Not long ago — wait…very long ago — two years long ago! My sister came on the blog to post her Must Read Paranormal Romances as part of my Read More Romance series. She swore she would return to review her favorite Paranormals as she read them…and, well, it seems that time got away from her, because she hasn’t been back…until today!
But I guess it takes a book this good to get her to return and blog! So…take it away Kiki!
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You may remember that nearly two years ago I posted my top 9 must-read paranormal romances in honor of my sister’s blockbuster hit – Nine Rules to Break when Romancing a Rake. Well, I’m back to celebrate my sister’s upcoming release – A Rogue by Any Other Name – the first book in the Rule of Scoundrels series.
You may ask why this book, of all the books she’s written since Nine Rules, has pulled me back to guest blog? Because, drum roll, she’s brought her amazing talent oh-so-close to the genre of paranormal.
(Editor’s note: What?! — runs off to check the manuscript for vamps and ghouls)
Historical fans, don’t despair! There are no vampires or were-shifters or ghosts or goblins. Instead, there is a fantastically dark, yummy, in the genre of paranormal romance, hot-ty-hot of a hot hero [fist pump, yay!]. He has all the elements of the perfect anti-hero – he’s dreamy, just a little angry, and in need of more than a little salvation. And, who best to provide it than his heroine, Penelope? Props sister mine for creating a hero that rivals the best of JR Ward, Gena Showalter, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Meljean Brooks, Ilona Andrews, and Kresley Cole’s most recent, Lothaire (More about him in a bit).
(Editor’s note: Good lord. Those are big words. But she’s my sister, and very biased.)
Let’s be honest, the irredeemable anti-hero is not commonplace in the Historical. I imagine it’s a little hard to be all dark and broody while performing the mincing steps of a quadrille. To be sure, Michael and Penelope’s path is not an easy one, but their HEA is well worth the journey! And, my sense is that their story is only the beginning.
(Editor’s note: Shush.)
Ooops, must stop before I give too much away – alas, MacLean readers, you must wait until February 28. But, to tide you over, let me suggest a fantastic paranormal read by the ever more fantastic Kresley Cole.
In my previous guest blog, I waxed poetic (well, I like to think it was poetic) on the amazing talents of Kresley Cole’s No Rest for the Wicked. Well, she’s back with her best yet! Lothaire. You want to talk dark, irredeemable, bad-ass of a hero? Let’s talk Lothaire. He’s the king of all bad boys, and definitely not for the faint of heart (sigh – be still mine!). In the vein (pardon the pun) of the perfect anti-hero, Lothaire has tread a sordid path through Cole’s Immortals After Dark series.
By turns – wicked and evil – Lothaire challenges the reader to commit to his story, both past and present. You will find yourself booing and hissing at his evil ways (teaser, sending your beloved to prison does not a happy relationship make), and at other times, sighing and offering a soft sniffle at his quiet moments of self revelation. His story is complex, and his path twisted. His heroine is deceptively simple, with a hidden core of steel that reveals itself at the most perfect moments. By the end, you will feel a little like you’ve been through an epic pilates workout – achy and tired, but remarkably satisfied that it all ended as it should.
So, I leave you with two thoughts: (1) the most satisfying romance should involve a little work – while nattering around the edges of a ballroom can be amusing, a truly great romance will leave you thinking after you turn the last page; and (2) there is nothing more satisfying than witnessing the redemption of the anti-hero, whether Lothaire or Michael.
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Wow. So, looks like she loved it! As I confessed back in 2010, I don’t read near enough paranormals…so I’ve got to start Kresley’s series. Do you read paranormals? If so, have you read Lothaire or any of the Immortals After Dark series? If not, what keeps you from them…and are you willing to give this one a try? One commenter will win your choice: No Rest for the Wicked to start you on your journey, or Lothaire to keep you moving! We’ll choose the winner on Wednesday!
February 6th, 2012 at 10:34 am
Have not read any of Kresely’s books — currently into Karen Marie Moning’s The Dark Highlander. When authors add multiple concepts(shape-shifters,changelings,fairies,
whatever) in a book, I lose interest. Too many layers to understand. Give me a straight-out, full-go interesting plot with rich characters and I’m all in!!
February 6th, 2012 at 1:50 pm
I’m with you, Julie! I get confused with too many paranormal creatures. But I do like me some vampires! And I love KMM!
February 6th, 2012 at 3:19 pm
i promise, julie, once you start down the path of a kresley cole book you will not be able to put it down!! what’s awesome about her books is that she doesn’t mix & match her paranormal concepts – she focuses on her character development more so than others. i too love me some km moning :)
February 6th, 2012 at 1:10 pm
I read and love all Kresley’s books. She is amazing! Whenever I am in a bad mood or don’t know what to read and nothing from my TBR pile entices me I turn to Kresley Cole’s IAD series. She has such a way of writing great alpha heroes and heroines that aren’t idiots or (let’s face it) impressed with the chest beating of the heroes :D. And all her books have great humor in them, that keeps me coming back again and again.
