5 blue ribbon Romance Junkies review
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Lord Nicholas Satyr is a well known successful and wealthy vineyard owner, but what makes him so fascinating is a well-kept secret that ties him to the ElseWorld. Nicholas and his brothers are satyrs, the last of their kind. None of them are in any hurry to marry but a letter from King Feydon of the ElseWorld dictates that each of the brothers are to marry one of the king's half human/half fairie daughters. Daughters he spawned on mortal women while they slept. It's imperative that these women be found and brought into the protection that the Satyr's can provide. The brothers decide to take turns going in search of the females which each of them will marry. First up is Nick and his destination is Rome - where King Feydon stated that one of his daughters could be found.
Jane has no interest in marrying - at least not until she can find a curative for her `oddity.' She's completely unaware of the truth behind her abilities and is determined to secure a place in the country where she and her sister Emma would be safe from curious eyes and free of the danger of discovery. To do so, Jane poses as a fortune teller. Her gift of touch aids in her ability to tell much about a person and she's successfully saved a tidy sum of money. She just never anticipated one of her clients turning out to be somebody who could understand her much more than she understands herself - or the circumstances that lead to her marriage to Lord Nicholas Satyr.
Nicholas's search through Rome yielded not a hint of his fairy bride. On a whim he travels to Trivoli and encounters the hint of Faerie magic in the air. Following it leads him to the tent of a fortune teller and he assumes that the young woman who steps out of the tent is the woman he's looking for but soon discovers his error. Nicholas follows her home and approaches her father about marrying her. Jane isn't enthusiastic about the marriage but the alternative is really much worse so she agrees and hopes for the best. Nicholas and Jane both have secrets and neither is sure how the other will handle it if the truth is revealed. Jane is a wonder to Nicholas but he never intended for her to satisfy his lusty sexual urges alone. It'll take more than one woman, won't it? Jane's positive she can handle anything he dishes out and satisfy every carnal craving he has - and then some!
NICHOLAS: THE LORDS OF SATYR is Elizabeth Amber's first published erotic novel and I have to tell you I couldn't put this book down until I finished every delightfully wicked page. I loved the mythological beings that were depicted throughout this book and the spell that Ms. Amber seems to weave through each page so that you felt like you were really there watching as each scene played out. The characters are genuinely memorable - even the ones you dislike prove to be unforgettable. I'm very curious about what will happen in the next two books in this series and really disappointed that it will be months before I can find out about Raine and Lyon's searches and their prospective brides. Beautifully written Ms. Amber!
Watch for the next two LORDS OF SATYR books to be released in 2008 - RAINE will be available in March and LYON will be coming in October.
Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)
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"The Lords of Satyr" book 1
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In the lush valleys of Tuscany the Lords of Satyr continue with their duties to protect their lands and wine crops. Half human and half satyr, each brother has learnt to hide what he truly is in the human world; yet their secret is not as closely guarded as they believe. Receiving a missive from King Feydon of the Faerie; he decrees that each brother marry one of the three human-faerie daughters he sired on visits to the mortal realm. Each daughter requires shielding from forces which threaten her and each will find protection as the wife of a Lord of Satyr.
Nicholas manages to track down and marry his selected bride fairly quickly; however there is initially a serious lack of romance between himself and his new wife Jane. Nicholas believes a half faerie woman is more likely to beget an heir than a human woman and treats his marriage like a business contract whilst Jane is desperate to hide the gifts bestowed by her faerie heritage and escape with her young sister Emma the clutches of her drunken father and manipulative aunt. The leading lovers are so intent on hiding their secrets from each other that they fail to initially realise they have fallen in love. Jane is desperate to conceal not only her mental gifts and affinity to plants, but also a budding pair of wings she finds herself trimming; whilst Nicholas is reluctant to reveal what he truly is and worried that Jane will be unable to accept his heritage; including a variety of sexual rituals (one involving his brothers) to ensure Jane's pregnancy and her protection from the dangers that threaten her.
Highly sexual, Nicholas and his brothers are raised to believe a wife will dutifully bear their children; however she will be far too fragile to handle the full hunger of a satyr. For this reason Nicholas continues to visit his mistresses following his marriage in order to slake his baser carnal needs, unaware Jane is left increasing frustrated by his almost detached bedroom visits. Nicholas in turn is left surprised by the pleasure he finds with Jane, but he remains determined no woman interfere with his duty and so continues with his dalliances despite his growing feelings for his wife. When Jane learns of his continued visits to his mistresses she realises she wants more from her marriage. She therefore strikes a bargain; assuming the role of both wife and mistress she agrees to the sexual tuition the highly skilled Nicholas offers in exchange for his fidelity.
Whilst dangers threaten Jane, Nicholas, his brothers and their lands, Jane is taken on a sexual voyage by the talented Nicholas and is certainly highly educated by the end of this book. EA's historical/paranormal erotic romance is explicitly hot in places but in no way draws attention away from the problems the Satyr family face or the almost reluctant growing love between Nicholas and Jane. "Nicholas" is an excellent beginning to "The Lords of Satyr" series; to be followed by "Raine" (due for pub. March 08) and "Lyon" (due for pub. Oct 08). I'll certainly be purchasing both.
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A very sexy romance!
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As the oldest brother of three, Nicholas is determined to do his duty and sire an heir to carry on the family legacy. These half-satyr half-human brothers have lavish estates set in a lush Tuscany vineyard, where they must guard ancient secrets.
When Nicholas and Jane meet at Villa d'Este, there's an instant connection between them, but their romance evolves over time. Jane wants to protect her sister and find a secure situation for them both, but because of her strange powers, she's afraid she cannot find love. There's also a wicked villainess in the family, who's trying to manipulate Jane for personal gain.
Nicholas' sexual proclivities were v-e-r-y unusual--read the prologue to get a taste. There are numerous graphically erotic scenes, but there's also romance and plot and historical detail involving botany and winegrapes.
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Comes with a warning!!
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This book was recommended to me by a fellow erotica-reader, and whilst it's not as hot or graphic as Ellora's Cave/Samhain novels, it does come with a warning of really hot sex and menage scenes. What the warning should really read is that in the final scenes of the novel, the female character is forced into having sex with her husband's two brothers. I feel that this needs to be pointed out, as thought it is set in a fantasy setting, there will be readers who will take offense at a woman being forced to drink an elixir to drug her into the idea, and then when her consciousness surfaces during the act with one brother, is given more to make her compliant.
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Elizabeth Amber shoots straight up to my A-list shelf!!!
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OMG! What can I say? Enthralling, catching, highly erotic and satisfying to the very core of your being! When you start reading this novel you're being pulled into the story and a world which you just cannot put down till you finished reading the last word written. I compare it to the forbidden fruit which you secretly do eat and afterwards enjoying the fact you can still lick the juice of your fingertips! And still Nicholas is whispering to me. This is definitely a story that will stay with you a while after you finished reading it.
The story-lines of the Lords of Satyr are refreshingly new to me. I can't really say what kind of genre it falls into apart from the Erotic one - and Erotic it is - but it's holding a genre in the likes of fantasy/paranormal/historical. Never before have I read such scene's filled with wickedly delightfulness, described in a way it really comes across as erotical, and making you feel tingled up, nearly longing for Nicholas to cuddle up next to you, showing you what he's all about.
In my opinion some books in this genre are very graphic: the story being more about the erotic scenes instead of the story. But when, like Elizabeth Amber, you are able to write Erotica Novels where you forget the genre and being pulled into a story filled with such passion, rituals, magic and love, then to me you are top-notch A list quality!
Nicholas and Jane both are in their own way perfect for each other. It was so touching to see Jane needing to get used to what she was, trying so desperately all her life hiding her abnormalities and Nicholas just accepting her straight upfront for who she is. And Nicholas... - just purring perfect as a great man. Of course I had to put my own self aside when he had to relief himself in a way I would never accept it from my man, but all things set aside, it did perfectly fit in with the story. And because it totally fit in the story and was described in such a way that you could clearly see the logic in it I was able to fathom it and accept it for what is was and needed to be for him.
There was this amazingly perfect balance between the characters; the story and the world Elizabeth has created. I can hardly wait for the next novel to be released. After reading this novel, Elizabeth left me eager to read along and see what will happen with Raine en Lyon and not to forget Emma of course! Elizabeth Amber, straight away in this first novel, was able to set the strongly different characters of the Lords of Satyr to paper and to be honest - I just love Lyon! I'd say he's the rake in this bunch, the one who does as he pleases and does not feel like settling down really! I so am curious to see what he'll do once his time has come! I mean, this all came to me, especially after that one scene with him, a waterfall, and sex - that's all I'll say but once you read this novel you'll just know what I mean.
Honest to say, Elizabeth Amber has totally baffled me with this novel, making it reach above all my expectations. Daring to shift things around, but not losing the fact it's still about two people emerging with each other in sacred vows and growing towards loving each other. To me this novel held everything I needed/longed to see back in a story and knowing as soon as Raine is out I'll be the first to dive into his story. Can't wait to see if he finally is able to find his bride - he had a somewhat more difficult time with seeking her out than Nicholas did and I say he's a bit frustrated about that! Elizabeth - don't make him wait too long - that'll be torture (wickedly grinning)!
A slamming debut for an author that shoots straight up to my A-list shelf!
Reviewed by Ashleagh
Courtesy of Realms on our Bookshelves
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