Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Kresley Cole Book Order

Click on series title to jump to a particular reading order:

Immortals After Dark (paranormal)
The Dacians (paranormal)
The Game Maker (erotic contemporary)
The MacCarrick Brothers Trilogy (historical)
The Sutherland Series (historical)
The Arcana Chronicles (YA paranormal)


Immortals After Dark


1. The Warlord Wants Forever (sold as a standalone or in the Playing Easy to Get and Blood Red Kiss anthologies)
Wroth and Myst
Vampire and Valkyrie
My Review

2. A Hunger Like No Other
Lochlain and Emma
Lykae and Vampire/Valkyrie

3. No Rest for the Wicked
Sebastian and Kaderin
Vampire and Valkyrie

4. Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night
Bowen and Mariketa
Lykae and Witch

5. Dark Needs at Nights Edge
Conrad and Neomi
Vampire and Ghost
My Review

6. Dark Desires After Dusk
Cade and Holly
Demon and Half-Human

7. Kiss of a Demon King
Ryderstrom and Sabine
Demon and Sorceress

8. Untouchable (in the Deep Kiss of Winter anthology)
Murdoch and Daniela
Vampire and Valkyrie

9. Pleasure of a Dark Prince
Garreth and Lucia
Lykae and Valkyrie

10. Demon from the Dark
Malkom and Carrow
Demon/Vampire and Witch

11. Dreams of a Dark Warrior
Declan/Aidan and Regin
Berserker and Valkyrie

12. Lothaire
Lothaire and Ellie
Vampire

13. Shadow's Claim
Trehan and Bettina

14. MacRieve
MacRieve and Chloe

15. Dark Skye
Thronos and Lanthe

16. Sweet Ruin
Rune and Josephine

17. Shadow's Seduction (available 1/30/17)
Mirceo and Caspion

18. Wicked Abyss (available 4/25/17)
Sian and Lili


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The Dacians


1. Shadow's Claim
Trehan and Bettina

2. Shadow's Seduction (available 1/30/17)
Mirceo and Caspion

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The Game Maker


1. The Professional
Sevastyan and Natalie

2. The Master
Maksim and Cat

3. The Player
Dmitri and Vice

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The MacCarrick Brothers Trilogy


1. If You Dare
Courtland MacCarrick and Annalía Tristán Llorente

2. If You Desire
Hugh MacCarrick and Jane Weyland

3. If You Deceive
Ethan MacCarrick and Madeleine Van Rowen


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The Sutherland Series


1. The Captain of All Pleasures
Derek Sutherland and Nicole Lassiter

2. The Price of Pleasure
Grant Sutherland and Victoria ("Tori") Dearbourne

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The Arcana Chronicles


1. Poison Princess
2. Endless Knight
3. Dead of Winter
3.5. Day Zero
4. Arcana Rising
5. The Dark Calling (est. release spring 2017)

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Please note: This page was written by me, so as always, please visit the author’s website for up-to-date, author-verified information as well as for information books that have not yet been included to this list.

http://www.kresleycole.com/

Nalini Singh Book Order

Click here to jump to a particular series:


Psy-Changeling
Psy-Changeling Trinity
Guild Hunter
Hard Play
Rock Kiss
Royal House of Shadows
Stand Alones


Psy-Changeling

0.5. "Beat of Temptation" (in An Enchanted Season anthology and the Wild Invitation anthology)
Nate and Tamsyn
Leopard Changelings
Two deleted scenes available here and here
My Review

0.75. "Whisper of Sin" (in Burning Up anthology)
Ria and Emmett
Human and Leopard Changeling
My Review

1. Slave to Sensation
Lucas and Sascha
Leopard Changeling and Psy
My Review

** "The Shower" (free vignette available here)

** "The Cannibal Princess" (free vignette available here)

2. Visions of Heat
Vaughn and Faith
Jaguar Changeling and Psy

3. Caressed by Ice
Judd and Brenna
Psy and Wolf Changeling
Deleted scene "Miss Leozandra's" available here
My Review

3.5 "Stroke of Enticement" (in The Magical Christmas Cat anthology and the Wild Invitation anthology)
Zach and Annie
Leopard Changeling and Human
My Review

