Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost

Once Burned 

(Night Prince, Book #1)
by Jeaniene Frost

Genre: Dark Fantasy | Paranormal Romance

She’s a mortal with dark powers…

After a tragic accident scarred  her body and destroyed her dreams, Leila never imagined that the worst was still to come: terrifying powers that let her channel electricity and learn a  person’s darkest secrets through a single touch. Leila is doomed to a life of  solitude…until creatures of the night kidnap her, forcing her to reach out  with a telepathic distress call to the world’s most infamous vampire…

He’s the Prince of Night…

Vlad Tepesh inspired the greatest  vampire legend of all—but whatever you do, don’t call him Dracula. Vlad’s ability to control fire makes him one of the most  feared vampires in existence, but his enemies have found a new weapon against  him – a beautiful mortal with powers to  match his own. When Vlad and Leila meet, however, passion ignites between them,  threatening to consume them both. It will take everything that they are to stop  an enemy intent on bringing them down in flames.

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Blood Eternal by Marie Treanor

Blood Eternal

(Awakened by Blood, Book #3)

by Marie Treanor 

Genre: Paranormal Romance | Fantasy | Historic

Secrets don't disappear after seduction ... Elizabeth Silk is struggling to reconcile her passion for the vampire overlord Saloman and her allegiance to the vampire hunters.  When a shocking vampire revolt calls Saloman away from her, she refuses to follow him.  To make matters worse, Saloman's beloved cousin Luk has been found and awakened by one of his greatest enemies.  Frenzied with blood-lust, Luk embarks on a killing spree and prepares to expose Saloman's biggest vulnerability: Elizabeth.  But under Saloman's regime, vampires have become less concerned with secrecy, no longer will to hid their power.  Rumors are swirling about attacked on humans.  After Saloman joins forces with the vampire hunters to consolidate his power, Elizabeth begins to understand her role in the inevitable collision of the two worlds.  She could bring resolution between vampires and humans -- if she can manage to say alive long enough to play both sides... 

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Blood Sin by Marie Treanor

Blood Sin

(Awakened by Blood, Book #2)

by Marie Treanor 

Genre: Paranormal Romance | Fantasy | Historic

Even if you walk in the light, you can dwell in the dark.  Months after her dangerous encounter with vampire overlord Salaman, Scottish academic Elizabeth Silk is still trying to cope with both the demands of her ancestral bloodline -- which marks her as a vampire hunter -- and the overpowering desire she feels for the immortal she brought back from the grave.  But she is not alone is her fascination with Saloman.  When Elizabeth tracks down a distant cousin from America, she learns he possesses an antique sword that has caused the interest of the Grand Master of the American hunters. It is the ancient and mystical sword of Saloman -- a treasure of vast occult powers and a price beyond measure to both vampires and humans.  Now the race is one on for possession of the sword.  Even as her enemies and allies shift their allegiances and battle for supremacy, Elizabeth must decide which will rule her own perilous fate: unwanted loyalty or unholy love.

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Blood On Silk by Marie Treanor

Blood on Silk

(Awakened by Blood, Book #1)

by Marie Treanor 

Genre: Paranormal Romance | Fantasy

Scottish academic Elizabeth Silk is spending the summer in Romania researching historical superstitions for her PhD. While she is tracing local foktales, one subject in particular sparks her imagination. His name is Saloman, legend's most powerful vampire, a seductive prince staked centuries ago. Now, in the ruins of a castle crypt, Elizabeth discovers the legends are real. Her blood has awakened him. Her innocence has aroused him. But Elizabeth unleashes more than Saloman's hunger.An army of vampire hunters has amassed to send Saloman back to hell. Sworn to help - yet fearing Saloman's deadly blood lust - Elizabeth seeks to entrap him, offering her body as bait. But something stronger than dread, more powerful than revenge, is uniting Elizabeth to her prey. Caught between desire and rage, Elizabeth must decide where her loyalties lie...and what the limits are to a yearning she can no longer control.

Elizabeth is finishing up research in Budapest when she gets a tip about a historic castle tale that would be a great contribution for the historic superstition thesis she is working on for her doctorate. Upon her visit, she discovers a secret tomb and accidentally awakens that last ancient vampire.  While vampire rules decree that Elizabeth's blood upon death will fully strengthen the ancient Soloman back to full power, she becomes equally frightened and tempted by his mocking and lustful ways.  Thus, as the two wickedly banter back and forth, Elizabeth pursues other options in hope to remain alive and joins a local vampire hunter organizations to learn techniques in taking down the undead.  Yet, while the vampire world around them is all abuzz with the new arisen ancient and as her feelings for Soloman grow deeper as well as her mental bond with him develops new shocking abilities for herself, Elizabeth must decide just which side she should choose.

I had delayed reading this series for awhile now and am kicking myself for it, since it was a wonderfully enjoyable book that I should have read long ago.  I quickly bonded with Elizabeth and relished in the fact that she was a strong, likeable female lead by solely being studious and brave without coming off as overly cocky or too fragile. On the flip side, Soloman was very charismatic and amusing and their interactions together really complemented each other and created an easily believable love-hate relationship that kept me, as a reader, turning the pages late into the night.  The silly mockery between Soloman and Elizabeth really kept the story alive for me and seeing that relationship evolve throughout the story while each were being torn away due to being different added much spark to the tale and had me jumping right into book #2 of the series as soon as I finished.  So, if you're wanting a juicy paranormal romance with a bit of a comedic twist, you won't miss out with Blood on Silk.

Likes: As a cultural/superstition history buff, I was easily fascinated by Elizabeth's work.

Dislikes: I wasn't really a fan of the vampire hunters, but can understand how their presence in Elizabeth's life added much tension to the story due to the fact that she had to keep her attraction to Soloman secret.

Chapter One/Paragraph One: "Saloman. Again. "I'm beginning to hate that guy," Elizabeth muttered.  "If he ever existed.""

Review: Goodreads |  Barnes & Noble | Shelfari | Library Thing | Amazon

Rating:

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Awake at Dawn by C.C. Hunter

Awake at Dawn
(Shadow Falls series, Book #2)
by C.C. Hunter

Genre: Young Adult | Paranormal Romance

Kylie Galen thought her life was a mess before she went to Shadow Falls Camp. However, now that she's discovered she's not human, the problems presenting themselves are anything but normal.

She's determined to uncover the answer to her supernatural heritage, but with a ghost insisting someone Kylie loves is about to die, her newly developed sixth sense telling her someone is watching her and a rogue vampire on a murdering rampage, Kylie's quest for answers is on hold. As if her life isn't difficult enough, just when she's about to give her heart to Derek, he starts pulling away. When Lucas comes back, Kylie feels more conflicted than ever. Kylie's weekend with her mom should have been just the break Kylie needs, but it turns out to be her breaking point. Discovering her heritage may not ever matter if she doesn't survive.

As Kylie learns more about herself, the mystery of who/what she is becomes darker. Not only is she sharing characteristics with the camp vampires (i.e. desires for blood, exceptional hearing, etc.), but now she is displaying werewolf traits (i.e. super strength, body changes due to the moon cycle, etc.) as well. Yet, being unique has its mischievous perks since Kylie seems to always find herself within the camp's drama/secrets. But the unfortunate downfall of her solitary status destine her to perpetually be considered an outsider/alone. Kylie's adjustment to her original ghost-seeing abilities becomes more advanced within this story while her romance triangle becomes more complicated. Expect lots of favorite supernatural side characters to return as well as the series suspense and teen angst heats up. Yummy Read!!!

Book # 3 ( Taken At Dusk ) out soon- April 10th.

Book #1 ( Born At Midnight ) Review

Likes: The theme concept of "self-discovery" really keeps this series alive and entertaining for me, can't wait for it to continue.

Dislikes: The friendship interactions in this tale comes off as a little too juvenile for my readying taste, but I guess that is to be expected from a YA book. It's just rather annoying at times, esp. with Miranda & Della going at it every other page.

Rating:

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Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter

Born at Midnight
(Shadow Falls series, Book #1)
by C.C. Hunter

Genre: Young Adult | Paranormal Romance

Kylie Galen has had a lot of crap tossed in her lap lately. Her parents are getting a divorce for who the heck knows why. Her boyfriend broke up with her because she wouldn't put out. And her grandmother died because . . . well, older people do that. But now, Kylie's acquired a stalker and she hasn't a clue what he wants or how to get rid of him . . . and she really wants to get rid of him because apparently she's the only one who sees him. Thinking she may be losing it, her parents send her off to see a psychologist who gets Kylie sent to Shadow Falls Camp. Kylie and her parents think it's a camp for troubled teens.

They thought wrong.

Kylie's surrounded by vampires, werewolves, fairies, witches and shape-shifters. And if she believes what they tell her, she's one of them. They're just not sure exactly how she fits in. As Kylie struggles to cope with the realization that these creatures even exist, and the fact that she might not be human, she's got two hot guys, a werewolf and a half-fairy vying for her attention. And they can just keep vying. Kylie's determined that before she lets her heart loose on love, she needs to unearth the truth. What does the ghost want? Who can and can't she trust? And most of all . . . What is she?

Kylie gets innocently caught up in some questionable situations upon her parents sudden divorce and gets sent away to a delinquents (aka "freak") camp for the summer . . . or so she thinks. Yet, when fellow campers begin asking "What she is?" instead of "Who?" and magic/blood become something she shockingly learns to deal with on a daily basis--Kylie beings to examine her meaning behind the word "freak" and becomes worried she may just be one herself. Throughout the challenge of discovering her past in hopes of identifying just what her supernatural status is, Kylie becomes awakened by her new hidden talents (i.e. sensing/seeing ghosts, etc.) and easily gets infatuated with two extremely different guys: 1. Derek, a sweet-tempted half-fairy who was one of her first friends at camp and 2. Lucas, a darker older werewolf who Kylie actually has a history with. Thus, with so many things in Kylie's life crumbling, can Shadow Falls Camp actually become a bitter-sweet surprise?

At first, this story came off as a bit too juvenile for my taste, but as the plot progressed and Kylie's adventures in camp became more complex -- I found myself becoming more and more intrigued. The whole story timeline accelerates quickly, happening within the span of only a few weeks, thus it becomes easy to get caught up in the overall tale. Kylie has a lot of troubles becasue of friends back home, friends in camp, family, etc. that the story never goes dull, but it can become a bit too much at times. The romance in the book is all over with many of the side-characters (young and old) heating up the pages while Kylie herself gets captivated by two guys -- so yummy relationships throughout. All in all, this was a surprising read that I found myself jumping right into Book #2 as soon as I finished Book #1 -- plus Book #3 comes out this April, yayy.

Likes: If you're a fan of paranormal/supernatural characters--this is a fun read that pretty much covers them all!

Dislikes: Kylie can have only so much drama on her plate at one time before she gets spread pretty thin and then, due to becoming overwhelmed, avoids or cuts short different parts of the story that the reader would wish to have extended. Frustrating!!

Rating:

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Reckoning by Jeaniene Frost

Reckoning
(Originally appeared in the anthology Unbound)
by Jeaniene Frost

Genre: Supernatural Thriller | Short-Story (eBook only)

In New Orleans, a pair of undead serial killers are about to turn Mardi Gras into a horror show—unless the immortal hitman Bones can hunt them down first.
From Jeaniene Frost comes a thrilling prequel novella featuring characters from her New York Times bestselling Night Huntress series.

IN HONOR OF MARDI GRAS (Today, Feb 21st). . .

Bones is on the hunt for the famous Delphine & Louis LaLourie, who are actually ghouls and back in New Orleans during Mardi Gras to continue their deadly reign on innocent tourists. With the Majestic Voodoo Queen, Marie, out of town on business, Bones hopes this would be an easy mission, except there is also someone trying to murder him as well, with silver arrows nonetheless. As this twisted cat-and-mouse thriller quickly gets out of control, can Bones save the day (as well as his own neck) from becoming any more bloodier during carnival time?

I just had to tackle a Mardi Gras related story for today and what better character to read about than Bones, so win-win! Overall, I'll just start off by stating I'm not a fan of anthologies since the stories are way too short and always leave me wanting more, but this tale was enjoyable for the fact that it contained lots of Mardi Gras spirit - which I am totally in by the way (and, in real life, out in costume on St. Charles Avenue yelling for REX beads!) This suspenseful thriller shorty contains lots of Bone(s) action (no pun intended), so have fun with that, but also somewhat emotional when you find out the real reason behind Bones mission. Enjoy!

If you don't know about the LaLourie's . . . click here. Sometimes the truth can be creepier than fiction!

Likes: Interesting spin of truth and fiction . . . had me cracking up when I first started reading. The LaLourie's story is truly a famous New Orleans dark tale - so thanks for the spin-off Jeaniene!

Dislikes: As most short-stories in anthologies can be - the story was too choppy for me and somewhat silly (the whole musical Phantom of the Opera Mardi Gras float scene . . . I mean, seriously?)

Rating:

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Jessica Rules the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Jessica Rules the Dark Side
(Jessica Series, Book #2)
by Beth Fantaskey

Genre: Young Adult | Paranormal Romance

When Jessica Packwood found out she was a Romanian vampire princess, she had the shock of her teenage life. Turns out that was the easy part. Now, married to Prince Lucius Vladescu, she has to claim her throne and convince a vampire nation she’s fit to be their queen. But Jess can’t even order a decent meal from her castle’s Romanian staff, let alone deal with devious undead subjects who would love to see her fail.

And when Lucius is accused of murdering a vampire Elder and imprisoned without the blood he needs, Jessica finds herself alone, fighting for both their survivals. Desperate to clear her husband’s name and win his release, Jess enlists the help of her best friend Mindy Stankowicz and Lucius’s mysterious Italian cousin, Raniero Lovatu. But both of them are keeping some dark secrets. Can Jess figure out who to trust – and how to rise to power – before she loses everything, including the vampire she loves?

Full of romance, mystery, and danger, the highly anticipated sequel to Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side shows that sometimes a princess has to earn her “happily ever after” – with a sharpened stake in hand.

Settling into married life can be an adventure, but also quite difficult . . . especially if you're a newly-turned vampire princess ( Princess Antanasia Dragomir Vladescu ) who is lacking in power and your husband has been recently accused for a crime that could easily carry a death sentence. Having always had someone strong to stand by her her whole life, Jessica, for the first time ever, much now stand alone and hopefully gain some much needed strength/confidence/knowledge to free her husband from his falsely accused crime. Can she find the proof that Lucius's needs in time?

The murder suspense builds quickly throughout this continuation book for Jessica, but the overall tale carries a much darker plot line than the first in the series - something I did not enjoy so much. I felt the story was lacking the quirky romance that I praised so much in Book #1, but I did like that some well-loved past characters took on a stronger role ( Mindy & Raniero ). Expect lots of climatic vampire drama for the new couple, but the story fell short for me since Book #2 carried on like a whole new story (not part of a series) . . . sure there were the same characters, but the feel to the book was moody, bleak, and just very heavy with the grim subject matter (lots of gruesome death, dank prison cells, creepy cemeteries, etc.), making it difficult to enjoy throughout, compared to Book #1's silliness and whimsical charm.

Likes: Raniero grew on me! At first, I wasn't so keen on him, but in the end, I really liked him a lot . . . maybe b/c I'm such a fan of character development and his whole troubled back-story was revealed throughout the book.

Dislikes: Jessica was very whiny and hopeless at times, ugh!

Rating:

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Lothaire by Kresley Cole

Lothaire
(Immortal Afters Dark Series, Book #12)
by Kresley Cole

Genre: Paranormal Romance

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 millennia-old blood vendetta and his irresistible prisoner. Will Lothaire succumb to the miseries of his past . . . or risk everything for a future with her?

Elizabeth (aka Ellie) has had an interesting life. She's grown up deep within the Appalachian Mountains in a back-woods type of family while becoming possessed by a blood loving goddess who has been committing horrendous murders while within her teenaged body. Then upon meeting an evil vampire, ends up on execution row in prison for five years without any family contact. So ... "interesting life" is really a nice way of putting it. On the other hand, Lothaire (aka LEO of Lothaire: Enemy of Old) is torn in his loyal commitment to this Bride, the cursed vampire deity Saroya, and in his intense attraction to Ellie, a lowly insignificant human. Since both female obsessions share the same body, duties & emotions get very confusing for Lothaire and his endgame. With detailed plans set in motion many many many years in advance for Lothaire to gain a kingdom and win back his royalty status, this new relationship really begins to throw everything out of place -- as if fate is truly giving him the finger! Is it even possible for intimacy and understanding to grow when both share such dark pasts and, more importantly, what are they both willing to give up in order to get it?

I've been a long time fan of Immortals After Dark and can honestly say there have been many up and down books for me in the overall series, but Lothaire really brought the story line back into being a delicious read! I am a lover of stories that focus on the character relationship development without burdening the reader with too many frustrating side-plots or trying to incorporate insane amounts of additional characters within too many detailed settings (i.e. to build a longer series). Thus, this book really went back to the basics and revolved around the growing connection between the two lead protagonists. Lots of focus on the various outcomes and turmoil of ending up together as well as being tragically separated - LOVED IT! The tension caused by both the sexual side and suspenseful side of the tale really drew me in and the humor throughout made it even more enjoyable. Expect lots of egotistical comments from Lothaire and silly stubborn actions from Ellie, but overall buckle up for a juicy sensual ride (with lots of past characters popping in throughout)!!!!!

Likes: {{SPOILER}} I appreciated that Ellie was a human at the beginning of the story and loved comparing that to Holly in the beginning of Dark Desires After Dusk (one of my favorite books). The humanization of the female lead characters really makes the story somewhat more relatable and realistic . . . excluding the full-body possession and vampire interactions and ability to trace to different destinations, etc. etc. etc. . . . so maybe NOT "realistic", but at least a lot more comparable than being some witch, demon, or valkyrie.

Dislikes: {{SPOILER}} What really happened to Mariketa's hand!?!? Also, not really a fan of Thaddesu. The whole Friday-Night-Lights small town Texas boy doesn't really work on me since I'm really small town Texas girl and need something more exciting/different in male lead. Thus, Thaddesu is too boring for me . . . Blah!

Rating:

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All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks

All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire
Love At Stake Series, Book #5
by Kerrelyn Sparks

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Toni Davis’s Christmas Wish List

1. Springing my best friend from the psych ward.
2. Living somewhere that doesn’t have coffins in the basement. Occupied coffins.
3. Finding Mr. Right. Please make him tall, dark, handsome, and ALIVE.

This Christmas isn’t so merry for Toni. Her best friend’s been locked up in a mental hospital ever since she told the police she was attacked by vampires, and the only way for Toni to get her out is to prove that bloodsuckers really do exist. So she’s taken a job as a bodyguard for the Undead, but she gets more than she's bargained for, especially when she meets Ian MacPhie, a Scottish rascal looking for Ms. Right.

Although Ian’s nearly five centuries old, he looks and acts like a twenty-seven-year-old hunk. How can a dead man be so damn sexy? Could Mr. Wrong be Mr. Right? One forbidden kiss could lead to an eternity of passion—and all it takes is one moment under the mistletoe . . .

Toni had a very rewarding goal in life (to open up an orphanage for abandoned children) that she and her two closest friends were working years towards before vampires attacked and ruined everything. Now, Toni's best friend (and financial support) is in a mental ward and Toni finds herself in a reckless vampire job that could one day set everything right again ... or at least she hopes! If she can prevent herself from being tempted by the newly returned Scottish warrior, Ian, or accidentally revealing her plan of action in proving that vampires truly exist, she could set everything back to their original course. Yet, as things begin to heat up with Ian and the vampire society line between good & bad becomes more visible, Toni finds her future plans have changed whether she likes it or not.

For me, this was an okay book from the Love to Stake series - not one of my favorites and definitely not one of the worst. Thus, it was an overall so-so read. I wasn't that much of a fan of Toni, becasue she was either too tough or lacking from too little confidence for me to truly enjoy as a character. And, I couldn't escape the memory of Ian as a young boy as well - so sadly I was kind of ruined from the beginning with really losing myself in their budding relationship. It's always a joy though to catch up with other favorite characters from past books in the series and becasue of that I continue to follow the story and enjoy the ups and downs of each tale. Plus, the Christmas feel to this book really made for a festive read!

Likes: I'm also not that much of a fan of small talkative children in romance stories, but Constantine was quite adorable.

Dislikes: Ian's dating insecurities were somewhat boorish and vexing at times.

Rating:

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Eternal Kiss by Laura Wright

Eternal Kiss
(Mark of the Vampires Series, Book #2)
by Laura Wright

Genre: Paranormal Romance

His father unknown, his mother dead, Nicholas Roman was raised by the vampire Breed with one wish: to live as a normal vampire. But once he's transformed against his will into a gifted immortal, Nicholas now has one goal: to stop the Eternal Order of vampires from controlling his life and from transforming more males from his bloodline for their vicious reign. Then comes a beautiful stranger with a startling secret . . .

Vampire Kate Everborne claims she's sheltering Nicholas's long-lost son. If this is true, then who is the mother? And how endangered are they if, indeed, Nicholas does possess the bloodline so coveted by the Order? These are questions that with every seductive whisper, every silken touch, draw Nicholas and Kate intimately closer and nearer still to the truth. But aroused too are Nicholas's fears that this tantalizing woman has even more secrets -- both dangerous and provocative -- she has yet to share.

Raised by the Breed, Nicholas Roman wants to stop the Eternal Order of Vampires from controlling his life, and using other males from his bloodline -including possibly his son- for their vicious reign. Only a beautiful vampire stranger can help him, but what are her true motives?

If you enjoyed the early years of the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series, then you'll easily get sucked into this story. It's almost shocking how similar the tales are, but regardless, this book was entertaining and intense. I enjoyed the heat between Kate & Nicholas the most, but also liked their competitive & silly banter throughout the book as well. Ladd was a delightful addition to the overall characters and really added a lot of sentimental value to many of Nicholas's actions. If you're looking for a hot story with lots of dark adventures, Eternal Kiss won't let you down. Now I'm on to reading Book #1 and Book #3, coming out early next year.

Likes: Kate's joyful experiences of pop-corn and movies were cute since they were so new & exciting for her.

Dislikes: Just like the BDB series, there were parts I just skipped over because they bored me -- thus I skipped lots of Ethan Dare's story.

Rating:

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I'll Be Slaying You by Cynthia Eden

I'll Be Slaying You
(Night Watch Book #2)
by Cynthia Eden

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Sandra “Dee” Daniels is a vampire’s worst nightmare. Sure, she couldn’t get up to five-six in the highest heels money can buy—not that she ever wears heels. But the monsters in her past and the stake in her boot are enough to keep most bloodsuckers interested in staying undead out of Baton Rouge.

But there are changes afoot on her turf. Rumors of a Born Master in town—a vampire so powerful he can make the streets run with blood. And a new face in Dee’s dive bars and alleyways—Simon Chase, a strong, sexy shadow with a haunted past of his own. Simon knows a lot about the dark side of Dee’s work. He knows even more about how to make her body spark with desire. But the hot lust shimmering between them is only the beginning. Because Simon also knows a secret that will change Dee’s life—if she can live long enough to uncover it.

Dee Daniels has a kick-ass job, she works on supernatural missions for Night Watch to track & take out vampires. Because of a dark past that haunts her daily, Dee becomes determined to destroy all evil vamps from her city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Yet, one night she runs into a dark stranger, Simon, who ends up being her back-up more than once. Things (ie. romance & danger) quickly get a little heated, in more ways than one, between them. When the darkness that Night Watch fights gets frighteningly personal, Dee must know face some harsh truths and a new mission that is a gruesome surprise to all.

I really enjoyed the beginning of this book: the concept was intriguing, the characters sparked with chemistry, and the location was easy to enjoy as a fellow Louisiana resident! On the other hand, I really did not enjoy the ending since the story line dragged after half-way through the tale, the characters got a little flat, and the overall narrative became easily predicable. My main problem was that most of the character development was weak throughout and that always leaves me wishing for more in a book. I understand Dee, as the main female protagonist, went through a big transition, but all her side-characters were just so-so for me and none really stood out as memorable figures. Lastly, as much as I enjoy romance, the sex scenes in here became a little overkill for me by the end.

Likes: The intense appeal between Dee and Simon was very tempting and kept me eagerly reading . . . at first!

Dislikes: I got a little bored near the end and that's never a good thing while reading!

Rating:

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Sexiest Vampire Alive by Kerrelyn Sparks

Sexiest Vampire Alive
(Love at Stake Book #11)
by Kerrelyn Sparks

Genre: Paranormal Romance

He was both a playboy and a vampire…and impossible to resist.

At the end of Vampire Mine, a terrible thing happened—a video was released that proved the existence of vampires. Now Vamps fear the worst, the Vampire Apocalypse! Will mortals start hunting vampires down and staking them in their death-sleep? At an emergency meeting, Coven Masters from around the world decide how to proceed. They need an emissary to open negotiations with the President of the United States. They want their emissary to be modern, safe, and harmless. A Vamp who has never bitten a mortal. A Vamp who has been entirely bottle-fed. Their choice—Gregori!

Now Gregori has the fate of the entire Vamp population on his shoulders. He’s given a special assignment that involves taking the president’s daughter on a dangerous mission. Will he succeed and save his friends? Or will he succumb to his playboy ways and doom them all?

Gregori has been a vampire for only 18 years, to many he is still a bottle-fed fledgling but to his mother, he's wasting precious baby making years by sleeping around and not finding "the one". Although he's highly successful at his job and is desired by many women, he's uncomfortable with his vampire status and is constantly reminding himself that he 'fits in' even though he may not feel it. When the vampire clan's secret identity becomes a critical problem, Gregori is ordered to protect all vampires by being a secret counsel to the President, a role he's trying to take extremely serious even though he's insanely attracted to the "first" daughter. To get what he wants, Gregori must accompany the President's daughter on a personal family mission of their own to China, but as one thing leads to another and danger looms too close for comfort, Gregori and Abigale must make a leap of their own into trust and love.

Kerrelyn Spark's book are usually a hit & miss for me, but this one was pure fun. What I enjoy most about her series is that her characters are crazy kooky and the male leads seem to contain a nice mixture of masculinity and vulnerability. The story was well written with lots of silly twists I didn't see coming. The chemistry created between Abby (aka "Scholar") and Gergori (aka "Gory") was constantly sizzling & intense. Plus, the side characters really added some enjoyment to the overall story without overshadowing a scene or coming off as annoying. Great Fall read!!!

Likes: "Sex on the Ceiling" OK that's HOT!!!

Dislikes: I listened to this on audio-book and some of the accents were a little (ok, A LOT!) off - which in itself was comically horrible!

Rating:

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Heartless by Gail Carriger

Heartless
(Parasol Protectorate Book #4)
by Gail Carriger

Genre: Paranormal Romance | Fantasy | Historic

Lady Alexia Maccon, soulless, is at it again, only this time the trouble is not her fault. When a mad ghost threatens the queen, Alexia is on the case, following a trail that leads her deep into her husband's past. Top that off with a sister who has joined the suffragette movement (shocking!), Madame Lefoux's latest mechanical invention, and a plague of zombie porcupines and Alexia barely has time to remember she happens to be eight months pregnant.

Will Alexia manage to determine who is trying to kill Queen Victoria before it is too late? Is it the vampires again or is there a traitor lurking about in wolf's clothing? And what, exactly, has taken up residence in Lord Akeldama's second best closet?

Through all of Lord Maccon's brooding manner, Professor Lyall's shocking revelations, Lord Akeldama's sweet talk, Felicity Loontwill's sisterly nagging, Madame Lefoux's odd experiments, and Mr. Rabiffano's (aka "Biffy") unsettling transformations, Alexia is about to pop due to the 'infant-inconvenience'. Plus, if she's is not using her "condition" to her advantage among her's husband's pack or having tea & sweets with her friend, Mrs. Ivy Tunstell, Alexia is out collecting spectral samples, investigating Kingair assassination attempts, and jaunting about on BUR business with her trusty "harmonic auditor resonance disruptor" (pg. 74) Yet, can this 'Alpha Female' handle a supernatural death treat thrown into the mix with all the daily chaos already going on in her life full of Westminster Hive and Woolsey Pack troubles?

Lady Alexia Maccon is at it again. . . being her usual nutty, obsessive, and constantly-on-the-go self but now eight months pregnant. She's back in London and spending lots of time with her yummy Alpha husband, something I sorely missed in the last couple of books. Expect lots of silly scientific references and proper Victorian-era mannerisms that really spice up Carriger's Protectorate's world as well as getting a glimpse of the newest member to the Woosley pack near the end of the book. Plus, many past characters make appearances throughout the tale and many past stories are revealed from more than one pivotal figure. Overall, good fun!

Likes: Alexia has really grown into her role as 'Alpha Female' in commanding the pack as well as being a loving wife to Connall, something that's sweet to see since witnessing her less-than-confident spinster self from Book #1

Dislikes: Ugh....Lord Akeldama PLEASE lay off some of those nick-name endearments, it's almost too sickeningly sweet!

Rating:

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Alison's Wonderland by Alison Tyler

Alison's Wonderland
(Anthology)
by Alison Tyler

Warning: NOT exactly YA appropriate

Genre: Erotica | Fantasy | Fairy Tale

Over the past fifteen years, Alison Tyler has curated some of the genre's most sizzling collections of erotic fiction, proving herself to be the ultimate naughty librarian. With Alison's Wonderland, she has compiled a treasury of naughty tales based on fable and fairy tale, myth and legend: some ubiquitous, some obscure—all of them delightfully dirty.

From a perverse prince to a vampire-esque Sleeping Beauty, the stars of these reimagined tales are—like the original protagonists—chafing at desire unfulfilled. From Cinderella to Sisyphus, mermaids to werewolves, this realm of fantasy is limitless and so very satisfying.

Happily-ever-after never seemed so HOT. With over twenty short reads that add some spicy details to well known fairy tales, Alison's Wonderland, is a real treat. It's defiantly a juicy read where the characters hold nothing back and the passion is off the charts, so curl up with some steamy fables & enjoy!

I love fairy tales - give me! give me! - and this was truly a fun book that had me reading all Sunday afternoon. I'm not usually a fan of anthologies since I crave depth and character growth in a story, but these succulent tales had just the right about of heat that it was easy to overlook everything else. The numerous stories were quite easy to read, we're talking less than five-minutes to finish some, but others were a little longer and more involved. My favorites were Wolff's Tavern and Rings on my Fingers, but overall, be prepared for some dirty whispers & naughty acts.

Likes: I happily couldn't put the book down for a few hours after starting and finished later that day!

Dislikes: Some tales were better than others and those "other" tales were far & few between.

Rating:

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It Happend One Bite by Lydia Dare

It Happened One Bite
by Lydia Dare

Genre: Paranormal Romance | Historic

He's lost, trapped, doomed for all eternity...

Rich, titled, and undead, gentleman vampyre James Maitland, Lord Kettering, fears himself doomed to a cold and lonely existence-trapped for decades in an abandoned castle. Then, beautiful Scottish witch Blaire Lindsay arrives, and things begin to heat up considerably...

Unless he can persuade her to set him free...

Feisty Blaire Lindsay laughs off the local gossip surrounding her mother's ancestral home-stories of haunting cannot scare off this battle-born witch. But when she discovers the handsome prisoner in the bowels of the castle, Blaire has no idea that she has unleashed anything more than a man who sets her heart on fire...

With a mouth like a sailor and a stubborn personality as well, Blaire's brother Aiden doesn't think she'll be able to grab a husband unless she becomes more of a 'lady'. Upon accompanying her brothers to a newly inherited Scotland castle and temporarily leaving her witch coven behind, Blaire discovers some hidden secrets that changes her perceptive on her Mother's past and love. Spooky castles, dark vampires, and historical flashbacks makes Dare's new book a real treat.

It Happened One Bite was a refreshing read since Dare's characters are oddly realistic and yet charmingly headstrong. Since her characters are easy to like, the reader can quickly become absorbed in the mystery, adventure, and romance going on between Blaire and James. Lots of enjoyable side characters enhance the stories depth and the love scenes are just the right amount of steam/heat without overdoing it. For me, James may not be the most dashing male lead out of Dare's supernatural series, but he does have his charms and is very jovial. Blaire begins the story with a bang since she's very out-going and isn't afraid to speak her mind. No matter how much her brother's reprimand her for her daring behavior, it's very apparent they depend on her a lot; but near the end of the book, Blaire's fire-cracker personality fizzles down somewhat, which was nice since she can come off as a little too-much at times. All in all, this was a fun read and I cannot wait to check out In the Heat of the Bite next, followed by Never Been Bit in September.

Likes: The younger brother Brannock wasn't really needed to complete the tale, but his personality added some comical entertainment.

Dislikes: The big bad villains in the story were kind of wimps overall.

Rating:

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Eternal Rider by Larissa Ione

Eternal Rider
(Lords of Deliverance Book #1)
by Larissa Ione

Genre: Paranormal Romance | Dark Fantasy

They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

His name is Ares, and the fate of mankind rests on his powerful shoulders. If he falls to the forces of evil, the world falls too. As one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he is far stronger than any mortal, but even he cannot fight his destiny forever. Not when his own brother plots against him.

Yet there is one last hope. Gifted in a way other humans can't-or won't-understand, Cara Thornhart is the key to both this Horseman's safety and his doom. But involving Cara will prove treacherous, even beyond the maddening, dangerous desire that seizes them the moment they meet. For staving off eternal darkness could have a staggering cost: Cara's life.

Ares has been around for over five thousand years, once a human man, now an immortal being who is one of four that will change the world one day - whether they're ready for it or not. Two destinies have been predicted, but no one knows which will come true in the end, thus Ares (who has a well-known Greek God named after him!) must continue the struggle to keep his seal intact. Each Horseman has a different secret key to protect, but Ares's seal has suddenly become more precious & delicate for his chaotic world of war & demons - a mortal women, Cara. Both are now thrust into a battle to keep Cara alive at all costs, but the closer Ares gets to her, the weaker he becomes. Now they have to learn to work together to prevent the Apocalypse, but their attraction to each other might be the most harmful thing of all.

I'm a fan of Ione's hot romances, always very steamy and well-written, but Cara Thornhart just flat out annoyed me. I never warmed up to her throughout the whole tale and felt much of her so-called growth or development within the story was just unbelievable and shallow. Overall, she was either too timid or oddly daring, no middle ground adjustments...thus her character was just too badly constructed for me to truly become absorbed in her journey throughout Eternal Rider. Ares on the other hand was quite interesting and carried much of the story himself. Be prepared for many past characters to resurface, which can sometimes become a little overwhelming but fun as well to catch up. All in all, I highly enjoyed Reseph/Pestilence best and found him the most entertaining Horseman who will keep the series on a dark edge for books to come.

Likes: From a historic perspective, I was fascinated with the immortal's hidden hideouts - secret islands with ancient temples, etc. Nice!

Dislikes: I felt a little sorry that Ares's "war" personality prevented him from interacting with crowds - i.e. no parties!

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This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

This Side of the Grave

(A Night Huntress Novel Book # 5)

by Jeaniene Frost

Genre: Paranormal Romance | Dark Fantasy

Danger waits on both sides of the grave…

Half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her vampire husband Bones have fought for their lives, as well as for their relationship. But just when they’ve triumphed over the latest battle, Cat’s new and unexpected abilities threaten to upset a long-standing balance…

With the mysterious disappearance of vampires, rumors abound that a species war is brewing. A zealot is inciting tensions between the vampires and ghouls, and if these two powerful groups clash, innocent mortals could become collateral damage.

Now Cat and Bones are forced to seek help from a dangerous “ally”—the ghoul queen of New Orleans herself. But the price of her assistance may prove more treacherous than even the threat of a supernatural war. …to say nothing of the repercussions Cat never imagined.

I'm happy we got back into a story about the original characters. Cat is just as hard-ass and Bones as frustratingly suave as always, but you gotta love them! You can defiantly tell we're on Book #5 in series since the plot no longer focuses on the main characters and one major plot anymore and, overall, I felt this story went all over the place; from emotional family baggage to catch-up with previous characters to ghouls / ghosts galore.

Unfortunately, I went about the wrong way in reading this book. First, opted for the audio-book on a drive to Texas, didn't finish all the way. About a week passed. Second, I had the paperback to continue reading, but still didn't finish all the way since I got busy with work and ending up reading another book all together. Then another week passed. All in all, I really haven't finished the book YET (honestly, only a few pages till the end) BUT I will get to them soon, promise! ;)

From what I read though, it is full of high-intense action, some HOT (H-O-T-T-HOT!) sex scenes, tearfully emotional family scenes, and lots of new spooky abilities for Cat - which means . . . more books to come. Even though the Night Huntress series is beginning to take on characteristics of a chain of books becoming too much for the reader (i.e. too much plot, too many characters, too much action, etc.) that the simple story in-between it all is lost, I still love Bones and will always be coming back for more!

Likes: A visit to New Orleans - Whoot! Whoot!

Dislikes: I don't like the ghouls. None of them grew on me and all Cat's interactions with them was just "so-so". Blah!

Rating:

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