PnR! PnR! My Kingdom For PnR!! - My Search For Read Worthy Paranormal Romance

Ok...so I haven't written a book review in AGES! Why...because it's been eons since I've read anything that really and truly drew me in enough to want to write about it. For those of you who don't know me, I'm a huge fan or the written word, especially romance, and especially paranormal romance. I can read tons and tons of books which I do, rarely am I not reading something. But here lately I find myself reading purely because of the compulsion to read. When I don't have a book to read, I feel like something is missing in my life. This brings me to my latest quest, the quest to find a great Paranormal Romance!

So this is what I've decided to do, I'm going to give you the most recent ones that I've read, and then I'm going to give you some of my past faves. So let's get to it shall we!

I'm going to start this party off with one of my serious go to's LeTeisha Newton

Fairy Dragmother Collection - LeTeisha Newton

This is a two book collection comprised of the books A Wolf Like Mine, and Howl at The Moon.

Let me start by saying that Sister LeTeisha Newton is constantly on the Kindle rotation! How she's able to crank out some of the singular best romance novels that I've EVER read is beyond me, but she does it! Not only is she a talented writer, she's able to move fluidly from one type of romance genre to another without missing a beat!

My favorite style is her PnR. After all it was through that genre that I first met her. The Fairy Dragmother Collection is no exception.  This book came at the perfect time for me, I had recommended this book for my holiday reading list, but I actually hadn't had time to sit down and give it a read; so glad I found the time.

A Wolf Like Mine

Ayana Morris, with her friends Sean and Fonda, who happened to be the same person, built Morris Communications from the ground up. When famed designer Missy Clove offered them an exclusive job on a privately owned island resort they knew they were making it to the big times. They just didn't know what was in store for them. 

Ethane Hemming, multi-billionaire, recluse, and brothe to Missy Clove took his job as the alpha of the Southern Clan seriously. That for the last three months he had been able to lay with a woman succesfully irritated him to say the least. His mating heat was upon him and his chosen mate, Grace Alder, was on her way to appease his needs. He claimed her irrevocably, only to find the woman in his arms was Ayana Morris. 

Collin found the situation laughable until he caught sight of Fonda. As beta and historian of the clan he was never to have a mate. But something in him wanted the man in front of him, no matter if he was in Drag or not. 

Sean found himself in the middle of a paranormal storm and only he seemed to have the wherewithal to take it on head first. Now all he had to do was make Ayana ready for the ball and she'd have her happily ever after too. A Fairy Drag Mother's work was never done!

Howl at the Moon

Tatiana has been in love with her boss Clyde since the moment she met him three years ago, but when she finally has him, she realizes her fantasies were much better than reality. She’s slipped into friends with benefits mode, and he’s no Prince Charming.

Sleeping with Tatiana has awakened Clyde’s dormant wolf, and now they both have to come to terms with his new side, and the unimaginable desire brewing between them.

It’ll take a Fairy GodMother, and some help from a smart mouthed angel, to make this couple see Happily Ever After!


Note From Me To LeTeisha - Sister Gurl, one of the very first books of yours that I read was a PnR. Just so you know, you set the bar pretty high. I hope that someday you re-visit some of those old friends and continue their stories. You'll always be at the the top of my list. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, your worlds and your family of characters with us! Smooches!

Next on my list is a new writer that helped me in my desperate time of drought. Her name is Destiny Flores. Sister Gurl, thank you for renewing my faith in paranormal writers in the year of 2018. It's good to know that it still lives.

I actually read two books by Destiny that I enjoyed greatly. Let's start with the first one, titled...

Argent

It was a day of joy and sorrow.

A day of laughter and pain.

It was the day the daughter of the Pharaoh of Egypt was brought forth to the world. As her cries filled the palace, everyone gasped with joy.

Then gasped in horror.

The first and only heir to the Egyptian throne was a dark skinned child!

This caused consternation amongst the people of the palace. Both the Pharaoh and his wife were olive-skinned and brown eyed. Their offspring however was cocoa skinned with the most piercing of silver eyes.

'What is the meaning of this?' The Pharaoh roared harshly at the midwives and his exhausted wife. Had his wife been cheating on him? But with whom? There were no dark skinned people in his land. No Moors. But what could explain this inconsistency with nature?

“Answer me woman or I shall rip your tongue from your mouth”.

'My...my Lord, I know not what....I am...'His wife trailed off and moaned. Whether in pain or in horror, she could not differentiate. How had she birthed a child of the Moor? She had never lain with any man other than her husband. But who would believe her? She moaned again.

The Pharaoh clenched his fist and looked round in despair. What was he to do? He knew in his hearts of heart that his wife had not cheated on him but he was feared by all as a ruthless ruler. If he did nothing his people would think him weak. He stared again at his wife who looked down, fear plain on her face. Oh how he loved her. He truly could not cause any harm to fall on a single strand of her hair. Not by him or by anyone else. What he would do was deal with the child instead. They could always have another child. The thought that any other children of theirs might come out looking the same flitted through his mind but he pushed it away. That was a problem he would deal with later.

'Guards! Seize this abomination from the midwives and drown it in the River Nile. It is clearly something of the devil and should be killed instantly.'

The midwife shuddered as well at his words. The eyes of the child had truly been of another world. Maybe the gods, maybe the devil, but of another world she was certain. She looked down at the spot the guard had pointed to regarding the death of the child and tears blurred her eyes. She sat there for a minute crying softly.

Then she heard it. The cries of a baby.

The baby finally floated to the top and blinked once at her. Her eyes had turned back to normal, or as normal as silver eyes could look. The midwife stood there not knowing whether she should pick up the child or run as any sensible person would do. Then the baby smiled beatifically at the midwife and that seemed to determine her fate.

'Angel, demon or magician, you are still a baby. And you deserve to be loved'. With this, the midwife picked the baby up and cuddled her to her skin. She looked round furtively to make sure no one had seen all that had happened then scuttled off in the opposite direction of the palace.

Amour Vampire

They say true love holds the biggest risk, and that black and white are bitter enemies. But to you, darling, you were the biggest mystery, the most unspeakably desirable thing that I was evermore certain. Ah, but see, you were an angel that fell in love with something....something not human. We enjoy the night, the darkness, where we can do things that aren't acceptable in the light. Night is when we slake our thirst. And you must know my darkest secret. Not only my lust, but my profound and retched thirst for you.

Excerpt:

As fingers slowly drifted up her back to her neck, Annabelle sighed slowly to herself. She felt lips following the trail and latching themselves to her shoulder before sucking deeply. This tore a moan from her mouth. She was slowly turned over and felt the same lips kissing slowly, almost lazily to her left breast. She held her breath as they got closer and soon felt a warm tongue lapping at her hard nipple. She gasped and opened her eyes wildly and saw...

Nothing.

Oh God, Belle sobbed silently to herself looking around. 

It was the dream. 

Again. 

The same dream she'd had the day before and two days ago. She touched herself and felt wetness. What was happening to her?

With all of this said, I'm going to leave you with the books that are next on my TBR List! Actually the first is a box set. I've finished the first three in the series and now I'm on to the last. The series is titled The Vampire Prophecies Collection (A Paranormal Romance Collection) by Martha Woods.  I would have to tell you that the series is pretty good so far! I kind of feel like I'm on a roll!

Next Up Minion by L.A. Banks, there are 12 books in the series. An author that I truly admire, Seressia Glass, shared this on Twitter. There was no way that I was going to pass this up!!! This will be my first read from L.A. Banks.

Last but not least, Beast, by Pepper Pace. This one came up after I searched something else on Amazon. Truth be told, this book looks a whole lot better.  I'll definitely let you know!

That's all for now my Bibliophile Friends. Here's to all of the wonderful reading that you can handle!

Much Love, Pandora Esperanza

Bonus Stories, The Death Nell For A Book (My Rant to Romance Publishers)

*I actually started this post quite some time ago, but I wasn't able to finish it then, and I', just getting aback around to it. The thought is just as relevant today as it was then, so I decided to get back into it*

I don't even know where to begin with this post. I am so disgusted right now! For the last 4 days, I've been trying to find a good steamy romance to sink my teeth into, but my search had been a BUST! Usually my Kindle App will do it's shuffle thing and produce a selection that yields at least one book that's appealing. I've stumbled across so many great authors through random searches that never in my wildest dreams would I think that I would come across one the worst books that I've ever tried to read. I try to live by the motto, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." Which is why, I won't publish the name of this particular book. Truth be told, this isn't the first time this has happened to be, this is just the first time that I decided to vent about it.

