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Book CoverVeena’s review of Dark Alpha’s Lover (Reaper, Book 4) by Donna Grant
Paranormal Romance published by St. Martin’s Press 18 Apr 17

This book brings us on an intersecting path with the Dragon Kings.  It leaves us with more questions than answers as death’s powers are waning and unlikely alliances are being struck.  What will come next? Will Eoghan, the reaper who was sucked into a magic whirlwind, be found in one piece? What is Rhi’s overall role in the series? It appears that her guardian reaper is in love with her, while she’s having an affair with her old companion now seeking the Dark Fae throne and apparently still in love with her mystery dragon king lover. The story appears to be perking up and getting interesting again. Fintan is the most emotionless of the current band of reapers. The loss of a fellow reaper has affected him and he’s determined to do what he can to corner Bran and get retribution. He’s more than willing to use Catriona Hayes to get to Bran, until he actual meets and talks to her. Suddenly long-frozen emotions begin to surface. He finds himself telling her his back story and all about the reapers, even though it is forbidden. I applaud Ms. Grant’s imagination, since his back story is so totally not something I could have expected.

Catriona turns out to be a very resourceful young woman. Believing herself the non-magical sibling in her family, she forges forward even as all her family are killed, except for her grandfather. She’s got plenty of courage and has no problems first negotiating with Fintan to be the bait for Bran and then stepping in and protecting Fintan in his battle with Bran’s followers.

The battle raises the first question about her abilities. She’s able to call the magical blade that Fintan gifted her with, a thought when she’s in need of it.  Is this ability, in the hour of need, magic?  After all the Fae visited the Hayes family multiple times and left her siblings with magical abilities, how could Catriona not have received any?  You’ll have to read the book to find out more.

In the meantime, it appears Death is weakening just as Bran is growing stronger. There’s still a mystery with regard to how Bran is able to do this and continue to do this.  Fintan and the reapers are forming unlikely alliances in their battle to find their lost companion, protect the humans, and punish the Fae that need punishing.  For a while I was a bit blasé about this series, but I’m now sitting up and taking notice to see what’s going to come next.

Grade: B

Summary:

There is no escaping a Reaper. I am an elite assassin, part of a brotherhood that only answers to Death. And when Death says your time is up, I am coming for you…

I answer to no one but Death. I am impenetrable, impervious, immortal. I exist to do Death’s bidding and no one–not Reaper nor human nor Fae–can stand in my way. Except for the bewitching half-Fae, Catriona. She swears the magic in her family passed her by, but I know better. This woman is strong. This woman is powerful. And when her abilities surge forth, no one will be able to stop the Dark Fae from coming for her. Except for me. I want to keep her close. I want to keep her safe. I want lose myself to her, again and again…

No excerpt available.