Best of 2013

The Darkest Craving by Gena Showalter

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

The Darkest Craving (Lords of The Underworld, #10)
Grade-A
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Lords of the Underworld #10
Genre-Paranormal
Reviewed by Kay
466 pages

Kane is the keeper of Disaster and everywhere he goes that’s exactly what happens. Horrible things befall him and he is a constant danger this fellow Lords of the Underworld. He recently spent time in Hell and it has left him a changed man. And not necessarily in a good way. When he is rescued by a fragile female, which he has no recollection of, confusion swamps him. Apparently he made a deal with her and she’s ready to collect.

Josephina is half human and half Fae. She’s the King of the Fae’s illegitimate daughter. She was sent to Hell as a punishment for something her half sister, the Princess did. In the Fae society they have blood servants who take punishment for the crimes committed by the royal family. Her treatment at the hands of he family is horrific. She has terrible self esteem issues and has no self worth. She sees Kane, a hero in her land,as her only way out.

If you haven’t read this series by Gena Showalter, you are missing out on one of the most entertaining paranormal romance series going today. Her characters are total bad asses and very sexy. I have been waiting for Kane’s book and boy was it worth it! These two characters were totally meant for each other. Josephina had self image issues and Kane was always the odd man out with his group of friends because of Disaster. Seeing them acknowledge their shortcomings and their acceptances of them was heart breaking and heart warming all at the same time. You also had multiple story lines going that held your interests just as well as the main one.

I can not wait for the next book, it’s about,wait for it,Torin! If you haven’t started this series yet, get hooked on this hilariously delightful series. If I had to complain about something it would be the heat level. It seems to have been turned down a little bit from her other books.

The Christmas He Loved Her by Juliana Stone

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

The Christmas He Loved Her (Bad Boys of Crystal Lake, #2)
Grade-A
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Bad Boys of Crystal Lake #2
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
352 pages

This is the second book in this series and I didn’t read the first one yet. I probably should’ve read them in order but honestly you don’t have to.

Jake is a former Army Ranger and served in Iraq with his fraternal twin brother, Jesse. Jesse married Raine who grew up with the boys in their hometown. These three got into all kinds of trouble together in their youth. Raine’s upbringing was non-traditional, so she enjoyed spending time with the boys and their parents.

When the story begins, you realize that Jesse was killed in action and Jake took a sabbatical from life. He returns home and sees Raine, his brother’s widow and the only woman he has ever loved. This story is the telling of their journey to one another.

I’ve wanted to read the first book in this series since I read about several months ago but at almost seven dollars a book, by an author I wasn’t sure about, that’s just too pricey. Well, after reading this one, as far as this series is concerned, Juliana Stone is an auto-buy for me now. I loved everything about this book. The characters were so real and the emotion so heartfelt. This was so very much more than a contemporary romance.

This is a story about love and it’s healing powers. It’s about family and facing a loss in the family. It’s about survivor’s guilt and the guilt associated with loving someone else after you lose your spouse. It was a story about redemption when it was never needed and the bonds formed through friendship. It was about the acceptance of one’s self, even with your faults. This was perfect for me. I just absolutely loved it!

Styxx by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Styxx (Dark-Hunter, #23)
Grade-A
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level- Moderate Kink
Series- Dark-Hunter #23
Genre-Paranormal Romance
Reviewed by Kay
836 pages

Back many months ago when I read the blurb for this book, my heart raced. I’ll admit I was a little tentative about a book featuring Styxx, but the blurb says that we only know half of the story. If you don’t want to read a review with spoilers stop now.
Here’s a little refresher on this very long series. Styxx is the identical twin to Acheron except for the eyes. They shared a womb even though they were not blood related. I’m not going to summarize all the details to Ash’s (Acheron) conception and subsequent birth. Just know that Ash was put in a queen’s womb who was already pregnant as a way to protect Ash from those who were hunting him. See, Ash is the son of the Destroyer and he can bring an end to the world.
In Ash’s book, we learn of his birth and life up until this point. He and his twin, Styxx hated each other. Ash was made to suffer atrocities that no one should suffer, especially a small child. We all developed a hatred so intense for the golden child, Styxx. But in this book, we realize that we only knew Ash’s story. Styxx’s story was in my opinion even worse. Not only was it over one hundred pages longer but it was almost double the size of Ash’s back story. A back story that had me either too stunned to cry or sobbing uncontrollably. I won’t say anything more about the back story other than you have to read it to truly know the story and the ultimate betrayals that take place.
The most beautiful part of this book is the love story between Styxx and Bethany. It was so precious and innocent. Styxx is the future king of his country and became a true war hero and a master strategist. His one and only true love was a blind girl who he met when she was fishing.
He didn’t realize that his love was really the Goddess of Misery as she didn’t realize he was Prince Styxx.
I don’t want to give away too much about the book. Just read it even though it is 836 pages long. It moves quickly and I devoured it in less than 48 hours. I’ll end this review with my favorite quotes from the book.
“Never once in my life did I feel the sunshine on my skin until the day you touched me.”
“And without my Bethany, I dwell in total darkness.”
“It’s not fair that we’re forced to live without them while the world goes on, oblivious to the fact that it’s missing the most vital part of it.”
“I let go of your hand eleven thousand, five hundred thirty nine years, one hundred and eighty three days and roughly ten hours give or take a few mintues ago.”
“You really did count the heartbeats.”
“Oh Beth, you have no idea.”
This time Styxx knew that nothing would ever separate them again. And if anyone or anything was dumb enough to try they were going to learn the lesson he had given both Archon and Apollo. Styxx of Didymos fought for what he wanted. He didn’t back down. He didn’t give up. He didn’t lose. Even if it meant coming back from the dead, he wouldn’t be stopped and he would never again live without his most vital part. Bethany.