In Burn For Me, we have a fiery stunning story where the reader is drawn into a unique world that Ilona Andrews has introduced for us. Our Heroine, Nevada, has been working hard to keep her late father's business of detective work alive. But her family's home and business is on the line, when she is ordered that she has to obtain, a dangerous criminal...a cop killer and is very unpredictable and moody. Then she meets Rogan....one of the most lethal of men, rich and has the honor of prestige and power. No one dares crosses him except for Nevada, who fights him on every turn despite the desire that starts to erupt between them.
This story does end with a bit of a teaser, I have a feeling this series will be similar to her Kate Daniels series, where we see their relationship deepen as it further goes along. I loved the chemistry between these two. Its very raw and powerful, and we see the tone of the story isn't about to let you set this one aside until you read the last page. What a page turner, and I was very intrigued to see where this book was leading up to in the beginning. What was even more intriguing was seeing the way these two develop a tenuous relationship. It doesn't start off easy, but as they work together to bring down a most dangerous enemy, they also uncover a hidden passion.
Whew what a story this turned out to be and even though I didn't care for the HFN type of ending, it does lead us to get excited for the second book. What I grew to admire about this story was seeing the way that it evolves and shapes. Definitely a must read for PNR and UF lovers.
Burn For You is the very first book that I have ever picked up from this author, and after seeing so many of my fellow blogging friends enjoy this book so much, I just knew that I needed to try this one out and WOWZERS this book rocked my world!! I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. From the very first page, this book had me hooked.
Burn For You begins with our heroine, who lives in New Orleans and runs a restaurant in the quarter where her food and wine are all based on an infamous bourbon label. But then she gets a very rude customer that comes in....the famous Jackson Boudreaux or AKA "The Beast" a man that demands a table when all their reservations are filled and then gets mean when Bianca offers a free meal in compensation. And boy does he have a temper, Bianca never knows if he will say a kind word and explode in anger. But Bianca has her hands full with her Restaurant and being practically broke.
When Jackson makes her an offer to prepare a course meal for a fundraiser that he is hosting when his own chef leaves, she can't resist the amount of money he is offering especially when she learns of her mother having cancer and they need to do treatments right away or she could die. And helping with the dinner Bianca sees a side of Jackson she thought she would never see...the kind gentle man who can laugh and smile in the sexiest way. But then when Jackson's father gives him an ultimatum and he will need to find a wife and soon he offers Bianca a deal she can't refuse. Bianca is closer to her mother than anyone else in her life, and she would do anything for her mother, including marrying a man for five years, a man she doesn't love. But will their fake engagement turn into a matter of love and passion...
She was my religion. My north and south, my heaven and earth, the axis of rightness around which everything had suddenly aligned. For the first time in my life, all my polarized parts worked as one, humming happily along in harmony with the universe, finally understanding their place.
This was such a whirlwind of a romance, and with a beauty and the beast retelling, how can you resist...because I couldn't. There was so much emotion in this story, and I really adored the chemistry that Jackson and Bianca have for each other. And Bianca is such a wonderful heroine, she handles Jackson so well while still being a strong woman that has a tender heart. I think what was most noticeable about this pair is how well they balance each other and how we see them heal each other's wounds.
Overall I found Burn For You to be quite the delectable read full of spice and sexy tension to make you eager for more of this author's writing style...I can't wait for more!!
Fonda Raine is a government assasin, but when her boyfriend and the man she loves is burned to death in a horrific way, she vows retribution against the man responsible and her enemy, Eric Aruda. Her plan is to seduce him and when he is vulnerable...kill him. All she knows is that Eric Aruda is evil and must be taken out. What she doesn't expect is to be attracted to the villain. He is sexy as sin, and temptation. When she uses her gifts to astral project, he believes her to be a dream but convinces him to meet up with them. But when Fonda gets Eric alone, sparks fly between them, despite the fact they are enemies. However before anything explosive happens, a enemy is after them. A enemy that is one of the greatest threats, and Fonda and Eric are forced to work together. But their enemy is also after Eric's fellow teammates and outcasts. But soon Eric and Fonda realize how large the threat to them is, and they are running out of time to destroy their enemy before he destroays them all.
The Hero
Eric Aruda, along with his teammates, are not just close friends and family. They are the offspring of experiments gone wrong with their parents. They all inherited their gifts, and they vary. Eric's gift is fire, and he can engulf any object or any person in flame. But lately his gift has been used too much, when Eric was forced to kill his enemy, when that enemy almost made him kill a teammate. His brain is starting to break down with sleeplessness and hallucinations, but he doesn't give up on fighting. Especially when he teams up with Fonda, he will need every asset he can muster to convince her of the truth of who he really is and that they don't have to be enemies. Eric is quite the hero. He gets the job done, but does what he needs to in order to protect those he loves the most and only when it is absolutely necessary. He has mocked romantic love in the past, but upon meeting Fonda, he starts to see things differently and I loved a hero that accepted his feelings naturally.
The Heroine
oh good ole Fonda....how I love thee. This was such a refreshing heroine, and was quite the assassin, but not really a true assassin. She doesn't have the heart of a killer. And after a few chapters you see why. Fonda has been terribly misguided by her previous boyfriend, and my heart really ached for her. Because she starts to learn aspects of her characteristics of her character she didn't realize she possessed. She also learns that she can do more than astral project, and that there are others out there, that can aid her in reaching her full potential...including a group that she believed to be her enemy. But when that enemy aids her, helps her she begins to think with a clear mind. Fonda hasn't had a easy childhood, almost raped and has learned to defend herself. She is tenacious, stubborn and strong willed and passionate.
Plot and Story Line
HOOYAH!! Boy was this story quite a wild ride of adventure, passion and thrilling intensity and so creative. This author really did a fantastic job with this book. Now the one thing I will say is I wouldn't recommend reading this as a stand alone (you can if you must, however I do wish that I had read this series in order) there were some things happening, that I didn't understand at first, and I had to be patient in the reading so that I could understand this world that this author has created for us. I was confused especially in the first half of the book, but I realized it was due to the fact that I hadn't read previous books where certain events take place that lead up to this story. But man did I fall in love with this couple. They are the king and queen of making an angst relationship work and where it didn't drive me crazy. You understand from the beginning that they are enemies that are forced to work together. But with each chapter, you see them falling hard in love with one another, and it was quite entertaining to see the process of them easing into each other and this new found relationship they have.
The set up of the story, is so interesting and I loved the idea of alien super powers with humans. SpoilerAlthough, we do see that its not aliens that they have in their bodies. Its more different dimension of beings that live in their world but on a another plane of existence. What I truly loved about this story is how its all put together and the way the plot proceeds and evolves as you read through it. It changes consistently, and I honestly never knew what to expect. And we get an insight and some scenes from the team of friends here. Now this team---they rock the house. I mean literally, just reading this book and getting a glimpse into how they work together was simply fantastic. We also see one of the couples in the first book, deal with some struggles and how their relationship gets tested and I really liked seeing that. We see how much they care for each other and support one another. Their bond to each other is stronger than iron, and even though that bond gets tested, we see how much they mean to each other and they are willing to fight to the death for each other and that is powerful and the author writes it so vividly.
The action is intense and there is quite a bit of mystery because they have more than one enemy that they have to deal with and I really liked seeing how Eric and Fonda handle the opposition and come out on top!! What a ride.
The Cover
Its rare to see this tone of pink in a romance cover, and I really like the overall look to it. Sensual and vivid.
Overall View
Burning Darkness is a wild ride of action, danger, angsty romance that leads to a fierce desire and a powerful love worth fighting for!! SEXY AND WILD!!
Burning Dawn is the last book in the Angels of the Dark trilogy although this trilogy is connected to the Lords of the Underworld series. Gena Showalter is a queen when it comes to writing intense paranormal worlds and I have loved reading this trilogy with these warrior angels (which are some of my favorite type of heroe's) and this BOOK ....whew it will blow your expectations away because I know it did mine. The previous books were pretty intense but this one really kicks off with a bang.
Burning Dawn begins with two people that are being enslaved by a Phoenix clan group. Elin is mixed, her father human and her mother a phoenix (a secret she keeps for herself for her own safety) and when she witnesses her family and her husband murdered, she just survives until Thane. Thane is being sexually forced and has no real memory of who he really is as he is being drugged with lust for Kendra who is in charge. When Elin and Thane come together and she helps free Thane from his imprisonment and enslavement from Kendra, Thane sees something in Elin and will fight for her. Now she is working for him in his bar, and there is an intense connection. Elin wants to have a bakery, but she is captivated by Thane. But being in a relationship with Thane is packed with drama, misunderstandings, and danger but also beautiful sensuality and a deep abiding love she never imagined she would ever find.
“I believe something good can come from something bad. You, Elin are my good
Burning Dawn was such a great book and I had such fun immersing myself into another great book by Gena Showalter. I can never seem to get enough of her style and how she just pulls you so quickly into her stories. I really gravitated toward this couple and this author knows what she is doing because the first chapter is what really captivates your attention. I loved seeing the intensity of emotion that builds between Thane and Elin. Thane has always been someone that has lived for pain and sex. He has never known anything else until Elin. Elin makes him dream of something more with someone .....something deeper than meaningless sex that gives him nothing except temporary satisfaction that doesn't last. Elin has him believing in something more powerful and worth fighting for. But Thane is far from perfect and doesn't react perfectly well with Elin's secrets. Secrets that she has kept from Thane because she knows he will reject her. But what Thane feels for Elin is more powerful than any secret she holds.
A perfect example of finding beauty from ashes. The world could be a conniving harlot, as evil as a demon, but love would defeat her every single time. Love never failed.
This story was so beautiful in so many ways because we see the way these two really grow within their relationship and despite some drama and misunderstandings we see them learn to fight for each other and let go of expectations and their own pride and selfishness. Such beauty in finding two people fighting for each other equally.
I told you. You own me. I'm yours. All that I have been. All that I am. All that I will ever be. Your happiness is mine. Your fury is mine. And your needs will be met before mine. I love you, and to me, that means placing you first and giving to you what I will never give to another. Power over me.
Overall I found Burning Dawn to be an epic breathtakingly story that had me addicted to this love story.....a romance that is addictive, thrilling and mind blowing in every way!
Jake Bannaconni, didn’t have the easiest start in life. He grew up with cruelty and punishment. He has never known love or affection, all he knows is control and power. He is driven, and refuses to let the influence of his ruthless parents, to determine his future. When Jake learns that he has a son, and the mother manipulated him, he chases after her. Because he refuses to let any harm come to his son who has yet to be born. But through certain chain of events, his son was born premature in a car accident that killed the mother, and another couple was affected. Where he meets Emma Reynolds, who lost her husband of five months. Emma is overcome with the loss of her husband, and loses herself in her mind, until Jake. Jake keeps her centered and focused on her unborn child. Jake convinces her to come home with him and help take care of his son, and with little money, she feels she doesn’t have much choice. Soon Jake and Emma draw closer together, and their friendship takes another turn into one of passion and desire and a world of dangerous creatures and ruthless enemies who will stop at nothing to destroy Jake and their family… The Hero
Jake Baconni had been manipulated from birth as a genetic experiment, and was only shown cruelty and there was only one person that showed him love, his uncle, who helped him become the man he is today, and where he was able to achieve his wealth and success. Jake only knows one way to live, and that is in power. He refuses to be helpless or at a loss of control. Jake is a shifter, he runs a large ranch, and is emotionally cut off from most of the people he associates with, except for a couple of friends who like him are shifters as well. Jake is a very intense hero, full on alpha male we have here. One of the most highest that this author has ever written. On the surface he is hard and rough, doesn’t believe he has a heart, and can be a bit obsessive about certain aspects of his life. But never have you seen a man who needs the love of a good woman more. He has never known true love or affection, or loyalty. Inside you see a man who craves touch and love. The Heroine
Emma is a truly magnificent heroine, and she is the balance in the story. Emma is such a good human being, she is kind and loving, has compassion and has no idea of the cruelty that exists in Jake’s world. She only knows how to love and how to stand by someone who you care for. She is true to her character. She is far from perfect, she tends to be a bit high strung and too stubborn. She wants her own way, and doesn’t understand the complexity of Jake. Her character is compelling, and what I admired about Emma was how she only sees the good in Jake. She never judges harshly, except when she wants to exert her own independence. But as you read Burning Wild, you see parts of yourself reflected in her character. Plot and Story Line
