August 24, 2008
Countdown by Michelle Maddox, 3 1/2
Book description: THREE
Kira Jordan wakes up in a pitch-black room handcuffed to a metal wall. She has 60 seconds to escape. Thus begins a vicious game where to lose is to die.
TWO
The man she's been partnered with--her only ally in this nightmare--is a convicted mass murderer. But if he's so violent, why does he protect her? And stranger still, what is it behind those haunted sea-green eyes that makes her want to protect him?
ONE
No one to trust. Nowhere to run. And the only hope of survival is working together to beat the
COUNTDOWN
Review: Countdown was fun and full of action. I found it hard to put down until I finished it. The plot was fast paced and the heroine was likeable. The sci-fi elements and world building weren’t overly detailed but they worked well with the plot. The romance was enjoyable too. I’ll most likely pick up future books from this writer.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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August 16, 2008
Sacrament by Susan Squires, 4 1/2
Book description: The Seduction os Sarah. It began in Sienna with an illicit kiss stolen under a hot Mediterranean sun. It made the blood sing in her veins in ways she had never felt before. It was a pulsing need to be someone else; to be something else...something she didn't yet understand.
It was embodied by Davinoff. The dark lord was feared by the ton and even by fleeing to Bath, Sarah could not escape him. His eyes were ageless. They held a sadness she could hardly fathom. They pierced her so deeply that she felt penetrated to her very core. What they offered was frightening...and tantalizing. Was it evil that lurked within this foreigner's unnatural kiss, or was the communion he offered something else entirely? All Sarah knew was that the sacrament of his love would either be the death of her body or the salvation of her soul. And she could no more deny it than she could herself.
Review: I love a good traditional vampire tale and Sacrament is closer to that than a lot of vampire paranormal romance novels today. The vampires here do want to drink blood and they occasionally kill people. The material here is much darker than an average romance. That may turn some people off but I loved it. The romance itself is well done too. It starts off very slow but is built up well over the course of the book. If you like a little horror in your paranormal romance I highly recommend this book.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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August 10, 2008
Body Electric by Susan Squires, 4 1/2
Book description: Victoria Barnhardt set out to create something brilliant; she succeeded beyond her wildest dreams. With one keystroke her program spiraled out of control and something was born that defied possibility: a being who called to her.
He spoke from within a prison--seeking escape, seeking release, seeking her. He was a miracle that Vic had never intended. More than a scientific discovery or a brilliant coup by an infamous hacker, he was life. He was beauty. He was genius. And he needed to be released. Just as Victoria did. Though the shadows of the past might rise against them, on one starry Los Angeles night, in each other's arms, the pair would find a way to have each other and freedom both.
Review: I’ve never read a book quite like Body Electric. It’s the perfect blend of sci-fi and romance where neither the sci-fi or romance aspects are weak. The characters are fantastic. Victoria starts out as a brilliant programmer who is emotionally messed up. Jodie starts the book as a gender neutral artificial intelligence program. How these two end up together makes for some very interesting reading. The sci-fi plot is action packed and is easy to follow for people who don’t normally read sci-fi books. I almost gave this book five stars but one scene near the end of a book made me knock off half a point. I highly recommend this book to people looking for an unusual romance. I’ll certainly be reading more from this author.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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July 05, 2008
Sea Witch by Virginia Kantra, 2 1/2
Book description: Margred is a Selkie—a legendary being of the sea, able to shapeshift into seductive human form. And she has found a human she desires...
Burned out from the big city, Caleb Hunter becomes police chief on the peaceful Maine island of World’s End. Then he meets a woman who’s everything he’s ever dreamed of…
Their passion is undeniable, irresistible—and it may change the fate of humankind.
Review: I wanted to like Sea Witch more than I did. I liked both the main characters and the plot kept me interested enough to keep reading. However, the romance really didn’t work for me. Margred and Caleb have sex shortly after they meet for the first time and it seemed like their relationship was mostly built on sex. The only question in their relationship was whether Margred would stay with Caleb or go back to the ocean. Since this is a romance novel, I knew how she would choose but I don’t think her choice fit with her character. Basically, this book failed to convince me that the hero and heroine belonged together. Isn’t that what a romance novel is suppose to do?
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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July 01, 2008
Tiger Eye by Marjorie M. Liu, 3
Book description: Long ago they roamed the earth, plentiful and powerful, men with form of beast. Dragons, tigers, crows: shape-shifters. Their world was magic. That world is gone, but some remain...
HERS TO COMMAND: He looked completely out of place in Dela Reese's Beijing hotel room -- like he belonged to a myth, was the tragic hero of some epic tale, exotic and poignant. He was like nothing from her world, yet Dela had danced through the echo of his soul, and she knew this warrior would obey...
HIS TO PROTECT: Hari had been used and abused for millennia; he was jaded, dull, tired. But upon his release from the riddle box, Hari saw his new mistress was different. In Dela's eyes he saw a hidden power; himself within reach of all he had lost, of avenging those wrongs. This woman was the key. If only he dared protect, where before he had savaged; love, where before he'd known hate. For Dela, he would dare all.
Review: Tiger Eye is the first book in the Dirk and Steele series. I liked the first half of this book. The romance was nice even though how fast the characters trusted each other did not seem realistic. I liked that it was set in China and the world building was decent. It even had the beginnings of an interesting plot. Unfortunately, the plot falls apart when the second half of the book is overtaken by excessive sequel baiting. There are so many unnecessary characters that the book could have easily been 150 pages shorter without them. I not all that interested in reading the next book but I’ve heard such good things about this series that I’ll probably give it another shot.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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June 20, 2008
Bewitched by Sandra Schwab, 4
Book description: SWEET PASSION
After a magical mishap that turned her uncle’s house blue, Miss Amelia Bourne was stripped of her powers and sent to London in order to be introduced into polite society—and to find a suitable husband. Handsome, rakish Sebastian “Fox” Stapleton was all that and more. He was her true love. Wasn’t he?
OR THE BITTER TASTE OF DECEIT
At Rawdon Park, the country estate of the Stapletons, Amy began to wonder. Several inexplicable events suggested that one sip of punch had changed her life forever—that this love, this lust, was nothing but an illusion. She and Fox were pawns in some mysterious game, and black magic had followed them out of Town. Without her powers, would she be strong enough to battle those dark forces and win? And would she be able to claim her heart’s true desire? Magic potion or no, what she felt for Fox was a spell that could never be broken.
Review: I wasn’t sure I would like this book. I tend not to like romances where the characters fall instantly in love. However, I liked Schwab’s previous book so I decided to give this one a shot and I’m glad I did. The love spell didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the romance at all. I also enjoyed the plot and the world building. If you like historical romance with a touch of magic I highly recommend this one.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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June 10, 2008
Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward, 4
Book description: As Primale of the Chosen, the fiercely loyal Phury has sacrificed himself for the good of his race. But his first mate, the Chosen Cormia, wants not only his body but his heart for herself. As tragedy looms over the Brotherhood’s mansion, Phury must decide between duty and love…
Review: Lover Enshrined is the sixth book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. It’s not quite as good as the first three books in the series but at least it’s an improvement over the previous two. Phury is the main character this time around. I liked Phury early in the series but he’s pretty whiney and pathetic here. He’s paired with Cormia who is a typical heroine in this series. She starts out meek and useless and becomes slightly less so by the end of the book. At least she got some ok character development, which is more than I can say for Phury. I didn’t like their romance but it didn’t annoy me to the point that it ruined the book. Fortunately, the romance was a small part of the book and everything else going on was pretty awesome.
I loved all the stuff with John and his friends. All the ridiculous texting they did made me lol. The beginnings of a John/Xhex pairing was my favorite part of the book. I can’t wait until they get their own book. One of John’s little friends appears to be gay. I just hope it’s the kind of gay that can’t be cured by meeting the right woman. We learn a little more about Rhevenge in this book too. I’m interested enough in his plot to look forward to his book, which is up next.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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June 01, 2008
Fallen by Erin McCarthy, 4 1/2
Book description: New Orleans, 1840s. Sent to watch over the decadent city, the angel Gabriel loses himself in the liquid pleasure of absinthe. So when his mistress, Anne, is murdered—and all evidence points to him—a foggy Gabriel cannot be sure he didn’t do it. His penance: to be forever denied love. Then in modern-day New Orleans he meets forensic scientist Sara Michaels...
Review: What I loved about Fallen is that the romance and mystery were equally important and both were developed slowly with great detail. It was interesting to see the mystery develop from the very different perspectives of the two main characters. I also liked how the details of the crime were told through documents from the time of the murder. I just wish the murder’s motive had been explained a little better. The romance was fantastic. Both characters were flawed and leery about entering into a relationship. I love a slowly developed and complicated romance. This is actually the second book in a series but it stands very well on its own. I highly recommend it.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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May 19, 2008
Enchanting the Lady by Kathryne Kennedy, 4 1/2
Book description: In a world where magic ruled everything, Felicity Seymour couldn't perform even the simplest spell. If she didn't pass her testing, she'd lose her duchy--and any hope of marriage. But one man didn't seem to mind her lack of dowry: a darkly delicious baronet who had managed to scare away the rest of London's Society misses.
Sir Terence Blackwell knew the enchanting woman before him wasn't entirely without magic. Not only could she completely disarm him with her gorgeous lavender eyes and frank candor, but his were-lion senses could smell a dark power on her--the same kind of relic-magic that had killed his brother. Was she using it herself, or was it being used against her?
One needed a husband, and the other needed answers. But only together could they find the strongest magic of all: true love.
Review: Enchanting the Lady is the perfect blend of historical and paranormal romance. The world is based on the simple but interesting concept that titles are gained by magical ability instead of birthright. I also loved both the main characters and their romance. I’ll be reading future books by this author.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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March 04, 2008
Twist by Colby Hodge, 4
Book description: Abbey Shore never intended to be the savior of the world; it was just something that happened—like her father’s tragic death and the fact that she’s now poor and “flipping” houses in the Chicago suburbs to finish college. And there’s more: behind a crumbling wall in her current renovation, a swirling vortex hides. It’s a gate, a portal—and it will not only cast her into the arms and power of the enigmatic yet doomed Dr. Shane Maddox, but also into the clutches of Lucinda, the eerie, leather-clad beauty who shadowed his every move in the Sacred Heart ER. Abbey will soon be one hundred years in the future, in a dying land filled with roving bands of humans fighting for survival, and the “ticks” against whom they fight. Oh yes, Abbey’s life has had a…TWIST.
Review: If you are starting to feel like all vampire romances are very similar, do yourself a favor and pick up Twist. It features time traveling vampires from outer space. How could that not be awesome? There’s also a fun ninja heroine and the romance is pretty good too.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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February 25, 2008
Swimming Without a Net by MaryJanice Davidson, 3
Book description: As Fred the Mermaid tries to fit in with her own kind, she finds herself hooked on both Artur, the High Prince of the undersea realm, and Thomas, a hunky marine biologist. She's also caught between two factions of merfolk: those happy with swimming under the radar-and those who want to bring their existence to the surface.
Review: Swimming Without a Net is the second book in the Fred the Mermaid series. Not a whole lot happens through out most of this book but the plot picks up at the end a little. It held my interest for the most part and even made me laugh a few times. Davidson fans will enjoy this but I don’t recommend it for anyone else.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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December 10, 2007
Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward, 3 1/2
Book description: The ruthless and brilliant brother Vishous possesses a destructive curse and a frightening ability to see the future. As a member of the Brotherhood, he has no interest in love or emotion, only the battle with the Lessening Society. But when a mortal injury puts him in the care of a human surgeon, Dr. Jane Whitcomb compels him to reveal his inner pain and taste true pleasure for the first time-until a destiny he didn't choose takes him into a future that does not include her...
Review: Lover Unbound is the fifth installment in the Blackdagger Brotherhood series. Unfortunately, it’s another disappointing entry. The romance simply did not work for me. I could not buy how Vishous was miraculously cured of being gay. Even if I could get past that, the romance wasn’t well developed and focused mostly on sex. I did like the developments in John’s storyline and look forward to his book. I was also happy that all those boring lesser scenes were left out of this book. I’ve been looking forward to Phury’s story since the first book but it did not get off to a good start here. I’ll keep reading this series but I won’t be buying it once it goes to hardcover.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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July 18, 2007
Wired by Liz Maverick, 3 1/2
Book description: Seconds aren't like pennies. They can't be saved in a jar and spent later. Fate seeps through cracks and shifts like fog. Pluck a second out of time or slip an extra one in, the consequences will change your life forever. Is the man you love really the man you think you know, or is there a version of your life in which he's your enemy? If you didn't know who or what you were before, would you take a chance on becoming that person again?
L. Roxanne Zaborovsky is about to discover fate is comprised of an infinite number of wires, filaments that can be manipulated, and that she's not the one at the controls. From the roguishly charming Mason Merrick -- a shadow from her increasingly tenebrous past -- to the dangerously seductive Leonardo Kaysar, she's barely holding on. This isn't a game, and the pennies are rolling all over the floor. Roxy just has to figure out which are the ones worth picking up.
Review: Wired is the first book in the new Shomi line which publishes offbeat sci-fi romance. I’ve been looking forward to this line ever since I heard about it. I’m all for trying something new with romance and the anime style covers are nifty. I love the concept behind Wired. The plot is really different. Keeping track of all the different realities that Roxy finds herself in could have been confusing but it wasn’t. Unfortunately, the romance didn’t work as well for me. I couldn’t stand the hero through out most of the book. I disliked him to the point that I questioned Roxy’s judgement because she liked him so much. I can’t explain why he got on my nerves so much and I doubt he’ll effect most readers that way. He managed to become tolerable towards the end of the book though.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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June 23, 2007
In My Dreams by Monica Jackson, 3 1/2
Book description: A storm is blowing through the quiet rural Georgia life of strong, voluptuous, dark-skinned Bless Sanderson. She has never the beauty of her family, and her gift of "second sight" has been more a curse than a blessing. In fact, a disturbing vision has sent her rushing to Atlanta where her sexy sister Ginger is not only pregnant - she’s being threatened by unknown men. And in Atlanta is something, someone, Bless’s psychic ability never foresaw: Rick, whose sensuality is unmistakable and whose desire for her is undeniable. He swears he is only Ginger’s friend, not the father of her child. As much as Bless wants to believe him, her "sight" warns that Rick is tied to violence and danger. Now Bless, wanting Rick as she has never wanted another man, needs to decide if love means believing in a truth seen not by her eyes, but by her heart...
Review: I really enjoyed the paranormal world featured in In My Dreams. It’s a world of angels and demons and Bless’ powers are spiritual, not physical. Having destinies passed down through each generation of the same family was a particularly strong plot point. The romance was a little too much of the soul mate variety to for me to really like it but the soul mate aspect wasn’t stressed to the point that it got on my nerves. I’ll be reading more from this author.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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June 10, 2007
Undead and Uneasy by MaryJanice Davidson, 3 1/2
Book description: Weddings are never easy. But when you're Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor, they can become downright deadly...
In the days leading up to The Big Day, Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor seems to have a full house and the wedding guests have yet to arrive. Along with her human buddies, there's a ghost, a werewolf, and a Fiend crashing at her place. And though her fiance, Vampire King Eric Sinclair, conveniently disappears when the conversation turns to seating charts and flower arrangements, he does manage to make his oh-so-sexy presence known at other moments.
Cold feet are no surprise, especially with an undead groom. But when Sinclair truly goes missing-and not just to avoid wedding preparations-along with most of her friends and loved ones, Betsy is frantic. Alone and afraid for the fate of everyone she loves, Betsy can't trust anyone as she tries to find them and whoever is behind all the disappearances. And what happens next will shake the foundation of the vampire world forever.
Review: Undead and Uneasy is the sixth book in the Queen Betsy series. The beginning is paced oddly but I got over that quickly. Other than that, there's not much to say about this installment that I haven’t said about the other books in the series. These aren’t the deepest books ever but I was amused for an afternoon.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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May 24, 2007
Karma Girl by Jennifer Estep, 3 1/2
Book description: Bigtime, New York, is not big enough for both Carmen Cole and the superheroes and ubervillains who stalk its streets. An intrepid reporter, Carmen's dedicated her life to unmasking the spandexwearers, all because her fiance turned out to be a superhero, and a cheating one at that-sleeping with none other than his nubile nemesis.
Exposing the true identities of the nation's caped crusaders and their archenemies has catapulted Carmen from her sleepy southern hometown to the front pages of the country's biggest newspaper, The Expose. Hobnobbing with millionaires and famished fashionistas is all in a day's work for a woman on the trail of the Fearless Five and Terrible Triad. But when Carmen gets the scoop of her career, her life comes crashing down around her. And even Bigtime's sexiest superhero, Striker, may not be able to save her.
Review: I enjoyed the world created in Karma Girl. Every word and detail emulated super hero comics, only from a non-sexist female perspective. As for the romance, the main romance was good but I found the secondary romance more interesting. The whole super hero angle feels fresh in the increasingly repetitive paranormal romance genre. I’ll be reading the next book in the series.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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March 27, 2007
Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh, 3 1/2
Book description: In a world that denies emotions, where the ruling Psy punish any sign of desire, Sascha Duncan must conceal the feelings that brand her as flawed. To reveal them would be to sentence herself to the horror of “rehabilitation”—the complete psychic erasure of everything she ever was…
Both human and animal, Lucas Hunter is a Changeling hungry for the very sensations the Psy disdain. After centuries of uneasy coexistence, these two races are now on the verge of war over the brutal murders of several Changeling women. Lucas is determined to find the Psy killer who butchered his packmate, and Sascha is his ticket into their closely guarded society. But he soon discovers that this ice-cold Psy is very capable of passion—and that the animal in him is fascinated by her. Caught between their conflicting worlds, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities—or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation…
Review: I have mixed feelings about Slave to Sensation. I loved the sci-fi vibe and I thought the Psy parts of the book felt fresh. I also liked the heroine. Her and her problems also felt very original to me. My problems with the book have to do with the hero, Lucas. If you read just about any werewolf romance you can find a character just like Lucas. He’s a complete alpha and that kind of hero just doesn’t appeal to me. The romance was average as well. Still, I’ll probably check out the next book to see where the series goes with the world building.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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March 05, 2007
Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward, 3 1/2
Book description: Butch O'Neal is a fighter by nature. A hard-living ex-homicide cop, he's the only human ever to be allowed in the inner circle of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. And he wants to go even deeper into the vampire world-to engage in the turf war with the lessers. His heart belongs to a female vampire, Marissa, an aristocratic beauty who's way out of his league. And if he can't have her, then at least he can fight side by side with the Brothers.
But fate curses him with the very thing he wants. When Butch sacrifices himself to save a civilian vampire from the slayers, he falls prey to the darkest force in the war. Left for dead, he's found by a miracle, and the Brotherhood calls on Marissa to bring him back, though even her love may not be enough to save him.
Review: Lover Revealed is the fourth book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I love this series but I didn’t enjoy this book nearly as much as the previous books. My biggest problem with this one is that the romance didn’t work for me very much. Butch and Marissa alone are both full of an annoying degree of self pity and when they’re together it’s even worse. There’s a sub plot that is sexist to the point of being absurd and the only purpose it serves is to get us to like Marissa when she overcomes it. I would have ended up liking her a lot more without it.
Aside from my problems with the main characters, I did enjoy this book. It was full of enough overly dramatic situations and new words with letters that don’t belong to keep me laughing. Butch’s interaction with the lessers was interesting even though the lessers themselves are still dull. I also liked John’s sub-plot. Him and the mini brotherhood are very amusing. A new female character is introduced that appears the be just as tough as the brotherhood. I hope she gets her own book soon because this series desperately needs a kick ass woman. Butch and Vishous are still more than a little gay for each other and I liked their romance a lot more than Butch and Marissa’s. I still can’t wait for the next book in the series and I hope I’ll like it more than this one.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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January 27, 2007
Angie and the Ghostbuster by Theresa Gladden, 3
Book description: Drawn to an old house by an intriguing letter and a shockingly vivid dream, Dr. Gabriel Richards cam in search of a tormented ghost—but instead found a sassy blonde with dreamer’s eye who awakened old pain of his own. Angie Parker was two parts angel and one part vixen, a sexy, skeptical single mom who suspected a con—but couldn’t deny the chemistry between them, or disguise her burning need.
Determined to court the irrepressible flirt who’d gotten under his skin, Gabriel pursued her with tender fierceness, wooing the sweet tigress who protected all those she loved, but who’d never known how it felt to be cherished. Together they struggled to believe the impossible, to free the anguished spirit that shadowed their happiness. Could a century-old mystery reveal the powerful magic of love?
Review: There was a lot I liked about Angie and the Ghostbuster but the romance fell flat for me. I liked the character individually and I liked their back story about when they were in high school together. However, their romance was very boring. It took me weeks to get through this book and it’s a pretty short book. As for the paranormal aspects, I liked the ghost stuff but hated the psychic stuff.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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December 16, 2006
Sleeping with the Fishes by MaryJanice Davidson, 3 1/2
Book description: Fred is not your ordinary mermaid. She's not blonde. She's not buxom. And she's definitely not perky. In fact, Fred can be downright cranky. And it doesn't help matters that her hair is blue.
While volunteering at the New England Aquarium, Fred learns that there are weird levels of toxins in the local seawater. A gorgeous marine biologist wants her help investigating. So does her merperson ruler, the High Prince of the Black Sea. You'd think it would be easy for a mermaid to get to the bottom of things. Think again.
Review: Sleeping with the Fishes is the first book in a new series. This is definitely one of the better books MaryJanice Davidson has written lately. The plot is a little thin but the writing is very funny. The main character, Fred, is a sarcastic mermaid who is in a love triangle with a merman prince, who is clueless on land, and a marine biologist with a mermaid fetish. There is also a nice side romance between Fred’s metrosexual best friend and her uptight boss. This series is worth looking into even if you’ve been disappointed by Davidson’s recent releases.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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October 30, 2006
After Midnight by Teresa Medeiros, 3
Book description: The eldest and most sensible of the three Cabot siblings, Caroline is naturally concerned that her sister Vivienne has lately been keeping company with the infamous Adrian Kane, Lord Trevelyan, the enigmatic nobleman whom most of the ton firmly believe is...a vampire! Surely, it is nonsense. And yet...
