"Wicked Deeds On A Winter's Night" is the third in Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series. It is the tale of Lykae (werewolf) Bowan who would go to the ends of the world to release his wife Mariah from death, although she has been dead for centuries. Then he meets a witch, Mariketa. Maria and Bowan are immediately attracted to each other even though they are mean to each other. In a competition (sort of a supernatural Amazing Race) Mari puts a curse on Bowan, making the immortal unable to heal from his injuries. He leaves her stranded in a cave with several other competitors and a succubus or two. When Bowan learns long after the competitions ends that the witch ant the other competitors haven't returned, and that the witch is mortal, he rushes off to save her. Thus begins (in my mind) part two of the book. It tells of Bowan trying to rescue Mari and the two have lots of "close encounters" in the jungle, with big baddies and with each other! Bowan thinks Mari may be his mate reincarnated. She tries to resist him (a little too much). I read this book in a lot of stop and starts. It just didn't hold my interest the way the first two volumes did. Whiile I think that this book was my least favorite in the series there are many things I liked about it. I liked both Bowan and Mari. I really enjoy the way Mari deals with Bowan and the grief they give each other. The romance was the norm for Kresley Cole, which means hot, hot hot! The last third of the book really redeemed it for me. I loved the final confrontation and how the story dealt with magic and Bowan's deceased wife. This book is lightyears better than most romance stories, but it just wasn't quite as good as its predecessors. ( )

Can a werewolf have two mates? Nope, so why does Bowen want the women near him who he senses as his mate, when he already lost his a couple of centuries before.....hehehe. Find out.

I am quickly falling head over heels in love with this series. After this book and the first in the series, I want myself a Lycae. Whew! Those boys are hot. Anyway...this book had so many plot twists and turns I don't even know how the author stayed caught up with it all. It all flowed well though, and it was amazing. This book is my favorite so far, and you definitely need to read it. I am about to start the next one, and I can not wait.

Also posted: http://www.bibliophilicbookblog.com/2... ( )

Introduced in the first book of the series and a big part of the second, Bowe is one bad Lykae (werewolf to you and me.) But he's lived a hard existence- the woman he was destined for died before he could mate her.

When the chance to turn back the clock arrives in the prize of a legendary game of the Lore (the magical creatures of our world), he's determined to right the wrong done to him.

But then he meets Mariketa- a formidable witch who draws him like none has since losing his love. So determined to win the prize, he leaves her behind, unknowingly trapping her in a nightmare. But in a twist of cruel fate- he loses the game anyway.
Despondent, he's ready to give up and end it all. But the good creatures of the Lore are not done with him, for Mariketa has a destiny and they are not pleased with the gruff Lykae for leaving her behind.

Guilty for what he's inadvertently done to the beautiful Mari, he agrees to go pull her out from where he left her, but Mari has managed to escape on her own- along with some help from some surprising allies.

Instinct tells her to seek revenge, but when Bowen arrives on the scene all bets are off as passion re-ignites and they are thrust into the fight of their lives against an evil force out to destroy them both.

The scorching love scenes aside, (and they are HOT!), what stays with you is the ending- a romantic note that will satisfy even the most die hard of romance readers! Bowe and Mari are wonderfully drawn characters who radiate from the pages.

Another excellent entry in Cole's Imortals After Dark series- this series just keeps getting better and better! ( )

Bowen MacRieve of the Lykae clan was nearly destroyed when he lost the one woman meant for him. The ruthless warrior grew even colder, never taking another to his bed--until a smoldering encounter with his enemy, Mariketa the Awaited, reawakens his darkest desires. When sinister forces unite against her, the Highlander finds himself using all his strength and skill to keep her alive.

His slow, hot touch is irresistible... Temporarily stripped of her powers, Mari is forced to take refuge with her sworn adversary. It's rumored that no one can tempt Bowen's hardened heart, but soon passion burns between them. Though a future together is impossible, she fears he has no intention of letting her go.

No deed is too wicked for her seduction... If they defeat the evil that surrounds them, can Mari deny Bowen when he demands her body and soul--or will she risk everything for her fierce protector?

Okay, I'm officially hooked on this series. I heard from a lot of people that this book was a "weak link", but I was hooked. Great characters, great twists and turns, great romance.

Kresley Cole is especially good at mixing up the settings she uses. They don't all take place at the same house, everyone always in the same city or whatever. Her books are adventures, and they take place all over the world. This one took place mostly in the rainforest in Guatemala or something.

But anyway... not only does Cole write great romances, but these books are fun to read for the settings, adventures and secondary characters. And she is one of the best at making a "soul mate" book still be believable and romantic. Great book, great series. I absolutely love this series.I'll keep reading :D ( )

For paranormal romance (not my favorite sub-genre), this series is really growing on me. This is my favorite of the three I've read so far, although now I think it would be better to read this series in order (unlike me). I wish all the titles didn't sound the same though.