C.C.'s bookshelf: favorites en-US Sat, 16 Mar 2024 19:29:58 -0700 60 C.C.'s bookshelf: favorites 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg <![CDATA[The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1)]]> 61215351 One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.

In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit.

In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.]]> 432 J.R.R. Tolkien C.C. 0 4.52 1954 The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1)
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.52
book published: 1954
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/03/16
shelves: fantasy-and-scifi, favorites, currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Duke of Sin (Maiden Lane, #10)]]> 27073530 A MAN OF SIN

Devastatingly handsome. Vain. Unscrupulous. Valentine Napier, the Duke of Montgomery, is the man London whispers about in boudoirs and back alleys. A notorious rake and blackmailer, Montgomery has returned from exile, intent on seeking revenge on those who have wronged him. But what he finds in his own bedroom may lay waste to all his plans.

A WOMAN OF HONOR

Born a bastard, housekeeper Bridget Crumb is clever, bold, and fiercely loyal. When her aristocratic mother becomes the target of extortion, Bridget joins the Duke of Montgomery's household to search for the incriminating evidence-and uncovers something far more dangerous.

A SECRET THAT THREATENS TO DESTROY THEM BOTH

Astonished by the deceptively prim-and surprisingly witty-domestic spy in his chambers, Montgomery is intrigued. And try as she might, Bridget can't resist the slyly charming duke. Now as the two begin their treacherous game of cat and mouse, they soon realize that they both have secrets—and neither may be as nefarious—or as innocent—as they appear . . .]]> 368 Elizabeth Hoyt 1455539074 C.C. 5 3.97 2016 Duke of Sin (Maiden Lane, #10)
author: Elizabeth Hoyt
name: C.C.
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2023/10/27
date added: 2023/10/27
shelves: favorites, romance, read-in-2023
review:

]]> Love's Choices 6232389
He had seduced her from the shelter of the convent, then made her his pawn as he quested hungrily after revenge. She had been only an innocent girl, but at his hands she became a woman --- and now the world was hers.

In California, Hope Stanford found success and adulation and an inner strength that gave her freedom. Once a man had told her that for everything there was a price to be paid. Now he was back, but if Alexei Serivace wanted her again, he would find that the price was very high indeed.]]> 383 Penny Jordan 037383327X C.C. 5 romance, favorites 3.06 1984 Love's Choices
author: Penny Jordan
name: C.C.
average rating: 3.06
book published: 1984
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2023/10/21
shelves: romance, favorites
review:

]]> Almost Heaven (Sequels, #3) 129621
ELIZABETH CAMERON

The Countess of Havenhurst possessed a rare gentleness and fierce courage to match her exquisite beauty. But her reputation is shattered when she is discovered in the arms of Ian Thornton, a notorious gambler and social outcast.

IAN THORNTON

A dangerously handsome man of secret wealth and mysterious lineage, his voyage to Elizabeth's heart is fraught with intrigue, scandal, and a venomous revenge.

Destined for each other, yet wary of each other's motives, Elizabeth and Ian engage in a dance of suspicion and passion that tests the very soul of their star-crossed love. As a twisting path of secrets takes them from London's drawing rooms to the mysterious Scottish Highlands, Elizabeth must learn the truth: is Ian merely a ruthless fortune hunter at heart?]]> 544 Judith McNaught 0671011332 C.C. 0 favorites 4.33 1989 Almost Heaven (Sequels, #3)
author: Judith McNaught
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.33
book published: 1989
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/10/21
shelves: favorites
review:

]]> Surrender To Love 1249437 704 Rosemary Rogers 1551667169 C.C. 0 favorites 3.70 1982 Surrender To Love
author: Rosemary Rogers
name: C.C.
average rating: 3.70
book published: 1982
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/10/20
shelves: favorites
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Wicked Loving Lies (Morgan #6)]]> 448077 In the sweeping tradition of Sweet Savage Love, New York Times bestselling author Rosemary Rogers takes readers on an epic journey that spans continents and explores the depths of human passions.

Born of scandal and denied his birthright, Dominic Challenger took to the sea, charting his own future. A true rogue, Dominic answers to no one, trusting only himself. Until Marisa.

Born of wealth and privilege, Marisa is a prisoner to her father's expectations. When the sanctuary she has found behind the walls of a convent is threatened by the news that her father has arranged for her to marry, Marisa flees...right into the arms of a pirate.

From the safety of a sheltered convent to a sultan's harem, from the opulence of Napoleon's court to the wilds of the new frontier, Marisa and Dominic brave all that they encounter in this thrilling age: intrigue, captivity and danger. And above all, an enduring passion that ignites into an infinite love.

]]> 768 Rosemary Rogers 1551669277 C.C. 5 romance, favorites 3.92 1976 Wicked Loving Lies (Morgan #6)
author: Rosemary Rogers
name: C.C.
average rating: 3.92
book published: 1976
rating: 5
read at: 2018/06/09
date added: 2023/10/20
shelves: romance, favorites
review:

]]> Prisoner of My Desire 774060
Spirited Rowena Belleme must produce an heir--or incur the dangerous wrath of a ruthless stepbrother, who stands to forfeit his ill-gotten wealth. And the magnificent Warrick deChaville is the perfect choice to sire her child--though it means imprisoning the handsome knight...and forcing him to bend to her amorous whims.

SLAVE OF PASSION

Vowing to resist but betrayed by his own virility, noble Warrick is intoxicated by Rowena's sapphire eyes and voluptuous beauty. Yet all the while he plans a fitting revenge--eagerly awaiting the time when his sensuous captor becomes his helpless captive ... and is made to suffer the same rapturous torment and exquisite ecstasy that he himself has endured.]]> 425 Johanna Lindsey 0380756277 C.C. 4 4.05 1991 Prisoner of My Desire
author: Johanna Lindsey
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.05
book published: 1991
rating: 4
read at: 2023/10/07
date added: 2023/10/18
shelves: 2015, romance, favorites, read-in-2023
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1)]]> 13496
Sweeping from a harsh land of cold to a summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, A Game of Thrones tells a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; a child is lost in the twilight between life and death; and a determined woman undertakes a treacherous journey to protect all she holds dear. Amid plots and counter-plots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, allies and enemies, the fate of the Starks hangs perilously in the balance, as each side endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.]]> 835 George R.R. Martin 0553588486 C.C. 5 4.44 1996 A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1)
author: George R.R. Martin
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.44
book published: 1996
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2023/09/06
shelves: fantasy-and-scifi, favorites, read-in-2023
review:

]]> Until You (Westmoreland, #3) 129618
For Miss Charise Lancaster, not over-gifted with intelligence, eloped with a stranger before she could meet her suitor. And Sheridan was left with the horrid task of telling Lord Burleton she had somehow misplaced his bride. As she gazed at the tall, confident man before her, her courage failed. She was doubly shocked when she heard his news. Lord Burleton, a drunkard and a wastrel, had been killed the night before. At which point fate took over. Sheridan was knocked unconscious on the quayside, and recovered to find herself in the handsome stranger's care, not knowing who she was.

It was to be the beginning of a dazzling, witty, dramatic, and romantic sequence of events in which every possible confusion was to take place.]]> 430 Judith McNaught 0552143545 C.C. 5 4.12 1994 Until You (Westmoreland, #3)
author: Judith McNaught
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.12
book published: 1994
rating: 5
read at: 2023/06/11
date added: 2023/06/11
shelves: favorites, romance, read-in-2023
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Consequences (Consequences, #1)]]> 12416934 Every action has consequences.

Waking in an unfamiliar bedroom in a luxurious mansion, Claire Nichols is terrified to discover that a chance encounter led her into the cruel hands of her abductor, Anthony Rawlings. Claire has no understanding of why she's there, but it's been made abundantly clear--she is now his acquisition and every action has consequences.

Learn the rules to survive.

Facing incomprehensible circumstances, Claire must learn to survive her new reality--every aspect of her livelihood depends upon the tall, dark-eyed tycoon who is a true master of deception. Driven by unknown demons, he has no tolerance for imperfection, in any aspect of his life, including his recent acquisition. Anthony may appear to the world as a handsome, benevolent businessman, but in reality Claire knows firsthand that he's a menacing, controlling captor with very strict rules: do as you're told, public failure is not an option, and appearances are of the utmost importance.

Captivate the captor.

To fit together the pieces of the puzzle, Claire must follow his rules. Will her plan work, or will Anthony become enthralled by Claire's beauty, resilience, and determination, changing the game forever? If that happens, will either of them survive the consequences?

Nobody ever did or ever will escape the consequences of his choices.--Alfred A. Montapert]]> 573 Aleatha Romig 0988489120 C.C. 4 favorites 3.90 2011 Consequences (Consequences, #1)
author: Aleatha Romig
name: C.C.
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2022/07/14
shelves: favorites
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Whitney, My Love (Westmoreland, #2)]]> 350684
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.]]> 736 Judith McNaught 1416530711 C.C. 4 2015, favorites, romance [image error] ]]> 4.11 1985 Whitney, My Love (Westmoreland, #2)
author: Judith McNaught
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.11
book published: 1985
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2021/12/17
shelves: 2015, favorites, romance
review:
I devoured this book within 24 hours. I stayed up until nearly 2 in the morning reading it. I loved the characters and their bickering and misunderstandings made me want to lock them in a room together until they got over themselves and actually talked about their problems.
[image error]
]]> Spinning Silver 36896898 Spinning Silver draws readers deeper into a glittering realm of fantasy, where the boundary between wonder and terror is thinner than a breath, and safety can be stolen as quickly as a kiss.

Miryem is the daughter and granddaughter of moneylenders, but her father’s inability to collect his debts has left his family on the edge of poverty—until Miryem takes matters into her own hands. Hardening her heart, the young woman sets out to claim what is owed and soon gains a reputation for being able to turn silver into gold.

When an ill-advised boast draws the attention of the king of the Staryk—grim fey creatures who seem more ice than flesh—Miryem’s fate, and that of two kingdoms, will be forever altered. Set an impossible challenge by the nameless king, Miryem unwittingly spins a web that draws in a peasant girl, Wanda, and the unhappy daughter of a local lord who plots to wed his child to the dashing young tsar.

