Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Review + Giveaway - My Immortal Assassin by Carolyn Jewel

Tempted by Revenge, Bound by Desire...

AUTHOR:    Carolyn Jewel
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 358 pages
PUBLISHED:   Forever, 2010
ISBN#:   978-0-446-56386-4
HOW I GOT IT:   Received from Forever Books for Review & Blog Tour

FROM GOODREADS:  Revenge. It's all Grayson Spencer wants. Christophe dit Menart, a human with dark magical powers, destroyed the life she loved. She wants the pleasure of killing him, no matter the cost to her. If not for Durian, a dangerously sexy demon fiend charged with keeping Christophe alive, she would have succeeded, too. Now, she's certain all hope is gone. But he has a plan and an offer she can't resist...

Durian has spent his life as a trained and sanctioned assassin. His duty: to enforce the laws against demons harming humans. He's always prided himself on staying out of the fray, carrying out his orders and honoring his fealty to his warlord, but never getting attached. Never until Grayson, a spunky and determined woman clearly gifted with magic herself. He convinces her to swear fealty to him so he can protect her and teach her to use her magic to taste the revenge she so desperately wants.

They're soon bound together in a forbidden desire--a dangerous passion that calls into question Durian's oath of loyalty to his warlord. When he refuses to return her to Christophe, his disobedience threatens to inflame the tumultuous war between demons and the magekind. Can they--and their love--survive?


MY TAKE:   Fiends aren't usually what comes to mind when I think of a love story.  That was before I read My Immortal Assassin.  I have to admit that the hunky Durian really changed my mind on that matter.  Carolyn Jewel has conjured up some extremely yummy good bad boys! 

I haven't yet read the first two books, My Wicked Enemy and My Forbidden Desire so I wasn't familiar with the storyline.  It didn't take long to catch on to the plot.  These are all stand alone books, but I think reading them in order would definitely enhance the enjoyment of the series.  The included glossary in this book is very helpful with the terminology and helped me fill in any gaps I may have found. 


The author has taken us into a fascinating world where magic and evil are prevalent and out there for anyone to see, if they know where to look.  Demons, mages and witches walk the streets and rub shoulders with humans.  It's an interesting underworld to our every day, oblivious lives.

Durian is a very complex man/fiend/hero.  He's tough and tender, scary and sentimental all at the same time.  He's a very disciplined and methodical killer.  Of course it always helps to be devastatingly gorgeous and possess magical skills.

Gray is an interesting woman.  She starts out with the rage and motive for revenge that an assassin needs, but not the training.  Her courage and perserverance make Durian want to learn more about her while he's teaching her the art of killing and survival.  When she starts to come into her own magic, she really turns things around and sets Durian on his heels.

I think the only negative I would have is that the ending was a bit rushed for me.  I felt that it could have been drawn out a bit instead of tying things up so quickly.  Of course, that could just be me - I wanted more!  I am thrilled that there is more to come with a fourth book out this summer My Dangerous Pleasure.

My Wicked Enemy  My Forbidden Desire  My Immortal Assassin  My Dangerous Pleasure

You can learn more about the author at her website, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and don't forget to check out the author interview I posted earlier today. 
   
Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:


Thanks to the generosity of the author and Hachette Books, we have a copy of My Immortal Assassin for TWO of you lucky ducks.  Whoo hooo!  Entering is simple:
  • Leave a comment WITH your email.
  • Contest closes February 9th. Winners will have 72 hours  to reply with address.
  • Open to readers with US and Canadian addresses only.  NO PO BOXES
  • One prize per household no matter how many times your name is drawn (here or on other blogs)
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~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

34 comments:

  1. I've seen this on several blogs and have definitely heard all good things about Immortal Assassin. It's on my TRL.I love series books so I'm going to have to get the first two as well. :)
    Thanks for the opportunity to win.I'm GFC follower under Lucky47.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh This looks like a great book! Thanks for reviewing it. Helps alot to know that I could read it without the first two and catch on thanks!

    kristen_babygurl@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great review and thanks for the giveaway!
    folksohana(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have the other books in this series,I'd love to win this one.Thanks for the chance.
    elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  5. So looking forward to reading this book!

    justforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I recently started getting in books again. Thanks for this opportunity!
    onebooksshy@mysweepslink.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. This looks like a great book. Thanks for the giveaway.

    smccar1 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sounds good. Thanks for the chance!!

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you for this amazing opportunity!!!

    follower from Canada

    moonlightgleam(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I have this high on my list in fact I just added the other 3 books as well.

    I am a follower-BLHmistress

    vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Carolyn Jewel is a great author and I would love to win this book.
    mce1011 AT aol DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  12. This looks like a great series. I would love to win this!! Thanks.

    magnolias_1[at]msn[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I read My Wicked Enemy and loved it! Would like to read this one too!
    jbdownie5@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great review! Count me in please!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Awesome review! Count me in please!! Thanks for a chance to win!! :D
    cmurphy213@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Please enter me in the giveaway.

    justpeachy36@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Please enter me in the contest. Thank you!

    headlessfowl at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Please count me in, thanks!

    delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks so much for another awesome giveaway! Count me in!

    BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  20. Please enter me in the giveaway.
    marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  21. This is such a great giveaway, I loved the first two books in the series.

    cwilliams127 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thanks for the giveaway! Please count me in!

    chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  23. The book sounds really good. And thanks for letting us know it could be read as a stand alone, but I usually prefer to read the first ones first. If I can win a copy, I'll be sure to pick up the others too. Thanks for the chance! Artesia at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
  24. I've been hearing a lot og good things about this book and would love to read it.

    miztik_rose (at) yahoo (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Thanks for the giveaway. I can't wait to read this series!
    beckerjo(at)verizon(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  26. What love to read the latest in this series.
    rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOt)com

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  27. I've read the first two books, and really enjoyed the world that Caroline has created. Plus she gives us such great characters, and I would love a chance to read Durian and Gray's story.

    caity_mack at yahoo dot com

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  28. this book looks awesome

    tenasocal(at)aol(dot)com

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  29. This book is definitely on my wishlist. I've been quite taken with this series ever since "My Wicked Enemy" first came out.

    you_dingbat at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  30. I can't wait to read this book. I really enjoy this series.

    iqb99@yahoo.com

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  31. I have a friend who keeps raving about Carolyn's books. I think I will have to give them a try.

    user1123 AT comcast DOT net

    ReplyDelete
  32. Sounds great!
    New GFC follower
    TLR33960 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Can't wait to read this book! Thanks for the giveaway!

    dothetwist(at)live(dot)ca

    ReplyDelete
  34. Thanks for the giveaway. I would love to win this book.

    rjofus(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete

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