Adam
Jacquelyn Frank


ISBN-10:
1420109863
ISBN-13:978-1420109863
Publisher: Kensington
Line: Zebra
Release Date: Oct 25, 2011
Pages: 354
Retail Price: $7.99



Genre: Paranormal
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating:

Eleven-year-old Blaze James and her twin sister, Aerial, know two things beyond a doubt. They're two of the prettiest girls in Shreveport, Louisiana, and they'll always be there for each other. Then one night, a gas explosion leaves their father dead and Aerial severely burned, changing their lives forever.

While Aerial goes with their mother to Baton Rouge for treatment, Blaze stays behind with a neighbor. Free-spirited and unconventional, Felicity Hardaway opens Blaze's eyes to a whole new world, inspiring her to explore her own budding desires. . .and the answers she finds will bring passion, betrayal, and a love beyond expectations.

 

Review

The world of the Nightwalkers is looking exceedingly troublesome with Necromancer Ruth and her vampire lover Nicodemus growing in power. No one seems able to defeat them, save one Demon—Adam, who was lost to the Nightwalkers over four hundred years ago. Yet, suddenly, Adam is back. Not only is this a surprise to his demon family, but a shocking surprise to the vampire woman who tempted him decades ago.

Jasmine is determined to bring Ruth and her mate down, in any way possible. As the right hand of the vampire Prince Damien and head of a vampire network that hunts down the wicked, Jasmine won’t let anything get in her way—until the very demon that once inspired emotion in her cold heart shows up.

Alright, I jumped into the middle of a series, again. This is my first Nightwalkers book, and honestly it doesn’t function well as a standalone. Getting into the story took some time for me as terminology is confusing if you’re new to a series. Frank does do an excellent job of building suspense, and the entire story seemed like a giant pit of doom for a bit. The very idea that this tale could have an HEA was surprising.

As far as characters go, Adam and Jasmine are a delight and I just wish there had been more time spent on them. This novel jumps from points of view a bunch, from characters new to the story and familiar ones for faithful readers of the series.  Adam is every bit as powerful as the blurb describes him. His imposing strength and unwavering dedication to his duty are defining traits that quickly captured my attention. Jasmine on the other hand is a bit of wild card. I honestly didn’t think I would like her that much at first, but once she paired up with Adam it was difficult not to like her. Frank allows Jasmine to become someone completely different with Adam, essentially someone able to actually feel. Like in this one scene:

“Are you telling me,” Adam asked her softly as he stepped up and closed the distance between them, “that you have never even been infatuated? Never been roused enough by another to find yourself smitten?”

She had come close once.

Only once.

“Never,” she lied to him, lifting her chin and meeting his eyes directly. “Thankfully. Nothing turns a person into an idiot faster than some mindless fascination with another. No one should ever put so much energy into someone else. Others cannot be trusted to do anything but disappoint you.”

“As Damien has disappointed you?”

She took a breath to answer him quickly, but then held it as she thought about her answer more carefully. Despite all her callous exterior, Jasmine the Vampire was sensitive at heart. All of these barbs, he saw, were in defense of that heart.

“I am not half as disappointed by him as I was by you,” she said quietly.

After that omission it only gets better between the two of them. Frank also throws in some gripping action sequences that give the story a little more enticement.  The villains are downright diabolical, which made me extremely happy. I enjoy it when an author makes full use of her villains, and Frank does it masterfully.

Overall, a series fan will have no trouble diving into this book head first, and will enjoy Jasmine’s opportunity to get a hold of the delectable Adam. For those not familiar with the series but interested, I recommend starting at the beginning or at least reading the book before this one to become more familiar with the world and the timeline.

Reviewed by Landra


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