Whiteside usually writes good erotica that has an actual plot. This time, the plot leaves a lot to be desired. The author seriously undermines the suspension of disbelief about the two main characters, i.e., we are suppose to believe two intelligent spies cannot figure out how the Pony Express, telegram, telephone, letters, and emails work. These two, who love one another so *deeply*, lose track of one another and can't seem to be bothered to check with other spies, which we are told is a very small community of people, to see if the other is still alive. They do this for two hundred *years*, and then only accidentally stumble upon one another. The sex scenes were mild and not at all erotic. And the real clincher of the plot is that the reader is suppose to believe that a very remote Spanish region hosts a community of Catholic folks who whole-heartedly and without question accept a stranger who is a vampire in their midst. In the early 1800's. And they do not burn him at the stake. Very realistic and believable. ( )

**Courtesy of CK2S Kwips & Kritiques**

Jean-Marie St. Just and Helene d’Agelet share a long and tormented past, with brief moments of great joy together. Tragedy tore them apart centuries ago, with each believing the other dead.

Follow this pair as their romance traverses several centuries, from the time of their initial meeting in 1787 Paris to their reunion in present day Texas. Through all of their travails, in all of their years, neither vampire has forgotten the other, nor has their love abated in the slightest.

But an old enemy is determined to see them destroyed…

With the second story in her Texas Vampires series, Bond of Fire, Diane Whiteside delivers a complex and captivating paranormal romance sure to delight her fans! This books encompasses a range of genres, from regency historical to modern paranormal.

I have to admit, I found the first book of this series, Bond of Blood a little difficult to read. The story and characters were wonderful, but the book contained so much Spanish that it was hard to read if you don’t have a good grasp of that language. I was nervous that I would have the same difficulty with Bond of Fire, but Whiteside did a much better job of weaving both the French and Spanish languages into her prose and dialogue so that the context made it easier to deduce the meaning of the foreign words. In addition, she includes a glossary at the end of the book that guarantees the reader will be able to fully enjoy her story.

As a lover of both historicals and paranormals, this book was right up my alley. With a cast of vampires, it was natural for the story to progress from the 1700s to the present day. The lengthy time span provided many a compelling scene, with subplots guaranteed to thrill the reader as much as the one major intrigue that spans the many centuries in Bond of Fire. Along with Jean-Marie and Helene, we experience great joy, heart-rending pain, and ultimate satisfaction when the happy ever after is finally delivered.

We also see a return of the characters we fell in love with during Bond of Blood. In fact, due to Jean-Marie’s long association with Rafael/Rodrigo Perez, we learn much more of Rafael’s past and how it affects Jean-Marie.

With this book, Diane Whiteside gives us a story of great betrayal, steadfast friendships, and abiding love – three elements sure to touch even the most hardened of hearts.

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