France, musketeers, vampires, and faeries populate her stories. And if she followed the adage ‘write what ou know’, all her stories would have snow in them. Fortunately she steps beyond her comfort zone and writes about countries she has never visited and creatures she has never seen.
The proud creator of the BEWITCHING THE DARK, WICKED GAMES, OF ANGELS AND DEMONS, CHANGELINGS, THE NETWORK, THE SAINT-SYLVESTRES, and THIS WITCHERY series, Michele continues to amaze release after release.
Beautiful Danger, IN THE COMPANY OF VAMPIRES Book #1
by Michele Hauf
Synopsis:
Could Her Sworn Enemy Lead Her Out of Darkness?
As a member of an ancient order of hunters, Lark has found that eliminating dangerous vampires is about more than duty. It's personal—a kill for every day her husband was held captive before his death. Staking her prey isn't a challenge until she confronts Domingos LaRoque. Mad with vengeance and the blood of a powerful phoenix, Domingos tests her skills…and seduces her soul.
Once a talented musician, Domingos can't escape the constant music in his head…or his need to destroy the werewolf pack that tortured him. Though trusting the hunter ordered to kill him could be his gravest mistake, the dark desires between them can't be refused. Yet as he and Lark become allies to defeat a mutual threat, loving the enemy may be the ultimate sacrifice.
*eARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I sometimes feel like I say it too much, but Michele just never disappoints. I am really, REALLY enjoying the darker side of things that she has been exploring with her last several releases as well, and the dark and gritty heart and emotion of this book was most definitely beautiful.
In true Michele Hauf fashion, the leading couple of this tale are polar opposites and doomed from the start, which of course makes their story even more enjoyable.
Our heroine, Lark, is the only female knight with The Order of the Stake, and Lark has one goal - to kill 366 vampires as quickly as possible in retribution for the 366 days that her late husband was held and tortured by vampires.
Our hero, Domingos, is a vampire who was turned against his will. To make matters worse, he was then captured, severely tortured, and forced into an underground fighting ring by the local Werewolf Pack. All of this has completely broken him, and he is basically on an endless suicide mission so that he can stop all of the pain, though he's hell-bent on taking as many werewolves as he can with him before he goes.
Their journey to their HEA is a treacherously dangerous & confusing one (for them, not the reader), and isn't easy or quick. It's filled with plenty of angst, some truly gripping moments, shiver inducing romance, and tons of action. You will literally ache for Domingos, rally on verge of cheering for Lark, curse the bad guys with vivacity, and be completely astounded by the fact that they are together at all while totally getting it at the same time.
The other thing I loved about this book was the musical undertone and subtle usage of reference to evoke additional emotion. Michele has used music references in her books before and I adore it, but if you read the note from the author before you start Beautiful Danger and are familiar with the group she mentions, you can literally hear their music as the score for this dark and beautiful tale and it's absolutely perfect.
LITERAL ADDICTION gives Beautiful Danger 4 1/2 Skulls and is looking forward to being in the company of vampires again very soon. ;-)
Beautiful Danger
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