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A Hunter Under the Mistletoe: All Is Bright\Heat of a Helios
Passion is ablaze under the Las Vegas sun this holiday season
All Is Bright
by Addison Fox But all is certainly not calm. Not with his employee, Evangeline Kennedy, posing an impossible temptation for Rafael Stavros. Not when all signs suggest Evangeline could put the whole race of Helios--a very sexy race of supernatural phoenixes--in danger. But Rafe knows not to trust appearances in Vegas. Especially when his heart tells him otherwise!
Heat of a Helios
by Karen Whiddon This Christmas, all pop star Meghan Frost wants is Gabriel Stavros. But little does she know that the hunk who runs the Archangel casino is really a Helios. Or that he's her age-old enemy. Dare she believe in some holiday magic that could unite the unlikeliest of allies?
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2016
About the author
Addison Fox
119 books372 followersAddison Fox can’t remember a time when words weren’t a part of her life. In addition to being an avid reader, she loves writing novels about strong-willed and exciting heroes and heroines – individuals who are meant for each other and who deserve their happy ever after. After she makes them work for it, of course!
First published in 2010, Addison has written across romance genres including paranormal, contemporary and romantic suspense. A romantic at heart, she’ll take her heroes any way she can get them – from ancient warriors to computer geeks to sexy cowboys. She’s not picky - but she is deeply grateful her readers are willing to come along for the ride.
Addison lives in New York. You can find her at her home on the web at www.addisonfox.com or on Facebook (facebook.com/addisonfoxauthor) and Twitter (@addisonfox).
The House of Steele series for Harlequin Romantic Suspense launches in July with THE PARIS ASSIGNMENT.
And two new stories in the Alaskan Nights series will be out - FROM THIS MOMENT ON (Penguin eNovella, July) and JUST IN TIME (Aug).
Addison lives in Dallas. She loves to get email from readers.
First published in 2010, Addison has written across romance genres including paranormal, contemporary and romantic suspense. A romantic at heart, she’ll take her heroes any way she can get them – from ancient warriors to computer geeks to sexy cowboys. She’s not picky - but she is deeply grateful her readers are willing to come along for the ride.
Addison lives in New York. You can find her at her home on the web at www.addisonfox.com or on Facebook (facebook.com/addisonfoxauthor) and Twitter (@addisonfox).
The House of Steele series for Harlequin Romantic Suspense launches in July with THE PARIS ASSIGNMENT.
And two new stories in the Alaskan Nights series will be out - FROM THIS MOMENT ON (Penguin eNovella, July) and JUST IN TIME (Aug).
Addison lives in Dallas. She loves to get email from readers.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 20, 2017
2 stories: All Is Bright and Heat of a Helios by different authors.
Rafe and Gabe are brothers who own a casino. The first story is Rafe's, the 2nd is Gabe's.
Rather then reviewing each, I'm lumping them together because my issues are similar. First, I like the cover, but it's misleading because doesn't fit the book. (Yeah, I *know* that's the first time that's happened, right?!)
I thought this was an interesting concept, but failed in execution. Maybe I would have liked it better had they been 2 full length books by the same author? I liked Evangeline at the beginning of the book, but didn't by the end. I thought Meghan very naive and dumb.
Rafe and Gabe are brothers who own a casino. The first story is Rafe's, the 2nd is Gabe's.
Rather then reviewing each, I'm lumping them together because my issues are similar. First, I like the cover, but it's misleading because doesn't fit the book. (Yeah, I *know* that's the first time that's happened, right?!)
I thought this was an interesting concept, but failed in execution. Maybe I would have liked it better had they been 2 full length books by the same author? I liked Evangeline at the beginning of the book, but didn't by the end. I thought Meghan very naive and dumb.
May 8, 2017
I too was drawn in by the misleading cover. Everyone in this book is white...so I don't know why the cover.
All is Bright - Addison Fox - 3 / 5 - Easily the best of the two, and this one had the onus of explaining an entirely new and unfamiliar paranormal situation - the existence of Helios and their nemeses the Hunters who work to destroy the Helios and bring Chaos back into the world. This is done very well and with a minimum of confusion. So it's established that Rafe is a Helios (like a human phoenix) and he kinda gets caught when he does his rejuvenation burning thingy a month early and right in front of their casino horticulturalist, Evangeline. And I will say this, the build up and the increase in suspense as Evangeline begins to learn the truth (and even the time as its explained to her) is pretty frickin awesome. This was setting up to be a solid 4-star story. After the two had sex though, Evangeline's personality changed from a likeable and mature, cynical workaholic to a laidback teenager who dances about and talks about unicorns, and doesn't even once think about going to work. It was like she had a personality transplant and I didn't care for it. The author explains it away a bit that she suddenly felt free of her past having now had sex and maybe understanding who her father was, but I didn't buy it. And before the end, I was a bit confused about Chaos and is powers and what not. How do they know he's gone? And for how long? Still a good PNR - I like that the hero can light himself on fire like that.
Heat of a Helios - Karen Whiddon - 2 / 5 - This one did not quite pull off the execution. Meghan Frost is a popstar who is performing for 3 months at Gabe and Rafe's casino and really catches Gabe's interest. They deal with one another and their misconceptions. What Gabe doesn't know is that Meghan is from a family of Hunters (though she hasn't really participated and gave up on their beliefs as a teenager). Meghan doesn't know that Gabe is a Helios. And that whole set up I found ridiculosly difficult to believe given the first story, in which Rafe was able to track down Evangeline's personal history and the fact that her father, who died when she was 7, was a Hunter. I'm to believe that neither Gabe, nor Rafe were able to figure out that Meghan was from a family of Hunters during a time when they should be the most paranoid about Hunters among them? Then it seemed it was contradiction after contradiction...first Gabe swears he won't give into his lust for Meghan until after he's rejuvenated (and partly because he's not so sure he can control his fire around her), and a minute later he's having sex with her and no trouble. Meghan laments that she can't find a guy who appreciates her old-fashioned traditional values, but she had sex with Gabe a day after knowing him. Meghan seems sure that her family would torture and kill Gabe if they caught him, but she swears they're nice people. And what was with Gabe being grumpy at losing hundreds of dollars in the slots of his own casino? It's not exactly money lost, is it? Most of all though, this just sort of lacked the chemistry and the build up of the first one. It also didn't feel like a PNR since about the only thing Gabe does that's remotely unhuman is rejuvenate...just the one time. This was still an enjoyable little follow up to the first story, but the whole impossibility that they had no idea Meghan was a Hunter kinda got in the way...
All is Bright - Addison Fox - 3 / 5 - Easily the best of the two, and this one had the onus of explaining an entirely new and unfamiliar paranormal situation - the existence of Helios and their nemeses the Hunters who work to destroy the Helios and bring Chaos back into the world. This is done very well and with a minimum of confusion. So it's established that Rafe is a Helios (like a human phoenix) and he kinda gets caught when he does his rejuvenation burning thingy a month early and right in front of their casino horticulturalist, Evangeline. And I will say this, the build up and the increase in suspense as Evangeline begins to learn the truth (and even the time as its explained to her) is pretty frickin awesome. This was setting up to be a solid 4-star story. After the two had sex though, Evangeline's personality changed from a likeable and mature, cynical workaholic to a laidback teenager who dances about and talks about unicorns, and doesn't even once think about going to work. It was like she had a personality transplant and I didn't care for it. The author explains it away a bit that she suddenly felt free of her past having now had sex and maybe understanding who her father was, but I didn't buy it. And before the end, I was a bit confused about Chaos and is powers and what not. How do they know he's gone? And for how long? Still a good PNR - I like that the hero can light himself on fire like that.
