Dark Destinies Series by S.K. Ryder

She is determined to live life on her own terms. Destiny has other plans. Rookie journalist Cassidy Chandler wakes to an ugly bruise on her neck, a hole in her memory, and a fiancé who seems to know more about what happened than he's telling. It's enough to make Cassidy call off the engagement and move out, even if that means trading a posh South Florida mansion for a dilapidated beach house... moreShe is determined to live life on her own terms. Destiny has other plans. Rookie journalist Cassidy Chandler wakes to an ugly bruise on her neck, a hole in her memory, and a fiancé who seems to know more about what happened than he's telling. It's enough to make Cassidy call off the engagement and move out, even if that means trading a posh South Florida mansion for a dilapidated beach house. Unfortunately, she also trades one devious man for another questionable character in her unexpected new roommate: the darkly enigmatic and exasperatingly French Dominic Marchant. For Dominic Marchant secrecy is a matter of survival. As a newborn vampire with dangerous enemies, he's sure the headstrong young woman invading his lair with an unknown vampire's mark on her throat is about to get him killed. But the charming Cassidy resists his every effort to make her leave and even embroils him in her own tumultuous life. Before he knows it, she has stolen his heart and helps him rediscover his lost humanity. Now he's fighting to protect her not only from the ancient vampires hunting him, but also from his own deadly desire for her. But her secretive ex isn’t done with her yet, and neither is the dark prophecy Cassidy and Dominic’s unlikely relationship has set in motion. Together they are swept up in a battle where nothing is as it seems, love and deception are the weapons of choice, and the only way to survive is to risk everything—for each other. less

Destiny has a plan for her. So does the vampire she just moved in with…A relationship gone wrong lands rookie journalist Cassidy Chandler in off-the-beaten-track South Florida. As she settles into her new job and a run-down rental cottage, challenges abound. But none greater than her unexpected roommate, volatile Frenchman Dominique Marchant... moreDestiny has a plan for her. So does the vampire she just moved in with…A relationship gone wrong lands rookie journalist Cassidy Chandler in off-the-beaten-track South Florida. As she settles into her new job and a run-down rental cottage, challenges abound. But none greater than her unexpected roommate, volatile Frenchman Dominique Marchant. He’s got a fondness for sharp swords and obnoxious commentary, and Cassidy struggles to ignore him – until she realizes he harbors secrets even darker than his eyes.Only last year, Dominique was a carefree playboy in the sun-drenched Caribbean. Now he’s a vampire confined to the night and tormented by the lives he must take. When the intrepid Cassidy invades his hideaway, he sees a way out of his immortal misery. If only he can maneuver her into ending him before his bloodlust ends her.Instead, Dominique is swept into Cassidy’s chaotic life and finds something he thought lost for good – his humanity. Soon, he desires her in ways that can never be fulfilled while she continues to unravel the mystery of the troubled man stealing her heart. Discovering his truth could kill her. But a secret from her own past is about to find them…and this one could destroy them both.This is book 1 of Dark Destinies, a series that combines a gritty supernatural world with an against-the-odds struggle for redemption and the power of love to overcome even the most daunting challenges. The series is perfect for fans of fish-out-of-water characters, slow-burn romance, and small-town paranormal suspense.Editorial "A fantastical journey and a brave new take on the Vampire genre, present day Florida is the setting for the first installment to what should be a beacon for vampire junkies." ~InD'tale Magazine“This was fast-paced read, with plenty of action, romance and witty dialog.” ~ Uncaged Book Reviews“I love a gritty story when it comes to the supernatural and Dark Heart of the Sun pushed all the right buttons.” ~ Lampshade Reader“Combines the wonder of vampires with the dark and gritty life that they must lead... A great start to Ryder's new series. I definitely can't wait to see what happens next.” ~ Pure JonelReader “A paranormal romance that is so much more.”“A Beautiful Love Story where Belief in your Mate is the Key to Everything.”“If you are looking for a fresh take on vampires in a great book you won’t want to put down, you must give Dark Heart of the Sun a read.”“Not only do I recommend this work, but I suggest you read it over a weekend, because you won't be able to put it down.” less

The only thing standing between a new vampire and eternal darkness is the mortal woman who claims his heart. Youngling vampire Dominic Marchant struggles to master his deadly instincts as he hunts the urban jungles of South Florida. He keeps his hunger confined to the blood of the guilty with help from Cassidy Chandler, a human woman who can literally touch his soul... moreThe only thing standing between a new vampire and eternal darkness is the mortal woman who claims his heart. Youngling vampire Dominic Marchant struggles to master his deadly instincts as he hunts the urban jungles of South Florida. He keeps his hunger confined to the blood of the guilty with help from Cassidy Chandler, a human woman who can literally touch his soul. Their love is his last remaining tether to humanity, which is tested beyond endurance when powerful forces from his past introduce him to terrifying new appetites he could never have imagined. His efforts to protect Cassidy from the depravity overtaking him push their relationship to the brink of shattering. Refusing to give up on the man who is her heart, she takes an unthinkable gamble to save him. But is she fulfilling an ominous prophecy that ensnares them both? Or has she become just another pawn in a cunning game played by the five-thousand-year-old vampire who claims Dominic as his own? Desperate to rescue her from a fate worse than death, Dominic strikes a perilous bargain with his greatest enemies only to face an impossible choice—embrace his darkest self . . . or destroy the woman he cannot live without. less

A reluctant new Lord of Night. His vulnerable human queen. If they can't change five thousand years of history now, it will change them. Forever. Fate has cast vampire Dominic Marchant and the human love of his life, Cassidy Chandler, into roles they never imagined. Thanks to his mad sire, he is now the Lord of Night, and Cassidy, with her unique ability to merge her mind with his, has become the incongruous mortal queen of his immortal kingdom... moreA reluctant new Lord of Night. His vulnerable human queen. If they can't change five thousand years of history now, it will change them. Forever. Fate has cast vampire Dominic Marchant and the human love of his life, Cassidy Chandler, into roles they never imagined. Thanks to his mad sire, he is now the Lord of Night, and Cassidy, with her unique ability to merge her mind with his, has become the incongruous mortal queen of his immortal kingdom. Even as he dreams of seeing the sun again and she can’t imagine becoming a vampire, they vow to reshape their domain into a world where vampires feed on love rather than fear and leave their prey swooning instead of dead.   But not all their subjects are pleased with the change in leadership. A powerful ancient vampire and his cadre of followers serve Dominic his greatest challenge yet just when reclaiming the day looks like a real possibility. Soon friends turn up in ashes, and Cassidy and his human family become targets in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse that leads them and their unlikely, vampire-hunting allies deep into the wilds of the Canadian Rockies—and straight into their worst nightmares.   With their lives and the very existence of the world of night hanging in the balance, Dominic and Cassidy must decide whether to chase an impossible dream or finally embrace their dark destiny. less