The Saucy Wenches Book Club

“Did you run any of this by Curran?” “I told him I was about to do something idiotic and dangerous, and he told me to go ahead and let him know if he could help in any way.” “I don’t understand your relationship.” Ilona Andrews, Magic Binds (Kate Daniels Series #9)

"I hadn’t crossed the line. I’d ridden an elephant up to it and run back and forth along its edge while a mariachi band played in the background, but I hadn’t crossed it."
Magic Binds by Ilona Andrews

“Have you ever met someone and felt… I don't know how to describe it, felt a chance at having something that eluded you? I don't know… Forget I said anything."

I knew what he meant. He was describing that moment when you realize that you are lonely. For a time you can be alone and doing fine and never give a thought to living any other way and then you meet someone and suddenly you become lonely. It stabs at you, almost like a physical pain, and you feel both deprived and angry, deprived because you wish to be with that person and angry, because their absence brings you misery. It's a strange feeling, akin to desperation, a feeling that makes you wait by the phone even though you know that the call is an hour away. I was not going to lose my balance. Not yet.” 
Kate Daniels #1 by Ilona Andrews

"I will kill anything that tries to hurt you," he said, his voice quiet. "I know. I will kill anything that tries to hurt you," I told him. Curran looked at me. "I just can't figure out what to do when you hurt yourself. Who am I mad at?" I opened my mouth. Nothing smart came to mind. "If anyone can figure it out, it would be you. You're the only one who'll put up with me."


~ Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews

"Take the emotion out of it," Curran said. "You will better persuade the other person if you make them understand the reasons behind your request. You have to demonstrate that in your place they would come to the same conclusion. Once they agree with you, saying no to you becomes much harder because they would be arguing with themselves." Once a Beast Lord, always a Beast Lord. Old habits died hard, and in his case, they probably never would.

~ Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews

From Goodreads:
Magic Shifts (Kate Daniels #8)
by Ilona Andrews (Goodreads Author)

In the latest Kate Daniels novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews, magic is coming and going in waves in post-Shift Atlanta—and each crest leaves danger in its wake…
After breaking from life with the Pack, mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate—former Beast Lord Curran Lennart—are adjusting to a very different pace. While they’re thrilled to escape all the infighting, Curran misses the constant challenges of leading the shapeshifters. 
So when the Pack offers him its stake in the Mercenary Guild, Curran seizes the opportunity—too bad the Guild wants nothing to do with him and Kate. Luckily, as a veteran merc, Kate can take over any of the Guild’s unfinished jobs in order to bring in money and build their reputation. But what Kate and Curran don’t realize is that the odd jobs they’ve been working are all connected. An ancient enemy has arisen, and Kate and Curran are the only ones who can …

So you know how there are book that stay with you for different reasons. You never forget them because they helped you understand something about yourself, they taught you something, they made you feel happy, they scared the crap out of you, they shocked you, they made you angry or sad, etc.

Well, join me after the jump and I'll name some of my all time favorites.

From Goodreads:
No matter how much the paranormal politics of Atlanta change, one thing always remains the same: if there’s trouble, Kate Daniels will be in the middle of it…

As the mate of the Beast Lord, Curran, former mercenary Kate Daniels has more responsibilities than it seems possible to juggle. Not only is she still struggling to keep her investigative business afloat, she must now deal with the affairs of the pack, including preparing her people for attack from Roland, a cruel ancient being with god-like powers. Since Kate’s connection to Roland has come out into the open, no one is safe—especially those closest to Kate.

As Roland’s long shadow looms ever nearer, Kate is called to attend the Conclave, a gathering of the leaders from the various supernatural factions in Atlanta. When one of the Masters of the Dead is found murdered there, apparently at the hands of a shapeshifter, Kate is given only twenty-four hours to hunt down the killer. And this time, if she fails, she’ll fi…

Ghastek's face jerked. "The concepts of right or wrong are inconsequential in this case." 

"The concepts of right or wrong are always consequential. It can't be situational or it's not right or wrong." 

"I didn't come here to debate ethical obligations with you," Ghastek said.

"You opened the door. I just walked through it."

~~Ilona Andrews, Magic Breaks

“I have had it up to here with my wedding," I said. "The other day Andrea tried to explain to me that apparently I am supposed to have a new thing, an old thing, a blue thing, and something stolen."
"Borrowed, Kate," Barabas murmured.
"Who the hell even makes up those rules?” 
Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews

“Men and swords. My father said that if you put any able-bodied man, no matter how peaceful, into a room with a sword and a practice dummy and leave him alone, eventually the man would pick up the sword and try to stab the dummy. It is human nature.”
~ Ilona Andrews Magic Bites

He leaned his head to me, his neck so close to my lips, I felt the heat coming off his skin. His breath was warm against my ear. His voice was a ragged snarl. "I miss you."

This wasn't happening.

"I worry about you." He dipped his head and looked into my eyes. "I worry something stupid will happen and I won't be there and you'll be gone. I worry we won't ever get a chance and it's driving me out of my skull."

No, no, no, no.........

We stared at each other. The tiny space between us felt too hot. Muscles bulged on his naked frame. He looked feral.

Mad gold eyes stared into mine. "Do you miss me, Kate?"

I closed my eyes trying to shut him out. I could lie then we would be back to square one. Nothing would be resolved. I'd still be alone, hating him and wanting him.

He grabbed my shoulders and shook me once. "Do you miss me?"

I took the plunge. "Yes.” 

Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels #4)
~~Ilona Andrews

From Goodreads:
Atlanta is a city plagued by magical problems. Kate Daniels will fight to solve them—no matter the cost.

Mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate, Curran, the Beast Lord, are struggling to solve a heartbreaking crisis. Unable to control their beasts, many of the Pack’s shapeshifting children fail to survive to adulthood. While there is a medicine that can help, the secret to its making is closely guarded by the European packs, and there’s little available in Atlanta.

Kate can’t bear to watch innocents suffer, but the solution she and Curran have found threatens to be even more painful. The European shapeshifters who once outmaneuvered the Beast Lord have asked him to arbitrate a dispute—and they’ll pay him in medicine. With the young people’s survival and the Pack’s future at stake, Kate and Curran know they must accept the offer—but they have little doubt that they’re heading straight into a trap…

Kate Daniels fans, you will be thrilled with book #6, Magic Rises. Join me after…

And here we go, straight into the lake of drama without taking our clothes off first.

– Kate Daniels     
~ Ilona Andrews, Magic Rises

“I think you’re confused as to the nature of our relationship. You and I, we don’t get along. You’re a psychopathic control freak. You order me around and I want to kill you. I’m a pigheaded insubordinate ass. I drive you mad and you want to strangle me.”
(Kate to Curran)

I was lucky. Somehow, maybe because of all the messed-up shit the Universe had thrown my way, I'd gotten him. He was mine, completely mine. He loved me.I kept making barriers between us and then heroically knocking them down. Whether it was because of fear or mistrust, or for whatever other reason, I had to stop doing it.
~ Ilona Andrews, Magic Slays,
    Kate Daniels series

So far Cutting Edge was turning out to be one of those pet businesses rich men gave to their wives to keep them busy. I wanted it to succeed, God damn it. I wanted to be profitable and stand on my own two feet. If things kept going this way, I would be forced to run up and down the street screaming, “We kill things for money”. Maybe someone would take pity and throw some change at me.

The phone rang. I stared at it. You never know. It could be a trick.

— Ilona Andrews, Magic Slays,
   Kate Daniels series

And the winner of the Alpha Showdown 2012 is (drums, please)...Curran Lennart!
The annual contest organized by the VampireBookClub.net this year, by virtue of the 2,539 votes he received in the final round, awarded the male main character from Ilona Andrews's Kate Daniels series the title of 2012 Alpha Showdown Champion!

Some of us were really peeved about it, some danced little happy dances while nobody was watching, and some were intrigued by the mofo who beat their precious Bones. But I doubt if there was a single Wench or PNR/UF bookworm who remained indifferent to the whole thing.
For those who haven't read Kate Daniels, and for those who have but still can't understand why he won the Alpha Showdown, I'll try and play Mr. Lennart's lawyer in front of you. Because I love him. And because he pays well.

Warning: Mild spoilers ahead.

My true love gave to me:
Eight Most Wanted Novels Seven Dreamy KissesSix Sexy CouplesFive Hot Book BoyfriendsFour Supporting CharactersThree Character Cities Two Painful EndingsandOne Piece of Gandy Candy

The conclusion of this scene here.