Limecello’s review of Seven-Year Seduction by Heidi Betts
Contemporary romance released by Silhouette Desire on 14 Feb 06

So, we all know you can get Harlequin books early from their website – but what a perfect release date, right? I have to admit – thus far, my favorite books by Heidi Betts are from ’05-’06, and of course, her Silhouette Desire books. I highly recommend you get those from your library – which is what I did. (Or you can buy them used readily enough, which is also nice.) Ms. Betts also very recently had a new release Tangled Up In Love (released 3 Feb 09), but I don’t have that — so I’m making do with what I’ve got.  Seven-Year Seduction is a great friends to lovers story, and I freely admit that that is one of my favorite plot lines.

Beth Curtis is an attorney in California, practicing as an entertainment lawyer. She’s smart, but over worked, and a home town girl at heart. I liked how Beth was developed, but still realistic in that she holds a grudge. (Be honest — it’s natural — or at least common enough.) I did find some of Beth’s behavior a bit erratic at the beginning, but its understandable under the circumstances. She’s at her brother’s wedding and forced to interact with the man who broke her heart — Connor Riordan. A man she also managed to generally avoid for seven years. (Hence the name — clever, yes?) Another detail I appreciated was that Ms. Betts noted the difference in Beth’s work and home environment. Work was out in California, but her heart still belonged in Ohio. And it showed.

Connor Riordan is a fitting Silhouette Desire hero. He’s down to earth, kind, has a good sense of humor, but oftentimes clueless when it comes to the heroine. (As so many males are.) He’s actually in a committed relationship with another woman at the opening — but that is quickly ended. Connor moves into Nick Curtis’s home while his best friend and new bride are on their honeymoon. Connor realizes that he needs closure with Beth for a number of reasons – and he’s determined to get that sorted out. I liked how steadfast Connor was throughout the book, and he showed genuine concern and emotion for Beth. Connor is also self deprecating at times, and has great internal dialogue. I always love reading from the male/hero’s perspective, and Connor was no exception.

Beth is stuck in Crystal Springs, her home town due to an impending storm. Her brother Nick tells her to stay at his house while he’s gone — its also the house Beth grew up in. This along with Connor’s recent break up (and him being kicked out of his own home by his live in girlfriend) provide the perfect back drop for effectively trapping the two and effectively stranding them together. I liked that Ms. Betts had Beth and Connor reconnect first as friends, before pushing their relationship to another level. They grew up together, and miss the camaraderie, and that makes their romance even more believable.

There were a few minor discrepancies in the novel as to age and time line. First, Beth “seduces” Conner while she’s in law school finishing it, I believe- so she’s in her ~mid 20s — but then there are some references to her being in college … anyway – I just felt a few of the age/time references were jumbled. It didn’t really detract from the novel itself. It may also be a case of “knowing too much” — and over thinking the setting as well. For one thing, Crystals Springs is apparently a real place, and I found the isolation of the town somewhat hard to believe. (Of course, I’ve never actually been there, but Google Maps is a fount of information.)

What was a bit weird was the relationship between Connor and Beth and how it developed. The dynamics were interesting – I just wasn’t sure when it suddenly became “okay” for them to be a couple, considering all the prior resistance and roadblocks. What I mean is… Beth hates Connor. Or at least, she does at the beginning of the book and into the first few chapters. She sasses him, and has some really great zingers. Yes, she lets down her guard and opens up once she works through a few issues, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on when that change happened.

I also chose to ignore the fact in a way, that Connor had just ended a three year relationship -one serious enough for him to have been living with another woman, and immediately pursue Beth. Of course, on the flip side- it could be considered sweet, because he loved Beth so much — deep down — that he didn’t know about it, but it prevented him from truly loving anyone else.

Regardless, I enjoyed the story a lot. Seven-Year Seduction is a cute, sweet story with humor, great characters, and a nice depth. There are secondary stories and characters, and enough to keep you engaged. There are some dark spots as well, but they really forward the plot and help bring Beth and Connor together. I liked that Seven-Year Seduction wasn’t predictable, and had real issues that the Beth and Connor had to deal with. Of course it was adorable when they revealed their feelings — and talked about the past. And also, the ending. I loved the ending.

I recommend this book to fans of Ms. Betts, as well as the Silhouette Desire line. Books like this are what drew me to the line in the first place.

