Wicked Nights (Hqn) [Mass Market Paperback]

Gena Showalter (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 26, 2012 | Series: Hqn

Leader of the most powerful army in the heavens, Zacharel has been deemed nearly too dangerous, too ruthless—and if he isn't careful, he'll lose his wings. But this warrior with a heart of ice will not be deterred from his missions at any cost…until a vulnerable human tempts him with a carnal pleasure he's never known before.

Accused of a crime she did not commit, Annabelle Miller has spent four years in an institution for the criminally insane. Demons track her every move, and their king will stop at nothing to have her. Zacharel is her only hope for survival, but is the brutal angel with a touch as hot as hell her salvation—or her ultimate damnation?

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin HQN (June 26, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373776985
• ISBN-13: 978-0373776986
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (214 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,701 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"One of the premiere authors of paranormal romance!"

--#1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole

"Combining passion, humor, pulse-pounding action and just plain fun, Gena Showalter's books are always a refreshing escape!"

--New York Times bestselling author Lara Adrian

"Showalter gives her fans another treat, sure to satisfy!"

-RT Book Reviews on The Darkest Passion

"The versatile Showalter...once again shows that she can blend humor and poignancy while keeping readers entertained from start to finish."

-Booklist on Catch a Mate

About the Author

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the acclaimed Lords of the Underworld series and more than thirty other books. She lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Visit her at GenaShowalter.com.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin HQN (June 26, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373776985
• ISBN-13: 978-0373776986
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (214 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,701 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today best selling author of the White Rabbit Chronicles, Otherworld Assassins, Angels of the Dark, Lords of the Underworld, and several of other young adult and adult romance series. She has written over thirty novels and novellas. Her books have appeared in Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazine, and have been translated in multiple languages.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#26 in Books > Romance > Fantasy & Futuristic

#85 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy

#26 in Books > Romance > Fantasy & Futuristic

#85 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 57 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wicked Nights was Wicked Amazing!! June 26, 2012

By Carla Gallway

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Carla's Review:

Gena Showalter is one of my favorite all time authors. I own every book she's ever written and pre-order her books as soon as they are available. I was super excited to get an ARC of Wicked Nights and could not wait to read it, although I hesitated reading it for a few days because I did not want it to end so quickly.Wicked Night's is the first book in Gena's new ANGELS OF THE DARK series, which is a spin-off of the LORDS OF THE UNDERWORLD series.

We've met Zacharel, the hero of this book, in previous LOTU books and we know him to be a cold-hearted and ruthless Angel. Zacharel is in danger of losing his wings and falling. As punishment, his Deity has tasked him with leading a group of misfit outcast angels who are also in danger of falling due their lack of sympathy and care towards humanity. They are now tasked with protecting humanity against demon attacks. If one of the Angels kills a human during the battle, Zacharel is severely punished for it. If Zacharel can't get his army to listen and follow his lead, they are all in danger of falling together. Only problem is, Zacharel thinks the same way as his Angels and cares not for humans. That is.....until he finds Annabelle Miller tied to a gurney in the mental asylum he and his Angels are tasked with protecting from the swarm of demons attacking it.

Annabelle, the heroine of the book has endured many horrors. She's spent the last four years of her life locked up in an asylum for the criminally insane because she was blamed for the heinous act of violence on her family. Only Annabelle knows that demons are the ones that attacked her family on her 18th birthday, and that's because she's the only one that can see demons.... She has spent the last 4 years of her life abandoned by her remaining family and friends because they believe she committed the crime. She has endured horrible abuse at the hands of the doctors and staff at the hospital and from the constant attacks on her by the demons, but her spirit and will to live never die. She fights with all that she has left and that's what make Annabelle a kick-ass heroine. She does not wine or cry. She always fights and never gives up hope.

Zacharel and Annabelle together are the perfect combination for the two balance each other. Zacharel has never felt much emotion and has never felt desire. Annabelle has an amazing survival instinct and her will to never give up despite the odds, impresses Zacharel. Zacahrel makes Annabelle feel safe and protected which is what she needs most right now. Being that Annabelle faced some sexual abuse in the asylum, their getting together sexually was slow in process but, the chemistry between the two throughout the book was electrifying.

I am also intrigued by all of the other Angels in Zacharel's army. I am looking forward to Koldo's book which is scheduled to be released in February 2013. And I can't wait to learn more about these tortured Angles.

If you're a fan of the LORDS OF THE UNDERWORLD series you will be happy to know that Paris and a few of the other Lords make an appearance to help Zacharel, along with some of their mates.

Wicked Nights is a dark paranormal romance with all of the awesomeness that Gena puts into every book. It has strong alpha heroes, kick-ass heroines, smokin' hot romance, secondary characters that will leave you clamoring for the release of their books and a crazy twist of an ending that leaves you with your mouth hanging open.

Gena amazes me in how she has written so many books and they never get dull or boring. EVERY book is better than the last and she blows me away with every book she writes. She never disappoints me and I can't wait for the next installment of the ANGELS OF THE DARK.

I give WICKED NIGHTS 5 out of 5 stars!! Read more ›

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars The worse book relating to LOTU August 1, 2012

By Jennifer Lanergan

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Um... did Gena Showalter forget how to write a good love scene? I don't need to read hot sex to enjoy a romance novel, but never before have I read a book from her (and I've read just about all of them) that was this blah. The whole "he kissed and touched her everywhere and she did the same to him" works if the sex scenes don't take up a huge portion of the book. She's usually a good go to person for good writing in that regard.
I LOVED Zacharel from previous books, I was hoping for so much more. There was no conflict with their relationship really. They fell in love within the first couple of chapters, he went from being a hard ass to being putty in no time. Really? He's thousands of years old and instantly changes and not because anything happens to them that puts his love to the test, but just because they met? They never explained about the snow, it stops cause he feels?
I've read all the other LOTU books multiple times (I read Olivia and Aeron's story every few months, cause it's amazing) I will never again read this one. BORING! I don't know if it will tie in with anymore LOTU books (is she ditching them for angels?), if it doesn't I would not recommend anyone read this.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Great start to new series. June 26, 2012

By Ramblings From This Chick Blog

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Don't hate me, but I didn't love this book. I really want to love it but for some reason I just couldn't really connect with it. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this story a lot and I liked the world and characters Gena introduced us to, I just felt like something was missing.

Zacharel is a cold, calculating warrior angel who has spent the last several hundred years emotionally dead inside. He has no feelings towards anyone else and does not care who he hurts in his attempt to banish the world of demons. Because of his ruthlessness and his disregard for human life he has been given one more chance to prove himself worthy of being an angel. He must take a army of misfit angels that are all on the cusp of being thrown out of the heavens for their rebellious and bad behavior and train them which isn't an easy job. Any mistakes and it's Zacharel's wings that are on the line.

Annabelle Miller has spent the last four years locked up for a crime she didn't commit. When she was eighteen she witnessed her parents murder at the hands of a demon and no one will believe her. She now resides in a facility for the criminally insane. She knows she isn't crazy and she had nothing to do with the death of her parents, but ever since that horrific day Annabelle has been able to see demons that no one else can and because of this she has spent the last four years defending herself against demon attacks. She has no idea why the demons attacked and killed her parents or even why they come for her now. When a chance meeting with Zacharel she finds she may finally get her answers.

Zacharel can't help but be intrigued by Annabelle. She has awakened something in him that he hasn't felt before.... She is feisty and strong and will fight to the death if she must and he can't help the strong attraction he feels towards her. He quickly decides he wants to help keep her safe until they are able to figure out just what exactly is going on.

I really liked Annabelle and I thought that she is unbelievably strong. She has been through hell and back and she doesn't let it defeat her. She continues to fight tooth and nail and doesn't take no one's crap. I liked that she stands up to Zacharel and doesn't cower in the corner waiting for someone else to save the day.

As for Zacharel, it took me awhile to warm up to him. He was never my favorite and I always found him a bit cold and uncaring. But once I got a feel for him and started to understand the reason why he's the way he is he started to grow on me. He's got a lot of burdens to bear and the way he copes is by shutting himself off from everyone. I enjoyed watching him learn to care and to feel emotions.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Annabelle and Zacharel. Neither walks on eggshells around the other and they are both pretty blunt and to the point with everything. They didn't dance around one another or play any games. I actually really enjoy the beginning of their relationship because there was a bit of back and forth arguing going on that is very reminiscent of her LOTU books.

This was a good opening to what looks to be another great series for Gena. While I might not have liked this book as well as some of Gena's previous works, I did enjoy it and still found it hard to put down. Gena just has a way with creating a world full of interesting characters that you just want to know more about. She introduced a few characters that I can't wait to see more of. I am definitely looking forward to the next installment in the Angels of Dark series. I give this book a high 3. Read more ›

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Not sure that I read the same book as everyone else June 26, 2012

By Kalin

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This review contains spoilers.

It was my hope that this series would help renew my interest in this author as her LOTU series is rapidly losing my interest. Sad to say but my hopes were dashed.

I am not sure how this book is receiving 4 or 5 stars. I did not find this book to be romantic or "smexy" and at times it was slow/ boring (which I can deal with as this is the start of a new series).

Issues:
1. Huge age gap between hero and heroine. 22 years old vs ancient. For some reason I think I would have liked this story better if the heroine's life experience did not stop at high school. I am sure it could be argued that 4 years in a mental institution would rapidly mature/harden a person, but still...
2. H/h fall in love over a short period of time. I know this is a standard element for novels of this genre, but given the choices the hero has to make at the the end of the story, I think the relationship probably should have been longer than a couple of weeks.
3. Hero chooses heroine over brother. I believe it is said that the relationship between siblings is one of the strongest bonds that can be formed, so I find it odd that the hero would chooses to save his lover, having known her for several days, over his twin brother that he killed but really only turned into a demon and sent to hell. Maybe it was the right decision in the end as the brother was previously suicidal, but I think the decision should have taken more than a paragraph.
4. Is it just me or is the whole greek mythology/angel thing still confusing/not a fully flushed out concept? Maybe I missed an explanation in a earlier book?

I may be over analyzing, but I was not intrigued enough by the characters or story, so these issues kept poking at me.