Sandy M’s review of The Bloodgate Warrior (Bloodgate Series, Book 1) by Joely Sue Burkhart
Paranormal Romance published by Carina Press 6 Aug 12
Joely Sue Burkhart is a new author for me, having read only one other book of hers lately. So I was eager to read another story, especially so, since it’s a paranormal. It’s crammed full of legend and mythology, and when you add in a sexy warrior who is needed to save his people, get ready for a good read, because the way he does that is sensual and wild!
After a near-death experience, Cassandra has been having very mysterious and erotic dreams about a man who leaves her nearly in pain when he vanishes after such intense lovemaking. A family journal gives her insight to the past, so Cassie heads to Guatemala to face her dreams to find out if she’s crazy or if she truly has the power to bring this legend back to life to fight a coming evil.
Arriving in Central America, Cassie and her best friend find a guide and a terrific source of information in Jose, a distant relative of Cassie’s. With both the journal and Jose’s help, she makes contact with Técun, her dream lover. He truly is real and is waiting for her to help him through the gate into the world of the living once again. Ms. Burkhart’s imagination in this instance delves deeply into the lore of the Guatemalan people. Técun didn’t survive the battle against his enemy, he failed in protecting his people. It’s the fact he stood tall and proud to fight, despite the knowledge he’d die. He’s revered for his courage and spirit. He makes his way back each time the Guatemalans need him, and this time it’s an especially devious enemy.
Once Técun is with Cassandra, she has him in the flesh, she doesn’t want to lose him like she has too many nights so far. Therefore, she agrees to the ritual necessary to help him regain his power before it’s too late and the enemy is too strong to be defeated. That ritual includes loving the woman practically to death and she revels in all that hardness and wildness. Técun’s fearful that he’ll hurt her, but Cassie knows he’d never go that far, enjoying his intensity and roughness anyway. Even after all this, their plans don’t go exactly as they’d hoped. The enemy is much more difficult to vanquish than they’d thought.
While this is an entertaining and imaginative read, what it lacks is the depth of character I enjoyed in the first book book by Ms. Burkhard I read just a month or so ago, Yours to Take. I realize TBW is a shorter story and it’s more difficult to flesh out such things, but for me that emotional attachment to characters is just something that can’t be overlooked. I don’t feel as invested in Técun and Cassandra as I was with Elias, Vicki, and Jesse. But for a quick trip into the myths of the Maya, this book does satisfy on a lighter level.
Grade: C+
Summary:
As the Mayan hero Técun lay dying, a sorceress cast a spell tying her bloodline to him, so that one day he could return and avenge their people…
Following a near-death experience, Cassandra Gonzales is haunted by erotic dreams of a mysterious man. As the dreams intensify, she is compelled to travel to Guatemala in search of him. There she learns that her blood has opened a gate—and she is the only one who can bring the great warrior back from the afterlife.
Once faced with Técun in the flesh, Cassie fears the need he stirs within her. She aches to submit to the pleasure he promises, but first she must learn to trust in him, and in her own desires. Their time for sensual exploration is brief—Técun’s killer has escaped, intent on sacrificing Cassie and wreaking havoc on the world. Now, only Cassie’s complete and willing surrender to Técun will give him the power to defeat the demon once and for all…
Read an excerpt.
