Reviewed at Another Look Book Reviews *Standing Ovation* This past Aug/12 I started reading the Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole. I was intrigued with all the anticipation voiced by fellow book bloggers and Twitter friends. There seemed to be quite a celebration of this release of Lothaire. Paranormal and UF are not my number one choice for romance so I had not really heard to much about this IAD series previously. Turns out I was missing out because as I finished Lothaire's book (IAD #12) I must agree with the positive buzz these books generated. I thoroughly enjoyed them. Lothaire has been appearing in and out books since the beginning. There was quite a mystery built around him and it wasn't until the previous book, Dreams of a Dark Warrior that the readers really got to truly meet him. Lothaire is a complex character on the brink of madness. He acts like stiff upper crust royalty in composure yet he is 100% deadly on the brink of madness. The Lore creatures shake in their skin when he is near and he keeps an accounting ledger of all the blood debts he is owed. I had no idea who his "Bride" could be. What sort of woman would be perfect for him? Enter Elizabeth. A hillbilly human woman from the Appalachian Mountains that talks with a southern twang and lives in a trailer. Not what I would have imagined for Lothaire but let me tell you that Kresley Cole is a genius because Elizabeth could not have been more perfect! Of course their romance is completely off kilter because Elizabeth (Ellie) was sharing her body with an evil goddess like entity, Saroya. Lothaire is convinced that Saroya, the nasty Goddess of Divine Death, is his Bride. The first half of the book is mostly about how Lothaire plans to rid Elizabeth's soul from her body so that Saroya can take over completely. Elizabeth of course has plans of her own. Lothaire usually kills off those who annoy him yet he can't hurt the mortal Elizabeth without also hurting Saroya. Amazing constant conflict and I love how Elizabeth strives to madden Lothaire further. She was perfect in her cunning ways and the banter between the two was awesome. I was constantly rooting for Elizabeth to get the upper hand. Such an engaging story. Loved it! A favourite moment - Lothaire at Elizabeth's trailer in the mountains. "Am I wearing a wife-beater, Lizvetta? Oh, come on!" Having said all that I loved about the pair, I still think my favourite part of the book was the chapter that included Nix and Lothaire together. They actually have a great talk and they were both completely lucid. So many answers were provided in that chapter and I long to read Nix's book one day when it is written. Nix is probably my favourite character out the entire series. Teasers: Lothaire-speak, temper tantrum = beheading (oops) "Mothman. Really, Elizabeth? Really?

I have been eagerly anticipating Lothaire's blooding since I started reading IAD. I really wasn't sure how the bad guy was going to win the girl but Cole manages with her usual aplomb. Ellie is strong enough to be his match. Lothaire, with the help of a "human", even learns a little about relationships. Having no friends and hordes of enemies this is totally new territory for him. Watching him stumble along was amusing. This was a totally satisfying installment that I did not want to put down and ranks up there with some of my favorites in the series. My only regret is that it is done too soon and now the wait begins for the next installment.

The newest addition to the Immortals After Dark series is one of the best, I loved this book my rating is more towards a 4.5 stars, I wasn't sure what to expect with Lothaire being the main love interest but what we got was amazing. I thought Lothaire's love interest Elizabeth was awesome a great match for the known bad boy of the Lore and of course Lothaire himself was awesome and unexpected. I loved the storyline it kept me entertained the whole way through and Nix is still one of my fav characters ( you'll understand why ). I highly recommend this series if you haven't already started reading it. :0)

When I started out on reading this book I was all set to hate Lotharie, he's never been a very nice character in any of the other books he's shown up in. I was surprised. This may be my new favorite book in the series, the story well laid out, with humor, love, and the mind blowing sex I've come to love and expect from Cole. But even with all these elements there was a new aspect I wasnt expecting...Heart. The Main charachter Lotharie is a arrigent, evil, complicated vampire, with a heart. Ellie Peirce is interesting, and smart, I love how she changes and grows throughout the book, while maintining the "low brow" charm. Their story was never meant to be easy, and Kresley Cole gives another hit book in the Immportals After Dark Series that leaves you wanting more, and more.