Erotic Romance Reading Challenge - 2010

In one of my jaunts through blogland, I came across the Erotic Romance Reading Challenge 2010 from Erotic Horizon. Interesting, and sounds right up my alley! I can tell that this is going to be such fun.

Also, the requirement isn't hard to achieve. Just read TEN erotic romances in 2010 and you also get to discuss it with like-minded people. I'm also the 32nd person to join. For more complete details on the challenge, head on over to Erotic Horizon. And grab the above button for your blog or website if you want to participate.

I was able to drag Shana into this with me, so each of us are gonna list down 10 books each. (July 2010 Update: Since Shana has retired from blogging, I'd decided to update her part, and hope she'll still be able to complete this as there's about 5-1/2 months to go!)

This is also the post where we're going to list the erotic romance books we've read in 2010.

Shana:

1. Sex Drive by Susan Lyons
2. Morning Star by Roslyn Hardy Holcomb
3. Playing for Real by Madison Blake
4. Laid Bare by Cerise Deland
5. Perhaps Love by Madison Blake
6.

Silver:

1. Savage Lessons by Moira Rogers
2. Another Night, Another Dream by Mechele Armstrong
3. Lilac by Louisa Trent
4. In Training by India Masters
5. Holiday Bound by Beth Kery
6. Settler's Mine 5: The Man by Mechele Armstrong
7. Firsts by Rosalie Stanton
8. Breaking Free by Cherise Sinclair
9. Another Dream, Another Reality by Mechele Armstrong
10. The Initiation of Isabella by Jenna Ives

Top Picks for 2nd Half 2009

Since we're just starting, it's not all that hard to come up with our Top Picks for the 2nd Half of 2009. Most are reviewed by Silver, who is really a prolific reader and reviewer. (That would have come out so much better if I weren't the one writing this. LOL) So, anyway, on to the top picks:

The writing flows, and I was charmed by the first part of the book and let's face it, mainly by Julian, the hero.

Full Review

No doubt about it. I love, love, love Leo Marsden. The way he loved Bryony is inspiring, and their story is soooo romantic. Love the last paragraph.

Full Review

This story is short, wildly romantic and sweetly poignant.

Full Review

Love the way Alexandra Ivy was able to draw you into her world and not letting go till the last page. I was also fascinated by Jagr. Yummy hero! Not to mention his vulnerability touched something in me. Why are we women always such suckers for men in need? LOL

Full Review

Coming Soon Books - January 2010

Here at The Raving Readers, we are looking forward to the following books in January 2010 and expect the TBB and TBR piles to increase by several inches. Aren't they tall enough yet? Apparently not. :)

Silver said they could use the additional inches. So anyway, here they are:

Holiday Greetings

Soon, 2009 is ending, and 2010 is upon us. New year's resolutions, anyone? I'm not good with those, so I'll forego them this year. No use thinking and making some, only to find I can't keep them at all before January is even over. What I'll do instead, is to think over 2009 and count my blessings.

In tomorrow's post, we'll be featuring the January 2010 books that we here at The Raving Readers are looking forward to.

REVIEW: Savage Need by Moira Rogers

ISBN 978-1-60521-241-8

Series: Temple of Luna, Book 2

(c) 2009, Changeling Press

Moira Roger's website

Buy Links (ebook): Changeling Press, Fictionwise

"Wildly romantic, sweetly poignant, not to be missed!"

Zahra is a priestess and healer at the Temple of Luna, but mainly a healer. Priestesses take care of the savage needs of the werewolf warriors, and as a healer, she heals her fellow priestesses and anyone else in need. Her services becomes sorely needed by Jarek, whose mind was shattered by a traumatic event.

Jarek is known for being an excellent and coolheaded healer, trained in both werewolf magic and human medicines. But when an injury left him with no knowledge of himself or his family, the only thing he had to go on was the familiar scent of the woman he longed to claim.

Bree and Donna, the writing team that is Moira Rogers, write hot, compelling stories, as they continue the story they began in Savage Possession, the first book in the series. Savage Need, despite the title, is a very romantic story, especially the scene after Jarek recovered his senses. Jarek just about tears my heart apart, with his pain and vulnerability. I like Zahra much, much more than Avani, the heroine in Savage Possession. Her submission to Jarek is very sexy and sweet, exactly what he needed to heal. In fact, there's a rather poignant quality to Zahra's and Jarek's relationship and their interaction with each other that touched the heart.

I'm glad there will be more Temple of Luna books in the future, the next one coming in January 2010. Not much waiting left!

Readers should take note that this title contains scenes of bondage and dominance.

Rating: 5 stars

Buy Links (ebook): Changeling Press, Fictionwise

REVIEW: Hunter's Need by Shiloh Walker

ISBN 978-0-425-23150-0

Series: Hunter Series

(c) December 2009, Berkley Sensation, Penguin Group

Shiloh Walker's website

Buy Links (paper): Amazon, Book Depository, Barnes and Noble
Buy Link (ebook): Barnes and Noble Ebook

"Well-written, Hunter's Need is a fascinating tale of vengeance and a race against time"

Psychic Analise Morrell stumbled upon a mystery up in Alaska where she lived, where the ghosts of murdered girls battered at her psychic shields. She didn't know why they chose to disturb her, but something in the mountains made her uneasy, which prompted her to call the Hunters for help.

The Hunters are a group of special men and women with extraordinary powers that help them right a terrible wrong. Hunters include psychics, witches, weres, vamps, shifters, etc. However, although Ana is a psychic, her powers aren't strong enough for her to become a Hunter.

She didn't expect the assigned Hunter to be Duke Lawson, the shifter she betrayed years ago when she lured him into the clutches of a feral vamp. Though he was later rescued after undergoing unimaginable torture, Ana was forever swamped with a conflicting mix of desire and guilt with the certainty that Duke hated her.

For his part, Duke could understand Ana's motivations for her betrayal, though he couldn't agree with her methods. He was mostly angry at himself for what he deemed was foolishness on his part, for being so clouded with lust for her that he wasn't aware she was leading him into danger. Foolish because he still lusted after her so many years later and despite what she'd done to him.

Shiloh Walker has written a fascinating and horrific tale of ghosts seeking for vengeance against their killer and the characters' race to identify him before he killed another girl. The world is also a fascinating one, with the concept of a powerful group of men and women battling evil forces in the world and trying to make things right, kinda like the X-Men. That said men and women also have their own personal issues they should go through make it intriguing. Though Hunter's Need is generally well-written, especially toward the end, the story didn't quite resonate with me, maybe because the characters didn't quite click with me.

The reason may be because some of the characters' actions didn't seem logical to me. Like, there's this scene in the middle of the book, when Duke arrived in Alaska due to Ana's call for help, and they met for the first time in a year. I would've have thought they'd discuss the case first since that was the reason for his being there and the reason she called for help from the Hunters, but no. They had to indulge in their lust for one another. And this being Ana's first time, Duke wasn't even gentleman enough to do it on the bed. No, the floor is fine, because he's in a hurry. Well, that, and maybe because he didn't care enough about Ana, since she betrayed him, so she deserved to be uncomfortable. I'm sure that's not how the author meant to portray it, but that's the impression I got.

This is the first book in the series I read, so that may have a bearing on the level of my enjoyment of this book. However, although the book does refer to things that has happened in the past, which I assumed were detailed in previous books, the author did a good job of highlighting the events without info dumping and drawing you right into the heart of the conflict.

Rating: 3 stars

Buy Links (paper): Amazon, Book Depository, Barnes and Noble
Buy Link (ebook): Barnes and Noble Ebook

REVIEW: Serengeti Heat by Vivi Andrews

ISBN 978-1-60504-613-6

Series: Serengeti Shifter Series, Book 1
(c) 2009, Samhain Publishing

Vivi Andrews' website

Buy Links (ebook): Samhain Publishing, Fictionwise, Barnes and Noble Ebook

"Fabulously well-done lion shifter story, full of heat and romance!"

Ava Minor is secretly in love with Landon King, the alpha of her pride, for months. However, buoyed by her own insecurities, she avoids him, thinking he'd never notice a small lioness like her.

Landon doesn't know Ava existed, until the night her heat draws him, and all he could think of is to make her his. She may be good for a tumble, but when it comes time for him to pick a lioness as mate, who would he choose?

Serengeti Heat is a fabulously well-done lion shifter story, full of heat and romance. I have to admit, it's Ava's angst that drew me in, and the thought of a small beta lioness felling a powerful alpha male like Landon is darn nigh impossible to resist. Happily, Vivi Andrews is a master at her craft, and Serengeti Heat keeps me on a contented afterglow for hours after I finished reading it.

