8
Jul122011
GUEST REVIEW: ‘Adam’ by Jacquelyn Frank
by Carolyn • Posted in 3.5 Star Reviews, Authors E-H, Book Reviews, Guest Review, Paranormal Romance, Piatkus
Title: Adam (Nightwalker #6)
Author: Jacquelyn Frank
Publisher: Piatkus (UK) | Zebra (US)
Publication Date: October 2011
ARC: 313 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Source: Review copy from publisher
Guest Review by Andrea
RATING: 7/10
SUMMARY:
Haunted by magic, beset by evil, the Nightwalkers face their darkest hour yet. And when they unthinkable happens, only one legendary male has the power,
the will, to save them: Adam….
FOR 400 YEARS HE WAS LOST TO HER, BUT HE IS HERS TONIGHT…
From their first tantalizing touch, Jasmine knows he is different. What other lover could unlock her tight control, flood Vampire senses jaded by a lifetime of decadent self indulgence? Centuries ago, when he disappeared without a trace, she had given up hope of ever fulfilling the promise of incomparable passion. But here he is, against the very laws of nature, ready to bring down their most vicious enemy, ready to bring her blood to the boiling point…. If she will only let him. (Author Website)
REVIEW:
“Adam” is the 6th novel in Jacquelyn Frank’s ‘Nightwalkers’ series; and probably not the best novel to start with, though that certainly didn’t stop me devouring it. Although it would be best to read the series in order, I didn’t find the world too confusing and I caught up with all the characters pretty quickly. I think the main thing missing in my reading was previous knowledge of the other characters, if I had read those first, then the opening chapter of “Adam” would definitely have had more of an impact than it already did. I didn’t have the connection with them that would have made me care about what happened to them more. Saying that, it was still a brilliant opening and hooked me right in. I didn’t need to read the other books to understand it, I just know, that on an emotional level it would have created more of an impact if I had.
Adam is an immortal demon from the 16th century, he’s large, strong, stern and gorgeous, He’s pulled out of his time to help his family in the future. He’s an Enforcer for his species and hunts down rogue demons and vampires. He’s a very typical alpha male, but it’s hard not to fall in love with him. Especially as he is thrown into the modern world and has to come to grips with not only how the world has changed, but how his family has, too. Plus there are some priceless scenes of him first seeing a car and going into a clothes shop that just make you want to hug him.
He’s so out of place in the modern world that Frank could have written a whole novel about him just experiencing every day things such as going shopping, using a computer, cooking dinner, and you wouldn’t get bored by his reaction.
There is the more serious side of his displacement too. He has no place in this world, and the people he knows have spent 400 years without him. Then there are all the laws that he helped enforce that have changed. Species are now allowed to intermix and his friends and even his brother have taken mates outside their race. It also means that the annoying, but beautiful vampire he ran into in the 16th century is now within his grasp, but things could not be so simple. He still has hundreds of years of thinking the only good vampire is a dead vampire, and Jasmine is definitely not the simpering heroine. She makes his blood boil in more ways than one.
Jasmine hunts rogue vampires and even back in the 16th century was a woman beyond her time. She’s strong, beautiful, fun and doesn’t let Adam intimidate her. The sexual tension between them is sizzling! It’s such a refreshing change to have a heroine and a hero of similar strengths. Jasmine has powers in her own right, and she’s more than a match for Adam.
When they’re paired up to fight a common enemy things certainly start to get interesting, and Adam starts to realise that maybe he was wrong about vampires after all.
This book had me hooked from the beginning, I found myself thinking what a clever idea it was and being really impressed with the different demons, vampires and druids. Frank has really created a solid world for her characters to play in, and it really shows with “Adam”.
It has a feel of Christine Feehan’s Dark series, while being something unique and a little more modern.
I love reading novels with established relationships, and it was interesting to see the interaction between Adam and his brother. The plot that brings all the characters together is also exciting, but doesn’t over power the characters.
I think my only pet peeve is the occasional switch of point of views to the villain’s. This is more personal preference than anything wrong with the novel itself. I just find that when there are chapters from the villain’s point of view it takes away some of the mystery and suspense because I know what they’re planning to do to my heroes! Sometimes the unknown is better than knowing every detail.
VERDICT:
This was a quick easy read with characters that were easy to fall in love with and a fun interesting world to read about. It may have helped if I’d read the series in order, but it didn’t take away from the enjoyment of the book.
You can find out more about the author here:
8 Comments
Hi: Just curious on this; I'm not a fan of shirtless dude covers, but I recently read one with said shirtless dude, and it completely surprised me by being a fun mystery caper with a fiesty heiroine. A dude took his shirt off in the last 30 pages or so of the book. My best guess is publishers think women want this and they must sell so they keep making these types of covers? I would be far more apt to read something like this with more of an idea of the story, other than "a dude will at some point take off his shirt."
This books sounds intriguing with all the differnent paranormal stuff going on and romantic tension… I guess this whole rant is, don't books deserve better covers?
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I quite like the sound of this series after your review, I may add book one to my wishlist
Also I'm with @Stephsco I love romance but hate the shirtless dude covers, in fairness this is not too bad considering how bad some get!
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I'm so excited to read this one- the Nightwalker series is one of my favorites and it was awesome to hear that there's going to be one more story. Thanks for the great review!
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ARRG a new series that sounds like a must have – the budget gods are not smiling at me right now
Thanks for sharing today.
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I'm going to have to re-read this entire series before this one comes out! I'm wicked excited though!!
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Don't be put off by the cover! For a paranormal romance it has a surprising amount of plot and well thought out plot at that. it's made me want to read the backlist.
i'm sure if they ever bring out UK versions the covers will be much more tasteful lol!
they're bringing out Larissa Ione's novels in UK soon, and I've had a review copy of that–lets just say, the UK covers are lovely…less bodice ripping, more brooding darkness:)
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Loved the review and this series rocks. I was thrilled to see that series was coming back and Jaz was getting a book.
I do feel as a loyal reading of the seriesi should point out a little misunderstanding. Though Noah's was the last full length novel in the series it was not the newest release. Kane's novella in the SUPERNATURAL anthology was in fact just released last month. Though Kane's story happens much earlier in the series chronologically we never got to see his and Corrine's story from their POVs.
Really Hoping for more in the series as there are a few others id love to find love too!
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5 more days to go! YAY! I'm so excited with this book that I'm already looking for the 7th book. I didn't expect that Jacquelyn Frank would continue the Nightwalker series after "Noah". I really wish she would continue until Leah's and Seth's story, maybe others too.
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