UNDER THE BLOOD RED MOON

Author: Mina Hepsen ISBN: 9780061373251 10/2008 EROTIC/PARANORMAL Publisher: AVON RED

Cursed with the ability to hear the thoughts of others, beautiful Angelica Shelton Belanov feels most comfortable when hidden away in the library of her father's English country estate. Now family duty requires that she make an appearance at a glittering gala, mingling with the cream of London society in hopes of finding a suitable husband. Assailed by the unwanted "chatter" of many minds, Angelica finds relief in the company of a handsome, aristocratic stranger who remains, refreshingly, an enigma. But Prince Alexander is not like other men. The powerful leader of an Eastern clan of immortals, he has come to London to hunt down a rogue vampire who threatens the survival of his dwindling kind. Angelica can sense that Alexander is dangerous, a mystery to be unraveled at her own peril. Yet desire sears them both—she, the bewitching telepath and he, the fearless leader who must learn to trust his heart. And unrestrained passion has strict demands that could cost them both their lives ... and their souls.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Mina Hepsen's UNDER THE BLOOD RED MOON was a very pleasant surprise. Written with attention to detail and using vocabulary that is completely in keeping with the time, place and atmosphere portrayed, it shows that what appears to be a blessing, may in fact be a curse.

Angelica cannot stand the incessant chattering she picks up from other people's minds. Most would think the ability to see inside someone else's head would be a good thing; for Angelica it is nearly maddening. She is forced to go to London, pulled out of the isolation that is her greatest ally. But when she meets a man whose quiet mind calms her, she begins a romantic encounter that spans time and place, and pushes the boundaries of all that is acceptable to her.

Alexander is, of course, no ordinary man. Can a mind reader find love with a vampire? That is the question posed here. The answer, and the journey toward it, is riveting. I enjoyed this historical vampire romance. The attraction between Angelica and Alexander, and the way they navigate the rocky path they travel, is very interesting. I actually felt a little bit voyeuristic during some of their scenes, but it was all very engaging. What I enjoyed the most was the dialogue, not only between this couple but throughout the tale. It is completely in keeping with the setting and even the jargon feels right. All in all, UNDER THE BLOOD RED MOON was a very pleasant tale that showed that sometimes love truly knows no bounds.

Kay James