Dancing with the Devil by Keri Arthur

Having grown up on the tough streets of Lyndhurst, Private Investigator Nikki James believes there is nothing left to surprise her. That changes the night she follows teenager Monica Trevgard into the shadows and becomes a pawn caught in a war between two very different men. One fills her mind with his madness; the other pushes his way into her heart. Nikki knows how dangerous love can be but, if she wants to survive, she must place her trust in a man who might destroy her.

For three hundred years, Michael Kelly has existed in the shadows, learning to control his vampiric death cravings. Nikki not only breaches his formidable barriers with her psychic abilities, but makes Michael believe he may finally have found a woman strong enough to walk by his side. Will his love be enough to protect her from a madman hell-bent on revenge? Or will the secrets they keep from each other prove to be the greatest threat of all?

I know I like Keri's writing, I love her Riley Jenson Guradian series. But for some reason my reading of this book was very slow going! I don't know what it was about it that didn't grab me.

It may have been the story. It was quite slow going and sort of boring, things seemed to be repetitive and would happen again and again.

It may have been the characters. Nikki annoyed me in a way I can't describe. Her personality bugged me. Her refusal for help bugged me. Her complete distrust of Michael bugged me. I just didn't find her to an interesting character.
Michael was fairly likeable but I preferred Jake.

Not a book I'd recommend but anyone who is a fan of Keri Arthur may pick it up because they are a fan of the author, it's the reason I bought it in the first place but I really don't think I'll be reading the rest of the series, or I, at least, won't be buying it. Maybe in a while I'll get it from the library.

Rating 2.5/5


Book Depository: Dancing With The Devil
Amazon UK: Dancing with the Devil

Moon Sworn by Keri Arthur

WARNING! MAJOR SPOILER FOR BOUND TO SHADOWS IN BLURB!!


Shape-shifting werewolf and vampire Riley Jenson is through with death - causing it, solving it, surviving it. Her soul mate Kye Murphy is dead - and at Riley's own hands. Not even the seductive embrace of her vampire lover Quinn can fully ease her mind, for she has begun questioning everything that makes her Riley - including her job at the Directorate.

But then ritualistically slain bodies of ex-cons start turning up. Reluctantly, Riley takes the case, but something even worse is waiting in the wings. For a vicious enemy from her past is determined to strip Riley of everything that gives her life any meaning: her lover, her twin brother - and even her own identity. Can Riley survive this ultimate assault? All she knows is, she must fight one last time to find answers, before everything goes dark for ever ...

Book 9 (and I believe the last book) in the Riley Jenson Guardian series. Ms Arthur is currently writing a spin off from this series introducing Risa as a main character.
This was a great end to a good series. I had started to lose interest in the series about 3-4 books ago because they seemed to be purely sex focused. I'm glad I hung in there and stuck with it because it picked up and focused on the story more in later books.
The only thing that put me off was all the self-loathing at the beginning and the 'woe is me, I killed my soul mate'. I get that that's a BIG thing in these books but it was kind of off putting and made me want to skip right to the exciting bits, luckily for me, Ms Arthur doesn't keep us waiting too long.

Overall, the book is funny and intriguing. Made me keep reading because I do like Riley as a character and I like reading her life and quips and relationships. Especially her relationship with her brother (who I also love). If you've read the others or even started this series and gave up, I strongly suggest finishing the series the way it was meant to be finished.

Rating 4/5


Book Depository: Moon Sworn
Amazon UK: Moon Sworn