So here's how it went. I did the Kindle Shuffle, and I see a book that I think looks pretty good, it was free with my Kindle Unlimited subscription, so what the heck. (The cover art was suspect...I should have known!) Anyway, I get the book and start reading...it took me 20 minutes to read the title story just to find out that the 90% of the book was comprised of some of the THE MOST TERRIBLE bonus stories that I have every read! There were like 30 of them!.... If I had paid money for this book, I would have had to call Amazon Customer Service and ask for my money back!


via GIPHY

Part of me gets it. Publishers are trying to take a bunch of really short works and pack them in behind the title story, hoping that if you read them, you'll like them and purchase more stories from the author. This might work if it's one or two novellas tucked in after the main story, but if there's more that that, I guarantee you they're going to SUCK!

I don't begrudge any writer from trying to get their stories published, but DAMN, can publishers please put a warning label on these books and say, "Beware going forward! Reading this book bay cause you to want to slap somebody."



via GIPHY

So publishers, if any of you happen to read this, please for the love of Almighty God stop this practice. We just really, really great reads, long, short, it doesn't matter as long as their good. Thank you for your time.

And thank all of you for listening to my rant. This will be the last one for a while, I promise *fingers crossed behind my back*

Much Love,

Pandora

BBW Romance Is What You GET What You SEE?

Hola to all my beautiful bibliophiles! As of this writing, I'm currently reading a BBW romance and so far so great! With just one draw back, the  cover art would never give away that it was a BBW story. Why is that anyway?

When this random book came up on my suggestions from Kindle. I looked at the title and the cover art and thought, "This looks like a good one!" The cover art is of a beautiful, sexy couple in a passionate embrace.The leading man is a Michael Angelo work come to life and the woman looks like she was created from stardust and desire, of course she's the standard model build. The problem came in when I start reading the story. From the very first description of the leading lady, the reader knows that she's a BBW.

The name of the book shall remain anonymous because I'm really vibing with the story thus far; but I would have never been able to guess from the cover art that this was a BBW romance; the cover art and the story just didn't go together. So why doesn't the cover art reflect what the story's about.

I started thinking back on all the other romance's I've read that were supposed to be from this same genre, and I realized that they all had the same short coming. I'm going to be transparent with you, I myself am an AA/BBW. I'm not going to say that I don't struggle with self image from time to time, more often that I would actually like; however, how cool would it be to see a BBW represented by the cover art on the very genre that bears her name?

Is it that publishers think that BBW don't want to see a realistic representation of themselves on their covers? Well, in my opinion as a BBW I think their wrong! Do publishers even know WHY BBW read this genre? Because they want to read about women finding love that they can identify with.

In a world that's obsessed with the notion that all women should look like they just stepped off the runway of Fashion Week, there are so many women that struggle with seeing themselves as desirable. BBW are strong, beautiful, sensual, and sexual beings. We're not just relegated to being the side-kick BFF.

To all of the authors of BBW romance, please do your demographic a favor, insist that the cover model reflects the leading lady in your book. Hopefully you decided to write this genre because you saw a need. Part of filling that need is making sure that the cover reflects what's inside.

With all that being said, the next time I pick up a story that's supposed to be from the BBW genre I hope and pray that I see a BBW on the cover along with her Cover Hottie Man! Thank you in advance for talking the time to listen to my rant.

Much Love ~

Pandora

Summer's Coming To A Close, But The Hot Reads Keep Coming! Heather Killough-Walden, LaShawn Vasser, and Chevelle Allen

Shout out to all my bibliophiles out there! It's time for me to catch you up on what I've been reading and my picks for I really, really think should be added to the infamous #TBRL. So here we go! Let's start off with some Heather Killough-Walden.

A few days I got the shock of my life! I was sitting on my porch reading my most recent Kindle eBook, and out of the blue the name Heather Killough-Walden came to mind. Heather is the writer of one of my favorite paranormal romance series, the "King Series". I had read up to book 5 and much to my chagrin, what I thought was book 7 was really book 8! I had totally missed several installations on the series and now a new was had just been released. I automatically warmed up my Amazon One Click finger and purchased book 7, 9, 10, and 11. Then it was time to get to work!

