Unholy Craving (Sinful Natures #1) by Lynn Burke ❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

Forbidden Romance

Conservative, bible thumping community, led by the hypercritical Pastor Bram, with his surprisingly enlighted son, Isaac; goes head-to-head with the guild ridden, shame laden youth minister, Malachai. Between the nine year age difference, Isaac is only seventeen when they meet, and Malachai's position of power, Unholy Craving sets the stage for a very taboo romance.

How Isaac has resisted buying into his dad's teaching is a testament to his strength and self awareness. The wily way this young man directs Malachi, from the first moment they meet, is really nicely done. Lynn Burke gets deep into Isaac's head, and explores this character beautifully.

We get Malachai's story slowly, as his resistance to Isaac's advances war with his interpretations of God's Word. Weak sinner that he is, and mired in his guilt and shame, Pastor Malachai is ripe for corruption, and Isaac's advances are impossible for him to resist.

One of the most interesting parts of Unholy Craving, is how thoroughly Lynn Burke explores Pastor Bram, and how this man interprets the Bible. The person Bram shows his family, the personna he shows his community, at war with the loving father he perceives himself to be, makes him a fascinating character.

There's plenty of erotic romance woven in with the Christian fundamentalism, and a happily ever after for these young lovers. Plus, the possiblity for a sequel, Zeke's story, is on the very near horizon.

Unholy Yearning (Sinful Natures #2) by Lynn Burke ❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

Unholy Yearning is the second book in Lynn Burke’s Sinful Natures series. I enjoyed the first one, Unholy Cravings quite a bit as well. Those characters do pop up a few times, but you can read either one of these stories as a standalone.

I was raised in an agnostic household, and this kind of indoctrination is way outside my wheelhouse. These characters have had their beliefs drilled into them from birth. “God will provide”, “God’s will”. Past, present, and future. I had to resist judging these characters, and put my preconceived ideas aside, and just let the story flow.

Levi is young and incredibly naive, but he has an endless supply of faith in Zeke. Zeke, who is flawed beyond description. Zeke of the incredibly poor decisions, who disappoints Levi over and over… This is one amazing journey: mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for all three of these characters.

I say three, because Levi’s fiancée plays an important role in the story. Full disclosure, there are some romantic scenes between the three of them in this book.

Levi’s courage to face his fears, and discover who he truly is, is admirable. I loved this character for his straightforwardness and his honesty. Zeke, on the other hand, already knows who he truly is, and is doing everything he can to turn his back on it. Following the path he’d “set in stone” for himself, leads to him making some wild decisions. But hey, it’s his journey to take too, right?

These characters have a rocky road to travel in their quest for finding themselves. Struggling between the path laid out for them by God and their parents, and what they know is the path which will give them true happiness. Unholy Yearning is an intense and emotional story, and I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Unholy Desire (Sinful Natures, #3) by Lynn Burke ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

 The third book in Lynn Burke's Sinful Natures series, Unholy Desires is an age gap romance... with a couple of interesting twists. All the novels in this series have a very different flavor, and each can be read as a standalone.

As with the other titles in this series, the characters are members of the Simply Grace Church. The congregation (as well as the clergy) is filled with bigots and small minded folks. We first meet Aaron sitting in the pews alongside Zeke in Unholy Yearning, and I'm glad to see him breaking away from the Simply Grace crew early on.

Unholy Desires isn't centered as much around Faith (with a capital F) the way the previous two books are, rather, this story focuses on relationships. Aaron and his dad, Ezra and his best friend, Ezra and his deceased wife, and Aaron and Ezra. While the characters’ faith does come into play as they’re processing their emotions and actions, it is more personal and less the religious indoctrination they’ve been fed their whole lives.

I’m loving what Lynn Burke is doing with these stories. Combining the influences of the teachings of the Simply Grace brand of religion, forcing the characters to confront their beliefs, and come clean both to themselves and the folks in their community, makes for a fascinating story.

Because the men have been close since Aaron was a young boy, Lynn Burke cleverly weaves this aspect into the storyline. It’s more than exploring the romance between Aaron and Ezra, it’s also about the way their emotional bond from their past impacts their physical and emotional bond of the present.

Ten stars to Ezra, who is literally the hottest forty-nine year old guy on the planet. The way he gradually comes to accept his attraction to a man, especially with the fact it is the young man he knew as a child, is beautifully done. And his journey of coming to terms with life beyond his church, accepting the death of his wife, and building a reconciliation with Phillip simply left me breathless. Bravo!

The Long Game (Game Changers #6) by Rachel Reid ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

 Fans of Rachel Reid’s marvelous Game Changers series rejoice, the most recent episode, The Long Game, is part two of Ilya and Shane’s romance! While the rest of the novels in this fabulous series can be read in any order, you’ll definitely need to read Heated Rivalry first.

I adore established couple stories, and the scope of this one is epic! One of the finest enemies to lovers romances of all time, Ilya and Shane have incredible chemistry. From their very first meeting, the heat between these two burly hockey players leaps off the page, and they are just so darn cute together.

Fast approaching their thirtieth birthdays, the guys have known each other for eleven years now, and are still firmly in the closet with their relationship. It’s not so much about coming out about their sexuality, as it is facing what the hockey world will say about these two fierce rivals being a devoted couple.

I’m delighted by how Rachel Reid explores every aspect of what these two men go through as they face various challenges in this story. We spend time with family, friends, teammates, and folks in the hockey world, and delve deep into how each of them is feeling.

Shane’s drive and determination to be #1 hasn’t changed. It’s no surprise that his dedication to his career conflicts with his desire for a real romance with Ilya, and there are some terrific scenes from Shane’s side of the story.

What is an unexpected surprise is how deeply Rachel Reid gets into Ilya's head and heart in The Long Game. I fell hard for Ilya in the first book, and I love spending time learning what makes this intricate guy tick. An extraordinarily interesting character, Ilya has a unique sense of humor, is a solid friend and teammate, and is an appealingly dommy but sensitive lover.

Ilya struggles with his mental health, and it’s an intense journey as he gradually comes to grips with his emotions. Painful memories force Ilya to do some intense soul searching about how he sees himself, and how his past impacts the relationships he forms with others.

The Long Game focuses mainly on the development of their relationship, and how both guys are coping with life. And there are some terrific cameos from other characters from the Game Changers series. I love the bonus that a little of Troy and Harris’ story overlaps the timeline here. My only complaint is that it’s a little short on hockey scenes, but Rachel Reid totally makes up for that at the end!

A superb series, and I definitely hope this isn’t the last we hear from Ilya and Shane!

Exclusive by Melissa Brayden ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Melissa Brayden always finds a unique and special way to explore relationships, and that’s never been more true than in her new book, Exclusive.

Filled with interesting insights into the life of the folks working in television news, Exclusive had me revisiting fond memories of my favorite news station based sitcoms. It’s not just the adrenaline Melissa Brayden captures as Skyler chases down a story, but the powerful camaraderie that develops between the employees, which makes Exclusive such a fun novel to read.

Skyler is looking to really shake up her life. A big career change, a physical move back to her hometown, and reconnecting with her family, are a good way to start. It’s easy to see Skyler’s character growing more confident as the story progresses. And when it comes time for Skyler to stay true to her own emotions, she does what’s right for her.

Skyler’s choice isn’t easy to watch, and it’s certainly not the popular “romance novel” way to go, but Melissa Brayden doesn’t shy away from what’s expected in her characters, and their imperfections are what makes Brayden’s stories great.

For fans of the Tangle Valley novels, there are mentions of both the addictive biscuits, as well as a nod to the wonderful vino of the region, and this sure had me craving a revisit to that series. I’d love a holiday short where Skyler and Carrie take a vacation at The Jade… how great would that be?

Torn (En Pointe, #1) by Mickie B. Ashling ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Fans of Mickie B. Ashling already know to expect the unexpected. There's a unique flavor to her writing, and if you haven't yet had the experience, her latest novel Torn is the perfect place to start!

In the first episode in her new En Pointe series, Torn, Mickie B. Ashling lays the groundwork for an epic story. The pacing is spectacular, and the unresolved conflicts had me on the edge of my seat. I literally could not put this book down, so if you’ve got plans for a good night’s sleep, save this one for the weekend!

Clearly the scope of this series is going to be immense. Several generations, and extended branches of Misha’s family have their stories told. Using alternating points of view, we get to know Misha as well as his father, half-brother, and his best friend. Mickie B. Ashling does an amazing job of capturing the flavor of each character, giving them each a unique voice. These are clearly all central figures to the tale, and we have just scraped the tip of what ties them all together.

Torn begins with Kazimir’s story and introduces all the principal characters. While much of Torn focuses around his son, Misha, Kazimir’s complex character provides a unique insight into the drama as it unfolds. Plus, I have a feeling Kaz will continue to be a major player in future episodes of this series.

Filled with fascinating details of sixteen year old Misha’s life as a principal ballet dancer, Mickie B. Ashling paints a vivid picture of life in St. Petersburg, Russia. The daily ploys and plotting of the young folks, the pageantry of the ballet performances, the intrigue of the political climate, and some intense family drama, prove endlessly entertaining.

Over the course of the novel, Misha faces some intense challenges both professionally and personally. Coping with the physical and emotional stresses of securing a principal role in his ballet company. Meeting his half siblings, uncovering the secrets surrounding his birth. And, most importantly, facing up to his attraction to his best friend and how his admissions will affect his relationship with his long-term girlfriend. These monumental changes have him reeling.

None of the characters are native English speakers, and most of the novel takes place in St. Petersburg. There’s a faint sensation throughout the story as though the whole thing is translated into English, which creates a marvelous atmosphere. It’s masterfully executed, and definitely works to enhance the whole experience.

It’s been several years since we’ve had a new book from Mickie B. Ashling and I’m thrilled with Torn. I’ve got my fingers crossed for many more episodes of the En Pointe series, and hopefully the next novel will be out shortly!

Vegas Bound by Bruce Rose ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

Fans of Bruce Rose already know he writes some of the steamiest erotica in the biz, so it’s no surprise that his latest novel, Vegas Bound, is a toe-curling delight. My new favorite one-handed read, this book oughta be sold as an aphrodisiac!