EVIL RISING Series 1-4 by Melody Raven-Series Review

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story lines, there may be some triggers for more sensitive readers.

THE LOST VAMPIRE PRINCE
(Evil Rising #1)
by Melody Raven
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, paranormal/fantasy romance

ebook ONLY 99¢ or £0.99

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Re-release Date January 4, 2019

Nicolas is the embodiment of royalty. Strong. Powerful. Deadly. The only thing he’s missing is his throne.

Decades ago a vampire mutiny murdered his father and forced him into hiding, but all that is about to change. A mortal woman smart enough to learn the truth about him and naive enough to trust him is the perfect pawn to sneak him back into the monarchy.

Nothing is going to stop Nicolas from getting what is rightfully his. Not lust. Not love. And not Anna. At least that’s what he thinks.

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REVIEW: THE LOST VAMPIRE PRINCE is the first instalment (and re-release) in Melody Raven’s (Mallory Crowe) contemporary, adult EVIL RISING paranormal romance series. This is seven-hundred year old vampire Nicolas Zolkin, and twenty-eight year old, college teacher Annabelle Roberts’ story line.

NOTE: THE LOST VAMPIRE PRINCE was originally released as Finding Fire by Mallory Crowe.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Annabelle and Nicolas) THE LOST VAMPIRE PRINCE follows the enemies to lovers romance and relationship between seven-hundred year old vampire Nicolas Zolkin, and twenty-eight year old, college teacher Annabelle Roberts. Annabelle Roberts is an active member of a group of vampire hunters but it has been fifteen years since her last deadly encounter with any of their kind. Having watched a vampire kill someone she loved, Annabelle continues to search for answers when a mysterious phone call directs our heroine to Nicolas Zolkin, a seven hundred year old vampire, and the man with whom Annabelle will fall in love. What ensues is the building but acrimonious relationship between Annabelle and Nicolas, and the potential fall-out as our couple come face to face with both of their pasts.

Nicolas lost everything when his father, the King, was killed. On the run for most of his life, Nicolas had never intended to return to the home that brought back too many painful memories of a time long ago. Meeting Annabelle Roberts finds our hero on a cross-country trek pursuing a death wish for the woman with whom he is falling in love.

The relationship between Nicolas and Annabelle is one of immediate attraction but Annabelle only wants information, the retrieval for which she is completely unprepared. There is something about Annabelle that draws Nicolas like a moth to a flame, a flame that will potentially lead our hero to his final breath. While our heroine is desperate to face the man that destroyed her life, there are times when she is painfully foolish and irresponsible with her own mortal life. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to several members of Annabelle’s vampire hunting group, as well as King Aleksander and his Queen, and vampires Marcus and Fredrick. Marcus’s story line is next in The Vampire Villain.

THE LOST VAMPIRE PRINCE is a story of family, vengeance, betrayal and blood. The fast paced premise is entertaining and captivating; the characters are colorful and charismatic; the romance is fated and seductive. My only complaint is the quick resolution to the story line conflict, and the abrupt end to the story.

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THE VAMPIRE VILLAIN
(Evil Rising #2)
by Melody Raven
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, paranormal/fantasy romance

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Re-release January 5, 2019

Marcus might look like an angel, but he’s always been a villain. So when he’s tasked with infiltrating the Vampire rebellion he doesn’t expect it to be complicated. But his plans might take on a new path as he grows closer to a mortal, who can’t–or won’t–die.

After Gena is brutally murdered and mysteriously resurrected, she sets out to discover the truth about her supernatural background. But when she crosses paths with the sexy and vengeful Marcus, she realizes that there is more to her past than she ever realized.

With time running out, Gena and Marcus search for answers to her past, while going head-to-head with their enemies. Will it end the same way it began–with Gena’s death?

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REVIEW: THE VAMPIRE VILLAIN is the second instalment in Melody Raven’s (aka Mallory Crowe) contemporary, adult EVIL RISING paranormal, romance series. This is ER nurse Gena Dodd, and vampire Marcus Grey’s story line. THE VAMPIRE VILLAIN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. Marcus was first introduced in book one-The Lost Vampire Prince.

NOTE: THE VAMPIRE VILLAIN was originally released as DARING FIRE-Bad Boys of the Underworld #2

Told from dual third person perspectives (Gena and Marcus) follows the building relationship and romance between ER nurse Gena Dodd, and vampire Marcus Grey. Gena Dodd had no idea she wasn’t quite human, but the second successful attempt on her life, found our heroine struggling with the who and how of her rise from the dead. Hoping to discover the truth Gena goes in search of a psychic only to come face to face with a coven of vampires, but one vampire in particular takes a liking to our story line heroine. Enter Marcus Grey, a vampire believed to be a traitor to King Aleksander but a vampire whose working to protect the throne. What ensues is the search for the truth to Gena’s heritage and ability to come back from the dead, and the struggle to protect the King from a band of rebels hoping to take over the world.

THE VAMPIRE VILLAIN is a story of betrayal, secrets, the battle for power, and the struggle for control. Gena will discover the extent and circumstance of her immortality but an immortality that comes with a hidden truth. Marcus, long considered a traitor by his own kind, a vampire who once loved and lost, but has found love once again.

The relationship between Marcus and Gena is one of immediate attraction but there is something about Gena that isn’t quite human. Very few people can ‘see’ the aura surrounding the supernatural world, and it is Gena’s aura that attracts targets her for death by someone she knows. The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters including Gena’s co-workers Ryan Stone, Joy, and her sister Hope; Anael and Tabbris; Gena’s human mother Jill; a large assortment of vampires including King Aleksander, Vlad, and security specialist Marie IronHeart Lacombe.

THE VAMPIRE VILLAIN is an imaginative tale of betrayal and revenge. The premise is imaginative and inviting; the romance is spirited; the characters are energetic and impassioned.

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HER VERY OWN DEMON
(Evil Rising #3)
by Melody Raven
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, paranormal/fantasy romance

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 5, 2019

Kier has been haunting Muriel’s nightmares. He’s handsome, sure. Every demon is. But he’s more devious than the others. More ruthless than the rest. More deserving of revenge.

Ever since he ripped off her wings and reduced her to e mere mortal, Muriel has been planning the perfect revenge. It might not be fun and it might not be pleasant, but she’s not going to just kill him. She wants to give him what he took from her. A soul.

And once she has him bound to her with magical handcuffs, there will be nothing he can do to prevent whatever angelic energy she has left over from corrupting him. And spending that much time with a demon won’t be pleasant, but it will be worth it.

At least it shouldn’t be pleasant. It shouldn’t be hot. It shouldn’t be tempting. But “shouldn’t” is what her demon specializes in..

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REVIEW: HER VERY OWN DEMON is the fourth instalment in Melody Raven‘s (aka Mallory Crowe) contemporary adult EVIL RISING paranormal, romance series. This is demon Kier, and fallen angel Muriel’s story line. HER VERY OWN DEMON can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: HER VERY OWN DEMON is the re-release of the author’s BINDING FIRE-Bad Boys of the Underworld #3.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Muriel and Kier) HER VERY OWN DEMON follows the acrimonious relationship between demon Kier, and fallen angel Muriel. Five years earlier, having sacrificed her life to protect the human thought to fulfil the prophecy to prevent H*ll from destroying the world, Muriel would be condemn to a life on earth when the demon Kier forced our heroine to drink his blood. Fast forward to present day wherein Kier searches for the woman he can’t stop thinking about but a woman who has plans to destroy his life. What ensues is the building relationship between Kier and Muriel, and the potential fall-out as the prophecy has changed, and Muriel is targeted by the demons from H*ll.

Muriel has wanted revenge against the Demon that ensured she would never re-enter heaven but handcuffing herself to said Demon proved all sorts of wrong when their attraction to one another was tethered at their psychic bond. For five years Kier has desperately sought the fallen angel whose life he destroyed but a few hours together found our hero focusing on more than destruction or blood.

The relationship between Kier and Muriel is an enemies to lovers romance wherein Kier becomes protector and guardian to the woman with whom he is falling in love. The longer our couple are together, the more in tune with one another they become. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced Azazel, the current king of H*ll, who is desperate to stop the person prophesized to take him down: Samuel, the man Muriel sacrificed her life for, and his mate Ava; fellow demon Teryn, as well as a large number of supernatural species preparing to a war with H*ll.

HER VERY OWN DEMON is a sexy and steamy story of suspense, revenge, passion and love. The premise is engaging and exciting; the romance is captivating and seductive; the characters are sassy, strong and determined.

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THE WEREWOLF AND THE SIREN
(Evil Rising 4)
by Melody Raven
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, paranormal/fantasy romance

ebook ONLY 99¢ or £0.99 Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.au/ Amazon. uk /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 19,2019

Werewolf shifter, Brock Holt refuses to put his paws all over his sexy accountant. She’s off limits–no questions asked. But when a perilous situation forces him to turn in front of her, all bets are off. She knows his secrets, and now her life could be in danger. Claiming sultry and smart Elsie as his own, Brock swears it’s only for her protection.

Brock missed one small fact: Elsie is far from helpless–or innocent. A born and raised siren, Elsie spent her life fighting against her destiny, refusing to lure unsuspecting men into her clutches. But now that she has Brock, does she really want to let go?

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REVIEW: THE WEREWOLF AND THE SIREN is the fourth instalment in Melody Raven’s (aka Mallory Crowe) contemporary, adult EVIL RISING paranormal, fantasy romance series. This is wolf shifter Brock Holt, and siren Elsie Handeland’s story line. THE WEREWOLF AND THE SIREN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: THE WEREWOLF AND THE SIREN was originally released as RULING FIRE-the fourth book in Mallory Crowe’s BAD BOYS OF THE UNDERWORLD SERIES.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Elsie and Brock) WEREWOLF AND THE SIREN follows several paths including the building relationship between wolf shifter Brock Holt, and siren Elsie Handeland. Working as an accountant for Holt Automated, Elsie kept secret her supernatural heritage, a secret that would be the least of her worries when she discovers that her boss, and Holt Automated CEO is King of the Wolves. An attack against our couple by a group of beings known as ‘myotis’ finds Brock claiming Elsie to protect her life. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Brock and Elsie, and the potential fall-out as history begins to repeat itself when the Holt Pack’s new queen is threatened by an unknown force.

Elsie finds herself on the outside looking in when Brock claims our heroine as his mate and queen. Never claiming her heritage or acting on what should come naturally, Elsie struggles to accept that Brock isn’t forced into accepting her as his mate. Brock Holt knows it will be an uphill battle to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love, a woman who is both vulnerable but capable of holding her own.

The relationship between Elsie and Brock is one of immediate attraction. For two years Elsie has remained oblivious to Brock’s attraction, an attraction that now threatens both of their lives. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to a large and colorful ensemble cast of supernatural characters: Elsie’s mother Rebecca Entin, and her husband vampire Roman Entin, as well as Elsie’s sister Etta; Brock’s family including brother Russell, sister Kayla, nephew Jackson, niece Dani, Dani’s mother and Brock’s sister Gloria, Gloria’s estranged mate Derek, grandmother Lana and several members of the myotis coven including leader Lucian, Cade and Dean.

THE WEREWOLF AND THE SIREN is a story of family, betrayal, legends and myths. The premise is engaging, fast paced and inviting; the romance is seductive and fated; the characters are charismatic, energetic and strong.

Copies supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy