Review: Valerie Twombly has one heck of a formula to create a great series!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 22, 2014
I was given an ARC of this book by the author, Valerie Twombly, for an honest review and so I shall deliver.The Review:This is the first book I've read by Valerie Twombly and I must say, she has some amazing talent.  The Guardian, Marcus, is sexy and Cassie is a sweetie.The book opens with Marcus being forced to kill his mate, Eliza. She'd been turned evil by Drayos.[BOOK QUOTE]October 1712Tears stung Marcus’s cheeks when he raised his sword. “I am so sorry, love. I have failed you. It should be I who dies this day.”Eliza’s cocoa eyes looked at him but didn’t see him. Dead inside, her soul was lost. She would never again be the woman he loved.He sucked in a breath and flexed his arms, the sword swung, slicing across her neck. The blade tore through sinew and bone and sent her head rolling across the stone floor. Reality nearly sent him to his knees, but there wasn’t time to mourn the death of his mate. The fighting outside echoed in his ears, the demons were strong and put up one hell of a fight.Marcus advanced down the corridor of the abandoned castle. The scene played out the same in every direction. Blood bathed the floors, and his brethren’s heartsick screams echoed off the walls as they killed their mates.[END BOOK QUOTE]He also ended up having to kill another person he loved very much.  I felt so bad for him!!We come back to present day.  Cassandra(Cassie) keeps having some amazing sex dreams about an unknown stranger.It always started the same, with her lying in bed naked, sleeping. A man slipped in beside her and caressed her arm. He started at the shoulder and ended at her fingertips. His lips brushed a light kiss on hers then another until he suckled her lower lip. His tongue flicked out and demanded entrance, and she submitted, parted her lips, allowing their tongues to caress each other. The kiss deepened, became desperate until he pulled away and left her gasping for air.He traced his tongue down her neck and stopped at her shoulder, giving a playful nip before he proceeded to her left breast. Warm lips wrapped around her pink bud, pulled until it hardened. She arched her back.“Don’t stop,” she whimpered. He never listened; instead, his tongue glided down her belly until he reached her pelvic bone.Silver eyes flashed at her, and he smiled. “Cassie, my love, I will worship your body until you beg me to stop.” Stop? No, she’d never ask him to stop.[END BOOK QUOTE]WHO THE HECK WOULD!!???  Umm hello!!?? Tongue...Pelvic Bone...Worship... yeah...enough said!We eventually learn that dream man, is actually Marcus. OMG THE TONGUE COMES TO LIFE!!! TongueOk, I'm going to stop thinking about his tongue for a bit and get down to the nitty gritty.  If you've never read anything by Lara Adrian or Sherrilyn Kenyon, then you will absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this book! If you have, you will be able to tell those two authors are Valerie Twombly's favorites within the first couple chapters.First off, let me explain.  No there was absolutely no plagiarism what so ever. None, zilch, nada. Anyone who says so is a liar. If I wasn't such an obsessed fan with those two author's series, I probably wouldn't have noticed some of the similarities. But I am and I did.  It was very subtle, but I caught it. Is this in whole a bad thing? No. Those two authors are famous for a reason and when you love someone's work, it can easily become an ingredient into your own recipe.  It however was somewhat disappointing for a couple reasons.One, I want something different then those ladies. It's why I read other paranormal authors.Two...and this is the ABSOLUTE MOST IMPORTANT!!!  Valerie Twombly is SOOO flipping talented and I hated seeing her short change herself and that talent. HER story kept me glued, the hints of her favorites(and my favorites) did not. This was Valerie's story to tell....not those other two authors...and I want Valerie's yummy recipe, that only she knows the secret ingredients to, that only SHE can create.That being said, her writing is amazing and I was able to see that come to life later in the book.  I could literally see her confidence grow. I loved "Eternal Flame" and the story.  Marcus and Cassie were hot and so were all the other Guardians. Valerie Twombly has one heck of a formula to create a great series. As long as she stays true to herself and trusts and believes in her natural gift.Oh...and I have to say this one word...because lately I have been seeing a LOT of people saying they want to see more of this in paranormal books....DRAGONS!!Valerie Twombly brings us DRAGONS!!  Finally someone who is thinking outside the box...and dang it...she better stay out there!Robin(bookreadsandreviews.com)