For centuries Jocelyn Ayer has trained and worked to destroy one vampire; it is not only his duty, it is his reason for living. One vampire is responsible for horrible crimes committed against his family. This vampire is Edrik - an evil vampire who takes lives, and lives off others' sorrows. Imprisoned for centuries Edrik's crimes are far too gruesome to forget. Having suffered the whims and abuses of many others in his youth, and suffered in his immortality, Jocelyn is a hard man to know and an even harder one to love.

Charlie has a normal happy life. Her parents raised her to understand her religion and to understand that not everyone will accept her beliefs. Her Coven has ties that go back centuries, and regardless of what outsiders think, their rituals are important. When her happy existence takes a turn for the worse and life will never be the same, Jocelyn (who has been associated with the Coven for centuries) appears and wants to teach her the ways to defeat evil. She does not believe him, but when this evil appears on her doorstep and hurts one of her dearest friends, Charlie can no longer deny Jocelyn his need for revenge. Drawn to Jocelyn as she has never been to anyone before, Charlie knows that for all his cold ways there is a feeling, living being inside his shell.

Can they, together, defeat this evil? Can Charlie convince Jocelyn that emotions are not just for the weak?

Ms. Hill continued her ancient blood series with this hard-hitting, emotional roller coaster. Jocelyn is misunderstood for centuries and it takes one young woman named Charlie to let him know the wonders that love can bring, and along with it, heartache. A superb book!!

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Explicit

Reviewer: Sara Sawyer
May 5, 2004