Book Review & Giveaway: A Demon to Love by Jordan Ashton

A Demon to Love
Mates of Nethermore Book 2
Jordan Ashton
Genre: Erotic Alternative Paranormal Romance, 
M/M, vampires, shape-shifters
Publisher: Siren Publishing
Date of Publication: June 2015
ISBN: 978-1-63259-495-2
ASIN: B0125JNVL8
Number of pages: 82
Word Count: 20,137
Cover Artist: Harris Channing

Book Description:

Eros Dexter, a demon who has been living among humans for the past year, is summoned back to Nethermore by the Queen, his mother. Word has it that Eros has been a good boy on the Earth’s surface, befriending humans and also mating with one, and she’s not happy. Eros denies everything until a battered Warren Ambers enters the Queen’s chamber. Eros had ended things with Warren seven months ago to protect him from Eros’s family, but he never stopped loving Warren.

Now he must save Warren before his mother can get her claws into him.

First Warren Ambers was held prisoner by vampires, then he’s whisked to Nethermore, only to find out he’s the Queen of Nethermore’s intended concubine.

Things get worse when he sees the only man he has ever loved, Eros Dexter, standing by her side. Apparently, Eros isn’t human and he's the Prince of Nethermore.

Eros tells Warren that he still loves him and will find a way to save him from his mother. But can Warren trust him? The last time he did Eros broke his heart. What will happen this time? Will it only be heartache Warren suffers, or something much worse?

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Review 3.5 Stars

Warren Ambers' life has taken a turn for the worse. The love of his life, Eros Dexter, left him and shortly after that he's attacked by Draco Clan vampires and taken to their lair where he and his brother are held captive for over six months. His brother has escaped, but so far there is no sign of him coming back to rescue Warren.

Cold, hungry, going out of his mind, Warren worries that he'll die in this prison and no one will ever know what's happened to him. He's taken to a realm beneath the Earth called Nethermore by his captives and discovers he's supposed to be a concubine to the evil witch queen who dwells there. He's been turned into some sort of vampire/human hybrid so that he would be better able to withstand mating with her.

And then he discovers that Eros, the man who left him all those months ago is one of her sons and a prince of Nethermore. Was it Eros who betrayed him to the vampires? Can he ever trust him again?

There were some things I liked about this novella, some I didn't. The world-building was good, it was interesting to see the different factions of Nethermore, some wanted to help humans, some wanted to enslave or kill them and rule over the rest. I loved the idea of the healing springs as well.

Most of the book is told from either Warren's or Eros' point of view, so we got to see inside both their heads, which I liked and saw how much they still loved each other. The love scenes are very hot and sensual, although the occassional purple prose crept in at certain parts. It's not a romance in the traditional sense, as we don't get to see Warren and Eros fall in love. I would have liked to see that, rather than just see the aftermath of Eros' betrayal and breaking Warren's heart.

And then we get to some of the names. One of Eros' brothers was called Serco, and I just couldn't take that name seriously. I don't know how well known it is, but Serco is a worldwide company. It would be like calling the character Coca-Cola or Pepsi.

It's fast-paced and the pages flew by. If you're squeamish about blood, this is not the book for you. But if you enjoy books about vampires with a bit of adventure and angnst thrown in, give it a go. You won't be disappointed.

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Excerpt:

Warren Ambers’s entire body ached, from the arches of his feet to the top of his head. Even the ends of his hair throbbed with rawness if that were even possible. He tried to focus his eyes on the darkness enveloping him. He could hear the being’s heavy breaths. He could smell the stench of sour milk and vinegar.

He knew one of the vampires who had held him hostage for the past six months was nearby, waiting, observing. He sensed him but for the life of him he couldn’t see him in the cloak of blackness.

The carriage he sat bound in kept rattling and shaking manically when its wheels rolled over obstructions on the cobblestone road, like large rocks or bumps. His body slammed against the side of the carriage or the back of the wooden rest whenever it happened, which amplified the pain coursing through him.

Where the hell were they taking him and why were they transporting him in a carriage and not a car?

As if on cue, a deep, resonating voice said, “We’re almost there.”

Warren jumped when he saw the red embers of Rex’s eyes as he peered at him in the pitch darkness from only a few feet away. Warren hadn’t expected him to be the vampire his senses had picked up and he certainly hadn’t guessed he was so freakin’ close, either.

A haunting chill rolled over him and he gasped. Of all the vampires in the Draco clan, Rex and Oscar frightened him the most.

Ever since they invaded the home Warren shared with his parents and brother Vincent six months ago, these two vampires had inflicted pain and misery on him and his family. They had bitten and fed on Warren’s parents before kidnapping him and Vincent. He quaked in his shoes any time they were in his vicinity.

They were the most conniving and taunting of the clan, the evil brains behind the group and their operation. Rex and Oscar enjoyed seeing the look of dread in their eyes and especially of anger and loathing. They obviously relished provoking them for their pure entertainment.

At least Vincent had been able to escape yesterday.

He had found the rusty screw wedged in the brick wall in the basement of the farmhouse the Draco clan had made their lair and had used it to fray the rope tying his wrists together until he broke free.

Vincent had then untied Warren and they had made a run for it. Unfortunately, Warren had sprained his ankle in the attempted breakout. Two vampires caught him and brought him back to the farmhouse. Vincent, though, had made it to the road and escaped. At least Warren hoped and prayed he did.

If he had, then he’d come back when he could to help Warren escape. If the tables were turned and it was Warren instead of Vincent who had escaped, that’s what he would be trying to do as soon as he could.

The Ambers brothers were ten months apart, Vincent being the older sibling at twenty-nine and a half, while Warren was twenty-eight.

Ever since they were toddlers they had been inseparable. Their mother always commented, with a hug, kiss, and a smile, that even though ten months separated them in age, they were as close as identical twins and she couldn’t be happier. She knew they’d always be there for one another when it mattered most.

Tears welled in Warren’s eyes and he brushed them away. That happy memory of his mom and the one six months ago, as she took her last breath after Rex finished feeding on her, clashed in his mind and wrenched his heart. He missed her so much.

“Ah, are those tears I see for your brother?” Rex asked in mock sympathy.

Warren didn’t reply. He simply turned his gaze away from the evil red glowing eyes that studied him.

“Vincent won’t find you, you know.”

Panic made Warren’s hair stand on end. How did Rex know what Warren was thinking, that he hoped and prayed Vincent would find him? Trying desperately not to offer Rex any more pleasure in seeing him shocked or frightened, Warren attempted to steel his emotions.

“We’re already far away from the farmhouse and soon, once we cross the barrier, he’ll never be able to find you.”

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About the Author:

Jordan Ashton is a writer and wife whose passion for reading romance novels led her to writing them, too. She believes love can conquer all and that it makes the world go round, not money. Her heroes, heroines, and the worlds she creates bring this belief to life. She is and will always be a true romantic at heart.

Website: https://authorjordanashton.wordpress.com/

Blog: http://authorjordanashton.blogspot.ca/

Bookstrand: www.bookstrand.com/jordan-ashton

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Author_J_Ashton

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Tour Giveaway:

$20 Amazon Gift Card
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