERIES. The Reindeer Games has six books, each written by a different author but all about Santa's most important helpers... his reindeer. And nobody has anything on these sexy shifters! I've only read Drea Layne's Rudolf & Dancer and Avril Ashton's Dasher but I plan to read more just as soon as I can. The premise is unique and the story lines in both of these books are original, and not at all what one might predict. I'm most intrigued by the epilogue of each which flashes to Mr & Mrs Claus who seem to have their hands in the personal lives of their reindeer.

**To feel fulfilled, I'm recommending you read them all. Otherwise, individually they feel more like an appetizer... I think there's a tie that binds them together through Mr Claus.**

KUDOS to Secret Cravings Publishing for Running Off with these Reindeer Games!

RUDOLF & DANCER, Drea Layne
After years away from home, her brother’s freak accident brings Donna Dancer home to the man who broke her heart. Time hasn’t diminished the lust and love, and emotions can’t be denied. Donna is sick of playing reindeer games with her mate, Paul Rudolf, but there are only so many rejections a girl can take.
It takes a dedicated man to lead the group of reindeer shifters responsible for bringing joy to millions of children, and Paul takes his job very seriously. Women were nothing more than a distraction he doesn’t need, but he now finds himself feeling lonely and hating the job he’s loved for so long. Rejecting Donna was the one decision he regrets more and more with each passing day.
Will this Christmas be as lonely as the rest? Or will Paul and Donna finally find holiday bliss in each others arms.

RATING: 4 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries. The mates clearly have chemistry but the author provides enough conflict in this short story to make it interesting. Readers meet a lot of characters that provide a sense of who Donna and Paul are, adding depth to their characters. Then when they come together (in the woods!), it's majorly hot. And the sweet ending is the whipped cream on top of the strawberries.

Dasher, Avril Ashton
Exotic dancer Monroe Calliste recognizes the reindeer shifter eyeing her with open curiosity as she performs on stage. She remembers too well the one night they allowed themselves free reign over each other’s bodies. But he doesn’t recall their tryst, or maybe pretends not to. Either way, Monroe sets out to give him a refresher course.
Dasher Petrovic has no memory of the coffee-colored temptress insisting they shared more than their bodies at one time. Monroe’s eyes reflect a mutual burn, but she can’t be right. If he’d spent even a second in her bed, he’d know. His ice melts under Monroe’s fire, but the question remains, what happened to his memory?


RATING: 4 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries. The premise of memory loss always worries me since it really has to be done well. But the author pulled it off - once Mr Claus explained his role. The mates have an obvious attraction that is holy-hell-hot but the truth of their relationship as mates long lost is what pulled at my heartstrings. Readers get a short experience with Dash and Monroe and are left wanting more. This book, in particular, struck me as being too short because there were so many things that could've been explored with the couple. Still, it was a delicious read with solid characters and a smooth story line. The book is as sexy on the inside as the cover on the outside.

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