Illicit: A Contemporary Romance Collection

by Calinda B., Sylvie Stewart, Stephanie Morris

Over 20 illicit romances with the sexy heroes and strong heroines you crave!

Lose Yourself in the world of hot hookups, where the stories run from sexy to downright scandalous and the characters will leave you breathless. In these pages, you’ll find tantalizing romance, rekindled flames, and forbidden trysts.

From confident military men and suave billionaires to bad boy players, hot alphas, and more, you’re sure to find the illicit romance of your fantasies burning up these pages! These powerful, exciting men will keep you up all night and daydreaming all day!

Your favorite contemporary romance authors invite you to join them for twenty sizzling stories. Which of these scorching novels and novellas will have you hooked?

Including Stories from:

New York Times bestselling author Calind B
Sylvie Stewart
Stephanie Morris
USA Today bestselling author Allyson Lindt writing with Alexa Padgett
Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author Jeana E. Mann
Piper Lawson
J. Saman
Colleen Charles
Casey Hagen
E.S. Carter
Rylee Swann
Emma Tharp
Liz Matis
Heather C. Myers
Jan O’Hara
Maggie Carpenter
Tara L. Ames
Shannyn Leah
Megyn Ward
Ravena Tate
Alyssa Drake & Bella Emy
S.R. Watson & Ryan Stacks
Mia Kayla
Scarlett Avery
Kim Carmichael

Genres: Romance, Anthologies, Contemporary

4289 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 5, 2019

About the author

When it comes to writing sexy contemporary romance books, supernatural romances, or an erotic paranormal romance series, New York Times bestselling author Calinda B purrs with excitement, just like her fine Abyssinian cat. She's got a life full of adventure and stories, a head full of imaginative realities, and a willing partner to help her with "research." What more could an author ask for?

Reviews

[Shannyn Leah]

image:

I'm super excited to include my book Duke, Bad Boys of Willow Valley, book #3 in this boxed set., There is a great list of authors in this set and I'm excited to read Bella Emy, Alyssa Drake, Tara L. Ames, J. Saman and more! I LOVE these authors!!

[E.S. Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE BY NUMBERS FANS!!
Illicit Romance Collection Releases on FEB 5th!!
You'll have the chance to read a spin-off book from the LBN world.
Remember #TheVirginTwin aka Nicola from THIRTEEN? Well, Lilah's twin sister is getting her own story and you can pre-order it for ONLY 99p/99c for a LIMITED TIME ONLY!
Not only that, but you also get another 20+ romances from some amazing authors in a box set.
L.Y.L.T - Love You Long Time, is included in the MUST BUY Illicit box set.

♡ Illicit - Over 20 illicit romances with the sexy heroes and strong heroines you crave! ♡
Your favorite contemporary romance authors invite you to join them for over twenty sizzling stories.
Which of these scorching novels and novellas will have you hooked?
One-click TODAY!
Website: SoulSexyBooks.com
Universal: Books2Read.com/illicitboxedset
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/29401...
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id14...
#Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/…/illicit-a-cont...

[Alyssa Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

So excited to have my co-written story, Virtually Yours, included in this set of talented Contemporary romance authors, along with Shannyn Leah, Tara Ames, Sylvie Stewart, and Casey Hagen. Seriously, this set is jam packed with talent (and romanace).

Bella and I are honored to include our steamy contemporary romantic suspense story in this set. What are you waiting for, one-click amd dive in head first!

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read two stories in this box set, but if the rest of the novels are of the same caliber, then this will be a very worthwhile purchase.

Trail of Secrets by Alexa Padgett: Isobel and Alec's story is painful, but both of them have triumphed in spite of the odds, even though at times it didn't seem that way. The story is emotional, adventurous and dramatic, pulling the reader into the plot and making one's heart pound far too quickly. Alec is a charming hero, not without flaws, whilst Isobel is a passionate woman just longing to let go of the past that kept tripping her up. This is a fairly steamy love story, however bedroom scenes are sensitively written.

Duke by Shannyn Leah: This story is the third in the Bad Boys of Willow Valley series, and although characters from previous novels appear in this one too, it is a standalone with an unexpected ending. Sage and Duke have a rocky past and both of them are keeping guilty secrets. Sage is not at all pleased that her mother hired Duke to protect her and all her teenage brattishness comes to the fore. Being faced with Sage, Duke discovers that his past keeps confronting him but when he takes the bull by the horns, he finds that all is not what he thought. I loved Duke's strong persona and although it took time to warm up to Sage, she eventually emerges from behind her facade to become the woman Duke needs. There is humour in this book, as well as steamy scenes.

