Dark Desire by Stephanie Bedwell-Grime

The last of seven daughters, Kirsten is forced in marriage by her father who is glad to get rid of her.   Married off to Valdemar, who has an unfortunate history with his wives who seem to end up dead, she is horrified to find he is a Vampire.  

Is Kirsten destined to break the curse or will she be dead within the week?

Dark Desire is book one of Stephanie Bedwell-Grimes ‘Vampire Romance’ series.   While I personally would have been happy to strangle Kirsten over her lack of regard for Valdemar, he is in love with her and I look forward to reading more of the series.

I rate this book C+

The website for Stephanie Bedwell-Grime can be found here.

Chosen (Bk3) by P C Cast and Kristin Cast

P C Cast and her daughter Kristin Cast continue the House of Night series with Chosen the third book in the series.

Zoey is having some problems at her vampire school.  Her best friend has been turned into one of the undead and it will not be long until she looses what is left of her humanity.  Without letting her other friends know that Stevie is still alive(ish) Zoey must find a way to help her it is too late.    

She is aided in this task by her worst enemy who has been chosen by a goddess to aid Zoey as part of her punishment for earlier transgressions.

This young adult book is a roller-coaster of emotions and if you are into vampires a nice change from horror or gothic romance.

I gave this a B+

The website for PC Cast can be found here.

Araman’s Aria by Susan Embree

For a female to be captured in foreign space the excuse of ignorance is not accpetable, especially if your pilot is a known enemy of those in control.    Thus Brea finds herself given as concubine to Araman Diago, Commandant of the Olean Intelligence.  

Araman has a slight problem.  An Olean medical team have decided that his libido levels are unsatisfactorily high and, in a world where concubines are considered expendable, the military have issued him a female.  He has to clothe her, feed her and use her.  Only when his libido levels have lowered will he be allowed back into active duty.

I have to admit that I quite enjoyed the fun way this book was written.  The male has a complex mixture of arrogance and compassion, the female is a confusing mixture of passive natured and warrior.

Reading it I did loose the plot a few times and was left wondering what just happened.  On the last page the other male character Santari, Araman’s 2nd in command, leaves you wondering if in a (hopefully) sequel he is going to betray Brea and Araman, or find a love of his own.   Either way this uncertainty is more of a bitter ending than a happy ever after.

This book I have given a B.

EDIT:  We have been advised by the aurthor that she does not go under an alias and have amended the post accordingly.   Thank you.

Sleeping with the Enemy by Nadia Aidan

Sleeping with the Enemy’s Daughter by Nadia Aidan is an adult onlybook about revenge.   Erotic romance like  this one was out of my comfort zone, but as a learning experience was interesting.  Definitely one to read when locked up by yourself.

Zen and the Art of Vampires by Katie MacAlister

One of Katie MacAlister’s Dark Ones series, Zen and the Art of Vampires is a twisting tale of confusion between vampires and vampire hunters.

Pia, while on a singles holiday in Iceland, finds herself tangled up with two vampires, each of whom wants her.  Getting in her way of finding love is a strange cult.  They want her as well.  The cult thinks she is one of their ‘Zoryas’.   Zoryas cleanse vampires of their evil ways by destroying them with light.  Suddenly Pia is trying to find a balance between the two new worlds she has been thrust into.

While Zen and the Art of Vampires can be read separately from the rest of the series, Pia’s story is unfinished.  If you are a fan of Katie MacAlister then get Zen and the Art of Vampires along with the sequel Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang.  Personally I do not like having vampires, or any man/woman, run away from their destiny with true love so the sequel is on my wish-list.

Katie MacAlister has a website and  is a Twitter. 

I rate this B