Showing posts with label Aja James. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aja James. Show all posts

May 07, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: Dark Desires

Dark Desires 
Pure/Dark Ones #3
Author: Aja James
Pub Date: April 5, 2018

Synopsis 
Ryu Takamura is the Dark Ones’ Assassin. He has never missed his target…until now. Until her.

Ava Monroe is a talented geneticist who holds the key to the vampire race’s future…and perhaps her own as well.

Their attraction is explosive from the first. She would do anything to have him. He would sacrifice all to protect her.

But will their love triumph over seemingly impossible odds as they battle enemies new and old? Especially the demons from Ryu’s past? And deep within his heart?


My Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐

At 30, Ava Monroe is one of the forefront experts in regenerative stem cell science. She is on her way from New York city to Tokyo to provide her expertise on a project that is on the brink of fruition.

Ryu Takamura is a Dark One and an assassin in Jade’s guard. He is on a mission to destroy, by any means, the research that is leading toward creating a new an unknown breed of Dark One.

Ava and Ryu meet on the plane to Tokyo and have an instant and overwhelming attraction to each other. Ryu ignores this however because he feels that desiring someone shows weakness. This ignorance only lasts so long and he finds himself ever more drawn to Ava. But, the stakes grow higher as Ava and her group of scientists get closer to a discovery.

Will Ryu be able to save Ava while simultaneously destroying everything she’s ever worked for?

I don’t know why I’m always so surprised at the fact that Aja has written another terrific book. She has yet to let me down. I was consumed and absorbed as always in this installment. The scenery and the story she weaves is magical.

I was giggling at Ava’s lack of verbal filter. She is awkward and Ryu is so reserved. They were absolutely cute together. But don’t be fooled, the chemistry between them is crackling. So much so, that this book oozes sensuality.

I fell hard for Ryu. Between his selfish mother who treated him poorly and how he lets his guard down enough to tell Ava she was his first kiss? Swoon! My heart fell at his feet.

There is never a dull moment. Always a compelling story. I love how this author writes such strong, alpha male characters and then shows us their vulnerability. It is written so beautifully and it never gets old.

Recommended to anyone who likes a well-written, fast-paced romance with originality.

I received an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

March 31, 2018

REVIEW: Dark Longing


Dark Longing
Pure/Dark Series #2
Author: Aja James
Pub Date: January 18, 2018

Synopsis: 

“Every story has more than one side, like a crystal that captures and reflects different colors of light. Do not take for granted what you think you know, for until you hold the entire jewel in your palm, the temptation is to fall prey to illusion and deception.”

This is a story of the Dark Ones…

Inanna: the vampire warrior

Known as the Angel of Death among her kind, she has lived millennia alone, one of the remaining True Bloods in existence, unconsciously longing for the one male she could never have.

Gabriel: the forbidden human

His soul recognizes hers from the first encounter. With the first touch, he is awakened. Though he does not know it, he has been searching for her across the ages.

But even as they are finally reunited, their love faces seemingly impossible odds. Will history repeat itself or will they break all the rules and chart a new course together?


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My Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐


The tale continues in this second instalment but in a twist, we see the other side of the coin. The Dark Ones. I honestly think it is a wonderful idea. Normally we have one good side and the other bad. We don’t much get the chance to see the good and the bad come together and work towards a common goal. This book shows just how relative good and bad can be.

Nana Chastain is a Dark One or as most of us know them, a vampire. She lives but she does not live. She is in want of something. Something that is just out of reach.

When his wife passes away, Gabriel D’Angelo is told that Nana Chastain, a woman he has never seen and knows nothing about will have joint custody of his son, Benji. When Gabriel meets Nana for this first time he feels things he has never felt before-not even for his wife.

Nana already loves Benji. She has since the moment of his birth. When she first meets Gabriel, she feels inexplicable drawn to him and it does not take her long to fall in love with him as well. As their feelings grow, an evil entity lurks threatening everyone and everything they hold dear.

Will these two soulmates make their way back to each other or will they once again be torn apart?

This is the second book in a series and has a HFN ending. Although it can be read as a standalone, I believe it would be better to read this series in order.

I love being immersed in this world Aja has created. She captures and holds my undivided attention and delivers a sexy and intriguing read every time. Throughout this book, she builds relationships, strengthens ties and sets up the current and future books beautifully. I was riveted.

This is definitely a complex read with many facets and I can’t help but feel some story lines are a little rushed. I also had a hard time understanding and believing Gabe and his wife’s relationship.

That aside, the question remains, who is behind all these misdeeds. I feel like we’ve only scratched the surface with these two first books. There are many loose ends and they must all intertwine somehow. I am hooked and cannot wait to see how it all pieces together. This is a paranormal read that should definitely grace your TBR list.

Thank you to Aja James for the ARC.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Here is my review of Pure Healing, the first book in the series.

February 14, 2018

Review Tour: Pure Healing


Welcome to the Review Tour for Pure Healing by Aja James!!  Aja James will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. To better your odds of winning, please follow the tour here and comment!!  The more you comment, the better your chances are of winning.  Good luck and happy reading.


