by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jun 30, 2023 | Book Reviews
Lately, Alpha’s Hidden Obsession by Misha K keeps getting recommended to me when I open iReader so I thought, “Sure, let’s give it a try”. From the title, I knew it had to do with shifters, werewolves specifically, and that there was an obsessed alpha in it.
The main character in this story is Poppy who has been tortured for years by her Alpha grandfather because she was wolfless. She scented her mate and when she followed the scent it led her to Nash, an Alpha heir for another pack. Unfortunately, he was in the middle of a sexual encounter with Cynthia at the time and he decides to reject her in favor of Cynthia, his chosen mate.
Poppy is then sent to Umbra Academy where she fears she will be killed as it has the reputation of being a tough/savage school where few survive. There she meets Damon, the biggest baddest Alpha in the school.
Damon is betrothed to Monica and yet for some inexplicable reason, he finds himself drawn to Poppy. It takes him a while but he realizes that she is his mate and he does everything he can to resist.
Interestingly, while Poppy felt the mate bond with Nash, she could not even sense it with Damon. Why? She is, however, extremely attracted to him but fighting it herself. As far as she was concerned, Damon was bad news.
Story development and character development are good. It’s not a sex romp or bogged down with so many minutiae. However, the book does need editing as there are too many times when the wrong word (homonym) is used or an incorrect turn of phrase/idiomatic expression was written in.
The most glaring example is when the author says that Poppy is “in heats” or “her heats”. I thought it was a typo at first but since she is consistent in using that term it tells me that the author thinks that “in heats” is the correct term.
It isn’t. A she-wolf goes into HEAT (singular) or she is IN HEAT.
That being said, I am 37% into the story and it is going well. I am loving how possessive Damon is being and how he actually came out and told her how he feels for her. Now that Nash is back in the picture, I am interested to find out how it will play out. It’s good enough that I am buying coins just so I can read the whole book.
I think Alpha’s Hidden Obsession by Misha K is good enough to publish … just get a copy editor first to clean it up. You can find this jewel of a story on the iReader app.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jun 26, 2023 | Book Reviews
I read so many books on at least four reading apps, not counting Amazon Kindle and ARCs, that I didn’t think I would add another app to my reading roster. But then, this story kept appearing in my feed and on targeted ads, So one day I decided to (finally!) succumb and read the first chapter.
Reading that first chapter was a big mistake because King of the Underworld by RJ Kane is so well written that I am addicted and can’t stop reading! Here’s a clear sign that I think it is good … there are 514 chapter and I am reading it. That is 514 chapters of ONE BOOK, not a series of stories pulled together into one book.
Anyone who knows me or has read my previous reviews knows I avoid stories this long like the plague. This is usually because, from my experience, the stories that are that long (or longer) as usually written by juvenile authors who have terrible grammar which often means that English is not their first language. Yes, I know it is a generalization, but I have found it to be true in most cases.
So you can just imagine my surprise when I start King of the Underworld by RJ Kane to find not only minimal errors but an actual engaging story. I am only 60 chapters in but every chapter has been a joy to read. Persephone, the female main character, is someone I would love to befriend. Her personality is so sunny that I couldn’t help but smile. How she interacted with Adrik, the male main character, and his 5 personal bodyguards was amazing!
No, it is not a reverse harem … at least it doesn’t seem like it is 60 chapters in. Her relationship with the bodyguards is more like that of siblings. In contrast, with Adrik, from the get-go, we know it is a love match. So far it seems to be going well. My main concern as I read is, will the author be able to sustain this level of writing for 514 chapters? I’m willing to read on to find out.
So far there is no supernatural element yet but we will wait and see. King of the Underworld by RJ Kane can be found on the Anystories app. I think you’ll enjoy it, too. 🙂
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jun 24, 2023 | Book Reviews
There is just something about well-executed body art that is so darned sexy, and the grumpy men of Brothers in Ink in Four Tattoos by Stephanie Brother are prime examples.
The female lead character is Rose, a beautiful woman in her 20s who works in Island Java (a coffee shop owned by her brother) by day and at the front desk of Club Red (a male revue club) at night. She meets her men for the first time when she delivers coffee to their shop.
Mace, Zipper, Christian, and Hutch are the owners and tattoo artists behind Brothers in Ink. They bonded while in the army and have been as close as brothers since.
From the moment Rose meets the four she found herself inexplicably drawn to them and at the same time confused at how she can be attracted to all of them at the same time. Despite Christian’s and Zipper’s initial grumpiness, it didn’t detract from their appeal. She was excited for their next coffee delivery order so that she could see them again.
Christian, Hutch, Mace, and Zipper usually have different preferences when it comes to the women they date or sleep with. However, in this instance they found themselves unanimous in their desire for Rose. This was not the first time they have found themselves all attracted to the same woman. They had a polyamorous relationship in the past that did not end well. Nevertheless, this did not deter them from deciding to pursue Rose together. It’s a good thing they did or we wouldn’t have this story, lol!
I was bothered by the fact that she was keeping them as her “dirty little secret”. I understand her hesitation in saying anything to her brother Patrick and his fiancé, Nancy. I had hoped, though, she would have told someone in Club Red, like Brittany. She would definitely understand Rose’s situation, as would the the owners of Club Red and some of the dancers and Duke.
When it comes to their intimate moments, despite there being four of them, the men mostly tend to give each other one-on-one time despite all being in the same room. So, smut level is dialed down but still leaves room for my imagination to run wild. I thought that was actually sweet because it meant that Rose had the opportunity to really connect with each man and it didn’t read like a gang bang.
If you like age gap romances, tattoo artists, and grumpy men (in general) then you will enjoy. Four Tattoos by Stephanie Brother. You can get a copy of this story in Kindle and paperback format on Amazon, free with Kindle Unlimited. 🙂
Eager to know what else happens to Rose, Christian, Hutch, Mace, and Zipper? Check out the bonus chapter HERE.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jun 14, 2023 | Book Reviews
Female main characters come in all shapes and forms but this is probably the first time I’ve encountered one who is pretty much a tomboy. In Fake and Don’t Tell by Rebel Bloom, Poppy grew up with 5 brothers and if that wasn’t enough to make her a certified tomboy she also has 3 male best friends she’s known since they were in diapers. Despite all that testosterone in her life, she was still girl enough to fall in love with Andrew.
For 10 years, Andrew has been mean and unkind to Poppy and only used her sexually when it was convenient for him. Poppy, on the other hand, worshipped the ground he walked on. They eventually broke things off when Andrew said that Poppy was not mature enough for them to marry.
A couple of years later they meet again at Poppy’s family reunion. Why? Because he was engaged to her younger cousin! As if that wasn’t bad enough, they add insult to injury and invite her to the wedding. She has no desire to attend but isn’t given much of a choice so she needs a fake boyfriend, stat!
Enter her best friends: Jude, Cyrus, and Sam. They have known each other for years. At her SOS they go to her house and wait for her to arrive. She tells them what happened and somehow the idea of one of them being her fake date comes up. But how does she choose? Poppy ends up kissing them one after the other to help her decide, but that opens a different can of worms.
From hanging out every week at a sports bar, going to each other’s houses to drink beer and shoot the breeze, and playing baseball with her friends and brothers … now their thoughts are occupied with kisses, hardons, and so much more! I’m on Team Why Choose so I was rooting for all three men from the get-go but I was curious how this would play out.
It was so much fun! To be honest, it wasn’t the intention of the author but I actually forgot about Andrew, lol! Poppy’s encounters with Jude, Cyrus, and Sam were just so different and eye-opening (and dare I say, fun!)
I also need to mention her lovely family from her parents to her brothers who are all very loving and supportive. I don’t want to say more. This was just so much fun to read so I think you should check it out yourself. 🙂 Fake and Don’t Tell by Rebel Bloom is on Amazon for $2.99 but if you have Kindle Unlimited, it’s free!
I kid you not, at the moment this is my favorite story written by Rebel Bloom.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jun 12, 2023 | Video reviews
When Magic Mike came out in 2012 I was quite eager to watch it (admittedly) because of Channing Tatum. I fell for his boyish charm and delicious body in Step Up and followed his acting career since. To date, there are three Magic Mike movies. The first one came out in 2012, the second in 2015, and the latest one came out this year in February 2023.
As with the previous movies, Magic Mike promises and delivers hot, sexy dancing with half-naked men on stage. What makes this installment unique for me is that it explores the romance between an older woman and a younger man. How hot is that? Also, even I have to admit that I thought casting Salma Hayek in the movie was hot!
Complex dance routines
Does anyone else here remember her in the 1996 Quentin Tarantino film called From Dusk ‘Til Dawn where she played the role of the sexy snake dancer in the club? If you are curious about it, go ahead and click on the image on the left to bring you to the video clip of that scene.
The highlight for me in this movie is the uber-sexy private dance Channing gave Salma Hayek in the first few minutes of the movie. I don’t know how much acting Salma was doing there since she really looked like she was into it. In her shoes, I certainly would! Yes, please! Let me touch Channing’s chest and abs, too!
First of all, it’s Channing Tatum giving the lap dance. Second, the dance is called Permission and you can see from the movement that he isn’t touching her or doing anything without her permission. Third, as they traverse the room I marveled at their athleticism and the sexy choreography.
The dance in the rain looked like it must have been difficult to choreograph and execute but Channing and (I think it was) Kylie Shea executed it flawlessly. The precision and the emotion you could see portrayed in the dance were just amazing to watch. The number is long but worth watching. I actually paused and had to rewind it just to watch it again. It was just that good!
Gif taken from the Sydney Morning Herald website
Where’s the old cast?
Will the old cast still be there? Yes, but not to dance. All they give us is a group video call. Instead, we get a new group of hotties put together for this male revue.
The new cast of Magic Mike
They are all excellent dancers but raw when compared to Channing. Some of their movements look outright lascivious instead of effortlessly sexy. Curious about this movie yet? Here’s the official trailer to give you a sneak peek.
Is it just me or is Channing looking better with age? I’ve heard him say in interviews how he goes through a very strict workout and eating regimen every time they have to shoot Magic Mike just to be sure his body is in the right shape. I’ve seen him “off-season” when he just lets it go so it is easy to believe him when he says that he starves himself for the shoots.
Boxers or briefs?
If I may add, Channing in boxer briefs is so damned hot. To be honest, I’ve always found regular briefs or those tiny little Speedos made me uncomfortable … like a guy would just pop out past the waistband if he got aroused. Boxers bothered me, too. I don’t think it is healthy to just let it “all hang out”, you know? It’s just one step away from commando. If the guy is well-endowed you’d have a snake going down his leg.
Boxer briefs are the perfect marriage of the two. Black boxer briefs are sexy as hell, especially on Chan.
Slipping back into Magic Mike
Acting-wise, the role is not very demanding for him, I think, and since it is the same role, slipping into it even after 8 years was probably easy. That being said, I thought this was definitely fun to watch.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jun 11, 2023 | Book Reviews
I am so glad I discovered Rejected Mate by Sam Crescent. I have read many rejection stories but this one stands out. It is not about a rejected she-wolf being stronger than she thought she was. It isn’t about a bully who rejects a she-wolf changing his mind and deciding to accept her again. It isn’t about finding a second-chance mate.
This story was so well-written that I was captivated from page 1! It takes popular tropes (shifter romance, rejection, and age gap) and puts a unique spin on them. I hesitate to even call this a bully romance as the bullying part is incidental to the story.
Constance is a late bloomer. Where everyone else she knows shifted at 18, she didn’t shift until she turned 21. Tanner is the Alpha’s son. He has been bullying Constance for many years, calling her fat, ugly, and disgusting. Constance and Tanner realized they were mates on the day of her shift. Oh, horror of horrors! Constance hates his guts!
At this point in other books it would go one of two ways … Tanner would realize how he has been stupid all these years and would do his damnedest to win her or outright reject her. In this book, he chose the latter … Tanner rejected Constance and he did it publicly. Since he is the Alpha’s son, the pack took his rejection as a sign that they should all reject her, so they did. Her parents threw her out, she lost her job, and the rest of the pack turned their backs on her.
Rejection is painful, as we know from shifter lore, but this is the first time that I know of where the effects of the rejection go beyond chest or belly pains or pains caused by infidelity. Instead, the rejection is described as feeling very cold from the inside. Being rejected by one’s mate is bad, but imagine being rejected by the entire pack.
The entire pack, except for one … Gage, the Alpha, and Tanner’s father. In an emergency pack meeting, he announces that according to scripture, when a wolf is rejected, a relative of the one who did the rejecting can step up and accept the rejected wolf in their place. And that is what Gage did.
What a twist! Is it just custom or does Gage really want her for himself as a mate? Will Tanner change his mind and decide to take her back? Will Constance fall in love with Gage and decide to take him as her mate?
If you’ve never read any of the books from Sam Crescent’s Alpha Shifter Collection, this is a good book to start with. It isn’t in Kindle Unlimited but it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. You can get Rejected Mate by Sam Crescent on Amazon for $3.99. All the books in the Alpha Shifter Collection are $3.99 a piece.
Reading that first chapter was a big mistake because King of the Underworld by RJ Kane is so well written that I am addicted and can’t stop reading! Here’s a clear sign that I think it is good … there are 514 chapter and I am reading it. That is 514 chapters of ONE BOOK, not a series of stories pulled together into one book.
The female lead character is Rose, a beautiful woman in her 20s who works in Island Java (a coffee shop owned by her brother) by day and at the front desk of Club Red (a male revue club) at night. She meets her men for the first time when she delivers coffee to their shop.
For 10 years, Andrew has been mean and unkind to Poppy and only used her sexually when it was convenient for him. Poppy, on the other hand, worshipped the ground he walked on. They eventually broke things off when Andrew said that Poppy was not mature enough for them to marry.
The highlight for me in this movie is the uber-sexy private dance Channing gave Salma Hayek in the first few minutes of the movie. I don’t know how much acting Salma was doing there since she really looked like she was into it. In her shoes, I certainly would! Yes, please! Let me touch Channing’s chest and abs, too! 
This story was so well-written that I was captivated from page 1! It takes popular tropes (shifter romance, rejection, and age gap) and puts a unique spin on them. I hesitate to even call this a bully romance as the bullying part is incidental to the story.
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