What do you think?
Rate this book
Handmaid’s Seduction #1
Radiant Desire
The object of every man’s fantasy just lost her wings…
Kaia Verde is one of the four Faerie Handmaids of Zafira, Queen of the Fey. To redress an ancient wrong done to Zafira by a human king, the Handmaids make sport of mortal men, seducing and humiliating them. When Kaia sets out to seduce Garrett Jameson, but ends up being the one surrendering to pleasure, Zafira is furious. Kaia’s punishment is make Garrett fall in love with her by the summer solstice, then break his heart, or face eternity without her wings—or her soul. To make the task harder, Zafira tells Kaia she cannot use her faerie magic or charm to lure Garrett into her bed.
…and now she’s losing her heart…
Kaia thinks her task will be relatively easy—as a faerie, she understands lust, and can love be much different? But once she is living among the humans, Kaia discovers the race she once disparaged is far more complex and beautiful than she imagined. She learns before she can break Garrett’s heart, she must find a way to heal it. And eventually, discovers that losing her wings may be a far easier price to pay than losing her heart.
Kaia Verde is one of the four Faerie Handmaids of Zafira, Queen of the Fey. To redress an ancient wrong done to Zafira by a human king, the Handmaids make sport of mortal men, seducing and humiliating them. When Kaia sets out to seduce Garrett Jameson, but ends up being the one surrendering to pleasure, Zafira is furious. Kaia’s punishment is make Garrett fall in love with her by the summer solstice, then break his heart, or face eternity without her wings—or her soul. To make the task harder, Zafira tells Kaia she cannot use her faerie magic or charm to lure Garrett into her bed.
…and now she’s losing her heart…
Kaia thinks her task will be relatively easy—as a faerie, she understands lust, and can love be much different? But once she is living among the humans, Kaia discovers the race she once disparaged is far more complex and beautiful than she imagined. She learns before she can break Garrett’s heart, she must find a way to heal it. And eventually, discovers that losing her wings may be a far easier price to pay than losing her heart.
321 pages, Nook
First published September 29, 2011
5 people are currently reading
1600 people want to read
About the author
Inara Scott
24 books675 followersI wrote my first book when I was in high school--a romance called "A Wild and Stormy Passion," which featured swordplay, kidnapping, a pirate heroine, and lots of naughty bits (that came entirely from my adolescent imagination!). Since then, I've written young adult novels and adult romances of the category, contemporary, and fantasy varieties. My books are romantic and sensual. I like strong women and strong men and the sparks that fly when they get together.
I am a dabbler and an emotional sponge. I can't read scary books or anything with an unhappy ending. I reserve the right to enjoy country music, puppies, true love, and happily ever after.
If you're perusing my Goodreads shelves, you should know I only review books I want to share the word about. If you ask me, life's too short to read something you don't enjoy.
I am a dabbler and an emotional sponge. I can't read scary books or anything with an unhappy ending. I reserve the right to enjoy country music, puppies, true love, and happily ever after.
If you're perusing my Goodreads shelves, you should know I only review books I want to share the word about. If you ask me, life's too short to read something you don't enjoy.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
November 9, 2011
Review by April: Like a long luxurious bubble bath, Radiant Desire is a sinful and indulgent story that you wish would never end. A contemporary fairytale, this is a story that will take the reader beyond the land of the Fey, beyond rational thoughts and beliefs and bring a world of glorious romance, hope, forgiveness and beauty to wrap itself around the reader.
When I began reading Radiant Desire, I was a bit taken aback by the idea of the Handmaid’s job as using men and then leaving them to suffer. Granted, this is a delightful idea, at times; however as a constant, I wasn’t quite sure. I do have to say that after getting into the story a couple of chapters, the overall theme took a change. Instead of a sex packed story filled with “use’em and leave’em hurting”, Radiant Desire took on a theme of true humility as well as providing an excellent story line that continues to ring within my mind.
Kaia Verde is sent on a mission to seduce Garrett Jameson, by the Queen of the Fey, Zafira. For whatever reason, Zafira holds Garrett in the utmost level of distaste and disregard. She wants nothing more than to see him utterly humiliated. Right from the start, however, Zaia knows that there is something different about Garrett. To begin with, her Faerie beauty is not having its normal effect on Garrett, for another he is not blown away by her charm and is seemingly able to resist her and all that she has to offer. Then, when things just begin to look up for Kaia, she finds herself deliciously pleasured and satisfied by Garrett – which is a BIG Handmaid’s no-no. It is for this reason that Kaia is punished and sent back to the humans, without the ability to use her powers to make Garrett fall in love with her and then crush him.
Sounds simply enough, right? Well, this is just a tiny bit of the story. As readers get into Radiant Desire, they will travel along with Kaia as she learns about real life in the human world, a world where humans are not as horrid as she was taught. Kaia also learns what it is like to witness helpful hearts, friendships and relationships in blissful form. Though not all rosy gloriousness, Radiant Desire is a brilliant roller coaster ride of deep emotion. I have to honestly say that this is a book that made my heart ache in places, soar in others; had a smile breaking out upon my face as well as tears welling up within my eyes. Yes, this truly had that much of an impact on me. Inara Scott has such an amazing talent for using words to create a story that will draw the reader in completely – heart and soul. I adored Kaia, found her to be amazing, strong, brilliant and steadfast. Garrett is an amazing leading male character. Not only is he sizzling, but the fact that he holds his heart behind such a solid wall makes me just want to cuddle up with him and wipe all of his pain away. Kaia and Garrett are excellent characters who play upon one another to perfection. Not only that, but they have some intense chemistry that is apparent from the very beginning. Though not overly packed with sex, there are a few tastefully steamy and sizzling scenes that will get the blood flowing, as well as the heart racing.
Radiant Desire is an incredible read that I highly recommend to anyone looking for a delicious and heartwarming, engrossing and impossible to put down read. I truly cannot wait for the next installment of this series to come out and eagerly await more works by this amazing author!
Favorite Quote: Kaia the Human turned out to be strikingly similar to Kaia the Faerie. Perhaps a little more independent. A little less obsessed with her looks. And a little more concerned with the lives of the beings around her.
When I began reading Radiant Desire, I was a bit taken aback by the idea of the Handmaid’s job as using men and then leaving them to suffer. Granted, this is a delightful idea, at times; however as a constant, I wasn’t quite sure. I do have to say that after getting into the story a couple of chapters, the overall theme took a change. Instead of a sex packed story filled with “use’em and leave’em hurting”, Radiant Desire took on a theme of true humility as well as providing an excellent story line that continues to ring within my mind.
Kaia Verde is sent on a mission to seduce Garrett Jameson, by the Queen of the Fey, Zafira. For whatever reason, Zafira holds Garrett in the utmost level of distaste and disregard. She wants nothing more than to see him utterly humiliated. Right from the start, however, Zaia knows that there is something different about Garrett. To begin with, her Faerie beauty is not having its normal effect on Garrett, for another he is not blown away by her charm and is seemingly able to resist her and all that she has to offer. Then, when things just begin to look up for Kaia, she finds herself deliciously pleasured and satisfied by Garrett – which is a BIG Handmaid’s no-no. It is for this reason that Kaia is punished and sent back to the humans, without the ability to use her powers to make Garrett fall in love with her and then crush him.
Sounds simply enough, right? Well, this is just a tiny bit of the story. As readers get into Radiant Desire, they will travel along with Kaia as she learns about real life in the human world, a world where humans are not as horrid as she was taught. Kaia also learns what it is like to witness helpful hearts, friendships and relationships in blissful form. Though not all rosy gloriousness, Radiant Desire is a brilliant roller coaster ride of deep emotion. I have to honestly say that this is a book that made my heart ache in places, soar in others; had a smile breaking out upon my face as well as tears welling up within my eyes. Yes, this truly had that much of an impact on me. Inara Scott has such an amazing talent for using words to create a story that will draw the reader in completely – heart and soul. I adored Kaia, found her to be amazing, strong, brilliant and steadfast. Garrett is an amazing leading male character. Not only is he sizzling, but the fact that he holds his heart behind such a solid wall makes me just want to cuddle up with him and wipe all of his pain away. Kaia and Garrett are excellent characters who play upon one another to perfection. Not only that, but they have some intense chemistry that is apparent from the very beginning. Though not overly packed with sex, there are a few tastefully steamy and sizzling scenes that will get the blood flowing, as well as the heart racing.
Radiant Desire is an incredible read that I highly recommend to anyone looking for a delicious and heartwarming, engrossing and impossible to put down read. I truly cannot wait for the next installment of this series to come out and eagerly await more works by this amazing author!
Favorite Quote: Kaia the Human turned out to be strikingly similar to Kaia the Faerie. Perhaps a little more independent. A little less obsessed with her looks. And a little more concerned with the lives of the beings around her.
October 24, 2011
My thoughts:
Radiant Desire effortlessly melds the world of fantasy with reality in this enchanting romantic read! From the first time I saw this beautiful cover, I knew I wanted to read Radiant Desire. This book combines elements of faery magic, lust, romance, and friendship creating a story that is absolutely delightful.
Kaia, a handmaiden to the queen of Faeria, makes a terrible error when she allows herself to lose control with the man that the queen sent her to seduce. The furious Queen Zafira’s punishes her by demanding that she return and make that same man, business tycoon Garrett Jameson, fall hopelessly in love with her and then break his heart. This sounds fairly simple until Zafira adds the stipulation that she must accomplish this without using any faerie magic, and failure will mean the loss of her wings forever. Kaia, accustomed to using her faerie magic for everything from seducing men to paying her bills finds herself struggling in the human world where she now has to do such mundane things as get a job and shave under her arms. She has to figure out a way back to Garrett Jameson while at the same time make herself at home in this all too human existence. The question is, once she gets back to Garrett, will she ever want to leave?
I truly enjoyed this story. The lovely writing brings to life both the fantastic world of the faeries as vividly as it does every day Miami. The struggles Kaia faced in the human world without her faerie magic were very realistic and I found myself empathizing with her throughout. Kaia was a faerie heroine whose personality sparkled even when put in situations far outside of her element which made it so easy to care about her. The romance between Kaia and Garrett was satisfyingly steamy and yet still sincere. All in all, this was an extremely entertaining read and one that I would highly recommend to those who enjoy adult romance with an element of fantasy or who, like me, love all things faerie!
Radiant Desire effortlessly melds the world of fantasy with reality in this enchanting romantic read! From the first time I saw this beautiful cover, I knew I wanted to read Radiant Desire. This book combines elements of faery magic, lust, romance, and friendship creating a story that is absolutely delightful.
Kaia, a handmaiden to the queen of Faeria, makes a terrible error when she allows herself to lose control with the man that the queen sent her to seduce. The furious Queen Zafira’s punishes her by demanding that she return and make that same man, business tycoon Garrett Jameson, fall hopelessly in love with her and then break his heart. This sounds fairly simple until Zafira adds the stipulation that she must accomplish this without using any faerie magic, and failure will mean the loss of her wings forever. Kaia, accustomed to using her faerie magic for everything from seducing men to paying her bills finds herself struggling in the human world where she now has to do such mundane things as get a job and shave under her arms. She has to figure out a way back to Garrett Jameson while at the same time make herself at home in this all too human existence. The question is, once she gets back to Garrett, will she ever want to leave?
I truly enjoyed this story. The lovely writing brings to life both the fantastic world of the faeries as vividly as it does every day Miami. The struggles Kaia faced in the human world without her faerie magic were very realistic and I found myself empathizing with her throughout. Kaia was a faerie heroine whose personality sparkled even when put in situations far outside of her element which made it so easy to care about her. The romance between Kaia and Garrett was satisfyingly steamy and yet still sincere. All in all, this was an extremely entertaining read and one that I would highly recommend to those who enjoy adult romance with an element of fantasy or who, like me, love all things faerie!
August 13, 2013
Hadas. Lujuria. Hombre sexy e irresistible. Amor.
¿Qué mas puedo pedir para un libro?
Bueno, empecé este libro con muchísimas ganas porque la sinopsis me encanto, dije: "¿hadas y sexo? Si, gracias jajaja." El libro empezó con la misión que Zafira le puso a Kaia, que era romperle el corazón a Garrett Jameson, un sexy, sexy y terco empresario. Y bueno, la cosa no resulto muy bien... Y a Kaia se le quita su magia de hada y se le obligo volver al mundo de los humanos, enamorar a Garrett y entonces romperle el corazón. Y entonces aquí se desencadena un montón de sentimientos, y entonces Kaia piensa que sería mucho mas fácil dejar ir sus alas que el amor que ahora siente por Garrett.
Ah, si señores, ver como esta pequeña y preciosa hada que solo había conocido lo que es la lujuria, el orgullo y la vanidad, conoce el amor con un hombre como Garrett es muy hfdsgdjfadfs ya saben, ah.
El libro es bastante original y me gusto un montón, lo adoré.
Le di un 4/5 porque algunas cositas no me acabaron de convencer, pero me gusto un montón, es muy recomendado si quieren hadas, sexo, amor, amistad y un chico sexy y arrogante ;)
¿Qué mas puedo pedir para un libro?
Bueno, empecé este libro con muchísimas ganas porque la sinopsis me encanto, dije: "¿hadas y sexo? Si, gracias jajaja." El libro empezó con la misión que Zafira le puso a Kaia, que era romperle el corazón a Garrett Jameson, un sexy, sexy y terco empresario. Y bueno, la cosa no resulto muy bien... Y a Kaia se le quita su magia de hada y se le obligo volver al mundo de los humanos, enamorar a Garrett y entonces romperle el corazón. Y entonces aquí se desencadena un montón de sentimientos, y entonces Kaia piensa que sería mucho mas fácil dejar ir sus alas que el amor que ahora siente por Garrett.
Ah, si señores, ver como esta pequeña y preciosa hada que solo había conocido lo que es la lujuria, el orgullo y la vanidad, conoce el amor con un hombre como Garrett es muy hfdsgdjfadfs ya saben, ah.
El libro es bastante original y me gusto un montón, lo adoré.
Le di un 4/5 porque algunas cositas no me acabaron de convencer, pero me gusto un montón, es muy recomendado si quieren hadas, sexo, amor, amistad y un chico sexy y arrogante ;)
September 28, 2011
Favorite Quote:
“When people come to the "flower shop, you know what they want to say to each other? Two things: I’m sorry, and I love you. That’s it. They say it different ways and with different words, but it comes down to the same thing each time. So I think that’s what it means to be human. I think it means taking chances and risking getting hurt. I think it means loving and forgiving.”
Review:
Radiant Desire is the first of Inara Scott’s books that I have had the pleasure to read. I was initially captivated by the fan-damn-tastic cover of the book. Admittedly, I am a sucker for amazing covers. **grins**
This book was an absolute pleasure and I could not put it down. It kept me up into the wee hours of the night when I should have been sleeping. I was captivated from the start of this amazing novel. I have always loved fantasy books. Each allows us to become immersed in characters that we would otherwise leave in the recesses of our minds, not really giving overmuch thought to. I have always loved the idea of faeries; especially after reading Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream. The playfulness and meddling of the celestial beings was extremely entertaining. Scott successfully brings similar qualities to some of the characters in this book.
I enjoyed that the characters each went through a process to find their happiness. Not only did Caia and Garrett have to work through misguided assumptions that hindered the ability for growth and acceptance, the secondary and supporting characters also went through their own eye-opening experiences at differing times throughout the story. This story has depth beyond the initial feelings generally conveyed in novels. Ideals that some had lived by were challenged. Beliefs were tested. Ultimately each individual had to personally decide their own path: a decision that weighted heavily with happiness and consequences lurking regardless of the chosen course.
What I didn’t like, though somewhat trivial in comparison to the rest of the story, is the lack of closure for Portia. I felt there could have been a bit more added to the Aiden revelation. I appreciated her description in the final chapter, but with the disclosure of her motivation, I felt as if she could have been afforded just a smidge more happiness.
I am assuming that A Handmaid’s Seduction will likely have subsequent installments with each of Caia’s sisters getting their own story. The possibilities are endless with unfulfilled contracts yet to be paid. But you will have to read the story to fully understand the implications of such a statement. Naturally, the idea of a series is just a supposition based on the contents of the final chapter, but an assumption I would dearly love to see manifest. Scott has a talent for spellbinding her readers and keeping them hooked within a story that flows from beginning to end. My time was well spent with Radiant Desire.
(ARC e-book received from @inarascott for review)
“When people come to the "flower shop, you know what they want to say to each other? Two things: I’m sorry, and I love you. That’s it. They say it different ways and with different words, but it comes down to the same thing each time. So I think that’s what it means to be human. I think it means taking chances and risking getting hurt. I think it means loving and forgiving.”
Review:
Radiant Desire is the first of Inara Scott’s books that I have had the pleasure to read. I was initially captivated by the fan-damn-tastic cover of the book. Admittedly, I am a sucker for amazing covers. **grins**
This book was an absolute pleasure and I could not put it down. It kept me up into the wee hours of the night when I should have been sleeping. I was captivated from the start of this amazing novel. I have always loved fantasy books. Each allows us to become immersed in characters that we would otherwise leave in the recesses of our minds, not really giving overmuch thought to. I have always loved the idea of faeries; especially after reading Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream. The playfulness and meddling of the celestial beings was extremely entertaining. Scott successfully brings similar qualities to some of the characters in this book.
I enjoyed that the characters each went through a process to find their happiness. Not only did Caia and Garrett have to work through misguided assumptions that hindered the ability for growth and acceptance, the secondary and supporting characters also went through their own eye-opening experiences at differing times throughout the story. This story has depth beyond the initial feelings generally conveyed in novels. Ideals that some had lived by were challenged. Beliefs were tested. Ultimately each individual had to personally decide their own path: a decision that weighted heavily with happiness and consequences lurking regardless of the chosen course.
What I didn’t like, though somewhat trivial in comparison to the rest of the story, is the lack of closure for Portia. I felt there could have been a bit more added to the Aiden revelation. I appreciated her description in the final chapter, but with the disclosure of her motivation, I felt as if she could have been afforded just a smidge more happiness.
I am assuming that A Handmaid’s Seduction will likely have subsequent installments with each of Caia’s sisters getting their own story. The possibilities are endless with unfulfilled contracts yet to be paid. But you will have to read the story to fully understand the implications of such a statement. Naturally, the idea of a series is just a supposition based on the contents of the final chapter, but an assumption I would dearly love to see manifest. Scott has a talent for spellbinding her readers and keeping them hooked within a story that flows from beginning to end. My time was well spent with Radiant Desire.
(ARC e-book received from @inarascott for review)
January 15, 2012
Kaia is a faerie handmaid, a light faery of grace and light. Given a command by Queen Zafira to seduce mortal Garrett James, capture his heart and then leave him wanting, Kaia makes haste to accomplish her task. Such an ordinary task that should be easy to complete, it astounds Kaia when she still hasn't completed it after a few days.
Garrett is immune to her beauty or he just doesn't like her. Actually, she looks so beautiful, Garrett assumes she's a prostitute or out to get what she can. He has no patience for anyone like that. However, something about Kaia draws him and the two begin a flirty romance.
Garrett questions everything and Kaia tries to spin her tales to appease him but it doesn't take long before Garrett doesn't believe her. Even though he cares for her and she cares him, he isn't looking for a long relationship and he can't abide liars. She loves him but with a broken heart, she leaves him. She knows she has failed her task for the queen and will be punished by either losing her wings or her soul.
Garrett realizes his loss after she is gone and spends much time looking for Kaia but to no avail. When he finds her through a fairy ring, he confesses his true love but will it be enough? When the Queen shows up at their reconciliation, will she let them go or will she banish them away forever and apart?
Radiant Desire is a compelling and lively romance with supernatural elements of the fae. With great dialogue, unique and delightful characters and an entertaining and clever plot, Inara Scott pens a remarkable tale about the power of love. I loved it! Don't miss this one!!
Garrett is immune to her beauty or he just doesn't like her. Actually, she looks so beautiful, Garrett assumes she's a prostitute or out to get what she can. He has no patience for anyone like that. However, something about Kaia draws him and the two begin a flirty romance.
Garrett questions everything and Kaia tries to spin her tales to appease him but it doesn't take long before Garrett doesn't believe her. Even though he cares for her and she cares him, he isn't looking for a long relationship and he can't abide liars. She loves him but with a broken heart, she leaves him. She knows she has failed her task for the queen and will be punished by either losing her wings or her soul.
Garrett realizes his loss after she is gone and spends much time looking for Kaia but to no avail. When he finds her through a fairy ring, he confesses his true love but will it be enough? When the Queen shows up at their reconciliation, will she let them go or will she banish them away forever and apart?
Radiant Desire is a compelling and lively romance with supernatural elements of the fae. With great dialogue, unique and delightful characters and an entertaining and clever plot, Inara Scott pens a remarkable tale about the power of love. I loved it! Don't miss this one!!
October 4, 2011
While this book is geared towards adults I think that mature young adult readers will enjoy just as much, if not more than the intended audience (note that there are a few explicit sex scenes in it which may not be appropriate for younger YA readers). This book possess traits which will appeal to all readers, a unique storyline, a captivating plot and likeable characters.
And speaking of characters, not only do the main characters of this book, Kaia and Garrett shine, but the secondary characters do as well, Rachel, Ted, Portia, and Lexi (and for that I am truly grateful, not once did I find myself annoyed by the secondary characters and just want to skip over their scene as I am oft to do)- in fact, at times I actually found myself rooting more for Rachel and Ted than I did for Kaia and Garrett as their scenes together were so heart-wrenching.
I think that my biggest complaint about the book is the climax- I wouldn't say that it was rushed per se, I just wish that it had been a bit more in-depth (primarily because what is exposed during in it is so EPIC, I want to exactly how the past events transpired, leading to the major confession- can anyone say 'spin-off series'?).
All in all, this is much more than your average bodice-ripping romance- the world building in this book is impeccable, the characters are so relateable and realistic (being flawed as they are), and the romance is so sweet and cute (while being sexy at the same time, for all of your hardcores out there). I highly recommend this book and I cannot wait to see what Inara has in store for us next!
And speaking of characters, not only do the main characters of this book, Kaia and Garrett shine, but the secondary characters do as well, Rachel, Ted, Portia, and Lexi (and for that I am truly grateful, not once did I find myself annoyed by the secondary characters and just want to skip over their scene as I am oft to do)- in fact, at times I actually found myself rooting more for Rachel and Ted than I did for Kaia and Garrett as their scenes together were so heart-wrenching.
I think that my biggest complaint about the book is the climax- I wouldn't say that it was rushed per se, I just wish that it had been a bit more in-depth (primarily because what is exposed during in it is so EPIC, I want to exactly how the past events transpired, leading to the major confession- can anyone say 'spin-off series'?).
