This is a re-read for me, and “Talen” was so much fun, I loved this story.
Talen and Cara's book, “Fated”, was the first book I read by Rebecca Zanetti and I fell in love with her Dark Protectors Series. Talen is my favourite Kayrs brother, I have a thing for him and Cara is the perfect mate for this overwhelming vampire, so stubborn, protective.
I missed Cara and Talen, This storyis #7.9 book of the series. After a few lines, while I was re-reading it, I realize how much I missed them: Talen is a totally Alpha kind of vampire, he’s the strategist of The Realm, the King himself, listens e obeys Talen's orders for security and war plans. Everyone but his mate Cara follows his orders. She can’t help herself, she’s a strong independent woman, who can gives a stroke very often to her vampire, when she wants to help him fighting their enemies.
Their back and fort are funny and hot and after several years of mating, the fire is still there.
The story is engaging, fast-paced, full of action and I love Rebecca Zanetti's writing, she's really good.
I loved so much to find in this novel also Garreth and his buddy Logan. Garreth is Talen and Cara's son, is all grown-up, resembling so much his father. Logan and Garreth are so much fun, sexy, and definitively trouble when there are teenager-girls shifters around.
If you love this series and have a soft spot for Talen, this story is thr cherry on the top, if you love vampires and paranormal romance, trust me you want to read the whole Dark Protectors series, from the beginning, it's amazing.

Talen was a short novella of the Dark Protectors series, and it revisits the couple from the very first novel, Talen and Cara. They have now been together approximately 25 years, and out of that, Cara was ill for the majority. Now that she has been cured, she is frustrated- Talen still treats her as if she’s so fragile she could break at any moment.

The couple is attempting to go on their first real vacation and of course, trouble ensues. There is a ton of action, as usual, and some really hot love scenes that burn the pages right up. There are also cameos from many previous characters in the series, which is a fun little jaunt.

This novella does a great job of tying the Dark Protectors in with the Realm Enforcers series. As always, I love anything Ms. Zanetti writes.

I received Talen from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this novella. It was a suspenseful and smoking hot read. I loved revisiting Talen and Cara. Seeing them interact when she is now healthy and how she makes Talen realize that was great.

A quick fun read, featuring many fan faves. Just enough to hold you over between books.

Cara and Talen have been a mated couple for twenty five years. Cara and Talen are Vampires. They have two children and one granddaughter. Garett is their twenty five year old son and walked into Cara and Talen making love Garrett’s best friend was a demon named Logan. Cara had been sick for decades but had newfound health with the cure that had been found for Cara. Cara and Talen have been charged with delivering genetic material- tissue samples that could hold a lot of answers to unmating Vampires. The Realm is suppose to be at peace. A peace between shifter, vampires and demons. But then Cara and Talen are attacked. Maggie and her pack come to Cara and Talen’s rescue when he calls for help. As demons were after him and Cara. They find out it was .the Sadovsky group of demons out of Alaska . Talen has to figure out what they want from Cara. Especially since the Realm is suppose to be at peace.I really loved this novella . I loved the action and adventure in this novella. I loved the pace and the plot. I also chuckled while reading this at times. I did wish this had been longer. I advise you to read the series in order before reading this. I loved the reaction Garrett had been coming in to see his parents having sex. I also loved how talon was so protective of Cara and how much he loved her after twenty five years. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this and I highly recommend.

Oh how I missed Talen and Cara! I love re-visits to my favorite couples. And Rebecca Zanetti did not disappoint with this book. She brought to light new trials and tribulations for the original Dark Protectors couple, while keeping intact everything that readers fell in love with them for in the first place. It's a true check-in book. It's raw, it's gritty, it's real life learning to grown with each other marriage, and also what would a Dark Protectors book be without some fantastic action? If you're missing Talen and Cara definitely give this a read, it in equal parts made my heart twist and melt.

Cara and Talen have had a rough 20 years, time to relax and enjoy! It was nice to catch up with the other families some too! Loved it. Ms Zanetti always delivers a great story.

