Nightbloom
The Nightwing Series
Book 3
Juliette Cross
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Kensington Publishing
Date of Publication: September 1, 2015
Word Count: 36K
Book Description
The love between a human and a Morgon, the dragon-hybrid race, tempts fate once more…
All her life, Ella Barrow has allowed others to make her decisions. Forced to stifle her artistic talents and stay in a loveless relationship with Clayton Kerrington, the man her mother believes to be her perfect match, Ella’s life may be safe—but it’s not her own. Paxon Nightwing, on the other hand, is anything but the safe choice.
A charming and alluring Morgon, Paxon sees Ella for the woman she truly is. His bold confidence and protective nature ignites a passion she’s never felt before. But a dark family tragedy forces their secrecy—until Clayton makes it impossible to hide their clandestine affair. Will Ella be strong enough to fight for herself at last?
Or will she succumb once more and risk losing the only man she’s ever loved?
Excerpt:
I blotted my Petal Pink lips on a piece of memo paper and capped the lipstick.
“Dangit!”
Trying to retrieve the tube with the tip of my open-toe heel, I only succeeded in pushing the lipstick farther away. “Ugh.”
Unable to bend that far in my pencil skirt, I hiked the hem up to my thighs and crawled on all fours, shimmying my behind, then stretching my arm till my fingers finally gripped my favorite lipstick.
That’s when I heard a low, masculine whistle from someone standing behind me.
Scooting back, I shot off the floor and slid my hemline back to my knee, all under the steady gaze of Paxon Nightwing, silhouetted by the sunlight that filtered into the foyer of Linden and Burke.
Towering above me with jet-black hair and matching sharp-edged wings, wearing a charcoal button-down, black slacks, and a devilish smile, his voice crooned when he spoke. “Now that’s what I call a warm welcome.”
“I, um, well, I…”
He extended a bronzed hand. I reached out with my right, nearly dropping the lipstick again. I shifted it to my left hand. “I like pink.”
I like pink? I like pink! For God’s sake, Ella. How old was I? Five?
His extended hand engulfed mine, then he drew our bodies closer. Grinning wide and stroking his thumb across my knuckles, his melodious voice sounded sultry and sinful.
“So do I.”
I blinked stupidly till my brain started functioning again. He didn’t say a word, mesmerizing me with ridiculously deep brown eyes.
“I’m, uh, Ella Barrow.”
“Paxon Nightwing. Pleasure to meet you. But I think we’ve met before.”
I tugged on my hand. He didn’t let go, tightening his hold.
“Uh, well, I’m friends with Sorcha and Jessen.”
“Yes.”
I knew this guy was a player, the kind to make a girl swoon with a glance and charm the pants right off her. Literally. Jessen had even kissed him in a club once. And while his carousing behavior should make me want to run away, I couldn’t forget that Jessen had said on a scale of one to ten, his kiss was a ninety-nine.
He still held my hand, angling his body closer. “I’ve also seen you at the Vaengar games. With Kerrington.”
“Yeah. We’re, um, dating.”
“That’s a shame.”
I tugged again.
He released me. “I have an appointment with Sorcha Nightwing.”
“Yes. I know.”
Pulling myself together, I pressed the comm device on my desk and cleared my throat. “Mr. Nightwing is here.”
“Thanks, Ella. Show him to my office, please.”
Rounding behind the desk, I gestured down the hall. “This way.”
“After you.” A sly grin.
I tilted up my chin, pretending I wasn’t afraid of him, then led him toward Sorcha’s office. I was good at pretending.
As soon as I stepped in front of him, a primal shiver vibrated through my bones.
His eyes were on me. I felt his gaze, as if his gaze were a caress, brushing up my legs, curving over my behind, rounding my hips to the dip of my waist and finally settling on the blond waves that fell past my shoulders. By the time we reached the door to the office, my heartbeat hammered in my throat.
Gesturing for him to enter, I kept my eyes on the floor, trying desperately to regain control. He stopped in front of me, but I held my gaze until I realized I was fixated on his crotch. I jerked my head up. Amusement flickered across chiseled features. He was about to say something, but I didn’t give him the chance. I marched back up the hall to the receptionist area.
My Review
Another Nightwing novel, another fantastic read! There's just something about these Morgon men that keeps you totally riveted to these stories, and I for one would be completely happy if this series would never end. The fantastical world that is blended with our own gives you an opportunity to really get lost in an amazing place, one that I would gladly move to if given the chance.
At the start of this story, Ella is a very timid, quiet young woman who does things to please others, to keep from creating controversy...which really keeps her from her own happiness. I love that here in Nightbloom we get to see her character grow and really come into her own, especially when it comes to her boyfriend at the beginning of the book. Who, I must say, is one big ass who needs to be taken down a peg or fifty.
Paxon Nightwing is generally seen as a well put together businessman, the strong yet quiet type-until something he cares about is threatened. Seeing him and Ella together and how he acts as a catalyst for her to become a stronger woman who stands up for herself is wonderful, and for the reader is quite fulfilling.
The drama is there...along with the heat...plus a nice little dose of action in the pit. The sweet innocence of Ella is well balanced by Paxon's strong, protective nature and everything about the two of them just screams perfect match.
A dramatic story of a woman coming in to her own with the support of the Morgon man who wants her (and honestly, when I say perfect match, I mean complementary, puzzle pieces clicking together, two halves of a whole--they are meant to be), Nightbloom further cements the Nightwing series as a top recommendation for me, and is a 5-star read. Keep the Nightwing stories coming...I'm waiting for more!
About the Author
Juliette calls lush, moss-laden Louisiana home where the landscape curls into her imagination, creating mystical settings for her stories. She has a B.A. in creative writing from Louisiana State University, a M.Ed. in gifted education, and was privileged to study under the award-winning author Ernest J. Gaines in grad school. Her love of mythology, legends, and art serve as constant inspiration for her works. From the moment she read JANE EYRE as a teenager, she fell in love with the Gothic romance--brooding characters, mysterious settings, persevering heroines, and dark, sexy heroes. Even then, she not only longed to read more novels set in Gothic worlds, she wanted to create her own.
Juliette is a multi-published author, including her Nightwing series with Kensington Publishing and The Vessel Trilogy with Samhain Publishing.
Tour Giveaway
$20 GC
Ebook of WAKING THE DRAGON—Book 1 in Vale of Stars
Thank you so much for sharing with your readers! :)
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