The brooding gentleman inhabits a dark castle and is never seen in the daylight, embarking nightly on mysterious excursions to who knows where. And from the first moment Caroline enounters the handsome, hypnotically compelling viscount, she is shaken by a fevered desire that borders on the unnatural.
She must know Adrian's secrets! But each step that draws the inquisitive beauty deeper into his shadowy world pulls her closer to a sensuous surrender, for the power of his passion is impossible to resist. Is he man or monster, champion or villain? And will a yearning heart lead Caroline to disaster...or to love?
Review: After Midnight starts out as a cutesy historical romance with a plot that’s been done 1000 time before. It never entirely gets away from that but it still manages to be enjoyable. The characters were average but the romance grew on me. The paranormal aspects spiced up the bland plot somewhat and I liked that I didn’t know if Adrian was a vampire for a good part of the book. I’m not sure if I liked this one enough to read the sequel though.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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October 24, 2006
Blue Moon by Lori Handeland, 4
Book description: Miniwa, Wisconsin is under siege, but not by the usual summer tourists. The area's normally shy wolf population has begun stalking human prey, and their victims have been disappearing....or worse. Something is happening in the woods. Something brutal and primitive....Officer Jessie McQuade has seen plenty in her years on the force-but nothing as intriguing as the gorgeous, naked man she encounters while tracking a rogue wolf. Professor Will Cadotte is a Native American activist. He's also the only man capable of distracting Jessie from her work. And for a cop, distraction-no matter how pleasurable-can be deadly. It's against Jessie's better judgment to accept Will's help in her investigation, yet she soon finds herself doing exactly that-and more. Will's dark, penetrating eyes see into a part of Jessie's soul she never knew existed. It's exhilarating....and terrifying.Now, as a town's deepest secrets come to light, no one is safe: not friends, lovers, or strangers. And as Jessie follows a bloody trail to the shocking truth, she'll have to decide who she can trust when the moon is full....
Review: Blue Moon is a nice change of pace. It’s really great to see a paranormal romance where werewolves don’t act like fluffy bunnies. There’s a nice romance here but a good deal of the book focuses on Jessie’s investigation. It reads a bit like J. D. Robb’s In Death series but with werewolves. I really liked the world and the characters in Blue Moon so I’ll be reading more of the series.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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October 11, 2006
Love's Potion by Monica Jackson, 3
Book description: Jasmine Flynn, CPA, never imagined that the old perfume bottle she’d picked up in a junk store would change her life. But when the djinni (not genie, if you please) appears and Jasmine takes one look at the most handsome man she’s ever seen, she decides to play along and make a wish. After all, what woman wouldn’t wish for a man like Raziq—tall, lean, and breathtakingly gorgeous—but can she ever trust a man after what she’s been through? As Raziq explains the ins and outs of magical wishes, Jasmine learns more than she ever wanted to know about demons, sorceresses, and otherworldly powers until, without warning, Jasmine and Raziq find themselves in the midst of a war between the powers of good and evil, as well as a battle for her own heart...
Review: I really liked the first half of this book. The set up of the plot hooked me right away. I loved Jasmine and the early stages of the romance were good too. But around the half way point the book starts to have pacing problems and was very hard to get into after that. Major plot points come out of nowhere. The characters also travel around visiting characters from previous books. (The Look of Love, In My Dreams) I probably would have enjoyed these scenes more if I had read those books but they didn’t seem to serve much of a purpose in the overall plot of the book. I am glad I finished the book because the ending was quite emotional and reminded me how much I liked Jasmine’s character in the beginning of the book. I’ll probably try something else by Monica Jackson.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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September 26, 2006
Dangerous Temptation by Kathleen Korbel, 1 1/2
Book description: To anthropologist Zeke Kendall, the idea that the heir to the Fairy throne had been watching him, falling in love with him, for years was laughable. Then he met Nuala and lost his heart to her dangerous beauty.
Eldest daughter of the Fairy Queen, Nuala must marry among her own kind to keep the line pure, but her heart has long been possessed by the handsome mortal. Now she will do anything—even align herself with humankind against the terrifying power of her own people—to make him hers.
Review: I picked up the first two books in the new Nocturne line. The first book, Unforgiven by Lindasy McKenna, I couldn’t finish but I somehow managed to make it through Dangerous Temptation. Unfortunately, there’s really nothing good I can say about it. The characters were flat and the romance is underdeveloped. Most of the book is just dull but towards the end one of the most ridiculous rape plot lines I’ve ever seen is introduced. After that the book became actively annoying. I really wanted to like this line and I do think it’s interesting that the line didn’t open with basic vampire or werewolf books. However, if these first offerings are any indication of Nocturne’s quality, I don’t see myself picking up too many of them.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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September 03, 2006
Lover Awakened by J. R. Ward, 5
Book description: A former blood slave, the vampire Zsadist still bears the scars from a past filled with suffering and humiliation. Renowned for his unquenchable fury and sinister deeds, he is a savage feared by humans and vampires alike. Anger is his only companion and terror his only passion—until he rescues a beautiful female from the evil Lessening Society.
Bella is instantly entranced by the seething power Zsadist possesses. But even as their desire for each other begins to overtake them, Zsadist’s thirst for vengeance against Bella’s tormentors drives him to the brink of madness. Now Bella must help her lover overcome the wounds of his tortured past and find a future with her....
Review: Lover Awakened is the third novel in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I love this series. It’s cheesy, vampire goodness that keeps getting better and better. Zsadist is the most messed up of the brothers and that’s saying a lot with this group. Finding happiness for him isn’t easy and I enjoyed his romance with Bella because of that. There were also a lot of sub-plots and I enjoyed them all. If you only read one vampire romance series this is the one to go with. You need to start with Dark Lover though. These books are too complex to stand on their own. Up next is Butch and Marissas’ story and I can’t wait. (Even if I am more skeptical than ever about Butch’s sexual orientation.)
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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September 01, 2006
Tall, Dark and Dead by Tate Hallaway, 3 1/2
Book description: Recovering witch Garnet Lacey manages Wisconsin's premier occult bookstore. And a fringe benefit of the job is getting customers like Sebastian Von Traum-piercing brown eyes, a sexy accent, and a killer body. The only thing missing is an aura. Which means he's dead. And that means trouble.
So what's a girl to do if she's hot for a dead man walking? Run like hell-and take full advantage of the nights.
Review: Tall, Dark and Dead feels more like urban fantasy than romance. There’s some really interesting world building here and a great plot. The romance is ok but the love triangle didn’t work for me. I do like the writing enough to read the next in the series. Fans of Charlaine Harris will probably like this.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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August 14, 2006
Date Me, Baby, One More Time by Stephanie Rowe, 3 1/2
Book description: IF YOU THINK LIFE IS COMPLICATED, TRY IMMORTALITY. Justine Bennett is cursing her life. She’s the Guardian of the Goblet of Eternal Youth, she hasn’t left the house in ages, and it’s been over 200 years since she’s had sex. Oh, and the Goblet has shape-shifted into an espresso machine named Mona. Not exactly the stuff grand destiny is made of... Derek LaValle is worried. Due to a family curse, he’ll be dead in the space of a week unless he finds the Guardian of the Goblet of Eternal Youth and beheads her. Which wouldn’t be a problem if she weren’t so sexy, smart... and ready to behead him right back.
Review: This book works really well as a paranormal comedy. I enjoyed the world and all of its little quirks. The characters, especially the side characters, were all funny and memorable. The plot moved form one hilarious situation to another at a fast pace. This book managed to set itself apart from other paranormal romances, which are starting to feel very similar for the most part. The only thing that didn’t work well for me was the romance but the rest of the book was so entertaining I didn’t mind all that much. I can’t wait for the next book in this series which, judging from the excerpt, is going to be even funnier than this one.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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July 19, 2006
Undead and Unpopular by MaryJanice Davidson, 3 1/2
Book description: With her birthday coming up, Betsy isn't in the best frame of mind to face the powerful European vampires who have finally come to pay their respects. Playing politics is not her strong suit, especially when she finds out her best friend Jessica may have a life-threatening illness. Sure Betsy can save her life by taking it-isn't that what friends are for?-but the choice isn't in her hands.
With her fiancé Eric dodging all the wedding plans, Betsy's plate is full-and not with birthday cake. But who has time to pout? Not even a reluctant vampire queen, who is taking it one high-heeled step at a time in MaryJanice Davidson's creative, sophisticated, sexy, and wonderfully witty series.
Review: Undead and Unpopular is the fifth book in the Undead series. This series has dropped all pretense of having a plot but that’s ok. The character interactions are interesting enough and the writing is fun as hell. I do wish the vampire delegation issue had ended up in a different way though. I’m sure I’ll continue to keep reading and enjoying this series.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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May 25, 2006
Goddess of the Spring by P.C. Cast, 4 1/2
Book description: Lina’s trendy bakery in Tulsa is proving to be less than lucrative, and she must come up with a plan. When she stumbles upon an Italian Goddess cookbook, Lina can’t help but think she’s found the answer to her problem—even if it means invoking a goddess to save her business.
Soon enough, Lina finds herself face-to-face with Demeter, who has a plan of her own. She proposes that Lina exchange souls with Persephone, the Goddess of Spring, who will breathe new life into the bakery. In return, Lina must set order to the Underworld.
Before all this, Lina’s problems mostly involved sourdough and second dates. Now that she embodies the enchanting Persephone, Lina has weightier things on her mind—like the formidable task of bringing Spring to a world of spirits. But when the handsome, brooding Hades kindles a spark in her heart, Lina wonders if this Lord of the Underworld might be the man of her dreams...
Review: With every book I read of hers, P.C. Cast keeps getting better. I’ve always liked the myth this book is set in. The Underworld is a unique setting for a romance novel and it added a lot to this book. I loved the romance between Lina and Hades. Hades is the best romance hero I’ve read in a while. P.C. Cast is an original in a genre over crowded with bland vampire romances. If you want to try something by her, Goddess of Spring is a fantastic place to start.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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March 31, 2006
Lover Eternal by J. R. Ward, 4 1/2
Book description: Within the brotherhood, Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetite. He's the best fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses, and the most voracious lover-for inside him burns a ferocious curse cast by the Scribe Virgin.
Possessed by this dark side, Rhage fears the times when his inner dragon is unleashed, making him a danger to everyone around him. When Mary Luce is unwittingly thrown into the vampire world, she must rely on Rhage's protection. Knowing that Mary feels the same intense animal attraction, Rhage must make her his alone...
Review: Lover Eternal is the second book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I liked this one much better than the first book. I wasn’t sure I was going to like Rhage at first, mostly because of all the whining he did about all the whoring he does. But the guy grew on me eventually. It’s hard to dislike a guy who turns into a dragon. The romance was developed much better than the romance in the first book. There’s a lot of side plots and world building so the story isn’t straight forward. I didn’t mind because I actually like this world and most of the side plots appealed to me. Especially the one about the vampire orphan. I can’t wait to read Zsadist’s story in September.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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March 13, 2006
Goddess of the Rose by P.C. Cast, 4
Book description: When modern-day Mikki ends up in the strange Realm of the Rose, Hecate has been waiting for her. So too has her gorgeous guardian beast, who soon has Mikki swooning. But to save the realm, Mikki will have to sacrifice her life-giving blood.
Review: Goddess of the Rose is the fifth installment in the Goddess Summoning series. I love that this series mixes Greek mythology with fairy tales. This one has a Beauty and the Beast theme. That’s my favorite fairy tale and it’s done well here. Loved the romance. Loved that the heroine was older than usual. Some of the woman power rants were too heavy handed. The beginning was also slow but I loved the book so much I quickly forgot these minor flaws. I’ll be reading more of this series.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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February 26, 2006
Micah by Laurell K. Hamilton, 2 1/2
Book description: There are lots of reasons to raise the dead-some private, some public. In this case, the feds have a witness who died before he could speak on the record. They want him raised so his testimony can be taken. So here I am, on a plane to Philadelphia, flying off to do my job.
But I'm not alone. Micah is with me. Micah, head of the St. Louis wereleopard pard. King to my Queen. The only one of my lovers who can stir my blood with just a glance from his chartreuse cat's eyes. I was happy to have him at my side.
Until he mentioned that this will be our first time alone together. No Master Vampire. No Alpha Werewolf. Just me and Micah. And all my fears and doubts...
Review: I sort of liked Micah, at least more than I though I would. It actually has a fairly decent zombie/mystery plot. The book even managed to make me like Micah, who I’ve been quite ambivalent about until now. The problem I had with this book was Anita herself. It seems like every book her behavior gets more childish and ridiculous. Her need to constantly explain her personal life to her co-workers was what got on my nerves the most. So while I am glad this book was more plot than sex, I couldn’t fully enjoy it.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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February 24, 2006
Whispers in the Woods by Helen R. Myers, 3 1/2
Book description: The deserted estate in remote northwestern Maine might have seemed foreboding, but it would be a refuge for Paloma St. John. There, she would be alone with her only friends -- the gentle animals she'd rescued from her own uncle's cruel scientific experiments.
But Paloma wasn't alone. There was a presence in the woods beyond the compound gates, a presence that reached into her mind, invaded her every thought, left her trembling with fear . . . and something more. Passion.
Was he protector -- or predator? Savage or savior? Whispers in her thoughts and dreams courted her in another realm, while the voice of her heart beckoned him forward. And so Paloma waited, with longing -- and with dread . . .
Review: Whispers in the Woods is a sweet, enjoyable Beauty and the Beast story. The heroine is too perfect for my tastes and parts of the story were too silly for me to suspend my disbelief but this book succeeds where it’s important. The romance was touching and fairy tale like. The hero was great. The plot was different enough to make this book stand out among all the other Beauty and the Beast books I’ve read. I recommend this if you like Beauty and the Beast stories.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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January 11, 2006
The Reluctant Miss Van Helsing by Minda Webber, 
Having lived long amongst London’s ton, Ethel Jane Van Helsing is an astute female who well knows her faults. She has a face unremarkable in its plainness. And yet…at a masquerade ball, anything can happen. There, even an ugly duckling can become a swan.
