ARC Review Vampire Most Wanted by Lynsay Sands

Title: Vampire Most Wanted (Argeneau #20)
Author: Lynsay Sands
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel
Reviewed by: CaroleDee

Rating- 4
Sexual- 3

For Basha Argeneau, anything is better than facing her estranged family. Even hiding
out in sweltering southern California. But when a sexy immortal in black shows up determined to bring her back to the clan, she'll do anything to keep far, far away from the past she can't outrun.

Marcus Notte isn't here to play games—especially not with someone as crazy as the infamous blonde. Asked by Lucian Argeneau to bring her back for questioning, Marcus is determined to carry out Lucian's request—no matter how the seductive little mind-reading vamp feels about it.

Basha doesn't mind fighting fire with fire, especially with a hot immortal involved. But if he wants to take her away, he'll have to catch her first . .

Review-

This was a strange addition to the Argeneau roundup. Where the last in the series (One Lucky Vampire) was super sweet Vampire Most Wanted was a bit dark. It started off normal enough, with the exception of a new and exciting backdrop of a carnival, but towards the end of the book you get a glimpse at some very dark material.

If you've followed the series you've caught a brief glimpse of Basha in a previous installment. She is thought to be a foe, but Vampire Most Wanted brings her story to light. Honestly? It's pretty sad. She had some terrible years and has spend the subsequent ones on the run from her Uncle. I'm not talking just a few; We're talking about decades and decades here. Don't get me wrong, she's not a woe-is-me character, but the end of the book will definitely make your jaw drop! I know mine did.

Marcus is a good guy. He seems to be just the kind of guy that Basha needs to move forward. Of course it takes her a while to realize that ;)

So, this 20th installment of the Argeneau series brought some pretty crazy stuff to the table. I really enjoyed it! If you've followed the series I think you'll like it. If you haven't then you can read this one as a stand a lone and be just as happy as a long time reader. I don't feel like there was too much back story needed to get into it. Do be forewarned; if you're prone to emotional triggers when reading a book with flashbacks of child abuse I would say skip it.

One Lucky Vampire by Lynsay Sands

Title: One Lucky Vampire (Argeneu, #19)
Author: Lynsay Sands
Source: Edelweiss
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel (386pgs)
Reviewer: CaroleDee

Luck be a vampire tonight . . .

When Nicole Phillips agreed to hire a housekeeper, she pictured someone a little frumpy and almost certainly female. Instead, she gets gorgeous, unmistakably male Jake Colson. The man is proving indispensable in the kitchen—and everywhere else. Except Jake might not be a mortal man at all.

. . . and every night

Who wouldn't want to be a tall, dark, powerful vampire? Jake, for one. He's barely had time to adjust to his new state before he's roped into a family favor. Still, secretly playing bodyguard to sweet, sexy Nicole is turning out to be the wildest ride of his life. First he'll put a stop to whoever's targeting her. Then he'll prove that this kind of love, and luck, happens only once in an eternity.

Pure unadulterated romance where one of the characters just happens to be a vampire.

It seems like it's becoming harder and harder to find PNR that revolve around the hero/heroine's relationship building and ultimate HEA rather than 'taking out a faction of evil'. One Lucky Vampire kept things clean and easy in the sense that the majority of the book is about Nicole and Jake and the crazy thing that is falling in love. Yes there is a foe trying to cause Nicole harm, but it's used as a plot device to strengthen the h and H's relationship rather than dragging them into impossible situations with a lot of over the top drama.

Sometimes I want outrageous situations and sometimes I want sweet romance. This entry into the Argenau series definitley falls into the latter category. If you're looking for a sweet romance, with typically hot Lynsay Sands sex scenes then you're going to be happy with this one. I'm taking off one point solely because of the few ridiculous chapters when Jake/Stephano's HUGE family comes to help out with a situation. True to other Argeneau titles there were just too many family members barging into a situation where only one or two people would have been helpful. All those characters just seem to jumble the story. 
Don't let that keep you away, though, it's still good fun ;) 

ARC Review Immortal Ever After by Lynsay Sands

Title: Immortal Ever After (Argeneau, #18)
Author: Lynsay Sands
Source: Edelweiss
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel (320pgs) Release Date: Feb 26 2013
 
A kiss doesn’t mean eternity . . .

Valerie Moyer doesn’t believe in vampires—until she is kidnapped by a fanged psychopath! After escaping her bloodthirsty captor, she’s through with creatures of the night. Until she finds herself under the protection of the darkly handsome Anders. Not only is she expected to accept that Anders is immortal, but also that she is the woman destined to be his life mate!

. . . Or does it?

Anders felt a connection to Valerie from the moment he cradled her bruised body in his arms. But before he claims her, he must destroy the vampire who almost stole her from him forever. His job would be easier if Valerie didn’t fight him every step of the way. Still, Anders loves a challenge, and the green-eyed beauty is worth fighting for!

ARC Review The Lady is a Vamp by Lynsay Sands

Title: The Lady is a Vamp (Argeneau #17)

Author: Lynsay Sands

Source: Edelweiss

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Length: Novel (384pgs)

Release Date: July 31 2012 from Avon

One late night leads to . . .
Kidnapped.
When Jeanne Louise Argeneau left work, she never thought she'd end up tied down by a good-looking mortal. More attracted than annoyed, she quickly realizes there is more to her abductor than meets the eye.

One desperate act leads to . . .
Love? 
Paul Jones has need of a vampire, and only Jeanne Louise will do. He just has to convince this beauty of a Vamp to help him, never imagining that he would fall in love. But with the immortal world's answer to law enforcement hunting them, their time together is running out..
and Paul and Jeanne Louise will need to risk everything to spend an eternity together.

ARC review The Heiress (Madison Sisters #2) by Lynsay Sands

Title: The Heiress (Madison Sisters #2)
Author: Lynsay Sands
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Historical romance
authors website
Release date Feb. 22 2011

Desperately seeking a husband . . .
Suzette is not like other heiresses; she wants a poor husband, a gentleman who will be so grateful for her dowry that he will allow her access to it so that she can pay off her father's gambling debts. When this alluring beauty encounters Daniel Woodrow—handsome, titled, single . . . and even more impoverished than she could have hoped for—it seems Suzette's wildest dreams have come true.
But Daniel has not been truthful. Tired of being accosted by an endless stream of vapid coquettes and their fortune-hunting mothers, Daniel has decided to plead poverty to stop them in their tracks. Yet here is a most refreshing and delectable lady, who claims to be thrilled by his penury. Now all Daniel has to do to find true happiness is to keep a little white lie alive . . . while avoiding a villain who's determined to prevent this union by any means necessary.

My Review:
Rating-

Sexual-

I really enjoyed this book. Lynsay always adds fun and adventure together so well. This book is a just about a mirror reflection of the first book in this series, but you get more of the man’s point of view from Daniel. I very much enjoyed it even if it felt like I was going through the same book at times. After you get half way it does change and you get an excellent thrilling adventure between Suzette and Daniel. I loved the characters again but my favorite addition to this book was Daniel’s mom, I just fell in love with her.

I enjoyed Daniel and Suzette together. I wished the ending could have been a little more. I was really hoping that I would be able to tell who Lisa would be partnered with, but found no clue. I hope it won’t be a long wait for the next installment.

Review The Countess by Lynsay Sands

Title: The Countess (Madison Sisters #1)
Author: Lynsay Sands
Source: Netgelley
Genre: Historical romance
Format: Mass paperback from Avon 384 pgs.
Authors website

The fairy tale courtship did not turn into a happily ever after…

Not until her husband dropped dead, that is. He had been horrible enough to Christiana during their short marriage, and she was not going to allow the traditional period of mourning to ruin her sisters’ debuts as well. So Christiana decides to put him on ice and go on as if nothing’s happened…

Until the real earl appears. Richard Fairgrave had every intention of confronting his villainous twin who robbed him of his name and title…only to discover that he’d died. Quietly assuming his identity, Richard must now deal with a maddening desire for his ravishing inherited “wife”—certainly a gold digger and possibly a murderess. And Christiana must deal with an unwanted new “husband”…and they both must figure out what to do before the ice melts!

My review:
Rating-

Sexual-

Fascinating, touching and wickedly sexy. I just love Lynsay Sands hot writing style. I found a mystery that had me stumped. An adventure that had me on the edge of my seat, the closing had me wanting more. If you’re an historical romance reader please add this one to your list to try, especially if you like your books on the spicy side with a touch of humor.

Few spoilers below

Christiana wound up married to a hateful disrespectful man. Now she has no way out. After a year of living with this man, her sisters came to visit. This is where Christiana finally finds a way out of her marriage and she doesn’t have to do a thing (you have to read to find out what happens), but find his body and put him on ice, while she helps find her sister a husband at this ball that night. While at the ball an unexpected thing happens the dead Duke shows up. Needless to say Christiana is floored along with her sisters.

While Richard has already had a bad life and finds himself back in England and at a ball where he also finds he is married. His wife is there with a look on her face that is shocking because is a look of horror. What’s a man to do when his brother has already messed up his life and now he finds that he has to save this woman and her sisters from a scandal that his brother has caused. Then again he just may find his life has turned for the better, he just has to clean up the mess his brother has caused and find the killer before he finds himself dead also.

I love the way Lynsay wrote this book. The sizzle that you find between Richard and Christiana is wonderful. Richard has to make sure he takes care of her and to let her know he is not his brother. She in turn has to learn to let go and be herself again. You get a good feel for the sisters, which books will be next because they are very interactive in the story.

Review of Hungry for You by Lynsay Sands

Hungry for You
Author: Lynsay Sands
Paranoromal Romance - eBook - From Netgalley
eBook - 384 pgs
Release Date: 11/30/2010
Author's Website



This vampire has been alone for far too long . . .

As one of the most ancient in the Argeneau clan, Cale Valens has given up on finding a life mate. His friends and family, however, have not. In fact, they believe they've finally found his perfect match. Getting them together, however, requires one little white lie . .

Alexandra Willan is in a panic. Her restaurant is due to open in two weeks, but her chef just walked out. Then a highly recommended replacement arrives, an impossibly handsome culinary genius who sends electric tingles racing through her body . . .

Except he can't cook. In fact, Cale hasn't eaten real food in two thousand years. Yet he's determined to prove to Alex his prowess in the kitchen . . . and elsewhere. Because never has he hungered so for any mortal woman. And not just for a taste of her, but for the whole delicious feast!

Rating

Sexual

I absolutely loved this story! This is storytelling at its best! I found myself smiling and chuckling throughout the story. Sands is the only consistently funny author I have ever read in the PNR genre. It was sweet, romantic, steamy, funny, and interesting. I loved both of the characters. They were both hard working & very kind to each other. The poor guy couldn’t find his way around a kitchen which describes me almost to a tee. Every time I think of the microwave scene I start laughing!!

The words just flowed across the pages in this story. The dialogue was interesting and realistic and there was plenty of it. I prefer this over books where everybody is just thinking about everything instead of saying anything. This also made me anxious for Bricker’s story. He’s a stitch!