Page Turning Book Reviews: Spotlight: Fading Light (Shadow Born #2) by Angela Dennis

Title: Fading Light

Series: Shadow Born #2

Author: Angela Dennis

Published: September 23rd, 2014

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Word Count: 72,000

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Content Warning: Sexual Material and Violence

Recommended Age: 18+

Synopsis:

Everyone has a breaking point.

Her hundred-year penance lifted, Shadow Bearer Brenna Baudouin returns to the Earthly plane with her partner, Gray Warlow, to keep the peace between humans and supernatural creatures—and to prevent another apocalyptic war from happening.

The attraction between them is nearing a critical point, but their checkered history has left Brenna unable to trust either her heart or her instincts.

It’s chaotic business as usual until humans begin turning to statues of dust. There is no explanation, no sign of magical foul play or a biological toxin. The humans are convinced it’s the work of a deviant supernatural faction, twisting the knife in the already tense relationship between their species. Brenna and Gray agree—the deaths have a former comrade-turned-rogue stamped all over them.

In a race against time, they enlist the help of both friend and foe to save the human race and stop the impending civil war. Along the way, they are forced to come to terms with their past and decide, once and for all, whether they will come together or fall apart.

Warning: Contains a heroine who knows her weapons but not her own heart, an outbreak of supernatural proportions, copious bloodletting, and a race to save an endangered species—humans. All tied up in a tight bow of sexual tension.

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Excerpt:

Darkness embraced Brenna like a thick wool blanket. It wrapped around her, blocking the dim lamplight as she walked toward the seedy bar. Glass residue from the riots crunched beneath her leather boots. Mixed with snow, the bits of broken beer bottles and smashed windows glittered like an army of broken icicles. She breathed deeply, inhaling the cool night air. It smelled of sour beer and clove cigarettes and left a bitter taste on her tongue.

Shadows embraced the sides of the stone structure that housed the Dirty Ruby, one of the few multi-species bars in Denver proper. They stalked across the snow and mixed with the night to merge into a black mass. From its midst stepped a man. Well over six feet, he moved with grace in contrast to his size. The moonlight played across his face, highlighting his chiseled features.

Brenna’s pulse quickened and she took an involuntary step forward. Self-conscious, she ran a hand through her copper curls, freeing them from the careless bun. The thick strands streamed down her back like fire as she moved, her breath coming in quick harsh bursts. She slipped off her black leather duster and draped it across her arm. Without it the tight black corset left her taut belly and back exposed, but she didn’t feel the cold. She never did around Gray.

“Four demons. Thirty humans. Keep the casualties to a minimum.” Brenna brushed past him, tossing him her coat. “I’ll bring them out. You send them back to hell.”

“Hell?” Gray grinned. His teeth gleamed in the moonlight. “You speak human now?”

She shrugged. “When in Rome.”

Her back to him, she turned toward the freshly white-washed door. But before she could move, he had her shoulder in a vise grip. His fingers twined in the hair at the base of her skull. His breath hot against her cheek. “I know your other partners let you boss them around.” He turned her to face him. “I’m not them.”

He stepped forward, forcing her back. They moved in an awkward dance until her ass hit the stone wall. Trapped, she stared at him, wary. A shadow fell across his face hiding all but his piercing violet eyes.

“We enter together. Once they’re dead, we leave.” He stepped back, loosening his hold.

“The humans—”

“Won’t remember a thing.” He crushed his lips to hers even as he slid the duster across her shoulders. “And I’m not your coat rack.” Releasing her, he stepped back.

Brenna rubbed the back of her hand against her bruised lips. Gray would be the death of her.

If she didn’t kill him first.

About the Author:

Angela Dennis lives outside Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband, son and a sheltie with a hero complex. When she is not at her computer crafting stories, she can be found feeding her coffee addiction, playing peek-a-boo, or teaching her son about the great adventures found only in books.

Author Interview:

1) What motivated you to start writing?

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t write. It’s always been a part of who I am, even when I was a kid. I was always scribbling poetry on scrap pieces of paper, or plotting out novels.

2) Who or what is your biggest inspiration for writing?

I had an epiphany a few years ago, and finally realized that we only have one shot at this life. You have to do what make you happy (within reason J ). Writing makes me happy.

3) What is your writing environment? (Where do you write, what do you do to prepare right before you start writing)

I usually write late at night after my son goes to bed, so I’m curled up on the couch with a huge cup of coffee beside me.

4) What is the hardest part of a book for you? Any particular scene(s)?

The end. Those last few chapters are always panic provoking. I want to make sure I’ve wrapped everything up, left the reader satisfied, yet appropriately teased out the next book. The ending always kicks my butt. It takes me a really long time.

5) If you only could write in one genre, what would it be? And if you couldn’t write in that genre what genre would you pick next?

I’ve always been torn between writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance, so I’ll chose those two.

6) If you could spend a day with one author, who would it be and why?

Wow. That is a really hard question. I’ve been fortunate to meet a lot of my favorite authors (had my fair share of fan girl moments). But the one author I’ve always wanted to meet is Jayne Ann Krentz. I’m a huge fan, both as a reader and a writer. I love that she doesn’t just break the rules, she pummels them. I just finished her latest Jayne Castle book and it was fabulous.

7) What do you like to see in book reviews? What makes a review better than other ones to you?

I love constructive criticism. I think that writing is a growing process, so feedback is really important. The best reviews are the ones that explain why something did or didn’t work for that particular reviewer.

8) If you could give one tip to new writers, what would it be?

Don’t give up. No matter how discouraged you get, or how much you want to quit.

9) How do you make hard decisions with your books? Like the title of the book or some of the characters actions?

As far as plot issues/characters actions, I usually write out every possible scenario then narrow it down to the two I like best and send them to my critique partners for feedback.

10) If you could only use 4 words to describe yourself, what would they be?

Wife, Mommy, Daughter, Writer.

Giveaway Details:

There is a tour wide giveaway. Prizes include the following: