Lover Eternal by J. R. Ward

Paranormal Romance

Book 2 in the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series

In this series, there are vampires, who are born, and lessers, who are made.  The lessers are soulless, evil beings out to destroy the vampires.  The Black Dagger Brotherhood is a class of vampire, warriors who are born  into the Brotherhood.  The men are bigger and more powerful than the common vampires. 

This book is about Rhage.  Rhage was cursed to carry a draggon-type being with him.  When he looses control, he turns into a dragon.  The dragon is all rage and fury and will harm/eat anyone in his path.  It is this curse that makes it especially hard when he falls for the very fragil human, Mary. 

The suffering, the very beautiful, Rhage goes through over years trying to gain control of the dragon's rage make him a very sympathic hero.  He falls for the average, nothing special woman and treats her like a queen, caring for her and protecting her even when it harm himself.  I love the broken, self-sacrificing, georgeous hero falls for the regular girl romances.  Great Stuff!

Dark Lover by J.R. Ward

Book one, The Black Dagger Brotherhood

Paranormal Romance

In this series, vampires are born not made and the vampire population is in series trouble.  Their enemies are the lessers lead by the ultimate in evil, the Omega.  The lessers are soulless beings out to destroy the vampires.  The vampires are lead by the Scribe Virgin who is some mystical being with great powers.  The Black Dagger Brotherhood is a group of powerful vampires who protect their people from the lessers. 

This book reminded me a lot of the Dark-Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon.  I enjoyed the book.  It wasn't a heart-stopping-I can't-put-it-down book, but an enjoyable read.  I liked the bond between Wrath and his Brotherhood, a group of deadly warriors, but all broken is some way.  I love heroes who are hot, powerful, great warriors, but alone and broken and can only be healed and made whole by their one true mate.  Heroes that once they find their one true mate are completely and utterly devoted to their women. 

I enjoyed the book and will probably pick-up the next few books in the series.  I usually get tired of a series long before the books run out and I probably will with this one as well, but for now I am looking forward to the next book.  

Harlequin Nocturne - April 2012

Paranormal Romance

Warrior Rising the Esri Series by Pamela Palmer

In this book, the humans are still fighting the evil Esri king who is intent upon enslaving the entire human race.  The 1/2 Esri humans are on the front lines as they are the only humans who can resist the hypnotism of the Esri.   Harrison Rand is charged with guarding the Esri Princess who might be the only thing that can stop the evil king.  Along the way he fall for her, sparks fly, a war is fought, etc.

This series has not been a favorite of mine.  The author created an entire new world that smacks of a bit too much Science Fiction for my tastes.  Also, the instant desire just seemed weird.  There didn't seem to be any reason behind it.  I did finish the book and it was okay, but not great.


The Werewolf's Wife by Michele Hauf

Ridge Addison is the new alpha of his small werewolf pack.  He is determined to end his marriage that he jumped into one night on a whim in Las Vegas, so he can get on with his life.  The problem is he has never been able to get Abigail out of his mind.  When he looks up Abigail, she is determined to make a life for her and her son without men and without Ridge, but when her son goes missing, she accepts Ridge's help.  They soon learn the sparks are still there.  Can they reunite, can they find Abigail's son?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  The action/kidnapping kept the reader turning pages.  The romance was interesting and believable and the supernatural elements were good, too.

Kiss of A Demon King

Book 6 in the Immortals After Dark Series
Paranormal Romance

I am starting to really look forward to the books in this series.  They are well written, have great romance, and a great supernatural mythology.  In this book, Rydstrom Woede, a rage demon takes center stage.  Rydstrom is the rage demon's king, but his kingdom was taken from him in an attack by the evil, unkillable, Omort and he has been searching for a way to get his kingdom back for centuries.  In the last book, Rydstrom's brother finally attained a sword fabled to be the one think that could kill Omort.  Now Rydstrom needs to get close enough to kill him.  Unfortunately, he is imprisoned by the evil, Sorceress of Illusions and 1/2 sister to Omort, Sabine.  Rydstrom is strangely drawn to Sabine and with so much at stake, it makes for a very interesting situation.  Could Rydstrom trust Sabine, is Sabine really his mate, should he choose Sabine or his kingdom?

This book was full of really steamy romance scenes, lots of intrigue, and action.  A great read!

Harlequin Nocturne, March 2012

So Here are the March offerings in the Harlequin Nocturne series (available at Wal-Mart for less than list price).  I love this series, not because it is such great reading, but it is good light reading.  When I'm feeling overwhelmed by things and have too much on my mind to tackle other books, I can always pick-up on of these.  I also like to pick them up to keep on hand for those "oh no, I have nothing to read emergencies." 

I recommend them both.  I have read books in this series that I wasn't that thrilled with, but these were both pretty good. The Half-Breed Vampire is a werewolf/vampire story that took me a while to get into, but I thought it finished strong and Forever Claimed is 3rd in The Claiming Series.  I wasn't thrilled with the first book in this series, but books 2 and 3 were good.  There was a little bit of repeating the same info over and over, but for the most part a very enjoyable read.

Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole

Paranormal Romance
Book 5 in The Immortals After Dark Series

I am liking this series more and more.  Each book at least mentions previous characters, if not involves them in the story line, which is nice.  I like the continuity between books.  The author has thought up a multidimensional world full of lots of different creatures that make up the Lore.  There is the conflict of an upcoming Lore War and to top it all off, the romance is great! 

In this book Cadeon, a rage demon, after being a small character in several books, finally takes center stage.  He has found his one true mate, but is forbidden from being with her because she is human.  Meanwhile, the human, is turning into an immortal being that is suddenly being sought after by half of the Lore.  Cadeon has to choose help his mate or help his brother.  I loved this book, great action, great romance, great conflict, and what's a romance without a little heartbreak that is resolved in the end? 

Dark Needs at Night's Edge by Kresley Cole

Book 4 in the Immortals After Dark Series
Paranormal Romance

It took me forever to finish this one.  Not because I didn't like it, but just being busy.  I really enjoyed this book.  An interesting story line and a great romance all add up to a really good read.  I also really liked that characters from previous books were woven into this book adding a continuity between books. 

Conrad is a fallen vampire, one who has drunk a victim to death, and seems to be beyond help.  Neomi is a ghost bound to the house she was murdered in.  Neomi turns out to be Conrad's bride.  A vampire's bride is his eternal wife.  Only a Neomi can render Conrad fully alive, starting his heart beating and breathing.   

Wicked Deeds on A Winter's Night by Kresley Cole

The 3rd book in the Immortals After Dark Series

This is a pretty good series.  I'm not going to obsessively read it like I do the really good series, but it was an enjoyable read, interesting plot and romance.  In this series, there are a lot of different supernatural factions that are on the verge of war.  Previously, groups that weren't that friendly to each other are finding their members falling in love, like in this book a witch and a Lykae (werewolf). 

I do have to say I am really, really sick of the stupid titles and covers.  Why to the  publishers do that?  I find myself embarrassed to show the book in public.  I guess I will have to embrace the fact that I mostly read trash novels and stop being embarrassed or try reading actual literature. 

Undead and Uneasy by Mary Janice Davidson

Book 6 in the Betsy Taylor Vampire Queen Series

In this book the series comes to a conclusion of sorts.  Betsy is left alone with no support and has to deal with things on her own.  This is good because I'm getting a little sick of Betsy being such a dumb ass and so selfish.  It was funny for a few books, but is growing old.  The series was stalling for the last few books, but this one rivaled the first few.  I like the series, but wish for more substance. 

Harlequin Nocturne

Harlequin now has a Paranormal Romance called Harlequin Nocturne.  I'm a bit embarrassed to say that I have sunk so low into my Paranormal fantasy world that I would rather read a Harlequin romance than read actual literature, but I have to have my Paranormal fix.  Two books a month are published.  So far I've been able to find them at Wal-Mart, but not Target or Jewel.

January's offering were:

Claim the Night by Rachel Lee
A vampire romance where vampires "claim" their mates forever and where pesky demons are always trying to interfere.

Wolf Whisperer by Karen Whiddon
Shape-shifters are on the run from a evil shifters and fall in love along the way.


February's offering are:

Claimed by a Vampire by Rachel Lee  This is the 2nd book in the Claimed series
Demon's are still after human woman who smell better to the vampires than any drug (sound familiar?).  They beat the demon, fall in love, and the vampire claims his woman to him forever.

A Warrior's Desire, The ESRI  by Pamela Palmer
An entire other world where fruit trees appear if you pray/wish for them.  A human former Navy SEAL and former slave from this world team up to save Earth from enslavement and along the way fall in love.

So far they aren't bad.  They aren't great, but fine light reading when one needs a fix.

The Dream-Hunter by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Paranormal Romance

This book is the first book in the Dream-Hunter series, which is in the same world as her other series, Dark-Hunter. 

I was never really clear exactly what a Dream-Hunter actually did, nor was I clear what a Skotos is.  Although the hero, Arikos was one.  He for some reason visits dreams, has god powers, but is unable to feel emotions.  He convinces Hades to allow him to become human so he can meet a women who he has been visiting in her dreams for years.    Problems ensue, gods and others want to kill them, they fall in love, etc., etc. 

It took me 2/3 of the book before I was at all interested in what was going on.  I probably would have abandoned the thing except for two reasons.  One I really like the Dark-Hunter series and two I didn't have anything better to read.

Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning

I liked Karen Marie Moning's Fever series so well, I thought I'd try her first series.  This is the first book in the Highland series.  Mostly romance books with a supernatural twist it is set in Scotland with hot, hunky heros who wear kilts and not much else.

In this book, the modern day heroine was mistreated by her former boyfriend and has sworn off all men, especially beautiful ones.  The hero lives in ancient Scotland and has somehow offended the fey by being too hot and studly with the women.  Modern day women is inserted into ancient Scotland and plot twists ensue.  I've read better romance and better supernatural stories, but all in all an entertaining read.