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Friday, November 26, 2010:
Comfort Food by Kitty Thomas (2010)
 BOOK DESCRIPTION: Emily Vargas has been taken captive. As part of his conditioning methods, her captor refuses to speak to her, knowing how much she craves human contact. He's far too beautiful to be a monster. Combined with his lack of violence toward her, this has her walking a fine line at the edge of sanity. Told in the first person from Emily's perspective, Comfort Food explores what happens when all expectations of pleasure and pain are turned upside down, as whips become comfort and chicken soup becomes punishment.
DISCLAIMER: This is not a story about consensual BDSM. This is a story about "actual" slavery. If reading an erotic story without safewords makes you uncomfortable, this is not the book for you. This is a work of fiction, and the author does not endorse or condone any behavior done to another human being without their consent.
I first heard about this book last June, at the Lori Foster get-together. An author was talking about it in great detail, and I was so disgusted by the description of the story I just knew I would never read it. It made me so angry to think of a man treating a woman like a trophy, uncaring of anything other than his pleasure. I quickly dismissed the notion of going anywhere near it. Flash-forward to October, when I actually bought the book. Again, Twitter has had quite an impact on me as I'd noticed several readers who really enjoyed it, or at least were more accepting of the idea than I had originally been. Some even fantasized about a Master of their own. While I wouldn't take it quite that far, I did get some insight into the Master, saw that he believed he could break someone and own them, and with her obedience came great care from him. When we first meet Emily, she's already been captured, and wakes up in a prison cell. She's terrified, convinced she's going to die or at the very least be raped. At this point, her fear is such that she really has no thought to go against him, to fight him. She will comply if it means her survival. The Master is silent in his approach to her, communicating by action and by expression. Emily has to try to figure out what he wants, and she quickly does. The more she obeys, the more accommodating he is with her. But if she refuses him, he will leave her in the cell, naked, alone. Without human contact. And Emily cannot handle that. She craves, no, requires human touch. She cannot survive without it, and it's her great fear to be deprived of it. So she let's him do what she wants to her, even enjoys it, as long as she's not alone in that cell anymore....
My thoughts:
This was a challenging read for me but also could have been much worse because of my personal feelings about sexual slavery. Ms. Thomas isn't overtly explicit in her descriptions, so while we understand the Master's goal is to have Emily be his slave, and that most definitely includes owning a sex slave, it's not portrayed as extremely violent or abusive, and soon Emily is conditioned over time to crave his firmer touch, to long for any sexual punishment he sees fit to give her. To me, I feel that a relationship of this magnitude tends to be out of balance. Though Master always silently offers Emily a choice, he knows what her weaknesses are, so he sets it up in such a way that she's going to choose what he wishes her to choose. It's all done with the belief that he is choosing what is best for her when it really means he is manipulating her to get what he wants in end. Now Emily is so different from me. I am an introvert, so being around crowds drains me. I crave touch as much as the next person, but not to the same critical level Emily does. Despite the fear, I think I would have fought more. Or at least I hope I would have. But when you are kidnapped, and you're terrified, who knows what desperate measures you would take to stay alive. Emily received a lot of pleasure from the Master, so while I wasn't totally consensual, she did enjoy it.
And it certainly doesn't hurt that the Master is extremely good-looking and ungodly rich. I kept having to remind myself that it was just fiction, so it was going to be written in a more appealing fashion than it most likely would have been in real life. Even myself, who has no desire to be anyone's slave, found him to be attractive, and perhaps I wouldn't have minded my captivity with such a Master. Much. But I am me, and though he was attentive to her needs, I also found him to be too cold and calculating. He treated her like a pet, not a human. His goal was to break her. His plan was to have someone to control, to do his every desire, and in doing so, that was to be her pleasure. I think that's a turn-on to a point. You want to pleasure your partner, but at the same time, you have your own fantasies, and the idea of someone else controlling what you enjoy so completely bothers me. But that was the point. It wasn't a game, it was a real case of slavery. This man methodically planned to kidnap this woman. He watched her, planned out her abduction, built a cell to keep her like a favored pet. Relinguishing control over to another sounds appealing on a lot of days, but not complete control. I like to cook my own food, wear my own clothes, and don't wish to subject myself to another's wishes to such as extreme consent. But for A LOT of women (and men too), this is a very hot fantasy. It's much more common than one would believe. In fact it's not far-fetched to imagine it being more mainstream in the not too distant future. So while I didn't warm up to the Master and eny Emily (much), I still found it to be an absorbing read, one that surprised me with how much I lied in the story. I think Ms. Thomas writes a compelling story, and knows how to capture the reader's attention. I would definitely read more by her. Rating: **** out of ***** Labels: Kitty Thomas, quickie reviews
posted by Stacy~ at 11/26/2010 07:33:00 AM
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Wednesday, September 08, 2010:
Kiss of the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon (2004) - quickie review
 Dear Reader,
What do you get when you take one immortal Viking warrior no one can remember five minutes after he leaves their presence, an Apollite heiress on the run for her life, and one seriously pissed off demigod? Basically, you get my life.
It started out simple enough. I went to save a woman one night in a club. The next thing I knew, the doorway to hell had opened and out stepped Daimons the likes of which I'd never seen before. Led by the son of Apollo, they are out to end the curse that has banished them all to darkness. The only problem with that is they have to kill Cassandra Peters to do it and if she dies, so dies the sun, the earth and all who dwell here. Life's just a bowl full of cherries, ain't it?
Brought together by fate, it's now my job to protect a daughter of the very race I have been hunting for centuries. Neither of us dares to trust the other. But she is the only one who remembers me...
Wulf Tryggvasen
This is book #4 or 5, depending on how you look at it, and once again I felt pleasantly surprised at being back in the Dark Hunter world and the endearingly messed up mythology of it all.
Though this is not one of my favorite stories - I feel there's so much going on that we don't get to see as much of Wulf and Cassandra together, just them that I couldn't connect fully with either of them - but I still enjoy it. It's heart-breaking because people die, whether by choice or whether as innocent bystanders. Wulf and Cassandra have been given a pretty hefty destiny, and yet side by side, the two fall in love under the most dire of circumstances - knowing that Cassandra will die in a few short months on her 27th birthday. Yet she's brave, and fights for her life at every turn. Wulf begins to care very deeply for this courageous woman who has lost so much already. And he begins to realize the prejudices he's carried with him for so very long. Loving Cassandra opens his eyes to those he believes are the evil enemy, and to see the torment they suffer at knowing their lives all have an expiration date much sooner than most humans, and certainly that of an immortal.
Cassandra herself learns much the same thing about Dark Hunters - those who vow to kill her race. Witnessing Wulf's protectiveness towards his only friend and squire Chris, as well as the way he takes care of her proves to Cassandra that Wulf is indeed a good man, and not a brutal killer. She falls for the stoic Hunter who expresses such tenderness towards her. How can she not when she sees his loving, gentle fierceness in every action towards her?
What I liked about this one is that we get to learn more of the Apollite history, how they came to be, and why Apollo has cursed them. We see their desperation at not wanting to die at such an early age (27), yet given the alternative, many will die. It's hard to hate a race that's been cursed by a god and only wishes to survive and carry on like any other. But the solution is to become a Daemon and steal human souls. Not an easy alternative.
Not having read all the books ( think I made it up to #8), there's a lot I still don't know. Some of my questions have been answered, but tend to lead to many more. I can't wait to read more. Just need to find some time....
Rating: **** out of ***** Labels: quickie reviews, Sherrilyn Kenyon
posted by Stacy~ at 9/08/2010 07:42:00 AM
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Wednesday, April 14, 2010:
Succubi Like It Hot by Jill Myles (2010) - quickie (rant) eview
 Nobody said Sucking was easy.
With a flirtatious new figure, her dream job as an archaeologist, and two gorgeous boyfriends to scratch her seductive Itch—an angel and a vampire—Jackie Brighton is totally getting the hang of life as a succubus.
Then her need for sex spirals out of control, and she accidentally knocks the pizza guy unconscious with her touch. Great, she’s cursed. Unfortunately, neither of her jealous lovers is exactly talking to her right now.
So after Jackie strikes a deal with a crafty demon, she and her best friend Remy take a cross-country road trip to deliver a cryptic message to the nation’s oldest succubus (who doesn’t look a day over eighteen.) Their journey gets weirder with every mile—demonic possession, a charming stalker, a deadly hotel room warning—but when they get to New Orleans, Jackie discovers a dangerous catch to her supernatural bargain. Someone wants her dead (again), but has she been sleeping with the enemy?
Or do the forces of evil think they’re some kind of match for a vixen in a miniskirt?
Once again our fearless (idiot) heroine is knee-keep in trouble before you can say Succubus. She'd been minding her own business, enjoying the pleasures of spending time with each of her hot lovers, when someonhow she discovers she's cursed. (This is not unusual in Jackie's world). Turning to her best friend Remy for help, they end up making a deal with a demon in order to get rid of Jackie's curse, however Remy has her own demon to deal with, quite literally, as she's possessed.
Along the way they stop to attend an event as part of Remy's porn tour. Yes, the lovely Remy is a famous porn star, and she thought it would be loads of fun to meet (and do) her fans. While there, Jackie meets a gorgeous yet mysterious man who appears to be rather captivated with her.
However Jackie has a mission to accomplish, so she's going to have to put off having any sort of fun for just a bit...if she can last that long. The Itch is becoming unbearable. And since neither Noah or Zane were around to provide relief, this stranger is looking mighty tempting... My thoughts: Come on you know this is gonna be a rant, but not as big of one as before. I believe I had voiced my frustration quite clearly for the TSTL qualities of the heroine Jackie in "Gentleman Prefer Succubi", and I was concerned about the continuing trend in this second book, despite many reassurances she wasn't quite as bad this time around. Well, my friends were right. Jackie's stupidity was toned down quite a bit in this story, much to my relief. However that didn't mean she still didn't get on my nerves. Repeatedly.
Okay I'm realizing this isn't going to be as much as a review as I'd thought, because another thing that frustrated me is I don't really feel the story went anywhere. I mean yeah Jackie was cursed and she had to deal with all that, but we really didn't learn much else about being a Succubus, or a vampire in Zane's world, or a fallen angel in Noah's. I kept wondering when we were going to get more, and we never do. At least not much beyond dribs and drabs. Not enough for me. Now back to Jackie. I know the girl is a Succubus, and I'm fine with her spending time with either or both of her men, getting some seriously hot action when she needs it most. I just question her wishy-washy tendencies and her loyalty to Zane. No doubt, the vamp is one hot motha, but he betrays her time and again, all in the name of protecting her. "Oh yes, I am going to abandon you and run and go do my thing but don't worry Jackie baby, it's all for you." I think she's more in love with him than Noah, and I just want to smack her upside the head and ask why. Why??? Noah is not chopped liver here, in fact he is always there for Jackie when she needs him most, and he takes care of her most pressing need in quite a most satisfactory way. So whenever I see Jackie falling for Zane, I think of those stupid girls who always go for the guy that treats them like crap, yet she'll drop everything when he comes calling because yeah, that's true love. The thing is, I do like Zane, quite a bit in fact, and I think he cares deeply for Jackie, but his track record ain't so great. I don't know, maybe Jesse James has ruined the bad boy for me, but I just don't get how easily Jackie is willing to believe him. Maybe since she's a succubus she's not meant to fall for either of them, so she's just enjoying herself the only way she can. I'm cool with that. But actions speak louder than words, and the way she constantly runs to Zane and lets him get away with treating her so poorly is getting on my nerves. That being said, I've resigned myself to read the next one in the series, especially if they continue to get better. I admit dammit, I'm curious to see where this goes, and can't help but be a glutton for punishment here. But it could be make or break time. We shall see.... Rating: ***1/2 out of *****
Labels: Jill Myles, quickie reviews
posted by Stacy~ at 4/14/2010 09:00:00 AM
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Monday, April 12, 2010:
Beautiful Girl by Shiloh Walker - quickie review
 Sometimes getting to heaven requires a trip through hell. Twelve years ago, it looked like Del Prescott had it all. The wealthy family, the car, the looks and charm, and the perfect boyfriend. Then, mysteriously, she disappeared to "study abroad." Now she's back, and it's not merely to attend a high school reunion. She's here to face her demons-and Blake, the man she has never stopped loving. Blake Mitchell is a changed man, thanks to surviving twelve long years of difficulties that began after Del dropped out of his life. Now she's back, and she's nothing like the polished, stylish world traveler he imagined she'd be. There's a darkness about her, and a grim expression in her eyes that says she's prepared for fight or flight. Blake's concern for her breaks down the walls Del has built around her heart and she finally begins to heal from the abuse she suffered at the hands of her own family. But the betrayal goes deeper than either of them ever imagined-and it's about to come back to haunt them. (Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language and violence).
It's been a long time since Del's been home to Prescott, and being back has stirred up a lot of memories; a lot of good times, but also the bad. Coming back has not been an easy decision for her, but it's time she faced her past and stopped letting it control her.
Blake Mitchell has moved on with his life, but he never quite got over the girl who owned his heart all those years ago. He's had some pretty rough times of his own, but now he's working as a sheriff and he's fairly content with his lot in life. Hearing Del is back is kind of a shock to his system, and he's not sure how he feels about that. It isn't until he sees her again that all those old feelings come rushing back. One thing he does know is that he can't hate her. In fact he's pretty sure he never stopped loving her.
One person that's not quite so happy to see Del is her mother Louisa. She's always been more concerned about appearances, and since coming back, her daughter Delilah has not fallen in line like her mother expects her to. Louisa knows why Del left all those years ago, but she doesn't really give a damn. All she wants is for Del to come back into the fold and act like a proper Prescott daughter. But Del is not some malleable toy who can be controlled. And Louisa won't stand for it.
Coming back to Prescott has been an emotional rollercoaster for Del, but unless she can face her demons, she can never take back her life. And that's all she wants to do. And maybe, just maybe, find the happiness she thought was forever denied her...
My thoughts:
One thing about Shiloh Walker, she has an amazing backlist, and I'm always finding stories of hers I haven't read yet. This one I got at the 2009 Lori Foster booksigning, and finally got around to reading it.
You just know you're going to get your heart ripped out - but in a good way - with one of Shiloh's books, and "Beautiful Girl" is no exception to that. Del was a beautiful girl, but because of someone who felt entitled to take what didn't belong to him, she lost her innocence forever. What made it even worse is that her mother knew about it and never did anything to stop it. In fact she accused Del of lying when her own daughter came to her about being raped. As a woman, you can only imagine how traumatizing this must be to a young teenage girl who turns to an adult who should be there no matter what, and instead she's scorned and ridiculed.
I liked that when Blake and Del see each other again, though they both regret the loss of what they had so long ago, Blake wasn't cold and cruel to Del. Instead it was almost like their connection had never broken, and those old feelings resurrected into something stronger, more mature. Blake had been through his own difficult struggle, and I think it made him appreciate life and the fact that Del is back. He doesn't want any anger between them.
