BLURB:
Enter the world of Pure Ones, a race of immortals, supernatural powerful beings who protect humankind, where sexual intercourse with anyone other than one's Eternal Mate leads to a slow, painful death within thirty days.
The healer of the race, Rain, is the only exception to this rule.To harness and accumulate enough energy to heal severe wounds, especially as the war between her people and the vampire hordes accelerates, she must take a Consort once every ten years and draw strength from his blood and body. But as the ear wears on, few Pure-males who are strong enough to serve as her Consort remain. Valerius, Protector of the race, is the strongest candidate.
Despite their instant attraction ten years ago when they first met, Valerius has staunchly avoided applying to the be the Healer's Consort. The brutality and violence he suffered as a Roman sex in his human life ate away at this soul, leaving a dark abyss of torment and self-doubt.
Now, as Rain's strength drains with every healing act, Valerius cannot escape the fact that he may be the only one who can save her, and in so doing afford his people greater hope for the future as battles intensify.
Will Rain and Valerius find their way to each other as the struggles between good and evil evolve?
EXCERPT:
Rain bid farewell for the day to the third qualified pure-male and watched him slowly and painstakingly make his way beyond the threshold of the Rite Enclosure.
She closed her eyes and released a pent-up breath. It had been a long second day in the three-day Rite of the Phoenix, a day she looked forward to only slightly less than the third and final day. Today she had pushed the males almost to their endurance. She was surprised they hadn't decided to withdraw their application.
The Phoenix Cycle would be much worse.
As she prepared to leave the chamber, Wan'er came forth with a nonplussed expression.
"My lady," her handmaiden said, haltingly. "It appears you have one final applicant."
"What?" Rain responded reflexively. She heard her handmaiden perfectly well, but the words didn't make a lick of sense.
Wan'er shifted a bit nervously as if indecisive about how to break some bad news. "Your final applicant is waiting in the antechamber." She bit her lower lip and blurted, "It is my lord, Valerius."
Rain's eyebrows shot up in shock. Surely she had not heard correctly.
"Shall I show him in and prepare him for the test?" Wan'er asked tentatively, uncertain of her lady's mood.
Without answering her handmaiden, Rain marched angrily to the antechamber and threw apart the double doors.
"Just what do you think you're doing?" she demanded of the warrior leaning against the back wall. She braced herself against the welcome sight of him in full health. She'd been on tender hooks all the previous day wondering whether she'd been able to heal him completely, whether she should have checked on him. She could barely concentrate on the first day's test, she'd been so distracted. But now that he appeared fully recovered, her anger overrode all concern.
He straightened from the wall and stood tall and alert before her. "Applying to serve you, Healer."
MY REVIEW:
****1/2 stars
First off let me say that I almost got tired of reading about vampires and such until I read Pure Healing. The book was wonderful! The characters strong. I love Rain and I adore wounded heroes that do the right thing whether they want to or not. Mrs. James got my attention from the very first page and did not lose it until the end. The story was a thrilling read about love and loss and I can not wait to read other books by this author! It was exciting and kept me up for awhile. She reminds me of Shannon Butcher, which is one of my favorite authors.
AUTHOR BIO and LINKS:
Aja has been writing stories since the age of six, and novels since the age of thirteen. While she'd be the first to admit that those early efforts weren't particularly good, she sure loved putting them down on paper!
The best part of writing according to Aja, is that it's completely organic, the way the stories develop. When the inspiration hits, she writes just so she herself can learn where the characters are headed because oftentimes, they take her by surprise! It is her ultimate dream to share stories with as many readers as she possibly can.
Her other loves include art, cooking, old movies (anything with Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Robert Redford, Vivien Leigh, Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, Clark Gable and all the song and dance numbers because she can't watch them and not be happy!)
She adores taking long walks with her husband and running after her two rambunctious kids. She has traveled extensively (all seven continents except Antarctica) and has a multi-cultural upbringing.She speaks two and a half languages and binge watch TV shows when the mood strikes.
Aja has a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature and Economics and two Masters degrees, one of which is in East Asian studies.
Website: https://aja.james.blog/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AjaJamesAuthor
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/megami771
Blog: https://aja-james.blog/
Pinrest: NA for now
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/Ice_Baby
Purchase Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Longing-Pure-Ones-book-ebook/dp/B077993M4N
Aja James will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes&Noble Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
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