The Darkest Kiss sees us returned to the world of Guardian Riley Jensen, a supernatural enforcer taking on all those otherworldly baddies that the mortal authorities fear, and to the thrilling writing style of author Keri Arthur. This is a series I honestly enjoy and one that has gotten better with each volume.

In this latest outing, our dear Riley is still struggling with the physiological changes wrought upon her from the experimental serum a former lover had been injecting with her. She is, of all things, learning to fly, but her flying lessons take a back seat when a new mystery lands in her lap. She goes after it with determination and focus while her love life remains in cold storage … that is until an old flame appears on her radar again.

Ah, yes, Quinn, that dark and delicious ancient vampire is back, dear readers, making Riley’s head spin and her hormones do a happy dance. They really are good together, as bed partners and otherwise, and I’m hoping we’ll see even more of them in the future. I really am pulling for a happy ending for them.

Overall, The Darkest Kiss is a solid, well-written book. There’s plenty of mystery and action, but the between-the-sheets time is less than the previous books, though that really doesn’t hurt anything because this series has truly developed into full-on urban fantasy with a strong element of eroticism and some engaging paranormal sleuthing.

Have you read The Darkest Kiss? If so, please feel free to leave a post and share your opinion.

Rate This Book

(2 votes, average: 4.5 out of 5)

 Loading …

Bookmark It!

Patrice Michelle is at it again, this time with Scions: Insurrection, the sequel to her fast-paced thrillfest Scions: Resurrection.

Just like its predecessor, Scions: Insurrection is a swift and engaging read with compelling characters and a hot romance. And though Insurrection is actually a werewolf story, vamps do make an appearance and I expect them to play a larger role as the Scions series progresses and the mysterious prophecy at the story’s core comes more into the light.

Scions: Insurrection tells the story of the private detective and lone were Landon Rourke, who we me in Resurrection, and police detective Kaitlyn McKinney, who unexpectedly find themselves pairing up professionally in a case with mysterious, paranormal qualities. The close quarters spark some serious heat between the couple, of course, but as events from the past come to light, they must soon decide if the painful truths will unite them or tear them apart.

Have you read Scions: Insurrection? If so, feel free to leave a comment on this post and let us know what you think.

Rate This Book

(7 votes, average: 4 out of 5)

 Loading …

Bookmark It!

Cat’s back! And I couldn’t be more thrilled about it!

After a couple months of utter craziness on the homefront, I finally got the chance to sit down and read One Foot In The Grave by Jeaniene Frost, the second in her Night Huntress series, and I can honestly say it was well worth the wait, though I apologize to Ms. Frost for not getting to it sooner.

In One Foot In The Grave, Ms. Frost gives a fast-paced, well-plotted tale of danger, intrigue and long-lost loves reuniting. From start to finish, I was utterly enthralled with of Cat’s story, just as I was with the first. She has been spending the last four years leading a team of vampire slayers, taking out the baddest of the bad, all the while her heart has ached for the man she loves but left to save all their lives.

Honestly, so much happens in One Foot In The Grave that it’s difficult to summarize without giving away key developments that readers will enjoy discovering for themselves, so I’m going to wrap up this review rather quickly and tell you this: Bones is back, unlikely alliances are made, and love conquers the day. Getting from A to Z is a fantastic journey that will have you laughing out loud at times and holding your breath the next. There are some surprising developments along the way, too.

Ms. Frost’s smart, sassy style is once again a pleasure to read and her heroine is as sexy and lethal as ever. I’m glad she’s back, as well as Mr. Hotness himself, Bones. What a great couple they make!

Have you read One Foot In The Grave? If so, feel free to post a comment and let us know what you think.

Rate This Book

(13 votes, average: 4.77 out of 5)

 Loading …

Bookmark It!

Susan Squires never disappoints me. Her writer’s voice is still like dark chocolate to my brain and I always devour her works as if they were that very substance. Her latest in the Companion series, One with the Darkness (6/2008), is a sinfully delicious treat indeed and an infinitely satisfying read with, again, some of the most erotic lovemaking scenes I’ve ever read. She should seriously include some sort of “cold shower warning” disclaimer.

Amidst all the romance and steamy sex, though, lies a story of power and politics, which is always a hotbed of intrigue and danger, and very fertile ground from which love and loyalty may rise up and bloom into a passionate romance for the ages — literally when it comes to vampires.

One with the Darkness reintroduces us to a character who came to the fore in One with the Shadows, Donnatella Margherita Luchella di Poliziano (is that a mouthful or what?), the mother of Gian Urbano. She is a grand vampire lady with a vision for a better world but she is lonely, her love lost long ago because she had not the courage to break the rules of her race and Convert the man she loved into a vampire. She has mourned him for centuries, her heart finding no other to love. Her son is truly her only personal joy.

Hope blossoms for her, however, in a most unexpected way … the discovery of a note from an old acquaintance (Michelangelo) detailing a special gift from another friend (Da Vinci) that may give her a chance to change her past.

I will not go into too much detail of the events that ensue for fear of giving away things readers are best to enjoy for themselves. But suffice it to say, Donnatella rediscovers her long-lost love, Jergan, a slave from Britannica, and again faces the choice of breaking the laws of her kind and Convert him to a vampire, or lose him a second time.

