Hardest Fall by Juliette Cross

He had a piece of me inside him, holding his heart together. That magnificent heart that cared for others without cause.

The tattooed demoness, Bone, doesn’t like anything except the magical weapons she makes. But she has hidden talents few know about. When I was brought to her near death, she used her Seraph song to manipulate flesh and bone to heal me. But she wasn’t happy about it.

Now I must return the favor. Even though she refuses to take sides in the apocalypse, there’s one job she’s not willing to do for the demon prince Rook. If she doesn’t, her head will end up on a spike. Of course, there’s a good chance we’re all going to die anyway, but I will do anything to protect this fierce woman—and not just because she saved me.

So, we’re both off to kill a demon—or three—and possibly save the world.

Each book in the Dominion series is STANDALONE:
* The Deepest Well (prequel)
* Darkest Heart
* Hardest Fall

Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43883438-hardest-fall

Review

I always knew I would find myself reading this book. Who told me to read this series out of order?

Ever since we were introduced to Bone in Dommiel's book, I wanted to know her story. I wanted to know why she was a fallen angel. What led to her fall, creating this intoxicating demoness who happened to be the best weapons forger in the world?

All that made up Bone completely blew me away!

I was only human. Well, superhuman, actually, but the rest of me functioned like any man. Any man with a pulse who craved a woman wielding equal measures of power and sex in a deadly-gorgeous body.

After having her heart broken one too many times by what those in power would do to humanity, she shut herself off. When the world as we knew it imploded and the war started between good and evil, she took the stance of an impartial party. She made weapons for both sides. She didn't play favorites and she didn't have any friends. Wait... that's not right... Dommiel was her friend. Not only did she help save his life, she gave him a new mechanical arm. So whose side is she on?

Well, Xander was determined to find out. After nearly dying at the hands of Rook, a monstrous demon prince, Dommiel and George took him to Bone for help. Surely her seraph song could heal him. When Bone sees how dire the situation is, despite not wanting to get involved, she weaves Xander's heart back together. And once she touched his heart, nothing would ever be the same for her again.

He strode toward me, seeming as healthy and happy as ever. A jaunt in his step, a crooked smile on his beautiful face, and…his eyes. God, his eyes. They were clear and as aqua-blue as the Aegean Sea. If I’d thought him handsome before, with none of the Black clouding his gaze, he was utterly devastating. I couldn’t imagine the number of hearts he’d broken just by giving a girl a lopsided smile and a flash of those stunning eyes. If he’d been a demon, he could’ve ruled the world with a regal face like that.

While Xander came off quite cocky and irresistibly charming, I knew there was more to this demon hunter than met the eye. There had to be right? No way would Dommiel associate with someone unworthy. Not my baby. Well, I was right. This man, who had lived with so many regrets for so long, had a heart too huge to measure. When he loved, he loved hard and I couldn't wait for him to realize his love for Bone (and hers for him).

He had a piece of me inside him, holding his heart together. That magnificent heart that cared for others without cause.

With tons of action scenes, a bit of intrigue, and incredible bonds of friendship, this story was a satisfying conclusion to this series (remember, I've already read the last book, Coldest Fire). I loved how bold the author was in her choices for how she would end things. I loved how intricate the details for each scene were, making it not only easy to visualize, but also easy to put myself there. From the hellhounds to the furies to the evil emanating from Rook and Simian, I felt just as terrified as the heroes. Their expertise, their bravery, their fight, and their hope were more than enough to keep me entranced while also keeping me in suspense.

And in the face of all that was glorious about Xander, Bone had no choice but to finally give in and choose a side.

Why did he have to be so idealistic and heroic and handsome and just so fucking perfect, but still so beautifully flawed? He was all the things I once admired and longed for when I was a seraph, but with all the sinful wickedness I longed for as a demoness.

When these two came together, it was as explosive as I needed it to be. It was everything!

Need was a paltry, sad little word compared to what I felt for her.

So if you're looking for your next read and you happen to enjoy PNR, get this book!

Find your copy of Hardest Fall here:
Amazon * B & N * Kobo * Google

Check out the other books from this series:

Darkest Heart * Coldest Fire

Excerpt

The beat of the eighties anthem “Back in Black” pounded from within. Apparently, Axel was keeping the electricity up in this part of the city for the benefit of his club. Electricity was in sporadic use, like everything else. It always depended on the demon in charge of the territory.
“Looks like Axel’s band is playing a show tonight,” Xander said.
I exhaled a heavy sigh. “He never changes.”
That was the truth. If Axel had the power, he’d replay the 1980s over and over. He and his tribute band continued, even in the apocalypse, to keep those long-dead, big-haired, hard-rock bands alive.
He glanced down where, apparently, we were still holding hands, then brushed his thumb over my pulse. I pulled my hand roughly from his.
“Your heart rate is up, darling. Do I make you nervous?”
“Please.” I huffed and marched toward the club’s entrance. “You do not make me nervous.”
He followed in his swaggering, unhurried gait, and I could feel his eyes on my ass. “Well, you get mine up.”
I spun, standing in a pool of light that spilled from the one lit streetlamp on the entire darkened road.
“Really? Do I make you nervous?”
A definitive shake of his head. “Just anxious.”
“Anxious about what?”
“The possibilities.”
“What possibilities?”
“Between you and me.”
“There will be no you and me.”
Laughing, he practically crooned. “Ohhh, yes. There will be. There already is.”
Hands on my hips, eyes narrowed. “What makes you think so?”
“The way you look at me.”
“And how is that, exactly?”
“The same way I look at you.” He stepped forward, gaze roaming slowly down then back up. “Covetously.”
“You’re dreaming, hunter.”
“Of you…yes. In my bed.”
“You know?” I began matter-of-factly, tilting my head to the side. “Lust is nothing more than increased blood flow, sweat gland production, and release of the neurochemical dopamine, giving the body a natural high.” I gave him a self-satisfied smile. “Not unlike what drug users experience before their next fix.”
He inched closer. “Are you saying you’re addicted to me?”
“What? No.”
“Don’t worry, love.” He dipped his head lower, bringing our mouths within inches of each other. “I’ll give you a thorough Xander-sex-fest to take care of that itch.”
“You’re incorrigible.”
“As in persistent?”
“As in hopeless.” I spun and stormed toward the club, tossing over my shoulder. “Incurable!”
“Oh, there’s a cure, all right.” He followed, chuckling. “I’ll share it with you before long.”
Even as I pretended I didn’t hear that last bit, I shivered in hopeful anticipation.

Author

Juliette lives in moss-laden Cajun country in Louisiana where she lives with her husband, four kids, and black lab, Kona. She is a multi-published author of paranormal and fantasy romance with confident, persevering heroines and dark, sexy heroes. While she enjoys reading and writing the dark, broody types, she also appreciates the fun, levity of humor in a good love story, so she tries to give her characters both on their way to their HEA.

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