The intrigue and mystery in Night's Kiss by Mary Hughes had me excited..
- Sue Menard
- Nov 19, 2019
- 5 min read
As a human who hunts vampires, I risk death each night I take to the streets. Bloodsuckers are stupidly fast. I have only my wits, my practice, and my weapons.
Oh yeah, and my rage.
Vampires killed my parents before my eyes when I was young. My revenge? I’ll destroy every last one of the evil bastards, starting with their king.
But only one man can help me locate the king. Achingly tall, dark, and too-sexy-for-his-own-good, Ryker is gorgeous enough to be the vamp king himself. But the devilish arch to his black eyebrow, his white, unfangy grin, and rocking the daytime are good clues that he’s human.
We’ll have to work together as uneasy allies if I hope to get my final revenge on the king—only now it seems evil monsters are also after our prey, and they’ll stop at nothing to see us all dead. And why are they having so much trouble finding the king?
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MY REVIEW
A vampire who has been alone for centuries meets a vampire hunter who is out for revenge on behalf of her murdered family. Ryker and Kat are both used to being alone. So, when they meet each other and realize they are both searching for the vampire king, they decide reluctantly to work together. Kat does not know Ryker is a vampire and Ryker is not telling.
With this monstrous secret between them as they search for the vampire king, and so many enemies tracking and trying to destroy them, can anything more be in store for these two lonely souls? Or will lies and enemies tear them apart forever?
This story started slow for me but the placed picked up quickly. The intrigue and the mystery had me truly excited. I also loved this couple something fierce. They are each so vulnerable and lonely in their own way.
Ryker really captured my heart. He is protective, chivalrous and kind. Regardless of what Kat thinks of his kind, he goes to bat for her, protects her but also lets her be herself. He never tries to clip her wings. He know she is a vampire hunter and yet he is still so proud with how smart and resilient she is. He treats her like a true equal.
Kat is brash and brave. She does not shy away from a fight and she will protect her sister no matter the cost. Her fall for Ryker is gradual but so sweet.
Together they fight a formidable foe. The action and the suspense was notched up several degrees during these times and I enjoyed every second.
I would have enjoyed the story even more if our couple had a little more time together. As well, I found Ryker’s history was only vaguely explained and I would have enjoyed seeing it more fleshed out. I also found it difficult to understand the science that explained the difference between human and vampire. This little area was glossed over as it went over my head.
With that being said, I still definitely recommend this book. The intrigue, mystery as well as the various characters make for one entertaining read!
I also must say I’m very intrigued to read the vampire kings story.
I received an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
EXCERPT
Ryker slashed at the vamp the same moment I’d stabbed. We hit blades with a force that made my teeth jar together.
“Don’t get in my way!” We yelled it at each other.
The gold-bar monster grabbed my throat. I froze, breath rasping in my trachea. His hand clamped my neck armor, so I wasn’t immediately dead, but once he peeled it away, my tasty carotid was his for the taking.
Before he could, Ryker slashed the vamp’s forearm, severing everything the monster needed to hold me. Clawed fingers fell from my neck. Ryker was already attacking another monster with precise, sweeping cuts of my talwar.
Graceful, deadly. His skill a thing of beauty. My breath stopped the barest instant.
“You may know vampires,” he said between slashes. “I know the king. If we work together…”
Together. I got an unwanted burst of pleasure at that.
“I lead,” he finished.
“You?” Pleasure exploded into annoyance. I slapped my sword Joyce into her sheath, freeing up my hands for the test tube of ruby vamp-dissolving serum. I popped out the cork. “How much vampire tracking have you done?”
Cut arm dangling, Mr. Gold-Bar gave up subtle and lunged at me fangs first. Feinting back, I tossed a couple drops of serum into his terrifying maw. They splashed in.
Gold-bar swallowed in surprise. Ryker raised a questioning brow an instant before he got distracted by a beefy vampire’s attack. I capped the tube, hoping the stuff did its thing even if the vampire wasn’t “mostly dead.”
The gold-bar sucker swallowed again—and clapped his good arm over his midsection. Alexis’s serum was evidently going to give him a good case of indigestion.
“The king isn’t your average vampire.” Ryker wrenched on the talwar, which he’d managed to get stuck in the beefy sucker’s throat. “A little help here?” Mr. I-Lead do-si-doed with the vamp, the blade not moving an inch. With a roar, the vampire raised claws to strike.
“Oh, now you need me.” I was already in motion to help him, drawing Joyce.
A pair of vampires lunged for me—or where I’d been. They smacked behind me like a couple of Stooges.
“I don’t need anyone.” Ryker snaked a long arm out the moment I was within reach—and snatched a stake from my fringe. “But I could use this.”
I jerked back. “That won’t do you any good!” Again, the sudden change twisted up the attacking pair, who bonked heads and reeled around for a moment. “Not without a sledgehammer to pound it through supernaturally hard bone.”
“Preternatural.” Ryker reared back then rammed the stake into the beefy monster’s breast, nearly to the hilt.
“What…?”
The vamp’s eyes went wide. I’m sure mine were as round. Ryker wasn’t simply bench-press strong, he was warhead strong. My lips parted as a delicious heat plumed inside me.
Doused when he said, “Their strength is preternatural. Not supernatural.”
“Do you have to work hard to be this annoying?”
He twinkled a smile at me. “Just naturally talented.”
Despite myself, a laugh bubbled up. I turned away before he could see it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I write wickedly fun romantic adventures and steamy paranormal romances, stories that crackle with action and love. Challenging, alpha men–and women not afraid of a challenge. Oh, do the sparks fly when he meets THE woman guaranteed to infuriate and inflame him most. In real life I’m an author, a spouse and mother, a flutist, a computer geek, and a binge-TV
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