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Underveil #1
Love Me to Death
Medical research scientist Elena Arcos has always lived her life under the radar, which is not easy to do when you live with the craziest woman in the world. But eccentric Aunt Uza is a picnic compared to the other people who enter her orderly life after she is shot in a convenience store robbery.
Elena finds herself rocketed from comfortable predictability to supernatural insanity courtesy of her own private angel of death who happens to have the sexiest accent on earth and a body to match. Her death angel is convinced she’s some kind of freaky half vampire thing and that her deceased dad was the real deal: a blood sucking monster.
Yeah, right. She’ll play along, but then she doesn’t have much choice seeing how as the guy claims to be some immortal law enforcer and has taken her prisoner.
* * *
Nikolai Itzov had expected to fight the urge to torture the progeny of his father’s murderer, but he’d never anticipated battling the urge to kiss her her.
As a Slayer, an elite law enforcer descended from Azrael himself, his charge from the Underveil General is clear: Kill her or die. He has been told she is one of them--an Undead. Nothing but a parasite to be destroyed. But he has been told wrong.
Nikolai and Elena find themselves in a life and death battle to stop a plot designed to lift the Underveil and enslave humans.
With her analytical mind and his centuries of training and experience, they might be able to foil the plot with their lives and maybe their hearts intact. But in order to succeed, he must help her become the very thing he hates the most: an Undead.
Elena finds herself rocketed from comfortable predictability to supernatural insanity courtesy of her own private angel of death who happens to have the sexiest accent on earth and a body to match. Her death angel is convinced she’s some kind of freaky half vampire thing and that her deceased dad was the real deal: a blood sucking monster.
Yeah, right. She’ll play along, but then she doesn’t have much choice seeing how as the guy claims to be some immortal law enforcer and has taken her prisoner.
* * *
Nikolai Itzov had expected to fight the urge to torture the progeny of his father’s murderer, but he’d never anticipated battling the urge to kiss her her.
As a Slayer, an elite law enforcer descended from Azrael himself, his charge from the Underveil General is clear: Kill her or die. He has been told she is one of them--an Undead. Nothing but a parasite to be destroyed. But he has been told wrong.
Nikolai and Elena find themselves in a life and death battle to stop a plot designed to lift the Underveil and enslave humans.
With her analytical mind and his centuries of training and experience, they might be able to foil the plot with their lives and maybe their hearts intact. But in order to succeed, he must help her become the very thing he hates the most: an Undead.
420 pages, Paperback
First published October 28, 2014
45 people are currently reading
1439 people want to read
About the author
Marissa Clarke
14 books683 followersMarissa Clarke is a multi-award-winning, RITA nominated author of romance for adults and teens. She lives on the Texas Gulf Coast with her ever-patient husband, two cantankerous Cairn Terriers, and an abundance of bossy chickens.
Marissa also writes YA for Entangled Teen and Penguin/Random House as Mary Lindsey
Marissa also writes YA for Entangled Teen and Penguin/Random House as Mary Lindsey
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
October 28, 2014
4 - "The knowledge is mine. The discovery is yours." Stars!
Love Me to Death is the second book I have read by Marissa Clarke in recent months and after being massively impressed with her first contemporary romance offering, I had high expectations for the first book in the Underveil series. She didn’t let me down, if you are looking for a Kick-ass high energy, lotsa-sexy PNR read, then this is a book you want to add to your TBR.
”Kiss your regular life good-bye, princess.”
Elena and Nik were an absolute joy to read, snarky and sexy together, their banter had me giggling at points. He may initially want to kill her, but she certainly doesn’t just sit back and let him take control.
”Is chauvinism 101 a required course for all slayers, or is it reserved for royalty?”
Oh but I loved Nikolai, dirty mouth, dirty boy, a fighter, all hard and sexy on the outside, but soft and oh so sweet and vulnerable on the inside.
Wanting her was in complete opposition to his nature and purpose.
There is a lot of story being told in this book and as the chapters pass your are introduced to an absolute wealth of characters, some of them are more involved than others at this time, but as the base point for the beginning of a series, Marissa has set the premise and the initial character development up with the potential for a massive amount of scope for future books.
”I’ll show you good,” … “I’ll show you great,” … “In fact, I’ll show you the stars.”
The Underveil is definitely somewhere I want to revisit again really soon. There is a certain Big Bad Vlad that I want to know more about!
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
Love Me to Death is the second book I have read by Marissa Clarke in recent months and after being massively impressed with her first contemporary romance offering, I had high expectations for the first book in the Underveil series. She didn’t let me down, if you are looking for a Kick-ass high energy, lotsa-sexy PNR read, then this is a book you want to add to your TBR.
”Kiss your regular life good-bye, princess.”
Elena and Nik were an absolute joy to read, snarky and sexy together, their banter had me giggling at points. He may initially want to kill her, but she certainly doesn’t just sit back and let him take control.
”Is chauvinism 101 a required course for all slayers, or is it reserved for royalty?”
Oh but I loved Nikolai, dirty mouth, dirty boy, a fighter, all hard and sexy on the outside, but soft and oh so sweet and vulnerable on the inside.
Wanting her was in complete opposition to his nature and purpose.
There is a lot of story being told in this book and as the chapters pass your are introduced to an absolute wealth of characters, some of them are more involved than others at this time, but as the base point for the beginning of a series, Marissa has set the premise and the initial character development up with the potential for a massive amount of scope for future books.
”I’ll show you good,” … “I’ll show you great,” … “In fact, I’ll show you the stars.”
The Underveil is definitely somewhere I want to revisit again really soon. There is a certain Big Bad Vlad that I want to know more about!
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
October 18, 2014
Action-packed and sexy as hell, Marissa Clarke’s LOVE ME TO DEATH is a fantastic and utterly delectable start to this new series. Fascinating lore and intriguing characters that leave the door wide open for many exciting stories to come, two protagonists whose chemistry sizzles, whose personalities clash, and whose love story is swoon-worthy, a host of abilities that keep things interesting, and some truly great writing to keep readers hooked, this first peek at Clarke’s Underveil is incredibly entertaining, completely captivating and a welcome addition to the genre.
The story instantly grabs, bringing readers right into the action when Elena Arcos is first introduced and immediately and reluctantly thrust into a world she never even knew existed. A world of slayers, time-folders, sorcerers, vampires, elves, shifters, seers and more. A world in turmoil. A danger-filled world where she is being hunted. A world where a prophecy is said to determine her fate.
A world where the slayer sent to end her existence, who is supposed to be her sworn enemy, is the one whose touch ignites her like no other has before.
Marissa Clarke created a story that has just the right amounts of heat mixed into an alluring and action-filled plot. It’s a story that will keep readers engaged instead of simply skipping ahead to those steamy scenes that define paranormal romance. Nikolai and Elena’s love story is tumultuous, dangerous, fiery hot and romantic. Their enemies are deadly. The road to happily ever after is filled with seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Told from both characters’ points of view, readers will get a broader view of the world, get to see just how Elena and Niki really feel about each other, get to see what each thinks the other feels, get to really know and love both of them, and get to know things – and characters – that wouldn’t be possible were this told from a single POV.
While the focus is on Elena and Nikolai and the challenges they face, the author introduces a number of appealing characters whose stories promise to be as interesting, exciting and thoroughly entertaining as theirs – a charismatic, wickedly sexy, millennia-old vampire; a gorgeous, wealthy and nearly indestructible time-folder; a cursed but powerful seer and sorceress; and a beautiful and totally hot slayer who knows how to appreciate male eye-candy no matter their species.
Enticing and electrifying from start to finish, there is nothing not to love about LOVE ME TO DEATH.
The story instantly grabs, bringing readers right into the action when Elena Arcos is first introduced and immediately and reluctantly thrust into a world she never even knew existed. A world of slayers, time-folders, sorcerers, vampires, elves, shifters, seers and more. A world in turmoil. A danger-filled world where she is being hunted. A world where a prophecy is said to determine her fate.
A world where the slayer sent to end her existence, who is supposed to be her sworn enemy, is the one whose touch ignites her like no other has before.
Marissa Clarke created a story that has just the right amounts of heat mixed into an alluring and action-filled plot. It’s a story that will keep readers engaged instead of simply skipping ahead to those steamy scenes that define paranormal romance. Nikolai and Elena’s love story is tumultuous, dangerous, fiery hot and romantic. Their enemies are deadly. The road to happily ever after is filled with seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Told from both characters’ points of view, readers will get a broader view of the world, get to see just how Elena and Niki really feel about each other, get to see what each thinks the other feels, get to really know and love both of them, and get to know things – and characters – that wouldn’t be possible were this told from a single POV.
