Tag Archives: Shayla Black

1001 Dark Nights: Bundle One by Shayla Black, Heather Graham, Liliana Hart & Tina Folsom

October 26, 2023Book Review1001 Dark Nights Bundle One, Contemporary romance, Heather Graham, Liliana Hart, Paranormal Romance, Shayla Black, Short Story Collections, Tina Folsomskyebjenner

Title: 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle One
Author: Shayla Black, Heather Graham, Liliana Hart & Tina Folsom
In: 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle One (Shayla Black, Heather Graham, Liliana Hart & Tina Folsom)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary romance, Paranormal romance, Short story collections
Pace: Slow
Format: Anthology, eBook
Year: 2015

Of the four novellas, I actually only enjoyed reading one. And only read one from beginning to end. Yet, it was worth the read, and I will dive into more of these bundles. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with trying something and then just finding that it doesn’t quite work for you.

One of the things I really liked about this anthology is that each of the stories has a bit of steam and romance. All of them have vastly different flavours and it is definitely a good way to dip your toe into not only different authors and series, but also different kinds of romances. I’m getting to a point in my romance reading that I tend to know what I like, but if I was new to the genre? It would be a fantastic way to give things a bit of a try.

I enjoyed reading this anthology, it’s not necessarily anything to rave about, but it was still enjoyable.

<- Silent Bite

Forever Wicked ->

Image source: Booktopia

Forever Wicked by Shayla Black

August 3, 2023Book Review1001 Dark Nights Bundle One, Shayla Blackskyebjenner

Title: Forever Wicked
Author: Shayla Black
In: 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle One (Shayla Black, Heather Graham, Liliana Hart & Tina Folsom)
Rating Out of 5: 0.5 (Couldn’t get past the first sentence)
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2015

I really didn’t love this novella. I struggled. Probably because it was an erotic romance that featured the DomSub cohort. Something I just can’t really get into.

<- 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle One

Crimson Twilight ->

Image source: Booktopia

Hot in Handcuffs by Sylvia Day, Shayla Black & Shiloh Walker

August 25, 2020Book ReviewErotica, Hot in Handcuffs, Romantic Suspense, Shayla Black, Shiloh Walker, Short Story Collections, Sylvia Dayskyebjenner

Hot in Handcuffs - Bookshelf • Best Selling Books by #1 New York ...

Title: Hot in Handcuffs
Author: Sylvia Day, Shayla Black & Shiloh Walker
In: Hot in Handcuffs (Sylvia Day, Shayla Black & Shiloh Walker)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Erotica, Romantic suspense, Short story collections
Dates read: 16th June – 29th July 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: When he rubbed his fingertips along the bottom, the disturbance of the smooth surface made him frown.

Allow yourself to imagine the man behind the dark sunglasses. Hear the purr of his zipper as he lowers it, then reaches for the shiny metal hanging from his black leather belt. It’s futile to resist arrest. Give yourself up to the fantasy. Besides, he thinks you’re so hot in handcuffs…

Arresting Desire – Shayla Black
FBI Agent Jon Bocelli never stopped wanting beautiful professor Lucia DiStefano. She’s interested in taking her first lover, and he intends to be that man. When her past puts her life in danger, Jon risks everything to save her and prove this fling is forever.

On Fire – Sylvia Day
When Deputy Marshal Jared Cameron investigates a series of arson attacks in a seaside town, the biggest blast of heat comes from sexy fire inspector Darcy Michaels—until their scorching after-hours affair is compromised by a secret from Darcy’s past.

The Unwilling – Shayla Black
Mica Greer and her former lover, ex-FBI agent Colby Mathis, once shared an intimate past and a powerful psychic gift. Now, they’ve been reunited by a bizarre series of murders—and an electrifying passion that could put them both in jeopardy.

I quite enjoyed this collection. I bought it because for one of my yearly reading challenges, I needed a book with handcuffs on the cover. And I was happily, presently surprised by how much I enjoyed this. A good dose of erotica, and a great many romantic suspense stories left me in my happy place.

It’s been a little while since I read much romantic suspense. In fact, it’s an area of romance that I’m starting to get more and more into. It was nice to find three more authors and two more series to add to that section on my shelves.

Some aspects in these three novellas are pretty intensely erotic and sexual. But, there are also moments of pure sweetness that help to balance this. It creates a fantastic balance that draws you in and keeps you turning that pages.

<- The Unwilling

Arresting Desire ->

Image source: Sylvia Day

Arresting Desire by Shayla Black

July 14, 2020Book ReviewBondage, Contemporary, Hot in Handcuffs, Romantic Suspense, Sexy Capers, Shayla Blackskyebjenner

Title: Arresting Desire
Author: Shayla Black
Series: Sexy Capers #2.5
In: Hot in Handcuffs (Sylvia Day, Shayla Black & Shiloh Walker)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Bondage, Contemporary, Romantic suspense
Dates read: 16th June 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: When he rubbed his fingertips along the bottom, the disturbance of the smooth surface made him frown.

FBI Agent Jon Bocelli never stopped wanting beautiful professor Lucia DiStefano. She’s interested in taking her first lover, and he intends to be that man. When her past puts her life in danger, Jon risks everything to save her and prove this fling is forever.

The more romance books that fill my shelves, the more stories I seem to encounter that are a little bit more about Doms and Subs. And although it’s interesting, it is DEFINITELY not to my own tastes… I most certainly prefer stories that are a little sweeter and less intense in the sexuality department. Yet, for some reason, I still love these kinds of stories. They are turning into a pretty major guilty pleasure. One that I feel weirdly uncomfortable reading, but also seriously enjoy. And this novella really drove home that feeling.

I really like the feeling of a back story in this novella. That, alongside with Lucia and Jon as a couple made this story really work for me. I thought that they were just such a nice couple and I kind of hope that earlier books in this series will have them in the background… I want to know more about the very beginning of their acquaintance and lives together. Sure, they have slightly different interests than I do, but overall, such a sweet little couple.

I think that one of the things I loved most about this story, and what makes me want to buy the rest of this series, even if this level of BDSM isn’t really my thing… is the Mafia / FBI spin. It’s not something I’ve had the pleasure of coming across as much as I’d like, but it’s definitely a great interaction that I would definitely be happy seeing more of….

<- Hot in Handcuffs

On Fire ->