Dark and Deadly: Novellas 5-8

Rogue's Passion
by Laurie London
Series: Iron Portal #2
244p.

Hidden within the rugged mountains of the Pacific Northwest, Iron Portals separate the modern and ancient worlds. Only a chosen few, Warriors of the Iron Guild, know their locations. 

For years, Olivia Crawford has kept a low profile in order to keep her para-ability secret. If the army finds out she’s a Healer-Talent, they’ll force her to work for them—just like her brother who was taken as a boy and never seen again. 

But when a terrible explosion rocks New Seattle, she risks everything to save the injured, including a handsome stranger with secrets of his own. 

Blaming himself for the death of a friend, Iron Guild warrior Asher Kane vows to bring those responsible to justice. After he’s hurt on a mission and nursed back to health by a beautiful yet mysterious woman, this dangerously sexy bad-boy finds himself falling for her…even as he struggles to stay away. 

But stalking them on the streets of New Seattle is a cruel and vengeful evil—one that threatens to destroy them both…

My thoughts:
I'd have to say that this one was really more like a full novel than a novella. A quick read full of alpha male who is soft when it comes to kids and animals. Yes, he has a deerhound who is loyal to him and he to the hound. :) Olivia is a girl with a healing secret. In this book the army is the bad guy and they are out to find people with "talents" so they can become invincible. Asher is one of the warriors in charge of keeping his people safe who happen to exist on the other side of a portal. As you suspect, passions are ignited and love is found. A sweet book with 2 people you want to root for. It was short so you didn't get too frustrated with the alpha male, but long enough to give you a good story. I give this book 4 1/2 stars and I really want to read the rest of the series.

The Forbidden Life of Alex Moore
by Erin Quinn
Series: The Beyond

Alex’s mission: Kill the hellhounds that have invaded earth and return to his home in the Beyond. But from the start, things go horribly wrong. The hounds are cunning and a human female witnesses their attack—she intervenes and saves Alex’s life. Now he must keep the alluring Lilly alive while fighting his desire for her. When passion flares, Alex risks all to protect her and defend the forbidden life he craves.

My Thoughts:
This one was a pretty short novella, but it still packed enough punch to get me interested in the series. Alex and Lilly were interesting enough for me, but I totally admit, it was the hellhounds and the dogs in the novella that totally won me over. Love how things change and that is the theme in which, I believe, that the series will revolve. I'm not entirely sure where the novella lies in the series, but the excerpt for the first full book in the series is book one, The Five Deaths of Roxanne Love and in the back it is listed as book 2. I'm guessing #1.5? :) I give this one a 4 and was totally won over by a hellhound, a great dane and a little pomeranian. :)

The Mating Heat
by Bonnie Vanak
Series: Werewolves of Montana #0.5

The all-new, never published prequel to the Werewolves of Montana series. Enter the sensual world of the Lupine, where the burning drive to mate claims all... 

After an explosive kiss that awakened a burning passion, Lupine Kara Mitchell is certain she will never see Ryder Carrington again. Her alpha father punished them for their illicit love and Kara fled their home with her brother Aiden to start a new life in Montana. Left scarred by her father’s ugly cruelties, she is certain no Lupine can ever love her. When Aiden faces financial ruin, she risks going back to find her family’s cache of gold and is captured by Ryder. 

Former Omega werewolf Ryder Carrington spent ten hellish years living under the thumb of his cruel, violent leader. After killing his alpha in a Challenge to save the pack, Ryder now rules, but needs a mate to bring peace to his fractured people. Kara is his and his alone. He will never let her go, despite Aiden’s demands to release her. Ryder will do anything to claim her, even risk an all-out pack war that could cost them everything… 

Warning: This is a romance novel containing explicit sex and language. Not intended for anyone under the age of 18

My thoughts:
I have to admit I wasn't sure about Ryder at first. He endured a lot and loved Kara, the former alpha's daughter who had been scarred. My problem is that I thought, at first, he might try to force her to be his mate. He did seem to vacillate between wanting to take her and wanting to woo her. As the story went on he saw how damaged she was and never forced her to do anything but face the pack with her damaged face so she could see that she would be accepted. As the story goes on you see that his want of her is what read as thinking about forcing her and he would never do that. So, yea, in the end he totally won me over. The world isn't fully developed in the book and there will be lots of questions left after reading this novella. However, that is often the reason for beginning novellas and usually the world gets more fleshed out in subsequent books in the series. In the end I give the novella 3 1/2 stars and recommend it to those that want to peek into this PNR shifter world.

Trapped
by Caris Roane
Series: The Blood Rose Tale #1
49p.

Mastyr Vampire Zephyr, a one-man fighting force, struggles to save the life of a woman who despises his warrior ways.

He won’t give up his warrior life to please a woman…

Zephyr can’t keep away from Alesia and feels obligated to keep her safe. They’d broken up, unable to reconcile painfully opposing views on what should be done to the evil Invictus pairs. But when several wraith-pairs attack her diner, he flies her to safety, taking her home where they’re trapped together for the entire day. His chronic blood-starvation problem surfaces and it soon becomes apparent that she’s the key to taking away decades of suffering. But if she offers to take care of his needs, will he be drawn in once more only to have her disapproval ruin the moment yet again?

Surrendering is dangerous…

Alesia wishes Zephyr would just leave her alone. She broke up with him months ago and wants to start a new life. The trouble is, he’s still the one man who can curl her toes. But when several deadly Invictus pairs attack her diner, Alesia has no choice but to go home with Zephyr, something she’s promised herself never to do. Trapped all day with the powerful warrior, she finds it hard to resist the comfort of his arms and the sensual feel of his lips pressed to hers. Will it hurt to offer to meet his blood-needs just this once or will surrendering leave her more vulnerable than ever?

My thoughts:
This was a quick and short read. Alesia and Zephyr both knew each other and had a previous relationship so the relationship didn't have to be built from the beginning. That helped because it was so short. The blurb really tells you everything you need to know about this short story. What I enjoyed about it was the growth both went through in understanding each other. Not just one, but both and found a true compromise in which they could both enjoy and go forward in life... not only in their personal lives, but in their professional life. It is the kind of ending that you wish there was more. I give this book 4 stars and I'm curious about this world.

I have to say on the whole I really enjoyed this novella set. Even a couple of these were what I would consider full length novels. This is a set of books for adults (a few of them were very hot and all had smex in them) who enjoy PNR. It is a great introduction to series you have either been curious about or are actual introductions to a new series. I highly recommend you get this series while it is still .99! The price is soon to be raised soon.