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Black and BlueSynopsis
The sizzling second book in New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter’s Otherworld Assassin paranormal romance series.
He is every woman’s fantasy…
Corbin Blue is a man of many talents. One of the most powerful otherworlders ever born, he is wealthy, a professional football star, and a legend in the bedroom. But only a select few know he is also a black ops agent…and there is no better killer. When he and his crew are attacked and separated, he’s forced to turn to his boss’s daughter for help—a woman with even more secrets than Blue.
She becomes his only obsession…
Evangaline Black has always been wary, guarded. No man has ever breeched her walls. Until Blue. He has never been denied something he wants, and now, he’s decided he wants her. As he sweeps her into his double life of seduction, intrigue, and danger, he helps her see beyond the darkness of her own past. But as an enemy closes in, Blue will have to let Evie go to keep her safe—even though he’d rather die than live without her…
My ReviewÂ
I had high expectations for Black and Blue, especially after loving the first book. But unfortunately I had to put this book down. After 100 pages, and I wasn’t into it, I decided to set it aside for now, and maybe at some time at a later date I will pick it up again. But with all the books on my schedule I need to read, I knew I couldn’t keep trying to read this after three days. One of the problems I think was my issue with the heroine, Evangaline Black. From the beginning I knew I wouldn’t connect with her character at all. She seems to have the personality that just clashed in the story, and I practically had to force myself to keep reading as much as I did. A part of me wanted to try reading further, but I felt like I would have felt this way through most of it. I do hope to eventually try reading it again, maybe I will enjoy it then.
My GradeÂ
Dnf
Heat RatingÂ
Warm
Other Books In SeriesÂ
Last Kiss Goodnight
Last Kiss GoodnightSynopsis
The breathtaking first novel in New York Times best selling author Gena Showalter’s new paranormal romance series, Otherworld Assassins, featuring a black ops agent who is captured and enslaved…and the beautiful deaf girl who holds the key to his salvation…
THE SWEETEST TEMPTATION…
Black ops agent Solomon Judah awakens caged and bound in a twisted zoo where otherworlders are the main attraction. Vika Lukas, the owner’s daughter, is tasked with Solo’s care and feeding. The monster inside him yearns to kill her on sight, even though she holds the key to his escape. But the human side of him realizes the beautiful deaf girl is more than she seems—she’s his.
THE ULTIMATE PRICE…
Vika endures the captives’ taunts and loathing, hoping to keep them alive even if she can’t free them. Only, Solo is different—he protects her. But as hostility turns to forbidden romance, his feelings for her will be used against him…and he’ll be put to a killer test.
My Review
It has been quite some time since I have read this author, and this series is very recent. So when I saw this on the bookshelf at my local library, I knew I needed to try it out. There hasn’t been one book of Showalter I didn’t like. So I was very intrigued by the blurb so when I started reading it, I knew that this would be a book I could sink my teeth into. Last Kiss Goodnight deals with seeing a world where paranormal creatures exist who have a variety of talents and abilities. I loved the way that Showalter sets the scene for this story to begin. The plot does pick up pace pretty quickly, so no slow start for this one. The romance that blooms between Vika and Solo is pretty quick but not too quick to throw you off. I felt like it was very sweet and tender, and even though there is a level of intensity to the story, the romance isn’t so much. Its more slow and steady yet wonderful to witness their connection. The characters were very intriguing. Vika is deaf, but can read lips, and I loved seeing her character have a disability, it makes her seem more human. She seemed to me to be more passive at times, but definitely has a passion that becomes more evident as you read through the story. Overall a contagious romance that will set your heart at a faster speed, and take you on a adventure of passion, suspense, paranormal creatures, and a fantastically written story!!TOTALLY CAPTIVATING!!
My GradeÂ
4.5 Blossoms
Heat RatingÂ
Steamy
Other Books In SeriesÂ
Black and Blue
The Darkest Passion
Lords Of The Underworld (5)
Gena Showalter
Harlequin,
438 Pages
Paperback
Published Jun 2010
Fantasy Romance
ISBN: 978037377455
Synopsis: Found on FictionDB
For weeks, the immortal warrior Aeron has sensed an invisible female presence. An angel–demon-assassin–has been sent to kill him. Or has she? Olivia claims she fell from the heavens, giving up immortality because she couldn’t bear to harm him. But trusting–and falling for–Olivia will endanger them all. So how has this mortal with the huge blue eyes already unleashed Aeron’s darkest passion?
Now, with an enemy hot on his trail and his faithful demon companion determined to remove Olivia from his life, Aeron is trapped between duty and consuming desire. Worse still, a new executioner has been sent to do the job Olivia wouldn’t….
MY REVIEW
 Summary:
Olivia was sent as a angel, to keep tabs on Aeron, who holds the demon of Wrath. Then she is sent to kill Aeron, because he keeps a demon from Hell with him, so the council has decided that he must die. But Olivia wants Aeron for her own, so she falls from being a angel, so that she doesn’t have to do the deed. So at first when she seeks his help, he resists, even though she is the one tempting thing that has come into his life. However his demond, Wrath, is calmed by Olivia, and only wants her more and more. But things are about to get a bit more dicey with a new executioner on the hunt for Aeron’s head, and Olivia is the only one that can protect him from death, but Aeron and Olivia will learn the true power and strength that comes from loving and sacrificing for that one person whom means more than anything to you.
The Hero
Aeron, holds the Demon of Wrath within him, and keeps sensing a female presence, but has no idea who she really is or why he keeps seeing her. But then she appears before him calling his name, with such yearning, and he is drawn to her, despite him being torn between loyalty and the passion that she has awaken within himself, and the more he spends with this innocent trusting woman, he starts to find that this consuming desire turns into something much…much more than he ever imagined that he would ever find…
The HeroineÂ
Olivia, is a angel and loves that part of herself, however as she studies Aeron, she starts to want him, but when she is commanded to slay him, she decides to be fall from being an angel, and seek him out, because she cares for him deeply, and only wants to be love and desired. What she doesn’t expect is for their connection to rise above all the dangers that surround them and a future that seems without hope, but desires to treasure the precious time she will have with him.
My Thoughts :
The Darkest Passion is the seventh in the Lords of the Underworld series. I found The Darkest Passion to be a emotionally riveting story, that struck deep. Its about Aeron(whom we all love) and I was so thrilled to get a chance to read The Darkest Passion, it definitely didn’t disappoint. It was filled with everything that I would expect in a novel such as this from Gena Showalter, full of a magical world, with passion, romance and a spice of danger that will make your heart beat just a bit faster than normal. This author has such great passion and imagination that she portrays her in wonderfully written stories, which travels through the reader, and creates such a compelling world, that only draws you in even more, the more that you read from Showalter.
My Grade On This BookÂ
4.5 Blossoms
Other Books In The SeriesÂ
The Darkest Fire
The Darkest Night
The Darkest Kiss
The Darkest Pleasure
The Darkest Whisper
The Darkest Angel
The Darkest Prison
The Darkest Lie
The Darkest Secret
The Darkest Whisper
Lords Of The Underworld (4)
Gena Showalter
Harlequin Romance,
406 Pages
Published September 2009
Fantasy Romance
ISBN: 9780373773923
Synopsis:
Bound by the demon of Doubt, Sabin unintentionally destroys even the most confident of lovers. So the immortal warrior spends his time on the battlefield instead of the bedroom, victory his only concern…until he meets Gwendolyn the Timid. One taste of the beautiful redhead, and he craves more.
Gwen, an immortal herself, always thought she’d fall for a kind human who wouldn’t rouse her darker side. But when Sabin frees her from prison, battling their enemies for the claim to Pandora’s box turns out to be nothing compared to the battle Sabin and Gwen will wage against love….
My Review:
Summary:
Sabin, is bound by the Demon of Doubt, who is always there whispering to him and everyone else around him doubts about themselves, so Sabin, refuses to let anyone get real close to him especially any women, then he ends up rescuing Gwendolyn, the Timid, a Harpy, although very different from her kind. Gwen, also a immortal, and a harpy, has always tried to hide that part of herself, because when her harpy is free she does unimaginable things, where everyone that surrounds her is dead. After being captured for a year, she is afraid to contact her sisters, whom are harpies but have always been there to protect her, but afraid they will despise her for past mistakes, not realizing how strong their sisterly bond truly is. Then she gets rescued by Sabin, and taken back to his sanctuary and home with his brethren who are just as cursed with demons as he is, and finds a deep and abiding love in Sabin, and that despite everything going on around them, love can conquer all, even the whisperings of doubt!
The Hero:
Sabin, holds the Demon of Doubt within him, and has never had a true and honest relationship with any woman because of it, not even one that is full of esteem and confidence. I found Sabin, to be one of my favorites of all the Lords, because I think he lives with one of the toughest demons, one that can destroy who you are, but Sabin doesn’t allow that to happen to himself, and he finds a woman that can tell the difference between her own thoughts and that of Doubt.
The Heroine:
Gwen, is a immortal, a harpy, although she wishes that she wasn’t one. She has always desired a soft tender man, not realizing that what she truly needs is a man that can calm her harpy and be strong and steady. After she gets captures, she is ashamed of herself, and knows that even though she loves her sisters, she knows that they will despise her for her actions. However upon being set free she starts to learn some truths about herself, where she finds a inner strength that she never expected to find.
My Thoughts:
The Darkest Whisper is the fourth in the Lord of the Underworld series, and this is Sabin’s story, who holds the Demon of Doubt. Although this series isn’t my favorite of this author, its such a exciting and intriguing one, and I have truly loved reading this series so far, its been a intense ride that for sure, and The Darkest Whisper is one of my favorites of the series. Although Maddox’s story is at the highest top of favorites, Sabin is probably next in line. I loved every aspect of this story from the exciting plot, to the adventure, to the heated passion, and the tender love that grows between Sabin and Gwen. I found these two to be such a perfect match for one another, and they compliment each other so well. With Gwen able to distinguish the difference between her own thoughts and doubt, and the fact that when her harpy comes out, Doubt hides, since Doubt is afraid of Harpies. And how Sabin is the only one that can calm her harpy when she is out, which no one has been able to do that Gwen remembers. I have found the each book in the series so far is different yet special as they are so unique from one another! A true romance that will have you eager for more and more from this author.
My Grade On This Book
4.5 Blossoms
Other Books In The Series
The Darkest Fire
The Darkest Night
The Darkest Kiss
The Darkest Pleasure
The Darkest Angel
The Darkest Prison
The Darkest Passion
The Darkest Lie
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Jewel Of Atlantis
Atlantis Series(2)
Gena Showalter
Harlequin,
369 Pages
Published Feb 2006
Fantasy Romance
ISBN: 0-373-77530-9
Synopsis
All Atlantis seeks the Jewel of Dunamis, which legend claims can overcome any enemy. Grayson James, human agent of the ultra-secret Otherworld Bureau of Investigation, has orders to keep it from the wrong hands — or destroy it. What he doesn’t know is that Jewel is a woman, not a stone! But once he meets this precious gem, destroying her is the last thing on his mind . . .
Jewel, part goddess, part prophet, is a pawn in Atlantis’s constant power struggles. She needs Gray’s help to win freedom and uncover the secrets of her mysterious origins. Gray needs her wisdom to navigate monster-ridden Atlantis. But need blossoms into passionate love as they fight demons, dragons, vampires — and a prophecy that says the bond between them could destroy them both.
My Review:
Jewel of Atlantis begins with Grayson James, a agent, a human who is looking for the Jewel of Dunamis, which legend has claimed is more powerful than anything and can provide the means to destroy any enemy, however there is one catch. Grayson must find the Jewel which is in Atlantis but what Grayson assumed is the the Jewel is a stone. When he is close to finding the Jewel, he starts to hear a voice in his head, a woman’s voice that stirs up desire within him, even though he is suspicious and doubts that she is real, until he saves her from the Queen of Demons who has held her captive. But Grayson doesn’t realize until later, that the Jewel of Dunamis is the same woman whom he has saved, and whom has assisted him in navigating his way through the dangers ridden throughout Atlantis. But throughout their journey, they start to find a passion in one another, and a willingness to fight for a future together, no matter the cost or the dangers that could destroy all that they have built in one another.
I read this book a couple of weeks ago, but I finally remembered that I forgotten to write the review for this book. From what I recall, Jewel of Atlantis is the second in the Atlantis series. Even though I haven’t read this series in order, I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it so far. Jewel of Atlantis is unique, and we get to see appearances of The Dragon King Darius and his bride Grace who is also human. However throughout most of the book, we see a intense plot, where Grayson and Jewel are on the run from a variety of dangers throughout Atlantis. I also loved these two main characters as well. Jewel has been imprisoned because of her certain gifts, but knows that Grayson can save her, but as she helps guide him throughout the maze of Atlantis with all of its murky dangers, and find a love they never expected to find. This was a magical and satisfying adventure and passion, that takes you beneath the sea and into the mysteries of Atlantis.
My Grade On This Book
4 Blossoms
Other Books In The Series
Heart Of The Dragon
The Nymph King
The Vampires Bride
The Amazon’s Curse
The Stone Prince
Imperia Series(1)
Gena Showalter
Harlequin,
368 Pages
Published Sep 2004
Fantasy Romance
ISBN: 0-373-77007-3
Synopsis
A love as bright as the stars and enduring as stone…
Katie James is unlucky in love—so unlucky she’s been reduced to kissing the marble statue in her own garden. But her luck changes when the statue warms to life in her arms—and turns out to be a hunk straight out of any woman’s fantasy! Well, almost…Jorlan en Sarr hails from a distant planet and like all the other men Katie’s known, he comes with a lot of baggage.
A cursed warrior with a lover’s magic touch…
Entombed in his stony skin for centuries, Jorlan has been waiting for a maiden fair to break the spell. Yet this statuesque beauty with the will of an Amazon and kisses like flame is a far cry from the obedient damsels of Imperia. And though Jorlan is tempted to abandon all for the sake of Katie, unless he can convince her to give him her heart in two weeks’ time, he’ll be turned back to stone. And she’ll be lost to him forever.
My Review:
Katie James, having recently gotten her hands on a home to be refurbished, including a garden with a beautiful marble statue of a man that tempts her. But she starts hearing a tempting voice to kiss the statue so she does, and finds herself kissing a real life breathing man that is pure woman’s fantasy. At first she doesn’t believe that magic or Jorlan is real, or that such a kiss could be so intoxicating. Jorlan en Sarr has been entrapped as a statue for hundreds of years, never knowing that this one woman would be the one to release him, and he has two weeks to make her fall in love with him and break the spell, if he fails however than he will be a statue for all time. Having come from a panet far away, Imperia, he misses his home but yearns to stay on this one with Katie, who stirs him up like no other woman has ever done. Jorlan is used to obedient women wanting to pleasure him, however Katie is definitely different, far from obedient and pleasing. To Jorlan, Katie is argumentative, stubborn, opinionated and nothing like what he is used to, but he can’t seem to get enough of her, and finds that she fascinated him more than any other has ever done, but will he be able to break the spell with this fair maiden that he has fallen madly for.
The Stone Prince is part of the Imperia series, and I loved reading Jorlan and Katie’s story. I found it to be such a fun read, similar to her Atlantis series, with the adventure, passion and sassy fun that is portrayed throughout the story. I also loved how different these two are from one another, especially since they have lived in different worlds but find a common goal, in one another. I truly have enjoyed Gena Showalter, and I have to say that I truly found The Stone Prince a enjoyable read. From the first page to the last I found the plot and the characters to be engaging and riveting! So if you are looking for a fun and engaging romance than The Stone Prince is definitely for you. I am definitely looking forward to the other book in the series.
My Grade On This Book
4.5 Blossoms
Other Books In The Imperia Series
The Pleasure Slave
The Vampires Bride
Atlantis Series (4)
Gena Showalter
Harlequin,
402 Pages
Published March 2009
Fantasy Romance
ISBN: 978-0-373-77359-6
Synopsis
He is Layel, king of the vampires, a master seducer no woman can deny. But since a rogue horde of dragons killed his beloved over two centuries ago, Layel has existed only for vengeance…until he meets Delilah.
Wary of love, the beautiful Amazon wants nothing to do with the tormented vampire. Yet there’s no denying their consuming desire every time he nears her.
Neither trusts the other—nor can they survive alone. For in an impossible game of the gods’ devising, they’ve been trapped on an island, about to face the ultimate challenge: surrender to the passion that will bind them forever…or be doomed to an eternity apart.
My Review:
Layel, King of the Vampires gets caught up in a battle between the Dragons (his enemy) and the Amazons. As both he and his fellow vampires get caught up in it, he endeavors to destroy as many Dragons as he can. After a few Dragons, killed his wife, he has sought revenge ever since, vowing to himself to kill every last one of them. However he is then transported to a Island, with other Atlantians as a game that the gods want Layel and his fellow Atlantians to fight each other, to see who the best challenger is. Admidst all this chaos, Layel is drawn to a certain Amazon, whom even though they are on opposite teams, they are drawn to one another. Delillah after attempting to rescue her sister future queen from the Dragons, she is then transported to an island and she is faced against Layel, whom attracts her like no other man has ever done. After sharing some tender, yet passionate embraces, she knows that there is something about Layel that draws her to him. Delilah has suffered greatly in the past, especially when it comes to men, but she feels when she is around Layel, and she knows that she is falling in love with him, despite the fact that they are enemies and that there will only be one man or woman standing at the end of the challenge, but will their love be strong enough?
I am so glad that I got to get a hold of another book of this fantastic series, Atlantis. Although I did enjoy Vampires Bride, it was my least favorite so far. However there were many good things that I did love about Layel and Delilah’s story. Layel, is a powerful vampire, and is bent for revenge over his lost love’s death, and will everything in his power to destroy every Dragon. He also vowed to never love another, but everything changes for him when he is put in a battle of contests against other Atlantians- Dragons, Nymphs, Amazons and a few others. There is something about Delilah that makes he start to slowly forget his previous wife, and focus on the present and how much Delilah creates such sensations within him that he hasn’t experienced in many years. Although it was a great book to read, with a exciting plot, it also seemed to me that there was too much conflict in the story, much more than I thought was necessary. Although I really loved all the characters in this book, especially how there was also a side story involving Shivawn and Alyssa. Which was also a great mini love story to read their journey, where they overcome fears and their pasts to let themselves accept love in each other. If you like Gena Showalter than you will come to love these two stories and the characters within them that will make you fall in love with this series.
My Grade On this Book:
4 Blossoms
Other Books In The Series
Heart Of The Dragons
Jewel of Atlantis
The Nymph King
The Vampires Bride
The Amazons Curse
Heart of the Dragon
Atlantis Series (1)
Gena Showalter
Harlequin,
372 Pages
Published Sep 2005
Paranormal/Fantasy Romance
ISBN: 0-373-77057-X
Synopsis
Searching for her missing brother, Grace Carlyle never dreamed she would discover a secret world populated by mythological monsters or find herself facing a sword-wielding being whose looks put mortal men to shame.
But there he was, Darius en Kragin, one of a race of shape-shifting warriors bound to guard the gates of Atlantis, and kill all travelers who strayed within its borders.
Now Grace’s life was in his hands, and Darius had to choose between his centuries-old vow and the woman who had slipped beneath his defenses and stolen the heart of Atlantis’s fiercest dragon.
My Review:
In search of her missing brother, Grace Carlyle goes searing for him in the Amazon jungle, not knowing that her search for him is about to become much more complicated than ever. After getting lost, she finds her way into a cave, and then through a chain of events face to face with Darius en Kragin, the leader of the Dragons. As guardian to the portal of Atlantis, he knows through past experience, how dangerous it is to let a human enter their realm. However there is something about Grace that is different from other humans, something tha intrigues him more than ever. He knows his duty is to kill her at some point, so there is no danger to those that he protects, however as time passes, and events occur in which things get intense and much more complicated his feelings for this woman keeps getting stronger, and he asks the question “Could I ever kill her?” Even though he knows he is falling in love with her, the one who holds the key to his heart.
