Review - Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells

Red-Headed Stepchild
Sabina Kane, Book 1
Jaye Wells
Orbit
March 31, 2009
ISBN# 978-0-316-03776-1

Book Blurb:
In a world where being of mixed-blood is a major liability, Sabina Kane has the only profession fit for an outcast: assassin. But, her latest mission threatens the fragile peace between the vampire and mage races and Sabina must scramble to figure out which side she's on. She's never brought her work home with her---until now.

This time, it's personal.

My thoughts:
Sabina Kane was born the mixed-blood daughter of a vampire and a mage. It was a forbidden pairing, and one that Sabina has paid for since the day she was born.

Raised by her vampire grandmother, the alpha of the Dominae, and forced to suppress any mage power she might possess, Sabina has been delegated to the position of assassin. The night she carries out the order to kill her longtime friend David, her life begins to change.

Clovis Trakiya, born a mix of vampire and demon, has gathered followers whose intention is on bringing the supernatural world together. At the top of their list are the mages and the vampires. Sent to infiltrate the group, Sabina is about to have an eye-opening experience that will have her questioning further the way that she was raised. Life as she knew it can never be the same.

This is the first book in the Sabina Kane trilogy. Ms. Wells takes readers on a young woman’s journey with deceit, betrayal and obstacles to overcome at every turn. Well-written with easy to visualize detail, Read-Headed Stepchild is a fantastic opening to this trilogy and should be at the top of every urban fantasy reader’s wish list.

To learn more about Red-Headed Stepchild, please visit Ms. Wells’ website: HERE

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

My Wicked Enemy by Carolyn Jewel

My Wicked Enemy
Carolyn Jewel
Forever
July 29, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-446-17823-5

From the back cover:
A desire to be controlled…
Carson Philips is a witch on the run. For years, the notorious mage, Alvaro Magellan, has held her as his psychological prisoner. But once Carson gets a glimpse of the true extent of his evil, she flees Magellan's mansion--stealing a stone talisman of unimaginable power on the way. Her only hope for survival is a demon who ignites a voracious hunger in her she can't deny, a longing she can't resist...
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A hunger that can’t be sated…
Nikodemus is a warlord with a mission: Kill Magellan and his green-eyed witch at any cost. But when he meets the desperate Carson, the pull of her magic takes his breathe away. He's not sure he can trust this tantalizing woman--she is his enemy--and less sure he can keep his hands off her. But Magellan will stop at nothing to reclaim what belongs to him. Can Nikodemus stop him before his desire for Carson destroys them both?
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My thoughts:
Raised by the powerful mage Alvaro Magellan, Carson Philips recently realized what a truly bad man he is when she witnesses a murder. As she runs from the mansion she grabs a valuable artifact, and if Magellan isn’t angry enough over her espcape, he’s fuming when he realizes she’s stolen the talisman. Battling headaches that she’s certain will kill her, and fearing for her life, she’s run to San Francisco and right into the arms of someone who sees her as the enemy.

Nikodemus thought it was his lucky day when he spots Magellan’s witch, Carson, but taking the opportunity to rid his kind of the threat she poses has just gotten complicated. He’s a Warlord, born to be a leader among his kind. Saving his people from a life as mageheld fiends that are controlled by mages and witches is a priority in his life. With Carson on their side, Nikodemus may have found the key to freedom for his kin. Now he just hopes she’ll choose to stick around.

Carolyn Jewel takes readers on a dangerous journey with Carson, an untrained witch who finds strength through Nikodemus. Together they can stop the mage who threatens their existence and fills Carson with fear. My Wicked Enemy unfolds at a steady pace and offers up a host of characters that keep the deadly action flowing. The storyline is fresh, the characters are entertaining, and the romance is delightfully steamy.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews