****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Cynthia Leighton is a private investigator in Malibu whose clientele is largely made up of members of the vampire community. Nursing a broken heart, Cyn welcomes the distraction of a missing persons case that will take her out of town for awhile. However, when Cyn gets to Houston and meets Jabril, the powerful vampire looking to hire her, she immediately has second thoughts. She suspects that Jabril has a hidden agenda, something involving her ex-lover, Raphael. When Cyn aids a young vampire who is being held prisoner by Jabril she sets in motion a series of events that place her and an innocent young woman in danger. Cyn knows of only one man that has the power to stand up to Jabril, and it just happens to be the same man who has hurt her so badly - Raphael.First of all, I've got to say that I'm not a big fan of the current trend towards watered down, neutered vampires, and - thank God! - it doesn't look like the author is either. The vampires in Ms. Reynolds' finely crafted world are dark, dangerous and deliciously morally ambiguous. The book is very atmospheric, using the sights and sounds of LA to full advantage. It's not hard to picture these gorgeous, not-quite-human creatures blending into both the glamorous and seedy elements of the city. Cyn is a strong contemporary heroine - smart and gutsy without being over-the-top. And Raphael? Well, I think the following quote from the novel just about says it all: "Ten minutes, ten years, ten centuries, sweet Cyn," he murmured, suddenly serious. "I love you. Whatever time I have left is yours." Sigh.In addition to the romance between Cyn and Raphael, this story works quite well on the suspense/mystery level. In fact, if you're reading purely for the romance you might be a bit disappointed in the amount of time spent on their relationship. That aspect of the story really doesn't heat up until the last third or so of the book. But heat up it does, and boy was it worth the wait!Bottom Line: Sexy and stylish Urban Fantasy/Romance with a solid plot and great characters.Strong language and explicit sexual content. I would recommend reading the first book,Raphael (Vampires in America), which is where Cyn and Raphael's story begins.