But Tsar Mirnatius is not what he seems. And the secret he hides threatens to consume the lands of humans and Staryk alike. Torn between deadly choices, Miryem and her two unlikely allies embark on a desperate quest that will take them to the limits of sacrifice, power, and love.

Channeling the vibrant heart of myth and fairy tale, Spinning Silver weaves a multilayered, magical tapestry that readers will want to return to again and again.]]> 465 Naomi Novik C.C. 5 fantasy-and-scifi, favorites
Also, I didn't really like the Audible audiobook narration. There was almost no indication for POV switches or much of a difference between character voices, except for the voice of the fire demon that was just weird and hard to listen to. Having a different voice actor to voice the demon's lines, such as a deeper-voiced man, would have been nice. Instead, it just sounded like they were choking on something while they tried to sound creepy. I'd definitely recommend the physical book over audio. Robert Petkoff and Tim Curry have set my expectations for audiobook narration too high I think.]]> 4.20 2018 Spinning Silver
author: Naomi Novik
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2019/09/23
date added: 2021/08/31
shelves: fantasy-and-scifi, favorites
review:
4 1/2 stars. Awesome overall, but I could have done without the POV of Irina's nurse and Stepon. They were the POV for some important scenes and created a level of separation between me and the characters that actually mattered. If an emotional scene between characters is occurring I want to be in one of their heads, not a bystander that doesn't fully grasp what's happening. Honestly, keeping the POV to just Irina, Miriam, and Mirnatius would have been preferable in my opinion, and would have made the story more focused.

Also, I didn't really like the Audible audiobook narration. There was almost no indication for POV switches or much of a difference between character voices, except for the voice of the fire demon that was just weird and hard to listen to. Having a different voice actor to voice the demon's lines, such as a deeper-voiced man, would have been nice. Instead, it just sounded like they were choking on something while they tried to sound creepy. I'd definitely recommend the physical book over audio. Robert Petkoff and Tim Curry have set my expectations for audiobook narration too high I think.
]]> The Bad Guy 34464710 My name is Sebastian Lindstrom, and I’m the villain of this story.
I’ve decided to lay myself bare. To tell the truth for once in my hollow life, no matter how dark it gets. And I can assure you, it will get so dark that you’ll find yourself feeling around the blackened corners of my mind, seeking a door handle that isn’t there.
Don’t mistake this for a confession. I neither seek forgiveness nor would I accept it. My sins are my own. They keep me company. Instead, this is the true tale of how I found her, how I stole her, and how I lost her.
She was a damsel, one who already had her white knight. But every fairy tale has a villain, someone waiting in the wings to rip it all down. A scoundrel who will set the world on fire if that means he gets what he wants. That’s me.
I’m the bad guy.

Author's Note: This is a 90,000-word romance with dark themes and a HEA.]]> 415 Celia Aaron C.C. 5 romance, favorites 4.03 2017 The Bad Guy
author: Celia Aaron
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2021/08/03
date added: 2021/08/04
shelves: romance, favorites
review:
This was so good. I devoured it and will definitely re-read it. It was dark, but not DARK like a lot of other kidnapping stores are. It was actually really sweet in a twisted way.
]]> Truly 53646443 Truly is a dark, coming of age romance that explores themes like NON-CON DUB-CON, and happily ever after. ]]> 313 Carmel Rhodes C.C. 5 romance, favorites 3.98 Truly
author: Carmel Rhodes
name: C.C.
average rating: 3.98
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2021/07/22
date added: 2021/07/22
shelves: romance, favorites
review:
Finally a good dark romance with a good grovel. It was fucked up and delicious. I hate that a lot of contemporary dark romances tack on a happy ending with no sort of apology for the messed up stuff the love interest did. I need the highs to make up for the lows and that's what I got with this one. adding this one to my favorites!
]]> <![CDATA[The Flame and the Flower (Birmingham, #1)]]> 896623
A lusty adventurer married to the sea, Captain Brandon Birmingham courts scorn and peril when he abducts the beautiful fugitive from the tumultuous London dockside. But no power on Earth can compel him to relinquish his exquisite prize. For he is determined to make the sapphire-eyed lovely his woman... and to carry her off to far, uncharted realms of sensuous, passionate love.]]> 430 Kathleen E. Woodiwiss 0380005255 C.C. 5 2015, favorites, romance

Imagining hook as Captain Brandon Birmingham made this book 10 times better for me.

Brandon's ex-fiance was a bit over the top. Her over-the-top bitchiness along with the whole good=beautiful, bad=old and ugly theme going on made it feel a bit cartoonish. I still loved it despite this though.

Edit after nearly 6 years:
Ok. I know this isn't that great. I know it's tropey and ridiculous. I know it aged like yogurt in the summer heat. I know it's problematic in every way. But dammit, I'm sentimental about this one! I found this as a college freshman and something in my brain, and other parts, was brought to life like Frankenstein's monster and I was hooked. So several years, and many better (but similarly problematic) romance books later, I still look back on this one fondly and can't bring myself to lower my rating.]]> 4.03 1972 The Flame and the Flower (Birmingham, #1)
author: Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.03
book published: 1972
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2021/06/20
shelves: 2015, favorites, romance
review:


Imagining hook as Captain Brandon Birmingham made this book 10 times better for me.

Brandon's ex-fiance was a bit over the top. Her over-the-top bitchiness along with the whole good=beautiful, bad=old and ugly theme going on made it feel a bit cartoonish. I still loved it despite this though.

Edit after nearly 6 years:
Ok. I know this isn't that great. I know it's tropey and ridiculous. I know it aged like yogurt in the summer heat. I know it's problematic in every way. But dammit, I'm sentimental about this one! I found this as a college freshman and something in my brain, and other parts, was brought to life like Frankenstein's monster and I was hooked. So several years, and many better (but similarly problematic) romance books later, I still look back on this one fondly and can't bring myself to lower my rating.
]]> <![CDATA[The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia, #1)]]> 100915
Lucy is the first to find the secret of the wardrobe in the professor's mysterious old house. At first her brothers and sister don't believe her when she tells of her visit to the land of Narnia. But soon Edmund, then Peter and Susan step through the wardrobe themselves. In Narnia they find a country buried under the evil enchantment of the White Witch. When they meet the Lion Aslan, they realize they've been called to a great adventure and bravely join the battle to free Narnia from the Witch's sinister spell.]]> 206 C.S. Lewis C.C. 5 fantasy-and-scifi, favorites 4.24 1950 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia, #1)
author: C.S. Lewis
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.24
book published: 1950
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2021/04/30
shelves: fantasy-and-scifi, favorites
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Voice in the Wind (Mark of the Lion, #1)]]> 95617 520 Francine Rivers C.C. 5 favorites 4.57 1993 A Voice in the Wind (Mark of the Lion, #1)
author: Francine Rivers
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.57
book published: 1993
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2021/04/30
shelves: favorites
review:

]]> Pride and Prejudice 1885 Pride and Prejudice has remained one of the most popular novels in the English language. Jane Austen called this brilliant work "her own darling child" and its vivacious heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, "as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print." The romantic clash between the opinionated Elizabeth and her proud beau, Mr. Darcy, is a splendid performance of civilized sparring. And Jane Austen's radiant wit sparkles as her characters dance a delicate quadrille of flirtation and intrigue, making this book the most superb comedy of manners of Regency England.

Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780679783268]]> 279 Jane Austen 1441341706 C.C. 5 favorites, romance 4.28 1813 Pride and Prejudice
author: Jane Austen
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.28
book published: 1813
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2021/04/30
shelves: favorites, romance
review:

]]> Stardust 16793 Alternate cover edition can be found here

Young Tristran Thorn will do anything to win the cold heart of beautiful Victoria—even fetch her the star they watch fall from the night sky. But to do so, he must enter the unexplored lands on the other side of the ancient wall that gives their tiny village its name. Beyond that old stone wall, Tristran learns, lies Faerie—where nothing not even a fallen star, is what he imagined.]]> 248 Neil Gaiman 0061142026 C.C. 5 4.10 1999 Stardust
author: Neil Gaiman
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.10
book published: 1999
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2021/04/30
shelves: fantasy-and-scifi, romance, favorites
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Howl’s Moving Castle (Howl’s Moving Castle, #1)]]> 6294 An alternative cover edition for this ISBN can be found here

Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl's castle. To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers that there's far more to Howl—and herself—than first meets the eye.]]> 329 Diana Wynne Jones 006441034X C.C. 5 4.30 1986 Howl’s Moving Castle (Howl’s Moving Castle, #1)
author: Diana Wynne Jones
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.30
book published: 1986
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2021/04/30
shelves: favorites, fantasy-and-scifi, romance
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Kingdom of Dreams (Westmoreland, #1)]]> 129619 Abducted from her convent school, headstrong Scottish beauty Jennifer Merrick does not easily surrender to Royce Westmoreland, Duke of Claymore. Known as "The Wolf"; his very name strikes terror in the hearts of his enemies. But proud Jennifer will have nothing to do with the fierce English warrior who holds her captive, this handsome rogue who taunts her with his blazing arrogance. Boldly she challenges his will... until the night he takes her in his powerful embrace, awakening in her an irresistible hunger. And suddenly Jennifer finds herself ensnared in a bewildering web... a seductive, dangerous trap of pride, passion, loyalty, and overwhelming love.

]]> 438 Judith McNaught 0743474155 C.C. 5 4.20 1989 A Kingdom of Dreams (Westmoreland, #1)
author: Judith McNaught
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.20
book published: 1989
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2021/04/30
shelves: 2015, favorites, hard-copy-owned, romance
review:

]]> Until You (Westmoreland, #3) 1404764
Now a teacher in a school for wealthy young ladies, Sheridan is hired to accompany one of her students, heiress Charise Lancaster, to England to meet her fiance. When Charise elopes with a stranger, Sheridan continues the voyage alone, wondering how she will ever break the news to Charise's aristocratic fiance. Lord Burleton.

Shaky but brave, Sharidan prepares to disembark in London and meet the man she believes is Charise's intendend. Convinced that Lord Burleton can and will charge her with negligence, or worse, she walks down the gangplank, believing she is probably bound for an English dungeon.