I wish I had time to walk you through all of the books that I just read, but that would be a bit much; however I am going to talk about The Nightmare King, book 11 in the series.

First, let me start by saying that if you're a series kinds of reader, then Killough-Walden is an author that you need to keep in serious rotation. One of the things that I enjoy about her series is that each book can be read as a stand alone. The min characters story lines are complete, even though there is a cliff hanger that leads you into the next book in the series. From the first book she tells us that there will be 13 Kings and Queens, but trust me when I say that each story is a fresh look at so many of the types of characters that you may come across is the realm of the paranormal. I'm not going to give away any spoilers, but if the Nightmare King as as Killough-Walden has created Him then bring on the Nightmares!!

Five Stars for Linden Hughes' A Taste Of Lacey

Books, books, and more books! I honestly don't think that a person can have too many books or for that matter, read too much. This leads me to share with you one of the aides in my guilty pleasure, my Kindle "Wish List". There are currently 85 titles waiting in queue (cue). it seems that as fast as I read them I'm adding more on! One day I'll get through the entire list I promise (fingers crossed behind my back).

Anyhoo! One of the titles on my list was a book called Taste of Lacey, by Linden Hughes. I had never heard of her, but the title had come up in a search and the cover looked really, really good! I mean look at it! The picture is actually taken of the two models together, not two separate people photo shopped together. Now please don't get me wrong, photo shop has it's place, and it's produced some killer book covers, but there's nothing like looking at two people that actually are together and look like they're into each other.

I was not disappointed. A Taste of Lacey is a beautiful story of childhood friends turned adult, who suddenly find themselves looking at one another differently. There's plenty steamy Good Good, but there's also enough angst to keep you biting your fingernails wondering if they'll actually get to their happily ever after.

The story of friends turned lovers isn't a new premise, but Linden has given a fresh spin on the idea. You will fall in as much love with Lacey and Ryan as I did. Kudos to you Linden Hughes!

As far as I could tell this is Linden's first work, but I'll be keeping my eyes open for more from her. Do yourself a favor and add this to your Wish List, just don't let it stay on there too long *wink*.

Much Love,

Pandora

Purchase from Loose-Id
Purchase at Amazon.com

Excerpt:

It was over! The fund-raiser dinner for the mayor of Atlanta and five hundred of his closest contributors ended without a drop of tea spilled or a single cold-food complaint. Not bad for a twenty-nine-year-old black female, and she was just getting started. 

The top item on Lacey Bishop’s “things to do before turning thirty” list was to have her own business. A year ago, she’d opened the Seasoned Thymes Catering and given her mother heart palpitations at the same time. “Why, pray tell, would you snub a job at the realty office or at your father’s construction company in favor of menial labor? And why do you always have to go against the grain?” 

Despite her mother’s accusations and loud, headache-inducing objections, Lacey’s parents wrote a fat check, giving the Thymes a much-needed capital injection. Her mother even brokered a deal for Lacey to purchase three adjoining buildings in a growing area for less than a song. After a quick rehab of the neglected properties, the Thymes began operations in the middle unit. Lacey liked to think the investment was a sign of unwavering support, but she knew better. More than likely, the cash was a bandage to minimize the bleed of potential embarrassment to her mother. It wouldn’t do for Lena Bishop’s daughter to operate in a low-rent area and be a “glorified cook.” 

The words--spouted in anger by her mother and later recanted--were forgiven but not forgotten. In fact, they served as Lacey’s motivation to become the caterer to Atlanta’s elite. To date, accomplishments toward her dream could fit on a dime, but tonight’s event and picking up five more contracts hadn’t hurt. Too bad her love life wasn’t coming together as well. A man was the least of her concerns anyway. As soon as she became a catering mogul, she’d put “have a successful relationship” on her to-do list. That would make her mother happy. Maybe. 

A janitorial service had handled the majority of the postevent cleaning, but family and friends also pitched in so Lacey could tie up loose ends and at least try to leave before dawn. As expected, her sister, Lisa, cut out before dessert, but the antics of that drama queen weren’t enough to dampen Lacey’s spirits. 

As soon as Troy, the head chef, finished loading supplies onto the company van, she’d collect the payment, and they could leave. With the exception of a couple of security guards and the mayor’s assistant, everybody else was gone already. Lacey didn’t mind; she needed the solitude to help her absorb the enormity of the night’s event. Even her parents and brother left, but only after Lacey had threatened them with bodily harm. Lacey shook her head and smiled. Oh, the irony. After giving Lacey pure hell for once again being the “family traitor,” her mother frequented the Thymes gigs like a groupie, often dragging her father along. 

Tonight was the gig that counted, though. 

Her savvy marketing skills and an impressive culinary degree had put Lacey’s foot in the door to bid on the contract for the mayor’s dinner; her outright refusal to cut corners had made her a contender. She’d gone up against quite a few experienced, well-established caterers, but their mistake was promising and delivering cheap. Anyone wanting cheap need not look Lacey Bishop’s way--a philosophy she’d embraced long before opening the Thymes. She realized watered-down, tasteless food would do nothing to spark donors’ generosity, which was the main goal. Plus, the seafood gumbo and smoked salmon at the tasting had caused the mayor’s rotund assistant to smack his lips and moan out loud. Thank goodness the mayor’s office chose quantity and quality--and awarded the job to the new kid who happened to be the highest bidder. Now he was about to fork over a pretty penny for a fabulous Thymes experience. Yes. 

Lacey wasn’t normally a very demonstrative person, but a loud, rambunctious scream was close to her vocal chords, rearing like an Olympic sprinter to break free. She’d pulled off an event for the mayor of one of the largest cities in America! Restraining the fist pump also threatening to escape, she calmly headed in search of the mayor’s assistant when the lobby doors swung open. Expecting Mr. Hubbard, she couldn’t hide her surprise when Ryder McKay, or Rye, her brother’s best friend, strolled in. Rye, his parents, and several neighbors from their old subdivision had attended the dinner in support of the Thymes. To say she was humbled would be an understatement. 

“What are you still doing here?” she asked, smiling. 

He gave a lopsided grin and ran his hand over his thick, close-cut blond hair. “I was out back helping Troy arrange your fancy catering apparatuses in the van.” 

“Rye! When I invited you, I had no intention of putting you to work, and not on a dirty job like handling chafing dishes.” It was enough he’d come at all, considering he was constantly on the go with his demanding job. 

“It’s no big deal. I even washed my hands afterward like Emily Ann taught me,” he said, referring to his mother. He held his palms up and wiggled his long fingers for inspection. “Plus I’m your ride home. Let’s go.” 

“Whoa. What?” She frowned so hard her eyes squinted. “Troy’s supposed to be dropping me off.” 

“He was, but that van is packed tighter than a can of sardines. I told him I’d take you.” 

The smile making its way to her lips froze. Hands on her hips, she pinned him with her gaze. “Wait just one darned minute, McKay. Is the top up?” 

His knowing grin put his even white teeth on display. “It is now.” 

“Good,” she said, her mirth not far from the surface. “It’s nice to know you listened the few hundred times I told you no black woman really wants the wind blowing through her hair, especially if she just got it done. I don’t care if you have the biggest and best vehicle ever made. It’s still a convertible.” 

“I think the many times you refused to ride with me over the years were lesson enough,” he said with a wry twist of his full lips. 

She laughed. He was absolutely right. “You know what? I don’t care what Kyle says; you’re all right with me. How’d you manage to get separated from him and a night on the town anyway?” 

Rye lifted one lean shoulder. “I wasn’t up for it after just getting in this afternoon and having to leave again tomorrow. I told him I’d stick around and make sure you were all right, so he let me off the hook.” 

She leaned closer to him, noticing the lines bracketing his mouth and his tired-looking eyes. She felt guilty because instead of resting, he was stuck helping her. “I appreciate it.” 

“Hey, the gumbo alone was worth the trip.” 

“Yeah, yeah, I know. It’s all about the food.” When they’d both still lived at home with their parents, if she was experimenting in the kitchen, he seemed to appear out of nowhere to be a taste tester. She hoped he knew how valuable his input was. 

Mr. Hubbard entered through the double doors with a big grin on his face. “Miss Bishop, everything was wonderful! The service was impeccable, and the food was divine.” 

