Take (scars of the wraiths) by Nashoda Rose
Publisher:
Genre: Paranormal Romance with Erotic Elements
Source: Book Enthusiast Promotions
Rating: ★★★★1/2
MAX
Feelings are a luxury I can’t afford. Hidden behind a shield of quiet placidity, I keep my secret safe from those who’d use it against me. Until him—the tatted up, self-centered Scar assassin hired to protect me.
He takes pleasure in tormenting me, chipping away at my defenses as if I’m a toy to be played with. I hate that he continuously reminds me that I’m nothing more than a job. I hate that my body responds to his touch. I hate him.
JASPER
I’m not a good guy and I don’t pretend to be. Condemn me if you want, I don’t give a fuck. You’re nothing to me. No one is … except her—Max. She’s my target. And I was hired to do a hell of a lot more than protect her … I was hired to kill her.
It should’ve been simple, but it was complicated as hell.
*erotic paranormal romance. Standalone full-length novel.
Come meet the Scars.
Scars: Immortal warriors with capabilities derived from the senses: Trackers, Sounders, Healers, Tasters, Visionaries, and the rare Reflectors. They each have what is known as an Ink, a tattoo that can be called life.
about Nashoda || Nashoda Rose is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Toronto with her assortment of pets. She writes contemporary romance with a splash of darkness, or maybe it’s a tidal wave.
When she isn't writing, she can be found sitting in a field reading with her dogs at her side while her horses graze nearby. She loves interacting with her readers and chatting about her addiction—books.
{ excerpt } .
Jasper stopped, turned toward me, dragged his eyes down my front then yanked off his black t-shirt and tossed it to me.
I stared at his naked chest that was a hard slab of muscle with tats drawn across his left shoulder to link with the ones on his arm.
“Put it on. You stick out like a fuckin’ cotton candy with those stupid horse sparkles.”
I quickly put it on over top and it hung down to my mid-thigh. The scent of him drew into my lungs and I inhaled deeply with my chin down until I heard his distinct chuckle. Then I wanted to shoot myself in the foot.
Jasper’s hand came around the back of my neck and he jerked me toward him. He cupped my chin with his blade still in his hand so the handle was cold against my jaw. Then he leaned in and before I could take my next breath, his mouth was on mine.
A hundred or so years ago, Jasper was unable to save his sister, and it is a failing he still holds against himelf.
Drake killed Breanna's mom. Breanna's being a healer couldn't help her, and her mother died in her arms. Drake then imprisoned Breanna for six years.
Now, after being rescued four years ago, she goes by Max in an effort to stay hidden, but knows it's only a matter of time until Drake finds her.
When Max and Jasper meet the first time, a gentleman Jasper certainly is not. He's a bit cocky, if Max were to say it.
...and honestly he is -- cocky that is.
He walks into her bathroom in the middle of the night with swagger and arrogance, as well as a healthy dose of sexual innuendos.... And they hadn't even met yet. I would be a little terrified of the man, myself.
The thing with Jasper and Max, though, is that they bring out things in the other.
Max so easily contained her emotions for years, only allowing them to truly seep through in her nightmares, but just one cocky, arrogant swagger from Jasper has her hackles rising and her blood boiling -- from both annoyance AND attraction, of course. Jasper makes her feel emotions she had long hidden.
Jasper is brash and honest, both of which make Max a bit leery but are things she needs in her life.
I often have a hard time with grand age differences. Putting aside that Jasper is immortal and well over the thirty-two he appears, Max is only twenty. The "twelve year" difference, when dealing with a twenty year old, is a bit unsettling for me, however Max has seen a lot and has dealt with a lot, and therefore is wiser beyond her years... So it works.
Jasper is a protector -- part of it has a ton to do with his failures a century ago, but some, initially, has to do with his feelings toward Max. What brought him to her that first night was he could hear her thrashing in her nightmare. Where Max is a healer, Jasper's ability is heightened hearing and the noises concerned him. Rather than sharing that, though, of course the man goes for the less socially-acceptable comments and throws sexual barbs her way, stating that maybe she's sleeping with Xamien and that if she didn't want him around, she should keep it down.
Over the next months, although she doesn't see him, she often smells him in her room -- which further shows his protective streak where Max is concerned.
One of the things I loved most about the dark, brooding Jasper was that he always calls Max "sunshine", which is ridiculous to her because she sees herself as a fog. In reality though, and while the endearment may have been flippant and unintentional initially, Max truly is the sunshine in Jasper's life. She has a bitter past -- they both do -- but he wants to know her, the ins and outs of what make her her, and the stories she wears on her skin.
Sure, the man runs hot and cold, but no worries, Max calls him out on that. She's strong and feisty, and tries damn hard to keep her emotions in check. When he breaks through even that barrier, she gets scared for more than the obvious reasons.
When Jasper finally allows himself to live and care for Max... my goodness, my heart was heart-clench central. Watching him fight for not just her but for them, was sweet and there may have been a tear or two in my eye.
Dang man has some sweet words in his arsenal, and in it's property context, you may shed done tears, too...
“Look at me so I can see the stars in your eyes. Going to take them with me, angel.”
Paranormal books haven't always been my friend, but I have to say, this was on my must read list, and now it's going on my need to reread again and again list.
{ giveaway } .
