Disclaimer: I am friends with the author; however, I purchased this ebook for the full price.
I am kicking myself for not reading this sooner. I have never failed to adore anything written by this author, and this might be my favorite book of hers so far. From the first page, Bauer subverts pretty much every trope of the vampire/mortal paranormal romance story arc, giving us delightful and original characters and a creative storyline that includes surprises at every turn.
Ethan is the stereotypical bad-ass vampire mercenary, except for all the crucial ways he isn’t. In the same vein (pun intended), Tris is the stereotypical young artist who appeals to the broody older vampire, except for all the fundamental ways in which their relationship develops into something more. The entire story is the perfect combination of sweet and sexy, and I binge-read it in a day because I didn’t want to put it down.
Bauer packs a lot of world-building into this book, edging it close to urban fantasy if you took out the romantic plot. These details enhance rather than detract from the overall experience, and there’s even a bonus treat when some familiar faces from the author’s previous works make a fun cameo.
I’d love to read more about these characters, or even revisit this world. Bauer can’t just tease us about a potential double-date and then not eventually deliver! Until then, I have certainly learned my lesson about not immediately pouncing on everything by this author that I can get my hands on.
Rating: 5 (out of 5) stars. Cross-posted to Amazon and Goodreads.