Review - Into the Dark by Gena Showalter

TITLE:    Into the Dark
AUTHOR:    Gena Showalter
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 394 pages
PUBLISHED:   Harlequin, 2010
SOURCE:   Swapped on  

FROM GOODREADS:   Three otherworldly tales from the master of paranormal romance…
and a brand-new Lords of the Underworld bonus guide!

The Darkest Fire—a Lords of the Underworld prequel

Geryon is the guardian of hell, more monster than man. Kadence is the goddess of Oppression, more angel than woman. Together they will enter the flames to battle a dangerous horde of demon lords—and discover a passion unlike any other.

The Amazon's Curse—a tale of Atlantis

Zane, a fierce vampire warrior, has been enslaved by the Amazons. Nola, a lovely Amazon soldier, has been cursed with invisibility. Now, these two stubborn enemies must overcome the pasts that haunt them and embrace a love that can set them free….

The Darkest Prison—a Lords of the Underworld tale

Once, Atlas, the Titan god of Strength, was the Greek goddess Nike's slave. Now, he is her master. And soon these sworn rivals destined to destroy each other will be forced to risk everything for a chance at love….

MY TAKE:    I am an avid Gena Showalter fan and am working my way through her backlist. The latest book of hers that I've finished is actually three stories in one.  It's a treat that includes two Lords of the Underworld tales and one from her Atlantis series.  All three are really good examples of why her different series are so wildly popular.  They are full of romance, adventure and steam.  While I enjoyed all three of them immensely, I would have to say that the last story "The Darkest Prison" was my favorite.  The story of Nike and Atlas had me glued to the pages.  I liked the bonus guide at the end that gives you a little more info on the characters from the Lords of the Underworld series.

Get a copy at:  Amazon, The Book Depository, Barnes & Noble

If you haven't had a chance to try any of Ms. Showalter's books, I highly recommend that you do so right away!  The books shown below are the first in each of her series, but all of the ones that I've read do quite well as stand alones too.

Heart of the Dragon (Atlantis)

  

Awaken Me Darkly (Alien Huntress)

The Stone Prince (Imperia)

The Darkest Fire (Lords of the Underworld)

Playing with Fire (Tales of an Extraordinary Girl)

Intertwined (Intertwined - Harlequin Teen)

Mysteria (Mysteria - Berkley Sensation)

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

~~~~~ 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.

Review - Dark Taste of Rapture by Gena Showalter

TITLE:    Dark Taste of Rapture (Alien Huntress 7)
AUTHOR:    Gena Showalter
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 451 pages
PUBLISHED:   Pocket Star Books, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:  With one caress, he can give unforgettable pleasure . . . or unending pain. . .
 
Hector Dean is shaved, tattooed, and totally ripped—and he has a deadly secret. He is a walking weapon, capable of killing with a single brush of his fingertips. Little wonder he’s determined to remain on his own. But Noelle Tremain is a temptation like no other. She is beautiful and rich, with a party girl smile that hides a shocking vulnerability, and from the beginning his sizzling attraction to her is undeniable. For the first time, his stone-cold resistance is tested. But to be with her, he risks destroying her.
 
When a wealthy businessman is murdered in New Chicago’s seediest district, the two are partnered, and there’s no escaping what they both want: each other. Yet neither Hector nor Noelle knows what to fear more—the killer case, or their own lethal desires. . . .

MY TAKE:    I just started reading Gena Showalter's books last fall.  I quickly became addicted to her stories.  One of my first reviews in this genre and of one of her tales was Ecstasy in Darkness ~ which I also bestowed a 4.5 JEWEL rating upon.  She has become one of my favorite authors.  I am making my way through her backlist and enjoying myself immensely.

The latest and greatest in the Alien Huntress series is the story of Noelle and Hector.  Fans will remember Noelle as Ava's bestest buddy from Ecstasy in Darkness.  Their deep friendship and the fantastic, laugh-provoking banter definitely left fans wanting more from this terrible twosome.  So Ms. Showalter came through with Dark Taste of Rapture.  She found the perfect man for feisty Noelle in Hector.  He is the dark to her light as well as the straight man to her snarky sense of humor.  They bring out the best and the worst in each other.  The sexual tension in this story is very high and hot!

As with the other books in the series, this book stands alone well.  Of course I would suggest reading all of them simply because they are outstanding.  They all deliver action, humor and steam in large doses.  Must reads for lovers of paranormal romance.

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

 

 

 

 

~~~~~ 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.

Review - Ecstasy in Darkness by Gena Showalter

TITLE:    Ecstasy in Darkness (Alien Huntress, Book 5)
AUTHOR/EDITOR:    Gena Showalter
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 502 pages
PUBLISHED:   Pocket Books, 2010
ISBN#:   978-1-4391-7577-4
HOW'D I GET IT:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:  New York Times bestselling sensation Gena Showalter enthralls with a dark, tantalizing world of humans, otherworlders, powers beyond imagining, and a seductive vampire undone by his insatiable hunger for one woman. . . .

Growing up poor on New Chicago’s meanest streets, Ava Sans had two options: be the predator or be the prey. No contest. Now, working for Alien Investigation and Removal, she’s been ordered to capture the biggest, baddest warrior of all—a vampire too beautiful to be real, with the ability to manipulate time. Once the leader of the entire vampire army, McKell has been deemed savage and unstable, spurned even by his own kind.

To McKell, humans should be nothing more than sustenance. Yet the petite, golden-skinned Ava is a fascinating contradiction—vicious yet witty, strong yet vulnerable, lethal but fiercely loyal. Against his better judgment, McKell craves that loyalty, and much more. When the chase leads to seduction, McKell and Ava will race to discover the truth about his past. But the answers will come at a price, even for a woman who thought she had nothing left to lose. . . .  

MY TAKE:   I am a semi-rabid fan of Gena Showalter who I became acquainted with in my review of  "The Darkest Night" from the "Lords of the Underworld" series a few months ago.  I've started going through her backlist and am hooked!  This lady is an amazing author.  She really knows how to grab her readers and keep them entertained.

So, on to the newest gem!  Ecstasy in Darkness is the 5th installment in the "Alien Huntress" series.  (Just so you know, all of her books that I've read so far can be consumed as stand alone books or read in order of the series.  She provides plenty of backstory so a reader isn't lost if they're not being read in sequence.)

The heroine in this book is Ava.  She's little, she's tough, and she's an agent-in-training for Alien Investigation and Removal.  When she and her best friend Noelle are assigned to bring in the vampire McKell, things really start getting tough for Ava.  She fights her attraction for this amazingly gorgeous being while trying to fight her way to becoming a full-fledged agent of AIR.

I really liked Ava, for many reasons.  Her loyalty to her BFF Noelle was a lot of fun to read.  They are quite the pair.  Ava is scarred emotionally from a horrible childhood, but she is still hopeful, down deep.  She has the marshmallow core, she just can't afford to show it much.

McKell, or Viktor as he insists Ava call him, is a real pain in the rear in the beginning.  He's extremely arrogant and rather obnoxious.  The fact that he is blindingly beautiful just happens to be a plus.  McKell is fighting with his own demons regarding his upbringing and his place in this world.  He doesn't really have or want a home until he meets Ava.  She changes the brutal killing machine into someone who has something to fight for.

As usual, Ms. Showalter delivers with a fabulous plot, strong but likable heroines, beyond yummy males, steamy sex scenes, and a lot of humor ~ you'll love Hellina, btw!

I highly recommend this to Gena Showalter fans and those who enjoy a great paranormal romance filled with action. 
   
MY RATING:    4.5/5

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon, The Book Depository, IndieBound

 

~~~~~ 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.