Category Archives: 5 star reads

5 star reads, Erotic Sex Scenes, Review, SAFE, Science Fiction Romance

The Pulse Between Us – B. K. Brown

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The Pulse Between Us
B. K. Brown

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Debut Author Delivers a Slow-Burn Sci-Fi Romance with a Thrilling, Intimate Core

Blurb:

Across light-years, two strangers are forced into the deepest intimacy imaginable—and hunted for it.

Dr. Mira Tian has built her career on discipline and control. A scientist aboard Aris Station, she has mastered the art of keeping her emotions contained, her focus sharp, and her private longings buried beneath layers of precision.

Rafe Anders has built his exile on silence. Living on the remote mining outpost Sigma-9, he has resigned himself to isolation, convinced that distance is the only way to survive his past mistakes.

But when a violent solar event ripples through deep space, something impossible happens. Through their neural interfaces, Mira and Rafe make contact—mind to mind, thought to thought, feeling to feeling. At first it’s fragile, like a whisper in the dark. Soon it becomes undeniable. Addictive. Irresistible.

For Mira, the connection is the most profound intimacy she has ever known. For Rafe, it is the first chance at redemption. Together they share memories, regrets, and hopes as if they are two halves of the same soul. Yet every moment of closeness leaves traces in the system—traces that the wrong people are trained to find.

Cognixis, the corporation that built their neural technology, sees the bond not as intimacy but as opportunity. To them it is a resource—something to isolate, dissect, and replicate. Under the scrutiny of Camille Thorne, Director of Neurodevelopment, and Vosk, Head of Applied Neurosecurity, Mira and Rafe’s secret lifeline becomes the center of a ruthless corporate campaign. To survive, they must hide their tether, maintain the façade of normality, and outwit a surveillance machine designed to expose them.

But hiding isn’t enough. The deeper the connection runs, the harder it is to conceal. Mira and Rafe are pulled into a high-stakes struggle that tests not just their survival, but the very definition of self, trust, and love. If discovered, they won’t just lose each other—they’ll lose their freedom, their identities, and perhaps even their lives.

The Pulse Between Us is a gripping blend of sci-fi romance and psychological suspense. It explores what it means to be truly known by another person, the risks of radical vulnerability, and the lengths we’ll go to keep the one person who sees us fully.

Perfect for readers searching for:
sci-fi romance adult stories that blend intimacy and suspense
star-crossed lovers romance where connection is both salvation and danger
telepathy romance that explores what happens when two minds—and hearts—collide

If you love star-crossed lovers navigating impossible odds, if you crave sci-fi romance that balances futuristic ideas with raw human intimacy, and if you want a slow-burn bond that feels both dangerous and irresistible, The Pulse Between Us is for you.

In the ink-black void of space, they found each other. But in a universe built on control, love may be the most dangerous anomaly of all.

Set in a corporate-dominated dystopia, The Pulse Between Us delivers one of the most unique sci-fi romance concepts I’ve read in years. While telepathic connections in fiction aren’t new, B.K. Brown takes it to an entirely different level—one that feels intimate, immersive, and emotionally real.

Instead of exchanging thoughts like text messages, Mira and Rafe share physical sensations, involuntary emotions, and even memories. There’s a visceral richness to this portrayal that’s deeply engaging. When Rafe feels the rough scratch of his uniform, Mira instinctively sends back the sensation of her soft lab coat. Their connection quickly evolves beyond intentional messages, and their deepest, most private experiences begin to bleed through.

What happens, his thoughts came slowly, deliberately, when we can’t tell the difference between your sensations and mine?

The question hung between them, unanswerable. Neither spoke the obvious follow-up:

What happens when we can’t tell the difference between you and me?

This slow emotional burn is incredibly well-crafted. There’s vulnerability and fear, but also recognition and trust. One of my favorite moments beautifully captures the raw power of being seen:

He’d stepped into her most vulnerable moment and simply stood beside her, offering neither judgment nor pity. Just recognition.

I see you.

The structure of the book mirrors this deepening connection. It begins with alternating third-person chapters focused on Mira and Rafe individually—standard for romance. But as their bond intensifies, chapter breaks disappear. The POV shifts seamlessly without formal cues, brilliantly illustrating how their minds (and lives) begin to merge. It’s a subtle, masterful storytelling device.

While the sci-fi backdrop is rich and well-developed, the emotional core always stays front and center. When romantic tension finally surfaces, it’s tender and awkward in the most human way—more like best friends tiptoeing toward something more than lust-driven passion. This makes the eventual intimacy feel earned and powerful.

There are broader thematic undercurrents too: corporate surveillance, digital ownership of identity, and the commodification of connection. Mira and Rafe’s fight to stay hidden—when even their thoughts are no longer private—echoes real-world concerns about data privacy and digital autonomy. Their rebellion is quiet but desperate, and it had me rooting for them every step of the way.

Additional Notes:

  • Pacing: Excellent. A fast, immersive read without feeling rushed.
  • Tone: Emotionally grounded with a strong sci-fi framework.
  • Genre Blend: Sci-fi romance with psychological depth and slow-burn tension.
  • POV & Tense: 3rd person close (alternating), past tense.
  • Editing: Very clean. A few small errors were noted and reported to the author.
  • Steam Level: Contains sex scenes, but they’re tastefully blurred rather than explicit.
  • Language: Occasional mild cursing.
  • Tropes: Star-crossed lovers, forced proximity (mental/emotional), neural connection, dystopian surveillance, slow burn.
  • Length: 233 pages
  • Release Date: November 5, 2025
  • Price: $2.99 (Amazon)

Bottom Line:
If you’re craving a sci-fi romance that dares to explore what happens when two people are truly seen—flaws, traumas, desires and all—The Pulse Between Us is a must-read. It’s a love story that is equal parts cerebral and soulful, and it lingers long after the final page.

