Cecilia Tan (1)Besprekingen

Cinder Feet by Mari Ness--A variation on 'Cinderella', the premise was good (Cinderella being submissive to her stepmother) the story itself was a little too short. I spent most of the 4 pages uncertain who exactly was giving Cinderella orders and it was only on the second read through that I understood.

The Princess and Peony by Mercy Loomis--A variation on 'The Princess and the Pea', I enjoyed this story the most. The Princess, Cara, arrives at the Prince's castle after chasing down her former lady-in-waiting Peony. Apparently Cara's parents didn't like Cara and Peony's relationship, so they sent her away. It’s a sweet and a treat to read.

The Last Mistress of the Chatelaine by Kieran Wyn Dewhurst--A variation on 'Bluebeard and his wives', I enjoyed this, but was at the same time unsettled. Told in the first person from Sophie' viewpoint, the story takes a sharp turn in the other direction upon the revelation of her lords sin. The story was good, but meandered a little bit in the middle.

That Wicked Witchcraft by Sunny Moraine--A variation on 'Hansel and Gretal', I did not particularly like this story. I didn't like Greta--swarmy is perhaps a very good term for her and Han was kind of a throw away. I liked the 'witch' Circe and was sad at her fate at the end.

Skin Deep by Shanna Germain--Another variation of 'Beauty and the Beast', but not quite. I won't ruin the surprise for you, but I was digging this one and really had hoped it would end out with our narrator, Beauty, winning out. It’s open-ended however, so I live in hope!

Overall the anthology is a solid one--it definitely explores several different ways that BDSM can be used (or abused) and the stories were well-written. I definitely found a couple new authors to keep an eye on!

I liked this better than the other secrets of a rock star book, but I thought that if they were actually participating in scenes that the lack of basic precautions like safe words was irresponsible.

Something about this author's style bothered me, and I can't figure it out. I'm still trying, and if I do I'll update. But it didn't suck, and the main characters were interesting.

Originally written as a serial, the book is sometimes very wordy. That said, I found the story to be very entertaining. Loaded with intrigue, magic giving man on man sex and a well developed main characters. I liked the world building and the magic aspect of the story. The book does end on a cliffhanger so have book two on hand even though the price is kind of steep for what is primarily porn.

I enjoyed this second book much more than the first. While the first book did the world building and excellent character developing, this book took off with the action and ran with it until the very end. Enough hot sex to satisfy any porn hunter but also a very good story to go along with it. I enjoyed Sergetten and the way that the author went back and forth between Kenet's and Jorin's POVs with each chapter. Highly recommended fantasy porn. The extra story of Sergetten was nice bonus.

3.5reluctantstars
A fairly decent read that started losing stars when the tantric sex started, because ew. Not a fan at all.

That said, it's got a plot, good character development, and I'm contemplating reading the rest of the series.

I do think the author should not be comparing her story to Harry Potter, because Harry & Co. are kids (yes, even at 16-18 years old) and the characters in Ms. Tan's book are college kids - going to a magic school true, but still.

This was an OK book for me. I felt it was written too conversationally rather than grammatically and it wasn't a style I loved. I found myself annoyed at times by Daron and his inconsistent nature--he's the manager and some times control freak but yet seems uncomfortable with making decisions. I do find myself curious about how things end up for Daron but didn't like him enough to justify paying $5 or $10 for extra volumes.

I'm super bummed there isn't a second season, because I LOVED Geek Actually. It's the power of friendship and geekdom. The characters were awesome, and I fell in love with each of them.½

Forfærdelig. Ingen dybde i hverken historie eller personer. Ingen forklaring på magien. Alt for hurtigt med både accept af magi og kærlighed og så var forsøget på at blande magi og erotik bare virkelig underlig. Slutningen var desuden kun til at grine af så mærkelig var den - så urealistisk og så dumt!

Captivated by Julie Cox: 3 stars

Two Balls by Alexandra Erin: 4 stars

Le Petit String Rouge by Kiernan Kelly: 1 star (hated the bad ending)

Goose Boy by Monique Pourier: 4 stars

To Market by Elizabeth Schechter: 4 stars

System Failure
Geek Actually, Book 1.12

I Picked Up This Book Because: Continuing the series

The Characters:

Aditi Sodhi, Christina Webber, Elli Kelman, Michelle Andrada, Taneesha Adams:
:

The Story:

Wow, Michelle’s story just got embarrassing. I knew nothing good was coming from Elli’s story. She was just being nice and totally took advantage. *insert rage face here* I want to continue to express my lack of support for Christina’s relationship. Aditi and Taneesha weren’t much featured in this installment.

The Random Thoughts:

4 Stars

With a combination of intelligent writing and realistic portrayal of varying levels of desire for, and acceptance of that desire, for a power exchange relationship, Cecilia Tan's "Taking the Lead" provides a welcome boost to the quality of erotica available to the BDSM community. Ricki and Axel are relatable protagonists, and if you think "billionaire heiress and dangerous rock star" seems like thin ground for character development, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the care Tan takes to make this more than a series of kinky romps (though those are definitely present, and hot). People who are more familiar with BDSM erotica than with actual BDSM lifestyles will probably find flaws with the narrative, but I found the complexities of Ricki's feelings to be completely believable given her family history and her public persona.
Definitely recommend, especially for folks in the kink world who are looking for something with a bit more tooth than short stories on online forums, and more dimension than vanilla erotica.

The Poet and the Prophecy by Cecilia Tan is the fourth book in the Magical University series. This book is an erotic novel with a magical theme (the cover makes it look like a young adult or children’s book). Kyle Wadsworth is entering his senior year at Veritas (next to Harvard). It is a college for magical students. Kyle has been asked to move back into Gladius House (like a dorm), and that Timothy Frost will be moving back in as well (Kyle is in love with him). Kyle cannot forget Frost, but Frost wants Kyle to keep his distance. Frost is a man during the day and a girl at night (Frost thinks it is a curse and dislikes his female form). Kyle broke the enchantment that kept Frost a man full-time and no one has been able to fix it. Kyle wants to try fixing the problem for Frost (and hoping it will mend their relationship).

There are some big problems in the magical world. People are losing their abilities (the Sight) and people are saying that the Burning Days (the end of magic) are coming. Kyle and his friends work to find a solution. Can they fix the problem in time? Will Timothy Frost ever let Kyle get close to him?

I find Timothy Frost to be a very weak character. I got very tired of him pushing Kyle away and the whining. He was dealt his lot (and he has suffered a lot in his short life), but he has to find a way to live with being two genders. The Poet and the Prophecy got much better in the second half of the book. It is not as good as the first book in the series, but much better than books two and three. The book does have a good ending and a nice epilogue. I give The Poet and the Prophecy 3.75 out of 5 stars. I think the author made the magic a little too complicated (I started skimming through the technical talk after a while). I also do not think this series lived up to its potential. The first book was very good and interesting, but the rest of the series just to live up to that first novel. Please be aware that the novel does contain foul language and explicit sex scenes. You do have to read the other book in the series in order to understand what is going on in The Poet and the Prophecy (otherwise you will be lost).

I received a complimentary copy of The Poet and the Prophecy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-poet-and-prophecy.html

(Disclosure: I don't know the author particularly well, but I've long admired her work as an editor, and have submitted material to her publishing house in the past. This hasn't had any impact on my reaction to the book, other than I wouldn't have known about a promo deal on the new edition and run off to buy it if I didn't have her blog on my LiveJournal feed.)

Erotic fantasy novel which is quite openly inspired by Harry Potter. "Inspired by" means "loving homage", not "rip-off"; this is a worthy novel in its own right, and could be enjoyed as such by someone who's never read any of Rowling's books (or indeed any of the other speculative fiction Tan pays homage to). But it's most easily described as what would happen if Harry Potter was an American taking up a scholarship at Harvard University, and on arrival walking into the admin office of a faculty housed in buildings which aren't findable by most people on the campus, to the confusion of himself and the faculty administrators. Since we're dealing with undergraduates here, there's sex. Lots of sex. Sex for actual plot purposes, no less, and all the better for it. For there is indeed a plot, concerning the covert presence on campus of a siren, what that is, and the dangers it poses to the students. It's intertwined with various other plot threads, most of which are resolved satisfactorily while leaving openings for further stories about next year's adventures. While I think there's some room for improvement, it's well written, by someone who understands her material. I liked it a lot, enough to want to read the next one in the series (a quartet of novels plus a collection of short stories). If that brief description sounds like something you'd be interested in reading, I'd recommend you try it out -- the prologue and first chapter are available as free samples on Amazon and other online retailers.

I just finished The Incubus and the Angel by Cecilia Tan. It is the third book in the Magic University series. These books are erotic novels for adults (despite the cover). Kyle Wadsworth is a junior at Veritas, a university for magic that is hidden at Harvard. He is busy working on his junior project. He has decided to translate the Avestan Prophecy into modern English. Kyle still believes that the prophecy applies to him despite criticism (he is even ignoring his professors telling him that every person thinks a prophecy could be applied to them).

Kyle has been thinking and dreaming of Timothy Frost since they escaped from the dimensional pocket (The Towers and the Tears). Frost has been avoiding Kyle. He has even moved to an apartment off campus. Kyle wants to find him and talk to him. Kyle starts seeing Lindy. She is enchantress (magically speaking) but her power seems to be diminishing. Kyle agrees to help her obtain extra power for an exam, and they start dating.

Several girls on campus have been having strange dreams. They are being visited by a person in their dreams. In the dreams they have sex with the man whether they want to or not. Some of the girls were virgins before the dream, but they were not after the dream (they can tell by a pearl that changes from virgin white to black). There seems to be an incubus on campus and that is who is visiting the girls. Who is this incubus (male version of succubus)? Several people are having trouble with their powers. Their powers are diminishing and they can no longer see the magical buildings (makes it hard to get to class if you cannot see the building). What is happening? Kyle wants to find out what is going on as well as finish his junior project and find Frost.

I give The Incubus and the Angel 3 out of 5 stars. It is okay, but not great. The first book in the series, The Siren and the Sword, was much better. To understand The Incubus and the Angel you do need to read the first two books in the series (otherwise nothing will make sense). This book does contain detailed sex scenes and foul language.

I received a complimentary copy of The Incubus and the Angel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review and ratings are strictly my own!

Wow... a bit unexpected -- the good kind of unexpected -- even as the current-trend erotic-romance trilogy formula is apparent. For a 26 year old grad student in NYC, Karina often acts and talks ten years younger, behaves too naively and far too carelessly in NYC. For a 36 year old successful artist, James often acts and talks twenty years older, behaves too reservedly and too coldly, for reasons that are suspected, but only confirmed by the end. This is is based on the first 20-40 pages and would have turned me off as a poor use of precious little reading time if I hadn't decided to see this story through.

Slow Surrender a mildly erotic romance with minimal bondage, "punishment" which really isn't punishment as we've read in other similarly written books, nothing closely resembling a contract and a way out at every step of the way -- truly a consensual relationship, albeit a bit far-fetched as he remains very secretive and she is okay with that. While this story is just as formula-driven as proceeding erotic romance trilogies, I was surprised by the ending, even with knowing this is the first installment of a trilogy (why is the trilogy format being endlessly perpetuated?!?!?! What happened to the stand-alone romance??).

Three and a fraction stars, but not rounding up to a four-star rating. Too risky of behavior of Katrina in the beginning (meaning a too-far fetched beginning). Sweet, playful and sensual in the middle (the best part of the book). Both their behavior is too high-schoolish at the end. Reminiscent of Cinderella, in a reversed sort of way, was an interesting spin.

This installment is mostly about her, in nearly every way! I anticipate the second installment will give us his back story (even while it remains in her POV) with the concluding installment, I suspect, about them and their eventual forever after. No HEA right now, because this ends with a cliffhanger ending (IMHO) -- too many unresolved issues and tension still heavy. The ending does not feel like a natural break in the story which is why I feel the ending is a cliffhanger.

Bottom line: Do I recommend this book? If you like romance, then yes. If you like mild eroticism, then yes. If you like the girl being pampered and cared for and the guy (mostly) a gentleman, then yes. If you want something new or different, then no.

Much, much better than the first Struck by Lightning installment... More intrigue, more twists to the ongoing story! Making more eager for the next in the series than I was after only reading the first in the series. No longer are the two acting like high schoolers, though the drama is a bit surreal, but why would someone read chick lit if it weren't to get oneself lost in surrealism.

The Tower and the Tears by Cecilia Tan is the second book in the Magic University series. Kyle is starting his sophomore year of college and he has decided to major in esoteric (erotic) arts. In order to be accepted into the department, he will have to pass three tests of the judges choosing. Someone is also stealing the Rings of Lore which are five rings that increase the wearer's abilities if they are worn during esoteric rituals. Kyle, Alex, and the girls are hard at work studying, deciding their majors, and trying to find out who has stolen the Rings of Lore. They will also find out more about the mysterious tower and the Dean (none of the students have seen him).

The sex scenes in The Tower and the Tears are more graphic and intense than in The Siren and the Sword. This book is definitely for a more mature audience (despite the cover with the young looking kid).

The Tower and the Tears is good, but not great. I wish the author would focus a little more on the story as in The Siren and the Sword. I give The Tower and the Tears 3.75 out of 5 stars. It will be interesting what happens to Kyle in the next book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Loved the book!! Wish it had a different ending though...I'm a sucker for HEA!

When Karina gets tired of all the secrets, she breaks it off with James. He'll do just about anything to get her back, along with her trust. Karina makes him a deal: each time she submits to his sexual play he must answer another question about his secret life. Karina loves James, but she knows he has a lot of secrets to reveal. Will she be able to handle all there really is to find out?

Slow Satisfaction is a truly deep tale that slowly unravels to reveal more than you could imagine. Just when you think you've gotten all the clues to the story you find out there's much more on the way. I was continually absorbed in the story, losing all track of time. Ms. Tan knows how to keep the sexual details new and intricately put together. The hero and heroine's sexual prowess was astonishing and enlightening. The supporting characters worked well to add to the story and make it more complete. I only wish I would have gotten the chance to read the previous books in the series. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Tan in the near future!

A reading list selection in contemporary romance from TRS for AReCafe.

Heart breaking... At a time when Daron and Ziggy should be over the moon to have such pain. Sad. I want my HEA soon or at least a silver lining.

Still waiting on my hea, but at least there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

The chronicles of a rock band. The first volume is all setup and the band getting its first break. Let me tell you this is not a quick on your lunch break type of a read. There are four books currently and more chapters still appearing on the writer's website. The storyline and the characters are complex and evolving. A great rock 'n' roll band read. Overall a 4 Star.

Oh, oh. That's all. I love this so much, a realistic chronicle of Daron's life from boy to rock star, all set in the 1980s.