Customer Reviews

Kiss of Crimson (The Midnight Breed, Book 2)

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

If you enjoyed the first book in this series "Kiss of Midnight", then you will love this book as well. The concept behind the story is similiar to the first book (not highly original), but it delivers with it's characters and their chemistry. Dante and Tess make a great match - but I would have loved more development of their relationship...particularly at the end, which did feel a bit rushed. Lots of great action and romance.



Summary:

After a brutal attack that leaves him close to death, Dante, a Breed warrior, must bite Tess, a vetrinarian, in order to stay alive. Only afterwards, does he realize that she is a Breedmate and he has performed half of a bonding ritual that will tie them together for eternity. As Dante and Tess struggle to come to terms with the electric connection that pulls and ties them together, the Breed Warriors must battle a new threat - a drug, called Crimson, that turns vampires rouge.



Fans of JD Ward will enjoy this series. This book can be read on its own, but reading book 1 first will make this all the more enjoyable. Book 3, which is being written, features Tegan (and this book includes a sneak peak at a few pages). Can't wait!

Dante, a Breed vampire, is on the prowl looking for Rogues who have succumbed to blood lust and are dangerous to humans. Earlier in the year, he and his fellow Breeds brought down the lair of a master vampire. Now, however, the war has changed; carelessly using a new street drug, young vampires are swiftly turning into Rogues. It is on one such night that Dante comes face to face with a frothing vampire and has no choice but to eradicate the fledgling immediately. Too late, he realizes that he has been set up. One explosion later he finds himself crawling towards the veterinary clinic of Tess Culver.

Tess Culver has her own secrets she must keep hidden. While working late yet again, Tess rushes to the aid of a bloody stranger. As a human, she has no idea that this striking man is actually a Breed warrior. Furiously working on his physical damages, Tess feels an all-encompassing arousal like nothing she has ever experienced before. When she awakens to police swarming her clinic, Tess is dismayed that she fell asleep at her desk. Worse, she can't remember even walking into her office.

Dante is shocked to realize that he has unwittingly taken the first to step to bind Tess to him. While she bears the birthmark of a Breedmate, Dante is afraid to grasp what is right in his reach - Tess and a lifetime of happiness. Tess, in turn, is just as scared. The closer they become, the harder it is for them to deny their feelings. When a hidden evil threatens Tess, Dante will stop at nothing to keep her safe, even if it means making her his for all time.

Let me just state how very excited I am about this new series! Lara Adrian has created a unique Breed warrior conclave. In KISS OF CRIMSON, I was treated to Dante's story and, having met him in KISS OF MIDNIGHT, I couldn't help but be intrigued by his raw and intense presence, not to mention his body and looks. His description alone is enough to make a nun sweat! Dante's ability to foresee events in his life shaped the man he became. His reluctant feelings for Tess, while at first not desired, quickly became the primary focus of this alpha fighter. His capitulation was magnificent to watch. On the flip side, Tess is just as hesitant to trust and with good reason. Their passion for each other is blazing hot. Combine that with the sexual tension and searing passion, and there were times I thought I was melting. Lucky for me, I have an automatic ice machine that helped me survive!

KISS OF CRIMSON is a strong follow-up to the first book of this series, KISS OF MIDNIGHT. I am thrilled to say that I'm completely hooked and clamoring for the third installment. In the meantime I'll content myself with rereads. But please write fast, Ms. Adrian! Your skillful characterization and thrilling storyline has me drumming my fingers waiting for the next book.

I can't wait to recommend KISS OF CRIMSON to my friends and fellow book lovers. Please note that KISS OF CRIMSON releases in June 2007. While Dante's story is the second book of Lara Adrian's extraordinary new series, it is not necessary to read book one, KISS OF MIDNIGHT. I do highly recommend it, however, as I'd hate to see readers miss any piece of such a delightful series.

When Dante stumbled into the Veterinary clinic bleeding and barely conscious, he had no idea that he would be changing the course of his life. It wasn't until after Dante took life saving blood from Tess Culver that he realized that she was a prized Breedmate. Unknowingly, Dante broke a vow to himself never to mate in his lifetime. Having watched his parents die and having visions of his own death, Dante has no desire to inflict the pain of loss on himself or a mate. All it took was one rash act to change the course of his future.

Dr. Tess Culver has always been different. Hiding it so deep inside that she rarely thinks about it, Tess is happy helping animals and the owners who love them. When Dante appears in her life, Tess finds herself at a loss to explain the sudden and intense attraction. All she knows is that Dante makes her feel like no one else ever has.

Dante would love to do nothing more than claim Tess as his own, but there is a war on the streets of Boston. When the drug Crimson starts circulating between civilian vampires, it turns them into Rogues almost immediately. Against his wishes, Dante is paired up with a civilian named Sterling Chase. Together, Dante and Chase must work together to stop the manufacturing of the deadly drug. When it appears as though Tess is involved with the dealer of Crimson, Dante doesn't know what to think. All he does know is that he will protect his mate at all costs.

Lara Adrian is a thrilling new voice in the vampire romance genre. I highly recommend this series and can't wait until the next book is released.

This is the first book I read by Ms. Adrian and I found it to be very refreshing. It is the second book in the series. I will admit to reading a lot of paranormal-witch-werewolf-vampire books so I am familiar with the genre. I have also read J.R. Ward's books so I am also accustomed to a group of honorable and heroic male vampire warriors who are out to get evil-out-of-control vampires. In this context, they also have lifemates, human women who are destined to become their immortal brides and who are also gifted with a unique talent.

Tess is a vet and a Breedmate who accidentally gives her blood to Dante, a vamp, while he is injured. There is a very dangerous drug out on the streets called Crimson which creates effects similar to meth or ecstasy in a normal human, but chemically induces Bloodlust and can make a Breed vampire turn Rogue (i.e. insane killer vamp). Turns out Tess' human former-chemist-now-animal-rescuer has unwittingly created this drug which he believes to be rather harmless. The Breed are tracking both Tess' boyfriend and his patron, trying to put an end to this drug which is not only destroying young Breed males, but is also giving the Breed some unwanted publicity.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book as much as the first, Midnight Kiss, if not more. Lara Adrain has done a remarkable job plotting out this series. The villians are the Rogues, vampires who have turned by there bloodlust and become addicted to blood. The Order Breed warriors who's job it is to stop them. And these warriors are hot and amazing.

The second book in the series, is Dante and Tess's story. The story line for these two is great. After fighting Rogues that leave him almost dead, he has to take blood from Tess in order to save his life. Then he finds out that she is a Breedmate. He wipes her memory of him but he can't forget about her. I especially like how Dante goes about trying to be with Tess after... the museum scene and his new acquisition named Harvard.

I would highly recommend this book and the previous one, Midnight Kiss for J R Ward fans or anyone who enjoys the vampire genre.

This is the second book in a new series by Lara Adrian and it is incredible. Breed Warrior, Dante is everything a woman could dream of. His character is dangerous and sensual at the same time. Tess is a great match for Dante. She is independent and has her own special gift that you will eventually find out about in the middle of the book, and it was unpredictable. There are many different character in this series and the interaction between them is great. A lot of action with some hot and steamy scenes. I can not wait for the third book to come out....

This is the second book in the Midnight Breed series by Lara Adrian. In this next installment, we meet Tess Culver, a veterinarian and Dante, a Breed from an alien race who inhabited earth many millenniums ago. The alien race mated with humans and thus the Breed was born. Dante has been seriously injured in a fight against the Rogues. Rogues are vampires that have given into their blood lust and begin to kill humans indiscriminately. The Breed Warriors annihilate the Rouge vampires. A war is brewing between the Breed and the Rogues.

Dante turns up in Tess's clinic, bloody and in need of human blood to survive. He takes what he wants but then is dealt a surprise when Tess injects him with a tranquilizer. This is just the beginning for Tess and Dante. Tess must come to terms with her hidden ability that she has run from all her life and Dante recognizes Tess as his Breed mate. Now that he has taken her blood, they are bonded. Now he must explain to her how they are forever bound together. In this second book, the action is plentiful. We are introduced to two new characters, Elise and her brother-in-law Chase Sterling, who, I believe, will play a major role in books to come.

I enjoyed this book maybe a little bit more than the first book and the first book was also very good. There were a lot more tense situations and the romance was engaging. This new series is definitely worth reading.

Kiss of Midnight didn't wow me, but it did hook my interest through some unique plot elements. I liked the pacing of Ms. Adrian's writing and the world she'd created was just different enough for me to want to explore it more as well. By the end of this series' first book, I could smell a truly great story right around the corner.

Dante, a Breed vampire warrior, is gravely injured one night after discovering a disturbing new addition to the war against the Rogues, vampires that have given over to bloodlust and kill without restraint. He finds his way to the office of veterinary doctor Tess Culver, where he thinks he's found the perfect solution to his blood loss in the beautiful woman. Intending to only take what he needs and see her mind wiped of the incident, Dante's plans go horribly wrong afterwards, when he learns a horrifying fact about the good doctor. He wishes after that he'd never taken her blood, but once he has, he can't wipe her sweet taste from his mind. Driven by more than just Tess, Dante's visions of the future soon lead him to believe she is part of his destiny, whether he wants her to be or not. In turn, Dante's embrace awakens in Tess desires she never knew she possessed and special, secret talents of her own begin to make sense after the strange warrior's appearance in her life. As she becomes further involved with the mysterious man, she soon find herself in the middle of a war, and a passion she cannot resist.

Kiss of Crimson was the "start" to this series that I was waiting for. Characters--true, heartfelt characters--shine through in this one and that was the glue I was looking for. I clearly read a good, unique plot in Kiss of Midnight and saw that carried through very well in this one. But Dante and Tess, they are where the magic lies in this installment. Dante's inner torment, his visions of the future, was a good solid conflict between him and Tess, but his passion for her kept the romantic angle flaring bright over and over throughout. Their first real romantic encounter, the sculpture show, was such an enigmatic insight to the sexy Dante and solidly hooked me into believing their romance would be rewarding to read. Tess was a heroine everyone wants--admirable, heroic in her own right and no dishrag. Like I suspect all of Adrian's heroines will have, she possesses her own talents that set her just apart enough from Dante that she ahs something to stand on her own with. And that's where Adrian deserves some definite applause, giving her heroines their own special voice amongst a rugged alpha group of vampires. Then, when hero and heroine begin to come together (and I speak of more than just the body, folks) what makes them both unique in turn makes them as a couple all that more special. Once again, a solid pacing of plot and revealing of more elements in the war, with plenty of great tidbits of secondary characters to keep me hooked for book three, Midnight Awakening, about Breed Warrior Tegan, which releases December '07. Great stuff, Ms. Adrian and looking forward to more.

Tess Culver is a vet and she is totally unaware that her life is about to change when a stranger, bleeding all over her clinic, more dead than alive. Yet she is drawn to him and wants to help him. She has no idea just who the man is or what he is but when he plunges her into his world it's too fantastic to believe and filled with danger. But when Tess decides to run she runs to the wrong man. Only Dante can save her but will he be able to?

Dante takes from Tess that which should only be offered when both parties understand what is at risk. She's a breedmate and he unwittingly takes from her vain. In doing so he's changed both of their lives and he can't say he's terribly sorry about it. But when the war between the rogues takes a turn for the worse and Tess is caught in the cross fire...will Dante be able to save the only woman he's ever loved.

Once again Ms. Adrian added another story to her new series and this one is even better than the last. There is plenty of action, suspense, and romance here. She's taken the vampire legend and created something a little new and fresh. If you've read JR Ward you'll find this a good read. I look forward to the next in this series.

This is the second and a very strong addition to this series. The only real downside to this storyline is its similarity to the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward, if you want to call that a downside. There is a very similar feel between the two series, despite the technical details being different.

However, many may consider that a good thing, as the Black Dagger Brotherhood is an *excellent* series, and this one is shaping up to be a close second.

The heroes are strong, alpha male types - my favorite. The author is doing a good job of making them individuals, however. They are not all carbon copies of each other. Dante, our hero in this title, is as big, bad and studly as you could want, but still shows a sweet, sensitive side.

The heroine is quite believable and likable as well. You can easily see why these two pair up and yet the conflict of discovering that a society of vampires has been hiding within your own for centuries is a credible one. She understandably has a little trouble coming to terms with entering such a society.

A wonderful bonus to this series is that the author is building up the supporting characters as she goes along, many of which, I'm sure, will end up as heroes in their own novels. I'm particularly looking forward to reading how Rio gets himself straightened out.

All in all, a very satisfying read. I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.