#BookReview: Burning Desire by Donna Grant - 4 Wine Glasses

Title: Burning Desire 
Series: Dark Kings #3
Author: Donna Grant
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 320 pages
Published: September 30th 2014 by St. Martin's Paperbacks
ISBN: 1250060702
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | ARe
Source: NetGalley
Reviewer: Linda
Rating: 4 out of 5 Wine Glasses

The Dark Kings have fought for centuries to preserve their dragon magic. But can one warrior resist the greatest temptation of all?

A DESIRE THIS POWERFUL

In his quest to destroy the Dark Fae—his nemesis—the Dragon King known as Kiril goes to Ireland as a spy. When a gorgeous, mysterious woman tries to seduce him, Kiril instantly sees through her glamour to the Dark Fae beneath. Shara isn’t just any Dark; she’s from one of the most powerful bloodlines—and despite the dangers, Kiril can’t stay away from her. He’s enthralled by her smile, enslaved by the undeniable passion…

IS A WAR WORTH FIGHTING FOR

Shara has one chance to make things right with her family—and to prove her worth. It seemed like such an easy mission…until she actually meets Kiril. His charm, his sexual magnetism is too much for her to ignore. Shara knows that falling into Kiril’s arms can bring her nothing but trouble. Yet she discovers an inner strength she didn’t know she had…and an attraction that knows no bounds. But is her desire for Kiril worth the risk of eternal doom for them both?

Thoughts:
“Kiril glanced around the darkened room. He walked to a leather chair and sat, stretching his legs out in front of him and crossing his ankles. “Did you know that during the Fae Wars the Dark took two Dragon Kings? At different times, of course.”

“I suppose they escaped as well? Are you telling me we don’t know how to hold a Dragon King?”

“The Dark did . . . things to my brethren. One completely lost his mind and attacked us, which is what the Dark wanted. He had to be killed. The other King knew what was happening to him, but he couldna stop it. He came to us and begged to be killed before he could harm one of us.”

Shara sipped her whisky before she said, “You lost two Kings and I lost seven siblings.”

“And the Light the Dark took?”

“The Dark take the Light and the Light take the Dark.”

Kiril let his gaze drift down her body. How he itched to have her long legs wrapped around him. Things would be so much easier if he didn’t desire her as he did, but there wasn’t a switch he could flip and turn off his body’s reaction. The more he tried to ignore the growing desire, the more it raged uncontrollably within him.

He gave himself a mental shake and returned to their conversation. “What’s the plan, then? Will the Dark storm in here and try to capture me?”

Shara walked around the room, her hand skimming along the backs of the chairs. “No.”

“No?” Kiril set aside his glass on the table next to him and silently rose to his feet. He followed her as if a string tied them together. “What then?”

“You don’t really want to know.”

Kiril spun her around so hard that her glass flew from her hand and landed upon a rug, spilling the whisky but not breaking the crystal. “Tell me,” he demanded in a soft, deadly voice.

“My job is to seduce you.” She held her stance for a heartbeat before she retreated, taking two steps back.

He tracked her until she was once more in the entryway. The shadows darkened everything, and yet the smallest sliver of moonlight found her, illuminating her in a pale blue glow.

No longer could he deny what he wanted. Perhaps it was her confession. Maybe it was because he hadn’t taken to the skies in weeks. Whatever it was, all he knew was that he had to have her or go up in flames.

“Then seduce me.” 

BURNING DESIRE by Donna Grant is the third book in AND an awesome addition to her Dark Kings series.  This series combines two favorites of mine, Highlanders and dragons, interlacing both with sexy Scottish brogue! The Dark Kings are a spin-off from her Dark Warriors series which in turn are a spin-off from her Dark Sword series. All are set in the Highlands of Scotland. I inhaled the first and second books in this series, DARKEST FLAME and FIRE RISING. There are interconnected characters and continuing threads in the series. BURNING DESIRE can be enjoyed as a standalone as the author seamlessly fills in needed background information. However, I highly recommend reading all the books in this series as they are utterly fantastic! 

I've been dying to read Kiril's stoy as I've been worried about him by his lonesome in Ireland living amongst the enemy, attempting to ferret out who was conspiring with the Dark Fae to destroy the Dragon Kings and where the Dark had sequestered Rhi, the Dark King's Light Fae  friend who was taken by the Dark in FIRE RISING. 

Shara was born to be bad as a Dark Fae.  Her family had kept her locked away for six hundred years because she dared to show compassion - not an admired Dark Fae trait.  She is to be a spy sent to monitor a spy.  All she has to do is to seduce Kiril so her brother can capture him.  This was her final chance.   If she fails, her family will not hesitate to kill her.

Kiril was one of the Dark Kings, Scottish dragon-shifters, who have existed since before time.  They've each sworn to protect humanity.  Kiril knows that Shara is a Dark Fae and that she's been sent to ensnare him but he is powerless to resist her.  I loved both Kiril and Shara.  Their romance was sweet and HOT, a riveting combo. 

In this book, we learn more about the inner workings of the sinister Dark Fae and we delve into Ulrik's background.  Ulrik is suspected of being the mastermind behind the conspiracy to bring down the Dragon Kings.  Balladyn, a former Light Fae, is a multi-faceted villain herein - is there any good left in him?  Con's and Rhi's story is hinted at... I'm dying to know more!  

Following please find a few of my favorite quotes:

“Are you going to take me for a ride or kiss me?"
He was going to do both, but the ride wasn't going to be in his car. Kiril released her. "Get in.” 
---

“He rose up over her, intending to enter her when she suddenly sat up and shoved at his shoulders. He fell onto his back with a grunt. Shara was on all fours, her hair tousled, as she crawled toward him.
In all his millennia of life, he had never seen anything so sexy. His cock twitched, and her gaze lowered to his engorged arousal.” 
---

“And I guess I'm the assignment that will put you right with your family?"
"Yes."
"It's no' going to happen, lass."
She turned her head to him. "Then why did you bring me with you tonight?"
"Something I've been asking myself.” 
---

 “Kiril." His name was but a whisper upon the wind, a sigh upon her lips.
Her gaze silently begged him while her hands continued their magic upon his aching cock. As if he could deny her -- or himself -- the pleasure that awaited.” 
---

He opened his mouth and let it loose, the blast of cold air freezing the Dark Ones instantaneously. Kiril saw himself in the mirror and the curls of cold air seeping from the corners of his mouth through his parted lips.
Damn, but it was good to be a Dragon King.

BURNING DESIRE was originally published as a four-part serialized story.  I am generally not a fan of serialized books, but I couldn't wait for the full release so that's the way I read this book.  It is now available in its entirety.     

Donna's writing is first-rate, as always!  I'm a huge fan of Donna's; She has never once disappointed me and  certainly doesn't with BURNING DESIRE!  Her kilt-wearing, macho sexy, dragon-shifting characters are panty-melting treasures!  I can't get enough of them! Gimme, Gimme, Gimme!  If you love sexy Highlander dragons, dangerous perils, touches of mystery, dashes of humor and an erotic, steamy romance, pick up BURNING DESIRE!  The next installment in this series, HOT BLOODED, which will be Laith's story, can't come soon enough!