The Best Books I read in 2012.....

I got to admit, some stellar books came out this year from some of my favorite authors and some new ones I discovered.  This is only my top ten of books I discovered that stole my heart and made me want more from that author. I wish I could name them all but alas, I would be here till 2015 just listing them all. *smiles*

10: TA Webb's Second Chance-Heart rendering and delightful. No other words can describe it.

9: Andrew Grey's Love Comes Silently- a story so emotional, you can't help but fall in love with the story, the characters and this author's writing.

8: Sue Brown's Papa's Boy (Morning Report 3)- Her final novel in the Morning Report series delivers a story so wonderful yet heart felt, you can't help but wish for more after that last page is read.

7: D.N. Simmons' Unholy Alliance- the final book in a engrossing series. You couldn't help but want more after the last page is read.

6: Hank Edward's Venom Valley 1: Bounty-when paranormal meets western. Delightful and that cliffhanger ending made me race to read book two.

5: Lauren Dane's Laid Open- my three favorite characters are back in the Brown Siblings series in this novella and we see how they finally find a way to reconnect together in the sand, sun and passion that will steal your heart.

4: Silvia Violet's Hoofin' It to the Alter-Mystery, vampires, shifters and love scorching hot. What more can a reader want?

3: L. E. Harner & Lisa Worrall's Continental Divide- a story that leaves you breathless even as you scream at the nook/kindle/computer at the end.

2: J. D. Robb's Delusion in Death- A series going on it's thirty-fith book and it will captivate you till the very end.

and number one is.....

Laura Harner and TA Webb's Deep Blues Goodbye-powerful, delightful and a story you need more of.

There are plenty more but alas, I would be here till the end of the world or thereabouts. I can't wait to see what 2013 brings, reading wise.

My Personal Review for Unholy Alliance by DN Simmons

The final volume in one of my favorite series is here. This continues where The Lion's Den left off and I can honestly say the twists and turns in this story left me breathless. Get ready for Unholy Alliance.

My Rating for Unholy Alliance: 5 Stars and series recommendation

The final chapter is here and in this story, the supernatural world is thrown into tailspin as a new threat emerges that threaten not just the supernatural world but also the human world as well. New alliances will be made, old alliances will be broken and the world, in all intents and purposes, will change forever in the end. For this time, a loved one finds themselves at death’s door and it is a race against the clock to find a cure. Will they be in time or will they be too late to save the one they love?

Author D. N. Simmons is a writer that will thrill you, chill you and take you in directions that leaves you on the edge of your seat with her entire The Knights of Darkness Chronicles series.  From the first book, you are thrust in a world where supernaturals and humans live side by side, uneasy allies and laws that 'protect' them in the human world. But things have been slowly changing and in this final volume, we finally see the after effects of Warren and Matthew coming out as supernaturals, the fight for survival and a threat that will chill you to the bone as humans find out what happens when you push a supernatural race to the corner. This time, the reader will discover old alliances are broken, new alliances are made and some major players are introduced to thrill you until the very end. The story flows smoothly, writing is tight and the characters evolve to the point where it felt like they could walk off the pages and into your living room.

Author D. N. Simmon’s The Knights of the Darkness Chronicles have had me spellbound from the very first book, Desires Unleashed. With the right amount of sizzling passion, adventure, mystery and more, this is an author who delivers with each book one wild roller coaster of a ride from start to finish. In this final volume in her beloved series, we find Darian, Xavier, Natasha and all their friends find themselves racing against the clock as a new threat to not just their world but to the entire world-human and supernatural. This time the threat attacks someone close to them and they will do anything they have to in order to find a cure. Defeat is not an option. I loved how this author introduces the new main players such as the Vampire Fonts. Very powerful, the original vampires and the new threat that face them. She ties it up nicely in Darian, Xavier and their friends story-line as we find out what has happened since book five, The Lion’s Den and it is one full of action, mystery and emotional ups and downs. This is an author who knows how to let her characters shine within the pages of this addicting series. 

I laughed, cried, sighed and cheered throughout Unholy Alliance and though there are a few new characters that just made me want to smack them into next year, they evened things out nicely. If you love a kick butt series with intriguing characters, some very sexy sex scenes and story lines that leave you gasping for air, then you need to get this series immediately. I do caution you that if you do not like bisexual/gay story lines then you may not like this but I do urge you to give it a try....it is that good. Run-Don’t Walk-to grab this entire series and fall in love with the Knights of the Darkness Chronicles. You won’t be disappointed.

The Knights of the Darkness Chronicles Series is:

Book 1: Desires Unleashed

Experience the heart-pounding thrill of the chase in this electrifying page-turner as you uncover the mystery behind the series of gruesome killings that have been terrorizing the citizens of Chicago.  

When a grisly decapitated corpse pops up on a Chicago Street,
drained of blood, the highly-trained, government-funded special police force assigned two of their best detectives to the case. S.U.I.T. Detectives Warren Davis and Matthew Eric delve deep into their investigation to discover just who or what is leaving mutilated bodies in public places. They soon realize that the killer or killers is one step ahead of them and if they are going to stop the menace before another innocent human is viciously attack, they are going to need help.  

Natasha Hemingway liked her life just the way it was... normal
and supernatural-free. The vampires and shape-shifters were just where she wanted them to be--far away from her. All was going well until an unfortunate accident landed her in the hospital. It was then that she discovered she had an ability that could help her save countless lives. All of a sudden, she finds herself thrust into the dangerous and alluring world of the supernatural and into the arms of two very sexy and deadly vampires. 

Book 2: The Guilty Innocent

The Guilty Innocent is the second novel in the edgy, action-packed, sexually-charged, Knights of the Darkness Chronicles. In this installment, Darian, the gorgeous, charismatic and charming master vampire of Chicago is framed for a crime he didn't commit, but why? His lover, Xavier, Natasha and a few others must travel halfway across the world to find out who and why before time runs out and all hell breaks loose! Original, sexy and gritty, the Knights of the Darkness Chronicles will suck you in and take you for a ride you won't forget!

Book 3: The Royal Flush

It's Hunting Season...

A group of hunters have set their sights on a new type of prey...supernaturals.

Darian, Elise and Xander must join together to stop them before it's too late.

Book 4: Hostile Territory

In this installment, be prepared for the ultimate supernatural adventure!

It's no holds barred in this tale and there's going to be hell to pay! A single orchestrated attack initiates a hunt unlike Darian and his friends have ever encountered. You really don't want to miss out. The ante has been upped and they are out for blood!

Book 5: The Lion's Den

Darian, Elise and Xander have been through very rough times in the past, but nothing has prepared them for the menace that is causing all kinds of havoc in their territory this time around. Chicago is at the mercy, or lack thereof, of a ruthless gang of supernaturals who seem to take extreme pleasure in other people's pain. In this game of cat and mouse, there's no way to tell who's the predator and who's the prey.

My Personal Review for Desires Unleashed by D.N. Simmons

Get ready for the introduction into a series that is a high octane ride from start to finish. D. N. Simmons delivers a beautiful written introduction into her Knights of the Darkness Chronicles in Desires Unleashed. 

My Rating for Desires Unleashed: 4 Stars & a Recommended Read

For Chicago Detectives Warren Davis & his partner, Matthew Eric, the latest case they got is looking more and more like a supernatural killing. As the best of the best in S.U.I.T division, they are determined to find the killer and bring justice before more bodies pile up.

Natasha Hemingway is thrilled to finally have a job after six months of unemployment and is enjoying her normal life with no supernatural person(s) around her until the day she is thrust into the world of shifters, vampires and other creatures with an ability that could save lives. Now she is not only dealing with not only two detectives but two of the hottest vampires around. Can she help them figure out who is killing all these people before the killer sets his sight on her?

I got to admit, I am addicted to this series. So when I was asked to review the rewritten first three books, I jumped at the chance to do it. I was a big fan of this author's work the minute a friend recommended her to me. When I heard she rewrote it extensively and had it reedited for publication, I was worried some things I loved the first time around was going to be changed or deleted. I am happy to say that wasn't the case when I got the first book, Desires Unleashed. The characters were still delightful, sexy as sin and enjoyable. The sparks fly between a few of them and I devoured the story as I flipped the pages on my Nook e-reader. I got to admit I have a few favorites (who wouldn't in a cast that is set to be huge by the fifth book) and felt I was really seeing how the author wanted this story to be written as well as read by the reader. 

Desires Unleashed sets up the series and you should be warned there are a lot of characters being introduced that you may be overwhelmed. Don't despair-it does get easier as you go along, especially as they start to interact with one another and intertwine themselves in relationships, friendships and alliances. The author is a masterful world builder and she does a wonderful job in creating a back-story on how supernatural beings were outed to the human world and what happened afterwards. The reader gets a sense that the world isn't as peaceful as the humans think it is especially in Chicago where Master Vampire Darian rules and runs the popular club, Desires Unleashed. The sparks fly when he comes onto the pages with his lover and business partner Xavier. These two are pure sex appeal. Sexy, debonair and at times playful, I was captivated by them and their fascination with human Natasha, a woman who finds she has abilities she never knew about, abilities that could save not just her life but others as well. The sex scenes are sinfully sexy and enhance the connection they have with one another. It really enhanced the story-line and it didn't overwhelm it at all, which is what I enjoyed the most in this series. it was about the characters and the mysterious killer(s) who are on the loose in the heart of Chicago. 

Desires Unleashed is more than a run of the mill paranormal/urban fantasy series. It's a roller coaster of a ride that in the end, leaves you breathless and eager for more. If you enjoy J. R. Ward, Sherrilyn  Kenyon and other authors like that, then you may enjoy D. N. Simmon's Knights of the Darkness Chronicles. She is on her way to joining those ranks of awesome urban fantasy authors and I can't wait to see her succeed in stealing not only my heart but also yours as you read this series. Run-don't walk-to grab this series and settle in for one adventure ride after another. I can't wait to see what else this author has in store for her readers in the future. 

You can find Desires Unleashed at Amazon in Kindle E-book or Print formats.

My Personal Review for The Lion's Den by DN Simons

D. N. Simmons is one of my favorite authors and a wonderful person as well. She has a thrilling series that I think, if you enjoy vampires, shifters of all kinds, mystery and hot steamy sex, you will enjoy. Her latest is book five in the Knights of the Darkness Chronicles series and involves Lion shifters, murder, mystery and more. Hang on to your hats, guys.....Chicago is about to get wild.

Darian, Elise and Xander have weathered tough times as they dealt with supernatural serial killers, territory challenges and more. This time what they are facing will take them far beyond what they anticipate. For this time, Chicago is at the center of a battle they may not survive. The cat and mouse game has begun. Only time will tell who is the hunter and who is the prey.

The Lion's Den continues two years after Hostile Territory ended and is an edge of your seat ride. First I want to say you really should read this series from the beginning. All the books capitalize on one another and mention things that have happened in past books. That said, D. N. Simmons packs quite a punch in her latest story set in the supernatural world of Chicago. With returning beloved characters, a cat and mouse mystery that will leave you gasping and a storyline that is full of twists, it's a wonder I wasn't passed out cold from it all. 

Ms. Simmons delivers in her eagerly awaited fifth book in the Knights of the Darkness Chronicles with bated breath. The minute I started reading The Lion's Den, I found myself transported to a world I missed. It was full of vampires, shifters and other supernatural beings that thrilled me in the last books. This was like I was coming home after a long vacation away. I enjoyed seeing what happened in the last two years with all my favorite characters and meeting some new ones had me hoping they may be in future books. The cat and mouse mystery in this book was quite an adventure. The sex scenes were primarily M/M so they may not appeal to some but it doesn't take away from the story at all.But I have to caution, the ending alone will leave you scrambling to the author's website seeing when book six comes out as it will leave you breathless.

The Lion's Den delivers a story so complex, wild and action packed, I suggest you install speed bumps to slow you down. I can attest that you may be up late reading this just to see what happens next. Ms. Simmons is a talented author who is going places. I anticipate seeing her work right along side Sherrilyn Kenyon and L. A. Banks one of these days. If you enjoy a high octane paranormal/urban fantasy adventure, then I highly recommend Ms. Simmons Knights of the Darkness Chronicles.

My Rating for The Lion's Den is: 5 Stars

Books in the Knights of the Darkness Chronicles Series are:

1) Desires Unleahed
2) The Guilty Innocent
3) Royal Flush
4) Hostile Territory

You can find more about this author at www.dnsimmons.com

One of my favorite Series is back~Knights of the Darkness Chronicles by DN Simmons

When I go looking for a book or series, I always look for three items to make me want to pick it up.

1) Good storyline-it has to hook me by end of chapter one in order for me to read more.
2) Intriguing characters-I need more than one dimensional characters. I need those bad boys with hearts of gold, the women who can tame said bad boys and strong characters that won't turn around and become TSTL*.
3) I need the sex scenes to enhance said storyline, not take it over completely. 
*To stupid to live

I am a story snob-100%. Sometiumes the cover doesn't do it for me but if the book blurb intrigues me, I will pick it up and nine times out of ten, I found a gem to keep.

I "meet" author D. N. Simmons when I first started reviewing, years ago and I loved that she was self-publishing her work and had a series that sounded so ambitious, it had me curious. I got her first book, Desires Unleashed and I was hooked by end of chapter one. It had vampires, shifters, mystery, romance and sex all rolled up with a blood red bow.

Since then I have eagerly anticipated the next adventure in this series and with each book, she just kept getting better and better, IMHO. Yes there were earlier editing mistakes and whatnot but she recently had the books re-edited and made them polished so brightly they practically blind you when reading. Now the earlier books have awesome new covers and a brand new book was released, The Lion's Den, this year as well.

Now let me take you into the world of the Knights of the Darkness Chronicles and author D. N. Simmon's vivid imagination.


Book 1: Desires Unleashed introduces you to the world of supernaturals, humans and the world they live in now. It's a new time as humans and supernaturals co-exist in uneasy harmony. A supernatural serial killer is on the loose in Chicago and it will take the efforts of two detectives from the S.U.I.T (Supernatural Unit Investigation Team), the supernatural community and a few select humans to find a way to beat this mad man before it's too late. Here is where we meet the main players-Master Vampire Darian, his second in command and lover, Xavier, Eloise and the Cheetah Pride and the human woman, Natasha, who will find herself thrust in the middle of it all.



Book 2: The Guilty Innocent continues the story as Darian, Xavier and Natasha find themselves trying to find out who set up Darian for a crime he didn't commit. It will take Xavier, Natasha and all their friends to find out who did this and why before all hell breaks loose.


Book 3: The Royal Flush has a threat after the vampires, pack and pride shifters on the edge. A team of big game hunters are hunting the ultimate game-supernaturals.  Can Darian, Xavier and all their friends find a way to stop them before it's too late?








Book 4: Hostile Territory now has Darian, Xavier and Natasha in a relationship (M/M/F Threesome) and as they try to accept the changes in their lives, an event happens that will either bring them closer together or destroy everything-and everyone-in their lives.









Book 5: The Lions Den continues as Darian, Eloise, Xavier and other supernaturals find out that a dangerous menance is about to tear their territory apart and they have no idea who is the hunter and who is the prey. It's their deadliest enemy to date as they have no care who they hurt and the pain they cause.


Are you ready to experience the Knights of the Darkness Chronicles? Hang on to your seats as the ride is about to get wild and bumpy. You don't want to miss any of these wonderful books and I can't wait to read The Lion's Den.

Want to find out more about this author and the Knights series? Come on over to her website HERE and see what tickles your fancy. This series is available for Amazon Kindle, the nook and in trade paperback.