Ribbons And Bows by Marteeka Karland


Ribbons And Bows by Marteeka Karland
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Short Story (52 pgs)
Other: BDSM, M/F
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Samson Redding has everything he could want — everything money can buy. But for all that, he’s alone. He’s been pursuing the lovely Jerrica in an online relationship, and he’s ready to take it to the next level, but she’s not ready.

Samson’s thought of the perfect way to change her mind. He convinces Jerrica to meet in person — at a BDSM club he knows she’ll love, once she wraps her mind around it.

It may take more than ribbons and bows to tie his woman to his side, but Samson’s up for the challenge. The rest? That’s up to Jerrica.

Samson somehow let his sister talk him into dressing up as Santa Clause for poverty-stricken children. What his sister didn’t know was her attempt – yet again – to set him up fell directly into his plans for Jerrica. Samson and Jerrica had been emailing online for a while now and Samson is more than ready to take steps to the next level. Will Jerrica be on board with that?

This is a fun, Christmassy short story. I found Samson a bit arrogant to start with – having done extensive background research on Jerrica before they’d really met and just assuming he knew what was best for her. It also rubbed me a bit wrong how Samson needed to control pretty much every aspect of the day and evening when he and Jerrica met. From manipulating the situation with his sister “meeting” Jerrica all the way through to the “coincidence” of their date at the BDSM club Samson was literally in control of pretty much every aspect. I found it a little creepy and hugely control-freakish, not really sexy or masterful as I expect it was meant to come across. Aside from this and a few other – far smaller – niggles I really enjoyed how much lead-up there was to both Jerrica’s and Samson’s characters. It was a pleasure to read a very short story where the hero and heroine didn’t just meet, fall in insta-lust and hop right into bed. Readers who enjoy a much slower pace to their steamy stories should find this one suits them well.

While there was a bit of kink shown in the BDSM club, I found it interesting that it was other people (strangers) participating and neither Samson nor Jerrica indulged. I was of two minds about the lack of strong kink in the sex with Samson and Jerrica. On the one hand Jerrica was a complete BDSM novice and had only hinted at her curiosity and interest to Samson – so a part of me understood why they only dipped their toes into the kinkier side of sex. On the other hand I feel the storyline (and the erotic-ness of the sex) could have been really strengthened by some stronger elementrs. For a BDSM story I really felt Samson and Jerrica only dabbled in the shallows of their kink – it would have been a real pleasure, and made the sexy side of the story stronger to my mind, had Samson led Jerrica deeper into the world of BDSM sexually. I feel this was a huge missed opportunity by the author and I couldn’t help but feel disappointed neither of them really went there. Jerrica and Samson weren’t straight vanilla, but considering how far – and explicit – erotic stories have come in recent years I couldn’t help but feel readers looking for a kinky, strongly sexual story might be disappointed with this.

I thought the premise of the story was excellent and I really enjoyed the author’s story-telling voice. I’d happily read more by this author and would even enjoy reading a sequel or story that explored what happened next between Jerrica and Samson. A fun short story.

Candy Caned by Kiernan Kelly


Candy Caned by Kiernan Kelly
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Short Story (37 pgs)
Other: BDSM, M/M, Anal Play, Toys, Spanking
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

For Elves, life at the North Pole is busy but satisfying. Daniel is no exception. He finds great pride in his work as a toy train painter. As the holidays approach, however, the pressures of doing his job push him to the edge. When Santa adds to Daniel’s already overburdened workload by ordering him to plan the annual Workshop Holiday Party, Daniel feels a panic attack coming on and turns to his partner Stephen for help.

Stephen, a Dom who knows Daniel better than anyone else, understands exactly what Daniel needs. In Stephen’s playroom, he blisters Daniel’s ass and balms his soul with the help of a bright, cheery, holiday candy cane.

Now better able to deal with the pressures of the holidays, Daniel plans a party to end all parties for all the Elves at the Workshop. One in which every Elf, including Santa, will be able to get off and let off a little sexy steam.

Christmas time is crazy for the elves, and Daniel hated the hectic stress of it all. His mood only fell further when Santa put him in charge of the annual holiday bash. When Daniel’s lover, Stephen, discovers how stressed Daniel is, he knows exactly the cure to help relieve Daniel’s tension. A good session in their playroom together and they can both enjoy a very Merry Christmas.

This sizzling short story is delightful. I loved both the steamy kink between Stephen and Daniel, but also really enjoyed how well the Dom clearly knew his lover. The familiarity, chemistry and connection between Stephen and Daniel meant I didn’t mind at all when they got intimate very quickly into the story – it was clear they were in a committed and loving relationship, and this made their kinky sex even more delightful to me. I also really enjoyed how the sex – hot as it was – wasn’t the only aspect to the story. I thought it excellent how the author hadn’t just added Daniel organizing the Christmas party as a token or throw-away plot. This got properly followed-through on and I thought it was a hoot. While completely unlike any other North Pole party I’ve heard or read about – the author managed to convince me it was not only suitable, but a heck of a lot of fun to boot.

Definitely not for the faint of heart, get a delicious cocktail or glass of bubbly, turn off your phone, sit back and enjoy this naughty tale. With something that I feel will appeal to everyone this is a fun, frantic and deliciously wicked Christmas story.

Bouncer Bear by Julia Talbot


Bouncer Bear by Julia Talbot
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (49 pgs)
Other: BDSM, M/M/M, Ménage, Anal Play, Toys, Spanking, Voyeurism
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Werebear Trey feels totally out of place when he hires on at Hot Tin Roof as a bouncer. There are all these beautiful men who dance at the club, like Sammy, and like Sammy’s bartender boyfriend, Jordan. Then there’s the fact that most guys look at a big, burly guy like Trey and think he’s a top, when Trey is anything but.

Sammy meets Trey and he knows the big guy is just the subby bottom he and his werecat shifter lover need. Jordan is such an effortless top, and he makes Sammy feel like a rock star, but they could both open their hearts to take Trey in. Can they convince this homeless bear he has a place with them?

Trey’s car is broken down and he needs money. So what’s a bear-shifter to do, but get a job at the local club as a bouncer. Sammy’s a dancer and Jordan the barman – and while each appeals to Trey in a different way, the two men are together – and a pair that Trey just can’t resist. When the three of them decide to play, can Trey manage to keep his heart intact?

I found this to be a deliciously hot ménage romance. Sammy and Jordan are delicious together and totally committed, but now and then they like to invite a third person to play with them. Both men are instantly attracted to Trey. They can tell pretty quickly that the large bear is a magnificent sub and hits the right hot-buttons for both Sammy and Jordan. I especially loved how Trey didn’t just instantly fall all over himself to hook up with Sammy and Jordan. Neither did he play hard to get or act coy. Trey has been hurt in the past and is cautious, albeit needy, in his private life. I adored how the three men needed to work to get together and how in the process this let them get to know each other better and forge an emotional connection before they burned the sheets together.

Emotional, romantic and scorching hot, I genuinely have no criticism for anything in this story. I adored Trey – and loved Sammy and Jordan. The Hot Tin Roof club was fun and very well written and the few secondary characters easily hooked me into hoping there were plenty more stories coming in this series. This totally stands alone perfectly and I especially loved the balance of emotional and romantic connections mingled in with the hot sex. Sammy’s dance moves and fiery personality especially made me smile and laugh, he’s a firecracker of a character and I would dearly love to see more stories revolving around this threesome.

This short story was truly amazing and I have added the series onto my (very short) auto-read list. A brilliant story and one I will eagerly reread many times to come.

Visions of Sugarplum by Sara Jay


Visions of Sugarplum by Sara Jay
Yule Tied
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Holiday, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (35 pages)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Ice fairy Sugarplum has wanted Santa’s only Cyclops in employ, Heath, for years. She knows he returns her interest, but why won’t he give in to his feelings for her? With a little nudge from her best friend, Ice Queen Erika, she is bound and determined to get what she wants this Christmas.

Heath has secrets that he knows would damage his chances with the curvaceous fairy. He would much rather protect both their hearts than risk something that could hurt them both forever. Will he take a chance once Sugarplum brings him a pretty Christmas present that he can’t resist?

How do you tell the difference between a crush and something that’s much deeper than that?

This story was quite the tease. Every time I thought that Sugarplum and Heath might finally do something about their feelings about each other, something got in their way. The more they were delayed, though, the more impatient I became to see them finally fall into each other’s arms and beds. The sexual tension between them was exquisite. As much as I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next, I really liked living in the moment as they swerved past one interruption after the next.

There was a little too much time spent on the subplots. As fascinated as I was by the politics of living and working at the North Pole, I would have preferred to spend some of those scenes focused on what was happening with the main characters. With this being said, it’s a minor criticism of a book that I otherwise really enjoyed reading.

Sugarplum was exactly what I’d think a fairy would be like. She was cheerful, sweet, kind, and also fiercely persistent when she set her mind to accomplishing something. There was also a slightly mischievous side to her personality that didn’t show itself right away. I liked her as soon as I met her and sure hoped that she’d find her happy ending.

