September 2022 Book of the Month Giveaway
October 16, 2022 03:52 PM Posted by juliannadouglas
During the month of September, I read four full-length novels, two novellas, and three short stories. Nearly all of them were good reads with a few receiving five stars from me. But the one I’m choosing to feature, and the one that nosed out the others, is a side novella in one of my favorite paranormal romance worlds. Raze is a Seminus demon medic who works at Underworld General Hospital, but he also moonlights at the vampire night club, Thirst. Seminus biology is such that they need sex to survive and can only climax with females, but Raze is gay, which leaves him in a pickle. He’s had a longstanding arrangement with Fayle, a female succubus who services his bodily needs, but nothing more, which has left him deeply lonely. What he doesn’t know, though, is that Fayle is keeping secrets from him. Slake works for a demon law firm that has sent him to find and capture Fayle. In the course of his investigation, he spots Raze at Thirst and is very attracted to him. When he discovers that Raze has ties to Fayle, it seems like everything is coming together, but after spending one night with Raze and getting to know him better, Slake knows he can’t betray Raze by taking away the female who’s been keeping him alive. If Slake doesn’t bring Fayle to his employer, though, his soul will be forfeit. However, if Slake comes clean with Raze about his true mission and his background, Raze may never forgive him, and even if he does, they might not have a future together if they can’t find a way around Raze’s biological imperative.
I adored Raze. Like all the males in this series, he’s yummy and strong and can take care of himself, but at the same time, he has a tender, vulnerable side that makes me want to wrap him up in my arms. He worries what others would think if they knew he was a gay Sem. Fayle is about the only one who does know and she doesn’t treat him well, only providing for his needs because she’s getting something in return. Raze is starved for kissing, touching, and just simple affection, so when Slake gives him all those things, he soaks them up like a sponge. I was so happy that he found someone he could love, trust, and share his life with. Slake is a little rougher around the edges than Raze but no less appealing. He has his own deeply sympathetic backstory that makes him quite vulnerable. He has a former lover who was never able to accept him for who he truly is, but who keeps plaguing him every decade or so with promises of having changed. And then there’s his family who’ve completely rejected him and even want him dead for a choice he made long ago. Slake found his perfect match in Raze who sees and appreciates him for exactly who he is.
I loved both Raze and Slake and thought they made the perfect couple in more ways than one. Raze has a kind heart that defaults to the “Do no harm” mantra of the medical profession. Even when he’s in the throes of an uncontrolled rage induced by lack of sex, he still has the presence of mind to pull back from hurting Slake. For his part, Slake may be a bit more cynical, but meeting Raze changes his outlook on life. Even with his soul on the line, he simply can’t betray Raze like he was initially planning to do. All the interactions between these two are heart-stopping romance at its best. The characterizations may be wonderful, but the story is great, too. This author has always impressed me with her ability to plot stories that keep the reader on their toes, and this one is no exception. The plotting was tight and played out beautifully, leaving me with the perfect sigh of a happy ending done well. I couldn’t have asked for a better read and I’m hoping maybe we’ll see these guys again somewhere down the line. This book has definitely earned a spot among my favorite stories in the series. That’s why I’m naming Larissa Ione’s Base Instincts as my September Book of the Month. If you enjoy paranormal male/male romance with two tortured, vulnerable heroes in a hot, steamy, well-plotted story, then you should definitely give this book a try. Keep reading to learn how you can win a copy for your own library.
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Cover Blurb- As a Seminus demon, Raze's life literally depends on having sex with females. The problem is that he doesn't desire females, and it's physically impossible for him to be with males. Thankfully, he and his best friend, Fayle, have an arrangement that keeps him alive . . . if lonely. He finds some solace in his work as a medic at Thirst, a vampire club known for its rough clientele. But his carefully structured world turns upside down when he meets a mysterious male who makes him want what he can never have. |
Raze and Slake must navigate a dangerous world to be together. But as Fayle's jealousy of their relationship turns deadly, they find themselves embroiled in a battle not only for their love, but their lives and souls.
Warning: This book contains explicit language and sexual situations, including spicy M/M interactions and a brief M/M/F menage scene.
Read my complete review of Base Instincts.
Giveaway
If you would like to win a copy of Base Instincts to see how wonderful it is for yourself, just enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below. One lucky winner will receive their choice of an eBook or print copy of the book. If the winner chooses an eBook, I will gift it to them via the eBook retailer of their choice (Amazon or B & N). If the winner chooses a print copy, I will have it mailed directly to them via Amazon. Good luck!
International Entrants: You are welcome to enter my contest, but please note that not all eBooks are available in all countries due to copyright restrictions. If this is the case, Amazon offers an option to trade for a gift card (I'm not sure about B & N). If you choose print, I can mail it to you via the Amazon website that services your country, pending availability and cost. Otherwise I will mail it to you via U. S. Amazon's standard international shipping, but it may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive, and I may not have the capability of tracking the package.
Categories: Book of the Month, Giveaways
Tags: Larissa Ione
