Monday, September 15, 2014

Dire - Release Day Excerpt and Review

DIRE RDL Banner

I am excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for Alyssa Rose Ivy's DIRE. DIRE is a first novel in her The Dire Wolves Chronicles Series.The Dire Wolves Chronicles Series is a New Adult Paranormal Romance! The Order of the books is: Dire, Dusk, Dawn.

  Dire

Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ iTunes ~ GooglePlay ~ Kobo

Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy
Publication Date: September 15, 2014
Publisher: Alyssa Rose Ivy
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Age Recommendation: 17 and up
Rating: 4 stars

Book Description:

Gage was the first guy I ever wanted. He was my first crush and my first fantasy, but he wasn't my first in any other way because he never saw me as anything more than a friend— at least not until the night that changed everything.

It was all Gage's fault. He insisted we drive through the storm and take the back roads. By the time the storm hit full force we had no chance. One night of snowbound sex changed our relationship forever. The problem was at the same time I caught another guy’s attention. This other guy happened to be the alpha of a pack of shifter wolves. I thought the wolves were the worst of my problems, but I was wrong. When things went from bad to worse I had to make a lifelong sacrifice to save Gage, but what price is too much to save the one you love?

Excerpt: 

A single howl made me stop short. “The wolves!” “Let’s hope they are farther away than they sound.” Gage tightened his hold on my hand and pulled me forward. Three more howls filled the night. “They sound closer.” We picked up the pace, and I chanced a glance behind me. That was a mistake. Several large grey wolves came into view. “Run!” Gage didn’t need to be told twice. He broke into a run without letting go of my hand. I ran as fast as possible over the frozen snow, but we didn’t get far before the wolves started circling around us. “Oh my god.” Could things get any worse? “You have to make a run for it.” Gage’s voice quivered. “They’re going to kill us.” “I’m not leaving you.” I tried to stay strong, and I kept my eyes locked on the wolves. There were five of them. All of them were massive, much larger than any wolf I’d seen before, but one of them was even bigger and had a large silver streak running down its back. That wolf seemed to be staring right at me. “I’ll distract them. You run. I’ll catch up.” I spotted an opening next to one of the smaller of the wolves and went for it. I didn’t make it far before one of the wolves stepped in front of me. I froze, paralyzed with fear, before my legs were knocked from under me. Suddenly, I was lying in the snow with a giant wolf hovering over me. “We’re fucked.” Gage voiced exactly what I was thinking. The silver streaked wolf stared down at me. It’s almost glowing eyes bored into mine. Was I really going to die as half-frozen food for a giant wild animal? Then things got hazy and the air seemed to buzz. Moments later it wasn’t a wolf on top of me—it was a man. A completely naked man with a faint scar across his face. “What the heck?” I tried to scurry back, but Hunter didn’t move. His very exposed parts nearly touched me. I didn’t want to notice his size, but I did. He was huge. He also didn’t look remotely concerned with the cold. His lips brushed against my ear. “Were you going somewhere?” 

My Review:

I am totally down with Stockholm Syndrome right now.  I know most everyone who has read this book fell head over heels for Gage, but not me, nope...I am all for a possessive, hunky, wolf-shifter (Don't call him a werewolf), Hunter!  Typically I would rail against this type of character, but there is just something about Hunter that just pulls you in.  It's a sad sort of need to want him to feel loved, to let him have his HEA.  

Dire is told form the dual POV of main characters Mary Anne and Gage.  Two college students who have basically grown up together (Mary Anne's long time crush is Gage) decide to chance fate and drive home for winter break even though a severe winter storm is heading their way.  Dire is a book full of wrong decisions and the consequences that come along with them.

I enjoyed Mary Anne and Gage's banter, their flirtation, and their honesty with one another.  While I can appreciate the relationship they end up having, I never fully believed in it.  Gage always comes off as a bit of a player to me and while I have no doubt that he cares for Mary Anne I am just not sure I can trust that he cares for her as deeply as it seems we are supposed to believe.  Had it not been for the situation would he have cared for her this much, if they had made it through the storm and gotten home safely where would their relationship have gone?  I hate that I never connected with Gage and hope that changes for me in following books because I still think he is a promising character, I am just not sure he is right for Mary Anne.

Hunter on the other hand...He's totally Alpha (literally), he's a bit psycho (or so it seems), he's secretive (can we blame him?), he has a cruel streak (again, can we blame him?), and his 'pack' is just plain strange.  But he is also cautious, kind, tender, and I ended up loving him!  

Finally there is our poor Mary Anne who is just plain stuck in the middle and that is where she stayed for me during the entire book.  I loved how strong and determined she was.  I love that she didn't curl into herself or become the heroine that needs saved but also does the saving. I did however find myself wanting to shake her a time or two and yell at her to just listen to Hunter for once.  

There are a lot of twist and turns in Dire.  The beginning was a bit of a slow start, but once the action begins it goes all out.  This is a quick and engaging read that I think any Paranormal Romance reader will enjoy.  It's got love, steaminess, action, shifters, intrigue, danger, and a pack of witches that remind me a certain house of Valkyries.  What more could you ask for?  ;-)


 TDWC Collage  


Alyssa Rose Ivy- Author Photo About Alyssa Rose Ivy: Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.        
 

1 comment:

  1. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing Dire! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

    ReplyDelete