Romance Books

I bought this book because I love the "Immortals after Dark" series by K. Cole and the very first story she did in the series is in this anthology. I was not disappointed. Myst a Valkyrie (Granddaughter of Norse Gods)is known for her stunning beauty and her Vampire killing ability. Her fellow Valkyrie sisters basically use her as bait to attract bad guys they want to kill. She meets her match when the vampire hoarde castle she is imprisoned in is taken over by the Forebearer good guy vampires. They do not drink blood from people unless it is their bride unlike the bad guy vampires who drink and kill from everyone.

The warrior vampire, General Worth, who is in charge sees her in the prison and is ordered to get information on the various types of immortals from her. Even if he has to torture her to get it. It turns out she is his one and only predestined vampire bride. The one woman who gets his heart beating again and gets other parts of his anatomy working again too. She is very attracted to him but he makes the mistake of underappreciating her brains and powers. She escapes him. He finds her. Eventually they have a happy ending when she decides he is the one man she will always run to inorder to be held in his arms. She gets the General and the Valkyrie sisters nickname her "Mysty the Vampire Layer."

I also read the story by Jaid Black in the anthology. It is part of her series about the Vikings that live under ground in the Alaskan wilderness. They live there because of an old prophecy telling them that the world is going to be almost destroyed and if they want to survive with women they have to lived under ground for several centuries. They kidnap women sometimes for brides and this is the story on one of them. Hot sex and a happy ending.

I did not read the Kenyon story so I cannot review it. I believe the book is worth the price.

I bought this book for the story of Kresley Cole's "The Warlord wants Forever". This is from her "Immortals after dark series" and tells the story of Nikolai Wroth and Myst the Coveted. As with all of the books in this series I absolutely loved this story. I highly recommend reading all of the Immortals after Dark books.

I did not like Sherrilyn Kenyon's "Turn up the Heat. It was boring and predictable. Jaid Black's "Hunter's Oath" was very good, I never heard of Jaid Black, so I am willing to try other of her novels. Kresley Cole's debut paranormal read "The Warlord Wants Forever" was fantastic!! I have read all of the Immortal series, but it was good to read the one that started it all. Too bad it was not full length.

I purchased this book for the last story in it, but the other two stories were captivating as well.
I would recommend this book.

Playing Easy to Get
2006
Sherrilyn Kenyon, Jaid Black, Kresley Cole

This anthology of three erotic romance tales brings together some of the most well-known names in romance -- Sherrilyn Kenyon, author of paranormal "Dark Hunter" series­ (among others); Jaid Black, founder of popular "Ellora's Cave Publishing"; and Kresley Cole, who made her debut into the supernatural with the first installment of "Immortals After Dark".

Turn Up the Heat
Sherrilyn Kenyon

"Playing Easy to Get" opens with a fun, if slightly convoluted, entry into Sherrilyn Kenyon's wickedly-acronymed "BAD" (Bureau of American Defense) series.

Novellas are always tricky for me to review -- and Kenyon does manage to pack a lot into less than a hundred pages (especially in regard to her hero), but the characters' evolution on the whole and the evolution of their relationship is so fast that I had trouble swallowing it. I'm all for reading about realistic, no-strings-attached physical intimacy -- and I think it makes for more believable dimensions in fiction -- but there was very little bridge from sex to "true love".

Vince Cappelletti is ex-mafia-turned-good-guy who gets signed up to work undercover as security on what amounts to be Fantasy Island. Allison George is lucky Georgia girl who wins a trip to said Fantasy Island. Needless to say, things go to hell in a handbasket quickly when Vince's past catches up to him, and Allison ends up caught in the crossfire. The two end up on the run, and romance grows.

Not too bad, overall, and entertaining to take up an hour or so -- Kenyon's usual romp of violence and hotness.

6.5/10

Hunter's Oath
Jaid Black

I'm usually not a fan of Nordic settings, but Black offers enough twists on the usual tales to keep her offering fresh.

Sofia Rowley, after losing her brother and with him the last member of her family, is taken captive by neo-Viking warriors and auctioned off at the block. As she soon learns, she is no slave, but rather the bride of a warrior whose nearly-instant love for her starts to warm even her own frozen heart.

As mentioned already, this novella has a neat concept, and in a longer length and with a bit more fleshing out, it wouldn't be too bad. It has a little too much of a male-centric feel, though certainly not misogynistic, and the development between characters happens far, far too easily. Take a read if you're already buying the anthology.

5.5/10

The Warlord Wants Forever
Kresley Cole

The longest, last, and by-and-far best tale in the book is penned by then-newcomer to the paranormal scene, Kresley Cole. "Immortals After Dark" was not yet one of the best-selling series on the market, but this is without a doubt still worthy of the same accolades.Cole introduces -- and does a remarkable job of -- creating an entire paranormal realm in under two-hundred pages, while fleshing out a believable, hot romance.

Varying factions within the "Lore" -- the supernatural side of our world -- are battling for power, even amongst their own species. Nikolai Wroth, soldier in a "good guys" vampire army bent on destroying the killers of their kind, stumbles across a conundrum of a female who just might be his predestined mate.

Unfortunately for him, Myst, a Valkyrie and immortal warrior, has other plans for the vampires she finds, and it takes all of Wroth's resources and strength to even keep her around long enough to seduce.

I loved this story, and while all of Cole's following books are good, this little tale which introduces it all is one of the best nuggets in the series. Whether or not you liked the full-length novels, this is an exercise in "how, properly, to write romance" -- not to mention "how, properly, to write erotica". The tale's hot as hell (with all puns intended), with hints at D/s and fiery power-play -- this is not to be missed.

8.8/10

Just finished this book. Lovely romance. Enjoyed reading the book and am looking forward to other books she has written.

THIS IS A GREAT ENDING TO THIS SERIES. IF YOU WANT TO LEARN ABOUT THE AMISH LIFESTYLE AND HOW GREAT THE PEOPLE ARE PLEASE READ THIS SERIES.

Great purchase, came extremely fast. Would buy from seller again. Wonderful condition and transaction.

It was too far between books to see how it all ended, but the book was great. I really enjoyed it.

I love all of Wanda Brunstetter's books. The books make you feel as if you are a part of them. Hard to put down.

This was an enjoyable read for me but I thought it could have been great with a little more polish. I felt as though there were some parts that were disjointed and other parts not fully explained - e.g. why bring up the countess if there's no storyline associated with her? - seemed pointless - or the connection of Robert to whichever criminal - or the ending. The ending was just not tied in well to the happenings of the story. I don't want to give away a spoiler to explain but I just didn't understand all of the motives of all those involved in the crime and tying them into the storyline and how it had progressed - the murder just seemed thrown in there too. It was just a bit jumbled for me. The h/h were likable and the romance good, but I just can't put my finger on it exactly except to say it needed more polish. Maybe less focus on descriptive details and more on explanations...just simply tell the story, clearly and concisely.
Mayber a better editor would have hepled with the polish. Note to editor - p. 2! - "...he had just became aware."

Another good book - sit back and enjoy from first page to the last, it kept my interest, well written and, well, other reviewers gave the story line, I will only repeat it was worth the purchase, worth the read

This read deserved much more than 5 stars. Rory Jameson is about as sexy a hero in a historical romance novel as I've ever read and Winter Ashburn is extremely likeable. From the moment of their very first encounter on the first few pages of the book, I was completely wrapped up in this story. I enjoyed the dialogue and the wit between these two. I enjoyed the conflicts they each faced throughout the story and within themselves. But most of all, I loved the way he loved her. I think I fell a little bit in love with him myself. He is dark, he is dangerous, he is incredibly sexy and he is passionate about Winter. I also enjoy the way Melody Thomas writes a story. She weaves it so well that you can't help but feel as if you're there too. She does not bore with descriptive details but what little she does offer, and the way she does it, makes everything come alive. I have yet to read one of her books that I didn't love but this is my favorite. A very well written story. Don't start it unless you have lots of time.

In 1877, now thirty-two, which is old age in his profession compounded by his enjoyment of all types of vices, Rory Jameson has spent years bringing thieves to justice. However, outside of London he stops his work temporarily at the request of his sister to visit his estranged dying grandfather to make a final peace. On the trek to his family home someone attacks and wounds Rory. Former toast of the Ton Winter Ashburn takes the wounded aristocrat to a cottage so he can heal.

Winter remembers Rory as the rake who thought she was a fallen woman. Still she is attracted to her patient and him to her. As they fall in love, Winter worries her actions could cost her mother and brother plenty as the family patriarch her odious Uncle wants the half gypsy dead.

This is an engaging Victorian romantic suspense, which readers will enjoy from the first stolen kiss until the final kiss with a bit of a mystery and a lot of romance in between. The story line is character driven with a strong lead couple and a deep support cast. Fans will enjoy PASSION AND PLEASURE IN LONDON (and outside too) as neither Winter or Rory are ready for love yet both welcome it even as they hide it from their beloved.

Harriet Klausner

This is one in the triple series. I really enjoyed the entire series, great reading, very entertaining.

Three times a winner, Elizabeth Amber's well crafted and synergistic trilogy held me mesmerized and salivating from beginning to end. Bravo, Elizabeth!

In 1823 Lyon is the last Satyr sibling standing since his brothers married (see NICHOLAS and RAINE) two of the daughters of the Faery King. He would prefer to remain single, but like his brothers know he has no choice but to obey his monarch and wed his offspring.

Thus Lyon leaves his beloved Tuscany wine fields to head to Paris to marry Juliette Rabelais, the city's most infamous courtesan renowned for her cuisine and carnality skills that when combined is heaven. As the full moon is coming, he needs to return home, but he is unsure who seduced whom.

The third Lords of Satyr romantic historical urban fantasy with a bit of a mystery is much darker in tone than the previous two tales, but contains the same fast-paced excitement with strong characterizations. The story line is fast-paced from the moment the relocating Lyon travels to Paris to meet his new wife, a fallen woman with a murder charge hanging over her in his beloved Tuscany from three years ago. Fans of the mini series will know what that means to the couple. Elizabeth Amber provides a strong finish to a powerful saga.

Harriet Klausner

The storyline in Lyon is more satisfylingly complex than the one in Raine, but the sex was equally steamy (though different) in both and the writing quality was excellent in both. Lyon is mostly about the developing relationship (&sex) between Juliet and Lyon, but be aware that it includes a scene of M/M/F (Juliet and 2 identical paranormal versions of Lyon--sounds weird but it makes sense in the story).

Loved this book and was sorry when it was over.

The three Satyr brothers, Nicholas, Raine and Lyon, are heirs to a successful winery in Tuscany. They are also are half-human, half-Satyrs, born from the ElseWorld and living in the EarthWorld. They were sent to find three half-faerie daughters of a dying king.

The two older brothers have found their loves, and now it¢s time for Lyon to depart to Paris and find the third, and last, sister. But when he arrives he finds not one, but two trails of faerie scent, one leading to the river, and one leading to a woman named Juliette Rabelais, a courtesan.

At first, Lyon is confused about the two scents, but the one from Juliette is the strongest, so he sets out to get close to her, and fulfill his duty.

Known for her culinary skills, Juliette is not your typical courtesan. Fiercely guarded by her protector, M. Valmont, she hates her life, and longs for it to change. When she meets Lyon she is very attracted, but knows it could never work. When she cooks for Lyon on a Moonful night she discovers a man unlike any she has ever seen. But the night is nearly Lyon¢s undoing. Afterward he must battle to discover what has happened, and fix it before it¢s too late.

I have absolutely loved the Lords of Satyr books, and when they were first introduced, Lyon is the brother that attracted my attention. That¢s why I eagerly awaited the arrival of this book. But it¢s also why this review is hard to write.

I loved Lyon, just like I thought I would. He is strong and dominant, which makes me shiver. Juliette is a well-drawn character, not wanting to stay in her life, but knowing she has no choice. Together they are explosive, and perfect.

The problem for me was one scene with two male shimmerskins, which raised a major ick factor for me and made me shiver, and not in a good way. That scene almost cut it for me, but the strong finish of the book, and the creative way Ms. Amber wove in the fourth faerie scent, and set up another book made me shiver in a good way.

All in all, Lyon is a great addition to the series. I will probably read the book again, but will skip over that one scene, the only thing that kept this book from receiving a Recommended Read nod. The book did leave me waiting for the fourth book. The Lords of Satyr books are creative and well written, a trip into fantasyland that plumps up your senses. If you haven¢t checked them out yet, start from the beginning. Then sit back and enjoy the ride. You¢ll be glad you did.

Amelia
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

This book was fabulous. The sexual tension is outrageous. Karen Marie Moning makes you want to dive into the book and onto the male lead, Cian. This book was a great purchase. Buy it, it's worth the read. Spell of the Highlander (The Highlander Series, Book 7)

This is the 7th novel Moning has written about highlanders and the 4th in a series about the McKeltar family. I love her women. They are all smart, inquisitive and funny. Her men are all built like Greek gods, but then this is a romance novel! I loved the whole series and read it in nothing flat. Can't wait for the next installment. I'm sure at some point her Highlander books will connect with her Fever series, which would prove very intersting.

This is the latest Karen Moning book that features the MacKeltars. All I can say is...READ THIS BOOK! It is a great mixture of magic, highlands, passion & humor. The characters are well developed and get you itching to read the rest of the MacKeltar books (#1 "Kiss of the Highlander" - (Drustans story),#2 "Dark Highlander" (drustans twin), #3 "Immortal Highlander" (Adam Black - side character interacting w/ MacKeltars), #4 "Spell of the Highlander" (part of MacKeltar clan), #5 "Highlander's Touch" (seperate story linked w/ Adam Black), #6 "Into the Dreaming" - a novella that features the fairy queen mentioned in the other books. NOTE: This is my suggestion for the order to read them in. There is not real official order in which to read them. All I know is once you finish this book, you will be itching to read the rest. ENJOY!!!

I just found Karen Moning'g Highlander series. This was the second book I have read. It was so good. I read it in one sitting.

I loved other books by this author, especially the books about Grimm & Hawk, but this one, featuring Cian [KEY-on] & Jessi, was pretty boring. It had its moments but quite frankly, until Daegus got involved at the end there, in a surprisingly witty and compassionate role, this book was doomed. I guess using the mirror was a necessary plot idea to the overall theme of Moning's tales, but I wasn't thrilled about this approach.

Enjoyable short stories that heat the blood. I liked every one, and will re-read them.

I thought this book was awesome! Not for the faint of heart, these stories are HOT HOT HOT!

NAUGHTY GIRL by Carrie Alexander

For Estrella Ianesque, the daily bus ride to work has been improved ever since road construction began along the route. There's one working, covered daily in dust, sweat, and pure male that's driving Estrella's hormones through the roof. When her boss, Eve, has to go out of town for a week, she leaves her spiffy little red Miata convertible in Estrella's care-and not a moment too soon. She plans on using that car to get some up close and personal views of her jack-hammer using construction man, and showing off her assets in the process.

When Jesse "Drum" Drummond offers to help out the damsel in distress with the stalled Miata, it doesn't take long to realize a few loosened wires caused Estrella's car to stall. Calling her on her ruse, he's surprised that she admits it-then boldly waits for him to make a move. But Jesse doesn't take her up on her offer, not there at the construction site, but later in the evening he finds that he can't stay away from the sexy and seductive Estrella.

Soon passions are soaring and inhibitions are lowered for this straight-laced woman who just once wants to do something naughty, and the man who had been determined to stay on the straight and narrow.



WANTED: ONE HOT-BLOODED MAN by Pamela Britton

A little over a year ago, Breanna Miller was raped by her fiance. All ready betrayed by the man who supposedly loved her, Bree suffered further indignities by the police, who believed the rapists claim that the sex was consensual. Now afraid of sexual intimacy, Bree does the only thing she can think of-she'll travel back to her hometown and the one man she ever totally trusted, former high-school flame Trent Walker. She'd broken his heart when she'd left for college and never returned, but Bree is sure that he's the one man who can fix her sexual problems.

For Trent , seeing Bree again is a slap. At once excited by the possibility that her blatant proposition holds and still hurt over the way she left him all those years ago, Trent isn't sure what to do. The thought of sleeping with Bree still excites him-until he finds out why she's come home, and how he fits into her picture. Trent 's willing to help her overcome her sexual problems, but he's not at all sure that a few nights in Bree's bed is ever going to be enough.

As sparks fly, trust is renewed, and healing begins, this is a short story you're not soon to forget.



HAVE MERCY by Susan Donovan

Winifred Mackland is sure she's on her way to her own personal doom. A screenwriter who is half-way done with her latest masterpiece, which just so happens to be a piece of crap, Win has no idea how to get the juices flowing on this last installment of her trilogy. Her agent, Artie Jacobs, has promised the producers that Win will have the screenplay finished in four short weeks, and to insure that she does, he sends her off to his cabin in the Berkshires to reacquaint herself with the things that seem to be missing in her work-heat, passion, and sex. Unbeknownst to Win, there's another person up in the Berkshires that Artie is hoping will be the inspiration she needs.

Vincent "Mac" MacBeth has come to the Berkshires to clear out his father's cabin and get it ready to put on the market now that the older Mac is living in an assisted living home. With his overseas adventures and risk of being shot yet again in the course of his work, the younger Mac has no need for a permanent residence. But when Win Mackland comes moseying by looking for inspiration for her character's latest storyline-sex, sex, sex, and violence-Mac finds himself undeniably attracted to the passionate screenwriter.

This is a funny story that had me laughing out loud at how Win used Mac as her personal muse, and the steamy sex scenes didn't bother me either!


RENO 'S CHANCE by Lora Leigh

Raven McIntire has spent years fantasizing over Reno Chavez, her brother's best friend. She's wanted him for what seems like forever, but even though she's sure she could have him, she hasn't allowed herself to take the chance on loving him. Reno is a Navy SEAL, and his dangerous job prohibits Raven from acting on her desire. Unable to risk her heart on a man who could die in the line of duty, she comforts herself with her daydreams and thoughts of what-if.

Reno has always considered Raven to be his woman. At first, she was too young for him, being only seventeen when he first met her. But Raven is a grown woman now, and he knows that she desires him. He's determined to prove to her that the passion they could create together is worth anything, and that risk of losing someone you love isn't enough of a reason to deny yourself love.

A short, sassy, and extremely sexy story, this is a trip into learning to love despite the risks involved.

The first Tempting SEALs is the novella "Reno's Chance", and is really quite a wonderful story of a beautifully drawn alpha-alpha U.S. Navy SEAL, Reno, who is attempting to claim his woman, Raven, a woman he's known all her life, but a wary woman who observed her parents' unhappy marriage. Dad was a SEAL (like Reno) and Mom hated it, leading to destructive arguments each time he went out on a mission, missions that grew longer and more frequent as time went by. One day he didn't return -- alive, anyway, and her Mom spiralled into a deep depression. Raven was terrified of losing Reno to death, and her reaction to that terror was to push Reno away; she needed to protect herself. However, Reno had never lost a campaign yet...

Note to those who have read "Dangerous Games" but not yet read "Reno's Chance": Like all Lora Leigh stories, this one is very sexy, and Reno is most definitely an alpha male and is quite dominating in the bedroom. However, Reno, unlike Clint in "Dangerous Games", is not a Dominant, so if BSDM is not your cup of tea, you can safely read this story.

The second Tempting SEALs is Dangerous Games (Tempting SEALs, Book 2); the third is a novella in Real Men Do It Better (Tempting SEALs, Book 3); and the fourth is Hidden Agendas (Tempting SEALs, Book 4).

Roxanne Pierce

I bought this book for Lora Leigh (a fave erotic romance author) and Susan Donovan (a fave contemporary romance author) and neither of then let me down. I enjoyed both of their stories. I had never read anything from Carrie Alexander but I enjoyed her story as well. I must say that I was a bit surprised at Ms Britton's story and found myself not enjoying it at all.

First up is Ms Alexander's story of Estrella and Jesse. Estrella has been lusting after a guy working on a road crew in the neighborhood where she works. She's a maid for a wealthy female executive and when her boss goes out of town on business, she borrows her car, her clothes and her apartment in order to lure the hot road crew guy into her bed. Jesse sees through her "car trouble" ploy immediately but decides to see where this whole farce will go. If she's a rich lady looking to play, why not play along? Well, what he finds is a woman full of contradictions and obviously, as he discovers, not what she seemed. I liked this story. Sure, the plot is contrived but what I really liked were Estrella and Jesse. It's rare to find blue collar leads in romances and here we have a Latina and an ex-con who are both trying hard to build better lives for themselves after past mistakes. I found it refreshing, enjoyable and, of course, steamy!

To be honest, I more skimmed than read Ms Britton's story of a woman who had been raped by her fiance who is looking to get her sexual footing back. She returns to her home town and to the guy whose heart she broke in high school. He's the only guy she trusts to help her recover her sexual self. Of course he is all too willing to comply. Yuck. I thought she was incredibly selfish and he put up with way too much. And I feel I must warn readers of her other books who may not expect it, she does push the envelope with a rather torrid girl-on-girl scene. Not for me.

Susan Donovan is one of my fave authors of contemporary romance and this is another of her fun, amusing and sexy stories. Win is a screenwriter who has hit a slump but still has a deadline to meet. Her agent sends her off to his cabin in the woods to get her inspiration back. Fully knowing that some of the appliances may not be in working order and that her neighbor Mac, a capable and hunky Navy SEAL on leave, is nearby to fix anything that goes wrong. Anything. Will he agree to be her muse? Sexy fun!

In Lora Leigh's story Raven has had it bad for Reno for years. They both know it just as she knows he's been crazy about her as well. He never acted on his feelings because she was too young at the time. He joined the Navy, traveled the world, waiting for her to mature. Now he's back, home on leave, and the waiting is over. He and Raven will finally act on the mutual attraction that sizzles between them. But when feelings intensify can Raven get over her fears about his being a SEAL? She saw what it did to her parent's marriage, can she deal any better than her mother? Intense, hot and emotional. Classic Lora Leigh.

I started reading this series about three weeks ago, and though I have interspersed the books with other reading, I keep coming back to these. Since I started, every other book I read has been Anita Blake. Should I be worried that I'm growing a little obsessive with these? Have I spent too much of my time reading this series, when I could be reading something else? Should I change this system of alternating other novels with Anita Blake books?

Nah.

One nice thing, actually, about reading this series so quickly, and without many other novels coming in between these, is that I've been able to pay close attention to the ways that the characters have grown and changed. My wife brought it to my attention, as the largest complaint against this series is the way Anita changes somewhere in the next few books; many of Hamilton's fans found the change unwelcome, and they have spent the last few years going off the deep end, becoming a sort of internet Inquisition, always on the lookout for both the faithful few and the heretics who disagree with their assessment of the series' fall from grace; anyone who continues to like the series after the change, as my wife does, are in for torture, excommunication, and burning at the stake. Considering how much I like this series so far, and how often I agree with my wife's assessment of books -- and how much I, as a writer and observer of human behavior, enjoy watching good writers deal with genuine characters -- I can pretty safely assume I'll like the coming change. I expect my own crucifixion will be coming soon -- maybe on this review. At any rate, knowledge of the controversy has made me more aware of the steady changes happening in Anita, and I love that those changes are there for me to observe.

The big changes in this book: she agrees to marry Richard, sort of -- which was a huge mistake; she said yes in the heat of the moment, when he's looking all hot and sexy, and that's always a bad time, though she rightly points out that he shouldn't have asked her then -- and then takes it back shortly afterward when she has second thoughts. I liked that because it was very real and very human; I also like that I feel a little conflicted over Anita's largest personality clash with Richard. That clash is over her absolute refusal to bend to his will, while simultaneously demanding that he bend to hers. I understand it: she has fought very hard for control of her life, and she still fights, against forces that are constantly arrayed against her: the police bureaucracy and general attitude (not shared by the RPIT cops, thankfully) that a woman and a civilian should be doubly separated from police matters; the overwhelming presence of Jean-Claude and his desire for her both as lover and servant, and her own traitorous desire for him; Bert and the demands of her job, both those that genuinely come with the territory and also those Bert unreasonably puts on her against her will. All of these things, along with the several other monsters who keep trying to control her and force her to do their bidding, have made her hypersensitive to giving in to anyone in anything; look at what happened when she allowed Jean-Claude even a moment of control over her. This means she has an incredibly difficult time in compromising with Richard, in allowing him into her life, since that means allowing him to have power over her -- and what's worse, accepting that control willingly, not begrudgingly as she does in every other instance that someone controls her. I understand that desire for independence, though I . . . can't remember where I've encountered it before.

Even though I understand her desire for independence, I can't help but think, Jesus, Anita, you don't have to bristle and argue about EVERYTHING. What the heck kind of relationship is that? Plus, she's just too dead set against the idea of monsters -- though I love that she has the honesty to admit that, even though she hates it about herself, she is indeed prejudiced. That neither Richard nor Jean-Claude are human enough for her, and it's unfair of her to think so, but she still does. It is unfair, of course; she's a little too inhuman for a normal man to put up with. I could probably handle marrying an animator, but not an animator who hung out with so many truly dangerous monsters. At least, it would be hard to handle, and so Anita has no room to criticize Richard, who at least doesn't want to be a monster and is honest about his feelings with her.

The other interesting moment with Anita was when she realized that she didn't go for her cross when Gretchen attacked her, but went straight for her gun, instead. She says she won't skip church any more, but I doubt that: her faith did not protect her in the last book, when, what was her name, Yasmeen, grabbed her; instead she ended up with another cross-shaped brand. What worked was the gun, so naturally that's what Anita would go for. Her real core belief is about survival, anyway; if she was a Christian first she wouldn't be so willing to do anything to survive. But she is willing, and so her Christianity is falling away, bit by bit -- and don't think her attraction to Richard and Jean-Claude, combined with her unwillingness to sacrifice her independence through marriage, can lead anywhere but sin. She'll get there, eventually. And I says, more power to her: the sexual revolution has come and gone, and it's a brave new world.

Otherwise: I liked Konrad and I'm ticked about how his part in the story ended up; I absolutely loathe Marcus, Raina, and Gabriel -- especially the masochist, there; that's just freaky. I liked the witch subplot, and wish more could have been done with it. I'm not sure how long Hamilton can go on whacking every single serious bad guy in these books; that's a real high turnover rate for villains. But since this book includes mentions of things like trolls and dragons, I suppose we have the near-infinite variety of all of the fantasy world to draw enemies from. All I know is, I'm going to keep reading these. A lot.

I can barely go two days between books, thank you Laurell Hamilton you have a brilliant mind.

The book was wonderfully inexpensive but there is a strange yellow dot on the cover. Im not sure if they all look like that or if mine is specially flawed. Just throwin that out there

this is one of my favorites from the series. Mostly because it deals with werewolves as the main characters this time. There's been a werewolf in the first three books, but they didn't transform into one until the third book. I think from this book you can see how far Laurell has grown as an author.

The only thing dumb about this book i would say is the cover!!! Just bogus and dumb. I'm a guy and I've gotten a lot of funny looks when i leave this thing lying around. (i've since learned to put a book on top of it or turn it over. The artwork is so irrelevant and dumb) My only beef but that's the company's fault. I don't think Laurell has a say over artwork.

Loved it!! I just can't get enough of this series. It has everything...violence, mystery, sex, love. I'm constantly finding myself holding my breath. These books are my latest addiction.

I loved the Friday Night Knitting Club and couldn't put it down. In contrast, I found Jacobs' second book to be difficult to pick up. The characters are bland and not very believable, and the plot moves like molasses. It just feels like the publisher rushed this one to print, and I was so disappointed. As evidenced by her first book, I do think Kate Jacobs is a talented storyteller, and I hope she'll return to form in the next one!

I was very excited for Comfort Food as I LOVED Friday Night Knitting Club and I was completely disappointed with this book. The book just seemed very slow and boring, there was a focus on food but the food didn't bring the characters together like the knitting store did in her previous book. I think that she tried to use that same common thread again and it just didn't work.

I read this Author's previous book, The Friday Night Knitting Club, and I was not as enamored with this one, but I still had an enjoyable time reading the book. My problem was that it read as if the author is just waiting for a film option (I can see it now, Diane Lane as "Gus"!), This book is definitely very plot driven, so I felt that I didn't get to know the characters as deeply as I would have liked to. Still, I always love a good book about a foodie!

This is the first Kate Jacobs' book I've read and I rather enjoyed it. It took me a couple of chapters to get into the story but once I did, I was satisfied and it wasn't as predictable as some have said. There were more than a couple of lines that were laugh-out-loud funny. It's light reading, but I would recommend it.

I can't ask for much more. Friendships, relationships between mothers and daughters, a bit of romance and drama, plus cooking? Gus, a fifty-year-old mother of two, has her own show, which is done in her house. She has had this show 12 years. However, she isn't like other chefs and the ratings are drizzling out. So Alan, the boss, adds a little spice, Carmen. Carmen likes to cook but likes herself and fame more.

We also have a whole other cast, that make up for a very interesting book that you will want to gobble in one setting. Find out if Carmen and Gus can co-exist together on a show. Find out if the show will end or if they will have a second season. Find out who finds love but most of all you will be thrilled and entertained throughout the whole book.