iUniverse, 383 pages, (paperback) $21.95, 9781475970012
(Reviewed: November, 2013)
This paranormal romance combines elements of Twilight and Pirates of the Caribbean, both PG-13-rated movie series (the first one based on the young adult novels), though it presents an adult tale of sex and violence.
Bronwyn, a lonely 30-year-old writer researching her next book, visits Florida and the Caribbean to learn more about pirates. During her travels she meets Vince, a real pirate and a vampire who can fly, change into a wolf, read minds and mesmerize people. In addition, Vince “looks like Johnny Depp” as Capt. Jack Sparrow and has “gorgeous dark-chocolate eyes” and “a rich, dark scent,” two traits author J.A. Klassen unfortunately mentions every few pages throughout the book.
Without close friends or family to provide a voice of reason, Bronwyn accepts Vince’s invitation to become a vampire. As she learns to hunt and kill for blood, she falls deeper in love with him, and they plan eternity together. That’s when Vince’s nemesis – an evil female vampire and spurned lover who will do anything to prevent his happiness – arrives on the scene.
This novel, told mostly in present tense, which is unusual and uncomfortable in a romance novel, would benefit from aggressive editing. Words and phrases including “aye,” “pretty lady,” “he can smell the arousal on her” and Sparrow’s “What say you?” recur to the point of distraction. Explicit sex scenes and gruesome “feeding” attacks appear so often they lose their thrill.
Besides being repetitive and derivative, the writing displays inconsistent use of Italics for interior monologues, vague and nameless portrayals of nonessential characters and confusing passages – “a sibling of five other children; she’s the middle child. Her parents totally ignored all five of their children.” Paranormal romance lovers willing to overlook the book’s many weaknesses, however, might enjoy the highly descriptive scenes of blood lust.
Also available as an ebook.
Author’s Current Residence
Alberta, Canada
Source: BlueInk Reviews
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