Raphael by: D.B. Reynolds -- Featured Reviewer

Rating: 4/5
Origins: Provided by the Author
Format: Trade Paperback
Release Date: 15 April 2009
Publisher: ImaJinn Books
Synopsis: Malibu, California-home to rock-and-roll gods and movie stars, the beautiful, the rich . . . and vampires.

Powerful and charismatic, Raphael is a Vampire Lord, one of the few who hold the power of life and death over every vampire in existence. Thousands call him Master and have pledged absolute loyalty on their very lives. But when, in a brazen and deadly daylight attack, a gang of human killers kidnaps the one female vampire he'd give his life for, Raphael turns to a human investigator to find his enemies before it's too late.

Cynthia Leighton is smart, tough and sexy, a private investigator and former cop who's tired of spying on cheating spouses and digging out old bank accounts. When Raphael asks for her help in tracking down the kidnappers, Cyn's happy to accept. But she soon realizes her greatest danger comes not from the humans, but from Raphael himself.

Battling Russian mobsters and treacherous vampires, and betrayed by those they trusted, Cyn and Raphael find themselves fighting for their lives while caught up in a passion of blood and violence that is destined to destroy them both.

Review in Five: Fast-paced and Easy to Read.

Review: I love that the main characters in this book are strong willed and independent, they both have everything they already need out of life. Cyn is independent and strong in both her personal and business life. Raphael is a handsome, strong vampire who requires absolute obedience from his prodigy and his associates. I loved Cyn in this story far more than I liked Raphael, he is very distant and cold, almost as you would expect an actual vampire to be, and Cyn is actually quite clever.

The plot in this book is action-packed and fast paced. There was one thing I noticed in the story that brought up questions in my mind;  Cyn just shoots a guy for checking in with his boss, I think that was a tad bit extreme. Take the phone, punch him, throw him out the door, why shoot him? Who does that?

Anyway, this is pretty good book for a great paranormal romance lover and an action romantic suspense lover. There are some great scenes, some unique word usage, and great characters in this book. D.B. Reynolds's debut is definitely worth the read, as I am sure the other books in this series will be as well.

Series: Vampires in America: Raphael (1), Jabril (2), Rajmund (3)

Featured Reviewer: Monica from The Bibliophilic Book Blog