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Tuesday 28 February 2012

Paranormal Romance Month Review: The Darkest Pleasure by Gena Showalter (Lords of the Underworld #3)

Publisher - Mira Books
Publication Date - 18th September 2009
Paperback - 384 pages
Genre - Paranormal Romance

Source - Purchased

Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it

Book Info - Reyes is a man possessed. Bound by the demon of pain, he is forbidden to know pleasure. Yet he craves a mortal woman, Danika Ford, more than breath and will do anything to claim her - even defy the gods.

Danika is on the run. For months she's eluded the Lords of the Underworld, immortal warriors who won't rest until she and her family have been destroyed. But her dreams are haunted by Reyes, the warrior whose searing touch she can't forget. Yet a future together could mean death to all they both hold dear....

My Thoughts - This is definitely my favourite book of the series so far. It tells the story of Reyes, the keeper of Pain, and a human female, Danika. We have had glimpses of their story in the previous two books (glimpses that have left me very excited for this book!) but this story focuses on them completely.

I absolutely fell in love with Reyes. At first I thought it might be strange reading about a man who needs to hurt himself to please his demon, and to feel any kind of pleasure himself. But because of the amazing character building by the author it was not strange at all. I was pulled into his story and I really felt for him. Out of all the Lords I have read about so far, he seems the most human. He accepts his demon and has come to accept his need for pain but his shame is obvious. He has taught his demon to be satisfied with self-inflicted pain so that Reyes does not have to hurt anybody else or pull anybody else into his situation by letting others hurt him. I couldn't help but feel for him - his isolation and shame, and the fact that he has to endure this for eternity. And when he meets Danika, the reader sees a softer side of Reyes, which made me go weak at the knees a few times.

At the beginning of The Darkest Pleasure, Danika is on the run from the Lords after being kidnapped by them in the first book. Her loneliness and desperation jumps off the page at the reader. As with Reyes, you can't help but fall in love with her. Her strength and courage are admirable.

Summary - There are many twists and turns in this book and many shocking revelations. These kept me gripped until the very end. Gena Showalter has brought together loveable characters, intrigue, mystery and romance to create an amazing paranormal romance novel.

Other books in this series:
0.5. The Darkest Fire
1. The Darkest Night
2. The Darkest Kiss
3. The Darkest Pleasure
3.5. The Darkest Prison
4. The Darkest Whisper
5. The Darkest Passion
6. The Darkest Lie
7. The Darkest Secret
8. The Darkest Surrender

Other reviews of this book:
Buggy's Book Blog / Maryse's Book Blog / Pedantic Phooka

Monday 27 February 2012

Paranormal Romance Month Review: Archangel's Blade by Nalini Singh (Guild Hunter #4)

Publisher - Gollancz
Publication Date - 8th September 2011
Paperback - 320 pages
Genre - Paranormal Romance

Source - Purchased

Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it

Book Info - The severed head marked by a distinctive tattoo on its cheek should have been a Guild case, but dark instincts honed over hundreds of years of life compel the vampire Dmitri to take control. There is something twisted about this death, something that whispers of centuries long past...but Dmitri's need to discover the truth is nothing to the vicious strength of his response to the hunter assigned to decipher the tattoo.

Savaged in a brutal attack that almost killed her, Honor is nowhere near ready to come face to face with the seductive vampire who is an archangel's right hand, and who wears his cruelty as boldly as his lethal sensuality...the same vampire who has been her secret obsession since the day she was old enough to understand the inexplicable, violent emotions he aroused in her.

As desire turns into a dangerous compulsion that might destroy them both, it becomes clear the past will not stay buried. Something is hunting...and it will not stop until it brings a blood-soaked nightmare to life once more...

My Thoughts - Those of you who have read my reviews of the series so far will know that by book three I was starting to get a bit bored of Raphael and Elena. I still love them in my own special way but I just wasn't sure if I wanted to read anymore books about them. So when I realised Archangel's Blade was about a different couple I became very intrigued and my interest in the series became re-energised.

Dmitri is a character who has played a large part in the series so far as Raphael's right hand man and I am so glad that we get to find out more about him in this book. He is portrayed as a cold and heartless killer, but as his story unfolds the reader gets to find out what happened so many years ago to turn his heart to stone. His story is absolutely heart-breaking and it really helped me to get a better understanding of him as a character. Although I have never found him to be particularly sexy in the previous books, that definitely changed for me in Archangel's Blade. He is a typical alpha-male who is very dominant and knows exactly what he wants. But add this to the vulnerable side that we see of him here and he just becomes irresistible.

Honor is a great character too. When we first meet her she is trying to scrape back together the pieces of her life after a brutal attack by a group of vampires that happened over a matter of weeks. I loved watching her as she tries to come to terms with what happened and her strength as she becomes determined that she will not allow the attack to change her into a timid person. With Dmitri's attention, Honor really does blossom and become much more confident as the story progresses. In fact, they are perfect for each other as they each help the other to heal from past hurts.

I managed to work out quite early on how things were going to end between Dmitri and Honor and it was just the perfect Happy Ever After for them. I don't normally like it when I can work out how a book is going to end but I think I would have been seriously disappointed if it hadn't ended the way it did. I was literally sobbing with happiness for Dmitri and Honor. I even still get a warm fuzzy feeling thinking about it now and I finished reading it a couple of weeks ago *sigh*.

Summary - I think that this is my favourite book of the series so far. It has got a sexy alpha male, a kick-ass heroine and a strong mystery plot. The ending is just so amazing and heart-warming that I think everybody should read it for the warm fuzzies it will give you. Although it is book four in a series I think you could get away with skipping straight to this book as the series changes focus at this point onto a different couple. If you are a paranormal romance fan, you really need to read this book!

Other books in this series:
1. Angels' Blood
2. Archangel's Kiss
3. Archangels Consort
4. Archangel's Blade

Other reviews of this book:
Dear Author / Love Vampires / Smexy Books

This book counts towards the following challenges:
Book #6 for 2012 Speculative Romance Reading Challenge
Book #4 for 2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge
Book #10 for 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

It's Monday! What are you Reading? (27th February 2012)


This is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey that gives us all a chance to list the books that we read last week and what we hope to read this week.

Books Completed:
Demon Soul by Christine Ashworth

Books Reviewed:
The Ninja Vampire's Girl by Michele Hauf (Of Angels and Demons #2.5)
Dark Hunger by Christine Feehan (Carpathians #14)
The Darkest Kiss by Gena Showalter (Lords of the Underworld #2)
Ashes of Angels by Michele Hauf (Of Angels and Demons #3)

Books I'm Currently Reading:
My Ruthless Prince by Gaelen Foley (Inferno Club #4)

Books Up Next:
Radiant Desire by Inara Scott (Handmaid's Seduction #1)

Saturday 25 February 2012

Paranormal Romance Month Review: Ashes of Angels by Michele Hauf (Of Angels and Demons #3)

Publisher - Mills and Boon
Publication Date - 19th August 2011
Paperback - 336 pages
Genre - Paranormal Romance

Source - Purchased

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it

Book Info - Cassandra knows her dark destiny. She is a muse, who will one day be sought by a Fallen angel, to be the mother of his nephilim child - a fate that will destroy her.

Samandiriel walks alone amongst his Fallen brethren. He refuses to use mortal females as vessels for his evil offspring. He's determined to protect them. But now he's been summoned to capture a muse, Cassandra, against his will.

Together Sam and Cassandra must fight to keep her alive and to prevent the Fallen from achieving their sinister goals. Cassandra trusts Sam, but he can't trust his own compulsion to mate with her. Can they stop the apocalypse before Sam's desire overtakes him?

My Thoughts - Once again I really enjoyed entering the world created by Michele Hauf. I love how she always keeps the line blurred between good and evil, keeping the reader on their toes.

In this instalment of the series, Sam, the Fallen angel, is not the evil being that he is supposed to be. He has found his Muse, Cassandra, but he has no intention of impregnating her. Instead, he wants to make amends with God and return to Above. So he plans on killing all the Fallen angels and vampires that he comes across. I liked the character of Sam. He is honest and fearless, whilst having an innocence that is endearing. He speaks in a way that is very old-fashioned, making it easy for the reader to believe he has been around for centuries.

I found Cassandra to be a bit confusing at times. She is a likeable enough character but I found her actions to be pretty inconsistent. She is a Muse - a human who is destined to bear the child of an angel. But this is not a destiny that any woman would want. The nephilim that is produced is a monster. A giant who kills the mother shortly after its birth, and then goes on to consume large amounts of human blood and flesh. Unlike the other Muse's  so far in the series, Cassandra actually knows about the existence of angels and demons, and about her destiny. Her grandmother has taught her everything she needs to know about her rather unique situation, and she has grown up thinking that Fallen angels are the ultimate in evil. However, when she catches sight of the gorgeous Sam, she instantly forgets all that and starts throwing herself at him. I just found this to be slightly frustrating considering the fact that in other ways she is so fearless and has a strong sense of doing what is right no matter what the consequences.

The pace of the story moves along nicely and there is a good balance between the action and the romance elements. There is also the introduction of other characters, such as Cassandra's sister, Coco, and her vampire boyfriend, Zane, to add more depth to the story.

Summary - Although this isn't my favourite book of the series, it was still a fun and entertaining read. I love the world that the author has created and I will definitely be reading more of her books in the near future.

Other books in this series:
1. Angel Slayer
2. Fallen
2.5. The Ninja Vampire's Girl
3. Ashes of Angels

Other reviews of this book:
Paranormal Haven / The Romanceaholic

This book counts towards the following challenges:
Book #7 for 2012 Speculative Romance Reading Challenge
Book #5 for 2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge
Book #11 for 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

Paranormal Romance Month Review: The Darkest Kiss by Gena Showalter (Lords of the Underworld #2)

Publisher - Mira Books
Publication Date - 18th September 2009
Paperback - 384 pages
Genre - Paranormal Romance

Source - Purchased

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it

Book Info - Though she has lived for centuries, Anya, goddess of anarchy, has never known pleasure. Until Lucien, the incarnation of death--a warrior eternally doomed to take souls to the hereafter. He draws her like no other. And Anya will risk anything to have him.

But when the merciless Lord of the Underworld is ordered by the gods to claim Anya herself, their uncontrollable attraction becomes an anguished pursuit. Now they must defeat the unconquerable forces that control them, before their thirst for one another demands a sacrifice of love beyond imagining...

My Thoughts - I found Lucien an intriguing character in the first book of this series so I was really pleased when I realised that this was his story. I wasn't disappointed and I loved reading about his history and his task of transporting souls to either Heaven or Hell.

Anya was definitely the highlight of this novel for me. She is funny, brave and strong. She knows what she wants and will stop at nothing until she has got it.

The chemistry between Anya and Lucien is sizzling, but I did find some of the interactions between them to be pretty frustrating. For a long time they are not able to admit how they feel about each other. They put so much effort into hiding their feelings that they end up constantly hurting each other. At times I felt like screaming at them to drop the act and just get on with it!

Although I really enjoyed most of the novel, I did not like the ending. The way things end up between Lucien and Anya feels a bit too contrived and very rushed. I wish the author had spent a bit more time wrapping up this book so that it felt more satisfactory.

Summary - Despite my feelings about the way the book ends, I am still enjoying this series enough to carry on with it. Plus, book three is about the demon who most intrigues me - Reyes, the keeper of Pain. I can't wait to read his story!

Other books in this series:
0.5. The Darkest Fire
1. The Darkest Night
2. The Darkest Kiss
3. The Darkest Pleasure
3.5. The Darkest Prison
4. The Darkest Whisper
5. The Darkest Passion
6. The Darkest Lie
7. The Darkest Secret
8. The Darkest Surrender

Other reviews of this book:
Buggy's Book Blog / Pedantic Phooka

Thursday 23 February 2012

Paranormal Romance Month: Excerpt from Blood Magic by Jennifer Lyon

I have recently come across a great paranormal romance series about witches and the men who protect them from witch hunters - the Wing Slayer series by Jennifer Lyon. I have loved all the books and you can read my reviews of them here.

Jennifer has been kind enough to provide me with an excerpt from Blood Magic, the first book in the series. Please be warned though that this is not an excerpt for the faint hearted - please excuse me while I fan myself *sigh*

Here it is, so relax and enjoy...



She moved up closer behind him. "He looks so real."

Axel stiffened as her rich voice poured over his skin.

"It's almost like if I touched him, I could feel the feathers."

Axel opened his mouth, but it was too late. Her fingers landed on his right shoulder blade where the tip of the tattooed hawk wings began. The bird had his wings straight up like he was coming in for a landing, covering almost all of his back. Her fingers rode the wings down to the waist of his pants. Fire seared from her touch straight to his dick.

Then her touch was gone. He missed it instantly.

"Skin, not feathers," she said softly.

Axel turned. The sight of her wearing his shirt against her sparkling witch-skin made his hands itch to touch her; to lay claim to her in a primitive way. Before he thought about it, he took a step and scooped her up in one arm to bring her face-to-face. "Teasing me, little witch?" It came out in a deep growl.

"Put me down, or I'll…"

He kissed her, laying claim to her mouth, closing his lips over hers, while tracing them with his tongue.

Static crackled in the room, little pops of her undisciplined power. The brush of it against his skin made his dick twitch in painful arousal. He curled his hand behind her head to angle her mouth open.

Her small hands dug into his shoulders as she parted her lips.

He slid his tongue against hers and she tasted so damn good. So hot. He could feel her nipples pebble against through the shirt pressing on his bare chest.

Her body spoke to his. He could smell her desire, a full spicy scent that was blooming around them both.

He slid his hand down her thigh and under her knee. Her skin was warm and smooth and he knew she'd taste like lemon and spice. He pulled her leg up high over his hip, forcing his shirt and her skirt to ride up, until she was exposed and vulnerable to him…

Book Summary - Darcy MacAlister knows nothing of demons or magic. But this beautiful young woman is about to discover that she is a witch and the key to breaking the curse that has plagued witches and the men who hunt them. For if a Wing Slayer Hunter kills an innocent witch by mistake, the price is no less than a piece of his soul.

Axel Locke, gorgeous leader of the Wing Slayer Hunters, has sworn never to shed the blood of the earth witches who have resisted the temptation of demonic power. But when his sister is cursed by a demon witch, he discovers that Darcy MacAlister may hold the cure – if she can master her newfound powers in time.

Wednesday 22 February 2012

Paranormal Romance Month Review: Dark Hunger by Christine Feehan (Carpathians #14)

Publisher - Piatkus
Publication Date - 2nd February 2012
Paperback - 115 pages (this is a novella that is included in Darkest at Dawn)
Genre - Paranormal Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it

Book Info - Juliette is a beautiful activist devoted to the liberation of animals confined in a foul and humid jungle lab. But then she stumbles upon an unexpected prisoner unlike any she's ever seen. Or touched.

Riordan De La Cruz, an immortal Carpathian male, is trapped and caged, his desire for revenge only beginning. She will release him from his bonds. He will release her from her inhibitions. Both have voracious appetites that must be sated.

My Thoughts - I have never read any of the Carpathian series before but these books have been on my wishlist for a long time. So when I received this book for review I was very excited. I was slightly concerned that starting the series at number fourteen would leave me feeling confused, and in a way it did. I would have liked just a little bit more background information about who, or what, the Carpathians actually are. Riordan seemed to have all the characteristics of a vampire but he is a vampire hunter who has a vicious hatred of the species. I couldn't work out if the Carpathians and vampires are related in some way or if they are two completely different species. Because it was a novella I just don't think there was enough time to include as much information as a first-timer to the series would need. But, as this was my only complaint with Dark Hunger, I am definitely hoping to find out more about this in other books from the series.

The chemistry between Riordan and Juliette is evident from page one and I enjoyed reading about the progression of their relationship. Juliette is Riordan's destined lifemate so from the start he knows that he wants to be with her forever. But Juliette is very independent and she tries to ignore the attraction she feels at the start. Riordan is your typical sexy alpha-male who is used to getting exactly what he wants and I loved watching as he learns to be more patient and to put someone elses needs before his own.

As well as the romance aspect there is also a great deal of action when Juliette's sister is in trouble and Riordan and Juliette have to work together to get her back from the men who have captured her, which adds a great deal of excitement to the novella. Overall there is a good balance between giving the characters time to get to know each other, the romance and the action, making it a novella that is incredibly difficult to put down.

Summary - A very enjoyable novella that has definitely whet my appetite for more from this series.

Other books in this series:
1. Dark Prince
2. Dark Desire
3. Dark Gold
4. Dark Magic
5. Dark Challenge
6. Dark Fire
7. Dark Dream (Novella)
8. Dark Legend
9. Dark Guardian
10. Dark Symphony
11. Dark Descent (Novella)
12. Dark Melody
13. Dark Destiny
14. Dark Hunger (Novella)
15. Dark Secret
16. Dark Demon
17. Dark Celebration
18. Dark Possession
19. Dark Curse
20. Dark Slayer
21. Dark Peril
22. Dark Predator

This book counts towards the following challenges:
Book #9 for 2012 Speculative Romance Reading Challenge
Book #6 for 2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge
Book #13 for 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

Dani Harper Contest Winner!


There was a great response to the Dani Harper giveaway but unfortunately only one person can win. And that lucky, lucky individual is...


Erica Nicholas

Congratulations Erica! I understand Dani has already emailed you about the prize so I hope you enjoy it once it arrives :) 

Tuesday 21 February 2012

Guest post with Jennifer from Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance


Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Jennifer from the blog, Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance, and she will be telling us all about her favourite characters from a paranormal romance series.

The Most Intriguing Characters of Paranormal Romance History: Acheron and Simi

Let me start off by saying that if you are a Paranormal Romance fan and don’t know who Acheron and Simi are then I have no choice. *Rolls up newspaper and smacks you on the nose* Bad paranormal romance fan, bad. Now, go pick up the Dark-Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon and don’t come out of your room until you want to scratch Tory’s eyes out for stealing your new book boyfriend. With that out of the way, let the Acheron and Simi praising begin.

Let’s start from the beginning. Sherrilyn Kenyon (who I secretly dislike because she can make Acheron do whatever she wants) writes the amazing Dark-Hunter series as well as the interconnected Dream-Hunter and Were-Hunter series. But since research paper sized guest posts are no fun, let’s stick with the Dark-Hunter series. Dark-Hunters are immortals that have sold their souls to Artemis, the Goddess of the hunt and childbirth, for a chance to get revenge on the people who killed/betrayed them. From then on, these Dark-Hunters are in the service of Artemis, spending the rest of their lives killing those who prey on human souls, the Daimons (a twist on the vampire). Each book focuses on one Dark-Hunter who finds love. But let’s get to the good part, right? Acheron, Ash for short, is the first Dark-Hunter. *Caution: the rest of this post will contain some spoilers but I will keep them to a minimum.* But Ash isn’t just a Dark-Hunter, he is much, much more. He is a God, one with a sordid and horrible past that will break your heart. I guess when you’re named after the river of woe, then a sad future will follow.

Kenyon made us wait for fourteen freaking books until she finally came out with Acheron, book fifteen. And through all fourteen books, the mystery that was Acheron built up into a painful crescendo. As a reader, you feared him, you loved him, you just wanted to lick every part of his body. Wait, did I just say that out loud? Oops. The sneak peeks of his true identity drove me crazy with anticipation. His skin turning blue, having his tattoos come to life, bringing his friends back from the dead. Intrigued yet? So when Acheron finally came out, you can imagine the squeals of excitement and funky dances of joy that came out of me that day. Let me give you an idea of how popular this book was. Did you ever notice that no matter how popular a series is, that its number of reviews always dwindle book after book? The most reviews are always for book one of the series and then goes down from there. Well, Acheron got double (600, 4.5 star average) the reviews on Amazon than book one of the Dark-Hunter series. I’ve never seen that before. I thought it was pretty incredible.

Before I go any further, I thought it would be prudent of me to supply everyone with the summary (from Goodreads) of Acheron:

The most anticipated story in the blockbuster Dark-Hunter series. The never-before-revealed story of the Dark-Hunter leader, Acheron. He was made human in order to escape death, but in death he was reborn a god. . .
Eleven thousand years ago a god was born. Cursed into the body of a human, Acheron spent a lifetime of shame. However, his human death unleashed an unspeakable horror that almost destroyed the earth. Then, brought back against his will, Acheron became the sole defender of mankind.
Only it was never that simple. For centuries, he has fought for our survival and hidden a past he’ll do anything to keep concealed. Until a lone woman who refuses to be intimidated by him threatens his very existence.
Now his survival, and ours, hinges on hers and old enemies reawaken and unite to kill them both.
War has never been more deadly... or more fun.

In the first half of Acheron we are taken back in time to witness and endure the horrendous life Acheron was forced to suffer, then the second half is where Acheron finally meets the love of his life. Throughout the series Ash has never been interested in any woman. Of course, on the flip side, that could be farthest from the truth. Pretty much every woman in the series, and in the history of existence, is attracted to Ash. His perfection is boundless, though he tries to tamper down his beauty by dyeing his hair funky colors and sporting some piercings. Which probably had the opposite effect Ash wanted since he only accomplished looking like perfection but in a badass sort of way. Ash is a legend among all Dark-Hunters. No one can’t predict which Ash they will get when they call upon his help. He’s been known to be gentle and caring, aggressive and menacing, and occasionally just straight up horrifying. He has magnetism and raw masculine power beyond any character I have ever read. I can only imagine what it’s like to be in his presence, to ache to touch him but fear you will lose your hand if you dare. Ash has only ever wanted kindness but most often found cruelty. He wants someone to love him not for his body, beauty, and natural draw but for just simply being him. He finally finds that person in Tory. And I’ve hated that wench ever since she took my hopes and dreams away from me when she claimed Ash as hers. One day, Tory, one day. You, me, a dark alley, and our fists. Be ready. (Sorry, I get a little possessive (psychotic) when it comes to Ash.)

But before there was Tory to take care of my man, there was Simi. Simi is a Charonte demon who protects Ash. She was a gift to Ash long, long ago when he needed a friend. As Ash walked the world alone, even amongst a crowd, it was Simi who was there for him. She is his protector, friend, and in way, his daughter. But most of all, Simi is freaking hilarious. Though she’s thousands of years old, she is very young in demon years. She talks and acts like a five year old and dresses like a lusty gothic school girl. Her akri (what she calls Ash, it means something like master in demon language) spoils her rotten. But when Simi does something bad, like eats people, she gets her plastic (credit cards) taken away and her QVC is shut off. Simi does not like this because she loves to shop (especially for sparklies) as much as she loves to eat anything with barbeque sauce, like the heifer goddess and moo moo cows. Except for tires, they give her heartburn. She doesn’t eat quality people though, like Tory, but meanies get what’s coming to them, especially when they threaten her akri. She also refers to herself in the third person which I wish I could pull off. Tried it for a day or two. Got some funny looks, but overall good times.

So, yeah, Acheron and Simi are the most intriguing characters in paranormal romance history. Acheron was a mystery for much of the series, so when his story came out, it was pretty much world changing. For me, watching Acheron interact with Simi was the best parts of every book. So far, I’ve read Acheron eight times, and I doubt I will ever get bored of reading any book, page, paragraph, sentence, or word that has to do with either of these characters. There will never be anyone like them again, and I treasure that I got to be a part of their journey.