4. Mine to Possess
Clay and Talin
Leopard Changeling and Human

** "A Conversation" (free vignette available here)

5. Hostage to Pleasure
Dorian and Ashaya
Leopard Changeling and Psy
My Review

** "Movie Night" (free vignette available here)

** "Star Kissed" (free short story available here)

6. Branded by Fire
Mercy and Riley
Leopard Changeling and Wolf Changeling
Deleted scene "The Party" available here
My Review

7. Blaze of Memory
Dev and Katya
Forgotten and Psy
My Review

8. Bonds of Justice
Max and Sophia
Human and Psy
My Review

** "Star Kissed" (free short story available here)

9. Play of Passion
Indigo and Drew
Wolf Changelings
My Review

** "Wolf School" (free short story available here)

9.5. "Declaration of Courtship" (in the Wild Invitation anthology)
Cooper and Grace
Wolf Changelings
My Review

10. Kiss of Snow
Hawke and Sienna
Wolf Changeling and Psy
Walker and Lara
Psy and Wolf Changeling
Deleted Scene "Brenna and Judd" available here
Deleted Scene "Walker and Laura" available here
Deleted Scene "Sienna Ambushed By Drew" available here
Deleted Scene "Marlee Talking To Walker" available here
Deleted Scene "Indigo And Sienna In Conversation" available here
Deleted Scene "About The Empath" available here
Deleted Scene "Judd About Alice" available here
My Review

10.5. "Texture of Intimacy" (in the Wild Invitation anthology)
Walker and Lara
Psy and Wolf Changeling
My Review

11. Tangle of Need
Riaz and Adria
Wolf Changelings
My Review

12. Heart of Obsidian
Kaleb and Sahara
Psy
My Review

12.5. "Secrets at Midnight" (in the Night Shift anthology)
Bastien and Kirby
Changelings

13. Shield of Winter
Vasic and Ivy
Psy
My Review
My Review - #2

14. Shards of Hope
Aden and Zaira
Psy
My Review

15. Allegiance of Honor
My Review

15.5. Wild Embrace
"Echo of Silence"
Stefan and Tazia
Psy and Human

"Dorian"
Changeling

"Partners in Persuasion"
Felix and Dezi
Changelings

"Flirtation of Fate"
Kenji and Garnet
Changelings
My Review


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Psy-Changeling Trinity

Note: This series is a continuation of the Psy-Changeling world which Ms. Singh refers to as "season two" of the series.

1. Silver Silence
Valentin and Silver
Changeling and Psy
My Review

2. Ocean Light
Bowen and Kaia
Human and Changeling
My Review

3. Wolf Rain
Alexei and Memory
Changeling and Psy
My Review

4. Alpha Night
Ethan and Selenka
Psy and Changeling
My Review

5. Last Guard
Canto and Payal
Psy
My Review

6. Storm Echo
Ivan and Soleil
Psy and Changeling
My Review

7. Resonance Surge
Yakov and Theo
Pavel and Arwen
Changeling and Psy
My Review

8. Primal Mirror
Remi and Auden
Changeling and Psy
My Review

9. Atonement Sky
Adam and Eleri
Changeling and Psy
My Review

10. Cold Redemption (available 12/1/26)

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Guild Hunter

** Angel's Dance (in the Angels' Flight anthology)
Galen and Jessamy

**Angels' Judgement (in the Must Love Hell Hounds anthology and Angels' Flight anthology)
Deacon and Sara

** Angel's Pawn (e-release and in Angels' Flight anthology)
Janvier and Ashwini

1. Angels' Blood
Raphael and Elena

2. Archangel's Kiss
Raphael and Elena

** Weapons Training

3. Archangel's Consort
Raphael and Elena

** Angel's Wolf (in the Angels of Darkness anthology and Angels' Flight anthology)
Noel and Nimra

4. Archangel's Blade
Dmitri and Honor

5. Archangel's Storm
Jason and Mahiya

** Knives and Sheaths

6. Archangel's Legion
Raphael and Elena
My Review

** Zoe's Workshop

** A Sip of Eternity

7. Archangel's Shadows
Janvier and Ashwini
My Review

** A Walk on the Cliffs

8. Archangel's Enigma
Naasir and Andromeda
My Review

9. Archangel's Heart
Raphael and Elena
My Review

10. Archangel's Viper
Venom and Holly
My Review

11. Archangel's Prophecy
Raphael and Elena
My Review

12. Archangel's War
Raphael and Elena
My Review

13. Archangel's Sun
Titus and Sharine
My Review

14. Archangel's Light
Illium and Aodhan
My Review

15. Archangel's Resurrection
Alexander and Zanaya
My Review

16. Archangel's Lineage
Raphael and Elena
My Review

17. Archangel's Ascension
Illium and Aodhan
My Review

18. Archangel's Eternity (available 5/6/26)
Raphael and Elena
My Review

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Hard Play


1. Cherish Hard
Sailor and Isa

2. Rebel Hard
Raj and Nayna

3. Love Hard
Jacob and Juliet

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Rock Kiss


1. Rock Addiction
Fox and Molly

1.5. Rock Courtship
David and Thea

2. Rock Hard
Gabriel and Charlotte

3. Rock Redemption
Noah and Kit

*Sunshine
Noah and Kit

4. Rock Wedding
Abe and Sarah


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Royal House of Shadows

Note: This quartet is a continuity (a series where there is a continuing backstory through all the books, but each book is written by a different author). Nalini Singh's book is the 4th.

1. Lord of the Vampires by Gena Showalter
Nicolai and Jane
My Review

2. Lord of Rage by Jill Monroe
Breena and Osborn
My Review

3. Lord of the Wolfyn
Dayn and Reda
My Review

4. Lord of the Abyss by Nalini Singh
Micah and Liliana
My Review

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Stand Alones

Such a Perfect Family

There Should Have Been Eight
My Review

Quiet in Her Bones
My Review

A Madness of Sunshine
My Review

Desert Warrior
Tariq and Jasmine

Awaken to Pleasure
Jackson and Taylor

Awaken the Senses
Alexandre and Charlotte

Craving Beauty
Marc and Hira

Secrets in the Marriage Bed
Caleb and Vicki

Bound by Marriage
Gabe and Jessica


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Please note: This page was written by me, so as always, please visit the author’s website for up-to-date, author-verified information as well as for information books that have not yet been included to this list.

http://www.nalinisingh.com/

Lora Leigh Book Order

Click here to jump to a particular series:


The Breeds
Tempting SEALs
Elite Ops
Bound Hearts
The Nauti Boys
Men of August
Men of Summer
The Chronicles of Brydon
The Wizard Twins




The Breeds


The Breeds were originally written out of order chronologically, so that and a change in publishers is why there are chronological discrepancies in Jacob's Faith and Aiden's Charity. The Breed character is listed first.

If you are looking to find information on which characters are related, click here.

1) Tempting the Beast
Callan and Merinus
Lion Breed
Children: David and 1 child (name and gender unknown)

2) The Man Within
Taber and Roni
Panther Breed
Children: 1 son (name unknown)

3) Elizabeth's Wolf
Dash and Elizabeth
Wolf Breed
Children: Cassie (Elizabeth's daughter adopted by Dash) and Kenton

4) Kiss of Heat
Sherra and Kane
Snow Leopard Breed
Children: 1 son (name unknown)

