Review: The Darkest Passion by Gena Showalter

Title: The Darkest Passion {LOTU #5}
Author: Gena Showalter
Publish Date: May 25, 2010
Pages: 438, paperback
Reason for reading: For fun =)

Synopsis:
For weeks, the immortal warrior Aeron has sensed an invisible female presence. An angel--demon-assassin--has been sent to kill him. Or has she? Olivia claims she fell from the heavens, giving up immortality because she couldn't bear to harm him. But trusting--and falling for--Olivia will endanger them all. So how has this "mortal" with the huge blue eyes already unleashed Aeron's darkest passion?

Now, with an enemy hot on his trail and his faithful demon companion determined to remove Olivia from his life, Aeron is trapped between duty and consuming desire. Worse still, a new executioner has been sent to do the job Olivia wouldn't....

Isalys's Review:
This is one of my very favorite paranormal romance series to date and as much as I like Brotherhood of the Black Dagger and Demonica, this tops it - for me at least!

Aeron is an interesting and complex character. As keeper of Wrath, he has left death and destruction in his wake for the past 1,000+ years. It is because of his demon's appetite for punishment that has taught him how fragile humans are and that he must always protect those he loves. He always puts others before himself. It is this quality that made Olivia, a now fallen angel, fall in love with this tattooed warrior.

She is the purest of souls having spent her entire life bringing joy to others. She has now been "promoted" to warrior angel and has been assigned to end the life of Aeron because he freed Legion from her hellish prison. She cannot bring herself to kill him though. Given the ultimatum of "kill Aeron or fall", she chose to fall and is now human in every way. She wants nothing more than to experience the joys of love and passion -- and she wants to experience it all with Aeron!

Olivia was a joy to read. She was funny, awkward, sweet, innocent, stubborn, sexy, confident and even tenacious! She wants Aeron and all Heaven and Hell better get out of her way. She's my favorite type of character - someone to admire! Next to Anya (our heroine in Darkest Kiss), Olivia is one of my new favorite female characters.

Legion, who up to this point has been a pet/daughter of sorts to Aeron, wants the angel GONE and equally tenacious, she will stop at nothing to make sure that she does not come between her and Aeron! Aeron will soon learn that what Legion feels for him is NOT the same as what he feels for her. Legion is not the only one standing in Olivia's way though. Lysander, Olivia's angel mentor wants her to forget Aeron and return to the heavens. He gives Olivia 14 days to decide and if at the end of that time, she does not return to Heaven, he will kill Aeron himself. Oh, and Lucifer decides to make an appearance and complicate matters even more.

At the onset of the novel, Aeron wants Olivia gone as well. He has no time or room in his life for a clingy angel...especially one who was supposed to kill him. However, she is not only injured, but she has information that can help against their battle with the Hunters. Over time, his resolve begins to weaken and he finds himself caring & wanting to protect Olivia. He continues to deny his growing affection for her, but what he cannot deny is that way the she calms his demon. Only Legion has had that affect on Wrath and he's determined to figure out why Olivia now rivals that.

Can a death-bringer and a joy-bringer find love together - against all odds?

I've loved all of the books in this series so far, but this one definitely stands out. Not only do you want these two characters to fall madly in love, but they have to do so against a slew of enemies. You also meet new characters, answer old questions, gain new questions and get a taste of Gideon and Paris's stories. How does Gena fit it all into one book - because she's a genius, that's why!

Gena's writing has only improved with each passing book. She has created a world that is intriguing, mysterious and laugh-out-loud funny at times. Each character is dynamic and so magnetic that you want to reach in and hug them (or even high-five them sometimes).

This installment was chock full of jaw-dropping surprises (some good/some bad/some just WOW) and I cannot wait for the next book, The Darkest Lie which is Gideon's story. {There is something so sexy about a sarcastic warrior with blue hair *rawr*}

RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