Wow! I didn't know how much I missed Talen and Cara until I read this book! Dark Protectors has been one of my all time favorite Paranormal Romance Series because Rebecca Zanetti always always always delivers a story with a bit of humor, a lot of action, and just the right amount of Romance! Each of the books from this series reminds me why I fell in love with the Genre to begin with, and it was so great to catch up with Talen and Cara post war!

Talen picks up shortly after the war has ended and Cara is all about stretching her wings to have just a little bit of freedom. Talen of course has other ideas in mind and when a planned vacation goes up in flames, Talen will do anything to bring Cara to heel and make her obey his command to stay safe!

What I loved most about this book is the banter between Cara and Talen. She is feisty as ever and Talen is determined to keep her out of trouble. He's all alpha male and things get quite interesting when Garrett and Logan show up to help keep Cara safe. Now Cara just has to convince 3 alpha males that she can hold her own against the enemy and also live a little in the process.

Talen was a great solid addition to the overall series and I'm so looking forward to see what Rebecca Zanetti does next.

Talen and Cara have been mated for 25 years. The Vampires and Demons were at war and Cara was sick for 20 of those years. Now that Cara is healed and the war is over, Talen and Cara are going on a much needed vacation to Hawaii. But, apparently it's never that easy to just get away.
This is an exciting novella. Not to be missed for Dark Protectors fans. 5 stars!

Book Review- Talen by Rebecca Zanetti

In this Dark Protectors novella, you revisit Cara and Talen. Cara has decided to hand deliver the blood samples to the lab. Talen is not thrilled to take his mate outside with uncertain safety. Cara is frustrated with his overprotectiveness. She is healthy and the war is over.
This is the perfect time to take a trip and even consider teaching. Think of what she could do. Talen is dead set against her teaching but indulges her idea of taking the trip.
Unfortunately they run into trouble. Forest fires are running rampant in the area, plus demons are on their tail. Talen and Cara have to keep the sample out of the demons’ hands. They have to run. They are shocked, excect the samples aren’t exactly what the demons want. Cara becomes the target as Talen fights to protect her from unlikely enemies.
This was a fast read full of action. Talen is completely alpha-male but Cara is also independent. She continually butts heads with Talen after his kid treatment of her. It’s fun to watch their interactions. She had to show she was stronger than she used to be.
I also liked how Talen and Cara were taken off guard. The war is supposedly over and they are safe. The enemy that attacks them is not what they were expecting. At the end you find out exactly who they are. I was also surprised at who they were and why they were after Talen and Cara in the first place. A fun, short read and revisit to awesome characters. I give it a 4 out of 5.

I have read and loved this series from the very beginning and so snapped up the novella as fast as my hot hands could get it. The novella continues the story and the plot that we have been dealing with. It was a seriously fast read and didn't give us much in answers, but wow was it action packed! Cara and Talon, two of my favorite characters along with several more playing as secondaries give us insight into what is coming and a good bit of plot advancement.

Rebecca Zanetti's characters are always so highly developed and stay true to who they have been throughout the series even as they go through growth. This novella is not a standalone and it must be read in order to understand what is happening and enjoy the book. I very highly recommend this series for paranormal romance lovers.

The war may be over but a few beings didn't get the memo.

Talen Kayrs and the love of his very long life Cara Kayrs plan a simple delivery and then some time together now that she is cured of the long illness that had lingered for most of their time together. She healed and she's tired of being treated like a fragile idiot. Getting through to an ancient vampire is like pounding on a reinforced concrete wall. Maybe after the vacation and some tropical romantic days he'll get the message that she is well and very healthy.

Unfortunately, his instincts are right and in no time at all they have demons throwing mind games at them and well ... that is only the beginning. How will Cara ever get it through his head that she doesn't need him to be her protector if danger won't leave them alone!

I loved visiting Talen and Cara again and getting updates on their lives. I have to admit I still have trouble thinking of the children as grown-up and for heavens sake they are grandparents to a precocious little girl. This is a perfect link between author Rebecca Zanetti's Protectors and her Realm Enforcers and let's be honest who doesn't want a little more Kayrs in the world.

This is an action-packed, reunion of sorts, with vampires, demons, werewolves and some closure now that the war has ended ... or has it? Only our beloved author knows that for sure.

~ Annetta Sweetko, reviewer

ARC provided by NetGalley and Publisher for an honest review.

What a hot, sweet, short read with these two characters from the first couple of the series and now twenty years later.

We have their children and grandchildren in this story as well as what's transpired between the Demon's and Vampires.

The two in this novel go on a journey to deliver genetic material. During the trip we are given a glimpse into their relationship and how it's evolved over the years as well as how they have grown as individuals as well as a couple. Of course it's not a smooth journey and we have some fun surprises along the way. How could you not with a hot Alpha and a strong and beautiful heroine.

Very enjoyable short read. Well done story line as well as the characters depth for a novella.

First of all, to everyone who was upset because it was in the back of Wicked Burn, it clearly states that it was in the description. People clearly did not pay attention to the numerous notes that it was.
Regarding the book, it was a great quick read. I was expecting a longer book, but it was great to read about Talen and Cara again. We were able to catch up with them, and see what they were up to since the last book. This book takes place after the war has ended, and Talen and Cara decide on a road trip. But of course, a road trip is never a simple road trip. There is a new threat, and Cara is still in danger. It is a standalone, but I would recommend reading the previous books in the series to understand how they got to this point.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book.

NOTE: TALEN was originally released as a bonus novella in Rebecca’s WICKED BURN (Realm Enforcers #3). If you have not read book seven of the Dark Protectors series-MARKED-there may be some spoilers in TALEN and my review.


REVIEW: 4.5 stars---TALEN by Rebecca Zanetti is installment 7.9 in the author’s DARK PROTECTORS paranormal romance series and revisits the original Dark Protectors couple Talen and Cara Kayrs. TALEN can be read as a stand alone but for cohesion and backstory I recommend reading the series in order as the story line picks up following the events of book seven-MARKED:

SOME BACKGROUND: The Kayrs family rules not only the vampire nation, but also the Realm, which is a coalition of vampires, shifters, and witches. Years ago, an evil vampire race called the Kurjans declared war on the Realm by creating a deadly virus that infects vampire mates. The virus attacks chromosomal pairs and takes mates from immortal to human, potentially leading to death.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Talen and Cara) TALEN revisits vampire warrior Talen Kayrs, and his mate of twenty five years Cara Paulsen-Kayrs. Now that the war is over, another danger threatens our leading couple. With the cure for the virus found, Cara and Talen have been tasked with transporting some important samples to a research lab but the Demons have targeted our couple for reasons unknown. As Talen and Cara battle the demons, they are also facing the wildfires that are growing out of control. What ensues are Cara and Talen’s attempts to stay clear of the demons while Talen struggles to protect his mate-a woman who is determined to protect those she loves.

TALEN is a story line that reconnects with many of Rebecca’s paranormal series and story lines characters and couples with the appearance of Logan (vampire/demon hybrid), and Cara and Talen’s son Garrett (Realm Enforcers), and their daughter Janie Kayrs (Dark Protectors/Marked): Max Petrovsky ( Dark Protectors/Tempted); and shifters Terrent and Maggie (Dark Protectors /Twisted). The seamless interconnection between series allows the readers a second look at some of our favorite characters.

TALEN is a short, sexy, action packed novella. The premise is entertaining and spicy; the characters are familiar, passionate and colorful; the romance continues to be seductive and hot. TALEN is a must read for fans of Rebecca’s DARK PROTECTORS and REALM ENFORCERS series.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

THE READING CAFÉ: http://www.thereadingcafe.com/talen-dark-protectors-7-9-by-rebecca-zanetti-review-and-book-tour-and-giveaway/


GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2018069304


AMAZON.COM: https://www.amazon.com/review/R3PMQB3LF03UUC/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B01LYRP987


B&N: (Sandy _thereadingcafe): posted

CHAPTERS/INDIGO: (Sandy_At_The_Reading_Cafe): posted

KOBO: (Sandy Sch): posted

BAM (Sandy Sch): posted

Let me begin with I have not read any of Dark Protectors series. I keep meaning to since I really enjoy Rebecca Zanetti's books, especially her Realm Enforcers series. I know this story was previously published in Wicked Ride, which I did read, but at the time, I passed on reading this added story. When, once again, this novella popped up on my radar, I said why not. It's combining a series I knew with one I wanted to know. So I went for it.

Oh man, what have I missed! I really liked Talen and Cara. It's hard to imagine she was ill and weak because she is a very strong woman...one could almost say stubborn. More than enough to handle Talen. As for Talen, strong, protective, yummy. I'm not too sure what the war was about but it looks like it was between the vampires and demons. Whatever it was about it's over and Talen is having problems relaxing. Looks like he has a good reason. Something is following them, attacking them but who and why?

What a great introduction to a series I've been wanting to read. It's got action, romance and made for a great teaser for me. I'm discovering Talen and Cara well past their initial courtship and now all I want to do is read about them from the beginning. I can tell it must have been an interesting dance they had. Now as this is a book that ties to series together, one that I am familiar with, it has a couple of familiar faces: Garrett and Logan. They are great fighters but their antics and dialog always make me giggle.

If you haven't read Talen before, you're in for a real treat. If you have, then enjoy it again. Either way, Talen is a great bonus read. Fans of Ms. Zanetti are going to love it. I know I did.

reviewed by Jacque

For me this is a check in book. It allows you to check in with the characters you already know and see what's going on with them. I liked seeing how the cure is affecting other supernaturals and why, how its making a difference. The story had a smooth flow and made a lot of sense. Just the right touch of romance.


*ARC provided from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange if an honest review*

With all the inspiration of Jason Momoa, Talen is the perfect alpha male. Even though the war has ended he cannot help being his old protector self around his family especially to his mate Cara. When they finally decide to take a vacation, it soon turns into a fight for survival as unknown assailants chase them down. With the help of an allied pack, they manage to disable their pursuers only to discover more to the story.

I had started to read this at the end of Wicked Ride, I had to stop myself at first, and I needed to catch up on some of the other characters first. But then I could not help myself and just read it and could not put it down. Even though you could read this as a standalone; I would defiantly recommend you read the other books in the series so you know this history of the characters. I love the author’s writing style; she never fails to entertain me with every one of her stories. Talen has always been my deep dark sexy secret desire. His dominates and take charge has always been a big turn on for me. I love that we get to catch up with these characters and see how they are after the war has ended. Cara as strong and as sassy as ever; she sure does keep Talen on his toes. The action is non-stop and romance as always between these two is scorching HOT. This book was not a disappointment for me!

***I voluntarily reviewed this ARC for an honest review via NetGalley, I also purchased it through another book of this authors “Wicked Ride”, this is my honest opinion and has not been influenced by the author, Publishers or NetGalley in anyway.***

Talen is a novella that first appeared in the back of Wicked Burn. It is an expansion of the Dark Protectors series (7.9!!!) to help tie in the Realm Enforcers and the Dark Protectors series. Now confession time.... Talen isn't my favorite, I know I will gladly drool over the Jason Mamoa look of him but he is really just way to overprotective and spankings are not a punishment (my opinion, especially when the recipient enjoys them, it's like positive reinforcement for bad behaviour and never use sex to manipulate). I love Cara, she is strong and such a great character and believes that with their advanced technologies they should help the mortal world along a little; now with the war over she wants to teach. Talen is his regular overbearing self and doesn't want Cara exposed to any danger.

Before they head off for their well deserved vacation Talen and Cara need to make a quick drop off at the lab so they can have more intensive work done on the virus that negated the mating bond. On the way they are attacked by a mercenary group of demons, after they get rid of one group the shifter help them continue on the rest of the journey, accompanied now by Garrett and Logan. As it is prone to happen in these stories it doesn't go easy for them and Talen and Cara end up in a big fight.

Overall, the story was good, I just didn't care for the interplay between Cara and Talen. And P.S. I want more Terrent and Maggie!