Blushing Violet by Ann Mayburn

Summary:

Shy and quirky Violet Bishop has finally found the perfect way to meet a man who can fulfill her hidden submissive desires—an online dating site that matches couples based on books they love. In this case, the BDSM erotica that fuels her fire.

Two Dom best friends and business partners, Carlos Romano and Morgan Kane, are matched with Violet. They both want to date her and, rather than fight, decide to keep the fact they know each other a secret and let her choose. A good idea in theory, but impossible when they both fall in love and wish to make Violet their own.

The men build up Violet’s almost nonexistent self-esteem and help her find strength she never knew she had, along with an almost bottomless craving for their dominant touch. When Violet discovers they’ve been less than truthful, the men realize they’ve helped her become stronger than even they knew—strong enough to leave them. Now Morgan and Carlos must find a way to win their perfect woman back, no matter what.

Reviewer: avidscribe
28 year old Violet, despondent over the breakup of her cheating ex, bravely places a want ad in an online dating service one drunk New Year's Eve night. She's a hard working physical therapist, slightly overweight, who has been raised to the mantra that she's not good enough, not pretty enough, not thin enough until she believes it to her marrow.

Violet has a secret. She's fascinated by BDSM. She craves a Master to call her own. Looking at a photo book of erotica, she is stirred by pictures of women shackled and pleasured and wants to know what it feels like. Her favorite fantasy involves the two men in a particular photo who are holding sway over a woman shackled by her hands and feet to a frame. One is blond, one has sable brown hair and a dark tan. They are impossibly handsome men she reacts physically to as she hungrily examines the photograph in detail and the rapturous expression on the submissive's face. She goes to bed wishing, hoping, praying her life will change.

Across town, these two very photogenic men are also looking for Ms. Right. Who'd have guessed that they posed in the very book Violet has been fantasizing over, a book of their own mutual work? Carlos is the dark one, a photographer with a keen eye. Morgan, his buddy since high school, is the blond who creates painterly effects in Carlos' photos. Together, they command good prices for their work and live comfortably, albeit alone. Tired of their share of vapid, manipulative, money-hungry bitches, they've both joined the very same dating site as Violet and that fateful night each man gets a hit. Yes, both are matched with Violet.

It takes a huge leap of faith (and a push by her best friend, Bethany, who helps her dress) to get Violet to go through with meeting them individually. She meets Carlos first who is urbane but knowing and takes her home to a repast of smores in his living room fireplace. She enjoys the ease at which he makes her comfortable and the standup sex in his hallway (they never make it to his bedroom) is earth shattering. She's never had a lover like Carlos ... that is, until she meets Morgan and finds that "together they were her perfect man" which pretty much tells a reader where the story will end.

Coming from a hard lifetime of abusive remarks by her mother and sister and a callous ass of an ex, she thinks she can't possibly be enough for either of these two affluent, gorgeous men and can hardly believe it when both of them are smitten by her curvaceous body and natural submissive behavior in bed. The problem is, she can't decide which she likes more and neither man is willing to give her up for the other. Secrets and reveals will tear them apart before we get a HEA at the end.

This is good writing, good characterizations, an interesting story I enjoyed the nuances of. I enjoy descriptives that try to reach for something different.

Her eyes like mint leaves covered in frost

had me sitting back to consider the what the luminosity and color value of that might be. Ann Mayburn has some funny moments I laughed out loud at, like Violet pseudo fretting about her aunt's will:

I don't want to take the chance of my sister getting her vast collection of Elvis refrigerator magnets and Lawrence Welk records instead of me.

And Carlos being called Sith Lord Carlos with the promise made to Violet of having her join the dark side with him. Loved

the wet secrets of her body exposed to his gaze.

I am fanatical about looking for new depths in writing and interesting turns of phrase and this book had several.

Spelling error, though, on page 69 "immediately," not "immideatly."

What I enjoyed about this is that even with the brevity of the storyline, the writer was able to bring nice characterization and backstory into the plot. Ann brings us an intelligent heroine who doesn't let her self esteem issues hold her back from an interesting, promising career. Violet is a touch volunteer at a hospital, part of a study to document the effectiveness of touch on helping people heal. Touching has been found to help the sick eat more and have better tolerance and she's good at what she does.

The photographic work of both men unveiled at the story's end at a charity event, glowingly depicts their love for the woman they both want in their lives. Unbeknownst to her, Carlos has snapped Violet at work, and Morgan has added in shimmers of fantasy transforming the simple moments of patient care into works of art that I found myself envisioning as something sensual, rich, and transcending. If only all women were as loved.