Ms. Squires sets the story in ancient Rome during the time of Gaius Caesar, aka Caligula, with Donnatella (then Livia) embroiled in a pit of intrigue. Plotting to overthrow the demented Emperor, re-establish a Republic and restore Rome to her civilized glory, she offers her co-conspirators the benefit of her wealth of experience and wisdom gained in her already long life. If you’re familiar with Roman history, you’ll recognize some of the surrounding players in this interesting look at the politics of the time, and the culture.

Ms. Squires’ descriptions of surroundings and objects are lush, as always, and put the reader “there.” There were times I felt like I was seated amongst the characters, a part of the story, watching silently as events unfolded. That’s not an easy feat for a writer to accomplish and speaks to Ms. Squires ability to draw a reader into the action of the story in an extremely intimate way.

Jergan and Livia’s story is magical, their attraction based on mutual respect, love and, of course, a healthy measure of lust. They understand each other in an intrinsic way, and it is a joy to watch them grow closer, their bond strengthen as they move from master and slave to lovers and beyond, to that state of completion when two halves of a whole are united.

One with the Darkness has its harrowing moments as well and some scenes may leave the reader uneasy as they read them — remember, Caligula is part of this story, though, thankfully, the depths of his perversity aren’t explored — so be warned, but also know that those uncomfortable moments soon pass and, as always, love is affirmed.

Have you read One with the Darkness? If so, feel free to leave a comment on this post and let everyone know what you think.

Rate This Book

(10 votes, average: 3.1 out of 5)

 Loading …

Bookmark It!

The year is 1926. Prohibition is in full swing. The Great Depression is only a few short years away. Oh, and vampire clans in The Big Apple are locked in a battle for underworld supremacy. Bet you missed that last part in American History 101, huh?

Lucky for us then that Susan Krinard has put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard, if you prefer) and spun an intelligent tale of love and romance, passion and peril in her enthralling Dark of the Moon.

The story surrounds Gwen Murphy, an aspiring investigative reporter pursuing the mystery of a rumored “blood cult” in New York City, a mystery her father had been investigating prior to his death. Gwen’s probe is a dangerous one, more dangerous than she can imagine, but not for the dark and deadly Dorian Black, a former vampire enforcer living among the human vagrants that take shelter in the docks area. He knows exactly what she’s pursuing because it’s who and what he’s hiding from.

The pair’s paths cross when Gwen is unceremoniously dumped into the river by some ruffians as she waited to meet up with a source. Dorian, in an uncharacteristic act, saves Gwen from the murky depths. Why he’s done so is as much a mystery to him as he is a mystery to her. His immediate attraction to her takes him by surprise and makes him fear even more the darkness that lurks within him and that rises to power during the dark of the moon (hence the title of the book). Gwen is an astute observer, notes the darkness but doesn’t fear it as she probably should and vows to help Dorian better his situation and to discover the secrets of her savior, a man she finds herself inexplicably and irresistibly drawn to as a woman.

Gwen doesn’t give up her pursuit of the “blood cult” rumor, however, and soon embroils Dorian, who tries to warn her of the dangers without giving specifics; his gentle inebriant acquaintance, Walter; and eventually Gwen’s wanna-be suitor, Mitch Hogan.

The love triangle plays out against a background of vampire gangland violence, and is complicated by a mysterious faction of vampires and humans who claim to want peace … but are they what they seem? And will Gwen and Dorian find their way to each other between the sprays of bullets, beatings and the secrets and, yes, sometimes lies?

Dark of the Moon is an engaging read to say the least. Ms. Krinard crafts the story well, progresses it naturally and doesn’t reveal too much too soon. The setting of 1920s New York is a new one for me, and a very good one for the story.

Her heroine is a true tip of the hat to the golden age of cinema and the grand female characters (and actresses) of the time. Quick-witted and tough, but ever feminine, Gwen possess an indomitable spirit, one that serves her well professionally, as she works to carve out her career in a decidedly male-dominated profession. Her drive and independent streak, however, doesn’t set so well with the man (Mitch) courting her affections. He’s a decent enough guy but he’s often less interested in loving her than in changing her and availing himself of her other womanly assets. That is Mitch’s loss and the gain of Dorian, who is intrigued by and drawn to her strength of mind, something Gwen instinctively knows and, being the smart woman she is, desires.

Have you read Dark of the Moon? If so feel free to leave a comment on this post and let others know what you think.

Also, if you’d like, join in the Reading Group discussion of Dark of the Moon, which is this month’s pick.

Rate This Book

(8 votes, average: 3.38 out of 5)

 Loading …

Bookmark It!

A.J. Hampton’s Bending to Break is a full-throttle read with some seriously hot sex and a solid story.

It tells the tale of Kayden Gray, a half-vampire, who nightly goes out to slay the evil creatures of the night — demons, unruly vamps … you know, the usual suspects. Though slight of frame, Kayden is big on attitude and kicking butt. Oh, and engaging in verbal sparring matches with the tall and sexy vampire hunter Micah. Between their urges to strangle one another, the duo fights a serious case of the hots for each another. Their attraction accelerates into overdrive when out on a hunt one night their path crosses with a succubus with a plan. Then, before you can say condom, the couple is sexually engaged to the nth degree.

