{Blog Tour} Cursed to Kill (Inherited Damnation #1) by Claire Ashgrove

INHERITED DAMNATION INHERITED DAMNATION is an 8 book paranormal romance series being released as one book every three weeks between January 27th and June 23rd, 2015. Damned at birth, eight immortal children of a high priestess are compelled to kill the one that holds their heart. They can never fall in love. Driven by the need to finally destroy their evil sire and break the curse, each struggles to balance their desire for innocence against the dark needs of their conflicted souls. The series contains mythos shared between the volumes, but each book stands on its own with a newly featured couple. The first volume, Cursed to Kill, is available now!

Posted by Melanie 
Release Date: January 17th, 2015
Finished Date: January 1st, 2015

Publishers: Untamed Spirit
Genre: Paranormal, Romance, Adult
Source: For Review
Format: eBook

Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US 

One of eight children born to an ancient Celtic priestess and sired by a demonic incubus, Cian McLaine suffers from a centuries-old curse. Though his immortality allows him to enjoy the pleasures of mortal life, he is plagued by the desire to kill. As long as he doesn't fall in love he can keep the compulsion at bay.

When Cian walked into her rare bookstore months ago, Miranda Phillips never imagined she'd lose her heart to the handsome playboy. Her reward for doing so was abandonment. Cian left as mysteriously as he appeared, in the middle of the night with no explanation, no goodbye. Now he's back, and passion flares just as hot. But Cian has secrets. If Miranda is to survive, she must uncover the truth and free his darkened soul.

The Review: Cursed to Kill is the first book in the Inherited Damnation series which tells the story of eight siblings born to a Celtic Priestess and a very powerful Incubus. Through the book you will find out more of the circumstances surrounding the union of their parents and what that means for all eight siblings lives, for their Father cursed and damned them but their Mother gives them all a chance at redemption.

In this we have the eldest Cian and as the book title suggests, he is ‘Cursed to Kill’ – he can keep the urge at bay and does a good job, until he falls in love, because to fall in love will increase his urge to kill and he will end up killing the woman he loves – so when he does actually fall in love, he does the only thing he knows will save her…. He runs and lets her think he has dumped her…. That is until he finds out she has something he needs, but that something puts her in danger from his father because it is the details of a ritual that may save Cian from his dark urges and give him a chance to stay with Miranda….. and maybe defeat his evil father once and for all!

Claire Ashgrove does these kind of books so well, tortured men needing to find ‘the one’, a woman to love and be loved in return in order to gain redemption and I absolutely love them! I’m a sucker for this type of book and adore her ‘Curse of the Templars’ series so I pretty much knew I was going to enjoy this.

I immediately connected with the characters and storyline, I adore second chance love scenarios because the history is already there between them and it’s all about reconnection plus it all went hand in hand with Cian’s curse, leaving Miranda so he wouldn’t be forced to kill her. I thought they made a great couple and characters you could definitely route for in getting their happy ever after. Cian had the whole brooding, tortured soul thing going on and Miranda balanced that with her willingness to take a risk to see where their connection would take them.

I thought the storyline was original, I adore paranormal romances and I love how the author uses Celtic magic as a basis for the curse and their background, which is something I don’t read about much - but love. I thought the curse/redemption part is awesome, it gives the reader an expectation of where it’s all heading and promises more from the others involved. Speaking of, we do get to meet most of the siblings that gives a little insight into their characters for following books and there are some strong ones already. The book is rather short but paced perfectly and is packed with information, magic, curses, danger, love and plenty of sexytime too….. I can’t wait for more.

Character Profiles:

Name:  Cian (kee-an) McLaine, Eldest of the McLaine Siblings

Birthdate:  Lughnasadh, 200BC

Hair: Blond

Eyes: Grass-green

Alignment:  Allied with Nyamah, his mother, High Priestess of the Selgovae Celt tribe

Magical Strength:  Just enough ability with all the aspects to be dangerous, but no true power.

Profession:  Professor of Celt and Druidic Studies, University of Maine

Greatest Hope:  Escape from the constant, oppressive urge to kill and the curse of falling in love

Greatest Regret:  His dark urges forced him to abandon the only woman he’s ever loved

Secret Fear:  He will kill Miranda Phillips before his curse is lifted

His eyes opened to blood.

Two long slash marks formed Xs down the length of the muscle in both his forearms. Crimson rivulets ran from the shallow cuts, across the backs of his hands, and dripped off his fingers onto Miranda’s living room floor. The marks of sacrifice.

Human sacrifice.

In his right hand, he held the fillet knife that had carved the ritualistic wounds. He stood less than five feet from her bedroom doorway.

Name:  Miranda Phillips

Age:  Twenty-eight

Hair: Chestnut, shot-through with blond

Eyes: Brown

Alignment:  Mortal

Profession:  Owner of the rare bookstore, A Steppe in Time

Personal Hope:  That Cian will return…and this time, stay

Greatest Regret:  Losing her heart to Cian McLaine

Secret Fear:  He’ll walk away without a goodbye…again

“I left—” he whispered as he scattered kisses across her breastbone to the opposite side of her neck “—to protect you. From me.” With his nose, he nudged the loose collar of her sweater aside and grazed his teeth across her bra strap, tugging it playfully. “From the things I want from you.”

She didn’t want to ask. Couldn’t be certain his answer wouldn’t break her completely. But the question rose against her will and tumbled free. “What do you want from me?”

About the Author: Building on a background of fantasy game design, a fascination with history, and a lifetime love of books, Award-Winning Author Claire Ashgrove brings to life action-filled, passionate journeys of the heart. Her paranormal series, The Curse of the Templars, marries the history of the Knights Templar with the chilling aspirations of the most unholy--a must-read for speculative fiction fans. For romance fans, she also writes as the National Bestselling Author Tori St. Claire and historical romance as Sophia Garrett.
 In her non-writing time, she owns and operates Finish The Story, a full-scale editing house co-founded with Bryan Thomas Schmidt. She lives in Missouri and enjoys cooking, studying ancient civilizations, and spending downtime with her two sons and too-many horses, cats, and dogs. To learn more, visit her at: claireashgrove.com or toristclaire.com. For all the latest updates look for the Untamed Spirit blog, via any of her websites.

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