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Paladin Warriors #2
Deliver Me from Temptation
Logan Screwed Up... big time!
When things go bump in the night, Logan bumps back. Vampires, demons, succubi—you name it, he's fought it. His job as Paladin angel warrior is to protect humans. Not fall for one.
She Never Believed in Divine Intervention... until Now
Detective Jessica Waters protects humans too-with her Glock and a good set of handcuffs. She doesn't believe in fate. But if anyone looks like a gift from the gods, it's Logan. And he clearly knows more about her case than he's letting on...
When things go bump in the night, Logan bumps back. Vampires, demons, succubi—you name it, he's fought it. His job as Paladin angel warrior is to protect humans. Not fall for one.
She Never Believed in Divine Intervention... until Now
Detective Jessica Waters protects humans too-with her Glock and a good set of handcuffs. She doesn't believe in fate. But if anyone looks like a gift from the gods, it's Logan. And he clearly knows more about her case than he's letting on...
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
5 people are currently reading
988 people want to read
About the author
Tes Hilaire
12 books152 followersDaphne Award-winning author Tes Hilaire started creating whole new worlds to escape upstate New York's harsh winters before finally fleeing to sultry North Carolina. Her stories are edgy, exciting, and bring a hint of dark fantasy to paranormal romance. And no one ever has to shovel snow.
From the author's website.
From the author's website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
September 30, 2012
A fantastic story that puts a heavenly twist on these Paladin warriors. They are immortal Angel warriors existing here on earth to protect His children from the bad guys. You know them , right ? The demons, incubi , succubi , & those blood sucking vampires. I was intrigued by this world of the Paladians. It is exciting to watch as their world grows with each new book. Deliver Me From Temptation is the second book in the series. The story features Logan & Jessica.
Logan is the last full blooded Paladian & future leader of the immortal warriors. Even if he were looking for a mate he would never choose a mortal to watch them grow old & die taking his very sanity with them. So why is he so very attracted to the Jessica ? Jessica is a tough cop who is devoted to her job. Tormented by her sisters murder she is driven to catch the killer. Logan's best friend / brother-in-law is a suspect in a murder case that Jessica is investigating. Okay, so the * victim * is a sleazy douche bag serial rapist who deserved to die. Stll, the stubborn detective is determined to catch his killer. Each time she bumps into Logan she gets an overwhelming sense of deja vu. Why is that ? Could be that she's met him more times than she remembers & that he has saved her life more than once. The cops don't know what to think when dead bodies start popping up all over town with puncture marks on their necks. Ah, those thirsty vampires. Just exactly what has the intrepid detective stumbled onto ? Is it a ring of sex offenders or a blood drinking Goth cult ? Or could it be something supernatural, perhaps ? However, the bigger question is : Why can't she fight this powerful desire for Logan ? I loved the heroine in this story. Jess is a tough cop who believes in two things.... herself & her gun. She doesn't know that some things are more dangerous than she is. Or that sometimes they are much closer than we think. Will Jess be the bait that will catch Logan ? Will he sacrifice his soul to save hers ? Or will she finally let go of her anger to save Logan's life ?
The talented Tes Hilaire definitely * delivers * on this book. She has done an awesome job of building this world of the Paladians. It is unique & exciting. All of the characters are strong with each Paladian having his own unique backstory. Even some of the bad characters prove that no one is all evil. Sometimes thay have a little bit of good left in them. Her writing is flawless. She gave the readers a love story that questioned how much we are willing to sacrifice for the ones we love. Willl it be our own sanity , our life , our immortal soul , or as simple as letting go of our anger & fear . She has carefully crafted a series with limitless potential. I can hardly wait to see whose story will be next. I loved it !!!
I received this ARC courtsey of Netgalley & Sourcebooks.
Logan is the last full blooded Paladian & future leader of the immortal warriors. Even if he were looking for a mate he would never choose a mortal to watch them grow old & die taking his very sanity with them. So why is he so very attracted to the Jessica ? Jessica is a tough cop who is devoted to her job. Tormented by her sisters murder she is driven to catch the killer. Logan's best friend / brother-in-law is a suspect in a murder case that Jessica is investigating. Okay, so the * victim * is a sleazy douche bag serial rapist who deserved to die. Stll, the stubborn detective is determined to catch his killer. Each time she bumps into Logan she gets an overwhelming sense of deja vu. Why is that ? Could be that she's met him more times than she remembers & that he has saved her life more than once. The cops don't know what to think when dead bodies start popping up all over town with puncture marks on their necks. Ah, those thirsty vampires. Just exactly what has the intrepid detective stumbled onto ? Is it a ring of sex offenders or a blood drinking Goth cult ? Or could it be something supernatural, perhaps ? However, the bigger question is : Why can't she fight this powerful desire for Logan ? I loved the heroine in this story. Jess is a tough cop who believes in two things.... herself & her gun. She doesn't know that some things are more dangerous than she is. Or that sometimes they are much closer than we think. Will Jess be the bait that will catch Logan ? Will he sacrifice his soul to save hers ? Or will she finally let go of her anger to save Logan's life ?
The talented Tes Hilaire definitely * delivers * on this book. She has done an awesome job of building this world of the Paladians. It is unique & exciting. All of the characters are strong with each Paladian having his own unique backstory. Even some of the bad characters prove that no one is all evil. Sometimes thay have a little bit of good left in them. Her writing is flawless. She gave the readers a love story that questioned how much we are willing to sacrifice for the ones we love. Willl it be our own sanity , our life , our immortal soul , or as simple as letting go of our anger & fear . She has carefully crafted a series with limitless potential. I can hardly wait to see whose story will be next. I loved it !!!
I received this ARC courtsey of Netgalley & Sourcebooks.
November 29, 2012
Logan Calhoun is a Paladin, one of God's Warrior's. He's a descendant of an angel who came to earth to help humanity. Logan protects humans from the evil that they aren't aware of and aren't capable of fighting. He's the last full-blooded Paladin, and as such he's expected to follow in his father's footsteps as head of the council of Paladins. He has heavy responsibilities.
And those responsibilities don't allow for getting involved with a human.
Jessica Waters' faith is in the tangible. She believes in just the facts, ma'am. She's a detective who is haunted by a tragedy in her past. That tragedy drives her to catch killers. But when she takes on a case of murder in which Logan's friend is implicated, she is unknowingly put into danger from Logan's world. That danger escalates when Logan is inexplicably drawn to Jessica. In spite of her better judgment, she is also drawn to him.
"Theirs was definitely not a match made in heaven."
Everything is wrong with their relationship. He is a man of faith, she is a woman of suspicion and skepticism. He is risking his status as a Paladin for her and she is risking her job as a detective for him. And yet they can't stay away from each other.
Life as they know it, their relationship, and their very lives are in danger from forces gathering against them from all sides.
♥
Logan is a protective hero who is deadly in a fight, and yet tender when the moment calls for it. He's a character you'll fall in love with. And you'll definitely want to get carried away with him in a painting loft. (But you'll have to read that for yourself!) Jessica is a loner. A tough, kick-ass heroine who needs to let go of what is festering inside of her. Her journey is the greater one in the story.
The suspense and the danger will keep you turning the pages. And if you're the kind of person who cries while reading books, keep a tissue handy.
All in all, Deliver Me From Temptation is a story of faith. But the lesson that's learned may surprise you.
See my full Review of Deliver Me From Temptation at Paranormal Romance with Lisa Annesley!
And those responsibilities don't allow for getting involved with a human.
Jessica Waters' faith is in the tangible. She believes in just the facts, ma'am. She's a detective who is haunted by a tragedy in her past. That tragedy drives her to catch killers. But when she takes on a case of murder in which Logan's friend is implicated, she is unknowingly put into danger from Logan's world. That danger escalates when Logan is inexplicably drawn to Jessica. In spite of her better judgment, she is also drawn to him.
"Theirs was definitely not a match made in heaven."
Everything is wrong with their relationship. He is a man of faith, she is a woman of suspicion and skepticism. He is risking his status as a Paladin for her and she is risking her job as a detective for him. And yet they can't stay away from each other.
Life as they know it, their relationship, and their very lives are in danger from forces gathering against them from all sides.
♥
Logan is a protective hero who is deadly in a fight, and yet tender when the moment calls for it. He's a character you'll fall in love with. And you'll definitely want to get carried away with him in a painting loft. (But you'll have to read that for yourself!) Jessica is a loner. A tough, kick-ass heroine who needs to let go of what is festering inside of her. Her journey is the greater one in the story.
The suspense and the danger will keep you turning the pages. And if you're the kind of person who cries while reading books, keep a tissue handy.
All in all, Deliver Me From Temptation is a story of faith. But the lesson that's learned may surprise you.
See my full Review of Deliver Me From Temptation at Paranormal Romance with Lisa Annesley!
December 3, 2012
Posted onUnder the Covers
I stumbled upon this book and was intrigued by the very sexy cover. So immediately I read the blurb and found that it had all that I love in a paranormal romance – a hot band of warriors, a homicide detective heroine and lots of weapons and action!
As I started reading, I knew right off the bat that I would enjoy this book. Hilaire’s voice is inviting and unique. Even though I hadn’t read the first book of the series and Hilaire is a new-to-me author, I found that I slipped right into the Paladin Warriors world like a second skin. DELIVER ME FROM TEMPTATION was an easy transition into the world that Hiltaire has created.
And I think that really has to do with her ability to create such intriguing and relatable characters. Logan Calhoun may be the biggest and the baddest, yet he doesn’t allow that to make him into an untouchable, arrogant jerk. Reading from his perspective was very entertaining and fun. Hilaire has the unique ability to make her characters stand out and really grab a reader’s attention with her writing. I fell so easily into her world. It’s so inviting and fun and I was helpless but to join.
The one thing I noticed at the beginning of the book was that sometimes the pacing was off. I felt like some of the scenes didn’t really help progress the story forward, but it didn’t seem to idle for too long. Hilaire infuses the book with quite a few good action scenes so that definitely impressed me.
I am eager to have found a new author to explore. With her fun, larger-than-life characters and interesting world-building, you can be sure that I will be back for some more!
*ARC provided by Netgalley
I stumbled upon this book and was intrigued by the very sexy cover. So immediately I read the blurb and found that it had all that I love in a paranormal romance – a hot band of warriors, a homicide detective heroine and lots of weapons and action!
As I started reading, I knew right off the bat that I would enjoy this book. Hilaire’s voice is inviting and unique. Even though I hadn’t read the first book of the series and Hilaire is a new-to-me author, I found that I slipped right into the Paladin Warriors world like a second skin. DELIVER ME FROM TEMPTATION was an easy transition into the world that Hiltaire has created.
And I think that really has to do with her ability to create such intriguing and relatable characters. Logan Calhoun may be the biggest and the baddest, yet he doesn’t allow that to make him into an untouchable, arrogant jerk. Reading from his perspective was very entertaining and fun. Hilaire has the unique ability to make her characters stand out and really grab a reader’s attention with her writing. I fell so easily into her world. It’s so inviting and fun and I was helpless but to join.
The one thing I noticed at the beginning of the book was that sometimes the pacing was off. I felt like some of the scenes didn’t really help progress the story forward, but it didn’t seem to idle for too long. Hilaire infuses the book with quite a few good action scenes so that definitely impressed me.
I am eager to have found a new author to explore. With her fun, larger-than-life characters and interesting world-building, you can be sure that I will be back for some more!
*ARC provided by Netgalley
May 29, 2016
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Dark, gritty world with a romance that quickly explodes on the page. I recommend for readers who like angels, demons and vampires.
Opening Sentence: Logan Calhoun III was going to die.
The Review:
Deliver Me from Temptation is the second novel set in the “Paladin” world. It has been a while since I read this first novel in this series so it did take me a bit to remember what happened but it honestly didn’t take away any enjoyment for getting into this story. Deliver Me from Temptation has a dark, gritty feel about the battle of good versus evil that must remain hidden at all costs. A good persons soul could be lost if the dark can fuel and twist and persons’ wants and needs.
Logan Calhoun is a Paladin. He is next in line to take over as leader when his father decides to give up his role. In the meantime, Logan focuses his time on hunting down dark souls such as demons, vampires and succubae. On one of his hunts, he is confronted by a human policewoman who stops Logan and his partner from going after their dark prey. He erases her memories and feels bad about it. There is something about this woman that just draws Logan. He decides to keep an eye on her because he doesn’t believe in coincidences. He thinks there was a reason she was there, especially after learning she had vampires following her.
Jessica Waters could have been anything that she wanted to be, instead she devotes her life to fighting for those who need her help. As a cop, she knows that the latest murder case was a terrible person in life but she still must find out who killed him and get justice. Her latest tip brings her to a back alley where she can’t remember what happened with her night. The next night she goes “undercover” looking for a key clue in her murder case when she is attacked. Logan, who has been following her for more than one reason, joins in on the fight.
Jessica is quite focused and determined. She wants to get the bad guy no matter the cost. She’s almost suicidal in her hunt for questions. Logan calls her out on it. I enjoyed Jessica’s tenacity even though she made a stupid move in the end.
Logan feels the pull toward Jessica. He can’t believe that she is his mate. A human that will die while he continues to live on. He wants to fight the pull as much as possible. He wants her to live a normal human life without the danger of his world to add on to it. He has another major reason for not giving in to his needs: The last Paladin who mated with a human turned evil. He doesn’t want to go down that path when Jessica inevitably dies.
The world of the Paladin is evolving and not necessarily in a good way. Logan’s father is quite adamant about the purity of Paladins. Logan is also one of the last pure Paladins. Logan sees the world in a different light and wants to change how the Paladins operated but he can’t do that until he is in charge.
Deliver Me from Temptation was a dark, gritty and incredibly fast read. The events take place over the course of three days so the romance is quick and passionate. I enjoyed the overall world that this series is set in plus the secondary character of Valin. I can’t wait to read his story next. I think my only issue was how fast the romance played out, there was a bit of temptation and looks but it was more of an “I dare you to kiss me” act and that’s how fast it plays out.
Notable Scene:
“Why were you there, Jessica? Trying to get killed?”
She sucked in a breath, shaking her head at the absurdity of his accusation. “I wasn’t trying to get killed.”
“You weren’t? Could have fooled me.”
“Of course not!”
“Damn it, Jessica. I can’t understand you. You won’t tell me why you were there. You won’t let me help you.”
“I don’t want your help.”
“What do you want then? To die? What happened to you that you’re so obsessed with avenging others’ deaths that you don’t even care about your own life?”
“I do care about my own life.”
“Prove it.”
She laughed. “How? Should I dance a jig? Maybe grab a bottle of wine and whoop it up on the beach?” She shook her head. “Staying focused and doing my job doesn’t mean that I don’t have a life or that I don’t care about staying alive to live it.”
FTC Advisory: Sourcebook Casablanca provided me with a copy of Deliver Me from Temptation. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Dark, gritty world with a romance that quickly explodes on the page. I recommend for readers who like angels, demons and vampires.
Opening Sentence: Logan Calhoun III was going to die.
The Review:
Deliver Me from Temptation is the second novel set in the “Paladin” world. It has been a while since I read this first novel in this series so it did take me a bit to remember what happened but it honestly didn’t take away any enjoyment for getting into this story. Deliver Me from Temptation has a dark, gritty feel about the battle of good versus evil that must remain hidden at all costs. A good persons soul could be lost if the dark can fuel and twist and persons’ wants and needs.
Logan Calhoun is a Paladin. He is next in line to take over as leader when his father decides to give up his role. In the meantime, Logan focuses his time on hunting down dark souls such as demons, vampires and succubae. On one of his hunts, he is confronted by a human policewoman who stops Logan and his partner from going after their dark prey. He erases her memories and feels bad about it. There is something about this woman that just draws Logan. He decides to keep an eye on her because he doesn’t believe in coincidences. He thinks there was a reason she was there, especially after learning she had vampires following her.
Jessica Waters could have been anything that she wanted to be, instead she devotes her life to fighting for those who need her help. As a cop, she knows that the latest murder case was a terrible person in life but she still must find out who killed him and get justice. Her latest tip brings her to a back alley where she can’t remember what happened with her night. The next night she goes “undercover” looking for a key clue in her murder case when she is attacked. Logan, who has been following her for more than one reason, joins in on the fight.
Jessica is quite focused and determined. She wants to get the bad guy no matter the cost. She’s almost suicidal in her hunt for questions. Logan calls her out on it. I enjoyed Jessica’s tenacity even though she made a stupid move in the end.
Logan feels the pull toward Jessica. He can’t believe that she is his mate. A human that will die while he continues to live on. He wants to fight the pull as much as possible. He wants her to live a normal human life without the danger of his world to add on to it. He has another major reason for not giving in to his needs: The last Paladin who mated with a human turned evil. He doesn’t want to go down that path when Jessica inevitably dies.
The world of the Paladin is evolving and not necessarily in a good way. Logan’s father is quite adamant about the purity of Paladins. Logan is also one of the last pure Paladins. Logan sees the world in a different light and wants to change how the Paladins operated but he can’t do that until he is in charge.
Deliver Me from Temptation was a dark, gritty and incredibly fast read. The events take place over the course of three days so the romance is quick and passionate. I enjoyed the overall world that this series is set in plus the secondary character of Valin. I can’t wait to read his story next. I think my only issue was how fast the romance played out, there was a bit of temptation and looks but it was more of an “I dare you to kiss me” act and that’s how fast it plays out.
Notable Scene:
“Why were you there, Jessica? Trying to get killed?”
She sucked in a breath, shaking her head at the absurdity of his accusation. “I wasn’t trying to get killed.”
“You weren’t? Could have fooled me.”
“Of course not!”
“Damn it, Jessica. I can’t understand you. You won’t tell me why you were there. You won’t let me help you.”
“I don’t want your help.”
“What do you want then? To die? What happened to you that you’re so obsessed with avenging others’ deaths that you don’t even care about your own life?”
“I do care about my own life.”
“Prove it.”
She laughed. “How? Should I dance a jig? Maybe grab a bottle of wine and whoop it up on the beach?” She shook her head. “Staying focused and doing my job doesn’t mean that I don’t have a life or that I don’t care about staying alive to live it.”
FTC Advisory: Sourcebook Casablanca provided me with a copy of Deliver Me from Temptation. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
November 6, 2012
Deliver Me from Temptation by Tes HilaireMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Review:
Logan is the heir apparent to lead the Paladins in the future and the very thought of being mated to a human was not only something to be avoided at all costs but an insult to his heritage …… and all that was etched in stone until he met Jessica.
This second novel in the Paladin Warriors series picks up flawlessly from the first book and as good as Deliver Me From Darkness (Paladin Warriors #1) was this book is just a good or in some ways possibly even better. This installment is a bit more character driven and while quite a bit of action takes place it is not the epic battle type action we saw in book 1 but more of a battle fought in the minds of the main couple and to a lesser extent through their friends.
Let me say that I think I enjoyed the romance angle of this one a bit more than the first book although they has some similarities (impossible love/romance) but the action is downplayed in favor of a bit more intrigue and a bit of a thriller. My problem with this book has nothing to do with the main plot as much as the author draws us into a couple of subplots that go nowhere and that left me frustrated a bit. I am guessing that we will see most if not all of them resolved in a future book but it leave the reader with too many questions in my opinion.
The author taunts us with snippets of what I assume will be future storylines and then just leaves us nowhere, if I had any really serious complaints with this book it would have to be it needed at least another chapter to smooth over a few of what would have been very entertaining interaction with both of their friends and associates.
Let me take a moment to acknowledge I am selfish as a reader, I don’t like being left in the dark on hardly anything until the author decides to write another book when they have already drawn me into a story.
Rating:
I will have to give this a 4.5 Star rating since the main plot and the transition from the first book was excellent. The characters were all interesting even if several of them were no more than brief introductions that I am sure the author will use in future plots. So to sum it up, get both of these books and read them back to back and you will have many enjoyable hours of reading. Even though the ending left some secondary questions unresolved you are gonna LOVE the ending for the main plot, trust me ….
Review by Douglas C. Meeks for BittenByParanormalRomance.com
View all my reviews
December 4, 2012
My Review:
I still totally love this world of Paladin that Tes Hilaire has created. I like that the book has religious overtones (note: I am NOT a religious person) but that it is written so that the lines between good and evil aren't as well-defined as you would expect. Even demons and angels have both good and bad inside them. It makes it so you are never quite sure where the story line is going to go and I love that. And let me just note right now, that this series looks like it will be going to some amazing places. Every book introduces even more intriguing, diverse characters that you can already see are going to shake up this world.
But this book was about Logan. Logan is set to inherit the leadership of the Paladin from his father, but his father and him do NOT see eye to eye. One of their main areas of contention is what I was talking about before. Logan realizes that not everyone can be slotted into a good or evil box. Case in point, the vampire issues from book #1. In this world, traditionally vampires have not been on the side of good. But when a Paladin warrior was turned against his will, that does not automatically make him evil. Logan sees that. His father does not and that is definitely causing strife between them. So he knows that his father is not going to accept it when Logan realizes that Jessica (a human) is his mate.
Jessica is a cop. Her main goal in life is to put the bad guys in jail...at the detriment of everything else in her life. After the brutal death of her twin sister, this has become her life goal. She is also a black and white kind of girl. You either are a criminal or you aren't which causes problems between her and Logan, because with every little thing, it looks more and more likely that he is not one of the good guys. The problem is...she's human, so he can't explain all of these inexplicable events. She'll never believe him and she simply won't take his word on things no matter how much her gut is telling her that she can trust him. Too many things just don't add up right.
This world and series is great. If you love the warrior series books along the line of J.R. Ward or Sherrilyn Kenyon, I highly recommend that you pick these up. So far, there are only two in the series, but it is wide open for many, many more and they all promise to be very good!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I still totally love this world of Paladin that Tes Hilaire has created. I like that the book has religious overtones (note: I am NOT a religious person) but that it is written so that the lines between good and evil aren't as well-defined as you would expect. Even demons and angels have both good and bad inside them. It makes it so you are never quite sure where the story line is going to go and I love that. And let me just note right now, that this series looks like it will be going to some amazing places. Every book introduces even more intriguing, diverse characters that you can already see are going to shake up this world.
But this book was about Logan. Logan is set to inherit the leadership of the Paladin from his father, but his father and him do NOT see eye to eye. One of their main areas of contention is what I was talking about before. Logan realizes that not everyone can be slotted into a good or evil box. Case in point, the vampire issues from book #1. In this world, traditionally vampires have not been on the side of good. But when a Paladin warrior was turned against his will, that does not automatically make him evil. Logan sees that. His father does not and that is definitely causing strife between them. So he knows that his father is not going to accept it when Logan realizes that Jessica (a human) is his mate.
Jessica is a cop. Her main goal in life is to put the bad guys in jail...at the detriment of everything else in her life. After the brutal death of her twin sister, this has become her life goal. She is also a black and white kind of girl. You either are a criminal or you aren't which causes problems between her and Logan, because with every little thing, it looks more and more likely that he is not one of the good guys. The problem is...she's human, so he can't explain all of these inexplicable events. She'll never believe him and she simply won't take his word on things no matter how much her gut is telling her that she can trust him. Too many things just don't add up right.
This world and series is great. If you love the warrior series books along the line of J.R. Ward or Sherrilyn Kenyon, I highly recommend that you pick these up. So far, there are only two in the series, but it is wide open for many, many more and they all promise to be very good!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
November 11, 2012
I enjoyed the aspect of the forbidden romance between Logan and Jessica. He is a full blood Paladin, supposed to follow in his father’s footsteps and lead the warriors one day. She is human, not even a tiny bit of extra anything. She will age while he will not. She is weak and vulnerable compared to his near immortality. To give in to the temptation is a direct road to heartache.
Jessica is relentlessly searching for criminals to make sure they are brought to justice for their crimes. Her latest case involves being that she never imagined existed. It also keeps her coming up with dead ends. The one and only suspect that she has is being glorified as a hero, not a villain. The man, Logan who she cannot stop thinking about keeps popping up in too many places for it to be a coincidence.
Logan is concerned about where the homicide detective is sniffing for suspects. His brother in law Roland (hero from book#1) is her biggest lead. They know he is not responsible. They also know that the human cannot come to know about creature that is responsible for the crime. She would never believe that vampires and demons really exist. That is the way of humans.
In the end I was left wanting more. Deliver Me from Darkness left me with a few questions. I figured with a series they would be answered in the next book. The two biggest things I wanted to know more about were touched on, but not answered. Deliver Me from Temptation felt like a bridge book. Nothing huge happened. I did not feel that any new or compelling information about the world or the fight they are battling was delivered. There was a tease from the new players that something is brewing.
Jessica is relentlessly searching for criminals to make sure they are brought to justice for their crimes. Her latest case involves being that she never imagined existed. It also keeps her coming up with dead ends. The one and only suspect that she has is being glorified as a hero, not a villain. The man, Logan who she cannot stop thinking about keeps popping up in too many places for it to be a coincidence.
Logan is concerned about where the homicide detective is sniffing for suspects. His brother in law Roland (hero from book#1) is her biggest lead. They know he is not responsible. They also know that the human cannot come to know about creature that is responsible for the crime. She would never believe that vampires and demons really exist. That is the way of humans.
In the end I was left wanting more. Deliver Me from Darkness left me with a few questions. I figured with a series they would be answered in the next book. The two biggest things I wanted to know more about were touched on, but not answered. Deliver Me from Temptation felt like a bridge book. Nothing huge happened. I did not feel that any new or compelling information about the world or the fight they are battling was delivered. There was a tease from the new players that something is brewing.
July 29, 2015
While I liked this book better than the first one I find a month after reading it that the book just didn't stay with me.
The Good Stuff: For the most part the cast of characters are really interesting ones. I liked Logan from the first book and liked him even more in the second. However, Valin really stole the show for me. Is he good or is he bad? I don't know but I want more of him. I enjoyed the mystery aspect of Jess investigating the murder that Roland (from the first book) was accused of.
The Bad Stuff: For a cop, Jessica is truly TSTL. I couldn't get over her lack of common sense. She's a detective for Pete's sake! She continually made poor decisions that put her into harms way and when she was almost killed she never reported it. I really can't stand when a character doesn't follow certain specifics that the author had already established. Like, calling for backup which would be standard procedure for a cop. She bugged the crap outta me.
In a Nutshell: As I mentioned before, I read this book about a month ago. Some of the book stuck with me (my obsession with Valin and my anti-girl crush with Jess). However, I have already forgotten the ending. I honestly don't remember if Jess and Logan got their HEA. I'm gonna assume they did as this is a PNR and all but what does that say about a book when the reader lost the entire ending? Despite that issue I'm still going to continue with the series. Valin's story is next up for me. Wooohoooo!
The Good Stuff: For the most part the cast of characters are really interesting ones. I liked Logan from the first book and liked him even more in the second. However, Valin really stole the show for me. Is he good or is he bad? I don't know but I want more of him. I enjoyed the mystery aspect of Jess investigating the murder that Roland (from the first book) was accused of.
The Bad Stuff: For a cop, Jessica is truly TSTL. I couldn't get over her lack of common sense. She's a detective for Pete's sake! She continually made poor decisions that put her into harms way and when she was almost killed she never reported it. I really can't stand when a character doesn't follow certain specifics that the author had already established. Like, calling for backup which would be standard procedure for a cop. She bugged the crap outta me.
In a Nutshell: As I mentioned before, I read this book about a month ago. Some of the book stuck with me (my obsession with Valin and my anti-girl crush with Jess). However, I have already forgotten the ending. I honestly don't remember if Jess and Logan got their HEA. I'm gonna assume they did as this is a PNR and all but what does that say about a book when the reader lost the entire ending? Despite that issue I'm still going to continue with the series. Valin's story is next up for me. Wooohoooo!
December 7, 2012
I would rate this book a 3.5-4 out of 5.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I did not, however, read the first book in the series, and I think that that brought by rating down because there was a lot of background info about some of the characters and world-building that was not fully explained in the second book. It took some time to get used to the whole angel vs. demon vs. vampire, etc. thing.
Having said that, however, this was a pretty good book. There was enough action and adventure to keep me interested. I liked the romance and steam factor. I would have preferred if it the book covered a longer period of time, though, because sometimes the whole love at first sight thing isn't my thing. But, I did enjoy the love story in this book.
I really liked the characters too. I love a strong female lead! She was a ball-buster! And the male lead was smokin' hot and just the right amount of possessive/alpha.
I was a little bit surprised by the ending, which is great because usually I figure everything out too early to be surprised.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those who enjoy paranormal romance novels.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I did not, however, read the first book in the series, and I think that that brought by rating down because there was a lot of background info about some of the characters and world-building that was not fully explained in the second book. It took some time to get used to the whole angel vs. demon vs. vampire, etc. thing.
Having said that, however, this was a pretty good book. There was enough action and adventure to keep me interested. I liked the romance and steam factor. I would have preferred if it the book covered a longer period of time, though, because sometimes the whole love at first sight thing isn't my thing. But, I did enjoy the love story in this book.
I really liked the characters too. I love a strong female lead! She was a ball-buster! And the male lead was smokin' hot and just the right amount of possessive/alpha.
I was a little bit surprised by the ending, which is great because usually I figure everything out too early to be surprised.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those who enjoy paranormal romance novels.
January 1, 2013
Review to come (hopefully) but ... Finished my last book of the 2012 last night, Deliver Me From Temptation, I liked second book in Tes Hilaire's Paladin Warriors series even better than the first one. The connection between Paladin warrior for the Light Logan (half brother to the the previous leading lady and heir apparent to the Paladin's council) and homicide detective Jessica really hit high on the hot stuff meter and I liked the case in the background which gave everyone something to do. I also liked the set up for future characters too, despite the fact that they weren't given as much fleshing out screen time this time around - I can see several bad guys poised for redemption in the future (I love the when-bad-guys-go-good trope).
December 14, 2012
Did not enjoy this one as much as the first. Not really sure what my problem was. I think it was the h and her numerous TSTL moments. I get she was reckless for a reason but I just couldn't believe a cop would do the things she did over and over again. Also, not a lot happened in the overall story. It was still well written and tied together well. I just found it boring. Maybe I should've taken a longer break between the books. I guess a 3 star read for me. Will probably read the next one though cuz I am still curious about the world and the secondary characters.
Want to read
July 30, 2012
October 19, 2014
3.50 stars.
December 30, 2012
This review appears on Bloodthirsty Muses Batty Book Reviews: http://bloodthirstymuses.wordpress.co... and is rated 3.5 stars -- I didn't want to short it here, because it's a good book!
~
This book reminded me of the way series develop over time — they eventually hit a thematic stride that give earlier books more coherence, and while this book was still not perfect, it was substantially better than DELIVER ME FROM DARKNESS. Emotionally, TEMPTATION touched me in ways DARKNESS didn’t. I cared about the characters, and I felt involved in their troubles. I snickered, I squeezed the edges of my Kindle, I cried… This series definitely has the potential to keep improving.
What Didn’t Work
The plot felt chunky and confused at times, as if major parts were missing, and some of the others felt randomly ordered. By the end everything comes together in a conclusion that makes sense, but while reading, it seemed like the narrative wandered aimlessly at times, randomly jumping from one sub-plot to the next. It wasn’t impossible to keep up, but it could be a distraction.
Two central characters lacked dimension. Jessica’s partner, Mike, was a cardboard cutout of the hard-nosed detective with a soft spot for his partner (in a father-daughter way). His smart mouth and constant distrust of Logan put Jessica in more danger than she needed to be in. There is a hint that there is something more to Mike than meets the eye, but we haven’t seen it yet, so… we’re left with the cardboard.
Worse for the health of the series as a whole, was Ganelon, the fallen Palladin and now demon king. He is such a ridiculous, mustache-twirling caricature of a villain, it’ more toward funny than scary. If readers aren’t scared of your central villain, it’s a problem. Yes, he can blow away our heroes with a puff of his breath, and yes, he’s batshit crazy (he likes to cackle), but he’s not truly terrifying. He’s like a cartoon devil, and that robs some scenes of real gravitas.
The ending… I’m of two minds on the ending. Of course, I can’t discuss it with any depth so I won’t give it away, but let’s keep in mind that this is a Paranormal Romance, so that gives you an idea… it did make me cry, but it also felt too sudden and too pat. I have a dual personality reader living inside of me. It’s very sad at times.
I’m still kind of uneasy about the use of Christian imagery and mythology in paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Not because it offends me, but it just doesn’t sit right. Then again, I haven’t been on board the recent explosion of angel stories, either, so maybe I’m just not familiar with the genre’s tropes yet. Besides, I every other mythological and religious pantheon has been fair game over the years, so why not Christianity?
What Worked
While I’m still not big on “we’re-in-love-because-we-were-destined-before-time” stuff, I did ultimately like Logan and Jessica. The smexy was MAJORLY hot, and yet deeply spiritual at the same time, just the way I like it. Their reasons for pushing each other away were annoying — but not because they didn’t make sense. I’m just the kind of silly romantic that wishes they’d just GET TOGETHER ALREADY! Of course, I’d be annoyed if they did. LOL. Unlike Roland and Karrissa, I felt for them, liked them as individuals, got what they were going through (ironic, considering Roland and Karrissa were a vampire/human love story, my favorite!), and found the idea of them together not only palatable, but believeable.
Logan is freaking HOT. And while still fully masculine, strong, and alpha, he wasn’t so grating in that possessiveness as Roland was in the first book. Of course, as the series goes on and we get to know more characters, those that came before don’t feel so much like they exist in a vacuum. But I really dug Logan and his struggles with his responsibilities vs. his feelings for Jessica. He was protective, but not stalker scary possessive.
I liked Jessica, too. Sure, she’s difficult, and with more than a dash of Eve Dallas from JD Robb’s In Death series, but… she had her own special flavor and backstory motivations that had me invested in what was happening to her, and understanding of her reluctance to buy what Logan was selling. If I were her, no matter how hot he was, or how much he smexed her up, I’d feel the same way.
The Paladin Brotherhood boys are really growing on me, their own subplots starting to sprout, their personalities expanding, and each one’s unique brand of sexy becoming more prominent. I only hope the antagonists get the same kind of development, because so far their threat seems paper thin.
The development of what I think is going to be the meta-arc of the series is coming along nicely. The next book will tell for sure, I think.
Most of all, the overall non-romance plot of TEMPTATION was really well done… there wasn’t much of one in DARKNESS, so I can’t compare them, but I can say that having that theme to hold this book together did it a lot of service. I was actually interested in the case, and wanted to know how it tied in to the other things going on around it. The answers are pretty explosive, and add great flavor to how the story turns out.
You know, thinking of it now, maybe Roland and Karrissa should get another book, to make their story more complete, rather than just serving as the weak foundation for what is turning out to be a much better series than it started out to be. I want to know what happens to them next!
Anyway, while DELIVER ME FROM TEMPTATION isn’t QUITE up to four stars yet, if I could give it 3 and 3/4 stars, I would. With any luck, the next book will be even better. I enjoyed TEMPTATION, and I do really look forward the next installment!
~
This book reminded me of the way series develop over time — they eventually hit a thematic stride that give earlier books more coherence, and while this book was still not perfect, it was substantially better than DELIVER ME FROM DARKNESS. Emotionally, TEMPTATION touched me in ways DARKNESS didn’t. I cared about the characters, and I felt involved in their troubles. I snickered, I squeezed the edges of my Kindle, I cried… This series definitely has the potential to keep improving.
What Didn’t Work
The plot felt chunky and confused at times, as if major parts were missing, and some of the others felt randomly ordered. By the end everything comes together in a conclusion that makes sense, but while reading, it seemed like the narrative wandered aimlessly at times, randomly jumping from one sub-plot to the next. It wasn’t impossible to keep up, but it could be a distraction.
Two central characters lacked dimension. Jessica’s partner, Mike, was a cardboard cutout of the hard-nosed detective with a soft spot for his partner (in a father-daughter way). His smart mouth and constant distrust of Logan put Jessica in more danger than she needed to be in. There is a hint that there is something more to Mike than meets the eye, but we haven’t seen it yet, so… we’re left with the cardboard.
