Book Spotlight: Dark Cravings (Dark #1) by Madeline Pryce

Dark Cravings

Dark Series, Book 1

Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance

Synopsis

Ella Grey’s life sucks. A half-breed vampire, she does her best to pass the time killing demons and secretly admiring her Shadow Hunter partner, Micah. He’s hot, dangerous and knows it. He'd be just Ella’s type if he weren't likely to kill her the moment she put a toe out of line.

A chance encounter with a succubus changes everything. From the second the succubus’ spell washes over them, Ella and Micah are helpless to keep their hands off one another. The sex, when it’s not leaving them on the verge of death, is earth shattering and for the first time in ages Ella is connected with someone on a level she'd feared lost forever. But a dangerous prophecy has been set into motion, and if Ella’s not careful it'll pull her straight from Micah’s arms and into the deepest bowels of the underworld.

Publisher’s Note: This book was previously published under the title Blood Lust Rising. It has been revised and expanded for Ellora's Cave.

Carly's One Question

I hadn't read Dark Cravings previously to it's being re-published but I fell in love with your characters once I did! What brought about the changes in Dark Cravings and made you decide to continue on with the series again? 

Madeline: I first want to start by thanking Carly for having me today! I can't tell you what it means to me that you’ve enjoyed the start to this series!!

The Dark series is near and dear to my heart, a project I started nearly five years ago. From one version to another and then another, the book went through a series of revisions from character names, plot overhauls, down and out cuts, revamps and then finally professional edits to make it what it is today—Dark Cravings, Book 1 in the Dark series.

It is no secret that Dark Cravings made its publishing debut in 2012 under the self published title, Blood Lust Rising by Fayth Devlin (my alter ego). After struggling with the ups and downs of self publishing, I pulled the book and stepped away from the paranormal romance genre. Ellora’s Cave picked up the book some 12 months later with an offer for a series contract. After extensive editing that not only cleaned the book up, but both expanded the story and tightened the plot, my vision came full circle. I’d finally created the book I'd dreamt about for so long. Hot, gritty, intense, action packed—full of romance, humor, violence and horror.

Excerpt

Once I started kissing Micah, I couldn’t stop. Maybe it was because I was moderately drunk, or maybe it was because each time Micah pressed his mouth to mine, I lost a little bit more of myself.

I didn’t dare speak. Micah pulled out his wallet, threw some cash on the counter and pulled me out of the bar without looking back. We were barely out into the main section of the tunnel when Micah pushed me up against the cold stone wall. I pulled him close. He pressed his mouth to mine and I gave in to complete surrender. I had no idea how long we mingled there, lost in each other.

I was breathless and panting, still silent, when he pulled me from the wall and drew me through the maze of rooms to the exit. The electric buzz of the guitar bouncing off the walls faded. The constant push-pull of conversation disappeared. The rapid click-click of my heels against the ground became nonexistent.

Outside the rain fell like a heavy, pounding beat against the broken gravel road. If it was possible, the District looked even worse through the haze of rain. Darkened and bowed wood blocked the windows of nearby buildings. Rats scampered under awnings, clambering over each other to find shelter. At least half an inch of dirty mud and gravel-laden water spilled over the gutters and flooded the sidewalks.

The wind blew and the slant of pelting rain shifted sideways. None of it mattered. The second we stepped into the storm, we were drenched. We sprinted to the car, and each heavy thud of Micah’s boots against the ground sent up a spray of water to splatter my legs.

In the dark, the black silhouette of Micah’s car was little more than a shadow. The second we reached his car, his arms were around me. He lifted me off the ground, spun me in one fluid movement until my back was against the passenger door. Rain splattered off the roof, a heavy drum that matched our heartbeats.

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Review
5 of 5 Stars!

Ella's life has never been what anyone would consider charmed. Her parents died when she was young, leaving her slightly eccentric sister and oddball wizard Uncle as her only family.  A surviving a wolf attack and being turned into a half -vampire who retains her beating heart, she's barely tolerated by her fellow Shadow Hunters. Unwilling to be cast out of the only life she's ever known, Ella tolerates the presence of Micah, her partner/"babysitter" who's (undeniably sexy)yet disdainful presence is a constant irritation.

Micah, however, feels differently. He can't help but admire the spunky firecracker of a vampire who pushes all his buttons while lighting a fire in his *erhum* soul? Okay, so she was hot as hell, and he'd had his eye on her for years. Working and training together hadn't made resisting her any easier. But his father has his eye on Ella for other purposes and losing control of his lust would have serious repercussions that could place them both in danger.

A well written paranormal adventure; Dark Cravings is liberally interspersed with mystery,  magic, sizzling sexual encounters and a host of backstabbing and manipulative secondary characters that are sure to make your head spin! The intricate plot line expertly draws readers into the dark world of Pryce's imagination. Snarky dialog and intense emotionalism bring the cast of Dark Cravings to life in a whole new way!

A copy of Dark Cravings was provided by the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Dark Secrets (Dark, Book 2) - Coming July 11th, 2014

Synopsis

 The worst moment of Micah’s life was when Ella nearly died in his arms. Her miraculous recovery should have been the start of their future. Unfortunately, a new demonic heritage, the Shadow Agency’s corruption and Julian, the vampire who turned Ella, are testing their relationship. Despite hotter-than-ever sex and a variety of new places and positions to explore, Micah begins to wonder if a relationship based on lust can survive for more than a few scorching-hot months.

Ella has forgiven, but not forgotten, the fact that Micah once plunged a dagger through her heart. Everything with Micah is passion, excitement and an uncontrollable desire to explore his body in a variety of very satisfying ways. But as buried secrets, ongoing lies and murderous deceptions pile up, Ella is reminded that she and Micah’s relationship was based on a curse. In order to forge a future together, Ella and Micah will have to face down their personal demons—and prove that love and trust are more than just words.

A Romantica® paranormal erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Sneak Peak

Dark-red lines dripped in a horizontal gash on Micah’s cheek, caused most likely from the flying debris, but he didn’t seem to notice. Dirt smudged his bare chest, and pieces of wood tangled in his shaggy golden hair. The shadow inside me—my feral inner vampire—just as much a part of me as my fangs and beating heart, preened at the sight of sweaty, dirty, alpha male.

Lethal. Deadly. Demon.

Mine.

Micah wore nothing except athletic shorts slung low on his hips, his normal attire when we trained together—something we hadn’t been doing much of lately. The stark, crimson lines of our mating tattoos traced his hip, curved down, over defined muscles and disappeared beneath the band of his shorts. Water dripped from his hair, plastering the dark strands in clumps to his forehead and nape. Each breath flexed an impressive show of muscle in his chest and abs. Good to know his assassination attempt hadn’t damaged my hormones. A Romantica® paranormal erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Series Reading Order
Dark Cravings (#1 Ella/Micah)
Dark Innocence (#1.5 Hannah)
Dark Secrets (#2 Ella/Micah) – coming July 11th, 2014
Dark Vengeance (#2.5 Castro) – unofficial title…
Dark Promises (#3 Ella/Micah) – unofficial title…

About the Author

Madeline Pryce wrote her first novel when she was ten, penned with neon-pink ink in a loose-leaf binder. Captivated by romantic literature, yet intrigued by the paranormal, she continues to develop her own voice, writing the kinds of stories that inspired her as a teen.

Things you can expect from her: Dark, erotic tales with twisted, gritty, violent & sometimes gory scenes set alongside sizzling romances and graphic sex where the door isn't just open—it’s obliterated. But, never fear, peppered into her stories you'll always find a bit of snark and some dry humor. Her hero’s are Alpha, and heroines are sassy.

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