Trashy Romance Novels-R-Us (original) (raw)

Seduced by Moonlight - Laurell K. Hamilton

(I know this isn't typical Romance, but I can't really classify it anywhere else at the moment....so here it is.)

Third in the Merry Gentry series, Seduced by Moonlight qualifies admirably as elven soft-core porn with a plot. Now, don't let that put you off. It's a rather enjoyable read and even has a mostly ok storyline. :) Personally, I keep hoping for a return of Sholto and he's getting closer and closer. Though not nearly as close as would be nice. *le sigh* However, there's enough varied beefcake in this to keep most people happy.

Dark Gold - Christine Feehan

One of the less harrowing of the Carpathian Dark Series, Dark Gold does have its moments. Again, we see a sister trying to take care of her much younger brother, snared by a true vampire and saved by a Carpathian. Aidan rescuse Alexandria and her brother and in so doing ties her to him permanently. The resulting chaos that Alex creates as she comes to grips with her newfound life is sometimes amusing and sometimes heartbreaking. I'd call it another winner, though less intense than some I've read lately.

Dark Magic - Christine Feehan

Savannah, the world-famous magician, due partly to her abilities as a Carpathian, and Gregori, the most feared hunter of the Carpathians on the edge of turning, duke it out in this installment of the Dark Series. Honestly, I'm not sure whether I prefer the Carpathian/Carpathian matches or the Human/Carpathian ones. Nearly all of the human ones are women. Just once I'd like to see a human male have to convert over. But then, I don't think they'd be able to survive so well in Carpathian society. Dark Magic is full of the brooding shadows that we've come to know and love. Gregori is, however, closer to turning than any of the previous Carpathians. He's also the oldest...and somewhat overwhelming, shall we say. There is a menace in him that Feehan's left out of some of her previous novels that I find a nice addition.

Dark Challenge - Christine Feehan

This book in the Dark Challenge series introduce Julian and Desari...both with a penchant for shape shifting into leopards over the more "traditional" wolf motif. Desari and her "family" have been hiding out for hundreds of years and think they are the only Carpathians in existance. They've spent their lives hunting vampires and performing to pay for their way. Desari, the lead of the troupe, has an ethereal voice that draws Julian into their world as they stay one step ahead of the vampires following her.

Dark Secret - Christine Feehan

This is, quite likely, one of my favorites of the Dark series. I loved Dark Magic's Gregori because he *was* so dominant. (Ok...so it rubbed some nice places for me.) Rafael de la Cruz is quite likely her second most dominant character she's written (or that I've read so far). The nice part about this is that the character is from Brazil...or has lived there long enough that he's lost a lot of the Carpathian/Dracula atmosphere and adopted an entirely different way of interacting. New flavors! Colby, the heroine, is trying to save her ranch from a rapacious neighbor trying to get it away from her and keep her brother and sister from being taken by the de la Cruz family to be raised. This book also incorporates a couple of very nice elements of horror in with the romance itself and gives the book a completely different tone than some of the others. Another very good read.

Touch of a Wolf - Susan Krinard

I thought I'd get tired of the world of werewolves that Krinard spins, but it hasn't happened yet. This time Braden and Cassidy are the love-lorn pair, one the Earl of Greyburn the other an orphan raised by humans who hate her wolf blood. Of course, nothing is simple and Braden betroths her to his brother rather than himself in an iron clad sense of duty. Somehow, though, love shall overcome. It's only a matter of how.

Prince of Time - Glenna Mcreynolds

The Prince of Time is an odd little blend of science fiction, fantasy, and romance. I wasn't too sure that I was going to be able to buy into it, but it seems to work out nicely. Morgan is a Welsh Prince stranded in the future who adapts to his new life by becoming a tech-theif/mercenary. Avallyn is a desert born princess-priestess straight out of a fantasy novel, elf ears and all. As odd at is may sound, they make the grand fantasy and their romance weave together into something quite readable, even if I wouldn't call it earth shattering. Definitely a good read when you need to take your mind off of other things.