Touch of the Fire God
Scions of the Ankh 1

4 STARS: "TOUCH OF THE FIRE GOD is a great paranormal romance with excellent mythology. The plot is tightly crafted and the leads perfect for each other. Rene leaves her job as a doctor when her benefactor dies in Egypt. When she arrives in this beautiful arid land, she meets Ralabos, an exotic man who fuels her erotic dreams. Ralabos is a god of extraordinary powers and believes Rene is his beloved wife reincarnated. But Ralabos' enemy, Seth, is searching Rene to kill her like in her last life. Now Ralabos must keep Rene safe and bring her two souls together in hopes she will love him as he does her. Rene and Ralabos are great leads. I'm not normally a fan of the star-crossed lovers romance but this one was unique and very well written. I love that Ralabos was so committed to Rene but had to balance his desire to be her mate again with her need to acclimate to his strange tales. Rene is the quintessential modern, independent woman but I liked how she called herself out on her bad behavior. The sexual chemistry was more developed than the emotional connection but given the novella format, that worked for me. I love the mythology of the Egyptian gods and who they really are. I can't ruin that part but I liked it a lot. I also liked the secondary characters of two mated gods. They were lovely counterpoints to Ralabos and Rene. I'd love a short story on how they became a couple. Anubis, the Dark God, appears here and has his own book, Curse of the Dark God, and it's stellar too. TOUCH OF THE FIRE GOD is a wonderful paranormal romance. Fans should read this and the next in the series. The world created is so good that I wish there weren't only two books in this delightful series." -- J9, The Romance Reviews

Jonathan shuffled all of his papers back into his briefcase, and fifteen minutes later the plane landed smoothly in Cairo.

Rene finally felt something of her old self. Dr. Selkis, woman in control, she chanted to herself.

Jonathan went before her, of course. His manners were impeccable. He wanted to be able to help her down and probably protect her from assassination, she thought wryly. She still hadn’t gotten that safety comment from her mind.

As she descended the stairs, something thick seemed to permeate the air. Not smoke or smog or anything that could be seen with the human eye, yet it felt as if something was waiting in the very air itself.

Rene shook herself mentally. She had to get hold of herself. Ever since she had started having dreams of Ralabos, everything seemed to have a shadow, a purpose, or a double meaning.

Jonathan reached the concourse first, then reached up to guide her down.

The moment her black-heeled feet hit the ground, a deafening crack rent the air. Rene could only liken it to a sonic boom. The ground roiled under her feet; she thought she was smack in the middle of an earthquake. In defense, she covered her ears, but it was too late. The sound happened so quickly, she wondered if she had heard it at all. Then the ground rested as if suddenly commanded to do so.

“Did you hear that? Feel that?” she asked Jonathan, grabbing his arm and digging her nails into his suit jacket.

“To what do you refer?” he asked, neutrally looking down at the beautiful, but clearly disturbed woman. A moment later, Rene abruptly released his arm.

“It was nothing. I’m just a little more tired than usual.”

Jonathan smiled at the woman and led her to the waiting car. Most certainly he had heard and felt the disturbance. It was meant to wake the dead or near-dead—he mused to himself.

She had heard the spell working, which could only mean one thing. He had finally found her, the one he had been waiting and searching for. She had finally come home.

The old one would be awake now and most anxious to see her. Finally, Jonathan felt as if he could repay the debt he owed his old friend.

* * * *

The fissure groaned and protested, but yielded to the greater power. Ralabos immediately stopped the Earth’s unrest, lest he cause damage and death to the natives. He opened his eyes, taking in the last scenery he had seen before his deep slumber. Little had changed in this land. It still appeared remote and barren.

As he stepped out of the huge crevice, dirt and earthen debris cascaded onto his body. Within seconds, however, he was free and clean of it. She had come; now he would go to her.

His storm gray eyes that could see both this world and the realm of sorcery and magick detected a thick ribbon of color.

Ralabos smiled. His friend had not failed him. It was a spell to lead him where he was awaited. Immediately another spell activated. Information tumbled into his brain at lightning speed. Basic things he needed to know about this new world whirled around in his head—laws, customs, even a new basic language. Thoth had been most thorough and helpful.

His body began to thin until it became a light, foggy vapor, which reshaped itself into the form of a large hawk.

He took to the air, his powerful wings beating slowly, yet with such power that they propelled him forward at an alarming speed.

ADULT EXCERPT