BOND OF FIRE

Author: Diane Whiteside ISBN: 0425217388 1/2008 PARANORMAL Publisher: BERKLEY SENSATION
Time Period: 18th century France to modern day Texas

Ever since they saw each other across a glittering ballroom centuries ago, Jean-Marie St. Just and Hélène d'Agelet have loved each other. Yet no matter how passionate their attachment, it's always been blocked by demands of duty and honor that neither can break. Jean-Marie, conceived for profit then tormented for decades before being saved by the vampire knight Don Rafael, would rather die than betray the only family he's ever known. Hélène, firestarter and British secret agent, longs to regain a simpler life, while always haunted by an unsettled legacy of family ghosts and eternal evil. Now Jean-Marie and Hélène face each other over something far stronger than ancient ecstasies: Jean-Marie is determined to kill Hélène's sister, Madame Celeste—the vampire Queen of New Orleans—before she can destroy Jean-Marie's family. But for Hélène, that means choosing between the love of her life—or murdering her own flesh-and-blood.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

I love a good vampire novel, and Diane Whiteside's new release, BOND OF FIRE, is as good as it gets! Granted, the story is a bit confusing at times, and perhaps it would help if you're familiar with the first book in Texas Vampire series, BOND OF BLOOD, but the story is still spectacular and any paranormal fan is sure to love it!

I'll admit that I was a bit lost from time to time while reading BOND OF FIRE. Some of this story takes place before, after and during the first book in the series. However, Whiteside does a decent job helping the reader catch up with the story, and I found that it didn't hamper my enjoyment of this book in the least.

BOND OF FIRE is the hauntingly gothic story of Jean-Marie St. Just and Hélène d'Agelet, beginning in 18th century France and continuing through to the present day.

After falling in love at first sight with each other, Jean-Marie and Hélène have been separated by circumstances time and again. After living through an explosion that has them believing the other is dead, Jean-Marie and Hélène believe they are now parted from each other for all eternity.

Fast forward to the present time, and Jean-Marie is set on killing Hélène's sister, Celeste—the Queen Vampire of New Orleans—because she is determined to destroy his family. When Jean-Marie and Hélène are reunited, Hélène must make a decision: to stay with the man she's loved throughout the ages, or stand by her evil sister.

BOND OF FIRE by Diane Whiteside is an erotic vampire novel that's just as good, and in my opinion, even better than the first book in her Texas Vampire's series, BOND OF BLOOD. I love Whiteside's writing, her sex scenes are exquisite and her stories, even though they can be complicated, are intriguing and addicting. BOND OF FIRE is the perfect read for paranormal fans!

Julie Kornhausl