Grade: B-

Summary:

Time could not erase the fire between them…

Connor Riordan was the last person Beth Curtis wanted to walk down the aisle with, even if it was only at her brother’s wedding. Being close to him was too painful a reminder of her girlhood fantasies—featuring none other than Connor himself.

That crush had culminated in one night of passion and seven years of bitterness; and even now, Beth’s anger warred against her attraction to Connor. Still, there was too much history, too many secrets, that would prevent her from ever loving him again.

But when a storm strands the two together, Beth is in for a surprise. Connor has a secret of his own—he plans on seducing Beth. A seduction seven years in the making…

Read an excerpt here.

Limecello’s Duckies Do Series reviews of The Awesome Foursome Series by Susan Lyons
Erotic romance published by Aphrodisia Feb 06 – Apr 08

Ever finish a book, where after you bask in the afterglow of the ending, you want to jump up and make everyone you know read it? If you haven’t, or are looking for more, have I got four (yes four) suggestions for you! The books Susan Lyons writes are sexy, smart, and have real humanity. I read each of the Awesome Foursome books in 1-2 sittings, staying up til 4 AM to finish them. (And I did the exact same thing the second, and third+ time around.)

The Awesome Foursome is a group of women who meet through yoga. They bitch about class in the locker room, and decide they’d all rather be eating and hanging out than exercising. Suzanne Brennan is a veterinary student, Jenny Yuen is a journalist, Ann Montgomery is a harried lawyer, and Rina Goldberg is a professional musician. All the men Suz, Jen, Ann, and Rina end up with are equally as diverse and fun. I’m so glad we’re doing the “Duckies Do Series” reviews, because this is the perfect format for the Awesome Foursome.

Champagne Rules (Book 1)
Released 1 Feb 06

Suzanne Brennen, the girl next door, and Jaxon Navarre, over worked litigator, have a host of issues to deal with. Suzanne lives in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Jaxon lives in San Francisco, California. More importantly, they haven’t had any sort of interaction during the past four years, and before that, only one afternoon while they were (separately) vacationing in Crete.

Suzanne and Jax reconnect over the Internet – and end up having lots of steamy cybersex. They agree to meet, resulting in Jaxon going to Vancouver for a visit. The chemistry is instantaneous, but both play it safe. After all, what do they really know about each other? Suzanne and Jax come up with rules – their arrangement is purely physical. No emotional ties, no demands, none of the heavy stuff. They’re just like champagne – if you drink it every day, it gets flat. Thus, the Champagne Rules are born.

The distance forces Suzanne and Jaxon to be creative with their love life, although they don’t have any compatibility issues in the bedroom – or out of it. More visits and conversations lead to another important factor – life goals. The relationship forces introspection on both Suzanne and Jaxon, and in the end, a revision of their rules.

What really impressed me specifically was the fact that Jaxon is Black, and an eminently believable character. Normally, stereotypes come out of the woodwork – where it seems the author wanted to address racism, but didn’t really know how to go about dealing with it, making the issue fall flat. Not so here. Racism is serious, and Ms. Lyons treats it very respectfully, but it never bogs down the book. She weaves different concerns and controversies together artfully, where each one works to support the plot, not distract from it.

Grade: A+

RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW

When Suzanne Brennan met Jaxon Navarre, she ad yet to experience the ultimate in pleasure.. but his tender initiation made her wildest dreams come true. Their brief, passionate affair had nothing at all to do with … forever. Four years later, the same rules apply. Keep it light. Keep it simple. And keep it sexy. Very, very sexy. In Jax’s bed, Suzanne finds that desire goes deeper than she ever imagined and erotic pleasure has a whole new meaning. But when it comes right down to it, she’s ready to break every rule in the book for him…

Read an excerpt here.

Hot in Here (Book 2)
Released 1 Aug 06

Jenny Yuen is a very interesting character for a myriad of reasons. First of all, she’s about 5’, 100 lbs, with long gorgeous black hair – but her personality is about twice her size, and as outrageous as her parents would like her to be demure. Jenny lives at home, because of her family, and has to deal with their demands that she marry a nice Chinese boy, and follow their rules. Jenny finds their involvement chafing, but stays out of love and respect for family. (I got the impression that Jenny is Cantonese, but I could be wrong.)

Scott is a firefighter, and in a way he has the same issues as Jenny. He loves what he does and it’s his dream job. Unfortunately his family doesn’t approve of his career choice. They’re German immigrants and farmers, and they want Scott to carry on the family business. I loved that Scott was serious about Jenny first, and that he was the one that took the first steps into making sure they had a real relationship.

The way Scott and Jenny experience pressure from their loved ones is something that brings them together, although they deal with it in very different ways. Because Jenny knows Scott is not someone her family would approve of, she thinks a relationship would be doomed from the start. However, Jenny can’t deny the off the charts chemistry, and is unwilling to give up their sexy trysts. Taking her cues from Suzanne and Jaxon, Jenny creates a set of rules for herself and Scott. Fantasy rules. Each time they get together, they’ll take turns acting out a fantasy one of them has. Thus, they’re both satisfied, but won’t expect anything beyond mutual, physical satisfaction.

It was nice to see how both characters grew throughout the book, and the crazy sexcapades they get into were also quite enjoyable. Not to mention how they met. And everything in between, with the subtle “public service announcements” and banter between the characters. You have to read this book.
Grade: A

RESCUE ME

Journalist Jenny Yuen lands a very steamy assignment: cover a firefighter calendar competition. Her personal favorite? Mr. February. Also known as Scott Jackman. Also known as hot…

Read all about it: the sexy rookie is the man of Jenny’s dreams – her wildest dreams. She’s up for a wickedly sensual game if they play by their very own set of rules: No taboos. No holding back. No commitment. But the desire they feel is impossible to control… and even harder to resist…

Read an excerpt here.

Touch Me (Book 3)
Released 1 Sep 07

Ann Montgomery and Adonis Stefanikis are as different as black and white. Ann is a career driver lawyer, and feels as plain and straight laced as her name. Adonis, by all accounts easily lives up to his namesake, the male beloved by both Aphrodite and Persephone. Adonis also isn’t concerned with what a “modern man” might cherish. He’s a healer, and a gifted masseur, and is happy to travel the world, following the warm weather. Adonis isn’t concerned with material wealth, and has few possessions, refusing to put down roots.
All of this seems tame, but the story is spiced up with all that tantric sex Adonis practices with Ann. Aside from all the fun there, this angle is legitimate, and works in the story. Adonis’s application of tantric sex fits into his personality perfectly – not only him being laid back and taking things slow, but how and where he learned it. And it’s a major factor in helping Ann slow down. There’s also a minor love triangle of sorts, and I love a little competition in romance.

As usual, the couple has a set of rules – they take turns being in charge. Ann is very goal oriented, and for Adonis, it’s the journey that matters. Applying that rule to their encounters results in a good thing, either way.

Grade: A

SKIN TO SKIN

Rub me down. Love me up. Ann Montgomery can’t get enough of Adonis, her new massage therapist. He’s hot, he’s hard, and his big, warm hands are melting away every one of her inhibitions. Naked on his table, needing all he can give, Ann surrenders to his sensual touch in intimate sessions that have her begging for more…

Slowly, skillfully, Adonis unleashes a wild side of her – and a fierce desire that will never be satisfied in just one night…

Read an excerpt here.

She’s on Top (Book 4)
Released 1 Apr 08

I literally danced around my house when I saw that this book had arrived, and with good cause. Rina Goldberg a gifted musician, a beautiful person inside and out, but has a number of body image issues. Giancarlo Mancini is a music video director, but he met Rina at a music camp in Banff when they were both only seventeen. They reconnect after Rina’s boyfriend (not Giancarlo) proposes to her, which ends up being a very good thing.

I loved following the developments of Rina and Giancarlo’s relationship. The way they learn about each other, and how facets of their personalities are revealed. It was nice to see them dealing with issues, with Rina and Giancarlo truly discussing their reservations. Most novels simply skip past that, or end before such an occurrence.

As usual, there were the Foursome lunches, dinners, and emergency meetings. It was nice to get the updates and cameo appearances by the previous three heroines. I re-read this book most recently, and was squeeing to myself near the end.

Grade: A+

Music is Rina Goldberg’s passion and she can never forget the sensual rhapsody she experienced in the arms of Giancarlo, her first lover. Ten years later, Giancarlo is sexier and more romantic than ever. His masterful fingers still know how to create the most intimate melody and pleasure and he understands every nuance of a woman’s sensuality. And Rina is the only woman he wants. Their passionate encore takes her to a glorious, unforgettable climax… and there’s more where that came from. Much more…

Read an excerpt here.

I loved every one of these books. There’s something that every reader can relate to in each story, and see parts of themselves in Suzanne, Jenny, Ann, and Rina. I think it’s fantastic how Ms. Lyons manages to effortlessly weave important, serious topics together with such sexy dialogue and heat. She doesn’t beat you over the head with her themes, but they do get you thinking. The friendship, the setting, concerns and emotions just leaped off the page and gripped me. I felt that I really got to know the characters and their personalities. The writing is impressive I’m refraining myself from all the gushiness that wants to well up, because this are just a fabulous books. Terrific.

My only complaint about the series is I wish it were longer. I finished each book thinking “I want more” after turning the last page (especially after She’s on Top, when all the characters meet). There’s so much to each story a simple review doesn’t do it justice, there’s a depth and complexity to Ms. Lyon’s writing that few authors achieve with such effortless and engaging prose.

Overall Grade: A+

With her deliciously tempting Awesome Foursome Series, Susan Lyons introduced four friends who broke every single one… and found out just how much fun it is to be bad. And the fun never ends…

Shannon C.’s review of Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, Book 1) by Patricia Briggs
Urban fantasy released by Ace 31 Jan 06

I know what you’re thinking. You are no doubt thinking to yourself, ‘What took you so long to start the Mercy Thompson books, Shannon?’ And you would be right. They have only been recommended to me on numerous occasions by lots of people, most notably Gwen, who, upon my random squeeing about this book over at Duckie Central, laughed and pointed me to her reviews of the rest of the series and implied that I might not have been paying sufficient attention to her great taste in books. Well, if they’re all this good, I will never doubt Gwen again. 

What works really well for me is Mercy herself. In a word, I love her. You know how in some books they tell you over and over that the heroine has a big heart? Yeah, well, we see that firsthand. Mercy is loyal to her friends, and is willing to do whatever she needs to in order to help them. And it’s that big-heartedness that made me a Mercy fangirl. She also seems fairly smart, and doesn’t just wade in with her size nines the way some urban fantasy heroines seem to. I even bought the love triangle, because I really did believe that Mercy cared about the two men she’s going to have to choose between, and there was no silly, “Oh, now why would you be interested in li’l ol’ me?” antics on her part.

I also felt the world-building was superb. I liked that the implications of how supernatural creatures would be treated if they came out of the closet were explored in greater detail. And the werewolf and vampire politics and maneuvering were fascinating.

This book wasn’t quite a keeper for me — I put it down fairly easily a time or two — but I did stay up way too late trying to finish it, and now I have the rest of the series to look forward to reading. Thankfully, there are only two other Mercy-centered books, so it’s possible I will actually manage to catch up before a new Mercy book comes out.

Grade: B+

Summary:

Mercy Thompson’s life is not exactly normal. Her next-door neighbor is a werewolf. Her former boss is a gremlin. And she’s fixing a VW bus for a vampire. But then, Mercy isn’t exactly normal herself.

Read an excerpt.

Shannon C‘s Duckies Do Series reviews of Dragon Knights (Books 1-4) by Bianca D’Arc
Erotic fantasy romance eBooks released by Samhain Feb 2006 – Feb 2007

A friend of mine actually recommended this series to me quite some time ago. She says it was at least a year ago, but I think she’s lying. In any event, I loved Anne McCaffrey’s Pern novels, and figured that the adult version, where everyone’s grown-up and there’s lots of consensual sex would be fun. And these books really are amazingly fun. 

Maiden Flight (Book 1)
Released 14 Feb 06

I didn’t really expect to be so charmed by this start of the series. One of the heroes and the heroine pretty much fall into instant lust, and the rest of the story is basically about integrating Belora, the heroine, into life as the mate of a bonded Dragon Knight. In this opening installment of the series, Ms. D’Arc gives us just enough of the world of her books to explain what’s going on. It never felt infodumpy, and it all made sense. And while this book does spend a lot of time setting up the sequel, I thought it did so in a way that added to, rather than detracted from, the main story at hand. Plus, I was really impressed that Ms. D’Arc could sell me on the kind of triad where the two guys in question aren’t actually interested in each other. All I ask is a little bit of an explanation, even if it is “just call it dragon magic, honey.”

