Rancher Rylie Thorn loves everything about men, but she’s positively phobic about commitment. After growing up in a broken family and witnessing too many failed marriages, Rylie knows "forever" is just not in the cards for her.

Sheriff Clay Wayland has been called in to investigate a rash of crimes in the southeastern corner of Cochise County. But one night when he goes into the field to do some observation, he comes across a sensual woman who’s doing some investigating of her own. Rylie immediately sets his blood on fire and he knows he has to have her. And it isn’t long before Clay begins the job of taming this wildcat and making her his. . .for keeps.

Title: CLAY
Author: Cheyenne McCray
Series: Armed and Dangerous, book 4
Genre: Erotic Romance, Romantic Suspense
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Year of release: 2011, April 12
Format: Tradesize Paperback
Source: Bought via The BookDepository

First line:
Rylie Thorn pulled at her earlobe as she guided her battered ranch pickup into the parking lot of the Cochise County Sheriff’s Department.

Memorable Scenes:
- chapter 12 in its entirety > both in heat, plot and emotion this was a crucial and memorable chapter

Rylie Thorn is a rancher and from a broken home and dysfunctional family. She’s a wildcat and determined not to follow in her mother's doormat footsteps. She’s stubborn, take-charge and emotionally distant. Though she’s sexually uninhibited she fears intimacy and doesn't believe in love or marriage.

Clay Wayland is the County’s sheriff and his personality matches his job. He’s commanding and goes after what he wants. In this case he wants Rylie.

First sexually tinted scene between Riley and Clay was a bit weird for me (Rylie let’s a stranger – Clay fondle her to a climax outside while peeping Tom-ing her foreman having sex with 2 women) and I had to suspend disbelief to get over it and enjoy the rest of the romance. And yet I think what keeps me coming back to this series is the scorching heat of the sex scenes. In CLAY, unapologetic and in clear, straight language the hot chemistry between Rylie and Clay set the pages on fire.

The plot, which was not the strong point in this installment, revolved around truck thefts along the border. I was hoping it wasn't going to turn out as predictable as I was suspecting from early on in the book and fortunately it wasn’t too predictable but it wasn’t very thrilling either except for the showdown wrap-up scene. The suspense was just less intense than the steaminess in this book.

Cheyenne McCray's writing reels me in. I don't know what hold this series has over me but even though neither book in the series has blown me away so far, any new book released in it never lingers very long on my Mt. TBR. The minute a new release arrives I put it on the TBR shelf but it keeps calling me, enticing me to start reading it and before I know it, I've cracked the spine and started reading...This series is my crack, I tell you! I just can’t stay away from it.

CLAY is another good addition to this very addictive series. The predictability of the suspense was made up for by the scorching sexual chemistry and hot as hell sexy scenes and I'm ready for the next book in the Armed and Dangerous Series. If I may make a suggestion, NOAH would be a great contender and my pick to continue this series with.

Favorite Quotes:
The little wildcat glared at him. She didn’t spit, but she didn’t kill him either. That had to be a win. After a second or two of stripping him down with those hot eyes, she spun and marched out of the control room.

“Fair’s fair.” Rylie gave him a saucy smile, but inside she was a quivering mass of lust. Every cell in her body screamed with need for this man. Nee to have his naked form against hers, need to taste his skin, and need to see if he fit as perfectly inside as he did outside.

“I hate to break this moment, but you think you could unlock these handcuffs?”
“I don’t know.” He propped himself up on both arms and his lips quirked in a grin. “Kinda like you right where I’ve got you.”
“Oh?” Damn but he made her feel all quivery and gooey inside. “What do I have to do to convince you?”
Clay raised an eyebrow. “Of what?”
“That there’ll be hell to pay if you don’t get these things off me now.”
With a soft laugh he rolled off of her, sliding out and leaving her empty without him. “Now supposing I can’t find the key?”
Rylie glared at him. “Supposing I’m gonna kick your ass, cowboy.”

“You are so dead, Clay Wayland,” Rylie muttered as he climbed another set of stairs and she bounced against his back. “Right after I ride you like a wild bronco, I’m gonna kill you.

After a bitter divorce, reporter Kelsey Nichols has erected a border around her heart too strong for any man to cross. She's not ready for a relationship of any kind with any man. But when Kelsey meets Kade she can think of nothing but being in his powerful arms and in his bed.

Intelligence Agent Kade Owen is hot on the trail of a notorious smuggler when the sensual blonde reporter comes into his life. Once he gets a hold of Kelsey, nothing will stop Kade from winning her heart.

Title: KADE
Author: Cheyenne McCray
Series: Armed and Dangerous, book 3
Genre: Erotic Romance, Romantic Suspense
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Year of release: 2010, October 26
Format: Trade Size Paperback
Source: Bought via The Book Depository

First line:
Kade Owen dragged his hand over his stubbled face as he settled into the plastic airport seat while waiting to board the plane he'd be taking to Tucson.

Memorable Scenes:
Weren’t there any or did I just not write them down…who knows?

Kade Owen is an Intelligence Agent with the U.S. Border Patrol. He's investigating people-smugglers and on the trail of a notorious lead figure in the operation, the key smuggler: El Torero. Kelsey Nichols is a journalist writing a series of articles on illegal immigration along the Mexican border. It turns out she'll be staying with Kade at the family ranch and soon they discover that their individual investigations have common threads and they also discover that there’s instant heat and attraction between them that will turn into a blazing inferno if they don’t keep it contained.

Kade is a widower with a 9 year-old son. He’s charming and a sweet-talker but he’s also ruthless and hard in when it comes to his job. Kade's a talker in bed, not necessarily a dirty talker but he's pretty vocal, which I love in my heroes.

Kelsey didn’t make as big an impression on me as Kade did. She was an overall nice character and I loved how she was with Kade and his son but other than that there aren’t any spectacular memorable moments that come to mind when writing something about her.

There were very many secondary characters and I had to make notes to keep them straight. Some of them were important to the story by way of the suspense of the romance. Others were just walk-ons or mentions that I don’t think we’ll see in future installments of this series. One thing I noticed in LUKE but didn’t mention in that review is that most of the males in these books have 4-letter names. In this book I noticed it again and it made me want to mention it now because I like it and I think that it’s done purposely by Cheyenne McCray and not a coincidental thing. The ones I noted in KADE were: Kade (of course), Juan, John, Jess, Stan, Jake, Paul. From the previous books we have Zack and Luke and the next book’s hero is Clay. Don’t tell me this is a coincidence.

I don't know what it is about the books in the Armed & Dangerous Series but even though the first two books didn't blow me away, I was anxiously waiting for book 3 and pre-ordered it the minute I was able to. I even read it within a week of receiving it and that says a lot, especially if you look at some of the books of series I read that are still on my TBR, some of which have been gathering dust for more than 2 years.