While the focus is on Elena and Nikolai and the challenges they face, the author introduces a number of appealing characters whose stories promise to be as interesting, exciting and thoroughly entertaining as theirs – a charismatic, wickedly sexy, millennia-old vampire; a gorgeous, wealthy and nearly indestructible time-folder; a cursed but powerful seer and sorceress; and a beautiful and totally hot slayer who knows how to appreciate male eye-candy no matter their species.
Enticing and electrifying from start to finish, there is nothing not to love about LOVE ME TO DEATH.
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September 29, 2014Writing this book was a delight, and I appreciate all the support I received along the way from readers, friends, fellow authors, and my publisher. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read and review.
October 4, 2015
Wow! I loved it. Great world-building and fantastic secondary characters, each with a distinct voice, helped push this one to a five star rating. Of course the main characters were pretty smoking hot, too. Nik is a strong alpha male that I loved, and Elena is badass in her own right. Fun, witty dialog among all the characters make for an easy, enjoyable read. Ms. Clarke left many options open with the secondary characters and I’m looking forward to reading their stories in subsequent books. Nice job, Ms. Clarke … I’m a fan!
December 30, 2014
LOVE ME TO DEATH is the latest addition to my favorite reads list. I'm a big paranormal romance fan and when I stumble onto a new series that has as much potential as this one I get all giddy inside. Unfortunately with a lot of opening books to a series there is more world building than good story, but with LOVE ME TO DEATH you get both. Elena's introduction to the world under the veil is abrupt and violent. Elena has no idea that she is very special and because of her uniqueness she is being targeted by a very powerful ruler who is out to keep her from fulfilling her destiny. I know this sounds cliché for this genre, but Clarke puts a unique and engaging twist on this plot.
Nikolai is a Slayer out to get revenge for the murder of his father and he is led to believe that Elena is the key to his vengeance. The only problem is that Elena's soul calls to him and he can't bring himself to go through with her execution without getting some answers first. Nikolai is strong, savage when necessary, and totally swoon worthy.
There's action and intrigue mixed into this paranormal story with twists and turns that will have you turning pages and holding yourself back from skipping ahead. There were times when you'll want to skip ahead a bit to see if your guess is right but don't do it! This is not a book you can skim through! There are lots of little pieces of the puzzle that you need to see that I just know will be important in future books.
All of your paranormal favorites are a part of the Underveil world. Shifters, time benders, vampires, witches, etc. will all play important roles. There's a wealth of secondary characters introduced that will leave you craving more! I can't believe that I let this one languish in my Kindle and get lost in the shuffle of ARCs. This is one that I will be recommending to all of my fellow paranormal romance lovers Clarke will never get lost in the shuffle again! I will now be anxiously awaiting any news of the possible release date for book 2. Isn't that just like a greedy reader? The poor author just released her book and I'm already demanding another story quick like and in a hurry! Oh well, it is what it is. That's what Clarke gets for writing such a engaging story!
**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
You can find more from me at Monlatable Book Reviews
http://www.monlatablereviews.com/
Nikolai is a Slayer out to get revenge for the murder of his father and he is led to believe that Elena is the key to his vengeance. The only problem is that Elena's soul calls to him and he can't bring himself to go through with her execution without getting some answers first. Nikolai is strong, savage when necessary, and totally swoon worthy.
There's action and intrigue mixed into this paranormal story with twists and turns that will have you turning pages and holding yourself back from skipping ahead. There were times when you'll want to skip ahead a bit to see if your guess is right but don't do it! This is not a book you can skim through! There are lots of little pieces of the puzzle that you need to see that I just know will be important in future books.
All of your paranormal favorites are a part of the Underveil world. Shifters, time benders, vampires, witches, etc. will all play important roles. There's a wealth of secondary characters introduced that will leave you craving more! I can't believe that I let this one languish in my Kindle and get lost in the shuffle of ARCs. This is one that I will be recommending to all of my fellow paranormal romance lovers Clarke will never get lost in the shuffle again! I will now be anxiously awaiting any news of the possible release date for book 2. Isn't that just like a greedy reader? The poor author just released her book and I'm already demanding another story quick like and in a hurry! Oh well, it is what it is. That's what Clarke gets for writing such a engaging story!
**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
You can find more from me at Monlatable Book Reviews
http://www.monlatablereviews.com/
November 19, 2014
**My thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**
This books packs a lot in with the paranormal genre with many different species portrayed in the book.
I loved that at first our MC Elena freaked out with everything she found out, but eventually came to terms with how fast her life had turned around after having been shot.
Nikolai is your typical alpha male who is used to everyone, women included doing as he says due to his position as a Slayer. Unfortunately the dirty mouthed, sexy alpha gets much more than he bargained for when he meets Elena.
Elena after overcoming her initial fright and after having met the lovely Stefan begins to more and more show her opinion and say what she thinks back to Nikolai.
Aunt Uza is a fabulously man crazy woman, I loved it when she was in a scene eying up the man candy and flirting with them all.
I really look forward to hearing who will be next in the series as this is a wonderfully written book.
This books packs a lot in with the paranormal genre with many different species portrayed in the book.
I loved that at first our MC Elena freaked out with everything she found out, but eventually came to terms with how fast her life had turned around after having been shot.
Nikolai is your typical alpha male who is used to everyone, women included doing as he says due to his position as a Slayer. Unfortunately the dirty mouthed, sexy alpha gets much more than he bargained for when he meets Elena.
Elena after overcoming her initial fright and after having met the lovely Stefan begins to more and more show her opinion and say what she thinks back to Nikolai.
Aunt Uza is a fabulously man crazy woman, I loved it when she was in a scene eying up the man candy and flirting with them all.
I really look forward to hearing who will be next in the series as this is a wonderfully written book.
October 27, 2014
5*s
Awesome!
Review posted here...
http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.co...
I’m not going to rehash the synopsis because as you see… it is long.. but it is also perfect and a great insight into this brilliant book. I loved everything about this book, the characters, the worlds, the different kinds of people and the threat – it hit the spot for me across the board.
Elena was a great character and both her and Nikolai’s introduction to the story made an impact. I like when a character is in the dark about their true identity because I enjoy finding out about everything with them, Elena was very much in the dark about her heritage so is really blindsided by all that is Nikolai with his bizarre claims about who she is. Nikolai was also a really great character, he had all you would want in a leading man and it was easy to see why Elena would be drawn to him. I loved the chemistry between them, sort of a hate to love thing (which I love) but Nikolai certainly has a charm to him and a way with words that won’t only have Elena weak at the knees. They clash wills time and time again as they each try to take control of the situations they end up in and the sexytime – well, that’s really hot!
The storyline was awesome, there was a LOT going on with plenty of action with run & chase scenarios that kept me on my toes throughout the book. There is a prophecy which I love and of course our two main characters are at the centre of it, both of them on opposing sides and meant to hate each other but nothing is as it seems. I thought the author created an intriguing world in which there are two worlds separated by a veil – the human world and Nikolai’s world. Nikolai’s world is filled with magical people of all different persuasions including Vampires, Slayers, Time folders & Seers, this is not all though and some of them even live in the human realm. It was a fast paced read that could easily fit into the UF genre or Fantasy genre because it straddles the two but what it was for definite is amazing and I loved it!
Awesome!
Review posted here...
http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.co...
I’m not going to rehash the synopsis because as you see… it is long.. but it is also perfect and a great insight into this brilliant book. I loved everything about this book, the characters, the worlds, the different kinds of people and the threat – it hit the spot for me across the board.
Elena was a great character and both her and Nikolai’s introduction to the story made an impact. I like when a character is in the dark about their true identity because I enjoy finding out about everything with them, Elena was very much in the dark about her heritage so is really blindsided by all that is Nikolai with his bizarre claims about who she is. Nikolai was also a really great character, he had all you would want in a leading man and it was easy to see why Elena would be drawn to him. I loved the chemistry between them, sort of a hate to love thing (which I love) but Nikolai certainly has a charm to him and a way with words that won’t only have Elena weak at the knees. They clash wills time and time again as they each try to take control of the situations they end up in and the sexytime – well, that’s really hot!
The storyline was awesome, there was a LOT going on with plenty of action with run & chase scenarios that kept me on my toes throughout the book. There is a prophecy which I love and of course our two main characters are at the centre of it, both of them on opposing sides and meant to hate each other but nothing is as it seems. I thought the author created an intriguing world in which there are two worlds separated by a veil – the human world and Nikolai’s world. Nikolai’s world is filled with magical people of all different persuasions including Vampires, Slayers, Time folders & Seers, this is not all though and some of them even live in the human realm. It was a fast paced read that could easily fit into the UF genre or Fantasy genre because it straddles the two but what it was for definite is amazing and I loved it!
October 28, 2014
My Review:
This is a very long book and it starts off in a very different place from where it ends. I'll admit, this book took me longer to read than normal...around 4-5 days versus my normal 1 and I really can't pinpoint why. The book is absolutely action-filled and interesting, but I did feel that there was too much of a leap for Elena's character from when she started to where she ended. But this is also an extremely complex world under the "veil" which is the magic in this world that humans can't see and it takes a lot to explain it all.
The series has distinct possibilities. I really enjoyed Elena and Nik together especially the first half of the book. I liked the premise of their story that set the book and thought that was enough conflict to carry them throughout...but then things began to go crazy with all the different factions and twists in the story, legends, and both Nik and Elena's heritage. I personally feel that there was too much thrown into their story that made it needlessly complex.
My other main complaint was Aunt Uza. Luckily her character doesn't come really into the story until the end so she wasn't on the page too much, but her character drove me batty. I could see that she was supposed to provide some moments of levity, but she just felt too far over the top for me to take seriously in any manner and brought down the entire book because of that...in my opinion.
This isn't a bad book. My opinion was that there were too many layers of the story line thrown into it and this particular story became needlessly complex with the various characters that came into play, but it's an interesting world and I definitely wouldn't be against reading another in the series. I just won't be putting this one on my re-read list.
And I've mentioned it before, but I adore this cover...so gorgeous!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This is a very long book and it starts off in a very different place from where it ends. I'll admit, this book took me longer to read than normal...around 4-5 days versus my normal 1 and I really can't pinpoint why. The book is absolutely action-filled and interesting, but I did feel that there was too much of a leap for Elena's character from when she started to where she ended. But this is also an extremely complex world under the "veil" which is the magic in this world that humans can't see and it takes a lot to explain it all.
The series has distinct possibilities. I really enjoyed Elena and Nik together especially the first half of the book. I liked the premise of their story that set the book and thought that was enough conflict to carry them throughout...but then things began to go crazy with all the different factions and twists in the story, legends, and both Nik and Elena's heritage. I personally feel that there was too much thrown into their story that made it needlessly complex.
My other main complaint was Aunt Uza. Luckily her character doesn't come really into the story until the end so she wasn't on the page too much, but her character drove me batty. I could see that she was supposed to provide some moments of levity, but she just felt too far over the top for me to take seriously in any manner and brought down the entire book because of that...in my opinion.
This isn't a bad book. My opinion was that there were too many layers of the story line thrown into it and this particular story became needlessly complex with the various characters that came into play, but it's an interesting world and I definitely wouldn't be against reading another in the series. I just won't be putting this one on my re-read list.
And I've mentioned it before, but I adore this cover...so gorgeous!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
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December 24, 2016DNF - 50% + end
Elena is shot, twice, by a vampire during a robbery at a convenience store. She's sort of rescued by Slayer Nikolai, who thinks she's an evil vampire he must kill. He takes her to hospital anyway, and then when he twigs to the fact that a) she's his destiny and b) maybe the intel that she's evil wasn't reliable, he takes her on the run.
Nikolai is Hamlet, but without the visit from his father's ghost. He's a dumb handsome tough. He would occasionally remember to be romantic, which just felt false. I'd have liked him more if he'd acted more obsessively 'must sex you now, woman!' Although maybe not. He kept forgetting that Elena needed to eat, sleep and wear warm clothes.
Elena was more promising. She at least starts out legitimately bewildered and scared, and while she finds Nikolai attractive she's pretty clear-eyed on his many faults. But she soon settles into the plot of: 'I'm not a paranormal girl, whoops I'm the most paranormal girl ever!' Which is fine.
There's a nice set up for the sequel hero (or in series hero, if he doesn't get the next book), and I kept reading this book long after I knew it wasn't doing anything for me because I kept hoping it'd connect.
The pacing is a bit uneven, and there's nothing particularly new, and this is similar to Cole's IUD series, but it just wasn't doing anything for me.
I also have this thing with books where I hate it when being paranormal means they don't eat. I can get over it if there's enough going on to compensate, and sort of recognise that paranormals have to sometimes not eat if they're locked in tombs for 100s of years (note: this doesn't happen in this book), but if someone offered me eternal youth and beauty with the sexy man of my dreams in exchange for never having chocolate again, I'd have to think about it for at least a minute.
Elena is shot, twice, by a vampire during a robbery at a convenience store. She's sort of rescued by Slayer Nikolai, who thinks she's an evil vampire he must kill. He takes her to hospital anyway, and then when he twigs to the fact that a) she's his destiny and b) maybe the intel that she's evil wasn't reliable, he takes her on the run.
Nikolai is Hamlet, but without the visit from his father's ghost. He's a dumb handsome tough. He would occasionally remember to be romantic, which just felt false. I'd have liked him more if he'd acted more obsessively 'must sex you now, woman!' Although maybe not. He kept forgetting that Elena needed to eat, sleep and wear warm clothes.
Elena was more promising. She at least starts out legitimately bewildered and scared, and while she finds Nikolai attractive she's pretty clear-eyed on his many faults. But she soon settles into the plot of: 'I'm not a paranormal girl, whoops I'm the most paranormal girl ever!' Which is fine.
There's a nice set up for the sequel hero (or in series hero, if he doesn't get the next book), and I kept reading this book long after I knew it wasn't doing anything for me because I kept hoping it'd connect.
The pacing is a bit uneven, and there's nothing particularly new, and this is similar to Cole's IUD series, but it just wasn't doing anything for me.
I also have this thing with books where I hate it when being paranormal means they don't eat. I can get over it if there's enough going on to compensate, and sort of recognise that paranormals have to sometimes not eat if they're locked in tombs for 100s of years (note: this doesn't happen in this book), but if someone offered me eternal youth and beauty with the sexy man of my dreams in exchange for never having chocolate again, I'd have to think about it for at least a minute.
July 7, 2014
Wow. What a surprise. This book was sexy, funny and different.
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December 1, 2014Warning: This may contain what some may consider spoilers.
I have always been one of those people that considered DNF-ing a book to be a very big deal. I get upset when I read reviews where people are berating the author and crucifying the book, even more so when they give it a rating when they haven't completed the book. (This is a personal thing and I am in no way saying that people are wrong for doing this. It's just not the way I do things.) It's easy for some - they get through the first couple of chapters and know it's not for them, either because of grammar and punctuation issues, poor writing, horrible characters, or just not the type of book they like, so they put it away, never to pick it up again.
I guess my problem is that I feel guilty (I'm Catholic, guilt is what we do haha). Not just for not finishing the book, but for not liking it as well, especially if it's given to me free by the author. I simply move them to a folder on my Kindle, somewhere where they are out of the way, but also easy to find when I am ready to attempt digging into them again. (To date, there are only two books that have ever been in this folder - and both are still there.) I remind myself that one of my favorite books is a book that I just could not get into at first - it's all about timing, mood, likes and dislikes, attention span, etc.
Today I am reviewing my very first OFFICIAL DNF-ed book. (Note: I did not rate it on Goodreads or BookLikes, and I chose not to include my review on Amazon or Barnes & Noble because a rating is required on those sites.)
I just could not read any further than 12% - and I was forcing myself before that.
I received this book from a publisher that I have worked with several times. They do romance, of one variation or another, so I am very careful to read the genres they have selected, as well as the full book description, to get an idea of what I am getting myself into before I accept it as an r2r. This one was listed as paranormal, romance and fantasy, and based on the book description, I decided to give it a try. (Before writing this review, which is not easy, I looked at Amazon and Goodreads to see what people rated the book and, seeing that it has a bunch of 4s and 5s, I must be the only one who feels this way, so if you're into the kind of things that I'm describing, you may just love this book.)
The storyline is a unique and intriguing idea that, in my opinion, was completely ruined by page after page of lust. Not romance. LUST. And seriously - it is on EVERY page. They are constantly looking at each other in sexual ways, thinking sexual thoughts - and the paranormal (actually, supernatural and vampire) parts seem to be just stuck in to all that nonsense to give it more than just lust lust lust. She is supposed to be a "medical research scientist," but comes across as really air-headed and stupid. I usually like the sarcastic characters, even if they are the bad guys that I am supposed to hate, but she just comes across as annoying and not humorous in the slightest. The two cops that come to question her in the hospital are idiotic, unprofessional and seem to be VERY new on the job - poor Houston Police Department, to be depicted this way. Nikolai is an "elite law enforcer" and yet he seems to not have a clue what he's doing either. All he knows is that he's drawn to her and then their souls combine and he's supposed to kill her and blah blah blah blah blah. The only character I found remotely interesting was Aleksandra, but I'm not actually sure who she is, other than she's very sexual towards Nikolai for the possibly five minutes she's in the story up to the point I finally had to quit.
What made me decide to quit this one while others sit in that folder awaiting my return?
Well, I'll tell you.
They're in a hotel, hiding from the bad guys, and she takes a shower because she is still covered by her own blood. (On a side note, they actually check into the hotel and no one even gives her a sideways glance.) And they are tied together with some magic rope (or something). When she is almost done, he gets in - IN ALL HIS NAKED GLORY - and she quickly gets out. And then ... horrors of horrors ... it is implied, by the jerking motion her arm (that is tied to his) keeps making, that while he is in the shower, he is pleasuring himself - for so long that she falls asleep laying on the floor next to the tub.
Seriously?!?!
WHAT does that have to do with the story?
Is that supposed to be attractive - to her and to the reader?
Is she supposed to fall head over heels in love with him now?
She's already veering in that direction, knowing nothing about him at all, based solely on the fact that he is gorgeous and "perfect." And she has checked out (and thought about, as the author shared with us) every inch of his body.
Have you noticed that "heroes" are rarely pudgy guys, wearing glasses, possibly with a receding hairline, that read a lot, are a little introverted, and were probably in band and/or played D&D when they were in high school? Instead they're always "perfection." What's up with that?
I'm just left ... disappointed ...
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
I have always been one of those people that considered DNF-ing a book to be a very big deal. I get upset when I read reviews where people are berating the author and crucifying the book, even more so when they give it a rating when they haven't completed the book. (This is a personal thing and I am in no way saying that people are wrong for doing this. It's just not the way I do things.) It's easy for some - they get through the first couple of chapters and know it's not for them, either because of grammar and punctuation issues, poor writing, horrible characters, or just not the type of book they like, so they put it away, never to pick it up again.
I guess my problem is that I feel guilty (I'm Catholic, guilt is what we do haha). Not just for not finishing the book, but for not liking it as well, especially if it's given to me free by the author. I simply move them to a folder on my Kindle, somewhere where they are out of the way, but also easy to find when I am ready to attempt digging into them again. (To date, there are only two books that have ever been in this folder - and both are still there.) I remind myself that one of my favorite books is a book that I just could not get into at first - it's all about timing, mood, likes and dislikes, attention span, etc.
Today I am reviewing my very first OFFICIAL DNF-ed book. (Note: I did not rate it on Goodreads or BookLikes, and I chose not to include my review on Amazon or Barnes & Noble because a rating is required on those sites.)
I just could not read any further than 12% - and I was forcing myself before that.
I received this book from a publisher that I have worked with several times. They do romance, of one variation or another, so I am very careful to read the genres they have selected, as well as the full book description, to get an idea of what I am getting myself into before I accept it as an r2r. This one was listed as paranormal, romance and fantasy, and based on the book description, I decided to give it a try. (Before writing this review, which is not easy, I looked at Amazon and Goodreads to see what people rated the book and, seeing that it has a bunch of 4s and 5s, I must be the only one who feels this way, so if you're into the kind of things that I'm describing, you may just love this book.)
The storyline is a unique and intriguing idea that, in my opinion, was completely ruined by page after page of lust. Not romance. LUST. And seriously - it is on EVERY page. They are constantly looking at each other in sexual ways, thinking sexual thoughts - and the paranormal (actually, supernatural and vampire) parts seem to be just stuck in to all that nonsense to give it more than just lust lust lust. She is supposed to be a "medical research scientist," but comes across as really air-headed and stupid. I usually like the sarcastic characters, even if they are the bad guys that I am supposed to hate, but she just comes across as annoying and not humorous in the slightest. The two cops that come to question her in the hospital are idiotic, unprofessional and seem to be VERY new on the job - poor Houston Police Department, to be depicted this way. Nikolai is an "elite law enforcer" and yet he seems to not have a clue what he's doing either. All he knows is that he's drawn to her and then their souls combine and he's supposed to kill her and blah blah blah blah blah. The only character I found remotely interesting was Aleksandra, but I'm not actually sure who she is, other than she's very sexual towards Nikolai for the possibly five minutes she's in the story up to the point I finally had to quit.
What made me decide to quit this one while others sit in that folder awaiting my return?
Well, I'll tell you.
They're in a hotel, hiding from the bad guys, and she takes a shower because she is still covered by her own blood. (On a side note, they actually check into the hotel and no one even gives her a sideways glance.) And they are tied together with some magic rope (or something). When she is almost done, he gets in - IN ALL HIS NAKED GLORY - and she quickly gets out. And then ... horrors of horrors ... it is implied, by the jerking motion her arm (that is tied to his) keeps making, that while he is in the shower, he is pleasuring himself - for so long that she falls asleep laying on the floor next to the tub.
Seriously?!?!
WHAT does that have to do with the story?
Is that supposed to be attractive - to her and to the reader?
Is she supposed to fall head over heels in love with him now?
She's already veering in that direction, knowing nothing about him at all, based solely on the fact that he is gorgeous and "perfect." And she has checked out (and thought about, as the author shared with us) every inch of his body.
Have you noticed that "heroes" are rarely pudgy guys, wearing glasses, possibly with a receding hairline, that read a lot, are a little introverted, and were probably in band and/or played D&D when they were in high school? Instead they're always "perfection." What's up with that?
I'm just left ... disappointed ...
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
October 28, 2014
Love Me to Death left me with a very promising first impression. It was fast-paced, had interesting characters, humor, very good suspense and action, a few surprises, but above all it was very entertaining.
Elena Arcos hadn’t really been living. If it hadn’t been for her getting shot during a convenience store robbery, she may have never faced that epiphany head on. Not much was revealed about her life before all the paranormal activity. She had no family except for her Aunt Uza, she worked in a research lab in hematology, she’d had one serious relationship, and apparently no friends or anyone close enough to check up on her. She handled the craziness happening around her and to her surprisingly well. I liked her feistiness and growth throughout the story.
Nikolai Itzov, Descendant of Azrael and a Slayer wasn’t exactly kind towards Elena in the beginning until he realized who she was to him. I liked all the different sides to his character and the development. From not wanting to fall for Elena but not being able to help himself. And the nice thing was, it didn’t happen in an instant just because he found out she was his mate. It happened gradually with a lot of ups and downs. One of his sweetest traits was trying to help her figure out who and what she was. Then there were the revelations that he’d misjudged those closest to him and trying to find ways to make amends.
I liked their (sexual) chemistry, and it didn’t overpower the story. The sex scenes weren’t plentiful or thrown in as filler. They weren’t mind-blowing, but had the right amount of heat (with biting) to keep my interest and not feel like I wanted to skip them. Elena had a tough task of getting Nikolai to ease up on his alpha male protectiveness, but she handled him well. I also enjoyed the times when she stepped up to the plate and had to save him.
I loved all the side characters in this story. Aunt Uza was so whacky she was funny. She reminded me a little of Nix from Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark. Stefan, the Time Folder, was a great character because he loved to rile up Nikolai whenever he could. Also, the set-up for his story and his fated mate was interesting and the consequences of their union. I really want to read Vlad’s story though. He was dangerously sexy and I wonder if him and Aleksandra could be…maybe….I need to know! Aleksandra got nicer as the story went on, though I did have my doubts about her. The situation between her, her mother and Fydor made me a little squeamish though, especially once the relations dawned on me).
A few things that didn’t add up:
(1) She’d overheard a conversation between Nikolai and Aleksandra about using her once she was turned. She’d made up her mind to not let that happen, to remain human. “She would die before she allowed herself to become a tool or weapon of some kind.” (Ch 14). An hour or so later, and once her anger had ample time to fester, she changed her mind. I guess she had no real choice in the matter, but she’d acted rather intelligently up until then, I had hoped she’d demand answers and ask a lot of questions about the ramifications. Yes, she was mad at Nikolai, but this was about her life.
(2) She assumed Nikolai and Aleksandra were a couple, yet she had no problem allowing Nikolai to get intimate with her. It just seemed out of character for her to let things go that far. Then much, much later in the story, she jumped to conclusions, gave him the cold shoulder and took off rather than ask questions.
(3) There were two times when Elena mentioned something that Nikolai had supposedly told her. I distinctly remember he’d only “thought” those things for the reader’s benefit, not hers. For example, she remembered he’d told her he was a Slayer and that her father had been a vampire. He never said those actual words to her.
This was a great start to a new series, and I definitely want to follow up with the next book.
*Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for the purpose of an honest review.*
November 2, 2014
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When I say that from the very first chapter you’ll have your eyes glued to this book you better believe it! We’re dumped straight into the action, no introductions, on softly softly about it… And it really works! Elena has been living a normal life up till this point, but being in the wrong place at the wrong time means that low blood sugar is the least of her worries from here on in. This is also where we’re introduced to Nikolai with a jolting start. To Elena, he is the angel of death… except she doesn’t die. For centuries Nik has been following orders without question. He is an enforcer. It’s all he knows, he does what needs to be done without question or hesitation. But soon he begins to realize that sometimes life is not so black and white, there are shades of grey everywhere and sometimes you don’t even see your destiny coming until it’s already happened…
The chemistry between Elena and Nik is one of the main parts of this book that got me hooked so quickly AND kept me hooked. It was electric and pretty much all over the show. They were fighting themselves, each other and other people and events over their feelings. Literally it was a whirlpool of love/hate and in this instance it really worked. Nik is supposed to HATE what he thinks she is. It’s the natural order of things… And Elena of course is terrified and pissed off and unsure of who to trust or what to do. None of this makes falling for the other easy. Slowly but surely we got to see nearly every angle of both these characters. I really loved that in this book there was no other possibility for either of them. They were it. It just came down to whether they could get themselves together enough to see the other person clearly.
And this, she realized, was why she was so attracted to him. He was a good man who longed to do what was right, and something in her had recognized that from the moment of their dubious first meeting.
Which brings me to the storyline, it was good! Entertaining for sure. There were parts there where I couldn’t put it down. Where I had to know what was going to happen next. The world and creatures were absolutely spellbinding. I absolutely LOVED Stefan, the Time Folder. He was definitely one of a kind. I loved that he was so mysterious, yet so calm and collected at the same time. Nothing ruffled his feathers easily. He also provided some comic relief to bring relief to the sometimes super heavy interactions between Elena and Nik. I am hoping against hope that we will see a lot more of Stefan in the next book and also, a lot more of his story. There are so many unanswered questions when it comes to him…. And I need to know what’s going on!
Aunt Uza or Uzana as she is really known as, is another fav of mine. This character was just hilarious. I loved her! Her mannerisms and terms of endearment… ‘hotty tottie’ she was just honestly freaking awesome. She also had one of the creepiest lot of creatures in the whole book. If you have never really given cats a second thought then be prepared to be totally and completely creeped out.
I was very quickly engrossed in this story. I couldn’t put it down and stayed up way too late to finish it, I loved the world building and characters within it. This is a really great fast paced beginning to a well set up series. I can’t wait to see where this story is heading and what is to come for Elena and Nik.
Received from Netgalley in return for an honest review
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When I say that from the very first chapter you’ll have your eyes glued to this book you better believe it! We’re dumped straight into the action, no introductions, on softly softly about it… And it really works! Elena has been living a normal life up till this point, but being in the wrong place at the wrong time means that low blood sugar is the least of her worries from here on in. This is also where we’re introduced to Nikolai with a jolting start. To Elena, he is the angel of death… except she doesn’t die. For centuries Nik has been following orders without question. He is an enforcer. It’s all he knows, he does what needs to be done without question or hesitation. But soon he begins to realize that sometimes life is not so black and white, there are shades of grey everywhere and sometimes you don’t even see your destiny coming until it’s already happened…
The chemistry between Elena and Nik is one of the main parts of this book that got me hooked so quickly AND kept me hooked. It was electric and pretty much all over the show. They were fighting themselves, each other and other people and events over their feelings. Literally it was a whirlpool of love/hate and in this instance it really worked. Nik is supposed to HATE what he thinks she is. It’s the natural order of things… And Elena of course is terrified and pissed off and unsure of who to trust or what to do. None of this makes falling for the other easy. Slowly but surely we got to see nearly every angle of both these characters. I really loved that in this book there was no other possibility for either of them. They were it. It just came down to whether they could get themselves together enough to see the other person clearly.
And this, she realized, was why she was so attracted to him. He was a good man who longed to do what was right, and something in her had recognized that from the moment of their dubious first meeting.
Which brings me to the storyline, it was good! Entertaining for sure. There were parts there where I couldn’t put it down. Where I had to know what was going to happen next. The world and creatures were absolutely spellbinding. I absolutely LOVED Stefan, the Time Folder. He was definitely one of a kind. I loved that he was so mysterious, yet so calm and collected at the same time. Nothing ruffled his feathers easily. He also provided some comic relief to bring relief to the sometimes super heavy interactions between Elena and Nik. I am hoping against hope that we will see a lot more of Stefan in the next book and also, a lot more of his story. There are so many unanswered questions when it comes to him…. And I need to know what’s going on!
Aunt Uza or Uzana as she is really known as, is another fav of mine. This character was just hilarious. I loved her! Her mannerisms and terms of endearment… ‘hotty tottie’ she was just honestly freaking awesome. She also had one of the creepiest lot of creatures in the whole book. If you have never really given cats a second thought then be prepared to be totally and completely creeped out.
I was very quickly engrossed in this story. I couldn’t put it down and stayed up way too late to finish it, I loved the world building and characters within it. This is a really great fast paced beginning to a well set up series. I can’t wait to see where this story is heading and what is to come for Elena and Nik.
Received from Netgalley in return for an honest review
September 9, 2016
This sucked me in from the beginning! This is the first book in the Underveil Series. It’s fun, has some quirky characters and there is A LOT of world building going on. It has vampires, elves, shifters etc so you get a little bit of everything supernatural and more!
The story opens with the heroine, Elena, being shot during a store robbery and is met with who she considers the Angel of Death standing over her. He’s beautiful and Elena thinks he’s there for her, but the next thing she knows she’s waking up in a hospital bed with all kinds of questions; what the heck happened to her and more importantly who’s that HOT guy that she really wants to drool over and what does he want with her? Her life from that point forward becomes a whirlwind of craziness and revelations about the new world she’s discovering, herself and how she fits into the madness of the Underveil.
Our hero Nikolai (aka Nik), is an enforcer for a group of Slayer’s who help uphold the laws. Years before, his father was betrayed and killed. Since then he’s been obsessed with avenging his fathers death. Elena’s the daughter of the man he believes killed his father, but when he goes to finish her off and finally get his revenge he just can’t do it. He feels an undeniable pull, even though he doesn't want to admit it because of who and what he is.
“Wanting her was in complete opposition to his nature and purpose”
With his focus being on revenge he hasn't been paying attention to what’s happening around him and it’s not good. His obsession with revenge could very well seal the fate of the Underveil and human world. But thankfully, he begins to question things after he meets and kidnaps Elena. Not only because of their undeniable pull but because he doesn't believe she’s really guilty of anything. As he opens his eyes to the reality of obvious deceit and betrayal the real action starts as he tries to protect Elena and find out what’s going on and who is deceiving him.
Nik is an alpha to the extreme and yummy! He’s bossy, used to getting what he wants and that includes the feisty Elena. Elena, is quirky, caring and kickass. She won’t put up with his crap.
“Is chauvinism 101 a required course for all slayers, or is it reserved for royalty”
Hahaha. So starts the funny and sometimes angst riddled battle of wills between the two with a good dose of super-hot chemistry on the side! Had to fan myself a couple of times! LOL However, through it all they were able to grow as individuals and eventually work together to make them work as a couple.
“He was a good man who longed to do what was right, and something in her had recognized that from the moment of their dubious first meeting.”
There were definitely a couple of characters I thought were fun and intriguing. Stefan and Vlad being my favorites! Aunt Uza was a bit too batty for me, but hey, who doesn't love a crazy Aunt!
Sometimes I suffered a bit from information overload and while the Underveil world was unique, the story itself was a little predictable and a bit too long which is why I gave it 4 starts instead of 5. But that absolutely did not take away from the entertainment and I really enjoyed it! I love these types of stories. Prophecy, betrayal, mystery and lots of steam; what’s not to like?! This was a great start to a series I hope to see more of! I’d love to hear Stefan and Vlad’s stories...
The story opens with the heroine, Elena, being shot during a store robbery and is met with who she considers the Angel of Death standing over her. He’s beautiful and Elena thinks he’s there for her, but the next thing she knows she’s waking up in a hospital bed with all kinds of questions; what the heck happened to her and more importantly who’s that HOT guy that she really wants to drool over and what does he want with her? Her life from that point forward becomes a whirlwind of craziness and revelations about the new world she’s discovering, herself and how she fits into the madness of the Underveil.
Our hero Nikolai (aka Nik), is an enforcer for a group of Slayer’s who help uphold the laws. Years before, his father was betrayed and killed. Since then he’s been obsessed with avenging his fathers death. Elena’s the daughter of the man he believes killed his father, but when he goes to finish her off and finally get his revenge he just can’t do it. He feels an undeniable pull, even though he doesn't want to admit it because of who and what he is.
“Wanting her was in complete opposition to his nature and purpose”
With his focus being on revenge he hasn't been paying attention to what’s happening around him and it’s not good. His obsession with revenge could very well seal the fate of the Underveil and human world. But thankfully, he begins to question things after he meets and kidnaps Elena. Not only because of their undeniable pull but because he doesn't believe she’s really guilty of anything. As he opens his eyes to the reality of obvious deceit and betrayal the real action starts as he tries to protect Elena and find out what’s going on and who is deceiving him.
Nik is an alpha to the extreme and yummy! He’s bossy, used to getting what he wants and that includes the feisty Elena. Elena, is quirky, caring and kickass. She won’t put up with his crap.
“Is chauvinism 101 a required course for all slayers, or is it reserved for royalty”
Hahaha. So starts the funny and sometimes angst riddled battle of wills between the two with a good dose of super-hot chemistry on the side! Had to fan myself a couple of times! LOL However, through it all they were able to grow as individuals and eventually work together to make them work as a couple.
“He was a good man who longed to do what was right, and something in her had recognized that from the moment of their dubious first meeting.”
There were definitely a couple of characters I thought were fun and intriguing. Stefan and Vlad being my favorites! Aunt Uza was a bit too batty for me, but hey, who doesn't love a crazy Aunt!
Sometimes I suffered a bit from information overload and while the Underveil world was unique, the story itself was a little predictable and a bit too long which is why I gave it 4 starts instead of 5. But that absolutely did not take away from the entertainment and I really enjoyed it! I love these types of stories. Prophecy, betrayal, mystery and lots of steam; what’s not to like?! This was a great start to a series I hope to see more of! I’d love to hear Stefan and Vlad’s stories...
November 16, 2014
I really really liked this book. It really packed a punch, and was unlike anything I've been reading lately.
Elena is just a normal girl getting through life, when she finds herself in a gas station that's being robbed by a red eyed killer. She tries to hide but of course he finds her and shoots her. She's dying she knows it, but an angel of death seems to appear. Accepting her fate she lets go of the struggle only to wake up in an ER with lots of questions. Number one being, what happened to her gunshot wounds...???
Nikolai has been waiting for this moment for years. He's a slayer out for revenge for the death of his father, only it seems like he's been either misinformed or Elena is a really good actress, because she doesn't even know what she is or that there is a whole other world other than a human world. And he also can't seem to explain this immense attraction to the very girl he's supposed to be killing. Before Elena or Nik can even get their situation sorted other parties start showing up looking for Elena as well. And it seems Nik wasn't the only one looking for her. Seems there is much more to the story....
Sometimes, I get a little bored with everyday romance and need a good stretch of imagination with some good paranormal. This fit just perfect. Elena was a very strong character. Sure she had a few weak moments, but the chick has just found out there is a whole other world out there including basically everything from the fairy tales we grew up reading. It also doesn't help she's being bossed around by Nik, or that she can't seem to stop wanting him every second of every day. And of course then when he lets it known he will have her, who could concentrate otherwise, lol.
I loooooved Nik. He was so hard toward Elena at first, he had one goal and one goal only, kill her for revenge against his dad, except the minute he laid eyes on her everything seemed to shift. I loved getting his POV, it helped to know him better at first, and of course I loved getting into those alpha men POV, when they haven't admitted yet how they feel out loud, but we get to hear it for ourselves. SIGH!!!!! I also loved how he was bossy and overprotective naturally, but toward the end understood Elena had a destiny, so that no matter how much he hated it, she had to be where she had to be and he understood and let it all go, mostly.
Like I said, loved this book. So much going on and so many different characters. I sincerely hope the next book is still about Elena and Nik. I think there could be more to their story. However I would also like to read Aleksi's story too....:)
Elena is just a normal girl getting through life, when she finds herself in a gas station that's being robbed by a red eyed killer. She tries to hide but of course he finds her and shoots her. She's dying she knows it, but an angel of death seems to appear. Accepting her fate she lets go of the struggle only to wake up in an ER with lots of questions. Number one being, what happened to her gunshot wounds...???
Nikolai has been waiting for this moment for years. He's a slayer out for revenge for the death of his father, only it seems like he's been either misinformed or Elena is a really good actress, because she doesn't even know what she is or that there is a whole other world other than a human world. And he also can't seem to explain this immense attraction to the very girl he's supposed to be killing. Before Elena or Nik can even get their situation sorted other parties start showing up looking for Elena as well. And it seems Nik wasn't the only one looking for her. Seems there is much more to the story....
Sometimes, I get a little bored with everyday romance and need a good stretch of imagination with some good paranormal. This fit just perfect. Elena was a very strong character. Sure she had a few weak moments, but the chick has just found out there is a whole other world out there including basically everything from the fairy tales we grew up reading. It also doesn't help she's being bossed around by Nik, or that she can't seem to stop wanting him every second of every day. And of course then when he lets it known he will have her, who could concentrate otherwise, lol.
I loooooved Nik. He was so hard toward Elena at first, he had one goal and one goal only, kill her for revenge against his dad, except the minute he laid eyes on her everything seemed to shift. I loved getting his POV, it helped to know him better at first, and of course I loved getting into those alpha men POV, when they haven't admitted yet how they feel out loud, but we get to hear it for ourselves. SIGH!!!!! I also loved how he was bossy and overprotective naturally, but toward the end understood Elena had a destiny, so that no matter how much he hated it, she had to be where she had to be and he understood and let it all go, mostly.
Like I said, loved this book. So much going on and so many different characters. I sincerely hope the next book is still about Elena and Nik. I think there could be more to their story. However I would also like to read Aleksi's story too....:)
November 16, 2014
Love Me to Death started off with a bang (literally) and just kept right on going. There wasn't a single moment that felt as if it were dragging along and there wasn't a single second that I wasn't sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what happens next!
The book starts off in the middle of a convenience store robbery where our heroine, Elena, is shot. Enter Nikolai, our hero, who Elena thinks is a Death Angel, when actually he's a slayer who was sent to kill her. Why? Because she's a vampire, of course, except she doesn't know it. The only problem? She's not really a vampire yet, and Nikolai won't kill a human... And this is where the story really begins.
Throughout Love Me to Death, Nik and Elena (and the lovely side characters we meet along the way) and trying to figure out what Elena actually is. Nikolai assumed she was a vampire, like her father, and had no issue killing her because that's what slayers do, right?! Well it turns out she's so much more than your ordinary vampire, not to mention, she's Nik's fated mate.
In the beginning, Nikolai is the typical alpha hero that we all love to hate. Basically, he's a jerk. But throughout the story we get to see him fall in love with Elena, and see how he learns to be less of a controlling prick and more of sweet, though still possessive, alpha.
Elena, well I loved her from the get-go. She didn't have any TSTL moments, and basically just took everything in stride. She didn't want to be a vampire, and begged Nik to promise to kill her if she turned into a monster, at least until she realized she didn't have to be a monster to truly embrace who she was.
There's so much growth between both MC's throughout Love Me to Death, and the way they connected with each other after they let themselves embrace what they really felt, has you rooting for their HEA. And since they're immortal? That's an eternity of happily ever after!
Love Me to Death is a fast-paced paranormal romance with tons of suspense and scorching sexy times. You have vampires, seers, slayers, elves, and so many other species mixed in it really makes for a great paranormal read.
Marissa Clarke also laid just enough foundation for some of the side characters for the series to continue, and honestly, I can't wait to read more. This was my first book by Marissa Clarke but it definitely won't be my last!
*ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
The book starts off in the middle of a convenience store robbery where our heroine, Elena, is shot. Enter Nikolai, our hero, who Elena thinks is a Death Angel, when actually he's a slayer who was sent to kill her. Why? Because she's a vampire, of course, except she doesn't know it. The only problem? She's not really a vampire yet, and Nikolai won't kill a human... And this is where the story really begins.
Throughout Love Me to Death, Nik and Elena (and the lovely side characters we meet along the way) and trying to figure out what Elena actually is. Nikolai assumed she was a vampire, like her father, and had no issue killing her because that's what slayers do, right?! Well it turns out she's so much more than your ordinary vampire, not to mention, she's Nik's fated mate.
In the beginning, Nikolai is the typical alpha hero that we all love to hate. Basically, he's a jerk. But throughout the story we get to see him fall in love with Elena, and see how he learns to be less of a controlling prick and more of sweet, though still possessive, alpha.
Elena, well I loved her from the get-go. She didn't have any TSTL moments, and basically just took everything in stride. She didn't want to be a vampire, and begged Nik to promise to kill her if she turned into a monster, at least until she realized she didn't have to be a monster to truly embrace who she was.
There's so much growth between both MC's throughout Love Me to Death, and the way they connected with each other after they let themselves embrace what they really felt, has you rooting for their HEA. And since they're immortal? That's an eternity of happily ever after!
Love Me to Death is a fast-paced paranormal romance with tons of suspense and scorching sexy times. You have vampires, seers, slayers, elves, and so many other species mixed in it really makes for a great paranormal read.
Marissa Clarke also laid just enough foundation for some of the side characters for the series to continue, and honestly, I can't wait to read more. This was my first book by Marissa Clarke but it definitely won't be my last!
*ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
November 4, 2014
After she is shot in a convenience store robbery Elena Arcos finds herself rocketed from comfortable predictability to supernatural insanity with her very own angel of death and soon they are both in a life and death battle to stop a plot to lift the veil and enslave humans in this thrilling paranormal romance.
A steady to fast paced plot keeps readers on the edge of anticipation with lots of suspense, excitement and romance. Marissa Clarke bring her story to life with well written scenes and details that inspire vivid images and capture the imagination while the fascinating world ensues that the reader wants to learn everything there is to know about the strong captivating characters who dwell in it and the well orchestrated suspense and excitement draw the reader in and adds lots of excitement.
Elena and Nikolai’s attraction burns hot from the very beginning but boy do they have a few things going against them. The reader can’t help but get caught up in their story as the couple tries to overcome all kinds of adversity just to have a moment of peace but they do manage some hot and steamy sex scenes among all the chaos that surrounds them. Both characters are really vibrant and grab the reader’s attention and have the readers cheering them along as they try to unravel the mysteries of Elena’s very being and avoid dying with all the attacks that seem to follow them around everywhere they go.
Anytime you are introduced to a new world you have to find the rhythm, getting the characters, the language, the very feel of it to really get caught up in it and feel as if you are a part of it and the author did a great job of really making that happen in this story, so while it has a lot of information at first and may seem a little off it soon comes together and keeps readers busy with lots of action, passion, and fascinating characters.
4 ½ STARS
A steady to fast paced plot keeps readers on the edge of anticipation with lots of suspense, excitement and romance. Marissa Clarke bring her story to life with well written scenes and details that inspire vivid images and capture the imagination while the fascinating world ensues that the reader wants to learn everything there is to know about the strong captivating characters who dwell in it and the well orchestrated suspense and excitement draw the reader in and adds lots of excitement.
Elena and Nikolai’s attraction burns hot from the very beginning but boy do they have a few things going against them. The reader can’t help but get caught up in their story as the couple tries to overcome all kinds of adversity just to have a moment of peace but they do manage some hot and steamy sex scenes among all the chaos that surrounds them. Both characters are really vibrant and grab the reader’s attention and have the readers cheering them along as they try to unravel the mysteries of Elena’s very being and avoid dying with all the attacks that seem to follow them around everywhere they go.
Anytime you are introduced to a new world you have to find the rhythm, getting the characters, the language, the very feel of it to really get caught up in it and feel as if you are a part of it and the author did a great job of really making that happen in this story, so while it has a lot of information at first and may seem a little off it soon comes together and keeps readers busy with lots of action, passion, and fascinating characters.
4 ½ STARS
October 22, 2014
If a sexy, edgy, paranormal romance is what you're looking for, then I highly recommend Love Me To Death. Marissa Clarke has brought us a world filled with intrigue, heat, atmosphere and fight and I enjoyed it hugely.
Elena Arcos is living a mortal in a world filled, unbeknownst to her, with immortals. But when she's caught up in a store robbery her blissful ignorance is shattered when she meets Nikolai Itzov, gorgeous Slayer of the un-dead. Taken prisoner, she soon discovers an entire new supernatural world, along with the fact that she's not exactly mortal and Nik has been instructed to slay her.
Everything in this book worked for me; the storyline, the diverse cast of secondary characters, the humour, the heat and the twists and turns we were treated to. It's not a particularly short read, but it was paced perfectly and I couldn't put it down. I adored Elena and Nik together; they embark on a journey packed with discovery, danger and a whole raft of obstacles but they have a perfect chemistry filled with fire, banter, romance and emotion. I loved Elena for her kick-ass attitude and Nik for being, well, just Nik...
Marissa Clarke has started this series off with a bang. It holds huge promise and I can't wait to read further books in the series. All that's left to say is, bring me Big Bad Vlad...
Copy received courtesy of Entangled Publishing via Netgalley for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Elena Arcos is living a mortal in a world filled, unbeknownst to her, with immortals. But when she's caught up in a store robbery her blissful ignorance is shattered when she meets Nikolai Itzov, gorgeous Slayer of the un-dead. Taken prisoner, she soon discovers an entire new supernatural world, along with the fact that she's not exactly mortal and Nik has been instructed to slay her.
Everything in this book worked for me; the storyline, the diverse cast of secondary characters, the humour, the heat and the twists and turns we were treated to. It's not a particularly short read, but it was paced perfectly and I couldn't put it down. I adored Elena and Nik together; they embark on a journey packed with discovery, danger and a whole raft of obstacles but they have a perfect chemistry filled with fire, banter, romance and emotion. I loved Elena for her kick-ass attitude and Nik for being, well, just Nik...
Marissa Clarke has started this series off with a bang. It holds huge promise and I can't wait to read further books in the series. All that's left to say is, bring me Big Bad Vlad...
Copy received courtesy of Entangled Publishing via Netgalley for an honest and unbiased opinion.
November 14, 2014
I'm not going to lie, I was mighty confused during the first couple chapters of LOVE ME TO DEATH, thankfully things become more clear as Elena learns what the heck is happening to her and who the heck Nikolai is.
Elena has NO clue what's going on when she wakes up after being shot during a robbery. The sexy man that saved her kidnaps her and is able to do some crazy things. On top of that he's treating her like she is some horrible thing to be despised. Nik meant to kill Elena, but something just doesn't seem right to him so he saves her instead. It starts a chain reaction of events that turn him into a bit of an outlaw with his group and leads him to find out things he never knew about them to begin with.
Elana and Nikolai were both great characters. Nikolai was a bit of a jerk for a big portion of the book, but thankfully pulls his head out of his butt eventually. The couple has great chemistry and they put it to good use. Both grow a ton together and come out as a strong couple at the end of the book.
The plot in LOVE ME TO DEATH moves at a nice clip for most of the book and there is plenty of action involved. The drama that the couple creates was quite entertaining. We meet a great cast of secondary characters, whom I'm excited to read more about. LOVE ME TO DEATH kept me engaged and I will definitely pick up book two!
* This book was provided free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Elena has NO clue what's going on when she wakes up after being shot during a robbery. The sexy man that saved her kidnaps her and is able to do some crazy things. On top of that he's treating her like she is some horrible thing to be despised. Nik meant to kill Elena, but something just doesn't seem right to him so he saves her instead. It starts a chain reaction of events that turn him into a bit of an outlaw with his group and leads him to find out things he never knew about them to begin with.
Elana and Nikolai were both great characters. Nikolai was a bit of a jerk for a big portion of the book, but thankfully pulls his head out of his butt eventually. The couple has great chemistry and they put it to good use. Both grow a ton together and come out as a strong couple at the end of the book.
