Series Review of The Dark Side (Darkening, Darker, and Darkest) by Ashe Barker

"It's time we got Miss Byrne, Evangelica...Eva...into bed." - Nathan Darke

Darkening
Series: The Dark Side #1
Author: Ashe Barker
Publisher: Totally Bound
Release Date: August 9, 2013
Source: Publisher for Review

Purchase Links: Amazon - B&N - Totally Bound
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Who knows where pain ends and pleasure begins?

The chance of a new life out in the wilds of the Yorkshire moors sounds too good to be true to shy musician Eva Byrne. Stifled and smothered within the cocoon of her brilliant academic career, Eva yearns for something different. Something real and exciting. Something she can feel.

Excitement. Passion. Pleasure. She finds that sexy, enigmatic Nathan Darke can provide all these and more when she moves into his home as violin tutor to his young daughter. But Eva’s sensual encounters with her demanding, domineering new employer quickly evoke her deepest fears, as he introduces her to the trauma of submission and marks her with his particularly dark brand of love.


But will Eva’s natural curiosity and thirst for new experiences be enough to withstand the sting of Nathan Darke’s exquisite touch? Will simple surrender be enough as he challenges her every inhibition, taking her on an erotic journey of self-discovery and liberation?

Darker 

Series: The Dark Side Trilogy #2

Author: Ashe Barker

Publisher: Totally Bound

Release Date: September 13, 2013

Source: Publisher for Review

Purchase Links: Amazon - B&N - Totally Bound

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Can she outrun the secrets of her past, or is surrender her only choice?

Eva Byrne’s first encounter with the darker side of Nathan Darke’s sensuality ends in disaster. Frightened, hurt, betrayed, she struggles to regather her shattered confidence—in him, and in herself.

Desperate to continue her journey of exploration and self-discovery, Eva has to convince a sceptical Nathan that she’s worth the trouble. And that she can learn to submit to him. When she is forced to reveal elements of her past she has preferred to keep hidden, both her brilliance and her vulnerability are laid bare. Will Nathan accept Eva as she is, and help her to become the woman she longs to be, or will she face yet another rejection?

Terrified and intrigued in equal measure, Nathan has no idea how to deal with the exquisitely enigmatic Eva Byrne. Should he cut his losses and run, or allow their relationship to continue, and watch as Eva’s delicate beauty unfurls in his hands?


Fascinated and ensnared by Nathan, Eva longs to taste what he offers and her erotic journey continues. But how much will she have to surrender to him in order to liberate her own desires?


Darkest
Series: The Dark Side Trilogy #3
Author: Ashe Barker
Publisher: Totally Bound
Release Date: October 18, 2013
Source: Publisher for Review

Purchase Links: Amazon - B&N - Totally Bound
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When his past destroys Eva's trust in her Master, can he win her back?

As their turbulent, complex relationship deepens, Nathan Darke is increasingly aware that Eva Byrne has become much more to him than his submissive. She's in his home, in his family. And in his heart.

Eva hasn't found it easy to trust, to believe in herself and in a relationship that can last. But happiness, once so elusive, is within her grasp. Nathan is her Master, her lover and her soulmate.

However, no sooner do they manage to find a fragile balance between them-a way of entwining both their worlds-and start to build a future, than their past comes crashing back to destroy their emerging love. Jealousy and hate brutally shatter Eva's and Nathan's delicate trust in each other, and their life together crumbles.

Can they overcome the crushing pain of betrayal and deceit to regain some sort of future together, or are some wounds just too deep to heal? Are some risks too great? Some rewards just not enough?

I am a big lover of Jane Eyre. I've always felt that it was the original dark billionaire falling in love with the innocent heroine. Edward Rochester was the first brooding hero that I swooned for and Jane was the first innocent, but strong heroine that I secretly wanted to be. Recently, this is a trend that we see in a lot of romances, especially in ones that have aspects of BDSM. Now why am I mentioning Jane Eyre in this review of Ashe Barker's The Dark Side series? There are several similarities between the classic novel and this lovely trio of novellas. The most obvious is that The Dark Side novellas primarily take place near Charlotte Bronte's home town and Ashe's heroine, Eva Byrne, often talks of how much she loves the Bronte Moors that run along Nathan Darke's Black Combe manor. There are other, more subtle similarities, one of which is how Eva first meets Nathan, that I felt added a hint of classical romance to The Dark Side series.

I fell in love with The Dark Side series from the moment Eva and Nathan first met. Eva is a genius that is stuck in a rut of her own making. When she begins to feel claustrophobic with one endeavor, Eva moves on to something else. She has what seems like a mental breakdown with her previous job and takes off with little notice. In need of new scenery, Eva quickly takes a position as a private music teacher for a young girl. She's very much out of her element, especially when she has an unfortunate meeting with her new employer, the mysterious Nathan Darke. Nathan is the dark, brooding billionaire with a taste for BDSM. He doesn't do gentle. He likes sex with pain and pleasure, but he takes it very seriously. He's dominate and possessive, but he's not a sadistic asshole that pushes women into something they are not comfortable with. He is very strict with safe words and the safety of his sub. Nathan and Eva bring out both the best and the worse out of each other. Nathan feels things for Eva that he's never felt before. He's willing to put his desires aside for Eva and that shocks the hell out of him. As for Eva, she pushes herself past the point of no return just to prove herself to Nathan. She doesn't know when to use her safe word and that terrifies him. Eva isn't afraid to question Nathan and she'll stand up to him. The attraction between them is instantaneous (once they dry off) and Nathan hopes that Eva will become his new sub, but he finds himself turned on by her spunk, especially when she pushes him. 

The three novellas that make up The Dark Side series are Darkening, Darker, and Darkest. I know I don't normally do a series review, but I felt that this set-up worked best. Without further ado, here are my mini reviews for each of the three novellas.

Darkening explores the beginning of Eva and Nathan's relationship. This is usually my favorite part of a book. The attraction between them is ignites instantly and I loved watching Nathan pull Eva towards him. It doesn't take long for him to take control of their relationship. I only wish that we had Nathan's POV in the opening novella. We know Eva's thoughts as this new chapter in her life begins, but I would have loved Nathan's perspective from meeting Eva for the first time to their fateful first sexual experience with each other.

Darker was my favorite novella of the trio. Most of the second installment is spent exploring the sexual side of Nathan and Eva's relationship. Where the first novella spends a lot of time inside Eva's head, this one has more interactions between the characters, especially between the couple. Throughout the second novella, Eva becomes more confident in herself, both as an individual and in her new found sexuality. Nathan's confusion over his feelings towards Eva starts to grow and he finds himself wanting more. 

Darkest left me with mixed feelings. We're back to spending more time inside Eva's head as the inevitable monkey wrench is thrown into her relationship with Nathan. I felt that the third novella was too short and moved too fast. Things change rapidly for Eva and we really don't get the chance to reflect before something else happens. I also felt that there were points in the story where Eva and Nathan acted out of character. It is the first time that we see this side of their characters, but I felt that they would have handled it differently. As the ending of the series, I loved it. I just wished it was longer and  explored more of the new phase in the relationship between Nathan and Eva. I loved how the ending reflected the imperfection of their relationship, but was still a happy ending with the hint of a bright future for them as a couple.

Overall, I loved this series and I can't wait to dive into the next trio of novellas from this world. If you like dark romances with strong elements of BDSM and hints of a modern version of Jane Eyre, I think you'll like this series. It is a fun and extremely sexy romance packed into three novellas.

From Ashe Barker's website...

Until 2010, Ashe was a director of a regeneration company before deciding there had to be more to life and leaving to pursue a lifetime goal of self-employment.

Ashe has been an avid reader of women's fiction for many years—erotic, historical, contemporary, fantasy, romance—you name it, as long as it's written by women, for women. Now, at last in control of her own time and working from her home in rural West Yorkshire, she has been able to realise her dream of writing erotic romance herself.

She draws on settings and anecdotes from her previous and current experience to lend colour, detail and realism to her plots and characters, but her stories of love, challenge, resilience and compassion are the conjurings of her own imagination. She loves to craft strong, enigmatic men and bright, sassy women to give them a hard time—in every sense of the word.

When she's not writing, Ashe's time is divided between her role as resident taxi driver for her teenage daughter, and caring for a menagerie of dogs, cats, rabbits, tortoises and a hamster.

Ashe's Links

Website - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Goodreads

Spotlight on The Austin Series by C.J. Fallowfield

Hello there! Today I'll be spotlighting C.J. Fallowfield's The Austin Series. This six book series (plus one sequel) follows Mia, Lexi, and Gabe through their three years at University. 

Each book should be read in order.

New Leaves, No Strings

The Austin Series # 1

Released March 17th, 2014

Purchase Links: Amazon - B&N - Kobo - Smashwords

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She had a heart of ice and he wanted to thaw it. His mission, to use his sexual prowess to make him impossible to resist, until she was his and his alone.