Visions of Sugarplum made me smile. If you’re in the mood for a saucy Christmas tale, I’d strongly recommend jumping into this one.

Santa’s Reject by Lily Vega


Santa’s Reject by Lily Vega
Yule Tied
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Holiday, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (55 pages)
Other: M/F, BDSM
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Banished from the North Pole for bad behavior, Beryl is shipped off to Fairyville. A scratch from Cupid’s arrow infuses her with Christmas spirit and saddles her with a mad crush on her new boss, Killian — a.k.a. the Tooth Fairy.

Killian despises love and the entire notion of Yuletide celebrations. The last thing he needs is a beautiful Elf spreading holiday cheer and trying to drag him into the sack. After all, Beryl’s love could sour like rotten eggnog once she discovers his secret.

Banishment doesn’t always have to be a bad thing.

There were so many creative touches in this tale. Everything from the names of certain characters to the economic value of the teeth that Killian collected had clearly been thought out carefully. I grinned every time the protagonist drew my attention to yet another funny pop culture reference that had been tucked away in a description or conversation These little surprises made it so much fun to read.

The dialogue was awkward. Both of the main characters often said things they should have expressed through their body language or jumped right into doing instead. This was especially noticeable during their most intimate moments. Those exchanges pulled me out of what was otherwise an entertaining and enjoyable story. If not for this problem, I would have had no problem selecting a much higher rating as I really liked everything else about it.

Killian and Beryl were perfect for each other. I loved watching them spend time together because of how good both of them were at flirting with their body language. They knew exactly which buttons to push to get each other revved up and ready for action. My favorite scenes were the ones where they danced around their attraction for each other for this reason. It was so much fun to see them gradually move closer and closer to revealing their true desires, and I couldn’t wait to see how things would pan out between them.

I’d recommend Santa’s Reject to anyone who is in the mood for some witty erotica.

Christmas Party by Shelby Morgen


Christmas Party by Shelby Morgen
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (37 pgs)
Other: M/F, Anal Play
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

Cherie, office IT tech and unmitigated girl-gamer-geek, protects her privacy by telling the office matchmakers she has a boyfriend stationed overseas. Tech Sergeant Zakarias, the unit IT guy, tells the guys on base he’s got a girlfriend waiting back home. Both lies are designed to keep the two of them safely insulated from well meaning friends — and heartbreak.

When the two IT people voted least likely to ever get a date collide at Cherie’s office Christmas party, they decide it’s easier to ride the holidays out together than try to escape their own lies. They’ve got a lot in common, but is the chemistry they share enough to make up for all the reasons they’ve been determined to stay single?

Cherie doesn’t mind Christmas – she just hates the obligatory Christmas Parties and ensuing bunch of awkward questions. But when Zak starts speaking her language, suddenly this particular Christmas Party ends up being the best of her life.

I laughed so hard through this short story and was utterly charmed within the first couple of pages. From mis-spelling her fake-boyfriend’s name to tech-geek computer gaming conversations this is a realistic, hilarious and wonderfully sexy short story. I wish half my Christmas parties were this much fun! The chemistry between Cherie and Zak was smoking hot, and I loved how quickly and easily they managed to click emotionally as well as physically.

While this was absolutely a short story and thus fast paced, I believed and really loved the connection between Cherie and Zak. Add in that Zak was a man in uniform and I genuinely couldn’t find a single fault with the story, writing or characters. This is an amazing, funny and clever story that I loved from start to finish, and one I know will remain on my keeper pile. While set at Christmas time, there wasn’t a lot of Christmassy-ness in it, and speaking personally I didn’t mind that at all, though readers looking for a Christmas-themed story might find this one small aspect lacking.

With frozen dildos, laptop comparisons and raids of bachelorette party condoms, this book had me laughing so hard all the way through and deliciously invested in Cherie and Zak’s brand new relationship. Equal parts sexy and fun I adored this story and can’t recommend it highly enough.

Oops by Anne Kane


Oops by Anne Kane
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Short Story (37 pgs)
Other: M/F, Forced Seduction
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Stephanie, Jackie and Caroline. The three women have been friends for years, and they’ve built themselves a nice bed and breakfast /ranch operation. But with less than a fortnight to Christmas, a ruthless banker has swindled them out of their beloved home. What will they do?

Well, kidnapping him and holding him hostage until he decides to do the right thing sounds like a good plan. Unfortunately, it all goes hilariously wrong when they discover they’ve kidnapped the wrong man. Bondage, obedience classes and more are needed to make sure there’s a Merry Christmas this year!