5) Soul Deep
Kiowa and Amanda
Coyote Breed

6) The Breed Next Door (in Hot Spell anthology)
Tarek and Lyra
Lion Breed

7) Megan's Mark
Braden and Megan
Lion Breed

8) Harmony's Way
Harmony and Lance
Lion Breed
Children: 1 son (name unknown)

9) Tanner's Scheme
Tanner and Scheme
Bengal Breed
Children: twins (names and gender(s) unkown)

10) Wolfe's Hope (print version in the Primal Heat anthology)
Wolfe and Hope
Wolf Breed

11) Jacob's Faith
Jacob and Faith
Wolf Breed (both of them)

12) Aiden's Charity
Aiden and Charity
Wolf Breed
Children: 1 son (name unknown)

13) In a Wolf’s Embrace (in Beyond the Dark anthology)
Matthais and Grace
Wolf Breed

14) Dawn's Awakening
Dawn and Seth
Cougar Breed

15) A Jaguar's Kiss (in Shifter anthology)
Saban and Natalie
Black Jaguar Breed

16) Mercury's War
Mercury and Ria
Lion Breed

17) Christmas Heat (The Magical Christmas Cat anthology)
Noble and Haley
Jaguar Breed

18) Coyote's Mate
Del-Rey and Anya
Coyote Breed

19) Bengal's Heart
Cabal and Cassa
Bengal Breed

20) "A Christmas Kiss" (in the Hot for the Holidays anthology)
Hawke and Jessica
Wolf Breed

21) Lion's Heat
Jonas and Rachel
Lion Breed

22) Styx's Storm

23) Navarro's Promise


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Tempting SEALs



1) Reno's Chance (in Honk if You Love Real Men antho)
Reno and Raven
Children: 1 son (Morgan)

2) Dangerous Games
Clint and Morganna

3) For Maggie's Sake (in Real Men Do It Better antho)
Joe and Maggie
Children: 1 son (Joe Jr.)

4) Hidden Agendas
Kell and Emily

5) Killer Secrets
Ian and Kira

6) Atlanta Heat (in Rescue Me anthology)
Macey and Emerson


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Elite Ops


Note: The Elite Ops books are connected to the SEALs stories. They pick up where the SEALs stories leave off. The Elite Operational Unit is a 5-man group of legally dead former international military men working outside the government on anti-terrorism assignments. There will be 6 books total (the 5 men and their leader, Jordan Malone (from Hidden Agendas)).

1) Wild Card
Noah Blake and Sabella Malone
Former Name: Nathan Malone (from the Tempting SEALs series)
Former Agency: U.S. Navy SEALs

2) Maverick (available 3/3/09)
Micah Sloane and Risa Clay (mentioned in the Tempting SEALs series)
Former Name: David Abijah
Former Agency: Israeli Mossad

3) Heat Seeker (release date unknown)
John Vincent
Former Name: Trent Daylen
Former Agency: Australian Secret Intelligence Service

4) Black Jack

5) "Hannah's Luck" (in the Men of Danger anthology)
Rick Grayson and Hannah Brookes

6) Renegade

7) Live Wire


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Bound Hearts


The first seven are print from Ellora's Cave, except for Surrender which is only available in e-book format now. If you have never read these books before, it might be useful for me to note that once a hero claims his heroine, he does not sleep with other women (for example: Jesse is Cole and Tess's third in Surrender, but not as of his book, Seduction).

1) Surrender
Cole and Tess (third: Jesse)

2) Submission
James and Ella (third: Sax)
Children: Tess (Ella's daughter from her marriage to Jason Delacourte)

3) Seduction
Jesse and Terrie (third: Lucian)

4) Wicked Intent
Lucian and Tally (third: Devril – permanent threesome)

5) Sacrifice
Jared and Kimberly (third: Ian)

6) Embraced
Sax and Marey (third: Daniel)

7) Shameless
Ian and Courtney (third: Khalid)

8) Forbidden Pleasure (starts print books)
Mac and Keiley (third: Jethro – permanent threesome)

9) Wicked Pleasure
Cameron and Jaci (third: Chase)

10) Only Pleasure
Chase and Kia (third: Khalid)

11) Guilty Pleasure
Khalid

12) Title Unknown (release date unknown)
Sebastian


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The Nauti Boys



1) Nauti Boy
Rowdy and Kelly

2) Nauti Nights
Dawg and Crista

3) Nauti Dreams
Natches and Chaya

4) Nauti Intentions
Alex and Janey

5) Nauti Deceptions
Zeke and Rogue


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Men of August


Note: For those who have never read this series, it might be important to note that the August men do share their women with their brothers in the first three books. There is a reason that I will not go into in order to avoid spoilers. The fourth story is about all three couples and provides further resolution to the Men of August series (which I also will not go into in order to avoid spoilers).

1) Marley's Choice
Cade and Marley
Children: Drace and twins (names and genders unknown)

2) Sarah's Seduction
Brock and Sarah
Children: 1 daughter (name unknown)

3) Heather's Gift
Sam and Heather
Children: 1 child (name and gender unkown)

4) August Heat



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Men of Summer


1) Loving Lies
Slade and Jessie


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The Chronicles of Brydon


1) Broken Wings
Dearn and Matte

2) Algernon's Curse (release date unknown)


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The Wizard Twins


Note: These books contain permanent threesomes (M/F/M)

1) Menage A Magick
Lasan and Brianna and Drago

2) When Wizards Rule
Case and Marina and Kai’el


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Please note: This page was written by me, so as always, please visit the author’s website for up-to-date, author-verified information as well as for information books that have not yet been included to this list.

http://www.loraleigh.com/

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Caressed by Ice by Nalini Singh: A Must Read

**Note: this review is spoiler-free, so read on without fear**

In the year 2079, there are three different species of people on the planet. Humans, the shape-shifting Changelings, and the Psy, who operate on both the physical and psychic plane. The Psy are trained from childhood to feel nothing – they are conditioned to be emotionless to the point of being cold and almost inhumane in their view of the world.

Judd Lauren had been an Arrow, one of the Psy Council’s most elite soldiers, until the day he and his family dropped out of the PsyNet. Now Judd lives amongst the SnowDancers – a pack of changeling wolves. But though he has left the Psy population, Judd continues to live an icy, emotionless existence, binding himself up in the conditioning of his youth to prevent himself from harming others.

Brenna Shane Kincaid is a changeling wolf who has survived abduction and torture by a ruthless Psy serial killer. But she hasn’t fully recovered from her attack and is fearful that the torture she suffered has left something evil inside of her. And despite what logic might tell her, the ice-cold Judd is the man she knows, in her heart, will be the one to help her.

Caressed by Ice is the third installment in Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling series and it is flat-out amazing!!! Singh has gifted readers with an absolutely flawless read. After meeting Judd and Brenna in the first book of the series, Slave to Sensation, I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to connect with the seemingly emotionless Judd. Boy was I wrong! As Judd’s icy barriers melt he struggles to balance his growing attachment to Brenna with his fear of completely breaking his conditioning and potentially unleashing a part of himself that would endanger everyone he loves. And seeing Judd’s struggle both broke my heart and made me incredibly attached to him.

As for Brenna, I have been waiting since Slave to Sensation (the book where she was kidnapped) to see her get her happy ending. Brenna surpassed even my highest expectations of her character. She has survived being horribly tortured and has come through with a strength and a dignity that not only I respect, but that feels truly realistic; I adored her.

The love story between Judd and Brenna was a thing of beauty. Balancing Brenna’s need for touch with Judd’s painful reaction to such contact could have been awkward with a lesser author. Singh not only pulls it off, but she had me on the edge of my seat, worrying how things could possibly work out for them.

There is plenty of action and danger to be had, and I give Singh high marks for keeping me guessing as to who was behind various attacks. There’s also humor to be found, as well as unexpected moments of sweetness, and not just between the main couple. Characters from Slave to Sensation and Visions of Heat play strong supporting roles, and I greatly look forward to the unmated changelings I so love getting their books (especially the latent leopard Dorian).

Caressed by Ice can be read as a stand-alone but I do not recommend it. I would suggest at least reading Slave to Sensation first to fully understand the Psy-Changeling world. And once you read Slave to Sensation, I’m sure you will want to run out and read Visions of Heat as well. All three books are fantastic and the series is wonderfully addictive. I cannot wait for the prequel, “Beat of Temptation” in the An Enchanted Season anthology (Nate and Tamsyn’s story – coming out October 2, 2007), nor can I wait for Mine to Possess (Clay’s story, due out February 5, 2008). And, because he has been my favorite from the very beginning of the series, I am incredibly impatient in waiting for Dorian’s story.

Caressed by Ice will be in stores September 4, 2007. Slave to Sensation and Visions of Heat, books 1 and 2 of the series, are already available and well worth rushing as fast as you can to the nearest bookstore. Nalini Singh is truly one of the most talented storytellers of today. Readers of the para and non-para genre alike will fall in love with the world Singh has created and the characters in it. Run, don’t walk, to get all three of her Psy-Changeling books!!!!

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

It’ll Change the Way You Drink

Wow, one very busy summer means three months of neglecting my blog. Fear not, beloved readers, I have returned. Apologies to those who have asked questions in previous posts, I will answer them immediately. And now, onwards we march :)

For the past few months, I’ve wondered how much of what I read influences my daily life; causes me to try new things or at least want to try them. Not in a “my whole world view has changed because of this book” sort of way, but on a much smaller, less life-altering manner.

The best example I can provide is my personal quest for Tab. I adore Anne Stuart’s Ice series (Black Ice, Cold as Ice, Ice Blue, and the upcoming Ice Storm). Cold as Ice was one of my favorite books last year, and Ice Blue will almost certainly be on my personal Top 10 list for this year’s books. The heroines of Cold as Ice and Ice Blue, Genevieve and Summer respectively, both have a particular preference for the soda Tab. After reading Cold as Ice and not only loving the book but identifying in many respects with the heroine, I was curious about Tab, though I knew nothing about it. Ice Blue sealed the deal and I was on a mission to hunt down Tab which (and if you are from the West Coast you know or will soon find out it is more likely that you would be able to sell a kidney on the street than find a six-pack of Tab). I finally succeeded in buying some and was pleasantly surprised that, like Genevieve and Summer, I have found that I prefer Tab to both Diet Pepsi and Diet Coke. My mother, who can’t stand the drink, remains mystified as to why I like it.

Perhaps a more popular example would be the search for Grey Goose and dark chocolate. Fans of J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood know that Vishous (of the upcoming Lover Unbound) has a strong preference for Grey Goose vodka, and Cellies also know that he has a noted preference for dark chocolate. Being a fan of neither chocolate nor vodka, I still set out to try both, and both products were markedly easier to find than the elusive Tab. Surprisingly, I did like both the Goose and the dark chocolate, more than I expected. Whether this is because of its association with a beloved character or not, I’m not quite sure. Neither is something I would have often, but just the same, reading the BDB books did make me want to try two products I might never have before.

This is not to say I support tons of brand-name dropping in books; I don’t. If it fits with the story, as in both the aforementioned examples, then I’m all for it. Nor does it mean that I will like everything that a favorite character likes, because that certainly is not true either. The two previous examples are just the most recent examples of small influences a book or series of books have had on my daily life. There are numerous instances of books making me see things a bit differently, consider what I would and would not do on a very personal level, et cetera. So this is, to me, yet another fascinating thing about books; their ability to make you want to try new things. From something as small as trying an unknown brand of soda to something larger and, perhaps, more profound, books have the ability to influence your life on so many levels.

Now, if only a gorgeous, intelligent operative like Peter Jensen were as simple to find ;)


So this week, my lovely readers, I leave you with the following question:
Have you ever been influenced by a book to try something new (no matter how big or small)?

Monday, May 21, 2007

My May Must-Read: Beware a Scot’s Revenge by Sabrina Jeffries

I always love it when my favorite authors have a new book being released. It’s generally a sure-fire way to pick up a book you’ll enjoy and Sabrina Jeffries never disappoints. But even I, a devoted Jeffries reader since I came across her Swanlea Spinsters series, was blown away by her newest, Beware a Scot’s Revenge.

Beware a Scot’s Revenge is the fourth story (third full-length book) of Jeffries’s School for Heiresses series. It’s the story of Sir Lachlan Ross and Lady Venetia Campbell, both of whom you briefly meet in the first Heiress book, Never Seduce a Scoundrel. Without giving away too many plot details, the basic premise of the book is that Venetia’s father is Lachlan’s enemy and he kidnaps Venetia in order to force her father to give what is owed to him.

This book was perfection to me. It had adventure, humor, and a wonderful romance. Venetia remembers Lachlan from when they were children and she had a crush on him that has never faded. Lachlan remembers the girl he thought was too proud to live a poorer lifestyle and is amazed to discover how wrong his assumptions were. And while there is a kidnapping plot, Lachlan isn’t cruel to Venetia, rather the kidnapping serves to provide adventure and is an avenue for the romance to develop. The story also takes place entirely in Scotland which for me was another point in its favor.

Lachlan is exactly the sexy, daring hero I dream about and Venetia is the intelligent, adventurous heroine I dream of being. Beware a Scot’s Revenge is a fabulous, sexy, and entertaining romance that I can’t recommend highly enough. While I love all of Jeffries’s books, this one has surpassed even To Pleasure a Prince as my favorite of her books. And while Beware a Scot’s Revenge is part of a series, it can be read on its own.

From the characters, to the story, to even the title and the gorgeous cover, Beware a Scot’s Revenge was and is a pleasure. I cannot wait for the next story in the series and I am especially eager to learn more about Charlotte Harris and the mysterious Cousin Michael.

Saturday, May 12, 2007

I’ll Take That Rake

Seductive, smoldering, sensual…a rake is one of the easiest characters to find in historical romance, and I, for one, am happy about that. There’s nothing I love more than a jaded seducer meeting his match, whether it’s with an innocent debutante, a bookish spinster, or an experienced widow. But the term rake seems to be too liberally applied – sometimes it seems as if almost every hero who isn’t noticeably awkward is referred to as a rake. To me it feels like the term “rake” should only apply to only the most elite of the sensual heroes. Granted, in the universe of each book, the rake in question might be the only one to whom the term applies. But in my head, the place where all historicals set within a certain two hundred year period get mushed together, I’m often tripping over rakes right and left.

Don’t get me wrong – as I said before I love a rakish hero. But unlike having the plethora of dukes, earls, and viscounts in novels (which I also love even though there couldn’t possibly have been even a fraction of that number running around), I don’t think just any hero should be termed a rake. They’re the bad boys of romance – the ones the good girls want even though they know they shouldn’t. The ones with seemingly untouchable hearts who can only be tamed by the right woman – that’s what makes their stories so exciting. To me, the true rakes are the darkly seductive types, like Sebastian St. Vincent in Lisa Kleypas’s Devil in Winter. Jaded players like the Earl of Mayne in Eloisa James’s Pleasure for Pleasure. And the smoldering tempters like John Grayston, Viscount Rochdale in Candice Hern’s upcoming Lady Be Bad. These are the rakes that deserve the title, and no, because I hate book-bashing I won’t list the ones I think do not.


So for this week I leave you with these questions:
Do you love a rakish hero?
Do you think the description is too liberally applied?
And, most importantly, who are your favorite rakes?

And for those of you who’re fans of the non-rakes, never fear. They’ll get love in my next post :)