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. . .

Title: ECSTASY IN DARKNESS
Author: Gena Showalter
Series: Alien Huntress, book 5
Genre: Futuristic Romance, Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Pocket Books, Simon and Schuster
Year of release: 2010, October 26
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Bought via The BookDepository

First line:
"And I thought you were rough. Those girls are..." Dallas Gutierrez shuddered.

Memorable Scenes:
-McKell stopping time to punch Johnny in the face repeatedly > hilariously funny
-scene in the car while going to Noelle's house with their captives > McKell and Ava set that car on fire!
-the bargaining and rule-setting when McKell decides to move in with Ava > typical Gena vibe and humor


Ava Sans is young, stubborn, fearless and witty. She’s an AIR (Alien Investigation and Removal) trainee. She’s also tough, crude, grew up on the streets and not the damsel in distress type. She can handle anything thrown at her. But she also has a loyalty and vulnerability that prevent her from being a harsh bitch of a heroine.

Victor McKell is a ruthless and proud vampire warrior. He’s possessive, unstable and psychotic. He has the ability to stop time and freeze people in time, in short bursts. He's as tough and rough as Ava and they're perfectly matched for each other.. He too, has this thin veil of vulnerability that endears him and makes him a hero I utterly enjoyed reading.

There were a few moments in the book where I feared the secondary cast would take over the focus of the book. For example I found it weird that the book started in a POV that was neither Ava’s or McKell’s but Mia Snow's, now head of AIR. Also, the stuff surrounding secondary character Dallas Gutierrez seemed to hold my attention more than the main characters at a certain point. Then again, this might be me.

And there was a scene in the story where McKell's time-stopping ability confused me as I didn't understand the logic behind it that time and I couldn't explain how the time had elapsed for the characters other than McKell. This puzzled me and took me out of the story for a minute. Fortunately these moments didn’t linger and I enjoyed the interactions and chemistry between McKell and Ava that were excellent.

It had been a while since I read the last Alien Huntress book, SEDUCE THE DARKNESS, and though the details of the overall ongoing plotline had turned a bit fuzzy in my memory, I very quickly caught on again after the first few chapters of ECSTACY IN DARKNESS. Although I absolutely enjoyed this installment of Gena Showalter's Alien Huntress series the end had me frowning a bit. IMHO it was too much of an easy and quick way out. The resolution to the part of the ongoing plot featured in this installment was just not what I would have liked to see, it was too convenient.

However, my faith in Gena is firm as a rock and I know she’ll come back with a vengeance and make up for it in the next installment, which I am definitely looking forward to. I know the last word hasn't been said and the last unexpected twist hasn't played out yet in this ongoing overall plot.

Gena Showalter writes make-out scenes like few other authors do. They're sizzling hot, unintrusive to the plot and a joy to read, and one of the reasons she's in the league of my favorite authors, on the auto-buy list from the moment I read my first book written by her. She also has the ability to infuse heat into her books without having actual sexy scenes. I was almost at page 400 (of a total of 502) when Ava and McKell finally did the deed but strangely this didn't bother me at all whereas in other romance novels the lack of ...let's call it consummation detracts from the romance and occasionally frustrates me. And the consummation scene itself was awesome and sizzling hot and worth every page read waiting for it. McKell outdid himself :)

Though a little lacking in the execution of the ongoing plot in this installment, I must say the main couple, the sizzling sensuality and the secondary characters all contributed to my utter enjoyment of yet another entertaining book in this series. The Alien Huntress series is another example of Gena's talent to write great individual romance within an ongoing plot that gets more intriguing with every new installment. I’m so ready for the next one!

Favorite Quotes:
He had pale skin and a face that proved God had an A game. And why the good Lord would have chosen to deviate from that formula and create other faces, she would never know. If everyone looked like this man –like fevered whispers in the dark, forbidden chocolate, and sin it its most tempting incarnation –crime would have ceased long ago. Or maybe never even started.

Her voice…as close to sex as a man could get without actually removing his clothing. Sure he’d considered it “sweet” before. After lying in his cave all day, replaying their interaction through his head over and over again, however, he’d realized that sweet obviously equaled dirty to his body.

He let their tongues continue to play, to duel, to roll and thrust, sipping, feeding, driving them closer and closer to a ledge they might later wish they’d never built. For it was a ledge of their own making, one that promised a torturous fall, a fatal landing.

“Where’s Sans?” the handsome brother asked with a leering grin. “At home in bed?
The ugly one punched him in the back of the head.
Noelle offered the speaker a deadly grin. “One day, Dear John, you’re gonna wake up, and your penis is gonna be resting on the pillow next to you. Not that you’ll notice its absence, small as it is.”

(Ava to McKell) “Thank you,” she said, fighting those stupid tears again. “Even though I understand where you’re coming from, I’m still asking you to heal him. Not because he deserves it, but because it’s the right thing to do. And because, if he gets better, we can take turns kicking him in his man junk without any feelings of guilt.”

Jacket Copy:

SHE HAS A BODY MADE FOR TEMPTATION…AND A KISS TO DIE FOR.
The war between otherworlders and humans changed Earth beyond recognition. It also saved Bride McKells’ life. Before, the gorgeous vampire was a target for every fanatic with a stake and a crucifix. Now she’s free to roam the streets—and desperate to find others of her kind. One man claims to have the answers she seeks. Devyn, King of the Targons, is a warrior and a womanizer, and he makes no secret of how much he wants Bride—and how dangerous he could be to her in every way.

An avid collector of women, Devyn easily seduces human and otherworlder alike. Until now. Not only does Bride resist him, but she leaves Devyn feeling something entirely new . . . a bone-deep need bordering on obsession. Her blood is the key to curing a vicious alien disease, but helping Bride uncover her origins will compel her to choose between electrifying passion and a destiny that could tear her from Devyn’s side forever.

It seemed like forever since I was blown away by SAVOR ME SLOWLY, the book preceding SEDUCE THE DARKNESS and so when it fell on my doormat I couldn’t finish the book I was reading fast enough so I could dive into Devyn’s story. Devyn intrigued me from the moment he made his appearance in the second book of the Alien Huntress series and I was anticipating his book something fierce. One thing I am extremely happy about is the fact that Gena Showalter has continued in the third person narrative. Even though she was the first and one of the few authors who made me appreciate first person narrative I prefer books written in 3rd person. I liked the first two installments, which were in 1st person, very much but loved SAVOR ME SLOWLY and SEDUCE THE DARKNESS more because of the preferred narrative.

SEDUCE THE DARKNESS is a paranormal romance in a futuristic setting. Earth has survived a great war between humans and otherworlders and is now populated by both of them. The otherworlders come in all races, forms and shapes. However, disaster is looming when a deadly disease that turns humans in raving cannibals reaches Earth. The infection is initiated by a race called the Schön and they must be stopped. AIR (Alien Investigation and Removal) agents captured one of them once but he has escaped and now he must be found and imprisoned again before the Earth suffers an epidemic that could destroy it. Devyn, King of the Targons, works for AIR and is trying to find the escaped prisoner. In their efforts to capture the Schön again Devon and his AIR colleagues run into Bride McKells, a vampire who proves indispensable in the battle against the disease that’s threatening Earth.

The prologue immediately set the tone for a book I just couldn’t put down. I got acquainted with Devyn in the previous 2 installments of this series and was intrigued by the bits of information given in those books and by the raw and in-your-face sensuality he exuded. I also wondered back then, who would be the heroine to catch his devotion and tame him by taking down his arrogance a notch. In the prologue I met her and knew she would be the perfect woman to match him in every way.

Devyn is a formidable warrior; he has skills that come in handy with his job at AIR. He is shamelessly sexy and flirtatious. He collects women as other men would collect objects like stamps or cars. He is the embodiment of seduction and he doesn’t even have to work for it, it comes to him as naturally as breathing. This also makes him cocky and arrogant. He truly thinks he’s God’s gift to women. Fortunately meeting and falling in love with Bride changes this. As I’ve described Devyn here, he might seem unlikable but for me that really was not the case. I loved him! He may seem self-serving and narcissistic but it comes from the way he was brought up and how he vowed to do as he pleased once he had the freedom to do just that. Despite his arrogance he genuinely cares for the people he considers his friends, like Dallas and the other AIR agents, even if he doesn’t acknowledge the emotion.

As I’ve said before Bride was perfect for Devyn. She doesn’t melt into a puddle at the sight of him and gives him hell every time he pulls the arrogance card on her. She definitely falls for him from the start but she does not let him in on that. He’s cocky and conceded enough as it is. She is straightforward, loyal and smart-mouthed. She is used to being a loner even though she doesn’t like to live that way. She covets family and to belong, to have someone who cares about her and takes care of her. Bride is more than a simple vampire. Soon in the book it is clear there is something special about her but I will not reveal what that is. Those who read the book will want to find out for themselves.

