Wicked Burn

Realm Enforcers #3

by Rebecca Zanetti

If you love the Dark Protectors, these wicked hot Realm Enforcers are for you!

Simone Brightston knows she can beat the rap her enemies are pinning on her. An Irish witch is nobody's fool, and she didn't get to her position on the high council without serious power. But her cousins want her to hide out--and they somehow convinced her arch nemesis to play getaway driver.

Of all the men she's known, Nikolaj Veis is the hardest to intimidate. With his demon-dark eyes and his inscrutable beauty, he's as desirable as he is dangerous. And he knows better than to underestimate Simone. So when he pulls up on a roaring bike and tells her to climb on or fight it out, she grabs a handful of jacket and holds on tight. Running from the law may not be the smartest plan. But when it comes to Nick, hot pursuit and a blazing fast ride are exactly what Simone's looking for . . .

Includes the brand new Dark Protectors novella, ‘Talen’!

Genres: Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Demons, Vampires, Witches, Fantasy

336 pages, ebook

First published June 7, 2016

About the author

New York Times, USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti has published more than seventy novels and novellas, which have been translated into several languages, with millions of copies sold world-wide. Her books have received Publisher’s Weekly and Kirkus starred reviews, favorable Washington Post and New York Times Book Reviews, and been included in Amazon best books of the year.

Rebecca has ridden in a locked Chevy trunk, has asked the unfortunate delivery guy to release her from a set of handcuffs, and has discovered the best silver mine shafts in which to bury a body…all in the name of research. Honest.

Reviews

[Jessica's Totally Over The Top Book Obsession · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 My Little Bunny Stars



Some Spoilers

“You’re a bastard.” “Not technically, but I sure as hell acted like one. I’ve explained that. Fate gave me no other choice. Plus, you’ve had a century to forgive me. Time’s up.”-Simone and Nick

I loved this book so much. Wicked Burn was totally epic and I think my brain fangirl short circuited. Between the Cliffhanger ending and the Novella Talen I think I lost it a little. Of Course anything with Talen in it has me losing my shit I love him so damn much! Anyways I have wanted to know Simone and Nick's back story since book 3 of the Dark Protectors series so when I seen they would have their own book in the Realm Enforcers Series I was super excited. Damn but their story was amazing! Their book is officially my favorite of this series. The depth to their love story was so good. Plus I'm a sucker for a good second chance love story, and theirs was everything I love about that trope.

“I want everything, Simone. And this time, I’m going to keep it.”-Nick



“Do we need to talk?” Her lashes fluttered, and she focused on him. “We are talking.” “About the fact that I fucked you silly in an alley an hour ago.” He lifted an eyebrow. She neither flinched nor turned away, facing him head-on, like the woman she was. “Thanks for the orgasms?”-Nick and Simone

Simone was amazing. In Dage and Emma's story I really didn't like Simone. Then slowly as the DP series went on I started warming to her. In this book I had a girl crush on her. She was amazing. I totally understood the Bitch mask she wears to protect her heart. Simone was strong, independent, and smart. She had a sweet soft side that she hid but it was there and it added to her depth. Nick was hands down the yummiest hero in this series. OMG Nick was perfect. So sexy, raw, protective, and..... and just damn perfect! Nick loved Simone. She was his mate and he had been ready to start his life with her a 100 years ago until Fate stepped in and asked more of him then he ever dreamed. Now 100 years later with the only woman he loved in danger Nick's dark side comes out and let me just say he was a total bad ass warrior.

“Caveman? Oh, hell no, baby. This is modern man, modern demon . . . all aboveboard and truthful. I’m not using subterfuge, and I’m not going vampire-ape on you. I’m calmly, very pointedly, telling you how it’s going to be. If there’s a threat to you, I’ll do whatever it takes to get you to safety.” “If it causes war?” “It won’t.” “If it does?” He lifted a broad shoulder. “So be it.” She shook her head, panic edged with something warm flowing through her. “You can’t go to war over me.” “Watch me.” -Nick and Simone



“I’ve missed you, Nicholai.” His eyes darkened in the way they did when she used his full name. “My dreams have been filled with you, even in the worst of times. You gave me hope.”-Simone and Nick

Nick and Simone had a sad back story. What Nick sacrificed for Fate. The pain him and Simone felt for 100 years. With the fear and broken trust it was easy to understand where both characters were coming from. For a little while Simone tried to hold Nick at arms length not wanting to let him in and chance her heart again. But their passion was too strong. They had amazing chemistry. That is one of the things I love about Rebecca Zanetti. She writes some of the most raw, animalistic, smokin' hot sex scenes ever. And this book had plenty of hot, melt my kindle, sex in it. This book also had a damn good plot story and tons of kick ass action. I loved the cameos of Zane, Conn, Moira, and Brenna. I really liked Simone's mom in this book where as I hated her in other books. I also really liked getting to know Bear more. What I didn't like about this book the cliffhanger ending. Not because it was bad. It wasn't it was good and left me wanting more. Nope it's because the next book don't come out til July 2017 and I'm so bad at waiting. Patience isn't a virtue I possess.

Many soldiers who’ve fought in wars, who’ve killed like I have, wonder if they have a heart. I’ve never wondered.” “Why not?” she whispered. “Because you’re in it and always have been.” He reached her in three long strides. “My heart is yours and always will be. Everything I’ve done in this life from the good to the truly terrible has been to make the world a better place for you and any children we may have.” His hand flattened over her abdomen. “Everything I am or will ever be belongs solely to you.” Tears filled her eyes. “Nicholai.” His chin lifted. “No woman has ever been loved more than you are right now, Simone. It’s impossible. I promise you.”-Nick and Simone

[Sophia Triad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nikolaj aka 'Nick' & Simone aka Zaychik moy (i.e. little bunny)

What a beautiful mess I'm in!

After so many books FINALLY Simone and Nikolaj...
We got the first glimpse of their story at book Hunted (Dark Protectors, 3) -if I remember correctly.

Nick, as a man of honor, sacrificed his love for Simone more than a century ago. He had prepared everything. The house, the ring, the words. And suddenly fate and destiny happened and Nick broke Simone’s heart. The demon nation needed him.

Nick never stopped loving Simone. Nowadays, the war is over. Nick’s role in it has been concluded and Nick wants his intended mate back.

Unfortunately Simone does not trust him anymore. Not that she trusts any man anymore.
Her heart had been broken again about a decade ago by another witch. Moreover, she has become very powerful and very important as a member of Coven Nine where only dominant witches are members. There is no room for games. She likes to be bitch and there is no way that she will show vulnerability for Nick again.

But fate happens again. Being accused for something she has not done, Nick will resume the role of her protector. No matter if Simone likes it or not.

“You stay safe, period. Whatever I have to do to ensure your safety, I’ll do it.” He leaned in, his face an inch above hers. “Fight me all you want, but I don’t recommend it.”

The book is totally action packed. There will be one revelation after the other. Many surprices.

Simone’s brother will appear on the spotlight. And soon enough, there will also an uncle and another brother that will finally play an important role in her life. Simone will be a fugive and more vulnerable than ever. She will never be the same person again. Actually, the Realm will never be the same again.

Forgotten and hidden species of mythical shifters will make a powerful appearance and the world building is stronger than ever.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Possessive, protective, and downright bossy stars



Simone Brightston is a member of the Coven Nine, a badass, bitchy witch, who has made an enemy, one who hates her enough to damn her position and force her into hiding. Her enforcer cousins know she is innocent, and the only way to clear her name is to get the man who broke her to keep her safe while they clear her name.

Nicholai Veis, second in command of the demon nation, has long since buried the man who loves, sacrificing their happiness for fate. A century has past and now their past, present and future collide, only now it isn't so easy to just let go...

“I’m not the type of woman who is claimed, Veis.”

“Ah, bunny. You’re exactly the kind of woman who needs to be claimed, and anybody not up to the task would bore you immediately. Let me be perfectly clear that I’m up to the task.”

Wicked Burn was just total swoon worthy! I loved every declaration, vow and promise. This second chance at love and life, was at the fault of a sacrifice that shattered their trust and left them alone. Both strong character leads, they go head-to-head as they uncover the reasons of the pasts and come to terms with the truths they assumed to be true. I have to say each book has been my new favorite in the series and this is no exception, their passion, love and story line was just everything. A true page turner that keeps sucking you in deeper and deeper into their world. Seriously recommended to all my fantasy loving friends!

***Reviewed April 2017

[Dali · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heart pounding, edge of your seat, nonstop action story full of sizzling romance!

"My heart is yours and always will be… Everything I am or will ever be belongs solely to you."

Simone Brighston has achieved many things in her lifetime as a member of the Coven Nine witch high council, betraying her people will never be one of them. Someone though, has done an incredible job of setting her up and is up for treason charges which could lead to a death sentence if found guilty. Given the severity of the situation, her Realm Enforcer cousins have made arrangements for her to hide out with the most unlikely creature she would ever seek out, Nikolaj Veis, her former lover and the demon that broke her heart a century ago.

Nick Veis had been prepared to be with the woman he loved forever, but fate had other ideas. Sacrificing love in order to save countless lives including that of Simon Brighton, he pushed her away, but now he’s back. He’s fulfilled his duty to his people, he came out alive and now he wants a second chance at being with the only woman he’s ever loved and he won’t take no for an answer. Even though running from everyone who’s after Simone is not his idea of romance, having her wrapped around him while riding his bike is exactly what he wants. Can they figure out who’s framed her or will their evasive maneuvers provoke an all-out war between the different super natural species?

This story was fast from the word go. There was never a dull moment and I was constantly at the edge of my seat with excitement with everything that went on from interesting familial revelations to learning about new species, to all the evidence that was stacked up mile high against Simone, and she and Nick just couldn't seem to get a break while on the run to sort through it, much less figure out the intense attraction that clearly still existed between them.

"No woman has ever been loved more than you are right now, Simone."

Simone grew up without a father but a very strong mother, she’s independent, smart and fierce. Al character traits I like. I also understood that without a male role model and after Nick broke her heart, she wouldn’t allow herself to need anyone, and had a very hard time letting her guard down around the sexy demon even when everything he said was perfect.

“My dreams have been filled with you, even in the worst of times. You gave me hope.” ~ Nick to Simone

After a century of denying his heart, the super b@d@ss adviser to the demon realm is now determined to get his woman back. He had loved her from the moment he set eyes on her and now that he feels he’s free to pursue her again there is nothing he won’t do to protect her and convince her of his love, even if he’s a big overbearing caveman sometimes. But there’s no doubt these two burn up the pages with their incredible attractions.

"Caveman? Oh, hell no, baby. This is modern man, modern demon... all aboveboard and truthful. I'm not using subterfuge, and I'm not going vampireape on you. I'm calmly, very pointedly, telling you how it's going to be. If there's a threat to you, I'll do whatever it takes to get you to safety."

The entire backdrop for Nick and Simone’s relationship is a fast paced constant of perilous situations. One after another from magical fights to explosive bike chases and eye popping surprises which push the book’s and the overall series’ plot forward in an exciting and addicting way, answering some questions while bringing up new ones.

Having characters from the previous books and some crossovers from other series gave the story and added layer of enjoyment. And there was one scene in particular where forces on just about every front unite to help Simone which gave me excited chills.

Wicked Burn is book #3 in the Realm Enforcers series by Rebecca Zanetti who writes action packed, sizzling romances. Wicked Burn is fast and full of twists. Told from both points of view, having the main couple settled but still lots to resolve. I strongly suggest this book not be read as a standalone.

* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via NetGalley. The excerpts are from that copy. *

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[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Release Date June 7th, 2016
Story Rating ~ 5 Stars!
Hero Rating ~ 5 Stars!
Heroine Rating ~ 5 Stars!
Imagination ~ 5 Stars!
Action Rating ~ 5 Stars!
Heat Level ~ 3.75 Sensuous Stars!
Ending ~ 4 Stars!
Overall Rating ~ 4.5, My Heart Is Yours and Always Will Be STARS!



This was a FULL ON Octane read, filled with so much action and imagination, I find myself wondering how in the world did Rebecca Zanetti come up with this stuff? Let see, we have plasma fireball throwing witches, motorcycle riding/mind attacking demons, bear shifters, dragon shifters, vampires and so much more. With such a cast, there was never a dull moment.

Simone Brightstone is a witch who sits on The Council of The Coven Nine. The Coven Night is a group of Witches that are in charge of all witches, kind of like a court that trials are held at. Simone has been set up for treason and is scheduled to have a hearing. If found guilty, she will be killed.

Nick Veis has been in love with Simone since the moment he first set eyes on her. He knew she was the one, his mate but at the time, he had to let her go. Now she’s in danger and he will do ANYTHING to keep her safe.

These two SIZZLED the pages! Of course it took quite some time for Simone to let her guard down, after all, Nick hurt her badly when he broke things off with her all those years ago. But Nick had his own plans, she was HIS and there was nothing that will stand in his way.

Then there was also the whole Apollo drug thing that has been brought into all the books in this series. Apollo is a drug made from the mineral planekite that is used in a dart that is shot into witches and humans that is very deadly. Someone is out to kill all of the 9 members of The Coven Nine using these darts. So far, it is still a mystery as to who is behind all this.

I loved that some of the characters from the previous books in the series were added. It’s like a HUGE family affair with everyone diving in to help Simone and Nick no matter what the outcome may bring.

The ending was nail biting and explosive but for me it ended too abruptly. I know that it’s kind of hard to end with a complete HEA because the BIG villain is still unknown and the real danger is still lurking around every corner. I can hardly wait for book 4 to come out, it’s a MUST read for me!!

Warning: Wicked Burn is NOT a standalone. You should read this series in order.

*I received an ARC Copy of Wicked Burn from Kensington’s titles via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

[Christine Wallflower & Dark Romance Junkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating Clarification: 3.5 Stars



He smiled, even while his lids half-lowered. "Caveman? Oh, hell no, baby. This is modern man, modern demon... all aboveboard and truthful. I'm not using subterfuge, and I'm not going vampire-ape on you. I'm calmly, very pointedly, telling you how it's going to be. If there's a threat to you., I'll do whatever it takes to get you to safety."

Well that was one action packed ride!
I basically jumped into the thick of things since I hadn't read the previous books in the series, so you won't be surprised when I tell you there was some confusion when I started reading this book. I'm completely unfamiliar with this world of witches, shifters and demons that Zanetti has created. But fortunately after a couple of chapters I was able to keep up with the story.

You'll notice I used the phrase "keep up" well that's because this story could never be called boring. If it could happen, then it happened in this book. Just non-stop action, fast paced story line which I loved but I will admit to getting a bit overwhelmed at times.

Nick and Simone's connection was pretty intense from the start. And the glimpse I got from their past further intensified the connection. After a century apart from the woman he loves, Nick is ready to take her back. Simone wants nothing to do with him, he broke her heart and damaged her pride after she'd given him everything. So you'd be correct in saying that this is a second chance romance... of the paranormal kind.

Nick is a demon and holds a very important role in the vampire community. Simone is a witch who's role is just as important as Nick's is in her own world. The conflict between them was not so much external bit more because of Simone being on the defensive, not wanting to let Nick back into her life. Understandably.

I loved their dynamic, I enjoyed how growly and dominant yet gentle Nick was. This book had some great sexual tension but at times I felt like it kind of ruined a particularly great scene. I felt like shouting kick some ass and stop the bad guys or get out of harms way and then you can bump uglies ya know. But that's just me.

A shiver wound through his body to his groin. Jesus. He was about to take on a cadre of witches, and his cock wanted to play? Simone Brightson had always destroyed his system.

Like I said this book was action packed and had quite a few twists giving the plot some complexity. I will say that in some instances it did lack momentum, I needed that. You need to get me all riled up before you throw a plot twist at me. All in all this was a great urban fantasy with really strong characters and I'll definitely be looking out for more from this author and this series.

"I love you, you know," she murmured, her hand now flattened over his heart, which she'd owned for centuries.

ARC kindly provided by publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest review

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 - "You've definitely been worth the wait." Stars!

ITs LIVE!
Amazon US - www.amazon.com/Wicked-Realm-Enforcers...
Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk/Wicked-Realm-Enforce...

Whilst, I really enjoyed the first two books in the Realm Enforcers series, there was just a little of the Zanetti magic missing from them.



Notsomuch for Wicked Burn she put pedal to the metal from the off, and this book was one wild and action packed ride from beginning to end.

Simone Brightston has figured in this series pretty heavily already, and even had the odd cameo in the Dark Protectors series at points, so it was good to finally see this ballsy, take-no-prisoners witch get together with her match, and ultimately her mate.

The woman wore beauty as a shield and wielded it like a knife.

As a leading figure of the Coven Nine Simone has had more than a few issues to deal with recently what with the Planekite attacks on witches across the world, bringing about suffering and in some instances death, whilst trying to investigate that issue, it came to light towards the end of the last book that someone has been building a case, or to put it bluntly has been setting her up, to show that she has been betraying the Witch Nation behind their back for the last however many years. Nikolaj Veis, broke her heart a hundred years ago, now free of the obligations that prevented him from being with her fully then, he isn’t giving up on her, or proving her innocence without a fight.



There is so much going on in this book, it’s like getting on a roller-coaster and spending eight hours going round without getting off, but in such a good way, this book took me back to my Dark Protectors happy place, there is so much revealed, so much going on and so many people involved in it all you just don’t have a chance to take a breath, take your eyes off the page, or stop to take stock of everything you have learned until the very end.

"You’ve had a century to forgive me...
Time’s up."

The other thing that hits jackpot of plot expansions for me, are a few of the secondary characters involved in this one, we met Bear, the leader of the shifters a while back, but more comes to light on him, his past and his lineage in this one, for me the author has hit the mother-load here, there are so many ways this series can now progress, and with so many new characters introduced, it has the potential to go on for just as long as the D.P books did/are doing. I am so happy about that, I love this author’s PnR offerings and I love a nice long, meaty and well developed series, Rebecca Zanetti excels at that and this series is shaping up to be as good as the series it was spawned from.

"My dreams have been filled with you, even in the worst of times. You gave me hope."

Although madly busy plot-wise, the book still focuses on Simone and Nick’s reconnection, and whoa! it was a hot one, I loved this couple together, sass met dominance in a battle of wills to the end, the end usually being them both naked and trading verbal punches.

"What exactly do you want from me..?"

"I want everything… And this time, I’m going to keep it."

You need to read the previous books in this series, you will struggle to understand what is going on otherwise, but it is worth it. So, so worth it. I am sooo bummed that I have to wait until July 2017 for Wicked Kiss, Adam Dunne finally gets his book, I just hope I remember everything that happened in this one, when I finally get to read it!

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and it was an absolute pleasure to provide the above honest review.

[Julia's Book Haven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simone and Nick have been separated for 100 years. While Simone moved on and became a extremely successful witch and independent woman, never letting another man get as close to her, Nick spent his time taking over the Demon nation and keeping an eye on Simone. Knowing he would be coming for her as soon as his duty was done.

I really loved this book, I think it might be my favourite in the series so far. The chemistry between Simone and Nick was off the charts and right away you could feel their connection. And they were just so cute together, truly a force to be reckoned with when they put their heads together to take on an enemy. And there was a lot going on in this book, the continuous storyline that runs through all these books made some major advancements. There was never a moment were something wasn't happening. The pace was just right I think. We also get to see all our favourite characters from the other books, and some new characters that I hope get their own story. I can not wait for the next book, Adam and Tori should be a really interesting pair!

And as a bonus there is a great short story at the end of this book about Talen and Cara, which I LOVED. We get a super steamy look into their life after the cure has taken effect. And we also get to see Garret and Logan which is always a delight. Definitely recommend this book and this whole series for anyone looking for a really good paranormal romance, along with her Dark Protectors series.

ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review

[Ezi Chinny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly savored this book. Nick and Simone’s book had it all, suspense, mystery, romance, and all kinds of supernatural creatures. It was definitely the best in the series. I’ve been waiting for Simone Brighton’s reckoning, though I had an inkling she was being set up to take the fall as a bad guy. What I didn’t count on was the redemption of Nikolaj Veis. Between his staunch defense of her integrity, his persistence in regaining her love, Nikolaj showed why he was worthy of Simone. I loved everything about this book. I found the novel passionate and the words just moved me. The narrator Brock Thompson was PERFECT for this story. His voice was smooth like butter and it flowed so well with the story.

These two characters are not new if you have read the Dark Protector series. They appear as far back as book 3, Hunted, but this the first time we get the background story as well as their mission as it pertains to the survival of their race. Simone, a witch, was being groomed to take her mother’s seat as one of the Coven Council’s Nine. Nikolaj is the demon advisor who we later learned protected Zane and now we learned why he played both sides of the fence.

Someone has gone through a lot of trouble to frame Simone as the distributor of the mineral planekite, a drug destroying the supernaturals. Now that she is up on charges of treason, Nick is tasked with protecting her until her trial. Old feelings resurface and Nick has an opportunity to regain the love he gave up in order to fulfill his duty to the Zane and the demon realm.

What I loved about this book is that it felt more like a Dark Protector novel than this new Wicked Realm series. I honestly haven’t warmed to these pretentious witches but I loved the vampire and demon interactions. The action was non-stop; the chemistry between Simone and Nikolaj was intense.

“I mated you because I’ve loved you from the first moment I laid eyes upon you a century ago…many soldiers in war wonder if they have a heart…I’ve never wondered …because you are in it and always have been. My heart is yours and always will be. Everything I have done in this life from the good to the truly terrible has been to make the world a better place for you and for any children we may have. Everything I am and will ever be belongs solely to you. No woman has ever been more loved than you are right now Simone.”

That declaration of love was just everything I had been expecting and more. I felt it in my heart. The feeling those words invoke is exactly why I read romance novels. Fervent adoration and love is so sexy and Nikolaj was very sexy. This second chance romance was so enjoyable because you get to see the growth in the characters from their first go-around with love. Both Simone and Nick have honed their abilities, made a mark with their respective group of people and now it’s time to deal with what broke them up. They are adults now and are clear on what they want. Nikolaj goes right in and took no prisoners.

The secondary characters added meat to this novel, specifically Bear. I can’t wait for more stories about him. This story ended with many things unresolved like the true identity of the antagonist, the distributor of deadly drug and Simone’s status with Coven unresolved. I can’t wait to continue the journey with the Realm Enforcers,

*Special thanks to Kensington via Netgalley for this book received in exchange for an honest review*

[Tanja ~ KT Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

DIBS!! I call dibs! Demon Nikolai Veis is my newest BBF; he’s all mine, and I won’t share. A hundred years have passed since he gave up the woman he loved for the good of the Realm. Now he is set on keeping the one he gave up safe and letting her know that that she is and always has been his.

The best way I can describe Wicked Burn is: page turning, tingle inducing, action package, binge-reading amazaballs!

Nick is an Alpha to beat all alphas. He will do anything to save his strong-minded, brilliantly talented witch Simone. She, on the other hand, knows how to throw on a face of stone, hide all her insecurities and any sign of weakness. A skill she learned the hard way a hundred years ago when Nick shattered her heart.

Playing her council during trumped up charges will bring these two together in a fight of her life and her heart. During the trial, outside enemies are trying their best to kill them both and anyone who tries to help them.

In order to keep this spoiler free I wont go into too much detail. I will say that Zane, Bear, and a few others all play major rolls in Wicked Burn. Some pretty amazing secrets are revealed and there are a few new couples beginning to spark my interest for books to come.

All in all, another phenomenal red from the queen on PNR!

*ARC provided by Kensington via Netgalley


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[Mindy Lou's Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

2nd read: loved it so much more now knowing the background of all the characters. This is my favorite of the Realm Series so far. I'd give this 10 Stars if I could! RZ is amazing!

5 Amazing stars! I was completely entertained by this book! I wish I had learned about this series when the first one came out. Wicked Burn was full of action from page one all the way to the end. This story has Witches, Demons, Vampires and shifters. I loved not only the main characters but all the supporting characters as well. Nick and Simone had such great chemistry. Nick is the typical strong Alpha. He was protective, possessive and was willing to do anything to keep Simone safe whether she agreed or not. Simone was what I love to read about in the female role. She was strong, confident and independent. Everyone gravitated towards her. The interactions between the two and all the side characters had me laughing despite the danger they were all in. I wanted this story to keep going and this is one of those books I would love to see on the big screen.

This is book 3 in the Realm Enforcers series but you can definitely read this as a standalone. If you can start with book 1, then I would recommend just because you will find characters from the first two books in this 3rd installment. That being said, it did not end on a huge cliffhanger, but it also left off the story unfinished.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Marta Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I almost feel that this book should be titled the one that got away because it's about a couple who have been lost to each other for over a hundred years. Yes, fate stepped in and things kind of went the way they should but at a cost . The cost for Nick was worth it though and now he sees the Demon nation finally at peace with an honest and just leader . Ok now that's done it's well beyond time to finally claim the one female that makes his heart sing and his soul feel complete, Simone the witch he always loved.
Simone has toughened up since being dumped by Nick and her methods might be considered questionable by her peers. What she isn't though is a traitor and someone has set her up and the evidence against her seems pretty damning. Yet there's no way the trumped up charges of supplying a deadly drug will stand up in court , or will they? Simone is in trouble but guess who insists on helping? Nick tore her life apart once and there's no way Simone will allow that to happen again but that hard headed demon seems to have plans of his own!
This book and indeed this whole series is part of the Dark Protectors universe and boy is it exciting. The author has excelled herself here with so much going on and of course many of my favourite characters appearing. I've no wish to give too much away obviously but Nick and Simone are so perfect together. Nick is used to taking charge and strategising but Simone is always cool and confident in her abilities , she "gives good face" as the song goes ! The heat between this couple is palpable but it's the pace of this book that blew me away. Never a dull moment as the action gets ramped up with revelations and unexpected twists. Plus the door is firmly open for more books as this journey is not yet at an end.
If you haven't read the Dark Protectors series that started this you are clearly missing out. Yes this offshoot does work but it's the expansion of that world that is just so good. Which brings me nicely to the novella included here as it takes us right back to the very first book with the mighty Talen and Cara and trust me if you are a fan you won't want to miss it !
Action, romance , intrigue and holy hotness Batman this series just keeps getting better all the time , miss it and you miss out!
I was gifted a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nick and Simone where once lovers and even though the breakup was centuries old the scars run deep. In those centuries, Nick was battling to regain peace and leadership for the Demon Nation, while Simone grew to be a leader among the witches.

Someone has it out for Simone and has framed her well, turning the Council 9 against her. Nikolaj comes to her rescue and is ready to reclaim the her. On the run from the very nation she built, Simone and Nick must weed through the deceit and find the traitor in the midst before everything they sacrificed for is lost.

What can I say except, this has been a long time coming. Active players from the beginning of this series, both Simone, Coven 9 member and Nick, right had to Zane have both been scene and now they have their day.

Zanetti has a way of immersing you into her world and making you an active participant. Secondary characters and sub plots come to mean as much as the main storyline and definitely make you want to come back for more.

Hot, hard and fast, Wicked Burn lights the pages on fire with its action and emotional intense plot. I highly recommend Wicked Burn to any paranormal or urban fantasy, romance fan.

I received this ARC copy of Wicked Burn from Kensington Books - Lyrical Press in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication June 7, 2016.

[Carvanz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful addition to this series. I loved both Nick and Simone and have been waiting for their story for a long time. They were just meant to be together. This had lots of surprises, twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting. Some great scenes with some of my favorite characters from the Dark Protectors. And oh my, but think there is lots of potential for this author to veer off in a whole other direction is she chooses. I hope she chooses.

Standalone IMO
Dual POV
Safe
No apparent triggers

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gotta say, I have no idea how my friend Lily made it through Wicked Burn without the benefit of having read the first two in the series. I have read them and I struggled. I usually do a refresher reread before starting a new one for series like this but time was against me so I just dove in. This was a mistake since the book just pretty much jumped from the starting gate and never really gave you a chance to get your bearings on who everyone is, and what was going on, and believe you me there was a lot going on.

What really threw me was the fact that even with so much going on, I still kept putting the book down and finding other stuff to do. Usually, when a book is full of twists and turns I’m all in but this just wasn’t the case for Wicked Burn. It took me awhile to figure out what my issue was– I didn’t really get the relationship between Nick and Simone. We are told that Nick and Simone were an item years before and then he broke it off because he was given a choice, save the world by making sure the demon nation ended up with the foretold right leader, or eventually lose Simone and all the other witches. What we didn’t get was the connection between them. How they came to be, what they overcame to get there, how invested they were and how heartbroken they were when Nick ended them. Since there is so much other stuff going on, we also aren’t given any time for Nick and Simone to really work on a new connection. Nick just decides they aren’t over and proceeds to make it so no matter how much Simone protests.

I liked Nick. He was a strong alpha, driven, but also caring and extremely loyal. Simone was harder for me to form an attachment to. I didn’t understand her need to stick around for a trial she knew she couldn’t win. She was unbelievably stubborn and at times made poor decisions that caused more problems than they solved.

I really enjoyed getting to know Bear better and the revelations that came from that were interesting. The new addition of Flynn could make for some interesting story fodder in the future. He kept me off base since I was never sure if I wanted to hug him or kick him.

There was lots of action, politics, mystery and gobs of plot twists to move the overarching series story line forward. Unfortunately, I’m not sure if I will continue on. Although I generally like Ms. Zanetti’s books, of the three books in the series, I’ve struggled through two of them. They were decent books, they just didn’t grab hold like I expected.

Spice’s Rating: 3 I NEED my MC’s To Connect Stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

For this review and more, check out EDGy Reviews

[Sunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

ARC Review

In a change of pace, this edition of the Realm Enforcers focuses on not a Dunne brother, but on their cousin, Simone. Simone is a member of the Coven Nine, the ruling body for witches. Simone is in serious trouble as she is being set up on corruption and treason charges. She knows that truth is on her side, but their are political elements that are gunning for her conviction.

Nikolaj Vei is a high counselor and best friend to the Demon King. His is known for his strength and strategic mind. He is the king's best friend and closest counselor. Yet, at the when Simone needs him the most, he is there.

I was poised to love this story for a variety of reasons: 1. It's a second chance story 2. Simone is smart and caring, as well as tough and cunning. I love kick ass heroines. 3. Nikolaj seems to be a good match for her both in brains and brawn and I, therefore, would expect some witting exchanges.

I like the political twists and turns in the story, but for some reason, I didn't fall into the romance between the two characters as much. I used the term "fall into" because I expect to go headlong into the relationship and indulge in the emotions when I read romance, but this coupling felt a little flat. I this source of my disconnect is largely a result of the fact that I have not read the Dark Protectors prequel series. I just don't have the emotional connection and buy in into these characters, so I don't experience the depth of joy at their union. As an exception, I enjoyed book two, Wicked Edge very much. The story didn't seem to require as much Dark Protectors pre-requisite as this one does.

I enjoyed all the secondary characters. They provided comic relief. I will probably finish the series because I do enjoy this author's writing. When it comes to writing action and smexy, Rebecca Zanetti excels.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

[D.B. Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Realm Enforcers books, and I especially loved Simone and Nicholas's story. I'm looking forward to more.

[Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Wicked Burn was another enjoyable read in the Realm Enforcers series. I loved finally getting the story behind Nick and Simone's relationship. While I knew I would love Nick, I wasn't to sure about Simone since she really was never a likable character. I was really happy to see the true Simone that Nick brought out, I actually could finally understand why her family all loved her. The reason for my 3.5 stars is that although I enjoyed the story and loved all the appearances from characters from other books I just felt like something was missing. I'm not quite sure what it was but it stopped me from loving this one. I'm really looking forward to Adam's book.

The Talen and Cara novella at the end was 3 stars for me and honestly they all go to Talen. I have always liked Cara through out the Dark Protectors series but I found her really annoying in this one and kind of disappointed in her too. I think its great to be able to protect yourself but to put yourself in harms way against those way stronger than you was very silly.

[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 awesome stars!

OMG, this was a wild ride! I just finished it and my heart is still pounding! Once again Rebecca Zanetti has blown me away with her exciting storylines, kickass action, paranormal awesomeness, and her passionately intense romance. This was a fantastic read, I loved it!

This is the third book in the Realm Enforcers series, and make sure you read the earlier books first otherwise you’re going to be pretty lost. I’d actually recommend reading the Dark Protectors series first to make sure you really know what’s going on and get more enjoyment out of it.

A century ago, witch Simone Brightson and demon Nicholaj Veis were on the verge of mating and having their happily ever after. But fate intervened, and in order to save the world (and the love of his life), Nicholaj left, leaving both him and Simon broken hearted.

100 years later, and Nick has fulfilled his destiny and surprisingly survived to become a strategical genius and second in charge of the demon nation. Simone has become equally as powerful and is now a member of a ruling with body, the Coven 9. However when she is accused of treason by her own kind - potentially facing death if found guilty – it’s Nick who comes to her rescue, whisking her away with promises to keep her safe.

Right from the start, the dynamic between these two is sensational! Simone is smart, stubborn and feisty, and she is full of animosity towards the man who broke her heart and left her alone. But Nick is a total alpha who wants his woman and is going to let nothing stand in his way.

“What exactly do you want from me, Nicholai?”
His deep chuckle echoed off the buildings bracketing them. “I want everything, Simone. And this time, I’m going to keep it.”

It’s all action as they try their best to evade capture, but it’s all in vain as Simone is dragged from Seattle to Ireland to face her charges, with Nick by her side through it all, promising to protect her, while continuing his relentless pursuit. Simone puts up a good fight, building the sexual tension brilliantly as they face off against each other, but all the while growing closer the more time they spend together and finding it impossible to resist each other.

But 100 years is a long time and the kind-hearted man Simone once knew has been replaced by a hardened warrior, and similarly, she has matured from a naïve young woman to a strong, stubborn and powerful witch. They clash constantly, but it all adds to the chemistry between them and the wonderfully argumentative but sexually charged dynamic that they have.

“I’m not that kind of woman.”
He lifted one eyebrow. “What kind of woman?”
… “The kind who gets lost in a man. The kind who obeys without question. Hell, Nick. The kind who lets a man shield her.” Even if she had been that woman eons ago, he’d changed her by leaving.
He watched her, no expression lightening his face. “Baby, I’m not the kind of man who would give you a choice.”

The UST builds to epic levels until it all explodes, and HOT DAMN! Rebecca Zanetti writes some steamy PNR but I think she’s outdone herself with this one! The sex is hot, descriptive, and there’s lots of it, and Nick’s alpha tendencies and Simone’s aggression lead to some explosive sexy time which is intense and passionate and absolutely scorching! And it’s like a barometer to their relationship as they move from pure aggressive instinct, to emotionally intense to rough and possessive and back again. And their arguing and banter continues, even into the bedroom – and their paranormal powers just make it all the more fun.

He reached for the waist of his boxers.
“You take those off, and I’ll burn your cock right from your body.”
He paused. She wasn’t kidding. “You create one ounce of a flame, and I’ll be in your head forcing you to orgasm before you can throw.” He dropped the cotton to the ground.

But as significant as their physical connection is, their emotional bond is beautifully explored, and you can feel that everything that was once between them is still there – only now intensified. They love each other deeply and as they spend time together and learn to open up and trust each other again, the romance develops naturally and it’s a total swoonfest!

“My heart is yours and always will be. Everything I’ve done in this life from the good to the truly terrible has been to make the world a better place for you … Everything I am or will ever be belongs solely to you.”

“No woman has ever been loved more than you are right now, Simone. It’s impossible. I promise you.”

*dreamy sigh*

But the romance is only one part of the story, and it all unfolds alongside all of the action and paranormal awesomeness that is this series! And as Simone’s trial with the Coven 9 draws closer, deadly attacks on witches start to increase, family secrets will be revealed, and there are some huge twists and reveals which turn the whole series on its head. And the action! OMG, the action is intense and so, so awesome! It’s a rollercoaster ride alright, and I relished every single moment of it!

I loved that we got to catch up with other characters from both this and the Dark Protectors series. Bear and Zane were particular highlights, and it looks like Adam and Tori’s book will be up next with an exciting hint at their story.

I freaking loved this book! Everything about it combines to give us an exciting, action packed and romantic read that kept me guessing the whole way through. The explosive ending had me on the edge of my seat, and while the end of the book isn’t a cliffhanger, the story is definitely unfinished and I can’t wait to see where it’s all going to go next.

5 stars.

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an action packed paranormal adventure and romance with great characters and a second chance romance that is hot - well what do you expect when the couple are a witch and demon?

It is a century since Nikolaj Veis planned to propose to the love of his life, Simone Brightston. He’s bought them a cottage, he’s got the ring and he’s awaiting her arrival. That’s when fate intervenes and a psychic visits giving him choices, all of which involve letting Simone go in an effort to save her. Now most of the prophecies have come to pass and Nick reappears in her life endeavouring to save her from the witches who are coming to arrest her. They roar off into the sunset to - errr, no!! That’s what you hope will happen but then the story would be over, come on there’s lots more in this story than that!

Get ready to meet a variety of shifters, vampires, enforcers, demons and much more in this non stop action romance with plenty of danger, double dealing, mystery and surprises. As more familial connections are made and discovered, this fast paced tale there are plenty of fights, steamy love scenes, intrigue and questions to be answered. However, this is just one book in the series - so don’t expect everything to be resolved in this book - there is obviously more to come.

This is the first novel I’ve read by this author and when I initially requested this, I didn’t realise it is the third book in a series and I, obviously, haven’t read either of the earlier stories. However, I don’t feel this has detracted from my ability to enjoy it. It is well written, has great pace, action and is an enthralling read - I’m definitely happy to have discovered this new to me author and I’ll be looking to read more from her in future! The copy I had also had a novella as bonus material, Talen, which the author wrote to tie the Dark Protectors to the Realm Enforcers - an engaging adventure starring Talen and Cara. It isn't often you get an additional great story provided like this - hope you enjoy them both as much as I did!

Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley, too, for letting me read this in exchange for my honest review.

[Mara · Rating 1 out of 5]

It seems my reaction to this author is back on its track. I really disliked Wicked Burn as I did with her other PNR series.. It's everything I dislike: a sex filled, plot less, confusing mess.

This is not a book that can be appreciated: it starts in media res and has no ending. Plus the plot, that might have been interesting if there had been a story worth of this name, has been watered down by meaningless sex scenes. They start quite soon, and really they have no place in the story. We have a woman facing a treason trial (and then death) that has no problem in having sex with a guy she never forgot who dumped her a hundred years ago.... Bleah. I hate this trope: I pine for you for years after you dumped me. I guess I should be happy she at least didn't stop living because of that.

Unfortunately the sex to story ratio was pretty high, and given that I could feel no chemistry I was bored out of my mind. It's instalust or instalove with an other name.
The characters are shallow beyond belief, when not downright stupid.

Yes, this is a romance. But romances are better than this.

[Maria Itliong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book because it's the story of Nick and Simone... And also it's related to Dark Proctectors since most of the characters are in part of Realm Enforcers

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well that went about the way I imagined it would! That is to say it was one exciting, fast and furious ride that left me breathless and satisfied. Ever since this pair started simmering in the background of the earlier books, I was chomping at the bit to get their story. So worth it!

This is book three of the Realm Enforcers series which is the welcome spin-off of the Dark Protectors series. This is one that pretty much has to be in order. Sorry, kiddos, no short cuts. Personally, I think the reader has to go back to the very beginning to the Dark Protectors and not just to the beginning of the Realm Enforcers. There is an assumption that the reader is familiar with the broader universe of the stories and the past story arcs and characters who do play large roles in these.

Simone Brightston is in Seattle when she learns that she has been named a traitor to her race and will stand trial for her life before her peers of the Witch nations' Coven Nine. Naturally, she has been set up to take the fall for the group who are really producing the drugs and weapons from the mineral that is deadly to witches. She is confident that justice will prevail, but her cousins and the annoying Nicolaj Veis, her once thought love, don't have her faith that the set up will be revealed before the Coven Nine call for her head. She is forced to accept Nick's presence since he insists on helping and protecting her, but that's all. Nick broke her heart when he walked away and he won't do it again.

Nick has a second chance now that his duty and honor to make sure the war came to a successful outcome as a result of his actions are complete. The need for him to return to his demon race and do the job the foretelling called for required him to protect Simone the only way he could. He was going to have deadly enemies who would use her and break her if they knew she was his weakness. And he would be on a dangerous, one-way mission so he had to walk away and make sure she and everyone else believed she was nothing to him. It cost him greatly. Now, a hardened war-weary male, he wants what he was forced to set aside- the woman who is the other half of his soul. Nick must fight for her and protect her from the enemies coming from more than one direction. And in the end, will her secrets or her enemies take her away or her own stubborn need to protect her heart? Not if this alpha demon warrior can help it.

The action was sizzling and at a heart-pounding pace whether it was the stormy romantic encounters or the intense engagements with their enemies. There is intrigue and mystery to this one and even some courtroom drama paranormal style. I enjoyed the new addition to the Realm Enforcers/Dark Protectors world and Simone's connection to it. All through the book, the reader is left more and more curious about the secrets from Simone's past as it is unveiled.

The characters are the usual cast of characters who are always fun to see. Moira, Brenna, Conn, Bear, Zane, the Coven leaders, and the main players, Simone and Nick all share some good page time. The banter, fight sequences, and camaraderie are great. I liked the addition of the new player near the end and hope he is in more books.

As to the ongoing conspiracy with the distribution of the drugs and use of it to kill witches, that had a small advancement though the set up of Simone was the big conflict of the story behind the romance. The author has revealed small potatoes villains, but the mastermind is still in the shadows moving the chess pieces around against the Realm Enforcers group.

There was a nice, unexpected surprise after the acknowledgements of a bonus novella story that is a crossover between the Dark Protectors and Realm Enforcers series, Talen. I loved that it was a reunion with Talen and Cara, the pair from the first book. They have empty nest and are grandparents, Cara is well finally. Talen and Cara are going on a trip that she relishes as a way to start over and rekindle. Talen reluctantly agrees, but he has a bad feeling that there is danger. And the fun ensued. Thank you, Rebecca, for that fan gift.

So, this was a fantastic installment to the series. I loved this fiery couple who were strong, confident, lethal, and passionate while fighting side by side or rekindling their love. Paranormal Romance fans who like it fast and furious and full of intrigue should give these a try.

My thanks to Lyrical Press on Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first Rebecca Zanetti book and I found it to be an entertaining, intense story.

Straight up, I’ll admit it was the cover and all the talk surrounding this book that lured me in. Somewhere it suggested this book could be read as a standalone, so I went out on a limb and decided to read it. I have a golden rule regarding reading a series in their intended order…I should have stuck to my rule because there were a few details that made me feel like an outsider looking in!

The story was heavy on detail and as such it was a focused rather than relaxing book to read. Surprisingly, I noticed missing out on the world building essential for paranormal stories that I gather would have occurred within the first book in this series. What did occur was a layered telling of the story, providing new twists and direction for the characters and the story in general. Not unlike a platform game, new levels of the plot continued right up until the end.

Nick Veis handled a Ducati like he did everything else in life…using control edged with a hint of violence.

Nick was in a precarious position from the start. He was a demon who was in a relationship with Simone ready to solidify what they had when an unexpected messenger arrives with details of a vision. He needs to make a choice, keep Simone and her people safe or follow his heart.

Simone has never forgiven Nick for being another man in her life that has let her down. Moving forward, she focuses on helping others doing proactive work as a member of the witch’s Coven Nine. When Nick comes back into her life, she wants nothing to do with him but the memory of how good they had been together messes with Simone’s resolve to put a barrier between them.

He’d always respected her for the gift and for never trying to be anything but who she was…a stunning, brilliant, vain, independent, sarcastic, loyal witch.

There were a couple of anomalies that bothered me. I have read a number of paranormal romances over the years, with some I would include within my all-time favourite series, but I don’t recall reading a lot about demons that are caring and loving. Don’t get me wrong, Nick was badass but when it came to Simone he was doting and protective. This made it hard to place him in my head as a paranormal character. Needing to rely on mobile phones to communicate seemed a human trait rather than an immortal shortcoming.

For a couple who were on the run for most of the book, they managed to squeeze in a fair bit of smexy action. Simone dismissing it as a platonic mutually beneficial exchange whereas Nick saw it as their connection progressing. It worked, but there was so much else going on my mind was set on them coming out of their situation in one piece…a relationship would be a bonus!

The story ends with a ‘happy for now’ but in their realm, that could mean anything. The numerous twists and turns were such a big feature of their story, I can’t imagine reading about them living the quiet life anytime soon. My rating is potentially aligned to not having read any of the Realm Enforcer books before and I imagine if you are a fan of this series some of my struggles may very well be a non-issue.

What I struggled with:
*The traits associated with each species
*Limitations of power
*Simone’s heritage only showing through occasionally, when she’d use the term ‘aye’
*Being overwhelmed with detail, (I had the infomercial voice in my head saying “Wait, but there’s more!”
*The nickname ‘Little Bunny” I get why she was called it, but it clashed with my perception of her strength

What I loved:
*Bear – he was a caring guy that impressed me!
*Zane’s and Nick’s friendship


I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review

[Jen Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I haven’t loved the Realm Enforcers books as much as the Dark Protectors series from which they came, I have to say that this third installment was definitely a bigger hit for me than the first two. That’s probably because –A– this heroine is every bit as badass as the hero and –B– the story feels much more tied into the original series and characters.

Rebecca Zanetti has been sprinkling in little teases about the romance between Simone and Nick for the past couple of books. Now, they’re finally the main event. It’s a second chance at love story for these two. They were supposed to be mated a century ago. But a prophet warned Nick that he must take another path or risk Simone dying from a plague only he could help prevent. It forced him to break her heart and live a dark life, but his sacrifices paid off. Now that he has fulfilled his mission, all he wants is another chance with the powerful witch he has loved a lifetime.

Simone has no intention of opening her heart to the man who so destroyed it all those years ago. But circumstances force Nick back into her life, and with him come all of those feelings she has worked so hard to tamp down. Someone has framed her for a crime she didn’t commit… one punishable by death. And if that weren’t enough, she can barely get to her trial date for all of the attempts on her life. Nick is there to keep her safe and help her mount her defense, all while pushing his way back into her heart.

I really enjoyed Simone. I loved her self confidence. I loved her strength and unapologetic nature. She is one of the most powerful witches in the realm and she knows it. She is secure in who she is, what she wants, and what she can do. She is Nick’s equal in every way, and it’s nice to see a power dynamic that is more balanced than in the previous books. Yes, Nick is still possessive and bossy (as these heroes always are) but Simone holds her own, and I never felt like he used her safety as an excuse to tell her what to do.

I do wish Nick would have tried more to make emotional amends, though. It felt like he expected Simone to just move on and accept that his actions in hurting her were necessary. And maybe they were. But the woman deserved a heartfelt apology. I wanted him to really make her understand how much he hurt at the same time she was hurting. It would have infused a bit more emotion into their reunion and would have made me feel for Nick in a way I just didn’t.

The danger plot ties in with the ongoing storylines about the planekite and someone plotting against the witches. But there was a lot of Zane time, as well as other core characters from the Dark Protectors who tied into Simone’s life and trial. There was even a cool sideplot with dragons and more revealed about Bear’s mysterious history.

Overall, I enjoyed the story, though still not to the extent I adored the original series. It looks like Adam and Tori’s story is ahead… though I am far more intrigued by Bear.

This book also contains a novella about Talen and Cara from Fated. Surprisingly, I didn’t enjoy this as much as I did the novel. I would have expected to love it, since it’s a Dark Protectors novella, but it fell really flat for me. Basically, Talen and Cara are going on vacation when they run into trouble. Conveniently, this intersects with the story’s theme surrounding Talen’s dominant, protective nature that Cara both resists and is epically turned on by. It doesn’t really advance any story arc. But Talen and Cara fans may enjoy.

Rating: B

*ARC provided by publisher

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+ Stars!

I liked it a lot. Happy reading!

[Maria Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebecca Zanetti writes a variety of contemporary and paranormal romances. The ones I’ve read to date feature classic alpha male heroes and kick-ass heroines, both character types that I enjoy reading about. The Realm Enforcers series is a spinoff of her Dark Protectors series and Wicked Burn marks the third entry. I’ve read the previous two (but not the earlier series) and quite enjoyed them. In fact, the first book in the Realm Enforcers series, Wicked Ride, made my best of 2015 list. The characters in this book, Simone and Nick have been part and parcel of this series to date as secondary characters and finally get their chance at a happy ending.

Nick, a Demon, and Simone, a Witch, were lovers until fate intervened a century ago. On the eve of proposing to Simone, Nick was told by a prophetess that if he didn’t follow a certain course of action, Simone would die. To protect her, he broke things off and for the next hundred years worked tirelessly and ruthlessly to bring about the current stability between the various immortals. Vampires, Witches, Demons and Shifters now co-exist relatively peaceably, after intrigue, fighting and ultimately a war that cost many lives. Power struggles among and inside the various factions were often steered by Nick in his fight to get Zane to be head of the Demon Realm, with him as second in command. Now, someone has targeted Simone and accused her of treason, which is punishable by beheading if she is found guilty. After decades of protecting her from the sidelines without her knowledge, Nick isn’t going let all his hard work go to waste. Determined to be part of her life once more, he’ll give up his own life before letting her be harmed. Having been devastated by Nick’s abrupt dismissal of her years before, Simone is wary (rightfully so) of getting involved with him again. Can Nick convince her that this time he won’t break her heart?

I love a good second chance romance, and Nick has his work cut out for him in having to prove to Simone that he’s worth the risk. A ruthless demon, he is determined, strong, protective and willing to do anything to get what he wants. He’s sacrificed his own happiness for long enough and he wants Simone back in his life, and his bed. He’s not going to give up on her easily, even though she is wary of accepting him back into her life on an intimate level.

Simone is a strong, courageous and passionate woman. She’s a witch and has a position that she’s worked hard for on the Coven Nine, so to be accused by her peers of treason is a devastating blow. Her mother is the leader of the witches and obviously on Simone’s side in the case against her, though she has some secrets which, when revealed, change Simone’s beliefs about her past and possible future with Nick. When she and Nick are together though, it’s easy to forget that they’ve ever been apart. Their sex scenes are very steamy, and they definitely have chemistry together. Nick is a demanding lover, but Simone isn’t afraid to push back and they are equal partners in the bedroom.

Unfortunately, this novel suffers from an overabundance of characters, right from the start. The focus on the main couple is diluted by the introduction of a lot of characters I assume are there as a kind of “check-in” for readers of the Dark Protectors series. . I don’t remember having this problem with the other two books, but here there are suddenly lots of unfamiliar names front and center. Now granted, some of this has to do with Simone’s position on the Coven Nine and these are her cousins and friends, but for a newcomer to either series, it is confusing. Fortunately things settle down, though every now and then another name is thrown in that I didn’t recognize and made me wish for a glossary of all the characters in all the books to date that are interconnected. I do plan to read the Dark Protector series because I quite like the world building the author puts into her stories, but it’s lengthy and so is my TBR pile.

Similarly, the plot seems to be scattered. The overall story arc of the series deals with a drug called Apollo, which contains the ingredient planekite – a fatal ingredient to humans and more importantly, to witches. Part of the story deals with the treasonous implications of Simone’s possible involvement with planekite mines. While the case against her is central to the story, the introduction of yet more new characters and Simone’s family and heritage run away with the plotline in an entirely new and unexpected direction. While the intent is to add something fresh and exciting to the novel (it did give me a few eyebrow raising scenes), it seems as though the story is trying to be too many things at once and loses its focus. Simone and Nick get a happy ending, but the plot is left with lots of holes to fill. In the end, Nick’s character saves the book as I like him enough to counter the negatives. He proves time and time again to be a worthwhile mate for Simone. Wicked Burn is the weakest entry in the series to date for me, but I still plan to continue the series and hope the next one has a tighter, less convoluted plot.

This review is also found at All About Romance: http://allaboutromance.com/book-revie...

Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.

[Catherine (The Sassy Bookster) · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS is the book I have been waiting for. The passion, the emotions, the action, the twists and turns, the surprises completely blew my mind. This couple and this story were everything I was hoping for and so much more. Their connection is intense and the chemistry between them sizzles. 

Ms. Zanetti has been dropping breadcrumbs about Nick Veis and Simone Brightston from the Dark Protectors series and I was quite disappointed that this series didn't begin with them but then good things come to those who wait!

After a century of bad blood due to a love gone sour, time's up and Nick is done waiting to claim what's his. The timing couldn't have been worse because someone is out to get Simone and has done so quite nicely by framing her for treason and a host of other charges that could cost her her position on the Council of the Coven Nine and her life, but Nick is a master strategist and will do everything in his power to keep Simone safe, even if it means going to war with the witches. 

WICKED BURN starts out fast and the action stays at a high tempo all the way to the end. Every word and every action explains something from the past or lays the groundwork for the future and if you blink you'll miss something because everything is important. Everything you thought you knew just got turned on its head. Like we didn't have a ton to digest with vampires, demons and witches, oh my, the plot just got expanded to include more paranormal creatures and the stage has been set for more explosive writing from this author than we've ever seen.

Nick Veis redefines the term 'alpha male' with his uncompromising declarations and that's saying a lot because one thing Ms. Zanetti knows how to do is write a jaw-dropping alpha male.

 “Look at it as an adventure, or look at it as something you want, but either way, you will be claimed.”

But he also knows how to melt the heart.

"No woman has ever been loved more than you are right now, Simone."

Every man in Simone's life has disappointed her in some way and she's made herself into an independent, smart, powerful and successful woman. She wields her beauty as a weapon, much as some use a gun or even plasma balls and she matches Nick in every way. She is still the woman he fell in love with but she is more than that. She is a woman whose heart belongs to only one man and even she can't resist Nick's assault on her heart for long.

"I love you, you know," she murmured, her hand now flattened over his heart, which she'd owned for centuries.

I was so excited as I was reading this book that I was quite vocal at every point, especially the final standoff at the end, which was amazing by the way but the ending was too abrupt, something of a cliffhanger and I'm counting the days till the next book comes out but I keep asking myself: can Ms. Zanetti top this and how?

I'll highly recommend starting this series from the beginning because while it can be read as a stand-alone, you'll get more out of the series by starting from the first book. Hell, I'll even recommend starting with the Dark Protectors series for the glimpses of Nick and Simone that started it all.

 

 
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


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[Севдалина · Rating 5 out of 5]

Уау. Това беше СТРАХОТНО. Имам предвид, книгата е за Симон, дето не ми беше особено голяма любимка, ноооо, Ребека е майстор от най-висок клас, а книгата беше уникална.

Всички познаваме Симон. Отраканата вещица член на Сбора на Деветимата, която освен, че обича да се държи като ку*ка, има кофти късмет с мъжете. Сега тук научаваме нейната история. Когато е много млада, нейната първа любов е демона Никалъс Веас. Тя го обича неимоверно много и когато той къса с нея, разбива сърцето й на хиляди парченца и тя се затваря за любовта. Сега са минали 100 години от раздялата им, и Ник се появява отново в живота й, с намерението да я спечели отново и да я спаси от собствените й хора, тъй като някой желае смъртта на Симон толкова силно, че десетилетия наред е плетял план, с който да я натопи, като предател и убиец, и така да накара Съвета да я премахне.

Симон е невинна и иска да се изправи пред своите хора и да изчисти името си, но Ник, е готов на всичко, за да я спаси.

Преди 100 години, Ник купува пръстен и малка колиба, където смята да предложи на Симон да стане негова съпруга. Същата вечер обаче, в дома му се появява пророк Лили, която му казва, че Провидението има други планове за него. Че той трябва да се върне при лидера на демоните Сюри и да стане дясната му ръка, че трябва да убие чичо си, заемайки мястото му, и да помогне на вампирите, които нападнат щаба на Демоните да отвлекат сестрата на Сюри, Фелисити, така, че да може да се роди воина, който ще спаси всички от ужасен вирус, заплашващ всички половинки.

Ужасен, но и примирен със съдбата си, смятайки, че няма да излезе жив от тази мисия, Ник къса със Симон и се връща при демоните, правейки всичко, което му е казала Лили. Сега, дясна ръка на Зейн, лидера на Демоните, Ник е постигнал всичко, което се е искало от него, и вече няма да се спре пред нищо, за да направи Симон своя. И още повече със заплахата, която се надига, той е готов да преобърне света, за да я защити.

Като цяло съм очарована до дън душа. Книгата беше адски интересна, пълна с толкова много неща, които тотално промениха мнението ми за общата картина. Мнението ми за Симон се промени напълно, мнението ми за майка й, за демоните като цяло. Научихме, че Беър й е брат, че мулти шифтърите не съществуват, а има само, шифтъри превръщайки се в котки, вълци, мечки или дракони. Дааа дракони, беше супер яко. Научихме, че Симон е наполовина дракон. Смях се с глас, когато Симон разбра, че е бременна. Мойра беше супер сладка, като й връчи теста, а Конн, който се опитваше да подпитва Ник ме умори от смях. Начина по който се обвързаха беше супер. Честно казано, не очаквах края, такъв какъвто беше. Мислех, че нещата ще се развият по коренно различен начин, но изглежда ще четем още за текущите проблеми в книгата на Адам и Виктория.

Отделно чакам с нетърпение книгата на Беър и се надявам да има книга за Флин. Той обещава да е страхотен герой. <3

5***** за любимата ми авторка <3

[Izy · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first found out that we would be getting a spin-off for the Dark Protectors series I really hoped that we would start of by getting Simone and Nick’s especially because in Marked it was quite obvious they still had feelings for each other especially from Nick’s end but while that didn’t happen and I was ecstatic to find out that they the third book would be theirs and it was worth the wait.

Simone Brightston is a Coven Nine witch who is getting framed for mining PK, the one thing that could actually harm a witch and for treason. She’s also the cousin of Moira (the heroine of Hunted) and to the Dunne’s. She while seems like a very tough witch and considerable power she is a softie when it comes to her family and Nick.

Nick (Nikolaj Veis) is a demon who gave up the life he could have had to save the lives so many people as well the birth of some. He is now the oldest living demon in the realm and the advisor to the Demon fractions leader Zane.

Nick and Simone have been secondary characters in the Dark Protectors series and their banter along with Nick’s nickname/ endearment for Simone had intrigued me from the first moment we see them together. Now that the war is over and Simone is still single Nick has finally decided to make his move and claim back the woman he loves.

They have chemistry in spades along with a history that ended up breaking young Simone’s heart and turned Nick into more hardened warrior who did everything to preserve the future and stop the war. Nick and Simone especially Simone who despite her tough exterior and her giving Nick a hard time never stopped loving him. This is second chance romance where truths are finally revealed with Simone and Nick coming out stronger together at end. It’s hard to not to root for a couple who would do anything for each other. The book also had some twists like Simone’s shocking parentage and why Nick had broken Simone’s heart with timely action and battles to keep the reader interested.

Quibbles: While I really loved the action I really wished we had more of a bit of a downtime with Nick and Simone especially since a part from a few references and short scenes to their past we don’t see how they had been together when they were younger. Along with the fact that it was never mentioned what had exactly happened during the time in Marked when Simone was kidnapped by the Demon leader I felt that was almost forgotten about or maybe I guess the author felt it didn’t need to be rehashed.

Overall, it was yet another great addition to this series and I’m really looking forward to the next one because of the unanswered questions left over from this and the new thread that could lead so many possibilities in the realm enforces world.

ARC was generously provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion.