Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night (The Immortals After Dark, Book 3)

I have been reading romance novels since I was 15, so a good 20 years now. In my mind nothing like a cup of tea and a good romance novel to escape and unwind at the end of a day.
Just to give a sample of my taste, other authors I enjoy are: Jen Holling, Connie Brockway, Johanna Lindsey, Julie Garwood, Christina Dodd, just to name a few.

This entire series is such a page turner. I had a hard time putting any of the titles down. More evenings than I care to admit I stayed up way to late "just to read one more chapter".

I loved Bowen from A hunger like no other and was thrilled to see him getting a book of his own. Wow what a twist in this one. I was on the edge of my seat. I loved the supporting demons and was glad to see that Cade got his own story as well. Love him!

The entire series is fast and there is not a lot of review of what happened in a prior book. You open the book and off you go. These are not slow moving. I laughed, I cried, I blushed. Boy Ms. Cole writes some steamy scenes. Wow! And I am amazed that nothing repeats. Each book is so different, the plots are so different and the way the main characters relate is so different. Yes they do all have hansom men and lovely ladies. But the dynamic relationship between the main characters is simply fire from page 1 to the end. Out of all my years reading romance. I have never read modern romance before. I can say without a doubt that these are the best romance books I have read and that is truly saying a lot considering how many authors works sit on my shelf.

This is my favorite book in the Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole. I just really love the Lykaes that Kresley writes about, they are so likeable. Mari, the heroin was so cool! Talk about some great love scenes too, mmmm mmmm good! This was Kresley's last really great book in the series. Dark Needs at Nights Edge and Desires After Dusk were just ok. I think she is cranking out to many books now and isn't able to take the care with her writings. I don't like the new covers either.

Okay, this is my 3rd read in the Immortals after Dark Series. LOVED LOVED LOVED the first book, the 2nd "ech" not so much. Bowen and Mari's story brought the series back to life for me. In the second book I had no interest in the "amazing race" parrallel, skipped over a lot of those pages, however in this 3rd installment the race came to life for me because of Bowen and Mari and also the comraderie shared between Mari's 6 protectors whilst on their amazing journey. There were so many twists and turns and treats in this book, the fate of Mari's parents, Mariah and her story, and the return of beloved characters.

Yes there were a few slow points but they didn't last long and the wait was rewarded. I am starting on the 4th book at the gym this evening. Its about one of the other vampire brothers of the horde.

I must confess though that I do like the Lykae men a lot more than the Vampire men.THEY CAN CHASE ME ANYTIME THEY WANT TO!

Im a sucker for scottish accents and vampire novels. Cole delivers both in this third installment.

Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night is Bowen and Mariketa's story and partly takes place at the same time as No Rest for the Wicked during the Talisman's Hie, so I think it would be helpful if you're familiar with that book before starting this one. Bowen if you remember was after the prize so he could go back in time and save his mate. During the Hie he trapped Mariketa and several other supernaturals. Unfortunately this has upset (to put it mildly) their supernatural races and is threatening to start a major interspecies incident. So it falls to Bowen to go and rescue Mariketa. But that's just the beginning.

The glue that holds this whole story together is Bowen and Mariketa's relationship. There's quite a bit of other external stuff going on - The Talisman's Hie, interfering Valkyries, lots more intriguing hints dropped about other characters - mainly the proper introduction of Rydstrom and Cade and who exactly is stalking Regin?

Their relationship basically starts off as a confrontation and though they have a chemistry between them Bowen is far too caught up in the need to win the Hie and save his mate. So he betrays Mariketa and traps her to prevent her continuing with the Hie. Not the best way to start a courtship. It's only after he goes back to rescue her and they have to work together to escape the jungle that the spark between them becomes something more. But the course of their love isn't going to run smoothly, just when it seems everything has come into place for them the past rises up to bite Bowen and he has to decide who and what he really wants.

I like Bowen (more than Mariketa). He's one of those characters who doesn't really have a filter between his brain and his mouth. Maybe this is a Lykae trait as I seem to remember Lachlain from A Hunger Like No Other being similar. When he feels it is deeply and completely. He never gives up.

Mariketa is young and in some ways immature. She lies to Bowen about how often she's using her powers even though it's dangerous for her to do so. Some of her behaviour is understandable. He wants her to contain an essential part of herself - akin to her asking him to give up his animal instinct. But sometimes in romances you feel like shouting at the protagonists - just talk to one another! Yet despite all the confrontations in their relationship there's also something warm and fuzzy about it.

For me Kresley Cole has improved with every book in this series, certain scenes she writes so well. She puts you through the wringer, then just when you think the characters have finally got it together she takes it away from you, and makes the protagonists work even harder for their happy ending. And she never lets her protagonists say I love you before time. Even though there are confusions, eventually her characters talk to one another and when they finally open up it feels real and it works.

This is one of my favourite series. Recommended.