Dark Guardian (Thorndike Large Print Romance Series)

Rating:
Summary: Quite nice actually....
Review: Okay, i've basically read this series from the begining and this is as far as i've got. I realise that it's gotten a bit monotonous; that caracters eventually say exactly the same thing, using exactly the same dialogue. I gave this book 4 stars however, because i thought the battle scene was well written compared to others, Jaxon's role in it was unusual because Carpathian females do not fight vampires period. I was also pleased with the idea of the kind of wedding/family reunion at the end though i'm ticked that we don't actually get to 'see' the gathering. I get the feeling that a book where they all get together would be fun and funny. In any case, i got a nice warm and fuzzy feeling after reading this one, i strongly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: An irresistible story...
Review: From the prologue to the end, this novel will surely keep you hooked. The dark sensuality of Lucian is simply enticing. It is so delicious and, not to mention, envy-worthy, to witness his possession, as well as need of Jaxx.

Lucian is a very powerful Carpathian, well-respected by his own kind as well as feared by the darker creatures of the underworld. He has lived for about two thousand years, but now has come the time when he has to find his mate so as to not be converted into a vampire--the race of evil that he has unrelentingly fought and hunted for the entirety of his existence. Seeing vivid color for the first time in his life upon meeting Jaxon made him realize that, at last, he has found his lifemate.

Jaxx is a cop who has made it her life's aim to protect people. The traumatic events in her childhood has made her strong--and the last thing she wanted was to be dependent on anyone else. So it came as a surprise when Lucian comes into her life and starts to make her feel that she needed this man. Lucian subtly and steadily broke down her defenses, overpowering her with his fierce possession and unconditional love.

The beauiful facet of this story is that, Lucian was prepared to wait until Jaxx realized that she loved him as much as he loved her. I enjoyed the encounters both Jaxx and Lucian had when Jaxx finally became a Carpathian. Of course, the steamy love scenes were an added bonus!

This is simply one of the most romantic, sensual, and exciting stories ever written. It has the elements of passion, humor, action and suspense. After you read this book, im sure you're gonna yearn to have someone like Lucian in your life! :p

Rating:
Summary: Cringe-worthy
Review: Knowing me to be a lover of vampire-fiction, a friend recommended these books ... Spurred by this recommendation I actually went out and BOUGHT two of them (a student's income usually relegates one to digging them out of bins at Woolies).
Not my smartest move.
Predictable plot lines, characters that were like cardboard and had all the spirit of drugged garden snails. Sex scenes that were trite and wouldn't steam sweating and dumped on a Swedish pavement in January.
A shame considering that her premise had promise ... !
Get this one from the library - or better yet, don't get it at all.

Rating:
Summary: Only one SMALL complaint
Review: As a rule, I am loving the Dark series and am thrilled there are so many of them. I started with this one (number 8) but wasn't at sea at all.

However, the descriptions of how small Jaxx is borders on the ridiculous, and I've noticed this in many other Dark books with the exception of Dark Symphony. Jaxx sounds like a child midget. I got very tired of the constant repetition of how tiny she was, how small, how frail, how petite, etc. etc. This has been repeated with Dark Prince and Dark Desire, where the heroines are also miniature pixies, and it's annoying.

That said, these are wonderful books and I love the old-world machismo. For those who get upset that the men are overbearing, look at it from their point of view - look at their lives without their lifemates (bleak, empty, with the horrifying temptation to turn vampire unless they commit suicide) and look at what these women can give to these men. These books raise the loving sacrifice of self for another to a high art, and that's a really beautiful thing.