“Thank you. It was our pleasure.” 

“The balance due on the contract,” he said, handing her an envelope. “The mayor was so pleased he included a nice bonus. You’ll hear from us again for sure.” 

She clutched the envelope and didn’t move an inch until Mr. Hubbard was out of sight. As soon as the doors to the outside of the building closed, she took a quick peek at the check. It had lots of zeroes, and it was made out to her company. Actually, as the company’s operator and sole stockholder, it was hers, but she wouldn’t split hairs. Her hardworking staff deserved much of the credit, and nothing would have been accomplished without them. She’d been paid for a real job not at cost or a freebie to get her name out. Her smile was so wide she was sure her tonsils showed. She started jumping up and down, stilettos and all, shrieking like she’d just won the lottery. Every emotion she’d been holding back came out in full force. 

“We got paid!” 

She grabbed Rye’s neck and planted a loud kiss on his whiskered cheek, but lost her balance on the way down. Instinctively, she circled her arms around his neck and clamped her legs around his waist to keep from falling. Rye’s grip on the fleshiest part of her behind held her in place. 

The first thing she noticed was how solid his body was. His shoulders were packed tighter than granite, and it didn’t stop there. From where her chest melded to his, down to the ominous area around his lean hips, he was chiseled muscle. Like she was touching a steel beam under the Atlanta sun, his heat permeated her very bones. 

Bit by bit, her laughter faltered and then faded away. Her gaze collided with his, and arousal rushed through her. Over the years she and Rye had exchanged friendly hugs or pecks on the cheek, but they’d never been quite this cozy. They fit like a train to a track. 

She looked on, amazed, as his cornflower-blue eyes darkened to a warm indigo. The phenomenon sent electric jolts of desire to her center. Had his mesmerizing orbs always looked like ten layers of cloudless sky? She couldn’t be certain; her brain was scrambled from the sensation of his substantial manhood pressing into her center. Instead of alarming her, the first contact with his erection made her pulse hammer. And her panties wet. 

What? 

Yes, she was on a natural high after the success of the dinner, but surely she wasn’t hallucinating. 

Was she really in Ryder McKay’s arms, and was he really kneading her behind like it belonged to him? At this moment he wasn’t Kyle’s best friend but a tall, hard man she desperately wanted. 

Rye lowered his head, and she allowed her eyes to drift closed. The first touch of his lips against hers was gentle and fleeting, like the brush of a cloud. Her lips parted, and he deepened their connection, flicking his tongue into her mouth to tangle boldly with hers. Damn, he could kiss. And he tasted so good, minty and sweet at the same time. All of a sudden, her breasts grew heavy, and her nipples hardened as if begging for his attention. Her mind struggled to dismantle the reasoning behind her visceral response, but Rye spread her ass cheeks, and all thought ceased. An insistent heat she hadn’t felt in years rushed to her vagina, and she gasped at the pleasurable burn. 

An acute sense of loss took her by surprise when he broke their connection. Excitement replaced disappointment, though, when he nibbled a trail down her neck toward her bosom. The closer he got to her rigid buds, the more they tightened, beckoning him. He answered, pushing her sturdy cotton bra beneath one needy globe and then lowering his head. 

“Rye,” she moaned, almost in a panic. At first she was scared he would suck on her trembling mound. Then she was afraid he wouldn’t. When he did, the need generated by his seesawing jaw was so powerful and wicked it made her pussy throb. 

Oh goodness. She’d referred to her female bits as her pussy, a word she’d always found utterly distasteful. Under the current circumstances, it fit. No nice, genteel expression could describe the plump, dewy flesh Rye had awakened. Tightening her legs around his lean waist, she rotated against his hardness. They were in the middle of a huge dining area at a public convention center where security could come along at any time, but there she was, grinding on him like a nympho. 

“Damn, Lacey. Where the fuck you been hiding all this fire?” Rye whispered roughly. 

In slow increments, she slid down his muscular body to stand on legs that had the fortitude of cotton balls. She was dazed and confused. One minute she was celebrating a major milestone for her company; the next she was on the verge of begging Ryder McKay to make her come. He was her brother’s best friend and their neighbor. When Kyle had broken his leg and couldn’t drive, it was Rye’s job to pick her up from school every afternoon for a month. This man was on her “family” Christmas list and was as familiar with the nooks and crannies of her parents’ home as she was, yet he’d turned her panties into a soaking mess. 

Her behavior was so out of character she didn’t know exactly how to react. Her normal practice was to write everything down, twist it, turn it, and evaluate it before taking the first step. Well, she didn’t feel that way tonight. She wanted Rye. Bad. 

According to her ex-fiancé, she was “a cold bitch with a frozen pussy to match.” She’d believed him because he hadn’t done a thing to thaw her out. But as far as she could tell, her pussy worked just fine, because it was on fire for Rye. 

“I don’t know,” she finally answered. 

“This is what I know: I’m going to take you home, and either I can leave you there and we forget this ever happened, or,” he continued in a hard, menacing tone, “you’re going to invite me in, and we’re going to fuck until neither of us can walk.” 

At the possibility of him filling her with his hardness, she was no longer dazed or confused. She was hot as hell. Lacey Bishop, independent, logical black female, was about to fuck the white boy next door. She’d question her sanity later. 

“Yes,” she whispered. 

Although she was standing much taller than her normal five feet six in her high heels, he bent until his ear was close to her mouth. 

“Yes, what?” 

“Yes, I’m going to invite you in,” she said, her voice firm. 

“For what? I need the words, Lacey.” 

“Ryder Jackson McKay, I want you to take me home so we can fuck until neither of us can walk.” 

She strutted out of the building, check in hand. 

Copyright © Linden Hughes

Dear Romance Publishers, Please Stop Giving Readers The "Okie Doke"

Let me start this post by saying that when I first started blogging years ago, I made a promise to myself that I would do my best to only write on topics that I felt positively about. I never wanted to be the kind of blogger that was always spewing negativity. This has become even more important to me while writing book reviews; however, there's a trend that I I've noticed that I just can't ignore any longer. That would be the issue of false advertising in the interracial romance genre.

I've already discussed in previous articles that I am a HUGE fan of boxed sets. I have found more fantabulous authors and stories that I can shake a stick at through this medium; however, I've also noticed that there is more than a little false advertising with boxed sets.

First lets clarify what I expect from a genre search. When I tune up my trusty Kindle App and type BWWM in the search box I expect that all of the results will fall into this category. I have seen the occasion where BBW will also be included in the sear results and that's cool too as long as the leading ladies in these romances are women of color. Don't get me twisted, I am an equal opportunity steamy romance reader. I discriminate against no one, but, If I'm in the mood for something in particular I expect my search results to be accurate. I have also mentioned in previous articles how much the cover art plays an important role in my book selections. So it would stand to reason that If I do a BWWM search, I expect to see evidence of that on the cover.

So let me get back to this boxed set thing. recently I did a BWWM romance search on my app and a boxed set turned up,  (I'm not going to list the title because I don't want to get sued) any way The cover looked great gorgeous Sista with a serious dark haired hottie. Ok, I make my purchase and start reading....first book...as I go along a red flag goes up, no description of the lead female. There's no mention of her beautiful chocolate, cafe au lait, or even golden skin. Not even a side note about her hazel eyes (I have no idea why most Sista Gurls in romances have hazel or light eyes, they just do). I get to the end of the first book in the set and like I suspected the leading lady WAS NOT a BW, she was a BBW, but not a BW BBW. Ok....so I let that one slide.

So on to the second story. So how does it start? By straight off the top describing the leading lady as a petite, raven haired Caucasian curvy woman. All that's well and good, but that wasn't what I was looking for. At this point I just started paging through the stories realizing that story after story was anything but BWWM romance.

I'll be honest with you, I was straight fed-up! Like I said, this isn't the first time this has happened to me, but the sad part is that this won't be the last.  So for all of you publishers and marketing specialists, please stop giving readers the Okie Doke.

Give readers what they ask for. Tag your publications appropriately. You should want readers to be happy with their choices AND want to read more of the authors whose stories you included in your set.

Much Love,

Pandora

Bravo and Encore for Olivia Gaines, Xyla Turner, and Tiana Laveen's Anthology - The Company

As we just discussed in my last blog post, the foundations of my love with reading lies with PnR. I had just come off the high of reading J.R. Ward's The Story of Son, and I was craving another, well instead of one I got three!

I was hanging out on Twitter, where along with my beloved Kindle App, I come across some killer reads. I saw a Tweet about the anthology, The Company. I saw that Olivia Gaines was one of the authors and I was sold. I trust Olivia's writing so much that I knew if she decided to combine a work with two other writers they HAD to be stellar as well. Needless to say my instincts were spot on.

The company is an combination of three PnR/BWWM works authored by Olivia Gaines, Xyla Turner, and Tiana Laveen,  that can be enjoyed as a stand alone, but are best enjoyed together. Each work has it's own flavor, but the blend together to make a mouth water creation. (Literally mouth watering...OK it was more like panting and drooling. What can I say these ladies know how to write the Good! Good!)

Each work in The Company has just the right amount of dark mystery, romance, unexpected twists and turns, and plenty of hot and steamy stuff. There was only one problem with this anthology...it came to and end. It is my serious hope that these ladies bring other characters from The Company into their own love stories. Are you listening ladies? From my lips to God's ears!

If you're a lover of PnR, then you're going to fall head over heals with The Company. Bravo Ladies and Encore! Encore!

Much Love

Pandora~

The following is an excerpt found on Amazon

Truth is stranger than fiction at The Company. Things get especially exciting when the unknown comes wrapped in the gossamer thread of magic and mayhem. On the other side of this shimmery coin lies Love, the protective cloak that gives all we do meaning and validation. Thus, the world of the supernatural is a prelude and backdrop to romance that unfolds in all its glorious colors.

A woman uses a love potion to attract a man and repel another, yet gets more than she bargained for when the unexpected happens right where she least expects it. A man, both angel and demon, struggles with his identity while danger lurks around the corner and a new, powerful emotion takes over his being, shaking him to the core. An ambitious account executive is thrust in the midst of an old war between vampires and hunters, a kiss has her float in mid-air, and the world she’s always known shatters around her.

Trapped in the Company by Olivia Gaines

It all went wrong. Clarice's plan was to use just a bit of the love potion to attract one man, hoping to repel another, but a twist of fate and poor timing left her trapped in the company with Elliott Marsden for the weekend. Keeping her reputation intact was the least of her concerns; she needed to be extra savvy to survive a night with Elliott

Company Secrets by Xyla Turner

Jessica Cayman is an ambitious Account Executive for Delancey, Inc. She stays in her lane, works hard and has her eyes set on becoming a partner within the next year. The plan is easy until Sage Wesley, III from The Company refuses to work with her.

His aversion to Jessica turns into a kiss that literally has both of them off their feet. Floating in midair? Then a bite on her neck?

There are too many secrets and Jessica soon finds herself in the middle of an old war between vampires and hunters…too many company secrets.

Cruz Control: In Bad Company by Tiana Laveen

Born in Hell’s Kitchen, New York, Cruz Black spent most of his life attempting to escape the stifling, horrifying bonds of his bloodline. Part Angel Child, part Demon Child, his upbringing was built on the opposite side of ‘normal’. But, things change when the notorious King Angel Child of New York, Dr. Saint Aknaten, takes him under his wing. During an investigation into a Los Angeles hate crime case assigned to him by Saint, Cruz finds much more than he bargained for causing the sparks fly in an inferno of attraction when Cruz meets Chef Erika. Like brimstone bricks, the pair fall for each other fast and hard, and the chemistry is unmistakable. Cruz has found his mate, but will Erika stick around once he reveals the true nature of a beast?

P.S. - Author Tiana Laveen also has a series of books that begin with The Naughty Sins of A Saint, that you can also read that tell the stories of some of the major characters in Cruz Control: In Bad Company.

Please Tell Me There's a Sequel!! Chosen by Sienna Mynx

I told you in my last post that Chosen by Sienna Mynx was going to be one of the books that I would be reading over the next few weeks. All I can say is DAMN!! THERE HAS GOT TO BE A SEQUEL!!

First let me start by saying that this isn't the first book written Mynx that I've read. But this is the first book that I've read that seemed to come to its end wrapped in beautiful paper and tied with a matching ribbon as most romance novels do, and then with one sentence, it exploded in my face! I sat there stunned and shocked, mouth agape, and silent. My mind was shouting, "I didn't see that one a commin'!"