Caroline, Steph and Jackie had been swindled out of their ranch. Determined to get their property back they hatch the crazy plan to kidnap the jerk who stole it from them and force him to give it back. Only instead of Mr James Smithers, they end up kidnapping Mr Jebediah Smithers. And all too soon Jackie finds their crazy plan starting to unravel. How can they get their ranch and livelihoods back?

This short story starts off in a lighthearted, fun manner that really had me giggling. I had a bit of a wobble reading it near the middle – when the three ladies still didn’t truly believe they’d kidnapped the wrong man and tied him to the bed and Jackie starts touching him intimately. While the author wrote the story clearly showing they’d all end up on the same page and even hinted that Jebediah could escape his restraints should he choose to – it all just shaded just a little too close to a “forced seduction” type of scene for me to actually enjoy it. Readers who dislike kidnap/forced intimacy stories or find them to be a trigger should steer clear of this story. That said, even though Jackie didn’t seem to believe they’d made a mistake she and Jebediah sure managed to get hot and heavy pretty quickly – and both appeared to have a glorious time doing so.

Both Caroline and Steph watched the sexiness between Jackie and Jebediah, though neither of the other women joined in or even seemed to participate apart from watching. So personally I wouldn’t consider this a menage or group sex thing as such – but other readers might feel differently. The sex was hotly written and especially as the sex scene progressed it was clear both Jackie and Jebediah got more and more invested in each other as they became more intimate.

While the author made it clear to the readers that they shouldn’t feel even a speck of sympathy for James Smithers, I also couldn’t help but feel bad at the depths the women sank to in the effort of getting their ranch back. While I genuinely understood how desperate they were, I still felt their actions reflected a bit poorly on them and the strength of their characters. Obviously this short story was all meant in good fun, but I could understand if some readers are a lot more invested in the relationship flourishing between Jackie and Jebediah and a little less taken by the plot and lengths the three friends go to, to get their ranch back in their hands.

A very different and interesting type of Christmas short story, this is certainly a new plot twist that I’ve never read before. Fresh and unique, it certainly made me think and start a few discuss with other reading friends.

Gift Of A Lifetime by Ana Raine


Gift Of A Lifetime by Ana Raine
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday (Christmas)
Length: Short Story (35 pgs)
Other: BDSM, M/M, Anal Play, Toys
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Ryo’s job at the Crooked Paintbrush is a way to make some money doing what he loves while meeting new people. But when Logan walks into Ryo’s painting class, he realizes there are some things that can only be described as fate.

More than just a handsome face, Logan proves to be exactly the kind of Master Ryo has been waiting for. The kind of man who will test his limits while providing some much needed love and safety.

Ryo hosts painting classes for singles looking for like-minded people. Even though he’s looking for a Master of his own, he generally enjoys the classes and watching other people find happiness. Logan was the most handsome man Ryo had ever met, and when Logan asks him out for dinner, Ryo feels like all his Christmas’ have come at once. Can Logan be everything he needs?

I enjoyed this hot and sexy short story. I found Ryo and Logan to be super hot together, and both liking exactly the same thing – kinky sex. I didn’t mind that Ryo and Logan got quite intimate fairly quickly after meeting – in such a short story they needed to move fast – but I really enjoyed how the author let them actually talk and get to know each other a little bit first. I was a little uncertain why neither Ryo nor Logan had met someone into kink earlier – the author made it seem like they both wanted something very deep and dark and unheard of with other men, and I just didn’t find that too believable. While they certainly both enjoyed BDSM and playing with toys, I didn’t find their kink outrageous or particularly dark. So I never really bought into the fact neither man had met someone previously who could give them what they wanted. This small bit of unrealistic plotting didn’t lesson my enjoyment of the story, however.

I enjoyed both men’s characters – Ryo was an eager and curious submissive, Logan a strong and caring Dominant. While I liked how compatible the two men were, I did find it a little unusual toward the end, reading some of the play-talk between Ryo and Logan. Personally, I prefer it when a Master builds his pet up and strengthens them. While I liked Logan’s tenderness and attachment to Ryo, Ryo seemed to need someone to use him and take over completely, and while it was very well written and is sure to appeal to many readers, I discovered it just isn’t really my thing. The care and love between the two men though is a wonderful thing to watch as is their hot, spicy sex.

For slightly kinky, very short Christmas story this was a good read and one I enjoyed.

Regifted by BJ McCall


Regifted by BJ McCall
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (42 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Fern has no idea the Christmas gift given to her on Christmas Eve is a regift. The perfume smells divine and unbeknownst to Fern it has an added benefit. The scent is packed with pheromones that attract werewolves.