I received copies of these books as gifts and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[BookAddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like finding new authors, this box set is a phenomenal opportunity! Twenty-plus authors for an amazing price, so you can pick this one up and have a look. I’ve read many of these authors and have nothing but good to say about their work. Although I got an early copy of one of these books, I purchased this set so I can get familiar with authors new to me. I love sets like this for that reason, and also because I can read a story as I have time and then come back and read another. With as crazy as life can get, its great to have some novellas to fill smaller windows of time.

My Review On Trail Of Secrets, By Alexa Padgett: It’s like Padgett took the best of her contemporary romance and mystery writing and Trail of Secrets was born. There are definitely a lot of secrets in this one, and so much heart and emotion the book overflows with it. Then add in a second-chance romance and an antagonist with really bad intentions and the action and suspense keep the reader riveted to the page. I adored both of these characters and was rooting for them from the beginning. Poignant and heartfelt with splashes of humor and plenty of heat, and exciting action and suspense, this one will have you devouring it.

No matter what kind of romance you like, there’s something in here for every reader. You may see some of your favorite authors here, but I also hope you find some new ones that make your romantic heart happy!

*I reviewed this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide a review and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.

[Brin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for Jan O'Hara's Desperate Times, Desperate Pleasures. Not your everyday romance, Desperate Times, Desperate Pleasures is a thrilling multilayered read. Intriguing characters offer the perfect balance of unexpected twists to keep you wanting more. I enjoyed it so much, I immediately re-read it! A delicious and satisfying read. Highly recommend!

[Ola Adamska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Duke by Shannyn Leah
Duke and Sage knew each other in The past. But it had not ended on Good terms. Now thanks to some bad things Duke is protecting Sage. The attraction will be palpable and their own demons will be put off The leash when it came to their last and hidden truths will be unrevealed!
Some of them made me cry out loud almost when I was going to work! Great work of The author!

[Pamela Lunder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Duke by Shannyn Leah! But I really look forward to reading the rest in this box set as soon as it is available. Love love love this book! Duke has always been on alert, never really relaxed long enough for fun. When he gets called to protect the one woman he has always loved and never forgotten, well things begin to change. Sage just lost the father she never really had a relationship with, then her mom gets shot right in front of her. Then the one man who hurt her and could never forget is the man to protect her. This book has so much to offer. It is a must read. Some laughter, some mystery, many truths come out as well as so much love! I love this series and love Shannyn Leah's writing style. Her books just keep getting better and better.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for Love Avenged by Rylee Swann. Jessie acted like most college kids, but Alex went off the deep end in her quest for revenge. WTH! She was a VERY willing participant in her deflowering. She acted like he killed her cat or something equally horrible. Jesse tried to redeem and heal old hurts, but Alex/Lexi acted psycho, and was fixated on the past and supposed wrongs. Laura(Jesse's ex) was pure evil, malicious, and vindictive and didn't deserve to be called a parent. Jesse acted the most rational and caring "as an adult" , while Laura and Lexi acted petty and childish. I wish Lexi had adulted sooner rather than later. Ar least Gage (Jesse"s daughter) showed common sense.

[Nicole Ortiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Mr. Wrong by Megyn Ward
This was a cute short insta love story. What was suppose to be a one night stand turns out he's her bosses brother and she took his job away from him. Loved it from beginning to end.
I received an ARC and volunteered to leave a review.

[My Own Bookshelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Love You Long Time by ES Carter

I am a huge fangirl when it comes to stories from Ms. Carter. Her storytelling keep you glued to the pages as you watch her characters tumble into their happily ever after.

If you are a fan of her Love By Numbers series, you will have met Nicola in Thirteen. Well, now this virgin doctor has literally fell into the path of her often thought daydreams. Little does she know, he has the same daydreams of her.

This is a funny and touching story of finding that you do have the time to find love and look in front of you.

[Rilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

If the rest of this boxed set is as good as Love Avenged by Rylee Swann, it will be well worth picking up. I just finished an ARC I was lucky enough to be offered for an honest review. It's a story about how people grow and change, and learning to accept them as they are, not as they were. It's hot as the hinges of Hades, but it brings a lot of heart to the table as well. Excellent weekend read!

[Theresa Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is for Rylee Swann's Love Avenged. It's like a second chance romance but with a twist. I enjoyed reading about Lexi and Jesse and hope the author released a bonus epilogue or another story of these two as I would love to read more. I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[yorkshirebooknerd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review for Duke by Shannyn Leah

So after I read Stone’s book (book 2 in the series), I was really hoping book 3 would be about Hawk. Instead we have Duke’s story which actually turned out to be what I wanted.

Up until this point Duke was just Bowie’s bodyguard but in this book we get to see the man behind the suit - and what a man he is!

Now that Bowie is happily married to Stone, she no longer requires a bodyguard and that means Duke suddenly finds himself retired and on vacation. It isn’t long however before his next job comes along in the form of his ex-lover, Sage.
Unfortunately things didn’t end well between them and Sage still hasn’t forgotten that fact. She would rather be as far away from Duke as possible regardless of the fact that her life is in danger. Despite the way things ended there is undeniable sexual tension between them - can they both fight their attraction or will their unexpected reunion force them to face their true feelings?

