WICKED RIDE (Realm Enforcers #1) by Rebecca Zanetti-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 23, 2015

Alexandra Monzelle is a hard-fighting, heat-packing Seattle vice cop, and she’s not much interested in being protected. Her short skirt and sex-kitten heels are tools to lure her suspects into talking about the deadly new drug hitting the streets. She can take care of herself and then some. Unfortunately, she can’t seem to get that through to Kellach Dunne.

Kellach is a fresh import from Dublin, and he’s landed at the heart of a vicious motorcycle club that deals in guns, narcotics, and mayhem. He’s all male, all rough power—and all interference in her damn investigation. Maybe he’s one of the good guys. Maybe not. Lex knows an affair with an immortal like him would risk everything. No matter how delicious he looks…

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REVIEW: WICKED RIDE is the first installment in Rebecca Zanetti’s new, paranormal Realm Enforcers romance series-a spin off from her Dark Protector series. This is supernatural enforcer / witch Kellach Gideon Dunne, and Seattle vice cop Alexandra Monzelle’s storyline. You do not have to have read the original series to understand or enjoy Rebecca’s new Realm Enforcer spin off. Kellach was first introduced in the Dark Protectors installment HUNTED.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Alexandra and Kellach) WICKED RIDE focuses on the latest designer drug to hit the streets of Seattle, Washington-Apollo-a deadly injectable solution that renders its’ users in a state of god-like euphoria with super human strength, eventually leaving the abusers a seething mess of pyrotechnic ash. Alexandra Monzelle is working the streets as an undercover cop in the hopes of discovering the supplier. Enter Kellach Dunne-the number one man on Alexandra’s list of suspects but a man whose position in the supernatural world will pit our leading couple against one another as both are trying to ferret out the same information but in differing ways.

Kellach Dunne is a 350 year old male witch; a realm enforcer with superior skills and the ability to use fire and flame. Meeting Alexandra finds our hero drawn to the spunky cop who is unwilling to give up control of her current investigation. What ensues is a battle between Kellach and Alexandra when Alex refuses to back down in the hunt for those responsible for supplying the new designer drug.

The relationship between Kellach and Alexandra is one of immediate attraction. Kellach mistakenly ‘claims’ Alex as his mate, and in doing so places Alexandra in the direct line of conflict as it pertains to the supernatural world. Alexandra easily accepts the existence of the paranormal species but her reluctance to back down from her investigation places everyone in danger. The $ex scenes are intimate and hot- a little too hot for the condoms of modern man. 😉

The world building brings together witches, demons, vampires, and humans with latent supernatural powers. The ensemble cast of characters include Alexandra’s sister-singer Tori Monzelle, as well as a number of fellow police officers and detectives including Donny Masterson, working the Apollo investigation. We are also introduced to Kellach’s large extended family including brothers Adam and Daire; their cousin Simone- a member of the Coven Nine of Witches; the Titans of Fire Motorcycle Club president Pyro and VP Duck; and as well as a big, cuddly shifter known as Bear- the head of the MC club known as the Grizzlies. A number of characters from Rebecca’s Dark Protector series make cameo appearances including King of the Realm and vampire Dage Kayrs and his mate Emma; and Dage’s nephews vampire Garrett and demon Logan.

WICKED RIDE has a little bit of everything: love, romance, and seduction; magic, mayhem, and destruction; paranormal beings with supernatural powers; and a premise about a deadly problem plaguing the world-designer drugs and the people in charge. Rebecca mixes some humor and fun into a storyline where two people from different ‘worlds’ find love and a happily ever after in the face of surmounting obstacles-the biggest obstacle being Alexandra’s inability to see anything beyond the black and white. At times, Alexandra’s personality and dogged determination were a bit of a distraction to the overall enjoyment of the storyline-her issues with trust overrode her ability to see the truth.

Rebecca Zanetti’s WICKED RIDE and her new Realm Enforcers series is imaginative, intriguing and a delight to read. Her characters are colorful, charismatic and breathtaking; the premise is captivating and fun; the happily ever after an inspiring story of fated love.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy