His Darkest Hunger (Jaguar Warrior) [Kindle Edition]

Juliana Stone (Author)

Book Description

“Christine Feehan’s fans will devour this steamy paranormal treat. Juliana Stone rocks!”
—Ann Aguirre, author of Doubleblind

 

Debut author Juliana Stone launches her career with His Darkest Hunger, a hot new paranormal series…with a twist. His Darkest Hunger features a dark, sexy, shapeshifting hero who hungers for revenge on his ex-lover. The success of the novels of New York Times bestsellers Nailini Singh and Lora Leigh prove that shapeshifters are the next big thing—soon to rival vampires in popularity—and with this steamy tale of love on the wild side, author Stone loudly announces that she has, most emphatically, arrived.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Newcomer Stone wastes no time establishing her ability to tell an enthralling story. Passions run dark and deep in this tale. Stone introduces a world that holds plenty of treachery, ensuring lots of danger and heart-stopping adventure. Can’t wait for the next installment.

From the Back Cover

Jaxon Castille: jaguar shifter, warrior, assassin. He has long hungered for the chance to make his former lover, Libby Jamieson, pay for her deadly betrayal. After three long years he's finally found her. The hunt is over . . .

But the Libby that he finds is not what he expected. She has no memory of their tumultuous affair, of her treachery, of anything beyond her own name. A shadowy and deadly clan has marked them both for death, and in an instant, he game changes: the hunter has become the hunted.

On the run, with the ghosts of their past between them and a dark, desperate hunger quickly reclaiming their bodies and souls, Libby and Jaxon must discover the truth behind the dark forces working against them. Together, they must grab hold of a destiny that has the power to either heal them or destroy them.

But the truth is far more shattering than anyone could imagine . . .

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 438 KB
• Print Length: 388 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0061808776
• Publisher: HarperCollins e-books; 1 edition (March 30, 2010)
• Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers
• Language: English
• ASIN: B003C2SOPG
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #89,944 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Debut! March 30, 2010

By Fiction Vixen

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Jaguar Shifter Jaxon Castille has one objective. Find and kill his former lover, Libby Jamieson. He has been hunting her for three years, ever since she betrayed the anti-terrorist unit they both belonged to resulting in the death of his cousin, and then disappeared without a trace. Vengeance is all he's thought about for three years and now the moment of truth has arrived.

Deciding to face Libby before he kills her he soon realizes she has no idea who he is, she is poor health and something is very wrong. When a sniper takes a shot at him in the diner while he confronts Libby, Jaxon realizes he has been set up and he is the target. He also realizes that his feelings for Libby are far more complicated than the anger and hatred he's harbored the past three years. Instead of killing Libby, he takes her to his compound where he assembles his former teammates to track down and discover who has put out a hit on him and what it has to do with Libby.

Juliana Stone has written a story that truly encompasses the saying, "There's a thin line between love and hate." Jaxon is angry to the point of hatred toward Libby but at the same time is fighting his physical attraction to her. Disgusted when his body responds her to, he becomes angry and at times takes his frustrations of his own weaknesses out on her. He seems torn between his dedication to vengeance and romantic feelings he thought died with Libby's betrayal.

Libby also feels some attraction to Jaxon, but has no idea if they had a relationship in the past. She is confused by Jaxon's hot and cold behavior as he rides a range of emotions from lust and occasional tenderness to anger and animosity. She seems to think he is the key to helping her regain her memory and is basically at his mercy. She feels herself being drawn to him, but then put off by his conflicting behavior.

Once Libby begins to regain her memory and the true circumstances of her betrayal and disappearance come to light, not only must Jaxon face his enemies but also the deeper feelings for Libby he has masked with his anger for so long. However with the return of Libby's memories comes the strength and determination of her former self. Jaxon is not the only one with enemies and she must find a way to face her enemies and to reclaim something taken from her far more precious than her own life.

Although the sexy Jaxon is pure alpha male, and quite a hero, Libby steps up as an amazing heroine in His Darkest Hunger. Based on her behavior early on in the story, I thought I'd be reading a story with a helpless heroine needing to be saved by the big aggressive alpha. However Libby is revealed as a strong, capable and very likeable heroine that does a little saving of her own. She and Jaxon become a very nice compliment to each other as they battle their enemies, realize things are not always as they seem, and discover a love that runs deeper than either of them ever knew.

The action is fast paced and the fight scenes are exciting with a nice mix of hand to hand combat and magic. What I really liked is although there is plenty of alpha male goodness, it's the women who really step up and kick ass when it counts. Go girls!

His Darkest Hunger is an exciting, sexy, fast paced tale of love and betrayal. Juliana Stone has created a dangerous and interesting paranormal world with characters that are flawed, but redeemable that will leave you looking forward to the next book in the series.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Action Story - Maybe, Romance Story - NO October 24, 2011

By Rare Reviewer

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I actually downloaded a sample first based on the wide range of reviews and liked the sample. Too bad the rest of the book did not live up to the sample. I was looking for a good new paranormal/shifter romance - the book has the paranormal/shifter element but lacks big time in the romance department. Some mild spoilers included.

The Good
Fairly good action scenes
Fairly decent writing - a little too much prose at times
Good world building

The Bad - The Improbable & Unbelievable
After knowing that the lead female protagonist has been tortured for a good length of time, the other characters ignore it and proceed to treat her worse than a prisoner at times (at least most prisoneers taken by the good guys can expect to be fed at times.)

There was some plain lust scenes but they stretch the limit of believability - not because of the position or anything kinky - but considering that Libby is dealing with broken ribs and is in pain most of the time (mentioned quite frequently) - it seemed rather improbable.

I got the impression that the sex scenes were added so that the book could be considered a romance.

The Downright Ugly - Where's the Love?
The story revolves around the central theme that the hero hates the heroine (because he feels that she betrayed him) and then the heroine turns around and hates the hero because of what she had to endure because of him.

While it was an interesting concept - so much negative emotions between the two characters all the way to almost the very end of the story - made the "romance" part feel fake! Even in a Sci-Fi or PR, you can only suspend your belief so much.

After so much hate, mistrust and downright cruel treatment between the two main protagonists - the so call HEA felt contrived and abrupt.

If you are interested in a paranormal/shifter story with pretty good action scenes - maybe you might enjoy this novel - but don't except any real romance to be involved.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars enjoyable urban fantasy April 1, 2010

By Harriet Klausner #1 HALL OF FAME

Format:Mass Market Paperback

He had impatiently waited three long years for the right moment to kill his former lover for betraying their antiterrorist team; her seditious actions led to the death of a team member. Now in Winterhaven, jaguar-shifter Jaxon Castille begins his assassination of his former human lover, Libby Jamieson.

Jaxon easily enters her abode and knows he could kill the human traitor before she would even know he is there. However, something does not feel right with what he observes of her; so he hesitates on pulling the trigger. Instead of the Libby he knew, he realizes she is a tortured shell who remembers nothing. Taken aback by her amnesia and his damn feelings Jaxon brings his former teammates together seeking the truth, but remains unaware that the deadly predatory DaCostas clan stalks each of them.

This is an enjoyable urban fantasy starring two lead characters whose acrimony and animosity towards one another seem greater than the love each tries to conceal from the other. The world of Stone is a foreboding grim realm that enables the audience to believe in shapeshifting clans. Although the exciting story line has some shaky moments, readers will appreciate this dark fast-paced tale of betrayal.

Harriet Klausner

More About the Author

Juliana Stone's love of the written word and 80s rock, have inspired her in more ways than one. She writes both paranormal romance as well as contemporary romance and will debut her young adult contemporary in 2014. She spends her days navigating a busy life that includes, a husband, kids, a dog and a cat and lives somewhere in the wilds of Canada.