Review // Shades of Wicked by Jeaniene Frost

January 17, 2022

Shades of Wicked by Jeaniene Frost

I didn't care if this was stupid or too soon or dangerous or would leave me heartbroken. I needed him like I'd never needed anything before.

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Shades of Wicked by Jeaniene Frost

Shades of Wicked by Jeaniene Frost


Night Rebel #1
Release - October 30, 2018
Genre - Urban Fantasy / vampires, demons
Primarily Heroine POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 3.5 out of 5 / only one real scene
Format/Source - ebook borrowed from the library
Length - 326 pages
Publisher - Avon

The Rule Breaker...

Master vampire Ian is unrepentant, shameless...and every shade of wicked. He's made one too many enemies in his two centuries of existence, including Dagon, a demon who now lays claim to his soul. Ian's only chance to escape Dagon is to join forces with a Law Guardian, but he's never been able to abide by the rules for long.

The Law Maker...

Veritas' normal role is police, judge, and jury to reprobates like Ian. But she has her own ax to grind with Dagon, so if she can use Ian as bait...well, all's fair in law and war. As they scour supernatural hotspots to perfect their trap, Veritas soon realizes Ian's carefully cultivated, devil-may-care roguish image hides something much more powerful. And Ian discovers Veritas has shocking secrets of her own. As they're drawn to each other with a passion as intense as their peril, either love or justice will prevail. But each will have devastating consequences.

Find Shades of Wicked here:

Goodreads * Amazon


My Two Cents

4.5 "Ian is dee-lish" stars

I've been told that I can't call myself a lover of PNR unless I've read a few authors... and Jeaniene Frost was one of them. I can happily say that not only have I tried this author, I loved what she gave me to read!

Ian was absolutely ridiculous. Powerful, intelligent, sexy, this male blew my mind with the way he lived his life. He was the exact opposite to the cool, collected and calculating Veritas. I loved the dynamic between them. How he riled her up, drove her mad, made her burn.

And when they really started to get to know each other, when they saw and realized the truth of one another... what they had became so beautiful.

"You won't fail." His voice vibrated from his intensity. "People like you have the rarest form of bravery. Friends and lovers might be willing to die for each other, but that's partly selfish. Risking everything for people you don't know is real bravery. You made all those people Dagon killed yours to avenge when you didn't have to. Then you became a Law Guardian so you could funnel more persecuted people to safety while also punishing those who abuse others. All this puts you right under the council's nose, but you did it anyway. You are awash in that rarest of braveries, Veritas. Dagon doesn't know it, but he doesn't stand a chance against you."

Long story short, Ian gave up his soul for no reason, the demon who owns him is evil to the max, Veritas wants to kill said demon, and she and Ian team up to take him down. We get to meet other characters who I'm told have their own stories out there (Hello Bones, Cat, Mencheres, etc.). We get to meet the grim reaper? I don't know who the beautiful male is that is also Veritas's father, but I'm hoping to learn more about him. He sounds yummy!!

I do wish there was more sex in the story (I know, I'm such a dirty little ---), but Ian and Veritas are so hot together. Call me greedy but I want more! I loved the cliffy at the end and while I don't know what will happen next with this couple, I'm here for it. I'm here for all of it. I don't even have to tell you I found a new author to collect stories from.

Shades of Wicked by Jeaniene Frost

Excerpt


About the Author

Jeaniene Frost is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Her works include the Night Huntress series, the Night Prince series, the Broken Destiny series, and the new Night Rebel series. Jeaniene’s novels have also appeared on the Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal, ABA Indiebound, and international bestseller lists. Foreign rights for Jeaniene’s novels have sold to twenty different countries.

Jeaniene lives in Florida with her husband Matthew, who long ago accepted that she rarely cooks and always sleeps in on the weekends. In addition to being a writer, Jeaniene also enjoys reading, writing, poetry, watching movies, exploring old cemeteries, spelunking and traveling – by car. Airplanes, children, and cook books frighten her.

Visit https://www.jeanienefrost.com/ for more information

Review // Dark Desire by Christine Feehan

January 15, 2022

Dark Desire by Christine Feehan

Sex. A good-looking intense man with black, hungry eyes, and she fell like a lovesick calf. Sex. It ruined many otherwise sane women.