Be on the lookout for my upcoming reviews of this entire series on my blog Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance: http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy.blogspot.com/

Thanks Jennifer for such an amazing guest post! I must admit to being one of those bad paranormal romance fans who hasn't read any of this series yet *ducks and hides from the rolled up newspaper*. But these books are now firmly on my TBR list.

So, who else has a lot of love for Acheron? Let us know and I'll try and stop Jennifer from beating down your door in a jealous rage *grin*

Paranormal Romance Month Review: The Ninja Vampire's Girl by Michele Hauf (Of Angels and Demons #2.5)


Publisher - Mills and Boon
Genre - Paranormal Romance

Source - Purchased

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it


Book Info - Coco Stevens has a taste for adventure - enough to risk stealing a halo from a Fallen angel to help her sister. But she never imagined her mission would land her in the arms of a scarred - but still dangerously sexy - vampire.

Zane is on his own quest to hunt a Fallen angel, and will do whatever it takes to win... including bite the interfering Coco. Even if it joins them by an erotic bond that warms both vampire and mortal's blood with desire...

My Thoughts - This is a very short novella that is included in the UK edition of Ashes and Angels (book three in the series). It is only around 50 pages long, so this is likely to be just a quick review.

I liked both of the characters in this novel, although I had already met them before whilst reading Ashes of Angels (I read them out of order). Coco is a strong character who is very protective of her sister, who is the muse in book three of the series. She has gone to find a halo for her sister to use as a weapon in case a Fallen angel should ever find her, but she meets up with the vampire, Zane. He is a very sexy vampire and it was easy to fall a little bit in love with him. However, because the novella is so short I didn't really feel as though I learnt as much as I would have liked about the characters. At the end they were still a bit of a mystery to me.

There is a good balance between romance and action in this novella, but the background story was lacking slightly, most likely because of the length of it. There was not much explanation of the world in which these characters live and so I think this should only really be read as part of the series. But, as part of the series, this is a fun, sexy and quick read that I would highly recommend.

Summary - A quick read that I managed in one sitting, and that I enjoyed a lot. It is full of romance and action and is a must-read for fans of Michele Hauf's work.

Other books in the series:
1. Angel Slayer
2. Fallen
2.5. The Ninja Vampire's Girl
3. Ashes of Angels

This book counts towards the following challenges:
Book #8 for 2012 Speculative Romance Reading Challenge
Book #12 for 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

Monday 20 February 2012

It's Monday! What are you Reading? (20th February 2012)


This is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey that gives us all a chance to list the books that we read last week and what we hope to read this week.

I didn't have a great reading week last week - no books finished at all! My husband was pretty ill and I just wasn't really in the mood to read much. Hoping to have a better week this week though!

Books Completed:
None!

Books Reviewed:
Fallen by Michele Hauf (Of Angels and Demons #2)
Sinful Magic by Jennifer Lyon (Wing Slayer #4)
Archangel's Consort by Nalini Singh (Guild Hunter #3)
The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter (Lords of the Underworld #1)
A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole (Immortals After Dark #1)

Books I'm Currently Reading:
Dark Secret by Christine Feehan (Carpathian #15)
My Ruthless Prince by Gaelen Foley (Inferno Club #4)


Books Up Next:
Radiant Desire by Inara Scott (Handmaid's Seduction #1)
Demon Soul by Christine Ashworth (Caine Brothers #1)


Current Giveaways:
February is Paranormal Romance Month here at Once Upon A Series so there are going to be lots of reviews and giveaways going on this month. The ones that are currently open are:


1. Win the entire Lords of the Underworld Series by Gena Showalter (UK ONLY)
2. Win an ebook of your choice from the Demons of Infernum series by Rosalie Lario (INTERNATIONAL)

3. Win a signed copy of Changeling Dawn by Dani Harper and a "Dani Harper" tote bag (INTERNATIONAL)

4. Win two signed books by Michele Hauf (INTERNATIONAL)

So please come along and take part :)

Sunday 19 February 2012

Paranormal Romance Month Review: A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole (Immortals After Dark #1)

Publisher - Simon and Schuster
Publication Date - 3rd March 2011
Paperback - 384 pages
Genre - Paranormal Romance

Source - Library

Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it

Book Info - A mythic warrior who’ll stop at nothing to possess her…
After enduring years of torture from the vampire horde, Lachlain MacRieve, leader of the Lykae Clan, is enraged to find the predestined mate he’s waited millennia for is a vampire. Or partly one. This Emmaline is a small, ethereal half Valkyrie/half vampire, who somehow begins to soothe the fury burning within him.

A vampire captured by her wildest fantasy…
Sheltered Emmaline Troy finally sets out to uncover the truth about her deceased parents – until a powerful Lykae claims her as his mate and forces her back to his ancestral Scottish castle. There, her fear of the Lykae – and their notorious dark desires – ebbs as he begins a slow, wicked seduction to sate her own dark cravings.

An all-consuming desire…
Yet when an ancient evil from her past resurfaces, will their desire deepen into a love that can bring a proud warrior to his knees and turn a gentle beauty into the fighter she was born to be?

My Thoughts - Both Lachlain and Emmaline go on an emotional journey throughout A Hunger Like No Other, and I loved reading about this journey. Lachlain starts off as a (literally) tortured soul who has trouble keeping his animal instincts in check. But as he spends more time with Emmaline, he becomes a lot more content and, although at times he does lie to his mate or treat her in a way that is perhaps not quite right, he would do anything for her and do anything to keep her at his side. And it is easy to forgive Lachlain for his little indiscretions when you consider that he has not had any contact with others (apart from the vampires torturing him) for 150 years.

Emmaline, however, starts off as a very timid creature who is used to the protection of her aunts – a coven of vicious Valkyries. Although she is part vampire, she has never drunk ‘from the source’ and wants to protect living things (a way of life that earns her a lot of ridicule from her family). But during her time with Lachlain, she finds herself in many dangerous situations and she finds strength from them. The result of this is that by the end of the novel she is an incredibly strong female who can hold her own in a fight as well as refusing to be walked over by her family and Lachlain.

I loved both of the main characters and the relationship that develops between the two of them – there is certainly a huge amount of sexual chemistry between them, even if it does take them a long time to realise that their feelings run a lot deeper that just this physical connection. I also found the storyline of the book, involving all the threats from their enemies, to be intriguing, well-written and full of action. 

Summary - Overall, I really enjoyed reading A Hunger Like No Other and I can’t wait to read the others in the series.

Other books in the series:
0.5. The Warlord Wants Forever
1. A Hunger Like No Other
2. No Rest for the Wicked
3. Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night
4. Dark Needs at Night's Edge
5. Dark Desires After Dusk
6. Kiss of a Demon King
6.5. Untouchable
7. Pleasure of a Dark Prince
8. Demon from the Dark
9. Dreams of a Dark Warrior
10. Lothaire

Other reviews of this book:
Dear Author / Feeling Fictional / Love Vampires

Saturday 18 February 2012

Paranormal Romance Month Review: The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter (Lords of the Underworld #1)

Publisher - Mira Books
Publication Date - 18th September 2009
Paperback - 384 pages
Genre - Paranormal Romance

Source - Purchased

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it

Book Info - All her life, Ashlyn Darrow has been tormented by voices from the past. To end the nightmare, she has come to Budapest seeking help from men rumored to have supernatural abilities, not knowing she'll be swept into the arms of Maddox, their most dangerous member -- a man trapped in a hell of his own.

Neither can resist the instant hunger than calms their torments . . . and ignites an irresistible passion. But every heated touch and burning kiss will edge them closer to destruction -- and a soul-shattering test of love...  

My Thoughts - The Lords of the Underworld are immortal men who are each possessed by a Demon Lord who escaped from Hell centuries ago. Maddox is the keeper of Violence. He often suffers from violent rages so he stays within the confines of their large home. He was also cursed by the gods because he killed Pandora, the keeper of the box where the demons were originally secured after their escape from Hell (yes, it's Pandora's Box). Because of this curse Maddox has to be killed every night at midnight in the same way that Pandora was killed - by being stabbed six times in the stomach. He has to spend all night in the depths of Hell, only to return to his body again the following morning.

One night he meets Ashlyn, who has her own special ability - she can hear all conversations that have ever taken place in any given area. When she meets Maddox she is stunned to realise that the voices stop whenever he is around. As seems to be fairly common in the realm of Paranormal Romance, Maddox takes Ashlyn captive believing that she works for a group of Hunters who want the Lords dead.

What drew me in straight away was the premise of the story. I loved reading about the way these men, who are all essentially good men, battle on a daily basis with the demon that lives inside of them. Maddox often has to try and keep his demon in check to stop himself from bringing destruction to everybody and everything around him.

Ashlyn is also an interesting character to read about. She is incredibly feisty and is not afraid of anything - not even the group of overly-muscled, demon-possessed men holding her captive. The romance between Ashlyn and Maddox holds some very passionate moments as well as some tender ones as she works to tame both man and demon.

My only complaint would be the insta-love aspect. The whole novel takes place over about three days and I just felt that it all happened too quickly between them. I really can't imagine any woman instantly falling in love with the demon-possessed man who is keeping her locked up.

Summary - Despite this problem I had with the speed with which the romance happened between Ashlyn and Maddox, I still found it a really enjoyable novel and I will be starting the next book in the series straight away. I can't wait to read about how the other men live with their demons.

Other books in this series:
0.5. The Darkest Fire
1. The Darkest Night
2. The Darkest Kiss
3. The Darkest Pleasure
3.5. The Darkest Prison
4. The Darkest Whisper
5. The Darkest Passion
6. The Darkest Lie
7. The Darkest Secret
8. The Darkest Surrender

Other reviews of this book:
Bailey's Dark Fantasy Reviews / Dear Author / Feeling Fictional

Friday 17 February 2012

Paranormal Romance Month Review: Archangel's Consort by Nalini Singh (Guild Hunter #3)

Publisher - Gollancz
Publication Date - 10th February 2011
Paperback - 336 pages
Genre - Paranormal Romance

Source - Library

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it

Book Info - Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux and her lover, the lethally beautiful archangel Raphael, have returned home to New York only to face an uncompromising new evil...

A vampire has attacked a girls' school - the assault one of sheer, vicious madness - and it is only the first act. Rampant bloodlust takes vampire after vampire, threatening to make the streets run with blood. Then Raphael himself begins to show signs of an uncontrolled rage, as inexplicable storms darken the city skyline and the earth itself shudders. The omens are suddenly terrifyingly clear. An ancient and malevolent immortal is rising. The violent winds whisper her name: Caliane. She has returned to reclaim her son, Raphael. Only one thing stands in her way: Elena, the consort who must be destroyed...

My Thoughts - I am a big fan of this series and I absolutely loved Angels' Blood and Archangel's Kiss. But I must admit that I did not enjoy this book as much as I did the others in this series.

Most of the things that I loved about the first two books were still there, such as the chemistry and connection between Raphael and Elena, her strong personality and ability to stand up to her Archangel, and lots of action as Raphael and Elena take down the bad guys.

Although the book was a bit slow to start with, the pace did pick up about half way through and from that point onward I was hooked to the storyline.

I only had a couple of minor complaints with Archangel's Consort, but as they appeared frequently they started to annoy me a bit and affect my enjoyment of the book. The first one is that Raphael and Elena have such a strong connection that they are able to communicate telepathically. At first this didn't bother me at all. But after a while it felt as though this was the only way that Raphael would communicate with Elena. There were several points where they would be alone in a room having a conversation and Elena would be talking to him normally, and Raphael would keep answering in her mind. Rather than driving home the connection between the two of them, the overuse of this plot device just made me feel that Raphael was too lazy to talk to Elena.

The second point was the over-repetition of the tragic events that happened during Elena's childhood. I can understand why the author does this - to show Elena's strength and to highlight her survival instincts - but it was just too much. And in the end the tragic flashbacks lost their effect on me because of the sheer number of times that they are mentioned.

Summary - Overall, Archangel's Consort is an enjoyable installment of a great paranormal romance series. Although it's not my favourite I still liked it and am looking forward to reading Archangel's Blade. However, I am hoping that the author soon realises that less is more and stops with the over-repetition of certain points.

Other books in this series:
1. Angels' Blood
2. Archangel's Kiss
3. Archangel's Consort
4. Archangel's Blade

Other reviews of this book:
Book Chick City / Dear Author / Love Vampires

Win two signed books by Michele Hauf (Giveaway Now Closed!)

Author Michele Hauf has very kindly offered two books for a giveaway here at Once Upon a Series. And, as if that wasn't enough, she has offered to sign them and to hold the contest worldwide!

So the books up for grabs are the Of Angels and Demons series omnibus (yes people, that's three books in one!) and The Werewolf's Wife, which isn't even out until 20th March!

To be in with a chance to win, just leave a comment below (along with your email address) and a winner will be picked at random. The contest is open until 29th February!

Wednesday 15 February 2012

Paranormal Romance Month Guest Post: Michele Hauf

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Michele Hauf to Once Upon a Series for a guest post. She is the author of the Of Angels and Demons series that I have been reviewing as part of Paranormal Romance Month, as well as many other novels.

Today she is here to tell us about her latest writing adventure, so here she is:


Zombie Love?

Did you all have a great Valentine's Day? Spend it with someone you care about? It's a time of year that romance authors are expected to shine, and you wouldn't believe how many calls I get from local reporters who want my point of view on romance for articles they are writing. Love is great. Love makes the world go round.

But what about zombie love?

Heh. Did that one take you aback? Zombies can't love. Can they? Well, I recently had opportunity to find out if that is possible when I was invited to write a super short story for an anthology Harlequin is giving away this month. They invited six different authors, gave them each the same opening paragraphs, and let us go our own way. Why zombies? Why not! I figured it would be fun to try with the shorter format. And you know? I had a lot of fun creating a really twisted adventure/romp/horror/love story. Hee. And yes, I do believe zombies can find love too.

The anthology is SIX DEGREES OF ROMANCE, and you can download it for free at Amazon, B&N.com, or Harlequin. Or if you just want to read my story, you can right at my website.

So, in the realm of paranormal romances, what pairings between hero and heroine have you found to be a little wacky, maybe extreme?

Oh, good question, and I look forward to seeing which couples get picked!

If you would like to find out more about Michele, you can find her online at:

Tuesday 14 February 2012

Paranormal Romance Month Review: Sinful Magic by Jennifer Lyon (Wing Slayer #4)


Publisher - Rouge Romance
Publication Date - 14th December 2011
Genre - Paranormal Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it

Book Info - Witch Roxy Banfield is determined to become mortal in order to pursue her dream of real love and a family. All she has to do is avoid meeting the one man whose sensuality can release her powers.

Wing Slayer Hunter Kieran "Key" DeMicca channels the dark violence that lives inside him his art and telling stories. Lately he finds himself drawing images of a young woman in peril, and assumes that she's just a product of his imagination - until he meets Roxy. Struck by her beauty and her resemblance to his sketches, he feels compelled to protect her.

As steamy magic, lethal danger, and timeless love collide, Roxy must become what she swore she would never be - and inadvertently awaken a part of Key that will threaten to destroy them both.

My Thoughts - Jennifer Lyon has once again offered a great instalment to a series that I am growing to love more and more with each book. It has magic, romance and mystery - what more could a girl want? And it all moves along at a good pace, making it a book that is very difficult to put down.

I really enjoyed learning about the main characters, Roxy and Kieran. Roxy is a fertility which who has not come into her magic yet. To do this, she has to have sex with a specific man (known as her Awakening) before the fertility mark on her thigh disappears. However, Roxy has no intention of awakening her magic and instead longs for the day that she becomes a normal mortal woman. This is a different take on witches that hasn't been used so far in the series and it has kept the series feeling fresh. The author doesn't feel the need to repeat the same pattern over and over again in her books.

And as for Kieran *sigh*. He has the soul of an immortal dragon locked inside of him and has a huge dragon tattoo across his chest. As if that wasn't enough he is creative too - he is a talented artist who provides the tattoos for all the other Wing Slayers. And because he is a Wing Slayer he is incredibly strong, loyal and protective of others who are not as strong as he is. Come on ladies, what's not to love? I know I've said it before but I'll say it again *sigh*

As well as the likeable main characters, there is a veritable feast of secondary characters to fall in love with. All of the Wing Slayers are incredibly close and I just love reading about them. They share a bond that means they would do anything for each other. And the witches are just as interesting to read about. The three witches who have become friends over the previous books in the series also share a close bond and I enjoyed reading about how Roxy integrates with the group - even though at first they have a hard time trusting her.

And Ms. Lyon definitely has the ability to put together a good love scene. Not only were there some very hot and steamy moments, but also some tender ones that really showed the depth of their feelings for each other.

Summary - Another great paranormal romance from Jennifer Lyon, with a great cast of characters, steamy romance and just the right amount of action. I really can't wait to read more about the Wing Slayers.

Other books in the series:
1. Blood Magic
2. Soul Magic
3. Night Magic
4. Sinful Magic
5. Forbidden Magic

Other reviews of this book:
Joyfully Reviewed / Vampires, Werewolves and Fairies, Oh My!

This book counts towards the following challenges:
Book #2 for 2012 Speculative Romance Reading Challenge
Book #4 for 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

New Release: Taming the Fire by Sydney Croft

Today sees the UK release of Taming the Fire by Sydney Croft. I think it sounds amazing and the cover art is absolutely beautiful so I thought I would spotlight it here on my blog. It is being released by Rouge Romance as an e-book only.

Power. Pleasure. Danger. It doesn't get any hotter than this. 

He came to the underground London club for a night of extreme sex play with the enigmatic "Mistress Rik". But the Special Agent known as Trance is really on a search-and-rescue mission to keep her alive.

Part predator, Ulrika "Rik" Jaegar possesses feral powers that make her a danger to others - and to herself. That's why the Agency for Covert Rare Operatives (ACRO) wants to recruit her to their side....To do so, Trance will have to pull off the impossible: capture and control Rik, both woman and beast.

Author Biography
Sydney Croft is the alter-ego of Larissa Ione and Stephanie Tyler, who came together to blend their very different writing interests into adventurous tales of erotic paranormal fiction. Though they love to write together as Sydney Croft, they also write individually.

As Sydney Croft, they are the authors of Riding the Storm, Unleashing the Storm, Seduced by the Storm, Taming the Fire, Tempting the Fire and Taken by Fire.

Monday 13 February 2012

Paranormal Romance Month Review: Fallen by Michele Hauf (Of Angels and Demons #2)

Publisher - Mills and Boon
Publication Date - 20th May 2011
Paperback - 336 pages
Genre - Paranormal Romance

Source - Purchased

Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it

Book Info - He fell because he loved mankind. It cost him his soul. Now Cooper seeks his halo, his only to chance to regain what he lost. But wherever the Fallen walk, a Sinistari demon is not far behind; their only task is to slay the earthbound angels. Pyxion stalks Cooper. When she kills an angel, she can claim her own soul. His death will be her chance at redemption. Yet Cooper's first encounter with the Sinistari leaves him hungering for more. And Pyx finds herself drawn desperately, sensually towards Cooper. With a vampire trailing both of them, relying on each other could be their best hope of survival - but they cannot give in to their lust or they'll both be doomed.

My Thoughts - This book is not what I expected and as a result I found that I ejoyed it a lot more than the first book in the series. Most PNR series that I read tend to follow a basic formula, so I was expecting this book to roughly follow the same formula as the first book - fallen angel is the ultimate bad guy out to destroy mankind, demon sent to protect the human woman the fallen angel wants to impregnate, demon and human woman fall in love while taking down the bad guy. But the author mixed it up a lot and I really enjoyed reading Fallen.

Cooper (the fallen angel) is not a bad guy. When he was working up in heaven he was an angel warrior who would basically smite anybody he was told to by the archangels. He fell because he didn't want to kill people anymore and this would give him a chance to make a choice about what he wants to do with his life. Plus he has absolutely no intention of finding his muse - the human woman that he is destined to impregnate to produce a blood-drinking, flesh-eating nephilim. He breaks all the rules for a fallen angel and I absolutely loved this about him. He is just a good guy who is trying to fight his destiny.

Pyxion, or Pyx as she likes to be known, is also a very intruiging character. When she is called from Beneath to track the fallen angel she has a sexual identity crisis. In Beneath the Sinistari demons are all sexless but she has always believed herself to be male like all the other demons - so imagine her surprise when she realises that she has been given the body of a female on earth. I must admit that I wasn't sure what to make of this at first, especially when she feels an attraction to Cooper and still thinks of herself as male, but I soon got used to it as Pyx became more comfortable in her female body and starts to think of herself as a woman. And I loved watching her as she got used to all the things that are involved with being a woman - shopping, nice clothes, make up etc. It gave her a sense of vulnerability which I found really endearing. Although what I loved most about her is the fact that she is completely kick-ass. She loves nothing more than spending an evening ridding the world of vampires and she is just completely fearless.

The romance aspect between Cooper and Pyx was really sweet. They are both outcasts amongst their own kind and they are just looking for a place to belong. And it is obvious that they feel most comfortable with each other and that they want to find a place to belong together. There is a lot of chemistry between the two of them but I could also feel a much deeper connection between them which I loved.

I also felt as though there is a much better balance between all the elements in this novel - romance, action, suspense - and as a result it flowed a lot better than the first book in the series. I read the book in just one day and I literally could not put it down.

Summary - A great paranormal romance that questions everything we believe in the genre. With likeable characters, great world-building and a steamy romance this book is a must-read for all fans of paranormal romance.

Other books in this series:
1. Angel Slayer
2. Fallen
3. Ashes of Angels

This book counts towards the following challenges:
Book #4 for 2012 Speculative Romance Reading Challenge
Book #3 for 2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge
Book #8 for 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

It's Monday! What are you Reading? (13th February 2012)


This is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey that gives us all a chance to list the books that we read last week and what we hope to read this week.

Books Completed:
The Ninja Vampire's Girl by Michele Hauf (Of Angels and Demons #2.5)
Ashes of Angels by Michele Hauf (Of Angels and Demons #3)
Dark Hunger by Christine Feehan (Carpathian #14)

Books Reviewed:
The Darkest Fire by Gena Showalter (Lords of the Underworld #0.5)
Eternal Kiss by Laura Wright (Mark of the Vampire #2)
Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh (Guild Hunter #2)
A Quick Bite by Lynsay Sands (Argeneau Vampires #1)

Books I'm Currently Reading:
Dark Secret by Christine Feehan (Carpathian #15)
My Ruthless Prince by Gaelen Foley (Inferno Club #4)

Books Up Next:
Radiant Desire by Inara Scott (Handmaid's Seduction #1)
Demon Soul by Christine Ashworth (Caine Brothers #1)

Current Giveaways:
February is Paranormal Romance Month here at Once Upon A Series so there are going to be lots of reviews and giveaways going on this month. The ones that are currently open are:

1. Win the entire Lords of the Underworld Series by Gena Showalter (UK ONLY)
2. Win an ebook of your choice from the Demons of Infernum series by Rosalie Lario (INTERNATIONAL)

3. Win a signed copy of Changeling Dawn by Dani Harper and a "Dani Harper" tote bag (INTERNATIONAL)

So please come along and take part :)
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