Product Description

When FBI agent Diana Reyes fell in love with Ryder Latimer, she knew that there were things she would give up. For the passion her vampire lover brought into her life, it seemed a fair trade. Now she isn't so sure. The darkness vampires walk in wakes something inside her, something that frightens her even as it excites. Something that makes her wish for a more "normal" life.

Ryder understands her fears...and has fears of his own: of losing her, of the void that would fill him without her.

But when a case draws Diana into a purely human darkness, Ryder must make a decision: Can he let her go? Or will he step between her and death, no matter if she hates him afterward?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #573051 in Books
• Published on: 2006-12-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 288 pages

Customer Reviews

Not your typical girl-meets-vampire story
From the very first page, this early volume of the Silhouette Nocturne series takes a huge step away from the usual girl-meets-vampire set-up: The girl, FBI Agent Diana Reyes, is trying to take a break from her relationship with her vampire lover Ryder, the better to focus on a money-laundering scheme gone bad, that has claimed the life of her pregnant friend. But Ryder dogs her very footsteps, seeking her human touch that can keep him balanced as he dodges a powerful, much older vampyre, and she finds herself unable to deny her attraction to the darkness in him.

I love Caridad Pineiro's style: her heroines are strong, tough, but deeply feminine Latina women, but her nods to her heritage aren't just there for variety or PC-ness: it's clearly her way of celebrating her culture. And her vampire heroes are dark, fierce, but deeply human creatures as well, bringing just the right mix of bad-but-good-boy charm. All in all, a *great* read from a fun author.

Least Favorite in Series
I have enjoyed every book in this series but was quite disappointed with this one. First, Ryder and Diana seem to be repeating the same emotions over and over. He'd think, "I can't give her up" then he'd think "but I have to let her decide". She'd think "I can't be with him if we can't have a normal relationship". But then she'd think "I can't give him up".

Diana has to work with a former fiance on her case. When she first sees him, she doesn't want to get back into their old relationship. But before you know it, they're kissing and she's reacting. This happens again and on the third time she finally realizes there is no sizzle when she kisses him. What?? There seemed to be sizzle the other times.

An ancient vampiress shows up who's a one dimensional character. She wants to feed and she wants sex. This after being alive for 2 thousand years? She decides she wants Ryder. She has no problems taking control of every vampire she comes in contact with and making them do what she wants(which is usually sex), even Diego. She does this to Ryder one time then decides she can't compete with his love for Diana. Before you know it she had no more relevance in the story.

The CIA/FBI case made no sense. Supposedly the agency guy helping the terrorists is mad at the government for letting his father die in the Bay of Pigs disaster in the early 60's. He was a child at that time. He's worked for this government agency forever and been a good Agent. Now he decides it's time to work with the terrorists to pay the government back! Say that again?? How does killing a slew of FBI Agents do that? How does blowing up buildings and letting a weapon go into the hands of terrorists that can deliver bio weapons and nuclear weapons to U.S. targets pay back the government?? It was ridiculous.

Then in the end, when Ryder takes a bullet for Diana but she's mortally wounded anyway, she's somehow changed and no longer quite human, but not a vampire. Ryder thinks it has to do with his blood mixing with hers when they were both wounded. Yet when she asks what is she now and how did this happen (she can be out in the sun but heals fast)he says he doesn't know. OK, he had a theory before and now keeps saying he doesn't know what happened to her. We're never told what she's become. The story ends at that point. We're never told what happens to David, her partner who was wounded and probably paralized during the same raid that wounded Diana. He wants to know what the two men who rescued him are. He knows they can't be human but she won't tell him anything. David doesn't want anything more to do with her if she can't tell him the truth. That's it? Way too many things left up in the air.

A Dark and Delicious Supernatural Romantic Thriller
FBI Special Agent Diana Reyes had lived life on the edge after her father's murder. Once her younger brother Sebastian had gone along for the ride but now he was happily married and expecting his first child. That along with the news that her best friend Sylvia Rodriguez was also expecting had made Diana question the future of her relationship with her dark and dangerous vampire lover Ryder Latimer. She's not sure she is ready to give up the idea of a "normal life" and decides it's time to put some space between the two of them.

When Sylvia is murdered along with her unborn child, it's just one loss too many for Diana. She knows she can't allow Ryder to gift her with eternal life and stand by as the rest of her loved ones died one by one, but she also cares too much for Ryder to allow him to watch her grow old and die as he had for so many. Diana urges her friend police Detective Peter Daly to let her in on Sylvia's murder case.

Unsatisfied with the obvious conclusion that the murder was committed by Sylvia's heartbroken spouse, Diana finds a lead at Sylvia's law firm. Following up on evidence of a money-laundering scheme involving Sylvia's partner, a crime well within FBI jurisdiction, Diana and her partner David stumble over a CIA investigation of terrorist activity within the Cuban Democratic Army. Diana finds herself butting heads with the hostile CIA agent in charge, Hank Rupert. Hank's undercover source, on special assignment from the DEA, is a none other than Diana's ex, Alejandro Garcia, the man she had once loved and seen herself settling into a "normal" life with. Alex appears more than happy to pick up where they left off.

While Diana is trying to solve the crime and figure out what she wants out of life, Ryder has other matters to contend with. There's a new vamp in town, Stacia, an elder who gets her kicks seducing reluctant younger males of the species. She finds the lovelorn Ryder to be a particularly enticing challenge as his heart is totally committed to his human lover. Her resemblance to Diana and her aura of power is fascinating, perhaps impossible for a jilted vampire to resist....

Will Diana and her team solve the crime without further casualties or will Death come calling once more? And which man will she choose to spend her uncertain life span with? The fourth title in Ms. Piñeiro's vampire series had all the right ingredients for one delicious romantic suspense thriller. I couldn't put it down and cannot wait to read the next installment DEVOTION CALLS.

Reviewed by Leslie Tramposch for PNR Reviews