The Pirate Lord (The Lord Trilogy, Book One): Sabrina Jeffries

“A Splendid Opportunity

“A shipload of women—theirs for the taking! Pirate captain Gideon Horn couldn’t be more delighted. His men are tired of wandering the high seas and want to settle down with wives on the uncharted island paradise they’re discovered. And the women are bound to be grateful to be rescued from the life of drudgery awaiting them in New South Wales…Lord, he’s so clever!

“A Splendid Passion

“Married? To pirates? Sara Willis couldn’t be more appalled. First she demands proper courting—at least a month. The darkly handsome pirate lord gives them two weeks. Then Sara insists the men vacate their huts for the women—Gideon demands her kisses in return. As the demands heat up, so do their passions—and soon Sara can’t remember just why she’d fighting the devilishly seductive captain so hard…”

This was the first book by Sabrina Jefferies that I’ve read and I really loved it!!! Her characters were fun and fascinating to follow. The plot was so captivating that I just COULD NOT put the book down! I devoured it!

The storyline flowed so well that I just didn’t want it to stop. It was creative, witty, and funny. I found myself laughing and smiling and feeling for the characters. This book genuinely made me happy. Sara had so much fire, but it wasn’t to the point of being obnoxious; while Gideon was a powerful, masculine character with secrets of his own.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am genuinely looking forward to read more of Jefferies’ works in the future!!!

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…”

Another Chance to Dream (De Piaget Series, Book One): Lyn Kurland

“With neither title nor land, Rhys could not win the hand of Gwennelyn of Segrave. But he would always have her heart. The two are kindred souls…Rhys, a knight with far too many notions of chivalry for his own good. And Gwen, a lover of minstral tales, waiting to be swept away. But Gwen is betrothed to another man, and Rhys fears he will lose her forever. Until a surprise offer comes his way—bringing Rhys and Gwen a second chance at love and…Another Chance to Dream”

This is the first of Lynn Kurland’s works that I’ve read and it certainly was an experience. Her writing style is different from what I normally read and it was actually a refreshing change. The book was a bit on the long side and probably could have ended sooner, but it was nice to see such a thoroughly developed plot.

The characters were very interesting and I REALLY liked how their histories were introduced. (***AND SHE HAD SOMETHING THAT NO ROMANCE NOVEL THAT I’VE READ BEFORE HAD!!! A hero who wasn’t an experienced lover! It made for some smiles and I was very impressed at Kurland’s bravery!) It was new and grabbed me to the point where I really couldn’t put the book down. Also, I must admit that I’m impressed with Kurland because—as you’ve probably seen from previous blogs—I’m not all that impressed with romance authors who skim over the “juicer” parts of the stories. This was a love story and not a typical romance, if you catch my meaning. It was more rated “PG” than anything, but I actually found myself enjoying it.

I’m not in love with Kurland, though I did really enjoy her work. I will read more of her work in the future. She has a true talent and I will look for more of her books.

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!

Devil in Winter (Wallflower Series, Book Three): Lisa Kleypas

“Four young ladies enter London society and band together to each find a husband. Has the third “Wallflower” now met her match?

“A DEVIL’S BARGAIN

“Easily the shyest Wallflower, Evangeline Jenner stands to become the wealthiest, once her inheritance comes due. Because she must first escape the clutches of her unscrupulous relatives, Evie has approached the rake Viscount St. Vincent with a most outrageous proposition: marriage!

“Sebastian’s reputation is so dangerous that thirty seconds alone with him will ruin any maiden’s good name. Still, this bewitching chit appeared, unchaperoned, on his doorstep to offer her hand. Certainly an aristocrat with a fine eye for beauty could do far worse.

“But Evie’s proposal comes with a condition: no lovemaking after their wedding night. She will never become just another od the dashing libertine’s callously discarded broken hearts—which means Sebastian will simply have to work harder at his seductions…or perhaps surrender his own heart for the very first time in the name of true love.”

This book is the third in the Wallflower Series from Lisa Kleypas, and it was a perfect addition! I was worried how Evie would overcome her shyness in a believable manner and this book was perfect! Also, the readers learn to really dislike—dare I say despise—St. Vincent after what he does to Lillian in the book prior to this one.

I’ve never read a book with such a disliked character who becomes such a hero! It was wonderful! Normally there is a “bad boy”, but Sebastian brought a new meaning to the phrase. I loved watching him soften towards Evie and try to become a man who is worthy of her. It was beyond touching and fascinating to read. Not to mention his dialogue was so well-written, I could almost hear him speak his taunting, joking words. That’s not easy for a writer to do and I must commend Kleypas on her brilliant work.

Overall, the book was fantastic and I love this author’s work. She has a knack for writing beautiful plots while keeping the readers enthralled. I’m excited about getting my hands on the next in the series!

A Breath of Scandal (Sin Series, Book Two): Connie Mason

“She claimed him as her husband without even knowing his name. Now she will risk everything to keep his secret—but can she give her heart without having his love in return?

“A Dangerous Man of Mystery

“Lord Julian Thornton, Earl of Mansfield by day and a secret agent of the crown by night has sworn never to love another woman. But then a mission goes wrong and Julian is left for dead, his only hope a seductively mysterious gypsy woman named Lara. And when she marries him under gypsy law for his own protection, Julian is too entranced with the dark beauty to deny himself the benefits of their “marriage.” Yet even as he longs for their idyllic interlude to last, Julian knows his presence alone puts her very life in danger. Until he discovered Lara is the one place he never expected to see his wild gypsy enchantress…the one place where he isn’t sure he can protect her—or his own heart.

“A Wild Gypsy Enchantress

“From the moment Lady Lara, half-gypsy daughter of the Earl of Stanhope, finds a wounded stranger wash up on Scotland’s rugged shore, she knows their destinies will be forever entangled. So when a band of smugglers comes looking for the dashing stranger, Lara doesn’t hesitate to claim him as her husband “Drago.” But when her mysterious husband goes back to his own world—and its dark secrets—Lara returns to her father to take her place as heiress…never expecting to see Drago across the earl’s crowded ballroom. And although he still enthralls her, Lara is determined that she will never truly be his wife until he surrenders his heart as well.”

This is the second book in the Sin series and it was wonderful! The characters were so much fun to follow—I love it when an author has a knack for incorporating characters from previous books. The language was eloquent and everything was very well-written. However, I must say that the last chapters were fairly similar to A Taste of Sin. I won’t give anything away, but if you read it, you’ll know exactly about what I’m talking about. Other than that, I loved the book and kind of wished there was more to read about the brothers!

Connie Mason has a wonderful ability to write characters that are so easy to love and feel for. I highly recommend any of her books and cannot wait to read 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!