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Twimom227

That's What I'm Talking About

I generally review romance, paranormal and urban fantasy. I tend to pick review books that I want to read, so generally my reviews will be positive. I always give my honest opinion: good, bad, and indifferent. 

 

Note: on my blog I use a letter grading system. I've listed the ratings below. For sites with stars, I have listed the equivalent rating. If I didn't finish the book, I will not rate it with stars.

 

A+  Personal Favorite (5 stars)
A    Loved It (4.5 or 5 stars)
A-   Enjoyed A Lot (4 or 4.5 stars)
B+  Liked It A Lot (4 stars)
B    Liked It -- Recommend (4 stars)
B-   Liked It -- But I had a few small issues (3 or 3.5 stars)
C+  Liked It -- But I had issues (3 or 3.5 stars)
C    Finished It -- Liked some, didn't like some (3 stars)
C-   Finished It -- Liked a little, didn't like a lot (2 or 2.5 stars)
D    Not A Big Fan (2 stars)
E    Don’t Waste Your Time (1 star)
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TW: Reading this book was like watching a Train Wreck
DNF: Did Not Finish

 

updated July 9, 2015

Currently reading

Operation: Endgame (Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Book 6) (English Edition)
Philippa Ballantine, Jeanne H. Ballantine, William Morris
Just You and Me (A Contemporary Romance Collection)
Fiona Miers, Caitlyn Lynch, Liz Durano, Deelylah Mullin, Cate Farren, Jacquie Biggar, Vicki Batman, Kate Richards, Brenna Zinn, Dalton Diaz, Tierney O'Malley, Desiree Holt, Nicole Morgan, Ashlyn Chase
Bitter Bite: Elemental Assassin, Book 14
Audible Studios, Jennifer Estep, Lauren Fortgang
Progress: 27 %
Dark Desires After Dusk - Kresley Cole OH... this is my favorite IAD book so far! We’ve seen demon prince, Cadeon (Cade) admire and long for his one true mate, Holly, from afar in previous stories. Knowing that he could never be with her, yet remaining loyal to her was romantic and a bit heartbreaking, and it helped shape Cadeon’s Heroic Persona. Also adding to this is the fact that Cade is weighed down by a massive guilt complex, believing he is responsible for losing his brother Rydstrom’s, kingdom to an evil sorcerer (Omort). So when Cade is told that he can help win back the kingdom’s crown for his brother by finding and turning over the female “vessel” to said evil sorcerer’s brother (Groot), Cade is ready to hunt for her. A Vessel is a female from Lore (the so call “mythological” creatures), who will give birth to the ultimate good or bad guy during the upcoming Accession (read “World War” for the Lore). So what a surprise to both Cade and Holly when they find out that sweet human Holly is actually part Valkyrie and the Vessel.

Right from the start this book is screaming with action and amazing sexual tension. Maybe it’s because Cade’s desire for his Holly has been mentioned in earlier stories, but I felt the spark between this pair right from the get go. I loved how the book opened with Holly transforming into a Valkyrie and that she is forced to jump into a world she knew nothing about. Holly maintains a wonderful balance of her old human self and new Lore female - clinging to her fears and O/C tendencies, while slowly allowing her Valkyrie nature to take root and develop. Ms. Kole does a marvelous job with Holly’s character - giving her time to freak out, accept the changes, then slowly shed the past, realizing that her Valkyrie self was actually there all along.

The pair is on the run from other Lore factions that want to impregnate Holly (the Vessel) for themselves. Cade misleads Holly into believing she could reverse her transformation so that he can take her to Groot. While Cade protects Holly because she is a commodity, he knows in his soul that it’s more because she is his mate. As the two continue their journey to Groot, they begin to fall in love. But it’s not a smooth road - especially since Cade has been lying to Holly. While I’m usually not a fan of the “I’ll hide the truth and use you, but then I fall in love and oops, I’m an ass” storyline, it really works in Dark Desires After Dusk. The tension doesn’t feel forced or insurmountable. Both characters have an underlying honesty and goodness that shines through and creates a wonderful Hero and Heroine combination.

While this story could be read stand alone, I feel that there is more emotional impact from reading the series as a whole. Ms. Cole carefully plants seeds in each book that blossom as time progresses. I am now understanding why everyone has been recommending the IAD Series to me for so long. The series is exciting, sexy, and fun...and Dark Desires After Dusk is a solid A in my book!

My Rating: 4.5 Stars: Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)