I really love this book, and that's coming from a person who didn't really expect to love this book.:)I was familiar with the author and enjoyed her writing style, but I'm also not a huge fan of romance, so I figured I'd like the story and that's about it. Ha!
If there is one thing I cherish in reading, it's when I'm proven wrong, and in this case I was proven dead wrong. I'm not even sure I can honestly say I'm not a fan of romance anymore. I believe I've been converted, and that was no easy task.
Minimal spoilers, because I think readers deserve the full effect. We have Mia, and I adored her immediately. She's not out looking for a man or a soulmate, but she's also not one of those innocent young women with wide eyes and zero life experience. Far from it. She's tough, she smart, but still flawed and deeply vulnerable on an emotional level. She works two jobs, one at a mortuary, and she's the kind of person who eats her lunch in a cemetery and talks to headstones. Crush on Mia.
She ends up in a bit of trouble, and meets Detective Cole Barnett. Another well-rounded character, this one with a uniform and a great body. He has his own demons, and also has one of the coolest jobs I can imagine. He's a cop, but he's also a vampire, and suffice it to say those two things are far more compatible than I would've imagined. The stealth organization, the secret underground of Sector 13, is probably my favorite part of the story. Crush on Cole. :)
The relationship develops at a pace I'm not used to witnessing in paranormal romances, and I think this is how I was hooked. It's not an instant love thing, not at all. Attraction can only go so far, and the very real problems with a vampire and human relationship is explored, as well as the personal struggles within the characters. It's push and pull, ebb and flow, sometimes to the point of frustration for me as a reader, and for the characters, too. I found that so refreshing, and the honesty and fear and trepidation was handled remarkable well. Superb, really.
Another treat is the omniscient Point of View. Most of the para-romance books I've read are first person, almost always from the view of the female protagonist. While I don't have a problem with that, I have felt cheated at times. I want to get into the mind of other characters, especially supernatural characters, and I finally got my wish this time :) The flow of dialogue, the way the transitions between Mia and Cole's views were handled, was great. I felt like I was getting the whole story, and it didn't detract from the mysterious qualities of the characters. In fact, I think knowing the internal struggles of Cole as well as Mia, enhanced their relationship. Loved it.
I can't get into plot details too much, because there are so many little twists it would be hard for me to stick with my no spoiler policy. But there is plenty of action, plenty of heat coming from the slow-burn between Mia and Cole, great revelations and surprises, and a very satisfying ending. Even though this is part of a series, the story still stands alone. There's not a rage-inducing cliffhanger at the end.
Five stars, highly recommended.
