Eternal Kiss of Darkness, by Jeaniene Frost

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 361 pages

Published: July 27, 2010

Publisher: Avon Books

Back cover blurb:

An immortal war has been brewing in the darkness . . . And now one woman has stumbled into the shadows. Chicago private investigator Kira Graceling should have just kept on walking. But her sense of duty refused to let her ignore the moans of pain coming from inside a warehouse just before dawn. Suddenly she finds herself in a world she’s only imagined in her worst nightmares.

At the center is Mencheres, a breathtaking Master vampire who thought he’d seen it all. Then Kira appears, this fearless, beautiful . . . human who braved death to rescue him. Though he burns for her, keeping Kira in his world means risking her life. Yet sending her away is unthinkable.

But with danger closing in, Mencheres must choose either the woman he craves, or embracing the darkest magic to defeat an enemy bent on his eternal destruction.

My review:

This was sitting by my bed for about a year and I was reluctant to start it for two reasons: I wasn’t sure I was all that interested in Mencheres, and the cover is so awful I felt embarrassed to pick it up. However, I can now admit my doubts were unwarranted. Mencheres is lovely, and once started, I couldn’t put his story down.

Kira was a great heroine – I don’t usually like the heroines in PNRs – and it was fabulous to see how strong she was all the way through, with no contrived angsty subplots. Finding out about Mencheres makes me want to reread Cat and Bones so I can fill in the blanks about him. This also has the bonus of Vlad, and I’ll be moving on to his story soon. I loved it, but I’m still taking a cupcake off for the cringeworthy cover – ugh.

My rating: 4/5

Definitely Dead, by Charlaine Harris

• Format: Paperback 336 pages
• Published: 09 July 2009
• Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

Back cover blurb:

Sookie doesn’t have that many relations, so she hated to lose one – but of all the people to go, she didn’t expect it to be her cousin Hadley, a consort of New Orleans’ vampire queen – after all, Hadley was technically already dead. But she is gone, beyond recall, and she’s left Sookie an inheritance – one that comes with a bit of a risk – not least because someone doesn’t want Sookie digging too deep into Hadley’s past – or her possessions. Sookie’s life is once again on the line, and this time the suspects range from the rogue werewolves who have rejected Sookie as a friend of the pack to her first love, the vampire Bill. Sookie’s got a lot to do if she’s going to keep herself alive …

My review:

This took me FOREVER to finish, so I guess that is telling. A lot of this was ho-hum, the best part being Quinn the were-tiger, who seems to be a bit too good to be true. I guess I’ll keep reading, but the more I do the more I realise the TV series has veered so very far from the original storyline. Upshot: not enough hot vamps, too many weres.

My rating: 3/5

How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire, by Kerrelyn Sparks

Format: Kindle Edition, 384 pages

Published: March 3, 2009 (first published July 26th 2005)

Publisher: HarperCollins e-books

Back cover blurb:

So what if he’s a bit older and usually regards a human female as dinner, not a dinner date? Yes, Roman Draganesti is a vampire, but a vampire who lost one of his fangs sinking his teeth into something he shouldn’t have. Now he has one night to find a dentist before his natural healing abilities close the wound, leaving him a lop–sided eater for all eternity.

Things aren’t going well for Shanna Whelan either…After witnessing a gruesome murder by the Russian mafia, she’s next on their hit list. And her career as a dentist appears to be on a downward spiral because she’s afraid of blood. When Roman rescues her from an assassination attempt, she wonders if she’s found the one man who can keep her alive. Though the attraction between them is immediate and hot, can Shanna conquer her fear of blood to fix Roman’s fang? And if she does, what will prevent Roman from using his fangs on her…

 

My review:

Not exactly laugh-out-loud funny, but very amusing nonetheless, especially in the first half of the book. It reminded me a lot of other vampire series – I read too many of them, I know – and at times I felt like I had read parts of this before in either Twilight or Cat and Bones or somewhere.

Regardless, I loved Roman and all his vampire mates – especially the Highlanders and Gregori – and will be reading the other books in the series just to find out more about them. Shanna was annoying for the most part, but I usually hate the heroines so that’s nothing new. I also think the cover lets the book down a bit.

My rating: 4/5

One Grave at a Time, by Jeaniene Frost

Format: Kindle Edition

Published: August 30, 2011

Publisher: Harper Collins, Inc.

Back cover blurb:

Having narrowly averted an (under)world war, Cat Crawfield wants nothing more than a little downtime with her vampire husband, Bones. Unfortunately, her gift from New Orleans’ voodoo queen just keeps on giving–leading to a personal favor that sends them into battle once again, this time against a villainous spirit.

Centuries ago, Heinrich Kramer was a witch hunter. Now, every All Hallows Eve, he takes physical form to torture innocent women before burning them alive. This year, however, a determined Cat and Bones must risk all to send him back to the other side of eternity–forever. But how do you kill a killer who’s already long dead?

My review:

Not a bad installment, marginally better than the last one but still missing something I can’t quite put my finger on. The business with Don sat oddly with me and the introduction of douchebag Madigan indicates fairly clearly where the plot is likely to head after this.

Still, I love Bones, Spade and Ian, and despite my misgivings, they’ll keep me reading.

My rating: 4/5

18 & Over Book Blogger Follow #13: (Cat)Fight Club!

18 & Over Book Blogger Follow is a weekly feature that runs over the weekend, hosted by Crystal from one of my favourite blog sites, Reading Between the Wines.

Question of the Week:  Fight club! Heroine Vs. Heroine. Pick your two favorite kick-ass book heroines and pit them against each other. Who would win?

Ooh, this is a good one! Well, the first name to come to mind is Cat Crawfield, of course, from the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost, because it’s a cat fight and that’s her name! She’s a vamp, she has a kick-ass entourage (mmm… Bones, Spade, Ian, Vlad… *sigh*) and she doesn’t take anyone messing with her.

I would pit her against Payne, Vishous’s sister from J.R. Ward‘s the Black Dagger Brotherhood. She’s also a kick-ass vampire, is mad as hell, murdered her father and seriously injured King Wrath when they sparred together. She also has an awesome entourage of hot, lethal Brothers… *fans self*

In a fight, I think I’m gonna have to go with Payne. Cat would make too many wisecracks and Payne would just floor her with a roundhouse kick!

What do you reckon? Leave a comment below or link up HERE to follow the meme.

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Cover reveal: Lover At Last by J.R. Ward

Here it is: the cover we have all been waiting for! J.R. Ward revealed Blay and Qhuinn’s book cover and title on her Facebook page today, and I think we can agree it is a winner I particularly like that arm gripping the dagger

There have been a few comments bemoaning the fact the cover doesn’t have two men on it, but Ward has said this:

“I do think it’s going to be important for people to realize the story’s going to be written as it comes (came) to me, and that they’re not getting special treatment either for or against them because of their sexuality- to me, this story has always been about Qhuinn coming around and accepting who he really is and who he really loves- so the title and the cover was always about him in my mind. This is not to dimish Blay or his journey or his role- not at all. And it is not a case of the book focusing solely on Qhuinn and ignoring Blay’s feelings (because he’s going to have some big issues to deal with, too.) I just think Qhuinn’s the one who’s fought against their HEA and is the one who has to travel the most to get there. If that makes any sense?”

Well, in any case, I’m eagerly anticipating the release of this, the 11th book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, in about nine months’ time!

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Nice Girls Don’t Date Dead Men, by Molly Harper

Format: Kindle edition, 376 pages

Published: August 25, 2009

Publisher: Pocket Star

Back cover blurb:

With her best friend Zeb’s Titanic-themed wedding looming ahead, new vampire Jane Jameson struggles to develop her budding relationship with her enigmatic sire, Gabriel. It seems unfair that she’s expected to master undead dating while dealing with a groom heading for a nuptial nervous breakdown, his hostile werewolf in-laws, and the ugliest bridesmaid dress in the history of marriage. Meanwhile, the passing of Jane’s future step-grandpa puts Grandma Ruthie back on the market. Her new fiance, Wilbur, has his own history of suspiciously dead spouses, and he may or may not have died ten years ago. Half-Moon Hollow’s own Black Widow has finally met her match. Should Jane warn her grandmother of Wilbur’s marital habits or let things run their course? Will Jane always be an undead bridesmaid, never the undead bride? Combining Mary Janice Davidson’s sass and the charm of Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse novels, this is an incredibly satisfying read for fans of paranormal romantic comedy.

My review:

Still laugh-out-loud funny, but maybe not quite as good as the first book. There was no real mystery to grip the reader, just a series of (hilarious) plots involving the werewolf Titanic-themed wedding, Jane’s “black widow” grandmother and her new beau she met at the funeral home viewing of her previous boyfriend, the excellent Dick and Jane’s bookshop employer, and Jane’s former high school crush. And, of course, there’s the lovely Gabriel, who is still being enigmatic and smexy. Hopefully the next book will explain a bit more about what he’s been up to. I loved his joke at the end about suitable wedding songs (“Hungry Like the Wolf” – perfect!). So pleased there are more of these books for me to read

My rating: 4/5

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• Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs, by Molly Harper (mrsaubergine.wordpress.com)

This Side of the Grave, by Jeaniene Frost

Format: ebook, 280 pages

Published: February 22, 2011 (first published February 1, 2011)

Publisher: HarperCollins

Back cover blurb:

Danger waits on both sides of the grave.

Half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her vampire husband Bones have fought for their lives, as well as for their relationship. But just when they’ve triumphed over the latest battle, Cat’s new and unexpected abilities threaten to upset a long-standing balance . . .

With the mysterious disappearance of vampires, rumors abound that a species war is brewing. A zealot is inciting tensions between the vampires and ghouls, and if these two powerful groups clash, innocent mortals could become collateral damage. Now Cat and Bones are forced to seek help from a dangerous “ally”—the ghoul queen of New Orleans herself. But the price of her assistance may prove more treacherous than even the threat of a supernatural war . . . to say nothing of the repercussions Cat never imagined.

My review:

Cat and Bones are as smexy as usual, but I have to say the thinish plot didn’t grip me as much as some of the earlier books. The scenes with Don were heartbreaking, but I loved the ending and am keen to read the next book to find out where that goes.

Vlad continues to intrigue me, so I’m glad he’s getting his own spinoff book. I just wish she’d write one for Ian!

My rating: 4/5

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Eternity Embraced, by Larissa Ione

Format: Kindle Edition, 44 pages

Published: January 20, 2011

Publisher: Larissa Ione

Back cover blurb:

Desire…
Demon slayer Andrea Cole has always taken down the demons and vampires she hunts without mercy. But when a fellow slayer is captured and turned into a vampire by a sadistic monster, she must choose between loyalty to her family and the man she loves.

Versus Instinct…
Kaden Quinn has dedicated his life to slaying vampires, so when he is turned into one, his greatest nightmare comes to life. And when the woman he loves is thrown into a dungeon with him — as food — he must battle new instincts and old desires, and choose between his life, and hers.

My review:

Nice story, typical of Ione, but not long enough to really invest you enough in the two main characters. Tayla and Eidolon appear briefly, but they are my least favourite Demonica characters. Hot in places but too short.

My rating: 3/5

Last Sacrifice, by Richelle Mead

Format: Kindle Edition

Published: December 7, 2010

Publisher: Puffin

Back cover blurb:

Rose Hathaway has always played by her own rules. She broke the law when she ran away from St. Vladimir’s Academy with her best friend and last surviving Dragomir Princess, Lissa. She broke the law when she fell in love with her gorgeous, off-limits instructor, Dimitri. And she dared to defy Queen Tatiana, leader of the Moroi world, risking her life and reputation to protect generations of dhampir guardian to come.

Now the law has finally caught up with Rose—for a crime she didn’t even commit. She’s in prison for the highest offense imaginable: the assassination of a monarch. She’ll need help from both Dimitri and Adrian to find the one living person who can stall her execution and force the Moroi elite to acknowledge a shocking new candidate for the royal throne: Vasilisa Dragomir.

But the clock on Rose’s life is running out. Rose knows in her heart the world of the dead wants her back… and this time she is truly out of second chances. The big question is, when your life is about saving others, who will save you?

My review:

A satisfying conclusion to the series, although I don’t think I enjoyed it quite as much as the previous book. Rose was on the run for most of the story, and I have to say the first half of the book was for more enjoyable for me than the end. I had already figured out who Lissa’s sister was, who killed Tatiana and who would be the new monarch well before any of those people were revealed, so for me they were kind of anticlimactic.

The romance side of the story was nicely done, with a realistic thawing in the relationships that had been strained. I wasn’t sure how Rose, Dimitri and Adrian were going to end up, which was at least one thing to keep reading for. However, Adrian seemed to have a complete personality change in this book from the last one where I loved him so much, so I was glad after his last petulant speech that things turned out the way they did. I can’t say I exactly swooned over Dimitri, but I was glad he came so far back on the road to recovery.

My rating: 4/5