I'm finding these books better and better the further along I go. I was really concerned with some of the reviews I had read, but I'm just not seeing the disappointment. Not YET, anyway. Burnt Offerings was intense, exciting, hot.....all the things I love in a good paranormal book. I'm extremely invested in these characters now. Anita still gets on my nerves a little with her constant "all the monsters are monsters", but she can't complain too much now seeing as how she's FINALLY sleeping with one! I LOVE her and Jean-Claude together. And I think that since the books aren't just LOADED with sex, we appreciate the hot scenes even more. Richard is annoying now. He needs to accept his beast, and the bond with Jean-Claude and Anita and make the most of it. Jason is becoming one of my favorite characters--I see a lot of potential for him. Actually there aren't any characters I'm not fond of. The vamps, the wolves, and even the humans are all well developed. I like that Anita is beginning to accept her naughty side.....should make for some interesting topics in future books!!