"Readers will be more than Tempted to answer the Call of this entralling Vampire romantic suspense"
Samantha Turner runs the Artemis Shelter in Spanish Harlem.
She is also a vampire, who had suffered abuse in both life
and in un-life. She had created this halfway house as a
haven to help other women and children avoid the same
fate. The neighborhood credits her with the peace that has
settled on their little corner of NYC. But that peace is
suddenly shattered by a drive-by shooting which takes the
lives of a several teenagers. Samantha's vampiric speed had
spared three of the kids but not even she had enough time
to save them all. Unfortunately her actions would not go
unnoticed.
NYPD Detective Peter Daley is sent to investigate the
crime. (Peter assisted FBI Agent Diana Reyes in murder
investigations in books 1 and 2, see DARKNESS CALLS and
DANGER CALLS.) Peter is definitely suspicious about the
miraculous rescue, and even more so when he finds a blood
stained and bullet ridden blouse in a dumpster. The clues
lead him back to the shelter and the beautiful proprietor.
Samantha bears no wounds from the shooting but Peter cannot
fail to notice the scars crisscrossing her back. She'd been
abused, hence her reason for not trusting men. Peter
himself no longer trusted beautiful women, a lesson taught
to him by his faithless wife. Yet he finds himself
returning to the crime scene again and again. Soon neither
can deny their attraction.
Three of Diana's vampire friends have mysteriously
disappeared from the Blood Bank, a club frequented by their
kind. When Diana is nearly the fourth, Peter intervenes.
When Samantha tell him that there's nothing he can do to
help, that she and her friends are "different" Peter calls
in a friend, FBI Agent Diana Reyes. He's often suspected
that she and her lover Ryder Latimer are "different" too.
He has no idea how different Samantha and Ryder are until
they meet for the first time in 140 years. The meeting is
decidedly hostile, due to past history, and their true
natures are revealed.
Will their undeniable attraction overcome Peter's shock and
disbelief? Will they find the kidnapper before he strikes
again? Can Ryder find a way to forgive Samantha and learn
to embrace his nature?
More connections are made with the past as the reader
learns about the connection between Ryder, Samantha, and
the Civil War era Danvers family. Although this installment
definitely can stand alone, the villain has also played
a major role in events of the recent past. I really
recommend reading books 1 and 2, DARKNESS CALLS and DANGER
CALLS if copies can be obtained. TEMPTATION CALLS is
another enthralling story sure to please lovers of mystery,
suspense, paranormal, and romance. Ms. Pineiro has penned
a profound tale of angst overcome by heart and heroism. I'm
greatly looking forward to Book 4, DEATH CALLS from new
imprint Silhouette Nocturne in December of 06 which once
again focuses on Ryder and Diana. Posted: Sept. 15, 2006
Copyright © 2006
Reviewed by Leslie Tramposch
Posted November 3, 2006
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