Review: Leap of Faith by R. Brennan **Mature Content Warning**

 Leap of Faith by R. Brennan


New submissive, Faith Daniels is completely infatuated with her amazing Dominant, Richard Halstead, so when he sends her a summons via text message a full day before they had plans to meet, she can barely contain her excitement. 

But, Richard didn’t just invite her over for a play date. Not this time. He has a proposition for Faith. One that could change the rest of her life.

Let me just start by saying, this short story is a five-alarm fire heat level. If you're looking for sweet and tame romance, just move right along because R. Brennan has brought some serious game with this hot little number. Leap of Faith is part of the "Romance on the Go" line; quick reads that get you where you wanna go, if you know what I mean and I think that you do. Having met Faith and Richard in their previous adventure as a part of the Evernight Publishing Vanilla-Free Christmas Anthology, I was eager to join them for another adventure.

This is a very hot, very naughty BDSM story. Lots of playtime punctuated by touches of tenderness and caring make for one fiery couple. Richard is the firm but caring Dom who saw what Faith had inside of her from the moment they met. He knows what she needs and he knows how to give it to her. Faith is a brave and daring woman, slinking into her new role as a submissive with unabashed passion. Their time together is not wasted on pleasantries and fake smiles; they get right down to the nitty gritty and make the most of their time together.

Leap of Faith is the perfect book read while taking a nice long bath or maybe just before your man gets home. There is no avoiding the effect this book will have on you. This is the kind of erotic romance that's all in, no-hold-barred, dirty fun. I hope there is more to come from these two in the future, as I see lots of series potential. 

Leap of Faith is available at these fine ebook retailers  Evernight Publishing  |  All Romance eBooks  |  Bookstrand  |  Amazon 

  **************DIRTY X-RATED EXCERPT **YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED************

Strong hands grabbed hold of her kneecaps, startling her. Richard jerked her legs apart until she knelt in an exposed V position. His voice arrived close to her ear, sending a chill through her. “When I ask you to kneel for me, this is how you are to do it. I want you to display your desire. Show your need with the pride of a submissive. Do you understand me, Faith?”

Her body ached for his touch. The brush of his hand, the caress of a breast. Anything. She’d even welcome the slap of his paddle if it meant he’d touch her again. “Yes, Sir.” Her voice was little more than a hoarse whisper.

“That’s my girl.” He slid a finger along her wet opening. Half a breath later, she heard his lips smack together, as if he’d just finished eating barbeque ribs. “Sweet nectar.” His hand returned to probe her slit. A finger entered her.

A gasp of pleasure tore from Faith’s throat, contorting into a whimper when he withdrew from her quivering pussy.

He traced a fingertip over her mouth, coating her lips with the evidence of her arousal. 
The carnal scent of her juices surrounded her, pushing Faith toward the mindless black abyss of wanton need. Her nails dug into the flesh of her forearms as she willed herself to resist reaching for him again.

Two fingers forced their way into her mouth. “Taste your desire.” 

Faith sucked them clean, her tongue swirling sensually around each offered digit. 

Richard abruptly withdrew his hand and moved away.

Solitude rushed in to fill the space he left behind, leaving Faith breathless. 

He signaled his return a few pounding heartbeats later with the ‘snap’ of his leash on her collar. “Come, pet,” he commanded.

R. Brennan is a subbie brat with a bitch streak, an IT geek for the state of New York, and reformed gaming addict raising her daughters in the rolling hills of Upstate NY. (You know, where it takes a ten minute drive to buy a gallon of milk, and the smell of cows lingers on the breeze.) The brave are welcome to follow her blog: http://bexbooknook.wordpress.com or stalk her on twitter: @bexbrennan Often sarcastic, blunt, and NSFW, but usually entertaining.

Author Links:

Blog: http://bexbooknook.wordpress.com 

Website: http://rbrennan.weebly.com 

Facebook: http://facebook.com/bexbooknook

Twitter: http://twitter.com/bexbrennan

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/rebelhart69

Review: Need by Stephanie Lawton

Isaac Laroche is cursed. All he wants to do is hide out and feel sorry for himself. Never mind that he got caught sleeping with his seventeen-year-old piano student, or that he abandoned her when the truth was exposed.

Isaac’s feisty high school sweetheart has different plans. Heather Swann has returned to their hometown of Mobile, Alabama, to regroup after breaking up with her troll of a fiancé. She’s restless and looking for a diversion, but she bites off more than she can chew when she sets her sights on rehabilitating Isaac with her unorthodox sexual, mental, and physical plans.

The two quickly reconnect, but their happiness is threatened by family secrets, old vendettas and the death of a beloved father-figure.

Can Heather handle Isaac’s baggage, or will her own come back to haunt them both?

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Let me begin by saying that I kinda thought Isaac could just go ahead and DIAF when Want, the NA companion to Need, ended.  Yet, when I finished Need, I was a fan through and through. 

"But Annabelle, you hate asshole guys masquerading as heroes," you say. I know, I really do, but the author didn't cop out and didn't ask the reader to forgive Isaac for his sins based on hotness alone. Lawton masterfully transforms Isaac Laroche from a childish, self-serving coward into a man who takes responsibility for his actions and stands on his own two feet. With the help of Heather and some of her rather, ahem, unconventional methods, Isaac realizes what he thought he wanted wasn't at all what he needed. 

Lawton handles this character growth with such a deft hand that you don't even realize it's happening until you reach a point where you say, "Damn, this guy has finally figured his shit out." That, my friends, is something rarely seen genre fiction today – especially romance. Even more, this story has a true happy ending, not just throwing the characters together against all odds for the sake of the perfunctory HEA. For me, the emotionally healthy ending is the only true HEA, and Lawton does not disappoint.

I think I actually jumped around my room in joy during certain parts of Need. I find so very few authors who craft with real story arc and character growth. Plus, she uses five-alarm-fire sex scenes to achieve this in realistic and emotionally beneficial ways for her characters. 

Some entry–level BDSM fun, the uncovering of even more social politics and secret lives than you would imagine, and lots of emotional upheaval make for a fantastic debut in the world of erotic romance. 

Grab a copy at any of these retailers

• Inkspell Publishing (paperback and digital)
• Barnes and Noble (paperback and Nook)
• Amazon (paperback and Kindle)
• All Romance eBooks (digital)
• The Book Depository (paperback)
• Kobo (digital)

Sex Toys and Erotic Romance: A match made in heaven

Hi friends, today I've got a guest post for you from Adam & Eve that says everything  I think and more about the pairing of erotic romance and sex toys.  Since my alter ego isn't covering these topics anymore, we're going to have a great time with them here instead. Read and enjoy, I bet you'll find some fun tips! 


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Reading erotic novels is a great way to relax and pass the time, but did you know they also help put you in touch with your sexuality, open you up to new role playing ideas, fetishes, dirty talk and even new toys? It's true! Erotic novels can change your sex life entirely if you use them to their full potential.  While erotic novels can do a lot, I want to focus on how romance novels can open you up to different sex toys.

You can frequently find some of your favorite characters using certain toys with their sexy counterparts, whether it be sex props like rope and blindfolds or even vibrators or anal toys.  Are you currently incorporating sex toys into your bedroom play? No? You definitely should. Using sex toys with yourself or with your partner is a really great way to change things up in the bedroom and a great way to get to know yourself better.  Use a little inspiration from your book and surprise your partner this weekend. Don't know what to get? Don't worry I've got you covered whether you want to use them with your partner or even with yourself.

If you're experimenting with partner, consider getting a few of these toys:

Cock Ring:
A cock ring is a little addition that can make a big difference. A cock ring is worn around shaft and when turned on, can vibrator both you and your partner to orgasm. They are typically made of stretchy silicone and have a vibrating bullet that sits on the top side of the penis. Cock rings are also great for making erections harder and can help the wearer last longer. A cock ring is a great way to introduce sex toys without involving a major toy.

Bondage Kit:
Does your favorite erotic romance involve a little BDSM? If so, recreate some of the scenes with your very own bondage kit. You can pick up separate pieces like a blindfold, hand cuffs, under the bed restraints and a whip or you can buy a prepackaged bondage kit that will most likely contain all of these items along with a few other items. You can find some great beginner's kits and full on extensive kits at Adam and Eve. Find one that matches your needs.

Sex Furniture:
Sex furniture is a piece of furniture designed specifically to have sex on. It have certain curves or edges that help bend you or your partner's body in different postions that wouldn't usually be comfortable on a bed.  These positions are generally designed to allow the woman to achieve direct g-spot stimulation.  A piece of sex furniture can inspire you to be a little more creative and push you to try new things.

Need a toy for a little selfish loving? Check out a few of these tempting toys-- all of which are great for solo and partner play.

Vibrator:
A vibrator is the easiest go to toy, which is probably why it's the best selling sex toy on the market today. Vibrators can come with or without a clitoral stimulator, but I personally recommend getting a vibrator with one that way you have options. Thanks to Sex and the City, the Rabbit vibrator has been the most popular model for the past 14 years.

G Spot Vibrator:
Very similar to the vibrator, a g spot vibrator will help you achieve those ever elusive g spot orgasms. Designed specifically target your g spot, the g spot vibrator is the toy for a woman who knows what she wants. You can also find these with or without clitoral stimulator and just like above, I recommend you get one that has one. These are also a great toy to get if you have never achieved a g spot orgasm or want to learn how to squirt.

Glass Dildo:
A giass dildo is a great option for anyone who likes pleasure and beauty.  Glass dildos are a great choice among the dildo toy family because they are not only beautifully hand blown, but also non-porous, meaning they hold lube well. Glass is also sensitive to temperature, so you can heat up or cool down a toy depending on what you're into.  

Already got your own box of fun? What toy do you whip out when you're getting into a good book?

Author Spotlight: Tiffany Reisz

Today, I have an interview with the amazing Tiffany Reizs for you. We are celebrating the digital release of her book The Siren (in paperback July 2012). Trust me, you do not want to miss this one. This is BDSM done right and done well. Besides being extremely talented, she's also really cool, so don't sleep on this one! Don't worry, I've provided links to get your dirty little self a copy of this delicious book at the end of the interview.

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With a reputation almost as wild as the truth about her, Nora Sutherlin is the most infamous writer in New York.

With black hair, ice blue eyes, and a British accent, Zachary Easton is the sexiest editor in all of publishing…and the stuffiest.

And now they have to work together.

This might not be a good idea…

What was the first romance novel you read? How did that book influence your future as a writer?

I not only remember the first romance novel I ever read, I still have a copy of it. It’s THE SHIEK’S REVENGE by Emma Darcy, a Harlequin Presents. I read and re-read it. The opening scene involves the hot sheik discussing a sexy painting with the heroine. Later I would steal this idea for THE SIREN.

When or how did you decide to write erotica? Did you or do you plan to write in any another genre?

I’m not a huge fan of genre labels. They tend to fence in a writer. But there’s something about the word “erotica” that stirs the blood. It’s the most ancient genre and the most infamous. I love sex and find it fascinating so it’s only natural that’s the genre I gravitated too. I have another book in the works that would be urban fantasy but urban fantasy with my trademark goofiness and eroticism.

We all have pitfalls in our writing process. What is yours and how do you combat it or work around it?

Twitter is an addiction. I’m a social butterfly online. I love to talk and interact with all my cool online friends so it’s hard for me to tear myself away to get real writing done. But then I remember 90% of my followers are following me because of my writing. I don’t want to let them down so I get back to the typing. Sigh…

You’re known for being very open about that fact that you enjoy BDSM. I know many ER authors who shy away from being overtly sexual because they fear how they will be viewed given their profession. As a person who also lives a good portion of her sex life publicly (writing The Bombshell Mommy), I’m intrigued that you decided to cross into the territory of full disclosure. What was it that made you take the leap and “tell all”?

I don’t know where my openness came from. I’ve just never been shy about my personal life. I suppose I don’t think my personal life is interesting enough to keep a secret. To me, being into BDSM is like being gay. It’s simply me. How could I hide that? It breaks my heart that so many women writers feel like they have to hide behind pen names. We’re just perpetuating the cycle of shame and embarrassment. Liking sex should be as neutral as enjoying food. It’s natural, it’s healthy, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. There’s nothing wrong with keeping your private life private or writing under a pen name. But there is something wrong when women writers feel like they have to.

Given the success of Fifty Shades of Grey, what are your thoughts on so-called “BDSM-lite” hitting mainstream American readers?

One person’s BDSM-lite is another person’s hardcore. I’m always happy when any book gets non-readers reading and starts intelligent discourse about formerly taboo subjects. If people now feel safe to read BDSM erotica, that can only help a dirty little writer like me.


Quick Three:
Favorite book: The Keep by Jennifer Egan
Favorite drink: A spiked Shirley Temple
Favorite article of clothing: My Batman shirt as my boyfriend likes it so much. Good memories.

Tiffany Reisz lives in Lexington, Kentucky with her boyfriend (a reformed book reviewer) and two cats (one good, one evil). She graduated with a B.A. in English from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky and is making both her parents and her professors proud by writing BDSM erotica under her real name. She has five piercings, one tattoo, and has been arrested twice. 

When not under arrest, Tiffany enjoys Latin Dance, Latin Men, and Latin Verbs. She dropped out of a conservative southern seminary in order to pursue her dream of becoming a smut peddler. Johnny Depp’s aunt was her fourth grade teacher. Her first full-length novel THE SIREN was inspired by a desire to tie up actor Jason Isaacs (on paper). She hopes someday life will imitate art (in bed). 
If she couldn’t write, she would die.

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A huge thank you to Tiffany Reisz for taking time to be interviewed. For more on Reisz and her books, visit her website or follow her on twitter @tiffanyreisz

Read THE SIREN May 1st on your NOOK or KINDLE.