Another fast paced story from Shannyn Leah. What she does really well is create leading men that are everything you’d hoped for; strong, loyal, passionate and hot! Duke is all of those things and more. This book gives a real insight into what made him choose his profession and why he ended things with Sage. His back story was heartbreaking to read.

My main criticism of this book is that nothing really happens with the whole death threat, Sage’s life’s is danger plot line. After the initially action, the story concentrates fully on the relationship between Duke and Sage and their respective pasts. It’s not until the end of the book that this is raised again and is resolved fairly easily. It seems like the only reason this plot line is there is to push the two lead characters together. There is an unexpected twist at the end though that I didn’t see coming and I really liked.

All in all it was a good read and I’m glad we got to see Duke’s history as I really like his character but this one wasn’t as good as the first two in my opinion - 3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to the author for providing a copy. All opinions are my own and provided willingly.

[K B · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars
I received a free copy of the novel Desperate Times, Desperate Pleasures by Janice O'Hara and this review was given freely.
The overdramatic humor and drama of a RomCom merges with suspense and a twisted sting operation in this full length novel with sinister undertones and a hint of steam.
The unlucky in love Jack of all trades Mia becomes embroiled in a religious plot of corruption and extortion when her mother enlists her help to discover what her sister Tabitha is hiding.
Their plan to steal back a family heirloom starts a domino effect that ends in subterfuge, Mia meeting a man who is not what he portrays, a fake pregnancy, a kidnapping and finally fulfillment of love. Interesting characters along with family and workplace drama combined with a complicated plot make this an interesting and action packed story.
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the football based opposites attract steamy nextdoor neighbor novel Gunslinger by Colleen Charles in the Illicit Boxed Set and this review was given freely.
Large dog owner and Minnesota Zingers' retiring Quarterback aka gunslinger Deuce McCall ironically moves next to cat lover, rose cultivator and sex therapist Raven. Experience meets book knowledge resulting in a steamy radio show with a bit of humor and a steamy but rocky relationship that ultimately ends happily.

[Gwen Shafer]

I got to read two of the books in this book set so far. Duke from Shannyn Leah and Mr. Wrong from Megyn Ward . Here are my reviews for those. I can't wait to read the rest in this box set.
Duke:Love me some Duke.He receives a call for protection. Only problem is the girl he needs to protect is someone he walked away from. She is stubborn and hurt. But little does she know Duke is exactly what she needs. I absolutely loved this book. Amazing storyline amazing characters great chemistry. Major twists and turns gripping from beginning to end. An absolute must read.
Mr.Wrong: Instant love story. Darn enjoyable from beginning to end .Expected nothing less from Megyn. I love her work and this one was enjoyable. I loved the chemistry between these two. Instant and hot. Another great book. Can't wait to read the rest in this box set

[Alexa Padgett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope my fans will enjoy Trial of Secrets. But I also wanted to remind you Maggie Carpenter's book is in this set and she is amazing!!! I just know you're going to love his sexy, steamy good times. And Sylvie Stewart has an excellent nerd-boy romance that is delightful.

[Amanda Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read Duke by Shannyn Leah so far and I can not wait to dig into some more of.these amazing stories.
My review for Duke:
This book was very good and I enjoyed reading it. It was not what I expected going into it. Which is great because it's rare that a book can actually surprise me anymore. In the beginning Duke is very closed off and Sage is very rebellious which makes for a very awkward reunion. I really like the dynamic between Duke and Sage and how they are both so different yet at the core they are the same. I love having that bit of Stone and Bowie come into this story. Another great book in the Bad Boys of Willow Valley series and I cannot wait for more.

[Gabriela Bragg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read Love avenge by Rylee Swann very sweet story of a virgin that looses her virginity to a college guy she has a crush on. She is a very reserve and introverted girl he is the bad boy that sleeps around and does or look back or call back lol. Life changes both for the better and in their 10 year reunion she has a plan for revenge because he broke her heart. The story has a very sweet HEA I totally recommend it.

[Dorcia Beland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for Rylee Swann's "Love Avenged." I enjoyed the spicy story of a second chance romance with a twist. I read this story in one sitting because I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. Ms. Swann has a knack for storytelling that I readily appreciate. If the rest of the stories in this collection are as good and well written as Ms. Swann's it will be a pleasure to read. I received an ARC for an honest review.

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Trail of Secrets by Alexa Padgett. What an amazing read. This story is about two childhood crushes that reunite under less than perfect circumstances. Alex is suffering from PTSD and Isobel is a therapist at a ranch, where Alex just happens to end up for his therapy. There is family drama, there is a crazy psychopath, and there is love. Alexa wraps this one up in a nice package that is well worth the read!

[Cherie Maggi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Trail of Secrets by Alexa Padgett and really enjoyed it. It was full of love, drama, and a lot of suspense.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Avenged

This was a sweet story. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Parts gave me butterflies, I was hopeful and then sad. It is so fabulous when a story grabs your emotions. I got attached to the characters and wished to see more of their lives. I look forward to new stories by Rylee Swann in the future.

[R yatsko · Rating 5 out of 5]

A review for Trail of Secrets by Alexa Padgett,
Fast paced story, hard to put down,
Emotional second chance, that touches your heartstrings,

Love the idea of ranch for PTSD veterans can heal in safe environment..

[Atlanta Whitlock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read quite a few of Bella Emy’s work, so when I picked up this one, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect as this was my first time reading anything by Alyssa Drake. However, I found myself to be impressed with the writing, both writers have that element when it comes to their writing syncing and working together pretty well. I found it quite hard to tell who had wrote which parts, but honestly, I think that their writing styles match each other’s incredibly well. I know for a fact that I’ll be happy to try another book written by Alyssa Drake as I did think her writing was pretty good. There was only a few things that I picked up on with this book, they’re not bad or anything, I would have liked to have known more about Leo, he clearly has his own things going on and we only get to step a little into his personal life, so seeing more of his thought process would have been interesting to see. I also would have liked to have known what was **** motive for going after all these people, what exactly possessed him to do the things that he did and what was it that drew him to Ava? Other than that, I think that both Bella and Alyssa did such a great job and that you should totally go and check out their work as they are both talented writers.

Avalisse (Ava) has such a lot going for her, she’s bright and has such an amazing job that she loves. However, everything that she was working towards in her personal life, she ends up having it taken away from her just by walking in on her fiancé (well, now ex-fiance) doing the dirty with his ex-girlfriend. This is Ava’s wake up call, however whilst she can do whatever she wishes, she is still struggling to come to terms with it all. After the anniversary of her and her ex, she throws herself into work, however she seems to have the ability to not use her head whenever she’s around her colleague Leo…. She’s always thought he was cute, but no where in his right mind would he give her a second glance, or so she thinks. But to make things worse is when she is put on a case with him…. Will she be able to control herself or will there be sparks flying all over the place?

[Bec · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for ‘Trail of Secrets by Alexa Padgett.
An Absolutely beautiful story. No matter what they have endured in the past, Isobel & Alec’s story is beautiful. I can’t wait to read the rest of this box set. Recommend to all

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is for Duke (Bad Boys if Willow Valley, #3) by Shannyn Leah.

Duke has been a bodyguard for various people. He’s determined no one will get hurt on his watch. He’s super alert at all times & has no personal life. Which made it a surprise when he had a fling with Sage even though it ended soon after it started. Now he’s taking a break before deciding his next job. Or he was until he got a phone call.

Sage didn’t feel anything when her father was killed. He’d walked out of her life years earlier. She didn’t believe her mother about them being in danger until her mother was shot. She was instantly whisked away from the scene to protect her. Did her mother survive? No way was she going to let him guard her!!

This was more of a second chance at love for Sage & Duke than a mystery. They figured out who to look out for pretty quickly. Sage managed to get Duke to open up about his childhood & that seemed to calm him & open her up to the idea of a relationship. The arrogance & attitude of each of them made them a perfect pair. They were each strong enough that they would have walked over anyone else they were partnered with. The surprise ending was a good touch & really tied up the last of the loose ends.

[Becky Claxon · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far I have only read the following:

Shannyn Leah
Duke Bad Boys of Willow Valley
You really need to read this book. This has twists and turns all through the book with some surprises. Duke is a a handsome, strong, and complicated man. He and Sage have history, but it was when they both were in a bad place. Now he is hired as Sage’s body guard. I hated that Duke felt guilty about what happened when he was ten years old. It affected him so much that he didn’t feel like he deserved love. I would love to have a body guard like Dax. I was proud of how Sage has turned her life around. I was glad to see that her and her ex best friend Bowie were thrown together again so they could try and patch up their differences. There are some real surprises that I was glad to see happen. I strongly encourage you to read the book. I bought the Illicit anthology which this is one of the stories.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read love avenged as part of ARC. I loved the pace, loved the “rawness” of the characters and it should go without saying, the love scenes are just Hot!

This book is part of a box set so I can only assume that the other books are just as hot!

[Sarah DeLong · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sizzling and intriguing quick to read escape from the ordinary. Virtually Yours had an interesting plotline that needed to go a little deeper. There isn't much given in the way of a motive for the actions of one of the characters but there was still enough of the storyline to hold my interest. The dual POV is always a nice touch.