Last Kiss Goodnight: An Otherworld Assassin Novel

I've read all of Gena Showalter's books and I've loved them. So I don't know who wrote this book, but it couldn't have been Gena Showalter. This book bored me to tears! I found myself skipping almost whole chapters searching for, no, actually praying, there was something more interesting happening further in the book. No such luck. Solo did not live up to all the hype in the beginning of the book, and while he was likable enough, there was no chemistry between them. What a disappointment! If this is a new series, it's not off to a good start.

Like all, Gena Showalter boos, it is both well written and engaging :) However, I haven't yet finished reading it; not sure if this is because of lack of interest or my finding of it unsatisfactory compared to her Demon series... ??? Whatever it is though, I would suggest this novel to any who enjoy previous Gena Showalter novels, she is a writer who usually keeps you hooked.

This is another great series by Gena Showalter. It starts a new series with Solo and Vika. I love that both characters were tortured souls and still made a great couple together. It doesn't have as much sexual tension as a lot of her other books but so much is going on with every character that it's not missed. I can't wait for the next book in this series. As always GS is always an automatic buy for me.

I'm sorry ...how exactly is this worthy of 4 stars or even 2 come to think of it...The only thing that was exciting about this book was the promise of a new one in the series. But I don't think I'm buying. I'm sticking to Kresley Cole...the unparalleled queen of paranormal romance! This book was beyond lame!

The first book in a series I find can sometimes miss the mark for me and in the second book the story usually gets better. This book made me very uncomfortable for the most part and almost considered not finishing it, something that I never do. Hope better luck next time..

When I first started the book, I didn't think I was going to be able to keep up with the story line. Needless to say I am glad I kept going. It totally sucked me in and I can not wait for the next one, I don't even think there is a next one yet

Great launch for a new series! Showalter brings the reader into a new and well-developed world ripe for expansion. This story has a nice blend of action and emotion, and the romance is believable. Looking forward to more!

I am a much bigger fan of the Alien series than I am of the Underworld series and this is no exception. I like the difficulties the characters face and how it brings out their personalities. Good read from start to finish.

I WAS REALLY DISSAPPOINTED IN THIS BOOK. I LOVE GENA SHOWALTER'S LORDS OF THE UNDERWORLD AND HER NEW SERIES ABOUT THE ANGELS. BUT THIS BOOK DIDNT EVEN SEEM LIKE IT WAS FROM THE SAME AUTHOR. A COMPLETE WASTE OF MONEY AND TIME ON MY PART. WONT BE READING ANYMORE FROM THIS SERIES.

This is by far one of the best books that I have read by Ms. Showalter! The storyline was inventive and there was not a bunch of gratuitous sex scenes! I love a good romance novel and this on was spot on!

I really love Gena's previous work, so a 2 star review is hard to make. Her writing style has swerved dangerously near to Christian book territory. Bible verses at the beginning of each chapter, and old testament stories woven through the book... The love story is pretty chaste, and frankly, there was not a lot of heat between the two characters. Wicked Nights, her last adult book, was kind of the same way, and I am seeing the theme.

She has always woven themes of good and evil, light and dark in her books, and she usually has great drama and conflict along with the passion/sex/romance. After this book, I feel kinda preached at. As someone who grew up evangelical Christian, I can scent that a mile away. All that said, I totally understand an author's need to evolve both personally and professionally, so this is not a slight on her. I'm just not sure if I'll want to be along for the ride.

You know what is weird?  I love Showalter’s Lord of the Underworld series, and you would think knowing how much I love books with aliens I would be all over this series.  Sadly no.  I have only read the first Alien Huntress book, which this is a spin-off from and I am not sure if I will delve back in. 

In the Last Kiss Goodnight, I sympathized with Vika and her plight, yet much like the otherworlders, I didn’t care for her.  She did what she could for them, but fear and what I saw as selfishness held her back from helping them.  Instead of going to the authorities she continued to wait until she felt like she had enough saved to make it on her own, so I guess it was more of self-preservation.  But there comes a point where you have to put others needs before your own.  Especially when they are being tortured and killed.  So I wasn’t a fan.   

I liked Solo, I would have liked his guardians explained a little more, I am still not sure how that worked, but I also feel like I may have missed something.  

I am going to return to the Alien Huntress series before I try any more of this series.  I am giving it 3 Boundless stars, it could be a bit brutal at times, but the relationship and banter between Vika and Solo were sweet, and I did enjoy that.   

So disappointed! I haven't read any new Gena Showalter books for a long time - ever since she found the Lord her books have become more about sexual tension than actually sexy. Her older Lords books were so much better with enough action, suspense, sex, etc. So I happened to see this new series based on her Otherworld alien series. I started reading with anticipation about the story of Solo and Vika. First, it was weird how Solo was captured by Jecis. There was an explosion and he ends up in a cage with other captured aliens who become the attractions for the circus that Jecis runs and owns. His daughter is Vika who he says is his beloved and his treasure but the minute she disobeys or expresses any independence, he punishes her whether by killing all her beloved animals or beating the crap out of her. And due to one such beating, he literally caused his daughter to become deaf....nice dad! Anyway, the minute Vika sets her eyes on Solo there's instant attraction on both parties. What ensues is a prolonged survival mode for Solo and Vika in the cage.

I kept wondering where are Solo's friends to come and save him. I kept wondering when was Vika going to get some balls to leave her father. I was wondering when this story would get better. I kept wondering and wondering and then got bored. It then occurred to me that I was just BORED with the story. It wasn't going anywhere and I just wanted it to end. I've always try to finish a story even when it started to annoy me or became uninterested in it. And with this book I was just getting frustrated - there seem to be no end in sight with the torture. I kept waiting for rescue to come or for Solo to do something extraordinary....and nothing. So I decided to not finish it. Maybe I will pick it up later when I have nothing else to read or maybe I will just go straight to the end and cut out all the boring stuff in the middle. I got this book for free along with the 2nd book of this series. I'm so disappointed and most probably will not continue with this. I'm glad I didn't pay for these 2 books. What happened to Ms. Showalter? I haven't picked up any of her new Lords books because I don't want to be more disappointed in her stories. It used to be that I couldn't wait for the next Lord book but her last one disappointed me so bad, I just stopped reading her. I prefer books from Kresley Cole who stayed with her format with her Immortals After Dark series. Hey...I'm not ashamed to admit I love some sex/eroticism with the stories. It makes it more interesting and exciting...which this story was not... :(

An awesome cover but The Last Kiss Goodnight was not what I was expecting and not in a good way. I love the author seriously love her books and I tried so hard to even like this one but just couldn't.

I get it the guy is in a cage on the cover so yes I expected that he will be spending some time in the book in the cage but I didn't think that it would be for practically the entire read. Majority of the story took place with Solo in the cage suffering complete degradation while falling for Vika who was a character that I found very hard to like. I mean I should have felt something for her she has been physically abused by her dad the man made her deaf but even with all that maybe it was the writing or the dialogue between the characters which felt so forced I still can't put my finger on it but no I did not care for her character at all.

As for the plot not much happened. No i'm serious, not much happened, majority of the time Solo is in the cage as I stated earlier, every so often having fits of rage and Vika is on the outside doing her job of having to clean the otherworlders after drugging them up and every once in awhile bringing treats for them to eat and trying to find the key to free the otherworlders meanwhile we get to spend a lot of time in Solo and Vika's heads and learn about how much they desire each other. Things didn't pick up much until the end.

Also it didn't bug me as much although now that I reflect back I did get a little annoyed by it, there are bible quotes with the start of every chapter. Then you had the two beings that Solo saw Dr X and E one represents good and the other represents evil and there were other little things throughout the book that made it at times a little preachy. I guess I just didn't expect it in a paranormal romance book having to do with assassins and otherworldly beings.

Overall this book just wasn't for me I was bored throughout most of it.

I was slightly taken aback with this one. Some spoilers applied... while I am so happy for Gena in finding what she needs in her personal life I was definitely disappointed with the book. I was expecting the old style Gena but as another reviewer wrote this is a new style of her. Again I am happy for her but to be completely honest I would have liked to be forwarned that her books wouldn't contain any of the previous sexual tension or sensual scenes. As I don't read romances just for those scenes and I absolutely love Gena I still would've purchased this book but I don't think I would've experienced the let down feeling or the somewhat duped feeling had I been told before purchasing. It also made me feel like she wasn't concerned with being honest but about the sale . As I said I don't read these just for that but when you expect something from an author but its suddenly void with no warning then its kind of shocking. Now that I know I will still follow her work but with the expectation that it is now completely pg 13.

I am a huge Gena Showalter fan. Huge. I respect her world-building, creativity, and character focus. However, this book just lost me somewhere. It starts out great, with us meeting Vika, the lonely circus owner's daughter, who is in charge of feeding and caring for her father's menagerie. When she develops attachments to the creatures, her abusive dad slaughters them and makes Vika an accomplice, emotionally devastating her. Years later, Pops has graduated to capturing humans for his sideshow, humans with special gifts, or Otherworlders. The hero, Solo (Short for Solomon, not surname to Han), is one such prisoner. Large and frightening, and an undercover assassin, he soon develops tender feelings for Vika, who is now in charge of maintaining the welfare of the humanoid captives and has been rendered deaf by her father's constant physical abuse.

Now, this is all off to a good start. But then Showalter threw into the mix a little Angel guy and Devil guy that sit on each of Solo's shoulders, yapping in his ears, which just got totally annoying, some out-of-nowhere world shifting powers, zombies that come out of left field, and a plethora of other inconsistencies in the story. It slowly became less and less about the relationship between Vika and Solo and more about this madcap world being created. It felt like, too much, too soon, too scattered.

I am still interested to see where Showalter goes with this story thread, and she will still remain one of my favorites. But this book is not a keeper for me, and Showalter may not be an auto-buy anymore. I may wait for a few reviews to roll in before buying the next in this series.

There's something to be said for an author that can disturb, upset, and gain a whole new level of respect from a reader at the same time.
When I read an authors work there are usually three rules I look for that shouldn't be broken.
Don't make it personal, don't include or put upon your personal belief systems onto anyone that reads your work, and don't alienate your readers.
Everyone is entitled to what they believe and what you do in your personal life however many barriers that may cross is your own business, but as an author they shouldn't put their religious belief onto their readers.
Everyone including the author is allowed their own opinions, and a reader can be left to draw his or her own conclusions at the end that's expected.
But if you cross the line into including those things you risk the chance of losing a readers interest if they aren't open enough to take in an authors message and decide to take it in or ignore it or plain accept it for what it is.
In this day in age we live in a time where everything is 'Lets not offend this person, lets not offend those people. Everyone is a winner, no one loses' motto's. So unfortunately when an author includes religious belief in their books they are designating to a limited crowd and asking their fans to set aside their own belief systems and take a chance on what they've written while they read the authors book. That's a big gamble.
I'm not anti religion don't get me wrong but its a slippery slope when you're including religion in a paranormal romance genre. What what you write and go all for it, I support that to the nine.
That being said not many authors are willing to push the envelope and take a chance on topics that will make a reader cringe or cry or be offended. In this case, I did all three.
When an author can really step out of their zone and walk into the unknown and take the leap into something new, that really shows just how far they are willing to go to get that ultimate rise and to get to that next step. It gets people talking and that's a great thing to accomplish.
Its a brave thing to do and it shows just how far the paranormal romance genre and its authors have come. You can love it or hate it, that's up to you.
The only true thing we really have is our opinions.
I have been a fan of Gena Showalter since the beginning and she has done a fantastic job of reaching deep and grabbing hold of those intense emotions and I for one applaud her for being brave enough to step out of that 'cage'.
But in my opinion I don't have anything great to say about the book itself, Gena let her personal life interfere with her job, the dialogue was horrible, the characters were flat, the plot was lacking, and the whole story over all left me very disappointed in what I've always known of Gena Showalter's work. Not looking forward to reading any more of her work in the future if they are the same as Last Kiss Goodnight.

For this review and more, please visit http://fortheloveoftheread.blogspot.com

Showalter is a bestselling author, but this is the first book by her that I've read. And despite the great saying, I picked up because the cover is just gorgeous!

I think I have a bit of a thing for circus stories. I've only read a few, but any time I see a blurb about a circus book, it intrigues me. This one deals with a supernatural circus, one that holds otherworlders in cages instead of animals. There is also an element of black magic that keeps the circus moving locations and keeps the fear in the otherworlders.

I enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first, largely because this is where more of the action happens. Solo is actually a participant in the circus, and he then gets his opportunity to bust out, take Vika, and make an escape. It is also in the last half of the book that some of the otherworlders get an opportunity to shine and show what their skill sets are.

The romance that blossoms between Solo and Vika is typical of a romance - nearly instantaneous and a slow burn. But what I loved about it was that there was no gratuitous sex or overly graphic sex. This is an author who understands the value of romance and of keeping it behind closed doors, a breath of fresh air from so many other books that are on the market.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I would have liked more circus time and I myself didn't fall in love with Solo - falling in love with the hero is always a big plus - but I liked it all the same. This is the first in a series by Showalter, and I do plan to read the next one (which has an even more gorgeous cover!). If you're a romance reader and like a little paranormal thrown in, this one is a good one to pick up. If nothing else, the cover is droolworthy!

I found this book after searching for Paranormal Romance on a few different sites, it was horrible after page ten!!! It was "hideously" slow and nothing, and I mean "nothing" interesting happens until the last twenty pages. I so wanted to stop reading this book 50 pages in but kept thinking at 100, 250, 325 pages in that it would pick up and explode with activity, it "never" did.

All the while I was reading I kept thinking how the time I used to read it I would never get it back, but I kept on because I didn't want to be walking around wondering if she ever got it right. I was also wondering how on earth this book was published, must be a great contract she has. The story is disjointed.

The story is comprised of hero and heroine and the story spends sooooooo much time with what they're thinking its painful. The characters are boring as dirt, they are flat and pitiful as in whiney. The supporting characters are like wallpaper and drapes, correction, they are more like mannequins.

The promise of romance was a trick to get you to get this book, unless you're a teen who sits around all day pining away for the hope of romance, its what the two main characters do. You get your paranormal, but its a yawn to. You will spend the whole time thinking someone will finally show up to save the day... NO ONE EVER DOES!!! Which was sad because the people you are introduced to in the beginning should have shown up to help with the struggle, and THEY NEVER DO!!!

"Please" save your time and money and don't do this series, you will castigate yourself later. Or if you're a disbeliever, at least get it from the library like I did, the only thing you'll be mad at is the gas you used to get it and take it back.

When offered the chance to review Gena Showalter's Last Kiss Goodnight, I was thrilled. I had heard such great things about her other books and was more than ready to jump on the band wagon and explore her work. Plus...how gorgeous is that cover! Unfortunately this one really didn't work for me. Perhaps this just isn't a good subgenre for me? Or perhaps Gena Showalter just isn't the author for me? To be honest, I almost didn't finish it.

I found the pacing of the novel to be incredibly slow...many times I was very tempted to fast forward in the hopes of finding "the good stuff." I also found her writing to be a bit pedantic...which didn't help with the pacing issues...and the dialogue to be very forced and awkward. It just felt to me like a whole lot of nothing happened in this book. There was a lot of repetitious activity and dialogue...it just didn't stay fresh. Sure there were a few intense moments during fights or flights...but I just wasn't captivated.

I also felt that the whole storyline was just too contrived...1,2,3 and we're thrown into this prison like environment that is the Lukas' circus and our main characters spend the whole novel striving to extricate themselves all the while fighting their growing attraction. There were facets of the world that seemed like they might be pretty fascinating, but it really wasn't explored enough for my taste. I have very little idea of when this book was set and what changes occured in the world due to the Otherworlders' arrival. We basically spend the whole book watching Solon and Vika interact with the bars of his cage between them.

I also had an incredibly hard time connecting to any of the characters and that saddened me. I think there is tremendous potential in the characters and relationships of Solo, Blue & John, as well as Michael (and I am assuming that each will be the subject of a subsequent book) but I didn't feel like that potential was maximized. We learned a bit through the course of the book about Solo and his history...but the character really didn't show a whole lot of growth or interaction within these relationships as he was separated from them for the course of the book.

Our heroine Vika was also hard for me to connect with. I honestly had a very difficult time accepting her developing relationship with Solo, because she just seemed like such a child. Whether due to her tortured upbringing or her actual age (which I don't recall being stated in the book)...the character felt about 12 years old. Her speech patterns, mannerisms, and thought processes were just not those of an adult woman. She definitely needed Solo's protection and help...but anything more than that just felt completely inappropriate to me. Not a good thing if reading a Paranormal Romance.

With all of that said, I am sure there probably is an audience for this book. Sadly, I'm apparently just not it.

Regarding the narration: It's hard for me to judge based upon the fact that I didn't much care for the book itself...but I feel that George Newbern did a fine job with what he had to work with.

NOTE: Audio version recieved from Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I'm going to start by saying how much I LOVE the cover of Last Kiss Goodnight, it's stunning (I think it's the colour contrast). Also the first thing I noticed was that Vika and Solo's story is a lot cleaner than I was expecting due to past Gena Showalter books *ahem* Lords of the Underworld, but it was actually a nice shift to focus on the tension and building romance rather than just smut.

I love the idea of aliens being present and living amongst us, of course they have to be hot and bad ass. I haven't read Showalter's Alien Huntress series which I believe this is a kind of spin-off from, but it worked well as a standalone and I didn't have any problems with missing plot details. In my head the Otherworld Assassins are like hot alien versions of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (I promise this makes more sense when you read the book). Solo is fierce, strong and kinda misunderstood - I liked him instantly and appreciated his willingness to look after Vika and others who needed it. Upon first glance he's angry and vicious but when you consider his circumstances, backstory and the treatment of the people at the 'zoo' it all makes sense.

I liked Vika and (horrible circumstances aside) I did think she relied on Solo a little too much, even after professing to wanting to be independent and not trust or rely on any men. She's sweet and innocent and I appreciated the slow curiosity she develops and the compassion she displays to all the 'monsters' at the zoo.

I would also have liked a slightly more developed ending considering the book isn't exactly short, but I appreciated the slow burn Showalter includes. Now I want to know what happens to the other aliens...

I won the book as part of a giveaway prize.

Vika and Solo were very interesting characters, and definitely different than most you end up reading about! Solo is considered 'ugly and hideous' throughout the book by...well, pretty much everyone, including himself. He's strong, fierce, and will do whatever it takes, whenever it takes, to get the job done. Then we have Vika. And POOR Vika! You really empathize with her character, after the first chapter she's introduced I was already hoping for justice. Seriously, my heart went out to her. And the fact she's so sweet, and hides her 'disability' so well, is incredible. Her adaptability and will is noteworthy. And the fact she takes a liking to Solo...it just melts your heart!!!

Now, to mention my side-note from the beginning. While I'm a HUGE Showalter fan (Lords of the Underworld anyone?!), this book didn't have the 'steamy romance' that her books usually have. Is that a bad thing? No, definitely not. But there's a lot of buildup to that point in the book, and while romance happens, it's just mentioned that it happens. Like, in a paragraph or two. This book is very story based, and while Vika and Solo fall in love and overcome overwhelming odds, there isn't much romance. Like I said, which is FINE, the story does great without it, I just...expected it, I guess? It sounds odd I'm complaining about it, when the story was very well done!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! The only reason I gave it a 4 out of 5 is because of: A.) the beginning of the book, and several parts along the way, was very confusing to me for a while (lots of information to process, but I suppose it's needed to set the stage) and B.) as a Showalter fan, I expected more steamy-ness. But otherwise a GREAT read, and I will definitely be picking up book 2!

I first fell in love with Gena with her Lords of the Underworld series, and later collected the Atlantis, White Rabbit, and Everlife series' as well as a few of her stand alone books. So, I started this book with pretty high expectations. And I just want to say right here that I wasn't disappointed in the least.

It was pretty obvious which male was to be the main hero in the book, just with the description of him being unattractive, giant, and undesirable. And I must say, Gena definitely delivered on the beauty and the beast theme. I fell in love with him pretty quickly. This one is definitely getting added to my Gena shelf (though, that has grown to occupy 2 shelves now).

I must say that I'm a little grumpy with Gena though. I cried my eyes out toward the end of the book and I hate when authors make me cry my own tears.

I can't wait for the next book to me in my greedy little hands (And I hope to hell that it's not the last one in the series!!)

RATING: 2-2.5

Gena Showalter's start to a new series can be best described as conflicting. Not because it isn't easy to understand - it is very easy to follow in fact - rather due to the absence of numerous non-Showalter-esque elements present in the story. Last Kiss Goodnight is an okay read, but what it is not is a memorable one, unlike many of Showalter's previous works.

Contrary to the saying, "Don't compare books with other books", in this case it is very hard not to compare. The Otherworld Assassin series is a spin-off from Showalter's well-known (very well-liked) Alien Huntress series, however, in more than one place this book is lacking. There is no substance behind the plot, no fascinating world-building, no character development, not even secondary characters worth investing time in. I've always enjoyed Showalter's writing-style and her uncanny ability to engage readers with the littlest of aspects, yet I am completely disappointed with the lack of content in this one.

Where the idea is decent, essentially, Last Kiss Goodnight is bordering on being a sermon rather than a paranormal romance novel, with the addition of Bible verses scattered throughout the book, including the beginning of each chapter. The potential for climatic fight scenes, well-developed characters, and satisfying romance is definitely present, unfortunately, it is never executed to its full capability. The first half of the book is spent, literally, inside a cage and the second half is wasted on generic clichés exchanged between the two main characters. The romance is sweet, yes, but I couldn't wrap my head around why Solo and Vika liked each other. There is no chemistry, no sexual tension, they are basically an empty - for lack of a better word - couple. Needless to say, Solo's alpha-male tendencies and Vika's demure personality are likeable, and the only bright spot in this book.

With the theme of good vs. evil that is handled childishly, a slow pace and repetitive rumination in the prose, Showalter is always one step behind enthralling her readers, which is a damn shame for such a talented author. I wouldn't recommend this to fans (you will be dissatisfied) or any reader for that matter. But my inner Showalter fanatic won't let me dismiss this series just yet, so hopefully the next book will be better, for my sake.

I am usually very excited to start a Gena Showalter book and this time was no different. My friends and I always say you cannot go wrong with a Gena book. Unfortunately, I may end up being the only one of us to actually read this one. Even though Vika and Solo are interesting characters, this was a hard book to get into. They live in such a dark world and where we are use to a certain amount of humor in the IAD books, there is just not enough in this one for me. Also the supporting characters are not very likeable so it was hard to care about them. Another problem I had with this book was the fact that I felt like it was intended for young adults - which I also read - but I was expecting a book for a more mature audience and this was light on the steam. So, while the story does pick up by the end, I don't know if I will continue reading the series.

3.5 Stars
Reviewed by FRANCESCA & posted at Under the Covers Book Blog

"Solomon Judah is a hero to die for." ~Under the Covers

I was soooo excited to get my paws on this book because, well the cover is to die for, and I was hoping for a glimpse of Dallas.

From the very beginning of the book I knew this would be a unique story. We have a heroine who is deaf, and a hero who is sort of a monster amongst his assassins and he kind of has a little devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. Almost literally. Then there's the actual premise of the book being in a freak circus. Vika's father is the owner of this circus and he collects aliens to keep in cages and show to mean spirited humans who come to see them. Solo is actually looking to free those aliens, but then ends up captured and caged himself.

I really liked Solo. Solomon Judah is a hero to die for. Big and strong and protective. I loved him from the very beginning. His lack of self esteem because he sees himself as a monster was endearing and gave him the vulnerability that drew me in. Vika on the other hand was a strong heroine, having gone through hell and back from early on.

Then there's the bad guy of the story. Wow! One of the worst I've read in a while, he was just MEAN and I despised him the whole way. Just when I thought things were looking up, he would step on my hopes again. Great bad guy!

But as much as all these elements by themselves were amazing, the storyline didn't blow me away. It was just ok for me. I found it a bit slow and going through ups and downs. I went from really liking it to falling flat to really liking it again. I think in part a lot of that was because it took forever for Vika and Solo to get together.

This is a spin off series, and although I found no issues with understanding everything, maybe someone picking this book up without reading the Alien Huntress series might just have a bit of problems with understanding all the different alien types. I think Gena has done a better job at explaining that in the original series than in this book. That being said, you could easily read this book without reading the original series and still enjoy it.

I am very excited to what's to come in this new series. I really liked this group of "assassins" from the moment they were talked about in the Alien Huntress series and I can't wait to read about them all. But I NEED MORE DALLAS!!! Who do I have to bribe? That man is dangerous for my peace of mind. Please give him an HEA.

*ARC provided by publisher

I have to admit that I adore the LOTU series my Showalter and am excited that she is starting a new series with Last Kiss Goodnight. I have to start with my review of the cover. I like the black and white background because the book delves into the concept of duality between white and black magic. However, the picture of Vika leaves me unsatisfied. The red dress was only a moment in the book while her caring and nurturing nature was what solidified her character. The woman on the cover is a vixen ready for a night on the town. I felt that was misleading. That being said, the cover is very gorgeous. This book read more like a YA novel for me. I enjoy Showalters sensual rhythm when writing sex scenes and this book was a build up and then a door shut. Romance is either written to open the bedroom door and let the reader inside or shut it and keep the reader moving onto the next scene, implying the love making took place. Showalter altered that concept a bit which was frustrating for me. She cracked the door and left me excited, but wanting. That just leaves me frustrated. I liked the build up of the romance. She is very crafty with that technique in everything she writes. The fact that Vika was deaf was endearing and a fresh twist for a gutsy heroine. Solo was a wonderful alpha hero. He was broken and strong. Caring and vulnerable. She is very gracious when writing those types of heroes in any of her works and I enjoy that. The premise of the story was interesting and created a mental landscape that made me cringe and weep for the animals, otherworlders, and Vika alike. The villians were well written and made me want to shiver when their scenes were on the pages. There were a few hiccups in the story. First, I had a hard time picturing Vika kissing Solo when she cleaned the cage. I just felt that was very out of character for her. Second, I couldn't understand why Jesic put Vika in the cage when they went to the Nolands. That was terribly out of character for him. That made no sense to me. I understand that Showalter had to get Vika in the cage somehow to build the relationship, but that just wasn't plausable for me. Other than those coupld of hiccups, I enjoyed the book and really liked the cabin scene. I loved Vika's kind nature and will to survive. Solo was a handsome character. I look forward to the next book in this series.

After reading the synopsis for this book I was very interested in what it was all about. Black ops agent that's an otherworlder, a zoo that holds these human./creatures, and a deaf girl who is willing to risk herself to save these prisoners. I was intrigued and couldn't help but to be sucked into this story. I needed to know what would happen, I wanted to know that Vika could do what she set out to do and escape the craziness that is her life. I was totally fascinated with the good and evil voices that were in Solo's head. And engaging and intense story that is sure to keep you reading (or in my case listening) into the wee hours of the morning.

Vika is a girl who is beyond tough. She has to be. Her father who swears she is the most important thing in the world to him is an abusive and evil man. He is the reason why she is deaf. She has always loved animals, they were her only friends. Now that the zoo no longer holds animals, but these otherworlders who are part human, she is in charge of their care. She is continually beat and punished from her father for things and she just wants to escape. She has such a good heart though and won't leave unless she can free the otherworlders too. She has been saving the jewelry that her father buys her so she can sell it and be able to live on her own. She is very much a prisoner just like the otherworlders, except for her cage is her father. I loved her character.

Solo was a bit harder for me to like. He is an otherworlder. He is a black ops agent who is supposed to catch the man who is selling otherworlders to this zoo, but instead he gets captured. While captured, he instantly takes a possessiveness to his keeper, Vika. I didn't like how he was all, "She's mine." and whatever, but I guess that's the alpha male animal instinct in him. I don't know. It just really bothered me that he was so possessive and thought of her as his. Oh, and the vows. He always wanted people to vow things, especially Vika. When people vow something to him, or he to them, it can't be broken. He got a bit crazy with it with Vika I thought, but I'm not actually sure if they worked on her with the exception of one. Anyways, I'm getting way off topic now. So I liked him, he seemed like a good guy in general, but I think that the animal side of him made him have that dominant side. He was super protective of her though and it was made clear that he did fall in love with her and would do anything for her. So I suppose he is forgiven for acting like Vika is his property and he owns her.

The story was really interesting and I loved how some magic was incorporated into it too. I really enjoyed how Vika was accepting of Solo, even when he was almost ashamed of himself. They really did form a great bond with each other. I loved how the story moved along and we got enough information to keep us interested, but it never really moved super fast. I would have liked to know more about the otherworlders besides Solo and more about their worlds and stuff. Especially when they traveled to an inbetween world or something. Overall this was enjoyable though. I really loved the reader. He made the characters come to life. He made it very easy to distinguish between the different characters, and he put the emotion into them. I was never at any point confused about who was talking at any point in the story. I am also very interested to know where the story will go now. I can't wait for Black and Blue.

*Actual rating on my blog is 3.5 stars

This is my first Showalter. I guarantee it won't be my last. She's talented, entertaining, and a great story teller.

SYNOPSIS:
Agent Solomon wakes up inside a cage as part of a `freak' show in a circus that caters to I think (there's canon here I'm not sure of) for monsters and/or sociopathic humans or humanoid creatures.

He is cared for by the Vika the daughter of the circus owner. She attends to all the `freaks', but is not the pampered owner's daughter, but the cruelly tortured child, who has achieved adulthood, but not independence. The circus master has struck her so many times, she has gone deaf. A lot of the action in this novel is quiet, and takes place in the confines of a cage. It's a romance, so V and S fall for each other, and as suspense/action novels dictate, they eventually escape. Or do they?

PROS:
This was a good story. Solid character driven. It had several story lines woven throughout, and it promises additional books from the adventures of the hero's friends. I really bought into the angst fear and emotions pouring from the characters. That is good writing.

CONS:
I kept waiting for the hero to have to conversation where he inquires how the heroine lost her hearing. I think the author forgot to include that as part of the story. I have never read a Showalter, so I'm not familiar with the canon. I bought the book `cause it looked interesting, and the book cover is woooooowhhhhhhh cool.

I definitely got my money's worth.

Though this book didn't completely live up to my expectations, I still enjoyed it. I thought the plot was well paced, the main character's were very likable, and I really enjoyed the world building.

This was a really easy read. The writing style was good and it pulled me in. I like how the plot moves along at a pace that's just right. You don't get tired of waiting for things to get started and, once they do, things didn't move too fast. I'm a sucker for a beauty and the beast type theme and that's pretty much what Last Kiss Goodnight was underneath it all. The tone was great. Dark and gritty with a smidge of sweetness. There are also fantasy elements in this story, which leads me to my only real complaint. Sometimes the writing for those elements was confusing and hard to picture. I see that these characters are taken from a previous series and it may have benefited me to be somewhat acquainted with that world. Other than that, everything flowed well.

I liked the characters a lot. Vika was a realistic mixture of sweet, tough, and vulnerable. It was easy to sympathize with her. Solo was tall, dark, scary, and handsome. He was also believably sweet. I like that the author actually took the time to let us get inside their heads and get to know them one on one alongside the developing romance. It was because of that that I enjoyed the romance. I felt it progressed nicely and though it didn't completely suck me in, I was invested.

All in all, Last Kiss Goodnight is a very imaginative paranormal romance. I like the creativity that went into the world building and the story is a nice mix of action, suspense, fantasy, and romance. The main characters are very likable and there's also some interesting side characters.

This book was pretty good. It takes place in an alternate reality where aliens also live on Earth. The female protagonist is the daughter of a circus owner who has illegally captured some of them and displays them as a main attraction. She is not in agreement with her father about this treatment and many other things so she is mistreated in many ways, even made deaf. She is in charge of taking care of these captures. And that is where our male protagonist comes in. He is part of some covert operations but is captured and sold to this circus. As soon as he meets her he knows she is the one, but they must find a way to escape the circus and her father.
This author decided to take a more Christian approach in this book, while others were not big fans of that, I thought it was refreshing to have a romance/fantasy novel that was a good read but didn't leave you feeling all dirty at the end!

This book had so much potential. Great idea/plot, well rounded characters, but no heat...none whatsoever. I like the suspense and action, don't get me wrong, but what little intimacy there was between the characters was skated over so briefly I had to go back and make sure I hadn't missed it. How can you adequately convey the emotional connection between two people making love if there is no... lovemaking.

The good versus evil point was beat like a dead horse until you couldn't wait for it to be over.

Very disappointing, especially from someone who used to be one of my favorite authors. I've collected all her older books and reread them time and again. I loved the early LotO, and a few others, but this one and UN "Wicked Nights" which I also just read are poor comparisons. Flat and boring. If this is an example of how GS is going to continue, I won't bother reading any more of her books.

What a waste of such incredible talent.

While the cover on this book was what caught my attention I never fail to be agitated by cover work that does not match the author's descriptions, especially of characters (the female matches, not the rest). A beauty and the beast story, needless to say the man on this cover is no beast. That having been said, the book itself and the writing have earned their place among the best books I've read over the past few years. The characters, the setting and the story were all vivid and seamless. Vika, the heroine's character is not overdeveloped for someone in her position and not weak or naive like too many female characters in so many romance novels. The action and movement were strong and compelling and the cringe worthy moments really made you cringe. The only fault one might find with this book is that there are places that slow down the book that seem almost intentional, but not natural. For me as a reader, that also slowed me down in finishing the book because it created a lull - a great stopping point that left me in no hurry to get back to it. Overall a good book, a good job and time well spent.

With maybe 80 pages to go, I stopped reading. I couldn't take the stilted dialogue, lack of emotional connection between the characters, and overall contrived nature of the story. The cover said this was a "sizzling" new series, but the only thing sizzling about it was *spoiler* the solar flare land that resembled hell where what appeared to be zombies resided. There was no sizzle whatsoever here, and this was such a departure from what Gena usually writes that somewhere in the product description it should have warned us that this was a more (way more) toned down Showalter. This was so much unlike anything else I've read from her that she probably should have published it under a different pen name. Oh, and lastly *spoiler*, if Vika is deaf, how did she "hear" the click of the safety when Solo engaged it as they trekked through the woods? Don't believe me? Go back and read that part. Oopsy daisy. Major fail. But that's pretty much how I felt about the whole book.

I've been a huge fan of Gena's writing, and particularly loved her very early books in the AIR series. However, this story was different in the same way that her new series, "Angels of the Dark", is different from her usual LOTU style. Less satisfying, if you enjoy Gena's trademark intensity, wit, sexual tension and frisky romance. I am only 2/3 of the way through this book, and even though I was interested enough in advance to purchase LKG on its release date this week, I'm finding myself scratching my head and checking online reviews to see if others are feeling the same. This book has an unpleasant focus on its sadistic antagonist and his many cruel exploits. The romance is light. There is a spiritual element that is refreshing but blends oddly with the extreme sadism and unlikely story of the protagonists who are trapped in a circus and no one seems able to rescue or escape. The pacing is draggy. Michael Black's team of AIR recruits seems like it would be an appealing series, but I'd prefer seeing more of Gena's sharp and sexy style as in Mia's and Eden's AIR books.

The book is so boring I kept throwing it away and it's never a good thing. What's so boring about it? Well... first, I felt no connection between the heroes. No chemistry. And there's just too much introspection. It seemed all they did was think and ponder about what the other thought, did or said. Why he/she said, did or thought that? All those `what ifs' and `what if nots' was not only boring, but frustrating. Especially that there was little action and only pages after pages of `what ifs'.
I felt as if they spent way too much time building an image of one another in their own minds instead of actually interacting. And when they did interact ... it was disappointing. (I couldn't stop from rolling my eyes at all the lame things they said.)
Another thing I noticed was that the book failed to deliver what it promised. For example, Showalter kept saying how dangerous and strong and fierce Solo was. How nothing could stop him. How destructive and impulsive he was. And then he manages to maintain calm during his incarceration. Few showings of elongated teeth and reddening of skin. That's it!

If you have ever read Larissa Ione's books you'll know what I mean. If she presented the character who was impulsive etc. he was that. She didn't need to repeat it ten times. She showed it. (How Thanatos exploded killing almost everyone on an island after he got... well I won't give spoilers :) -those who know, know. And those who don't - I really recommend reading her books. They are amazing!)

Then were the intimate scenes. If in the past I did complain about her sex scenes bordering on simple porn, now... she really made a U turn in that department.
And the whole preaching. What is that all about?
All in all, it was a true disappointment.

Let me just say that I ve read mot of Showalter's books and enjoyed them, some more than others. No idea what this book is supposed to be, but it was all over the freaking place. I start to think that maybe the author throws or tries to throw so much new and weird stuff into the story that when she gets back to the hero- heroine - she is like oh wait - what was I about to do? We are also told a lot of things - She is the "one" for the hero, no idea why she just is. Her father is like really REALLY bad, and yet she is still there, he beats her daily yet she cant escape because well, she cant survive on her own(her words not mine) - huh? I think id rather die than go through daily beatings, help torture and hurt captive "people" and being forced to marry some jerk - the whole martyr she is perfect type girl never does anything wrong, was over blown too. Please enough! It made no sense all the "sacrifice" and things she did for the creatures and they still hated her and plotted her death over and over - when couldn't they see she was just as much a victim as she, but oh no I guess it made for better suspense. So dumb Im shocked that this was written and published!

As a fan of both the LOTU and AIR series, I think this book fell flat. The basic dynamic could have set up a lot of high drama with fully developed emotions between the characters and a rich plot line for the team, but it just never got there. A great deal of the world building was left unfinished (even if you *have* read AIR, which shares this world) and just dropped in, expecting the reader to follow along. There was a lot of unnecessary deus ex machina, like Showalter had some scenes in her head, but rather then flesh them out or tie them together in a comprehensible way, she'd just have a dimension shift here, a kidnapping there, some animal attacks and some black magic all loosely tied together. Most disappointing were the inconsistencies which the editor didn't catch, particularly those concerning Vika's deafness--she often *heard* and reacted to tone of voice. While I respect the author's choice for writing a character with this kind of impairment, I think it overly ambitious for someone with hearing to write about a deaf person's experience and write about it well.

I like Ms. Showalter's Alien Huntress series and due to the reviews, I had not purchased this book immediately upon release even though the story blurb was right up my alley. I recently borrowed the book from the library and here's my take on the story. Yes, it's a PNR and yes, the characters were interesting...but I definitely felt a very strong Christian message directed to the reader. I have no problems with the message since this is essentially the way I live my life BUT I really did not enjoy having the message squashed into a PNR that didn't really flow very well and ended up in a convoluted plot, which really affected my ability to enjoy this tale.

Here are my thoughts about this novel.

Characters: 4/5
I loved Solomon (aka "Solo) and Vika. His brooding, sometimes animalistic behaviors, along with his occasional flashes of gentleness (mainly toward Vika), made all the foreplay, interactions and ultimate surrender very fulfilling for me.

Vika's father was well-written as the villain and several of the other secondary minions were fleshed out so that you never felt that any of the characters were "flat."

Plot: 4/5
This story reminded me a lot of the Beauty and the Beast theme with a Gena Showalter spin on it. Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairy tales so anything that has that type of theme or vibe is a welcome read for me.

Flow: 4/5
I think only once or twice did I get thrown out of the flow of the story but they were only minor and did not prevent me from finishing and enjoying the story.

Believability: 4/5
Completely believable. The characters (good and the baddies) were well-rounded and made it easy to believe the relationships and personal interactions between them.

Sexual Tension: 5/5
Nail biting and at other times so sweet it hurt, but in a good way.

Romance: 4/5
Vika's innocence against Solo's experience made this romance work. Especially in the moments when he want to devour her but managed to be a good boy and take it slow.

Elements
F/M
Alien foreplay/sex
Physical Abuse
Brutality

I am a HUGE Gena Showalter fan and this book was just disappointing. It seems she set out to write a religious novel and had to mold the characters to fit, which resulted in weak character development and very slow pace. The sizzle and pop, the easy banter, the sex scenes just weren't there. And a biblical quote before each chapter? Yuck...I didn't buy a romance novel to read Christian fiction. In other reviews here, you can read about all of the religious connotations, such as X and E, ect. This book would have fit nicely in that category, and if Showalter wants to now write for that genre(noooo! I would miss her soo much,) it should be categorized as such. And to cut out the intimate scenes after holding on for so long made for a enormous let-down.

I was really looking forward to reading this book. But I was a little disappointed because I was thinking Lords of the Underworld/Alien Huntress kind of action and sexy steam. That is not what you get in Last Kiss Goodnight. It is a good story but it's very tame compared to Showalter's other books.

I did like the characters. And the story kept me interested. However, I would've liked more dialogue and less "must tell the truth or I'll turn into my psycho sadistic father". The hero, Solo, has two tiny men whispering in his ear throughout the book, one telling him to be good, the other telling him to be bad. I could've done without that.

So, while this story lacks the sexual tension and sharp banter Showalters books usually contain, it's still a sweet story with a beauty and the beast quality. I look forward to reading the next book, Black and Blue, and hope it has a little more kick to it.

In a nutshell, my problem with this book was that there was too much going on, and yet somehow, not enough.
In the `too-much' column fell the novel's backdrop. As with some of Showalter's previous books, Last Kiss Goodnight is set in the aftermath of a human-alien war. However, if you haven't read the other installments in this world (or, like me, read them some time ago), it is confusing and off-putting to be placed so abruptly into it, with minimal explanation and build-up. This was furthered by the disconnection between elements of the story: there were aliens and superpowers, but also some magic and thinly veiled Christian overtones thrown in.
Many other reviews (which I wish I'd read before I bought the book) have taken umbrage with the biblical quotes at the beginning of each chapter. I, too, thought they were somewhat out of place, but they didn't bother me so much; it's easy to skip them, or look at the quote out of the context of the Bible. What did bother me was the less overt Christian influence; the repetitive and heavy-handed moralising undertaken by the characters, as well the constant battle between the dualistic forces of good and evil (who were even personified!). Definitely over the top for a romance. Nobody picks up a Gena Showalter book if they are looking for a Nietzsche-like dissection of human nature. I'm not saying romance novels can't have depth, just that this one went about it in clumsy and preachy way.
While those were the parts that I felt should have been toned down, there were also elements I felt should have received more attention. The relationship between the hero and heroine was weak to say the least. Romance heroes often label the heroine as `theirs' within a short time of meeting - it is a reality of the genre - but in this case, it seemed like this trumped the need to actually build a relationship between Solo and Vika. I was similarly unimpressed with the lack of romantic action they share. This is not on any ideological basis - done skilfully, this romantic suspense has created some of the best romances I have ever read. However, when the intervening pages are filled with the internal monologues of morality I have described above, all it serves to do is make the book drag on FOREVER. Ditto the lack of attention given to making sure that the plot worked well and all its elements meshed.
Overall, even though I've always loved Gena Showalter's books, this one had enough of a negative impact that in future I'll do some very careful review-reading and flick-throughs before I shell out to buy one.

What it's about: Gena Showalter wrote a fantastic series, the Alien Huntress books, that have two of my favorite books in it: Awaken Me Darkly and Savor Me Slowly. This series opened readers' eyes to Aliens, Otherworlders and the organizations that control them all. Last Kiss Goodnight is a part of a new series, called Otherworld Assassin, and overlaps with the Alien Huntress world. Solo is a brute: He's an alien who is Black Ops, and he was captured and imprisoned in a zoo featuring Otherworlders. The zoo owners' daughter is a deaf human, Vika, who is in charge of their "care and feeding." Throw in forbidden romance, dark magic, and a father who will do anything to control everyone, and you have a fantastical tale.

Why you should read it: Last Kiss Goodnight is tame in comparison to Gena's other paranormal romance books. There's a lot of character building and getting to know the two leads before we even catch a hint of steam. Last Kiss Goodnight is also a part of what I call the "New Gena" style of writing: LKG and Alice in Zombieland have biblical phrases throughout and an overall theme of good vs. evil with clearly defined lines. While I wouldn't call her work Christian writing, there are definitely elements of it that weren't in earlier books. Overall, LKG builds a bit more slowly, but, hey, it's Gena Showalter, and if you pick up any of her books, you're in for an unusual and fun ride.

To read what Gena has to say about the two main characters check out the HEA Blog

I loved Gena's early LOTU books but the last few have bored me to tears. This book, a different Storyline from her LOTU series was a boring as her latest. I read as much as I could, then sent it back to the library where I had found it. I will not be reading her latest LOTU with Kane either or more of the Angel series with Lysander etc.

I really tried to get attached and involved with the characters. I could not. Way too much writing with little substance.

Her writing is all the same now. She has lost something in the last few books. I was very dissappoint in Paris's book the ones since in all her genres.

Sorry but I won't be buying anymore for awhile. Maybe if the library has them or the store for free I will try them.

I haven't read a Gena Showalter book in a long time, so I didn't have a lot of expectations for this one. The book started well, with a dramatic prologue and then plunged us right into the action. The problem is that the action then ground to a complete halt. This is due to two main problems already mentioned by other reviewers: 1) too much internal dialogue, and even when the two main characters are actually locked in a cage together, their conversation goes absolutely nowhere. This leads me to 2) The hero and heroine do, indeed, have a serious lack of chemistry. She is so "innocent" that she's a virtual cipher, and it's tough to believe she can truly be so self-sacrificing. Another problem: when the action does finally lurch forward, it seems to happen by deus ex machina, in the form of the devil/angel pair that are constantly chiming in just in case we are missing the Christian allegory.

Oh, and one other thing: the rules that govern this version of Earth are unclear. There is magic, there are aliens, there are occasional mention of futuristic food items, etc., but all are so sketchily drawn that it seems completely implausible.

That being said, I've read worse books, and both the characters are fairly likeable, if occasionally treacly, and the writing is decent, so I guess you could do worse. Still, pick it up at the second hand store instead of paying full price.

Firstly I FREAKING LOVE GENA SHOWALTER... and i freaking hated this book. I was surprised by this book and not delightfully so. while some parts of it were riveting, the mystery of the hero's orgins or what his purpose was, to explain his volitility, as well as the heroine's saving grace were a constant bother, like an itch that couldn't be scrathched. the biggest theme of this book is good vs. evil and how good will truimph, but honestly i felt that this book was preachy about the temptation that evil has to offer and that good with always triumph and we should look deep within ourselves to get past the taint of evil that may lurk in our souls and blah blah blah. there was no spark as i was reading this and some of the scenes didn't make any sense at all, which caused me to just skim through a few pages and get to the next section of it. It honestly felt to me that she wasn't really trying very hard when this book was written and it wasn't well thought out as her other books have been. From start to finish, especially when i finished i felt an utter despair of having been duped into reading this, an feeling of... unfulfillment, which is unusual for Gena's books. I hope that the next book in this series is better that this first starter. as i said i love Gena Showalter and froth at the mouth for the Lord's of the Underworld series and well as the spin off series, but for this new one... i'm not too sure about the anticipation level for the next book.

Content: A paranormal, with lots of bloody violence -- ripping off body parts, whipping, etc. A few minor cuss words. About 4 sex scenes, but they aren't very explicit.

Caution!!! MILD SPOILERS -- but I keep it pretty vague.

Last Kiss Goodnight was somewhat enjoyable, and had some yummy scenes. It is the first of a new series by Gena Showalter. In the preface, she writes that God helped her through a dark time, and based on this plot, it was a VERY dark time indeed. (My sympathies for her painful illness.)

Contrary to some reviews, the Bible verse at the beginning of each chapter didn't bother me. It seemed fitting for such a dark plot, actually. Verses were also scattered within the chapters, and that sometimes felt teachy, if not slightly preachy. The theme of good versus evil didn't bother me. That's a theme that especially suits paranormals and science fiction. The overall message of this book seems to be, "Don't invite evil into your heart. Stick to the light and the love." The secondary theme of "ONE DAY your hopes will be realized" was fine, but it was delivered in a slightly repetitive manner.

The lack of explicit sex was also fine, even though it's not the norm for GS. This book felt more like a romance, with emphasis on the tenderness, the developing relationship, and the sexual anticipation. Sweet! There were several sex scenes, starting around 75%, I think, but they were sorta fade to black-ish.

I liked Soloman Judah, aka Solo, the Otherworlder who grew fangs and claws while developing red skin and pointy ears whenever he got enraged. Yup. A regular Hellboy!!! Despite his huge heart, he'd never known love or acceptance from a woman (not counting his mom) -- only fear and disgust. I wanted him to experience true tenderness. So satisfying!

His beautiful girl Vika was all she should be...not a Buffy, but strong enough to brave yet another beating from Daddy Dearest, in order to help Solo and the other prisoners.

The plot was decent. Whenever I thought I was finding a gaping plot hole, Showalter sewed it right up with a plausible stitch or two. It was fairly tight, but I rolled my eyes a few times. Also, in the sequel, I expect an explanation for HOW a certain character (no spoiler) survived the explosion.

I liked the vow thing. Cool! I liked the sharing that occurred after they gave their marriage vows. Again, pretty cool!

I liked some of the secondary characters, especially a few Otherworlders, with their different abilities and forms.

The scene I liked best was the great escape, where Vika showed her courage and strength, and Solo showed his alpha nature -- all protective and primitive, and all proud of Vika's unflinching determination to keep on hiking, even though she was exhausted. A dauntless spirit.

So what went wrong? Why three stars? Three reasons:

1) This 400+ page book went on at a slow pace, at times. The editors should have hacked out 70 to 100 pages. Some of the bottleneck was caused by endless rumination and reflection -- much of it repetitive. I didn't need to hear again about Vika's rotten childhood, or her plans to go to New Colorado, for example. Once is enough. And Solo was in the cage for TOO LONG. I grew restless, wanting more action, or a change of setting, or payback.

2) Showalter bludgeoned me over the head with the good versus evil theme. The villains were just WAY TOO EVIL, with shadowy spirits, glowing red skulls, and spiders hovering in and around them. Also, Solo had a tiny demon named E on one shoulder, and a tiny guardian angel named X on the other. REALLY?? Just like in the cartoon, they kept whispering in his ear, prompting him towards evil and good. When he listened to the angel, it grew stronger, but when he chose evil, the demon grew stronger. I'm sorry, but those parts felt trite, like a kid's book.

3) I have mixed feelings about LKG, because it felt a bit mixed up about its own identity. It felt like a PNR trying to be a sermon, or at least a testimony. It probably wouldn't be classified as a Christian romance...but it leans that way. Somewhat.

Still, I enjoyed it. I might try the sequel when it comes out.

Ps. One reviewer said it's full of editing issues. However, I found no typos, and such mistakes do tend to jump out at me. So, I'd give this one 5 stars for editing and formatting. Also, the author included a lot of sophisticated phrases and words. Well done!

I finished "Last Kiss Goodnight" the last day of 2012 and now I'm bringing in the New Year with the review of it. =) Gena Showalter is one of my TOP fave Authors so I definitely planned it well.

"Last Kiss Goodnight" is a spin-off to Gena Showalter's Alien Huntress Series. I was a little upset to hear that the Alien Huntress series does not have another book coming out, but of course I could not pass up the idea of a spin-off of it, especially when some recognized names I knew in the Alien Huntress series end up in the first book to the Otherworld Assassin Series. Hello....Dallas~! How I have miss you, honey! *sigh* Even if it was a just a small part...Dallas is one character who stole my heart and soul in the Alien Huntress Series...and I am patiently waiting on his story.

Let me just say ahead of time, if you have not read the Alien Huntress Series before this book, that you do not need to dive into those books first. Gena Showalter is one author who explains her books very well and she opens up this book with of course with tears and then a a HUGE explosion. (literally)
I am always amazed on how well Gena Showalter can go back and forth to different worlds in her different series and that is one of the many reasons why she will always have a fan from me as long as she continues writing. I'm BEYOND addicted!

Black ops agent Solomon "Solo" Judah was one minute hanging out with his other Black ops agents about to embark on their next mission and now he is chained with cuffs inside a cage to be one of the circus acts for a circus that is illegal. He has no idea where the other agents are and if they are alive. He only remembers the man they were out to get sold Solo to a man who runs not a normal circus. Instead, Jecis, the owner of the Circus, does dark arts and his main attraction of different otherworlders.
Jecis's daughter is supposed to be the keeper to the otherworlders and make sure they get fed and cleaned ready for their next act in front of the humans.
Beautifuly, quiet, Vika has had a hard life. At a young age, she watched her close friends be killed and she had to kill one...her best friend a lion named One Day. Her father said they were not doing what they supposed to do and he head them killed and instead brought in the otherworlders to take their place.
Vika knows she must behave otherwise she'll end up with more bruises or even worse like that dreadful day she lost her animal friends. She lost her hearing.
Now she must find away to free the otherworlders, although they hate her because they see her as helping Jecis.
Solomon though, finds Vika is captivating and can not help, but think he was meant to meet her and help her. He starts having feelings for her and will do anything to protect her, especially when he starts seeing the marks on her and knows who it is coming from. His goal is to find a way out of the cage...even thought it will be difficult because of the drugs that keep pumping through the cuffs every once in awhile. He is not your normal otherworlder though. He can turn into a deadly creature if his temper rises. Thank goodness for someone that tries to calm him down every once in awhile....and now Vika may be another one of those who can calm him.

Gena Showalter did a bang up job on explaining this new series and what is to be expected in the next book. I really enjoyed the beginning of the book. I did find it not like her usual books that I am used to reading. They're parts that were dry and dragged on, but once the action started and of course the steamy parts between Solo and Vika...then my attention was back.
I am excited to see what happens after this book since they're other characters that were introduced that need more explanation. I love how Gena throws in other characters from a different series into the mix. Kitten for example, is a very familiar name and of course Dallas. =)
I enjoyed both Solo and Vika....especially Vika since she proved to be stronger than she thought she was. She just needed someone to nudge her along. Solo was one scary otherworlder when he got pissed off, but he had his tender moments. It helped having Vika there to help him realize that he could be loved and cherished for who he was even when he thought it was too scary.
The bad guys in this story were of course harsh and mean. Vika's so called father had it coming to him at the end.
And as for other otherworlders in the book, well, you'll just have to read it to find out more. =)
All and all I give this book 4 moons and I will be counting down to the next book....patiently.
Another thing that intrigues me with Gena is how she comes up with ideas that have not been done before. =)
Gena's "Last Kiss Goodnight" involves action-packed, craziness with some steamy moments between two characters in a circus that involves the dark arts and you have one HELL of a ride.

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely love that Gena Showalter is expanding her Alien Huntress world with this spinoff series. This story serves as a great introduction for new readers, but also fits very well with the existing books. It has a sexy, unloved alpha-male... and a tortured heroine who hasn't allowed her difficult life to diminish the light of her spirit.

Vika grew up under the cruel hand of her father, the owner of a traveling circus. His menagerie once held exotic animals. Now, members of otherworld races are caged and subjected to humiliation and torment. Vika abhors her father's actions, but he is too powerful for her to stop. When she has tried, it has earned her beating after beating, including one viscous attack that took her hearing. She realizes she must plan her escape quietly --and in the meantime, offer what kindness she can to the prisoners.

Solo is an otherworlder who works as a black-ops agent, essentially killing people who need to be killed. He grew up only knowing love from his adopted parents. Everyone else turned their backs on him, calling him a freak and a monster. Just moments after he was tasked with tracking down some missing aliens, he was incompacitated and sold into the circus.

At first, he lashed out, but it did no good. And slowly, he began to see the goodness in Vika. She seems to see him as no one ever has, and her gentle crush on him has an effect he can't ignore. The two grow closer and plot their escape. But can they really get out from under her father's thumb?

I enjoyed the romance. It was actually very sweet. Vika is innocent to the ways of love, but it felt much more genuine than with so many ingenue heroines. She has to compromise what she knows is right in order to survive, but she hangs onto her humanity no matter the cost. Solo is solid mildly-tortured hero. He had a solid foundation with his adopted parents, so he wasn't completely wrecked. But he struggles with the rejection of others and his assassin work doesn't leave him feeling altogether worthy of love. It's quite nice to see them each find the love they never thought they would have.

There's not a lot of sex, though we did have some toward the end. I would imagine it would be hard to work in, with Solo in a cage for so much of the book. Also, notably lacking, is Showalter's fabulous wit and snark. This story is much more somber.

There's a good set-up for future books, centering on the other members of Solo's team who have gone missing. And we're even treated to a cameo from Dallas! Overall, I enjoyed it and look forward to the next installment... especially if it centers on John.

Rating: B

I'm a huge fan of Gena's and have been for a long time! I have a hard time deciding if I like her LOTU, Atlantis, or Alien Huntress series. When I saw this one was going to be a spin off of her Alien Huntress series I was ecstatic.

I read the book when I was on vacation and I really loved it. I was on a cruise ship and this along with my kindle is all I brought with me. I didn't even touch my kindle, I dragged these around the ship with me.

The twist on this story with paranormal creatures locked into a circus of sorts, with no possible hope of escape. I really empathized with Vika. She was extremely caring, passionate, and kind even when the supernaturals treated her like crap. You knew it hurt her feelings but it never stopped her from doing a good deed to make their time in imprisonment a bit better. Most people would have given up or gotten angry or been cruel back.

I liked Solo and X and Dr. E. I don't know why there are people saying they don't understand that part of the story... It made total sense to me. Darkness/Light and that darkness created by himself. He had to let it go to get rid of the bad part of himself but he never cared to before or had faith in himself.

There were religious aspects to the book that bothered some folks, definitely not as much sexual tension as some of her stories, but honestly I read this book before I saw any reviews on it and it kept my attention just as much as any of her other stories. When I came here to write my review I was really surprised that so many were unhappy. I love paranormal romance/erotic myself and I loved it. The fact that Gena can go from series to series and create an amazing, unique world for each and keep track of all of that?! AHMAZING! ;) I'm very happy with my book and I will continue like always to stalk Gena's books. Sex or no sex she tells a great story and I'm in it for the romance/mystery/love and she never fails to deliver.

1. I was blown away by the stunning cover! The mix of colors and the link we made with the characters is instantaneous, it's like you want to be with them on the cover and in the story!

2. I recently read Never seduce a Scott by Maya Banks and the Heroine was also deaf and I really enjoyed my experience with such a ''disability''. Vika has proven she was worth every line in this book! I loved her guts and her willpower. I liked the fact that she didn't fall for the most sexy or handsome man, but for everything Solo had inside. (Kind of Beauty and the Beast retelling).

3. I liked the fact that (obviously) Solo wasn't the typical hot, sexy, attractive alpha male that we all read about in PNR. His beauty came from his strength, his desire to vanquish his enemy and more important, the fact that he care for Vika. He doesn't have a conventional beauty and I really enjoyed this part of the book.

4. Circus isn't my thing... Actually I hate everything from the circus and I see more and more of them as background and theme of the book and I can't seem to put myself to read them, it's like a phobia for me, but I thought: Hey, maybe it's time to kick your ass and try one? And what is better than starting with Gena Showalter circus background story??? Well, the way the story was presented, I didn't feel this whole ''circus'' thing so maybe it would be a negative aspect for someone who loves circus stories.

5. I liked that we heard about characters from Alien Huntress series, maybe more of it would have been better.

6. The only thing that bother me was the fact that nobody came to Solo's rescue or even the others being that where held in this circus. I just can't seem to figure how this could be possible with all these aliens with superpowers...

Page Turner: Yes!

Series: (Otherworld Assassin #1)

Stand Alone: Yes!

Hotness: Solo if you like the ''beastly'' beauty!

Proserpine Recommendation: If you are a fan of Gena Showalter series, if you love PNR stories, this book is definitely a must-try this year! Buy-Borrow-TBR pile!

I love this author's work! Parts of this book had a rocky start, but the plot and characters prevailed! I am looking forward to more books in this series.
Second books in a series are usually the tell for me as to whether or not the series will be a huge success...Showalter is an excellent author...I recommend!

Nice book. Sweet. Great storyline. Enchanting characters, with dimensional growth that made you know and understand them. Good resolution at the end. Some parts were dragged out a little too long, but the wait always made it worth it. Slightly different flavor from the writer's past, works. Wasn't sure if the good and evil theme was the best, or perhaps excessive at times. Guess depends who you ask. Ending nearly gave me a heart attach. Great start to a new series, however. I am excited to see what comes next. I love all her other works, so I can only expect great things.

Last Kiss Goodnight is the first book in Gena's new Otherworld Assassin series. It had a very different feel to me than most of Gena Showalter's other books. I did love the setting and premise of the book, it was very original. The protagonist, Solo, and his fellow team mates were all intriguing. This is a spin-off of Gena's Alien Huntress series, but everything is clearly laid out and the reader is quickly brought up to speed. Vika, the circus owner's daughter, left me wanting to shake her! She is abused by her dark magic wielding father, which includes him rendering her deaf, but even his threats to blind or kill her doesn't prompt her to leave?! I get that she feels like she doesn't have anywhere to go and doesn't have enough funds to do so, but you would think she would realize nothing could be worse than staying where she is.

The book has a few slow parts but overall was a good read. Gena Showalter never fails to amaze me with her great series and this one certainly looks promising. I can't wait to get to find out more about what happened with Solo's friends and this mysterious Dallas that I keep hearing so much about. A couple negatives with this book is that it didn't have nearly as much sexual tension and steamy scenes as most of her other books and wasn't quite as fast paced. I suspect that due to the world building in this story that it was destined to be a little slower, like most first books in a series. I love the original storyline here though and am looking forward to the next book.

[...]

Our Review by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:

I adore Gena Showalter's books. I'm obsessed with LOTU, devour the Alien Huntress books, and am smitten with her new YA. So, when I heard that Gena was writing an Alien Huntress spin-off I was beyond excited.

First off, as always and expected from Gena, Last Kiss Goodnight gives us a fascinating world, lovable characters, & a unique story.

Gena celebrates her faith in this book by prefacing each new chapter with a bible verse, and uses tie ins to those for the characters and their plight. Some readers might not like this, but knowing how important Gena's faith is to her, I found it wonderful to see her openly celebrating it in such a manner.

Vika is a wonderful heroine. She's strong, smart, spunky, and overcoming some incredible challenges. I love strong heroines and while she has her vulnerabilities she is exactly that.

Solo is an interesting hero. He's got some baggage and definitely is struggling with some self esteem problems, but I like that he's different and I love the way he cares for Vika and his friends.

So, all-in-all, while I didn't love Last Kiss Goodnight as much as I do Gena's other books (it just wasn't as action packed or sexy to me), it was an enjoyable read and was wonderfully written.

LITERAL ADDICTION gives Last Kiss Goodnight 3 1/2 Skulls.

Rating: 4.5
Heat Rating 3 out of 5

Last kiss good night by Gena Showalter is the darkest book that I've read in quite a long while. It had abuse and evilness on a bunch of levels. In fact, I have to say that this book is probably Showalter's darkest book to date.

There was a ton of symbolism in this book. It mostly dealt with good versus evil. These basic concepts were explained in a way that everybody and anybody could understand. Vika's father as the villain was evil to this core. The man was abusive and he acted like a dictator. He ruled with an iron fist and everybody was afraid of him. His behavior was repulsive. He discussed me. This is one antagonist that I had no issue with hating. Very rarely does a book elicit such negative emotions from me But it was impossible not to have hated this man.

On the other end of the spectrum were the protagonists. Both Vika and Solo were excellent characters. They both were damaged yet had extremely redeeming qualities. They were both survivors in their own separate ways. What Vika had been through in her life was nothing but appalling. However she still soldiered through it all. She was courageous, sweet and caring even though what she had been through could have easily turned her into a bitter and heartless person. Solo on the other hand, took a different approach to life. Whereas Vika remained caring Solo bottled up those types feelings. To the outsider he appeared rough and stoic. On the inside though he was a man who dreamed of love. He hated being judged by his external appearance And longed for a true connection to another being.

Though there wasn't a lot of sex in this book there was a lot of romance. I love how Solo and Vika were so drawn to each other. Solo's feelings of protection towards her were wonderful to see.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the religious symbolism in this book. However, although there was a lot of religiosity in this book I don't feel that Showalter was trying to "push" her religion on her readers. Each chapter started with a Bible verse which is something that you don't see in paranormal romances. The story of David and Goliath was mentioned as well although their names were kept out of it. Another thing that was biblical about this book was that Solo was named after King Solomon. And remember how I said that this book dealt with the basic concepts of good and evil? Well that was portrayed by what can only be described as an angel and demon whispering in Solo's ear.

Though This book was very different from Showalter's usual style it was nonetheless a great piece of work. Showalter still packs a great punch. Though she came at this story from a different angle her creativity is still abundantly apparent and I can't wait to see what else she has in store for us with this new series.

I did really enjoy the romance in this novel, and how both characters saved each other (one by allowing other to tame the wild beast within, and the other being pushed to show their true self and become stronger). I knew this book was going to be good from the start because not only is it Gena Showalter but because I cried in the prologue! Oh, yeah it as emotional, traumatic, and just heart breaking in general while reading those first couple of pages. Now, I have to warn you that this book is more along the lines of fantasy in my opinion and it is not a genre I am overly familiar with. I had concerns about having to the Alien Huntress series to understand this novel, and although it would have been nice and probably would have cleared some things up, it is still not necessary. But, there were some things I didn't quite understand like how her father became the person he is from the loving father he use to be. I get that it had to do with inheriting the circus and using dark magic, but I felt there were still some things left unexplained, as well as how people other than Solo were able to see X and Mr. E. There were somewhat explained, but again I felt there could have been more. This also could simply be either because I was missing the background info or because it's s fantasy novel and not my "field of expertise". No matter what I can still recognize a good story. I liked the characters, they were along the lines of Beauty and the Beast style except he was not holding her captive. I liked Vika whose idea of planning her escape properly by suffering for a while until she could get the money she needed to secure her escape and new life. It seemed very smart to me, unlike some characters that would just leave and then luck happens to provide for them. I also liked the Alpha-Male and insecure Solo who believed that he was just as ugly on the inside as the outside, but was a little weary about his falling in love with Vika at first sight, even though he tries to hide it by asserting his dominance. Although there were some fantasy aspects of this book that threw me for the loop I still saw the beauty that was Gena Showalter's writing and the epic tale of salvation through love that had my fingers crossed for these two lovers from separate worlds.

Good:

Vika--She seems sensible. She wants to be independent, and secured based off her own means so that she can never be hurt of disappointed a again

Solo--the Alpha male "Beast" of the story, whom I could never seen as anything other than handsome and awesome.

Bad:

There are some parts of the novel that could have been explained better or elaborated on more to get a better picture of the characters and the worlds they come from. I also would have like some background info that was probably provided in the Alien Huntress novels re-stated (maybe mildly) in this novel.

Overall (Writing style, story line, and general):

Overall the story was enjoyable. There were some moments when I found the fantasy aspect of the novel interesting and like it brought something new to the story. The writing was easy to follow even when the story sometimes was not, and the story overall was pretty serious with minimal humour. Although the novel may have been out of my comfort zone I am happy that I took the step outside and read the novel. Gena Showalter still has not disappointed me, and has taken me on a romance of many worlds that was a cross between Romeo and Juliet, and Beauty and the Beast, and officially has be eyeing her other series hoping to get some of the same good stuff I've seen in this novel.

Fans of Gena Showalter will not be disappointed with the first book in her Otherworld Assassin series!

Viktorija"Vika" Lukas is a 14 year-old teenager who has a soft spot for the animals she cares for in her father's circus. Her father, Jecis, wants to get rid of the animals because they don't have the same draw that they used to and they are getting too old and too expensive to care for. His plan is to replace the animals with Otherworlders, aliens who have been born on other planets but came to Earth in peace. The humans feared the many species of Otherworlders and misunderstood their motives and defended themselves against the invaders. Before Earth was destroyed, a pact was made to let the Otherworlders live on Earth in peace. Despite this, humans are still wary and fear these strange beings. Some have unusual colours and shapes, while others have special powers.

The story then jumps ahead six years, and Vika is now a young woman. Jecis' newest Otherworlder acquisition is a beast of a man named Solomon "Solo" Judah. Vika is drawn to him, and she vows to save the Otherworlders and free them.

Showalter's alternate fantasy world is filled with so many unique creatures! There is a great variety of Otherworlders, each with their own traits and gifts. Solo is a character who has never really known real love. He has a dark side, and only a certain kind of woman is drawn to him and the pain that only he can deliver. His inner self is in a constant state of battle, good versus evil, and he has little guardians that try to influence him. Dr. E is the evil one, and he relishes when Solo caves to his beastly side. On the other hand, there is X who always tries to encourage and support Solo to do what is right. Depending on which guardian he listens to, one will grow stronger while the other one weakens and they are in a constant state of flux.

I can't wait to read the next book in this series, Black and Blue, which is expected to be released in October 2013.

Narrator George Newbern is new-to-me, and I have nothing but praise! His emotive narration drew me further into the story, and he made it very difficult for me to put down my iPod! His feminine vocalization for Vika was subtle, and it was an equal match for her sweet disposition.

I received this audiobook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any compensation for my review, and the views expressed herein are my own.

Gena Showalter writes one of my favorite series, Alien Huntress, which is a terrific mix of science fiction and paranormal. The new series, Otherworld Assassins, is a spin-off from Alien Huntress. To say I was excited to read this would be a huge understatement.

The book begins with a glimpse into the life of Vika. It's a painful and horrific event in her past that shapes the woman she is today. Within 2 pages I had connected with her and felt compassion for her. Vika is so alone. She lives in the confines of a barbaric, inhuman circus. The circus attractions are otherworlders (aliens) that have been captured and caged. The owner of the circus is Vika's father. He is evil, abusive, and cruel to everyone, but most especially to Vika.

Solo is one of three Otherworld Assassins, a select group of otherworlders trained specifically for covert operations. He is not one of the nice, pretty varieties of otherworlders. One of his special abilities is to turn into a monster and go into uncontrollable rages when angry. That sounds so much worse than it really is. I was reminded of Beauty and the Beast when it came to Vika and Solo. He is actually sweet, loving, and very loyal. Anyway, Solo is sent on a mission to recover a captured AIR (Alien Investigation and Retrieval for those of you not familiar with the Alien Huntress series) agent. Something goes terribly wrong and Solo is captured and sold into the circus Vika's father owns. Vika becomes his caretaker.

Solo and Vika are drawn to each other. Solo sees behind the wall Vika has built around herself. He tries to protect her from the abuse of her father and the taunts of the caged otherworlders. Vika feels the same urge to protect Solo though she risks harm to herself by doing so. They soon must answer the question, "Is love and freedom worth the risk of death to not only themselves, but everyone who counts on them?"

I was surprised at how different this book was from the Alien Huntress series. It has its base in Alien Huntress but clearly stands on its own. I enjoyed the world, a circus turned evil by the performers' dependency on dark magic, and the characters involved with it. I did get a bit irritated at how long it took Vika to make a move toward freedom. I'm not sure how Solo maintained his patience with her as long as he did. Their romance was good, but it was overshadowed by the worldbuilding. As the first book in the series, it was a nice balance. This series is going to be good. I'm intrigued by the remaining Otherworld Assassins and excited to see what comes next.

Vika Lucas has lived her life in her own private hell. Her father sold his soul for magic and uses Vika in his devilish circus of monsters. Vika is patiently waiting for the right moment to escape and free all of her father's captives. She seeks a world of peace and freedom but it seems unlikely she will ever have that--until her father's latest captive arrives.

Solomon Judah is an otherworldly assassin. He has awakened to a circus nightmare, trapped in a cage along with other beings like him. The only bright spot is the beautiful human in charge of feeding him. He should want to hurt her but there is something about her that makes him want to protect her. Their mutual connection leads to plans of escape. But can they survive the evils set out to destroy them both and is it possible to find love in some place so dark?

Gena Showalter once again opens up a dark world and gives her readers a powerful story dripping with hope and love in her first Otherworldly Assassin novel, Last Kiss Goodnight.

Showalter's paranormal world-building is unparalleled. The Cirque de Monstrés created by Showalter is frightening and riveting. The reader cannot help but be captivated as Solo and Vika give us a taste of their current predicament. I felt my heart break for both characters as I learned of their past and present trials. These two are bonded by great tragedy. The story is very dark it is almost too sad but there is this pull that absolutely grabs the reader. It's the romance and hope of it all. It's that part that lives inside of all of us that rallies when things get tough and pushes for that happily ever after.

If you want a novel that gives you a fantastic story full of passion and depth then Last Kiss Goodnight is for you!

Miranda for Joyfully Reviewed

After reading the few customer reviews of this title on the store.com, I wasn't sure if I wanted to read it or not. But, after after browsing the first few pages, I was sucked right in. I think it's unfair for other reviewers to give negative reviews of this based on Showalter's previous titles. No, this title isn't as smutty as her other books. I liked that. I liked the innocent love that blossomed over time. The simple caresses, the longing looks and especially the chaste love scenes.

People, if you want porn, then don't read this book. I, for one, don't like reading the raunchy details or crude language. I loved this title for the simplicity of the love scenes. I don't want to read porn. The story didn't suffer because of the author's modest love scenes, it made the book better in my opinion.

The story premise was unbelievable. As usual, Showalter's writing flows and I love the exotic realm she created in this story. Solo and Vika were the perfect couple and I loved watching as their love unfolded. I did find Vika's ability to deal with her handicap difficult to believe sometimes, but I've never been in those shoes and I know it's amazing what a person can accomplish when made to face reality.

I look forward to the next installment.

Last Kiss Goodnight is the first book in the Otherworld Assassin series from Gena Showalter, it is a spin-off from the Alien Huntress books however you do NOT need to be famliar with them to enjoy this book.

I hadn't even reached the 2nd page in this book before I was drawn in. The heroine, Vika, immediately had my support and sympathy. My heart trully broke for her and everything she suffered at the hands of those who should be protecting and nurturing her. Following someone betraying Solomon and his Black Ops team, he awakes to find himself bound and caged and at the mercy of Jecis, who owns the Cirque de Monstre where the main attraction is no longer animals but different Otherworlders.

As it is the first in a series there is a lot of information to take in, it was delivered in a way that enhanced the plot. I am so curious about the Otherworlders, there are quite a few characters that I am looking forward to getting to know better.

Although not as action packed as most of Gena's books I found I didn't mind that as this story was more character based, it as a very emotional story. I found myself swiping at my eyes on a couple of occasions. It is slightly darker than Gena's previous works and that works really well for me, there wasn't as much sex but that fit with the plotline. Gena picked some beautiful Bible quotes to begin each chapter. As always it was a beautifully written story, I remain in awe of her story telling abilities. Bring on the next one!

Solo reminded me of Malkom from Kresley Cole's Immortal After Dark series, he's not your typical hero and that is not a bad thing!

Not going to lie, I think I picked this book up for the cover. It's very eye-catching. Also, I like men in cages. What? Don't judge. I like to see them flex their manly muscles and break out. Anywho. I liked this book. There were several men in cages. One of them broke out. All was well. Randomly, I read the Young Adult Alien Huntress series recently and was pleasantly surprised to see characters from that pop up in this book. It added an extra layer to the plot that might not have been there if the Reading Gods hadn't aligned and allowed this fortuitous occurrence.

Usually I'm all about the hero in books like this but I really liked Vika and her willingness to not become a monster like her father. I thought the way she mangled phrases was hilarious. I liked that she found a way around what her father had done to her as punishment and she refused to cave to despair. I also loved that where everyone else saw an ugly monster when they looked at Solo, she saw a good man.

Having a little background with the Alien Huntress and Young Adult Alien Huntress series doesn't hurt (many of the alien types have been introduced before and it's nice seeing some old favorites pop in) but isn't necessary. Solo and Vika's story plays out nicely on its own and the aliens are given enough explanation that you can follow along with what they're capable of. I'm kinda, sorta, really interested in Solo's fellow soldiers and how they survived the event that placed Solo at the circus. I want to know. I WANT TO KNOW.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

First of all I want to start by stating that Gena Showalter is one of my favorite authors. She writes terrific books but this one wasn't at the same level as the other books. This is just what I think about the story, mainly my troubles with falling in love with it. THERE ARE SOME SPOILERS SO WATCH OUT!

This is kind of a futuristic Beauty and the Beast type of novel. A girl Vika is forced into taking care of the captured species for her father's illegal circus. He's a cruel tyrant of the circus and even though he claims to love his daughter he really doesn't, as shown by his actions in the past and as the story progresses. An alien by the name of Solomon; who has lived his whole life on earth like others species, was in a meeting with his boss when there's an explosion. He ends up at the circus, in a cage like an exibit for people to look at. Romance ensues between the main characters.

Spoiler Section Review:

When the story started after the beginning flashback from the main character Vika, I felt almost confused at what was happening. The introduction of the characters in the beginning didn't exactly make it clear their importance in the story, so when the main character Solomon is captured I was like whoa...what just happened? From then the story was good, I just thought it wasn't enough to grasp onto. The best parts were in the middle of the book where Vika and Solomon spend time alone in the cage whilst her fathers creatures are continuously coming after them like weird tiny zombies. At least that's the image I go of it. Just not enough buildup of story and tension to make me fall in love with the story. And the ending let me down because it was so abrupt. He got shot three times, gets transported to his home world by X, gets told that he can't send him back (mini cliffhanger), and then after weeks he just shows up a little dirty and a little skinnier. The End. I just think I wanted more emotion and I wanted to fall in love with the character but I couldn't completely do it. Though I do love the story there wasn't enough for me.

Also it was weird not knowing exactly where in time the people were in. But the time they got to the cabin I was like, oh for sure they're really in the future.

Non Spoiler Section:

I loved the protective side of Solomon, and Vika's determined and caring nature. Both of their personal traits emphasize the Beauty and the Beast storyline and I enjoyed that. The story was what I was looking for it just wasn't as BAM! as I would have liked. Especially having had high expectations with it being a Gena Showalter book it wasn't all I wanted. Three stars!

A spin-off from Ms. Showalters Alien Huntress series. This series has a possibility of surpassing the original. Like the original there is lots of action and romance with arresting characters.

In this book Black-ops agent (and alien) Solomon Jonah is caught in an explosion and wakes up in a cage in a bizarre circus where aliens are the animals/freak show. His caretaker is the owner's daughter Vika Lukas he knows she is the key to his escape but more importantly he recognizes her as his other half. Vika has been abused by her father and fears him as he becomes increasingly evil and violent. She vows never to become like him and even if she can't free Solo and the others she does what she can to protect them. She feels the connection between her and the new guy but she has to protect him and her heart. Solo and Vika are conflicted by their feelings and circumstance.

Get ready to RUMBLE! Solomon is one of the biggest and baddest of Ms. Showalters aliens to date. Vika is light to his dark, sweetness to his sourpuss, and just as strong in her way. What they go through is just amazing and appalling and frightening and wonderful.

This is a different sort of story for Gena...it's more young adult than adult...not a bad thing, just not what was expected. By that I mean the language and love scenes are very toned down. The story is good with both drama and tenderness. We receive the story from both viewpoints without first person writing...I liked that. All in all, worth reading...and keeping an eye out for next installment.

This book is somewhat different than her other books, but I really did enjoy it. The bible verses at the first of each chapter, if you don't want to read them then don't. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series. It takes a bit for all the characters to be established,and explained, but after that it's a page turner. Books don't have to have lots of sex to be a good book,and if that's the kind of book you're looking for then you better pass on this one. It's a very sweet love story.

Vika's father runs a circus where the main attraction is caged "otherworlders". People come to stare at them in the cages, sometimes they touch, pet, or taunt the captives. The captives have no way of fighting back since their wrists have cuffs on them which inject sedatives into their system. Vika has tried escaping with the otherworlders before only to be captured and beaton at the hands of her father.

Solo is part of a Black Ops unit sent out to help find some other missing government agents. He is also an otherworlder. His quest is cut short when there is betrayel in his boss' office and he is captured and sent to the circus. He awakes to find himself caged next to the very person he was sent to find.

Vika & Solo end up working together thru a series of events to help save the others that are caged. They know that to save themselves from Vika's father they must help save each other. But in doing this an attraction forms bewtween them that neither can fight.

Macho man Solo finds himself in a cage, drugged unable to free himself. He is is a circus of others, run by a mad man, a wicked warlock and his daughter. The cruelty leveled on the others is heartbreaking and the daughter is driven to try to help. There is a problem with that, she is a captive herself. After years of horrible abuse, she tries and now she wants to try for Solo.
This is a pretty dark fantasy/romance. 9/10 of the book is about being captive, controlled, and finally escaping. The last part is the HEA. Yes there is a kind of HEA, but it was so rushed it seemed to quickly over and finished after the long road to get there. I have not read The Alien Huntress series which I guess this is a spin off of. I got confused on a few characters and who/what there were. I plan on re-reading this after I read that series. I enjoyed it, even if it was preachy-but didn't love it.

I read a lot of paranormal romance books. A LOT! And this book is not even in the same league as prime-time authors like Karen Marie Moning, Jeaniene Frost, Patricia Briggs, Ilona Andrews, etc.
I barely got through this book. It's cliche. The dialogue is awkward at best.
Do yourself a favor and skip this book.

I have read all of her books and loved them but this book is actually boring in many parts. Unlike her others, that have smoken-hot sex scenes, this has one whimpy one. It is totally PG-13 in content. If I wanted Young Adult fiction, I would buy it! I peaked at her next book and it is the same in the sex scene department. I think she has become "Ms.Super-Christian" now and does not want to write the juicy love scenes anymore. I am really worried that this is her new style and I will have to let her go as one of my go-to fav authors.

I have not had the chance to read Gena's Alien Huntress series yet, which Last Kiss Goodnight is a spin off of. I will say that I don't think that you have to have read Gena's the Alien Huntress series first. Gena does a good job of explaining the world. But I think if you did read them you would have a greater understanding of the world.

That being said I am on the fence about this book. I loved the setting, the idea, and a good majority of the characters. Solo & Vika are great together and apart. But I will admit that I was bored more than once while reading. Maybe I was tired. But there didn't seem to be the same amount of action or sexual tension as I have found in past books of Gena's. But overall I did enjoy. Really like the ending and the tension. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

I am a huge fan of Gena Showalter's Alien Huntress books, even more so than her Lords of the Underwold series but this spin-off is just not doing it for me. Frankly, as others have said, it's a little dull. I felt for the characters but it never grabbed me and it just kind of meandered along. If you're just starting, go back and read the other Alien Huntress books instead because if you start with this, you may not want to continue and the other books are much better.

I cringed a little at this book.(I once was in abusive relationship and this kind of made me cringe) I found it really sad and I felt really bad about the otherworldly circus!

I did feel that in some places it kind of dragged a bit, but overall it was great. I really liked Solo as a character as well as Vika.

This book is different...interesting ☺

So this is about aliens, who have come from another world, and have settled on Earth. They are called Otherworlders and there are many different species and they have different abilities. There is an agency made up of four men: Solomon Judah, Corbin Blue, John No Name (because he has no last name), and their boss Michael. The men are assassins. This particular book is about Solomon (Solo). A bomb goes off in Michael's office while all of the men are there and Solo wakes up in a cage, dressed in loincloth, and is an attraction at a circus.

The owner of the circus is a cruel man that dabbles in dark magic. He kidnaps otherworlders and uses them like animals in a circus. His daughter, Vika Lukas, is the complete opposite. She is kind and takes care of the otherworlders. Vika has been horribly abused at the hand of her father...to the point that he took her hearing. When she first lays eyes on Solo...there is a spark for them both. She takes care of him...and they start to feel for each other. How will they escape?? If they do escape, could an Otherworlder and a human be together??

There are a lot of interesting aspects in this book...one of my favorite are E and X. E and X are kind of like the demon and angel on everyone's shoulder. E and X talk to Solo constantly to try to persuade him to make certain choices in his life. I hate Dr. E and love X. X gives such good advice...

"We do not fight the man," X said soberly, "but the wickedness inside him."

X and E have different perspectives on whether Solo and Vika should be together but Solo has to have her.

"He would be her man, and she would be his woman."

They are so cute together. She keeps his temper in check and stands up strong to him.

"Here's a little lesson you should probably take to heart. Anyone who returns hate for hate is no better than my father, and I won't trade one monster for another."

"He did not deserve this woman, but he wanted to. He wanted to do whatever necessary to become the man she needed."

He gives her confidence, which she needs because she has been put down by everyone in her life...especially because she is deaf. Solo makes her feel beautiful.

"You're beautiful. All of you. Every inch."

She licked her lips. "Really?"

"Really."

"Prove it."

With Pleasure.

What I thought was super cute was the fact that she kept messing up known sayings. Instead of saying "Bite Me", she would say, "Go bite someone." When Solo would correct her she would look at him like he was crazy and ask..., "Why would I want you to bite me??"

"He...had no idea which adage she'd butchered that time."

