Posts Tagged ‘dark hunter’

It has been hinted, in past books, that the pompous and possibly malevolent Dark-Hunter, Valerius, might not have the heart of stone that his father and grandfather did. There might be more to him than what is portrayed by his arrogant persona. In this book, (book 7), we get to luxuriate in his distinguished, cultivated, yet sensitive side, and he proves to be a man worth loving (which I most certainly did!)

Again, another winner of a book, the refined Valerius crosses paths with the exorbitant self proclaimed “vampire hunter”, Tabitha (Amanda’s twin sister). After stabbing him (she was slightly overzealous in her Daimon killing), she brings him to her place to help him heal. Realizing who he is (the enemy of her own brother-in-law, Kyrian), she understands the necessity of hiding the fact that they are helping each other (and somewhat temporarily living together).

Valerius opened his mouth to contradict her, then stopped. There was no reasoning with Tabitha when she was in this saucy mood. “Are you testy because you didn’t get enough sleep or do you wish for me to leave?”

“I didn’t get enough sleep and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll sit down and eat.” She headed to the kitchen.

Valerius didn’t listen. He went into the kitchen, picked her up, and tossed her over his shoulder.

“What are you doing?” she asked, her tone angry.

He sat her down in a chair and braced his hands on its arms so that she was pinned there. “Good evening Tabitha. I’m fine tonight. How are you?”

“Irritated at you.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” he said lifting one hand up to caress her cheek. “I woke up to the smell of you on my skin and I have to say that it put me in a rather good mood that I don’t want you to destroy.”

Tabitha melted at those words and the tender look on his face.

While their personalities should seemingly clash, they quickly find themselves to be kindred spirits, both ostracized for their unconventional behaviors (she’s wild and he’s reclusive).

Valerius was raised in a household of abuse (again, under the assumption that it built character). Witness to the torturing of both Kyrian (by his grandfather) and then his brother Zarek (at the hands of his own father and brothers), he had been obliged to form a shell around his heart to protect himself and anyone he has ever cared about from harm. As a Roman General, he had allowed himself to care for someone (from a distance), causing her to be killed, which secured his reason for not ever loving again. Again, as a Dark-Hunter, when he tried to do good, the outcome was bad;

The last time he tried to help someone had been over a  year ago when Acheron had asked him to help fight Daimons off a Katagaria wolf pack. He’d gone willingly but during the fight, Vane and Fang, the two wolves they’d been helping, had lost their sister to an ill-placed Daimon strike. She’d died in her brother’s arms.

The sight haunted him to this day.

Valerius had told Vane that anytime  he needed him, he’d gladly lend his sword arm to the wolf. Luckily, Vane had never needed him.

You’re being ridiculous.

Perhaps, but it wouldn’t bother him so much if he was the one who bore the brunt of it. The disaster always seemed to fall onto the ones he tried to help.

Keeping people at arm’s length has become second nature to him, and not even his own Squire, Otto, can stand him (doing everything he can to irritate Valerius). His brother Zarek, now a god, sporadically torments Valerius with his powers,

Tabitha gasped as Valerius was thrown against a building from the lightning strike. Before she could take a step toward him, it literally started pounding rain on him and no one else. In fact, the only place it was raining was where Valerius lay on the ground.

“What on earth?” she asked.

Valerius took a deep breath as he slowly pushed himself to his feet. His lip was split, and he had a cut on his cheek from where he’d hit the building. Without a word, he wiped the blood off with the back of his hand, then felt the wound on his cheek.

He was soaking wet while the rain continued to fall on him in a pounding staccato beat. “It’ll stop in a minute.”

And it did.

Valerius wiped the water from his face and then wrung his ponytail.

Tabitha was aghast. “What just happened?”

“My brother, Zarek,” he said wearily as he shook his arms and sent water flying. “He was made a god a couple of years ago and has since turned me into his full-time occupation. It’s why I no longer drive anywhere. I grew rather tired of my engine just falling out of my car for no apparent reason whenever I stopped for a light. The only safe mode of transportation I have is my feet and as you have witnessed, not even it is completely safe.” There was no missing the anger in his tone.

“Is my car safe?”

He nodded. “He only comes after me.”

She started to approach him.

“Don’t,” he said, his breath suddenly forming a small cloud as he spoke. “It’s freezing here.”

Tabitha reached out her hand and felt the arctic air that surrounded Valerius. It was colder than a freezer where he stood. “Why does he do this to you?”

“He hates me.”

and even Nick has managed to get all of Bourbon street to watch and retaliate against Valerius any time they see him.

Tabitha, being an empath, feels who he really is on the inside, and ignores his hardened exterior. Seeing the injustices from those who shun him, she takes him into her heart, forcefully breaks through his walls, and teaches him to love again. Going against all of his past convictions, he reluctantly lets himself go to her, and for once in his life, truly lives again.

He offered a smile that warmed her heart. “Thank you, Tabitha.”

It was the first time he’d said her name. His rich, deep accent sent a shiver over her.

