Tag Archives: Cravings

Cravings by Laurell K. Hamilton, Mary Janice Davidson, Eileen Wilks & Rebecca York

Book Review, , , , , ,
Overview
cravings

Title: Cravings
Author: Laurell K. Hamilton, MaryJanice Davidson, Eileen Wilks & Rebecca York
In: Cravings (Laurell K. Hamilton, Mary Janice Davidson, Eileen Wilks & Rebecca York)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Short story collections
Dates read: 15th June – 3rd July 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology
Publisher: Jove
Year: 2004
5th sentence, 74th page: He leaned his face over my shoulder, and I caught the sweet scent of his skin.

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Synopsis

Longings in the night…

In the heat of the night, anything goes. Boundaries are crossed and secret yearnings take shape. Creatures stalk the shadows, surrendering to their wildest needs – and satisfying hungers that take their victims beyond fear to the dark edge of desire. Succumb to the pleasure as four of your favorite authors present their favorite characters in all-new tales of bloodlust, of the kind of appetites that must be sated again and again, and of the passion that feeds them…

Thoughts

I bought this book a few years ago to read the World of the Lupi novella between it’s pages. And then I put it away because I was still incredibly new to the genre of paranormal romance. Now, a few years later, a lot more involved in the genre and more than a little obsessed, I decided to pick up this collection again. And boy, was I glad that I did.

All four of these stories have a great paranormal spin to them. They’re tales of passion, romance and lust. Stories that involved a lot more of the paranormal than the passionate. But just enough spice that I still found myself wanting a good male companion for the night. As much as I loved the passion and romance, and in many cases, sheer lust, that jumped off the pages of these stories, I mostly enjoyed the paranormal aspect of the stories. From vampires to werewolves and back again, there were supernatural beings coming out of the wood works. With a little bit of humour, a little bit of darkness and a lot of bang.

 <- Burning Moon ReviewBlood Upon My Lips Review ->
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Burning Moon by Rebecca York

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
cravings

Title: Burning Moon
Author: Rebecca York
Series: Moon #3.5
In: Cravings (Laurell K. Hamilton, Mary Janice Davidson, Eileen Wilks & Rebecca York)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Werewolves
Dates read: 3rd July 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Jove
Year: 2004
5th sentence, 74th page: They only confused her more.

Synopsis

All werewolf Grant Marshall wants to do is rip out the throat of the man who killed his wife–then swim out into the Atlantic Ocean and never come back. He tracks his wife’s killer to a small New Jersey seaside town, where he meets Antonia, a blind tarot card reader–the woman with the power to change his fate.

Thoughts

If you look at my bookshelves, and my romance section, you’ll see that I love books with werewolves and shapeshifters. If they happen to be paranormal romances, I tend to eat them up all that much quicker. There is just something that is so sensual and intense about stories with werewolves… I suppose it’s the animalistic and strong sense that these paranormal creatures bring to their stories. Which of course meant that this was going to be the kind of story in my wheelhouse. The fact that it features a quest for revenge and a blind, tarot-card reading woman just made it that much better.

This as mostly a cute and sweet story. Although, there was a little extra darkness and suspense to the tale than a normal paranormal romance. Most of the romances I’ve read lately are incredibly light and easy to read. This still matched that description, but the idea of hunting down a serial killer aided with creating an extra layer of suspense that I completely lapped up.

To add an extra layer of darkness to this storyline, the motives and voice of the murderer is added. Only about halfway through the novella and it certainly made me glad that I was reading this novella during the day. On a bright, sunny day. A man who preys on women he perceives as disabled is wrong on so many levels. And it made me very unhappy and uncomfortable as I realised he was zeroing in on my favourite blind tarot reader…

<- Originally HumanCravings ->

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Dead Girls Don’t Dance by Mary Janice Davidson

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
cravings

Title: Dead Girls Don’t Dance
Author: MaryJanice Davidson
Series: Undead #1.5
In: Cravings (Laurell K. Hamilton, Mary Janice Davidson, Eileen Wilks & Rebecca York)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Vampires
Dates read: 28th June 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Jove
Year: 2004
5th sentence, 74th page: She coughed out more sand, cursing herself.

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Synopsis

Vampire Andrea Mercer is literally dug up by an old crush, Daniel Harris, and during a trip to Minnesota to see the vampire queen, her desire for him reignites.

Thoughts

This was a funny, cute and easy read. It took me a little longer than most novellas because I was also trying to watch a cute little movie at the same time… but in general, this was just a nice little read. I especially liked that although I thought Andrea was going to be a sweet woman. One who meets her significant other and falls a little in love. I was kind of wrong. Although she does fall for Daniel, she’s not really sweet. She’s kind of a powerhouse. And she’s pushy. And she really refuses to take anyone’s crap.

I haven’t read the first book in this series, this is my first ever Mary Janice Davidson story for that matter. So I really didn’t know what to expect at the end of the story when Andrea finally meets the Queen. Within two sentences I fell completely in love with the woman. And, as always, had to fight the urge to go out and buy the books straight away. Actually, I’m still fighting that urge. Queen Betsy is totally different to any image of a vampire queen that I have ever carried in my head before. And I was completely obsessed with it.

For most people there’s always that “what if” person. That person that you constantly wonder what if something different had happened and we’d gone down that track? Daniel is that person for Andrea, and it’s kind of sweet how he manages to completely except all of the horrors in her new life and finds himself in love with her. The fact that he does so with a healthy dose of humour and a bit of stupidity had me smiling throughout, and clutching the book to my chest after I’d turned the final page.

 <- Blood Upon My Lips ReviewOriginally Human Review ->
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Blood Upon My Lips by Laurell K. Hamilton

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
cravings

Title: Blood Upon My Lips
Author: Laurell K. Hamilton
Series: Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #12.5
In: Cravings (Laurell K. Hamilton, Mary Janice Davidson, Eileen Wilks & Rebecca York)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Vampires
Dates read: 15th June 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Jove
Year: 2004
5th sentence, 74th page: He leaned his face over my shoulder, and I caught the sweet scent of his skin.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide
Synopsis

Anita is attending a friend’s wedding when Nathaniel, her pomme de sang, makes known in no uncertain terms that he wants to take the relationship to the next level. Anita’s subsequent actions take her to a place she has hitherto carefully avoided.

Thoughts

This was kind of a confusing novella. Which, considering I found out after I read it that it’s the condensed version of a novel… kind of completely makes sense. And, even though it wasn’t completely sensical, it was a fun, smutty kind of journey. And one that I would like to discover more about. There was just enough information to enthral me, but not enough to make me feel like I really knew what was going. Which, for a curious girlchild like myself, was the perfect little teaser.

Although this story really pulled me in and made me kind of fascinated, it was a little bit smutty for my preferences. I’m really not into reading about characters with multiple partners, and found that some of the moments when talking about her relationships (yes, as in plural) a bit uncomfortable. The redeeming factor with that though was the fact that Anita, the lead, also felt incredibly uncomfortable with the situation she seemed to have found herself in. Which made me interested enough to add Guilty Pleasures to my wishlist.

 <- Cravings ReviewDead Girls Don’t Dance Review ->
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Originally Human by Eileen Wilks

Book Review, ,

Overview

cravings

Title: Originally Human
Author: Eileen Wilks
Series: World of the Lupi #1.5
In: Cravings (Laurell K. Hamilton)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Animagus, Paranormal romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Jove Fiction
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: I haven’t used magic since I bought us here.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Molly doesn’t look her age. In fact, Molly never will, having already been around for centuries with no signs of wear. That’s because Molly is a succubus—not demonic, but cursed. A victim rather than victimizer—and more than sympathetic to the gorgeous and naked man she finds hiding in the woods. Unlike Molly though, he has no memory of his past—only that he’s being hunted for reasons he can’t explain. Now they must both try and solve the riddle of his origin before his past—or even hers—reaches out of the darkness to destroy them.

Thoughts

This short World of the Lupi story really helped to fill in the gaps of some of what happened to Cullen during Tempting Danger.  Although it wasn’t integral to the understanding of the story, it did help to fill in some gaps as to how Cullen was captured and why. It also provided a little more feedback on the Lupi’s arch nemesis – something that I think will become far more important as the series progresses.

Although Tempting Danger helps to set up the following books and draw you into World of the Lupi, for me, it was Originally Human that has really set up the mystery and overarching battle which I’m sure is to come. Molly’s past and Michael’s creation are intricate puzzle pieces – ones that I’m not quite sure where they fit. This, alongside the romance and passion between them is a great way in which to throw the reader into the figurative storm on the horizon of the Lupi’s tale.

Although this is predominately a paranormal romance with steamy sexual tension, it is Molly’s desire for family and a place to belong that really drew me to her character. She might be the epitome of sexuality, but it is her softness, and kind and caring heart that make you truly fall in love with her character and story.

<- Tempting DangerMortal Danger ->

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