Posts Tagged ‘vampires’

People…I have an announcement to make. There’s a new vampire in my life (and possibly my favorite). Yes, I know, I am fickle, but I just couldn’t choose before.  Well, this book made it easy for me Zane’s the man! He’s all bad boy, with some “good” that keeps peeping through. And those fallen angel wings of his…mmmm…yup, I’ve discovered that I especially like my paranormal men with a few “added” features. Horns, fangs, wings…it’s all good!

But wait, there’s more…the added touch that makes this series extra special. There’s another fallen angel in the mix (and he’s actually the first one I got attached to in this book). Noah, all good boy, all righteous, and beautiful like an angel should be. But fallen, nonetheless (his crime? He simply fell in love with a human female way back when…) Sidenote: That’s “Noah” on the left (see Zane at the end of this post)…

You see, in this series, that’s what makes a fallen angel (also known as a “Serim”). The chosen ones in Heaven that make the mistake of coveting a human, are simply cast out of heaven (immortal, but cursed, and without their wings). Their punishment? To be obliged to satiate their sexual needs (and that of their partner) once a month, during the full moon. Not so bad right?

But it is bad. While the fallen ones struggle to get back into heaven, their lack of wings, and falling from God’s grace has them emotionally distraught, never feeling whole, as they once were. And that is what leads some to make a (twisted) deal with the Devil. Yes, they get their wings back…(blackened), but the curse extends to needing to feed on blood regularly.

I shook my head. “So Noah’s been cast out of Heaven?”

“Him and a few thousand other guys, yeah. Gabriel and the rest that stayed behind were really angry, too, so they cursed the Serim. Since they were so hot for female flesh, they were cursed to crave it and to indulge themselves every full moon. Not so bad, you would think – but then the Archangels went and killed all their women and they were left with nothing. It’s a sad story really. Some of the Serim turned to evil as a result, and that’s why we have vampires. They wanted their wings back, no matter the cost. Lucifer was willing to give them wings, but they had to sell their souls. At least that’s the rumor. All you need to remember is that the Serim can only go out in the daytime, and the vamps can only go out at night. That’s what happens when you mess with the big guns.”

Once they have fallen to that level, they’re all bad, right? I mean, to make a deal with the Devil, there could be no turning back from that. However, Zane, the ultimate bad boy, angry, tortured, and seemingly uncaring, is essentially, still an angel, nonetheless.

He shook his head and the stubble on his chin scraped against my hand. “Why do you distrust me so much, Jackie? Why is it you trust me so little and trust Noah so much?”

“Gee I don’t know,” I said. “Could it be the fact that one of your kind attacked me in a bar and sent me down the path that I’m on right now?”

“I see.” His voice sounded sad, so unlike the urbane, devil-may-care Zane I knew. “Perhaps someday you will learn to trust me.”

And I HEART him. It’s like the author plucked him right out of my head! LOL! Wait wait!! I heart Noah too….this is really complicated (but so deliciously fun!!)

Okay so enough with the sappy mooning, and onto the story, cause you know what? The heroine (Jackie) is awesome too. Totally someone any of us can relate to. An average girl with an average life, who somehow gets mixed up in this underworld. Why exactly? I don’t know yet, but I’m sure someone “fallen”, had a plan, somewhere…

But anyway, one night, she was bitten (and almost drained) by a vampire, and then in her post-bite throes of lust, seeks out a hottie at a local bar (that just happens to be Noah, the fallen angel, only too happy to oblige).

The next thing you know, she’s rising from the dead (in a dumpster, no-less), morphing into a sex-kitten, with barely a memory of that fateful night of debauchery.

He leaned back and his hand went to his thick blonde hair, ruffling it. “Well, ah. We met at the hotel bar. You’d been there all night from the look of things and I offered to call you a cab. The next thing I knew, you were climbing into my lap. I took it as an invitation – a very nice one if I do say so.” He looked over at me, and I could have sworn his eyes had a hint of blue to them. “You can do really amazing things with your mouth.”

I spat coffee all over the table. Good lord, that didn’t sound like me at all.

She’s becoming a succubus (cause that’s what normal people do after a wild night of vampire bites and angel sex). A little bad, combined with a little good, and *poof* you get the perfect mix of both beings! Maker one (fallen angel) requires once-a-month sex to ease his hunger, maker two (fallen angel now vampire) requires daily blood to ease his hunger, and the result is a female that needs sex every two days.

So the book takes us on a wild romp of Jackie’s new life, self re-discovery, and forced partnerships that eventually evolve into relationships. She makes a crazy new best friend “Remy” (who is the only other succubus in NY), that started off as a mentor. However, she has quickly attached herself to Jackie’s hip, thrilled that she finally has someone just like her, after 400 years of being alone. Then there’s Noah, feeling guilty for having “secured” her transition into a Succubus by having sex with her right after the vamp bite (but hey, he didn’t know, and what’s a boy to do when a lusty girl climbs into his lap like that?)

So he follows through with the only thing he can do. Being one of her “masters” (or “makers”), he makes himself available to ease her into her new world, teach her about the ins and outs of succubus-ary and of course, has sex with her at her every whim (I mean, come, he at least owes her that!)

“Jackie,” he warned, his lips brushing against my palm.

“Yes?” my voice sounded more like a moan.

“If your body needs release ” – Noah brought my fingertips to his lips – “I want to be the one you come to. Understand?”

Unfortunately, her inexperience with the “others” in the underworld, lands them all in a whole load of trouble when she makes a deal with another angel. In turn, this forces her to make yet another deal with the most evil of evil, the Queen of vampires (you’ll see how that comes about).

“I’m not working for Gabriel,” I protested, my words sounding weak.

“No? Then who?”

Ashamed at the compulsion I felt to respond to her words, I dropped my gaze to the floor. “Uriel”

Her low chuckle made my skin crawl. “Just as well. He’s been fascinated with our doings for centuries. I just never thought he’d find somebody foolish enough to do his dirty work.”

Yay me for being the biggest fool in millennia.

Basically, both sides want her to retrieve the halo of one of the first fallen angels. Having that halo would allow them to take on his powers, but of course, using them for objectionable plans (neither outcome is very good). Really, she has no choice but to follow through, as they hold a few things near and dear to her over her head (why..like Noah, for instance), and the only way to get him back is to hand over the halo.

Why her, I wondered? I reasoned the obvious – it was because she made the deals, and now had to own up to them, and of course, being a succubus, she had access to both the “dark” and “light” side, but I started to panic in her place! I mean, how does one even find a halo anyway? Can a halo even be held? And how can someone who was a just mere human a few days ago find anything so important and divine?

Who knew? But it was great fun finding out! Luckily, she wasn’t alone. While Noah was no longer at her disposal (being forcibly held and all – his sacrifice simply reinforcing my crush on him), the vampire Queen was gracious enough to give her “Zane” one of her head vampires to help her on her journey (and of course, Remy, her sex-crazed best friend was in tow to make the jaunt that much more complicated).

One of my favorite moments:

“I hope you can look past my nature to see the real me someday, Jackie.” His finger traced my jaw line softly.

I kinda liked the Zane I’d seen so far, despite my first impressions. I leaned into his touch sleepily, my thoughts becoming disjointed. “You’re not like the other vampires.”

“No, I’m not.”

So I’m ending it there. The book’s great! It just is, and now, I want to get on with book#2. Bad stuff’’s already happening again, and it was a real struggle putting it down. It’s calling me…I hear it!

By the way…meet Zane——->

I read this one (Book#4) while "watching" the Superbowl ("watching" is used loosely, here). Yup, I’m that behind in my reviews again. I’m tellin’ ya…this series is really good, and quite hard to put down.

So my question was…how in the world was an entire story about a vampire falling in love with a ghost going to work? No biting? No touching? Nooooo…well, you know

As I expected, this book did not contain a ton of that, but one thing it did do is recount a beautiful tale of two completely different beings overcoming their physical issues, to ease each other’s suffering and forge an unbreakable bond.

Conrad Wroth, the evil "other" vampire brother, is captured by his siblings; Sebastian, Nicolai and Murdoch, and brought to a newly acquired, empty manor. Strapped down for his own good, the brothers intend to reverse Conrad’s bloodlust and avoid his potential execution.

He fights them with everything he has. Full of contempt for his brothers, and all beings, he hates his undead life, and loves to hate.  But his brothers are optimistic that he might come around, and join them once again.

He soon realizes he is not alone when he catches glimpses of a beautiful female ghost (Néomi, a famous ballerina murdered at the height of her career). He’s curious but fears he might be going crazy, and she is thrilled that finally, someone can see her.

I don’t want to be alone. Not tonight…

At twilight, she found herself making her way to him as if pulled by an invisible string. When she hesitated just outside his door, he said, "Ghost, come to me!"

Enjoy the interaction, she commanded herself. Just don’t get used to it.

"I know you’re there." His voice sounded weary. "Are you frightened of me now?’

Despite her inexperience with communicating as a ghost (she has never had anyone see her, or talk with her in the past), she tries to speak to him, and keeps him company. As they forge a friendship she gets stronger and better at interacting, and his hatred dissolves into compassion and hope.

While she helps ease him back into sanity, he fears his brother’s (who don’t see her) might not interpret his interaction with this "ghost" as sane:

Nikolai exhaled wearily to find him moving about freely. "How did you  get loose?"

"Dislocated my shoulder."

Almost at the exact same time, all three raised their brows at the collection of papers. "You dislocated your shoulder to get to the newspapers on the road? You could have asked one of us if you wanted to read-"

"No. that’s not it." Why not tell them? They already thought him mad. What if one of them encountered a ghost? What if they believed him? "I got them for a female who lives here." He was sane enough to recognize how this sounded. "She likes to read them."

"The house is abandoned, Conrad." Nikolai pinched the bridge of his nose. "You know this."

He ran his palms over his pants. "I’m the only one who can see her. She’s lying on this bed right now."

To a man, they got that anxious expression as though they were wondering whether madness was catching.

"If there is truly a ghost there, get her to move something," Murdoch said. "Can she make a door slam? Or rattle something in the attic?"

"Yes, she can move things with her mind."

Sebastian waved him on. "Then by all means…"

Conrad glanced from them to her, and back again. "She’s…asleep." And he couldn’t shake her to get her to wake.

"Of course she is," Sebastian muttered. He’d always been the most skeptical of the brothers. Conrad figured that after three centuries, that hadn’t changed.

"Damn it, I’m telling the truth."

"Yet you can’t rouse her?"

Conrad considered explaining why she was so exhausted, but thought that would only make things worse.

Murdoch asked, "Why would we believe your seeing a ghost rather than another hallucination? You’re supposed to be bombarded with delusions."

"I was. Constantly. I’m not anymore. She’s real." Right at her ear, he said, "Néomi, wake up!" No response. "Wake up!" he said louder, aware that he appeared to be yelling at a sheet.

Murdoch had a look on his face as if he couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry over Conrad’s actions.

While there are many sweet moments, they even manage to have a few "steamy" situations, somewhat akin to…ohhh i dunno…phone sex? A "tamer" moment during their exchange…

"Would you want to bite me?"

"Yes," he hissed. "Would you let me?"

If he needed, she would give. "I’d deny you nothing."

"Then I’d take your neck and your breasts. I’d bite your white thighs right above your stockings."

Intense male. She stifled a whimper. "We’re doing it again, exchanging comments, bandying."

"Like dancing."

She shook her head and whispered, "Like sex."

He stared down into her eyes, making her feel like she was drowning in fire. "Néomi, you make me want to be blooded. But only by you."

Their situation proves to be a tough one as Conrad suspects Néomi would have been his mate had she been alive.

"Would you want to be with me? If you could? For more than sex?"

She gave him a sad smile. "You have a destined Bride out there awaiting you."

"Néomi, you might be…mine."

The benefit of Néomi as a ghost, is that she is safe from Conrad’s enemies, but could it be possible to have a fulfilling future with a someone that has no physical form?

Néomi, headstrong and passionate about life, love and Conrad, is determined to make something of her undead self. Tired of being alone and restricted to her manor, she makes a decision, taking this story on an exciting turn. Forever or for just a moment in time…she is determined to experience Conrad for real.

I liked it! While it wasn’t my favorite in the series (Sebastian and Bowen’s, and even Cade’s stories are hard to beat) I did enjoy all the turmoil, angst and sexy moments, and well, I’ll be honest…the cover model portraying "Conrad" sure didn’t hurt either…

• "Love’s Prisoner" in the Secrets: The Best in Women’s Sensual Fiction, Vol. 6 Anthology
• "Jared’s Wolf" in the Secrets: The Best in Women’s Sensual Fiction, Vol. 8 Anthology
• Derik’s Bane (Berkley Sensation)
• "Santa Claws" in the Naughty or Nice Anthology (This story is also available in the anthology Dead and Loving It)
• Dead and Loving It (Berkley Sensation) (as per the author’s website: The Wyndham Werewolves meet Betsy’s clan in this 4-novella anthology)
• Dead Over Heels (as per the author’s website: Now she returns to that sensual and irresistible after-dark realm of werewolves, vampires and mermaids in three more original novellas—including an all-new Betsy Taylor novella.)

However, after perusing the author’s website, I was enlightened to some reading order details. Considering her books overlap (her werewolf series, vampire series, and mermaid series), this is her recommendation when reading her stories (including her novellas that are included in certain anthologies):

To keep continuity you should read the books in the following order:

• Secrets: The Best in Women’s Sensual Fiction, Vol. 6: Love’s Prisoner
• Secrets: The Best in Women’s Sensual Fiction, Vol. 8: Jared’s Wolf
• Undead and Unwed (Queen Betsy, Book 1)
• Cravings: Dead Girls Don’t Dance
• Undead and Unemployed (Queen Betsy, Book 2)
• Bite: Biting in Plain Sight
• Derik’s Bane (Berkley Sensation)
• Undead and Unappreciated (Queen Betsy, Book 3) (Berkley Sensation)
• Undead and Unreturnable (Queen Betsy, Book 4) (Berkley Sensation)
• Dead and Loving It (Berkley Sensation)
• Undead and Unpopular (Queen Betsy, Book 5)
• Over the Moon: Driftwood
• Undead and Uneasy (Undead/Queen Betsy)
• Dead Over Heels
• Undead and Unworthy
• Undead and Unwelcome (Queen Betsy, Book 8 )

I was anxiously awaiting ANYTHING from this author, considering how much I love her Night Huntess series, and was thrilled her spin-off was about Spade, the “best friend hottie”.

While it was worth the read, and I did enjoy it thoroughly, I didn’t latch onto the "love story" part as much as I did with Cat and Bones. Don’t get me wrong, there are some amazingly tender moments with Spade, and he proves to be a very steamy male, but his emotional connection to the heroine happened so easily (almost too easily).

Denise, Cat’s human best friend, lost her husband (also human) during a preternatural battle. Wanting to avoid that world, Denise severs all ties with every non-human she has met, including Cat. Still mourning her husband’s death a year later, she also loses her aunt and two young cousins to "heart attacks". Followed home one night by a demon, she is informed that one of her ancestors (who basically made a deal with the devil), has gone missing, and it is up to her to find him. If she does not, more of her family will perish. Their lives in exchange for her handing the ancestor over.

"Your ancestor Nathaniel backed out of a bargain with me." Raum’s voice felt like phantoms in her ear. "He managed to lock me away for quite some time, but I’m back and I want my payment."

Denise shook her head to clear the awful images from it. "How can I do anything about that?"

"Because he must be hiding with vampires or ghouls," Raum purred. "I can’t go into their world, but you can. Find him for me. Bring him to me, and I’ll leave you and the rest of his spawn alone."

Side note: that whole part was super creepy, and my electricity went out just as I got to it. Sitting by candlelight, without a sound in the house, and my tiny book light on my e-reader, the part when a little girl comes knocking at her door….eeeeeeeeeeek!! Don’t do that part in the dark!

Okay back to the book:

Not having a clue who she is looking for (other than the horrifying images the demon has supplied her), she attempts contacting Cat and Bones for their help. Unable to get a hold of them, she reluctantly turns to another vampire acquaintance (Spade), who obligingly comes to her rescue. Of course, his very nature freaks her out (considering all the slaughter she had seen barely a year ago):

"Ah, you’re awake," Spade said, closing his cell with a click. "Ordered you breakfast, considering you didn’t touch your food last night." His mouth curled in a grin. "You’ll be pleased to know you slept through my breakfast. Perhaps now you’ll be able to keep your appetite."

"You eat the room service employees every time?" Denise asked, shocked.

"Of course. But don’t fret on their behalf. I always tip well."

Spade, determined not to care for the human (he’s suffered in the past from doing that very thing), explains that to keep their cover as they investigate, she must act as his "property" (following his commands, not questioning him in public, act as his lover – hey wait..that one sounds too convenient – haha!)

Forced back into the supernatural world, she begins experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (at his vampire gatherings no less), and his all too caring reactions to her, start raising eyebrows. After he seats her to his right at his table (instead of behind him as "property" should be seated), allows her to argue with him publicly, comforts her during a panic attack, and then calmly escorts her to their car after she vomits into his designer shirt…

My dear Denise, you have no idea. "It changes things," he said at last. "No one would believe you’re merely my property after tonight."

As they grow closer as friends, they have no choice but to acknowledge the undeniable attraction that has been plaguing them since they first met:

Spade’s voice was very soft. "Get up and walk away from me, Denise, or I will take you up on your offer."

His gaze pinned hers, that green glow penetrating. She knew he wasn’t using his power on her, because her mind felt clear, but she was drawn in nonetheless.

She had to end this bewildering attraction she felt for him. Now, before it got any stronger. If she was lucky, she’d have a PTSD attack on the spot.

"Go ahead, vampire," she replied, equally soft.

Spade’s mouth was on her throat before the last word left her.

However, they struggle with a few new issues. The demon has infused Denise with his essence, causing her some physical changes that throw a monkey wrench into the whole situation (and let’s just say that while human blood is tempting enough to a vampire, Denise’s blood is pure ecstasy). While they hunt for her ancestor, and dodge the demon, Denise now carries a secret that puts her whole life (and their future) in question.

Lots of action in this book (typical of this author’s storytelling). Good vs. evil, emotional struggles, wanting to protect the protector, jealousy, sizzling hot passionate interludes, funny quips, even Cat and Bones, it’s all here!

Oh and Ian (their other friend) got even sexier in this installment…alas, his book in this spinoff series is not the next one, but that’s okay. As long as Ms. Frost continues regaling us with their world, I will read everything with gusto!

Bowen’s book was, to me, just as riveting as book #2. Bowen was introduced to us in Book#1 (Lachlain’s lykae cousin, in mourning over his dead mate), and appeared again in Book #2 as one of the ruthless competitors in the Hie (a contest for preternaturals, akin to “The Amazing Race” but much more deadly).

Bowen, hoping to win the prize in Book# 2 (a “key” that would allow him to time travel twice), shows himself as a cutthroat unyielding competitor. Desperate to win the key, and go back in time to save his mate, he even goes so far as to seal some competitors in a cave together. Unfortunately for him, his biggest competitor, still in the game (Sebastian the vampire in Book# 2) defeats him, because he too, is fighting for his mate’s life.

Book 3 opens in the middle of the game, right at the section where he entraps the competitors. While he is unwittingly attracted to a mortal witch (Mariketa), and experiences a little one on one time with her in a tunnel, the intensity between them make him suspicious that she might be casting some sort of spell on him.

He cupped the back of her neck, staring down at her. As she gazed up in fascination, the amber of his eyes turned to ice blue. He seemed desperate to recognize something in her, and when he clearly didn’t find it, his hand on her began to shake. “Damn you, witch, I donna want another.”

Oh right, I forgot to mention, he’s Scottish

He has his eye on the prize, and quickly rejects her, determined to continue on with his goal. Intent on keeping as many people out of the competition as possible, he traps six of the competitors (including Mariketa) in what appears to be an abandoned cave. Assuming that they will find a way our of the cave eventually (via the strength of the demon competitors, or the magic of his little witch cutie), he forges on.

Appalled with his sudden change in demeanor towards her, and realizing he is locking her in (with the strangers), Mariketa casts a quick and dirty spell on him as he escapes the cave.

Mari glanced away from the entrance when met with silence. “He won’t regenerate from injuries,” she explained. “Unless he returns to me to have it reversed, the hex will eventually destroy him.”

The spell causes Bowen to be unable to heal from any injuries (essentially turning him mortal). He is weakened significantly, costing him the win. As they say…payback’s a bitch

Weak, and also entrapped elsewhere, he is finally rescued, but informed that the six he has sealed away (now a few weeks later) have not returned. Because of his ruthlessness, an unrest amongst the immortals is brewing, and unless the members are returned safely (especially the witch as it is prophesied that she is destined to be the most powerful), a war against his kind will ensue.

He returns to the “scene of the crime”. Despite his extreme weakness, he manages to unseal the cave, allowing the others to escape. While all of the trapped immortal competitors are in bad shape, his witch is dying (from repeated attacks by tortured incubi that were also trapped in the cave for centuries).

The majority of the book takes place as he helps bring her back to health, develops an unmistakable connection with her, and an understanding with the other competitors. Together, they trek their way out of the jungle, day after day, escaping danger, confiding in each other, and becoming friends (well some of them do…let’s just say Bowen’s competitive streak lives on, as a certain demon has his own personal intentions with the witch).

“Doona ever doubt my desire for you – if I truly was in a contest for the right to have you, I’d have bitten his goddamned throat free, then laid it at your feet in offer!”

Mmmmm…nice….Ok wait! Why do I find that sexy? LOL!

Realizing he is jealous of any male looking at her, and acting as though she is his mate, he becomes confused as to the nature of their connection. A mate is a once in a lifetime occurrence, and since he has already met his, it is impossible that there could be another. Or is it?

Her ruby lips were slightly parted as she slept. An exquisite, if small, female.

And, gods help me, she might be…mine.

Unable to stop himself, he eased down behind her. When he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her soft, wee body against his, she sighed. As a test, he nuzzled her neck. Her ear twitched again, and she curled into him closer. Even in her sleep she responded to him as if she were his.

A part that had me giggling, when he finds her special…ahem…”pocket lipstick” in her purse.

“I’m lookin’ forward tae touchin’ you there again.”

“Ha! Why would you think I would ever let you?”

“I happen to ken that you’re a lusty one. And I’ve taken away your wee alternative. Tossed it into a river.” As she gasped, he said, “Took me a minute to figure out what it was – a minute more to believe you actually had it. Then imagining you using it? Had me in such a state. I could scarcely run without tripping over my own feet.”

Mariketa, a sweet, good natured young and inexperienced mortal (awaiting to “turn” into an immortal) has her own issues. Despite being prophesized that she will be the most powerful witch, she’s actually not very good at all. Having also been abandoned as a child, and then again by the love of her life, she questions Bowen’s feelings for her. While she is extremely attracted to him, her insecurities, and his hang-ups (over his “mate”) cause them both much angst.

“What if we somehow worked through all the obstacles between us and were together for a couple of years or so, and you were given another chance to go back to your mate? There could be another key. Would you ignore it if it was handed to you?”

Emotions seemed to pass over his face. He scrubbed his hand across the back of his neck. “I could lie, but I will no’. I’d use it.”

Oh NO he didn’t!!

One step forward, two steps back with this couple. That, along with the number of times she is almost killed (she has got to be the unluckiest being on earth), turns this tale into an extreme roller coaster ride. You think it’s fixed…you think all is well again, and BAM! Another tragedy, another twist. And those pesky prophesies? No one ever actuality “gets” them until the damage is done….grrrr! Fantastic thrill ride!

It was also a great intro into new and exciting characters, and we even get better acquainted with past characters. Oh and Bowen…YUMMY!! He is domineering, he is ALL ALPHA, he is arrogant, but everything he does, and everything he says (well… almost), made me melt.

He stood and paced. Almost to himself he said, “Or what it’s like to know you’re no’ whole and never will be.” He ran his fingers through his hair then stopped to meet her eyes. “then with you everything looks different – feels different – and I…damn it, Mariketa, I want it. So bloody much.”

He crossed to her, clasped her upper arms, and pulled her to her feet. Gazing down at her, his voice breaking low, he said, “Doona bring me back to life only to destroy me once more.”

*sigh* I’m normally a vampire girl…but those werewolves….they are really…yeah…

Whoa!!! Why didn’t anybody tell me this series was so good??!! Tee hee! – joke! Had to be silly from the start. This is a series that has been recommended to me so often, and many have encouraged me to keep going despite my not so enthusiastic review of Book#1. I thank you all, really, from the bottom of my heart. This series ROCKS!!

Ok so book #2 is about Kaderin the Coldhearted (a Valkyrie that has suffered a terrible loss and has in turn, lost the ability to feel any emotions). A brutal calculating warrior, she is sent to slay Sebastian, an Estonian vampire (and Nicolai’s brother). Once she finds him however, she is at a loss on how to kill an already defeated, heartbreakingly sad but incredibly sexy man…

He cleared his throat. When she jerked her gaze to his face, he raised his eyebrows.

Caught ogling the prey! The indignity! What is wrong with me?

…and instead, they find a moment of compassion in each other’s company, and make out! Hot stuff!

He’d found his Bride – the one woman he was meant to be with for eternity – in this hauntingly fine creature.

And his body had awakened for her.

"You know what is happening to me?" he asked.

She swallowed, backing away farther. "You’re changing." Her blonde brows drew together, and in barely audible whisper, she added, "For…for me."

"Yes. For you." He crossed to her until she stared up at him. "Forgive me. If I had known this was true, I would have searched for you. I would have found you somehow-"

Quickly coming to her senses, and dreading ruining her reputation by bedding a leech (vampire), she leaves him (alive) yet unsatisfied. Recognizing that she is his mate, he learns to "trace" to her location, discovering that she has entered a dangerous contest (a la "Amazing Race" for preternaturals).

The book leads us through adventure after adventure as Kaderin hunts for artifacts, fights dirty and races against powerful creatures including her own very determined vampire admirer (who is really only in the contest to be near her and protect her, trying to work with her, and not against her). Awwwww…I adore him…I do.

"Why would I put time and effort into attempting to forget you when I could spend that same time and effort to win you?"

"Because winning me is impossible. The other option may not be."

"I have to try." There was no way to rethink this. "I want you. In my life."

Sebastian proves himself to be one of the most wonderful vampires I have had the pleasure of crushing on. Strong and determined, a sexy alpha male all the way, but yet, he can be as gentle and patient as an angel, with a fierce loyalty that is beyond measure.

Kaderin continuously tries his patience, with her arrogant sense of superiority, and determination not to fall in love with her "enemy". Confused about her own changes (she is now feeling again, especially for him) she refuses his help, mostly rejects his affections (although, sometimes she gives in). She loves him one moment and practically rips his heart out the next. Even the sweet Sebastian can only take so much, and she eventually brings out an authoritative and highly irritated side of him (which in all honesty, turns Kaderin – okay – all of us – on!).

The part that hooked me solid: Kaderin attempts to seduce a male in a bar to eventually take the ring he wears (one of the contest tasks required is to get that ring), and poor Sebastian walks in just as the groping begins;

"So that’s it, then? You’ve told me you’re going home with another man? And I’ve already seen him touching you." He looked like he wanted to throttle her.

When she put her chin in the air, his eyes narrowed. "You may have your feelings back, but you’re still a cold woman, Kaderin. Heartless."

and as the confrontation escalates, she continues to deny Sebastian’s wishes, determined to play the game her way…

Because she was his Bride, he would be seduced into wanting her again and again, seeing things in her that didn’t exist. Then her true nature would betray his hopes like this in an endless cycle.

He could not win her.

I’ll be fighting with her for eternity.

That’s what faced him. The thought exhausted him.

"I’m weary of this. Of you." He put his hand above her against the wall, leaning over her. "You’re right. About everything. There’s no reason for you to accept me. And you were right in saying that I’ve been compelled to want you simply because you’re my Bride. My desire for you has been forced on me. I’ve had no choice in the matter.

"You act as if I gave you reason to think differently," she said. "I told you all along that you shouldn’t bother with me."

He clutched the back of her neck, forcing her to face up to him. "You also told me on more than one occasion that you never wanted to see me again. I’ll oblige you. I was the first vampire to trace to a person – and I’ll be the first to forsake my Bride."

So the race is exciting, the relationship tumultuous, and the entire book, extremely satisfying. Lots of romance, some tear-jerking moments and the side-characters were pretty great too (I got a kick out of Riora, and my heart wept, even for Bowen). This is yet another that had me up late, and in fact, I immediately jumped to the third book as soon as I was done.

Bowen’s book was next (remember Lachlain’s disheartened cousin who was in mourning over his dead mate?)… I finished it this morning and loved it just as much! But here’s the thing…I’m desperately missing the Immortal crew, so I intend to do a little late night reading tonight (I will be starting book# 4). Looks like Bowen’s review will have to wait until the morn

See you then!

So I’ve ventured back into the "Immortals After Dark" series. I’ve just started book two (No Rest for the Wicked), and the tone is very much like the first.

Again, I’m slightly creeped out by the Valkyrie females. They’re just scary weird. Sweet, and beautiful like angels but dangerous and each quirky in their own way. Anger them and beware of the lightening wrath that may strike you down. Freak them out, and their high pitched screeching might just deafen you, and will most certainly shatter all the glass in their vicinity.

And imagine when they all start shrieking at once (which, quite comically seems to happen every time their vampire brother-in-law, Nicolai, walks in the room). They still haven’t gotten used to him yet (they naturally HATE and hunt vampires), and scare the bejeezus out of him each time they see him.

Sometimes Nicolai Wroth really hated his in-laws.

He exhaled wearily as he accompanied his Bride, Myst the Coveted, to the expansive front porch of her former home. They’d just made it to the front steps when the first shriek sounded.

He wasn’t surprised having already learned that his mere vampiric presence would be enough to provoke the nest of Valkyrie.

LOL…that’s just plain funny! Okay. So maybe I’m warming up to their eccentricities.

Anyway, this book is off to a similar start. The vampire (Sebastian) realizes that his Bride – Kaderin (the one he *should* be mated to), is a Valkyrie. She naturally hates him (but can’t deny the basal connection between them). While she denies him, every time he is near, she can barely resist his draw.

Seemingly helpless to stop herself, she inched closer to him, enjoying the hell out of his scent. Now he bent his arm back to bring her into his body.

And Sebastian so far? He is the sweetest, most courteous, protective vampire, and I can’t help but love him already (and I’m only on page 76!).

So, all in all, I’m off to a good start.

Pooooor silly, sweet and sinfully sexy Sebastian…all befuddled because he can’t stop thinking about the off-beat waitress that now works for him. Not his usual cup of tea (he prefers the super-model types), the klutzy, overly pale (even for a vampire) messy haired, bespeckeled female has definitely caught his attention.

"Nadine, I appreciate your decision, but I’m not sure she’s cut out for a job here. I mean look at Greta." He gestured to the leggy blonde, , leaning on the end of the bar chatting with Crystal, a curvy brunette. "And Crystal. Our cocktail waitresses are part of the allure of the place. They are supposed to be a draw for the patrons."

"Give her a chance. This is where she needs to be," Nadine said, certainty in her husky voice.

Sebastian studied his right-hand woman and friend. Finally, he nodded. Nadine was a good judge of character, another trait of werewolves. Animal instincts and all that. And he’d trusted her for years with all his hiring. It didn’t make much sense to question her now.

Still, while there was something that intrigued him about the vampiress, there was something that made him uncomfortable as well. His gut told him he should bypass Nadine’s opinion and give the little waitress her walking papers.

Wilhelmina Weiss (Mina) is an unskilled, bashful and easily frightened "young" vampire. She gets hired to work at his bar, but with the intention of putting Sebastian (and his fangs) permanently out of business. Hateful of her kind, she joins a "Society for Preternaturals" that focuses on integrating with humans. Their goal: to stop all of their normal (yet unacceptable) behaviors that would frighten humans. Sebastian, known for being a wild child and glutton for sexy human females (and their blood) MUST be stopped!

As she botches multiple sabotage attempts (did I mention she was unskilled especially in the paranormal aspect), Sebastian quickly realizes what his new waitress is trying to do.

Suddenly her irritation with his cavalier behavior was too much. For the first time since she’d met him, Wilhelmina did something clumsy that she fully intended. As she picked up another glass, she clanked the stem against Becky’s full cocktail. The glass soared over and pink liquid splashed down the front of Sebastian’s pale blue designer shirt.

Sebastian jumped up as what appeared to be a Mai Tai with extra cherries soaked into the material of his shirt and the crotch of his trousers.

The women in the booth handed him their drink napkins as he attempted to pat away the worse of the spill.

"Oh no," Wilhelmina said, "I’m so sorry."

Sebastian looked up from the wet splotches to see something akin to a smirk on Wilhelmina’s lips. As soon as she realized he was looking, the smile faded into an expression of innocent dismay.

But Sebastian knew what he’d seen.

Despite his aggravation towards her treachery, he is even more astonished that a female could actually NOT want him. Also grasping that she is yet another self-loathing vampire, he is determined to find out what her problem is and makes a deal with her. No biting any humans for one month, if she allows him to teach her how to be (and love being) a vampire.

Inevitably, their close proximity forces them to open their eyes and see beyond the exterior shell protecting an innermost being that one cannot help but to love. But they struggle…boy do they struggle…

One of my favorite parts (when Mina sees Sebastian with another woman, not realizing it his interior designer):

"I want to end the deal," she said flatly.

No. No way. But he didn’t say that. "Why?"

She looked up at him, misery clear in her blue eyes. He was the one making her this unhappy. The idea killed him.

"Baby," he murmured, touching her cheek. "Tell me what’s going on, please."

She closed her eyes, then straightened her spine against his soft, rich voice. Then she met his gaze directly. "If you are meeting women, mortal women, then how do I know you aren’t biting them? There’s no way for me to know. You could have bitten evert woman every night since we made the deal. I’d be none the wiser. And – I just can’t…I just can’t do," she gestured to them, "this. The deal is done."

Sebastian digested her words. "You’re jealous, aren’t you?"

She didn’t answer, but she was sure her miserable expression said enough.

Despite her obvious angst, the idea made him feel like giving a triumphant whoop.

"Why are you smiling?"

He tried to be sober, but he couldn’t.

"It’s cruel to enjoy someone else’s distress," she informed him primly.

"Oh baby," he said sincerely, "I’m only enjoying it because this is a major breakthrough."

She eyed him as if she thought he was mad.

"If you are jealous, then you must like me a little bit."

"Yes," she admitted, with a begrudging roll of her eyes.

"I’m really glad about that. Because I have to admit, I like you a little bit too."

See? Fun!! Kathy Love is all about the preternaturals residing in a human world. They do human activities (some…a touch more on the "animalistic" side *blush*), they interact with the mortals, they go watch live bands, get into fistfights, have insecurities, hug and cry, but yet they have that powerful ethereal aspect that we crave so much!

And…it’s yet another provocative installment, but again, the author makes you work for the "prize".

Never fear however, as she has the ability to turn a simple *kiss* scene into a steam inducing, mind blowing, highly satisfying moment, so it’s all good

He made a noise somewhere between a chuckle and a groan as his mouth caught her again.

Go slow, he told himself and managed to maintain gentle, brushing kisses. Velvet against velvet. He continued his tender onslaught until the need inside him swelled to the point that he had to touch more if her.

She groaned as if she was reading his mind and moved closer to him.

"Are you okay?" Sebastian asked, his lips not fully leaving hers, even though he didn’t sense fear.

"I want…more."

"I want to give you more."

My one embarrassing moment? When a major twist in the end smacked me in the forehead…I shoulda seen it coming, and am quite distressed actually that I didn’t, not even one time, clue in. How? Was I that enthralled with Sebastian that I saw nothing else? Not even one of the numerous clues that she dropped throughout the chapters (and one extra clue that I had simply because I’m a latecomer to the series).

Looking back…I’m just…it’s shameful really . I find that I do that alot. While people are busy picking apart a storyline to discern what’s to come, I nonchalantly bumble along for the ride with no concern as to what I might run into. But it does make for some impact when the realization hits, so that’s always fun!