Book Review: When Temptation Burns by J.K.Beck

Title: When Temptation Burns (The Shadow Keepers #6)

Author: J.K. Beck
Release Date: July 21st 2012
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Imprint: Bantam
Source: Received from the publisher via NetGalley

Half human, half daemon, Ryan Doyle is a driving force for justice. As an agent for the Preternatural Enforcement Coalition, he's investigating murders linked to a Los Angeles fringe group bent on exposing the shadow world to humanity. He is a master of self-control, keeping his deepest hungers hidden beneath a veneer of cool professionalism. Until he crosses paths with sinfully sweet Andy Tarrent,a gutsy reporter who makes him crave all the pleasures he's denied himself for centuries.
 
Tracking a band of conspiracy theorists eager to spill blood, Andy has uncovered the story of her career. Brooding, mysterious Ryan is an enigma-but their dance of seduction is hotter than any fantasy. As they race to stop mass murder on the streets, Andy knows that Ryan is holding back, keeping secrets.But getting close to Ryan means opening the door to a world that will challenge her deepest beliefs-including what it means to truly surrender to love.

My Thoughts

While I found this to be a well written, and interesting story, it started off quite slow. In fact I had the same complaint with the previous book in this series. Review here

The story takes quite some time to get going, and a less patient reader may put it aside, lamenting its lack of ability to grab your attention.

Perseverance paid off though as When Temptation Burns is actually a really great read. The characters are much more like-able, the story was more interesting and exciting, and I found it to be an easy and enjoyable book to read.

When Temptation Burns was a vast improvement from the previous book in this series, and gets a well deserved 4 Stars from me :]

Book Review: When Darkness Hungers by J.K. Beck

Title: When Darkness Hungers (The Shadow Keepers #5)

Author: J.K. Beck
Release Date: June 26th 2012
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Imprint: Bantam
Source: Received from the publisher via NetGalley

FBI agent Alexis Martin knows that vampires exist—because one of them killed her sister. Assigned to investigate a series of bizarre homicides in Los Angeles, Alexis believes the murders are the work of rogue vampires—perhaps even the monster responsible for her sister’s death. Now she finally has a chance for retribution. Even better, Alexis receives unexpected help from a sexy stranger as hungry for rogue blood as she is.

Serge is a centuries-old bad boy who stays off the grid—keeping his secrets, his hunger, and his heart safe from exposure. A new breed of vampire that feeds off other shadowers, Serge finds sweet torture in Alexis’s arms. Loving her is a chance to be free from the hiding, the loneliness, the secrecy. But the truth about what he is, and what he’s done, may banish him to the dark confines of his own private hell—and destroy the beginnings of their love.

My Thoughts

When Darkness Hungers is a reasonably safe, familiar story involving Vampires, hunters, and secret FBI divisions.
Alexis was an alright character, as was Serge; but I just didn't really care for them at all.
Yes, I got Serge's motivation for wanting Derrick dead, I understood his fear of his 'beast'; but I didn't connect with him, I felt he was very one dimensional.
In fact I thought Serge and Alexis both, were very shallow characters, the entire book was rather flat I thought.
The only thing I did enjoy was Serge changing CeeCee and his feelings towards her afterwards, and trying to understand why he felt responsible for her; it was the only part of the book that held any depth for me, I even found the sex scenes dull and the ending was hurried.

All in all, this was a reasonable read, nothing I'd rave about, just okay.
3 Stars :]