Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Genre: Paranormal; Vampire
Series: Carnival Tarot 1
Release Date: December, 2005 (eBook)/September, 2006 (Trade Paperback)
Note: The print edition is an anthology containing all three Carnival Tarot novels.
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Sarael Castillo wanted to ignore the fortune-teller’s words. She wanted to ignore the tarot cards spread out on black satin. Three of them, lined up in a row. The past. The present. The future.
The Hanged Man
The Tower
The Moon
For days she’d felt as though a dark storm was rapidly approaching. When she looked at the cards, she knew it had arrived. The Tower falling, casting her into the nightscape of The Moon.
Nothing would keep Matteo Cabrelli from claiming Sarael. She’d been created for him, her destiny written in ancient blood. Once he joined with her, there would be no chance of La Brama, The Hunger, controlling him. Her blood would sate him, her body would succor him, her life would give deeper meaning to his own so that instead of centuries of meaningless conquest and feeding, of lone pursuits, he’d have a companion at his side, a woman who was his in every way. A woman meant to live in his world.
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Sarael took a deep breath and tried to see into the darkness that swallowed everything up beyond the exit.
Come.
Stronger this time. Sending tendrils of sensation through her belly, her breasts.
She took a few more steps before grabbing the metal fencing used to form chutes for the crowds to line up in. The exit just on the other side of the carousel.
Her delay nearly cost Matteo his control. He was no closer to Sarael than he had been earlier, and yet now there was no one else around. No one to prevent him from closing the distance between them, from striding over and taking her in his arms, stilling any protest she might make by sealing her lips with his. Thwarting any attempt at escape with a show of strength.
His nostrils flared as a breeze brought her scent to him. His heart sped up, matching the rapid dance of hers. Two sides of a single coin. Prey and predator.
The urge to close the distance, to rush in, was nearly impossible to resist. His gums ached where sharp fangs fought to descend. His cock leaked, unwilling to accept the restraint he forced on the rest of his body.
Come. The command lashed out and she jerked in reaction to it. The deep night, the absence of others around them making it easier to press his will on her. He’d held back earlier, but now he intended to begin as he meant to continue. To eliminate any resistance. Any thought to escape.
She had not been raised properly, trained, prepared. So now she must suffer the consequences of her mother’s choice to run. Rather than moving easily and willingly—happily—into the life of a kadine, she would enter abruptly, her fate suddenly in a stranger’s hand. One who would expect obedience. One who intended to own her, body and soul. And yet one who offered everything she could ever desire in return.
Frustration, impatience, made him command her again, this time with a hint of menace. The night was leaking away more rapidly than he wanted. They should be in the limo even now.
Sarael caught a glimpse of the man standing past the carnival entrance, his aura dark, his sudden burst of anger making it easier for her to fight the need to go to him. The way it struck at her reminding her of the slaps her mother had delivered more than once, the blows given over the then-hated wristband. The words that came with it as sharp as the sting from her mother’s hand. If you’re found, your life won’t be your own.
An ominous warning left with nothing to put it into context, with no understanding of what it meant. Until now.
The Moon. On Helki’s deck it rose, framed by ancient pillars. Both full and crescent. Beautiful. Alluring. Shining over a land of magic where souls could be trapped—or freed.
Soon you will be joined with the one you were meant to be with, living in his world with him.
A small sound escaped, a whimper, and Sarael tightened her grip on the metal railing, refusing to take another step despite the way her body fought to do so.
Come to me. Softer this time, though no less insistent as the man detached himself from the darkness, moving into the moonlight with flowing grace.
Sarael’s heart sped up, her stomach fluttered at the sight of his handsome features.
“Come to me, Sarael,” he said, his voice like pure honey, swirling around her, sweet and thick, trapping her so that in the end she stood in front of him, her breathing fast, her body slick with sweat, her face upturned, her thoughts in chaos.
He reached out, taking her hand and holding it against his heart while the other cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing over her lips. “I am Matteo Cabrelli.”
She shivered, fighting to hold a part of herself separate as he forced her to meet his gaze. Their eyes locking, causing heat to move through her so that her body felt as though it wanted to meld, to blend, to become entwined with his. So that her nipples beaded, her vulva grew swollen, making her acutely aware of the place between her legs.
For long moments they stared into each others’ eyes and her thoughts were scattered, lost. But finally she pushed a word through lips that were wet, parted, as though waiting for a kiss instead of an explanation.
“How?” she whispered.
“Because you are mine, carissima. From the moment of your conception you were destined for me.” He brushed his thumb across her mouth again. “Over time you will understand, but now we must leave.”
“No.” It was barely more than a puff of air as she tried to step back. But his hold was too tight and her own body too uncooperative.
He leaned down and some instinct warned her against jerking away. Her breath caught in her throat but she was frozen in place, a whimper escaping when his mouth touched her neck, a gentle kiss followed by the feel of his tongue, then his teeth, lightly gripping her skin as the hand which had been cupping her cheek moved to stroke along her spine before pulling her against his body.
Instantly she was lost under wave after wave of sensation. Swimming through thick, unfamiliar desire. Barely able to think or breathe. To protest when he swung her into his arms and began walking.
Matteo cursed himself even as he stretched her out on the limo seat and forced his mouth away from her neck, her throbbing pulse leading him into a temptation he didn’t dare yield to. And yet it was too late to keep from sampling what was his.
He’d thought to overwhelm her senses so that he could get her to the car, but once he’d touched her… Lust raced through him, a flame burning him with the need to claim her. He covered her lips with his, spearing his tongue into her mouth, dominating hers, thrusting in and out, a warning of what was to come. An imitation of what his cock would soon do as he mated with her.
She moved restlessly underneath him, her hands going to his sides, his hips. He pressed more of his weight down on her, reveling in the way her body was soft under his, already so submissive.
He lifted his lips from hers, meeting her eyes in the dim interior light of the car, reading them. They were dazed, feverish—leaving him dissatisfied and angry with himself. He’d moved too fast with her. Swamping her senses and enthralling her, treating her as though she was a female to be used without thought or conscience—not as his future kadine should be treated.
Matteo levered off Sarael, moving to the end of the seat and creating a distance between them. If she’d been raised properly then she would already possess enough of his blood that this wouldn’t have happened. They would already know each other, be comfortable in each other’s presence so that the first joining would be a much anticipated event. A mutual seduction entered into by both parties instead of a taking, an enthrallment better suited to dealing with prey.
“SARAEL’S READING is the first story in Jory Strong’s titillating new CARNIVAL TAROT series and is absolutely engrossing. Matteo and Sarael are perfect for each other. Their heated encounters, whether they are arguing or making love, are explosive. Sarael grew up at the carnival and considers everyone there her family. Her roommate Dakotah is one of her best friends and Helki is like a mother to Sarael. When Matteo enters her life, Sarael knows it will never be the same. But is she ready for the changes it will bring? Matteo is a powerful man and one you don’t want to mess with. He’s focused on one thing and one thing only, making Sarael his. The sex between them is spicy and totally erotic leaving readers panting for more. There are a few secondary characters who add filler and background but nothing detracts from our two main protagonists and their story. Two characters that stood out to me and whom this reviewer hopes are in the next story are Cable Luske and his partner, Fane. Cable is a padrall, a human who serves the vampire kind with the torch being passed down to the next generation.
“I’ve been watching Jory Strong since her debut and each time she writes another story I’m captivated by the characters and the plot. Her heroes are sexy and all male while her heroines can hold their own and usually take down the hero. Next up in Ms. Strong’s CARNIVAL TAROT series is KIZIAH’S READING and I can’t wait to delve into that one.”
- Sinclair Reid, Romance Reviews Today
“Ms. Strong took a familiar vampire premise – breathing life and vitality into it. Ms. Strong demonstrates through her writing how a good paranormal tale should flow and grab the reader’s full attention. The dialogues and thought sequences blend into perfect harmony. Ms. Strong is an author readers definitely need to keep a close eye on because her erotic voice is fierce!”
- Janalee, Love Romances!
“Jory Strong has written a truly great book. Vampire stories have been around forever and there are only so many ways you can make them unique. Ms. Strong has done that. Her characters were well-written and the plot suspenseful enough to keep you on the edge of your seat and yet not too distracting from the underlying romance between Sarael and Matteo. With her own take on beauty taming the beast, she has begun an amazing series. The secondary characters that were portrayed in this book should make fabulous leading characters for the rest of the series. I am really looking forward to seeing the rest of this series through.”
- Serena, Fallen Angel Reviews
“The heat between these two characters glazed my eyes and fired my senses. My temperature was off the charts when they became lovers. This story is sexually intense and downright carnal. With SARAEL’S READING, Ms Strong has written an intense, erotic and enthralling book!”
- Jolie, Joyfully Reviewed
“This darkly powerful novel will have you second guessing each move Sarael makes while loving every radical minute. Matteo is so sinisterly written that I wondered if Sarael really was meant to be his mate. He is borderline cruel, which kept my heart beating swiftly and kept me completely intrigued by his personality. His fixation on Sarael borderlines on obsession, leaving me possessed by his desire and wanting her to both run from and to him. Sarael doesn’t know if going with Matteo is the direction her life should go in, and the confusion is so artfully drawn that I also couldn’t figure out what she should do. The sex is powerful and almost overly dominant. You can’t help but wonder if Sarael will end up with the short end of the stick, possibly killed by her lover’s extreme nature. Overall, the plot is so cunningly fashioned that I was gripped by the storyline and kept on the edge of my seat. If you are looking for a dark romance to keep you up at night, this is the novel for you.”
- Francesca Hayne, Just Erotic Romance Reviews
“Jory Strong has once again penned a paranormal tale with dark and hidden meanings. This is not a safe world, not for Sarael and not for Matteo as much as he postures and tries to prove otherwise. Veiled dangers and threats follow Sarael as she searches for her own identity in the face of Matteo’s often times overwhelming personality. Incredibly sexual and emotional tension combined with a supernatural plot guaranteed to catch your attention makes for exciting reading in Jory Strong’s latest story.”
- Sarah, A Romance Review
“CARNIVAL TAROT: SARAEL’S READING is the first novel in a new series and what a way to start! Sarael is a young woman who knows nothing of her past or her destiny. When she meets Matteo, she is drawn to him but in no way does she just become some perfect submissive bride. She has her own ideas about her sudden relationship with Matteo and insists that it includes some compromising on both sides. Matteo is a frustrated because he has finally found his love and his match but she has no idea who he is or how important she is to him. His overbearing, alpha attitude can be smothering at times but I loved him because he could admit he was wrong. That takes a lot for Matteo but he isn’t afraid to admit it to himself or to Sarael. The sexual energy just about oozes off the pages. All that rolling around and sweating forced me to take frequent breaks. The secondary characters foreshadow some interesting things to come. It won’t be a long wait for the next chapter in the CARNIVAL TAROT series and I am so grateful for that! CARNIVAL TAROT: SARAEL’S READING is another winner by Ms. Strong.
- Ann Lee , Just Erotic Romance Reviews
“Jory Strong weaves a story filled with plot twists that will leave the reader breathless. As much as Sarael fights her feelings for Matteo, she knows he is the only man who can fulfill her. Hidden enemies threaten their growing love. A group of would-be slayers are searching for Matteo and Sareal. This first book of the CARNIVAL TAROT series sets the stage for the books that will follow. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.”
- Candy, eCata Romance
“SARAEL’S READING is a great book with plenty of action to keep the reader turning the pages. Sarael is a strong willed character that readers will love because she doesn’t just submit to her fate without question. Matteo is very dark and commanding with plenty of alpha attitude to satisfy any reader. The love scenes are fraught with tension and passion, and the battle of wills is never ending. Jory Strong knows how to pen a story to keep the reader coming back for more. I can’t wait to see what her next book brings.”
- Angel, Romance Junkies
“The erotic pleasures illustrated in the story by Ms. Strong are dark and exciting. The reader gets a glimpse into a world of forbidden pleasures and a different style of vampire lore. This book is an interesting twist on the usual vampire story. I look forward to reading more from this series.”
- Candy Cay, Coffee Time Romance