Rock star Scarlett Fontaine uses her Siren gift to create
music that pierces the heart, but at the tail end of a
year-long tour she can no longer hide from the reason she
threw herself into the brutal schedule. She can no longer
hide from herself or the hurt caused by the man she left
behind. In her need to block the pain, she has lost the
ability to sing her own music. Now that she is home
again, she knows the only way to regain the music
in her soul is to confront Lukas with her desire, risking
his rejection.
Incubus Lukas Sebastiani is filling his role on the Council
of non-humans as head of the new Security and Technology
Division, a needed entity after the events of 9/11. Unlike
most Incubi who can only sense and absorb emotion, his skill
has an added dimension. He can taste and smell emotions and
use that to identify specific individuals. He can also sense
a violent crime occurring even when it is on the other side
of the city. The hellish part is knowing violence or murder
has been done and needing to wait for verification and
location before he can go into action. His unusual gift is
of great assistance to the Supernatural Crimes Unit, and he
has placed himself at their disposal, on call day or night.
He has gladly poured himself into his work, not only because
it is so needed but to drown his memories of the night with
Scarlett, to bury his feelings for a woman he can never let
himself have again.
The same night Scarlett's band gives a hometown concert, the
first in a series of sexually violent attacks takes place
and Lukas and his security team are placed in charge of
their safety. But who will keep Scarlett safe from Lukas?
TASTE ME plunges straight into the action. The suspense
throughout the book is handled well, the love scenes are
almost overwhelmingly spicy, and the crime and mystery
elements are well-plotted. The supporting characters also
are well-drawn and spark interest in any future books in the
series. Possibly my favorite part is how music is worked in
throughout the book, with a really great song/set list
included as an afterword. The one flaw I perceived was that
the motivation for the split between Scarlett and Lukas
seemed a bit weak, but your perception may vary. Simply
based on the other elements of the plot, this first in a new
series is well-worth reading, and I plan to read the rest as
soon as they are published.
He wants her so badly he can taste it…
Ever since their tempestuous fling years ago, incubus
Lukas Sebastiani has known that siren Scarlett Fontaine
was meant to be his. But when you’re a sex demon with an
insatiable desire, relationships are…complicated.
Her siren song brings men to their knees…
Rock star Scarlett Fontaine desperately needs a break
after a grueling tour. But with murder and mayhem
surrounding her band, and Lukas guarding her body, life is
going to be anything but peaceful.
Every encounter between them creates more turmoil—and heat—
until Scarlett pushes Lukas to the boiling point, and
unleashes forces that go way beyond anything she can hope
to control…
Excerpt
“Shit. Shit, shit, shit.” Lukas Sebastiani pounded down
the two flights of narrow stairs separating his warehouse
living space from the business floors of Sebastiani
Security, tucking his black t-shirt into yesterday’s jeans
on the run and trying not to trip on his boot laces.
He was late.
As he thundered down the hallway, several employees
working the night shift craned their heads above cubicle
walls then descended, like Whack-A-Mole gophers.
Lukas shouldered into his office, dropped into the
battered leather chair, elbowed a pile of case files out
of the way, and quickly fired up the secure computer and
one of the oversized monitors on his desk. “C’mon, c’mon,”
he muttered, his large hands twitching over the keyboard.
The Council meeting had started over an hour ago – a 3:00
a.m. start time to accommodate the vamps - and Sebastiani
Security’s proposal to allow their newest employee
unlimited access to the Archives was first up on the
agenda. Lukas looked at his watch. “Damn.” He’d missed the
vote; Council meetings were run with unwavering
efficiency. Thankfully Jack Kirkland, Sebastiani
Security’s managing partner, had authorization to issue
the Security and Technology seat’s vote.
He flexed his stiff shoulders, rolled his neck. What a
shitty start to the night, and the long day to come. He’d
been rocked from sleep by waves of lust, pain, and
lightning-hot adrenaline that he’d been forced to gulp
like he was being water boarded. The tastes and smells had
twisted on his tongue, filled his nasal cavities—
pinecones, ashes, ozone—and, just in case he hadn’t gotten
the message the first time, he’d vomited it right back up.
Lukas closed his eyes and drew in a careful breath through
his teeth. Someone had died.
One more person he hadn’t been able to save.