Review: Not Wicked Enough by Carolyn Jewel

Review: Not Wicked Enough by Carolyn Jewel

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Release Date: February 7th, 2012

For back cover blurb, excerpt, and more information about this book visit Carolyn Jewel's website here.

A wickedly stunning start to a new series!

Lady Lily Wellstone is on a mission to save her widowed friend Eugenia from certain demise, at the hands of emotional sorrow and grief. Her arrival at the Bitterward Estate is only a mission of mercy. What Lily doesn’t expect is to find an attraction to Eugenia’s brother, the Duke of Mountjoy; a wicked name in and of itself!

Soon all bets are off as neither she nor he can deny the attraction they have toward each other. The only problem is Mountjoy’s impending engagement, and Lily’s firm insistence that love is a snare she will never succumb to again. Regardless of their impediments, Mountjoy and Lily find themselves often at odds and alone, leaving room for all manner of wicked things.

Jewel once again creates a cast of stellar characters that are a constant source of amusement. Lily is definitely a good mix of worldly and feisty all-in-one. She’s not afraid to try anything once, is a mastermind when it comes to fashion, and seeks the joy each new day can bring. This woman almost seems fearless. Yet, there is some weakness about her, especially when the prospects of intimate emotions toward a male are mentioned. Honestly I kept wondering if anything ever fazed Lily. She’s uncharacteristically strong which appealed and slightly repelled me. At the end I was more of a disposition to love her than rebuke her, since she is able to overcome the few fears that she has.

Mountjoy on the other hand was the one that needed saving. He’s just a big, hot, fashion-lacking mess! Luckily Lily is exactly the person that can turn his world on end and save him from himself. He’s a little overbearing and absent— absorbed in his own duty. I can say that this character is frustrating once you get to know him, and his journey through the course of the book is what I enjoyed the most.

Secondary cast members are equally likable; paving way for what I know will be a delicious continuance. One other thing to mention is that Jewel shocked me. I really can’t find the words to allude as to how, but let’s just say that ‘personal’ interactions were a bit different and I liked it. The title fits this story perfectly, and if you’re looking for a heroine that is outside the norm Lily Wellstone is the one you seek.

P.S. The cover alone is pure wickedness!

Carolyn Jewel's My Dangerous Pleasure Review

Greetings readers, for today I bring you a review for the upcoming novel from Carolyn Jewel, My Dangerous Pleasure.

I have to say that this was my first paranormal romance from Carolyn Jewel and I got a little excited. Hope everyone gets a chance to read this and definitely check out the release. Plus Carolyn is running a contest over at her blog and you can read the first couple chapters. Check it out here: http://carolynjewel.com/wordpress/

Now for the review:
Rating: 9

Carolyn Jewel’s latest paranormal romance is a wild ride right from the start; filled with action, steamy encounters, and a story that screams ‘More! Please, more!’


Iskander Philippikos, a demon sworn to fealty to the Warlord Nikodemus, is still recovering from his near deadly breakup with a fellow demon, Fen. He dispels sorrow with a different woman each night, until Paisley. Iskander thought his hot and sexy tenant was just a plain human. When he finds Paisley writhing on the floor of her apartment, magic radiating from her, he feels obligated to save her. The attacks on Paisley continue and Iskander is drawn to protect her and bed her if possible.

Paisley Nichols is an independent, southern woman, bound to a 5-year financial success plan for her bakery store. Dedicated to the job and with little time for anything else, she is suddenly thrown into a world of demons (the kin) and magic, by a single touch from an insane mage. Her smokin’ hot, tattooed landlord, Iskander, comes to the rescue and with it the knowledge that Paisley can no longer live the normal life. The magic gives Paisley the power to release demon souls trapped by mages, making her desirable to the kin and a threat to mages.

Neither Paisley nor Iskander really understand the full depth of their attraction to each other, and both seem hesitant to admit publicly that it exists. Their respectful and distant nature toward one another is erased when Paisley is finally immersed in the magic world; the boiling desire between them too hard to deny.

Paisley is a beautiful, tough woman, which fits Iskander’s needs and wants. She has no trouble accepting Iskander for who he is, in and out of the bed. While most women would probably be turned off at intimate relations with a demon, Carolyn Jewel weaves the characters and story in such a way that acceptance is natural.

Iskander is not only heartbreakingly attractive, but a dangerous assassin not afraid to take someone out. You cannot help but fall in love with Iskander’s bad boy nature and attitude, even if he kills few demons here and there. His loyalty to Paisley and desire to show her his love ultimately win over any reader’s devotion.

Both hero and heroine find themselves in precarious situations with witches and mages alike, that bring them closer to each other than what is safe, and ultimately face to face with the villain that drove them together. Can Iskander protect Paisley from the threat? And how will they stop the attacks from mages and witches alike? These questions, coupled with passionate encounters, keep the pages turning.

My Dangerous Pleasure is the fourth book in Jewel’s series, and contains a scrumptious story of love and intimacy blossoming from unexpected places. The additional story lines provide readers with only a guess at which character’s story will be told next. Ultimately this book is magic action, unbridled desire, and a taste for the wild side packaged up tight and delicious.

I've been absent...

I've been absent for the last couple of weeks. No excuses, just life rearing it's ugly head, as you all know. Well I say 'Screw That'! Time to get back on track.

To lead in to that I bring you my reading list for April.

-Secrets of a Proper Countess by Lecia Cornwall

-Midnights Wild Passion by Anna Campbell **

-What the Librarian Did by Karina Bliss

-Cloudy with a Chance of Marriage by Kieran Kramer

-School for Brides by Cheryl Ann Smith

-Dangerous in Diamonds by Madeline Hunter

-Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart by Sarah MacLean

-Bonded By Blood by Laurie London

-My Dangerous Pleasure by Carolyn Jewel*

-Hornet's Nest by Patricia Cornwell

-Provacative in Pearls by Madeline Hunter

-Then Comes Seduction by Mary Balogh

-Scandal of the Year by Olivia Drake

-The Secret of Cypriere Bayou by Jana Deleon

 

Can't say that this is a bad list. 14 books in a month. That's pretty good seeing that I spend way too much money as it is. That instant purchase clicker on the B&N Nook site is killer. Unfortunately it was hard to locate some fantasy that weren't in the high genre. Right now I cannot seem to bring myself to get lost or dug in deep with a high fantasy.

Although, I have a David Eddings book that has been sitting on my nightstand for 2 years that I should probably read at some point.


*A review for Carolyn Jewel's next release will be posted on my blog in the next week.
** Midnight's Wild Passion is my Historical Romance pick of the month. For me this book was beyond expectations. I love Anna Campbell anyway, but her tortured hero Ranelaw is just about too much!