Syntia [Tia] Martell, ex-officer and currently free-lance photographer, is spending a week in July on assignment in Natchez, Mississippi.  The series on haunted houses is not as exciting as she thought it would be until she is at the scene of a hit & run accident.  Hoping for some extra income, she takes photos for the local paper and uses them as an excuse to have further conversation with BISHOP’S INN owner Dallas Allgate.

 Dallas Allgate is a being living outside the human realm for the past 235 years – a Vampar as they are called in the South.  When a private investigator coming to meet him is killed, he is finds there is vendetta against him by another vampar.  He does not want “his humans” caught in the middle.  Particularly since this vendetta has brought him to the attention of “the old ones” in the Brotherhood who will send an Enforcer if they feel it necessary.

The author explains vampar trance as a mirror upon which the living can project their fantasies, never seeing the "monster" on the other side.  Dallas’ effect on Tia is not what he has expected.  She is able to ignore his direction that she return to her home and he finds himself caring more than he wishes and becoming her protector.  But when Dallas & Tia barely escape St. James’ trap alive, Tia is aware of his identity and his needs.  She willing risks her life to give him the blood he needs to survive but sees the futility of their relationship.  Again she is able to withstand her link to Dallas and leaves him to go home.

 Drago, the Enforcer, has been sent to clean up the mess this vendetta is causing and has given Dallas the order to “kill her or bring her over”.  For love to exist one of them have to be human; so he will loose her either way.  If he refuses, Drago will destroy him and carry out the ultimatum.  Meanwhile, St. James is recovering and preparing for another attempt at revenge. 

 Romance suspense readers will enjoy this story with its plot additional paranormal element of Vampars.  Some of the violent scenes may be disturbing, but not enough for me to classify this as a horror.  There is much action in this story and the characters interact in believable manner.  I understand this is the first in a trilogy and expect Drago will be seen again in the other tales.  

Cy Korte /July, 2001
Reviewed for Book Isle Paperbacks  Copyright © 2001

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