HUNGERS OF THE HEART - Jenna Black
Guardians of the Night, Book 4
Tor
ISBN: 978-0-7653-5718-2
May 2008
Paranormal Romance

Baltimore, Maryland - Present Day

Unlike his fellow Guardians of the Night, Drake is a killer who feeds on human blood. He makes sure that his victims are those that deserve to die and is compelled to protect humans who still have good in them. Drake is used to being distrusted and shunned by other Guardians, but he is not used to being in a position of responsibility. When Gabriel, the Master of Baltimore and leader of the city's small band of Guardians, is taken hostage by an old enemy, Drake must protect the group in his absence. At one hundred years old, Drake is by far the eldest of the remaining Baltimore contingent, yet young by vampire standards. When an old and powerful Seigneur and his delegation of European vampires arrive looking for both Gabriel and his enemy, Drake fears that all of the Guardians are in grave danger.

Suddenly, the savage nature that Drake thought he shed long ago may be the only thing keeping his group alive. The Seigneur’s unwilling fledgling, Faith, and her sixteen year-old mortal sister, may hold the key to surviving the growing danger. They desperately want to escape the Seigneur and his brutal control. Can Drake manipulate all of the people and events carefully enough to save the innocent, or will he end up becoming a conscienceless killer after all? The emotions that Faith raises inside of him, ones Drake has long assumed were dead, may hold the answers he seeks.

Fuel is added to the danger facing the Guardians by Brigitte, an extremely powerful born vampire; Henri, Brigitte's fledgling and constant companion; La Vielle, the ancient vampire who rules France with iron control; Padraig, Drake's creator; Charles, the Seigneur’s second in command; and Jezebel, Gabriel's temperamental mate. Each character holds secrets that could lead to ruin and betrayal.

HUNGERS OF THE HEART is a dark thrill ride. Drake is trying to make a place for himself in the world, and the odds are against him. Faith is trying to protect her innocent sister from a fate worse than death. These two outsiders join forces amid death and destruction. The romance builds slowly and steadily to a steamy head. Fighting is tense, bloody, and action packed. Terrific writing, plotting, and characterizations keep the story flowing to an intense climax. This story is an excellent addition to the strong Guardians of the Night series and stands well on its own. HUNGERS OF THE HEART is a powerhouse tale you won't want to miss.

Jennell