Sweet Discovery

Having read Aliya DalRae's first book, and giving it a five star rating, I was eagerly waiting for Sweet Discovery. I am not a book reviewer by any means, just an avid reader, so when I say I would have given Sweet Discovery 10 stars if I could would be an understatement. I was on such an emotional roller coaster with this book, I couldn't put it down! Love, betrayal, family, friends and life in general were all brought together to make her second book one helluva read. She answered many questions from Sweet Vengeance, and left me wanting more! Sweet Discovery is a book you don't want to miss, she just better hurry up with book 3

GoodReads Reviewer - Kelly Pitcherello

Sweet Discovery

When I stepped into Fallen Cross I had no idea I'd be in for the adventure of lifetime, but that is exactly what happened while reading Sweet Discovery. Jam packed with action, thrills and chills, Mrs. DalRae has outdone herself once again.

If you have not started this series, what are you waiting for? Run don't walk to purchase these stories, I promise you will not be disappointed. 

Join Jessica Sweet, Raven and many other lovable characters try to navigate this crazy thing we call life.

Well done, Aliya DalRae. Can't wait for the next one, so get writing!

GoodReads Reviewer - R.M. Gauthier

Sweet Discovery

Aliya DalRae has done it again! I was literally on the edge of my seat while reading this next book in her amazing Jessica Sweet series! I loved the crazy twists and turns, the things that I truly didn't see coming. I could not put this book down until I read the last page, and how I wished it weren't the end! Amazing job on the second book in the series, and I truly can not wait until the next one comes out!

Amazon Reviewer - Katie Caggiano

Sweet Vengeance

Aliya DalRae has done an amazing job of reviving my love of romantic vampire novels. I am drawn into the world of Jessica Sweet, her hunky vampire Raven, and all the amazing and terrifying characters that come along with them. The way Aliya writes these novels, I can see exactly what's going on as though I'm right there with the characters. Amazing job on your first Jessica Sweet novel, and I can't wait to read the second!

Amazon Reviewer - Katie Caggiano

Sweet Discovery

Holy guacamole! Aliya DalRae has done it again. This second installment of the Jessica Sweet trilogy ratchets up the angst and drama while staying true to Jessica's quirky nature and wry humor.

Things are not all wine & roses for Jessica and Raven. Women are dying, found murdered (annihilated, really) in a manner not seen since Raven's former bad-boy self 'The Rapist' was in action. Top it off with the fact that Jessica's had a vision showing Raven-The-Rapist in action, and you'll understand what I mean when I say things between them are a tad stressed.

I love love loved the fact that we got to spend time in this book with both King Cat / Malcolm and Harrier. Being in their headspace was fun. These two males brought so much to the story this time! Not to mention they're both sexy-as-sin. I call that a win-win.

One of my fave aspects of Ms. DalRae's writing are her short, punchy chapters. I hate having to put a book down mid-chapter, so this works for me. What didn't work for me, per se, was the "one more chapter" mentality at bedtime... since they're short and completely engaging chapters I kept saying one more until next thing I knew it was pretty much morning! Curses! But it was so worth it.

**I recieved an electronic ARC of this book from the author which I then chose to voluntarily review**

Amazon Reviewer - Jessica Jesinghaus

Sweet Discovery

From the first sentence this novel I was sucked into this Sweet story. Jessica's visions show her love, Raven murdering a friend of hers from town. Though she wants to deny what she saw, it's even worse when Raven has holes in his memory during that time frame. As much as she loves her dangerous man, Jessica feels the need to step away from not only Raven but the whole Vampire scene. She needs to be around normal people doing normal activities.
With Jessica moving away from Raven, Malcolm feels that this is his opportunity for Jessica to get to know and love him. From Chapter One all the way through Chapter 128, yes 128 I was mesmerized by their story and never wanted it to end. The way DalRae tells this story was captivating, the ending...genius. Everyone needs to buy and read this book, just make sure you don't have any other plans for a couple days!

Amazon Reviewer - Susan

Sweet Vengeance

If you pick up this book (seriously though, pick it up right now) be prepared to get completely sucked in! If it hadn't been for a flu bug knocking me on my proverbial backside for four whole days I would've been dead to the world for a whole other reason. Instead, I was forced to take a hiatus midway through this book. Talk about sucks-ville!

Ms. Dalrae has woven a wonderful story. Her heroine, Jessica Sweet (great first name BTW) is really sweet. As in slang for kick-ass! And what's even better is that she has no idea how badass she really is. She's just a normal "nothing special to see here folks" kinda girl. Oh, except for the fact that she has these psychic visions, premonitions of the future that always come true. Like I said, just your run of the mill average girl.

Add to Jessica's psychic ability the fact that outta nowhere she finds herself in the company of Vamps, Sorcerers and Weres embroiled in some centuries old war and you've got a recipe for a stellar story. But Ms. Dalrae doesn't stop there; we're also treated to an impossible attraction between sweet Jessica and one sexy as sin Vamp named Raven.

The two main characters were fabulously portrayed. I loved the backstories of both characters. While both sad, Raven's held its own unique flavor of tragedy. The supporting characters were each little gems in their own right. Jessica's best friends Piper and Alexander "Alex" created a really fun and believable dynamic. Then there was Raven's crew: an elite group of Vampire warriors dedicated to enforcing Vampire law and keeping Vamp existence a secret from all humans. (Side note: After this trilogy wraps, if she'd like to treat us to a book featuring each of the Vamps on "the Team" I'll be first in line for my copies. Start with Tas please. Then Harrier; he may be an ass, but he's a sexy one!)

The tension, both of pending war between the supernatural and that of the sexual variety between Raven and Jessica, was well maintained through the entire story. As the first book in a trilogy, the ending was satisfying but with just enough turmoil left brewing that I absolutely cannot wait to sink my fangs into the next installment! I loved this book. Thank you for an entertaining and addicting read.

Amazon Reviewer - Jessica Jesinghaus

Sweet Vengeance

Invoking vampire vernacular, Jessica Sweet, a twenty-something woman who has been plagued by visions foretelling her destiny since childhood, gets sucked into a supernatural world and falls in love with Raven, a vamp whose reputation of a bloody past torments him.

I “stake” my claim that ‘Sweet Vengeance’ is not your granddaddy-o-Drac paranormal novel with a trope vamp as caped crusader, night-cruisin’ in a black, horse-drawn hackney coach, prone to hanging upside down like a bat, or sleeping inside a coffin. Cast aside the legendary notions of garlic, holy water, wooden stakes, and brandishing crosses as vampire antidotes too, but hang onto solar sensitivity.

These Vamps, who are front and center in the novel, and reside in the subterranean Legions compound, resemble outlaw bikers in leather garb or camou fatigues with the personas and physiques of a surfer dude, GQ model, ruffian, and computer geek representing a race striving to survive under the radar by adhering to their own code of ethics. As do the other societal factions in the story, co-existing in harmony and disharmony amongst unsuspecting humans: Werewolves (Weres), Sorcerers (Sorcs), and Shifters who join forces with one another when it suits their purpose.
For the most part, each paranormal division is mindful of the environment by taking only what is needed from the earth.

Besides the credibility factor and character empathy the author elicits from the reader, like a pair of vamp fangs, her writing is sharp and to the point as she leads you over hill and dale along the trail of 93 short and “sweet” chapters with everything going for it. There are plot twists and turns I never saw coming, though in retrospect, she alluded from the beginning to the shocker in the epilogue! Told in alternating first-person narratives, the reader reaps all the benefits of perception and introspection. There’s witty dialogue. Most importantly, the protagonists are so well-developed that I felt the anguish of Raven’s inner conflicts.

I highly recommend this blood-pumping novel whose story will course through my veins until my next feed from the upcoming novels in the trilogy.

Amazon Reviewer - Eva Pasco

Sweet Vengeance

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hal-le-lu-jah! Sweet Jesus. I mean Sweet Jessica. I mean Jessica Sweet.

Let me reboot. Sweet Vengeance written by Aliya DalRae is the pièce de résistance. The chef-d’oeuvre. The tour de force. Translation: a damn good book about vamps, werewolves and shifters.

This book is FUNNY. Stop the press...surely she needs another reboot. We all know vampires are pompous egomaniacs with flawless skin and sexy European accents who know more about eyeliners than one-liners. Reboot. Byte me. This book is funny. Hysterical even. Tears rolling down your face, can I make it to the bathroom type of funny. The reason you are rolling on the floor? Welcome the smart-ass wit master, Ms. Jessica Sweet.

Yeah, she’s sweet like her name suggests. She takes in stray cats, saves small children from gravel pits and smells like honeysuckle but she’s no bonbon. She’ll kick your ass and your fructose, glucose, dextrose and any other sweet and sugary “oses” you try and sneak by her.

Alex: You don’t know what you’re facing out there. It could be a murderer or a rapist–anything!
Jessica: No, I made love with that guy earlier.

Sweet mother of god, who is “that” guy? His name is Raven and he is a vampire. Enough said. Full disclosure: I’m bit obsessed with vampires. It all started with the damn Count on Sesame Street and we all know where that leads – Buffy. I know my vamps and Raven rivals them all. He’s everything you want in a vampire yet he’s…different. A mix of all the good parts of my past obsessions.

He’s a bit Edward Cullen without that annoying everyday scowl. Part Lestat de Lioncourt without the “look I’m Tom Cruise the vampire but you only remember me wearing ray-bans and playing air guitar in my skivvies” feel. Visually, Raven might have the flare of a Damon Salvatore without that Damon…duh?

Don’t worry you card holding members of Vamps R Us; you’ll get your fill of all things male vampire. There is no lack of bloodlust or sexual tension. Raven is tormented by the “I love you but I want to kill you” sensation that all vamps struggle with yet he manages to do so with a modesty and decorum that I’ve never witnessed. Kudos to Aliya DalRae for creating such a rare creature in a typically repetitive genre.

The story itself is filled with quick, rush of blood chapters. You know the type? It’s 11:00pm on a Tuesday and you have to work tomorrow and you know you should sleep, but just one more. Done. They are short so just one more. Now it’s 2:00am and I am cursing Aliya DalRae and her creativity. There are no boring parts, no tedious history lessons, no “what the hell is going” chapters. It’s all action, all the time and it all fits, nice and neat with a finale you won’t see coming.

Sweet Vengeance is one of the most entertaining vampire books I have ever read and Aliya DalRea writes with simple, comedic flare that the genre rarely sees and so desperately needs. As Klaus Mikaelson so elegantly defines the true nature of the beast, Sweet Vengeance delivers that and so much more. “Don’t underestimate the allure of darkness. Even the purest hearts are drawn to it.” And drawn to the sequel I am, although purest of hearts I have not.

Amazon Reviewer - Ame Terra

Sweet Vengeance

I have a confession to make. I’m an historian with an addiction to storybooks, fairy tales, and folklore. In particular, I enjoy a well-written story with well-developed lead characters who are either themselves paranormal beings, or have a great deal of interaction and history with paranormal beings. Now I’m not talking about the odd superhero saga or two—although I do glance at the occasional Marvel comic featuring Thor and the Avengers, and I have a propensity to attend several action movies in any given month—I’m talking about those larger-than-life, mysterious, and complex beings who survive for what seems like forever as they tick off endless tracts of time and bear witness to humankind’s history down through the centuries. Needless to say werewolves, sorcerers, elves, and witches fit well into this category. One “creature” rises above them all … One that I ultimately find to be the most intriguing—the vampire.

In my opinion, there is no paranormal literary indulgence comparable to a great vampire saga. I’ve read and cherished some of the best, and some of the most popular (which does not always indicate “the best”). I’ve delved into the mythical epics developed by the highest caliber of authors in the literary world, authors like Ann Rice and Bram Stoker, all the way to today’s prevailing dames-extraordinaire: Stephanie Meyers (The Twilight Series), and—brand new to the scene—Aliya Dalrea.

When I enter a brand new realm of vampires, I expect a lot, and I want characters that I can easily relate to; human beings who lead full lives with a job, a social life, and an entourage of relatives, coworkers, and friends, who all have the ability to formulate a thought that is actually worthy of consideration. I expect to meet vampires—and other paranormals—who have complex and valid histories, one’s that perhaps correspond to an actual historical event or era, with enemies plotting grand schemes that—in the end—will impact more than just a few neighboring mortals and immortals. I also appreciate a solid timeline, where one can look back into the past and point to an actual recorded event that the author has mentioned and say, “Wow … That really happened!” In particular, I favor a novel that makes me feel as though I am part of the story, and at any given moment, I can reach out and pull on a protagonist’s sleeve to keep them from falling into a life-threatening situation, and maybe save their life in the process! DalRae’s paranormal thriller, “Sweet Vengeance” delivers on each one of these points … and then some!

That being said, I highly recommend “Sweet Vengeance” to any reader looking for a fast-paced, stomach-churning, down-right dangerous adventure that’s filled with thrills, chills, romance, and retribution! Any author that has me laughing out loud one moment, fawning over a handsome leading man (Er … vampire) the next, and has me cowering under the covers shivering in terror, is an author that I will heavily favor and faithfully follow when it comes time to select my next favorite read. I eagerly look forward—with great anticipation I might add—to DalRae’s continuation of The Jessica Sweet Novel Series! She has earned a steadfast and loyal fan in me!

Amazon Reviewer - Author JB Richards

Sweet Vengeance

What an interesting take on vampires, shifter's and sorcerer's.

Mrs. DalRae's story of one girl's discovery of this mythical world is fascinating and imaginative. The characters are a mixture of realism and fantasy, well composed and believable driving the story forward at every turn.
Jessica Sweet is the main character of the story and it is through her perspective we see most of the story unfold, however the point of view is often changed throughout the story to third person, but Mrs. DalRae handle's this in such a way it's almost seamless.
Raven is a complicated character with a questionable past that Mrs. DalRae makes irresistible and intriguing, but who doesn't love a bad boy.

This is a stellar story, a wonderful read and I for one can't wait for the next installment to find out where this story will go next.

Well done, Mrs. DalRae. Terrific novel.

Amazon Reviewer - Renee

Sweet Vengeance

'Sweet Vengeance' has it all: jealousy, love, rage, angst, mystery and intrigue, and some breathtakingly hot moments without being gratuitous or needlessly graphic.

The plot is as intriguing as it is complex, although as one is reading, it does seem straightforward. Such is DalRae's genius at weaving plot, sub-plot and backstory seamlessly together.

The characters are believable and engaging, yet at the same time vivid and unique.

And that "penny drop" moment at the end? Nothing prepared me for that.

Brilliant work, Ms DalRae. I already want the sequel.

Amazon Reviewer - MapleLeafAussie

Sweet Vengeance

This was a great story! I want the rest now PLEASE!

Amazon Reviewer - Amanda Cardenas

Sweet Vengeance

Absolutely loved this story. Hot vampires, werewolves and evil sorcerers with Jessica Sweet right in the midst of all of it. I loved Jessica who started out as somewhat lonely and vulnerable but watch out when someone threatens someone she cares about. I think that there is much more story to tell and can't wait the read the second installment.

Amazon Reviewer - Susan

Sweet Vengeance

The usual triad of Vampire, Shifter and Magic takes an interesting direction in Sweet Vengeance by Aliyah DalRae. Raven, second in command in a military faction of the vampires, has a past so dark and bloody, he’s hated by his own race. Jessica, a human, has had visions her entire life that always come true. One such vision has prepared her to someday find a naked man on her porch. When that day finally arrives her life and those of her friends will never be the same. Suddenly thrust into the middle of a war between the shifters and the sorcerers with the vampires siding with the shifters, Raven and Jessica discover an undeniable attraction.

I enjoyed Sweet Vengeance greatly. Although at times it becomes very dark and violent, there is enough humor and light to balance out the mix. The story is fast-paced and never left me wondering. DalRae kept the large cast of characters and constantly evolving plot clear and easy to follow.

If you enjoy dark paranormal and an interesting couple whose love will last a lifetime, then I highly recommend Sweet Vengeance. But beware, this is only the beginning. Although the immediate conflict is resolved, the war is far from over.

Amazon Reviewer - Kimberly

Sweet Vengeance

I know what you’re thinking. I thought it too. “Really? Another vampire story? Hasn’t this been done to death?” When I realized this was a vampire story, I sighed, looked at the ceiling, and debated within whether or not I wanted to continue reading. In the end, the pull toward discovering a new story won out, and I’m very glad it did.

The characters were very three-dimensional, and I loved the way the story switched back and forth between the third-person point of view and Jessica’s first person narrative. It felt very rich and detailed.

Aliya DalRae took an overdone concept and wove it within a fascinating story of love, forgiveness, and self-sacrifice. More than just vampires, this book contains a rich family of fantastic creatures, all written in an interesting and believable fashion. I can honestly say that I’m eagerly anticipating the second book in this trilogy.

Amazon Reviewer - BookLover

Sweet Vengeance

What a fresh take for a storyline involving vampires and other supernatural, and I was more than a little surprised by the writing quality. In fact, when I started to do just a polite read through to see what the book was about, I couldn't stop reading! Every chapter held me captive. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next, especially when it came to the romance building between the two main characters. I couldn't help routing for Jessica, the spunky and oh so very real MC! Expect a lot more between her and the dark and brooding Raven during the last half of the book.

Keep in mind that this story is NA/Adult. Although not overtly graphic, there are some adult themes. I'm normally squeemish about this kind of thing, but Aliya gives just enough detail, never going overboard in both the fight scenes and romance department.

Amazon Reviewer - Susan

Sweet Vengeance

Having read several vampire novels, I was prepared for yet another. However, what I wasn't prepared for, was this one. DalRae took the standard vampire ideology and twisted it just enough to make it fresh again, something the genre needed. She also introduced a new aspect, which I can't wait to read more about in her upcoming novels!

Amazon Reviewer - Amazon Customer

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Sweet Vengeance

I read this book after it was recommended by a Twitter Tweeter. I don't usually go for this genre, but I loved reading and seeing where the author would take the elements. Sorcerers, vampires, werewolves, and the supernatural can be difficult to write about in a fresh way and you might think too many in one book might at first seem crowded, but this book is written nicely. It's written in a way that pulls you through the pages and into the mystical world of Fallen Cross, Ohio. There's enough added into the story to help make sure you understand this world even if you don't know a lot about it before reading the book. Best part: deep characters you can care about. I see this book as a strong book for further discussions and book clubs. I could easily talk about this book with other people to see what they thought. I followed @AliyaDalRae on Twitter and I love her daily content there too.

Amazon Reviewer - eBook Reader

Sweet Vengeance

WOW! Author Aliya DalRae hit it out of the park on her very first book. Grabbed me from page one. This is an awesome start to a three book series. Jessica and Raven will captivate you just like they did each other. It is truly amazing. Read it in one day. I am looking forward to the other two books coming in the series to answer some of my questions...in particular, what is with THAT cat????

Amazon Reviewer - twilightmom