Audio Review ~ Dark Desires After Dusk ~ Kresley Cole #AudioChallenge #ShelfLove #TakeControl

Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole
Immortals After Dark #6
Narrated by: Robert Petkoff
Release Date: February 5, 2013
Genre: Adult, Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased on Audible
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Challenges: #AudioChallenge, #ShelfLove, #TakeControl, #TravelingtoTerminus
Goodreads

Synopsis
A seductive beauty he can never have. Yet can't resist...
Cadeon Woede will stop at nothing to atone for the one wrong that will haunt him forever. But once he secures the key to his redemption, the halfling Holly Ashwin, Cade finds that the woman he thought he could use for his own ends and then forget haunts him as much as his past.

A tormented warrior she should fear, but can't deny...
Raised as a human, Holly never knew that some frightening legends are real until she encounters a brutal demon who inexplicably guards her like a treasure. Thrust into a sensual new world of myth and power, with him as her protector, she begins to crave the demon's wicked touch.

Surrender to dark desires...
Yet just when he earns Holly's trust, will Cade be forced to betray the only woman who can sate his wildest needs--and claim his heart?

It's been a little while since I spent time in the Immortals After Dark world. I've missed it! Dark Desires After Dusk revolves around Cadeon and Holly and the dangers they face while dealing with Holly's rold in a prophecy about the Accession and her being Cadeon's Fated.

Highlights

• Cadeon and Holly
  I've always enjoyed Cadeon the Kingmaker - he's snarky and funny - but getting his whole story helped me understand how he came to be the man...er, demon - he is. And he may be a mercenary but there's so much more to him that he lets on. Holly made me smile. She's this gorgeous math geek who has all these OCD tendencies but once she realizes why she is the way she is - at least in some ways - it's fun to watch her embrace her new self.
• Pacing/Suspense
  The story kept me listening as often as I could with all its adrenaline pumping action. I had to know what was going to happen next, what new hurdle Cadeon and Holly would have to scale, how Cadeon would get himself and Holly out of their latest predicament.
• Humor
  Cadeon provided humor through his reactions to situations he and Holly would find themselves in. Holly was funny at times as well but Nyx - Holly's aunt - that Valkyrie had me rolling with laughter.
• Robert Petkoff
  His narration - the voices and accents for each character which he somehow manages to keep consistent throughout the series - as well as his inflection and pacing...he's just a master! He sets the mood, convey the emotion, makes me laugh as well as gasp. He's definitely one of my all-time favorite narrators!

Dark Desires After Dusk was a more than satisfying installment in the series and I'm eager for the next one!

My TBR List ~ May ~ Polling is Open!

My To-Be Read List is a meme hosted by Michelle @Because Reading. I think it's a fabulous idea because it gets y'all in the game and it helps me knock off some of the many, many books on my TBR list. You're more than welcome to join in the fun! I've included the basic rules below but you can click on the graphic above to hop over to Michelle's site where you can find all the details. 

Here's how it works:
On the first Saturday of each month, I will make a post with three books from my TBR List (these books can be already on your ereader or bookshelf OR books you might want to purchase) and add your link on the linky that will be provided on Michelle's post. Y'ALL will help me choose which book I will read next. The following Saturday, I will announce which book won. Then the last Saturday of the month, I'll post my review.

Fun, right?!?

***

I'm continuing my quest, and working at one of my Bookish Resolutions to catch up on series (since I'm behind in 148 series) I'm once again having y'all decide which series I'm going to work at catching up on this month! :D

FYI, this will be my theme all year. And since I'm letting random.org choose from the list of series I'm behind in, you might see books show up more than once. ;)


Your Choices Are:


Us
Him #2

Synopsis
Can your favorite hockey players finish their first season together undefeated?

Five months in, NHL forward Ryan Wesley is having a record-breaking rookie season. He's living his dream of playing pro hockey and coming home every night to the man he loves--Jamie Canning, his longtime best friend turned boyfriend. There's just one problem: the most important relationship of his life is one he needs to keep hidden, or else face a media storm that will eclipse his success on the ice.

