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Provoked by Rebecca Zanetti
ORDER A COPY: Provoked (Dark Protectors)
Publisher: Kensington Books
Publishing Date: November 1, 2012
Paperback:
Rating: 5 stars
A casualty of the war between the demons and the vampires, Jase Kayrs has been missing for six long years. His older brothers want answers—but they’re going to have to get them from an unlikely source. For when Kane Kayrs tracks down Amber Freebird, what he finds is a blonde, vegan pacifist who has no intention of using her skills in his war.
Amber enjoys her life of chaotic freedom and has no intention of falling in line just because a sexy-as-sin vampire insists on order. Unfortunately, he discovers she may be the only hope they have of finding his brother, and there’s no way he’s going to let her go—even if it means mating her to gain her cooperation. The two are as different as can be, yet when the dominant Kane and the untamed Amber finally unite to rescue Jase, they just may find that opposites really do attract.
Dage Kayrs is the King, Talon is the strategist, Conn is the fighter and Kane Kayrs is the smart brother. So there is no one more upset than Kane that he hasn’t been able to find a cure for the Virus-27 which is plaguing his people and his allies. And why are the inoculations for the shifters suddenly no longer effective? And why after four long years hasn’t he been able to find his brother, Jase, who was captured by the Demons?
Demons have the ability to torture and cause pain in the mind. Even if they find Jase and rescue him, after four years of physical and mental torture, will there be anything left of the fun-loving Jase that they all love? What they need is a Demon Detroyer who can counter the Demon’s powers, but no Detroyer has been found in decades. The Demons have hunted them all down.
When a Destroyer is finally located, Kane races to find her only to find out she’s a vegan, pacifist who thinks Kane is absolutely crazy with this talk of demons, vampires, shape-shifters and kurjans. Not only does she think he’s crazy, but she has no intentions in fighting anyone, ever, even if she had any idea what superpowers he is talking about.
Although Amber is probably the most exasperating woman he has ever met, Kane is convinced that the sensible thing for them to do is mate, then he would share her physic ability and be able to use it as a weapon against the demons. The fact that she can’t see the logic behind his offer is astounding. There is no time for poetry, sonnets or ridiculously love in a time of war. Kane can feel that he is running out of time and Kane needs Amber’s cooperation or her power soon if he is going to save his brother.
Kane isn’t sure what is frustrating him more, his inability to solve all the problems that his people and his allies are facing, his inability to save his brother or the tiny slip of a woman who can’t see the logic of doing things his way.
But he is right about one thing…time is running out for Jase and if they don’t hurry there may be nothing left of Jase to save…
THOUGHTS:
I think I ran out of fingernails halfway through the book and started chewing on my fingers. Oh my God, poor Jase!! I could never be an author (besides lack of talent) because I could never do that to my beloved characters. Evil author…you kill me… when is the next book? When?? I need to know what happens!! You make me contemplate a B&E. Maybe I can bribe her cat to e-mail a copy of the next draft…hmm…
I love how Amber twists up the stoic and logical Kane. To Kane the logical thing since Amber won’t fight and doesn’t know how to use her powers, would be to mate with him and he would then share her abilities. He could then go save his brother. Amber wants love, especially when you re talking mating forever…forever forever…since they are nearly immortal. Surprisingly the brilliant Kane is absolutely certain that love doesn’t exist, and he can’t seem to make the connection between the feelings he has for his family and how he begins to feel for Amber and label it love.
I will say that I was so torn up about getting to Jase, that I was distracted by the romance. “Yeah, yeah, yeah, tell her you love her and let’s go!!!!”
With everything going on with Jase, and Kane and Amber, we see little of Janie. But what we do see is that Janie is growing up and already getting very powerful with her abilities, and in the dream realm where they meet, the tensions between Janie, Zane and Kalin are heating up, and Zane saying “…get ready. I’m coming for you, Janie Belle. Soon!” left me giddy. *he,he,he*
All I can say is, I need more! Please write faster! What happens to Jase? When do we finally get to Janie, Zane and Kalin? And what about Maggie? Can Maggie get a story too? A short story maybe? 
Received ARC from netgalley.com, courtesy of the publisher. Thank you.
Favorite Scene:
He cleared his throat. “Well, I bite you—and, ah, transfer a brand from my palm to you—somewhere. You can choose the place.”
Oh, he had to be beyond delusional. “Brand? You brand me like a cow?”
“God, no. The marking is like a tattoo—and you’ll gain my abilities and immortality.”
How tempting was that? She crossed her legs, curious and oddly aroused. “And when we re finished being mates? Would I still be immortal?”
He stilled. The air seemed to follow suit. “There’s no end to a mating. You’d be mine forever.”
The matter-of-fact tone did nothing to conceal the strong note of possessiveness underlying the words. Then the vampire sat back, patiently awaiting an answer with confidence on his hard face.
Her breath sped up, and she swallowed to keep from panting. “Not in a million years.”
Both eyebrows rose. “Why in the world not? You’re aroused right now.”
She lifted her chin. “Maybe so. You’re unbelievably rude t point that fact out, by the way.”
“My apologies. But you need to think this through. Our mating solves all our problems.”
“Except romance, fun and happily-ever-after.” Three things she’d always strongly believed in. “I won’t mate for convenience.” Mother Earth. Now she was using the term mate like it belonged in everyday conversation. “Why would you?”
One shoulder lifted. His long, tapered fingers spread out over his legs, his hands broad and oddly graceful. “I’ve always figured I’d mate out of convenience for business, for strategy, or to create an alliance. This fits.”
Talk about unromantic. “A business arrangement is no reason to tie yourself to someone for eternity.”
“How about survival? Yours and everyone you care about.” The set of his jaw promised the conversation wasn’t over.
“What about love?”
He sighed. “Love is a chemical reaction induced into our brain to encourage propagating the species. The sensation is merely a scientific phenomenon, like the northern lights.”
On all that was holy. “You can’t seriously believe such nonsense.”
“Of course I do. And so would you if you stopped to think about the idea logically instead of believing in silly movies and sonnets.”
Silly movies? How was this the same guy who’d kissed her in the snow and pretty much knocked her socks off? “The answer is no.” She was just silly enough she might’ve believed some baloney story about fate and destiny. But not logic and planning—not when it came to the heart.
He shrugged. “I’m not giving up on this idea, and I can be very persuasive.”
So long as he kept his dangerous lips across the room, she was fine. “I am not going to be your mate.” Relief filled her as she said the words slowly.
“Your choice. Are you ready to train again?”
“You mean have you rip into my brain?”
He blanched. “Yes. Believe me, my attack was nothing compared to what the demons have in store for you. The sooner you learn to control your gift from a safe distance, the sooner we can go after Jase.”
They’d saved her grandmother, and she’d given her word she’d help save Jase. “Okay. Shoot.”
“Close your eyes.”
Soft, nearly seductive, his dark voice wandered down he spine as if he traced each vertebra with his lips.
Her eyes fluttered shut.
This time, the attack came in the from of a soft glide against her mind. Smooth, even slightly warm, a caress wandered form her frontal lobe to the center of her brain.
She shifted on the couch, crossing her legs. A tingling set against her rib cage and wandered south to heat her abdomen. Mentally pushing against the caress, the warmth enveloped her entire brain and provided an electric stimulation that caught the breath in her throat.
Desire ripped through her so quickly her knees trembled. Her sex started to ache. Her breasts pebbled. A slow sigh escaped her.
A whisper of sound floated toward her as he moved, and the scent of male and musk wafted her way. Languishingly opening her eyes, she stared at the vampire. On his knees, he settled between her legs. His heated hands dropped to her thighs.
She should be angry. But her gaze dropped to his lips, and she met him halfway. He swallowed her moan in a kiss that started with anything but logic. Fire engulfed her. Leaning forward, she clamped both hands in his thick hair, opening her mouth to take more of him.
Consumed by Rebecca Zanetti
ORDER A COPY: Consumed (Dark Protectors)
Publisher: Kensington Books
Publishing Date: July 5, 2012
eBook: 336 pages
Rating: 5 stars, plus 1 OMG!!
Sometimes you mate for life…Katie Smith is the best of her class, part of an elite hunting force trained to eliminate werewolves from the hills of Western Virginia. She’s good at it because she has the kind of focus and drive that won’t back down no matter how steep the odds. Call it southern sass. Whatever it is, there’s no denying her willingness to risk everything for the only man she’s ever cared about–a man on the verge of losing his very humanity. . .
Sometimes You Mate To Stay Alive…For the past ten years Jordan Pride has dedicated his life to protecting his people from a deadly shifter virus. But in a rare moment of distraction, Jordan’s guard drops just long enough for his fate to take an irreversible twist. Unless the woman he loves surrenders everything to him, again and again, under a full moon rising.
