Blurb: Dr. Alexis Byornsson has her hands full in the ER when her patient’s uncle blows into the exam room. Stitching up a five-year-old’s cut is hard enough without a blond god distracting her all to hell.To say she’s furious is putting it mildly—not that anyone would notice. Not with the legendary control that’s earned her the nickname “Dr. Frozen”.

Luke Steel never knew a woman chastising him could be so sexy. But for the first time in three hundred years, passion stirs in his gut—along with panic. Since his wife was taken before his eyes in a brutal attack, he’s sworn he’d never feel that powerless again.

Almost before either Luke or Alexis realize what’s happening, they’re sharing a blazing kiss that shatters her logical armor and unleashes his wholly unwanted mating instinct. And spurs a closer-than-skin enemy to put into motion a devastating plan for revenge.

Warning: This book contains a hot doctor and a hotter vampire messing up sterile surfaces. The usual rogue shenanigans, but this time covering deeper motives. Hang on to your stethoscopes at what’s revealed!

Review copy provided for an honest review

It’s always fun to read and review a Mary Hughes book knowing that the residents of Meier’s Corners, the Strongwell’s, Elias and Nosferatu are going to be up to their old tricks … it’s like visiting with family members around the holidays and reminiscing about old times, laughing and just having fun.

And, fun we had with Passion Bites. Luke Steel, even though he was broody, suspicious and untouchable had his moments in the story where you saw the true person behind the mask. Yes, there are times that you want to slap him up-side the head and tell him to get over it already and then there are times when you want to just give him a hug and tell him that it will all work out but, mostly, you just want him to bite you while in the troughs of passion.

As for Alexis, well, she wasn’t my favorite female character in this series. Honestly, she was starting to get on my nerves with her “woe is me” and “I am a monster” attitude until the full story started coming together. Then, I understood a little bit more as to why she would feel that way. But, in the end, as she was trying to get Luke to understand his feelings, accepting her feelings and fighting for what they could have together, I really fell in love with her. She turned out to be just what Luke needed to accept the road ahead of him with open arms and an open heart.

Filled with a little bit of mystery, a mystery solved, rogues and all our favorite’s, Mary Hughes brings us back to Meier’s Corners just in time for a little Christmas miracle as she thaws out Dr. Frozen and loosens up the Untouchable Steel. She made me laugh and had me sitting on the edge of my seat trying to figure out just what was going to happen. She focused some on the children – maybe getting us ready for them to start growing up. She showed us that living in and dwelling on the past just is not living life to its fullest; that sometimes you just have to accept what you are feeling and move on; and understand that the past made you who you are today and the person by your side loves you in spite of it all.

So, enjoy your trip back to Meier’s Corners and the wonderful, fun writing of Mary Hughes. It’s the perfect read to help you relax in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of the season.

Kitty’s review originally posted 12/8/15

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Spotlight on Mary Hughes

1. When did you begin working with Samhain publishing?

In 2007, heartily done with getting rejections from publishers and agents, I put together a story with everything I’d gotten good feeback on–romance, humor, sizzling sex, vampires, and fighting action. This was the days when romance was vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry–contemporary, gritty paranormal, or romcom. I was sure nobody would buy the finished story, which would become Bite My Fire, but it felt so good writing it, I wrote another, which would become Biting Nixie. I had just begun a third when Samhain put out an anthology call for paranormal romance, sizzling hot sex, and humor. After I picked up my jaw from the where it had hit the floor, I checked out other titles on the publisher site. The warnings! ROFLMAO. The were so sparkling and fun, and I’d seen nothing like them in the industry–and I loved them. I’d found my home. I finished the third book as a short story and shipped it off. It didn’t get accepted for the anthology, but it was passed to another editor for possible acquisition. Deb Nemeth liked my particular blend of sex and insanity, and bought my first four books. The next six were bought by another awesome editor who understood me and to whom I will always be grateful, Christa Soule.

2. Was Samhain your first publisher?

Yes.

3. Now that this chapter in your life is closing, what’s up next for you?

I’ve already done quite a bit in indie publishing, and look forward to playing full time in that arena.

4.  Where can readers find you on social media?

Website http://www.maryhughesbooks.com/
Blog http://maryhughesbooks.blogspot.com/
Group Blog http://www.lustwithalaugh.com/
Group Blog http://magicalmusings.com/
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/MaryHughesAuthor
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/MaryHughesBooks
Newsletter signup http://www.maryhughesbooks.com/index.html#MHNewsletter

5. Do you have another Samhain author you love to read and if yes, who is it and what’s your favorite title by that author?

So many! There are always the popular NJ Walter, Maya Banks, and Dana Marie Bell. I also adore friends Renee Wildes (God of Fyre Mountain), Roxy Mews (A Love Worth Biting For), S.L. Carpenter (Love Song), Keith Melton (The Zero Dog War), Amy Sandas (Rogue Countess), Katie Porter, Vivi Andrews, Terri Meeker…too many to name, they’re all great, and they’re all good people. I feel so fortunate to have been part of Samhain’s journey. Thank you for this opportunity to talk about a publisher I’ve considered home for eight years.