The Clarity of Night ~~~~ The Entry I Didn't Send In

The Clarity of Night "Uncovered" contest only one day and 12 hours to go if you're going to send an entry in....  My entry is Entry #54, The Vacation of a Lifetime.  But, as usual, I wrote at least two entries in my paranoia.  Here's the entry I didn't submit.

Damnation
by Dottie Taylor


The stench of rotting vegetation and old blood is almost overwhelming. The Isle of Damned grows near.

An icy hand slips around my waist, pulling me to his frigid body. “Aye, love, we're close.”

He reaches up and caresses my breast through the thin fabric of my blouse. I shiver either from his touch or my own desires, I can no longer tell.

His laughter vibrates through my body. “Come now, love, you know what you are. Why do you deny yourself?”

“Half-born Demon I am be, but Demon bound I'm not.”

His lips seek my neck where he plants an almost delicate kiss as he scents the pull of my blood.

“Half-born divining rod is all I am to you,” I sigh.

“Come to my bed.” The deep bass of his voice rumbles through my chilled body.

I have no illusions about life in Abrax's arms, once the treasure's found and the bounty paid, my life will be forfeit.

“Death awaits me.”

“Avoid death, join me. No one will dare reap your soul.”

“You could let me go.”

“I cannot.” He lowers his lips to mine. “I find myself bewitched.”

Our lips meet in a forbidden kiss, I rest my head upon his chest, his heartbeat greets my ears.

“And I cannot be with you.... No matter how much I want to be.” I whisper as the shore comes into view.  And then it strikes me, Demons don't have hearts.

© Dottie Taylor

Pray for Dawn, The Fourth Dark Days Novel by Jocelynn Drake

Publisher:  Eos Books/Harper Collins
Pages:  384

(Release Date:  6/29/10)

From the Cover:

Pray for salvation . . .

Pray for daylight . . .

Murder has pulled Mira out of the shadows and back into the living world . . .

As the fire-wielding enforcer of the nightwalker coven wrestles with the mind-destroying ghosts of her dark past, the slaying of a senator's daughter in Savannah threatens to expose her kind to the brilliant light of day.

The dawn of chaos has come. 

The naturi have broken free of their eternal prison to feed on the defenseless and unbelieving of an unprepared Earth.

Mira and Danaus-vampire and vampire slayer-must unite to prevent the annihilation of their separate races. But for Danaus the challenge is intensified, for he must also fight the bori who covets his soul. And Mira, the nightwalker he must protect-whose power is the Earth's last hope-is rapidly going insane.

This book is told from Danaus' point of view, flavored with how his eyes see the story.

Mira, Nightwalker, Keeper of her domain, Coven member, Fire Starter.... She's one of the most powerful creatures to have ever strolled upon the face of the Earth and she's is slowly losing her mind.  What happens when one so powerful can no longer be trusted?  What happens to her world and those who existence in it?  What happens to the soul of this being?  

Mira is haunted by her past... the ghosts of those she couldn't protect, the ghosts of her tormentors, the ghost of a life she once knew.  She's lost and only one person can save her, bring her back to her reality.  But does she want to exist in the life she had been forced into more than 600 years ago?  Is her time on Earth spent?

Ryan, warlock and leader of Themis, wants her to believe he is the all powerful force that can save her.  He wants her to become his instrument, to be played and used according to his sick desires.  Another person to pull her strings.

Jabari, her one time mentor, wants Mira to play the role of Coven member, enforcer, his weapon to wield.  He can force himself upon her, but when will he do so, because it's only a matter of time.  Just another puppet master.

LaVina, the witch, sees a great presence with the soul of Mira, is she another who is going to try to steal a piece of this weary Nightwalker's soul?  Another string puller?

Gaizka, bori fae, also wants a piece of the Nightwalker.  Does she have the strength to deny him?  The bori are the ultimate master of the vampire, will she be his marionette as well?

Danaus, vampire hunter and the last person on Earth who should be her savior, is her last hope.  When Danaus and Mira combine their powers, their foes don't stand a chance.  He doesn't want to be the puller of Mira's strings, though he has with devastating results.  But, the bori already owns a piece of his soul.  He can either be her protector or her murderer.  

Danaus has lost the faith he once had in the brotherhood contained within Themis, he's come to realize through Mira that not all nightwalkers are the evil beings that brotherhood has made them out to be.  They're basically the same as everyone else, the good and the bad.  This means the last few centuries of his life have been a lie.  And Mira has become more than just another nightwalker.  She's become a friend, family, maybe even a lover.  Can he destroy the last piece of humanity who has the ability to touch his own tortured soul?

Pray for Dawn by Jocelynn Drake is the story of what happens to a vampire who meets her ultimate creator.  Not the creator that forced her into the vampiric existence, but the ultimate maker of all the vampires, one who can control their bodies while the soul screams for release.  And this is where the next addition to the Dark Day Series takes our story.  Mira, 600+ year old vampire, different from any other vampire ever born, is having her sanity slowly striped away.  The Naturi, Earth fae, are wreaking havoc where ever they go.  Though they're a nasty lot, Mira and Danaus can make short work of them if they have to.  What scares Mira is her inability to sense them and for that she needs Danaus.  What she doesn't know is there's something scarier than the Naturi could ever be and it's trying to make it's home in her Savannah.  It will and has killed, and it will continue to kill unless Danaus and Mira can seal it away, and it's going to start with anyone and everyone important in Mira's life.  Danaus has come to see Mira as part of his life, once he swore to kill her, now he wants to just keep her, hold onto her last piece of humanity, the last shred of evidence that he can and does love.  And he may be forced to kill what has become dear.

Pray for Dawn is one of the best of this series I have read.  I have enjoyed each and every one of the books so far, but Pray for Dawn surpassed my expectations, leaving me to hang upon the last word of the last page of the book.  I have always praised Ms. Drake for her imagination, her world building skills, and her ability to weave this dark urban fantasy into twisting, turning tale.  But, in this book, it's all starting to come together, and it's spectacular.  I'm left almost speechless, yes, Pray for Dawn was that good.  While I was reading, I kept coming up with scenarios that would save Mira and Danaus, my mind working overtime trying to capture the ending (and remember, I've already read the blurb for Wait for Dusk), and it caught me by surprise.  I never saw it coming until it hit me between the eyes.  If you haven't tried the Dark Days Series, and you're a lover of dark urban fantasy (and I'm hoping major romance comes into play cause otherwise, I might go insane myself), give this series a try.  I loved, loved, loved Nightwalker (2008), I loved the additions of book 2 & 3 (Dayhunter and Dawnbreaker 2009), and now, we have Pray for Dawn and shortly, Wait for Dusk, and I'm still so engaged with the series, it just gets better and better.  I highly recommend this series to dark urban fantasy lovers, vampire, fae, vampire hunter lovers, it doesn't get much better.

I purchase this book for my own enjoyment.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Review: Barnes and Noble's Nook

Okay, I've been wanting an ereader for quite a while now and until recently, Amazon Kindle was the leader in ereaders. I have the major booksellers ereader software on my computer, Amazon's Kindle and B&N. Well, I finally took the plunge and bought a B&N Nook. I have to say, I was torn between buying the Nook and Borders' Kobo. Each was equally priced, looked similar when reading the e-ink pages, and held about the same amount of books.  Each had a relatively low end priced model starting at about $150 US dollars.

I looked at both ereaders and truthfully, was equally impressed with the Kobo and the Nook.  I found both easy on the eyes, neither has a backlight, which is really hard to find in an ereader, and I haven't a clue as to why...  I kept putting off buying an ereader for that very reason... lack of a backlight. So, why did I choose the Nook? Basically, I liked the sleek look of the Nook and the way it felt in my hands. I also got a remarkable deal on the Nook, I received a rebate as well as $50 B&N gift card to spend on new ebooks (which was the real clincher for me, lol).

The Nook also has lots of accessories that I'm sure the Kobo will have once it has time to have customer input into what the reader would like and need (you know, like a freaking backlight!). When I purchased my Nook, I also picked up a Nook cover that was equipped with a backlight (finally!!), but it was a tad expensive at $54.95 (after taxes....). The cover attaches to the Nook on the left side and opens for the feel of a real book, something that I was afraid I'd miss when I went to an ereader, so I still have the best of both worlds. There is also a consumer replaceable battery in the Nook, something I really like (it cost around $30.00 for the B&N battery, but I sure after market batteries will become available). Though I opted to buy the most expensive Nook cover (lol), there are covers and gel covers that start at about $15.00, and a Nook booklight that clips on the front for about $15.00 too. But adding up the cost and whether I wanted a clip constantly attached to the Nook (because, I'm forgetful and would have lost it if I had taken it off...lol), I went ahead and purchase the attached backlight. I have to say, I'm not sorry, I can read in the dark after everyone else has gone to bed and it doesn't bother anyone else.

There are also a couple of neat accessories, one which I couldn't resist, lol. The back of the Nook comes off, which allows for easy replacement of the battery, as well as changing out the rear cover for something more colorful and personalized than the boring institutional gray cover that comes on all of B&N ereaders. I went with a bright pink, just because, well... I liked it, lol. The cost of the replacement cover was around $20.00, but in for a penny, in for a pound.  Since I had put off getting an ereader, I thought I might as well get one I liked and fitted my personality, and usually I'm pretty cheerful, and they didn't have purple, so pink it is. There's also a replacement charger in case you lose or misplace the one that come with it for about $20.00 (uh, I probably should have just bought an extra, lol). I was surprised to see so many accessories and happy to know I could replace my battery and charger easily.  At Walmart, I also found screen protectors for about $6.00 (B&N wanted 14.95).  These were originally for the Kindle, but the fit the Nook screen perfectly.

The Nook also comes in two models, the wifi Nook and the 3G-wifi Nook.  I was going to get the wifi Nook, but considering that the 3G model was only $50 more and in the future, may allow for use everywhere, it lead me to purchase $200 3G-wifi Nook. The internet browser is a Beta version right now, I hope they're going to come out with something updated soon and it's pretty slow (still okay for a quick check of my blog), but really excellent for downloading ebooks on the fly or while away from home, especially good for me since vacation time is coming up.

(shown are the replacement charging cord/usb cord, replacement battery, and book light)

The Nook also attaches to any computer, PC or Mac via the charging cord that comes with the Nook. It's easy to drag and drop books right into the Nook, in five minutes I loaded three new ebooks that I had downloaded from Net Galley.  And when I attached the Nook to my computer, I also synced it with my B&N library in about five minutes as well. I was able to download some free ebooks from B&N, and who doesn't like free reads? When I purchased my Nook, the Barnes and Nobles sales person also told me to bring my Nook with me when I return to the store, everyday B&N gives away several free reads to their customers.

While the Nook was a little more than I had intended to spend, so far, I couldn't be more pleased with my purchase. I've had my new little gem for a couple of weeks now and I've read seven books and one novella. I love it. The ease of use and the sleek look are just what I wanted.  Either ereader (Kobo or Nook) would be an excellent purchase for anyone looking to delve into the world of ereaders and ebooks.  Borders and Barnes & Noble both offer 100's of free reads, and I've also noticed that Borders ebooks are formatted for the Nook as well as the Kobo, which is definitely not the case for Kindle ebooks.

I purchased B&N Nook for my own use.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Daring Time by Beth Kery

Publisher:  Berkley Sensation
Pages:  352

From the Cover:

He sees her, wants her, needs her…

Chicago Detective Ryan Daire has many secrets: a love for Shakespeare, an appreciation for the all the finer things in life, and an absolute lack of restraint in the bedroom. Now he has an even bigger secret. In every shifting shadow of the sprawling mansion he’s recently inherited he can see her—tempting, ethereal, and untouchable. Hope Stillwater inhabited that mansion in 1906. Raw desire has formed a conduit between these two passionate souls who are separated by the barrier of time.

Now he has to have her.

Intoxicated by each other’s presence, Ryan and Hope are closer than ever to crossing that inviting boundary between two worlds. But there is one grave danger: Ryan’s job has put him on the trail of a depraved criminal in an investigation that’s risking Hope’s eternal fate and happiness. Now he must do whatever it takes to change history, protect Hope from harm, and set his own desires free.

Hope Stillwater is a woman beyond her time, fighting the what's right, one of the few women of the early 1900's to take a stand and conventions be damned.  She's still a proper lady, corsetted, legs covered, and language demure.  But, she's not afraid to take of the bullies of the her world.  And that's just what she does.

Ryan Daire is a jaded Chicago detective, he's seen it, heard it, and probably done it all.  He's not afraid of who or what he is,  but maybe it's time to want more.  When he first catches a glimmer of Hope lingering in the mansion he's been gifted, he can't believe his eyes.  Is he losing his grip, is she a ghost (no!), or is it something else, something paranatural.  He doesn't know until he has a chance to talk to her, and talk to her he does.

When Hope and Ryan meet through the distance of time, Ryan is determined to find a way to save her, a way to be with her, a way to claim her as his own.  Hope could want nothing more than for Ryan to be with her, but can she give up everything and everyone she knows?  Can he?


Daring Time by Beth Kery is book that has the feeling of a erotic historical romance combined with the sensuality of a modern contemporary romance, and Ms. Kery does it to perfection.  To say I enjoyed Daring Time would be an understatement.  I loved her telling of this time travel romance.  When we first meet Ryan, he's getting to the point of burn out.  He likes women and women adore him.  He doesn't know that when he sees Hope, he's seeing his future, and his hope of what the future will hold.  He's almost furious when he partner insists that she has to be a ghost.  He's drawn to her immediately, wanting to protect and save this woman who maybe only a dream in reality.  When Hope sees Ryan, he shocks her sensibilities with his handsome disregard for what she sees as proprieties.  Though she maybe shocked, she also is drawn to the soul of his man, his protective nature, his ability to love even if he doesn't know it yet.

Daring Time is a fun, fast, fantastic read.. there's no other way to say it.  It's hot enough to melt ice cream, sensual enough to satisfy the most discriminating romance reader.  Now, strictly speaking, pararomance is my choice when reading a romance and this book fits into three categories, it's has the flavor of a historical romance combined with a contemporary all wrapped up in a sweet paranormal package.  So, readers of historicals, contemporary, and paranormal romance will all enjoy this quick read, I had trouble putting it down.  And the trouble Hope gets herself into.....  You'll just have to read to see what I mean.  Excellent erotic reading!

I received this book in a contest (Thanks Beth!  Also, Thanks Lea for the recommendation!).  All opinions expressed are my own.

One Amazing Cover....Jocelynn Drake....Wait for Dusk

Jocelynn Drake is one of my favorite new authors.  From her first book release in July 2008 of Nightwalker to her newest publication set to release at the end of July 2010, the books have been amazing reads.  But the newest addition to the Dark Day Series is freaking AWESOME!!

(Release Date:  7-27-10)

From the Cover: 

There is no sanctuary in the night . . .

Feared even by her own kind for her mastery of fire, the nightwalker Mira is summoned by the coven to take her rightful place as Elder. But with this honor comes grave responsibility—a commitment to the annihilation of the unleashed naturi. For now the foul creatures walk the earth—and neither vampire nor human will survive their horrific onslaught.

A tide of blood is sweeping relentlessly across the European continent, as Mira is dispatched to Budapest for the most devastating test yet of her astonishing powers—and falls into a well-laid trap. With the dark secrets that haunt her growing darker by the hour, she must confront the terrible truth of her past and protect her fragile sanity in the face of unanticipated treachery—a betrayal by her trusted ally, her beloved enemy, the vampire slayer Danaus.

I can't hardly believe that this is only the six release for this author.  If I can encourage you to try a taste of dark urban fantasy, this series would be it.  I know the dark isn't for everyone, but I've learned to use my night vision quite well and have enjoyed every minute of it.  This one doesn't appear to disappoint either.  I'm reading Pray for Dawn right now, awesome goodness... review soon.  Can't wait to see what the six book in the series brings us too. Cover art and blurb coming soon... I hope!!

It's Coming....... The Clarity of Night Flash Fiction Contest

Jason Evans is at it again folks....  It's time for another flash fiction contest at The Clarity of Night.  Remember flash fiction means a limited number of words, and for this contest, it's 250 words.  It's an interesting picture prompt this time, making me think of pirates, buried treasures, ghosts, and maybe even the wild blue yonder.....  Take a gander at this one...

If you'd like to take a chance and put together a wee story for this little prompt, head over to Jason's Blog, The Clarity of Night.  Contest starts July 19, 2010 (that's Monday, squee!!).  I've looked at the image and imagining all kinds of neat things.  Come on, you know you want to play....  I wonder what you'll come up with...?   See you all at the contest!! 

Dark and Disorderly, Lillie St. Claire Adventures by Bernita Harris

Publisher:  Carina Press
Pages:  262

(Release Date:  6-28-10)

From the Cover:

"I was standing there naked when my dead husband walked into my bathroom…
Lillie St. Claire is a Talent, one of the rare few who can permanently dispatch the spirits of the dead that walk the earth. Her skills are in demand in a haunted country, where a plague of ghosts is becoming a civic nuisance.

Those skills bring her into conflict with frightened citizens who view Talents as near-demons. Her husband has come to see her as a Freak; so when Nathan dies after a car crash, she is relieved to be free of his increasingly vicious presence. Lillie expects to be haunted by Nathan’s ghost, but not to become Suspect #1 for her husband’s murder and reanimation.

But what’s most surprising of all is the growing attraction between her and psi-crime detective John Thresher. He thinks that Lillie killed Nathan—and Nathan must agree, because his zombie is seeking revenge. Now she and Thresher must work together to solve her husband’s murder—before his corpse kills her…"

Lillie St. Claire is one of the lucky few, one of the new "Freaks", one of the Talents. Some say it was an asteroid passing close to the Earth, some say it's a new natural phenomenon, whatever the reason, the shimmering silver sheen of her hair gives her away. The Talents are the individuals who have some form of psychic ability, Sensitives.... clairvoyance,  ghost exorcists, necromancers... and the walking undead that have become common everyday occurrences.

Lillie has had a rough couple of weeks, first her husband is killed in a suspicious car accident, then someone sends the apparition of her departed husband back to visit, and later his zombie. It doesn't get much worse than a visit from your husband's zombie. She doesn't do zombies, everyone in the department knows this, and yet when is comes down to it, who do you think is going to get blamed?

Johnny Thresher, a psi-crime detective, comes into department when Police Chief Bobby Secord is attacked by a rogue zombie, maybe the same one that Lillie's been having problems with, only who could have risen the dead and lost control of it? He doesn't  know what to think until he experiences an attack himself, at Ms. St. Claire's home.  Maybe there's more going on in this quiet little town than he expected, or maybe Ms. St. Claire isn't what she seems. Regardless, he needs to get to the bottom of the problem before anyone else gets hurt.

Dark and Disorderly by Bernita Harris is a dark, first person point of view paranormal romance/urban fantasy where something has happened, something unexplainable, something paranatural. For some reason, children are being born with pre-cognitive abilities and there's been a large influx of paranormal activity. The Talents as they have become to be known as are the only defense that the "Normals" have. And most of the Normals just want the "Godforsaken" (the apparitions, ghosts) to be swiftly dealt with, exorcised with extreme prejudice, especially the ASP (Against Spirit Pollution), but the SOS (Save Our Spirits) has other ideas and doesn't even want the malevolent spirits eliminated, and Lillie finds herself caught in the middle. Lillie St. Claire is one of the Talents and Johnny Thresher is the only person she can turn to, and she's unsure what he's fishing for. He could be looking for guilt, innocence, or maybe something else altogether. Lillie is presented as a woman used to being on her own, burned by the lie of love, used to the harsher realities of life, but still she's an innocent. Johnny Thresher is massively larger than life, used to getting what he wants, and he's not afraid to kick asses and take names. He's a cop on a mission, but Lillie's not quite sure what that mission is.

Dark and Disorderly is an excellent 1st person POV, plot driven story of the urban fantasy variety. There are romantic elements, but I believe the romance will be developed as Lillie's adventures continue. The reader enters this world where ghosts and sensitives are an everyday occurrence and there are organizations and departments in the local constabulary to specifically deal with the issues and problems cause by the apparitions and those who have the power to control them. It has dark elements, this isn't a typical adventure story. There are elements of Irish mysticism and folklore which as the story develops, allows the reader an additional peek into this evolving world. I can't wait to see where Bernita takes Lillie's adventures. I also have to say, the cover art for Dark and Disorderly was nicely done and compliments the story, Lillie pretty closely resembles the written image down to her bracelets. I also love Lillie's ghost dog, Dumbarton, who can choose to be corporeal or not, too cool for the mysterious guard dog.

This is the first book I've review from this new ebook publisher, Carina Press. I choose Dark and Disorderly to be my first review because the author, Bernita Harris, was one of the participants in The Clarity of Night "Silhouette"contest from last January. We both attained the 40's club and I was happy to see her work published, it's well deserved. I have to give it up to Bernita, YAY Bernita, but I also have to say this novel was excellently rounded, entertaining, and attention grabbing. I enjoyed reading about the world she's created and hope to get to see more of it. I recommend this book to all lovers of dark urban fantasy and Irish folklore, it's definitely a worthy read.

I received this ebook for review from the publisher, Carina Press and Net Galley.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Flirting with Forever by Gwyn Cready

Publisher:  Pocket Books/Simon & Schuster
Pages:  415

From the Cover:

Art historian Cam Stratford is about to make a name for herself with her sexy tell-all "fictographies" of 17th century painters, but she's more familiar with her subjects than her readers can imagine. Thanks to a time portal she's discovered, she has caused quite a stir in the Great Beyond. To protect their members' reputations, the Guild representing dead artists convinces playboy Sir Peter Lely, portraitist to Charles II and a man with his own dark secrets, to sabotage Cam's project. A few hours posing on Peter's modeling chaise lead to a night of seductive passion--then Cam returns home and discovers his betrayal. But before she can turn her angry pen on her lover, Peter makes a surprise visit, transforming Cam's 21st century life into chaos of classic proportion.

Cam is up to her neck in trouble.  Her publisher wants her book yesterday, someone is trying to sabotage her chances to become the museum new curator, and her ex-fiance is trying to horn his way back into her life in more ways than one.  And she doesn't even know everything that he has done and continues to do while trying to woo Cam into complacency.  To appease her publisher, Cam decides to write a fictography, part fact, part fiction account of a subject close to her heart, painters of the 17th century, her field of expertise.

What Cam doesn't know is that when she tries to access certain information, she'll be thrown thru time, and will land on the doorstep of one of those artist, painter Peter Levy.  She's curious as to how she traveled to this place and time, to the very artist that recently capture her attention, especially when she sees a painting that could be her twin.

