The Highwayman by Michele Hauf ~ Review and Contest!!

Publisher: Silhouette, Harlequin
Pages: 288

(Release Date: July 2009)

From the Cover: Max Fitzroy, the legendary Highwayman, had slain scores of demons with a razorlike whip and a burning need for revenge. Now, to rid himself of the demon inside him—who'd cursed him with immortality and stolen all sensual pleasures—Max needed a witch's familiar, the one creature he'd made a career of killing.

But the Highwayman wasn't prepared for the familiar named Aby. The sleek and sexy conduit to the demon world saw past his swirling shadow as easily as he scaled the walls she'd erected to protect herself. Max needed Aby to grant him his freedom, and then he needed to slay her. But how could he destroy the only creature he'd desired in centuries?

Max is at the end of his whip, the demon shadow residing within his body is demanding and shadowing is getting harder. He's afraid that one slip of a shadow and the demon might take over. He needs a familiar, one who can help him shed his shadow's existence. But, his reputation for killing demons and the familiars who bridge those demons into this world has preceded him. The shadow has been with the one-time renown thief known as the Highwayman since Paris 1758 when a witch failed the capture a bridged demon.

Aby is a familiar, a young feline female shifter who can bridge into the demon realm and bring demons into the human realm. To do this, she must be completely satiated and not by food. But what she's looking for is love, human contact and emotion to complete her life. Sex is part of her job, now she want love to be her life. She's on her fourth life, with no memory of the past three. She doesn't know if she's ever known love.

Max's demon shadow makes it impossible for him to live as a human, no food or drink, no sleep or dreams, no sexual fulfillment . The only respite he has is to let his human form turn to the shadow, but always at a cost. He can visit the dreams of unsuspecting sleepers, but never sleep or dream himself. Exceedingly tall, sexy with rock hard abs, he attracts attention wherever he goes. His demon demands that he take the precious jewels found on the necks of his eager temptresses. His gift has been immortality, to watch time fly by, but is it a gift or a curse?

Red haired with green jeweled eyes makes Aby hard to miss. Sensuality flows from her body, humming through her surroundings. She's good at her job, but she's also tired of just serving a purpose. She needs to be loved, wanted for who she is, not for what she can do. Severo, her wolf protector, would love to claim her as his, but this is not to be. She wants to feel more independent, but has the skittishness of a cat. Her gift is that of nine lives, but if she doesn't live her life on her terms, is she really alive?

Aby realizes that Max became infected with the demon after satiating another familiar long, long ago with his highwayman partner, Rainier. If Max is to be rid of his demon shadow, Rainer must be located and persuaded to give up his half of the demon too. But Rainier disappear 250 years ago and Max will have to search all of Paris to find the other half of the devilish highwayman pair.

The Highwayman by Michele Hauf was an excellent read. This story is all about our hero, Max Fitzroy and his struggles to live beyond the demon that has become part of his life. He's lived for 250 years without pleasure and he needs to find a release, or he will go mad. He has searched far and wide for that release and Aby may be his last hope. Aby, our sexy feline heroine, has become independent and doesn't want to have to rely on others. The problem is that she's an innocent to the world, having come into this life as a teenager without memories. She really wants to help Max, but can she trust him not to take her head? Can Max put his trust in a familiar who bridges the one thing he has sworn to kill? This was a fast, fun read perfect for the hot days of summer. It has action/adventure/romance galore. I enjoyed it immensely and would recommend any of Michele Hauf's books for paranormal romance reader. This book happens to have a lot of historical aspects as well as contemporary, so it should please a wide range of readers. It is part of Silhouette's Nocturne series, Wicked Games, Number 68.

For more information about Michele Hauf's other fun books, please visit her website or her blog, Dusted. She also has a free ebook read at Harlequin, Kiss Me Deadly part of the Bewitching the Dark Series, click here to download. She'll be releasing Moon Kissed in September 2009 where we'll found out more about Severo and what he needs to find happiness. Also, After the Kiss, a follow up to Moon Kissed, will be released as a Nocturne Bites in September as well. For more fun, check out her Ultimate Vamp List or her Ultimate Faery List. Michele Hauf can also be found on the social networking sites.

(Release Date: September 2009)

From the Cover: Escaping from bloodthirsty vampires, Belladonna Reynolds ran straight into the arms of a werewolf. As a man, Severo drew her in with his dark good looks; as a beast he astounded her with his insatiable sensual appetite. Whether afraid or aroused, Bella fled to his lair when threatened by an evil monster of the night ....

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Because the wonderful and intelligent Michele Hauf sent me two copies of this beautiful book, The Highwayman, I have one to giveaway. So that means it's contest time!!!

All you have to do to enter the contest is to leave a comment on this post, tell me which would find sexier, the wickedness of the highwayman or a fiesty demon possession or any comment will do! For a second entry, follow me and let me know. Third entry, re-post this contest elsewhere, please let me know where you posted it (blog - sidebar is fine, tweet, facebook, etc). Randomizer will pick a winner on July 14th. Good Luck to all participates, and to the lucky winner, it's an excellent book loaded with fun! This contest is open to all. For another take on The Highwayman as well as another chance to win, please visit SciFiGuy.