BOND OF BLOOD

Author: Diane Whiteside ISBN: 0425207749 10/2006 PARANORMAL Publisher: BERKLEY SENSATION

Once a medieval Spanish knight, Don Rafael Perez has been a vampire for seven centuries, clinging to his code of honor despite years of torture. He has risen to become the leader of the largest vampire territory in North America, spanning Texas and Oklahoma. But a cruel and seductively cunning rival is challenging his rule—fanning the flames of all-out war. Adept at sending women into raptures of ecstasy while he feeds, Rafael has many willing lovers. But into his domain comes a woman he must deny himself. Grania O'Malley, a new veterinarian at the world-renowned Texas Hill Country Raptor Center. Rafael soon realizes he shares a bond with Grania he can't explain and doesn't trust. But neither can he stay away from her. Grania, convinced that she can find a suitable husband through scientific research, has no explanation for why her body turns to molten fire at the mere sight of Rafael—or why her very existence tempts Rafael into breaking every rule of both his body and his mind just when he needs to be stronger than ever...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Though I read BOND OF BLOOD with interest, I was put off by some of the vulgarities it contains. For example, coarse language and brutal scenes centered around women. It is also borderline erotica but contains itself just enough to keep it from completely turning me off. Basically, it's like a train wreck I could not turn away from because it's sadly fascinating. But, I had to turn away from the worst of the wreckage.

I don't know if this is a part of a fast growing (but unwanted, in my opinion) trend happening in the genre, but quite a few of the paranormals I have read lately are geared more for shock factor than quality storylines and characters I can identify with, or even want to know. BOND OF BLOOD definitely falls into that category. The plot involving love and romance are secondary, while crass dialogue and horrific descriptions of brutality take center stage.

I read romance—all genre's—because I like that as the dominant element in the book. If I wanted the stuff of horror movies, I would go see one.

Shannon Johnson