Pure Healing
Author:  Aja James
Genre:  Paranormal, Fantasy Romance

Synopsis:  

Enter the world of Pure Ones, a race of immortal, supernaturally powerful beings who protect humankind, where sexual intercourse with anyone other than one’s Eternal Mate leads to a slow, painful death within thirty days.
The Healer of the race, Rain, is the only exception to this rule. To harness and accumulate enough energy to heal severe wounds, especially as the war between her people and the vampire hordes accelerates, she must take a Consort once every ten years and draw strength from his blood and body. But as the war wears on, few Pure-males who are strong enough to serve as her Consort remain. Valerius, Protector of the race, is the strongest candidate.

Despite their instant attraction ten years ago when they first met, Valerius has staunchly avoided applying to be the Healer’s Consort. The brutality and violence he suffered as a Roman sex slave in his human life ate away at his soul, leaving a dark abyss of torment and self-doubt.

Now, as Rain’s strength drains with every healing act, Valerius cannot escape the fact that he may be the only one who can save her, and in so doing, afford his people greater hope for the future as battles intensify.

Will Rain and Valerius find their way to each other as the struggles between good and evil evolve?
Excerpt:
“Rain,” he called to her, the first time he’d ever used her name in the ten years of their acquaintance. “Rain!” he could not keep the alarm from his voice as she remained lifeless in his embrace.

He shook her a little, set his face close to hers to detect her breathing. The barest of breath relieved him so much he shuddered from head to toe.

“You little fool!” he cursed her, furious that she’d used what scarce energy she had remaining to heal him. He thrust his wrist against her lips and urged, “Take it. Bite me, damn you!”

Though there was no movement, he felt her stirring, her breath a little stronger against his skin. She opened her mouth and formed words, but they were uttered so softly he could not hear.

He bent closer until their foreheads were touching. “What is it sweetheart? What do you need?”

In a raspy whisper she breathed, “I’ll not take from the body I just healed.”

“Stupid girl,” Valerious berated her, though his deep tone of concern was at odds with his words. “I would have healed eventually on my own. Your energy is wasted on me.” He thrust his wrist against her lips again, forcefully enough to scratch the skin against her canines.

“Now feed,” he commanded in a voice that brooked no argument.

Amazed at her own strength, Rain suddenly pushed back from his embrace and off his lap. She scooted back against the foot of the bed and let her head flop against the bedframe.

“You are not my Consort. This is not the Cycle,” she whispered weakly but resolutely. “I will have no other but my Consort.”

“Then choose me!” Valerius exploded, uncaring of the consequences he’d spent two thousand years avoiding. “It is the least I can do to repay you–”

He broke off at a resounding slap against his cheek. Though lacking in force to bring any pain, the sound it made nevertheless reverberated in the silent room.

Stunned, he could only gape at her.

Purchase Link:  AMAZON

MY REVIEW ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4.25)

This book is engrossing, consuming, page turning awesomeness.  It is angst-filled and action packed.  It even made me teary-eyed.  The world Aja James builds is intricately woven.  So different from what I have previously seen and read. 

Valerius is absolutely yummy. He was tortured and abused in his past but he is so strong!  He spent 10 years as a vassal where he was atrociously and violently abused.  He eventually frees himself but the emotional scars remain.

Val now shuns and fears touch since he has only even been handled and cared for in a negative and detrimental way.  Never has he been loved or kissed by any female safe his mother and sister.  He does not believe he is good enough for Rain.  He feels dirty and used.

Rain is a wonderfully strong healer and person.  She uses her gift to heal human and Pure alike. She is filled with guilt for past failures.  Twice before, she believed she was in love.  Both times she was wrong and both the men she thought she loved died.  Now, she is adamant that none of her consorts fall in love with her.  Val, however has loved her forever even before he himself knew.  There is a strong spark and awareness between them from the moment they meet.

Although I absolutely adore this book, I found the beginning was a little difficult to understand because there was a lot of terms I did not know.  There is a Glossary at the end of the book, however, I believe it would have been better served at the beginning.  Sometimes, it was difficult to know whose view was being narrated as it would switch from one to another without any indication.

This aside, Pure Healing is an Intriguing and captivating story.  I loved the plot line and twists as well as all the characters.  The story flowed well and kept me wondering what would happen next.  Cannot wait to read the next instalment!

I recommend this to anyone who loves paranormal romance as well as a tortured hero.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

AUTHOR

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Aja has been writing stories since the age of six, and novels since the age of thirteen. While she'd be the first to admit that those early efforts weren't particularly good, she sure loved putting them down on paper!

The best part of writing, according to Aja, is that it’s completely organic, the way the stories develop. When the inspiration hits, she writes just so she herself can learn where the characters are headed because oftentimes, they take her by surprise! It is her ultimate dream to share her stories with as many readers as she possibly can.

Her other loves include art, cooking, old movies (anything with Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Robert Redford, Vivien Leigh, Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, Clark Gable, and all the song and dance numbers because she can’t watch them and not be happy!)

She adores taking long walks with her husband and running after her two rambunctious kids. She has traveled extensively (all seven continents except Antarctica) and has a multi-cultural upbringing. She speaks two and a half languages and binge watch TV shows when the mood strikes.

Aja has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Comparative Literature and Economics and two Master’s degrees, one of which is in East Asian Studies


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