Ellora's Cavemen: Seasons of Seduction I [Paperback]

HER LANCE-ALOT by Delilah Devlin
Lady Margaret du Bary has no intention of sharing her bed with her new husband on their wedding night. He's a brute of a man who obviously hasn't bathed in months. He didn't even notice that he was standing in horse [...] while they said their vows. Her nurse, Grania, suggests plying him with more ale and a bath and he will be unable to consummate their marriage. Lord Roland thinks that a bath is an excellent idea. It'll give his timid wife an opportunity to be comfortable with his body. Could this bath prove to be much more educational than either of them expect?

Delilah Devlin captures the frustration and angst of a young woman forced into marriage with someone she considers completely unsuitable. Lord Roland may be a fierce man in battle but with Margaret, he's gentle and loving and readers won't be able to help but adore him.

DANCE OF THE PLAIN JANE by Lillian Feisty
Jane Holliday has loved Michael Sky for over a year but she's too shy to approach him. When some of his Navy SEAL comrades drag him into the Indian restaurant where she performs she suddenly gains self confidence and uses her dance to seduce him. Michael has no interest in getting involved with a woman. His job isn't conductive to relationships. From the moment the veiled dancer begins her sensuous routine he can't think of anything but getting his hands on her. Is there any hope for love between this Navy SEAL and his shy belly dancer?

Who doesn't like a thrilling story involving a Navy SEAL? They're hot, sexy, and you just know they have the stamina to please a woman. Lillian Feisty thrilled me by having a shy, heavyset girl get the guy everyone wants.

CLUB VAMP by Allyson James
Master vampire Kenelm has been in search of the one woman destined to restore him to power. When he views a young woman reporter on television and notices the tiny tattoo on her collarbone he realizes that his search is at an end. Kenelm sends his friend and lover, Adam Chase, to invite her to his club. Helena Girard is instantly attracted to Adam but she avoids relationships and sex because of the deadly electricity her body emits when she's sexually excited. Kenelm has the ability to siphon off her power while she makes love to Adam - as long as he is also present.

Allyson James adds an `electrifying' aspect to her vampire tale in CLUB VAMP. I loved the vibes I could feel while I read this story. There's no doubt that Kenelm, Adam and Helena are perfect together and there's a thrilling danger to their relationship that will keep you reading to find out what happens next.

CHOOSING MADISON by Sherrill Quinn
Madison Marquette thought that the tales her friend Julie Grant has been telling her of life on other planets were just a product of her imagination. The sudden arrival of two large men in her living room proves that Julie hasn't been making any of it up. Gaelen and Leax have come to Earth to retrieve the fiancé of their world's leader. They didn't anticipate finding their mate in her adventurous best friend Madison.

Sherrill Quinn thrilled me with this spicy tale of intergalactic love. Madison, Gaelen and Leax practically sizzle the pages with the raw emotion that the reader can feel between them. I really loved this story and hope Ms. Quinn has plans to make this into a series.

COME HOWLING by Denise Rossetti
Being a banshee is making Maeve O'Brien's life a living nightmare. Because of her therapists suggestion, Maeve is actively seeking employment through an employment agency. Luc Kaminski is immediately attracted to Maeve despite her bag lady clothes and Tourette-like speech. Her voice alone is enough to cause him to Manifest. Can Maeve accept a man who sports a forked tail and grows horns when he's aroused? And oh my, the things he can do with that tail . . .

Denise Rossetti's story is laugh out loud funny yet at the same time very sweet. Maeve and Luc both have issues that strongly effect their day to day lives and relationships. Readers will love delving into the passion that burns between these two characters and the way they easily accept each other's quirky traits.

LYRAEL'S SACRIFICE by Jory Strong
The Azzura clan is preparing to make a trip across the desert where they'll sell their wares and acquire mates. The girl children of the tribe are raised with the knowledge that they may be sacrificed to the Djinn, spirits of the desert, so that the others can have a safe journey. Lyrael's dreams of a panther who shifts into a bird then changes into a snake tell her that she is to be the Azzura's sacrifice. She even knows the Djinn's name - Asrafil. Will her sacrifice be as horrifying as her imagination leads her to believe, or will she discover a powerful love in the enemy of her people?

Jory Strong draws readers into this story with an intense plot that entices you to learn more about why the Azzura fear the Djinn and what exactly being `sacrificed' entails. Lyrael and Asrafil are fascinating characters who are very different yet turn out to be perfect for each other.

