Reviewed by Carissa

SERIES: Spectr

AUTHOR: Jordan L. Hawk

HUNTER OF DEMONS
(Book 1)

LENGTH: 109 pages

BLURB: Unregistered paranormal Caleb Jansen only wants a normal life. But when a demon murders his brother, Caleb knows he has to avenge Ben’s death, no matter what the cost. Unfortunately, his only allies belong to an extremist group who would kill Caleb if they found out about his talent.

Gray is a wandering spirit, summoned to hunt and destroy demons by drinking their blood. This hunt goes horribly wrong, and for the first time in his existence Gray is trapped in a living, human body. Caleb’s body…and Caleb is still in it.

Hotshot federal agent John Starkweather thinks he’s seen it all. But when he’s called to exorcise Caleb, he finds a creature which isn’t supposed to exist outside of stories. For Gray is a drakul: a vampire.

Having spent his life avoiding the government as an unregistered ‘mal, Caleb can’t let himself trust a federal exorcist, no matter how sexy. And he certainly isn’t going to give into the heat growing between them and sleep with Starkweather.

Can Starkweather win Caleb’s trust and convince him he isn’t the enemy? Can Caleb keep Gray under control, as the drakul experiences the temptation of a living body for the first time?

Because if he fails and Gray gives in to bloodlust, Starkweather will have no choice but to kill them both.

REVIEW:  

This was a bloody good book.  Action, romance, untimely and highly improper hard-ons…it had it all.

Caleb Jensen was just trying to put his brother to rest.  Unfortunately someone or something has taken his brother’s body out for a test drive and Caleb can’t let that pass.  He may not be strong, or very brave, but he sure as hell isn’t going to let a demon walk around in Ben’s skin.  He may be a failed-artist twink with barista leanings, but he was Ben’s brother and he’ll do whatever it takes to make sure that no one else messes with his big brother.

Gray shouldn’t exist, if the popular scientific minds are to be believed.  Vampires, drakul, are simply one Non-Human Entity, NHE, too many.  Except there he is. Sharp teeth, fast feet, and a desire to hunt demons, burning in his dead little heart.  Except when a team of demon slayers kills his current host he ends up taking up space in Caleb, and well that just doesn’t happen.  Can’t happen.  Because Caleb is alive and Gray doesn’t do living.   Not till now.

John Starkweather is the best exorcist the city has.  He should be able to take care of any demon possession he comes across.  Except his mojo is not really jo-ing when it comes to the curious case of Caleb Jensen.  Now John is left with a problem–he can’t let the kid wander around town, demon riding shotgun, but he also hates the idea of locking the kid in a cell and leaving him to interrogation and, well, death, if they can’t figure out a way to separate possessor from possessee.

Three minds, a whole bag of problems….and a demon walking the city streets.  This is not how anyone wanted their day to go.

Part of my really wants to write a well thought out review, with clear ideas and comments, another part of me simply wants to bounce up and down on my bed because this was such a bloody wonderful book.   So I’m going to try and do both.  Forgive the occasional squeeing, please, I really can’t do much to stop it.

I’m a big fan of Jordan Hawk.  Huge fan.  Major fan.  And boy does she deserve it.  I don’t give my fangirl heart easily, but when I do it is deeply and sincerely given.  This book, the first in a four-book series (so far), is an awesome introduction to a world of demons, exorcists, and one twinky artist that just got one hell of an upgrade–and one hell of a ‘roommate’.  The world set-up here was both unique and interesting, but left enough to be discovered over the course of series.  It was similar enough to our world that I felt grounded, but felt like all sorts of cool little mysteries lay around any given corner.

The whole mystery who-done-it was two fold in this story.  First we have the book specific mystery: Who killed Ben and is now out hunting down others?  This was very well written.  A lot of short-story/novella mysteries suffer from an obvious lack of pages to properly twist you up, but here there was a nice balance of knowing and second guessing that I was entertained throughout the story.  The second mystery, the one that I assume will be an overarching plot through the series, had to do with the mysterious goings on in SPECTR headquarters.  We get barely an introduction to this mystery, but I’m already churning over the clues and eagerly waiting to see where it goes.

