Blood Red Dawn: The Vampire Legacy

. Following Deirdre Griffin from the traumatic illness in the prequel novel "Resurrection: The Vampire Legacy" in which her memory was slowly erased by a terrible poison, Karen Taylor's sequel is pure fascination and satisfaction. How did Deirdre disappear and where did she go? I finally got my answer. The Cadre has taken most of the vampire holdings, but Vivienne managed to secrete a large amount of funds. She is able to purchase tickets and we see Vampires on the airlines, and that is intriguing; all flights must begin and end in the night. Where and how does a hungry vampire feed while on a flight? Favorite characters such as Deirdre, Vivienne, Sam, Mitch, Max, and Victor come into focus with the revelations of their lives and emotions. There are some definite surprises: one of the main characters dies while old favorites come back into the game. Taylor's writing makes it is easy to visualize the changing scenery from the small village in France, to England, New York, New Orleans, and Maine. Characters change dramatically, and now I wonder "what's next?" I am looking forward to the next Deirdre and Mitch Griffin experience. If you have never read a Karen Taylor vampire book, then pick up both the prequel and this delightful sequel -- you will probably find yourself "hungering" for more. I did.

When last we saw Deirdre Greer, her mind was blank and she had reunited with the man who just refused to stay dead, Max. She accepts his elaborate lies that they are married, but a grain of doubt nags at her. Back home, her beloved Mitch receieves the stunning news that she is pregnant and evolving into a being that has never before existed, thanks to an unwitting and unexpected betrayal by someone they both love. The entire cast of beloved characters come together to take on the Others and reclaim Deirdre before she is killed. ***** Joy is in this book; eagerly, you will race towards the end, at the same time not wanting the end to come. It's filled with surprise twists and emotional depth. Ms. Taylor does something very few authors can handle in deftly handling shifting first person viewpoints and not confusing the reader. No matter if Deirdre or Mitch was narrating, I never lost track of who was speaking, as it were. Sincerely, I hope this is not the end, but if it is, then it has ended well. One warning, buy tissues before reading this. It would take a stone heart not to shed at least a tear or two. ***** Amanda Killgore

One doesn't have to read the preceeding novels in this series to enjoy Karen's latest book, _Blood Red Dawn_. Her style is crisp and clear, and her characters are engaging. Viviane is a force unto herself. And how many 400 lb. vampires have you read about lately? Definitely a must-read. If you get a chance, pick up the others in the series. It's fun to watch her characters develop.