In the first book of Adrian's Midnight Breed series, Kiss of Midnight, the seemingly happily mated couple, Rio & Eva, meet a tragic ending. Eva betrays Rio and the rest of his brothers in arms, bringing about her own death and leaving Rio severely scarred- emotionally and physically.

A short time later, where Midnight Rising picks up, Rio is tired of his miserable existence. At the end of a dangerous mission in the mountains of Prague, the Warriors discover an ancient, empty crypt which once hibernated a malevolent originator of their species. Rio volunteers to stay behind and blow away the evidence. Only the rest of the warriors don't know he means to blow himself up too. Weeks after they leave Rio alone with the purpose of destroying the evidence, both he and the crypt are still intact, but he's ready to do the deed that very night.

Until an intrepid reporter stumbles upon the lair and snaps some pictures before escaping. Weak from starvation and madness, Rio pulls it together enough to go after the girl. Disgusted to find she's a reporter ready to tell all, he captures her only to realize she's already sent the photos off to not only her editor but also some family and friends.

Taking her with him to a safe haven in Germany, she fights him tooth and nail yet something about this fierce, beautiful young woman draws him out of his pain.

But when he discovers she's part of a rare group of women who have the exact genetic makeup to effectively mate with the half alien/half human Vampires known as the Breeds, things get even more difficult between them. The last thing Rio
wants is to be connected to another woman, and he means to leave this one behind- to get back to dying.

Dylan cannot believe the world she's stumbled into, but part of her realizes what the scarred, tortured man before her is saying is true. She agrees to join him on a journey back to his home in the United States to clear up the mess she inadvertently made when she sent her pictures to her editor. In the end, she has o choice, for not only is Rio's world threatening her family and her very existence, but something about Rio makes her want to see him whole again.

I was surprised Adrian came up with Rio's story so early on in the series.
At the end of Kiss of Midnight he was utterly wrecked by Eva's betrayal. Rio starts off the novel suicidal and ready to give up, but before the climax even hits, he's telling Dylan he loves her and he's can't live without her?! Not that I read paranormal romance for it's basis on reality :-) - but this fantastical improbability is the very reason I had issues with Midnight Rising.

Still, I liked Dylan a lot. She was feisty and not easily swayed, and she was ready to give up the love she had for Rio in order to be with her ailing mother. She had alotta heart and I adore that in a heroine.

I also really liked Rio, considering his unlikely speedy recovery. A capacity to forgive and love again, so deeply-so quickly, is an admirable thing- if a bit far-fetched, in my jaded eyes. And, believe me, this one is all about the easy happily ever after- despite the blood sucking Vampire/Alien aspect.

I'm also diggin' the whole Alien Breed progenitor bad guy aspect and the thriller plots it gives to this set of books. So, given the whole, I did enjoy this novel. ( )

Definitely not as good as the others...disappointing really. I think I'll pause before I decide to read any more.

The characters were just not as well developed nor was the story as a whole. Not a lot went on in this book. #3 was the best by far, so far. ( )

I wasn't as into this book as some of the others I have read in this series. Maybe its because I haven't read the first two books, but I just didn't feel that either Rio or Dylan were very strong or gripping characters. Because of this, I wasn't convinced that their bond or their reasons for being apart were all that compelling. In all, I kind of liked the series development aspect of this book more than the romance between the two main characters. ( )

was a little disappointed in the latest installment. I enjoyed parts of the book but it was draggy in places, and the small amount of information the book reveals about the ongoing plot, seems to mean this will be a long drawn out plot about the "Ancient". Will continue to read more.... ( )

IN A WORLD OF SHADOWS AND DARK, CONSUMING HUNGERS, DESIRE IS THE DEADLIEST WEAPON. . . .

Fueled by pain and rage over a shattering betrayal, the warrior Rio has pledged his life to the war against the Rogues. He will let nothing stand in his way--least of all a mortal woman with the power to expose the entire vampire race. But now an ancient evil has been awakened, and a stunning darkness is on the rise.

For journalist Dylan Alexander, it began with the discovery of a hidden tomb. Suddenly she is at the center of a gathering storm of violence and secrets. But nothing is as dangerous as the scarred, lethally seductive man who rises from the shadows to plunge her into his world of dark desire and endless night. Here she is powerless to resist Rio's touch, even as she uncovers a shocking link to her own past. Now Dylan must choose: Leave Rio's midnight realm, or risk it all for the man who has shown her true passion and the infinite pleasures of the heart . . . .