Flora Reviews... Awakened by a Demoness (Eternal Mates Series #10) by Felicity Heaton

Awakened by a Demoness (Eternal Mates Series #10)

By Felicity Heaton

Read: 19^th June 2016

Format: Kindle

My Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars

...So what’s this book about?

Awakened by a Demoness is a passionate, action packed paranormal romance story with a very humorous streak. It is classed as a novella (approx 45,000 words) within Felicity Heaton’s Eternal Mates series.  As with most of Ms Heaton’s work, this book contains material of a sexual nature and some graphic violence and as such is only suitable for adults.

The official blurb says

Asteria of the Second Legion of demons has messed up. Royally. With a capital everything. Certain that her dark lord is about to end her in the most painful way imaginable, she’s stunned when the fallen angel offers her an uncharacteristic shot at redemption—and determined not to fail him again. With her life on the line, she sets out on a mission that sounds easy but proves to be far from it when a hot slice of angelic eye candy comes storming into her life, stirring dangerous desires and tempting her more than any male before him.

Fifth Commander of the Echelon, the highest order of angels in Heaven and those responsible for hunting demons, he will allow nothing to stand in the way of fulfilling the mission he began close to a century ago so he can finally return to his home. On the verge of securing the half-breed he has been hunting, he can almost taste victory—until a sassy demoness struts into his life, awakening wicked needs and forbidden hungers that will test him to his limit.

When their mission brings them on a collision course, can they fight the fierce heat of the passion that blazes between them to claim a victory for their side or will it burn their resistance to ashes and set their hearts on fire with a love both forbidden and eternal?

Awakened by a Demoness is the tenth book of the series but don’t worry; it can be read as a standalone story as it doesn’t feature any lead characters from her previous Eternal Mates books.

...so, what did I like about it?

As my regular followers will already know, I am a big fan of Ms Heaton’s Eternal Mates Series and love her writing style! This novella is no exception.

I enjoy the way she mixes fantasy and reality; her characters are never black or white, good or evil but a complex mix of positive and negative traits and emotions which they either have to embrace or overcome; Rey and Asteria are the perfect examples of this. Rey, an Angel, is light personified? Asteria, a Demoness, the epitome of darkness?

I have already mentioned in previous reviews how I love the way Ms Heaton makes the most explicit sexual scenes very romantic – I think she’s a very talented writer because, for me, a story is only really erotic if I’m emotionally connected to the characters involved. Ms Heaton gives her characters such depth that they do become real, even in these shorter novellas, however it’s not just her main characters that have depth but I find all of the characters she introduces into a story to be complex, multifaceted and completely believable. I think it’s partly due to their very real human virtues and foibles even though most of them are mythical, paranormal beings.  

I am hoping that we’ll see more of Rey and Asteria in future instalments.

This story made me giggle, gasp in shock and shed a tear or two. Of course, I got caught up with the passion (who wouldn’t *blush*) but the tender insights into both Rey and Asteria’s histories, doubts and the growth of their trust in each other’s love was heart-warming to read.

So, ummm, was there anything I disliked about it?

My only complaint was the ending.

I was disappointed that it was so abrupt.  :-( 
It isn’t a cliffhanger ending from an adventure or romantic point of view but I was left with many questions; where will the fated mates live, within one of the demon realms, hell or even earth? How will they survive? Will Heaven intervene?  

So, basically what I’m saying is...

I really enjoyed this paranormal romance tale; I devoured it in a day! 
It was a great read that made me smile, cry and feel all warm & fuzzy inside. I thought it had well written erotic thrills, heart pumping fight scenes, amusing banter between our main characters and tons of romantic gestures. 
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy reading stories about the wonderful illumination of removing the blinkers of prejudice, inner strength and of course, soul saving love. 

So, have I ignited a spark of interest for AWAKENED BY A DEMONESS in you? 
Just click on the links below and check out the book yourself or visit Felicity Heaton’s website to find out more.

See AWAKENED BY A DEMONESS on Goodreads.com

Buy AWAKENED BY A DEMONESS on Amazon.co.uk

Visit FELICITY HEATON’s website

Flora Reviews... Possessed by a Dark Warrior (Eternal Mates #9) by Felicity Heaton

Possessed by a Dark Warrior (Eternal Mates Series #9)

By Felicity Heaton

Read: 31^st May – 4^th June 2016

Format: Kindle

My Goodreads Rating:  5 Stars

...So what’s this book about?

Possessed by a Dark Warrior is an emotional, passionate, action packed paranormal romance story. It is classed as a long novel (approx 147,000 words 317 pages) within Felicity Heaton’s Eternal Mates series.  As with most of Ms Heaton’s work, this book contains material of a sexual nature and some graphic violence and as such is only suitable for adults.

The official blurb says

A powerful warrior and commander of the dark elf legions, Bleu is a loyal and devoted male, and one who has never failed in anything—except one thing. Love. When an elusive female dragon shifter surfaces in Hell again, giving him a mission to hurl himself into, he gladly returns to his hunt for her and the deadly blade she stole from his prince seven centuries ago, but as he closes in on his prey, fate reveals she is far more than his enemy.

Having escaped from the black market arena and her life as a slave, Taryn sets her sights back on the task she began seven hundred years ago when her brother stole a precious sword, but in the three centuries she’s been a captive, everything has changed. Corrupted by a craving for power, her brother has become dangerously obsessed with finding the blade and using it to claim the ultimate treasure—the position of King of Hell.

Faced with having to end her beloved twin to stop him from bringing all of Hell to its knees before him, will Taryn be strong enough to use the very blade he seeks against him? And when Bleu finally catches his elusive prey, will he listen to his head as it demands he complete his mission or his heart as it demands he claim his eternal mate?

Possessed by a Dark Warrior is the ninth book of the series and features many characters, references and revisits situations already described in previous books, so I don’t know if it can successfully read as a standalone story, although Ms Heaton uses her am sure that readers you don’t need to read the other books in the series to enjoy this one, however,

 ...so, what did I like about it?

I am already a big fan of Ms Heaton’s Eternal Mates series and love her writing style! Her world building is amazing; it is her mix of fantasy and reality that captures my attention right from the start. Her characters are never black or white, good or evil but a complex mix of positive and negative traits and emotions which they either have to embrace or overcome; Bleu and Taryn are no exception. Their historical ‘baggage’ plays a major part in this adventure and has shaped them into who they are and how they deal with what life throws at them.

I have already mentioned in previous reviews how I love the way Ms Heaton makes the most explicit sexual scenes very romantic – I think she’s a very talented writer because, for me, a story is only really erotic if I’m emotionally connected to the characters involved, Ms Heaton gives her characters such depth that they do become real, but it’s not just her main characters, I find all of her characters complex, multifaceted and completely believable due to their very real human virtues and foibles even though most of them are mythical, paranormal beings.  We have learned a bit more about a few existing Eternal Mates characters here in this tale and have been introduced to a couple more that I’m sure we’ll be seeing again in future instalments.

This story made me giggle, gasp in shock and shed a tear or two. Of course, I got caught up with the passion (who wouldn’t *blush*) but the tender insights into both Bleu and Taryn’s doubts, their feelings of “mate-unworthiness”  and the growth of their trust in each other’s love was heart-warming to read.

So, ummm, was there anything I disliked about it?

Not a thing, the story was perfect.

(My only complaint is, I was already a bit in love with Bleu from previous books and feel a wee bit heartbroken that he can no longer be mine… ;-) )

So, basically what I’m saying is...

I really enjoyed this paranormal romance tale. It was a great read that made me smile, cry and feel all warm & fuzzy inside with well written erotic thrills, heart pumping fight scenes, breathtaking aeronautic acrobatics and tons of romantic gestures. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy reading stories about the lengths we go for our siblings, betrayal, inner strength, forgiveness and of course, soul saving love. 

 So, have I ignited a spark of interest for POSSESSED BY A DARK WARRIOR in you? 
Just click on the links below and check out the book yourself or visit Felicity Heaton’s website to find out more.

See POSSESSED BY A DARK WARRIOR on Goodreads.com

Buy POSSESSED BY A DARK WARRIOR on Amazon.co.uk

Visit FELICITY HEATON’s website

Flora Reviews... The Veil Series Complete Box Set (Books 1-5) by Pippa DaCosta

The Veil Series Complete Box Set (Books 1 - 5)

by Pippa DaCosta

Read: 5^th – 31^st May 2016

Format: Kindle

My Goodreads Rating:  5 Stars

...So what’s this book about?

This is an urban fantasy series featuring humans, demons and half-demons and is the complete 5 book series called The Veil (there are also a couple of novellas including a prequel “Wings Of Hope” which you get for free by signing up to Pippa DaCosta’s Newsletter). I read the first book in this series back in January 2014 and decided to download this box set from Amazon UK.

The blurb says:

All five Veil Series novels now in one place!  Beyond The Veil, #1,  Devil May Care, #2, Darkest Before Dawn, #3, Drowning In The Dark, #4 and Ties That Bind, #5

Beyond The Veil

Charlie Henderson is living a lie. Her real name is Muse and her attempt at a normal life is about to go up in smoke.

When a half-demon assassin walks into her life, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake, Muse must return to the one man she hoped never to see again and ask for help. The Prince of Greed isn’t known for his charity. The price is high, and the cost could tear her apart.

Trapped between the malevolent intentions of a Prince of Hell and an assassin with ulterior motives, Muse must embrace the lure of chaos at her core; the demon inside her, in order to survive.

Devil May Care

Three dead Enforcers in three weeks, their bodies butchered. Muse has seen it before, and when she reads the metal memories in the murder weapon, she sees it all again. Her owner, Damien, is back, and he wants what is rightfully his.

Darkest Before Dawn

When Akil leaves a nine year old half-blood girl on Muse’s doorstep, it’s not long before the demons come hunting, but this time Muse isn’t the target. The Institute, Muse’s immortal brother, and the Princes of Hell, all want a piece of the little half-blood. What’s so special about Dawn, and why has Akil conveniently disappeared just as Muse needs answers?

Drowning In The Dark

As the veil begins to fall and the demons bleed through onto the streets of Boston, Muse knows the battle is lost before it’s even begun.

To make matters worse, Adam and the Institute have captured Akil at a time when the city has never needed him more. Muse believes Akil’s incarceration is a ruse, because if he truly is at the mercy of the Institute, she must choose which side she’ll fight for. Human or demon?

Ties That Bind

Demons are here. Muse knows she can stop the slaughter, but to do so, she must return to the battle-scarred streets of Boston and face the cold, hard, truth. Her old life is ashes. Her love, turned to dust. But all is not lost; a spark of hope remains. A spark from which an inferno can blaze.

“They say I’m half demon, but I like to think of myself as half human, especially as the demons want me dead.”

Charlie Henderson is living a lie. Her real name is Muse and her attempt at a normal life is about to go up in smoke.

When a half-demon assassin walks into her life, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake, Muse must return to the one man she hoped never to see again and ask for help. The Prince of Greed isn’t known for his charity. The price is high, and the cost could tear her apart.

Trapped between the malevolent intentions of a Prince of Hell and an assassin with ulterior motives, Muse must embrace the lure of chaos at her core; the demon inside her, in order to survive.

When your ex is the Prince of Greed, you'd better be ready to raise hell.

(Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award 2014 Quarter-Finalist Top 100 in Genre.)

 ...So, what did I like about it?

I found Ms DaCosta’s writing style very easy to read and I never felt lost in the plot. I liked the premise for her world; humans know about the existence of demons (but we don’t know the full truth of their power) some of which have chosen to live in our world (in a human look-a-like shell) while the rest live in their realm the “Netherworld”, half-demons are considered abominations/scum by the full demons and usually killed at birth.  I appreciated the way that Ms DaCosta revealed the complexities and practises of the demon world without upsetting the pace of the tale and the seed of doubt she planted in what we knew or thought we knew about circumstances, characters and fate.

I loved that our main male characters were not your typical “good” or “evil”, yes it made it hard to tell who was on Muse’s side but then people are a myriad of greys with the potential of great kindness and great evil in us all which is what added a very believable dimension to Ms DaCosta’s characters for me; both higher demon and human.

The plot kept me guessing right to the end; it made me laugh, cry, blush from naughty thoughts and had me, literally, on the edge of my seat at times.

...So, ummm, was there anything I disliked about it?

In a word – no not really.

That’s not to say that I didn’t find the actions, reasoning and behaviour of some of our main characters frustrating at times but (in my opinion), that’s deliberate; it’s all part of the journey and character/story development that Ms DaCosta  makes us, the reader, experience to make the whole tale so involving.

This is a series, so don’t expect answers to be easily discovered, yes there are cliffhangers at the end of a couple of books but that’s the advantage of buying a set, you don’t have to wait…

...So, basically what I’m saying is...

I really loved this series!

I found it well written with a huge amount of twists & turns that kept me guessing throughout this action packed, emotional rollercoaster of an urban fantasy tale! I loved the development of our main characters and the direction of the story that we were taken on. In my mind it had it all!

So, have I sparked an interested for THE VEIL COMPLETE BOX SET (Books 1-5) in you? Just click on the links below and check out the set yourself.

See THE VEIL COMPLETE BOX SET ( Books 1-5) on Goodreads.com

Buy BEYOND THE VEIL (THE VEIL #1) on Amazon.co.uk

Or visit Pippa DaCosta’s website for more information about the author herself.