Lilith Saintcrow - The devil's right hand

Dante Valentine, a necromancer and bounty hunter has inherited demonic powers, which she got from her demon lover Japhrimel. Now she’s living quietly with Japhrimel and she likes it. So when Japh tells her that Lucifer wants another meeting with her, she’s not thrilled. But nobody tells Lucifer, the Prince of Hell no, so she goes. Apparently Lucifer needs a new right hand and he wants Dante for the job. After some negotiations between Japh and Lucifer, Dante finds herself contracted for the next seven years of her life. Her job is to hunt four rogue demons, who’ve escaped hell and Lucifer wants them back before other demons decides to do the same thing and he looses control over them.

After the meeting Japh sent Dante home, telling her to stay inside and wait for him there. But Dante’s trust in Japh begins to fade when she’s attacked by demons and must fight for her life. The only thing for her to do is run and finds another companion in order to stay alive, while she tracks down those four escaped Greater Flight demons. Dante knows exactly who she wants as companion, Lucas “Deathless”Villalobos a man so fearless, that even the God of Death refuses to let Lucas eternal rest.

The devil’s right hand by Lilith Saintcrow is the third novel in her Dante Valentine series and I’ve to say I loved it. The moment you pick up the book and starts reading, you’ve been lured into a world where demons and other beings are normal.

In this novel you clearly can see Dante’s struggling with her trust in Japh, he refuses to tell Dante exactly what’s going on and she discovers he has full demon powers again, after their meeting with Lucifer. Can she trust him like she always had or will he double cross her to get his place back in hell?

I have to say Dante has many reasons to be paranoia and after what she’s been through I can relate to that. Okay sometimes I wanted to smack her and tell her to trust the man she loves, that he will do anything in his power to protect her. But if you read the previous novels you know Dante is different and quite stubborn and I like her just the way she is.

Well another addiction is born because I’m totally hooked on this series and cannot wait to read the next novel Saint City Sinners, where Dante and Japh gets help from Hellesvront agents Vann & McKinley, another necromancer Leander and Lucas Villalobos to continue their journey.

Jillian Hunter - Wicked as Sin

Sir Gabriel Boscastle won an estate in a card game, but has no intentions of spending any time there. He decides to go for a couple of weeks to explore the estate and then sell the property as soon as possible. But when he arrives at his new property he meets the lovely Lady Alethea Claridge, a woman he knows from his childhood and he cannot seem to pull himself away from her.

Everyone believes Lady Alethea Claridge is living on her brother’s estate to mourn her fiancé, who went to war and never came back. But that isn’t the case, her former fiancé forced him upon her the night before he left and took her innocent. Alethea knows she’s ruined for marriage and settle down at the countryside.

Now Alethea discovers who the new owner of her neighbouring manor is and she doubt he will do any better than the previous owner. But somewhere in her heart she hopes he does and will stay.

Wicked as sin by Jillian Hunter is the seventh book in the Boscastle series. This fabulous series is one of my favourite because it contains a huge dose of humour and devilish gorgeous men.

Sir Gabriel Boscastle is one of the cousins from the legendary Boscastle family. When Gabriel wins an estate in one of his card games, he has no intentions of keeping it. But when he meets the young woman Lady Alethea Claridge, he knows he met her before. For the rake he is, he wants her in his bed and is determined to succeed.
Lady Alethea Claridge’s former fiancé forced him upon her before he left for war and died. Now she is ruined for any marriage, so she decides to live at her brother’s side in the country. Not knowing her new neighbour will be the very same man she adored in her childhood.

I honestly must say I was a little disappointed when I finished the book. In the previous novels you get to know Gabriel as a true rake, who will do anything to get what he wants no matter what of who stands in his way, but I missed that in his own story. The moment he sees Alethea, he practically falls in love and doesn’t fight the feelings, like you expected he would. But I have to say I love the interactions between Gabriel and his cousins Devon, Drake and Heath…. you have to love those guys.

Although this novel is not one of the best in this series, I like reading it. I’ll hope the next novel in the series Wicked at the wedding will be better and about one of Gabriel’s long-lost older brothers, preferably Sebastian.

Deidre Knight - Red Fire

Two thousand and five hundred years ago three hundred Spartan warriors sacrificed their lives at Thermopylae. Seven warriors became immortal when they accepted a deal and drank from the River Styx, binding their immortality and their vow to Ares, the God of war.

After centuries of fighting, Alex Petrakos is tired of answering to a higher power. But unfortunately he’s being summoned by King Leonidas, the oracle of Delphi, their guide wants to speak to him and only Ajax is able to hear or see her. The oracle sends Ajax to Savannah, Georgia to find Shayanna Angel, who appears to be his long awaited soul mate. And it seems he arrives just in time when he finds her in battle with his worst enemy, Sable.

