Editorial Review

It’s the final night of her summer job on Maui. Her last chance to see him alone. Maggie plans to make it a night she’ll never forget—one of amazingly hot sex with her coworker Gabe.Gabe wishes he’d said something sooner, taken their friendship to the next level. He’s more than willing to slip away with Maggie for a private farewell. But he’s the one all the other summer workers turn to when the party gets too wild, and this is definitely the wildest party of the summer. Is the island big enough for them to escape their meddling friends and release the passion burning inside them?You can catch up with Gabe and Maggie when they meet again fifteen years later, in Maui Rekindled. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from Diana Gabaldon's An Echo in the Bone.

Eagerly anticipated by her legions of fans, this sixth novel in Diana Gabaldon’sbestselling Outlander saga is a masterpiece of historical fiction from one of themost popular authors of our time.

Since the initial publication of Outlander fifteenyears ago, Diana Gabaldon’s New York Times bestselling saga has won the hearts ofreaders the world over — and sold more than twelve million books. Now, A Breath ofSnow and Ashes continues the extraordinary story of 18th-century Scotsman Jamie Fraserand his 20th-century wife, Claire.

The year is 1772, and on the eve of the AmericanRevolution, the long fuse of rebellion has already been lit. Men lie dead in thestreets of Boston, and in the backwoods of North Carolina, isolated cabins burn inthe forest.

With chaos brewing, the governor calls upon Jamie Fraser to unite thebackcountry and safeguard the colony for King and Crown. But from his wife Jamieknows that three years hence the shot heard round the world will be fired, and theresult will be independence — with those loyal to the King either dead or in exile.And there is also the matter of a tiny clipping from The Wilmington Gazette, dated1776, which reports Jamie’s death, along with his kin. For once, he hopes, his time-travelingfamily may be wrong about the future. ... Read more

Reviews

The old and great Gabaldon is back, September 30, 2005
I was one of those many readers who loved the first four books but was harshly critical of The Fiery Cross, her fifth book. However, this book is terrific. First of all Claire and Jamie are more present in this book with all their love and passion, fierceness and courage, which had been dimly expressed in The Fiery Cross. Brianna and Roger are more believable and loving towards each other - Roger is less of a wimp, Brianna has gotten over her whinny self, and Jemmy is a terrific kid, not just a pooping, nursing machine.

Ordinarily, I am impatient of a lot of description, do a lot of skimming, and want to get down to the meat and potatoes of the plot. But not in this book. Every vignette, even if not central to the plot, is vivid and fascinating, giving the reader a glimpse into life in those days. I found myself devouring every word, enjoying the journey rather than being in a rush to the destination. Gabaldon is just such an incredible writer; such an imagination - you find it hard to believe she wasn't actually there. And when Jamie says things like "If I die, dinna follow me. The bairns will need ye. Stay for them. I can wait." I find myself crying and feeling like an idiot, since this is fiction, but it touches me so.

Enjoy!

Questions are Answered!, September 28, 2005
If you've been waiting for certain things to be resolved . . . well, you're in luck. It was with a great deal of satisfaction that I finished this book (at 2:30 this morning), because I finally had answers to a lot of the things I'd been wondering about.

Unlike Fiery Cross, this book is much faster moving, with no long descriptions of diaper-changing. Brianna and Roger seem to have found their places at Fraser's Ridge . . . Brianna is much more likeable, much more mature, and a lot less whiny. And, of course, Claire and Jamie are featured very prominently . . . it's still their series. There's action, adventure, abduction, illness, war, and of course, sex.

A book more in the tradition of Voyager and Drums of Autumn . . . I wasn't disappointed.

An addictive addition to Gabaldon's Outlander series, October 5, 2005
Bodice-ripper romance? Check. Historical fiction with oodles of period detail? Double-check. Time-traveling fantasy? You bet. A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES (actually, all six volumes in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series) combines most of the genres I love, which means I couldn't put it down --- and at a hefty 992 pages, that's saying a lot. While immersed, I felt I was never far from Fraser's Ridge, the North Carolina homestead where Jamie Fraser, an exiled Scotsman, and his wife Claire, doctor and displaced 20th-century person, make their home. There are two other refugees from the contemporary world in the community: the Frasers' daughter Brianna (conceived in the 18th century, born in the 20th), and her husband Roger --- plus assorted saints, ruffians, eccentrics, rogues, floozies and fanatics.

Gabaldon's conceit, for those new to the books, is that certain individuals are able to pass from one century to another by means of ancient circles of standing stones. In OUTLANDER, the first volume, Claire time-travels quite by accident while vacationing in the Highlands; from 1946 she is hurtled back some 200 years, when the Jacobites, Scottish supporters of Bonnie Prince Charlie, were fighting to oust the English and reestablish their own king. She meets and marries Jamie, but after the rebels are crushed at Culloden in 1745 and he is condemned to death, she returns to modern life (and her bemused 20th-century husband) to save her unborn child.

Sounds pretty crazy, but Gabaldon makes it plausible because her research is so meticulous and her characters so sympathetic: heroic, yet attractively flawed. You get to know the central quartet --- Jamie, Claire, Brianna and Roger --- especially well, since they take turns narrating the book. Okay, I'll admit that the two couples' literally timeless devotion and undying ardor (sex scenes galore!) are so idealized that lots of plot action is essential to keep the reader from becoming bored and/or skeptical: Somebody (Claire twice and Brianna once) is always getting abducted by villains and rescued by the clan.

But A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES, though a close cousin of the historical romance (think a more prolix version of Philippa Gregory), has another dimension, thanks to the sci-fi element. A modern sensibility and vision lurk within the pre-electric interiors and wild, uncharted scenery of Fraser's Ridge --- Brianna dreams of hot running water; Claire struggles with the concept that she is Jamie's property; Roger, originally an historian, looks ahead to the triumph of the revolution and the bitter fate of the Native Americans. The book reminds us how dangerous it was to be on the "right" side of the Anglo-American conflict, and how hard and labor-intensive it was to accomplish the simplest tasks of everyday life. It shows us Claire and Brianna recreating resources we take for granted, from matches to ether (Claire's medical adventures, wherein she combines contemporary knowledge with herbal traditions, is my favorite part of the series; in this volume she handles a breech birth, fixes a twisted hand, and treats syphilis with a home-grown form of penicillin). The women characters are not only amazingly strong, but also possess a feminist consciousness that they bring to bear on an impressive number of unwed pregnancies and other local scandals. And always the modern refugees are wondering whether there are other time-travelers like themselves --- whether, in fact, every invention is really a reinvention by people from the future.

The temporal ambiguity of the book also gives it emotional depth. All the characters, time-travelers or political exiles, have a feeling of displacement and a deep longing for the home they've parted from. Jamie, contemplating the "glorious, terrifying" emptiness of the land, becomes aware of a "more terrifying emptiness within": He "had said good-bye to Scotland at the rail of the Artemis, knowing full well it was likely his last sight of the place. And yet the notion that he would never set foot there again had never fully settled on him 'til this moment."' Our stories of pioneers and immigrants have passed into myth, so it is easy to forget how much courage it took to break with the old and familiar and sail off to a whole new continent.

A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES isn't great literature. It's way, way too long; full of breathless prose, cornball archaic language, and Gaelic phrases; easy to make fun of or relegate to the status of guilty pleasure. And yet, there is something so honest, rich and complete about the alternative worlds Gabaldon creates that I think she is a kind of genius. I can't wait to find out what happens next in the story of the Frasers and their kin (the end is quite a cliffhanger).

If you're already addicted to Claire and Jamie, this review probably isn't even necessary. But for Outlander "virgins," I have some advice: Pick up a copy of THE OUTLANDISH COMPANION, Gabaldon's handbook to the series, which includes not only synopses of the first few books but also family trees, character analyses, research minutiae, a Gaelic glossary and grammar, and more --- all the insider info a hardcore fan could want and a newcomer could need.

--- Reviewed by Kathy Weissman

A Breath of Slight Disappointment, September 11, 2006
A Breath of Snow and Ashes is the sixth book in Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" series. It continues to follow the adventures of Claire and Jamie Fraser, an older married couple living in North Carolina on the eve of the American Revolution. The Frasers have led adventurous lives, including war, abduction, and time travel. Their 20-something daughter Brianna, and her husband Roger, also play an important role in the series.

Again and again, Gabaldon's books fail to live up to the remarkable high standards of "Outlander," the first book in this series. But it is impossible to give the books a truly poor rating. Even at her worst, Gabaldon has an incredibly enjoyable style. Her work is always engaging and compelling.

Having said that, though, ABoSaA desperately needs some editing. It meanders from subplot to subplot for hundreds of pages. Then, when the stories finally begin to be resolved, they are all lumped together in a rush at the end of the book. It's as though the entire ending was an afterthought.

Gabaldon's later books are often repetitive; she'll get an idea in her head and come back to it a thousand times without saying anything new. This trend was more evident than usual in ABoSaA. Every other adjective she used, for instance, was "homely." And all of the characters have developed the new habit of running their fingers either under or down their noses every time they were engaged in conversation. The effect is very distracting, and it serves absolutely no purpose.

This book is packed with action, which is an improvement over the previous book, "The Fiery Cross." But many of the episodes feel a bit forced. Someone tries to abduct Claire every 15 minutes. Gabaldon is also known to struggle with timelines and consistiency, and this book is no exception.

Still, for those who seek the comfort and fun of a Claire and Jamie story, ABoSaA is a treat. The main selling points - the passion, the witty banter, the bravery - are all there. Brianna and Roger also come into their own more and more with each book. They still don't have the magic that Jamie and Claire shared in the first book, but they're much more interesting than they were when they first appeared.

I have heard speculation that this book would be the last of the series, but having read it, this seems impossible. Gabaldon leaves far too many loose ends at the novel's conclusion. But to take Claire and Jamie any further is to have to face that they really are not young anymore, so I am wondering how Gabaldon will resolve this.

Okay, February 17, 2006
So far, none of the last few books at least for me has even come close to matching the first two. This was more of the same - not a lot of tension, and pages and pages of just life at the Ridge. And how many pregnant out of wedlock girls, cheating husbands, and rapes can possibly happen to one group of people?!

I liked it and read it because I love the characters, but not even close to the fun of the first two books.

Long Live Jamie & Claire--but in a better book., January 7, 2007
Diana Gabaldon is a very talented writer. When she's "on" her prose has a freshness and intensity that can take your breath away. Her plots can be fascinating and page-turning. At their best, her stories give the reader an exhilarating mix of historical fiction, fantasy and romance. Unfortunately, this sixth installment in her Outlander series, which began 15 years ago with the marvelous book of the same name, is a tedious and disjointed mishmash of a read.

Some reviewers here have bemoaned the lack of strong editing on this book and I wholeheartedly add my voice to theirs. Gabaldon writes like she's getting paid by the word. Descriptions go on forever, irrelevant tertiary characters receive way too much attention and time, and too many of the main story lines from the previous books are barely advanced. In addition, Gabaldon recycles plot elements, such as the violent rape of main characters, that are becoming close to preposterous.

The story of the saga's hero and heroine--the 18th century Scottish laird Jamie Fraser and his 20th century time-traveling wife Claire--which is the reason Gabaldon's fans buy these books, is told in only small snippets throughout this 900+ page whale. Pages and pages are spent describing, in minute detail, physician Claire's medical practices and her daughter Brianna's attempt to bring plumbing to the family's frontier home, yet way too little effort is put into showing the reader the emotional landscape and psychological progression of the characters, something Gabaldon excelled at in the earliest of the series' books.

The first two books in the Outlander saga, Outlander and Dragonfly In Amber were pure magic. The next two, Voyager and Drums of Autumn, were highly readable for fans of the first books. The Fiery Cross was, I thought at the time, a forgiveable misstep. With the publication of ABOSAA, however, I believe Ms. Gabaldon has seriously lost her way--and that's a sad development for her legacy as a writer of historical fiction and for her many fans.