I gave you a whole week before I posted. If you are still planning on picking this book up, stop right here!!! Don’t read any further!! This book contains so much OMG moments and I don’t want you to ruin it by reading my review. Come back when you’re done – we’ll talk!! If you haven’t started this series, go get a copy of Fated and get started, we’ll wait for you… 
It has been 10 years since Katie was first infected with Virus-27 and she and her team are working hard in New Orleans locating infected shifters who have turned into werewolves. Although she misses Jordan Pride, she was now a shifter who couldn’t shift and her lifelong dreams of a happy ending as Jordan’s mate came crashing down that day she was infected with Kurjan’s virus. Even though she never turned into a werewolf, the pride’s Alpha can’t have an infected mate who can’t shift and who could possibly pass on the virus to their children. It was just too painful for Katie to stay with Jordan and know she could never have him and she needed to leave.
Although the Realm has managed to keep the female shifters from turning into werewolves, infected male shifters only have until the next full moon before they are lost to the virus. The Kurjans are clever and they laid a trap and they have now infected the shifter leader. Jordan only has until the full moon to set up the new leader and the bring Katie home where she will be safe in Realm headquarters.
When Jordan offered to mate Katie when she was first infected in the hope that the mating ritual might reverse the virus, Katie refused. She would not be his mate out of what she thoughts was some twisted sense of pity. Now that Jordan is infected, this is Katie’s last chance to have a night with the man who has held her heart all her life, and when they believe a mating might give Jordan a last chance to survive the change, Katie will do anything to convince Jordan to now mate with her. But Jordan isn’t the only one who wants to mate our Katie, she senses the werewolf stalking her and can feel his anger and determination to have her as his own.
I have been waiting for Jordan and Katie’s story since I read Fated last year and was soooo happy with this story! It was incredible: action-packed, exciting, intriguing, sexy, sweet… *FREAKIN’ AWESOME!*
I was a little freaked at first that we jump ahead 10 years from Hunted in a “what did I miss??” way. I wanted a quick head count and status update on all my favorite characters after 10 years of war and the virus. Kane and Grace working on this virus 24/7 for 10 years and still nothing??? REALLY!! Although I am torn between excitement and depression that a 10 year jump brings us that much closer to Janie’s story which will be EPIC (not too much pressure, right?).
Although this is Katie and Jordon’s story, we do progress a little bit on Janie’s storyline. Janie is approaching her 16th birthday and Zane has disappeared from her dreams for about five years now. 
Zane is now a soldier (but for who?) and Janie is finally able to connect with him one night when he passes out and can’t block her anymore. Kalin is now leading the Kurjan army with his army of pet werewolves.
This was an incredible story, but of course, Rebecca finds the time to torture us by dropping just enough tidbits about Kane, Jase, Janie, Zane, Kalin, etc. to leave us panting for more. WANT, WANT, WANT!!! She’s so lucky I can’t go to the RWA12 in CA or I just would just stalk her the whole weekend!!!
I can’t wait for more!!!!
Received ARC from netgalley.com, courtesy of Kensington Books. Thank you!!
Favorite Scene:
Her scent hit him as he snapped on the light. Dark spices and wild orchids, all woman. Smoothing his battered face into nonchalant lines, he pivoted away from the living area to the utilitarian kitchen and shut the door.
Katie sat on the oak table, swinging a leg. “I’m here to seduce you.”
Amusement and something warmer settled in his chest. For seduction she’d worn ripped jeans, battered tennis shoes, and a frayed T-shirt so old the logo had faded beyond recognition. Her multicolored blond hair was up in a ponytail. No makeup adorned her pretty face.
The truth slammed him so hard he took a step back. The woman was fucking perfect.
Saying a monumental thanks that cats were stubborn, he forced himself to chuckle. “I appreciate the warning.”
A clock next to the small fridge ticked away seconds.
Katie glanced past the living room to the open door of his bedroom. A soft blush wandered up over her sharp cheekbones. “I’m not kidding.”
“I know,” he said softly. “And I truly appreciate the adult way we’re discussing this.” When it came to mating, discussion had no place. He’d shielded her too much from the ways of their people if she didn’t know that. “I take it you heard Kane’s cure didn’t work?”
“Yes.” The blush receded, leaving Katie pale. “The only chance you have is mating a shifter, and although I’m only half that, I’m offering.”
He’d saved her as a cub, and the woman took loyalty seriously. “You don’t owe me.”
“I know.” Fire flashed in her tawny eyes. “I’m not proposing to sacrifice myself here. We’re both infected with the virus…mating might cure us both.”
“Or kill us both.” Irritation swirled down his spine at the rational talking going on. “I’m almost a werewolf—I could turn you into one as well.”
Her stubborn chin lifted. “I’m willing to take the chance.”
The irritation slid to anger. “What exactly do you think happens in a mating, Kate?”
The blush returned, red and bright. “Jesus, Jordan. I know what happens.”
