Jul 17 2012
Daily Deals: Erotic Fiction, Historical, Signet, and Fantasy
Panic Snap by Laura Reese. $ 3.99
From the Jacket Copy:
Her first novel, Topping from Below, was a cause celebre of erotic fiction. Now, in Panic Snap, Laura Reese once again crosses the boundary between pleasure and pain to tell a story of extreme sexual obsession and one family’s terrible secret. The accused murderess in a sensational trial, Carly Tyler waits outside a California courtroom as a jury decides her fate: Is she the depraved Madame De Sade of the newspaper headlines or the innocent victim of one wealthy family’s gothic past? Left for dead by the side of a road fifteen years before, she emerged from a coma with no memory and a face completely altered by the plastic surgery needed to repair her injuries. Who is she and what happened to her? The trail leads her to a magnificent vineyard and its mysterious owner, James McGuane, a man of wealth and immense sexual charisma who holds the key to her past. But to unlock it, she must risk her life on a terrifying erotic journey that tears apart a dynasty and reveals the truth behind an appalling murder.
Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson. $ 2.99
From the Jacket Copy:
“The Malazan Empire simmers with discontent, bled dry by interminable warfare, bitter infighting and bloody confrontations with the formidable Anomander Rake and his Tiste Andii, ancient and implacable sorcerers. Even the imperial legions, long injured to the bloodshed, yearn for some respite. Yet Empress Laseen’s rule remains absolute, enforced by her dreaded Claw assassins.”
“For Sergeant Whiskeyjack and his squad of Bridgeburners, and for Tattersail, surviving cadre mage of the Second Legion, the aftermath of the siege of Pale should have been a time to mourn the many dead. But Darujhistan, last of the Free Cities of Genabackis, yet holds out. It is to this ancient citadel that Laseen turns her predatory gaze.” However, it would appear that the Empire is not alone in this great game. Sinister, shadowbound forces are gathering as the gods themselves prepare to play their hand.
One Good Turn by Carla Kelly. $ 2.99
Kelly’s clever prose is a hallmark of her writing, and it’s here in spades. Her style is such that a reader can breeze along, engrossed in the plot, and then be brought up short by a small phrase which reveals a great deal. Take this example, early on, when the hapless Nez observes Liria caring for Sophie:
I am in the presence of female competence, he marveled. God bless the ladies.
Libby’s London Merchant, the predecessor to this book is also on sale for $2.99 (pre order, delivery September 11, 2012)
From the Jacket Copy:
Beautiful Miss Libby Ames knew little about the man who landed unexpectedly at her country manor. Only that he called himself Mr. Nesbitt Duke, a London merchant. And after one look at Libby, he claimed he’d fallen in love. But it was soon clear that this handsome stranger was not being entirely truthful.
Arriving at Libby’s doorstep was not fate, but rather an encounter of Nesbitt’s own design. Furthermore, his position in life was far from that of a merchant. His name too was a lie. But his true identity was still not the greatest mystery. For Libby had no idea of the secret longings of her own heart—or what to do next about the mystery man, and the passionate love that has taken her by shocking surprise.
One Week as Lovers by Victoria Dahl. $ 2.99.
In essence, One Week as Lovers is the story of Lancaster’s healing from a trauma that has shaped all of his adult life and made a man so easy to love horribly self-loathing. And he needs a woman like Cynthia to help him accomplish the job – a woman who thinks nothing of calling him ridiculous and scolding him for treating her like a china cup on a shelf. And despite Cynthia’s own insistence that she – an uneducated country woman – has nothing to recommend her for a match with Nick, whom she has loved for a long time, Nick recognizes right away that Cynthia is different from all the other women he has known.
From the Jacket Copy:
Some Pleasures, Once Tasted. . .
Even after finding his betrothed in the arms of another man, Nicholas, the Viscount Lancaster, knows he must wed. Propriety—and the dire state of his finances—decrees it. At least a visit to his country estate provides relief from playing the role of loving fiancé, as well as a surprising encounter with Cynthia Merrithorpe. Once his childhood companion, Cynthia has grown into a lovely, alluring woman—one who’s undertaken a daring ruse to avoid being sold into a miserable marriage.
Are Too Delicious To Forget. . .
When Nicholas left for London to assume his new title, Cynthia was forced to put aside her girlish infatuation. Now he’s returned, more wickedly attractive than ever. And this time, Cynthia is determined to experience the pleasure she’s dreamed of for so long. But with a man like Nicholas, seduction is only the beginning of a sensual journey that will tempt them both to defy convention, and uncover the very heart of desire. . .
Backstage Pass by Olivia Cunning. $1.48
From the Jacket Copy:
Five stunning guys, one hot woman, and a feverish romance… For him, life is all music and no play… When Brian Sinclair, lead songwriter and guitarist of the hottest metal band on the scene, loses his creative spark, it will take nights of downright sinful passion to release his pent-up genius… She’s the one to call the tune… When sexy psychologist Myrna Evans goes on tour with the Sinners, every boy in the band tries to seduce her. But Brian is the only one she wants to get her hands on… Then the two lovers’ wildly shocking behavior sparks the whole band to new heights of glory…and sin…
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Jul 17, 2012 @ 14:50:34
Laura Reese for 50 fans? Really?!?! Publishers and marketing departments have officially lost their minds. I can’t speak for Panic Snap but Topping From Below is what I would classify as an “erotic thriller.” It has been years since I’ve read it (somewhere in the ballpark of 15 years ago) – but I still think of it as BDSM-gone-horribly-awry. Also, two words: bestiality scene.
So, um yeah. About as far away from a “romance” as you can get.
Jul 17, 2012 @ 14:52:20
@SuperWendy: Egads, Wendy, really???
Jul 17, 2012 @ 14:58:57
@Jane: Really, really. If memory serves it’s towards the end of the book, right before the climactic (no pun intended) finish. I was probably around 19 or so when I read it – and to this day I remember how blown my fragile little mind was. I’ve still got a copy of it lying around somewhere. One of these days I should at least skim through it – see if my mind is still blown all these years later :)
Jul 17, 2012 @ 15:57:50
A plug for the Kelly book:
One Good Turn is the first Carla Kelly book that I ever read, and I went on to glom almost her entire backlist. It was very different at the time, because despite being packaged as a Signet Traditional Regency, it was very much not traditional. IIRC, the hero, despite being a duke, was struggling with both loneliness and the idea of being a good man after having been something of a wastrel as a youth before joining the army. The heroine, Liria, was very much a damaged survivor of the same Peninsular War. Kelly does play a little bit with class here, in terms of changes of station and nation, which I enjoyed. And readers who’ve read some of her other books might recognize the mill owner and/or seed company mentioned.
Jul 17, 2012 @ 17:01:11
@jmc: I’m one who cried over this book and it’s still one of my favorite of hers.
Jul 17, 2012 @ 18:34:52
Agree with SuperWendy re: Laura Reese. I think of her as thriller/slasher novelist who chooses BDSM settings. Also, it was bestiality x2. Once read, cannot be unread. :(
Jul 17, 2012 @ 18:41:42
@Jayne: I cried buckets reading One Good Turn as well. It’s between this book and Miss Whittier Makes a List for my favorite Kelly.
Jul 17, 2012 @ 20:35:29
@jmc: @Jayne: @Janine: After the endorsements by the 3 Js I had to preorder One Good Turn (I just relish the possibility of crying buckets over a book ;-)); pity I have to wait till Nov to read it, though.
Jul 17, 2012 @ 20:45:13
Ditto what Loosheesh said! Just bought it!
Jul 17, 2012 @ 20:50:09
Wow. Thanks for the warnings about the bestiality. I was – vaguely – considering that book. No more…
Now I think I’ll grab the Kelly instead :)
Jul 17, 2012 @ 20:56:31
What a refreshing post after sorting through a gazillion emails due to my earlier subscription to a previous post. I preordered the Kelly. This format is addictive and my Kindle, she overflows.
Regarding the Reese, I’m trying to figure out how bestiality fits in romance or even erotica as usually pimped here. But now I have to know exactly what the hell! Off to google…
Jul 17, 2012 @ 21:36:54
I read Panic Snap in paperback years ago, like 2001 or 2002 maybe…it was VERY scary and disturbing. I wouldn’t shelve it anywhere NEAR romance. I enjoyed it but I didn’t read it expecting luuuurve. I imagine anyone coming off of a fifty high might be a tad disgruntled.
I did enjoy Backstage Pass. I loved that Myrna was kinda nerdy, but about sex.
Jul 18, 2012 @ 21:19:19
I love Carla Kelly and this is one of the few titles that I have not been able to track down in paperback (without paying what I consider to be too high a price). I love it when some of my favorite authors are able to offer their backlist in e-book format. Now if only Anne Stuart could offer the Maggie Bennett novels (I am missing the last one) and Jayne Ann Krentz offer her McFadden titles written as Jayne Bentley. Off to order the Carla Kelly and the Victoria Dahl.