I didn’t entirely buy the romance in this book, because while it was hot, it seemed to have come about through author fiat rather than any true feelings from the characters involved. Normally, this would bother me a lot, but I liked the other aspects to the story, and if the characters weren’t as realized as I’d like, it still didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the story.

Grade: B

Summary:

First in the Dragon Knights series.

War is coming for the knights, dragons, and a damsel who is not quite in distress, but finds her heart’s desire in the strong men of the Border Lair.

A chance meeting with a young male dragon seals the fate of one adventurous female poacher. The dragon’s partner, a ruggedly handsome knight named Gareth, takes one look at the shapely woman and decides to do a little poaching of his own.

Sir Gareth not only seduces her, but falls deeply in love with the girl who is not only unafraid of dragons but also possesses the rare gift to hear their silent speech. He wants her for his mate, but mating with a knight is no simple thing. To accept a knight, a woman must also accept the dragon, the dragon’s mate … and her knight too.

She is at first shocked, then enticed by the lusty life in the Lair. War is in the making and only the knights and dragons have a chance at ending it before it destroys their land and their lives. But there’s nothing a knight enjoys more than a noble quest and winning the heart and trust of a maiden is the noblest quest of all.

Warning, this title contains explicit sex and ménage a trois.

Read an excerpt.

Border Lair (Book 2)
Released 23 May 06

This story picks up directly after where Maiden Flight left off. It features Adora, the mother of the heroine in the first book. Adora is kind of a cheesy name, but if that’s really all I have to complain about, we’re doing pretty good.

In this installment, Adora finds love with Jared, the knight bonded to Kelzy, a dragon she has always thought of as a mother figure. Jared wants Adora. Adora wants Jared. But Jared has been carrying lots of guilt over the loss of his first wife and his young son. It will take the presence of a handsome ambassador from a neighboring kingdom with whom the dragons are at war to convince them both to act on their feelings.

I really loved this book. All three of our human protagonists go through a lot in their own rights. I loved the little dance Adora and Jared did around each other, both wanting and afraid to ask. It made the sexual tension positively sizzle. And the third member of their triad is an awesome hero in his own right, not as scarred emotionally as the other two, but a generally good-hearted person.

In fact, I have to say that Ms. D’Arc writes some amazing beta heroes. In all of the books, someone says that they would rather die than hurt their heroine, and in the case of all these men, I absolutely believe it.

The plot is just as interesting, and the book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, as it is discovered that the twin daughters Adora had taken away from her are still alive.

Grade: A-

Summary:

War has come to the Border Lair, but as enemies become allies — and lovers — hope springs anew for the dragons and their knights.

A young widow, Adora raised her daughter by herself, but her girl is married now. Can Adora find a love of her own in the crowded Border Lair? Dare she even try?

Lord Darian Vordekrais is about to turn traitor, giving up his title, his lands, and his home in order to warn the dragons and knights of his treacherous king’s evil plan. Will his life be forfeit or is there some way he can make a new life in a foreign land?

Sir Jared lost his wife and child to treachery, but he knows Lord Darian and trusts him. Both men admire the lovely Adora, but Jared’s broken heart is frozen in solid ice. Or is it?

As war comes to the border, the knights and dragons of the Border Lair rise to the occasion. New allies rally to their side. Love blossoms and grows even as evil invades the land. The knights and dragons must stand fast against the onslaught, the beautiful woman of royal blood bringing them hope, healing and love.

Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, ménage a trois.

Read an excerpt.

The Ice Dragon (Book 3)
Released 29 Aug 06

One of the things I love most about these books is that they each lead seamlessly into the next, and are so compulsively readable that I kept going from one book to the next. This is something I almost never do.

Alania, one of Adora’s missing twins, has been a slave of the evil king Salomar in the north. Salomar at one point stole a dragon egg and made Lana tend it, hoping to watch the always fun sport of baby dragon dining on human flesh. Unfortunately for Salomar, Lana finds that she can talk to the dragonet, who calls himself Tor, and the two develop an immediate rapport. Eventually, they escape, and, a couple of years later, end up rescuing a black dragon as it falls from the sky. The black dragon is badly wounded, but Lana uses her innate dragon healing abilities. Of course, the rare black dragon is Roland, whom we learn in the first books in the series is the king of Draconia, and he wants Lana.

It was the dragons that made this book for me. I loved Tor, who is so obviously a precocious child. I imagine if he’d been human he would have irritated me because he is just too cute for words, but he wasn’t and he didn’t. And yet again, we have an absolutely awesome hero in the form of Roland, who is fiercely devoted to Lana and wants the best for her. I totally bought their romance, and loved watching Lana come into her own. Other revelations are made at the end of this book that move the overall story arc further, and the epilogue ends on the right note to segue into the fourth book.

Grade: B+

Summary:

A wild Northern Ice Dragon and the girl who raised him save the life of a fierce, shapeshifting royal black dragon, only to have him save them in return…with his love.

Third book in the Dragon Knights series.

When a royal black dragon falls under enemy fire, only the wild Northern Ice Dragon and his unlikely female rider can save him. Half wild, like the baby Ice Dragon she calls friend, Lana is a rare and powerful dragon healer. She saves the life of the royal black, only to learn this most sacred of dragons is half-man, able to shift from one form to the other at will.

Roland is king of all dragons and humans in his land but he’s far from home, mortally wounded, and his only refuge is the incredible woman who has saved his life and her young wild dragon friend. Lana is the purest form of magic to him, heaven to his senses in both dragon and human form. He knows almost from the first moment that he wants her for his very own.

But a warlord plots in the north, seeking to kill the dragons, who protect the northern border, and overrun Roland’s peaceful kingdom. Lana and her incredibly skilled Ice Dragon friend are the only ray of hope for the knights and fighting dragons of the Northern Lair. Just as Lana is the only love Roland will ever know. He can reunite her with her lost family, but can he win her heart and make her his queen?

Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex explained in graphic terms.

Read an excerpt.

Prince of Spies (Book 4)
Released 6 Feb 07

There was a lot going on in this fourth book. We meet up again with Nico, known in his kingdom as the Prince of Spies, as he lets himself be captured by the evil king of Skithdron. He is intrigued by the poor starving waif of a healer that the king has tied to his bed. It turns out she is Arikia, Adora’s other lost daughter. They make their escape and begin a long journey home.

I loved these two characters. Riki is a pretty damaged woman, and I loved Nico’s devotion to her. Nico is just an awesome hero, and I really could buy that he was a spy. Unfortunately, at one point the plot takes center stage and veers into “Oh, for Pete’s sake” territory as Nico and Riki find themselves embroiled in a mysterious prophecy. But while I was reading, I very much enjoyed the book, so I’ll forgive the author for taking the plot in a direction I didn’t personally like.

Grade: B

Summary:

Prince Nico is a cunning master of stealth, but can he master a maiden’s fragile heart?

Fourth book in the Dragon Knights series, but can be read on its own.

Prince Nico is known as the Prince of Spies for a reason. Not only is he the Spymaster of Draconia, but he’s a cunning shapeshifter able to take the form of a dragon at will. The gift of his royal heritage comes in handy as Spymaster for the king, but it’s a great secret known only to a few.

Riki lives in misery, chained up to serve a mad king’s perverted magic. Forced to use her draining healing skills to keep King Lucan of Skithdron alive, Riki is a shadow of the woman she should be.

Nico knows Riki is the woman he’s been searching for and wastes no time breaking them both out of the enemy palace. Thus starts an adventure that will take them across two countries, through peril and danger, and the discovery of an undeniable love and mutual respect. Will Nico have the courage to let her fly free, trusting she’ll return to him, or will his love smother the fledgling beauty who is breathing free air for the first time in her tragic life?

Warning, this title contains explicit sex explained in graphic terms and scenes of ménage a trois.

Read an excerpt.

There are two other books in this series, but since the first four revolve around related heroines, I’ll be reviewing the next two individually.

Overall Grade: B

Limecello’s review of Playing Easy to Get by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Jaid Black, and Kresley Cole
Paranormal romance anthology released by Pocket 7 Feb 06

I read this book, because TGTBTU offered a contest about it, and I discovered that Kresley Cole had her introductory story of the Immortals After Dark series published in the anthology. I’ve been following the series, and knew I had to get my hands on the story that “started it all.”

