Author: Colleen Gleason
Publisher: MIRA Books
Source: NetGalley
Genre: Paranormal Romance - Vampire
Format: Paperback, 400 pgs
Release Date: 05/31/2011
Author Website
Regency England stands defiant against Napoleon.
But battles among men mean little to those who live forever – especially when the Dracule are waging their own war.
Skilled in the seduction of men, both mortal and immortal, Narcise Moldavi is the greatest weapon in her twisted brother's war among the Dracule. Until she falls for Giordan Cale.
Her first searing encounter with Giordan brands them with a passionate love. But Giordan's vow to help Narcise escape her brother's rule is followed by a betrayal more agonizing than sunlight.
Wounded but determined, Narcise ensnares vampire hunter Chas Woodmore in her quest for revenge and to reclaim her life. He wants her, worships her, will kill for her. And the Dracule never forget a wrong – nor do they forgive.
Rating -
Sexual -
My Review:
This, the third in Gleason's Regency Draculia series, has "vampirs" both "turned" by Lucifer and "made" by other vampirs who are thus much weaker than the "turned" vampirs. And this is not all that is different with Gleason's vampires - each has an individual weakness will paralyze them with fear, making them helpless. A very nice variation to the vampire lore - as are Gleason's other inventive differences.
This paranormal romance, featuring as the central female character Narcise, is filled with family betrayal, a heartbreakingly huge sacrifice for love that is misconstrued as betrayal, a truly depraved and malevolent villan, love lost and found, excellent swordplay, wasted time and reunited love.
This story is unique in that it features two heros (no, not a three-some); Giordan, a turned vampir and Chas a vampir hunter - both possess a masculine beauty.
On a sensual scale of 1-4, I rate it a 3. Giordan talks very sexy - would have been excellent at phone sex. There is a very hot scene involving him handcuffed to a wall allowing Narcise to have her way with him. And it is always hot on the rug in front of a fireplace fire. However there is also attempted rape and mention of past rapes. Also occasional m/m action that is very tastefully portrayed without getting into the mechanics - not enough to push this into the erotica genre.
This series and author are new to me but the summary had me very interested in reading this book even though I had not read the other books in the series. Which, it turned out, is not an issue. This is a completely self contained story. There are characters in it I'm sure appear and/or were introduced in earlier books but they were just here as secondary characters seamlessly weaved into the story.
I enjoyed the story giving it a content rating of 4 out of 5 stars, even though much was heartbreaking (but that makes for a good story, no?), and I think fans of the paranormal romance, urban fantasy and vampire genres will like this as well.
Warning - Spoiler Alert!!!!
This does have a HEA ending in case fans of happy endings are turned off by those books without one.
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