Surviving Demon Island (Demon Hunters, Book 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Jaci Burton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 26, 2006

What’s America’s top female action star doing on a tropical island shrouded in secrecy? To Gina Bliss, competing in a survival-type reality show is a nice change from fending off on-screen villains. Until she meets real-life action hero Derek Marks. A survival specialist in a tight black T and sexy stubble, he’s arousing every bad-boy fantasy she’s ever had . . . and testing her survival skills to the max.

Martial arts, jungle warfare—Derek’s done it all. But his latest mission is more dangerous than a stick of dynamite. Try telling that to the sexy, adrenaline-pumped actress who’s got his libido racing off the charts. As the heat rises between them and real-life violence erupts, suddenly Derek and Gina are on the run . . . and when they uncover a secret so explosive it could blow the lid off their so-called reality show, these two unlikely heroes are about to discover what surviving’s really about. . . .

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Veteran author Burton returns in fine form with this paranormal romance-adventure featuring tough, tenacious action movie star Gina Bliss. Needing a break from the Hollywood scene, Gina jumps at the chance to join a Survivor-like reality television show where the object of the game is to "kill" fictitious demons on an island using martial arts, outdoor adventure skills and high-tech laser weapons. The handpicked cast assembles on "Demon Island" and undergoes rigorous workouts at the behest of sexy, stubbled trainer Derek Marks, whom Gina spars with—verbally and physically—from the get-go. After filming the first episode, a violent attack claims two group members, and the cast's newbies learn that this isn't a game at all: they're the new recruits in a real-life battle between underworld demons (Sons of Darkness) and human good guys (the Realm of Light). Burton has an uncanny aptitude for intertwining the human and the paranormal so seamlessly that sudden demon attacks and labyrinthine underworlds are perfectly believable. Realistic dialogue, spicy bedroom scenes and a spitfire heroine make this one to pick up and savor. (Jan.)
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Review

“Burton has an uncanny aptitude for intertwining the human and the paranormal so seamlessly that sudden demon attacks and labyrinthine underworlds are perfectly believable. Realistic dialogue, spicy bedroom scenes and a spitfire heroine make this one to pick up and savor.”—Publishers Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Dell (December 26, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440243351
• ISBN-13: 978-0440243359
• Product Dimensions: 4.3 x 1 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #228,124 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jaci Burton is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling, award winning author of over 50 books. She lives in Oklahoma and spends a fair amount of time on the back of her husband's Harley, where she often gets lost plotting her next story as the warm (and sometimes cold) breeze whips her face. She loves gardening, reality television, is a sucker for romantic comedies, and completely loses track of time when reading a great book. She's a total romantic and longs for the happily ever after in every story, which you'll find in all her books.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good idea hampered by unbelievable details., December 27, 2006

By 

Jane Litte "Jane at DearAuthor.Com" (US) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Surviving Demon Island (Demon Hunters, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

I think this is one of those books were the hook will totally captivate people or turn them off. Gina Bliss is an action star in the vein of Jackie Chan. She does all her stunts herself. Coming off of back to back action movie blockbusters, Gina agrees to do a Reality TV show that involves physical challenges. The TV show is really a guise used by a demon hunting recruiter named Lou to gather elite fighters from around the globe to train them to be demon hunters. Derek Marks is the hot trainer who Gina constantly challenges. Derek and Gina are an explosive combination both in bed and out.

The reader must suspend disbelief in order to buy the premise of the book: A) that a major movie star would participate in a Reality TV show;
B) that disparate individuals can come together and in two days be an elite fighting machine;
C) demons were super fast and powerful yet could easily be defeated by humans.

If a reader can get past those issues, and just go with the story without paying attention to any realities of the world, there is a fast paced action story that features bad guys that act like bad guys and a different mythology. There is plenty of action and steamy sex scenes to fill the pages. For me, though, this was a good idea hampered by some really unbelievable details.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW, You gotta get this one, December 30, 2006

By 

H. Tutorow "tutzwife" (Modesto CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Surviving Demon Island (Demon Hunters, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

The action was non-stop in this one!! The big cookie for me,though, is always character development. Do I care about these people and would I want to have dinner with them? Oh yeah. Gina and Derek are characters that make you care where the story is going and it has that little darn at the end when the story is over is there as well. I loved the "reality show" angle. I don't write these reviews as a rule because I'm usually to ready to go onto the next book, but this deserves a "You Gotta Get THIS One!" I really hope you do.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bring on the demons!!, January 23, 2007

By 

iheartjackbauer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Surviving Demon Island (Demon Hunters, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Wow. Jaci Burton really hits a home run with SURVIVING DEMON ISLAND!

Actress Gina Bliss has been working non-stop for two years doing action movies. When her agent brings her an opportunity to do a reality show, her first instinct is to say no. When she is told more about it, she is intrigued. When she learns that she'll be able to play with weapons and fight fake "demons", she's on board. While she'd like to be one of those people that like to lay on a beach and drink mai tai's, she's not. The reality show sounds like the perfect vacation for her.

Derek Marks is in charge of training the new "hunters". After seeing a demon kidnap his little brother from his bed over 20 years ago, Derek will do whatever it takes to destroy the Realm of Light. What the newcomers don't know is that they are being trained to be real hunters of real demons. Derek is blindsided by his attraction to Gina, who is as far from a Hollywood starlet as one would expect. When the demons invade their training island, the stakes are raised and Derek has to convince the hunters that the demons are very real.

The relationship with Derek and Gina is strong from the start. Burton throws in several twists, including why the five hunters were chosen to be trained and who Derek really is. I, for one, was surprised at the ending. It was something I didn't expect and made the book that much better. I highly recommendt his book, which is engrossing and fast-paced. You won't regret picking this one up!