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Incubus Rising #3
The Only Exception
The last thing in the world substitute teacher Olivia Winter was expecting on that frigid afternoon was to meet the man of her dreams, but when Dante James sauntered into her classroom, all bets were off. There was no denying her instant attraction to this sexy, charismatic man, or that the feelings were entirely mutual. And when she is forced to ride out the storm of the year entirely in his care, Olivia has to come to terms with the inevitable - Dante James is the cure her fractured heart has been waiting five long years for, and that some cures are just harder to swallow than others.
More in the Incubus Rising Series inlcude:
A little something for everyone...
More in the Incubus Rising Series inlcude:
A little something for everyone...
184 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 30, 2014
About the author
Jennifer Mancini
11 books10 followersJennifer Mancini is a New York based writer, mother, wife, lover of nerds, shoes, wine and laughter. A former actress and techie Jennifer is writing full time these days since she can't seem to be able to stop! Loves escaping with a good book and good friends and hopes you do too.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
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September 23, 2016
I was given a copy of this book in return for an honest review (my only kind). I am a little at a loss here on what to say, because I don't want to give away the plot, but the extended title gives away a lot. Those of us who are of a "certain age" or older got a little more classic education even in public school and know what an incubus is.
This story goes along on standard lines for about half of it, and then all of a sudden--WOW! I'm not saying the story is "standard," I'm saying it's dealing with ordinary people. Their situations and dilemmas are what make the story so fascinating and carry you along, wondering what's going to happen next, and then you get slammed with this incredible thing, this circumstance that is almost unbelievable. And that is not the last of the incredible ideas introduced. One of the characters who has been very peripheral suddenly becomes a strong focal point and a "game changer" for the storyline. Romance is not my first love and I normally do not give a 5-star rating to a romance. But I think this one deserves it. It has twists and turns and changes and the characters have depth--even secondary ones!
I'm not a big fan of the sex scenes, but I was warned by the title and I skimmed over them until they got back to the storyline. I almost didn't read this, but I'm so glad I did and now I want to read the rest of the series, and Ms. Mancini evidently has a new series coming that sounds incredibly good. Give her work a try, I think you'll like it. I do warn you, there is a fair amount of sex in this one, and in most of this series, but the titles do warn you with the mention of "Incubus Rising." Still, it's a good read and I'm looking forward to reading more of her stuff.
This story goes along on standard lines for about half of it, and then all of a sudden--WOW! I'm not saying the story is "standard," I'm saying it's dealing with ordinary people. Their situations and dilemmas are what make the story so fascinating and carry you along, wondering what's going to happen next, and then you get slammed with this incredible thing, this circumstance that is almost unbelievable. And that is not the last of the incredible ideas introduced. One of the characters who has been very peripheral suddenly becomes a strong focal point and a "game changer" for the storyline. Romance is not my first love and I normally do not give a 5-star rating to a romance. But I think this one deserves it. It has twists and turns and changes and the characters have depth--even secondary ones!
I'm not a big fan of the sex scenes, but I was warned by the title and I skimmed over them until they got back to the storyline. I almost didn't read this, but I'm so glad I did and now I want to read the rest of the series, and Ms. Mancini evidently has a new series coming that sounds incredibly good. Give her work a try, I think you'll like it. I do warn you, there is a fair amount of sex in this one, and in most of this series, but the titles do warn you with the mention of "Incubus Rising." Still, it's a good read and I'm looking forward to reading more of her stuff.
October 24, 2016
A teacher and a Rock Star Incubus, can it work out? One click to find out!