But tonight is not for fowl play. You see, plain or not, Jane comes from distinguished stock: Van Helsings. And Van Helsings are slayers. Her father, the Major, showed her very early on how to use the sharp end of a stick. Tonight, everything is at stake. Something is going to get driven very deep into a heart, or she isn’t…THE RELUCTANT MISS VAN HELSING
The Reluctant Miss Van Helsing is the sequel to The Remarkable Miss Frankenstein. I suggest you pick up Miss Frankenstein first since most of the characters from that book are present in this one. I love the general idea of this series. The writing is quirky and full of literary and pop culture references. However, I did not enjoy this book as much as Miss Frankenstein because neither of the main characters appealed to me. Asher, the hero, is a rake and an ass and I’ll never understand the appeal of that type of character. Jane would have been likeable but she had too many stupid moments. This book didn’t really work for me but I’ll still probably pick up future books in the series.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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December 30, 2005
Goddess of the Sea by P.C. Cast, 
On the night of her twenty-fifth birthday, alone in her apartment, Air Force Sargent Christine Candy wished for one thing: a little magic in her life. After drinking way too much champagne, she performed, of all crazy things, a goddess-summoning ritual, hoping that it would somehow make her life a little less ordinary...but she never believed the spell would actually work!
When her military plane crashes into the ocean, CC’s mission overseas takes and unexpected turn, She awakens to find herself in a legendary time and place where magic rules the land—occupying the body of the mythic mermaid Undine. But there is danger in the waters and the goddess Gaea turns this modern, military gal into a beautiful damsel so that she can seek shelter on land. CC is soon rescued (literally) by a knight in shining armor. She should be falling in love with this dream-come-true, but instead she aches for the sea and Dylan, the sexy merman who has stolen her heart.
I liked a lot about Goddess of the Sea. It’s different than all the other fairy tale inspired stories that I’ve read. I liked all the different settings and CC was a great heroine. I never got into the romance though. CC and Dylan fell in love too fast and their relationship was never developed as much as I would have liked. Dylan himself was so perfect he was boring. However, the twist at the end did manage to make their relationship slightly more interesting. All in all, I like the ideas in this book enough to read the next in the series.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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October 28, 2005
Undead and Unreturnable by MaryJanice Davidson, 
Book description: They say Christmas is a time for friends and family. But with a half-sister who's the devil's daughter, an evil stepmother, a fiend living in her basement, assorted spirits and killers running amok, and a spring wedding to plan with the former bane of her existence, Eric Sinclair, Betsy is not sure she'll survive the holidays.
Oh, right. She's already dead...
Review: Undead and Unreturnable is the fourth book in MaryJanice Davidson's Undead series. Like the third book in the series, it has little plot but is still funny enough that I don't care. I loved Betsy and Sinclairs' little arguments. Betsy's vampire advice column was hilarious and I hope it continues in future volumes. I also liked that Nick and Jessica (the non annoying Nick and Jessica) had expanded roles. If you didn't like the lack of plot in the third book, this one won't appeal to you either. If you are reading the series for the characters and funny writing then don't hesitate to pick this one up.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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October 27, 2005
Dark Lover by J. R. Ward,
Book description: In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing more than Wrath, the leader of The Black Dagger Brotherhood.
The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed-leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate-Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead-a world of sensuality beyond her wildest dreams.
Review: I need another vampire series like I need a hole in the head but I?ll overlook that for Dark Lover. What I really liked about Dark Lover was the world that was created. It?s a world I feel I could spend multiple books reading about which is a good thing for a series. The side characters were great as well. The book was also fast paced and action packed making it very hard to put down. However, the book wasn?t without flaws. The names were ridiculous (Tohrment, Phury) and some of the slang was embarrassingly bad (pimp juce, outtie.) I also didn?t care for the romance. Beth and Wraths? relationship went from sex first, ask questions later to overly sappy and neither of those things appeal to me. Despite it?s flaws, I highly recommend Dark Lover to people who love vampire romance and I?ll definitely be reading the next in the series.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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September 25, 2005
The Wizard of Seattle by Kay Hooper,
Book description: She looked like a ragged, storm-drenched urchin, but from the moment Serena Smyth appeared on his Seattle doorstep, Richard Patrick Merlin recognized the spark behind her green eyes. Serena had crossed a country to find him, guided by her determination to become a master wizard. She knew he could be her
teacher--but she never expected the charismatic, seductive power that was Merlin's. Nor had she dreamed of the fire he ignited in her body and soul, a flame that burned even hotter than the powerful talent she possessed but did not yet understand. Their love forbidden by an ancient law, Serena and Richard will take a desperate gamble and travel to a long-lost world to change the history that threatens to separate them. But they risk being torn apart forever, destroyed by a cursed land...and their own fierce desires.
Review: This is actually a time travel book though you can?t tell from the book description. I loved the romance in the first 90 or so pages of this book. After that the time travel plot kicks in and the obstacles in Serena and Merlins? relationship were never explained to my satisfaction. However, the plot was interesting enough that I wasn?t too distracted by the poorly developed romance. This could have easily been a keeper if the romance hadn?t been lacking but the book is a decent read. Fans of wizard or time travel romance will find a lot to like here.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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September 16, 2005
Revenge Gifts by Cindy Cruciger, 
Book description: TARA COLE SPECIALIZES IN REVENGE
In fact, she's an expert. Lace pillows filled with cat hair-for your least-favorite, most allergic relative; boxer shorts that set off metal detectors-for your cheating spouse; and her best seller at RevengeGifts.com: chocolates for your worst enemy, so you can watch gleefully as she packs on the pounds.
Tara's best friend warns her that all this revenge is damaging her karma, but Tara doesn't care about her next life-she wants to enjoy this one. Besides, her kitchen is full of cranky ghosts. Tara figures she'll be the same one day, when she leaves the mortal plane.
That might happen sooner than she thought, because someone has put a curse on her. A black cat, a black dog, even a black goat, appear, each followed by bizarre, almost-disastrous events. And it all started around the time Howard showed up. Howard says he wants to go into business with Tara, but it seems like he wants to go to bed with her. Unless he's the one who cursed her . . . .
Is this karma coming full circle-or destiny knocking on Tara's door?
Review: I don?t think I?ve ever read a book that appealed to my sense of humor more than Revenge Gifts. Tara?s non-stop monologue is fun mix of sarcasm, black humor, and insanity. Besides, how could a heroine who runs an internet revenge business not be appealing? Tara?s wold is populated by a large cast of colorful characters the likes of which I haven?t seen since the early Anita Blake books. The plot is filled with one crazy, unpredictable twist after another. The romance worked well in this book too. I love it when women with wacky lives hook up with straight laced businessmen. I can?t recommend this book highly enough and I?ll be impatiently waiting for the sequel.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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September 10, 2005
Prince of Shadows by Susan Krinard, 
Book description: Scarred by a tragic accident, Alexandra Warrington has come back to the Minnesota woods looking for a refuge and a chance to carry on her passionate study of wolves. But her peace is shattered in a heartbeat when she awakes one morning to find a total stranger in her bed. Magnificently muscled and perfectly naked, he exudes a wildness that frightens her and a haunting fear that touches her. Yet when Alex responds to his pain, she doesnt realize that this handsome savage is a creature out of myth, a wolf transformed into a man. And soon, as the town condemns him for a terrible crime, all Alex knows is that she is dangerously close to loving him, and perilously committed to saving him, no matter what the cost.
Review: Prince of Shadows is one of those rare books that make me want to read everything the author has written. The romance is well done. The characters relationship starts out in an almost unbelievable way but it develops at a good pace. The werewolf parts in this book are much fluffier than something youd find in Anita Blake or The Woman of the Otherworld but that works for it. If you like paranormal romance at all this book is a must have.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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July 17, 2005
Undead and Unappreciated by MaryJanice Davidson,
Book Description: Most women would love to live as royalty, but Betsy has found that being a vampire queen has more problems than perks, except for always being awake for Midnight Madness sales. It may be easy to find blood (yuck) in the dark of night, but try finding a strawberry smoothie. And employees at her nightclub Scratch have been giving her nothing but grief since she killed their former boss. Some people...
