Release Date Review: When Temptation Burns by JK Beck

When Temptation Burns by J.K. Beck
Book 6 in The Shadow Keepers series
Release date July 31, 2012
Book provided by Edelweiss and Random House

AH’s Review – 4 Skulls – A

Once again, I am thankful that this is a different kind of vampire book. No sparkly vampires here. Instead the reader is treated to all sorts of paranormal creatures: vampires, werewolves, demons, and jinn.

I stumbled across this series last month when I read the 5th book in the Shadow Keepers series When Darkness Hungers. What struck me was the level of detail in this world and the organization of the preternatural creatures. I loved the small things, for example how our main characters travel from place to place – wormhole! The other little things like how hematite was the vampire kryptonite. Neat little details that made the story come alive.

In When Temptation Burns, a group of vigilante humans called The Dark Warriors threaten the peace between humans and the Shadow Keepers. The Dark Warriors are organized and have political backing as well as some paramilitary types training new recruits. They are out to kill all the vampires, werewolves, etc., no matter what collateral damage ensues.

When Temptation Burns focuses on Ryan Doyle. I was intrigued by Doyle’s character in the previous book so I was very happy that he would be featured in this book. Ryan Doyle is a percipient parademon. His talent was very useful for homicide investigations because he was able to see the last moments that a victim felt or saw. We also learn more about Ryan’s background and his horrible childhood. Ryan was a child of rape and his father was a demon. His mother tried to beat the demon out of Ryan.

Ryan and his partner Tucker investigate a sick serial killer. Their investigation leads them to the incarcerated Kyle Creevey who has a connection to the killer. When they arrive at the prison to interview Creevey, he is being interviewed by Andy (Andrea) Tarrant, a reporter. Tucker and Doyle cut her interview short. It is interesting to note that Ryan is quite taken with the lovely Andy and her eyes remind him of his lost love, Kathryn.

I liked how the romance between Ryan and Andy built slowly over the course of the book. At first they work together, but later on they grow to care about each other. Ryan holds back because he is afraid that he will hurt her and Andy doesn’t have a clue that Ryan is not human. Once these two got together, they were smoking.

This is a fascinating world. Vampires, werewolves, demons, and jinn live amongst humans. The paranormal beings patrol their kind under a special branch of Homeland Security called Division Six. The PEC – Preternatural Enforcement Coalition exists to police paranormal beings and is housed in the lower floors of the LA Criminal Justice building. I also loved the various bars for the paranormals – Club Rouge catered to vampires and Orlando’s traded souls.

I found that this book can be read as a standalone book, but for optimal enjoyment, I would urge the reader to read the other books in the series.

And what an ending! Wow.

I’m looking forward to discovering more books by J.K. Beck in the near future. In the meantime, here is the reading order to her Shadow Keepers series:

1. When Blood Calls
2. When Pleasure Rules
3. When Wicked Craves
a. Midnight (3.5)
4. When Passion Lies
5. When Darkness Hungers
6. When Temptation Burns

Rating: ☠  ☠  ☠  ☠  ☠ 

Favorite Quotes:

“Dammit, Doyle. I don’t want you looking at me like I’m a Happy Meal.”

*-*

“I want you,” he said firmly, though he knew that he shouldn’t speak. “I want to rip every stitch of your clothes off and lose myself inside of you. I want to kiss you until your mouth’s raw. I want to forget everything except you, Andy.”

Thank you to Edelweiss and Random House for a review copy of this book.

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