Shayanna Angel just lost her mother and is trying hard to understand the letter she found about her heritage. Her demon hunting brothers are keeping secrets from her, thinking they were protecting her, but fate have decided otherwise because she’s been able to see demons on her own. Now her own gift guides her to the cemetery where she faces evil demon Sable. A black-winged angel comes to her rescue and Shayanna has to decide quickly if he is on her side or not.

Red Fire by Deidre Knight is the first novel in her Gods of Midnight series and I loved it. I’m already a huge fan of her other series and couldn’t wait to read this new one and she didn’t disappoint me. She created a fabulous world with seven Spartan warriors and the only thing you can do is love them.

Ajax Petrakos is one of the seven immortal warriors who drank from the River Styx and fought for centuries to protect mankind. Now is tired of answering to the calls for the higher power. But this last journey takes him to his long awaited soul mate and he will do anything to protect her from his worst enemy Sable, even if this means giving up his own immortal life. Shayanna Angels just found out that she’s been able to see demons on her own and not only the males in her family. She wants to be in the family business and hunts demon with her two older brothers, but they refuse. So she goes out on her own and meets her black-winged soul mate.

The other five Spartan Warriors River, Kalias, Aristos, Nikos, Straton and their King Leonidas are great secondary characters. Especially River stole my heart, he is bound to Ajax Petrakos and can turn into any weapon Ajax needs. Even thought it’s not aloud for any other warrior to interfere in Ajax’s quest River finds an ally in Shayanna to protect Ajax.

I cannot wait till the next novel Red Kiss comes out to see what will happens to River.

Janet Chapman - Secrets of the highlander

More than thirty years ago the wizard Daar threw Greaylen MacKeage and a few other of his clan into the future to find their soul mates. Now Laird Greylen MacKeage has seven daughters and only two of them still unmarried.

Megan MacKeage has returned home to the mountains alone and pregnant. Wayne Ferris, the man she fell in love with and the father of her unborn baby dumped her when she told him about the child. The only thing Megan wants to do is find her own place to live and get a new job, but it is not simple when everyone around her is trying to set her up with the new sheriff Jack Stone.

Jack Stone is the new sheriff in town and has his own reason for accepting this job. Jack is none other that the man Megan knew as Wayne Ferris and he claims to follow her because he wants her back in his life. The reason why he sent her away in the first place was for her and the baby’s protection. And it seems that the danger has found her again.

Can Megan trust the man she still loves or will her own family secret destroy their relationship forever?

Secrets of the highlander by Janet Chapman is the sixth novel in her Pine Creek Highlander series and a good story. I’m a big fan of her highlander series, but I have to admit this book was not one of my favourites.

Jack Stone appears to be the man who dumped Megan when she told him she was carrying his child. He gave her no explanation and turns his back on her. Now a few months when Megan finally has her life in order, he is back in her life and wants her back. He claims that the only reason he sent her away was to protect her from the danger she was in, after all someone was murdered. Now the killer found her again and Jack is determined to save her and his unborn child.

I have to say Jack was not the alpha male I thought he would be, like all the male main-characters in the previous novels. In fact Jack is the opposites of the MacKeage or MacBain men; clumsy, shorter and more giving. The only thing he has in comment with the other men is the determination to keep his woman and child save.
I think Megan a lot stronger that Jack, although I believe she forgave Jack way too easily after the pain he cost her, when she told him about her pregnancy. Of course he only did that to protect her from the danger, but he could have found another way to do that.

The interactions between Megan and Kenzie were fabulous. I secretly hoped he would be her knight in shining armour. Kenzie has everything I looked for in an alpha highlander; big, strong, stubborn and a magical secret of his own.

Although this novel wasn’t quite what I expected, it is a very nice book to read and it will give you a big dose of pleasure.

Cindy Miles - Spirited Away

Andrea Monroe, a forensic archaeologist has dreamed about her mysterious medieval knight who saved her from a fall, while she was trespassing on grounds of Dreadmoor Keep in Northern England. Beside the colour of his eyes, his voice and his chain mail, she remembers the fact that she stumbled right through him. Was her medieval knight real or just a figment in her imagination? Now a skeleton and collection of medieval weapons have been discovers under an oak on Dreadmoor Keep and the Lord of Dreadmoor has specifically asks for Andi.

Tristan de Barre, Lord of Dreadmoor and his fourteen knights has been murdered and cursed by his foster father Erik de Sabre in 1292. They have lived in their ghostly state for hundreds of years, but they hope that the buried weapons, which belong to them, will give answers to break the curse. Tristan couldn’t believe his eyes the moment Dr. Andrea Monroe arrives at his estate, the very same woman he saved many years ago. Andrea is unaware that he is a seven hundred year old ghost and wants to keep it that way. But the more time Tristan spends in Andi’s company, the more he yearns to touch her.

When Andi finally learns the truth about whom and what he really is, she is determined to stay and break the curse. But what if she succeeds in breaking the curse, will she lose the man she began to love?

Spirited Away by Cindy Miles is a fantastic novel to read. It’s a novel full with great characters, romance and a fine doses humour. I found myself smiling a couple of times during this novel and it really makes me believe that love can overcome any obstacle in life.

Main characters Tristan and Andrea are both strong and determined individuals. There is a huge attraction and a lot of heat between Andi and Tristan, without even being able to touch each other, but you could feel the warm sparkles flying around.
Tristan de Barre has been murdered and cursed by a man he loved and trusted. Along with his fourteen knights he’s been in ghostly state for seven hundred years. But now there is a little hope, when they discover a skeleton and several weapons under a fallen oak and the only one to help them is forensic archaeologist Dr. Andrea Monroe. Andi cannot believe her eyes when the current Lord of Dreadmoor specifically asks for her to investigate and collect the skeleton and buried weapons they found. Years ago when she was trespassing on the ground of Dreadmoor, she stumbled and was saved by a medieval knight. Ever since that moment he’s been in her dreams and she wants to find out what happened to him.

There are some very great secondary characters in this novel and they all play a huge role. It seems that Dreadmoor Castle is full of ghosts, the fourteen knights who died with Tristan seven hundred years ago. And they all want to help Andi to succeed and break the curse, so they are finally free. But the ghost of Eric de Sabre is also there and will do anything to prevent the curse from breaking.

I cannot wait to read more books by Cindy Miles, she has a fabulous writing style and I love ghost stories.

Deidre Knight - Parallel fire

Parallel Fire by Deidre Knight is a short story about Anna Draekus and Nevin Daniels. You meet them both in the previous novels in the Midnight Warriors series and they are great together.

Lieutenant Nevin Daniels has feelings for Anna Draekus, but he’s unable to talk to her. Every time she’s near, he is unable to get any sensible word out of him, until one day he manages to flirt a little. But he cannot seduce her because he’s in his maturity, when men of his species get to a certain age, they get in their maturity, this means they are past their breeding age.

Anna Draekus is one of the elite bands of royal protectors, the Madjin Circle and has a secret cruse on Nevin Daniels for years. Every time she approaches him, he turns away and only talks to her about the job. But when the two of them are on a mission and their craft is disabled, the sparkle finally gets fire.

This short story falls right between Parallel Seduction and Parallel Desire. But if you haven’t read any of the previous books it would work as a stand-alone.

Deborah Cooke - Kiss of fury

Alexandra Madison is working on a secret project that could change the world, but her whole life turns upside down when her secret lab is destroyed and her partner and mentor is brutally killed just before her eyes. Alex is brought to the hospital for her burn wounds, but have a hard time to believe what she really saw. Were those really dragons killing her partner or is she going crazy? Just when the doctor is transferring her to a mental ward, Alex is rescued by a gorgeous stranger Donovan Shea and taken to a safe house. But will she be safe in his protection? Are dragons real or is she losing her mind and need to put away?

Donovan Shea, one of the good dragons The Pyr is instructed by his leader Erik to protect Alexandra Madison from their enemies The Slayers. It seems the Slayers are responsible for destroying Alex’s lab and killing her partner and now they’re after her hidden research notes. Donovan is shocked when he discovers Alex ignites his firestorm and knows she is his destined mate. Donovan never wanted a mate and fights the firestorm, but he should have know fate cannot be beaten. And when he truly begins to know Alex better, he realizes he cannot deny this special bond they share … even the prophecy tells them they are destined to be the Warrior and the Wizard.

Alex has to work hard to replace everything she needs to get her project working again and with the help of the Pyr dragons, especially Donovan and Quinn, she is able to reconstruct the prototype of her invention. But the Slayers are closing in and will do anything to stop them, even if this means playing dirty.

Kiss of fury by Deborah Cooke is the second novel in this fabulous Dragonfire series and it’s another amazing novel. I was lured into a terrific world full of dragon magic, gorgeous males and strong woman and again I was blown away by this series.

Main characters Donovan and Alexandra are both strong and stubborn, but so right for each other. Alexandra is determined to reconstruct the prototype of her invention, which was destroyed by the Slayers and nothing is going to stop her. She cannot believe her eyes when she saw her partner being killed by dragons…is she going crazy? But the moment she meets handsome Donovan Shea, a member of the Pyr, she knows her life will change forever.
Donovan Shea is instructed by his leader to protect Alexandra Madison, not knowing she is his destined mate. He never wanted a mate, so he’s not giving in that easily. But during the process of rebuilding the prototype, he cannot ignore his firestorm and feelings he has for Alex.

The Pyr are a group of dragons, which protect all Earth’s treasures, including human mankind. Those six warriors Donovan, Niall, Rafferty, Sloane, Quinn and their leader Erik, will do anything to protect the destined mates of their kind, in this case Alexandra and Sara, who is Quinn’s wife.

In the first novel Kiss of fire we learn the characters and the difference between The Pyr and Slayers. In this second novel we learn more about the prophecies and what the Slayers uses to fight The Pyr. Well let me say I’m hooked, the first two novels in this series are fabulous and I cannot wait till the third Kiss of fate is coming out.

Samantha James - The secret passion of Simon Blackwell

Lady Annabel McBride is caught kissing Simon Blackwell, a man she barely knows. The only thing she knows is the attraction between her and this rude and arrogant man. But now her reputation is on the line and Anne’s older brother demands from Simon to do the honourable thing and secures a proposal from Simon. Right after the wedding they leave to Simon’s home on the Moor of Yorkshire. Now Annabel finds herself married to a man she hardly knows and doesn’t want anything to do with her.

Simon Blackwell didn’t intent to marry. He has been married before and the tragic death of his wife and two sons in a fire several years ago still hunts him. Now he finds himself married to a beautiful young woman, he certainly desire but cannot love. And to keep his heart save, he ignores his wife the moment they arrive home.

But Anne has plans of her own, having two older brothers; she knows how to react to this kind of behaviour. She accepts the challenge that Simon presents to her and will win.

The secret passion of Simon Blackwell by Samantha James is the first novel in the McBride Trilogy and I really enjoy reading it. This novel is easy to read and it is full of emotions, determination and eventually true love.

The main characters Simon and Annabel are right for each other, even when they started on the wrong foot. Simon Blackwell lost his first wife and two sons in a fire several years ago and the accident still hunts him. So in order to keep his heart save, he never intent to marry again. Until he and Annabel are caught in a passionate kiss in the garden and Annabel’s older brother demands Simon to do the right thing. So they marry and are moving to Simon’s home, but the moment they arrive he made is quite clear this marriage will be in name only. Annabel is furious and hurt, but determined to let this marriage succeed and take the challenge. The first thing to do is claiming her personal space in the house and then win the heart of the man she’s beginning to love. Will she be able to break through his shield and fight for his love?

I haven’t read any of Samantha James books, so this was the first novel, but I can truly say I like her style. The novel is easy to read and quite relaxing, just what I needed after some heavy paranormal novels. I will definitely pick up the next novel in this series soon, because I’m curious to see what will happen to one of Annabel’s brothers in The seduction of an unknown lady.

Jillian Hunter - The devilish pleasures of a duke

Emma Boscastle, the decent member of the Boscastle family teaches young girls how to act in society and beside that she tries to control her family with their outlandish behaviour. At the wedding from one of her students she finds one of her suitors in a compromising position with one of the maid, so she lectures him. This gentleman doesn’t take it very well and she gets help from rogue Adrian Ruxley. But the whole situation gets out of hand and Adrian ends up brained by a footman armed with a chair.

With a head injury Adrian Ruxley ends up in one of the bed at Heath Boscastle’s house, thinking it’s not so bad after all. Now several women nurse him and especially Emma got his attention. Then the rumours begin and now Emma’s school is on the line, when a rival has opened another school and is insinuating that Emma may not be as upstanding as everyone believes. But Emma is beginning to care less about what everyone thinks of her and cannot ignore the passion between Adrian and her.

The devilish pleasures of a duke by Jillian Hunter is the sixth book in the Boscastle series. This series is one of my favourites; it contains everything I seek in a novel, sexual tension, emotions and the huge humour.

Emma Boscastle is the formal one of the family and she’s always trying to control her brothers and sister with their scandalous behaviour. But when she meets Adrian Ruxley, one of her brother’s rogue friends her whole world turns up side down. In the beginning she tries to ignore the feeling in her stomach every time he is near, but the more time they spend together the more Emma wants to let her shield fall en give in.
Adrian Ruxley, a future duke just got home after spending some time overseas. He’s invited by his friends Dominic Breckland and Heath Boscastle to join a wedding. The moment Adrian lays eyes on Emma Boscastle, he knows she is the right one for him. The only thing he needs to do is to convince her, but it will be hard because Emma doesn’t want to get involve with rogues.

Although this novel is not the best one in this series, it brought several smiles on my face reading it. Just to read about five big brothers trying to protect their younger sister against a rogue, who is one of their friends is just funny. And their wives are helping Emma to seduce Adrian right under their noses. You have to love the Boscastle men.

The next novel Wicked as Sin will be about cousin Gabriel Boscastle and I’m curious to see what Miss Jillian Hunter has in store for him.