Review: Deadly is the Kiss

For fans of the Primal Instinct series, this book is designed to do two things: --1-- to set up a spinoff series set in the same world and --2-- to provide the payoff for Ashe and Juliana, a couple that the author has been teasing readers with for a while.  I've only read one random book out of the eight that came before this, so I didn't go into this story with any particular itch to scratch.

I can tell you that as a spinoff, this is a good place for new readers to get familiar with the series.  There are definite references to past events and obviously our couple has a history together, but I never felt lost or confused.  The world-building is laid out clearly and the author does a good job bringing readers up to speed on who everyone is.

Juliana is a vampire who has spent nearly a decade in the prison-like wastelands with her family.  It drives Ashe crazy that he doesn't know their crimes.  But the mere fact that they were imprisoned tells him that Juliana is bad news.  Unfortunately for him, his body has chosen her as a mate despite this.  She triggered the "burning" in him, a sexual pull and fever that can't be overcome until he bonds with her.  The burning has been torturing him for months, but Ashe won't give in and he won't tell anyone what's going on... convinced he'll find a way to rid himself of his impulses.

Ashe has been keeping his distance from Juliana, but now suddenly she is out of the wastelands and appealing to him for help.  Someone has put a hit out on her family and she is hoping Ashe can help her find proof of it, so she can appeal to the vampire council for help.  Ashe agrees to help her, but only if she is willing to give him the sexual release he craves.

Yes. You read that right. Our hero will only help our heroine save her family if she agrees to have sex with him --however and whenever he wants.  That did not sit well with me. Yes, she wants him; and yes, they are predestined mates.  But I still didn't like it.  You don't barter sex for lifesaving assistance. Not hero behavior.

Anyway, so the story follows Ashe and Juliana as they try to find evidence against the bad guys, while they work to keep feelings out of their sexual relationship.  Each has had a very bad experience in the past that has made them wary of love and unable to trust.  And their issues have them kind of going around in circles and making bad decisions. Ashe, in particular, was a douche on more than one occasion because of his mistrust.  It was frustrating to read.

The sex was hot.  The writing was good, and so was the action. Juliana's backstory and the climax were unpredictable and satisfying.  But the way Ashe went back and forth between being an infatuated lover and an out and out dick was tough to bear.  And I hated the Epilogue, which was as overly sentimental and ridiculous and it was unnecessary.  I've got serious mixed feelings about this one.  3 stars.

*ARC Provided by NetGalley 

Click to purchase:  Amazon

Deadly is the Kiss

by Rhyannon Byrd

Release Date: March 20, 2012

Publisher: HQN Books

Review: Rush of Darkness

Raine is half vampire, half psychic... recovering from a kidnapping marked by torture and rape. Her body is back in shape, but her powers have weakened, and she holds on to the anger and need for revenge inside her, to go on. Her plan is to kill the demon-like Cassus who murdered her sister. But every time she goes after one, she risks her own life.

Seth is the human who rescued Raine from her captivity. He works along with the Watchmen --warriors who fight evil -- though he was once a rouge vampire-killer himself. Those were years he spent taking his own vengeance after vamps killed his family and tortured him to the brink of death. But he has realized now that not all vampires are evil. In fact, he has been drawn to Raine ever since he saved her.

He manages to track her down and becomes wrapped up in her mission. She is attracted to him too and it's obvious these two are meant to be together. But here's the thing... the woman was gang raped by a bunch of evil entities not very long ago. Yes, she took her mind to another place for the worst of it, but these wounds are still fresh. It's understandable that she would be wary of giving herself to a man. Yet Seth essentially challenges her... telling her she'll give in to him. This bothered me. But his plan works. He's not a total brute, thankfully. The guy has his own history of being attacked and violated. He has a lot of his own issues to work through.

Together, Raine and Seth learn to navigate through each other's extensive emotional issues, while working together to hunt down the bad guys. There's heavy sexual tension and some solid love scenes as payoff.

In the meantime, there is extensive world-building at play. After all, this is book 7 in the Primal Instinct series. But the author does a really good job, bringing new readers up to speed on the mythology. There were moments here or there where I was little fuzzy, but for the most part I felt like I knew what was going on. It was enjoyable even for me, as someone with no history with the series.  I just wish a little more care had been paid to Raine's post-rape recovery.  Almost 4 stars.

*ARC Provided by NetGalley

Click to purchase: Amazon or The Book Depository

Rush of Darkness

by Rhyannon Byrd

Release Date: April 1, 2011

Publisher: HQN