Review: Sleeping Beauty with a Difference
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 10, 2012
I don't usually review romances, and With a Kiss is first and foremost a story of how the understanding of love can conquer fear.  But it's also a paranormal story also, of a world in which vampires are an accepted species, and therefore, it fits into my criteria for review.Marcus may be appear the stereotypical vampire--rich, cultured, and autocratic--but after his re-awakening, he's shown to have his own apprehensions and feelings of inadequacy as he forces himself back into the world he's been absent from for three years.  His ruthlessness in searching for his attacker are contrasted with his gentleness with Liam; he always seems to understand and know what to do for the younger man.  Liam may a weakling in the beginning but through Marcus, he regains enough courage to stand up to his former lover, while seeking the strength his new one steadfastly offers.Set in a contemporary England where vampires openly live in society, this is a tale of both love and fear.  The brief mentions of vampiric home life and introduction of the secondary characters of Marcus' butler and housekeeper, the Jensons, who admit to actually raising the vampire-child but make no apologies for his behavior, reveal just how much of a transition Marcus makes as he immerses himself in the life of one he considers below him in the food-chain.  There are sex scenes and some BDSM forays as Marcus introduces Liam to the other part of his existence, but they're underplayed and startlingly tentative for the most part, secondary to the love story itself and the way they're used only helps to underscore the emotional bonding between the two men.I read this novel in one sitting because I found the characters so appealing I wanted to know what happened next without interrupting the flow of the story.  The cover is also very intriguing.  My only complaint? Without giving a spoiler, I wish the story had ended after Marcus and Liam entered the morning room, instead of before. For a story of love not necessarily conquering all but definitely strengthening and binding it, I recommend With a Kiss.With a Kiss is available from Resplendence Publishing, LLC.This novel was provided by the publisher and no remuneration was involved in the writing of this review.