Review: Ecstasy In Darkness by Gena Showalter

Series:  Alien Huntress, Book #5

Genre:   Romance, Paranormal, Sci-Fi

Release Date:  October 2010

Publisher:  Pocket Star Books

Author Website: http://members.genashowalter.com/

Format I Read:  Paperback

Pages:  502

Source:  Purchased

Read an excerpt

Book Blurb

Growing up poor on New Chicago’s meanest streets, Ava Sans had two options: be the predator or be the prey. No contest. Now, working for Alien Investigation and Removal, she’s been ordered to capture the biggest, baddest warrior of all—a vampire too beautiful to be real, with the ability to manipulate time. Once the leader of the entire vampire army, McKell has been deemed savage and unstable, spurned even by his own kind.

To McKell, humans should be nothing more than sustenance. Yet the petite, golden-skinned Ava is a fascinating contradiction—vicious yet witty, strong yet vulnerable, lethal but fiercely loyal. Against his better judgment, McKell craves that loyalty, and much more. When the chase leads to seduction, McKell and Ava will race to discover the truth about his past. But the answers will come at a price, even for a woman who thought she had nothing left to lose. . . .

Awesomeness:

One of Ava’s requirements for a man had been “rich”.  “I want enough money to last an eternity making this woman happy.”

“So I’m your sugar daddy now?”  

My Thoughts

I officially have new love for all things Gena Showalter.  Ecstasy in Darkness is a must read.  The story is full of the same humor and action that I’ve come to love with each Alien Huntress book that I have read.

All the characters are over the top funny.  I especially loved the characters of Ava and Noelle.  They bicker and call each names but really are the best friends.  They love and support each other like sisters and get a tad violent with anyone that crosses them.

I also loved the sexy and dysfunctional relationship between Ava and McKell.  Although they were hot for each other, Ava just couldn’t seem to stop beating up on him.  Besides being Ava’s enemy, McKell was suppose to be the scariest of all vampires but he turned out to be a simple man in awe of his mate.  He was so eager to take any beating she dished out just as long as she kissed it and made it better. 

The story was easy to follow and I just couldn’t stop cracking up at the dialogue.  Although the book was long as hell, it never got boring.  There was always action, crazy moments, and enough romance to keep me turning pages.

Overall, I would recommend this book.  Gena Showalter’s Alien Huntress series gets better with each installment.  Ecstasy In Darkness  was funny as hell and McKell can bite me anytime -just as long as Ava doesn’t kick my ass.

Flowers Of Love Rating

1/2

Very good read and highly recommended

Other Books In This Series:

Awaken Me Darkly

Enslave Me Sweetly

Savor Me Slowly

Seduce The Darkness

Tempt Me Eternally 
Dark Taste Of Rapture (coming August 2011)

Other Reviews Of This Book:

Goodreads

Shelfari

The Darkest Lie by Gena Showalter

Title:  The Darkest Lie
Author:  Gena Showalter
Series:  The Lords Of The Underworld, Book 6
Released:  June 29, 2010
Genre:  Paranormal romance
Publisher:  Harlequin
How I Got It:  Purchased ebook for Nook
Lend Me Feature:  No


Book Summary
Forced to his knees in agony whenever he speaks the truth, Gideon can recognize any lie—until he captures Scarlet, a demon-possessed immortal who claims to be his long-lost wife.  He doesn’t remember the beautiful female, much less wedding — or bedding — her.  But he wants to . . . almost as much as he wants her.

But Scarlet is keeper of Nightmares, too dangerous to roam free, and a future with her means risking everything.  Especially as Gideon’s enemies draw closer . . . and the truth threatens to destroy all he’s come to love . . .     



My Thoughts
For anyone that has been hiding under a rock, and haven't read any of the older books, let me give you the cliff notes.

A bagillion years ago, twelve  immortal warriors stole and opened Pandora's Box unleashing evil and chaos into the world.  As punishment, each warrior was cursed with a demon's spirit and damned to carry out any wicked act the demon fancied.

Through centuries, the warriors have been possessed by Violence, Pain, Death, Disease, Disaster, Misery, Doubt, Promiscuity, Defeat, Lies, Secrets, and Wrath.  The only way to separate from the demon  is for the warrior to die.  Each warrior must learn to survive with his curse and hope that they find women that can love them and their demons.

The Darkest Lie is the latest tale in The Lords Of The Underworld Series.  It tells of a twisted HEA for Gideon, The Keeper of Lies, and Scarlet, The Keeper Of Nightmares. 

I enjoyed this book even though it had me sniffing and wiping my eyes constantly.  Yes, I am such a cry baby!  Scarlet's pain was so vivid that I couldn't help but be pulled into the story.  From the beginning, I knew I would be so mad if they didn't end up together.

I loved Gideon, but that damn "Gideon Speak" got on my very last nerve.  Who could stand to be around someone like that without killing them?  I would have been pleased just to shut him up rather than trying to figure out what he was really saying.  He better be glad that Scarlett could put up with his annoying self.

Now what I didn't like about the story was Aeron and his selfish ways.  Okay, he's got his HEA, and he and Olivia are sickly happy but he still wanted to bring back the demon spawn, Legion?  WTF? She tried to murder the love of his life and tried to make him sleep with her.  And he still wants to play Daddy to her?  Okaaay...

But seriously, I smell the HEA that's being cooked up and it stinks!  If Legion gets who I think she's going to get, the series will never be the same.  I'll still read it, but I'll probably skim through the romance of it.


