Deadly Desire

Half wolf, half vampire and with abilities that are still manifesting, Riley Jenson's work as a Guardian is never boring. Her latest cases involve dead humans and dead vampires. And if that's not enough trouble, it's also coming up on the full moon when her wolf demands sex...and lots of it. Good thing she has her hunky vampire, Quinn, to meet her demands. Of course, nothing is so attractive to her wolf than another wolf, and wouldn't you know it, this case has her running into the same wolf over and over again...and he's emitting some serious pheromones himself.

Keri Arthur's Riley Jenson series is set in Australia and is more urban fantasy than romance; although there's plenty of hot sweaty sex. Riley's story comes out in bits and show more pieces through the novels in this series. "Deadly Desire" is book seven and Riley faces a decision she's been putting off for quite a while. Wolves have only one mate. Vampires don't necessarily mate but Quinn is old-fashioned enough to resist sharing her. But what happens to someone who isn't only wolf? Can she really have two mates?

I like that Riley's character and life has become more complex and interesting throughout the series. She's kind of a supernatural detective and her work requires her to take on the worst of the supernatural predators. But Riley didn't start out hard, and she's still got a lot of soft parts even when she's kicking a$$.

If urban fantasies with very strong sexual and romantic interests are your cup of tea, then I recommend you get an urn and start on this series. I'm hooked. show less

Listened to audio narrated well by Angela Dawe. Riley is with her vampire lover Quinn now and trying to be as monogamous as she can be. While hunting a someone killing young people and vampires she is repeatedly confronted with a wolf that fires up her senses. While Riley tries to figure out if she's dealing with more than one murderer, Kye keeps insinuating himself in her investigation and getomg Riley very riled up...

HUGE SPOILER ***


I definitely have mixed feelings about this story. I love the characters, the action and the continuation of everyone's story but the twist and turn Riley takes does not make me happy. I know this series takes sexual boundaries and pushes hard against them. This series basis has a lot to do with sexuality show more being more open and accepting a lot of flexibility in defining sexual relationships. In saying all of that, I truly thought the author was leading us to Riley recognizing Quinn was her mate.

AND THEN she finds a mate she doesn't even like? That they aren't compatible at all except sexually? It's so many kinds of wrong, if the only point of mating is finding the one you can have kids with, but it could be someone your aren't compatible with, why are all the shifters so moon-eyed about finding their mate? I just don't get it, it seems so pointless and we're given no hint of this ugly scenario in previous books. I really hope future books makes this situation better, because I love the Riley Jensen world and the characters but this twist is a bit too ugly for me.

Riley is so bent out of shape to find her wolf mate, so she can have her babies drives me a bit crazy. Quinn is so good for her and to her and she feels so good with him, I'm like what the heck? Why can't you be happy with what you've got but NOOOO!!! She fucks this guy she does not like because they suspect they are each other's mate. And BAM, she found her mate that she can't stand? I hate that the author allows a mating like this, and that even though she doesn't want him, they both will be drawn to each other and pine for each other? This is an ugly turn in my opinion that I absolutely HATE! Grrrr!!! The fact that Quinn didn't lose his every loving mind makes me love Quinn even more.

More of my reviews can be found at https://wyldheartreads.wordpress.com/ show less

Rating: 2.5 of 5

My enjoyment of Deadly Desire was definitely hindered by two things: one, I hadn't read any of the previous six books in the Riley Jenson Guardian series; and two, I'm not what you'd call a fan of "paranormal romance."

I bought this book on impulse years ago, not realizing it was the seventh in a series, thinking I might find a story and characters I liked as much as those in Laurell K. Hamilton's books. (Entertainment being the number one reason anyone would read these types of books.) Well, either my tolerance for "romance" is way lower than I first thought or Deadly Desire wasn't very good.

The biggest obstacle was I just didn't like Riley and, since this was the seventh book, there wasn't much in the way of character show more development. So it was really hard for me to connect with who she was, how I could relate to her, and why she did what she did. Also, there were several brief references to events from the past so I felt I was missing vital history.

Probably, for existing Riley Jenson readers, Deadly Desire would meet all their needs. Unfortunately, for anyone new to the series, it would probably be wiser to start at the beginning, and you most certainly should already love the "paranormal romance" genre.

Please note: My two-star ratings translate to "meh, not the worst ever, but I have no plans to read it again." show less

This review was originally posted on my review blog : Falling Off The Shelf (http://fallingofftheshelf.blogspot.com)

Title : Deadly Desire
Author : Keri Arthur
Publisher : Bantam
Genre : Paranormal
ISBN : 978-0553591156
Series : Yes, #7 Riley Jenson, Guardian Series
Rating : 5

From Amazon :

Seduction that kills. Pleasure to die for.
She just can’t resist...

Guardian Riley Jenson always seems to face the worst villains. And this time’s no different. For it’s no ordinary sorceress who can raise the dead to do her killing. But that’s exactly what Riley expects to find at the end of a trail of female corpses used—and discarded—in a bizarre ritual of evil. With pressure mounting to catch one fiend, another series of brutal slayings shocks show more the vampire world of her lover, Quinn. So the last thing Riley needs is the heat of the upcoming full moon bringing her werewolf hormones to a boil—or the reappearance of a sexy bounty hunter, the rogue wolf Kye Murphy.

Riley has threatened Murphy with arrest if he doesn’t back off the investigation, but it’s Riley who feels handcuffed by Kye’s lupine charm. Torn between her vamp and wolf natures, between her love for Quinn and her hots for Kye, Riley knows she’s courting danger and indulging the deadliest desires. For her hunt through the supernatural underworld will bring her face-to-face with what lurks in a darkness where even monsters fear to tread.

Review :

This was the seventh installment in the Riley Jenson, Guardian Series and I can honestly say that each time I finish each book in the series I tell myself 'oh that's definitely one of my favorites from the series!'. It's taken me this long to realize that I have declared this each time I have finished a novel by Keri Arthur. I absolutly love this series, and it's only getting better!

Riley Jenson is by far one of my favorite heroins in the paranormal world. She's always ready to kick butt, even if she has a zombie or hellhound chewing through her, which in this case she does! I have a perfectly normal love for zombies in paranormal books, so I was extremely happy to encounter them in the Riley Jenson novels.

Her men are extremely scrumptious too! I can't get enough of Quinn, her sexy vampire lover and now the ever so delectable Kye Murphy, all werewolf, who we will most definitely be seeing more of in the coming novels.

I could have sat down and read this book in one sitting if I had only more free time. I actually shouted at my sister and fiance for bugging me while I was trying to read it, and later felt bad, but it was just too good! I was also late for work because I couldn't put it down. Every time I read one of Keri Arthur's novels I feel like I'm in Australia with Riley, like I can see everything through her eyes, and I love that feeling when I'm sitting down with a book.

I can't wait for the next installment in the Riley Jenson, Guardian Series! Book number 8, Bound To Shadows is due out October 27, 2009. show less

This is the 7th book in the series and is part of one of my favourite series of all time. I enjoy the writing, the plots are fresh and keep me guessing, the characters are engaging and likeable or if they are evil they are truly evil no nice parts. Add to that its written by an Australian, set in melbourne and the odd bit of Australian slang creeps in makes it a great read. 4 stars and a small sigh that this series is coming to a close.

With Deadly Desire, Keri Arthur has once again created a sexy, compelling story with enough mystery and romance for anyone. This time around, Riley’s up against zombies and sorceresses, with romantic complications to boot! We also get to visit with some of my favourite recurring characters, like Ben, Cole and Iktar, and also get a bit of insight into Sal, who’s been a favourite of mine despite being a relatively minor character in the series. I wish there had been a bit more with Rhoan but Riley’s family was a huge focus of the last story so it’s only fair to shift perspectives now.

From what I understand from the author’s blog, there’s only two more books left in this series and I can’t wait to see what’s next for Riley show more since the book ends with a really big development in her life.

Originally posted at http://ireadgood.wordpress.com show less

There's a *lot* of non-con going on in this series. It's somewhat made up for - at least for me, where non-con gets my hackles up - by having a pretty darn decent world build.