EMBRACE THE NIGHT

Author: Karen Chance ISBN: 0451461991 4/2008 PARANORMAL Publisher: ROC

Recently named the world's chief clairvoyant, Cassandra Palmer still has a thorn in her side. As long as Cassie and a certain master vampire-the sizzling-hot Mircea-are magically bound to each other, her life will never be her own . The spell that binds them can only be broken with an incantation found in the Codex Merlini, an ancient grimoire. The Codex's location has been lost in the present day, so Cassie will have to seek it out in the only place it can still be found-the past. But Cassie soon realizes the Codex has been lost for a reason. The book is rumored to contain some seriously dangerous spells, and retrieving it may help Cassie to deal with Mircea, but it could also endanger the world.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Well, I do not know where to begin with EMBRACE THE NIGHT. I say that because honestly, I am confused. I cannot explain to you exactly what it is all about in a few sentences because it jumps all over the place, and because there is a LOT going on all the time. But, I can say quite certainly that I like it.

I know it is fast-paced, high adrenaline, sexy, weird, and cool. I know Mircea, the hero vamp that is too absent for me in this one, is so hot I wish he was real, and may even be tempted to try and persuade my husband to act like him tonight. Not that you want to know that last part, but hey, I have to tell you why I like it, right? Mircea aside, the unusual and unequal plot(s) and characters are very entertaining. I don't know how lovers of paranormal romance can say anything different.

But, EMBRACE THE NIGHT is also very confusing. Time jumping usually is to me, so I guess it could be a flaw within myself, but truly, there are timeline details that I still don't get, or necessarily want to get. I am afraid that if I look too closely I might be disappointed and say, "Why didn't they just...?" or "Why doesn't she just...?" But I suppose the answer would be that the story would not be able to connect all the dots otherwise. That is the explanation I am going with, anyway.

I really love and appreciate this series Karen Chance has offered, and therefore am willing to fight for the gift to read the next book she puts out. If you are not reading her work, you are missing out on more than I can possibly tell you.

Shannon Johnson