Sins of the Night (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Thirteen): Sherrilyn Kenyon

“In the realm of the Dark-Hunters, there is a code of honor that even immortal bad boys must follow: Harm no human. Drink no blood. Never fall in love.

“But every now and again, a Dark-Hunter thinks himself above the Code. That’s when I’m summoned. Who am I? I’m the one thing the fearless fear. Step over the line and it’s my wrath you will face. Nothing can touch me. Nothing can sway me. I am relentless and unfeeling.

“Or so I though until I met a female Dark-Hunter who goes by the name of Danger—it’s not her name, it’s how she lives her life. She doesn’t trust me at all. And who could blame her? She alone knows that I’m here to be judge, jury, and, most likely, executioner of her friends. Yet she is my key to saving some of them. Without her, they will all die.

“Dangereuse St. Richard is a deadly distraction. Something about her is reawakening a heart I thought was long dead. But in a race against evil, the only hope mankind has is that I do my duty when it means that I will have to sacrifice the only woman I’ve ever loved?”

I haven’t read a Sherrilyn Kenyon book in a while and I will admit that it was really nice to get back to her style of writing. This book contained the first female Dark-Hunter in the series and I have to say that it was good, but it wasn’t amazing. I pictured the female Dark-Hunter to be more like the character Tabitha from the previous books, but she was much more subdued—though she had her own edge. The book actually seemed really short and I breezed through it.

The Alexion was an amazing character! He was wonderfully fascinating to read about and it was great to learn more about Acheron and the history behind the Dark-Hunters. Overall, the plot was interesting and moved very well. The ending was ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! The writing was beautiful—as always—and the characters were very well-written and easy to fall for. It wasn’t my favorite, but it will not deter me from reading more of Kenyon’s works. I am TOTALLY addicted to her works!

Seduce Me At Sunrise (Hathaways Series, Book Two): Lisa Kleypas

“He has tried hard to forget her.

“Kev Merrington has longed for the beautiful, well-bred Winnifred Hathaway every since her family rescued him from the brink of death when he was just a boy. But this handsome Gypsy is a man of mysterious origins—and he fears that the darkness of his past could crush delicate, luminous Win. So Kev refuses to submit to temptation…and before long Win is torn from him by a devastating twist of fate.

“Can she remember the man he once was?

“Then, Win returns to England…only to find that Kev has hardened into a man who will deny love at all costs. Meantime, an attractive, seductive suitor has set his sights on Win. It’s now or never for Kev to make his move. But first, he must confront a dangerous secret about his destiny—or risk losing the only woman he has lived for…”

As the second in the Hathaways Series by Lisa Kleypas, this book certainly lived up to my expectations! The plot was fascinating and vastly entertaining. The characters were so real and their plights, heart-wrenching. Having learned somewhat about Merripen and Win in the first book in the series, I had some idea of what to expect, but nothing could prepare me for the fates that Kleypas had laid out for them!

There were moments of heartbreak, triumph, and palpable pain. I had a difficult time putting this book down when all I wanted to do was read more about the wronged, aggressive Merripen and the only woman who could save him.

Something changed in the author’s writing between her Wallflowers Series books one through four and the Wallflower Christmas and this series. I must admit that—though her writing was superb to begin with—there was an improvement. Unlike most authors who write series, Kleypas has exhibited the tenacity and skills to not only bring back characters from previous books, but to also write from their points of view. It was as if the stories had been flawlessly meshed and I LOVED it.

Though Lisa Kleypas’s website doesn’t say she is currently working on another addition in the Hathaways Series, this one was written to set up the plot for further books. I CERTAINLY HOPE SO!!!

Mine Till Midnight (Hathaways Series, Book One): Lisa Kleypas

“THEIR LIVES DEFY CONVENTION.

“When an unexpected inheritance elevates her family to the ranks of aristocracy, Amelia Hathaway discovers that tending to her younger sisters and wayward brother was easy compared to navigating the intricacies of the ton. Even more challenging: the attraction she feels for the tall, dark, and dangerously handsome Cam Rohan.

“THEIR DESIRE CONSUMES THEM BOTH…

“Wealthy beyond most men’s dreams, Cam has tired of society’s petty restrictions and longs to return to his “uncivilized” Gypsy roots. When the delectable Amelia appeals to him for help, he intends to offer only friendship—hut intentions are no match for the desire that blindsides them both. But can a man who spurns tradition be tempted into that most time-honored arrangement: marriage? Life in London society is about to get a whole lot hotter….”

Once more, Lisa Kleypas whisks readers back to Nineteenth-century England and Stony Cross Park—where even the most unlikely couples seem find the love of a lifetime. In the first book of this new series, Kleypas introduces a new family with its own fair share of issues. With a newly-inherited title and hardly any money to their name, the Hathaways are having a difficult time adjusting. None so much at the Leo—the new Lord Ramsay—and his younger sister, Amelia, who cares for the entire family like a mother hen—taking all the responsibility for her three sisters and unruly older brother on her shoulders.

The readers have already met Cam Rohan in several books from the Wallflower Series and it’s very interesting to see a new side to this mysterious half-Rom. His mind is quick and his skills with numbers is undeniable, but there is something about the way that Kleypas has written him that he is completely fascinating. I have read books with the Rom before but none with such a distinct character as Cam. I really enjoyed following Cam’s evolution through the story. He was sweet and multi-faceted and I thoroughly enjoyed him.

Overall, the book was fantastic and I am VERY excited to read the sequel! The Hathaways are a family that I can’t wait to read more about!

A Wallflower Christmas (Wallflower Series, Book Five): Lisa Kleypas

“The Wallflowers are four young ladies in London who banded together in their wild and wickedly wonderful searched for true love. Now happily married, they join together to once again to help one of the world’s most notorious rogues realize that happiness might be right under the mistletoe….

“It’s Christmas in London and Rafe Bowman has arrived from America for his arranged meeting with Natalie Blandford, the proper and beautiful daughter of Lady and Lord Blandford. His chiseled good looks and imposing physique are sure to impress the lady-in-waiting, and if it weren’t for his shocking American ways and wild reputation, her hand would already be guaranteed. Before the courtship can begin, Rafe realizes he must learn the rules of London society. But when four former Wallflowers try their hand at matchmaking, no one knows what will happen. And winning a bride turns out to be more complicated than Rafe Bowman anticipated, especially for a man accustomed to getting anything he wants. However, Christmas works in the most unexpected ways, changing a cynic to a romantic and inspiring passion in the most timid of hearts.”

I must admit that the Wallflower Series by Lisa Kleypas has to be one of my favorite series that I have ever read. Kleypas has a knack for remaining true to her characters and creating fun and absolutely fascinating plot lines. The dialogue is witty and the situations interesting so the readers are unable to put her books down.

This book, in particular, was on the shorter side, but it was no less delicious. I read about Lillian and Daisy’s brothers in previous books, but I never thought I would “meet” one of them in a book. Rafe was a well-written hero and—I don’t want to give too much of the plot away—but I thoroughly enjoyed his outspoken heroin. They make such a fantastic match and it was a lot of fun to watch as the Wallflowers banded together to help them come together! I found myself smiling numerous times—especially in the first scenes where the readers get a real taste of what Rafe is like. I hope you all enjoy this series as much as I have! I think it’s just brilliant how Kleypas has linked pretty much EVERY one of the books that I have read by her. It seems as if Stony Cross Park really is a place for magic!

My Wicked Pirate: Rona Sharon

***I read this book on my Kindle, so I don’t have the exact wording on the back of the book, so this is the one from Rona Sharon’s site. I will try to fix it as soon as I can!***

“First he gave her a wicked kiss…

“Azure-eyed Alanis was by far the most exquisite treasure ever claimed by the black pirate known as the Viper, but his motives went deeper than his silken promise to ravish the feisty Yorkshire heiress. Commanding the waters of the Caribbean was his mean to an end: reclaiming his birthright—and his blood debt against those who had betrayed him.

“Then he gave her nights of wicked pleasure…

“Comfortably betrothed to a nobleman, Alanis never imagined the heady emotions in the true games of seduction—games this blackguard seemed to thoroughly enjoy playing with her. Swept up into an adventure that soon revealed a gentleman and a kindred spirit beneath the ruthless veneer of a privateer, Alanis began to soften towards her enigmatic captor, as her pride and her heart fell under his erotic spell…”

This is the second of Rona Sharon’s books that I have read and—once again—I LOVED it!!! Her books may seem long and daunting to the casual reader, but I assure you, every single page is required. Sharon is a gifted and absolutely amazing writer. When other authors write historical fiction, they may include some facts that help verify the time period and nothing more. Sharon on the other hand has a TREMENDOUS amount of facts and includes well-known wars and generals, Emperors, Popes, monarchs…and it is not tedious in the least. She dares to make her time period completely authentic and I applaud her for that.

Also, her characters are amazing. They are SO real! (And I know I tend to say that, but in this case I REALLY mean it!) There are so many facets to them that they seem like they could have been actual human beings. It’s really, truly a talent.

This book was wonderful and I HIGHLY recommend reading any of Rona Sharon’s works. I never want them to end!!! She has a new book coming out in April and I am SO excited! Look for Rona Sharon's Royal Blood.

Claiming the Courtesan: Anna Campbell

“He would marry her and possess her in every way possible.

“The Duke of Kylemore knows her as Soraya, London’s most celebrated courtesan. Men fight duels to spend an hour in her company. And only he comes close to taming her. Flying in the face of cosiety, he decides to mae her his bride; then, she vanishes, seemingly into thin air.

“Dire circumstances have forced Verity Ashton to barter her innocence and change her name for the sake of her family. But Kylemore destroys her plans for a respectable life when he discovers her safe haven. He kidnaps her, sweeping her away to his hunting lodge in Scotland, where he vows to bend her to his will.

“There he seduces her anew. Verity spends night after night with him in his bed…and though she still dreams of escape and independence, she knows she can never flee the unexpected, unwelcome love for the proud, powerful lover who claims her both body and soul.”

This book took me forever to finish reading. It started off interesting, but it quickly slowed down—which shouldn’t have happened. The plot was interesting and it had a certain tang to it from twists and turns that the readers can’t see coming, but there was just something about the way that it was written that really slowed it down. Maybe it had something to do with the language that was used?

There were A LOT of words used that could have easily been put into plain English. There is a line between someone having an extensive vocabulary and someone who seems like a total Thesaurus nut! I don’t mean that in a bad way (I sometimes use a Thesaurus for my own writing and it really is an exceptional book for any author), but I have a very hard time seeing any reader who hasn’t read as much as I have understanding all of the words that this author used. To read it, one would need a dictionary on hand. The author could have used a few less lengthy or elaborate words and it wouldn’t have affected the flow of the language, but it would have made it much more comprehensible and easier to read.

I really liked the characters and the very original plot behind this book. I just wish it had been a little easier to read. This book probably took me THE longest to read out of any book in my entire life. That may not be a bad thing—if one is reading an epic, but for a romance novel, it was just a bit much.

I will probably end up reading another of Campbell’s works, though I will only tentatively recommend this book.