Helpful Score: 2
I have to say first off that I have read other Bianca D'Arc's books and enjoyed them very much-- I also think it's fair to note that I have read this series out of order, not intentionally, but that was how it worked out.
That being said, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I'd hoped. The incident that brings our heroine, Christy,(human) and our hero, Sebastian(vampire) is very serious. Her husband has beaten her to the point of death and the only way to save her is to turn her. Sebastian, already attracted to Christy but having remained at a distance because she is married, steps up and offers to do the deed. There is tremendous responsibility involved in turning someone but he is half in love with her anyway so it's worth it.
I felt the back story of Christy's abuse wasn't handled in as serious a manner as it was touted to be, and she didn't strike me as being as "damaged" as the description indicated. Yes, she had suffered and her self-esteem was in the toilet but she seemed to bounce back rather quickly to me and she accepted her new status quite well. I actually found the story at times to be very light and fluffy. Believe me, I love happily ever after, but this was way too easy for me. While I understand that once bonded they could read each others minds and know the other inside and out--similar to Christine Feehans mated Carpathians, that complete and utter acceptance of another man, relationship and lifestyle on the heels of an abusive relationship was far too easy for me.
On the plus side, I'm not sorry I read it, it just wasn't up to par for this writer. The back story is very good, and there are some great secondary characters. The lead characters from "Lords of the Were" make an appearance (a book I very much enjoyed)and Sebastian's friend Matt was just what the doctor ordered. Oh, and of course, a couple steamy hot sex scenes.
That being said, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I'd hoped. The incident that brings our heroine, Christy,(human) and our hero, Sebastian(vampire) is very serious. Her husband has beaten her to the point of death and the only way to save her is to turn her. Sebastian, already attracted to Christy but having remained at a distance because she is married, steps up and offers to do the deed. There is tremendous responsibility involved in turning someone but he is half in love with her anyway so it's worth it.
I felt the back story of Christy's abuse wasn't handled in as serious a manner as it was touted to be, and she didn't strike me as being as "damaged" as the description indicated. Yes, she had suffered and her self-esteem was in the toilet but she seemed to bounce back rather quickly to me and she accepted her new status quite well. I actually found the story at times to be very light and fluffy. Believe me, I love happily ever after, but this was way too easy for me. While I understand that once bonded they could read each others minds and know the other inside and out--similar to Christine Feehans mated Carpathians, that complete and utter acceptance of another man, relationship and lifestyle on the heels of an abusive relationship was far too easy for me.
On the plus side, I'm not sorry I read it, it just wasn't up to par for this writer. The back story is very good, and there are some great secondary characters. The lead characters from "Lords of the Were" make an appearance (a book I very much enjoyed)and Sebastian's friend Matt was just what the doctor ordered. Oh, and of course, a couple steamy hot sex scenes.
Helpful Score: 2
While I agree with the other review that this book is a "lighter" or "fluffier" read than some of her stuff I still found it enjooyable. I think for me I got the impression from what I read that the relationship between Christina and her husband had only gotten bad in the last year, and perhaps that's why it was a little easier for me to accept her quick recovery and acceptance of Sebastien. The few things said in the book about Christina's marriage indicated he'd slapped her a few times, and he'd never beaten her like that before, so she didn't really have a long-term, hard-core abuse relationship like some. Perhaps that's why she recovered so quickly. I did think her acceptance of vampires, weres and the fey came a little too easily, but it was still an ejoyable read. I enjoyed it, but it's not a keeper for me, nor do I think I will read it again, but I enmjoyed it all the same.