“No, you don’t.” Amazement filled him at her naiveté. “I don’t just give you a good fuck and bite your neck, sweetheart.”
The blush intensified, along with her scent. Intrigue and lust deepening those amazing eyes. “You think you’re that good?”
Ah. Challenging him. Smart woman. “Yes.” He shoved the beast inside down. Way down. “I’ve seen the aftermath of a mating. The female is often lucky if she still has a shoulder.” Dark and brutal, even in human form, the males became all animal during a claiming. The woman should know that.
“I’ve seen the aftermath of a mating, too.” She shoved off the table. Toward him. “I can handle it.”
No mention of love, No mention of forever or even happiness. That more than the calm discussion shot fury through his veins. “No, you can’t. Even when you were…healthy…it was too much of a danger. If I decided to mate you, you’d no longer be Katie, the little girl I protected. My adult friend. The werewolf hunter. None of those people would you be in that moment.”
She tilted her head to the side. “What would I be?”
Low, guttural, the snarl came from down deep. “Mine.”
Tempted by Rebecca Zanetti
ORDER A COPY: Tempted (Dark Protectors)
Publisher: Kensington Books
Publishing Date: March 27, 2012
eBook: 88 pages
Rating: 4 stars
CONSTANT DANGER…On the run from a mental institution and her vindictive half-brother, it’s safe to say that Sarah Pringle’s happy life as a schoolteacher is on hold. Too bad that as far as self-defense goes, “run and hide” is the best she’s got. And with the monsters that started her escape hot on her heels, that’s not going to cut it for long…
INSTANT LUST…That is, unless Sarah has a bigger, badder, hotter monster on her side. Max Petrovsky is right at the top of the list of alpha male ass-kickers. And he knows exactly what Sarah’s up against. Good thing, because the minute he sees her something primal kicks in, turning everyday attraction into red-hot desire. As long as they’re cooperating, why not mix some pleasure with business? Of course, Max should probably tell Sarah he’s a vampire himself…
I love Max!! He was one of my favorite characters in this series since he first showed up in Fated (See my favorite scene) and this big, burly, dangerous vampire lets this tiny, little girl paint his fingernails for losing at Go Fish. How awesome is he!!
I only gave it four stars since the story was so short, we barely get to meet Sarah and we really only get a very brief story. It was enjoyable, but I would have liked more.
Although Rebecca does take the time to toss in another teaser (see below) about Janie’s prediction that she will be taken by the Kurjans at some point. So that gives me something to worry about.
Check out my Interview with Rebecca Zanetti and our other Dark Protector Reviews:
Interview with Rebecca Zanetti
Fated
Claimed
Hunted
Favorite Scene:
She didn’t look scared. And she smelled like baby powder. Maybe she was too young to be afraid of him. Or too innocent.
Was this what innocence looked like? He’d forgotten.
Her tiny nose crinkled and her curly brown hair bobbed. “I know that, silly. My new daddy is a vampire. You’re good.”
Good? He was a killing machine. A heart he’d forgotten about thumped. “Not really.”
“Uh huh.” She patted his knee. “I promise.” Those deep blue eyes turned serious. “The bad guys want me.”
Smart little thing—yet she had no idea how bad the bad guys really were. “You’re safe here, Janie.” He hoped that was true.
She shrugged a delicate shoulder. “Will you be my friend, Max?”
The world shifted. “Yes.” He could probably show her some self-defense moves when she grew up.
—-
“I see stuff. Stuff that’s gonna happen. The bad guys—the ones scared of the sun—they’re gonna get me.”
His spine straightened. Something foreign in him wanted to protect her, wanted to make sure nobody ever took that innocence out of her eyes. Wanted to shield her from the evil he knew so well. He met her gaze, abandoning any thoughts of heading to Russia. “They’ll have to go through me, Janie.” It was a vow, and he meant it to his soul.
Dage reappeared and asked him outside. Janie returned to playing with the stuffed animal.
Once he was in the hallway, Max studied the king. “Nicely done.”
Dage shrugged. “You’ve spent two hundred years protecting the Realm, fighting for our people, ensuring my safety.”
“So?”
Blue shot through the silver in the king’s eyes. “If you had to make a choice, if it came down to it, if it came down to the death of your king—or the death of that child—who lives?”
Most people sacrificed everything for the king and the Realm. Max had done so for two centuries. He cocked his head to the side. “She lives.”
“You’re hired.”
