Badass Bloggettes: ***5 STAR REVIEW*** TRANCING THE TIGER by Rachael Slate

TRANCING THE TIGER: A CHINESE ZODIAC ROMANCE.

Genre: fantasy romance

Chinese Zodiac Romance Series: Book 1

Publication date: February 17^th, 2015

Page count: 297

Author/Publisher: Rachael Slate

Delve into a world steeped in tradition and superstition…

After her parents become infected with the Red Death, Lucy Yeoh flees to Malaysia seeking answers. Everything in this closed-off section of the world is paradise—from the lush tropical climate to her sexy new neighbor, Sheng…who just might be delusional. He claims the Plague God unleashed the Red Death and only a circle of Chinese Zodiac spirit animals can cleanse the Earth. Even more, he insists she’s one of them: the Rabbit. Long furry ears and fluffy bunny tail included.

He’ll show her how to fight to save the world…

As the Chosen of the Tiger, the burden of restoring balance to the world has fallen onto Li Sheng’s shoulders. When he discovers that the ally he’s long awaited, the Dragon, is actually just the Rabbit, Sheng is quick to dismiss Lucy. If only she’d stay dismissed. Lucy’s Rabbit refuses to cooperate, undermining the authority of his Tiger at every turn…and seducing him to the limits of his darkest desires. He’s not supposed to want her. Not when he needs the spirit circle complete and she’s their weakest link.

She’ll show him a love worth fighting the world to save…

Sheng’s enemies draw closer, and not everyone wants Lucy alive. Together, they’ll have to navigate a treacherous world where a line between duty and their hearts has been drawn between them. They must either sacrifice one, or find a way to surrender to both.

Trancing the Tiger is the first book in Rachel Slate's A Chinese Zodiac trilogy, By the Horns #2 and Reining Him In #3 books both coming in 2015.

I have to say the blurb caught my eye: it hinted to a world so different and removed from anything I'm accustomed to reading that I was inexorably drawn to it...and fell in love with it. This is a fantastic debut novel of what looks like an all kind of promising series.

Lucy Yeoh is a young woman who finds herself entangled in the most extraordinary of situations and it will take all of her good sense and courage, and all the help she can get too, to wrap her head around her predicament and accept the fact that she is more, so much more than a 21-year-old would-be kindergarden teacher. This is not going to be a walk in the park for her. You can take it from me.

Lucy's move from Stockton, California, to Penang, Malaysia, turns out to be both a voyage into her father's culture and a journey into self-discovery. Confronted with what little remains of her family, Lucy soon realizes her uncle Xiaodan's expectations about her are much more 'traditional' than she thought they would be; nonetheless, she is determined to carve out a life for herself, and on her own terms. That's precisely what I like about Lucy the most: there must be a lot on her mind at the moment, what with her new country, new 'family', new house, and above all, the loss of her parents to the Red Death that is raging throughout the world, but she is still focused on proving the world she's not as fragile as she may seem.

On her arrival at the Penang airport, she is picked up by a mysterious chaffeur/bodygurd, who turns out to be Sheng Li, her neighbour. Since that first drive with Sheng, Lucy has witnessed the most unusual things happening to her but her sensible, practical self soon dismisses them as tricks of her mind. She finds Sheng's behaviour towards her far, far more upsetting, actually, because...seriously

“Who would growl at someone else?”

Oh my, who would indeed!!

If only she knew.

Sheng Li is a wonderful specimen of Alfa, and a Chosen one. He is the one in charge of revealing Lucy her role inside his 'circle', which he considers his family. He will end up teaching her a thing or two about herself, and how to fight for what she believes in. With him at her side.

During Lucy's 'praticum' under his tutoring, the sexual tension between them hits the roof and the power-play between their two spirit animals, the Tiger and the Rabbit, only adds a deeper meaning to it. Sexual energy is a dangerous toy. Once unleashed, it totally changes who you are; Lucy will undergo some dramatic transformations that will decide the course of events and take Lucy and Sheng's relationship in the right direction. Slowly, haltingly , Lucy teaches Sheng how to love her; she shows him she has chosen him as her soulmate and that she's going to stand by him whatever the circumstances. Rabbit she might be, but one badass of a Rabbit.

There are a few enemies to reckon with before Lucy and Sheng can enjoy their HEA, but together they are stronger than anyone else and there's no villain who can stand a chance against them, not even a wicked Chosen One.

The final chapters of Trancing the Tiger fly by in a rush of amazing plot twists and fighting scenes that keep you on edge with a videogame quality; with each turning of the page, a whole range of contrasting emotions leaves you breathless and wanting for more.

I'm really impressed by Ms Slate's mastery in creating plot, character and setting. And she's also knowledgeable about oriental myths and folklore. The result is a little gem in a sea of precious stones and I'm truly looking forward to the next books.

AMAZON US / AMAZON UK / B&N

Rachael has explored forgotten temples in Cambodia, kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland, and stood inside the Roman Coliseum. She loves studying people and cultures, current and ancient. Her appetite for romance began with Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables, which she later nurtured with a healthy dose of Jane Austen.

As a writer of steamy fantasy romance, Rachael blends the lines between mythology, reality, and fantasy. In her worlds, you’ll encounter strong, sexy alpha males and the capable women who challenge them. If her heroines can’t meet their heroes toe-to-toe, then they’ll bring them to their knees.

No matter what torture she puts her characters through, true love will always prevail. Love is, after all, the most powerful force on Earth, and beyond.

Rachael holds an Honours BA in anthropology, as well as a CELTA. Her secret indulgence is her passion for baking, which she offsets with her addiction to running (she’s completed four marathons). She resides on the West Coast of British Columbia, Canada, with her husband, two children, and cat.