Valentine's Night Carlos and Aria by Trinity Wise

#humpday #shortstory
rating 4stars

From Amazon:
This novelette introduces the spicy couple, Aria Cambridge and Carlos "Stone" Wilkins, who by chance become re-acquainted at the most unlikeliest of places on the most ironic of days.
Carlos is a deeply-scarred bachelor who never expects to find anything interesting at Club Carnal on Valentine's Night but when Aria graces the stage, he is ensnared by her seductive dance.
Aria works as an exotic dancer named Plenty and is nothing short of surprised to see a face from her past. She is determined to show Carlos all that he missed out on but her plan goes awry as she realizes that she may be getting in way over her head while playing the game of seduction.

My Review:
This is a great short story. A few pages long, Wise fleshes out these characters pretty well. Carlos is sexy, confident, and cocky. He has it going on from his intelligence, looks, personality and he knows it. Aria is a stripper as a job but does not let it define her.

There is a definite story line. Carlos has been hurt by a previous relationship. Not wanting to go through the pain his ex had put him through, he became a woman juggling ladies man. The bachelor life is no longer as fun as it once was. He wants something more but with the hurt of a fail relationship on his mind it won't be easy for him to let someone get close again.

Aria had a big time crush on Carlos years ago. Realizing who he was once she had brought him up on stage during her act ignite old feelings in her. Could she be the one he falls in love with? That question is unknown. One thing is certain, the sexual chemistry between the two will leave them coming back for more.

Aaron aka Old Money has it all on the outside but his sense of entitlement made him off limits to Plenty. Not used to being turned down, he is angered when he is rejected again. When things get physical outside Club Carnal, Aaron swears vengeance.

This is a sexually explicit story. What is rare with this one? It is focus on Aria's pleasure only. So ladies take a few minutes to read a little something to get you in the mood. Oh, and fellas read it and take notes. Once is great but multiples are ooooohhhh so much better!

The Initiate by Megg Jensen

#freestylefriday

From Kobobooks:

Before Anathema...

Before Sleepers...

There was The Initiate

Over a thousand years ago, the gods left Eloh's people and took their magic with them. To win back their favor, her people sacrifice ten female initiates every ten years. No has ever survived. There has never been a Chosen One.

Forced into becoming an initiate, Eloh will try to find a way to beat the odds, stay with her boyfriend, and survive the fires that threaten to consume her. But will her lack of faith in the gods and her disbelief in their magic doom her to a painful death?

The Initiate is a novelette that bridges the bestselling Cloud Prophet Trilogy (Anathema, Oubliette, and Severed) and The Swarm Trilogy (Sleepers, and two more novels coming in 2012).

The Song of Eloh Saga:

The Initiate, Book 1 - a novelette bridging the Cloud Prophet Trilogy and The Swarm Trilogy

Cloud Prophet Trilogy:
Anathema, Book 2
Oubliette, Book 3
Severed, Book 4

The Swarm Trilogy:
Sleepers, Book 5
Afterlife, Book 6
The Sundering, Book 7 (coming fall 2012)

My Review:
This book does what it is supposed to do. It got me interested in reading the two series or at least the first one in the Cloud Prophet Trilogy. Not having read any of the books I had to ask myself a couple of questions while reading this. Was Eloh beaten by her parents and why? Are the people of this world only desire two children? Is the only reason her parents did not want her is simply because she is another mouth to feed?

In this short story Eloh is being prepared to go to a sacrifice ceremony. Each town choose to girls in hopes that the gods will chose one thus they (the Gods) will return and bring back magic. Eloh has never believed in the gods so she knows that she is getting all dolled up to die by fire. But she is wrong. The gods do exist but has never chosen a girl because the ceremony is not right and the time is not right. Eloh is the chosen one. There is a catch however, she did not believe in the gods. So she will have all that she ever wanted but a a punishment she will not have the time to enjoy it.

If you are in a reading funk and need a quick read to jump start this definitely consider this. It will keep your attention until the end and short enough to read with a couple of hours or one day at the most.