Cover Reveal: East of Ecstasy - Laura Kaye

TAKEN BY THE VAMPIRE KING
A Story of the Vampire Warrior Kings
Earlier Books in Series:
In the Service of the King
Seduced by the Vampire King

Henrik Magnusson is supposed to be immortal, but a mysterious ailment leaves the vampire king near death, and not even the blood of the Proffered, human virgins trained to serve the elite, can sustain him. Then he rescues a beautiful young woman from his enemies, and is filled with blood lust and desire he hasn't felt for centuries.

Photographer Kaira Sorenson's life takes a nightmare turn when she's attacked by blood-thirsty creatures—and saved by a vampire. She should be afraid of Henrik, but she can't deny her intense attraction to this regal, enigmatic being—nor the fact that her blood may be his only salvation. Now she must decide if she's willing to be his forever…

Releases August 1, 2013

Where You Can Pre-Order

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Excerpt

Henrik's back slammed against a brick wall, the darkness of the narrow alley sheltering their trio from the tourists thronging Tromsø's streets.

Lars stood at the entrance, making sure no one developed an unhealthy curiosity.

Jakob got right up in Henrik's face, forearm pressing into the king’s chest. "What happened?"

He shook his head, swallowing thickly, his hunger burning so intensely it was almost a living thing within him. “Wanted her,” he rasped. It hadn't been a decision. There wasn't anything rational or conscious about it. From the first moment she’d approached him, he was awash in her appealing scent, like the smoky berries of a vintage wine or the rich bite of an aged, dignified whiskey.

“Wanted her how?”

“I wanted her.” He knocked his head against the brick. Even now, he couldn't shake the image of the vein’s rhythmic dance along her slender neck or of the luscious dip of her cleavage, both displayed so invitingly by her upswept hair. His fangs throbbed with a want and a need he couldn't remember feeling in ages. Not to mention the aching hard-on between his legs.

“Straight out no-shit bloodlust?” Something like hope sounded in the warrior’s deep voice.

“Ja.” Henrik heaved a deep breath of cold January air as his imagination unhelpfully replayed how it would've gone down. Tearing the gown from her trim body. Holding her curves in his hands. Bearing her up against the wall. Sinking his fangs and his cock in deep until every dark, needy part of him was sated.

“I’ll get her.” Jakob turned away.

The king slammed his hand down on his brother’s shoulder and gripped hard. “Nei.”

“You want her. You need her.”

“I’ll kill her.”

Because he wouldn't be able to stop.

Once he got a taste, something base and instinctual told him he wouldn't be able to make himself stop. He’d been so close to the edge of his restraint in the gallery. Only the sound of her voice had pulled him back from the brink.

All he’d wanted was a night out of their mountain citadel, away from the looming promise of death. He thought the jovial atmosphere of the festival would distract him from all that was to come. Instead, it had thrown it right in his face. Christ, he was a catastrophe waiting to happen, already more beast than man. He shook his head again. “I’ll fucking kill her,” he rasped.

“You won’t.”

Acid washed through his gut. “You willing to risk an innocent woman’s life—or her soul—to see which of us is right? I’m not.” He shuddered, the danger of becoming like his evil enemies one of his greatest fears. “Leave her be. I’ll not have it any other way.”

About Laura Kaye

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

Where to find Laura

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter SignUp

Review: The Fallen Prince (Keepers of LIfe #2) by Shea Berkley

There is a magical realm that exists alongside the human realm, but it wasn’t always so. The firsts are beings who were created to nurture the land. The world was split into two realms, and the firsts were allowed to redeem themselves. Sadly, the majority continued with their self-indulgent behavior to the point where one of their own, a king, became so obsessed with power, he was secretly banished by the court in hopes his absence would calm the masses. But a spark of madness was ignited and not even the lost king's absence could curtail what he set in motion.

Note: Book was provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review

This book takes off shortly after the end of the first book, The Marked Son. Dylan and Kera are in the human realm, avoiding returning to Teag as many don't want Dylan to return. Lately, Kera has been acting strange and suddenly run off leaving Dylan wondering whats wrong. His connection with Kera usually allows them to know how the other is feeling, but lately its been weaker. One afternoon, she does just that, but Dylan chases after her, but has lost her in the woods while he begins to get "hot under the collar" and the next thing he knows he's a walking torch. He's a danger to everyone if he can't control his anger which seems to make the new power grow and show itself. His dreams are haunted by a man he knows all too well to him, but unsure of his true intentions. He is left with a mind full of "what ifs" and thinking things aren't what they seem.

If that isn't bad enough a giant pink spiky worm/snake pops out of the ground... Things are going from bad to worse ans they realize the creature is armor plated and human weapons can't get past it's armor. Good thing for Dylan and his new power, the creature has already had a hold of his grandfather, but when it goes for his Grandpa that sets Dylan off. He holds his sword in hand, and it erupts in flames and he lunges for the tongue reaching out slicing it off. This only makes it MAD and Dylan and Kera work hard to get rid of this creature form Teag. This sets everything else into motion.

Kera ends up visiting to Teag only to find thing are not as they should be. Some of her friends believe she has abandoned her people and that they aren't any better off than before. There is an evil loose that is reeking havoc all over, and with a new leader, who is turning their world to ashes. Her friends show her whats going on when shrill cries send them running into a scene straight out of a human horror movie. They help save the people, but the danger isn't fully gone. This evil is hungry and it seeks to take over. They fend them off with the help of Kera's new magic. She reluctantly returns to the human world to try and iron things over.

More creatures are coming into the human world, causing havoc, one was sent after and captures Kera sending her back into Teag, but not into a good part. As she learns where she has been sent and tries to find shelter she's lured into a deadly trap. Lulled into a false sense of security and snared by a dark creature in The Unknown. She succumbs to a dream where she is visited by the same man haunting Dylan, he offers to help her, but her dreams grow darker in nature and she realizes the horror of what is truly happening.

Everyone mist fight to save both the human and magic realms before the evil leeches out and ruins both worlds, but can Dylan learn to use his powers and accept his birthright as the ruler of Teag, save Kera and restore peace or will this new enemy be more powerful then Dylan and send Teag and eventually the human world into darkness? You have got to read this adventure to find out!!

I have been anticipating The Fallen Prince for a LONG time, ever since Shea published The Marked Son I knew things were only ramping up. Dylan and Kera together have to harness new, untamed dark powers, stronger then any they've faced yet. Along they way the encounter new dangers, new allies and an unforeseen evils being let loose. Shea builds up the adventure again with more creatures, more mysteries and more danger. The fallen Prince doesn't disappoint in this continuation! I gladly give this story 5 stars for getting me hooked again and I'm (again) anxiously awaiting the third story, The Bastard King.

Review: Tempted Into Danger by Melissa Cutler

When a simple mission to deliver the beautiful and brilliant Vanessa Crosby to a safe house goes horribly wrong, ICE agent Diego Santero’s life gets complicated. Keeping the anti-crime analyst safe from the notorious mercenaries after her program will put everything he’s worked for at risk.

Relentlessly hunted and not knowing whom to trust, Diego takes Vanessa on the run, deep into the heart of the deadly Panamanian rainforest. Vanessa reminds herself that she’s just another asset to the ruggedly handsome black ops agent…until their intense situation leads to a release of passion neither expected. But even if they make it out alive, how can they ever have a future together?

Note: Book was provided by author in exchange for an honest review.

Review

Diego Santero is beginning to think his job in Black OPS is just to be a chauffeur for people who are on a bad guys "to kill" list. When asked to go and pick up and deliver "the asset" to Panamanian authorities Diego is ready to go AWOL...until he sees the photo of their "asset" Vanessa Crosby. Cute, but wait whats this...a Brainiac??? Now that's hard to top.

Vanessa never dreamed her normal life would end up with her being whisked away from her home and safety, until her apartment is blown up right before her eyes. The question begs itself...Why? When she learns the algorithm she created for fun as a challenge is being sought by the Feds and by the Chaira brothers, notorious for MANY crimes in Panama. She has no choice if she wants to live. What she didn't count on was getting stuck in the jungle with Diego.

After her apartment was destroyed Vanessa is sent to the "safe house" secondary location, but when they arrive and the safe house is already under attack, the ICE team scatters in effort of thwart the Chiara brothers and they band of bad guys. Diego and Vanessa flea into the Panamanian jungle on foot after the vehicle they were driving is gunned down and turned to scrap. With nothing on her but her work clothes and the flash drive with the algorithm they run, but they are far from safe until they can reach Diego's "Leroy" - a place for safety when EVERYTHING goes wrong. Diego and Vanessa face a lot more before they are able to regroup with Diego's team - a venomous snake, jungle natives, choppers and even the Chiara brothers and their gang.

While all this is happening and Diego is spending time with Vanessa love is growing. Vanessa is scared that she'll never be able to return to some sense of normalcy, while Diego fears that even if he lets his guard down that she'd never have the life she deserves with him. They fight the attraction until they test the waters and see it may be worth the risk, but getting back to the ICE offices is not going to be easy. They just about have things well in hand when things go from on track to out of control in a matter of a few minutes when the tables are turned. What happens is too good to reveal. To find out if Diego and Vanessa get their HEA you have to read this new Book in her ICE: Black Ops Defenders series from Harlequin Romantic Suspense!

Melissa was a new to me author I met thanks to another author. I read teaser after teaser and it only got me hooked! I loved how we meet hard edged Diego and his team. Each using a code word for a nickname. We get to meet all of them and get s small glimpse of each as we see them group and work together seamlessly. I loved watching the romance bloom and each facing an uncertain future. Diego is a soldier to the core, but seeing him reveal a little about his family makes him more soft and relate-able. Vanessa on the other hand is far from home being in Panama and doing what she loves....Analyzing numbers. Bet she didn't see this adventure coming? But that's why we have authors like Melissa who can make a story believable and full off shock and romance. I loved Diego and Vanessa's story and the big shocker at the end threw me for a loop! As Melissa said, if you can pull of both then you've done your job well. She has done that in spades! Thanks Melissa I can't wait for more of Diego and his team to "drop in" on the next novel!

Review: The Cat's Meow by Stacey Kennedy

When a magical presence is detected around a recent string of feline slayings, Libby, an enchantress, is determined to discover who is behind the odd deaths. But being a witch gifted by the Goddess won’t protect her from the talented warlock the Coven sends to assist her. Kale weaves a spell more powerful than any she’s ever seen–and he’s sexy as sin. But why he’s even needed for such a simple mission is beyond her.

While having some muscle around can’t hurt her investigation, fighting her growing attraction for Kale is worse than a hex, especially considering she knows he—and their Coven—are hiding something from her. When she turns up clues that point to something far more sinister than slaughtered cats, though, the elusive warlock isn't the her only concern. She now has a political rebellion on her hands, too. And when the truth about who she really is begins to surface, the only person Libby can trust is herself.

Note: Book was provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review

Libby is her coven's one enchantress. When she is sent to investigate some feline slayings and her friend senses evil, things go form bad to downright catty when Kale shows up to "assist" in her investigation. He watches as Libby sends the cats soul on to put it to rest. Watching her work is nothing compared to what he believes she holds in power. However, he continues to assist in her investigation, but when she starts asking why he is there for something as simple as mysterious feline murders she begins to wonder if her own coven thinks she's weak an looking for a reason to send her away.

Kale is intrigued by Libby's ability to channel the Goddess and her powers, but knowing whats really going on he's got to find out if she can really handle what it takes. When they begin to discover that things are far more grave then they thought, Libby is torn between believing Kale and letting him help or trusting her instincts and knowing that Kale may be hiding the truth about who he is and why he's there. As more then cat's begin to turn up dead they must face that the situation is beyond their control and tell the Coven that trouble is brewing in a BIG way.

Libby still doesn't trust Kale, but when she talks to her own mother, an elder, she finds that even her mother's lips are locked! Libby knows that things are bad if even her own mother can't tell her things...and that only one reason can keep them like that. Libby starts putting two and two together and holy hex! If she would have been keeping up with the priests and priestess in the Alchemy and reporting in as she was told, she would have known!

Kale tries to keep her at arm's length, but his attraction for her still shows through, and trying to keep his hands off her proves difficult, but when Libby taps into her powers and meets with a Ghost, Kale is there and boy can he distract her from her job! But they come to find out that Libby's past is coming back to haunt her in the form of her ex-boyfriend...Byron, who is up to no good. He is trying to hide, but with some canine help and the Goddess they track him down and come to find out that things are happening much more rapidly then they thought. Unfortunately Libby's conflicted feelings for him get in the way and Kale is forced to let him go... but not before they find out the Alchemy is up to BIG trouble and the death's of warlocks in the coven indicate it's for their power.

Kale believes he knows how to unlock her true power, but can Libby handle the responsibility and learn what she needs to fight the Alchemy? Kale and Libby find themselves right in the middle during Beltane - the one period when Kale's warlock powers are unleashed and his secret is revealed that Libby find she has to trust the Goddess and the feelings her powers give her. With battle ensuing Libby finds the Goddess is guiding her and she must go beyond her comfort zone if she is to stop the Alchemy. It goes against everything she was taught, but she knows it will alter her future. IF you want to find out what happens you have got to read the book!

Stacey is still a master at romantic tension as it mounts throughout the story. Between Libby trying to find out Kale's secrets, her growing attraction to the warlock, and not getting in over her head and then Kale trying to keep up his facade, his interest in her and helping her realize her potential things get steamy! I about died laughing in Libby's dream scene wit the snarky remarks from the Ghost and everything else going on there too. Her climactic scene was superbly written and the execution was flawless. Libby is smart, cunning and strong in the face of danger once she let's her feelings ring true. Kale is dark and brooding in his own rights and finally showing his strength and power is a scene I visualized and marveled at immensely. When all is said and done they are a perfect pair and compliment each other nicely. A great start to a be-witching tale sure to get you hooked on warlocks and witches again.