And now after reading KADE I know the next book will be pre-ordered and read as soon as it arrives too because somehow, sneakily, Cheyenne McCray has hooked me with these combinations of erotic romance, sexy cowboys who are in law-enforcement and some excellent suspense plots. (Clay was pre-ordered and read immediately upon receiving it. This series is scarily addictive and I can’t figure out why…)

In ZACK I loved the erotic/romance part and the suspense lacked a bit for me. In LUKE the suspense part was good but I had trouble with the eroticism/romance in the story. At the start of KADE I was hoping the book would deliver in both because I really loved the start. My wish was partially granted as it started strong, fizzled out a little bit in the middle and ended strong again. Even if the suspense was a little predictable it was wrapped up well with a small surprise. The romance was sweet but not overly intense or very erotic. KADE was definitely less erotic than book 2 but in a way that I did enjoy it more than the explicit eroticism of the second book.

Besides suspense and romance KADE had another big plus: a kid (Kade's son) and as known I'm a sucker for children in romance novels, especially the sweet, cute, chatterbox, whirlwind kind of kids. I really loved Trent, he was such an adorable boy and he most certainly contributed to my enjoyment of this installment of the Armed and Dangerous Series.

All in all KADE is a very nice read that didn't blow me away but still it was good enough to keep me hooked to the series. Because yes, CLAY has already been pre-ordered too…What the F is it with these books…? Darned Cheyenne McCray, you and this series are an addiction I just can’t seem to quit!

Favorite Quote:
He brushed his lips over hers. Just a whisper kiss. The light touch of his lips and her feel of his fingers on her skin made her nipples ache. A wave of longing crested, then crashed within her soul. She pressed herself closer to him and heard a soft moan. Coming from her.
The tip of his tongue outlined her bottom lip, a feather caress that sent desire spiraling within. She parted her lips and his tongue met hers, a velvet softness that she savored like golden honey. “You taste so good,” he murmured.
She moved her palm to his face, and for an endless moment she stroked his cheek and gazed into his eyes. “I lose my head with you. I can’t afford that –I can’t afford to lose myself again.”
Kade kissed the corner of her mouth and moved to her earlobe. “If you get lost, I’ll help you find your way back.” He nipped at her lobe. “I need you, Kelsey. I’m not whole without you.”

Back Cover:
After spending four years abroad, Trinity MacKenna has returned home to her family's ranch in southeastern Arizona. Everything in her life is going just the way she planned it—a home in London, a brilliant career, and she's practically engaged to a gorgeous English gentleman. But when Trinity meets Luke, the cowboy turns her perfect world upside down. Everything about him is virile and sexy, dark and dangerous—and definitely not part of Trinity's carefully arranged plans.

From the moment Luke Denver sees the sensual strawberry blond, he knows he's got to have her. Luke is intrigued by Trinity's combination of sophistication and innocence, boldness and shyness. Even when Trinity tells him she's taken, Luke doesn't let that stop him, because he's determined to make her his...no matter the cost.

When trouble of cattle rustling started at the Flying M Ranch, DEA special agent Luke Denver was placed there undercover as ranch foreman Luke Rider. With the arrest of the rustlers and their accomplice at the sheriff’s department they thought the trouble was over but now there seems to be a turf war going on and illegal aliens (UDAs) are smuggling drugs over the border. Luke and his fellow agents have to try and figure out which of the ranchers is in the middle of it all and while investigating he stumbles upon Trinity, Skylar MacKenna’s (owner of the Flying M and Luke’s boss – heroine book 1) little sister. The attraction is explosive and instant. He knows he has to have her and sets out to do just that. Software designer Trinity has returned home for her first visit after living and working abroad for years and while practically engaged she’s having second thoughts about her relationship. When the ultimate specimen of cowboys, Luke Rider, steps into her life, she is confused and frightened by her hefty reaction to him and knows she will not be able to walk away from him with her emotions unscathed.

Luke is a loner. He is has this dark, sexy and dangerous aura but he is also confident, dedicated and a take-charge kind of guy. When he puts his mind to something, he WILL have it. And he’s decided he wants Trinity. Trinity, always standing in her sister Skylar's shadow as the little ugly sister, has transformed from ugly duckling to beautiful swan but this hasn't changed the fact that she's still insecure. Despite her fits of insecurity that hit every now and then she is strong, sexy and confident yet vulnerable. Her feelings for Luke are confusing to say the least because she has an almost fiancé and she is not planning on staying in Arizona for long but the chemistry between them is one that can’t be denied.

When ZACK (book 1 of this series) came out the blurb hooked me and I couldn't wait to read it. However it was a disappointing read because I had trouble with the plot of the book. The content of the book, in my opinion, didn't concur with what had been presented in the blurb. Find the link to my review of ZACK at the end of this review to read my exact thoughts on it. After that first book I still was curious and intrigued enough by Luke's character, and his role in that story, to order LUKE but I wasn't as dying to read it as I had been for ZACK. When it arrived I did put it on the TBR-shelf and in plain sight, instead of on its regular spot on the shelves alphabetized by author, thinking I'd get to it somewhere in the course of 2010. However, a few days before Christmas, every time I looked at my TBR-shelf, this book was calling to me, luring me, enticing me, until I finally decided to pick it up.

As with ZACK I loved the characters, the romance and the love scenes but a few things were off for me, which I will get to later in this review. Still in LUKE I did like the plot a lot better than in ZACK. The strength of LUKE lies in the sizzling chemistry between Luke and Trinity. The scenes with them together sparkled and held my attention firmly. Sadly the scenes with them apart felt a bit flat and these were the points in the book where my attention would wander off. I was tempted to skim these parts and to me this shows again (as with ZACK) that the plot is the least appealing element of the books in this series, even if the plot in LUKE was considerably more my cup of tea than the one in ZACK.

Even though I tended to zone out in some of the plot scenes, it still was a fairly unpredictable plot that was worked out and wrapped up well. And I don't think we've seen the end of things. This thread of the plot arc has been resolved but I am sure another thread of it will be picked up and continued in the next book of the Armed and Dangerous series: CLAY. Even if I wasn't blown away by either ZACK or LUKE I did love revisiting Zack and Skylar and seeing how they were doing after their HEA and I'm sure I haven't seen the last of them and Luke and Trinity either.

I was a bit worried when I read the back cover of this book. Trinity is engaged and Luke doesn't care that she is a woman committed to another man. However, rather soon it's clear that Trinity is not really engaged and she's not sure she wants to continue her relationship with her English boyfriend, even before she meets and kisses Luke. She breaks up with her boyfriend after the kiss and although the way she does this is acceptable, in my opinion, it was not the best way to end a relationship.

No matter how much I loved the hot and explicit love scenes or how much I melted (and had to wipe the drool of my chin) at Luke's sexual confidence and his "liquid-hot Texan drawl" there were a few things that bothered me in the sex scenes. The first is the lack of protection. Despite Luke's insistence of not going "all the way" the first time they are together because they don't have protection at hand, the first time they really go at it there is not even the thought of protection. True, they both realize afterwards that they were stupid enough to forget protection in the heat of the moment, which made it better...until they just forgot again the next time.

The second is a specific sexual act Trinity does that just didn't do it for me...I am not a prude, far from it, but this really put me off and she does it repeatedly during the love scenes and at Luke’s command too.

The third thing was during their first time all-the-way scene. Trinity has her very first experience with anal sex and she goes: "Oh this feels so good!" This just didn’t sit well with me. Luke is a well-endowed man, there's no real preparation and she feels no pain or even discomfort whatsoever? Nope, I did not buy that. So even though there were some really great and hot sex scenes: voyeurism under the tree, hot tub and chaps is all I'm saying, some things just didn't work for me, especially in the second half of the book.

Up till now Cheyenne McCray hasn't been able to wow me with the Armed and Dangerous series as she did with her Magic series but still I liked this book better than I liked ZACK and contrary to my closing sentence in the review for ZACK, after reading LUKE, I am certain I will look out for the books that are to come in this series as some of the secondary characters in LUKE provided some intriguing and enticing tidbits of information for me to be curious to their stories. Even if it didn't wow me, if you like your hero hot, masterful and confident, your suspense set up and played out well and your romance sexy and sizzling and you don't mind some weird nipple play, LUKE will provide some pleasant and heated hours of reading.

Quotes:
With his long black duster swirling around his legs, he looked dark and dangerous, like an Old West gunslinger who'd come to town to track down his prey.

He knew he should have some moral battle inside, but the reaction was too strong, too deep. This woman, oh, yeah, she was his. He had claimed her at Nevaeh's and he was claiming her again, right there under her sister's tree.

"I can satisfy you in more ways than you can imagine." He leaned forward and nuzzled her ear, and then ran his hot tongue along the row of earrings. "Now," he murmured, "back to where we left off." That's all the man had to do -talk in that deep, sensual drawl, and she'd do just about anything for him. Anything at all.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10

My other review(s) in the ARMED AND DANGEROUS series:
Armed and Dangerous: ZACK (book 1)

Jacket Copy:

THE WAR BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL
Jake Macgregor has his hands full. As San Francisco’s leader of the Paranormal Special Forces unit, he and his team are facing a powerful enemy that threatens to bring down the city. With the weight of the world already resting on his broad, chiseled shoulders, the last thing Jake has time for is romance. So why—after a long, hard day’s fight against evil—are his nights filled with dreams of Cassia?

IS ABOUT TO GET A WHOLE LOT HOTTER
Cassia is a D’Anu witch whose birthright ensures power and honor beyond her imagination. It also forbids the one thing Cassia wants the most: the love of mortal Jake Macgregor. When she intervenes in a skirmish to save his life, the consequences are inescapable—even though the magic they make together is too luscious, and potent, to resist…

With DARK MAGIC I have come to the end of a series I started reading almost 2 years ago. Fairly new to the world of paranormal romance I picked the first book (FORBIDDEN MAGIC) purely on intuition while voraciously browsing the Internet in search of fodder for my reading addiction in 2007. Blurb, excerpts and premise of the MAGIC Series caught my attention and Cheyenne McCray has not disappointed me in the course of reading these books.

The ingredients for DARK MAGIC: a Princess of the Elves coming into her great powers and a hunky ex-Marine and leader of the human Paranormal Special Forces form the star-crossed couple in the middle of an epic battle. A magical and physical battle between good and evil. The search for a traitor amongst the Alliance formed by humans, Fae and Elves. Evil getting what is coming to them.

Cassia is the daughter of the Great Guardian, the Queen of the Elves. She started out in this series as a clumsy apprentice to the D’Anu Coven of witches but soon in the series hints as to her being more than meets the eye are given. And now the last book in the series, of which she is the heroine, she reveals her true identity and purpose. Cassia is powerful beyond imagination and her poise and calm are some of her strong points

Jake McGregor has also been a secondary character since the first installment. I fell for him the moment he appeared in book 1. I have this thing for Marines/Special Forces guys and he fits the bill perfectly. But it wasn’t until his own book that the full effect of his personality and character came out. Jake is tough, fearless and unapologetic. I loved how he stood up against Cassia’s mother and showed his feelings for Cassia without holding back.

Even in this last installment of the series Cheyenne McCray manages to catch me off guard with surprising twist and revelations and unknown, newly introduced magical beings. She mixes new elements with the overall plot arc that has been going on 4 books and 1 novella long and she continues the overall story arc without becoming repetitive. My only very, very minor point of criticism is that the first few chapters are slowed down a bit by the extensive setup of Jake and Cassia’s background stories. However, this did not annoy me because it is something that helped me connect even better with the characters and despite the slow pace, the beginning of DARK MAGIC was filled with plenty of action, picking up where we left of in SHADOW MAGIC.

The love story between Jake and Cassia is an added bonus and a great counterpart to the fast-paced action. Both Jake and Cassia are characters that are deepened out excellently. Because of the aforementioned detailed backgrounds Cheyenne McCray provided them, their development for me was the best of all couples featured in this series. I saw dilemmas, internal and external struggles with situations and emotions and it all added to their characters and made me root for them in every way.

Romance is not the main focus of this installment. The focus is on the battle with Darkwolf and discovering whom the traitor is within the Alliance. I was unsure at first as to how the Alliance was going to deal with the practically invincible Darkwolf. The odds were very much against the Alliance throughout the series after all, but Cheyenne McCray hit it right on the mark. Without taking shortcuts or rushing it, she brought the plot to a satisfying end.

The romance arc and the overall story arc are linked together in the way that the outcome of certain romantic elements influence the progression in the story arc but romance is not what drives this book. It’s the action and the character-development. The secondary characters are mostly the ones from previous books with a few additions to them to give this book it’s own unique vibe. I especially liked the character of David Bourne, Jake’s old Marine buddy. Too bad he won’t have his own story, but who knows, maybe he’ll turn up in the Urban Fantasy series (Night Tracker series) Cheyenne McCray has started with a half Drow heroine (Nyx) since that series is set in the same kind of world after all.

DARK MAGIC represents the ending of a wonderful series. Closure to a series that is firmly planted on my keepers’ shelf. I loved every installment but have to say that with this book Cheyenne McCray gave the MAGIC series a truly worthy ending, one that came with an utterly satisfying wrap-up of a plot that had been ongoing since book 1.

Quotes:
A crack split the air like a shot and a wooden table collapsed.
Oh. Crap.
All thoughts of shape-shifting eggplants left his head and he wondered if she was going to toast his nuts like Rhiannon had done to Keir when she'd met the D'Danann warrior. Only maybe Cassia would fry Jake's right off. He almost crossed his legs at the thought.

Hold on Macgregor. Jake ground his teeth. Virgin. Guardian ascending. Transition. Instant death. No sex. Not yet.
His c#ck wouldn't listen to a thing that shot through his mind. Cassia turned, and he sucked in his breath when her gaze met his. She stood maybe five feet away, but a couple of steps in her direction and he'd have her in his arms.
His little head spoke and his big head took a vacation.

Cassia fell under Jake's spell as he kissed her. His was a different kind of magic. A magic of seduction and desire that made her heart pound and her body vibrate with a need she had never experienced before.

Back Cover Copy
Ever since Zack Hunter, the ultimate alpha boy, left her ten years ago and broke her heart, Sky MacKenna hasn’t been able to find a man who sets her on fire the way he did. Then he comes striding back into her life–bigger, badder and sexier than before…

ICE agent, Zack Hunter never thought he’d return to his small home town and he never thought he’d set eyes on Sky again. Leaving her behind had been the stupidest thing he had ever done but this time he isn’t going to let her go. And as soon as he lays eyes on Sky he makes it clear that he intends to make her his all over again.

When Sky becomes entangled in the case he’s investigating, Zack can’t help but take the threat personal. As the danger mounts, their passion burns even hotter.

When a case of stolen cattle brings Zack Hunter, former deputy-sheriff turned ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agent back to his home town, he decides to seize the opportunity to look up his ex-girlfriend Skylar MacKenna and try to get back together. He left her ten years ago in a bad way and wants to give their relationship another chance. Skylar is one of the ranchers whose cattle is being stolen and that puts her in the middle of Zack's investigation but after he broke her heart ten years before, Skylar has absolutely no intention of giving him another chance with her.

Zack and Skylar's childhood have been very different. Where Sky's had loving parents and grew up knowing she was loved and supported, Zack had to deal with first an abusive father and later with an equally abusive stepfather. With the latter things escalated when Zack almost beat him to death after he found him beating on his mother. This event was crucial in his decision to break up with Skylar, his girlfriend of 6 months. He doesn't think he's worthy of her love and is afraid of the violence he discovers in himself. Now ten years later he's back and he is determined to show Sky that he's changed and he's willing to commit to her.
Sky was devastated when Zack left and though she has tried to forget him, by dating other men for example, she has never truly succeeded. But when he comes back to Douglas declaring he wants her back, she puts her foot down and refuses to let him lure her into his clutches again. She has suffered a broken heart once and that's more than enough.

But slowly Zack and Sky do pick up where they left of 10 years before and their relationship is rekindled but now at a much more mature level. The romance between them is alternately hot and chilly. From Zack's point of view it's clear he wants to go back to the hot, passionate relationship they once had. Sky however, tries to keep him at a distance because of the way Zack hurt her in the past. Because of this there aren't that many love scenes in the book, especially in the first half. The ones that are fleshed out are definitely scorching but there's a lot of suggestion and thinking about sex instead of the real thing from both Zack and Sky. Sometimes suggestion can make a book very sensual but for me in this one it missed the mark. Many times I thought it was going to somewhere, just to be a little let down when McCray would switch back to the suspense, leaving me hanging there.

Contrary to what I'm used to by Cheyenne McCray, this book just didn't do it for me. I think it has to do with expectations. I was expecting covert operatives dealing with weapon smugglers or drug lords and hot love scenes and instead of weapons or drugs I got a ranch and cattle. Not that this is bad the back cover blurb just didn’t prepare me for it and so ZACK and I started on the wrong foot and to be honest we never got quite on the right foot. Eventually the hot love scenes and the touching and fiery relationship between Zack and Sky made up for some of it and it was the relationship between Zack and Sky that kept me reading on. I liked the book but the mix of romance and suspense just wasn't good enough. It didn't blend together fluently and there was something off that's hard for me to pinpoint. The promise is there in the plot and the romance but McCray didn't deliver it well enough to blow me away like other books by her hand did.

At first there seemed to be two different suspense plots that were linked and the true plot didn't become clear until after halfway through the story but still the plot just couldn't keep me enthralled. A ranch, cattle, cowboys...In this setting it just doesn’t do anything for me. This book once again proved that for me. This setting only appeals to me when strong emotions or hot eroticism is there to balance the scale but unfortunately I missed both in this first installment of the Armed and Dangerous series. The romance on its own had potential but the mixture with the western themed plot didn't come together for me.

In conclusion, I loved the romance separately, loved the love scenes but the western theme and the plot just weren't my cup of tea and even though I was intrigued by Sky's foreman, Luke Rider, who is the hero of the next book, I am very hesitant to invest my time and attention in this series.

Quote:
Just the thought of what she wearing under that scrap of a dress was enough to make him want to throw back his head and let loose a primal chest-beating howl, throw her over his shoulder, and take her home and bury himself inside her.

BACKCOVER:
THE SINS OF THE PAST
When Hannah Wentworth flees her life in San Francisco to join her sister D’Anu witches in Otherworld, she vows to help them conquer the evil bent on destroying the human realm. But the only one who can help her happens to be the king of the Dark Elves. The father to her nemesis, Rhiannon of the D’Anu. And the one man Hannah can never, ever trust...especially because of her dangerous attraction to him.

ARE COMING TO LIGHT…
Garran knows that the beautiful, headstrong Hannah is wary of him for having banished his people to a life underground. But now Garran can right that wrong by helping her and the other gray witches in their dangerous battle in San Francisco—even if doing so means sacrificing the passion he’s found only in Hannah’s arms…

IIn this fifth installment of the Magic Series the battle against the demon god Balor, demon goddess Ceithlenn and the black magic warlock Darkwolf reaches a turning point that can only be called mind-blowing. It forms the background for a love story that unfolds between Garran, king of the Drow (Dark Elves) and Hannah Wenthworth, gray witch of the D'Anu. How is Hannah to trust a man who has betrayed her sister witches in the past and how is Garran to prove to Hannah that he is willing to do what is needed to right his wrongs of the past? Their journey to the answers for these questions and to their happy end is filled with dangerous battles, resistance from friends and family, sacrifice and unconditional love.

Hannah is the witch of the Coven who is the most distant and detached from the others, she always keeps her distance and the only other witch who can push her buttons is Rhiannon (the reason for this becomes clear in this book). With Hannah everything is about being in control of her life and her emotions. This is caused by her loveless childhood.

Garran is the king of the Dark Elves and though he made some appearances in previous parts of the series, in this one you really get to know him and his motivations for previous actions.

Both Garran and Hannah are complicated and intricate characters due to their personalities, responsibilities and history. They both need someone strong to understand what drives them and what their desires are. They find that someone in each other.

There are more scenes for the secondary characters and multiple points of view (POV’s) are employed. In the other books this was also the case but much less frequent and less in volume. The amount of pages Darkwolf, Ceithlenn and Jake McGregor (captain of the human Paranormal Special Forces) have is considerably higher than in the previous books. This, however, is never bothering and their POV's are needed for the completion of the plot.
There is no separate POV for Rhiannon (the heroine of book 3) but because of her connection to Garran she has an important secondary role in this one.

Darkwolf remains an ambiguous character. Every time I thought I had him figured out, he surprised me with actions I did not see coming. He's fighting his own battle and his only allegiance, despite that it sometimes may seem different, is to himself, his own quest for power. He remains an enemy who's a power to be reckoned with and I can only guess what he has in store for the Alliance in the last book.


The way McCray builds this world and plot and lets her characters roam around in them is praiseworthy. It's fast-paced, action-filled, unpredictable and compelling throughout the entire book, but especially in the last half.
The romance between Hannah and Garran fitted in nicely, providing variation to the exciting, nerve wrecking plot.
The love scenes are very explicitly erotic but again fitting perfectly with the story and the characters. Also they are well dosed into the story, not too little, not too much. Just like in the previous books.
The fighting/battle sequences are amazing. McCray combines the witches' magic, the Fae warriors' swords, the Dark Elves' arrows and the human guns into scenes that came of the pages so lifelike that they are absolutely exhilarating.

Again I immerged myself in the world of the D'Anu witches, the Fae Warriors of the D'Danann and this time another group was added to the mix: the Dark Elves (Drows). Again I immensely enjoyed reading the ongoing plot in the series, the battle against the evil goddess Ceithlenn. The direction the ongoing plot takes at the end of the book didn't quite take me by surprise but I do wonder how everything is going to be worked out at the end of the series.

With every book this series gets better and more intriguing. Existing storylines are expanded, new storylines are woven in, questions are answered but at the same time new questions are raised. This book in the series is clearly setting up the ending of the series with a bang. More alliances are formed, allegiances change sides, actions are taken that puzzle me but I'm sure everything will be explained in the next and final installment.

Though this book fits right in the series with the ongoing plot and the romance and the eroticism, it had a slightly different feel to it compared to the previous books.
One thing is the multiple POV's I mentioned before but also the tone and setting is more grim and there's a lot more action. For me this all contributed to the overall impact of the book. I liked this one the best in the series so far, though I think (hope) the final book in the series will close it with a blast. The ongoing plot is building to an amazing climax, one I'm both anticipating and fearing.
Anticipating because I really want to know how this battle is going to end.
Fearing because I know that with the next book the series ends and I won't be able to loose myself in this wonderful, magical, erotic world Cheyenne McCray has created.

FOUR WITCHES ON A MAN HUNT
From broomsticks to black magic, leather-clad warriors to love potions gone wrong, here you’ll find four stories of supernatural sex and suspense from some of today’s hottest bestselling authors.

MaryJanice Davidson - The Majicka
Life’s a bit crowded for Ireland and her roommates—a fairy, a werewolf, a vampire, and now a zombie…especially when a mysterious man walks through the door. Will there be any room left for love?

Ireland Shea is an unknowing guardian of the Magick (a Magicka). She lives with a vampire, a werewolf, a faerie and a mage spelled into a car. Micah is new Magicks tutor. He teaches them the ropes. When he goes to Ireland to tutor her, he finds her in the middle of saving a Dryad from being killed. Micah tags along, they save the Dryad, fall in love and live happily ever after.
This story was really not for me but I think MaryJanice Davidson fans will like it. It just was not my thing despite being a pleasant and funny story. There's a lot of funny bantering and sarcastic dialogues but there was just too much going on and to little pages to explain it all, which left me with a rushed and dissatisfied feeling. For example I still don't know what a Magicka does exactly or what Micah role exactly entails other than that he is the tutor. There is a lot of humor in the story but just not my kind of humor and I missed the balance between humor and romance a bit. I like humor in books and the wittier, the more I like but there also has to be some kind of balance and in my opinion this story lacked that balance. I had the feeling the author was trying to outdo herself in the funny department, trying to see if she could make every sentence funnier than the previous one. Because of this the focus is too much on the funny part and less on the storyline/plot and that combined with the lack of explanation and background on certain things and characters hasn't won me over for MaryJanice Davidson. I was never really attracted to her books and unfortunately this story hasn't changed that.







Lori Handeland - Voodoo Moon
For Devil’s Fork–based FBI Agent Dana Duran, the only way to fight a supernatural serial killer just may be to embrace life. But little did she know that voodoo could be so viciously sexy…

FBI Agent Dana Duran is sent to Devil's Fork to investigate a string of unexplainable murders. When she arrives there it turns out that voodoo is involved in the killings. Subsequently the voodoo-shop owner Julian Portier is the main suspect and Dana finds herself in an investigation that will change her life forever!
This was a story in first person narrative from Dana's perspective and as I've mentioned before in reviews this is not my favorite narrative. There are very few authors who can enthrall me with it and I must say that Lori Handeland turned out to be one of them.
In this short story Lori Handeland delivered well-rounded and believable characters, a strong and sensual romance and a very original plot and the outcome of whom and why and how they dealt with him was fascinating to say the least. Despite the fact that it was short I didn't have the feeling I was missing something or the usual dissatisfied feeling I have when reading anthology-story.
The story was utterly captivating, exploring the voodoo scene with well-researched accuracy. The story was able to keep my attention and I kept on reading breathlessly, anxious for how it all was going to unfold, sad when I finished it because I didn't want it to end.







Cheyenne McCray - Breath of Magic (part 4 in Magic Series)
San Francisco’s witches are in an epic battle. But even if Sydney can use her sultry ways and ancient Druid powers to save the world, can she risk losing her heart to handsome warrior Conlan?

Sydney Aline, one of the gray witches of the San Francisco D'Anu Coven has stayed behind with a handful of D'Danann warriors to find the warlock Darkwolf and his Fomorii companion Junga. The rest of the Coven and warriors have gone to Otherworld to round up allies to fight the evil goddess and god who threaten to destroy San Francisco. One of the D'Danann warriors who has stayed behind is Conlan. He is a proverbial playboy; he enjoys the pleasure of women but never commits to them. Sydney finds herself attracted to this warrior but doesn't want to give in to those feelings because of his playboy ways. But in the middle of the search for Darkwolf and Junga the attraction between them grows into something more. Conlan discovers that Sydney is not just another pleasure partner for him and Sydney has to admit to deeper feelings for Conlan.
This was the story I was most anticipating in the anthology and to be honest I was a little bit disappointed. The full-length books in the series were amazing and captivating but despite the fact that the story was pleasant and fitting in the series there was something lacking for me that I did find in the books. I can't pinpoint it exactly but I didn't feel the chemistry between the hero and the heroine. This can be because of the limited page-count which forces the romance plot, not giving them time to build up the sensual tension and a relationship in which they can grow. I would incline to think that because in the books this was present and that's what made me like the books so much. So I'm going to blame it on the fact that it's an anthology-novella.
Again, and even in this short story, the plot thickens. McCray brings answers to some questions from the previous books but she also raises more new questions.
The storyline from the books continues. This time concentrating more on Darkwolf though. He does some remarkable things that make you wonder what his true goals ultimately will be. I hope to get answers to this in the two future books that will conclude the series.
I like this series and this short story, despite the weaker main couple, is another addition to the continuing plot, setting up the next full-length novel. All the elements were there, just with a bit less depth and intensity.







Christine Warren - Any Witch Way She Can
A desperately lonely witch decides to take matters of love into her own hands when she casts a cosmic personal ad…only to find that the perfect formula for love is a strange brew indeed.

Miranda Berry (Randy) has had it with her single life and the lowlife men that pass through it. She wants a worthy mate and what better way to get one than to use a little magic to help things along. But little does she know that this little magic is going to bring her not only her the man of her dreams in the form of male witch Michael Devon but also a whole lot of trouble.
This story certainly took me by surprise. I wasn't familiar with Christine Warren's writing so I didn't know what to expect. But what I got was a well-written, delightful story with witty characters, a lovely romance and even a little villain-plot worked into it.
I really loved everything about this story. This one had the perfect balance between humor and romance I mentioned in my review of another story in this anthology.
The fluent and easy writing style and the extremely witty characters, especially Randy, and the magical elements pulled me into the story deep and fast.
Randy is adorable and chaotic, trouble has no problems finding her and many times this is her own fault. Michael is one hot witch, very capable and calm. He’s the perfect match for Randy. The plot involving Randy's grandmother and someone trying to sabotage her was a nice touch to the story, giving it that little bit extra to make it a well-rounded story with lots of laugh-out-loud moments.
This taste of Christine Warren's writing certainly has intrigued me so I'm going to look into finding more of her writing and see if I enjoy that as much as I did this story.







This was an anthology with for me different level of stories. I liked the Handeland and Warren stories best because these were the stories with the best-written mix and balance between humor, characters and story. The McCray story was not bad but just didn't live up to my expectations, proving once again that writing amazing books doesn't automatically mean writing great novella's and the Davidson story just wasn't my cup of tea, proving that my gut-feeling when choosing books/authors is something I really can rely on and in this aspect I'm glad that these kind of anthologies exist. They are the perfect way to find out if an author's writing style agrees with you or not.

COMING OUT OF THE DARK
Ani King left her entire life behind when the Russian Mafia brutally murdered her family. The Witness Security Program has kept her safe for two years, but with one simple phone call her cover is destroyed—and there is only one man left who can save her.

AND IN FOR THE KILL…
Protecting the brave, beautiful Ani became more than just a job a long time ago for Deputy Marshal Daniel Parker. And now, just days before the trial where she’s slated to give a damning testimony, the criminals who want her dead are on her trail. To keep Ani safe, Daniel has to keep her close—and her enemies closer. Because soon there’s nowhere for Ani to hide…but in his arms.

Anistana King (Ani) is the star witness in a trial against the Russian Mafia family that killed her family. She has been in witness protection for the last two years but one mistake leads the Russians to her and now she must literally run for her life until she can testify at the trial.
Daniel Parker is the U.S. Marshal assigned to Ani. When he finds out her identity has been compromised he does everything in his power to keep her safe until her testimony can put her family's murderer behind bars. And the criminals will do everything to keep Ani from testifying.
But the stakes are higher than just the trial and the testimony. In the two years they have known each other they have fallen in love so it's not just their lives at stake but also their hearts and Daniel's job are on the line.

Where I had doubts and wasn't undividedly enthusiastic about the first romantic thriller I read by Cheyenne McCray, she really outdid herself with this second one.
Maybe it was because of the subject change. The other book was about a protecting a woman who escaped a cult and MOVING TARGET was about protecting a star witness for a trial against the Russian Mafia. I've always been fascinated by everything to do with law, law enforcement and trials so this plot was really right up my alley.
Suffice to say that I absolutely liked this book better than CHOSEN PREY

What goes for the plot also goes for the characters if I compare the two books. I loved Ani way more than I did Lyra and the inconsistence in the character development that bothered me in CHOSEN PREY wasn't present in this book. The characters were great and especially Ani. She was strong, incredibly brave and resilient. She didn't hesitate to put Daniel in his place when she thought he had done something unforgivable in her eyes but she was also woman enough to forgive him when it turned out it wasn't his fault. And I could just picture Daniel as the Deputy Marshal in his black suit and dark glasses guarding Ani. He was endearing in his feelings for Ani, but a strong and capable professional at the same time.

The focus of the book is mainly on the primary couple, there are some secondary characters that play a role in the plot and they are well written but not deepened out. This didn't bother me though because with the plot and the characters there was plenty to keep my attention in a tight grasp throughout the whole book.
The research McCray did into WITSEC (witness protection), U.S. Marshals, law enforcement and court law was thorough and very impressive, providing a believable and very realistic plot. It was an action-packed book with car chases, bullets flying and cars exploding, nothing was shunned to try and get Ani eliminated before she can point her family's killer. And all this action was perfectly mixed with the romantic aspects of the book, creating a nice balance between heart-pounding and fast-paced action and erotic, lascivious love scenes. The chemistry between Ani and Daniel was sizzling and very explicit as I'm used to by Cheyenne McCray.

Though in my opinion the Magic series still has points over the romantic suspense books I must say that I truly enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more along this line by Cheyenne McCray.

Quote:
Sensations combined to put her on overload. Perspiration coated her body. Fire licked at her veins. Heat burned beneath her skin.

A DARK SECRET
Rhiannon Castle is a D'Anu witch whose Coven sisters know nothing of the Shadows that lurk within her. Rhiannon can't reveal the truth to anyone-least of all Keir, a rugged soldier who walks into Rhiannon's life and awakens her to a reckless desire.

A SEARING PASSION
Keir's Tuatha D'Danann brethren are the only real family he has ever known. He trusts no one-until he is sent to San Francisco and meets Rhiannon, the one woman with enough fire to tame him. Every seductive encounter convinces Keir that she belongs with him-even though Rhiannon knows her powers could put him in peril.

A SHARED DESTINY
A new threat rises from the depths of Underworld. When a demon goddess unleashes her evil upon our world, Rhiannon's secret could prove the ultimate weapon in this epic battle-or forge a pathway to destruction for the only man she's ever loved.

Her parents abandoned Rhiannon Castle when she was a very small child and has only her fellow witches of the Coven to count as her family. She hides a dark secret knowing they will abandon her as her parents did, if they find out her secret. Keir, a bastard son of a D'Danann Fae has learned from early age that he can only count on himself and his fellow D'Danann warriors.
These two lonely and abandoned souls find each other and the connection is instant but before they can explore their feelings and allow the other one to enter their heart they must fight a battle to the death together with their friends and allies against an evil goddess and her army of demons trying to destroy both their worlds.

