Review originally posted in July of 2014 by Angela at Fiction Vixen.

Taste of Darkness
Darkness #2
PNR
First published July 24, 2014 by KR Press

I discovered this series after seeing the first book, Darkness Awakened, featured on Dear Author’s Daily Deals. I picked that one up when I realized it was a second chance love storyline. We all know how much I love that trope. It’s like my crack. I enjoyed it so much that when I saw the second book up for review I snapped it up quickly.

Taste of Darkness tells the story of Drake, the dragon shifter who came back through the hell gate in the first book and Victoria, healer of the Stavros wolf pack. Drake was imprisoned in Hell at the tender age of twelve and spent the next fifteen hundred years fighting for his life. He has no memory of how he came to be there or who betrayed him. The modern world is strange and overwhelming at times, but after saving the life of the Alpha’s daughter at the end of book one, the pack takes him in and gives him their support. His shifter side latches onto Victoria right away and he knows he wants her to eventually become more than the best friends they’ve become over the last four months. But first he needs make himself worthy of the beautiful, wonderful wolf shifter.

Victoria is the sheltered, protected “little sister” of the Stavros pack. After being saved by Finn and his pack as a cub and given a home and a family, she is thankful, but at the same time would like to live a little without being smothered by her Alpha and Guardian. The healer in her wants to help Drake acclimate to the new, modern world, but the woman in her lusts after him in the way a mate would. Everything between them is going fine and their friendship is blossoming, then suddenly his family makes an appearance and she and Drake quickly realize that his betrayer is still out there waiting for his chance to strike.

I pretty much-loved the relationship between Drake and Victoria. Even while there was angst and a struggle for them to find their place with each other there was surprisingly very little unnecessary drama. This couple never played games with each other or did that no talking thing that I hate so much. I didn’t get frustrated with either one and every time there was an issue between them I knew they would figure it out in a reasonable amount of time without playing the push and pull game with each other’s emotions.

Drake is a wonderful hero. He’s protective and incredibly sweet to Victoria while still being totally alpha. He comes across as innocent at times, but then quickly morphs in to a tough, strong predator. Victoria is smart and tender, but isn’t a pushover by any stretch of the imagination. Due to their pasts both of them are virgins and have almost no sexual experience. Their desire for each other draws them together over and over, but something always seems to get in the way of them finally becoming mates in every way. I enjoyed watching them take their time and come together naturally. It’s not often in romance that both MCs are completely sexually inexperienced, but I thought this author did a beautiful job of developing this couple’s relationship and building the sexual tension. By the time they finally consummated their relationship I was more than ready for Drake and Victoria to get it on.

While the world-building and a lot of the PNR aspects aren’t incredibly unique, I was completely drawn into the story and didn’t put this book down until I finished reading. I loved the set up for future couples and can’t decide who I want to see get their story next. While I do think readers could read this as a stand-a-lone, I wouldn’t recommend it. The good news is as of today you can still pick up Darkness Awakened for the bargain price of $ .99.

This is one PNR series I plan on keeping up with. Final Grade- B+

Favorite Quote:

“He pulled back, but remained close, his bright silver eyes pinned to hers as he cupped her face in the gentlest hold. “I will always find you.”