Having Del recount that abuse that had happened to her was heart-wrenching. Though we don't "see" much of what she suffered, it was enough to want to cry for her. But also it made me respect what she'd been through, even the darkness she faced after the abuse, and where she is today. Del's life doesn't automatically heal once she's back in Prescott, and she still tenses up when she remembers. I think it's important to show this because victims of abuse will most likely always carry the scars of what they suffered, and there is no easy fix, but they can take back control and not let the fear keep them from finding happiness, especially when it's with a good man like Blake.
"Beautiful Girl" is a lovely, heartbreaking love story. I'm always glad when I read one of Shiloh's books, because even when it's a difficult story to process, it reminds me of what it's like to feel for the characters so deeply. And I always think that's a very good thing. I never want to become de-sensitized to the bad things that happen. With a Shiloh Walker book, that's a guarantee that will never happen.
Rating: ****1/2 out of *****
Labels: quickie reviews, Shiloh Walker
posted by Stacy~ at 4/12/2010 08:21:00 AM
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Wednesday, April 07, 2010:
The Darkest Fire by Gena Showalter (2008) quickie review
 Geryon is the guardian of hell, more monster than man. Kadence is the goddess of Oppression, more angel than woman. Together they will enter the flames to battle a dangerous horde of demon lords -- and discover a passion unlike any other.
This ebook kicks off the Lords of the Underworld series by Gena Showalter, and because I am anal and knew this story existed before I started reading the series, I just knew I had to buy it. Now I still am not a big fan of ebooks, but I will read them from time to time. And I really appreciate getting this backstory to the series. Geryon is responsible for guarding Hell's gate, never leaving his post, always making sure nothing evil gets out, only in. Everyday for centuries he sees the beautiful goddess of Oppression - Kadence - and he desires her from afar. One day during her visit she discovers that the wall into Hell is cracked, and she must figure out a way to fix it, or she will die. So she asks Geryon for assistance. Geryon cannot leave his post a guardian, otherwise bad things will happen to innocent souls, but he vows to help and protect Kadence any way possible. When he's released from his responsibility, he both rejoices and curses this chain of events. How can anyone as lovely and divine as Kadence ever see him as anything more than a monster who sold his soul? My thoughts: This is a short story, only 71 pages, so there's not a whole lot to share without giving too much away, but I will say that even in this brief episode we get a feel for Gena's strong world-building skills and ability to immediately pull the reader in with just the power of a few words. I was instantly hooked right from the time we meet Geryon and definitely had to know more. This is in a sense a beauty and the beast type of story, but here Gena does what Disney dare not to; she lets the beast remain. I always hated the ending of B&TB that he turned into an insipid, perfect Ken doll of a prince. He was much more interesting - and excitingly dangerous - as a beast. And I have no complaints as to the path this story took with that concept. I liked both characters very much. Geryon is fiercely protective of Kadence, yet admires her greatly for risking the dangers of Hell. Kadence sees beyond Geryon's appearance to the honorable man he is and grows to love him because of it. Their situation seems hopeless but I like how Gena managed to find a way to make it work. Now I can start "The Darkest Night" in peace *g*
Rating: **** out of ***** Labels: Gena Showalter, quickie reviews
posted by Stacy~ at 4/07/2010 07:05:00 AM
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Tuesday, March 23, 2010:
Dance With the Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon ( ) - quickie review
 Zarek's Point of View:
Dark-Hunter: A soulless guardian who stands between mankind and those who would see mankind destroyed. Yeah, right. The only part of that Code of Honor I got was eternity and solitude.
Insanity: A condition many say I suffer from after being alone for so long. But I don't suffer from my insanity-I enjoy every minute of it.
Trust: I can't trust anyone...not even myself. The only thing I trust in is my ability to do the wrong thing in any situation and to hurt anyone who gets in my way.
Truth: I endured a lifetime as a Roman slave, and 900 years as an exiled Dark-Hunter. Now I'm tired of enduring. I want the truth about what happened the night I was exiled-I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Astrid (Greek, meaning star): An exceptional woman who can see straight to the truth. Brave and strong, she is a point of light in the darkness. She touches me and I tremble. She smiles and my cold heart shatters.
Zarek: They say even the most damned man can be forgiven. I never believed that until the night Astrid opened her door to me and made this feral beast want to be human again. Made me want to love and be loved. But how can an ex-slave whose soul is owned by a Greek goddess ever dream of touching, let alone holding, a fiery star?
Okay, I don't care what anyone (Holly) says, this is a wonderful story, and most likely my favorite Dark Hunter book (I've only read about 6 of them). I stand by my original feelings for this story and as I read it, I was not disappointed. Some of the Dark Hunter books may be cheesy and dated, but this one stands the test of time...except perhaps those annoying references to Nazareth's Hair of the Dog...but I digress.
Zarek has once again been banished to Alaska, only now Artemis has called for his execution. However Acheron has managed to convince Artie to let Zarek be judged before automatically condemning and subjecting him to Shadedom. The judge chosen is Astrid, immortal sister of the Three Fates, and she's never once found anyone innocent. Artemis is satisfied in the eventual outcome. However despite her word, Zarek is still being hunted...
Zarek has never needed anyone and he won't start now. Born illegitimate after his cruel father impregnated a slave, he was literally a whipping boy for his own family. The other slaves hated him because of who is father is and hated by his family for being a bastard, Zarek has no one. He's subjected to constant beatings and has no friends, no allies. The transgressions of his brothers are often the cause for his beatings, though trying to defend others has often lead to being whipped. In fact, as a human, Zarek is killed due to the lies and machinations of a selfish, conniving woman who became his owner after his own father sold him. He has never known kindness, or goodness, and certainly never expects to find anyone willing to stick up for him. He thinks Acheron is a fool for wanting to prolong his agony.
Astrid is known to be a fair judge, though none of the Dark Hunters she's judged has ever survived. But encountering Zarek and taking him into her home changes things. Despite his rudeness and harsh personality, she begins to notice discrepancies in his behavior. If he's such a cold-blooded killer, how can he be so careful with her? Everytime she turns around she begins to discover truths about Zarek that don't add up. It isn't until she invades his dreams and sees what he's endured over the many centuries he's been a Dark Hunter that she begins to understand why he is like he is. In truth, Zarek can be quite the jackass. But is that reason enough to sentence him to the torment of eternal Shadedom? Astrid is not so sure...
My thoughts:
This must have been the 3rd or 4th time I've re-read Zarek's story, and each time it's made me cry. Even knowing what to expect, I still can't help myself. It truly breaks my heart at the cruelty he's had to put up with for over 900 years. (Note: this story beats Zsadist's story, hands down. Don't get me wrong, I love Zsadist, but Zarek is the original tortured hero here).
Even as a Dark Hunter, Zarek is forced to live in a harsh place where it's beyond freezing in winter, and has up to 22 hours of sunlight in summer. He has no friends, and even Acheron rarely visits. But Zarek is a stubborn oaf, and lives to piss people off. Can't say as I blame him. I don't see him as someone who mopes around feeling sorry for himself - he's managed to create some type of a life for himself, despite the greed and suspicion of the humans who live nearby. Zarek has never taken credit for any of the few good things he's done, and doesn't expect to be thanked for them. He's little more than an animal, yet deep inside there is a spark of humanity in him, and Astrid is determined to nurture it and help it thrive before ever judging him guilty. She alone wants to give him a fighting chance.
Astrid is frustrated by Zarek, and by his refusal to let her see what lies beneath his arrogant, ballsy persona. She finds a way to invade his dreams - more like his nightmares - and discover what has lead to Zarek being the way he is, and why he could possibly be guilty for the charges against him. What she finds is a scared little boy, an extremely lonely man,someone who refuses to ask for help because for one thing, he doesn't know how. She also discovers that he can be so gentle and tender, and that he cannot fathom how someone as precious and beautiful as Astrid could want to come anywhere near him. It just has to be one of life's cruel little jokes...
Truth be told, I could talk about Zarek for hours. This is not really a review, but I could talk about so many things, when all it comes down to is that this is a story that will break your heart, yet also make you smile when Zarek finally, FINALLY!, gets a break. I laugh at his ability to piss people off, and am amazed at how he just won't quit, no matter how much agony he suffers. Maybe he really is crazy, but damn, can you blame him? I was so glad that Astrid saw past all that and recognized his true worth, that she was able to fall in love with him and offer him a chance at eternal happiness. That she didn't try to change him but loved him because of all his facets. Their's is a remarkable love story, and ranks up there as one of my favorite stories. Any book that can still make me cry after so many years of reading has just got to be special.
Rating: ***** out of *****
Labels: quickie reviews, Sherrilyn Kenyon
posted by Stacy~ at 3/23/2010 06:58:00 AM
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Friday, March 12, 2010:
Night Embrace by Sherrilyn Kenyon (2003) - quickie review
 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 the 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 then 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 every time 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
As part of my (very slow) plan to re-read the Dark Hunter books, I'm up to this one, which some consider book #2, others book #3. I think of it as the 3rd one because Fantasy Lover, though not technically about the Dark Hunters, is like a prequel, so I am okay thinking of it as part of the series.
These books are like...generic?...crack to me. Before I even realized such a thing existed in book form. As I've mentioned, they will always have a special place in my heart because it was the first time I saw vamps as something more than cold, icky undead creatures.
So this is Talon's story. He's a swamp-loving DH with a serious sugar and caffeine addiction and a preference for one night stands. Then one night as he's off killing Daimons, he's knocked unconscious by a Mardi Gras float and rescued by local artist Sunshine Runningwolf, who brings him home, where he's essentially trapped with no wheels and no protection from the sun. He's instantly attracted to the lovely, absent-minded Sunshine, but despite how much he likes her, he knows it will never be anything more than a casual fling. Dark Hunters don't roll that way. Talon especially, as he's been cursed to to lose everyone he loves, and he doesn't wish to put anyone else in jeopardy.
Of course the Big Bad have other ideas, and make it so Talon and Sunshine are stuck together as much as possible. They got major plans, including freeing the Destroyer and killing Acheron in the process, which would allow them to retain godhood. But they need to create a diversion, and distracting all the Dark Hunters in town seems like the way to go. Their aim is to divide and conquer.
So during all the goings-on, we meet some additional Dark Hunters: Valerius, the grandson of the monster responsible for what happened to Kyrian; and Zarek, a real ornery son of a bitch with a serious disregard for authority. Right from the start he pisses people off, and alienates himself to the point where he just might end up a shade if he doesn't calm his ass down. It does make you wonder what he's been through to make him so hostile. (I know, I know!)
My thoughts:
Good, cheesy fun. Reminds me of a time when reading was uncomplicated and my tbr pile held maybe 10 books. Night Embrace isn't quite up to par with today's paranormal romance, however it is rather emotional and gut-wrenching to read sometimes, and I am a sucker for those kinds of stories. These DH's suffered greatly as humans, often resulting in being brutally murdered. Talon's story is no different, having lost his parents, his wife & child, and his beloved sister before dying himself all because of the greed and power-hungry ambitions of others.
Going in, I did not have high expectations. I knew these weren't going to have the same effect on me as they did when I first read them. However I do quite like Talon, though he is not my favorite Dark Hunter, and he still has this tiresome obsession for his wife, which is rather weird after so many centuries since her death. Yet I really do like him and Sushine together, despite how he keeps trying to keep distance between them. She may seem absent-minded and carefree, but she's also smart and giving and capable of standing up to Talon. She could be stubborn and fierce, a worthy partner to the lonely Dark Hunter.
And speaking of lonely, we get more and more glimpses of Ash's past, and my heart just aches for him. I think I've only read 6 or 7 of the DH books, so I have quite a bit of catching up to do, and I know my heart is just gonna break. Will it hurt worse than Zarek's story? That one ripped me to shreds (and reminded me so much of Zsadist's story).
So yeah, all kinds of stuff goes down in this story as we delve deeper and deeper into the history of the Dark Hunters, and get a front row seat into Ash's complex relationship with Artemis. We see that there are more otherworldly creatures than just the Dark Hunters and the gods. This book also has a bit of a bang at the end which kicks off Zarek's story. I won't ruin it for the few people who haven't read the series, but it's a doozy.
These books aren't perfect; a lot of times they're clunky and cheesy and campy, but that's okay by me. I unashamedly enjoy them. The stories draw me in and keep me interested. I like the Greek mythology, even if many liberties are taken for the sake of the story. I like the setting in New Orleans. I like that the dangers are great and not always easily overcome. The Dark Hunter books is one of the first long-running series I've gotten hooked on, so it has a special place in my heart for that as well.
Note: Book Binge (Holly) mentioned on Twitter just yesterday that there's a scene where Talon and Sunshine spend the night having unprotected sex and Sunshine gets dressed the next morning without showering. Usually, that's a huge ick factor for me. However, that being said, I can overlook A LOT of things in a paranormal story, so details such as this don't register with me because I think differently when I'm reading this type of book and can get past things more easily. It's like the ick factor miraculously disappears for me because of the Dark Hunter superpowers LOL. Besides, Holly doesn't care for most (any?) of the Dark Hunters so I will just ignore what she has to say *g*
Rating: **** out of *****
Labels: quickie reviews, Sherrilyn Kenyon
posted by Stacy~ at 3/12/2010 06:52:00 AM
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Wednesday, February 03, 2010:
Gentlemen Prefer Succubi by Jill Myles (2010) - quickie review
 Who knew an angel could get a girl in so much devilish trouble?
Jackie Brighton woke up in a dumpster this morning, and her day has only gotten weirder. Her breasts grew overnight, her sex drive is insatiable, and apparently she had her first one-night stand ever . . . with a fallen angel.
Of course, she only remembers gorgeous Noah’s enormous, er, package. And their steamy shower sex. Hmm . . . and the dark stranger whose bite transformed her into an immortal siren with a seductive Itch.
With help from Noah and fellow succubus Remy Summore, Jackie adapts to her new lifestyle—until she accidentally strikes a deal that sends her lover into the deadly clutches of the vampire queen and lands Jackie, Remy, and the queen’s wickedly hot right-hand man into the middle of a fierce battle for an ancient halo.
But how’s a girl supposed to save the world when the enemy’s so hard to resist?
Doesn't this book sound hot? I sure thought so, which was just one of the reasons I bought it. It sounded like one hell of a good time, and certainly appropriately naughty. But it also sounded fun, plus I haven't read many stories about Succubi, so I figured that was another good reason to pick this one up. With this being the first book in the Succubus Diaries, I was excited to see what kind of an imagination Jill Myles had. The story started out very promising. Our unlikely heroine, Jackie Brighton, had just woken up in a dumpster, and didn't have any memory as to how she got there. Finding her way out of the filthy alley, she encounters the unbelievably gorgeous Noah, who seems a little familiar, and because she cannot recall the details of the last few days, she lets him buy her lunch, even though all she can think about is screwing his brains out. But first she needs to know what happened to her, and Noah seems to be the one with all the answers. And whoa, does he have some explaining to do..... My thoughts: I'm definitely on the fence here because while I found many elements of the story fun and interesting and wonderfully mixed with real ancient history, I had such a difficult time liking the heroine. Simply put, Jackie was mostly annoying and straddling the line of the TSTL heroine. Admittedly, she got a little more tolerable as the story came to a close, but there were so many instances where I wanted to smack her and tell her to shut the hell up. Just why these two incredibly delicious and sexy guys would want anything to do with such a hot mess is beyond me. Despite her career as a docent at the museum, she doesn't come across as very bright. Or discriminating. She seems pretty keen to believe just about anything anyone tells her, and doesn't listen to the advice of those trying to help her adjust to her new life as a Succubus. One minute she'd be pissed at Zane, and the next she'd be crawling all over him. Granted, part of her wishy-washy behavior was because of her sexual Itch, but it got tiresome after awhile. Beyond that though, I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the story. I thought both Noah and Zane were to die for, and though I'm on a team already, I'm willing to explore all options. I found the vampire queen to be appropriately evil, and Uriel to be a sneaky bastard of an angel. Remy totally cracked me up. Now her I could see as the heroine. She may be vain and have a completely raunchy career, but she was way more interesting to me. Personally, I thought Jackie was all boobs and didn't deserve to have Noah and Zane panting after her. If she was smart or resourceful or brave, I might have had more respect for her. So instead I focused on other aspects of the story to keep me entertained. For example, I was fascinated by the fact that Noah was a Serim, the golden boy, and Zane was a vampire, the tall, dark and sexy bad boy. In a sense they remind me of Angel and Spike, especially the trench coat-wearing, smoking Zane. Their powers and their needs were so different, and I enjoyed the mythology of their two worlds and how the two clashed. It's always fun to note that the good guys aren't always so good, and the bad guys can do heroic things. Yet despite my lack of respect for the heroine, I am someone who tends to keep giving chances. I am feeling horribly guilty for not liking Jackie very much, and yes, that's my issue, because I just can't seem to help myself from feeling bad. Besides, I already have the 2nd book in this series, so I haven't written off the books completely. I just know now to go in with lowered expectations to prevent me from getting too crazed. I think the series has a lot of potential and want to explore more of this interesting world Ms. Myles has created for us. And I'm not afraid to be proven wrong. If there's some way I can learn to love Jackie, then I'm all for it, because I really want more Noah & Zane, however I can get them ;)
Rating: **** out of *****
How do you cope with TSTL syndrome? Labels: Jill Myles, quickie reviews
posted by Stacy~ at 2/03/2010 06:48:00 AM
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Tuesday, January 19, 2010:
Quickie Reviews: Love You To Death (2009) & Stand-In Groom (1997)
 Delicate, expressive hands...long, graceful legs...One man is looking for his perfect woman--and he'll stop at nothing until he finds her.
LOVE YOU TO DEATH
It's been days since reporter Elise McBride has heard from her sister, Ashley. She's convinced Ashley has met with some kind of foul play, especially when she learns that bodies of other missing women have surfaced in and around Chicago--all victims of a brutal serial killer. Convinced her sister is still alive, Elise vows to risk everything to save her... The last thing ex-cop Trent Brady needs is more blood on his hands. Yet when he catches Elise breaking into her sister's house, full of reckless determination and fear, he knows she needs his help. But just as desire ignites between them, a twisted madman sets his sights on Elise. Hell-bent on possessing her for himself, this psychopath won't rest until he has his perfect woman.
A friend of mine had sent me this book some time ago, partially because it was set in Chicago, and probably also because it was a romantic suspense novel. This is my first book by Shannon K. Butcher, and I enjoyed it well enough to want to read more by this author.
This book was sufficiently creepy, as the villain is obsessed with creating the perfect woman, in the most gruesome of ways. I won't give away any of the details, but ewww. I liked Elise a lot, though she becomes what many would consider to be TSTL, however, when you put yourself in her place, as a woman who loves her sister and wants to protect her, I had to admit that were I her, I could see myself doing some of the same things. So that's what I did. Everytime Elise did something that made me want to smack her, I thought of what she must be going through, and it made sense.
Trent is suffering through his own nightmares as a man who made one mistake that ruined his career forever. Or so he thinks. The only person blaming him is Trent, and he cannot get past his guilt. But working with Elise to help her find her sister slowly brings him back to life, and he ends up falling in love with this gutsy, passionate, frustrating woman. Elise never believed in love until she met Trent, and he became someone she could depend on, for real. He put his own life on the line to protect her. Together they try to beat the odds and find Ashley before it's too late.
Rating: **** out of *****
 With a rare blend of humor, erotic tension, and dead-on emotional truth, "New York Times" bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann weaves this delightful romance of a man and woman brought together by chance, bound by choice, and in trouble deeper than they realize. Like a knight in a fairy tale, he appeared from out of nowhere and rescued her at the last moment. Now, sizing up the man who'd saved her purse and driven off her attackers, aspiring Boston entrepreneur Chelsea Spencer considered that this good-looking stranger could fit another role--not to mention a tuxedo--equally well. By the end of the week, Chelsea was scheduled to get married as a condition for earning the inheritance necessary to save her fledgling business. There was only one problem: She was short a groom. Johnny Anziano would have been satisfied with a date, but the woman he'd dashed in to save during a street mugging had proposed much more than that. For two weeks' "work," he'd earn $75,000 and a luxurious tropical island vacation. By saying a simple, meaningless "I do," he could save Chelsea one more time. But this time they were facing something a lot more dangerous than a gang of street thugs--their attraction for each other.
This is another of Suzanne Brockmann's older romances I hadn't read, and ended up picking this one up in the grocery store one day. Not quite as intense as "Kiss and Tell", it's still an engaging, sweet and sexy romance that develops between two strangers.
Johnny is one of those guys I would personally love to know in real life: gorgeous, a genuinely nice guy who knows how to cook. He falls hard for Chelsea, but she's not having it, mostly because she doesn't believe in relationships. Chelsea is likable but not big on compromise, at least not initially. Her only examples of marriage have been in her affluent family, and each time it's the woman who has to give something up in the relationship. Chelsea does not want to live her life dependent upon a man, no matter how sexy and wonderful he is. She just needs Johnny around long enough so she can claim her inheritance and get her business off the ground. Only he has other ideas....
Rating: **** out of ***** Labels: Brockmann, quickie reviews, Shannon K. Butcher
posted by Stacy~ at 1/19/2010 07:37:00 AM
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Thursday, December 24, 2009:
Seducing the Heiress by Olivia Drake (2009) - quickie reviews
 Her wealth and beauty have made Miss Portia Crompton the catch of the season. Secretly determined to wed the maharajah's son she left behind in India, Portia ignores the money-hungry bucks who ply her with bouquets and bonbons. But one suitor will not be deterred: Colin Byrd, Viscount Ratcliffe. He is persistent and presumptuous--and wickedly tempting. Colin has no delusions about romance. He's a rogue, a womanizer, and a murderer, and seduction comes as easily to him as breathing. Portia's fortune is an irresistible lure until Colin's mercenary scheme hits a snag. Winning her dowry is no longer enough--he wants her heart and her passion. The more adamant she is in her refusal, the more determined he is to seduce her... I recently saw this being discussed at RomanceBuytheBook and because it's been awhile since I read a historical romance, I was immediately interested in this one. I stopped by the bookstore a few days later so the book ended up in my hands. I've not found much on Olivia Drake. She doesn't appear to have her own website, however on the copyright page, it lists Barbara Dawson Smith's name. Bingo. I've never read any of her books, but I did head over to her site to see if I could find out more. However it doesn't appear that the author is very good at updating her website. So I have to conclude that they are one in the same and leave it at that. Colin Byrd is in desperate need of a rich wife. It just happens to be a wonderful coincidence that an untitled, wealthy family is out in society and they have a beautiful daughter of marriage age. He knows that he must find a way to set himself apart from all the dandies and rakes determined to claim her hand. One evening while dining at the lovely home of the Duke of Albright, Portia finds herself having said the wrong thing yet again. Her comments set off the wagging tongues of the disapproving matriarchs, and Portia must listen to their thinly veiled insults in silence. But whilst this is going on, a bit of drama occurs when one of the matriarchs is "attacked" by a rogue strawberry, and panic ensues. She looks up to find her champion is none other than the exceptionally handsome man standing not far away, dining on a strawberry himself. Portia is immediately fascinated, and though society dictates she shan't converse with a gentleman to whom she hadn't been introduced, she decides that under the circumstances, exceptions can be made. The two banter back and forth for several minutes, but before too much time can pass, rescue in the form her her mother and the Duke of Albright enlighten Portia to the identity of her champion: he is Viscount of Ratcliffe, and he is responsible for his father's death. From then on, Portia is determined to avoid Ratcliffe, and uses the Duke as a means to keep him at bay. Portia has promised herself to another, and using the Duke as a buffer will keep other gentleman from offering for her hand. All, that is, but the most persistent Ratcliffe. Ratcliffe isn't ready to give up so easily. He's rather taken with the bold baggage who snubs him at every turn. He's convinced his powers of seduction will prove to be her undoing. But he's rather flummoxed to discover that despite her attraction to him, Portia manages to hold strong and resist giving into his charms. How can he convince her that there's more between them than her dowry?My thoughts:
No question, this book is rather charming. I immediately liked both characters, and enjoyed watching them spar with each other. Neither were what their outward appearances would seem; Portia has her heart set on marrying her childhood sweetheart, despite their differences in backgrounds and society's disapproval. And Colin is obviously protecting someone weaker than himself. I thought these two characters were amazing together, and it was most enjoyable watching them set sparks off each other.
What I didn't care for was the predictable drama. We soon learn Ratcliffe and the Duke of Albright are sworn enemies, and it appears the Duke courts Portia as a form of revenge. Of course Portia's parents want her to marry the Duke. The Duke has done some really unforgivable things; he truly is a villain; yet her parents are blind to everything but his social status. Colin is forced into taking drastic measures, which result in a duel. It all seems really silly in the end.
However the relationship and strong feelings between Portia and Colin were enough to keep me interested in their story. Neither realize they are falling in love, yet they cannot keep away from each other. Portia sees proof that Colin is not the man society paints him to be, and Colin realizes that Portia is no spineless young woman. As I said, it was charming.
Rating: **** out of *****
Labels: Olivia Drake, quickie reviews
posted by Stacy~ at 12/24/2009 07:08:00 AM
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Monday, December 21, 2009:
Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk (2008) - quickie review
 "Using magic meant it used you back. Forget the fairy tale hocus-pocus, wave a wand and bling-o sparkles and pixie dust crap.Magic, like booze, sex, and drugs, gave as good as it got."
Everything has a cost. And every act of magic exacts a price from its user--maybe a two-day migraine, or losing the memory of your first kiss. But some people want to use magic without paying, and they offload the cost onto an innocent. When that happens, it falls to a Hound to identify the spell's caster--and Allison Beckstrom's the best there is. Daughter of a prominent Portland businessman, Allie would rather moonlight as a Hound than accept the family fortune--and the many strings that come with it. But when she discovers a little boy dying from a magical offload that has her father's signature all over it, Allie is thrown back into the high-stakes world of corporate espionage and black magic. Now, Allie's out for the truth--and the forces she finds herself calling on will overturn everything she knows, change her in ways she could never imagine...and make her capable of things that powerful people will do anything to control. One of my Twitter pals, Susi Sunshine, had recommended these books to me via her comments via GoodReads.com, and I admit, being in my Urban Fantasy phase, I was quite intrigued. I admit I'd not heard much of Devon Monk before, and I'm not sure why, but it doesn't fail to surprise me very much, as I tend to live in a bubble from time to time. Thank God for readers who care *g* Allie Beckstrom hails from a rich and influential family, but she turned her back on that to practice magic her way. Allie is good at finding magic trails, hence the her ability as a Hound. On the day of her 25th birthday, all set to enjoy a cup of coffee and forget her money woes for a short while, Allie is called to the establishment of Mama, a woman he's helped in the past. All set to decline the offer, Allie cannot ignore the frantic pleas of the woman asking for her help. Sighing in defeat, she makes her way to the bad part of the city, and discovers what has Mama so upset: one of her boys, only a small child, is unconscious, the cause being an Offload of magic; someone had used this boy as a conduit to perform illegal magic, and because magic always takes its price, now his life is threatened because of the amount of magic used. Allie is furious that anyone would deliberately harm a child, and even moreso when it becomes evident that the person whose signature she tracks belongs to her own father. Though she hasn't seen him in years, Allie has no reluctance about confronting him. Coming along for the ride is Zayvion Jones, a mysterious man who may or may not be working for her father. Allie doesn't know much about Zayvion, other than he's a fine-looking man and fairly new to the area. She's not sure she can trust him, but she feels a bit better knowing she's not going alone, especially when she's low on cash and doesn't relish the idea of walking all the way across town.
Allie comes face to face with her father after several years, and attacks him for harming a child. Yet he willingly submits to a truth spell, which he passes, and this development frustrates Allie. She knows he's guilty; how else could his signature be on all over that boy? After several angry words, Allie storms out, never to see her father again....
My thoughts: As much as I enjoyed the concept of the story, it was slow going for me in the beginning. Ms. Monk has quite a background here, and to develop it by showing the reader versus telling us took some time. But once it started moving for me, I as hooked. I loved the whole idea of paying a price for magic. Like anything, you couldn't just use it at will; you had to sacrifice for it, sometimes the pain could be excruciating, dependent upon the spell. This story was really fresh, and kept me wondering what was going to happen next.
Allie is a typical urban fantasy heroine: in good shape, tall and not too curvy, her looks more striking that beautiful. She didn't put a lot of stock in material things, tended to always be low on cash. She loved coffee and tended to fall into bed with guys on a whim. But of course the kicker is that she is "special". Otherwise, why would we want to read about her? Now please don't get me wrong, because I like Allie very much. She's real. She's loyal to her friends, and doesn't like to see those more vulnerable being hurt. She's proven she'd give her last dollar to help someone in need. She's flawed but someone you'd want as your friend. Magic has left Allie without a lot of her memories, and she's also lonely, and it explains some of her behavior. Being special isn't always a wonderful thing.
Zayvion Jones, the man Allie is so strongly drawn to, though she doesn't even know whose side he's on, is a bit of a mystery. He tends to be someone she can depend on, but to what end? What are his motives? As the novel progresses, it's evident he cares more for her than he's comfortable with, and when things go really bad, he doesn't handle it very well. But I have a feeling we've not seen the last of Mr. Jones.
So far there are two more books in the series, and I have both of them. I'm so glad I bought them all at once. Though reading "Magic To the Bone" was a bit exhausting, so I've moved onto something less intense. But I will be getting back to the series soon. I just can't wait to find out what happens next.
Rating: **** out of ***** Labels: Devon Monk, quickie reviews
posted by Stacy~ at 12/21/2009 06:52:00 AM
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Thursday, December 03, 2009:
Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon (2002) - quickie review
 Dear Reader,
Have you ever wanted to know what it's like to be immortal? To journey through the night stalking the evil that preys on humans? To have unlimited wealth, unlimited power? That is my existence, and it is dark and dangerous. I play hero to thousands, but am known to none. And I love every minutes 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's 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 exist. 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"
This is the first "official" Dark Hunters story, and where I first discovered that vampires could avoid sunlight and have fangs, but not look like an emaciated Pillsbury Doughboy. Oh no, that was not the case with these bad boys. (They ARE mad, bad, and immortal, after all).
While reading this book, I had to smile because while there are memories of great violence and death, there are also many light-hearted and cheesy moments as well. We see more earthly involvement with the Greek gods and goddesses here, and this is the book where we first meet Acheron, or aka Ash. The gist of the story is that Kyrian was betrayed thousands of years ago by someone he loved, and his cry of anguish was heard by the goddess Artemis, who had created this band of hunters - led by Acheron - to battle the Apollites who turned daimon. A Dark Hunter relinquishes his soul to Artemis, and they are fated to walk the world alone. Apollites, also known as the descendants of the god Apollo, were cursed to live no more than 27 years before they crumbled to dust and died. Those desperate enough not to die become daimons, blood suckers, and require the souls of humans to sustain their existence. Dark Hunters do not require blood to survive, nor do they kill humans for their souls. However they cannot be out in sunlight, unlike daimons, and while immortal, they can die. A Dark Hunter who dies becomes a Shade, doomed to walk the earth always hungering, longing, but never being satisified. It is an existence beyond cruelty. So Kyrian is hunting daimons, most especially Desiderius, who seems to have powers unlike any daimon he's known. Desiderius handcuffs Kyrian to Amanda Deveraux, a human with extraordinary powers of her own, coming from a magical family. But while Amanda loves her family, she denies her roots, preferring to live in the "normal" world. She doesn't know it, but has incredible power, and Desiderius is fully aware of this. He uses his human minions to carefully nurture Amanda's gifts without her knowing. While together, Amanda and Kyrian begin to fall in love, although because of his tortured past and the incredible betrayal he suffered, Kyrian is convinced no woman can ever love him. He continues to push her away. But it's no use. He finds her extraordinary, and is constantly surprised at her bravery and fearlessness. So while he finds himself wishing for a life other than that of a Dark Hunter, a life filled with love and family, he knows the chances of that are near impossible of surviving. Only a handful of Dark Hunters have ever successfully gotten their souls back, and the price is one that may just be too steep to pay.... My thoughts: Yeah the book is a little cheesy it some ways, but in others quite enjoyable. As I mentioned, I have a special fondness for the Dark Hunters series because I never knew vampires could be so delicious until I read "Night Pleasures". I continue to like the Greek mythology references, although we're all over the map here with them, but that's okay. It's all part of the fun. I don't recall ever reading anything where Ms. Kenyon goes out of her way to apologize for creating such a lovable mess, and I can appreciate that. It is what it is. Some things you just enjoy, even if they're not the greatest. And tastes change over time, so a book you once loved 5 years ago may not be the same book you love today. I was aware of all of this when I started to re-read NP, and so I let go of any expectations and just enjoyed the ride. Of course I have to mention, again, this is when we first meet Acheron, leader of the Dark Hunters and a being who's walked the earth for over 11,000 years. He's got a "partnership" with Artemis since he's in charge of the group but Artemis still owns their souls. What do we know about him? He's very tall, been around almost forever, looks young, has long hair that he changes the color with his moods (it's green when he first comes on the scene). And the dude's got powers. Amazing powers. And then there's that whole deal with Artie.... But moving on. I liked that while Kyrian is a dangerous hunter, he also retains some of his humanity. He can be quite funny and blase' about what he does. After all, he's been alive a looong time (though not even close to as how long Acheron's been walking the earth) so there's not much he hasn't seen or done. He now has a purpose - to kill daimons - and he does it very well. Amanda has him thinking of things he hasn't thought of since he was human - a home, family - and part of him longs for it, while another part believes deep down it can never be. All he can do is keep her safe. I liked Amanda right from the start. Even though she's conservative and resistant to her true nature, she's not going around with a stick up her ass. She's a very warm, caring person, and while initially she is distrustful of Kyrian, she soon is fighting there right alongside him. And once Amanda commits to something, she's in it with her whole heart. At one point, the climax of the story, she has to be braver than she's ever been, and despite her incredible fear, she pulls it off. It's a crucial moment and she doesn't even waver. I remember the first time I read that scene, and I was on pins and needles. It wasn't quite as gripping this time around, but I was still drawn into it. So yeah, this series isn't perfect by any means, but it's like a comfortable old chair you just can't get rid of. I decided not to read all the books right in a row, so it may be a little bit before I go onto the next one, but I'll get there. Eventually. Rating: **** out of ***** Labels: quickie reviews, Sherrilyn Kenyon
posted by Stacy~ at 12/03/2009 07:02:00 AM
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Monday, November 30, 2009:
Double Dose of Dahl (Victoria Dahl, that is)
 Molly Jenkins has one naughty little secret: her job as a bestselling erotic fiction author. Until her inspiration runs dry--thanks to a creepy ex--and it's time to skip town and move back to tiny Tumble Creek, Colorado.
One look at former high school hunk chief of police Ben Lawson and Molly is back in business. The town gossip is buzzing at her door and, worse still, a stalker seems to be watching her every move. Thankfully, her very own lawman has taken to coming over, often. The only problem now is that Molly may have to let the cat out of the bag about her chosen profession, and straitlaced Ben will definitely not approve....
I had heard about author Victoria Dahl awhile ago. I think it might have been when Katiebabs talked about one of her books on KristieJ's blog. But it wasn't until a Twitter conversation about the hot and dirty contemporaries that Ms. Dahl wrote, as well as her own tweets, that finally got me to give them a try. And I devoured both contemps over the Thanksgiving weekend. Overall I rather liked "Talk Me Down". It was sexy, and fun, and I couldn't turn the pages quick enough. I did waver between wanting to smack Molly upside the head and wanting to be her friend though. She has a tendency to be pretty immature, but she's got a vivacious personality that made it difficult to hate her. Still, there are times when she has a big mouth, and for a private guy like Ben, it bothers me to see her acting so cavalier about certain things. And keeping her profession, as that of an erotica writer, a secret even from her family, was a bit extreme. I think what bothered me most about it is that she KNOWS how much Ben hates secrets, and why, yet she keeps it from him anyway. True, he's fully aware of that fact she has this secret, but trust is so important to him, and while she was only looking for something casual, Ben was not. Perhaps that's a double standard, because what if the reverse were true? Would I be as upset with Ben if he had this huge secret? Now that I think about it, yes I would. Another thing that bothered me was the whole stalker issue. I thought it was enough to have this secret between them instead of throwing another subplot to take away from the relationship. It would even have been okay if it had been toned down a bit, but I just didn't think it was necessary to take it to such a level as it went to. And the Cameron thing squicked me out, right from the beginning. I admit I flipped through these pages because I just wanted to get past them. But by the end of the book, everything worked out, so that's the main thing, right? I think Molly grew up enough to be more worthy of Ben, though she still had a ways to go. But I believe she was willing to try to be the kind of woman Ben deserved, because he was pretty special. Rating: *** 1/2 out of *****
 Lori had always planned to get out of tiny Tumble Creek, Colorado, but when her late dad left her his beloved auto body shop, she'd stayed. Now, according to her crazy best friend, Molly, what Lori needs is some excitement, in the form of hot, no-strings-attached sex...and lots of it.
Quinn Jennings has buildings on the brain--not love and romance. A serious architect, he's delighted to discover that Lori is willing to skip dating protocols and head straight for the sheets. And aided by the steamy books on Lori's bedside table, he's busy indulging both of their wildest fantasies. But when life in Tumble Creek takes a dangerous turn for Lori, Quinn's protective instincts kick in.
Suddenly he "cares." More than either of them ever expected....
I liked this one quite a bit more than the first book. Lori wasn't always the nicest heroine, a fact she herself will admit to, but that's okay. She's had a difficult time of it the last ten years but she faced up to her responsibilities, even though it's not the life she would have chosen for herself. But Lori is a healthy young woman with raging hormones, and she just ain't finding ways to satisfy her needs in Tumble Creek. Heck, most of the town believes she's a lesbian, and even if they didn't, there aren't many desirable men to choose from. With the help of her friend Molly, Lori decides it's time to occasionally go out and just have fun being a woman. During a girls' night out, they run into Molly's brother Quinn, who can't take his eyes off Lori. He's stunned to discover under the overalls and grease is a very sexy, attractive woman, one he wants to spend more time with. At first Lori isn't too crazy about the idea, even though Quinn pushes all the right buttons. But she's known him all her life and she cannot imagine living out her dirty fantasies with a friend. However there's just no other man who will do, and soon, Quinn and Lori are hittin' the sheets and discovering how down and dirty friends can get... These book was incredibly sexy. The fact that Lori wasn't afraid to explore some of her most naughty fantasies and that Quinn was more than willing to take her there was incredibly hot. I liked that he didn't think she was a freak or a nymphomaniac just because she wanted to do things "nice" girls aren't supposed to want to do. In fact the guy counts his lucky stars that she trusts him enough to share her desires in the bedroom, and he's more than willing to satisfy each and every one of them. But Quinn begins to develop stronger feelings for her, and because he cares, he believes he knows what's best for Lori, so he pushes her to change some of the things about her life. And because of fear and indignation that he assumes he has the right, Lori pushes him away. On top of her issues with Quinn, she has to deal with someone trying to destroy her business. This is what keeps the book from being perfect for me; when we discover the motivation and who the actual culprit is. Without giving it away or going into detail, I was soooo disappointed in how this scenario ended. It's not that I didn't see it coming, I just wish it had ended much differently. In fact I prayed that what happened wouldn't happen. Sadly, it did. But it didn't run the book completely for me, because there was a lot of stuff I liked too much about it. The ending is rather romantic, though not in a traditional sense. I liked that Lori and Quinn were taking it slow. It was unexpectedly sweet, actually. And very fitting for the relationship they'd been having. I highly approve. Rating: ****1/2 out of *****
Labels: quickie reviews, Victoria Dahl
posted by Stacy~ at 11/30/2009 07:12:00 AM
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Sunday, November 29, 2009:
Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon (2002) - quickie review
 For 2,000 years, Julian of Macedon has lived a curse of being a love-slave. When he is summoned to fulfill Grace Alexander's sexual fantasies, Grace is the first woman to see him as a man with a tormented past. Taking him out into the world, instead of keeping him in the bedroom, Grace teaches Julian to love again. But can that alone break the 2,000-year-old curse he is under?I read this book years ago, and I don't remember why I picked it up since vampires creeped me out (though this story isn't about vampires). But I was curious about this writer who told stories about vamps mixed t up with some sexy guys and proceeded with a huge helping of Greek mythology. Sherrilyn Kenyon does not list it as a Dark Hunter book on her website though I see it listed that way at many online bookstore sites. I guess it's the prequel to the series, because it has some overlapping characters but there's really nothing about the Dark Hunter history. Still, I'm glad I read it, even though it's a bit on the fluffy side.Grace's friend Selena thinks Grace needs a hot guy to show her a rockin' time in bed, so she brings Grace a special book, where inside the covers is a hot sex slave from thousands of years ago. Once he is summoned, he will give the summoner untold pleasure from full moon to full moon; an entire month. Grace doesn't believe in all Selena's mumbo-jumbo, even though Selena is her best friend. But it's her birthday, and she's had a little too much wine, so she humors Selena by chanting the words necessary to bring Julian forth. When nothing happens, she's not surprised and Selena is majorly disappointed and goes home. But of course Julian does show up, and he's very, very naked. Grace is immediately drawn to Julian, as any healthy, red-blooded woman would be, but she's not the sort of woman to just jump into bed with a guy, no matter how much he flips her switch. Julian doesn't understand Grace's reluctance as every other time he's been summoned, women have fallen upon him like ravening wolves. But right from the start, she's different, and hell, he's got nothing better to do, so why not let her show her around the 21st century? As time passes, Grace discovers the torment of Julian's past, and how he came to be cursed. It turns out that there may be a way to break the curse, but it's dangerous and very iffy. However Grace has come to care deeply for Julian and even if he decides to move on, she'd rather have him free than trapped inside the dark pages of that book for who knows how long. Eventually Julian begins to wish for it too, and together they fight to break a curse that is nearly impossible to break...
My thoughts: Wouldn't that be just about every woman's fantasy, right there with a hot guy to cook and clean? Yeah, I thought so too, but Grace doesn't. I liked that she's not willing to just let this gorgeous, sexy man lure into his arms quite that easily. But she wants to help him, which is more than what anyone else has ever tried to do for him before. So he lets her, even though deep down he believes she's wasting her time. But no one's ever looked beyond his appearance and his talents in the bedroom, and it feels good to be valued for something other than his body. He's not fooled, he knows Grace wants him, but she's not easily seduced.
Having already read several books in this series, I've already noticed that Sherrilyn Kenyon tends to make her heroes really suffer. I mean REALLY. Just wait til Zarek, if you haven't read the books. Most heart-breaking story ever. But this is Julian's story, and he suffers plenty enough. Betrayal, torture, horrendous grief. The things that are done to him are incomprehensible, yet they happen, and he's lived over 2000 years having to remember each gruesome, excruciating detail. I'm amazed that Julian hadn't been driven insane by all what he witnessed and experienced. But then this is a book about a fantasy lover, so insanity wouldn't really suit the purpose, now would it?
I enjoyed going back and revisiting where it all began. It's not the best of the series, but I'm glad I read it and got to know Julian and Grace, who will make future appearances in the series. I thought the book was sexy and interesting enough to keep me turning the pages. Part of it is my fascination with Greek mythology, though Ms. Kenyon does take huge liberties with it, but so what? It's mythology for God's sake. And the book is fiction, and it's fun to step outside the box from time to time and watch Aphrodite be a mom to Julian. I didn't start the series looking for intellectual stimulation, but to be entertained, and so far, that's exactly what I've experienced.
And Ms. Kenyon does tug on your emotions a bit, which is one of my weaknesses. I've already started reading Night Pleasures and there's a bit more of that going on in that book too. What can I say, the Dark Hunters are my bag of potato chips.
Rating: **** out of ***** Labels: quickie reviews, Sherrilyn Kenyon
posted by Stacy~ at 11/29/2009 08:14:00 AM
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