Review: Great New Entry !
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 13, 2013
I can remember writing my first review for this series, well over a year ago, with A Lady of The Realm. I sat back and said Wow after that read, and I have never looked back or stopped loving this series. It was in that first book where we met Beth Boudroaux tending bar in the Big Easy. Bethany is looking to claim her heritage. Her mother had been a 100% full blooded witch, and gave up her status years ago. She chose to live her life as a human, and did not tell her daughter anything about her birth. When Bethany finds out, she wishes to regain what she has lost. Beth has no idea how to go about claiming her rights as a lady in the paranormal realm so she decides she must enlist the help of a mentor.Lord Alek is the Elf who is in charge of their surrounding area encompassing the city of New Orleans. Beth plans to ask Lord Alek for his assistance not really realizing what she is in for. We meet the good Lord Alek and his shadow and brother of his soul Lord Malachi...Through Beautiful Tears and Blood for Barter we hear from each of them, seeing different pieces into the intricate path of destruction for these three lives.Now In this newest writing, Ms. Mamolo has stopped, having the reader take a step back, back to the beginning. The author brings us to the 1700's, where we meet the boys. We are there in person to see them `meet' the witch for the first time. Now, we the reader can really take in all their pain, and see why these two men have suffered losing the witch over and over and really how much she means to both of them; especially Lord Aleks. The series has been so far quite a ride in giving the reader mystery, mayhem, death, treachery and erotica but also dark. That being said, I think this story, Lord Malachi is the darkest of them all.I saw a review that someone wrote for this book that it was a waste of their time, going back through the past; that this was water under the bridge. Yes, while it is true about it going back to the past, I did not feel that way. I think the first three books showed us this world, brought the characters and the realm to us. We now have bought into the cast of characters but it only gave us hints and pieces of their shared past. With this newest, Lord Malachi gives us the up close and personal story of Lord Aleks continuing need for Beth, that now we see thru the eyes of his shadow, through Malachi's eyes and words.I love the world Ms. Mamolo created. The Realm is a very hard world to live in. The treachery, the lies and the murders all play an extremely important part. It's like a chess game, but you cannot make a mistake. If you do, you can certainly ed up dead! But look at the rewards! The elf and his shadow in her bed. Beth has it all!So here I sit, I am left still holding my breath, waiting to see what the Demon Sig has cooked up for our boys, and if Beth has survived as she was carried away in Blood for Barter. I also feel I will be waiting with baited breath for my next House of DeDe fix. Please Ms Mamolo, be kind and don't make us wait too long.Review by Gloria LakritzSr Reviewer and Review Chair of the Paranormal Romance Review Team