Why I Took Jaqueline Frank Out of My NEVER AGAIN Pile

K.C. — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 03:44:48 +0000

Alas it ‘twas a long time between my favorite authors newest releases and I was starting to froth at the mouth from having reading withdrawals. Here I was with a gracious two-week period of nothing but FREE TIME and I had nothing to read, a cruel Trojan horse of a gift.

As I headed off to my nearest B&N I couldn’t help but glance at the newest releases. I felt like Howie Mandel in Little Monster’s staring at the books and chanting ‘got ‘em’, need ‘em, need ‘em, got ‘em’. So I spy Jacqueline Frank’s new book, The Rapture and for some odd reason my NEVER AGAIN stance, -made after reading her Elijah book, fly’s out the window. I felt like I had tossed $10 on lucky number 13, (black of course) and took the gamble hoping it would pay off and I would break even.

I hadn’t realized I had picked up the second book in her new series and that this was a branch of her Nightwalker series only this one focus on the ‘Shadowdwellers’, a species I’m still fuzzy about who they are and what creature of the night they represent. Rapture takes place in the underground sanctuary of the shadowdwellers where priests and their handmaidens (best description would be wife??) run a seminary/school for younglings. Now, for those thinking that their religious rites are similar to ours, please be warned, some people took major offense that their priests are sexually active and that in their race sexual education is a required coarse with models to demonstrate the, ehem, more finer points of the love-making process. I must say I was astounded at the difference in her writing, it made me call up my partner in crime and state, “she’s back and it’s like Jacob”, code for it’s safe to purchase and you won’t be disappointed.

Points I liked about this series
1. No drab or boring characters here, be warned that if you do NOT like erotica then this series might be a little too stimulating for you.

2. See point one, who doesn’t like erotica! I would place this on the softer side of the erotica spectrum but wow, totally unexpected from this author and she definitely gets a gold star for reinventing herself.

3. I’m digging her paranormal, retro-chick, medieval world and although I am not a historical romance fan, the best way to describe this series would be to say it’ a hybrid of paranormal and erotica channeling a medieval vibe. I for one am ok with this historical venue just so long as we are not catapulted to the ol’ west with cowboy romances. Give me a Scottish warrior, kilt and all, over the Marlboro man any day!

4. As a reader you can tell that she likes the premise of this series a bit better and is more comfortable with the plot lines and dialogue scenes. She is not as flowery and does not loose you in the monotony of ‘over-dialougeization’ translated -too much damn talking!

Overall, I am left feeling pleasantly surprised and I will be buying the next book in this series entitled Pleasures. {Due out August, you can find it on my calendar}

Scene Preview:

“Can I touch you to take these evil things off you?” he asked softly. {in reference to her chains}

“Are you really a priest?” she asked with suspicion as she looked over his uniform. She was searching for some kind of flaw that would reveal a deception, he realized. {Daenaira}

“Yes. I am a priest. And you, little spitfire, are going to be my handmaiden.”

That made her laugh. She started with a soft snort, but then belted out enthused amusement that might have made him smile if he wasn’t so appalled by all he was seeing and learning.

“Okay, first of all, I am clearly not religious material, M’jan….um….”

“Magnus. M’jan Magnus.”

———————————————————————————————-

Holy shit! She had spit in the face of a priest!

“Oh gods,” she groaned. “They definitely let you burn in the Light afterlife for something like that.” Not that she was a heavily religious woman, but she believed that much at the very least.

And Scene.

This is the second book of Frank’s Shadowdweller’s series, Ecstasy is her first book of this newish series. If you’ve read any of her Nightwalker books let me know, because I almost gave up on her, this series is waaaaaay better.

Possibly Related Posts:

Kresley Cole… ‘We’re Not Worthy, We’re Not Worthy’

K.C. — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 05:12:20 +0000

Kresley Cole is by far one of my favorite paranormal authors. She has it all, witty dialogue, strong female leads, interesting and unique plot lines, and an uncanny ability to maintain continuity in her stories. (I’m practically gushing).

Ms. Cole’s Immortal After Dark Series makes it to the top of my must read paranormal romance list, she has set the stage to be able to write about so many different ‘otherworld’ species. The premise for her series surrounds all species of the lore; vampires, Valkyrie, Witches, Lykae, Demons, Wraiths and so on; all co-existing within our world. Every couple hundred years the immortals must all come to battle in what is termed an ascension, essentially mother nature’s way of ‘culling’ the immortal heard. Currently, her series starts right at the cusp of this ascension and so far the ascension is in the not so distant future.

Her latest installment in the series Kiss of the Demon King was a sizzler! I have to admit the Demon brother (Cade) and the Lykae (Bowen) happen to be my favorite characters. The dialogue is always witty and fun. She has a way of writing male leads that are interesting and sexy without being overly masculine or feminized. Too many authors suffer from what I like to refer to as ‘over-alphamisim.” Where the men turn into raging cave-like beasts who’s sole purpose is to make the women submit to them (ehem, Ms. Lora Leigh). I enjoy this fantasy as much as the next woman, but it can be a bit repetitive, hence why I enjoy Kresley Cole, as she has a way of making her male leads believable even if they are demons or vampires.

My favorite books in her series so far: A Hunger Like No Other (1st full book – she has a short story Playing Easy to Get), Wicked Deeds on a Wicked Night, and Dark Desires After Dusk. To quote my favorite show The Office, “Well, you always left me satisfied and smiling.”

If you’ve read Kresely Cole’s IAD series let us know what you think!

P.S. You just have to love someone that quotes the movie Aliens, only the best movie ever.

Possibly Related Posts:

» paranormal romance book review

Why I Took Jaqueline Frank Out of My NEVER AGAIN Pile

Kresley Cole… ‘We’re Not Worthy, We’re Not Worthy’