Seize the Night (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Twelve): Sherrilyn Kenyon UPDATED

Back to Sherrilyn Kenyon!  I forgot how much I loved Valerius (you can see the similarities between this review and my original one HERE).  We get a small taste of him in Talon and Sunshine's story, a (rather biased) glimpse of him in Zarek and Astrid's story, and a very good view into his character as he makes a supporting appearance in Vane and Bride's story.  He was haughty and obnoxious in the first two, but Bride's perceptiveness opens up a whole new side of him to the readers.  One which is beautifully developed in this book.  Kenyon (as I've stated on numerous occasions) has the most wonderful talent for writing dark, twisty, tormented, complex characters.  Valerius, while seemingly shallow at first glance, is exactly this.  We, like the characters in the books, meet him with an engrained prejudice.  We already have loyalty to Kyrian and our hearts have bled for Zarek.  It is amazing how quickly and deeply we fall for Val (because I can say with some certainty that I am not the only one who has felt this way).

I did go into this reading concerned about how I would like Tabitha.  She (as she professes to be) is a lot to handle.  I was a touch concerned that she would be too over-the-top for my tastes, but (as Ash knew she would be) is the perfect foil for Val.  She brings out the best in him, she knows how to help him heal.  He, on the other hand, is what she needs.  He allows her to be herself, but she (somewhat) mellows her outing keeps her safe.  I really enjoyed their story, overall.

Additionally, it was nice to see SO many familiar faces:  Kyrian, Julian, Talon, Nick, Vane, Otto, Zarek, even some familiar villains.  This was a very busy, action-packed book, which made for some volatile, cringe-worthy, heart-breaking moments.  I cannot believe how much Kenyon crammed into this one book!  Having read this one before, I knew what was coming and I still got choked up.  I won't give anything away (because that would be a real crime against this story), but be prepared for irreparable changes to take place!  Some of your favorite characters will never be the same...  You also clues to some of the secrets other characters have been carefully concealing.

This was a complex, exciting, excellent read.  Kenyon has worked her magic again and really brought her Dark-Hunter New Orleans to life.

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

Here we go with the first Were-Hunter installment!  (My brief, original review of this book can be found HERE.)  We are introduced to Vane and his brother, Fang, in Talon and Sunshine's book, Night Embrace.  My original reading order of the series is a bit different from the one I'm following now.  I didn't originally read this book until later on, but I think reading it after Kiss of the Night, Dance with the Devil, and Night Embrace because the flow is much better.  We are introduced to Bride (very briefly) and Vane while Sunshine is under Vane's watchful eye in Jackson Square.  I immediately liked Vane, even then.  He's rough and vulgar, volatile and fierce.  He's fantastic.  His loyalty to his siblings is intense and he is harboring a deep secret which could put him and his loved ones in even more danger than they already are.  His backstory is well-formed and terribly (wonderfully) tragic.  His desire to do the right thing and treat Bride the way in which she deserves are extremely touching and really endeared him to me.  Bride was a good female lead  She is strong and intelligent, but not without her own faults.  I was occasionally slightly annoyed by her self-deprecating tendencies...then, I realized why I felt this way...I recall thinking and feeling the same things more often than I would like to admit.  Kenyon managed to tap into some very raw, poignant, uncomfortable feelings in a very unexpected way.  In a romance novel.  Bride was a very real character with realistic problems and insecurities.  I think Kenyon handled her well, as well as Bride's disbelief that someone who looked like Vane could want her and never want to change anything about her.  (At the risk of turning this into self reflection, I feel a bit of a personal connection with Bride, having dealt with similar body image issues my entire life...and I somehow found my own (yummy) Vane who loves and adores me just the way I am, and would never ask me to change -- something I still sometimes struggle to believe, even six years later.)  I am very impressed with how Kenyon managed this delicate dance without going over the top.

The complexities of the Arcarian/Katagarian worlds are really fascinating.  I'm always impressed with the amount of thought Kenyon puts into her fantastic worlds.  This is the mark of her brilliance.

As far as criticism goes, I found a couple of grammatical typos in my version of the book.  Much like my comment on Kiss of the Night, there were instances where words were repetitive in some sentences.  I loved the nuances of the characters and details of the were-hunter world.  The end at Sanctuary was very slightly cheesy, but I'm willing to let it slide.  I definitely enjoyed this installment.

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

I actually finished reading this book about a week or so ago, but I've been hemming and hawing over how to handle these updated reviews (especially since I've been reading so many of them lately).  It's not a "problem" I have had to address before.  On one hand, I like adding my updated information to the original reviews themselves so the information is all in one place and it's easy to see how my writing/reviewing style has changed over the years.  On the other, I don't get "credit" for reading the book in this year's "book tally" on the right side of this blog.  I ended up going with creating a new review, marking it "UPDATED" and I plan on including a hyperlink to the original review for those of you who want to see what I thought of the book the first time around.  Now, I have to figure out a way to go back and update those reviews I previously just tacked onto the original reviews.  Some of those happened in 2017, so I'm trying to see if there's a way to post-date reviews...  I'm sure I'll figure something out!

Moving on to this review!  I seem to have been on a Sherrilyn Kenyon kick as of late.  I made my husband dig out my enormous box of books from under the stairs (where they're stored only because we haven't put of a bunch of shelves for them yet) and it was like a treasure chest.  I ended up having to read the UK version of this book and the English nerd in me was interested by the fact that it used apostrophes as quotation marks.  It drove me crazy at first, but I got over it (after regaining my husband about the oddity and having him roll his eyes at me, of course).

I originally read this book in 2008 and you can find the review here (along with the official text from the back of the book - it seemed silly to include it on this review too).  Clearly, I felt as if it was one of the most amazing things I'd read and I fell in love with Talon.  While I still enjoyed it (especially the lively sense of humor Kenyon manages to weave throughout), I didn't cry this time.  I think it's because my reading material has been inundated with heartbreaking, gut-wrenching backstories lately, and I'm slightly desensitized.  Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed it.  I found Sunshine charming, but I got a very different visual image of her this time around -- not sure why.  I love seeing recurring characters and I appreciate when an author is able to incorporate them into another character's book.  Seeing Julian and Kyrian again was a treat (especially when they had to come rescue him from Sunshine's apartment).  I loved Acheron in this book.  While we see him in Kyrian's book, I don't think he played as big a role and we certainly don't get to see as much of him or learn as much about him as we do in this book.  His relationship with Artemis is insanely complex and twisted (and I will now say that House of the Rising Son makes a little bit more sense to me...if only a little...).  The biggest comment I will make is that some of the dialogue was jarringly awkward.  One perfect example is when Nick and Acheron are drinking and Nick is grabbing a bite to eat.  Nick's mother orders food for Acheron (being the loving, concerned mother she is).  When Acheron gives the food to Nick, Nick realizes he's never seen Acheron eat (which is an odd time for the realization after his years of working with Acheron), and then he flat out mentions it to Acheron.  It's just awkwardly formulated and I think Kenyon is a much better author than that.  In addition to this, the use of "baby" endearments was a bit off-putting.  I'm not saying it can't be used, it just didn't feel like it fit the characters well, and it felt overused at times.

Overall, I think Kenyon has a knack for creating characters with brilliant gravitational pulls.  We feel drawn to them and are instantly empathetic.  Talon's backstory was rich and his tragic history coupled with his unique abilities and life as a Dark-Hunter made for an interesting story.  I liked Sunshine, but I found myself a little bit annoyed by her - I can't quite put my finger on why.  There were great plot twists in the story that kept it fun and exciting, so much so that I finished it in just a couple of days.  While I can appreciate that Kenyon was setting up a few other books with her inclusion of Vane, Valerius, and Zarek, I think she spent quite a bit of time on them - more so than I'm used to with her other books.  She usually introduces them, but doesn't really spend entire chapters in their point of view.  Part of me wonders if this was due, at least a little bit, to a need to fill in more information when Talon and Sunshine's story was a bit shorter than she wanted.  I certainly don't feel like the book suffered for this, but a noticeable amount of this book was dedicated to other characters.

This was a dark, yet oddly light-hearted read (oxymoron much?).  We're introduced to complex subplots and other rich personalities and characters.  I definitely recommend this installment in this complex, creative Dark-Hunter series.

Timeless Passion (Paranormal, Book One): Constance O'Day-Flannery

"SEPARATE YESTERDAYS

"When Brianne Quinlan woke up after the accident, she thought she was losing her mind. Gone were the last things she remembered: Her car, the highway, and the tall buildings that lined the road. Instead, she found herself in a meadow surrounded by trees and rolling lawns. And when she lifted her head her eyes met the magnetic blue gaze of the most remarkably handsome man she'd ever seen. As he effortlessly lifted her onto his horse, Brianne was unable to even utter a protest.