Worth reading. I will be reading more of Ann's work and hope it is as strong and well written as this. 3 1/2 stars out of 5.

Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Review Courtesy Of: ManicReaders

Onyx Moon (Prides of the Moon 4) by Ann Mayburn

Summary:

Marcus Galin has searched the world for a very special kind of werepuma—a beta who has also been blessed by the Goddess as a shaman. His prayers are finally answered when Madame Eve of the 1Night Stand matchmaking service arranges for him to meet a man in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica that fits his requirements. Only problem: Marcus is terrified of magic and doesn't know if he can overcome his fear enough to open his heart to a stranger that his Pride and his heart desperately need.

Vashan Dulphin has spent all of his life as an outcast among his people. By a twist of fate and genetics at puberty, he became a werejaguar instead of a werepuma, much to his family and Pride's disgust. Since then he has lived in solitude among his people, tolerated only because of his power as both a beta and a shaman. Desperate for a chance to find a home where he will be loved, he calls on the aid of Madame Eve, who sends him Marcus.

Together the men will have to overcome their fear and self-doubt for a one-in-a-million chance at love.

Reviewer: Carolina Fruitfly
I'm giving Onyx Moon by Ann Mayburn 3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this short novella but would have liked more development between the love interests and I felt like the ending wasn't really complete, it would have been a lot better if some of the questions were answered and the bad guy was found. Also, there were many grammar mistakes, a lot of places extra words or the wrong word would be added in and I thought that could have easily been fixed with a good editor.

Besides these few things, I really enjoyed the story and liked that the author used pumas as the shifters. Normally for cat shifter books authors use the more popular lion or jaguar and I thought it was refreshing to see that a lot of the clans were pumas. I also loved the descriptions in this book, from how the characters looked, to the lush forest scenery around them. The author clearly has a beautiful way of describing things and she created an interesting world. I'd recommended this book for anyone looking for a short shifter story.

Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Review Courtesy Of: ManicReaders

Sodom and the Phoenix by Ann Mayburn

Summary:

Tanwen Evans has traveled to the world famous Sodom Virtual Reality Resort to find her passion. Her twenty year marriage to her high school sweetheart has recently ended, and with both of her children out of the house she finds herself alone for the first time in her adult life. Unwilling to trust her heart to another man, she believes that indulging in some racy virtual reality fantasies will help her find her long buried sexual side without the messy complications of a relationship. When she arrives at Sodom she discovers much to her shock, and fascination, she has been booked during the annual ‘Leather Kiss’ BDSM convention.

Bryan Hamilton isn’t a fan of virtual reality fantasies, he prefers real life any day of the week. As a founding member of ‘Leather Kiss’ he attends the convention at Sodom, but usually enjoys his submissives without the aid of technology. When he runs into Tanwen all of his plans change. With her gentle disposition and her ladylike manners she calls to him like no woman has since the death of his wife. He discovers that she is a natural submissive and begins a campaign to win her heart, that includes joining her in a series of mind-blowing VR adventures.

Tanwen has to fight her growing attraction to the handsome Master who is supposed to be just a vacation fling. The more they’re together, the more she finds herself yearning to have Bryan be her Master both in the virtual and the real world. She has to decide what’s more important, protecting her heart or taking a chance on the kind of love she’s always dreamed about.

Reviewer: Dolce Amore
Tanwen Evans is alone for the first time in many years. With her children out of the house and without a husband, they're divorced; so she decides to visit her first virtual reality resort that caters to sexual fantasies to find the passion she lost.

Two years ago, if someone had told her that today she would be starting a weeklong vacation dedicated to exploring her sexual fantasies in hopes of reawakening her desire, she would have said they were crazy. Then again, two years ago, she had been in an unhappy marriage to the only man she had ever slept with.

Moments after she meets Bryan Hamilton, he recognizes her as a submissive, although she tries to deny it.

“I-I'm not into such deviant behavior,” she said in a low voice and glanced around to make sure none of the BDSM crowd had heard her. In reality she admired them for their ability to follow their hearts, but there was no way she was letting this man know that. He’d probably toss her over his shoulder and take her to his room and do things with her -- wonderful, forbidden things.
“Deviant?” He leaned closer, and his breath was hot against her ear as he said, “If you consider making a submissive overcome her fear of pleasure, making her orgasm until she can’t remember her name, making her feel like she is the only thing in the world that matters deviant, well, I suppose I am.”

Bryan is searching for a woman like his late wife, who died six years ago, and he thinks Tanwen could be that woman. And he wants to join her VR fantasy if she puts out an open invitation for others to join.

At first he had mistaken her for a sub because of her calling him Sir, but he quickly realized she was just a polite person. He’d always loved that in a woman. The edge of class and manners usually hid a fiery passion.

Tanwen didn’t know that her best friend, Sherry, who made her reservation, signed her up also for the BDSM convention. The conversation between her and Sherry was awesome… I couldn’t stop laughing and it starts with:

“You rotten, dirty, conniving --”
“Best friend in the whole entire world?” Sherry finished with snicker.

And it ends with the best advice a best friend could give:

“Tanwen, you deserve someone who recognizes you for the fantastic woman you are, but watch yourself. I know how easily you bond with people -- you can’t help that you have that earth-mother vibe -- and I’m afraid you could come home with a submissive in your suitcase. You need to know who you are and love yourself before anyone else can love you. And you need to figure that out on your own without falling in love on vacation like some dippy heroine from a soap opera. Have lots of kinky VR sex and take advantage of this opportunity to just focus on yourself and your pleasure. You’ve spent half your life putting your family first. Now it’s time for you to take care of yourself and your needs.”

In her first VR, Bryan joins her and gives her some moments she will never forget and she agrees to meet him in again in VR and in the real world to be introduced to the pleasures of BDSM. And when Danny joins them in VR session, the temperature gets even hotter.

Ms. Ann Mayburn created all the scenes with exquisite attention, lots of imagination, and a bit of magic I didn’t find in her previous book of this series. I consider this book one of the bests she's written and I've read almost all of them. I hope the next ones will be as good as this one and I rate it 5 stars.

Publisher: Loose Id
Review Courtesy Of: ManicReaders

Wild Lilly (Willow Creek 1) by Ann Mayburn

Summary:

When Connecticut socialite Lilly Brooks inherits land in Caldwell, Kansas, she finally has the chance to break free from the gilded cage of Victorian society and chase after her dreams of excitement and romance in the Wild West. Excitement arrives with angry Indians, smelly dogs, and drunken cowboys who won't take no for an answer. Romance comes in the form of a ruggedly handsome rancher named Paul McGregor. Too bad he calls her a whore within the first minute of their acquaintance.


Paul has spent the last three years trying to hold his family and ranch together after the death of his parents. When he saves a stunning blonde, who he thinks is a soiled dove, from a group of drunk ranch hands he tries to do the right thing and get her work at a good saloon. He soon discovers the woman whose favors he would love to buy owns land key to his family's financial future. Paul decides to use his best weapon to win Lilly over and get her property: seduction.

A wicked cattle baron wants Lilly’s land as well and threatens to kill anyone who stands up to him. Paul must decide what he needs more, the land or the beautiful and courageous, wild Lilly.

Reviewer: Dolce Amore
Lilly Brooks wants to find a man that can stand up to her and match her passion. That’s why she's decided to leave Hartford and move to Caldwell, Kansas, There she'll work as a teacher and live on the land her uncle left. She may be a wild woman, but she also has a kind heart. I enjoyed reading about her.

However, there are two men who want her land, Paul McGregor and Lee Krisp. And none of them seemed willing to play fair. One has decided to kill for it and the other to seduce her.

At least Lee Krisp is honest: he wants her land and is willing to kill to get it. Paul McGregor tells her that he loves her but he plans to marry her and after that hurt her so she will leave Kansas, leaving her land in his hands.

The story was good, and yet, I had to reread some of the sections so I could understand what was going on. Also, from the historical books I've read, I feel like the people from that time were much more proper and respectable than the characters from this story. I will give it 3.5 stars.

Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Review Courtesy Of: ManicReaders

Amethyst Moon (Prides of the Moon 5) by Ann Mayburn

Summary:

Noah Braxton's world has been turned inside out and upside down ever since the fateful moment six months ago when he was turned into a shifter by a dying college girl. She made him promise to look after her sister, Giselle, and in an effort to sooth the dying girl he promised her that he would, not realizing the sacrifices he would have to make to keep that promise. Bound by his oath, Noah struggles to fulfill his role of beta to Giselle, an Alpha female, but he can't be everything she needs. He's gay and in order to bond properly with his Alpha female they would have to have sex. Without that bond with an Alpha he is slowly going crazy but he can't force himself to be attracted to a woman. His last hope at saving his mind and his soul lies with Madame Eve of the 1 Night Stand matchmaking service being able to find him a male Alpha that can bridge the gap between himself and Giselle.

