Trail of Hearts Kate Richards

Title: Trail of Hearts
Author: Kate Richards
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Trail-Hearts-Night-Stand-ebook/dp/B005RTT596/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328446659&sr=1-1
Reviewer: Brynn
Rating: 4 Stars

Blurb: The promise of an exciting date with the blonde, blue-eyed woman of her dreams has lured Charlotte to sign up with Madame Evangeline’s 1Night Stand at the urging of her friend Julia—a 1Night Stand success story. Expecting a night at a luxurious Castillo resort, Charlotte is aghast when her limo turns in at the Castillo Wagon Wheel…a dude ranch! This is one city woman who is not interested in dusty bunkhouses full of cowboys….

Birdie has landed a job at the Wagon Wheel because it’s the only place she, a cowhand who happens to be a girl, could find work in these hard times. In a moment of loneliness, she fills out the application online for 1Night Stand. The woman who arrives, gorgeous mocha-skinned beauty though she may be, looks too sophisticated to enjoy an evening like Birdie has planned. But it’s too late to change, there’s no going back and she only hopes the sweeping Sierra meadows will help her seduce the woman who catches her heart at first glance.

Review: I have read MANY Decadent's 1NS shorts in the last year, this being the first F/F short, and I have to say... Yowzers! What a fabulous fast paced read. A dude ranch... a ritzy city girl... a hot country girl. Please, I beg of you...can I have some more?

City gal, Charlotte, and country gal Birdie (just love that name) are complete opposites and I love the way Richards hammers out their personalities, builds their relationship and creates a lovable story. I wish this story had been longer. I hated to see it end.

One warning... have a Kleenex nearby. The emotional highs and lows had me wanting to wipe a tear away. Kudos to Richards for making a powerful punch in Trail of Hearts. It takes a master story-teller to weave such a tremendous story and keep my interest and Richards succeeds from the get-go.

Off the Record by Camryn Rhys

Title: Off the Record
Author: Camryn Rhys
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Off-Record-Love-Line-ebook/dp/B0065M6R6I/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328445269&sr=1-1
Reviewer: Dawne
Rating: 3.5

Blurb: Lust strikes as their eyes meet over a basket of overpriced Roquefort...

Surprised to meet chef Kit Parker at the grocery store, Emily goes undercover to Kit's restaurant that very night, only to crave more than her cooking. As a food critic, Emily finds it hard to resist the delectable cuisine or the busty, punky chef who created it.

Kit believes she's met the woman of her dreams, but her new lover is hiding something. When a scathing review hits right before grand opening, all blame points to Emily. Will their relationship fizzle before it sizzles?

Review: What a fun story! Love of food, love of romance and the love of female love! Rhys creates a fabulous tale and relationship building between Emily and Kit.  She captures the perfect female love story, add in some suspense and humor, and I was amused for an afternoon. The level of most F/F erotic novels has sex, more sex and even more sex but Rhys writes and displays of perfectly crafted love story.

This one is definitely a keeper for lovers of F/F and/or lesbian romance. This was my first exposure to Rhys' writing and I love her style, the antics and how she develops the characters individually and together in such a short read.

Encompassed by Em Petrova

Title: Encompassed
Author: Em Petrova
Publisher: Red Sage Publishing
Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Encompassed-ebook/dp/B006GIYGBE/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328443971&sr=1-1
Reviewer: Brynn
Rating: 4 Stars

Blurb: After hundreds of immortal years together, ship captain Dante and Mayan Princess Maria’s union has grown a bit stale. Bonded through a phenomenon known as the Calling, they share a loving and deep relationship. But as they watch their newly bonded immortal friends enjoy the spark that centuries have taken away from them, they seek to find it once more. When immortal Gracie joins their midst, it’s impossible for Dante not to notice her fresh glow. Maria begins to struggle with deeper feelings for her friend, even as her body stirs with want. And Gracie’s pent-up passions are centered upon the two people who are closest to her—Dante and Maria. Journeying to Central America where Dante and Maria’s love story began, the race is on to find true happiness before Gracie is torn from them by the Calling and bound to someone else. Will the compass of Gracie’s heart points her in the right direction?

Review: Keep in mind and take into consideration that I am not a paranormal, futuristic, sci-fi reader... that being said, I have to admit Petrova may just change my preference for sub-genres of romance.

The way she weaves the story of Dante and Maria had me wondering why I haven't read these sub-genres earlier. The dialogue, the connection of characters and the story line all had me wrap up feeling warm, cozy and WOW'ed.  I have read Petrova's work in the past and I have to say, Encompassed surprised me, wetted my menage appetite and... okay, TMI coming here now. Her scenes are vivid and incredibly written.

And just when I thought I had had enough... enter Gracie. Second WOW of the day for me. Keep it up Petrova, you are one hot author (in the writing sense too) and can tell a story so splendidly.

Stripped and Caned by Holly Devereaux

Title: Holly Devereaux
Author: Stripped and Caned
Publisher: Poison Pixie Publishing
Buy Link: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-brutalfantasiesstrippedcaned-594537-144.html
Reviewer: Brynn
Rating: 3.5

Review: Looking for a quick sexy, hot, fill your fantasy kind of a read? Then stop... look no further. Peak into a fantasy world of pussy and the fascinating dreams many women imagine but few care to share.

Devereaux starts the novel with the line "I am a girl who loves cock" - that simple phrase hooked me. Where on Earth could she be going with this F/F book? Well, let me tell you...she went and she came back a fulfilled woman.

It took me a moment to get into the story- discipline and authority rank low on my list but Devereaux had a way of swooping in and pulling me right along with the 'snatch' story. *Read it and you'll understand.*

Devereaux has a mind like no other and can weave a fantasy world that leaves you craving more.

Never Letting Go (Erotic Gems Short) by Suzanne Graham

Title: Never Letting Go
Author: Suzanne Graham
Publisher: Resplendence Publishing
Buy Link: http://tinyurl.com/7buqzea 
Reviewer: Brynn
Rating: 3.5

Review: Can you say powerful punch in only 17 pages? Because I can now after reading Graham's Never Letting Go. The in-depth history of Ree and Leila is perfectly crafted in such a short novel as well as the mutual longing feelings the women share for each other.

Graham builds a believable friendship and connection between the two women, despite the reader not having been in their past to witness it. From the simple first kiss (or experiment) in the ladies' room to the moment of confessed love back at Ree's apartment, Graham brings the reader into the story. I love the fast pace of this book and Graham leaves no stone un-turned in the developing story.

One small spot that I would have liked to have seen/read, was to have had Patrick (Leila's boyfriend) perhaps catch them. I love a little controversy and dilemma in my romance love stories. But, Graham deserves a 'high-five' for this little bedtime story.

Dirty Housewives by Rebecca Leigh

Title: Dirty Housewives  

Author:Rebecca Leigh

Publisher:Ravenous Romance

Buy Link: http://www.ravenousromance.com/lesbian/dirty-housewives.php

Reviewer: Dawne

Rating:  4 Stars

Review: Let's see...Barbara and Sally...and Virginia. WOW! Ms Leigh, you are my F/F and F heroine right now. Think 1950's Housewives Gone Wild! 

This ain't no Leave It To Beaver (no pun intended here) story. Cleaning houses all made up, a pearl necklace (yes, another pun not intended) and coiffed hairstyle- Leigh takes a divorced housewife, an FBI field agent and a woman not afraid of her sexuality and builds a delightful tale of forbidden sex and connection.

The innocence of Barbara Curtis weaved into the authoritativeness personality of SA Sally and the high sexual inhibitions of Virginia had me craving more. The way Leigh tells the story, develops the dialogue and the characters' connections had me spellbound and in love. 

This was my first all girl on girl on girl and I have to say, I hope Leigh plans on writing more. 

Bite With Height by Lucy Felthouse

Title: Bite with Height
Author: Lucy Felthouse
Publisher: Noble Romance
Buy Link: http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/published-works/bite-with-height/

Reviewer: Dawne

Rating: 3.5

Blurb: 

When Meg spots a young woman alone in the Pigalle district of Paris at night, she’s intrigued. She has to know her story and find out why she looks so sad and alone. After introducing herself, Meg realizes that she and Grace have a lot in common. But when they decide to go and grab a drink together, they discover a mutual love that could bond them forever.

Review:

A lesbian vigilante vampire (LVV)? What a unique character and vivacious lust for life (and blood). Felthouse creates Meg, the LVV, in such a way you can't help but root for her. She wants Grace, she wants to rid the world of scumbags plus she lives in the basilica in Paris.

This fun story has me from the beginning. I'm not fond of vampires/paranormal stories but Felthouse had me under her spell from the first sentence. From the dialogue to the easy flow of the story line, Felthouse brings forth a nice love story, basic vampire knowledge (I despise too much glitter, in-depth paranormal jargon and unrealistic thoughts) and focuses on the story line, the character connection and love.

I commend Felthouse for creating the world of LVV, Meg and Grace and their HEA ending. Perfecto!