The Darkest Kiss by Gena Showalter

The Darkest Kiss
Lords of the Underworld, Book 2
Gena Showalter
HQN
June 1, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-373-77232-2

After opening dimOuniak (Pandora’s Box), made of bones from a goddess to hold the spirits of demons, Lucien was forced to accept the demon of Death inside himself as punishment. He’s a Lord of the Underworld, scarred from self inflicted wounds and charged with escorting souls into the afterlife. Lucien keeps to himself and is content with the negative effect his appearance has on women. Then Anya comes along, and her single minded pursuit has him rethinking his most recent orders to kill her.

Anya is the Goddess of Anarchy, and lives with a curse that has made her unwilling to do more than flirt and tease men. Her sights are set on Lucien, and there’s little he can do to deter her from her goal. While Cronus, the new king of gods, hounds her for the special key she possesses, Anya assists the Lords of the Underworld in searching for powerful artifacts that could lead to Pandora’s Box.

In this second installment of the Lords of the Underworld, readers explore Lucien’s past and changing future as Anya insinuates herself by his side. Lucien is closed off and brooding with his curse to bear. Anya is outgoing, sarcastic and desperate for Lucien’s affections. Ms. Showalter has a fabulous style all her own, and really knows how to unfold a story at a steady pace. While there were some distracting moments with Anya’s over-the-top behavior, The Darkest Kiss is well-written, entertaining and wonderfully steamy. To enjoy the full effect of this series, readers should start from the beginning.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

I've Been Tagged...

I've been tagged by Rachael at: http://booklover07202.blogspot.com/


So this is how it goes:

1. Pick up the nearest book.

2. Open to page 123.

3. Find the fifth sentence.

4. Post the next three sentences.

5. Tag five people and post a comment to the person who tagged you once you've posted your three sentences.


The nearest book to me would have caused people to fall off of their chairs if I posted something from it. *grin* um….so, the next closest is The Darkest Kiss by Gena Showalter. Here are the three sentences:

All had been mortals, amusing for a little while as they showered her with the compliments she’d always craved from the gods, but most had been as forgettable as she wanted Lucien to be. The more memorable ones had become her friends, even though she had refused to sleep with them.
One by one they had died.


I tag:

1. Robert (Fantasy)

2. Scooper (Urban Fantasy/Romance)

3. Angie (Urban Fantasy/Romance)

4. jessewave (Erotic Romance)

5. Harry (Fantasy)

The Darkest Kiss by Keri Arthur

The Darkest Kiss
Riley Jenson, Guardian, Book 6
Keri Arthur
Bantam Dell
April 29, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-553-59114-9

Working as a Guardian for the Directorate is more than a full time job for Riley Jenson. Her werewolf senses and vampire blood give her strength and speed in the hunt, but even she can find herself in a deadly situation. The new cases she’s working will bring her face to face with two killers that are quite different than anything she’s ever encountered before.

The Toorak Trollops are a group of high-society women who date only the wealthy and powerful men who can give them the most. When the men they’ve been with begin turning up dead, the Directorate is called in to investigate. This case also forces Riley to come face to face with an ex-lover who is never far from her thoughts. In her still fragile state from a recent break-up, Riley will have little strength to fight off the passionate connection they still share.

While she’s already on the trail of one murderer, Riley receives a call from Ben Wilson. He’s a wolf she met during a previous case and he’s in need of a Guardian’s help. More murders are occurring that may somehow have a connection to the Toorak Trollops case. Now Riley has two murderers to find who are each committed to exacting their own forms of revenge. Her skills will be put to the test, but stopping the killings is the only option. Riley will do whatever it takes to see it done, even if that means fighting something far stronger and more dangerous than she is.

The Darkest Kiss is the sixth book in the Riley Jensen, Guardian series. Riley’s instincts and skill will lead her to two deadly opponents who each started with an agenda but are more than willing to destroy anyone who gets in their way. Ms. Arthur pens a fabulous mystery filled with vampires and shapeshifters whose unique qualities add to the overall suspense. The danger throughout the story plays a big role in the building tension and the heroine’s passion for catching the killers bring each case to a searing climax. While the cases in this installment are new, readers should read each of the prior books to gain a better understanding of Riley’s background. Readers looking for a great urban fantasy series with mystery and romance need look no further than the Riley Jenson Guardian novels.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews