Burning Skies

Guardians of Ascension #2

by Caris Roane

Enter a hidden world of winged vampire warriors -- bound by duty to protect humankind, and sworn to fight for the women they love....

THE HUNGER WITHIN

A vampire warrior in exile, Marcus Amargi resists the call to return to the ranks of the Guardians who fight the death vamp armies. Here on Mortal Earth, Marcus has another battle on his hands -- the seductive lure of Havily Morgan. The woman meant for him. Whose blood he craves. The one who comes to him in dreams -- and demands his surrender...

THE FIRE UNLEASHED

A beautiful immortal with extraordinary powers, Havily lives in the realm of Second Earth but, in her fantasies, yearns for her winged lover Marcus. Soon, their bond will be put to the ultimate test. When their bloodthirsty enemies set the night on fire with sky-blazing weapons, Marcus and Havily must unite body and soul, to unleash the full power of their passion -- and fight fire with fire...

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Vampires, Romance, Angels, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy

464 pages, Paperback

First published April 26, 2011

About the author

I confess I've had a love affaire with vampires for several years now, especially warrior vampires, the kind found in the books of Sherrilyn Kenyon, Lara Adrian and JR Ward. Though I've been published in Regency Romance under the pseudonym Valerie King--and yes one of my Regency Novellas features a vampire--one day I woke up knowing I had to create my own contemporary world of the warrior vampire.

For some mystical, magical reason, early in the process, my vampires appeared with enormous beautiful wings and it has been the most amazing experience to include flight in my novels, in both battle scenes and scenes involving spectacle. My special vampire world, published by St. Martin's Press, is introduced in the first book called, ASCENSION (12-28-2010). The second book, BURNING SKIES (May of 2011), opens up the world a little bit more. And even as I write this, I'm on the final draft of my third novel, WINGS OF FIRE (September of 2011). What a thrill it has been to live with my ascended vampires through the creation of this extraordinary, multi-dimensional world!

For more information about my unique take on the vampire mythos, check out my website at carisroane.com and my book release video on YouTube by putting in the search phrase, Caris Roane Ascension.

With every hope you'll enjoy reading my books set in the World of Ascension, All my best, Caris Roane

Reviews

[Jessica's Totally Over The Top Book Obsession · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Spoilers*

I am giving it 3.5 stars..... It is just a lit bit better than the first but again could use some editing of 50 or more pages things got a little redundant especially the whole honeysuckle and fennel thing I get it he smells like fennel she smells of honeysuckle for God's sake does it have to be on every page. Also Havily cries alot too not as much as Alison(I don't think anyone cries as much as Alison) but really what is with the criers! There is parts where crying makes since like I didn't mind when Marcus had some man tears cuzz Havily was taken by Crace!!! Btw Marcus Hott sex lol for real its what made the book better love the whole caveman thing!!!! I also liked how Kerrick stepped up and was there for Marcus when Marcus was a dick to him for the last two hundred years. I love that they made up and are bros again. I liked Havily's and Marcus's characters although I would have liked it more had they not Fought against the breh-hedden so much! The weeping wing locks where kinda of ewww to me just sayin. I am not really looking forward to reading the next book not because I don't like the sereis because the I like the series don't love it but I like it but I don't like Parisa at all from this book maybe she can redeem herself in the next but I am not getting my hopes up! She is coward of the worst kind your friend is taken and you refuse to help when you can all she does is whine about not wanting to Ascend to much war to much I don't want a warrior for a man he will die, everything is so scary!!! I just wanted to shake the crap outta her like she can just go back to earth I am sure that Greaves won't kill your ass!


What I wanna do to Parisa lol

https://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessi...

[Laurie Garrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Burning Stakes is one blazing hot read. I believe this is going to become one of my favorite series very quickly. Why, you ask? Well, I love the way this author is keeping the romance in the main focus of the story. It’s easy for some authors to get carried anyway with huge storylines and a lot of added characters and miss the romance, when this happens I lose interest very quickly because I am a romance reader first and far most. Caris keeps the romance fresh and different between books and I love the way she weaves the other characters in and she still gives you a small peek to who is going to be next, so you get to have a good feel for them before their book is introduced.

