Sandy M’s review of Shadow Stalkers Trilogy by Sylvia Day
Erotic Romance published by Intermix 24 Sep 13
Sylvia Day is a on very short list of authors who can write a novella full of intense, erotic, and sexy lovemaking and not have me complain about it. Most erotic authors don’t work for me because it seems their books are full of sex, sex, sex with no plot. As I’m sure I’ve said here sometime in the past, I like a little story with my sex. While there’s definitely some great content to go with these three short stories by Ms. Day, it’s the intensely erotic nature of the characters’ sexcapades that I just love. The heroines are also a favorite part of the trilogy. They’re strong, independent, intelligent, go for what they want and get whatever it is. Love’em!
Jack and Rachel met when she married too his best friend, Steve. Jack has always been attracted to her, but he kept his thoughts and hands to himself, of course. Even after Steve was killed, leaving Rachel and her son, Riley, on their own. Oh, he drops by now and again to make sure all is okay with them, spends some time with Riley, who is also his godson. The boy is turning eight and Rachel has a party planned, which is where Jack is currently headed. Putting her off until morning – spending time alone with her before he can get his act together to be around her – Jack plans a lonely night in his hotel room.
But what a surprise he’s in for. First, she’s changed since the last time he saw her, and now Rachel wants Jack something fierce. She’s been alone too long and it’s time to do something about that. My favorite scene in the book is when Rachel comes to his door, knowing he’s alone and needing to see him, and ends up in his kitchen with a further surprise, and then some, for the man, who can’t breathe, think, or talk when she’s done. It does, however, get the man moving in all the right directions, despite his vow to stay out of her life and her bed, because she deserves someone better, someone who doesn’t take down the worst-of-the-worst criminals and terrorists as a U.S. Marshal.
Wowsa! These two hit the sheets and combusion has nothing on them. I like the turnaround, so to speak, with Rachel being the aggressor. The new woman in her knows she’d never have been able to handle Jack before, but after everything she’s been through, Jack is just what she needs and she goes for him. Poor Jack. He never stood a chance against this Rachel he’s not met before. He’s glad to take her on, though. And, boy, does he. This novella could have been a full-length novel and I wouldn’t have tired one bit of their lovemaking.
All that being said, is Rachel able to change Jack’s mind that he’s not the man for her? You never know. Good thing there’s not that many pages and it won’t take you long at to find out.
Grade: A
Summary:
It wasn’t her fault he was strung out from wanting her…
It was a cool night in Carmel but for Deputy US Marshal Jack Killigrew, thoughts of Rachel were generating a lot of heat and sweat. But having her could never be more than a fantasy. She was his best friend’s widow. He promised to look after her should anything happen. And there’s no way Jack could betray the memory of his buddy by making moves on the guy’s wife—no matter how long he’s desired her.
Rachel’s marriage had been perfect. So had her husband. But fate had a different plan. Now Rachel’s a single mother, resilient and independent. It’s time for her to move on and let a new man into her life. Jack’s been there for her in the past but now she needs him in a different way. All Rachel has to do in convince him that it’s right, that it’s the best thing for both of them, and that it’s about time…
Read an excerpt.
This novella literally begins with a bang. Explosions, to be exact. And it never slows down one whit.
Layla has come out of hiding to testify at a murder trial, but those who she’s going to put away with her testimony aren’t about to give up trying to kill her before she gets to court. It’s U.S. Marshal Brian Simmons who comes out of nowhere to pull her through the blast that hits as she leaves a safe house, so he knows her whereabouts have been compromised. He’s not about to let anyone else protect her, he’ll be the one to get her across the country in one piece. See, Brian and Layla have a history. She was only 18 when their relationship began, but she was the one to walk away…because of his job.
So now how ironic that it’s the man and the job that are the only things between her and nonexistence. Not knowing who to trust, they keep to themselves and make their way toward San Diego, having only a few days to get there before the trial begins. With the help of only a couple of fellow marshals, Brian takes on the most important mission of his life, and Layla sees firsthand how good Brian is at the job she condemned him for when it had been too much years ago. She trusts him implicitly, taking instruction as needed, and not getting in the way as happens with a lot of heroines, who drive me crazy when they think they can take care of themselves. Please. They end up making a situation worse, so it’s nice to see some brains at work in Layla.
Along the way, they get to know one another all over again, learning from their earlier mistakes, and allowing their love to reblossom and grow. And if the sizzle was something else in the first book, the fire leaps off the page when Brian and Layla get reacquainted. Once again, Sylvia Day takes the reader to the heights of passion amid a dangerous situation, all in fewer words and pages, and you don’t miss a thing. Other than a fan and a tall glass of iced water to cool you down or your husband or boyfriend to take the edge off.
Grade: A
Summary:
He had three days to fix everything. Three days to remind her of how good they were together. She was a captive audience…
Layla Creed and Deputy US Marshal Brian Simmons have a history that is as hot and heartbreaking as it is unforgettable. Now their paths have crossed once again. This time things are twice as hot. Layla–a protected witness–has to come out of hiding to testify in a sensational murder trial. But as far as Brian’s concerned, there’s an even more pressing problem.
Once Layla testifies she’ll get sucked back into WITSEC. A new identity, a new location, a new occupation–and a new inspector to check up on her. In other words, out of his life forever. As they race across the country, they know rekindling what they once will be easy, but at the back of their minds is the knowledge their few days together will end and they both doubt they’ll survive losing each other again.
Read an excerpt.
Well, the title of this book couldn’t be more apt for the hero and heroine in this story. Heavens, from the moment they clap eyes on one another, there’s sparks and flames and explosions that never cool down.
Jared is former special forces and currently a U.S. Marshall with the Shadow Stalkers. He’s called in to take over an arson case in Lion’s Bay, where the local fire inspectors need help before the next fire breaks out. Darcy is one of those inspectors and she’s the one who made the call for reinforcements. The targets of their arsonist are places that have connections to her and her deceased twin, thus making it much more difficult for Darcy to get her life back on track after losing her other half.
I love how upfront and plain spoken Darcy is. She’s a bring-it-on type gal and lets Jared know it. Their first sex scene scorches the pages to ashes, especially since the sexual tension has been snapping with nearly every scene before that. I love an alpha male and Jared is that and then some. When two of Darcy’s exes come on the scene, which is inevitable since one is the sheriff and the other is her partner, a lot of male posturing is going on and Jared meets it head on, declaring Darcy his, even though they’ve just met. These two are hot, hot, hot!
I like the investigation as it progresses, which actually builds into a double investigation when something makes Jared think they will probably also find a murderer when they find their arsonist. The twist when it’s revealed is not too surprising, something we’ve read before, but that doesn’t bother me at all, because the villain is one you hope gets what’s coming to him soon. And he does, from a quarter he doesn’t expect.
Grade: A
Summary:
Every time she opened her mouth, his mind went straight into the gutter…
When Deputy US Marshal Jared Cameron started investigating a series of arson attacks in the small seaside town of Lion’s Bay, he had no idea that the biggest blast of heat would come from the fire inspector. Her name was Darcy Michaels–and if there was anyone that Jared wanted to get down and sweaty with, it was Darcy.
Darcy knew what she was bringing out in Jared. In fact, she liked it. She reveled in making his dirty dreams come true. Stripped down for a scorching after-hours affair, Jared was her fantasy, too. A hard-driving man who knew exactly what to do to please her. But as hot as their nights were, they had no idea just how wild it was going to get. Because Darcy has a secret. And a past. And it’s drawing them right into the flames…
Read an excerpt.
A very enjoyable and sexy trilogy. They’re fast reads, which is probably good because you need a cold shower after finishing each one. I have to say that as much as I like Taking the Heat, Razor’s Edge and On Fire are my favorites. Now I’m in the mood for more Sylvia Day!
Overall Grade: A
