Blog Archives
Loss Fuels a Life
Loss Fuels a Life is a queer erotic crime novel that follows Ivan Dorn, a globe-trotting classical music critic, whose life is ripped apart when his best friend Rye, a Toronto tech whiz and sex worker, is found dead in what looks like a kinky suicide gone wrong. As Ivan digs into Rye’s emails, videos, and clients, he discovers footage that points to murder and to “Upstairs Daddy,” a wealthy older benefactor named Harold, whose world stretches from a Palm Springs gay resort to a sleazy film set in Los Angeles. Around them orbit hustler turned actor Andreas, Harry’s bitter daughter Melissa, and a whole ecosystem of critics, festival insiders, and sex partners, all tangled up in money, desire, and lies. The book moves between Toronto apartments, desert pools, and casting couches, and builds toward a bloody, messy finale where attempts at revenge leave more than one body on the floor and no one walks away clean.
I was pulled along by the sheer energy of the writing. The style is lurid, breathless, and very visual. Scenes of sex, murder, and concert halls all get the same close-up treatment, and that gives the book a strange, nervy power. I liked how S. James Wegg uses the structure of emails, reviews, and camera footage to shift point of view and to keep dropping new information. The explicit scenes come early and often, and a few times I caught myself wanting more space to sit with what the characters are feeling in the aftermath. When the book slows down and lets Ivan grieve or scheme instead of just react, it really lands for me. Those quieter stretches in Toronto or in an empty hotel room hit harder than yet another trip to the lube drawer.
What I liked most were the ideas behind all the sweat and violence. The novel digs into power and dependency in queer relationships in a way that feels blunt and uncomfortable. Rye trades submission for rent and a sense of safety, Harry trades money for youth and denial, Andreas trades his body for access and leverage, and Melissa treats everyone around her as a threat to her inheritance. Loss sits in the middle of all that, not just Rye’s death but also Melissa’s dead mother, Harry’s health, Ivan’s illusions about his own sexuality and about his best friend. The title feels dead on. Grief becomes fuel for art, and also for obsession, bad choices, and finally murder. I liked that the book refuses to give me a neat moral. Ivan’s revenge is clumsy and cruel, and the story does not pretend that righteous anger automatically leads to justice.
I see Loss Fuels a Life as a bold, messy, very specific ride. The pages are full of graphic sex, BDSM, sexual violence, homophobia, substance abuse, and a detailed suffocation scene, so readers who are sensitive to those topics will want to steer clear. If you enjoy dark, character-driven stories about queer lives that sit at the crossroads of art, money, and desire, and you are comfortable with explicit content that never really lets up, this novel will probably get its hooks into you.
Pages: 248 | ASIN : B0G341Y3PX
Delicious Surrender: A Steamy Grumpy Sunshine Romance
Delicious Surrender follows Brynne, a London-based writer whose half-written BDSM romance novel pushes her toward a bolder, messier, and far more personal journey than she ever imagined. After a breakup that strips away her safe, predictable life, she dives into the erotic underworld, not as a voyeur behind a laptop, but as an active participant. From her nerve-racking interview at the elite Club Dominus, to her intense encounters with a legendary Domme, to her electric clashes with the magnetic and maddening Master Gage, Brynne’s story is one of self-discovery wrapped in heat, humor, and raw vulnerability. The book blends the erotic with the emotional, showing both the thrilling power play of dominance and submission and the inner battles of a woman learning to drop her armor.
I had a blast reading this book. It’s sharp, cheeky, and vivid in all the right places. Brynne’s inner monologue cracked me up as often as it made me blush. The pacing has a satisfying rhythm of slow burns that spike into sudden, pulse-racing moments. What I loved most was how Sutherland makes the eroticism feel earned. The heat doesn’t live in endless descriptions of skin and leather, but in the teasing pauses, the push-pull of control, and the tiny moments of vulnerability that hit just as hard as the physical scenes. There were points where the banter and Brynne’s self-deprecating humor undercut the tension.
The characters feel alive, even the ones who only appear briefly. Mistress Patricia completely stole my attention. Her elegance, command, and warmth wrapped in danger made me want an entire spinoff just about her. Master Gage is pure temptation laced with barbed wire, and while he isn’t always likable, that’s part of the pull. I appreciated how Brynne’s growth wasn’t about finding “the right Dom” so much as it was about finding her own boundaries and desires.
By the end, I was both grinning and wishing there were a few more chapters to linger in the afterglow. Delicious Surrender is for readers who want their romance spiked with edge and humor, who don’t mind their heroines messy and mouthy, and who enjoy erotic tension built on more than just explicit scenes. If you like your love stories with a twist of danger, a splash of wit, and enough steam to fog the windows, this one’s worth surrendering to.
Pages: 515 | ASIN : B0DPL2B4R9
Resistance as Inspiration
Defending Engagement follows two brothers and the woman they love in an unconventional polyamorous relationship as the trio navigates judgment from family, societal expectations, and their own emotional minefields. What was the initial idea behind this story, and how did that transform as you were writing the novel?
The initial spark for this story came from reader reactions to Overruling Judgment, Book One. Reader interest in the characters’ lives prompted some readers to want more, while others strongly objected to two brothers sharing one woman. I quickly realized I would not convince everyone to embrace the dynamic. Instead, I used that resistance as inspiration. I created side characters who embodied those critical voices, turning them into narrow-minded, often hypocritical figures within the story. It became a way to reflect real-world attitudes while still centering the story around love, complexity, and choice.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
What draws me to writing about the human condition, especially about love, is the emotional depth and delicious complexity of it all. I’m fascinated by polyamorous relationships because they push characters (and readers) to rethink what intimacy, trust, and commitment can really look like.
There’s something undeniably compelling about multiple hearts in motion and how people navigate desire, jealousy, vulnerability, and connection when the rules aren’t pre-written. It creates space for raw, honest emotion, and unique character arcs. I write these stories to expand the conversation around love and offer stories where passion and partnership don’t have to fit in a single box.
I want to write bold stories that are a little daring and rooted in the belief that love can be real, messy, and beautiful all at the same time.
What was one of the hardest parts in Defending Engagement for you to write?
It may come as a shock, but the hardest part wasn’t the family confrontation. I had powerful feelings about how Sasha, JD, and Ian would stand up to their family. I stepped back into my law student mindset when writing that scene. Each character’s voice rang out with confidence, love, and a refusal to be shamed for what they share.
The real challenge? Restraining myself from turning the novella into a full-blown novel. But I knew that Defending Engagement shouldn’t end with a glossy ten-years-later epilogue and a picket fence. They deserved something real, grounded, and just a little raw. Sasha, JD, and Ian didn’t need a fantasy ending.
What they have is sold. They faced judgment, fought for each other, and came out stronger. That’s the story I wanted to tell. Not a neat bow, but a fierce, ongoing choice to love boldly, live honestly, and keep showing up for each other, no matter what.
Where do you see your characters after the book ends?
They’re not just surviving, but thriving. By the time they reappear in Book Three, they’re more confident and connected than ever. What started behind closed doors is now something they’re willing to defend in daylight. You’ll see them out holding hands while skating in the middle of a Chicago public ice rink. No dodging glances. No hiding in the crowd. Just three people choosing each other, over and over, with the world watching.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Website | Amazon
At the O’Malley family’s annual St. Patrick’s Day party, whispers turn to outright condemnation—immorality, illegality, and taboo desire. JD and Ian fear the scorn will drive Sasha away. They underestimate Sasha’s ability to eviscerate closed-minded arguments and fire to defend what’s hers.
It is time to take a stand and defend their engagement.
Defending Engagement
Defending Engagement by Liz Ellyn picks up where its predecessor left off, thrusting us right back into the unconventional but fiercely loyal triad of Sasha, Ian, and JD. This steamy, heartfelt romance explores the complexity of a polyamorous relationship between two brothers and the woman they love. The trio navigates judgment from family, societal expectations, and their own emotional minefields. Set in Chicago, the novel blends domestic drama, erotic tension, and tender moments, all while the three protagonists try to preserve their bond in the face of rising stakes, both personal and public.
I’ll be honest—I didn’t expect to be pulled in so completely. From the jump, Ellyn’s prose is bold and immersive. The sex scenes are explicit, yes, but they’re more than just spicy—they’re deeply connected to character development. I felt the love between these people. I believed it. The intimacy wasn’t just physical; it was emotional, awkward, messy, and often beautiful. JD’s vulnerability, Ian’s internal battles with control and image, Sasha’s desire to keep them together—it was raw and real. Their love feels earned. And that’s no small feat in a setup that could have easily veered into gimmick.
At times, the story leans into its erotic edge, occasionally slowing the plot’s momentum with scenes that start to blur together. I found myself wishing for a bit more depth in the external challenges they face, beyond disapproving relatives and holiday drama. Still, Ellyn earns her emotional beats. The writing is unflinching. The dialogue rings true. And when the characters hurt, I felt it. I was frustrated with them, rooted for them, even rolled my eyes with love at their little quirks.
Defending Engagement is a love story that’s unorthodox, tender, explicit, and ultimately hopeful. It’s for readers who want more than just fluff in their romance. If you’re into character-driven storytelling, steamy dynamics, and the kind of emotional vulnerability that makes your heart squeeze, this book delivers. If you’re curious, open-minded, and a sucker for complicated love, this book is perfect for you.
Pages: 118 | ASIN : B0F549X4HK
The At-Your-Beck Felicity Conveyor
The At-Your-Beck Felicity Conveyor is a satirical novel that dives into the exploits of a grocer, Justyce Dreadmiller, and his turbulent interactions with Yvette Cartier, a wealthy young kleptomaniac. It’s a story riddled with irony and dark humor as Justyce maneuvers through moral dilemmas, exploring the complexities of revenge, economic strain, and the lengths one might go to protect their reputation and livelihood. This “sin and retribution” novel pairs outlandish scenarios with striking reflections on class, character, and consequence.
The writing was both a joy and a challenge. Landon’s language is exuberant, full of wordplay and intricate descriptions. Justyce Dreadmiller’s inner monologues often had me chuckling and groaning at the same time; he’s dramatic, even flamboyant, in his thoughts about revenge. For example, when Justyce fantasizes about the exaggerated consequences for his bully from prep school, we get insight into his deep-rooted vindictiveness. It’s over-the-top but hilariously so and gives the story a unique and theatrical vibe.
The characters are as absurd as they are fascinating. Justyce’s obsession with his store and his frustration with Yvette’s petty thefts contrast sharply with his idealization of himself as a “pillar of the community.” This duality paints Justyce as both relatable and ridiculous. Yvette, meanwhile, is as enigmatic as they come. Her lifestyle suggests privilege and luxury, yet her compulsive stealing and mysterious persona make her more complex than your typical antagonist. Author Dolly Gray Landon uses these dynamics to satirize social expectations, which felt relevant.
What I found most engaging was the novel’s underlying tension between justice and self-interest. Justyce’s attempts to address Yvette’s thefts go beyond practicality into the realm of personal vengeance. His conversations with friends and allies, like the dean at Yvette’s college, feel almost conspiratorial, showing how community respect can turn into a weapon when someone feels slighted. It’s a darkly humorous yet unsettling reminder of the lengths people go to maintain their version of “justice.”
The At-Your-Beck Felicity Conveyor is a must-read for those who enjoy biting satire with a flair for the absurd. If you’re a fan of stories that poke fun at human flaws while diving deep into moral quandaries, this book is right up your alley. This novel is bold, strange, and refreshingly unfiltered. A true delight for anyone craving something a bit unconventional.
Pages: 203 | ASIN : B0DHB3PXSV
