Seduced by Crimson by Jade Lee (‘Crimson City’ series Book #5)

 Seduced by Crimson by Jade Lee

‘Crimson City’ series Book #5

Mass Market Paperback: 339 pages – Publisher: Love Spell (February 28, 2006) – Language: English – ISBN-10: 0505526727 – ISBN-13: 978-0505526724

Back of the Book reads:

Long ago Los Angeles became Crimson City, a glittering metropolis and sometime-battleground-sometime-home for humans, werewolves and vampires. Before that, demons ruled. And with the Crimson Veil now torn asunder, those demons are on their way back.

There exist those who oppose the Dark Ones: mystics attuned to the earth, the druids. From San Bernardino they come, sending one fot their mightiest – their Draig Uisge. He can shape energy, twist it to harm or heal. But he must have something to bend, and the requisite power can be summoned by one method alone … and from one source, the beauty Xiao Fei, the Phoenix Tear. Her blood is the key, along with her exstasy; her union with Patrick means salvation. Yet in a world of vampires, werewolves and evil untamed, even a kiss can be deadly. Opposition lurks in every shadow, peril in every caress … and both redemption and oblivion lie in one woman being …

Seduced by Crimson

Seduced by Crimson on Amazon.com

Seduced by Crimson on Chapters.ca

Seduced by Crimson on Amazon.ca

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18-Jul-08 to 22-Jul-08

Review: Better than A Darker Crimson…

But not by much.

I liked the story line and the plot, but it could have used a little more work. There was definitely more background on Xiao Fei, but you still don’t get the entire story. How did she become a Phoenix Tear? You get more details of what she did as a Tear as a child, and the huge battle that she had faced, but you still don’t get the how or why before it. And that was the way of it for all the characters in this series. I certainly hope the next book touches base more on the characters pasts.

The same with Patrick. His family are druids. Okay, got that, but where did they come from? How did they get to be in San Bernardino? All questions that you never get answers for. While the story does touch base on Patrick’s past – as a kid, a teen, a young adult, you still don’t get all of it.

Meanwhile, I liked both Xiao Fei and Patrick. I thought both strong characters, they act well together and learn about themselves and each other along the way.

The action was great, descriptions terrific. Very hard to put down, contantly wanting to know what’s next.

Rating:

A Darker Crimson by Carolyn Jewel (‘Crimson City’ series Book #4)

A Darker Crimson by Carolyn Jewel

‘Crimson City’ series Book #4

Mass Market Paperback: 373 pages – Publisher: Love Spell (October 2005) – Language: English – ISBN-10: 0505526581 – ISBN-13: 978-0505526588

Back of the Book reads:

Long ago the portal was sealed, and Los Angeles – now Crimson City – rid itself of demons for eternity. Or so Claudia Donovan believed. With the city’s other “paranormals” more active than ever, and the treaty between humans, vampires and werewolves all but dissolved, she and the rest of the CCPD had enough to handle.

But now her daughter has been kidnapped and she’s learned that demons still exist – and that they are plotting. She herself is caught in the dark ritual and must go to the creatures shadowy world. To whom can she turn for help? The vampire, Tiberu Korzha, whose eyes promise death but whose lips taste of eternity: does she dare trust him? Or does salvation lie with the powerful Lath, he who inspires lust beyond name? Thirst, bitterness, despair – on the plane of Orcus, all these things await. But just as surely, beyond that portal are Claudia’s daughter, vitory and true love. And her first taste of…

A Darker Crimson

A Darker Crimson on Amazon.com

A Darker Crimson on Chapters.ca

A Darker Crimson on Amazon.ca

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16-Jul-08 to 18-Jul-08

Review: A little disturbing for me.

There are some good points in the book, but there are bad points as well.

I liked Tiber, however I think we could have used more background on him. You don’t get his whole story, so you don’t really understand why he does what he does. However, a strong vamp, he does what is necessary – for Claudia, Holly and himself. What he had to do in a part of this novel was really sad – a parent shouldn’t have to do what he had to do. I really felt for him.

As for Claudia, her hatred for vampires wasn’t clarified so you didn’t understand her feelings, especially the distrust. It kept coming back to what she learned in the academy. While you do get some background on her, you don’t get a whole lot, nor do you get a straight, full story on how she fell for a demon, not knowing what he was and had a baby. The idea of her being only 15 at the time had me rather frightened: my daughter is seven and I can’t imagine what life would be like at the age of 15 and finding out you’re pregnant, regardless of the life you’ve had. Couldn’t have been easy. But there isn’t enough for the ready to fully comprehend what’s going on in that department. I do, however, have to give Claudia kudos; she raised her daughter alone, and fought with everything she has inside to give her daughter a better life.

The plot was good, could have used a little more work. There is a couple of parts in the story that I’m really not happy with – rape is rape, no matter how or who, and I don’t like reading the by-play of the entire scene. Saying the victim was raped is one thing, but to be there with Claudia while it’s happening? While she’s screaming no but her body says yes? Vishtau or not, I didn’t like it, and I hope to never read something like that again. I’d have liked to take a knife to Lath myself, no doubt about that.

And it’s because of those exact scenes that I can’t give the novel a better rating than 3 stars. Sorry, Ms. Jewel! A little too ‘dark’ for my taste.

Rating:

Through a Crimson Veil by Patti O’Shea (‘Crimson City’ series Book #3)

 Through a Crimson Veil by Patti O’Shea

‘Crimson City’ series Book #3

Mass Market Paperback: 369 pages – Publisher: Love Spell (September 27, 2005) – Language: English – ISBN-10: 0505526476 – ISBN-13: 978-0505526472

Back of the Book reads:

Los Angeles. Once, it was the City of Angels. Now, it’s Crimson City, whose inhabitants know nothing of Heaven. The tentative peace between the species – werewolf, vampire, human – teeters on the brink of collapse. Sides are being chosen. Yet the peril is greater than any imagine. There is a power here that longs for release, an ancient darkness held captive too long. Below, beneath, beyond, it seethes. And there are those who would see it freed.

Mika herself seeks freedom. She’s come to Crimson City looking for the key. But that key’s keeper is a killer, an outsider, a mercenary with a poisoned past. To her kind, he has meant only death. No matter that Conor McCabe’s pale green eyes hold a hint of lust, the glind of a bond never to be broken; the path ahead lies in shadow. In a city like this, death can come by fire or fang, by claw or kiss. And the moment of truth must come…

Through a Crimson Veil

Through a Crimson Veil on Amazon.com

Through a Crimson Veil on Chapters.ca

Through a Crimson Veil on Amazon.ca

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15-Jul-08 to 16-Jul-08

Review: Pretty good for what it was.

Could have been a little better though, I think. Comparing this one to the first two, it fell a little flat somehow. The author didn’t combine enough background info – it almost feels like something’s missing. You don’t really get the why of it all.

There’s no misunderstanding as to why Conor is the way he is. It’s crystal clear. I liked his character; strong, it takes quite a bit to succumb to his desires. I truly hope to see more of him.

Mika… sure, demons are made out to be just as sensual creatures as vamps are, and they are very open about it, but on her, it almost seemed immature somehow. That’s how it came across and I’m still not sure why.

The fight scenes are pretty good, the descriptions make you feel like you’re there – you see a clear picture of everything in your head while reading.

I say, read it – I think you’ll like it.

Rating: