Stroke of Midnight (Contains Dark-Hunter Series, Book Eleven): Sherrilyn Kenyon, Amanda Ashley, L. A. Banks, Lori Handeland

“In an unseen world that lurks in the shadows, they roam the night—feral, passionate, and dangerous. And when their world touches ours, a primitive desire takes hold, leaving mere mortals powerless in its wake…

“Four of romance’s most intriguing authors have come together to create a mesmerizing anthology—unforgettable tales of vampires, shapeshifters, and werewolves. At the heart of these deeply sensual tales are everyday people facing extraordinary events—men and women thrown together by fate and an irresistible desire. In this world, your eyes can betray you as myth becomes reality, curses are vanquished, and love is the only weapon that can stand in the face of evil. In this world, there is a moment when passion and forbidden desire collide at the…Stroke of Midnight”

“WINTER BORN BY SHERRILYN KENYON

“Two enemy Were-Panthers discover that fate has destined they become lovers. Pandora must learn to trust Dante’s foreign nature. But as she slowly succumbs to the truest passion she has ever known, dark forces have already set out to reclaim her…”

I’ve said this before, but I must say it again: I love Sherrilyn Kenyon’s work! Her characters are so easy to care for and follow and it’s amazing how she NEVER leaves out anything previously mentioned about a character. As soon as I was reminded about who Dante was, I knew that this was going to be interesting. The animalistic emotions and characteristics were FASCINATING to read about. I’m not going to go on and on, but I do have to say that this book would be a bit difficult for someone who hasn’t read about the Katagaria and Arcadians.

“BORN OF THE NIGHT BY AMANDA ASHLEY

“When Lady Shanara Montiori is taken hostage, she learns that the rumors about her captor are true. Lord Reyes is afflicted with the dark curse of the werewolf. Still, Shanara can’t fight the attraction they both feel. Will their love break the curse—or feed its powerful hold?”

I LOVED how descriptive this short story was. It was almost like I could feel what it was like to be Reyes as he changed into a wolf. The characters were wonderful and—as I said in my last review of Amanda Ashley, I’m really growing to enjoy her works more and more.

“MAKE IT LAST FOREVER BY L. A. BANKS

“An innocent mistake forces the beautiful Tara onto a mission to save herself from the dark fate that awaits her. Salvation comes in the form of a seductive biker with a heart of gold. But will surrendering to their ripe attraction unleash a danger even she cannot control?”

Well, this was the first story by L. A. Banks that I’ve read. It started out interesting enough…a little hard to follow, but it kept me interested. Then…it got more difficult. I had no idea what was going on and—it could have just been me—but it wasn’t much fun to read. Sections of the story would start off with “he” or “she” and I couldn’t tell if the author was trying to bring in a new mysterious character or what. The whole myth behind what was wrong with Tara was vague and difficult to understand. I feel like there could have been a lot more background. The ending was decent, but I still kind of felt frustrated with the writing. Maybe I’ll give Banks another chance in the future.

“RED MOON RISING BY LORI HANDELAND

“Novelist Maya Alexander’s peace is shattered when she is stalked by a Navajo skinwalker who has taken on the guise of a wolf. Her only hope is the mysterious Clay Phillips. In his arms, she seeks protection—but as the red moon rises, no one is safe from the danger that lurks nearby…”

The was the first work by Lori Handeland that I’ve gotten to read and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised! I can honestly say that I have not read a book written in the first-person since…like elementary school… But this author made it so there was a certain level of sophistication to it that kept my attention. It was actually kind of fun not knowing what the other main character was thinking. It made it all seem more real because you can’t know what someone else is feeling—what they know, what they think.

The background to the story was well-explained and very captivating. I will definitely read more of Lori Handeland in the future!

Nobody's Darling: Teresa Medeiros

“Dear Reader

“I never enjoyed being a wanted man until the day Miss Esmerelda Fine marched into the Tumbleweed Saloon and pointed her derringer straight at my heart. Who would have guessed some duke’s granddaughter—an awfully pretty one at that—would come gunning for the likes of me, a notorious bounty hunter with a taste for whisky and a fondness for peach pie?

“Lucky for me, she was a mighty poor shot. Instead of killing me, she hired me to find her runaway brother. Little did she know she was about to make the acquaintance of a flea-bitten basset hound named Sadie, the infamous Darling Gang, and my shotgun-toting kinfolk. And little did I know she was about to lead me on a merry chase that would take us from a bungled bank robbery to the very first Wild West show to tour London, England.

“I should have turned down her offer. I should have resisted her charms. But I didn’t.

“Because there comes a time in every man’s life when he’s got nothing left to lose…but his heart.

“Yours,

“Billy Darling”

As you all know, I LOVE Teresa Medeiros and read her every chance I get, but you may also have noticed that I don’t tend to review “Wild West” books…that’s because I usually don’t like them… Well, this book TOTALLY changed my mind! It gave me a new perspective on the setting as well as the time period (and I’m sure it helped my acclimation that part of the story actually took place in London). I don’t know why I was so apprehensive… Maybe because—since I live in America and all—I would have already heard a similar story a thousand times. The typical cowboy…outlaws…robberies…but this story had a whole new twist that made all of my apprehensions seem unfounded. I laughed and even got choked up.

The characters were SO endearing and I loved them! Billy was such a fun character to read and he made the West come alive for me. I particularly loved the Epilogue. I don’t want to ruin too much, but not many authors will take the time to go that far ahead into the future to follow their characters’ legacy. Overall, this book is now one of my favorite ones by Medeiros.

A Taste of Sin (Sin Series, Book One): Connie Mason

“Come hell or high water, Lady Christy would have her wedding night at last. But first she had to seduce the dashing rogue who has claimed her as bride—in name only!

“A SCORNED WIFE’S DUE

“Lady Christy Macdonald had been ordered to marry St. John Thornton when she was a mere child. But her wedding day was the last time the spirited Scottish beauty had set eyes on her English bridegroom, who has become the notorious rake they call “Lord Sin.” Now she is a woman, and under pressure to end her sham marriage in order to wed the Cameron chieftain. Yet fiery, independent Christy wants a new groom even less than she wanted the first. So she hatches a plan to secure an heir and deter a suitor by seducing the infamous “Sin.”

“A TASTE OF SINFUL PLEASURE

“Dashing St. John—or “Sinjun” as he is known—never recognized the wild Scottish girl he’d married in the mysterious lovely lady who swept into his life, and into his bed, before vanishing without a trace. All the charming rogue knows is that he has never tasted lips so sweet or experienced a night so rapturously satisfying in all his years of shameless carousing. Married or no, Sinjun must track the lady down to have her again and for all time, his bride in distant Scotland be hanged! But he cannot imagine that the wife he abandoned—the one woman he never cares to know—is the one love he cannot live without!”

I’ve read Connie Mason once before and this just solidified her place in my list of favorite authors!!! I laughed, smiled, and nearly cried with the characters. Her plots are SO different from the usual romance novel and it really is unbelievably refreshing.

Her characters are so interesting and real—though I tend to say that a lot, this time, I MEAN IT!—and I wish that there were even more chapters! I’m very excited to read the second in this trio of books and you will be sure to hear more about Connie Mason soon!

Night Play (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Ten): Sherrilyn Kenyon

“Bride McTierney has had it with men. They’re cheap, self-centered, and never love her for who she is. But though she prides herself on being independent, deep down she still yearns for a knight in shining armor.

“She just never expected her knight in shining armor to have a shiny coat of fur…

“Deadly and tortured, Vane Kattalakis isn’t what he seems. Most women lament that their boyfriends are dogs. In Bride’s case, hers is a wolf. A Were-Hunter wolf. Wanted dead by his enemies, Vane isn’t looking for a mate. But the Fates have marked Bride as his. Now he has three weeks to either convince Bride that the supernatural is real of he will spend the rest of his life neutered—something no self-respecting wolf can accept…

“But how does a wolf convince a human to trust him with her life when his enemies are out to end his? In the world of the Were-Hunters, it really is dog-eat-dog. And only one alpha male can win.”

Once more, I must profess my love of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s writing! She has such a way of writing her plots and staying true to her characters that it’s difficult not to fall for them! It’s not easy to have characters return for several books (some of them, all of the books) while keeping their personalities the same. It takes true talent and I can only hope that someday I will be able to write as well as Kenyon.

It was SO interesting to read more about the Katagaria and Arcadians because they had only been touched on in the previous books (if you don’t count Dragonswan, which is pretty biased because it focuses on more of the Arcadian side). Vane was a very interesting character to watch and I found him almost as dynamic as Zarek from Dance With the Devil. And those of you who read that book know what a feat that is. Anyway, I loved this book and really hope to read more about the Katagaria in future books!

A Darker Dream (Vampire): Amanda Ashley (Madeline Baker)

“HEART OF DARKNESS

“In all of his four hundred years, Rayven had never met a woman like Rhianna McLeod. She was a vision of light, of warmth, of everything he was not—nor could ever be. Doomed to live forever in darkness and solitude, he knew all too well the risk in getting close to her, yet he hungered for her with a fierce passion he swore he’d never allow himself to feel.

“Rhianna’s father had sold her to Rayven to put food on the table—so she had no choice but to go with the dark stranger. To her surprise, he gave her everything she wanted—the finest clothes, education, and the run of the castle—everything, that is, except his touch. For although she sensed danger beneath his soft-spoken manner, although even Rayven himself warned her away, she was drawn to this creature of the night, and loved him as she would no other.”

I finished this book last night and I must say that it’s my favorite of Amanda Ashley’s yet! To be entirely honest, I find myself liking her works more and more with each book I read. Her characters are eloquently written and the situations are very imaginative. The language is beautiful and I devour her books! The author has a way of keeping to the taditional (almost Bram Stoker-like) vampire while maintaining her own flair. However, this plot was similar to that of Embrace the Night and—though I can’t really describe it—a few of the descriptions reminded me of her short story “Darkfest”. Though, this story still had its own color that kept me riveted. In fact, the book had several poems in it and one of them (the one that is boken up into 6 sections and begins th first 6 chapters) is my favorite!!! It reads:

"I hide in the shadows

"and lust for the light

"For I am Vampyre

"forever imprisoned by the night

"The moon is my sun,

"the night is my day,

"Blood is my life,

"and you are my prey.

"I long for what I've lost

"For that which can never be.

"I cloak the horror of what I am

"and prey you never see.

"I shadow my gaze in your presence

"and pray you may ne'er be part,

"Of the hunger that claws at my vitals

"of the evil that blackens my heart.

"I look into her eyes

"and find forgiveness there

"and for a moment—

"one brief, sweet shinng moment,

"I see an end to my despair.

"Her touch has rendered me helpless,

"her trust weakens the chains of the past.

"Dare I believe in the love she offers?

"Have I found and end to this darkness at last?"

Isn't that beautiful?!? I was so creative and a brilliant way to keep me reading. And, of course, I will be reading more of Ashley’s works in the future!

Stranger in My Arms: Lisa Kleyps

“ ‘Lady Hawksworth, your husband is not dead…’

“With those words, Lara’s life turned upside down. Hunter, Earl of Hawksworth, had been lost at sea. Or so she’d been told. Their unhappy marriage—with its cold caresses and passionless kisses—was over. But now a powerful, virile man stood before her, telling secrets only a husband could know, and vowing she would once again be his wife in every way. While Lara couldn’t deny that this man with the smoldering dark eyes resembled Hunter, he was attentive and loving in ways he never was before. Soon she desperately wanted to believe, with every beat of her heart, that this stranger was truly her husband. But had this rake reformed—or was Lara being seduced by a cunning stranger?”

Wow. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it made me love Lisa Kleypas’ writing even more! Her characters are perfect and seem so human that it’s sometimes difficult to remember that you’re reading a book and not watching a movie. This plot was unique and very well-thought out. I was expecting to find flaws or catch on to the plot’s secrets too quickly to really enjoy the book, but Kleypas has once again given me something to rave about!

All-in-all, the book was WONDERFUL and I can tell that this book in particular took a lot of thought to make it all work out. Kleypas is such a gifted writer and I’m excited to read more!

Kiss of the Night (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Nine): Sherrilyn Kenyon

“Dear Reader,

“What do you get when you have one immortal Viking warrior no one can remember five minutes after he leaves their presence, a princess on the run for her life, and one seriously
annoyed demigod? Basically, you get my life.

“It started out simple enough. One night I went to save a woman in trouble. The nest thing I knew, the doorway to hell had opened and out stepped Daimons—vampires the likes of which I’d never seen before. Led by the son of Apollo, they are out to end the curse that has banished them all to darkness. The only problem with that is they have to kill Cassandra Peters to do it and if she dies, so dies the sun, the earth and all who dwell here. Life’s just the bowl of cherries, ain’t it?

“Brought together by fate, it’s now my job to protect a daughter of the very race I have been hunting for centuries. Neither of us dares to trust the other. But she is the only one who remembers me… More than that, with her courage and strength, she is the only one who has ever touched a heart that I thought had dies centuries ago.

“The only way for a Dark-Hunter to regain his soul is through the love of a woman. But what happens when that woman isn’t exactly human?

“Wulf Tryggvasen”

I honestly have to say that I loved this book! The characters were so fantastic and I absolutely adored their personalities. They made me smile and laugh as well as tear up. Their emotions were so real and it was refreshing to have such passionate characters—not that Sherrilyn Kenyon always doesn’t always do that!

What was fascinating was learning more about the Appolites and Daimons. The readers go to see a different side to them and find out that there were different kinds of Daimons and it even made Wulf rethink his priorities. Overall, the plot was fascinating and was so much fun to read. I LOVED how Kenyon incorporated Ash (and we got to learn a bit more about him) and brought in Julian, Kyrian, Talon, and Zarek!!! It was AWESOME! I can’t wait to read more!

Dreaming of You (Gamblers Series, Book Two): Lisa Kleypas

“She stood at peril’s threshold—then love beckoned her in…

“A prim, well-bred gentlewoman, Sara Fielding is a writer who puts pen to paper to create dreams. But now curiosity is luring her from the shelter of her country cottage into the dangerous world of Derek Craven—handsome, tough, and tenacious—and the most exciting man Sara has ever met.

“Derek rose from poverty to become the wealthy lord of London’s most exclusive gambling house. And now duty demands that he allow Sara Fielding to enter his perilous realm of ever-shifting fortunes—with her impeccable manners and her infuriating innocence. But there is a hidden strength and sensuality to the lady that captivates him beyond his better judgment. And in this world, where danger lurks behind every shadow, even a proper “mouse” can be transformed into a breathtaking enchantress—and a cynical gambler can be shaken to his core by the power of passion and the promise of love.”

This book was a wonderful conclusion to the Gamblers Series by Lisa Kleypas! It was so much fun to read about Derek’s story and learn more about what makes him tick. He was so driven and cold and it was fascinating to watch him change so drastically. As always, Kleypas has written characters that the readers can’t help but fall in love with.

The plot starts off with quite a bang and doesn’t stop its momentum. (Although, it did sort of seem to slow toward the middle of the second half, but that was probably just me because I got a Kindle and couldn’t wait to read a book on it instead of reading an actual hardcopy!) I really enjoyed how Kleypas brought in her characters from her previous book and made them more than just secondary characters. She is one of the few authors that I have read who seems to be able to do this without taking away from the main characters. Of course, I will definitely be reading more of Kleypas in the near future!