Twilight Desires (Morgan Creek, Book Three): Amanda Ashley

“Sofia Ravenwood was once fascinated by vampires—their seductive power, their inhuman strength, their dark desires.  Then one of them attached her family, and she threw out her goth attire and vowed to keep clear of her enemies. Until she heard about Ethan Parrish:  a sweet, sizzling-hot former college football player, turned into a vampire against his will.

 

“Wandering the deserted streets of Morgan Creek, Wyoming, Ethan’s sure he’ll be alone forever—a monster like him deserves nothing else.  Then beautiful, complicated Sofia agrees to meet him, fangs and all.  The need she ignites in him is more than just the pulse of her blood or the scent of her skin.  But he’s not the only bloodsucker desperate to make her his own…”

 

Here we are!  This is Ashley’s third and newest installment in her Morgan Creek series.  *In the name of full disclosure, I did receive an advanced copy of this book directly from the author, herself, in exchange for my honest review.*  The book’s official release date was August 28, 2018 (though the cover of the copy in my possession states it'll be available in September of 2018), but, knowing I review books and have reviewed her books in the past, Ashley reached out to me and kindly offered to send an advanced uncorrected proof to me.  I, of course, was happy to read it.  I did, however, first need to read the preceding two books in this series!  If you’ve read those recent reviews, then you’ll know I had some mixed feelings.  I liked some of the characters and really appreciated the uniqueness of the plot surrounding the location of Morgan Creek, itself, but some things didn’t strike me as outstanding.  I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what this book has to offer.  We were introduced to both Sofia and Ethan in the second book in the series (Sofia is Micah’s younger sister and Ethan is Holly’s cousin) – more so Sofia than Ethan.  From what I already know about them, Sofia is a bit of a spitfire and Ethan has no qualms about giving Saintcrow, his sire, any attitude or lip.  I’m looking forward to seeing how Ethan’s dynamic plays out with the other vampires in Morgan Creek – especially because he’s always believed in vampires and hated them so much – and I’m really hoping we continue to see Sofia’s attitude and spunk.  I have felt that the biggest thing this series has been lacking is a really unique, standout female lead; I’m really hoping Sofia can accomplish this task.




***




I'm about 75 pages into this book after starting it last night.  It's a much easier read and I like the pace of the story; I think Ethan's confusion and frustration coming to terms with his new life as a vampire is well-written.  So far, Sofia does seem better developed than the other female leads I've encountered and I hope it continues.  It feels like she really does have a life of her own and, while some of her attitudes and behavior is a bit immature, I think it suits her age well (she is, after all, only 19).  Ethan has an attitude and a bit of a death wish.  I like seeing a change in him when he's around Sofia.


However...Sofia has a feels "her heart swell with love" 31 pages into the story...thirty...one...pages...(Ashley 31).  I found it unbelievable and unrealistic, especially because she and Ethan had only met a couple of times at that point.  It almost makes me wonder if that was a hiccup in the writing because there haven't been any mentions since then.  One other hiccup is the fact that Ethan keeps taking her to bars and out for drinks (she likes tequila sunrises)...but she's only 19.  I am not upset over the fact that she's underage-drinking, I just can't quite figure out how it's so easy for her to get a drink absolutely everywhere they go.  Ethan hasn't even considered that it might be more difficult to take a 19-year-old out to a bar.  Granted, Ethan does most of the ordering, but no fake ID has been mentioned and no one's bothered to card her.  It's just a little too easy, almost as if we (conveniently) forgot how old she actually is.




Some moments have felt a bit scattered and contradictory.  POTENTIAL SPOILERS:  The scene where Mateo uses a human henchman to kidnap Sofia seems a bit random and ill-planned; on top of the fact that I'm not really sure why he had Sofia locked in a basement while he fed on another woman he'd kidnapped.  It seemed like a lot of trouble for not a lot of real reason.  The biggest issue I've taken thus far is with Ethan's very irrational, mercurial mood in Chapter 10.  I get being upset because Sofia hasn't called; however, he'd just had a wonderfully productive planning meeting about the changes he wants to make to Morgan Creek.  He seemed to be getting exactly what he wanted.  From one sentence to the next, Ethan transforms into a self-loathing, suicidal maniac willing to do whatever it takes to get Saintcrow to come and put him out of his misery.  It felt very sudden and I actually had to put the book down and wonder, "What the heck just happened here?"  We'll see how this progresses.




One other little plot hole I feel the need to mention:  Earlier in this review, I state that Ethan always hated vampires.  This statement stemmed from Holly's statement in book two that, when Ethan was a child, he always used to carry around objects to ward off vampires.  Last night when I was reading, Ethan indicated that he'd never really believed in vampires.  Hm.




***


I finished this book just over a week ago; however, I was in an airport on my way out of state (sans computer), so I didn’t get a chance to finish my review on this until this morning.  I ended up liking Ethan a good amount and I liked Sophia more than I’ve liked other female leads in this series.  I particularly liked the conflict between Ethan and Sophia’s older, rightfully-protective brother (and vampire), Micah.

I do have to say that I found the romance to be a bit hasty.  (***Minor spoiler:  I found the marriage between Ethan and Sophia to be pretty rushed.  I get excitement and all that, but it was borderline unbelievable.  I found their attraction to feel more natural than their actual love, if that makes any sense.***)  However, I liked their banter and the sparks between them.  I think their romance felt the most realistic to me of all of the three books I’ve read in this series.

There was a decent villain in this book in the form of a vampire who wanted to bring Morgan Creek back to its “glory days” when wandering humans were kept captive by a coven of vampires.  However, I kept waiting for more like-minded vampires to join in the fight and give Ethan and Saintcrow a better run for their money (on top of the fact that I expected Saintcrow to call upon Micah when the proverbial shit really hit the fan and Kadie went missing.  It felt strange that a vampire so in love with his mate wouldn’t call upon every single resource at his disposal when it came down to it.  Who cares of Micah and Holly were on what would technically be their second honeymoon (they went to New York first at the end of their book)?  That felt a bit odd to me.)  These like-minded vampires were hinted at and I kept waiting for something to happen with them, but it never did.  The greater threat came into play with the introduction of another supernatural being:  a witch.  There were a couple of them in this book and I would say (from my relatively limited knowledge) that they were pretty “purist” as well, which sticks nicely with the rest of Ashley’s writing.  Even though there was more tension in this book with the variety of conflicts and some decent “bad guys,” I still found myself longing for the big knock-down, drag-out battle scene.  I know if I were Saintcrow, I’d want revenge in the worst way.  Nothing would be able to stop my desire for blood; my own safety be damned.  The way this was handled made him seem a bit more fragile than one would expect from a master vampire.  I feel like I’m spending quite a bit of time on Saintcrow in this review and he’s not even the male lead.  I think this is because the series really does revolve around him.  Another reason is probably because I like him more now than I did in even his own book.  I feel like I really got to see the charm, wit, and acerbic sense of humor/sarcasm that I didn’t quite get to experience earlier.  I love it when characters develop and Saintcrow has done so.  ***Minor spoiler:  Also, the whole walking in sunlight thing was VERY convenient and I’m not too sure I cared for it.  The rest of Ashley’s vampires are very “purist” and that’s something I truly respect, so perhaps this is what rubbed me the wrong way.  I may have forgiven it for Saintcrow, but as soon as Ethan was allowed to do so, that killed it for me.  What goes hand-in-hand with this is my opinion that Saintcrow seemed overly generous with his master vampire mojo.  He let Micah drink from him, thereby instilling in him heightened powers; he drained Ethan again and let him drink, affording him additional powers and abilities (like walking in sunlight).  I feel like these were things that he should have kept very close to the chest, regardless of circumstances or who the other vampires were.  These abilities are what allow him to be so powerful, to lord his strengths over other vampires and maintain control over his domain.  Eternity is a long time and, should Micah or Ethan ever decide to turn their backs on him, they would now present a greater threat.  Something to think about.

***

Overall, I think this book was my favorite of the series.  Ethan gives Micha a run for my favorite male lead in the series.  I think Micah has a better sense of humor, but Ethan has a much better “tortured, angst-ridden, moody male” vibe about him.  I liked Ethan’s head-butting with Saintcrow, but (as previously mentioned) some of the interactions felt a bit forced or nonsensical (as in, they weren’t quite what I was expecting or they didn’t quite fit with Ethan’s emotional state).  I enjoyed the development of Saintcrow, but this proves how the series really does focus on the male leads.  Kadie and Holly really fell to the wayside in this book.  I expected a lot more from Holly as a secondary character, especially because she was the one who helped hook up Ethan and Sophia.  Instead, when it came time for Ethan and Micah to meet, she really took a big leap into the background.  I thought her rapport with Sophia (and as a calming, rational person in Micah’s life…or death, if you’re a stickler for semantics) would go a long way toward developing the plot and conflict, but it didn’t really.  I’m curious to see if other vampires from Morgan Creek will crop up in future books.  Jokes were made that the rest of Micah and Sophia’s family should be turned into vampires since they’ve already gotten a good start, but I don’t know if I expect this to be an actual hint to future stories.

I’m honored that Ashley chose to send me an advanced copy of this book to review.  I’m always thrilled whenever an author reaches out to me and I’m more than happy to contribute my own (tiny) voice to the conversation.  I recommend this book to vampire romance purists out there.  While the romance is a bit tamer than I’m used to, I think this presents a good alternative to those who find other authors a bit too “raunchy.”  There is romance; there are quality classic vampires.  If this is what you’re looking for, then Ashley’s writing is right up your alley.  I had my criticisms for each of the books in this series, but I tend to write much more in-depth reviews when I know an author will see it.  I would want the breadth and depth from anyone who was reviewing my own writing, so I feel like I’m doing a service to the writing community.  I found aspects which could have been expanded upon and some things I felt worked well.  The underlying plot of Morgan Creek is unique, interesting, and creative.  There is a ton of potential here for even more books in the series.

Happy reading!

Twilight Dreams (Morgan Creek, Book Two): Amanda Ashley

"Holly Parrish has never met anyone like Micah Ravenwood:  his dark eyes, his movie-star smile, the indefinable way he looks at her.  Even when she thought he was no more than another client for her investment firm, her lust overpowered her logic.

"But she never expected this attraction to whisk her from her busy southern California life to a silent and eerie ghost town in Wyoming.  Only vampires call the deserted place home--and one of them is Micah.  He says he's brought her to Morgan Creek for her safety, that vicious creatures are hunting her.  But how can Holly trust him?  One look and she can see the need barely restrained behind Micah's polite words.  The heat of his kiss, the pleasure of his touch--none of it can tell her whether he wants her as his lover--or his prey..."






I'm about 50 pages in and I think I already like this book more than I liked the first in this series.  I feel like this is due in large part to the fact that I have already seen a great deal more from Micah's perspective than we did Saintcrow's.  We met Micha in the first book and, given our first "meeting," I wasn't certain how much I would like him as a hero of his own story.  He actually feels more developed with a solid backstory.  Knowing what we do of his family and history (especially having a good percentage of the story told from his point of view thus far) I feel like I care about him more already.  I sympathize more with him; hopefully the trend continues.






Holly is still pretty generic.  She is pretty, smart, does her chores every Saturday, and loves to eat.  So far, she doesn't differ very much from Kadie (other than her career) and she's still pretty generic.  I hope she develops more as the story goes on.






We've also been introduced to some villains already, which is nice.  I like starting a book off with an undercurrent of conflict; it makes for a better story and a more intense read.  I think, perhaps, this is some of what the first book in this series was missing.  Granted, Saintcrow and the rest of the vampires in Morgan Creek are technically the villains, but we don't get an external villain until much, much later in the book.  This is probably why it felt like the story (and Kadie's conversations and conflict with Saintcrow) kept going in circles.  There had to be something to keep the story moving until an external villain could be introduced.  I like the villains thus far and I'm looking forward to the inevitable clash.






I'm hoping for a bit more of an explanation as to why Holly (who works solely in a formal business world) would be meeting a prospective new employee at a goth club.  It feels a bit unbelievable and REALLY unprofessional on his part.  Maybe it was a trap?  I'm hoping to find out more as I continue onward.






***




I still prefer the development of Micah's character to Saintcrow's.  I feel the sympathy toward him that was missing for me in the first book of this series.  I care about him more.  He feels more tortured, perhaps because, in some ways, he's still coming to terms with his vampire existence.  Holly, on the other hand, feels very similar to Kadie (i.e. generic).  They have the same reaction and mentality toward vampires (which I suppose is reasonable), the same obsession with food, and no real defining hobbies or traits (personality or physical) that set them apart or make them unique from a caricature of what, perhaps, someone expects a modern woman to be.  Take away their physical descriptions and professions...and they're basically the same woman.  They're both virgins (there's nothing wrong with this, but I'm definitely noticing a trend:  the men are very possessive, the women are innocent virgins, there's a lot of steamy kissing, and the sex usually winds up very vanilla (nothing but missionary) -- man, does this last one make me sound like a kink, but I promise I'm not).  Neither of them really seems to have a defining history or past.  Both of them occupy themselves the same ways (nothing more than movies and books).  Their scenes always seem to start with or involve food (usually overly-descriptive, mass quantities of food).




I still like the fact that this book has more tangible villains; it makes for a more exciting read.  Even if Holly is falling a bit flat for me, I think the plot is moving well and it doesn't feel as "trapped in a cycle" as Kadie and Saintcrow's book did.




***


Well, I finished this book last night and I can safely say that I did end up liking it more than I did the first in the series.  Kadie and Saintcrow played large roles in this sequel and, I can say with definitiveness now, that Kadie remains rather underdeveloped (as does the relationship between Kadie and Saintcrow).  Saintcrow did gain a little bit more individuality in this book (which is surprising because he was not the male lead), so it made him a bit more interesting.


I did end up liking Micah a great deal more than Saintcrow in the first book.  As a male lead, Micah was better developed, more individualized, and had a much better-explained backstory.  This is probably due in large part because he's such a young vampire that he still has living human relatives.  It helped show what he was like as a human and gave me a much better sense of who he was as a character.  (Now, I'm not saying that the only reason Saintcrow was underdeveloped was because he had no living human relatives...there are a lot of ways he could have become more well-rounded.)  He was witty and his personality suited his age.  I understood his attraction to Holly a bit better than I did Saintcrow's to Kadie, but it still fell a little bit short.  I'm stuck asking the same question:  What makes these women so damn unique?  They may be attractive and resistant to their vampiric charms, but that could be any one of hundreds, if not thousands, of women.  We see very little of Holly's family life (until the very end of the book) and nothing of her friends.  I felt like there was a big feud being hinted at when Holly mentioned that he father was a believer in vampires and hated them with a passion, but it never came to fruition.  Holly remained pretty flat, never quite setting herself apart from any other female lead in a vampire romance novel.  She loves the man; she is put off by the vampire; and she doesn't long for eternal life, but will accept it if it means she never has to leave the man she loves.  (Possibly a minor spoiler:  This is just a side note and I may be reading too much into this, but I REALLY cannot imagine any modern twenty-something picking fingertip veils for her bridesmaids...  This choice shattered the illusion for me because it felt really dated.)


I still had a few issues with the flow of the dialogue and there were some repetitive phrases, words, and conversations that simply struck me the wrong way.  This probably won't bother others as much, but I wanted to at least mention it.


I did mention before that I liked the fact that there were more tangible villains in this book.  It turns out that there were a few (we're introduced to another later in the book) and this made for a more dynamic plot.  However, I admit that the "big fight scenes" felt a little bit anticlimactic.  The action was fairly glossed over.  I didn't feel like I was watching an intense battle, rather hearing a quick account of what took place.


The last few chapters did set up the protagonists and villain for the third book in this series, which is scheduled to be released in a few weeks (and of which I also received an advanced copy in return for my honest review).  If these few chapters were any indication, we're in for our most combative male lead yet.  I am pretty certain I know who his female counterpart will be and I hope she matures and becomes a better-developed female lead than we've seen previously.


Overall, I liked this book more than the first in this series.  I appreciate that Morgan Creek is like the vampires' base -- their haven -- and I look forward to seeing how this continues and what becomes of the town now that there's no one to take care of it.  What will Saintcrow decide to do with it?  The story has potential, I just hope we get to see a more dynamic female lead.

Everlasting Kiss: Amanda Ashley, Madeline Baker

"DESIRE NEVER DIES

"Daisy O'Donnell doesn't get the attraction some women feel for vampires. She likes her men with a heartbeat. And she's just met one who's full of life: Erik Delacourt, the unreasonably sexy man she keeps meeting at a popular L.A. nightclub called the Crypt. She barely knows him, but there's no resisting the connection she feels...

"There's one important detail Erik hasn't gotten around to telling her yet. He's a powerful vampire out to hunt the Blood Thief who's draining young vampires all over the city--and who has just raised the stakes by destroying one of Erik's friends. To Erik, Daisy is a bright spot of innocence in a world of darkness and menace. He'll do anything--even lie to her--to keep her safe and pure.

"If only he knew that Daisy has something of her own to hide..."

Okay...well, I think I really need to start this review off with a very sincere apology. I was given this book to review months ago and only just finished it yesterday... I have no good excuses except for the real fact that I allowed my personal life to get in the way of my reviewing. If one looks at the past reviews, it's pretty obvious how much my reviewing tapered off. I have been reading this book on and off since I got it, but school and other things really got in the way of something that I love to do and there are no real excuses for that.

Now that I've said my sorries; this book was a fun read. I enjoyed the characters and their dynamics. Daisy's brother--Alex--was expecially fun to watch as he interacted with Erik (maybe moreso becase I have a brother--also named Alex--who's got a similar personality). The setting of the story was interesting too. I've not really read a book where vampires are known to the world and the government actually encouraged the hunting of their kind. Not to say that the vampires walked freely among humans, but there was a cool flavor to the setting that I haven't really seen before.

Overall, I really liked Erik as a character. He wasn't simply a "stock vampire" that I've seen in many other similar novels among other authors. I liked him almost as much as I liked Rhys--which probably wasn't the author's intent, but what can I say? I like 'em bad :)

Daisy--on the other hand--was a nice character, but that was it. I didn't feel much for her other than when she was with Erik. Her encounters with Erik made me care about her, but that was about it. Not to give too much away, but he lifestyle was pretty cool and her family was interesting, but it was Daisy, herself, the didn't quite do it for me.

However, I still enjoyed this book a lot (though it took me FOREVER to finish...). It wasn't my favorite of Ashley's, but I would still recommend it nonetheless.

Sunlight, Moonlight: Amanda Ashley, Madeline Baker

"TWO HEROES AS DIFFERENT AS NIGHT AND DAY...TWO LOVE STORIES AS DIFFERENT AS DAWN AND DUSK...

"SUNLIGHT

"He came from across the universe--a tawny, powerful stranger more perfect than any mere mortal. Yet when Micah crash-landed on earth, not even his boundless strength could help him resist the temptations of one stunning beauty. Trapped on a worls not his own, tracked by enemies bent on destroying him, Micah fought to preserve his very life even as he ached to claim the love that would take him to heaven and beyond."

This was definitely one of Amanda Ashley's more creative books. The plot wasunique and it really kept me interested. Though the beginning, several parts in the miffle, and the end were very fun to read; it was the few parts in the middle that slowed it a little for me. It's not that the writing was lacking; it was simply that the characters fell into a very typical routine. This should not be a deterrent bu any means. The writing was great and the plot was so interesting. Its twists and turns were excellent and made me want to keep reading.

"MOONLIGHT

"Long had Navarre dwelt in darkness, yearning to end his cursed solitude. A vampire doomes to eternal night, he had searched through the ages for a woman brave enough to desire him, a lover bold enough to embrace him. And when Navarre at last found her, he swore that together they would savor the joys of undying ecstasy and surrender the dawn."

Thus far, this has to be my favorite story by this autor yet. Navarre was so well-written. I pretty much ate this story up. Ashley created such an interesting world with her ancient religious cult and the unexpected turns in the plot made me fall in love with the story. I really enjoy it when an author transports me with her writing and Ashley definitely did this in the first half of this story. Though the "modern day" portion of the story didn't make me fall in love as the first part did, it was no less entertaining and I really did like this story.

I feel really bad that it took me so long to review this book...I finished it at least two weeks ago. Despite my delay, I recommend this book. I'm in the process of reading another of Ashley's books and will review it soon!

***So...it's actually December 31 2009 and I've been having problems with Blogger. Normally, I write the reviews in Word and copy and paste them into here. Now, for the past months, Blogger has not allowed me to do this and I've been pretty frustrated. I have several reviews all written up, but I have no way to put them on here other than sitting down and copying them word-for-word (like I did for this one). It's just frustrating because I don't have the time for it... That's not a very good excuse, though... As a matter of fact, I feel really bad because I've not been reading NEARLY as much as I used to. I'm shirking my duties a little. I'll do better in 2010!!! Promise!!***

Shades of Gray: Amanda Ashley (Madeline Baker)

“ALEXI

“Bound by chains of silver, the vampire had slept for a hundred years, locked in a world of pain and hunger, until the seductive scent of one woman’s blood recalled him to ravenous life.

“MARISA

“Unnerved by the sight of the carnival’s captive “vampire,” she stumbled from the tent—into the arms of the most striking man she’d ever seen. Mesmerized by his supernatural embrace, she believed him when he swore all he desired to drink were her kisses.

“GRIGORI

“Lost in darkness, Grigori found new sustinence in the light of Marisa’s love, and a new purpose in his life. Only he could protect her from the evil that stalked the night. Now, hungering for her bittersweet caress, he vowed to show her that not all of the undead were monsters, and that somewhere between the black and white of damnation and desire lay infinite…SHADES OF GRAY”

So, I read this book MONTHS ago and I have NO idea why I did not review it. Anyhow, this was one of my favorites by Amanda Ashley. The characters were so enthralling and I had wonderful time following them through the book. At first, I didn’t know what to expect from the story, but it kept taking twists and turns that maintained my interest. I really enjoyed it and I wish I had reviewed it earlier because my memory is failing me and I wish I was able to write more…

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!

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!

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.

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.

Embrace the Night (Vampire): Amanda Ashley

“MASTER OF DARKNESS, MISTRESS OF LIGHT

“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 promise 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”

(So in case you guys are wondering, in the title of this blog, there is a title for the series, but no book #. This is because it's just a group of books that she wrote with vampires in them...it's not technically a series. However, I will be reading them in the order that she published them...and there are three books in this "non-series" which must be read in order...but we'll get to that later...)

***So, I would like to apologize for some of the comments I made on this blog...I was having a bad day and would like to take back some of the things I wrote!***

I finished this book several days ago and JUST got a chance to review it because school has been totally crazy! Anyway, this is the first book by Amanda Ashley that I have gotten to read and it was slightly different from what I normally read. Most of you know that I love vampire novels and this one was no different. I LOVED the way the vampire (I don’t want to give away his name because that’s actually part of the plot; however minor) was written. His angst and pain were practically palpable and the character of Sara was very real too. Although…there was ALL of this build up for their “love scene” and it was rather chastely written. I almost felt cheated and let down because this is NOT a short book and nor is it a quick read, so it took me forever to finally get to the part where the characters finally admit that they really care for one and other and…pretty much nothing happened. Now, don’t go thinking that I’m some sort of pervert and that’s all I look for in a novel, but Ashley’s writing is very beautiful and eloquent and I was expecting so much more from her. Granted…it took place like ten times, but, again, I almost felt like it was a little bit disappointing and difficult to read. I think Ashley could have done something amazing.

(Okay so that was totally unfair of me... Ashley's writing was different from what I normally read and that does not make it bad at all! I LOVE her writing...and I'm NOT just saying that because she found this blog........ She uses some of the most beautiful descriptions and heartfelt words I have ever read and I want you all to know how much I really did enjoy this book. I know how disappointed I sounded in that last paragraph, but the more I sat down and thought about Ashley's writing, the more I realize that it's actually more mature and that I really appreciate her ability to create an amazing story without spelling out the s-e-x.)

And, I found the WORST typo out of all the books I’ve read! It goes “There is nothing wrong with me in the way you mean. It’s only that you’re so young.bu505” I was like “…what?” and had to read it over a few times to make sure I wasn’t seeing things. (I’ve seen delta symbols in place of apostrophes, but never numbers…let alone three numbers and two letters that make up one rather large typo…)

(I in no way wrote about that typo with the intent to place blame or offend. Some of my readers have come to me and asked "well, are you blind, or did you see the same typo I saw?"...yeah...they actually say that...and I got sick of it to the point where I actually just began to put it in my blogs so people would shut up. As an author myself, I know that this is not the author's fault. The books go through so many steps that there are MANY more people at blame. I'm sorry if I gave offense!)

Otherwise, I will most likely read more of Ashley’s work in the future (in fact, I have some more of her books already checked out from the library), but I have to admit that I hope to see more “depth” to certain parts of her writing.

(So, that was really immature of me...sorry... "Most likely" was an understatement because I really WILL read more of her works and love them for what they are--amazing, solid, beautiful, and eloquent writing!)