Title: The Beast Within
Series: The Beast Within novellas #1
Author: Melissa Crowe
Publication Date: 5th June 2012
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Synopsis:
Karina's world is turned upside
down when she meets the sexy and mysterious Xavier. Something powerful and
sensual is unlocked from inside her that she cannot explain and seems to have
little control over.
With Xavier's help, Karina discovers she is a Tuatha De Danann, celtic faeries long thought to have been eradicated. Xavier's insistence on making her believe troubles Karina, what dangerous secret is he keeping from her? Can her ex partner Ian save her before it's too late?
This novella contains violence, and sexual situations which may not be recommended for readers under fifteen.
With Xavier's help, Karina discovers she is a Tuatha De Danann, celtic faeries long thought to have been eradicated. Xavier's insistence on making her believe troubles Karina, what dangerous secret is he keeping from her? Can her ex partner Ian save her before it's too late?
This novella contains violence, and sexual situations which may not be recommended for readers under fifteen.
Buy your copy
The Beast Within
“Tell me more about these Tuatha De Danann.” Karina whispered as she sat back down in her seat.
Xavier was silent for a moment taking in Karina’s face again. “What do you want to know?”
“What are they?”
“Celtic faeries, I told you.”
Karina laughed nervously and shifted uncomfortably in her chair, she was trying to listen to what Xavier was telling her but it was all sounding farfetched.
“What do you imagine when I say the word faerie?” he asked her. “Diminutive pixies that live in toadstool houses? Tinkerbell? They are all children story characters, works of fiction. The Tuatha De Danann were fierce warriors, a race of nomads who broke away from the Pelasgians in 1900 B.C. They left Greece and called themselves the Tuatha De Danann and migrated north, eventually settling in Ireland. They took with them their four sacred treasures, The Stone of Virtue, the Sword of Lugh, the Spear of Victory and the Cauldron of the Gods.”
“You think I look like Danu? That’s why you called me Tuatha; you think I’m one of them?”
“It’s a strange coincidence that you have been named Tuatha, and you share a striking resemblance to them.” Xavier replied.
Karina shook her head. “But I’m no warrior; I can’t go into an elevator without hyperventilating. I’m a doormat, people walk all over me all the time. I have spent my whole life doing what other people tell me to do, what I think will make them happy.”
Xavier smirked, “You can’t go in the water either.”
“But you said the Tuatha De Danann arrived in Ireland in a mist. They would have had to travel over water,” she pointed out.
“That was part of the spell Manannan put on them. They could only live on the hill and in their Otherworld fortress.”
“Why are you no good for me Xavier?” her fingers ran through his hair playfully.
“You haven’t worked it out yet?” his mouth pulled up on one side.
She shook her head, “No. Tell me.”
“Do you wonder why I bring out the aggression in you? Feelings you didn’t think you were capable of.”
Karina nodded.
“It’s because of what you are Karina. You need to embrace it.”
Karina rolled her eyes, “The faeries again. Do you know how much trouble that caused with my family? They believe that Tuatha is a nickname my Grandmothers wayward Great Aunt, called her bastard daughter. Apparently I look like her so they decided to call me Tuatha because they thought it would be cute!”
“Your family have no idea?” Xavier’s eyes lit up.
“Not that they are telling me, but my mother is avoiding my calls now and will barely speak to me so I dare say they have an idea about something. Let me guess Xavier, you’re one too?”
He smiled trying to fight back a laugh, “No, I’m definitely not.”
“Then what are you? What is it about you that gets under my skin, and in my head?”
Xavier laughed, “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” and he moved from the table but Karina pushed him back. “Tell me,” she demanded.
Title: Haunted
Series: The Beast Within novellas #2
Author: Melissa Crowe
Publication Date: 25th December 2012
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Synopsis:
Karina has now discovered her
abilities, but this only puts her in further danger. With a 600 year old
lycanthrope thirsting for her blood, Ian must summon the help of his brother
Ronan, the keeper of the Spear of Victory, a treasure sacred to the Tuatha De
Danann. Can the two Guardians protect Karina, or will her secret ultimately
bring destruction upon them all?
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Haunted
Ian held Antonio’s attention and Ronan ran to Karina. Taking a knife from a sheath strapped to his ankle, he cut through the ropes that kept her captive against the tree. As the bounds fell to the ground, she moved her arms, trying to assist the circulation. She winced and held her elbow. “You’re hurt,” Ronan commented.
“I’ll be fine,” Karina growled.
He nodded and handed her his spear, “Don’t let me down girlie.”
When the ancient timber touched Karina’s hands, she felt the power course through her. An unbelievable rush that made her forget her ailments and strengthen every fibre inside her. Karina took a few long deep breaths to focus. She looked to Antonio and the beating he was inflicting on Ian, the man she loved, the one who would die to protect her. She spun the spear around her hand and adjusted her grip before she ran at the lycanthrope that was here to kill her.
When she was a few feet away, Karina stabbed her weapon into the earth and leveraged herself, kicking Antonio in the face. The impact sending him sailing backward through the air and landing on his back with a loud thud as the air rushed from his lungs. Ian stood frozen, looking at Karina “Are you ok?”
Karina’s lip twitched up on one side and she pushed Ian back and moved her body in front of his, protecting him from Antonio. He had now changed into his lycanthrope form and swung a gnarled hairy claw which connected with Karina’s arm, leaving a long gash that ran from her shoulder to her good elbow. Karina cried out in pain and clutched her wound. Ian pulled her toward him “Karina!” he gasped. As the beast before them snarled and took another swipe. Ian was able to pull Karina out of the way and he waited for retaliation.
She looked at Ian and grimaced through the pain. “I’m ok,” she assured. “I’m going to finish this,” and she kicked the Spear of Victory from the ground up into her hands and swaggered toward the monster that was Antonio. “You want me, come and get me,” she jeered.
“Karina, no!” Ian started but Ronan held him back.
“No brother, she has to do this.”
A voice spoke in Karina’s head. So you have finally worked out that you are not strong enough for me. That only the descendant of Danu possesses the strength to take on an ancient being. Karina ignored the agony she was in and the protests from her body and started stalking Antonio. They circled each other and Karina twirled her weapon around her hands. You know how this will end Karina why not give yourself over to me now.
“Never!” Karina shouted and lunged toward the lycanthrope that thirsted for her blood.
Title: Journey
Series: The Beast Within novellas #3
Author: Melissa Crowe
Publication Date: 20th September 2013
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Synopsis:
Ian has been
summoned by the Goddess Danu to the Otherworld, and Karina will not let him go
without a fight.
With a Tutha De Danann that is unable to cross water, getting from Australia to Ireland will make for an interesting journey. Supernatural beings, sworn enemies and the full moon are only half of the risk as they try to cross three continents. Drug smuggling, guerrilla kidnapping and lycans on the prowl will hamper their travels.
Davarus, self-proclaimed King of the lycanthropes is building an army and on the move. Danger faces these forbidden lovers at every turn.
Would you travel to the ends of the earth for the one you love?
With a Tutha De Danann that is unable to cross water, getting from Australia to Ireland will make for an interesting journey. Supernatural beings, sworn enemies and the full moon are only half of the risk as they try to cross three continents. Drug smuggling, guerrilla kidnapping and lycans on the prowl will hamper their travels.
Davarus, self-proclaimed King of the lycanthropes is building an army and on the move. Danger faces these forbidden lovers at every turn.
Would you travel to the ends of the earth for the one you love?
Buy your copy
Journey
The car was dangerously silent as it sped south through the countryside. Karina’s eyes didn’t move from Aedan’s silhouette as he concentrated on the road ahead. Lines of worry were forming around his eyes. In the back with her, Ian and Lorcan drifted in and out of consciousness as Lakeyn drove. How dare he order me around, she thought, and what exactly did he mean by her and Ian meeting our fate?
“Are you going to speak to me or continue to throw visual daggers at me?” He asked turning around.
“Let’s get one thing straight. You don’t order me around.”
“If you weren’t hell bent of trying to get yourself killed then I wouldn’t have to.”
Karina’s mouth dropped open. “I’m not trying to get myself killed!”
Aedan raised his eyebrows. “In the last few hours you have attempted to swim across the North Channel through a swarm of Lion’s Mane jellyfish, tried to slit your wrists, went toe to toe with a lycanthrope and wanted to run into the night, on the full moon, looking for a Guardian.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and scoffed. “You should have been with me for the last few weeks then.”
He shook his head and laughed. “You are like no Tuatha De Danann I have ever met. I’ll give you that.”
“Until a year ago I hadn’t even heard of the Danann, so excuse me if I don’t conform to protocol.”
Lakeyn let out a deep belly laugh and Aedan joined him. Karina blushed with embarrassment.
“You’re in for a surprise,” Lakeyn commented. The two continued to laugh at Karina’s expense a little longer before Lakeyn turned the car around and stopped.
“What are we doing?”
“Just checking,” Lakeyn answered as he stepped out of the car and listened.
“I don’t feel anything,” Karina said and looked out into the night as her fingers tightened around the handle of Ian’s blade. Her knees was bouncing with anticipation, they were so close she could sense it. Something was urging her to continue on. Lakeyn strode away from the car and began to jog. Aedan undid his seatbelt and turned to Karina. “Stay here.”
“Yeah right,” she scoffed and opened the door.
Aedan followed Lakeyn and Karina looked around. The moon was high above and illuminated the landscape. A man was lying in the field and Lakeyn was now at his side trying to rouse him. Aedan stopped and turned to Karina, his face was sympathetic and she knew it must be Noah. Running down the hill she joined them.
About
the author: Melissa Crowe
I
am from Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. I have been a lover of
Paranormal and strong powerful women all my life and now am lucky enough to put
the two together and share it with the world. In 2009 I started writing and
have not looked back.
Author
links
REVIEW
I received a complementary copy of this series in exchange for an honest review.
The Beast Within
The first book started out a little slow. I was confused at first but then the story
started to fall into place and the mystery behind Karina’s true self as a
Tautha De Danann became more apparent. Xavier
and his deceiving Lycrothp self completely through me for a loop. This is when the story became interesting for
me. I love a book that can throw me off
guard. Ian, Karina’s Gaurdian and boyfriend, I couldn’t
make my mind up about him at this point. He just seemed to be hiding to much
information from Karina and yet very protective of her.
Although the first book was short and had an ending that
left me on edge I was intrigued and continued onto the next book which had me
at page one.
The Hunted
Now that I had a much better understanding of the characters
and what their purpose was in the series it was much easier to become sucked
into the story. At this point I still
hadn’t decided if I really liked Ian and was a little perturbed with him always
wanting Karina to want him and love him.
However after Ian showed his feels for her through a dream I got lost in
Ian’s forbidden love for Karina. Karina
now completely understood Ian's feeling for her but continues
to hurt him unknowingly with her erotic dreams of a mystery man.
Now a 600 year old lycanthrope is thirsting for her blood and
Ian must call upon his brother Ronan to help him kill the werewolf and protect
Karina. Let me just say “girl can kick
some serious werewolf butt”. But in
doing this Ian and Karina must reveal their forbidden intimate relationship to
Ronan who is forced to contact the Goddess Danu and inform her of Ian’s
disgrace to his Guardian position.
What keeps me reading is finding out all the missing pieces into
a life Karina must discover as a Tautha De Danann and learning to accept this
new life. Which is not an easy task for
Karina. Sometimes she just needs to get
away and just be Karina not the Tautha De Danann or the subject of every
lycanthropes desire to break their curse or a warrior that can barely keep her emotions
in check.
Journey
There journey to Ireland is well, full of mishaps and turmoil. Comical in some ways and my favorite of the
series so far.
Ian has been summoned by the Goddess Danu to be stripped of
his immortality ultimately resulting in death. Karina however will not let him
go without a fight. Together they travel
to Ireland which is not an easy task as Karina is not able to cross water so
getting from Australia to Ireland made for an eventful
trip. These two encounter and overcome
so much down right awful luck that I found myself laughing when they would run
into another problem. If you thought werewolves
were the only problem think again.
Karina and Ian grow not only closer as lovers but form such
a strong bound that will be tested to it breaking point. You will be so proud of Karina though when
she give the Goddess her ultimatum.
My thoughts
While reading this series I really saw the author progress
in her writing. Her writing has changed and grown so much from the first book. Author
Melissa Crowe has not only grown as a writer but her skill and talent has developed this series into a true pleasurable read.
I can only see it getting better as the series continues. I have really enjoyed Karina’s story up to
this point and can’t wait to read more.
Over all I give this series
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