Author: Leia Shaw
Date Published: July 4, 2011
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: ebook, 224 pages
Author Requested Review
Erin Bolton knows her former foster sister is a sorceress and a witch, but she wants nothing to do with that world. Fear dictates her life, panic attacks disable her, and only alcohol gives her the freedom she craves. The day before her twenty first birthday, a tall, dark, and terrifying vampire, Marcelo, turns Erin's world upside down. He convinces her that he was sent to escort her to the safety of the Underworld, where her sister is waiting. But she wonders, who will keep her safe from him?
Marcelo postponed his eight hundred year search for his wife to perform a small favor for the Queen of the Underworld. When the errand turns into a week long journey across the country toting a fragile female, his life takes a turn for the unexpected. Especially when, on Erin's twenty first birthday, he discovers there is more to this girl than meets the eye. And now instinct claims she's his. His mate. Meant for him, and him alone. Forever.
Can Marcelo give up his dream of reuniting with his long lost wife to be with the woman his body yearns for? Can Erin conquer her deep-rooted fears and confront the destiny only she can fulfill?
Review Ratings
Kris’s Ratings
Review: 5 – An Alpha Howl
Sexual: 2 – Steamy
I really enjoyed this very suspenseful and romantic story. I should have read the first book first though. I will definitely go back and read it. I'm dying to know more about Sage. I loved Marcelo. He was a total alpha, but also extremely sweet after he realized Erin/Aila was his mate. Erin was a stitch. I couldn't help but feel sorry for her at the same time I was rooting for her to kick some butt. I loved the action in the story and enjoyed the world that she has created. Although there was a lot of action, there was also plenty of dialogue, romance, and time spent getting to know and care about the characters. I also really enjoyed the author's style of writing. I just wish that I didn't have to wait until 2012 for the next one!
Cynthia’s Ratings
Review: 2 – A Small Howl
Sexual: 2 – Steamy
I’m not quite sure where to begin with this because quite honestly there were more than a few things that didn’t sit well with me. So, just the highlights.
The tone of the story is too flippant. Marcelo and Erin/Aila seem to be constantly bantering with each other. Marcelo ‘chuckles’ and Erin/Aila calls him Ballsy. Erin has social anxiety and suffers panic attacks because she was raped; therefore, “no grocery stores, no restaurants, and no shopping malls.” I don’t understand why she would have a revolving door of boyfriends to do her bidding. When copulation finally occurs between Aila and Marcelo, this is their post-coital pillow talk:
“Holy fuck,” Aila said, breaking the powerful silence.
Marcel chuckled. “I’ll say.” He pulled her into his arms. “But there was nothing holy about it.” He kissed the top of her head and ran his fingers up and down her bare arm. Goose bumps covered her body. Would she ever be immune to this man?
“So, my god-kissed mate, what do we do now?” he asked.
Last but not the least, the central theme of the story, DESTINY UNITED, never came to fruition. While another, concerning Marcelo, was brought to the forefront and just stopped…right there…nothing more.
What I did enjoy was the undertone of a D/s relationship between Erin/Aila and Marcelo. Marcelo being the very dominating Vamp that he is and Erin the Timid; it was a natural that he would control and protect Erin/Aila as necessary. The dressing room scene was especially entertaining. Watching Erin sprout from the frightened human to the powerful fae was a delight.
Ollie’s Ratings
Review: 3 – One Good Howl
Sexual: 4 – Four Alarm Fire #@!%$
Destiny United follows Erin, a young college student desperately trying to make it in the world dealing with panic attacks and social phobia gets her world turned upside down by a vampire sent by her sister to bring back to the Underworld.
Marcelo didn't like that fact that his original mission had to be sidetrack by this little favor for the Queen of the Underworld but before he knows it, it turns out to be the best thing that has ever happened to his undead life.
As Marcelo tries to escort Erin safely to the Underworld he not only has to fight of forces bent on destroying Erin before reaching the Underworld he at the same time tries to control his growing possessiveness and attraction to this timid young girl.
Marcelo was a delicious treat to read because he eluded such raw power and passion for Erin. When I say raw passion I mean this vampire offered more to Erin then she could handle in more ways than one. However, I found myself getting frustrated with Erin at several points in the books mostly because of her inability to trust Marcelo and going against him. She either didn't tell him everything, shot him to ran away from him and/or walk into danger when Marcelo knew she would be in danger.
The other aspect that bothered me was the whole destiny aspect surrounding Erin near the end of the book that never explained why she was chosen. The explanation lacked depth which could have been more thoroughly explored and could have provided more insight into her past and how it would lead to her future responsibilities.
WildAboutBones’ Ratings
Review: 3 – One Good Howl
Sexual: 2 – Steamy
I loved the story line! After all, what's not to love about the Underworld, sexy vampires, sorcerers, werewolves, the fae, a dragon shifter and a fae war with a romance in the middle of all of it?
Marcelo, an 843 year old vampire, is sent to find Erin by her sister Sage, the Queen of the Underworld. When he sees her the first time, he thinks date rape bait who has sexy down to a science.
Erin, human with a little extra, thinks of Marcelo, "he was sexy as hell", as soon as she gets over her panic attack. She has a debilitating social phobia that is only overcome by alcohol ... lots of alcohol.
When she hits her 21st birthday her life is turned upside down, well more than it already had been for the past couple of days. Is Marcelo her destined mate or is the fae, Unseelie prince Kieran?
"Let’s do the time warp again" a reference to The Rocky Horror Picture Show? Gotta love it. Even though this is the second in the series, you'll have no problem with reading it out of order. I think the characters were a little bit flat and the story could have used more "meat" but again the story line was very good.
I think paranormal romance and urban fantasy fans may like this one.
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