Review: Strong female lead and mysterious partner
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 29, 2013
Awakening by Jeanie Grey is a great example of paranormal romance done right.We learn the story of Lilly's engagement to Ethan at the beginning of the story.  It doesn't take long for us to figure out this is NOT the guy we want her to end up with.  Fortunately, as Lilly's life is beginning to decay and we think her situation can't get any worse, enter the mysterious new love interest.  He's everything we expect and a little bit more.Because Ms. Grey took her time in developing the romance (a GOOD thing!), we didn't learn much about Torren's vampiric abilities in this installment.  We saw his enhanced strength and speed and healing capabilities.  There are hints at superhuman hearing, also.Of course I want to know more about Torren.  His exact abilities, his history, and some character development.  So far, he's the nice, hopelessly in love vampire male but I'm hoping as the series goes on he'll become more of a unique character.Overall, the writing is damn good.  Succinct and exact, without being unnecessarily flowery.  And the sex scene was gratifying and well done.  There are times when I want to see more tension.  Sometimes, parts of scenes with dramatic potential are moved along without building.  For example, when Lilly and Torren confront James late in the book, the tension is handled with the same succinct manner we see throughout the story.  This isn't necessarily a bad thing.  However, I personally want such scenes to go slower and be a little more detailed so I'm on the edge of my seat.There are references to a previous meeting between Torren and Lilly a few years before this story begins.  At the end, the main mystery regarding the death of Lilly's mother is solved but we are still left wandering about the previous rendezvous between Torren and Lilly.  Fortunately, that's what sequels are for.  I can easily say I'm looking forward to reading Awakening 2.