Coming Home by Lydia Michaels

Reviewed by Desere



When I started reading this book,  I immediately picked up that this is not the first in which is obviously a series. This of course has always annoyed me , I always want to be sure that I got all the nitty gritty from the first books before I read the next, so yeah off I went on my mission to find out more about the first two.  Sadly I could not trace the first two in print and thus I made due with the little bit of information I could find on the Internet.

Then I was as caught up as I could be , and oh my gosh !!! I could not wait to dig in !!! I was so intrigued and as I started reading I pretty much had my mind already made up that this author is a talent that I wish I had discovered years ago!

Now let me tell you a little about the plot, it tells of Evelyn " Scout" Keats and how her perfect world comes crashing down when she learns that she has been nothing more than a pawn in a game so twisted it will make you sick to your stomach, worse, it's pretty much everyone in her life that has used her for their own gratification. The book takes the reader on the journey of Scout trying to comprehend the cost of her broken heart and learning to know when to take a risk in order to be happy.

Now for the review , this author is one that that knows how to draw out each and every emotion to the extent where I actually felt physically drained, but still wanting more.  The characters went beyond developed I can't fully express what I mean by that, I am battling to find the right wording ( odd I know), I guess best way to say it is  that the characters were more than just just, they were alive and leaping from the pages, as oppose to the usual well developed characters that after wards still feel just like characters from a book, these characters were real to me , very real.

Beautifully written, intriguing, powerful and memorable are just a few of the words I would use to describe this book.  And inspiring , I have come across many powerful , fighting spirited heroines but not quite like this, I wanted to trade places with this one ! I am going to end my review by saying that this is not just a love story , it's about courage , fighting back  and taking risks when there is no hope.

I am off to continue the search for the first two books, I have to know the rest! A define page turner, highly recommended !

5/5 star review
" Coming home, after the long road of sorrow" 

** Copy provided by Penguin Random House South Africa in exchange for a honest review 

Grey by EL James

Reviewed by Desere 

After the hype of 50 Shades everyone knows what the world about Mr Grey and his little Miss Steele and their very out of the ordinary ( but only if you have never so much as thought about just how kinky sex can get) sex life is about, so I doubt that there is need for me to break down the story again. 

So instead I will dive right into Grey itself.  From the first three books it was very clear that the main focus was on Ana and the overwhelming set of new feelings she has to deal with when falling for a off the charts hot rich Mr Grey and is strange sexual desires. 

The books delved into Mr Grey's POV but only just lightly touching the dark subjects rolling around in is mind,. So of course I was over the moon with excitement that the author finally penned down the story from Mr. Grey's side. 

Sadly I was let down very badly indeed. The mind of Mr Grey is dark ,but that is something I already knew from having read the series, the sad part is that I was expecting the author to offer me a good and proper look into his POV.

What I got instead was a truly terrible , misguided, sloppy compiled look into a man that;s mind is not only dark ( no shock) but so messed up that it was completely impossible to believe any of it. 

And the words used by the author to express what exactly Mr Grey is thinking, oh my word, it was so tacky that it was as if I was stuck in a bad porn movie and the only way to get out was to shut the book !

Of course being a professional reviewer shutting the book before the end is not my style and I hung on till the very end. But it's three hours of my life I will never get back. 

The first three books are ones I have recommended , and I still do but this one not so much. It adds nothing to the story and only messes up the entire perception all of us had of Mr Grey. 

Copy provided by Penguin Random House South Africa in exchange for a honest review 

Fifty Shades Freed by EL James

Reviewed by Desere

It's the big finale ! This time around Ana and Christian are Mr and Mrs Grey and the stakes are a whole lot higher than before.

One would think that the final part of the journey would be without a little less uphill but it's everything but. This book is the real full blown roller-coaster ride for Ana and Christian.

More drama , more emotion and  heck of a lot more get's added to the secrets of an already filled to the top secret packed trilogy. Kidnapping, near death experiences and of course the famous butt plug!

Mr Grey is again the rich, mysterious always get's what he craves character he was before and of course still full of kink. As in the first two books he is still the stronger addition to the relationship, and again I will have to add that Ana was still a little under developed, I felt that the author definitely made an effort to bring her into full view but there was still something missing and at the end of the day Ana was still a bit of a mystery character to me.

Ana's patience and persistence for dragging Christian from the dark depth's of the hell we found him to be trapped in the first and second book was neatly done by the author and despite not loving the character of Ana so much ( I mean blaming an accidental pregnancy on your PA, really?!) and at the end of the book I could see just how far Ana had dragged Christian back into the world of reality.

I particularly loved the author bringing in the kidnapping scenario, it made the bond between the characters stronger and definitely took the focus off from the entire " always about sex" element that almost completely overshadowed the entire series.

It also added that exhilarating danger element that no matter the kind of reader you are everyone loves danger it heightens the senses and add's that action packed punch.

I recommend this book for anyone that  absolutely has to know the end to this trilogy but again I warn if you don't like reading about kinky sex, or think that Ana is off her rocker for letting Christian control her in the way that he does ( I will add the author brilliantly let the true meaning of the control eventually shine through) then this read is not for you But if you can look past all the sex hoopla and focus on the actual journey of love however crazy it may be, then this is a read not to be missed.

5/5 star review
" He's found the freedom from the chains , but will he be able to free her? 

** Get a copy now at Penguin Random House South Africa 

Fifty Shades Darker by EL James

Reviewed by Desere



So this is book two from the world wide phenomenon an I must again first off start by saying that it is again like book one filled with lots of kinky sex and some woman will shout out " Why the hell would I let a guy do that to me?" and again with the ever surprising Mr.  Grey being full of kink and making readers go " WTF?". But for me it again came down to it being a journey of love. And the wild sex? Well let's just say each his own, it if keeps the spark in your relationship alive then enjoy!

Now that I have that out of the way let's get down the business.  For those that have read book one , you will know that book one ended rather abruptly  and it was the moment where millions of readers went" Huh? That 's it? Why, why why!!" Of course we all know why, because good books always have cliffhanger ending and of course I could not wait to get back into it, not for the crazy sex because again it works for some but for me not so much.

I was more interested to find out how the romance journey will continue and oh my gosh I was not disappointed. Because this book was so much more than book one, I bawled my eyes out ! During book one I cringed and I had plenty of " Really!?" moments but with this one, I had a box of Kleenex at all times and for the full two days I looked like I had lost my best friend, red puffy eyes and the mask of heartache plastered all over my face.

Of course I am not going to go into detail as to why all the crying because that would honestly ruin the book for anyone interested or brave enough to read it. I know of quite a number of readers that have said they want to read the series but worry about what others will think of them, that of course is their battle and not mine.

Another thing I loved about this book is that this time the author delved deeper into the psyche of the characters, I felt like I got to know the characters far better than in the first book. And of course Mr. Grey's dark secrets are brought to light this time, all I have to say about that is " Shame poor guy!". There was as I mentioned lots of tears but there was also some great " Oh man's that's so awkward !" moments and had me bursting with laughter.

To sum it up in a nice little ribbon tied bow without revealing too  much and spoiling it, I will say this  book is a great addition to the series, it's the tale of a remarkable love story filled with many truths of life that in real life most people hide. Even if you hated book one you have to give this one a try, the author delves deeper and it get's a whole lot and I do mean a whole lot more emotional than book one. But of course if you hated book one due to the kinky sex than this most likely again will not be a book you will love, and there's not much to be done about that, everyone has their own taste.

Special thanks to Penguin Random South Africa for the reviewer's copy.


4.5 star review
" Life is about to get darker than before and Mr. Grey is trapped" 

Fifty Shades of Grey ( Movie Tie In Edition Cover) by E.L. James

Reviewed by Desere

Everyone is currently talking about the movie and yes I definitely going to try and go see it, but of course as they say the book is always better, so naturally I started off with opening the pages before dashing off to the cinema.

What did I find? The so called disgusting behavior of a woman being being seduced and then trapped in world filled by outrageous sexual acts all the while being controlled by a man who clearly has issues?

Yes, some other readers will immediately say " Yes that's exactly what it was about!" But I found the opposite. Yes agreed there are some very outrageous sexual acts in the read that would shock even the most living on the edge readers out there, but at the end of the day it really comes down to , it's no secret !

People we talk with everyday, see everyday or even just every now and then, all have secrets , dirty little secrets! Sure they don't want the whole world to know what's happening under the sheets or behind closed doors and naturally as it should be that right should be respected. But the fact still remains that those secrets and kinky behaviors are out there. Just because an author took the change to put it out there for all the read and now see, does not make it dirty or shocking in any way.

And Ana being controlled by Mr Grey, well I personally do not see this as a major issue as other readers have pointed out in reviews, in my personal opinion if the woman wants to stick around for it let her, it is definitely not the kind of relationship every woman craves but think about it this way, if a man and woman find a magical balance of sexual flair and it makes their love stronger and makes then happy and want to stay together, then why should they be judged.

I of course fully respect other readers views and naturally I would wish for them to respect mine, because again everyone has a right to what they like or don't like , just like Ana and Mr. Grey.

So to end off my review , I will only add this, if you are uncomfortable with reading this type of book, simply put, don't ! And if you read it and find it offense in any way, just don't read anything like it again. It's as simple as that, but all this major huffing and puffing about destroying publishers who have participated or had anything to do with 50/S/O/G or the treats of any other kind, it's pointless because everyone has their own thing and it's called freedom of choice!

4.5 star review

Now Available at Random House Struik 

Dark Alpha by Carole Mortimer

Reviewed by Desere 


Lucien Wynter 

Lucien Wynter is sex on legs, the perfect example of what makes a sensible woman lose all her inhibitions! But he's dangerous and therefore definitely not the kind of man any sensible woman wants or needs to get involved with. Anyone and everyone who gets in contact with him is always at risk.

And it's for that very reason he has been distancing himself from his violent past for the last 15 years. He has built his own honest business empire and has amassed his own private fortune, but he always makes sure to never get emotionally entangled. Like any other man he still has needs and when he wants a woman in his bed, he takes her, to the heights of heaven and then tosses her out the door !

It;s a physical release nothing more, until the beautiful, fiery and elusive Nicky McKenzie steps into his world. He wants her and he will have her, no holds barred. But as the saying goes, " Every man has his weakness", and soon Lucien discovers that Nicky is the one woman he can't forget, if only she wasn't the one woman capable of bringing his violent past to a earth shattering crash. Does he protect the woman he's come to love or does he protect his past?

Nicky McKensie 

Nicky McKensie has to under all circumstances stay unnoticed, hidden from the world it's best for everyone involved. And for the last five years she has managed to do it perfectly. Then she meets Lucien Wynter , cold, heartless, all about use and abuse , rock my world then send me falling from a cliff Lucien , and Nicky loses touch with reality and forgets what she's been running from. Meeting Lucien is either a cruel twist of fate or just life's way of letting her know there's something else she wants but can't have. She wants him every bit as bad as he wants her , and a girl is allowed to indulge and then get the heck out, it's as easy as the multiple orgasms he guarantees she will experience in his arms. But soon Nicky knows she's in too deep, she wants to protect this man against the dangers he's hiding from, but does she offer up her own freedom in order to protect he man she has come to love or get out while she still can?


I have long been a fan of this author's books, of course her other reads are wonderful but not anywhere near as hot as this read. I am taking dirty talk like you've never read before, sex that sets the pages on fire and a mystery with so much dark reality it will leave you in awe of this author's amazing writing skills. In this read the author has proven she can go from sweet and sexy to full blown rock my world in mere seconds.

Both the main characters were simply put, brilliant ! The author let me into their minds with stunning clarity, and created so many emotions pouring from my soul , I cried , I laughed, I felt the fear,m anger, hurt, betrayal and afterwards I was a big old mess of bubble walking around with the various emotions still wreaking havoc on my senses.

I adored Lucien, yes he's a cold, unfeeling , heartless bastard, but with good reason, and it's that very reason , protective instinct, that made me fall for him harder than I have ever fallen for any of this author's characters. And if I had to be Nicky I for darn sure would have also lost all train of thought should Lucien have appeared in front of me. He was written with such intensity that he simply cannot be ignored. I have come across some hero's in reads that have it all happening but there is not really anything there that draws me to them and at the end of the day it's just a nice hero with some dark tendencies and that's where it ends. Not Lucien, he was all that I wanted and more!

 Nicky was a really fabulous character, always trying to push for that ultimate freedom , we regular people take for granted. I admired her determination most of all. I don't think just any author can take a running away from the past and danger heroine and let her determination shine through with utter perfection, the way this author did. It was marvelous and so , so , so thrilling! I adored how the author let her shift from running from danger to running right at it , all in the name of love.

I am taking away a message of life is full of wonder but also danger lurking around every corner. When danger comes knocking it is only natural that you will want to run as fast as you can, but always running will only cause danger to always hunt you. There comes a time to run and a time to stand your ground and fight back even if it causes you to lose it all, in the end your courage is what will set you apart from the rest.

I recommend this read for all fans of action packed, adventure filled romantic suspense reads. Passionate off the charts sex, a mystery better than Sherlock Holmes ever faced and a journey of romance overcoming the dangers of the past . A thrilling , dangerous romance Carole bring us more!

5/5 star review
"  He's hot, sexy ,thrilling dark and dangerous, she's meant to run, right? " 

** Note: If you you prefer your reads with clean language, non too sexy situations and a story more on the down low side ( sweet with just a little spice) of romance this is not the read for you. Instead pick up one of this author's fabulous Harlequin Presents books. 

A Princess Bound by Various Authors

Reviewed by Desere


All little girls love fairy tales, Snowwhite meets her prince charming after being tricked by her wicked stepmother, Sleeping Beauty gets awakened with a magical kiss and meets her savior.

No matter the tale all woman can think back to their childhood and remember the feeling of elation when that happy ending comes. But all little girls grow up and along with stepping in to the grown up world comes real romance.

I have personally always wondered what my favorite fairy tale heroine, Snowwhite was feeling when she met her prince, instant attraction obviously because they do get married in a matter of three pages, but what about all the other emotions associated with love and lust?

And what about it the story teller had added a little twist? Well I wonder no more, because in this read the authors did an amazing job at taking the everyday fairy tales we all love and transformed them all into fairy tale meets the world of erotica, showing not only the real feelings these fairy tale heroines felt but adding in fabulous twits that gave the stories a life of their very own , far from the ones I read as a child.

There was The Seven Ravens by  Ariel Graham , that showed when we fall in love there is so much more to the person we see, a multitude of talents and personalities combine to present the perfect hero of one's heart.

Your wish by L.C. Spoering showed how life can present us with the one we love and even when right in front of us we can still manage to overlook the person.

The Last Duchess by Kristina Wright was a tale of cruelty to a woman and showed when fighting back one can be free and find happiness.

Those are just three of the enthralling reads from this book. Each story was filled with deep dark desires and passion exploding from the pages. If you are not a fan of erotica and prefer to keep your fairy tales wrapped in the perfect little no naughty dreams bubble this read is of course not for you. But if like myself you have ever wondered what if or what about , then this read will lead the way to giving life to all those desires and much more. Spanking, being tied up and bent beyond will, losing control, magic you name it this read had it.

I recommend this read for fans of erotic read that offer up a variety of twists and turns and has something for each kind of fantasy you might be secretively craving.

4 star review
" Princes and Princess come to life like never before" 

A Night to Remember by R.C Matthews

Review by TashNz

4 Stars

Brett and Anna haven't seen each other since College.  Brett was Anna's college crush but he was one of the most popular boys at College and she never took the step to find out if the feeling was mutual.

Rediscovering each other at the New Years Eve charity fundraiser Anna organises every year they discover their feelings are very muchly mutual and they spend the night together, A Night To Remember!  Shame Anna's due to announce her engagement...

One night isn't enough, Brett decides and before he knows it he's pursuing Anna.  All sorts of things get in the way, from politics to Anna's engagement.  From a mayoral race to a lifetime of happiness race.  Despite the life-hurdles Brett and Anna manage to get plenty of chances to make the pages burn and combust (hence my placing in our Adult Delights review site)

I loved the unique beginning, with the dancing and Brett desperately trying to find a way to be on Anna's dance card and I love the unique idea of the ladies dressing as famous women from the past.  I found the regular point of view switch contributed toward the suspense of the story.

A Night to Remember races along while managing to pack so much in at the same time. There were so many emotions covered, I laughed and I cried. Both Anna's and Brett's personal stories are moving. Jorge, Anna's fiancee, is a main side character and his moment in the spotlight is very moving too.

Both Brett and Anna were very likeable people.  Brett quite the lawyer and loves Anna with such a passion.  Anna the charity darling of her town.  She's the constant giver who definitely deserves her second dream in life (Brett being the first).  The story flitted from this place to that place and worked fantastically with the fast pace.  The cover draws you in and is a perfect depiction of the beginning of the story.

Overall I found this to be a read which was very enjoyable, and I'll mention it again, I was amazed how much was packed in.  I cant really elaborate without giving anything away.  A Night to Remember flowed nicely. The swapping of point of views added something extra and I am proud to support a new/indie author.  I was honored to receive a copy of for my personal opinion.

Check out R.C Matthews here and Purchase here <3

                                                                    **********
Reviewed by Desere

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

If you're in the mood to read something super sexy and alluring, this is the read to pick up.

It tells the story of Anna, she has agreed to help out a friend by posing as his fiancee and then later marry him, in return he will give her the greatest gift ever, before her time runs out.

That's the future that lies ahead, or so she thinks. By a wonderful twist of fate she ends up belonging to Brett, her college crush, well her body belongs to him for the night, her heart has always belonged to him, and she is not sure it will ever belong to another.

But she made a deal to help out her friend and she always sees deals through, so one night is all she will take from Brett , a night to remember that is!


But Brett has always wanted Anna and now that he has had her he won't let her go, he will fight till he has her by his side, forever But will Anna be convinced that she can let go and have more than one night to remember in the arms of her ultimate desire?

I really liked this read, both the main characters were fun to read and both had what I like to call the perfect balance of likable and " am going to dent this character's head" , because as much as I loved them both they did drive me to insanity during the read, but of course that is what books are about, they dish out a variety of emotions, torture the readers with little bits of hope and characters not doing what we want them to, and then bang it is all brought to a conclusion we never saw coming. This author did all this and more.

What truly amazed me what how the author managed to pack a story of many twists and turns into 202 pages, usually stories of the same type take up to 500 pages, yes you read it right, 500 pages which as intriguing as it sounds and believe me I don't shy away from long reads, but after around page 300 it usually starts getting on one's nerves, and all you want to do is shout "

Get to the end already do they get happy ever after or not? So I was utterly impressed with this author taking it all and giving me the full satisfaction in just 202 pages, and if you're thinking that because of this you might walk away thinking you missed a scene or a detail, fear not because we get all the gritty nitty deeds needed to form a perfect read.

I can't say more than what I have already said, for if I do I will completely destroy this read, and believe me you want to read this! I will add that the opening line of this read was a really nice attention catcher!

I am taking away a message of , if you fight hard enough you really can have it all, love is the strongest emotion in the world and if you find it, hold on and never let go.

4.5 star review
" He wins her for the night, decides he wants her for life! Let the games begin" 

The V Spot by Wendy S Marcus

Reviewed by Desere

Let's start off my giving you a short description of our heroine in this read. Emma is a curvy, cute and practical nurse, so life is not exactly off the charts hot every day. Now for a little quiz.

It's Emma's 25 th birthday and she wants to spice up her night and unleash her inner naughty nymphette just for the night, does she start with :

a. Chocolate Cake
b. Champagne, and I mean lots of it
c. A blind date set up by her best but very daring friend

She makes selection C, but when he turns out to be the very popular and insanely hot wrestler Brody " The Bull" Bullock what does Emma do?

a. Run for the door
b. Admire his hotness and then run for the door
c. Imagine him naked and her begging him to take her over and over again

She again hits the C spot or rather the V Spot, for this is where they will be meeting and it ain't no regular club, this is where reality stays outside and fantasy comes to life.

Emma is in the for the night of her life, but will be able to go back to being practical Emma again in the morning or will wild and naughty Emma come out to play some more?

This was a short yet very powerful and super hot read. I have always loved this author's writing style but of course seeing a erotic glimpse in her previous books I have always wondered if I would still feel the same way about her writing if she let's loose and hits all the dirty spots.

I can with all honesty say she was unleashed and it totally worked out perfectly! The read was as hot as can be, and with that super special form of sentiment mixed in that made this one heck of a read.

I adored the hero, so sweet, so kind and so in touch with Emma's emotions it brought me to tears and I fell for this man hook, line and sinker. Emma was such an almost too sad character that she broke my heart, I really wanted to somehow tell her that it does not matter what she looks like , it's more important what's on the inside, so of course I was over the moon delighted when the author let the hero bring that message home for Emma.

But if from my above mentioned lines you're thinking this book is a too hot and heavy erotica read with too much sappy romance sentiment you could not be more wrong, this read was the perfect balance of hot and sweet and the perfect escape into a wilder and naughtier side of life.

Oh and before I sign off I 'll wet your appetite by saying, Brody " The Bull" didn't get that name by only being a wrestler,  he has a secret of his own.

4.5 star review

" Forget the G-spot the V is where's it's all happening" 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reviewed by Nas

THE V-SPOT by author Wendy S. Marcus is a Cosmo Red-Hot Read is October 2014 release.

Emma Masters falls in with her friend’s plan to celebrate her birthday by having a wild blind date. She is pissed when her date is late. And more pissed when he turns out to be the over-confident, full of himself professional wrestler, Brody Bullock.

Brody just wanted a chance to show Emma that he was a regular guy apart from the celebrity who visited the children in her ward. Would Emma give him this chance?

THE V-SPOT is a very sexy and sensual read. The reality of being a plus size woman looking for a date and love is shown sensitively. Author Wendy S. Marcus has become a master story-teller and readers would love this story by her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reviewed by TashNz

October  2014 new release by Cosmo Hot Reads by Harlequin.

Good golly Miss Molly.  Is it getting hot in here or is that just summer hitting my part of the world! Turn that fan on because I need an ice tea to cool down after reading this little gem! Cosmo Hot Reads are not called Cosmo Hot Reads for nothing!!!

Plus size Emma, (Nurse by day, newbee-voyer by night) is out celebrating her 25th birthday but not in the usual way, no! She's at the V-Spot - about to embark on a blind date - litterally a blind date due to the masks that all visitors must wear.  The V-Spot is a Voyers Club where couples go and watch other couples.

With her knees already shaking Emma is mortified when handsome, hot and giant 6-pack wrester Brody noisily arrives. Surely he cant be her blind date!  Emma makes a mental note to never let her best friend talk her into anything ever again.  Side-tracked by a medical emergency Emma assists then hightails it out of there. No way does she want Brody knowing it's her.  They see each other during the day enough times when Brody is visiting her hospital, granting wishes for sick kids.

What Emma doesn't know is Brody is haaaawwwt for her *cue fan* and coaxes her out and back into the club.  From there they embark on the path of voyers with sizzling results!

What I liked about this fun, fast paced, attention grabbing hot read was how real Emma is.  She's plus size, not just "curves" but actually plus size.  Emma's size is not shyed away from in the story, it's celebrated by the author and it's worshipped by Brody.  It was written well into the book and i love that modern day authors use genuine and realistic descriptions of their heroes or heroines.  Nowdays you have scarred heroes, disabled heroes and plus size heroines and a truely talented author makes you feel comfortable reading about it and differences enjoyed.

The V Spot by Wendy Marcus is fun, exciting, hot and for me an eye opener . It's the third Cosmo Hot Read I've read and has some pretty phenomenal descriptions.  The characters of Emma and Brody are fun and even though it's of generous novella size there's enough info in there to learn about the characters and what makes them who they are.

I love that Brody was honest and to the point and I think he totally made Emma's experience unforgettable.

If you like a quick read, a read full of spark, a read with two awesome characters (and one naughty best friend) don't go past The V-Spot by Wendy S. Marcus.

P.S LOVE the cover!

Adultery by Paulo Coelho

Reviewed by Desere

Linda knows she's lucky! But not lucky enough to escape opening her eyes every morning to a so-called new day then feeling like closing them again for the rest of the day.

As far as advise from her friends go, they recommend medication, but Linda scratches the idea because she wants to feel more not less.

So what to do? Embark on an adventure as unexpected as it's daring, and which reawakens a side of her that she the very respectable wife, loving mother and ambitious journalist, thought had disappeared? Yes ! That's exactly what she does!

But there is one flaw in this master plan, not even she can predict what will happen next.

This read is a bit of a hit and miss, for some readers who like raw sexual fantasies brought to life this read will do quite nicely as it pretty much tells of Linda,  board with the rich, nice somewhat boring husband, loving mother routine , who goes off and engages in a little fun on the side with a ex boyfriend.

For other readers this might not hit the wild romantic ride spot at all, as the blurb slightly hints it to be. Linda gets her fun on the side but then falls in love with her ex, and then out of love with him again and back in love with her husband and out again and back again with him and back with the ex boyfriend again and out with him again and so on and on it goes.

The read never fully gets to any sort of real romance, but of course as the title suggests this is not really about romance, it's about getting down and dirty with someone other than the one you should be steaming up the sheets with! So of course I expected no real romance but the story of a board woman wanting to add some spice to her marriage by engaging in some extramarital fun, which by the way I do not agree with, just in case you were wanting to know, but it's always good to try every new writer and genre every now and then :)

Now, don't go and take my review to heart, for I am definitely not telling you not to read this book. If you don't mind the who, what and why being thrown back and forth and are more into the details of what happens behind the closed doors , come on now I know some woman out there love that kind of stuff, if nothing else the secrets are the most fun to unravel, then this book will work out beautifully for you and who knows you might even learn something new.

But if you're the kind of reader that craves the real facts and those facts being kept in line at least to the point where you are able to fully understand what the characters are going through then this read is sadly not one I will recommend. However don't despair the read does carry a very powerful message, one that is as plain and simple and as vital as air , when life get's you down, don't always go seeking for something in someone else's arms, you might find more disappointment than thrill, there's always another way, seek it and then use it!

So I would urge one and all to step out from the normal box of your reading comfort zone and read this book, you're bound to find something in here that works for you!

4.5 star review

" One decision leads to a new sort of life, but can she handle it? More importantly is it what she really wanted?" 

**** Now available at Random House Struik 

Taming His Tutor by Natalie Anderson

Reviewed by Desere

Abbi Hayes is the ultimate geek! She 's a computer guru, plays with lego and she's so plain Jane her last boyfriend called her boring and passive in bed. Ouch, right? It would be very ouch for any woman so you can bet your last dollar she's going to do something about it.

First step, is to tell everyone it's all in the name of research for a new app she is designing for her boss. Second step dress the part, not slutty but definitely no more nerdy , just show enough to get attention.

Thirdly and most importantly acquire a suitable target to test out her new found inner vixen abilities. It all sounds like the perfect plan , but sadly for Abbi it all goes wrong when she bumps into the fantasy of her high-school dreams, Joe screw all the girls senseless Fuller. She forgets all the the tips and tricks she researched through hours and hours of articles, get's hot and bothered in less than five minutes and then runs away, not very vixen like!

But Joe is having none of it, Abbi was his ultimate fantasy back in high-school but after her teaching him six math lessons she never looked his way again. This time he's wiser, older and more determined to ensure his dream girl ends up in his bed. Putting two and two together Joe soon discovers the real reason behind Abbi and all the sexy research, and he wants nothing more than to be her tutor. But what will he do when the student becomes the teacher and turns the tables on him, run away like he always does or run after the one person who knows the truth?

If you like your hero's ultra hot, your heroines learning something new about themselves and showing the hero a little something new in life , super hot spicy sex and deep underlining emotion, then this read from the super talented Natalie Anderson is the ultimate in romance reads.

This book was fun and a little bit quirky in the start I mean it's not everyday I find a heroine that builds Lego for fun, then it turned sexy and flirty and just as fast hit a super hot level of sexy, sexy , SEXY!

I loved every single minute of the anticipation between Abbi and Joe, the buildup to the explosive moments of pure raw sex in the most basic and naughtiest of forms there is no way anyone can say this read is boring or that the heroine for that matter is boring.

Joe slowly bit by bit lesson by lesson brings out the real Abbi, the true woman she has always been. The entire read was a roller-coaster of emotions, from hot and sweaty to jealously and anger to sweet sensual romance and super hot off the charts sex.

But if you're thinking this book is all about the sex and just a little bit of romance you could not be more wrong. The author took a two characters and sent them on a journey of self discovery and realization dawning in such a beautiful manner it brought me to tears, not the reaction one would usually expect from a erotic read, yet it happened, but it was no surprise as this author has such an amazing way with words that she manages to have this effect on me with everything she writes, be it YA , a Harlequin Presents or a Harlequin Kiss. She takes me on a deep, satisfying emotional journey each and every single time.

