Genre: Paranormal Romance Heat Level: 2 Word Count: 38, 858 ISBN: 978-1-926950-36-5 Editor: Hannah Giersdorf Cover Artist: LF Designs

Dark Passion Rising by Shannan Albright

Heat Level 2
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SKU 978-1-926950-36-5
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Dark Breed Enforcers, 1

Tambra Ellis has just had her world turned upside down. Surviving a bite from a Lycan, attracted to one hot vampire and now she has to look forward to turning into something from some bad werewolf movie.

Marcus Valerian has enough on his plate without the added complication of Tambra Ellis. Fiery and independent? Sure. Beautiful with a body made for sin? Oh Yeah. She's also a human cop. Tambra is everything he needs to stay away from.

As leader of the Tribunal’s enforcers it’s up to him to find out why the Dark Breeds are going feral and killing humans in ever increasing numbers. Tambra’s life is in the balance as the secrets of her past place her in the middle of a battle that will change the world forever.

Will Marcus and Tambra’s love survive or will it too late?

 

Excerpt

Marcus moved to the door in a burst of speed, and stopped with his arms folded across his chest, lips compressed into a thin line as he glared at her. He drew his brows low in a scowl.

“W…what the hell are you?” she stammered, unable to mask her unease.

“I am not here to harm you. I have been the one tending to you as your body adjusted.” “You haven’t answered my question,” she pushed.

“That’s because it’s not relevant to the situation.”

“Like hell, asshole. If it affects me then it is my business.”

Marcus liked her toughness, finding it remarkably refreshing. Her strength was impressive, not many could make it through the beginning stages of the change when turning from human to Were, yet she had fought through it. She had overcome it all, despite how badly she had been injured.

He used his most reasonable tone to calm her, knowing that the next few minutes was crucial to keeping her receptive to what he had to say. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, making his tone as calm as he could manage. “At this time the only thing we need to focus on is your change. You are not out of the woods as of yet. There are too many things that could go wrong.”

Her eyes widened in horror as she took a shaky step backward.

“Oh, God. This isn’t happening. It can’t be real. Werewolves don’t exist.”

“Believe me, they do exist. Denying what you have seen will be foolish and dangerous, for you and everyone you’re around.”

“No. I don’t believe this. I won’t believe it. There has to be some logical explanation for what I saw.” The sharp edge of hysteria rose in her voice. “I will not turn into a dog.   I don’t even like dogs.”

That made him smile despite the seriousness of the situation. She was absolutely adorable and he was in deep shit because of it. Yet, he couldn’t seem to make himself care. “Wolf, not dog. You were bitten by a Lycan, not Lassie.”

“Ha, ha, laugh it up big guy. You don’t have to worry about fleas.”

Laughter rumbled out of him, surprising him as much as it seemed to anger her. Tambra stood in front of him, her golden hair tumbling wildly down her back, clutching the comforter tightly to her breasts. Her blue eyes glittered with anger and Marcus fought the urge to pull her into his arms and stroke her soft, creamy skin. He clenched his hands into fists and kept still. She was still too pale, evidence of the weakness he knew was plaguing her but, damn, she was magnificent. A true warrior, ready to fight regardless of the fact she couldn’t win.

His blood headed south as he remembered stripping her out of her torn and bloody uniform, seeing her full breasts, tipped with pink nipples that begged him to take them into his mouth. Her tiny waist smoothing into shapely hips and a firm and heart shaped ass. He wondered how it would feel in his hands. Her legs were long and lean, he wanted them wrapped around him while he filled her, wanted her screaming his name with her release. She was heartbreakingly beautiful and though he knew it was wrong, he was sorely tempted to risk it just to feel her lips against his, her taste in his mouth.

That was not going to happen, he reminded himself, burying his attraction in the deep recesses of his being, where it could be locked down tight.

If Tambra survived the Rising, Fox would demand to take her, acclimatize her to her new existence, and teach her the laws of living under Lycan rule. Marcus would never see her again.  

The one bright spot was that Zeke, their guru for all things tech, had found that Tambra had no living relatives. No ties binding her to her old life as she adjusted to her knew one. Her father was deceased and her mother had abandoned her when she was an infant.

“This is not funny,” Tambra spat, her back straight, chin held high. “I will not be held against my will. I’m a cop and people will look for me. Do you want that kind of trouble?”

“You are already trouble. Just by breathing,” he growled. “You cannot leave here without an understanding of the world you are about to enter.”

