Category Archives: Samhain Publishing Limited

April 7, 2014 · 11:58 pm

Review: Tough Love by Heidi Cullinan

toughTitle: Tough Love by Heidi Cullinan
Special Delivery Book Three
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd
Genre: Contemporary, M/M, Romance, Red Hots!!, Kink/BDSM
Length: Plus Novel
Book Rating B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Author

Summary:

It takes a strong man to be this fabulous.

Special Delivery, Book 3

Crescencio “Chenco” Ortiz pulled himself up by his garter straps after his father’s will yanked the financial rug from under his spank-me pumps. He doesn’t need anyone, yet when Steve Vance steps into his life, the prospect of having a sexy leather daddy on tap begins to take on a certain appeal.

There’s a hitch when he learns Steve is friends with Mitch Tedsoe—the half-brother Chenco never knew except through his father’s twisted lies. Despite his reservations, soon Chenco is living his dreams, including a performing gig in Vegas. Now if only he could get Steve to see him as more than just a boy in need of saving.

Steve’s attraction to Chenco is overshadowed by too many demons, ones he knows his would-be lover is too young to slay. Yet as he gets to know the bright, determined young man whose drag act redefines fierce, Steve’s inner sadist trembles with need. He begins to realize Chenco’s relentless tough love might be the only thing that will finally set him free.

Product Warnings: This story contains glamorous drag queens, exhibitionist secondary characters, and no-holds-barred BDSM play, including watersports. Readers are advised they may well leave this novel feeling uncharacteristically fierce.

The Review:

Tough Love is another boundary pushing romance in Heidi Cullinan’s wildly popular Special Delivery series. This third installment delves pretty deeply in the sadism side of BDSM as Chenco Ortiz and Steve Vance explore their unexpected attraction. Their intense relationship is more than just physical; there is also a strong emotional connection between these two vulnerable men that heals the wounds from their respective pasts.

On the surface, Chenco and Steve seem an unlikely pairing. Steve is much older, financially secure, sexually experienced and heavily into BDSM, edge play and sadism. Chenco is in his mid twenties, scrabbling to make ends meet and not only has he never considered BDSM, he is very selective when it comes to sexual partners. But Chenco has an immediate response to Steve’s quiet strength and commanding presence. And Steve? He wants to protect Chenco and help him through his current difficulties while the dominant in Steve yearns to explore Chenco’s submissive side.

Both men have troubled pasts to overcome. Chenco’s issues stem from problems with his parents. He failed to live up to his mother’s expectations while his father was a homophobic, abusive jerk who took financial advantage of Chenco. Everyone he has ever cared about has betrayed him in some way and Chenco has a difficult time trusting anyone.

Steve appears to have his life firmly under control and while that is mostly true, he is a mess when it comes to his love life. He has a great deal of unresolved guilt from a failed relationship and his sense of responsibility keeps him tied to someone from his past. As Chenco becomes more confident and self-reliant, Steve’s vulnerabilities and fears threaten to derail their relationship.

The BDSM relationship between Chenco and Steve is fairly hardcore with plenty of kink (I definitely recommend reading the product warning). Steve is firmly in control with Chenco submitting to whatever Steve asks of him. While pain is always a part of their scenes, Steve is always quite gentle with Chenco in the aftermath. This dichotomy in his personality is incredibly fascinating and it is sometimes difficult to reconcile the caring, gentle man with the sadist who gets so much pleasure out of inflicting pain. Chenco is definitely centered by this domination and he flourishes under his care.

The characters from the previous novels in the Special Delivery series are integral to the unfolding story. Mitch Tedsoe is Chenco’s half-brother and their relationship is very rocky in the beginning. Mitch’s husband Sam helps smooth some of the rough spots between the brothers and he also helps Chenco understand some of the intricacies of the BDSM world. Randy is still endearingly blunt and while he sometimes oversteps boundaries, his heart is always in the right place. Ethan and Crabtree are also on hand to lend their assistance and all of the men fully support Chenco as he achieves his dream.

