Dragon
in the Blood
Vale of Stars, #2
by Juliette Cross
Date of
Publication: July 26th 2016
Cover
Artist: Kanaxa
Genre:
Paranormal/Fantasy Romance
When desire bites,
there’s no patience for a slow burn .
From
The Book Junkie Reads . . . Dragon in the Blood (Vale of Stars, #2) . . .
HOT, HOT, HOT. Hot damn flames,
fire, burning, scorching soul igniting passion. The longer they are in close proximity the more intense the frustration, the passion, the chemistry, the bond. The connection becomes so much more. This sensual allure of the dragon, the blood, the connection between Valla and Conn.
A mission turns in to more than just the opportunity to find information. It allows for a bond to be made that may change the course of things as they are known. With each new danger, discovery, every new step brings about something that will and could change the direction for which brought them this far. There was action, drama, passion, mystery & suspense, intrigue to follow and gather more.
Valla has been raised to be an independent woman. She was all the things that are prized as such. She was determined to never be under a domineering man again. But there was just something about Conn that she could not totally resist. The pull was there and ever present. Their banter was engaging. There was clear evidence that the attraction was reciprocated but Valla just did not want to give in. Conn on the other hand was an alpha male that had it all in spades. Looks, charm, charisma, cockiness, dominating nature, and more that could be linked to the alpha male.
My first read from Juliette Cross and not my last. The mention of the Nightwing has me intrigued enough to seek out the series to read more of them before proceeding on further. Then I must go back to the beginning of this series. I want to be lost in this world. It was so vivid. The imagery was rich, full and engaging.
**This ARC was provided via Bewitching Book Tours in
exchange for an honest review.**
Vale of Stars
series:
Dragon Heartstrings - Vale of Stars, #0.5
Walking the Dragon - Vale of Stars, #1
Dragon in the Blood - Vale of Stars, #2
BLURB
When desire bites, there’s no patience
for a slow burn.
While all seems quiet in Gladium
Province, the Morgon Guard—the global justice force for the dragon hybrid
race—knows their enemy is rebuilding its forces in the underground.
Valla Moonring, an assassin for the
Order of the Morgon Guard, is ordered on a mission into the Wastelands of
Aria—a formidable, icy wilderness fraught with all manner of dangers, including
outlaws, deadly weather, and big-game predators.
To her great distaste, she’s partnered
with a Nightwing Security operative, Conn Rowanflame, a Morgon with the
aggravating ability to get under her skin. While she takes her mission
seriously, Conn’s confident charm throws her off balance, a dangerous place to
be in conditions like these. Especially when cold nights require close contact.
Sensual attraction binds them ever
closer, igniting a passion of unexpected force—the soulfire. But when the
hunters become the hunted, their bond could prove perilous. Even fatal…
Buy Link: Amazon
Conn slowed his
descent as treetops came into view beyond the fading mist, which had thinned to
nearly nothing in the past hour. Whipping open my wings, I landed softly on the
hard ground among a grove of evergolds. Even in this frozen tundra, the giants
famous for their flora of fire-gold leaves grew tall and thick-branched in
abundance. I lifted my visor to a brilliant burst of color that contrasted
against the brown earth and snow-swept embankments.
Bowen landed quietly
behind me. “How about some lunch before we set out on foot?” He removed and
tucked away his visor and unpacked his crossbow from its sheath on his back for
the first time on this journey.
“Let’s get into the
cover of trees,” said Conn, moving along the natural path. “And lunch sounds
perfect.”
“Benta’s breakfast
wasn’t enough for you?” I asked, meeting his long stride.
“I always have an
appetite, sweetheart.”
“While you two
continue flirting, I’ll find some small game nearby. Set up the hotpad over near
that big evergold.”
Without a sound,
Bowen disappeared into the trees.
“Flirting?” I
scoffed. “I wasn’t flirting.”
“I was.” Conn
grinned.
“Stop it.”
“I haven’t even
gotten started yet.”
“You’re infuriating.”
“So you’ve said
before.”
“Listen—” I put up both
gloved hands to stop his snarky banter for just one second. “I’m glad we’re
finally alone.”
“Me, too.” His
lopsided grin made my heart flutter.
Exhaling a frustrated
sigh, I stopped under a thick oak with ample coverage from above and unhooked
my chest pack before dropping it to the ground. “There’s something I’ve been
meaning to talk to you about…about last night.”
“Mmm. Last night.”
He removed his own
pack and gloves, then pulled out the small, electronic hotpad. After opening
the tripod that kept it off the ground, he turned it on. Gisa ordered us to use
the hotpad instead of fire when we were in the open to avoid alerting predators
or criminals to our presence.
Conn stood and
propped his hands low on his hips. “Would you like a second round?”
“No…no.” I cleared my
throat and shook my head, my ponytail sliding on the smooth leather of my
jacket. “Actually, that should never have happened. I shouldn’t have let that
happen. But I—”
“Couldn’t resist,” he
finished, a devilish smile brimming his beautiful face. “It’s okay. It happens
a lot.”
“You’re such an ass.”
I rolled my eyes. “I could’ve resisted.”
“Could you?”
He broke his rigid
stance and sauntered closer, a feral glimmer in his gaze. By instinct, I backed
up a step, my wings scraping the rough bark of the evergold behind me. He moved
into my personal space.
“What are you doing?”
I asked, heart hammering.
He flattened one hand
against the tree above my head, his finger grazing the arch of my wing. I
shivered.
“Are you sure you
could resist?”
I cleared my throat.
“Of course,” I said, trying to sound confident, but my voice betrayed me and
broke.
“Well…I couldn’t.” He
brushed the back of his knuckles along my jaw. I held still, caught.
“Actually, I want to
taste you again. Right now.”
Even stone-cold sober,
I felt drunk from a single touch, longing to fall back into his arms and let
him show me what his hazel-gold eyes promised without a word.
He leaned close, his
warm breath grazing my ear. “Let me
taste you again, Valla.”
I planted my hands on
his chest, wishing there weren’t the layers of thermal suit and leather between
my palms and his rock-hard chest.
He nuzzled the shell
of my ear with his nose, then his lips. “Let me.”
His darkened voice
pleaded and demanded at the same time, spreading warmth between my legs. What
had gotten into me? I pushed him out of my way and stormed toward a densely
wooded area.
“Where are you
going?” he laughed. “Running away?”
“I’ve gotta go to the
bathroom,” I yelled over my shoulder.
“Not by yourself,
you’re not.” His footsteps crunched across the thin blanket of snow and leaves
behind me.
I whirled, heat
burning up my neck, now from anger not lust. “Whoa, there, big boy.” I threw up
a hand, halting him several feet away. “Look. You’re not my keeper. And just
because we shared one kiss doesn’t mean anything. I’m going to relieve myself
by myself. Do you understand?”
His wings twitched at
his back. Agitated. Whatever.
“And stop scowling at
me,” I called back as I spun and trekked off the path into the brush.
Buy Link: Amazon
INTERVIEW WITH JULIETTE CROSS
How would you describe you style of writing to someone
that has never read your work?
Dark,
sensual, dangerous, and always a touch of snarky humor to lighten the mood.
What mindset or routine do you feel the need to set when
preparing to write (in general whether you are working on a project or just
free writing)?
Typically,
I put on my headphones with Game of
Thrones Pandora radio playing. Somehow, it puts my mind in the right place.
Do you take your character prep to heart? Do you nurture
the growth of each character all the way through to the page? Do you people
watch to help with development? Or do you build upon your character during
story creation?
It
will depend upon the character and how much time I’ve already spent with them
in previous books. For example, I’m about to get back to writing THE DARKEST
HEART, book 2 in my Age of Gray series, and the demon Dommiel has been in three
previous books. Still, I wrote a brief character sketch on him to be sure I had
him solid in my head. However, I had to write an extensive character sketch on
the heroine, the angel Anya, so I understand her internal motivation before I
ever wrote a word from her POV. But there have been times where I had to write
scenes for a character that never showed in the book, just to get a clear grasp
on his/her voice. For me, good character development is crucial to good
storytelling.
Have you found yourself bonding with any particular
character? If so which one(s)?
I
bonded with Conn in DRAGON IN THE BLOOD, Moira in WAKING THE DRAGON, and Ella
in NIGHTBLOOM. I think because I’ve experienced the family strain Conn feels,
the determination to succeed that Moira feels, and the lack of self-confidence
Ella feels, all at some point in my life that it was easy to transfer those
emotions onto the page through the characters.
Do you have a character that you have been working on
that you can't wait to put to paper?
Yes!
Two actually. Dommiel, the jaded demon in desperate need of redemption who I
mentioned above. Also, Bastien Silverback who appears for the first time as a
secondary character in DRAGON IN THE BLOOD. His book won’t take place for at
least three more down the road in the Vale of Stars series, but I’ve been
thinking about him a lot. This is why I wrote a short for him in my July
newsletter. If readers missed the newsletter, they can stay tuned to my website
where it will appear in late August.
Have you ever felt that there was something inside of you
that you couldn't control? If so what? If no what spurs you to reach for the
unexperienced?
I
don’t believe I’ve experienced something I couldn’t control. I am very
sensitive emotionally, but I’m also a deep thinker. I look before I leap…most
of the time. But as for the other, I so long to seize every moment of life and
enjoy each new experience. I love to travel to new places simply for the fact
that I’ve never been there. And I cherish all that life has to offer. It is too
short to stay secluded in one’s little bubble. Step out and see the world and
be glad of it, I say.
Juliette,
I
would like to say thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question.
I have a firmer grasp on you as an author. I can more conceptualize the
direction you are taking me and the journey that I will get the opportunity to
enjoy with each new read that I sit down and open up.
I do
look forward to more of your work and I thank you for allowing me to view
Dragon in the Blood. I love this read and want more.
Thank
you,
The
Book Junkie Reads . . .
Author Links:
Author
Info
Juliette lives in lush, moss-laden
Louisiana where she lives with her husband, four kids, and black lab, Kona.
Multi-published author of paranormal and urban fantasy romance, she loves
reading and writing brooding characters, mysterious settings, persevering
heroines, and dark, sexy heroes. From the moment she read JANE EYRE as a
teenager, she fell in love with the Gothic romance. Even then, she not only
longed to read more novels set in Gothic worlds, she wanted to create her own.
Author Links:
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