This book is about Marcus and Havily. I really enjoyed reading both characters. Marcus is strong and he can be demanding, when the time is called for. Havily is very powerful and confident, when the time calls for it. The romance between these two starts right off the bat, oh yeah; this is one hot book from beginning to the end, very different from the first. The sexual tension and romance build is still there, but these don’t fight it as much, oh no, they go at it like some love sick bunnies LOL.

I am enjoying reading the crazy mad lady, her supreme highness Endelle. She may think she runs the show, but as each woman comes aboard they end up kicking her butt. It’s fun to read how miss high and mighty can be brought down a few notches in each book.

There’s still some cussing, but very mild compared to the first book, so for those of you who doesn’t like a lot of cussing this one is a lot calmer. My reasoning for not giving this book a 5 is I have issues with the hero being able and the heroine can not. As in hero looking at other women’s boobs,(twice while the heroine catches him and she doesn’t really mind) but the heroine can’t even have a connection with another man (as a friend) without the hero going ape and using sex to make her see things his way. Nope, not for me, it’s just too much of a double standard for me to enjoy. This only happens once, so it not a huge issue.

I recommend this series to anyone who loves romance and danger. Warrior Antony Medichi is next and I can’t wait to read it.

[Ren Puspita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like Ascension, I won this book from the author too :)

And this book is BETTEEEEEEEERRR than the first book!!! Not like Ascension, that I want DNF at the middle of the book, but with some magic (or full of willingness, I try to finish), I love this one!!
While I can't connect with the hero and heroine from the first book, I enjoy Marcus and Havily relationship in Burning Skies. Definitely more romantic and the love scene more steamy than the first!

Did I say that my favorite character is Endelle? This woman is the leader of Warrior of Blood, and like the first book, she still bitchy, mad and crazy like before. Her character reminds me of Nix from IAD by Kresley Cole, but of course she more though and bitchy than Nix! How I want Endelle have her own book, and she finally meet her mate..

I will write complete review soon, and can't wait for book 3 .. The characters, Parisa Lovejoy and Antony Medichi was introduced in this book (Antony already had from the 1st book).. Something bad happen to Parisa, and yesss, August, please come in!!!

[Liz F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whooo.... Another good one from Caris Roane. I'm really digging this author and I'm going to continue with this series!!

Ok, so book 1 of The World of Ascension set up the world and introduced us to the Warriors of the Blood. They are winged vampires and good guys. Well, they're GREAT guys actually! LOL! So anyways, they're vampires, angels, uber-warriors and "sex on legs". They don't really drink blood to survive. They eat regular food. The taking of blood is sort of like a sex thing that is done occasionally. The taking of what is called Dying Blood is what the bad guys do. They drain someone until the point of death and that's when you get the dying blood. The dying blood is like super awesome and makes you crazy strong but it also makes your skin slightly blue tinged and you're instantly addicted. So its way bad. There's a war between the good guys and the bad guys who do the dying blood thing. The bad guys are winning because they can be anyone and have tons more people. But the good guys are fighting the good fight and they won't be discouraged and they won't quit.

So here in book 2, we meet Marcus Amargi. Marcus is a tough story. Back a few hundred years ago, he leave the Warriors of the Blood when his sister and his nieces and nephews were murdered by the head bad guy. She had married Marcus' brother in arms, Kerrick ('member him from book 1?), and Marcus also blames Kerrick for her death. Marcus was out of his mind in grief and rage. He was going to kill Kerrick. But instead of that, he decided to exile himself to mortal earth. But he told the leader of the good guys that if she needed him, he would come back - once. Well, that time has come and the leader of the good guys has called Marcus back to the fight. To say that he's reluctant is an understatement but he promised and Marcus keeps his promise. But there's another reason for him to come back - Havily Morgan - his breh-hedden (fated one).

We met Havily in book 1 and I really liked her. She had been married and lost her husband in the war. But she keeps his memory close and focuses her attention on how she can better things for the good guys and honor her deceased husband. She has a strong affection for the Warriors of the Blood since she had a Warrior as a guard during her Ascension. Just like the Warriors, she's skeptical when Marcus returns. He IS a deserter after all and that's all he'll ever be to Havily. But the breh-hedden has other ideas and Havily is caught in its clutches, just as Marcus is.

