Review & Giveaway: The Darkest Secret by Gena Showalter

Title: The Darkest Secret
{Lords of the Underworld # 7}
Author: Gena Showalter
{Bad-ass Fantasy Man Creator}
Publish Date: March 29, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin
Pages: 410, Paperback
Keeper of the demon of Secrets, Amun can manipulate the darkest thoughts of anyone nearby. But when new demons possess him, the immortal warrior must be chained and isolated to protect those he loves. Death is his only hope of release—until he meets Haidee, a fellow prisoner whose beauty and hidden vulnerability draw him into a reckless test of his loyalty…

Haidee is an infamous demon assassin, raised to despise Amun’s kind. Yet how can she hate the man whose touch sets her aflame? But to save him, she must give herself body and soul…and face the wrath of a powerful adversary sworn to destroy her.
Isalys's Review:
Amun, Keeper of Secrets, is suffering as a result of his sojourn to Hell with Aeron and William.  He is being battered, day in and day out, by the voices of evil that have taken residence in his head.  They are beyond his control and are threatening not only his life & sanity, but of those around him. He is a prisoner in his own home; chained to his bed for fear of the damage he will do to others.  Is death the only way to save him?

As Keeper of Secrets, he still knows enough that he cannot verbalize his pain for fear of releasing the vile secrets trapped inside of him.  Instead, he calls for help in his mind knowing that no one will be able to hear him.  However, someone does hear him.  Someone completely unexpected.

Haidee has been captured by Strider, Keeper of Defeat {side note: I am now in love with Strider, but I digress}.  She's been taken to the fortress where ALL her enemies reside.  As she tries to come up with a plan to get herself out of their clutches, she hears a tortured voice call for help - but why is she hearing that voice in her head? 

It takes Haidee some time to figure out that this man that she's compelled to help is in fact one of her enemies.  However, despite her hatred of his kind, she cannot help but feel protective of him and wants nothing more than to help ease his pain. And so begins their journey. 

Unlike some of the lords in the previous books, Amun did not fight his feelings for Haidee.  Their attraction was immediate and fierce {Gena is a master of this!}.  It wasn't just passion between these two though, there were some really great tender moments where they realized their original perceptions of the other was quite wrong. Ancient memories reveal that their lives were more connected than either realized.

I was not originally a fan of Haidee because of the way her character was painted in the previous book.  Then again, she was introduced to us by Strider who is not in the Haidee Fan Club.  This book gave us a lot of insight into her character and by the end, I really admired her strength, love and utter devotion to Amun.  Oh Amun, the strong, silent type.  As the most mysterious of all the lords, it was so refreshing getting to know him better.  All the lords at their core are benevolent, but Amun is one of the most noble.

The only area where I felt the book fell short of perfection was the finale.  I don't want to give anything away, but I was left with a few questions about Haidee's ability, so to speak.

What I do love about these books, and this one in particular, is Gena's ability to weave in elements of the other lords without taking away from the main attraction.  I loved the bits she gave us about Strider and William {who I hope also gets his own book and HEA}.

Bottom line, Gena is hands-down one of my very favorite paranormal romance writers.  She gives us incredible smex (not just scenes, but the sexual tension between our h/h), belly laughs, emotional vulnerability, badass heroines and top-notch warriors that are the stuff fantasies are made of. 
PS:  This is just me talking here, but seriously you guys, I cannot friggin' wait for Strider's story.  Him and Kaia are going to be combustible. It's going to be epic, EPIC I tell you!  {Gah, I ♥ Stider}

To celebrate the release of this FABULOUS book, I got to ask Gena a question of my choice. 

Gena, do you have any interesting, or even peculiar, writing habits? (The weirder, the better). Also, how do you organize your thoughts for your books? Do you have a system (ie: Post-It's, dry-erase board, etc.)?

Weird habits…Besides chaining myself to the computer, having my family slide food under the door and –when I finally finish the rough draft – emerging as a tack-eating, foul-mouthed beast woman? Nah. And no system for writing, either. I just sit down and start typing, letting the characters take me wherever they want to go.

and we have a Giveaway!
April 20 - April 27

Thanks to Big Honcho Media and Harlequin, we have TWO copies of THE DARKEST SECRET up for grabs.

FILL OUT THIS FORM TO ENTER GIVEAWAY
{Important: Please leave a comment on this post stating you filled out the form! Thank you!}

Rules:
  • To enter the giveaway you must complete the form linked above and leave a comment indicating that you've entered.
  • Books will be delivered directly from the publisher so the giveaways are only available for U.S. and Canada residents. No P.O. boxes please.  Note: It may take several weeks to receive your prize so please be patient! 
  • Must be 18 or older to enter!
  • Winners will be drawn after the contest ends and posted soon thereafter.
  • Winners will be chosen using random.org!
Feel free to contact us via email at booksoulmates[at]gmail[dot]com if you have any questions.

Happy reading!

47 comments:

  1. Oh I cannot wait to read this. I entered. Thank you!

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  2. I formed and would love to read this one. thank you for the giveaway.

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  3. I entered!!! Great review and giveaway! :)

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  4. Ohhh I need to read that one!!! I love this series and your review now makes me miss those boys.. uhm..men.. warriors.. ;)

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  5. I entered. Really been meaning to read this series. Looks awesome!

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  6. I absolutley loveee this series! Thanks for the giveaway; I filled out the form.

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  7. I entered...Have to read this...LOVE all the LOTU!!!!!!!Gideon is my main man!!!

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  8. Me too...I am all about Gideon and Strider *yum*

    ♥Isalys

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  9. I entered! Thanks so much for the giveaway =)

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  10. Great contest!!! Thanks ;)

    I entered!

    Katie
    Katiewalthall AT ymail DOT com

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  11. I've Entered! I've already read the book Was AWESOME! I can't wait to read the book on Torin tho.

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  12. I entered. Thanks foor the awesome Giveaway! I absolutly love this series.

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  13. I have heard so many good things about this book and ca't wait to read it. I entered.

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  14. Thanks for the giveaway! I have just entered!

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  15. Every time I see a Showalter review I cringe, why? Well book 1 has been sitting on my shelf for 1.5 years, I bought it, wanted to read it, but still haven't :(

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  16. I would love to win this. I love the LOTU series. A signed copy to add to my collection would be awesome.
    I filled out the contest form.

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  17. Would love to win this.
    Filled out the form.

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  18. I entered! Thanks for the giveaway. :)

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  19. thanks for the contest! i entered!

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  20. Great giveaway! I filled out the form.

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  21. I love Gena's books :) I entered

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  22. I love love Gena, Gideon is my fave so far but I have said that for each book LOL I just started Amun's book and I am loving it which I knew I would.

    I can't wait for Torin's book and poor Paris love him so.

    I'm not entering because I have it

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  23. Just entered! Sounds like an amazing book! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

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  24. Just entered! Sounds like an amazing book. Thanks for the great giveaway!

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  25. Filled out the form... thanks for the giveaway!

    yadkny@hotmail.com

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  26. Love Gena's books and her Lords.
    Her Heroes are so Alpha it almost hurts. lol Thanks for the giveaway.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750@aol.com

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  27. Fab review, Isa! I wasn't a fan of Stryder prior to this book, but I certainly am now! His book will definitely be EPIC.

    I also adored the comedy in this one, soooo much. And William...*swoons* Gena better give him an HEA! *shakes fist*

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  28. I filled out the form.

    I kind of skip around when reading Gena's work. I enjoy them, but don't really follow her like I do other authors, don't know why. So many authors, so little time.

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  29. I entered! Have already read the ebook and LOVED it but nothing beats reading a real book.
    Thanks!!

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  30. I entered the contest as well. I can't wait to read this.

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  31. I completed the form and would love to read The Darkest Secret :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!
    theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com

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  32. I've entered! Good luck to everyone.

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  33. Gena Showalter is one of the ones tied for best for me! WHOO! And I'm sooooo glad that I already bought-and read-this book, becuase I'm not 18 hehe :)But I have a lot of her books, all of the Atlantis series, Into the Dark, the main books (not the novellas) of LotU, and Catch a Mate (too funny, plus I brought this to physics class beause thet teacher wanted pick up lines) the Intertwined series, and the Tales of an Extraordinary Girl series. AWESOME! LOVE HER!!! Can't wait for more books!!!!!!! Yep, my rant about Gena Showalter is over :)

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  34. I filled out the form. This book sounds really different than any other story that I've read, I hope I get to read it at some point. Great review =)

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  35. Thank you so much I filled out form! Book sounds so good thanks!

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  36. I'm trying my luck, I filled out the form. :)

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  37. Enter giveaways all the time, hoping this will be the one I win! filled out the form
    bluesun1218@dishmail.net

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  38. Great review! I really want to read this:)

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