Heart of the Demon (Warriors of the Rift, #3) by Cynthia Garner

• Title: Heart of the Demon (Warriors of the Rift)
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Urban Fantasy
• Format: Paperback, 368 pages
• Publisher: Forever (February 26, 2013)
• ISBN-10: 0446585130
• ISBN-13: 978-0446585132
• Author's Website: http://cynthiagarnerbooks.com/

 Countdown--Four Months

"We want you to infiltrate a rogue group that's planning something big at the next Influx."

Every 73 years the Moore-Creasy-Devon Comet creates a dimensional Rift as it makes its way across the solar system. When that happens supernatural being ascend upon the earth hijacking human bodies thereby taking control and suppressing the human being that once possessed it. Referred to as the Influx, it has been happening for years and no one can predict who the preternatural body snatchers (aka EDs - Extra Dimensionals) will take over until the full possession takes place. Some of the EDs are political exiles, some have left for religious reasons, but the majority were banned from their world for being criminals of the worst kind. Many see this as their second chance and attempt to reform and meld into society while others don't wish to give up their bad habits. It's the latter that the Council of Preternaturals hope to stop.

Recently, however, it has come to the attention of the Council that a group of rogue preternaturals is building a device that could potentially open the rift on its own or prolong the opening of the coming rift allowing more EDs to pass through.  They've asked Finn Evnissye to infiltrate the group and prevent that from happening. Being as he's Lucifer's enforcer and he's made his dissatisfaction with his job known, he should have an easy time infiltrating the group.

Keira O'Brien has also been asked to investigate the rogue group. She's on a secret mission for Caladh MacLoch who was a senior member of the Council of Preternaturals. He fears someone in the council is leaking information to the rogue group. No one but Caladh will know of her mission. If her cover is blown she'll be left to her own devices to get herself out of trouble.

Both have been warned to tell no one of their mission.

 Both will think the other is involved. 

Will a little thing like love get in the way?

This is the third book of the Warriors of the Rift series. I would recommend reading the previous books in the series first or you'll miss all the links to the previous characters in the series. I was pleasantly surprised that all the previous couples popped in and made an appearance in this book. It's fun knowing how characters fair after their stories have been told.

I have to say I love a redeemable bad boy and Finn fits the bill. He is the ultimate bad boy or so his image projects. He's Lucifer's (yes, that Lucifer) son and his enforcer. He knows how to fight and he inherited some mad skills from his mother. He's part chameleon and can fully or partially shift into any preternatural being, yet maintains his own individuality. In other words, I don't believe he can change his appearance to look like another individual. He can just take on any or all of the traits of a human or supernatural being. Just imagine being able to use the senses or powers of any preternatural being you can imagine. That would be pretty awesome.

Said to be the essence of femininity--soft and seemingly delicate with red hair and a sultry smile, Keira was a grifter in another life and dimension. Scamming individuals out of things came naturally to her. By using slight of hand, charm, wit and her ability to read and manipulate the thoughts and emotions of others she could get just about anything she liked. The latter talent being part of the skill set she inherited with her fey heritage. She was sent through the rift over three thousand years ago in 1419 BC and is set on reforming her ways. She keeps telling herself she's going undercover for the good of others, but secretly fears she'll pick up her her old trade and run with it. She's not proud of what she's done, but given the time periods she's lived in there weren't many ways for a single young woman to make a living. There is no denying how addictive or easily running a con comes to her. She just hopes once her task is complete she can quit cold turkey.

The romance between these two was hot and undeniable. While they may seem to have little in common, both seem to want similar things even if they can't see it at the beginning of the story. I loved the fact each was torn between revealing their true reasons for infiltrating the rogue group and not wanting to blow their cover. I liked how both Keira and Finn approached the relationship with caution and tried to downplay their feelings.

Additionally, I loved how we found out a little more about how the preternatural take over a host. We still haven't gotten the full picture, but I look forward to finding out more about it. I keep wondering isn't there some way for a person to avoid getting possessed and could a victim potentially overtake their body snatcher?  Are their any humans who are immune from possession? Does the host actually die at possession or are they just silent co-inhibitors of their bodies? Additionally, I liked the question posed about whether it could be possible, if the right technology could be created, for people/preternaturals to cross through to the other dimension from earth? That would be interesting

Overall, I gave this one 4 out of 5 roses. It had a fast pace with a nice blend of romance, action and suspense. I loved both Finn and Keira and how they kept being thrown together. I liked Keira's snarky nature and  seeing her and Finn use their unique skills. I also enjoyed the twist at the end that I didn't see coming. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.

Order of the Series:

Secret of the Wolf (Warriors of the Rift, #2) by Cynthia Garner

• Title: Secret of the Wolf (Warriors of the Rift)
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Gener: Urban Fantasy
• Format: Paperback, 336 pages
• Publisher: Forever (June 26, 2012)
• ISBN-10: 0446585122
• ISBN-13: 978-0446585125
• Author's Website:  http://cynthiagarnerbooks.com/  
• Notes: Books for this book tour never made their way to me from the publisher and I ended up buying them. That is why this review is being created and posted later than I planned. I just purchased this one last night. Hopefully I'll do the book justice while suffering from lack of sleep. lol Oh the suffering we'll endure for the love of a good book. lol

Victoria (Tori) Joseph is a preternatural (pret) that crossed over to our dimension during the influx of 1866. Every 73 years the Moore-Creasy-Devon Comet creates a dimensional Rift as it makes its way across the solar system. When that happens supernatural being ascend upon the earth hijacking human bodies thereby taking control and suppressing the human being that once possessed it. Referred to as the Influx, it has been happening for years and no one can predict what supernatural creatures these body snatchers (aka EDs - Extra Dimensionals) will become until the full possession takes place. Some are political exiles, some have left for religious reasons, but the majority were banned from their world for being criminals of the worst kind. Many see this as their second chance and attempt to reform and meld into society while others don't wish to give up their bad habits. It's the latter that the Council of Preternaturals hope to stop.

Tori is the werewolf liaison to the Council of Preternatural. A werewolf appears to be terrorizing the Scottsdale area leaving behind no DNA evidence. The rogue, as it's believed to be, is dousing the wounds of the victim with bleach and sprinking the area with ammonia to hinder the scent trail he or she may have left behind. The attacks appear to be random, but aimed at changing humans to werewolves. With each new attack the violence seems to escalate. Tori and others of the Council have been brought in to help investigate the attacks and find the attacker. 

Besides trying to save the world from rogue werewolves, Tori is also attempting to figure out how a device that Tobais stole communicates between our world and the preternatural dimension. Not only did Tobias manage to take the device, but he also managed to snatch the schematics for it. Tori was a radio communication technician during World War II and it was hoped she could figure out how the device works, but she quickly realizes the device seems to function more like a computer than like a radio. That goes well beyond her area of expertise. She'll have to ask Dante, the tall dark and sexy human cop, who has a better grasp on the workings of a computer for help. Oh the things one must do for their jobs. Sometimes you've just got to grin and bear it.     

______________________

I am truly loving this series and the spin Ms. Garner put on where paranormal beings come from. 'Secret of the Wolf' takes place a month after 'Kiss of the Vampire' ends. Tobais and Nix are now married and we get a glimpse of how Nix is dealing with her newly made vampire half. Additionally, there are only a few months left before the Rift is once again opened allowing new prets to snatch the bodies of defenseless humans. Tensions are running high and the question of who and how many people will be taken over permeates the atmosphere. 

Tori is a loyal, smart and strong woman. She's recently been reunited with her brother whom she hasn't seen in nearly a hundred and fifty years. In 1866, when they'd first crossed over into this world, there was no way to find your friends or relatives who'd crossed over with you. She's now attempting to reestablish her relationship with him. She's ecstatic about reconnecting with him. She'd missed having family around.

Dante is a cop who's very family oriented and an all around good guy. He's also led Tori on a merry dance as whenever the two start to get close, he starts to pull away. He's partly leery of her preternatural state and partly afraid he doesn't have the time to commit himself totally to a relationship. He's been taking care of his sister who'd recently survived a bought with breast cancer and a divorce.  He also fears what will happen when the Rift opens up. What if he's overtaken by a pret? Does he take a chance at Tori's heart being broken or live in the moment while he still can? 

Why is the book called 'Secret of the Wolf'? Well, I believe it's because Tori (a wereWOLF) sits on some information that might help capture the rogue werewolf. She doesn't want to make any harsh decisions until she has something a little more solid to go on. She'll have to live with the consequences of her actions if her suspicions turn out to be correct.

