Review

Paramedic Charlotte “Charlie” Marena never suspects that she’ll be kidnapped when responding to the scene of an accident. She certainly didn’t expect to wake up naked on an island in the middle of an ocean next to Samuel Taske; a powerful Takyn who already knows too much about her. To make the nightmare worse she’s ordered to procreate with him or else suffer unknown consequences.

Samuel doesn’t like the circumstances that have brought him and Charlotte together. For all he knows the kidnapping is another GenHance tactic, that will eventually lead to torture and death. On top of that Samuel’s powers are failing, and without them he’s unable to tell what awaits them.  

This book is a tough read if you haven’t already been immersed into the world of the Takyn. For me this was my first Takyn novel, and I honestly feel that to fully enjoy these books you should read all the Takyn novels before starting this one. There are a ton of characters, which made the story a little difficult to get involved in emotionally. Viehl does an excellent job at spinning an involved, complex story, but as a reader I felt left out because I was not familiar with the other characters. For those who have read previous Takyn novels then you’ll be happy to know that memorable characters like Drew and the villain Genaro make regular appearances in the story.

As far as Charlotte and Samuel, there story is the easiest to follow, and the most enjoyable. The best interactions come from the romance between our main hero and heroine. I really enjoyed their parts of the book, and found elements of their evolving relationship realistic to their experiences. Honestly, things are pretty screwed anyway when you’re forced to have sex, and expect it to not mean something more. My favorite scene is between the two of them after Samuel discovers a new talent he possesses:

Her question made him go still. “That might not be wise.”

Charlie knew healing wasn’t supposed to be an erotic experience. She’d monitored enough patients to know that at best it was a tedious, pain-racked process. While she didn’t understand how Sam acquired an ability that bypassed all that, or why, she wanted more. In fact, she wanted everything she could get, and since they’d agreed to become lovers, he should have been happy to give it to her.

Unless he’s been lying.

He’d told her that he found her attractive, and yet now, when she asked for more, it had turned him off. Since they were both naked on a bed with nothing between them but a towel, it had to be something he was feeling, something she wouldn’t be able to know for sure until after sunset.

Samuel was an educated, courteous man with exquisite manners. However he felt, he’d never insult her. And what had he called it, having sex with her?

The path of least resistance.

“It’s not what you want. That’s all you have to say.” Charlotte sat up and reached for the sheet to cover herself. “We’ll take a break now, and later—”

He yanked the sheet away from her, and was on top of her so fast she didn’t have time to inhale.

“No breaks, Charlotte,” He said in a low, rough tone she’d never before heard him use. “We have to finish this right now.” He lowered his voice and his head, murmuring the rest against her ear. “Because the moment you’re better, my beautiful darling, the very second you’ll have me, I’m going to put myself inside you, and make love to you, and not stop until we’re both too tired to move. That is what I want.”

Charlotte’s character definitely requires the most growth in this story, as she’s easily misguided by people’s actions, and doesn’t want to open her ability up to others. For me watching her grow and watching Samuel be the perfect gentleman by encouraging her growth made this story easier to get through. There is plenty of action for those who want something other than romance and by the end of the story readers will have tons of questions. No doubt there are some future Takyn novels on the horizon.

Overall, I don’t feel this novel should be read stand alone, and I may have been able to give it a higher rating if I’d read the other Takyn novels. Because I had to continuously put it down and force myself to get involved with elements outside of Charlotte and Samuel’s tale, the book was only partially intriguing.

Reviewed by Landra