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    Dark Taste of Rapture
    Dark Taste of Rapture
    Dark Taste of Rapture
    Audiobook11 hours

    Dark Taste of Rapture

    Written by Gena Showalter

    Narrated by Sebastian York

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter captivates with a dark, tantalizing world of humans, otherworlders, and a powerful AIR agent consumed by his desire for a woman he can never have...

    With one caress, he can give unforgettable pleasure...or unending pain...

    Hector Dean is shaved, tattooed, and totally ripped—and he has a deadly secret. He is a walking weapon, capable of killing with a single brush of his fingertips. Little wonder he’s determined to remain on his own. But Noelle Tremain is a temptation like no other. She is beautiful and rich, with a party girl smile that hides a shocking vulnerability, and from the beginning his sizzling attraction to her is undeniable. For the first time, his stone-cold resistance is tested. But to be with her, he risks destroying her.

    When a wealthy businessman is murdered in New Chicago’s seediest district, the two are partnered, and there’s no escaping what they both want: each other. Yet neither Hector nor Noelle knows what to fear more—the killer case, or their own lethal desires.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateJun 3, 2014
    ISBN9781442369849
    Author

    Gena Showalter

    Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of over seventy books, including the acclaimed Lords of the Underworld series, the Gods of War series, the White Rabbit Chronicles, and the Forest of Good and Evil series. She writes sizzling paranormal romance, heartwarming contemporary romance, and unputdownable young adult novels, and lives in Oklahoma City with her family and menagerie of dogs. Visit her at GenaShowalter.com.

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    Reviews for Dark Taste of Rapture

    4/5

    110 ratings8 reviews

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    • 5/5
      This is another great classic by Gina Schumacher I enjoy her trips and journeys with all the appeal and the wonderful characters
    • 5/5
      Normally I get annoyed by sm female characters but noelle is funny and witty! Hector is great but noelle is the star! I caught myself laughing so loud… amazing
    • 3/5
      I *loved* Hector, and Noelle too, despite my general dislike of rich-girl or princessy characters. I preferred Ava and Ava's book, but enjoyed this one as well. Good angst, which I always love. And I really enjoy the world that Showalter has created here, and the characters in it. So, who is next? And really, when is Dallas's book? (3.5 stars)
    • 3/5
      Dark Taste of Rapture
      3 Stars

      AIR agent in training, Noelle Tremain has her libido and heart set on her instructor, Hector Dean. Unfortunately, Hector is determined to keep Noelle at arms length, literally, as he is unable to control his deadly ability to kill with touch. But when Noelle and Hector are partnered on a case, there will be no escaping the smoldering passion between them.

      Series note: This is the final book in Showalter's Alien Huntress series. However, the spin-off, Otherworld Assassin, is set in the same world and apparently continue the storylines.

      To begin with, the exact nature and origin of Hector power is never explained. Moreover, his fear that his ability will harm or kill Noelle is understandable, but his repeated rejections, both physical and emotional, undermine the romance as Noelle's determination to have him makes her appear weak and spineless. This is exacerbated by her lack of self-confidence, which her snarky façade never manages to entirely mask.

      Speaking of the snark, it is excessive, overdone and ridiculous. It is difficult to take characters seriously when they speak and behave like overgrown teenagers at a frat party.

      The plot diverges from the Schön Queen storyline in the last few installments and returns to the alien sex trafficking arc from the first couple of books. This would be not be a problem if the investigation wasn't underdeveloped and slipshod. There is no real build up of suspense and the resolution is rushed and anti-climactic.

      In sum, this is a disappointing end to the series as the romance is lackluster and the ongoing story arcs remain unresolved. Hopefully, the first book in the spin-off will provide some closure.

    • 5/5
      Amazing! Just like always, Showalter delivers a spectacularly funny, riveting story. I can't imagine a life that isn't enriched by her stories.
    • 5/5
      “His eyes were an intense gold and utterly piercing, the rest of his features all kinds of intimidating. From the hard slash of his dark brows, to the blade of his nose, to the aggressive slant of his lips. Throw in the rough angles of his chin, and you had a visual definition for hardass.” Hector Dean is the epitome of every woman’s fantasy. An Alpha Male with baggage, but at the same times he’s protective, encouraging, loveable, and raw sexual energy. When we first meet him he is a little rough around the edges, hard, and distant. But over the course of the book we watch as Noelle breaks down his barriers. Her quick wit and smart mouth, rips through his walls and becomes buried deep within his skin. The constant tug-of-war between the two was almost unbearable. Gena Showalter knows how to create sexual tension. After the first encounter between Noelle and Hector against the wall when she sneaks out of the AIR training camp, I was begging for those two to seal the deal. With every piercing stare, smoking hot touch and naughty thought there was no denying that when those two did get together, it would be HEAVEN ON FIRE. And SPOILER ALERT: it was blazing HOT!Not only do we get the magnetic story of Hector and Noelle in this book, we also get a look deeper into the lives of some of the other characters from previous novels. There is Dallas, who reminds me a lot of Paris from The Lords of the Underworld series. Sexy, mysterious, sleeps around, but slightly tortured by that fact. I can’t wait to see where his story leads. I think he is one of the most dynamic characters in the Alien Huntress series. His ability severely hinders him and he is often torn by the visions that he sees. I have a feeling that whoever he ends up with is in for a stormy ride!Sweet, sweet badass Ava ends up marrying the sexy vampire McKell. Ava like Noelle, appeared soft, charming, and innocent at first glance, but underneath the façade was a strong Noelle protecting fighter. The constant banter between Noelle and Ava was both hilarious and telling. They were the kind of best friends movies are made about, ride or die, or in their case, crash a car into an ex boyfriends house. Yeah, that happened. When Ava agrees to marry McKell, Noelle is both happy and heartbroken. Her life is not complete without Ava in it and when she decides to become a vampire she felt like she was losing her world. Lucky for her though, she had Hector to occupy her time and give her another reason to exist, like almost burning down her shower from ecstasy. Yeah, that happened too.All in all, this was one of the BEST books I have read this year. Intense, passionate, fun, and humorous, Gena can tell a story like no other. She will have you cursing, yelling, rooting, and swooning over her characters. Her descriptions are impeccable. If you can’t clearly imagine the location or person she describes then you are not reading them right. I don’t want to give away too many spoilers from the book, but I have to say this story is one that will leave you on the edge of your seat sweating bullets, over and over again! I highly recommend this book and if you are scared of reading the books out of order, don’t worry because I did and this book works easily as a standalone title!Originally Reviewed On: MotherGamerWriter.com
    • 5/5
      I loved this book from the first page. It had sizzle, hotness, and spice. What happens when you have two characters that sacrifice themselves relentlessly for the well being of others/victims/ and friends. You get Hector Dean and Noelle Tremain. Hector is a hot, loyal, and nibble-lishous. He has a dark past filled with pain and torture and has dedicated his life to helping others that suffer injustice. He is an AIR agent and charged with being one of the instructors training Noelle and Ava. The story begins with crossing into Gena Showalter's book of Ecstasy in Darkness. This story describes the training the girls go through and the mischievous actions that Noelle pulls to make her way through the training. The story then skips to one year later and the story carries us through the sizzle and burn of the relationship of Noelle and Hector. Noelle is determined to convince Hector he should be in a relationship with her and Hector is determine to resist Noelle by any means possible. The problem is -Mia has teamed Noelle and Hector up to help solve a murder case. I love it when I get to read about a kickass herione with grit and iron. And when there is a presence of a really hot loyal to the bone hero. Check it out if you like romance, suspense, and hotness. Hope I get to read Dare's story. I know there has to be a story with his mysterious self.
    • 5/5
      The story picks up where the last Alien Huntress left off with Ava and McKell about to marry and Noelle feeling like she just lost her best friend. Noelle wishes that she could find someone like Ava has and *shocker* shows a bit of a softer side. Noelle and Ava have graduated from their training and are now full fledged agents for AIR. Noelle quickly solves a case through her wits and strength and moves on to another one where alien females are being abducted to be sex slaves. She is partnered with Hector Dean who has a bit of a past himself and closes himself off to any thoughts of love since he has a physical secret that is deadly to those he loves -- or so he thinks.Hector and Noelle have a love hate relationship and it is fun to watch them spar both mentally and physically. The story takes a unique turn when it comes to virgins that might surprise you. Hector makes the perfect brooding hero while Noelle's past of growing up in luxury was not all it appears. The case that they solve together seems like the beginning a long and positive relationship. Dallas and Jaxon, along with Mia Snow, make brief appearances throughout the book. Wow! I haven't had my toes curl or wanted to skip directly to the romantic parts in a story in a long time. Showalter really stepped up the hotness in this one. I really felt connected with Noelle and found myself memorizing bits of her dialogue to use at those moments where you need a good comeback. She is smart and snarky with some unpleasant truths of her own that she is hiding. I have a special place for Showalter's books and especially the AI series since it was the first paranormal romance that I read. I don't think these books need to be read in order since each one reflects on a new character, but it would probably help to keep continuity. I also recommend going back to read her YA Alien Huntress series, Blacklisted and Red Handed.