If this is how Rachel Van Dyken writes paranormal, sign me up! Check out more about this incredible book, read Tina’s thoughts and an excerpt, and make sure to enter the giveaway below to celebrate this awesome tour and book!

The Dark Ones
Rachel Van Dyken
Genre: Paranormal
Release Date: September 20, 2015

To touch a Dark One is death.
To talk to an immortal is suicide.
Yet, I’ve been marked by both.
A Vampire.
And the King of the immortals.
My life is no longer my own.
And now I know the truth, my life was never mine to begin with.
It was theirs.
It’s always been theirs.

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Rachel Van Dyken is good at what she does. I would even wager that she is one of the best. Her RomComs make me laugh out loud. Her suspenseful dramas make me sit on the edge of my seat. Her tear jerking contemporary books leave me drained and satisfied. When I saw that she was going to venture into the paranormal world, I got really excited. I love to read a good paranormal but I am very picky. The genre is overloaded with everything you can imagine and weeding through the choices is rather exhausting. I knew going into this story that I would love the writing. Rachel is a master of words and I knew that the style would be great. I was blown away by the story and the world she created. The Dark Ones is a fantastic tale! It takes everything I love about Rachel’s writing, her flow, detail, and humor, and translates it into a world that is brimming with excitement and intrigue.

This story isn’t just about one paranormal type creature. We have vampires, sirens, werewolves, demons, angels, and dark ones. There are also the humans. Genesis is the lone human among the chaos of the world she has become a part of. Unknowingly, she has stepped into a world that is teeming with tension and prophecy. Lucky for her, she is thought to be the one to bring the change they need. Genesis is a fantastic female lead. She is a woman who is humble yet she grows into a strong and powerful woman, someone who can hold her own in the world that she is now a part of. Watching her grapple with the reality of her new life and the lies she grew up with was enough to make anyone cower in the corner. Instead she picks herself up and learns to adapt. She is kind, compassionate, and a true warrior. I loved seeing her reaction to the world she thought she knew and the way she transforms into someone who belongs there.

I don’t know what I expected to happen in the romance of the story but this was not it. For that I am so happy! I loved the story that Rachel gives us. Ethan is a vampire who has known such heartache and longs to see change in his world. I loved watching him soften towards Genesis. He loves with abandon and hope. It was heartbreaking to watch him struggle with his emotions that were so tied to her. He was fearful of the outcome and what her ultimate choice would be. I loved his character and the way he functions in his life. He is the opposite of everything Genesis was taught and I loved watching them learn about each other and choose what was next in their journey.

The other characters in this book added the perfect amount of flair to the story. I loved Mason, Alex, and Stephanie. Their banter was spot on and their comradery was classic. I loved how they teased each other but understood the importance of what was happening. They are a team and bound together to do what is necessary to thrive and survive. Cassius is the hard nut to crack in the story, a dark one who’s intentions are hard to decipher. Each secondary characters is so vital to the story. While the connection between Genesis and Ethan is primary and the prophecy is focused on, these interweaving stories of all the other characters are important and equally vital to the overall tale.

I enjoyed how this story progressed and I was very pleased with how it ended. I am excited for the second book and to see what happens with everything that happens in the last few pages of the book! I hope Rachel will add paranormal to her daily writing routine. I would devour so many more of her fantastic stories in this genre. If you are a fan of the paranormal genre, this one is for you! If you love good writing, then make sure to check this book out!

I still tasted her blood on my lips, was embarrassed for the first time in a century when Alex glanced up from his spot at the kitchen table to see me licking my lips like I’d just devoured the poor girl.

He shook his head. “Been that long, huh?”

“Alex…” I closed my eyes and prayed for patience. “…remind me why I let you live here?”

“I’m good-looking,” he answered simply. “Besides, I’m a hell of a fighter — scrappy, I think is how you define my kind. You need me.”

“Stop.” I pressed my fingertips to my temples and rubbed. The ache to have her had consumed me so much that I’d run down the stairs moving so fast I’d nearly collided with a wall, and grabbed blood from the fridge.

I didn’t need it.

But I craved it.

And if I didn’t drink the donated blood, I sure as hell was going to drain her and enjoyed very last drop.

“I wonder…” Alex’s voice pierced my thoughts. “What’s it like?” He leaned forward. “Having to learn self-control all over again… being as ancient as you are?”

I ignored him.

He kept talking.

“Blood-free for a century and now…” He grinned and licked his lips. “Kind of like falling off the wagon, yeah?”

“You’re giving me a headache.” I threw the empty bag of blood at his face. He moved to the side and snickered. “And I’m fine. Everything is just—”

Her smell was intoxicating. She was walking down the stairs, so her heart picked up speed, her body giving off a scent of burnt vanilla and oranges with a hint of sugar. My mouth literally watered.

“Fine?” Alex said in a mocking voice. “Was that what you were going to say? Damn, man show a little decorum, you look… starved.”

“I am,” I whispered and fought the urge to rock back and forth. That was the problem with mating — with bonding. Nothing tasted like her, nothing ever would, and typically, having her as my mate gave me full access.

But the more I took…

The stronger the bond.

And the more I wanted…

It was a vicious overwhelming cycle. It would lead me to become emotionally invested while she, as a human, could simply pretend.

It wasn’t fair.

Immortals, in essence, were cursed with a deep desire to be like a human — to possess them, to bond with them forever — while humans only felt the same draw to us if they actually loved us.

Ridiculous.

“Oh, there you are.” Stephanie pushed Genesis forward and pulled out a chair.

Slowly, Genesis took a seat and glared at each one of us. “Where’s Mason?”

It shouldn’t have pissed me off.

But it had.

“He’s none of your concern,” I spat.

“Easy!” Alex chuckled. “Rule number one, don’t ask your mate where the other dude is. Just… don’t.”

Genesis blinked at Alex then back at me. “Because you guys have the capacity for jealousy.”

Alex whistled while Stephanie laughed.

Immortals were the most jealous beings on the planet. Had her school taught her nothing?

Was I to be her tutor as well?

“So…” Alex trained his eyes on her, putting her at as much ease as he could without stopping her poor heart. “Now that the mating is complete, you get to learn all about us and service your man here.” He slapped my back.

Really. Really. Poor choice of words.

Genesis paled.

I rolled my eyes. “He’s kidding.”

Alex laughed. “I think it needs to be said that having a human at the house has already helped my mood immensely.”

“That makes one of you,” Genesis said under her breath.

Alex leaned forward and whispered, “Ethan, try not to be so grouchy. Keep the fangs in and all.”

I extended them just to prove a point.

Genesis recoiled.

I instantly felt guilty.

Damn it.

“You won’t…” I licked my lips. “You won’t have to service me, as Alex so delicately put it.”

“Is that what mates do?” Genesis asked, her eyes searching mine. “They…” She lifted her hands into the air and dropped them.

“If that’s what you think they do, we have a very big problem.” Alex mimicked her movements and winked.

She blushed.

I hissed at him and returned my attention to her. “It’s like a human relationship, only stronger. You’ll attend functions with me, be by my side, at my beck and call for as long as you live.”

I didn’t want to say until one day she just didn’t wake up. It sounded too cruel.

“And when I’m bored out of my mind… I do what?” She crossed her arms. “I mean, what could you possibly need from me?”

“Adorable.” Alex sighed happily. “I’m so glad we kept her.”

“Alex…” I was two seconds away from slamming him into the nearest wall. “Make yourself useful and find our human a snack.”

“I’m not a pet!” Genesis yelled. “And I’m not your human!”

“You are,” I yelled right back, “mine!”

“Kids.” Stephanie stepped between us.

I didn’t even realize I’d gotten out of the chair and was towering over her, fangs out, hands raised. She’d turned me into a monster. And still, my eyes found her erratic pulse. One more taste…

“Ethan—” Stephanie pushed against my chest. I didn’t move. “Ethan!”

“Friend…” Mason walked into the room. “Sit your ass down before she hands it to you.”

“Like she could!” I roared.

“Like I have!” Stephanie pushed me again. “Don’t tempt me… again.”

I sat, while Mason made his way over to Genesis and offered an easy smile. The man had nothing to smile about, yet he was smiling — at my mate.

I growled.

Mason gave me the finger and kept his attention trained on Genesis. “How do you feel?”

“Better.” She returned his smile and squeezed his outstretched hand. “Thanks for not… killing me when I asked.”

“Damn…” Alex said from the kitchen.

“You were in pain.” Mason shrugged. “And I’m glad you’re alright.”

“She’s fine. We’re fine. Everything’s fine,” I said through clenched teeth. “Now it’s probably time to give her answers before she thinks she can run off and actually survive in the real world without being hunted by a Dark One, or worse, found by Cassius.”

“He isn’t all bad,” Stephanie said defensively.

We all glared at her.

“What?” She lifted her hands into the air. “I’m just saying he’s been trying as hard as we have. So what if he’s gotten a bit possessive over the last few numbers that have been called.”

Alex slammed his fist onto the table. “He stole Ethan’s—”

“Enough.” I held up my hand. The pain in my chest grew until it was hard to breathe. I knew what would take that pain away.

Genesis.

But I was too angry to ask for it. Too ashamed to fall to my knees in front of a mere mortal and beg for her to end the pain by allowing me one solitary drop of her blood.

As if on cue, another bag of blood hit me in the head.

Alex must have sensed my mood.

I bit into it and looked away from Genesis’s horrified expression.

To celebrate the release of The Dark Ones, Rachel Van Dyken is hosting a giveaway! For your chance to win a romance package giveaway including 2 bottles of wine Chocolate and signed books, enter this RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY! Follow the instructions listed and you will be entered for your chance to win. Don’t miss out on this awesome chance to win an amazing prize pack. Good luck!