Tag Archives: Deizian Empire

Shattered Web by Crista McHugh – Review & Giveaway

Posted on by
26

Shattered Web by Crista McHugh – Review & Giveaway

Shattered Web Banner

 

Shattered Web
Deizian Empire – Book #4
by Crista McHugh
Shattered WebShattered Web is part of the Alpha After Dark Anthology (8 books in one)
Links to order Anthology (only $.99): Amazon / Barnes & Noble



Description:
With the birth of the imperial heir days away, Marcus is entrusted with an urgent mission by his best friend, Emperor Titus Sergius Flavus – unraveling the mysterious disappearance of every living soul in a trading post along the barrier. Unfortunately, all the clues point to the one woman he loved and lost. Even though his mind urges caution, his heart longs for a second chance to prove to her they belong together.

The daughter of the most infamous courtesan in Emona, Sexta faked her death in order to gain her freedom, never guessing fate would entwine her path with the one man she loved enough to let go. But now, she not only has to deny her feelings for him after every tantalizing kiss—she needs to prove her innocence before the true enemy brings the empire to its knees.

 

Review:

Shattered Web begins with Sexta plotting her “death” in order to finally be free.  Enter Marcus, a man whom she has loved from the first time she met him. And he has loved her as well. However, Marcus is the best friend of the Emperor and she knows they can never be together, even though Marcus has repeatedly tried to convince her otherwise.  She cannot escape her past and doesn’t want Marcus to suffer the sneers and jeers that would surely come their way if they were ever seen together, let alone married.  They have a very passionate interlude in the gardens, and even though it breaks her heart, she knows she has to send him away.  Broken hearted and angry, Marcus storms out of the gardens.  Once he’s gone, Sexta and her trusted right-hand man, Djer, set their plan in motion and she “dies”.

Once Marcus learns of Sexta’s death, he manages to keep going, but is devastated at the loss.  When the Emperor summons him to the palace, he learns that one of the port towns, Shalfak, has been attacked and has been deserted.  Deserted as in no one living and no one dead.  Marcus and Rufius, a former soldier, are sent to investigate the mysterious disappearance of Shalfak’s citizens.  The last airship to leave the port town was the Temptress, which just happened to be docked in Emona…….. When Marcus reaches the Temptress, he discovers that the captain is none other than Sexta…………Alive and well, and obviously hiding something.

Once Marcus confronts Sexta, and she discovers what has happened in Shalfak, she manages to escape and head there herself to see just what’s going one.  And, when Marcus arrives hot on her heels, they have no idea as to how much their lives are about to change.  Seems that something slipped in when the barrier briefly fell, and no one was the wiser, until Marcus and Sexta happen upon their worst nightmare.  Will the two of them be able to overcome their distrust of each other in order to save the empire?  Well, of course they will, but fasten your seatbelts.  It’s going to be a bumpy ride.

I was so excited when I found out that this installment was Marcus’s book. I’ve been looking forward to his for a long time, and, oh my sweet Jesus, it was magnificent.  Once again, Crista McHugh wastes no time and grabs you from the get-go.  The chemistry between Marcus and Sexta is awesome.  Sexta is a fascinating heroine.  She was willing to give up her one true love in order to save herself, and in her opinion, to save him as well.  As usual, we get to see some of our old friends, and are introduced to some new ones, namely Rufius and Djer, who were great as well.  I know y’all probably get tired of me saying it, but NO ONE builds a world quite the way Crista does.  The images are always vivid in my mind as I read her books, and I always look forward to the next.  I’ll say it again, if you’ve not read this series, you’re seriously missing out.  Well done, Crista McHugh, VERY VERY WELL DONE!!!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy provided by Author

Giveaway 2

Alphas AfterDarkCrista  has graciously offered to give an e-copy of Alphas After Dark to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. Please register using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

4. LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. Giveaway runs from April 5 to April 10, 2014, 2014

6. Giveaway is open Internationally

Share

Crista McHugh – Deception’s Web- Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

Posted on by
40

Crista McHugh – Deception’s Web- Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

Deception's Web Banner 2

Deception’s Web
The Deizian Empire series
 Book #3
 Release Date: December 9, 2013

Deception's WebLinks to order Deception’s Web:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The BookDepository

Description:
 A soldier looking for redemption falls into the arms of the empire’s Black Widow… Galerius, former Captain of the Legion, is honored to be given a chance to redeem himself by discovering who is behind the failing barrier. A series of anonymous letters all point to Hostilius, governor of Lucrilia, but Galerius thinks he’ll learn more about the plot by seducing the governor’s thrice widowed daughter, Claudia. Although he warns himself not to fall into snare of the empire’s most deadly temptress, one kiss leaves him begging for more. Claudia has spent years as a pawn in her father’s political games and longs to break free of his rule, even it means betraying him to the emperor. When Galerius arrives in Tivola, she’s not sure if he’s there to aid her father or stop him. She willingly submits to his seduction, despite their class differences, in order to find the truth. What she doesn’t expect to find is a man who indulges her secret fantasies, satisfying her in a way none of her previous husbands did, and treats her as something more than a conquest. As time runs out to thwart her father’s plans, she must decide if she can trust Galerius not only with her life, but her heart

Review:

Deception’s Web by Crista McHugh begins with more threats against the Emperor and the Empress and the empire that Titus and Azurha are working ever so hard to bring together.  Someone is trying to sabotage the barrier that protects their planet from the barbarians and they both know that they will need someone that they can entrust such secrets with.  And to add to the secrecy, we discover that Azurha is pregnant and Titus will do anything to keep the love of his life and his unborn child safe.

 

When Galerius is summoned to the palace, he’s not quite sure what to make of it.  After all, he failed the emperor and resigned his post as Captain of the Legion, even though Titus and Azurha protested, he felt he had no other choice.  Once he is brought up to speed regarding the new threat to the empire, he still doesn’t feel that he is the one for the job.  But, once Azurha plays him like a fiddle and gets him riled, he jumps at the chance to redeem himself in their eyes and to himself.  However, when he finds out that he will have to interact with the empire’s notorious Black Widow…………  Gods help him…

 

To say that Claudia has been a pawn in her father’s quests to take over the empire is like saying that Moby Dick was a sardine.  She has bore the brunt of her father’s ire as well as her brother’s.  But, once she realizes that her father is planning something big and strike at the Emperor and seize control of the empire, she knows that she can no longer be his pawn.  And, once she realizes that Galerius is there to stop her father, she sets out to aid him without his knowledge.  The one thing that Claudia didn’t count on was Galerius making her wish for things that she dared not to ever wish for.  Could they place their trust in each other and, just maybe, find happiness together?  Well my friends, you will have to read to find out.

 

Oh my sweet Jesus, where to begin?!  McHugh has once again left me astounded with her storytelling skills.  Everyone knew that Galerius was being too hard on himself when he left the Legion, which made us love him even more.  And, when Titus and Azurha played good cop/bad cop in order to have him help them once again, the pride with which he embarked on this mission made your heart swell.  BUT, how in the world would McHugh make us accept Claudia?  After all, she had made a play for the Emperor and was horrid to Azurha.  Seems Azurha knew there was more to Claudia than met the eye and Crista McHugh did a fabulous job in letting us see even more than what Azurha seemingly already knew.  The absolute disdain that Claudia’s father and brother had for her will make your heart break, but once she knows she can no longer accept her role in her father’s machinations, she holds her head high and does what she has to do to right the atrocious wrongs reaped upon their people by her father.

 

Crista McHugh has once again written an awesome story full of political intrigue and steamy romance.  There is also a wonderful path of self discovery after a life full of self doubt for both Galerius and Claudia.  One that will absolutely leave you wanting more from this wonderful world that McHugh has so effortlessly created.  Very well done Crista McHugh, very, very well done……  Oh, and, by the way, there will be more, right?!?!?!!?  =D

 

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy provided by Author

Deizian Series

 

 

Guest Post-White and Aqua

The Isle of Capri, Tiberius, and Caligula

crista picture 1

When creating my fictional setting of Tivola (in the province of Lucrillia) , I turned to the Isle of Capri for inspiration. In addition to being the home of the beautiful Blue Grotto and other amazing scenery, it was also home to several emperors during their reigns. This was where young Caligula spent his formative years under the care of Emperor Tiberius (who was fond of tossing people he didn’t like off the cliffs). And when I decided to create a power-hungry villain and son, I didn’t have to look much further than that pair.
Crista picture 2

Completed in 27 AD, Villa Jovis was where Emperor Tiberius basically ruled the Roman Empire during the last ten years of his reign. Rumors of sordid behaviors, from the aforementioned executions for entertainment to the orgies that last for days, filtered back to Rome. The people were so appalled by Tiberius’s behavior that they publically rejoiced when his ward, Caligula, smothered him in his sleep. But of course, we all know about Caligula’s reign… If you could set a story in any place, where would it be?

Giveaway
Crista has graciously offered to give one lucky member of The Reading Café a copy of her first two books in her Deizian Empire series, Tangled Web & Poisoned Web.

Deizian Series 2

1.  Please register using the Log-In at the top of the page, or by using one of our social log-ins.

2.  If you are using a social log-in e.g. Twitter, please leave your email address along with your comment.

3.  Giveaway open Internationally

4.  Contests runs from December 10 to December 14, 2013

Share

Tangled Web by Crista McHugh – a Review

Posted on by
18

Tangled Web by Crista McHugh – a Review

 


Tangled Web by Crista McHugh is the first book in her Deizian Empire series.

Description:

The deadliest assassin in the empire just got too close to her target…

Azurha, a former slave turned deadliest assassin in the empire, has just been offered the ultimate challenge—seduce, then murder the new Emperor. But Titus is not the tyrant his forefathers were, and his radical ideas might be the glimmer of hope the empire needs.

Titus Sergius Flavus has yet to master the powerful magic of his ancestors—magic he must wield if he’s to protect his people—but his father’s death has left him no choice. Rule the Deizian Empire and attempt to right his ancestors’ wrongs, or watch her fall to his greedy kin.

More than just Titus’ ideas hold Azurha captive. Night after night, he awakens desires she thought lost, and uncovers the magic of her hidden lineage. As her deadline approaches, Azurha is forced to make an impossible decision—complete her job and kill the man she loves, or fail and forfeit both their lives.

Review:

Tangled Web begins with Azurha still bound to her master in slavery.  She is abused and humiliated in horrendous ways.  Fortunately, through a series of events, she gains her freedom.  Flash forward 7 years.  She is a free woman and very good at her job:  assassin, a.k.a., The Rabbit.  She’s fast, deadly and a shadow.  She was trained by Cassius, an assassin as well, who took her in after she gained her freedom.  She attends a meeting to find out who her next mark is:  His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Titus Sergius Flavus.  And the person who hires her?  The Emperor’s cousin, who would be next in line as Emperor.  Her cover?  She is being presented to the Emperor as a concubine for the imperial harem.

Immediately upon her arrival at the palace, she realizes that Titus isn’t the same as those before him.  He thinks outside the box, something those that preceded him didn’t do and she is intrigued.  Is this man really trying to do what’s best for his people or, like the ones before him, do what’s best for personal gain?  For the first time in Azurha’s career as an assassin, she hesitates in taking out her target.  She tells herself that she will take the two weeks that she’s been given to kill him in order to find out more.  However, the longer she takes to fulfill her contract, the more danger she places on herself and Titus.

Tangled Web had me enthralled from the very first sentence…. You’ll never find a knot you can’t unravel.  The way McHugh has written the story builds from the very first.  The pull between the two main characters is immediate and does not stop.  There is political intrigue and a bit of mystery.  Due to Azurha’s former slave status, she thinks she can only bring Titus down as their feelings grow stronger for each other.  But Titus has plans for his empire and they include her.  He is determined to change the “status quo”, and everything else be damned.  Of course, there are bumps along the way, where things are not as they appear and things are revealed that change everything.  Can Titus truly love an assassin who was sent to kill him?  Or has Azurha finally found the knot she can’t unravel?

This book was good from the first word until the last.  Actually, it was great.  I keep trying to come up with the words to describe it, and all that keeps going through my mind is “oh my sweet Jesus!!”!!  LOL!!!  It was a page-turner from the word go.  The chemistry between Azurha and Titus was amazing.   There was no “filler” in this book.  No lengthy descriptions of anything other than the characters’ thoughts and feelings about the given situation they were facing at the time.  Even for the supporting characters, which are very well written and I can’t wait to read the next book in this series to find out more about them.  I had a friend call and say that she getting burned out reading and I told her to get Tangled Web.  She did and finished it in one sitting.  It is phenomenal.  This is the first book that I’ve read by Crista McHugh, but I guarantee you it won’t be the last.

Reviewed by Vickie

 Copy provided by Publisher

  

Share