Review: Just The Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James

Published: October 2008 by Berkeley Sensation

Number of Pages: 296

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Stand Alone

Why This Book: KB made me! *g* And the lovely Julie James autographed it for me this year at RWA.

From the Author Site:

COOL. CALM. COLLECTED.

Nothing fazes Taylor Donovan. In the courtroom she never lets the opposition see her sweat. In her personal life, she never lets any man rattle her–not even her cheating ex-fiancé. So when she’s assigned to coach People’s “Sexiest Man Alive” for his role in his next big legal thriller, she refuses to fall for the Hollywood heartthrob’s charms. Even if he is the Jason Andrews.

CONFIDENT. FAMOUS. IRRESISTIBLE.

Jason Andrews is used to having women fall at his feet. When Taylor Donovan gives him the cold shoulder, he’s thrown for a loop. She’s unlike any other woman he’s ever met: uninterested in the limelight, seemingly immune to his advances, and shockingly capable of saying no to him. She’s the perfect challenge. And the more she rejects him, the more he begins to realize that she may just be his perfect match. . . Read excerpt here.

Hero: Jason Andrews, THE movie star, Mr. Sexiest Man Alive. He starts out as an arrogant ass. Fame had definitely gone to his head, but then it would probably have happened to just about anyone put in a situation like his. But as the book progresses, the onion that is his shield and image is slowly peeled away to reveal the heart of a lonely man. A lonely man who didn't know that he was lonely and waiting for that perfect someone. That someone with whom he could just be with and not have to be THE Jason Andrews, someone he didn't have to put on an act for, someone who saw his flaws and still loved him anyway.

Heroine: Taylor Donovan, sex harassment attorney and an associate at a large law firm. She mouthy and is no holds barred. Definitely the kind of attorney you would want to represent you in a big case. I love that she doesn't fall for Jason because he's a star even if he is the Sexiest Man Alive. The fact that she uses his fame and arrogance against him only made the book more enjoyable. She's sassy but vulnerable, having just dealt with an unfaithful ex-fiancé and now faced with a man who is even more irresistible and has a longer list of exes. She had put all her personal wants aside, buried the hurt and made her career the most important thing in her world. Now out of nowhere she's given an chance at happiness with the Sexiest Man Alive, but is it worth the risk?

Review: Julie James's debut book about a lawyer roped into helping the hottest man in Hollywood. It was a lighthearted and delightful read. The book was fast-paced, witty and charming, the perfect book for a lazy summer's day (or a very long and uneventful plane ride). And Ms James proves that a steamy romance doesn't have to have lots of hot steamy sex to make it sizzle!

Taylor Donovan is a lawyer and the law is her passion. Her dream is to make it as a partner in her firm and its what she has been aiming for since she was child. She was sent to LA to litigate a high profile sexual harassment case when out of nowhere she's been ordered to help THE Jason Andrews, actor and every woman's fantasy, prepare for his next role in a legal thriller. This is not to her liking and soon he becomes the bane of her very existence as he first stands her up, then lies to her and then refuses to work with any other lawyer. And what Jason Andrews wants Jason Andrews gets.

Ms James has taken the orderly world of law and mixed it with the chaotic world of a Hollywood superstar to create this wonderful tale of unexpected romance. Neither were looking for romance, all Taylor wanted was to win her case and all Jason wanted was in her pants. But as unexpected as it was, romance between these two unlikely people bloomed. Taylor begins to see Jason the man and not the star. And Jason realizes that fame and fortune isn't everything in life.

What I liked best: The part that made me laugh the hardest was Taylor's fake sexually harassment case! The way she described Jason's supposed behavior with his employees in front of her boss and Jason was just too funny. Talk about the perfect revenge. It hurt no one but made the point hit home right where it mattered most, his reputation in his own eyes.

What I least liked: The quick resolution at the end. Not quite realistic but then its a romance and the HEA is required and those moments of "ah-ha" are necessary to move the story to its eventual end.

Keeper?: Yes. It has my name all over it! Thanks Julie!

Recommendation: It was a great read. A perfect airplane book. Something easy to pick back up after shuffling planes and getting interrupted by flight attendance about drinks and snacks. (As well as the neighbors asking what made me snort! )

Grade: A-

Review: Eve of Chaos by SJ Day

WARNING!!! If you haven't started this series beware of SPOILERS as each books builds on what happened before. As always I try to keep the spoilers to a minimum but it is particularly hard with this series.

Published: June 2009 by Tor

Number of Pages: 362

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Stand Alone/Series: Marked #3
Book 1: Eve of Darkness
Book 2: Eve of Destruction

Why This Book: I really enjoyed the first two books and needed to get my fix of the Eve-Cain-Abel triangle.

From the Author Site: How do you tell Satan that you ran over his hellhound?

Evangeline Hollis has no idea and she doesn't want to find out. Living with the Mark of Cain—and the two sexy brothers who come with it—is trouble enough. She doesn't need to borrow more. Too bad Satan is too pissed to oblige her.

Incensed at the loss of his pet, Satan has put a bounty on Eve's head, and Hell's denizens are converging en masse. The proliferation of Infernals is complicating Eve's hunts and creating chaos in her once orderly life. They've also brought her to the attention of an overzealous reverend who is certain she's Jezebel reincarnate.

How can a Mark drafted by God strike a bargain with the Devil? Eve's about to find out... Excerpt here.

Heroine: Evangeline Hollis killed Satan's last hellhound and Satan is pissed off to say the least. So with a Get-Out-Of-Hell card up for grabs its open season on Eve. Thus Southern California becomes the destination of choice for demons everywhere and that makes life very difficult for Eve and company. Not that she needs more. Eve is still trying to have a "normal" life while being a supernatural bounty hunter for God. But outing with her mother turn into death duels with demons. And her love life is in tangles. Since she's a one man woman, her bed is empty and dating both Cain and Abel is a challenge.

Other Notables:
Alex Cain: Cain is having trouble with his new position. He's not what he was and no one know quite what to expect since his situation is a first.

Reed Abel: Abel is both thrilled and disappointed with Cain's new role. Thrilled because it has provided an opening for him to be with Eve. Disappointed because he wants what Cain has managed to obtain.

Review: Another fantastic page turning story. Now that Eve has managed to graduate from her Mark training course alive she is being assigned demons to hunt down and eliminate. But there is trouble. Her mentor has other duties that take away from helping her cope with her new job. Her handler wants in her pants. And detectives that she thought she had seen the last of with the death of her neighbor are starting to find her a "person of interest" which makes her demon hunting activities that much more complicated.

Ms Day has once again turned up the heat and added a bit more spice to catch and keep our little mental taste buds tingling. She takes us on a journey to discover more about the whys of archangels and the firms as well as a taste of Cain and Abel's original home life with their parents, Adam and Eve. The love triangle of Eve-Cain-Abel gets a few more twists which only makes the story better.

A side note: The cover art for the first three books has been fantastic. Unlike some covers these accurately portrays story that is being told. Each portrays Eve in an outfit that she is described to be wearing wielding the appropriate weapon. The artist really took Ms Day's Eve and brought her to life.

What I liked best: The ever so entangled love triangle of Eve-Cain-Abel. I didn't like Abel so much in the other two books but I have to say that he is definitely growing on me.

What I least liked: The ending! I announce that Ms Day is an evil evil woman. How can she leave us hanging like this!!!??? Now I'll have to wait and wait until the next book to figure out WHO it was. Those of you who have read it will understand this pain and will most likely commiserate with me. And those of you who haven't read it, get to it so you can suffer just like me (pain does love company). So anyone know when book 4 will be released? Anyone? Hmmm.... maybe I need to go grovelling to the author. Will see her at RWA in a couple of days so perhaps I can get some additional info or at least another teaser to keep me on the edge of my seat.

Keeper?: Yes

Recommendation: This is not a series that you should pick up in the middle. Each book build on the one before it. Each build the world a bit more and creates additional depth and if read out of order many things may not make a lot of sense.

Grade: A
Series Grade to Date: A-

TBR Challenge 2009: The Down Home Zombie Blues & An Accidental Goddess

Since I was a slacker last month, I'm doing two review this month to make up for it.

So first up is...
Title: The Down Home Zombie Blues

Author: Linnea Sinclair

Published: 2007 by Bantam Books

Number of Pages: 516

Genre: Sci Fi Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Stand Alone

Why This Book: It was the only Linnea Sinclair book I hadn't devoured yet.

From the Author Site:In this steamy, suspenseful new thriller from RITA award-winning author Linnea Sinclair, a dangerously sexy space commander and an irresistibly earthy Florida police detective pair up to save the civilized galaxy…but can they save themselves from each other?