"ONE TOMORROW

"On a routine ride to survey his plantation, Ryan Barrington could not believe what he saw. Lying beneath a tree was a beautiful woman, dressed in bizarre clothing, her long copper-colored hair surrounding her like a veil. He had never seen such a fetching apparition, and he was sure that she had been sent by a friend to entice him. He thought to send her on her way, but when he lifted her into his arms Ryan knew he was lost. He caressed her creamy flesh and kissed her ripe lips feeling a rush of desire that could not be denied. He vowed to find out her true identity and make her his own with TENDER PASSION."

I've had this book for a while and finally picked it up when I decided that it was time to try a new author. I was looking forward to seeing how this author handled the whole time travel conundrum and (I won't wreck it for you, but) I think she did it very nicely. She tied the whole story together well and it was much better than some other books of this type that I've read. The ending was great!!!

Ryan was a well-written character. I liked his spark and drive. Though many male leads in romance novels are perfect and strong (which Ryan was...I almost wanted him to have a flaw...), Ryan didn't get boring for me. I do, however, think I would have liked to have seen him have more passion. I won't go into depth, but you'll see what I mean when you read it. Brianne (it took me a while, but about two-thirds into the book, I got confirmation that her name is, in fact, pronounced "Bree-ann" instead of an odd form of "Brianna". I'm not sure what made me think this, but I did. Anyway...) Brianne was a good female lead as well. I didn't much care for her in the beginning. She seemed pretty flat. However, I forced myself to give her and this story a chance and I ended up liking her much more. I suggest you do the same.

As I just mentioned, this book starts off slow. It's set in the latter part of the 1980's, so it's naturally outdated. Though this can't be helped (and the 80's were before my time); even I can tell that the author had a habit of simply picking out popular or expensive things to portray a certain lifestyle. There wasn't much heart put into it. It was as if she sat down and made a list of expensive clothing brands, cars, etc. and just gave them all to Brianne without much personal thought. This annoyed me a little bit and helped make the first ten or so chapters drag on. I will fully admit that I almost put this book down...but I didn't and I am glad! Many things made me smile and I ended up liking this author.

Some of the supporting actors were well-written as well. However, I think I would have liked to have seen more of the "villains". ***SPOILER: Duville was interesting and I REALLY wanted more from him. He was interesting and dark and really could have made a nasty contrast to Ryan had the story continued on for a few more chapters. I also feel like Caroline gave in too easily. Yes, the author explained well why this was, but it still felt a little hollow to me. Overall, I kind of get the sense that we're missing a chunk of the plot. There was no grand fruition of the evil plans Duville had for Brianne. I hate to say it, but I almost WANTED a kidnapping to occur!***

Anyway, though I feel strongly about my little rant, that didn't ruin the story for me. I still enjoyed it and found myself especially tearing up while reading the epilogue. I really like the twists at the end and--when you think about them--you'll appreciate them for what they are (if that makes any sense...probably not...)

And so, I recommend this book. I enjoyed it once I got through the slightly slow beginning. This is the first in this series and I look forward to reading more.

Dream Chaser (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Twenty-four): Sherrilyn Kenyon

“HADES DOESN’T OFTEN GIVE SECOND CHANCES…

“Xypher has one month on Earth to redeem himself through one good deed, or be condemned to eternal torture in Tartarus. But redemption means little to a demigod who only wants vengeance on the one who caused his downfall.

“UNTIL ONE DAY IN A CEMETERY…

“Simone Dubois is a medical examiner with a real knack for the job. Those who are wrongfully killed appear to her and help her find the evidence the police need to convict their killers. But when a man appears and tells her that she;d more than just a psychic, she’d convinced he’s insane.

“NOW THE FATE OF THE WORLD HANDS IN HER HANDS…

“It was bad enough when just the dead relied on her. Now there’s the seductive Dream-Hunter Xypher who needs Simone’s help in opening a portal to the Atlantean hell realm to fight insatiable demons. The future of mankind is at stake—and so is her life. The only question now is: Who is the bigger threat? The demons out to kill her? Or the man who had left her forever changed?”

