Marked by Lauren Dane, Vivian Arend and Kit Rocha
Erotic Contemporary Anthology
February 10, 2014
Self Published

Reviewed by Helyce

It is extremely rare that I read an anthology and enjoy every short story featured, but Marked  totally captivated me and I could not put this one down!  It is all kinds of hot and sexy! Here’s the breakdown (blurbs from Goodreads):

All That Remains (Metamorphosis #1) by Lauren Dane

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Lauren Dane takes you into a brand new world in ALL THAT REMAINS. Summer Killian falls fast and hard when Charlie arrives in Paradise Village. But the heat turns all the way up when she learns Charlie is also with Hatch – the man she loved three years before. While she’s not sure she’s cut out for a triad, neither man is going to give her up.

In All That Remains, Ms. Dane takes us to a post-plague new earth hundreds of years in the future, where men outnumber women so much so that multiple-partner relationships are common and accepted without any social stigmas.  Living is very commune-like where goods and services are often traded in lieu of selling.  While I am not a big fan of menage relationships in my romance reads, the set up of this new earth and the reasons and backstory provided were enough for me to just kind of go with the flow and allow for a world in which this was both accepted and successful.  What really spoke to me about this world, though, was the way of life and that uncluttered, back to basics lifestyle.  I loved the lack urgency, the total non-corporate feel of the world. Modern, but not; kind of like Ms. Dane  took bits and pieces from several time periods across history and incorporated all the good times into this future world.

The triad featured in this story, Summer, Charlie and Hatch, have a very hot and steamy relationship. Summer hasn’t ever really been interested in being in a triad, so when she meets Charlie and the attraction is there, she’s wary when he mentions he’s in town with a friend. When she meets Charlie’s friend and realizes it’s Hatch, her first love and the man who broke her heart by leaving her three years prior, she’s a bit hesitant–but the chemistry between these three is very strong and it doesn’t take Summer long to give in and see where this goes.  This relationship triad was believable to me because Charlie and Hatch’s love for each other is made clear from the beginning and they both want Summer.

I very much look forward to seeing where Ms. Dane takes this futuristic earth and the people that live there.

Rating: A

Rocky Ride by Vivian Arend (Thompson & Sons #1 [Six Pack Ranch])

Take a ROCKY RIDE with New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Vivian Arend as she leads you back to the Six Pack Ranch. Anna Coleman might be the law around Rocky Mountain House, but bad boy Mitch Thompson knows that under the stiff RCMP uniform is a woman with a passion for speed and pleasure that matches his own, and he’s not giving up until she’s his.

Anna Coleman is the only girl in a sea of male Colemans; her brothers and cousins just a bit too nosey when it comes to the men in her life.  So, it’s no surprise that she’s keeping sexy, bad boy, Mitch a secret.  Their fantasy driven hook-ups are perfect for her, but Mitch wants more.  He’ll go at whatever speed is comfortable to Anna, but for him, he’s ready to take it to the next level and see where it can go.

I loved heading back to Rocky Mountain House and seeing Anna from a different view. I also really liked that the need for more in the relationship came from Mitch and not with Anna.  Mitch totally breaks the stereotype of the hot, bad ass stud who is just perfectly fine with sex on the fly and no romantic attachments. He sees something in Anna and he wants more. I loved his approach; he knows Anna is skittish, so he doesn’t push.  He’s content with moving at a slow pace. And he makes a lot of sacrifices, even ones that hurt his heart, all for Anna.

An outside force is a constant hindrance on their budding relationship and a well placed lie is able to break the fragile bond that Mitch and Anna had forged. I admit that I was a bit confused by this turn of events.  I was not clear if this person wanted Anna for himself or really was just after ruining her reputation. He turns up everywhere (like a stalker) and as soon as he has the fuel he needs, it appears he succeeds in doing what he’d set out to do.  Have no fear, everything comes full circle and as with most lies, this one is quickly found out and the repercussions to the liar are both hilarious and deserved!

If you are unaware that this is also a lead-in to a new series by Ms. Arend, Thompson & Sons, then you might be a bit confused by a few events in the side story that relate to Mitch’s younger sister Katy (I know I was). I’m sure it will all be spelled out in the first book in that series due out later this month.

Rating: A

Beyond Temptation by Kit Rocha (Beyond 3.5)

Kit Rocha returns to Sector Four in BEYOND TEMPTATION. A promise to a dying friend backfires when Noah Lennox finds that the girl he was supposed to rescue is all grown up–and wearing O’Kane ink. He wants to protect her from the secrets of their past, but she wants him. And an O’Kane woman always gets what she wants.

Noah and Emma go way back.  The little sister of Noah’s best friend, Emma has always had it bad for Noah, but had never acted upon it.  Noah might have had feelings for Emma as well, but he never felt he was good enough. He promised to get Emma to safety and he thought he had, until he learns that he’d been played and finds out that she’s now wearing O’Kane ink and living in Sector Four.  When they are reunited, it doesn’t take them long to get together and their passion is strong and their love is fast.

To be fair, I want to note that I have only read the first two books in the Beyond series and that, for me, not reading book 3 may have affected my thoughts regarding this book, but I can’t be sure.  While Noah and Emma share a connection that has stood the test of time, even with them being apart for many years, I was a bit bothered by the insta-love between these two.  I felt like I was missing a piece of the puzzle that would justify the connection they shared.  I didn’t remember Emma, thus my thought that perhaps she came to Sector Four in book three and having a bit more of her backstory might have been a plus. The second chance/friends to lovers feel is there and I was able to convince myself that perhaps they had always been a little in love with each other.

That said, I do love me the gritty, dirty, sexy world that Ms. Rocha has created here.  I love the fight club and the open sexuality and I especially love that in spite of the fact these people are literally just trying to survive, the importance of family and the loyalty that Dallas O’Kane has inspired in those he allows within his inner sanctum are really just basic themes, necessary for life in general.  You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours; you fuck me, I fuck you worse. It’s really that simple.

Rating: A-

I would be remiss if I did not mention that all these stories are smokin’ HOT! There’s sex up against a car on the open road, there is outdoor sex where people just go about their business while others are getting it on and there is hard, fast, dirty talking sex.  Something for everyone!

Overall Rating: A

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