Review and Giveaway: Betrayed: A Cyn & Raphael Novella (Vampires in America #5.5)

Betrayed: A Cyn & Raphael Novella (Vampires in America #5.5)

Author:  D.B. Reynolds

Publisher:  ImaJinnBooks       

Date:  August 15, 2012

Source:  ARC provided by author for an honest review

Genre:  Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Length:  E-Novella

Reviewed by:  Artemis

Love, the ache in your heart when you meet the one. It can take you to soaring heights; and it can leave you bleeding in the wreckage. Loyalty, the thing which binds a Vampire Lord to his children for eternity ... unless it rots from within, birthing hatred. Betrayal, it comes in many forms and from many sources ... love ... loyalty ... betrayal. War has come to the North American vampires, and Vampire Lords are reaching across territorial lines to strengthen allies and weaken enemies. The most powerful Lord of them all, Raphael, could change the course of the war and determine who raises the final banner of victory. But at what price? And will his mate, Cyn, be the one to pay it?

Before I get started, some of you may be wondering why Ms. Reynolds would revisit characters she already wrote about.  She explains that very eloquently in her Dedication in BETRAYED:

This one’s for all of my readers who asked for more of Raphael and Cyn.

And, if you have read, RAPHAEL (Vampires in America, #1) you know exactly what she is talking about.  If not, what are you waiting for?  But wait…..BETRAYED is more than just a hot, sexy romp in the hay to keep us occupied between one novel and the next – oh, no no no!  It’s a devious plot to introduce us to not one, but two – TWO – powerful vampires all rolled into an assassination attempt and a turf war.

BETRAYED starts with a bang when a sniper decides to take a few shots at Raphael and misses.  *shakinghead-stupidhuman*  And the fun has just begun!  Cyn immediately goes into her over-protective mode and doesn’t trust the new vamp that has arrived on scene; no matter that he is one of Raphael’s sired children.  She’ll make her own judgment calls.

Intro #1:  Jared Lincoln will be Raphael’s new Lieutenant.  And from his description, I envision a blending of Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson and Denzel Washington.  ….yummy…

The maneuvering really gets underway as Raphael, Cyn and the rest of his group discuss what steps to take next to find the sniper, who hired him/her, and how it relates to Lucas’s war.  Speaking of the Irish Devil…..

Intro #2:  Lucas, Vampire Lord of the Plains, who looks enough like Raphael that to “the casual observer might easily think they were brothers.”  Powerful and playful, mischievous and deadly.

The way he said her name reminded her of Raphael when they’d first met.  He pronounced it with exactly the same sensuous shading, as if they spoke of sin rather than simply saying her nickname.  And the sin he had in mind wasn’t exactly missing church on Sunday, either.

BETRAYED works on all levels.  It’s a good ‘ole fashioned, turf war with a bit of romance (and hot sex) story that has strong characters and, naturally, betrayals.  It just so happens that the main players are vampires.  My kind of vampires:  Strong, skilled, honorable, faithful, predators.  BETRAYED shows that Ms. Reynolds continues to raise the bar in her Vampires in America series.  I can’t wait to read LUCAS.  I want to see how he deals with a pesky FBI Agent; well, among other things…...

Oh, and before I forget, Ms. Reynolds has been kind enough to offer one of our followers a copy of BETRAYED.  This will be an e-novella and it is open internationally.  Ends Sunday, September 16, 2012.  Please show her some love in your comments.  Don’t forget to leave your email address in the comments.  

But come on, for $1.99, you can go without your double latte, energy drink, milkshake, or your choice of poison for one afternoon.      Go.Buy.This.Novella.Now

Cheers!

After a very scientific way of picking a winner (asking Hubs to pick any number between 1 and 17), we have a winner.  

Congratulations to:  ERIN

*throwingconfetti*

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