Havily and Marcus together are pretty great and they run the spectrum from dislike to passionate love all in this one book! I had a real affinity for Havily and not just because she has a totally cool name! She's tough in her own way. She's not like, a muscle bound fighter type. She's definitely more brains rather than brawn. And she has KILLER style!! She tries to keep her emotions in check but when it comes to Marcus, she has no control over her feelings and its great to see. I love seeing her lose control. Marcus too. Since he came to mortal earth, he's become something of a business guru. And of course, he also has the need for strict controls. Did I explain the breh-hedden? If not, its this mystical force that was thought to be a myth until it hit Kerrick and Allison in book 1. There is an undeniable pull between two people and they are fated to be together. They can identify each other by a unique smell that they smell on each other and no one else can smell it. The breh-hedden is, in a word, undeniable.

So overall, I really liked this book! I think I liked it just as much as the first one. I would for sure recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed paranormal romance that wanted to try a different author. I really like the spin that the author puts on the vampire mythology. In fact, I love the mix of vampire and angel. Its perfect. You get the angel stuff without the sanctimony, y'know? Anyways, its great! You gotta check it out!!

[Aly is so frigging bored · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Marcus popped up in the 1st book I knew I would love his character and I couldn't wait to find out when/if his story was out. It is the 2nd book so I was most grateful and happy.

Not/Favorite list:
+1* the world CR has created, it's very compelling
+1.5* Marcus, everything about him
+1* Havily, everything BUT the name(I liked the story so much that I won't even bitch about that)
+1* the relationship development
+1* secondary characters(especially Endelle)
-0.5* all that emotionally crying, every damn time I read how one of them would start crying I felt like someone kept screeching in my head

As you can see my swearing problem has been resolved :D the same with the repetitive "WARRIOR".


Favorite quote:
“I had it brought to my attention a couple of days ago that I was wholly and completely incompetent in my position as Supreme High Administrator. In fact the person who said this to me had the audacity to say I sucked at being an administrator.”
Though Endelle spoke with a half smile, and her words were meant to be a sort of joke, a deadly silence fell over the room. The warriors tensed. Even Marcus leaned forward.
Havily glanced at Alison, whose empathic skills were at third dimension level, but even she frowned and appeared confused, which confirmed Havily’s belief that the warriors all agreed with Endelle’s statement but were at the same time ready to go to war on her behalf against anyone disparaging her service.
Havily loved them for that. She slid her arm around Marcus’s and squeezed. He glanced at her and scowled. You’re not upset about this, he sent, almost like an accusation.
She shook her head at him.
Santiago rose to his feet, his ruby-encrusted dagger suddenly in his hand. “Name the bastard who would say this to you.”
“Well,” Endelle said. “Thank you for the warm gesture of loyalty but it isn’t necessary.” She nodded in some satisfaction. “Actually, the bastard is a she and she is sitting next to Marcus fondling his bicep.”
Havily blushed as she glanced down at her hand. Endelle was right. She had been playing with Marcus’s arm without even knowing it.
But it was the gasp among the warriors that made her pull away from him.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Endelle cried. “You know I suck at my job.”
That made my day :))

[☆.。.:*・°☆Love2Read♡HEAs☆.。.:*・°☆ {Anne} · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rated 4.3 Stars

[Lover of Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Burning Skies is the second book in the Guardian’s of Ascension series and boy this book packs a punch. I read the first book “Ascension” a handful of years ago and LOVED it and I am not sure why I never continued with the series but now I have. And now I know why I adored book one so much and how easily I fell in love with these winged vampire guardians and the humor and wit that is placed in these stories is simply phenomenal. I have to say I am loving the world-building and it’s even better in book two than from what I remember in book one. And honestly, I wasn’t that lost considering its been a few years since I was in this world. So you definitely can read these as stand a lones, although you would probably get more out of these books if you read them in order, but it’s not a HAVE TO—more out of your own personal preference.

In this book we get our main couple which is Marcus and Havily. Marcus left his warriors and his duty to fight in the war when his sister and children were killed and went down to the mortal earth realm and built a thriving capitalist empire. But now the leader of their kind wants him back no matter the cost even if she has to do some manipulation along the way. Havily is learning her way and her abilities are growing including being able to share dreams with Marcus. Marcus and Havily have a strong bond, a fated bond if only they will embrace it. But as the danger to them escalates, so does their passion for each other. But will they be able to embrace the bond or will it be rejected?

Burning Skies is such an incredible journey into this world of battle warriors and a dangerous enemy who is amassing his own power and people to fight for him. There is so much detail to this world-building that our delightful author Caris Roane has created for her readers. There is also not just the main story, but another story that leads up to book three where we are introduced to Parisma and Medichi. I was so delighted to see them in this story and see their story begin which only made me eager to pick up book three even faster. I really loved these winged angel vampires that this author has created in this world and there is quite a bit of intrigue, magical mystery and self-discovery that was so addicted to this reader. I honestly couldn’t get enough of this book and never wanted it to end.

The romance that builds between Marcus and Havily is a bit different though. Havily has no will to actually embrace the mating bond with Marcus. At first, she views him as a coward for abandoning his people in their hour of need but it does take a while for Marcus to give her the full truth. Marcus is hiding from the pain and torment of losing his sister and blames Kerrick (hero of the first book Ascension) who was his brother in law. There is quite a bit of character growth that we see arise in Marcus. Not just learning his way with Havily but also discovering who he is meant to be and to embrace the path he is headed towards which is one I NEVER saw coming but boy this author does like to leave some surprises at the end. From beginning to end this story mystifies and magnifies the reader in such a harmonious and captivating manner that will delight you in ways you never imagined. I am thrilled to see what she has in store for me next on this journey of the Guardians of Ascension!! THRILLING TO THE CORE IN EVERY WAY!

[Yui · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea of this series is very entertaining with it's simpleness and familiarity. It isn't really a copy cat per se but you can see where the ideas were fetch piece by piece to create a unique new world. I keep thinking why the process of Ascension is familiar to me though I swear I have never read a book with a world building like this and it just came to me that it reminds me of Video games. Specifically, Multi-online players RPG games where you start as a weak character barely able to finish of little bugs then with a little patience and hard work you level up and a new world opens up with more challenges and more powers to acquire. This novel really is very diverting and fun like the online games but It feels too simplified for a very complex world. The writing is a little brusque for my liking. The sex scenes too distracted to enjoy. I could love this world like a crazy fan and maybe build a website or two to babble about it's greatness with other readers. I can see myself doing all this (so not me) if only there's a little more complexity not in the world building but in the events and characters that made up this world. A little more softness in the dialogues and a little restraint in using the hard-sell ones? Most of the characters swears exactly the same (Who does this?) Maybe fewer meaningless boinking and more insight on the political avenue would make a hell of a difference. I mean the number of times and pages given to a casual, purely hormone driven sex scenes makes the most important sex ritual seem dull and redundant when the scene finally unfolds.

The characters. What is not to love with these hard assed powerful, drop dead gorgeous, witty and snarky characters? All seem to have very deep complex characteristics but despite the effort the writer gives to tell all their tragic pasts I can't get it. You feel as if you ought to applaud and love them. Their pains are just a hair away from yours to feel but can't quite grasp it.

Overall, I think this series is a great hunting and reading experience for would be exceptional writers. Lots of ideas to pick up that just needs a little fine tuning to turn to a best seller. One thing that this novel did to me though is to make me want to re-read the BDB by J.R. Ward. I'm up on my yearly reading challenge so I might just do so. ^-^

[Barbara ★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the first one better. This one was too repetitive making it overly long. I thought I would scream if I read Warrior Marcus one more time. Geez the dudes name is Marcus NOT Warrior Marcus. It was just weird that the heroine called him WM all the damn time. And what with the repetition of what each soul mate smells like - fennel-this, honeysuckle-that, sage, etc. Annoying.

[Pepito · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing installment in the series, can't wait for the next one to come out. Review to come together, I'm just not inspired at all today, just wanna sleep,LOL.

[Lady Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG AMAZING!!!
new favorite series!!!!

[Kajol · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.7 stars!

Hmmm.

This book- oh no let me rephrase this- this series, till now, has me convinced that these books belong to a paranormal contemporary romance genre of sorts. It's a little tricky, pinning down genres, but the setting for each book seems to involve a world of fantasy, full of paranormal beings with a contemporary romance storyline closing the whole deal.

A PNR- replete with talks of dimensions and vampires with wings, supernatural powers, wars and nether-space and so forth- although heavier still, on the romance, you can say.

So, as is the case with contemporary romance series(if you focus on that part of this series), I've discovered this to be a fun, engaging and entertaining read. Relaxing too, actually if you don't count the infrequent adrenaline rush because of some frenzied passionate scenes, ahem.

In these situations when the romance is a little heavy on the paranormal storyline, the problem arises when a particular character's personality would be kind-of okay to deal with if the book were a true contemporary romance- with some sort of fluffy, we've-seen-this-before-but-it-never-fails plot- but is actually hard to get over since this isn't. This isn't a contemporary romance. This is a PNR, so no matter the feel of the narrative, some things just have to be laid down right.

Havily Morgan is a nice heroine. I didn't find her exceptionally remarkable or bad, and I enjoyed reading her story. She was helpful and courageous when need be.. Creative and easy to like. The thing that I actually didn't like though, was how totally stupid and whiny she could be at times. Now, I'll admit freely that I wouldn't have found her silly if this were a contemporary romance, but I did because this is a PNR and she's a fucking vampire with wings and fangs and enhanced senses, all for real, and apparently possessed Third Earth powers, like access to the darkening and shit. So, excuse me while I scoff and bitch the heck about her kidnapping and unreasonable torture. I mean, get your act together for fuck's sake and remember to not faint into a 'bout of fucking vapors the next time an evil minion pops over your head with a bomb.

Now, I know this is not a sympathetic take, but a girl needs her actions and moments of badasssery to read about.

Marcus was okay too. I liked him, blah blah, blah, billionaire on mortal earth, sexy bod, kilt-wearing warrior with sometimes neanderthal tendencies- oh we've been here before, and done it too.

I loved how the book ended. It actually added the point seven to the 3-stars I gave this book. Next is Medichi's novel, and God knows how I've been looking forward to reading his tale.

Anyway driving back to the point at hand, what I mean to say is that this is a good book. I really relished the time I spent on it and have no regrets about picking this series up.
But I'd like to warn the hardcore UF/PNR fans, that this isn't one of those action packed novels we go fangirling about. Or, well, I didn't. This series has action, no problem, but it leans more towards the romance part of the genre and gives it that comfy, you'll-enjoy-reading-me-even-though-i'm-cheesy feel.

I don't make much sense, do I?

Fuck.

I won't be writing reviews for the other books in the series unless they are exceptionally good and I just have to say something about it or if they are horrendously bad, that I just have to bitch about it. It is really hard for me sometimes to drag my ass away from reads such as this- comfy, entertaining if not great, but still managing to make you like 'em novels- to write a review. Either way, I'm going to continue reading. So, Happy Reading, y'all!

[Vanessa theJeepDiva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marcus and Havily have a tense romance. Havily has a serious hate-on for the former warrior who she sees as a deserter. She does not want to be attracted to him. Havily feels that her body’s desire for Marcus is a betrayal. She looks at the other warriors and sees men that are worthy of love, affection, and devotion of a woman. She does not see Marcus as a man of worth. Havily gets the added stress of her job with Endelle (who thinks that Havily is the biggest disappointment ever ascended and states this fact constantly) while dealing with the feelings that the breh-hedden has dropped into her lap.

Marcus comes with his own baggage. He has experienced much loss in his four thousand years. He knows that his warrior status has been the cause of some of it. He left Second because he feels that his ascended position has been the cause of some of that loss. Letting someone in again is setting up the path to more loss. Marcus has been assigned to guard her by Endelle. He can’t not be around her. He has to stay with her to protect her. The more he is around her the more he finds out that there is so much more to her than he originally thought.

I believe that at least a quarter of Burning Skies was given to Parisa and Medichi. They have the next book, Wings of Fire. While I am very interested in what is going on between these two characters, I could have waited to get it in the form of their book. I can tell they are going to have an amazing story to tell, half of it has been told already it seems. The breh-hedden has fully gripped them and they are close to combusting.

I love Endelle, I loathe Endelle. She is such a disaster. She is perfection. There is just something about her character that I really want to hate and then in the next instant I want her to be my BFF and wingman. She is awesome and she is a total nightmare completely lacking people skills. Her fashion sense would send any animal lover into cardiac arrest. I just love the catastrophe that is Endelle.

I am still bothered by the over the top amount of time that god**n is used. I’m fine with profanity. These guys are millennia old hardened warriors. I expect the language to often be colorful. GD has always bothered me though and that profane term was once again overly used with this installment of the World of Ascension series.

I had a couple of big annoyances. The scenting, I understand it is a key point with the breh-hedden. Marcus and Havily calling each other by their scent, shouting the scent in the throes of ecstasy, the repetitive reminder about who smelled what passed redundant at the halfway point. The other issue that had me shaking my head was that a small progress in the warriors favor was made with another characters death. I was shocked at who struck the killing blow. This was Marcus and Havily’s book. To see this character take that victory was odd.

[Marsha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really had hopes that this would be an improvement over the first novel but that just really isn't the case. Everything that was wrong with the first novel: excessive repetition, too long for the actual content and irritatingly excessive references to scents (honeysuckle and fennel this time) is wrong with this one as well. In fact, the issue with the arousing scents is quite possibly more irritating this time around because the author actually had the characters say the words in the middle of a love scene as if they were endearments. It's just so cheesy. And there were certainly many love scenes, probably more than were needed.

Whenever authors repeat an idea(the scents) so well established as often as as Roane does here, I feel the author is either forgetful or thinks her audience is too stupid to have gotten the idea the first ten times. At a certain point I began to wonder if some of this was intended as a parody of other similar romances.

It really is a shame the writing is weak because, conceptually, this is actually good. I also wish the author had dealt with the impossibly coincidental occurrences of the Brehedden with at least hint in this installment.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since I read the first book….a week ago?….I fell in love with this series. A bunch of hot guys, well-built, fighters, falling in love with women. It’s the kind of testosterone rush that I find at hockey games…kind of hot! Who am I kidding? It’s really friggin’ hot! Of course, along with all that testosterone and muscle, is a sweet romantic love that makes you sigh in longing.

The only downside of this book is the fact that during this “breh-hedden”, the way that the mates recognise each other, is through a signature scent. While I applaud the author for using another sense to enhance the imagination of her readers, I can’t smell. Never have had a sense of smell, its called Anosmia, and if you really want to know more about it you can find a link here all about it (http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sg...). So reading that someone smells of fennel, or cardamom, or lavender, does nothing for me. It doesn’t help me visualise it any better, or sink into the story any deeper. BUT, for someone who may have a sense of smell, this could very well enhance the storylines of the series.

Smell or not, I’m still in love with the series.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving this series as much as I love Larissa Ione's Demonica series and Gena Showalter's Lords of the Underworld series. It's got a good, meaty storyline as well as a really good romantic storyline. The characters are really SO likeable - and the NOT likeable characters are REALLY NOT likeable! (Thank goodness we got rid of one of them in this book!!) You also really feel the connection, love and intensity between the characters. LOVE IT! AND Caris really does a nice job of setting up the next story - and TOTALLY TOTALLY leaves you hanging in a REALLY MEAN way at the end - GRRR! Thankfully the next book is out in just a month or so. As a side note, my heart BLEEDS for Luken and hope that I don't have to wait too long to get his story....the next story is about Medichi and Parisa (who I have to say is a really cheesy name - really? Parisa Lovejoy??! I am hoping that it is tied to her purpose and not just her porn star name! LOL!) Oh, and this cover doesn't bother me as much as the first one, so that makes me happy!

[Seena Seena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lady Vale I curse you and also adore you for recommending me this series to read!

This was pure friken articulate genius!

I can not wait to see where this series leads us, what journeys we will take with the warriors and I CAN.NOT.WAIT. for the Breh to capture Endelle!

With the 1st book I had Kerrick as my favorite warrior now after this one Marcus is my favorite, but I am having a vision that in the future .....oh say about the month of August (btw let me tell you too long of a wait) that Medichi will be my favorite ..... then another vision for the month of January who ever the book is about will be my favorite!!!

This series is a MUST READ!!!!

[Cassie Leach · Rating 2 out of 5]

Am I the ONLY one that feels like this is a B-rated, low end porno?? I mean...COME ON!!! The conversations between the characters feel SO forced that I can't even make myself finish it. I felt the same way with the first book in the series but had hopes that it would get better....it didn't. Pretty much every time someone said something I would say to myself, "Who would say that???" Horrible. Well, not the worst series I've ever read (cough BAST cough) but certainly up there. Anyone who puts this series in with the likes of Showalter or Ward, needs to have their head examined.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still seems like a knock off of the Brothers - a character gets kidnapped at the end by the bad guys just like Bella. And still saying that they don't think they can love again because of all their past losses. *sigh*

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantabulous!

