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  immortals the redeeming

Five Book Rating

Immortals: The Redeeming by Jennifer Ashley
Dorchester
Contemporary Romance, Paranormal, Suspense
Full length, Sensual
Review by Xeranthemum

 

 
 
For centuries they have walked among us--vampires, shape-shifters, the Celtic Sidhe, demons, and other magical beings. Their battle to reign supreme is constant, but one force holds them in check, a race of powerful warriors known as the IMMORTALS

He is going to take her. And it won't be gentle. After all, the last 700 years of torture and captivity haven't been gentle on Tain. This woman, this half-demon who leaves him burning with desire, is pretty tough herself. She needs to be, for the world is not safe for demon-kind these days. A violent backlash has disrupted the balance of power, and now Tain finds he may have to rescue the dark ones instead of fight them. He feels compelled to protect the alluring Samantha--whether she wants him to or not--but all he can think of is seduction. Ultimately, she'll either destroy him or bring exactly what he needs most...THE REDEEMING

♥ ♥ ♥

This is a book that ends up being the frosting on a very tortured but hunky cake. The cake being Tain, the fifth Immortal brother who had been tortured for 700 years by a very sadistic and evil demon and who we were left wondering about at the end of the last series.

Tain’s story starts off the thread of this new and exciting quartet of books which are sure to thrill readers into 2009. He’s still wandering, trying to find his way in a world that is totally different from the one he’d been abducted from. He has to heal in mind, body and spirit. For readers who enjoy stories of tortured heroes and the women who heal them, this book has what you are looking for. I would also caution readers that the true scope of what Tain endured can only be appreciated by reading the previous four books, or at the minimum, The Gathering. The depths of despair and madness he’s come from, that his brothers rescued him from was apocalyptic in its scope. Understanding this background will help a reader to experience why Samantha is so wonderful for Tain and why he can’t seem to stay away. And why he should.

Samantha appeared in The Gathering and was instrumental in getting through to Tain and I remember feeling that they were destined to be together. Imagine my consternation when the book ended with him walking away. Imagine my joy when I realized that The Redeeming was about Tain and Samantha. It was worth the wait.

Samantha is a strong female character with spunk, attitude and has the unfortunate genetics of being half demon. She’s also a very savvy cop. She believes Tain when he approaches her about an unreported crime and asks her to take him and it seriously. That one act propels them into a mystery that changes the course of Samantha’s life and Tain’s role in it.

The conflict is twofold – one is internal, a reconciling between Samantha and her parentage, and the other is external, an illegal drug and how to stop it. The players are surprising and the villains are shocking. I only find out ‘who done it’ when Tain found out. If you are like me, you’ll think you know who the bad guy is, and you’d be only half right. Ms. Ashley wove an intricate and stealthy plot rich in characters and misdirection.

One of the characters is Samantha’s police partner, Logan. He’s a werewolf and he has some serious secrets. His character is developed enough that I grew attached to him and I was hoping for a foreshadowing or hint of him getting his own story. Alas nothing. I do want to say, however, that I blogged my lament and Ms. Ashley not only found my humble blog but made my heart sing by letting me know that Logan will be back. Next year.

In the meantime, I will enjoy the unfolding of this new series. Another character sure to grace the pages is Septimus, the head vampire and an Old One. His presence in this series in fascinating and ends up being a great plot vehicle. He’s a bad guy that’s good, if that makes any sense. I first met Septimus in the last series and I was very glad to see him again. I find repeat characters solidify the world building and make it more believable, tangible and enjoyable. Ms. Ashley has chosen and written her characters well.

The wrap up of the mystery and the consummation of the love between Tain and Samantha is what romantic suspense is all about; exciting and satisfying, sensual, passionate, and their love extends beyond themselves to their families. It can’t get any better than that.

Fans of the Immortals will be pleased with The Redeeming. It only whetted my appetite for more. I expect it to do the same for anyone who followed the original series. And new fans are in for a treat.

 
 
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