Review: Playing Easy To Get - Anthology

Playing Easy To Get is an erotic romance anthology that I wanted to read for the story by Kresley Cole which is part of her Immortals After Dark series.  I've heard a lot of good things about Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series for so was also looking forward to trying her B.A.D series.  I've not read anything by Jaid Black before either so this was a good way to try a couple of new to me authors.  Overall I'd say this book is worth reading for the stories by Kresley Cole and Sherrilyn Kenyon but I wasn't that keen on Jaid Black story.  I'd recommend this if you're a fan of any of the authors included in the anthology or if you'd like to try out any of these series or authors.

The stories included in the anthology are:
Turn Up the Heat - Sherrilyn Kenyon
Hunter's Oath - Jaid Black
The Warlord Wants Forever - Kresley Cole

For more information about any of these authors click on their names in the above list to go to their websites.

Turn Up the Heat - Sherrilyn Kenyon
The story of an average woman who wins the vacation of a lifetime - a trip to Sex Camp.  But what Allison George gets is a race for life with none other than an ex-Mafia hit man who is now being sought by his prior employer.  Vince Cappelleti knew the island was a risky proposition, but he'd run out of options.  Now the only thing he wants in his sights is Allison, but in order to have a future with her, he must first deal with his past.

B.A.D Series:
BAD Attitude
Phantom In The Night
Whispered Lies
Silent Truth
Turn Up The Heat (novella in the Playing Easy To Get anthology)
Born to be BAD (3 series related short stories)

Review:
This is the first story I've read in Sherrilyn Kenyon's BAD series and I thought it was an enjoyable story.  When Vince and Allison meet the attraction is instant and things build very quickly between them but you have to expect that in a romance novella when there isn't much time to build a relationship slowly.  I liked both of the main characters and thought they complimented each other well.  I will definitely be checking out more books in this series as I'm very curious to find out more about the Bureau of American Defense and the men and women who work for them.

Hunter's Oath - Jaid Black
Grief-stricken Sofia Rowley is in the Arctic Circle, where her brother, a U.S Army officer, was lost in a deadly helicopter crash.  She's about to take a shocking journey into a secret underground world where Viking bride-hunters auction off their bounty...and where a strapping warrior vows to make this beautiful Outsider his.

Vikings Underground Series:
Besieged (novella in The Hunted anthology)
Hunter's Right (novella in the Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down anthology)
Hunter's Oath (novella in the Playing Easy To Get anthology)
Deep Dark and Dangerous

Review:
This was my least favorite story in the anthology - I just didn't like the way the heroine Sofia is kidnapped and then sold as a Bride in a a secret underground Viking world she was taken to.  The "Brides" are basically given no choice in the matter and might as well be being sold into slavery.  Force fed an aphrodisiac before the auction she has no choice but to consumate her new marriage unless she wants to be in unbearable pain.  I found the whole thing completely unbelievable and it just wasn't my kind of story.  I don't think I'll be reading any more of this series.

The Warlord Wants Forever - Kresley Cole
Nikolai Wroth, a ruthless vampire warlord, searches for his Bride - the one woman who can render him truly alive.  When his fevered chase leads to Myst the Coveted, a Valkyrie seductress who craves only freedom, a battle of domination and desire begins.  Will the power of her seductive wiles overcome his strenght?  Or will she surrender and experience the deliciously agonizing lust that Nikolai has endured waiting for his one and only Bride?

Immortals After Dark Series:
The Warlord Wants Forever (novella in the Playing Easy to Get anthology)
A Hunger Like No Other
No Rest for the Wicked
Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night
Dark Needs at Night's Edge
Dark Desires After Dusk
Kiss of a Demon King
Deep Kiss of Winter
Pleasure of a Dark Prince
Demon from the Dark (August 2010)

Review:
This story was the main reason I wanted to read the anthology as I've already read the next 3 books in the Immortals After Dark series and it was my favorite story in the book.  I have to confess that I wasn't that keen on Myst at the start of the story but she did grow on me as I got to know her better and I really liked Wroth from the beginning.  This is a great introduction to the series if you haven't started reading it yet and it's a series I would definitely recommend to paranormal romance fans.

Source: Library

Other Reviews:
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Review: Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night - Kresley Cole

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?

Immortals After Dark Series:
The Warlord Wants Forever (Novella in the Playing Easy to Get anthology)
A Hunger Like No Other
No Rest for the Wicked
Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night
Dark Needs at Night's Edge
Dark Desires After Dusk
Kiss of a Demon King
Deep Kiss of Winter
Pleasure of a Dark Prince
Demon from the Dark (August 2010)

For more information visit Kresley Cole's website

Review:
Bowen is taking part in the Talisman's Hie (the immortal version of the amazing race) hoping to win a prize that will let him go back in time to save the life of his mate Mariah who died in a tragic accident years ago.  Bowen has grieved and searched for a way to save her ever since but this is the closest he has ever come to making his dream come true and he is determined to win at any cost.  Mariketa (Mari) is a witch who is also entered in the contest, hoping to prove her ability to the rest of her race.  When Bowen is attracted to Mari, the first time he has felt something for anyone since he lost is mate, he believes she must have cast a spell on him.  Disgusted with himself for feeling attracted to her he traps her, along with other participants in the Hie and leaves her.  When her family threaten war against the Lykae (werewolves) if she is not safely returned to them he has no choice but to rescue her and bring her home.  Can he get her back in time?  Will she remove the spell she has cast on him?  Will he find a way to bring Mariah back to him or will his attraction to Mari win over the desire to find his lost love?

Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night is the third book in the Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole and I would recommend reading the series in order.  We have already met Bowen in the previous books and this book does actually start before the ending of the previous one allowing us to see the same events from a different perspective.  If you've not already read book 2 (No Rest for the Wicked) this story would include spoilers.

I have to say that I put off starting this book because I didn't think I was going to like Bowen much from what I've seen of him in previous stories.  I wish I'd read it sooner because I actually found myself really liking him.  This is one of my favorite books in the series so far & Bowen is up there with the best of Kresley Cole's heroes.  I also really liked Mari, she is a powerful witch but is still young and learning how to use her powers.  She comes across as quite vulnerable at times but she is also prepared to fight back when she needs to.  I enjoyed watching the relationship developing between them and there were times when I really wasn't sure how they would manage to sort things out.

I have to mention how much I liked the demons Rydstrom and Cade, I'm really hoping that we'll get to read both of their stories later on in the series!  Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night was a great installment to a series that I'm liking more and more with every book.  If you've not yet discovered the series then I'd recommend it to all fans of paranormal romance, especially if you like an action packed plot to go along with the romance.  Although I felt the series got off to a bit of a shaky start it is improving with every book and I'm looking forward to seeing where Kresley Cole takes us next.

Source: Library

Other Reviews:
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Review: No Rest for the Wicked - Kresley Cole

A Vampire soldier weary of life...

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.

A Valkyrie assassin dispatched to destroy him...
When Kaderin the Cold Hearted lost her two beloved sisters to a vampire attack long ago, a benevolent force 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.

Competitors in a legendary hunt...
The course will take them through ancient tombs and catacombs, seeking relics around the world, and the prize for victory is powerful enough for Kaderin to change history and prevent her sisters' deaths.  Sebastian competes as well, and begins winning - her.  But when forced to choose between Sebastian and reuniting her family, how can Kaderin live without either?

Immortals After Dark Series:
The Warlord Wants Forever (Novella in the Playing Easy to Get anthology)
A Hunger Like No Other
No Rest for the Wicked
Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night
Dark Needs at Night's Edge
Dark Desires After Dusk
Kiss of a Demon King
Deep Kiss of Winter
Pleasure of a Dark Prince
Demon from the Dark (August 2010)

For more information visit Kresley Cole's website

Review:
Kaderin is a cold hearted Valkyrie who has made her life's work killing vampires ever since loosing her sisters a thousand years ago.  Unable to cope with the sorrow of their deaths she prayed to be spared and ever since has felt no emotions - either good or bad.  Sebastian was turned into a vampire against his will and has spent over 300 years wishing to die.  When Kaderin is sent to kill Sebastian it should be simple but for the first time ever she finds herself unable to kill a vampire.  Sebastian almost immediately recognises Kaderin as his Bride (soul mate) and finds in her a reason to live again.  Kaderin on the other hand is horrified to find herself attracted to a vampire - one of her sworn enemies and tries to run away from her feelings.

