Customer Reviews

Deadly Desire (A Riley Jenson Guardian Novel)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It took me a little while to get into this book, maybe because it had been so long since I read the last Riley book that I just felt disconnected from the world, or because Riley just isn't out there almost getting killed every two seconds in this one. Whatever the reason, it may read a bit slow to some in comparison to the others in the series. BUT, oh lordy, Ms Arthur makes up for it in the end!

Riley is investigating not just a series of vampire killings (its the vamps being offed) but a series of zombie killings (the zombies are doing the offing). All of it smack dab in the middle of the full moon. Needless to say Riley gets herself into a spot of trouble. She is trying to juggle time with her super hawt vampire lover Quinn into her case load, and is actually doing a pretty good job, but is distracted by the appearance of bounty hunter Kye into the mix. This unlikeable (or so Riley tries to tell herself) werewolf keeps turning up, setting Riley into a hormonal twist.

I definitely recommend this book, while not as action packed as previous books, this one has a few emotional and personal discoveries for Riley that will have you hopping up and down waiting for the next installment!

The Riley Jenson, Guardian novels cross the fantasy genre with paranormal romance, and Deadly Desire somehow gets lost in the translation.

The premise of Riley's world is unique and interesting, set in modern-day Australia where supernaturals live among humans and are policed by a Directorate of Guardians (a combination James Bond/Navy SEAL squad comprised of supernatural races including vampires and werewolves). Unfortunately, the protagonist Riley Jenson, who is a rare werewolf-vampire hybrid with expanding psychic talents, has a host of annoying personality traits that make it very difficult for readers to take her seriously as a skilled investigator.

Riley's promiscuity is written into the core story as a preoccupation of werewolves due to "moon heat" and often dominates her limited investigatory skills. Additionally, every male character with the exception of her boss Jack and her twin brother Rhoan and his partner Liander, are essentially interchangeable: stereotypical hunks with different hair and eye color. With few exceptions, all of these physically perfect men eventually or immediately become Riley's lovers in the context of each new investigation. Often, the prose is literally recycled in each book with phrases like "kaleidoscope of sensations" and "happy hormones" that make repetitive appearances in all 7 books to date! Riley's investigations largely consist of wisecracking with CSU workers at murder scenes, chasing suspects around the city, and going undercover at exotic locations, which often serve to further her expanding collection of lovers.

Deadly Desire opens with Riley pursing a murder suspect while grousing to herself about the interruption to her sex life with on-again off-again vampire lover Quinn. Riley tails the suspect to an abandoned warehouse where she bumps into Kye, a werewolf bounty hunter paid to find the killer by a victim's parents. Their suspect turns out to be a zombie reanimated by magic who is controlled by a black crow--a shapeshifter who gets away--and who looses a pack of hellhounds on Riley and Kye. Thus begins the investigation of why vampires are being murdered in Melbourne.

Riley's case is constantly thwarted by Kye, who also frustrates her personal life, as their mutual attraction interferes with Riley's intention to remain faithful to Quinn. When a prominent vampire and friend of the head of the Directorate is murdered and a witness fingers a stripper as a possible suspect, Riley goes undercover at (where else?) a strip club. Kye shows up to conduct his own investigation which includes a lap dance from Riley and hints that this werewolf is not all he seems.

While the story itself could serve as a stand-alone in the series, Riley's preoccupation with men and her attractions to her workmates overwhelm her investigation, and the prose in relation to the ever-present love scenes (at times) reaches the level of soft-core porn as opposed to mainstream fiction, or even mainstream romance. Riley's continuing quest for her soulmate becomes a major factor in this story by book's end.

Readers who enjoy erotica will be delighted by the steamy content of Deadly Desire, but for those who prefer more of a focus on police procedural urban fantasy may want to look elsewhere.

The Riley Jensen series has been one of my favorites for a while. Unfortunately, the last few novels haven't wowed me. It's feels like Riley is talking about the same issues in every novel. She will be in grave danger and she will never be happy with Quinn because he's not a werewolf. Her thinking is very one dimensional, and she hasn't grown much as a character from novel one. She is still lusting after random strangers when she has a man at home, and frankly it's starting to get old. The series is getting entirely too predictable. I assume in the next novel she will get into danger, somehow manage to get out of it, and Quinn will stick with her. Personally, I'm starting to think he deserves better than Riley, since he will never be enough for her. Even if she were to stop lusting after other men and be with Quinn, I still think she would flirt with her colleagues, and it's just not an attractive trait. I guess I hoped Riley would grow up, but that may never happen. The mysteries and the danger are interesting, and I still enjoy the plots of the books, but there may be a point when my dislike for Riley makes me not want to continue reading.

I've been following the series from the first book. I must say they are fun, entertaining, and deliciously sinful. If love strong, powerful and sexy women as the hero, with men that have flirty and dangerous sides read these books. This one will leave you dieing for the next book. It is too easy to fall into the world of Riley Jenson. You are hooked from page one. If you love the paranormal that is.

Riley is just trying to survive and not worry too much about the future as fate has a way of twisting her wishes into nightmares or into burning denial that leaves a lasting scar. However, one thing Riley has finally given into is becoming a Guardian - not that she likes it, but it's better than the other options left to her due to her twisted heritage and blooming "gifts," not that Riley sees them as such.

The case she is currently working is taxing her to her limits in her tolerance for death and evil as she starts chasing after a killer zombie with a liking for teenage girls which leads her to a sorcerer and Kye, a man from her past that she'd rather forget. But Kye has been paid to find the zombie killer and being the mercenary that he is, Kye will not stop investigating even when his path crosses with Riley and the Directorate. Plus, Kye seems to have talents he shouldn't and a way of making Riley's hormones dance in a way that she hates.

To top it all off, she gets thrown into another case of a vampire killer that is mystifying as there seems no trace of the killer. As the mounting evidence still doesn't add up to any sensible answers Riley gets one of her famous "feelings" that the two cases aren't as separate as they appear, but will she survive to solve the puzzle?

Still, Riley has the ever-menacing Quinn still at her side, even if they have managed to achieve some sort of truce that works for them, it might be threatened by the discoveries Riley makes during the course of this investigation.

Deadly Desire continues the tale of Riley Jenson's complicated life as a Guardian and a half-breed wolf/vampire in a mesmerizing urban fantasy tale that will suck you into its universe and leave you wanting for more. As usual, Keri Arthur does a fabulous job of continuing to build upon Riley's world, which is parallel to the "known" world but containing elements that range from the mysterious to the frightening, and of course this installment has plenty of mystery, action and danger to keep you glued to the pages well into the night to find out just how Riley will survive this latest adventure. Riley is a compelling character as she is a mass of contradictions such as cherishing life, but being an efficient killer or being a powerful telepath and more while dreading the power would do to her. Riley will, as usual, keep you entertained with her irreverent wit and humor as she navigates the deadly supernatural world more easily than she would like and her ever-present romantic troubles. Balancing Quinn and her wolf nature is never easy and with the discoveries Riley makes regarding her wolf soul and her vampire heart things might just reach an explosive point. As ever Riley doesn't disappoint when it comes to action, adventure and explosive encounters with men - but wait until you find out just how is sharing the field with Quinn! I was absolutely mesmerized by Deadly Desire from start to finish, especially during the most confusing times when I floundered right along with Riley to understand what was going on and why her life seems to spin out of control every time something good seems to come her way. Pick up Deadly Desire when you are looking for a spellbinding urban fantasy read that will intrigue you and have you panting to catch your breath at its action packed, fast paced plot!

Note: Deadly Desire is the seventh installment in the Riley Jenson Guardian series, and while it can be read as a standalone much of the undercurrents and secondary plot would not be well understood.

Sabella
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Pretty good story. Not quite as interesting and entertaining as some of the past books when she was starting to discover her powers because of the drug. Still was a good read and I look forward to the next one in the series.

Riley Jenson is a Guardian, a paranormal like cop, she sees the worst the world has to offer and her new case is not going to disappoint in that quarter. Vampires are being used, and thrown away in a bizarre and evil ritual. The brutal slaying rocks the vampire world and directly affects her lover Quinn. So it's clearly understandable that the very last thing she needs added to an already full plate, including the upcoming full moon and how that brings her hormones into crazy focus is the return of bounty hunter, and rogue wolf Kye Murphy. Her inner wolf is hungry for this guy and yet she needs to keep him at arm's length, going so far to threaten to arrest the guy if he doesn't back off from her and her investigation. Now she is fighting not only the bad guys, but her lust for two "bad boys." Yeah, Riley's life has gotten complicated. Will she be able to do her job and keep her wits? Only time will tell.

This is another page turning story by Ms. Arthur. Riley is a large than life character and so are Quinn and Kye. There is plenty of suspense, action and lust to keep the reader firmly engaged and well entertained. I look forward to the next "Riley" story.

This entire series is so good. If you like paranormal romance and a heroine that can take care of herself, but isn't too stupid to ask for help when she needs it, you will love Riley.
I definitely recommend starting with the first book and following the order so you get Riley's life story. And after you've been around for the whole Riley & Quinn saga, you just might tear up at the end of this one, too. *sigh*

~ POSSIBLE SPOILERS~






I want two soul mates! And that's exactly what I kept thinking when this book, 'sniffle*sniffle', came to a beautiful end. In truth I didn't remember Kye Murphy at all but thankfully I have all the books and can go back and re-read his introduction. Either way he is everything I wanted Riley's Wolf Mate to be. At first I wasn't sure he would turn out to be exactly that but when it happened I felt every bit as confused, thrilled, exhilarated, and bereaved as Riley. Still, how lucky is she to have Quinn and Kye vying for her. The next installment is going to be exciting as all hell and I for one will not be waiting around for it to hit shelves. It's pre-order for me, fellow readers. Pre-Order all the way!

Well book 7 didn't disappoint. Riley and Quinn are doing great. He is being the perfect guy. But Riley has a nasty case of sorcerer's killing old vampires and having zombies killing young girls. To add to the mess Kye (remember Patron's bodyguard?)is also after the sorcerers because they killed the daughter of a friend of his. What a nasty mess. To make matters even worse the moon heat is upon them and Riley's wolf is sniffing up Kye. Can't go into any more detail because I don't want to give anything away. Just know that this is another action packed Riley novel - EXCELLENT!