With a quest to become human and gain a mortal soul, the succubus feeds off the sexual and emotional energy created by the couple’s copious copulation. And, if that weren’t enough of a problem for the couple, Kayden’s former lover, a vampire named Jullian, also has plans to arrest control of his prodigy, at all costs. Oh, and then there’s a whole host of other otherworldly nasties gunning for Kayden at the behest of Julian’s own sire. Suffice it to say, the couple has a lot to handle and huff and puff through in Bending to Break.

Kayden and Micah are intriguing characters, quick with the quips, passionate and smart, and they admire one another as much as they drive each other crazy. Ms. Hampton manages to endow them both with a good deal of depth, and her supporting cast is quite intriguing. I wish she had fleshed them out a bit more earlier in the story, and would be pleased if she were to write Elijah (Micah’s brother) and Paige’s (Kayden’s cousin) story at some point in the future.

Readers looking for a highly erotic read with some butt-kicking action and a deftly handled romance between two engaging and excitable characters, may just find that Bending to Break fits the bill.

P.S. One note, I did notice several typos within the text, and there appears to be some portion of the text missing between pages 89-90. None of that derails the story, however.

Have you read Bending to Break? If so, feel free to leave a comment on this post and let others know what you think.

Rate This Book

(7 votes, average: 4.29 out of 5)

 Loading …

Bookmark It!

Vampire, Interrupted is yet another fun and engaging read from the ever-witty mind of Lynsay Sands, and the latest entry in her Argeneau Vampire series.

This time she tells the story of Marguerite, matriarch of the Argeneau clan, through overlapping and continuing events from last month’s Vampires Are Forever. We follow the story, obviously from Marguerite’s side this time and follow along as they unravel the mystery surrounding the mother of Christian Notte, whom Marguerite’s been hired to find. The rather benign nature of the investigation, however, becomes something more when an assassin tries to sever Marguerite’s head from her body and when Christian’s father, Julius Notte, begrudgingly joins the search and stirs Marguerite in ways she’s never felt before.

As with all the other Argeneau novel’s I’ve read, Vampire, Interrupted is a mixture of sexy and smart fun. There are some serious sparks between Marguerite and Julius, plenty of mystery and an interesting twist in the end.

Have you read Vampire, Interrupted? If so, please feel free to leave a comment and let us know what you think.

Rate This Book

(28 votes, average: 4.71 out of 5)

 Loading …

Bookmark It!

Just as with wine and cheese, Lara Adrian only gets better with time. Her latest entry in the Midnight Breed series, Midnight Rising (March 25, 2008), is yet another solid and engrossing vampire romance.

This time, she tackles the story of the beleaguered Rio. Terribly scarred inside and out by betrayal at the hands of the one he loved most has left him a shell of the man he once was, without hope for anything resembling the life he once had. He no longer has the desire to live — everything changes, however, when the brilliant and beautiful Dylan Alexander, a tabloid journalist, enters his life.

Their meeting is not by chance, nor is it an ideal one, but the two must ultimately work together to stop the spread of her photographs, which could expose the entire vampire race to the unknowing world around them, as well as begin to unravel the mystery surrounding the missing Ancient and a sinister plot that’s enough to raise the hair on the back of your neck. Along the way, the two must face their own personal demons along the way, cope with the very real threat of personal loss for Dylan whose mother is stricken with cancer, and deal with the rising feelings between them of both passion and affection. This is a superb pairing and a testament to the healing power of love.

Thank you, Lara, for yet another great read. I am already ready for the next!

Have you read Midnight Rising? If so, please feel free to leave a comment and let us know what you think.

Rate This Book

(32 votes, average: 4.47 out of 5)

 Loading …

Bookmark It!

Lynsay Sands’ Argeneau vampire series is delightfully charming and witty, with a healthy dose of fun — not to mention clever, smile-inducing titles.

I’ve read a few of them now and each has been a pleasant experience, and the upcoming Vampires Are Forever (2/2008), eighth in the series, is a fitting addition.

Up this time is Thomas Argeneau — cousin to Bastien and his brothers, nephew to the clan matriarch Marguerite, and a composer in secret — and the smart and curvy Inez Urso, VP of Argeneau Enterprises’ London operations and all-around nice girl.

The duo, who have met only briefly once before, suddenly find themselves thrust together when Marguerite goes missing, not long after she’d taken up the occupation of private detective. Their search for the missing PI takes them to some unique places and into dangers unexpected. The close quarters they must share, however, sparks undeniable passion between them and reveals a bond neither ever expected to find.

Thomas and Inez’s romance is sweet and gentle and their desire appropriately heated, despite her fears and timidity. He woos her with a care, gradually coaxing his largely inexperienced lady love into his arms by being, of all things, considerate.

Have you read Vampires Are Forever? If so, feel free to leave a comment and let us know what you think.

Rate This Book

(33 votes, average: 4.64 out of 5)

 Loading …

Bookmark It!