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victoriavane

Victoria Vane

Currently reading

The Horse Whisperer
Nicholas Evans
Midnight in Your Arms
Morgan Kelly
Far in the Wilds (A Spear of Summer Grass 0.5)
Deanna Raybourn

Been Loving You Too Long (DuChamps Dynasty, #1)

Been Loving You Too Long - Seraphina Donavan This is a short erotic romance (very light BDSM) with an interesting setting, a strong plot, and engaging characters. It's well written and a great start to a series I will follow. :-)

Brie's First Day of Submissive Training (Brie, #1)

Brie's First Day of Submissive Training (Brie, #1) - Red Phoenix ***THIS BOOK IS NOT ROMANCE***

Although I am NOT an erotica reader, I was very curious about this series after meeting the author at a recent conference, so I decided to give it a go.

The story is a woman's introduction into the world of BDSM. As to be expected, it is sexually adventurous, extremely explicit and a bit shocking at times, but also well written and engaging.
This first book is purely about sex although the heroine later develops a romantic relationship with her chosen Dom.

This is the first in a series of short novellas that the author has recently compiled into one volume
[b:Brie Learns the Art of Submission: Submissive Training Center|16164966|Brie Learns the Art of Submission Submissive Training Center (Brie, #1-9)|Red Phoenix|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1353595598s/16164966.jpg|22008790][bc:Brie Learns the Art of Submission: Submissive Training Center|16164966|Brie Learns the Art of Submission Submissive Training Center (Brie, #1-9)|Red Phoenix|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1353595598s/16164966.jpg|22008790].

Recommended only to those who enjoy erotica.
The Reflections of Ambrosine - Elinor Glyn 3.5 stars. This story is told from the heroine's first person POV and was much more engaging than I expected.

Ambrosine is a young woman from an old, proud, and impoverished noble family. She was primarily raised by her French grandmother who had plans for Ambrosine's marriage to a distant cousin but becomes ill before her plans can be carried out. Instead, a hasty marriage is arranged to an admirer whom Ambrosine pretty much despises but during the week of her engagement she accidentally meets the cousin and falls almost intstantly in love with him. Unfortunately it is too late. Ambrosine stays true to her promise to wed and the marriage is a distaster. Eventually, fate plays a hand to bring the intended lovers together. (Anything more would be a spoiler)

Kissing only - no sexual content.

The Pirate Captain, Chronicles of a Legend

The Pirate Captain, Chronicles of a Legend - Kerry Lynne Truly enjoyed this! Review by Emery Lee will post soon at Romantic Historical Lovers.
http://romantichistoricallovers.wordpress.com/
The Sheik Retold - E.M. Hull, Victoria Vane My Author's Note for THE SHEIK RETOLD:

When first published in 1919, E.M. Hulls' [b:The Sheik|257034|The Sheik|Edith Maude Hull|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1173205719s/257034.jpg|249104] was an overnight bestseller with more than fifty printings the first two years of release. The book was also made into a silent film that catapulted its leading man, Rudolph Valentino, to superstardom. Given its huge success in its time, I have no doubt many readers will wonder at my motive in re-writing this romance classic.

As a reader, I have always found the "forced seduction"/rape-to-love trope appalling, and have never had such mixed feeling about a book as I did after reading The Sheik. It had so much to offer with its strong characters and beautiful descriptive prose, but it fell sadly short for me in so many other ways. I found the narrative too repetitive and the pace plodding. There was too much navel-gazing on the heroine's part, and far too little actual interaction between the hero and heroine for a romance. In sum, I loved and loathed it in equal measure.

Nevertheless, this story captured my imagination and even though I had a number of other writing projects in progress, The Sheik held me hostage and absolutely refused to let me go. Once I began fantasizing about alternate scenarios, dialogue, and plot twists, I knew it was calling to me. I had no choice but to re-tell this story the way I envisioned it.

While I have taken a number of liberties in my re-telling, the main plot, characters, and descriptive passages are largely unchanged. I kept everything I loved and changed what I loathed. Although my version is not completely devoid of violence (to omit all of it would only have watered down Ahmed's powerful alpha character), I have taken out the rape and animal abuse which I abhorred in the original. I have also thrown the bedroom door wide open.

Most important, however is my portrayal of Diana. Even though she falls deeply in love with her captor, my version of the character stays true to her strong and self-willed nature right to the end.

While I believe The Sheik Retold will compare favorably to E.M. Hull's The Sheik, readers of this book will be the ultimate judge.


One To Die For

One To Die For - Arial Burnz Although paranormal is not my usual cuppa, I really enjoyed this titillating erotic tale with its surprise ending. FYI -This is not a romance.
Texas Secrets (Texas Heroes #1) - Jean Brashear I downloaded this story in a 5 author anthology called LOVE ME SOME COWBOY. This titles was an enjoyable read that kept me engaged all the way through.

Tangled (Tangled, #1)

Tangled (Tangled, #1) - Emma Chase What a fresh, original and fantastically fun story! I loved reading in the male POV and found the inner dialogue very authentic and believeable although Drew's attempts to win back Kate went a bit over the top at the end. Still, I adored the story and will be eager to see what Ms. Chase comes up with next.

The Shadow Of The East

The Shadow of the East - E.M. Hull THE SHADOW OF THE EAST by E.M. Hull

The story opens in Japan where the hero Barry Lord Craven has spent the last two years of his decade after wandering the globe. Barry, the reader quickly learns, is from a long line of adventurers and explorers, men who have wanderlust in their blood. Although he despises his own father, a man who abandoned Barry and his mother in favor of foreign travels, he has nevertheless followed in his predecessor's footsteps. This eventually leads to a truly shocking revelation (that I cannot reveal without spoiling the plot) and a tragedy that has a traumatic and far reaching effect on Barry's life.

Directly following this crisis, Barry receives a letter from an old friend who has passed away, requesting that Barry assume guardianship of the friend's daughter who is residing at a French convent. Perceiving this favor as a means of redeeming himself for his sins, Barry accepts the guardianship. He arrives in Paris expecting a child, but discovers a beautiful young woman instead. Thenceforth, the romance slowly unfolds between Barry and Gillian Locke.

There are several noteworthy secondary characters who play pivotal roles, to include Barry's land steward, his Japanese valet who saves his life on several occasions, and his spinster aunt who takes Gillian under her wing. While main protagonists are both sympathetic characters, Barry is very much a tortured hero who sacrifices his personal happiness in an effort to overcome his past. While I would still categorize this as a romance, the love story is really secondary to the hero's journey (in both the literal and figurative sense as the setting shifts from Japan to England and then to the Middle East) and his ultimate redemption.

Although disappointed with the denouement that I felt was too abrupt, I would still recommend THE SHADOW OF THE EAST as a highly engaging escape read for those who enjoy dramatic stories.

NOTE: This title was originally published in 1921 the electronic version is now available for free in the public domain.



Three Weeks - Elinor Glyn An interesting read. I may post a review later.
Cowgirl Up and Ride - Lorelei James 4.5 Stars
I have never read this author before but given that I'm now writing some contemporary western romance, I wanted to check this series out. Because I am not a big fan of erotica or even lust to love plots, I scoped out this entire series to settle on a few titles that I thought I might enjoy. COWGIRL UP definitely proved a good place for me to begin as I felt it really was a compelling romance at heart. (Not to say it isn't really sexed up!)

Another reason this was a plus for me is that I'm a real sucker for unrequited love/ hero worship stories. AJ has been in love with Cord since she was 5 years old. I believed this and empathized with her because I had been there myself. And yes, my first heartthrob was a hot cowboy too. He was seventeen and I was thirteen,chubby with braces. Needless to say it was completely unrequited, but he did loan me his demin jacket once and I took it home and slept in it. I can still remember what it/he smelled like thirty five years later. Just like AJ, for YEARS I fantasized about running into him when I was all grown up. (Never happened.) Enough rambling.

Lorelei James' writing has a natural feeling flow that can only stem from a genuine knowledge of the small town and raching life. She also demonstrates great skill in weaving her subplots and secondary characters into the story which pulled me inextricably into the world of the McKay clan.

Although I know I won't read the entire series due to some of the over-the-top erotica, I do plan to read several more of the titles that appear to focus more on the romance.

I'm definitely a new fan and look forward to Keely's story.

The Duke's Tattoo (Horsemen of the Apocalypse, #1)

The Duke's Tattoo (Horsemen of the Apocalypse, #1) - Miranda Davis Absolutely loved it. Can't wait to read the rest of this clever, witty and thoroughly engaging series.
This one is going on my KEEPERS SHELF!

A Devil's Touch (The Devil DeVere #4.5)

A Devil's Touch (The Devil DeVere #4.5) - Victoria Vane,  Eva Hathaway Narrator Eva Hathaway brings the passion and angstof this story to life with her wonderful characterizations!

Devil in the Making (Devilish Vignettes #1)

Devil in the Making (Devilish Vignettes #1) - Victoria Vane,  Guy Veryzer Guy Veryzer's character interpretations are flawless and hilarious!

The Trouble With Sin (Devilish Vignettes #2)

The Trouble With Sin (Devilish Vignettes #2) - Victoria Vane **AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BRSJELK**

Excerpt:

"How could you possibly wish to risk dirtying your hands with something like this?" Ned asked. "Are you not still bound for the clergy, Sin?"
"That, my friend is a two part question that I must answer in kind," Simon replied. "While my dear devout mother would have me join the church, I have searched deeply and cannot summon an inkling of pious sentiment. Moreover, my natural inclination to licentiousness is decidedly incompatible with a theological vocation. With my two great passions being poetry and women of easy virtue, not necessarily in that order, I fear all combines to make me an exceedingly poor candidate for the clergy.
"This now leads to part two. Why would I dirty my hands? The sad truth is that I am in need of the money."
"Money? But you receive a more than adequate allowance."
"Most of which he squanders on entertaining the aforementioned women of easy virtue," DeVere laughed.
"Admittedly," Simon confessed, unabashed. "And now my father has not only reduced my quarterly allowance, but demands a full account of every ha'penny. I tell you, it is humiliating in the extreme. Unless I wish to live under such a yoke for the next three years, which I positively do not, I must find a way to make my living, and if I must travail for my bread, what better way than by the fruits of my pen?"
"How better indeed," Ned replied dryly. "So now you combine these passions for poetry and lewd woman by writing poetry about lewd women?"
"Precisely!" Simon clapped Ned on the back. "Don't you see the ironic beauty of it? This venture with Harris is the perfect solution"
"What do you suppose will happen when your dear devout Mama gets wind of it?" Ned asked.
"My parents will never know anything about it, for I have taken every precaution to ensure my anonymity. Only you, DeVere and Harris are privy to my identity." He retrieved the book from DeVere. "My contribution to this little work is, and shall forever remain, a well-kept secret."

Wunder (#1 Approach)

The Approach (Wunder #1) - A.R. Von A short story. Not my typical read but well written and definitely kept me engaged. :-)