The sizzling first novel in New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter’s new paranormal romance series, Otherworld Assassins–featuring a black ops agent who is captured and enslaved, and the beautiful deaf girl who holds the key to his salvation. New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Gena Showalter ignites a thrilling new paranormal series with this breathtaking tale of a warrior … breathtaking tale of a warrior enslaved by desire, and the woman who frees his soul.
THE SWEETEST TEMPTATION . . .
Black ops agent Solomon Judah awakens caged and bound in a twisted zoo where otherworlders are the main attraction. Vika Lukas, the owner’s daughter, is tasked with Solo’s care and feeding. The monster inside him yearns to kill her on sight, even though she holds the key to his escape. But the human side of him realizes the beautiful deaf girl is more than she seems–she’s his.
THE ULTIMATE PRICE . . .
Vika endures the captives’ taunts and loathing, hoping to keep them alive even if she can’t free them. Only, Solo is different– he protects her. But as hostility turns to forbidden romance, his feelings for her will be used against him . . . and he’ll be put to a killer test.
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A fun listen by an author I’ve enjoyed reading before. I didn’t enjoy this one as much as some of her other works, but I was still entertained.
When I found out the Alien Huntress series was branching off to include some new characters yet stay in the Alien Huntress world, I was eager to keep reading with this new series. And the new series covers- love them!
After letting the cover fall shut on the first of this new series, I have to say that I like the new direction with focus on Otherworlders working in a Black Ops cell whiles still peripherally including the AIR group too.
This one opens with a leader outlining a new mission to his three most trusted operatives who are closer than friends and like brothers. They’re all going to infiltrate various points to smash a mysterious slave ring that seems to base its kidnappings and disappearances on revenge acts. Before they can do anything, the whole group is caught by a bomb at their headquarters.
Solo Judah, one of the operatives, is captured after the bomb blast and sold to an evil circus owner who has several otherworlders caged and on display. His daughter, Vika, has the charge of the otherworlders. Solo hates the degredation of captivity and he hates his handlers including Vika.
Vika has lived a miserable existence under her sadistic father’s thumb. In the past, she tried to rescue others from this captive existence and was harshly punished. Now she bides her time even while accepting the hatred and insult of those she does her best to take care of. When Solo is brought in, she experiences something new- attraction. He is fiercesome and violent and even threatens her, but she can’t seem to stop her attraction.
Solo feels the same way about Vika once he really starts to pay closer attention. Even though he is helpless to save himself, he does what he can to protect her. As she does, him. Things get real interesting once they make their break for it.
The plot on this one held my interest as did the unique backdrop of the evil carnival atmosphere. I liked the two lead characters though I was impatient with all the hesitations even if I understood why. Both were treated poorly in their pasts. Solo is loved by his adopted parents, but had it hard because he was treated as a freak by everyone else which is why featuring in a Carnival Freak Show is particularly hard for him. Vika is the daughter of an abuser who claims his actions and possessiveness are love. Rightly so, she is skittish about taking action to sneak around her father. She’s a bland person compared to the emotions running through Solo and even some of the other characters. Their attraction and ensuing relationship is a slow builder with a few stops and starts when the action part of the plot interferes. It is more of a sweet romance because though there is passion it is more of a fade to black.
The array of other characters both bad and good were deftly written too. I really hated Vika’s father and his cohorts. And I should mention here that a recurring minor character from Alien Huntress had a large part and there was a guest cameo appearance from my dear Dallas.
Now I’m looking forward to Cordon Bleu’s story in the next installment in the series and maybe seeing more of Solo in action.
Fantastic series! Every character is so unique and special. The world amazing. And the over arching story line is so interesting!