Warrior's Hope

 Book Review of Warrior's Hope

Title: Warrior's Hope

Series: Dark Protectors Series

Author: Rebecca Zanetti

Date Published:  October 3, 2023

Date Read:  July 17, 2023

The Blurb:

This thrilling novel in the New York Times bestselling author’s popular Dark Protectors series takes readers on a wild ride as the only female vampire ever born brings a love triangle to its explosive conclusion—deciding the fate of battling factions as the forces of good and evil gather for the ultimate showdown.

As the only female vampire ever born, and the heir to two powerful immortal families, Hope Kayrs-Kyllwood has always felt the weight of fate and destiny. Now her heart is torn between two men and two different futures. It’s a choice between duty and love, peace and war, with the fate of everyone she loves hanging in the balance. 
 
As the leader of the Kurjan nation, Drake has always known that mating Hope is the best path to avoiding war. He’s counting on her to know the same. . . . Paxton has been Hope’s best friend and protector since they were children. He would kill and die for her without a second thought. In fact, he’s always known that would be his path . . .
 
With deadly factions at her heels, Hope must decide whom to trust and where her loyalty lies—before the choice is taken away from her . . .

My Review

5 Unlocking Fate Stars

Going into this read I had it in my head that I knew which way this book would go. I was so damn wrong. I should have known Rebecca Zanetti would rock my world. As I plan to keep this review spoiler free I'm having a hard time putting my thoughts to words, but Imma try. Let me start by saying I loved this book. It was everything I hoped for and more.

Having read about Hope, Drake and Pax growing up through the series I kind of had an idea of the adults they would become, but RZ dug deep and really developed their character. Especially Pax and Drake. I had my thoughts on which male Hope would end up mated to. Of course I can't say because spoiler free....but I will say that the romance was steamy, the sexual tension was off the charts and Hope made the right choice in my opinion.

I loved getting to see my favorites Talen, Dage, Zane etc. We meet some of the original couples adult kids in this book. Which gave me all the feels. I really hope RZ gives us the Kids' love stories. I really need them in my life. Just sayin'. There was some fast pace action in this book. Lots of twist and turns I didn't see coming. There was also a lot of answers to questions I have had since book 1. Ulric was as creepy and evil as ever. I didn't know how he was going to be handled but RZ really delivered the goods on that epic battle. I was really surprised with the Vero story. I loved seeing how brave and strong Hope was and I loved that her family didn't baby her, but treated her with respect. I will say I have a few more questions now that this book/series is over. I really REALLY really hope RZ does a spin off series with the couples kids or continues with this series. I am not ready to say goodbye.

Both Feet in the Grave

 Book Review of Both Feet in the Grave

Title: Both Feet in the Grave

Series: Night Huntress Series

Author: Jeaniene Frost

Date Published: April 18th 2023

Date Read:  April 10th 2023

The Blurb:

If you thought you learned more about the dangerous and sexy alpha vampire, Bones, in The Other Half of the Grave, you haven't seen anything yet...

This is Bones, in his own words…

Two hundred years of bounty hunting made Bones the best at what he does, yet it's still taken him four long years to find Cat, the half vampire now known as the "Red Reaper." There's a price on Cat's head, and not even her job as a secret government agent can save her. Only Bones can. But has time hardened Bones too much to love again? Or will his passion for Cat burn through every obstacle—alive, undead, or otherwise—between them?

My Review

5 I want more books in Bones pov stars

May have mild spoilers

I am a total Bones and Cat fangirl. I fell in love with this series a few pages into book one when Cat tried to pick Bones up in the bar to murder. Every book after has only made my love for this world stronger. Each new book has gone above and beyond my expectations. There is so much to this series, to these characters that they feel real. I fell in love with Cat, Bones, Ian, Denise, Spade, Mencheres, Vlad, Juan, Rodney, and all the others throughout the years. I loved all the books from Cat's pov. BUT..... I have also always wanted to know what Bones was doing, thinking, and feeling, especially in those pivotal moments in the series. The first time they met back up after 4 years, the fight between Cat and Annette, Chapter 32, and too many others to name.

Being inside Bones head was like reminiscing with friends and also like reading a totally different book. I never felt bored or had that been there, done that! vibe while reading this book. Bones' pov adding so much more to the series. It added depth to his character and his and Cat's love. Most importantly it made me so flipping happy. I couldn't put the book down till I read it all. I am more in love than ever with this series. I really REALLY hope Jeaniene Frost keeps giving us fans Books in Bones' pov. If she keeps writing them I will keep reading them. Also I would really like Vlad's series in his pov too. This book was perfect and I can't wait to see what else JF writes in this world. If you like PNR you should try this book. Really you should read the whole series I promise it's amazing!!!