[MISS VAIN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do I dare say I loved this book more than the first?!! It was even better. Loved Marcus and Havily;)

I will write review later today!!

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intense emotionally charged story with amazing characters and attention to detail. I think I have a new favorite author!

[Gia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not used to this sort of writing style previously but I have to say once I kept going it got so much better. The world idea is unique and I love it. The characters are a little clique as they have issues, their attracted to each other but try to stop themselves and then things work out. However I like the strong female leads, I love that the author really enforces consent in the book but in a natural way. The juicy parts are very satisfying. I mean I am chain reading these books, I am up to #4 and loving it. Worth a read if you like strong male and female leads. Men that protect and nurture their mates, as do the women!

[TBA66 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying this series. Not sure why the first book took me so long to read, but this one went much more quickly. I like all the characters, and their stories are fun to read. Paranormal romantic-suspense with lots of action and plenty of passion.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My only issue with this book is the same as the last one: the overuse of “cried”. It makes it sound as though every character is constantly shrieking no matter what the situation, which gets irritating. But outside of that, absolutely loved it and already starting the next one!

[Jacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

a lot better than the first one I enjoy getting to know the characters

[Myra Wray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again I have found a good book in this story. I found it hard to put it down until the end.

[amanda burdick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Onto the next one

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rated 3.5

[Books A-Brewin' · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased this book for the paranormal romance book club I am currently a member of. We decided we would read this series and ultimately have a group powwow about it afterwards with yummy food and warm conversation. I normally buy the book well in advance to make sure I get it read quickly, but for some reason I didn't get around to buying it until very close to the time of the book club meeting. I hope in my haste I didn't loose some of the book's appeal in the process.

Marcus was mentioned in the first book in the series Ascension. He was a deserter who had retired his warrior's sword and gone to live in Mortal Earth for two hundred years before he was called back to action to save and protect Alison. It was then that he first laid eyes on Havily. From the moment his eyes fell on her, he wanted her. He needed her and any male that came within spitting distance was a thorn in Marcus's side that he needed to pluck out and beat on a bit. After an encounter that left Marcus mad with the desire to make Havily his and a subsequent beat down by his Warrior brothers, he returned to Mortal Earth in hopes of forgetting the woman who called to his every instinct. Only he was not finished with Havily, he starts having strong sexual dreams about her where she comes to him, scantily clad, and attempts to seal the bond he left wide open when he left. Marcus enjoys the fantasies and the distance between the two of them, until Havily is in danger and he drops everything to run to her side. It is there where he realizes that fighting their connection is impossible. She is his, and he will have her.

Havily was a mouse of a vampire when first introduced. She had big plans for the future but no one to listen to her. That was until Alison came onto the scene and Havily became her Liason Officer. Havily soon starts enacting some of her plans for the administration of Second Earth, but it's Marcus who really enthralls her thoughts. She too has been having the fantasies in which she goes to him as if a moth to a flame. She fights it with every fiber of her being. He's a deserter. He abandoned his people. She wants nothing to do with someone so cowardly. Or so she tells herself. After she is attacked she realizes that she needs Marcus like she needs air. When he dashes to her side as if any other reaction would be unlike him, she starts to wonder if she had him figured all wrong. Maybe he wasn't a coward, maybe he was a good man. HER good man.

As with the first novel, I loved this book. There were a few things I didn't much care for such as the redundancy of some of the detail work in the writing. A lot of what is mentioned is basically going over what happened in the first book. These books are not books you should read out of order. They go hand-in-hand together, so the author repeating everything just got a little tedious. Some of Roane's favorite phrases used throughout the book were "Whatever" and "Oh, shit". They seemed to be the punctuation to a long thought process for her characters. They have an internal monologue and seal the thought with one of those two phrases. Not exactly horrible, but again, tedious.

Despite the redundancy from time to time, I thoroughly enjoyed the second installment in the Guardians of Ascension series. I loved that she went back and referenced a lot of the characters from the previous book. We get to watch Alison and Kerrick's romance a bit longer and that is always one of my favorite parts of an ongoing series. I also like that she tends to start leading up to the next book in the series by spurring the romance between two other characters in the middle of the main character's romance. It gives you a book and a half detailed story line for two characters.

Burning Skies is the whirlwind sequel to an already astounding series. The Guardians of Ascension series reads like an alternative dimension to J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood and is steadily becoming another must read series just like Ward's.