Review: The Monster Within by Lola Rayne

The Monster Within 
(Mounting Darkness #1) 
by Lola Rayne
Published October 2nd 2012 by Lola Rayne
 ★★★1/2
Sometimes the monster that haunted you as a child truly is real...

All it took was one phone call to bring Nicole Jones's life crumbling down around her. Now a nightmare she thought she'd left in her past is back, and he's not exactly bringing her candy and flowers. While fleeing, in a non-terrified fashion, she meets a menacing man in a dark alley. Then promptly passes out at his feet.

Gideon Evans hasn't exactly been having the best run of luck, but all that changes when a buxom little blonde collapses right in front of him. Or at least he thinks it has. It doesn’t take him long to realize that bombshell is an appropriate description for more than just her looks. Now he's facing several problems, including a surprising enemy, his own dark past, and a rather inconvenient case of lust.

Can they work together to battle the nightmare that's chasing them? Or will they succumb to the monster within?

REVIEW:

The Monster Within is a fast read with hot sex between Gideon and Nicole and a build up to what looks like a promising story arc in the books to come.

Sure there's smexiness going on in the story but there is a real plot and characters that only get their start in this 1st book in the series. I can't wait to see both develop more as series unfolds.

The Monster Within is a mix of creatures like berserkers (which I'm guessing is the were/shifter family) to magic wielding people.

From the moment that Gideon spots Nicole on the street his inner beast is telling him that she is his mate. The man part of Gideon tries to fight it. I don't normally like it when a couple gets together so fast especially if the series will be about them. I like the relationship to blossoms so my only complaint was that Nicole and Gideon jumped into bed too soon even though it was totally hot.

I hope that Lola Rayne can keep the heat going in the next installment. And I want to learn more about Gideon's old military buddies that come to their aid near the end of the books. This story has potential. 

If you're looking for a lot of heat and the beginning of what looks an action pack story in a short, fast and enjoyable read, you should try The Monster Within by Lola Rayne.

Oh by the way this book has the best Acknowledgements and About the Author section I've ever read. Funny stuff.