I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Touch If You Dare
by
Stephanie Rowe
paranormal romance in Paperback edition that was published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on July 1, 2011 and has 383 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Kiss at Your Own Risk, Date Me, Baby, One More Time, Must Love Dragons
Second in the Soulfire paranormal-romance series set in Boston. The couple focus is on Reina and Jarvis.
My Take
Lordy, Rowe cracks me up! I do love how she drags in all the “classes” the boys had to endure with that witch poking fun at “woman power”, but then she twists it right back on us as Jarvis starts to think maybe those classes had some use after all. These bad-ass warriors: Nigel with his drawing when he needs to cool his jets, Jarvis with his obsession about knitting but preferences for hair styling, and Blaine with his cross stitch…!
It does make me roll on the floor when one of those bad-asses comes out with:
“What I was actually going to say that although you have a right to get your ass kicked if you so choose, it’s up to your sister to decide if she’s ready to die.”
and then
“‘I’m not trying to be helpful. I’m just observing.Your sister is an intriguing juxtaposition of assorted emotions. She’s conflicted, and it shows on her face.’…He pulled out his sketch pad and pen. ‘Hold that expression. It’s a fascinating look into the anguish that love can cause.'”
Touch If You Dare has a parallel plot with Reina obsessed with saving her sister Natalie while Jarvis is intent on reconnecting with his brother the Guardian of Love. From there it just gets complex. Don’t worry about it; just go with the flow, even if Rowe does go on and on a bit with her main characters’ soul searching. I also think Rowe got a bit tired with her story as the ending is a bit unsatisfactory; she glosses over the details. That, or it was so complex I just got lost in it! I did enjoy the surprise Reina put together for Jarvis…too sweet.
Rowe is also setting us up for future stories for Death and his need for true love, and Nigel and Natalie’s coming together. *snicker* I can’t wait!
The Story
Death is such a jerk as he keeps setting Reina up to fail. He has set her one last chance to graduate to being a full Reaper and it’s a doozy. Too many ways to fail and she can only save her remaining sister if she passes before 11:01 pm Friday. And survives her partnership with Lord Hate. An immortal both drawn to her and distrusting her as a woman and in her conflict as to who should be saved first — Cameron or her sister.
The Characters
Reina is the lead heroine and a grim reaper, and she is having a spate of trouble with her reaping. Her best friend is Trinity, and together they intend to save Natalie, Reina’s last surviving family member, from the curse of her deedub bite.
Jarvis is the Guardian of Hate, Lord Hate. Whatever he touches turns to violence, hate, death. After his experiences in Angelique’s Den, he wants nothing to do with women. He’d prefer to have a relationship like Alexander Blaine Underhill III, a warrior with a love for cross stitch, has with Trinity (see Kiss at Your Own Risk), but it’s just not for him. Nigel Aquarian, another of the escaped warriors from the Den of Womanly Pursuits, relaxes with his sketch pad — at some very interesting moments.
Cameron is Jarvis’ brother and his opposite, the Guardian of Love, only he’s so depressed and proves more than susceptible to the theory of peace on earth through death.
The Den of Womanly Pursuits is…
…intended to teach men the proper way to appreciate women…eeek!! It was started up by Angelique after she took a nasty twist in life when Napoleon dumped her.
Death, a.k.a., Prentiss, is the Hugh Hefner of the immortal world with a castle full of nubile beauties, the HoneyPots, whose only purpose is to serve him…in any way. So imagine his surprise when he discovers his new pastry chef, Anna Gusman, is engaged. Horrors!
Napoleon is Angelique’s runaway husband [she and Napoleon are Prentiss’ grandparents] and a black magic witch who has developed a new appreciation for his neglected wife while Ambrose has kidnapped her; both are assassins and rivals.
Godfather is the nickname for the man who kills women via orgasm.
The Cover and Title
It’s a pretty cover with its smoky gradation from greeny turquoise to pale gray with the focus on the well-muscled torso gripping the sword and sheath behind his back. I liked the dragon tattoo on his left forearm as well. Very sinuous.
The title says it all as Lord Hate is terrified of spreading what he represents, so Touch If You Dare.