Dark Guardian

 Book Review of Dark Guardian

Title: Dark Guardian

Series: Dark Series

Author: Christine Feehan

Date Published: April 24, 2002

Date Read:  July 2012

The Blurb: 

They were masters of the darkness, searching through eternity for a mistress of the light....

He ran with the wolves...materialized from the mists...hijacked the very heavens to his whims.

He was the dark guardian of his people. So how, after centuries of a bleak, soulless existence had he, Lucian Daratrazanoff, suddenly come to crave petite, curvy, colorful lady cop Jaxon Montgomery, who foolishly made it her life's work to protect others from harm?

Fiercely daring, Jaxx would sacrifice anything to shield others-- particularly since a deadly menace dogged her every footstep, threatening all who got close to her. And strangely seductive, piercingly erotic Lucian was no exception. Lucian was powerfully, perilously mesmerizing--oddly gentle yet clearly a born predator. He had vowed to possess her, to guard her for all time. Yet with his every thirsty kiss, was he drawing Jaxon more deeply into danger . . . and his dark, mysterious desires?

My Review

5 Dark Angel Stars

First read July 2012 Reread January 26, 2016
Reread Feb 3, 2017
reread 11/21/2020

*Spoilers*

"I am your lifemate, young one. You have no idea what that means, and you are not Carpathian, so I expect a certain amount of resistance from you." Lucian rubbed his chin over the top of her head. "I promise you I will be as gentle and as patient as I can, but I cannot wait long for you. The emotions I am feeling do not tame the wild beast within me."-Lucian

Dark Guardian is the 9th book in the Dark series by Christine Feehan. This is Lucian Daratrazanoff and Jaxon Montgomery's book. Lucian is the older, darker one of the legendary twins, his people call him the Dark Angel. This book has an amazing prologue that gave an in depth look into both Lucian and Jaxon's history. The Prologue for Jaxon is just heartbreaking. It gave a good base for understanding all the pain and suffering Jaxon endured her whole life. It helped me to connect and sympathize with her.

"You are bad, Lucian. What am I going to do about you?" "Be with me. Live with me. Learn to love me. Accept me as I am," -Jaxon and Lucian

 

"You have a complete arsenal upstairs in your bedroom. I never saw so many weapons. It made me wonder just what type of woman I was getting myself involved with. There will be no shooting me when I come home this night, no unfortunate accidents, I trust,"-Lucian

Let me just say that there is just something about the Daratrazanoff brothers that just drives me wild. Every single one of them Gregori, Lucian , Darius, and Gabriel. They are so yummy I just want to lick them all. All kickass, arrogant, and dark mmm dayum they just do it for me. So every time I get a book with them in it, it puts me in my happy zone. In my mind I know they are fictional characters, but in my heart they are real and I wanna collect them all.

"That's it! I've had it with you. You don't even seem to know what you've done. You show no remorse at all. I'm the one who has to do all the compromising, except there is no compromise. You simply decide I'm going to do something, and then I do it. And it hurt like hell!"-Jaxon

"I know everything about you, and I am madly in love with you. Love is not even a strong enough word for the way I feel about you. Take the time to get to know me, Jaxon. Try for me, angel. Just try."-Lucian

Lucian is everything I wanted and more. He is charming, sexy, smart, sweet, and totally badass. Lucian takes his time to get to know his lifemate, and does everything he can to make her happy. Lucian accepts Jaxon for the fighter she is and doesn't try to change her and I love that. Jaxon has had one hell of a life. She wants Lucian but she is scared to lose him the way she has lost everyone she has ever gotten closed to. Jaxon is a fighter, but she has an emotional vulnerability that is endearing. Jaxon is very protective, and uses humor to help when she fears, or can't deal with something. Jaxon also kicks some major ass. I love that Jaxon and Lucian are a true team. I think all the female lifemates should know how to fight even if they never use it, just in case. Lucian and Jaxon's relationship is a slow burn because Lucian gives Jaxon time, but when it catches fire it's an inferno.

"They call you that? The dark angel of death'? How can they be so terrible when you've given them so much? What right do they have to judge you?"-Jaxon

A vampire would never expect a woman to participate in a battle, angel. It is not done. Our women are filled with compassion, not with a penchant for violence. She wanted to stay irritated but found herself laughing instead. Then he 's in for a surprise, huh? But you think I have a penchant for violence? I've been incredibly sweet natured, while you've been arrogant and impossible . You do not understand the difference between arrogance and confidence, but I will teach it to you. I can't wait for the lesson.-Lucian and Jaxon

I love this book. The ending is so sweet. Although I would have like to have got to see Lucian meet his brothers, and sister. I mean I am glad it says that they are meeting up and all but I would have like to read the family reunion. Great read I can't wait to read the next one!

