Midnight Sun

Midnight Sun was a very pleasant surprise after the last book I read. I loved the banter between the characters and the it had a great lead in to sequals. I've already ordered the next two book in the series!

To everyone who has read my debut novel, Midnight Sun, I truly thank you. I tried my best to bring readers into a world that is a blending of both the medieval age and modern times. I hope you all enjoy these characters as much as I love writing them! Thank you also for taking the time to write a review of my book...good or bad. I apologize for the errors left in Midnight Sun and promise you that if the book is re-released, those distracting errors will absolutely be corrected. And the five star rating isn't for the book, but for everyone who took the time to read my book. :) +Rene Lyons+

I was so sucked in, that even though I was exhausted, I didn't put it down till the end and I haven't felt that way about a book by a new author in a long time! Okay, I liked everything about Alli (the heroine), but her job as a Ghost Hunter in this story is a side issue. It's there to describe who she is more than what she does. Her life with the Templars is the important thing, so when you read this, keep that in mind. Sebastian (the hero) is delicious, as are all the Templars, and I dearly hope at least ONE of their stories starts out in their shared past, because THAT world has got me more than intrigued! The sexual heat between Alli and Sebastian kept up throughout the story, as well as a bit of tension between the next pairing! Very well done. You know what I loved most? The backstory of the how they became Vamps. The vamp thing has been done over and over. I used to avoid them because the Bram Stoker/Anne Rice hook never got me. What I find I am liking, and which is turning me toward the Vamp paranormals more and more, is the twists on the backstories. Ms. Lyons's twist I thoroughly fell for. Why? Because she doesn't shy from the religious implications. NO not in a trite, inspy, way- but rather taking the myths built up around well known characters and playing on them. Michael the Archangel for example. (Oh, I'd love to hear HIS story- well the Michael from Ms. Lyon's world that is!) Perfect use of him in Midnight Sun, if only as a backstory. I also loved that the Templars, though seemingly condemned by God- and I'm not buying that, because it seems God is letting them be redeemed through love- still longed for a return from a lost belief in a loving God, in however small way they could. (And I could very well be reading into that a bit much. Still, that's why I liked it as much as I did!) The story ended extremely emotionally, setting us up for the next book, The Daystar, which I cannot WAIT to read.

Centuries ago the Templar Knights were an elite group of warriors who fought for God until they were captured, imprisoned, tortured, and finally burned to death in front of cheering crowds. These warriors were saved, but became damned to spend eternity as vampires trying to reclaim their souls. Sebastian, Constantine, Raphael, Lucian, and Tristan are a close knit group who only had each other until they saved Allison Parker. Allie became part of their family after Constantine and Raphael rescued her from a savage attack by renegade vampires, an attack that almost killed her. Allie is the town "crazy person" due to her research into the paranormal and her ghost hunting. While she loves all the Templar vampires, Allie feels an undeniable pull towards Sebastian even though he completely ignores her. Sebastian of Rydon keeps to himself, and despite being drawn to Allie, he avoids her because he feels she is better than him. Sebastian is tortured by his past transgressions and he can not bear for Allie to be hurt. Sebastian and the Templar vampires are working on finding a group of renegade vampires who are kidnapping, torturing, and killing girls from town in the hope of finding information on the elusive Daystar. A relic that holds incredible power for a vampire as it would allow them to walk during the day. Allie has been helping with research on the Daystar and doing what she can while the men sleep during the day. Their search is turning up nothing and their frustration is growing as the Templar cannot bear the loss of all this innocence. As Allie and Sebastian work closely together, their feelings escalate. Will Sebastian, Allie, and the Templar vampires find the killers before anyone else is harmed? And will Sebastian ever be able to put his past behind him and seize the happiness that is right in front of him? Midnight Sun instantly grabs the reader and will not let go until the very end, leaving you begging for more! Rene Lyons' world is fraught with sexy, dangerous, and irresistible vampires and strong gorgeous heroines that the reader becomes invested in from the start. Allie is a beautiful and good woman who has endured much in her life and just wants happiness and a place to really belong. Sebastian is the strong, silent, and incredibly hot type who will sacrifice everything, even his own happiness, to keep the woman he is drawn to safe. Midnight Sun has it all; great characters, an intense story, sexy love scenes, and vampires to die for! This was an incredibly awesome read and I loved every minute of it!! Rene Lyons has been added to my auto buy list and I am not sure I can wait until October when the next Templar vampire makes his appearance!! Gracie Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Sebastian's afterlife has not been the same since Allison Parker walked into it. A Templar knight sentenced to death as a vampire by the Hand of God, Archangel Michael, himself, Sebastian has been charged with guarding humanity from those who seek to destroy and enslave them. Now that a legend from the Dark Ages threatens to surface, Sebastian is faced with what has become his deepest fear; the loss of Allison, his midnight sun. Allison Parker is the girl to call when pesky poltergeists bump in the night, or when your uncle comes to visit and stays around, even after his death. `Crazy Allie' knows that these things truly exist. One night enforced that belief and brought her into the world of vampires and immortal Templar knights. She's never looked back since and has never wanted to. When a renegade intent on vengeance threatens her and those she loves, she knows that she cannot shy from pain, both emotional and physical, to save those in her heart. Midnight Sun introduces us to a world where those who fought without faith were punished mightily. God saw into the hearts of the Templars and knew when they no longer believed in Him. He took their souls from them and sent them back to repent. Now, these dangerous men try desperately to feel warmth, purpose, and hope. Rene Lyons has penned darkly vulnerable heroes that have sinned, but are yearning for redemption. The emotions that were ripped from me while I read this book were hatred, sorrow, pity, joy. This author made the characters and events come to life as only a master storyteller can. When I saw where the title came from it truly brought a tear to my eye. Ms. Lyons has such skill when it comes to bringing the emotions forefront in this book. The ending of this book is sadism in its most pure form. I fervently hope that we will be able to read of the other Templars that were introduced in Midnight Sun. I, for one, will be frothing until I get the next installment in this saga.