Getting to You by ML Uberti
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Zac Xavier is called from a meeting to find his wife, a teacher, is in a lockdown situation at her school. Rushing across town, he remembers when they first met.

In fear for her life, Emma is determined to protect her students at all costs. But while danger lurks closer, she flashes back to meeting her beloved husband.

Zac won’t stop until Emma’s safe, and Emma will do what she has to in order to protect her students. Will their love affair meet a tragic end or will they get their happily ever after?

Zac and Emma are happily married and deeply in love. When Zac gets a call that Emma – a teacher – is in a lockdown situation at her school he rushes to meet her. Both Zac and Emma flash back to their first meeting, can they get to each other in time?

This is a really different but thoroughly enjoyable story. I was absolutely surprised that I enjoyed the heavily flash-back style of plotline but somehow the author really made it work for me. I feel this won’t be a number of readers cup of tea. For starters there is a school lockdown due to an active shooter emergency and that could definitely be a trigger for some readers. The tension overall and student’s fear – as well as Emma’s fear and strong desire to protect her students – is I feel very tastefully and well written but I could completely understand if it’s simply a bit much (or too close to reality) for some readers. So this definitely won’t be for everyone. Also I feel – like myself – many readers might shy away from a romance that is centered more on recollections of the past and how Emma and Zac came to be together, rather than focusing on their present or future plans. It’s an odd way of writing a romance story and while I was skeptical at first, I really found it to be quite enjoyable.

Readers who can look past the fact that much of the relationship-building – and intimacy – in this story is told in flash-backs and text conversations should find like I did that this is an intense and wonderful story of two people determined to stay with each other and live a long, happy life together despite the odds.

Finally, I was amused – and curious – about Zac’s relationship with his brothers and found their banter and communications a delight to read. I’d absolutely pick up more stories about this family and am intrigued enough to look further into this author.

Naughty & Sweet by Megan Slayer
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Rating: Three stars
Reviewed by Fern

Kelly Fenn came to the Honey Dripper seeking what she thinks is an easy way to make cash to pay off a loan. Martin Malachi is the one man she never expected to find, let alone fall in love with.

Martin’s not looking for a girlfriend, but Kelly needs a job. When he suggests an offer Kelly can’t refuse, she’s got a choice to make. Will she risk her heart for a chance at forever with a man fifteen years her senior, or walk away?

Kelly is looking for some serious money to pay off her loan, and from what she hears stripping is one of the fastest way to make it. When Martin makes her an offer Kelly is tempted enough to take him up on it. Despite the age gap between them is she willing to risk her heart or will she give in and walk away?

I found this to be an interesting short story. While I felt there wasn’t initially really any chemistry between Kelly and Martin I did enjoy the slow burn as they each came to appreciate and grow more attached to each other. While the deal Martin offered Kelly really did seem too good to be true (and needs a healthy dose of suspending logic and disbelief) as a plot device it was great and certainly put both Kelly and Martin exactly in the right positioning for the rest of the story to flow smoothly.

I was pleased with the slower pace of the romance growing between Kelly and Martin – it helped that the author sprinkled in a lot of plot between the three Malachi brothers and let things progress at a more realistic and natural pace. There’s a bit of BDSM and light kink between Kelly and Martin that readers who like their stories a bit on the spicier side should enjoy. I didn’t feel anything too envelope-pushing was included and readers used to modern erotic stories should find it spicy and explicit but not too much.

With an intricate plot and some very sexy shenanigans I found this to be a fun and interesting quick read. I’ll be very interested in the next installment (revolving around another brother, I suspect) and will keep an eye out for it.