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Under
Realm Assassins
Book 2
Amanda
J. Greene
Genre:
Paranormal Romance
Release Date: May 26, 2015
ASIN: B00Y9JE3DS
Number
of pages:
117
Word
Count:
33,500
Cover
Artist:
Kim Killion
Goodreads Rating: 4.40
My Rating: 4.5
Book Description:
A year after the tragic death of his
close friend and fellow assassin, Ethan Halstead is ready to take up his sniper
rifle once more. But his first assignment is nothing he ever expected. Ethan
must hunt and retrieve a beautiful, spirited, alluring werewolf.
Knowing no other way to escape an
arranged marriage, Fraya flees from her pack. As she contemplates slipping
across the border and heading to South America, she is captured by a
dangerously seductive vampire who plans on escorting her back to her family.
Even as Fraya vows to make Ethan's mission as difficult as possible, she can't
resist the riotous desire he sparks within her.
But Ethan isn't the only predator that
peruses Fraya. A powerful rival pack's alpha wants to make her his mate. Will
Ethan be able to keep Fraya safe and return her to her pack? Or will he
surrender to temptation and claim Fraya as his own?
My Take
on the Book:
Ethan is both a pain in the ass and a swoon worthy hero and Fraya is headstrong and exasperating… but even so, I love them! I literally could not get enough of this book or their sizzling hot chemistry. I especially liked the details put into each character’s backstory and how they seem to be connected.
My only really peeve about this read is what seems to be the norm for this genre as of late; it was a relatively fast read and not that long of a story. I was able to finish it within a few hours and jump right into another book I have scheduled for a review.
4.5 Quills
I for one am really looking
forward to reading more from this author, starting with book 1 of this series,
A Bewitching Christmas. I also got a massive kick outta Ethan’s ringtone seeing
as how it made a debut as my ringtone many years ago when I was feeling nostalgic.
Buy the Book Here:
Excerpt from the book
Fraya dodged cars, ignoring their blaring horns. She sped through the abandoned strip mall. Puddles splashed beneath her feet, rain stung her cheeks and blurred her vision. Three… four… five blocks. Terror fueled her. She had to get away. Far away. Now.
God, she had been stupid. She had sensed an ominous, dangerous presence lurking in the shadows for days. Yeah. Stupid. An alpha. Shit. If the werewolf caught her… If he were of a rival pack… She couldn’t think about that. She had to escape the alpha and the smoking hot stranger who had insisted she go with him to lord knew where.
Turning a corner, she sprinted across an empty lot to a vacant park. She slipped past deserted swaying swings. Lighting cracked and thunder shook the ground beneath her feet.
Fraya heard a vicious growl behind her. Her heart painfully pounded against her ribs as she ran faster. She had just reached a clear soccer field when she heard him lunge for her. Fraya swallowed a scream as they crashed to the ground.
He rolled her to her back. Bracing his hands on either side of her head, he held his chest away from her, but trapped her legs with his thighs. He overwhelmed her with his size and power. Strength emanated from him. His once playful green gaze was now cold and sharp. Shadows contorted his handsome face and his fangs… Her breath stilled in her lungs. Her heart stuttered. Pure terror struck her. Vampire!
“Little wolf,” he rasped. “Never run from one such as me.”
Holy shit.
The male pinning her down was a vampire. Amongst the Under Realm Society, vampires were believed to be creatures of folklore. Her mother had told her stories of the blood drinkers – secret assassins created by and for the Under Realm Syndicate. They were thought to be unimaginably strong, fast, lethal, cold blooded, indestructible killing machines.
Did the Fates hate her? Had she done something terribly wrong in a previous life? Fraya had thought her world was falling apart, now she realized it was burning and crashing down around her.
The vampire dipped his head down, burying his face in the hollow of her neck. She could feel his cool breath on her throat and, God help her, excitement rushed through her. Closing her eyes, she held her breath, waiting for him to strike. Her heart skipped as she thought about his fangs penetrating her jugular, his lips pressed tightly against her neck as he greedily drained her.
Seconds turned into minutes, his large frame shielding her from the rain. He didn’t touch her. He held his body a fraction of an inch above her, his elbows bent in perfect ninety-degree angles, supporting him. He effortlessly held the position as he took in her scent.
Fraya opened her eyes. Gathering her courage to speak, she nervously licked her lips. The urge to wrap her legs around his hips, grip his shoulders, and pull him against her was maddening. Her body grew hot and her shirt felt tight across her breasts. God, the anticipation was devastating. No! The fear was devastating. She was overcome by terror not lust.
“A−are you going to bite me?” she asked, her voice trembled.
The mysterious vampire brushed his lips over her pulse. The caress was so light she wondered if she had imagined the kiss. Need flooded her, drowning any sense of self-preservation. Dangerous. He was dangerous and so was the alpha. She shook her head, trying to clear her mind of the thick haze of lust.
She felt his lips brush her ear as he said, “Run from me again and I will sink my fangs into your pretty little neck.”
