Scent of Darkness by Christina Dodd

This book is a mystery to me. Why? Because I spent the whole time I was reading it rolling my eyes, yet I read through the whole thing and am on to book 2!!

At the beginning of the story, when the heroine, Ann, decides she's gonna let her boss of 4 years, Jasha, know how she really feels, she gets to his house, finds him not home, lets herself in (she's his assistant and has a key), unpacks her suitcase (she was not invited, he has no idea she's coming) and takes a shower!!! Don't people go to jail for that kind of behavior?

Later, after she sees him shapeshift (he's a wolf) and he chases her after running away, comes the first sex scene (which, BTW, was kind of hot). Then, after, it's almost as if he's trying to convince himself she'll be a good mate, he really doesn't sound absolutely sure.

Then more eye rolling when they're on the run from bad guys, he's got stuff stashed all around the forest - clothes, sleeping bags, towels and soap, bottles of wine (he does own a winery, but still).

And she's supposed to be some uber-efficient personal assistant, but she's got no backbone. AND, every 10 pages she's thinking something mysterious about some birthmark on her back and saying to herself "I always bring the bad ones." I started scanning the pages looking for that phrase.

Basically, Ann goes to Jasha's house with the intent to seduce him and start a relationship. She sees him shift out of werewolf form and runs. He catches her, and hot, muddy, feral sex is on! Then, they spend a bit of time running from the bad guys (see ridiculous supply list above) and then he brings her to meet his family. His mother has uttered some sort of trance-induced prediction, and Ann thinks Jasha just likes her because some of Ann's actions fulfill parts of the prediction. Ann doesn't want to "settle" and turns down his offer of marriage. The rest of the book is his "plan" to win her affections, except he doesn't go into what his plan is, and I didn't really see one in action. The only reason there's a HEA is because of what happens during the "big scene" at the end. Speaking of the end, it's abrubt. Like, action, action, revelation, the end. I think it's a HEA.

There's no continuity in the characters actions and reactions throughout the book. There's a few unanswered questions, but I assume the other books are about his brothers (and maybe a nephew?). I realize I had almost nothing good to say about this book, which is why I have no idea why I'm looking forward to book 2, Touch of Darkness, but I am. I totally want to know what happens next!

The One In Which I Get On My Knees And Beg...

Here's the deal - I (heart) Richelle Mead. I've loved her Succubus series, and now I'm totally on the Vampire Academy wagon. I'm so jealous of other bloggers who've been to her signings (so, so jealous!). Well, she put up a poll on her blog of where she should go for a signing - she'll go to the top 3 cities - AND NEW ORLEANS IS ONE OF THE CHOICES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm begging you - if the city you live in is not on the list - please go to her site (link conviently located below) and vote for New Orleans. If you don't give two shits who Richelle Mead is - please click the link and vote for New Orleans. If you value all that is wholesome like springtime and puppies and walks in the park - please click the link and vote for New Orleans!!! We never get any authors here - they all go to Houston or Atlanta. Think of it as doing your part to help in the recovery of our economy after Hurricane Katrina (Oh, yes, I just went there!!!).

All I'm saying (begging) is: CLICK IT!!! (and vote for New Orleans) And, I read on her blog she just got engaged - what city is more romantic than New Orleans, really?

Poll: Where would you like Richelle Mead to visit?

(Of course, I would never advocate voting from your home and work computers. Nope, not me.)

Bad Moon Rising by Sherilyn Kenyon

Full disclosure, I loved Fang before this book ever came out. He seemed like the fun younger brother who was always good for a laugh, but you knew if it ever came down to it, he'd have your back. This book proved me right.

This book did go back and cover a lot of history, but I think it kind of had to since it had been so long and so many books came out between his brother Vane's book and this one. Vane and Fang are wolf were-hunters, and had been betrayed by their father, their sister had died, and had barely escaped from an attack. They ended up at Sanctuary, a were-bear owned bar that offered sanctuary to all, no matter what kind of were-hunter. Fang was unconscious and no one could help. Apparently, he was stuck in a kind of "in-between" somewhere between life and death, and was trying desperately to survive and escape. The only person he was able to communicate with besides his brother, who thought he was dreaming, was Aimee -the only daughter in the were-bear clan.