Bahia Vista homicide detective Theo Petrakos thought he’d seen it all. Then a mummified corpse and a room full of futuristic hardware sends Guardian Force commander Jorie Mikkalah into his life. Before the night’s through, he’s become her unofficial partner—and official prisoner—in a race to save the Earth. And that’s only the start of his troubles.

Jorie’s mission is to stop a deadly infestation of bio-mechanical organisms from using Earth as its breeding ground. If she succeeds, she could save a world and win a captaincy. But she’ll need Theo’s help, even if their unlikely partnership does threaten to set off an intergalactic incident.

Because if she fails, she’ll lose not just a planet and a promotion, but a man who’s become far more important than she cares to admit.

Cast:
Sergeant Theo Petrakos: A recently divorced homicide detective for Bahia Vista Police Department in Florida. He is trying to get his life back together while avoiding all the helpful people intent on getting him a date. While investigating an unusual homicide, he get involved with the Guardian Force, who were also investigating the same homicide. Since "nils" - people from low tech worlds - aren't supposed to know about the Guardian Force, he is kidnapped and is placed on the transfer list to Paroo (a paradise planet). Theo doesn't want to leave earth, and his friends and family, so he makes a deal that allows him to help out in the current investigation.

Commander Jorie Mikkalah: Being a Guardian is all she wants to be and she enjoys her work. She has been promised a promotion to captain if she successfully solves this Zombie problem. With the death of her contact on the ground, she turns to Theo to get the information on about local.

Review: I've really enjoyed all of Linnea Sinclair's stories, so I had high hopes for this one. Even though the plot devise is not one I generally enjoy. The whole advanced aliens from out space come the earth and fall in love with an earthling. And it didn't work for me here either, I'm sad to say. Most of the time there is some translation do-hicky or something that allows everyone to understand (minus the idioms of course) but in this version, one of the numerous alien languages is almost like english to allow communication between the Guardians and the locals.

The worlding building was okay. There are two factions in space, one that naturally wants to obliterate the other. Zombies were created as border guards. But someone from the enemy faction stole the operating codes and now are breeding a superior Zombie breed as a first line of attact. And they've chosen the love state of Florida in which to do their breeding tests. Because it's an out of the way world with the perfect temperature for breeding Zombies and has very litte interglactic travel.

The Zombies aren't the fleshing-eating-living-dead zombies that most would automatically think about. Instead these zombies suck all the juice of their victims leaving mummies with moist eyeballs. And a person cannot be converted into a zombie. Since the zombie is a genetically engineered being. All zombies are a part of a herd, each herd is control able the C-Prime zombie. Reprogramming or killing the C-Prime zombie is the best way to kill the herd.

What I liked best: There really wasn't much I like about the story. It was well thought out but none of the characters really clicked for me. I think it asked me to suspend my belief and bit too far for it to be truly enjoyable.

What I least liked: The over use of the word "bliss". Couldn't the aliens learn the word nice, good, delicious, and happy so that "bliss" didn't have to take the place of those words. *sigh*

Keeper?: No

Recommendation: I would recommend Linnea Sinclair to all readers, just not this book!

Grade: D


Next...
Title: An Accidental Goddess

Author: Linnea Sinclair

Published: 2006 by Bantam Books

Number of Pages: 434

Genre: Futuristic Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Stand Alone

Why This Book: I picked the book up originally due to a review I read on The BookSmugglers blog.

From the Author Site: Being divine has never been more dangerous...

Raheiran Special Forces Captain Gillaine Davré has just woken up in some unknown space station, wondering where the last three hundred years have gone. The last thing she remembers is her ship being attacked. Now it seems that while she was time-traveling, she was ordained a Goddess…

Gillaine’s only hope of survival rests with dangerously seductive Admiral “Mack” Makarian, who suspects her of being a smuggler—or worse. But he can’t begin to imagine the full extent of it. For Gillaine is now Lady Kiasidira, holy icon to countless believers, including Mack—a man who inspires feelings in her that are far from saintly…feelings she knows are mutual. But when their flirtation is interrupted by a treacherous enemy from the past, Gillaine’s secret—and secret desires—could destroy them both….

