Appassionato – Dream Marked #1

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When Emma dreams about super-famous rockstar Duncan and his friend Jake, it never occurs to her they might be dreaming too. About her. Everyone knows dreams aren’t real, but what will happen when the trio’s shared visions develop into a passion that can’t be denied?

When reports of a new “bonding” phenomenon surface, Duncan and Jake finally realize why they feel so connected to the sweet high-school librarian they’ve never met. The headaches and dreams suddenly make sense, but it isn’t until they meet Emma face-to-face that instinct takes over, and passion binds their minds and bodies into a link that can’t be broken.

Then, just as the happy ending Emma always hoped for seems possible, a hostage crisis and a series of kidnappings threatens everything. Can the trio unravel the conspiracy in time to protect the future of their bond?

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A Siren Erotic Romance

What are people saying about Appassionato?

Clare C’s Review 

This was easily one of the best ménages I’ve ever read. Leaf soars past the elaborate premises many authors use to explain why threesomes are socially acceptable in their special ‘town’. Appassionato’s passionate trio doesn’t bother to explain or justify their relationship, which allows Leaf to focus on the meat of the story. And, wow, what a story!The buildup is simply delicious. Emma doesn’t even meet Duncan and Jake until a quarter of the way into the novel, but we don’t miss out on the building of their relationship one bit. Through a mysterious ‘bonding,’ the three of them are suddenly able to feel one another’s emotions and to communicate using telepathy. They talk to one another that way, and they have a few steamy encounters while dreaming. This is one of the most unique plot ideas I’ve ever seen, and Ms. Leaf’s amazing writing talent swept me away.And the story doesn’t stop there. At the heart of this novel is a drug cartel that wants to capture bonded couples to manufacture their blood into a drug. While this isn’t a new concept, Ms. Leaf definitely makes it her own. The sex scenes were great, though some of the acrobatics were difficult to picture, but Ms. Leaf’s ability to build characters and suspense kept me hanging on every word the entire way through.The novel is too long to read in one sitting, which I loved. I really, really wanted to spend more time with the trio—so much that I read it twice. More, Ms. Leaf, and fast! There have to be other bonded couples out there running from the evil drug cartel!

4 1/2 Tea Cups!


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“A riveting read.”
School teacher Emma Bell keeps awakening from dreams of sexy rocker Duncan Green and his manager Jake McKenzie treasuring her body with erotic fantasies. When she finds out about a wave of similar occurrences that are leading to a bonding ritual, she realizes her dreams are about to become a reality.

Duncan and Jake have been friends since they were kids, although Jake knew of Duncan’s bisexuality he has never been interested in him other than his closest friend until the bonding begins to open his eyes at how beautiful he truly is. Emma, Duncan and Jake begin to discover the nature and dangers of the bonding ritual, realizing that the three of them are together forever.

Intriguing tale, Appassionato is completely different than any book I have read. The bonding that is happening is a [sic] fascinating. I thought that all the characters, though unsure of what was happening, had a normalcy that was quite endearing. A riveting read.
Reviewer: Emily
Sensuality Rating: Sizzling
Star Rating: 4 Stars

APPASSIONATO is exactly what fans of M/M/F menage romance enjoy. The leads are interesting characters readers will be invested in and the plot suspenseful. This is an excellent short novel that both menage fans and new menage readers can enjoy.

When high school librarian Emma starts to passionately dream about super-rockstar Duncan and his manager Jake, she knows something inside her is changing. Emma begins to display physical symptoms of addiction and shares telepathy with the two men whom she hasn’t met yet. Emma then learns the two previously just-male-friends have the same symptoms and an insatiable sexual desire.

Suddenly the news is ablaze with a strange “bonding” pheromone affecting some couples–including the trio of Duncan, Jake and Emma. When the three finally meet face-to-face, they can’t deny the emotional and sexual connection that bond them together. However, strange kidnapping of bondmates start happening, including two of Emma’s students. Now in addition to figuring out their new relationship, Emma, Duncan and Jake’s lives are at risk, too.

Duncan, Jake and Emma are wonderfully developed characters. I enjoyed hearing about their pasts, including Jake outing Duncan’s bisexuality on Oprah, and Emma’s struggle with her weight. Because Jake and Duncan had been childhood friends, they know all about each other, but the telepathic bond between the men and Emma allow readers to get to know them along with Emma, and I liked that a lot.

I love it when authors have sexual build up and allow emotions to develop between romantic leads and that’s what Ms Leaf did here. The trio have fallen in love before they initially meet in person so when they do, it’s incendiary. So while the sex is scorching hot, the emotional connections between the trio added depth and heart to their sexual interactions. For instance, Jake always thought he was straight, so he has a lot to accept in his new relationship with both Duncan and Emma, and this struggle was very well written.

The plot too was very good and kept me reading. The initial suspense of why Emma was suffering these symptoms was interesting but then once the kidnapping of bondmates started, the plot soared. The mystery plot was fast paced and didn’t interfere with the sexy romance but rather enhanced it. This strong plot development elevated a good book to a great book.

APPASSIONATO is a wonderful M/M/F menage story. I loved the characters, their incendiary relationship, and the suspenseful plot. I’ve read book two of the series already and adored it as much as this first book. Erin M. Leaf is now on my auto-buy list.

 Book Reviewed by J9 

Two Lips Reviews   –   4 1/2 lips!

Reviewer: Tangie

Emma has been having erotic dreams featuring not just one man but two men.Duncan and Jake, best friends forever, realize they are both dreaming about the same woman, Emma. When the three of them hear about a new bonding phenomenon, they realize they must be bonding as well.   

While they are struggling to process their new reality, Emma learns about a bonded pair of students who are missing. She knows they have not run away and knows she must find them. With the help of her bond mates, Emma attempts to rescue the kidnapped bonded pairs. Will the trio survive the rescue attempt and find out why all information regarding the bonding phenomenon is disappearing as quickly as it appears?

Appassionato, the first book in the Dream Marked series by Erin M. Leaf is a very enjoyable story. I loved the glimpse she gives us of each character as they struggled to understand what was happening to them. She allows us to peer into the lives of their bond mates before their bodies are forced into having a physical response.   

I found the chemistry and passion between the characters truthful and real. I loved the friendship that had already been developed between Duncan and Jake prior to their bonding. Jake’s struggle to accept that he no longer loved Duncan as a friend but was actually in love with him was heartfelt. Emma’s struggle to understand her connection to men she had never met was also an interesting journey to take.   

I’m really looking forward to seeing where Ms. Leaf takes this series and can’t wait to read the next book.