Mini ARC Review--The Damsel and the Daggerman by Delilah S. Dawson

Bad boy knife-thrower Marco Taresque is the hottest and most dangerous performer in the caravan. He keeps to himself until a pesky female journalist arrives, anxious to interview him about his checkered past—his last assistant disappeared under mysterious and bloody circumstances, earning him the nickname “The Deadly Daggerman.”

Unsinkable journalist and adventurer Jacinda Harville doesn’t take no for an answer, and she’s determined to wear down Marco no matter how threatening—or incredibly desirable—he might appear. He agrees to an interview—but only if she’ll let him strap her to a spinning table and throw knives at her body. How can she say no? And how can she resist him when he leans close for a kiss that strikes her more sharply than any blade? It’s the first time she’s let a man get the better of her, and she’s determined it will be the last…

Just when she thinks she can’t take any more of his games, Jacinda receives a note from Marco saying he’s finally ready to tell her the truth about what happened to his missing assistant. She sets out for an address miles away, but what she finds there turns the tables on everything she thought she knew about the tender lover who wears a smile as sharp as his knives.

I received this e-ARC from the publishers via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review, I was in no way compensated for this review.

Delilah S. Dawson knows how to tell her stories! Whether they are full-length novels or novellas, each story is rich with the carnival life in Sang, mysterious characters and creatures, hot-blooded romance and of course bludbunnies!

In The Damsel and the Daggerman we have Jacinda who is a reporter and wants to write a book about Criminy Stain's wonderful carnival and all its wonderful performers. After Criminy gets the okay via Trish and her abilities, Jacinda is allowed to stay and interview all who she likes.

The one who isn't willing is Marco, the Daggerman. And he has a story to tell. One where he comes out bloody and a woman is missing. But when Jacinda tries to pry the story out of him, she finds he is most unwilling. Try as she might, he refuses to budge. It was quite funny too at times, for both Jacinda and Marco are hardheaded and determined to keep at their position.

Then comes the proposal, Marco will answer one question if Jacinda allows herself to be strapped to the spinning wheel and he must hit a card she holds. And thus begins a new song and dance for the two.

There is clearly an attraction between Marco and Jacinda, but Marco remains almost stubbornly adamant that nothing happens between the two. There's reasoning behind it and Jacinda can't figure it out. Nor can she get the fully story behind Marco's past.

Just when you are about to lose hope for anything forward happening, stuff happens! The pace picks up and the story that I was liking becomes one that I was totally enjoying! There's a romance building, obviously and it finally takes direction! And of course we get the scoop on what secret Marco holds...turns out it's more than one!

I have to admit some of the things I LOVE seeing in these books are the love of books and reading! It seems since I've read the last two novellas nearly back-to-back and from the novels as well, books are always mentioned at least once and with adoration! Gotta love that! The other thing I love seeing cross the page of every book and novella? Why, the bludbunnies of course!

The Damsel and the Daggerman was a very fun read as all of Delilah's novellas turn out to be! We even get a glimpse of the next novel's heroine Demi! Just a little glimpse and questions from the inquisitive writer and we'll totally be prepared for her novel come January 28th!!


Overall Rating 5/5 stars


The Damsel and the Daggerman releases January 14, 2014 (as an e-book only)