Feral Sins (The Phoenix Pack Series Book 1) by Suzanne Wright

When female wolf shifter Taryn Warner first encounters Trey Coleman, an alpha male wolf shifter with a dangerous reputation, she’s determined to resist his charms. After all, Trey—who was only fourteen when he defeated his own father in a duel, winning the right to be alpha of his pack—can’t have anything to offer the talented healer besides trouble, or so she thinks.

Taryn finds herself drawn in by Trey’s forceful demeanor and arctic-blue eyes, and she eventually agrees to enter an uneasy alliance with him. If the two succeed in convincing their respective packs that they’ve chosen each other as mates, Trey will win valuable political allies, while Taryn will escape an odious arranged mating.

But there are a lot of potential pitfalls to this plan—including the very real possibility that the wolf shifters, overwhelmed by their growing attraction to each other, will be unable to maintain the clear heads needed to pull off the deception.

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Feral Sins is the first book in The Phoenix Pack series, and Suzanne Wright has created a very interesting, exciting, primal, and yes, feral, world. And I love it because, in my opinion, nothing sets the stage for erotic romance better than the paranormal genre. There are no holds barred, everything is fair game, things we might not accept or be comfortable with in the human world are somehow more acceptable, somehow more comfortable, in the paranormal world. I think this otherworldly setting allows us to let go of some of our inhibitions and just enjoy the ride… and what a ride this is!

I really enjoyed reading this story, but while listening I felt the narration left something to be desired. The narrator is talented enough, but there were times I felt almost awkward listening to her depiction of conversations, the way certain things were said felt forced... over dramatized. Not the way a conversation between two people - or even a group of people - would go. But when I would turn off the audio and just read, everything sounded much better in my head than it did to my ears.

That said, I think The Phoenix Pack world is a great one. Along with our hero and heroine, the secondary characters are intriguing, quirky people/wolves who I adore and want to know more about. Sometimes the animosity amongst the pack members was a bit much, but all-in-all, Feral Sins is an entertaining, sexy story, and I’m looking forward to spending more time with The Phoenix Pack, because Dante Garcea’s story is up next, and I can’t wait to see him brought to heel!

Breaking it down:

Kindle Version: 4 stars

Audio Version: 3 stars

Overall: 3.5 stars

Audio reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine

Available at Amazon: Feral Sins (The Phoenix Pack Series)

Beyond Shame by Kit Rocha

All Noelle Cunningham has ever wanted is a life beyond–beyond the walls of Eden, where only the righteous are allowed to remain, and beyond her stiflingly restrictive existence as a councilman’s daughter. But only ruins lie outside the City, remnants of a society destroyed by solar storms decades earlier.

The sectors surrounding Eden house the corrupt, the criminal–men like Jasper McCray, bootlegger and cage fighter. Jas clawed his way up from nothing to stand at the right hand of Sector Four’s ruthless leader, and he’ll defend the O’Kane gang with his life. But no fight ever prepared him for the exiled City girl who falls at his feet.

Her innocence is undeniable, but so is their intense sexual attraction, and soon they’re crossing every boundary Noelle barely knew she had. But if she wants to belong to Jas, first she’ll have to open herself to the gang, to a dangerous world of sex, lust and violence. A world where passion is power, and freedom is found in submission.

*****

Beyond Shame is the first book in Kit Rocha’s Beyond series, and if you like erotic stories that push your boundaries, you might want to check this one out. If you enjoy tales of dystopian societies where there’s a very gray area between right and wrong, where the good guys are also the bad guys, then this may be the story for you. That said, if you like your erotic reads to be sizzling hot, but about more than just sex, and if you want a compelling story you can believe in with characters you can’t forget, then there’s no ‘might’ or ‘may be’ about it - you absolutely must read Beyond Shame.

Okay, so I don't even know where to start! From an erotic standpoint, this is one hell of a hot read that pushed the limits of my comfort zone, but did it... comfortably. By that I mean the people in the story are real, they have understandable issues, reasonable problems, believable concerns – they have feelings that make sense, and that made me care about them. All of them. Things that would normally bother me didn’t, because they weren't just people having sex, they cared about each other, were invested in one another. Things that have, in the past, seemed shallow and baffling made perfect sense, and this because of the amazing world Ms. Rocha has created.

And about this 'post-Flare' world – Think Sons of Anarchy without bikers. Think Thunderdome without Tina Turner and Hunger Games on ‘roids. Think an incredibly complex existence where only the smart and the deadly survive, and you’ve got The Sectors. From the start I was drawn in and held captive to this story by the incredible people of Sector Four, and even while wanting to know everything about them, I was afraid of what I’d learn, but had to know it all! I absolutely loved Jasper and Noelle, and I am intrigued by Dallas and Lex, Bren, Ace, Maddox, and the newcomer, Cruz... all of whom have the makings for amazing stories!

The bottom line: To say Beyond Shame is an engaging story is putting it mildly, as is saying I’m looking forward to reading more. I’m not just ‘looking forward’ to it, I’m desperate for it!

Sexual Content: This story contains elements of BDSM, ménage, m/f, f/f, m/f/m, m/f/f/m, voyeurism, exhibitionism, orgies and anal play. I think that’s it, but in case I’m forgetting something, just assume there was more but rest assured that the kink not represented in this story is sex with children, with animals, or incest.

My thanks to Kit Rocha and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this incredible story for review. Start to finish, it’s been a pleasure!

Haevyn by Darcy Abriel

Duty and honor demand the ultimate sacrifice.

Haevyn is the second installment in Darcy Abriel’s Humanotica series and one of the best, most exciting dystopianesque stories I’ve read to date. There are so many great things to say about this book, but for me the most stand-out aspect is the unique, complex society created by the author. Using words instead of a brush, Ms. Abriel paints a vivid landscape of a sometimes harsh, sometimes beautiful world that I can’t help but want to explore and be part of.

And it wasn't just the world that grabbed my attention and didn't let go! Haevyn, Grisha, and Entreus are complex characters who drew me in and gave me no choice but to become invested in them and their story. Even though I didn’t read the first book (which I plan to remedy soon) I had no problem following this story and connecting to the people who make up the very erotic Humanotica world.

The bottom line – If you don’t already get that I really enjoyed this book, then I’ll spell it out… I. Really. Enjoyed. This. Book! It isn’t without some flaws, and generally speaking, I’m not a big fan of Sci-Fi or futuristic stories, but overall, this enticingly sensual tale is one to savor and the series is one I’m looking forward to continuing.

Sexual Content Advisory: This book contains m/m, m/f, f/f/f, menage, and can not be considered light erotica.

From the book blurb: Warning: Watch out for oiled-up, naked trinespined warriors battling for top position, feisty tracer females that fit oh-so-snugly in between, and sexy nights that segue into complex relationships. Beware of tebitcheckers wielding those nasty little contulators at illegal, testosterone-drenched cage confrontations.

This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. 

Title: Haevyn
Series: Humanotica
Author: Darcy Abriel
Publisher: Samhain
ISBN: 9781609288631
Rating: 4/5 stars