J. K. Beck - When Temptation Burns

Half human, half daemon, Ryan Doyle is a driving force for justice. As an agent for the Preternatural Enforcement Coalition, he’s investigating murders linked to a Los Angeles fringe group bent on exposing the shadow world to humanity. He is a master of self-control, keeping his deepest hungers hidden beneath a veneer of cool professionalism. Until he crosses paths with sinfully sweet Andy Tarrent, a gutsy reporter who makes him crave all the pleasures he’s denied himself for centuries.
Tracking a band of conspiracy theorists eager to spill blood, Andy has uncovered the story of her career. Brooding, mysterious Ryan is an enigma -- but their dance of seduction is hotter than any fantasy. As they race to stop mass murder on the streets, Andy knows that Ryan is holding back, keeping secrets. But getting close to Ryan means opening the door to a world that will challenge her deepest beliefs -- including what it means to truly surrender to love.

Comment: The sixth book in the Shadow Keepers series. This is the story of Ryan Doyle, a paradaemon who's half demon, half human. He's angry most of the time, or at least has been in previous books, since we've know him from the first book.

This book tell us the story of Doyle and Andy. Doyle is a demon working for the Paranormal Office and he has a partner, Tucker. Doyle is a very stubborn person and seems to be angry pretty much all the time although that doesn't stop him from doing his job. 

Andy is a reporter, she writes articles for a magazine and she sees herself in the middle of a strange group of people who want to fight the paranormal, specially because her father is in it. She meets Doyle during a research and when she sees him in a meeting for that group where her father's in, they both feel attracted and get together eventually. However, there are secrets among them to be revealed and until that happen could they find something in common?

This ended up being my favorite book of them all in the series. I think it has a more solid story, more secondary characters interacting and of course, Doyle, a character I've been wanting to see happy since he first show up.

The plot revolves around an ex-military man, Paul, wanting to fight paranormals because he thinks they're a threat to humans, not considering not everyone is what they seem.During the book, we see how Paul and his group try to kill paranormals. Doyle infiltrates the group to see if its a serious threat and in the first meeting he sees Andy there and there's mutual attraction. Like always, I don't think much time passes from the moment the protagonists meet and become intimate. I wish the author would find a way to show this, for instance in showing sexual tension scenes, in order to create the illusion more time has passed. But it didn't happen and although I still liked the romance, it was very fast.

Doyle has always made me eager to see him happy. It was obvious he was so angry for a reason and in this book we know why and also why he and Luke (protagonist book #1) who used to be such good friends stop talking. So, in his book, Doyle finally got over many situations from his past that were making him a not very friendly person, he kind of grew up.

Mostly, that happened because of Andy. She was a nice girl and after meeting Doyle and knowing him, she started to fall in love but when she found out what he was she feared him for a while, but she decided to investigate and she learned what he was and how he survived and learned how to help him too. I liked this, she didn't stay waiting for him to come to her or to be a hero, she went and did some research to know more and to understand him. It was both brave and sweet of her.

I liked how several secondary characters played a part. The book felt very alive and the constant dialogue and interaction made the book seem more full, although it's not the longest in the series.

there were many scenes I liked and I thought that they suited the story a lot, providing the reader with enough feedback towards the character's thoughts and motivations. It was such an easy book to read, not boring at all. I enjoyed it a lot.

I don't know if the author is planning to write more books in the series, but I hope so, there are some more characters who deserve a story too. As foe this one, I totally recommend it.

J. K. Beck - When Darkness Hungers

FBI agent Alexis Martin knows that vampires exist -- because one of them killed her sister. Assigned to investigate a series of bizarre homicides in Los Angeles, Alexis believes the murders are the work of rogue vampires -- perhaps even the monster responsible for her sister’s death. Now she finally has a chance for retribution. Even better, Alexis receives unexpected help from a sexy stranger as hungry for rogue blood as she is.
Serge is a centuries-old bad boy who stays off the grid -- keeping his secrets, his hunger, and his heart safe from exposure. A new breed of vampire that feeds off other shadowers, Serge finds sweet torture in Alexis’s arms. Loving her is a chance to be free from the hiding, the loneliness, the secrecy. But the truth about what he is, and what he’s done, may banish him to the dark confines of his own private hell -- and destroy the beginnings of their love.

Comment: The 5th book in this series by JK Beck. Like always, a very correct writing although  think the author could use more emotion, more domestic or happy scenes to balance the general darker feel of the story.

This is the story of Serge, a vampire who's had many problems in the past because of his daemon and his hunger. Serge is also cursed and because of that, he takes the shape of the daemon he feeds of. His many troubles led him to feed of rogue vampires and people who harm others.

Alexis is a young woman trying to avenge her sister by killing as many vampires as she can, because she knows it was one vampire who murdered her sister. She decided to finish as many as possible until the day she can get her revenge at the one who killed her sister.

When these two meet, sparks fly but both are fearful of what it might mean and it takes a while for bot of them to acknowledge it, until they just can't.

I liked this book a thousand times better than the previous one. The 4th one was horribly boring but this one is full of adventure and forgiveness and discovering things aren't black and white. We have two people who see the other as a nuisance at first but slowly they discover the little things that matter and they start to bond. Like always, I thought that happened a bit too fast and it would be so good if the author could insert more scenes with them flirting or more sexual tension before they act on their feelings..I think it would give the impression of more time spent before the sex and thus giving a more sense of real emotion to their relationship.

The storyline has a crime that needs to be solved. I was actually interested in knowing how things would work out and this made the book easier to read, fluid and gave me the illusion I was reading faster...in fact, involving reads can be so much more interesting than boring ones simply because they make us read better.

I was glad to see many characters, some we've know and one or two that might have the potential to become protagonists...I haven't checked the author's plans to tis series, if she's eventually going to keep writing, but if she does, I'd feel happy to read the stories of those characters. I think it's smart of her to insert characters that immediately grab the readers attention.

In general, this book was good. I was entertained, I was curious over the plot and I wanted to see Serge happy because we've seen his tribulations in past books. I can't say it's one of the best I've ever read, but it's sufficient to make glad I read it.

J. K. Beck - When Passion Lies

Tiberius is a vampire dedicated to protecting his kind -- and the secrets of the shadow world. Now, as his quest to become head of the Alliance draws within reach, a shattering new threat puts him to the ultimate test. It's a nightmare of grim proportions: a dark plot to bring about the mass extermination of human and shadow alike. And it forces Tiberius to turn to the woman he loved and lost, the lover he still desires but doesn't trust.
Caris was Tiberius's mate for centuries -- until a fateful mission changed her forever. Her tortured secrets drove her into the arms of his rival, but desperation has brought her back. As a horrifying new weapon of mass destruction is about to be unleashed, Tiberius and Caris harness the power of their immortal and passionate love. But will it be enough to battle devastating odds and a ruthless enemy with the ambition to destroy them all?

Comment: Another series to update.

I've read the first three books a long time ago and now that the latest three are all out, I've decided to get them over with.

This 4th book in the Shadow Keepers series is the story of vampires Tiberius and Caris, two characters we're familiar with. These two have an history together but separated and Caris is now considered a traitor to vampires because she went to live with the werewolves king, Gunnolf.

Caris is a young woman, er....she's a vampire and always wanted to participate in fights but when she was with Tiberius he was very protective of her and didn't like to see her take risks.

Tiberius is one of the most important vampires in the world and has seen many things, He and Caris were a couple for a long time but despite them being apart, he never stopped loving her.

Unfortunately, I don't have many good things to say about this book. Actually only two things intrigued me in this book and apparently neither will be dealt with so soon.

I didn't like this book, it was boring and I just wanted to finish it so I could get over it. The main problem was the fact this is a lovers reunited themed story. My worst nightmare in what book plots is concerned, and this wasn't the exception to my rule. Both characters spent a lot of time picturing how things were, what they did, what they meant foe each other, they remembered their actions and decisions, a room would invoke a memory, a place would suggest emotions from past times and so on and on. Boring. So very annoying for me, I mean it. I think if an author were to write this plot but would give more focus to what they are now instead of what they thought they were, then maybe I could be happier seeing how the two people would discover themselves again, thus discovering what they are together too but this wasn't the case. I found out that the reasons behind they break up, despite valid and believable considering the genre, weren't that special to me. I wasn't sad over them or what thy went through...I guess there wasn't that much emotion to justify their actions.

In this case, I think it was the author's problem, because the way  see it, she could've written differently, could've given some kind of highlight to other points instead of the ones she chose, among other things. I don't know, foe m there are several things that could've been done differently.

Then the story itself wasn't that amazing It was also quite static and I wasn't that curious to find out more or to see it solved.

The two things that intrigued me were two new characters. One f them ended up dead, so I guess no hopes there. The other shows some promise to be an interesting protagonist, I wish the author can see it too and one day his book might be (hopefully) published.

In the end, I was very disappointed and bored with the book and when I've read the last page I said to myself, "finally".

I have two more books to read, with characters I liked in previous books and apparently - according to blurbs - none of them knew about their future mate. Yay. At least a whole new bunch of situations can be created and even if the books aren't good, at least they won't annoy my personal dislikes so much.

J. K. Beck - When Wicked Craves

Petra Lang is cursed never to love. One touch of her skin unleashes the vilest demons. Sentenced to death by the Shadow authorities, who fear she'll turn her curse against them, Petra is rescued by vampire advocate Nicholas Montegue. As their bodies merge and transform into mist, Petra feels an erotic longing.

Nicholas risked his own life to save Petra, yet he knows he can never give in to the explosive attraction he feels for her. But the deep yearning they share tempts them. Together, they must find a way to lift the curse. For only a love this strong has the power to overcome such monstrous evil.

Comment: This 3rd book isn't as good as the others in my opinion. But it offers some complex difficulties: how to stop a curse and how to help a friend.
In the end there are some surprises, which is good, because we feel eager to read more. Thankfully, there are 3 more books to be published next year.
I don't think this romance was a well done as the previous ones. First, it was too quick, second it was the main female caharacter's first time, which begs for more time and certainty I think, and in this case although we know she wants to be with him, I still have my doubts about the whole thing, I wasn't convinced. I guess I wanted more feelings, more despair over that issue.
In the end it was a good read, it surely entertains, but I kind of wanted to see romance, considering this is called praranormal romance....

J. K. Beck - When Pleasure Rules

Seven innocents have been brutally murdered in Los Angeles, yet the Shadow Alliance has no suspects and no leads. As the body count mounts, the age-old feud between vampires and werewolves threatens to explode.

Lissa Monroe - a strong-willed, ravishing succubus who entices men to surrender their souls - agrees to go undercover for the Alliance. Her mission: infiltrate the mind of werewolf leader Vincent Rand, a ferociously alluring enemy who exerts a powerful hold over her. As the City of Angels teeters on the brink of apocalypse, these two adversaries must join together in order to survive an even more lethal enemy hidden in plain sight.

Comment: I'm enjoying this series immensely. The characters seem realistic (even tough it's a paranormal series) and their decisons and attitudes too.
I wished there'd be a bigger instinctive reaction from the main male character because he is a werewolf and in the folklore, wolves search their mates and when finding them they want them in a visceral way, they know it's that one. In this case that didn't really happened and I kind of wished to see that, but well, it was a no-go.
The plot was ok, not grat, not awful, and the strongest point it's the characters, I think. They rock and the reader wants to know more and to see the other characters happy. It's great to see a happy ending as well.