Hello, and welcome back! I get a couple extra days off this week, so I can use up the last of my vacation time before the wild and silly shopping season really begins, and we've already gotten a taste of it the past couple of weeks at work. Luckily, it's not too insane yet, but it's getting there in a hurry. That means my reading time is going to shrink rather more than I like, even though I know it happens every year. But I am still getting in my reading every chance I get, and this time out, I have one by an author who's already become an auto-buy for me.

Juliana Stone's His Darkest Embrace (Avon, purchased) is the second in her series, this time with shapeshifter brother Jagger Castille. He's spent a very long time in his jaguar form, but now he's back in human form to save a stranger. Skye Knightly is a shifter, too, but her kind is the enemy of Jagger's, no matter the attraction that flares between them from the first. Jagger only knows that she's in need of rescue, and he's willing to do the job, even if she doesn't seem to want his assistance. Nevertheless, it seems they'll have to work together to defeat the evil stalking them both through the jungle, and the more time they spend together, the more that desire amps up. Jagger is sexy and dangerous, as readers will remember from His Darkest Hunger, and now that he's the main focus of the story, both of those increase. Skye is a strong woman, though even a strong woman sometimes needs a little assistance from the man who's falling for her. I quite enjoyed revisiting Jagger's family and friends while working through his own adventures, and I'm very much looking forward to seeing them all again in the next installment of the series. This one is as hot and steamy as the jungle where Jagger and Sky must make their stand. Her eagle is definitely a match for his jaguar. I adored this story, watching their struggles and hoping they found a way to overcome all the considerable obstacles in the way of their happy ending. As a bonus, if you're a cover art junkie, this one has a lovely, lovely cover. I'm borrowing four and a half of Cupid's five arrows for this one.

Until next time, happy reading!