Taking part in the Hie - a quest for immortals that includes all kinds of difficult tasks - Sebastian wants to win to prove his worth to Kaderin.  Kaderin is the champion though & doesn't want anyone's help, having won the last 5 competitions on her own, but this time the prize is something that she is desperate to win - a way to save her sisters - and it looks like she is going to need to work with Sebastian if she wants the prize.

Although I liked A Hunger Like No Other I found I enjoyed No Rest For The Wicked even more.  I liked Sebastian immediately and found him a much more lovable hero than Lachlain.  Kaderin I found harder to like but she did grow on me as I learnt more about her history and as she began to change with the return of her feelings.  I thought the developing relationship between Sebastian & Kaderin was very well done and I loved the passion between them both.  I liked the fact that even though Sebastian knew she was his Bride he wasn't immediately confessing undying love for Kaderin but felt they would grow to love each other in time.

I enjoyed the action in the sub plot of the Hie, it added an extra element to the story and made it different from any other paranormal romance book I've read before.  As with the first book there is still a large cast of characters but I'm finding it much easier to keep track of who everyone is now now I'm more immersed in the world Kresley Cole has created.  Overall I felt that No Rest For The Wicked was a great continuation of the series - one I enjoyed even more than the last book & I'm looking forward to seeing where the series goes from here.  I can't wait to start the next book!

Source: Library

Other Reviews:
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Review: A Hunger Like No Other - Kresley Cole

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 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?

Immortals After Dark Series:
The Warlord Wants Forever (Novella in the Playing Easy to Get anthology)
A Hunger Like No Other
No Rest for the Wicked
Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night
Dark Needs at Night's Edge
Dark Desires After Dusk
Kiss of a Demon King
Deep Kiss of Winter
Pleasure of a Dark Prince
Demon from the Dark (August 2010)

For more information visit Kresley Cole's website

Review:
Lachlain suffered unbearable torture at the hands of the vampire horde for 150 years before finally escaping when he senses his true mate is near by.  After everything he has been through and the pain he suffers trying to escape he is horrified to discover that his mate is a vampire.  But he has been waiting for 1000 years to find his true mate and isn't prepared to let her slip away from him even if she is part of a race that he despises.  Emmaline isn't just your average vampire, she is actually half Valkyrie and has been raised by her Valkyrie aunts since her mother's death when she was just a baby.  She has lived a sheltered life, always feeling different because of her vampire heritage and has set out to find out more about her parents and try to discover who her father is.  When she is taken hostage by Lachlain she is terrified of him but agrees to help him get to his home in Scotland because he promises that he will let her go home if she does.  Little does she know that she is his mate and he has no plans to ever let her escape from him.

I'd heard a lot of great things about this series and was really looking forward to reading A Hunger Like No Other but at the beginning I really wasn't too sure if I'd be able to finish reading it.  I understand that Lachlain has survived horrific torture but when he practically forces himself on Emmaline within minutes of meeting her it made me feel quite uncomfortable & I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to like him as the hero of the story.  Emmaline (known as Emma the timid by her family) starts off as a very weak and mild character and again I wasn't sure that she was going to make very good heroine material.

However, I'm very pleased that I persevered with the story - both Lachlain and Emma grow a great deal throughout the story and I enjoyed watching their relationship progress as Lachlain grew to care for Emma and she finally found her backbone.  We were teased quite a bit before they finally consummated their relationship but when they finally did it was worth the wait and the action between them was very steamy.

I did find myself getting a bit confused about the world Kresley Cole has created and the number of characters made it difficult to keep up with who was who to start with but I felt that I'd got to grips with it by the end of the book.  There is a novella in the anthology Playing Easy To Get that comes before this book in the series so perhaps if I'd read that first I would have found it a little less confusing.  I'm definitely planning on reading the anthology along with the rest of the series though.  Although there were a few things that irritated me I did find myself really enjoying A Hunger Like No Other by the end and am looking forward to re-visiting this world again in future books.  Overall this was a great start to the series and I'm curious to see where it will take me.  I've not read anything with Valkyrie's in before and I found them an interesting addition to the genre.  I'd definitely recommend paranormal romance fans give this book a try but if like me you aren't too sure at the beginning please keep reading - it is worth it in the end.

Source: Library

Other Reviews:
Chrissie's Corner
Tynga's Reviews
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.