Standing on the pier, Stephen Westmoreland, the Earl of Langord, watches Sheridan Blomleigh coming toward him and assumes she is Charise Lancaster. Before Sharidan can confess that Charise has eloped, the Earl informs her that he was inadvertently responsible for Lord Burleton's death in a carriage accident the night before. Distracted by their own concerns, neither of them notices that Sharidan has stepped into the path of a cargo net loaded with crates!

Three days later, she awakens in Stephen Westmoreland's London mansion, with no memory of who she is --- the only hint of her past, the puzzling fact that everyone calls her Miss Lancaster. All she truly knows is that she has landed in the sumptuous lap of luxury and that she is falling in love with a dazzlingly handsome English earl, who is by turns charming, witty, and strangely remote ... and that the life unfolding before her seems full of wondrous possibilities ...]]> 437 Judith McNaught 0671880594 C.C. 5 2015, favorites, romance 3.98 1994 Until You (Westmoreland, #3)
author: Judith McNaught
name: C.C.
average rating: 3.98
book published: 1994
rating: 5
read at: 2015/11/23
date added: 2021/04/30
shelves: 2015, favorites, romance
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Six of Crows (Six of Crows, #1)]]> 23437156 Alternate cover of ISBN 9781627792127

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge

A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager

A runaway with a privileged past

A spy known as the Wraith

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.]]> 480 Leigh Bardugo 1627792120 C.C. 5 fantasy-and-scifi, favorites 4.47 2015 Six of Crows (Six of Crows, #1)
author: Leigh Bardugo
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2021/04/30
shelves: fantasy-and-scifi, favorites
review:

]]> The Flesh and the Devil 967911
But the greatest horror is reserved for Juana, and for Juana alone. For the young Duque she is forced to marry, she discovers, is a cruel caricature of a man, a person twisted in mind and body. His wealth and rank can supply Juana with undreamed-of luxury - but also with incredible suffering, for the perfumed silks of the master bedchamber conceal the depravity of an unbalanced mind. Juana's brave attempts to escape from the marriage are dealt with harshly, and, to her limitless despair, she finds herself irrevocably betrothed to the terrifying, unbalanced Duque.

Yet, against all hope, there is a way out. Swift and brutal action by the arrogant Felipe can insure Juana's escape from the secrets and treachery of the Castillo Benaventes. But Felipe's protection, she fears, may be more dangerous than his enmity, and all too soon he begins to demand a humiliating payment....]]> 488 Teresa Denys C.C. 5 favorites, romance 3.90 1980 The Flesh and the Devil
author: Teresa Denys
name: C.C.
average rating: 3.90
book published: 1980
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2021/04/30
shelves: favorites, romance
review:

]]> Jane Eyre 10210 Alternate editions can be found here and here.

A gothic masterpiece of tempestuous passions and dark secrets, Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre is edited with an introduction and notes by Stevie Davis in Penguin Classics.

Charlotte Brontë tells the story of orphaned Jane Eyre, who grows up in the home of her heartless aunt, enduring loneliness and cruelty. This troubled childhood strengthens Jane's natural independence and spirit - which prove necessary when she finds employment as a governess to the young ward of Byronic, brooding Mr Rochester. As her feelings for Rochester develop, Jane gradually uncovers Thornfield Hall's terrible secret, forcing her to make a choice. Should she stay with Rochester and live with the consequences, or follow her convictions - even if it means leaving the man she loves? A novel of intense power and intrigue, Jane Eyre dazzled readers with its passionate depiction of a woman's search for equality and freedom.]]> 532 Charlotte Brontë 0142437204 C.C. 5 favorites, romance 4.14 1847 Jane Eyre
author: Charlotte Brontë
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.14
book published: 1847
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2021/04/30
shelves: favorites, romance
review:

]]> Royal Seduction (Royal, #1) 17378997
Still, Rolfe cannot let Angelina go. It's not just that she may yet lead him to Claire -- it's that her touch, and hers alone, has the power to make him forget the bitterness of his past.

Their passionate odyssey in search of justice, however, may already be compromised. For the enemy they seek travels with them, ready to strike should love temper the ruthless desire of Ruthenia's future king and make him a vulnerable target.]]> 557 Jennifer Blake C.C. 5 favorites, romance 4.01 1983 Royal Seduction (Royal, #1)
author: Jennifer Blake
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.01
book published: 1983
rating: 5
read at: 2018/04/23
date added: 2021/04/30
shelves: favorites, romance
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Hunger Like No Other (Immortals After Dark, #1)]]> 14384
After enduring years of torture from the vampire horde, Lachlain MacRieve, leader of the Lykae Clan, is enraged to find the predestined mate he’s waited millennia for is a vampire. Or partly one. Emmaline Troy is a small, ethereal half Valkyrie/half vampire, who somehow begins to soothe the fury burning within him.

Sheltered Emmaline finally sets out to uncover the truth about her deceased parents—until a powerful Lykae claims her as his mate and forces her back to his ancestral Scottish castle. There, her fear of the Lykae—and their notorious dark desires—ebbs as he begins a slow, wicked seduction to sate her own dark cravings.