Turn Up the Heat by Sherrilyn Kenyon

This is a contemporary romance, and part of the Bureau of American Defense (B.A.D.) series. Allison George is an average heroine, whose life changes when she wins a sweepstakes to be a heroine in a book. Her friend happens to work for the company and pulls a few strings. There’s a lot of action, because the hero Vince Cappelleti is an ex-mob hit man, but the family isn’t willing to give him up. This story wasn’t entirely believable, and I found myself most interested in a secondary character, “Z” – Wulfgar Zimmerman. For once, I didn’t mind the story was so short. In fact, it would have worked just as well if it were shorter.

Grade: D +

Read an excerpt here.

Hunter’s Oath by Jaid Black

A paranormal romance dealing with modern day Vikings who live underground, the story isn’t quite what you expect. We’re introduced to Sofia Rowley when she’s in a cab going back to Fairbanks, AK after attending her brother’s funeral. What happens is she’s kidnapped by bride hunters, who provide the underground Vikings with women, because a prophecy says some day women will be near extinction above ground.
It’s cute because the Viking men are taught that their brides are the best thing since sliced bread and that they’ll love them – even though they’re told the brides might give them trouble and try to run away and hate them for a while, because, you know, they were kidnapped! Interesting, because the women are stripped naked, oiled up, some are drugged, and they’re auctioned off like chattel.
A creative idea, but I didn’t really get into this story. I found it too unbelievable, and that the relationship between Sofia and Johen depended too much on his indoctrinated belief that he’s to love his bride. And the sex they have. Lots and lots of sex.

Grade: D-

The Warlord Wants Forever by Kresley Cole

This novella starts of the Immortals After Dark series, and tells the story of Nikolai Wroth and Myst, the Valkyrie. This book like many of Ms. Cole’s others includes a reversal or roles. The woman holds all the power and knowledge. Wroth is a vampire, but he doesn’t really know much about vampires, or any of the other creatures in the Lore (paranormal beings). Myst is Wroth’s Bride, but after she bloods him, leaves him, and he hunts her for five years, in a very, um, ready state. (When a vampire is blooded, his heart begins to beat again, among various other changes.) Five years makes the Viagra cautionary message seem like a joke. Wroth is displeased, to say the least, and has a violent reunion with Myst.
Myst hates vampires, but finds herself attracted to Wroth. He’s different from all the others, and might just be the one to show not all vampires are pure evil. He kidnaps Myst, and ends up able to control her through a spell. Their relationship is troubled and dysfunctional, but it works with their personalities.
I really enjoyed this story and recommend reading it because it’s very well written, and provides helpful background for the IAD series.

Grade: B

Read an excerpt here.

A quick anthology that was overall enjoyable, but not outstanding. I’d recommend this to Sherrilyn Kenyon fans, and would go far as saying it’s a must read for Kresley Cole’s IAD fans.

Grade: C

New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon and rising stars Jaid Black and Kresley Cole unlock the pleasures and perils of embracing the boldest and most powerful of lovers — 100% alpha males — in three sensually erotic tales. Discover the physical rapture of his muscular arms…. Become a prisoner of passion, swept away by an encounter with his primal side…. And get lost in the all-consuming thrill of white-hot pursuit by a relentless stranger who may be your most dangerous foe, the best lover you’ve ever had — or both.

Let your fantasies run wild with these unforgettable novellas where bigger is most definitely better — and playing easy-to-get is the only way to go!

1. Is it better to have a blog archive every week or month?

2. Any suggestions on my comment phrase? I am tired of book whores pimpin’. But can’t think of anything that amuses me… might do duckies quackin.

3. Can I delete pics off my computer after uploading to blogger? And it there a limit to how many I can upload? Like where the hell are these pics being saved? heeeee cuz I really really like..

4. I made this. If I can catch maili, jay or cw to help me put up my header pic and change the colors. IS there any reason I would rather use this blog than the one I currently use? And if there is, how much harder is wordpress than blogger?

5. Would it be easy to make it where my template lets me put info on the left and right of the blog post? Or would that take redoing the whole thing? Because I love my colors, font and pic – thank you maili .