The next generation of ELLORA'S CAVEMEN is here with SEASONS OF SEDUCTION. With this book readers will have the opportunity to sample a variety of tales that are sure to titillate your senses. One of the things that I love about the Cavemen books is that I'm treated to some of my favorite authors and at the same time get to read one or two authors I may not have had the opportunity to read before. All of the stories in SEASONS OF SEDUCTION are well written and exciting. I know I eagerly read through each story and would love to see sequels written for several of them.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

Her Lance-Alot by Delilah Devlin

Lady Margaret Du Bary is convent raised. Newly wed to Lord Roland Du Bary, the new lord of Beckwith Keep, she is convent educated, and scared to death of the large, hairy man who will take her to his bed tonight. Roland knows that Margaret is a beautiful woman. He wants to make her first bedding enjoyable. What Margaret wants is to distract her husband long enough to be able to escape to the convent.

Her Lance-Alot is a hot tale of two people who want different things, coming together as one. The bathing scene in this tale is hot and seductive. This story is a great start to this anthology.

Dance of the Plain Jane by Lillian Feisty

Jane Holliday has long lusted after SEAL Michael Sky. She's seen him in the coffee shop in their neighborhood, but never had the nerve to approach him. One night, while she is belly dancing at a local restaurant, Michael sees her and wants her. He makes love to her, and then is called out on a job. When he returns, he has to work on getting Jane to trust him, and let him back in her life.

Dance of the Plain Jane is a lusty tale, very hot and very erotic. I had problems, though, liking Michael. I got very angry when he left Jane the first time, despite the fact that work called. My anger, though, is a testament to how well I identified with Jane, and how well the characters were drawn. He worked hard to gain Jane's trust, but by the end of the story, my trust was still on the fence. That said, Jane definitely loved him, and they found joy together, and very, very hot sex. The couple work well together.

Club Vamp by Allyson James

Kenelm is a master vampire. He and his lover, Adam, are searching for a woman who has the power to restore his power, which is dwindling. Helena Girard is a reporter. When Kenelm sees her, he knows she's the one. He sends Adam to bring her to Club Vamp, which Kenelm owns. Helena knows that she can't have sex with someone, because her body gives off deadly electricity when she has an orgasm. But she's never had sex with a vampire nearby.

Club Vamp is a hot, sexy story. I loved the chemistry between Kenelm and Adam. Adding Helena to the mix only heats things up. Add to the mix the excitement of the Guardians coming to destroy the lovers, and you have a story that readers will enjoy.

Choosing Madison by Sherrill Quinn

Madison Marquette is an erotic romance novelist who, unwittingly, has an alien princess for a friend. One night while the two are watching TV, raiders appear in Madison's living room to take the princess back to her intended mate, from whom she has run away for one last adventure. Gaelen Brecca and his bond-brother, Leax Ilan, have come to bring the princess home. They don't intend to find their mate on this mission, but when they see Madison they know that they have found her.

Choosing Madison is a wonderful story of the bond between three people. I enjoyed watching Madison come to terms with the alien's customs. The attraction between the three of them is hot and steamy. Definitely a fun story.

Come Howling by Denise Rossetti

Maeve O'Brien is cursed as a banshee. Whenever she's near someone with Irish blood who has suffered a loss, she goes into full banshee mode. She seeks employment through an agency and meets Luc Kaminski, who is instantly attracted to her. Maeve tells him her secret, and tells him that the only thing that will set her free is the love of a man, but not a mortal man. Luc has a secret of his own, that involves a tail.

Wow. My eyes are still popping here. Come Howling is a very innovative, very erotic tale that makes very creative, very erotic use of a tail. This story stunned and amazed me. I loved it.

Lyrael's Sacrifice by Jory Strong

Lyrael is a member of the Azzura tribe. She knows that certain dreams that she has had mean that she is to be the next sacrifice to the Djinn. No one in the tribe knows what happens to a person who is sacrificed. They are left for the Djinn, and never return. Asrafil is the Djinn whom Lyrael has called in her dreams. In her he sees strength and beauty. She must pass several tests, however, before he can make her his wife, and welcome her to the City of Djinn.

Lyrael's Sacrifice is an intense and emotional story. Both Lyrael and Asrafil are strong characters, and mix well together. It was a joy to watch them meet, explore each other and fall in love.

Seasons of Seduction, Volumne 1 is full of great stories from fantastic writers. This one is a keeper for lovers of erotic, and poignant stories.

Ameila
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

4 stars for DANCE OF THE PLAIN JANE by Lillian Feisty.

Michael is a Navy SEAL. He's in a restaurant with his buddies, planning to leave. Then Jane a belly dancer begins her performance. Michael is spellbound. He normally dates skinny women. Jane is full-figured with a belly. He is so turned on he can't leave. After her dance, without a word he carries her to a back room.

I liked this story. It's short, but I enjoyed the characters and plot. And there were some really hot sex scenes. They included self pleasuring, toys, and rear door activity.

Data:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 46 pages. Swearing language: moderate to strong. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: 5. Setting: current day San Diego, California. Copyright: 2007. Genre: erotic contemporary romance.

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3 ½ stars for HER LANCE-A LOT by Delilah Devlin.

Enjoyable, sweet, lusty. Story was cute.

Lord Roland has just arrived home after traveling. He is dirty and smelly. He meets his arranged marriage bride for the first time. They are married that day. She finds him disgusting. On their wedding night, he tells her to help him bathe and shave. I enjoyed the sex scenes - which were most of the story.

Data:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 44 pages. Swearing language: mild, including religious swear words. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: two, plus a sensual bath scene. Setting: 1154 AD England. Copyright: 2007. Genre: erotic historical romance.

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3 ½ stars for CLUB VAMP by Allyson James.

Kenelm is a vampire. 150 years ago he found Adam dying and made him immortal but not a vampire. Kenelm periodically drinks blood from Adam. They also have frequent sex. Kenelm needs to find a woman who has a tattoo/birthmark which means she is a daughter of Osiris. Having sex with her will restore Kenelm's weakening powers and provide vampire offspring. Helena a tv news reporter has the mark. When Kenelm sees her on tv, he sends Adam to get her. She is attracted to Adam. She is unable to have sex with human men because she gives off electricity during sex which kills them. Kenelm tells her he will draw off the electricity when she has sex with Adam or him.

There is some hot sex between the two men and also with the threesome. There is rear door activity. The story was pretty good. The sex was good. Overall I liked it.

Data:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 45 pages. Swearing language: moderate. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: 5. Setting: current day New York City, NY. Copyright: 2007. Genre: erotic paranormal romance.

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3 ½ stars for CHOOSING MADISON by Sherrill Quinn.

Story was good. Sex was very hot. Sex includes two men with one woman and rear door activity. I would have liked more about the characters. But I wouldn't shorten the sex scenes to do that. I'd make the story longer.

Gaelen and Leax are bonded buddies from another planet. When they take a mate it will be to one woman whom they will share. They travel to earth to pick up Julie who is engaged to their ruler. Julie came to earth for an escape adventure before marriage. She and Madison are friends. When the guys come to get Julie, they see Madison and desire her.

Data:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 42 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: 4. Setting: current day spaceship, another planet, and a little Chicago, Illinois. Copyright: 2007. Genre: erotic sci-fi romance.

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3 stars for COME HOWLING by Denise Rossetti.

Maeve is a banshee with a curse. When she sees someone who has a dying relative, she howls and her clothes fall off. They disintegrate. She also howls during sex. Luc is a human/devil shape shifter, but a good guy - no evil. The meet and have some hot sex. He hides his devilness by blindfolding her.

The story was ok, but not the best. It could have used more character definition and development. The sex was ok, lots of detail, but not as hot as other stories.

Data:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 42 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: 4. Setting: current day unknown town. Copyright: 2007. Genre: erotic paranormal romance.

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Weak 3 stars for LYRAEL'S SACRIFICE by Jory Strong.

Lyrael is a young woman (or teen) living in a desert village in the past. Every so many years her clan makes a sacrifice to the Djinn, the spirits who create and control sandstorms. Lyrael has been having dreams about a Djinn named Asrafil. She is the current sacrifice. She is taken to a mountain and tied to a tree. She is given poison as an option if things become bad. Asrafil produces frightening creatures to test her courage, trust, etc. He does this three times. He does not tell her she is being tested. There is a lot of sex during the tests.

The story was weird. I like weird, but this was not the best weird. Parts of the plot did not make sense. It wasn't well developed. There is almost no conversation. He keeps telling her not to speak. I guess that's ok since the purpose of the story is erotic sex with a handsome stranger. The sex scenes were very detailed and well described, but they didn't excite me as much as some of the others. There is rear door activity.

Data:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 41 pages. Swearing language: none. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: 4. Setting: desert in the past. Copyright: 2007. Genre: erotic paranormal romance.