Customer Reviews

Tempting Darkness (Templar Vampire Series, Book 3)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Lucian of Penwick had joined the Order of the Templar Knights because of his devotion to God. He never dreamed that God would curse him to a life as a vampire. His desire to return to the bosom of his family resulted in the predicament he now finds himself - chained in a dungeon as his own brother does everything in his power to try to get Lucian to reject the oath that he's clung to for seven hundred years.

Jessica Vargo never believed in vampires - at least she didn't until she was ripped from her quiet dull life by Lucien's brother, Stephan. Suddenly her world becomes one of darkness and pain and she finds herself with no one but Lucian to give her hope that she'll return to the life she once knew.

Stephan, Lucian's brother, enjoys the pain and distress that he causes her with his daily tortures in a bid to break Lucian and ensure that Lucian is stripped of his humanity. What better way of doing that is there than to deny a vampire fresh blood and leave him chained up in a dungeon with a bleeding young woman? In order to redeem himself in God's eyes he's been given a chance to undo his sins - he has to Protect the Guardian, Guard the holiest of relics, and not kill an innocent. How is he supposed to protect anything when he can't even protect Jessica from Stephan's sadistic actions? While Jessica is horrified by what is happening to her, she also realizes that Lucian is nothing like Stephan. Despite the fact that he lives in darkness, she finds herself falling for him and desperate to keep him near - he's her salvation. Escaping Stephan won't be easy and will leave lasting effects on them. Is there any hope for true love between a woman who adores sunlight and a man who is forced to live in the darkness?

Rene Lyons brings the world of the TEMPLAR KNIGHTS to light with startling clarity. Once you start reading this awe-inspiring tale you won't be able to put it down. I don't generally read many vampire tales but something about this one simply called to me. Lucian's devotion to a God who's damned him is amazing and I have to admit the simple fact that he's continued to hold true to his faith for seven hundred years is nothing less than inspiring. Jessica's bravery in the face of everything she endures really endears her as a true heroine and I found that I truly admired her.

TEMPTING DARKNESS is the third book in Rene Lyons' TEMPLAR VAMPIRES series and believe me you will not be disappointed. This storyline is full of all the angst, passion and raw emotions that draw a reader in and make you want to know everything there is to know about these characters. I hadn't read the first two books in this series before I picked this one up but I will definitely be heading over to Samhain Publishing to pick up my copies very soon and will keep an eye out for the others to be released.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

The first half of Tempting Darkness was pretty good. In the first book Midnight Sun (Templar Vampire Series, Book 1), former templar knight Lucien surrendered himself to his guilt and his brother Stephen's hatred. Stephen is also a vampire but where Lucien has vowed to regain his soul, Stephen revels in his power and depravity.

Stephen imprisoned Lucien with a human woman Jesse, starving Lucien and taunting him with Jesse's blood. Stephen's intent is to break Lucien's control and once Lucien has damned himself by drinking Jesse to death, Stephen plans to send Lucien straight to hell in retribution for their family's death. But as Lucien fights to hold to his vow, he begins to develop a need for more than Jesse's blood, a need to protect her and rescue her from the nightmare that they've been trapped in. Somehow Lucien and Jesse manage to pull together and escape from Stephen's dungeon. But even as Lucien and Jesse form a bond and Lucien's love engenders a trust that gets Jesse past her victimhood, they are recaptured and they know that there is no hope of surviving the torment a second time.

I really enjoyed the first two books, but how much torment can one series hold? First there was dark and tormented Sebastian and then even darker and more tormented Constantine and now Lucien tormented by his guilt. Yes, I know loosing your soul and being cursed to walk the night as a predator is cause for a great deal of anguish, but these guys all have major issues from their human days. You'd think after living for a few hundred years they'd invest in a few decades of group therapy and come to grips with the past.

I probably wouldn't have minded this so much though if the recapture hadn't made the second half book a frustrating déjà vu - been there done that, why did we need to do it again? I couldn't understand why Stephen just didn't kill Lucien and Jesse both already and it seemed that Lucien would have still been damned since he hasn't earned back his soul yet. It took all of Stephen's bad guy credibility away. I suppose that it didn't help that I found the whole resolution between Lucien and Stephen a bit confusing and anticlimactic.

So this all left me with mixed feelings about the book and the series itself. The next book isn't out yet, so I guess I have time to decide whether I want to read about the next two dark and tormented Templar's finding their soul mates.

This series is so good. When I sit down to read I feel like I am there. As if I am witnessing an event. What makes this a good read is that her characters have REAL personalities. This should be made into a movie. It is THAT good! I hope Ms. Lyons continues this series.

I am not necessarily giving a one star to the book but instead to the fact that this may be the last book in what should have been a five book series. If you search the web for Rene Lyons you will find that she has turned to publishing and given up writing in the middle of this series. She may have even been fired from this publisher but that could be only gossip. Anway she has left said publisher and she and her husband started a publishing company and then renamed that company. It is now hard to say what she is doing, but just beware you may get hooked on this series and find yourself disappointed when no other books from Lyons on the Templers are published. The book itself was ok. Too much repetition,too much angst, too much regret and way too much violence. In fact I find the whole series so far to be rather similar in content and repetitious. I realize that most series are like that but somehow these seem like been there done that and the Templers all meld together. I would still have liked to complete the series, since I started it and am trying to save someone else from repeating my mistake.

I read Midnight Sun,the first book, couldn't find Daystar,#2, and am working my way through the 3rd chapter of this 3rd book. I decided I should assure that #4 is available before investing more time. Can't locate it. Apparently it still hasn't been written or published. I've been down this path before with Mickee Madden (OK, she got dropped by her publisher) and Dean Koontz.No excuse for him. His fans have been clamoring for the final book in the Christopher Snow trilogy for over 10 years. Looks like I'll be stopping at chapter 4 on this one and won't bother starting Daystar when it arrives, even though I finally located and ordered it. These are NOT stand alone books. For years, I refused to start reading series books until I had them all in hand. It seems that was a wise plan and one I need to adopt again. This is extremely frustrating. I advise you not start this series unless and until you know you can get your hands on all the books. As best I can tell there are only 4 planned and only 3 have been published.

Wow! I really liked this one. It was very gritty, sad, and out right terrifying in some chapters, but it was good. it was also sexy, touching, and it made me cry toward the end when*****SPOILER~ Lucian had to face reality and kill his brother*****... But the forgiveness and closure they experienced during this moment was truly touching.

Lucian and Jessica together were awesome. Their chemistry was off the chain. But their fighting their feelings of course were too repetitive and @ times worked my nerves. This is the one thing I HATE about books like this. But their HEA, although there were times I didn't think it would happen, was pretty good. Although this is the 1st book I've read in this series. I'm thinking of reading the first 2 as well. I recommend this read if you are a fan of this author or genre.

the book was very action packed and made me cry for the two characters at the end. I want to read the next book if there is one

Ok, so I ordered this book because I have the same name as the main character, I just had to own this book! When I started reading it, I absolutely loved it. Very well written, I loved the description of the characters and the conflict between them. I will be ordering the other books in this series soon!

She, Renee Lyons, is a fantastic story teller. You never want to put her books down once you start reading them. I read on here that this was the last in this series, and that's not true. From what I understand she is currently writing a fourth. Even if this was the last it would have been worth the read. All three books take you away and portray vampires and Templars in a whole new way. Loved the series, can't wait to read the next one, great writer hope to see many more from this writer.

Lucian of Penwick has endured many challenges in his life, but nothing has tried his strength of will as being chained in a cell with the one woman who calls to him in every way. Lucian is a man of strong convictions; he was a Templar Knight before his soul was damned and he was turned into a vampire for his loss of faith. Lucian is now being forced to face his past and the demons that have haunted him for centuries.

Jessica Vargo led a good, happy and normal life until she was abducted by a cruel vampire named Stephen and forced into this nightmare that is beyond her imagination. Jessica did not even believe in vampires before this and now her only companion is the vampire chained to the wall in her cell.

Lucian knows it is his fault that Jessica is here. He should have dealt with his brother, Stephen, when he went after Allison Parker. Lucian will do whatever it takes to get Jessica out of this situation and safely back home with her family. For the three months that Jessica has been prisoner, she has tried to ignore the man who is imprisoned with her. After all he is a vampire, too. She knows Stephen is using her to break Lucian and she does not know why Lucian has restrained himself. Eventually, Jessica has to admit that there is more to Lucian, but she does not think that she can ever truly trust him.

Lucian is drawn to Jessica, but he does not want to pull her into his world of darkness. Will Lucian and Jessica find a way out of the hell they are in and are the feelings they have real or just part of their circumstances?

Tempting Darkness is another outstanding read by Rene Lyons! Lucian is a strong, honorable, and incredibly sexy vampire who has struggled to overcome his past. Jessica is a kind and very resilient woman who has the strength to overcome almost anything. I was rooting for these two and I have to say that Rene Lyons can pull every emotion out of her readers! I struggled while writing this review simply because I was afraid that I would not be able to give Tempting Darkness and the amazing Rene Lyons enough credit for this awesome addition to her Templar Vampire series! As always, I am totally enamored with Rene. She pulled me even more into her world and I am already eagerly anticipating her next book! I highly recommend Tempting Darkness.

Gracie
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed