Sunday, August 22, 2010

Mmmh..more medicine please..and dragon shifters..the Aisling Grey series by Katie MacAlister

I find when I get really stressed out, like I have been alot lately, I tend to medicate myself with some of my favorite reads. One of those favorites is the Aisling Grey series by Katie MacAlister. I first read this series when I was still coming to terms with the fact that yes I read romance and man do I love it. Though with my romance there has to be the bad boy alpha male, a bit of action, and some smoking hot love scenes. For me, the Aisling Grey series has to be hands down it one of the best combinations of urban fantasy, humor, and romance - not an easy combination to achieve. The heroine of the series, Aisling, is kind of a mess though she tries to pretend she is professional and in control. Unfortunately for Aisling from the first book of the series (and there are four total) she is kind of like Alice falling down the rabbit hole as she gets further ensnared in the paranormal world she was abruptly introduced to. Thankfully her introduction to the paranormal world is by Drake Vireo - dragon shifter, alpha, and bad boy all rolled into one who I think probably looks a bit like Jared Prudoff (I included a pic for your viewing pleasure). Although Aisling and Drake's relationship is fiery from the start there is alot of passion there which makes it very entertaining to read about - Drake is used to bossing women around and Aisling is not standing for it so their constant struggles with each others nature make for an entertaining read.

What makes the series even better Aisling's sidekick - a demon in dog form known as Jim. He loves his canine Newfie form, has to wear drool bibs (oh man am I happy my dog doesn't drool that much), and is in love with a Welsh corgi named Cecile (he likes to suck on her ears- eww!). He really sets the tone for his comedic sidekick status when he discovers the amazing things a dog can do (from You Slay Me).

"Give me a couple of minutes. You're not going to believe what I found I can do," Jim said, its voice muffled as it engaged in a bit of groinal hygiene.
"The eww factor on that is borderline vomit territory," I (Aisling) said, tugging on its leash until the great furry black head emerged from the depths of its crotch. I ignored the glazed look in Jim's eyes and got to my feet, heading out of the park and toward the nearest Metro stop. "Come on, you'll like the Merto. As a dog, you've got carte blanche to smell strangers' crotches."
"Really? That's something, although not nearly as good as licking my own-" Jim

To round out Aisling's inner group of friends is Rene the cab driver who teaches her some interesting French phrases like: "J'ai une grenouille dans mon bidet" (I have a frog in my bidet) for when Aisling needs help, and "Tu as une tete a faire sauter les plaques des egouts" (You have a face that would blow off the cover of a manhole) for when a man hits on her when she doesn't want him to.

Overall these books have me laughing out loud, on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what happens next, and makes my ereader steam up at the sex scenes so if you haven't read this series yet I highly recommend it!

You can find more about Katie MacAlister's books here: http://katiemacalister.com

So do you have any books or series you like to "medicate" with when you've been having a rough week? Do you go for the more humorous/sexy/action-packed books or a combination of all three?

13 comments:

Melissa (Books and Things) said...

Okay... I was told to read these and now I have to! LOVE newfies! :) These sound so funny. Darn tbr is going to bury me! :)

Heather (DarklyReading) said...

I know how ya feel! You'll love the books though - trust me! And if you're a dog lover you'll really love Jim the demon dog!

Tara SG (25 Hour Books) said...

I've never read these and honestly I would have passed them up based on the covers (terrible I know!). They're now added to my TBR. Thanks!!

Heather (DarklyReading) said...

@Tara - yeah the covers are totally kitschy PNR covers! If they put shirtless pics of Drake on them I'm sure they would sell much better ;)

Karen said...

Awww. newfies - love em!
I have read one Kate MacAlister book but it was an HR. I liked but didn't love it. This sounds like something I might like more though.
When I'm stressed I go back to my favorites or I read a quick chick-lit guaranteed HEA book...preferably with a good does of humor thrown in.

Sullivan McPig said...

I haven't read this series by Macalister yet, but I love her Dark Ones series.
I myself like to pick up a book I know through and through and that is well written, so I can lose myself in the flow of the text when I'm feeling a bit down.

India Drummond said...

When I want to read to relax, I tend to read thrillers and murders. Because I write paranormal, I find that reading it gets my mind ticking into work-mode! Which is a shame, really, because it used to be my favourite way to unwind.

Susanna Carr said...

When I'm having a rough week, I re-read some of my favorites. I usually go for the funny and sexy stories. But when I'm sick in bed, I always go for the sweeter stories.

Heather (DarklyReading) said...

@Karen - Newfies are pretty cute - I'm still not sure how Jim can be dating a Welsh Corgi but it's fiction so it's okay ;)

@Sullivan- I've read a couple of her dark ones and I like her dragon books better. I love re-reading books when I pick up new things I didn't catch the first time reading the book

@India - wow relaxing with thrillers and murder mysteries - you can get the blood pumping while you relax..

@Susanna - totally agree I love to reread the sexy and funny stories ;)

Candace said...

Yes! This series is definitely on my medicate list! I LOVE it! And Jim is the very best part of the whole series! This is a series that I'm constantly reading pieces of it out loud to my husband because when your laughing so hard tears are rolling down your cheeks you feel like you have to share the reason for that laughter.

Heather (DarklyReading) said...

@Candance - Yay! I'm glad to hear you love the series too! Have you read Love in the Time of Dragons - Baltic's book yet? I was laughing out loud to that one so much I think I scared my husband ;)

Midnyte Reader said...

I *have* to read these now. If only for the demon dog!

Heather (DarklyReading) said...

@Midnyte - Jim the demon dog is hard not to love ;)

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