Dark Guardian

April 8, 2002
The eighth entry in Feehan's popular vampire series (Dark Legend; Dark Fire) follows the same formula as her previous books—a Carpathian (an immortal vampire hunter) meets his "lifemate," binds himself to her through an ancient ritual involving blood-letting and hot sex, and together they battle the undead. This time around, Feehan spices up her stale story line with her smart and spunky heroine, police officer Jaxon Montgomery. Former Navy SEAL Tyler Drake, Jaxon's maniacal stepfather, has made it his mission to kill anyone she befriends, which has made her equally determined not to form any close ties. Nevertheless, she can't help feeling intimately connected to Carpathian Lucian Daratrazanoff, who takes her into his care when she is shot while searching a warehouse. Convinced that Jaxon is his life mate, Lucian binds himself to her and brings her "over to the Carpathian race." Together, Jaxx and Lucian destroy vampires, battle Drake and read each other's minds. Their romance is heartfelt and convincingly portrayed. Less believable, however, is the fact that Jaxx doesn't object to her Carpathian transformation, especially considering her independent nature. Nevertheless, Feehan's newest is a skillful blend of supernatural thrills and romance that is sure to entice readers who can stomach the occasional gory scene. (May 14)Forecast:Paranormal romances, especially those featuring vampires and werewolves, have been on the rise, and Feehan is one of the subgenre's leading ladies. Last year, four of her books garnered PEARL awards, and there's no question that these accolades will translate into impressive sales for her latest. According to Leisure, all of Feehan's books have gone back to press at least once.

This installment in the Dark series finds Jax, an independent and driven cop, joining forces with Lucian, a centuries-old Carpathian. Newcomers to the series will learn the important differences between Lucian and his kind and the vampires whose forces he does not care to join. Juanita Parker does justice to this romance novel. She maintains both an intensity and a sensitivity that are fitting for the strong Jax and her interactions with Lucian as they come together personally and professionally. Parker deftly draws out the contrasts between light and darkness, which form the underpinnings of the plot. No prior experience with the series is required. J.E.M. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine