SEDUCED BY CRIMSON

Author: Jade Lee ISBN: 0505526727 3/2006 PARANORMAL Publisher: DORCHESTER/LOVE SPELL

Long ago Los Angeles became Crimson City, a glittering metropolis and sometime-battleground-sometime-home for humans, werewolves and vampires. Before that, demons ruled. And with the Crimson Veil now torn asunder, those demons are on their way back. There exist those who oppose the Dark Ones: mystics attuned to the earth, the druids. From San Bernadino they come, sending one of their mightiest—their Draige-Uisge. He can shape energy, twist it to harm or heal. But he must have something to bend, and the requisite power can be summoned by one method alone…and from one source: the beauty Xiao Fei, the Phoenix Tear. Her blood is the key, along with her ecstasy; her union with Patrick means salvation. Yet in a world of vampires, werewolves and evil untamed, even a kiss can be deadly. Opposition lurks in every shadow, peril in every caress…and both redemption and oblivion lie in one woman being…SEDUCED BY CRIMSON.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

I really am a fan of the Crimson City series developed awhile back by several collaborating authors. All of them have been fascinating and fresh in their own way, and some have been better than others. SEDUCED BY CRIMSON isn't among my top picks in the series, but it's still worth your time.

Though it contains some neat elements and a cool storyline, SEDUCED BY CRIMSON's hero and heroine don't connect for me. Unfortunately, a main part of the plot involves the two uniting, but I just couldn't get into it. The chemistry isn't there, despite it needing to be there—I know that doesn't exactly make sense, but if you read it you will get it—so even though the rest of the story moves along okay, the two of them getting together just isn't as good as it should be. Actually, I wonder if the whole thing wouldn't make a better tale if it just had been about Xiao Fei, the heroine, saving the world alone with the hero just as a side-dish?

Anyway, it's still a story you don't want to miss if you are a fan of the series. It explains, as well as adds, some items to the saga. It also creates some unique Druid myths while teaching about human emotion and failings without being preachy.

Shannon Johnson