Vampires in America, Book 14
Barcelona--exquisite architecture, masterful artists, and just down the coast, an ancient fortress where an old and powerful vampire lives. . .and rules all of Spain.
Tall, dark, and deadly, vampire Xavier Prospero Flores waded through blood to destroy his enemies and reach the pinnacle of vampire society--Vampire Lord. He has only one regret in his long life, and that’s the day he rejected the advances of Layla Casales. She’d been too innocent, too naïve, and far too young. But she’d also been his.
Layla Casales was only nineteen when she left Spain, brokenhearted and humiliated by Xavier’s rejection. But now, ten years later, the ties of family are pulling her back, not only to Spain, but to Xavier’s fortress. Her father, the vampire lord’s military commander, is critically ill. Layla has spent years fighting on battlefields around the world, so when her father asks her to come home, she can’t say no.
Though Xavier’s rule began on the ashes of his enemies, it’s not vampires trying to kill him now--it’s humans. He needs to eliminate his enemy before more of his people die. Layla arrives just in time to help, but while she came for her father, the minute she and Xavier see each other, desire burns as hotly as if they’d never been apart. Xavier isn’t going to let her go this time. But before they can rediscover the love they walked away from, they must first keep each other alive.
My Review
Layla's heart was broken by Xavier years before but now she's come home because of her father and wants to keep things all business with Xavier.
Xavier had thought Layla was too young and innocent for him when he broke her heart and turned her away years ago. Things have changed now and he wants her but she isn't willing to let him hurt her again.
I didn't like Xavier at all at first because of the way he treated Layla but I thought he would become a little better as the book went on. Frankly, I was wrong, he's not a likable person at all and makes no excuses for the way he initially treated her which I really thought was wrong of him.
Xavier finds himself the new lord of Spain when his sire is killed by an old enemy they had thought was no danger to them. Layla comes back because her father, Xavier's military commander is really sick and she feels like she needs to be there for him. While she's been gone she has made a name for herself and trained to be a fighter and has an elite mercenary unit that Xavier needs to help keep his enemies away. The enemies are human led by the same person that killed his sire so he might well be in some real danger. The fact that Xavier is in real danger is the only reason that Layla agree's to help find and kill his enemies.
There was a betrayal that happened while Xavier and Layla were trying to bring down the bad guys and while I understood why Xavier was mad, I thought that his punishment of the person who betrayed him was extreme. I mean the person had a good reason and he tried to make it right in the end. It was just one more reason that I couldn't like Xavier throughout this book. I tried to like Layla and Xavier as a couple but for me they just never clicked at all. Sure they ended up getting close and she forgave the way he treated her when she was younger and the sex was hot, but I couldn't see them as a couple. I really didn't think that they belonged together. Maybe it's because I didn't like Xavier at all and thought she could do better, I'm not sure. It's hard to enjoy a book when you don't like all of the characters.
I give this book 2 out of 5 stars.
Disclosure: I was given an eARC of this book via NetGalley but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
