Amazon Robin Badillo's Website Journey Of the Damned-Scorned Category:  Romance Publisher: Devine Destinies ISBN-10:  1554877814 Type: Fiction Pages: 308 Copyright: Jan 15, 2011 ISBN-13: 9781554877812 When true love reaches into the darkness and breathes new life into your immortal soul, embrace the light and seek your destiny, for there lies the truth, and in it, you shall be free. Some journeys take you to distant lands, some to the end of the line, but some journeys take you straight into forever. Sydney Chance found her immortal destiny in the arms of her true love, vampire Demetri Bastian. But, life as a vampire has dealt them a shocking hand. Separated by a sinister foe, Sydney must circle the globe, desperately in search of the man she loves. Oceans and continents lie between them and danger lurks at every turn. A female vampire alone for too long, incites the natural attraction from every male within her proximity. Even a determined Sydney, finds herself vulnerable to natures call and when her own feelings of doubt weaken her resolve, temptation becomes her enemy. Can she fight the battle within, or will it destroy her before her nemesis ever has a chance? Is it possible for a woman to love more than one man at a time, or will fate make the decision for her? Love has a way of leading a heart to its destiny, but nobody said it was going to be easy. Excerpt My attention turned to my own growing hunger. I spotted a young guy across the room that wasn’t dressed as a vampire or covered in tattoos and piercings like most of the other people. He appeared rather normal. Then again, how normal could he be? After all, he was in Hell. I excused myself and headed toward him. I glanced over my shoulder and noticed Connor take the waitress by the arm and walk with her to the other side of the room. The guy saw me coming and straightened his t-shirt as if that helped him to look better. I could have cared less what he looked like. The smell of his blood was my one concern. I didn’t speak, I just did what my instincts told me to do. He followed me to the dance floor where I wrapped my arms around him, watching Connor and the waitress the entire time. Lean into her slow. Take your time, I told him with my thoughts. He glared at me with an intense fixation and positioned her in our line of sight. I did the same with the guy. Do as I do. He nodded. I pressed my mouth against the flesh of the guy’s neck as if to kiss him there. Connor leaned down and did the same. The girl’s heart pounded so loud I heard it across the room, even over the thudding heartbeat of my own prey. Her breathing changed, too. She panted heavier and faster as she became more excited. Connor kept his eyes open and set on mine. Pull her to you tighter and smell the vein. He closed his eyes as he inhaled. I gripped the guy I was with harder and did the same. Now, flick the flesh covering the vein with the very tip of your tongue, not too hard though. Connor opened his mouth and did as I had told him The scent of her blood wafted toward me. He pressed his mouth against her skin and began to swallow the sweet flowing nectar. His gaze was fixed on mine as he fed. His eyes glowed red hot. I’d never seen another vampire feed on human blood, not even Porscha. His eyes were intense and my own body responded to what he experienced. He purred with enthusiasm and a vibration of excitement shuddered down my stomach. I licked my unsuspecting donor and tasted the hot liquid as it trickled over my tongue. Connor closed his blood-lusting eyes and savored every drop. For reasons I could never fathom, I wanted so bad to see his eyes while he fed, and anxiety gripped my thoughts. I rushed through my feeding so I could get closer to him. Take your time, Connor, don’t hurry, I urged. Make it last. He responded to my thoughts without opening his eyes. I could feel his every emotion as it slammed through his body. It was as if everyone in the room disappeared as my gaze locked onto Connor and his feast. I left the guy I fed from and moved to where Connor was with the girl. I couldn’t help myself. An overwhelming desire to taste what he tasted engulfed me and I stumbled around in a euphoric state toward him. He stiffened as I neared. I knew right away that he felt me, although his eyes stayed clenched tight. The closer I got, the harder he gripped the girl. Feet from him, his eyes sprang open and he glared wild-eyed. I heard the rumble of his chest as he growled too low for human hearing. I stopped when I sensed his warning and responded with a glowering discontent. He relaxed and closed his eyes again as he suckled her throat. Blood glossed his lips a deep crimson. I licked my own lips and tasted the remnants of my meal. How I wanted to taste what remained on his. He didn’t look at me again. Instead, the girl whimpered as his mouth became more eager and he clutched her hard. He was losing control, just as I had feared. I caught my snap and composed my wild erotic thoughts. Let her go, Connor! His eyes sprang open and he growled at me loud enough for Saul to hear and stand up. Saul’s quick reaction stole my attention from Connor for just a second. Then, panic shot through me as my own need to partake of his kill kicked in. My fangs pricked the inside of my lip. Joining him became my main desire. When I turned back to Connor, his mouth was open wide and his fangs were exposed and dripping with venom. No! In a flash, I shoved the girl out of the way and slammed him into the wall. He struggled against my hold. “You can’t ever bite, Connor!” I growled. His shocked expression kept my attention away from the scent of the blood that infiltrated my senses. Saul hurried behind us and helped the waitress up from the floor. I searched the room for Porscha who danced with another guy across the room. She was still feeding and hadn’t noticed anything that happened. “It’s kind of crazy in here tonight, isn’t it?” Saul said to the waitress as he dug a tip from his wallet. She looked over at Connor and me, pressed against the wall in what must have looked like an intimate embrace. “Sorry, I didn’t know he was with her,” she apologized. “No problem, sweetheart, she isn’t the type to hold a grudge,” Saul lied with a charming grin. She straightened herself and walked back to the bar. Saul shook his head and chuckled, then went back to our table and ordered another round of drinks from another waitress. “I can’t explain what happened, Sydney. That was the single most thrilling thing that has ever—I just—” I pulled him close “It’s okay, Connor, but from now on, you can’t feed from humans unless I’m close,” I whispered. “You almost lost control.” “I was watching you and then the blood—and the thoughts that came to my mind—I just couldn’t help myself. I kept seeing flashes of our bodies twisted together and then I felt this burn all over as the blood—” He was so wound up he couldn’t form a complete sentence. He panted and squeezed my arm. I knew how he felt. I’d been overwrought with thoughts I never would have had if bloodlust hadn’t gripped me so strong. Human blood was dangerous in more ways than one and caused vampires to react in ways we wouldn’t under normal circumstances. “Bloodlust,” I replied, pressing my fingers against his lips to quiet him. “You experienced bloodlust again.” “It wasn’t like the last time. This time I saw us—I felt us.” “I know, we see them in other ways when we feed—” “I didn’t mean her, Sydney. I saw you.” His eyes searched mine in an almost pleading manner. My throat seized and I looked down at the floor. I’d felt it, too, and it scared the hell out of me. Nothing had ever happened quite like that before and it couldn’t ever happen again.

Night Owl Reviews
Author: Robin Badillo

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Shapeshifters

Reviewed by: Laurie-J

Sydney Chance and her coven enlist the help of the Knight brothers to track and rescue Demetri Bastian from the insane clutches of Tara. Tara has spirited him away deep into the Brazilian rain forest, and will go to any lengths to keep Demetri with her and to force her way into his affections. Meanwhile, Sydney must learn to temper some astonishing new powers. She has her hands full with eager males vying for her attention and lining up to offer comfort, should Demetri be unsalvageable after enduring Tara’s brainwashing.

Scorned picks right up where Forbidden ended. Sydney is facing almost unbearable loss, but she is more determined than ever to keep her vampire family safe, rescue her dearest love, and constantly get into jams. I have to say, I absolutely adore her character! She is often impulsive and headstrong, which means she routinely finds herself in trouble or in situations that she never expected. This book, just like the previous one, Forbidden, was an absolute joy to read. Sydney may be impetuous, but she is also loyal and has a tenaciousness that would put bulldogs to shame. This was an adventurous romp that is fast-paced while still managing to convey intensely believable relationships and byplays between the characters. I have one small nit to pick and that is that too many times the word “glare” is used when I believe the look was, more appropriately, a stare. Still, this novel will have you chuckling one minute and gasping the next, and it undoubtedly has my recommendation for a fine way to relax on a cold, snowy afternoon.