Sandy M’s review of From the Dark (Bewitch the Dark, Book 1) by Michele Hauf
Contemporary paranormal romance released by Silhouette Nocturne on 1 Nov 06
This is the first Nocturne I’ve not been absolutely thrilled with, which surprises me because it’s a vampire story and I love a good vamp romp. However, this one is just average; nothing stands out to make it a keeper, an A+, 5 stars, or however you look at a stellar book.
It’s not the characters themselves. They are both strong, though troubled by their own other-worldliness. Jane is half witch/half vampire, but she has taken on only those attributes handed down by her mother’s blood. She has magic within her, but she cannot actually perform spells. The only thing she inherited from her vampire father is the ability to know a person is one by touch; however, she doesn’t notice this in Michael right away.
Michael was ‘turned’ 50 years prior and had to learn how to be a vampire on his own . He’s doing it differently than most by being in the spotlight as the lead singer in a rock band instead of staying hidden along with his secret. He’s the typical arrogant rock star who is trying to kick his biting habit because he can’t control his internal monster. So he’s taking a short sabbatical at a band member’s out-of-the-way home to repress his need.
Jane is at the same home doing work for Michael’s friend while preparing for a special ritual, unbeknownst to Michael. So when they first meet and suspicions are over with, the attraction and seduction starts. It’s not until things are going hot and heavy, and Michael’s beast begins to emerge, that Jane realizes his danger pursuing a relationship with her – her witch blood is poison to vampires.
So. Why didn’t this one work for me? I don’t think it was dark enough. Michael’s beast emerged a number of times, but we never really saw him/it in action. I did like that he didn’t want to hurt Jane and stopped himself, but I still would have liked more of his darkness to emerge. Although I must say that the aforementioned ritual does pick things up quite a bit and gives us a slight twist.
I liked Michael and Jane together and their dilemma, but it stopped short of making Michael truly tortured because of what he is and, therefore, his initial need to overcome himself just didn’t ring true.
Grade: C
From the back cover:
Centuries past, through mists of a dark time where vampires and witches lived side by side, vampires gained power by enthralling a witch, ultimately draining her of her strength and depriving her of immortality. Until the enslaved witches rebelled–and cast a spell making the blood of a witch deadly to a vampire.
Now, past and present are about to collide.
Michael Lynsay is a man in the spotlight, at the height of his career, with the ability to mesmerize audiences. But he has a secret–he is a vampire, fighting the darkness of his nature. And it looks like it’s a losing battle–until he meets Jane Renan, the only woman who can understand his conflicted nature. And the only woman who can destroy him–through love.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
Kiss Me Deadly, Book 2, Sep 07
His Forgotten Forever, Book 3, Jul 08
The Devil To Pay, Book 4, Jan 09
