Customer Reviews

Dark Obsession (Dreamscapes)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I remember being disappointed with this book when it came out in 1995 as Silhouette Shadows Number 48. It came out the same month as Maggie Shayne's Twilight Illusions. That probably didn't help this one. It came off better now but still wasn't that great. It's not really a vampire romance like Maggie Shayne or Linda Lael Miller write where vampires are romantic heroes. This is more a romantic suspense that has a story about vampires. In Dark Obsession, vampires are evil and must be destroyed, and being one is a horrible thing. Erin's sister was murdered by one, and now she wants to catch him. It's not a bad idea but it's not what I'm looking for in a vampire romance. The author also drags out the hero's secret way too long after most readers will have guessed it and Erin should have.

Amanda Stevens's other 'vampire romance' for Silhouette Shadows, The Perfect Kiss, was better. Vampires are evil and horrible in it too but it takes a more unique approach with a female vampire looking for redemption and a love she can't have. I would recommend it if you can find it.

Synopsis:
Horror novelist Erin Ramsey's latest bestseller brought a dark and tormented vampire into her readers worlds. But such heroes existed only in her imagination. Or so she thought.

How wrong Erin had been! Now her sister was dead, the victim of a shadowy stranger. Detective Nick Slade had promised to help find the killer. But who was Nick, really?

Cloaked in secrecy, his eyes always masked by sunglasses, Nick embodied Erin's most foreboding nightmares -- and her most erotic fantasies. Helplessly, she was drawn into a midnight world where nothing was as it seemed, where a man could be predator -- or protector.

My Review:
I do not not read many of the thinner "series" romances as I find they are, for the most part, too formulaic, and are normally headlined by a very weak heroine. Luckily, Dark Obsession was original and had an equally strong hero and heroine.

Erin is a horror novelist who finds her actress sister dead in their apartments front yard. Nick, is a a sunglass wearing detective on the case, who is himself very dark and mysterious. What follows is a easy to read, fast paced, sexy yet heartfelt romance.

Like other reviewers mentioned, this is not a "vampire romance" in the classic sense, as the vampires in this book are truly evil and not the "tormented though basically good" vampires that dominate most vampire romances. I didn't find that took away at all from the story, it just had more of a Gothic feel than anything else.

The relationship between the hero and heroine could have been fleshed out a bit more, and the mystery was pretty much solvable from chapter one, but it was still quite enjoyable. A quick read, I finished it in two hours, hurrying to see how it ended, and I take that as a good sign of a well written book.
Recommended-4 stars.
Sensuality scale-about a PG13.

In all the romance novels I have read, this was the first time reading one by Amanda Stevens. You rest assured it will definitely not be my last. Once again this is a Dreamscapes series novel that takes of from the first page and grips you till then end. If you are like me and get bored with reading the same old romance story with just a change of the location and the names of the characters then you will really enjoy reading this book! It is a romance with a twist toward the paranormal....a great combination!!!

Amanda Stevens does a great job with Dark Obsession. If you're into vampire romances, this one certainly does the trick. Erin Ramsey, a horror novelist is about to meet her worst nightmare. Her sister is murdered, but who did it? Detective Nick Slade has promised to help find the killer. But who is he really? A man who dresses in black, works only at night and never is seen without his dark sunglasses. Is he a protector or predator? You'll have to read and find out.

Definately worth reading!

The hero in this book is incredible! He reminds me of the lead on ANGEL. If you like the TV show, you'll love this book. Nick Slade is every bit as compelling and tortured as Angel. Great story!