Sexy, smoldering and intense, Tough Love is a wonderful love story but it is also a journey of emotional healing for both protagonists. Heidi Cullinan does not hesitate to venture into forbidden territory as Chenco and Steve fully explore their sometimes taboo desires. The novel’s conclusion is sweetly sentimental and incredibly romantic. A marvelous addition to the Special Delivery series that old and new fans are going to love.

2 Comments

Filed under Contemporary, Heidi Cullinan, Kink/BDSM, Rated B, Red Hots!, Review, Romance, Samhain Publishing Limited, Special Delivery Series, Tough Love

March 3, 2014 · 11:56 pm

Review: Double Blind by Heidi Cullinan

doubleTitle: Double Blind by Heidi Cullinan
Special Delivery Series Book Two
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd
Genre: Contemporary, M/M, Romance, Red Hots!!, Kink/BDSM
Length: Plus Novel
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Author

Summary:

Know when to show your hand…and when to hedge your bets.

Special Delivery, Book 2

Randy Jensen can’t stand to just sit by and watch as a mysterious man throws money away on the roulette wheel, especially since Randy’s got his own bet going as to the reason this guy is making every play like it’s his last day on earth. The man’s dark desperation hits Randy right in the gut. Half of him warns that getting involved is a sucker’s bet, and the other half scrambles for a reason—any reason—to save the man’s soul.

Ethan Ellison has no idea what he’s going to do with himself once his last dollar is gone—until Randy whirls into his life with a heart-stealing smile and a poker player’s gaze that sees too much.

Randy draws Ethan into a series of wagers that leads to a scorching kiss by midnight, but he isn’t the only one with an interest in Ethan’s vulnerability. Soon they’re both taking risks that not only play fast and loose with the law, but with the biggest prize of all: their hearts.

This book has been previously published and has been revised from its original release.
Product Warnings: This story contains high-stakes poker, gangsters with a weakness for kittens, foursomes, and kinky consensual sex.

The Review:

Set amongst the bright lights and sheer decadence of Las Vegas, Heidi Cullinan’s Double Blind is a captivating story of redemption for lead protagonists Randy Jensen and Ethan Ellison. It is also a breathtaking love story that is full of down and dirty sex and surprisingly tender emotions between our two über stoic heroes.

This second installment in the Special Delivery series begins about two years after the first book ends and this time, it is Randy’s turn to find love. Randy is an expert poker player but it is his uncanny ability to read people that is the true secret to his success. Accepting a bet from his friend (and former gangster), Crabtree, Randy approaches Ethan just as he loses the rest of his money on the roulette wheel and when these two make a wager between them, they set off for a little fun, a la Vegas style which of course includes innocent sightseeing, LOTS of booze, gambling and if they’re very lucky, some seriously hot sex.

Ethan is coming off a bad break up that did a real number on him emotionally and financially. With literally nothing left to lose, he accepts Randy’s offer to stay with him while he figures out what he is going to do next. He veers between the highest of highs and lowest of lows, and Randy is unexpectedly good at helping Ethan find middle ground. With Randy’s (unwitting) help, Ethan receives a job offer from Crabtree to help bring Herod’s (the casino where he and Randy met), back from the brink of financial ruin.

Surprisingly enough, Randy is the bigger mess of the two men and he is going to have to get up close and personal with his own demons if their relationship is going to have a chance of surviving. Mitch and Sam come back into his life for an extended period and while their appearance certainly complicates things, they also help Randy get his head on straight on more than one occasion.

The sexual attraction between Ethan and Randy is pretty darn hot right from the start and their first kiss is over the top SEXY. While their sex scenes are undeniably erotic, Double Blind is nowhere near as kinky as Special Delivery. There are a few light scenes with BDSM elements and of course Sam and Mitch are always ready for a little group lovin’, but a lot of their scenes fade to black or take place behind closed doors. But somehow less sex really works in the story and I really felt the emotional connection between all of the characters, not just Ethan and Randy.

Superb location, fascinating characters and super steamy sex scenes make Double Blind an outstanding read. All of the characters grow and mature and become more at peace with their pasts. Heidi Cullinan takes everyone (including the readers) on a bit of an emotional roller coaster but in the end, it is completely worth all of the turmoil.

1 Comment

Filed under Contemporary, Double Blind, Heidi Cullinan, Kink/BDSM, M/M, Rated B, Red Hots!, Review, Romance, Samhain Publishing Limited, Special Delivery Series

February 10, 2014 · 11:58 pm

Review: After the Rain by Daisy Harris

rainTitle: After the Rain by Daisy Harris
Fire and Rain Series Book Two
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd
Genre: Contemporary, M/M, Romance, Red Hots!!
Length: Category/Word Count: 47,000
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Author

Summary:

They’re going to need a bigger tent.

Fire and Rain, Book 2

Henri’s list of bad exes is as long as his arm, but nothing prepared him for his latest, heart-stomping breakup. He thought he couldn’t feel more abandoned, until his ride for a group camping trip bails, leaving him stuck driving for hours with a guy who is absolutely not his type.

After breaking up with his girlfriend of five years, firefighter Logan is working up the nerve to explore his interest in men. He knows he’s gay. He just hasn’t had the guts to do anything about it…until now.

Henri’s big-city attitude and tight jeans push every last one of Logan’s buttons, and when he and Henri have to share a tent, Logan is thrilled. He should have realized Pacific Northwest weather would get wet—forcing them to strip naked.

Though the steam between them is thicker than coastal fog, Henri’s not sure he can let himself fall for another man. Not even the guy who finally treats him right.

Product Warnings: Contains bad ex-boyfriends, even worse weather, and more than your average amount of sex in a tent. May not be suitable for those with germ phobias, outdoor aversions or fear of damp shoes.

The Review:

After the Rain by Daisy Harris is a sweet and sexy romance between a barely out firefighter and a newly single college student. Thrown together during a camping trip, will love flourish despite the obstacles in the their path?

Logan MacDonald and Henri Serre’s reactions to another when they first meet are polar opposites. Logan is instantly attracted to Henri, but Henri makes it pretty clear he has no interest in Logan. Part of Henri’s standoffish attitude stems from a bombshell dropped on him by his cheating ex but the main reason is he completely misjudges Logan at their first meeting. When the two wind up sharing a tent, Henri’s opinion of Logan begins to change but he still has a compelling reason for avoiding intimacy.

Logan and Henri are great characters and although they are complete opposites, they really are a good match for one another. A Texas cowboy who moved to Seattle with his now ex, Logan is young, but his job as a firefighter gives him a lot of maturity. He is sweet, rather shy and innocent but he is very eager to gain some sexual experience now that he is out of the closet.

Barely out of his latest relationship, Henri is a little on the cynical side, which is a bit off-putting initially. He is pretty dismissive of Logan and at first he does not see the appeal of this down to earth cowboy. Before long, Henri begins to appreciate Logan’s physical assets, but it is Logan’s genuine kindness and good nature that really gets Henri’s attention.

The relationship between Logan and Henri is fun to watch and although they have a few misunderstandings, it is fairly angst free. Logan coaxes Henri to step out of his comfort zone and Henri gains a new appreciation for the more physically active lifestyle Logan enjoys. When the relentless rain forces them inside their tent, their sizzling attraction heats up. Although inexperienced, Logan is surprisingly dominant and wherever he leads, Logan is pretty eager to follow and their sex scenes are super steamy.

After the Rain is another delightful romance from Daisy Harris that I really enjoyed. This is the second installment in the Fire and Rain series but it can be read as a standalone (you should definitely read Fire and Ashes because it is a great book too).

5 Comments

Filed under After the Rain, Contemporary, Daisy Harris, Fire and Rain Series, M/M, Rated B, Red Hots!, Review, Romance, Samhain Publishing Limited

February 3, 2014 · 11:55 pm

Review: Texas Fandango by Cynthia D’Alba

fandangoTitle: Texas Fandango by Cynthia D’Alba
Texas Montgomery Mavericks Book Three
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: Novella/106 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Author

Summary:

Two weeks on a beach can deepen more than just their tans.

Texas Montgomery Mavericks, Book 3

KC Montgomery was eleven when she met the love of her life. Of course, seventeen-year-old Drake Gentry didn’t know she existed, but that didn’t stop her girlish fantasies from growing and changing over the years.

Now, after enjoying a front-row seat to his breakup with his latest girlfriend, she’s been handed an all-grown-up fantasy come true—two weeks at the Sand Castle Resort. With him.

Drake most definitely noticed KC a long time ago, but the timing’s never been right. Now that he’s facing a lonely vacation that was supposed to be for two, it seems only natural to accept KC’s offer to fill in. And as far as her terms go… No strings. No expectations. No holds barred. Drake is no fool—he’s all over it.

But once they’re back in Texas there are invisible strings still hanging between them. Strings labeled attraction, affection…even love. And the more they try to untangle the knots, the tighter they’re bound together.

Product Warnings: Beware of sunburns, whirlpool sex and sand in delicate places.

Purchase Links: Samhain * Amazon * B&N * iTunes

The Review:

Cynthia D’Alba’s newest release, Texas Fandango is the perfect escape from the cold wintry weather. The beach setting is particularly welcoming this time of year, but it is the delectably steamy sex scenes between KC Montgomery and Drake Gentry that are guaranteed to make your temperature rise.

There is a long and sometimes complicated past between KC and Drake. Drake is not only one of her cousin’s best friends but he is also her cousin Olivia’s ex-husband. Now that Olivia is happily reunited with the love of her life, she is eager to see Drake find happiness as well. When Drake’s latest relationship ends, KC is quick to seize the opportunity to enjoy a commitment free fling with him but she is secretly hoping this might be the chance for them to form a lasting relationship.

There is definitely chemistry between KC and Drake and even though their past is rather convoluted, I did not have any problem with the two of them as a couple. I liked that KC was able to speak up and convince Drake that she is serious about going with him to resort despite her fear of rejection. Drake has a few initial reservations about accepting her offer, but after taking the time to consider their history, he jumps at the chance to explore his attraction to her.

For the most part, Texas Fandango is fun, flirty and super sexy. The conflict between KC and Drake is self-imposed but they resolve their issues with very little angst. The ending is sweetly romantic and I enjoyed watching KC and Drake find their happily ever after.

Even though Texas Fandango is the third installment in Cynthia D’Alba’s Texas Montgomery Mavericks series, it can be read as a standalone. However, the tantalizing and intriguing glimpses of the other relationships will leave you eager to read the previous books in this marvelous series.

3 Comments

Filed under Contemporary, Cynthia D'Alba, Rated B, Review, Romance, Samhain Publishing Limited, Texas Fandango, Texas Montgomery Mavericks

December 1, 2013 · 11:57 pm

Review: When It’s Right by Jeanette Grey

Title: When It’s Right by Jeanette Grey
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: Novella
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Author

Summary:

He’s the last resolution she intends to break.

Still licking his wounds after a messy breakup, Nate is at loose ends for New Year’s Eve and itching for a wild and crazy adventure to jolt him out of his rut. Now if he could only convince his best friend, Cassie, to break away for an impromptu road trip to Times Square.

Fun as it sounds, Cassie is reluctant to accept Nate’s invitation. Little does he know, she’s made resolutions of her own—resolutions about finally getting over her long-standing crush on him. Telling herself this trip will be the perfect “last hurrah”, she packs her bag.

The trip is a fiasco from the outset. A car that won’t start, a freak storm that strands them on the side of the road, and a long drive with too much time for true confessions. Cassie’s rocks Nate to the core, leaving him wondering if the best thing that ever happened to him has been right in front of him all along.

Product Warnings: Contains two best friends, a secret crush, and a road trip that leads to tow trucks, unexpected hotel-room sharing, epiphanies, sex, and more.

The Review:

In When It’s Right, a road trip becomes turning point for long time friends Nate and Cassie. This marvelous friends to lovers novella by Jeanette Grey is a quick and engrossing read that is sure to delight contemporary romance lovers.

A spontaneous decision to drive from North Carolina to New York City for New Year’s is just what Nate needs to get out of the rut he is experiencing. He convinces his best gal pal and closest confident Cassie to join him and the two are soon off on their journey. Their trip is not exactly smooth sailing and they experience one misadventure after another but it is an unexpected overnight hotel stay that changes the status quo for the couple.

Nate and Cassie’s longstanding friendship makes their transition from friends to lovers believable. Cassie’s feelings for Nate run deeper than friendship but Nate is a little slower to see Cassie as more than a friend. Once he moves her out of the “friend” category, Nate is quickly ready to take their relationship to next level but Cassie warily guards her heart.

A quick and easy read, Jeanette Grey’s When It’s Right has plenty of sizzle as Nate and Cassie explore their feelings for one another. It is a lovely story that has fabulous characters, an enjoyable storyline and a sweetly romantic ending. Definitely a must read for fans of contemporary romances.

1 Comment

Filed under Contemporary, Jeanette Grey, Rated B, Review, Romance, Samhain Publishing Limited, When It's Right

December 22, 2011 · 3:55 am

Enjoying the Show by Marie Harte

Title: Enjoying the Show by Marie Harte
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Red Hots!
Length: Novella
Book Rating: B

Summary:

It’s “Look, but don’t touch.” Until the object of Hailey’s fantasies catches her looking and demands she touch him. Everywhere.

Hailey Jennison is smart, funny and, unfortunately, stacked like a blonde brick house. She’s well aware the impact her looks have on the male gender, and she hates it. Socially awkward, she keeps to a safe, boring routine, meeting friends once a week for dinner, some laughs, and entertainment.

Entertainment comes in the form of a little harmless voyeurism, watching the living, breathing sex god across the quad parade around his apartment half-naked. Hailey watches and yearns, indulging in this weekly fantasy that almost—but not quite—satisfies her every desire.

When Gage catches Hailey in the act of ogling him, he gives her a choice—go out with him, or he’ll call the cops. But he has no intention of calling the law down on every man’s wet dream. For he’s been watching her, as well. And he has plans to fulfill her naughty fantasies.

Product Warnings: this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language, and a man named “Mr. Tool”.

The Review:

Marie Harte’s Enjoying the Show is a deliciously steamy and fun novella with a surprising amount of depth.

Hailey Jennison and Gage Warren are wonderfully flawed characters whose imperfections make them delightfully realistic and extremely likable. Hailey is smart and sexy but full of self-doubts and insecurities. Gage is confident and successful but relationship challenged. Will this couple discover there is more to their newfound relationship than smokin’ hot sex?

Ms. Harte packs a lot of substance Enjoying the Show. Gage’s relationship with his twin brothers and mother is laugh out loud funny and endearing. It also provides a great deal of insight into his character. Equally enjoyable are Hailey’s interactions with her friends.

Enjoying the Show by Marie Harte is an entertaining romance with a charming cast of characters. Gage and Hailey’s romance is sweet and sexy with a few unexpected twists and turns on their way to happily ever after. A quick read that I highly recommend.

2 Comments

Filed under Contemporary, Enjoying the Show, Marie Harte, Rated B, Red Hots!, Romance, Samhain Publishing Limited