Guardian's Challenge....to you this Humpday!

Here we are again my lovely humpday fellows. Big breath in and let it out! I'd like to say we're on easy street but the full moon is coming and that means....yep, freak shows in the ER's and all around wackiness! (It's a nurse thing, just roll with it!) My office mate left today to move onto greener pastures, so I am happy for her that she has chosen to follow her passion but sad for me to lose a coworker that I really connected with. Those types of work relationships are rare and sadly undervalued! (We spend more time with our coworkers than with our friends and family much of the time!!!)

So all that being said and done, thankfully I have good books, freakishly spring like days and a bottle of red wine with my name on it for the weekend! Until then, we'll all have to satisfy ourselves with a bite of eye candy delight....Mmmmmm, and calorie free for those of you keeping to a New Year's Resolution to be "good" (at whatever....wink wink)

Guardian's Challenge, Bronwyn Green, Resplendence Publishing, May 2011

No good deed goes unpunished...

When Neeve returns to the kingdom of Maelgwn to help a friend, she finds herself face to face with the man she ran from nine months ago. Before she fled, she’d promised a year of service to the Guardians of the Temple, and now that she’s back, Asher, the Chancellor of Maelgwn intends to claim the remainder of that time.

For almost a year, Asher has been searching for his consort, Neeve, who vanished without a trace. He wants her back where she belongs. In his bed. And a year won’t be nearly long enough. When the pair ends up on a diplomatic mission, with another guardian accompanying, Asher finds his plan to claim her sidetracked by duty and torn by the obligation to share her with the other man for the duration of their task.

With hearts and the future at stake, Asher and Neeve must find the power to believe, trust and love one another, not just for the moment but forever. But that might be more than either is able to give.

I love writers who take on the challenge of a series. For folks like me, who often struggle with the exposition and world building of a first book, seconds and thirds are the reward I wait for. Having read Green's Dark Destinies book one, Overlord's Chosen, I have to admit really being torn between the darkly delish Micah and the magically macho Asher. Well, hell - after reading Ms. Green's interview and seeing her "inspiration" photos of these two otherworld hotties - I cannot in good faith chose - call me self sacrificing, I'll take both! And, as always, please remember that series should be read in order - this is one that definitely makes more sense if you've read the first one!

Overlord's Chosen brought the reader into the Maelgwn world where magic reigns and time seems a bit relative. Part sci-fi/otherworld, part magical past, Maelgwn presents a male dominated society where magic means power and only males may wield it under penalty of death. Watching Micah and his Chosen mate, Elizabeth, struggle with dominance, power, magic and sexy. Really, really sexy sex. And Asher gets added to the mix, at least until he meets with Elizabeth's newest ally, Guardian consort Neeve. Even in their earliest encounters, their chemistry is well, for want of a better word, magical! Thankfully Asher and Neeve get their spotlight story with Guardian's Challenge!

Guardian's Challenge finds us back with Neeve who may be naive but is no shrinking violet and her loyalty to her friends makes her not only a far more relatable character but a very empathetic one. The immediate passionate connection between Asher and Neeve in book one was truly blistering - the open sexuality and playfully erotic lovemaking between Guardian and consort (along with others) upped the heat level a few hundred degrees.

That being said, this is not a purely gratuitous sexual escapade. Bronwyn Green creates characters that resonate with the reader. The stories are mystical, creative and well written. Watching the growing bond between lovers, shedding mistrust and fear and evolving into True Mates is beautiful, sensual and truly captivating. Her secondary characters flesh out and tantalize the reader with the hope that more stories of Guardians and consorts gets told as the world of the Maelgwn adapts to it's new Overlord. This reader highly recommends giving this series a go - it has action packed drama, intrigue and highly erotic romance! What more could one want - except maybe chocolate....dipped strawberries that is!

RATING: Five Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries. This book was given to us by Resplendence Publishing. Many thanks.

CONTEST ALERT!

With thanks from our guest blogger, author Bronwyn Green, one lucky commenter WINS the first two books in the Dark Destinies series. Tell us who your favorite HERO is from Dark Destinies series... is it Micah or Asher? Or tell us which HERO you can't wait to read about... is it Joseph or Colin? 

Commenters from any day this week (allowed to comment once every day January 30-Feb 2 for five chances to WIN) will be entered in the contest. Must be an indulgent follower to WIN.