Title: The Monster Within
A Mounting Darkness Novel
Author: Lola Rayne
Published: October 2012
Format: Ebook received for review
Sometimes the monster that haunted you as a child truly is real...
All it took was one phone call to bring Nicole Jones's life crumbling down around her. Now a nightmare she thought she'd left in her past is back, and he's not exactly bringing her candy and flowers. While fleeing, in a non-terrified fashion, she meets a menacing man in a dark alley. Then promptly passes out at his feet.
Gideon Evans hasn't exactly been having the best run of luck, but all that changes when a buxom little blonde collapses right in front of him. Or at least he thinks it has. It doesn’t take him long to realize that bombshell is an appropriate description for more than just her looks. Now he's facing several problems, including a surprising enemy, his own dark past, and a rather inconvenient case of lust.
Can they work together to battle the nightmare that's chasing them? Or will they succumb to the monster within?
First, let me say that Lola Rayne definitely has a sense of humor, and its wicked. If you get the opportunity make sure you read her “Acknowledgements” and the “About the author” sections. The way she speaks in these sections makes me think I want to hang out with her and do shots until someone gets arrested.
I have a habit of only reading partial blurbs. I read until I find something I like, then I read the book. I often get surprised by the content inside. That’s I was with this book, surprised by the content. This book morphs into several things which I didn’t expect from the minute portion of the blurb I read. I didn’t expect the fantastic high heat, the action, or the awesome paranormal aspext. This story was full of terrific surprises that had me flying through the words at breakneck speed.
While at work Nicole gets a disturbing phone call. One that brings her horrifying past right to her present. Her body reacts and its only a moment before she takes off. But her body proves that it is not always her brain that is in control, and she passes out. Then we see that someone has been following her. Gideon.
Gideon postiviely gives me the creeps…but only until he gives me the shivers, and I mean that in a completely good way. This man has a lot more going on than what you’d expect just from looking at him. I think he is a fabulously interesting character, and I’m hoping we get to see more of him in the future.
“He might have howled her name. He might have let loose a string of profanity. Hell, he might have done something really stupid like shouting to the ceiling the he fucking loved her.”
I loved these two in action! I mean, if you read the book you will absolutely see why. There are more than sparks, there are damned electrical currents causing white hot fire. Even without all of the other great aspects of this story, the parts where Nicole and Gideon are together are worth the price of admission.
But then on top of that you get a great story that starts in the highlands of Scotland. There is a paranormal battle that includes changlings, magic, berserkers, and much more. The evil is clearly evil, and the steamy scenes will make you wish you were there. All in all, I’m impressed with this story, and I definitely think you should add it to your TBR!
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Giveaway: Open internationally until Oct 10, 2012. Prize: 1 Ebook (pdf, epub or mobi) of The Monster Within. Winner has 48 hours to respond to winning notification or a new winner will be chosen.
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