Werewolves
Be Damned
Magic and Mayhem, Book One
Magic and Mayhem, Book One
Stacey
Kennedy
Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Date of Publication: April 15, 2013
ISBN: 9781622661046
ASIN: B00CBFZVU6
Number of pages: 267
Book Description:
Nexi Jones—part witch, part guardian, and
wannabe kick-ass warrior—can’t throw a punch or conjure the simplest magic. But
that doesn’t stop her from hunting the werewolves who slaughtered her human
family. She’ll have her revenge, but only if Kyden, the elite guardian, would
get the hell out of her way.Kyden can’t decide if Nexi wants to get herself killed or if she just has no clue what she’s doing. But her father made it clear: keep Nexi safe…or else. Of course, the more Nexi runs toward revenge, the more she needs Kyden’s aid, and as she grows into her power and confidence, so does his desire to protect her. The only problem? She’d rather he dropped dead.
But when a vampire paints a bull’s-eye on Nexi’s back, she’s hard-pressed to deny Kyden and the help he’s offering. Even if it means getting her revenge will be a little bit harder. At least it will still be as sweet.
Excerpt
I’ve found you, fur ball.Nexi peered from behind the large oak tree and spotted the small log cabin nestled in the thick forest. The porch light cast a warm glow into the night. Fog settled over the lush grass, and the night was dark, eerie.
Stepping away from her hiding place behind the tree, she strode forward and gripped the dagger tightly in her hand. Keeping the silver blade pointed outward, she climbed the cabin’s porch steps, taking each one slowly to avoid detection.
Once she arrived at the front door, she wrapped her hand around the door handle. Rich hunger for revenge burned in her veins and made her intent on one thing: to slaughter the werewolf who escaped the night of her parents’ murder. Not caring what awaited her, she stormed inside, dagger pointed, ready to kill.
The simple cabin had two large brown couches near a wood-burning stove, a kitchenette behind the living room, and a quilt-covered bed resting in the back. And that was it; there were no other rooms to investigate. No secret hiding places she could see.
No damned werewolf.
She cursed, shut the front door behind her, then trotted down the steps to return to her hiding spot. On her way across the yard, she glanced at the space to the right of the tree, which looked much like a heat wave, indicating that the portal to the Otherworld remained.
In some places around the world—or the Earthworld, as supernaturals had called it—there were permanent portals to the supernatural realm. This portal had only appeared because Nexi had travelled to this cabin from the Otherworld. Once she passed through the portal again, the gateway would vanish.
Magic had its perks. Quick travel was one of them.
Nexi shook her head at how normal all this magical stuff seemed now. Just over a month ago she’d never believed in anything that went bump in the night. Now she knew all those things existed, and in fact, she was one of them.
To her horror, she had learned that her birth mother, Tillie, had been murdered by a power-hungry vampire, Lazarus. All those years ago, her birth father, Drake, had protectively decided to block Nexi’s supernatural abilities. He had planned for her to live and die as a mortal. Now with her return to the Otherworld and the removal of the block on her true identity, there was no going back.
She was no longer plain, human, Nexi Jones.
She was Nexi Jones, part guardian, part witch.
Looking away from the portal and to her hiding spot until the werewolf returned, she hurried her steps. She wasn’t ready to return to the Otherworld yet. Not until she had the werewolf’s head as her wall ornament would she dare go home.
Just as she neared the tree, a woodsy scent that had nothing to do with the forest mixed with the citrusy aroma of aftershave. A blink of an eye later, the dagger she held was now at her throat, a hard body closed in on her back.
“You smelled lovely when you arrived.” The low voice by her ear held a faint English accent. “But I never imagined you’d be so pretty.”
The blade pressed into her skin, not drawing blood, but implying that if the werewolf chose, she’d be destined for the grave. “I’m…”
“Going to explain yourself.” He lowered the dagger, took hold of her arm, and jerked her forward.
In a few short strides, the werewolf tossed her through the threshold of the cabin, and slammed the door behind them. He sauntered to the couch, sat down, and regarded her. “Now then, darlin’.” His olive skin was stunningly flawless, and his chocolate-colored hair was spiked tall. “Why would a pretty lass like yourself plan to attack me?”
“Don’t move.” That charm wouldn’t fool her. “Stay right where you are.”
“My mouth is the only thing moving.” His slanted amber eyes raked over her. “Would you like me to stop talking?”
“No.” She hesitated then added, “Only your mouth can move. Nothing else. Tell me what you know.”
He gave her a long look. “I’d be glad to tell you anything you’d like, love.”
His kind face and soft voice wouldn’t trick her. He was a werewolf. She was certain, which was another oddity.
After the block on her supernatural abilities had been lifted, she could identify a supernatural creature as if knowing the difference between a brunette and a redhead. “Tell me why you killed my family.”
“That’s an interesting accusation.” He cocked his head, studying her with a frown. “But I think the more important question is who are you?”
She lifted her chin. “The lass who’s going to cut off your furry wolf balls.”
Review: Stacey Kennedy is one of my must buy authors. Werewolves Be Damned is the first book in the Magic & Mayhem series, and one that is hard to start, because you simply can't pull your eyes away from the cover.
OMG! I never knew a naked back could be so sexy!
This book was published before at The Willow several years back, so if you have read that one, you might want to pass on this book.
For me, this was an overall new experience and one I really enjoyed, even though I'm not usually a girl that goes for vampires, werewolves and witches.
Nexi wasn't my favorite of all Stacey's heroine's, she's a little more juvenile that I usually like for my characters, but that didn't stop me loving the smoking hot scenes with Kyden. If you are a fan of Stacey's writing, you know she also writes erotic fiction and that means all her sex scenes are super sexy! (And she does these scenes really well here. They are hot but not too erotic)
But back to the story. Nexie wasn't one of Stacey's heroine's that I easily liked, but this novel is kind of a New Adult/Paranormal/Urban Fantasy so Nexie being a bit naive and immature, but as the story progresses, she grows up. Plus, she really has good reasons to fly off the handle.
I felt the the story started out slow, but once Nexie was elevated to Guardian status and things went all CSI Otherworld everything moved along rather nicely.
Lazarus as the baddie could have been better used. By the time you know he's the bad guy, the story is half over. I wanted a little more action with him and Nexie and Kyden.
My favorite parts involved Drake, her birth father, especially the scene after Kyden spends the night. Totally awesome father/boyfriend stuff.
A must read for new fans of Stacey Kennedy and lovers of all things paranormal.
Rating: 4 flowers
About the
Author:
Stacey Kennedy is an urban fantasy lover
at heart, but she also enjoys losing herself in dark and sensual worlds. She
lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, who gave her a
happily-ever-after. Together, they have two small children who can always make
her smile, and who will never be allowed to read Mommy’s books. If she’s not
plugging away at a new story, you’ll find her camping, curling up with the
latest flick, or obsessing over Sons of Anarchy and Game of Thrones.
Website - http://www.staceykennedy.com/
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/AuthorStaceyKennedy
Facebook Fan Page - www.facebook.com/StaceyKennedyFanPage
Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/Stacey_Kennedy
Amazon Author Page –
http://www.amazon.com/Stacey-Kennedy/e/B004G9KR9A/
1 comments:
I haven't had a chance to read this author, but I adored the excerpt, it made me laugh at the end, I think I am going to have to get this one asap. He sure sounds sexy enough to knock my socks off. Great review! Hope you are having a great week. :) Happy Reading!
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