Review: The Highness the Duke by Michelle M Pillow

The Highness the Duke (goodreads.com)

By: Michelle M Pillow (author website)

eBook, 161 pages

Published January 12th 2012 by Raven Books (first published January 11th 2012)

ISBN 13: 9781452417639

Source: Publisher, for the purpose of an honest review

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Series: Dragon Lords, book #5

Stars: 3

Flames: 3

Aeron Grey overhears a transmission signaling the possible invasion to the planet Qurilixen while at work for the Federation.  When she reports her suspicions, her superiors don’t want to get involved since Qurilixen is not part of the Federation.  Not one to take the possible destruction of a planets’ population in stride she sets out with the help of her sister to warn the Qurilixen people of the attack. Unfortunately the only way they can find to get there is using the Galaxy Brides corporation where they must sign a contract to become brides on that planet.  Aeron doesn’t see this as a problem since she doesn’t plan to stay there or be picked as a bride.

Lord Bronislaw, High Duke of Draig attends the Breeding Festival for the seventh time, he has lost all hope that he will find a bride.  He is pleasantly shocked to discover his bride in Aeron and sets out to make her his.

This is the 5^th book in the Dragon Lords series set in the same time frame as the previous four books.  Bron is the cousin of the four princes and his family is in charge of the breeding of animals, mining, and some intergalactic travel.  It has been a few weeks since I read about the four princes so it was nice to go back to the series.  While this book is a nice addition to the series, I felt there was something lacking in it.  It’s not as long as the previous books and it seems to end abruptly with many unanswered questions.  You do get a brief epilogue where you know that the rest of the story will be told in the other brothers books but it still leaves Bron and Aeron’s story a little up in the air. 

I was happy to see that this story took place (mostly) away from the palace and if you don’t read the previous four books, you won’t be lost.  All the locations, building and clothes were well described. I just wish there was a little more of just Bron and Aeron.  Their relationship was sometimes put on the back burner so that the set up for the series could be told.  With that said I still really enjoyed the story and I will be looking for the next one when it comes out.  

Review: The Warrior Prince by Michelle M Pillow

The Warrior Prince (goodreads.com)

By: Michelle M Pillow (author website)

eBook, 262 pages

Published March 8th 2011 by Createspace (first published 2005)

ISBN13: 9781460959725

Source: Publisher, for the purpose of an honest review

Genre: Sci Fi/Fantasy Romance

Series: Dragon Lords, book #4

Best read in order: yes

Stars: 4

Flames: 3

The fourth installment in the Dragon Lords series centers around Pia Korbin and Zoran of Draig.  Pia is an assassin with burns covering most of her body.  Forced on the run for killing in self-defense, she goes to the Galaxy Brides Corporation for free surgery in exchange for being a bride.  After intensive surgery that removes her scars she participates in the Breeding Festival on planet Qurilixen where women are few and warrior men abound.  She is chosen as a bride by Zoran of Draig, the second son of the King and Captain of the guard. 

This has been my favorite couple to this point.  I loved how Pia is so humble about her appearance to the point she vehemently denies being attractive (although that did get a little old after 200 page of people telling her she was attractive but I do understand her perspective).  She is very self-assured in her combat skills but she feels useless to Zoran because he doesn’t seem to value her skills or opinion.  Also, Zoran is so ready to lay the world at Pia’s feet but she is so unsure of herself and Zoran that she doesn’t trust her feelings for him and constantly pushes him away.

This book has some really great sexual tension and verbal sparring between the main characters.  I really enjoyed seeing how Pia and Zoran circled each other before finally opening up their feelings.  

As with the other books in the series, it follows the same series of events leading to the conclusion, however, we are again given a new perspective. We also get a little epilogue at the end to catch up with all four brothers and their wives. 

Review: The Dark Prince by Michelle M Pillow

The Dark Prince (goodreads.com)

By: Michelle M Pillow (author website)

eBook, 196 pages

Published October 5th 2010 by The Raven Books (first published January 25th 2004)

ISBN 13: 9781452498164

Source: Publisher, for the purpose of an honest review

Genre: Sci Fi/Fantasy Romance

Series: Dragon Lords, book #3

Best read in order: yes

Stars: 4

Flames: 3

Olena Leyton is a pirate captain.  She is forced to hide out on a Galaxy Brides ship on its way to the planet Qurilixen with brides for their Breeding Festival.  During the festival she is chosen by Yuesf of Draig to be his bride.  Olena had no plans to stay with whomever chose her as a bride. She just wants to wait until it is safe and leave the planet to find her crew and get back to her pirating.

I really loved this installment to the series. The first two books had more scenes that overlapped but I really enjoyed getting a good look at Olena and Yuesf and seeing their relationship blossom. Olena is funny with her insults to the royal family, her dislike of the dresses that are normal attire for woman, and constant mishaps that require continual doctor visits.  Yuesf is one of the four princes but he is afraid to tell Olena that since he knows she does not like most royalty.  He is constantly unsure of her thoughts and feelings since she makes sure to keep him in the dark because she doesn’t want to end up in his power or under his control in any way.

I liked how this book followed the same general time frame as the previous books but we got to see a whole different sequence of events but ended up in the same place. I am really loving this series and I can’t wait to start the next one The Warrior Prince.

Review: The Perfect Prince by Michelle M Pillow

The Perfect Prince (goodreads.com)

By: Michelle M Pillow (author website)

eBook, 220 pages

Published August 28th 2010 by The Raven Books (first published July 31st 2004)

ISBN 13: 9781452450209

Source: Publisher, for the purpose of an honest review

Genre: Sci Fi/Fantasy Romance

Series: Dragon Lords, book #2

Best read in order: yes

Stars: 4

Flames: 3

The Perfect Prince is the second installment of The Dragon Lords series by Pillow featuring Nadja Aleksander and Olek of Draig.  Nadja is a reserved young woman on the run from her controlling father.  She takes the first available ship to escape him and ends up with the Galaxy Brides, a corporation that provides brides to other planets.  When the ship arrives at the planet Qurilixen, Nadja goes through the selection process and finds herself married to Olek, one of the four princes of Draig. Olek is the ambassador of the family who spends his time pouring over treaties and import/export documents.  He is thrilled when his crystal chooses him a bride and sets about seducing her from the first night.

I really enjoyed reading Nadja and Olek’s interaction. She is so shy of his affection and unsure of how to act towards him. While Olek knows that he wants to be with Nadja, he just has to convince her that they make a good team.  I found the delving into herbalism with Nadja very interesting, where she used her medical knowledge to help the Draig society using the plants and fauna of their planet. 

In this book we get more of a view of the life in the palace and village than in the previous book and I found it very intriguing. I liked reading about how the planet looked as well as getting to know the other princess’ better.

There is also quite a bit of sexual tension between Nadja and Olek.  Nadja keeps fighting what is growing between them and Olek is nurturing it.  Although I will say that sometimes it seemed like both character’s had multiple personalities (or at the very least instant mood swings).  Where one minute they would feel a certain way towards the other and be determined to follow that path and then the next second they were do a complete 180 and do something out of left field. But overall I liked how the author used the tension to slowly bring the characters around to where they finally confronted their feelings for one another.

This series is best read in order because (so far) all the books begin in approximately the same spot, the Breeding festival where the men choose their brides. After that there are a few scenes with all of the characters and each book opens up little pieces that you didn’t see in the previous book or shows them from a different perspective.  I am very excited to continue this series and find out how the other brothers fair in their claiming.

Review: The Barbarian Prince by Michelle M Pillow

The Barbarian Prince (goodread.com)

By: Michelle M Pillow (author website) 

eBook, 0 pages

Published October 5th 2010 by The Raven Books (first published May 2004)

ISBN 13: 9781452446592

Source: Publisher, for the purpose of an honest review

Genre: Sci Fi Romance (shifters & futuristic)

Series: Dragon Lords, book #1

Stars: 4

Flames: 3

What a great world Ms. Pillow has created with this new series The Dragon Lords! It is about four brothers, princes, and the trials and tribulations they encounter on their way to a happily ever after.  All of the brothers meet their ‘life mates’ through a mail order type system where Earth women are invited to come to their planet which is mostly populated by men. There they participate in a ceremony where the men will or will not choose one of them for a bride.

