Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Dawn's Awakening by Lora Leigh: My February Must Read

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

In the near future, there is a species that lives alongside humans. They were created by evil scientists from a combination of human and animal DNA. They were trained to be weapons. They were tortured, they were raped, and they were stripped of their humanity. And from the horror of those labs came men and women with strength, intelligence, and compassion the world could never have imagined. Scarred to the depths of their souls by the past, but full of hope and determination for a better future, the trials they go through will break your heart while the love they find will bring you joy. They are the Breeds, and they will knock your socks off.

Lora Leigh Dawn’s Awakening is the story of Dawn Daniels and Seth Lawrence. Dawn is a Cougar Breed, one who had been raped and tortured repeatedly as a child. Now she’s stronger, a Breed Enforcer, but still plagued constantly by memories of what had been done to her. For ten years she and Seth have known they were mates, but the nightmare that was her past and misunderstandings on both sides have kept them from one another until the mating heat, the driving biological reaction between mates, has almost completely faded from Seth. But then Seth’s life is at risk, and Dawn will do anything to protect and claim the man that is her mate.

Dawn’s Awakening shows Leigh’s writing at its best. The story is both heartbreaking and achingly romantic. Dawn’s past haunts her, but she has not only survived, she has come through with strength and dignity that is awe-inspiring. With Seth’s love and help, Dawn continues to grow and cope more fully with what was done to her.

Seth has become my absolute favorite of Leigh’s heroes. He’s an alpha to the core, but the tenderness he shows with his mate and the love he has for her makes for some truly beautiful scenes best left for a reader to discover on their own.

There’s also a mystery to be solved regarding the enemy out to destroy Dawn and Seth, secrets that will be revealed, and an enigmatic character who will undoubtedly play a role in future books. Fans of the Breed series will meet some of their favorite characters again, such as Callan Lyons, Dash, Elizabeth, and Cassie Sinclair, Dane Vanderale, and the sexy, calculating Jonas Wyatt (who I am firmly convinced needs to catch a break from someone). There are also new Breeds to meet and ones to get to know better.

Leigh wrote Dawn’s Awakening as a stand-alone book, and first-time readers won’t miss out on any vital information. However, for a richer read, I recommend reading the first four Breed books (Tempting the Beast, The Man Within, Elizabeth’s Wolf, and Kiss of Heat). You will get to know Dawn and Seth from the beginning and read some of the events that are talked about in Dawn’s Awakening. For new readers of the Breed series, the reading order can be found by clicking here. I’m sure after Dawn’s Awakening you will want to rush out and read the rest of these addictive stories.

I highly recommend Dawn’s Awakening. It’s a compelling read that will break your heart and make you sigh over the hero’s romantic actions. Dawn and Seth have been long overdue for their happily ever after, but their story was well worth the wait.

Friday, February 1, 2008

I Need That Hero

What is it, dear readers, that makes a hero stand out for you? Is it sex appeal? A sense of humor? A scarred soul? His tenderness? Dominance? Any or all of the above or something else?

Right now Nalini Singh has a contest going on - The Mine to Possess Hot Men Contest. Her question, and mine, is about heroes. Who’s your favorite and why?

I have so many favorites (Dorian, Zsadist, Jonas….*sigh*), but the one that has to stand above all the rest would be Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Acheron. For nearly six years, I’ve read, loved, and been heartbroken over this hero. Ash is so full of love for people, he does everything in his power to protect the world, and yet others never see it as enough. I suppose it’s because only a handful know what it costs Ash to do what he does; the sacrifices willingly makes time and again for the happiness of others. He is self-sacrifice personified.

From what we have seen so far, Acheron’s past is full of pain with little or nothing to relieve it. He has been betrayed time and again by those he lets into his heart, but even so, he continues believing in others. For someone who almost never cries over a book, it says a lot that I will have tissues on hand for the first half of his book when it comes out this August.

Ash is has the whole package for me. He’s loving, giving, and has so many wounds that I would love to heal. And yes, there is the all-out sexy factor. His physical perfection isn’t what makes me love him above all else, but it’s nothing to dismiss either.

I really don’t have the words to do Acheron justice. He’s one of the many reasons I am simply in awe of Sherrilyn Kenyon. Acheron has been my number one hero since I was 18 years old, and I don’t think anything can ever change that; he has it all.

So now that you all know my favorite hero, who’s yours? Leave a comment and let me know who your favorite(s) are and why :)

And don't forget: Nalini's newest Psy-Changeling book, Mine to Possess, will be in stores February 5th.

If you've never read Nalini's books, (1) check out the reading order for the series and then (2) run as fast as you can to the nearest bookstore!!!!

Friday, January 25, 2008

Angela Knight Book Order

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


Mageverse
Time Hunters
Warlord
Vampires
Mercenaries
Stand Alones
Nonfiction


Mageverse


Note: I've listed the species (for lack of a better term) of the hero and heroine as they are in the beginning of their story. Some change, some don't, and for that you have to read the books :)

0.5) Seduction's Gift (in Hot Blooded anthology)
Lancelot du Lac and Grace Morgan
Magus and Latent

1) Master of the Night
Reece Champion and Erin Grayson
Magus and Latent

1.5) Galahad (in Bite anthology)
Galahad and Caroline Lang
Magus and Maja

2) Master of the Moon
Llyr Galatyn and Diana London
King of the Fairies (Sidhe) and Dire Wolf

3) Master of Wolves
Jim London and Faith Weston
Dire Wolf and Human

4) Master of Swords
Gawain and Lark McGuin
Magus and Maja

4.5) Moondance (in Over the Moon anthology, also released as an ebook)
Lucas Rollings and Elena Livingston
Dire Wolves

5) Master of Dragons
Kel and Nineva Morrow
Dragon and Sidhe

5.5) "Vampire's Ball" (in the Hot for the Holidays anthology)
Ridge Champion and Kat Danilo
Magus and Latent

6) Master of Fire
Logan MacRoy and Giada Shepherd
Latent and Maja

7) Master of Smoke
Smoke and Beth Roman

8) Master of Shadows
Tristan and La Belle Coeur
Magus and Maja

9) Master of Darkness
William Justice and Miranda Drake
Dire Wolf and Dire Wolf/Witch

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Time Hunters


Note: This series is a spin-off of Jane's Warlord

1) Warrior
Galar Arvid and Jessica Kelly

2) Guardian
Nick Wyatt and Raine Arvid

3) Enforcer (release date unknown)
Alerio Dyami and Dona Astryr

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Warlord


1) Jane's Warlord (either on its own or in Warlord)
Baran Arvid and Jane Colby

2) Warfem (in Kick @$$ anthology or in Warlord)
Baird Arvid and Alina Kasi

3) The Warlord and the Fem (in Warlord)
Baird and Kyna

4) Baby, You've Changed (in Warlord)
Gage and Tamir


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Vampires


Note: I haven't read any of these yet, so I don't know how connected the books are (if at all)

1) Blood and Kisses (in Secrets Volume 3)
Jim Decker and Beryl St. Cloud

2) A Candidate for the Kiss (in Secrets Volume 6)
Archer and Dana

3) Kissing the Hunter (in Secrets Volume 7)
Logan McLean and Virginia Hart

4) The Forever Kiss
Cade McKinnon and Valerie Chase

5) Soul Kisses (in Secrets Volume 14)
Morgan, Beth Chase, and Garett

6) Blood Service (in All Wrapped Up anthology)
Vigilante and Adiva Mayhew

7) The Vampire's Christmas
David Tate and Amelia Patton


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Mercenaries


Note: all three stories can be found in the book Mercenaries

1) Mercenaries
Nathan August and Trinity Yeager (third: Sebastian Cole)

2) The Thrall
Sebastian Cole and Zaria

3) Claiming Cassidy
Rune Alrigo and Cassidy Vika


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Stand Alones


"Blood and Roses" (in Burning Up anthology)
Raniero and Amaris

Mad Dog Love (in Shifter anthology)
Rance "Mad Dog" Conlan and Zarifa Lorenzo

Dragon Dance (in Beyond the Dark anthology)
Tracker and Arial Dean

Bound by the Dream (in Captive Dreams)
Jarred Varrain and Celeste Carson
Futuristic

Roarke's Prisoner (in Secrets Volume 2)
Roarke and Elise
Futuristic

Hero Sandwich (in Hard Candy anthology)
Cougar, Meg, and Lynx
Fantasy

The Dark One
Kaska of Artane and Matia of Ruza
Fantasy

Stranded (In Other Worlds anthology)
John Hawke and Alex Kenyon
Fantasy

Wake Me (in Secrets Volume 11)
Sir Radolf of Varik and Chloe Hart
Fantasy

Taming Jack (in Ellora's Cavemen: Tales from the Temple II)
Jack Ramsey and Lark Anderson
Fantasy


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Nonfiction


Passionate Ink: A Guide to Writing Erotic Romance


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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.

www.angelasknights.com

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Eloisa James Book Order

Click here to jump to a particular series:


Accidental Brides
Seduction
Would-Be Wallflowers
The Wildes of Lindow Castle
Eloisa's Fairy Tales
Desperate Duchesses
Desperate Duchesses by the Numbers
Essex Sister Quartet
The Duchess Quartet
The Pleasures Trilogy
Standalones
Anthologies
Written as Mary Bly


Accidental Brides

1. Viscount in Love
Dominic and Torie
My Review

2. Hardly a Gentleman (available 4/29/25)
Caelan and Clara
My Review


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Seduction

1. Two Dances and a Duke
Bea

2. Two Vows and a Viscount
Ella

3. Two Masquerades and a Major
Livie

2. Two Lies and a Lord
Daisy


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Would-Be Wallflowers

1. How to Be a Wallflower
Jake and Cleo
My Review

2. The Reluctant Countess
Giles and Yasmin
My Review

3. Not That Duke
Silvester and Stella
My Review

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The Wildes of Lindow Castle

0.5 My Last Duchess
Hugo and Ophelia
My Review

1. Wilde in Love
Alaric and Willa

2. Too Wilde to Wed
North and Diana
My Review

3. Born to Be Wilde
Parth and Lavinia
My Review

4. Say No to the Duke
Jeremy and Betsy
My Review

5. Say Yes to the Duke
Devin and Viola

6. Wilde Childe
Thaddeus and Joan

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Eloisa's Fairy Tales

1. A Kiss at Midnight
Gabriel and Kate

1.5. Storming the Castle
Jonas and Philippa

2. When Beauty Tamed the Beast
Piers and Linnet
My Review

3. The Duke is Mine
Tarquin and Olivia
My Review

4. The Ugly Duchess
James and Theodora
My Review

4.5. Seduced by a Pirate (sold as a standalone and in As You Wish)
Griffin and Phoebe
My Review

* With This Kiss (sold in three parts as standalones or in As You Wish)
Colin and Grace
Part 1
My Review

Part 2
My Review

Part 3
My Review

5. Once Upon a Tower
Gowan and Edie
My Review


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Desperate Duchesses

1. Desperate Duchesses
Damon and Roberta

2. An Affair Before Christmas
Fletch and Poppy

3. Duchess By Night
Jem and Harriet

4. When the Duke Returns 
Simeon and Isidore

5. This Duchess of Mine
Elijah and Jemma
My Review

6. A Duke of Her Own
Leopold
Note: I've purposefully left of the name of Villiers's heroine
My Review

7. Three Weeks with Lady X
Thorn and India
My Review

8. Four Nights with the Duke
Vander and Mia
My Review

9. Seven Minutes in Heaven
Ward and Regina

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Desperate Duchesses by the Numbers

1. Three Weeks with Lady X
Thorn and India
My Review

2. Four Nights with the Duke
Vander and Mia
My Review

3. Seven Minutes in Heaven
Ward and Regina

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Essex Sister Quartet

Please Note: The hero and secondary couples' names are purposefully kept off of this list for those who have not read the books (in keeping with the suspense of a few of the novels).

1. Much Ado About You
Tess

2. Kiss Me, Annabel
Annabel

3. The Taming of the Duke
Imogen

4. Pleasure for Pleasure
Josie

*The Essex Sisters Companion Guide


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The Duchess Quartet

1. Duchess in Love
Camden and Gina
Tuppy and Carola
Sebastian and Esme

2. Fool for Love
Simon and Henrietta
Sebastian and Esme

3. A Wild Pursuit
Stephen and Beatrix
Sebastian and Esme

4. Your Wicked Ways
Rees and Helene
Tom and Lina


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The Pleasures Trilogy

1. Potent Pleasures
Alex and Charlotte

2. Midnight Pleasures
Patrick and Sophie

3. Enchanting Pleasures
Quill and Gabrielle


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Standalones

My American Duchess
Trent and Merry

Paris in Love **non-fiction**

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Anthologies

“A Mistletoe Kiss” in the Mistletoe Christmas anthology
My Review

The Lady Most Willing...A Novel in Three Parts
My Review

The Lady Most Likely...A Novel in Three Parts
My Review

"A Proper Englishwoman" in the Talk of the Ton anthology
Gilbert and Emma

"A Fool Again" in The One That Got Away Anthology
Tobais and Genevieve
Please note: this story is loosely connected to Fool for Love


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Written as Mary Bly

Lizzie & Dante


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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.eloisajames.com/

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Candice Hern Book Order

Click here to jump to a particular series:


The Merry Widows
Once Trilogy
Stand Alones
Out of Print Books - Connected
Out of Print Books - Stand Alones



The Merry Widows


1. In the Thrill of the Night
Adam and Marianne

2. Just One of those Flings
Thayne and Beatrice

3. Lady Be Bad
John and Grace

4. "From this Moment On" (It Happened One Night anthology)
Sam and Wilhelmina


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Once Trilogy


1. Once a Dreamer
Simon and Eleanor

2. Once a Scoundrel
Anthony and Edwina

3. Once a Gentleman
Nicholas and Prudence


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Stand Alones


"Fate Strikes a Bargain (in the It Happened One Season anthology)

"Desperate Measures" (in the Mammoth Book of Regency Romance)

Her Scandalous Affair
Richard and Isabel

The Bride Sale
James and Verity


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Out of Print Books - Connected


Connected:

1. A Garden Folly
Stephen and Catherine

2. The Best Intentions
Miles and Hannah



Connected:

1. A Proper Companion
Robert and Emily

2. A Change of Heart
Jack and Mary

3. An Affair of Honor
Lord Sedgewick and Meg


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Out of Print Books - Stand Alones


Miss Lacy's Last Fling
Max and Rosalind


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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.

www.candicehern.com

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Meljean Brook Book Order

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

The Guardians
The Iron Seas
Stand Alones

The Guardians

1. Falling for Anthony (in Hot Spell anthology)
Anthony and Emily
Guardian and Human

2. Demon Angel
Hugh and Lilith
Guardian and Lilith (who is so cool she defies classification)

3. Paradise (in Wild Thing anthology)
Lucas and Selah
Vampire and Guardian

4. Demon Moon
Colin and Savitri
Vampire and Human

5. Demon Night
Ethan and Charlie
Guardian and Human

6. Thicker than Blood (in First Blood anthology)
Jack and Annie
Human and Vampire
My Review

7. Demon Bound
Jake and Alice
Guardians
My Review

8. Demon Forged
Alejandro and Irena
Guardians

9. "Blind Spot" (in the Must Love Hellhounds anthology)
Blake and Maggie

10. Demon Blood
Deacon and Rosalia
Vampire and Guardian

11. Demon Marked
Nicholas and Ash

12. “Ascension” (in the Angels of Darkness anthology)
Marc and Radha
Guardians

13. Guardian Demon(available 5/7/13)
Michael and Andy


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The Iron Seas

0. "The Blushing Bounder" (in the Wild & Steamy anthology)
Mina Wentworth

0.5 "Here There Be Monsters" (in the Burning Up anthology)
Eben "Mad" Machen and Ivy Blacksmith
My Review

1. The Iron Duke
Rhys Trahaearn and Mina Wentworth
My Review

1.5 Mina Wentworth and the Invisible City
Rhys Trahaearn and Mina Wentworth

2. Heart of Steel
Archimedes Fox and Yasmeen

2.5. Tethered (available in the mass market reissue of Heart of Steel, ebook release date unknown)
Archimedes Fox and Yasmeen

3. Riveted
David Kentewess and Annika Fridasdotter
My Review

4. Untitled (available 11/5/13)
Zenobia Fox


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Stand Alones


"Rescue Me" (in the Agony/Ecstasy anthology)

In Sheep's Clothing
Note: This story is in the Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance or you can read it for free on Meljean Brook's website


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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.meljeanbrook.com/

Julia Quinn Book Order

Click here to jump to a particular series:


The Bridgertons
Rokesbys
Smythe-Smith Quartet
The Two Dukes of Wyndham
The Bevelstoke Series
Agents of the Crown
The Lyndon Sisters
The Splended Series
Stand Alones



The Bridgertons

1. The Duke & I
Simon Basset and Daphne Bridgerton

2. The Viscount Who Loved Me
Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sheffield

3. An Offer From A Gentleman
Benedict Bridgerton and Sophie Beckett

4. Romancing Mister Bridgerton
Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington

5. To Sir Phillip, With Love
Phillip Crane and Eloise Bridgerton

6. When He Was Wicked
Michael Stirling and Francesca Bridgerton

7. It's In His Kiss
Gareth St. Clair and Hyacinth Bridgerton

8. On the Way to the Wedding
Gregory Bridgerton and Lucinda Abernathy

*The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After
My Review

*The Wit and Wisdom of Bridgerton: Lady Whistledown’s Official Guide (available 11/9/21)
My Review


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Rokesbys

1. Because of Miss Bridgerton
George Rokesby and Billie Bridgerton
My Review

2. The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband
Edward Rokesby and Cecilia Harcourt
My Review

3. The Other Miss Bridgerton
Andrew Rokesby and Poppy Bridgerton
My Review

4. First Comes Scandal
Nicholas Rokesby and Georgiana Bridgerton

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Smythe-Smith Quartet

1. Just Like Heaven
Marcus Holroyd and Honoria Smythe-Smith
My Review

2. A Night Like This
Daniel Smythe-Smith and Anne Shawcross
My Review

3. The Sum of All Kisses
Hugh Prentice and Sarah Pleinsworth
My Review

4. The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy
Richard Kenworthy and Iris Smythe-Smith
My Review


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The Two Dukes of Wyndham

1. The Lost Duke of Wyndham
Jack Audley and Grace Eversleigh

2. Mr. Cavendish, I Presume
Thomas Cavendish and Amelia Willoughby



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The Bevelstoke Series

1. The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever
Nigel ("Turner") Bevelstoke and Miranda Cheever

2. What Happens in London
Harry Valentine and Olivia Bevelstoke
My Review

3. Ten Things I Love About You
Sebastian Grey and Annabel Winslow
My Review


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Agents of the Crown

1. To Catch an Heiress
Blake Ravenscroft and Caroline Trent

2. How to Marry A Marquis
James Sidwell and Elizabeth Hotchkiss


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The Lyndon Sisters

1. Everything and the Moon
Robert Kemble and Victoria Lyndon

2. Brighter than the Sun
Charles Wycombe and Eleanor Lyndon


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The Splendid Series

1. Splendid
Alexander Ridgely and Emma Dunster

2. Dancing At Midnight
John Blackwood and Arabella Blydon

3. Minx
William Dunford and Henrietta ("Henry") Barrett

4. "A Tale of Two Sisters" (in Where's My Hero? anthology)
Ned Blydon and Charlotte Thornton


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Stand Alones

Miss Butterworth and the Mad Baron, a Graphic Novel (illustrated by Violet Charles, available 1/11/22)

The Lady Most Willing...A Novel in Three Parts
My Review

The Lady Most Likely...A Novel in Three Parts
My Review

"Thirty-six Valentines" (in The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown anthology)
David Mann-Formsby and Susannah Ballister

"The First Kiss" (in Lady Whistledown Strikes Back anthology)
Peter Thompson and Mathilda Howard

"Gretna Greene" (in Scottish Brides anthology)
Angus Greene and Margaret Pennypacker


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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.juliaquinn.com/