Crystal JordanReseñas

This was an ok read. Not great, but entertaining enough. Normally I'm all about the panther shifters, but this was definitely a case of too little plot too much sex. The balance just wasn't there for stories that were all about 100pgs each.

I am struggling with how to rate this boxset. If half star ratings were available I would give this 3 ½ stars but will settle for 3 stars as a whole and I’ll provide individual rating for the stories and let the reader decide whether they want to purchase the set or not.
First the Good: If I read these books individually I would probably give them 4 stars:
To Score or Not to Score by Angela Quarles – although not what I would consider a Geek Story it did have a case of mistaken identity and two wounded people trying to get over their past.
The Adorkable Girl and the Geek by Sidney Bristol – this was truly the story of 2 geeks who had known each other from childhood and were in love but never admitted it to each other. This story didn’t need to include some bondage to make it work but it is a sweet story of friends becoming lovers.
The Girl Next Door – C. Jordan – probably my favorite story in this set. An Ex-Navy SEAL is working security at a sci-fi convention where his neighbor has a jewelry booth. He knew she was hot but couldn’t resist her after seeing her Wonder Woman constume.
Play – Olivia Devon – A Virtual Reality creator meets one of his best users/world-creator and their hook-up in the virtual world moves over into real life.
I would have given In the Spotlight by Ally Decker 4 stars also but it needs some editing. The hero’s name switches back and forth between Greg Abrams and Greg Adams – sometimes on the same page. Therefore, I am deducting ½ a star for annoyance.
I would give Fall Quiet by Zoe York a 2 ½ to 3 star rating. It was okay but more kinky than geeky and even then the kink was more talk than action.
Finally, I would only give Bath Bomb by Clara Leigh 1 star. It’s a story about a three-some but the first 2 chapters were so long-winded and boring I didn’t even get to the girl. It’s not often that I don’t finish reading a story but I couldn’t go any farther with this one.
I received an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Dream Catcher by Kate Douglas - 4
Interesting beginning for a new series, has real potential

Unnoted BDSM themes, including bondage and pain. Some how this author ascribes to the belief that the cure for abuse or borderline rape is to become a sub.

As usual I do not appreciate incorrect psychology or lack of notice about themes that survivors would usually find upsetting rather than titillating. I will be avoiding this author in the future.

Sexy vampire with a New Orleans accent, can't go wrong there. OH, it gets better, he is uber rich, loyal and would do anything for he lady love. It is a short quick vampire romance, very enjoyable.

Unnoted BDSM themes, including bondage and pain. Some how this author ascribes to the belief that the cure for abuse or borderline rape is to become a sub.

As usual I do not appreciate incorrect psychology or lack of notice about themes that survivors would usually find upsetting rather than titillating. I will be avoiding this author in the future.

Why so short?! I wanted more! Kadira and Ezra had great chemistry. The foursome was hot. I loved the post-apocalyptic landscape with remnants of our world tossed in. Bring on more of Ezra's vibrating gadgets! *wink*.

I wish the story was longer because there was a lot of telling the characters inner feelings and not enough showing. I think if the story was longer we could've seen Kadira and Ezra fall in love. Even with the short length, Jordan does a great job creating a sexy atmosphere and couple you want to root for.

Now that I've met the Wanderer, I'm curious about the other three types of females in this world.

Funny, quirky, quick read. I didn't read the first one and still got the story just fine.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas ... but Finn Walsh wants Meg Phillips for longer than a week long Spring Break fling.

A group of teachers from Half Moon Bay Middle School are leaving California to spend a wild week in Las Vegas during Spring Break. Gym teacher Finn Walsh begged fellow Gym teacher Anne Kirby to get her best friend and History teacher Meg Phillips to agree to go with the group. After much cajoling by her group of best friends, Meg reluctantly agrees to go on the trip even though she prefers to spend the week at home reading.

Finn likes everything about Meg, and after she has already shot down his request for a date last year because she has a rule against dating a fellow teacher, Finn wants the chance to get to know Meg outside of work, spend time with her, and hopefully change her mind about dating him.

Meg is attracted to Finn, but because of horrible past family and relationship experiences that has made her commitment cautious, she has a personal rule against dating another teacher. Even though Finn makes her all hot and bothered he is strictly off limits.

With the rest of the group spending the week in Sin City doing the Teachers Gone Wild scene, Finn and Meg share a mutual attraction with so much sexual tension and chemistry between them that they agree to spend the week together. But Meg has one rule: they will share a no-strings fling week together and that's it. Finn agrees to the rule, but he has one week to get her to change her mind and give them a chance at something more permanent. Can Finn break through Meg's inhibitions and relationship fears and show her how good they are together? Or will their Vegas Vacation only be a one time fling?

Vegas Vacation is an entertaining story that mixes sweet romance with steamy sex that makes it one hell of a fun read. In the first book of the Destination: Desire Series, author Crystal Jordan weaves a sexy tale of romance and smoking hot sex written in the third person narrative that follows Meg and Finn's journey of intimately discovering each other in Las Vegas during Spring Break.

The author effortlessly transports her readers to Sin City with the quirky group of middle school teachers as they get their groove on during their trip. The description of the various landmarks in Las Vegas is spot on, you feel like you are there right in the middle of the glitter and action that makes up this famous gaming town. While Meg and Finn's week of romance is the main focus of the story, the author also provides a lot of humor and fun from the rest of the group as they enjoy their trip.

Mixed with humor, romance and emotional drama, the reader watches as Meg and Finn's romance develops as they deal with real life issues and fears mixed with delicious descriptions of their sexual attraction and sizzling chemistry. The balance between their touching fun times spent together mixed with their erotic sex scenes is just plain hot, hot, hot. While I love the smoking hot sex scenes, I really appreciated Finn and Meg's back stories as well as the fun touristy things that they did in Las Vegas that helped them develop their relationship. The author does a great job of letting the readers really get to know Meg and Finn, from their past history, to their personalities and emotions, to their undeniable attraction for each other. While I appreciated Meg's character and the inner turmoil of maintaining her personal rule over letting go and starting a relationship with Finn, it was Finn that stole my heart. This sweet sexy man is every woman's fantasy man, he is a man that is a definite keeper because of his desire to have a real relationship with Meg, not just a casual sexual fling. Even as Meg protects her heart and tries to hold back her feelings for Finn, it takes more than just that one week for her to consider all that Finn has to offer. This my friends is a story that is very sigh worthy.

Vegas Vacation is a sweet and steamy romance story that will simply curl your toes and leave a smile on your face!

Vegas Vacation is the first book in the Destination: Desire Series.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Goddess Fish Promotions.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2013/04/vegas-vacation-by-crystal-jord...

This is an anthology with three stories by authors I had not yet read, Kate Douglas, Crystal Jordan and Lynn LaFleur. I wish I had known that Crystal Jordan’s story 'Taken Between' was the second story in the The Between series. I loathe reading a series out of order. It’s partially my fault for not digging deeper before picking 'NightShift', but it would be nice to have it mentioned somewhere in an anthology’s blurb that an included story is part of a series.

Overall each story was enjoyable and incredibly HOT. I consider the Kate Douglas story 'Dream Catcher' more of a sci-fi story than a shifter story, but since I enjoy sci-fi I had no problems with it. Crystal Jordan’s 'Taken Between' had too much sex (I know, I know, how can that possibly be?!) and not enough plot, but still an enjoyable read. I think Lynn LaFleur’s story 'The Right Number' was my favorite of the three although 'Dream Catcher' was a close second.

If you’re looking for a few quick hot reads then you won’t go wrong with this anthology. I need to look into more stories by these authors.

*The publisher provided a copy of this book to me for review. Please see disclaimer on my blog.

Selena Grayson is a Seattle cop and an elf that is centuries old. She’s reaching the end of her very long life, but if her former partner’s vision comes true, the end will come years sooner than is natural.

Special Agent Jack Laramie is one of the few Normals working for the FBI’s Magickal Crimes Unit. The strictest decree in the Magickal world is Normals can’t know about Magickals, but Jack’s mom married a werewolf and then his mom became one, too. Jack opted to stay human after his stepdad offered to turn him, but after a stint in the Marines he decided to join the FBI’s MCU to help protect humans and Magickals alike.

When a serial killer comes to town with a grudge against those connected to Magickals and an M.O. the same as a case Selena worked years ago in New Orleans, the Seattle PD loans her to the Jack’s unit. However, Selena is hiding some very important personal info about the 30-yr-old case. As she and Jack engage in a no strings affair while working on the case, how far will it go before the truth comes out? Will Jack be able to forgive her? Will Selena survive even though her death on this case has been predicted by the most powerful seer alive? Is Fate really out of our hands?

This was a great story with an interesting plot and excellent pacing. The characters were rich and well-developed and I love the world in which they live. So why 3 bites instead of 4? Because it is a pet peeve of mine that when a person serves in the United States Marine Corps they are henceforth known for all time as Marines. It is the Corps, not the corps and it is Marine not marine. A Marine is one of the Few and the Proud and marine has something to do with the ocean or sea. Marines are also NOT soldiers. Soldiers are Army. Marines are Marines. As a wife, mother, cousin and sister-in-law to Marines I have to say I react badly when reading a book and finding these mistakes. It wasn’t once or twice it was multiple times. Since Jack and his dad were in the Marines their background was mentioned many times. Someone down the line should have caught the mistakes and corrected them. Am I being too harsh? Every mistake I read grated on my nerves and since I feel what I feel, that’s how I’m rating the book.

Otherwise, this book is a great read. In future reprints I hope they fix the errors I pointed out. Just a side note: I don’t like the cover. Selena looks like she’s eating Jack’s nose.

*Many thanks to Kensington for providing me with a review copy. Please see disclaimer page on my blog.

Chloe Standish is a doctor and a biochemist. She’s also a witch. When she discovers her vampire boyfriend is cheating on her she heads to the supernatural friendly bar Sanguine to look for a hot one-night stand to occupy her mind and body.

Merek Kingston is a loner, a cop and a warlock with powerful abilities. He’s not just clairvoyant. He’s clairvoyant³ where he sees all the way into the past, all possibilities in the present and to the end of days in the future. He struggles constantly to keep his seeing under a tight rein. He stops at Sanguine to drown the near-future vision of his partner lying dead on the ground when he meets Chloe and can’t see anything about her. In her presence his abilities are quiet and while he knows it’s not a good sign he can’t prevent himself from taking her home with him.

Two months after that night and Chloe’s sneaky dash away the morning after the two meet again when Chloe’s life and werewolf research are threatened by a werewolf terrorist. They have to go on the run to give the FBI time to catch the bad guy, but this means being in close proximity to each other and the out-of-control lust they feel. Will they be able to overcome their painful pasts and trust their hearts to each other? Will they stay a step ahead of the bad guys? Will Chloe finish her research that could prevent werewolves from dying during their monthly Change? You know what they say…where there’s a will there’s a way.

This was a great story. The plot was tight with plenty of twists to keep it interesting. The characters, including secondary ones, were well-developed and appealing. The pace is where it fell a tad short for me. The suspense would build and then there’d be a sex scene. The sex scenes were detailed and hot, but there were too many of them and the imagery was a tad repetitious. I felt as if I was running with the characters trying to stay ahead of the bad guy and the suspense would just begin to get to me when Chloe and Merek just couldn’t keep their hands off each other. I was trying to ride the suspense wave to the conclusion, but instead I sat there twiddling my thumbs waiting while they got it on yet again.

I did enjoy the characters and the world in which they live though, so I will be checking out Book 2, Night Games.

Wicked Lord
"You can't rape the willing." ---- I really, really hate that phrase. A lot. It's such a mix of dysfunctional sexual politics, victim blaming and physiological inaccuracy that not only does it make me feel stabby, it also sets my analytical side on overdrive, which makes it really hard for me to 1) ignore it and 2) enjoy the rest of the story. I mean, seriously, fully revved left brain and an erotic romance about shape-shifters from space? At best, that's going to be MST3K-style reading. Other than that, I mostly liked the characters and it's not the first time I've run across that particular canard in this genre... but it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Carnal Empress
In the previous story, Jana sacrificed herself to save Kyber. While it was a noble gesture, it was also strategically stupid. After getting coerced/raped by the villain for her efforts, her mystical bond with Kyber was severed. (I think. Both characters said it was broken, but Jana was still the Empress and sometimes they talked about the bond still being in place, which was a little confusing.) Anyway, while and after Jana was being raped, Kyber was being tortured by said villain. As a result of his torture and Jana's choices, when Jana finally rescues Kyber, he turns into Angry Boner Man. As a rule, Angry Boner Man is not my favorite character type, but he ended up being the perfect complement for Jana's self-hatred. sigh. (Yes, I know there was a HEA-style resolution, but by that point I was more concerned with their mental/emotional health than with their romance.)

Overall, disappointing. I want my fluff to be fluffy, dammit, not depressing. I can't see myself re-reading this book and am sorry I bought it½

This short novel of erotica takes place in a post-apocalyptic Earth and is the first installment in the Wasteland series. Jordan spends only a small amount of time on world-building and setting. Not surprising considering you really know to begin with that these elements are just filler in between the very graphic sex scenes. So let's get to the main part, the sex. The scenes are fairly well written although I imagine standard for the genre. I've never read erotica before this so bear in mind this is coming from someone who is new. Features sex scenes involving M/M, F/F, M/F/M, and foursomes too...also an interesting scene of sex at knife-point. If you read erotica these things will no doubt be nothing new so I'll save the warning that it's not for prudish folks. I doubt I'll read the rest of the series but overall, this was a fun way to pass an evening!

Mrrooww. "On the Prowl" is certainly a 'really hot book', just as it's described on the back cover! It's also a three-story anthology by Crystal Jordan about a family of werepanthers and what happens when they meet their mates.

"Undeniable" is the first and longest story--which makes sense since Jordan has to set up her world and its rules. Antonio is the new leader of the pride. Meeting his mate should be the best thing to happen to him, right? Well, there's just a couple of problems. She's an outcast who can't shift; and she's not about to let him sacrifice his position in the pride for their love. Silly girl.

"Irresistible" tells the tale of Miguel and Andrea. Miguel is Antonio's second and Andrea is Antonio's sister...should be a match made in panther-heaven. But Andrea still hasn't really recovered from a traumatic sexual attack; and Miguel's 'appetites' aren't exactly something she's willing to admit she needs.

"Indescribable" is the last story about the rowdy twins Ricardo and Diego and their struggle to compromise with 'their' mate Isabel. She's running from one panther who wants to own her...now she's got two!!

None of the stories are 'deep' or necessarily surprising...but they are all really, really hot. While it doesn't make the keeper shelf, it did entertain me during a long and boring flight from California to Georgia! This book contains graphic descriptions of sexual activities with one, two, and three people; including some partially shifted weres. If that will offend you, don't read the book!