Worse for the health of the series as a whole, was Ganelon, the fallen Palladin and now demon king. He is such a ridiculous, mustache-twirling caricature of a villain, it’ more toward funny than scary. If readers aren’t scared of your central villain, it’s a problem. Yes, he can blow away our heroes with a puff of his breath, and yes, he’s batshit crazy (he likes to cackle), but he’s not truly terrifying. He’s like a cartoon devil, and that robs some scenes of real gravitas.
The ending… I’m of two minds on the ending. Of course, I can’t discuss it with any depth so I won’t give it away, but let’s keep in mind that this is a Paranormal Romance, so that gives you an idea… it did make me cry, but it also felt too sudden and too pat. I have a dual personality reader living inside of me. It’s very sad at times.
I’m still kind of uneasy about the use of Christian imagery and mythology in paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Not because it offends me, but it just doesn’t sit right. Then again, I haven’t been on board the recent explosion of angel stories, either, so maybe I’m just not familiar with the genre’s tropes yet. Besides, I every other mythological and religious pantheon has been fair game over the years, so why not Christianity?
What Worked
While I’m still not big on “we’re-in-love-because-we-were-destined-before-time” stuff, I did ultimately like Logan and Jessica. The smexy was MAJORLY hot, and yet deeply spiritual at the same time, just the way I like it. Their reasons for pushing each other away were annoying — but not because they didn’t make sense. I’m just the kind of silly romantic that wishes they’d just GET TOGETHER ALREADY! Of course, I’d be annoyed if they did. LOL. Unlike Roland and Karrissa, I felt for them, liked them as individuals, got what they were going through (ironic, considering Roland and Karrissa were a vampire/human love story, my favorite!), and found the idea of them together not only palatable, but believeable.
Logan is freaking HOT. And while still fully masculine, strong, and alpha, he wasn’t so grating in that possessiveness as Roland was in the first book. Of course, as the series goes on and we get to know more characters, those that came before don’t feel so much like they exist in a vacuum. But I really dug Logan and his struggles with his responsibilities vs. his feelings for Jessica. He was protective, but not stalker scary possessive.
I liked Jessica, too. Sure, she’s difficult, and with more than a dash of Eve Dallas from JD Robb’s In Death series, but… she had her own special flavor and backstory motivations that had me invested in what was happening to her, and understanding of her reluctance to buy what Logan was selling. If I were her, no matter how hot he was, or how much he smexed her up, I’d feel the same way.
The Paladin Brotherhood boys are really growing on me, their own subplots starting to sprout, their personalities expanding, and each one’s unique brand of sexy becoming more prominent. I only hope the antagonists get the same kind of development, because so far their threat seems paper thin.
The development of what I think is going to be the meta-arc of the series is coming along nicely. The next book will tell for sure, I think.
Most of all, the overall non-romance plot of TEMPTATION was really well done… there wasn’t much of one in DARKNESS, so I can’t compare them, but I can say that having that theme to hold this book together did it a lot of service. I was actually interested in the case, and wanted to know how it tied in to the other things going on around it. The answers are pretty explosive, and add great flavor to how the story turns out.
You know, thinking of it now, maybe Roland and Karrissa should get another book, to make their story more complete, rather than just serving as the weak foundation for what is turning out to be a much better series than it started out to be. I want to know what happens to them next!
Anyway, while DELIVER ME FROM TEMPTATION isn’t QUITE up to four stars yet, if I could give it 3 and 3/4 stars, I would. With any luck, the next book will be even better. I enjoyed TEMPTATION, and I do really look forward the next installment!
December 19, 2018
Powerful story
The characters really spoke to me and their trials were not there only as a convenience for the author. I look forward to learning more of the lives of the secondary characters and relish the troubles to come as the Paladin will face off with darkness. The changes the must endure will be the things of legends.
The characters really spoke to me and their trials were not there only as a convenience for the author. I look forward to learning more of the lives of the secondary characters and relish the troubles to come as the Paladin will face off with darkness. The changes the must endure will be the things of legends.
November 4, 2016
Setting: the Bronx; Haven – disguised in the warehouse district – safe house for the Paladins; police station; her apartment; her family’s beach house; alley
Theme: good vs evil; God’s plan/will; love;
Characters:
Logan Calhoun III: Paladin; last full-blooded Paladin – to follow in his father’s footsteps as Head of Council; he sees the value in all of the variety of powers of those with some Paladin blood; butts head with his father over old protocols vs new needs/ways; powerful; recently teamed with Alex and Valin – not sure of Valin; antiquities’ specialist;
Logan Calhoun II: father; Paladin; somewhat callously had sex with Paladin blooded women to sire children (no more fertile full blooded Paladin women); more Council head than father to Logan – wanting him to follow in his theoretical footsteps;
Detective Jessica Waters: homicide detective; 7 years earlier, twin sister went to frat party, left with wrong person, was gang raped and killed – changing Jessica’s life – she became a police officer (instead of a doctor or lawyer) to gain justice, and carries kernel of anger/hate; too devoted to her job, and takes risks she shouldn’t;
Grim: Jessica’s snitch – but really housing a demon;
Thomas Rhodes: washed up along Hunts Points shore; in last book, an older businessman who manipulated by demons, and drugged women in bars, taking them home and raping them... Roalnd stepped in and told a woman he had put a drug in her drink – she leaves, and he takes him out to alley, intimidates him and sends him on his way with a warning… and he disappears, turning up dead in the river months later;
Ganelon: Lucifer’s right hand man; ex Paladin, whose human bondmate died – and he turned to the darkside;
Alexander: Logan’s partner; lawyer;
Valin: TheBlack Knight; can teleport; Logan’s partner; part demon, reluctantly (by some of the Paladins, and himself) is accepted as a Paladin; not quite trusted by Logan yet; drawn to the succubus who is something more that they are chasing… is she the Gabby of his past?
Detective Damon: dating Jessica; uses his incubus talents to persuade her to confide in him, but for unknown reasons, not seduction; he’s not quite as comfortable doing evil for his ‘father’ Galenon as he once does… and in the end, steps in and takes the ‘hit’ meant for Logan;
Roland and Karissa Ward: last book; support here; Karissa is Logan’s half sister;
Detective Michael Ward: Jessica’s new partner; has Paladin blood and sensitivity, though doesn’t know it; Alex and Logan try to avoid him because of his sensitivity;
Gabby: succubus/mentor/?; she is banding/helping the Paladin part bloods, not acknowledged or known by the Paladin’s ;
Summary:
Jessica is determined to do her job, and figure out what is going on… she wants to find Thomas’ murderer and knows Roland knows something; she is waiting at 2am when she sees Alex and Logan chasing a woman who looks like a hooker; she intervenes… Logan wipes her memory and takes her home to bed; Logan is drawn to her, and when Roland ends up in the police station (saved a cat outside, and recognized) Alex and Logan go to free him… bring him into contact with Jessica again;
And Logan is drawn to her… and watches over her… and sees to vampires follow her into the parking structure… they attack, he defends, and a demon strikes at Jessica –biting and pounding her into concrete, knocking her out; he dispatches the vampires and chases the demon off… and takes Jessica home… and from this point on, he knows she’s his mate, but he rails against God – why would he punish him with a human who would die in 50 or 60 years – so he tries to connect with her, protect her without giving 100% of himself; and he won’t lie to her or wipe her memory, but he’s good at hedging the truth… She finds an alley video camera that captures her piece of forgotten memory… and she confronts him… he is honest with her, without telling her of the bond, and she is beginning to believe him but kicks him out… and then is confronted by a demon – fights him off, and ends up in hospital…
Damon forced to take her from hospital to Galendo (though he tries to talk her out of it)… and Logan is enticed to rescue her (and to bring the cross/key to Haven)… and Galendo fosters her bead of anger – and forces Damon to tell her how he gets weak men (especially frat boys) to rape & pillage – and she ties him to her sister’s death… and shoots him, giving into her anger, and allowing the demon to possess her; in the confrontation, Damon tries to protect her (I’m not sure if he survives), and Logan calls for her, and she soulfully moves to defeat the demon in her – and she decides to sacrifice her soul for Logan’s…
And for 3 weeks Logan is depressed – lethargic – but he isn’t turning to the darkside; and he goes to her home… picturing when he will be united with her in eternity… and she comes to him… as an angel, who chooses to be Paladin… to mate with him, to fight alongside him… ahhhh
Memorable scenes:
At bar – looking for demons; and a girl approaches them… a “recently-out-of-braces, probably-still-slept-in-Hello-Kitt-flannels girl.” And Alex gets Logan out of the invitation by acting the gay lover with him;
Theme: good vs evil; God’s plan/will; love;
Characters:
Logan Calhoun III: Paladin; last full-blooded Paladin – to follow in his father’s footsteps as Head of Council; he sees the value in all of the variety of powers of those with some Paladin blood; butts head with his father over old protocols vs new needs/ways; powerful; recently teamed with Alex and Valin – not sure of Valin; antiquities’ specialist;
Logan Calhoun II: father; Paladin; somewhat callously had sex with Paladin blooded women to sire children (no more fertile full blooded Paladin women); more Council head than father to Logan – wanting him to follow in his theoretical footsteps;
Detective Jessica Waters: homicide detective; 7 years earlier, twin sister went to frat party, left with wrong person, was gang raped and killed – changing Jessica’s life – she became a police officer (instead of a doctor or lawyer) to gain justice, and carries kernel of anger/hate; too devoted to her job, and takes risks she shouldn’t;
Grim: Jessica’s snitch – but really housing a demon;
Thomas Rhodes: washed up along Hunts Points shore; in last book, an older businessman who manipulated by demons, and drugged women in bars, taking them home and raping them... Roalnd stepped in and told a woman he had put a drug in her drink – she leaves, and he takes him out to alley, intimidates him and sends him on his way with a warning… and he disappears, turning up dead in the river months later;
Ganelon: Lucifer’s right hand man; ex Paladin, whose human bondmate died – and he turned to the darkside;
Alexander: Logan’s partner; lawyer;
Valin: TheBlack Knight; can teleport; Logan’s partner; part demon, reluctantly (by some of the Paladins, and himself) is accepted as a Paladin; not quite trusted by Logan yet; drawn to the succubus who is something more that they are chasing… is she the Gabby of his past?
Detective Damon: dating Jessica; uses his incubus talents to persuade her to confide in him, but for unknown reasons, not seduction; he’s not quite as comfortable doing evil for his ‘father’ Galenon as he once does… and in the end, steps in and takes the ‘hit’ meant for Logan;
Roland and Karissa Ward: last book; support here; Karissa is Logan’s half sister;
Detective Michael Ward: Jessica’s new partner; has Paladin blood and sensitivity, though doesn’t know it; Alex and Logan try to avoid him because of his sensitivity;
Gabby: succubus/mentor/?; she is banding/helping the Paladin part bloods, not acknowledged or known by the Paladin’s ;
Summary:
Jessica is determined to do her job, and figure out what is going on… she wants to find Thomas’ murderer and knows Roland knows something; she is waiting at 2am when she sees Alex and Logan chasing a woman who looks like a hooker; she intervenes… Logan wipes her memory and takes her home to bed; Logan is drawn to her, and when Roland ends up in the police station (saved a cat outside, and recognized) Alex and Logan go to free him… bring him into contact with Jessica again;
And Logan is drawn to her… and watches over her… and sees to vampires follow her into the parking structure… they attack, he defends, and a demon strikes at Jessica –biting and pounding her into concrete, knocking her out; he dispatches the vampires and chases the demon off… and takes Jessica home… and from this point on, he knows she’s his mate, but he rails against God – why would he punish him with a human who would die in 50 or 60 years – so he tries to connect with her, protect her without giving 100% of himself; and he won’t lie to her or wipe her memory, but he’s good at hedging the truth… She finds an alley video camera that captures her piece of forgotten memory… and she confronts him… he is honest with her, without telling her of the bond, and she is beginning to believe him but kicks him out… and then is confronted by a demon – fights him off, and ends up in hospital…
Damon forced to take her from hospital to Galendo (though he tries to talk her out of it)… and Logan is enticed to rescue her (and to bring the cross/key to Haven)… and Galendo fosters her bead of anger – and forces Damon to tell her how he gets weak men (especially frat boys) to rape & pillage – and she ties him to her sister’s death… and shoots him, giving into her anger, and allowing the demon to possess her; in the confrontation, Damon tries to protect her (I’m not sure if he survives), and Logan calls for her, and she soulfully moves to defeat the demon in her – and she decides to sacrifice her soul for Logan’s…
And for 3 weeks Logan is depressed – lethargic – but he isn’t turning to the darkside; and he goes to her home… picturing when he will be united with her in eternity… and she comes to him… as an angel, who chooses to be Paladin… to mate with him, to fight alongside him… ahhhh
Memorable scenes:
At bar – looking for demons; and a girl approaches them… a “recently-out-of-braces, probably-still-slept-in-Hello-Kitt-flannels girl.” And Alex gets Logan out of the invitation by acting the gay lover with him;
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2019
The beginning was so good but the ending felt rushed and the main characters didn’t even know each other that well before they fell massively in love 🙄
January 23, 2016
TSTL Heroine hiding behind a badge.
You'd think that be a contradiction?? I mean, cops and detectives constantly have to put their lives on the line and go into dangerous situations everyday. But the difference? They actually have a fucking plan. They have back up and reasons for doing things.
The heroine? She did things simply because she had a badge. She rarely if EVER asked for help or brought in her partner when it came to a case- not cause she's a "i work alone" person- no, she actually has a partner whom she honestly liked and often felt bad for excluding him in her investigating. But does she even TRY to include him? No. Never. She doesn't tell anyone about her leads or findings until the last possible moment and she has no motive for putting herself in dangerous situation even when the odds are stacked against her simply because: she can handle this alone. She's a strong, independent woman who don't need no man.
Her reasons for going after bad guys is barely existent. That on top the fact that she never, EVER has a plan of action as well as her refusal for back up (it not once crossed her mind....like at all... its like back up doesn't exist in her world???) made her a reckless, stupid detective in my book. She was like the embodiment of all those cocky, screw the book, detectives you see in cheesy action movies. She doesn't need back up or laws or god forbid A PLAN, she's just gonna go in guns blazing and everything will turn out all right in the end CAUSE SHE'S THE GOOD GUY.
Her personality wasn't much better either, if she wasn't bitchy she was out to prove herself every minute of every interaction with the hero. And i mean just the hero. If its other cops or detectives or literally anyone else, she's amicable and understanding. But Logan? Nah, fuck him. I'm going to make our interactions as bitchy and aggravating as possible.
Yeh, okay so she had her reasons for being so jumpy around the hero. I mean, for most of the book she's suspicious of Logan; she knows he's up to something and even thinks he's a stalker at one point. I understood THAT. I did. It was pretty much the only thing about her i DID understand. But it was all ruined because she was also flip flopping between lust, trust, and affection for the hero on top of all that suspicion: She knows he knows more than he's letting on about a case she's working on (one that involves MURDER) and she doesn't even think to bring him in for questioning? Or to even investigate HIM? She finds out he's stalking her and she doesn't call it in or feels the need to be idk the least bit alarmed??
She has all these alarm bells and instincts telling her to be wary of him and yet she doesn't ever think to investigate him or put him in the "suspect" pile. It wasn't even because she was lusting after him or because he was hot, she constantly kept telling herself she couldn't let him distract her from the case. She just... simply had no reason whatsoever. And i think that was worse to me. She just DIDN'T do anything. Even despite all these red flags thrown at her face. Idk about anyone else but that seems like a shitty detective to me.
I know i've been beating the heroine down for not bringing in the hero or for trusting Logan so easily but tbh the whole book sets her perspective against the hero. And then there's the scenes where she does encounter bad guys and its just as TSTL as her interactions with the hero!!! Supposedly she's attacked but does she report it? No. Does she tell anyone else about the bad guys possibly after her? Fuck no, not once. Why? NO REASON IS GIVEN, SHE JUST DOESN'T. And that's why I'm focusing so much on her interactions and dumb ass actions with Logan, they pretty much reflect her interactions and her dumb ass actions with people out to kill her.
Overall, I didn't like this book mainly cause the heroine was all over the place with her intentions and emotions and TSTL even for a "detective".
You'd think that be a contradiction?? I mean, cops and detectives constantly have to put their lives on the line and go into dangerous situations everyday. But the difference? They actually have a fucking plan. They have back up and reasons for doing things.
The heroine? She did things simply because she had a badge. She rarely if EVER asked for help or brought in her partner when it came to a case- not cause she's a "i work alone" person- no, she actually has a partner whom she honestly liked and often felt bad for excluding him in her investigating. But does she even TRY to include him? No. Never. She doesn't tell anyone about her leads or findings until the last possible moment and she has no motive for putting herself in dangerous situation even when the odds are stacked against her simply because: she can handle this alone. She's a strong, independent woman who don't need no man.
Her reasons for going after bad guys is barely existent. That on top the fact that she never, EVER has a plan of action as well as her refusal for back up (it not once crossed her mind....like at all... its like back up doesn't exist in her world???) made her a reckless, stupid detective in my book. She was like the embodiment of all those cocky, screw the book, detectives you see in cheesy action movies. She doesn't need back up or laws or god forbid A PLAN, she's just gonna go in guns blazing and everything will turn out all right in the end CAUSE SHE'S THE GOOD GUY.
Her personality wasn't much better either, if she wasn't bitchy she was out to prove herself every minute of every interaction with the hero. And i mean just the hero. If its other cops or detectives or literally anyone else, she's amicable and understanding. But Logan? Nah, fuck him. I'm going to make our interactions as bitchy and aggravating as possible.
Yeh, okay so she had her reasons for being so jumpy around the hero. I mean, for most of the book she's suspicious of Logan; she knows he's up to something and even thinks he's a stalker at one point. I understood THAT. I did. It was pretty much the only thing about her i DID understand. But it was all ruined because she was also flip flopping between lust, trust, and affection for the hero on top of all that suspicion: She knows he knows more than he's letting on about a case she's working on (one that involves MURDER) and she doesn't even think to bring him in for questioning? Or to even investigate HIM? She finds out he's stalking her and she doesn't call it in or feels the need to be idk the least bit alarmed??
She has all these alarm bells and instincts telling her to be wary of him and yet she doesn't ever think to investigate him or put him in the "suspect" pile. It wasn't even because she was lusting after him or because he was hot, she constantly kept telling herself she couldn't let him distract her from the case. She just... simply had no reason whatsoever. And i think that was worse to me. She just DIDN'T do anything. Even despite all these red flags thrown at her face. Idk about anyone else but that seems like a shitty detective to me.
I know i've been beating the heroine down for not bringing in the hero or for trusting Logan so easily but tbh the whole book sets her perspective against the hero. And then there's the scenes where she does encounter bad guys and its just as TSTL as her interactions with the hero!!! Supposedly she's attacked but does she report it? No. Does she tell anyone else about the bad guys possibly after her? Fuck no, not once. Why? NO REASON IS GIVEN, SHE JUST DOESN'T. And that's why I'm focusing so much on her interactions and dumb ass actions with Logan, they pretty much reflect her interactions and her dumb ass actions with people out to kill her.
Overall, I didn't like this book mainly cause the heroine was all over the place with her intentions and emotions and TSTL even for a "detective".
December 27, 2012
My favorite type of hero is a very tortured one. Life has never been easy, even if they have paranormal powers, even if they come from a privileged background, or any other circumstances an author can come up with. Then when they meet that one woman, life alters for them but their torturous past always gets in the way, obstacles are too many and too difficult to get over. I get quite excited when I find an author who can give this and much more to readers in their books. I’m so happy to say that Tes Hilaire is one of those very talented writers who does all of this in spades.
We met Logan in the first book of the series, Deliver Me from Darkness. He’s the best friend of the hero, Roland; he’s a volunteer immortal angel of God, a Paladin; and he’s the heir to the Paladin warriors, a job he doesn’t relish if and when the time comes. Being the last full-blooded Paladin puts extra pressure on the man, but duty has been ingrained in him. The last thing he wants to let his father in on is the fact Logan has met his mate. He and dear old dad have never gotten along, and Logan knows his father will never accept a human mate for him and the Paladins’ future. Even Logan himself is at first doubtful.
While chasing a succubus through the streets of Manhattan, Logan stumbles over a law enforcement officer who’s in the area on a case. Thus begins their interaction that starts with suspicions flying all over the place. Jessica is working a murder, and her number one suspect? Roland, who was the last to see the victim alive and he wasn’t very happy with the man. But Logan knows it wasn’t Roland, so trying to keep any association with humans as limited as possible, he and Alex, another Paladin brother, try to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. But it’s Jessica who stays on Logan’s mind, his need to be with her and to protect her something that won’t go away.
Jessica, however, takes her job seriously and refuses to get involved with a potential criminal, because the more she finds out about Logan, the more she feels he can’t be innocent. She does hope he is innocent, though. He’s the sexiest man she’s seen in a long time, but she can’t allow herself to get caught up in unimportant things. When Logan keeps turning up in her life, her attraction begins to overtake her suspicions, much to her dismay. She does have a very good reason to keep her focus on taking murderers and the like off the streets.
But when all hell breaks loose, evil integrating itself into their lives through deceit and manipulation, Logan comes to the point where he has to now be honest with Jessica about himself. With near non-existent belief in such holy things from God to angels, it takes Jessica time and a headlong pursuit into danger to finally believe in Logan and who and what he is. In fact, she keeps pushing Logan away. She’s such a total kick-ass, strong character that she may be hard to like for some readers. To me, what you have to remember is why she’s doing what she’s doing and how serious she is about her calling. But you just know when she does love, she loves wholeheartedly. It just takes her a bit longer to get there because of who she is. While Logan may be a tortured hero, it is Jessica who has the longest and farthest journey in this story.
This is turning out to be a great series from Ms. Hilaire. It gives everything the romance reader in me wants, including the paranormal aspect, which is one of my favorite genres. I’m really intrigued by Valin and his mate, who is one of the enemy of the Paladin. It will be interesting to see what Ms. Hilaire comes up with for his story. But I’m looking forward to however many books she’s got in mind to give readers. They’re well worth the wait.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
We met Logan in the first book of the series, Deliver Me from Darkness. He’s the best friend of the hero, Roland; he’s a volunteer immortal angel of God, a Paladin; and he’s the heir to the Paladin warriors, a job he doesn’t relish if and when the time comes. Being the last full-blooded Paladin puts extra pressure on the man, but duty has been ingrained in him. The last thing he wants to let his father in on is the fact Logan has met his mate. He and dear old dad have never gotten along, and Logan knows his father will never accept a human mate for him and the Paladins’ future. Even Logan himself is at first doubtful.
While chasing a succubus through the streets of Manhattan, Logan stumbles over a law enforcement officer who’s in the area on a case. Thus begins their interaction that starts with suspicions flying all over the place. Jessica is working a murder, and her number one suspect? Roland, who was the last to see the victim alive and he wasn’t very happy with the man. But Logan knows it wasn’t Roland, so trying to keep any association with humans as limited as possible, he and Alex, another Paladin brother, try to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. But it’s Jessica who stays on Logan’s mind, his need to be with her and to protect her something that won’t go away.
Jessica, however, takes her job seriously and refuses to get involved with a potential criminal, because the more she finds out about Logan, the more she feels he can’t be innocent. She does hope he is innocent, though. He’s the sexiest man she’s seen in a long time, but she can’t allow herself to get caught up in unimportant things. When Logan keeps turning up in her life, her attraction begins to overtake her suspicions, much to her dismay. She does have a very good reason to keep her focus on taking murderers and the like off the streets.
But when all hell breaks loose, evil integrating itself into their lives through deceit and manipulation, Logan comes to the point where he has to now be honest with Jessica about himself. With near non-existent belief in such holy things from God to angels, it takes Jessica time and a headlong pursuit into danger to finally believe in Logan and who and what he is. In fact, she keeps pushing Logan away. She’s such a total kick-ass, strong character that she may be hard to like for some readers. To me, what you have to remember is why she’s doing what she’s doing and how serious she is about her calling. But you just know when she does love, she loves wholeheartedly. It just takes her a bit longer to get there because of who she is. While Logan may be a tortured hero, it is Jessica who has the longest and farthest journey in this story.
This is turning out to be a great series from Ms. Hilaire. It gives everything the romance reader in me wants, including the paranormal aspect, which is one of my favorite genres. I’m really intrigued by Valin and his mate, who is one of the enemy of the Paladin. It will be interesting to see what Ms. Hilaire comes up with for his story. But I’m looking forward to however many books she’s got in mind to give readers. They’re well worth the wait.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
December 20, 2012
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
The differences between this installment and the first book in the Paladin Warriors series were immediately apparent to me after the first couple of chapters. Deliver Me from Temptation has stronger Urban Fantasy elements, the plot has more sustenance and the mythology is detailed and fluid. Going into this novel I fully expected there to be a happy ending but Hilaire had me doubting that fact up until the very end by cleverly turning a tragedy into a blessing.
The romantic relationship between the two main characters and the world building are two elements that were vastly improved upon this second time around. First and foremost, there was no insta-love which is a major pet peeve of mine, even in paranormal romances. The progression of Logan and Jessica’s love interest was reasonable given the circumstances they found themselves in and I was happy that Hiliare didn’t skip the “getting to know each other” phase like she did in Deliver Me from Darkness. I understand that the mate bond has a strong pull on those affected but even so, there should still be some resistance in my opinion. Humans aren’t cattle and blind acceptance isn’t in our nature; love doesn’t happen over night and I’m glad that that Tes gave her characters the time they needed.
The gaps that existed in the Paladin mythology in the first book were all but eliminated in this installment; important details are explained and as a result, I never felt lost. This was a huge relief for me because typically the first novel of a series is where the bulk of the world building takes place but I found that it fell short in book one. So, I was very happy to see Hilaire take a step back and revisit certain elements that should have been explained in Deliver Me from Darkness. This allowed me to concentrate on the story instead of trying to force pieces together that just didn’t fit. There was a nice balance between the Paladin Warriors and the blooming romance between the two protagonists.
There was a good mix of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance elements which helped to even out the pacing. The sex scenes are deliciously spicy and the police procedural side of the story kept me interested and engaged. The fact that Jessica is a cop made a huge difference in this book’s plot line; the purpose was clearer and Hilaire’s strong writing did the rest. Deliver Me from Temptation isn’t too preachy or too mushy; I found it to be just right.
The differences between this installment and the first book in the Paladin Warriors series were immediately apparent to me after the first couple of chapters. Deliver Me from Temptation has stronger Urban Fantasy elements, the plot has more sustenance and the mythology is detailed and fluid. Going into this novel I fully expected there to be a happy ending but Hilaire had me doubting that fact up until the very end by cleverly turning a tragedy into a blessing.
The romantic relationship between the two main characters and the world building are two elements that were vastly improved upon this second time around. First and foremost, there was no insta-love which is a major pet peeve of mine, even in paranormal romances. The progression of Logan and Jessica’s love interest was reasonable given the circumstances they found themselves in and I was happy that Hiliare didn’t skip the “getting to know each other” phase like she did in Deliver Me from Darkness. I understand that the mate bond has a strong pull on those affected but even so, there should still be some resistance in my opinion. Humans aren’t cattle and blind acceptance isn’t in our nature; love doesn’t happen over night and I’m glad that that Tes gave her characters the time they needed.
The gaps that existed in the Paladin mythology in the first book were all but eliminated in this installment; important details are explained and as a result, I never felt lost. This was a huge relief for me because typically the first novel of a series is where the bulk of the world building takes place but I found that it fell short in book one. So, I was very happy to see Hilaire take a step back and revisit certain elements that should have been explained in Deliver Me from Darkness. This allowed me to concentrate on the story instead of trying to force pieces together that just didn’t fit. There was a nice balance between the Paladin Warriors and the blooming romance between the two protagonists.
There was a good mix of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance elements which helped to even out the pacing. The sex scenes are deliciously spicy and the police procedural side of the story kept me interested and engaged. The fact that Jessica is a cop made a huge difference in this book’s plot line; the purpose was clearer and Hilaire’s strong writing did the rest. Deliver Me from Temptation isn’t too preachy or too mushy; I found it to be just right.
November 11, 2012
*Originally posted at www.wickedlilpixie.com on 11/13/12 as
CdnMrs Reviews: Deliver Me From Temptation by Tes Hilaire
CdnMrs Reviews: Deliver Me From Temptation by Tes Hilaire
Logan Screwed Up...Big Time
When things go bump in the night, Logan bumps back. Vampires, demons, succubi—you name it, he's fought it. His job as Paladin angel warrior is to protect humans. Not fall for one.
She Never Believed in Divine Intervention...Until Now
Detective Jessica Waters protects humans too-with her Glock and a good set of handcuffs. She doesn't believe in fate. But if anyone looks like a gift from the gods, it's Logan. And he clearly knows more about her case than he's letting on...
Deliver Me From Temptation is the second book in Tes Hilaire's Paladin Warriors series. The book can easily be read as a standalone and offers a fresh take on the whole Angels vs. Demons plot. Paladins, the heroes of Deliver Me From Temptation, aren't angels in the sense that they've got wings and a halo, but are rather “an order of warriors descendant from volunteer angels who answered His (God's) call to leave heaven... and come down to earth and wage the war against Lucifer and his minions”. [Source] http://teshilaire.com/ So, because of this there is more history than theology and not a lot of religious undertones, which I like.
The world building and lore of Deliver Me From Temptation is solid and well put together. The world is explained organically without any info-dumping or too obvious questions and answer sessions between the protagonists, Logan and Jessica. At a certain point I did feel like some of the lore was starting to take on a bit of a Jedi-esque kind of vibe (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFnFr-... ), but it wasn't too overwhelming or distracting.
I really enjoyed main characters Logan and Jessica and felt they were well developed and genuine. Jessica did kind of give me an (early books) Anita Blake vibe, but considering that Anita Blake is one of the matriarchs of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance, this kind of thing is bound to happen.
Deliver Me From Temptation had a strong start but about two-thirds in I felt like some of the plot started to get a bit too convenient and the actions of the protagonist too predictable. I actually had to force myself to finish the book because I, frankly, got a bit bored. I was happy with the ending once I did finish and think that there was a great cliff-hanger free segue into the third book, but by that time it was too little too late.
If you like books with Angels vs. Demons and strong characters give Deliver Me From Temptation a try maybe it will be a better fit for you. :)
December 12, 2012
MICHELLE'S REVIEW - 17TH NOVEMBER 2012:
RATING: 4.5 THIS IS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT STARS!!
I LOVED this instalment. I really connected with Logan, and Jessica is perfect for Logan’s mate. And it all comes with a wonderful twist.
Tes really makes Logan work for this gal that has appeared in his life. Roland and Karissa, the first books bonded characters, I do want to see them pop up more in future instalments as I want to personally, feel better connected to these characters.
Still love Alexander. I am soooo waiting for his book * waggles eyebrows*
Logan was an awesome character in this book. I loved ‘feeling’ his connection to Jessica and his pain and that a human and Paladin relationship really will not end well for a Paladin warrior, going on past stats.
The mystery of what Jessica was working on and how everything wove together made this book really good.
Jessica is a cool character. She is a cop and she has her secrets, her own bag of pain she has shoved into her closet.
Mike is a really great character which we get hinted at with something. So I am expecting the dear boy to turn up with a book in the future. I am likening his character to Butch in Black Dagger Brotherhood at the moment. Maybe presumptuous ?
Damon, well, could we be seeing more of this guy? I personally hope so. I shall say no more. I like him, even though I probably should not.
Valin.....just love the lines this guy is given. I want more in each book. He is like a teaser character who gets scenes, but is more a sub character at the moment, waiting in the wings for ‘Red’, being that support when needed with Logan.
So looking forward to Valin’s book as he has something spesh. I have a feeling he is going to be my fave and maybe even Mike. Again I am getting a bit ahead of myself here, theorising.
After this instalment, I am now very invested in this series. Jessica’s character is very well matched for Logan. There is a LOL! scene with Alex and Logan, you will know it when you read it. Valin , when he opens his mouth.....you can’t help laugh, but also there is another side that is peeking through. Dare I say he cares?
I do love this Logan visual on the cover. Q & A with Tes coming 13th December 2012.
FAVE QUOTE:
“Shit. You really don’t know how to do anything in half measures do you?” he glanced over at Logan’s father, rubbing his hands together and grinning. “Well, I’ve always wanted to see how much it would really take to get your dad to blow his gasket.”
Michelle
RATING: 4.5 THIS IS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT STARS!!
I LOVED this instalment. I really connected with Logan, and Jessica is perfect for Logan’s mate. And it all comes with a wonderful twist.
Tes really makes Logan work for this gal that has appeared in his life. Roland and Karissa, the first books bonded characters, I do want to see them pop up more in future instalments as I want to personally, feel better connected to these characters.
Still love Alexander. I am soooo waiting for his book * waggles eyebrows*
Logan was an awesome character in this book. I loved ‘feeling’ his connection to Jessica and his pain and that a human and Paladin relationship really will not end well for a Paladin warrior, going on past stats.
The mystery of what Jessica was working on and how everything wove together made this book really good.
Jessica is a cool character. She is a cop and she has her secrets, her own bag of pain she has shoved into her closet.
Mike is a really great character which we get hinted at with something. So I am expecting the dear boy to turn up with a book in the future. I am likening his character to Butch in Black Dagger Brotherhood at the moment. Maybe presumptuous ?
Damon, well, could we be seeing more of this guy? I personally hope so. I shall say no more. I like him, even though I probably should not.
Valin.....just love the lines this guy is given. I want more in each book. He is like a teaser character who gets scenes, but is more a sub character at the moment, waiting in the wings for ‘Red’, being that support when needed with Logan.
So looking forward to Valin’s book as he has something spesh. I have a feeling he is going to be my fave and maybe even Mike. Again I am getting a bit ahead of myself here, theorising.
After this instalment, I am now very invested in this series. Jessica’s character is very well matched for Logan. There is a LOL! scene with Alex and Logan, you will know it when you read it. Valin , when he opens his mouth.....you can’t help laugh, but also there is another side that is peeking through. Dare I say he cares?
I do love this Logan visual on the cover. Q & A with Tes coming 13th December 2012.
FAVE QUOTE:
“Shit. You really don’t know how to do anything in half measures do you?” he glanced over at Logan’s father, rubbing his hands together and grinning. “Well, I’ve always wanted to see how much it would really take to get your dad to blow his gasket.”
Michelle
October 19, 2013
I wanted to adore DELIVER ME FROM TEMPTATION like I did book one in the series but the romance didn't work for me and the heroine was nearly dislikable. Still, the world building remains strong and will encourage me to read the next books in the series.
Logan is one of the Paladin, warrior angels who battle dark forces to keep humans safe. Jess is a hardened cop who is working a strange murder case when she literally runs into Logan. The skeptical cop doesn't believe Logan's crazy talk but when the dark forces use her to get to Logan, she has to learn her place in the battle.
I loved book one in this series and thought it was an amazing romance and stellar world. The world building is still great here, especially since the Paladin are facing internal struggles as well as battling the dark forces. The brotherhood feel of the Paladin is exactly what I love in my paranormal romance and that shines here. I liked Logan in book one and love him here for his warm, loving and generous personality. His fellow Paladin are great too: the mysterious Valin who has me drooling for his story, burly Alexander and techie Bennett. Even Logan's father becomes slightly more nuanced in this book and I really liked all these characters.
But I didn't like Jess. First, she has a boyfriend she "forgets" to break up with until after she and Logan sleep together. Overall, she's too cold and self-absorbed for my taste and I didn't feel she deserved wonderful Logan. Her past is certainly troubled and I understand what would motivate her but everything she did was because of her past and she didn't care who she hurt in order to fulfill her mission. I didn't warm up to her, even at the end as her sacrifice for Logan was too little too late for me.
I also didn't like Logan and Jess's romance. The romance happens quickly, in the course of a few days, and Jess and Logan don't spend enough time together. I was comparing their romance to book one where the leads faced the same danger but they had down time to get to know each other, which isn't the case for Logan and Jess. They don't have deep conversations at all and rarely spend more than a few minutes in each other's company. Their one sexual encounter was choppy and included no real emotional intimacy, which could have made their romance better.
