Title: Between Love and Lust
Author: Nikko Lee
Source: Requested review
Genre: Vampire - Erotic Contemporary
Format: eBook - 219 Pages
Author's Website
All vampires hunger for blood, but for Mika the pleasures of the flesh are as nourishing as blood. Since the start of her unlife, she has indulged her need for carnal satiation. After the death of her mater-sire, she began to comprehend the complexities of the political struggles embroiling the clans of Haven, and now that knowledge fascinates her. Her pater-sire introduces her to a world of intrigue, where information is as valuable as blood. Mika’s particular ability to seduce and enchant allows her to assist her pater-sire in uncovering the perpetrators of the assassination of a clan leader. While deep with the slums controlled by Clan Corbius, Mika meets a handsome and dangerous exile who is as renowned for his fighting skills as his ability to seduce. Hail McMahon is as sexy as he is unpredictable, and with his aid, Mika is able to escape from the territory of Clan Corbius after a mysterious attack by a mob of crazed vampires.
The streets of Haven run red with blood following several assassinations that leave the members of the Council of Clans accusing each other of treachery. Mika is forbidden to see Hail, a known associate of Clan Corbius, by a council decree, but that does not stop her from desiring him. Mika combines business with pleasure as she tries to unravel Corbius’ plot and identify the spy operating from within the council. With the assistance of Erik, her ever-present and perpetually disapproving bodyguard, Mika gets closer to uncovering Corbius’ plan to take over the city. At the same time she realizes that her feelings for Hail maybe more than lust.
Mika suffers a broken heart when she finds out that Hail has promised to form a blood-bond with Alexa, Corbius’ youngest childe. Despite Hail’s assurances that his union with Alexa simply forms a convenient means of gaining information about the inner workings of Clan Corbius, his attempts to kill Mika’s pater-sire and bodyguard convince Mika that all along, he has been using her. Grudgingly, Mika agrees to form a politically motivated blood-bond with Erik, her bodyguard, in order to secure his clan’s participation in the coming war. Before the ceremony can be performed, Mika is kidnapped by Corbius’ minions, with the help of Hail, who has been placed under a spell that causes him to be enslaved by Alexa. Forced into a dark world where pleasure is often mixed with pain, Mika is surprised by her willingness to satisfy the vampires who threaten the stability of Haven. Mika knows that she must not only find a way to stop Corbius from taking over the city, but she must also resolve her conflicted feelings for Hail.
My Review Rating-
Sexual-
My Review
I was intrigued to read this book as I am a big fan of paranormal erotica involving vampires however after I started reading this book I found myself having a difficult time getting sucked into the story. The storyline was quite confusing with the myriad of clans involved in vampire politics that it made it very difficult to follow who was who and what were the unique abilities of each clans. Concepts and ideas were thrown out but never really fully developed or explained to make one fully understand the dynamics occurring among the vampires. This is perhaps the part where the story lost me as it focused so much on the politics, the romantic concepts seemed to come as secondary features and even then, it was superficial. I was not able to develop any emotional connection with any of the leads because it was lacking emotional development in their conflicts and feelings. There were points where there was a lack of fluidity from one scene to the next which made you wonder what was the point of the scence in the first place. The romance between the Mika and Hail really didn't feel romantic at all. Instead it felt as if two people who craved lust got together a few times but never really shared their true feelings for each other. It just felt flat and could have been fleshed out more thoroughly.
There were many scenes that I felt were very difficult to read, not only because of what was happening in them, but also due to the lack of emotional connection between the participates. I did not enjoy reading the F/F/F threesomes, the rough anal sex, nor did I enjoy reading the multiple rape scene involving Mika at the hands of her enemies. The book also includes BDSM, oral both men and women and the use of an instrument during a sexual situation, so it is definitely not for the faint hearted. I personally had to force myself to finish reading this book. I really wanted to like this book unfortunately I could not enjoy it. I just wished the author fleshed out the emotional component in the characters.
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