BOOK REVIEW: MY FALLEN by Ashlyn Mathews

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Ashlyn will be awarding a backlist eBook in the winner's choice of format at every stop. The grand prize will be a jewelry holder (similar to the one in the attached picture) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and coffee beans from Seattle's Cafe Vitta and Seattle Theo organic chocolate bar to a randomly drawn host. (US ONLY) Click on the banner to see the other stops on the tour.

When a normally quiet and polite Vampire Slayer is tasked to help an arrogant and selfish demon, only trouble can ensue.

Guilt-ridden by a mistake that cost her fellow Slayers their lives and the subsequent tarnished reputation of her brother’s business, Slayer-born Elise Castle agrees to work with the sexy, but arrogant and selfish, Xavier Doom, by bringing in his demon-turned-vampire friend. If she succeeds, her brother can hire more Slayers while Xavier’s status guarantees them more clients.

Xavier is a Fallen, a special kind of demon with an insatiable appetite for women, money and power. When his best friend is kidnapped and turned into a vampire, he hires the best Slayer money can buy. If the Slayer fails, Xavier stands to lose not only his childhood friend, but the opportunity to skyrocket his wealth with the top secret information hidden in his friend’s mind.

Xavier’s arrogance grates on her nerves while his concern and charm reels Elise in. But can she give her heart to a creature like her father, a Fallen, who had abandoned his family for the appeal of money and power? Or will she see Xavier for the good and loyal man he truly is?

Defiant and strong-willed, Elise is a challenge. Yet her strength and courage appeals to Xavier while her no sex policy has him hot for her. As his feelings for her grow, he must make a decision. Give his heart and soul to a woman who can only offer him her love, or walk away from her and seize the chance for more money and power?

Lives and friendships are at stake while love and loyalty is put to the test. Will Elise and Xavier come out unscathed and together? Or will a secret from Elise’s past tear them apart?

I have to admit-- at the beginning of this book I did NOT like Xavier Doom. He is arrogant and the first words out of his mouth are pretty crude declarations of what he wants to do with Elise. And, personally, I wish there had been more tension between the two rather than Elise and Xavier giving in to their desires as easily as they did.

Apart from that small matter, though, I really enjoyed the book. It almost reads like the second book of series--and I hope Ashlyn has more books in store about this world. There are several of the secondary characters I would like to know more about--Ana and Fox's story; whether or not Drake will get his HEA; the stories of the other Knights, for a few.

Elise has trouble trusting Xavier--or any man beside Drake--and once the author reveals the reason, her actions are entirely understandable. And, as the relationship develops both sets of barriers start coming down.

I look forward to more books by this author--especially if set in this same world.

About the Author:

Ashlyn Mathews is a paranormal and contemporary romance author. She is fascinated with strong men and women who walk a fine line between good and evil, happiness and loneliness, and duty to family and love.

A big fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Japanese Anime, she incorporates various weapons into her paranormal romances and gives her characters out-of-this-world names just because she can. She lives in the inspiring gloom of the Pacific Northwest with her husband, four young boys and a Golden Retriever that likes to boss her around. When she’s not writing, you can find her at her day job, shuttling her boys to and from soccer practices and games, listening to music, reading, or connecting with others on Facebook and Twitter.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ashlynmathewsauthor
Twitter: @ashlynmathews
Website: www.AshlynMathews.com