*This title will be released on August 31, 2010*
Book Description
Sara Constantine is one of the country’s most tenacious prosecuting attorneys—and she’s just secured a well-earned promotion. At first she’s thrilled. Then she finds out her new job involves prosecuting vampires and werewolves. And nothing prepares Sara for the shock she receives when she meets the first defendant she’ll be trying to put away: Lucius Dragos, the sexy stranger with whom she recently shared an explosive night of ecstasy.
When Lucius Dragos kisses the beautiful woman sitting next to him at the bar, he’s only hoping to blend into the crowd and avoid the perceptive gaze of the man he’s following…and planning to kill. But what starts as a simple kiss to secure his cover ignites into a fierce hunger that leads to an all-consuming passion. Charged with murder, Luke knows Sara will do whatever it takes to see him locked away—unless he can convince her that he’s not the monster she thinks he is. And that might mean making the greatest sacrifice a vampire can make.
Review
Book 1 in The Shadow Keepers Series
J. K. Beck’s (aka Julie Kenner) new series, The Shadow Keepers, introduces us to hidden world of vampires, werewolves, and demons and the harsh, but just system that tries to contain them. In WHEN BLOOD CALLS, Beck thrills and chills in this multilayered paranormal romance that bleeds, bites, and sizzles on every page.
Full of warring political factions, centuries old vendettas, government agencies like the PEC (Preternatural Enforcement Coalition), the world building in WHEN BLOOD CALLS is excellent and sets up a truly fascinating world for her characters to play in.
The main plot was not as mysterious as it was intended to be, but no less entertaining for its predictability mainly due to the realistic main and supporting characters (especially the tormented vampire Serge). So often in PNR, the love interest is merely that, only identifiable in relation to the protagonist. In WHEN BLOOD CALLS, the two main characters each have their own depth and unique motivations that exist entirely independent of the other. They each could have had their own book and it would have been good. Of course, then we would have missed out on the super steamy romance.
For the first part of WHEN BLOOD CALLS, Sara and Luke are reminiscing about the one night they spent together before he became the new defendant in the murder case she was prosecuting. They have to dance around each other and fight their attraction while still letting subtle and not-so-subtle sexual innuendo slip into their very public encounters. After a few false starts, when they finally get together again, it’s sizzling but not in a salacious way.
Overall, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book (especially since naked man covers are usually a hard sell for me), but Beck has created a dark and provocative new series with just the right amount of procedural and suspense elements, along with a smoking hot romance. The next two Shadow Keepers novels are coming out back to back in September (When Pleasure Rules) and October (When Wicked Craves) which means I won’t have to wait long to enjoy this world again.
Sexual Content: References to rape including chapters from the POV a child rapist/murderer. Several scenes of graphic sensuality, several graphic sex scenes.
My Rating (out of 5):Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now & pre-order the sequel.
Click HERE to read an excerpt from WHEN BLOOD CALLS
Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages - Publisher: Bantam; Original edition (August 31, 2010)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 044024577X
- ISBN-13: 978-0440245773
- Cover Art: N/A
*Disclosure: I received this book courtesy of Random House
Disagree with my review? Contact me with your review for this or any other book I’ve reviewed and I might use it for 2nd Opinion Review.
I'll admit I skimmed through the review only because I have this book sitting in my review pile. I wanted to see your rating and it looks like I'm really going to enjoy this one. I think the covers for all the books in the series are great.
ReplyDeleteStephanie G
Paranormal Haven
I've been on the fence with this new series, not sure I wanted to read it. Your review definitely makes me want to try it, thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review. I've had it on my radar and now I can add it to the wishlist.
ReplyDeleteStephanie - It's a solidly good read with considerably more substance than many PNRs.
ReplyDeleteLizzielv - My goal in reviewing is always to give you enough info to make that decision :)
Jen D - Good call. Plus how nice i it to get 3 books coming out back to back?
This sounds really interesting...and definitely a series that I need to check out. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this one. I'll be adding it to my TBR list for sure :)
ReplyDeleteSamantha - It really is. Check back on Tuesday since the author will be here telling us lots more about the series and there will be a giveaway too :)
ReplyDelete