The love between a human and a Morgon, the dragon-hybrid race, tempts fate once more… All her life, Ella Barrow has allowed others to make her decisions. Forced to stifle her artistic talents and stay in a loveless relationship with Clayton Kerrington, the man her mother believes to be her perfect match, Ella’s life may be safe—but it’s not her own. Paxon Nightwing, on the other hand, is … the other hand, is anything but the safe choice.
A charming and alluring Morgon, Paxon sees Ella for the woman she truly is. His bold confidence and protective nature ignites a passion she’s never felt before. But a dark family tragedy forces their secrecy—until Clayton makes it impossible to hide their clandestine affair. Will Ella be strong enough to fight for herself at last? Or will she succumb once more and risk losing the only man she’s ever loved?
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Ella Barrow is a rule follower. She allows others to dictate what she does, who she dates, where she works, and who she is friends with. She’s basically a prisoner in her parents’ home. She is creative and artistic; however, her parents forbid her from obtaining a job that allows her talents to shine or her to use the degree she obtained. Her current boyfriend, Clayton, who is a sleaze ball, doesn’t appreciate her, ignores while they are out, and is basically using her to advance himself in society. When he tries to pressure her into letting him take her virginity, it’s all downhill from there. That same night, while in a Morgan club, she finds him pants down with a waitress and puts an end to their relationship – by smooching hot Paxon.
Paxon is attracted to Ella and has been even while she was dating Clayton. Patiently waiting for their relationship to self-destruct, he didn’t expect quiet, shy Ella to stand for herself and then march over to him and plant a kiss on him. They both know that there is more to explore together beyond the kiss, but Ella is hesitant. There is something in her mother’s past that that brings fear to the woman’s eyes whenever she is around them. Then there’s Clayton. No just doesn’t mean no to him and he threatens Ella with things that may cause irreparable harm to her and her parents.
Just as with books 1 & 2 in this series, once I began reading, I was hooked. I devoured it in one sitting. The story is engaging, and the characters are wonderful. I enjoyed the interactions between Ella and Paxon. I love the tension the author builds up between the hero and heroine of her stories. Ella’s demure, meek character really opens up like a flower or a butterfly coming out of a chrysalis. She knows she wants to be with Paxon but there are secrets she hides that being seen with a Morgon would expose. Forced to make a choice, Ella finally followers her own heart. At the peak of the story, Ella steps out, front and center, to declare the love she has in hopes that it’s not too late for her and Paxon to be together.
I love both Ella and Paxon. She might allow others to make her decisions, but Paxon doesn’t take advantage of that part of her character. He helps her to break free of the hold others have had on her for so long. He helps her “lift the veil.” How Ella and Paxon are written is swoon-worthy and I think Nightbloom is my favorite of the 3 Nightwing novels.
Nightbloom is a riveting, fast paced story told with passion. I love Juliette Cross’s writing style and the way she tells stories. Nightbloom is not my first experience with this author, nor will it be the last. Her ability to create paranormal stories with romance, action and a solid plot is what keeps me coming back.
4+ “I’ll bloom all night for Paxton” Stars
Holy sexy Morgons, Batman! Nightbloom brings us the story of Ella, Jessen and Sorcha’s shy friend; and Paxon, the Nightwing’s sexy as hell cousin.
Ella’s personality is the total opposite of Sorcha in Windburn; quiet, shy and demure. An artist, but too timid to let anyone see her work, she’s always lived by her overprotective parent’s rules. While not bad people, a trauma in her mother’s past has made for a more than sheltered upbringing, and she’s been taught to be especially wary of Morgons.
I struggled with Ella’s willingness to please her parents, disregarding her own feelings. This means that I was especially pleased when she started to grow a backbone and went after what she wanted.
Paxon was completely perfect. I keep thinking these Morgon hunks can’t get any better and then bam! A new one comes along and he melts me into a puddle of goo. Besides being alpha, bossy and sexy; Paxon was incredibly sweet and caring. The way he pursued Ella, how he encouraged and gave her the strength to bloom into her true self was simply OTT perfection.
Ella and Paxton’s chemistry was Morgon-fire hot, and I loved how their relationship unfolded. Nightbloom was awesome in every way with a bit of action, some angst, an asshole ex, and the most romantic Morgon I’ve met so far. I don’t think I could be more hooked into this story and I need more now!
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book*
This review is on a re-released issue:
Timid Ella lives with her parents, has been taught to fear all Morgon men and is so completely tired of being afraid. When she meets Paxon at a sporting event she finds herself in the middle of a situation she never anticipated. Now he’s all she can think about and that’s not how this should work.
I loved Paxon and his constant patience with Ella as she struggled to find who she was and step into the role of herself instead of allowing her fears to rule her. Along the way is some boyfriend drama as Ella is in a relationship with another man. It doesn’t take long to figure out he’s not the right one for her and I was urging her to come out of her shell all the quicker so she could find her way with Paxon.
This is a fast paced read that has just enough conflict and drama to keep it interesting and push the story along. I loved when Ella finally made her move because, even though Paxon was definitely chasing her, he was also allowing her to set the pace. Once she found herself she absolutely shined!
Nightbloom is the third book in the series and can be read as a standalone. This book was one I’d been anxiously waiting to read. I enjoyed Ella and Paxon’s story so much and I’m curious to see if there will be more books in the future. Please!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
“I see a world sun-bright
From my place in darkest night
No eyes seek me here
I am
Unseen”
Nightbloom is book three in the Nightwing series by Juliette Cross. This is a re-read for me of this series. Juliette is re-releasing the series. Each book is basically the same with some additional content added and new covers. Since it’s been four years since the first time I read this series, though, it’s like reading it for the first time. I’m going to leave my review the same. What I originally said says it all. I loved watching Elle shed her veil. And Paxon was the perfect Morgon to help her do it. My love of all things Juliette Cross continues to grow. It doesn’t matter if it’s a new book or a re-read. Her beautifully told stories always sweep me away.
What is it that makes me love these Morgon men so much? Is it their raw sexual nature, or their fierce protectiveness when they find their mate? Whatever it is, I have been addicted to this series from the first book, Soulfire. Nightbloom did not disappoint.
Ella Barrow is what I would classify as a good girl. She graduated from college with a degree in fine arts. She still lives at home enjoying the closeness she shares with her parents. She has a wealth of artistic talent she keeps hidden, only working on her art in the basement of her home, never showing it to anyone. She is dating Clayton Kerrington because it makes her parents happy. They look good on paper so to speak. Around her parents, Clayton is always the most attentive and courteous of boyfriends but he’s not like that once they are alone. They’ve been dating for five months. So shouldn’t Ella be feeling more by now? Shouldn’t she want to let him touch her?
Paxon Nightwing knows. He knows that Ella is the one his dragon wants. And he sees Ella. He sees that she is keeping her true self hidden from the world behind a veil. Why in the world is she with someone like Clayton?
“Something about you makes me want to tell you everything. Give you everything.”
Ella finally sees Clayton for the cruel and spiteful man that he is. But Clayton is holding a secret, something she didn’t even know. And, he will use that secret to keep Ella for his own. Her feelings for Paxon, though, are growing. She never imagined that this brave beautiful woman might be hiding inside of her. But with Paxon, she feels brave, she feels bold. But can she risk the secret Clayton is threatening to tell for her feelings for Paxon? Is she brave enough to stand up to him, to stand up for herself? And what would Paxon do if he knew what Clayton was threatening to do? Paxon holds his dragon tightly inside but if he knew, his dragon would most certainly take over.
This story was another amazing look into the world of Morgons. And into the city of Gladium where humans and Morgons are slowly weaving their lives together. And in to soul fire, the most beautiful way that the Morgon binds their true mate, their true love, to them for all of their days. Yes, I did swoon. Juliette Cross, you did it again.