Then Came You (Gamblers Series, Book One): Lisa Kleypas

“Lily Lawson, a beguiling beauty with a maddening habit of playing by her own set of rules, decides to save her sister from an unwanted marriage to Alex, Lord Raiford. While Lily’s successful maneuvering saves her sister from the ties of matrimony, it brings Alex’s sizzling gaze to bear on Lily herself. Defiant as she is lovely, Lily vows to hold Alex at bay. But when Alex begins to stoke the flames of passion, Lily risks succumbing to a love that will consume them both.”

I REALLLY liked this book!!! It was awesome because not many authors are able to write their characters with such strong emotions and still make them seem real. I loved how Lily and Alex hated one another with such a passion and then grow to have a different passion entirely! It was fascinating to watch the plot play out and it certainly kept me enthralled.
This wasn’t the usual romance novel, however. There was an absorbing underlying current in the story that was so refreshing and so interesting to follow. I can’t wait to read the second book in this series!!!

A Dark-Hunter Christmas (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Eight): Sherrilyn Kenyon

***As I noted in the post just before this one, Sherrilyn Kenyon's site was updated and some of the stories were even completely removed from the reading order. This was one of them. In fact, in the list of a couple of weeks ago, this book was supposed to be in the back of Dance With the Devil, but it wasn't...I had to scour websites to find it and it was a HUGE headache... I'm really sorry, but I can't find the site where I originally found it because my laptop is freaking-out and I have been downgraded to the desktop. I do, however, have an electronic copy of the short story and can post the whole thing if you guys need me to. It wouldn't be too much trouble at all.***

Anyway, this is a short story (not technically a book...and therefore doesn't have a cover for me to post) that I had to find online. It was short and sweet. The readers were introduced to a more "modern" Dark-Hunter. His story was sad and believable for the time-period in which he was created. (Living in the Chicago-area myself, I know a good deal about its history and it was cool to see that come into play.) What was really neat was watching Acheron and Simi in this story. I don't want to give it away, but we get to read about a much softer side to them. The main character, Jamie was probably one of the Dark-Hunters who had to relive the most pain on a day-to-day basis. Since he was created in the first-half of the nineteenth-century, he actually has easily traceable and detectible relatives that he cannot come into contact with. I can't even imagine how difficult that must have been. Overall, the story was short and sweet. It had a very important underlaying lesson that rings true to all of the other Dark-Hunters and I think I might even like to see more of Jamie in the future!

Dance With the Devil (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Seven): Sherrilyn Kenyon

“ZAREK’S POINT OF VIEW:

“Dark-Hunter: A soulless guardian who stands between mankind and those who would see mankind destroyed. Yeah, right. The only part of that Code of Honor I got was eternity and solitude.

“Insanity: A condition I may suffer from after being alone for so long. But I don’t suffer from my insanity—I enjoy every minute of it.

“Trust: I can’t trust anyone…not even myself. The only thing I trust is in my ability to do the wrong thing in any situation and to put a hurt on anyone who gets in my way.

“Truth: I endured a lifetime as a Roman slave, and 900 years as an exiled Dark-Hunter. Now I’m tired of enduring. I want the truth about what happened the night I was exiled—I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

“Astrid (Greek, meaning star): An exceptional woman who can see straight to the truth. Brave and strong, she is a point of light in the darkness. She touches me and I tremble. She smiles and my cold heart shatters.

“Zarek: They say even the most damned man can be forgiven. I never believed that until Astrid opened her door to me and made this feral beast want to be human again. Made me want to love and be loved. But how can an ex-slave whose soul is owned by a Greek goddess ever dream of touching, let alone holding, a fiery star?”

***Just a little bit of an update on Sherrilyn Kenyon’s books. For my reading order, I was going off of a list that…I guess…hadn’t been updated in a while and now I went to check it out and it was changed. According to the list from her site from a couple of weeks ago, there should be a story in the back of Dance With the Devil called something like “A Dark-Hunter Christmas”, but there wasn’t and that’s where my confusion started. The website has now switched around some of the reading orders and eliminated a short story altogether—the one that explains Acheron’s story. So, I’m a little confused and wondering what’s going on and this is a little bit of a heads up because my book numbers may not match with her site’s.***

Now, about this book…I LOVED IT!!! I thought I was moved by Talon’s and Kyrian’s stories, but nothing prepared me for Zarek’s story… I had flat-out sobbed three times before getting half-way through the book. That’s pretty impressive and it made me love the characters all the more. Zarek is a complete badass and I really didn’t care for him in Talon’s story. I kept thinking how difficult it would be for Sherrilyn Kenyon to make me want to care for Zarek. I thought “Well, he was a slave…Valerius is his brother…he was unloved…yeah, that’s terribly sad, but he’s such an ass to Acheron and everyone else.” And Kenyon has TOTALLY made me care for Zarek to the point where I fell for his character. I cried so many times and it was just SO beautifully written.

Astrid was a pretty interesting character too and she was fun to watch as she developed from an apathetic judge to a woman who wanted to help the man she believed to be innocent. I liked how there was more development of Acheron’s character and more Dark-Hunters were brought into this story. It gave depth to the plot without slowing it down and that’s not something that’s easy to do. All-in-all (though I’m a little confused by her site) I LOVE Sherrilyn Kenyon’s works and look forward to reading more!

Only With Your Love (Vallerands Series, Book Two): Lisa Kleypas

“Celia Vallerand fears for her life as she stares into the deep, arresting eyes of the dashing man who purchased her from the brigands who abducted her. But it soon becomes clear that it’s her virtue, not her life, that’s in danger. The rugged, powerful renegade known only as “Grifin” arouses desires in Celia as dangerous as they are forbidden. And though she knows she must resist him, she fears she may be unable to do so.

“But the magnificent adventurer is a man trapped in a perilous deception. And the shocking secrets he guards could deny him the love of the fair captive lady who enslaved his reckless heart.”

This book was the perfect conclusion to the Vallerand series! Lisa Kleypas did an amazing job of developing her characters in the first book--even though they were children. I could see a lot of their personalities early on and it added SO much more depth to this book. Justin was just as hot-headed as ever and the readers got to see different sides to both twins. I found myself smiling on numerous occasions and nearly getting choked up at other times. The action was beautifully written and I wanted to read more! All in all, I really loved this book and I'm almost sad that the Vallerand saga came to an end...

When Strangers Marry (aka Only in Your Arms) (Vallerands Series, Book One): Lisa Kleypas

***This was the back of When Strangers Marry and I’ll try to find a better synopsis, but it's difficult when this is a revamped reprinting of the same book with a different title.***

“Dear Reader,

“Nearly a decade ago, I published my first novel with Avon Books, Only in Your Arms. Since then, romance has changed—and so have I—so I decided to give the book a makeover—and a new title. First, it is in keeping with the new spirit of the book; second, no one—including my own mother—found the original one memorable!

“In When Strangers Marry, I had a great time rediscovering the story of Maximilien Vallerand and his stolen bride, Lysette. The promise of this handsome, though mysterious, man’s love proves irresistible to her, but she doesn’t know the secrets he hides.

“I hope you will enjoy revisiting the Vallerand family, or perhaps meeting them for the first time. And, as always, thank you for your support and encouragement, as we escape together into the magical world of romance novels.

“Wishing you love and happiness,

“Lisa”

I REALLY enjoyed this book! In all honesty, I wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did. There was something about the first few chapters that made me wonder how I was going to be made to care for Maximilien when he seemed to callous and coldhearted. I’ve obviously come across similar characters in other books that I’ve read, but he seemed somehow a little bit harsher. As the story progressed, however, I grew to like him. I loved his twin sons and thought that they added just the right amount of comedic relief as well as the perfect perspective for the readers to fully comprehend the depth of the Vallerand scandal. Lysette was a sweet character and I think she was written very well. Had she been meek or submissive in the least, I don’t think the book would have worked nearly as well.

I loved the plot twists and the book kept me completely captivated! I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!

Suddenly You: Lisa Kleypas

“She was unmarried, untouched and almost thirty, but novelist Amanda Briars wasn’t about to greet her next birthday without making love to a man. When he appeared at her door, she believed he was her gift to herself, hired for one night of passion. Unforgettable handsome, irresistibly virile, he tempted her in ways she never though possible…but something stopped him from completely fulfilling her dream.

“Jack Devlin’s determination to possess Amanda became greater when she discovered his true identity. But gently bred Amanda craved respectability more than she admitted, while Jack, the cast-off son of a nobleman and London’s most notorious businessman, refused to live by society’s rules. Yet when fate conspired for them to marry, their worlds collided with a passionate force neither had expected…but both soon craved.”

Again, I loved Lisa Kleypas’s work. Her characters were so wonderful and witty and entirely entertaining that I read the book in a day! What was hilarious to me was that I saw A LOT of myself in Amanda (though I’m not thirty and I don’t see myself hiring a male prostitute in the near future…) and it made me want to read more. Jack was a very fun character because he wasn’t the usual, brooding, moody male hero. He had such a sweet and fun side that it was hard not to fall for him.

Overall, the plot was refreshing and new and delightful to read. I liked how there was a good amount of background established on the characters, but it wasn’t redundant. Of course, I will be reading more of Kleypas in the future!

Midnight Peasures (Conatins Dark-Hunter Series, Book Six): Amanda Ashley, Maggie Shayne, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Ronda Thompson

“Handsome and sensual, surrounded by an aura of danger, mystery, and the forbidden, a lover steps from the shadows. But is he mortal? Or is he an ancient god, a sorcerer, or a mythical beast who can possess a woman’s heart…and her very soul?

“Four of romance’s most popular authors have created this spellbinding collection of stories filled with dark passion and desire. Under the cover of darkness, their heroes inhabit worlds haunted by ageless hungers and deadly forces stronger than any seen by day…and vanquished only by the power of love.

“Now travel into realms where dazzling wonders roam the night, where magic replaces reason, and where a kiss unleashes a raging fire in the blood. And here, if you dare, discover the seduction that begins at the bewitching hour when a man and woman partake in…Midnight Pleasures”

“DARKFEST BY AMANDA ASHLEY

“The price of saving her dying mother is Channa’s promise to spend a year at the castle of tormented nobleman, Lord Darkfest…to obey him as his servant or, as his secrets are revealed, to become his salvation. And her own.”

This was different from what I’ve read of Amanda Ashley in the past. Though this had a completely different plot, it stayed true to her unique style of writing. I enjoyed the storyline a lot and the characters were well-written. I tend not to read stories with magic in them, but this kept me captivated. Darkfest was an interesting character and I would have even maybe liked to see him in a full-length book. He had so much depth and mystery to his character that I found myself wanting to read more to find out what made him so special.

There was mention of a tapestry in the story and it was described in such detail that I thought it was some sort of foreshadowing (you’re going to have to read the story to find out what happens!) I really liked how Darkfest was able to shape-shift and had seemingly boundless powers. It was really creative and it made me want to read more. The descriptions were beautiful and they had the power to transport me that only really good writing can—though it was less than 100 pages. I’ll be sure to read more of Ashley’s work in the future!

“PHANTOM LOVER BY SHERRILYN KENYON

“Haunted by recurring nightmares of terrifying beasts, Erin McDaniels is afraid to sleep—until a hero arrives in her dreams to save her…and makes erotic, incredible love to her. But can she find him again when she is awake?”

Again, Sherrilyn Kenyon has worked her magic! She has a knack for making the readers fall in love with her characters in only a few pages. That takes some serious talent and I’m thoroughly impressed. This plot was a change-up from the other books of hers that I have read and I liked it. The characters were real and I really loved V’Aidan. He was a fun character to watch as he developed. I don’t want to give too much away, but as the plot takes a HUGE turn the readers just can’t hate V’Aidan—Kenyon did such a fantastic job at making him seem so touching and real that you can’t help but feel for him. As always, I will most definitely be reading more of Kenyon’s work as I go on to read the rest of the Dark-Hunter series.

“UNDER HER SPELL BY MAGGIE SHAYNE

“A consultant for a TV series about one gorgeous witch, “white witch” Melissa St. Cloud plans to make the show authentic. But once on the set she is pulled into the arms of a man who opens up a doorway to the dark side and chilling peril.”

Maggie Shayne was an author that I’ve never read before and it was refreshing. I liked the general plot behind this story a lot. Again, this was filled with magic, but it kept me captivated. I liked the characters and the background behind the story was interesting. I learned a lot about witchcraft that I didn’t know before and that was fascinating. There was some gruesome violence, but it really enhanced the climax of the story. Overall, I liked it and will probably read more of Shayne’s work in the future.

“A WULF’S CURSE BY RONDA THOMPSON

“Running away from an arranged marriage, Elise steals aboard a wagon in a traveling circus and finds herself in the bed of the Beast Tamer, Sterling Wulf, who is something other than he seems…and suddenly all Elise desires.”

I’ve never read Ronda Thompson before and this was a really good start for me. The characters were real and the situations were enthralling. I loved how the emotions of the characters were so well-written that it kept the story moving without becoming boring or too sappy. Sterling was very interesting to watch as he grew and changed because of his time with Elise. There was a new twist on an old tale—which I am NOT going to give away, so you’re just going to have to read it!—and that made it all the more fun to read. The only difficulty I had was with some of the dialogue/inner-dialogue. Sometimes it was difficult to comprehend what the characters meant or what was going on inside of their heads without reading and rereading the lines a few times. Other than that, it was a fun read. I liked Thompson’s work a lot and will most likely read more.

Touch of Enchantment (Sequel to Breath of Magic): Teresa Medeiros

“A LOVELY SCIENTIST WITH NO TASTE FOR MAGIC

“Heiress Tabitha Lennox considered her paranormal talents more a curse than a gift. So she dedicated her life to the cold, rational world of science. Until the day she examined the mysterious amulet her mother had left her and found herself catapulted seven centuries into the past—directly into the path of a rearing black charger ridden by a chain-mailed warrior.

“A FEARLESS KNIGHT WITH NO TIME FOR LOVE

“Sir Colin of Ravenshaw had returned from the Crusades to find his castle in ruins, his enemy poised to overrun the land where generations of Ravenshaws had ruled. The last thing he expected was to half trample a damsel with odd garb and even odder manners. But it is her strange talent that will create trouble beyond Colin’s wildest imaginings. For everyone knows that a witch must be burned…but it is Colin’s heart that is aflame, over an enchanting woman he must not love, yet cannot live without.”

This book was sweet and I really enjoyed this sequel to Breath of Magic. The characters were easy to like and it was fun to see what life was like for Tristan and Arian after the first book finished. I did find myself giggling at certain parts and almost crying at others.

This book did take a short while to get going, but it was well worth it. I really liked the character of Colin of Ravenshaw. He was likable and sweet…in a tough-guy kind of way. I think the plot was fun to follow and made sense (well, for this set of books it did!) and I liked the twists and turns it took. As always, I will definitely read more of Teresa Medeiros in the future because she keeps on making me smile!

Breath of Magic: Teresa Medeiros

"AN EXQUISITE ENCHANTRESS LOST IN TIME

"Arian Whitewood hadn't quite gotten a hang of the powerful amulet she'd inherited from her mother, but she never expected it to whisk her more than three hundred years into the future. Flying unsteadily on her broomstick, she suddenly finds herself among towers of glass and metal, then tumbling from the sky to land at the feet of a man with frost-gray eyes and a seemingly flint-hard heart.

"A SKEPTICAL TYCOON OUT OF HIS ELEMENT

"Reclusive billionaire Tristan Lennox didn't believe in magic, but he had his own reasons for offering one million dollars to anyone who could prove it existed. Now he finds himself besieged by fakes, frauds, and an old nemesis is ready to leap on his opportunity to destroy him. But the smoky-voiced beauty who appeared from the clouds into his climate-controlled existence is something else entirely--a woman able to enchant his lonely heart with wonder, but who can't possibly be what she seems....

So I’ve been so busy that I haven’t been able to update this blog for a bit, but I’m back! Anyhow, this book was sweet and had some wonderful twists to it. It made me laugh and cringe as well as feel for the characters immensely. Arian was a charming character and it was hard not to side with her. Tristan was a refreshing twist to the male lead roll. There was just something about him that made it easy to like and dislike him at the same time.

The plotline in general was new and different and I enjoyed it. I don’t usually read “modern” romances, but this had the whole historical elements that made it more to my tastes. Overall, I liked it and I have already started the sequel.

Night Embrace (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Five): Sherrilyn Kenyon

“Dear Reader,

“Life is great for me. I have my chicory coffee, my warm beignets, and my best friend on the cell phone. Once the sun goes down, I am the baddest thing prowling the night: I command the elements, and I know no fear. For centuries, I’ve protected the innocent and watched over mankind, making sure they are safe in a world where nothing is ever certain. All I want in return is a hot babe in a red dress, who wants nothing more from me than one night.

“Instead, I get a runaway Mardi Gras float that tries to turn me into roadkill and a beautiful woman who saves my life but can’t remember where she put my pants. Flamboyant and extravagant, Sunshine Runningwolf should be the perfect woman for me. She wants nothing past tonight, no ties, no long-term commitments.

“But everytime I look at her, I start yearning for dreams that I buried centuries ago. With her unconventional ways and ability to baffle me, Sunshine is the one person I find myself needing. But for me to love her would mean her death. I am cursed never to know peace or happiness—not so long as my enemy waits in the night to destroy us both.

“Talon of the Morrigantes”

After reading this book, I decided several things. One: Talon has become one of my favorite characters of all-time! Two: Sunshine is EXACTLY like my friend Carolynn…it’s scary! Three: Acheron is beyond awesome! From reading the previous books, I pictured him to be this incredibly hot, muscular in his mid-to-late-twenties. In this book, the readers get to see a new side of him and realize that he’s younger than he seems.

Anyway, Talon’s story LITERALLY HAD ME BAWLING!!! The way this book was written really tugged at my heartstrings…hard… His pain was so terrible and I couldn’t imagine having to suffer through what he has. I found myself laughing along with the characters as well as crying with them. Once again, Sherrilyn Kenyon has worked her magic!

I did have some...I don't know...confusion about certain parts of the book though. After reading Dragonswan, I came to understanding that Slayers were very animalistic and were basically out to get everything and everyone. After reading this book, I came to a far different conslusion. The Slayers were very secluded (though they did say that they ate human flesh) and their main priority was to watch over their pack. They weren't the completely viscious creatures I thought they were. I thought this was interesting because it was from a different point of view.

Not to mention I found the ULTIMATE quote that defines the Dark-Hunter existence!!! Zarek (you meet him in this book) says, “…let me give you the job description. Me, Dark-Hunter. You, Daimon. I hit, you bleed. I kill, you die.” Yeah…Zarek’s pretty much the ultimate badass… ; )

Deeper Than the Night (Vampire): Amanda Ashley

“The townsfolk of Moulton Bay said there was something otherworldly about Alexander Claybourne. Some people whispered that with his dark, arresting features and mesmerizing eyes, the seductive stranger looked every inch a vampire. They never guessed how near they truth they were—or that after more than two hundred years of resisting temptation, Claybourne had found a woman he had to possess.

“Never one to be scared off by superstitious lore, Kara Crawford laughed at the local talk of creatures lurking in the dark. What harm could come of befriending the handsome stranger with the haunted look in his midnight eyes? No matter what shadowy secrets Alexander hid, Kara felt drawn to him, compelled to join him beneath the silver light of the moon, where the would share a lover…DEEPER THAN THE NIGHT”

So, I basically devoured this book! I loved the language and the how the settings were described. The dialogue itself was so believable—even if the situations were surreal.

I opened this book with one expectation and ended up running into the most unexpected plot turn that I’ve ever read! It was awesome! Normally I can kind of get an idea of what is going to happen (as you know if you’ve read my other blogs), but this book was entirely different! I was genuinely amazed with Ashley’s ability to hide what she was planning until the absolute opportune moment. (I’m not going to give it away, but it was AWESOME!) She even made the unbelievable situations believable and I was thoroughly impressed.

Again, there was the minimalistic romance scenes (…as I noted in a previous blog…), but this actually didn’t bother me at all. I think this was because Ashley manages to show the readers her characters’ emotions without being blunt in her language. As an author, I can really appreciate that.

I’m actually really excited to read her next book because her writing is such a refreshing change from what I normally read.

It Happened One Autumn (Wallflowers Series, Book Two): Lisa Kleypas

“Four young ladies enter London society with one necessary goal: they must use their feminine wit and wiles to find a husband. So they band together, and a daring husband-hunting scheme is born.

“IT HAPPENED AT THE BALL…

“Where beautiful but bold Lillian Bowman quickly learned that her independent American ways weren’t entirely “the thing.” And the most disapproving of all was the insufferable, snobbish, and impossible Marcus, Lord Westcliff, London’s most eligible aristocrat.

“IT HAPPENED IN THE GARDEN…

“When Marcus shockingly—and dangerously—swept her into his arms. Lillian was overcome with a consuming passion for a man she didn’t even like. Time stood still; it was as if no one else existed…thank goodness they weren’t caught very nearly in the act!

“IT HAPPENED ONE AUTUMN…

“Marcus was a man in charge of his own emotions, a bedrock of stability. But with Lillian, every touch was exquisite torture, every kiss an enticement for more. Yet how could he consider taking a woman so blatantly unsuitable…as his bride?”

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! There were so many instances where I was cracking up over Lillian’s antics as well as the side of Marcus that the readers haven’t seen yet. In the past two books that he was in (Again the Magic and Secrets of a Summer Night), we got to see the protective, brotherly side as well as the nosy, overbearing side, but this is the first time the readers got to see that he’s actually a very complex and deep man. I love how Lisa Kleypas’s characters are so multi-faceted. It makes for some seriously interesting sequels!

The plot behind this book was sweet and very straightforward with some very interesting twists and turns! It was wonderful to see Annabelle and Simon Hunt return because no Wallflower book is complete without all of the Wallflowers! I can’t wait to read more!

***This book also has one of my new FAVORITE quotes!!! "There is nothing on earth more beautiful to me than your smile...no sound sweeter than your laughter...no pleasure greater than holding you in my arms. I realized today that I could never live without you, stubborn little hellion that you are. In this life and the next, you're my only hope of happiness." Awwww!***