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Dark Desire by Christine Feehan

Dark Desire by Christine Feehan


Standalone - Dark #2
Release - July 31, 2012
Genre - Paranormal Romance / vamps, carpathians, fated mates
Primarily Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 3 out of 5 / a few scenes
Format/Source - ebook borrowed from the library
Length - 416 pages
Publisher - Harper Collins

The stranger silently summoned her across the continents, across the seas. He whispered of eternal torment, of endless hunger . . . of dark, dangerous desires. And somehow American surgeon Shea O'Halloran could feel his anguish, sense his haunting aloneness, and she ached to heal him, to heal herself.

Drawn to the far Carpathian mountains, Shea found a ravaged, raging man, a being like no other. And her soul trembled. For in his burning eyes, his icy heart, she recognized the beloved stranger who'd already become part of her. The imperious Carpathian male had compelled Shea to his side. But was she to be his healer. . . or his prey? His victim . . . or his mate? Was he luring her into madness . . . or would his dark desire make her whole?

Find Dark Desire here:

Goodreads * Amazon


My Two Cents

2.5 "What did I just read?" stars

I'm going to be brutally honest here. I've never rated a CF book this low. However, this had to be my least favorite of all the books I've read from her, and I've read a lot.

I loved the author's letter to her readers. It made this book seem more personal. I adored how she couldn't let go of Jacques (and seriously, who could blame her). And the very beginning of this story, when Jacques was injured, on the brink of death, and slowly losing his mind... brilliant. It was everything else that made it all go sour.

Shea was absolutely horrible. It's just my opinion, but she ruined this story for me. Raven wasn't far behind. It also didn't help that there were so many voices fighting to be heard that it all got confusing sometimes. Who was speaking???

Once again, I enjoyed the story of the Carpathians. I loved the richness of their history, the fluidity of their movements, the invincibility of their bond. It was how ridiculous the women were that gave me trouble suspending belief. Every time I got sucked into the story, the supposedly cool and logical doctor was freaking out like a child. That's it! She was childish and I couldn't take her seriously.

Ah well, this story in no way deters me from continuing to read from this author. She writes such beautiful stories and has appeared in many of my "must have" and "best of" lists. I'll continue to work my way through her backlist and marvel over how much she has grown in her writing.

Jacques owned my heart in this novel and I can only hope he gets better. I miss the fun and carefree male I met in Dark Prince.

Shea! The call was loud, a flood of fear and confusion, an impression of strangling, of darkness and pain.
I’m here, Jacques.
Come back to me. I need you.
She smiled at the demand in his voice; her heart somersaulted at the raw truth in his voice. He never tried to hide anything from her, not even his elemental fear of her leaving him to face the darkness alone. Spoiled brat. She sent it tenderly. There’s no need to sound like the lord of the manor. I’ll be right in.
Just come to me. He was more relaxed now, beating back his fear of isolation. I do not want to wake alone.

I haven't looked ahead, but I hope to get Grigori's story soon. Knowing that Mikhail's child is his fated mate... I can't begin to imagine how all of that will turn out!

Excerpt


About the Author

Christine Feehan is a #1 New York Times bestselling author multiple times over with her portfolio including over 70 published novels, including five series; Dark Series, Ghostwalker Series, Leopard Series, Drake Sisters Series, the Sisters of the Heart Series and Torpedo Ink. All of her series have hit the #1 spot on the New York Times bestselling list as well. Her debut novel Dark Prince received 3 of the 9 Paranormal Excellence Awards in Romantic Literature (PEARL) in 1999. Since then she has been published by various publishing houses including Leisure Books, Pocket Books, and currently is writing for Berkley/Jove. She also has earned 7 more PEARL awards since Dark Prince.

IN HER WORDS: I've been a writer all of my life -- it is who I am. I write for myself and always have. The ability to create pictures and emotions with words is such a miracle to me. I read everything; I mean everything! All kinds of books, even encyclopedias. I am fascinated by the written word and I love storytellers. It is a great privilege to be counted one myself.

Visit http://www.christinefeehan.com/ for more information

FREE BOOKS & BOOK DEALS - 01/14/2022

January 14, 2022


We're heading into another weekend and I wanted to make sure you had a chance to check out some of the deals I found on Amazon. I hope you stay healthy, happy and safe! xo

Please Note: All books are listed for $2 or less (prices valid at time of post). I apologize in advance if the sale is over by the time you found yourself here.

I only list books I've either read or plan to read. If you know of any deals I may have missed, please let me know in the comments section below :)

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Adriana Locke
Aleatha Romig
Amy Harmon
Anthology
  • FREE - Taste (dark romance)

Autumn Jones Lake
Brittainy Cherry
CD Reiss
Carly Phillips
Carrie Ann Ryan
Chelle Bliss
Cynthia Eden

Gemma James

Gena Showalter

Geneva Lee

Georgia Le Carre

Golden Angel

Helena Hunting

Ilona Andrews

J. Kenner

J.T. Geissinger

Jasinda Wilder

Jay McLean

K.A. Linde
K.A. Tucker

Kendall Ryan
Kristen Painter

L.A. Casey

Layla Hagen

Lexi C. Foss

Lisa Renee Jones

Mariana Zapata

Meghan March

Meghan Quinn

Melissa Foster

N.J. Walters

Nana Malone

Pam Godwin

Pepper Winters

Rachel Van Dyken

Shayla Black

Shelly Laurenston

Skye Warren

Stephanie Rowe

Suzanne Wright

TL Swan

Review // Dark Needs at Night's Edge by Kresley Cole

January 12, 2022

Dark Needs at Night's Edge by Kresley Cole

He'd been offered his dream.
And he'd selfishly accepted it.
Even if Conrad separated from her for a thousand years, she would still be what he treasured above all things—and what he feared losing most.

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Dark Needs at Night's Edge by Kresley Cole

Dark Needs at Night's Edge by Kresley Cole


Standalone - Immortals After Dark #4
Release - April 29, 2008
Genre - Paranormal Romance / vamps, demons, valkyries, witches, ghost
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 3.5 out of 5 / a few scenes
Format/Source - ebook borrowed from the library
Length - 401 pages
Publisher - Pocket Books

Néomi Laress, a famous ballerina from a past century, became a phantom the night she was murdered. Imbued with otherworldly powers but invisible to the living, she haunts her beloved home, scaring away trespassers—until she encounters a ruthless immortal even more terrifying than Néomi herself.

To prevent him from harming others, vampire warrior Conrad Wroth’s brothers imprison him in an abandoned manor. But there, a female only he can see seems determined to drive him further into madness. The exquisite creature torments him with desire, leaving his body racked with lust and his soul torn as he finds himself coveting her for his own.

Yet even if Conrad can win Néomi, evil still surrounds her. Once he returns to the brutality of his past to protect her, will he succumb to the dark needs seething inside him?

Find Dark Needs at Night's Edge here:

Goodreads * Amazon


My Two Cents

4 "I'm in love with a (ghost) stripper" stars

Okay, so Néomi wasn't a stripper, but it kinda works!

After reading the previous books in this series, I was curious to know what happened to young Conrad Wroth. Well, he's definitely not young anymore. He's consumed with blood lust and his brothers are willing to do anything to bring him back to this side of sanity.

Almost 100 years ago, Néomi was a bright star in the ballet world, but when she rejected a man who purported to be devoted to her, she was murdered by him. Once admired and adored, she had become a ghost—she cannot be touched, seen or heard. She was miserable until the day the Wroths brought Conrad to be imprisoned at what she sees as her house.

I don't know if I was supposed to laugh as much as I did with this book, but laugh I did. Not so much at Conrad's pain or struggle, but with his interactions with Néomi. These two were so sweet together. I loved that at first he wasn't sure if she was a hallucination or not. And with her so desperate to finally be seen by someone, I couldn't get enough of them. They fed and offered succor to each other. And they loved unlike any love either had ever known.

Nix was the ridiculous class act I've come to expect. Mari and Bowen had me rolling. The Wroth brothers continue to capture pieces of my heart. And the demon brothers... poor, poor Cade. I'm hoping he gets a taste of the happiness and peace he seems to deserve.

I'll definitely be reading more of this series!!

Excerpt


About the Author


Kresley Cole is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the electrifying Immortals After Dark paranormal series, the young adult Arcana Chronicles series, the erotic Gamemakers series, and five award-winning historical romances.

A master’s grad and former athlete, she has traveled over much of the world and draws from those experiences to create her memorable characters and settings.

Her books have been translated into 23 foreign languages, garnered 3 RITA awards, a Hall of Fame induction, and consistently appear on the bestseller lists, in the U.S. and abroad.

Cole lives in Florida with her family.

Visit http://www.kresleycole.com for more information