Overall, I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses. I'm thoroughly enjoying the world Ms. Garner has created. I'm intrigued as to how the Rift will affect everything when it finally comes to be. I loved the quick pace, all the action and drama, and the mystery of who was converting people to werewolves and why. I loved witnessing the sexual tension between Dante and Tori that is so strong everyone around them could practically feel the heat from it. While I still have many questions as to how everything dealing with prets works, I'm hopeful we'll get closer to the answers with the next book. This is a series I HIGHLY recommend. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one scored a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.

Order of Series:

Kiss of the Vampire (Warriors of the Rift, #1) by Cynthia Garner

• Title:  Kiss of the Vampire (Warriors of the Rift)
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Paranormal Romance
• Format: Paperback, 352 pages
• Publisher: Forever; 1 edition (February 1, 2012)
• ISBN-10: 0446585114
• ISBN-13: 978-0446585118

Author's website: http://cynthiagarnerbooks.com/

Every 73 years the Moore-Creasy-Devon Comet creates a dimensional rift as it makes its way across the solar system. When that happens supernatural being ascend upon the earth hijacking human bodies thereby taking control and surpressing the human being that once possessed it. Referred to as the Influx, it has been happening for years and no one can predict what supernatural creatures these body snatchers (aka EDs - Extra Dimensionals) will become until the full possession takes place. Some are political exiles, some have left for religious reasons, but the majority were banned from their world for being criminals of the worst kind. Many see this as their second chance and attempt to reform and meld into society while others don't wish to give up their bad habits. It's the latter that the Council of Preternaturals hope to stop.

Nix de la Fuentes is one of the liaisons between the authorities and the Council of Preternaturals. She's part human and part demon which satisfies both sides of the spectrum. The politically correct term for what she is, is a hybrid and the incorrect term being half-breed. Nix has been called to the scene of a crime scene, the second in as many days. Someone appears to be targeting vampires and the kill methods suggests a preternatural was probably involved, but she's learned over the years never to assume anything without the proper evidence. Her job is to determine whether humans were involved. What she finds when she gets to the scene, is that an old friend she'd lost touch with is the victim. To make matters worse, her old flame, Tobais, whom she hasn't seen since he walked out of her life, is the liaison between the vampires and the Council of Preternaturals. Some days make you wonder why you even bothered to get up.

The world building Ms. Garner has done is phenomenal. While not every question I have has been answered, this is only the first in a brand new series so I'll remain patient and cross my fingers all will be answered eventually. With a quick pace and plenty of action, drama, and suspense, I couldn't put the book down until I'd finished the last page. *sigh* I love it when that happens.

Nix has not lead an easy life. Her father was a human and her mother a demon. It was her mother who inadvertently killed her father. She is what we would term a succubus and she sort of sucked the life force out of him while in the throws of passion. Oops! Don't you hate it when that happens? *smirk* Her mother abandoned her to her paternal grandmother who hated her. Nothing could tame the hostility her grandmother felt toward her demon spawned grandchild. Eventually Nix gave up trying to win her grandmother's love and became the difficult child her grandmother preordained her to be. That eventually lead to her living on the streets and gaining her street smarts and pickpocketing skills. Get her mad and she sprouts horns and a temper which can skyrocket to an astronomical level. Most human/demon hybrids Nix's age have lost their grip on reality and have gone insane.

Tobias Caine is a vampire who isn't like the other EDs. He came through the rift in pursuit of the criminal who assassinated  his leader. He's been tracking his suspect for over a hundred years and plans to return to his home once he's apprehended him. Five years ago he broke things off with Nix. He never told her the real reason he did it.

Favorite quotes:

- "Vows are sacred. If you're not happy in you marriage, get out of it before you start...spreading the joy."
- "If you two are done with your bromance, can we maybe get some work done?" She looked at Dante. "I thought it was women who were supposed to be turned on by a guy's car?"

I am truly loving the characters and world Ms. Garner created.  I liked the politics and prejudices that went on within that world. I loved how vampires emitted pheromones which could cause a girl's toes to curl without a single touch. It made me smile. The attraction between Tobias and Nix was undeniable and on the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, scored a Steam rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed. Overall, I gave this one 5 of 5 roses. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.