But Betsys life takes an interesting turn at a shower for her wicked stepmother, who lets it slip that Betsy has a long-lost sister. Now twenty years old, this woman just so happens to be the devils daughterand destined to rule the world...
Review: Undead and Unappreciated is the third book in Davidsons Undead series. Most of the novel is spent introducing new aspects of the series and it doesnt follow a complete story arc like the first two books in the series do. What makes up for the less than complete feeling is how funny the book is. Theres something to chuckle about on every page. I also enjoyed Betsy and Sinclairs romance for the first time. Cant wait for the next book in the series, which is due out in October.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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June 27, 2005
The Remarkable Miss Frankenstein by Minda Webber,
Book Description: The problem, Clair realized, was that she was a Frankenstein. Her uncles fame hed created her cousin Frederick from a bunch of spare parts was a grave matter. Everyone in the family was a success, while all shed managed was a humiliating misadventure with pigs. But her spirits were rising. The Journal of Scientific Discovery was promising to publish a paper on the Discovery of the Decade, and she had a doozy. She simply had to prove that Baron Huntsley man of distinction, man of renown, man about ton was a vampire. With his midnight black hair, soul-piercing eyes and shiny white teeth, what else could he be? Oh yes, the baron wanted a bite of her or she was no scientist. And then there were all those other monsters. Youd never expect so many in 1828 London! Pretty soon, shed expose them all, and on everybodys lips would be... the remarkable Miss Frankenstein.
Review: This book was so much fun to read! Id never even heard of the book or author before but the premise was so amusing I bought it anyway. That is something I almost never do but Im glad I took the chance. The writing is just as funny as anything written by MaryJanice Davidson or Katie MacAlister. The romance was average but the fun world made up for that. Anyone who enjoys romance and old horror movies will like this. I hope the writer decides to write more in this setting.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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March 25, 2005
Stardust of Yesterday by Lynn Kurland, 
Book Description: Genevieve Buchanan inherited a castle?and a ghost to go along with it. But Kendrick de Piaget was no typical ghost. He was a handsome and infuriatingly arrogant thirteenth-century knight. At first he wanted to frighten Genevieve, though she was more charmed than scared by his ghostly tricks. But when his thoughts turned to wooing her instead, Genevieve had to face her greatest fear: falling in love.
Review: This is the first of Lynn Kurland?s loosely interconnected series of romance novels. I decided I had to start at the beginning of Kurland?s novels because they become confusing later in the series. I have to say though that I didn?t like this much more than the last one I read. It?s an ok read but I didn?t really like the characters. In fact, the hero of the story can be very annoying at times. I don?t think I like Kurland?s ghost stories nearly as much as her historical romances. I?ll continue to keep reading her books in order though. I?m glad I started with This Is All I Ask instead of this one or I may never have gotten into her novels.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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March 19, 2005
You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister,
Book Description: Aisling Grey is a courier enjoying a free, work-related trip to Paris when she learns she's a Guardian. That's a keeper of the Gates of Hell, for those who don't know. She finds this out from Drake Vireo, who's scrumptiously sexy-at least in his human form. Now Drake has stolen the package Aisling was sent to deliver, and she must track him down, get the package, and try to resist the passion boiling inside her.
Review:This is yet another good paranormal romance featuring a kick ass but goofy chick with super powers. If you like those kinds of books than this is a must have. The book does drag a bit but theres enough interesting storylines left open to keep me reading the series. Its possible that I felt the book dragged because a lot of the books in the paranormal romance genre are beginning to blend together in my mind. Maybe thats a sign I should take a little break from the genre.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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February 27, 2005
My Heart Stood Still by Lynn Kurland, 6 1/2
Book Description: In a bleak, landlocked keep on the English moors, Iolanthe MacLeod dreams of the sea?and of a darkly handsome man to come rescue her. Centuries have passed, and she feels she has waited in vain. Until now.
Thomas McKinnon is used to attaining impossible heights, both in business and in the mountains he loves. But when the chance to restore a twelfth-century castle comes his way, he gamely takes hammer in hand and crosses the Atlantic, expecting to find nothing more interesting inside his new home than cobwebs and weeds.
But in that ancient, crumbling castle, the fierce, restless spirit of a medieval Scottish woman lives on?a woman so haunting that he would do anything, go anywhere, risk everything to make her his forever...
Review: The reason I didn?t enjoy this book as much as the other Lynn Kurland books I?ve read is, most likely, my own fault. The book is populated by a huge cast of characters, most of which are from earlier Kurland books I haven?t read. I had a problem keeping track of all these characters which severely hampered my enjoyment of this book. Other than that the romance was ok. Not the best I?ve read but enjoyable enough. The action also picks up nicely in the last third of the book. I?ll be reading more Kurland books in the future but I?ll be reading them in order.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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Embrace The Night by Amanda Ashley, 6
Book Description: A creature doomed to wander the earth in eternal darkness, he searched the ages for someone to share the endless night of his existence, for that one woman who would recognize the man within the monster.
An angel of purity and sunlight, she feared the mysterious stranger whose eyes promised endless ecstasy even as he whispered dark secrets she dared not believe.
They were two people longing for fulfillment, braving the danger of a love like no other. Alone, they faced desolation and despair; together, they would share undying passion, defy eternity, and embrace the night.
Review: I had a strange reaction to this book. There wasnt really a whole lot I liked about it but I had no problem staying interested. It may have even been a pretty good book if every aspect of it hadnt been watered down. The characters didnt have much to them; he whines about being a vampire, shes innocent and more than a little stupid. The thin plot was dragged out like in some bad soap opera. The book could have been half as long and not lost anything. However, I did like the second part a little more than the first. The overall old fashion vampire tale feel of the book appealed to me as well. If you like your vampire romance very lite you may enjoy this.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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February 24, 2005
Spellbound by Rebecca York, 6 1/2
Book Description: P.I. Morgan Kirkland had investigated strange crimes before, but none as eerie as the murders on Andre Gascons bayou estatenor anything as peculiar as the man himself. He lived like a captive at the isolated Belle Vista, disappeared after sunset, drank homemade brewsand avoided the truth. But his dark looks and brooding mien were irresistible to Morgan. Drawn to him as if under a Voodoo spell, Morgan, whos stared down danger for a living, now knew real fear in Andres arms. Fear that she was falling for a killer...
Review: Ive been meaning to read more by Rebecca York since I read her short story in the Cravings anthology. Spellbound was an ok read that kept my interest throughout but there were a lot of things I didnt like about it. There were quite a few interesting mysteries and back stories that were never really fleshed out. The romance didnt really appeal to me either and the dialogue during sex scenes was truly cringe worthy. If you are really bored and looking for a very quick paranormal romance read then you may want to try this. Ill probably try her werewolf series and hope I like it better than this.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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January 10, 2005
Derik's Bane by MaryJanice Davidson, 8
Book Description: Its always good to have a psychic aroundexcept when she tells you the world will soon end unless you do something about it. For werewolf Derik Gardner, doing something about it means heading to sunny California and destroying the reincarnation of possibly the most powerful sorceress in history: Morgan Le Fay.
But the beautifuland slightly ditzyDr. Sara Gunn has no idea that she is Morgan Le Fay. Her masses of wild red curls and crystal blue eyes make knocking her off an unpleasant prospect for Derik...and his half-hearted attempts dont meet with much success. So if he cant kill Sara, hell join her, on a cross-country odyssey to change her fate, confront medieval eviland get a little something on the side...
Review:This is yet another enjoyable novel from Davidson. Her blend of paranormal romance and humor is just as successful with werewolves as it was with vampires. The battle at the end is a bit confusing but other than that this book is highly amusing. Anyway, Davidson fans will be sure to enjoy this hilarious fast-paced read.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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November 28, 2004
Tempting Danger by Eileen Wilks, 8
Book Description:Lily Yu is a San Diego police detective investigating a series of grisly murders that appear to be the work of a werewolf. To hunt down the killer, she must infiltrate the clans. Only one man can help hera werewolf named Rule Turner, a prince of the lupi, whose charismatic presence disturbs Lily. Rule has his own reasons for helping the investigation reasons he doesnt want to share with Lily. Logic and honor demand she keep her distance, but the attraction between them is immediate and devastatingand beyond human reason. Now in a race to fend off evil, Lily finds herself in uncharted territory, tested as never before, and, at her back, a man shes not sure she can trust...
Review: Wonderful werewolf romance/mystery that will appeal to fans of Kelley Armstrong and the early Anita Blake books. I became interested in this writer when I read her fantastically original story in the Cravings anthology. This book is set in the same world as that story, and even references events that occurred in it, but you dont need to read it to follow the novel. This book also features a different take on the whole soulmate belief, making a plot twist I usually find stale very refreshing. Anyway, the intriguing world, solid characters, and interesting twist on werewolves should keep readers who enjoy a good supernatural romance happy. Ill definitely be reading more from this writer.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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October 09, 2004
Incubus Dreams by Laurell K. Hamilton, 4 1/2
Book Description: No one is as good at stripping bare the dark desires of the inhuman soul as Laurell K. Hamilton, something she has proven time after time in her New York Times bestselling Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novels. Now, in Incubus Dreams, Anita's life is more complicated than ever, as she is caught between her obligations to the living and the undead.
A vampire serial killer who preys on strippers is on the loose. Called in to consult on the case, Anita fears her judgment may be clouded by a conflict of interest. For she is, after all, the consort of Jean-Claude, the ever-intoxicating Master Vampire of the City. Surrounded by suspicion, overwhelmed by her attempts to control the primal lusts that continue to wrack her as a result of her passionate contacts with vampires, werewolves, and the shapeshifter Micah, Anita does something unprecedented: She calls for help.
Review: After the last book in the series, Cerulean Sins, had some redeeming value, I hoped that the series had begun to dig itself out of the rut if fell into with Narcissus in Chains. This did not happen. In fact, Incubus Dreams actually manages to exceed the precedent for pointless sex and missing plot set up in Narcissus in Chains. The bulk of this book is made up of one sex scene after another and they become boring and repetitive real quick. Another annoying trend in this series, Anitas growing list of superpowers, escalates in this book as well. Anita gets so many new powers, very few of which make sense and most of them are just sets ups to more sex. The plot (if you can even call it that) of this book held a lot of promise but it seems like it was added as an after thought. Im a huge fan of the Anita Blake series and it saddens me to say I found almost nothing to like in this book. I highly recommend that fans of this series wait for library or paperback to read this. If you are just starting the series I hope you consider stopping with Obsidian Butterfly because it looks like that will be the last good book in the series.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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August 11, 2004
Undead and Unemployed by MaryJanice Davidson, 8 1/2
Book Description: Being royally undead isn't all it's cracked up to be--there are still bills to be paid. Luckily, new Queen of the Vampires Betsy Taylor lands her dream job selling designer shoes at Macy's.
But when a string of vampire murders hits St. Paul, Betsy must enlist the help of the one vamp who makes her blood boil: the oh-so-sexy Sinclair. Now, she's really treading on dangerous ground--high heels and all.
Review: I love this. I love it even more than the first one. The writing is funny and the characters are great. There was less drama this time which made it more fun to read than the first book. This really is the prefect blend of chick-lit and vampire fiction. Read this series and pray for a third book!
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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April 12, 2004
Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson, 7
Book Description: First Betsy Taylor loses her job, then she's killed in a car accident. But what really bites is that she can't seem to stay dead. And now her new friends have the ridiculous idea that Betsy is the prophesied vampire queen, and they want her help in overthrowing the most obnoxious power-hungry vampire in five centuries.
Review: This book was freaking hilarious! I loved it's fun mix of horror, comedy, and chicklit. It also kind of mocks the chick with superpowers genre which amused the heck out of me even though I adore that genre. I can't wait to read the sequel this summer. This book also includes the first chapter of Charlaine Harris' latest Southern Vampire book which is due out in early May.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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July 14, 2003
Narcissus in Chains by Laurell K. Hamilton, ***
I was really disappointed by this book. There was too much sex and not enough plot. The many new characters that are introduced are very one dimensional. What there was of the plot was pretty boring. But the worst thing of all about this book is that Anita's personality changed so much she's practically unrecognizable.
This ardeur thing that Anita picks up from Jean-Claude when she merges the marks with him and Richard is just a cheep plot device that attempts to make it alright for Anita to screw nearly every guy she comes across. Now I'm not one of those people that thinks Anita has to stay as sexually repressed as she was in the first few books. It's important for her character to overcome that aspect of herself but this was just way too much. She does half the male cast........ practically at the same time. I'm also not one of those people who is dead set against Anita dating someone other than Jean-Cladue or Richard (or Edward). Micah (Anita's new love interest) could have been interesting if he had been given some character development but all the sex got in the way of that too.
There are some good things about this book though. I think my favorite parts were the scenes between Anita and Dolf (who she didn't screw thank God) I've been looking forward to the tension between them being explored ever since he discovered she was dating JC in The Killing Dance and I haven't been disappointed so far. Another good thing is how Nathaniel was handled. He's finally growing a back bone! I also liked the Damian sub plot and I hope that it is developed further in future books. The JC and Asher tidbits were nice as well. Oh and for all you Gretchen fans (are there Gretchen fans?) you finally get to find out what happens to her.
Unfortunately, this is the worst book in the Anita Blake series and I hope they don't continue to go down hill. It would be a real shame if this series was twisted till it's unrecognizable like Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. I don't really feel comfortable recommending you buy this book. Anita Blake fans should just borrow it form the library and form their own opinions first.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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April 13, 2003
Cerulean Sins by Laurell K. Hamilton, *****
In the 11th book in the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series Anita has to deal with Musette, a vampire sent by Jean Claude's maker to meddle in their affairs. Musette takes a disturbing interest in Asher and Anita will have to go to great lengths to keep him safe. There are also a series of gruesome murders that are not easy to solve especially since Dolph's pent up rage has started to explode.
This is hardly the best book of the series but it put to rest all my fears about this series going bad. The only thing really wrong with the book is the pacing of the plot. Laurell K. Hamilton needs to either write longer books or not try and cram so many sub plots into them. Where this book really shines is character development. Anita finally gets some much needed character development that will keep her character for getting stale. Some fans will undoubtedly not like her change in character though. This will really please Asher fans. He gets a lot of scenes and a few of them are some of the most emotional writing Laurell K. Hamilton has ever done. Jason also gets some character growth as does Richard. This book even gives me hope for Richard. If you've given up on the series you should still give this book a shot because you may be pleasantly surprised.
Category, Romance: Paranormal|
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