Publisher: Zebra Books / Tantor Media
Release Date: January 1, 2011 (Original)
Format: Audio MP3 (Unabridged CD edition, July 25, 2011)
Pages: 353 (Paperback) / Audio Length: Unknown (10+ hours)
Source: Overdrive via Destination Download
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Review Date: October 29, 2012
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Book synopsis: In this dazzling, sensual novel, Dianne Duvall beckons readers into a world of vampires, immortals, and humans with extraordinary gifts…where passion can last forever, if you’re willing to pay the price…
Once, Sarah Bingham’s biggest challenge was making her students pay attention in class. Now, after rescuing a wounded stranger, she’s landed in the middle of a battle between corrupt vampires and powerful immortals who also need blood to survive. Roland Warbrook is the most compelling man Sarah has ever laid hands on. But his desire for her is mingled with a hunger he can barely control…
In his nine centuries of immortal existence, no woman has tempted Roland as much as Sarah. But asking her to love him is impossible—when it means forfeiting the world she’s always known, and the life he would do anything to protect.
Release Date: January 1, 2011 (Original)
Format: Audio MP3 (Unabridged CD edition, July 25, 2011)
Pages: 353 (Paperback) / Audio Length: Unknown (10+ hours)
Source: Overdrive via Destination Download
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Review Date: October 29, 2012
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Book synopsis: In this dazzling, sensual novel, Dianne Duvall beckons readers into a world of vampires, immortals, and humans with extraordinary gifts…where passion can last forever, if you’re willing to pay the price…
Once, Sarah Bingham’s biggest challenge was making her students pay attention in class. Now, after rescuing a wounded stranger, she’s landed in the middle of a battle between corrupt vampires and powerful immortals who also need blood to survive. Roland Warbrook is the most compelling man Sarah has ever laid hands on. But his desire for her is mingled with a hunger he can barely control…
In his nine centuries of immortal existence, no woman has tempted Roland as much as Sarah. But asking her to love him is impossible—when it means forfeiting the world she’s always known, and the life he would do anything to protect.
I wanted to squeeze in another book or two by the end of the month, so I picked this one up on audio. I'm glad I did. I enjoyed it. At first I expected something similar to the Black Dagger Brotherhood or Midnight Breed series, but I was pleasantly surprised. Ms. Duvall is a gifted writer. It was pretty different, I should have expected that lots of things about the vampires and Immortals that put a different spin on things. One of the more noticeable differences is that this series had more of a romance feel to it. The gushiness of the hero towards our heroine, the quick manner as which Roland and Sarah fell for each other, but not in that "you were predetermined for me" kind of way. It seemed more real love instead of that of the fated variety. Yes, there was fighting scenes and vampires, but I don't feel that the villain in the story is a true villain. Also making the story "softer". I always hate when the author takes the bad guy and tries to make you feel sorry for them...just let them be bad!
This fast paced story centers around Sarah and Roland. This also was a nice change from the other two series that I mentioned because in this case, the leader of the group is not the first one to catch is wife. Traditionally, in these type of series, it's the leader first, then the rest of the team, one by one. This time, the outsider of the group gets the spotlight first. Although this story did not focus on Seth, the leader, I do feel like he met his match in the book. It'll be cool to see how long this series goes before he gets his book. My guess is that Seth will fall the for the mysterious Amy that Seth and David saved, but we'll see. Amy has a secret that we don't get to know, but maybe the next book, "Night Reigns" will revel what it is.
I'm glad that Sarah wasn't one of those week, "save me" types, she's strong and knows how to shoot a gun and defend herself. That was nice. Even though Roland was protective of her, she was able to maintain her own and not get lost in the story by being dominated by Roland.
In this world, there are Immortals and Vampires. Immortals are "good" advanced vampires with special abilities and Vampires are bad and uncontrollable due to their blood lust. Immortals live for centuries and vampires all die before they reach 100. Immortals, eat food and drink blood. Vampire just drink anything that moves. Immortals fangs are work like IV needles! When they bite, the fangs carrying blood in into their blood stream instead of literally drinking it. All interesting stuff which makes for a fun read. We meet several Immortals as the book goes on as Roland and the others go apprehend our villain, Bastien and rescue Sarah.
Sarah and Roland got their happy ending, and like a traditional romances they get married and they all live happily ever after. Pretty much everything was wrapped up in a nice little bow. I'm not sure how I feel about that knowing there are more books that follow. I'm used to a crazy cliff hanger, but the lack there of tells me that Ms. Duvall moves on from Sarah and Roland and they are not the focus of the second book. Since we may not be seeing more of Sarah, one thing that I did wish we got more of was Sarah's history, we got a glimpse, but not enough to really get to know her motivation or why she was so excepting of the Vampire world. I'll be trying to borrow the rest of this series on audio also. I hope they kept the same narrator, because she was awesome. The narrator, Kirsten Potter, was really getting into those scenes. ;-)
A few of my favorite quotes from the book:
“I’m not antisocial. I just want to be left alone.” ~ Roland
“Beautiful, brave and possessed of violent tendencies. I like her.” ~ Marcus
Happy Reading,
~Tamara~
I'm glad that Sarah wasn't one of those week, "save me" types, she's strong and knows how to shoot a gun and defend herself. That was nice. Even though Roland was protective of her, she was able to maintain her own and not get lost in the story by being dominated by Roland.
In this world, there are Immortals and Vampires. Immortals are "good" advanced vampires with special abilities and Vampires are bad and uncontrollable due to their blood lust. Immortals live for centuries and vampires all die before they reach 100. Immortals, eat food and drink blood. Vampire just drink anything that moves. Immortals fangs are work like IV needles! When they bite, the fangs carrying blood in into their blood stream instead of literally drinking it. All interesting stuff which makes for a fun read. We meet several Immortals as the book goes on as Roland and the others go apprehend our villain, Bastien and rescue Sarah.
Sarah and Roland got their happy ending, and like a traditional romances they get married and they all live happily ever after. Pretty much everything was wrapped up in a nice little bow. I'm not sure how I feel about that knowing there are more books that follow. I'm used to a crazy cliff hanger, but the lack there of tells me that Ms. Duvall moves on from Sarah and Roland and they are not the focus of the second book. Since we may not be seeing more of Sarah, one thing that I did wish we got more of was Sarah's history, we got a glimpse, but not enough to really get to know her motivation or why she was so excepting of the Vampire world. I'll be trying to borrow the rest of this series on audio also. I hope they kept the same narrator, because she was awesome. The narrator, Kirsten Potter, was really getting into those scenes. ;-)
A few of my favorite quotes from the book:
“I’m not antisocial. I just want to be left alone.” ~ Roland
“Beautiful, brave and possessed of violent tendencies. I like her.” ~ Marcus
Happy Reading,
~Tamara~
Get the Kindle version here: Darkness Dawns (Immortal Guardians)
Get the Audio version here: Darkness Dawns (Immortal Guardians)