And can I just say, the whole John/Caleb/Gray thing was both incredibly hot, and nicely layered.  You’ve got John and Celeb, who are seriously hot for each other–and who can blame them?  But you’ve also got this third party floating around in Caleb’s brain and it was so much fun to see the shock and confusion Gray felt when Caleb came.  And I can definitely see some sparks, highly dangerous and enticing as it was, between John and Gray.  This is going to be an interesting romance to watch grow over the next few books.  And I can’t wait for every hot little detail.

The only real problem I had with this book was that I was confused at first as to who Gray was riding, in the beginning.  The whole scene in the attic was a bit chaotic, and I was unsure who was the demon and who was the vampires, and just what the hell was going on? It did get ironed out later on, but it would have been nice to have a clearer picture of what happened, while it was happening.

Great story and I am already loading up Master of Ghouls onto my kindle.  This is probably going to be a nice few days of demons and drakuls–and men who just can seem to keep their hands off each other. I so recommend this book (and am tentatively recommending the series–we’ll see how it goes from here).

RATING:

BUY LINKS: Amazon  ::  ARe

– – –

MASTER OF GHOULS
(Book 2)

LENGTH:  82 pages

BLURB: Caleb Jansen’s old life is in ruins after being possessed by the vampire spirit Gray. Now all Caleb wants is for Gray to be exorcised so he can adjust to living as a registered paranormal. Instead, District Chief Kaniyar of SPECTR offers him a new choice: be locked away for public safety, or come work for the very agency he’s spent years trying to avoid. The only good thing to come from Caleb’s possession is his relationship with federal exorcist John Starkweather, but even that seems doomed to end before it can really begin.

John’s newest case is a nightmare: someone is summoning demons and forcing them to possess women and boys snatched from the streets of Charleston. If his team can’t find the summoner soon enough, the possessions will become permanent, transforming the victims into ghouls. To make matters worse, he barely prevents Gray from feeding on their only lead.

Can John shield his heart from Caleb, who only seems interested in a temporary hook-up? Can Caleb keep Gray under control while they hunt for the summoner? Or will the cost of solving the case be higher than any of them could have guessed?

Because the master of ghouls has set his sights on a new target: Gray.

REVIEW:  

Gotta love a story that starts off with a dance-club blow-job.

Caleb, Gray, and John are back in this action-packed sequel to Hunter of Demons.  What starts as a night out to relax and have some fun together quickly turns into a ghoulish chase into the city streets when Caleb/Gray catch the scent of a demon on the prowl.  At least the demon had the courtesy to wait till after John was done sucking Caleb’s brains out through his cock.  It was downright polite.

But kidnapping a lady, drugging here, and almost killing her, and Caleb, in a mad dash for freedom, was hardly polite at all.  When it turns out that their clubbing demon is only the tip of a ghoulish ice-burg, John, and a not-so-politely conscripted Caleb, must find the mastermind behind a rash of abductions and possessions across the city.  But the answer to their quest might just shock everyone.  And might just end up costing both Caleb and Gray their freedom, sanity, or even their lives.  It’s a good thing they have backup…

Master of Ghouls takes up a day or two after the end of Hunter of Demons.  And while there is certainly a cloud on the horizon, the beginning scene is all lust and passion…and the appearance of a highly magical bathroom that somehow is empty in a crowded club (sorry, but out of all the fantastical aspects of this book, this people-free bathroom was the most incredulous.  Even if it did get us one seriously steaming bathroom bj).  All the chemical reaction between John/Caleb/Gray is still present, but this book goes a little deeper into the sticky relationship aspect, while still leading us around by our lust-ridden hearts.  It was hot and a nice continuation of what we had in book one.  Tensions are rising, but so is the connection between each other.

I really like how the whole Caleb/Gray relationship is playing out so far in this series.  There are moments where they seem so synced, so in tune with each other, but there was also that lingering doubt and distrust from Caleb.  It feels so right that Caleb doesn’t know if he can trust this voice inside his head.  He is torn between feeling power and feeling disgust.  But there is also understanding.  A tentative truce that could be so much more.  Gray is also starting to learn from Caleb, from all these new experiences, and it is nice that he isn’t just stuck in hunter-mode all the time.  I like that he is confused by Caleb, by what they both feel for John.  And that he is coming to see the difference between those who can be saved and those that should be eaten.