The series starts with the oldest brother, Ualan of Draig and his lady love, Morrigan Blake.  She is an undercover reporter just trying to get an insider look at the whole system and royal family when she gets chosen to be a mate of Ualan.  Ualan chooses Rigan as his mate after his crystal glows when he first sees her. In his culture, the glowing crystal is proof that they have met their perfect mate.

I really enjoyed this book.  Rigan and Ualan are so funny.  They are constantly fighting and then making out and then fighting more.  Rigan doesn’t understand the pull that she has to Ualan and he doesn’t want to share too much because he is afraid he will scare her off.  I loved how they continue to dance around each other while their feelings grow over the course of a few weeks. 

Pillow does a great job of describing the world Ualan lives on in subtle ways that help the reader keep a picture in their heads.  I don’t read many books that take place on other planets so I enjoyed how seamlessly the descriptions were included so I never forgot that the book took place on a distant planet.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I am very excited to read the rest of the series. All of the brothers and their wives are mentioned in this book so I think it will be interesting to go back and read the other stories from their perspective but over the same time period.

Top off Tuesday: The Pirate Prince by Michelle M Pillow

Every week, Felicia from Geeky Blogger’s Book Blog, Christi from Smitten with Reading, and Amanda from On a Book Bender show off some Top Off covers that grab my attention! I stalk this meme every week to see what eye candy they have posted. I decided I can no longer just sit around and watch. I must participate!

Please play along and tell us your favorites (old, new, or not yet released). Button made by Missie at The Unread Reader and Diana at Book of Secrets 

Prince Jarek has no official title in space. Known simply as Captain to a misfit crew, he sails the high sky doing what he pleases. That is until one of his men is kidnapped by intergalactic drug dealers. Now he's on a mission to save his wayward friend. But instead of a crew man, he rescues a woman desperately trying to be free of her master. Or so he thought…

The Princess…

Princess Zhang Mei has just been told her future by a seer. It seems fate has given her in marriage to Prince Song Lok--future ruler of the only other dynasty on her home planet of Líntian. She will do her duty to her family, but first she wants something for herself. And when the pirates come to steal, she knows exactly what she wants that something to be--her.




You know what I read in that blurb... Hot space pirate wants to abduct me. 

Go check out the other hot covers!

Felicia is hosting the linky for this meme on her blog, so come play along.... 
*post a cover of a hot guy 
who just happens to be topless 
*then go add your link to Felicia's blog.

Review: Taking Karre by Michelle M Pillow

Taking Karre (goodreads.com)

By: Michelle M Pillow (author website)

eBook, 181 pages

Publisher: The Raven Books; 2 edition (March 19, 2012)

ASIN: B007MJCB90

Source: Publisher, for the purpose of an honest review

Genre: Erotic Sci Fi Romance

Series: Divinity Warriors, book #4

Best read in order: no, each works as a stand-alone

Stars: 5

Flames: 5

Karre has worn so many masks and assumed so many different identities she sometimes has to think about who she truly is. Her life of thievery is the reason for all of her many false identities. The advanced technology on the various planes has given her the means to be successful in her purpose. Divinity Corporation has taken something from her and she has made it her life’s purpose to take from them to bring them down.

Sir Vidar of Spearhead is unhappy about the fact that his king has sent him to Battlewar Castle to participate in the breeding ceremony. His number one priority in life is to protect his people and defeat Sorceress Magda. He thinks of a woman as an object to warm his bed at night, but with war a constant he knows he does not have the time for bed.

I loved this couple. Karre immediately become my favorite heroine of this series. Vidar was also a great hero and together Karre and Vidar make an awesome couple. They went into their relationship accepting it as a whatevership. Once Karre got used to being herself, she liked it. She wanted to create a life that was her own. Vidar also came to the same conclusion. He enjoyed his wife. She was more than what he expected from the breeding ceremony and he was excited to see what would become of the unexpected relationship. The relationship developed around the characters liking who they became because of the situation they found themselves in.

This is the fourth book in a series that each book works as a stand-alone. If you are considering reading every book in this series I suggest that you read this one last. Without going into spoiler territory I am going to vaguely explain why. Throughout the series there are two evils to each book. Each book has a resolution to how or why that specific character was wronged. There is a bigger foe that affects all of the characters. That resolution is not resolved until this book.  Had I read Taking Karre before the other books in the series and knowing how that outcome came to be I think I would have felt jilted in some way.

Michelle continues exploring this world with her Divinity Healer books. There was a book list at the end of Taking Karre and I plan on finding out more about these books Ariella’s Keepers book #1, Seducing Cecilia book #2, and Linnea’s Arrangement book #3.

My final thoughts I leave with are “Because right now, in this moment” you need to go buy this series and read it. You’ll love that quote the moment you dive into Taking Karre.

Review: Keeping Paige by Michelle M Pillow

Keeping Paige (goodreads.com)

By: Michelle M Pillow (author website)

eBook, 186 pages per Kindle

Publisher: The Raven Books; 2 edition (February 27, 2012)

ASIN: B007EKXYAW

Source: Publisher, for the purpose of an honest review

Series: Divinity Warriors, book #3

Genre: Erotic Alternate Reality Romance

Best read in order: no, each works as a stand-alone

Stars: 5

Flames: 5

Aidan and Paige’s story is by far my favorite of the Divinity Warriors books. I absolutely fell in love with Aidan the moment he stepped onto the page. He has always been the best Starian warrior that he can be. He has done everything in his life to honor the Starian gods. Now he impatiently waits for them to honor him with a bride from one of the fairy rings. His king has ordered him to go to Battlewar Castle to participate in the breeding ceremony. He does not want one of the otherworld brides that are being sent to them by the Divinity Corporation. He wants what his planes traditions should honor him with, a bride from the fairy ring.

Paige is from the Forestter dimension. The tribes on her plane are very superstitious. They see her differences as a curse. In an attempt to get rid of this cursed woman they offer her to the Faerian’s. They Faerian’s believe in making sacrifices. Paige is the sacrifice they have chosen to toss into the fairy ring. No one comes to Paige’s rescue. She is on her own and too outnumbered to fight them when they drug her and commence to their sacrificial beliefs.

When Aidan finds Paige naked and overly aroused in the woods he immediately knows that he has finally been blessed with a bride from the gods. Paige tells him that she came to be there through a fairy ring, so he just knows he is not mistaken. The drugs that were forced upon Paige have multiples effects on her, one is an aroused euphoria. She welcomes all of Aidan’s advances. There problems arise when the drugs wear off and Paige is saddled with a husband who does not understand her customs and she finds that his customs are a little too domineering for her tastes.

This installment in the Divinity Warriors series actually begins chronologically before the first two books. Readers are over half way through Keeping Paige before they find Paige in the cell at Battlewar with Lilith, Jayne, and Karre. I did not get the sci fi feel with this book as much as the others. Paige’s dimension has a fantasy historical feel to it just as Staria does. There are still dimension jumps, but they are not done through the technological advances as with the previous two books. I do want to point out that each of the books works as a stand-alone, so readers can dive into this series beginning with any book. 

Review: Fighting Lady Jayne by Michelle M Pillow

Fighting Lady Jayne (goodreads.com)

By: Michelle M Pillow (author website)

eBook, 186 pages

Published February 6th 2012 by The Raven Books (first published 2009)

ASIN: B0076OCDVM

Source: Publisher, for the purpose of an honest review

Genre: Erotic Sci Fi Romance

Series: Divinity Warriors, book #2

Best read in order: no, books can be read out of order

Stars: 5

Flames: 5

The second book in Michelle’s Divinity Warriors series starts at the same place the first book did. Readers follow Jayne instead of Lilith from the point of waking in a prison cell. I liked how the two books ran parallel to each other following the same time line and events, but through two different relationships. This also allows for readers to pick up either of the books to begin their journey into this series.

Jayne is the type of heroine that I like to read. She is a fighter, literally. She had a rough life growing up and it lead her into a career as a boxer. She is a very successful boxer. The rough life has left her with some emotional problems though. She doesn’t let people get close to her. She has also created some impenetrable walls around her heart. Life has made her learn to keep her freedom at any costs. She has always lived by the motto to stay free or die trying.  

Ronen believes that the gods have cursed him and his brother. The women that come into their lives seem to want to run from them. Ronen couldn’t believe that a female claimed him at the breeding ceremony. Males do the claiming in Staria. Ronen is a pleasant mix of dominant alpha male and gentle warrior. He does what he thinks is best to keep Jayne happy. The problem with that is his world has never had a female like Jayne. Females are supposed to be docile, gentle, soft and caring.

I absolutely love the futuristic sci fi feel of this series. Jayne comes from a very technologically advanced world. Traveling through dimensional planes has taken her to a plane that a fantasy historical like feel to it. So readers get many different sub genres in one book.

Favorite quote and it also sums up their courtship, Jayne to Ronen.

“It is in me to run and it is in you to capture.”

Review: Lilith Enraptured by Michelle M Pillow

Lilith Enraptured (goodreads.com)

By: Michelle M Pillow (author website)

eBook, 183 pages per Kindle

Publisher: The Raven Books; 2 edition (January 15, 2012)

ISBN: 1419959492

Source: Publisher, for the purpose of an honest review

Genre: Erotic Sci Fi Romance

Series: Divinity Warriors #1

Stars: 5

Flames: 5

The first thing that I have to point out about Lilith Enraptured is the world. The concept behind it grabbed my attention from the very beginning. The book has a futuristic sci fi feel to it with a slice of historical fantasy. This world consists of numerous different planes/dimensions. Some are very technologically advanced while some are extremely primitive and medieval feeling. It is all one world. Each dimension has just evolved differently. There are even some similarities between the different planes.

Lilith’s job within the Divinity is to go to different planes and study them. She then compiles her data and analyzes it, compares it to others and moves on to another dimension to observe some more. She loves her job. It allows her to introduce new technology to multiple dimensions. There is just one problem with her most recent jump into a new dimension, she did not take it willingly and she has no clue as to where she is.

Sorin is a royal warrior in Staria. Staria is a dimension in constant battle against a monstrous war mongering evil. The dimension he calls home can be looked at as very primitive in their lifestyle. Their mating/marriage ritual can definitely be considered barbaric compared to modern standards. He is one of the few men that will be allowed to pick one of the otherworlder’s that has been presented before him and a few of his fellow knightly warriors. Lilith soon finds herself with a man claiming to be her husband in a faraway place that she does not belong.

I liked everything about this book. The characters all fleshed out very well. Sorin and Lilith work well as a couple. They both put forth a tremendous amount of effort to make their seemingly impossible situation work out. Readers are introduced very briefly to the heroines of the other three books, along with the males that have taken them. I cannot wait to read the next books in this series and I am ecstatic about the fact that they are on my Kindle waiting for me.

Please note that this is an erotic romance. There are numerous scorching hot sex scenes between a chest pounding alpha male that wants his hesitant bride to want him as much as he wants her. Lilith has some self-doubts about her desires. She wants to go home, but she wants Sorin even though it goes against what she thinks she wants. They make some intense reading. 

Review: Last Man on Earth by Michelle Pillow

Last Man on Earth (goodreads.com)

By: Michelle M Pillow (author website)

eBook, 41 pages

Published December 1st 2011 by The Raven Books (first published October 13th 2009)

ASIN: B006M3F072

Source: Freebie on Amazon

Genre: Futuristic Erotic Romance

Stars: 3

Flames: 4

After a few too many drinks and Micco Hagen became obnoxious when he decided to finally approach the woman he had been attracted to for months. Rena Gates felt that there was not a more humiliating manner in which a man could approach her. After the embarrassing debacle she vows that she would not be with Micco if he was the last man on Earth.

A horrific change in weather and the destruction of the world as we know it has left Micco as one of the few remaining men on the planet. The survivors live on various bases where they are doing their best to survive. They know reproducing is key to survival. Rena is shocked when she is assigned to be paired up with Micco.

This novella is filled with scorching hot sex. It is a smutty little erotic novella that moves at a good pace. I love apocalypse books, so I would have loved to see more on that aspect of survival. The survival that this novella is heavy on is repopulating…sex. Micco and Rena were attracted to one another before their world went to hell in a hand basket, or literally to the bottom of the ocean in a underwater habitat. 

Review: Pleasure Island by Michelle M Pillow and Mandy M Roth

Pleasure Island (goodreads.com)

By: Michelle M Pillow (author website)

Mandy M Roth (author website)

eBook, 87 pages

Published: The Raven Books; 2 edition (March 28, 2012)

ISBN 13: 9781419920796

Source: Author, for the purpose of an honest review

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance

Series: Pleasure Cruise #3
Best read in order: no, each works as a stand alone

Stars 4

Flames 5

Such an interesting twist to the series! This book takes place on an island created by a lesser god, Jaclar, so that he could have a good time having sex, drinking and general debauchery. However, he gets in trouble from the Power’s that Be for using too much power so he turns the island into a place where supernaturals can be ship/plane wrecked with their destined mate and have lots of hot sex while getting to know one another before they are mated.  Jaclar was an interesting character. You get pieces of him throughout the book but he is mainly having sex or figuring out a way to have sex. Although he is the one that finds the couples and strands them on the island.

I really enjoyed this book as well. Two cousins, Annett Rowe and Christy Seabrooke, get stranded on an island with their destined mates, Jurgen Cuyper and Keoni Finau.  I loved how Roth and Pillow added a new type of supernatural in Keoni by making him an ocean walker.  I think this series is just getting better with each book.  The character development was really good and although I still want more, it satisfied all my questions and thoughts. 

I hope more books come out in this series. I think in book tow a train was mentioned as a way to get supernaturals and mortals together and I would love to see what these two authors come up with for that. 

Review: Date With Destiny by: Michelle M Pillow and Mandy M Roth

Date With Destiny (goodreads.com)

By: Michelle M Pillow (author website)

Mandy M Roth (author website)

eBook, 77 pages

Published The Raven Books (first published 2007)

ASIN: B0030F2SXO

Source: Author, for the purpose of an honest review

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance

Series: Pleasure Cruise #2
Best read in order: no, each works as a stand alone

Stars 4

Flames 4.5

  

This story follows two twin brothers, Andre and Christian, as they go on a cruise to meet their mates. The Power’s that Be have arranged for both of their mates to come on the cruise so they can claim them to ensure the repopulation of the supernatural species.

I am really enjoying this series. I really enjoyed this book more than the first in the series because you get to spend more time with each couple, learning more about them and their personalities. I loved how each twin was so different but complemented their mate so well. 

There is some nice steamy sex scenes as well but you get to lead up to them with some character interaction and conversation, not just straight sex. I like how you get to know the people before they start ripping each other’s clothes off.

I can’t wait to read the next in this series. This world is so fun with the supernaturals being ‘out’ and the Power’s that Be fixing them all up with their mates.  It is a very refreshingly light read that is funny but still sexy.

Review: Pleasure Cruise by Michelle M Pillow and Mandy M Roth

Pleasure Cruise (goodreads.com)

By: Michelle M Pillow (author website)

Mandy M Roth (author website)

eBook, 88 pages

Published March 28th 2012 by The Raven Books (first published March 9th 2005)

ASIN: B007PM2H66

Source: Author, for the purpose of an honest review

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance

Series: Pleasure Cruise #1

Stars 3.5

Flames 5

This was a very good book. It starts out with a very amusing interoffice memo stating that the supernaturals need to start mating.  The “Power’s that Be’ decide to do this by having cruises mixed with humans to get the two species to intermingle.

This book contains two love stories, Kira and Braden along with Clare and Dominik.  The women are humans the men are supernatural, a vampire and wolf shifter respectively. I found it interesting that the men were the ones to sign up to get a mate from the Power’s that Be and were eager and happy when they were chosen to go on the cruise. I like a little role reversal when the man is happy to be settling down and the woman is a little resistant to love at first sight.

Now generally I do not like love at first sight stories because they don’t seem to be very believable but I did really enjoy watching these two couple come together. My only negative is that the story was already so short, about 127 pages, and there were two love stories in it that I felt like both couples were a little short changed. Especially when both women had reasons to be leery of relationships and/or supernaturals but those factors were just glossed over to provide lots of steamy sex and a HEA.  Now I do enjoy steamy sex (and can I just say Kira seems to have no boundaries) but I would have liked more character development throughout the story. The beginning sets up two really fun heroines but I don’t feel their stories were really told, just their sex lives were. But I did still enjoy this book and am very anxious to read the next in the series.