was really good ( )

was really good ( )

The Good: Powerfully written sexy scenes.

The Bad: I'm so confused. This is an adult (read: erotic) companion novel to a YA series. Wouldn't that sort of limit its audience to those who loved the series, who were both adult and into erotica? I mean, that's got to be a pretty niche market. It just felt weird. Especially given that the book does in fact give some historical background to the Nightshade series. While the sex was hot, the plot was minimal. ( )

The first novel in the Forbidden Side of Nightshade is an intriguing and steamy tale of magic and an unlikely romance between two sworn enemies in the centuries old witches’ war.

Sarah accepts an assignment to investigate a remote castle on a small island to see what the Keepers are hiding there. Tristan is a powerful Keeper that has been protected because of his bloodline on the island for most of his life. When Sarah is captured, the two find themselves drawn to each other and embark on a romance that invites their doom.

The author has created a very hot and steamy world with dark witches and shapeshifting guardians. The romance builds at a slow and even pace throughout the story that creates lots of tension and suspense between Sarah and Tristan. The sex scenes are well written and hot enough to set the pages on fire and with the added tension of them being enemies, the romance alone is enough to keep the reader engaged.

The author uses vivid details and lots of intensity to draw the reader into the story and keeps them entertained from beginning to end. All the characters are compelling with strong personalities and the plot flows smoothly with lots of intrigue.

I love the youth adult Nightshade series and I was a little worried about how good this book would be, but I was very impressed with the way the author brought this version together while staying true to the original story. I also liked that the author gives us more insight into the beginnings of the Nightshade world and brings new characters to life. I can’t wait to read the next two books in this trilogy. ( )

I really enjoyed this story in the Nightshade universe. The author's transition to adult paranormal fiction from young adult fiction does let her include more adult themes.

Sarah is a young Searcher who is given a mission to go to an island off the coast of Scotland to find out why the Keepers are guarding it closely and keeping it secret. When she arrives, she is quickly captured by an incubus and a succubus and taken to the Keeper who is a young man named Tristan.

Tristan and Sarah begin the story as enemies because Searchers and Keepers are on opposite sides of a war. The Keepers use dark magic and magical creatures like incubi and succubi and wraiths. They also have Guardians who, in this case at least, are wolf shifters. Keepers are under the command of Lord Bosque Mar. The Searchers are opposed to the Keepers and determined to find a way to defeat Bosque Mar.

It doesn't take long for Tristan and Sarah to fall in love. I thought the romance was well done. The sex scenes were present but weren't gratuitous or kinky. When Bosque Mar hears that Tristan might be forming a relationship with a Searcher, he threatens her life. Their only possible option is to flee the island. They enlist the aid of Sarah's young maid Moira and Seamus who is the Guardian who just about raised Tristan.

This story was a nice look at the Nightshade universe from the adult perspective. I believe that there are two more books planned in this series and I look forward to reading them. ( )