The Darkest Craving by Gena Showalter

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.

When Strangers Marry by Lisa Kleypas

When Strangers Marry (Vallerands, #1)
Grade-C
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Genre-Historical
Reviewed by Kay
390 pages

Lysette needs to break a betrothal to a horrible man and escape her even worse step-father. After a severe beating from her step-father she runs away into Bayou country. She is found trying to steal a small boat and is brought back to the house of Max Vallerand. She is almost transfixed by him but thinks he would never find a red haired, freckle faced girl of eighteen attractive.
Max is blown away by the flame haired beauty his sons have accused of steal. After he finds out who she is betrothed to, he plans to ruin her where she’ll have to marry him instead. Then he would get his revenge against the man he believes seduced and murdered his former wife.
I really enjoyed this book in the beginning but it started to lag in the middle. It did pick up in the end, so it’s probably a three and half star book for me. I am a big Lisa Kleypas fan but I wanted more from this book than I got. I’m in a historical funk and not at all happy about it. I did find out that this book was originally another book and Kleypas rewrote it. What I mean is that it was her book but she rewrote the story because the first book didn’t do well. I don’t know if I’d recommend this book but I’m not sorry that I read it either.

The Hunter by Monica McCarty

The Hunter (Highland Guard, #7)

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Highland Guard #7
Genre-Historical
Reviewed by Kay
380 pages

Ewen “Hunter” Lamont is a minor chieftain and part of Robert Bruce’s Highland Guard. He is also an expert tracker. He has been given the task of bringing Janet of Mar back to Bruce, which will bring an end to Janet’s being a spy. The two shared a pretty steamy kiss awhile back and neither of them have forgotten it.

Janet of Mar is head strong, loyal and very pretty. She’s also a very good spy. She has considered taking her vows as a nun so she won’t lose her freedom. She views marriage as serfdom. Ewen is a typical male of the times with his views on where a woman’s place is. He can’t stand that Janet is in danger all the time.

This is not Monica McCarty’s best work. I hope the next book in this series is back up to her usual standards. Very few people can write Scottish Highlander romance well. She is usually one of them but this one fell short.