Customer Reviews

Seduced by the Night (Night Slayer, Book 2)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Having thoroughly enjoy the first book in this series, "Out of the Night," I was delighted to find the second book lived up to my expectations. "Seduced by the Night" continues with the story of the vampires who are created with biology rather than the traditional mythology, and the changelings (part vampire/part human)who are fighting them. As in the first book, I found the biological premise far more intriguing than traditional vampire lore because it allows Ms. Popp to create a blurred line between good and evil, and human and monster within both her changeling and vampire characters. I won't bother with a plot summary as it's been covered by others, but I will say that the non-stop action and romantic tension make this book a page-turner.

Although it isn't essential to read "Out of the Night" to understand this book, I'd highly recommend doing so. It's a great book and gives the reader all the backstory to make "Seduced by the Night" even more enjoyable.

All the bad stuff started happening to biochemist Bethany Stavinoski when she saw a mysterious figure of a man with glowing red eyes in an alleyway on her way to work. When she found her lab at Van Horne industries destroyed, she immediately thought of her jealous assistant Stuart, who was no where to be found. When she can't find the security guard, she calls her boss and fiancé Miles Van Horne, who calls in the authorities. She goes down to meet them, and finds the missing security guard - dead. Not really a good start of the work night.

After a successfully evening of vampire hunting, Dirk Adams, former Navy Seal and changeling is called out to the scene of the dead security guard. When he arrives and surveys the destroyed research lab, he believes that vampire Primes Patterson and Harris were behind it, but their goons were the ones to do it.

Bethany, attacked by Dirk's wild James Dean looks, is working on creating a synthetic duplicate to a plant extract. Miles is being rather tight lipped on who is paying for the project. Miles also asserts that Stuart, the lab assistance is behind the events of the evening, but Dirk disagrees, thinking that Stuart didn't take down the guard, and the assistant wasn't just missing, but kidnapped. And Bethany should be put under protection.

When Miles' hired protection fails in a kidnapping attempt, Bethany learns exactly what goes bump in the night: vampires. Dirk who had become her self appointed bodyguard chases the vampires away and then demands that she move into the Admiral's house. And Miles doesn't it like it one bit.

As Dirk and Bethany spend more time together, their attraction gets stronger, making Bethany question her engagement to PG-13 Miles. She never felt what she did with Dirk with Miles. Not one bit.

But as the attempts on Bethany increase, and Miles seems more desperate, could her fiancé be hiding something?

I really enjoyed the book. I think it is up to par with the first one. And the entire twist that she has given to vampires is a believeable one.

Since this is the second book in the series, Robin does a good job adding to the cast of characters without just throwing them in there. They have a purpose. You think with the Nightslayers investigation vampires, that they might need a contact with the police force - enter John Boehler. Admiral Winslow is a very busy man - enter assistant - Julia - who is the victim of an interesting prankster.

Also she gives the vampires primes Harris and Patterson greater depth, so they are not just bad guys. They have their own differing desires and plan on how to achieve the goals.

And as for the rest of the book? All that I will reveal is:

The baby Chupacabra Gem is reunited with her mother.

rocks the genre. I really thought I had read all the variations on the vampire theme but the writing is sooo good in this second novel in the series that I got interested all over again. This is a stand alone book and not really neccessary to read the first. Trying to analyze WHY this author is really cookin' has to do with a combination of several key parts of this style of book. First this is a romantic paranormal--not a sex romp verging on "ick". The love scenes are sensual and even though one takes place in a smelly sewer(!!) the emotional connection between the characters feels genuine. The action clips along without the "paint-by-numbers" feeling so common in other books.
You really get a sense of speed and jeopardy. Altogether another welcome new brand name author to add to my list.

Renowned for her biochemical research, Dr. Bethany Stavinoski becomes concerned with enemy agents who want to control the direction of her efforts. Rogue malevolent vampires demand Bethany work on replicating what turned them into creatures of the undead. Half vampire changeling Dirk Adams vows to keep the scientist safe as she is his only hope to regain his full humanity.

Dirk and his friends battle against evil vampires who also want Bethany because they think her early out of the box work might provide them with an elixir to convert more followers. Besides the fact that she gives him faith in his future, Dirk finds she also provides him with a desire for her as a woman. As they fall in love, though she is engaged, his being a changeling makes their relationship taboo.

SEDUCED BY THE NIGHT is a fast-paced vampire romantic suspense tale that grips the audience once Bethany becomes the focus of the evil vampires. Readers will appreciate the scientific theory as to why species vampire formed giving the tale a bit more of an authentic side than the usual supernatural spin. The forbidden romance adds to the fun of a delightful (can't say supernatural) tale.

Harriet Klausner

I could't put the first 2 books down. This one is up there with Saul, Koontz and all of my favorite authors. The science fiction/romance make these books worth the read. When I finsihed this book I was ready for the next one. Robin's descriptions of Oak Alley made me feel like I was back there sipping on a coctail, relaxing on a plantation. The best part is that the action doesn't lag. It is fast paced the whole way through.

Send me another please...

Seduced by the Night, the sequel to Out of the Night features Dirk, a character from the authors first book and Bethany, his destined lady love. Dirk is a changeling, half human, half vampire and Bethany is a biochemist that has to be guarded by Dirk from the vampires that are pursuing her. I enjoyed the plot even though it was a little more predictable than Out of the Night. There was a return of previous characters from the first book, and I always like to see the old characters make a cameo. This book wasn't as dark or suspensful as the first book, but still very good. This book falls more into the paranormal romance genre than the first one did, but I still enjoyed the heck out of it.

Popp just keeps getting better and better. Dirk, the hero of Seduced by the Night is Beta enough to be completely believeable, but Alpha enough to let us know he is in charge and our heroine is safe.
I'm hoping she brings these characters back in a sequel. I'll be first in line at the bookstore.

Great twist on the normal vampire romance out there. Popp actually takes three folktales and combines them: vampires, gargorles, and chupacabras. Chupacabra simply means goat-suckers (being their prefered meal), which the animals in the story are, only they also turn to stone in daylight (i.e. gargorles), but if a chupacabra attacts and bites, kills, humans, those humans rise again to become vampires. If they do not kill the human, than they become changelings. I know, it sounds dumb, but she actually pulls it together in the book. There is definitely lots of action and romance. The story stays upbeat and flows throughout from beginning to end. What I thought she did more successfully in her first book was the tension. It reminded me of a horror film where your waiting on the edge of your seat for something to jump out. You practically want to scream, "Don't go in there, you dummy!" There was much more of that in "Out of the Night." There was some in this one, especially the trapped in the old garage part. I'm definitely looking forward to more from this arthor.

One might get a little weary of vampire tales of late, so many, and there seems to be no stopping the genre. One of the best to emerge from this over-crowded category is Robin T. Popp. Popp pulls a cross-genre twist on this, making her Night Slayer series unique. Her first novel Too Close to the Sun (June 2003), a highly innovative Sci-Fi Romance for Dorchester, made me an instant fan. However, in the switch in publishers and genre, I had to wait for the edge of the seat, brilliant Out of the Night (September 2005), the first book in her Night Slayer series. I am delighted there wasn't the long wait for the second one. Seduced by the Night, shows Popp is a talent to stay.

Bethany Stavinoski is a top biochemist. It causes her to be sucked into the dangerous world of rogue vampires and half-vampire changelings. The Bad Vamps want her to replicate a formula so they can dominate the world, only there is a Night Slayer bent on stopping them. Dirk Adams is a changeling, a Night Slayer, a human with all the powers of a vampire, but not all the bad side effects. He is a slayer who a hunts down the rogue vamps. Currently, he is assigned to protect Bethany. As he tries to shield her, Bethany find Dirk drawing her closer. As they are relentlessly pursued, she faces giving herself to Dirk's dark power in order to save their lives.

The pace is breathless, Dirk and Bethany's desire for each other sensual. Popp weaves threads of her former Sci-Fi genre into this vamp series to give a stronger base in reality. It sets the Night Slayers apart from all the other vampires books, showing Popp is a talent to watch.

Highly recommended.

Bethany Stavinoski is a biochemist. She returns to her lab late one night to find it destroyed. Beth then calls her fiancé and boss, Miles Van Horne for help. The police and Miles arrive at the scene along with Dirk Adams.

Dirk is a changeling. He is half vampire and half human. He and the security team he works with are trying to track down Harris and Patterson, the two Prime vampires in the area. Unbeknownst to everyone, Harris and Patterson need Beth's knowledge as a biochemist to help them develop a serum. Realizing that Beth's life may be in danger, Miles hires a bodyguard but he fails to protect her. Then much to Miles dismay, Dirk steps in and takes over the job.

Beth soon discovers the surreal and frightening truth that vampires exist. Beth also discovers that Dirk is not who she thought he was either. She feels safe with him though, so she puts her trust in him and soon their closeness creates an unstoppable passion.

Patterson and Harris are determined to get to Beth but Dirk will never let any harm come to her. While the battle against the rogue vampires rages around them, Dirk and Beth fight for a love neither thought was possible.

Seduced By The Night is full of non-stop action. The battle of good verses evil is continuously being fought in this story with small breaks for passionate kisses and tender moments. Dirk is very sensitive and romantic. I was rooting for him to win Beth's hand. Beth is handles everything thrown at her with grace and compassion. The action and passion in Seduced By The Night kept me entertained and on the edge of my seat. I really enjoyed it.

Nannette
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed