Catching up on reviews

A couple months ago, I set up a blog to house Phaze's reviews. Promo goddess Crystal Bright has been busily archiving reviews there (as well as posting the new ones). Last night, she posted two old reviews from The Romance Studio that I hadn't seen yet. What a treat!

Artistically Inclined
Alessia Brio and Will Belegon
Contemporary erotic romance
ISBN: 978-1-59426-950-5
January 2007

Cyndi is artistic, talented, passionate about her work. Roger owns a hardware store and hobnobs with top talents in Pittsburgh’s sports world. The two work at keeping their relationship erotic. For Valentine’s Day Cyndi suggests they each write down five fantasies and share them. Roger adds his own twist to the suggestion by saying they can’t have sex or orgasms until Valentine’s.

This writing duo pens a quickly read novella that explores the artistic world and scenery of Pittsburgh while heading like a speeding bullet toward the acting out of the couples fantasies.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Explicit

Reviewer: Dee Dailey
March 26, 2008

fine flickering hungers
Alessia Brio
Erotic romance anthology
Available from Phaze
ISBN: 1-59426-540-2
November 2005

fine, flickering hungers by Alessia Brio is an anthology of erotic short stories and poetry. As there are too many to review separately, I'll pick a few to give you a taste of this sensuous, yet unusual book.

Wetter Has Never Been Better is the sensuous story of Stormy and the extremes she will go to in order to land a huge account, the country of Costa Rico, at the ad agency she works for. A "challenge" has been issued by the execs ­ create an ad that will make tourists want to head to Costa Rico during the rainy season - and Stormy plans on winning that challenge…but how? Why not head to Costa Rico and see what might be special about the rainy season? Her discovery surprises and pleases her and introduces her to more than she ever expected, which leads to a winning presentation! This is a very hot story. Luckily, there is another story, Topping Love, that picks up where this one leaves off and introduces family and friends of Charlie, the man Stormy starts seeing once she's home! Very interesting story ­ I wonder where the author got the idea of using pizza toppings!

Carly has always been a follower ­ never a leader! On this night, when she's out with Jenna, her best friend, she finally decides to take the lead. However, Jenna isn't one to follow, until tonight! Carly, upon reaching her Boiling Point, gives Jenna no choice in the matter and Carly's dreams come true...but what happens now? We find out in the next story, Say It With A Strap-On. Carly buys something special for her next encounter with Jeana...if she has a next encounter! They occasionally talk on the phone but not about what Carly believes needs to be talked about! Jeana calls and invites her to dinner. She accepts and things go from good to great, as far as Carly and Jeana are concerned... until Jeana's husband catches them! So what will be next for these ladies?

This was a most unusual book, with a combination of poetry and short stories. Alessia Brio stories and poetry flowed and they were written with a touch of humor and a lot of heat!

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Explicit

Reviewer: Pam
January 15, 2006

TRS reviews At First

The Romance Studio gives At First, the story behind the story of ArtiFactual, four hearts and some very nice praise:

At First -- Washington D.C. is the story behind Alessia Brio and Will Belegon's story, ArtiFactual. Set before the foundation of the Erotique Mystique, Senor Eduardo "Eddie" Rojas Aguilar is a young archeology student. Wandering the streets of D.C., he literally plows into Vivian Long and fireworks ensue. What is it about tall, dark, and mysterious that has Vivian so wound up? What's the spark in her touch, and why can't Eduardo seem to tell the woman, no? Why is he attracted to such a forward woman?

Attraction at first sight or is it love? Either way, Brio and Belegon know how to keep the intensity at the forefront. From Eddie and Vivian's first encounter to the chain of events that Vivian allows, and sometimes orchestrates, to draw them along and together, the chemistry between the characters is amazing. Not having read ArtiFactual, I'm not sure of this story's meaning, but I found At First stands well on its own. I love the concept of different personalities and instant attraction, and found the authors have an uncanny way to make it real. I enjoyed being drawn and made privy to the character's thoughts. Nice romantic elements and intense sex make this story one hot read.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Explicit

Reviewer: Bryl Tyne

Just $2 from Phaze Books!

TRS reviews Time Warp

Time Warp
Alessia Brio
Contemporary erotic romance
Available from Phaze
ISBN: 1-59426-522-4
April 2007

Alex and Dan Gallagher have everything on their first anniversary. He's finally divorced from his wife. The one he had been cheating on for her. Life is good in the suburbs for the two. By the third anniversary things have drastically changed. He's been seeing his first wife, Beth, again, is planning to move out and remarry her. Alex has a devilish plan up her sleeve to make sure that doesn't happen.

Alessia Brio gives us a tale of what could happen to a cheating spouse when the partner is a pharmacist or in the medical profession. Alex is painted as patient, willing to wait until their special day to enact the plan she's developed since she found Dan cheating. We can almost hear her evil laugh as she sets him up to have her way with him one last time and make sure Beth doesn't want him. She's done her research on the internet and is a totally modern woman buying toys, checking out the meds, the knots and getting everything ready.

The author does a great job with her storyline. It's like we have a tape and can fast forward from anniversary to anniversary, hitting only the highlights and cutting out the 'commercials' that happened between times. The author leaves it up to us to fill in the blanks in any way we want. This is an interesting way to tell a story and I found I had a lot of fun with it.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Explicit

Reviewer: Dee Dailey
September 9, 2008

http://theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/timewarpbrio.htm

BLURB: Dan doesn't appreciate Alex any longer, and Alex just does not appreciate Dan's infidelity. When cunning and creativity combine in a woman scorned, revenge turns criminally delicious. Who's really the guilty party inthis twisted tale of torment?