Ms. Reed is well known for her refreshing view of vampires--at least to those of us who have heard of her. Until I read her book, I was clueless that there was a writer by the name of MacKenzie Reed. Nevertheless, I am very glad I found her. Like very few authors, her vampires are people I'd like to meet for coffee instead of hit over the head with a brick.

Devra Preston is a popular investigative columnist, and happily single. One brush with marriage, and after catching her husband happily bouncing on a young assistant at the paper where they both worked and one divorce later, she is happy to stay single. Men just complicate things. All a woman needs to survive is a good book and a jet spa tub. Her best friend has the same views on men, but she has started showing up late for their weekly "girls' night". Devra figures out, in investigative reporter fashion, that it is because of a man. After grilling her about it, her friend hands her a tape of recorded music and tells her this is the reason why she has been late. What should just be music leaves Devra with a deep longing for male company that she has never felt before.

Joshua Thomas has been surviving for several years off the sensuality of his audience. He is what humans call a vampire, and he feeds on sexual hunger instead of blood. He is nearing the time when he needs to find his mate or die. He has refrained from relationships with women for several years, because what is the point of a relationship if that woman is not his mate. She will only leave him hungering for more, and there's nothing he can do about it. It is best just to avoid it all until he can find the one woman who will save him. Literally.

He pours his lust, his longing, into his music, and his audience can feel it. All those women, he drinks their sensuality like wine, and it staves off the hunger. But when he meets Devra after she sneaks backstage for an interview, his hunger comes full force and there is not a bloody thing he can do to stop it. Is she his mate? On the other hand, is she someone he merely lusts for?

I love that the female character is someone I think I could be friends with. Mouthy, wisecracking, and all around, a lot like other women I know. They are so believable you want to call them up to see if they would like to get together for a beer. Not to mention the hidden romantic in all of us can "oh!" and "ah!" at the love that comes between Joshua and Devra.

Reviewed By Marissa
© February 2005