Friday, November 4, 2011

Review: Dark Taste of Rapture by Gena Showalter


Mass Market Paperback, 451 pages
Published August 23rd 2011 by Pocket Star
ISBN 13: 9781439175781
Source: Purchased for self
Genre: Sci-Fi Romance
Series: Alien Huntress #6
Best read in order: Yes
Stars: 5
Flames: 3

Gena Showalter is in the top five of my most favorite authors. I can’t pick one, so I have a top five. I’ve read the majority of her books from her various series. I really like her Alien Huntress series. The previous book in the series Ecstasy in Darkness introduced readers to Ava and Noelle. They are certifiably insane and incredibly fun to read. Their sisterly torturous banter had me constantly wondering not only how they had made it into adulthood, but how they made it through Alien Investigation and Removal (AIR) training. The training question is answered here. Dark Taste of Rapture begins about a year before the previous book, with Ava and Noelle’s first day at AIR training. This is where Noelle first meets Hector and Dallas.

Noelle is totally in her character of airhead heiress when she comes off the bus that has hauled her to training. She arouses groaning from both Hector and Dallas immediatly. Dallas because he has very naughty thoughts, Hector because he knows then and there that this woman will be the death of him. All Hector wants is to get what he sees as the failure out of the training program as quickly as possible. The teacher student relationship does not keep hands, mouths and tongues from roaming when Hector and Noelle are alone long enough to acknowledge the mutual attraction.

Hector tries (and fails) repeatedly to stay away from Noelle. His emotions have a very negative affect on his arms and what he sees as their curse. He has no idea where the ability came from all he knows are the horrible consequences. Hector has not only harmed people, he has killed them with just a touch. So even though he wants Noelle and she wants him he tries to keep her away from him.

Once Noelle decides that Hector is it for her, it’s on. She pursues him to the point of stalking. Reading the pursuit of this relationship was extremely entertaining. Hector’s constant flip flopping of I want you, stay away from me, I crave you, we can’t be together, I want you in my life, I can’t be responsible for harming you should have been gotten frustrating. It never got old. To read what would happen after each of his dismissals with Noelle’s chase of him was priceless. To add to the tension they are of course working a case together.

There is a deleted scene. (Click here to check that out!) It adds some insight into the visions Dallas had concerning Noelle and who she would sleep with. It also explains some of the attitude coming from Dallas. I can understand why this was deleted, Dallas was not the books hero. However, this scene sheds some light on what the visions could possibly mean and the repercussions that readers may see in the next book.

One of the biggest ongoing conflicts involved in this series has been Trinity, Queen of the Schon’s. In the previous books she has been spreading her virus/disease. She has also had a major villainous role in the previous books. The readers do not get any new information on what is going on with that struggle. She is not mentioned in any way. She had nothing to do with Noelle and Hector or the case they were working on, so I guess she was viewed as irrelevant for this installment in the Alien Huntress series.

A character from the first book is brought back with a minor role in this book. I have a feeling he will get a book before Dallas. I desperately want to read his story. I have loved Dallas from the very beginning and he appears to be that character in the series that will keep getting tortured and passed over for love until the last possible moment. I am curious about where reintro guy’s character will go. 

3 comments:

  1. Poor Dallas. You just know he's going to be in for it in his book. He's like the Paris of this series. Nice review!

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  2. I loved this book, which I read on your rec!! Thanks!!! And yes, I hope Dallas gets a good story!

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  3. I really need to read this series. I totally know that if you loved it, I will!

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