Wonderfully Wicked Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on the Wonderfully Wicked blog tour! Today I'll be sharing my review of the book with you - and don't forget to enter the giveaway! Check out the schedule at the bottom of the post to follow the tour!

Wonderfully Wicked (Wicked #1)

Author: C.J. Burright

Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Release Date: May 13, 2014

Publisher: Swoon Romance

Description:

He haunts her dreams and embodies her nightmares…

A dreamcaster with the ability to channel creatures from her nightmares, headstrong and cynical Kalila Montgomery longs for a peaceful, picket-fence life…until the man literally of her dreams kidnaps her. Survival quickly becomes her number one goal, yet a growing attraction to the man featured in her nightmares is impossible to ignore. While she fears he will kill her, other, more terrifying enemies surround her, and Kalila succumbs to his scheme to escape.

She may be his one hope for freedom…
 
A deadly combination of power, cunning, and cold-hearted charm, Lydon v’al Endrian fears nothing. Feels nothing. Chained to a brotherhood of men with the supernatural ability to invade dreams, he hunts dreamcasters to be harvested for their dreams and killed. His target: Kalila Montgomery. But Kalila awakens an undeniable dark desire and a longing for a freedom long-lost. To gain everything he craves, Lydon must seduce Kalila before his plot is discovered…a hopeless challenge which, if failed, will earn him a death-sentence.

Caught up in a dangerous world of secrets and obsession, doubt and betrayal, Kalila and Lydon face the nightmare of their lives, where love will either deliver them—or destroy them both.

Wonderfully Wicked is the first book in a riveting paranormal romance series that introduces the readers to the world of dreamcasters and the V'alkara - a brotherhood of supernatural men who invade dreams. Our heroine, Kalila, is a dreamcaster. Her dreams are very vivid and even come into reality at times. Too bad that most of them are nightmares. Due to what she refers to as her defect or curse, Kalila has turned cynical and jaded - keeping to herself and putting up walls to protect herself. Kalila begins to dream of a gorgeous guy who creeps into her bedroom to murder her one night - until she finds herself face to face with him in reality and he basically kidnaps her. Lydon is a V'alkara and has been sent by his master to kidnap Kalila and bring her back to their home, where they will harvest her dreams until she dies. One thing he wasn't counting on was falling for her almost right from the start. They both are insanely attracted to each other - which only gets worse the more time they spend near one another - but neither will break down and give in to their desire. Kalila is suspicious of Lydon and doesn't trust him or her emotions; Lydon is supposed to be void of emotions and knows his feelings for Kalila could get them both killed. Will they end up giving in to the passion between them and risk being killed? Or will they stay silent and end up destroyed just the same?

I was immediately hooked from the beginning paragraphs of this book. I admit that it did take me a little while to get used to the pace and the characters - probably because I don't read much paranormal romance. Once I got into the story and things picked up, I couldn't tear myself away. I absolutely loved Kalila as the main character in the book. She's strong - physically and emotionally - sarcastic (I actually was laughing out loud at some of the things she said), and refuses to give up with out a fight. She also has flaws - she's jaded and cynical with huge walls built around herself so she won't get hurt. Lydon is the mysterious and gorgeous guy who sneaks into her dreams and eventually her heart. He's one of the V'alkara - a high ranking one who is just beneath the leader and will eventually become head of the brotherhood. He's never felt anything towards a woman like he feels for Kalila. He's a great love interest and secondary main character. Strong, hot, mysterious, super cool abilities - but definitely flawed with his ego, temper, and devotion to the brotherhood. I loved watching the relationship grow between Kalila and Lydon - it was fun and flirty but also steamy and passionate. The author's use of the brotherhood - the V'alkara - and dreamcasters was wholly unique and I loved learning as much as I could about all of it. Their history and abilities - everything fascinated me and I wanted to know everything I could about it all. The writing was fast paced once it got going and it ended up being a quick read for me - probably because I refused to put it down until I was done. The writing was very well done and the use of detailed descriptions and imagery along made it feel like I was right there inside the story with the characters. I'm so happy that this is just the start of the series! I'm now eagerly awaiting the next book to release so I can get more. Very highly recommended for fans of fantasy and paranormal fiction with an original plot line, fantastic writing, and well rounded characters.

C. J. Burright was born and raised in Oregon and loved it so much she never left. While she has worked for years in a law office, she chooses to avoid writing legal thrillers and instead leans toward urban fantasy, paranormal romance, or—since all things medieval and magic fascinate her—fantasy romance. A member of Romance Writers of America and Secretary for the Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal special interest chapter, C. J. also has her 4th Dan Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and believes stories should always include a gratuitous fight scene. In what spare time she has, she enjoys working out, reading, gardening, and rooting on the Seattle Mariners with a nice glass of wine. She shares a house with her husband, daughter, and a devoted herd of cats.

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Book Blitz + Giveaway: Wonderfully Wicked by C.J. Burright

Wonderfully Wicked

Author CJ Burright

Release Date: May 13, 2014

Summary from Goodreads:

A dreamcaster with the ability to channel creatures from her nightmares, headstrong and cynical Kalila Montgomery longs for a peaceful, picket-fence life…until the man literally of her dreams kidnaps her. Survival quickly becomes her number one goal, yet a growing attraction to the man in her nightmares is impossible to ignore. While she fears he will kill her, other, more terrifying enemies surround her, and Kalila succumbs to his scheme to escape. She may be his one hope for freedom…A deadly combination of power, cunning, and cold-hearted charm, Lydon v'al Endrian fears nothing. Feels nothing.

Chained to a brotherhood of men with the supernatural ability to invade dreams, he hunts dreamcasters to be harvested for their dreams and killed. His target: Kalila Montgomery. But Kalila awakens an undeniable dark desire and a longing for a freedom long-lost. To gain everything he craves, Lydon must seduce Kalila before his plot is discovered…a hopeless challenge which, if failed, will earn him a death-sentence. Caught up in a dangerous world of secrets and obsession, doubt and betrayal, Kalila and Lydon face the nightmare of their lives, where love will either deliver them—or destroy them both.

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“I took great effort to see you.” His tone hinted the act made him deserving. “You sleep; I’ll keep watch. And my vow of yesterday stands. I won’t molest you.”

To her annoyance, her pulse danced a country jig. Whatever efforts he took on her behalf were of questionable nature, not romantic. She made a rude noise in case he held any such illusions.

“Keep watch for what? No one besides you could reach my window and my door’s bolted.”

Lydon laced his hands behind his head, his lips twitching as though fighting a smile. “Then I’ll watch you. Like before.”

Horror prickled over her in a rushing tide. She leapt up. “You watched me sleep? Not skulked around in my bedroom to attack me?” She groaned, imagining him watching her drool, snore, or grind her teeth.

He laughed, low and warm. “You’re so lovely when you dream, Lils. An angel.” He patted the empty spot beside him.

Her traitorous body, defenseless against him, obeyed. The red, silken comforter hissed beneath her knees while she climbed onto the opposite side of the giant bed. The lone lamp by the bed cast a mystical glow over Lydon, catching golden highlights in his light hair, the silver shards in his eyes. “Watching people sleep is creepy.”

He shrugged. “Not people, just you. Besides, I am creepy.”

Definitely not creepy. Kalila settled into a cross-legged position and fixed him with a no-nonsense look. “Since it seems you have nothing better to do than lie there like a sloth, be useful and fess up. Why am I being treated as some freaking porcelain doll in a glass case? How can my nightmares benefit the V’alkara? Can the V’alkara really take my dreams away? None of you seem sick—and no, mental doesn’t count—so what’s wrong? And when will you take us home?”

Lydon jiggled one black boot. What she thought might be disapproval flickered in his eyes. “I won’t waste our alone time answering inquiries. I have other plans.”

She swallowed hard. Maybe she’d misjudged him. Maybe he was so confident in his assassin abilities—and her helplessness—he felt sneakiness was unnecessary.

He sat up in a blink of an eye, moving with inhuman speed. One large hand was planted next to her knee. His breath fanned her chin. The scent of the outdoors and a tinge of smoke drifted from his clothes. His voice whispered spider-soft.

“Do you care to know what other less attractive names some call me?” The world seemed to shrink to Lydon and the force of his gaze. “Angel of Ruin. Living Nightmare. Scourge.” His eyes gleamed, darkened. “As you might guess from such monikers, peace in my life is rare. I’ll relish any fragments of it I happen to stumble across for as long as possible.”

His fingers trailed her cheek to cup her chin. In the span of a heartbeat, his face changed. From beautiful man to skeletal beast then back to beautiful man. A chill coiled around her soul, deep and cold as a winter storm. Who—what—was this guy?

“Do you feel it too?”

Kalila’s heartbeat rumbled in her ears, kicked at her throat. Her fingers jerked with a fierce need to touch him. Instead, she fisted the blanket. Admit nothing to the enemy. Yet the urge to nestle her cheek into his palm and purr grappled with reason. She had to take control before she did something stupid.

CJ blames her love for reading and all things Medieval on her father, who plied her often with fantasy novels ranging from Sir Lloyd Alexander to Piers Anthony.  Her love for romance, however, lies completely at the feet of her best friend Michelle, who dared to give her a romance novel for her birthday.  She smiled, politely said thank you, and tossed it in the corner, where it gathered dust.  In a moment of desperation, when only the revolting romance remained in her almost-always toppling stack of awaiting books, she sucked it up and read the romance.  Doomed. 

She started writing fantasy and paranormal romance for the cathartic experience, decided she liked it, and after two overlong, horribly written novels joined RWA and the Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal special interest chapter.  Best classes and critique groups ever.  Double doomed.  Now, writing is a necessity, not just a hobby.

In her spare time, when she’s not writing or reading or actually working, CJ might be found in the dojang (4th Dan Black Belt, baby), rooting on the Mariners (who will some day win the World Series), working out (P90X, anyone?), gardening (a little dirt never hurt anyone), or playing Music of the Night on the piano (without mask or cape). She lives in Oregon with her fabulous husband and daughter. Not to mention her minions, a herd of cats.

WONDERFULLY WICKED is CJ's Burright's first novel.

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