Underbelly Chronicles Series:
Book 2:
Chase Me: Gabe Lupinsky and Lorin Schlessinger
Summary:
From goodreads.com
Centuries ago, when their ship crashed to Earth, paranormals of all types settled secretly into our world, quietly going about their business with humans none the wiser. Self-ruling and careful to stay below humanity’s radar, all is threatened when Valkyrie archaeologist Lorin Schlessinger and her werewolf geologist partner Gabe Lupinsky in advertently draw evil attention to Earth and its treasured natural resources.
As the threat intensifies, Lorin and Gabe struggle to contain the chaos they’ve unleashed, and to resist their explosive mutual attraction…
Review:
So I read the first book in this series to know and understand what would be going on in the second book, I usually hate picking a book up in the middle of the series and not knowing what is going on. That being said, even having read the first book the details provided in that book on their beginnings are very vague and do not prepare you very well for this book, you are just kind of thrown into the whole alien space concept like you are expected to know more then you actually do. I have to say, I wasn’t a huge fan of the whole space, bad guys plot, it felt a bit forced and not a natural flow or fit.
That being said, I did enjoy the romance! Gabe and Lorin have a great sexual tension going on at the beginning of the book, and their attraction turns explosive. Who knew a science geek could turn out to be so sexy, Lorin sure didn’t, Gabe sure blindsided her and he’s the one who is half blind! Gabe has this whole she’s above me mental thing going on that puts up fences, and Lorin has this whole commitment issue thing going on that keeps him at an arm’s length emotionally, but they can’t fight the physical. T. Hogan, sure knows how to steam up the pages with her characters there is a great build up and then an explosion for the main event! LOL But, she doesn’t forget the love story, she still builds a lasting connection between our hero and heroine, despite themselves and their issues. Lorin and Gabe find themselves closer than they ever thought they would be. It was suppose to be just sex, two adults scratching an itch, but before they knew it, those pesky emotions got involved ruining a perfectly good booty call and they both find themselves in unfamiliar territory. I enjoyed watching these two try to find their footing and often losing it, it was quite entertaining. I found myself wanting to skip over the spacey parts and getting back to Gabe and Lorin!
I do enjoy the world these books are set in, I like the side characters and would like to see many of their stories told. I am not ready to give up on this series although, I’m afraid that the space story is going to continue into the next book at the least. T. Hogan writes a great character and I enjoyed the first books story, but then rock stars are always more interesting then crazy space people looking for a box. So we will see what the next book holds in store for us. Overall it was a decent book, I didn’t hate it, the characters made up for any story issues I may have had.
*This review copy was provided to me through Netgalley for an honest review no other compensation was provided.
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Underbelly Chronicles Series:
Book 1:
Taste Me: Lukas Sebastiani and Scarlett Fontaine
Summary:
From goodreads.com
He Wants Her So Badly He Can Taste It...
Ever since their tempestuous fling years ago, incubus Lukas Sebastiani has known that siren Scarlett Fontaine was meant to be his. But when you’re a sex demon with an insatiable desire, relationships are way more than complicated…
Her Siren Songs Bring Men to Their Knees...
Rock star Scarlett Fontaine desperately needs a break after a grueling tour. But with murder and mayhem surrounding her band, and the one man she never thought to see again put to the task of protecting her, life is going to be anything but peaceful...
Every encounter between them creates more turmoil—and heat—until Scarlett pushes Lukas to the boiling point, and unleashes forces that go way beyond anything she can hope to control.
Review:
This is a first in a new series that features all sorts of underworld creatures: Valkrie, Siren, Incubus, Were’s, vampires, etc… This book centers around Scarlett a siren and the lead singer in Scarlett’s Web’s a chart topping band and Lukas a incubus who is her exact opposite a security expert who specializes in controlling every situation. Years ago these two came together in one night of passion which was Scarlett’s, first time, but Lukas’s need for control tore them apart before they could ever really start. Now years later Scarlett is back from tour, exhausted and tired of fighting her feelings for Lukas. She is ready to confront him head on when several attacks take place and it appears she may be an intended target. Fearing for Scarlett’s life Lukas takes on her security and becomes her body guard 24/7, which puts him in contact with her body 24/7.
Lukas and Scarlett are in turns amusing and frustrating, as soon as you want to smack them for being so stupid and want to yell come on just get on with it already they take a step forward in the right direction and your cheering them on, then something happens and there is a step back and you want to smack Lukas for being so bull headed, it would be annoying but it’s too damn entertaining instead. I quite enjoyed the back and forth, it was a good amount of sexual tension without drawing it out too long. I’ve always been a fan of the rekindling of a flame, I think it’s always fun when two people come back to each other after years, the tension is always so much more intense and this one is no exception. With Lukas being an incubus, you know the sexual chemistry is going to be off the chain, but what you don’t expect is that his gift has a bit of a twist which can have a bit of a darker side…
It’s this darker side that leads to his involvement in the attacks, someone is attacking family members of high ranking members of the council. Lukas and literally taste the attacker, it leaves an residue on his tongue. This aspect of the book leaves a bit of intrigue to the plot line, it’s not a “who done it” because you know the entire time, but more of a what’s he going to do next? And damn that dude is cray cray, I found it an interesting addition to the plot and quite enjoyed the intrigue. Overall, I really enjoyed this strange quirky new world and all the new characters in it. I am excited to see what happens next with the Underbelly Chronicles. It was a fun new refreshing read and I rarely turn down a rock star book especially if it has some paranormal in it, best of both worlds!
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