This book was filled with action and suspense, and the mystery of SPECTR just keeps growing.  I can’t wait to see who the mole is, or even find out if there is in fact a conspiracy lurking in those halls.  Can Caleb trust this place or is John going to come to a harsh realization?  I don’t know, and I just love it.  Did wish the book was a bit longer, but I am just about biting at the bit to get to book three.  So far these books have been fun and hot and a totally awesome ride.

RATING: 

BUY LINKS: Amazon  ::  ARe

– – –

REAPER OF SOULS
(Book 3)

LENGTH: 131 pages

BLURB: When an incubus murders the powerful ally of an anti-paranormal senator, it’s up to hotshot Federal agent John Starkweather to catch the demon before it can kill again. Fortunately, he has backup, in the form of his boyfriend Caleb, a telekinetic possessed by the vampire spirit Gray.

As the political pressure mounts and bodies pile up, John discovers an old enemy protecting the incubus: the Fist of God, a group that believes all paranormals are evil. But why would the Fist work with a demon? And why would they let it kill one of their own allies?

John and Caleb need to find out fast. Because the incubus lurks at the intersection of love and longing, and it’s willing to turn their deepest desires against them.

REVIEW:  

Politics are not for the pure of heart.

Caleb, Gray, and John are getting used to the idea of life as it is currently falling.  Caleb’s moved in, Gray hasn’t inopportunely snacked on any demons (much to Gray’s annoyance), and John might just be getting closer to an answer to the de-possession of his lover.  Then a senator goes and gets himself offed by an incubus, and their semi-stable house of cards starts to tremble.

Not only is a paranormal-hating senator using his friend’s death as evidence that ‘mals’ should be more closely watched, but the incubus seemed to have teamed up with the Fist of God.  And that, the trio has to admit, is just plain odd.  With political and social pressure being laid on SPECTR, a surprising offer being laid before John, and a body count that has some very high connections, this case is going to be trickier than any before.

And that isn’t even counting the fact that John is falling in love with a possessed man…and the drakul that’s tagging along for the ride.

Book three in the SPECTR series does not disappoint.  Mysterious incubi, political intrigue, and a love triangle that could get everyone involved thrown so far into the penal system that they’ll probably never see the light of day.  It was nice to see John, and his rather inconvenient attraction to Gray, get a nice little boost near the end of this story.  I was totally digging the slow creep up to this in the two previous books, so I was glad to see that the real consequences of falling for someone that he will probably have to end up destroying, start to really come home to John.  I can’t wait to see what decisions he makes.  And what Gray and Caleb have to say about them.

The political aspect of this book was probably my least favorite storyline, but that has mostly to due with the fact that I pretty much despise politics…and care even less for politicians.  I loved the story, but good ol’ Senator Olney made me want to lock him a room full of pissed-off NHEs.  Not very practical, but the ass deserves it.  It will be interesting to see where all the threads tipped off in this story go as the series progresses.  Will the bill pass?  Will the public settle back down?  Will Caleb ever get his corset?

And something is brewing still in SPECTR headquarters…and that something might just draw in John, Caleb, and Gray.  I don’t think Forsyth is the type of man to take no for an answer.  Especially when Caleb and Gray look like a rather tempting answer to many a problem.  Hoping he doesn’t turn out to be a baddie, but I’m kinda with Caleb on the whole don’t trust SPECTR issue.  Even if SPECTR has John.  Especially because SPECTR has John.

Another great addition and I have to admit I am getting a little antsy since I only have one more book to go till I’m all caught up on the series.  Then I guess I’ll have to sit around and wait with everyone else.  I don’t know what Jordan Hawk has for us next, but I pretty sure it will be one hell of a ride.  (And I, for one, am seriously hoping for a little more Gray participation in the ‘sexual intercourse’ arena.  It’s about time he stopped playing spectator and moved up to playing with John and Caleb.  But that is just this one girl’s opinion.)

RATING: 

BUY LINKS: Amazon  ::  ARe

– – –

EATER OF LIVES
(Book 4)

LENGTH:  109 pages

BLURB: When a supernatural killer is implicated in a string of cannibalistic murders, federal exorcist John Starkweather must track the demon down with the help of his live-in lover, Caleb Jansen. Caleb is possessed by Gray, a vampire spirit who is a natural demon hunter.

Caleb’s desire to find the killer is tempered by the knowledge his own time is running out. If John can’t successfully figure out how to exorcise Gray before forty days are up, the possession becomes permanent.

When John’s ex shows up, looking for a place to stay while visiting the city on business, tensions mount even higher. Lines are drawn, and Caleb learns that some decisions, once made, can never be changed.

REVIEW:  

Be careful what you wish for.  You are what you eat.  Nothing good lasts forever.

Time is ticking down on Caleb’s forty-day clock, and with less than two weeks to go, things are getting a little antsy in Caleb’s head.  And he is starting to wonder if John won’t be able to pull a rabbit out of his hat, let alone a drakul from Caleb’s body.  Then two, wholly unwanted, surprises are dropped into their laps, and suddenly Mission Save-Caleb is put on the back burner.  Caleb can deal with a Windigo on the loose, hell Gray could use the snack, but having John’s ex show up at their door is something that just might push Caleb, and Gray, over the edge.  Now Caleb and Gray have to keep a city from becoming a Windigo buffet, keep Will from trying to sample John, and deal with the fact that they both are quite stupidly head over heels in love with a man that might just end up locking them up, or burning them down.  Honestly?  Hunting finger-munching demons is starting to look down-right fun.

Time is running out for the trio, and you can really tell it in this last story.  Tensions are high, emotions are all over the place, and no one knows what is going to happen after the clock runs out.  And it is becoming more and more difficult to close their eyes to the inevitable conclusion.  While in the previous three books the characters were able to pretend everything was fine, or at last would be fine, things are shaken up in this book and lines are being drawn in the sand.  Whether the characters have the courage to walk over them, we probably won’t know until the next book.  But I really enjoyed the splintering that began in this book.

In real time John, Caleb, and Gray have only been together for a few weeks, so it is no real surprise that they don’t have the foundation to keep them impenetrable amidst the constant hits that they get in this book.  They have trust, they have love, but they seem to have a definite lack of communication.  John keeps his doubts to himself. Caleb is beginning to see that trust may not be enough when the man you love, loves another.  And Gray?  Well, Gray is figuring out how much being in love sucks.  That every bright moment has shadows.  That the sweet taste can turn cuttingly bitter.  I really can’t wait to see where they go in the next book because they have about reached the tipping point in this one, and one false move could send them all hurtling into the abyss.  Or prison.

I can’t say that cannibalism is a favorite subject of mine.  And I certainly don’t want to imagine becoming anyone’s late-night snack, but I have to admit that I do like the Windigo aspect of this novel.  I think we get a closer look into just how devious demons can be, and why everyone is so convinced that Gray is simply days from revealing the whole big demon truth–mainly that Caleb is just a skin to walk in.  It adds a new bit of tension to the story, and ended up adding a newer twist on the whole Caleb/Gray problem.  I just knew that having Forsythe along was going to lead to no good.

This book ends on one hell of a cliffhanger and I’m seriously hating not having ready access to book five, Destroyer of Worlds (coming out in February).  This book was fun, but mostly it was about putting the trio through the wringer so that anything could go in book five.  Can’t wait to see what John does–though I have a few suspicions–and I really need him to, for the love of sekhmet, just tell Gray he is in love with him, already.  Gray may be a drakul, but the guy deserves a break now and again.  And if Caleb can come to some type of peace with Gray and John, I think there is a chance at a beautiful, and highly combustible, love between them all.  If a demon doesn’t kill them.  If Forsythe doesn’t lock them all up.  Or if they don’t continue to be stupid-heads, and ignore that they are so perfect for each other–screw what the rest of the world says.

Overall this was an awesome series, and I wait with twitching buying fingers for the next in the series to come out.  For all its ups and downs, this series lands at a solid 4.5 pretty much the whole way through.  I thoroughly recommend you
pick up these books.  They will most likely stay near the top of my re-read pile for quite some time.

RATING:  

BUY LINKS: Amazon  ::  ARe