Book Title: Guardians of Stone (Relic Seekers Book 1)
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 289
Author: Anita Clenney
Date Published: 4 December 2012
Synopsis:
In the tradition of Indiana Jones, a feisty heroine with a sixth sense, and two sexy heroes, a dark, reclusive billionaire and a mercenary bodyguard are on a hunt for four powerful relics that could change their lives…and the course of history. But relics aren’t Kendall’s only quest. Eventually, she’ll have to choose between her sexy boss and her badass bodyguard.
Kendall Morgan is a human bloodhound. Spending her childhood hunting relics with her ambitious archeologist father, she knew the two of them shared a sixth sense for the history and location of objects—sometimes even people. What she didn’t know was that their paranormal gift could ultimately be their undoing.
After the tragic plane crash that killed her father as well as her childhood best friend, Kendall dedicated her life to finding and protecting relics. When mysterious, sexy billionaire Nathan Larraby hires her for his latest expedition—the search for four powerful relics—she’s thrown into a world of high-octane danger. He sends brooding mercenary Jake Stone to watch Kendall’s back, but he may have created danger of a different kind.
As the team chases down clues, a man called the Reaper makes a play for the artifacts and will stop at nothing to put them to his own sinister use. What’s worse is that Nathan hasn’t told the whole story, and the dark secrets he’s keeping could cost them the mission…and their lives.
Review:
Guardians of Stone by
Anita Clenney
My rating:
5 of 5 stars
This is the first book in The Relic Seekers series. I loved it!
Kendall Morgan is a wonderful character. However, I sometimes wanted to shake some sense into her. She works for a billionaire as a relic finder. She doesn't go to archaeological digs, not since being a child and her father and best friend were killed in a plane crash. However, she has a special gift that allows her to track down, as well as know things about, the artifacts she procures for her boss. When her boss, Nathan Larraby, hires her to locate four powerful relics, little does she realise the danger she will face. Not just from Nathan's reclusive nemesis known only by the name of Reaper (as in Grim), who is also after the artifacts, but from her attraction to her co-worker, Jake Stone.
This is an urban fantasy romance with a twist. I read the blurb and was intrigued. I love action adventure mixed in with romance, as well as characters with a hint of supernatural/paranormal gifts, and since I love stories like Indiana Jones, this book seemed to tick those boxes. I am glad I downloaded this book, but am sad that it's taken me a while to get to read this book due to my large reading list.
I started reading the story and was instantly hooked. The story is told through the view points of Kendall and Jake for the most part, but as it progressed, other characters, namely Nathan, also had their say. I don't want to give spoilers, so will try not to.
I found myself on a roller coaster of emotion as the story unfolded. I enjoyed getting to know the characters better and we are introduced to quite a few. Kendall is hard headed, determined and carrying a lot of baggage from her past. Jake, too, is an intriguing character. He is a former soldier, working as a mercenary for hire. He is also carrying a lot of baggage from his past, and has secrets. Speaking of secrets, Nathan Larraby is one big enigma. He has a power that is changing him into something, but his past is hidden so the reader (namely me) became intrigued about him. Fergus is Nathan's butler and is another character that I liked a lot.
There are several twists and turns that act as red herrings, so the reader never really knows what is really going on in this book. I will say that this just kept my interest in this story keen. The castle that Kendall and Jake visit is full of secrets and is steeped in history thought to be legend or myth. If you love Arthurian legends as I do, the way the author wove this aspect into the story got me thinking. What if King Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot were actually in a threesome? Whether this was true or not is only speculation on my part. We may never know for sure. However, I could imagine Kendall, Jake and Nathan in such a relationship, as there is definite chemistry between the three (Jake and Nathan not so much, but they both have feelings for Kendall). Saying that, there is no explicit scenes of a sexual nature in this story, though there is mention of activity between Kendall and Jake. I'm not keen on a love triangle in most books, but the way these characters interact, whether intended by the author or not, feels natural. The danger they face is palpable, and I found myself biting my nails or sitting on the edge of my seat often. I reached the end of the book with mixed feelings, and was glad that I'd downloaded the second and third book in the series so that I could continue reading, since the book ends in a small cliffhanger. Now I am looking forward to reading Fountain of Secrets as soon as I can.
Anita Clenney has written an intriguing paranormal romance full of action and adventure. I love her fast paced writing style and the flow is wonderful. I would definitely consider reading more books by this author in the future, and there is a high probability that I would add her to my favourite authors list too.
Due to the above mentioned scenes of a sexual nature, as well as some violence, I do not recommend this book to young readers. However, I highly recommend this book if you love paranormal/supernatural romances/romantic suspense/urban fantasy/action/adventure or myths and/or legends genres. - Lynn Worton
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About The Author:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Anita Clenney grew up an avid reader, devouring Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books before moving on to mysteries and romance. After working as a secretary, a Realtor, teacher's assistant, booking agent for Aztec Fire Dancers, and a brief stint in a pickle factory (picture Lucy and Ethel--lasted half a day)...she realized she'd missed the fork in the road that led to her destiny. Now she spends her days writing mysteries and paranormal romantic suspense about powerful relics, secret warriors, ancient evil and destined love. Anita lives in Louisiana with her husband and two kids. You can learn more about her writing at
www.anitaclenney.com. Also find her on Facebook and Twitter.
