Judith’s review of Love and Brimstone by Tymber Dalton

Ice queen Anastazia “Taz” Proctor is an aloof attorney, a “fixer.” Hunky Matthias Hawthorne wants her for more than just an employee…much more. Will she believe him when he reveals their shared secret—that they’re vampires, but that it’s not the way Hollywood portrays them? Maybe not, but with someone out to kill her, she might not have a choice. She also can’t ignore what her body tells her about her handsome boss.

An escape with Matthias to the safe refuge of Yellowstone National Park leads Taz to discoveries about her lineage and what she can do with her newly awakened powers. Even more disturbing is her unexplainable attraction to Matthias’s handsome cousin, Rafael.

Time grows short as a traitor in their midst makes another attempt on Taz’s life. Will she and Matthias survive when they’re caught in a vicious showdown between Love and Brimstone?

Who would have believed that there was another creative “take” on the old vampire legend? Well Tymber Dalton has come up with one and it’s a complete retelling of the vampire realities. It is also the story of one young vampire female who has been cared for and protected by an ancient vampire, Matthias, for whom this young female is a soul-mate and whose powers are beyond belief. She is probably one of the most powerful to come along in centuries. Because of that her life is in danger and she stands in the way of serious harm unless she is trained quickly to withstand the scrutiny of the vampire council and the attacks of those who would take her for their own purposes.

Since Tymber Dalton is one of my favorite authors, it was not stretch for me to read this new book and to enjoy immensely. I had not read a vampire story for quite some time so that attraction was there for me as well. The story begins slowly and fills in the early days of Taz’s life, one that is protected and shaped by a loving man who has come into her life as her parents’ attorney, house steward, and her “nanny” of sorts. Because of her parents’ careers that take them out of Taz’s life most of the time, this loving old vampire becomes a father to her and eventually the only family she has after the death of her parents, a death that eventually becomes seen as more than just an accident. Taz is now a grown woman, an attorney of note, and one that is valuable for her skills in the law. Yet Matthias wants her, not just for her legal prowess, but because he has loved her long. Circumstances conspire to force Matthias to reveal her true nature and the extent of her powers.

This is anything but a simplistic novel and doesn’t have vampires going around biting each other and seeking blood sources. It’s waaaaaay different from that. But it is set in a time when the various “families” of vampires must work together to still hide the longevity and extraordinary powers of vampires from the human population, even though there are those who want to use those superior powers to take over the world. (One can’t really have vampires without a little world domination in the story.)

I found the story compelling, even though it did indeed start out slowly and for a time I wasn’t really sure where the title came from. Eventually it all began to work together, and as this is a novel that was previously published by another publisher under a different title and has now been extensively revised, I think readers can be delighted that they are experiencing a new story in most aspects of the novel. It is the first in a series, and while I have no prior knowledge of how extensive the series will be, the second story–Brimstone Blues– has already been released.

There’s lots to like here: vampires and many of their usual abilities, a different and creative look at vampires from what has been written in lots of paranormal novels, and a love story that is very emotional and yet there are hitches and twists that are unexpected. As always, Ms Dalton writes excellent erotic romance, but the sex and loving never take over the story. It is a novel that is very entertaining and a treat for the libido as well. Yet all in all, it is a fine piece of writing and is a story that will hold the reader’s interest. I don’t read lots of vampire stories because I find that some of them really get so far out that I lose interest before it is all over. Here there is that smack of realism that makes one wonder if they are really “out there” and we just don’t know about it.

This novel has it all: good story line, strong characters that are believable and who have all the bumps, bruises, and bunions of real people, good story action and some thrills and suspense thrown in, and all is tied up in a novel that is beautifully written. What more can a reader want?

I give it a rating of 4.5 out of 5

You can read more from Judith at Dr. J’s Book Place

This book is available from Siren Publishing. You can buy it here in e-format.