Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Vixen by Rebecca Zanetti Narrator: Stella Bloom
Series: Dark Protectors #11.5
Published by Brilliance Audio on March 16, 2021
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Length: 4 hours, 3 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Tabi Rusko has a simple to-do list: Rob a bank, steal a recording, set up a lucrative factory, and survive the assassins on her tail. Sure, she’s a demoness with the cunning and instincts that come with her species, but she’s always spent more time exploring than training, and her fighting skills are okay at best. One sexy man, a human cop no less, is responsible for her being stuck in a small hick town and forced into a human anger-management group that’s crazier than her. To make matters worse, his dangerous blue eyes and hard body leave her breathless and ready to rumble, and his overbearing attitude is a challenge a demoness can’t refuse.
Evan O’Connell just wants to enjoy his time out of the military by policing a small town and hopefully pulling cats from trees and helping old ladies cross the street before he succumbs to the disease plaguing him. The last thing he needs is a stunning, too sexy, pain in the butt blonde casing his bank and causing a ruckus everywhere she goes. There’s something different about her that he can’t figure out, and when she offers him immortality in exchange for her freedom, he discovers that isn’t enough. One touch of her, a whirlwind beyond his imagination, and he wants the Vixen to be his forever, as soon as he takes care of the centuries old killers on her tail.
A demoness set on bank robbery and a cop with her best interests at heart, clash in a small town paranormal romance set in the Dark Protectors world. I’ve gotten behind in the series, but leaped at the chance to pick up this novella-length standalone that would take me back to a favorite paranormal world.
Vixen is #11.5 in the Dark Protectors series and is connected to the previous 1001 Nights novella that tells a side adventure in the series, but it is a standalone story as far as plot.
Tabi is set on getting back what the good detective secured in the bank so she can blow this small town before her enemies catch up with her. But what is she going to do with the Dudley Do-Right human who is in way over his head and still trying to protect her. Her demon-senses tell her he is seriously sick and he is as sincere and honest as his boss, the sheriff is corrupt. Tabi has been something of a loner who prefers to rely only on herself for so long, but something about Evan O’Connell won’t let her walk away. Would mating him save his life? She is about to find out.
Evan wakes up into a crazy world where the intriguing, impetuous Tabi and everyone else claims to be something other than human. She might be nuts, but something has happened to him and he still needs to keep her safe while solving the ongoing murder case he was working on when he first encountered her.
Vixen is an ongoing plot from the earlier Vengeance which I hadn’t listened to yet. I did all right listening to it standalone, but I definitely noticed it was connected to earlier events. Evan was a true blue, white-hat hero and I loved him so much. Tabi is a complicated woman. She wouldn’t admit it, but she suffers from abandonment and loss after real family and her adopted mom are all died off. She tends to be a risk taker and trouble magnet so they are opposites which made it humorous at times. Then it got hilarious when she discovers that the stray human she tries to save isn’t tame or planning to be controlled by her. Evan has his own agenda even if he has a huge learning curve when it comes to the paranormal world. The sparks fly and these two heat up the pages.
I loved the drop by visit of some of the older Dark Protector crowd and the peek at the hero of the next book.
All in all, this quick novella hit the spot and left me eager to pick back up where I left off in the series and get caught up. Those who love alpha heroes, fiery heroines, intense action and spicy romance in a paranormal setting should definitely pick this book/series up.
Narration:
I don’t believe I’ve listened to Stella Bloom’s narration work before, but she was a good match for this story. She put some acting into her character voicing and it enhanced my listening experience so much. I would definitely listen to more of her work.
Listen to a clip:
About Rebecca Zanetti
New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti has worked as an art curator, Senate aide, lawyer, college professor, and a hearing examiner – only to culminate it all in stories about Alpha males and the women who claim them. She is a member of RWA, has won awards for her works throughout the industry, and has a journalism degree with a poly sci emphasis from Pepperdine University as well as a Juris Doctorate from the University of Idaho.
Growing up amid the glorious backdrops and winter wonderlands of the Pacific Northwest has given Rebecca fantastic scenery and adventures to weave into her stories. She resides in the wild north with her husband, children, and extended family who inspire her every day-or at the very least give her plenty of characters to write about.
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As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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I’ve enjoyed Zanetti in the past, but haven’t tried this series. I do like the sound of this story! I’m wondering if it’s something I could pick up even if I haven’t read the previous books? Fab review, Sophia Rose! 🙂
Yes, she’s written so many good ones.
Hmm, I think you might be okay picking this one up out of order. I did, LOL. I’m behind on the main series and hadn’t read the novellas that come before this one. So, yes, doable.
However, I have read several in the Dark Protectors’ world so I had a grasp of the worldbuilding that wasn’t really teased out in this story. And, even in this one that was definitely written as an optional sidestory, it follows up on a previous side story novella and mentions that situation. It also has the feel of a set up story for the next novella and main series book. So, you might feel that you’re missing something.
LOL, hope that helps and doesn’t confuse you.
I have been wanting to try this author for sometime now. Not sure when I will get to it, but hopefully soon.
Super! She writes exciting romantic suspense sometimes with sci-fi elements, dystopian, and paranormal. So good.
I really need to try her books!!!
I second that motion. 🙂