Jamie loves Wes. He really, truly does. But hiding sucks. It's not the life Jamie envisioned for himself, and the strain of keeping their secret is taking its toll. It doesn't help that his new job isn't going as smoothly as he'd hoped, but he knows he can power through it as long as he has Wes. At least apartment 10B is their retreat, where they can always be themselves.

Or can they?

When Wes's nosiest teammate moves in upstairs, the threads of their carefully woven lie begin to unravel. With the outside world determined to take its best shot at them, can Wes and Jamie develop major-league relationship skills on the fly?

Warning: contains sexual situations, a vibrating chair, long-distance sexytimes and proof that hockey players look hot in any shade of green.




Dark Desires After Dusk
Immortals After Dark #6

Synopsis
A seductive beauty he can never have, yet can't resist...
Cadeon Woede will stop at nothing to atone for the one wrong that will haunt him forever. But once he secures the key to his redemption, the halfling Holly Ashwin, Cade finds that the woman he thought he could use for his own ends and then forget haunts him as much as his past.

A tormented warrior she should fear, but can't deny...
Raised as a human, Holly never knew that some frightening legends are real until she encounters a brutal demon who inexplicably guards her like a treasure. Thrust into a sensual new world of myth and power, with him as her protector, she begins to crave the demon's wicked touch.

Surrender to dark desires...
Yet just when he earns Holly's trust, will Cade be forced to betray the only woman who can sate his wildest needs -- and claim his heart?





Turn and Burn
Blacktop Cowboys #5

Synopsis
Tanna Barker is a world champion barrel racer. But her personal life has been less of a success, and she's feeling adrift. After her mother's unexpected death, her father has remarried, and sold the Texas ranch she called hom. Now a rodeo injury has lfet the restless spitfire holed up in Muddy Gap, unsure what her next move should be.

Until she meets her match in a wild, wild cowboy.

Veterinarian August Fletcher has always put his job first. He's never found a woman who could handle his on-the-road lifestyle. But when sassy, sexy Tanna blows into town, he finally finds the woman of his fantasies. And there's something between them, but she claims she's been burned by love 'em and leave 'em road dogs before. How can Fletch prove that he's in it for the long haul, and that their sizzling relationship is better than winning any rodeo medal? It'll take some sweet persuasion to convince Tanna that Muddy Gap is where she belongs.




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#TravelingtoTerminus Audio Review ~ Dark Deeds at Night's Edge ~ Kresley Cole

Dark Deeds at Night's Edge by Kresley Cole
Immortals After Dark #5
Narrated by: Robert Petkoff
Release Date: November 1, 2012
Genre: Adult, Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased on Audible
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Challenges: #TravelingtoTerminus
Goodreads

Synopsis
A RAVEN-HAIRED TEMPTRESS OF THE DARK... Neomi Laress, a famous ballerina from a past century, became a phantom the night she was murdered. Imbued with otherworldly powers but invisible to the living, she haunts her beloved home, scaring away trespassers -- until she encounters a ruthless immortal even more terrifying than Neomi herself. 
A VAMPIRE WARRIOR CONSUMED BY MADNESS... To prevent him from harming others, Conrad Wroth's brothers imprison him in an abandoned manor. But there, a female only he can see seems determined to drive him further into madness. The exquisite creature torments him with desire, leaving his body racked with lust and his soul torn as he finds himself coveting her for his own. 
HOW FAR WILL HE GO TO CLAIM HER? Yet even if Conrad can win Neomi, evil still surrounds her. Once he returns to the brutality of his past to protect her, will he succumb to the dark needs seething inside him?

I was rather looking forward to Conrad Wroth's story. A fallen vampire, I was curious how and if he could be "saved". Despite his story not being a favorite in the series, because of the lack of action, I was nonetheless happy with Conrad's tale.

Conrad has had a difficult vampiric life as he'd sworn his human life to hunting and killing vampires so becoming a thing he hated didn't sit well. Particularly when the group he'd sworn allegiance to turned their sights on him. In his 300 years as a vampire, he's become a highly skilled and feared assassin. And because of the lives he's taken, he's on the brink of madness - a state his brothers are determined to keep at bay. If only they could help him find his Bride.

Enter Neomi. Neomi is a ghost having been murdered in her hoe by a scorned lover. She's "lived" 80+ years in her home unable to leave and unable to speak to anyone...until Conrad. Conrad can see and hear her. At first, neither can understand why, but Conrad eventually determines it's because she's fated for him. Now, I don't typically enjoy a romance where part of the couple is a ghost. However, Kresley handled this situation in a way that worked. Well.

As for the lack of action, well, it made sense of course since Neomi was a ghost and couldn't leave her home. So I was forgiving of the lack of action, especially when we got some towards the end. I also delighted in seeing favorite characters from previous installments, getting hints as to what will come next, and of course, the humor provided through them - especially Nyx.

Robert Petkoff's narration is, as always, top notch and I'm sure a large part of the reason I'm enjoying this series in audio so much. His voices and accents, both male and female, are simply incredible. He keeps the pacing perfectly and he's able to convey emotions so well, he can give me goosebumps.

So even though I missed the action and was leery of a ghost as a love interest, Dark Deeds at Night's Edge was still an excellent installment. I'm anxious to dive into the next!

Audio Review ~ Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night ~ Kresley Cole

Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night by Kresley Cole
Immortals After Dark #4
Narrated by: Robert Petkoff
Release Date: June 5, 2012 by Simon and Schuster Audio
Genre: Adult, Paranormal Romance
Source: Audible credit
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
Her breathless kiss haunts him...
Bowen MacRieve of the Lykae clan was nearly destroyed when he lost the one woman meant for him. The ruthless warrior grew even colder, never taking another to his bed--until a smoldering encounter with his enemy, Mariketa the Awaited, reawakens his darkest desires. When sinister forces unite against her, the Highlander finds himself using all his strength and skill to keep her alive.

His slow, hot touch is irresistible...
Temporarily stripped of her powers, Mari is forced to take refuge with her sworn adversary. It's rumored that no one can tempt Bowen's hardened heart, but soon passion burns between them. Though a future together is impossible, she fears he has no intention of letting her go.

No deed is too wicked for her seduction...
If they defeat the evil that surrounds them, can Mari deny Bowen when he demands her body and soul--or will she risk everything for her fierce protector?

This series just keeps getting better and Robert Petkoff's narration plays a huge role in my enjoyment! He's amazing - keeping all the voices separate and distinct as well as keeping the pace perfect - he's at the top of the list of my favorite narrators.

I was thrilled right off the bat when I started Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night not only because it's Bowen's story but also because it went back to The High - the Lore's version of The Amazing Race - which was the setting for the previous book. Here, rather than seeing only the repercussions, we got to see what actually went down between Bowen and Mari during The High and afterwards.

The intensity and suspense Cole created with the race to return Mari as well as solving a few mysteries - like is Mari really Bowen's mate? - was superb. I went right along thinking one thing and was shocked to find out the truth and to see the layers/levels of deceit that had convoluted Bowen's long life as well as Mari's much shorter one. I also appreciated the importance placed on words - you must be paying attention to every word - especially when Nyx is the speaker. ;)

Being witness to Bowen shaking off the rust on his charm and wooing skills was entertaining. Mari was not easily swayed with words along though watching her fight her attraction to Bowen was fun. But hearing the hurt in her voice when he let her down was heartbreaking.

I think this couple fought hardest for one another - in the series so far - and the payoff was worth it. They each battled insecurity, prejudices, and outside elements like magic. They fought hard and bravely though.

Bowen and Mari might be my favorite couple so far. But I've enjoyed them all. And I really like how Cole seems to be delivering an underlying message about prejudice. I'm extremely eager to get to listening to the next in the IAD series. It's Conrad Wroth's story. :D

Audio Review ~ No Rest for the Wicked ~ Kresley Cole

No Rest for the Wicked by Kresley Cole
Immortals After Dark #3
Narrated by: Robert Petkoff
Release Date: March 20, 2012
Genre: Adult, Paranormal Romance
Source: Audible
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #ShelfLove 2015
Goodreads

Synopsis
Centuries ago, Sebastian Wroth was turned into a vampire - a nightmare in his mind - against his will. Burdened with hatred and alone for ages, he sees little reason to live - until an exquisite, fey creature comes to kill him, inadvertently saving him instead.

When Kaderin the Cold Hearted lost her two beloved sisters to a vampire attack long ago, a benevolent forced deadened her sorrow - accidentally extinguishing all of her emotions. Yet whenever she encounters Sebastian, her feelings - particularly lust - emerge multiplied. For the first time, she's unable to complete a kill.

The prize of a month-long contest is powerful enough to change history, and Kaderin will do anything to win it for her sisters. Wanting only to win her, forever, Sebastian competes as well, taking every opportunity - as they travel to ancient tombs and through catacombs, seeking relics around the world - to use her new feelings to seduce her. But when forced to choose between the vampire she's falling for and reuniting her family, how can Kaderin live without either?

No Rest for the Wicked is my favorite in the IAD series so far. The action and suspense was gut-wrenching, and the interactions between Kaderin and Sebastian were by turns smoldering and humorous. This series keeps getting better.

Kaderin and Sebastian only meet because she heard of a vampire haunting a castle. Since Kaderin is Valkyrie and the Valkyerie have made it a mission to rid the world of vampires, she doesn't mind gong out of her way to dust one. Too bad the one she'd thought to dust is her mate.

Sebastian has lived secluded for centuries so knows nothing of the Lore or the modern world. Kaderin pulls him into the present quickly. Lucky for him, he's a quick study.

That Ms. Cole had Kaderin and Sebastian competing in a Lore contest, The High, was brilliant. Here Sebastian, and the reader, meet other species in the Lore. We also got a glimpse at the lengths some within the Lore would go to in order to win the prize - Kaderin included. The competition added much tension with the danger the contest tasks represented as well as the danger the other contestants posed. And then, of course, there was Sebastian fighting to prove himself worthy of his Bride while she did everything possible to thwart him. 

The other Valkyrie once again provided a lot of comic relief, Regin in particular. I enjoyed getting Kaderin's and Sebastian's history as well as watching them fall for one another despite the draw of being mates. I think that, along with the intense action of The High, are what made this my favorite of the series so far.

Robert Petkoff is amazing. All his accents are spot on. I knew he could rock a Scottish brogue but he nails a Russian accent as well. His pacing and the emotion he conveys had me covered in goosebumps, gasping aloud, crying, and laughing. He's amazing.

I believe the next story is Bowen's and I'm eager to hear it. I know I'm really late to the IAD party but I'm so happy I finally arrived! :D

My TBR List ~ January ~ Let's Vote

My To-Be Read List is a meme hosted by Michelle @Because Reading. I think it's a fabulous idea because it gets y'all in the game and it helps me knock off some of the many, many books on my TBR list. You're more than welcome to join in the fun! I've included the basic rules below but you can click on the graphic above to hop over to Michelle's site where you can find all the details. 

Here's how it works:
On the first Saturday of each month, I will make a post with three books from my TBR List (these books can be already on your ereader or bookshelf OR books you might want to purchase) and add your link on the linky that will be provided on Michelle's post. Y'ALL will help me choose which book I will read next. The following Saturday, I will announce which book won. Then the last Saturday of the month, I'll post my review.

Fun, right?!?

***

To kick off 2016, I'm letting y'all pick my next audio book! 

Your Choices Are:

Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night
Immortals After Dark #4

Synopsis
Her breathless kiss haunts him...
Bowen MacRieve of the Lykae clan was nearly destroyed when he lost the one woman meant for him. The ruthless warrior grew even colder, never taking another to his bed--until a smoldering encounter with his enemy, Mariketa the Awaited, reawakens his darkest desires. When sinister forces unite against her, the Highlander finds himself using all his strength and skill to keep her alive.

His slow, hot touch is irresistible...
Temporarily stripped of her powers, Mari is forced to take refuge with her sworn adversary. It's rumored that no one can tempt Bowen's hardened heart, but soon passion burns between them. Though a future together is impossible, she fears he has no intention of letting her go.

No deed is too wicked for her seduction...
If they defeat the evil that surrounds them, can Mari deny Bowen when he demands her body and soul--or will she risk everything for her fierce protector?




Charming
Seven Series #6.5

Synopsis
After seven hundred years, Prince has acquired everything a Packmaster could desire. But when he meets the enchanting Nadia Kozlov, he realizes that there's one thing he doesn't have: answers. Prince owes his life to a man he hasn't seen in centuries, and Nadia holds the key to his whereabouts, because that man is her father. Destinies collide when Nadia's sister shows up unexpectedly. Katarina is a skilled bounty hunter, hot on the trail of a nefarious outlaw who turns out to be Prince's old nemesis. Prince teams up with Nadia's sister to track down the Mage, but the real game of cat and mouse is already underway as sparks fly between Prince and the cunning bounty hunter. The only trouble is, Nadia wants him too.




Wrong Number, Right Guy
The Bourbon Street Boys #1

Synopsis
When a mysterious text message summons May Wexler to a biker bar in downtown New Orleans, she knows something is very wrong. Her sister has sent out an SOS, but when May gets there, she's nowhere to be found and May is the one in trouble--she's wearing pink espadrilles, she's got a Chihuahua in her purse, and she's in the middle of a shootout.

After tall, muscular Ozzie comes to her rescue, May has no choice to but follow him to safety. At the headquarters of his private security firm, the Bourbon Street Boys, she finds a refuge for the night--and the offer of a job. But it's not long before a gun-toting stalker isn't the only complication in May's life: the more time she spends with Ozzie, the less she can deny that they've got some serious chemistry. A wrong number got her into this mess...Will it also get her the right guy?



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#TravelingtoTerminus Review ~ The Warlord Wants Forever ~ Kresley Cole

The Warlord Wants Forever by Kresley Cole
Immortals After Dark #1
Release Date: November 22, 2011
Genre: Adult, Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased ebook on Nook
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Goodreads

Synopsis
The Warlord
Nikolai Wroth, a ruthless vampire general, will stop at nothing to find his Bride, the one woman who can "blood" him, making his heart beat and filling him with strength. Coldly interested only in the power his Bride will bring, he can hardly believe when Myst the Coveted awakens him body--and soul.

The Seductress
Famed throughout the world as the most beautiful Valkyrie, Myst has devoted her life to protecting a magical jewel and to fighting the vampires. Wroth provides her with the perfect opportunity to torment her sworn enemy--for with his new heartbeat comes a consuming sexual desire that can only be slaked by her. Denying him, she flees, struggling to forget his searing, possessive kiss.

The Hunt is on...
She eludes him for five years, but he has finally chased her to ground and stolen her enchanted jewel, giving him absolute power over her. Now that she's his for the taking, he intends to make her experience first-hand the agonizing, unending lust she subjected him to for half a decade. Yet when Nikolai realizes he wants far more than vengeance from Myst and frees her, will she come back to him?

I began this series out of order, listening to A Hunger Like No Other first, not that it mattered. When I met Myst and Wroth, I was eager to know their history and backstory. 

I read The Warlord Wants Forever, rather than listening to it, because I already owned it in ebook format. For some reason, I had a little trouble getting into the story. I think it was because I felt there were some details I was expected to know that I didn't. However, after that initial bump, I quickly fell into Myst and Wroth's story. And it was a quick read.

Myst meets Nikolai Wroth while playing at being a captive of the Hoard. Apparently, this is something she and her sisters do in order to gather information on the Hoard - oh, and kill vampires.

Because of some Valkyrie history, Myst and her sisters have set about cleansing the world of vampires. So it is rather bothersome that Myst would be the Bride of Nikolai. He is a forbearer, meaning he doesn't take blood from the source in order to maintain his sanity. Myst, having had a crush on Nikolai via stories of his valor and bravery on the battlefield when he was human, doesn't immediately kill him. This gives Nikolai time to woo her. Things don't go according to plan though...

As I said, this is a quick read wherein Myst tries to deny her feelings for Wroth and he attempts to win her. I enjoyed the banter between them and how each didn't throw any punches in trying to get what they wanted.

One thing I'm enjoying about this series is the humor Ms. Cole injects via the eccentricities of the Valkyrie. I'm also eager to learn more about the impending war.

This story wasn't as complex at A Hunger Like No Other but I was happy to know some history on Myst and Wroth as well as their story. And I'm anxious for more.

Audio Review ~ A Hunger Like No Other ~ Kresley Cole #ShelfLove #COYER

A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole
Immortals After Dark #2
Narrated by: Robert Petkoff
Release Date: March 28, 2006
Genre: Adult, Paranormal Romance
Source: Audible
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Goodreads

Synopsis
A mythic warrior who'll stop at nothing to possess her...

After enduring years of torture from the vampire horde, Lachlain MacRieve, leader of the Lykae Clan, is enraged to find the predestined mate he's waited millennia for is a vampire. Or partly one. This Emmaline is a small, ethereal half Valkyrie/half vampire, who somehow begins to soothe the fury burning within him.

A vampire captured by her wildest fantasy...

Sheltered Emmaline Troy finally sets out to uncover the truth about her deceased parents--until a powerful Lykae claims her as his mate and forces her back to his ancestral Scottish castle. There, her fear of the Lykae--and their notorious dark desires--ebbs as he begins a slow, wicked seduction to sate her own dark cravings.

An all-consuming desire...

Yet when an ancient evil from her past resurfaces, will their desire deepen into a love that can bring a proud warrior to his knees and turn a gentle beauty into the fighter she was born to be?

Carmel (@Rabid Reads) has been touting the greatness of Robert Petkoff's narration of this series, so I decided to dive in to see for myself. She was so right. Petkoff does an amazing job with his narration and I see myself becoming addicted to this series.

I loved my introduction to this series and all its supes. Emmaline Troy, the heroine, is a rarity. Part vampire, part Valkyrie, she's grown up learning prejudice against other supes - including the supe she is. When we meet Emma, she's alone in Paris. She's looking for something but what she finds, or rather what finds her, is life-altering.

Lachlan MacRieve has been suffering for over a century at the hands of his vampire enemy. Until he scents her. He's lived for centuries, always seeking the one and now he's found her, nothing will keep him from his mate. But fate has an interesting sense of humor giving him a mate outside his species.

A Hunger Like No Other is essentially the story of Emma and Lachlan getting to know one another and overcoming prejudices. Although, in Emma's case, it's mostly her fear that her aunts won't be able to overcome their own prejudices. And Lachlan pays lip service to his prejudices but realizes in the end that it takes more than that and he hurt Emma in the process.

There's also the vampires that are searching for Emma for an unknown reason.

I liked thinking about Emma, a 70 year old, as a youngster. She'd been sheltered, was naive in many ways, but found her inner-strength as well as her physical strength when it came to fighting for love. The differences between Emma and Lachlan were laughable. Not only are the different species, but they're from different centuries. It was fun to hear and see them try to meet in the technology age. It was sweet to see Lachlan really fall for Emma, too. He had much to overcome with his centuries of hatred toward the creatures that made up half of his Emma.

I also adored meeting the Valkyrie - Emma's aunts, as well as Wroth and Bowen. Cole infused a lot of humor into the story through them. I'm excited about the overarching plot of this series and am eager to see Emma's role in it. And I want to become better acquainted with all the characters I've met.

I'll be reading the next installment, as I already owned it, but I will then return to listening to this series. I'm as hooked on Petkoff as I am on Cole's characters and story.