Customer Reviews

Surviving Demon Island (Demon Hunters, Book 1)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

Gina Bliss is an action movie extraordinaire leading lady but the last couple of years has been busy movie after movie and she needs a break. Well, what could be more relaxing then doing a reality television show on a tropical island? Sign her up! She goes to Demon Island with a cast of others and one super sexy hot trainer named Derek Marks. He is so good he's bad and Gina is all about winning. But, the reason why she's there is not exactly correct and it's not long before danger and passion make an intriguing mix.

Derek is not expecting Gina to be so competitive nor so pretty. He's also worried about the mixed feelings that seem to rise each time they're together. The mission could be in danger if he can't keep his focus and his hands off Gina. But, things are easier said then done and Derek can't keep stay away from her. Now if he can only keep them both alive.

This is a page turning read with plenty of twist and turns, steam, heat and attraction. Ms. Burton has done a very good job creating her story and readers will feel compelled to continue reading until the last page. Derek and Gina are well matched and the ending...well let's just say it was a very good one. This is the first book in her Demon series.

I enjoyed this escapade; a really good book, incorporating a very strong development of storyline, conflict and characters, with influxes of sexual encounters. Yes, as others have said you have to suspend reality and embrace the mystical aspects, the title does include 'Demon' in it. I just finished the `Riley Brothers series' from Burton's latest work, which is mega hot with sex scenes and a little less plot...so this was quite a change (direct reversal , actually). It's the perfect beach, vacation or public read when you don't want to be blushing and panting, but still desire a little spice.

I picked this book up, I was desperate for something to read, knew nothing about the author. I didn't realize it was a 2007 book! Have been pleasantly surprised. I thought it was well written. One comment a person left was that a reader would have to believe that a major star would give up her career to hunt demons. Well, she is only 28 years old and has a personal vendetta against them because the took her mother when she was only 8. Also, she is an action junkie. Along with her relationship with Derek, I don't find it hard to believe at all that she would give up her old life. I very much enjoyed the book.

This book was incredible!!! Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. There were surprises around every corner. I have read the other books in this series as well and they do not disappoint either---can't wait for the next one to come out. It has a great story, great conflict and great "romance". You definitely get it all with this series.

I started out really liking the premise of this story with the heroine being cast for a Survivor-like series. The show though turns out to be fake. What? The heroine is really being prepared and trained to hunt real demons on an island. There are several twists and turns (too many, truthfully) in this paranormal/romantic suspense novel. I found myself liking the intensity of the chemistry between the hero and the heroine best. I didn't care though for the ending all that much (another twist near the end involving the hero). I would though like to read the others in this series.

Surviving Demon Island is the first book in a series by Jaci Burton. Ms. Burton does a great job of giving the background information needed to understand the story without overwhelming the reader. The book is fast paced, full of action, and has a great romantic element too. Derek and Gina are both complex characters who have painful pasts that they must work to overcome. They are characters you can really root for. The action element keeps the reader hooked, waiting for the next demon to get melted or blown up. The weaponry used in the story is really cool. I can't wait to read Hunting The Demon (already out) and The Darkest Touch (October 28th).

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I loved this book! Very interesting and fun with a lot of action and steamy sex. Although there was a bit much of the 1st person analysis and self-doubt, it didn't take from the story at all. Derek and Gina have great chemistry.