Review: Assassin's Honor by Monica Burns

Assassin's HonorAuthor: Monica BurnsPublication: Berkley Trade (June 1, 2010)
Description: A sexy new adventure-packed romance with a paranormal twist-from the award-winning author. 
Archeologist Emma Zale sees the past when she touches relics. It's how she uncovered evidence of an ancient order of assassins-the Sicari. When a sinfully dark stranger shows up on her Chicago doorstep demanding an artifact she doesn't have, he drags her into a world where telekinesis and empaths-someone who can sense the emotions of others- are the norm. Now someone wants her dead, and her only hope of survival is an assassin who's every bit as dangerous to her body as he is to her heart.
My Thoughts: What an exciting romance. Emma is still reeling from the death of her parents and her mentor when she meets Ares. He is a Sicari, a member of an ancient group of assassins and someone Emma was more than half convinced was only legendary. Ares comes to find out what she knows about a relic he is searching for. Coming to her puts her on the radar of the Praetorians who are the evil rivals of the Sicari. In order to protect her, Ares forces a blood bond on Emma but doesn't tell her what it means. Emma fears that he only wants her for her ability to learn about the past when she touches relics. Both Emma and Ares are too proud for their own good and almost manage to trash their romance. Watching these two characters come to an understanding was the heart of this book. 
The book also has strong and interesting secondary characters. I would like to know more about Lysander who is Ares' right hand man and Phae who is his sister. We see hints of something between them that I would like to see explored.
The puzzle of the location of the relic Ares was searching for was not resolved. I hope this means that the story will continue in another book.
Challenges: RYOB Reading Challenge