Untameable Heat: Kaden's Reprieve

by Dariel Raye

She needs a safe haven, he wants his freedom. Add a supernatural matchmaker and an unexpected mentor, and their lives will never be the same.

Tanya has been running for her life for two years, but when Ms. Lillian, owner of the exclusive “Heaven’s Touch” match making service, graciously gives her a week’s stay at her private bed and breakfast in St. Augustine, FL, she seizes the opportunity to escape to a possible hideaway.

Kaden is of a rare and precious race prized for extraordinary abilities. He is also half-demon, remanded to Kushiel’s custody centuries ago. Allowed to leave Hell twice a year, three days each time – Beltane, and Samhain, his life thus far has been filled with slavery, torture, and despair, and he is nearly convinced that his soul is beyond redemption. Still, he longs for freedom. Can Tanya redeem him? Can Kaden dare hope for a reprieve?

45 pages, ebook

First published July 9, 2013

About the author

An author, musician, counseling psychologist, and animal rights activist, Dariel writes interracial/multicultural paranormal romance and dark urban fantasy featuring shifters, Nephilim, angels, and reluctant demons, all filled with action, alpha heroes, and strong heroines. As a child, she could always be found curled up with her dogs, cats, and a good book, even if the book was a dictionary or encyclopedia. Things have not changed much.

Dariel is a classically trained soprano, and plays more than 11 musical instruments. She also completed coursework and passed comprehensives for a Ph.D. in Instructional Design (ABD), tutors writing, algebra, and statistics, and readily admits to being a Netflix paranormal and action series binge-watcher.

Reviews

[Natalie Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tanya's been on the run since her family was murdered by the mobster her father testified against. That same man has sworn to kill her too and she lives in fear. She is hunted, never getting too comfortable in any place, never allowed to put her guard down. This story is about her reprieve just as much as it is about Kaden's. He is an uber-powerful half-blood imprisoned for destroying his demon father. They are on the receiving end of an angelic matchmaker's good will and get to enjoy a wonderful night together where they are only for each other. There is no outside world for those few hours. In abandoning his own worries and tending only to hers, he earns her love and, through that feat, may just earn a more lengthy, possibly permanent reprieve from his hell pit prison sentence. Loving one woman condemned him but loving another pardoned him.

This short story starts with a bang and packs quite a punch for its size. Kaden's Reprieve is just the kind of story I look for when I want paranormal romance but can't devote a ton of time to getting into a full length book. It is short, romantic, erotic, and has supernatural elements and a happily ever after ending. There is enough back story properly sprinkled throughout that it had depth without being bogged down.

Reviewed for Satin Sheets Romance Reviews

[Catrina Barton · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the spirit of full disclosure I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A short sweet romance with a dark twist. Well written. Kaden and Tanya are great characters. I enjoyed the way this brief story played out, many unexpected pieces to the plot kept it entertaining.

I would have liked just a bit more background to the characters, but with short stories it's hard to do that without seeming like info dump.

[Dariel Raye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first erotic paranormal. Fun to write because the ratio of action to dialogue is about 2 to one, so of course I love it! LOL In fact, it will probably be the prequel of an upcoming paranormal series featuring Kushiel, Kaden's warden.

[Colleen Everly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, enjoyed the aspect of two souls searching for love and finding it in what was supposed to be a couple days of sex set up by a friend. I felt so sorry for Kaden growing up the way he did.

[Mia Darien · Rating 4 out of 5]

This won't be a full review, as I read it in beta and later edited it, but I very much enjoyed it. It's a quick, fun read with some interesting lore being played with.