Though Ava is a beta, she's not a pushover, and we see the sparks in her personality that caused Landon to admire her. Yet, the pride holds fast to traditional ways and values. How could Landon convince the pride that the mate of his heart is good for the group and their progress? I won't tell you, since that will spoil the story for you.

The one thing that bothered me in this otherwise perfect story is the return of the two malcontents. I feel that that scene could've been handled in a more satisfactory manner. However, this small thing is not enough to hinder my enjoyment in reading this story. This is a short, fun read that is good for that two hours—or three—in the afternoon when you're bored and want to find some exciting story to read.

Rating: 5 stars

Buy Links (ebook): Samhain Publishing, Fictionwise, Barnes and Noble Ebook

REVIEW: Darkness Unleashed by Alexandra Ivy

ISBN 978-1-4201-0297-0

Series: Guardians of Eternity, Book 5
(c) November 2009, Zebra, Kensington Publishing Corp
Alexandra Ivy's website

Buy Links (paper): Amazon, Book Depository, Barnes and Noble

Buy Link (ebook): Barnes and Noble Ebook

"Alexandra Ivy has me hooked on this series, craving it like I would the finest chocolates."

Alexandra Ivy created a winner with this combination of sexy, gorgeous hero, a courageous heroine who's more than a match for him, sly humor, action, magic and hot passion guaranteed to sizzle a page or two.

Regan, kidnapped and abused from young, is a pureblood Were who was finally rescued from her kidnapper, Culligan. However, when Culligan escaped, she vowed not to rest until she has him in her grasp and exacts her revenge. However, she didn't account for Jagr, a smokin' hot vamp who fired her blood the moment she set eyes on him.

Sexy, gorgeous, muscled, virile hero (really, any other description for a hero, anyone?) Jagr, a reclusive vampire who had been tortured for centuries, is sent to bring Regan back home to her sister in Chicago. However, he understood her need for revenge, having undergone the same thing himself years ago. Attracted and unable to help himself, he joined forces with her to track down her ex-kidnapper.

Ms. Ivy's world is one wherein demons (referring to vamps, weres, imps and just about anything non-human) live under the humans' noses in disguises or passed themselves out as humans. I think the premise here is that the humans generally don't know that the demons live among them, except for some special people, such as those who had been in the service of the demons for years as caretakers, housekeepers, etc. Vamps belong to clans and weres to packs, and there exist a sort-of harmony/peace between the two tribes, but it only takes for something to happen and an all-out war would flare between them. There are other demons, of course, such as imps, trolls, gargoyles, etc. Nothing new in this nor in the way both main characters fight their attraction to one another, but the story has more twists and turns than a labyrinth which surprised me in a pleasant way.

There are lots more things I love about this book. There's the strong heroine and her humor and the real issues Regan brought to the relationship. There's the way Regan's character grew and developed over the course of the story, in the way meeting Jagr changed her and the way she suddenly realized how her priorities have changed. There's the way Jagr opened up a bit about himself to Regan early on in the book (about 100 pages into the book) and it is as a result of this that they have their first intimate moment. All too often in some books, sex happened for no reason other than that it's time to have a sex scene. And there's the way Jagr oozed all those protective male testosterone... *melts* He's utterly yummy.

And regarding the descriptions, we have an insight into the way each character viewed the other party toward the middle of the book. Yes, they're still attracted to the other's physical attributes, but there's something more, something deeper.

Regan on Jagr: Icily aloof and yet so terribly vulnerable. Strong and yet tender. Raw, ruthless power with the soul of a scholar.

Jagr on Regan: His tiny Were, with the soul of a warrior and the innocence of an angel.

Apparently, like all the heroines in the series, I also like Levet! I'm sure I'm not the only reader with this sentiment. He provided comic relief, and I'm certain there was once or twice when he stole the scene completely from the main characters. I'm eager to read the other books, if only for Levet, but that's not the entire reason. Ms. Ivy has me absolutely hooked on this series.

I'm happy to say that this book is a standalone and it's not necessary to read the other books in order to understand it, since this is my first Guardians of Eternity book as well. But I'm getting the other books while I wait for Salvatore's story.

Rating: 5 stars

Buy Links (paper): Amazon, Book Depository, Barnes and Noble

Buy Link (ebook): Barnes and Noble Ebook

REVIEW: Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione

ISBN 978-0-446-40103-6 
Series: Demonica, Book 1
(c) 2008, Forever Imprint,Grand Central Publishing
Larissa Ione's website 

Buy Links (paper): Amazon, Book Depository, Barnes and Noble
Buy Link (ebook): Barnes and Noble Ebook

"An awesome start to a new paranormal series!"

Larissa Ione crafted a rich, unique, spellbinding world of demons, wargs and vampires that drew me in long after I've finished reading the book. Her demons are the good guys, hot (hot, hot, hot!), gorgeous, wicked, witty males whose mega-watt smiles are guaranteed to melt the bones of any female they meet. (Seems to be every female.) Her writing flowed with non-stop action and conflict, keeping the tension carefully on the edge. Each scene, seemingly small and insignificant, plays an essential part in the bigger picture.

Eidolon, our demon hero, is a doctor at Underground General Hospital, a facility he built that catered to the needs of demons. Whoever thought demons would do that? In fact, his two younger brothers are involved as well--Shade is a paramedic and Wraith is a procurer of rare artifacts and potions that aimed to bring about healing. Though Eidolon is the hero of this book, the different personalities of the other characters shone through, and their interactions are real and genuine. You could see that his brothers mean a lot to Eidolon, no matter how they difficult they are and how they made his life hell. Literally.

Take, for example, Wraith, the youngest brother. There's one situation wherein he made me laugh out loud.

Wraith rubbed his hands together in cheesy horror-movie glee. "Join us or die." He grinned. "I've always wanted to say that."

Now, you wouldn't catch Eidolon saying that, no matter the many cracks he made throughout the entire book.

As a Seminus demon, a rare breed of incubi, Eidolon couldn't resist any aroused female. More so when he is nearing the Change, the final maturation stage of a Seminus demon's life, after which he is able to procreate and shapeshift into the male of any demon species. Needless to say, he is resisting the Change, because without a mate, he will turn into some sort of insane sex monster and lose his personality. At the same time, a demon-organ harvesting operation is going on, killing friends and family, and being a principled demon (sounds like an oxymoron), he vows to get to the bottom of things and put down the operation for good.

He has reasons for suspecting the Aegis, demon slayers and general scourge of demons, of being behind the operation, of which Tayla Mancuso is one, Tayla, the sexy female whom he couldn't get to orgasm.

And Eidolon is insulted and challenged to try until he succeeds.

Unfortunately, Tayla doesn't like demons, hates them in fact. Demons are evil and the world is better off with them dead, especially after the way a demon killed her mother when she was sixteen. Tough, no-nonsense and strong, Tayla gives as good as she gets, though she can't help falling under Eidolon's spell. At times, she wonders if it is her own attraction to Eidolon (considering that he's a demon and she hates them) or merely the Seminus demon working his spell on her.

Though Eidolon and Tayla are strong characters, it's easy to empathize with them, because we see their struggles and conflicts, their thoughts and emotions, their weaknesses and redeeming characteristics. Complex, complicated characters like them generated fireworks especially when there's inherent conflict in their situations, and oh man, the sex scenes are way too hot to describe. The only place where I was jarred out of the book was the scene after the battle toward the end. The happenings in the aftermath was kinda...awkward, to say the least.

Pleasure Unbound abounds with more twists and turns than a mountainous road, and it's the journey toward the end that provides all the fun. However, the end is not yet in sight, because there are four more books and one novella to devour--lots more enjoyable reading time ahead!

Rating: 5 stars

Buy Links (paper): Amazon, Book Depository, Barnes and Noble
Buy Link (ebook): Barnes and Noble Ebook

Treasure Ahoy!

I can't believe I haven't read this author before! I picked up this book by Jacquie D'Alessandro, Tempted At Midnight, on a whim. I wasn't even particularly tempted by the summary on the back cover, because there are hints that a vampire's involved, and I'm not a fan. But then, I turned to the first chapter and started reading...and I was hooked. I love me a good story, and this sounds like one. Moreover, Logan (the hero) appeared to be human, since he's out in broad daylight. ;)

I've only read about halfway through, but I'm happy to say I wasn't mistaken. I love the scene where Emily and Logan took a long walk and had an interesting and illuminating conversation. I was totally charmed, especially by Logan. Okay, I'll stop or I'll have nothing to say for the review post.

Checking out the author's website made me realize I've read the last book first! No wonder Emily's other friends are all married to the loves of their lives. It doesn't matter, because I'm checking out the other books as soon as I'm done with this one!

So, my TBR pile grows by another three books (and I'm not promising to read them in order):

Sleepless At Midnight

Confessions At Midnight

Seduced At Midnight

I wonder what "midnight" has to do with the stories. ;)