As I had only read Nymph King in the Atlantis Series, I desperately wanted to read Darius and Graces story. I also love reading love stories of dragon shifters. So this one is right up my alley of some of the most enticing reads that I couldn’t put down!!! Darius, being leader of the dragons, and having feeling hardly anything at all, he finds himself at a loss when he sees color and feels the strongest emotions whenever he is within her reach.
Grace loves her brother dearly, and after she gets lost in the jungle she comes face to face with a fierce stranger, that treats her more like a suspect than a innocent. However she desperately wants to find her brother, alive and well, and as things progress, she knows that she wants Darius with her for all time. I truly fell in love with this story, although I think I like Nymph King a bit better, it did come close to tying for me. There was so much intensity about this story that was portrayed so realistically, it was like the story was coming alive. It definitely met every expectation that I had for this book, and I honestly have no complaints about it. I think I love this series much more than the Lords of the Underworld one, just because its a much more magical and fun series. Apart from the vampires and dragons trying to kill each other off, it was a close to perfect love story, when all the right amounts of wit, romance, excitement and passion that I look for in a great romance read!! I would definitely recommend this book and this series to everyone that like love stories under and above the sea!!!
My Grade On This Book
4.5 Blossoms
Other Books In The Series
Jewel of Atlantis
The Nymph King
The Vampires Bride
The Amazons Curse
The Darkest Kiss
Lords of the Underworld (2)
Gena Showalter
Harlequin,
375 Pages,
Published June 2008
Fantasy Romance
ISBN: 978-0-373-77232-2
Synopsis:
SHE HAS TEMPTED MANY MEN…BUT NEVER FOUND HER EQUAL. UNTIL NOW.
Though she has lived for centuries, Anya, goddess of anarchy, has never known pleasure. Until Lucien, the incarnation of death–a warrior eternally doomed to take souls to the hereafter. He draws her like no other. And Anya will risk anything to have him.
But when the merciless Lord of the Underworld is ordered by the gods to claim Anya herself, their uncontrollable attraction becomes an anguished pursuit. Now they must defeat the unconquerable forces that control them, before their thirst for one another demands a sacrifice of love beyond imagining….
Eternally cursed, irresistibly seductive, unimaginably powerful…the Lords of the Underworld
My Review:
Anya, the Goddess of Anarchy finds herself fascinated with Lucien, whose demon is Death,she first makes her desires of him known at a club. Even though he is scarred she finds him the most handsome and fascinating man that she has ever known. Anya is deeply misunderstood, because her of who her mother was, her mother slept with all whether mated or unmated, it was in her nature. However for Anya that was not in her nature. For sure is cursed and has never lain with a man before, however when she meets Lucien all that changes and she desires him above everything, however Cronus gets in the way. After Lucien shares a passionate embrace with the mysterious Anya, Cronus comes to him and tells him that he wants him to kill Anya. Having the demon of death inside of him, he knows that he really has no choice. But Lucien is reluctant to do so however, with her beauty, sparkling personality, and her strawberry scent that tends to intoxicate him with burning desire, he finds himself wishing that he didn’t have the task of having to kill her. When Anya and Lucien work together, will their love be strong enough to conquer all road blocks that stand in their way?
I truly loved reading this one, I am reading this series out of order, which I don’t mind. The first book that I have read of this series was The Darkest Pleasure so I was exciting to finally read Lucien and Anya’s book. I loved how spirited and willful Anya is and how she is willing to fight for her life. There is much tension throughout the whole book, because of the certain circumstances that are involved. With Lucien having to be ordered to kill Anya or everyone that he cares about will perish, well that is definitely a hard choice, but it does get harder when he falls in love with her. It was a thrilling ride through the whole of the book, and I was definitely satisfied at the end. The Darkest Kiss kept me on the edge of my seat, and always full of surprises. Definitely worth reading, and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
My Grade On This Book:
4.5 Blossoms
Other Books In The Series
The Darkest Fire
The Darkest Night
The Darkest Whisper
The Darkest Angel
The Darkest Prison
The Darkest Lie
Addicted To Romance 