Best friends Mia and Lexi start University and make a pact. Tainted by their pasts, they’re going to try and get over their commitment phobias. Mia’s going to lose her virginity with hot, no strings attached sex. Rebellious Lexi’s going to try ditching her one night stands and attempt to have a relationship. What Mia didn’t count on however, was Gabe Austin, confident and irresistibly gorgeous, who quickly inserts himself into her life. Inextricably drawn to each other, their desire soon leads to a passionate encounter. Gabe’s fears of abandonment and domineering attitude, combined with Mia’s own fears of attachment, threaten to derail his attempts to thaw her frozen heart. Despite her reticence, Gabe Austin’s a guy who is used to getting what he wants and he’s determined to make her his and his alone. Just as he seems to have won Mia around, he goes and does something that could ruin everything.

Baggage & Buttons

The Austin Series # 2 

Released March 20th, 2014

Purchase Links: Amazon - B&N - Kobo - Smashwords

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Their scorching sexual chemistry brought them together, but will their combined emotional baggage tear them apart?

The charismatic and gorgeous Gabe Austin had finally broken down some of Mia Page’s walls. His charms and sexual prowess coaxed her from sex no strings, to a committed relationship, but a misunderstanding threatened everything he had worked for. Gabe’s determined to make Mia forgive him, his ultimate goal, to possess not just her body, but her heart. Despite their incredible sex life, Gabe’s domineering and controlling personality really pushes Mia’s buttons, while she infuriates him with her stubborn and defensive nature. Their two personalities combined create fireworks.

To complicate matters further, Mia has to face up to her deteriorating health, while best friend Lexi also has a tough choice to make. Their decisions will not only affect their lives, but could affect those of the people who care about them.

Forever & an Engine

The Austin Series # 3 

Released April 16th, 2014

Purchase Links: Amazon - B&N - Smashwords

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Mia and Gabe’s ingrained personality traits continue to rub each other up the wrong way, while Mia’s formal diagnosis creates even more tension in their relationship.

It forces them to start facing up to whether their love and raw sexual chemistry is enough to overlook their fundamental differences. Meanwhile Lexi starts having doubts about her plans for her pregnancy and she has to give the ever persistent Doug an answer.

Just when it seems that Mia and Lexi have made their decisions, something happens that will turn one of their worlds upside down.

The Honeymoon Period

The Austin Series # 4 

Released May 22nd, 2014

Purchase Links: Amazon

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While Mia took her operation and diagnosis in her stride, it has taken its toll on Gabe. He desperately wants to convince Mia to change her mind, to one day agree to marry him and start a family, but Mia is still weighted down by the baggage of her past.

Gabe also struggles with his slow recovery from the accident, while Mia finds his increasing mood swings and possessiveness more and more difficult to handle. The friction only adds to their scorching sexual compatibility.

Robert Austin, aware that Gabe wants more, presents Mia with a difficult choice. Deal with her commitment issues, or walk away from his son for good.

Lexi however seems to be making remarkable progress in her personal life, handling not only her miscarriage, but a new relationship with Doug. Is she strong enough to sustain it all?

Love & Loss

The Austin Series # 5 

Released June 25th, 2014

Purchase Links: Amazon - B&N

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Physically scarred and emotionally tormented, Gabe struggles to deal with the way his accident is affecting his future and relationship. Mia is resolved to stand by her man, no matter what, and she reaches out to her father to try and deal with some of her fears in order to move forwards with Gabe. The results of their meeting are both shocking and illuminating, helping her take a major step in her healing process. Lexi struggles with the pressures of her past affecting her relationship as well as her University workload, and is forced to re-evaluate what she actually wants from her life.

The Campus Killer continues to evade the authorities and strikes too close to home.

Infinite Love

The Austin Series # 6 

Released July 25th, 2014

Purchase Links: Amazon - B&N

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With the Campus Killer having been revealed and life changing decisions having been made, it should be smooth sailing. As ever, nothing goes to plan. Much personal progress is made, but massive backwards steps are also taken. Will they finally get their happy ever afters?

I am a very young hearted 44 year old female from the United Kingdom. I enjoyed writing fictional stories as a child but, like many, long working hours in my career meant that I had little time for anything else. Finding myself in the fortunate position of now being able to work from home part time, I have been able to rekindle this long lost passion for storytelling. Writing aids include chocolate, Ben & Jerrys and copious amounts of coffee, wine or cider.

Author Links 

Website: https://www.cjfallowfield.co.uk/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cjfallowfield 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/cjfallowfield 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7807992.C_J_Fallowfield

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Series Saturday: Titanium Security by Kaylea Cross

Hello! Welcome to the first Series Saturday! I was looking over my blog the other day and it dawned on me that I don't just sit and discuss books when I'm not reviewing them. Since I like to talk about books, I thought up a couple semi-weekly themed blog posts that'll be fun between reviews. Let's face it, I am not the fastest reviewer. And that is how "Series Saturday" was born. Each Saturday, I will talk about a series that I'm currently reading, have read, or want to read. Have you read any of these series? Are they also on your TBR?

This week, we are going to start with a series that I just recently added to my TBR...

The Titanium Security series consists of five books: Ignited, Singed, Burned, Extinguished, and Rekindled. I have been itching to read a darker romance with a lot of action for a couple weeks now and while I was browsing on Amazon, Ignited popped up into my book suggestions. Read the synopsis and quickly added all five books. Just look at the covers! I love how colorful each of the covers are. Not to mention, they are sizzling hot. No pun intended... Have you read any of the books? If you have, leave a comment below and tell me what you thought about them. If you haven't read them, comment if you'd like to and have added them to your  TBR.

Ignited (Titanium Security #1)
June 2013

When her father is murdered by a Taliban cell in the tribal regions of Pakistan, Khalia Patterson reluctantly steps into his shoes to carry on the legacy of Fair Start Foundation, a non-profit group dedicated to furthering the education of girls. There she meets Hunter Phillips, the ex-SEAL and head of her Titanium security team, and quickly learns that coming to Pakistan might prove to be a deadly decision.

Battling demons of his own, Hunter grudgingly leads Khalia’s protective detail as a favor to his boss. From their first meeting it’s clear she’s going to be trouble, and that the cell that killed her father is hell bent on taking her out as well. Keeping her alive is one of the toughest assignments he’s ever faced, yet through one harrowing situation after another she continually impresses him with her strength and inner courage. Even though he fights his feelings for her, it’s a losing battle. And when the job is over, he doesn’t know how he’ll let her go.

Singed (Titanium Security #2)
July 2013

She walked away from him once…

Struggling to live with her decision to walk away from the only man she ever loved and watching helplessly while her brother succumbs to his battle with severe PTSD, NSA analyst Claire Tierney’s life is at an all time low. The final hit comes when she accesses classified information at work that might get her fired. Instead, she’s assigned to a joint taskforce charged with hunting down a Taliban assassin planning an attack on American soil, and finally has something productive to focus on. Until she meets the rest of the team and learns she’ll be working with the last person on earth she wants further contact with; her ex. She knows letting him go was the biggest mistake of her life, but just when she thinks things can’t get any worse, new intel points to the assassin’s intended target. Her.

This time he’s not letting her go…

As a former Special Forces Master Sergeant and second-in-command of his Titanium Security team, Gage Wallace can handle anything, except being forced to go through life without Claire. When she abruptly walked out on him six months ago, his whole world caved in. It’s clear she’s still determined to keep her distance, but when she’s named a possible target of the very cell they’re trying to dismantle, Gage will stop at nothing to ensure she’s safe. When tragedy destroys Claire’s defenses and the explosive desire between them ignites once more, this time he’s not letting her go. Too late they discover that the danger confronting them is far greater than anyone ever realized, and it’s a race against time to stop a terrorist from unleashing hell on them all.

Burned (Titanium Security #3)
August 2013

A woman with a dark past...

Forced into hiding after her NSA-sanctioned task force lands on a terrorist cell’s hit list, cryptologist Zahra Gill must rely on the skill and experience of her ex-Special Ops Titanium Security teammates to keep her safe—including former Force Recon Marine Sean Dunphy. The impossibly sexy man has the unnerving ability to shatter her concentration by simply walking into the same room. Even though she’s sworn to keep him at a distance, his charm and protectiveness weaken her resistance. Drawn to his strength and magnetic sensuality, she finally gives in to the passion she’s denied herself for so long...even though she knows she might lose her heart in the process.

The man strong enough to win her trust...

Sean’s had his eye on the guarded, proud analyst from the first day they met. He knows she’s hiding something from him, but nothing could have prepared him for the shocking truth of her past. When a targeted attack brutally exposes Zahra’s dark secrets, Sean will do everything in his power to protect the woman he’s fallen for. Unfortunately the cell hunting them has powerful connections and their enemy is closer than they ever imagined.

Extinguished (Titanium Security #4)
November 2013

She’s wanted him forever...

For years former Marine Jordyn Bridger has been in love with a man who refused to see her as anything but his best friend’s little sister. A mind-blowing kiss finally changed that, but then he disappeared from her life. Now he’s back, to recruit her for a job with his NSA-sanctioned Titanium Security team. They’re going after the terrorist responsible for the recent attacks on their team and Jordyn is eager to lend her skill set to the hunt. She’s determined to prove to Blake that she’s capable of holding her own—both in the bedroom and on the battlefield.

He’s never walking away again...

Former Marine Scout/Sniper Blake Ellis hid his true feelings for Jordyn for years out of respect for her and her family, but once he learns those feelings aren’t one-sided, he can’t keep his distance any longer. When a team tragedy thrusts Jordyn into the front line with him on a battlefield, Blake will do whatever it takes to protect her. She’s everything he ever wanted in a woman but he was too stubborn to see it. Now it might be too late for them. As they race to capture the terrorist they’re hunting, Blake and Jordyn find themselves fighting for their lives. If they want to make it out alive they must work together to defeat an unseen, powerful network that will stop at nothing until their entire team is dead.

Rekindled (Titanium Security #5)
January 2014

He left her when she needed him most...

Four years ago, Dr. Grace Fallon lost everything that mattered in a terrorist attack she barely survived. Now she’s stronger than ever and in Pakistan with a UN-sanctioned team for the most important assignment of her career. She’s dedicated her life to eradicating the world of chemical weapons, and long ago accepted the inherent risks associated with her job. Until the man whose memory has haunted her for so long suddenly reappears and inadvertently makes her the target of one of the most dangerous terrorists on the planet. Forced to accept Alex’s protection, it’s impossible to deny the white-hot attraction still burning between them. And while she trusts him to guard her from this new threat, Grace must once again decide whether to risk her heart to the man who once shattered her entire world.

Now he’ll risk everything to win her back...

Four years ago, NSA agent Alex Rycroft left Grace because had no choice. But never again. Malik Hassani has escaped custody, he’s on the run, and has locked onto Grace as a means to target Alex. This time Alex will do whatever it takes to protect her—and convince her to give them another chance. Walking away from her nearly destroyed him and now that she’s back in his life, he can’t let her go. When the unthinkable happens and Grace’s life hangs in the balance, he’ll sacrifice everything to save her—including himself.

Going Under by Georgia Cates

Going Under
Series: Going Under (book #1)
Author: Georgia Cates
Published: 2012
Format: ebook
Source: Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Jessie Boone is a self proclaimed bad boy and doesn’t march to the beat of anyone’s drum, but his own. Growing up in less than desirable circumstances has made him no stranger to the hard knock life and his determination to leave it behind is fierce. When he finds himself transferred to East Franklin High School, he sees his opportunity to use his athletic ability to snag a college football scholarship, but Forbes Henderson, the player Jessie means to replace isn’t giving up his spot willingly. In fact, Forbes is willing to go to extreme measures to retain his place as first string quarterback. When Forbes’ malicious plan to injure his replacement fails, Jessie is furious and determined to show him he messed with the wrong person; not only is he going to take the position of first string quarterback, he’s going to take his girl, too.

Claire Deveraux is perfection at it’s best. She is beautiful, intelligent and unaware she just became Jessie Boone’s conquest as revenge against her boyfriend, Forbes Henderson. Like her flawless performance as the perfect daughter and student, Claire’s production of being the perfect girlfriend has everyone fooled, except Jessie Boone, and she fears this tattooed bad boy will see her secret desire to explore his crude threats and promises to rock her perfect world. If she decides to give in to one uninhibited moment with Jessie, will she learn too late that it was all an act of vengeance or will Jessie learn the taste of first love is sweeter than that of revenge?

My Thoughts:
I know I have been saying this a lot lately, but holy cow... I'll refrain from saying "wow," but I think you get my drift. I haven't read a whole lot of books that fall into the new-ish "new adult" category before picking up Going Under. Its not that I've been avoiding them, per say. I think I have just been putting them off until I found one that grabbed my interest right from the start. Honestly, I have wanted to read this book the moment I read the synopsis on Amazon.

Going Under is the story of two high school seniors, Jessie Boone and Claire Deveraux. Their attraction started almost immediately. They see each other from across the football field and they are hooked. She was the girlfriend of his nemisis and he was the new bad boy. Talk about opposites attract, right? Not so quick... Jessie and Claire quickly realize that they have more in common than they thought. This is one reason why I liked the book so much. Both Jessie and Claire are characters with a lot of depth. Read a little bit into the character and you realize that Claire isn't just the popular girl with the perfect parents. It made me root for them as a couple a little bit more.