I am really excited about the next books. I hope they are the stories of Corbin, John, and Michael because I would really like to know what is going on with them. I also hope there is some crossover because I would really like to keep reading about Solo and Vika.

This is what the review said:

**********************
Editorial Reviews
"A fast-paced, intense paranormal romance that offers original, dynamic characters, vivid, compelling world building and a powerful 'love prevails' narrative." (Kirkus Book Reviews )
**********************

How is the heck can a book be fasted paced when at page 300 the "hero" is still in a cage???
He gets upset, he gets zapped, lights out. That is sure action paced.
Intense romance? Not by a long shot.

I found the book BORING! I won't even take the book to the used book store, it is going in the
trash.

I was a fan of Gena S. but no more.

Cat

I had stopped reading Showalter a few years back, only because the characters were all starting to blend in. It was refreshing to win this book in a giveaway and have another chance to rediscover this writer. The story line is as great and unique as the blurb (off-worlders are zoo attractions) and the character development is well done. I very nice book to read over an uninterrupted weekend.

I should have listened to the negative reviews left by previous readers. The premise of the story sounded so interesting, and the first chapter was promising, because it got to my heart how much the heroine loved her animals. But, the demon and angel tiny guardian angels? Lost me. Immediately, I counted how many days I had this in my Kindle Fire and was estatic to see that I was still eligible to get a refund.

I know that paranormal books are fantasy. But, I hate when it is too fanciful to the point of being unrealistic. So, forget it. I got my money back. This may be the type of story for someone else, though. I'm surprized at Showalter. Her books were usually better than this.

A new series for Gena Showalter and what a great start! I give her a high five for keeping the adventures coming. The start of the story was a little slow for me but after some of the background was told the story took the reins and didn't stop until the last page. The main characters Solo and Vika both had a similar background but different in there own way. When they finally realized they needed to work together to have a better life, sparks went flying. I can't wait for the next book to follow this series. I would like to say I also loved the Bible verses Gena used at the top of each chapter, I have to say they were beautiful

OK, I've never really been into Gena Showalter's books, not my kind of books. Well as of tonight I can say that her book Last Kiss Goodnight has totally changed my mind. This book kept me rivited through out the whole book. The story had a great plot and the characters were well thought out. Gena is a very good author and I can't wait to dive into another one of her books.

I like many of her others books, especially the Lords of the Underworld series, but I could not wait for this one to end. The premises of the book was interesting but the writing just did not hold my interest at all. There was little emotional depth to the characters. I don't know if there was a new editor or if she wrote it in a hurry but whatever she did when writing this book, she needs to change it. If I could, I would give it zero stars. If this were the first book I had read of hers, I would not be reading another one. I suggest not wasting your money on this one and getting on of the Underworld series books.

Solomon Judah (Solo)works with a black ops team to keep both humans and otherworlders safe. Before they can start a mission into looking for a missing government agent Solo is taken captive. Not captive like a POW but like a circus freak where people can come and toy with him. In the this terrible place Solo meets Vika. Vika is the circus owners daughter but she to is treated as a possession and when she does not make her father happy she is beaten. Her father has beaten her so poorly in the past that she is now deaf. Vika is also treated poorly by the other hostages and people in the circus no matter how much she tries to show kindess. In this terrible place Solo and Vika find something unexpected, kinship and love.

This sounds like an awesome story right! Well it wasn't the premise was original and exciting but the execution was complete crap. Where to begin my issues? Lets start with the setting honestly the book is 400+ pages and I think 350 of them take place in a cage. If that sounds boring it is because it is. If you wanted me to buy into a slow sweet romance I would need more than he is big and ugly but I like him or she is small and sweet and I like her. Next pet peeve was the good and evil on the shoulder. Yep like in cartoons, really good and evil and if you feed into one it gets bigger at the expense of the other.

This brings me around to a bigger issue the use of Biblical verse before each chapter. Ok so I appreciate any author who is expanding especially when one find their faith. I am not even going to say this book felt preachy because that would insinuate I cared about this book in some fashion and trust me it did not elicit any emotional response. Anyway in the LOTU series Ms. Showalter was quite clever in building the case of good and evil. This was morality it was and is the fight to save your soul and to save those who fight with you. This story tries to be bigger than it is with a ton of religious clues. I mean Solo really he is on a solo journey or are we referring to the Biblical Solomon who had to deal with opposition. Then we get the name Judah...I guess founder of a new path. Whatever ...this just did not work for me. The Bible verse was just to much I believe in reading to Bible in context not just a one liner. There are solid moral Christian stories out there like Narnia but this was ugg.

Moving on I gave it the extra star because it was a good premise and I have like her previous work. This book has almost no action and no romance. I am fine with not having sex but at least give me passion and desire. Heck I would settle for a reason to be friends. The book was really disappointing and this is one series I will not continue.

Really 1 1/2 stars.

Whoa, Gena, what happened here? This book was a holy hot mess! I am sad to say that Showalter is moving toward bland Christian romance and away from steamy paranormal romance. This book was definitely not written by the same Showalter I have come to know and love through the Lords of the Underworld series. And I do feel that she is cheating her readers by not labeling her newer work as Christian romance. I went into this book hoping to find steamy romance, witty banter, and an exciting adventure. Unfortunately what I found was some basically nonexistent sex scenes, little passion/romance between the characters, long talks about good vs evil (as well as a trite angel/devil on the shoulder story line), and bible verses before every chapter.

I am sad to say that GS is no longer on my must read list. I will definitely be checking reviews thoroughly before getting another book of hers (because I do hope that this is just a phase she will write herself out of so I haven't completely given up on her yet). I am disappointed that she has gone this route. I know she had a religious epiphany in her personal life, and that's great. As a reader I don't like to be preached to though. By the end of the book, I was beaten over the head with religious themes and then slapped around some more. I don't dive into paranormal romance to experience spiritual enlightenment.

That said, she can write whatever she wants, but I do wish if she is writing in a different genre that she would label it as such so her loyal readers from the past don't waste their money if they aren't into what she is currently writing. I am pretty sure there is a huge Christian romance following and she could be just as successful writing for that crowd. I am scared to find out what the new Lords book coming out soon is going to be like.

If she converts Kresley Cole I am going to cry!

Note: I've never read any of the author's previous work. This author was completely new to me.

First of all, look at that cover! Isn't it simply gorgeous. It drew me in right away. This book held so many elements of things I love that I don't know where to even start. It was very well written and edited (and as an editor, even when I read for pleasure I tend to catch things so it was nice to simply be immersed in the book.) We all know I love sci-fi romance, and this book was definitely that. The author set up a completely believable futuristic Earth that wove in aliens, magic, and advanced gadgets, but in such a way I didn't feel lost or like too many things were being explained.

Now, let's get to the heroine and the hero. The herione broke my heart and made me so proud of her all at once. She is abused, and we even bear witness to some of her abuse. I won't go into detail for fear of spoiling the plot, but let's just say her abuse was so bad that even I wanted to cry for her. Her compassion for animals really hit home with me, and her desperate desire to help, despite how poorly she was treated broke my heart for her. But none of these things made her weak or stupid. They made her strong in my mind.

The hero is all things alpha male and strong, yet he holds such a tender side. He is a government agent, and I'm really hoping the rest of the books in the series take place through the eyes of his team mates, John and Blue (who are also aliens know as Outworlders.) His strength and his wit combined, plus his compassion for the heroine make me just want to swoon.

This book was a damn good book. I read all 436 pages within several hours, even foregoing some sleep because I couldn't put it down. The minute she comes out with more, I'm buying them too, for sure. The author's world building, characters, and writing skills definitely make this a Must Read!

So Gena Showalter is a genius! I fell in love with this new series. I can't wait for John and Blue's books! Solo was sweet and tragic and Vika was strong and oddly relatable. The ending was a bit abrupt but as expected for the first in a series. The only Alien Huntress book I've read was the one in the anthology with Kresley Cole. But you don't even need to be familiar with the series beforehand to love this book. It's classic Gena, you won't be sorry.

This was a seriously one dimensional book. The characters were boring and the sex was.. well it was like the author was just phoning it in. Sorry... I have read some of her other books and I know she can do better.

I came to this series with the hopes that Showalter's work hadnt changed to much. But that hope is lost. Granted there were part of the book that melted my heart like when Vika was given solo a bath, but this whole jackyl and hyde complex with solo ruined the book in my opinion. The story line seemed messy and not clear as usual

If you're looking for work similar to the lords of the underworld or angels of the dark... this isnt it.

Was disappointed with this story. Not at all what I've come to expect from Ms. Showalter. The important info felt rushed, and the filler was drawn out. This felt more like a deadline met than an actual novel. Sorry, but it wasn't very good.

I do agree that this novel is a little different from what Ms Showalter usually writes. In this novel concepts from the bible do appear quite often, however, I feel that the novel was still beautifully written, making these concepts weave in quite smoothly with the story and the characters were both engaging and likeable. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and look forward to her future novels.

Okay, this is the first review I have ever written. I read a lot. A. Lot. I didn't expect this sort of writing from this author. I am a big fan of JR Ward, K Cole, J Frank, S Kenyon, and G Showalter...but this book was so hard to read. I can usually read these in a few days. This one I had to MAKE myself continue to read. It was frustratingly slow development. It was sort of juvenile writing at times. I will echo other reviews (that I didn't read before buying the book at Target): sloooooow, lacks development, preachy, and the weakness of Vika was downright annoying. I kept waiting for her to sprout fangs and claws and defend herself. I have never cared for weak women in these sorts of novels...but this was over the top.

I am a huge fan of Gena Showalter. This book did not meet my expectations. There was little chemistry between the characters. If this is what her future writings hold, I think I'll just re-read her old stuff.

I personally loved this book. It was unique and original.
For anyone that has read the bible its great. The song of solomon is a beautiful love story and the other references really gave you a hint of what to expect. Maybe the people who did not like this book is not familiar with these verses, but I for one was overjoyed with this book. Alot of Christians and non Christians alike, are ready for books that aren't so filthy yet still gets your heart going. A little imagination goes a long way.

I look forward to the second in this series.

Gena keep up the good work.

I love Gena Showalter books and own all of them. But this one will go to the book sale as I cannot find enough interest in the book to finish it. I started it 3 times and took it with me on a trip so that I had to get past the first fifty pages. Yawn!!
No spoilers here just terminal boredom.

Soloman and Vika. I'm not a fan of alien novels. This book? Made me a fan. I am enchanted with this series. A lot of people complain about the lack of sex. Not me. I tend to skim those parts. A good book to me has a STORY. To entertain, to delve into. If I want sex I can read penthouse. I admire Gena changing her style. I enjoyed tremendously what both chars went through and how they engaged in this book.

This book was so bad....I cannot even put into coherent words how awful it was. PLEASE do not waste your money. I've read better fanfiction online and am bemoaning the loss of the money and time I spent on this piece of crap. I didn't even want to give it one star but the store made me. Can I do a MINUS star?

Always enjoyed her books before. Couldn't even finish this one, it's so boring. This is a waste of money, if you must read it, wait until your library has it. Doesn't even sound like her voice writing it. Poor character development, like cardboard cutouts. There is not a lot of balance, it's all dark, dreary and tormented. Hope she finds her muse again. I miss the old Gena.

GENA WAS ALWAYS ON MY MUST BUY LIST. I KEEP VERY FEW BOOKS BUT HAVE EVERYTHING SHES WRITTEN. I JUST CANT EXPRESS HOW DISAPPOINTED I WAS IN THIS STORY. EVERY AUTHOR TAKES A WRONG TURN ONCE IN A WHILE SO I HOPE SHE GETS BACK ON TRACK BUT UNTIL THEN I WILL WAIT UNTIL REVIEWS ARE OUT BEFORE I BUY HER AGAIN.

This book started out good but after the first chapter I found the plot one dimensional. I am generally a big GS fan but this was so boring and there was little steamy scenes to compensate. I really think she just threw in the towel with this one.

First time I"ve read her books. I couldn't put it down - read it in less then 2 days. I didn't feel like I was being preached to while reading this book...that thought never even crossed my mind!! I thought it had a great storyline and moved along at a fast pace. I found it easy to follow all the characters. It's a story about finding ones own inner strength and that one true love. Who doesn't want that?? loved loved loved the book and recommended it to a few of my friends. Will defineately read more of her books.