Rhiannon is Silver's (heroine of book 1) best friend and a witch with a hidden power that she tries to hide and keep hidden from her Coven sisters because she thinks it's a dark and evil power. That is what she was told as a child when she discovered this power. This and her abandonment-issues make her a character that only relies on herself. She is afraid to love because she has lost everyone she has ever dared to love. Like the heroines of the previous books Rhiannon is a strong, brave, determined and powerful gray witch. She is a stubborn loner with a mind of her own and very outspoken. Then she meets Keir, a man who goes after what he wants the way he trains and fights: head on.
Keir is fierce, arrogant and commanding. He too has abandonment issues. He is Hawk's (hero of book 1) the illegitimate half-brother. He grew up being told by his father and stepmother that his mother didn't want him. Their treatment of him was awful and because of this he has learned to protect his heart and his feelings, masking them with harshness and fierceness.
He is used to having his way with women. They can't resist him. But Rhiannon is different. She doesn't fall for him on sight and fights him on every occasion. Despite, or maybe because of her feistiness he comes to care about her and discovers he has a gentle side and is willing to open his heart to the vulnerability of loving another person.

Rhiannon and Keir have very much in common. They are kindred spirits though their first meeting is sizzling with hostility, especially on Rhiannon's side. Keir being the ultimate alpha caveman receives a bout of spell fire on his groin by Rhiannon the moment he hits on her. This sets the stage for a fast-paced, mind-blowing, magic- and action-filled romance.

The cast of secondary characters is a mix of the previous heroines and heroes, the witches of the Coven, the D'Danann warriors, the human Paranormal Special Forces-officers and a whole bunch of magical beings from the Otherworld (Faeries, Elves, Mystwalkers) and the Underworld (the evil goddess Ceithlenn and her army of Formorii demons).
The role of Darkwolf, the Balorite warlock and Junga, the Formorii leader is pushed to the background as Ceithlenn forms the main evil character in this book. Still at the end McCray treated me to a surprising twist concerning Darkwolf. One I truly didn't see coming and it offers interesting prospects for the books to come.

With each book Cheyenne McCray gives me more background, depth and insight in this magical world she's created. Every book has it's own feel and it's own twists and turns in the ongoing plot. Each main couple adds their own unique voice to the series with their love story and their struggles with their feelings, each other and the battle against the evil threatening them and their loved ones.
With each book the battle gets more intense. Answers to earlier questions raise more questions. Pieces of the puzzle fall into place little by little but more intriguing pieces are added at the same time, leaving me eager to read the next book to see how everything will play out.
In this book the evil grows stronger. The battle between good and evil continues and new alliances need to be formed. And in the middle of it all Rhiannon and Keir have to work through their pasts and resentments in able to have a future together.

This series is becoming one of my favorites more and more with each book I read. In every book there's a nice balance between the main couple's love story, the ongoing plot with the battle against evil in different forms and graduations and the erotic scenes. And I must say this balance was the best in Wicked Magic.

Quote:
He gave her one of his supremely arrogant looks that made her want to slap him. "Your room," he commanded in that deep brogue. "Now."
"When witches can fly broomsticks, or Underworld becomes a theme park attraction, whichever comes last." (Rhiannon)

DESIRE
Copper Ashcroft is an accomplished D'Anu witch, but the magic she wields is a potent force-strong enough to hurl her into a mysterious Otherworld when a spell backfires. Before Copper can escape, another being is pulled into her realm-Tiernan, a powerfully virile Tuatha D'Danann warrior. Blond, blue-eyed, and shamelessly seductive, Tiernan could be Copper's savior and his touch sets her body on fire.

DUTY
Like others of his kind, Tiernan stands alongside the D'Anu witches to battle the demons of the Underworld. Obligation to his cause and his people cautions against any entanglement with Copper, yet each second spent with this beautiful, uninhibited woman stirs an insatiable hunger. Desire explodes into carnal bliss, but the visions that haunt Copper's dreams are growing stronger, and they foretell a terrifying evil waiting to be unleashed.

DESTINY
Saving the city will take more than brute strength, more than witchcraft. Only together can Copper and Tiernan find a way to overcome the dark forces-and seize a passion that has bewitched them both.

The book starts with Copper Ashcroft (Silver Ashcroft. the heroine from book 1 is her sister) ending up confined in a bubble in Otherworld after trying to send the evil warlock Darkwolf to Otherworld.
When she tries to spell her way out of Otherworld she spells Tiernan into her bubble, a Tuatha D'Danann Enforcer who fought the Balorites and Fomorii alongside Silver and Hawk in book 1. They are instantly attracted to each other but before they can be together they have a long way to go and many obstacles to overcome.

Copper is a vivacious and willful witch who has more control over her gray witchcraft than her sister Silver. She is brave and opinionated. She knows what she wants and she goes for it. But she also has a big heart and will do anything to keep her loved ones save. She tries to be tough but she does revel in Tiernan's affections and he represents everything she wants in a man.
Tiernan has always lived torn between two worlds: being a D'Danann warrior and also being a member of the D'Danann court (the highest nobility of Otherworld). He is dutiful and honorable and being the heir to his House, he has obligations to his family. Initially he seems a bit arrogant but he's is very tender and caring towards Copper.

Meeting Copper makes Tiernan want to forget his obligations in favor of passion and ultimately love. In the end he has to make a difficult choice between his feelings for and future with Copper and his strong feelings of duty, responsibility and obligation to his family.
The attraction between Copper and Tiernan is explosive and has a sort of clashing character as both of them have a tendency to dominate. They both give as well as they get. They are characters you both like immediately and you understand their motivations and choices.

There is a lot going on in this book but it's brought in such a way it's never chaotic or too much. Even though the plot is much the same as in the first book still this one has a unique and different feel to it. Plot, love scenes and characters are perfectly blended together and give this book it's own vibe that was able to captivate me. With much ease McCray makes magic and paranormal elements understandable and logical. What I absolutely liked about the book is that every action, however small it might be or seem has consequences for the big picture and the main story but you only discover that when everything is said and done. Even though you already know the main plot there are so many unpredictable and surprising elements and twists and that made it a more than agreeable read for me.

The battle of the witches and the Fae warriors against evil continues with a vengeance and an evil far worse than the warlocks and the demons makes itself known and this doesn't bode well for the witches and the warriors.
Many characters from book return and play a big part in the action as we see Silver, Hawk, Darkwolf and Junga locked in battle once again, this time joined by Copper and Tiernan.
New and crucial characters are introduced, both friendly and evil. It's inevitable that they will have bigger roles in future books.
Darkwolf remains an intriguing bad guy. His fascination for Silver and her fear of him continues right where we left it in book 1 and the feeling that there is much more to him than meets the eye grew stronger reading this book.

With the love scenes I had the same feeling as in book 1. They are powerful, explicit and graphic but they form a good addition to the story and a nice alternation with the action-filled plot. If you like your love scenes less erotic or explicit I do not recommend this series. Luckily I like my love scenes hot and steamy so I can this was right up my alley.
Combining urban, paranormal fantasy with erotic romance seems to be a combination that works perfectly in this series. The contrast between the magic and the raw and elemental passion was well written, complementing to the feel of the story. It kept me reading way into the night not wanting to put it down.

In this second installment of the Magic Series the battle between good and evil continues in the world of the D'Danann warriors, the D'Anu witches, the Balorite warlocks and the Fomorii demons. Again McCray demonstrates her thorough knowledge of witchcraft and magic and she combines it with a fast-paced, action-filled plot and erotic scenes that singe the pages.
With the first book in this series Cheyenne McCray captured my attention and with the second she has managed to entice me further and I crave the next installment to see if she'll be able to crack it up another notch.

Quote:
He wanted to be gentle with her, but he could not. Just kissing her slammed him with more need and desire than he thought could ever be quenched.

Peril
Lyra Collins has made a life for herself in a sleepy artists' community in Arizona . Having escaped from a cult five years ago, she keeps a low profile, making a living as an artist. But when a mysterious man with a dark, dangerous look appears on her doorstep, she knows it's time to run again.

Passion
Former cop Dare Lancaster didn't mean to lead a bunch of fanatical cult members straight to Lyra's door. But now that he's gotten her into this mess, he's determined to get her out. The frantic heat their bodies generate whenever they're together makes him want to save her.

Prophecy
Neal Barker's grandfather was the first Prophet Jericho, and Neal now rules the Temple of Light commune unchecked. According to his visions, he and Lyra are destined to produce the new Messiah, so he will stop at nothing to make her his own. But soon Dare will discover just how far he'll go to protect Lyra-and never let her go.

When the cult she was trying to escape hunts her down and finds her. Lyra is afraid she will be dragged back to the hell on earth she was running from.
The leader of the cult has pronounced her the chosen one to give birth to the new Messiah and tough she managed to escape him and his followers, she wasn't able to stay hidden enough for them not to find her.
But fortunately the private investigator who found her, Dare Lancaster, proclaims himself her protector and with his help she manages to escape a faith she fears like nothing else. In the process of running they find it unable to run from the feelings and attraction between them...

After reading this book I had an ambivalent feeling. It was good and I liked it but it wasn't mind-blowing.
I loved the action and the love scenes but it was the character development that I found a bit lacking. The romance between Dare and Lyra starts of gradually but at some point it picks up speed and in my opinion things go to fast from that moment on. Considering Lyra's past I couldn't get a grip on the way her feelings for Dare all of a sudden were as deeply as described. It went from being afraid of being intimate with a man to having no limits whatsoever almost overnight. And this was something that didn't go well with me.
But still I liked the book.
The love scenes were beautiful and sensual, intense and very explicit but not distasteful.

The suspense was exciting in a nicely paced and action-filled plot. Cheyenne McCray has a vivid and flowing writing style and does a great job of accurately describing the ways of the cult and the anxiety Lyra feels being hunted down by them.
The main characters are very compelling, despite the little discrepancies concerning the development of their relationship. Dare is a true former cop, rough and rugged. Guilt ridden because of his past and because he's the one who led the cult to Lyra.
Lyra is brave and strong, not willing to be used by Neal, the cult leader. Neal is a seriously depraved man. There were scenes with him that really gave me chills. McCray did an excellent job of penning down evil in its truest form. Nick, Dare's partner, is an intriguing character and I'm very curious to read his story. There certainly much more than meets the eye with him. His story will be part of a new series by McCray (release TBA).

In conclusion although I enjoyed myself with this book and I loved the plot and the action, I must say I liked McCray's paranormal Magic-series better.

D’Anu witch Silver Ashcroft knows she walks a perilous line by practicing gray magic. But it’s the only way to protect herself from the evil that surrounds her. After the horrors she has witnessed, Silver thinks she is ready for anything...until the most intensely arousing being she has ever encountered swiftly—and sensuously—proves her wrong...

Hawk is a Tuatha D’Danann warrior—powerful beings descended from the Fae. And for him duty has always come before pleasure. Then, clad only in moonlight, Silver Ashcroft welcomes him to her city of San Francisco and makes his blood sing with a passion beyond compare. She is the embodiment of fantasies he never knew he had, but the terrifying reality of his mission lurks in every shadow...

Only the strongest will survive the upcoming battle, and the forces of darkness are more powerful than ever. Now, warrior and witch must trust in their hearts above all else—for to claim victory, they first must claim each other...

Silver Ashcroft is a witch in the D’Anu Coven of San Francisco. Her Coven practices white magic and white magic only but secretly Silver practices gray magic, this is magic that uses forces outside the witches themselves and using this magic entails the danger of succumbing to black magic, the evil kind of magic.
While saving a child from warlocks’ blood magic rituals she meets Hawk, a warrior of the Tuatha D’ Danann who is sent to her from Otherworld because the seer of the Elvins had a vision of Fomorii being summoned by warlocks to destroy and take over the world. The Fomorii are the former seagods, now demons who will stop at nothing short of taking over Earth. Only Silver has the power to summon the D’Danann Enforcers for help in the battle against them.
From their first meeting the attraction between them sizzles of the pages but widower Hawk has no place in his hart for another woman but the wife he lost and although he doesn’t fight the attraction he has a hard time admitting that he’s falling in love with Silver.

In this book no one is who they seem to be and little by little McCray lifts up the veil covering some of the characters.
I liked all the characters in the book, both primary and secondary. Silver and Hawk had a nice chemistry going, both strong, proud and filled with the need to protect their loved ones.
The witches and warriors were essential additions to the story and the Balor High Priest, Darkwolf and Fomorii leader Junga were interesting representatives of evil, especially Darkwolf. He’s obsessed with Silver, and not only for her magical powers. I have a feeling he hasn’t quite resigned to the fact that Silver is Hawk’s woman. But while reading I also got this nagging feeling that they were just the tip of the iceberg where evil is concerned.
Some of the secondary characters already have their own books written, but I’m very curious to know if Jake, the human captain of the PSF (paranormal special forces) team will be paired of with one of female D’Danann warriors.

I thought this was a very entertaining story.
Introducing a world of D’Anu witches, Balor warlocks, Fomorii demons, Elvins and Fae warriors of the Tuatha D’Danann.
A world of black, white and gray magic fighting against each other for different reasons: world domination, power, protecting loved ones.
The book is not fast-paced but certainly action-filled and intriguing.
With a lot of details on witchcraft and magical beings.
You can sense from reading the book that McCray has researched the magical world thoroughly, which results in an in-depth, well written description of the battle between good and evil magic.
And in the midst of this battle she manages to write a sensual, erotic and wonderful love-story between D’Anu witch Silver Ashcroft and Tuatha D’Danann warrior Hawk. The mix between plot and erotic scenes is balanced out quite nicely. None of them to overbearing but just right.
I tend to classify this book as erotica because of the explicitness of the sex-scenes, not the abundance of them. The erotic parts blend into the story perfectly and never take the focus away from the story at hand but rather complementing the developing love between Silver and Hawk.
There were some interesting twists in the plots I didn’t see coming and this made the book more than an average paranormal love-story.
Although the book ends with a HEA (happily ever after) for Silver and Hawk you sense that the battle between good and evil has just begun and will continue in the following books.

For me Cheyenne McCray has created a compelling and intriguing world that captured my attention from the first page and kept it with her perfect mix of action, sensuality and magic.