I give this book two stars because there are oasis' in the book of Gabaldon's stellar prose. Those respites are few and far between, however. In short: ABOSAA is abysmal.

Tangential, recycled plots, December 31, 2005
"Snow" is better than FC, but I still have some major complaints about the book:

1) The recycling of characters/plots from Gabaldon's previous books:

Claire ends up in the gaol after trying to save a baby's life; A man to whom she shows mercy returns not to thank her, but to threaten her life; Claire is betrayed by her only close female friend; Claire is kidnapped and Jamie must track her down; Claire is saved by an unlikely admirer...well, gosh, we've read all this before.

2) Too many tangents

Gabaldon's storytelling reminds me of the network coverage of the Olympics. You tune in to watch the men's gymnastic all-around competition and are quite absorbed and entertained for an hour. Then, suddenly, you're told to "stay tuned" and the next thing you know you're sidetracked watching women's tiddlywinks. You have zero interest in tiddlywinks. Yet you find yourself watching tiddlywinks anyway because it is what you must endure to find out how the men's all-around gymnastics competition ends.

That's how I feel about both FC and ABoSaA. I am reading these books because I was, and am, intrigued by Jamie and Claire's story. In all honesty, I have very little interest in Roger and Brianna except how they affect Jamie and Claire's story. I care even LESS about Lizzie's perverted relationship with the Beardsley twins, whether Manfred infects his prostitute lover with syphillis, whether her brother had incestuous feelings toward Malva, or whether Aunt Jocosta and Duncan are sleeping with their slaves. (By the way, what is it with Gabaldon's pre-occupation with sexual perversity? What's next? Ian's unnatural attraction towards Rollo?) The ONLY reason I continue to read all these distracting side-stories is because it is what I must endure to know how Jamie and Claire's story ends.

::Sigh::

FYI, this is NOT the last book in the Outlander series. The author herself believes the series will end in 1800 and she simply refers to this book as the "sixth" in the series.: [...]

An enthralling historical adventure!, November 27, 2006
A Breath of Snow and Ashes is the sixth installment in the time travel/historical adventure series by Diane Gabaldan. The central character is Claire Fraser, a 20th century woman who accidentally traveled back in time in the 1940's and ended up in 18th century Scotland. She returns to her own time pregnant from her true love, and then returns again to find him 20 years later. Now Claire is settled with her 18th century husband and is building a life in the 18th century from 1771-1776.

Claire, her husband Jamie and her daughter Brianna live on an enormous property in the mountains of North Carolina. The rigors of frontier life from a 20th century perspective are detailed in an interesting and captivating manner. Claire is a trained surgeon and works to provide medical services using 18th century tools.

The difficulty and danger of 18th century life for both men and women is the theme of this enthralling adventure novel. Strangely enough the first time I picked this book up, I did not read beyond the first few pages, but upon the second try I thoroughly enjoyed it and could not put it down. Gabaldan's writing continues to develop. She writes beautifully and lucidly both in her description of the natural world, as well as in her intense portrayal of relationships. The main character, Claire, continues to develop as a person and physician in a way that makes the reader feel they have grown along with her. This sixth book of the series is more adventure and historical novel than romance and is the better for it. Highly recommended!

A Worthy Effort, but..., April 7, 2006
Ever since a friend introduced me to the Outlander series 5 years ago, I have been hooked on Jamie & Claire's riveting story. I read the first four books within 2 months and The Fiery Cross as soon as it was published. After an agonizing wait I was very excited to finally read ABOS&A.
While I was glad to once again be amongst 'friends' and catch up with what has been going on in Jamie & Claire's life, I do believe there were quite a few bits that could have been done away with. First of all, how many members of this family must be raped before we can finally put this sub-plot to rest?!?! I also believe some of the wording and back-story was a bit superfluous and could have been eliminated.
On the other hand, I was very happy to ready more about Roger & Brianna (.. and the 'vrooms!) and loved that we got to see more of Young Ian, who has always been one of my favourite characters in the series. I was also pleased to see more of Fergus and Marsali.
All in all, I am glad I read this book - although it is not among my favourites in the series. Still, it has left me longing once again for the next installment. Let's just hope we don't have to wait so long for this one!!

Disappointed, February 8, 2006
I have loved all of Diana Gabaldon's books (even Fiery Cross!) and even purchased several copies of A Breath of Snow and Ashes for Christmas gifts. If I had read the book first, I wouldn't have bothered. It left me feeling very disappointed. This is the first book in the series that I haven't wanted to reread. What made the difference? Claire's rape was just over the top. Now everyone in the family has been raped. Who is next, the grandchildren? The rape was bad enough, but the reactions by the major characters to the rape was shallow and glossed over. Lizzie's relationship with the Beardsley twins was unbelievable and totally out of character. It makes one wonder if Ms. Gabaldon is reacting to criticism of The Fiery Cross by trying to make A Breath of Snow and Ashes full of action (rapes, kidnapping, murders, etc.) even if the action is not believable and not necessary to moving the story along. The book seems to plod along for hundreds of pages and then is summed up hurriedly as if she had to hurry and wrap things up to get it published by the deadline. She says that she writes in chunks and then puts things together, and it really shows in this book. It seems disjointed. The whole issue with dates, ages, etc. is getting worse in each successive book. These books really cry out for a good editor, especially this last one. After having said all that, I am still a Gabaldon fan and will contiue to buy and read the next installments. I'm not as hooked as I was before, though. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This is The Complete Works of William Shakespeare All 43 Works & 154 Sonnets.

This eBook has an Active Table of Contents & is easily Searchable.

