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Thieves of Aurion #1
Lover Enslaved
Sometimes love is the only prize worth stealing…
Thieves of Aurion, Book 1
Mara Sheppard has no love for the Fae, but to free her brother from prison, she’ll do whatever the treacherous Queen Nalia asks. Even kidnap Dashael Rhyder, a womanizing thief.
She should have known the deal would go sour.
It’s almost too easy to bait and trap Dashael. Resisting his potent Fae allure isn’t. Especially since Nalia’s unexpected demand for a missing magical rune means Mara will have to hold strong far longer than she’d planned.
Dashael’s best shot at escaping? Seduce her. If he can survive a few dozen of his closest enemies out for blood and the queen’s scheme to make him her personal stud…he might just make it.
Then his game of seduction trips over a snag named Mara, and he falls. Hard. For a commitment-phobic thief, love might as well be a prison sentence. Yet the idea of losing her makes him miserable.
Mara can’t deny that her enemy has stolen her heart. But their love is about to be tested by a lifetime of secrets. The risk may not be worth it. Especially if a life together means death for one of them.
Warning, contains one or more of the following: Hot, sexy thieves, pain-in-the-butt sprites, handcuffs, intriguing new uses for a silk bed curtain, and scorching, shake-the-ceiling-tiles sex.
Thieves of Aurion, Book 1
Mara Sheppard has no love for the Fae, but to free her brother from prison, she’ll do whatever the treacherous Queen Nalia asks. Even kidnap Dashael Rhyder, a womanizing thief.
She should have known the deal would go sour.
It’s almost too easy to bait and trap Dashael. Resisting his potent Fae allure isn’t. Especially since Nalia’s unexpected demand for a missing magical rune means Mara will have to hold strong far longer than she’d planned.
Dashael’s best shot at escaping? Seduce her. If he can survive a few dozen of his closest enemies out for blood and the queen’s scheme to make him her personal stud…he might just make it.
Then his game of seduction trips over a snag named Mara, and he falls. Hard. For a commitment-phobic thief, love might as well be a prison sentence. Yet the idea of losing her makes him miserable.
Mara can’t deny that her enemy has stolen her heart. But their love is about to be tested by a lifetime of secrets. The risk may not be worth it. Especially if a life together means death for one of them.
Warning, contains one or more of the following: Hot, sexy thieves, pain-in-the-butt sprites, handcuffs, intriguing new uses for a silk bed curtain, and scorching, shake-the-ceiling-tiles sex.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 28, 2009
8 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Jodi Redford
53 books324 followersAt the ripe age of seven, I penned my first epic, complete with stick figure illustrations. Sadly, my drawing skills haven't improved much, but my love of creating fantasy worlds is still going strong.
Yep, I still love writing about fairies, ghosts, and other supernatural creatures, only my stories pack a little more heat these days.
I currently reside in Michigan with my husband and overgrown lapdog. I'm a member of Romance Writers of America and Greater Detroit Romance Writers of America.
When I'm not writing or working the day job, I'm usually tinkering in the garden (weather permitting) or drooling over those smokin' hot Winchester Brothers from Supernatural. Strictly for research purposes, of course.
Yep, I still love writing about fairies, ghosts, and other supernatural creatures, only my stories pack a little more heat these days.
I currently reside in Michigan with my husband and overgrown lapdog. I'm a member of Romance Writers of America and Greater Detroit Romance Writers of America.
When I'm not writing or working the day job, I'm usually tinkering in the garden (weather permitting) or drooling over those smokin' hot Winchester Brothers from Supernatural. Strictly for research purposes, of course.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 4, 2013
Rating: 4
Mara: 3.5 - I wanted to strangle her a few times!!
Dash: 4.5 – Loved him, sexy as sin!!
Secondary Characters: 4 - Jerrick & Piper was awesome!!
Steam Level: 4
Storyline/Plot: 4
Setting: 3.5 - Loved the world-building but would have liked a little more background into the world
Genre: Romantic Fantasy
Cover: 4 - Yummm
Ending: HEA
I really enjoyed this book. Jodi done an amazing job of catching my attention and drawling me into the story. It was full of action, drama and sexy as sin! The world was very interesting and the characters jumped off the pages. It was a fun, action packed, swoon-worthy book. I have become a new fan of Jodi and she is going on my authors-to-stalk list.
Mara: 3.5 - I wanted to strangle her a few times!!
Dash: 4.5 – Loved him, sexy as sin!!
Secondary Characters: 4 - Jerrick & Piper was awesome!!
Steam Level: 4
Storyline/Plot: 4
Setting: 3.5 - Loved the world-building but would have liked a little more background into the world
Genre: Romantic Fantasy
Cover: 4 - Yummm
Ending: HEA
I really enjoyed this book. Jodi done an amazing job of catching my attention and drawling me into the story. It was full of action, drama and sexy as sin! The world was very interesting and the characters jumped off the pages. It was a fun, action packed, swoon-worthy book. I have become a new fan of Jodi and she is going on my authors-to-stalk list.
May 13, 2013
One thing that I have learned about Jodi Redford is to always expect the unexpected. You never quite know what she is going to come up with. The only thing that you can be sure of is that whatever surprises she has in store, they will be entertaining. Lover Enslaved was definitely no exception.
It should be no surprise that the characters are what made this book so much fun. They were witty, fun, just the right amount of snarky and the supporting characters were just as much fun as Dash and Mara. Of course there were some serious moments too. Both of these characters had been through a lot and they both had their own share of secrets. During the course of this story they both discovered as much about themselves as they did about each other.
The bad guys were despicable, the humor was as smart as it was funny, the characters had depth and there was just enough action to keep everyone happy. I also have to mention that I can’t remember the last time I read a book by Jodi Redford that had quite this much *ahem* tension. By the end of the book I actually felt sorry for Dash. There’s only so much torture a sex crazed Fae should have to endure.
As usual, pay attention to the warning… it’s for real and not an exaggeration. This author knows how to pull out all the stops and keep things interesting until the very last page.
The next book in this series, Lover Enraptured, is sure to be just as much fun as this one. Can’t wait until August 2013!
It should be no surprise that the characters are what made this book so much fun. They were witty, fun, just the right amount of snarky and the supporting characters were just as much fun as Dash and Mara. Of course there were some serious moments too. Both of these characters had been through a lot and they both had their own share of secrets. During the course of this story they both discovered as much about themselves as they did about each other.
The bad guys were despicable, the humor was as smart as it was funny, the characters had depth and there was just enough action to keep everyone happy. I also have to mention that I can’t remember the last time I read a book by Jodi Redford that had quite this much *ahem* tension. By the end of the book I actually felt sorry for Dash. There’s only so much torture a sex crazed Fae should have to endure.
As usual, pay attention to the warning… it’s for real and not an exaggeration. This author knows how to pull out all the stops and keep things interesting until the very last page.
The next book in this series, Lover Enraptured, is sure to be just as much fun as this one. Can’t wait until August 2013!
May 13, 2013
Oh, Jodi Redford, you always know how to give a girl what she wants. And by that, of course, I mean that her characters are put into both sexy and harrowing situations and they respond with snark and shenanigans. As it turns out, I like ALL THOSE THINGS!
Mara and Dash are combustible. In a big way. He's got the sex fae thing going for him, she has wide-eyed naivete coupled with a bouncy hair and a knockout body that distracts Dash at every turn. Quite frankly, the two of them together works for me. The snark! The quips! The HAWT kisses! *swoon*
Beside the sexy times, Dash's thievery skills have landed him in some hot water. Not because he's bad but because his reputation is JUST THAT GOOD. Mara's quick mind is able to keep up with him (he finds that sex-ay, btw) and she's driven to succeed in the quest that's been set before them.
Quite frankly, all of Jodi Redford's books leave me giddy with delight and this one was no different. The sex fae have a certain something that makes them FUN to read. The humans might be considered lower class citizens in this world, but they can hold their own against those they're pitted against!
ROCK ON, HUMANS!
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Mara and Dash are combustible. In a big way. He's got the sex fae thing going for him, she has wide-eyed naivete coupled with a bouncy hair and a knockout body that distracts Dash at every turn. Quite frankly, the two of them together works for me. The snark! The quips! The HAWT kisses! *swoon*
Beside the sexy times, Dash's thievery skills have landed him in some hot water. Not because he's bad but because his reputation is JUST THAT GOOD. Mara's quick mind is able to keep up with him (he finds that sex-ay, btw) and she's driven to succeed in the quest that's been set before them.
Quite frankly, all of Jodi Redford's books leave me giddy with delight and this one was no different. The sex fae have a certain something that makes them FUN to read. The humans might be considered lower class citizens in this world, but they can hold their own against those they're pitted against!
ROCK ON, HUMANS!
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
July 26, 2016
Oh Dash, I love your ribald humor, your massive ego, and the ability to make Mara blush.
Mara is forced to work with Dash in recovering a stolen artifact, the whole time she's trying to be strong and fend off his advances. The story has good suspense, or finding ideas to steal the artifact back, or some hot back and forth interactions between Dash and Mara. The world building reminds me a little of steampunk, with Fae, humans, and a pixie thrown in for comic relief.
I've read several of Jodi's other books and have not been disappointed yet. (Knock on wood) So if this isn't your cup of tea, she has plenty others to choose from.
Mara is forced to work with Dash in recovering a stolen artifact, the whole time she's trying to be strong and fend off his advances. The story has good suspense, or finding ideas to steal the artifact back, or some hot back and forth interactions between Dash and Mara. The world building reminds me a little of steampunk, with Fae, humans, and a pixie thrown in for comic relief.
I've read several of Jodi's other books and have not been disappointed yet. (Knock on wood) So if this isn't your cup of tea, she has plenty others to choose from.
December 31, 2013
The story was okay but it all seemed very slow to develop...the plot and the romance. I feel like part of the repetitive "I want you but won't sleep with you" and the "how are we going to find the treasure" back and forth could have been cut out to speed things along. I'm going to read the next in the series and hope it gets better, but it don't have high hopes.
Want to Read
April 17, 2014Reason I'm reading this: "...intriguing new uses for a silk bed curtain"
Ones that I haven't thought of before? Because that might be impossible. I have too much free time, okay? Entire seconds per day.
Also, there was a snippet of this on the back of an Ilona Andrews book, so, duh I'm going to read this.
Ones that I haven't thought of before? Because that might be impossible. I have too much free time, okay? Entire seconds per day.
Also, there was a snippet of this on the back of an Ilona Andrews book, so, duh I'm going to read this.
October 24, 2011
Dashael is fae, and a thief. A double whammy against him, as far as Mara is concerned. Not that it matters what she thinks, since she has to kidnap and bring him back to Queen Nalia in order to rescue her brother from the fairy prison. Thus begins an adventure across two countries, with bounty hunters, long-lost brothers, poisonous toads, and see-thru dresses aplenty.
Characters: ***** 5 Stars
Mara is refreshingly normal. A human with no special powers, she still manages to use her assets to their best advantage and come out ahead. She’s quick on her feet and witty, more than up to the task of handling Dashael and his ego. But Dashael grew on me throughout the story. More than just a pretty face, he’s a man with a past and a story of his own. You can’t help but root for the two of them to overcome the obstacles to be together. The supporting characters are equally entertaining: a sprite named Piper who always says or does the wrong thing at the wrong time and irritates Mara to no end, a rival thief named Jerrick who’s not quite what he seems, a boutique owner who provides the missing pieces to the story and gives Mara some extra support right when she needs it, and several brainless thugs to keep things moving along.
Plot: ***** 5 Stars
While LOVER ENSLAVED follows the standard romance outline to some extent, there are enough plot twists to keep the reader from guessing too much in advance. The pacing was fantastic, neither too slow nor too fast, and the overall story length was perfect.
Setting: **** 4 Stars
The author did a great job developing the world of the story, but I would have liked a little bit more background on the various races and their roles in the world. The fae are clearly on top, but they aren’t all royalty, and humans are apparently at the bottom, but what exactly is the role of the sprites, except to irritate Mara? I liked the level of description, however, as it was enough to provide a distinct vision of the world without bogging down the plot.
Romance: ***** 5 Stars
HOT! Lust leads to sexual tension leads to love in this fantasy, and it’s perfect. Dashael can’t resist Mara and does everything he can to seduce her, yet she manages to hold him off until neither can stand it any longer, despite the risks to their lives.
Genre - Romantic Fantasy: ***** 5 Stars
This was a perfect romantic fantasy. I couldn’t have asked for anything more!
Characters: ***** 5 Stars
Mara is refreshingly normal. A human with no special powers, she still manages to use her assets to their best advantage and come out ahead. She’s quick on her feet and witty, more than up to the task of handling Dashael and his ego. But Dashael grew on me throughout the story. More than just a pretty face, he’s a man with a past and a story of his own. You can’t help but root for the two of them to overcome the obstacles to be together. The supporting characters are equally entertaining: a sprite named Piper who always says or does the wrong thing at the wrong time and irritates Mara to no end, a rival thief named Jerrick who’s not quite what he seems, a boutique owner who provides the missing pieces to the story and gives Mara some extra support right when she needs it, and several brainless thugs to keep things moving along.
Plot: ***** 5 Stars
While LOVER ENSLAVED follows the standard romance outline to some extent, there are enough plot twists to keep the reader from guessing too much in advance. The pacing was fantastic, neither too slow nor too fast, and the overall story length was perfect.
Setting: **** 4 Stars
The author did a great job developing the world of the story, but I would have liked a little bit more background on the various races and their roles in the world. The fae are clearly on top, but they aren’t all royalty, and humans are apparently at the bottom, but what exactly is the role of the sprites, except to irritate Mara? I liked the level of description, however, as it was enough to provide a distinct vision of the world without bogging down the plot.
Romance: ***** 5 Stars
HOT! Lust leads to sexual tension leads to love in this fantasy, and it’s perfect. Dashael can’t resist Mara and does everything he can to seduce her, yet she manages to hold him off until neither can stand it any longer, despite the risks to their lives.
Genre - Romantic Fantasy: ***** 5 Stars
This was a perfect romantic fantasy. I couldn’t have asked for anything more!
January 25, 2014
I love JR's female characters, they are feisty and don't take any nonsense. They give as good as they get while still managing to be completely feminine, not as easy as it sounds to write, and one that very few authors manage to get just right.
The alpha males in her stories are hot, yummy goodness with more than a little bit of dominating macho in them, yet they never make me want to jump into the book and smack them with a two by four, (besides the heroines take care of all that testosterone quite nicely and I get to enjoy a sizzling read without my inner feminist hissing and spitting at me.)
I'm working my way through the rest of Ms Redford's book and loving every minute of it!!
The alpha males in her stories are hot, yummy goodness with more than a little bit of dominating macho in them, yet they never make me want to jump into the book and smack them with a two by four, (besides the heroines take care of all that testosterone quite nicely and I get to enjoy a sizzling read without my inner feminist hissing and spitting at me.)
I'm working my way through the rest of Ms Redford's book and loving every minute of it!!
December 4, 2011
I loved this. Dash is charming and his scenes with Mara were funny or downright sexy. I've gotta read more of Jodi Redford's books. I've already got the first book of That Old Black Magic loaded up on my kindle.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews