Tempted By The Night by Elizabeth Boyle

I have favorites in every genre of Romance Novels. Paranormal, Western, Suspense, Regency, Present Day, and all the other lovely facets. And when I first started reading romance novels, I was firmly and warmly inducted into the Regency Romances by Julia Quinn with An Offer From a Gentleman. Her books made me fall in love with all the Dukes, Marquis, Earls (yes I realize they are out of Hierarchical order, get over it) and even the gentlemen Misters in the world.
Since that first love I have been searching for authors that capture that almost fairytale magic of the era. Despite being quite discouraged along the way by some truly horrendous romances (for we all know how badly this romance novel type can go wrong), I have also been able to discover a couple of BRILLIANT writers, who take me back to the feeling of reading that first Regency Romance and wishing that England's most eligible bachelor will choose the wallflower over the belle of the ball (because WE know that she is soooo much better for him then that snooty priss). Elizabeth Boyle captures this feeling perfectly without being cliche. Ever since Love Letters to a Duke, I went and bought all previous installments (ask my sister=-)) and haven't regretted a moment of it.

Tempted by the Night is almost the second in an unofficial series that Elizabeth Boyle is writing. the first book, His Mistress By Morning, was a delightful introduction into this split from her Danvers stories. In Tempted By the Night, Lady Hermione Marlowe (sister to the hero from His Mistress) finds the ring that caused so much havoc and happiness in His Mistress, and as we know, the first thing you wish for when you wear this ring will come true. Poor lady Hermione is in love with Lord Rockhurst, who is known for his dissolute ways. She firmly believes that he is a great man, despite his bad reputation, but unfortunately she can't get near him without getting so nervous she becomes nauseous. So she unknowingly wishes that she could follow him around every night until she learns all his secrets and he hers.

Now, you are asking, "how is a man supposed to fall in love with an invisible woman? He doesn't even know she's there". Well, Elizabeth Boyle does it. Not only does he fall in love with her, he makes love to her many times while she's invisible and before he knows who she is. I was so impressed.

I don't want to ruin too much, but this book takes a serious step beyond typical English balls and soiree romances. If the random wishing ring didn't clue you in, or even the random Fairies running around, then maybe the Demons in this book (that literally climb out of hell) will give you a clue that Elizabeth Boyle is doing something wonderful and different in this book!

In summary, if you haven't read this author yet, please do. You won't be disappointed. Especially in Tempted by the Night. The characters are well rounded and well written. The plot is thoughtfully thought out ( I couldn't resist the redundancy). And best of all, surprises everywhere in this book. So happy times all around.

Elizabeth Boyle's WebSite!!
Buy Tempted By The Night

Death Angel by Linda Howard

I'm just going to cut to the chase here. I am a big fan of Linda Howard. She is one of the best authors I have read who writes in the genre of romantic suspense. But this book, Death Angel, was a severe disappointment. It wasn't worth the $8.00 for a paperback, but to make matters worse it was only released in hardback so I ended up paying over $20.00. THIS IS MY NOT HAPPY FACE

>:-<

In a brief synopsis, Andi, Drea, or Andrea (yes she goes by all 3 names at seperate times in this book) is essentially a golddigger, who has attached herself to a mob boss. One night her boyfriend decides to let an assassin have sex with her for 4 hours as his fee for killing someone. After 4 hours of sex, Drea decides she is freaking in love with him. He then walks away from her so she steals over 2 million dollars from her pimp of a boyfriend. So he hires the assassin, Simon, to kill her. He then drives her off the road where she has over a chapter of a completely unecessary after death experience. She comes back to life to supposedly be a better person, but really doesn't change at all other than giving away the money. Andi (now) is still self serving but in a more magnanimous way. When she tries to go to the FBI to take down her exboyfriend, Simon kills them. No honorable fight, no words spoken, just shoots him in the middle of the street. The book ends with them driving toward Mexico.

I didn't like this book. The characters were unlikable and written in a way that no one would act. The flow of the story was disjointed with too much time being spent on certain areas and too little on others. I wouldn't recommend this book to new readers OR veterens. anyway the computer labs are closing, but in summary, don't buy this book.

For better or worse Linda Howard doesn't seem to have a website. If you find it please let me know so that I can rectify this situation. um, so instead here's Joel McHale talking about a picture of a cat.

Prepare to giggle--> GO!!


If you really want to Buy the Book Go Here

The Darkest Pleasure by Gene Showalter

I have the weirdest habit of starting a new series with the third book. Not by any personal purposeful design on my part though. Historically if just seems to happen. J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood - Book #3 (Lover Awakened) was my introduction. Sherrilyn kenyon's Dark Hunters - Book#3 (Night Embrace). Christine Feehan's Drake Sisters Oceans of Fire...guess what? Ding ding ding 10 points for you!! Book number 3. I fell in love with Lora Leigh's Breeds because of Tanner's Scheme which just so happens to be the third book in the series. It's freaking uncanny.
So when I chose The Darkest Pleasure by Gena Showalter, little did I know that Barnes and Noble had cast its magic number voodoo. I got home and discovered the number three had hunted me down again. I don't mind though because every time I choose a book 3 the series inevitably turns out amazing and addictive. And the Lords of the Underworld was no exception.

In this series we are introduced to a group of immortal warriors (the emotionally tortured type you usually find in paranormal romance) who were pissed that the gods let Pandora guard the Box when they obviously kicked ass better. So, of course piqued beyond endurance they opened it and subsequently became shackled to the Demons that had been bound. So each guy is trapped with a vice/curse/demon thingy such as Wrath, Vengeance, Pain, Deceit, Despair, Misery etc. And the warriors each begin to embody the demon that possesses them taking on certain traits or face dire consequences. It sounds kinda hokey but trust me it works.

In this book, we meet Reyes who is trapped with Pain who makes him need to inflict a world of hurt on himself or others. So like a true Romance novel hero he hurts himself rather than others. But this gorgeous hunk isn't your average tortured hero. He actually gets off by getting hurt. It's how he appeases his demon. So lots of angry sex for this guy was my expectation.

On a side note I am freaking thrilled with this trend in paranormal Romance to show different sides of sensuality.Gena Showalter takes this tortured passion to a place I haven't read before. I don't mind, I LOVE surprises. Now back to the important bits.

On the other hand our heroine, Danika, is on the run from...well...everyone it seems. Including Reyes. Because, as it turns out, if I read book 1 instead of book 3 I would have know that he had kidnapped her so someone could kill her in previous books so its all his fault the world is after her. Stupid men making things difficult.

Following these two strong characters through their very own romantic journey was a fun experience. Especially given the fact that the usually expected and inevitable betrayal by the guy (that usually happens around page 200) actually happened before the book even started so it was nice to get it out of the way early and focus on other plot lines.

I felt that Danika as a character was one of the best female characters that I have had the privilege to read. In the beginning she became close to being your typical strong "I'm going to stand beside you not behind you" lady who won't be left behind. But she rather dramatically veered away from that path rather quickly with her panicked induced killing of a man in the first couple of chapters ( don't worry he turned out to be a bad guy so it's OK), her willingness to stab her boyfriend during sex, and her inner turmoil at actively betraying her boyfriend to the enemy to save her family.

Gena Showalter truly surprised me with this book. It was intelligently written and and paced. Her characters are vivid and unique in a world of cliche heroes and antiheroes and waaaaay too many vampire novels (Sacrilege...I know...are the rotting tomatoes really necessary?). The best endorsement I can give is that within 15 minutes of finishing this book I ordered the first 2 on Amazon.com. I'm waiting with bated breath and much checking of my mailbox.


I Think this is Gena Showalter's Wesite
Go look anyway...you know you want to.
You Really don't have a choice. Buy the Book Now!!