Sandy M’s review of Noble Blood (The Gray Court, Book 2) by Dana Marie Bell
Paranormal Romance published by Samhain 18 Jan 11
Dana Marie Bell had me sold on this story from the first page when we’re introduced to Jaden Blackthorn, a lost vampire soul who refuses to feed from others, even from animals, in particular the scared cat that is as pitiful as Jaden himself at that point in time as he hides in an alley to keep anyone he comes across safe. He’s been turned against his will and has yet to feed – and kill, according to his sire – a human. He will never give in to that darkness. What he needs is kindness and understanding, and suddenly out of nowhere, just as his need is at its pinnacle, salvation comes to him. The emotion running through this initial scene had me instantly in love with Jaden and Duncan.
Duncan Malmayne, heir to the Seelie Sidhe lord and heir to the Malmayne clan, reaches out to Jaden, at risk to himself due to Jaden’s condition and nearly lost state of mind. But Ducan somehow knows what Jaden needs and he doesn’t hesitate to offer it all. Thus begins their long-lasting and close friendship, a friendship of bond brothers where either would do anything for the other, no matter what.
During this time Jaden has fallen for Moira Dunne, who is half leprechaun and half Sidhe and the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. But he’s blindsided when he learns Duncan and Moira are true bonds. He tries to be noble and step aside, making it easy for all three of them and keep the friendship intact. He misses them both, but his absence is for the best.
Though Duncan and Moira are happy in their new life while awaiting their ceremony, there’s something not quite right. Duncan is restless, pacing the floor, just not himself. Thinking it must because of other Malmaynes trying to steal leadership of the clan from Duncan, causing him all kinds of havoc, they finally realize it’s mate sickness and immediately contact Jaden to join them to complete their tribond.
I absolutely love Jaden. He’s sexy and smoldering and loves to have fun. His sense of humor is contagious, making you smile when he’s in snooping mode as one of Oberon’s Blades or just having some fun for the hell of it. Duncan is every inch the lord he’s been groomed to be, vowing to keep his clan safe at all costs. Of course, Moira has it made with two such men in her life. She’s feisty and independent and holds her own with them. And the love scenes are hot and sizzling. The first such scene is one of those mind benders for the characters and the reader – Duncan and Moira make love while Jaden merges with them in their minds, feeling and touching just the same as they do. Hot, hot, hot.
Along with Duncan’s power-hungry family, we also get a lot of interaction with Moira’s family, and what fun they are. I especially like Shane and Akane, and their story is going to be something else all together, I can just feel it. If you’re new to this series, I would suggestion you read Dare to Believe first. There’s a lot of players involved, so you’d just be better off starting at the beginning.
I really like this book even better than the first in the series. The characters evolve with more depth and emotion and the storyline is more involved, things don’t at all turn out as you’d expect. Be prepared for m/m scenes, however. I’m usually not a fan of this subgenre, a good majority of authors just not able to do it justice, but Ms. Bell gives the reader such emotion between Duncan and Jaden that it all works beautifully.
This series is getting better as each book comes along, so it’s high anxiety waiting for the next one.
Grade: A
Summary:
Nobility has its privileges…and its price. Sometimes it just sucks.
For Lord Duncan Malmayne, it was love at first sight with his true bond, the lovely half Sidhe, half-leprechaun Moira Dunne.
Yet something is missing from his relationship with the fiery redhead, something that prevents him from completing the
Claiming and making Moira his forever.As problems multiply in what should be a magical, idyllic time, the depression weighing on Moira’s Sidhe heart signals a
potentially devastating condition. Mate sickness. Her instinct tells her what’s missing: Jaden Blackthorn, Gray Court vampire,
Duncan’s bond brother and closest friend—who tactfully withdrew from their lives after Duncan declared his love.Jaden is both heartbroken and elated that the two people he loves most in the world are together. It’s best he cut off all
contact to give them space to complete the Claiming. But trouble is brewing in the Malmayne clan, and when Jaden’s forced
back into their lives by the Hob, their extremely rare tribond clicks with a reaction that’s swift, sensual and all-consuming.But not everyone looks upon it as a blessing. In fact, the price of their love could be a potentially fatal shift of power…
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