Aimee's parents are trying to find her a bear mate and she's not happy about it, but she knows she must pick a bear mate to carry on her mother's line. It's important for political reasons as well. The problem is that she finds herself attracted to Fury. And they are so different in so many ways she knows it will never work; that it's not even possible. Also, she's got powers beyone a normal were-bear but she knows she must keep them secret or risk death.

Fang is attracted to Aimee in a powerful way, and he doesn't understand why. While he is in the in-between he makes a barter for Aimee's safety, but doesn't want her to know. Now that he's back, he must work for Thorn, kind of like the demon police. He botches his first job and ends up with demon powers; powers that threaten to take over his soul. As if that wasn't enough, he's got all kinds of family issues going on.

Aimee's got secrets, Fang's got secrets, they're trying to find a way to be togther, and someone is setting up Fang for multiple murders.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked visiting the other characters again and Fang and Aimee's efforts to be together despite all the obstacles was touching. They way they each tried to protect the other was sweet. Thumbs up for the drama, suspense, action and romance.

Woo-Hoo!!

I'm strolling down the aisle at my local grocery store this evening, picking up milk and toilet paper, and what do I see as I head toward the checkout? Yes - Covet!!! I thought it was going to be hardback, so I almost missed it. Of course I snatched it up and did a happy dance in the aisle. Hooray!!!

I am soooo tempted to stop what I'm reading now and start Covet but I'm going to be strong and resist.....maybe.

Passion Unleashed by Larissa Ione

Wow. I read the Demonica Series this week. Who knew demons were so altruistic and yummy? The series is about three brothers, Eichelon, Shade, and Wraith, Seminus (Incubus) demons who run a hospital for demons.

Recap: Book 1, Pleasure Unbound, is about Eichelon and his mate Tayla (hate that name, BTW). Book 2, Desire Unchained, centers around Shade and his mate Runa. Both good books with hot, hot scenes.

Book 3, Passion Unleashed, is Wraith and Serena's story. Wraith has been poisoned by an assassin, and the poison has no antidote; Wraith does not have long to live. They learn about a "charmed one", Serena, who is charmed to live forever, and can only give up her charm through sex. No biggie, good thing Wraith's an Incubus, right? He ends up develping feelings for Serena, and can't go through with her seduction. Instead he wants to protect her from the demons who are trying to get the charm and kill her. The problem is that while he is spending time with Serena, the underworld is falling into chaos and the hospital is literally falling apart. Then Eichelon makes a discovery that has Wraith rethinking his decision not to seduce Serena.

This book was great! I love Wraith and Serena's story. Their feelings for each other were so strong, I was almost in tears near the end - I didn't see how there could possibly be a HEA. I also liked Gem and Kynan's side story, and the introduction of a new character will make for an interesting storyline later.

I had wondered what all the hubub was surrounding this series - now I know. Can't wait for Ecstasy Unveiled!

When Strangers Marry by Lisa Kleypas

Lysette Kersaint is bethrothed to Etienne Sagesse. He is an awful, crude man whom she does not want to marry. Her stepfather has bethrothed her to Etienne for a substantial sum of money. When she tells her stepfather she does not want to marry Etienne, he beats her severely.

She runs away, but is caught stealing a pirogue in the river by twins, Justin and Philippe Vallerand. They bring her home to their father, Max, a very powerful man in the New Orleans territory. He also happens to be the enemy of Etienne Sagesse, who had an affair with Max's wife. Max's wife was murdered, and her murderer was never found. It has been whispered (loudly) that Max himself murdered her in a jealous rage. Max quickly sees Lysette's arriving on his doorstep as the perfect way to get revenge. He plans to keep her long enough to "ruin" her so that Sagesse will not want to marry her, necessating a duel, at which point he will kill Sagesse.

Lysette's stepfather and Sagesse find out where she is staying and demand her return. She begs Max not to send her back. He claims she is sick and unable to leave his home. She gives Max a letter to mail to her cousin, asking for help, but Max does not send the letter. While she is waiting for a response from her cousin, she starts to fall in love with Max. Max is attracted to Lysette but is so bitter from the betrayal of his first wife that he fights his attraction.

Lysette gets sick and he nurses her back to health. Her family comes again to get her and she refuses to go and she is ruined now due to her continued association with Max. He duels Etienne over Lysette and wins but forfeits killing him. Then he comes home and tells Lysette he wants to marry her. They are wed shortly after, but memories of his first wife continue to haunt the household.

Meanwhile, there are all kinds of political maneuverings going on between the Governor and Successionists, and Max is courted by both sides. He disappears for hours at night, and Lysette doesn't know if it's to see his mistress, or conducting illegal business.

When Etienne is murdered, Max has no alibi and people think he did it. Lysette must prove Max didn't murder Etienne, and when they find out who the real murder is it's a down-to-the wire effort to save Max!

This story had two of my favorite things: a New Orleans setting (although we didn't see much of it) and a marriage of convenience. It had murder, politics, romance and a sweet storyline between Max and his children. I enjoyed watching Lysette grow confident in herself and the relationship that bloomed between her and Max was good.

Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead

First let me say, I love Ms. Mead's Succubus series. Total keepers, waiting on Book 5 coming out next year (cliffhanger much?). As a general rule, if I find a series I like, and that author has written other series, I don't read them. I don't know why, I guess I'm afraid I'm not going to like them as much? BUT, in this case, I've heard so many good things about Vampire Academy I decided to break my unwritten rule and read the first book. As soon as I was done I rushed out to the store to get the next three books (and added Dimitri to my list of fictional boyfriends)! I will say, as a parent, I should probably be disapproving of the romantic storyline in these books, but I can't help myself - they're sooo good!!!

In Ms. Mead's world, vampires are either Moroi - the good guys, born from two Moroi parents, or Strogoi - the bad guys, turned either by draining and killing a human or by other Strogoi. The Moroi do drink blood, but just a bit at a time. They are also considered Royalty in the vampire world, and the dhampirs are their bodyguards.




In Vampire Academy, we meet Rose, a dhampir (half vampire, half human), and Lissa (Moroi vampire) her best friend. Rose is going to be Lissa's bodyguard when they graduate; they share a special bond: Rose can feel Lissa's emotions and occasionally "jump" into her head and see and experience what's going on with Lissa. Rose broke Lissa out of school when Lissa was worried someone was after her. They've been on the run for 2 years, but have been found and brought back to school. Rose thinks things are going to be better, and they both jump back into the school routine and try to catch up what they missed while they were gone. Rose must take extra guardian classes with Dimitri, the guardian who found and returned them to school (and my newest fictional boyfriend!). Problem is, she thinks he's hot. There's a bunch of angsty teenage drama, which I actually enjoyed, and someone is targeting Lissa by leaving dead animals in her room or her bag. Rose tries to figure out what's going on, and eventually she figures it out but it's too late, Lissa is gone and she must use their connection to find her and save her.





In Frostbite, Rose and Lissa are still at school. There's been some upheaval out in the "real" world, and Strogoi have figured out how to break wards and attack Moroi. For safety reasons, they've decided that the students and their families will spend Christmas break together in a swanky ski lodge. Rose is trying to sort through her feelings about her mother, Dimitri- who has a love interest, and her friend Mason - who wants to be more than friends. When Rose gets confidential information about a group of Strogoi holed up in a nearby city, she tells her friends and her friends decide to go kick butt. Rose knows she shouldn't have said anything and decides to bring them back. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine what happened next; things will never be the same.





Shadow Kiss, the third book in the series, continues on the aftermath of Frostbite. Lissa's kidnapper from the first book is going to trial, which is stressful enough, but Rose is seeing also seeing the ghost of a student. Rose is maturing in this book, and her relationships with her friends are changing. Her relationship with Dimitri is changing too. She's learning how to be a better Guardian and finding out what some of the sacrifices are that she's going to have to make. The end ripped my heart out, and left me desperate to start Blood Promise.





Ms. Mead's latest, Blood Promise, picks up a little bit after where Shadow Kiss left off. Rose is in Russia, looking for Dimitri. She finds his family, and those scenes were some of the sweetest parts of the book. She meets up with a some interesting people there and realizes she must leave to continue her search for Dimitri. What happens when she eventually finds him was gut wrenching. In one sense, I was hoping she'd found happiness, and in another I knew it couldn't be. While she was away she was still "peeking" in on Lissa, and communicating with Adrian in her dreams, so the readers know what's going on back in the USA - and let me tell you, it's a lot. She has to confront her worst fear, and the journey to get there is full of twists and turns. This last installment leaves me with a bit of hope for Rose's future happiness. I can't help it but I still like Dimitri, and I'm starting to like Adrian as a love-interest. I can't wait to see how Ms. Mead plays this out!