Kris’ review of Deal with the Devil by Evangeline Anderson.
Luz Velez is a shapeshifter who can’t shift. Every time she tries to summon her inner wolf, she has a massive panic attack. Worse, her anxiety extends to the rest of her life. At twenty-seven, she’s still a virgin because attempting to have sex sends her into lockdown mode. She’s miserable and stuck—until Jude Jacobson comes along.
Tall, blond and dangerous, Jude is the most feared vampire in town and the minute he sees her, he wants Luz. Vampires and shapeshifters don’t date but he makes her an offer she can’t refuse—a blood exchange that will help her control her panic attacks and give her the life she’s always wanted.
Luz is desperate—she takes Jude up on his offer. But she doesn’t expect to fall for the darkly seductive vampire—or to be plunged into danger when her past comes calling. When Jude’s own dark secret comes to light, she begins to question her deal with the devil and wonder if she and Jude can make it…or if they’ll die trying.
The synopsis for the story is a good one, they only thing that I would add is there is a deeper issure behind her panic attacks and some really messed up weres in the story. Their were pack system is not healthy. The characters in this are great. Luz has issues with panic attacks which have crippled her in a lot of things, she cannot shift because of them, her sex life is non-existent and she cannot pass the lawyer bar exam because she keeps freezing up during it. Jude is immensely attracted to her and strikes a deal his blood for her blood, three times. His blood will transfer his calmness to her for a short time period and hers will give him a kick with her powerful shifter blood. She accepts knowing that it is taboo because if anyone in the shifter community found out she was consorting with vampires it would not be good.
This was a really good story. The character were what got me. Luz came from a really crappy family and is trying to live her life and cope with her panic attacks on her own. Her family, with the exception of her brother does not really speak to her and the rest of the shifter community will not really have anything to do with her because she cannot shift and the treat her like it is contagious. This adds to her status as a virgin. Then she meets Jude, who treats her with respect and seems to actually desire her, she is hooked.
Jude is the sexy, dangerous vampire. He is feared by all for his ruthlessness but Luz does not see that side of him at first and does not believe when her brother tells her of it. But he is just a powerful guy with a secret looking for someone who will accept him as he is. He thinks he has found that person is Luz. And when someone tries to kidnap her, he does not take that well.
The storyline was well thought out and kept me very interested, I wanted to see these two get together and also find out what was causing her panic attacks. I would definitely recommend this story to anyone.
I give this a 4.25 out of 5.
This book is available from Ellora’s Cave. You can buy it here in e-format.
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