"Sometime who you love has been with you since childhood."

Penelope Coddington and Aidan O'Shea were close friends thoughout most of their childhood. It had never mattered to Penelope that Aidan was a stable boy and she was the only daughter of a very wealthy man. It was only when her nanny claimed that she could win her father's love if she would learn to be a proper lady and give up her friendship with the stable boy. It was hard, but she wanted to be loved by her father.

Years later, Aidan tells Penelope that he is leaving for America. She hadn't realized how much she felt for him until he left and there was nothing she could do. A short time later her world comes crashing down. Upon her father's death she finds out she is broke and her new fiancé no longer wants to marry her. So she goes to American to visit her relatives. Only she has all her belonging stolen and now she is homeless. When she is rescued she doesn't realize how much her life will be changed forever.

Penelope and Aidan were marked at birth. The have the potential to be considered of the Noble line of the fully Embraced Vampir line. The Embraced are the last line of defense and only protectors of the humans from the evil Dominion. Their life is not made easier by the fact that the humans both hated and feared the Embraced. Will Penelope and Aidan accept their fate? Now that the Dominion is coming again will they be able to save the humans?

BLOOD OF THE ROSE is a very fast-paced dark paranormal that will definitely hold your interest. It takes place during a time when America was getting thousands of new immigrants each day. Penelope and Aidan each have a different experience arriving in America. Both characters find the strengths that they need to survive in America let alone as an Embraced Vampir. If you like vampires and a well-written story this is just the right story for you.

Reviewed by Patricia McGrew
Courtesy Sensual Romance Reviews
Posted May 30, 2004

Summary

Behind an illusion of folklore, the Embraced create a barrier between the Dominion and humankind. Penelope Coddington, wealthy daughter of upper class England, was marked at birth to take her rightful place within the ranks of the fully Embraced Vampir.

Aidan O'Shea, a working class Irishman on the Coddington Estate, is also marked. Class difference has kept Aidan and Penelope apart, but soon that will change. The Vampir will realize their birthrights and they will both belong to the same noble, blood-drenched line.

And that's good, because unless these two can come together, it's going to be hell on Earth...