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Deadly Is the Kiss (Grangers #1)

by Rhyannon Byrd (Goodreads Author)

4.07 of 5 stars 4.07 · rating details · 292 ratings · 47 reviews

Tasked with protecting humanity from harm, the last thing Ashe Granger was searching for on his mission was his destined mate. Then, a mysterious dark-eyed beauty reluctantly offered him shelter. A spark of danger—and a soul-deep recognition—ignited a burning, carnal need.Since her family's exile, Juliana Sabin had borne full responsibility for their safety. So when evil...more

Paperback, 384 pages

Published March 20th 2012 by HQN Books

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Mar 15, 2012 Michelle Leah Olson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: literal-addiction-books, reviewed

Our Review [by Michelle L. Olson - LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Alpha]:
Primal Instinct is one of my favorite series, but this spin-off installment was by far my favorite book yet.

I’ve been a fan of the Granger brothers all along and there’s just something about Ashe that set my heart a pitter pat, so when I heard that Deadly is the Kiss was his book I was beyond excited.
After reading the captivating conclusions to Rush of Darkness and Rush of Pleasure, I knew we were in for something special with...more Our Review [by Michelle L. Olson - LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Alpha]:
Primal Instinct is one of my favorite series, but this spin-off installment was by far my favorite book yet.

I’ve been a fan of the Granger brothers all along and there’s just something about Ashe that set my heart a pitter pat, so when I heard that Deadly is the Kiss was his book I was beyond excited.
After reading the captivating conclusions to Rush of Darkness and Rush of Pleasure, I knew we were in for something special with Ashe and Juliana’s book was released. Boy was that an understatement.

Deadly is the Kiss throws Ashe and Juliana together under unusual circumstances and forces them to confront the undeniable attraction they have had for one another since they met back in the Wasteland. With danger lurking around every corner the story is a non-stop adrenaline rush and keeps the characters (and the reader) on alert and hypersensitive, which makes for some amazing moments.

Ashe is everything you want in an alpha male – gorgeous, strong, deadly, protective, stubborn, and take no prisoners. He can be intimidating, and I wanted to smack him a few times for so vehemently denying his feelings for Juliana and then turning around and using them (and her obvious attraction to him) to taunt or blackmail her, but all of it together made him what I always knew he was but found out in spades in this book… SEXY AS SIN.

Juliana was a great heroine – smart, funny & resourceful. I loved uncovering her insecurities in this book as well as it made her even more ‘real’ to me.

Together, they are dynamite. There was no instant perfect chemistry and things that ‘just worked’, they went through a lot to get where they ended up and it was a ride that I never wanted to end.

As usual, Rhyannon’s world building was superb. Her Primal Instinct world has always been ingenious, but there was something about the set up of this book and the additional treasures she provided for us readers. I was captivated throughout. It excites me to think that there may be additional books following Deadly is the Kiss (hopefully Gideon’s and a few others!?) that are set up like this one was with bucket loads of intrigue, romance, action, intensity and so much more.

LITERAL ADDICTION gives Deadly is the Kiss 5 Skulls and would give it more if there were more to give. I whole heartedly recommend this to all Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Vampire, Shifter and all around Fantasy readers who want a grab you by the seat and not let go read. While this book can be read as a stand alone I would highly recommend reading the books in the Primal Instinct series beforehand to get the history and get properly introduced to Ashe in all of his glory.

I cannot wait for more from Rhyannon Byrd and while I know that it will be a bit before I get another of these books, I know that I have her BloodRunner’s series installment to look forward to and I am very excited for that.
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May 12, 2012 Melanie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: bite-me, enemies-to-lovers, fated-to-be-mated, library, paranormal-romance, primal-instinct, rhyannon-byrd, vamps-are-my-dental-fantasy, badass-hero, man-ho, what-a-jerk, cocky-hero

cover = psychedelically hot
book, tragically, is not....

2-2.5 stars

'Deadly is the Kiss' is technically the first in a new spin-off series from Rhyannon Byrd's 'Primal Instincts', but (IMO) is essentially just more of the same. Having read the 'Primal Instincts' books, I would say that some of those weren't great, some were just plain ok and a couple were actually pretty good (it's those good few that had me keep going back), but I think at this point I'm just going to say I'm D-O-N-E done.

I actu...more

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Mar 24, 2012 Maldivianbookreviewer rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: rhyannon-byrd, abused-heroine, against-the-wall-smexing, angsty-read, arcs, bareback-smexing, brooding-hero, brooding-heroine, commitment-phobic-hero, creepy-villian, cute-epilogues, dangerous-hero, elevator-smexing, emotional-wrangler, endearing-hero, endearing-heroine, explosive-passion, favorite-alpha-heroes, favorite-heroes, favorite-heroines, forbidden-romance, haunted-by-the-past-hero, haunted-by-the-past-heroine, hot-as-sin-hero, hottest-first-kiss, hottest-sex-scenes-ever, intense-connection-between-hh, larger-than-life-hero, law-enforcement-hero, loner-hero, loner-heroine, netgalley-reads, on-the-run-for-their-lives, opposites-attract, part-of-a-series, possessive-hero, possessive-heroine, protective-hero, ruthless-hero, scorching-sex-scenes, shared-past, shower-smexing, some-violence, stalker-villian, tortured-hero, tortured-heroine, twist-at-the-end, unforgettable-hero, vampire-hero, vampire-heroine, well-off-hero

First of all, if you have never read The Primal Instinct Series by Rhyannon Byrd, you might not like Deadly is the Kiss. I say this because the hero and heroine in this novel are characters that you come across and become intrigued with as you read the aforementioned series. Ashe Granger, the vampire hero in this novel has always intrigued me and I have always wanted to know what makes him tick. When Rhyannon announced that Rush of Pleasure would be the last in the series, I wanted to cry out be...more

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Mar 24, 2012 Jess the Romanceaholic rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: steam-level-hot, fated-to-be-mated, vampires, convict, enemies-to-lovers, on-the-run, assassin-mercenary-or-bounty-hunter, paranormal-romance, netgalley, 2012-read, ust-galore, raped-or-abused

This is a Quickie Review. For the full review, please visit The Romanceaholic.

Expected Release Date: March 20, 2012 (Paperback. April 1 eBook)
Publisher: Harelquin
Imprint: HQN
Author’s Website: http://www.rhyannonbyrd.com/
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 1, Primal Instinct World
Series Best Read In Order: Yes, recommend reading Primal Instinct Series first.
Steam Level: Hot

While this book is considered to be Book 1 in the Primal Instinct World, I do highly recommend that...more

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Mar 01, 2012 Anna at Book Lovin' Mamas rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, vampires, shifters, reading-challenge, favorites, books-to-review, rhyannon-byrd

Description
Juliana Sabin has been exiled with the rest of her family in the Wastelands, a prison for vampires that is held by powerful magic, for years. After her families compound is attacked by assassins she escapes the wastelands to search for proof to have her family exonerated so they can finally move on. She needs Ashe Granger's help but the big, beautiful, infuriating vampire despises her. Still she goes to him and talks him into helping.

Ashe Granger can’t get Juliana out of his head. Eve...more Description
Juliana Sabin has been exiled with the rest of her family in the Wastelands, a prison for vampires that is held by powerful magic, for years. After her families compound is attacked by assassins she escapes the wastelands to search for proof to have her family exonerated so they can finally move on. She needs Ashe Granger's help but the big, beautiful, infuriating vampire despises her. Still she goes to him and talks him into helping.

Ashe Granger can’t get Juliana out of his head. Ever since meeting her while helping some friends he’s had a burning desire to get her under him, over him, wherever he can get her. It’s not the normal burning either, she’s put him into his burning, what happens to a male Deschanel vampire when they meet their destined mate. But how can he claim her when he doesn’t even trust her? He has no idea what she did to end up in the Wastelands but he knows it can’t be good.

Together they set out to find answers to help Juliana and her family and maybe while they’re at it they’ll find some much needed answers about each other.

My Review
First off….WOW!!! This book was amazing!!! I’m a huge fan of Rhyannon’s, I’ve read every Primal Instinct book and I’ve even read every other book she’s written so when I say the book was good, you can believe me! She did so well setting up the world in the PI series I knew going in what to expect but still she managed to add to it for me. Finally being able to see more of the Vampires in her world was nice. I always loved them but until this book I didn’t realize how much. Now, well let’s just say Aiden (my favorite PI character) has nothing on Ashe! That man is HOTT!!! I thought I loved him before but he’s even better than I thought. I usually don’t like angry aggressive male heroes in the books I read but it worked in this one. Since he’s a vampire and has finally found his mate he’s understandably pissed that she may not be what he always envisioned his mate to be but still he can’t help but want her, need her. It was really incredible to see him surrender to his need for her, to finally accept her. Juliana was a great heroine too. Strong, funny, tough….over all a great match for Ashe. Ashe was pretty intimidating with her and still she stood her ground and gave as good as she got. Her problems were typical problems but there were very unique circumstances behind them so that was refreshing. All in all, this book far exceeded my expectations! If you haven’t read her Primal Instinct series yet don’t worry, this book won’t lack anything for you but you definitely should check it out. Thank you Ms. Byrd for the fantastic read! I hope beyond hopes that Gideon gets a book. I can be patient, I promise! ;)(less)

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Mar 29, 2012 Patricia rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: source-e-arc, genre-paranormal-romance, paranormal-vampires, 2012, setting-present, review-on-old-blog

Reviewed it on BookExhibitionism.

Oh no, it's March and the How I Met Your Mother month is over. I think, though, that I will continue writing reviews in the Letter style and I hope you, My Future Self, and you, the readers, approve.

Dear Future Patricia,

Deadly is the Kiss was your first book from Rhyannon Byrd, and it is unfortunately the 9th one in a series, something you didn't know when you got it from NetGalley. The rather negative rating of 2-2.5 stars can be explained by pointing out that u...more Reviewed it on BookExhibitionism.

Oh no, it's March and the How I Met Your Mother month is over. I think, though, that I will continue writing reviews in the Letter style and I hope you, My Future Self, and you, the readers, approve.

Dear Future Patricia,

Deadly is the Kiss was your first book from Rhyannon Byrd, and it is unfortunately the 9th one in a series, something you didn't know when you got it from NetGalley. The rather negative rating of 2-2.5 stars can be explained by pointing out that unlike long-time readers and fans, you weren't excited about the couple. Then again, if you were already a fan of Byrd, you'd probably have felt a little disappointed by the lack of .. well, story, plot, emotional involvement, fluff, reasonable angst, love, friendship, interaction with said friends (or also family, especially in Juliana's case).

Apparently people have waited a long time for this story, but you haven't. While Deadly is the Kiss could have been a really good read, it didn't grab your attention long enough to make you feel connected to any of the characters. Additionally, it felt very isolated, because the whole plot makes both the heroine and hero spent lots of time together, and alone. - Not that I don't want you to check out other books written by Byrd. It's just that there were several things that didn't make it a very good read.

1. Little to no interaction with other people. Especially the heroine, Juliana, who was isolated before already due to a punishment. It felt odd and I think that because we only got to see the protagonists with eachother they lack a complexity that would have made the story 'richer'.
2. No connection to the protagonists, and also none between them. Did they really love eachother?
3. The hero didn't redeem himself. Ashe was in many situations very unlikable, and did some stupid things. Because I, well you, well I, well.. did not buy that he loved her (or she him) and because even then I'm rather vengeful, he couldn't redeem himself in my eyes.
4. You can't ever give someone a baby as if it was a puppy. People who have not read the book yet, won't know what I'm talking about, but those of you who do: Did you expect it to be a puppy, too? Because I sure did.

Your copy said it was an in Progress ARC which means that at least the last point could have been changed (Please!) but ultimatively this wasn't a very good book. The author has much potential, and even though the book didn't give you many details about the worldbuilding, it seems to be a good general setting.

In short: If people already know the author, good for them, and yes, read it. But I didn't and I think it would have been better if I had started with the first novel. Which means, Future Patricia, you have to read at least two other novels written by this author. *g*(less)

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Dec 30, 2012 Talina Perkins rated it 4 of 5 stars

(4.5 star top pick review written by Talina Perkins for Night Owl Reviews)

Plot & Characters:
Deadly is the Kiss is a spine tingling paranormal romance that will pull at your heart strings and leave you with a need for more Rhyannon Byrd! I can't believe I waited so long to try this author. What was I thinking!

Deadly Is The Kiss is the first of a spin-off series from a well loved and known series titled Primal Instinct published with HQN. It's not entirely necessary that you read that series...more (4.5 star top pick review written by Talina Perkins for Night Owl Reviews)

Plot & Characters:
Deadly is the Kiss is a spine tingling paranormal romance that will pull at your heart strings and leave you with a need for more Rhyannon Byrd! I can't believe I waited so long to try this author. What was I thinking!

Deadly Is The Kiss is the first of a spin-off series from a well loved and known series titled Primal Instinct published with HQN. It's not entirely necessary that you read that series before diving in to this book. The author weaved in enough world building detail into this book to allow easy reading without weighing the story's pace down. It's one of the talents I admired about the author's crisp writing style. I also liked the imaginative world and the author's unique vampires. While we are use to the typical no-sunlight and food vampire, it was refreshing to enjoy a different approach on this creature of the night and see them able to walk among the humans basically undetected.

The plot is strong and captivated my attention as the hero and heroine work to figure out who is out to assassinate Juliana's entire family and why. Wrongly accused for a crime against the Deschanel council, Juliana’s entire family is exiled to the Wasteland realm and stripped of all wealth and position within the vampire society. Years pass and now new hopes arise that will allow Juliana to escape her imprisonment to prove to the council her family is innocent. Only she can’t do it alone and the one person she can count on is a SPEC soldier determined to defend the laws of the vampire society not help escaped criminals. Yet, how can he refuse to help the one woman that makes him Burn with his species form of mating?

The story kicks off quite fast with the mystery and investigation into uncovering the real criminal but not without gut wrenching moments where assassin step in and try to kill Juliana. As the story progresses we get a closer look into the real feelings connecting the two main characters and see just how deeply they care for one another. Beyond the lust and sinfully sexy love scenes, Juliana and Ashe had to overcome past hurts in order to begin to accept what might be happening between them. I loved how the author used the story to force them into approaching these topics instead of just walking away from their difficult pasts. And what a past for the heroine; a real tear jerker moment that unveiled the reasons behind the heroine action throughout the book. Her strength to even wake up in the morning much less have the strength to take care of her entire family is an inspiration for me. As we reach the end of the story everything comes to a head when past mistakes and hidden agendas are revealed. Ms. Byrd knows how to work in a twist and I have to say I didn’t see the ending coming at all.

It’s because of stories like this one that I read romance. Ms. Byrd has woven together a story of strength and love laced with venomous betrayal that demonstrates good must win against evil and that love is the strength used to win the battle.

Writing:
Ms Byrd delivers action and romance! I liked her ability to balance the adventure and the romance plot threads with a great attention to details for both. She writes fast paced action scenes that throw you right in the middle of the battles right along side the characters. She also uses that same talent for the love scenes that add the steam in steamy romance!

Summary:
Deadly is the Kiss is my first book by Rhyannon Byrd. I fell in love with her amazing characters and can't wait to catch up on all her back list. This author has made it to my must-read list with just one book. That is powerful writing! (less)

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May 31, 2012 FicTalk Blog rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-in-2012, arc

Reviewed by Autumn

When I requested Deadly is the Kiss on NetGalley I don’t remember there being any mention of it being a spin off of Byrd’s Primal Instinct series. If there had been, I might not have requested it. Deadly is the Kiss isn’t necessarily bad, it’s just that I felt like I was dropped into the middle of a book instead of starting a new one. It was very evident that the two main characters, Ashe and Juliana, had a history. They had at least met somewhere before, but guess what? I didn...more Reviewed by Autumn

When I requested Deadly is the Kiss on NetGalley I don’t remember there being any mention of it being a spin off of Byrd’s Primal Instinct series. If there had been, I might not have requested it. Deadly is the Kiss isn’t necessarily bad, it’s just that I felt like I was dropped into the middle of a book instead of starting a new one. It was very evident that the two main characters, Ashe and Juliana, had a history. They had at least met somewhere before, but guess what? I didn’t see that meeting since I haven’t read the Primal Instinct series. I can only compare it to someone reading J.R. Ward’s fifth book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series without having read the first four. You may be able to catch on to things and details and facts are repeated, but something is off. Things are glossed over. You feel as if you’re not getting the full story.

That’s the only way I can describe how I felt while reading Deadly is the Kiss. At one point I wasn’t sure if I was going to continue. I just felt as if I was missing important information. I plowed through it and wasn’t totally disappointed.

Ashe Granger is a Deschanel vampire, which for the life of me I couldn’t figure out the great significance of that until the very end. He’s a member of the Förmyndares, who protects his race. (Extra credit to anyone who thought of the soap opera Sunset Beach when they read the name Deschanel. Anyone?)

So, in other words, he’s big hot bad ass. Who I wanted to slap. Multiple times. This is the part where perhaps knowing more of what happened in the past would have helped. For most of the book I wanted to stab the hero. Now, that’s not right.

Juliana also annoyed me at points. She and the rest of her family were exiled to the Wastelands – an area for criminals. Of course she claims their innocence. Juliana received a backpack and instructions on how to escape the Wastelands and information to contact Ashe. Of course, Ashe can’t trust Juliana and that’s mostly because she’s not telling him everything she knows.

Yeah, these two had major trust issues.

What doesn’t help matters is that some time ago when he last saw Juliana his Burning was triggered. The male Deschanel vampires evidently go through this thing process called Burning when they’ve found their destined mate. They can be happily married or in love with someone, but if they go into the Burning with someone else, then screw that because fate is taking over. It’s on a comparable level to Bonding with the Black Dagger Brotherhood, but not quite. A male vampire’s Burning also raises their temperature (hence the term) but if he bites the female and releases a serum into their blood stream then they are forever connected. It’s some heavy duty shit.

Basically the story is about Ashe and Juliana finding evidence of her family’s innocence. Oh, and them having sex. Because nothing is better when you’re Burning for a woman who you claim not to want and are trying to find a cure to the Burning than to have sex with her. After you blackmail her into it. That was the first time I wanted to slap Ashe. He wouldn’t help Juliana unless she slept with him. I don’t mean spooning when one is underneath the covers and the other is under them either.

Hardcore sex, yo.

And not to spoil too much, but seriously folks, you do not just hand someone a “puppy” without talking to them first. If you’ve read Deadly is the Kiss, you’ll totally know what the hell I’m talking about. That was just like, totally odd to me.

I have to say that I did like the authors writing style. It’s the story that I wasn’t solidly sold on. I mostly blame that on the fact of this being a spin off of an already established series. Would I read the next installment? Eh, maybe, but I think it’d be most helpful to read the Primal Instinct series first. (less)

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Mar 18, 2012 Julia rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, romance, arcs, fiction, urban, dropbox

As a stand alone novel, DEADLY IS THE KISS made me terribly nostalgic. Despite the gloss of vampires and Otherworldy politics, this book is an brand of romance I haven't read in while. With the mearest fringe of plot, the hero and heroine spend all of their page time conjuring up trope after trope as they twine their bodies together. Unfortunately, none of these plot devices were presented in a new or clever way and the characters themselves were not any brand of archetype that I found appealing...more As a stand alone novel, DEADLY IS THE KISS made me terribly nostalgic. Despite the gloss of vampires and Otherworldy politics, this book is an brand of romance I haven't read in while. With the mearest fringe of plot, the hero and heroine spend all of their page time conjuring up trope after trope as they twine their bodies together. Unfortunately, none of these plot devices were presented in a new or clever way and the characters themselves were not any brand of archetype that I found appealing, leaving me finishing DEADLY IS THE KISS with a shrug and a toss.

The hero is unbearably attracted yet doesn't want to settle down with his soul mate, and his plan to have lots of sex and get her out of his system is a classic excuse for lots of sex scenes while maintaining the "we don't like each other" melodrama. Watching him slip "I can't help respecting you" moments into the story was neither surprising nor interesting, especially considering his Mary Sue soul mate. Julianna is a sweet, uncomplaining, virgin-enough martyr who plays strictly by the romance book. To readers who have anticipated Ashe and Julianna through past books, this wham-bam relationship was probably a thrill fest. As for myself, with little or no emotional interest in this pair, DEADLY IS THE KISS was a mechanical survey of the who-where-how of sex scenes interspersed with low self esteem and emotional missteps.

Don't let my cynicism fool you, this book is well written despite the shallow content. There were a few stiff instances where one of the characters has to announce a piece of lore or backstory for those of us who haven't read prior books (Ashe pausing at a critical moment to explain why he didn't need a condom was particularly tacked on), but on the whole Byrd does a good job with pacing, dialogue, and backstory. I'm a little interested in an earlier book in the series to see if the characters get more development (and therefore I enjoy it more), but I'm in no hurry.

Sexual Content: Several sex scenes.

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May 14, 2012 Lisa Annesley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, pnr, vampire, reviewed-4-blog

4.5*s

Deadly Is the Kiss is a deadly chase across Europe with sizzling sexual tension between the hero and heroine. It's a worthy spin-off of the Primal Instinct series.

Ashe Granger is a Förmyndare, a member of an elite, highly skilled group of vampire soldiers whose job is the protection of Deschanel vampires. He is also well-known to be a ladies' man. A many, many ladies man. While on a special operation with a team written about in the Primal Instinct series, he meets Juliana Sabin. Juliana an...more

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Apr 15, 2012 Jen (Red Hot Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars

For fans of the Primal Instinct series, this book is designed to do two things: --1-- to set up a spinoff series set in the same world and --2-- to provide the payoff for Ashe and Juliana, a couple that the author has been teasing readers with for a while. I've only read one random book out of the eight that came before this, so I didn't go into this story with any particular itch to scratch.

I can tell you that as a spinoff, this is a good place for new readers to get familiar with the series. T...more For fans of the Primal Instinct series, this book is designed to do two things: --1-- to set up a spinoff series set in the same world and --2-- to provide the payoff for Ashe and Juliana, a couple that the author has been teasing readers with for a while. I've only read one random book out of the eight that came before this, so I didn't go into this story with any particular itch to scratch.

I can tell you that as a spinoff, this is a good place for new readers to get familiar with the series. There are definite references to past events and obviously our couple has a history together, but I never felt lost or confused. The world-building is laid out clearly and the author does a good job bringing readers up to speed on who everyone is.

Juliana is a vampire who has spent nearly a decade in the prison-like wastelands with her family. It drives Ashe crazy that he doesn't know their crimes. But the mere fact that they were imprisoned tells him that Juliana is bad news. Unfortunately for him, his body has chosen her as a mate despite this. She triggered the "burning" in him, a sexual pull and fever that can't be overcome until he bonds with her. The burning has been torturing him for months, but Ashe won't give in and he won't tell anyone what's going on... convinced he'll find a way to rid himself of his impulses.

Ashe has been keeping his distance from Juliana, but now suddenly she is out of the wastelands and appealing to him for help. Someone has put a hit out on her family and she is hoping Ashe can help her find proof of it, so she can appeal to the vampire council for help. Ashe agrees to help her, but only if she is willing to give him the sexual release he craves.

Yes. You read that right. Our hero will only help our heroine save her family if she agrees to have sex with him --however and whenever he wants. That did not sit well with me. Yes, she wants him; and yes, they are predestined mates. But I still didn't like it. You don't barter sex for lifesaving assistance. Not hero behavior.

Anyway, so the story follows Ashe and Juliana as they try to find evidence against the bad guys, while they work to keep feelings out of their sexual relationship. Each has had a very bad experience in the past that has made them wary of love and unable to trust. And their issues have them kind of going around in circles and making bad decisions. Ashe, in particular, was a douche on more than one occasion because of his mistrust. It was frustrating to read.

The sex was hot. The writing was good, and so was the action. Juliana's backstory and the climax were unpredictable and satisfying. But the way Ashe went back and forth between being an infatuated lover and an out and out dick was tough to bear. And I hated the Epilogue, which was as overly sentimental and ridiculous and it was unnecessary. I've got serious mixed feelings about this one. 3 stars.

*ARC Provided by NetGalley(less)

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Apr 15, 2012 Amanda P rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: hot-and-steamy, own-as-an-ebook, paranormal-urban-fantasy, review-copy-provided

Rating: 3.5

I have mix feelings about this book and I’m not even really sure what to rate it, I felt very differently about the first half of the book as I did the second half of the book.

The First half of this book, I was somewhat bored, yes there were some great steamy scenes, which I have to admit I did enjoy; however, the character development in the first half was taken over by hormones. Ashe was so overcome with the Burning he could barely think coherently let alone let us in. I do remembe...more Rating: 3.5

I have mix feelings about this book and I’m not even really sure what to rate it, I felt very differently about the first half of the book as I did the second half of the book.

The First half of this book, I was somewhat bored, yes there were some great steamy scenes, which I have to admit I did enjoy; however, the character development in the first half was taken over by hormones. Ashe was so overcome with the Burning he could barely think coherently let alone let us in. I do remember Ashe from the one previous book that I had read of the Primal Instinct series of which he was a reoccurring character, but I didn’t remember much about him; other then he sure liked his ladies. I felt like I should have known him better than I did, but for the first half of the book, I hadn’t formed any connection to him as a character. Julianna was not in the one other book that I did read, so she was a new character to me even though she and Ashe had known each other for a year at this point. In the first half of the book she seemed somewhat inconstant, I wasn’t sure if I liked her or not. She was kind of eh for me in the beginning. The story line was primarily running and sex, running and sex… eh, I need more than that to keep me engaged. It took me a while to get through the first half, I’d read, put it down go do something else, come back to it, read put it down, it was a vicious cycle.

Then the second half started and I found it hard to put the book down. I’m not exactly sure what was the trigger, but it seemed as Ashe and Juliana calmed down enough from the Burning to have an actual conversion, they started opening up. The things that they had been covering up from their pasts, they start communicating about. Now, you can start getting attached to Ashe and Julianna. The story line picks up speed, we get more emotion, we get more of everything. The second half of the book is what I was waiting for the entire first half of the book. This is half is what I remembered from the last Rhyannon Byrd, book that I had read and was wishing this book was more like. You started seeing where Ashe and Julianna’s insecurities and fears came from, heart breaking admissions come out. This is what I wish the entire book was. So if you can endear past the first half there is a gem waiting for you in the second half.
(less)

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Mar 20, 2012 Francesca the Fierce ~Eyelet Ecstasy~ rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-2012, vampires

This review was posted at Under The Covers

I have mixed feelings about this book. First of all I was under the impression this was a new series, my mistake, and I'm not up to date with the Primal series by Ms. Byrd. Some people are saying it's a spin off, some people are saying it's a continuation of the series, however if you haven't read the rest of the Primal Instincts series it might not work as well for you as it should. I might've been a little lost starting out. I feel that maybe my feelin...more This review was posted at Under The Covers

I have mixed feelings about this book. First of all I was under the impression this was a new series, my mistake, and I'm not up to date with the Primal series by Ms. Byrd. Some people are saying it's a spin off, some people are saying it's a continuation of the series, however if you haven't read the rest of the Primal Instincts series it might not work as well for you as it should. I might've been a little lost starting out. I feel that maybe my feelings would be a lot different if I had that background.

However, I had an immediate crush on the hero of this story. Ashe is very alpha and very hot, protective, intelligent and doesn't fight the way things are going for him and Juliana. He knew Juliana was his mate even before they get thrown in a situation in this book, but figured he could stay away from her. Not now. But Juliana was just ok for me, not great not bad, just your average heroine that has some TSTL moments but that has a bit of a tortured past so you can't help but feel bad for her.

The actual story had a lot of potential. Juliana just escaped prison and is seeking Ashe's help to protect her family after her and the rest of the members of her family had assassination orders taken out on. Ashe is really her only hope. He's a sort of an enforcer or cop, so he wars with his instincts of doing what's right and bringing her in, or helping her. The catalyst there being the fact that he knows she's his mate and have already started The Burning.

They spent a lot more time dealing with the sexual issues they had, and taking care of them they did, than actually dealing with the assassination attempts and the people that were after them. All the dirty work seemed at times to be behind the scenes. Now that is not a major concern but in my opinion the parts I enjoyed the most about the book where "under the covers".

I do enjoy the world that Ms. Byrd has created. I've enjoyed it in the past and this was no different, the writing was also great. Now I just have to go back to finish reading her Primal Instincts series so I'm up to date!(less)

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Mar 21, 2012 Nikki Brandyberry added it

Shelves: dnf

No recap because unfortunately I’m DNFing this one. The story starts out slow and for me, I just couldn’t get into it. The characters of Ashe and Juliana were okay until I hit a slight snag. Juliana is in trouble. Major trouble. She’s broken out of the compound her entire family has been condemned to in order to try and prove their innocence in a crime they did not commit. She is aided by an unknown person who told her how to get out of the compound and gave her the tools necessary to do it. It...more

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Feb 05, 2012 Darcy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, e-book, net-galley-books, vampires, pnr

My reasoning for such a low rating for this book is that I didn't like the hero, I could go so far as to say that I hated him. This surprised me as in previous books, this author's Primal Instincts series, I liked him.

I can understand why Ashe has issues with all women, but it seems like with Juliana those feelings were magnified by 1000. He seemed to take what he saw of her life at face value, the absolute truth. She is in the Wasteland, so she must be a very bad person. He didn't want to look...more My reasoning for such a low rating for this book is that I didn't like the hero, I could go so far as to say that I hated him. This surprised me as in previous books, this author's Primal Instincts series, I liked him.

I can understand why Ashe has issues with all women, but it seems like with Juliana those feelings were magnified by 1000. He seemed to take what he saw of her life at face value, the absolute truth. She is in the Wasteland, so she must be a very bad person. He didn't want to look further until he was forced into it, when he realized that Juliana was the one he was Burning for.

For vampires the Burning is sacred to them, but Ashe did everything he could to try to overcome this and even get rid of it. To me this shows an utter disregard for both Juliana and his culture.

After Ashe finds Juliana, and even agrees to help her, he holds sex over her, it was his price for helping him, hoping that he could drown the Burning. While they were together he treated her like crap and acted like an ass! Even going to far as to step away in a bar with another woman. If I could have reached through the pages to strangle him at this point I would have. It made me even madder that he did this where Juliana could see, then he proceeded to get furious when she left with a friend. While her plan was platonic, his wasn't. Time and time again Ashe would treat Juliana like crap, often right before or after they had sex and I kept getting madder and madder at him.

When the truth of why Juliana was in the Wasteland, Ashe wouldn't even stop to contemplate that things might have happened the way they did, even when she got to the truly horrific part.

Ashe didn't seem to wake up and realize that he really loved Juliana until about 60 pages until the end. For me it was too little too late. Even his actions at the end to save her couldn't redeem him in my eyes.

I know this review makes it seem like I didn't enjoy this book, that isn't true. I did enjoy reading it, I just couldn't stomach the hero and look forward to reading more by this author.(less)

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Feb 19, 2012 Sharon rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, 2012-march

Deadly is the Kiss was kindly provided to me by Netgalley.

I am a huge fan of Ms Byrd’s Primal Instincts series so I was quite eager to read Deadly is the Kiss, Ashe Grangers story.

Juliana Sabin’s family has been serving time at their compound within the wastelands when Juliana receives a way to escape and to locate Ashe Granger to ask his help in clearing her family’s name with the council.

Ashe Granger is a member of the Formyndares, an elite, highly skilled group of soldiers whose job is the pr...more

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May 06, 2012 Rebecca rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, paranormal-romance, reviewed, vampires

You can also read this review at Reflections on Reading Romance

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

This is the first book I’ve read by Rhyannon Byrd, and if you’re new to her books as well this would be a good place to start. Deadly is the Kiss is the first in her Grangers series, a spin-off of her Primal Instincts paranormal romance series. While there were references to characters from the other series, you can easily follow along the action, and the story is for the most part self-contained.

At times Deadly...more You can also read this review at Reflections on Reading Romance

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

This is the first book I’ve read by Rhyannon Byrd, and if you’re new to her books as well this would be a good place to start. Deadly is the Kiss is the first in her Grangers series, a spin-off of her Primal Instincts paranormal romance series. While there were references to characters from the other series, you can easily follow along the action, and the story is for the most part self-contained.

At times Deadly is the Kiss felt like two different books – the first half was devoted to the fated mates connecting physically, while the second half was more action packed. I have to confess that I was a little turned off by how quickly the hero and heroine jumped into bed together, but I thoroughly enjoyed the second half, which kept me turning the pages.

Ashe Granger is a vampire warrior, and for the past year he’s been obsessed with learning why the Sabin family was imprisoned in the Wasteland, the vampire prison. He’s caught in the “burning,” a sign that he’s met his mate. Unfortunately that mate is Juliana Sabin, and the two have never gotten along. Ashe has tried to suppress the effects of the burning and is searching for a way to avoid spending a lifetime with a criminal, but when he meets an informant to learn more about Juliana’s imprisonment, he’s stunned to find Juliana sitting on a restaurant patio in London.

Juliana has managed to escape the Wasteland thanks to the efforts of a mysterious benefactor, and she needs Ashe’s help. Her family’s been targeted by assassins, and she has to prove that the charges against her family were false so the assassins can be called off. She resents having to ask Ashe for help, since the few times she’s seen him at the Wasteland he’s been a womanizer, but he’s the best and she needs all the help she can get. She never counted on his returning her secret attraction. But will he still help her when he learns the reason she and her family were imprisoned?

The second half of this book was fabulous. It’s action packed, and the pages just fly by. Each time Juliana and Ashe manage to escape the assassins sent to kill her, they find themselves in another dangerous situation and have to fight their way out. They’re also fighting the clock to find the evidence needed to save Juliana’s family, and while at first it seems obvious who the villain is, there are some intriguing twists at the end.

The chemistry between Juliana and Ashe is off the charts. Unfortunately, this chemistry results in an encounter in an elevator and 2 sex scenes all before my Kindle hit the 48% mark, which I found a bit off-putting. I suspect that for long-time fans of the Primal Instinct series, Juliana and Ashe are familiar secondary characters, establishing a history for the two which explains the leaps into the sack, but as a new reader of Ms. Byrd’s books, I was a little clueless about their history. I’m not sure I would have continued reading if I weren’t reading the book for review, which would be a shame, because the second half was much, much better.

Juliana is an interesting character, and at times I really liked her while other times I just wanted to smack some sense into her. Whenever there was a big fight scene, Ashe would tell her to stay put, yet she’d always venture out into the thick of things and then get into trouble. Frankly, she verged into TSTL territory, and I had to wonder if she’d never seen a horror movie. Besides, I kept wondering why she would seek out an experienced warrior then not listen to his advice.

The second half of the novel was good enough to make up for the squicky love scenes in the first half. In fact, I’ll be checking out some of the Primal Instinct books, because I enjoyed the flow of the last part of the book so much. As for future installments of the Granger series, I expect that Ashe’s brother will be the hero of the next novel and look forward to reading more about him.

I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher through NetGalley.(less)

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Nov 30, 2012 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: auth-r-byrd, romance-pnr

March 20 2012. Ashe Granger's story, finally.

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Sep 19, 2012 Tash rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: harlequin-aus, favourites, paranormal, bad-boy, betrayal, blackmail, hqn

Reviewed for Confessions From Romaholics

To see review at Confessions

When I requested this book, I didn’t know that this was part of Rhyannon Byrd’s Primal Instinct series and that the characters from the series are featured in this series. This story isn’t being labeled a spin off but I would say it is connected to the series since the author hasn’t made a clarification. When I found this out, I was intrigued as I haven’t had the chance to fully read the Primal series. I have paperbacks and eBoo...more Reviewed for Confessions From Romaholics

To see review at Confessions

When I requested this book, I didn’t know that this was part of Rhyannon Byrd’s Primal Instinct series and that the characters from the series are featured in this series. This story isn’t being labeled a spin off but I would say it is connected to the series since the author hasn’t made a clarification. When I found this out, I was intrigued as I haven’t had the chance to fully read the Primal series. I have paperbacks and eBooks of the series scattered over my computer and house and it has me engaged me to see where these characters feature in the Primal Instinct series.

The Grangers is a new series featuring the clan of Grangers—one of the wealthy families of Deschanel vampires. It starts off with Ashe Granger, who is on a mission to find his destined mate even though he doesn’t want to admit that he knows that the woman he meets is his mate. A few years ago his destined mate Juliana Sabin and her family were banished to the Wasteland, a desolate place for all vampire criminals since the council couldn’t make a decision whether or not to terminate them and still aren’t divulging why.

Juliana fell in love with the wrong vampire when she was younger and since then regrets it and the decision has haunted her because of the things that befell the Sabin clan afterwards. When a chance to escape from the Wastelands and find the truth is provided by a mysterious benefactor, she takes the opportunity as a way to get rid of her guilt even though it means she has to seek help from the one man she can’t forget and the one man who can help her, Ashe Granger.

With Ashe seeking her and Juliana seeking him, sooner or later they have to find each other and it will inevitably bring trouble. Juliana last saw Ashe when he visited their former compound and it appeared he was all over her cousin. With Ashe’s reputation as a ladies’ man, it wasn’t hard to see that her cousin was the latest woman Ashe was interested in. However, her cousin was a ruse as Ashe who didn’t want to admit that he had met his destined mate: Juliana. He was burning for her, which is a sure sign when males meet their mate that continues until they properly consummate their relationship.

With Ashe still denying that she is his mate and Juliana in more trouble than ever since someone wants to wipe her family off the face of the planet, the two have to work together to save her family. It looks like she’s the number one target for those after her and with people after them the story is going to by action packed.

The author writes a strong, dramatic, fast paced story full of danger, love, chemistry and intensity as they take Europe by storm trying to find out who is behind the Sabin sentencing and who wants Juliana dead. You won’t want to put this book down until you find out who and why this vampire Juliana was once in love with has caused so much pain to her and Ashe. Ashe is not forthcoming about his pain and the way he deals with it by taking it out on Juliana, the woman of his dreams, will leave you hating him at times, but he is such a character that you can forgive him when learn the truth at the same time we do about Juliana.

Juliana is a young woman whose one decision is haunting her and she has the future of her family to consider. She only wants Ashe’s help and doesn’t want to revisit the past where she harboured an attraction for him. She’s not like an icy queen or anything that will turn you off, but a very determined woman who knows what she must do and will do anything to save her family and maybe Ashe as they go on this journey together.

This book was only recently released here in Australia, and though it’s been out since April in other countries, I think for loyal Aussie readers who wait until the official Australian release, it’s worth the wait. I give it 4 couples.(less)

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May 03, 2012 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasyromance

I had been a bit disappointed by the books in the series (continuing? spin off?) and as the books progressed, I felt that they lacked that earthy chemistry the earlier books had. I ended up donating my series to the library because I felt I wasn’t going to re-read.

But this one? Juliana and Ashe’s chemistry was ‘squirm in my chair’ hot. Two words: elevator scene. Both characters stood well as individuals, and as a couple.

I loved how strong she was, and her stealth and intelligence are assets to...more

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May 31, 2012 Autumn (Fic Talk) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, arc, paranormal, vampires, read-in-2012

When I requested Deadly is the Kiss on NetGalley I don’t remember there being any mention of it being a spin off of Byrd’s Primal Instinct series. If there had been, I might not have requested it. Deadly is the Kiss isn’t necessarily bad, it’s just that I felt like I was dropped into the middle of a book instead of starting a new one. It was very evident that the two main characters, Ashe and Juliana, had a history. They had at least met somewhere before, but guess what? I didn’t see that meetin...more When I requested Deadly is the Kiss on NetGalley I don’t remember there being any mention of it being a spin off of Byrd’s Primal Instinct series. If there had been, I might not have requested it. Deadly is the Kiss isn’t necessarily bad, it’s just that I felt like I was dropped into the middle of a book instead of starting a new one. It was very evident that the two main characters, Ashe and Juliana, had a history. They had at least met somewhere before, but guess what? I didn’t see that meeting since I haven’t read the Primal Instinct series. I can only compare it to someone reading J.R. Ward’s fifth book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series without having read the first four. You may be able to catch on to things and details and facts are repeated, but something is off. Things are glossed over. You feel as if you’re not getting the full story.

That’s the only way I can describe how I felt while reading Deadly is the Kiss. At one point I wasn’t sure if I was going to continue. I just felt as if I was missing important information. I plowed through it and wasn’t totally disappointed.

Ashe Granger is a Deschanel vampire, which for the life of me I couldn’t figure out the great significance of that until the very end. He’s a member of the Förmyndares, who protects his race. (Extra credit to anyone who thought of the soap opera Sunset Beach when they read the name Deschanel. Anyone?)

So, in other words, he’s big hot bad ass. Who I wanted to slap. Multiple times. This is the part where perhaps knowing more of what happened in the past would have helped. For most of the book I wanted to stab the hero. Now, that’s not right.

Juliana also annoyed me at points. She and the rest of her family were exiled to the Wastelands – an area for criminals. Of course she claims their innocence. Juliana received a backpack and instructions on how to escape the Wastelands and information to contact Ashe. Of course, Ashe can’t trust Juliana and that’s mostly because she’s not telling him everything she knows.

Yeah, these two had major trust issues.

What doesn’t help matters is that some time ago when he last saw Juliana his Burning was triggered. The male Deschanel vampires evidently go through this thing process called Burning when they’ve found their destined mate. They can be happily married or in love with someone, but if they go into the Burning with someone else, then screw that because fate is taking over. It’s on a comparable level to Bonding with the Black Dagger Brotherhood, but not quite. A male vampire’s Burning also raises their temperature (hence the term) but if he bites the female and releases a serum into their blood stream then they are forever connected. It’s some heavy duty shit.

Basically the story is about Ashe and Juliana finding evidence of her family’s innocence. Oh, and them having sex. Because nothing is better when you’re Burning for a woman who you claim not to want and are trying to find a cure to the Burning than to have sex with her. After you blackmail her into it. That was the first time I wanted to slap Ashe. He wouldn’t help Juliana unless she slept with him. I don’t mean spooning when one is underneath the covers and the other is under them either.

Hardcore sex, yo.

And not to spoil too much, but seriously folks, you do not just hand someone a “puppy” without talking to them first. If you’ve read Deadly is the Kiss, you’ll totally know what the hell I’m talking about. That was just like, totally odd to me.

I have to say that I did like the authors writing style. It’s the story that I wasn’t solidly sold on. I mostly blame that on the fact of this being a spin off of an already established series. Would I read the next installment? Eh, maybe, but I think it’d be most helpful to read the Primal Instinct series first. (less)

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Apr 14, 2012 Ellen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-series, romance-series

Not the biggest fan of Julianna in this book. She makes some TSTL moves ignoring Ashe's advice several times in favor of 'helping'. And Ashe totally needed help, he's only a badass Förmyndare.

Förmyndares were an elite, highly skilled group of soldiers whose job was the protection of the Deschanel vampires. They were often considered the most ruthless hunters out of all the ancient clans…and they were not to be screwed with.

Sooo, yeah. And then despite lying almost the entire time about Raphe De...more

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Jan 13, 2012 Scooper Speaks rated it 4 of 5 stars

Favorite Line: "One more glimpse of her clutching that throw against the front of her naked body and he'd have her on the floor, his cock buried a mile inside her, before she even realized he'd crossed the room." (p. 104, egalley)

I've got a secret to admit. Book nine (Deadly is the Kiss) is the first book in Rhyannon Byrd's Primal Instinct series that I've read. I've been missing out on some good reading material if the previous books in the series are anything like the one I read. I'm sure I wo...more Favorite Line: "One more glimpse of her clutching that throw against the front of her naked body and he'd have her on the floor, his cock buried a mile inside her, before she even realized he'd crossed the room." (p. 104, egalley)

I've got a secret to admit. Book nine (Deadly is the Kiss) is the first book in Rhyannon Byrd's Primal Instinct series that I've read. I've been missing out on some good reading material if the previous books in the series are anything like the one I read. I'm sure I would have felt entrenched in the vampire world had I read those books, too. As it is I can't complain; enough back story is given to prevent the first time reader from being confused.

Warning: The hero is an alpha male who you will either love or hate. I was attracted to the aggressive side of Ashe, but I wanted to punch him in the face a few times. He is stuck in a shitty situation: his fated mate is an outlaw. Ashe has other issues, but as a lawman he cannot trust Juliana which is a fundamental relationship stopper.

Juliana is an enigma. She is hiding and trying to atone for events which occurred in her mysterious past. It’s quite a while before those events are brought to light. Once they are…WOW…I never saw it coming. The tension built along with my need to know Juliana’s secret. I felt compelled to read the book because I had to know what Juliana was hiding.

The passion between the hero and heroine was never a problem so there are a lot of well-written sex scenes. My only issue with the book was that I didn’t feel like the hero truly loved the heroine until the very end. I guess that’s a huge problem, but by the final page of the story I was content with the knowledge that they would succeed as a couple. Maybe Ashe’s hesitation toward Juliana helped me believe that. While there was a connection it wasn’t until Ashe and Juliana knew one another that love kicked in.

Deadly is the Kiss is an action filled paranormal romance. It is part of a series, but you should be able to read it as a stand alone. I’m sure you’d understand the world better if you read the previous eight books. It’s a sexual book about vampires and has a few dark scenes. It’s definitely worth checking out.
Scooper Speaks (less)

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Mar 24, 2012 All Things Urban Fantasy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-julia, march-2012-hotp

As a paranormal romance, DEADLY IS THE KISS made me terribly nostalgic. Despite the gloss of vampires and otherworldly politics, this book is an brand of novel that I haven't read in while. With the merest fringe of plot, the hero and heroine conjure up trope after trope as they sex their way to happily ever after. Unfortunately, none of the many plot devices that were presented were in a new or clever incarnation and the characters themselves were not any brand of archetype that I found appeali...more As a paranormal romance, DEADLY IS THE KISS made me terribly nostalgic. Despite the gloss of vampires and otherworldly politics, this book is an brand of novel that I haven't read in while. With the merest fringe of plot, the hero and heroine conjure up trope after trope as they sex their way to happily ever after. Unfortunately, none of the many plot devices that were presented were in a new or clever incarnation and the characters themselves were not any brand of archetype that I found appealing, leaving me finishing DEADLY IS THE KISS with a shrug and a sigh.

Though not apart of the Primal Instinct series arc, DEADLY IS THE KISS references characters and events from that world. As a stand alone, I had no trouble jumping into the setting, but there may have been character development from prior books that would have helped me bond with Ashe and Julianna. As is, neither one of them did anything for me. Ashe is unbearably attracted yet doesn't want to settle down with his soul mate, and his plan to get her out of his system is a classic excuse for lots of sex scenes while maintaining the "we don't like each other" melodrama. Watching him slip "I can't help respecting you" moments into the story was neither surprising nor interesting, especially considering his Mary Sue soul mate. Julianna is a sweet, uncomplaining, virgin-enough martyr who plays strictly by the romance book. The worst of both of these character extremes comes to ahead when Ashe and Julianna confront their feelings and between that moment and the end of the book they never redeemed themselves in my eyes. To readers who have anticipated Ashe and Julianna through past books, this wham-bam relationship was probably a thrill fest. As for myself, with little or no emotional interest in this pair, DEADLY IS THE KISS was a mechanical survey of the who-where-how of sex scenes interspersed with low self esteem and emotional missteps. The only trope spin came in the epilogue, where Byrd takes a new tact with the “surprise we’re having a baby” moment, but that attempt at a touching scene had me more worried about the laxity of vampire social services than feeling any closer to these two.

Don't let my litany of dislikes fool you, however, this book is well written despite the shallow content. There were a few instances where one of the characters has to announce a piece of lore for those of us that are new (Ashe pausing at a critical moment to explain why he didn't need a condom being my favorite ridiculous example), but on the whole Byrd does a good job with pacing, dialogue, and back-story. I'm a little interested in the Primal Instinct series that established this world to see if the characters get more development (and therefore I enjoy it more), but I'm definitely in no hurry.

Sexual Content: Several sex scenes.(less)

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Aug 27, 2012 Nilufer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, 2012-releases, abused-heroine, adult, blamed-for-keeping-me-up-all-night, favorites, pnr, vampires, werewolves

If you like Kresley Cole, I think you might like this one. There's the unique mythology, which is what I value most in paranormal romance. All the species and the differences; it's bewitching. The hero and heroine have love-hate relationship which doubles the tension. A lot of secrets and trust issues between the couple. You definetely won't miss action. It starts out good and has a very satisfying happy ending. It's worth giving a try (:

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Aug 24, 2012 Book rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked this book because I really like this author. She knows how to write emotion on the page. I have never really liked a murder mystery who done it type of story because I like the action better. This book has some of that mystery figuring it out kind of stuff and less action so I guess that is what lacks a little for me in this one, but the relationship was wonderful. The intensity in the scenes live up to Rhyannon Byrd's writing and the ride this book takes you on is an emotion packed fill...more

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May 14, 2012 Lisa M rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: vampire, kindle-touch, paranormal-romance

4 1/2*s

Ashe Granger is an elite vampire soldier who has gone into the Burning (a mating heat) after having met Juliana Sabin the previous year. Juliana and her family have been exiled to the Wasteland for 9 years. She escapes and seeks out Ashe's help to clear her family's name.

Ashe agrees to help, but doesn't want to be tied down with a mate. He wants relief from the Burning, however, and that's his price for helping Juliana. She agrees.

Juliana has a price on her head, and soon they are being...more

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Dec 21, 2012 Kimm rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the first time I have read Ms. Bryd's work and I am over the moon! I love romance between two tragically wounded characters. I also loved the secrets that remained just out of reach until the right moment. The emotional explosions were perfectly paced, and thrilling. I am definitely hooked!

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Jun 24, 2012 Heqmother added it

I actually loved this book but I think you need to read the others to be as emotionally invested in the ending of this book. The romance was great. the mystery wasn't so much of a mystery but as a part of the series it was great.

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Apr 08, 2012 Jen rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is now one of my favorite books. I love Ashe Granger and the intensity of his character. This book also had a couple of the best sex scenes I have ever read!! I look forward to the next book of the series and will be watching for it!

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Romance > Paranormal Romance

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Fantasy > Paranormal

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Paranormal > Vampires

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Romance

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Fantasy

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Adult

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Shapeshifters > Werewolves

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Paranormal > Shapeshifters

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About Rhyannon Byrd

Rhyannon Byrd is an avid, longtime fan of romance and the author of more than twenty paranormal and erotic titles. She has been nominated for three Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Awards, including best Shape-shifter Romance, and her books have been translated into nine languages. After having spent years enjoying the glorious sunshine of the American South and Southwest, Rhyannon now lives in th...more

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Books by Rhyannon Byrd

Touch of Seduction (Primal Instinct, #4)

Touch of Surrender (Primal Instinct, #5)

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Quotes from Deadly Is the Kiss

“She cried out as he quickly shoved a hand into the front of her panties, the sharp sound becoming a breathless moan when he cupped her warm sex in his palm and gave a predatory growl. Her delicate hands were on the sides of his neck, clutching him to her, her tongue sliding against his in a way that made his blood boil. Heat poured off him in blistering, sweltering waves as he shoved two thick fingers inside the slick, narrow opening of her body, stretching tender tissues, surprised by how perfect and small she felt. By how tightly she gripped him.
“I knew,” he groaned, nipping her mouth with his teeth as he pushed his fingers deeper into that hot, melting honey. “I fucking knew you were going to feel like this.” — 6 people liked it

“With a hoarse curse on his lips, Ashe shuddered against her. The night felt warmer, the air heavier…richer, as it pressed in on them. Lust spilled through his veins in a thick, decadent slide, more potent than any narcotic as it poured through his system. His tongue flicked against the velvety softness of her lower lip, coaxing her to accept him…to kiss him back. She shivered, blinking, then relented, her lips parting with a sigh…inviting him in, and he couldn’t resist, sliding his tongue against hers in an explicit kiss that was wet and deep and hungry.” — 5 people liked it

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Deadly Is the Kiss (Grangers #1)

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