Cast:
Gillaine, Kiasidira, Ciran Rothalla Davre: She wakes up in the sick bay of Cirrus One after her ship had suffered some damages during her last battle with the Fav'lhir which inadvertantly threw her 342 years to the future. Where she discovers, much to her dismay, that she has been elevated to goddesshood, with temples, worshipers and the like. And all she had ever wanted to be was "just Gillie" who likes Devil Breath neat with a twist and a good game of billards at the local pub. But she is a Kiasidira, a high ranked Raheiran sorceress, which comes with a lot of responsibilities. One of which led her into that faithful battle. Now that no one know who she truly is, she tries to build a life as "just Gillie Davre", feighter captain. But fate is not done with her, just when things seem to be settling down and working for Gillie, old enemies appear that puts Gillie in a difficult position.

Sentient Integrated MObile Nanoessence aka Simon: Gillie's sentient ship, teacher and friend.

Admiral Rynan "Mack" Makarian aka "Make it Right" Makarian: Admiral of the Khalaran Fifth Fleet and responsible for converting Cirrus One from a civilian station into a military station. Nothing is going well for Mack. First the civilian run operations are making it difficult as possible for him and his team to make the necessary upgrades, he has parrots flying all over his atrium, he's been giving an office that doesn't allow him to interface with any of the stations systems and he has a mysterious (a beautiful, even though he does want to think about it) woman in his sick bay that may be a pirate. On top of that, he has to deal with the Temple of the Lady Kiasidira which seems to have it agenda.

Lieutenant Tobias Finch: Mack's right hand man and a devoted worshiper of the Lady Kiasidira.

Review: Linnea Sinclair has once again created and wonderfully colorful world and engrossing story where a not so average woman ambassador, who just wants to have fun and share technological knowledge, saves the galaxy as they know it by sacrificing herself and her ship. But she didn't die. She's thrown into the future where to her great disgust and dismay, she is now a Goddess. Lucky for her they didn't get her name right. Unlucky for her there is someone on the station that can identify her and it seems that the enemy was not complete defeated.

The world building is done seamlessly. Althrough there was a lot information to portray, nothing got lost in the translation. All the historical bits were well woven through the "present" day facts. All the lovely world making details are there so there is no need to fill in the gaps. This world has a bit of magic thrown in with all the usual space exploring technologies. A bit of Sword and Sorcerer mets Star Trek.

What I liked best: Simon. He's smart and a bit of a smarty-pants too. All those teasing remarks, the humming of the wedding song in the background. The banter between Gillie and Simon are a crack up.

What I least liked: The really strange teenage fashions. But then I don't care for them much in the real world either.

Keeper?: Yes

Recommendation: If you've enjoyed other Linnea Sinclair books, you will definitely enjoy this one. It a lite and witty story about

Grade: A

Review: Dark Desires After Dusk

Title: Dark desires After Dark

Author: Kresley Cole

Published: May 2008

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Immortals After Dark #6
Book 1: The Warlord Wants Forever (Playing Easy to Get anthology)
Book 2: A Hunger Like No Other
Book 3: No Rest for the Wicked
Book 4: Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night
Book 5: Dark Needs at Night's Edge

From the Author Site: 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?

Hero: Cadeon Woede the Kingmaker, Rage Demon. For nine hundred years Cade has lived with the guilt of losing his brother's throne to the evil sorcerer, Omort the Deathless, and the death of his foster family at the hands of Omort's army. And for all that time he has been trying to help his brother Rydstrom re-gain his throne. Now its down to one last chance. It's either the weapon that can kill Omort the Deathless or his one and only mate, Holly Ashwin. He's definitely going on the list of favorite heroes. All that boyish charm and wickedness (not to mention the lickable horns and all), it's just too hard to pass up.

Heroine: Holly Ashwin, halfling Valkyrie and the Vessel formerly a math teacher. Poor Holly's had a really nasty week. First kidnapped by demons, then struck by lightening, then shot at by vampires, then chased through a swamp, then thrown into an OCD's nightmare of an apartment, and then learned that she was changing into an immortal being. And that was just the first night. She went from uninteresting mortal (she taught math to jocks) into the most popular girl in the Lore (everyone wants to either breed with her or kill her). Talk about life altering changes.

Review: Loved it. Another great read. This book is definitely action-packed as well as earlier ones in the series. And Kresley Cole must have a great time making titles for everyone: Cade the Kingmaker, Nix the Ever-Knowing, Omort the Deathless, etc. Everyone should have one, it certainly makes it fun to read.

