Deep Desire by Z.A. Maxfield

There’s no leverage like seduction…until love takes a bite of his plans.

As the Indiana Jones of historical erotica, there is no document existing—or just rumored to exist—Adin Tredeger can’t unearth. Why he would risk the biggest coup of his career to join the mile-high club is beyond him. But the disarming, dark-eyed man who somehow enters Adin’s locked airplane washroom has him completely nude and coming apart. All without a whimper of protest.

From that moment, Adin and Donte Fedelta engage in an international battle of wit and cunning. The prize—a priceless, 500-year-old journal with illustrations so erotic it could make the Marquis de Sade blush.

Yet Donte’s desire for the journal goes far beyond simple possession. The undead nobleman wrote it. And he’s not above using every trick in his otherworldly arsenal—including seduction—to get it back.

Chemistry draws them together even as fortune tugs them apart. But when a third party joins the chase, they must unite to fight an enemy with a deadly goal—to erase Donte from history.

Publisher’s Note: This book is a rerelease of a previously published book, with substantial rewrites.

Warning: This product contains one cocky college professor, one centuries-old vampire who is out to show him who’s at the top of the food chain, and red wine. Because it goes so well with humble pie.

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Samhain  Publishing

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆
4 Fangy Stars.

Deep Desire was a nice change of pace for me, because I hadn't read any vampires in ages, especially MM vampires. The story flowed at a steady pace, with intelligent dialogue and monologue, and an unexpected side of witty humor.

*I need to note this*
The mentality of the author is brought into the stories, and without proper research, only what the author knows is shown. There are often times where doctors, lawyers, professionals, 500 year-old vampires sound younger, less educated. Example: doctors who behave like teenage children, and speak as if they have a narrow vocabulary and no knowledge of anatomy. Lawyers who seem to have forgotten their education and profession, and don't know any laws whatsoever. 500-year-old vampires who giggle and act like teenagers, instead of world-weary after seeing countless tragedies and learned many life lessons. Wisdom of age.

ZA Maxfield manages to make both the academic and the old vamper sound/behave/react/act like their intelligence level would demand, with knowledge of their professions. I wanted to note this because I appreciate the research and maturity.

Adin is a collector of precious artifacts on a flight home with his prize. Donte is a vampire stalking Adin, because the journal Adin is in possession of belongs to Donte – not only belongs to him, but was written by him. Donte's personal thoughts and experiences. Instead of taking his book back with violence and a strike of force, he uses passion and lust instead.

With a lot of inter-play and banter, together, the pair gain and lose their prize, only to reclaim it and have it taken away again. Opposing sides join forces to retrieve the journal from a third party.

Donte isn't over-the-top vampire like some books portray the culture. But he doesn't hesitate to inform Adin how Donte is the top of the food chain. Adin, on the other hand, Donte fears for him because he's too trusting, not seeing vampires for their negative traits, when he should be terrified. Adin and self-preservation are not the best of friends. Adin is a male version of a damsel in distress, but it's easy to understand as he is an academic who sees things in a different light. Adin isn't a macho guy whose male ego will get bent, but he doesn't lie down and die either.

Deep Desire has two separate romance threads playing out in the novel. The underlying, budding romance between Adin and Donte, which is built on pure, undeniable lust. Then, during journal entries, the love between Donte and the boy he grew up with whom had died during his mortal life. With his lover's death and Donte's being made a 'monster,' Donte lost all sense of his humanity. This was the large chip on Donte's shoulder, the issue holding the romance between Donte and Adin back, even though he was the most empathetic and compassionate character in the series.

I recommend to fans of MM, UF, adventuring, and bitey fun.

Will I read more in this series and by this author? Yes, I've already started book 2. Book #3's release is upon us, and I've already obtained an ARC copy for review, and I'm looking forward to it.


Angie – ☆☆☆☆
I was torn on if I wanted to read this book or not, but glad I did. Unlike others, I didn’t really care for the journal entries about Donte and Auselmo, I wanted more Adin and Donte. I found myself skimming a few times but that isn’t anything against the author, I just tend to get bored when there isn’t much dialogue between characters. I liked how once Adin understood why Donte wanted the book back, he really started to read the book and see how much it meant and how it wasn’t just “art.” The book isn’t something I would normally read but it kept my attention and I wanted to see how everything turned out.

Characters: Well written
Sex: Yes
Religious: No
Would I recommend to others: Yes
More than one book in the series: Yes
Genre: M/M Paranormal Romance
Would I read more by this author: Yes

Also Available in the Deep Series

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Samhain  Publishing

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Samhain  Publishing

Z. A. Maxfield is a fifth-generation native of Los Angeles, although she now lives in the O.C. She started writing in 2007 on a dare from her children and never looked back. Pathologically disorganized and perennially optimistic, she writes as much as she can, reads as much as she dares, and enjoys her time with family and friends. If anyone asks her how a wife and mother of four manages to find time for a writing career, she’ll answer, “It’s amazing what you can do if you completely give up housework.”

Connect with Z.A.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Deep Desire (Deep #1) by Z.A. Maxfield to read and review. Review copy was purchased by the blog.