Would his bite bring agonizing pain or blissful euphoria?
He took in one last deep breath, inhaling her scent, before he pushed himself back. He remained on his knees, keeping her trapped beneath him. Their gazes met as lightning splintered the heavens. Fraya was struck speechless as a blistering curse fell from his lips. His piercing green eyes burned with ravenous desire. She knew his gaze mirrored her own. She wanted him. The animal inside her howled, demanding she surrender to this male. She shifted beneath him, barely resisting the urge to arch her back and roll her hips in invitation.
What was happening to her? She was losing her mind. Yes, that must be it. She had been on the run. The constant stress, lack of sleep, and ever-present hunger must be getting to her.
“Why did you chase me?”
“Why did you run from me?” he countered.
Fraya tried to sit up, but he gently pushed her back down. With an irritated sigh she answered, “I wasn’t running from you in particular. I was running from the alpha.”
“Stick with me and you needn’t worry about the alpha.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Really?”
He nodded.
She was skeptical. “Why should I trust you?”
“You can run as far and as fast as you like, but the alpha will eventually track you down. An unmated pureblood female werewolf without her pack,” he shook his head, “sweetheart, you’re fair game.”
Fraya couldn’t argue against that, but she wasn’t in the market for a bodyguard. She needed to travel light and fast. She needed to get to Chile like yesterday and he would just slow her down.
“Thanks for the offer, but I’ll take my chances.”
With a shrug of his large shoulders, he stood. He held out his hand, offering to help her to her feet. She hesitated, staring at his out stretched hand for a moment before she took it. The chilled bite of metal locked around her wrist.
Rage swept through like an inferno. Her lips pulled back, baring her own set of fangs. Her wolf was rising.
“Stay calm,” he said, his voice smooth and way too even.
“What the hell are you doing?” she snarled.
“I politely offered you my protection, but you didn’t want it. Now, I really must insist.”
Fraya’s vision began to turn red. How dare this stranger restrain her? She should rip his throat with her teeth. “Who are you?”
He shook his head. “My name isn’t important, but I’ll be the vampire escorting you home.”
Dread twisted her stomach, forcing bile to rise in her throat. “No. You can’t. I won’t go back!” She fought against the cuff, using all of her strength, but unlike normal steel, the bracelet held true. “Are you working for my father?”
He clasped the other band around his own wrist, binding them together. “I work for no individual man.”
She grabbed his arm. Panic heightened her voice, “I’ll double whatever my father is paying you. I can’t go back. You don’t understand−”
The wind whipped around them, yet he could still smell her fear. With a frown he asked, “You would rather test your luck against the alpha than return home?”
“Please, I can’t go back,” she begged. “I will triple your pay.”
He raised a brow. “Triple?”
“Yes!”
He captured her cuffed wrist and pulled her hard against him. Desire crashed over her, robbing her of breath. “Money doesn’t interest me.”
Oh, God. Her pulse kicked up, her heart pounded so fast she could hear it. “What does interest you?”
His alluring lips slowly lifted into a charming smile, which was made sexy by his long lethal fangs. “You’re coming with me, little wolf.”
God, she had been stupid. She had sensed an ominous, dangerous presence lurking in the shadows for days. Yeah. Stupid. An alpha. Shit. If the werewolf caught her… If he were of a rival pack… She couldn’t think about that. She had to escape the alpha and the smoking hot stranger who had insisted she go with him to lord knew where.
Turning a corner, she sprinted across an empty lot to a vacant park. She slipped past deserted swaying swings. Lighting cracked and thunder shook the ground beneath her feet.
Fraya heard a vicious growl behind her. Her heart painfully pounded against her ribs as she ran faster. She had just reached a clear soccer field when she heard him lunge for her. Fraya swallowed a scream as they crashed to the ground.
He rolled her to her back. Bracing his hands on either side of her head, he held his chest away from her, but trapped her legs with his thighs. He overwhelmed her with his size and power. Strength emanated from him. His once playful green gaze was now cold and sharp. Shadows contorted his handsome face and his fangs… Her breath stilled in her lungs. Her heart stuttered. Pure terror struck her. Vampire!
“Little wolf,” he rasped. “Never run from one such as me.”
Holy shit.
The male pinning her down was a vampire. Amongst the Under Realm Society, vampires were believed to be creatures of folklore. Her mother had told her stories of the blood drinkers – secret assassins created by and for the Under Realm Syndicate. They were thought to be unimaginably strong, fast, lethal, cold blooded, indestructible killing machines.
Did the Fates hate her? Had she done something terribly wrong in a previous life? Fraya had thought her world was falling apart, now she realized it was burning and crashing down around her.
The vampire dipped his head down, burying his face in the hollow of her neck. She could feel his cool breath on her throat and, God help her, excitement rushed through her. Closing her eyes, she held her breath, waiting for him to strike. Her heart skipped as she thought about his fangs penetrating her jugular, his lips pressed tightly against her neck as he greedily drained her.
Seconds turned into minutes, his large frame shielding her from the rain. He didn’t touch her. He held his body a fraction of an inch above her, his elbows bent in perfect ninety-degree angles, supporting him. He effortlessly held the position as he took in her scent.
Fraya opened her eyes. Gathering her courage to speak, she nervously licked her lips. The urge to wrap her legs around his hips, grip his shoulders, and pull him against her was maddening. Her body grew hot and her shirt felt tight across her breasts. God, the anticipation was devastating. No! The fear was devastating. She was overcome by terror not lust.
“A−are you going to bite me?” she asked, her voice trembled.
The mysterious vampire brushed his lips over her pulse. The caress was so light she wondered if she had imagined the kiss. Need flooded her, drowning any sense of self-preservation. Dangerous. He was dangerous and so was the alpha. She shook her head, trying to clear her mind of the thick haze of lust.
She felt his lips brush her ear as he said, “Run from me again and I will sink my fangs into your pretty little neck.”
Would his bite bring agonizing pain or blissful euphoria?
He took in one last deep breath, inhaling her scent, before he pushed himself back. He remained on his knees, keeping her trapped beneath him. Their gazes met as lightning splintered the heavens. Fraya was struck speechless as a blistering curse fell from his lips. His piercing green eyes burned with ravenous desire. She knew his gaze mirrored her own. She wanted him. The animal inside her howled, demanding she surrender to this male. She shifted beneath him, barely resisting the urge to arch her back and roll her hips in invitation.
What was happening to her? She was losing her mind. Yes, that must be it. She had been on the run. The constant stress, lack of sleep, and ever-present hunger must be getting to her.
“Why did you chase me?”
“Why did you run from me?” he countered.
Fraya tried to sit up, but he gently pushed her back down. With an irritated sigh she answered, “I wasn’t running from you in particular. I was running from the alpha.”
“Stick with me and you needn’t worry about the alpha.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Really?”
He nodded.
She was skeptical. “Why should I trust you?”
“You can run as far and as fast as you like, but the alpha will eventually track you down. An unmated pureblood female werewolf without her pack,” he shook his head, “sweetheart, you’re fair game.”
Fraya couldn’t argue against that, but she wasn’t in the market for a bodyguard. She needed to travel light and fast. She needed to get to Chile like yesterday and he would just slow her down.
“Thanks for the offer, but I’ll take my chances.”
With a shrug of his large shoulders, he stood. He held out his hand, offering to help her to her feet. She hesitated, staring at his out stretched hand for a moment before she took it. The chilled bite of metal locked around her wrist.
Rage swept through like an inferno. Her lips pulled back, baring her own set of fangs. Her wolf was rising.
“Stay calm,” he said, his voice smooth and way too even.
“What the hell are you doing?” she snarled.
“I politely offered you my protection, but you didn’t want it. Now, I really must insist.”
Fraya’s vision began to turn red. How dare this stranger restrain her? She should rip his throat with her teeth. “Who are you?”
He shook his head. “My name isn’t important, but I’ll be the vampire escorting you home.”
Dread twisted her stomach, forcing bile to rise in her throat. “No. You can’t. I won’t go back!” She fought against the cuff, using all of her strength, but unlike normal steel, the bracelet held true. “Are you working for my father?”
He clasped the other band around his own wrist, binding them together. “I work for no individual man.”
She grabbed his arm. Panic heightened her voice, “I’ll double whatever my father is paying you. I can’t go back. You don’t understand−”
The wind whipped around them, yet he could still smell her fear. With a frown he asked, “You would rather test your luck against the alpha than return home?”
“Please, I can’t go back,” she begged. “I will triple your pay.”
He raised a brow. “Triple?”
“Yes!”
He captured her cuffed wrist and pulled her hard against him. Desire crashed over her, robbing her of breath. “Money doesn’t interest me.”
Oh, God. Her pulse kicked up, her heart pounded so fast she could hear it. “What does interest you?”
His alluring lips slowly lifted into a charming smile, which was made sexy by his long lethal fangs. “You’re coming with me, little wolf.”
About The Author
Amanda J. Greene is a paranormal romance author. When she is not writing, she can be found playing the role of a university student who also works full time. She lives in Southern California with her very supportive husband and their two dogs. Doing all the above and being a military wife is not easy, but rewarding! Of course, she accomplishes everything with a strong cup of coffee in her hand.
Amanda is also an associate reviewer on The Book Nympho blog.
Amanda J. Greene is a paranormal romance author. When she is not writing, she can be found playing the role of a university student who also works full time. She lives in Southern California with her very supportive husband and their two dogs. Doing all the above and being a military wife is not easy, but rewarding! Of course, she accomplishes everything with a strong cup of coffee in her hand.
Amanda is also an associate reviewer on The Book Nympho blog.
Connect
with Amanda:
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“I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher for my honest opinion. I was in no way compensated for this review and all opinions are expressly my own”
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