Book Tour for Dark Pleasures by Aja James (Review & GIVEAWAY)

A relationship started on a lie soon takes a more emotional turn as a battle is waging that leaves lives hanging in the balance while opposites attract.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Dark Pleasures by Aja James, along with my impressions of this book, then discover even more about it by visiting the other sites hosting this tour.  In honor of this fourth installment in the Pure/Dark Ones series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $10 bookstore GC too!

Devlin Sinclair, the New England Dark Ones’ Hunter, is on a mission to track down the elusive and mysterious Medusa, perhaps the ultimate nemesis the Pure and Dark Ones have been battling in recent years.

But he can’t do it alone.

Grace Darling has isolated herself from the world since a very young age, after her parents’ death and because of her own social disability. Awkward and brilliant, a born sensualist, Grace agrees to a blind date that changes the course of Destiny.

She has the skills he needs. Their chemistry is off the charts, but will she, can she give him the love he craves?

EXCERPT:

It was the barely-there touch on her shoulder that decided Grace.

She would stay for a meal with the impostor Azor Ahai and take him home with her afterwards.

If the rash of sparks that his glancing touch generated was any indication, sex with him would be nigh incinerating, and she was in a state of utmost arousal this night.

Grace sat down and waited for the stranger to likewise settle in the seat across from her.

Her arousal wasn’t due to him, though aesthetically speaking, he was a priceless work of art:

Golden-honey waves of hair streaked with sunlight, perfectly symmetrical and evenly spaced features, dark blonde brows arching elegantly over heavily lashed bright blue eyes, the type of blue that sapphires envied.

A blade of a nose that drew attention to sculpted cheek bones and the fundamentally masculine hollows beneath, a wide, full mouth that looked like it smiled a lot, bracketed by faint grooves that hinted at dimples.

There were adjectives that most people might use to describe such a face. Handsome was too bland. Beautiful did not do justice to his overwhelming maleness. Gorgeous suggested something showy, not quite authentic.

This man knew full well the impact his looks had on others, and used it to further his own goals—like finagling a dinner with Grace even though he must know that she didn’t buy his impersonation.  But he didn’t dwell on his magnificence (was that the right adjective?); he didn’t invite attention.

He used it like a shield. A mirror to deflect attempts to see beyond the exterior. A mask that hid the man inside.

Grace’s adjective for him was: intriguing.

And as she was hardly ever intrigued by anything, she decided to see how this would play out.

But equally, she simply wanted to jump his bones. Because his touch set her afire.

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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

After a clever recap of the series storyline thus far from a beloved character, readers will become quickly captivated by this paranormal romance of opposites attracting.  With its near-perfect blend of sensuality, suspense, and the paranormal, readers will be on the edge of their seats as they frantically turn the pages to see what happens next.  By the turn of the final page readers will be left with one heckuva cliffhanger that will have them waiting in breathless anticipation for the next installment.

Devlin Sinclair comes from a time of gentlemanly manners, orchestrated flirtations, and distinct roles for men and women.  As a vampire he’s evolved since then but still calls on his well-known charm when he needs to get information from a tech genius who’s the only one who can help them find his people’s enemy.  All his usual charms, everything he’s learned about women in the past, doesn’t help him one bit once he meets Grace.  Theirs is an extraordinary romance, full of unexpected delights, and it made for an entertaining journey to a hard-fought HEA.  Through it all Devlin balances his romantic side with his need to get information in his role as a hunter.  He’s caught off guard by Grace but is drawn to her and does everything he can to make a place in her life for himself and a place for her in his despite the emotional baggage from his past.  It’s a dangerous journey too, one that kept their HEA in jeopardy, but it had me rooting for them every step of the way. Devlin’s an immensely appealing hero, sexy and supportive, who’s known for his ways with women.  His confusion over Grace’s unfiltered reactions to being romanced made this story even more enjoyable and had me falling for him even more.

Grace Darling’s a very unique heroine and I applaud Ms. James for crafting yet another unforgettable character in a series of delightful characters.  Grace is a tech genius, happy in her own little world after the death of her parents.  She has few connections, except for an aunt, and likes it that way as she never again wants to put her heart on the line.  The moment she meets Devlin she knows what he wants, she’s far too smart to be fooled.  He, however, has no idea what to expect from her and it was an entertaining and hilarious journey of discovery for both of them.  Grace is a high functioning autistic and has difficulty understanding and expressing emotions, but with a computer there’s nothing she can’t do.  She’s a very straight-forward person and I enjoyed her bluntness and easy acceptance of the strange new world Devlin introduces her to.  As a disabled person myself I appreciate Ms. James’s positive interpretation of disability and sexuality in scenes that were scorching yet full of heart and soul. Grace might have problems expressing herself emotionally but when it came to her feelings for Devlin, things couldn’t have been clearer in an ending that pulled at my heartstrings before pulling the rug out from underneath me in an exhilarating cliffhanger.

This is a series that just keeps getting better and better!  The storyline is becoming more layered with world-building that‘s vividly depicted that sets it apart from other paranormal series.  The characters are all likable and distinct with good and evil not always clear cut.  The romance is strong with moments of playfulness and eroticism beautifully balanced with action and suspense. Glimpses of past characters are plentiful with some story threads tied up while others start to unravel in a tale that kept me on edge from the first page to the cliffhanger ending.  Though this book can be read on its own, readers will find it a much richer experience to have read the previous books first.  These characters, this world, have quickly become an addiction and I can’t recommend this series enough as it’s the very best representation of paranormal romance out there! 

My rating for this is an A+

*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

Aja has been writing stories since the age of six, and novels since the age of thirteen. While she'd be the first to admit that those early efforts weren't particularly good, she sure loved putting them down on paper!

The best part of writing, according to Aja, is that it’s completely organic, the way the stories develop. When the inspiration hits, she writes just so she herself can learn where the characters are headed because oftentimes, they take her by surprise! It is her ultimate dream to share her stories with as many readers as she possibly can.

Her other loves include art, cooking, and old movies (anything with Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Robert Redford, Vivien Leigh, Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, Clark Gable, and all the song and dance numbers because she can’t watch them and not be happy!).

She adores taking long walks with her husband and running after her two rambunctious kids. She has traveled extensively (all seven continents except Antarctica) and has a multi-cultural upbringing. She speaks two and a half languages and binge watch TV shows when the mood strikes.

Aja has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Comparative Literature and Economics and two Master’s degrees, one of which is in East Asian Studies.

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