Peter Levy has been ordered by the Guild, a body of governing artist no longer of this world, to ruin Cam Stratford, by any means possible and to stop the publication of her book, and he does.  What he doesn't count on are the stirring of forgotten feelings, feelings that haven't been roused since the death of his wife.  And now, Cam comes strolling in, and turns his life, otherworldly or otherwise, on it's ear.  He doesn't know if he can forgive himself for what he has done or what he's about to do.

Flirting with Forever by Gwyn Cready was a fast paced sensual romance, part historical and part contemporary.  I found it hard to put down.  Cam Stratford has had to accommodate her life to suit her parents, her sister, her ex-fiance, and now said sister is about to push into Cam's life and steal her dream job, right from under her nose.  And all Cam can really do is sit back and watch her life play out.  If she tries too hard, she'll seem needy, if she pushes her sister back, she'll appear bossy and pushy (and the museum board wants none of that), and when she meets Peter Levy, her senses go wild and she could really give a damn about anything else.  When she forced to tell him the truth, she's a time traveling would be author/museum curator, Peter's taken aback, but can he really say anything, after all, he's a time traveling Guild member out to put the brakes on Cam's career.  And when these two come together, when they push passed all the circumstances trying to keep them apart, the romance sizzles on the pages with smoky desire.

Flirting with Forever has aspects of a paranormal romance laced between a historical and contemporary romance.  Cam is shoved into Peter's reality, and he finds himself ready to take a chance with Cam, until he learns her secrets.  When Peter jumps through time to find the wayward Cam, he can't seem to get over her, but he has to be very careful, to leave part of himself behind in this foreign appearing landscape would trap him in this time and place.  But can he resist the abundant charms of Cam Stratford?  Does he really want to?  This book was plain fun to read, I don't read a heck of a lot of historical or contemporary romance, but sometimes, they just hit the spot and Flirting with Forever is one of the books that satisfied my need.  If you enjoy a time traveling romance full of fun, I recommend picking up Flirting with Forever, I don't think you'll be sorry, I very much enjoyed it.

I received this book from the promoter, Bostick Communications and the author, Gwyn Cready.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Sins of the Heart, Otherkin Trilogy, Book 1 by Eve Silver

Publisher:  HQN, Harlequin Enterprises
Pages:  384

(Release Date:  8-01-10)

From the Cover:

Half-human, half-god, Dagan Krayl is the Underworld’s most powerful soul reaper. When one of his brothers is murdered, Dagan must use every ounce of his power to hunt down those responsible for his brutal death. But he must move swiftly—and carefully—if he’s to have any chance of resurrecting his brother.

Yet that resurrection could wreak havoc on the mortal world. As an Otherkin, Roxy Tam has sworn to protect the human race and it’s her mission to stop Dagan. But when she sees him face to face, she realizes that she has seen him once before—a meeting that changed her life forever.

Neither Dagan nor Roxy expect to join forces for the sake of mankind. Or have their loyalties tested as they struggle against the potent desire that threatens to consume them both….

*****may contain spoilers*****

Legend says that Sutekh in a bid to have the Goddess Aset and her power for himself, killed her husband/brother, Osiris, dismembering his body and scattering the pieces across the lands. Legend also says that Sutekh is the brother of Aset and Osiris, very convoluted. Aset who deeply loved Osiris, found all his parts, save one, his penis which she fashioned from gold, and reanimated the body for one night in which a son was produced, Horus. Now, Aset and Osiris are the enemies of Sutekh with each residing and reigning over their own region of the Underworld, along with the other demigods and gods, including Hades and the lesser demons. And this is where our story begins....


Sutekh, Seth, the Lord of Chaos, one of  the Gods of the Underworld, had four sons by three mortal women. Why? To allow him to have personal emissaries, soul reapers, able to travel between the Topworld and Underworld, as long as they don't partake in the food of the dead. Sons which he created to be loyal to only him, trained to follow his every command. While each is loyal to and in a way loves their father, they are loyal to each other first and foremost.  Dagan, the eldest son and most rebellious, is sent to reap some very deserving souls, murders and rapist.  Sutekh likes to eat the most delectable of the filthiest souls.  When Dagan arrives, he discovers they have a captive, Roxy Tam, and one of the oddest things happens... he doesn't want to kill her and reap her soul... he wants to save, protect her, and insure she has a long happy life.


Roxy Tam is street smart, capable, and unfortunately, willing to try to help her friend Marcia, but Marcia isn't what she appears to be and leads Roxy into a trap for the amusement and need of her sick boyfriend. Together they plan to rape and murder Roxy... that is until Dagan appears on the scene. He reaps their souls for his father to feast upon and sets Roxy free. But in doing so, Roxy accidentally imbibes some of Dagan's blood, binding them together. As the years pass, Roxy has waking and sleeping dreams of the reaper, either ending in love making or soul reaping and it's driving her mad. Dagan warns her off the Daughters of Aset, he can see them in her future, which leads to Roxy running to their arms, hoping for answers, hoping for a place to call home.


When Roxy is sent on a mission to retrieve a kidnapped child, it eventually brings her face to face with the man of her dreams, Dagan Krayl, after eleven long years of separation and with the knowledge that he felt her to fend for herself and with a new gift, the desire for blood. She either wants to kill him or sleep with him... but what will happen when a Daughter of Aset and a Son of Sutekh come together?  Sworn enemies or life long lovers?


Sins of the Heart by Eve Silver is excellent paranormal romance/urban fantasy with elements of mythology, mysticism, and magic. Our story starts where the mythology ends and a new world begins telling the continuing story of Sutekh, Aset, and Osiris. Sutekh has four son, Dagan, Alastor, Mal, and Lokan. All do their father's biding, but Dagan is the most rebellious and the eldest. He feels it's his duty to protect his younger brothers and when he fails, he attempts to go to any lengths to right the injustice.  Roxy Tam has been alone since the age of five and her life would have ended at nineteen if Dagan hadn't intervened. But, he changes her into something else, something otherworldly, Otherkin. He warns her off the Daughters of Aset, the one of the Otherkin, but he leaves her with this burning need, and she runs to the Daughters of Aset to try to understand what is happening to her. Only, they provide even less answers. Roxy struggles through life becoming what she can make of herself, she's proud, feisty, and beautiful. Dagan dreams only of Roxy, the young dark beauty he had to abandon if she was going to survive, but that doesn't keep her from invading his dreams, and soul reapers don't dream. What's the matter with him? He avoids her for eleven long years until the death of one of his brothers brings him face to face with his only weakness and worst nightmare, all rolled up in a tidy little package, Roxy Tam. The question is can he live with her or without her?


Sins of the Heart is a quick little read that hooked me from the beginning with Dagan Krayl torn between duty and beauty. I love stories that contain elements of mythology and mysticism, and since I had prior knowledge of the mythology involved (mythology freak that I am), it made the story that much better for me. [If you go back to my previous post about the Goddess Aset (also know as Isis), you'll understand what I mean.., lol] This one story contains intrigue, denial, double crosses, and gods and goddesses behaving badly. There's a mystery as to what exactly happened to Dagan's youngest brother.... did he sacrifice himself.... is there a way back for him.... will he partake in the food of the dead and remain truly dead, unable to return to Topworld? I waiting to start the next book in the series, requesting it and ready to watch the story unfold. Eve Silver is another new author for me, I've discovered so many in the last year and a half that I've been blogging, and Eve Silver's Otherkin Series is another keeper for me.  I love the simplistic cover art with the strong full bodied hero, it describes the mythology within the story perfectly as well as the kick-ass heroine found within the pages and for which Eve Silver is known. I'll be looking into Ms. Silver's backlist, this is an author I'll be watching. I highly recommend this read to lovers of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and mythology

I received this ebook for review from Harlequin Enterprises and Net Galley.  All opinions I expressed are my own.

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Dottie