There were quite some secondary characters that played their part in SEDUCE THE DARKNESS. Some played big and significant parts, some just had a very small cameo appearance. And those who haven’t had their own book yet are definitely in the running for it, especially AIR agent Dallas Gutierrez, but his fellow-agent Hector Dean has some things up his sleeve as well.

SEDUCE THE DARKNESS was both character and plot driven. The characters that are important to the story are compelling and engaging. They are fleshed out exactly right with enough background to get to know them, but not taking away from the pace or the plot, a plot that started in SAVOR ME SLOWLY and was expanded in this installment. And even though there was a partial wrap-up of the plot in this book I am sure it is definitely ongoing in the next books. I am sure of that, especially after reading Dallas’ plotline. He is the other character, next to Devyn, that has intrigued me since the beginning of this series and some things happen around and with him that make me want his book right now. I can’t wait!

Romance and plot are nicely balanced, neither taking over the book. That’s how I like it best. There were two things in the plot I saw coming very early in the book but still the way Gena Showalter had them play out in the course of the story was mind-blowing and refreshing. I don’t like seeing things coming in a plot way in advance but if the author manages to surprise me with how she works them out, I cannot object to it.

It’s no secret I am a big fan of Gena Showalter’s books and with SEDUCE THE DARKNESS she nailed it again with the humor, the fast pace, the great plot, the interesting secondary characters and the undeniable attraction and heat between the hero and the heroine. Her writing style is one that is hit or miss. If you like it, it captivates and enthralls and if you don’t you will not enjoy her books. Fortunately for me her writing resonates with me in a very big way, which is why I welcome everything that comes from her with great enthusiasm and SEDUCE THE DARKNESS was no exception.

SEDUCE THE DARKNESS is the kind of book you can’t stop reading but at the same time you don’t want it to end. This meant that I wanted to read it really fast because of its compelling plot and appealing characters but at the same time I wanted to savor it and read it very slow, wishing it would never end and I could go on reading it forever. But I did and now I am willing to confess that I’m not too proud to beg Gena Showalter for Dallas’ story next.

(No quotes with this review because there were just too many good ones to choose from. I couldn't do it and will post a Quote-Blogpost soon instead)

Mishka Le’Ace was created to be an undercover operative . . . literally. Her beautiful body has been mechanically augmented to give her superhuman strength -- strength she’s going to need. Her latest mission sends her to rescue Alien Investigation and Removal agent Jaxon Tremain from torture and death. With him, she discovers a passion unlike any other. A passion she was forbidden to know. . .

From the moment they meet in a darkened cell, Jaxon craves her touch. But the machine half of Le’Ace forces her to do things she doesn’t always want to do. Even betray him . . . and ultimately destroy him. Now Jaxon must battle the man controlling Le’Ace and even Le’Ace herself to at last claim the woman he’s come to love.

This book took me on a ride that was fast and exciting, touching and sensual. If you’re looking for a futuristic, delicious, heartbreaking story, look no further. With this series Gena Showalter has created a fascinating world of aliens and humans, adding an android to the mix in this third installment.

Jaxon Tremain is an agent with the Alien Investigation and Removal agency (A.I.R.). Investigating a new race of aliens called the Schön, who have come to earth infecting humans with a virus that turns them into cannibals, he’s captured and tortured by another race of aliens whose planet was destroyed by the Schön.
Jaxon found out the hard way a long time ago that every action has consequences so he has learned to hide his wild side under a mask of control, reservation and perfect manners. Until he meets Mishka, she stirs something inside him he’d thought well hidden and with her bit by bit he starts showing his true self. He tries to deny with all his might that he’s falling for Mishka but he’s fighting a lost battle.

Mishka Le ‘Ace, an android, part machine, part animal, part alien, part human is sent in to rescue him.
Mishka is a fighting and killing machine, to be commanded by whomever owns her. She never lets anyone come close and never allows herself to care about people because sooner or later she will be ordered to betray those same people and do something to hurt them. Until she meets Jaxon, he shows her there is more than orders and also that love will not be overruled by commands or ownership. From the moment she gets to know Jaxon she struggles with the choice between her feelings for him and the fact that her every action is controlled by the man who owns her. The choice between the man she loves and admires and the obedience to orders that are programmed into her system. The choice between being a woman or a machine. She believes she has no freedom of choice but Jaxon and the love he has for her make her realize that she does have free choice.

This wonderful story of duty, love, sacrifice, fear, free choice, love and loyalty kicks right into gear from the very first page with instant attraction between Jaxon and Mishka, an action-packed plot, a delectable alpha-male hero and an utterly strong and capable heroine who kicks butt like no one else.

The secondary characters are strong and complimentary to the plot and this is logical since some of them are main characters in the previous books. And off course Devyn, king of Targon also makes an appearance...He establishes once again his status as a major secondary character with his cockiness, selfconfidence, his one-track mind and his dry sense of humour...I’m still hoping he’ll get his own book some day.

Contrary to the first two books in this series this book is not written in the first person but in the third person. I was already starting to get used to the first person but personally I think Showalter hit the jackpot writing this one in the third person and I understand why she stepped away from the first person perspective for this book. For me it wouldn’t have worked as well as it did now because to get the full scope of the story and the plot you need more than one person’s perspective. So not only that of Mishka was neccesary to make the storylines work but also those of Jaxon, Dallas and Mia. Adding their points of view were what gave the book the extra juice I missed in the previous books. But I do need to mention that the previous books did a marvellous job of setting the stage for this tremendously well-written third book. It all came together in a way that was enticing, compelling and not to mention so fast-paced it kept me turning the pages like a madwoman!

The plot is so well written it kept me on edge right until the end, Showalter did a great job of building up the tension, unraveling bits and pieces at a time up to an all-consuming, unexpected climax that leaves you wondering how she comes up with these plots. Her skills at storytelling are amazing both, emotionally as well as the action; the scenes where Jaxon defends Mishka and stands up for her against his fellow agents and friends, who see her as a coldhearted killer, are heartwarming and made me like him even more than I already did.
And the love-scenes were so hot, they practically burned the pages and they certainly had me burning...
But also the fight sequences were truly mindblowing! I already thought this reading the previous books, but the ones in this book were top notch, being topped of by the fight between Mishka and Mia. It was like seeing it on a moviescreen with the way Showalter described it so vividly it just came of the pages.

Gena Showalter has a knack for very satisfying plots and appealing characters and manages to balance plot, romance and characters into an exquisitely balanced and enchanting mix keeping me reading page after page to find out what would happen next. It felt like being on a speeding train, moving fast on the tracks, never slowing down and forcing you to hold on tight and ride it to the end. At that end reaching the final destination with nothing but a feeling of utter satisfaction.
If she wasn’t on my auto-buy list already she would certainly be put on it now.

Quotes:
Mia and Jaxon:
“You and Dallas should kiss and make up,” Mia suggested. “With tongue. I mean, really. It’s the least you can do.”
“When he tells me what I want to know, I’ll plant a fat wet one right on his mouth.”
She rolled her eyes. “Liar. Not nice to get my hopes up like that."

Devyn when Mishka and Mia engage in a fight:
“Anyone else aroused by this?” the one called Devyn asked with a laugh.
“You need to shut it, you pervert,” Eden grumbled, but there was affection in her tone.

Eden Black walks among humans, protecting them from the murderous evil of other-worlders who abduct and enslave. And though she appears to be human herself, Eden is an alien, a Raka, distinguished by her golden hair and skin, and gifted with the ominous ability to kill without remorse -- and with total accuracy. That is, until the fateful night she has one shot to eliminate her target, a human slaver -- and misses.

"Failure" is not in Eden's vocabulary. Neither is "partner" -- but that's what she is forcibly assigned after recovering from her disastrous mission. A sexy, steely-nerved human agent, Lucius Adaire enjoys nothing more than sparking the fury -- and rousing the desire -- of the fiery female assassin too proud to admit defeat. Locked in an assignment they cannot afford to lose, Lucius and Eden find themselves bound in two high-stakes, heart-pounding games: the sensual web of kill or be killed, and the erotic dance of seduction.

Book 2 in the Alien Huntress-series can be read stand alone very well but I also understand why it’s connected to book 1. Showalter continues to pull you into a futuristic world that’s not only inhabited by humans but also by all sorts of otherworldly creatures like Rakas, Mecs, Morevvs (who happen to have a very special anatomic feature), Targons and many more.
This seems a lot to swallow but Showalter pours it all into a perfect mix of action-packed scenes and a fair amount of romance that you take it all in in one gulp. The plot at first seems a bit tame but then takes some unexpected and great turns keeping you intrigued to the very end.
And on top of that she creates heroins in this series you only wish you had half their courage and strength and not to mention some of their kicking ass-abilities.

Eden Black is one tough Raka, with nothing on her mind but her job: assassinating predatory other Otherworlders who break the earthly laws.
She is smart, cunning, strong, couragious and tough as nails with a sarcasm that cuts anyone off not strong enough to handle her. Oh...and did I mention she seriously kicks butt...There a quite a few action-filled fighting scenes in which she firmly stands her ground...
The hero Lucius, a human who is kind of a hitman for hire, unfortunately doesn’t really stand out in the book but I think this is because everything is viewed from Eden perspective, the book being written in first person. This causes Lucius to seem a less powerful character I suspect he actually is. Of course this is a logical consequence of books written in first person. The focus is mainly on the person through whom’s eyes you receive the story. It’s the reason I prefer books in third person but it’s a big plus for Showalter’s writing and storytelling abilities that I’ve enjoyed these books thoroughly inspite the form in which they were written.
Nonetheless, Lucius does a great job of teaching Eden that there’s more in life than the next target. And in the midst of all the inhuman, alien species it was nice to have a hot alpha human male.
The interactions between Eden and Lucius, be it combat-training, verbally fighting, seducing or otherwise are deliciously intense and witty. At first can't stand each other and attack each other with both fists and vicious sarcasm. But there is also immediate attraction, so the rejection soon changes to affection and even love.

Of the secondary characters I just loved Devyn (hope he’ll get his own book some day), the King of the planet Targon. He’s was tough, funny and endearing at the same time. Giving Eden a rough time but in the end proving to be a very honorable alien.

I know from Showalter’s website that Eden and Lucius will make an appearance in book 3 of the series and so will Mia (heroin from book 1) so I’m already looking forward to reading how everything will progress in this fascinating world of Alien Huntresses.

Quote:
Lucius: “Listen cookie,” he said, his voice rough, low as if his vocal cords had once been damaged. “The day I need you to save my ass is the day I’ll find me a new job. Maybe cloning flowers. Maybe walking robotic dogs. I’ll decide when the time comes.”

RIDDING THE WORLD OF EVIL, ONE ALIEN AT A TIME.

In a time and place not too far away, Mia Snow is an alien huntress for the New Chicago Police Department, and she's the perfect girl for the job. Tough and sexy, she's earned each of her scars battling the elusive enemy among us. Now, investigating a series of killings, she is shaken to the core when a burst of violence leaves her partner Dallas fighting for his life. A tall, erotic stranger holds the power to heal the injured agent — and to bind Mia in an electrifying and dangerous seduction. He is Kyrin en Arr, of the deadly Arcadian species — an alien, a murder suspect — who has Mia walking a knife's edge, risking her badge and even her life. . . and edging closer to a shocking revelation that will shatter everything she's ever believed.

Another different series from Showalter. I was unsure what to expect from it, reading the blurb I thought it had the potential of being good.
And it was! It has a very different tone and setting compared to her other series. More violent, more action, lots of fighting scenes but still filled with bantering and sarcastic wit. Reading it was like watching a sci-fi action movie.
It’s very futuristic with various species of aliens, alien hunters, an alien serial killer and a great plot. The plot unrevels bit by bit in a very fast-paced story that turned out to be a real page-turner for me! I enjoyed every page of it and reading the end, left me wanting more.
This wish will be granted because although Mia got her HEA, there are still some loose ends that need to be tied up and they will be in future books in the series.

Heroin is Mia Snow, an alien huntress who seriously kicks ass! Be it alien or human, man or woman! Hero is Kyrin en Arr, an Acadian who is a main suspect in the investigation into an alien serial killer.
Mia is the embodiement of the fantasy of female power and Kyrin is her perfect match although of course at first she fights him (and her attraction to him) with everything she’s got.

The secondary characters are were amazing. Even the evil serial killer! But Showalter has a nack for creating sympathy for all her characters, even the bad guys...
But I also loved Mia’s fellow agents: Ghost, Kittie, Jaxon and Dallas.

You see everything through Mia’s eyes because it’s written in the first person perspective. This gives the book a more intense feel than if it were written in the third person and Gena Showalter has done a great job in winning me over for this writing style.
This book was another great read and I’ll be reading the next one, Enslave Me Sweetly, very soon.



Quote
A conversation between Mia and Dallas about dating:
“Did I tell you I have a date tomorrow?”he asked conversationally, changing the subject just to annoy me.
“With who?”
“Jane Marlow”
“Christ. The porn star?”
“She prefers the term professional sex advocate.”
“At least with this one you’ll know there’s more than ice in her panties.”
“ I resent that. Especially from you, a woman who hasn’t gone on a date since the Great Heat Wave.”