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ORIGINAL SINNER (Original Sinners 1) by Kait Ballenger-review

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ORIGINAL SINNER (Original Sinners 1) by Kait Ballenger-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 25, 2025

Seven deadly—and ultrarich—sins rule NYC, and though she came here to escape her past, one woman’s true path to freedom might be the devil’s bonds.

The seven deadly sins keep high profiles in the Big Apple: Lust runs brothels, Sloth’s a media streamer…you get the picture. Pride, though, he’s more mysterious. You might know him as Lucifer—temptation irresistibly embodied. The paparazzi are dying for some burning-hot gossip. So when someone publishes my scathing but private rant about him, they eat it up. And now my job is on the line. After all, he is my boss.

With his vicious siblings vying for his power, Lucifer needs to distract the press, so he reframes my tirade as a lovers’ spat, demanding I play the devil’s fiancée. I need to be a good girl, smile for the cameras, nothing more.
But cocky and cruel as he is, his darkness awakens something wicked in me. Sexy and in control, he might just be the cure—an extra dose of sin to heal me from a lifetime of shame and subservience.
And I like it.

••••••

REVIEW:ORIGINAL SINNER is the first instalment in Kait Ballenger’s contemporary, adult ORIGINAL SINNERS dark, erotic, urban fantasy, romance series focusing on twenty-three year old, preacher’s daughter and PA Charlotte Bellefleur, and the prince of darkness Lucifer Apollyon.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers, as well as some expected religious overtones.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Charlotte and Lucifer) ORIGINAL SINNER follows the building but tempestuous relationship between PA Charlotte Bellefleur, and the prince of darkness Lucifer Apollyon. Charlotte is wholly aware of the Lucifer’s reputation as a billionaire CEO in New York City. In an effort to get up close and personal with Lucifer, Charlotte finds herself applying for a job at Apollyon Inc, where she will become Lucifer’s personal assistant, a position that comes with certain perks of the job but someone is stalking our story line heroine, and an anonymous social media post finds Charlotte bowing to the man with whom she will fall in love. All is not well in the world of the fallen angels, someone else is taking aim at our story line couple.

The world building focuses on several intersecting pathways including the dysfunctional family dynamics of Lucifer’s unheavenly and heavenly family; the jealousy and fight for control, dividing the seven original sinners, and our heroine’s past who refuses to let go. Charlotte has many secrets, secrets that push her into the direct line of fire, and her own decaying family kinetics.

The relationship between Charlotte and Lucifer begins when our heroine integrates herself into the world of the fallen angels but Charlotte is out of her element, and finds herself answering to the prince of darkness. Lucifer doesn’t do relationships, and rarely goes out in public, and in this, Charlotte is determined to change Lucifer’s image but the results will backfire, and our couple must come to terms with what is happening and why. The $ex scenes are aggressive and provocative.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, powerful and interested secondary and supporting characters including Lucifer’s assistant Imani, Charlotte’s best friend Jax, original sinners Astarath, Asmodeus, Mammon, Belphgor, Satan, Leviathan, Beelzebub: Gabriel and Michael. The requisite evil has many faces.

ORIGINAL SINNER is a story of secrets and lies, power and control, faith and trust, family and dysfunction, acceptance and love. The premise is dramatic, dark and edgy; the romance tense and sensational; the characters are determined, charismatic and controversial. ORIGINAL SINNER ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

BIO: Kait Ballenger is a full-time paranormal romance author, wife, bellydancer, graduate student, and soon-to-be-professor. She is the multi-published, award-winning author of the Execution Underground paranormal romance series. With a B.A in English from Stetson University, Kait is currently earning an M.F.A in Writing. Kait believes anything is possible with hard work and dedication. One day, she hopes to be a bestseller and to see her novels on the big screen. Look for the next two books in her page-turning Execution Underground series: Twilight Hunter, book one (August 2013) and Immortal Hunter, book two (January 2014). For more information, please visit www.kaitballenger.com or follow her on Twitter @kait_ballenger.

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Original Sin by Lydia Michaels -Review tour

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Original Sin (The Order of Vampires) Book 1 by Lydia Michaels -Review tour

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date

Adam Hartzler has always been an honorable immortal, but the fine line between right and wrong begins to blur when he is called to his true mate. If he does not find and claim her soon, he will lose his soul and humanity, transforming into a vile predator controlled by insatiable bloodlust, sentenced to a demonic and tortured eternity as a vampire.

Adam sets out on a quest to hunt his mate and claim her before it is too late. His salvation relies on his destined mate’s surrender, but when she refuses to cooperate, Adam must set aside his morals and do what is needed to survive. Time’s slipping away with his control, and his territorial instincts refuse to let her go.

Annalise Snow awakens on a primitive farm removed from modern civilization and in fear of her life. Her captor is determined to keep her prisoner and believes he is somehow entitled to her future. But she will not surrender easily. When Adam asks for the ultimate sacrifice, she must decide if he lives or dies.

Passion and emotion collide in an explosive meeting of destined souls, but love is never a guarantee, especially when eternity begins with betrayal.

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: Adam has heard what happens to a male if he can’t find a mate. He knows an arranged marriage will work (like his parents) but he’s holding out for a true mate. His beliefs are strong.

Annalise works in a bar, she’s in school studying to be a nurse. Living a frugal life until she’s saved enough to move out of her crappy apartment and upgrade her dying car. She likes the work, her regulars look after her and she looks after them.

This was a good read.

Different from the usual paranormal books I read.

Very strong on beliefs and the will of god (each to their own, but not for me)

Most mates are found and sort of wooed, But Adam practically kidnaps her. He thinks he’s entitled, he can woo her after they are wed!!

And Annalise, oh dear, not happy at all. Living her life on her own terms, she’s got a five year plan and it’s getting there, she’s even sort of dating the barman where she works (but I get the impression it’s mostly on his side)

Adam’s attitude to Annalise was winding me up a little (but if your brought up with that belief, it’s hard to see it any other way)
I don’t know how this is going to work! Annalise is a modern independent woman, Adam is not a modern man!!

Well written, very descriptive. You got the sense of urgency from Adam to find Annalise, you also got his frustration, but you also see him fight his dark side. He doesn’t want to turn into a vampire. He’d rather his family put him out of his misery. You rejoice with him, when he finally finds her, and you want to roll your eyes at his high handiness!!

You want to scream your frustration out at Annalise, her life has all been taken away, and at the sheer arrogance of the males in Adam’s village!!

I liked the idea of the dreams linking them together, Adam being able to track her, getting more information on her. I liked the idea that Annalise was involved, but hers were darker, did she sense Adam was almost ready to turn?

Twist at the end, Oh My God, did not see that coming!!! And for a minute there, I almost didn’t want to finish the book (it wasn’t looking good for Adam and Annalise!)

And it also leaves it open for a few other members to get a happy ending. And I really hope they get their books.

I highly recommend this book.

? Julie B

Copy supplied for review

 

 

Lifting a towel from the basket in the corner, he shut his eyes and inhaled, pressing the fabric to his nose. His body instantly hardened, his instincts driving him to her bed where she slept soundly.
She lay in the center of the bed, dwarfed by the large mattress. Her limbs twisted in the white sheet. Waves of copper and gold splayed across the pillow. So still. So delicate. So … his.
Satisfied with God’s selection, he studied his prize. His salvation. His future. His beautiful Annalise.
Hooking a finger into the sheet, he slowly drew the blanket toward the foot of the bed. A simple undershirt, covering little more than her breasts, gave a transparent picture of her curves.
Narrow ribs tapered into a tiny waist he’d be able to span with his hands. Her hips flared, as a healthy woman’s should. His head cocked as the sheet fell to the side, exposing her legs. A wisp of material, too small to be considered a garment, covered her sex.
“What evil is this?”
He inhaled deeply, wondering at the strange covering. Females of the order wore handmade undergarments, loosely fitting with ties. The men wore nothing under their clothes. But this…
Lowering to the bed, he sat gingerly beside her hip and studied her. The overwhelming need to touch her, mark her, stole through him hard and fast, leaving all other instincts second.
He wanted to feed from her vein as his body throbbed inside of hers, filling her with his seed. He wanted to possess every part of her—mind, body, and soul.
“Beautiful, Annalise,” he whispered.
Unlocking his fists, he traced the back of his finger along the soft white expanse of her thigh. Goosebumps prickled her flesh, and a small moan escaped her throat.
“You will know my touch and feel it often.”
Drawing slow whirls over her hip, his fingertip treaded lightly across the elastic of her minimal undergarment. Her skin showed like ivory in the moonlight. Silver pools of blue painted her pale skin. She was a masterpiece. Hard points formed under her shirt as he dragged his exploring finger up her arm. He ached to trace his touch over the turgid tip but refrained.
A soft moan slipped past her plump lips and her legs shifted, her hips burrowing into the mattress. Could she sense his desire?
His need to touch and possess her left him shaken. Withdrawing his caress, his gaze traveled over her torso. Each breath expanded her ribs and lifted her breasts. His inspection climbed the narrow column of her throat and stilled at her fluttering pulse.
Arousal slammed into him. A bone deep hunger ached inside of him, begging him to claim her. His tongue traced under his fangs as he leaned closer, breathing in her delicate fragrance, feeding off the scent of such a vulnerable offering. So small. So fragile. So in need of a mate. His jaw widened—
He sprang off the bed, startled by the powerful trance she held over him. It was as if she had him under some sort of spell.
Forking a hand through his hair, he paced silently. He wanted her now, consequences be damned. How long would he have to wait? Would it really matter? Their futures were decided. Why not now?
Battling with his conscience, he crouched at the foot of the bed, his greedy stare traveling up her legs. His thumb dragged along the inside of her ankle, gliding upward to her knee and pulling her legs apart. Her scent intensified.
Closing his eyes, he breathed her in. This was his mate, his one and only, his ainsicht.
The beat of her heart seemed to complement his, like the tease and retreat of the ocean waves beating back the banks of the shore. The rush of blood pumping through her veins rattled his concentration. It sung to him, a siren’s call that compelled an answer.
His skin burned like the tongues of a fire, licking at his insides, his burning desires heating his blood to volcanic degrees. He needed to leave. Now.
Taut as a bow, he forced himself away from the bed for her protection. Never had he fought such temptation. Carnal images assaulted him. Her body clinging to his, flesh gliding over flesh. Nails digging into muscle. Fangs piercing skin.
His cock throbbed, pleading that he take her and claim what was rightfully his. Heart hammering against his ribs, he staggered back from the bed. His control was slipping. If he touched her now, he’d break her.


 

Lydia Michaels is the award winning author of over 35 romance novels. She is an iBooks Bestsellers and her work has been featured in USA Today. She is the two-time winner of the Author of the Year Award from Happenings Media [2018 & 2019]. In 2015 she won The Best Author Award from The Courier Times. She is a five time nominee for the prestigious RONE Award. Her books are intellectual, emotional, haunting, always centered around love.

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