All the Secrets in Pearl by Emily Ryan-Davis

All the Secrets in Pearl by Emily Ryan-Davis

Pearls Series, Book 4

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave (October 2010)

45 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $2.60)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Dime novelist, James Carver, wanted by the law under the name Livingstone for something he didn't do, is picked up in Chicago by private investigator, Maxwell Simon, at the request of his siblings, Ethan Carver and Collette Raincrow. James has been avoiding going back to the little town of Pearl, his family and the secrets of his past, but Simon forces him to see that he can avoid it no longer. The characters in this short western historical are colorful and riveting. I'm not usually interested in same sex relations or any sort of cheating on a committed partner, but the complicated relationships and the subtle intricacies of character in this story blur lines and reinforce that context is everything. This is an excellent story and the last of four in the Pearls Series. Be sure to check out the first three, if you haven't already: All the Trees in Pearl, All the Women in Pearl and Interlude in Pearl. I will definitely be looking for more stories by this author.

Interlude in Pearl by Emily Ryan-Davis

Interlude in Pearl by Emily Ryan-Davis

Pearls Series, Book 3

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave (February 2010)

11 pages, eBook (available for free on the Kindle Store)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Mickey Lowe, foreman at the Carver Ranch, is sick of listening to other people’s newlywed relations and seeks out spinster Emma Morgan for an evening  to satisfy his own needs, but surprises her when she finds out sex isn’t all he is after. This short story describes a short evening encounter in the historical west between two people who share the tenderness of familiarity and the roughness of the cowboy world. I found myself reading this story over and over. This story is the third in a set of four stories in the Pearls Series. The entire series is wonderful! The fourth story is called All the Secrets in Pearl. Be sure to check it out.

All the Women in Pearl by Emily Ryan-Davis

All the Women in Pearl by Emily Ryan-Davis

Pearls Series, Book 2

Publisher: Ellora's Cave (August 2009)

76 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $5.52)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

John Raincrow had been hanging around Pearl for years waiting for C.C. Carver to return so he could marry her. They had been sweethearts when they were younger, until her mother left in search of adventure and took C.C. with her. John had finally decided to leave Pearl and get on with his life, when he ran into C.C. in a saloon in Pueblo, Colorado, under unsettling circumstances, and determines to rescue her and return her to her older brother Ethan in Pearl. They use the journey home to reacquaint themselves and reestablish each other's wishes and expectations, lack of communication making things a bit difficult. There is great chemistry between the two main characters and though the hero is a dominant male, he doesn't come off as harsh as some of the other men in this series. This story is the second in a set of four stories in the Pearls Series. The entire series is wonderful! The third story is called Interlude in Pearl. Be sure to check it out.

All the Trees in Pearl by Emily Ryan-Davis

All the Trees in Pearl by Emily Ryan-Davis

Pearls Series, Book 1

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave (March 2008)

44 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $2.49)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Margaret, is a mail-order bride, widowed and looking for a home. She has been summoned to the Carver ranch in Colorado to marry Ethan Carver, though he has no idea that his younger brother, James, made the request in his name until after James is gone and Margaret is there. Determined to have a home, Margaret persists despite finding Ethan less than welcoming. This short story is gritty and full of the realism that I imagine a real mail-order bride would find in a husband from the west in this time period.  Ethan is no gentle, tender gentleman, but he is likable all the same. This story is the first in a set of four stories in the Pearls Series. The entire series is wonderful! The second story is called All the Women in Pearl. Be sure to check it out.

Carter's Niece by Maggie Chatterley

Carter’s Niece by Maggie Chatterley

Publisher: Maggie Chatterley (January 2012)

38 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $2.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

This short story is about an innocent virgin taken to a cabin where four men plan to rape her until she is impregnated in order to exact revenge on her evil Uncle. Despite the dark subject matter on the face of things and the unfeeling motivations of the four men involved, this story is about much more than a young girl getting raped. The girl's response to the whole situation, colors the men's actions toward her and she herself comes to question whether it is in fact rape. Everyone in the story is changed by the events, and the conclusion is very fitting. The story includes a fair amount of dominant-submissive sexuality,  which isn't exactly my cup of tea, but I feel it was necessarily included for the story that needed to be told. I enjoyed this story very much, and look forward to reading more by this author.

Whatever Her Stepbrother Wants by Maggie Chatterley

Whatever Her Stepbrother Wants by Maggie Chatterley

Publisher: Maggie Chatterley (January 2012)

41 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $2.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

I found this story disturbing . . . but I kind of like disturbing. I do not find the dominate-submissive sexual relationship appealing whatsoever, and don't understand why anyone would desire pain or being demeaned during sex, but it was interesting to read about it.  To each their own. This short story is written in first person and describes a dominate-submissive sexual relationship between an 18 year old girl and her older stepbrother. It comes across as very real, due to the writing style and the first person voice, and very much feels as if she is a friend telling you her story in confidence. I enjoyed reading this story and others by this author, and would recommend it to others with an interest in the subject matter.

Kayla's Birthday Present by Ashlyn Chase

Kayla’s Birthday Present by Ashlyn Chase

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave (September 7, 2009)

11 pages, eBook (available for free on the Kindle Store)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality Rating: Red Heart

I enjoyed this short story and its characters, but felt the writing style didn’t flow easily at times and the language was a bit coarse for my taste. It was an interesting glimpse into a relationship changing from friendship to something more, and it was sweet. For a free read, it is worth the few minutes it takes to read it.

Take Me by Grace Samuels

Take Me by Grace Samuels

Publisher: Ellora's Cave (March 16, 2009)

15 pages, eBook (available for free on the Kindle Store)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Sensuality Rating: Red Heart

A wonderful short story about a married couple playing out a little fantasy of a man seducing a woman he doesn’t know, all within the safety of their committed relationship. Good fun and touching intimacy make this story a great read.

Discovering Sofia by Mel Teshco

Discovering Sofia by Mel Teshco

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave (February 10, 2011)

11 pages, eBook (available for free on the Kindle Store)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Sensuality Rating: Red Heart

I would usually be put off by the idea of a one-night stand, but the characters in this story are so likable, particularly the main male character who is so non-threatening it didn’t even matter to me that neither character was looking for a real relationship. I really like the writing style  and I will be looking to read more stories by this author.

Saying Yes by Barbara Elsborg

Saying Yes by Barbara Elsborg

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave (February 10, 2011)

22 pages, eBook (available for free on the Kindle Store)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Sensuality Rating: Red Heart

I really liked the characters in this story, and felt they were easy to relate to. The story was good and I enjoyed the writing style. I also liked that there was a short epilogue letting you know what happened to the characters.  I will be looking for other stories by this author.