My Rating
Loved it and would recommend it but I was able to put it down.  It wasn't one of those where I get stuck to the story and can't put it down until the end.  There were moments when I wanted to skip a page or two because I wanted to get to the real action of the story.  In the end, I felt like both Scarlet and Gideon lost their badass and it kinda let me down.   Anyhoo, I give it four flowers of love because Ms. Showalter is getting better with each new book.

Read an excerpt from The Darkest Lie

The Darkest Passion by Gena Showalter

Title:  The Darkest Passion
Author:  Gena Showalter

Released: Will release May 2010
Series:  Lords of the Underworld, Book 8

I received this galley courtesy of Netgalley.com to review. 

Book Summary
For weeks, the immortal warrior Aeron has sensed an invisible female presence.  An angel--a demon-assassin--has been sent to kill him.  Or has she?  Olivia claims she fell from the heavens, giving up immortality because she couldn't bear to harm him. But trusting - and falling for - Olivia will endanger them all. So how has this 'mortal' with the huge blue eyes already unleashed Aeron's darkest passion?

Now, with an enemy hot on his trail and his faithful demon companion determined to remove Olivia from his life, Aeron is trapped between duty and consuming desire. Worse still, a new executioner has been sent to do the job Olivia wouldn't... 

My Thoughts
Olivia is an angel that wants nothing more than to molest the very demon that she is suppose to kill.  She even goes so far as to give up her wings to become human so that she can win his heart.  Well, ladies, once we set our sites on that one particular guy, nothing can save him.  Olivia is determined to have Aeron, even if it means dying for him.


Aeron is the clueless demon that can't comprehend why a fallen angel craves his attention so much. Besides being a total idiot, he has a heart of stone-or so he thought-and has no time to play boyfriend to a misguided angel.  He tries his best to fend off Olivia's advances but the more he fights, the more he starts to be crave her attention as well.   

I loved this story and had so much fun reading it. Who knew that angels and demons could play so nicely and so dangerously?  The drama and the dialogue had me not wanting to stop reading.  Each time I got to a spot that I thought I could bookmark, I just couldn't put it down. 



There was very few dislikes for me.  One thing I didn't like was the history and mythology.  I know those parts were probably essential to the story but I was a little too eager to get to the meat of the story.  Some parts I did read, but others I just skipped right over.  I like getting to the juicy drama filled parts, and this book had quite a few parts.

I also did not like the way the book ended.  Sure it left room for another installment, but I hate it when things are tied up all nice and neat but you're still  left feeling  like it should be more.

My Rating
I give The Darkest Passion Four Stars.  I would definitely recommend this book.  I've always loved everything Gena Showalter writes,  and this one didn't disappoint.  It was a good read.  The dialogue alone  makes me want to reread just for the laughs.  


Read an excerpt from The Darkest Passion

Deep Kiss of Winter by Kresley Cole and Gena Showalter

Four stars

Book Summary

Untouchable
Murdoch Wroth will stop at nothing to claim Daniela the Ice Maiden -- the delicate Valkyrie who makes his heart beat for the first time in three hundred years. Yet the exquisite Danii is part ice fey, and her freezing skin can't be touched by anyone but her own kind without inflicting pain beyond measure. Soon desperate for closeness, in an agony of frustration, Murdoch and Danii will do anything to have each other. Together, can they find the key that will finally allow them to slake the overwhelming desire burning between them?


Two books for the price of one. Yes, New York Times Bestselling Authors Kresley Cole and Gena Showalter are behind these sinfully stories.

In Untouchable, Murdoch, the last of the legendary Wroth brothers has finally found his mate but he is not entirely happy with who she is. Daniela is the hunted Ice Queen-half Valkrie and half Icere who has the task of taming this vampire warrior. She's a beautiful two thousand year old virgin that is dying to be touched by her handsome vampire. Murdoch hasn't been attracted nor has he touched a woman in over three hundred years and is aching to take his new bride. Their mating has to put on hold because they must find a way to touch without causing each other pain. Iceres cannot touch another species without feeling and inflicting pain.

I loved this story. KC did an excellent job intertwining all the brothers stories in this book. Murdoch and Daniela's story is told while all the other Immortals After Dark stories happen in the background. I just can't wait until Nix is paired with her other half.

Tempt Me Eternally
Aleaha Love can be anyone -- literally. With only skin-to-skin contact, she can change her appearance, assume any identity. Her newest identity switch has made her an AIR (alien investigation and removal) agent and sends her on a mission to capture a group of otherworldly warriors. Only she becomes the captured. Breean, a golden-skinned commander known for his iron will who is at once dangerous and soul-shatteringly seductive, threatens her new life. Because for the first time, Aleaha only wants to be herself....



I've only read one of Gena Showalter's books and wasn't impressed enough to finish it, but Tempt Me Eternally has changed my mind. I will be working my way through her other books.
I hated that this was a short story, unlike Kresley Cole's full length novel. I did feel that the story could have been developed a little more because the story left you wanting more. I like to read about hard core alpha males that have to work for the attention of their women and humble themselves in the process. Aleaha had Breean's nose open from the jump. I felt sorry for her at first because she'd had a hard life but I quickly started to dislike her. I was glad that Breenan turned the tables on her and made her beg for his attention which made her realize that she wanted him just as much as he wanted her. He literally pulled her secret out of her and didn't judge her once he knew the real her, even preferred her real identity. He also protected her and cared for her when she needed him most. And what does this trifling heifer do? She stabs him in the neck and almost gets him killed. I'd loved to see more Breenan but I think GS needs to pair him with another heroine that is worthy of him.