Another reason I liked Going Under was the dialog. Brace yourself, I am about to bring out my inner teenager... OMG! Ok, back to me! The amount of one-liners that Payton (Claire's BFF) sent flying had me crying. I would have loved to have a friend like Payton when I was in high school. Hell, I'd kill to have a boyfriend like Jessie. :) Back to the one-liners... L-O-V-E-D them. Especially the ones that were aimed at Gretchen. Going Under was well written in other aspects as well. I loved the sweet dialog between Jessie and Claire when he is persuing her. It added volumes to the chemistry between them.

The ending is the little abrupt, but if you go to her website, the author posted a new chapter that helps to explain what happened in the original last chapter in the book and sets up for the epiloge. I'm probably the only one that'll say this, but I almost liked the original ending better without the additional chapter. Strange, I know. The original ending had me on the verge of tears until I started the epilogue. By then, the ending is fairly obvious. Whether you liked the original ending chapter or the new chapter, the book ends well either way.

Omega by Susannah Sandlin

 

Omega

Series: The Penton Legacy #3

Author: Susannah Sandlin

Publisher: Montlake

Published: February 5, 2013

format: ebook ARC

Source: author for review

 

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The bloody war between the Vampire Tribunal and the defiant scathe of Penton, Alabama, rages on, forcing its residents and their bonded humans to retreat into the underground fortress of last resort: Omega. There, Will Ludlam is charged with the care of Penton’s humans, though he longs to fight alongside his vampire brethren. He knows the risks: as the renegade son of the Tribunal’s vicious leader, Will’s capture could doom the resistance. Yet he is determined to prove his worth to his adopted scathe, to his vengeful father—and to former US Army officer Randa Thomas, his beautiful, reluctant partner. Randa has little faith that a former member of the vampire elite has what it takes to fight a war. But as their enemies descend upon Omega, Will’s polished charm—and Randa’s guarded heart—finally give way to the warrior within. Fans of Susannah Sandlin’s Penton Legacy are sure to devour this long-awaited third installment of the steamy paranormal series.

 

My Thoughts:

The war has begun... Life in Penton will never be the same. Heck, Penton will never be the same.

 

Welcome to Omega. The underground bunker is now home to what is left with the vampire scathe and their humans. Many Pentonites were killed during Matthias initial attack on the community, but more still decide to leave after they are now forced to go underground. With so few humans left, vampires are now being asked to leave. While Aidan and his lieutenants are desperately trying to find a way to survive, Matthias is sitting in wait knowing that the scathe can survive underground for so long.

 

We finally learn more about Will, Randa, and just how much of a bastard Matthias really is. What surprised me the most was the similarities between Will and Randa. While reading Absolution, we get a glimmer on how potent their relationship will be. However, it isn't until the beginning of Omega that we find out how much alike the two of them are. How are they similar? Both have hard-nosed fathers that they want nothing more than to please them. Matthias viewed Will as a massive failure from the first grade. It is because of that, Will was never able to live up to Matthias' expectations. Matthias went so far as to send Will of to his right hand man and Will had unspeakable horrors done to him. One the other side, we have Randa. Her father wasn't a bad father like Matthias was. Instead, she had brothers that she couldn't live up to. In order to prove herself, Randa had to join the military and was eventually turned into a vampire. I'd have to say that the best part of their relationship was when they finally let their guards down long enough to realize how similar their backgrounds were. They both misjudged each other and were able to look at one another in a new perspective.

 

From the beginning of Redemption, it is fairly obvious that Matthias is a bastard. He's an ass. There is no way to sugarcoat that. First he sends Owen to Penton to kill his brother in Redemption. Then in Absolution, he starves Mirren and throws an abused Glory at him in hope that Mirren will kill her. The biggest jaw-dropping moment came at the end of Absolution when he destroys downtown Penton and kills many Pentonites. In Omega, we learn more about how he turned his family into vampires without regard to their health. Kudos to Susannah for creating such a horrible character.

 

There are no words to how much I enjoyed Omega. The obvious reason is because we finally get the final showdown between Penton and Matthias. I had a strange reaction to the way it ended, though. Omega didn't end the way I was hoping it would. Instead, it ended the way it had to end for the future of Penton and the vamps we've come to love. If it had ended the way I wanted it to end, then nothing good would have come from the whole battle. As readers, we all come across endings that we didn't like or wish we could change. While I wanted it to end differently, I still loved the ending and would not change a word. Did that make sense?

 

Like the previous books, Omega was well-written and will suck you in from the first page. Things are not well in Omega, so don't except smiles and laughs. Susannah really shows the reader how bad things have become for the scathe. The progression from Absolution is smooth and you'll feel like you moved with everyone into the bunker. You'll feel the characters ups and downs as they face a scary future. I loved how raw Omega was. It was the perfect end to a fantastic series.

 

 

Thanks to Susannah Sandlin for allowing me to read Omega as an ARC for a review. Please come back tomorrow for my very first author interview with Susannah as we chat about her characters, the Penton Legacy, and which of her three vampires would she bond with. Then on Wednesday, I will have a complete series review of The Penton Legacy.

 

If you haven't purchase the books, click on the links below!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

 

Absolution by Susannah Sandlin

Absolution

Series: Penton Legacy #2

Author: Susannah Sandlin

Publisher: Montlake

Published: 2012

Format: e-book

Source: Amazon

 

Synopsis from Goodreads:

With the vampire world on the brink of civil war over the scarcity of untainted human blood, battle lines are being drawn between the once peaceful vampire and human enclave of Penton, Alabama, and the powerful Vampire Tribunal. Mirren Kincaid once served the tribunal as their most creative and ruthless executioner—a time when he was known as the Slayer. But when assigned a killing he found questionable, Mirren abandoned the tribunal’s political machinations and disappeared—only to resurface two centuries later as the protector and second-in-command of Penton. Now the tribunal wants him back on their side.

To break their rogue agent, they capture Glory Cummings, the descendant of a shaman, and send her to restore Mirren’s bloodthirsty nature. But instead of a monster, Glory sees a man burdened by the weight of his past. Could her magic touch—meant by the tribunal to bring out a violent killer—actually help Mirren break his bonds and discover the love he doesn’t believe he deserves?

 

My Thoughts:

Wow... This will probably be my shortest "review" because there are only so many ways that I can say I loved a book without it getting repetitive. I loved this book.

 

Welcome back to Penton! The events in Absolution start about a month after the previous book. Mirren has been vampire-napped by Matthias, who hopes to break down the former slayer and turn him into the killer he once was. Ha! The laugh is on Matthias. We see how Penton is struggling with the events that occurred in the 1st book. It is not the happy community it was before Owen came in. People were killed. Vampires were killed. And the community is gearing for the inevitable "final battle."

 

In Absolution, we learn more about Mirren Kincade and we meet a new character, Glory Cummings. Out of the three main male vampires (Aidan, Mirren, and Will), Mirren is my favorite. He's a badass vampire with an embarrassing secret. *swoon* I'm sorry, but his tattoos....*fans self* Yum... Glory is the perfect woman to take him on. She's a badass in her own right. Not afraid to back down, Glory eventually earns the respect from Pentonites and the love of Mirren.

 

What I really liked about Absolution is the natural progression from Redemption. I've found that in the majority of series I have read, the second book typically has a new enemy/antagonist. With Absolution, while the enemy is the same, we also get a new enemy that plays a smaller role. This is difficult to describe without giving things away. We also see the natural progression with the community and characters. I admire Susannah Sandlin for taking the series in this direction. Especially with the huge jaw-dropping moment towards the end of Absolution. It is brilliantly well-written and you will find yourself rooting for everyone in Penton.

 



 

 

 

Redemption by Susannah Sandlin



 

Redemption

Series: Penton Legacy #1

Author: Susannah Sandlin

Publisher: Montlake

Published: 2012

Format: e-Book

Source: Amazon 

Synopsis from Goodreads:
For vampire Aidan Murphy, life has never been so desperate. The vaccine used to treat a global pandemic has rendered human blood deadly to his kind, leaving them on the brink of starvation and civil war. In tiny Penton, Alabama, Aidan establishes a peaceful community of vampires and unvaccinated human donors. He dares to hope they can survive—until his estranged brother descends upon Penton and begins killing the humans. Determined to save his town, Aidan kidnaps an unsuspecting human doctor—and finds himself falling in love for the first time in nearly four centuries.

Dr. Krystal Harris thought she was coming to Penton for a job interview, but Aidan Murphy has other plans. Infuriated by his high-handed scheme to imprison her in the small town, Krys can't ignore the attraction between them. But is it love? Or does her dangerous, charismatic captor want only to bend her to his will?

My Thoughts:
Welcome to Penton, Alabama!

As my first ever vampire romance, I have one thing to say... Holy crap, what have I been missing out on?? Ok, now that is out of my system and I can move onto my review. :)

As I said, welcome to Penton, Alabama. A small - no, scratch that - a TINY rural town that is home to a small scathe of vampires and their unvaccinated familiars (plus some family members). It is as close to ideal living as these vampires can get. Not only are they living harmoniously with humans, but they are also allowed to live freely instead of being seen as monsters. On the other hand, life outside of Penton isn't so ideal. You see, a pandemic virus struck humans and after a cure was found, vampires everywhere learned that the new cure made human blood posionous. Vampires are starving to death and the Tribunal (vampire government) fears a civil war. Meanwhile, vampires everywhere are eyeing the unvaccinated humans living in Penton and are not happy. In Redemption, we meet the mayor (and master vampire) of Penton. Aidan Murphy is a complex vampire. From the moment he was turned in the 1600's, he was never okay with the way of vampire life. He was not one to hunt and kill. Instead, he created Penton as a place of safety for his scathe and their familiars. And he hopes to prove to the Tribunal that a city like Penton can flourish.

I loved Redemption! From the characters right to the plot, I was in book heaven. All of the citizens of Penton have had a rough past. Whether it be drug abuse, physical abuse, or being a former slayer, all of the characters look at Penton as a new beginning. I adore Aidan. He has built up a wall around him because he was not proud of his past. All through out the book, he fought to redeem himself and prove that he's not the monster his brother is. He brings in Krystal and immediately fights his attraction to her and feels horribly that he's had to kidnap her. Krystal, on the other hand, is a strong woman that questions her sanity as she falls for Aidan and compares herself to Patty Hearst. There are several background characters that are introduced in this book and I loved them just as much.

The plot of Redemtion is fast paced with both action, romance, and a lot of comedy. The witty banter between all of characters is fantastic. I love the world that Susannah created. Yes, the main characters are vampires, but they are almost human with their pasts. Loved it! This was my 2nd time reading Redemption and I know it will not be my last. Can't wait to re-read Absolution (Penton Legacy #2 next before Omega (Penton Legacy #3).

Fragile & Broken by Shiloh Walker

Title: Fragile (Rafferty #1)

Author: Shiloh Walker

Published: 2009

 

Title: Broken (Rafferty #2)

Author: Shiloh Walker

Published: 2010

As an introduction to the world of Shiloh Walker, I could not have picked better books. Fragile and Broken are the stories of twin brothers, Luke and Quinn Rafferty. Fragile starts off with a short background into the brothers as children. They were separated at birth and had two very different childhoods. Luke had a relatively happy childhold living with his father. Quinn, on the other hand, was abused by their mother. The brothers were reunited at the age of 11 when their mother dies. As adults, both Luke and Quinn join the military and move up the ranks to become Rangers. Luke is forced to go on medical discharge while Quinn spends another couple of years.

Fragile is the story of Luke and Devon Manning. Like Quinn, Devon grew up as an abused child both physically and sexually. She becomes a social worker is able to confide in Luke because, as a resident at the hospital, he also sees some of the cases she works on. Over the course of the book, Luke works to break down the walls that Devon had sheltered herself with and together they fight off a stalker that is trying to get his revenge.

In Broken, Quinn is a "broken and battered" soul. After his mother's death, things began to improve until the night the women he loved and his Army brother were killed. It was his fault, or so he believed, and he left the Army. Living in a small basement apartment and working as a bounty hunter, Quinn meets Sara Davis. For the first time, Quinn starts to let his guard down and truly falls for Sara. Until her secret comes out and Quinn is forced to make a decision: finally trust someone that is not his brother or let go of the only women he's loved.

I really enjoyed both books. The author takes her time setting with the character and background build-up. We're not suddenly thrown into the middle of the story without an inkling of what is going on. In both Fragile and Broken, the past is woven into the storyline with ease in flashbacks of all four characters. Walker also breaks her characters down to their core before they are able to fight. What I appreciated the most was that the suspense aspects of the books were not in your face. You almost don't know what clues have to do with the suspense and which clues were just bad luck for the characters. With Devon, for example, there are small events that happen to her in the beginning that were subtle and made me wonder if that was her stalker or just a bad blub. In the end, of course the little clues make more sense. I have to be honest and say that there is a part in Fragile that really freaked me out. I had to read it a couple times before grasping what the heck happened.

If you enjoy romantic suspense, then I think you'll enjoy Fragile and Broken.