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Hearts of Darkness #1

Defeat the Darkness

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Possessed by evil, ruled by lust, driven by hunger. Can love defeat the ancient demon and turn darkness into light? When three best friends graduated from Tulane Medical School, each with a plan to save lives not take them, they never suspected they'd face vampires and shifters, or battle ancient demons from the Underworld, hell bent on taking over an unsuspecting world.
While volunteering in a makeshift medical camp in the jungles of Guatemala, Kyle doesn't believe the local legends about men who shift into large cats, not until he is attacked by a rogue jaguar and experiences the change himself.
Amyra has waited three thousand years for the right man capable of fulfilling her needs. But Kyle rebels against being chosen by the dark demoness, but Amyra use the people he cares about most as leverage.
Max and Shelby aren't willing to give up on him or allow Amyra to claim his soul without a fight. But will the price be too high?
When darkness finally threatens, can Shelby's light defeat the demons taking over the men?

310 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2013

2 people are currently reading
45 people want to read

About the author

Eliza March

38 books121 followers
Eliza March, author of contemporary, paranormal, and fantasy romance with an erotic kick also writes romantic suspense.

"After one wickedly dreary winter, I packed up the babies, the furniture, said good-bye to snowsuits and snow shovels, and moved my family to west central Florida where my husband and I continue to live today. We raised five children and several animals over the years, but now that our children are grown, I have time to write the stories running around in my head. Fortunately my husband is an avid supporter."

My books in the IATO series. "Across A Crowded Room" is available from most book sellers.

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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Profile Image for Danyca.
97 reviews7 followers
January 25, 2014
I love to read paranormal, so when I try a new author I’m always hoping for a new spin on the story lines. Reading this book had me holding my breath at parts. It is an intense love triangle. The main characters are realistic and easy to identify with. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
Profile Image for Poison.
113 reviews53 followers
February 19, 2014
I had a lot of issues with this book, but I did finish it, and there were things about it I liked also, so I'm gonna try to be balanced, and avoid ranting too much.

Let me start with a negative that applies to all Paranormal Romance and World Building in general. If you are going to use shorthand, like Werewolf, Vampire, and Succubus, which are from sources such as "The Bible" and mythology, you owe it to yourself and your audience to not use obscure terms from other authors work in addition without defining those terms. Like "Tracing" which is from Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series. In mythology, tracing is finding your genealogy, history, or following your path. Teleporting would be the common or mythical description of the action of vanishing from one place and simultaneously appearing somewhere else, but Kresley Cole expounded on what she meant in her series, and in that series, Vampire or Demon Teleportation is known as Tracing. Telling me in a new series not spun off from Immortals After Dark someone is tracing either assumes I understand the rules of this new world work the same as some other authors rules, or tells me you think she used a mythical source and did no research.

Worse still, the heroine finds out she is a "Sex Fae". First, there is no such thing in mythology as a "Sex Fae" but there are a LOT of "slutty" fae, which we cannot be bothered to name apparently. Nymphs are so slutty in the stories, we've named "Nymphomania" for them, we also have Dryads, Sylphs and Sirens, but I can assure you nobody would refer to a group of people as "Sex Fae" in any polite society, and a researcher/medical doctor would not advise you that you have become of the genus: "Sex Fae". Likewise, Sex Demon is another dumb one, as we have Succubi and Incubi, and you know, calling them "Sex Fae" or "Sex Demons" colloquially, while referring to them as Succubi or Nymphs when people are talking about "What you are" in an official sense would be far less bizarre and ridiculous.

So, lets move on. The book starts with all three main characters, Max, Kyle and Shelby as humans, and Kyle and Shelby are engaged to be married. Max is their best friend, who they both love, and Kyle is going away for 6 months on a Doctors without Borders type affair. Bad things happen, and he turns into a bizarre amalgam of several supernatural creatures. He comes home, and through no fault of his own, infects all his friends, or helps them become infected.

He spends almost no time with Shelby outside of the first couple of chapters, and the last chapter, and as a Paranormal Romance, there really isn't any romance. On the other hand, the Shelby/Max stuff is mostly just skipped or glossed over, and in the end, I felt like it was Kyle's story of becoming a monstrous creature and maybe his redemption in the end, Shelby and Max both feel like secondary characters.

The plot is convoluted and all over the place, and could really have used some editing. There is no flow, and we skip back and forth in jarring ways. Also jarring is mythological references to some creatures "Succubus" and Silly Pop-Slut-Culture references like Sex Fae to others.

The sex scenes are generally well done, and pretty decent.

So in all, its a hot mess. If I was comparing this book to a person, it'd be a gorgeous young slut, waking up still in handcuffs from the night before, and still with her hangover and a case of bedhead.
Profile Image for Marta Cox.
2,859 reviews210 followers
January 22, 2014
My first book by this author and most definitely not my last! I'm a huge lover of all things paranormal and have to confess to preferring the more grown up options available! Ms March has managed to capture my interest with this hot tale set in a world riddled with supernatural creatures. If you thought a book filled with ancient Egyptians , Weres and Demons would be difficult to imagine then you really need to get this book.
Shelby has always had feelings for her friend Max but when she meets his friend Kyle her world quite literally changes. It's not long before Shelby and Kyle are deeply in love but Kyle's medical training is about to take him to Guatemala where he's determined to make a difference. Shelby is understandably devastated but just can't quite believe it when Kyle proposes just before he leaves. Kyle's stint working in the jungle though goes horribly wrong when he's attacked by a jaguar shifter but he doesn't truly understand horror until he's captured by an ancient and evil Vampire. The Vampire in question Amyra has survived for thousands of years determined to find her demonic lover but she needs very special blood to enable that and it looks as if poor Kyle might just be the unlucky source!
Kyle's not a man to surrender easily and does everything in his power to prevent Amyra from fully turning him into something unholy but when Shelby manages to track him down it looks as if all bets are off. Determined to save Shelby at all costs Kyle agrees to the monstrous plans of Amyra hoping that Shelby will return to safety in the US. Unfortunately when Shelby returns home she's far from well and suffering from horrible hallucinations . Seeking out her old friend Max Shelby needs all the comfort he can offer but memories of Kyle are not easy to ignore. Meanwhile Kyle has managed to escape Amyras clutches but is he too late?
Shelby is in great danger and it doesn't look as if Max will be able to protect her. The darkness that she first encountered deep in the jungle is following her and with it comes a soul deep revelation that will tear apart Shelby's view of the world!
Wow, just so much happening in this book that I'm not really sure just where to start! It's a very complicated plot with a great deal of world building going on. Although essentially we have three main characters there are a lot of others introduced that I'm sure will have their own stories told in subsequent books. As for the three main characters well it's an interesting dynamic with Shelby binding the two guys together so maybe not for those readers easily shocked although in truth it's not depraved in any way.
There are a lot of different supernatural types in this story and I guess some readers might find it a little off putting at first but it's a storyline that definitely keeps the readers attention. Lots of original ideas here and I for one will be hoping for more books from this talented author.
Profile Image for Karen Roma.
2,762 reviews33 followers
October 3, 2013
If you’re expecting the usual run of the mill paranormal romance from Defeat the Darkness, then DON’T.
This is a powerhouse story, with more blindsiding twists and turns than you could possibly imagine.
The story doesn’t race along, but maintains a steady pace that allows the reader to absorb the content and background of this tale, minus the feeling you often get that you missed something along the way.
For me this story was a fresh, new and totally original concept that kept me engrossed until the very end.
I have always loved Eliza March’s books, and while this is completely different to anything I have read of hers before, it is the beginning of what I believe will be an amazing new series.
Profile Image for Carrie Lahain.
Author 11 books53 followers
September 11, 2013
The plot of this erotic paranormal romance is hard to describe succinctly, but I'll give it a try. Though engaged to handsome doctor Kyle Lachlan, Dr. Shelby Mackenzie maintains close ties with her childhood friend (and former lover) Max Hamilton. Max is also a doctor, and he's Kyle's best friend. While on a charitable mission in Central America, Kyle is attacked by both a shape-shifting jaguar man AND and ancient vampire/demon. This causes him to turn into BOTH a shape-shifting jaguar AND a vampire. He's forced to reject Shelby (who has come from the U.S. to find him) for her own protection, which, of course, sends her right into the arms of Max. A bit later, Kyle escapes back to the U.S. and gets involved with a community of paranormal creatures (succubi, vampires, werewolves) living in Louisiana bayou country. They help him come up with a plan to defeat his maker, who has followed him home and targeted Shelby for death.

This complicated paranormal universe is one of the best things about the book, but it also causes some difficulties. There are a lot of characters. Each one has a unique history. Some transform into more than one supernatural creature depending on what they were bitten by and what type of supernatural genes they carry. Entertaining though it is, there are places where the plot begins to crack the "suspension of disbelief" of even the most dedicated fan of paranormal fiction. A prime example of this is when we discover that Shelby is a Sex Fae (a type of succubus) and that Max has Berserker blood. Not just any Berserker blood...He just happens to be related to a Vampire-Berserker helping Kyle. It's too much co-incidence.

Author Eliza March's characters are interesting and well developed. I became attached to them. However, this attachment took longer than it should have because we are introduced to Shelby and Kyle during a marathon sex session that goes on and on and on. I get that DEFEAT THE DARKNESS is an erotic romance. But erotic elements need to support plot and character development--not delay them or take their place. If March had placed this same sex session AFTER the couple has dinner with Max, allowing us to meet the three main players right away, the novel would have worked better for me.

Another rough spot is the final confrontation with Kyle's maker. Much of the action happens off stage. Also, it's pretty easy to subdue Amyra de la Santiago. You'd think a powerful vampire/demon who has been causing havoc for thousands of years would put up more of a fight. It's as if she just gives up. This is hard to believe and supremely unsatisfying.

All in all it's a question of balance. March's novel is weighted heavily towards sex and a fictional universe populated by a wide variety of supernatural beings. This throws off the pacing and narrative arc, resulting in an ending that feels rushed and unresolved--even for the first book in a series. Despite these structural issues, I enjoyed the book enough to give it four stars. March's plotting is ambitious and her characters are well-conceived and likable. I'm looking forward to the the next one.
43 reviews16 followers
January 31, 2014
Defeat The Darkness
I was given this to give you the reader an honest review.
This story starts out in Egypt the 13th Dynasty. Until Baphomit no one could touch Aya and the shields that protected her. But things change as history always does. She falls for the fallen angel leader of the Underworld of Demons. Through many centuries men were mere pawns a meaning to her goals. Many die at her hand and she is pure evil. She desires what the demon has. Can she have that? Can she be immortal and have such power?
Ms. March walks you from that time to the present with a wonderful ease.
Present time:
In New Orleans it's a beautiful day. Kyle and Shelby are so in love. And they share their deep love in these pages.
Kyle is fixing to leave Shelby for a while as he is to practice medicine deep in the jungle in Guatemala. He leaves her in the hands of their best friend Max. Max is handsome and well to do. His heart belongs to Shelby but his body does not.
Guatemala two months later:
Kyle befriends a young boy of the jungle. His name is Julian. Kyle has saved his younger brother from death so the bond forms. Julian tells Kyle of the legend of the jungle and about the dark one and to never look into her eyes. He tells him of the rouge cats in the jungle killing their people.
Can Kyle refuse the urge to look into her eyes and be forever entrapped in her wickedness. She is beautiful, well built with dark hair and dark eyes all men are drawn to her.
He is bitten by a rouge in the jungle will he survive the change or will it even come. Kyle shall go through many changes while he is in jungle will he live through it?
His girl friend comes for a surprise visit will he go home or send her away for her safety because something else in the jungle has bitten him.
Will he loose his soulmate trying to keep her safe. Will he send her back to Max's waiting arms?
Can he forget her and can she forget him.
This Author takes on a wonderful adventure with great breathtaking detail through a jungle that's just as beautiful as it is wicked. And her merging the many different paranormal creatures together in one story is outstanding. All her attention to detail is amazing. I applauded this Author for a story well told and for seizing my mind and taking it into her world. This is another book I would love to see unfold on the big screen.





Rebecca Mills
Profile Image for Elizabeth Neff.
97 reviews2 followers
February 2, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed this book; yes it was given to me to review and with that the understanding that I would be honest in my review. Again with that being said I really truly enjoyed it.
The characters are just the right amount of complex, nothing in this storyline is what you think and it gives the perfect amount of intrigue. I found that I was roped into this book right away and couldn't stop reading it at times.
Kyle is a doctor on a mission to help people suffering at the hands of mudslides and circumstances beyond their control in Guatemala. He stubbles upon ancient darkness and get caught up in stories of, what he believes to be lore. Then he realizes he is sought out by a dark spirit who uses him in ways that require him to do what is right for other's (surprise since he is dr. donating his time to help others) and sacrifice his own desire. He leaves his beloved fiancé Shelby behind with her best friend Max and his too.
This book was so much fun to read because it is literally everything I love to read in this genera. It is complex and has fantastic sex in it. I found myself at times stopping to smoke a cigarette. I loved it and if you love Paranormal Erotic Romance this book is most definitely for you. I without a doubt give it 5 stars I am so pleased that I got this book and look forward to reading more from this author. I hope you enjoy it at much as I did.
I refuse to write reviews that give away the book I don't want to ruin the fun for the reader so I hope that this review helps you decide to read it because if you love this genera then I am confident you will love this book.
This book brought out something primal in the reader you want to see good prevail but you want to not feel guilty for enjoy it’s darkness too. I think we all secretly search for something bad for us even though we know we should only want the light. I personally like a balance it keeps my yin and yang happy. The sex in this book is amazing and Eliza my hubby says thank you!!!!
Profile Image for Sharron Riddle.
Author 11 books53 followers
January 20, 2014
When Kyle heads off to S. America, his fiance Shelby goes after him, and finds he's changed. Only she doesn't realize how much, and she finds him in the grip of another woman. Thankfully, hunky Max is waiting to soothe her broken heart. Only, things aren't what they seem, and Kyle has much more at stake than his relationship with Shelby. This book is a hot, fast read. There are surprises around every corner. A lot of familiar mythology with interesting twists. Shapeshifters and vampires. Sometimes one is both. An excellent antagonist - you will love to hate her! I highly recommend this book!
Profile Image for Tracy.
1,017 reviews
January 31, 2014
This was the first Eliza March book that I've read but it won't be the last!!

I'm a really big fan of paranormal reads and Eliza gave us a fantastic story in 'Defeat The Darkness'. It contained all of my favourites - vampires, shifters, fae & demons!!!

Eliza kept us intrigued with an interesting plot with a difference. There was loads of heat, passion, tension and a healthy dose of hot and erotic down & dirty action!!!

A really good read well worth checking out.
Looking forward to reading more from Eliza.
Profile Image for LaVerne Clark.
Author 4 books61 followers
December 28, 2013
Review to come - but, oh my gosh - what a great book and can't wait for the next in the series.
Profile Image for Scarolet Ellis.
7,445 reviews53 followers
June 15, 2019
Defeat The Darkness: Demons of the Bayou by Eliza March is a wonderful story that I have read. This is book number one a wonderful start to a brand new series. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about shifters, vampires and demons in their stories as much as I do.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews

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