"I love this, Lucian. I really do. Every single moment with you."-Jaxon

Dark Legend

 Book Review of Dark Legend

Title: Dark Legend

Series: Dark Series

Author: Christine Feehan

Date Published: January 28th 2002

Date Read:  July 2012

The Blurb: 

Gabriel wakes deep within the ground, and the first sensation he feels is an overwhelming hunger for blood. But as he hunts the dark streets of Paris for prey, a voice calls to him, soothing, calming, giving him the strength to control his craving.

Francesca Del Ponce is a healer, a woman who radiates goodness as powerfully as the sun does light. Though Gabriel can only imagine what she will feel like in his arms, he knows the taste of her will be addictive. And yet he fears for her life and his soul if he gives in to his desire...

My Review

5 Angel of light Stars

First read July 2012 Reread January 24, 2016
Reread Feb 1 2017 Reread 11/9/2020

"Don't get any ideas, I'm just giving the devil his due. All this time our people called you the angel of light and Lucian the dark angel. I think they might have it backward."-Francesca

"I am not trying to take over your life, I only want to share it. I ask for a chance. Only that. A chance. You had not planned to end your life for several years. Share those years with me. Let me try to make up for the wrong I did you."-Gabriel

Spoilers*************************

Yay it's the legendary twins. I have loved Gabriel and Lucian since the first mention of them. Dark Legend the 8th book in the Dark series is Gabriel's book. Gabriel has been locked to his brother Lucian in the earth asleep for the last few centuries. When he wakes he knows Lucian is also awake. He knows he needs to feed to fight and destroy the vampire that use to be his beloved twin Lucian, to keep the world safe. Gabriel is starved and the darkness has been spreading over his soul and he fears he will not stop while feeding and become a vampire. When a beautiful, compassionate woman finds him and offers him her vein and her life for his "as is her right" Gabriel realizes that he can feel and is seeing in color and this woman must be his lifemate. To bad his lifemate is angry at him for abandoning her many centuries ago. Francesca has lived a long lonely life, heartbroken that her lifemate rejected her. she has chosen to end her life and greet the dawn. Francesca has no plans of letting Gabriel tie her to him. When Gabriel tells Francesca that he didn't see her and never meant to abandon her, and she still doesn't change her mind about ending her life, Gabriel will pull every trick he can to keep her with him even dirty ones. After all... all's fair in love and war.

"I want you inside me, Gabriel," she murmured softly, a demand. "I want your body in mine. I don't want you to treat me as if I might break either."-Francesca

"On the floor, where I can go deep, I want to be so deep inside you, you will never get me out." -Gabriel

Gabriel is a awesomely sexy hero and lived up to his legend! Gabriel does pull a sneaky move on Francesca to keep her from killing herself.   He knocks her up on purpose, but after that he gives her time, space, and understanding. He takes it slow and works to win her love. He feels guilty over not seeing her all those years ago and for the pain it caused her, but he wants to make her happy. Gabriel is the more laid back twin, the younger one. He is calm, in control, but had a playful side. I loved Francesca. She is strong, sweet, and a great healer. Francesca is very confused about how she feels. She was very hurt when Gabriel walked past her and didn't even look her way all those centuries ago. But she was proud of the hero he was. She choose to leave home and hide from her kind knowing a unclaimed female would hurt the males of her race. Francesca has lived a long lonely life, but she has tried to do good and help wherever she can. She wants to be worthy of the great lifemate she had even if they were not together. Francesca is a very relatable heroine. I could understand her fears, and feelings. I connected well with both the h & h. Gabriel and Francesca's relationship was one of great passion, understanding, respect, and support.

"I look at you and remember the endless centuries, all those wars and battles, my people turning undead and the countless times I was forced to destroy them. You are the reason I did it, the reason I endured it. Just you. Not some noble purpose, but somewhere on this planet I knew you might be, a child just beginning and it was necessary to keep you safe."-Gabriel

"We are family, child, real family. There is no place for embarrassment. I am proud of you, proud of the way you defended yourself and kept yourself true to your own soul. Do not hide your badges of courage, Skyler, not from me and not from Francesca."-Gabriel

I love the Skyler plot. Skyler broke my heart and won my love. The way Gabriel, Francesca, and Lucian all protect Skyler and make her their family was touching and beautiful. I love all the sweet family moments in this book. The way Gabriel and Francesca earn her trust and show her what love can be. Skyler is so brave, the things that poor girl lived though. I also love all the parts with Lucian and Gabriel. I have a huge crush on all 4 of the Daratrazanoff brothers. They are my favorite heroes of the whole series. And though I love my Gregori the best, Lucian is my second fav so every time he was in this book I ate it up! The banter between the twins was so damn cute. Bro love= too cute!

