Romance book reviews. Reviews of books that make my heart race, have a beautiful love story, and a happy ending.

Romance book reviews. Reviews of books that make my heart race, have a beautiful love story, and a happy ending.

Aestas Book Database

Archives for 2012

READING ORDER – Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward

READING ORDER – Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward

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In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York,
there’s a deadly war raging between vampires and their slayers.
And there exists a secret band of brothers like no other
– six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. 

Click the covers to be taken to each book.

 
Here’s what you need to know about this series:

  • It is a MUST read for any fans of Paranormal Romance.
  • It is HOT (and I mean smokin’, fan-yourself H O T).
  • The vamps are A.L.P.H.A. Possessive, protective, absolutely badass fighters who are also intensely tender and swoon-worthy lovers).
  • The world building is fantastic and builds with each book.
  • Each book focuses on one main couple with the rest of the Brotherhood (and their mates) as side characters.
  • Each book has a completely resolved, happy, swoony ending for the main couple, but usually leaves bigger plotlines to carry over to the next book.
  • They should be read in order, each one builds on the next.
  • This books are ADDICTIVE! I dare you to read just one!!
  • So yeah… highly, highly recommended!

 

READING ORDER:

Book 1: Dark Lover (Wrath & Beth)

Book 2: Lover Eternal (Rhage & Mary)

Book 3: Lover Awakened (Zsadist & Bella) 

Book 4: Lover Revealed (Butch & Marissa)

Book 5: Lover Unbound (Vishous & Jane)

Book 6: Lover Enshrined (Phury & Cormina) 

Novella 6.5: Father Mine (Zsadist & Bella) 

Book 7: Lover Avenged (Rehvenge & Ehlena)

Book 8: Lover Mine (John Matthew & Xhex)

Book 9: Lover Unleashed (Payne & Manny)

Book 10: Lover Reborn (Tohrment & I can’t tell you)  

Book 11: Lover At Last (Qhuinn & Blay)

Book 12: The King (Wrath & Beth)

Book 13: The Shadows (Trez & iAm)

Spin-off: Blood Kiss | Black Dagger Legacy #1 (Craeg & Paradise)

Book 14: The Beast (Rhage & Mary)

Spin-off: Blood Vow | Black Dagger Legacy #2 (Axe & Elise)

Book 15: The Chosen (Xcor & Layla)

Spin-off: Blood Fury | Black Dagger Legacy #3 (Peyton & Novo)

Novella: Dearest Ivie | A Novella Set in the Black Dagger World (Ivie & Silas)

Book 16: The Thief (Assail & Sola)

Novella: Prisoner of Night by JR Ward (Duran & Ahmare)

Book 17: The Savior (Murhder & Sarah)

Spin-off: Blood Truth | Black Dagger Legacy #4 (Boone & Helaine)

Holiday novel: Where Winter Finds You: A Caldwell Christmas (Trez & Therese)

Book 18: The Sinner (Sin & Jo Early)

Spin-off: The Jackal | Black Dagger Brotherhood: Prison Camp #1 (The Jackal & Nyx)

Holiday novel: A Warm Heart In Winter: A Caldwell Christmas (Blay & Qhuinn)

Book 19: Lover Unveiled (Sahvage & Mae)

Spin-off: Claimed | Lair of the Wolven #1 (Daniel & Lydia)

Spin-off: The Wolf | Black Dagger Brotherhood: Prison Camp #2 (Lucan & Rio)

Book 20: Lover Arisen — coming April 5, 2022

Spin-off: Forever | Lair of the Wolven #2 — coming July 26, 2022

Book 21: Lassiter — coming 2023

Reading Order – Dark Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Reading Order – Dark Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon

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Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter books are the perfect blend of very tortured heroes (literally and figuratively), strong heroines, engaging plot, intricate mythology, heart touching moment, steamy love scenes, some of the funniest moments you will ever read in a book, and the absolute sweetest HEAs.

I really love how she also clearly had an overall story arc from page one. The Dark Hunter books have the best character development, world building, story arcs, and writing of any PNR series out there. Hands down.

Each book focuses on one Dark Hunter, Were Hunter or Dream Hunter as they find love while fighting evil of all kinds. But the characters from past books show up again in the next books ensuring that you will always get to see more of everyone.

VERY IMPORTANT —-> DON’T SKIP ANY OF THE BOOKS!!!

Kenyon has build a wonderful world that builds upon itself with each book, reading them out of order (except the prequel) will seriously mess with how much you will enjoy the series.

PS — the reading order for this series on Goodreads is all messed up. THIS is the correct reading order 🙂

               

** FULL SERIES BUNDLE **
You can also buy a bundle of all the Kindle books in the series so far.
Click here to purchase

READING ORDER AND WHERE TO BUY:


Prequel: Fantasy Lover (Julian & Grace) 4.5 stars – This is a prequel and though it takes place in the world of the series, it is not about a Dark Hunter. I recommend not starting with it, but instead going back and reading it after having read about 5-6 of the actual series. Its a really good book, just not quite as good as many of the other books, and when starting a new series, I recommend starting off with a strong book, which Book 1: Night Pleasures certainly is.

Book 1: Night Pleasures (Kyrian & Amanda) 5 stars  <—– I highly recommend starting with this book

Book 2: Night Embrace (Talon & Sunshine) 5 stars

Book 3: Dance with the Devil (Zarek & Astrid) 5 stars

Book 4: Kiss of the Night (Wulf & Cassandra) 5 stars

Book 5: Night Play (Vane & Bride) 5 stars

Book 6: Seize the Night (Valerius & Tabitha) 5 stars

Book 7: Sins of the Night (Dangereus & Alexion) 4 stars

Book 8: Unleash the Night (Wren & Marguerite) 5 stars

Book 9: Dark Side of the Moon (Ravyn & Susan) 5 stars

Book 10: Dream-Hunter (Arik & Mageara) 4 stars

Book 11:  Fear the Darkness. This is not actually a book, but rather a short story about Nick (no HEA or anything, just a short) that IMO is the weakest in the series and can easily be skipped… or you can find it online. I read it in about 30 mins. 3 stars.

Book 12: Devil May Cry (Katra & Sin) 5.5 stars

Book 13: Upon the Midnight Clear (Leta & Aidan) 4 stars

Book 14: Dream Chaser (Xypher & Simone) 5.5 stars

Book 15: Acheron (Ash & Tory) 6+ stars – One of my FAVORITE books ever written!! It will break your heart into more pieces than possible and then put it back together better than it ever was to begin with. Ash’s story has been building in the background of the last 14 books, here his whole story is revealed defining him as the ultimate most tortured hero ever written!!

Book 16: One Silent Night (Stryker & Zephyra) 4.5 stars

Book 17: Dream Warrior (Jericho/Cratus & Delphine) 5.5 stars

Book 18: Bad Moon Rising (Fang & Aimee) 5 stars


Book 19: No Mercy (Dev & Samia) 5 stars

Book 20: Retribution (Jess “Sundown” & Abigail) 4 stars

Book 21: The Guardian (Seth & Lydia) 5 stars

Book 22: Time Untime (Ren & Kateri)

Book 23: Styxx

 

 

READING ORDER – Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning

READING ORDER – Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning

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5++ star paranormal romance/urban fantasy series

I HAVE THE FEVER!!!!!!!!

Do you want to meet THE. Ultimate. Alpha Male. Character?? Grab yourselves a copy of Darkfever and meet the enigmatic, mysterious, fiercely protective, powerful and dominating Jericho Z Barrons.

All I can say is if you want a completed book series with an incredible plot, a unique world, and vivid, multi-layered characters with deep pasts, where EVERYTHING happens for a reason (having finished them, I realized there was absolutely NO fluff in these series at ALL), and a full-filling, heart-warming HEA, then this is the series for you.

Moning does a masterful job of building an world full of multiple complex story lines and then weaves them all together seamlessly in a way that will keep you guessing right up till the very end. (ALL my predictions were wrong! and that doesn’t happen very often)… This book will have you going crazy asking “What IS Barrons????”

“When you know who I am. Let me be your man.”

Seriously, this is one of the BEST series I have EVER read. I can’t recommend them highly enough!

The first book is a little slower though because this is really a story that BUILDS. If you find it slow, don’t worry and don’t stop!!! It’s worth it to keep going 😀

The first 5 books may be read together as a COMPLETED series and should be read in order. It is one continuous story. Each book starts right where the previous one left off. And the SERIES ending is a HEA. The individual books themselves have cliffhangers since the story spans 5 books.

And they are definitely ‘adult’, not YA.

“One day you will kiss a man you can’t breathe without, and find that breath is of little consequence.”

ENJOY!!

*** SERIES READING ORDER ***


Purchase

Purchase

Purchase

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At this point, you can choose to either end the series, or continue reading.

The first 5 books work as a complete series, but if you just can’t get enough of this series, then you can read these next (although the main focus of them is on different characters)…


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Book Review – The Black Jewels series by Anne Bishop

Book Review – The Black Jewels series by Anne Bishop

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— THE BLACK JEWELS TRILOGY —

*** This is one of my Top 10 Books That Stayed With Me In Some Way ***

I LOVE THIS SERIES!!!!! L-O-V-E it!!!!!

I would describe them as kind of dark, sexy urban fantasy with lots of romance. I just adore the author’s writing style! She is very gifted at character development. The males in this story are ALPHA and the lines between good and evil are deliciously blurred. There are strong relationships and very dark, sexual themes but the whole story is just in it’s own category all together. The world that this author created is entirely, 100% unique and very complex. Gosh, I’ve probably read this trilogy at least 10 times over minimum and it was one of those where the more I read it, the more I loved it. Saetan, Daemon, and Lucivar are some of my top favorite paranormal males. I’d highly recommend this series! 🙂

Warning: These are very graphic, gritty books.

Book 1: Daughter of the Blood 5+ stars

The Dark Kingdom is preparing itself for the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy the arrival of a new Queen, a Witch who will wield more power than even the High Lord of Hell himself. But this new ruler is young, and very susceptible to influence and corruption; whoever controls her controls the Darkness. And now, three sworn enemies begin a ruthless game of politics and intrigue, magic and betrayal…and the destiny of an entire world is at stake….

Book 2: Heir to the Shadows 5+ stars

Enough time has passed for the young girl Jaenelle, heir to the magical Darkness, for her physical wounds to heal, while amnesia keeps her frightening memories at bay. But with Saetan–a Black-Jewelled Warlord Prince and Jaenelle’s foster-father–to protect her, she will continue to grow. Her magic will mature. Her memories will return. And Jaenelle will face her destiny when she remembers Daemon, Saetan’s son, who made the ultimate sacrifice for her love….

Book 3: Queen of the Darkness 5+ stars

Jaenelle Angelline now reigns as Queen-protector of the Shadow Realm. No longer will the corrupt Blood slaughter her people and defile her lands. But where one chapter ends, a final, unseen battle remains to be written, and Jaenelle must unleash the terrible power that is Witch to destroy her enemies once and for all.

Even so, she cannot stand alone. Somewhere, long lost in madness, is Daemon, her promised Consort. Only his unyielding love can complete her Court and secure her reign. Yet, even together, their strength may not be enough to hold back the most malevolent of forces.

 

OTHER BOOKS: These are optional reads. Part of the same with (with the same characters) but not a part of the Trilogy. 

SPIN OFF SERIES

________________________________

— THE OTHER SERIES —

unrelated to The Black Jewels Trilogy, but same author

Book Review – Ephemera series by Anne Bishop

Book Review – Ephemera series by Anne Bishop

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Goodreads blurb: Long ago, Ephemera was split into a dizzying number of magical lands-connected only by bridges that may take you where you truly belong, rather than where you had intended to go. In one such land, where night reigns and demons dwell, the half-incubus Sebastian revels in dark delights. But in dreams she calls to him: a woman who wants only to be safe and loved-a woman he hungers for while knowing he may destroy her.And an even more devastating destiny awaits him, for an ancient evil is stirring-and Sebastian’s realm may be the first to fall.

Yet again, Anne Bishop delivers a thrillng fantasy romance series in a captivating and unique world.

 

Book 1: Sebastian 5 stars

Book 2: Belladona 5 stars

Book 3: Bridge of Dreams TBR

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