While tracking down a killer, clues lead homicide detective, Viviane Taylor to suspect, Julian DeMatteo. From the get-go, DeMatteo unsettles and irritates her. He’s a force she has never encountered, someone who excites her even though hes forbidden. Her instincts warn that hes hiding something and she is determined to uncover those secrets.As king of the vampires, Julian DeMatteo protects the … immortal clans. So, when the beautiful, bullheaded cop embroils herself within his world, he must choose between the woman who reminds him of the humanity hes lost or his loyalty to his people.As confusing emotions awaken inside her, Viviane can either accept her fate as the one chosen to save the immortal race or lose her soul to darkness. With Julians help, she fights an evil that would rip her apart in order to forge a new future with the homicide suspect whos stolen her heart.
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THE BEAUTIFUL COP, THE HUNKY VAMPIRE KING, AND AN ATTRACTION THAT CAN’T BE DENIED
They don’t what know has hit them when the heat, attraction, and longing begins; they are confused and worried. Can the lonely cop and the vampire king form an alliance of life and love?
STORY-LINE:
Viviane Taylor is a detective in the homicide division; she is a good detective with excellent instincts and hunches. Called to the scene of a gruesome murder, Viviane has a hunch that Julian DeMatteo’s involved. DeMatteo, reputed mobster, has his fingers in lots of pies. His reputation is one of philanthropic endeavors and community action, but Viviane knows he has a seamy side as well.
The first meeting is a revelation to both of them. What is going on? What are they so attracted beyond reason to each other? How can this possibly work to the good of the human or vampire world?
Come along with Viviane and Julian as they solve mysteries, murders, answers to questions they didn’t know existed and perhaps find love. My vampire romance book reviews follow.
CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, DEVELOPMENT:
TJ Shaw begins this novel with a bang and the action never slows nor lags. From the first pages, I realized I was in for a great vampire love story and would be up late reading. This is an intriguing, emotion-filled story of two people who are private, lonely, closed off, and needy, yet to all appearances, they have it all.
One an accomplished police officer, the other is Vampire King (Immortals as they prefer) of the Western Clans; a species and complex world unknown to humans. One is about to go against all she believes, her code of honor and her principles; the other is facing betrayal of the very rules he created. TJ Shaw portrayed the emotional battles with intensity and skill. Her descriptions of Julian and Viviane’s emotions and thoughts were so vivid I could feel the confusion and need. As well as, the protectiveness, loneliness, and burning desire. The love between Julian and Viviane is explosive, hot, and steamy. His need to protect Viviane is so sweet, and so sigh worthy.
The mystery of Viviane’s past is skillfully and slowly revealed; what a surprise! This book has several surprises in store for the reader. This is not the same old vampire story from the past. You will not be bored with this book.
MY OPINION:
Shaw kept the mystery and emotion at high peak throughout this novel. The plot and pace were on target and masterfully executed. The pace did not lag or slow. Divergent Bloodline will keep you up long into the night as you the devour each page. Shaw builds her vampire world of politics, emotions, greed, jealousies, and of course, love, expertly as she shows her world much like the human world; with the same faults, failures, and successes. Of course, every hero and heroine must face adversity, and TJ Shaw created worthy opponents in her story.
This book includes all the elements needed for a successful story. The author expertly developed the characters and story-line; Shaw‘s pacing and scenes flowed seamlessly from one scene to the next. Shaw skillfully wove the many threads in this book into a complete and cohesive story; her command of the story-telling is evident as her writing style is clear, fresh, and well-formed.
I hope she has plans to expand this story into a series, as I can see several avenues open for continuance of the story-line.
RECOMMENDATION: STARS 5
This is the first of TJ Shaw‘s book I have read; it will not be the last. I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves to read a story that is well-written, well-developed, and holds the reader’s attention. It does contain several love scenes; I did not consider them explicit, overdone nor lengthy, rather love between two people very much in love and mated.
ALSO, PLEASE NOTE:
Book Review copy provided via Reading Alley in exchange for honest vampire romance book reviews. All reviews of any novel are dependent on the author’s opinion; all reviews online, on my blog and under my name are my opinion.