Hunted by Rebecca Zanetti
ORDER A COPY: Hunted
Publisher: Brava
Publishing Date: April 24, 2012
Paperback: 333 pages
Rating: 5 stars
Ready Or Not…Moira Dunne is a witch–the quantum physics kind. Time and space are her playthings. Which might explain why her one-night stand from a hundred years ago has turned up to “claim” her–and request her family’s assistance with the war he’s brewing. But the more she learns about Connlan Kayrs, the more she comes to think this is normal behavior for him.
There’s Nowhere To Hide…When Conn and Moira tumbled on the moonlit grass, Conn hadn’t meant to mark her as his mate for all time. She was only twenty! But it wasn’t easy to wait for her. It was even harder to forget her. So when he finally returns for his wicked-hot witch, he’s ready to let the sparks flying. Even if he burns up in flames.
Moira Dunne is the seventh daughter of the seventh daughter which gives her the potential to be a very powerful witch. Powerful enough to eventually take a place on the witches’ Counsel of Nine. But when she is marked as a mate by vampire Connlan Kayrs after a night of passion, her family requested that she have the century needed to properly train her in the arts of magic.
Even though the Realm is already fighting the Kurjans (evil vampires) and the demons and need all the allies they can get, the century is up and Conn has come to claim his mate, even if taking her out of Ireland starts a war with the witches.
Moira is now a member of the counsel’s secret service, and she does not intend to leave Ireland right now. Someone has been kidnapping member’s of the Nine and she needs to find them. She also fears her uncontrollable attraction for Conn, since he didn’t seem to have any problem leaving her alone for a century.
Their future has an even larger problem–someone is working hard to influence the Counsel to leave the Realm and team up with the demons. If the counsel agrees to leave the Realm, Moira will be torn between duty to her people and her loyalty to Conn.
This is another exciting addition to the Dark Protectors series, and brings in the fun element of witches to our current group of supernaturals.
I love the way that Rebecca brings in the idea of science to explain magic through quantum physics, and manipulating matter on a subatomic level. Makes you think “Hmmm…ok, maybe that could work.”
She has already used science to explain the differences between human and vampires on a chromosomal level. This is major part of continuing plot line of the dangerous Virus-27 which the evil Kurjans have invented in order to destroy the chromosomes which seals the mating bond between the vampires and their “gifted” females. The virus was created so that the Kurjans can destroy the bond and take the gifted females for their own mates.
She also continues to tease us as we try to find a cure for those already infected with the virus, including shifter Katie who cannot shift since being infected, and who is becoming increasing agitated over her predicament. This is leading us up to the next book which features Katie and Jordon.
We also meet some interesting new characters, including Moira’s sister, Brenna. I am hoping we will see more of her in future books.
Anyone who hasn’t tried the Dark Protectors series, you will have time to catch up with the series before Hunted is released in April.
Make sure to check out our interview with Rebecca Zanetti for more information on this great series, as well as our reviews on the first two books: Fated and Claimed.
Favorite Scene:
He exhaled, taking a step forward into her space again. Sage and power swirled around her in the scent of male. “I’m done waiting, Moira.” One large hand smoothed through her curls, clenching to tangle at the nape of her neck and tugging back.
Her neck stretched and her hands reached out for balance, grabbing the shirt covering his broad chest. She opened her mouth to protest.
His descended.
Firm lips slid against hers. Heat seared her, shooting down from her mouth to her core. She swayed toward him, opening her mouth to allow entrance. Like the soldier he was, he dove in, all purpose, all blazing fire, his lips capturing hers as his tongue took control. The brand on her lips began to burn with desperate need.
He growled low, grasping her waist and tugging her flat against him. His mouth devoured hers, his tongue claiming every inch, the hand on her hip clenching with restrained power.
Her knees weakened. Her heart pounded desire for him lit her on fire. Need spiraled deep into her womb. She craved.
Releasing her, he lifted his head, his fingers spreading out to cup her scalp. Desire shot silver through the green of his eyes. A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Let’s go to your cottage, Moira.”
She sucked in a breath, her eyes widening on him. Was there anything more intriguing to a woman than a strong man who wanted her? Memories of what his man could do with his hands, with his mouth, flushed through her mind until her body ached. She ran her hands down his flat stomach to curl around his leather belt. They’d had one night. It wasn’t like she’d practiced sex this last century. “Not a good idea, Conn.”
“Why not?”
Because she didn’t know what to do. “I don’t want you.” She lowered her chin.
“Liar.” His eyes softened in what had better not be understanding.
Then he cut his gaze behind her, a frown settling between his masculine brows.
“What?” She released his belt, an odd tingling running over her neck. The air changed. Her skin heated. Matter shifted and energy zapped. Oxygen swirled. A passage opened. “Conn—”
Invisible claws dug into her flesh and ripped her away from him.
