MY DANGEROUS PLEASURE by Carolyn Jewel

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Release Date: June 2011
ISBN: 978-044656387-1
Mass Market Paperback
Urban Paranormal Romance
Reviewed by Pam
Obtained by publisher


Demon assassin Iskander has been betrayed, so never allows himself to get close to anyone, well other than the women he has carnal pleasure with.

When a powerful Mage attacks the flat he rents out, and his beautiful tenant is almost killed, he protects her. The Mage isn’t working on his own and the more they resist, the angrier he becomes. Iskander is enjoying having his own cook, but insists on doing the dishes, but doesn’t like having his home under attack, so calls on the local vampire over-lord to get back-up.

Paisley Nichols has a love of baking and is becoming adept at taking care of herself. She owns a bakery in town that is actually working out well. When her flat and all her things in it are turned to dust, Paisley is devastated.

But having a mad mage threatening and pursuing her, she reluctantly puts her life into a demons care.

This tale with a difference hooked me with its unusual characters, and the many rules and regulations those with magic have to adhere to. But some don’t abide by the rules so Paisley is relieved her landlord has taken her in. Paisley is an interesting character with a positive outlook. The crazy mage brings along his minions, he has also put out hits on her, but they all seem to forget she’s got a demon on her side. There are a lot of secondary characters in this book, with witches, mages, assassins and vampires, so it’s never boring. The sex scenes are very hot, so perhaps go look for a demon lover as the one in the story seems to be very satisfactory. The vampire Nikodemus has rules so they couldn’t attack Rasmus the mage or his minions. This made the story tense but the mix of super-naturals made it interesting.

If you enjoy paranormal tales I recommend reading this book, which has a bit of everything.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

MY IMMORTAL ASSASIN by Carolyn Jewel

My Immortal series, book 3
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing/Forever
Date: January 2011
ISBN: 978-0-446-56386-4
Paranormal Romance, Demons, Mages
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed By Lil
Obtained by Publisher


Anna Grayson Spencer sought nothing but revenge against the mage who tore her away from all that she knew. Despairing and mourning the loss of her beloved sister, it was a demon who gave her hope and strength to survive. Just as Gray attempted to attain her goal of death for the one who had caused her and many others’ suffering, an assassin intervened. And in thwarting her, he saved her, as well.

A fiend and feared by his enemies, Durian is an accomplished assassin bound by choice to a powerful warlord. He may not trust mages but he will uphold the current truce though his heart rebels. When an unprepossessing female attempts a ludicrous act of courage he is deeply suspicious and then impressed. Enough to become something of a mentor and eventually more.

MY IMMORTAL ASSASSIN is the third book in Carolyn Jewel’s exciting My Immortal series. Leaping into the fray with this story was no difficulty. A brief glossary included in the book made for an easy reference in the case of need. However, it really didn’t take long to get up to speed with this world and the beings that inhabited it.

The heroine is that wonderful mix of determination, vulnerability and bravado that is such fun to read. The horror of her experiences certainly helps to shape her but her flashes of humor lighten her character. Gray embraces a steep learning curve under Durian’s tutelage and one can’t help but delight in her ease in grasping the art of fighting.

A strong sexy demon hero is hard to resist. He is also suave and deadly. One of the things that makes Durian so interesting is that he is a hero clearly not in charge of the greater picture in this world. And yet he comes across with authority. This is not so simple a portrayal with a backdrop of tenuous political agreement and painful compromise due to same.

Ms Jewel’s ability to create a hierarchy for the kin and to show the ways that her demons interact with each other and those around them adds layer upon layer to this fascinating book. Magekind are not neglected in a certain richness of background.

MY IMMORTAL ASSASSIN is an action filled read with plenty of tension from suspense and from steamy awareness between hero and heroine. With the plethora of paranormal romances out there, this one easily stands out. I for one am anxious to catch up on the installments of the series that I have missed in MY WICKED ENEMY and MY FORBIDDEN DESIRE. Even better, the fourth book, MY DANGEROUS PLEASURE appears to have hit the bookstore shelves. Glomming doesn’t get much better than this.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of the book.

SCANDAL by Carolyn Jewel

Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Date published: February 2009
ISBN: 978-0-425-22551-6
Historical Romance
Mass Market Paperback
Obtained by: Publisher
Reviewed by Dawn


The Earl of Banallt is a rake, plain and simple and he wants Sophie Evans in the worst way. What he gets instead is rebuffed by the one woman he fell in love with long ago. Can he change her mind and show her he is a reformed rake?

Sophie Evans is widowed and even though she had a childhood friendship with Banallt, she refuses to give into his seductions. Her late husband was a rake in the worst way and it has made her wary of risking her heart to the one man who may be able to heal a heart shattered by betrayal. Can Sophie let her heart lead her to the greatest desire she will ever find in the arms of Banallt?

SCANDAL is a wonderfully told story of a reformed rake, a cynical widow and a friendship that spans time. Ms. Jewel sprinkles within the pages pieces of the past as it is woven into the present within SCANDAL and the reader gets a glimpse into how a friendship formed between the independent Sophie and the rake known as Banallt. Full of intriguing secondary characters, a fast paced storyline and some simmering sexual tension, Ms. Jewel delivers a high speed adventure as you read SCANDAL.

I have to say I have never read one of this authors book before so I wasn’t sure what to expect in her latest story. I was pleasantly surprised as her characters are well rounded and the story was a pleasing blend of past memories and the present between Sophie and Banallt. Banallt is one heck of a hero as well. His magnetism lit up the pages and makes you eager for a touch from this rake. He was a delight as he pursued Sophie and tried to show her that he has changed for the better. It was a wonderful thing to see a hero who is forced to show his love that even though he has a reputation of a rake, he has changed for her. It made me root for him to get Sophie’s formidable defenses down and to show her with every action that he was a reformed rake.

SCANDAL is a pure delight and I look forward to reading more of Ms. Jewel’s books in the future. If you enjoy a different take on reformed rakes in regency romance books, then take a look at SCANDAL. It will surely be a keeper on your shelf when you’re done.

THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THIS BOOK. THIS IS AN OBJECTIVE UNBIASED REVIEW.