Marcus and Vashan have come to Morgantown, WV in the hopes of finding an Alpha female to complete their Pride. Instead they find Noah, a man on the edge of insanity who is also a natural dominant. Despite this both men are instantly drawn to Noah and decide to help him. Marcus will have to use all his strength as an Alpha to dominate Noah and show him that submission to his Alpha doesn't make him weak.

Reviewer: RedDragonfly
To fully enjoy this series you must have at least read Oynx Moon or all previous books in the Prides of the Moon series. I am not sure I like how the males meet and bond in 1 book and then join with their Alpha female in another. Though in this book the Alpha and Beta males join with Beta Noah, a human who's been turned and must bond in order to survive.

Marcus and Vashan are back and clearly are looking for a Alpha female as biology demands they have a female mate to produce children with, so it was surprising they chose to bond with another Beta who is male. While this has been my favorite so far in the series, I would have liked to have known more about the rogue shaman alluded to in the previous book and if he/she will be around in future books.

Will we hear if Giselle chooses Marcus and Vashan as mates in another book or will it be another shifter couple? I patiently wait to find out. I give this book 3.5 stars.

Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Review Courtesy Of: ManicReaders

Peppermint Passion by Ann Mayburn

Summary:

Shyla has dreamt about, lusted after and fallen in love with her bosses over the past year that she has worked for them. With only a few months left before she graduates and earns her teaching degree, she decides to make her move at the company Christmas Party. As if that wasn't nerve racking enough, her place of employment is an exclusive BDSM club and her plans to ensnare her Dominant bosses attention revolves around them bidding on her at the charity submissive auction.

Trent and Jack have been fighting a losing battle to keep their hands off of their beautiful waitress, Shyla, until she no longer works for them. Her gentle spirit and genuinely good heart call to them almost as much as her obvious submissive inclinations. When she surprises them by arriving at their Christmas party dressed like a wet fetish dream, and they learn she plans on being part of the submissive auction, the men quickly decide that the time to show Shyla who she belongs to and who truly loves her has arrived.

Reviewer: Dolce Amore
Shyla fell in love with her bosses from the first moment she saw them. But she was supposed to work with them, as a waitress, so she kept her distance from them.

Now, after a year working for them and finally being able to quit her job, she has decided to try and see if she can have them both. She knew they were Master Doms and she was very interested in knowing what it was all about it.

Shyla goes to the Christmas party they organized with friends, determined to have them or just try BDSM, so she joins in the submissive charity auction.

Jack and Trent loved Shyla from the start but they waited… and now have decided to act and have her.

The story was sweet, and because of some misunderstandings, they all lost a year of happiness, but it does have a happy ending. I will give it 3.5 stars.

Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Review Courtesy Of: ManicReaders

Want by Ann Mayburn

Summary:

Construction foreman Cody McPherson always considered himself as straight as they come. That is until he finds himself falling for the handsome stonemason, Sam Denham, that constantly occupies his thoughts. He wants Sam, badly, and can’t get the man out of his mind. Worse yet, he isn’t even sure if Sam is gay. When he finds out that Sam has signed up with a dating service searching for a guy who looks exactly like him Cody is even more eager, and confused than before.

Sam can’t believe that he’s developed a huge crush on his obviously straight co-worker. Even worse, the job that allowed him to see Cody on an almost daily basis has ended and he desperately misses his buddy in a way that goes far beyond just friendship. In an effort to soothe his aching heart and body, he tries to get a blind date with someone like Cody so he can pretend for just one night that he holds Cody in his arms.

When Cody himself shows up as Sam’s blind date, he is at once elated and afraid of having his heart broken by just another straight guy looking to sample the gay life. He wants to be so much more than Cody’s 1Night Stand and if he’s given the chance, Sam will do anything to prove that love doesn’t discriminate based on gender.

Reviewer: PurpleRose
There was one man who haunted Cody McPherson's dreams that was Sam Denham, a stonemason who worked on the same construction site where Cody worked as a foreman. Sam was an owner of a successful marble and stone business. While working on the same construction site Sam and Cody developed a simple friendship, while hiding their secret feelings and admiration for each other.

To finally admit his attraction to Sam, Cody arranged a 1Night Stand at the same matchmaking service Sam was a member of. As soon they found each other at the same roulette table, they proceed into a hotel room.

Their 1Night Stand in a hotel room was romantic and sweet, but as as characters they were too undeveloped. As both of them expressed the true emotions they felt for each other, the love between them won. The epilogue at the end was classic and sweet.

This short story was an enjoyable mix of sweet desire, romance between two coworkers, and a HOT sexy one night stand. I enjoyed this short story, of course, but for my taste it was too easy and fast developed. I'm giving it 3.5 stars.

Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Review Courtesy Of: ManicReaders