All's Well That Ends Well
Antony and Cleopatra
As You Like It
The Comedy of Errors
The Tragedy of Coriolanus
Cymbeline
The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
The First part of King Henry the Fourth
The Second part of King Henry the Fourth
The Life of King Henry the Fifth
The First part of King Henry the Sixth
The Second part of King Henry the Sixth
The Third part of King Henry the Sixth
The Life of King Henry the Eighth
The Life and Death of Julies Caesar
The Life and Death of King John
King Lear
Loves Labours Lost
The Tragedy of Macbeth
Measure for Measure
The Merry Wives of Windsor
The Merchant of Venice
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Much Ado About Nothing
Othello, the Moore of Venice
Pericles, Prince of Tyre
The Life and Death of Richard the Second
The Life and Death of Richard the Third
Romeo and Juliet
The Taming of the Shrew
The Tempest
Timon of Athens
Titus Andronicus
Troilus and Cressida
Twelfth Night
Two Gentlemen of Verona
Winter's Tale
A Lover's Complaint
The Passionate Pilgrim
The Phoenix & The Turtle
The Rape of Lucrece
The Argument
The Sonnets (154)
Venus & Adonis

Please, Enjoy. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Last call? She’ll take a double. Straight up, please…

From the Black & White Collection

For six years, widow Grace Wright’s days have been filled as a single working mother. Now, with her daughter graduating, her nest is yawning before her, wide and empty. And so is the upcoming weekend. Invited out by her coworkers, she decides it’s time to turn that corner and get on with her life.

Jamie’s had his eye on Grace for years, but it never seemed the right time to approach her. Tonight, something’s different. The sexual signals she’s giving off are unmistakable—and he’s not the only man in the bar who’s noticed. His best friend, Trey, is breaking a sweat just looking at the delectable English teacher.

The two men make her the offer of a lifetime, and Grace doesn’t hesitate. For one night, Jamie and Trey indulge her every desire, every fantasy, every naughty craving. In the morning Trey is gone with the wind, but Jamie is holding on to every moment as if he never wants to let go. Leaving her wondering if another chance at forever is too much to ask…

Warning: Contains a red-hot ménage, anal sex, graphic language, bondage and toys. Serve with a tall, cool one with plenty of ice. How ’bout another round?

Editorial Review

One-night stand + two percent condom failure rate = happily ever after?

Bar owner Kevin Kowalski is used to women throwing their phone numbers at him, but lately he’s more interested in finding a woman to settle down with. A woman like Beth Hansen. If only their first meeting hadn’t gone so badly...

Beth’s tending bar at a wedding when she comes face-to-face with a tuxedo-clad man she never thought she’d see again. She tries to keep her distance from Kevin but, by last call, she can’t say no to his too-blue eyes or the invitation back to his room. Then she slips out before breakfast without leaving a note and, despite their precautions, pregnant.

Kevin quickly warms to the idea of being a dad and to seeing where things go with Beth. After all, he’s not the player she thinks he is. But she’s not ready for a relationship and, given his reputation, it’s going to take a lot to convince her to go on a second date with the father of her child...

Editorial Review

Resistance is no longer an option…

A Tahoe Nights story.

Faced with the annual family reunion in Lake Tahoe, Amanda Harding cringes inwardly like the awkward teenager she used to be, not the successful bookstore owner she is now. Once again she’ll be bombarded by questions about her dreadful status as a single woman. And, like always, she’ll feel the weight of her parents’ disappointment that their only child isn’t happily married and pregnant with their first grandchild.

As she relates her troubles to her good friend Leo, she’s shocked to the core by his offer to pose as her soon-to-be fiancé. Then all she can think about is getting tangled up in the sheets—and with Leo’s deliciously hard body.

Leo Prentice has always wondered what his quiet, bookish Amanda looked like beneath the conservative suits, but the prospect of wrecking their friendship has kept his dirty mind in check. Until their first fake kiss. Playing Amanda’s lover seemed like a win-win. But the little bookworm stirs a fire in him unlike any other woman.

Soon, the teasing touches and sensual looks are all too real…and not nearly enough.

Warning: this title contains a yummy construction man, a shy bookstore owner and a very naughty weekend filled with sizzling friends-turned-lovers sex.

Editorial Review

New York Times bestselling novelist Jennifer Crusie combines fast-paced banter, sexy situations, and unforgettable characters in this delightful romance about two reluctant lovers who couldn’t be more wrong about being right for each other.
 
TRUST ME ON THIS
 
Dennie Banks is an investigative reporter chasing down the biggest story of her career. Alec Prentice is a government agent working undercover to catch an elusive grifter. When they meet by accident, it’s a case of mistaken identities at first sight. What they don’t mistake is the instant attraction they have for each other, an attraction they’ll do everything in their power to resist—because Dennie thinks that Alec is running interference for her interview subject, and Alec suspects that Dennie is linked to his swindler. As the confusion grows, so do their feelings for each other, and what begins as a romantic comedy of errors may just end in the love affair of a lifetime.


From the Paperback edition. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Kate, shapeshifter and royal princess, has fallen in love with her bodyguard, Aidan, a man with the perfect body built to defend and love her at any cost. Aidan has been encouraging Kate to accept her shifter future and settle on one form. During a storm, Aidan accidentally shows his true form to her. Now Kate must decide if her love is strong enough to accept Aidan’s true heritage. ... Read more

Editorial Review

One lucky woman…three sexy cowboys...she's in for the ride of her life! Channing Kinkaid itches for a change; a wild western adventure with anuntamed man. Determined to shed her inhibitions and embrace the steamier,seamier side of life, she sets her sights on hooking up with a realchaps-and-spurs-wearing cowboy. Enter Colby McKay -- bull rider, saddle bronc buster and calf roper. From themoment he sets lust-filled eyes on the sweet and fiery Channing, he knows he'sfound the woman who’s up to the challenge of cutting loose. What rough and rowdycowboy could resist a no-holds-barred sexual romp with a sassy young thingstarring as his personal buckle bunny?

Intrigued by Channing's bold proposition of horsing around on the road, Colbyimpulsively sweetens the deal; sexual escapades not only in his bed, but in thebedrolls of his rodeo traveling partners, Trevor and Edgard.

Although Channing's secretly longed to be the sole focus of more than oneman's passions, Colby's demand for complete submission behind closed doors willtest her willful nature.

Can Channing give up total control? Especially when not all is as it seemswith the sexy trio? Or will the cowboys have to break out the bullropes andpiggin' string to break in this headstrong filly?

Warning: This title contains the following: lots of explicit sex, goingstrong long after the cows come home, graphic language that'd make your mamablush, light bondage with bullropes, menage-a-trois, and -- yee-haw! -- hot nekkidcowboy man-love.

Editorial Review

“Evil is a completely different creature, Mac. Evil is bad that believes it’s good.”
 
MacKayla Lane was just a child when she and her sister, Alina, were given up for adoption and banished from Ireland forever.

Twenty years later, Alina is dead and Mac has returned to the country that expelled them to hunt her sister’s murderer. But after discovering that she descends from a bloodline both gifted and cursed, Mac is plunged into a secret history: an ancient conflict between humans and immortals who have lived concealed among us for thousands of years.

What follows is a shocking chain of events with devastating consequences, and now Mac struggles to cope with grief while continuing her mission to acquire and control the Sinsar Dubh—a book of dark, forbidden magic scribed by the mythical Unseelie King, containing the power to create and destroy worlds.

In an epic battle between humans and Fae, the hunter becomes the hunted when the Sinsar Dubh turns on Mac and begins mowing a deadly path through those she loves.
Who can she turn to? Who can she trust? Who is the woman haunting her dreams? More important, who is Mac herself and what is the destiny she glimpses in the black and crimson designs of an ancient tarot card?
 
From the luxury of the Lord Master’s penthouse to the sordid depths of an Unseelie nightclub, from the erotic bed of her lover to the terrifying bed of the Unseelie King, Mac’s journey will force her to face the truth of her exile, and to make a choice that will either save the world . . . or destroy it. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Anthony Hamilton cannot help it. The way he looks, the way he lives, his past—it all conspires to make him a man men fear, women desire. His name fills gossip circles in a seemingly endless, lurid drama. But he’s never forgotten the only woman he’s ever truly wanted—yet could never have…

Celia Reece knew Anthony well before he forged his scandalous reputation. The young man she remembers spoke kindly to her, made her laugh, and his devilish good looks always quickened her pulse. But Celia’s mother had other designs—designs that didn’t include marriage to Anthony. Now, Celia is widowed, and her mother is intent on finding her a new husband. Refusing to let any obstacle stand in his path this time, Anthony sets out to win Celia’s heart by using the same skills that made him London’s most irresistible rake...

“A skillful blend of scorching sensuality and the tenderness that tempers passion…don’t miss it!”—Eloisa James, New York Times bestselling author

“A fast-paced, can’t-put-down romance.”—Kat Martin, New York Times bestselling author ... Read more

Editorial Review

Selected Erotic Stories with Pictures

Get ready for some of the wildest sex talesever! From the hot girl next door to co-eds on a mission, these beautiful women are always ready for sex!
All stories are written in good english with at least 3 pages long.

Stories on Volume 1:
1. Making Copies
2. Fiance's Forbidden Dessert
3. Auctioned Ass
4. A story about my sister Alex and myself
5. Wild 1st Anal Sex After Party
6. Assfucking On-Duty At The Ski Resort
7. Mistress T
8. The Meeting
9. The Beaver hunt
10. The Perfect Teacher
11. My Gang Bang Gang
12. The Decision
13. Desert Stop
14. Cat Man Dues
15. Night Terror
16. Cognac
17. The Lonely Office
18. I Cheated With The Secretary
19. Shopping Day
20. A Yank in the outhouse
21. College stripper
22. Between the Bridesmaid

- Warning Explicit Content: Adults Only.--

Some readers have asked for a version of the Sexy Hot Tales series WITHOUT the images and erotic cover art. It is avaible now, just search for the ASIN B003RWSECE.
... Read more

Editorial Review

The terms of the will seem crazy...until she meets the man to fulfill them. When Chloe Sullivan's great uncle dies, leaving her his house and a not-quite castle in the Highlands of Scotland, Chloe's more than willing to take a vacation across the pond to check it all out. When she gets there, she finds out there's a catch—if she wants to keep her inheritance, she has to marry a Scot.

And her great uncle even left her a suggestion as to who.

Malcolm MacTavish is taken with the lovely, straightforward Chloe the moment he sees her at the airport. But they can't enjoy more than a brief fling, since she’s planning to go back to the States. The more he gets to know her, though, the more he wants to try to change her mind.

Until he finds out about the will...

Warning: This title contains a Highland fling (a.k.a explicit sex), Scottish accents and gratuitous jokes about the Loch Ness Monster.

Editorial Review

What do you do when you've got a hillbilly tiger by the tail? Or maybe thequestion should be: what wouldn't you do...

Nikolai Vorislav likes his single life just as it is. Simple, relaxing andquiet. What he doesn’t need is some foul-mouthed Texan hellcat living in hishouse, eating his food, flirting with his idiot brothers and shooting holes inhis home with his granddaddy’s gun. But those long legs, dark eyes and lethaltongue are making Nik insane and he fears he may be caught in the sexiest animaltrap ever.

Angelina Santiago doesn't know how she got from Texas to North Carolina in anight or how she ended up in some hillbilly tiger's house wearing only a sheet.What she does know is that she doesn't like good ol' boys with slow, sexy drawlswho can't seem to stop rubbing up against her. Yet in order to protect herfriends, Angie has to stay with a cat who seems hellbent on finding all sorts ofdelicious ways to make her purr.

Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphiclanguage, and strong violence.

This book is a re-release.

Editorial Review

Kayla’s best friend Marcus returned from Kuwait just in time to celebrate her fortieth birthday. She never expected to cry about it or let him comfort her with sex, but that’s what happened. The next day Marcus confessed the feelings he’d had for her all along and then gave her the best lovemaking of her life. After spending her week-long “staycation” in bed with Marcus, can Kayla let him leave when he’s transferred to Alaska? She won’t go with him. The career she worked so hard to build is something she loves too. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Genre: BDSM Science Fiction/Futuristic

When battle ravages her world, Charity is left without family or friend. Invading warriors from the sky decimate the planet and deem her people unworthy to live. After a desperate flight for her life, she is caught by the cruelest of their enemies, Commander Melmanon.

Melmanon is a hero renowned for his terrible bloodlust and legendary tortures, and, bored with the war, he's restless for new challenges. When Charity eludes capture for six days, his pride takes a beating and he plots his revenge carefully. But in her complete submissiveness he finds a perfect prize, and he abandons his plans for murder to make her his 'torture slave.'

Unwillingly seduced by the brutal domination of her master, Charity quickly becomes enthralled. Even the harsh lash of punishment cannot dim her sexual craving, and she is torn between the urge to flee…and the desire to stay.

As this hardened warrior uses his defenseless captive for his pleasure and her own, he finds that giving can be as satisfying as receiving. Torn between the monster he has been and the man that wants the love of his slave, Melmanon must decide if it is better to be loved…or feared.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Bondage, domination/submission, dubious consent, flogging, interspecies sex. ... Read more

Reviews

Great Book, November 10, 2010
Book size: Novella, max location 1384.

This was a really great book. It focused more on the sex then it did on the romance and I liked that. After reading lots of romance books it was nice to read one that was lighter on all the heavier aspects of a romance book. What I mean is that it didn't focus to much on the romancing, the motives, the reasons behind it all. And I have to applaud the author for giving Charity a realistic reaction when she is captured. Most heroines when put in a truly frighting situation act out with a lot of bravado. And lets be honest, if most people were put in situations these people are in we would be scared and act cowardly. We wouldn't want to be hurt or killed so we would do whatever we needed to to avoid it. It was very refreshing to see Charity react as most of us would. Other then the book length I couldn't find anything wrong with this one. If you are looking for a lot of romance in your book then you might want to look elsewhere. If you like your books to be more on the erotic side and don't mind the shorter length then you might want to check this one out.

:0), December 10, 2010
Charity and Melmanon's story was great I personally enjoyed it. When you start reading the story it gets to the point. Even though Melmanon's is suppose to be this ruthless man he still had a heart of gold mostly towards the end. Charity even if she seem weak she was still a loveable character. If you love story's about captives with erotica then this is for you. The sex is good as well as the storyline even though there isn't much to the storyline other than the two characters.

Now I must say if you are breezing through books to buy and you happen to come across this book then let me say this if your not into the captive,slave whip and hardcore Thing then this isn't you. If you love this sort of thing then give it a try you might like it and if you get to the section of how he treats her while she is a slave and you feel like you don't want to read anymore keep reading it gets better for both characters.

Everybody has a different opinion when writting a review if we all had the same reviews or opinions it would be boring. Reviews can sometimes down play a really good book or up play a really bad book its up to us to read the book and judge for ourselves and draw our own conclusion thats the best thing about a review its like a silent debate....

Check out my book club on facebook (Romance Novel Junkies)

Demon's Captive, December 27, 2010
This book stunk. The only good thing that I can say about it was that all the words were spelled right. Actually, I don't know that for a fact as I couldn't bring myself to care enough to finish it.
... Read more

Editorial Review

Never accuse Coach Tony Peterson of being a quitter, on the gridiron or in his personal life. For a year, his attempts to date Lowell High’s hot little choral director have failed. Melanie Ward is convinced that touchdowns and tempos don’t mix, despite Tony’s irresistible charm. When Tony finally wrangles a date, he schools Mel in blazing explorations of the physical kind. But for Tony, the night isn’t just about scoring—he’s playing for keeps.Meet other sexy Lowell staffers in Retreat and Covert Lessons. ... Read more

Editorial Review

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing more than Wrath, the leader of The Black Dagger Brotherhood.

The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed-leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate-Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead-a world of sensuality beyond her wildest dreams. ... Read more

Reviews

A New Vampire Series That Entertains!!!, January 27, 2006
Wrath is a vampire who prefers to be alone, and work alone. When his good friend Darius asks for Wrath's help with his daughter he is turned down by Wrath. Knowing going into the request it would probably be a negative answer he still attempts to reach Wrath's softer side. Darius's daughter is half human and she is getting ready to change over but will need the help of a strong vampire male. Wrath thinks he has been able to walk away from that commitment and responsibility but then Darius is killed. Now he must look over his friend's daughter. Too bad the human, Beth speaks to the long buried part of him he thought dead. Will he be able to walk away from her after her transition?

Beth has been noticing changes in her body but has been largely ignoring them as she goes about her business as writer for a local newspaper. But one night she thinks she dreams about a dark, large man who has fangs and it scares her. When she realizes it was not a dream but reality she at first wants to freak out...but then she also can't get over how sexy he is. When she finds out the truth about herself and Wrath will Beth be willing to accept what fate has in store or will the Lessers get to her first?

Ms. Ward's new vampire world is a delicious addition to the sub-genre of vampire fiction. Her story is a little dark, and little erotic, and a whole lot entertaining. She has taken the vampire legend and has made it her own. With an eclectic group of secondary characters, her own creatively drawn bad guys the reader will not roll their eyes with boredom. I highly look forward to the next in the series.

decent romance, decent sex, May 28, 2006
I have without a doubt The Black Dagger Brotherhood will have a cult following. It's dark, dramatic, and the characters are likable. They all have their own little kinks. The story is decent.

Dark Lover starts off with Darius, an aristocrat vamp, asking Wrath, the blind king, to help his half-breed daughter, Beth through the transition. The transition is similar to puberty. Darius fears his daughter may not survive it and thinks Wrath's pure vampire blood would be strong enough to help her. Wrath declines because he's a loner, prefers to keep to himself, and is an arrogant jerk. Unfortunately, Darius is killed by lessers (soul-less vamp killing humans) and his last wish was for Wrath to find Beth.

I expected Wrath and Beth's first encounter to be interesting. Intsead it was the typical, borderline cheesy, instant sexual attraction scene. Beth wanted Wrath to do her on the spot. "Kiss me. Touch me. moan moan moan" After Wrath realizes how much he loves Beth he becomes very needy. He needs her every second of everyday. He wasn't acting like a male, much less an alpha male warrior.

The brothers are all supposed to be over 100 years old and they have accents which they hide when they speak, yet they sound like OUTDATED thugs. "Straight up. True? My brother. Man. Yo" I smiled every time I read a dialogue between them. I was half expecting them to pronounce all the words that end with an "-er" with an "-a" sound. Like "My Brotha" LOL Another thing I found funny was how manly the brothers liked to act, and when they're spilling their guts out, the tend to clam up quickly, fearing their masculinity would be compromised. Also, pay attention to their names. Rhage (Rage), Phury (Fury), Vishous (Vicious), Zsadist (Sadist), Tohrment (Torment).

The plot felt like it was thrown together haphazardly. There were no real plans in the fight against the lessers. I think this series has a lot of promise and will possibly be better in the future. Whenever a writer starts something new, they tend to experiment and get a better feel for the story. It's too bad none of the books are stand alone; every book is connected. I hope when Phury's story is written, things won't be as choppy.

Some of the elements in this book is similar to Christine Feehan's Dark Carpathian series, which I highly recommend.

More Violent than Sherrilyn Kenyon but with a WONDERFUL Romance, September 22, 2005
What an excellent writer this is! Dark Lover will easily make the best seller lists and win awards. I love paranormal romances (as well as all other kinds of romances - having read hundreds of them) and this is top quality. At first, I was dismayed by the level of violence and cussing in this book, it being even grittier than Kenyon's and Feehan's works. Still, I think Sherrilyn Kenyon fans will love this. The romance was superb - not overboard on the sex but plenty of detailed sensuality - just perfect! We get to meet several lovable(ha!) characters which will make up future books in this series and I will read them all, even if I am flinching a bit at all the blood, gore and language. The romantic line is worth it.

Dark Lover, September 24, 2008
Ugh. I hated this book. With all of the rave reviews given to this book I was extremely shocked to find how much I hated it. Finding one stitch of intelligent dialogue in this book is like finding a needle in a hay stack. Sadly, my original review of this book has been deleted so here I go again.

Here are the characters:

Beth, the heroine. She's half vampire and half human but knows nothing of her vampire heritage. Her food consumption consisted of Twinkies, fish crackers, cookies, chinese food and cola. Good god I felt unhealthy after reading this book. I was just waiting for her to rip out her pack of cigarettes and start chain smoking. Beth's dialogue is simply terrible. When the author delves into her thoughts it is even worse.

Wrath, the hero, and I use this term loosely. He wants to protect Beth while she is going through her transition. He normally doesn't have anything to do with humans but Beth smells good so he makes an exception. He will basically kill anything that gets in his way although the author claims he's quite honorable. He's blind, leather-wearing, (pants too) emotionally weak and the leader of the vampire mobsters. His homeys consist of Tohrment, Rhage, Zsadist and Phury. They are also leather-wearing, sword-weilding vampires who sit around listening to rap. One of them likes to rape and kill. Cool.

We have some really wonderful baby powder scented villains (no I'm not joking) who are trying to kill all the honorable vampires. Mr. X as he's called is the most one dimensional villain that I've ever read. His scenes are really quite disgusting. There must only be 26 of these soulless, zombie villains because we would run out of letters pretty quickly otherwise and would have to think up real names.

Butch is a stereotypical, macho cop who's in love with Beth. He actually hiked up his pants when he was going in for an arrest. Yep.

There are a few other cardboard characters within the book but they are really not worth mentioning.

Within the book you can read such wonderfully original prose:

"His throat was raw, and it felt like he'd french-kissed a blowtorch."

"He looked like he was smuggling paint rollers under his skin." (refers to six pack abs)

These are probably the worst similes I have ever read. There are many more in the book though if you like that kind of thing.

I know I didn't really get into the plot but I think you get what I'm trying to say. This was a bad, bad book. Unfortunately I bought a few of the other books in the series at the same time. I've learned my lesson.

The voice of dissention: Tales of a C-grade Thriller..., June 23, 2006
Based upon the panoply of 4 and 5 star reviews, I was pretty excited to pick this first "Brotherhood" book up. However, after the 532 years it took to finish, I must add to the voices of dissention and say I just didn't like this book ... at all. In fact, "Dark Lover" sometimes got me downright angry to be wasting so much time grinding through it. I kept hoping it would start to flow and improve, I kept giving it "another 40 pages..." but it never recovered. The fear of someone else being misguided into believing this is a romantic masterpiece got my hackles up. Therapy is writing this review.

I know, I know - there are some reviews here of people who enjoyed this work, so take my opinion for what it is. Still, that doesn't make J.R. Ward even close to the next Julie Garwood, Virginia Henley or Anne Rice.

This isn't a romance book in spite of what the publishing blurb says. It a banal mishmash featuring a formulaic psycho killer and his coven, the typical macho cop, the leather-wearing - uh ... dangerous (?) vampire, and an unimpressive heroine... in that order. No really, in that order. The albino psycho gets more page time than anyone else. Be prepared to enjoy the albino psycho constructing his evil plot, the albino psycho musing about his history, the albino psycho growing from his mistakes, and the albino psycho admiring himself in a new set of tennis shorts. Huh? Where's the interaction between hero and heroine? Ohhh right, that's the 3 or 4 pages every 70 pages or so. As the reader, I was desperately trying to fill in the feelings of the characters for the author, trying to flesh out the story, trying very much to avoid comparing it to a C-grade thriller.

(*more sarcasm*) I particularly cherished when our hero vampire admired his lover's flawless physical beauty ... even though he was nearly 100% blind. That's right, he _sniffed_ how fine-looking she was. Love is grand.(*end sarcasm*)

Admittedly I don't read romances for their literary or innovative value. I _do_ read them for the quixotic escapism, and this didn't have any. It irked me that I had to suffer through a cast of thousands, clich� after clich�, purple prose, and bizarre ineffectual similes such as 'his chest was like 'paint rollers under the skin?' Eewwwww! (I think another review mentioned this too... oh, just so horrifying.)

I know these type of books have an amount of predictability to them - romances are read knowing there's a happy ending - so after suffering through 400-ish pages, I guess I wasn't surprised how it closed: yes, the biggest baddest gang of loner vampires end up getting a condo together in the Hamptons. Ok no, not really... but just as dreadful.

This book valiantly tried to be so much, and ended up so little.

Please, save yourself the money. Or if you feel you really would like to read this, get it used... and please don't hurt the messenger.

Cheese-fest, April 26, 2008
Oh boy, where can I start? I usually have good luck using Amazon reviews to choose my next book. This time however, I have to disagree with all of the 4 and 5 star ratings. This book was laughable. I found myself cringing at the dialog between the supposed tough guys. No straight guy in the history of the planet has ever uttered the cheesetastic lines these guys did. And the names......Zsadist, Rhage, Phury, Tohrment....it's embarrassing. I couldn't even finish and I'm still baffled by other people's glowing reviews.

Lust at First Sight (Sort Of...), December 8, 2007
I knew going in that Dark Lover was a paranormal romance, so I was expecting a slightly formulaic plot with sexy vampires and a rocky path to forever love. I can honestly say I got that; but I keep vascillating on just how much I enjoyed this novel. On one hand, I kept turning the pages as it was interestingly written and peopled with stereotypical characters you love or love to hate. On the other hand, the "romance" between the main characters never really made it for me as it was almost totally built around lust.

There are lots of things that bugged me about this novel, and some things I did enjoy. Firstly though, I simply couldn't buy into all the experiences the heroine suffered with almost no qualms: assault, an intruder that she desires immediately (and has sex with!), violence against a friend, turning into a vampire, learning about the father she never knew, marriage within days of meeting her "mate." I wanted more build up between the hero and heroine; that would have at least given credence to the sudden, soul-clenching, can't-live-without-you relationship which develops. Secondly, I really *hated* the names of the vampires; Rhage, Phury, Zsadist, Wrath? It reminded me of the odd spellings I tried to come up with for future children when I was in junior high school. I also had difficulty with the vampire world as presented here as it followed few of the "rules" I've read about anywhere else (but that may not have been a bad thing). Finally, the formula itself was almost too much; a twist or turn here or there would definitely have fleshed the story out, and made the characters much more life-like.

So what did I like that kept me reading? I liked that the hero was flawed with poor vision; that kept him from being too stereotypical. I loved some of the minor characters, including Rhage, Zsadist, Vishous, Butch the cop, and Fritz the butler. They were definitely nice additions that rounded out the landscape. I liked that Wrath finally stepped up to his true calling and I'm sure I'll want to know how things work out in their world. The writing, while quite purple at times, was engaging enough to keep me going and wondering how things would turn out (though I was certain I knew...and I was right).

A friend who often reads the same books as I do recommended this one to me and overall, I can't say it was a bad choice for me. While wishing it was more than it is, I can say that fans of paranormal romance and vampires in particular will enjoy it. In fact, as I reflect more on my reading experience, I may yet think it falls in the four star category. Despite its flaws, it's good reading that doesn't require much of the reader other than turning those pages.

Just plain terrible, May 12, 2009
I expected to love this book based on the large number of positive reviews it has received. After going through the torture of reading it, I can't believe it received so many because this book is just plain terrible. The plot is terrible and so is the writing. There isn't any real romance. This book is a porn novel. I like reading books that involve characters getting intimate, but not books where that is the only plot (if that can even be called a plot). One dumb line in the book is when the main male character tells the main female character that "she tastes like peaches". I usually give a series a second chance by reading the second book (then stop if that one is bad, too), but I will not torture myself again. I also will not read anything else written by this author. She is on my permanent DO NOT READ list.

Fantastic!!!, October 22, 2006
Dark Lover is an EXCELLENT read. I am completely taken with this series and cannot say enough good things about it. J.R. Ward artfully combines action, romance and the supernatural in a way few authors of this genre can. I strongly urge just about anyone to read this...really! And fans of Paranormal Romance will not be diappointed. I was really tired of the self-absorbed world of Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake, and bored with Christine Feehan's Carpathians and looking for something a little different, when I came across Dark Lover....and I'm so glad I did. I could not put it or the sequel "Lover Eternal" down. I really hate to categorize Ward's books as Paranormal Romance because, to me, they transcend that label. The character development and dialogue, the quality of the writing in general is so much better than what you usually find with books in this genre. J.R. Ward is sharp and I look forward to just about anything she puts out in the future (although I do hope to see alot more of this series too!). The only thing bad I can say about Dark Lover is that it's over too soon!!

Wonderful book, November 28, 2005
In an age where the vampire fiction market is overflowing with cheap and unimaginative stories, J.R. Ward adds a wonderful new dimension to this genre.

The Brotherhood of the Dagger is a group of alpha males that ooze testosterone and a good bit of menace. Each have a unique personality and a collection of flaws and problems that promise to make their books an interesting read.

This book follows Beth, a half-human/half-vampire, who has just learned about her vampire nature and Wrath, the king of the vampires. Both characters are well drawn, interesting and their romance is believable and enjoyable.

For those who enjoy Sherrilyn Kenyon's work, I would highly recommend this new series. I believe JRW surpasses SK by a mile with better prose and a far more complex story. I can't wait for the next one. ... Read more

Editorial Review

At the core of New Orleans lie the otherworldly vampires and shape-shifters that hide in plain sight among mankind. As one of the Keepers, an elite group possessing superior skill and strength, Fiona MacDonald's duty is to maintain peace in a place where one vampire's bite could ignite war. When Detective Jagger DeFarge, a vampire, is called in at the discovery of a body drained of blood, both the detective and Fiona must join uneasy forces.

Jagger will stop at nothing to find the murderer— including working with the sensual and suspicious Fiona. As more die, it becomes clear that this isn't the work of an ordinary vampire. No one is safe. So when the killer's attention turns to Fiona, will Jagger risk destroying his own species to protect the woman he so passionately desires?

The Keepers: Three extraordinary sisters, balancing the duties of their birthrights and the yearnings of their hearts… ... Read more