The plot in LOVE ME TO DEATH moves at a nice clip for most of the book and there is plenty of action involved. The drama that the couple creates was quite entertaining. We meet a great cast of secondary characters, whom I'm excited to read more about. LOVE ME TO DEATH kept me engaged and I will definitely pick up book two!
* This book was provided free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 15, 2014
5++ stars
Oh my god that was awesome!! I want to do that again!! LOVED THIS BOOK!! Book hangover warning!!! It will happen to you too!
Right from the start you are taken through this amazing ride in this book we are introduced into this amazing world that Marissa Clarke has written. We meet some very fascinating characters.
In this book we are introduced to Elena Arcos she is in the store when a robbery takes place. Scared and unsure what to do she sees the robber in a mirror and he sees her after he shoots the clerk. Now she is in fear for her life. Just as she tries to run away he shoots her. Then she sees her angel of death. Meet Nikolai Itzov *sighs of course he is a hot sexy slayer here to insure she dies, he doesn’t expect to feel anything for her but he does. I believe at first he is curious but then it develops into much more and let me tell you….it gets so freakin HOT!! *fans self….wow! I want way more on him!!
If you love reading about mythical creatures, great adventures, heart pounding action and some really hot men and equally hot sex then this is your book!!
I love the characters in this story and the flow of this story it grabbed me and held my attention I couldn’t put this book down I had to continue until I was done. Major book hangover but well worth it!! I really hope there is more to come with these guys!
Oh my god that was awesome!! I want to do that again!! LOVED THIS BOOK!! Book hangover warning!!! It will happen to you too!
Right from the start you are taken through this amazing ride in this book we are introduced into this amazing world that Marissa Clarke has written. We meet some very fascinating characters.
In this book we are introduced to Elena Arcos she is in the store when a robbery takes place. Scared and unsure what to do she sees the robber in a mirror and he sees her after he shoots the clerk. Now she is in fear for her life. Just as she tries to run away he shoots her. Then she sees her angel of death. Meet Nikolai Itzov *sighs of course he is a hot sexy slayer here to insure she dies, he doesn’t expect to feel anything for her but he does. I believe at first he is curious but then it develops into much more and let me tell you….it gets so freakin HOT!! *fans self….wow! I want way more on him!!
If you love reading about mythical creatures, great adventures, heart pounding action and some really hot men and equally hot sex then this is your book!!
I love the characters in this story and the flow of this story it grabbed me and held my attention I couldn’t put this book down I had to continue until I was done. Major book hangover but well worth it!! I really hope there is more to come with these guys!
November 6, 2015
Nikolai Itzov was set on his goals; kill the girl and avenge his father’s death. Unfortunately, Fate has other plans for him. After seeing Elena and making a connection, he couldn’t do it. For all the times, he had gone to battle and killed, he just couldn’t do it. The question is, what is the reason for his unlikely error?
Elena is just another girl…or, so she thought. She keeps under the radar, but mostly by choice. She decided a while ago that she just wanted to live a simple life. After meeting Nicolai, the Angel of Death her eyes are opened to magical beings she never thought existed. Worst, she is a part of that world, and she didn’t even know it.
Ms. Clarke surprised me with her new paranormal world. The story was filled with magic, vamps, angels, and time planes making it perfect for a PNR reader such as myself. I thought the humor was done well, and the sexy was just the right amount. There was a hint of angst and annoyance between Nicolai and Elena, but it was enough to keep me interested and intrigued. Overall, their romance was sweet despite Nikolai’s denial of his feelings. It was rather cute. The backstory will keep you intrigued wanting more of the next installment, Love Me to Death is a great start to this new series.
*ARC provided by publisher
Elena is just another girl…or, so she thought. She keeps under the radar, but mostly by choice. She decided a while ago that she just wanted to live a simple life. After meeting Nicolai, the Angel of Death her eyes are opened to magical beings she never thought existed. Worst, she is a part of that world, and she didn’t even know it.
Ms. Clarke surprised me with her new paranormal world. The story was filled with magic, vamps, angels, and time planes making it perfect for a PNR reader such as myself. I thought the humor was done well, and the sexy was just the right amount. There was a hint of angst and annoyance between Nicolai and Elena, but it was enough to keep me interested and intrigued. Overall, their romance was sweet despite Nikolai’s denial of his feelings. It was rather cute. The backstory will keep you intrigued wanting more of the next installment, Love Me to Death is a great start to this new series.
*ARC provided by publisher
November 27, 2014
My review 5/5
This book is a wild ride and it is hard for me to believe the total shift the book takes from a convenience store robbery to the concluding paragraph.
It is hard to write this review without spoiling the book. It is the story of the underveil, a world unseen by humans. In this world, vampires, shifters, slayers, elves, time folders and other creatures co-exist--often not peacefully.
The main characters: Elena Arcos finds herself bound to a slayer through an elven cord. This slayer, Nikolai, is sent to kill her but ends up saving her instead. It seems Elena is the Uniter, the fulfillment of prophecy, and she must go from a human researcher to immortal game changer in a mere four hundred pages.
Nikolai wants to avenge his father's death by killing Elena, the offspring of his father's assassin. His feelings grow for Elena, and soon he learns that what he knew of her father was false, and that fate has intertwined his destiny with hers.
The plot was riveting and the love scenes were super charged. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and can't wait to read the next book in the series. So, I will leave you with this: Make good choices; read this book.
This book is a wild ride and it is hard for me to believe the total shift the book takes from a convenience store robbery to the concluding paragraph.
It is hard to write this review without spoiling the book. It is the story of the underveil, a world unseen by humans. In this world, vampires, shifters, slayers, elves, time folders and other creatures co-exist--often not peacefully.
The main characters: Elena Arcos finds herself bound to a slayer through an elven cord. This slayer, Nikolai, is sent to kill her but ends up saving her instead. It seems Elena is the Uniter, the fulfillment of prophecy, and she must go from a human researcher to immortal game changer in a mere four hundred pages.
Nikolai wants to avenge his father's death by killing Elena, the offspring of his father's assassin. His feelings grow for Elena, and soon he learns that what he knew of her father was false, and that fate has intertwined his destiny with hers.
The plot was riveting and the love scenes were super charged. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and can't wait to read the next book in the series. So, I will leave you with this: Make good choices; read this book.
September 17, 2014
Nikolai sure isn't shy that boy will drop his drawers no matter who he's in front of, "you were already dead when I found you." He stepped out of his pants and froze...well, except for the part of him that obviously approved of her stare. It practically waved and shouted "Howdy!" Apparently Elena brings out these strange feelings in our boy, "maybe it was because he needed to know she valued him over this human. Certainly that wasn't it. He couldn't be jealous. He was a Slayer. Jealousy was for insecure weaklings." Also he doesn't take kindly to those who hurt what's his, "Nikolai wanted to kill the ba*****, but kicking the s*** out of him would just have to do for now." I loved this book Nikolai made this book great for me.
October 8, 2014
The best begining ever! I loved it so much that I had to keep reading. It was pretty good book. I liked all the characters especially time folder, I hope there will be a book about him as well. The story revolves around Elena and Nikolai. It is a paranormal novel set in a world of supernatural. It was a fun read.
P.S. I want to thank Marissa Clarke and Entangled publishing for a free copy.
P.S. I want to thank Marissa Clarke and Entangled publishing for a free copy.
November 28, 2014
¤¤¤ A very Great start for a NEW serie! ¤¤¤
A well written paranormal romance book I really enjoyed reading.
It was well paced action packed read with strong characters.
It had shifters, vampires and all kinds of paranormal beings.
A well written paranormal romance book I really enjoyed reading.
It was well paced action packed read with strong characters.
It had shifters, vampires and all kinds of paranormal beings.
July 7, 2014
I got a review copy of this at ALALV and I really need the next one now. Review coming soon.
November 27, 2014
I love when I find a book that I fall in love with all the characters and this book does just that. I cant wait to see the rest of the characters story, I could
not put it down.
not put it down.
February 22, 2015
Wow what a fun read!! I HIGHLY recommend this book to people who love PNR!
July 6, 2017
This was my first time reading Marissa Clarke, and she is now on my ever growing list of must read authors. This book grabs you from the first page and you are hooked until the last page. Set in an amazing and fascinating new world with total alpha males and badass females. With a fast paced plot, amazing characters, danger, drama and lots of heat, this book is a must read.
November 2, 2017
Maybe more of a 3.5/5
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