Pace is spending the holiday weekend in the city, a lonely Christmas away from his pack. A major power outage plunges the city into darkness. Pace has a choice: spend Christmas alone or invite his new neighbor with the alluring scent for a candlelight drink…

Fern is the new girl at her work and so she’s left to close the office on Christmas Eve and then reopen it the following Monday. After Fern gives out small goodies to all her co-workers, her boss, Alison is the only one to reciprocate. Fern is thrilled, until she finds the bottle of perfume is a regift. What neither Alison nor Fern know is that the scent is actually a Mating Scent. When Fern bumps into a homesick werewolf, her Christmas plans are suddenly going to be a whole lot more intimate than she expected.

I found this to be a sweet and steamy Christmas short story. I loved how Fern and Pace got to know each other a little – chatting about their homes and upbringing, connecting emotionally – before jumping into bed with each other. I also loved the twist on the regifted pheromone perfume bottle capturing Pace’s attention and drawing him to Fern. It all just fit together so well and really appealed to me as a reader. I loved this story.

I was thrilled when – after having sex – the relationship continued to build between Fern and Pace. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them spend Christmas together, explore the city and really get to know each other. It made the romance feel so much stronger between them and also made the entire situation a lot more believable. I found the whole story realistic and fun, sexy and hot. I will happily read more stories both by this author and set in this paranormal world.

I found this to be an excellent short story, with interesting and fun characters and a solid, realistic plot. A great Christmas tale and one I will happily reread many times to come.

Grease Monkey by Harley Wylde


Grease Monkey by Harley Wylde
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (56 pgs)
Other: M/F, Toys, Anal Play
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Gwen: I’ve always been daddy’s little girl, or so everyone thinks, but what I’ve really wanted is to break free of my gilded cage. All anyone ever sees is some rich girl who gets what she wants, but that isn’t me. I hate my life and I’d give anything to experience true passion, even if it was just once. I’m a twenty-year-old virgin, and I have no doubt that daddy dearest is going to sell me to the highest bidder. Where’s a hero when you need one?

Lance: Women have always come easy to me, but there’s never been one that tempted me so much as the debutante stepping out of the silver Mercedes. One look at those gorgeous legs and all I can think about is having them wrapped around me while I make her scream my name. One way or another, she’s going to be mine.

WARNING: If you love sexy bearded men who talk dirty, be prepared to have your kindle melted. This is a highly erotic story with a case of insta-love.

Gwen Montcliff practically never hears the word “no”. A spoiled, rich little daddy’s girl, to outward appearances she lives a perfect life. But Gwen was far from stupid, and after a huge fight with her father, she knew her time as a free woman was coming to an end. All too soon daddy dearest was going to marry her off to one of his rich business friends and Gwen didn’t see an easy way out of it. When Lance rode up on his motorcycle Gwen immediately felt the chemistry and attraction with him. Could he be her ticket to a happier life?

I found this an interesting short story. While I initially felt very little connection (or sympathy) with Gwen I was curious to see where the author would lead with this “unhappy rich girl meets biker mechanic” style of story. While I enjoyed the relationship-building aspect of the story, I struggled a bit with the unrealistic nature of the sex between Gwen and Lance.

Gwen was a virgin so her immediate and extremely strong sexual reaction to Lance felt a little surprising to me. Her agreeing to expose herself and be sexually intimate with a man she’d literally met minutes ago didn’t strike me as realistic at all. I think a lot of this was due to the fact the author didn’t give me a real reason as to WHY she was so enraptured with him. Why did this inexperienced woman throw all logic and caution aside (having unprotected sex with him) and offer herself to this man who picked her up on the side of the road? At the initial, early stage of their sexual intimacy I didn’t feel any connection between them. There was no reason for her to trust him, no knowledge that he wouldn’t rape or hurt her – she had no idea who or what he was and she didn’t even question him or his reasons.

Having said this, the sex itself was hot and explicit – excellent for an erotic romance, I just missed the emotional connection between them and this really effected my enjoyment of the story. I found Lance to be a protective bad boy with a filthy mouth and a stud in bed. About half way through the story I really started to enjoy how the plot grew more intricate. With a few plot twists and character surprises my enjoyment and appreciation of the author’s story rose considerably. Even though this is the first book I’ve read by this author I could guess a few parts of the plot, but some of the intricacies took me delightfully by surprise and I really enjoyed the extra layers and complexities this gave the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the second half of this book.

Lance and Gwen’s relationship progressed at an extremely fast pace – married within a day of meeting each other – so readers who appreciate a bit of a slower ride and the characters connecting fully before they progress might not be as satisfied with this story. Those who like a rough-and-tumble courtship and are happy to just disconnect their brain could find this a fun and interesting read.