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. It’s 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 isn’t quite… 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
burglar—someone has to take care of all his victims—he’s
stolen her memories.
And only reading her fate can fix that.
Good thing she’s got a trio of hotties willing to help her
find said fate. Saving her oracle BFF’s fiancée, falling in
love with the gargoyle, and making up for breaking the
phoenix’s heart ought to be a piece of cake for the princess
of the shadow elves.
If only the king didn’t want his daughter dead...
Excerpt
"You are my true mate."
My lips were still tingling, and my brain was fuzzy.
"Jax, I’m not sure what that means."
He didn’t 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 didn’t stop.
I sighed, and Jax took that as acceptance. Before I knew
what he was going to do, he’d 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 he’d 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 didn’t know what.
When I didn’t 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. Jax’s
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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