Desperate Duchesses by Eloisa James

I just finished the last 2 books in the series. I think I have read all of her books now.

The Duchess books:

• 1. Desperate Duchesses
• 2. An Affair Before Christmas
• 3. Duchess by Night
• 4. When the Duke Returns
• 5. This Duchess of Mine
• 6. A Duke of Her Own

I enjoyed all of them. My favorite was the last, A Duke of Her Own. I just loved it!

I'm sure these can be read as stand alone books, but they will be much richer if read in order.

Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris

I just finished the 9th book, Dead and Gone. Wow. I love this series and can hardly wait to read the next one, which is not nearly ready to be published, darn it! I think my favorite of the whole series was All Together Dead, which I also read this week. But I loved them all! Charlaine Harris is a wonderful writer and I plan to read her other series, as well. I have also started watching the True Blood show. I gather some folks complained about the ending of Dead and Gone....well ya just have to read the next book! My complaint is that it will no doubt be issued in hard cover...so I'll likely have to get it from the library, as I don't buy hard covers. Unless I can get in early on the wish list at PBS.

*sigh* I don't want it to be over....I want to read the next one now....

Darkyn Series by Lynn Viehl

I finally finished the series, read the last 2 books yesterday and today. I loved the first four books of the series. I mean I LOVED them. The fifth, Evermore, I didn't like that much. So I put off reading the last 2 until now. They were GREAT. All the different threads were pulled together and questions answered....with just a hint leading into the next series. Can't wait for it!!! I'll be looking for that one the day it comes out.

The books have to be read in order. The titles are:

1. If Angels Burn

2. Private Demon

3. Dark Need

4. Night Lost

5. Evermore

6. Twilight Fall

7. Stay the Night

Dragon Knights by Bianca D'arc

I have just completed all currently available books in the Dragon Knights series by Bianca D'arc.

Reading order:

1. Ladies of the Lair (book 1 & 2)
3. The Ice Dragon
4. Prince of Spies
5. I Dream of Dragons (short story)
6. Firedrake

I liked the series, but found it a bit lacking. Especially the last book: too long, too predictable, and too repetitive. Still I enjoyed the stories and will keep reading the series as it comes out. The shorter stories were actually better. Of course the sex in all of them was scorching!

Several books

I just finished up Rogue by Rachel Vincent. Excellent book, but still not a big fan of the main character, Faythe. When is she going to grow up? I wanted to smack the shit out of her, I couldn't believe the way she treated Marc!!! What a bitch. Looking forward to reading the next in the series.

Also read Throwback by Annie Windsor. It is a contemporary erotica book, much longer than most erotica, and IMO too long. I ended up skimming some of the sex near the end. It was a good story, despite that.

Read the next Fiona Brand Silhouette Intimate Moments book, with a horrifying cover, and a nonsensical title, Heart of Midnight. Despite all that, great book!!! Looking forward to reading all of them.

Also read the anthology First Blood. I didn't care for the Chris Marie Green story but liked the other three. Not that I wasn't confused, because I haven't read any of the series that the stories are part of. But at least I am done with it.

Sweet Persuasion by Maya Banks

Sweet Persuasion, the 2nd in a series, was even better than the first. This book was so good, I could not put it down. Well written (only caught a couple of minor editorial errors), fast paced, believable. I can hardly wait for the next 3 in the series, I know I will love them. These belong on my keeper shelf! I have loved all the Maya Banks books which I've read, so far. This is quality erotica, unlike so many out there.

Sweet Surrender by Maya Banks

Last night I finished Sweet Surrender by Maya Banks. Contemporary erotic suspense. I loved it! I just love Maya Banks' books. I have the next one, Sweet Persuasion, ready to read, wish the rest were published, can't wait to read them all!!!

Finally am getting hold of 2 smoking hot books by Sarah McCarty, Conception and Promises Prevail. The list price is ridiculously high. But Ellora's Cave put them on sale so I went ahead and ordered them for $9.99 each. Just wish they had the other promises book I need on sale. Maybe some day!

edited to add ordered the other Promises book from B&N with my gift card. Now I'll have the whole set.

Alien Communion by Xandra Gregory

I just finished Alien Communion by Xandra Gregory. This is a wonderful book! Set in the future, with aliens...it is erotica but the sex is very integral to the story and the plot, not just a vehicle to fill the pages. I can't say all the things I like about this book, because I don't want to give it away! You just have to read it! Please Ms. Gregory write more! I want more!!!

edited to add: Wow. Still thinking of this book. One of the best I have read all year. I may have to install a copy on my keeper shelf.

edited to add: had to buy a copy. Ordered from B&N with my gift card.

Ravenous: the Dark Forgotten by Sharon Ashwood

Just finished this book. I loved it! Lots of good action in this book. I can't wait to read the next one.

Book Description:

Holly Carver is a small-time witch who busts ghosts for tuition money, but she ends up wrangling a demon when a haunted house job goes bad. Her undead business associate, Alessandro Caravelli, suspects the demon is somebody's not-so-secret weapon. The supernatural community is at war, and Holly's unpredictable magic holds the key to the doorway to the demon realms. Soon Holly is on everyone's must-have list, and not in a good way. Alessandro wants Holly for more than magic. A lover with six centuries of experience, the vampire is walking seduction, but he's also a predator. Every moment he spends guarding Holly, every second he spends falling under her witch's spell, he becomes more and more of a threat himself. As Holly's grandma says, vampires are like a box of chocolates: They seem tempting, but overindulgence can be a killer...

Wolf Tales VII by Kate Douglas

I have been following this series from the beginning, in order, including the short stories in the Sexy Beast books. I feel it very important to read this series that way. This book Wolf Tales VII, is the best of the series so far, I think. It was very well done. Kate Douglas is one of the best paranormal erotica writers I have read. I am very much looking forward to reading more installments in this series!!!

A Hint of Wicked by Jennifer Haymore

Last night I finished A Hint of Wicked by Jennifer Haymore. This is her first historical romance. Overall the story was interesting. I enjoyed reading it.

The characters were a little shallow, but the dilemma kept me interested and wondering til the end. The end did surprise me.

I never connected with Garrett on an emotional level. I didn't really feel sympathetic to him at all. I felt sorry for Tristan and Sophie, since Garrett was so unfeeling towards them.

Despite the flaws I enjoyed the story and am looking forward to reading the sequel!

Undead and Unworthy by MJD

Finished Undead and Unworthy by MaryJanice Davidson, book #7 in the series, which I am pleased to say I have read entirely in order (not counting the short stories in between, though I have read at least 1 of those. But I hate short story installments so don't worry about reading them in order, if at all).

This book was the usual fast read, enjoyable, but not nearly as funny as previous installments. Were there any laugh-out-loud moments? If so, nothing memorable. One of the things I enjoyed about the previous books was the LOL moments. If this is the new direction the author is taking, well, I'll stick with the series, but it won't be as much fun. Thankfully, fast. I always appreciate that in a book. I cant imagine shelling out for this in hard cover, though.

Reading how many books??

According to my list in Goodreads I am in the middle of 6 books. Oops. A few too many, perhaps. My normal habit is to be in the middle of say, 3, so I can jump around. A historical, a paranormal, an erotica, something like that.

I started reading Sex Slaves 2 by Lorie O'Clare on my ereader, then I got Tied Up, Tied Down by Lorelei James, so I started that on my ereader, then the card on the reader got wiped. So its working, but not correctly, awaiting a new card, and still reading the James book.

I started reading What Happens in Vegas, an erotica anthology, for a PBS game. I have read 2 of the 4 stories. Its not bad, its just plain vanilla.....contemporary....I like something different with my erotica, like aliens, or paranormal, or BDSM....you get the idea. So eventually I have got to try the remaining stories, just to see if they are more to my taste.

I am reading A Hint of Wicked by Jennifer Haymore. I have read some reviews that weren't very favorable, but so far, I am enjoying it. So that's my historical.

I am reading Undead and Unworthy by MJD. I have to send it out for a game soon. Its a fun, fast read, but hard cover so I have to be careful where I am going to read it (not in the car, not on the toilet, etc). I will set aside some time to finish it today. So that's my paranormal.

Yesterday I needed something for the car so I grabbed The Unsung Hero by Suzanne Brockmann. I have heard such great things about the Troubleshooter series, and have collected a substantial number of them. I got this one from www.Booksfree.com so its a little battered. I slipped a cover on it and got a chance to start it in the car. I don't really like it much, but despite that, its hard to put down LOL. So maybe I like it better than I think I do. Though I have skimmed some particularly dull areas. To me it reads like women's fiction, or general fiction, neither of which I read, for a reason! I don't like them! But I am determined to read this through, hoping I will like it better and/or that I will like the rest of the series better. I enjoy military themed books, such as the series by Cherry Adair. She is great! So that's my contemporary romantic suspense.

Will try to finish one today, if I get lucky, 2, but as I have an unavoidable obligation this afternoon, not to mention tons of laundry, 1 will have to be enough.

Wildfire & A Weaver Wedding

Just finished two books. Wildfire by Cheyenne McCray....it was ok, more sex than story. Also it left events unresolved, good thing I have the next 2 in the series here TBR.

Also read A Weaver Wedding by Allison Leigh, a short contemporary romance. I did enjoy it, though I have not read any of the rest of the series. I liked the spy element and didn't mind the secret pregnancy, as some readers do!

Today I am reading Lorie O'Clare and Jennifer Haymore.

Sexy Beast V by Kate Douglas

Sexy Beast V by Kate Douglas, Vonna Harper, Cyrstal Jordan

The story by Kate Douglas continues the saga of the Chanku. This is a good installment, and wraps up a situation begun in previous stories. Not sure I quite buy all the details of the final resolution, but hey, its fiction. Look forward to reading the next installment, Wolf Tales VII, as soon as the mail man brings it.

The story by Vonna Harper was good, I think....it seemed like every time I tried to read it I was in bed and could barely keep my eyes open....I don't think it was the story, but who knows. Its not a world I would want to revisit.

The story by Crystal Jordan was pretty good. It takes place in the future on an alien planet, and of course there are shape shifters. I liked the world and look forward to reading more of it, in Carnal Desires.

Davin's Quest by Bianca D'Arc

I have become an avid fan of Bianca D'Arc. Last night I finished Davin's Quest, second in the Resonance Mates series. This is erotic science fiction romance. There is more story than sex, which is great. The 3rd gets published this month and I will be buying it. There is a 4th due to come out some time as an ebook and I will not be buying that. Hopefully it will come out in print. I will buy it, if it does. I plan to buy all of her other print books.

What is better than hot alien sex? Not a trick question! Answer: nothing!

The Player by Evelyn Vaughn

Stayed up too late last night to finish The Player by Evelyn Vaughm. Wow! Another great installment in the Family Secrets romantic suspense series. Can't wait to read the next one, had to order it. This one takes place in Washington D.C. and really was good.

Pyramid of Lies by Anne Marie Winston

Finished Pyramid of Lies by Anne Marie Winston last night. Another great installment in the Family Secrets series. Romantic suspense, short, fast read, ending a bit abrupt but the next book picks right up there. Its amazing that this series was written by a lot of different authors but is very cohesive!'

I have the next book, The Player, ready to go, but will probably finish Davin's Quest first.

Night's Rose by Annaliese Evans

Stayed up too late last night to finish Night's Rose by Annaliese Evans. My only regret is that I was up to my usual tricks and read other books at the same time as this one. This book deserves to be read without distractions like that. Excellent, unusual take on paranormal urban fantasy. I loved it! Looking forward to reading the next one.

I don't know that I'd have forgiven Ambrose for what he did. The second book will probably bring those issues up again.

Happy Hour at Casa Dracula

Just finished Happy Hour at Casa Dracula, by Marta Acosta, which I started yesterday. Fast, funny light read. Supposedly a contemporary vampire romance. So I put it in that category. But these people aren't real vampires. Plus Milagra, the heroine, isn't even one of them, despite being infected. Certainly a different take on vampires. I have the next 2 sitting here to read and have promised them to someone so I will read them very soon. Otherwise I would put off reading them for awhile.

I really want to get back to Night's Rose today. Its so good, I have been saving it for when I am sure it won't get damaged while reading and when I have time for at least a whole chapter.

I have some game books waiting TBR and one more Booksfree book, which is part of a series that I am enjoying. So will be starting that one ASAP. Sexy Beast V. Actually only one of the stories in it is part of the series. Waiting on a package from Booksfree that was shipped at the same time and still is not here!

The Broken H

Finished The Broken H by J.L.Langley last night. It's a contemporary m/m erotic romance. the first half was really good. The second half could have been really could had it not been absolutely rife with errors that should have been caught during edit. What sucks is that I bought it new. But sending out today for a game so that's probably for the best.

It is the second in a series, but I had no problem with it as a stand alone. It was an enjoyable love story with lots of hot sex. It is still odd trying to wrap my mind around love between two men, with no female involved. I liked it, but I prefer menage. At any rate it was way better than the first two m/m books I read. I have two more here to read, one is contemp, one is futuristic. Since I was foolish enough to also buy them new, I hope they will be good enough to keep!

A New Blog for my Ramblings

Decided to start this blog so I can ramble at length about whatever books I am reading. Right now I am getting ready to finish a book called Always to Remember by Lorraine Heath, from 1994. This is so darn good. It is set post-Civil War and everyone is so mean to the man, Clay, its enough to break my heart. While at times I hate to read anything historical that isn't set in England, so far I have loved every book I've read by Lorraine Heath, and the ones I've read are all set in Texas. These are real people with real problems.

I am also reading Night's Rose by Annaliese Evans. The heroine, Rose, is actually Briar Rose of Sleeping Beauty fame, and she hunts flesh-eating Ogres! I must say I have never read anything quite like this. She is in league with a vampire and a fae, both sexy as sin. This is set in historical England but is an urban fantasy! Its not the kind of thing I want to put down after only a few pages, so I am trying to save it for when I have large chunks of time.

Yesterday I read the beginning of The Broken H by J.L.Langley, a m/m contemporary erotic romance, good beginning, I just didn't get back to it yet because I had to read Always to Remember. Speaking of which, I am off to finish it now.

Update: finished Always to Remember. Wonderful emotional ending with a HEA. Memorable quote from the book:

If he loved her, why didn't he leave her alone instead of luring her into his world where hate overshadowed love, and battles were still fought over a war long over?

What a great book.