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Liked It “The Guardians of Vesturon have grown up! Oh, yes!!! This spinoff of A. M. Hargrove's New Adult/YA series is Fantastic! So often, we find spinoffs fall flat, they just don't have that spark the original series had....nope, not a problem here! I think heading several years into the future was a...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“The Guardians of Vesturon have grown up! Oh, yes!!! This spinoff of A. M. Hargrove's New Adult/YA series is Fantastic! So often, we find spinoffs fall flat, they just don't have that spark the original series had....nope, not a problem here! I think heading several years into the future was a brilliant idea! I do suggest reading The Guardians of Vesturon Series, first, just to 'know' the characters and their stories! You'll be glad you did, trust me!
Dianne wrote this review Sunday, February 3, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
In Dark Waltz, we are several years into a future on an alien planet, now home to many humans from Earth, in order to save them from almost total annihilation because of a virulent smallpox outbreak.
Liasare Davidson needs to find out what happened to her brother, who has been missing for three months, after going back to Earth. She finds a way to sneak off Vesturon and travel alone, with no idea what she will find. Trained to fight, but not trained to survive, she uses every instinct she has in her search. Too bad she is out of her league.
Jurek, an enigmatic and powerful mercenary must come to Liasare's aid. He is a frightening and cold man, but she is drawn to him. Is it just for the safe feeling he gives her? Is it something more?
Without giving away too much more of the story, let's say they have a love/hate, push me/pull me, 'no relationship' type of relationship until FINALLY, they get it right, at the same time, at least for a while...and it is hot, it is emotional, both are holding back secrets, both have no idea they have had a connection for many years. Both are stronger because of their past damages. Both are awesome characters!
Liasare is snarky, feisty and has a mouth on her that doesn't quit! (All used as a shield.) Jurek may be brutal, but he is actually rather refined, in spite of his ability to inflict pain, torture and death! He also forgets that Liasare is not from his world, so is unaware of his customs, which she tramples on over and over.
The story is intense, the writing flows on and on, flawlessly! The secrets revealed, WOW! Great Read! Definitely romantic! Definitely ADULT!
”
“Earth was decimated in 2012 when the human population was annihilated by a virulent form of small pox. Liasare Davidson and her brother, Tommy were evacuated to the Planet Vesturion where they’ve lived since. It’s the year 2030 and Tommy, who returned to Earth for an assignment, hasn’t been heard from in three months.
Jonetta (Ejaygirl) wrote this review Thursday, January 17, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Liasare Davidson and her older brother, Tommy, were extremely close so while it was pretty unrealistic for her to be returning to Earth alone to search for him, her motivations were understandable. Everyone around her on the Vesturion planet was stonewalling her so Liasare enlisted the help of a close friend (he was in love with her, she not with him) to help transport her back to Earth. She had not returned since she and Tommy were evacuated 18 years ago, was completely unprepared for what she faced when she arrived and quickly got into trouble, setting up her inevitable encounter with Jurek.
It’s apparent from their first meeting that Liasare, who is traveling under an alias (real name is Sarah St. Davis), and Jurek have an unexplained connection and attraction. He rescues her on several occasions from the Xanthians, a brutal and foul alien species who have pretty much taken control of the planet. Jurek and his team are attempting to help other planets prepare for a power play by the Xanthians to control the universe. He isn’t what he seems either but it’s clear he’s one of the good guys.
The arising conflict between the dark and the light nations is pretty exciting. It soon becomes clear that there are more dark forces at play as they discover some extraordinary circumstances on Earth. It might not be plausible to have developed the technology to the extent we see in the story by the year 2030, but I was willing to accept it given the emergence of so many different species from other planets who may have been more evolved. The action was exciting and unpredictable, even a bit brutal at times, but it really held my interest. The dystopian society left on Earth was pretty dismal but very creative.
What detracted from the story was the relationship between Liasare and Jurek. While she is 27 years old her behavior and dialogue was more fitting of someone still in her teens. I lost count of the TSTL (too stupid to live) moments and her constant use of profanity was just inappropriate. Cussing doesn’t bother me unless it’s just constant and without proper context, which is the case here. Even Jurek commented about it and often. Speaking of him, though honestly provoked to anger by her most of the time, Jurek would lash out and physically attack Liasare. The next moment they would be in full lust with each other. Fortunately, this diminished somewhat once they succumbed to their attraction and behaved more harmoniously. There are many steamy moments but you’re more than halfway through the book before these two consummate their relationship. By that time, I questioned why they even liked each other.
Despite the issues with Jurek and Liasare, I am looking forward to the next story in the series as things are not resolved when this one comes to a close. The excerpt included with my copy was pretty intriguing and I will definitely read the next book. I’m hoping, though, that relationship between these two progresses to a more mature level and Liasare gets a cleaner vocabulary. She has an important role in the story, as does Jurek, and I’d really like to connect with this couple. It will only happen if the dialogue is more representative of the age of the characters.
(I received an ARC from the publisher.)”
“One feisty heroine meets her match in a dominant and powerful alien!
Lori A wrote this review Sunday, January 13, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Set in a futuristic world, the human population has nearly been extinct due to an unrelenting virus. Now living on the planet Vesturon, Sarah St. Davis is on a quest to find her missing brother Tommy. Changing her name to Liasare Davidson and with the help of her friend Shandro she travels back to her home planet, Earth, in order to find Tommy. Earth is not the place Liasare remembers, it's dark, dangerous and infested with creatures that use humans as their own personal slaves.
Trouble soon finds Liasare on planet Earth and its there she meets a mysterious and sexy being named Jurek who saves her reluctantly takes her in. Jurek is strong, sexy and unpredictable but Liasare must do whatever it takes to get her brother back, even withstand the harsh treatments of the enigmatic warrior. When Jurek offers his help to Liasare with her quest, they learn fate has brought them together to fulfill a prophecy that will ultimately link them forever.
Ms. Hargrove definitely made me a lover of sci-fi romance the action-packed and sexy story she delivers in Dark Waltz. The dystopian world on Earth she creates is undesirable and gritty which gives the story a dark element and edge. I have to admit the plot and world building started off as the main attraction for me in this book.
The heroine of the story, Liasare, is introduced as a headstrong woman who will stop at nothing to rescue her missing brother but then she meets Jurek and becomes this foul mouthed, insecure damsel in distress, she had me in a state of confusion for a while. As the story progresses, you learn more about her and the difficult life she's had, which makes her behavior understandable (not to say I didn't want to slap her sometimes...LOL). Liasare redeems herself in my eyes halfway through the book when she regains the strength and determination that originally captured my interest in the first few chapters. She truly is a strong woman and the devotion to her brother pulls at your heart strings.
When Jurek is introduced he's pretty much the anti-hero. Sure he's sexy and has a body to die for but his attitude makes him anything but swoon-worthy. He's arrogant, demanding and stubborn, but even with all these negative qualities I couldn't find it in me to hate him. It's not until the book's end that he sheds the jerk image and transforms into tortured hero that you can't help but fall for.
"Liasare, you hold my heart in the palm of your hand and my soul is right there with it. They've been with you for quite some time, only I was a fool and wouldn't admit it. I may not praise you with flowery phrases, but what I feel for you cannot be described by a single word. That I would give everything I own for you, including my life, goes without saying. No one could ever feel for you what I do Liasare."
The chemistry between the two main characters is best described as electrifying and confusing. One minute they hate each other and the next they want to rip each other's clothes off which keeps things interesting, to say the least. Their attraction is instant but I love that their relationship takes months to develop and isn't love at first sight, lust definitely but not love. I applaud A.M. Hargrove for writing two tortured and flawed characters that we're unsure about and grow to love.
Dark Waltz is an action-fueled science fiction read with a little darkness, unexpected twists, the supernatural and dramatic sexual tension. Each character has some inner turmoil and fear of vulnerability that allows the reader to connect with them, whether you love or hate them. Ms. Hargrove's fluid writing style makes this book a real page turner. If you enjoy an imperfect couple in a complicated world of good and evil, I recommend taking a chance on this captivating read.
{ebook courtesy of author via CBB Book Promotions for review.}
Originally Posted on Romancing the Dark Side:
http://romancingthedarkside.blogspot.com/2013/01/blog-tour-dark-waltz-by-am-hargrove_11.html”
“This is the first book I have read by A.M. Hargrove and I am now officially a big fan. I loved Dark Waltz. I have always been a fan of fantasy and science fiction, and Dark Waltz has both with some super hot romance, which makes this one great read. Set in a futuristic world, Sarah, who with the help of her Vesturon friend Shondra, changes her identity in order to go back to Earth, to find her brother Tommy, who has disappeared. Earth as she knew it no longer exists, and in the 18 years since she has been gone, it has gotten worse. An evil race of aliens known as Xanthians have invaded Earth, and no human is safe anymore. Now known as Liasare Davidson, she comes back with a vengeance and determination to do whatever she has to in order to find her brother. What she wasn't prepared for was Jurek, who changes her life and rocks her world. Liasare isn't sure exactly what Jurek is. I mean she knows he is hot, oozes with sex appeal, is arrogant, and possesses a power that she is drawn to and cannot explain. Somehow their destiny is intertwined and as the story progresses and things begin to unravel regarding this, Liasare finds herself the key to something so big she isn't sure if she, or anyone else for that matter can survive.
Always YA at Heart wrote this review Wednesday, January 9, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I really loved Liasare's character. She was headstrong, funny, far from perfect, screwing up and putting her foot in her mouth more times than she would like, yet extremely loyal and willing to do anything for those she loves. She's been through a difficult past and has faced things physically, mentally, and emotionally that many would not have survived. She is quite the heroine. Jurek.....I hated him, loved him, wanted to slap him, wanted to devour him, didn't like him, and then loved him some more. Jurek is a force to be reckoned with. He is the leader of Praestani people, radiates power and authority, and expects people to do what he says when he says it. Women fall all over themselves for him, and he has a history of being quite the ladies man, and OMG is this man sexy. He has quite the temper, and Liasare is afraid of him, yet drawn to him, and it isn't in her personality to put up with his or anybody else's crap, so she finds herself in verbal altercations which wind up physical more than once. The chemistry between these two is undeniable. Neither can deny their feelings for the other, and the relationship and ensuing romance between these two is entertaining, humorous, and off the charts hot. I loved watching their relationship develop, and especially loved seeing the changes that took place in Jurek as it did. He is one possessively fierce dude, but he loves just a fiercely and would do anything to keep Liasare safe.
The plot was intense and included some really horrific creatures, some kickass battle scenes, and the characters faced some really dangerous situations, especially Liasare, who finds herself being hunted by one of the scariest beings ever, and near death on more than one occasion. The book captivated my attention from beginning to end. There are some great secondary characters also. The story, characters and places they visited were creative and well-developed, and the romance was outstanding and had some extremely hot sexy scenes that will leave you breathless. I thoroughly enjoyed Dark Waltz and I cannot wait to read to read more of Liasare and Jurek's story. This is a great read and I highly recommend it. ”
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