Spice It Up by Jennifer Labelle

Story: 7
Presentation: 7
Total: 14
Publisher: Secret Cravings
Erotic Menage
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Blurb: Heidi Taylor has fallen in love with a man who is off limits. He’s her best friend, and she’s afraid to tell him how she really feels. So when she hits a dry spell in her romantic life, Nathan makes it his duty to spice things up for her, shocking her, and making her true feelings known.

Nathan De Costa met the most amazing woman alive three years ago when he placed a roommate wanted ad in the newspaper. He’s secretly loved Heidi for almost two years, and decides to make his move once her love life hits a rough patch. The problem is that his sexual tastes are risqué and he’s not sure that Heidi would be able to keep up. She shocks him by becoming everything he’s ever wanted and more, but it’ll take almost losing her for good before he finally makes her his, permanently.

Review:  I loved the storyline and enjoyed the 3 main characters. My only issue with this book is that since it's so short everything is rushed. The storyline has so much potential to be a full-length novel. That being said, I did enjoy it and would still recommend it. The scenes were hot and I loved the chemistry between Heidi and Nathan. So, if you're like Heidi and have a best friend you'd enjoy doing naughty things to, this is the book for you.

Caskets and Corruption by Cindy A. Christiansen

Story Score:7
Presentation Score: 8
Total: 15
Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing
Contemporary Suspense
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Blurb: All portrait artist Lizzie Cantrell wanted was a change in careers to avoid consoling bereaved families and dealing with death. She didn’t know she’d end up stealing a dead body and a casket full of heroin and running from the drug cartel. She also didn't know she’d end up on the 6 o’clock news wanted for grand theft auto, robbery and assault on a police officer. And to top it off, she must deal with her sister's Chinese Crested, stowaway dog and a stiff-necked funeral director to boot.

Buried away as a funeral director for the past two years because of an accident that left him scarred, Phillip Van Dyke finds himself in a grave situation involving a military drug smuggling operation. Worse yet, his accomplice is a beautiful portrait artist who’s managing to exhume the remains of his deceased heart.

Review: Fun, fresh and exciting, Caskets and Corruptions was a delightful read. It has a great blend of both suspense and comedic elements that keeps the story upbeat and fast paced

The heroine Lizzie, gets caught up in a mess when she storms in to confront her sister's ex boss. I bet she's sorry about that, at least at first, when she comes in at a time things start to get a little strange around there.

Phillip is mysterious, and intriguing, even despite his grumpy personality in the beginning. But his demeanor changes during the book. Throwing him in an adventure with the beautiful Lizzie is bound to do that.

This was a great book to read, and I enjoyed it. I love the witty and great dialogue the author throws in and the plot is filled with excitement, and plenty of twists. If you're a fan of contemporary suspense that has potential to leave a smile on your face, then don't miss this story!

Saved By The Sheriff by Carol Preflatish

Story: 7
Presentation: 6
Total: 13
Publisher: Secret Cravings
Contemporary Romance
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Blurb: New York City writer, Jaime Wilson wants the Assistant Editor job at Real Mystery Magazine. In order to get it, she has to write a kick-ass story, and what could be better than a 30-year old unsolved murder in a small town.
When Jaime visits Royal, Indiana to investigate, she soon finds that someone in the town doesn't want the mystery solved and she becomes a target. After an arrest for trespassing and an attempt on her life, Sheriff Ben Hunter lets her stay at his place where he can keep an eye on her while she continues to work on her story.
She didn't count on falling in love with the sheriff and he didn't think he would have to work so hard to keep her safe. Finally, when she finishes her story, she has to make her choice whether to stay with Ben or go back to New York.

Review: Jaime Wilson is a girl with ambition, desperate to achieve the assistant editor post on her magazine, and therefore goes on a journey to solve the ultimate mystery, in order to prove herself worthy of the job. Travels to a country town in Indiana, where she meets the town’s eligible bachelor, who also just happens to be the sheriff. She finds herself in danger from the people who are trying to stop her solving the mystery, and he saves her. As a result she falls in love with him and drops everything to be with him. Almost from the first page, you know where the story is going, and what is going to happen, so you continue reading to find out what is different.

The difference here is that the author tries hard to build threat and suspense into the novel, which adds interest, and to be honest is what kept me reading, when otherwise I might have given up.  However it is very stereotypical and judgmental of women, and small towns, and I found this uncomfortable. It also jumps very quickly from them being in a normal scene, to the couple ending up in bed together, and this felt forced, as though the author wasn’t quite sure how to build the romance further. Whilst it isn’t erotic content, it is very descriptive about the bedroom scenes, and may go too far for some readers.

It’s easy to read – I finished it in a day, but there are quite a few typos in it which is a real shame.
Would I recommend it – if I knew someone who wanted to read a predictable romantic story, wouldn’t be put off by the descriptive content (I wouldn’t give it to an elderly aunt) and with a little bit of suspense built in, then yes.

Spanking Cupid by Dana Littlejohn

Story: 7.5
Presentation: 8
Total: 15.5
Publisher: Secret Cravings
Contemporary Erotic BDSM
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Blurb: Sabena Darin had the equivalent of a school girl crush on Gavin Brooks, a guy she worked along side of for the last two years. He was volunteered to be the office Cupid and pass out the goodies.

As she walked by his office, Sabena saw him bent over retrieving something that fell to the floor. Her imagination went crazy and she pictured herself slapping his butt with gusto. Gavin caught her eying him and warned her that spanking Cupid had consequences.

Despite his warning and with his permission, Sabena gave into her urge. It wasn’t until later in the day did find out warnings were put in place for a reason.

Review: Not bad.

This was a cute, short, naughty little read with a nice dose of lite BDSM. Office romances are way up there in my book of what I enjoy but it is even better when they work…and this one does. This one is well written and I believed it all. Nice