"Six sizzling stories from e-publishing's stars!"

Joshua 4.0 by Sahara Kelly

Virtual reality has made great advances. Graphic artist Andrea Jane Thompson is beta-testing new software from the biggest virtual reality company in the country. Andy can create the man of her dreams, starting with the default model, Joshua 4.0. What she doesn't know is that Joshua 4.0 is based on program creator Josh Miles, who is observing her beta-test remotely. Strange things happen in the program, leaving both Joshua and Andy real-time participants in the sexual scenario. What will Andy do when the real Josh shows up on her doorstep that same night?

Although Joshua 4.0 is a very nice erotic tale, it is hard to believe the characters when they say they are in love. After one night's acquaintance? Admittedly, the sex was great, but they need to learn more about each other before declaring love. I do recommend this story from Ms. Kelly; she has a deft way with imagery.

Sensuality: Rated E-rotic by the publisher. Explicit sex; sexually explicit scenes: 4

Barbarian by Kate Douglas

Captain Bryony McKenzie has captured the man she believes is responsible for selling young girls into sexual slavery across the universe. Her late sister was a victim of the slavery ring and Bry wants vengeance. The man she knows only as Barbarian has handled her torture remarkably well, but she will break him. Then she finds out that she has captured and tortured an innocent man... Two years later, turnabout is fair play as the Barbarian, Federation secret agent Jacob Hart, tries to regain his manhood from the woman who stole it from him.

Barbarian is not for the faint of heart. The torture scenes are very graphic, so squeamish readers may want to pass. Ms. Douglas has written a powerful chronicle of two wounded warriors fighting for their very sense of self. I have no doubts that Jacob and Bry have a good foundation for their future partnership.

Sensuality: Rated E-rotic by the publisher. Explicit sex, bondage, torture, anal sex w/toys; sexually explicit scenes: 6

Manimal by Lani Aames

Erotic romance writer Kelsey Locke is traveling to a friend's cabin to get away from a persistent suitor. Kelsey only agreed to go out with Charles Leland to stop him from pestering her. She has no desire for Charles, but one of his bodyguards is her idea of the perfect man. When that man comes crashing through the snow as she drives to the cabin, Kelsey knows she must help him, as he is both wounded and naked. Durac Voronin is a werewolf, a fact confirmed by his body trying to shift to wolf form only to fail after partially transforming. Sex is the only thing to get his body back in balance. No hardship for them, since each has desired the other from the beginning.

Who shot Durac and why? Will Durac and Kelsey have a future together after this night? Manimal is an intriguing story with two strong protagonists. Although one night of sex is a little early to pronounce their love for each other, at least they have known of each other for a few months. If you like werewolf tales, give the latest story from Ms. Aames a try.

Sensuality: Rated E-rotic by the publisher. Explicit sex; sexually explicit scenes: 3

A.D. 2203: Adam and Eve by Ravyn Wilde

Genetic scientist Eve Longtree has been so wrapped up in her latest project that she forgot to keep track of the moon's cycle. To keep from a possible mating with Were-folk, it is necessary to remain locked in an airtight room for three days before the full moon until the morning after it peaks. That way, a person's scent can dissipate and they can't be tracked by a potential mate. It's too late now to do anything other than hope that her potential mate is not nearby. Werewolf Adam Greyclan has been searching for his mate for years, but he can tell he's getting closer...

A.D. 2203: Adam and Eve is an entertaining novella with humor woven deftly into the story. The entry reads like part of a series, which leaves me hoping that there may more stories set in this world. Ms. Wilde has crated an intriguing alternate universe populated with vampires, Were-folk and more. Fans of shapeshifters should read this great tail -- er, tale.

Sensuality: Rated E-rotic by the publisher. Explicit sex; sexually explicit scenes: 3

At His Mercy by Doreen DeSalvo

Intuitive (don't call her psychic!) Faith Hartley meets with university board member Jake McIntyre to try to convince him to agree to her proposed project to study intuitive children. He is the lone holdout to the grant she's been seeking. Jake offers to consider her project if she can prove to him that psychics are real by reading his mind. Faiths sees into his mind, which is filled with erotic images of the two of them in various sexual acts.

Why is Jake different from any other man Faith has met? Why can he pick up on her thoughts as well? At least, Jake does while they are, um, involved in the mating dance. At His Mercy features a likeable couple with a passion for each other. Ms. DeSalvo has written an admirable contribution to this anthology.

Sensuality: Rated E-rotic by the publisher. Explicit sex, spanking, bondage; sexually explicit scenes: 6

Time-Share: Amelia's Journey by Lora Leigh

Botanist Amelia Collins is on a mission to explore Venus with two male co-workers, Commander Saber Madison and Major Mike Tennison. When their spacecraft crash-lands on the planet's surface, they don't know if they will ever be rescued or not. Survival is of the utmost importance. All three strive to ignore the mutual attraction that burns between them. As Amelia discovers, the planet itself is changing -- and so are they! Unable to continue their resistance, the three work out an arrangement to satisfy all of their needs.

I had to suspend disbelief to get the most out of Time-Share: Amelia's Journey. I found that pretending that Venus was actually a distant planet, not part of the Milky Way, was the best way to account for the vast differences in Ms. Leigh's planet and the real Venus. Also, the ending is a bit abrupt, but perhaps the author intends to pen future stories in the universe she created. I wanna know what happens next!

Sensuality: Rated E-rotic by the publisher. Explicit sex, spanking, ménage, anal sex; sexually explicit scenes: 8

Reviewed by Denise Powers
Courtesy Sensual Romance Reviews
Posted March 30, 2004

Available in both print and digital format.

Summary

A.D. 2203: Adam and Eve By Ravyn Wilde
Science has proven that Werewolves have but one genetic breeding mate, their mate can be another Werewolf, a human female or possibly a warm-blooded Other. Male Weres can only detect their mate's scent during the full moon, so females of all warm-blooded species who don't want to be claimed make a habit of locking themselves in "safe rooms" where their scents can't be detected. For all of her 38 years, geneticist Eve Longtree, an independent human female through and through, has never forgotten to lock herself into her saferoom during Lupine moon. Until now...

At His Mercy By Doreen DeSalvo
Faith Hartley is a researcher in the field of metaphysics - she's also a psychic. She desperately needs Jake McIntyre's approval for grant funds in order to continue conducting research at the university. Jake, a university board member and skeptical to the bone of psychic "charlatans", is ruthlessly determined that Faith won't get that grant money. He wants her to prove her psychic abilities before he'll even consider it. He wants Faith to read his mind, and he arrogantly believes she cannot. Faith can read his mind, all right. But the idea of admitting what Jake is thinking aloud is a bit unsettling. He's thinking of Faith. In wicked ways that would make even a Lady of the Evening gasp in shock...

Barbarian By Kate Douglas
Bryony believes her captive is the sex slave trader responsible for her sister's death. Holding him prisoner, she sexually "tortures" him for hours, getting him harder than steel but allowing him no release.
Innocent of her charges and obsessed with Bryony, Jake hunts her down. Two years later he captures his prey. And payback is a bitch...

Joshua 4.0 By Sahara Kelly
Joshua is everything a woman dreams of: gorgeous, sexy, and built with a body made for sin (and giving multiple O's). The problem is Joshua is a virtual reality computer program. He isn't real...or is he?

Manimal By Lani Aames
All Kelsey Locke wanted to do was get away for the weekend. She was sick to death of her ex-boyfriend and his irritating attempts to remain in her life. When a friend offered Kelsey the use of her secluded cabin for respite, she jumped at the offer. Kelsey was expecting snow, forest scenery, solitude to get some work done without interruptions, and not much else. Little does Kelsey know, someone - or something - is watching her. And his need to mate is strong...

Time-share: Amelia's Journey By Lora Leigh
Determined to make Venus habitable for humans, a spaceship of scientists head to the veiled planet to work. An unexpected crash separates the crew, leaving Amelia alone with Mike and Saber. Strange things are happening in the biosphere, a primal, primitive phenomenon that affects not only Venus' organisms, but its 3 human inhabitants, too. The need to mate, to be impregnated, overwhelms Amelia, and the desire to be the one who impregnates her overpowers both men. Mike. Saber. Two hot-blooded males in their prime. But just like with any other species of animal, only one man can be the alpha male.

Rated Erotic by the publisher.