Romancing the Dark Side

Alabaster Nights (A Josie Hawk Companion Novella) by Elle J Rossi 
Series: The Josie Hawk Chronicles #0.5 
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy 
Published by Black Poppy Books on January 3, 2014 
Format: eARC 
Pages: 69 
Source: Author 

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*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Sexy Irish vampire meets his match in a smart-mouthed supernatural huntress!

ALABASTER NIGHTS is a short but fantastic introduction to Ms. Rossi’s characters Josie and Keller of The Josie Hawk Chronicles and tells the story of how they initially met. Told by alternate POVs, we get a feel for the hero and heroine’s distinct personalities through Ms. Rossi’s great character development. I’m not always a fan of dual narratives (this book includes third and first person), but in this instance it worked for me. Elle’s down to earth writing style captured my attention from beginning to end.

When Vampire Keller O’Leary travels to Nashville Tennessee to visit his sister Sage, he never expected to encounter Josie Hawk, his mate. To complicate things, Josie is his sister’s best friend who also happens to be a huntress. When she’s not singing at Sage’s bar, Josie protects the inhabitants of Nashville from the dangers of rogue supernaturals. She’s independent, kick ass and not looking for a relationship. If he wants to woo this feisty huntress, Keller must suppress his predatory urges and take things slow which proves to be a challenge, even for an immortal who has nothing but time.

I adore a heroine that can hold her own next to an alpha hero and Josie is that girl! She’s strong, outspoken and guarded, but not in a jaded sort of way. I love her confidence and quick comebacks, especially when it comes to Keller…she had me in stitches when she nicknamed him Irish! Keller is used to having women fall at his feet but in Josie he finds a challenge and ultimately an equal, it was great to see his frustrations when she didn’t throw herself at him, even when he played up the charm. Although he knows Josie is his mate, Keller decides to keep his distance and gain her trust before she can accept their destiny. Their attraction is evident from their first encounter, but I love that even though they have great chemistry Josie has some reservations about Keller creating some extra tension when they team up against some dangerous warlocks and demons. I really enjoyed their witty banter and watching them slowly come together in this novella. Keller’s sister and Josie’s BFF, Sage is just a supporting character in this story but she’s one character I’d like to see more of in future books.

Overall I found ALABASTER NIGHTS an engaging read with edgy characters, action, humor and a few plot twists that bring the story to life. It’s the perfect prequel for new readers and an excellent companion novella for fans of the series. Now that I’ve met Josie and Keller there’s no going back, I’ve got to go and read the rest of their adventures. Rossi’s paranormal world will delight and leave you wanting more!