Book review: Hungry for You by Lynsay Sands
Publisher: Avon; Original edition (November 30, 2010)
Book summary: This vampire has been alone for far too long . . .
As one of the most ancient in the Argeneau clan, Cale Valens has given up on finding a life mate. His friends and family, however, have not. In fact, they believe they've finally found his perfect match. Getting them together, however, requires one little white lie . . .
Alexandra Willan is in a panic. Her restaurant is due to open in two weeks, but her chef just walked out. Then a highly recommended replacement arrives, an impossibly handsome culinary genius who sends electric tingles racing through her body . . .
Except he can't cook. In fact, Cale hasn't eaten real food in two thousand years. Yet he's determined to prove to Alex his prowess in the kitchen . . . and elsewhere. Because never has he hungered so for any mortal woman. And not just for a taste of her, but for the whole delicious feast!
My review: Lynsay Sands shows no signs of slowing down with the fourteenth installment in her Argeneau vampire series. Her trademark humor, knack for penning sexy romantic scenes and characters you totally believe in, are found throughout this novel and kept me glued to its pages. A bit slow going in the beginning, once I got over the give us the story set up hump, I relaxed and was entertained by the seriously ancient vampire Cale and human workaholic restaurateur Alex as they fell in love.
Set up by a family friend, Cale goes willingly to meet Alex, sibling of two women who have already become lifemates to other Argenau family members. Cale is such an old immortal he has practically given up on finding the one woman for him. After a few minutes with Alex, he realizes his friend is right--Alex is his lifemate. He soon begins craving real food, Alex herself, along with the primal need to protect what is his. Now all he has to do is make Alex fall in love with him before revealing his undead status (technically these vampires are not undead, they are genetically modified humans with Immortal status which is thoroughly explained in the story). I still marvel at the way Sands made an impenetrable niche for her novels by creating a unique vampire world and lore which they abide by. The instant knowing of lifemates, the way the Immortals protect themselves while erasing memories of those deemed a risk, and their creation itself intrigues me as a fanged creature fan.
Alex will be opening her second restaurant and is worried the latest slate of mishaps at the new place will impede her scheduled date. When her chef walks out, she is talked into hiring Cale. The only problem is Cale can't cook. He may be hot in his designer suit, but he doesn't possess a culinary bone in his bod. As he talks his way into spending more time with Alex, he discovers these 'mishaps' are not accidental. Someone is out to hurt Alex and Cale will discover just how life threatening their intentions become.
With loads of humor, moments of tenderness in serious times, and romantic love scenes, I devoured this paperback like a box of delicious chocolate turtles. Both characters meshed well together, the pacing was fixedly good, and the story kept me entertained. Fans of this series will not be let down.
Rating: Really liked it.
Favorite excerpt:"Alex saw the hungry way he was watching her collect more food on her fork and nearly laughed aloud. It seemed her self-consciousness had been for nothing. It was the food he was lusting after now, not her.
"Here," she said with a smile, and held the forkful of food out to him.
Cale closed his hand around hers and helped steer the food to his mouth, the action forcing her to rise up slightly out of her seat, His eyes were on her as he did it, and little silver flames seemed to dance in their centers as he closed his lips over the forkful of food, and then slowly eased her hand back to remove the clean fork.
Her hand still caught in his, Alex found herself watching with fascination as he chewed and swallowed. Then his tongue slid out to run over his lips, and he smiled. "Delicious. The only thing that would make it better was if I were eating it off your body."
Alex's eyes rounded at the images that brought to mind. When he released her hand, she dropped back into her seat with a little bump, her gaze still locked with his.
"You should eat," he said solemnly. "You're going to need your energy."
"Here," she said with a smile, and held the forkful of food out to him.
Cale closed his hand around hers and helped steer the food to his mouth, the action forcing her to rise up slightly out of her seat, His eyes were on her as he did it, and little silver flames seemed to dance in their centers as he closed his lips over the forkful of food, and then slowly eased her hand back to remove the clean fork.
Her hand still caught in his, Alex found herself watching with fascination as he chewed and swallowed. Then his tongue slid out to run over his lips, and he smiled. "Delicious. The only thing that would make it better was if I were eating it off your body."
Alex's eyes rounded at the images that brought to mind. When he released her hand, she dropped back into her seat with a little bump, her gaze still locked with his.
"You should eat," he said solemnly. "You're going to need your energy."
Cover comment: Dark and sexy, just like the story inside.
Book source: Swapped.
Comments
Post a Comment