I wanted to adore this book as I did book one but I just didn't. The world building is good enough that I will still keep reading the series but with a bit of skepticism.
Lisa Jo @ The Romance Reviews
Logan is one of the Paladin, warrior angels who battle dark forces to keep humans safe. Jess is a hardened cop who is working a strange murder case when she literally runs into Logan. The skeptical cop doesn't believe Logan's crazy talk but when the dark forces use her to get to Logan, she has to learn her place in the battle.
I loved book one in this series and thought it was an amazing romance and stellar world. The world building is still great here, especially since the Paladin are facing internal struggles as well as battling the dark forces. The brotherhood feel of the Paladin is exactly what I love in my paranormal romance and that shines here. I liked Logan in book one and love him here for his warm, loving and generous personality. His fellow Paladin are great too: the mysterious Valin who has me drooling for his story, burly Alexander and techie Bennett. Even Logan's father becomes slightly more nuanced in this book and I really liked all these characters.
But I didn't like Jess. First, she has a boyfriend she "forgets" to break up with until after she and Logan sleep together. Overall, she's too cold and self-absorbed for my taste and I didn't feel she deserved wonderful Logan. Her past is certainly troubled and I understand what would motivate her but everything she did was because of her past and she didn't care who she hurt in order to fulfill her mission. I didn't warm up to her, even at the end as her sacrifice for Logan was too little too late for me.
I also didn't like Logan and Jess's romance. The romance happens quickly, in the course of a few days, and Jess and Logan don't spend enough time together. I was comparing their romance to book one where the leads faced the same danger but they had down time to get to know each other, which isn't the case for Logan and Jess. They don't have deep conversations at all and rarely spend more than a few minutes in each other's company. Their one sexual encounter was choppy and included no real emotional intimacy, which could have made their romance better.
I wanted to adore this book as I did book one but I just didn't. The world building is good enough that I will still keep reading the series but with a bit of skepticism.
Lisa Jo @ The Romance Reviews
November 30, 2012
I have to admit I had a little bit of trouble getting into this book. Now, before you Tes Hilaire fans start yelling at me...at about page 10, I had an epiphany...”hmm, I think this may be part of a series.” So I quickly researched it and found that it was indeed the 2nd book in a series. Huh...so I read the blurb and got a bit of the backstory. But honestly, although I was missing a bit of world-building because I hadn’t read #1, this book can be read as standalone. In any event, by about page 12, I was hooked!
Deliver Me from Temptation is an action-packed ride revolving around the battle between good and evil. I loved the combination of police procedural with the paranormal. I also loved the element of faith weaved throughout the book.
Jessica Waters is a prickly heroine, whose passion and devotion for her job are the direct result of the one thing causing her disbelief in fate. She has a one-track mind about getting the baddies off the streets and that kind of determination leaves little time for life. When her case puts Logan Calhoun in her path, she starts questioning - well her sanity for one thing - but also her life choices.
Logan admires Jessica’s tenacity towards saving humanity...it’s a job they share. However, he’s torn between saving her from the darkness that lives within her and claiming her for himself, which will only end in heartache for them both. He’s also dumbfounded that this woman has been fated for him - he, the last true Paladin - mated to a mere human. Not that Logan sees Jessica as a mere human, but his destiny doesn’t seem to mesh with having a human mate. But then, who is he to question fate?
The twists and turns in the plot kept me intrigued and watching Jessica and Logan stumble along the path fated for them was tear jerking and heartwarming.
The detail in the world-building was wonderful. I could see the Haven in my mind, as well as the gritty streets, smelly dumpsters and dark parking garages. The war between Heaven and Hell is being fought here on Earth and the characters and circumstances involved in this fight have me intrigued. I’d never read a book about Paladins before and I find I like the lore Ms. Hilaire has created around this band of angels who were willing to take on the fight.
And y’all know I love a great supporting cast. Ms. Hilaire's character development of the other Paladins, as well as Jessica's partner Mike and quasi-boyfriend, Damon, is outstanding. I really look forward to reading Valin’s story...and Alex’s...and Roland and Karissa’s (1st in this series =).
Deliver Me from Temptation is an action-packed ride revolving around the battle between good and evil. I loved the combination of police procedural with the paranormal. I also loved the element of faith weaved throughout the book.
Jessica Waters is a prickly heroine, whose passion and devotion for her job are the direct result of the one thing causing her disbelief in fate. She has a one-track mind about getting the baddies off the streets and that kind of determination leaves little time for life. When her case puts Logan Calhoun in her path, she starts questioning - well her sanity for one thing - but also her life choices.
Logan admires Jessica’s tenacity towards saving humanity...it’s a job they share. However, he’s torn between saving her from the darkness that lives within her and claiming her for himself, which will only end in heartache for them both. He’s also dumbfounded that this woman has been fated for him - he, the last true Paladin - mated to a mere human. Not that Logan sees Jessica as a mere human, but his destiny doesn’t seem to mesh with having a human mate. But then, who is he to question fate?
The twists and turns in the plot kept me intrigued and watching Jessica and Logan stumble along the path fated for them was tear jerking and heartwarming.
The detail in the world-building was wonderful. I could see the Haven in my mind, as well as the gritty streets, smelly dumpsters and dark parking garages. The war between Heaven and Hell is being fought here on Earth and the characters and circumstances involved in this fight have me intrigued. I’d never read a book about Paladins before and I find I like the lore Ms. Hilaire has created around this band of angels who were willing to take on the fight.
And y’all know I love a great supporting cast. Ms. Hilaire's character development of the other Paladins, as well as Jessica's partner Mike and quasi-boyfriend, Damon, is outstanding. I really look forward to reading Valin’s story...and Alex’s...and Roland and Karissa’s (1st in this series =).
December 12, 2012
RATING: 4.5 THIS IS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT STARS!!
I LOVED this instalment. I really connected with Logan, and Jessica is perfect for Logan’s mate. And it all comes with a wonderful twist.
Tes really makes Logan work for this gal that has appeared in his life. Roland and Karissa, the first books bonded characters, I do want to see them pop up more in future instalments as I want to personally, feel better connected to these characters.
Still love Alexander. I am soooo waiting for his book * waggles eyebrows*
Logan was an awesome character in this book. I loved ‘feeling’ his connection to Jessica and his pain and that a human and Paladin relationship really will not end well for a Paladin warrior, going on past stats.
The mystery of what Jessica was working on and how everything wove together made this book really good.
Jessica is a cool character. She is a cop and she has her secrets, her own bag of pain she has shoved into her closet.
Mike is a really great character which we get hinted at with something. So I am expecting the dear boy to turn up with a book in the future. I am likening his character to Butch in Black Dagger Brotherhood at the moment. Maybe presumptuous ?
Damon, well, could we be seeing more of this guy? I personally hope so. I shall say no more. I like him, even though I probably should not.
Valin.....just love the lines this guy is given. I want more in each book. He is like a teaser character who gets scenes, but is more a sub character at the moment, waiting in the wings for ‘Red’, being that support when needed with Logan.
So looking forward to Valin’s book as he has something spesh. I have a feeling he is going to be my fave and maybe even Mike. Again I am getting a bit ahead of myself here, theorising.
After this instalment, I am now very invested in this series. Jessica’s character is very well matched for Logan. There is a LOL! scene with Alex and Logan, you will know it when you read it. Valin , when he opens his mouth.....you can’t help laugh, but also there is another side that is peeking through. Dare I say he cares?
I do love this Logan visual on the cover. Q & A with Tes coming 13th December 2012.
FAVE QUOTE:
“Shit. You really don’t know how to do anything in half measures do you?” he glanced over at Logan’s father, rubbing his hands together and grinning. “Well, I’ve always wanted to see how much it would really take to get your dad to blow his gasket.”
Michelle
I LOVED this instalment. I really connected with Logan, and Jessica is perfect for Logan’s mate. And it all comes with a wonderful twist.
Tes really makes Logan work for this gal that has appeared in his life. Roland and Karissa, the first books bonded characters, I do want to see them pop up more in future instalments as I want to personally, feel better connected to these characters.
Still love Alexander. I am soooo waiting for his book * waggles eyebrows*
Logan was an awesome character in this book. I loved ‘feeling’ his connection to Jessica and his pain and that a human and Paladin relationship really will not end well for a Paladin warrior, going on past stats.
The mystery of what Jessica was working on and how everything wove together made this book really good.
Jessica is a cool character. She is a cop and she has her secrets, her own bag of pain she has shoved into her closet.
Mike is a really great character which we get hinted at with something. So I am expecting the dear boy to turn up with a book in the future. I am likening his character to Butch in Black Dagger Brotherhood at the moment. Maybe presumptuous ?
Damon, well, could we be seeing more of this guy? I personally hope so. I shall say no more. I like him, even though I probably should not.
Valin.....just love the lines this guy is given. I want more in each book. He is like a teaser character who gets scenes, but is more a sub character at the moment, waiting in the wings for ‘Red’, being that support when needed with Logan.
So looking forward to Valin’s book as he has something spesh. I have a feeling he is going to be my fave and maybe even Mike. Again I am getting a bit ahead of myself here, theorising.
After this instalment, I am now very invested in this series. Jessica’s character is very well matched for Logan. There is a LOL! scene with Alex and Logan, you will know it when you read it. Valin , when he opens his mouth.....you can’t help laugh, but also there is another side that is peeking through. Dare I say he cares?
I do love this Logan visual on the cover. Q & A with Tes coming 13th December 2012.
FAVE QUOTE:
“Shit. You really don’t know how to do anything in half measures do you?” he glanced over at Logan’s father, rubbing his hands together and grinning. “Well, I’ve always wanted to see how much it would really take to get your dad to blow his gasket.”
Michelle
December 14, 2012
I won this book from Goodreads First Read giveaway and it was a nice surprise when I received the book in the mail not long after being notified that I won. So I appreciate the quick delivery from Sourcebooks.
When the book starts off in a comedic tone involving 2 very masculine Paladin warriors in a club who end up pretending to be a couple in an attempt to dissuade a teen girl from flirting with one of them, it bodes well with how the rest of the book is. The book was a very enjoyable read. It had a nice good pace that gave enough story details to understand the story but not so much that it bogged down flow.
Really liked the chemistry between Logan and Jessica. It kinda amazed me believable their love for each other is, considering that they haven't spent a lot of time together - in fact a good chunk of the book has them apart. I give much credit to the writing. The author did a very good job on illustrating the thought process of both characters in regard to their view on each other - all the conflicts, the doubts, and their convictions; so when they finally realize their love for each other it comes off as believable regardless of the time frame that it happens. And with all the action happening, you kinda forget that everything is happening in just a matter of days as opposed to weeks or months.
It's interesting how the idea of faith comes into the book. I think the doubts that Logan goes through - wondering why He chose a human to be his mate knowing the possible outcomes it for him - and how he deals with these questions is a good way of presenting the issue of faith and how one keeps it in the face of conflict and doubt. It doesn't come of as being preachy or lecturing. You feel the conflict in Logan, and makes him ironically very human.
So overall, this was a good book that I very much enjoyed. Good love story set in a paranormal backdrop of a war between good and evil. Pleasantly surprised that the characters and their conflict were more centerstage than the paranormal aspects of the book. It's there, but in a subtle way that doesn't overwhelm the core of what the book is about.
Before I end this lengthy review, I gotta give a shout out to my favorite character in the book: Valin. Great character with a wicked/quirky/dark sense of humor with an attitude to go with it. Would be interested in reading a book with a story centered around him. I have a feeling it would be a very entertaining ride.
When the book starts off in a comedic tone involving 2 very masculine Paladin warriors in a club who end up pretending to be a couple in an attempt to dissuade a teen girl from flirting with one of them, it bodes well with how the rest of the book is. The book was a very enjoyable read. It had a nice good pace that gave enough story details to understand the story but not so much that it bogged down flow.
Really liked the chemistry between Logan and Jessica. It kinda amazed me believable their love for each other is, considering that they haven't spent a lot of time together - in fact a good chunk of the book has them apart. I give much credit to the writing. The author did a very good job on illustrating the thought process of both characters in regard to their view on each other - all the conflicts, the doubts, and their convictions; so when they finally realize their love for each other it comes off as believable regardless of the time frame that it happens. And with all the action happening, you kinda forget that everything is happening in just a matter of days as opposed to weeks or months.
It's interesting how the idea of faith comes into the book. I think the doubts that Logan goes through - wondering why He chose a human to be his mate knowing the possible outcomes it for him - and how he deals with these questions is a good way of presenting the issue of faith and how one keeps it in the face of conflict and doubt. It doesn't come of as being preachy or lecturing. You feel the conflict in Logan, and makes him ironically very human.
So overall, this was a good book that I very much enjoyed. Good love story set in a paranormal backdrop of a war between good and evil. Pleasantly surprised that the characters and their conflict were more centerstage than the paranormal aspects of the book. It's there, but in a subtle way that doesn't overwhelm the core of what the book is about.
Before I end this lengthy review, I gotta give a shout out to my favorite character in the book: Valin. Great character with a wicked/quirky/dark sense of humor with an attitude to go with it. Would be interested in reading a book with a story centered around him. I have a feeling it would be a very entertaining ride.
November 19, 2012
Deliver Me from Temptation is the second book in Tes Hilaire's World of the Paladin Series. The first being Deliver Me From Darkness..
Logan Calhoun is the last "Pure" Paladin, destined to be the next head of council, all around good guy... well except that he has issues with his father, his best friend is a cast out Paladin and a Vampire, his half sister is mate-bound to said Vampire and he is suddenly attracted to a human female.
Jessica Waters is a cop on a mission. Ever since her sister's rape and murder she has committed herself to catching the evil of this world. Of course the only evil she knows of is the human kind. Jessica is not the type to accept the supernatural.. One night she goes to meet a snitch and instead finds two men chasing after a "helpless" woman. Determined to save the woman, Jessica and Logan literally crash worlds..
Watching these two learn to accept each other is pretty impressive. Jessica is sure that Logan is a criminal and Logan is sure that Jessica is his mate. It's fun to watch Logan and Jessica come to terms with their relationship. While one would think that Jessica would be handle it the hardest it is actually Logan who has to deal with the responsibilities of his life.
This book does a wonderful job of placing God in the PNR.. the good guys literally work for Him and there are quite a few times where in one way or another this book reminds us that God's way is usually the best way. And yet it isn't preachy.. It has a strong PNR message as well as a gritty Urban feel to it.
This was one of those books that I literally just absorbed. Open book and a couple of hours later I come back to the world sad that I had to leave this story behind. This is one of the rare books I consider a five star book.. I suggest you all get this book.. and Deliver Me From Darkness as well.. Great Book, Great Series
Shauni
This review is based on the ARC of Deliver Me From provided by netgalley and scheduled to be released on December 4, 2012
For more reviews by Shauni check out Tea and Book and
Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy
Logan Calhoun is the last "Pure" Paladin, destined to be the next head of council, all around good guy... well except that he has issues with his father, his best friend is a cast out Paladin and a Vampire, his half sister is mate-bound to said Vampire and he is suddenly attracted to a human female.
Jessica Waters is a cop on a mission. Ever since her sister's rape and murder she has committed herself to catching the evil of this world. Of course the only evil she knows of is the human kind. Jessica is not the type to accept the supernatural.. One night she goes to meet a snitch and instead finds two men chasing after a "helpless" woman. Determined to save the woman, Jessica and Logan literally crash worlds..
Watching these two learn to accept each other is pretty impressive. Jessica is sure that Logan is a criminal and Logan is sure that Jessica is his mate. It's fun to watch Logan and Jessica come to terms with their relationship. While one would think that Jessica would be handle it the hardest it is actually Logan who has to deal with the responsibilities of his life.
This book does a wonderful job of placing God in the PNR.. the good guys literally work for Him and there are quite a few times where in one way or another this book reminds us that God's way is usually the best way. And yet it isn't preachy.. It has a strong PNR message as well as a gritty Urban feel to it.
This was one of those books that I literally just absorbed. Open book and a couple of hours later I come back to the world sad that I had to leave this story behind. This is one of the rare books I consider a five star book.. I suggest you all get this book.. and Deliver Me From Darkness as well.. Great Book, Great Series
Shauni
This review is based on the ARC of Deliver Me From provided by netgalley and scheduled to be released on December 4, 2012
For more reviews by Shauni check out Tea and Book and
Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy
December 4, 2013
Reviewed on Brazen Reads: http://brazenreads.com/review-deliver-me-from-temptation-by-tes-hilaire/
Deliver Me From Temptation is the second in author Tes Hilaire’s Paladin Warriors series. The Paladins are a sort of volunteer angel brigade, sent to earth to help battle evil forces. When Paladin Logan Calhoun keeps having police office Jessica Waters cross his path, he begins to fall for her, even though the last Paladin to fall for a human ended up insane and sitting at the right hand of Lucifer himself.
While it’s a little bit difficult to get the swing of things coming into the series at book two, this book has a little bit of everything for paranormal romance fans: demons, angels, vampires including incubi and succubi, and a great urban fantasy plot in which Jessica is investigating a murder that involves supernatural elements she really should be keeping her nose out of if she values her life.
Like all human heroes and heroines of urban fantasy, she has an axe to grind with forces of evil, and not only is falling for Logan not in her plans, but contrary to everything she stands for: He may be involved in the murder case she’s investigating, and justice is her religion. Needless to say, things get hot and heavy, which is where things went a little bit south for me.
Any time you have angels — fallen or otherwise — in a romance novel, you touch on the subject of religion. Some, like Juliana Stone’s King of the Damned, touch on it only a little, but others, like Deliver Me From Temptation, feature religion fairly heavily.
There’s something about a book that features hot and heavy sex scenes juxtaposed with fairly intense discussions of faith that just takes me out of the story. I don’t like my religion mixed with my sex scenes — generally speaking — and this book pushed my limits.
Others may not have the same issues regarding religion and sex combining like this, but for me, it’s enough to make me think twice about continuing with the series.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Deliver Me From Temptation is the second in author Tes Hilaire’s Paladin Warriors series. The Paladins are a sort of volunteer angel brigade, sent to earth to help battle evil forces. When Paladin Logan Calhoun keeps having police office Jessica Waters cross his path, he begins to fall for her, even though the last Paladin to fall for a human ended up insane and sitting at the right hand of Lucifer himself.
While it’s a little bit difficult to get the swing of things coming into the series at book two, this book has a little bit of everything for paranormal romance fans: demons, angels, vampires including incubi and succubi, and a great urban fantasy plot in which Jessica is investigating a murder that involves supernatural elements she really should be keeping her nose out of if she values her life.
Like all human heroes and heroines of urban fantasy, she has an axe to grind with forces of evil, and not only is falling for Logan not in her plans, but contrary to everything she stands for: He may be involved in the murder case she’s investigating, and justice is her religion. Needless to say, things get hot and heavy, which is where things went a little bit south for me.
Any time you have angels — fallen or otherwise — in a romance novel, you touch on the subject of religion. Some, like Juliana Stone’s King of the Damned, touch on it only a little, but others, like Deliver Me From Temptation, feature religion fairly heavily.
There’s something about a book that features hot and heavy sex scenes juxtaposed with fairly intense discussions of faith that just takes me out of the story. I don’t like my religion mixed with my sex scenes — generally speaking — and this book pushed my limits.
Others may not have the same issues regarding religion and sex combining like this, but for me, it’s enough to make me think twice about continuing with the series.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 1, 2012
A new breed of paranormal race created by Tes Hilaire. Really a 3.5 for me, I thoroughly enjoyed it, but found it to be slow moving. There was a nice build to the relationship of the main couple, once it happened, that was that! It left me hanging a bit with the all of the changes the hero and heroine have undergone and nothing else happening from there. But all in all, I loved the characters and the overall story. It’s a definite read for paranormal lovers. This is the second book in the Paladin series and is written perfectly so it can be read as a stand alone.
Jessica is a homicide detective that LIVES for her job. There’s a history behind her and her reasoning for her chosen career. She has no belief in fate and such, her sole reliant and answer to every bad guy is to introduce them to her gun. She’s a beautiful, strong and determined woman that’s living her life for revenge on all that choose to harm others (but in a legal way). She’s fine with it all and goes through her daily paces without disturbance up until she meets Logan.
Logan is a full blooded Paladin. He fights for all that is good by helping to rid the world of the bad. He feels a bit of the pressure of being the very last full blooded Paladin and having to be the one to replace his father as the leader when the time comes, but manages to keep his head straight and get the job done. He does lose a bit of his focus from the very first time he sets his eyes on Jessica. But is confused how a mere human can affect him in any other way then a meager curiosity or to sate a hunger, can fate be so cruel to him?
Both Jessica and Logan fight for good both have secrets and both feel an undeniable pull toward the other that is hard to ignore. A pull so strong neither of them can fight it for long. They really make a great team and an even better couple :)
Jessica is a homicide detective that LIVES for her job. There’s a history behind her and her reasoning for her chosen career. She has no belief in fate and such, her sole reliant and answer to every bad guy is to introduce them to her gun. She’s a beautiful, strong and determined woman that’s living her life for revenge on all that choose to harm others (but in a legal way). She’s fine with it all and goes through her daily paces without disturbance up until she meets Logan.
Logan is a full blooded Paladin. He fights for all that is good by helping to rid the world of the bad. He feels a bit of the pressure of being the very last full blooded Paladin and having to be the one to replace his father as the leader when the time comes, but manages to keep his head straight and get the job done. He does lose a bit of his focus from the very first time he sets his eyes on Jessica. But is confused how a mere human can affect him in any other way then a meager curiosity or to sate a hunger, can fate be so cruel to him?
Both Jessica and Logan fight for good both have secrets and both feel an undeniable pull toward the other that is hard to ignore. A pull so strong neither of them can fight it for long. They really make a great team and an even better couple :)
December 4, 2012
I read the first book of this series, Deliver Me from Darkness, and immediately knew I would be following this series to its conclusion. I loved the Paladin mythos created and the author’s writing style. It is classified as a PNR, but there are enough urban fantasy elements to grab my attention. I was pleasantly surprised to find Deliver Me from Temptation had a much stronger urban fantasy element than the first book. The book is still a PNR with a forbidden love theme (hubba, hubba), but there was much more substance to the story and overall series arc. To top it all off there is a good murder mystery that isn't eclipsed by the romance.
I was desperately hoping book two would be Valin’s story; he pushes all my dark, mysterious outcast buttons. But Deliver Me from Temptation is Logan’s story. He wasn't my favorite of the Paladin warriors we meet in the first book. There is nothing wrong with him, he just didn't push those buttons I was talking about. I still enjoyed his story because Detective Jessica Waters is a smart, rock solid heroine with her own personal demons (heehee, pun intended) she must defeat in order to fulfill a surprising destiny.
There is also an anti-hero introduced and I can’t wait to see where his story is going. Valin is up to his usual mischievous self, but we still don’t know anything about the darkness that keeps him from feeling like he belongs to the Paladin Brotherhood. He knows who his mate is, but she disappeared at the end of book one. The next book will be his story, squeee!
The Paladin series is a great combination of PNR and urban fantasy and will appeal to both readers.
4 “freaky angel spawn” sheep
http://www.ismellsheep.com/2012/11/bo...
I was desperately hoping book two would be Valin’s story; he pushes all my dark, mysterious outcast buttons. But Deliver Me from Temptation is Logan’s story. He wasn't my favorite of the Paladin warriors we meet in the first book. There is nothing wrong with him, he just didn't push those buttons I was talking about. I still enjoyed his story because Detective Jessica Waters is a smart, rock solid heroine with her own personal demons (heehee, pun intended) she must defeat in order to fulfill a surprising destiny.
There is also an anti-hero introduced and I can’t wait to see where his story is going. Valin is up to his usual mischievous self, but we still don’t know anything about the darkness that keeps him from feeling like he belongs to the Paladin Brotherhood. He knows who his mate is, but she disappeared at the end of book one. The next book will be his story, squeee!
The Paladin series is a great combination of PNR and urban fantasy and will appeal to both readers.
4 “freaky angel spawn” sheep
http://www.ismellsheep.com/2012/11/bo...
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