“I get the feeling I’m getting deeper into that rabbit hole,” she sighed. “So, I’m turning into a werewolf at the first full moon right?”

“Wrong. You are becoming a Lycan.” He held up a hand stopping her questions before they even got started. “You were bitten by a Pure Blood, a Lycan. In the Lycan world there is a structure much like that of a monarchy. You have the Pure Bloods, the royalty, who rule their Breed. If a Lycan bites a human, that turns the human into a Pure Blood, but if that same human bites another human, then they are called a Were since they have more human DNA than Lycan, and more limitations to what they can do.”

“Like what?"

“Weres can only turn on a full moon, Lycan’s transformations are not limited. It’s not only wolves either. There are many types of Breeds in the shape shifting community that are identified as Weres and all have their own unique structure, yet it is only the wolves or Lycans that consider other Weres as beneath them.” Marcus’s voice held bitterness.

“You don’t agree with this, I take it.”

“No. I most definitely do not,” he stated firmly.

She tilted her head, studying him as she digested everything he just said. His gut churned, instinct told him she was taking everything he had thrown at her too calmly. She was up to something, but he couldn’t tell what.

“And what are you, Marcus Valerian?”

 

Other Books in the Dark Breeds series:


Passion's Flight

Product Reviews

Score: 4 out of 5 (based on 6 ratings)
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5/5
Nail-biting and steamy!
Written by Lea Bronsen on 2nd Feb 2018

This story is a must-read for lovers of paranormal romance. Enter the world of a new species called the Dark Breed. After being bitten by a Lycan (werewolf) during a savage fight and barely surviving, bad-ass and hot-looking Las Vegas cop Tambra Ellis is rising (shifting) into one herself. Marcus Valerian, vampire and leader of the elite Enforcers, nurses and protects her during her change. Their mutual attraction quickly develops, and he realizes why: she is his true mate. The following battle to save the humans from the Dark Breed is a nail-biting race against time that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the end. The superb portrayal and development of the main characters makes it easy to care for them and feel their wide range of emotions. This imaginative story gives you all the ingredients you can wish for: a fast pace, a complex and intriguing plot with unexpected twists, lots of drama and action, and of course, vibrant love and steamy scenes. The author's smooth writing is very detailed and visual, and leaves you wanting much more. I look forward to reading the next book in the series!

4/5
Kick Azz Exciting!
Written by Rhonda Tutt on 2nd Feb 2018

I totally loved it, fast paced, sizzling hot, and visually creative. The author's smooth writing had me hooked as she made the scenes come alive on the page. With a kick azz and feisty female police officer named Tambra, a sexy vampire enforcer named Marcus, and a new world of species called the Dark Breed, the story totally sucked me into a new addiction of wanting more of this series. I loved the interaction between all the characters and the sexual attraction between Tambra and Marcus. I thought it was neat where the story takes place in Las Vegas, a city of life and sin that stays awake 24/7, a place where any type of species could be lurking. It reminded me of watching the original TV Show CSI (Vegas) with paranormal twist. The world of the Dark Breed is ruled by the Tribunal and by its enforcers who keep the secret and protection of their existence from the human race. Marcus the Vampire is the leader of the Enforcers and with his team, Tegan the were-panther, Zeke the Atlantis Warrior, Adrian the Tuatha De'Danann - peace keeper, Ryes the Celt cursed by the goddess Morrigan, and Christophe the vampire they fill the pages with fights against a Lycan named Temple Fox and captures of rogue breeds as they try to figure out why and or what is causing them to turn rogue. . But the main goal of the Enforcers quickly becomes protecting Tambra until her rising (first shifting), however things turn and get interesting as things sizzle and heat up between Tambra and Marcus as he realizes she is his true mate. The story is exciting and had me smiling throughout the whole book. Great read, I look forward to reading more of Shannan Albrights work.

4/5
A quick read...but well worth it!
Written by Amazon Customer on 2nd Feb 2018

Tambra is a human cop who accidentally stumbled upon the world of the Breeds. Vampires and werewolves were creepy bedtime stories for her until one fateful night she hunts down the wrong kind of criminal. In a dark alley, trying to save an innocent from being mauled to death by something right out of a horror movie, she gets bitten by a feral Lycan and finds herself against the clock for survival and mixed in a world that is way above her pay grade. On the hunt to keep the peace between the Breeds, Marcus is the leader of the Tribunal's Enforcers. Searching for the same Lycan who just gave Tambra a run for her money, he discovers her miraculously still semi-conscious but well worked over. Intrigued by her will of survival, he decides to take her under his wing to help her with her Rising...the transformation from human to Lycan...should she survive it. Dark Passion Rising is a complex world with a lot going on in it. Somehow, though, it works. It had everything that you need. Fast paced, conflict, action, and some surprising turn of events make it a great afternoon read. It's loaded with sexual tension and some great lip-bitingly steamy sex scenes. What more could you ask for? The only thing that didn't impress me is that, although the story does keep you guessing a little, it is surprisingly predictable. There were definitely a few points where the story lacked that shock value I love so much. That being said, there were also some parts that made me go "H'uh?". I guess it kind evens itself out. If you are a fan of action, "don't mess with me" chicks, hot vampy men, and steamy sexiness, I totally recommend this book. It's a quick read...but well worth it!

4/5
Night Owl Reviews
Written by Silvermage on 21st May 2011

Dark Passion Rising is a very good story with caring characters. Tambra was a great character who is caring yet fierce. She’s also strong and stands her ground with ought being overbearing. I really liked that about her. Her reaction when becoming a werewolf was a highlight and a very realistic one. Marcus is an interesting vampire. I enjoyed that he was strong yet caring, brave and protective of Tambra. These two were written well. This title also had good bits of action. The villains were surprising and evil. They were easy to really dislike. Overall an enjoyable paranormal.

4/5
Romancing the Book Reviews
Written by Bri on 18th May 2011

One thing this book is not lacking in is speed. This has to be one of the quickest books I have ever read. Shannon covers so much in such a little amount of time I wanted to go back and read it again. Well that and it was a great read. While I will not give away any details or spoilers, I will say I really really hope that there is a sequel. It seemed like she alluded to a sequel. The range of characters in this novel from the Cajun human best friend to the different Dark Breeds species was a brilliant balance of familiar and new. Good job, Shannan. Can’t wait to read more.

5/5
www.allbooksreviewint.com
Written by Cindy Taylor on 25th Apr 2011

You know an author has hit the mark when you turn the last page of a book with great reluctance because you don’t want the excitement to end! Shannon Albright has done just that with Dark Passion Rising, an electrifying journey through the world of creatures long only heard of in fairy tales and horror movies. Tambra Ellis, a tough Las Vegas cop, takes her job of protecting the public very seriously. However, when she is attacked and bitten in an alley by a feral Lycan and is saved by the 2000 year old vampire, Marcus Valerian, who shatters everything she thought was normal and right by telling her she will now have to survive the Rising as she undergoes the transformation into a Lycan, Tambra wonders if protecting will ever be part of her nature again. It seems that her future has been decided for her, and she feels powerless to change it. Add to this a compelling mutual attraction between Tambra and Marcus and the mystery of why members of Breeds all over the world are turning feral and attacking and killing humans at will, and the result is a tale so drenched with suspense that you will find yourself on the edge of your seat until the very end. Trust me, there is not a boring moment in this story. Albright is definitely a natural, and her descriptive skills are so well honed that I was able to form precise mental pictures of the events taking place because the scenes were written so vividly. There is an elaborate use of sensory language that makes her writing come alive. To me, a description is outstanding when I stop and read a section over a few times out loud, enjoying how the words roll off my tongue, and this happened numerous times while reading this book. Her characters are rich and varied as well, from Tambra, with the personality of a fighter who never gives up, to her partner, Cody, whose fierce protective nature means he would give his life for Tambra if necessary, to the dark and mysterious Marcus, confident and capable leader of the Enforcers, whose sudden and surprisingly intense feelings for Tambra leave him reeling, and to the unrelenting Temple Fox, who will stop at nothing to ensure the survival of his Breed and secure more firmly the tenuous hold he has on his leadership of the Lycans. Dark Passion Rising is the whole package, combining conflict, mystery, intrigue and suspense with romance and intense passion, with the resulting secrets and true characters being revealed bringing everything to a shocking conclusion. My only complaint is that this book was far too short. I would have loved it if Albright had expanded further on the characters and their pasts and made this story last longer. However, thankfully it is a trilogy, so I look forward with anticipation to the second book in the series. Born and raised in San Luis Obispo, California, Shannan Albright now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with her husband, step-daughter, two dogs and two cats. When not writing she loves painting, reading, dancing, working out, and even acting in Renaissance fairs. She loves writing paranormal romances because of the world building and rich characters she finds. Highly Recommended by Reviewer: Cindy Taylor, www.allbooksreviewint.com

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