"Three complete vampire novels in one cover"

At first glance this book seems daunting: it is 694 pages. But when you consider that it contains three complete novels, it makes it more palatable in that you can read one book at a time and have a break in between. Of course, I HAD to read them all at once, one after another. As a fan of Laurel Hamilton and Christine Feehan, I looked forward to finding a new series of erotic vampire novels by an author I had never read. One of the reasons I love the other novel series is that I love characters that move within a series. You can keep the connection to certain characters from book to book and wait anxiously for the next book so that you can see some of your "old friends". This book gives you that. The three books are TWILIGHT PHANTASIES, TWILIGHT MEMORIES, and TWILIGHT ILLUSIONS.

TWILIGHT PHANTASIES introduce us to Eric Marquand and his mentor Roland. Roland saved Eric from the French Revolution by making him immortal. In our time, Eric has made himself protector to Tamara. She is one of the chosen, a human with psychic abilities that allow them to connect with the undead. One problem is that Eric finds out Tamara works for DPI, an organization devoted to the study and destruction of vampires. After determining that Tamara is being manipulated by her guardian, one of the heads of DPI, the truth comes out. This story was very engrossing and set up the roles for this story and the stories that followed.

In TWILIGHT MEMORIES, Roland has to face his past and a guilt that has overshadowed his whole life. Rhiannon, who was born Rhianikki a princess of Egypt, enters the picture as his adversarial comrade. Rhiannon had been trying to attract Roland for centuries. Roland for reasons of his own will not allow himself any happiness, so he constantly pushes her away. Rhiannon is determined to bring him to his knees, just for spite for not falling at her feet. This was my favorite story of the three, the most moving for me. I really liked Rhiannon and her attitude. These two character have a lot of dynamics and the author did a great job in tying all the loose ends together in a plausible manner. (Well, as plausible as anything with vampires could be.) Eric and Tamara have a big role in this story and help keep the continuity going.

TWILIGHT ILLUSIONS brings us Damien Namtar and Shannon. Shannon is a PI who has taken on the task of finding out who killed her friend. The only lead she has is Damien. Two women had been killed by the same murderer. Both had been brought on stage at Damien's magic show as a guest assistant from the audience; both were killed the same night of the show. Was Damien a killer? That is a question even he doesn't know and it is haunting him. Shannon pushes the envelope since she has no time. She is dying. No one can help her and she will do anything to bring the murderer to justice. This books was less connected than the other two but it had some different plot twists that I found intriguing.

All in all, I recommend this anthology. It's not as hip or edgy as Hamilton or graphic or informative as Freehan, but it was a good read.

Reviewed by Toni Bagala for Sensual Romance.

Reviewed by Sensual Romance
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted October 31, 2002

Summary

Three Wings Novels in One

TWILIGHT PHANTASIES
(Silhouette, ISBN: 0373270186)

Innocent Blood

In two centuries of living death, Eric Marquand had never once cried out against the cruel fate that had condemned him to walk forever in shadow. But then, he found the woman he knew was his chosen one - and understood that to possess her was to destroy her...

Tamara Dey trembled at the aura of dread and despair that enshrouded this creature of the night. And yet, against all reason, she saw clearly that her destiny was eternally entwined with his, and that she must know - even welcome - the terror and the splendor of the vampire's kiss...

TWILIGHT MEMORIES
(Silhouette, ISBN: 0373270305)

Eternally entwined

Roland de Courtemanche had rejected Rhiannon's affections for centuries, banishing her to exist alone in eternal darkness. Yet now the man she loved and the boy in his care were in serious danger. For Rhiannon to stay away was impossible...

Resisting Rhiannon took strength - strength Roland needed in order to protect his young ward. Yet to succumb to his desire and then cast her away would be to drive a stake through her heart... exactly what the avenging mortal on their trail had in mind for them all...

TWILIGHT ILLUSIONS
(Silhouette, ISBN: 037327047X)

Master of the damned

There could be no doubt that the one called Damien was the master of shadows, the greatest of his accursed kind. But now his ancient mantle of mystic power was threatened by a terrible weakness-- a fatal passion for a woman of mortal flesh and blood...

Suspicion had first drawn Shannon Mallory into the darkness, in search of the truth behind the legends that swirled around this man-- if man he was. But it was not suspicion that kept her there, or even fear-- it was pure, stunning desire...

For centuries, loneliness has haunted them from dusk till dawn. Yet now, from out of the darkness, shines the light of eternal life...eternal love.