#BookReview – “Dark Guardian” by Christine Feehan

Blurb

They were masters of the darkness, searching through eternity for a mistress of the light....

He ran with the wolves...materialized from the mists...hijacked the very heavens to his whims.

He was the dark guardian of his people. So how, after centuries of a bleak, soulless existence had he, Lucian Daratrazanoff, suddenly come to crave petite, curvy, colorful lady cop Jaxon Montgomery, who foolishly made it her life's work to protect others from harm?

Fiercely daring, Jaxx would sacrifice anything to shield others-- particularly since a deadly menace dogged her every footstep, threatening all who got close to her. And strangely seductive, piercingly erotic Lucian was no exception. Lucian was powerfully, perilously mesmerizing--oddly gentle yet clearly a born predator. He had vowed to possess her, to guard her for all time. Yet with his every thirsty kiss, was he drawing Jaxon more deeply into danger . . . and his dark, mysterious desires?

Review

In the eighth book of the Dark/Carpathian series, Lucian Daratranznoff—a two-thousand-year-old Carpathian warrior—has finally found his lifemate. Instead of approaching her, he stalks her from a distance to learn all about her and eventually saves her life when she’s injured in the line of duty.

Jaxon Montgomery is a tough-ass human cop with commitment issues. Her evil Special Forces stepfather, Drake, is obsessed with her and has killed everyone she’s ever loved and cared for, including her parents and brother. She does her best to avoid people, to keep an emotional distance, because she’s so worried Drake will kill them. Then she meets Lucian.

I loved Lucian, and he’s my favorite of the Daratranznoff brothers! He’s different than most of the other Carpathian males since he doesn’t try to take over or change Jax’s life. He appreciates her strength and approves of her need to fight the bad guys. He was very patient with her and didn’t rush their relationship. Though he’s a lot older than her, obviously, they have both led horrific, depressing lives, and their pasts made it easier for them to connect with one another.

I liked Jax for the most part, but I didn’t like that she was often in denial about her relationship with Lucian and that vampires were real. She made a lot of foolish choices. Her vulnerability and toughness often clashed with no middle ground. She kept pushing Lucian away, but kept trying to protect him as well.

Other than the typical head hopping, repetition, and flowery prose this series is famous for, I enjoyed the characters and the overall plot. It’s one of my favorites in the series.

5 Stars