Kresley Cole knows how to do write sexual tension and this one is as full of it as the ones before. Cade can't have sex with Holly at first because she's mortal and then later won't because he has to trade her for the sword that will kill Omort and restore Rydstrom's throne but it certainly doesn't stop him from teasing and flirting. He's just shameless! (Love it!) And Holly won't have sex at first because she'd in denial about everything (being immortal, liking Cade, etc.) and by the time she's will, Cade won't cooperate.

Still loving Valkyrie Soothsayer, Nucking Futs Nix the best. Not only does she have the best T-shirts, she has the inside scoop on everything. But of course she wouldn't tell you anything really juicy without a price.

There are unanswered questions at the end of this book... just what did happen to Rydstrom? Definite foreshadowing for the next book.

Oh and still waiting for the Garreth the Werewolf and Lucia the Valkyrie huntress story.

Keeper?: Yes

Recommendation: a

Rating: A

ARC Review: Angels' Blood

This review is brought to you thanks to my book fairy (you know who you are)! I know it comes out next week but I was totally impatient and couldn't wait. And sure, I have it on pre-order but had to read it NOW! And it's GREAT! On to the review...

Title: Angels' Blood

Author: Nalini Singh

Published: March 2009

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Guild Hunters Book #1
Novella (ebook only): Angels' Pawn

From the Author Site: Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux knows she's the best—but she doesn't know if she's good enough for this job. Hired by the dangerously beautiful Archangel Raphael, a being so lethal that no mortal wants his attention, only one thing is clear—failure is not an option...even if the task is impossible.

Because this time, it's not a wayward vamp she has to track. It's an archangel gone bad.

The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other…and pull her to the razor's edge of passion. Even if the hunt doesn't destroy her, succumbing to Raphael's seductive touch just may. For when archangels play, mortals break…

Hero: Raphael, Archangel of New York. Dangerously beautiful, ruthless, lethal, seductive and alluring. He is definitely not one of those "nice" angel. He has the dangerous allure, the kind that has you fascinated from afar wishing you had the bravery to snuggle him up close and very personal. And as to his angel dust... he can dust me anytime he'd like, especially with that special blend of his! The quote that definitely sums up Raphael is:

“Don’t fail, Elena.” His eyes were mild but his smile, it spoke of things better not said aloud. “You intrigue me—I’d hate to have to punish you.”

Her mind flashed to that image of the vampire in Times Square, that broken mess that had once been a person… Raphael’s definition of punishment.

Heroine: Elena Deveraux, Guild Hunter. She is definitely gusty and stubborn as well as a bit reckless when it comes to Raphael. Elena is one of the hunter-born, born with skills that help her track vampire, and has probably the strongest set of those skills therefore when the Cadre of Ten (the Archangels) needs that special someone to track the impossible (Archangel gone bad), she's their gal. Like all good urban fantasy heroine's, she not afraid of the fight (even against the impossible), has a smart mouth (that only gets her into more trouble), is constantly armed and is more likely to kick ass and take numbers than wait for her hero to come get her out of the mess she's in. The quote that sums Elena up best is:

"Great." Elena walked out from behind Rahael. "Join the queue."

Micheala folded her arms across her front, plumping up her breast. "Do tell. It might be entertaining to see who gets to you first."

"Excuse me if entertaining you isn't at the top of my agenda." Oh, she could be brave now, when Raphael needed her. After... well, she had so many other problems, it didn't seem worth the effort to mollify a pissy archangel.

Review: Loved it! Nalini Singh definitely has another best seller on her hands as well as another great series. This is her first book in her new Guild Hunters series as well as her debut into the urban fantasy genre. Unlike other recent urban fantasy novels, this is told in the third person with some first person insights from the heroine, hero and villain. The style is in keeping with what one has come to expects from Ms. Nalini: a wonderfully crafted story with intriguing characters that take one out of the mundane world and into the fantastic. Her worlds are rich with fantastic character and situation while keeping everything believable.

The story is fast paced, packed full of action and tension right up to the end. It opens with Elena on a vampire hunt which leads her to a breakfast meeting with Raphael, Archangel of New York, and her latest, even if it is unwanted, gig of hunting down a rogue archangel with Raphael where failure, or quitting, is NOT an option.

The tension between Elena and Raphael is sublime. Elena can't help but be attracted by Raphael even though it's probably going to cost her her life. And Raphael is intrigued by Elena, something that doesn't happen frequently to this immortal, and she keeps telling him something he does not hear often, if ever, which is "No." They simple sizzle.

Angels in this story are not your nice, friendly, caring angels. They are a group of ruthless immortals who make and control vampires. They are ruled by the Cadre of Ten. The Cadre of Ten is definitely not a group to piss off. Basically they are the ten archangels who rule the world. Getting in on their bad side is worse than fatal. I think the maxin "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely" works well for these angels and archangels.

The cast of secondary characters is fantastic. You have Elena's best friends: Sara and Ransom. Then you have Raphael's guys: Dimitri, Venom, Illium and Jason. As well as the other archangels in the Cadre of Ten. Can't wait to read more about them in the future adventures of Elena and Raphael. I would love to see the back story on Sara and her tracker husband, Deacon, as well as that of Archangel Elijah and Angel Hannah.

The only part I didn't enjoy was the bit confusing part/interaction with Elena's family. Didn't think it really added much to the story, other than a bit of "huh?" and the affirmation that Elena's family is a bunch of self-centered losers who don't care about Elena is the least.

The book also has some great teasers included. The steamy excerpt from Nalini Singh's next Psy/Changling book, Branded by Fire and a sneak teaser into Angels' Kiss the next book in the Guild Hunters series.

Keeper?: Yes

Recommendation: A must read for all Nalini Singh fans. And if you haven't read any Nalini Singh, well here's your chance.

Rating: A

Review: Dark Needs at Night's Edge

Title: Dark Needs at Night's Edge

Author: Kresley Cole

Published: April 2008

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Immortals After Dark #5
Book 1: The Warlord Wants Forever (Playing Easy to Get anthology)
Book 2: A Hunger Like No Other
Book 3: No Rest for the Wicked
Book 4: Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night

From the Author Site: 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...

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.

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.

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?

Hero: Conrad Wroth: Vampire... Crazy, evil vampire turned good by love. Conrad's spent hundreds of years as one of the most brutal assassins in the Lore as well as one of the most hated beings, a vampire. Which makes him the ultimate loner. And since he has been drinking his victim dry as they die, he has gained their knowledge and memories which has made him both powerful as well as crazy. When his brothers final catch him, they imprison him in estate which is haunted by a ghost only he can see and hear.

Heroine: Neomi Laress: Ghost... While alive Neomi was a prima ballerina who loved to dance and party. The girl just loved to party. 80 years ago, she was murdered in her new home and has been haunting it ever since. For that whole time she has been alone, no one to could see her or hear her until this crazy vampire is imprisoned in her home. And since he's the only one she can interact with, she befriends him.

Review: Another great read from Kresley Cole. The loner hero who shuns everyone and everything (except the people he kills) and the very social heroine who can't interact with anyone seem like a unlikely pair, but Kresley makes it work. She makes us feel Neomi's yearning for company and someone to be with and Conrad's need to for someone to care for and protect to help him out of his insane rages.

This book is full of tension considering the hero and heroine can't touch each other for 2/3rd of the story. As a ghost, Neomi is noncorporeal and cannot touch or be touched. Kresley certainly makes you feel their need. And not only that, but he's the virgin while she's the one with experience, gotta love that twist. Not a whole lot of hawt virgin heroes out there. And Neomi definitely knows how to catch a guy's eye. Shower scene! Enough said.

Gotta love Nucking Futs Nix, the Ever-Knowing, Proto-Valkyrie and Soothsayer. She's powerful, crazy and naughty. What's not to like about her? The rage demon brothers Rydstrom and Cade make another apperance much to my delight.

Keeper?: Yes

Recommendation: Although this is book 5 in the series it can be read out of order and still have full understanding of the story and most of the background. Kresley Cole does a wonderful job in keep her Lore world alive throughout the series.

Rating: A

TBR Challenge 2009: Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night

HA! Read something off the TBR! (not mentioning that I had to go buy books 5 and 6 because of it... nope... not mentioning of them... dang that Kresley Cole!)

Title: Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night

Author: Kresley Cole

Published: October 2007

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Immortals After Dark #4
Book 1: The Warlord Wants Forever (Playing Easy to Get anthology)
Book 2: A Hunger Like No Other
Book 3: No Rest for the Wicked

From the Author Site: A brutal Highland werewolf. An exquisite young witch. Immortal enemies … forbidden temptations.

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?

Hero: Bowen MacRieve: Werewolf... Goes from brooding (gotta love that), alcohol-loving werewolf to totally awesome hottie who'd do anything for his mate. We first met Bowen in A Hunger Like No Other as Lachlain's best friend and cousin who lost his mate nearly 200 year earlier and is still in mourning for her. So there he was brooding away about his lost mate (and basically trying to drink himself to death - which is impossible for an immortal to do) when he's told of a way to go back in time - the prize of the Talisman Hie. Naturally he would do anything to win. In his ruthless attempt to win he ended up burying several very important players, one of them being Mariketa, in a tomb from which they never got out. So in order to avert a war in which the Lycae where sure to lose, he has to get them out asap. During the rescue (and even during the Hie) he is strangely attracted to Mariketa even though she is a witch. Once he makes up his mind not only is he protective but also wolf-ishly charming.

Heroine: Mariketa the Awaited: Leader (to-be) of the Witches... She's the most powerful witch alive and one long awaited (don't find out what she was awaited for until the end) but unfortunately can't control her powers. When Bowen comes to rescue her and her compatriots (from the tomb he buried them in), she naturally a bit upset and tries to kill him (like what girl wouldn't) even though she thought of him as totally hawt. But his wolf-ish charm and general hawtness, she can't help but fall for him.

Review: Another page turner. Kresley takes us deeper still into the world of the Lore and adds more wonderful layers to her rich magical world. After taking us back through the Talisman Hie, from Mariketa's and Bowen's view, it's off through the jungle as Mariketa and Bowen's love story unfolds. I loved Mariketa's description of Bowen being someone who "made Indiana Jones look like a poser pretty boy" (it went well with the scene in a tomb while hunting for the treasure).

Lots and lots of tension since Bowen chases Mariketa and then when it looks like he has her he says something make her do a 180 and so the chase continues and builds. And Cade, the rage demon bad-boy, is around put Bowen on edge while Rystrom tries to keep everyone on an even keel.

Okay so Lachlain's brother, Garreth, is still off chasing Lucia the Valkyrie huntress, so want that story. Love Nix and Regin. Cade and Rystrom sound totally hot. Can't wait to see what Krelsey will do next (since I, uh, "didn't" buy those other books).

Keeper?: Yes

Recommendation: Although it's the third book in the series, readers will have no problems with reading this one out of order.

Rating: A

Review: A Hunger Like No Other

Title: A Hunger Like No Other

Author: Kresley Cole

Published: March 2008

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Immortals After Dark #2
Book 1: The Warlord Wants Forever (Playing Easy To Get Anthology)

From the Author Site:

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 desire--ebb 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...?

Hero: Lachlain MacRieve, King of the Lykae Clan who has been waiting for his destined mate for over a millennia and is enraged to find her to be a vampire. He has spend the last century burning alive, tortured by the leader of the Vampire Horde, Demestriu. To state that he was a bit put off when he found his destined mate was a "leech" is a complete inderstandment. Concidering the major of his family was been wiped out by them, his hatred is quite understandable. He is very confused by the innocent Emma and doesn't know quite what to do with her other than to bed her and mark her as his instincts are driving at him to do. But more of her he finds out, the more he wants to please her and make her like, even love, him in return. After all he does have many sparkling things that the Valkyrie in her will enjoy.

Heroine: Emmaline Troy, half Vampire and half Valkyrie. Poor Emma, this is her first trip away from home and aunts. In Paris, she had hoped to find more about her mysteriou vampire father, instead is the hunted down and held as a hostage by madden Lachlain MacReive. He forces her to drive him to his home in Scotland. During this time, as she is getting over her fear of him, she finds him to be attractive, even if he is using her card to so. Left about her aunts the bail her out, she is learning that she is strong and a force to be reckoned with. She also begins to realize that the her aunts haven't been treat her any differently, they had been treating her like one of them.

Review: I loved it. The tension been Emma and Lachlain was a lot of fun. Lachlain growls and Emma ignores him, or at least tries to since he has a way for getting his way. Lachlain knows exactly who she is (his destined mate) but keeps it from Emma so that she won't try to make a run for it. It's really sweet watching the lengths he does to to get Emma to admit she loves him too.

This world is very well done. I love the Lore and they seem to incorporate all the diffenent magical creatures ever thought up and put them all in one place. And the names for the Valkyrie are much fun: Regin the Radient, Kaderin the Coldhearted, and of course Nucking Futs Nix the Ever-Knowning.

Keeper?: Most Definitely

Recommendation: Definitely if you like paranormal romance. This world has it all. Demons, Vampire, Valkyrie, Wiches, etc.

Rating: A