The Romanceaholic

Expected Release Date: April 19, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Mira
Author’s Website: http://www.maggieshayne.com/
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: Yes, Children of Twilight Book 17
Series Best Read in Order: Works well as a standalone
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

According to ancient prophecy, there’s only one chance to avert the complete annihilation of the Undead. Twins James William and Brigit Poe, part human, part vampire, believe that they are that chance. In truth, the key lies with the reclusive—and mortal—scholar Lucy Lanfair.

As Armageddon approaches, antivampire sentiment fuels a war neither side can win, driving James to abandon his moral code and draw Lucy into a deadly battle she wants no part of.

But Lucy soon realizes that she holds this powerful immortal’s soul in her hands and that it’s her destiny not only to stop a war but to save him from his inner darkness. If she fails, his race will die—and so will her heart. Is the power of love strong enough to save the world?

You know that a book is going to be good when only a few chapters in, you think to yourself that it sure would be nice if your Kindle were waterproof so that you wouldn’t have to put the book down long enough to take a shower. True story.

Now, I should probably start this review with a very important disclaimer: this is Book 17 in a series, and I haven’t read a single installment previously.  I decided to read this one for two main reasons. First, the blurb sounded interesting enough that I felt it would be an entertaining read, and second, because I think other readers who are also new to the series deserve to know whether or not they’d be completely confuzzled if they jumped in so late into the series.

Surprisingly enough, I have to say that I feel that this story worked quite well as a standalone. As with any late-edition to a series, there are of course references to events and relationships that were obviously detailed in previous novels, but while my curiosity was piqued in regards to a few of the existing couples, I never felt as though I was missing any key information.

What worked for me:

• I loved the mythology behind the vampires in this story/series.   The whole bit with the Chosen, the Belladonna Antigen, the really impossible-to-pronounce father of the race, all of those things worked really well for me.
• I really enjoyed the whole good twin/bad twin bit with James and Brigit, including what backstory was included for us newbie readers.
• I loved Lucy’s transformation from cowardly bookworm to crusading heroine.  In the beginning she actually felt relief in knowing that she had no choice in a certain action, because she knew that she wasn’t brave enough to make the right decision on her own. As the book progressed, however, she rather came into her own, and in the end, found a courage she never knew she had.
• I adore Utanapishtim  (now say that name five times fast!). Arrogant, misogynistic, and vaguely insane — not typically things I tend to like in men, but for him I will make an exception.

What didn’t work for me:

• My biggest problem with the events in my book was the human vigilantes. It’s entirely possible that some of the reaction was based on events from previous novels, however, it seemed very implausible to me.  I simply don’t believe  that the public murder of an ex-CIA agent, scheduled to appear on a talk show to “prove” the existence of both vampires and a secret division of the government that hunts them, would spark such a violent, nationwide anti-vampire movement.  Yes, there was a coverup by Homeland Security which pulled all copies of the man’s upcoming book, but even so, in real life, there’d be some conspiracy theorists having a field day, and maybe a couple crackpots or two might take matters into their own hands, but the kind of widespread reaction seen in the book? I’m just not feeling it.

I really enjoyed the ending. While it didn’t wrap everything up into a neat package by any means, leaving the storyline wide open for the next installment of the series, I didn’t feel as though it were a true cliff-hanger which was a relief.  While there was more focus on the relationship between James and Lucy than I think is normally the case in an Urban Fantasy, the low steam level did leave me feeling that it was more UF than Paranormal Romance, and that actually appealed to me.

Overall, a very solid read that won’t leave newcomers scratching their heads, and I’m looking forward to reading the next installment to the series. 4/5 Stars.

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