Yet when an ancient evil from her past resurfaces, will their desire deepen into a love that can bring a proud warrior to his knees and turn a gentle beauty into the fighter she was born to be?]]> 360 Kresley Cole 1416509879 C.C. 5 4.09 2006 A Hunger Like No Other (Immortals After Dark, #1)
author: Kresley Cole
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2006
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2021/04/30
shelves: favorites, hard-copy-owned, fantasy-and-scifi, romance
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Lothaire (Immortals After Dark, #11)]]> 10790516 New York Times best-selling author Kresley Cole continues her electrifying Immortals After Dark series with this thrilling tale, revealing secrets of the Lore, fierce realm of the immortals....

All fear the enemy of old.

Driven by his insatiable need for revenge, Lothaire, the Lore’s most ruthless vampire, plots to seize the Horde’s crown. But bloodlust and torture have left him on the brink of madness—until he finds Elizabeth Peirce, the key to his victory. He captures the unique young mortal, intending to offer up her very soul in exchange for power, yet Elizabeth soothes his tormented mind and awakens within him emotions Lothaire believed he could no longer experience.

A deadly force dwells within her.

Growing up in desperate poverty, Ellie Peirce yearned for a better life, never imagining she’d be convicted of murder—or that an evil immortal would abduct her from death row. But Lothaire is no savior, as he himself plans to sacrifice Ellie in one month’s time. And yet the vampire seems to ache for her touch, showering her with wealth and sexual pleasure. In a bid to save her soul, Ellie surrenders her body to the wicked vampire, while vowing to protect her heart.

Centuries of cold indifference shattered.

Elizabeth tempts Lothaire beyond reason, as only his fated mate could. As the month draws to a close, he must choose between a millennia-old blood vendetta and his irresistible prisoner. Will Lothaire succumb to the miseries of his past—or risk everything for a future with her?]]> 468 Kresley Cole 1439136823 C.C. 5 4.37 2012 Lothaire (Immortals After Dark, #11)
author: Kresley Cole
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2012
rating: 5
read at: 2019/07/23
date added: 2021/04/30
shelves: favorites, hard-copy-owned, fantasy-and-scifi, romance
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Kiss of a Demon King (Immortals After Dark #6)]]> 16145656 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole comes this spellbinding story of a demon king trapped by an enchantress for her wanton purposes -- and the scorching aftermath that follows when he turns the tables and claims her as his captive.

HIS OBSESSION...
Sabine, Sorceress of Illusions: the evil beauty who surrenders her body, but not her heart.

HER DOWNFALL...
Rydstrom Woede: the ruthless warrior who vows to keep her at all costs.

THEY WERE NEVER SUPPOSED TO WANT EACH OTHER THIS MUCH...
With each smoldering encounter, their shared hunger only increases. If they can defeat the sinister enemy that stands between them, will Sabine make the ultimate sacrifice for her demon? Or will the proud king lay down his crown and arms to save his sorceress?]]> 13 Kresley Cole 1442363428 C.C. 5 4.01 2009 Kiss of a Demon King (Immortals After Dark #6)
author: Kresley Cole
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2021/04/30
shelves: fantasy-and-scifi, hard-copy-owned, favorites, romance
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Dark Desires After Dusk (Immortals After Dark, #5)]]> 2003625 RITA Award-winning author Kresley Cole continues her bestselling Immortals After Dark series with this electrifying tale of a ruthless demon mercenary and the lovely young halfling who enchants him.

A seductive beauty he can never have, yet can't resist...
Cadeon Woede will stop at nothing to atone for the one wrong that will haunt him forever. But once he secures the key to his redemption, the halfling Holly Ashwin, Cade finds that the woman he thought he could use for his own ends and then forget haunts him as much as his past.

A tormented warrior she should fear, but can't deny...
Raised as a human, Holly never knew that some frightening legends are real until she encounters a brutal demon who inexplicably guards her like a treasure. Thrust into a sensual new world of myth and power, with him as her protector, she begins to crave the demon's wicked touch.

Surrender to dark desires...
Yet just when he earns Holly's trust, will Cade be forced to betray the only woman who can sate his wildest needs -- and claim his heart?]]> 368 Kresley Cole 1416576754 C.C. 5 4.33 2008 Dark Desires After Dusk (Immortals After Dark, #5)
author: Kresley Cole
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2008
rating: 5
read at: 2019/08/14
date added: 2021/04/30
shelves: hard-copy-owned, favorites, fantasy-and-scifi, romance
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Devil in Winter (Wallflowers, #3)]]> 114166 A devil's bargain.

Desperate to escape her scheming relatives, Evangeline Jenner has sought the help of the most infamous scoundrel in London. A marriage of convenience is the only solution.

No one would have ever paired the shy, stammering wallflower with the sinfully handsome viscount. It quickly becomes clear, however, that Evie is a woman of hidden strength—and Sebastian desires her more than any woman he's ever known.

Determined to win her husband's elusive heart, Evie dares to strike a bargain with the devil: if Sebastian can stay celibate for three months, she will allow him into her bed. When Evie is threatened by a vengeful enemy from the past, Sebastian vows to do whatever it takes to protect his wife . . . even at the expense of his own life.

Together they will defy their perilous fate, for the sake of all-consuming love.]]> 368 Lisa Kleypas C.C. 5 4.22 2006 Devil in Winter (Wallflowers, #3)
author: Lisa Kleypas
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2006
rating: 5
read at: 2020/10/12
date added: 2021/04/30
shelves: hard-copy-owned, favorites, romance
review:

]]> The Kiss Thief 43492490 THE SIZZLING-HOT ENEMIES TO LOVERS ROMANCE AND TIKTOK SENSATION

Francesca Rossi is the beautiful daughter to a powerful Chicago mafia family. Her life has always been comfortable and safe. Now, betrothed to her childhood friend Angelo Bandini, she expects her future to be the same.

Ruthless and ambitious, Wolfe Keaton is the sworn enemy of the Rossi's and will stop at nothing to destroy their lives. Until Wolf sets his eyes on Francesca, and his life changes forever.

His family allegiances are bound by blood.

But can a newfound love overpower a decades-old hate?]]> 322 L.J. Shen C.C. 5 favorites, romance 4.09 2019 The Kiss Thief
author: L.J. Shen
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2019/11/16
date added: 2021/04/30
shelves: favorites, romance
review:
I usually avoid contemporary romance in favor of historical or fantasy, but this was so well done. The whole mobster world made it feel far enough removed from real life to hook me.
]]> <![CDATA[The Pirate Prince (Ascension Trilogy, #1)]]> 6610345
Allegra Monteverdi, the daughter of Lazar's sworn enemy, proves an uncommonly powerful adversary. She throws herself on his mercy, her courage and beauty touching his cold, unforgiving heart. He agrees to spare the lives of her family--but only if Allegra sails away with him as his captive. For his quest for vengeance still burns fiercely, and he will settle for nothing less than Allegra's body and soul.

Alone at sea with this dark, intriguing man, moving between seduction and fear, Allegra gazes into eyes as deep and mysterious as the night and sees who this pirate really is. Lazar--the prince of her childhood dreams. Though he was rumored to be murdered years ago, she always believed someday he would return. But it will take more than her love for this pirate prince to bring peace to her beloved home. For Lazar must face the demons of his shattered past--if he is to forge the destiny that is theirs to claim. . . .

From the Paperback edition.]]> 407 Gaelen Foley C.C. 5 romance, favorites 3.93 1998 The Pirate Prince (Ascension Trilogy, #1)
author: Gaelen Foley
name: C.C.
average rating: 3.93
book published: 1998
rating: 5
read at: 2020/05/24
date added: 2021/04/30
shelves: romance, favorites
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Ruthless (The House of Rohan, #1)]]> 7756459
Pursuit of physical pleasure is both his preferred pastime and his most pressing urge, until he encounters the fascination of a woman who won't be swayed. And while his dark seduction appalls the pure and impoverished Elinor Harriman, she finds herself intrigued...and secretly drawn to the man behind the desire.]]> 409 Anne Stuart 0778328481 C.C. 5 3.75 2010 Ruthless (The House of Rohan, #1)
author: Anne Stuart
name: C.C.
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2010
rating: 5
read at: 2020/09/14
date added: 2021/04/30
shelves: favorites, hard-copy-owned, romance
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Duke of Pleasure (Maiden Lane, #11)]]> 29740747 IN THE ARMS OF DANGER

Bold. Brave. Brutally handsome. Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle, is the king's secret weapon. Sent to defeat the notorious Lords of Chaos, he is ambushed in a London alley—and rescued by an unlikely ally: a masked stranger with the unmistakable curves of a woman.

IN THE HEAT OF DESIRE

Cocky. Clever. Courageously independent. Alf has survived on the perilous streets of St. Giles by disguising her sex. By day she is a boy, dealing in information and secrets. By night she's the notorious Ghost of St. Giles, a masked vigilante. But as she saves Hugh from assassins, she finds herself succumbing to temptation.

ONE KISS WILL CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOREVER

When Hugh hires Alf to investigate the Lords of Chaos, her worlds collide. Once Hugh realizes that the boy and the Ghost are the same, will Alf find the courage to become the woman she needs to be—before the Lords of Chaos destroy them both?]]> 337 Elizabeth Hoyt C.C. 5 romance, favorites 4.08 2016 Duke of Pleasure (Maiden Lane, #11)
author: Elizabeth Hoyt
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2020/12/15
date added: 2021/04/30
shelves: romance, favorites
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight Trilogy, #1)]]> 40004709
After Vasilisa's mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings home a new wife. Fiercely devout, city-bred, Vasilisa's new stepmother forbids her family from honoring the household spirits. The family acquiesces, but Vasilisa is frightened, sensing that more hinges upon their rituals than anyone knows.

And indeed, crops begin to fail, evil creatures of the forest creep nearer, and misfortune stalks the village. All the while, Vasilisa's stepmother grows ever harsher in her determination to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for either marriage or confinement in a convent.

As danger circles, Vasilisa must defy even the people she loves and call on dangerous gifts she has long concealed—this, in order to protect her family from a threat that seems to have stepped from her nurse's most frightening tales.

The Bear and the Nightingale is a magical debut novel from a gifted and gorgeous voice. It spins an irresistible spell as it announces the arrival of a singular talent.]]> 370 Katherine Arden C.C. 5 fantasy-and-scifi, favorites 4.19 2017 The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight Trilogy, #1)
author: Katherine Arden
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2019/01/07
date added: 2021/03/18
shelves: fantasy-and-scifi, favorites
review:

]]> Neverwhere (London Below, #1) 14497
"Neverwhere" is the London of the people who have fallen between the cracks.

Strange destinies lie in wait in London below - a world that seems eerily familiar. But a world that is utterly bizarre, peopled by unearthly characters such as the Angel called Islington, the girl named Door, and the Earl who holds Court on a tube train.

Now a single act of kindness has catapulted young businessman Richard Mayhew out of his safe and predictable life - and into the realms of "Neverwhere." Richard is about to find out more than he ever wanted to know about this other London. Which is a pity. Because Richard just wants to go home...]]> 370 Neil Gaiman 0060557818 C.C. 5 fantasy-and-scifi, favorites 4.17 1996 Neverwhere (London Below, #1)
author: Neil Gaiman
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.17
book published: 1996
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2020/12/25
shelves: fantasy-and-scifi, favorites
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air, #1)]]> 26032825 Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.

And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.

Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.

As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.]]> 370 Holly Black 0316310271 C.C. 5 favorites, fantasy-and-scifi 4.01 2018 The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air, #1)
author: Holly Black
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2018/11/18
date added: 2020/12/25
shelves: favorites, fantasy-and-scifi
review:

]]> Dune (Dune, #1) 234225 Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, heir to a noble family tasked with ruling an inhospitable world where the only thing of value is the "spice" melange, a drug capable of extending life and enhancing consciousness. Coveted across the known universe, melange is a prize worth killing for...

When House Atreides is betrayed, the destruction of Paul's family will set the boy on a journey toward a destiny greater than he could ever have imagined. And as he evolves into the mysterious man known as Muad'Dib, he will bring to fruition humankind's most ancient and unattainable dream.

A stunning blend of adventure and mysticism, environmentalism and politics, Dune won the first Nebula Award, shared the Hugo Award, and formed the basis of what is undoubtedly the grandest epic in science fiction.]]> 604 Frank Herbert 0340839937 C.C. 5 favorites, fantasy-and-scifi 4.21 1965 Dune (Dune, #1)
author: Frank Herbert
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.21
book published: 1965
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2020/12/25
shelves: favorites, fantasy-and-scifi
review:

]]> Sabriel (Abhorsen, #1) 518848
With Sabriel, the first installment in the Abhorsen series, Garth Nix exploded onto the fantasy scene as a rising star, in a novel that takes readers to a world where the line between the living and the dead isn't always clear—and sometimes disappears altogether.]]> 491 Garth Nix 0064471837 C.C. 5 favorites, fantasy-and-scifi 4.17 1995 Sabriel (Abhorsen, #1)
author: Garth Nix
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.17
book published: 1995
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2020/12/25
shelves: favorites, fantasy-and-scifi
review:

]]> Les Misérables 24280 1463 Victor Hugo 0451525264 C.C. 5 favorites 4.19 1862 Les Misérables
author: Victor Hugo
name: C.C.
average rating: 4.19
book published: 1862
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2020/10/21
shelves: favorites
review:

]]> The Silver Devil 425516 The Silver Devil

From the moment he sees the beautiful Felicia, he must have her. Overnight he changes Felicia's nightmare world of tavern drudgery into an erotic adventure as his royal mistress.

He is the Duke of Cabria who holds his subjects in constant fear. He is troubled. He is ruthless.

And Felicia is hopelessly in love with him—though at times he seems like the devil incarnate...]]> 373 Teresa Denys 0345289927 C.C. 5 2015, favorites

I loved the atmosphere in this book. Denys really made the castle and it's court feel truly strange, hedonistic, and beautiful just like the silver devil himself. The sexual taboos touched on in this novel were surprising; the hero had a history of bisexuality, making his obligatory jealous ex-lover a man this time (I have yet to read a bodice-ripper without a jealous ex-lover) and the subject of pederasty on the battlefield was quite creepy.

]]> 3.65 1978 The Silver Devil
author: Teresa Denys
name: C.C.
average rating: 3.65
book published: 1978
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2020/10/21
shelves: 2015, favorites
review:


I loved the atmosphere in this book. Denys really made the castle and it's court feel truly strange, hedonistic, and beautiful just like the silver devil himself. The sexual taboos touched on in this novel were surprising; the hero had a history of bisexuality, making his obligatory jealous ex-lover a man this time (I have yet to read a bodice-ripper without a jealous ex-lover) and the subject of pederasty on the battlefield was quite creepy.


]]> <![CDATA[Fables, Vol. 1: Legends in Exile]]> 21326
Collecting: Fables 1-5]]> 128 Bill Willingham 1563899426 C.C. 5 3.98 2002 Fables, Vol. 1: Legends in Exile
author: Bill Willingham
name: C.C.
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2002
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2014/12/18
shelves: comicbooks, fantasy-and-scifi, favorites
review:

]]>