STONE COLD SEDUCTION is Jess Macallan's debut novel and the first installment in her Set in Stone series. Elle Fredricks is an ordinary woman who enjoys simple things like running her organic soap store and lusting after her gorgeous new employee Jax. That is except for when she's stealing priceless items from her father to raise money for his victims. She's about to get caught taking a bag of jewels when Jax shows up and saves her by leaping off a 5- story building. Jax turns her world upside down by telling her that her father is a shadow elf king and she is his heir. She also learns that she can blend into shadows, Jax is a gargoyle, her best friend is an oracle, and that she has been accused of stealing souls. In order to prove her innocence they all must take a trip to discover her other powers. And if that isn't enough for Elle to handle, there is still the small matter of a man from her past showing up and both he and Jax claiming to be her one true mate.
This book is written in a lively first person account that really let me connect with the character from the beginning and throughout her battle to understand what is happening to her. There is not much action in the first half of the book, and it has a bit of a slow start, but it is necessary to set the stage. We are learning about the strange world of elves, gargoyles and magic at the same time as Elle. Macallan does a good just of developing a unique urban fantasy world that will be the foundation of the entire series. Hopefully the next installment will have a bit more adventure now that the stage is set.
Although the book starts out with a light feel it gradually turns darker as it progresses. Elle has several flashbacks into a horrible childhood, and the story becomes fairly emotional toward the end. There are a few steamy sex scenes that help to balance the feel though, and I really enjoyed the descriptions of Jax when he turns into a gargoyle. Macallan definitely puts a new spin on the typical romance alpha male. This is only the first of several books in the series so there is no complete wrap- up and is in fact a bit of a cliff-hanger. But it definitely left me intrigued enough to want to read the next one, and I think fans of the urban fantasy/romance genre will agree.
"Elle. Itβs just Elle."
When a regular night of Robin Hood-ery results in the
manifestation of some, um, unusual paranormal abilities,
perfume-maker Elleodora Fredricks realizes the normal world
she lives in isnβt quiteβ¦ normal. And neither is she, thanks
to her father, king of the shadow elves. Not only is he evil
incarnate and the reason Elle moonlights as a
burglarβsomeone has to take care of all his victimsβheβs
stolen her memories.
And only reading her fate can fix that.
Good thing sheβs got a trio of hotties willing to help her
find said fate. Saving her oracle BFFβs fiancΓ©e, falling in
love with the gargoyle, and making up for breaking the
phoenixβs heart ought to be a piece of cake for the princess
of the shadow elves.
If only the king didnβt want his daughter dead...
"You are my true mate."
My lips were still tingling, and my brain was fuzzy. "Jax, Iβm not sure what that means."
He didnβt answer, but instead pressed a kiss to my temple. And another to my cheek. Slowly, he nuzzled his way to my neck. I let my head drop to one side, giving him better access.
He whispered his approval, and lightly nipped at my neck. "It is a connection between souls. A bond determined by fate. I will show you what it means."
His lips and tongue were doing a slow, erotic dance along the oh-so-sensitive skin down my neck, and coherent thought was impossible. He could show me whatever he wanted, as long as he didnβt stop.
I sighed, and Jax took that as acceptance. Before I knew what he was going to do, heβd scooped me up and was halfway up the stairs.
"Jax!" I yelped.
He stopped, but his muscles were vibrating with energy. He waited until he had my full attention before repeating, "I will show you. We are mates, connected in ways you and the phoenix will never be."
His silver eyes were bright and intense. I could admit to having had many, many fantasies where heβd carried me upstairs, and all sorts of amazing things had happened. But this was real. And he was dead serious. It scared me, thrilled me, and seriously confused me.
The experience with MacLean had been just as real, although not nearly as enjoyable. And I knew that meant something. I just didnβt know what.
When I didnβt respond, he lowered my feet to the floor and pressed me up against the wall in the narrow stairwell. His eyes held mine as he leaned close. "I will show you, so there are no doubts."
Then he kissed me again, and this time, he held nothing back. Possession, need, and barely leashed control. Jaxβs mouth told me more than words ever could. He leaned against me so our bodies were in full contact. His erection was hot and hard against the junction at my thighs, and I moaned against his lips.
Our tongues stroked and teased, and I wanted more of him. Need burned through me. His taste, his touch, drowned out my worries. His scent surrounded me. He smelled crisp and clean. Like a sunny, winter day. But the heat he created inside me was intense. Just like the man himself.
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