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Author: AMANDA ASHLEY

a.k.a. Madeline Baker
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DEEPER THAN THE NIGHT
Amanda Ashley 
 Love Spell, August 1996
391 Pages; ISBN# 050552113X 

Category: Paranormal Romance [Futuristic]
Reviewed by: CYoTE

bookcover Deeper than the Night by Ashley
Did you ever wonder what your neighbors thought of you?  Author Alexander Claybourne found out one evening when 9 year old Gail knocks at his door one evening “looking for the vampire” to cure her sister.  Touched and intrigued, Alex visits Kara in the hospital.  On an impulse, he gives her an injection of his blood, but he has no idea what chain of events he has triggered.  He wasn’t even sure if it would cure her or harm her. 

Kara’s recovery was miraculous and the doctor amazed.  Even more amazing was the blood test he had taken just before she left the hospital.  He needed to examine her more thoroughly and do more tests on her to isolate that unique change in her blood that cured her.  Although she was unwilling to have further tests, Dr. Peterson forces her.  Dr. Peterson’s unscrupulous purpose is to have a source of this life saving blood factory and become rich and so Alex must rescue her. 

Alex never realized his alien blood would cause such a stir.  Having been banished to this primitive planet years ago, he recognized the need to hide his differences.  Now he must use his powers and knowledge to save himself and the woman he has grown to love.   He has occasion to use his powers and tell her about his heritage as part of the tale.  Many of his powers and problems are similar to a vampire of legend.  The fact that his pen name is A. Lucard (Dracula spelled backward) is his recognition of the irony.  You will have to read to get the full pleasure of learning about him!  I won't spoil it.  He is a "man" worth meeting. 

I enjoyed this story, have it on my keeper shelf and am looking for the sequel. There is a time or two in the story, though, where I say “why doesn’t he just….”.  I realize it is necessary for part of the plot, but it is still a frustration point that this smart guy is missing an obvious answer.  (But just like in the movies, it is necessary for the story… just like they don’t shoot the horses in westerns because the hero needs to chase the bad guy.)  I’ll leave it at that so I don’t disclose too much of the plot.  Read the book, you will enjoy it. 

Cy Korte / August, 1999
Copyright © 1999 for Book Isle Paperbacks