@felicityheaton, #Paranormal, #Romance, 4 out of 5 (very good)

Marek is the fourth book in the Guardians of Hades series and I really couldn't wait for the researcher's story! He has been hinted at in the previous books but, of course, you don't find out much until he gets his own story.

Marek has his past that he is "dealing" with. Well, he's not, not really, but it makes him feel better. Caterina goes out hunting vampires every night because she thinks if she kills his sire, her brother will return to 'normal'. When these two meet, sparks fly... literally!

Poor Marek! And poor Caterina!! Both of them were hurting before they found each other but even then it didn't go smoothly. Now, of course, I know it never does but these two really had it bad. How about turning into something the man you're falling for hates and literally fights every day? Yeah, not easy. However, in true Felicity Heaton style, they not only managed to overcome these obstacles but also found their HEA along the way. Of course, they also found murder, more mystery, betrayal, and heartbreak but it's all for a good cause!

Prince of the Underworld and Lord of Earth, Marek was banished from his home by his father, Hades, two centuries ago and given a new duty and purpose—to keep our world and his from colliding in a calamity foreseen by the Moirai. Together with his six brothers, he fights to defend the gates to the Underworld from daemons bent on breaching them and gaining entrance to that forbidden land, striving to protect his home from their dark influence.

Haunted by a betrayal that shattered him and set him on a dark path of vengeance, Marek closely guards his heart, as determined to keep it safe as he is to wipe the scourge of vampires from the world.

Until a hunt lands him in the presence of a beautiful woman who threatens to steal that heart as she battles his sworn enemy, her graceful moves igniting a passion so fierce and hunger so deep it consumes him.

Caterina's sole purpose for the last decade has been freeing her brother of the curse of being turned into a vampire. When an alluring dark warrior steps in to help her battle a nest of bloodsuckers, her entire life is tipped off balance. She knows deep in her heart, the warrior can help her save her brother, but can she trust a man who is driven to slay every vampire he meets?

When Marek's enemy emerges from the shadows, and Caterina is pulled down a dark rabbit hole into a dangerous world, will they be strong enough to overcome their pride and their prejudices or will a dark turn of events shatter both their hearts?

Review 4.5 rounded up to 5*

Marek is the fourth book in the Guardians of Hades series. I loved it!

Marek is one of six son's of Hades. He is an intriguing character, and I liked him a lot. When he was first introduced in the series, I thought Marek was the more studious brother since he enjoyed researching. However, he is also a fierce warrior. I found it a pleasure to get to see into his life. There is a darkness within Marek that was not immediately obvious. It's this darkness that leads him to crossing paths with Caterina.

Caterina is a woman on a mission. I liked her spunky-ness and determination to save her brother. Family is important to her since it's just her and her brother. When a stranger helps her fight vampires, she is intrigued by him. Unfortunately, she gets pulled into the tug-of-war between Marek's family and their enemy, and her life will never return to normal.

It's been a year since the last Guardians of Hades book, and I've been eagerly awaiting Marek's story. I started to read and was pulled back into the fantastic world built by the author.

It was a pleasure meeting the other brothers and their new loves once more. Hades and Persephone also make an appearance; they are typical parents - overprotective and loving. Karas and Calistos are the only two brothers who haven't had their stories told yet. However, the author made mention of Calistos's twin, Calindria, who had died several years before. It made me wonder if she could still potentially be alive somewhere when someone close to her briefly made an appearance, however, back to the review.

The brothers still have a lot to do to avoid the prediction the Morai made about the human world and Underworld's impending collision. I was glad, however, when a specific character met their fate, but now wonder if Caterina's brother will play a more prominent role at some point. There are fast-paced fight scenes, which are this author's forte. She can bring them to life, so I always enjoy those, and the romance between Marek and Caterina scorched the pages even though there weren't as many opportunities for togetherness.

I am now looking forward to reading Calistos's story soon.

Felicity Heaton has written another fast-paced, sexy paranormal romance that I thoroughly enjoyed. I love her fast-paced writing style, which flows effortlessly from scene to scene. She is on top of my favourite author's list.

Each book of this series could be read as a stand-alone, as this one does not end in a cliffhanger, though I would recommend reading them in order. I do not recommend this book to younger readers due to the extremely HOT and explicit sexual scenes. However, I highly recommend this book (and series) if you love sexy paranormal romances full of gods and daemons. - Lynn Worton

Duty should mean everything to the Fourth Commander of the Echelon angels. It did before he met her. Now, the only demon he wants to slay is the one that haunts the enchanting mortal huntress, and the temptation to hunt him in Hell, a realm that might kill him, is becoming impossible to resist.

Held captive by a dragon shifter in Hell, Emelia survived a torment that changed her in ways she hates. She wants her strength back. Her life back. To do that, she needs closure. To get that, she might have to trust not only a man again but an immortal.

But when the price of vengeance is the soul of the angel bringing her back to life, will Emelia be willing to pay it?

Review 4*

Avenged by an Angel is the sixteenth book in the Eternal Mates series.

Emelia is a character who has appeared in earlier books in the series. I am glad she gets her own story, as I wondered what had happened to her when she was kidnapped by a dragon and subsequently rescued. Emelia is a hunter working for Archangel, the company/corporation who acts as a human police force over the other paranormal and supernatural species of the world in this series. She is a friend of Sable and Olivia's.

The Fourth Commander of the Echelon angels is another character who appeared in a previous book in the series. I liked this character a lot. He is a typical Alpha, but he has a dark side (temper-wise) that can sometimes make him into a hot-head. He is given a difficult task by his superiors. He needs to bring the half-human, Sable into the Echelon fold as they are a rare breed and their ranks are a little on the thin side. There are only six of them currently. Unfortunately, his task is interrupted when he meets Emelia and instantly feels a connection to her.

I absolutely love the Eternal Mates world. I started to read this book, and I was quickly pulled in. It kept me riveted from beginning to end. Unfortunately, I also had a feeling of Deja Vue as the beginning is a repeat of scenes from previous books. This repetition, although helpful in one way (to help set up the story), also made it feel like it didn't move forward as it should. The timeline is fixed between after the battle in Hell in Claimed by a Demon King (Book 2) and Turned by a Tiger (Book 12). However, the second half of the story picked up in pace, and it got exciting again.

The story arc with Archangel seems to be dragging on a bit too much now. As I said in my review of book 15, Unchained by a Forbidden Love, and I quote: "I am also a reader who would like more progression on the story arc front. The series is on book fifteen, and each story in the series is a stand-alone, but since there seems to be a vague story arc, there must be a conclusion. However, it seems to me that the author is drawing it out a bit too long. I can understand why she is doing this. I too love the Eternal Mates world and don't wish it to end either, but when the story arc is dragged out in this fashion, I start to lose interest in a series. This doesn't mean I won't read any more of the series, only that, in my opinion, the series is becoming a little tired."

I find that Book 16 is also struggling to keep the story arc going forward though it's moved on slightly. Maybe Book 17 will have more forward motion with the story arc. I am not sure how many books the author intends in this series. But if it's twenty, then she may need to pick up the pace with regards to revealing what's hiding in Archangel's basement prison. Perhaps the author is just as in the dark about that as we readers are. However, I'm still looking forward to finding out. As I've said before, I would much rather have quality over quantity when it comes to a book series, especially one I love.

Felicity Heaton has written another fast-paced, sexy paranormal romance that I thoroughly enjoyed! I love her fast-paced writing style, which flows effortlessly from scene to scene. She is on top of my favourite author's list.

I do not recommend this book to younger readers due to the extremely HOT and explicit sexual scenes. However, I highly recommend this book (and series) if you love sexy paranormal romances full of vampires, elves, werewolves, cat shifters, succubi, incubi, angels, dragons, demons and demonesses. - Lynn Worton