February 6th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
Thanks, Alina!
Have you read Lothaire? Did you like it?
February 6th, 2012 at 3:21 pm
alina, girlfriend, i hear you! totally agree – which is your favorite of the IAD series? also, can’t wait to see if she does Nix’s story – hope so!
February 7th, 2012 at 3:22 am
Sarah I’ve read and loved it. Lothaire is the most arrogant character I’ve EVER read about, I’m not joking, and that made the book very funny(even if I wanted to smack him every page I’ve read).
Kiki I love Lothaire the most, before this one I would say Rydstorm’s book. I can’t wait for Nixie!!! She is my favorite PNR character(female :D). From what I know Nixie’s book will be the last in the IAD series.
February 7th, 2012 at 11:29 am
soooo excited that nix will get her own book – i can’t imagine who her hero will be?!!
February 8th, 2012 at 6:31 am
I can’t either…I don’t know if he should be saner then her or not :D What I do know is that KC will not disappoint me :D
February 6th, 2012 at 2:42 pm
I literally just bought the entire IAD series (except for Lothaire) last week! I was at a used book store and four of the books were on the clearance rack. I ran back over to the non-clearance rack and, lo-and-behold, there was the rest of the series! I had been considering buying the series from Amazon because of all the Lothaire trailers that had been popping up on other websites. I was intrigued! I had to find Playing Easy to Get on Amazon so I could read The Warlord Wants Forever to get started, but I am so thrilled with the series so far!
February 6th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
oooo – so envious – i wish i could start the series all over again without knowing what happens over the arc of the story. but, michelle, definitely pay attention to the glimpses of lothaire through each story … all will become clear :-)
February 6th, 2012 at 4:00 pm
That’s how I feel about Sarah’s Love By Numbers series! Actually, that was the same store and the very same shelf (!) where I purchased Nine Rules! Favorite shelf ever. (=
I am definitely looking forward to the arrival of Lothaire in the books. I actually only finished The Warlord Wants Forever yesterday, so I have all of them to go! And I love me a tall, blond, seemingly-villainous-but-not-really vampire! *cough, Eric Northman, cough*
February 6th, 2012 at 5:37 pm
I am just getting into paranormals and have Kresley on my list! I loved her earlier romances, but just haven’t gotten into her paranormals yet. I started with Karen Marie Monings highlander series and couldn’t put down her Fever series books. LOVED them. I’m really looking forward to a dark romance from Sarah! Love the bad boys!!!
February 6th, 2012 at 7:32 pm
Bad boys abound in Sarah’s new series! You’ll love Michael; he’s a quintessential bad boy. If you haven’t already checked them out JR Ward’s Black Dagger series is a must read for anyone entering the paranormal genre – enjoy!
February 6th, 2012 at 10:08 pm
I love reading paranormals even though I’m currently on a contemporary and historical binge right now (Can’t wait to read A Rogue By Any Other Name!). I had to stop by three Borders during their closing sale last year, but I managed to snag all the books in the IAD series that was out at that time. I borrowed Lothaire from a friend a few weeks back and I have to say Lothaire is one smexy anti-hero! ;)
February 7th, 2012 at 12:08 pm
i feel i need to get back into the contemporary realm… kristy, what would you suggest? haven’t read one in a good, long while.
February 7th, 2012 at 1:57 pm
Shannon Stacey’s Kowalski Family series is a cute read; however, you won’t find any real bad boys in them. I’ve also enjoyed reading Making Waves by Tawna Fenske and if you want, I can send you a free kindle copy of it since I have at least two left over from a past giveaway I held on my old blog.
February 7th, 2012 at 9:30 am
The only paranormals I read are by Ms. Cole. I’ve been reading her IAD series since the Warlord Wants Forever first got published. The chemistry and sparks between her characters is always fun to read and I love the “fated” mate plot. My favorite book in her series is Dark Desires After Dusk which has a very OCD heroine with a very disorganized hero. :) I haven’t gotten my hands on Lothaire yet, but I’m looking forward to it because it has a character a lot of us have been waiting to read about. I’m also looking forward to her YA series that she just signed on for.
February 7th, 2012 at 11:33 am
elizabeth – i totally agree – her ability to create sparks with each new book, and still keep the characters fresh & unique ah-mazes me! definitely read lothaire – apart from the dreamy cover, cole takes the fated mate plot to a whole new level ;)
February 8th, 2012 at 3:31 am
I’ve loved all of Kresley Cole’s Immortals after dark and Sarah MacLean’s Love by numbers. I haven’t had the chance yet to read Lothaire, but the moment I find it it’s MINE! It’ll go off the shelf and right into my bookcase (after I read it a dozen times)to be repeatedly taken out and reread.
I can’t wait for Sarah’s new series – or Kresley’s new books – and I love that Penelope gets her own story after what happened with Simon.