Hunting Midnight

I can't believe I'm giving this book a five-star rating when I gave the predecessor only two stars, but Hunting Midnight, the follow-up to Catching Midnight, is a true phenomenal, spellbinding read. This novel picks up where Catching Midnight left off. Ulric, the leader of a pack of shape-shifting vampires known as "upyr," is heartbroken. Gillian, the love of his life and object of his fixation, has left him for a mortal. In order to keep his pain at bay, he has one-night stands with mortal women. But when a particular mortal woman named Juliana, desperate to escape from an arranged engagement, asks for help, his existence isn't the same. Juliana, wooed by Ulric's sensuality and charisma, wants to become upyr, but she does not know that Ulric does not possess the ability to convert her into one... I love the combination of romance and erotica in this novel. It is far steamier than the first installment and it doesn't go on explaining the life of the upyrs like in the first part. Also, the characters are far better developed this time around. It was great to get reacquainted with some of the characters. All I knew about Ulric in Catching Midnight was that he was very possessive, but he is far more dimensional in Hunting. And he is one irresistible hero! I even found myself thinking that wolves, at least the ones in the novel, were sensual and erotic. Though I find it strange that in this series the characters are shape-shifting vampires. I always thought that in these sorts of books the characters are either vampires or shape shifters, not both. But I suppose that paranormal fiction writers are free to be as creative as they want to be. Anyway, I also loved the medieval setting. The aforementioned setting added a great deal of magic and darkness to the story. This is classic Emma Holly! She awoke my senses, my heart and intellect with this phenomenal gem. There's a slight cliffhanger in Hunting, which means that there are more surprises to come. Perhaps the next installment will center on Gytha or Bastien. I cannot recommend this gem enough! But you have to read Catching Midnight first or else you won't know the whole story.

I've been a fan of Emma Holly's from her Black Lace days, and this new series is no exception. I would probably rate the first "upyr" book, CATCHING MIDNIGHT, as a 3-4 star read, but this one is a solid 5! Very sexy, very intriguing, and slightly dangerous. I wish there were more medievals like this!

Setting - England, Bridesmere 1370 --- Enter the world of Emma Holly, an author that will spin you another tale of the Upyr - shape shifting immortals. Upyrs are generally content to stay hidden in their own woods - running in packs and feeding off of the animal inhabitants of the forest. Except, Ulric, leader of the pack, betrayed by his long time lover, has left the safety of the forest and now roams the streets of Bridesmere to see what humans have to offer. Would it be fate then that on these streets he would meet Juliana Buxton, the once dutiful daughter of a successful merchant? Fleeing from a betrothal with a much older and wealthier man, Juliana noticed the aura surrounding Ulric - which in it's own way was unusual for a human to see. Ulric who was in the process of `thralling' a crowd, as would a `pied piper', immediately sensed Juliana and the attraction would be mutual. Learning of her plight he agrees to assist her in an escape, mainly as a step in seducing her, but as the two travel across the land to his domain, Juliana on an erotic journey of her own in which there was no return, would be the one to enthrall Ulric who fought hard against feelings for any woman -- his feelings still raw from so recent a betrayal of the woman he had loved for so long. In a word - WOW! This is Emma Holly who, in my mind, is rapidly becoming one of the most amazingly sensual erotic writers of the decade! Yes, I read the first book in the series, CATCHING MIDNIGHT, and loved it as I became acquainted with the race of Upyrs. In this sequel, which is easily a stand alone, you will be introduced again to these shape-shifting immortals and be in for the treat of your lives if you like your reading sprinkled liberally with BLAZINGLY HOT and sensually explicit encounters coupled with a beautiful and tender `love' story! What more can I say - the story is solid, the characters are well defined, it introduces you to new characters (Bastien and Emile), brings back some of the older lovable ones, yet still lets you feel the emotions of tenderness that only a beautiful love story can do. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and can only hope to see a continuation with Bastien's story in the very near future. --- Marilyn, Official Reviewer for www.historicromancewriters.com

This book has it all: adventure, romance, HOT love scenes, and great paranormal characters. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a wonderful paranormal romance. Before reading this book, I was in a "reading rut". I had a hard time finishing any book that I started until I found this one. It is going to stay with me for a long time and I can't wait to read more in this series!

At the end of Catching Midnight, I wondered what laid ahead for Gillian and Aimery, but we can wait for another book in this series for that! Hunting Midnight is Ulric - Gillian's ex-lover - and Juliana's story.The story begins with a mysterious duo, one I would love to see in the next book of this series! - seeking refuge and a new home. Their quest gives the story its general theme, but it's the love between life mates that drives the plot. Juliana is a maiden fleeing the clutches of an older, amoral bethrothed, and Ulric is a heart-broken pack leader lost without love. From the moment these two meet sparks fly - literally. As Ulric initiates Juliana into the world of sensuality, she helps him find love again.Emma Holly's second foray into paranormal eromatica is even better than the first and a definite must read for Holly fans. As I hinted at earlier, my wish for the next book in this series ... A story about Bastien