Tag Archives: Larissa Ione

1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Two by Lexi Blake, Larissa Ione, Lisa Renee Jones & Cherise Sinclair

Book Review, , , , , , ,
Overview

Title: 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Two
Author: Lexi Blake, Larissa Ione, Lisa Renee Jones & Cherise Sinclair
In: 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Two (Lexi Blake, Larissa Ione, Lisa Renee Jones & Cherise Sinclair)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Erotica, Paranormal romance, Short story collections
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology, eBook
Year: 2015

Thoughts

I enjoyed this anthology more than I enjoyed 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle One, but it still wasn’t a collection in which I loved every single novella. Rather, I found that I adored two and was a bit meh about two. Still enough to make me want to continue reading through these anthologies – there are some wonderful gems and new authors to discover with just a turn of the page.

The stories within this collection are fairly intensely sexual at times. Which, depending on my mood and the style in which they are written, can be thoroughly enjoyable, or a little bit too intense. I always love to put myself in uncomfortable mindsets when reading. It’s how I learn and grow. Some of these might even be the kind of uncomfortable I enjoy on a second reading.

Although some of these stories were a little intense, I also loved that all four of them have a common thread. All four of these novellas featured some kind of Dom/Sub relationship, but they were also filled with love and respect, something I really enjoyed. I can’t wait to continue with these anthologies and keep pushing my comfort levels.

<- Silent BiteDungeon Games ->

Image source: Amazon

Azagoth: A Demonica Novella by Larissa Ione

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

Title: Azagoth: A Demonica Novella
Author: Larissa Ione
Series: Demonica #11
In: 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Two (Lexi Blake, Larissa Ione, Lisa Renee Jones & Cherise Sinclair)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Angels, Demons, Paranormal romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2015

Thoughts

I love that this is a novella in which Azagoth, or the Grim Reaper makes a random, spontaneous decision, and it ends up great. I mean, he kind of doesn’t really think through the consequences of his choices, but it does work well. And, it made me remember just why I have enjoyed the writing of Ione and the Demonica series in the few novellas I’ve had the privilege to read thus far. Now I need to read one of the full-length novels…

I feel seriously sorry for Liliana in this story – she is seriously given the short end of the stick, and has to suffer for others’ pride. I may not have loved her situation to begin with, but I love that she finds a really good and beautiful happily ever after. Plus, her happy ever after kind of spits in the face of her tormentors, which made it all that much more enjoyable.

I really enjoy the fact that just because characters are angels, they are not actually ‘good’ and vice versa. It’s a great reminder that just because someone ticks all of the boxes, they are not necessarily ‘good’. And, just because someone doesn’t quite fit people’s expectations of the norm, it doesn’t mean that they are ‘bad’.

<- Dungeon GamesNeed You Now ->

Image source: Amazon

The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2 edited by Trisha Telep

Book Review, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of vampire romance 2 book cover

Title: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2: Love Bites
Author: Trisha Telep, Jordan Summers, Deborah Cooke, Karen MacInerney, Caitlin Kittredge, Dina James, Camille Bacon-Smith, Rosemary Laurey, Patti O’Shea, Angie Fox, Caitlin R. Kiernan, Jamie Leigh Hansen, Carole Nelson Douglas, Diane Whiteside, Jaye Wells, Stacia Kane, Jennifer Ashley, Justine Musk, Jennifer St Giles, Dawn Cook, Nancy Holder, Larissa Ione, Jeanne C. Stein, Tiffany Trent, Ann Aguirre & Devon Monk
Series: Mammoth Books
In: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2 (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Short story collections, Vampires
Dates read: 22nd March – 9th November 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Anthology
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: Le Cirque de la Nuit.

Synopsis

From the biggest names in vampire romance, 25 tales of a hunger like no other.

Bloodthirsty new vampire romance, including thrilling new stories from bestselling and award-winning authors aush as Jordan Summers, Jaye Wells, Larissa Ione, Jeanne C. Stein and Deborah Cooke. You’ll encounter gothic romance and gritty contemporary tales of urban vampire love, from stand-alone short stories to well-loved (and feared) characters from established series.

Ruthless but tortured, gifted with paranormal sensitivity and sexually mesmerizing, vampires show they can be gentle and caring, too.

Forget the everyday world. Forget the rules. Succumb to a different kind of love.

Thoughts

I really think that Twilight kind of ruined the idea of vampires for me. And vampires with romance… it’s something that I’ve taken forever to truly get into. And even now, with this collection, I thoroughly enjoyed it in short bursts. Some of these stories were absolutely amazing. Many others weren’t. And some sat nicely in the middle. Which mostly just made this collection, fun, easy and a great break from reality late at night when I was no longer able to concentrate.

Having said that, the introduction sounds kind of pessimistic. That’s not the case with this book. It’s definitely an anthology that I would suggest to others. And one that I think people would thoroughly enjoy. I’ll probably even read it again in the future – just take my sweet time about it to space out the vampire overload.

As with all of the other Mammoth Books that I’ve read so far, I found this a great introduction to authors. Both new ones, and a reminder that I need to add some previously read authors to my wishlist too. I just need to magically find more money to actually purchase everything that has been added into my list.

<- Untitled 12Paris After Dark ->

Image source: Bookdepository