Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland

Favorite lines: “The instant the tip entered his body he erupted outward, covering me with a fine layer of ash, the rest  floating in the gray-tinged darkness like dust motes in the sun, then cascading downward to coat the floor.” (ARC p. 31)

Elizabeth Phoenix, former cop, current bartender, is about to meet the nightmares that plague society. She is psychic and after her foster mother is murdered becomes a major player in the paranormal world and the leader in a supernatural war.

Liz must learn to fight the paranormal and come to terms with both her past lover, Jimmy Sanducci, and her past teacher, Sawyer. The things she discovers will test her inner strength while forcing her to accept the fact that she is special and a key figure in the battle. To come into her full power she must open herself with the aid of Sawyer. It brings her sexuality to the surface, but it is the only way good will prevail over evil.

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Quicksand by Iris Johansen

Favorite Line: “”Did you have an affair with him?” Eve felt a ripple of shock. She wanted to back away, change the subject, but she wasn’t going to lie to Jane. “No, it wasn’t like that.” “It might have been better if it had been. He disturbs the hell out of you.”” (ARC p. 36)

Iris Johansen does not disappoint with her newest installment in the Eve Duncan series, Quicksand.

Eve’s daughter disappeared years ago, and while Eve has since created her own haphazard family she has never given up the hope of finding her daughter’s remains. Seeking closure, she finds herself flirting with danger in the form of child serial killer, Kistle.

Kistle won’t let Eve off easily. He was content in his under the radar life that was ruined when Eve’s lover, Joe Quinn, set up surveillance on him. He entices her to play a game with him; a game that might lead to Eve’s daughter, Bonnie.

With help from Joe, her friends, Montalvo and Miguel, and Listener, Megan, Eve sets out to do the improbable, bring her daughter home.

Hard to Handle by Lori Foster

Favorite Lines: “Staring at the ceiling, Harley put his right arm behind his head and, by male instinct alone, reached his left hand over to palpate a lush derriere. (p. 2)

Harley Handleman, an extreme fighter, is on vacation at a small cabin in the mountains a few hours away from Harmony, Ky., but as a lady’s man he is always on the prowl. After a night out, he is surprised to find his landlady chopping wood on his return home; his testosterone kicks into full gear and he insists on finishing the job for her.

Anastasia Bradley, has given Harley the anonymity he needs for the past couple of years. In their small town his propensity towards loving and leaving the ladies is well known, and Stasia plans on looking, but not playing with Harley.

Her attitude changes after her brakes are cut and she is almost killed.

Harley has no intention of ever giving a woman more than one night of pleasure. Anastasia is different. He doesn’t know why, but he wants to protect her and bury himself inside of her. When her life is threatened he is forced into close proximity with her and hormones rage.

Servant: The Acceptance by L.L. Foster

Favorite Lines: “The defenses screaming silently throughout her body and that he was the wrong person, in the wrong place—and there could be nothing right about his presence here tonight. Pickled with immorality, riddled with holes of depravity, his black aura clung to him like a wet cloak.” (p. 2)

Gabrielle Cody is a paladin, a soldier of God, sent to destroy evil in the world. She lives with the dregs of society, and is saddled with the burden of saving lives, while stomping out evil. After her mentor and friend were killed, she disappeared and created a new existence as a guardian for prostitutes.

When a prostitute winds up dead, Gaby kicks into gear, determined that no other women under her protection be tortured and killed. At the same time a man from Gaby’s past finds her and begins pressing her for any information she might have on the dead prostitute, while kissing her senseless.

Servant: The Acceptance is an interesting story, but it lost me when it kept throwing words I didn’t know at me. I read a lot, but when every page I turn has a word I’ve never heard of on it there’s a problem. Words like: consociation, sui generous, aphotic, aggrandized, recondite, dehiscent, perspicacious…, made me feel stupid and took away from the story. I began to wonder if it were a tactic to make me think the book was smarter than it was.

The book was interesting, but simple. There was violence, blunt talk and a strong heroine: all a plus in my book. The bad guy, was obvious, the conclusion too fast. The secondary characters played a very small role in the book and other than one young prostitute, were uninteresting.

I had high hopes for this series, but I’m finding that the Servant series is not enrapturing like I thought it would be.

Will I read the next book in the series? Probably. Will I run out to buy it? No.

Read other reviews of Servant: The Acceptance at Romance Junkies and Queue My Review.

Noah by Jacquelyn Frank

Favorite Line: “Need clutched at him, ferocious and violent in its anticipation.” (p. 141)

Kestra neither trusts nor needs any man until she meets Noah the Demon King. Despite her better judgment she allows herself to lean on Noah, not knowing that he has a biological need of her. She is his other half. She is the woman that makes him whole.

Noah has watched those around him find their mates with envy. He didn’t even realize how badly he needed the connection with the woman of his soul until he met Kestra. She makes him mad with lust and possessive like a mother bear with her cub.

With vampires hunting demons, Noah’s testosterone skyrockets placing his relationship with Kestra in danger, because Kestra cannot stand being someone’s possession.

Alienating friends, possibly losing his mate and danger become the norm for Noah in his story as told by Jacquelyn Frank. He is a hot demon. (Pun intended; he has control over fire.) But even though he has moments of insanity, his compassion and understanding always have a way of coming to light.

For me this book is a turn for the better. I loved Jacob. It was a great story featuring wonderful world building. Some people felt that it went on too long and I disagree. Noah is another story though.

I would have been happier if it were about 100 pages shorter. I started off loving it, but that emotion began to fade as the story went on and on. I began turning the pages slower and my mind began to wander. Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad I read all 470 pages. But I’m even happier that the story I’ve been waiting for is over.

I doubt I’ll re-read Noah, but Jacob…I’m sure I’ll make time for him all over again.

Ms. Frank’s first book in the Shadowdweller series comes out in 2009.

Let me know what you thought about Bella after reading this book.

Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward

Favorite Lines: “Upstairs in her bloodred bedroom, Cormia couldn’t shake the conviction that by going outside, she had triggered a chain of event, the culmination of which she couldn’t begin to guess at.” (p. 70)

Cormia is the first Chosen to be placed with Phury, the Primale. Her job as first mate is to birth the newest generation, while Phury’s job is to father the race, first with Cormia, and later with other Chosen women.

Cormia has come a long way from the woman who was once strapped down to an alter, head covered, as she cried. She’s been living outside of sanctuary, and is getting used color, technology and Phury. She’s discovering that he is kind and considerate, but knows nothing about his terrible addictions.

Phury has lived in torment for years. He rescued his twin from life in bondage. Then he lost his leg. He has consoled himself with drugs, while empting his rage on Lesser’s by slicing them up. But that won’t calm the beast inside of him. Only with the help of Cormia can he find the balance in his violent world.

Lover Enshrined is not only the story of Cormia and Phury, but of all the Brotherhood characters. I don’t really get the appeal of reforming a drug addict, but I do see the attraction in Phury. He is damaged. He needs saving and like most women, the idea redeeming someone is seductive. It is what leads most women to pick the wrong man, but because the story is fictional, our deepest, darkest desires can come true.

My favorite plot line in the story was that of John. I love watching him grow as a character, but to be honest I kind of felt creepy reading about his sexual growth. It was like watching a neighbor kid grow up and then seeing that kid as an adult having sex. (Eww!!) Despite that, I really enjoyed the interaction between all the characters.

Phury really pissed me off towards the end, and when you read it I bet you feel the same way.

Check out other reviews of Lover Enshrined at Love Vampires, Dear Author, and Enchanting Reviews.

Storm Born by Richelle Mead

Favorite Lines: “An elemental made of mud, of all things. Its body was very solid, very human, and very male.” (p. 163)

After expelling and killing many spirits and fey who have crossed into the human world, Eugenie Markham, aka Odile Dark Swan, is about to learn more than she ever wanted to about the Others. She seems to be getting attacked all the time, always by male creatures wanting to have sex with her, and Eugenie needs to find out why.

To make matters more complicated, Eugenie has been hired to find a teenager kidnapped by a fey Lord. (And everyone knows that the fey only want to have sex with their human partners.) Her journey into the fairy world leads her to question her past for answers that will determine her future. A love triangle will present itself, but who should she choose? Can she have both?

Storm Born is the first Richelle Mead book I’ve read and I’m not disappointed. She’s written an engaging story with an interesting heroine. Eugenie was fun and powerful, but realistic as is shown by a major dumb moment. She spent a ton of time talking about what she wouldn’t do in fairy land, but in the end she disregarded her mantra.

Eugenie has a lot of decisions to make, and while they’re not what I would have done, they provide an excellent portrayal of human nature in an urban world. Storm Born is an urban fantasy, but it is filled with romance, enough to satisfy an avid romance junkie like myself. A couple of the characters reminded me of other authors, but I prefer this book over those.

While I won’t be rereading this book soon, I know I’ll read it again before the next book in the series comes out.

Read other reviews at Unbound!, Tempting Persephone, and Words from the Inside Out.

Dark Curse by Christine Feehan

Favorite Lines: “To Lara, the frog symbolized everything the Carpathian women sought. Transformation, rebirth, the bond of mother and child and Mother Earth to her daughters.” (p. 254)

Lara Calladine, daughter of Razvan, formerly the food of her father and great-grandfather, escaped the family ice cave dwelling as a child. Now an adult, she has found the ice cave where she was captive and plans to ascertain if her great-aunts are still alive. The two dragons (aunts) fought for her release, allowing her to escape, but were captured before they could follow her. It isn’t long after finding the cave before Lara realizes it has been warded and one of her companions is bitten by a poisonous, parasitic bearing mage snake.

Nicolas De La Cruz was on the verge of walking into the sun. He had not felt emotions in a long time until he laid eyes and mouth upon Lara in the village after she returned to find help for her companion. Nicolas knew that she had saved him from turning into a vampire and felt an instant attraction to her.

Centuries of male chauvinism don’t disappear because you fall in love though, and Nicolas will learn the hard way that his mate cannot live his way. She will not be shackled down or be left behind as he sees fit. What she will do is stick around, but only if he learns that she will not be prisoner to his old style mentality.

Once and a while a book comes out and reminds you why you began reading a series. For me Dark Curse is one of those books. I felt like I needed to revisit all the previous books and it seems like forever since the last book in the series was released; in actuality is was only a little over a year ago (Aug. 2007). Usually as a series goes on, I find myself losing interest. That has not happened and I thank Ms. Feehan for that.

I’ve read Dark series reviews that mainly focus on the sex part of Feehan‘s books, but I read the series for the love story, not the sex. Dark Curse answers a lot of questions about the dark mage, Xavier, and the Carpathian women’s problems bearing children, and those children living into adulthood. Even with all this information, the book doesn’t slack on showing Nicolas and Lara’s relationship.

Their bond is biological, but the story shows them making it personal. They delve into their pasts and show their dark corners, saving each other and making it possible for them to have a healthy emotional future. I absolutely love Lara for not falling into the deep despair many of the other heroines in the Dark series fall. I know that it’s necessary to show the biological effect, but for me, the emotional aspect works much better at this point in the series. (It is book 17!)

Well, I could go on and spoil it for you, but I’ll let you read the book first.