Must-read romances: 'Wicked Ride,' 'Soul Scorched'

Wicked Ride by Rebecca Zanetti

Wicked Ride is a mix of urban fantasy and steamy paranormal romance. There's a lot of action, a superhot motorcycle-riding hero and an independent and strong heroine. For fans of her Dark Protector series, this is a great spinoff, and readers who remember Kell from previous books are finally able to see a woman take him on and take him down. ;)

What it's about (courtesy of Lyrical Press):

Alexandra Monzelle is a hard-fighting, heat-packing Seattle vice cop, and she's not much interested in being protected. Her short skirt and sex-kitten heels are tools to lure her suspects into talking about the deadly new drug hitting the streets. She can take care of herself and then some. Unfortunately, she can't seem to get that through to Kellach Dunne.

Kellach is a fresh import from Dublin, and he's landed at the heart of a vicious motorcycle club that deals in guns, narcotics, and mayhem. He's all male, all rough power—and all interference in her damn investigation. Maybe he's one of the good guys. Maybe not. Lex knows an affair with an immortal like him would risk everything. No matter how delicious he looks…

INTERVIEW WITH REBECCA

This is the start of a new series. Where did you get the idea for it?

Rebecca: Well, back in Hunted (Dark Protectors, book three), we took to Ireland and met Kellach Dunne, who's an Enforcer. He rode motorcycles and was dark and a bit wild. So I always wanted to do a book about him. When I re-contracted with my publisher for the Scorpius Syndrome series (Mercury Striking, book one, is out in January), part of the deal was to start a spinoff series, The Realm Enforcers. So it seemed like a fun time to start Kell on his journey, keep him a bad boy on a bike and put the book in Seattle.

Alexandra and Kellach have a very ... interesting and fiery relationship. What was it like writing them?

Rebecca: It was tons of fun, because Alexandra is so dang tough on her own, as a cop. Taking a strong human and having her deal with the bizarre immortal world was a blast. And taking Kell, who's used to being the toughest guy around, and giving him a love who wouldn't back down? I liked that.

Do you have a favorite scene from Wicked Ride?

Rebecca: I'm always a sucker for the first part of a book. So in the first scene, when Kellach is all protective and then tries to think of a way to convince Alexandra that she didn't see what she just saw … and he turns around and sees that she's not a victim but a cop pointing a gun at him? I love that part.

Who is the next Realm Enforcer book about?

Rebecca: The next Realm Enforcer book is called Wicked Edge, and it's about Daire Dunne and a wildly crazy heroine named Cee Cee. She's probably one of the most spirited heroines I've ever written, and she definitely throws Daire for a loop. And … she's a surprise for anybody who's read some of my earlier books. Wicked Edge releases in November.

What are you currently working on?

Rebecca: Right this second, I'm working on Shadow Falling, which is the second book in the Scorpius Syndrome series. This is a fast, sexy, dystopian romance series, and I'm hoping readers really like it. My publisher wants to put the first chapter of Shadow Falling in the back of Mercury Striking, so I'm trying to get it just right.

Epic one-liner from Wicked Ride?

Rebecca:

"The second?" He stood in the rain, a powerful man, one she couldn't figure out. "With the bite and the burn? I've mated you, baby. Welcome to immortality."

Soul Scorched by Donna Grant

I'm a fan of dragons, and Warrick, the lone awkward and strong man, is a great dragon hero. The Dark Kings series is fun. Simply put, it's steamy, passionate and has fantastic interactions between the main characters and the people populating this excellent world. This is the sixth book, and Donna has set up so much for the next books that I can't wait to read about the bad boy of their world!

What it's about (courtesy of St. Martin's Paperbacks):

Darcy was floating on a cloud of pure passion. Everywhere he touched, Warrick was leaving a mark on her, forever changing her. She could feel it through her skin and muscle, through bone and into her soul. It was as if he was changing her. And she welcomed it…

Her power is a blessing.

Born on the Isle of Skye, Darcy is a beautiful woman of many gifts. Fortune-telling is her forte, and she remains the only Druid who could unlock the secrets—and desires—of a Dragon King. His name is Warrick. And now that Darcy's seen into his dragon heart, nothing will ever be the same…

His passion is a curse.

Warrick never intended to put Darcy in harm's way. But ever since she revealed a shocking truth, Darcy has been hunted by the Dark Fae, who want to use her powers for their own evil purposes. Now it's up to Warrick to do whatever it takes to keep the woman who sets his soul on fire safe. But protecting Darcy means putting himself—and his entire race—in jeopardy. Is his desperate longing for one woman worth the risk of losing everything… for eternity?

INTERVIEW WITH DONNA

What is writing the sixth book in a series like?

Donna: I've done it a few times now. The sixth book isn't so difficult. It's the 14th or 15th where it can be a bit difficult to make sure I'm keeping things going as they should be. lol.

Tell us about your yummy hero, Warrick!

Donna: I loved the idea of a Dragon King who was fascinated by humans and our world of social media, food and the like. I also found it endearing that he became agitated in large crowds and wasn't much of a talker. It made for some interesting conversations with his heroine. :)

I love how dominant yet slightly — is awkward the right word? — Warrick is at times. Did you have a favorite scene to write?

Donna: Awkward fits it perfectly! lol He was different than the past Dragon Kings who are all dominant, but also comfortable in crowd situations and have no problem saying what's on their mind. So Warrick was the complete opposite. It would be difficult to pick a favorite scene, but it might be the first time he's alone with Darcy and she's trying to talk to him. :D

I love that Darcy believes there is more than one side to the story. How did you create her as a heroine?

Donna: I knew that inevitably a Druid would come into the series. One, because the Warriors and Druids are still part of the Dark world, but also because in my world Druids are from Scotland. She actually came to mind long before Warrick. I wanted her paired with someone who would understand her since she gets Ulrik's side of the story long before she hears the story from anyone at Dreagan. She's strong-willed, yet compassionate. She doesn't hesitate to stand up for who and what she believes in, and she's prepared to walk that road alone. I love that Warrick walked it with her.

Who will the next Dark Kings book be about?

Donna: The next Dragon King is Thorn. And OMG, he was something else! He's a bad boy of the Dragon Kings, so you can imagine the trouble he finds himself in.

What are you currently working on?

Donna: I'm working on the ninth Dark Kings book, Smoke and Fire.

Epic one-liner from Soul Scorched?

Donna:

"You're mine," he whispered right before he took her mouth in a savage kiss.

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Jessie Potts, also known as Book Taster, adores books in all forms. She also does reviews for RT Book Reviews magazine and works in the submissions departments at Dreamspinner Press and Entangled YA. You can follow her on Twitter (@BookTaster).