Salome at Sunrise
by Inez Kelley
On Sale Date: Jun 21, 2010
Category: Fantasy Romance, Romance, Shifters
eISBN: 9781426890253
Connected novel to Myla At Moonlight
On sale at: Carina Press

Cover Summary:
Bryton Haruk sets out on a suicide mission to stop the bloodthirsty Skullmen from terrorizing the war-weary Land of Eldwyn. Consumed by guilt over the death of his wife, Bryton seeks revenge and reunion in the afterlife with his lost love. His purpose is determined, his bravery unmatched, until the queen casts a spell to save Bryton from himself.

Salome is that spell. A bird-shifter, she can harness the earth's breeze and take the form of a beautiful, innocent woman. Her challenge is to harness Bryton's pain and guide him to peace. She entrances and irritates him, tempting Bryton from his mission. Even as he gives in to the passion between them, Bryton insists on mounting a solo attack on the brigands' compound, and Salome fears her love won't be enough to save him...

Leontine's Review: First of all, while SALOME AT SUNRISE can be read as a stand-alone I recommend reading Myla At Moonlight first to experience the full impact and character development of the core cast. Salome At Sunrise contains similar elements such as the heroine is created from a spell, soaring romance and an adversary who needs to be defeated in order for peace to settle in the land of Eldwynn.

It all begins with Bryton, he is the kings Might and Law but revenge burns bright in his soul for the skullmen and drives him to reckless behavior. The once easy-going charmer that Bryton was is gone and instead I found a bitter and angry man who is consumed by guilt and revenge. It actually shocked me a bit to find him this way and it instantly fired my curiosity what happened to him. In those first chapters I got it that something happened to his wife which fueled his recklessly pursuit of these Skullmen but to get the whole picture was a step-by-step progress.

Bryton eat, sleeps and breaths honor. He is a charmer, easy to laugh or make other people laugh and deeply loves those close to him. Still, none of these character traits were on the forefront in his own story. Bryon is grieving with a depth of true love lost and the portrayal of his character made me want him to find joy and love again. The progress of grieving and falling in love again with Salome had a few minor bumps in the road for me. Bryton grieved so intense for Katrina that at some moments it was hard to surrender myself to the attraction simmering between Salome and him. Bryton and Salome had a push-pull situation going on where Bryton did most of the pushing and Salome did most of the pulling.

Salome is created from a spell to bring peace and healing to Bryton. Salome is innocence personified but quickly learns to show her fiery side to Bryton. Her innocence and inner fire is what gives humor to their verbal sparring, sometimes Bryton would say something and would mean in figurative and Salome would pick it up literally. Salome gradually learns the ways of this world and while she keeps her wide-eyed moments of innocence, by the end of the story you know she is a woman to be reckoned with!

The Skullmen also played a significant role, not only as the adversaries, but also as the personal tormentors of Bryton. I heard via the characters of their malicious deeds and for the greater part of this story there were no actual encounters, which delivered the feeling while reading the story that their threat was a distant one. I never felt Bryton and Salome were in any danger most of the time and this only changed after two thirds in to the story.

Salome At Sunrise is a road trip romance that gives way for moments filled with many dialogues, finding out about the diabolical acts of the Skullmen and a budding passion. The focus of the story was on the main characters and their developing feelings. Salome’s center of attention was Bryton, trying to let him find inner peace and healing again. This progress contained desolate moments of pain and guilt combined with tender moments of humor and forgiveness. The romance was endearing and sweet as it was passionate and raw. Inez Kelley has a knack for making me feel all that her characters are going through, not only the main characters but also the supportive ones, as Myla and Taric also have some page time.

Inez Kelley has a lush voice creating beautiful descriptions of the backdrop allowing me to envision this world in the mind’s eye next to letting me absorb the emotions zinging between the H/h. Both elements easily let me immerse me again in the story told. I was encompassed by the all-or-nothing ending of the story and the love that crested in those scenes. SALOME AT SUNRISE is romance with a capital R, containing light fantasy elements and two characters who are a match for each other in heart and spirit. 

Quote:
Bryton rolled, his eyes open, staring at the star-strewn sky. His steady rising chest belied the thunder of his heartbeat but Salome heard it clearly. He turned his head, his gaze locking with hers. Heat arced between them, not the scorch of summer or the sting of fire but a low, brewing storm that gathered strength and power. One wing twitched and she blinked. No clouds darkened the night sky but a primal tempest was coming. It would not sway the trees, it would not feed the earth. It would affect only the two of them, and the outcome would sizzle with the kiss of lightning.

Quote:
The thought of Salome with another man, any man, soured his tongue. He couldn’t deny it, he wanted her. But it wouldn’t be right and she didn’t even understand why. How do you explain love to a magic spell? How do you explain the difference between raw, hard-core sex and making real love? How could he make her understand that he was afraid he’d lose Katina all over again, this time in Salome’s arms?

~~~~GIVEAWAY~~~~
Inez Kelley has been so generous to add a giveaway to this review!! *woohoot* All you have to do is leave a comment to win an e-copy of SALOME AT SUNRISE. The winner will be randomly drawn on June 25th 2010. The winner will be e-mailed :)

“Myla by Moonlight” by Inez Kelley

Buy from MBaM
Read An Excerpt Online
Genre: Fantasy Romance, Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 978-1-60504-660-0
Length: Novel (E-Book)
Price: 5.50
Publication Date: September 8, 2009
Cover art by Natalie Winters

Cover Summary:
Magic bites…

Created at Prince Taric’s birth, Myla is a spell, an enchantment designed to appear and protect him when he needs it most. She has always been content to do her duty…until one night of forbidden passion leaves her longing to experience life—and love—as a mortal woman. Yet the risk is too great. Even if her blood runs as red as his, she can never give him the one thing he needs: a child.

Taric’s blessing—and his curse—is knowing the kingdom’s future depends on his producing an heir to continue the bloodline. His bond with Myla has always been that of protector and protected. When it suddenly becomes something much more, he unwittingly sentences his people to certain death.

An old enemy is plotting to destroy all he holds dear: his lands, his people, his father, and his lover. And this time, even if they fight tooth and blade, their shared magic may not be enough to save them…

Warning: This book contains a shape-shifting bodyguard, sizzling sex scenes, supernatural lilac mist, swordfighting and heartbreaking sacrifices. No jaguars were harmed in the writing of this story.

Leontine's Review: MYLA BY MOONLIGHT is my introduction to author Inez Kelley and she delivered a calling card for an endearing, passionate romance with a different twist. The fantasy element is light and easy to understand, the story gradually increases in intensity and a battle becomes utterly personal for the Segur men.

Taric is crown prince of Eldwynn by birth, he is without a doubt charming in every way but also fierce as the warrior he is to protect the country he loves. Responsibility and duty due to his station alters with humorous bantering and an innate sensuality. The interaction he has with those around him and the choices he makes all speak of his in-charge attitude, his compassion and his ferocity. Every aspect of his character made Taric the kind of hero I could instantly like. He emanates the good qualities of a future king which didn’t surprise as I got to know his father who raised him, Balic.

Myla has been Taric’s magical guardian from the moment he was born. Her loyalty and protection lies first and foremost with Taric. There isn’t much, if nothing, she wouldn’t do for Taric. Her warrior side clashes with her blooming feminine side as new feelings stir. Myla is fierce as she can be gentle, she is curios and playful but never underestimate her, she would kill in order to protect the center of her world; Taric.

The intriguing twist in MYLA BY MOONLIGHT is definitely the origine of Taric and Myla’s relationship. Myla is created from a spell Taric’s mother casted at his birth to protect him. Myla can fight like a warrior, shapeshift, turn in to purple mist and return to Taric’s body where her conscience resides in a scar. They’ve known each other throughout Taric’s whole life and what niggled me the first part of the story was the fact that there is no reason given why Taric and Myla’s feelings change from charge and guardian in to that of sexual attraction and love. While Taric questions himself too no true answers were given and it was something I really missed at the conception of this romance. It felt like the balance between them as man and woman was off. Still, those niggling moments were mostly experienced in the beginning and short-lived because whatever the reason for this change of the emotions blooming between Taric and Myla was, it's undeniable present. This was also due to the writing style of Inez Kelley, her prose often sucked me in to the moment of passion, angst, humor or the friendly bantering between friends.

I couldn’t and wouldn’t deny the pull of Inez Kelley’s, at moments, lyrical voice; her world isn’t complex and her cast of characters small but so very likable. Yet what shined through were the times she could describe sceneries or emotions vibrating between people which made me completely surrender to moment. The struggles of an impossible love raises the stakes considerable with all the dangers and feelings that go with it. This is what matters most to me, whether or not I can feel the love blooming between two people, and Taric, together with Myla, gave me their sweet passion, their pain and tears but also their strength. The erotic moments increased along with the intensity of romantic feelings and in the end there was an erotic scene that blasted sensual heat and singed the pages.

When I think of the supportive characters two immediately come to mind; Balic, the king and father, and Bryton, the friend and captain. They are the kind of characters who enrich a tale because of their ties and their love for the main couple. Bryton infuses this story with his teasing humor, friendship and loyalty. Balic gives his unconditional love of a father, his support and wisdom, aside from the fact he is also king with all the joys and worries that come with the territory.

One of those worries is the battle that rages, a villain seeks revenge and it festers in his heart and soul. He will do all in his power to extinguish the Segur line. Again, the plot isn’t intricate but the evil actions and back story, the unfolding events that take place, it all drives towards a conclusion where I could only feel! I was there in that tower with the key characters turning the pages in bated breath how it would all solve and Inez Kelley held nothing back in the end. Gradually the author pulled me in to her world, had her characters tug at my heart strings and it emanated undiluted love in the end. An ending where everything culminates and I had to reach for the tissues as I lived and breathed every moment with them.

With MYLA BY MOONLIGHT the love shined in all its facets, that of a parent for his child, the love between two friends and at the center of it all the encompassing love of two heartmates, the love off Taric and Myla. I inhaled it all as the voracious romance reader that I am!

Quote:
I want. I burn. I love. She had always loved him but now, now she knew the difference between a woman’s love and the love of duty. One was a pale shadow of the other. A single thrust joined them. Her gasp echoed into his kiss and her eyes flew open. Burning. Filling. Possessing. Her body shuddered at the invasion, gripping tightly. Taric’s own gasp locked his eyes with hers. One word reverberated from his spirit and into hers, an unbreakable link between them. It brushed her essence in a whispered baritone. “Mine.”

~~~~~The Giveaway~~~~~
Inez Kelley has been so generous to add a giveaway to this review!! *woohoot* All you have to do is leave a comment to win an e-copy of MYLA BY MOONLIGHT. The winner will be randomly drawn on June 18th 2010.