PASSION IGNITES / DARK ALPHA’S CLAIM (Reapers #1) by Donna Grant-a reviews

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PASSION IGNITES (Dark Kings #7) by Donna Grant

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 3, 2015

He consumed her with that kiss, leaving no question that whatever was happening between them was meant to be—that it had always been meant to be…

HE LOVES FOR ETERNITY

Thorn is the bad boy of the Dragon Kings, a gorgeous, reckless warrior whose passions run wild and fury knows no bounds. When he sees the brave, beautiful Lexi being lured into the Dark Fae’s trap, he has no choice but to rescue her from a fate worse than death. But by saving this tempting mortal, he exposes himself to his fiercest enemy—and darkest desires. As the war between Dragons and Fae heats up, so does the passion between Lexi and Thorn. And when love is a battlefield, the heart takes no prisoners…

SHE LIVES FOR VENGEANCE

Lexi is on a mission of justice. Every day, she searches for the monster who murdered her friend. Every night, she hides in the shadows and plots her revenge. But the man she seeks is more dangerous than she ever imagined. He is one of the Dark Fae who preys on human life, who uses his unearthly power to seduce the innocent, and who is setting a trap just for her. Nothing can save Lexi from a creature like this—except the one man who’s been watching her every move…

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REVIEW: PASSION IGNITES is the seventh full length installment in Donna Grant’s adult DARK KINGS fantasy/paranormal romance series focusing on the Dragon Kings and the women they love. The DARK KINGS is a spinoff from Donna Grant’s DARK WARRIOR series which in turn is a spin off from Donna’s DARK SWORD series- all set in the Highlands of Scotland. This is ‘Claret’ dragon king Thorn, and American masseuse Lexi. PASSION IGNITES can be read as a stand alone but for cohesion and backstory I recommend reading the series in order especially the latter books as there is an on-going build up towards war.

Told from several third person perspectives PASSION IGNITES focuses on the coming war between the Dark Kings, the Warriors, the Light Fae, and their mutual enemy the Dark Fae. The Dark Fae and their King Taraeth, along with Ulrik the Silver King and his uncle Mikkel have declared war on the Dragon Kings by exposing the existence of the supernatural species to the world, and with it comes the possible demise of the human population. The last wars between man and the world of the paranormal saw a great loss of life on all sides-but Ulrik wants revenge against King Constantine of the Dragon Kings; Mikkel wants to become King of the Silvers, and the Dark Fae want to rule Scotland and the rest of the world.

Lexi is an American tourist in Scotland whose best friend Christine was murdered by the ‘red eyes’. The ‘red eyes’ are the Dark Fae, and Lexi has remained in Scotland to hunt the people responsible for Christine’s murder. But unbeknownst to Lexi, she is being stalked-not only by the ones she calls the ‘red eyes’ but also by two of the Dragon Kings-Thorn and Darius. Each evening Thorn and Darius patrol the streets of Edinburgh killing the very thing that is stalking Lexi-the Dark Fae. What ensues is a building relationship between Thorn and the American woman who would one day be his mate but Thorn isn’t about to expose Lexi to Constantine, or the memories of his past. Thorn will have Lexi’s memories erased sending her back to America and away from his heart.

PASSIONG IGNITES has a large ensemble cast of characters including many of the Warriors, Druids, Dragons Kings, and Light and Dark Fae, as well as the introduction of the Reapers. The Light Fae royal guardian Rhiannon (Rhi) continues to play a pivotal role throughout the series as she straddles the line between Dark and Light. If you are familiar with the series, Rhi was once in love with a Dark King who all but destroyed her heart and her soul. Donna Grant continues to leave a trail of ‘hints and clues’ as to Rhi’s former lover-a Dragon King whose relationship with Rhi is only known to a few. There is also the building relationship between Rhi and the Dark Fae male known as Balladyn-once a Light Fae who is now ensconced totally in the Dark. Balladyn has been in love with Rhi for thousands of years, and with it comes the ultimate betrayal when Rhi found herself tortured and imprisoned by the man hoping to turn Rhi to the Dark side. As the war begins to escalate the Dark Fae’s numbers increase exponentially, and with it the risk to the human population multiplies. The unsolved murders in Scotland have people on alert, but the Fae’s ability to seduce their prey, find the humans oblivious to their own demise.

Donna Grant’s DARK KINGS series is a flight into the fantastic; her characters are colorful, engaging, impassioned and intense. You will be seduced into the world of the Dragon Kings, the Fae and the mystical Warriors who have vowed to protect the world against the Dark and the Silver. And speaking of Silver, Ulrik’s personality continues to reveal a softer side to the once mighty Silver King-perhaps there is a chance of redemption for a man who lost everything to a human woman that sparked with wars between the supernatural races.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 17, 2015

There is no escaping a Reaper. I am an elite assassin, part of a brotherhood that only answers to Death. And when Death says your time is up, I am coming for you…

My whole existence is based on taking what Death wants. Born to eliminate Fae guilty of unforgivable crimes, my reckless, wild nature makes me the perfect assassin to carry out Death’s bidding. I’ve seen more sinister and violent dealings than anyone could ever imagine. But it was the sight of her face that stopped me cold. I’ve never wanted a woman-never mind a human-so badly; never felt my heart, hardened by death, burn brighter and hotter until it burst into flames. She is everything I desire. The kind of woman that compels you to stake your claim on her, to let the world know that she’s yours. A Reaper saving her life will only attract danger, but I vow to protect her at all costs from the Fae that hunt her, and keep safe the woman who has claimed me, body and soul.

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REVIEW: DARK ALPHA’S CLAIM is the first installment in Donna Grant’s REAPERS adult, paranormal/fantasy romance series. The REAPERS is a spin off from Donna’s DARK KINGS series which is a spin off from Donna’s DARK WARRIOR series which in turn is a spin off from Donna’s DARK SWORD series- all set in the Highlands of Scotland. You do not have to have read any of the previous series to understand the premise but there is a slight cross over with the half-Fae/Warrior Phelan and his Druid wife from the Dark Warrior’s series; a mention of the Dragon Kings; and several connections to Rhi and her protector . This is Reaper Baylon, and half Fae Jordyn’s storyline.

Told from several third person perspectives DARK ALPHA’S CLAIM introduces the Reapers-a group of Dark and Light Fae, selected by Death, to do her bidding. The Reapers are not harbingers of death, but are tasked with destroying the Light and Dark Fae who have crossed a line from which there is no return. When a message from Death orders the termination of all half Fae humans, the Reapers set about in search of those targeted for death. But none of the Reapers are able to carry out the order, and soon discover that the order does not come the person in charge. What ensues is an instant lust to love relationship between Baylon and Jordyn when Baylon is unable to kill the woman with whom he was falling in love- a relationship forbidden by Death-no Reaper is allowed to enter into a relationship or fall in love.

The background of DARK ALPHA’S CLAIM and thusly the Reapers Series is similar to Donna’s Dark Kings series. In the case of the REAPERS, one of their own fell in love, and with it came the knowledge of the forbidden, and in doing so, lost the woman with whom he had wanted to spend eternity. And similarly to the Dark Kings, betrayal and vengeance are the focus of the series when someone long thought gone returns from the past to avenge the death of his mate and his own sentence to the beyond. And saying this, the conflict is all too familiar, as is the need for revenge.

DARK ALPHA’S CLAIM is a quick read; not quite a full-length storyline that gives the reader some of the background and history of the inception of the Reapers, and their connections to the Light and Dark Fae. The Dark Fae are growing in numbers, power, and a need for revenge; they have declared war and the Reapers, the Dark Kings, and the Light Fae have been targeted for extinction. Some of the events in DARK ALPHA’S CLAIM run parallel to the events in PASSION IGNITES (Dark Kings #7).

DARK ALPHA’S CLAIM is an entertaining read but one that felt all too familiar from the author.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy