Taken by Midnight: A Midnight Breed Novel by Lara Adrian
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Dell; Original edition (September 28, 2010)
Book summary: AT THE CROSSROADS OF DEATH AND DESIRE, A WOMAN TASTES A PLEASURE NO MORTAL IS MEANT TO SURVIVE.
In the frozen Alaskan wilderness, former state trooper Jenna Darrow survives an unspeakable breach of body and soul. But with her narrow escape comes an even greater challenge. For strange changes are taking place within her, as she struggles to understand—and control—a new hunger. To do so, she will seek shelter in the Boston compound of the Order, an ancient race of vampire warriors whose very existence is shrouded in mystery. Perhaps the most mysterious of them all is Brock, a brooding, dark-eyed alpha male whose hands hold the power to comfort, heal . . . and arouse.
As she recovers under Brock’s care, Jenna finds herself drawn to the Order’s mission: to stop a ruthless enemy and its army of assassins from subjecting Earth to a reign of terror. Yet in spite of their resolve, a purely physical relationship without strings soon binds Brock and Jenna together with a desire fiercer than life and stronger than death itself—until a secret from Brock’s past and Jenna’s own mortality challenges their forbidden love to the ultimate trial by fire.
My review: When I open a Midnight Breed novel I expect to get lost. Lost in the vampiric world of the Order, its vast array of fascinating members and the women who join their underground world. With this latest entry, number eight, Lara Adrien delivered once again. Jenna is likable and sympathetic, Brock is intriguing and intense. When they first meet their scene whispers a promise of what we will read about throughout the book: a growing attraction and love story. Jenna may be damaged from her ordeal with a nasty Elder and she is depressed by the loss of her husband and daughter. It is her desire to live which is a current theme. I was glad Jenna and Brock fought their feelings, his out of respect, hers out of courtesy to the memories of her family. The supernatural world Adrian has created never gets tiring, she always has some twisted and interesting bad guy to fight. We learn more about the evil Dragos and his intentions which I'm guessing will play out in further books in this series.
While I thought the characters themselves were well drawn out and their relationship realistic, I did want more action involving all of the hot guys in the Order. And I felt letdown when it came to Jenna's transformation. After her attack we know her body is changing by some of the things she does, but when the book ended my questions had been unanswered. Perhaps the author will enlighten us in book nine. Still, I enjoyed Taken By Midnight and I will be looking out for the next installment, Deeper Than Midnight, next June.
Rating: ++++
Favorite excerpt: "Yet she couldn't stop running, needing to put distance between them with a determination that bordered on desperate. He made her feel too much. Things she wasn't prepared for. Things she craved so deeply but didn't deserve.
And so she ran, as terrified as she'd ever been and hating the cowardice that pushed her each step of the way. By the time she reached her quarters, she was shaking and breathless, tears streaming in hot trails down her cheeks.
"Jenna."
The sound of his deep voice behind her was like a caress of warmth against her skin. She turned to face him, astonished by the speed and silence that had brought him there not even a second after she'd arrived. Then again, he wasn't human. Not really a man at all--a fact she had to remind herself of when he was standing so near, the sheer size of him, the raw intensity of his dark gaze speaking to everything that was woman inside her." (From pages 153-154.)
Publisher: Dell; Original edition (September 28, 2010)
Book summary: AT THE CROSSROADS OF DEATH AND DESIRE, A WOMAN TASTES A PLEASURE NO MORTAL IS MEANT TO SURVIVE.
In the frozen Alaskan wilderness, former state trooper Jenna Darrow survives an unspeakable breach of body and soul. But with her narrow escape comes an even greater challenge. For strange changes are taking place within her, as she struggles to understand—and control—a new hunger. To do so, she will seek shelter in the Boston compound of the Order, an ancient race of vampire warriors whose very existence is shrouded in mystery. Perhaps the most mysterious of them all is Brock, a brooding, dark-eyed alpha male whose hands hold the power to comfort, heal . . . and arouse.
As she recovers under Brock’s care, Jenna finds herself drawn to the Order’s mission: to stop a ruthless enemy and its army of assassins from subjecting Earth to a reign of terror. Yet in spite of their resolve, a purely physical relationship without strings soon binds Brock and Jenna together with a desire fiercer than life and stronger than death itself—until a secret from Brock’s past and Jenna’s own mortality challenges their forbidden love to the ultimate trial by fire.
My review: When I open a Midnight Breed novel I expect to get lost. Lost in the vampiric world of the Order, its vast array of fascinating members and the women who join their underground world. With this latest entry, number eight, Lara Adrien delivered once again. Jenna is likable and sympathetic, Brock is intriguing and intense. When they first meet their scene whispers a promise of what we will read about throughout the book: a growing attraction and love story. Jenna may be damaged from her ordeal with a nasty Elder and she is depressed by the loss of her husband and daughter. It is her desire to live which is a current theme. I was glad Jenna and Brock fought their feelings, his out of respect, hers out of courtesy to the memories of her family. The supernatural world Adrian has created never gets tiring, she always has some twisted and interesting bad guy to fight. We learn more about the evil Dragos and his intentions which I'm guessing will play out in further books in this series.
While I thought the characters themselves were well drawn out and their relationship realistic, I did want more action involving all of the hot guys in the Order. And I felt letdown when it came to Jenna's transformation. After her attack we know her body is changing by some of the things she does, but when the book ended my questions had been unanswered. Perhaps the author will enlighten us in book nine. Still, I enjoyed Taken By Midnight and I will be looking out for the next installment, Deeper Than Midnight, next June.
Rating: ++++
Favorite excerpt: "Yet she couldn't stop running, needing to put distance between them with a determination that bordered on desperate. He made her feel too much. Things she wasn't prepared for. Things she craved so deeply but didn't deserve.
And so she ran, as terrified as she'd ever been and hating the cowardice that pushed her each step of the way. By the time she reached her quarters, she was shaking and breathless, tears streaming in hot trails down her cheeks.
"Jenna."
The sound of his deep voice behind her was like a caress of warmth against her skin. She turned to face him, astonished by the speed and silence that had brought him there not even a second after she'd arrived. Then again, he wasn't human. Not really a man at all--a fact she had to remind herself of when he was standing so near, the sheer size of him, the raw intensity of his dark gaze speaking to everything that was woman inside her." (From pages 153-154.)
Cover comment: Kept in the tradition of the others, a couple on top, the title in the middle and an important location or building on the bottom, all in various shades. Instantly identifiable. I would have preferred a lighter color so we could actually get a better picture of Jenna and Brock. I have to wonder if the darker tone was done on purpose to keep Brock bland.
Book source: Owned.
Thanks for the recommendation. I may have to pick this one up.
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