I loved this book and highly recommend it. It’s SAFE (no cheating, no triangles, no abuse), emotionally satisfying, and delivers a true HEA. I look forward to seeing what B.K. Brown writes next—because I’ll be first in line to read it.

I was given an advanced review copy by the author and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

5 star reads, Alien Romance, Aliens That Look Like Aliens, Erotic Sex Scenes, Review

The Quarry Master: A Grumpy Boss Romantic Comedy – Amanda Milo

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The Quarry Master:
A Grumpy Boss Romantic Comedy
(The Grumpy Heroes Book 1)
Amanda Milo

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Super Cute, Funny, Re-Readable SciFi Romantic Comedy

Blurb:

BASH: I dislike people.
I despise humans.
A cruel mandate from one of my region’s rulers has saddled me with a slew of little alien humans: I’m to put them to work.
One problem?
I run a rock quarry, where humans’ thin skin is a detriment to productivity.
Overseeing these humans is like trying to herd yanaks. If I don’t burn, beat, or strangle them to death by the day’s end, it will be a miracle.

ISLA:I can tell the boss likes me, because I’m not dead. Bash is abrasive and acerbic, like some sort of alien love child between Michael Caine and Miss Hannigan. And maybe Ebenezer Scrooge. Bash is a little… anti-human race.
But he’s not all bad. Sure, he’s a little growly and he sets things on fire when he gets mad, but even villains need a friend. And here? Bash is everybody’s villain.
Everybody’s but mine.

Warning: This book is the slowest of slow burns. It’s a 127K standalone story with the personal puzzle parts not snapping together until the last stretch of the book. If you want to sink your teeth into a romance that hits the fireworks level fast, skip on this one. But if you want a sweet slow burn, then this one might be the book for you. (Especially if you love super grouchy heroes with big horns and bigger attitudes.)

Amanda Milo remains one of my all-time favorite authors! This is extraordinarily funny and cute. It continues and is an off-shoot of the best scifi romantic comedy series I’ve ever read: the Stolen By An Alien series. I loved that we got to see many of the stars from past books here.

Bash is a Rakhii, one of the very alien aliens we first met in Stolen By An Alien. Milo has done a terrific job of galaxy-building, giving the Rakhii a rich culture. I loved the grumpy Bash and the perfectly-imperfect Isla. Isla was born with only one and a half arms and has adapted wonderfully.

As the blurb said, it’s a slow burn. Isla starts off as the only human that Bash can tolerate, mainly because she is a diligent worker. Isla’s attraction to Bash is evident from the start, but she gets friendzoned.

I still do a whole lot of Bash-ogling though, because who would miss this opportunity to ogle his acres of muscle? I know for a fact a whole slew of women do it with me when Bash raises the hem of his shirt to wipe a speck of dust from the corner of his eye.

Rocks clatter to the quarry floor, and there is this giant collective sigh. It sounds like fifty women just had a polite orgasm.

But Bash is a cool friend to have.

He’s like the first cactus plant you ever get to see: you know it’s spiny and prickly and could hurt you, but you’re driven to poke at it anyway.

One of these characters wants to wait until marriage, and it’s not the one you’d think! Which is a great twist.

I do love a good pun! This time based on a pitchfork.

“They were fine until you panicked. Settle yourself—and let’s fork.”

A chuckling cough has me glancing to the Rakhii leaning against the kiln’s doorway. He folds his arms over his chest and sends me a shit-eating grin. “Sorry. That word still sounded like something else to me.”

Bash’s hand tightens on my thigh before he lets me go with a grunted, “Isla. Chatter.”

I start talking. And we fork. We fork for a long time. There’s a lot of vines.

Now Isla says herself that if she were willingly abducted, chained to a bed, and put into a chastity belt on Earth, she’d have the man responsible for this arrested and herself in therapy. But this is an alien world with an alien culture and Isla is very much aware of the cultural meanings of these things there. They very much equal the committed relationship she desperately wants! So if you can’t see beyond these things, this is not the novel for you! Some reviewers have complained that Bash is abusive, and he would be considered as such here on Earth! But context is everything. If Isla is happy about it, I’m happy for her. I’m a fan of “dark romance”, so these things don’t bother me, especially in this context. Bash is very vocal about hating humans, but it’s really the Gryfalla that he hates because one broke his heart. Humans can be mistaken for Gryfalla, so this hate gets transferred. But we learn that Bash actually has a gooy soft center and a heart of gold.

I can’t recommend this enough. These will always be re-readables for me!

Contains graphic sex scenes, really only one.

Occasional foul language.

1st person present tense from Bash and Isla.

Errors: 1 comma that should be a period. Amazing!

452 Pages

$3.99 at Amazon and part of Kindle Unlimited.

5 star reads, Contemporary Romance, Erotic Sex Scenes, Review, SAFE

Beginning of the End AND End of Story – Kylie Scott

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Beginning of the End, the prequel,
and End of Story
Kylie Scott

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Hilarious contemporary romantic comedy with a cat!

Blurb for Beginning of the End:

When her boyfriend announces he’s accepted a yearlong contract in London, Susie’s relieved that Aaron suggests a long-distance relationship. But then it makes her think. Is it her imagination, or does he seem just a little too eager to leave? Is she reading too much into his excitement to hit the British pub scene? And all relationships cool off after a while…right? As Aaron’s departure approaches, Susie confides in her favorite aunt and best friend to help her figure out—is this the beginning of the end or just the beginning of something even better?

This is a short story prequel to “End of Story”.

Susie has no filter, which makes her snarky and humorous – something Kylie Scott writes so well. It starts off with Susie dating Aaron. But it is obvious Susie and Aaron are not meant for each other. Susie has a heavy case of denial. Even the sex has gotten bad.

“He came, and I did not. Or, at least, I didn’t come until later when I could take care of business alone.”

Lars is Aaron’s best friend, “lumberjack hot” and a contractor. But he has a seemingly great girlfriend that Susie really likes. Susie and Aaron have a very public break up at Aaron’s going-away party. But it was a good thing that needed to happen.

At the end, Susie’s hoarder aunt died and left her a house, which is the setup for…

Blurb for End of Story:

When Susie Bowen inherits a charming fixer-upper from her aunt, she’s excited to start living her best HGTV life. But when she opens the door to find that her contractor is none other than her ex’s best friend, Lars—the same man who witnessed their humiliating public breakup six months ago—she isn’t exactly eager to have anyone around whose alliance is with the enemy. But beggars can’t be choosers, and the sooner the repairs are done, the sooner she can get back to embracing singledom.

Things go from awkward to unbelievable when Lars discovers a divorce certificate hidden in a wall and dated ten years in the future—with both their names on it. It couldn’t possibly be real…could it? As Susie and Lars work to unravel the document’s origins, the impossibility of a spark between them suddenly doesn’t seem so far-fetched. But would a relationship between them be doomed before it’s even begun?

Lars shows up to work on the house Susie inherited when Susie expected a different contractor from the firm. Awkward. We quickly learn that he is no longer with the girlfriend he had in the prequel.

“Lars went through various girlfriends during the year I’d been with what’s-his-face. Neither he nor his friend were down with commitment. Which was fine if you just wanted to have fun. But Jane was a keeper, smart with a wicked sense of humor. Lars definitely had a type. All of his girlfriends were petite, perfect dolls who behaved in a ladylike manner. The opposite of buxom, loudmouthed me.”

The best friend of my ex is not my friend. Confucious probably said that.

After pulling away a section of sheetrock, Lars finds a very old piece of paper. But, upon reading it, discovers it is a divorce decree for him and Susie, dated ten years in the future. Crazy!

Finding the divorce certificate raised about a billion questions. But it also made Lars and me look at each other in a new, different, and unwelcome way. It brought hearts, flowers, and sexy times to mind, rather than a you’re an okay human being whom I don’t object to spending time with mind-set. The idea that someone might be your everything was a lot. Same went for finding out in advance that a relationship would fail. Messages from the future weren’t as helpful as you’d think.

There is a cat that visits the house. I always adore the addition of a cat in a story!

The cat was crouched at the other end of the porch with the bowl of milk I’d left for her. It seemed rude not to offer her something to drink too. We discussed the weather for a while, but she didn’t have much to say. She mostly flicked her tail, watched the occasional car go past, and kept an eye out for birds.

It was clear to me that the cat was Aunt Susan, and she devised this whole scheme to get these two together. But this is never said or hinted at in the story itself. See if you agree with me or not.

I really loved the way the relationship grew out of friendship. It was organic, sweet, fun, and humorous. I really felt like I got to know the characters, and they had both great qualities and flaws that they accepted about each other.

I’ve never been accused of being deep. My talents consisted of having great style and saying weird shit.

This is a slow burn, with the intimate scenes not starting until about halfway through the book. But they are worth the wait! Foreplay is in no way skipped like I see too much in movies and TV these days. Has anyone else noticed that? It seems to go straight from a hot kiss to penetration and it’s over in 2 minutes. That is not good sex! But here…

His past lovers and girlfriends deserved thank-you notes. And cupcakes, maybe?

The humor in this is what really makes it so great. I love the snark! Some of my favorite quotes:

“Are you saying she was correct when she said we’re horny for each other?”

“There’s no way in hell I’m answering that.”

“You’re smarter than you look.”

“Thanks.” He laughed. “Why are you always picking on me?”

“Why are you always picking on me?” I asked. “It’s like that old nonsense about how the kid in third grade who pushes you over is secretly crushing on you. They’re not. They’re just an asshole. And yet we cannot seem to stop poking at each other.”

He grinned. “Maybe we’re both assholes.”

“Maybe,” I said. “Isn’t it nice that we have things in common?”

Wait a minute. That was not me getting poetic about a male. Heck no. Wash my mind out with soap.

Overthinking things was such a joy.

He grinned down at me. “Thank you for holding my man feelings in such high regard, Susie.”

“You’re welcome, Lars.”

How dare he not manhandle me. This was outrageous.

…he glared at my cute black sleep shorts and tank. Never had my sleepwear been so maligned. The lack of a bra seemed to particularly upset him.

If only people had mute buttons. That would be so useful.

“He should press charges,” hollered the evil witch. Though that was being too mean to witches. Even the ones that were evil. Like I’m sure they had their reasons.

Read this for a cute, feel-good story with a lot of laughs! And come back for more great books by Kylie Scott: Wildflowers, Flesh, and Skin.

Contains graphic sex scenes.

Occasional foul language.

Both the prequel and novel are 1st person past tense from Susie.

Errors: 1 repeated word in the novel “Make sure it hasn’t been accidentally been tucked away…”

195 Pages

$14.99 and $1.99 at Amazon.

I borrowed both of these from Hoopla, a terrific source of free books and audiobooks likely available to you if you have a library card.

Hoopla – Beginning of the End

Hoopla – End of Story

5 star reads, Apocalyptic or Post-apocalyptic Romance, Erotic Sex Scenes, Review, SAFE

Wildflowers – Kylie Scott

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Wildflowers
An End of the World Romance
Kylie Scott

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Hot apocalyptic romance, no zombies, with fantastic snarky humor!

Blurb:

There’s only one person Dean Wallace wants to save from the end of the world: sunshine girl from across the street. She’s always smiling. Who knows, maybe she can teach him a thing or two about how to live? But saving her against her will is harder than he expected.

Astrid Hardy doesn’t know what to think when she wakes up in her hot neighbor’s basement. He says he wants to protect her from the deadly virus threatening to collapse society. But that sounds like paranoid conspiracy theory nonsense, and losing her sh*t seems like the correct response.

As they watch the downfall of the world play out online, hear approaching gunshots, and smell smoke from nearby burning buildings, it all starts to seem horribly realistic. With almost everyone they know dead, and law and order gone…how will they navigate this new world together?

Wildflowers starts off with Dean drugging Astrid, and Astrid waking up in a makeshift jail cell in Dean’s basement. On first glance, this may say “Dark Romance”, but it’s not. There is no forced touching, nothing sexual or evil about this captivity. Dean is saving Astrid from catching a virus at the real end of the world.

I absolutely adore the snarky humor in this!

My current position isn’t exactly one of strength, what with me sitting in an enclosure. Seems spending all of those hours watching cute animal videos and contouring tutorials instead of learning negotiation tactics and tips and tricks from escape artists might have been a mistake.

I never did like zoos as a child. All of the watching wild animals pace back and forth behind the bars. Having now been on the receiving end of just such a situation, I can confirm it is complete and utter bullshit. Zero stars. Do not recommend. Big jungle cats mauling their keepers makes so much more sense to me now. I am surprised it doesn’t happen more often.

It is exceedingly realistic with the credible speed at which society and all our modern civilization would break down. In a little over a week, Dean lets Astrid out of the cell, and it seems prudent to stick with someone who knows what they’re doing. At least for a while.

Dean is such a great character. He’s exactly the sort of man I would want at the end of the world – skilled with guns, knowledgeable on prepping, can cook, and he’s a contractor, so he knows about construction. All this, and he’s a genuinely good guy. He agrees to saving a child, instantly accepting a lifetime of responsibility, and agrees to saving a lap dog, not the kind of dog he wanted. He never forces Astrid to do anything romantic or sexual.

He stares down at me… and huh. He really is a prime example of a man. Tall, strong, and handsome. When I dreamed of meeting “the one,” he looked a lot like Dean. Guess the whole tall, dark-haired, and handsome ideal has always had me in a chokehold. Half-intelligent things often come out of his mouth. He can cook and shop. Ignore the whole kidnapping-and-caging thing and the man’s a miracle. I bet he even knows what to do with his dick.

But after everything he’s done, I do believe I have officially shelved all of the lust I previously felt for him. Which would honestly be the smartest decision to come out of me in forever.

There’s no expression on his face, but there’s this kind of knowing in his gaze. This all-consuming awareness of me. Like I am the only thing in the world that matters to him. The only thing he is thinking about and all that he’s living for.

I don’t know how to describe it. But it’s as if someone finally sees me, all of me, and is willing to accept me for who I am. The good and the bad. Including the frequently weird and occasionally cranky. Not a thing I honestly thought would ever happen. And the way this knowledge settles inside of me is honestly staggering.

Of course, he couldn’t just leer at my breasts and eye-fuck me. No. He had to go straight for my soul.

“That’s cheating,” I say.

And Dean is funny too!

Astrid: “I hate guns.”

Dean: “You wouldn’t believe the shit I heard it saying about you earlier. Some of it was downright mean and petty. I was surprised.”

Astrid’s philosophy on the end of the world and her sense of humor really endeared her to me. She’s hilarious and kicks arse when needed. She says what’s on her mind, which means no game playing or silly week-long fights from not communicating. She does a great job of teaching Dean how to live and be in an adult relationship.

I highly recommend this to everyone! It is SAFE.

Contains graphic sex scenes.

Occasional foul language.

1st person present tense from Astrid.

Errors: Zero! Brilliant!

262 Pages

$4.99 at Amazon.

5 star reads, Apocalyptic or Post-apocalyptic Romance, Erotic Sex Scenes, Review

After Yesterday – Jacqueline Hayley

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After Yesterday
Jacqueline Hayley

Rating: 5 out of 5.

A great, gritty, hot follow up to After Today

Blurb:

Surviving the virus was one thing, surviving humanity after is another.

Rachel Davenport has always liked things ordered and neat, so when the Sy-V virus decimated the world around her, she was left reeling. With winter closing in and danger everywhere she turns, the last thing she needs is the unexpected arrival of her former high school sweetheart—a man who left her without so much as a goodbye.

When James O’Connor crossed the country to declare his love for Rachel, the girl he left behind eight years ago, he knew he’d have a fight on his hands. But the girl he left has become a woman he struggles to recognize. As the apocalypse forces him to balance his morality against Rachel’s determination, can he cross the chasm growing between them?

As humanity crumbles around them and survival becomes everything, James and Rachel must choose between what is smart, and what is right.

The stakes are higher than ever… can love survive a second chance?

—

Author’s note: After Yesterday is the second book in The After series of post-apocalyptic romance novels. If you love reading stories by Kate L. Mary, Kate Morris, T.L. Payne and Kyla Stone, then you will love this series.

After Yesterday is a standalone story with no cliffhangers and a HEA, however will be enjoyed further by reading the other books in the series. Possible trigger warnings for violence against women and consensual rough sex; this is mature content written for 18+ readers – there is unsavory language and gratuitous sex. Lots of it.

The second book starts off a bit before the climax of the first. It’s from the point of view of Rachel and James, who were secondary characters in the first book. There is a good recap of what has gone on before. I wasn’t lost even when it had been months since I read the first book.

To remind you: Jake and Mackenzie had escaped Sanford, but Rachel, James, and others were still stuck there under Townsend’s cruel dictatorship. There, they were kept prisoner, made to work, and given little food and heat. Rachel and James are stuck together and not getting along.

“James could take one for the team,” she offered helpfully. “I wouldn’t mind so much if he got shot.”
He winced. “Harsh, Davenport.”

James and Rachel had been sweethearts in high school, but James left, abandoning Rachel. He returned to Sanford just before the pandemic hit, intent on winning her back. After his betrayal, Rachel grew strong and tough but cold. She needs that strength to get through this apocalypse and fight for what she believes is right. I really liked how badass Rachel was.

“You are such a beautiful, fragile woman,” he murmured, reaching out a finger to run it down the tip of her nose.
“Fragile?” She pulled back, smile slipping.
“Not like a flower,” he hurried to reassure her, mentally kicking himself. “You’re fragile in the way a bomb is fragile. Powerful and potent and explosive.”
She narrowed her eyes, thinking. “Okay, I can accept that.”

Now I knew the Council of male-chauvinists was evil from After Today, but this clinched it for me:

Two armed guards would sweep a house first, identifying dead bodies and shooting any pets that had been left behind. When James, anticipating Rachel’s outrage, asked if they couldn’t just release the pets and leave them to their own devices, he’d received a rifle butt between his shoulder blades. They all took that as a no.

The Council had to die!

Dex, Mackenzie’s dog from After Today, was thankfully alive!

James: “Why did I wake up naked, spooning a dog?”

Once again, the action was very well written, and there was a lot of it. There are compelling cliffhangers at the end of chapters and sections. I just raced right along reading this and couldn’t put it down. Some great moments of humor relieve the bleakness of the story.

“Can you believe there was a book in the library on lock picking?” Jake said to Quinn, shaking his head.
“Who needs the internet when you have books?”

“These gangs, exactly how fucked up are they?” Even as he asked, James wasn’t sure he wanted to know. Why did it seem like Sy-V had upset the ratio of asshole to normal human beings, with the assholes coming out on top?

I liked all the characters and the chemistry between them. The sex scenes, of which there are many, are scorching hot. James is dominant and Rachel is submissive in the bedroom, but it’s only in the bedroom. This was handled well with there being a true partnership in the rest of life. This aspect of sex isn’t so kinky that it needs a trigger warning. There is no non-consent. There is much more story than sex, a good ratio. The plot kept me reading, and the sex spiced it up.

Overall, I loved this. It’s a great follow up to After Today, and I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series!

Contains graphic sex scenes. Very hot ones.

Occasional foul language.

3rd person past tense from Rachel and James.

Errors were fixed after I sent them to the author.

284 Pages

$5.99 at Amazon.

I received a copy of this for my honest review.

After Yesterday also contains the novella, The Beginning of the End.

The Beginning of the End
Jacqueline Hayley

Blurb:

It’s the beginning of the end…

Seventeen-year old Cassie is home alone planning her first ever house party, unaware the deadly Sy-V virus has begun to ravage humanity. But when most of her classmates fail to show for the party, she can’t contact her parents, and her best friend becomes sick, in the blink of an eye her entire world changes.

Stephen has lived next door to Cassie forever, only as the virus tears their friends and family apart, the boy-next-door suddenly becomes a hero burning brightly in the devastating dark of their new world. But no way could she fall in love. Not at this moment. With this boy. Right?

This novella is a prequel to The After series, which begins with After Today.

It’s about Cassie and Stephen, the teens we’ve seen in the novels. It covers their experience of the virus break out and the take over of the Council. It’s very short but very good!

5 star reads, Apocalyptic or Post-apocalyptic Romance, Erotic Sex Scenes, Review

After Today – Jacqueline Hayley

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After Today
Jacqueline Hayley

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Realistic, immersive, and hot apocalyptic romance that kept me up way too late!

Blurb:

Can love survive an apocalypse?

After a deadly virus ravages Chicago and destroys Mackenzie Lyons’ carefully curated world, Mac escapes the devastation and horror to her childhood hometown with the help of her best-friend’s little brother, Jake. But the small-minded community of Sanford isn’t exactly welcoming, and the virus isn’t the only battle brewing.

Jake Brent has secretly loved Mac forever, and while this isn’t the way he’d dreamed of their relationship beginning, with the uncertainty of the outbreak he’ll take every opportunity with Mac he can and hope—pray—for a better future.

But when Sanford’s misogynistic council torment the survivors with horrifying demands and a lawless motorcycle gang threatens their fragile sanctuary, somehow Jake and Mackenzie must form new alliances and face down dangerous enemies in a struggle far worse than the outbreak.

Surviving the virus was one thing, surviving humanity after is another.

Mackenzie was totally unprepared for the end of the world.

She wasn’t a heroine in some Hollywood blockbuster. She was a twenty-six-year-old environmental lawyer, living in Lincoln Park and trying to forget Sanford, the hometown she knew had forgotten her the moment she’d skipped out.

The story starts with a pandemic brewing out of Syria, having moved into Europe, and it may be within the US now. The President is denying it. People are saying it is a hoax to control us, much the same as people are now saying about COVID in real life.

“This whole Syrian Virus is a hoax—it’s a conspiracy to control us.”

“It’s a plan-demic! Big pharma is behind it!”

Jake risks everything to go get Mackenzie from Chicago when things start to disintegrate.

“I’ve been in love with you since that day you sprained your ankle at the lake. Remember? I carried you to the car so you could go get it x-rayed.”

“That’s seven years ago, Jake.”

I found the beginning very realistic, especially with what we’ve seen actually happen. The insanity of a panicked city population with the looting, wanton destruction, and guns was very realistically described as Mackenzie and Jake tried to gather supplies before leaving Chicago.

Mackenzie cries, whimpers, and complains quite a bit. But it is a realistic reaction. She watched soldiers gun down civilians, ran home barefoot and got lots of blisters, got through the looting, and is now walking on her blistered feet and witnessing death all around her. She is an environmental lawyer, a city dweller, book smart instead of street smart, and tends to live in her own head, blocking out much of reality. So she isn’t prepared for this. All in all, I think she holds up well in the beginning. I expected she would grow stronger, turn into a survivor as time passed.

It was hard not to succumb to “damsel in distress” when every step rubbed her raw feet, her shoulders ached with the heavy pack, and she was tired. So tired.

Jake quickly became Mackenzie’s rock. He’s a mechanic, just the sort of man I would want with me in the apocalypse.

He welcomed—hell, he relished—the responsibility he felt for Mackenzie. Even when he dated other women, she was always somewhere in the back of his mind. Now, the instinct to care for her, to protect her, had strengthened to a tangible level. He could feel his dedication to her in the thrumming beat of his heart.

Jake’s declaration of love and Mackenzie’s budding attraction to him made her uncomfortable at first. Jake was her best friend’s little brother, just three years younger, so nothing weird. So it took some time for Mackenzie to change her view of him.

Jake was energized with purpose and Mackenzie took a moment to admire his assertiveness, the straightforward manner in which he’d taken control, allowing her a comforting warmth in his steadfast protection. Who knew making someone feel safe could be sexy?

I loved this novel. I found the situation and the characters to be very realistic, so it was immersive to read. I know I keep repeating this “realistic” bit, but it truly is remarkable in this genre. I didn’t have to suspend disbelief – I believed!

I truly liked the main characters. Neither is perfect, so that makes them relatable. They are both strong when they need to be and vulnerable with each other. There is a nice build to the relationship. Jake lays his heart bare, but he doesn’t push Mackenzie. He’s not an alpha male, you’re mine, type. This was refreshing and sweet.

It was a very fast read with excellent pacing. There was quite a bit of action, which was very well written – clear but concisely described, so things moved along very quickly. There are some scorching hot sex scenes, but this is definitely much more story than erotica. I felt it added the right level of spice to the meat of the overall story.

I don’t want to give too much away, but Mackenzie does grow throughout this novel, eventually becoming a bit of a badass. I absolutely loved that she didn’t need a man to save her! Girl power! Woot! Woot! 😊

Amongst the chaos are little moments of very welcome comedy.

“Don’t get weird on me. It’s just an erection. Happens most mornings.” He grinned.

“No. Nope, not going there.”

“It’s a normal bodily function.”

“Jake, stop! We are not talking about your dick.”

“You just did.”

It relieves the tension here and there and stops this from being too depressing. As Jake says:

Why was everything so damn hard? Nothing was easy anymore. He prided himself on being resilient and practical, but was it too much to ask for a simple home ransacking to go to plan?

And Mackenzie is a dog lover! My love of her grew exponentially the moment I found that out! 😊

This had my rolling with laughter:

“That’s…. psychopathic, right? Who plays fantasy apocalypse?” Mackenzie’s question was met with silence…

Writers of apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic novels do. Hey! That’s us! So a little fun was poked at the author herself. Loved it!

If you’re with us, fantasizing about the end of the world, picturing yourself driving down a completely empty interstate instead of being in your traffic jam reality, this is a must read!

This is the first book in a series but can be read as a standalone. Future books will be centered on other main characters, but we will see Mackenzie and Jake as secondary characters. This has a great ending. We know the story continues, and it definitely makes me want to read the next book. But we aren’t left with a nasty cliffhanger. Like the characters, I can wait, and plan, and survive.

Contains graphic sex scenes. Very hot ones. But only really three.

Occasional foul language. I loved Mackenzie’s mantra.

3rd person past tense from Mackenzie and Jake.

Errors: 8 (misspelled words, wrong word, missing word, a name spelled differently in two places, inconsistent punctuation, a missing quotation mark) Not bad at all! I sent these errors to the author, so I hope she’ll fix them soon.

UPDATE: Errors have been fixed!

258 Pages

$5.99 at Amazon.

I received a copy of this for my honest review.

Book 2 is available for preorder but won’t be out until April 2022.

5 star reads, Erotic Sex Scenes, Paranormal, Review

Pleasure of a Dark Prince (Immortals After Dark Book 9) – Kresley Cole

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2010
2010
2016

Pleasure of a Dark Prince
Immortals After Dark Book 9
Kresley Cole

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Runaway Valkyrie mate and her
Lykae stalker on an adventure
on the Amazon river

Blurb:

A dangerous beauty…

Lucia the Huntress: as mysterious as she is exquisite, she harbors secrets that threaten to destroy her—and those she loves. ​

An uncontrollable need…​

Garreth MacRieve, Prince of the Lykae: the brutal Highland warrior who burns to finally claim this maddeningly sensual creature as his own. ​

That lead to a pleasure so wicked…​

From the shadows, Garreth has long watched over Lucia. Now, the only way to keep the proud huntress safe from harm is to convince her to accept him as her guardian. To do this, Garreth will ruthlessly exploit Lucia’s greatest weakness—her wanton desire for him.

Back in 2012, I stumbled upon this book. It was the first Kresley Cole novel I read. But I stopped in the middle because I loved the Lore so much, I wanted to start from the beginning. So this is the one that made me fall in love, even before I read the entire novel.

It’s still one of my favorites. It has everything – action, adventure, an alpha male who is also super sweet, a kickass female, hot sex scenes, and great writing. The connection between Lucia and Garreth is one of the strongest in the series, perhaps because they can’t have sex immediately.

Lucia almost died when she was just 16 and traded healing and unparalleled skill at archery for a vow of chastity and loyalty to a goddess. So she can’t give Garreth what he wants – her, as his mate.

Understand me, MacRieve, I’m a Valkyrie. I’m not bound by your . . . animalistic needs.”

His voice a low rasp, he said, “After one night with me, Lousha, you will be.”

I’d put in a lot more quotes, but there is so much I don’t want to give away!

Contains graphic sex scenes. Some touching could be seen as non-consent.

Occasional foul language.

3rd person past tense from Lucia and Garreth. We also get a chapter section from Lachlain.

I found 4 errors, wrong punctuation and wrong words.

425 pages. The Kindle version ends at 78% with the rest an excerpt from The Master.

$5.99 at Amazon.