The story is probably one of the most intense and dramatic romances of Christine Feehan. It was one of the first books I read from this author that didn’t belong to the “Carpathian” series. I read this book years ago, and ever since I have been wishing I had done a review for it. Well I am doing one now. I saw this title on the shelves of my library, and I thought I would love a chance to read this again. And oh boy did I love reading it again. Every once in a while, I think its good to re read a book we love. And with Christine Feehan at the helm, I had no issues at all. It was just as good as the first time that I had a chance to read it. It starts out with seeing Jake growing him between a few years with each segment. And I warn you, his childhood isn’t pretty and easy…its pretty bad and rough. My heart just broke seeing what happens to him, and you see how important it is that those scenes are put in the story, so that you can understand the background behind what drives Jake. Emma on the other hand never knew pain or humiliation as Jake did. She grew up with parents that loved her, and even though she lost them, she has only known love and affection. You see how her influence takes a positive effect on Jake. They are together for about two years, before their relationship takes a more sexual turn. They are comfortable living together, and understand certain aspects of each other, but when they start to feel more intense emotions, that’s when the story really starts rolling. Oh boy and do they have some heated chemistry. Be careful not to get burned here. You also learn some things about Emma and who she really is. Her character truly blossoms in this story, and it is so heartwarming to see how she becomes more confident and sure of herself, and I will say she learns to handle Jake quite well. He needs a woman who will stand up to him, no matter what. There is a danger element to the story, and whew..did that put me on edge, despite the fact that I have read this story before. But there were scenes and moments I had totally forgotten about. The two children…are so adorable and I just wanted to hug them…so fresh and full of life. Cover
How can you look at this cover, and not want to run for the hills. Boy does he have danger marked all over him. I love the gray background and the pic of the leopard kinda out of phaze…it adds depth and excitement. Overall View
Burning Wild is a rough and wild romantic tale, of what true love is, and how it can change you for the better. A story of fiery passion, intense characters, and has a level of grit and toughness to it….a story that will completely enthrall you!!
By Her Touch was such a riveting and emotionally driven romance that really tugs at the reader’s emotions here. After reading book one, I was very curious about the side character, our skin healer “George Hadley” and I am so happy that we got her book in this beloved story and I thought that this book was really well played and the narrator did a decent job, not my favorite narration by any stretch of the imagination, but a decent solid work here.
Our story begins with our hero, Clay Navarro, who after seeing his baby sister end up being killed by a motorcycle club, he wants to bring this club down and especially those involved in her death. So Clay goes undercover along with his close friend into the MC to bring down the club and Clay found himself torn at times when he found a brotherhood in this club but also knew of members that were cruel and masochistic and needed to be brought down. But they were betrayed on the night of the raid, and somehow they knew that Clay was one of the operative and he was shot in the back and it took months to recover. But even after those gun shots, they were the worst of the wounds that he received.
During his time at the club, he had to be tattoed against his will and they only serve as a painful reminder of the horrors he was forced to witness and participate in, so he could bring the club down. Now he is on the run, there is a traitor in the government agency, a friend has been murdered who was in hiding and so now he has changed his name and come to a small town where a skin repairing facility is to help him get rid of the tattoos that haunt him. George Hadley, is a skin recovery Doctor, and a widow. She is busy with her patients, getting ready to have a baby with her late husband's sperm who died of cancer and she craves being a mother. But then when she meets Clay, there is a spark of connection between them, but Clay doesn't want to put George in danger no matter the love that is slowly developing between them
By Her Touch was such a emotionally wrought romance and Iadored this book quite a bit. I really liked this slow burn story, I really liked to see Clay and George come together and seeing them overcome the dangers surrounding them. It is very interesting, to see them help each other. Clay is suffering from severe PTSD, and George knows that he needs help, but she also knows that he is hiding from something. Clay's plan was just to get his markings removed before he goes to trial while trying to keep himself hidden from the MC.
There is a sensuality that builds between these two that sucks the reader into the story with such a magnetism. Its not only a stunning love story, but its also story of redemption and healing. We see the trauma that Clay has suffered, we do get a few flashbacks in the beginning of the story of his mission in going undercover with the MC and see why he is suffering so much. But then we see him find what he needs in this small town with a female doctor that is compassionate and finding his place among the town.
Overall I found By Her Touch to be a beatifully crafted romance that mixes in a delving into suspense, intrigue, and sizzling chemistry.....EXHILIRATING!
This is a story that just about broke my heart!! The heroine here while at college, ends up falling in love with Sean but when she is attacked and brutalized....Sean is her rock and we see the horrid after effects of rape and the survivors. We see inner strength and the healing power of love. Quite a memorable story and I had a great fun time reconnecting with Sean and Tara and their journey in overcoming the worst pain to embrace a beautiful love.