Olivia Winter has a boring life but its exactly how she likes it, everything stays the same, the only thing that would be better is to be the second grade teacher rather than the substitute teacher! The current teacher has been here forever and she does miss quite a bit of school because of health related reasons as she is an older teacher and especially on cold days like today calling for snow, so that does gives Olivia a good bit of time to teach, which is her passion! Olivia is patiently waiting with a 7 year old student named Seraphina or Sera for short. Olivia is hopeful Sera's charge Robert gets here soon before the snowing gets any worse and she cant drive herself home! She is watching the snow and listening to the quite building and then looks at Sera whom has her head down almost asleep. She hears the door shut and shuffling of feet in the hall and looks up just knowing it will be Robert and says Hey Robert so glad you made it but instead of it being Robert it is a Model of a young man, the best Olivia has ever seen but only one of many that everyone gets to see go on and off the list of approved people that can pickup Sera. She is almost tripping over herself to meet him and she feels tingles all the way to her spine as they shake hands, and he says his name is Dante James and as he says his name he says and you are def. not Mrs Abernathy and she smiles and says no and Sera laughs and says no its Ms Winters silly. As good as he looks though he isn't on the list of approved folks to be able to get Sera. But she flies to meet him and obviously knows him well but school policy is they have to be on the list and he most certainly isn't, he totally understand even went to the school and is glad they are strict. He tells her its fine and that Robert is suppose to be trying to get to the school but is having trouble getting from the airport to the school but once he realizes he cannot take Sera with him he makes some calls to see if he can help. Olivia stumbles over her words trying to explain that Seraphina's mom has people added and taken from the list all the time and she is sorry, but he says its all fine and he gets it. Olivia realizes he is just another one of the many new good looking men of Angelique Montrosse's, Sera's mom.
Soon Sera is getting restless and wants food, Dante gets onto Sera and tells her not to be rude and she straightens right up and Olivia is surprised at how he is with her. Olivia suggests the snack machine because the cafeteria is closed and Dante grabs money out of his pocket and asks if she wouldn't mind and she doesn't want to take his money but after she has been thinking of how good he looks and smells she wants to touch him, (after all she is even fantasizing about doing such) she has no idea why other than curiosity and that its been way to long for her to have been with a man, that has to be it! So she says no and he insists and she reaches for the money and they touch hands and it tingles all the way to her spine, everything about him screams HOT and also to Olivia to stay away from him, plus he is way younger than her, she is thinking probably a 25 yr old and way to young for someone close to being a 40 yr old herself! So she takes the money and goes to the machine to get the snack and runs into the assistant principle Victoria whom she went to college with and she scares her to death and she laughs and tells her why she is all shook up and Victoria asks about him and so she grabs some snacks and tells her his name and he went to school here even, as Victoria mouth drops to the floor then back, she knows him, he is a world famous Rock Star in a band named Inferno, she cant get over him being in the school! Olivia knows for sure she is way out of touch that she doesn't even recognize him. And now knows he is way out of her league here, so no more fantasizing as its pointless just as Victoria tells her she need to be flirting with him and she needs to be dating and getting out in the world, Olivia says he is way to young for her and says she needs to get back. Sera eats and finally nods off and walks over closer to her and she can feel his heat radiating off him he is so close, they start talking and it seems he might be flirting but Olivia thinks it cant be but they do seem to have things in common and soon Victoria stops by to tell her she is leaving and asks if they have heard anything from Robert and that the maintenance man is in the school to call if she needs him, she doesn't like leaving Olivia but as she tells Dante she loves his music. Olivia walks her out in the hall and Victoria tells her he is flirting with her and she needs to jump on that, who cares about age that Olivia is hot and he is interested! They laugh and Victoria asks again if she is ok with her leaving and she says Robert is on his way. Soon after they do hear the door and its finally Robert, Dante tells her he will help get Sera in the car an come back for her that he is getting her home for all her trouble that she cannot and Will Not drive home on these roads! He had been wondering why nobody had been calling or coming for her that she had to be single. I did love that we got most of both POV's in the book or at least what they were thinking most if it is Olivia though.
So this is just the beginning of a pretty wild start of something of course her road is closed and she goes to his house, surprises come from both Olivia and Dante and they do have a lot in common but also he isn't what she is....thing is, can they make it work? I don't want to give anything away but we do have some hot sex as they are snowed in together, learning each other and the title tells you this is about an Incubus with a human.
I liked this book much better than the first, Gabriel is in this book as well and I like him better in this book as he is much more in tune with others feelings not just himself even if he did love in the first book. So I am glad I read book one although it isn't necessary. I think the writer does a better job explaining the needs of the Incubus a little better in this book and it is a little longer and since Dante is not Gabriel his needs are not quite so over the top and Olivia knows nothing of her background being adopted, and for reasons unknown she doesn't get as tired or def not sick as it seems that other human woman react to the incubus. Its def Fantasy with some Kink, I liked getting to know both of them and their backgrounds, especially Olivia she has been through a lot and she deserves to be happy. We have a part that is pretty intense but I think it helps the book in the end! Good character development and no real cheating this time. A few errors in the writing but not enough that I couldn't look over. I was given this review copy from Book Review 22 for my honest review and I thank Book Review for the chance!
Olivia Winter has a boring life but its exactly how she likes it, everything stays the same, the only thing that would be better is to be the second grade teacher rather than the substitute teacher! The current teacher has been here forever and she does miss quite a bit of school because of health related reasons as she is an older teacher and especially on cold days like today calling for snow, so that does gives Olivia a good bit of time to teach, which is her passion! Olivia is patiently waiting with a 7 year old student named Seraphina or Sera for short. Olivia is hopeful Sera's charge Robert gets here soon before the snowing gets any worse and she cant drive herself home! She is watching the snow and listening to the quite building and then looks at Sera whom has her head down almost asleep. She hears the door shut and shuffling of feet in the hall and looks up just knowing it will be Robert and says Hey Robert so glad you made it but instead of it being Robert it is a Model of a young man, the best Olivia has ever seen but only one of many that everyone gets to see go on and off the list of approved people that can pickup Sera. She is almost tripping over herself to meet him and she feels tingles all the way to her spine as they shake hands, and he says his name is Dante James and as he says his name he says and you are def. not Mrs Abernathy and she smiles and says no and Sera laughs and says no its Ms Winters silly. As good as he looks though he isn't on the list of approved folks to be able to get Sera. But she flies to meet him and obviously knows him well but school policy is they have to be on the list and he most certainly isn't, he totally understand even went to the school and is glad they are strict. He tells her its fine and that Robert is suppose to be trying to get to the school but is having trouble getting from the airport to the school but once he realizes he cannot take Sera with him he makes some calls to see if he can help. Olivia stumbles over her words trying to explain that Seraphina's mom has people added and taken from the list all the time and she is sorry, but he says its all fine and he gets it. Olivia realizes he is just another one of the many new good looking men of Angelique Montrosse's, Sera's mom.
Soon Sera is getting restless and wants food, Dante gets onto Sera and tells her not to be rude and she straightens right up and Olivia is surprised at how he is with her. Olivia suggests the snack machine because the cafeteria is closed and Dante grabs money out of his pocket and asks if she wouldn't mind and she doesn't want to take his money but after she has been thinking of how good he looks and smells she wants to touch him, (after all she is even fantasizing about doing such) she has no idea why other than curiosity and that its been way to long for her to have been with a man, that has to be it! So she says no and he insists and she reaches for the money and they touch hands and it tingles all the way to her spine, everything about him screams HOT and also to Olivia to stay away from him, plus he is way younger than her, she is thinking probably a 25 yr old and way to young for someone close to being a 40 yr old herself! So she takes the money and goes to the machine to get the snack and runs into the assistant principle Victoria whom she went to college with and she scares her to death and she laughs and tells her why she is all shook up and Victoria asks about him and so she grabs some snacks and tells her his name and he went to school here even, as Victoria mouth drops to the floor then back, she knows him, he is a world famous Rock Star in a band named Inferno, she cant get over him being in the school! Olivia knows for sure she is way out of touch that she doesn't even recognize him. And now knows he is way out of her league here, so no more fantasizing as its pointless just as Victoria tells her she need to be flirting with him and she needs to be dating and getting out in the world, Olivia says he is way to young for her and says she needs to get back. Sera eats and finally nods off and walks over closer to her and she can feel his heat radiating off him he is so close, they start talking and it seems he might be flirting but Olivia thinks it cant be but they do seem to have things in common and soon Victoria stops by to tell her she is leaving and asks if they have heard anything from Robert and that the maintenance man is in the school to call if she needs him, she doesn't like leaving Olivia but as she tells Dante she loves his music. Olivia walks her out in the hall and Victoria tells her he is flirting with her and she needs to jump on that, who cares about age that Olivia is hot and he is interested! They laugh and Victoria asks again if she is ok with her leaving and she says Robert is on his way. Soon after they do hear the door and its finally Robert, Dante tells her he will help get Sera in the car an come back for her that he is getting her home for all her trouble that she cannot and Will Not drive home on these roads! He had been wondering why nobody had been calling or coming for her that she had to be single. I did love that we got most of both POV's in the book or at least what they were thinking most if it is Olivia though.
So this is just the beginning of a pretty wild start of something of course her road is closed and she goes to his house, surprises come from both Olivia and Dante and they do have a lot in common but also he isn't what she is....thing is, can they make it work? I don't want to give anything away but we do have some hot sex as they are snowed in together, learning each other and the title tells you this is about an Incubus with a human.
I liked this book much better than the first, Gabriel is in this book as well and I like him better in this book as he is much more in tune with others feelings not just himself even if he did love in the first book. So I am glad I read book one although it isn't necessary. I think the writer does a better job explaining the needs of the Incubus a little better in this book and it is a little longer and since Dante is not Gabriel his needs are not quite so over the top and Olivia knows nothing of her background being adopted, and for reasons unknown she doesn't get as tired or def not sick as it seems that other human woman react to the incubus. Its def Fantasy with some Kink, I liked getting to know both of them and their backgrounds, especially Olivia she has been through a lot and she deserves to be happy. We have a part that is pretty intense but I think it helps the book in the end! Good character development and no real cheating this time. A few errors in the writing but not enough that I couldn't look over. I was given this review copy from Book Review 22 for my honest review and I thank Book Review for the chance!
June 8, 2022
This story in the series was different from the first two. Dante and Olivia met at the school she teaches during a snow storm. There was instant attraction but for some odd reason, Olivia didn’t fall for the incubus as quickly as the women in the first two books in the series. It makes me think she’s unique as well. Their need and attraction for one another is off the charts. I enjoyed this story and am looking forward to the rest in the series.
December 2, 2019
This book is really fabulous.
December 10, 2019
I have read several of this author’s books and am always amazed by how she manages to make the characters so real that you feel like you’re inside their head. Enjoyed this book a lot.
February 20, 2024
The Only Exception is the third book in the Incubus Rising series but can be read as a standalone. I haven't read books one or two, but this did not have any negative effect on my enjoyment of this book.
This is a fast-paced novella, that nevertheless manages to tell a complete story AND give a satisfactory ending. It starts off with a substitute teacher staying with a 7-year-old girl until she is picked up from school. Even though this was a Paranormal Romance, it was good to see a degree of realism in there too, eg. waiting for authorisation on the school list.
Well written, with no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt the reading flow, there are some steamy scenes, plus angst as they try to figure a way to be together. All-in-all, this was a short but satisfying read. Definitely recommended by me.
* I received this book from Book Review 22 in return for a fair and honest review. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 4, 2016
This is a fast-paced novella, that nevertheless manages to tell a complete story AND give a satisfactory ending. It starts off with a substitute teacher staying with a 7-year-old girl until she is picked up from school. Even though this was a Paranormal Romance, it was good to see a degree of realism in there too, eg. waiting for authorisation on the school list.
Well written, with no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt the reading flow, there are some steamy scenes, plus angst as they try to figure a way to be together. All-in-all, this was a short but satisfying read. Definitely recommended by me.
* I received this book from Book Review 22 in return for a fair and honest review. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 4, 2016
August 16, 2016
Awww! What a sweet sexy story. I read the first book in this series after this book was a part of my book review club. The first book was raunchy, and the story was good. I was happy that, even though this is a series, it had separate stories. I gave the first book 4 stars because while I liked it, I wanted more story.
This story, Liv and Dante, she found the right mix. Ms. Mancini really gave much more insight as to who they were and what they were thinking. Not only did I see the school teacher breaking out of her shell and become a lioness but I saw the bad ass rock star turn into a lovesick puppy. For someone who into strong empowered women, the Best!
Once again, this story left me breathless and my husband a happy man!
This story, Liv and Dante, she found the right mix. Ms. Mancini really gave much more insight as to who they were and what they were thinking. Not only did I see the school teacher breaking out of her shell and become a lioness but I saw the bad ass rock star turn into a lovesick puppy. For someone who into strong empowered women, the Best!
Once again, this story left me breathless and my husband a happy man!
September 3, 2016
rcvd book for review. I can honestly say that i was pleasntly surprised. a nearly 40 yra old school sub Olivia gets stuck at thr school with her 7 yr old student during a winter storm to have her slightly older and hotter brother come pick the little girl up. dante james...rock god...is immediately smitten with olivia and does everything under the sun to flirt with her. they manage to escape the school and head out, however, Olivia is unable to go home so dante offers her up his place. needless to say the sexual chemistry btn these two is off the charts and olivia witnesses smtg that she doesnt understand and she wills herself to take what she wants and at that moment she wants dante! but what will liv do when the truth comea out?
September 25, 2016
`This story was not what I was expecting. Its starts out normally enough. Olivia is a forty year old substitute teacher at a private school. One of her students,Seraphina has not been picked up yet and a big storm is coming. Then Dante shows up to pick her up. Liv assumes Dante is Seraphina's mom's boyfriend since she is famous for having a long string of boy toys. However Dante doesn't have written permission to pick up Seraphina so all three are stuck at school until mom's personal assistant arrives.
Liv finds out that Dante is not the boyfriend but he is Seraphina's brother. Since the storm is really bad she accepts a ride home in Dante's SUV but the roads are close. She goes home with Dante and they have a passion filled night.
Now the surprise twists pops up....
Liv finds out that Dante is not the boyfriend but he is Seraphina's brother. Since the storm is really bad she accepts a ride home in Dante's SUV but the roads are close. She goes home with Dante and they have a passion filled night.
Now the surprise twists pops up....
August 24, 2016
Book 3 of the incubus rising series. I was not able to read the second book, but this was really different from the first one.
I liked how this ended. There was a definite ending and the couple was into each other. Yes, the conflict was there, but they found a way around each other.
I was kind dreading the ending because, I was disappointed with the book one, but here, I was a really different thing. The adult scenes, they were really hot and the moments they have with each other was sweet too. I love how the characters were developed too.
There is not much to say, but I do enjoyed reading it. It opened another myth in a different light which was good. I gave it four stars.
I liked how this ended. There was a definite ending and the couple was into each other. Yes, the conflict was there, but they found a way around each other.
I was kind dreading the ending because, I was disappointed with the book one, but here, I was a really different thing. The adult scenes, they were really hot and the moments they have with each other was sweet too. I love how the characters were developed too.
There is not much to say, but I do enjoyed reading it. It opened another myth in a different light which was good. I gave it four stars.
August 29, 2016
I received this book from Book Review 22 in exchange for an honest review.
I'm torn between whether I like the story or not. I'm not indifferent to it. There were parts that I enjoyed, but not many. It was a quick read, which helped. It's also a part of a series, which I wasn't aware of that when I chose the book. I don't think it affected how much I liked the book, but everything just seemed so rushed.
The plus side, I found Dante to be absolutely charming and Olivia to be interesting. I was interested to see where her story would go, there isn't much detail there. My guess is you have to get book 4 to find that out. I didn't love, but I didn't hate either.
I'm torn between whether I like the story or not. I'm not indifferent to it. There were parts that I enjoyed, but not many. It was a quick read, which helped. It's also a part of a series, which I wasn't aware of that when I chose the book. I don't think it affected how much I liked the book, but everything just seemed so rushed.
The plus side, I found Dante to be absolutely charming and Olivia to be interesting. I was interested to see where her story would go, there isn't much detail there. My guess is you have to get book 4 to find that out. I didn't love, but I didn't hate either.
September 1, 2016
I have not read the first two books but found I liked this one.Olivia Winter is a substitute teacher with a big storm coming she has one little girl who has not been collected from school yet, Olivia and Seraphina have to wait .Seraphina's mother’s assistant Robert is suppost to be picking her up but Dante James comes instead Olivia will not let Seraphina leave as he is not on the pick-up list. When Robert does come the roads are so bad after he leaves that Olivia can not leave, Dante offers to drive her home . What happens when they find her road blocked? Will Dante and Olivia get a happy ending? What is Dante? I was gifted a copy for an honest review.
August 19, 2016
The Only Exception
By Jennifer Mancini
I received this ARC through Book Review 22 for a honest review.
This story begins with the lead character Olivia Winter a substitute teacher stuck at school watching over seven year old Seraphina Montrose, because of a winter storm and late pick up from her driver.
Seraphina's much older brother and famous rock star Dante James shows up to take the child home. Dante offers Olivia to stay with him during the storm igniting a passion in them both, which reveals a secret Dante can keep from her no longer.
A okay read.
3 stars.
By Jennifer Mancini
I received this ARC through Book Review 22 for a honest review.
This story begins with the lead character Olivia Winter a substitute teacher stuck at school watching over seven year old Seraphina Montrose, because of a winter storm and late pick up from her driver.
Seraphina's much older brother and famous rock star Dante James shows up to take the child home. Dante offers Olivia to stay with him during the storm igniting a passion in them both, which reveals a secret Dante can keep from her no longer.
A okay read.
3 stars.
August 17, 2016
I started reading this knowing it was a love story, and it turns out to be a truly epic one! Of course this writer did a brilliant job of keeping me off kilter! Every time I thought something was one way it became something completely different. Dante's origins and his family....creative genius! Totally love every word and find myself wanting to know more of this family! This book is definitely far from the normal and recommend it entirely! My copy is via Book Review 22 in exchange for an honest review.
August 23, 2016
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is Book 3 of the Incubus Rising Series and even though it is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. The Only Exception by Jennifer Mancini is a fantasy/paranormal romance novella and while it’s not a lengthy read it is fast, fun and hella sexy with plenty of story to keep you captivated. I enjoyed the characters and world and love the author’s writing style...looking forward to more from this author.
This is Book 3 of the Incubus Rising Series and even though it is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. The Only Exception by Jennifer Mancini is a fantasy/paranormal romance novella and while it’s not a lengthy read it is fast, fun and hella sexy with plenty of story to keep you captivated. I enjoyed the characters and world and love the author’s writing style...looking forward to more from this author.
Read
September 14, 2016This is Book 3 of the Incubus Rising Series and even though it is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. Have not read Jennifer Mancini stories before. But I enjoyed reading this one. it is very entertaining. the characters where believable. I would love to read more of her stories one day.. I was given this story for a honest review.
September 16, 2016
This was the first for me for this author as well as this kind of book. I really enjoyed this story. I could not put it down. Love is love no matter what you are, human or not. I will be reading more from this author. Thank you for a good read!
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July 13, 2014Free 07-13-14
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September 2, 2016
A great steamy romance! I didn't realize there was two books before this one and it didn't ruin anything for me I will read book 4 if there is one for sure! A great read
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July 20, 2025Purchase Amazon December 4, 2019
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