4.5 stars for Cursed (Fallen Siren book 1) by S. J. Harper.
Cursed is the first in a brand new series by S. J. Harper, the pen name for writing team of Samantha Sommersby (the “S” in S. J. Harper) and Jeanne C. Stein (the “J” in S. J. Harper).
It is interesting to note how a mutual love of good wine, edgy urban fantasy and all things Joss Whedon can bring together two different authors to kick off a collaboration of an exciting urban fantasy-paranormal romance featuring a cursed federal investigator / Siren working towards redemption. Even more unusual is how the single name Harper is conceived by the authors from the letter “H”, which is often eye level on bookshelves and the beginning letter on the list of most popular surnames.
The Harper team has done a wonderful job bridging urban fantasy with paranormal romance by creating a mystical world with compelling lead characters who are clearly drawn to each other, yet suppress their mutual feelings in a bid to conceal their dark secrets and elude revealing their less-than-human sides.
There is considerably an amazing amount of script rapport between the two authors as readers cannot tell which chapter or section is written by author S or author J. The story flows smoothly and consistently from start to end via the heroine, Emma’s first person narration.
All in all, an impressive debut novel which I would recommend to lovers of all things urban fantasy with a hint of romance paranormal.
.. And Book 2 Reckoning has already made its way up on my to-be-read list.
Publisher: Roc
Publication date: 1 Oct 2013
*** Favourite quote 1 ***
He continues dipping onion rings in ketchup as if that stalling tactic is going to work.
Persistence is my middle name.
I fix him with a laser beam stare.
*** Favourite quote 2 ***
He knocks back the last of the bourbon.
The sound the empty glass makes when he sets it down on the table has a ring of finality to it — a decision’s been made.
~ Cursed
S. J. Harper
@}--->>--->>-----
Meet FBI Agents Emma Monroe and Zack Armstrong.
She’s cursed. He’s damned.
Together, they make one hell of a team.
Emma Monroe is a Siren, cursed by the gods and bound to earth to atone for an ancient failure. She’s had many names and many lives, but only one mission: redemption. Now that she works missing persons cases for the FBI, it could be just a rescue away. Unless her new partner leads her astray.
Special Agent Zack Armstrong just transferred into the San Diego Field Office. He’s a werewolf, doing his best to beat back the demons from his dark and dangerous past. As a former Black Ops sniper, he’s taken enough lives. Now he’s doing penance by saving them.
Emma and Zack’s very first case draws them deep into the realm of the paranormal and forces them to use their own supernatural abilities. But that leaves each of them vulnerable, and there are lines partners should not cross. As secrets are revealed and more women go missing, one thing becomes clear: as they race to save the victims, Emma and Zack risk losing themselves.
*Blurb from author's website*
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