Heat of a Helios - Karen Whiddon - 2 / 5 - This one did not quite pull off the execution. Meghan Frost is a popstar who is performing for 3 months at Gabe and Rafe's casino and really catches Gabe's interest. They deal with one another and their misconceptions. What Gabe doesn't know is that Meghan is from a family of Hunters (though she hasn't really participated and gave up on their beliefs as a teenager). Meghan doesn't know that Gabe is a Helios. And that whole set up I found ridiculosly difficult to believe given the first story, in which Rafe was able to track down Evangeline's personal history and the fact that her father, who died when she was 7, was a Hunter. I'm to believe that neither Gabe, nor Rafe were able to figure out that Meghan was from a family of Hunters during a time when they should be the most paranoid about Hunters among them? Then it seemed it was contradiction after contradiction...first Gabe swears he won't give into his lust for Meghan until after he's rejuvenated (and partly because he's not so sure he can control his fire around her), and a minute later he's having sex with her and no trouble. Meghan laments that she can't find a guy who appreciates her old-fashioned traditional values, but she had sex with Gabe a day after knowing him. Meghan seems sure that her family would torture and kill Gabe if they caught him, but she swears they're nice people. And what was with Gabe being grumpy at losing hundreds of dollars in the slots of his own casino? It's not exactly money lost, is it? Most of all though, this just sort of lacked the chemistry and the build up of the first one. It also didn't feel like a PNR since about the only thing Gabe does that's remotely unhuman is rejuvenate...just the one time. This was still an enjoyable little follow up to the first story, but the whole impossibility that they had no idea Meghan was a Hunter kinda got in the way...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed both these stories. The mythology of Helios was nicely developed, though Rafe and Gabe are almost too perfect and it’s hard to see how Hunters could continue in such dogged dedication for generations without much provable success. It’s fun to imagine a casino on the Las Vegas strip actually owned by private individuals instead of a massive corporation, and I did wonder how they could afford so much open space for landscaping instead of using it for revenue. There were a few inconsistencies between the two books, but they were minor.
In All is Bright, Evangeline is perhaps too accepting of paranormal events, and Rafe too suspicious one moment and too complacent the next.
In Heat of a Helios, Megan quickly made me like her, despite her career. Considering how carefully Gabe and Rafe investigated Evangeline, I was surprised they looked no further than Megan’s career without checking into her family. The final showdown was excellent.
In All is Bright, Evangeline is perhaps too accepting of paranormal events, and Rafe too suspicious one moment and too complacent the next.
In Heat of a Helios, Megan quickly made me like her, despite her career. Considering how carefully Gabe and Rafe investigated Evangeline, I was surprised they looked no further than Megan’s career without checking into her family. The final showdown was excellent.
November 10, 2017
A Hunter Under the Mistletoe (ALL IS BRIGHT/HEAT OF A HELIOS) by Addison Fox & Karen Whiddon
• Winter Solstice
What an on the steamier side of cute set of Christmas romances set witjin a casino in Sin City. Two brothers, two stories by two authors. I enjoyed them both! Hunters vs Helios.... Who will win this solstice? You'll have to read A Hunter Under the Mistletoe to find out. ARC received from Netgalley for an honest voluntary review. Due to sexual content this novel is recommended for readers 17 and older!
• Winter Solstice
What an on the steamier side of cute set of Christmas romances set witjin a casino in Sin City. Two brothers, two stories by two authors. I enjoyed them both! Hunters vs Helios.... Who will win this solstice? You'll have to read A Hunter Under the Mistletoe to find out. ARC received from Netgalley for an honest voluntary review. Due to sexual content this novel is recommended for readers 17 and older!
October 27, 2016
With the Las Vegas setting and an inventive storyline involving Helios from Green myths, A HUNTER UNDER THE MISTLETOE is constantly enchanting. Addison Fox and Karen Whiddon have written stories filled with uniqueness and imaginable characters, and I enjoyed seeing how someone with very unusual supernatural abilities would react during certain situations. The two Stavros brothers make outstanding heroes, as deep concern for others demonstrates they are compassionate, while their responses to the new women in their lives proves tender regard and fiery passion are also part of their natures. Though the heroines are rather shy and usually keep to themselves, being around a man who cares about them brings out the best in their behavior. Both stories complement each other, as facts and timelines are accurate. Christmas festivities add to the charm of the stories, while many aspects of Las Vegas are highlighted throughout the novellas. I hope there will be future visits with the Helios. A HUNTER UNDER THE MISTLETOE captures the imagination with cleverness.
“All Is Bright” by Addison Fox
As the horticulturist for the Archangel Casino in Las Vegas, it is the duty of Evangeline Kennedy to make certain the plants located on the site look fabulous at all times. While working late one night, she comes upon a sight that cannot be rationalized and is determined to get a valid explanation about the incident. Rafael Stavros runs the casino along with his brother, and they are both phoenixes which are known as Helios. What Evangeline saw was his Rejuvenation, and the truth about this event must be kept concealed from humans. Since Rafe is worried about her trying to discover what actually happened, he plans to get much closer to her, something that will not be a hardship.
Original and intriguing, “All Is Bright” interweaves the Christmas season with lots of fascinating incidents. Addison Fox brings the interesting world of the Helios to life with believability and engaging characters. Rafe greatly cares for his family, and he is shocked to find a human woman could be added to his list. Though he and Evangeline are vastly different, and she does not like secrets, the sexual pull between them is very potent and hard to ignore. What is learned about the Helios and their enemy, Chaos, is thought-provoking with its ties to Greek mythology, and I was definitely involved in how things would play out.
“Heat of a Helios” by Karen Whiddon
Even though Meghan Frost is a well-known singing sensation, she hopes to have a relaxing time in Las Vegas before her upcoming shows begin at the Archangel Casino. While her room is absolutely perfect and so far no one recognizes her, being alone over the Christmas holiday is really disheartening. When she spends some time doing enjoyable activities with Gabriel Stavros, one of the casino’s co-owners, her vacation becomes much more exciting. But Meghan has no clue her new boss is a Helios, which is the supernatural being hunted by her family. As she and Gabe spend time together, danger is drawing ever nearer.
The Stavros brothers know how to show someone a good time, and Gabe goes all out to make Meghan welcome at his establishment. But in the process of being a good host, he finds his feelings are becoming affected by the supposed diva. Karen Whiddon has created a truly compelling storyline for her couple, where emotions quickly become entangled. I found the interactions between Meghan and Gabe to be realistic, especially when they discussed matters that were important to them. “Heat of a Helios” delivers a captivating paranormal story packed with romance.
Received copy from author
“All Is Bright” by Addison Fox
As the horticulturist for the Archangel Casino in Las Vegas, it is the duty of Evangeline Kennedy to make certain the plants located on the site look fabulous at all times. While working late one night, she comes upon a sight that cannot be rationalized and is determined to get a valid explanation about the incident. Rafael Stavros runs the casino along with his brother, and they are both phoenixes which are known as Helios. What Evangeline saw was his Rejuvenation, and the truth about this event must be kept concealed from humans. Since Rafe is worried about her trying to discover what actually happened, he plans to get much closer to her, something that will not be a hardship.
Original and intriguing, “All Is Bright” interweaves the Christmas season with lots of fascinating incidents. Addison Fox brings the interesting world of the Helios to life with believability and engaging characters. Rafe greatly cares for his family, and he is shocked to find a human woman could be added to his list. Though he and Evangeline are vastly different, and she does not like secrets, the sexual pull between them is very potent and hard to ignore. What is learned about the Helios and their enemy, Chaos, is thought-provoking with its ties to Greek mythology, and I was definitely involved in how things would play out.
“Heat of a Helios” by Karen Whiddon
Even though Meghan Frost is a well-known singing sensation, she hopes to have a relaxing time in Las Vegas before her upcoming shows begin at the Archangel Casino. While her room is absolutely perfect and so far no one recognizes her, being alone over the Christmas holiday is really disheartening. When she spends some time doing enjoyable activities with Gabriel Stavros, one of the casino’s co-owners, her vacation becomes much more exciting. But Meghan has no clue her new boss is a Helios, which is the supernatural being hunted by her family. As she and Gabe spend time together, danger is drawing ever nearer.
The Stavros brothers know how to show someone a good time, and Gabe goes all out to make Meghan welcome at his establishment. But in the process of being a good host, he finds his feelings are becoming affected by the supposed diva. Karen Whiddon has created a truly compelling storyline for her couple, where emotions quickly become entangled. I found the interactions between Meghan and Gabe to be realistic, especially when they discussed matters that were important to them. “Heat of a Helios” delivers a captivating paranormal story packed with romance.
Received copy from author
October 29, 2016
The first paranormal that I've read that was about phoenixes! I always love that first paranormal book about a new (to me) species. I love learning about this new world and the "rules" of this world. On that aspect I was sorely disappointed. Yes, these are novellas, so of necessity, brief. But seriously, there needed to be more world building for these new "supes". We basically learn about 4 or 5 things (which I'm not going to spoil by spilling), and one of those was tossed out in maybe the last 10 pages. If these authors don't do more books for what has the potential of being a world as fascinating and exciting as any vampire world I've read, I for one am going to be sooo PO! The storyline, takes place in Las Vegas which is second only to New Orleans (IMHO) as THE place for "supes" to live, so that they go undetected. So we'll see if they take this potential and run with it.
Now, the great things about these books- Smoking hot dudes and ladies with attitudes! My favorite combination of heros and heroines! Eve is a landscaping professional and Meghan is a pop star. Neither of these ladies take any crap from their billionaire casino owning lovers. The romance was quick, again a novella so though I'm not a fan of insta-love, it worked so well.
This was a great little holiday romance and I hope these authors don't leave me crying in my beer and prowling the internet to see if they have additional full length stories coming out in "phoenix world" .
I've signed up for both's newsletter so I can keep abreast of their new releases.
Now, the great things about these books- Smoking hot dudes and ladies with attitudes! My favorite combination of heros and heroines! Eve is a landscaping professional and Meghan is a pop star. Neither of these ladies take any crap from their billionaire casino owning lovers. The romance was quick, again a novella so though I'm not a fan of insta-love, it worked so well.
This was a great little holiday romance and I hope these authors don't leave me crying in my beer and prowling the internet to see if they have additional full length stories coming out in "phoenix world" .
I've signed up for both's newsletter so I can keep abreast of their new releases.
November 9, 2016
Disclaimer 1 : I received an ARC of this book in exchange of a review.
Disclaimer 2 : I chose this book because of the cover. More precisely, because of the gorgeous dark skinned black woman on the cover. Which ended up quite misleading. I mean, the two stories weren't too bad, the first one being the best executed, IMHO. The Helios thing is interesting and the writing is ok. so it could have been a good read if not 1) for the misleading cover draw (the female lead character in the first story is white and the one in the second story is described as some "dusk (sic!) skinned woman with...freaking GREEN (re-sic!!!)eyes (UGH!!!); 2) for the fact that the two stories are basically the same, with only minor difference in the plot (like the professional occupation of the female love interest...); 3) there is almost no secondary characters or any interesting interactions between the two male lead characters and their family for instance outside of each other, even though they keep talking about how important it is for them and how big it is, etc. So the whole book ended up feeling a bit flat and a missed opportunity : what could have been a interesting mythology/paranormal universe is more spoken than showed and not given any other substance than what the 4 main characters say or inferred, the plot is pretty predictable (especially once you've read the first story) and it just feel repetitive. Rather than split it into two stories, may be this book should have been written as only one, and then extended to a second book.
Disclaimer 2 : I chose this book because of the cover. More precisely, because of the gorgeous dark skinned black woman on the cover. Which ended up quite misleading. I mean, the two stories weren't too bad, the first one being the best executed, IMHO. The Helios thing is interesting and the writing is ok. so it could have been a good read if not 1) for the misleading cover draw (the female lead character in the first story is white and the one in the second story is described as some "dusk (sic!) skinned woman with...freaking GREEN (re-sic!!!)eyes (UGH!!!); 2) for the fact that the two stories are basically the same, with only minor difference in the plot (like the professional occupation of the female love interest...); 3) there is almost no secondary characters or any interesting interactions between the two male lead characters and their family for instance outside of each other, even though they keep talking about how important it is for them and how big it is, etc. So the whole book ended up feeling a bit flat and a missed opportunity : what could have been a interesting mythology/paranormal universe is more spoken than showed and not given any other substance than what the 4 main characters say or inferred, the plot is pretty predictable (especially once you've read the first story) and it just feel repetitive. Rather than split it into two stories, may be this book should have been written as only one, and then extended to a second book.
November 4, 2016
Love love LOVE this cover. I immediately stopped and bought it when I saw it in the Harlequin store because I never see any IR romances there outside of Kimani. The fact that it was a Nocturne is a bonus.
Sadly, the story (I jumped straight to the second story with the IR couple) didn't grab me and I often wondered how it was paranormal romance. It took a few chapters to really feel like one but for the most part, the story felt contemporary. I would have loved more worldbuilding and immersion into the paranormal aspects.
Sadly, the story (I jumped straight to the second story with the IR couple) didn't grab me and I often wondered how it was paranormal romance. It took a few chapters to really feel like one but for the most part, the story felt contemporary. I would have loved more worldbuilding and immersion into the paranormal aspects.
October 18, 2016
3.5 stars - NCT #243
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