Through the character of Joe, and the idea he has in his head of always taking off and running from hurt the author showed that running never solves anything, it 's better to deal with a situation head on, yes you will most likely get hurt but that 's what life's pain if for, to make us stronger. And when the next time comes around you will be stronger and wiser to deal with it all.

Through the character of Abbi and her very new found ' I can be a vixen' move in life the author showed that sometimes we need to risk a little and learn something new in order to let the real us shine through.

I am taking away a message of life does suck and sometimes it sucks like crazy and all there is left to do is run and start anew or be daring and and take action. The trick of the whole ' my life sucks because I have been dealt a hard blow' is to know which road to take. Will running solve the heartache, will the pain go away? No, of course it won't it will always be there in the back of your mind and living in your dreams at night. But daring to try something new will teach you something about yourself you never knew, it sounds like a dumb idea, and not like something most people will want to try , but it's how you try it that 's the key if you only try it halfway and then give up instead of seeing it all the way through then you'll never get the message.

I highly recommend this read for all fans of erotic romance reads with loads of spice and sexiness and a whole string of fantasies coming to life. An undoubtedly crazy , very sexy , passionate, explosive hot romance has never been this good read!

5/5 star review
" It's all about sex until the sex starts to run much deeper than just a good time" 

The Xandra King Erotic Romance Collection

Reviewed by Desere

I know this author as Susan Stephens one of the very best and certainly most extraordinary Harlequin Presents authors.

And anyone who knows me will know that I am a major big fan of contemporary romance reads and that the Harlequin Presents books are more in line with what I prefer to read, and yes occasionally the odd erotica too. But this read is a historical erotica and am no major big fan of historical reads simply because I don't have the background knowledge of the time periods and the this outfit and that , not that I have never wanted to learn I certainly do, but I have more than one bad experience where the author is giving such an overload of descriptive info into the historical part of the read that I as reader feel lost and like a intruder into the lives of the characters. So instead of wanting to get lost in their world I want to get out as soon as possible!

In this book it was however not the case, the author as I mentioned has created some absolutely brilliant Harlequin Presents reads over the years and has time and time again blown me away with her level of deep emotion and sparkling writing brilliance, take that and add in  a magical setting , which would  to the non historical lover would sound boring , but in actual fact is totally romance perfection, mix in some hotter than the desert sun erotic nights and you get two reads that will blow your mind!

The year of this book is 1527, so of course as I mentioned before I get all uncomfy when I see the historical part but knowing that it is always good to keep any open mind when reading I kept going and I could not have been more delighted, I was so addicted to this read that it was as if I was Celestina and I wanted to remain in the world the author had created. Not once did I feel lost or like I was intruding into a world where I most certainly don't belong.

The first read tells of Celestina and the Sultan, mmmmmm sounds hot right? And it was! In the palace harm Celestina eagerly awaits instructions in the erotic arts in order to learn to please the delicious looking Sultan. She is taught by one of the palace's most gifted instructors and soon her appetite for pleasure becomes insatiable. As her hunger for her instructor grows to new levels so does the fear that soon she will be lose him when she is summoned to the bed of the Sultan. But just like with everything in life nothing and no one is always exactly what it seems at first glance.

In the second read we get to learn all about Celestina and her new life with the Sultan at her side and in her bed and everywhere else for that matter, I did say she has an insatiable sexual appetite, not the mention that the Sultan cannot get enough of her! But being Queen of the Sultan has it's disadvantages too, being married to the land's most fiercest warrior brings her directly into the line of fire. She is tested by her people and her enemies and yes of course by herself, because as we all know when life dishes out the challenges for you to pass a test you learn a lot about yourself and thus start testing yourself in order to see just how far you are able to go. But facing up to the challenge can either destroy her if she let's it or make her a true warrior queen.

A side from both reads being so super magical with settings and historical elements that just made me wish I could climb into this book change my name to Celestina and forget I ever lived in 2014 and instead live the amazingly hot and delicious new adventure Celestina finds herself in, the reads had that perfect emotional meets super hot balance that I have come to love from this author's Harlequin Presents books, of course this being an erotica read it was double the spice and twice as hot!

Both reads had a message that is an old one but a good one, all of us are warrior's of some kind. At first glance it might not look like it to anyone from the outside but on the inside there lives a special kind of person. We might not even know it yet because the challenge as not yet arose to bring the special out. But the fact will always remain that somewhere deep inside ourselves that person is alive and well and ready to come out and fight  in order to walk away from any challenge as a winner, the trick is to not go running when that person is ready to come out. Don' t tell yourself this is not me! I should leave now before I get into deep. Life is trying to unleash the real you, don't ever fight it!

I highly recommend this read for all fans of erotic delights! The book has the perfect balance of sexual hotness to make any reader's toes curl and the right amount of emotion to make you  feel so connected to the characters that just as me you will want to be the characters ! This author is remarkable in every way, whether she writes fun, flirty and emotional Harlequin Presents or hot and sexy erotica's she knows how to capture your attention, keep it all the way and in the end deliver the perfect read into a world of romance escapism!


5/5 star review
" The student becomes the master and emerges into a warrior queen fit for any battle" 

The Dani Collins Erotic Romance Collection by Dani Collins

Reviewed by Desere

I have been a fan of Dani Collins's Harlequin Presents books for a long time. The books are always so realistic, gut punching emotional and very addictive once you start.

But along with the very emotional there has always been this little part of me as reader that has always wished that the author would let her fun side shine through. But of course in a Harlequin Presents book this is not the norm and when you pick up the books you know you are in for a memorable, compelling tear jerker, which of course is just one of the many reasons am so very addicted to them.

Sop when I first was asked to review this author's erotic side of life, I jumped at the chance, as I said I have always wanted to know what the stories would be like that this brilliant author can dream up , like she always does, but with a little bit more of her fun side mixed in with loads of hot spice!

I could not have been more delighted! I am not a very big fan of erotica, as yes it always feels like am meant to be looking over my shoulder and having to see the reaction on people's faces when they start chanting " You're reading a dirty book". It is feeling I hate, yet cannot seem to get rid of, guess it's the 'good girl' in me having a bit of  a battle with the bad one!

Putting that whole matter aside, let's get back to the book ladies. The book contains two super hot and very addictive reads. The first Mastering her role tells of Arianne, she has had it bad for her sexy ass neighbor Jason. But she picks up on a rumor that Jason has a bit of a kinky side, and knowing she badly wants the man  and she is no where near anything but plain old vanilla she knows she will have to pull out the big guns to get his attention. So she asks Jason to introduce her to his Dominic a sexual dominant instructor. And very soon Arianne finds her inner tigress in the arms of Dominic, only something about the man behind the mask seems very familiar.

In the second read Playing the Master we meet timid Ann Parker, Soon she will belong to the very handsome but also very cold Porter Navarro , a marriage practically arranged in hell, because her stepfather insisting on the what is bound to be fiasco of a marriage is as good as a deal with the devil. But then she gets a secret makeover and is presented to her husband to be as Violet. As Violet she is able to get go of all her inhibitions and let the real sexual woman out and into the world of Porter 's dark and exquisite delights, which she simply cannot get enough of. He is the master and all she has to do is go along for the ride, but will her liberation cost her the man who has become her sexual teacher and the one she loves with all her heart?

Both reads do have that special emotional punch associated with the author's Harlequin Presents books, but as I said those don't always feel like the author is unleashing her full fun and spicy side, the spice does make an appearance here and there, but in these erotic reads obviously she let's go and gets down and dirty all the way.

I loved every minute of it, it not only showed the author's fun and kinky side come to life, but let me as reader know that when you take the brilliance of an amazing author, add a dash of her gut punching emotion and combine it with off the wall hotter than hot sex , you get a read like no other, perfect in every way, even for those readers never sure about erotic reads, start with this one you will never look back.

I am taking away a message from both reads, with is a simple yet memorable one, when you are too scared to risk a little something new you will never find out who the real you is that lurks inside!

5/5 star review
" Being submissive does not always mean being controlled, sometimes it comes down to letting go just a little"

Smoking Hot by Lynn Lafleur

Reviewed by Desere

The title says it all SMOKING HOT!! And this read was by far one of the hottest I have ever read. Anyone that knows me knows that I have an obsession with firemen and I have always admired their bravery for putting their lives on the line to safe others.

In this book the author gives us all the wonderful build up to romance before emotions explodes into amazing blazing red hot passion.

All three stories were simply to die for. If you are not into crass words and explicit sex scenes than this book is not for you. But if you like to live a little on the wild side as they say this read will entrance you from the very first words till the very last.

Not wanting to give too much away here and rather wanting to make sure you read all three stories yourself I will say this and nothing more. If you do not go and get a copy of this book you will be missing out on a world of hot and passionate romance meets sweet and sensual romance oh and smoking hot firemen!

Three stunning short reads, perfect for an afternoon escape into passion.

Excellent work Lynn keep them coming!

5/5 star review
" Where there's smoke there's fire or is that desire?" 

Hot Shots by Various Authors

Reviewed by Desere

We all know firemen are hotter than hot. I have always had a very special place in my heart for these men okay, I am lying I've had more than just a special place I have an obsession with them!

There is something so super sexy about how they go into action to save those that are unable to do so, I am not forgetting the female's that also place their own lives on the line, but of course being female myself my attention automatically goes to the boys who go all out to get the flames gone.

In this super, super hot read from three brilliant authors the flames of dangerous fire turns it's focus to flames of desire.

All three reads were blazing hot and yet at the same time had that certain sweetness about them that let me as reader know the focus is not all on the sex and that the characters emotional sides are being explored too.

I was amazed with all three reads, each author has their own unique style of taking the story of a hero and heroine and showing me that these are real men and woman placing their lives on the line but below the armor of bravery are men and woman with emotions of rage, anger, hope, despair and heartache.

I highly recommend this read for all fans of to die for hotter than hot sexier than the sexiest of firemen you have ever seen romance reads!

5/5 star review
" The flames of desire simply don't compare to the fires of destruction"

Gabriel's Redemption by Sylvain Reynard

Reviewed by Desere

If you have not read book one and two then you will be a little lost in this read. It picks up from the ending of book two and once again takes us on the journey of Gabriel and his beloved Julianne.

This time around their relationship face the toughest challenges yet. Julianne's studies get in the way, an old nemesis is out for revenge and Gabriel's discovery about his parents give a whole new meaning to the the words " Look what I found".

As in the first two books the author once again blew me away with her extremely realistic descriptions it really was as if I could imagine myself being a fly on the wall and touch the characters emotions and crawl right into the middle of their relationship.

And for those of you that have been following this series you will be very happy and over the moon much as I was to hear that we finally get to see what was in the note Julia tore up! And oh my gosh it was such a wow moment it took me more than just a few minutes to come back down to earth and settle my emotions!

I adored how Gabriela and Julianne have also reached the point where when a argument pops up they handle it much more like a been together for a long time couple would instead of very new this will never work relationship. It showed just how much these two have grown since the first two books.

There was quite a few "Wow that did not just happen!" moments in this book, some were good oh so VERY good, but others were so frustrating and ticked me off yet at the same time I knew that this author has a way of bringing it all around and letting me fall in love with the story and the characters all over again.

Series wrap up: I highly recommend this for all fans of the blow me away kind of romance reads. Sexy, passionate, every page filled with the WOW factor and so good you will never be the same again. Trust me after read this series you will forever be seeking this author's books.

She has a way of taking the best of romance scenarios and taking them to a whole new so much better than you ever imagined level if will leave you breathless , and yes I'm serious I more than once stopped breathing in this series, the same as a soapie junkie would when their favorite characters suddenly hits a " No you didn't" moment.

Copy provided by Penguin Book South Africa in exchange for a honest review

Get it here 

Forty 2 Days by Georgia Le Carre

Reviewed by Desere

Life could not be more perfect for Lana, she has everything she wants including sexy as sin Blake, but then she makes a crucial  mistake and the only answer she can up with is to run.

She slowly rebuilds her life but it all comes crashing down when Blake suddenly reenters, not only he is furious with her for running away from him,he is out for revenge.

He will prove she still wants him and he is correct and so he has her back in his bed, but soon Lana discovers that he is not the kind and gentle lover he use to be, the sex is rough and hard,  this shocks her to her very core, but even worse she cannot believe how much she enjoys participating.

Only as much as she enjoys it all, she longs for Blake's gentleness and with it no where in sight she is not sure this will ever last and she might just need to run again.

Absolutely stunning book! Loved every minute. It had lots and lots of sex scenes which of course could be expected but the difference was that unlike highly charged mostly focused on sex reads, this book actually had a good story hidden in the lines.

The family secrets made the read even more fascinating and I could not stop from wanting to know just exactly what the heck happened.

A very compelling read, and so well written with not even one single line getting close to boring! It had me on the edge of my seat at all time.

I recommend this read for all fans of reading, the only thing that could possibly turn you off is if you prefer your reads without sex, other than that this read is perfect for all fans!

5/5 star review

" Will she ever feel his real touch again?" 

Scandalous Liaisons by Sylvia Day

Reviewed by Desere

I have never been a major fan of historical reads. It always feels like I'm lost because I don't know anything about the time period being referred to, and I feel that some authors focus on the backdrop settings too much instead of the actual romance aspect happening.

Not the case in this Sylvia Day book. The book includes three simply delicious, scandalous reads, all with the focus on how three men meet their match and go above and beyond to change their lives in order to win the hearts of the woman who entrance them.

The backdrop settings were well described but as I mentioned not to the major overflowing excess that it took all the feeling of romance away. Not once did it feel as if I was lost and not really aware of what was being described as the author really kept the attention on the romance between the characters.

I really loved that the author used the love of a good woman in all three reads to show how strong and overpowering love can be to the extent where a man will alter his entire life simply to be with her.

I highly recommend this book for all Sylvia Day fans. Hot, sweet, sensual, sexy and simply SCANDALOUS!

**If you are not into erotic reads or crude words this read is not for you. But if you do prefer some creative spice and fantasy that will have you wishing you could get a hold of your very own pirate or earl this read will hit all the right notes.

5/5 star review

"Being scandalous has never been this naughty or fun" 

Copy provided by Penguin Books South Africa in exchange for a honest review

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Garbiel's Rapture by Sylvain Reynard

Reviewed by Desere

For anyone that has not yet read book one in this series , please do yourself the favour of making sure you do before getting into book two!

In book one we where introduced to sexy as sin Professor by day and dark mysterious sex master Gabriel, who embarks on a love affair with his graduate student Julia.

In book two the author brings them back from their perfect lovers getaway and lets the real world intrude, threatening to destroy the love and support they have found in each other.

The author as in book one gave it all and I truly to mean it all! Not one single page could be left unturned as the author simply weaved such a fantastic captivating journey for these characters that once again I found myself so entranced I simply lost myself in this read.

Gabriel and Julia's journey was taken to a whole new level and became so intense at one stage I wished I could jump inside the book to help rescue their simply magical relationship.

The first book truly gave me a new look into the word of forgive and let go of the past but in this the second book the author truly spoke to my soul. Simply gorgeous and truly breathtaking!

I highly recommend this book/series for all fans of reading, even if you think this will not interest you trust me when you read that last word you will be begging the author for more!

Bring on book three I beg of you Sylvain!!

5/5 star review
" Desire cannot be denied but can it be survived?" 

*Copy provided by Penguin Books South Africa
Get your's here ! 

Gabriel's Inferno by Sylvain Reynard

Reviewed by Desere

Sexy as sin Professor Garbiel Emerson is a well respected Dante specialist by day, but as we all know lot's of people are one thing by day for when night falls even this 'straight and narrow " Professor goes over to the to dark and wild side.

He uses his good looks and sophisticated charm to have his every will satisfied. Sounds super dark and mysterious right? And you would be right, for he hides a deep secret that slowly eats away at his soul with a believe that redemption is beyond all hope.

Enter the sweet and innocent Julia Mitchell, enrolling as his graduate student and obviously for this reason being off limits makes the burning attraction between them even more irresistible and sends them both on a journey of forbidden love, seduction, passionate nights and redemption.

This book was all surprises for me, the author surprised  me by letting me think this is going to be a slow and boring read, as the first chapters were really more of a laid back romance wanting to start out but not really getting there, however when it actually to to the first date the story really picked up and from there it was all ready, set, go action!

The read focused not only on the love Garbiel and Julia find but also the journey of learning to forgive and find the balance of not only forgiving but being able to put the past aside long enough in order to be able to live life simply by being there for each other.

I laughed, I cried and I simply fell so deeply in love with these  characters that when it ended I was truly sad and so not ready to let go ! The author's intensive manner of writing really blew my mind, she not only dug deed into the soul's of the characters but went one step further by taking us into their mindset and then letting it fade to the background just enough to make you sit up straight and read on, waiting for the moment the issue will be raised again and bring you right back into the action.

As mentioned I was so not ready to let go of G&J and was simply delighted when I found out there is a sequel. More G&J awesomeness.

I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to travel on the journey of love and forgiveness depicted through the eyes of two truly remarkable characters!

5/5 star review
" Playing with fire does not always been you end up getting burned"

**Copy provided by Penguin Books South Africa
Get your copy here!