Before she could stop herself, she placed her hand against his cheek. She half-expected him to pull away.

He didn’t. He merely stared up at her with those curious black eyes.

She was struck by his handsomeness. By his inner pain, which made her own heart ache for him. And before she could think better of it, she dipped her head down so that she could capture his lips with her own.

Valerius was completely unprepared for her action. Never had a woman initiated a kiss with him. Never. Tabitha was bold with her exploration, demanding, and it sizzled through his body like lava.

Cupping her face, he kissed her back.

Having someone to share with, laugh with, and love, has never been something he had experienced in the past, and Tabitha, for the first time ever, falls for the type of man she never thought she could be attracted to. Each delves into a whole new world together, and come out of it, reawakened.

However, things apparently will not be easy for them. How can they manage to be a couple when her family would rather see him dead, (and to make matters worse, Tabitha and her twin are still being hunted by powers that appear to be stronger than what the Dark-Hunters have ever faced).

This book resembles Talon’s in that, the premise of the story goes far beyond Valerius and Tabitha’s developing relationship. There are darker powers at play, with gods strategizing to rid the world of Dark Hunters, and their loved ones, to completely take over. Acheron struggles against his own dark side and his need to intervene with the lives of those he cares for the most, and the fates of the Dark-Hunters (and their entourage) may be changed forever.

I will admit, that there are a lot of things that are *too convenient* at times in these stories, but I go with it. The author always manages to “clean things up” (taking great care of her characters), essentially wrapping them all up with a nice shiny ribbon. But, there is always a catch. Here’s a slight *hint* into an interesting story development, that strays from Valerius and Tabitha’s. Tabitha introduced Nick to “Simi”, and the following day, Nick asked Tabitha for Simi’s number… 

Tabitha rubbed her head to help alleviate some of the bitter ache that was starting right between her eyes. This was so bad…”And after you two ate, you what?”

His grin turned wicked. “You know, a gentleman never kisses and tells.”

Tabitha covered her mouth as she felt an urge to be really sick.

Nick sobered instantly. “What?”

“You didn’t happen to ask who she was going to meet, did you?”

“No, I assumed it was a friend.”

“Oh Nick,” she said, wanting to cry for him and his ignorance. “it was more than a friend. Let me put it to you this way. Her phone number is 555-562-1919.”

He scowled. “That’s Ash’s number.”

“Yes, it is.”

Something else that can potentially devastate another’s entire world (as in the HUGE twist that happens at the end of this one). I didn’t see it coming, and it helped *dirty* up the end a bit She keeps me coming back for more!

Book five focuses on the Dark-Hunter, Wulf Tryggvasen. While he has been mentioned, and somewhat included, in past installments, (he is Talon’s best friend), we have not had much exposure to him until now. Gorgeous, and charismatic, Wulf has one tiny catch! He has been cursed in that no unrelated human will remember him five minutes after they meet him. It doesn’t matter how many times they meet him, or that they might even work for him…even an unforgettable night with him, he will simply be forgotten five minutes after he walks away.

Cassandra Peters born to a human father and an Apollite mother, is the last in her very special line tied to the god who created them, Apollo. Her sisters and mother have all succumbed to their eventual death, and Cassandra is being hunted by special Daimons and god’s alike (as they believe they will be “freed” from Apollo’s curse if Apollo’s last heir dies).

With those binding word, and in one fit of anger, Apollo had damned himself to extinction. For once his son’s bloodline died, so then would Apollo and with him the sun itself.

You see, Apollo isn’t just a god. He is the essence of the sun and holds in his hands the balance of the universe.

On the day Apollo dies, so does the earth and all who dwell here.

She is approaching her 27th birthday (the die or “turn Daimon” situation), and since she seems to take more after her human side then her Apollite side (as her sisters did), she wonders if she might be able to survive past her looming curse.

After yet another attack on her life, during a night out with the girls, she is rescued by Wulf. He doesn’t realize that she is half-apollite (in which case, he might eventually have to rid the world of her, too). They have an immediate gravitation to one another, and after sharing a passionate kiss, he walks away from her, knowing she will never remember him.

Her body would soothe his for a few minutes.

It would do nothing to ease the loneliness in his heart that yearned for someone to remember him.

“Good-bye, my sweet,” he whispered, touching her lightly on the cheek before he turned around.

He would remember their kiss forever.

She wouldn’t recall him at all…

She watches him leave, and as she joins her friends again, she quickly forgets Wulf, but not the strange feeling he has left inside her.

Over the next few nights, as they dream, they share intimately passionate moments together. Each encounter leaves each of them feeling even more deeply connected, but not understanding why the dreams feel so real. Each dream progresses their relationship further, while they share an emotional connection, entwining their hearts deeper together.

One she knew nothing about except that he made her mother’s people tremble in terror.

And he had saved her life.

It must be her repressed sexuality that had summoned him into her dreams. Her need to make contact with someone before she died.

That was her biggest regret. Due to the course of her mother’s family, she had been fearful of approaching other Apollites. Like her mother before her, she had been forced to live in the human world as one of them.

But she had never been one of them. Not really.

All she had ever wanted was to be accepted. To find someone who could understand her past and not think her mental when she told tales of a cursed lineage.

And monster who stalked the night.

Now she had a Dark-Hunter for her own.

At least for tonight.

A chance encounter has them meeting up in person again, and she immediately runs to him in recognition.

It was him!

She biblically knew every inch of that solid, gorgeous male body.

“Wulf?”

Wulf was stunned beyond comprehension as he heard his name on her lips. “You know me?”

A becoming blush stained her face and it was then he knew…

Those hadn’t been dreams.

Astonished that she remembers him, his happiness is quickly extinguished when he realizes exactly what she is.

“How can you remember me?”

But the answer was so obvious that he already knew. “You’re Apollite, aren’t you?” She damn sure wasn’t a Were-Hunter. They  had an unmistakable aura to them.

Cassandra dropped her gaze to the floor as she whispered, “Half.”

He cursed. It figured. “So you’re the Apollite heiress they have to kill to lift their curse?”

“Yes.”

What was interesting about this novel, was that it did not focus on the hero’s horrible past, (which usually creates the much needed angst in the hunter’s life), but instead threw him headfirst into a doomed relationship with a half-Apollite (a species that his kind was at war with) cursed to die in a few months. It was a nice little catch and plenty angst-worthy all its own. You’ll love Wulf as you realize how he became a Dark-Hunter, why he is cursed, and how important the continuation of his own blood line is to him (and you’ll find yourself laughing out loud with his own relationship to his live-in nephew, of sorts, Chris).

Chris dropped his voice and imitated Wulf’s lilting Norse accent. “Don’t move, you might get bruised. Oops, a sneeze, better call in specialists from Belgium. Headache? Odin, forbid, it might be a tumor. Quick, rush him for a CAT scan.

Wulf shoved his shoulder playfully. “And yet you live.”

“Ever the better to procreate for you.” Chris met Cassandra’s gaze. “It’s a hell of a life.” Then Chris dropped his gaze as if he were thinking about that for a minute. “But there are worse one’s out there.”

As Wulf gets to know Cassandra and her people, he realizes that the Apollites, have many facets about them that are not taught to the Dark-Hunter. He begins to question who the real monster is, in his Dark-Hunter world.

There are many delightful surprises, introducing us to more characters that lead us even deeper into this complex and rich world. You will meet some new villains, and a few unexpected heroes, and enjoy a look into another god’s world (Apollymi), who has a plot of her own in her quest to rule the world. I really connect with the characters in this series. Each new character and situation is afforded a “real-life” feel (despite the extreme paranormal theme), and I always find I can relate to them in some way.  This one, I really could NOT put down. Exciting to the very end!

• Fantasy Lover (Dark-Hunter, Book 1)
• Dragonswan (Dark-Hunter, Book 1.5)
• Night Pleasures (Dark-Hunter, Book 2)
• Night Embrace (Dark-Hunter, Book 3)
• Phantom Lover as found in Midnight Pleasures anthology
• Dance with the Devil (Dark-Hunter, Book 4)
• Kiss of the Night (Dark-Hunter, Book 5)
• Night Play (Dark-Hunter, Book 6)
• Winter Born as found in the  Stroke of Midnight anthology
• Seize the Night (Dark-Hunter, Book 7)
• Sins of the Night (Dark-Hunter, Book
• Second Chances (as found in the Dark-Hunter collectible booklet and also the Dark-Hunter companion)
• Unleash the Night (Dark-Hunter, Book 9)
• Dark Side of the Moon (Dark-Hunter, Book 10)
• A Hard Day’s Night-Searcher as found in the My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding anthology
• Until Death We Do Part as found in the Love at First Bite anthology
• Fear the Darkness (free e-book!) —-? scroll down to the bottom of that page, and click the button to sign up for her two free stories (including this one)
• The Dream-Hunter (A Dream-Hunter Novel, Book 1)
• Devil May Cry (Dark-Hunter, Book 11)
• Upon The Midnight Clear (A Dream-Hunter Novel, Book 2)
• Dream Chaser (A Dream-Hunter Novel, Book 3)
• Acheron (Dark-Hunter, Book 12)
• One Silent Night (Dark-Hunter, Book 13)
• Shadow of the Moon as found in the Dead After Dark anthology
• Dream Warrior (Dream-Hunter Novels)
• Bad Moon Rising: A Dark-Hunter Novel (Dark-Hunter Novels) Dark-Hunter Book #14 (or #18 in the grand scheme of things  )
• Infinity: Chronicles of Nick (Nick’s book, but from the “teenage Nick” perspective – considered YA) – to be released June 8th 2010
• Invincible (Chronicles of Nick) expected release date Feb 1st 2011
• No Mercy (“Dev’s” book – Dark-Hunter book#15) – expected release date April 2011