Nicola Claire

I'm going with 2.5 - It's not a horrible book or anything, but the romance was a bit over the top in a cheesy kind of way. They had already met and it was already predestined kind of thing. The resistance on the side of the heroine only feels half-done and much of the book was her protests (kind-of). The "hero" wasn't bad but he was typical Master of the City type with terms of endearment in every sentence, exaggerated emotion and sometimes arrogance. The sideline plot was power plays show more between two vamps wanted you-know-who. I like the heroine some of the time, but other times she felt a bit soulless to me. I get the whole "I'm a vampire hunter, hear me roar" kind of thing, but to be that casual about taking life where you don't even blink an eye is hard for me to get used to. It's so simplified without a depth of emotion on her part - even in books where there is an acceptance and jadedness with slaughter, it's still delved into a bit deeper and more convincingly. Full review to come. show less

There are a lot of paranormal romance vampire novels. Even a lot in which a hunter falls in love with the master of the city. But the intriguing symbiosis that the author builds, and her unique setting and interesting supernatural community set this one far apart from the rest. Lots of mysteries, and a powerful heroine coming into her own. This book has a plot that goes far beyond the formula, and represents an excellent blend of paranormal romance and urban fantasy.

In 1891 and death comes to the streets of Auckland. Can Inspector Andrew Kelly and Anna Cassidy (trained but not qualified as a doctor by her father, the former Chief Surgeon for the Auckland Police Force) determine who the murderer is before he strikes again.
The tale is told from the view point of Cassidy and Kelly, the romance is between these two but thankfully the book was more of a mystery.
Really enjoyed this book and the characters so I am hoping there will be another, and another in show more this series. show less

I haven't read too many historical romances, but this was one of those books that I knew I was going to love after the first chapter. It had a strong female protagonist in Anna Cassidy, who's not your typical woman of the 1890's. She's a surgeon trained by her father in Auckland, NZ in a time when a female doctor was a rarity. Anyway, I loved Anna and Andrew. Anna is not only a Suffragette, fighting for the right to vote, she aspires to be the Chief Surgeon for the police force in a time show more when female doctors were a rarity. Fearless... History. Mystery. Perfect!
I certainly recommend this who done it!
Jack Murphy show less