C2’s review of Lothaire (Immortals After Dark, Book 10) by Kresley Cole
Paranormal Romance published by Gallery Books 10 Jan 12

In a long-running series, there are always a couple of characters whose books are especially anticipated. However, when said book actually arrives, it’s a chancy thing…will it live up to expectations? What if it goes completely in the wrong (from the reader’s viewpoint) direction? Kresley Cole’s latest release in her Immortals After Dark series finally gives readers Lothaire’s story. You’re curious now, aren’t you, faithful reader? Oh, there might be spoilers here, yo?

Lothaire, the Enemy of Old, has been a force throughout the IAD series. Sometimes he helps, sometimes he hinders…whatever suits his mysterious (until now) ultimate goal. Finally, Lothaire is ready to claim a key piece needed to attain his goal – his Bride. Like all vampires, Lothaire searched for ages to find his Bride – the one woman that allows him to once again walk among the living. A vampire’s Bride makes his heart start beating (literally). Lothaire is an ancient being and is steps from madness…his hold on reality is getting slippery, but time with his Bride can soothe him.

Lothaire’s Bride is unique, of course. At first he thought she was plain Elizabeth (Ellie Ann) Peirce, native of West Virginia – a human, of all things! Lothaire knew fate would never be so cruel as to pair him with such a lowly creature (Lothaire’s ego is…healthy). Then he discovered that Elizabeth had been inhabited by Saroya the Soul Reaper, goddess of death and blood (and the Vampire Horde’s ancient diety – suddenly all things became clear.) With Saroya by his side, he will be able to claim the Horde (vampires who drink blood straight from the source) throne and the throne of his mother’s people, the Dacians. First, though, he must find a way to get rid of Elizabeth’s spirit so Saroya can keep the body.

Until Saroya has full control of Elizabeth’s body, she will not consummate any sort of relationship with Lothaire – and won’t even stay present (she fades into a sleep-like state). So, as you might imagine, Lothaire is inspired to find a way to get rid of Elizabeth quickly. However, these things take time and he is forced to spend some of that time with Elizabeth. As he gets to know her, he begins to wonder if it might be that Saroya isn’t his Bride…what if he is really meant to be with Elizabeth?

Elizabeth, in the meantime, has suffered all sorts of horrors due to Saroya’s possession – she’s the Soul Reaper, remember. And she really, really enjoys reaping. Thanks to Saroya’s escapes, Elizabeth ends up convicted of multiple murders and is on death row, seconds from death, when Lothaire breaks her out. Elizabeth doesn’t want to be free, though. She knows if she is free, Saroya is too and if Saroya is free, more people will die. The only alternative Elizabeth sees is her own death. When Lothaire spirits her away, he explains why he will not allow Elizabeth to die – until he is ready to extinguish her spirit so he and Saroya can rule.

Elizabeth is not on board with the plan. She decides to try whatever she can to drive a wedge between Lothaire and Saroya – including seduction. Lothaire, however, views humans as animals, so she has her work cut out for her. Somewhere along the way, though, Lothaire begins to see Elizabeth as more than a vessel for Saroya. But unbreakable vows have been made and there are more players on the field than anyone realizes.

Oh, faithful reader, as you might imagine, there is much more to this book than my summary. So much happening! So many plot threads weaving along! This is barely an overview. This book, mostly, picks up right after Dreams of a Dark Warrior leaves off (there are some prologue bits to establish things too). However, is it absolutely necessary to read DoaDW before reading this one? I say no…not if you’re pretty familiar with the series. If you’ve never read the series, this is not the place to start.

Elizabeth is an excellent heroine, says me. Smart, quick, funny – she never stops trying to find a way out of her situation and does all she can to protect her family. Lothaire ends up being a better hero than I would have ever thought. HOT! NAUGHTY! *ahem* Moving along…the supporting cast is fun, too. Some new and interesting characters (yay, spin-off series) and some characters we already know. Also, let me report that we get more information about Nix – no, not who her hero might be or anything like that…just some stuff about her background and stuff. Still…yay!

Wow, that Saroya is a piece of work. Talk about icky villains! No remorse, nothing redeeming anywhere in her character. Bleh. Not that she’s one-dimensional…just evil. Also, I think Lothaire is blind to the reality of who his bride actually is for too long. And having Elizabeth sometimes speak in a mountain dialect is unnecessary – but I find that sort of thing annoying, generally, so take that for what it’s worth.

I enjoyed the book! It’s much better (and much less bloody) than DoaDW. If you are a fan of the IAD series, you will not be disappointed. And you will definitely be intrigued by the new characters introduced. Is it worth buying in hardcover? If you are a serious fan, sure. I don’t think the payoff is as big in this book as it is in Nalini Singh’s Kiss of Snow, for example. Has Lothaire’s story been very, very anticipated? Maybe it has, but I don’t think so. So, if you are behind in the series or just curious about it (and it is an excellent series), start at the beginning…by the time you’re ready for this one, it will be out in paperback.

Grade: B+

Summary:

ALL FEAR THE ENEMY OF OLD

Driven by his insatiable need for revenge, Lothaire, the Lore’s most ruthless vampire, plots to seize the Horde’s crown. But bloodlust and torture have left him on the brink of madness— until he finds Elizabeth Peirce, the key to his victory. He captures the unique young mortal, intending to offer up her very soul in exchange for power, yet Elizabeth soothes his tormented mind and awakens within him emotions Lothaire believed he could no longer experience.

A DEADLY FORCE DWELLS WITHIN HER

Growing up in desperate poverty, Ellie Peirce yearned for a better life, never imagining she’d be convicted of murder—or that an evil immortal would abduct her from death row. But Lothaire is no savior, as he himself plans to sacrifice Ellie in one month’s time. And yet the vampire seems to ache for her touch, showering her with wealth and sexual pleasure. In a bid to save her soul, Ellie surrenders her body to the wicked vampire, while vowing to protect her heart.

CENTURIES OF COLD INDIFFERENCE SHATTERED

Elizabeth tempts Lothaire beyond reason, as only his fated mate could. As the month draws to a close, he must choose between a millenniaold blood vendetta and his irresistible prisoner. Will Lothaire succumb to the miseries of his past . . . or risk everything for a future with her?

Read an excerpt (opens a PDF, FYI).

Other books in the series:

Liviania’s review of Dreams of a Dark Warrior (Immortals After Dark, Book 11) by Kresley Cole
Paranormal romance published by Pocket 15 Feb 11

Kresley Cole introduced the story of Regin and Aiden at the beginning of her Immortals After Dark series, so I had a number of expectations when I started Dreams of a Dark Warrior. Cole does a good job of meeting those expectations in an unexpected manner by first revealing how little other characters knew about Regin’s ill-fated romance and proceeding from there.

Declan Chase is the hero of the story, not Aidan the Fierce. He’s Aidan’s reincarnation, sure, but he’s also his own person. It took awhile for me to warm up to Declan. He survived his family’s gruesome death by a group of Immortals, which caused him to hate all immortals and work with the Order to capture and study them. Preston Webb, Declan’s boss in the Order, helped to foster that unthinking hatred. Even with believable motivation for his actions, it’s hard to feel sympathetic for a guy who can’t see that torturing a sentient being is wrong. Declan also takes a lot of drugs, since he’s actually a berserker rather than a human. (I didn’t have a problem with the drug use, but I know that sort of thing bothers a lot of people.)

Regin is fun as always. Dreams of a Dark Warrior offers new perspective on how Regin became the person she is, but her character doesn’t make any big changes. She’s a fount of hilarious and deadly bad attitude. She doesn’t lightly forgive Declan’s actions, either. (Luckily, he does not directly torture her as implied in Demon from the Dark. That definitely wouldn’t be forgivable.) For me, Regin carried the romance. She found the things in Declan worth saving. Cole made it work and I’m not surprised that she did.

There are some excellent action scenes in Dreams of a Dark Warrior, mostly involving the immortals’ escape from the Order’s compound. It could seem redundant, since the same events were described in Demon from the Dark, but Cole shifts the focus enough to keep them fresh. She reveals quite a bit more about Lothaire’s motives, and his team-up with the good guys works since he’s still a backstabber and opportunist. He has an interesting chemistry with Regin’s young male cellmate who will hopefully show up again.

The bits that crossover with Pleasure of a Dark Prince are more awkward. Regin, being Lucia’s sister and best friend, is quite eager to help her throughout most of the book. The plot works if you’ve read Lucia’s book. If you haven’t, it is probably awkward to have the heroine be so concerned about a problem that she won’t solve. While Immortals After Dark fans will enjoy Dreams of a Dark Warrior, it’s not as friendly to new readers as most books in the series.

It took me time to warm up to Declan, but I was still satisfied with Regin’s romance. It was slightly disappointing after the high of Demon from the Dark, but Cole has yet to write a truly disappointing book. As is, I’m waiting on tenterhooks to know whose story is coming next. (And will Nïx become an actual goddess?) (Also, will the covers go back to having color? As awesome as the black and white looks, it makes it even harder to differentiate between the books.)

Grade: B

Read more reviews using the Immortals After Dark series tag.

Summary:

HE VOWED HE’D COME FOR HER . . .
Murdered before he could wed Regin the Radiant, warlord Aidan the Fierce seeks his beloved through eternity, reborn again and again into new identities, yet with no memory of his past lives.

SHE AWAITS HIS RETURN . . .

When Regin encounters Declan Chase, a brutal Celtic soldier, she recognizes her proud warlord reincarnated. But Declan takes her captive, intending retribution against all immortals—unaware that he belongs to their world.

TO SATE A DESIRE MORE POWERFUL THAN DEATH . . .

Yet every reincarnation comes with a price, for Aidan is doomed to die when he remembers his past. To save herself from Declan’s torments, will Regin rekindle memories of the passion they once shared—even if it means once again losing the only man she could ever love?

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in this series:

C2’s review of Dreams of a Dark Warrior (Immortals After Dark Series, Book 9) by Kresley Cole|
Paranormal Romance published by Pocket 15 Feb 11

As far as the timeline of Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark series goes, her latest release, Dreams of a Dark Warrior (which will from here on be abbreviated), shares some time with her previous book Demon from the Dark. DoaDW starts before and ends after Demon from the Dark, but we get glimpses of the main characters and hints of that plot as things overlap. This is a series that definitely builds on itself, so it should be read in order, says me.

We begin with a curse – Regin the Radiant and Aidan the Fierce were lovers, but fate tore them apart. Aidan is doomed to be reborn, find Regin, fall in love and remember their past together just before he again dies in her arms. Again and again and again.

Regin is a Valkyrie known for her fighting skills and her pranks. She is an immortal daughter of Odin. Aidan was a Berserker – mortal but with special fighting abilities. Just before he died the first time, Aidan vowed to win enough battles in Odin’s name so he would be gifted with immortality so they could be together forever. That didn’t work out so well for him.

When Regin again senses that Aidan may be nearby, she decides to stay away this time – watching him die is too hard and maybe if she stays away, he will get to live a long, happy life. Fate steps in again – this time around Aidan is Declan Chase, a Magister for a group called The Order (and the winner for most creative organizational name goes to….). The Order is dedicated to eliminating all immortals and they aren’t a squeamish bunch, if you know what I mean.

Chase and his henchmen snag Regin after a battle goes wrong and carry her off to a super-secret island where all sorts of immortals are being held. The Order is experimenting on them to find weaknesses and ways to defeat (exterminate) more immortals. Just before the drugs knock her out, Regin realizes that Chase is actually Aidan.

After Regin wakes up in a cell surrounded by other immortal prisoners, she re-thinks her let-Aidan-live-this-time plan. She decides that the best plan of action is for her to make Chase remember their past as quickly as possible, since he always dies right after remembering. So when Chase interrogates her to find out all he can about the Valkyries, she tells him about her life – with him. Even though he doesn’t remember yet, Chase is intrigued and attracted to her. For the first time in his adult life, being physically attracted to a woman doesn’t make him nauseous.

Regin and Chase continue their dance, neither wanting to admit that it is becoming more than a way to get information about an enemy. Chase begins to dream about his previous lives but attributes it to Regin’s storytelling abilities…or maybe an enchantment. He still doesn’t trust her or any immortal. But before he can regain his memory – like within inches of regaining his memory – his boss arrives and has Regin dragged back to her cell.

The plot really starts cranking along at that point – drugs, torture (not for the faint of heart), treachery of all sorts. The arrival of a very powerful immortal brings down the walls of the prison, but a failsafe in the island’s security protocol means the entire island will be destroyed in a few days. Regin and her friends have to ally themselves with some unsavory types to get off the island in time, including Lothaire, the Enemy of Old (a very intriguing character and the bad Immortals Nix equivalent, apparently). Will they escape before the island blows?? You know the drill, faithful reader. Read the book!

This is a very good entry in the IAD series (gruesome torture aside). A bit darker in tone – hello, set in a prison – it expands the IAD world even more. Until now, humans haven’t had much going on in the coming/happening Accession, but The Order is something to be reckoned with and they have connections on the inside of the Lore…that can’t be good. But Dreams of a Dark Warrior is.

Grade: B+

Summary:

HE VOWED HE’D COME FOR HER . . .

Murdered before he could wed Regin the Radiant, warlord Aidan the Fierce seeks his beloved through eternity, reborn again and again into new identities, yet with no memory of his past lives.

SHE AWAITS HIS RETURN . . .

When Regin encounters Declan Chase, a brutal Celtic soldier, she recognizes her proud warlord reincarnated. But Declan takes her captive, intending retribution against all immortals—unaware that he belongs to their world.

TO SATE A DESIRE MORE POWERFUL THAN DEATH . . .

Yet every reincarnation comes with a price, for Aidan is doomed to die when he remembers his past. To save herself from Declan’s torments, will Regin rekindle memories of the passion they once shared—even if it means once again losing the only man she could ever love?

Read an excerpt.

Other books in the series:

Are you tired of top ten lists, faithful reader? I hope not because here’s mine.

10. Rules of an Engagement by Suzanne Enoch – what could be better than sailing the South Pacific, encountering natives, fascinating wildlife and pirates? If your ship’s captain is smoking hot, of course. Read my review HERE.

9. Pleasures of a Dark Prince by Kresley Cole – an very good entry into a consistently excellent series.

8. Lessons in French by Laura Kinsale – soooo nice to see Ms. Kinsale back and full of humor.

7. Slow Heat by Jill Shalvis – I love Ms. Shalvis’ baseball series and hope for more books soon. Please? Pretty please??

6. Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas – the end of the Hathaway series. I’ve always had a soft spot for Beatrix and was very pleased with her book. Also, I’m a sucker for books with letter writing.

5. Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon – the first story in her Chronicles of Nick series. I’m not usually a YA reader but I was intrigued enough by hints of this one to pick it up. So good! And she seems to be correcting/re-booting some errors in the main DH series, maybe. We shall see.

4. Play of Passion by Nalini Singh – one of my favorites of the series and certainly my favorite of recent entries. Plus we get to see bits of Hawke and Sienna. Yay!

3. Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey – are you looking for an excellent straight-up contemporary? Look no further! And the sequel is very good, too.

2. Here There Be Monsters by Meljean Brook – so it’s a novella. And I was skeptical, even after seeing the raves. Why would I put a novella I was unsure about picking up on my “Best of” list? Because it’s awesome! It gives us our first glimpse into Ms. Brook’s Iron Seas series which leads me to…

NUMBER 1!! The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook – I don’t have words for how excellent this book is. It defies description – at least, a description that properly conveys it’s awesomeness. All I can say is READ IT.

Now for some books I’m looking forward to in 2011 (in release order, as things stand now):

Call Me Irresistible by Susan Elizabeth Phillips – yes, I know several people have already read this one but I haven’t. My copy is pre-ordered though. Why? It’s Teddy’s book! It seems like I’ve been waiting for his story forever.

ShadowFever by Karen Marie Moning – why this one? Barrons! And the wait is almost over. Yay!

A Lot Like Love by Julie James – I have enjoyed all of Ms. James’ books so far and expect this one to continue that trend.

Breaking the Rules by Suzanne Brockmann – do you need to ask why? One word: Izzy Izzy Izzy! (What? It’s one word…three times.)

Any Man of Mine by Rachel Gibson (beware the Flash!) – her last few books have been hit-or-miss for me so I’m hoping this one will be a hit. Sorry for the lack of cover. Our friends over at the Book Binge have it posted, though.

There are many more, of course, but those are the ones that are coming up soonish.

Agree? Disagree? What are you looking forward to?

Liviania’s review of Demon from the Dark (Immortals After Dark, Book 10) by Kresley Cole
Paranormal romance released by Pocket 24 August 10

In a long-running series like Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark, everyone has their favorites.  (Fans of the series – like Lime and me in this instance – will often debate with each other about whose favorites are better.)  Right now, Demon from the Dark is in my top three.  (By the way, my favorites are better so you should take that statement extremely seriously.)

Cole knows how to create a sympathetic alpha hero.  Malkom Slaine is a vemon, possessed of the vicious traits of both vampires and the worst sort of demon.  (I prefer to call them dempires, but Nïx does not appear in this book.)  Oft betrayed, he doesn’t trust easily.  Also, he needed to grow up deadly in order to survive, so he’s become a bit of a beast in order to keep himself safe and to get revenge on those who destroyed his life.  Yet when he meets Carrow Graie and realizes she’s his mate, he resists his instincts and romances her.  This despite language and cultural barriers.  It’s sweet.

Of course, it’s bittersweet because the reader knows Carrow is going to betray Malkom.  (I don’t think she had to, though I understand her decision.)  She’s been captured by a group of mortals bent on destroying the immortals, as has a young witch named Ruby.  Ruby’s mother died during the capture, meaning that Carrow is her new guardian.  If Carrow doesn’t deliver Malkom, they’ll kill Ruby.  Carrow may party hard, but that’s because the pleasure and happiness incited by revelry increase her powers.  She has a core of responsibility and a desire to be a good parents, as good as her parents weren’t.

Thus, Carrow is the more reticent of the pair.   She has to keep her secrets and thus can’t become too intimate with Malkom, as he can access her memories after biting her. She holds her heart back while Malkom offers his freely.  Cole does a good job of showing how Carrow and Malkom are shaped by their pasts and thus why they choose to behave the way they do.

There’s also plenty of material for fans of the series that doesn’t seem like it would be too confusing to newcomers.  Conrad Wroth’s cameo might cause a bit of confusion, but I like Conrad too much to complain.  Mariketa and Bowen show up often, but it makes sense considering Carrow and Mariketa are close friends.  There’s also tantalizing glimpses of Regin and Aiden.  It definitely challenged expectations I had of their relationship based on information in previous novels.

After the last several installments in the Immortals After Dark followed up on previously introduced couples and storylines, it was refreshing to read about a totally new couple.  While I’m excited about many of the couples we’ve already met, Demon from the Dark pushed the series plot forward.  Unlike most long running series, Cole still feels like she has a finish that she’s pushing towards.

Grade: A

Summary:
A dangerous demon she can’t resist…
Malkom Slaine: tormented by his sordid past and racked by vampiric hungers, he’s pushed to the brink by the green-eyed beauty under his guard.

A maddening witch he aches to claim…
Carrow Graie: hiding her own sorrows, she lives only for the next party or prank. Until she meets a tortured warrior worth saving.

Trapped together in a savage prison…
For them to survive, Malkom must unleash both the demon and vampire inside him. When he becomes the nightmare his own people feared, will he lose the woman he craves body and soul?

Read an excerpt here.

Read more reviews using the Immortals After Dark series tag.

Other books in this series:

Liviania’s review of Pleasure of a Dark Prince (Immortals After Dark, Book 8 ) by Kresley Cole
Paranormal romance released by Pocket 16 Feb 10

Kresley Cole earned her place as one of those authors that I buy immediately.  (Well, that I buy the paperback immediately.)  With Pleasure of a Dark Prince, there were some unforeseen complications (also known as blatant lies on the Barnes & Noble site) that led to me telling far too many people I wanted Pleasure of a Dark Prince before I got my hands on the novel. 

Although I forgot the title the first time, prompting the clerk to ask me for a different title.  I came up with Winter’s Wicked Kiss.  Not an actual Cole title.  Given that the next cover is also black and white, it’s going to be even harder to keep the books apart.

While knowing the titles is a daunting task, the Immortals After Dark series has been fairly welcoming to newcomers.  However, Cole is starting to elaborate on couples first mentioned in earlier books.  First, the novella in Deep Kiss of Winter, “Untouchable,” tells about the last Wroth brother and his heroine, Daniela. Now, Pleasure of a Dark Prince explores Lucia and Garreth’s relationship, which was originally mentioned in A Hunger Like No Other.  (Yes, I did have to look that title up.)  I enjoyed seeing Emma and Lachlain’s relationship from the valkyrie point of view – and that a werewolf agreed Emma’s family had a right to interfere.  However, I wonder how a new reader would feel about that subplot, which moves fairly quickly.

Though the books are becoming less welcoming to new readers, the romance is still enjoyable.  I did have more problems with Garreth and Lucia than some of her other couples. Garreth’s determination is attractive, as is his desire to aid Lucia.  But he ignores her ability to take care of herself too often, and he’s dismissive of what she obviously considers an important vow.  On the other hand, Lucia seemed too reluctant to tell him why the vow is important.  Yes, it was a shameful part of her past and might make Garreth angry, but Garreth would understand her vow more if she at least told him, “If we have sex together I’ll be defenseless.”

That doesn’t mean I didn’t love them together.  It was fun to watch Garreth work his way into Lucia’s heart – and to see them figure out how to get off together without penetration.  Also, the opening scene where she keeps shooting him and he keeps flirting?  It’s awesome in a very strange way.

For fans of Regin or Lothaire, they show up a decent amount in Pleasure of a Dark Prince and it looks like they will be in Demon from the Dark, though neither will be the hero or heroine.  (For a few brief, shining moments I thought the next book would be Regin and Aiden’s.  Alas.)  Overall, this isn’t going to replace my favorites in the series.  But Cole definitely left me wanting more of the Immortals After Dark.

Grade: B-

Read more reviews and information by following this series’ tag here.

Summary:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole enraptures again with this seductive tale of a fierce werewolf prince who will stop at nothing to protect the lovely archer he covets from afar.

A DANGEROUS BEAUTY…

Lucia the Huntress: as mysterious as she is exquisite, she harbors secrets that threaten to destroy her — and those she loves.

AN UNCONTROLLABLE NEED…

Garreth MacRieve, Prince of the Lykae: the brutal Highland warrior who burns to finally claim this maddeningly sensual creature as his own.

THAT LEAD TO A PLEASURE SO WICKED….

From the shadows, Garreth has long watched over Lucia. Now, the only way to keep the proud huntress safe from harm is to convince her to accept him as her guardian. To do this, Garreth will ruthlessly exploit Lucia’s greatest weakness — her wanton desire for him.

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in this series:

Dawna’s Review of Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole
Paranormal Romance published by Pocket 20 May 08

Kresley Cole has done it again with her Immortals After Dark Series.  An absolute page turner, Dark Desires  After Dusk is the fifth installment in this series and a treasure all on its own.

They call him the king maker, but for centuries Cadeon Woede has been unable to help his brother reclaim their kingdom.  He has lived in misery and shame for nine hundred years.

Finally he has found the one woman who can make him whole.  He’s obsessed with her from the moment he set eyes on her, but he’s forbidden to take her as his own because she is human. He has vowed to secretly watch over and protect his female from afar.

Holly Ashwin suffers from a little thing called OCD.  She never suspected she was anything other than human, but when she is thrust into a world of lore and encounters a sexy demon willing to protect her, her normal world is tossed upside down.

When Cadeon finds out Holly is half Valkarie and the vessel he is searching for, he realizes two things: one, he can finally have her and, two, if he wants to get his brother’s crown back and save the people of his kingdom, he will have to give her up to an evil sorcerer who has forged the only sword that can kill Omort and free Rothkalina.  But first he will have to gain her trust.

I am an absolute fan of Kresley Cole, and this is now one of my favorite tales.  What can I say — I’m always a sucker for a tortured hero and tough heroine.  Ms. Cole does a superb job of engaging her reader.  I found myself sympathizing with the characters and holding my breath to find out what happens next.

You will have to read for yourself to find out if Cadeon is truly able to betray Holly’s trust and forsake her.  I recommend you pick this book up, along with the others in her series.  You won’t be disappointed.  Dark Desires After Dusk is definitely another keeper for me.

Grade: A+

Summary:

A ruthless demon mercenary. A lovely young halfling.
In the dark, he’ll find her.
A seductive beauty he can never have, yet can’t resist…

Cade of the rage demons will stop at nothing to atone for the one wrong that will haunt him forever. But once he secures the key to his redemption, the halfling Holly Ashwin, Cade finds that the woman he thought he could use for his own ends and then forget haunts him as much as his past.
A tormented warrior she should fear, but can’t deny…

Raised as a human, Holly Ashwin never knew that some frightening legends are real until she encounters a brutal demon who inexplicably guards her like a treasure. Thrust into a sensual new world of myth and power, with him as her protector, she begins to crave the demon’s wicked touch.
Surrender to dark desires…

Yet just when he earns Holly’s trust, will Cade be forced to betray the only woman who can sate his wildest needs—and claim his heart?

Read an excerpt.

Other Books in this Series:

Gwen’s review of Deep Kiss of Winter by Kresley Cole and Gena Showalter
Paranormal romance duology hardcover released by Pocket 13 Oct 09

Two of my favorite paranormal authors in ONE BOOK?  Dang.  How could I NOT read this?!  This book has one long story set in Cole’s Immortals After Dark world and another set in Showalter’s Alien Huntress world.  A terrific combination and way, way fun to read. 

Untouchable (Immortals After Dark, Book 7) by Kresley Cole (256 pages)

This story/book (long for a story) takes place roughly the same time as several of the other Immortals After Dark entries.  This one tells the story of the “man-whore” brother of the Wroth Brothers – Murdoch – and his downfall to the Queen of the Icere fae, Daniela.

The heroine and her world are so very different from anything I know.  Ice, snow, skin that burns from other’s body heat, etc., that it was difficult for me to relate.  Remember, though, that I moved to central Texas because I hate, abhor, and generally detest cold weather.  She is a good heroine, but I would have liked to see her kick a little more butt (personal preference, not a criticism).

The hero is the rake brother of the Wroth brothers.  Murdoch is used to women falling all over him and to being able to dispose of them like a used tissue.  He doesn’t want to do that with Danii and this completely perplexes him.  His normally smooth moves have all the grace of a pig on roller-skates, so you can imagine how this goes over with Danii.

The romance between these two is intense and believable.  The action is a little less than we’re used to in Cole’s other books, though it’s still fun.  Untouchable introduces a new species into the Lore – the Icere, or the ice fae.  Their world is a little “out there,” but I suppose there’s not a lot in this series that isn’t.

I enjoyed this story, though perhaps not as much as the other IAD entries.  Nevertheless, I highly recommend reading it if you’re following Cole’s saga.  I suppose this story could standalone, but I’m not sure if I’d recommend it.  You’ll get a lot more out of it if you’ve read at least one of the other Wroth brother books.

Grade: B

Summary:

KRESLEY COLE delivers a breathtaking tale of a brutal vampire soldier about to know love for the first time…and a Valkyrie aching to be touched.

Murdoch Wroth will stop at nothing to claim Daniela the Ice Maiden — the delicate Valkyrie who makes his heart beat for the first time in three hundred years. Yet the exquisite Danii is part ice fey, and her freezing skin can’t be touched by anyone but her own kind without inflicting pain beyond measure. Soon desperate for closeness, in an agony of frustration, Murdoch and Danii will do anything to have each other. Together, can they find the key that will finally allow them to slake the overwhelming desire burning between them?

Read an excerpt here.

Tempt Me Eternally (Alien Huntress Series) by Gena Showalter (169 pages)

I have got to read more of this series.  This is the second book I’ve read so far and I really like this world.  From what I can gather, the first one I read, Seduce the Darkness, takes place just after this story.

The hero, Breean, is a Rakan – a gorgeous male who smells like honey and cinnamon when aroused.  His blood is golden and tastes like sugar.  He’s also practically unkillable because of special abilities.  He’s puzzled by the heroine because he feels that he wants her and no other – apparently something unusual for his kind.

The heroine, Aleaha, is of unknown extraction and is a shapeshifter.  Out of desperation, she’s impersonating a member of AIR (Alien Investigation and Removal) named Macy, and is hiding from unknown bad guys her mother warned her about but didn’t specify.

The romance evolves well, but feels a bit convenient.  I enjoyed the story but felt like very little outside of the plot moves forward.  This may be because I haven’t yet read the other books in the series – contrary to my vow in my review of StD and for which I feel eternally remorseful.  I think I’d get a lot more out of the story if I did.

I recommend this story if you’re following the Alien Huntress series.  It stands alone, but I think a reader will get more out of it if they’re reading the series.

Grade: B

Summary:

GENA SHOWALTER puts a daring spin on a tale of huntress and hunted…and concocts a sensual chemistry that is positively explosive.

Aleaha Love can be anyone — literally. With only skin-to-skin contact, she can change her appearance, assume any identity. Her newest identity switch has made her an AIR (alien investigation and removal) agent and sends her on a mission to capture a group of otherworldly warriors. Only she becomes the captured. Breean, a golden-skinned commander known for his iron will who is at once dangerous and soul-shatteringly seductive, threatens her new life. Because for the first time, Aleaha only wants to be herself….

Read an excerpt here.

I enjoyed this duology quite a bit.  I like reading anthologies and the stories in this one are particularly nice because of their length.  If you’re following these series, you do not want to miss it, though you may want to wait for it to come out in paperback.

Overall Grade: B

Connect to more reviews and information for these series by clicking on the tags below.

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Immortals After Dark Series:

Alien Huntress Series:

Related YA books in the “Teen Alien Huntress” series:

Sandy M’s review of Dark Needs at Night’s Edge (Immortals After Dark, Book 4) by Kresley Cole
Paranormal Romance released by Pocket 1 Apr 08

This is another series that I’m behind on reading, and I hate being behind on this one because I have loved every single word of it so far. Ms. Cole has a knack for writing the type of heroes that I adore. Alpha. To the core. But with enough sensitivity to savor love when it comes their way. If I had nothing but Kresley Cole books to read, I’d be pretty damn happy all the time.

The only thing I’m unhappy about is I read the first three books so long ago, I don’t remember things as clearly as I’d like when I came across them in this book. But that doesn’t take away much from a book when the writing is this good. It goes without saying that I absolutely loved Conrad. Talk about a tortured hero. His childhood is terrible, at the brink of death turned into a vampire by his oldest brother, he is now the very creature that he’d learned to hate and hunt. Centuries later he’s nearly insane, memories from those he’s killed by drinking from their veins dogging his every waking moment.

His brothers have been searching for him for hundreds of years, wanting nothing more than to help him regain his life and his sanity. Capturing him at last they have him holed up in the abandoned home of a twentieth century Hollywood legend who died there. And now she haunts the place, has for the last eighty years. Eventually Néomi runs off any who live in her home. However, she’s now been alone for quite a while so she is ecstatic when Conrad and his brothers take up residence. She’s also stunned when she realizes Conrad is able to see and hear her.

Of course, Conrad believes his insanity is only getting worse when he sees the lovely apparition while he waits for his mind and body to calm and return to as normal as possible.  His brothers have assured him he can live without the need to kill when he feeds. The more he interacts with his beautiful ghost, he hopes that is true. But he has other troubles in the guise of a couple of demons who would do him harm, so he must take care of them before moving on with his life. It seems Néomi is not his bride, though he wants nothing more than to be with her. He will do what it takes to keep her safe and just maybe she’ll want him to stay.

These two enjoy a fun and loving relationship even before Néomi gets her second chance at life. Once that happens things change, of course; Conrad is blooded, their relationship goes to the next level, and the action takes off.  Not all turns out the way either Conrad or Néomi hope for, but what a great reason to bring in characters we know and love from the previous books. Ms. Cole kept me enthralled for all 384 pages of this book, never letting up once.

No wonder I keep going back for more.

Grade: A+

Read more info and reviews for this series by following its tag.

Summary:
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A vampire warrior consumed by madness, trapped in the lair of an otherworldly temptress only he can see. The beauty wants him gone–the warrior can’t leave. Let the games begin…
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Néomi Laress, a famous ballerina in the early 1900s, became a phantom the night she was murdered. Imbued with powers, but invisible to the living, she haunts her beloved home, scaring away any trespassers–until she encounters a ruthless immortal even more terrifying than Néomi herself.
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To prevent him from harming others, Conrad Wroth’s brothers imprison him in an abandoned manor. There only Conrad can see the dancer with wild raven hair–who seems determined to drive him further into madness. The exquisite creature inflames him with desire, leaving his body racked with lust and his soul torn as he finds himself coveting her for his own.
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Yet even if Conrad can win Néomi and claim her completely, evil still surrounds her. Once he returns to the brutality of his past to protect her, will he succumb to the dark needs seething inside him?
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Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

		Not That Innocent,anthology with Cole,Kenyon, Showalter,and Kohler, coming31 Jul 09

Limecello’s review of Kiss of a Demon King (Immortals After Dark, Book 6) by Kresley Cole
Paranormal romance released by Pocket on 20 Jan 09

This is the sixth book in Kresley Cole’s series Immortals After Dark, and I enjoyed it very much. I coveted Rydstrom’s book, and I think his story fit him perfectly. I also neglected all sorts of other things I was supposed to be doing in order to read this book. In fact, I’ve been in a massive reading funk, but still read Kiss of a Demon King – which should give you some indication as to how much I liked it. So you should read it too, if you haven’t already done so.

I have to admit, the beginning of the book, and even about the first third were just “good” not great in my opinion- yet I couldn’t put the book down because I wanted to know what happened next. I also gradually became more and more invested in the story. I’ve always had a soft sport for Rydstrom – I mean, who wouldn’t feel sympathy for a king who has been trying to reclaim his throne for centuries? And while Sabine isn’t exactly lovable at first, she’s something like a cute, but repressed (in terms of affection) kitten with enormous[ly] sharp claws. (She grew on me.)

Sabine, the Queen of Illusions, is on the side of evil. There’s a lot of uncertainty when it comes to Sabine – not just because of her magical powers. Sabine herself is a mix of contradictions and facades, much like the illusions she weaves. It helps to know what motivates her, and controls her, which really makes her more likable.

I have to admit, while I didn’t initially love her personality, I respected her. And it’s always a good thing to have a strong heroine  – especially one that is an equal to the hero. Sabine truly is a character that has been shaped by her circumstances, but rather than getting mopey about it or shrinking into herself, she takes on the world. You have to admire that. And really, Sabine isn’t as bad as everyone thinks. Though I like that she revels in the fear and dislike she inspires.

Rydstrom is also a contradiction, but in a different way. He’s also the quintessential good guy. Rydstrom’s personality is the opposite of what you would expect it to be considering his appearance and physical attributes. However, I really liked that Ms. Cole had Rystrom really let go in Kiss of a Demon King. (And after comporting himself so nicely for the past five centuries, I’d say he was entitled to some bad behavior.)

I loved that Rydstrom was so conflicted. (I’m sadistic that way.) It was amusing how appalled he was by his own behavior, and surprisingly, it didn’t bother me that he continued on in the same manner to reach his goals. Tenacity is something else I admire. (And the way Ms. Cole wrote it, Rydstrom isn’t being a hypocrite- he’s just shocked by his own behavior and out of character responses.)

For Rydstrom and Sabine, it really is a case of opposites attract. While at the core they’re both good, the way they approach life and their priorities differ vastly. It is incredibly entertaining watching them get to know each other, and reading about one trying to understand the other’s motives. And you know, the first half or so of the book is a sexual battle of wills, which is always fun. First we have Sabine taunting Rydstrom, complete with a dungeon and chains. Then Rydstrom takes his turn with a whole new reason for bondage – and his torture/revengs, while twisted, is a bit sweeter, as part of his purpose is to get to know Sabine.

Are you intrigued yet? Because you should be! As I said, I really like the Immortals After Dark series. In fact, I’ve enjoyed the series so much I’ve felt compelled to discuss each and every book. While I can’t stand long series, I have to admit I eagerly anticipate the next IAD story. *Faint* I just went to Ms. Cole’s site to check. We’ve got a long wait – next is A Deep Kiss of Winter, which is only a novella, and it comes out November ’09. It is Murdoch (yay!) and Daniela’s story. And the next full length novel, Pleasure of a Dark Prince will be released January, 2010. So if you haven’t read the six previous books, you’ve got time to catch up.

Grade: A

Read reviews, excerpts, and other information on this series by following its tag.

Summary:
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His obsession: the enchantress who surrenders her body, but not her heart.
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After Sabine, the Queen of Illusions, lures and traps Rydstrom Woede in her lair, the ruthless warrior fights to resist her seduction.But his fierce demon nature lusts for her delicate body and won’t be denied. Even as Rydstrom plots to escape, he still intends to claim Sabine as his own—on his terms.
Her downfall: the battle-scarred demon who vows to keep her at all costs.
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When Rydstrom breaks free, her abducts Sabine, turning the tables. Now she’s the one struggling to resist his delicious torment. With each relentless encounter, Sabine hungers more for her merciless adversary.
They were never supposed to want each other this much…
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If they can defeat the sinister enemy that stands between them, will Sabine make the ultimate sacrifice to save her demon? Or will the proud king lay down his crown and arms to keep his sorceress?
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Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

… and Not That Innocent, a new anthology with by Kresley Cole, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter, and Sharie Kohler, coming 21 Jul 09.

Kiss of a Demon King Kissed Number ONE on the New York Times list…
Very much awesomeness! yeah I am sure everyone already knew this but I didn’t

This is the latest in her The Immortals After Dark series. If you haven’t picked it up, you can read Liv’s review here.

Liviania’s review of Kiss of a Demon King (Immortals After Dark, Book 6) by Kresley Cole
Paranormal romance released by Pocket 20 Jan 09

Here at the Pond we lurve The Immortals After Dark series.  No really, Gwen, Devon, Shannon C., Limecello, and I read them.  And Limecello and I are very far apart in the what-we-read spectrum.  For me, Kiss of a Demon King didn’t reach the soaring heights of Dark Needs at Night’s Edge or Dark Desires After Dusk.  That doesn’t mean it wasn’t an utterly fabulous book that I want to reread so bad despite the fact I have a giant pile of books I want to read for the first time.

One thing I admire most about Kresley Cole is the fact she can write a book that stands quite well on its own but still ties in tightly to a series.  Kiss of a Demon King occurs during the same time frame as Dark Desires After Dusk, so it enriches the experience to read both.  It’s a little difficult for me to say since I have read both, but I believe Kiss of a Demon King would be perfectly accessible to someone new to the series.

Like Dark Needs at Night’s Edge, this one has a darker tone.  Sabine, half-sister to Omort the Deathless, captures Rydstrom just as he’s about to gain a weapon that can kill Omort.  Centuries ago Omort took Tornin and deposed Rydstrom from his throne.  Now Sabine wants to bear his child and rightful heir, and denies him pleasure until he marries her.

Cole treads the line of making Sabine likeable but not good.  She’s come back from death a number of times, which twisted her mind.  Still, she makes no excuses: her goal is the survival of her and her sister Lanthe, no matter the cost to anyone else.  (Okay, another of Cole’s gifts is making me eager for future couples.  I can’t wait for Lanthe and her Vrekener’s story.  And there are still couples in earlier books I’m still waiting to hear more about.  Ooh, Regin and her berserker?  I’m so there when it happens.)

Rydstrom is utterly dedicated to his people.  Responsibility weighs heavily on him and Sabine is the first person to come along with whom he can let go of his control.  Of course, while he’s her prisoner he can’t do so.  And of course he doesn’t want to let go of his control.  It’s nice to watch the two of the fall in love without either having to compromise who they are, which is what both fear.

As for the plot . . . how can Cole manage to spend so much time developing the romance and still have so much action going on?  There are battles a plenty, as well as dividing factions, and NΪx’s official declaration of war.  It’s utterly hilarious and makes you miss NΪx, though she shows up in all her glory when she wouldn’t ruin the tone of the book.  As always, Cole’s pop-culture references are dead on.

Pretty much, I loved the book.  I love the hero and heroine’s romance.  I love their relationships with their younger siblings.  I love the war a-brewin’ on the horizon.  I love the continuity, and the fact the enigmatic Lothaire has returned.  (I wouldn’t remember him except I just reread A Hunger Like No Other and wondered why he hadn’t shown up again.  Question answered.)  All I want to know is: when does the next book come out?

Grade: A-

For more about this series, follow its tag.

Summary:
HIS OBSESSION…

Sabine, Sorceress of Illusions: the evil beauty who surrenders her body, but not her heart.

HER DOWNFALL…

Rydstrom Woede: the ruthless warrior who vows to keep her at all costs.

THEY WERE NEVER SUPPOSED TO WANT EACH OTHER THIS MUCH…

With each smoldering encounter, their shared hunger only increases. If they can defeat the sinister enemy that stands between them, will Sabine make the ultimate sacrifice for her demon? Or will the proud king lay down his crown and arms to save his sorceress?

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

… and Not That Innocent, a new anthology with by Kresley Cole, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter, and Sharie Kohler, coming 21 Jul 09.

This just in…

Kresley Cole is sponsoring a terrific contest, Spread the Love, to promote the release of her latest book, Kiss of a Demon King, this week. Check it out, you won’t be sorry!

~ A Sony eReader and a $50 ebook gift certificate are up for grabs.  How’s that for a prize!

~ All you have to do is Spread the Love.  There’s a couple of ways to do that.  First, post the widget seen here on your blog, Facebook page, MySpace page, website, etc., and then leave word at Kresley’s forum where you’ve spread the word.

 ~ Or you can send in other proof of book pimpage.   Here are some examples from Kresley’s forum of Pimpage:

—Enjoy the Immortals After Dark books? Then recommend one or more on a forum you frequent and take a screenshot. The image is your entry.
—Provide proof of purchase for any book in the IAD series (minus the personal details).
—Create a homemade bumper sticker or t-shirt about your favorite IAD character or anything IAD related that might spur interest in the series. Take a picture to use as your entry.
—Use your imagination to come up with more ways to win!

~ The Sony Reader winning entry will be chosen at random, with the $50 ebook prize going to the Most Creative Entry, which will be selected by guest judges TBA.

~ Check the rules and fine print here.

Consider yourself flashed.

No, that’s not a typo. I’m unique. And the rogue duckie – so instead of making my own “Best of 2008″ list… I’m going for the new year. These are the 10 books I’m most looking forward to in 2009. (You’ll notice some books don’t even have cover art yet.) 

N.B. I’d like to issue the caveat that… this is only based on books/lists that I could find. I’d also like to note that… just because I’m excited about it, doesn’t mean its a guarantee I’ll like it. (Color me picky.)

I also haven’t been reading romances that long, and it seems my tastes/author choices differ from a number of people. But that’s ok, because this is my list and I’m sticking to it.

In no particular order…

	1. What I Did For Love by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Contemporary romance, Wm.Morrow, 27 Jan 09).  Case in point – I’m not 100% sure how I feel about Ms. Phillips’s last few novels. But I bought them – in hardcover. The premise for What I Did For Love sounds interesting, but hasn’t gripped me. (Then again – I wouldn’t have thought I’d *love* Nobody’s Baby But Mine, based on the plot summary.) So we shall see. But still. It’s Susan Elizabeth Phillips – and she’s one of my favorite authors.
	2. Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas (Contemporary romance, St. Martin’s, 31 Mar 09). She’s one of my favorite authors – and… don’t kill me, but Seduce Me at Sunrise and Blue-Eyed Devil were good reads, but not AMAZING. I’m already more excited about Smooth Talking Stranger based on the blurbs. Ms. Kleypas is also one of the few authors that can make me enjoy first person point of view. (Cuz FPPV and I? We are not friends.) But the Travis’s! And… even though it’s a secret baby book, which makes me chuckle, I WANTS it.
	3. Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole (Contemporary paranormal romance, Pocket, nodate Jan 09). I discovered Ms. Cole relatively early in 2008, not too long before I started reviewing, and I think she has the one series I’ve reviewed in total (thus far). And, the hero, Rydstrom, has horns. Horns! I never thought I’d be into horns, but… Ms. Cole has won me over. I love her kick ass heroines who *actually* kick butt -and they’re super hot to boot. And the heroes. Yum. This is a great paranormal world. Fun, scary, violent, full of lore- but one that doesn’t take itself too seriously. My kind of books.
	4. Naked Edge by Pamela Clare (Contemporary romantic suspense, Berkley, 3 Nov 09). I heard about Ms. Clare, and first read Extreme Exposure, which is probably one of my favorite books. Extreme Exposure is extremely well written, great plot, and the hero is one of my favorite types. A good politician. More rare than… well something you’d think is outrageous but I’m sure is in a number of paranormals. Thus, Extreme Exposure (and the subsequent books by Ms. Clare I’ve read, have prompted me to put Naked Edge on my list). I have been waiting for this new I-Team book – and… I don’t know. The heroine Kat is Native American. I think that’s pretty nifty. (Major understatement.)
	5. Branded by Fire by Nalini Singh (Paranormal romance, Berkley, 7 Jul 09). I discovered Ms. Singh early on in ’08, and read all her Psy/Changeling books – in proper Psy/Changeling chronological order, even – serendipitously. Ms. Singh’s book world is intense, and amazing. It’s so well developed you believe it’s real. Scary. (But oh so cool!) Thus, this book edged out Angels’ Blood. (That and the blurb talks about lots of violence and I’m kinda squeamish about teh violences.) AND more importantly, when I read the excerpt for this book my reaction was pretty much “SQUEE SQUEE SQUEE!”
	6. True Love and Other Disasters by Rachel Gibson (Contemporary romance, Avon, 28 Apr 09). Yes, another one of my favorite authors. And a book back to/dealing with Hockey. I read See Jane Score  – and I was hooked. I was even willing to get into hockey. (SEP‘s Chicago Stars, along with college, were what got me into football. And if you click around in my posts, you’ll see I can be a football nut. Especially College.) Although… I will say I DO NOT like all the Flash stuff on Ms. Gibson’s web page. Yay for her designer and all – but it takes forever and I can’t get to the information I want. Does not like! The book, however… *happy sigh*
	7. Deeper by Megan Hart (Contemporary erotic romance, Spice, nodate Jul 09). I love the title. I love the cover. I really like Megan Hart’s writing. There’s something about it. Like crack. It also often depresses the hell out of me – which I hate – but I love her books. They’re so raw, yet well written. And this book blurb. *shivers* I’m going to smack myself if the ending isn’t relatively happy. (I know not to expect bubblegum yay.)
	8. What Happens in London by Julia Quinn (Historical romance, Avon, 30 Jun 09). Yet another author that goes on my “best of” lists – and… while others didn’t like it as much, I adored The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever, and I hope to like the sequel just as much. (Especially if, you know, it is its own book.) So joy for another book more like The Secret Diaries!
	9. Written On Your Skin by Meredith Duran (Historical romance, Pocket, 28 Jul 09). This one looks more interesting than Bound by Your Touch – although I’m a little skeptical about some of the settings. Though I expect if anyone can win me over to parts written in Hong Kong, it is Ms. Duran. I hope not to be disappointed. This book also makes the list because had I done an ’08 list, Ms. Duran would have made it with her debut novel Duke of Shadows.
	10. Hard and Fast by Erin McCarthy (Contemporary romance, Berkley Trade, 5 May 09). First, it’s Ms. McCarthy. Second, it’s Ms. McCarthy writing a contemporary novel. Third, the heroine’s name is Imogen. I really like a number of Imogen Heap’s songs – so I have a major positive association with her. And – Ms. McCarthy may even win me over to NASCAR. At least in fiction. I read the excerpt, and I am in love. I love it. I want this book. I don’t even want to see when this book comes out (May 09) – because I don’t want to wait.

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Honorable Mentions/if I squint just right are included/still within the number 10…

	10a. Tasting Fear by Shannon McKenna (Contemporary erotic romance, Brava, 28 Jul 09). Okay, so I have to admit, I know nothing about this book. I think it’s Kevin McCloud’s book – and how exciting will it be for a McCloud book to actually star a McCloud? (See? I can good naturedly mock my favorite authors/self.) I also know that Ms. McKenna is one of my favorite authors, and she is one of the few authors I will venture into adventure/suspense for. (And once I buy Ultimate Weapon, Ms. McKenna might have the sole and honorable distinction of being the only author whose entire back list is in my possession and my property…)
	10b. Relentless by Lauren Dane (Sci-fi romance, Berkley Trade, 5 ay 09). I don’t read scifi/fantasy or futuristic novels. I haven’t read scifi/fantasy since middle school. I’ve never particularly enjoyed futuristic novels. BUT! But! I read Undercover, and I loved it. I can see why Undercover took Ms. Dane to the bestseller’s list – and if you haven’t read it – you should. I enjoyed Undercover so much I had to pace myself, and used it as a way to treat myself. And Ms. Dane’s writing (in my humble opinion) only gets better.
	10c. This Duchess of Mine (Historical romance, Avon, 26 May 09) and…10d. A Duke of Her Own by Eloisa James (Historical romance, Avon, 30 Jun 09). I, being the lowly peon I am, do not know what these books are about (other than This Duchess of Mine is Jemma’s book). I have been waiting for Villier’s book, so hopefully he’s healed at some point in the near future. And you know, I love Ms. James’s books. I read Duchess in Love and fell in love. There’s been no turning back since.

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11. The book I don’t know about by the new author (whoknows, someone, date TBD). I know a lot of people will say that’s a cop out, so that’s why I listed 10 books, then have this one. I mean, I’m sure there are books I don’t know about – and/or what about that one newbie author that writes an amazing book?

The End. Seriously.

Out of all the books coming out in 09 (that I know about – and I found some lists of hundred of books.) These – *these* I want. I will do much to get my hands on these books. What did Scarlet O’Hara say? “Lie, cheat, kill or steal” right? Well… take out the third… and you’ve pretty much got me

C2 started it off, but I’ve got a list as well!  (And my choices are way better than hers.)  2008 was a great year for books, but here’s my top 10:

The Outlaw Demon Wails (The Hollows, Book Six) by Kim Harrison
Urban fantasy released by EOS 26 Feb 2008

Kim Harrison keeps this series going storng with an entry that solves a lot of ongoing questions and to open new ones. The paperback is now available with a bonus story just in time to reread for the release of White Witch, Black Curse.

Dark Needs at Night’s Edge (The Immortals After Dark, Book Four) by Kresley Cole
Paranormal romance released by Pocket 1 Apr 08

It was a toss-up between this and Dark Desires After Dusk. With this year’s releases, Cole set the bar high for Kiss of a Demon King. Seriously, any paranormal romance fan needs these two on their shelves.

Lament: The Faerie Queen’s Deception by Maggie Stiefvater
Young adult fantasy released by Flux 1 Oct 08

This debut has faeries, violence, music, and romance. What more can one ask for?

Dreaming Again edited by Jack Dann
Speculative fiction anthology released by EOS 30 Sept 08

Australia’s literary scene rocks hardcore. Here some of its best authors serve up 35 excellent stories. This anthology contains no misses.

Generation Dead by Daniel Waters
Paranormal young adult released by Hyperion 6 May 08

Zombies, high school, and sociology come together for a humorous novel that will stay with you for awhile after you finish.

Madhouse (Cal Leandros, Book Three) by Rob Thurman
Urban fantasy released by ROC 26 Feb 08

Just read this series. Please.

Delicious by Sherry Thomas
Historical romance released by Bantam 29 July 08

Another author with two brilliant releases to choose between -this and her debut Private Arrangements. Both are terrific, but only this one makes me hungry. Food porn and romance is a winning combination.

Embrace the Night (Cassandra Palmer series, Book Three) by Karen Chance
Urban fantasy released by ROC 1 Apr 08

This series really hit its stride with this book. Chance also debuted anther series with the excellent Midnight’s Daughter.

Undone by Brooke Taylor
Young adult released by Walker Books for Young Readers 22 July 08

Taylor’s debut is emotionally strong, which any romance reader can appreciate.

Paper Towns by John Green
Young adult released by Dutton Juvenile 16 Oct 08

Green understands the nerd lifestyle, strong females, and what makes a good story. I don’t know if the man is capable of writing a book that isn’t made of win.

Honorable Mentions

Wicked Game by Jeri Smith-Ready
Urban fantasy released by Pocket 13 May 08

Smith-Ready makes her urban fantasy debut with a series that takes an inventive approach towards vampires and adds to the genre.

Tarnished Beauty by Cecilia Samartin
Literary fiction released by Atria 18 Mar 08

This is not self-important literary fiction. It’s simply a beautifully written story.

Gwen’s reviews of The MacCarrick Brothers Trilogy by Kresley Cole
Historical romances released by Pocket April 2005 – May 2007

Rowrrr! Can you say “alpha males”? I knew you could! This is a very fun, very sexy historical series from one of my fav authors. It features three brothers who think they’re cursed to be alone and lonely, otherwise they’ll risk their mates’ death. Of course, this is all based on a Book of Fates that prognosticates the demise of their loves, as well as some anecdotal evidence. Problem is, the last stanza of the poem/fate is obscured by blood and may very well obviate the curse. So what do they decide? Well, of course, rather than risking someone they love, they choose to be alone. That is, until the mighty MacCarrick johnsons start speaking louder than the curse, then all bets are off and you better lock up your virgin daughters ’cause these brawny Scots are on the prowl!

If You Dare (Book 1)
Released by Pocket 26 Apr 05

I really love Kresley Cole’s heroines. She writes strong, funny women who are so appealing that it’s tough to dislike them. Annalia is no exception – I loved her. I loved Courtland a bit less, but he’s still on a short list of “I’d do him” heroes, somewhere down from Robb’s Roarke. However, I still wanted to bludgeon him with a blunt object. Regularly. Throughout the book. I just kept saying, “Talk to her, dammit!” Court couldn’t have been more uncommunicative if he didn’t have a mouth – in fact might have been more so.

Dare has a very interesting setting and good villains. Olivia (main villain’s daughter) was fascinating, and her romance with Aleix (heroine’s brother) was something I wish Cole would have explored a wee bit more, but she stayed focused on our H/H, so I can’t fault her. There was good action throughout that was gripping and believable.

However, I did get a weird little feeling about 2/3 of the way in that the romance was beginning to feel a little forced (can you say Stockholm Syndrome?). The heroine seemed to just suddenly turn the corner and realize that this reticent, almost silent Scot was the love of her life. Didn’t quite believe that.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed the romance and the story. Another good entry by a stellar author.

Grade: B

Summary:

Can a Highlander steal his enemy’s bride and make her love him?

High in the Pyrenees, a band of mercenaries led by Courtland MacCarrick wages war for General Reynaldo Pascal. When Court turns on the brutal general, Pascal orders him killed. Court narrowly escapes and exacts revenge by kidnapping Pascal’s exquisite Castilian fiancée.

Noble heiress Annalía Tristán Llorente despises her towering, barbaric captor almost as much as she does Pascal. Her inexplicable attraction to the Highlander only fuels her fury. Yet nothing will stop her from returning to Pascal—for if she doesn’t wed him, she signs her brother’s death warrant, as well as her own.

From the moment Court discovers that Anna’s prim façade masks a fiery, brave lass, his heart’s ensnared and he dares to defy the curse that has shadowed his life—to walk with death or walk alone. But Pascal vows that he’ll hunt the two, never stopping until he’s destroyed them both. If they survive, can this hardened soldier of fortune convince the only woman he’s ever loved that she’s meant to be his?

Read an excerpt.

If You Desire (Book 2)
Released by Pocket 24 Apr 07

As with Dare, I loved this heroine, Jane. I mean, REALLY (RAAAAALLY) liked her. Once again, I wanted to bludgeon the hero, Hugh, more than once, though I loved him.

Cole once again remained focused on our main couple but deftly interleaved other characters who kept the conflict and tension high. The villain was oogie (is that a word) and I RAAAALLY wanted him to buy it in the end – which he does – in style. The action is, once again, believable and really drives the plot along quickly.

In the last few chapters when our self-contained hero, Hugh, used more self-discipline than a whole herd of nuns and monks, I raaaally wanted to bash him about the head and shoulders. Then he does something supremely stupid – not as in TSTL, just your normal run-of-the-mill man-stupid. But because of it, I wouldn’t have taken him back like our very forgiving heroine does. Plus he was relatively humorless and grim thru most of the book – Court (hero in the first book) was at least humourous. Wish Hugh had been more lighthearted once or twice. Plus, I got raaaally sick of the hero’s constant “the Curse! the Curse!” attitude. Enough already.

I enjoyed this read. You don’t need to have read the first book to enjoy it, though some of the backstory would help.

Grade: B-

Summary:

He tried to run . . . In his youth, Hugh MacCarrick foolishly fell in love with a beautiful English lass who delighted in teasing him with her flirtatious ways. Yet he knew he could never marry her because he was a second son with no prospects, shadowed by an accursed family legacy. To avoid temptation, Hugh left home and trained as an assassin.

She tried to forget him . . . Jane Weyland was devastated when the Highlander she believed would marry her abandoned her instead. Years later, when Hugh MacCarrick is summoned to protect her from her father’s enemies, her heartache has turned to fury—but her desire for him has not waned.

Will passion overwhelm them? In hiding, Jane torments Hugh with seductive play. He struggles to resist her because of deadly secrets that could endanger her further. But Hugh is no longer a gentle young man—and toying with the fever-pitched desires of a hardened warrior will either get Jane burned . . . or enflame a love that never died.

Read an excerpt.

If You Deceive (Book 3)
Released by Pocket 22 May 07

Oh my goodness gracious me! What a year makes in an author’s craft! Cole outdid herself with Deceive! This was one of the best reads I’ve had so far this year! No lie! If you’re an historical romance fan, you canNOT miss this book!

This book was just a wonderful romance – hands down. While it’s part of a trilogy, it’s very focused on our two main characters – heroine Madeleine and hero Ethan. It reads fine on its own with no need to be read in order with the other two.

Ethan’s Machiavellian revenge on Madeleine’s family has left her destitute. She has no idea it’s Ethan behind the misfortune – she thought it simple bad luck and bad decisions. She’s left orphaned and penniless, scrabbling out a living in one of the worst slums in Paris all as a result of his revenge on Maddie’s parents.

Maddie is a wonderful heroine – she has quiet dignity and is self-effacing, she is beautiful but not vain, she is destitute but has a strong sense of self-respect, she’s obviously well-bred but knows how to play the angles. All of these qualities perplex Ethan.  He can’t figure out how a woman, who has experience all kinds of bad luck, can possibly come out so well-balanced. In contrast, he’s spent a decade or more wallowing in the negative emotions that Maddie lets roll off her back as something she cannot do much about.

Through some interesting circumstances, Ethan meets Madeleine and eventually takes her to Scotland with him.  The story of how these two people come to know and love each other is lushly sensual and filled with emotion. You can see the runaway train of her impending knowledge of his role in her bad luck and your heart breaks when it happens. The oh-so-intense Ethan deserves all the heartache he gets, plus some, for being such an asshole a couple of times on many occasions. (I love that Cole lets her heroes be “human”.)  However, it’s such a sweet love story that when they do finally come together (’cause, duh, they do – HEA here), you’re grinning the whole time.

I highly recommend this read to fans of Kresley Cole’s work – contemp paranormals or historicals. You’ll love it. I also recommend this to fans of historical romance.  Though even if you’re not such a big fan of historicals, I think you’ll still like it – Cole doesn’t beat the historical elements into the ground.

I just loved this book.

Grade: A+

Summary:

Burning vengeance . . . Ethan MacCarrick was a heartbreakingly handsome rake until a powerful nobleman ordered him brutally beaten and his face scarred for a crime he didn’t commit. Ethan’s reprisal—bankrupting the nobleman and forcing his exile—does little to appease his wrath. Ten years later, a haughty, mysterious beauty enchants Ethan—the daughter of his enemy. At last, Ethan will have the revenge he’s craved; he’ll promise her marriage, seduce her, then cast her aside.

Bitter hardships . . . When Madeleine Van Rowen’s family was suddenly plunged into destitution and dishonor, she steeled herself against further heartache. She never weakened, never trusted, until a towering, scarred Highlander relentlessly pursues her, breaking down her defenses.

At what price forgiveness? The passion between them burns hotter than Ethan’s fury, and soon he finds he can’t let her go. But when Madeleine uncovers the truth about him, can Ethan convince her to accept all he now offers—when he once destroyed everything she had?

Read an excerpt.

This was a very fun trilogy. The reads all went very fast, with the last read getting sucked down in one night. I very highly recommend Deceive, and recommend Dare and Desire.

Overall grade: A-

Well, it’s taken me a week to recuperate and get back into the swing of things since I got home from San Francisco.  Was it all worth it?  Damn straight!

I was supposed to be at the RWA National Conference as a writer.  I started writing only a year or so ago, so I was really looking forward to learning more about the craft.  But who was I trying to kid?  I was 99.9% reader in San Francisco.   I couldn’t help myself.  Everywhere I looked were authors I’d been reading for years, authors who I just discovered, and even newer authors who I hadn’t yet discovered while at the conference.   And the books!  You’ve all seen my TBR mountain.  You all know how bad my addiction is.  There was no way in hell anyone could have kept me away from the books in the city by the bay, no matter how they tried.  So while I did learn a little, I had a dream of a week just schmoozing and staring in awe the majority of the week.

I had some wonderful highlights during the hustle and bustle of the conference.  The first was meeting two of my all-time favorite authors, who have also become friends.  First is Sandy Blair.  I started reading her books because of the time travel elements that appear every so often in her Scottish historicals.  But I joined her fan club because she’s one of the nicest, sweetest ladies I’ve ever met.  So it was a thrill, indeed, to meet her in person.  We had lunch together a couple of times, had drinks together, just chatted, laughed our tails off — she’s a great storyteller even outside of her books — and I enjoyed my time with her immensely.  I will remember each and every one of those moments forever.

Added to all that, I found some friends to get re-acquainted with while schmoozing with Sandy B.  It was great to meet author Tracy Garrett since getting to know her when I interviewed her online last year, and soon-to-be-published-I-just-know-it Suzy Welsh from the Romance Bandits is a hoot and a half and it was nice to chat with her outside Sandy B’s group.  I also met author Jo Davis, who just had her debut book, Trial by Fire, released last week.  You know, I started talkin’ with a southern accent after spending time with all those Texas ladies!

My next highlight came when I met author C.L. Wilson.  We’ve been chatting online for the last year or so after the release of her first two books, Lord of the Fading Lands and Lady of Light and Shadows.  Her series of Fae and magic and flying jaguars has captured not only my imagination, but the world’s.  It was so enjoyable meeting this lady who has such a lyrical voice when writing, an imagination that takes you away into fantasy so that you never want to leave.  Cheryl is a delight.  She’s so friendly, open and honest, and getting to know her was a pleasure.  She also joined Sandy B. and me for lunch on our first day in San Francisco. Let me tell you, I haven’t laughed so darned much and so darned hard in a very long time.   Author Susan Edwards also joined us at lunch, along with several other friends, and a good time was had by all and another wonderful memory was made.

If you haven’t read Cheryl’s books yet, you should.  There’s very few authors out there who can string ordinary words together and make them sing like Cheryl.  The next two books in the series, King of Sword and Sky and Queen of Song and Souls,  are being released this October and February 2009, respectively.  Start now and I guarantee you will be mesmerized and anxiously awaiting those new release dates.

Then there’s the Goody Room that’s a highlight at every conference.  My heavens, what an oasis and/or cacophony, depending on how you look at it and when you were there, of activity and goodies that was.  And everything there was free!  Books, buttons, bookmarks, candy, ink pens, CDs enticing you with book excerpts, business cards and flyers advertising anything and everything, and so much more filled table after table throughout the room.  You had to be quick in that room too.  No thinking you can come back later and pick up whatever you were looking at.  No guarantees whatsoever.  You had to make quick decisions and stick with them!

The Literacy Signing on Wednesday night was almost ovewhelming.  500 authors just waiting for you to walk up, chat for a minute, and buy a book.  What reader wouldn’t be in heaven while in that room?  I met more authors there who I’d corresponded with online or had gotten a thank you for reviewing their book:  Melissa Mayhue, Nancy Haddock, Lorraine Heath, Jill Shalvis, Lisa Kleypas, Kresley Cole, Kathryn Smith, Lynda Sandoval, just to name a few.  Then there were the authors that I’d read and loved for so long and newer authors who have given me hours of reading pleasure: Shana Galen, Jennifer Ashley, Shana Abe, Susan Crandall, Marianne Stillings, Christina Dodd, Julia Quinn, Gena Showalter, Elizabeth Hoyt, Bonnie Edwards and the list goes on and on.  And so many more than I’ll ever be able to remember!  It was a spectacular night and all topped off quite nicely when we learned the next day approximately $60,000 had been raised for literacy.  Good show!

There were other book signings the last days of the conference, and I had been warned to take large totes, rolling and handheld, and to be prepared to ship box after box of books home.  Pffft.  We were able to drive to San Francisco, who needs to ship the books back home?  I did.  Four of them.  Four big, big boxes of books.  I’m glad I took all the advice given to me. I definitely went prepared and I’m sure I was a sight lugging all those books across that big old hotel for two days!

My last huge highlight was meeting author Melissa Mayhue for dinner at Bubba Gump’s on Pier 39 our last free night of the week.  What a lovely lady!  Not only is she a wonderfully talented author, Melissa is one of the sincerest, kindest people I’ve ever met.  And there’s something about authors and humor.  Twelve women together with writing in common and we laughed and laughed.  And laughed.  For several hours.  I made a few more new friends that night and hope to keep in touch in the future.

In fact, I made new friends throughout the entire week, even some from my area.  It was a great time to share experiences and knowledge and I’m so glad I was part of it.  It was a time in my life that will never be forgotten, even when I attend another conference in the future.  The first time is special and the people I met will always have just as special a place in my heart.

Oh, the writer in me?  Yes, I did go to workshops and I did learn some.  So maybe the next time I’ll have more percentage points on the writing part of it all.  I have a feeling, though, the reader in me will emerge once again because she just has to be part of the fun.

Gwen’s reviews of three completely different books by Eloisa James, Noelle Mack, and Kresley Cole
Historical Romance, Contemporary Erotica, and Contemporary Paranormal Romance

I read books all the time, squeezing a couple of pages in every chance I get – eating lunch, in line at the bank, while I’m on hold – but I don’t always review every book. Below you’ll find three books that I read but, for whatever reason, I didn’t want to do a full-blown review. So read on for three short reviews of three completely different books:

~ Desperate Duchesses by Eloisa James
~ Nights In Black Leather by Noelle Mack
~ Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole

Desperate Duchesses (Desperate Duchesses, Book 1) by Eloisa James (very nifty author site)
Historical romance released by Avon 29 May 07

I read this because Lime’s recent review of the third book in this series, Duchess by Night, made it sound so intriguing. And I liked this book. It took me a few chapters to get into it – I wasn’t sure who the hero or heroine were at first. Reading the first half of Desperate Duchesses is a bit like watching one of Robert Altman’s large ensemble cast movies – lots of intertwining story lines, all supporting some secrets, some heartache, some light romance, and myriad different details. By the time you get to the second half, it’s apparent who is pursuing whom, but you aren’t dumped into the relationship at the beginning, and that is actually kind of refreshing.

