ARC Review: ‘Burning Dawn’ by Gena Showalter
I received a complimentary copy of the book from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Burning Dawn
by Gena ShowalterSeries: Angels of the Dark #3
Published by HQN Books on April 29, 2014
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Format: ARC
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New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter returns with a sizzling Angels of the Dark tale about a winged warrior renowned for his ruthlessness, and the woman who becomes his obsession...
A tormented past has left Thane with an insatiable need for violence, making him the most dangerous assassin in the skies.He lives by a single code: no mercy. And as he unleashes his fury on his most recent captor, he learns no battle could have prepared him for the slave he rescues from his enemy's clutches—a beauty who stokes the fires of his darkest desires.
Elin Vale has her own deep-rooted scars, and her attraction to the exquisite warrior who freed her challenges her every boundary. But Thane's unwavering determination to protect her means she must face her greatest fears—and enter a world in which passion is power, and victory means breathtaking surrender.
Oh my!!! I’m still on cloud nine literally after reading Burning Dawn. Not only because it’s Thane’s book, but because Gena did not disappoint at all with the 3rd installment. Burning Dawn just jumped to be a TOP favorite of Gena’s books and believe me I’ve read her LOTU and Alien Huntress series. Let’s say it became my second favorite after Darkest Kiss and it’s all because of the couples in these books. I had a hard time putting down Burning Dawn and when I had to put it down…I was constantly thinking about it. I’m still thinking about it after finishing it.
Some people say that Gena has been losing her sexy touch to her books lately, but oh….Burning Dawn will prove everyone wrong. Oh, it definitely will because hello it’s Thane’s book. Thane is not your typical Sent One because he is what you would call a sex addict. He’s not your average sex addict though; he needs pain during sex on himself or the women he uses. He has his reasons behind the pain and how Gena opens up Burning Dawn, you’ll want to continue reading to find out what makes Thane the way he is. When Thane walks into a room, silence falls, immortal women start drooling, and immortal men try not to make eye contact because well, he’s one dangerous, scary, intimidating, sexy assassin. Just thinking about him the way Gena describes him…*sigh* Yup Thane just became a top favorite book-boyfriend for 2014. I’m jealous Elin won him over. **** Oh…and ladies his “Jumbotron” is pierced and not just in one place. =)
Elin is the lucky gal that wins the heart of Thane in Burning Dawn, and she’s perfect for him. The way she meets Thane is during her time at the Phoenix camp that has been using and abusing her due to her being a halfling. She has been through a lot in Burning Dawn, and she needs the help of Thane to rescue her from her fate with the Phoenixes, and for her to maybe even get revenge for what was done to her family. Thane though is there trapped as well by another Phoenix who is using him, and he’s under her spell. Elin will have to get the courage to help get him out of that spell, and hopefully, he will help her and protect her for what is to come. Thane becomes intrigued by Elin after he helps her and he has no idea why. He has never felt this way about any woman before, especially one like Elin. Elin though has to keep a major secret from him otherwise she’ll end up like the Phoenixes that had Thane. (Let’s say this is when Thane shows is a scary side)
Elin’s spunky, feisty, funny personality is the complete opposite of Thane, but these two were meant to be. Thane is confused with Elin several times in the book, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen this Sent One be confused ever. (LOL) If you’ve read the previous books in the series, you already know how Thane is, and he shows another side of himself in Burning Dawn. I didn’t think anyone, but Lucien from Darkest Kiss would win over my heart, but Thane did. He has a horrible past, and so does Elin. Poor Elin! For someone like her who went through so much, she is handling it well, but she has the help of Thane, Bjorn, and Xerxes now and Thane’s workers at his club. Elin meets friends that help make her open up more and these immortal gals; I hope to see more of in later books. (They were hilarious together)
Gena gives us the LOTU too in Burning Dawn, and she ends up continuing what happened in The Darkest Craving with William in this book. The Sent Ones want to help, and LOTU ends up helping Thane during something that occurs with Bjorn in this book.
I could go on, and one about Burning Dawn…but don’t want to spoil it for anyone. Let’s say this book will keep you turning the pages. The smexy times between Thane and Elin are SCORCHING!!! Oh my! Be prepared to have a cold shower after reading their scenes together. Elin is one lucky gal. (Oh Elin ends up making Thane beg hehe) Gotta love a gal who can make a Sent One succumb to begging. She evens him wanting more. =)
Gena’s writing style is addicting to read because of how she can keep up with all her characters, manage a dramatic, action-packed storyline, and pull together two characters with some very HOT moments together. I have no idea how she does it because she has so many characters to keep up with and she manages to pull in other characters from another series into the mix. Let’s say she is friggin’ amazing with it all. I adore everything about her Angels of the Dark series and look forward to reading more Sent Ones who they end up within their books. I need Xerxes, Bjorn, and Axel’s books. (especially Axel)
One last thing the ending of this book was EPIC! Gena put these characters through bloodshed, tears, torture, and a lot more than throughout the book, but that ending. Yeah, be prepared to go through hell with the characters due to your emotions going haywire for them. Poor Bjorn has his drama in this book that you will want to pay attention to in this book.
I give this book 5 full moons and highly recommend it to paranormal romance readers out there. You must read the first two books first before reading this one. I would even recommend reading the LOTU series. There are the reasons behind it at all due to how Gena can mix her two series.
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About Gena Showalter
Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the spellbinding Lords of the Underworld and Angels of the Dark series, two young adult series--Everlife and the White Rabbit Chronicles--and the highly addictive Original Heartbreakers series. In addition to being a National Reader's Choice and two time RITA nominee, her romance novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan (Red Hot Read) and Seventeen magazine, she's appeared on Nightline and been mentioned in Orange is the New Black--if you ask her about it, she'll talk for hours…hours! Her books have been translated in multiple languages.
She’s hard at work on her next novel, a tale featuring an alpha male with a dark side and the strong woman who brings him to his knees. You can learn more about Gena, her menagerie of rescue dogs, and all her upcoming books at genashowalter.com or Facebook.com/genashowalterfan
My obsession with reading started over 30+ years ago when I went to my first Scholastic Book Fair and found R.L. Stine's Fear Street series. Later, I came across Anne Rice's novels at my public library when I was fourteen when my obsession with vampires started. I was the girl who preferred to be a vampire over a princess any day. My husband says I would leave him a heartbeat for a vampire that looked like Spike or Angel (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) or Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries. (It's true, though, and he's accepted it.)
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