What better way to lure Kellsie Morris, the scream queen of horror movies, to Hade's Carnival than offer her a lot of money as lead actress in a new movie? Kellsie is getting older so she knows her time is getting close so this seems like a perfect opportunity. Little does she know that her life is just about to take a wild twist. But something no one knows is that Kellsie is already protected by the MARK OF THE BEAR.

Marko has been frozen in his animal form for centuries waiting for the one woman who can release him from the curse. He, the wolf and the lion are the only ones remaining of the warriors for the Lady of the Beasts. Roric had disappeared and Marko hoped he was safe, Phoenix didn't even try but went up in flames with the woman, and Mordecai has betrayed them all.

When upon climbing onto the back of the magnificent bear on the carousel the ride begins, Kellsie wakes up in a cave with what she thinks is a crazed man. His story is just too much like the script that she had read, but the reason that the script ended with her riding the bear soon becomes evident. This was all a ruse to get her to release this man/warrior/bear so Hades could have him join Mordecai and lead the minions of hell to take over the world. But if they survive 24 hours his soul and hers are safe and he can find a way to free the Lady and his other warriors.

Choices are given to both Kellsie and Marko? Which will she take ... run to safety or stand by the man who is fighting for the good? Given the chance to be a warrior again will Marko break his honor code?

I loved MARK OF THE BEAR. It is a fantastic continuation of Hade's Carnival series by author N.J. Walters. With its fast action and interesting dialogue readers will be glued to the pages. Kellsie and Marko both work to accept the truth about their future, at first fighting the attraction then fighting together to survive. I liked that Kellsie is feisty and Marko solid and really intelligent about the modern world and of course the intimate scenes between the two are burning hot. I enjoyed the little hints that might lead readers to believe that Mordecai is not all bad and that the warriors that remain just might defeat the evil god. I actually liked the hint at the end telling where the carnival may show next; a nice twist and gives hope to readers for more of the series.

Book Summary

At twenty–nine, Hollywood scream queen Kellsie Morris is acutely aware the clock is ticking on her career. Luckily, the one big role she needs to pad her retirement fund has just come through—the story of an immortal, shape–shifting warrior trapped in a carnival run by the Devil's minions.

When Kellsie arrives on set, she can't resist climbing aboard an amazingly realistic carousel bear—and finds herself flung into a world where the horror is real. As real as the heat radiating off the half–naked hunk in her arms.

Marko has waited an eternity for the chance to free his goddess, the Lady of the Beasts, and his fellow warriors from an ancient curse. But once he lays eyes on Kellsie, he knows to the bottom of his soul that his purpose is to protect her life.

But in this hellish game, it's the Devil's move. And there's no predicting when and where the final, brutal stroke will fall—and which lover will pay the ultimate price.

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