I enjoyed this book as a departure from the average historical. I really liked the dialog in it – intelligent and quick. I sort of liked the hero and heroine, but liked the ensemble cast more. Recommended for fans of non-traditional historical romances.

Grade: B

Summary:

A marquess’s sheltered only daughter, Lady Roberta St. Giles falls in love with a man she glimpses across a crowded ballroom: a duke, a chess player of consummate skill, a notorious rake who shows no interest in marriage — until he lays eyes on Roberta.

Yet the Earl of Gryffyn knows too well that the price required to gain a coronet is often too high. Damon Reeve, the earl, is determined to protect the exquisite Roberta from chasing after the wrong destiny.

Can Damon entice her into a high-stakes game of his own, even if his heart is likely to be lost in the venture?.

Read an excerpt and an even longer excerpt.

Nights In Black Leather by Noelle Mack (no author site found)
Contemporary erotic romance released by Aphrodisia 1 Jun 08

I had a really time with this book. I kept reading, but just didn’t like or believe in its premise. I skipped around it looking for something compelling to draw me into the romance, or even just the sex, and never did find it. I really didn’t like the hero – he was not appealing to me.

Grade: DNF

Summary:

She Said “Yes.”

London is a playground for international financier Adam Bowlin-it’s where he earned his fortune and his take-charge reputation. The man is big, bold, and wickedly handsome, and women can’t get enough of what he has to give. Adam is a master of pleasure, dominant by nature, with sexual skills beyond compare. And when Lara Stone, the firm’s beautiful and brilliant new associate, walks into his office, he sees a look in her not-so-innocent eyes that he understands completely. Behind closed doors, Adam and Lara come together to explore her darkest and most secret fantasies… one by one. Giving her what she longs for-what she needs-becomes his only desire. For the first time in his life, Adam is madly, truly, deeply in love…

Read an excerpt.

Dark Desires After Dusk (Immortals After Dark, Book 5) by Kresley Cole
Contemporary paranormal romance released by Pocket 20 May 08

What can I say that hasn’t already been said? This was an excellent book. I loved the hero, loved the heroine. Loved the very interesting elements of the heroine’s OCD and the hero’s complete acceptance of them. Just a terrific book. Read it.

(Is it bad that I keep typing this as “Dark Desires After Duck”?)

Grade: A

Summary:

A seductive beauty he can never have, yet can’t resist… Cadeon Woede will stop at nothing to atone for the one wrong that will haunt him forever. But once he secures the key to his redemption, the halfling Holly Ashwin, Cade finds that the woman he thought he could use for his own ends and then forget haunts him as much as his past.

A tormented warrior she should fear, but can’t deny… Raised as a human, Holly never knew that some frightening legends are real until she encounters a brutal demon who inexplicably guards her like a treasure. Thrust into a sensual new world of myth and power, with him as her protector, she begins to crave the demon’s wicked touch.

Surrender to dark desires… Yet just when he earns Holly’s trust, will Cade be forced to betray the only woman who can sate his wildest needs — and claim his heart?

Read an excerpt.

Devon’s Review of Dark Desires After Dusk (Immortals After Dark, Book 5) by Kresley Cole
Paranormal Romance released by Pocket 20 May 08

With last month’s release of Dark Needs at Night’s Edge, Kresley Cole went from a pretty good author of paranormals, to a must read-OMG-when’s the next book-gimme now (here’s my review). Luckily, the wait wasn’t too long, and a matter of weeks later I had Dark Desires After Dusk in my hot little hands. And it has only cemented my newfound worship. The two books are very different in tone and character, but equally sexy, romantic and engrossing. You have been forewarned: this is going to be a gushing, fangirly review.

Both the hero and heroine could have been annoying, but Cole made them unusual, surprising, and likeable. Cadeon Woede is rage demon mercenary. Tough, cocky and confident. But he’s not a standard issue overbearing supernatural Alpha type. He just is who he is, I guess. Earthy is an apt adjective. He’s blunt, bawdy and occasionally rude, but very endearing. He recognized Holly as his one true mate a year ago, and has spent a lot of time learning everything about her. Or stalking her, if you want to call it that. He is completely fascinated by Holly, and although he wants to shake her up, and wants in her bed, Cade is also very accepting of her quirks. And she’s got a lot of them.

Holly starts off as the prototypical uptight heroine: sweater set, glasses, pearls, brilliant, math geek. She suffers from OCD, and indulges in a number of rituals to keep her anxiety at bay. But these aren’t just character quirks to be shed as soon as she gets laid. Holly has developed her rituals and routines to keep certain parts of her nature under control. Holly (and the reader) comes to understand that those frightening desires are perfectly normal for someone who is half-Valkyrie/Fury. But her need to control herself and her surroundings seems understandable rather than annoying as she is thrown into the violent, chaotic world of the Lore. Even though Holly comes to accept her sexuality and her warrior side, she doesn’t change drastically. I also appreciated her confidence, surprising in someone who has so many issues.

Did I mention this book was hot? There was some great “opposites attract” chemistry here. I loved each of them, and I loved the two of them together. The scenes where Cade encourages Holly to explore him were smokin’. I shouldn’t admit this, but the night I started reading this book, I was getting sleepy, but I didn’t want to stop. So I skipped around to read some of what I called “the good parts” back in high school. And read some of them multiple times. Okay, I’m a perv, but it was hot! The mate thing is beyond tired, but Kresley Cole always makes it work by showing us how the characters get to know and love each other. It’s not an instant thing.

The conflicts and plot kept my interest. There were a lot of interesting conflicts here: Holly’s struggle with herself, as well as whether she can give up her ordered existence as a human, Cade’s struggle between helping to re-gain his brother’s crown, and claiming his mate. There is not as much interaction with the larger world of the Lore. But their appearances kept the action moving and provided some humor. Cade’s brother Rydstrom makes a couple of appearances (whetting my appetite for his book). I’m curious about Rok, the smoke demon. There was a great scene set in a Lore bar. Nix and the Valkyries showed up just enough for me to enjoy, without getting on my nerves.

In short, Dark Desires After Dusk was pitch perfect. It hit all the right notes for me. I loved the hero and heroine, the romance was sweet and passionate, the action and emotion were compelling. I devoured it, and I had a hard time starting another book, because it would mean leaving Cade and Holly behind. That rarely happens. I’ll keep it on my night table, so that they will be nearby. Now I have to wait. Sob!

Grade: A

Read Livania’s review.

The Summary:

A seductive beauty he can never have, yet can’t resist…

Cadeon Woede will stop at nothing to atone for the one wrong that will haunt him forever. But once he secures the key to his redemption, the halfling Holly Ashwin, Cade finds that the woman he thought he could use for his own ends and then forget haunts him as much as his past.

A tormented warrior she should fear, but can’t deny…

Raised as a human, Holly never knew that some frightening legends are real until she encounters a brutal demon who inexplicably guards her like a treasure. Thrust into a sensual new world of myth and power, with him as her protector, she begins to crave the demon’s wicked touch.

Surrender to dark desires…

Yet just when he earns Holly’s trust, will Cade be forced to betray the only woman who can sate his wildest needs — and claim his heart?

Click on the Immortals After Dark series tag for more excerpts, more reviews, and more everything on this series.

Limecello’s review of Dark Desires After Dusk (Immortals After Dark, Book 5) by Kresley Cole
Contemporary Paranormal Romance released by Pocket on 20 May 08

I was excited about the newest installment in the Immortals After Dark (IAD) series, and after I’ve read it, I know it was for good reason. Dark Desires gives us our first demon hero, and he’s definitely able to hold his own. This was a fun new story that is a great continuation of the series.

I wasn’t quite sure what to think about Cadeon Woede, but the beginning of this story just broke my heart.  I knew I should expect a lot more than meets the eye with the hero, and my expectations were met. Cade has a lot more depth than you’d expect, considering he’s a rage demon (and how he’s characterized in the previous books). He’s also carried around guilt for nine centuries. Guilt for losing his brother’s crown. Guilt for not being able to protect his foster family. Guilt for not being fitting royalty. Guilt for accidentally killing a human female and ending his brother’s hopes of learning how to reclaim his throne. The poor guy just can’t catch a break. In fact, his female is a human, so he can’t even be with her, because she wouldn’t survive being with him.

I like Holly, but I didn’t feel that she was a particularly developed character. I did think the beginning scene where Holly is going to her class was cute. Generally the jocks don’t show up – but for a hot teacher, I can see it. Holly had a lot of quirks and those were quite specific, but otherwise, I didn’t think she had that much of a personality. Maybe that was due to her OCD – but it felt like she was solely defined by her routines. While I can see that the routines were performed in order to suppress her true self, I find it harder to accept that she so easily breaks away from that. I also felt that her boyfriend was rather unnecessary.

I really liked the descriptions and secondary characters in this book. Definitely am curious about Rydstrom and Sabine. I’m also glad that Cade finally doesn’t feel like the entirely bad brother. The obstacles Cade and Holly faced were very interesting, and I loved how Holly finally and truly embraced her Valkyrie self. However, I felt like some parts were just too convenient. The fact that Cade can’t attempt Holly is a major source of angst. But wait! She’s not human, she’s a Valkyrie! It was supah sekrit and she repressed it for 27 years.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I think Cade may have edged out Bowen in my IAD heroes ranking. I really liked this book. I could have gone for a few more non confrontational scenes between Cade and Holly (their road to developing a relationship was filled with potholes), but I’m already looking forward to the next book. In fact, I can’t wait.

Grade: B

A seductive beauty he can never have, yet can’t resist…  Cade of the rage demons will stop at nothing to atone for the one wrong that will haunt him forever. But once he secures the key to his redemption, the halfling Holly Ashwin, Cade finds that the woman he thought he could use for his own ends and then forget haunts him as much as his past.

A tormented warrior she should fear, but can’t deny…  Raised as a human, Holly Ashwin never knew that some frightening legends are real until she encounters a brutal demon who inexplicably guards her like a treasure. Thrust into a sensual new world of myth and power, with him as her protector, she begins to crave the demon’s wicked touch.
Surrender to dark desires…

Yet just when he earns Holly’s trust, will Cade be forced to betray the only woman who can sate his wildest needs-and claim his heart?

Read an excerpt here.

Click on the Immortals After Dark series tag for more excerpts, more reviews, and more everything on this series.

Liviania‘s review of Dark Needs at Night’s Edge (Immortals After Dark, Book 4) by Kresley Cole
Paranormal Romance released by Pocket 1 Apr 08

I started Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark with this one, and I believe it is my favorite. This romance focuses on the youngest of the Wroth brothers, the insane Conrad, and Néomi, a dead human. Yes, it is a bit of a logistical nightmare. On the other hand, it gives the characters time to talk and develop a strong emotional relationship before they have sex.

In a last-ditch effort to save Conrad’s mind, his brothers imprison him. They believe they have found the means to restore his sanity without using Riora’s gift, which made more sense after I read No Rest for the Wicked. Elancourt just happens to be Néomi’s former estate and her soul anchor. Since only Conrad has killed and become a Fallen vampire, he is the only one that can see and hear the ballerina. However, when a vampire kills, he absorbs the memories of his prey. Conrad is lost in the memories of his numerous kills and believes Néomi to be yet another of his hallucinations.

Néomi realizes Conrad can see her and proves to him that she’s real. After all, she was a famous ballerina in life. She commanded the attention of hundreds of people at a time. Now she has spent several decades only able to observe those who venture onto the estate. Madman or not, Conrad can see and talk to her and that means everything – even if he does keep destroying parts of their house.

Kristoff imprisons Nikolai, Murdoch, and Sebastian (the brothers) for not killing Conrad. This gives Conrad and Néomi time to talk and get to know each other beyond, “I want you because you’re my Bride.” It eventually leads to one of the cutest moments in the series, when Conrad offers to deface the grave of her murderer. No really, it’s cute. And it’s just one of many surprisingly cute moments in their relationship.

In the end though, Cole must find a way for Néomi and Conrad to be able to touch. Enter Mariketa, Bowen, and Nïx. (And now that I have read the other books, I notice Regin’s short cameo.) Nïx is one of the best parts of these books – a nutty seer with a thing for mayhem and nail polish. It’s no wonder the Valkyrie are feared. In the very end, the solution becomes a tad convenient, but overall Cole develops a satisfying method to embody Néomi.

She also continues what she started in Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night and develops Cadeon’s character. She manages to set-up his story and to revisit the previous couples without crowding Conrad and Neomi’s story, which is very enjoyable. She also seems to be developing interest in the identity of Murdoch’s mystery bride.

I went into Dark Needs at Night’s Edge with high expectations and Cole met them all. I particularly liked that I understood the world’s rules and the characters’ relationships without exposure to the previous novels. Of course, I instantly bought those first three novels and devoured them. Now if only I can get my hands on Playing Easy to Get . . .

Grade: A

A RAVEN-HAIRED TEMPTRESS OF THE DARK…

Néomi Laress, a famous ballerina from a past century, became a phantom the night she was murdered. Imbued with otherworldly powers but invisible to the living, she haunts her beloved home, scaring away trespassers — until she encounters a ruthless immortal even more terrifying than Néomi herself.

A VAMPIRE WARRIOR CONSUMED BY MADNESS…

To prevent him from harming others, Conrad Wroth’s brothers imprison him in an abandoned manor. But there, a female only he can see seems determined to drive him further into madness. The exquisite creature torments him with desire, leaving his body racked with lust and his soul torn as he finds himself coveting her for his own.

HOW FAR WILL HE GO TO CLAIM HER?

Yet even if Conrad can win Néomi, evil still surrounds her. Once he returns to the brutality of his past to protect her, will he succumb to the dark needs seething inside him?

Click on the Immortals After Dark series tag for more excerpts, more reviews, and more everything on this series.

Liviania‘s review of No Rest for the Wicked by Kresley Cole
Paranormal Romance released by Pocket Star Books 31 Oct 06

The second Immortals After Dark novel focuses on the second-youngest Wroth brother, Sebastian. His village hires Kaderin the Cold Hearted to kill him, but the two quickly realize she is his Bride. After a brief amorous encounter, Kaderin leaves, unwilling to undergo the humiliation of being involved with a vampire. (She’s seen how her family treats Myst, whose husband is a vampire – and Sebastian’s older brother.) Currently she’s focused on winning the Talisman’s Hie, a contest run by the goddess Riora. After all, she’s won the past five times and must defend her title.

Since Sebastian’s older brothers turned him against his will, he chose to become recluse. Thus, he does not realize how dangerous Kaderin is. (Much like Emma in the previous novel, he knows little about other creatures in the Lore.) He follows and tries to protect her like the knight he was in life. Kaderin is not amused. However, Kaderin only feels this displeasure because her emotions returned after she met Sebastian. Someone answered her prayer not to feel after a vampire killed her two sisters – a vampire whose life she saved. The winner of the Talisman’s Hie will receive a key that will take the user into the past. Kaderin wishes to save her sisters and wishes the vampire would stop interfering.

Sebastian and Kaderin’s strongest competitor is Bowen MacRieve, who first appeared in A Hunger Like No Other. His mate died in the eighteen hundreds and he has been slowly dying ever since. He’s a sympathetic character and Cole shoots herself in the foot by making him a main antagonist. The reader wants Sebastian and Kaderin to succeed, but the reader wants the same for Bowen. Terrible things are done to him throughout the novel. I think I managed to move past him and focus on the romance only because I knew his future due to reading the fourth book first.

This is a large flaw simply because Sebastian and Kaderin’s romance is strong. It sticks out because the rest of the book is solid. Sebastian earnestly pursues her and two fall in love as they learn to trust the other (even as each of them still wants to be the protector). They’re both strong, fierce, and capable. They clash because of Kaderin’s independence and Sebastian’s determination to be her knight-in-shining-armor. They work when he allows her to stand on her own.

Plus, Kaderin deserves HEA after listening to Regin’s choice of music in Antarctica. She spent years without emotions and then immediately has to deal with one of the party valkyrie. I do like how Cole sets future romances in place. I look forward to there being a novel about Regin and her reincarnated but doomed lover.

Perhaps the most action-oriented of the series, No Rest for the Wicked moves at a quick pace with no dull spots. If only the villain were dastardly . . .

Grade: B+

Summary:

A vampire soldier weary of life… Centuries ago, Sebastian Wroth was turned into a vampire-a nightmare in his mind-against his will. Burdened with hatred and alone for ages, he sees little reason to live. Until an exquisite, fey creature comes to kill him, inadvertently saving him instead.

A valkyrie assassin dispatched to destroy him… When Kaderin the Cold Hearted lost her two beloved sisters to a vampire attack long ago, a benevolent force deadened her sorrow-accidentally extinguishing al of her emotions. Yet whenever she encounters Sebastian, her feelings-particularly lust-emerge multiplied. For the first time, she’s unable to complete a kill.

Competitors in a legendary hunt… The course will take them through ancient tombs and catacombs, seeking relics around the world, and the prize for victory is powerful enough for Kaderin to change history and prevent her sisters’ deaths. Sebastian competes as well, and begins winning-her. But when forced to choose between Sebastian and reuniting her family, how can Kaderin live without either?

Read an excerpt here.

Click on the Immortals After Dark series tag for more excerpts, more reviews, and more everything on this series.

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!

Liviania‘s review of A Hunger Like No Other (Immortals After Dark, Book 1) by Kresley Cole
Paranormal Romance released by Pocket Star Books 28 Mar 06

Kresley Cole’s popular Immortals After Dark series begins with A Hunger Like No Other. The book opens as Lachlain, King of the Lykae, escapes a torture chamber to pursue the scent of his mate. He’s waited centuries for her to appear. His mate, to his displeasure, turns out to be recent Tulane grad Emmaline Troy, a half-vampire, half-valkyrie. She’s a bit of a coward instead of the warrior she has the potential to be, and Lachlain scares her when he abducts her in Paris.

I expected to love A Hunger Like No Other since it’s a favorite with fans of the series and I greatly enjoyed Dark Need’s At Night’s Edge. However, the hero-almost-rapes-the-heroine-but-she-falls-in-love-anyway storyline just does not work for me. I felt like I was reading a novel from the eighties, rather than 2006. Cole did it well; because of the book’s events, Emma becomes stronger and embraces her heritage. In the end, she kicks butt and takes names. I wish she had more significant cameos in the following books.

Lachlain, though . . . as soon as he redeemed himself to me, he would do something else to piss me off. First it’s the old, “You’re saying no but your body wants me,” line. Then it’s lying to Emma at a point when the truth would clearly work better. (Actually, he lies to Emma almost constantly. That’s a great basis for a relationship.) Then it’s getting Emma drunk so she’ll be easy. He manages to be enough of a man to not take advantage of her, which I liked, but I did not like that he did these things continually.

While the overall premise did not work for me, I enjoyed the interracial relationship aspects of the book. Cole achieved a comfortable blend of the real world and the paranormal. Lachlain has a strong hatred of vampires due to his past with them, but he only knows of the Fallen. He also does not realize Emma is part valkyrie and judges her completely by her vampire heritage. Emma knows almost nothing about the Lore. The two learn about each other’s culture and move past their initial prejudices. Lachlain must also gain the approval of her family. (So must Nikolai Wroth, who became the vampire lover of Emma’s aunt in Cole’s story in the anthology Playing Easy to Get.) To me, the mechanics of their developing a lasting relationship are far more interesting and plausible than the “I’m falling in love with the guy who kidnapped and abused me!” part.

I found myself reading A Hunger Like No Other for the antics of the other valkyrie and for the subplot dealing with Emma’s discovery of her father’s identity. The romance just did not interest me. Cole did the well with her premise, but I still found it too off-putting.

Grade: C

Summary:

A mythic warrior who’ll stop at nothing to possess her… After enduring years of torture from the vampire horde, Lachlain MacRieve, leader of the Lykae Clan, is enraged to find the predestined mate he’s waited millennia for is a vampire. Or partly one. This Emmaline is a small, ethereal half Valkyrie/ half vampire, who somehow begins to soothe the fury burning within him.

A vampire captured by her wildest fantasy… Sheltered Emmaline Troy finally sets out to uncover the truth about her deceased parents-until a powerful Lykae claims her as his mate and forces her back to his ancestral Scottish castle. There, her fear of the Lykae -and their notorious dark desires-ebbs as he begins a slow, wicked seduction to sate her own dark cravings.

An all consuming desire… Yet when an ancient evil from her past resurfaces, will their desire deepen into a love that can bring a proud warrior to his knees and turn a gentle beauty into the fighter she was born to be?

Read an excerpt here.

Click on the Immortals After Dark series tag for more excerpts, more reviews, and more everything on this series.

Liviania‘s review of Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole
Paranormal Romance released from Pocket 20 May 08

Kresley Cole began setting the stage for Dark Desires After Dusk during Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night.  Those teasing glimpses of Cade’s character hold nothing to his full story.  Pornophile, hard drinking, fast driving rage demon Cadeon the Kingmaker has it bad for repressed mathematics professor/student Holly Ashwin.  Cole writes it so well they don’t even seem like an odd couple.

For one thing, she hints throughout in scenes that have nothing to do with Holly that Cade respects knowledge, wished he had a better education when young, and has been teaching himself about esoteric subjects during his mercenary career.  Holly is repressed precisely because she has been avoiding her Valkyrie/Fury instincts.  Disastrous attempts at sex convinced her remaining celibate was the best option, which went against her naturally lusty personality.  She quickly realizes that she could sex Cade up without hurting him – and she might not be as adverse to the idea as she pretends.

One obstacle is Holly’s current boyfriend, who despite their relationship of two years respects her wish to wait until marriage without complaint.  While she cheats on him, the two (as Cade points out) had more of a friendship than a relationship.  Cole manages to hit the right balance of Holly feeling guilty about being intimate with Cade before breaking up with Tom; she seems neither callous nor angsty.  Actually, Cole’s characterization of Holly hits all the right notes.  The OCD remains a constant characteristic, rather than coming and going as it fits the story, but it serves a purpose and doesn’t become an annoying trait that’s supposed to be endearing as is all too common in romance heroines.  She also earns her geek cred.  She knows her Star Wars and dreams up one awesome code.  (When she describes the code, Cade thinks she sounds more like a Valkyrie than a geek.  Obviously he needs to experience the wonders of gaming.)

The problem with these two getting together is that Cade needs to betray Holly so that he can get a sword to kill Omort the Deathless and regain his brother’s kingdom.  As we know from previous installments in the Immortals After Dark, Cade knows he messed up bad and feels some major guilt.  Cade and Holly drive cross-country in Rydstrom’s fab one point two million dollar ride, evading various attempts on Holly’s life and exchanging some of the best dialogue I’ve read all year.  Did I mention everybody wants Holly because her womb is magic?  Man, I don’t even hate that plot point.  For one thing, it leads to fabulous chase scenes and the return of Tera from WDOAWN.  The tomb of the incubi groups still has great friend chemistry.

For those wondering what Rydstrom is doing during these hijinks, he gets captured early in the novel by Omort’s sister Sabine..  He doesn’t appear again until a scene toward the end that makes me want the next book now.  (Actually, she’s been handing out hints about so many couples throughout the series that I want the next five or so books now.  I’m not greedy, really.)

If you have any love for paranormal romance whatsoever, do yourself a favor and read Dark Desires After Dusk.

Grade: A

     Summary: 

     A seductive beauty he can never have, yet can’t resist…

     Cadeon Woede will stop at nothing to atone for the one wrong that will haunt him forever. But once he secures the key to his redemption, the halfling Holly Ashwin, Cade finds that the woman he thought he could use for his own ends and then forget haunts him as much as his past.

     A tormented warrior she should fear, but can’t deny…

     Raised as a human, Holly never knew that some frightening legends are real until she encounters a brutal demon who inexplicably guards her like a treasure. Thrust into a sensual new world of myth and power, with him as her protector, she begins to crave the demon’s wicked touch.

     Surrender to dark desires…

     Yet just when he earns Holly’s trust, will Cade be forced to betray the only woman who can sate his wildest needs — and claim his heart?

Click on the Immortals After Dark series tag for more excerpts, more reviews, and more everything on this series.

Liviania‘s guest review of Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night (Immortals After Dark, Book 3) by Kresley Cole
Paranormal romance released by Pocket Star 1 Oct 07

Bowen MacRieve, who got the shaft in the second novel is the hero of the third book in the Immortals After Dark series. Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night begins during the events of No Rest for the Wicked. Bowen traps the witch Mariketa, along with two demons and three witches, in the tomb of the incubi. He realizes too late that the six could not get out on their own and Mariketa now has good reason to hate him. Yet he reacts as if she is his mate; impossible, since his mate Mariah died two centuries ago.

Bowen and Mari are a good match. She’s modern, spunky, and does not put up with his tragic woe-is-me attitude. She’s exactly what he needs to reenter the world of the living. Bowen helps Mari with her powers, particularly by giving her a tie to the real world.

Okay, this is a bit silly, but I get knocked out of the story every time Bowen says the word ‘cockstand.’ Seriously, it doesn’t make me think of an erection. It makes me think of bizarre acrobatics or naughty bicycle modifications. The first time it occurs, Bowen is talking to Mariketa, “And I’d describe the sight as life changing. It’s also made me ponder if a male can have a cockstand that’s so hard, it canna be tamed.”

What does that even mean? I’ve not exactly heard of cockstand taming before. At least the second time it occurred I’d seen the word before. I sure hope it isn’t more common than I think. I’m not sure I can ever assimilate cockstand into my vocabulary. It’s just too much fun to ponder possible meanings. (Or to ponder cockstand taming. That’d be an interesting circus.)

Most of the book is Mari and Bowen getting to know each other as they tromp through the jungle. The House of Witches threatened Bowen if he didn’t return Mari to them by a certain date. Of course, Rydstrom, Cade, and the elves hike with them. There are definitely some scenes to get one excited about Dark Desires After Dusk – Cade is awesome. Actually, so are the other four. They were a good sort with which to get trapped in a tomb of incubi. Their camaraderie with Mari shows as much chemistry as her relationship with Bowen.

Bowen and Mariketa both change for the better due to their love. Bowen loses the desperation that drove him in the Talisman’s Hie and faces the fact he never loved Mariah. Mariketa, like Emma, reaches her potential and faces her destiny. Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night delivers solid romance with quite a bit of action, but also some conversation.

But really, cockstand?

Grade: B+

     Summary:

Her breathless kiss haunts him…

Bowen MacRieve of the Lykae clan was nearly destroyed when he lost the one woman meant for him. The ruthless warrior grew even colder, never taking another to his bed — until a smoldering encounter with his enemy, Mariketa the Awaited, reawakens his darkest desires. When sinister forces unite against her, the Highlander finds himself using all his strength and skill to keep her alive.

His slow, hot touch is irresistible…

Temporarily stripped of her powers, Mari is forced to take refuge with her sworn adversary. It’s rumored that no one can tempt Bowen’s hardened heart, but soon passion burns between them. Though a future together is impossible, she fears he has no intention of letting her go.

No deed is too wicked for her seduction…

If they defeat the evil that surrounds them, can Mari deny Bowen when he demands her body and soul — or will she risk everything for her fierce protector?

     Read an excerpt.

Click on the Immortals After Dark series tag for more excerpts, more reviews, and more everything on this series.

Limecello’s review of Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night (Immortals After Dark, Book 3) by Kresley Cole
Paranormal romance released by Pocket Star Oct 07

Book three of the Immortals After Dark series was very enjoyable. Wicked Deeds actually happens while much of No Rest is taking place, and you have to feel bad for Bowen. I think a lot of what happens to him is downplayed – after all, he’s a tough Lykae – one who would have been king-so what does he need with half his face? Honestly. It’s fine it got blown off. Gah.

Mariketa and Bowen have a major May-December relationship. In fact, one could say it’s January-December. She’s 23. Chronologically. He’s more than twelve centuries old. He also froze into immortality later than most – I think he’s in his late 30s, early 40s? Yet some how, it’s not a big deal in the book, or at all. Really – no squick factor.

We’re introduced to Bowen in book one, and if you don’t feel for him, then you have no soul. Mari, is half fey, half witch, and has a lot riding on her shoulders. While most witches have only one or two powers, Mari has the abilities of a warrior, healer, enchantress, conjurer, and seeress. That is, when she can control them. The problem is, eight year olds can handle spells more easily than she can. Ouch.

They’re both competing in the Talisman’s Hie (yeah, none of these characters get competing with and for your lives against each other isn’t the best lead in for a romantic relationship), and bad things happen. Bowen traps Mari and others in a jail with an ancient evil. (Think LoTR and Balrog – but less cute.) Mari hexes Bowen with mortality. Because of this, neither of them win the competition.

Afterwards, Bowen is sent to rescue Mari. In his defense, he really thought they’d be able to get out. Bowen is torn, because he entered the Hie in order to go back in time and prevent his mate from dying. He’s also guilty, because she died running from him. At the same time, he’s got feelings for Mari – and more importantly, he wants her. A lot. Mari also wants him. Perfect, no?

No. They hate each other. This is endlessly entertaining, and carries on throughout the book. The first time they see each other in two weeks, Mari tries to kill Bowen even though she’s near death herself. He’s old, and old fashioned. Also, very lupine. For her part, Mari is wild and outrageous, acting much like the stereotypical sorority pledge would. (Curious if she should, because she hasn’t turned yet – and mortals have to worry about annoying things like not pickling their livers.)

I really like the interaction between Bowen and Mari, although she gets a bit too angsty for me. There were some over used terms – how the heroine is sad and abandoned, nobody loves her even though she has a lot of friends and a great support team, and she’s always second best cry cry cry. There were also some minor issues with plot development, but not that big a deal. Otherwise, I have few complaints.

Ms. Cole’s books always seem to take an unexpected turn, where you think everything is done – but it’s not! More needs to happen! And you know what? As a reader, you’re glad. This was a good book, and I hope you read and enjoy it!

Grade: B

Read Sandy M’s review here.

Summary:

HER BREATHLESS KISS HAUNTS HIM… Bowen MacRieve of the Lykae clan was nearly destroyed when he lost the one woman meant for him. The ruthless warrior grew even colder, never taking another to his bed -until a smoldering encounter with his enemy, Mariketa the Awaited, reawakens his darkest desires. When sinister forces unite against her, the Highlander finds himself using all his strength and skill to keep her alive.

HIS SLOW, HOT TOUCH IS IRRESISTIBLE… Temporarily stripped of her powers, Mari is forced to take refuge with her sworn adversary. It’s rumored that no one can tempt Bown’s hardened heart, but soon passion burns between them. Though a future together is impossible, she fears he has no intention of letting her go.

NO NEED IS TOO WICKED FOR HER SEDUCTION… If they defeat the evil that surrounds them, can Mari deny Bowen when he demands her body and soul-or will she risk everything for her fierce protector?

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in this series:

Read Sandy’s review.

Read Limecello’s and Gwen’s reviews.

Coming next:

Dark Desires After Dusk (Immortals After Dark, Book 5) , coming 20 May 08!

Limecello’s review of A Hunger Like No Other (Immortals After Dark, Book 1) by Kresley Cole
Paranormal Romance released by Pocket Star Books 28 Mar 06

I heard a lot of good things about Kresley Cole, and decided to hunt up her backlist, especially because I had her new book coming to me. I don’t mind reading books in a series out of order (blasphemous!) but I prefer not to if I can help it.

The prologue grips you, even as you realize you’re reading sentence fragments. A lot of repeated sentence fragments. Also, as someone who was taken to see Underworld too many times in too short a period in theatres, I was very conscious of similarities. In fact, a chapter or so in, I quickly flipped to the copyright date to check. Yup – postdating Underworld. Luckily, other than the race conflict, Emmaline and Lachlain in no way reminded me of Beckensdale as “Selene” or Carpenter as “Michael.”

Something unique about Cole’s writing is that her heroines have a tight knit safety net, while the heroes are the loners. I loved how serious the plot was, but the irreverent humor and pop culture woven throughout the book. Of course, there’s also a lot of hot and heavy scenes, after all, Lachlan has been looking for Emma for more than a millennium. He’s a bit, um, eager.

It’s been a long time since I so enjoyed reading about two characters. Their stories were fun and involved, but not saccharine. The secondary characters were zany and stood out, but didn’t distract from the main story. Various themes were developed, but each fed into the other, weaving together an extremely well written story. There was no point where I thought “that doesn’t fit” or “this is just too much.” Emma and Lachlain continued to develop and surprise me.

If you’re looking for a new and fresh paranormal that has substance but isn’t too heavy, this is the perfect book for you. I strongly recommend reading it.

Grade: A-

Summary:

A mythic warrior who’ll stop at nothing to possess her… After enduring years of torture from the vampire horde, Lachlain MacRieve, leader of the Lykae Clan, is enraged to find the predestined mate he’s waited millennia for is a vampire. Or partly one. This Emmaline is a small, ethereal half Valkyrie/ half vampire, who somehow begins to soothe the fury burning within him.

A vampire captured by her wildest fantasy… Sheltered Emmaline Troy finally sets out to uncover the truth about her deceased parents-until a powerful Lykae claims her as his mate and forces her back to his ancestral Scottish castle. There, her fear of the Lykae -and their notorious dark desires-ebbs as he begins a slow, wicked seduction to sate her own dark cravings.

An all consuming desire… Yet when an ancient evil from her past resurfaces, will their desire deepen into a love that can bring a proud warrior to his knees and turn a gentle beauty into the fighter she was born to be?

Read an excerpt here.

Limecello’s review of No Rest for the Wicked (Immortals After Dark, Book 2) by Kresley Cole
Paranormal Romance released by Pocket Star Books 31 Oct 06

This is the second book of the Immortals After Dark series, and I enjoyed it. After reading the first, I was wondering how Ms. Cole would go from vampires being the ultimate enemy, to making one her hero. It works.

Kaderin the Cold Hearted was cursed, or blessed – it all depends on one’s perspective -to feel no emotions after she watched her sisters die. She’s sent to kill a vampire, something she’d do for free, but finds that she can’t end him. Sebastian Wroth is the vampire, and it turns out that Kaderin is his Bride – his fated mate, that will bring Sebastian back to life. His heart starts beating again, and he’s got purpose.

It just so happens that the Talisman’s Hie is just about to begin – an immortal’s “Amazing Race,” with a fabulous prize. Kaderin has also won it for the past millennium, which is still impressive even though it takes place only every 250 years.

Kaderin has more reason than most to hate vampires, and Sebastian has never had much luck wooing the ladies. As a human giant, well over 6 feet tall in the 1600s, and a warlord with three brothers, he had little time for dalliance between fighting the Russians. Now, however, he’s determined to win his Bride. Sebastian in fact, joins the Talisman’s Hie, the first vampire to do so, as a way of courting Kaderin. No, he doesn’t think one shouldn’t directly compete and take away what your girl wants as a way to win her. Of course, all these supernatural creatures are different from humans. He has a really cute pet name for her too – Katja.

This is basically how the book goes – Kaderin hasn’t felt emotions in 2,000 years, and Sebastian has finally found his Bride. To say they’re both emotionally stunted would be an understatement. They work on their feelings while completing the tasks Riora, the goddess of impossibilities, sets them on. Very clever, using one thing to set off the other.

I liked this book, but my favorite character actually wasn’t the hero or the heroine – it was Bowen MacRieve, and I felt so bad for him. There were some uncertainties in the end, but it ended happily.

Grade: B-

Summary:

A vampire soldier weary of life… Centuries ago, Sebastian Wroth was turned into a vampire-a nightmare in his mind-against his will. Burdened with hatred and alone for ages, he sees little reason to live. Until an exquisite, fey creature comes to kill him, inadvertently saving him instead.

A valkyrie assassin dispatched to destroy him… When Kaderin the Cold Hearted lost her two beloved sisters to a vampire attack long ago, a benevolent force deadened her sorrow-accidentally extinguishing al of her emotions. Yet whenever she encounters Sebastian, her feelings-particularly lust-emerge multiplied. For the first time, she’s unable to complete a kill.

Competitors in a legendary hunt… The course will take them through ancient tombs and catacombs, seeking relics around the world, and the prize for victory is powerful enough for Kaderin to change history and prevent her sisters’ deaths. Sebastian competes as well, and begins winning-her. But when forced to choose between Sebastian and reuniting her family, how can Kaderin live without either?

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in this series:

Read Sandy‘s review.

Read Limecello’s and Gwen’s review.

Coming next:

Dark Desires After Dusk (Immortals After Dark, Book 5) , coming 20 May 08!

Devon’s review of Dark Needs at Night’s Edge (Immortals After Dark, Book 4) by Kresley Cole
Paranormal Romance published by Pocket Books 29 Apr 08

I wasn’t going to read this book, to be honest. I had read A Hunger Like No Other and enjoyed it, and No Rest for the Wicked and thought it pretty good. But I had never quite gotten around to Wicked Deeds on a Winters Night. And I’m not a big fan of ghost love stories. No body means no sex, no hugs, no kisses. How’s an author going to make that HEA work? I tend to view them with deep suspicion. But this book was getting good buzz (see Gwen’s review), and it had a crazy hero. I love a tormented hero. Tormented to the point of crazy sounds good. (Let’s not think too deep on what that says about me). So I decided to try it. Good thing for me, because this is my favorite read of the year so far.

Conrad Wroth is a Fallen Vampire. He drinks blood directly from the vein, and so gains the memories of his victims. As he has survived all these years as an assassin/mercenary, he has gained the memories of a lot of unsavory beings. Add to this his own rage and bitterness, and it’s not a pretty picture. Conrad’s at the point where he can’t distinguish between his memories and others’, when his brothers (who he really, really hates) capture him in a last ditch effort to restore some kind of sanity.

They bring him to Elancourt, an abandoned Louisiana estate. For the last eighty plus years it has been the home of Neomi Laress, a ballerina who was murdered in her house in the twenties. The gregarious Neomi has longed for contact, so she can’t help but be intrigued by the strange group that has descended upon the house. She is angered by the rampaging madman damaging her home, but also intrigued. Especially once it seems that maybe he can see her.

Lots of conflict going on here. Conrad is truly damaged, twisted by rage at what he’s become, and also unsure of what’s real. He is also awkwardly charming. As he becomes convinced that Neomi is “real”, he becomes increasingly ashamed of what he has become. And oh, how he tries to be better-healthier, saner, what a woman would want. It’s both heartbreaking and adorable. It was easy to see how Neomi would grow increasing fascinated by him.

I really wasn’t sure if I’d like a ghost heroine, but Neomi totally won me over. Her joie de vivre (heh, considering she’s dead) provides such a contrast to Conrad. She is a woman who was very comfortable in her own skin when she was alive, and she just leaps off the page. I loved the parts where she was checking Conrad out, trying to get him to acknowledge her.

Her non-corporeality is a definite obstacle. But Cole used it to develop the chemistry between them. They spend a lot of time talking and getting to know each other. The fact that they can’t touch just makes it more intense, as their connection grows deeper. Intense! Damn if I wasn’t on eggshells for them to get it on. Absolutely hot.

This book, like Conrad, was very intense. But there are nice flashes of humor from Neomi and the larger world of “The Lore”. The Valkyries, who got on my nerves in other books, were used to great effect, and were around just enough. Ditto Mariketa (I don’t know if I’d have enjoyed a whole book of her). After reading the excerpts of the next book (see here, here and here), I was really looking forward to it. Now I’m positively bursting, so much did I like Cade, his brother and the other demons.

My only quibble was that I found the mechanics of their HEA to be a bit confusing, and at the end, contrived. On the other hand, I wanted them together so bad, I didn’t really care. Dark Needs at Night’s Edge was a completely involving romance, with a compelling hero and heroine, hot tension, plenty of emotion, lots of action and a rich paranormal world filled with vivid characters. A completely satisfying read. I am now an official Kresley Cole fangirl. Thank goodness we only have to wait until June for more.

Grade: A

From the back cover:

A RAVEN-HAIRED TEMPTRESS OF THE DARK…

 

Neomi Laress, a famous ballerina from a past century, became a phantom the night she was murdered. Imbued with otherworldly powers but invisible to the living, she haunts her beloved home, scaring away trespassers — until she encounters a ruthless immortal even more terrifying than Neomi herself.

A VAMPIRE WARRIOR CONSUMED BY MADNESS…

 

To prevent him from harming others, Conrad Wroth’s brothers imprison him in an abandoned manor. But there, a female only he can see seems determined to drive him further into madness. The exquisite creature torments him with desire, leaving his body racked with lust and his soul torn as he finds himself coveting her for his own.

 

HOW FAR WILL HE GO TO CLAIM HER?

 

Yet even if Conrad can win Neomi, evil still surrounds her. Once he returns to the brutality of his past to protect her, will he succumb to the dark needs seething inside him?

Read an excerpt here