"It is not nonsense. These are commands from your lifemate, and you should listen and obey." He sounded very arrogant as only Gabriel could. "You're showing your age again. You awoke in the twenty-first century. Women no longer listen and obey, worse luck for you. I have work to do, and you are in some place very musty and smelling of wet dirt. What are you doing?" "Performing secret masculine rituals."-Gabriel and Francesca

"I can see how it's going to be. You two are a couple of hermits. There will be no ganging up against Francesca, you two. Skyler, you like your bodyguard, don't you?" Skyler shrugged. "I try never to look at him." "Well, you should. He's quite nice-looking," Francesca replied. "That will be enough of that," Gabriel interrupted. "You do not need to find any man good-looking other than me." Francesca smiled very sweetly. "But then, I don't remember ever saying you were good-looking." Skyler found herself laughing. -Francesce, Skyler, and Gabriel

Gabriel and Lucian kinda remind me of Damon and Stefan from The Vampire Diaries . Gabriel being the sweeter one like Stefan, and Lucian being the darker one like Damon. And just like I am Team Damon, Lucian is my favorite of the twins. What can I say I love the dark, bad boys! This book is excellent read and I can't wait to get reading Lucian's book!!

"It was not just a silly bet, honey, it was a way to get you to brush my hair. No one has ever done such a thing for me and I think I crave attention." He rubbed the bridge of his nose again and grinned at her almost boyishly. "I asked Lucian to do so once and he threatened to beat me to a bloody pulp." He shrugged his broad shoulders. "Some things are just not worth it, you know."-Gabriel

"Francesca, my dear sister, you have tied yourself to one who has a much inflated opinion of himself. I do not remember a time when he was right about anything."-Lucian

Dark Dream

 Book Review of Dark Dream

Title: Dark Dream

Series: Dark Series

Author: Christine Feehan

Date Published: July 31, 2001

Date Read:  July 2012

The Blurb:

She’s known him since she was fifteen. Every night, he is with her: his face, his voice. Tonight, Sara Marten will meet the man who is both angel and demon, salvation and temptation: Falcon—the Carpathian, the banished hero. Tonight, Sara will meet the dark-eyed destroyer destined to be her mate.

My Review

5 I know You Stars

You are my heart and soul, Sara. The words I left for you are truth, and only my lifemate would know how to find the key to unlock the code to translate the ancient language.-Falcon

First read July 2012 Reread January 23, 2016

Some spoilers

Dark Dream the 7th book in the Dark series by Christine Feehan, is an adorably sweet short story about Falcon and Sara. Falcon was one of several ancients that Mikhail's father, Prince Vladimir sent out to protect the world, unbeknownst to Mikhail and the others. Falcon was a male of great honor. He was making his way home to see his homeland one more time before greeting the dawn, when he found his lifemate Sara. He wasn't controlling and gave Sara choices. He treated her like a partner from the start. Which was a rare and refreshing thing to read in a series full of controlling alpha males. Not that Falcon was weak or less alpha. Falcon had great power and could kick ass with the best of them. Sara was a wonderful character. Sara was psychometry (she can get info by touching a object). When Sara was 15 she found a diary on a dig with her parents, knew it was for her from her soulmate, her lifemate. When she touched it she could see Falcon. Reading that diary with letters written to her, and what she was see when she touched it, let Sara get to know, and fall in love with Falcon before she ever met him. So Sara has been in love with her Dream lover, her lifemate since she was a teen, she just believed she was born to late to be with him.

"I have been yours for the last fifteen years. If you want me, Falcon, I'm not afraid. I've never really been afraid of you." -Sara

"Is this what you want, Sara? Am I what you want? Be certain of this - it is no easy thing. Conversion is painful." Falcon tightened his hold on her possessively, but he had to tell her the truth. "Being without you is more painful."-Falcon and Sara

Sara and Falcon's story was a low drama, sweet, quick read. Sara and Falcon were very loving and accepting of each other right away. It may have been short but it didn't feel like it was lacking anything. We also get to see how Mikhail, Raven, Jacques, and Shea are doing. I loved seeing the sweet happy place the past couples are in especially Jacques. I also really liked getting a peek at Vladimir. I kinda wish CF would write a story for Vladimir and his lifemate. I loved this book it was a great read!

We will have many children to love in the coming years. Whatever your dream, it is mine. We will have a home and we will fill it with children and laughter and love.-Falcon