Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Smolder (part of Children of the Night anthology)

SERIES: Texas Paranormal #1

AUTHOR: Christi Snow

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 65 pages

RELEASE DATE: October 25, 2017

BLURB:

Zack Blackthorne had “dark, immoral” cravings long before he became a vampire. Born during the mid 1800’s, he grew up during a time when loving a man was wrong. But in a moment of weakness, he gave into that urge and life as he knew it changed forever. Now he lives a cursed existence and will never cross that line again. He earned his fate. Alone, he exists in the shadows of the world.
Nash Dixon is a new vampire who’s used to living his life in the light. A photographer by trade, he has no idea how to deal with his new reality. He hasn’t mentioned his latest medical condition to his best friends, only that he needs a safe place to land. Bringing danger to their door was never part of the plan.
Nash also didn’t count on Zack, his sexy new mentor. Zack is an enigma…grumpy, gorgeous, and completely off-limits. At least that’s what Zack’s mouth says. The heat in his eyes says something else entirely. As a photographer, Nash sees that deeper need. But how does he convince a 150-year-old vampire that sometimes the light is exactly where he needs to be?

REVIEW:

Vampires. Nothing like a good little vampire story. Full of heat, sex, and hope. This is a good little story. My only problem is I wish it was a little longer. Maybe a touch more angst.

Newly turned Nash is not a happy camper. He was ready for death. He made his peace with it. When his parents went against his wishes, he was furious. And with the person who turned him.So he ran away. But being a newbie has some issues that he isn’t quite aware of and his Mistress sent someone in to help him. When he meets Zack for the first time, he thinks he’s there for someone else. But that doesn’t stop his lust and his bloodlust from going into overdrive. Fortunately for Nash, Zack knows what to do. Nash can tell from looking at Zack, he’s not happy with this arrangement. Especially when Nash finds out what all it entails for the first week. He deals with his grumpy mentor as best he can, trying to learn what makes him tick. When he finds out, he goes out of his way to make things better for Zack in ways Zack never thought possible. And the grumpy, surly vamp finally found something he hadn’t for almost 200 years. Hope. And maybe love.

Zach, beneath all his bluster, is really such a softie. But his life as he was first turned, was hell on Earth. And that’s left most of him a closed off shell of who he was. He thinks he’s happy being alone. He runs his businesses in the quiet of the night being content to just be. Or so he thinks. His first reaction to Nash was lust, pure and simple. But also many other things. Like regret, shame, guilt, and much more. He fights with all he can to ignore any reaction his body has to Nash, but somehow this newly turned young man gets under his skin. He thinks for the first time in a long time, maybe things can be different. But the past keeps haunting him. Even with Zack being an alpha male type, you can’t help but feel for him. When you find out why he acts like such an ass most of the time, well, my heart softened. And Nash, sweet Nash is just what he needs. Nash isn’t happy either. But he’s trying to make the best of his circumstances. More than once, he wishes Zack would just drain him or stake him, but Zack won’t do it. Even though he was supposed to. Zack just can’t bear to bring himself to destroy this sweet man who brought light into his life. Nash is such a dear. Even as a young man, he’s been through so much in his short life, and he has a good head on his shoulders. He sees life differently. He knows there’s more to things than just the surface and often shows that and much more through his photos. And he’s just the thing Zack needs to move forward.

I really enjoyed this. It had some very good impacts for a short story. Some angst, good plot. And not just sex but intimacy. And a renewal. Good book.

RATING: 

BUY LINK:

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