Demon's Kiss

Reaper has a job to do: destroy Gregor and his band of unruly and perhaps even mindless vampires. Unused to regular companionship, he is surprised to find himself saddled with Seth Connor and his visions of a woman crying out for help. Neither expects their missions to follow the same paths. Soon, Reaper finds himself with an assortment of people accompanying him while Seth will be forced to look deep within himself regarding the power of love. Maggie Shayne has created a fantastic ensemble of characters in DEMON'S KISS. While the main love story focuses on Seth and Vixen, each of the other characters has an important role to play. Maggie Shayne successfully creates a storyline in which multiple characters play equal and vitally important roles, so that DEMON'S KISS isn't merely the love story of Seth and Vixen. Instead, DEMON'S KISS is a prelude to what looks to be a promising series peopled with fascinating characters. Relationships are key to the success of DEMON'S KISS. Fans of Maggie Shayne's Wings in the Night series will already be familiar with the unusual bond between vampires and the Chosen. DEMON'S KISS builds upon this theme but takes things a step further. Some of the characters will have to face tough and sensitive issues, as Maggie Shayne doesn't pull any punches as she explores various facets of the relationships being built in DEMON'S KISS. DEMON'S KISS is another superb book from the talented pen of Maggie Shayne. While it is connected somewhat to her Wings in the Night series, DEMON'S KISS is easily read as a stand alone. Highly recommended! COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

I got three love stories for the price of one--and they were allso enterwoven that none of them suffered for having to share the pages of the book. Seth and Vixen were perfectly matched, and because Seth was such a hero type, having the innocence of Vixen paired to him was ingenious! Jack and Topaz--I hope there will be more to this story in a future book--I can see the problems these two need to over come and I think it will make for a fantastic read~! Reaper and Briar--those two really have me wanting more. Especially Reaper--fell hard and long for that Vampire--and the passion between these two could pretty much ignite the pages of the next book..... I hope Maggie plans to make my day by actually writing it next.....

I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THIS QUAINT LIL STORY OF ...THE REAPER AND SETH AND THERE MISFIT CREW (SMILE).. ROXY (the one that didnt turn vamp) BRIAR (the evil vamptress) VIXEN ( the shapeshifter/vamp) TOPAZ ( the high class vamp ) JACK of HEARTS (the con-artist vamp ) GREGOR ( the evil vamp planning to kill all of them ) I HOPE REAPER AND BRIAR HAS A STORY COMIN OUT AS WELL AS SETH AND VIXEN ALSO TOPAZ AND JACK..THAT WOULD BE GREAT MS. SHAYNE...THINK ABOUT ABOUT IT I THINK THE READERS CAN AGREE WITH ME! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK ..

Maggie Shayne is BACK!!! Her past two vampire books left me a little disappointed, I still enjoyed them, read them but wasn't as fascinated by them as I was the first novels. This one, however, was the absolute BEST of the series I have read since the original three Twilight books! The characters were so REAL I felt as if I knew them. Their pain, their weaknesses, their joys. The hero and heroine of this story, I just plain adored. The other characters, too, even evil Briar, in the end I was feeling sorry for her and rooting for her to have a better life. The storyline was fascinating, so different, new life has been breathed into this series. I won't reveal the plot but I will say that this story had that special something that made me stay up to midnight to read the very last word. My advice, if you are hesitant to buy this book, don't be. Buy it, read it, and add it to your keeper shelf. I know I have.

While Demon's Kiss has paranormal romance overtones it is very much a relationship driven ensemble piece that develops a very interesting group of characters and relationships. Seth has been waiting all his life for something and has had visions of a woman, a woman who is somehow wrapped up in his destiny. When Sean is mugged, beaten and left for dead Sean readily accepts vampire Reaper's offer of immortality and even on the brink of death Sean realizes that at last he is on the road to fulfilling his purpose. Reaper former CIA assassin during life and now vampire rogue hunter has compelling reasons for shunning any relationship, but since Seth is the one Chosen with whom Reaper has an undeniable bond, Reaper cannot ignore his compulsion to protect Seth. In Shayne's vampire world this bond is not necessarily a romantic bond and Reaper's bond with Sean allows Sean to begin to crack the isolation that loner Reaper has maintained in life and death. Sean is also the catalyst for cementing the ragtag group that begins to form around Reaper, much to Reaper's frustration. Initially the group is Sean, Reaper, Roxy and Topaz. Roxy, the only non-vampire, is a seer and powerful in her own right. Roxy is the voice of reason for the group and was previously Reaper's only friend and privy to his dark secret. Topaz is a socialite pampered princess on the surface but tough and smart underneath. Topaz hooks up with the group to seek vengeance on the vampire that stole her heart and her money. The remaining important characters are associated with the rogue group that Reaper hunts: Vixen - held captive by the group - is Sean's mystery woman. Vixen is both vampire and fox-shifter but alien in her thinking, almost more fox than woman even when in human form. Briar - beautiful, dark and cruel, is no longer able to feel her own pain and revels in inflicting it on others. And Jack - perpetual con-man, is the vampire who broke Topaz's heart. Jack is always running a scam, loyal only to himself, he never lets any one close to his heart. It is very difficult to write a decent synopsis for Demon's Kiss because all seven main characters have distinct personalities and roles to play in the action. Shayne intertwines her characters and sets up their relationships, so that while you can see six of them starting to pair off, there are other friendships and other bonds developing between the group that are just as important. Shayne does a good job weaving her story with threads following various members of the ensemble, coming together, splitting off and reforming. Demon's Kiss is not one of those series romances that focuses solely on a single couple as they take their romantic turn in the spotlight. While Sean & Vixen's is the only romance that runs full course here, there is a strong foundation laid for the past and future relationship between Topaz and Jack. Reaper is also such a strong character that there is no way to keep Reaper staying meekly in the ba