Marked by Emma Hillman

Story: 7.5
Presentation: 9
Total: 16.5
Publisher: Excessica
BDSM, Erotic Contemporary

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Blurb:

The Recruits: Book One

When Faye wakes up after a lust-filled night and finds herself tied to a man she thought belonged to someone else, she realizes there’s a lot more to her friends than she could have ever imagined.

Being Mated to an Immortal isn’t all it’s cracked up to be however. Of course, the sex is hot and just plain amazing, but she needs more from Jake. She just hopes he’ll come to realize this before it’s too late…

Review: Marked was a mixed bag of emotions for me. There were times I was reading that I just loved the places Ms. Hillman was taking me with the story. It’s one of those stories where you sort of feel like a voyeur looking in on someone’s secrets. I could feel the tension, the want to trust, knowing that if Faye made one choice it would surely come with a cost. But then you’re feeling naughty, you want to experience Jake just the way she is because there is something dark, dangerous…and delicious about him. In the beginning of the story, you don’t know that there is anything special about Jake, Chris and Sophia. You know something is brewing, but when the truths about Marked are revealed, you’ll feel much the way Faye does. Confused at first, but then curious and finally to realize, hey, this is a pretty cool situation. But there were moments when the story broke down for me. Faye didn’t seem…well, dumb throughout most of the story. But she has a few less than brilliant moments toward the end that seemed to tackle a plot point without the level of success I usually am blown away by with Emma’s books. The ending made me smile and want to spend a few more pages with them. And finally, the reason we love erotic stories. There is so much sex in this story, so plan to spend your moments with Faye and Jake turned on because the sex—all of the sex—is the yummy, naughty make you sweat kind.

Behind Locked Doors Book 3 by Emma Hillman

Story: 9.5

Presentation: 9

Total: 18.5

Publisher: eXcessica

BDSM, contemporary Erotic Romance

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Blurb: When Thursday comes up with a plan to beat the new girl at her own game, she doesn’t realize nothing will ever be the same.

Oh, it works at first. She spends an amazing weekend with Scary, but what starts as a fun way to get her privileges back ends all too soon. When the other Masters point out that he’s keeping her to himself, that he needs to start following his own rules, Scary does something not a single one of them would have ever expected.

It spins everything out of control, and Thursday is left clinging for her sanity…and his love.

Review: This story was about as close to perfect as I could wish for. I’ve loved this series. I thought it was wonderfully titillating and I would encourage you to read the stories is order as the climatic third installment has greater impact knowing what Thursday and Scary have gone through to be together. The story builds with heart pounding intensity. There is so much risk to reward. Every action has a consequence and reaction. You read the story, devouring the words, knowing that Ms. Hillman is going to stomp all over your emotions, make you hot, make you gasp, make you want to scream and leave the knot of emotion twisting in your belly that tells you that you’ve read a story that is going to stick with you for a long time. I felt as if I were Thursday during the story and having finished the book, I ached a bit because I wasn’t going to have scary around anymore. And damn, but I want a scary for myself. He’s edgy, yet exudes sophistication. He’s powerful but can use such a tender touch you’ll tremble as you read. Okay, so you can probably guess that I now love Ms. Hillman as much as I love her characters because of a couple of bucks she offers such amazing entertainment with her books.

The story reads fast. The words flow with a smoothness that makes the moments that you’re in the story fly by. Her characters are richly described not only their physical descriptions, but you know them intimately. It’s a damn good book and one I will read again.

One Final Attempt by Emma Hillman

Story: 8
Presentation: 9
Total: 17
Publisher: eXcessica
Romance, Rubenesque
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Blurb: Simon said some really hurtful things to his wife, and now she won’t forgive him. She’s even asking for a divorce. A divorce! She won’t talk to him, so he can’t even apologize properly. So, what’s a husband to do?

Reese wakes up the next day to find herself handcuffed to the bed. She has no choice but to listen to him.

Intent on proving to her that he really does love her and her curves, Simon pulls out all the stops. But will it be enough to capture his wife’s heart yet again?

Warnings: This title contains graphic language, light bondage, toy and anal play.

Review: I loved the way Ms. Hillman told Simon and Reese’s story. My problem was is that I didn’t really like the characters. At least not at first. But keep reading because their story only gets better as you read.

Insecurities are beginning to negatively affect their relationship and Simon says a thoughtless comment during a fight which sets into motion a series of events that just might bring them back together.

The story is written in a way that really appealed to me. Deep insight into the characters, flashbacks that gave needed history without holding back the story from moving forward. Sex that you feel right along with the characters. On these points, Ms. Hillman proves again why she’s on my must have list.

One Last Vice by Emma Hillman

Story: 8.5
Presentation: 9
Total: 17.5
Publisher: eXcessica
Erotic contemporary Romance, Rubenesque
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Blurb: Chloe’s boss has gone crazy. She’s been his PA for years and has always known about his wild streak but this beats it all! Now he’s asking her to have sex with him. And why? Because he’s just stopped smoking and he needs to keep busy in order to fight cravings. What the hell, right?

It doesn’t help that she’s been in love with him for years. And as she finds herself unable to say no, she braces herself for the broken heart she’s sure will follow.

What she doesn’t know however is that James has a hidden agenda…


Review: I have to admit, in the beginning I wasn’t feeling the love for James. I found him indulgent and rude. I wanted to smack him. Oh wait I’m reading Emma and yep, her characters will pull real emotions while you’re reading her stories. Chloe surprised me. I think we’ve all been in a place where we do things we normally wouldn’t for love. She’s been in love with James and while he’s asking her for services above and beyond her job description, he’s finally wanting her in the way she’s wanted him. But you also feel her hesitation. To want to give but yet knowing the cost will be too high. About the time I was cheering her for getting strong enough to know she couldn’t give James more, James went off and proved he’s not such a schmuck.

I found the dichotomy in their personalities refreshing. I felt the emotional ups and downs right along with both James and Chloe. Another solid story from Ms. Hillman who has become one of my favorite authors.

Someone Like You by Emma Hillman

Story 8.5

Presentation 8
Total 16.5

Publisher eXcessica

Rubenesque, Contemporary

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Blurb: Nick ‘Apollo’ Hamilton has been in love with his best friend’s wife, Mia, for years. He can’t seem to be able to shake off his obsession, his thoughts always going back to that threesome they shared. It’s only when he meets a waitress named Leah that his life takes a brighter outlook. She could be Mia’s twin, after all. How perfect is that?

Things start to unravel when he asks his new girlfriend to spend the weekend with him. When Leah meets her ‘twin’, it’s clear some truths have been left unsaid.

When things are too good to be true, what do you do? Do you make a go for it, knowing you’d always regret it otherwise? What would you do if you knew the man you craved loved another? Would you fight? Would you forgive? Would you… love?

Review: Someone Like You has everything you expect from an Emma Hillman story. Her characters are flawed, yet find that inner strength to overcome their vulnerabilities. Nick is scrumptious. I loved him in Yes, No Maybe…and Someone Like You reminded me why. But he’s also an ass. Leah is a realist. She believes what she has to offer isn’t good enough for someone like Nick. But there is also something endearing about her. The story will pull at your heart strings, make you want to slap Nick…then turn around and slap Leah. But in the end, they both had tortured themselves enough. Nick has to leave his past and Leah has to make a leap of faith for a future. Love never comes easy and Ms. Hillman brilliantly writes stories that show us characters that aren’t always easy to love, but when the last page is turned, they leave you wanting for more.

A Thin Line by Emma Hillman

Story: 8.5
Presentation: 9
Total: 17.5
Publisher: eXcessica
Contemporary Rubenesque
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Blurb: Kate finds herself locked up in her apartment building’s laundry room. It’s the middle of the night and there’s a man with her. Which would be the great start of a horror movie, except this is real and thankfully the man isn’t that bad. Actually, he’s quite nice. Oh, and hot. He’s a neighbor she’s seen a few times, the playboy with the golden looks. And as they find themselves sitting increasingly closer in an effort not to freeze to death, hands bump into parts of her body that haven’t been touched in years.


It could have stopped at that: one night of pleasure, albeit in a weird location. Except it doesn’t. Even though she knows Jace has another girlfriend, she still opens her door to him every night. He is addictive. And sometimes, he’s even nice. But what happens when the drama finally takes its toll and she bars her door to him?

Review: Ms. Hillman writes sexy prose with humor and heat. Flawed characters that find themselves in naughty situations but make the best of the situation and for me, as I read I’m as turned on as the characters. Well, A Thin Line is no exception. The opening pages were smokin’. I loved Kate and thought Jace sounded like a dream in the dark.

But then Jace becomes a real prick and I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy the rest of the story. Kate tries to be strong and withstand his charms, but he keeps worming his way back into her bed.

Eventually she decides she won’t be used for sex anymore…and that’s when there began to be glimpses of chivalry in Jace. About the time I would have given up on him, he begins to realize what he’ll lose if he loses Kate. But there is risk in having the woman he wants. He might have to give up everything he’s worked hard to build in his career. Or maybe having the woman he loves will give him the confidence to succeed.

Ms. Hillman has a style and flavor to her writing that really appeals to me. The words slip off the page and sink right into my psyche. I feel her story as I read and that’s a gift she brings to her work. I’m a fan and await the next titillating tale.

Behind Locked Doors by Emma Hillman

Story: 9

Presentation: 9

Total: 18

Publisher: eXcessica

Erotic Fiction

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Blurb: She wakes up to find herself locked in a harem. It would have been a great as a dream, except it isn’t. And now she’s stuck with four men, or Masters as they want to be called, and an assortment of other women all but begging to satiate their hungers.

Follow Thursday’s first weeks in the harem as she fights not to get caught up and end up one of these nameless women. She keeps on telling them no but this is their game and they all want to be the first to get the ultimate prize-to make her come.

Warnings: This title contains graphic language, group sex and some f/f elements.

Review: Thank You, Emma! Behind Locked Doors is one of those stories that draws you in and holds you hostage. Hmmm, sort of like the main character, Thursday. Damn, this story was just so deviously fun. 4 Masters, all of which had disturbing yet appealing qualities, twisted into a weirdly unique D/s relationship with Thursday. As a reader if you like BDSM – great, this story has it. Tenderness with control – yep, you get that too. Oh Scary, (who you will fall in love with in Behind Locked Doors 2 – read the review here is just wickedly perfect. Everything in this story was perfectly balanced. Thursday isn’t happy to find herself obligated to a 6 month stay in a harem. She’s signed a contract but maybe she can be just troublesome enough that she’ll be more work than she’s worth. Her stubbornness only serves to spike the interest of the 4 and she becomes a challenge to break. Who can make her come? Blondy, Scary, Freaky, or Shorty? Read the book and find out. You won’t be disappointed.

Behind Locked Doors 2 by Emma Hillman

Story: 8.5

Presentation: 9

Total: 17.5

Publisher: eXcessica

Contemporary Multiple Partner

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Blurb: Thursday has never wanted to be shared but here she is, being passed from one Master to the next as if she is nothing more than a doll, there only to please them. All this because Scary hated not having been the one to break her. The damn man obviously thinks he's a god. Ah, let her laugh! He's just like the other ones, except...except now he's also the only one who seems to take care of her. The only one who manages to make her come, the only one who tries. What's going on? Why is Scary suddenly the man she goes to? And why does no one listen to her when she says she doesn't do women?

Warnings: This title contains graphic language, group sex and elements of lesbian sex.

Review: As a fan of Ms Hillman, I knew I’d get an emotion story to go along with scorching hot sex and well developed characters. This story is no exception. As a reader, I think the book would be better enjoyed had I read the first in the series. I wasn’t immediately captivated by the characters and the setting took a little time to become grounded. However, within a few pages I was swept into the story and had no trouble understanding who the characters were and their connection to Thursday. In the heart of the story, I couldn’t read through the pages fast enough. I simply had to know what was going to happen next. I found myself falling for Scary as easily as Thursday does. Ms. Hillman pens a poignant story and in the end I felt exactly as Thursday. The author gives emotional depth to the story that is so real, it’s not always a pleasant experience. But that was the intended response and one that will stay with me long after the book was finished.

Yes, No, Maybe by Emma Hillman

Story: 9.5

Presentation: 9

Total: 18.5

Publisher: eXcessica

Erotic

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Blurb: What would you do if your husband cornered you one day and asked you to fill out a list asking for your thoughts on every sex act under the sun? Would you think “Fun! I can steal some of these ideas!” or would you get scared that he’s trying to tell you something? That maybe your sex life isn’t spicy enough for him, that he wants more? Soon after Mia McIntyre completes her list and hands it out to her husband, her life gets turned upside down. At first it’s fun. A lot of fun. Their fantasies are suddenly becoming reality and they both get a kick out of it. But when other people start getting involved, things turn complicated. Mia pushes on, intent on pleasing Kevin. She loves him after all and she’d do anything for him…wouldn’t she?
Warnings: This title contains graphic language, ménage, some elements of non-consent and anal sex.

Review: I hardly know what to brag about first. The deeply personal way you get to know the characters, the palpable tension of the plot, the intensity of the sex or the heart-wrenching ache you feel at the points in the story where your emotions are twisted and played with.

Mia is shy, hesitant and questions her sexual appeal in a way I think all women can relate with. She’s married to a totally hot man and worries a thinner more adventurous woman would suit him better. I loved how her insecurities weren’t really brought to light until Kevin pointed them out. While he thinks he’s helping her become sexy and secure with her full figure, he’s actually making her feel inadequate. And still, I loved Kevin and his good intentions. What started out as a bit of fun becomes complicated, emotional and threatens their relationship. There is hot sex including a ménage scene to make you squirm. Oh and expect to fall in love with Nick. He’s as scrumptious as Kevin.

The story is impossible to put down. Each turn of the page took me deeper into their lives. There were moments that I feared for Mia and times I was sure Kevin was going to fail her. But in the end, their love was the strong force and helped them to rediscover what they needed from each other.