5 star reads, Erotic Sex Scenes, Paranormal, Review

Deep Kiss of Winter “Untouchable” (Immortals After Dark Book 8) – Kresley Cole

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2009
2016

Deep Kiss of Winter
“Untouchable”
(Immortals After Dark Book 8)
Kresley Cole

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Part Valkyrie, part Icere (Ice Fey) who can’t be touches without pain and the vampire she bloods

This contains two novels. One by Kresley Cole called “Untouchable” and one by Gena Showalter called “Tempt Me Eternally”. This is only a review for “Untouchable”.

Blurb for “Untouchable”:

KRESLEY COLE delivers a breathtaking tale of a brutal vampire soldier about to know love for the first time…and a Valkyrie aching to be touched.

Murdoch Wroth will stop at nothing to claim Daniela the Ice Maiden — the delicate Valkyrie who makes his heart beat for the first time in three hundred years. Yet the exquisite Danii is part ice fey, and her freezing skin can’t be touched by anyone but her own kind without inflicting pain beyond measure. Soon desperate for closeness, in an agony of frustration, Murdoch and Danii will do anything to have each other. Together, can they find the key that will finally allow them to slake the overwhelming desire burning between them?

Murdoch Wroth was the manwhore among the Wroth brothers before they were turned into vampires.

Though he’d once been a rake, bedding a new woman each night, Murdoch hoped it never happened to him. To be mystically tied to a single woman sounded hellish, especially to a woman he didn’t choose, and one who could spurn him, as Myst had Nikolai.

“In my time, taking a virgin meant one risked a sword-point wedding.” Beget no bastards, deflower no maids. As long as he’d followed those two simple rules, he’d always gotten to do as he pleased.

In his mortal life, he’d been considerate in bed. He’d made sure he brought great pleasure to every woman he’d been with. This wasn’t out of selflessness. Quite the opposite. At an early age, he’d learned that the more word got around that he was a skilled lover, the more women dallied with him.

Daniella the Ice Maiden is part Valkyrie and part Icere (Ice Fey). Her body is naturally cold. She thrives in ice and snow, bare-skinned. Overheating is dangerous for her. She can’t touch or be touched by others without extreme pain. But somehow she bloods Murdoch Wroth.

“Vampire, I think you’re afraid to settle down—with anyone. You were single for years and celibate for three hundred more. And now you have bachelor’s panic.”

“I don’t even know what you’re talking about.”

“BP? It’s when a man irrationally fears a woman he especially likes. He gets ascared of said woman’s toothbrush breaching the perimeter of his man cave, et cetera.”

“Panic? I don’t panic,” he sneered the word. “Daniela, you can’t be touched.”

The frigid one. Enough of this. “No, you can’t! Your heart’s colder than mine. You are the untouchable one.”

There is a time lapse of many months, fall to winter to summer to winter again, with Murdoch and Danii living together but unable to have intercourse or touch.

We get bits of other stories from previous books in the series. This starts before Book 1 but ends after all Book 7. We get the endings too, so this should be read in order.

This is one of my favorite couples. Perhaps it’s because they have to wait for actual sex, and they choose to be together even when they can’t touch. I definitely don’t feel like it’s only the Bride connection between them. But I also love the Iceren – ice elves, how I’ve never seen them before, and the answer to how Danii and Murdoch can be together. Cole has an amazing imagination!

Contains graphic sex scenes. No triggers. No non-consent here.

Occasional foul language.

3rd person past tense from Danii and Murdoch.

I found 3 errors, mostly with formatting.

“Untouchable” is 256 pages. The entire book is 444 pages.

$5.99 at Amazon.

The second half is Gena Showalter’s “Tempt Me Eternally”, book 7 of the Alien Huntress Series. I didn’t read it, planning to read it 7th in that series later on. I have read some of Showalter’s Lords of the Underworld series. I don’t remember if I stopped or had read them all. I wasn’t as big a fan of them as I was of Kresley Cole, but I do remember enjoying them. Showalter is an extremely prolific writer, having written almost 100 books so far!

Blurb for “Tempt Me Eternally”:

GENA SHOWALTER puts a daring spin on a tale of huntress and hunted…and concocts a sensual chemistry that is positively explosive.

Aleaha Love can be anyone — literally. With only skin-to-skin contact, she can change her appearance, assume any identity. Her newest identity switch has made her an AIR (alien investigation and removal) agent and sends her on a mission to capture a group of otherworldly warriors. Only she becomes the captured. Breean, a golden-skinned commander known for his iron will who is at once dangerous and soul-shatteringly seductive, threatens her new life. Because for the first time, Aleaha only wants to be herself…. “

5 star reads, Erotic Sex Scenes, Paranormal, Review

Kiss of a Demon King (Immortals After Dark Book 7) – Kresley Cole

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2009
2011
2015

Kiss of a Demon King
(Immortals After Dark Book 7)
Kresley Cole

Rating: 5 out of 5.

A rage demon good guy
and a Sorceri bad girl

Blurb:

His obsession…

Sabine, Sorceress of Illusions: the evil beauty who surrenders her body, but not her heart.

Her downfall…

Rydstrom Woede: the ruthless warrior who vows to keep her at all costs.

They were never supposed to want each other this much…

With each smoldering encounter, their shared hunger only increases. If they can defeat the sinister enemy that stands between them, will Sabine make the ultimate sacrifice for her demon? Or will the proud king lay down his crown and arms to save his sorceress?

Rydstrom is a rage demon, like his brother Cadeon, whom we met in the last novel in the series. Rydstrom was their king before Omort the Deathless stole the crown from him. If you are reading the series in order, you know all about this. You also know that Rydstrom was captured by Sabine.

“I plan,” she began matter-of-factly, “to become pregnant with your heir.”

“With me in control of your heir, the last of the rage demon rebellions will be quelled.”

Rydstrom shook his head hard, even as his mouth went dry. In fifteen hundred years, he’d never felt so attracted to another female. What if she were his? To find his queen after waiting so long? To find her as Omort’s sister? “No, fate isn’t that cruel.”

She quirked a brow at that. “Fate is indifferent.”

“Even if you are fated to be mine, Sabine, I’ll never have you.”

“Oh, you’ll have me.” Her lips curled in a knowing, sexual grin that made his heart pound. “Again and again until this deed is done.”

Again and again. Taking her soft body, learning that perfect pale flesh . . . No! Resist her.

He clenched his jaw, unable to deny what was so obvious. “Of course you’d kill me after our babe is born?”

“Well, I wouldn’t be a very good evil sorceress if I allowed you to live.”

If this female weren’t so evil, she’d be glorious.

In that instant, he decided, I’ll claim her as my war prize when I escape.

And he would use her to get free.

Sabine is Sorceri. And she is Rydstrom’s fated mate.

He tried to remember what he knew about the Sorceri in general. He recalled that they were greedy for wealth, merry hedonists who lived their lives in pursuit of pleasure—and gold. But they were also secretive and paranoid, suspicious of strangers who arrived at their doorstep. Most tended to live in the farthest reaches of the earth.

Yet they weren’t an inherently evil race. You’re just thinking this way because you want her. Maybe, but the fact remained that it was a possibility. Right now, it was the only one that seemed viable.

This is one of my favorite series of all time and this still gets 5 stars, but having said all that, this may be my least favorite in the series. There isn’t as much adventure, and I don’t feel the connection between the characters as much as I usually do. But I’m spoiled here! So this is still great and shouldn’t be skipped.

Contains graphic sex scenes. There are bondage scenes – real bondage, as in chained up to keep from escaping, not pretend stuff with safe words. Some sexual scenes can be seen as non-consent.

Occasional foul language.

3rd person past tense from Rydstrom and Sabine.

I found 5 errors, missing punctuation and misspelled words

413 pages. Stops 77% of the way through. Excerpt from The Master at the end.

$6.99 at Amazon.

5 star reads, Erotic Sex Scenes, Paranormal, Review

Dark Desires After Dusk (Immortals After Dark Book 6) – Kresley Cole

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  • 2008
  • 2011
2015

Dark Desires After Dusk
(Immortals After Dark Book 6)
Kresley Cole

Rating: 5 out of 5.

A demon that reminds me of Indiana Jones and a Valkyrie figuring herself out

Blurb:

A seductive beauty he can never have, yet can’t resist…

Cadeon Woede will stop at nothing to atone for the one wrong that will haunt him forever. But once he secures the key to his redemption, the halfling Holly Ashwin, Cade finds that the woman he thought he could use for his own ends and then forget haunts him as much as his past.

A tormented warrior she should fear, but can’t deny…

Raised as a human, Holly never knew that some frightening legends are real until she encounters a brutal demon who inexplicably guards her like a treasure. Thrust into a sensual new world of myth and power, with him as her protector, she begins to crave the demon’s wicked touch.

Surrender to dark desires…

Yet just when he earns Holly’s trust, will Cade be forced to betray the only woman who can sate his wildest needs — and claim his heart?

Holly was a PhD student at Tulane University, teaching remedial math to athletes.

She wondered what she’d be erasing tonight. Some of the past offerings included “Got it bad, sooo bad, I’m hot for teacher,” “I’ve been a naughty boy, Ms. Ashwin,” and “Professor + Ginger = Holly Ashwin.” They’d crossed the l’s to make them t’s.

Holly wanted a normal life, but she had some quirks. OCD. Nearly killing men when getting into sexual situations. Nothing she couldn’t handle with extreme discipline.

Cadeon knew Holly was his, but he couldn’t claim her because she was human.

Humans were forbidden to demons. Because they never survived the initial claiming.

But Cade hadn’t been able to stop himself from watching her from afar, studying her, growing more and more fascinated with the young mortal. Becoming more convinced that she was his.

Then one night, Holly was kidnapped by a bunch of evil demons bent on raping and impregnating her. She was the Vessel. The immortal reaching sexual maturity at the start of the Accession, which happens every 500 years. The Vessel is fated to give birth to a warrior for ultimate evil or ultimate good, depending on the father. Yes, immortal – It turns out Holly is half Valkyrie, half Furie.

Cade was taxed with finding The Vessel and delivering it to an evil sorcerer in exchange for a sword that could kill the evil sorcerer’s evil brother, who had stolen Cade’s brother’s crown, which was Cade’s fault.

“You know all those creatures you thought were myths?” When she shakily nodded, he said, “Well, they’re not. And you’re changing from a human to an immortal.”

Which meant it had become possible for Cade to claim her for his own.

And you’ve just become my target—the Vessel. The means to pay for a sword to kill our enemy.

She equaled the crown he’d worked for nine hundred years to reclaim—the unyielding pursuit that had given him a reason to go on living.

Never had it been so close….

All he had to do was use and betray the woman he’d waited just as long to possess.

What’s a demon to do?

“Kidnap women? I can hardly keep the chits off the jock as it is, pet.”

Eyes wide, she said, “Chits? Pet? Are you from the nineteenth century or just trying to be misogynistic?”

Cade and Holly remind me so much of Indiana Jones and Willie Scott (Temple of Doom). He’s brash, cocky, dirty, and practical. She’s a girlie-girl who hates to get dirty and finds him rude, crude, and socially unacceptable… until they end up in bed together.

There is some great humor in this alongside the action and chemistry I’ve come to expect from this series. I loved both of the characters. I especially loved how Holly came into her kickass-self.

Contains graphic sex scenes. No triggers. No non-consent here.

Occasional foul language.

3rd person past tense from Cade and Holly. We also get a chapter from Rydstrom, Cade’s brother and the lead in the next book.

I found 9 errors, mostly misspelled or wrong words.

388 pages.

$8.99 at Amazon.