Merely Immortal (The Untouchables Series 1-3) by T.A.Grey-series review

 

MERELY IMMORTAL
(The Untouchables #3)
by T.A. Grey
Genre: adult, contemporary, paranormal romance

About the book: Release Date October 31, 2015

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N /

In the third installment in The Untouchables dark, paranormal universe….one brother finds love in an unusual woman…

Lucas Blackmoore. Rockstar and all around playboy, doesn’t know what to think of the mysterious young were who happens into his life. But he knows one thing—he must help her.

Evie reminds him of a human whom he’d had far too much affection for—a woman whose life ended abruptly. Struggling with guilt over her death, Lucas’ mourning gets an unexpected interruption when newfound emotions blossom over Evie. He should be mourning not feeling hot under the collar, yet that’s exactly what’s happening. What he needs to do is keep his icy touch to himself, but all he aches to do is lay a single finger on her body.

With no memories to speak of, Evie, a newly transformed werewolf, needs help to discover what happened to her and to find out who or what bit her. As the infamous and wealthy Blackmoore family steps in to help Evie through her battle, things take a turn for the dark and titillating. Creatures, not quite were, not quite vampire are after her and one has marked her for its own. What are these hideous creatures and what do they want with Evie?

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REVIEW: MERELY IMMORTAL is the third installment in T.A. Grey’s adult, contemporary THE UNTOUCHABLES erotic, paranormal romance series. This is vampire/rock star Lucas Blackmoore, and Evie’s storyline. MERELY IMMORTAL can be read as a stand alone although for backstory and cohesion I recommend reading the series in order as each consecutive installment builds upon the events of the previous storyline.

Told from several third person perspectives, following three intersecting premises MERELY IMMORTAL begins immediately after the events of TAKE ME (Untouchables #2) and the aftermath of the explosion and fire that killed Lucas Blackmoore’s girlfriend Beth. Beth was a human female, and the woman Lucas believed to be his ‘bruid’-his fated mate. But the relationship between Lucas and Beth came to a grinding halt when Beth caught Lucas in a compromising position, and her death began to push Lucas over the edge. When a mysterious female finds her way into Lucas’s life, Lucas begins to have visions of deja-vu about the woman who calls herself Evie- a woman who has no memory of her previous life; who is not quite vampire, not quite werewolf, and definitely no longer human. What ensues is the search for Evie’s past and her ‘maker’; and the mysterious woman known as ‘O’ who aided Evie when no one else would; and the use of dark magic in the world of the supernatural.

The relationship between Evie and Lucas is quick to build as there is a familiarity between our leading couple. Lucas is drawn to Evie but he is concerned that his awareness of Evie is due in part to the loss of Beth and his ongoing grief. The $ex scenes are intimate, provocative and intense. There is a definite pattern in the romance department throughout the series as it pertains to the quick turnover time between grief and finding a new love.

All of the previous storyline characters including Dom and Felicity, Gray and Ara, Vas, Diane, Julianna, crazed Alpha Were Zeke, and mercenary for hire Were Kane Gunner play secondary and supporting roles throughout the story. We are introduced to investigative reporter Tabitha, who may or may not have caught the eye of Kane Gunner.

The world building continues to focus on the Blackmoore family; the vampire/ were relationships; Arabelle’s continuing search for Zeke Hunter’s missing mate. There is also the potential for Vas to find his ‘bruid’ in an all too familiar female whose presence is unwelcome in the Blackmoore Estates.

MERELY IMMORTAL and the Untouchables Series are enchanting and imaginative. The premise is action packed and suspenseful; the characters are determined, charismatic and sensational; the romance comes with a bit of a twist but a twist that was easily detected from the very start. MERELY IMMORTAL is not as graphically violent as TEMPTING GRAY #2 which in and of itself is a bit of a relief-sometimes the violence can be overwhelming and take over the entire emotional feel of a storyline.

There are still a number of issues with spelling and grammar that need to be addressed and corrected. As mentioned in my previous reviews, another round of proof reading and thorough edits is advisable. Although the errors did not affect my enjoyment of the storyline(s), the problems are noticeable and distracting.

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy

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TAKE ME
(The Untouchables #1)
by T.A.Grey
Genre: adult, contemporary, paranormal romance

About the book: Release Date February 27, 2013

FREE ebook: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N /

SHE MAKES HIS BLOOD BURN

Dominic Blackmoore meets the woman who captures his mind and body with a look and he’s instantly taken with her. When he was ordered to take another mate quickly after separating from his ex, he loathed the idea. However, after catching sight of his bruid he quickly changes his mind. He finds her utterly captivating, sensually erotic, and yearns to learn everything about her.

BUT SHE’S NOT HIS BRUID

The woman he’s mistaken as his bruid is none other than the event planner, Felicity Shaw, for his mating ceremony. Now Dominic will do everything it takes, even lie to the woman he craves, to keep her at his side. He needs to mate with his bruid in order to win his political campaign but he finds himself falling in love with Felicity Shaw. In the end he must choose between work or love. He may make the right decision, but is it too late to save his lies from hurting Felicity?

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REVIEW: TAKE ME is the first installment in T.A.Grey’s contemporary, adult The Untouchables erotic, paranormal romance series. This is vampires Dominic Blackmoore, and events coordinator Felicity Shaw’s storyline.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Felicity and Dom) TAKE ME follows the building relationship between our leading couple. Felicity is hired as the organizer for Dom’s upcoming mating to a Blue Blood female vampire named Juliana, but is mistaken by the soon to be ‘groom’ as his intended ‘bruid’ –his mated bride. While Dominic Blackmoore begins a slow seduction of the woman he believes is his new mate, Felicity finds herself falling for the man she knows nothing about. What ensues is a forced friendship that leads to something more when Dominic professes his love for the woman who is not his intended mate. To add insult to injury our hero is running for the president of the paranormal council, and to ensure his victory, Dom needs to mate with someone of his class, and Felicity’s heritage screams low-born and below Dominic’s status.

The relationship between Dom and Felicity begins as a case of mistaken identity but Dom’s attraction to Felicity does not go unnoticed by family and friends. Dom’s need for Felicity drives a wedge between himself and his intended mate, but our heroine will not be the other woman-the mistress-to any man. For all intents and purposes Dominic’s arranged mating has everything to do with class and appearances, and nothing to do with love or friendship. Dom wants Felicity regardless of his mating status and is willing to make Felicity his mistress to keep her in his life. Felicity, on the other hand, is not willing to be the ‘other woman’ but continues to find herself in sexual situations with a man betrothed to someone else. The $ex scenes are intense, intimate and provocative.

We are introduced to Dominic’s extended family including his half brothers-Vas, musician Lucas and security specialist Grayson-Grayson’s story is heartbreaking and tragic. Dom’s mother Diane is a Blue Blood vampire; a woman of higher breeding and the one person who seeks her son’s happiness at all costs. We are also introduced to Felicity’s best friend Beth, whose attraction to Dom’s half-brother Lucas once bordered on obsession. Beth’s realistic dreams and fantasies about Lucas have yet to be explained or addressed. The requisite challenge to Dom’s leadership of the paranormal council comes in the form of ‘crazed alpha Were’ Zeke. Zeke’s need to win is more about finding mates for his pack brothers than preserving the vampire line of succession on the council.

The world building focuses on the existence of the supernatural races-Vampires and Weres. There is a tepid peace between the species one that must be addressed as the new paranormal council focuses on mating between species, same sex lovers, between different packs and clans.

TAKE ME may be a controversial storyline for some readers in that our ‘hero’ proves to a selfish jerk; an immature male who isn’t willing to remain faithful to the woman he is about to mate. Dom wants it all-a mate and a mistress, and for some this is a big no-no in a romance storyline. For Dom and his family, it is all about appearances, and mating a Blue Blood will give the appearance of power and control. IN the end our heroine does something rather stupid and insane, placing herself in the direct line of danger and the possibility of losing it all.

TAKE ME is an interesting and unusual look at a vampire romance where our hero’s need for the woman who calls to his heart is more of an obsession than a fated love match. The characters are controversial; the premise is imaginative. The happily ever after comes with a challenge

Reviewed by Sandy

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TEMPTING GRAY
(The Untouchables #2)
by T.A.Grey
Genre: adult, contemporary, paranormal romance

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 21, 2013

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N /

It all began nearly 600 years ago…

A dangerous vampire, mated to a woman his heart no longer beats for.

A mistake that would change his entire life.

A mistake so horrific it would lead Grayson Blackmoore back to one woman.

A woman who holds the power to shatter him completely—Arabella Donahue.

Vengeance, bloodshed. The hunt is on and Grayson won’t stop until they’re all dead.

••••••••

REVIEW: TEMPTING GRAY is the second installment in T.A. Grey’s adult, contemporary THE UNTOUCHABLES paranormal romance series. This is vampire Grayson ‘Gray’ Blackmoore, and Were Arabella ‘Ara’ Donahue’s storyline. TEMPTING GRAY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty although I suggest reading the series in order for backstory and history.

Told from several third person perspectives TEMPTING GRAY is first and foremost a story of revenge. Vampire Grayson Blackmoore is a security specialist whose latest assignment goes horribly wrong and in retaliation Grayson and everyone he loves is targeted for annihilation by the Donato family of psychotic vampires. In desperation, Grayson approaches the new President of the Supernatural Council –crazed Alpha Were Zeke Hunter-in the hopes of assistance in tracking down the vampires responsible for the destruction of his family and home. Enter Arabella Donahue, a non-shifting Were who has the ability to locate ‘missing’ objects, and the woman who has haunted Grayson’s dreams for close to one hundred years.

On the eve of his fated mating to his ‘bruid’ Anita of Redenver one hundred years earlier, Grayson met and fell for a mystery woman, and in the ensuing time he has never forgotten their heated kiss. Fast forward to present day, and Grayson’s fantasy woman is his only hope to locate the sadistic killers who destroyed his life. What ensues is the search for a family of psychotic vampires, and the festering guilt of a man who cannot forgive himself for the murder of his long-suffering wife.

The relationship between Gray and Ara is one of second chances. But for a fleeting kiss one hundred years earlier, Gray knew nothing about the woman that called to his heart as he was about to enter into an arranged marriage with his fated mate. Gray’s happiness is short lived when his ‘bruid’ (mated bride) goes off the rails and spirals into the depths of h*ll following two traumatic miscarriages, leaving Grayson a shadow of his former self. Reconnecting with Ara finds our hero torn between the grief and revenge for the loss of his mate, and the compelling need to seduce the woman he met years before. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative.

All of the previous storyline characters play secondary and supporting roles including Grayson’s brother Dom and his ‘bruid’ Felicity (Take Me #1), as well as his brothers Vas and Lucas, and his mother Diane. Felicity’s best friend Beth has some major issues with vampire rock star Lucas, and her presence at the Blackmoore Estates will become a nightmare when the family is attacked in their own home. And we can’t forget about the crazed Alpha Were Zeke Hunter who is slowly going insane since the loss of his mate three hundred years ago.

TEMPTING GRAY is a graphically, violent storyline of retribution and vengeance as two families set out to destroy one another in retaliation for the murders of their beloved kin. The premise is entertaining and engaging; the characters are colorful and spirited; the romance is fateful and arousing but saying that the connection between Gray and Ara felt stilted due to Gray’s grief and his overwhelming need for revenge-the rekindling of a relationship between our leading couple begins a matter of hours to days following the murder of Gray’s wife and is understandably awkward and sad.

As to the book format and editing etc, there are several issues of grammar and spelling missteps in the storyline that could have been easily caught with another round of editing and a good proofreader. Perhaps the errors have already been addressed and updated at the e-retailers, but my copy had a number of problems that need to be corrected.

Copy supplied by the author

Reviewed by Sandy