***Technically, you’re supposed to read the Dark-Hunter Companion before you read this book, but I’m about half-way through the Companion and picked this up and just COULD NOT put it down long enough to go back to the other book. Sorry for my weakness!***

Readers are initially introduced to Xypher in an earlier book with Katra and Sin titled Devil May Cry. It’s difficult to care for a man (or should I say, god?) with such an acerbic personality and grim outlook, but even then I was able to tell that there really was more to Xypher than Sherrilyn Kenyon was letting on. Obviously, I couldn’t wait to read more. When I got this book and saw that its hero was in fact Xypher, I was so excited! The more I read, the more I fell for the battered man. It was really difficult not to, seeing as how he’d been so wrongfully tortured.

Xypher is truly the epitome of a beaten being—as are most of Kenyon’s characters—but Xypher was made even more interesting by the fact that he is a Dream-Hunter. It was nice to see the world from the eyes of a Dream-Hunter once more. I’ve only read another book and a short-story by Kenyon that were from this p.o.v. and it was really great to see again. However, I will say that I miss the Dark-Hunters a little…

Anyway, this story was full of really GREAT twists and turns and I look forward to reading more, as always!!!

Challenge to Honor (Master at Arms, Book One): Jennifer Blake

“They were professionally trained, highly skilled men of valor, but the roguish dangerous sword masters were not always respectable…

“When her brother challenges New Orleans’s most infamous swordsman to a duel, Celina Vallier boldly confronts his opponent, Rio de Silva, determined to thwart what would be her brother’s certain death. Legendary maître d’armes agrees…for a price.—Celina’s innocence.

“Though Rio is captivated by Celina’s beauty and courage, she is also the perfect pawn for his revenge. She is to be betrothed to his sworn enemy, the Count de Lérida. And what sweet vengeance it would be to take the bride before the wedding.

“But neither anticipates the tangled web of scandal and danger that will soon follow. Devious plots are afoot, and Celina is wary of trusting anyone, including the man whose brazen sensuality tempts her to think of nothing but her own desires….”

I decided to try to read a new author and picked out this book by Jennifer Blake. I really enjoy reading about New Orleans and this period in history in particular. I was really excited to learn about the maître d’armes and I liked the whole idea behind this series.

The book started off really interesting and it made me want to read more and more…then…it slowed a bit. Don’t get me wrong, the book was beautifully written—in fact, it sometimes felt more like a screenplay than a novel because Blake has a talent for setting up her scenes like an actual film. The descriptions were wonderful…but I have never read a book with more dialogue… I hate to admit it, but this made this book just not my cup of tea. I’m not saying that the book was bad, it just wasn’t for me. I enjoy reading about what the characters are thinking and what motivates them. It makes them seem more real with a depth that captivates the readers. I am not saying that others won’t love this book—I really enjoyed a lot of it—but I am just warning others that—if they have liked the other books that I have recommended, then they may not completely love this book.

As this is the first in a series, I may or may not continue this series.

Unleash the Night (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Fifteen): Sherrilyn Kenyon

“It’s a predator-eat-predator world for the Were-Hunters. Danger haunts any given day. There is no one to trust. No one to love. Not if they want to live…

“An orphan with no clan that will claim him, Wren Tigarian grew to adulthood under the close scrutiny and mistrust of those around him. A forbidden blend of two animals—snow leopard and white tiger—Wren has never listened to anyone when there was something he wanted. Now he wants Marguerite.

“Marguerite D’Aubert Goudeau is the daughter of a prominent U.S. senator who hates the socialite life she’d forced to live. Like her mother before her, she has strong Cajun roots that her father doesn’t understand. Still, she has no choice but to try and conform to a world where she feels like an outsider. But the world of rich and powerful humans is never to meet the world of the Were-Hunters who exist side by side with them, unseen, unknown, undetected. To break this law is to call down a wrath of the highest order.

“In order to have Marguerite, Wren must fight not just the humans who will never accept his animal nature, but the Were-Hunters who want him dead for endangering their world. It’s a race against time and magic without boundary that could cost Marguerite and Wren not just their lives, but their very souls…”

Yet another of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s brilliant works! Once again, I love her style and her characters. Wren was wonderfully written and he rivals even Zarek in my book (and those of you who read my review of Dance With the Devil know what a huge honor that is!). The more I read, the more I enjoyed the characters and their stories.

Overall, the book was fast-paced and I read it in one day! It was wonderful! Though, I must admit, it was rather busy and a bit harder to follow than Kenyon’s other works that I have had the pleasure to enjoy. There were just SO many characters (including Dante from an earlier short story, Vane, Julian, Fury, Fang, and several more). It was difficult to follow at first, but I gradually caught on. I had to remember who each character was and what each of his stories was, but—once I did—I realized it was a VERY well-planned plot with a lot of different facets to it.

I VERY much enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to read more!

Hot Blooded Anthology: Christine Feehan, Maggie Shayne, Emma Holly, Angela Knight

***This book contains the first part to Angela Knight’s Mageverse Series, Book Fourteen in Christine Feehan’s Dark Series, and number Six in Emma Holly’s reading order!***

“ “Dark Hunger” by New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan

“In a dark jungle, a beautiful activist liberates animals from a secret laboratory—and stumbles across an unexpected prisoner. She releases the Carpathian from his bonds—only to unleash his voracious appetite on herself…”

This was the first work by Christine Feehan that I’ve read. I’ve been meaning to read her—I have a list of her books all set to go—and it just worked out that I was reading Angela Knight once more and this short story by Feehan just happened to get caught up in the mix.

Overall, it was good. Her writing style is different and I liked it. The story itself was a little bit difficult to understand—though I am fairly certain that has to do with the fact that this is actually the fourteenth installment in a series… My fault for not having read the other thirteen… Anyhow, the characters were nice and I loved the descriptions of the environment.

I must admit, however, that this was fairly similar to one of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s short stories: “Winter Born” in the Stroke of Midnight anthology. I’m not implying that one author copied the other; I’m just saying that if you liked one, you’ll probably like the other.

This story was interesting and I’ll be reading more of Feehan in the future!

“ “Awaiting Moonrise” by New York Times bestselling author Maggie Shayne

“A science professor enters the steamy bayou to find a new species of animal, convinced that its presence is behind the stories of lycanthropy in the region, but finds herself tempted by a legendary creature straight out of her most sensual nightmare…”

I’ve only read Maggie Shayne once before, but the more I read her, the more I find that I like her. The first one I read by her was good—it wasn’t my favorite, but parts of it were really good. This one, however, was VERY good! I loved the plot and the story behind it all. It was so interesting and I really devoured it! Again, there was that element of gruesomeness, but it really ended up enhancing the story. Her characters have this mystery about them that only seems to work with Shayne’s writing. I have seen other writers attempt creating characters in this manner, but none seem to pull it off nearly as well as this one.

Of course, I will be reading more of Maggie Shayne in the future: especially after this short story!

“ “The Night Owl” by Emma Holly

“Little ever seems to stir in the sleepy woods of a small Vermont town, until a new owner takes over the exclusive local inn. He is centuries old and has traveled far and wide to find his queen—and now nothing will stop him from claiming her…”

As with Christine Feehan’s short story, this was a later installment in a series. I have been meaning to read Emma Holly’s works and was excited to see her name on the cover of the anthology.

I will admit that I have discovered another author whom I would be thrilled to read again! Her writing was unique, yet it maintained the style that captivates me. The characters were extremely likable and the plot remained interesting throughout. Even though this is book six in a series, I felt as if I was able to understand a good enough amount where this short story could stand alone. It was really impressive. I loved the new twist that Holly has thrown in to the mix and—I really don’t want to give it away—but it may either thrill or completely turn off the vampire-lover.

You’ll be sure to read more reviews of Holly’s works in the future!

“ “Seduction’s Gift” by Angela Knight

“All’s fair in the war between desire and resistance when a lady cop pulls over a speeder—and finds an immortal lover who is determined to seduce her into accepting her own passionate destiny…”

I’ve read Angela Knight before and this book definitely lived up to my expectations. The writing was captivating and it flowed very well. I had a bit of a hard time following the plot in the beginning, but it was quickly clarified. It was so cool to see a different side to one of the Knights of the Round Table! (Actually, part of the story actually rang of the research paper that I wrote for my Honors English Comp. I class… Pretty neat if you ask me.)

Of course, I will be reading more of Knight’s works in the future!

“When the sun goes down, each woman will discover the man she desires—within the beast that drives her wild…”

Seize the Night (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Twelve): Sherrilyn Kenyon

“Hail, Glorious Reader:

“I was born the noble son of a legendary Roman senator. I walked through the ancient world as a general, admired and supreme until a brutal betrayal caused me to bargain my soul. Now I’m an immortal Dark-Hunter, bound to protect mankind from the evil scourge that haunts it. Over the centuries, I’ve seen many frightening things: plagues, pestilence, disco music…

“And now Tabitha Devereaux. A human, she has trained herself to fight vampires every bit as capably as any Dark-Hunter. Idiosyncratic and off-beat, she is my personal bane—and yet she beguiles me. There are only two small problems. She happens to be the twin of my mortal enemy’s wife. More than that, Tabitha and her sister are being stalked by a power that will not rest until everyone she holds dear is dead.

“Unlike my Dark-Hunter brethren, I rely on no one but myself. They spurned me and I turned my back on them. But the only way to save Tabitha and her family is to find some way to bridge a two-thousand-year-old feud.

“They say opposites attract, but can they stay together when even the Fates conspire to keep them apart? Then again, the Fates have never dealt with the likes of Tabitha Devereaux before. They’re going to be in for quite a fight…

“—Valerius Magnus”

Having read previous books with Valerius in them—and I will grudgingly admit that—I wasn’t entirely certain just how much I would like Valerius as a main character. Sure, he seemed strong and infallible, but there was just something about him that rubbed me the wrong way…even more than Zarek! Now, however, the only Dark-Hunter book that made me cry more than this one was Zarek’s story: Dance With the Devil. This book was touching and it grabbed me in a certain, painful place in my chest and just wouldn’t let go.

I was fascinated at how Sherrilyn Kenyon made the readers care about Valerius. It was a huge feat and she accomplished it with her usual finesse. Tabitha was another character that I wasn’t too sure about. In previous books, she was so pushy and never seemed to think things through and—to be perfectly honest—she was actually almost annoying. It was good to see a whole other side to both of these character and I really don’t want to give anything away, but it was SO cool to learn more about Ash—though it was a bit on the confusing side and I’ll probably have to read it again to fully comprehend it. Happy reading!

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 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!

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!

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… ; )

Night Pleasures (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Four): Sherrilyn Kenyon

“Dear Reader

“Have you ever wanted to know what it’s like to be immortal? To journey through the night stalking vampires that prey on humans? To have unlimited wealth, unlimited power? That is my exixtence, and it is dark and dangerous. I play hero to thousands, but I am known to none. And I love every minute of it.

“Or so I thought until one night when I woke up handcuffed to my worst nightmare: a conservative woman in a button-down shirt. Or in Amanda’s case, one buttoned all the way up to her chin. She’d smart, sexy, witty, and wants nothing to do with the paranormal—in other words, me.

“My attraction to Amanda Devereaux goes against everything I stand for. Not to mention the last time I fell in love it cost me not only my human life, but also my very soul. Yet every time I look at her, I find myself wanting to try again. Wanting to believe that love and loyalty do exists.

“Even more disturbing, I find myself wondering if there’s any way a woman like Amanda can love a man whose battle scars run deep, and whose heart was damaged by a betrayal so savage that he’s not sure it will ever beat again.

“Kyrian of Thrace”

I officially LOVED this book! I found myself laughing so many times and Kyrian’s as well as Nick’s sarcasm was fantastic. It was so well-written that I could practically hear their actual conversations. Amanda was a pretty decent character—not one of my favorites, but I liked her nonetheless. Kyrian was fantastic and I REALLY loved how Kenyon brought back Julian and Grace’s family. It took me a while at first, but I finally got that this Kyrian was the Kyrian that Julian talked about in his book, Fantasy Lover. I thought that was neat and really awesome to have their stories meshed in such a way.

Kyrian’s past was one of the most violently descriptive I’ve ever read…it was fantastic and I found myself cringing on many occasions. His pain was at a whole new level I’d never before read and I really have to commend Kenyon for her brilliance.

The plot in general was AMAZING! I adore how Kenyon seems to have thought of everything! The whole Dark-Hunter thing is so fantastic and I could not find any flaws in her writing of it—and believe me…I’m a bit of a bitch like that where I try to find flaws…and I couldn’t!!! (I don't want to give too much away so I will just reiterate how great the plot was! She even brings back some other characters from stories...and you'll have to read to find out who!!!) I so look forward to reading the next in this TRULY captivating series!!!

*****UPDATE 12/18/2017*****

I can't believe it's been more than nine years since I first read this book!  How time flies!

I seem to be on a bit of a Sherrilyn Keyon re-reading kick lately, which is so odd because I NEVER re-read books.  I don’t think I am going to make a habit of re-reading books, but I’ve actually been enjoying doing this with Kenyon’s books for the most part (perhaps, mostly because it has been so long since I read them that it feels “new” enough).  One thing has remained true over the years:  I still feel like the overarching plot is brilliant.  Kenyon has created this amazing sub-world rich with history, backstory, and she put an astounding amount of forethought into it.  I have always enjoyed her angsty male leads and writing in their tragic backgrounds really rounds them out and, rather than make them pitiable, actually makes them rich and interesting – it’s a very fine line to walk.  She is so wickedly creative in the ways she develops their pasts and the natures of their very unique deaths.

I enjoyed Kyrian, but perhaps more so because of his past than anything.  I found his “present” character to be slightly lacking the attitude and impulsiveness Julian and other characters kept claiming he was known for.  Of course, it was there, just not to the degree that I expected.  Amanda is a decent character and she is a nice foil for her twin sister, Tabatha.  Rather than have her as another “weird” Deveraux sister, her normalcy (or, rather, “attempted” normalcy) and skepticism was a believable counterpart to the oddness of the world to which Kyrian introduces her.  Rather than have her jump into the world of the Dark-Hunters headfirst, she did seem to keep it at arms’ length for an acceptable amount of time.  I think I would have liked to have seen her feelings develop for Kyrian in a more rounded fashion.  They seemed to hit rather suddenly with little “provoking” on Kyrian’s part.  As she is pondering her feelings later in the book, she considers his laugh and his smile, though I don’t believe those things happened all that often prior to her contemplations – at least not to the degree that they could believably be parts of the reason she is falling for Kyrian.

Another comment I have to make is one I also made in my review for Fantasy Lover…I think the writing was not quite up to the level I remember it being, nor is it on par with other authors I’ve enjoyed throughout the different shades of the romance genre.  There were unnecessary words, odd (obvious) descriptions, and mediocre metaphors (I don’t have the book in front of me, but I there’s a line which reads something like, “He twisted like an agile cat;” on the surface, it seems fine, but it was inelegant and boring in the context).  Another issue I had was the sheer plethora of “afterthoughts” experienced by most of the characters.  I don’t believe I’m giving anything away, but forgive me if I am:  One of the greatest examples of this was when Amanda leaves Kyrian’s home after he instructed Acheron to watch over her.  After she’s already left, Amanda very briefly ponders why Acheron would have allowed her to leave after what Kyrian had said.  Okay. Fine.  It is what it is, but it felt unnecessary.  It could have all been avoided with one line from Acheron where he says something like, “I don’t give a damn what you do, little girl.  I’m no babysitter and I certainly don’t take orders from Kyrian.”  I think this would have fit in with the plot and Acheron’s character just fine and would certainly have avoided another instance of this awkward afterthought.  It was unnecessary and broke the flow of anticipation.  There are more than a few times this happens throughout the book.  I think Kenyon has such amazing talent that she doesn’t need all of this extraneous explanation and description.  She is a fantastic weaver of stories and brilliant crafter of characters that these things just brought this book down a hair.  I wonder if – as I continue making my way back through this series – that the writing will change a great deal.  This book is still one of her early ones, so I suppose we shall see!  Perhaps I’m just being hypercritical and a bit unfair…  I’ve sat here trying to find a better way to say this without sounding pompous, but I think my slight change in enjoyment of Kenyon’s writing style is because I’m so much further along in my education than I was the first time I read her works.  Since then, I’ve achieved a Master’s Degree in English and I’m much more used to really breaking down works of literature and performing thorough analyses.  I don’t think it’s necessarily fair of me to bring this lens to this application, but I don’t think I can un-train myself.

Regardless of my overly-critical analysis, I still enjoyed the book.  It took me a little bit to get going, but I finished it in a matter of a weekend once I did.  It’s a very, very entertaining read.  I truly love how I always loose myself in the world of the Dark/Dream/Were-Hunters whenever I pick up Kenyon’s books.  There are so many facets to the characters, stories, and the underlying plot that it’s easy to see how this might happen.  I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate the world Kenyon has created.  I recommend this book as the first “official” Dark-Hunter installment and I look forward to moving on in the series.

Side note:  Even though Nick is a supporting character, I find him fantastic.  Kenyon managed to cram so much personality into him.  I find myself wondering if she was inspired by someone in her life when she wrote him.  His attitude and personality were entertaining and provided a breath of fun and sarcasm so needed in this otherwise intense story.  I loved him the first time around and I continue to feel the same way about him – this is the mark of an excellent character.

Fantasy Lover (Book One, Dark-Hunter Series): Sherrilyn Kenyon

"Dear Reader,
“Being trapped in a bedroom with a woman is a grand thing. Being trapped in hundreds of bedrooms over two thousand years isn’t. And being cursed into a book as a love-slave for eternity can ruin even a Spartan warrior’s day.

“As a love-slave, I know everything about women. How to touch them, hot to savor them, and most of all, how to pleasure them. But when I was summoned to fulfill Grace Alexander’s sexual fantasies, I found the first woman in history who saw me as a man with a tortured past. She alone bothered to take me out of the bedroom and into the world. She taught me to love again.
“But I was not born to know love. I was cursed to walk eternity alone. As a general, I had long ago accepted my sentence. Yet now I have found Grace—the one thing my wounded heart cannot survive without. Sure, love can heal all wounds, but can it break a two-thousand-year-old curse?
“Julian of Macedon”

Well, this book was absolutely amazing! This was the book that I had been waiting for and it finally came! I was so happy that I immediately started reading it and I was NOT disappointed in the least. Julian was an AMAZING character and I COMPLETELY related to Grace—no lie, I saw so much of myself in her! There were so many witty moments and I laughed out loud and loved every moment of it! Julian was such a heart-wrenching character and the readers learn how troubled he really is and they bleed for him. It’s hard not to when the readers find out how hard he really has had it. Not to mention that whole part with Grace’s books—but I don’t want to give too much away!

As you probably know, I don’t usually read “modern” romances, but this had the PERFECT amount of history to make me happy as a kid in a candy store! : ) I CANNOT WAIT TO READ THE REST OF THE SERIES! YAY! I totally recommend Sherrilyn Kenyon to EVERYONE! (As well as her Dark-Hunter Series!)

*****UPDATE*****

Those of you who follow my reviews know that I really do not care to re-read books. Sherrilyn Kenyon, however, is a long-time favorite author of mine. I needed a good, entertaining book to take on vacation with me - something that didn't take itself too seriously because I've just finished my Master’s program and my poor brain needed a break. Kenyon’s writing seemed like the perfect choice. I remember laughing a lot and finding the romance very sweet and touching the first time I read this book almost ten years ago. I read this long enough ago that I knew there would be some dialogue and situations that would be fun and “new” and I looked forward to that. After finishing this book, I will say that, while still HIGHLY creative and fun, I found this book to be very clearly one of Kenyon’s early works. There were a few awkward moments in the dialogue and I felt like some of the self deprecation was a bit over the top, so much so that it sometimes made me struggle a little bit. While I liked Grace, I preferred Julian; however, even his borderline self-loathing hindered the flow at times. One other thing I will say is that I found it odd how Kyrian wasn't mentioned until the second half of the book, almost as if Kenyon decided upon writing a second book in the series once she was through a great deal of the story and didn't/couldn't go back and write him in sooner. Up until halfway through, Iason was the only one of Julian’s comrades mentioned. I would have thought that Kyrian would have been mentioned earlier on instead of ONLY Iason. Other than that, I still liked the book. It is s great introduction to the rest of the series and I'm excited to read back through these books and contiue from where I left off. Kenyon is incredibly creative and she really has created an amazing world. I think it was even more fun because I have traveled to New Orleans now and my friend and I made a point of visiting a lot of the most important places from the series. I recommend a trip to New Orleans for everyone, but especially for anyone interested in Kenyon’s books (or anything by Anne Rice) because it's so exciting to see these places in person.

I still recommend this book and will say that Kenyon remains, in my mind, a creative and talented author. My tastes have clearly changed over the last (nearly) 10 years, but I still enjoy Kenyon. I am certainly looking forward to moving on in the series and seeing if my opinions on those have evolved as well. Happy reading!!!