All in all, this is much more than your average bodice-ripping romance- the world building in this book is impeccable, the characters are so relateable and realistic (being flawed as they are), and the romance is so sweet and cute (while being sexy at the same time, for all of your hardcores out there). I highly recommend this book and I cannot wait to see what Inara has in store for us next!
October 19, 2011
I've been a slave to this book for a while now, waiting for a break in edits so I could sink my teeth in. The cover is amazing and I'll probably by the book just to go on my pretty cover shelf. And the inside is even better.
Ms. Scott has managed to create a fun contemporary world with a blending of fey and humans and magic that will leave you begging for more. I adored Kaia, the heroine. Seriously, she's one of my top five females now! Loved her resilience, her awkward acceptance of her humanity, and who wouldn't love a heroine who would give up her wings for love.
Garrett, the hero, was a delicious pain in the (you know where.) A truly beautiful tortured hero with a past that will just make you want to cry. I loved his forthright attitude when it came to not buying all of Kaia's BS.
The supporting cast is adorable, especially the imp. I even wanted the evil queen to get a redemption. And she's truly self-indulgent, how does that happen? Just damn good writing!
Boy, but when the two came together, in the words of a good friend, "YOWZA!" it's a hot chemistry that keeps them from totally failing each other. This is a sensual, haaawwwwwtttt romance without the messy. In other words, it borderlines the erotic world without all the graphics, but you're left with the same heat. It's truly amazing!
So, without a doubt, definitely go buy this! I will recommend it forever.
Ms. Scott has managed to create a fun contemporary world with a blending of fey and humans and magic that will leave you begging for more. I adored Kaia, the heroine. Seriously, she's one of my top five females now! Loved her resilience, her awkward acceptance of her humanity, and who wouldn't love a heroine who would give up her wings for love.
Garrett, the hero, was a delicious pain in the (you know where.) A truly beautiful tortured hero with a past that will just make you want to cry. I loved his forthright attitude when it came to not buying all of Kaia's BS.
The supporting cast is adorable, especially the imp. I even wanted the evil queen to get a redemption. And she's truly self-indulgent, how does that happen? Just damn good writing!
Boy, but when the two came together, in the words of a good friend, "YOWZA!" it's a hot chemistry that keeps them from totally failing each other. This is a sensual, haaawwwwwtttt romance without the messy. In other words, it borderlines the erotic world without all the graphics, but you're left with the same heat. It's truly amazing!
So, without a doubt, definitely go buy this! I will recommend it forever.
October 31, 2011
"RADIANT DESIRE" BY INARA SCOTT
I have never really been a fan of the sparkly winged fairies unless they were part of fairytales; but the fairies in Inara Scott's book are much more than your sweet, winged, brightly colored variety. The portrayal of fairies, especially the ones of the female persuasion, are out to bring human men to their knees... literally.
In this tale of Kaia, a fairy queen's handmaiden, she is sent to dispense justice on one male in particular. the only problem is, what has he done to deserve her mistress's wrath and what happens when Kaia decides she may not want to grant her queen's wishes after all?
I ended up enjoying this story far more than I anticipated. Not only does it have that spark of fairy glamour, but it also has enough steamy, erotic, love scenes to appeal to the wild side of any woman's nature.
4.5 Ravens!
Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud / http://www.greatmindsliterarycommunit...
Read more: http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.probo...
I have never really been a fan of the sparkly winged fairies unless they were part of fairytales; but the fairies in Inara Scott's book are much more than your sweet, winged, brightly colored variety. The portrayal of fairies, especially the ones of the female persuasion, are out to bring human men to their knees... literally.
In this tale of Kaia, a fairy queen's handmaiden, she is sent to dispense justice on one male in particular. the only problem is, what has he done to deserve her mistress's wrath and what happens when Kaia decides she may not want to grant her queen's wishes after all?
I ended up enjoying this story far more than I anticipated. Not only does it have that spark of fairy glamour, but it also has enough steamy, erotic, love scenes to appeal to the wild side of any woman's nature.
4.5 Ravens!
Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud / http://www.greatmindsliterarycommunit...
Read more: http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.probo...
December 17, 2011
Fun and fast!
February 22, 2012
A Surprisingly Radiant Read
It was supposed to be an easy task, one that she'd done countless times before as a Handmaid of the Queen of the Fey. In punishment for the perfidy and betrayal of mankind, Kaia Verde and her three Faerie Handmaid sisters are regularly tasked by their Queen to cross over to the human realm. Each then seduce and enchant a man, then leave him humiliated and broken.
This time, though, is different. This time, Queen Zafira has choosen Kaia's target specifically. Kaia just doesn't know why.
The oddities don't end there, either. Kaia, being a Faerie, has always taken her irresistible nature and the power of her Fey glamour for granted. Men, after all, are simple creatures easily led around by their just-as-easily manipulated hormones. It's never not worked. The possibility that she could fail never even occurred to her.
Until she tracks down the elusive real estate mogul Garrett Jameson, finally gets him alone, turns on her Faerie charm...and he completely resists her.
It takes every ounce of her magical compulsion and a good long time to work on Garrett enough to get him back to her hotel room. His resistance intrigues Kaia. His inherent strength and honesty is unique and appealing. And he is dangerously handsome. Even as he finally, finally succumbs to her charms, Kaia realizes one very terrifying fact.
Kaia is just as seduced by Garrett as Garrett is by her. And the pleasure she takes in his arms, the thrills she revels in at his kiss, his touch, go against every single law Queen Zafira has in place for her Handmaids. And when the Queen finds out, there is hell to pay.
Kicked out of Faerie, stripped of her magic, with only twenty American dollars to her name, she's got one chance to get back into the Queen's good graces. She's got to find Garrett - again - and not just seduce him...she's got to make him fall in love with her, then break his heart. Nothing less will satisfy the Queen. Her wings will be stripped. She'll lose her soul, maybe her life.
And she doesn't even know what human love is...or how to engender it in the one man least likely to be happy to see her again.
~*~
I wasn't very far into Radiant Desire when I had it pegged as a highly sexualized mainstream paranormal romance just this side of erotic. That wasn't a problem for me. I enjoy books like that just fine. Thing is, though, pegging it like that puts a certain set of expectations into place. It puts me in a certain frame of mind when I'm reading so I can measure it against others of similar theme to make a qualitative decision.
Imagine my surprise, then, when I read a bit further and realized that I was wrong. It's not the type of book I thought it was. In fact, it's a highly imaginative, unique paranormal/fantasy romance that entertained me with its interesting characters and solid story, and also touched on some sweet and intriguing reminders of just what it means to be human and how important love is in the grand scheme.
I loved Kaia, which is saying something, as her somewhat heartless machinations at the beginning of the book made me very wary. Scott, though, struck the perfect chord with her character and drew out her evolution in a natural, organic manner that never felt contrived or rushed. Kaia became human and sympathetic fairly quickly, but it was her burgeoning understanding of the human condition that made her memorable. She had deep kindness in her, but she also had inner strength and pride that added a layer of fire and class to her personality. I couldn't help but enjoy her.
Garrett was a bit grimmer in character. Suspicious and wary, he was a hard nut to crack, but with his past, his issues were understandable. I can't say I was always thrilled with him, but I did like how helpless he was to fight the powerful impact of Kaia on his life. It wasn't until late in the book, though, that I was able to fully embrace him as the romantic hero of the story.
I thought the story surrounding the romance arc seemed a little stronger and more thoroughly fleshed out than the romantic elements themselves. Kaia's struggles, the threat she's living under, the whole of her situation, and the conflicts between her and Garrett were the driving forces of the book. There wasn't a whole lot written about the relationship between them once it started, as if the focus of the book purposely looked away.
I do wish the ancillary plot threads surrounding Rachel and Ted's relationship had been more expansive. I enjoyed them both and would have liked spending more time with them. That's not a criticism about the overall plot arc, though. It was still thoroughly enjoyable. It even had some twists and surprise developments that took me off-guard. Towards the end of the book, there were a couple of resolutions that seemed a bit abrupt and an epiphany that seemed too neat, but nothing to really dim my enthusiasm for the book.
In fact, it just made me wish the book had been a little longer, that some of the plot points had been explored to their full potential and the denouement had been more comprehensive. But then, I've always freely admitted to being greedy when I like a story. I'm exited to see where this series goes next.
Quotables:
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
It was supposed to be an easy task, one that she'd done countless times before as a Handmaid of the Queen of the Fey. In punishment for the perfidy and betrayal of mankind, Kaia Verde and her three Faerie Handmaid sisters are regularly tasked by their Queen to cross over to the human realm. Each then seduce and enchant a man, then leave him humiliated and broken.
This time, though, is different. This time, Queen Zafira has choosen Kaia's target specifically. Kaia just doesn't know why.
The oddities don't end there, either. Kaia, being a Faerie, has always taken her irresistible nature and the power of her Fey glamour for granted. Men, after all, are simple creatures easily led around by their just-as-easily manipulated hormones. It's never not worked. The possibility that she could fail never even occurred to her.
Until she tracks down the elusive real estate mogul Garrett Jameson, finally gets him alone, turns on her Faerie charm...and he completely resists her.
It takes every ounce of her magical compulsion and a good long time to work on Garrett enough to get him back to her hotel room. His resistance intrigues Kaia. His inherent strength and honesty is unique and appealing. And he is dangerously handsome. Even as he finally, finally succumbs to her charms, Kaia realizes one very terrifying fact.
Kaia is just as seduced by Garrett as Garrett is by her. And the pleasure she takes in his arms, the thrills she revels in at his kiss, his touch, go against every single law Queen Zafira has in place for her Handmaids. And when the Queen finds out, there is hell to pay.
Kicked out of Faerie, stripped of her magic, with only twenty American dollars to her name, she's got one chance to get back into the Queen's good graces. She's got to find Garrett - again - and not just seduce him...she's got to make him fall in love with her, then break his heart. Nothing less will satisfy the Queen. Her wings will be stripped. She'll lose her soul, maybe her life.
And she doesn't even know what human love is...or how to engender it in the one man least likely to be happy to see her again.
~*~
I wasn't very far into Radiant Desire when I had it pegged as a highly sexualized mainstream paranormal romance just this side of erotic. That wasn't a problem for me. I enjoy books like that just fine. Thing is, though, pegging it like that puts a certain set of expectations into place. It puts me in a certain frame of mind when I'm reading so I can measure it against others of similar theme to make a qualitative decision.
Imagine my surprise, then, when I read a bit further and realized that I was wrong. It's not the type of book I thought it was. In fact, it's a highly imaginative, unique paranormal/fantasy romance that entertained me with its interesting characters and solid story, and also touched on some sweet and intriguing reminders of just what it means to be human and how important love is in the grand scheme.
I loved Kaia, which is saying something, as her somewhat heartless machinations at the beginning of the book made me very wary. Scott, though, struck the perfect chord with her character and drew out her evolution in a natural, organic manner that never felt contrived or rushed. Kaia became human and sympathetic fairly quickly, but it was her burgeoning understanding of the human condition that made her memorable. She had deep kindness in her, but she also had inner strength and pride that added a layer of fire and class to her personality. I couldn't help but enjoy her.
Garrett was a bit grimmer in character. Suspicious and wary, he was a hard nut to crack, but with his past, his issues were understandable. I can't say I was always thrilled with him, but I did like how helpless he was to fight the powerful impact of Kaia on his life. It wasn't until late in the book, though, that I was able to fully embrace him as the romantic hero of the story.
I thought the story surrounding the romance arc seemed a little stronger and more thoroughly fleshed out than the romantic elements themselves. Kaia's struggles, the threat she's living under, the whole of her situation, and the conflicts between her and Garrett were the driving forces of the book. There wasn't a whole lot written about the relationship between them once it started, as if the focus of the book purposely looked away.
I do wish the ancillary plot threads surrounding Rachel and Ted's relationship had been more expansive. I enjoyed them both and would have liked spending more time with them. That's not a criticism about the overall plot arc, though. It was still thoroughly enjoyable. It even had some twists and surprise developments that took me off-guard. Towards the end of the book, there were a couple of resolutions that seemed a bit abrupt and an epiphany that seemed too neat, but nothing to really dim my enthusiasm for the book.
In fact, it just made me wish the book had been a little longer, that some of the plot points had been explored to their full potential and the denouement had been more comprehensive. But then, I've always freely admitted to being greedy when I like a story. I'm exited to see where this series goes next.
Quotables:
"When people come to the flower shop, you know what they want to say to each other? Two things: I'm sorry, and I love you. That's it. They say it different ways and with different words, but it comes down to the same thing each time. So I think that's what it means to be human. I think it means taking chances and risking getting hurt. I think it means loving and forgiving."
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
October 10, 2011
I got an eGalley of this book through NetGalley.com. I had been wanting to read a book from Entangled Publishing for a while and was eager to see what they are all about. This sounded like a magical read and it was. There were faeries and romance, and an engaging story. It was more romancy than most things I read; so probably not something I would read a lot but it was a nice change of pace for one book.
Kaia is one of the four Handmaidens of the Queen of Fey. As a Handmaiden her job is to make human men want her and then break them. This is a way to get vengence for all the bad things humans have done to the Fey over the centuries. The one rule that the Handmaidens have is to never submit to a man. When Kaia is sent to Garrett Jameson specifically to humiliate and break him, she finds that she is the one submitting. Will Kaia be able to complete her task or will she be forced to stand up to the Queen and possibly sacrifice all her magic and her soul to save Garrett from humiliation and destruction?
Okay I should say right off that I thought the premise of this story was a bit flimsy at first. I mean seriously the Handmaidens' jobs are to seduce men and then leave them wanting...wow what an existence that is. But despite the flimsy premise (which basically just sets things up for a passionate and star-crossed romance between Kaia and Garrett) the book is very well written and the story does gain some depth as it goes on.
As the story continues Scott does an excellent job describing Kaia going through all the problems of trying to blend in with human society for a longer amount of time. Kaia has to learn all the things humans take for granted; how to work, how to eat, and how to take care of a body that can't be managed with magic. Kaia and Garrett make for an explosive couple. Although they are drawn to each other they have trouble committing because Garrett can tell that Kaia is lying about something and Kaia is very self-conscious of her new human body.
It was wonderful to watch Kaia get to know Garrett over the course of the book and realize that the tables have been turned. While she has been trying to get Garrett to fall in love with her she has fallen in love with him instead. I love that the characters fall in love gradually and over similarities that they have in their lives; the love at first sight thing always bothers me...so I was happy that that didn't happen here. The plot point that really drives the reader forward is whether or not Kaia will keep her wings/soul. Scott writes in such a way that you are constantly trying to guess how everything will work out and (although the general plot is a bit predictable) the way everything is wraps up is surprising and well done.
Scott also does a wonderful job writing scenes between Kaia and Garrett that are steamy but not too explicit; they are tasteful and well done. We get to see into the day to day lives of these characters and struggle through everything they are struggling through and it makes the characters easy to relate to and really gets the reader involved with the story. The side characters aren't as well done, but they are okay and some of the things that happen between the side characters are what drive Kaia and Garrett together.
The story was wrapped up nicely and I can imagine future stories featuring the other Handmaidens.
Overall this was a well-written story. The main characters of Kaia and Garrett were very well done, the steamy scenes between them were breathtaking, and Scott did an excellent job of weaving the fairy world into modern day society. I thought that the initial premise behind the Handmaidens' purpose was a bit flimsy. But the issue of whether or not Kaia would get to keep her wings really propeled the story forward and I had trouble putting the book down. Will I read more books in this series? Probably not, although I enjoyed this book it was a bit too much of a soap opera/romance for me. There wasn't enough action and the plot was pretty one dimensional (just focused on Kaia and Garrett getting together). I enjoy my stories with a bit more meat to them. I would recommend this for romance fans who like a bit of magic in their stories.
Kaia is one of the four Handmaidens of the Queen of Fey. As a Handmaiden her job is to make human men want her and then break them. This is a way to get vengence for all the bad things humans have done to the Fey over the centuries. The one rule that the Handmaidens have is to never submit to a man. When Kaia is sent to Garrett Jameson specifically to humiliate and break him, she finds that she is the one submitting. Will Kaia be able to complete her task or will she be forced to stand up to the Queen and possibly sacrifice all her magic and her soul to save Garrett from humiliation and destruction?
Okay I should say right off that I thought the premise of this story was a bit flimsy at first. I mean seriously the Handmaidens' jobs are to seduce men and then leave them wanting...wow what an existence that is. But despite the flimsy premise (which basically just sets things up for a passionate and star-crossed romance between Kaia and Garrett) the book is very well written and the story does gain some depth as it goes on.
As the story continues Scott does an excellent job describing Kaia going through all the problems of trying to blend in with human society for a longer amount of time. Kaia has to learn all the things humans take for granted; how to work, how to eat, and how to take care of a body that can't be managed with magic. Kaia and Garrett make for an explosive couple. Although they are drawn to each other they have trouble committing because Garrett can tell that Kaia is lying about something and Kaia is very self-conscious of her new human body.
It was wonderful to watch Kaia get to know Garrett over the course of the book and realize that the tables have been turned. While she has been trying to get Garrett to fall in love with her she has fallen in love with him instead. I love that the characters fall in love gradually and over similarities that they have in their lives; the love at first sight thing always bothers me...so I was happy that that didn't happen here. The plot point that really drives the reader forward is whether or not Kaia will keep her wings/soul. Scott writes in such a way that you are constantly trying to guess how everything will work out and (although the general plot is a bit predictable) the way everything is wraps up is surprising and well done.
Scott also does a wonderful job writing scenes between Kaia and Garrett that are steamy but not too explicit; they are tasteful and well done. We get to see into the day to day lives of these characters and struggle through everything they are struggling through and it makes the characters easy to relate to and really gets the reader involved with the story. The side characters aren't as well done, but they are okay and some of the things that happen between the side characters are what drive Kaia and Garrett together.
The story was wrapped up nicely and I can imagine future stories featuring the other Handmaidens.
Overall this was a well-written story. The main characters of Kaia and Garrett were very well done, the steamy scenes between them were breathtaking, and Scott did an excellent job of weaving the fairy world into modern day society. I thought that the initial premise behind the Handmaidens' purpose was a bit flimsy. But the issue of whether or not Kaia would get to keep her wings really propeled the story forward and I had trouble putting the book down. Will I read more books in this series? Probably not, although I enjoyed this book it was a bit too much of a soap opera/romance for me. There wasn't enough action and the plot was pretty one dimensional (just focused on Kaia and Garrett getting together). I enjoy my stories with a bit more meat to them. I would recommend this for romance fans who like a bit of magic in their stories.
November 18, 2011
Radiant Desire is title from Entangled Publishing that I think could be a great crossover book. It has a contemporary vibe, but with a fairy tale/paranormal twist. I never thought I would be one to like a book that even remotely read like a contemporary, but I could not help falling in love with Radiant Desire. I was hooked from the first page and could not put the book down until I reached its conclusion!
When we start out on this journey we are introduced to Kaia, a handmaid to the Queen of Faerie. She loves her position in the court and has little concern for humans, except to humiliate them. Her job is to seduce men to the point where they are out of their mind with desire and then leave them hanging. She finds pleasure in her job by mocking mortals and takes comfort in her three other handmaids who have the same task. She is content with her life, until Zafira gives her a special assignment to seduce a specific man, Garrett, and she fails to leave when she is supposed to. Garrett was meant to be just another assignment, but he awakens feelings and emotions in Kaia she has never felt before and does not know how to control. She is scared by her reaction to him and the wrath that Zafira will pass down to her now that she has failed.
The characters in this book are really what set it apart for me. We get to see a full character arc with both Kaia and Garrett. In the beginning Kaia is a Fae with a cold heart and no love for humans. After she is forced to become one for a short time and live among them, she starts developing a new appreciation for life and everything that she has been missing in the Faerie court. As for Garrett, he is not really living either. He shuts off his emotions and keeps everyone at a distance. His past has been hard and he does not want to let anyone in, for fear of getting hurt again. However, once Kaia comes into the picture, all of the barriers he built start to crumble and watching him learn to love again was precious.
I also enjoyed getting to see glimpses of Faerie and what life is like for the Fae there. It is a world much different from our own and Zafira leads the Fae there with fierce strength, mixed with a little cruelty. She is not someone I would want as an enemy and she reminds Kaia of that constantly. It was interesting to see this world interact with our own modern one and watch the Fae creatures try and comprehend how our society works. Kaia struggles with understanding humans the most when she is forced to immerse in our way of life so fully, but her journey made her more endearing and had me rooting for her.
There was also another secondary story weaved into this one with Garrett’s friends, Rachel and Ted. I liked learning about them and how their story tied in with Kaia and Garrett’s, but whenever their chapters came about I found myself wanting to return to the main plot line. I thought they were good characters, but they did not hold my attention nearly as much as Kaia and Garrett did.
Inara also gave us a preview of what is to come in this world. The other three Handmaidens all had to make a choice at the end of the book that will impact all of their futures. I am interested to see where Inara will take this next and what lies in store for the other Handmaidens.
Overall, Radiant Desire is a sweet story of two people who find love unexpectedly with a fantasy twist. The main characters had a beautiful romance and were developed very well. Inara grabs onto you from the beginning and takes you on a fantastic journey filled with love, loss and what can happen if you let your heart guide you. If you like paranormal romance or like contemporary but want a little fantasy as well, then I would definitely pick up Radiant Desire. I know I am already looking forward to the next book and getting to see which Handmaiden we will learn about next.
When we start out on this journey we are introduced to Kaia, a handmaid to the Queen of Faerie. She loves her position in the court and has little concern for humans, except to humiliate them. Her job is to seduce men to the point where they are out of their mind with desire and then leave them hanging. She finds pleasure in her job by mocking mortals and takes comfort in her three other handmaids who have the same task. She is content with her life, until Zafira gives her a special assignment to seduce a specific man, Garrett, and she fails to leave when she is supposed to. Garrett was meant to be just another assignment, but he awakens feelings and emotions in Kaia she has never felt before and does not know how to control. She is scared by her reaction to him and the wrath that Zafira will pass down to her now that she has failed.
The characters in this book are really what set it apart for me. We get to see a full character arc with both Kaia and Garrett. In the beginning Kaia is a Fae with a cold heart and no love for humans. After she is forced to become one for a short time and live among them, she starts developing a new appreciation for life and everything that she has been missing in the Faerie court. As for Garrett, he is not really living either. He shuts off his emotions and keeps everyone at a distance. His past has been hard and he does not want to let anyone in, for fear of getting hurt again. However, once Kaia comes into the picture, all of the barriers he built start to crumble and watching him learn to love again was precious.
I also enjoyed getting to see glimpses of Faerie and what life is like for the Fae there. It is a world much different from our own and Zafira leads the Fae there with fierce strength, mixed with a little cruelty. She is not someone I would want as an enemy and she reminds Kaia of that constantly. It was interesting to see this world interact with our own modern one and watch the Fae creatures try and comprehend how our society works. Kaia struggles with understanding humans the most when she is forced to immerse in our way of life so fully, but her journey made her more endearing and had me rooting for her.
There was also another secondary story weaved into this one with Garrett’s friends, Rachel and Ted. I liked learning about them and how their story tied in with Kaia and Garrett’s, but whenever their chapters came about I found myself wanting to return to the main plot line. I thought they were good characters, but they did not hold my attention nearly as much as Kaia and Garrett did.
Inara also gave us a preview of what is to come in this world. The other three Handmaidens all had to make a choice at the end of the book that will impact all of their futures. I am interested to see where Inara will take this next and what lies in store for the other Handmaidens.
Overall, Radiant Desire is a sweet story of two people who find love unexpectedly with a fantasy twist. The main characters had a beautiful romance and were developed very well. Inara grabs onto you from the beginning and takes you on a fantastic journey filled with love, loss and what can happen if you let your heart guide you. If you like paranormal romance or like contemporary but want a little fantasy as well, then I would definitely pick up Radiant Desire. I know I am already looking forward to the next book and getting to see which Handmaiden we will learn about next.
July 9, 2017
3.75 Seductive Stars
Kaia Verde is one of the handmaids of the Queen of the Fey herself, Zafira. This makes her a fairy as well, one tasked along with her three sisters to frequently cross over to the mortal realm to seduce men and leave them crushed and humiliated. But when Zafira gave her the task to seduce and charm a specific man, things doesn't go the way she planned or the way she expected, which is what usually takes place. In turn, this takes her by surprise and thus, changes the course of her (as well as his) life forever.
Garrett Jameson was that man Zafira specifically chose for Kaia to victimize. And although Kaia didn't know at that time the significance of it all, she went and did what she was asked to do. Upon meeting Garrett, Kaia knew that he was different from all the other men that came before him. For one, he didn't immediately fall for her charms nor did he get hooked with her beauty and allure. She had to work real hard and use everything she's got to make him do what she wanted. And because fo this, Kaia got intrigued and once she did get Garrett to leave with her and head to her hotel room, she came to realize that Garrett wasn't the only one who was seduce by her; she was also seduced by Garrett and his masculinity and magnetism. In turn, she let herself be pleasured by him, which is a massive no-no for Zafira. This angers her greatly and ends up punishing Kaia, stripping away her wings and giving her the ultimatum that unless she goes back (as a human at that, without her fairy charm and beauty) and makes Garrett fall in love with her then break his heart, she will not get her wings back and will lose her soul along with it. In turn, she didn't have a choice but to obey the queen and do exactly as she asked.
Once Kaia, who knows nothing about love, steps into the real world -- the human realm -- with no family, no friends, no food, no money, and no shelter... she now is forced to fight for her life, quite literally, and in doing so lets her cross paths with the man she needed to get her life back again. This is where the journey starts for both Kaia and Garrett, who both have never felt love nor have given love due to their pasts and the way they've lived. You'll find out more about Garrett and his life deeper into the story and what made him the way he was. You'll also get to witness Kaia slowly but surely possess some humanity into her and how her life, her beliefs, as well as her decisions get affected by it. You'll see how both Kaia and Garrett end up changing each other's life -- for the better -- and how their love for each other slowly builds, despite it starting out as lust.
It was a fun and engrossing read from Inara Scott, and despite it being my first from her, it won't be my last. I also loved how in the end, despite all the lies, the deceit, the anger and heartbreak between them after some revelations are made, this couple's love for each other still won out and conquered whatever obstacle came their way, even the powerful queen herself. It was amazing how Kaia and Garrett are willing to sacrifice anything for each other -- that just goes to show how much love they felt for one another. The ending was also especially sweet and I loved how they gained a little something from that love they shared. Looking forward to more of this series, if there ever will be more books written about this world.
Kaia Verde is one of the handmaids of the Queen of the Fey herself, Zafira. This makes her a fairy as well, one tasked along with her three sisters to frequently cross over to the mortal realm to seduce men and leave them crushed and humiliated. But when Zafira gave her the task to seduce and charm a specific man, things doesn't go the way she planned or the way she expected, which is what usually takes place. In turn, this takes her by surprise and thus, changes the course of her (as well as his) life forever.
Garrett Jameson was that man Zafira specifically chose for Kaia to victimize. And although Kaia didn't know at that time the significance of it all, she went and did what she was asked to do. Upon meeting Garrett, Kaia knew that he was different from all the other men that came before him. For one, he didn't immediately fall for her charms nor did he get hooked with her beauty and allure. She had to work real hard and use everything she's got to make him do what she wanted. And because fo this, Kaia got intrigued and once she did get Garrett to leave with her and head to her hotel room, she came to realize that Garrett wasn't the only one who was seduce by her; she was also seduced by Garrett and his masculinity and magnetism. In turn, she let herself be pleasured by him, which is a massive no-no for Zafira. This angers her greatly and ends up punishing Kaia, stripping away her wings and giving her the ultimatum that unless she goes back (as a human at that, without her fairy charm and beauty) and makes Garrett fall in love with her then break his heart, she will not get her wings back and will lose her soul along with it. In turn, she didn't have a choice but to obey the queen and do exactly as she asked.
Once Kaia, who knows nothing about love, steps into the real world -- the human realm -- with no family, no friends, no food, no money, and no shelter... she now is forced to fight for her life, quite literally, and in doing so lets her cross paths with the man she needed to get her life back again. This is where the journey starts for both Kaia and Garrett, who both have never felt love nor have given love due to their pasts and the way they've lived. You'll find out more about Garrett and his life deeper into the story and what made him the way he was. You'll also get to witness Kaia slowly but surely possess some humanity into her and how her life, her beliefs, as well as her decisions get affected by it. You'll see how both Kaia and Garrett end up changing each other's life -- for the better -- and how their love for each other slowly builds, despite it starting out as lust.
It was a fun and engrossing read from Inara Scott, and despite it being my first from her, it won't be my last. I also loved how in the end, despite all the lies, the deceit, the anger and heartbreak between them after some revelations are made, this couple's love for each other still won out and conquered whatever obstacle came their way, even the powerful queen herself. It was amazing how Kaia and Garrett are willing to sacrifice anything for each other -- that just goes to show how much love they felt for one another. The ending was also especially sweet and I loved how they gained a little something from that love they shared. Looking forward to more of this series, if there ever will be more books written about this world.
October 3, 2011
The cover is what first caught my eye of this book, the beauty of the colors and the Faerie on the cover. I admit to falling for covers and having to read the books. Sometimes the books live up to the covers and sometimes they don't. Radiant Desire is an example of the book being so much more than the cover.
I have read two of Ms. Scott's young adult novels and really enjoyed them so I was wondering how her adult novel would be. She makes a very natural transition over to the adult romance realm taking with her the paranormal that she already uses in young adult, but instead of humans with magical powers she moves into the Fey realm.
In the beginning we meet Kaia Verde the Faerie Handmaid and seductress of the Queen of the Fey, Zafira. Kaia is pretty much used to go out and seduce men and then leave them embarrassed and wanting. Kaia truly has no use for men and thinks they are all cheaters and liars so she doesn't think twice when her Queen sends her out to seduce Garrett Jameson. But then there is something different about Garrett. When Kaia finds pleasure with Garrett and is sentenced to make Garrett fall in love with her as a human without magic, we get to know a very different Kaia.
This is when I started liking Kaia. The Kaia at the beginning of the book is very unfeeling and cruel and hard to like. But as a human she starts to like people and develop emotions and become real. I loved watching Kaia develop and here is where the story really begins to flourish is with the relationships between Kaia and Rachel who is her boss and Garrett's best friend's fiancee. What started as a way to use someone to get near Garrett becomes so much more. And when Garrett comes back into her life, that relationship is different too. So much happens and it was so interesting to watch, I just about could not be pulled away from the book for family movie night. But alas I had to be. I did keep sneaking pages in though because I wanted to know what would happen next. Garrett was fascinating too. He did not get close to people either and slowly through Kaia's touch and talking, the reader learns why he is the way he is and he begins to grow and change as well.
Ms. Scott beautifully crafted this romance and relationship novel so that the relationships bloom in front of your eyes. The fun part is even though the people involved don't see it, the reader does and of course you get to finally witness that a-ha moment but will it be too late for Kaia and Garrett? You'll just have to find out. And I dare say you will be quite surprised by the little story that Ms. Scott has created for the climax. It fits well and it surprised me - I really never saw it coming! The other great thing. Kaia is one of four sisters and handmaids of the Queen Zafira, so this is just the start of what looks to be a great series. I can't wait to see what happens with the next handmaid and hopefully get another glimpse of Kaia and Garrett.
Great romance, stellar relationship building, interesting world building, great future tie-in for other books, and just an all-around fun book with a beautiful cover. Radiant Desire is a book you should run out and get this week!
I have read two of Ms. Scott's young adult novels and really enjoyed them so I was wondering how her adult novel would be. She makes a very natural transition over to the adult romance realm taking with her the paranormal that she already uses in young adult, but instead of humans with magical powers she moves into the Fey realm.
In the beginning we meet Kaia Verde the Faerie Handmaid and seductress of the Queen of the Fey, Zafira. Kaia is pretty much used to go out and seduce men and then leave them embarrassed and wanting. Kaia truly has no use for men and thinks they are all cheaters and liars so she doesn't think twice when her Queen sends her out to seduce Garrett Jameson. But then there is something different about Garrett. When Kaia finds pleasure with Garrett and is sentenced to make Garrett fall in love with her as a human without magic, we get to know a very different Kaia.
This is when I started liking Kaia. The Kaia at the beginning of the book is very unfeeling and cruel and hard to like. But as a human she starts to like people and develop emotions and become real. I loved watching Kaia develop and here is where the story really begins to flourish is with the relationships between Kaia and Rachel who is her boss and Garrett's best friend's fiancee. What started as a way to use someone to get near Garrett becomes so much more. And when Garrett comes back into her life, that relationship is different too. So much happens and it was so interesting to watch, I just about could not be pulled away from the book for family movie night. But alas I had to be. I did keep sneaking pages in though because I wanted to know what would happen next. Garrett was fascinating too. He did not get close to people either and slowly through Kaia's touch and talking, the reader learns why he is the way he is and he begins to grow and change as well.
Ms. Scott beautifully crafted this romance and relationship novel so that the relationships bloom in front of your eyes. The fun part is even though the people involved don't see it, the reader does and of course you get to finally witness that a-ha moment but will it be too late for Kaia and Garrett? You'll just have to find out. And I dare say you will be quite surprised by the little story that Ms. Scott has created for the climax. It fits well and it surprised me - I really never saw it coming! The other great thing. Kaia is one of four sisters and handmaids of the Queen Zafira, so this is just the start of what looks to be a great series. I can't wait to see what happens with the next handmaid and hopefully get another glimpse of Kaia and Garrett.
Great romance, stellar relationship building, interesting world building, great future tie-in for other books, and just an all-around fun book with a beautiful cover. Radiant Desire is a book you should run out and get this week!
October 17, 2011
ve become rather jaded reading paranormal romances as of late. They have been repetitive and downright depressing with all the "I'm not worthy" and torture….. I had pretty much given up on the genre that brought me hours of fun escapist reading. Then I saw on Twitter that author Jeri Smith-Ready recommended this book (she also wrote a cover blurb). I figured, why not? Let's give the genre one more try.
I loved Radiant Desire right from the start! Kaia is a faerie, one of the Faerie Queen's Handmaiden's that has been sent down to earth to seduce men then leave them burning with desire, unfulfilled. The queen has a very specific man for Kaia to seduce this time.
You know the drill. She meets Garrett and finds herself caught up in passion. What I loved about Radiant Desire was, sure there is off the charts passion but Kaia showed a vulnerability right from the start. She knew that Garrett was seeing a heightened version of herself meant to seduce. Garrett for his part knew Kaia was too good to be true and actually thought with his brain rather than his you know what. Kaia is not allowed to fall for her mortal victim or give into passion so when she breaks that rule she is given one more chance and a new assignment from the Queen. Not only must she seduce Garrett again but she has to make him fall in love, then break his heart before the summer solstice. The twist? She has to do it as a human - no faerie powers of seduction. If she fails she will lose her faerie wings. She's sent to earth with a driver's license and a few dollars.
There was a nice slow build to their relationship. Garrett has reasons to be mistrustful of women and love, so he's cautious even while he's drawn to Kaia. Kaia is a wonderfully developed heroine. She's a confident woman but always knew that her allure was based on magic so as a human she needs to find new ways to get the things she needs. She could have become one of those needy heroines that wants Garrett to bail her out. While she still needs to get close to him for her plan, she becomes quite self sufficient in her own right.
Another thing I loved about Radiant Desire were the side characters. A few times there were shifts in POV's to minor characters like Garrett's cruel grandmother, or his best friend Ted's fiance, Rachel, but instead of jerking me out of Garrett and Kaia's story, it only made it richer, explaining behavior that otherwise would have left me puzzled.
The fish out of water aspect is reason enough to read the book. Kaia is hysterical when she finds out just how difficult it is to be human. Armpit hair! *gasp* Add in quirky fae creatures and an Imp sidekick and you have yourself an old school FUN paranormal read.
The ending was a bit too tidy but I really can't complain much about a book that kept me up until the wee hours to finish and left me in a great mood.
This is book one in the Handmaid's Seduction series. I assume the next books will be about Kaia's sister's and fellow Handmaid's. If Inara Scott sticks to this formula then I think I found myself a new PNR series to read.
Fun story with character's and a world you don't want to leave.
I loved Radiant Desire right from the start! Kaia is a faerie, one of the Faerie Queen's Handmaiden's that has been sent down to earth to seduce men then leave them burning with desire, unfulfilled. The queen has a very specific man for Kaia to seduce this time.
You know the drill. She meets Garrett and finds herself caught up in passion. What I loved about Radiant Desire was, sure there is off the charts passion but Kaia showed a vulnerability right from the start. She knew that Garrett was seeing a heightened version of herself meant to seduce. Garrett for his part knew Kaia was too good to be true and actually thought with his brain rather than his you know what. Kaia is not allowed to fall for her mortal victim or give into passion so when she breaks that rule she is given one more chance and a new assignment from the Queen. Not only must she seduce Garrett again but she has to make him fall in love, then break his heart before the summer solstice. The twist? She has to do it as a human - no faerie powers of seduction. If she fails she will lose her faerie wings. She's sent to earth with a driver's license and a few dollars.
There was a nice slow build to their relationship. Garrett has reasons to be mistrustful of women and love, so he's cautious even while he's drawn to Kaia. Kaia is a wonderfully developed heroine. She's a confident woman but always knew that her allure was based on magic so as a human she needs to find new ways to get the things she needs. She could have become one of those needy heroines that wants Garrett to bail her out. While she still needs to get close to him for her plan, she becomes quite self sufficient in her own right.
Another thing I loved about Radiant Desire were the side characters. A few times there were shifts in POV's to minor characters like Garrett's cruel grandmother, or his best friend Ted's fiance, Rachel, but instead of jerking me out of Garrett and Kaia's story, it only made it richer, explaining behavior that otherwise would have left me puzzled.
The fish out of water aspect is reason enough to read the book. Kaia is hysterical when she finds out just how difficult it is to be human. Armpit hair! *gasp* Add in quirky fae creatures and an Imp sidekick and you have yourself an old school FUN paranormal read.
The ending was a bit too tidy but I really can't complain much about a book that kept me up until the wee hours to finish and left me in a great mood.
This is book one in the Handmaid's Seduction series. I assume the next books will be about Kaia's sister's and fellow Handmaid's. If Inara Scott sticks to this formula then I think I found myself a new PNR series to read.
Fun story with character's and a world you don't want to leave.
April 8, 2012
Radiant Desire is book 1 of the Handmaids Seduction series. (Although I don't think more books are planned as of yet.) It's a paranormal romance which centres on Faeries. This is a good book, it's just not something I would normally read. I did enjoy the book, it was a nice escape from what I would normally read. It was also short enough clocking in at just under 300 pages. The story itself, is rather original and flows easily. It's not a book you have to focus hard on which is what you want for a romance novel.
Radiant Desire follows Faerie Kaia as she fails to seduce a human man called Garret Jameson. Instead she's the one who willingly gives herself to him. This is completely against Queen Zafira's rules. Ordered back to Faeria, Zafria orders Kaia to make Garrett fall in love with her and then break his heart. All by the summer solstice and without using her magic. The task is not easy. Being human is not simple, Kaia soon releases she's in too deep. Changes are occurring to her that would never happen in her faerie body. She needs to learn to fit in with humans and earn a wage to make sure she survives. But overall her mission cannot fail. If she does fail she will lose her wings.
I did like Kaia, at first she was an annoying flirt because of her faerie powers. But shortly after we saw her softer side and then her horror as she realised how hard her life would now be. She seems human, which is a complete shock to her. Kaia needs to adjust but at the same time make sure she completes her mission of making Garrett fall in love with her. Garrett was a typical man, a rock who shows no feelings at all, he doesn't even admit his feelings to him self. He was all about his job and looking after his cousin Lexi. A real tycoon who didn't even know his true self. Kaia helps make him realise what he's wanted all his life and why he's been so scared of the truth. I loved Ted and Rachel, I would even say they were a better couple then Garrett and Kaia. I really liked Rachel she was incredibly real and really believable, I loved how she gave Kaia a chance despite her secrets.
I loved the ending of this book, it was by far the best part. It was a brilliant way to wrap up the story. I enjoyed reading this book but it didn't fully grab me, it was just a quick read for me. Nevertheless if you like Paranormal Romance or even just Romance. I'm sure you'll love this book. There's nothing wrong with it, it's just my personal tastes that won't allow me to give it a higher rating. I also really liked how Kaia found the meaning of being human is to Love and say sorry. It was incredible and full of wisdom and themes of love, truth, secrets, lies and friendships no matter what the form. Also how Kaia dealt with the scary changes that are normal life to us was incredible well done.
Radiant Desire is a good paranormal fantasy novel which Romance fans will enjoy from start until finish. Inara Scott brilliantly weaves the key themes of life into the story and makes the reader realise truths that would normally be overlooked. If you're looking for a book about love and friendship this is a book for you.
Radiant Desire follows Faerie Kaia as she fails to seduce a human man called Garret Jameson. Instead she's the one who willingly gives herself to him. This is completely against Queen Zafira's rules. Ordered back to Faeria, Zafria orders Kaia to make Garrett fall in love with her and then break his heart. All by the summer solstice and without using her magic. The task is not easy. Being human is not simple, Kaia soon releases she's in too deep. Changes are occurring to her that would never happen in her faerie body. She needs to learn to fit in with humans and earn a wage to make sure she survives. But overall her mission cannot fail. If she does fail she will lose her wings.
I did like Kaia, at first she was an annoying flirt because of her faerie powers. But shortly after we saw her softer side and then her horror as she realised how hard her life would now be. She seems human, which is a complete shock to her. Kaia needs to adjust but at the same time make sure she completes her mission of making Garrett fall in love with her. Garrett was a typical man, a rock who shows no feelings at all, he doesn't even admit his feelings to him self. He was all about his job and looking after his cousin Lexi. A real tycoon who didn't even know his true self. Kaia helps make him realise what he's wanted all his life and why he's been so scared of the truth. I loved Ted and Rachel, I would even say they were a better couple then Garrett and Kaia. I really liked Rachel she was incredibly real and really believable, I loved how she gave Kaia a chance despite her secrets.
I loved the ending of this book, it was by far the best part. It was a brilliant way to wrap up the story. I enjoyed reading this book but it didn't fully grab me, it was just a quick read for me. Nevertheless if you like Paranormal Romance or even just Romance. I'm sure you'll love this book. There's nothing wrong with it, it's just my personal tastes that won't allow me to give it a higher rating. I also really liked how Kaia found the meaning of being human is to Love and say sorry. It was incredible and full of wisdom and themes of love, truth, secrets, lies and friendships no matter what the form. Also how Kaia dealt with the scary changes that are normal life to us was incredible well done.
Radiant Desire is a good paranormal fantasy novel which Romance fans will enjoy from start until finish. Inara Scott brilliantly weaves the key themes of life into the story and makes the reader realise truths that would normally be overlooked. If you're looking for a book about love and friendship this is a book for you.
October 11, 2011
Radiant Desire is the first book in Inara Scott's brand new series, Handmaids Seduction. I am a huge fan of Inara Scott's YA novel, The Candidates, that when I heard she had an adult series I was eager to get my hands on a copy. Thank goodness for Netgalley!
Radiant Desire starts off with Queen of the fey, Zafira, sending Kaia to the human world to seduce and bring to his knee's a human by the name Garrett. Kaia thinks this will be an easy task, but when she meets Garrett for the first time things are a lot harder than she had expected. It's almost as if Garrett can resist her charm. After working even harder towards her goal, Kaia finally gets what she wants and more. The handmaids are not supposed to get any pleasure out of what they do, nor are they supposed to feel anything towards any of the human males that they are sent out to seduce. And that is exactly what Kaia gets with Garrett. Not only did she allow him to pleasure her, but she also finds him very fascinating. Kaia’s world is quickly turned upside down and now because of her mistake a lot is at stake.
Garrett at times made me want to scream. He was a bit pushy and controlling, but at the same time you sort of understood him. He was protective of what was his and those he cared about. One minute I was so annoyed with him, and the next I just found him super sexy. I think I felt every emotion Kaia was feeling towards him LOL. Their relationship felt very real and throughout the whole book I was dying to know how it all played out. It remains a big mystery till almost the near end exactly why Zafira choose Garrett and why he was so important to her. It was a nice surprise. I think Inara Scott did a great job and she has created a world that you can easily get lost in. Other than the whole fey thing, some of the subjects that Scott touched on really do happen in the real world.
Radiant Desire will make you laugh, want to scream, and have your stomach full of butterflies. There's a little taste of everything for those who love romance. I really enjoyed this book and hope there will be more to come. It's a great beginning to a great series. A Good Choice for Reading!
4 out of 5 Stars!
Radiant Desire starts off with Queen of the fey, Zafira, sending Kaia to the human world to seduce and bring to his knee's a human by the name Garrett. Kaia thinks this will be an easy task, but when she meets Garrett for the first time things are a lot harder than she had expected. It's almost as if Garrett can resist her charm. After working even harder towards her goal, Kaia finally gets what she wants and more. The handmaids are not supposed to get any pleasure out of what they do, nor are they supposed to feel anything towards any of the human males that they are sent out to seduce. And that is exactly what Kaia gets with Garrett. Not only did she allow him to pleasure her, but she also finds him very fascinating. Kaia’s world is quickly turned upside down and now because of her mistake a lot is at stake.
Garrett at times made me want to scream. He was a bit pushy and controlling, but at the same time you sort of understood him. He was protective of what was his and those he cared about. One minute I was so annoyed with him, and the next I just found him super sexy. I think I felt every emotion Kaia was feeling towards him LOL. Their relationship felt very real and throughout the whole book I was dying to know how it all played out. It remains a big mystery till almost the near end exactly why Zafira choose Garrett and why he was so important to her. It was a nice surprise. I think Inara Scott did a great job and she has created a world that you can easily get lost in. Other than the whole fey thing, some of the subjects that Scott touched on really do happen in the real world.
Radiant Desire will make you laugh, want to scream, and have your stomach full of butterflies. There's a little taste of everything for those who love romance. I really enjoyed this book and hope there will be more to come. It's a great beginning to a great series. A Good Choice for Reading!
4 out of 5 Stars!
March 8, 2012
This book was amazing. It was so engrossing and sexy and just plain beautiful.
I’ve got to admit, I lovefairies faeries. I’ve loved the idea of their existence ever since I saw a faerie movie when I was a kid. (And no, it wasn’t Peter Pan, although I do have a soft spot for Tinkerbell). But I’ve never really been attracted to faerie books. Maybe I was afraid of having my love for them ruined by a badly written book. Just as I normally shy away from reading angel and mermaid books. While I’m fascinated by these creatures, I rarely read books about them.
But whether my reluctance to read books about these types of creatures stems from my fear of being disappointed really doesn’t matter when it comes to this book. Because it was anything but badly written or disappointing.
The moment I read the blurb, I had a feeling I’d like it. And I was right. It was really sweet and gripping, kind of like a fairy tale for adults. Who knew those existed?
The story was told from the points of view of Kaia and Garrett and I loved it all the more for it. I loved Kaia (and I like her name). She was such a likeable, honorable character. And she really evolved throughout the book, from a sheltered, perceived-as-good-for-nothing-person to a strong, independent, loving character.
I also liked Garrett, he was stubborn and distrusting, but he had good reason to be and underneath that cool and composed, tough exterior he had a good heart.
The imp, Kaia’s watchdog basically, grew on me. He was funny and just made the book more interesting.
I also liked the Fey world the author created, although there wasn’t much of it. Maybe that’s also one of the reasons I liked this book. It combined reality seamlessly with fairy tale. They existed together and flowed into each other without feeling forced. And this book was such a page-turner. For a book without any actual action it was hard to put down. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. I just had to know how the story ended. And once I did, I had this dreamy smile plastered on my face (I think).*Sigh
I loved it. That is all.
I’ve got to admit, I love
But whether my reluctance to read books about these types of creatures stems from my fear of being disappointed really doesn’t matter when it comes to this book. Because it was anything but badly written or disappointing.
The moment I read the blurb, I had a feeling I’d like it. And I was right. It was really sweet and gripping, kind of like a fairy tale for adults. Who knew those existed?
The story was told from the points of view of Kaia and Garrett and I loved it all the more for it. I loved Kaia (and I like her name). She was such a likeable, honorable character. And she really evolved throughout the book, from a sheltered, perceived-as-good-for-nothing-person to a strong, independent, loving character.
I also liked Garrett, he was stubborn and distrusting, but he had good reason to be and underneath that cool and composed, tough exterior he had a good heart.
The imp, Kaia’s watchdog basically, grew on me. He was funny and just made the book more interesting.
I also liked the Fey world the author created, although there wasn’t much of it. Maybe that’s also one of the reasons I liked this book. It combined reality seamlessly with fairy tale. They existed together and flowed into each other without feeling forced. And this book was such a page-turner. For a book without any actual action it was hard to put down. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. I just had to know how the story ended. And once I did, I had this dreamy smile plastered on my face (I think).*Sigh
I loved it. That is all.
November 5, 2011
My review can also be found at The Bookaholic: http://the-bookaholic.blogspot.com
Radiant Desire was a sexy, unique fairy story.
Let me start by clarifying that there are occasions I don’t always read YA, and I’ll review adult reads too if the premise intrigues me enough. I was immediately interested in Radiant Desire for the simple fact that it was about Fae-- I always seem to have a soft spot for this species. This is an adult read with erotic themes-- not usually a genre (erotic) I pick up very often nowadays.
While it was entertaining and an enjoyable enough read, I struggled at times to get through it. The writing was solid and the romance beautifully done, but I fall more for the traditional type of Fae. You won’t exactly find that in Radiant Desire. No allergens to iron. No courts. Not that this is a problem-- as a writer myself, I always love seeing new twists on old legends and such. I just didn’t quite connect with it fully here as a devoted fairy lover.
I liked the emotion. Often I felt a deep sympathy for Kaia, especially when she had her intense struggles. Sometimes I felt the author had an underlying message about the country’s problem with homelessness. It certainly is a problem that usually goes ignored very sadly. I’m a strong advocate for donating to shelters when possible.
By the end, the reader gets a sense there will be more books revolving around this world but perhaps as another story with one of the other Handmaids since Kaia’s story seemed complete. I might be interested to read more too if that’s true.
I was entertained nonetheless and liked this story a lot even though it wasn’t quite what I had expected.
<3
Pixie
Radiant Desire was a sexy, unique fairy story.
Let me start by clarifying that there are occasions I don’t always read YA, and I’ll review adult reads too if the premise intrigues me enough. I was immediately interested in Radiant Desire for the simple fact that it was about Fae-- I always seem to have a soft spot for this species. This is an adult read with erotic themes-- not usually a genre (erotic) I pick up very often nowadays.
While it was entertaining and an enjoyable enough read, I struggled at times to get through it. The writing was solid and the romance beautifully done, but I fall more for the traditional type of Fae. You won’t exactly find that in Radiant Desire. No allergens to iron. No courts. Not that this is a problem-- as a writer myself, I always love seeing new twists on old legends and such. I just didn’t quite connect with it fully here as a devoted fairy lover.
I liked the emotion. Often I felt a deep sympathy for Kaia, especially when she had her intense struggles. Sometimes I felt the author had an underlying message about the country’s problem with homelessness. It certainly is a problem that usually goes ignored very sadly. I’m a strong advocate for donating to shelters when possible.
By the end, the reader gets a sense there will be more books revolving around this world but perhaps as another story with one of the other Handmaids since Kaia’s story seemed complete. I might be interested to read more too if that’s true.
I was entertained nonetheless and liked this story a lot even though it wasn’t quite what I had expected.
<3
Pixie
October 20, 2011
Usually I hate romance novels, the ones that seem to take a turn for the more scandalous and cliche connections. So when I picked up this book I was fully prepared to loathe every second of this book and either A.) Get bored and never finish it. Or B.) Over analyze everything about it and pick it apart till it was just a mesh of words that had been read and reread over and over again. However, I was hoodwinked by myself and felt like I made a little bit of an ass out of myself by making an assumption. The story was captivating. After the first few pages I had to force myself to put it down and go to sleep or else I would have been to tired in the morning to get up.
Kaia is perfection and I love how the writer took her from that dropped her into a setting ripped everything away from her and turned her into someone that people could relate to. Yes , this may have read a little like a fairy Cinderella story but it was one that I instantly fell in love with. The struggles of the main characters were connected to real life situations and concepts that are not outlandish and over the top. Things were carefully planned and for all the secrecy and lies each were sharing in the end all the questions you build up and ask are answered. You love not only Kaia but her friends Jenny, Rachael , Ted... you see her develop from this cold calculating cruel creature into a true loving human. To understand both sides of her life and to embrace them with the same vivacious innocence.
All in all this was a wonderful book and the story was very well done, I can not wait to read more from Inara Scott and already look forward to seeing what she has to offer. I would love stories of all the Fae and hope that perhaps she has something tucked up her sleeve for later.
Kaia is perfection and I love how the writer took her from that dropped her into a setting ripped everything away from her and turned her into someone that people could relate to. Yes , this may have read a little like a fairy Cinderella story but it was one that I instantly fell in love with. The struggles of the main characters were connected to real life situations and concepts that are not outlandish and over the top. Things were carefully planned and for all the secrecy and lies each were sharing in the end all the questions you build up and ask are answered. You love not only Kaia but her friends Jenny, Rachael , Ted... you see her develop from this cold calculating cruel creature into a true loving human. To understand both sides of her life and to embrace them with the same vivacious innocence.
All in all this was a wonderful book and the story was very well done, I can not wait to read more from Inara Scott and already look forward to seeing what she has to offer. I would love stories of all the Fae and hope that perhaps she has something tucked up her sleeve for later.
December 25, 2011
I really liked Radiant Desire. It was neither the most original work out there, nor was it particularly deep and meaningful.
The story is about a faerie called Kaia Verde who is sent by the faerie queen, Zafira, to seduce a human called Garrett. Zafira apparently holds a grudge against all human men and thus sends her handmaids out every year to seduce and humiliate random victims. Sadly, Kaia doesn`t manage to seduce Garrett. At least, not in the humiliating way Zafira wishes it. Zafira is not happy to find out about Kaias failure and gives her one month to make Garrett fall in love with her - or Kaia loses her wings forever (and with her wings, her soul).
But while she was in the Faerie Realm, Garrett seems to have developped a serious aversion to Kaia. Can she manage to make him fall in love with her after all?
The strongest point of the book was definitely the characters. Kaia was a strong heroine who didn`t let herself be pushed around. She was independent, intelligent and resourceful. I immediately liked her. I liked Garrett as well, but he was more of the average male character. Apart from his extreme mistrust towards Kaia, of course.
The book was so good I actually considered giving it five stars (I don-´t do that often. Giving a book five stars often feels wrong because I reverse that rating for really really awesome books...) but the ending was a bit top rushed and, well, neat. I would have preferred a more open ending.
Anyway, this is a 4-star book and I`m looking forward to reading the next installment of the series.
The story is about a faerie called Kaia Verde who is sent by the faerie queen, Zafira, to seduce a human called Garrett. Zafira apparently holds a grudge against all human men and thus sends her handmaids out every year to seduce and humiliate random victims. Sadly, Kaia doesn`t manage to seduce Garrett. At least, not in the humiliating way Zafira wishes it. Zafira is not happy to find out about Kaias failure and gives her one month to make Garrett fall in love with her - or Kaia loses her wings forever (and with her wings, her soul).
But while she was in the Faerie Realm, Garrett seems to have developped a serious aversion to Kaia. Can she manage to make him fall in love with her after all?
The strongest point of the book was definitely the characters. Kaia was a strong heroine who didn`t let herself be pushed around. She was independent, intelligent and resourceful. I immediately liked her. I liked Garrett as well, but he was more of the average male character. Apart from his extreme mistrust towards Kaia, of course.
The book was so good I actually considered giving it five stars (I don-´t do that often. Giving a book five stars often feels wrong because I reverse that rating for really really awesome books...) but the ending was a bit top rushed and, well, neat. I would have preferred a more open ending.
Anyway, this is a 4-star book and I`m looking forward to reading the next installment of the series.
December 30, 2013
Read this review on my blog! --> Radiant Desire by Inara Scott
I must say, this was an enjoyable fey romance! I don’t think I’ve read one before so that was cool. I thought Kaia was a really compelling character. I loved watching her transform throughout the book from someone a bit superficial to a caring, loving human. Garrett played his part perfectly. He was sexy, but really rough around the edges. Outside of the bedroom he was cold and untrusting.
Their relationship really relied on their attraction to each other for a while in the story because, 1.) Kaia had to lie to him about a lot of things and 2.) Garrett was fine with not really talking much. They did have a good connection though, it just couldn’t last the way they were carrying on. When it came down to the moments where they realized they loved each other, I kind of felt there was no substance and so it didn’t feel really genuine to me. Even then, I was happy with their happy ending.
I did enjoy Inara Scott’s writing style though. And I also really liked the way all the lives of these characters, both fey and human, were intertwined somehow. I think I will give the rest of the series a try when it’s released. I doesn’t appear to have one set yet, but I imagine there will be soon.
I must say, this was an enjoyable fey romance! I don’t think I’ve read one before so that was cool. I thought Kaia was a really compelling character. I loved watching her transform throughout the book from someone a bit superficial to a caring, loving human. Garrett played his part perfectly. He was sexy, but really rough around the edges. Outside of the bedroom he was cold and untrusting.
Their relationship really relied on their attraction to each other for a while in the story because, 1.) Kaia had to lie to him about a lot of things and 2.) Garrett was fine with not really talking much. They did have a good connection though, it just couldn’t last the way they were carrying on. When it came down to the moments where they realized they loved each other, I kind of felt there was no substance and so it didn’t feel really genuine to me. Even then, I was happy with their happy ending.
I did enjoy Inara Scott’s writing style though. And I also really liked the way all the lives of these characters, both fey and human, were intertwined somehow. I think I will give the rest of the series a try when it’s released. I doesn’t appear to have one set yet, but I imagine there will be soon.
April 15, 2012
Radiant Desire is set in modern day Miami and Faeria, the home of the Fey and their queen, Zafira. The story takes place over the span of a month or so as Kaia tries to complete the task set her by Zafira.
I think everyone knows by now how much I love Inara Scott. She is just too wonderful for words. She writes the most fantastic characters into existence. It never fails to amaze and completely entrance me.
This book is no different. From the Queen's Handmaids to the plain old humans in the story, every character is vibrant, alive in your mind from the wonderful descriptions in the book. Your imagination takes over and as you read the story, you can see it unfolding. Each character has layers and they are all so well-written.
This is so much more than just a love story; it's about what it truly means to be human and put your faith in someone else enough to love them, and let them love you in return; (not just romantically, either). I loved the twist and the overall story, I really couldn't put it down.
I have to say, Inara Scott has done it again. She adds a depth to her love stories that I adore. Her books in the romance genre are more than just some sex scenes with some dialogue thrown in. They are stores about two people who are truly falling in love and learning the history of that other person. I can't wait to read her next book!
I think everyone knows by now how much I love Inara Scott. She is just too wonderful for words. She writes the most fantastic characters into existence. It never fails to amaze and completely entrance me.
This book is no different. From the Queen's Handmaids to the plain old humans in the story, every character is vibrant, alive in your mind from the wonderful descriptions in the book. Your imagination takes over and as you read the story, you can see it unfolding. Each character has layers and they are all so well-written.
This is so much more than just a love story; it's about what it truly means to be human and put your faith in someone else enough to love them, and let them love you in return; (not just romantically, either). I loved the twist and the overall story, I really couldn't put it down.
I have to say, Inara Scott has done it again. She adds a depth to her love stories that I adore. Her books in the romance genre are more than just some sex scenes with some dialogue thrown in. They are stores about two people who are truly falling in love and learning the history of that other person. I can't wait to read her next book!
January 7, 2012
I heard a bit of buzz about Radiant Desire on Twitter talking about how surprised they were about this one! I haven’t read an Inara Scott book before this one, but I have The Candidates on my shelf so I was curious about her adult title.
Radiant Desire starts off…well with a bang. Sorry the pun, it doesn’t happen on the first page, but rather quickly. Many stories make you wait for the couple to finally get things rolling, but Inara sets things in action right away. After my initial excitement with the story, there was a bit of a lul which is to be expected with what happened in the story.
This story is based on love. It really had me thinking how as a culture, we view love and how much of our lives and thinking revolve around it. Not just romance love, but how we view our families. Every character in this book slowly change their way of thinking in regards to it.
You can tell from the above paragraph, that the faerie aspect of the story isn’t in the forefront which is understood because of Kaia’s punishment. I’m looking forward to reading maybe a bit more about the world in the next books in the series. Now I know I need to read her young adult series!
Radiant Desire starts off…well with a bang. Sorry the pun, it doesn’t happen on the first page, but rather quickly. Many stories make you wait for the couple to finally get things rolling, but Inara sets things in action right away. After my initial excitement with the story, there was a bit of a lul which is to be expected with what happened in the story.
This story is based on love. It really had me thinking how as a culture, we view love and how much of our lives and thinking revolve around it. Not just romance love, but how we view our families. Every character in this book slowly change their way of thinking in regards to it.
You can tell from the above paragraph, that the faerie aspect of the story isn’t in the forefront which is understood because of Kaia’s punishment. I’m looking forward to reading maybe a bit more about the world in the next books in the series. Now I know I need to read her young adult series!
September 28, 2011
I wasn't sure what to really expect when I began this novel. I was pretty stoked in starting and I was glad that I was given a chance to review it. The story was full of tender moments that left me breathless and eager to continue on. Inara Scott has a gift when it comes to romancing her readers and it shines as Radiant Desire unfolds.
Kaia was a great character. I was drawn to her at the start, as if her fairy influence effected me as well as other people in her world. What made Kaia so great, was that while she never knew what it meant to be human before, she gets a crash course and learns with it really means to live. Radiant Desire was utterly beautiful.
The romance was a little tricky. I wasn't sure how it would all end and I loved the fact it kept me on my toes. While I had an idea of how it might end, it left the journey untouched and the ending blew me away. This is a promising book in a new series and I can't wait to get my hands on the second book.
Kaia was a great character. I was drawn to her at the start, as if her fairy influence effected me as well as other people in her world. What made Kaia so great, was that while she never knew what it meant to be human before, she gets a crash course and learns with it really means to live. Radiant Desire was utterly beautiful.
The romance was a little tricky. I wasn't sure how it would all end and I loved the fact it kept me on my toes. While I had an idea of how it might end, it left the journey untouched and the ending blew me away. This is a promising book in a new series and I can't wait to get my hands on the second book.
January 28, 2012
3.5 stars?
Sweet, satisfying PNR with a trifle more substance than your average entry into this genre. The moral of the story is pretty well summed up by the following quote:
"Kaia the Human turned out to be strikingly similar to Kaia the Faerie. Perhaps a little more independent. A little less obsessed with her looks. And a little more concerned with the lives of the beings around her."
I liked how although this is very much a romance, the lessons Kaia learns about love and what it means to be human are also gleaned from friendships and other more casual relationships with people. Also, often I am thrown off by books that switch between too many POVs, and in non-proportional ways. But somehow it worked here that although the book is mostly in Kaia and Garrett's POVs, we also look through the eyes of a number of other characters. It certainly helps that it's always clear whose POV we're in and the "breaks" never happen mid-paragraph or section.
Sweet, satisfying PNR with a trifle more substance than your average entry into this genre. The moral of the story is pretty well summed up by the following quote:
"Kaia the Human turned out to be strikingly similar to Kaia the Faerie. Perhaps a little more independent. A little less obsessed with her looks. And a little more concerned with the lives of the beings around her."
I liked how although this is very much a romance, the lessons Kaia learns about love and what it means to be human are also gleaned from friendships and other more casual relationships with people. Also, often I am thrown off by books that switch between too many POVs, and in non-proportional ways. But somehow it worked here that although the book is mostly in Kaia and Garrett's POVs, we also look through the eyes of a number of other characters. It certainly helps that it's always clear whose POV we're in and the "breaks" never happen mid-paragraph or section.
May 22, 2013
lo ameeeeeeeee!!! cuando me oncontre con este libro no pense que estaria tan bueno , es perfecto y me gusto leer algo de hadas que es un poco fuera de lo comun ^_^
me gusto mucho esta parte que Kaia le dice a garrett :
—Ok, dime. ¿Qué significa el ser humano?
—Cuando las personas vienen a una tienda de floristería, ¿tú sabes lo que se dicen uno al otro? Dos cosas: Lo siento, y te amo. Eso es todo. Lo dicen de maneras diferentes y con palabras distintas, pero finalmente termina siendo la misma cosa. Así que creo que eso significa el ser humano. Creo que significa tomar las oportunidades y arriesgarse a salir herido. Creo que significa amar y perdonar.
aaawww y lexi era simplemente re tierna esa niña :
—No entiendo por qué se fue. ¿Acaso no nos quiere?
Garrett se detuvo en seco, con un nudo en su garganta.
—Ella lo hace —dijo—. A veces las cosas pasan y la gente tiene que irse. Eso no quiere decir que no te ame.
posta me encantooooooooooo!!!!!!!! <3
me gusto mucho esta parte que Kaia le dice a garrett :
—Ok, dime. ¿Qué significa el ser humano?
—Cuando las personas vienen a una tienda de floristería, ¿tú sabes lo que se dicen uno al otro? Dos cosas: Lo siento, y te amo. Eso es todo. Lo dicen de maneras diferentes y con palabras distintas, pero finalmente termina siendo la misma cosa. Así que creo que eso significa el ser humano. Creo que significa tomar las oportunidades y arriesgarse a salir herido. Creo que significa amar y perdonar.
aaawww y lexi era simplemente re tierna esa niña :
—No entiendo por qué se fue. ¿Acaso no nos quiere?
Garrett se detuvo en seco, con un nudo en su garganta.
—Ella lo hace —dijo—. A veces las cosas pasan y la gente tiene que irse. Eso no quiere decir que no te ame.
posta me encantooooooooooo!!!!!!!! <3
February 26, 2012
You know how I love Inara Scott’s young adult series Delacroix Academy. Well, good news for adults, her romance series is awesome too. True to Scott’s hallmark easy to read style, Radiant Desire (Handmaid’s Seduction #1) is everything you want from a paranormal romance and more. In addition to heart-palpitating chemistry and some steamy scenes that will leave you weak in the knees, there are serious explorations of love whether familial, romantic, or philia. The plot is at times incredibly moving with a focus on humanity and the kindness of strangers. If there’s one thing you take from this book let it be the sentiments of “I love you and I’m sorry.” The cover is stunning too! Radiant Desire is sure to delight romance fans, faerie fans, and paranormal fans across the board.
Overall: A
Overall: A
March 28, 2012
First i wanna say that i adore the cover, to be honest thats also a little bit the reason that i bought the book in the first place. The colors are just magical when you have the book in your hands.. it takes you right into fearie :)
I just finished the book and all i have in my mind right now is ... AMAZING!! ... Damn, what a fun, trilling, emotional story this was. Filled with lots of surprises also towards the end of the book!
Watch out Mr. Christian Grey (Fifty shades series) because here comes Garret Jameson!! :)
Can't wait for Book 2 in this new series :)
I just finished the book and all i have in my mind right now is ... AMAZING!! ... Damn, what a fun, trilling, emotional story this was. Filled with lots of surprises also towards the end of the book!
Watch out Mr. Christian Grey (Fifty shades series) because here comes Garret Jameson!! :)
Can't wait for Book 2 in this new series :)
December 31, 2013
A very well told fantasy love story. The Characters were very likable and the Development of the main character was very good. I liked watching her opinion about humans change as more and more showed her kindness and compassion. The story had just enough love scenes. To much would of messed up the sweetness and not enough would of taken from the romance. Over all, I really loved it. If you love romance of any kind you'll like it.:)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews