Ardent

by Jan Irving

It sounded like something from one of the graphic novels Jaime Anderson aspires to create, but Arden Kaller is real. Once the lover of Jaime's older brother, his blood coats Jaime's lips the first night he hits town when he heals him after Jaime is involved in an altercation in a brick-lined alley. Arden has spent long years studying his amphora, his pot shards. How can a small town boy exert such a hold on him? But it isn't long before he tricks Jaime into wearing his mystical token. Jaime's life is complicated enough just handling classes. Now his guitar-playing friend Mondo turns out to be a werewolf who wants Jaime to be his-and then there is Arden, his dark, dangerous, and slightly nerdy vampire lover.

Genres: M M Romance, Vampires, Paranormal, Romance, BDSM, Fantasy, Menage

244 pages, Paperback

First published May 14, 2011

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

romance author
Jan Irving has worked in all kinds of creative fields, from painting silk to making porcelain ceramics, to interior design, but writing was always her passion.

She feels you can’t fully understand characters until you follow their journey through a story world. Many kinds of worlds interest her, fantasy, historical, science fiction and suspense—but all have one thing in common, people finding a way to live together—in the most emotional and erotic fashion possible, of course!

Visit Jan's blog at http://jan-revealed.livejournal.com.

Reviews

[Arthur · Rating 1 out of 5]

A college girl felt sad because her best friend didn't spend enough time with her anymore ever since he had a vampire boyfriend. So, under the disguise of 'protective friend' she made a spell that she couldn't control. This led to her best friend being hurt badly, a person died, and his relationship severly tested. Being reprimanded by her witch supervisor, she apologized to her friend.

Still convinced that her friend's relationship with a vampire was not good for him, she tried a different tactic. This time she invited a powerful vampire to break up his friend's relationship. Again, it led to her 'friend' being tortured and his boyfriend had to share him with another man as a result of the pact to save him.

Yet, at the end, they're still friends.

Ugh... Too many no no things in this book for me.

[Lexi Ander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arden has wanted Jamie for a long time. He's been patient and has waited for Jamie to get stronger because being with a vampire, well, vampires are predators and humans are prey. Mixing the two is dangerous to the humans. Ardent and Jamie share something other than this insane attraction. The grief from the death of Jamie's older brother Derek hangs between Arden and Jamie, keeping them apart as effectively as a wall.

In order for Arden to claim Jamie as his, he not only needs to protect the fragile human body but claim Jamie without breaking Jamie's spirit. If this is going to work Jamie makes some demands of his own and Arden finds himself agreeing, strangely enough. Vampires don't have a conscious but Arden has Jamie.

I have to say that Arden is kind of creepy. He is dark and dangerous and when he tries to take care of Jamie it's almost like an evil Martha Stewart invades. Okay, maybe that is a little strong but still...creepy.

Just as Arden changes, so does Jamie and I wasn’t sure which way Jamie was going to go. Jamie is young, naive, virginal and living in a world of vampires, witches and werewolves. His ignorance and innocence has shielded him in a way until Arden comes back. The deeper his relationship with Arden becomes the stronger the danger. Elizabeth's fear for Jamie and his involvement in the vampire world is nothing to sneeze at.

There is one point at which, if I were Jamie, I would have walked out on Arden waving The Bird and a strong adios. My best friend, Elizabeth, would have my boot print on her meddling *ss and I would have left town without a backward glance. So I am not Jamie, lucky for Arden and Elizabeth. My one complaint is that I really wanted Arden to grovel...a lot...on hands and knees...with chocolate.

Mondo, eh gads, the wolf pack is just as creepy as the vampires but holy cow, and I was with Jamie. I was day dreaming about Mondo right along with Jamie.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked this book, it was well written and the story was different enough to be a bit special. The only reason it's got 4 stars instead of 5 is again the obligatory female character that seems to haunt m/m books is an interfering selfish bint. Twice Jaime was hurt badly as a result of her actions and he was still friends with her at the end?! I don't think so. Would like to see a story involving Lal and Mondo though.

[Syfy]

I found it! Now just have to re-read....

[Tj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful read. Ardent changing himself for Jaime just strikes so many romantic cords. The story was well written and fun to read. It kept me interested all the way through. Only two things struck me as ... problematic (for me!). One was how much Ardent changed. I know he was always "different" for a vampire but he seemed to be really different than his "culture." The other was the ending dragged for a bit and didn't seem to have much of a purpose to the story. Yes, there was the deal with the others that Ardent make to wrap up but it seemed longer than needed, if needed at all. Still it was really minor.

[Eyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one despite a couple of tiny niggles. Jaime really brings out the human side of Arden, and I found some humor that I didn't expect from the story. Jaime does have one friend whom I would have smacked once or twice.

I would like to visit Arden and Jaime in another story. Surely there must be some more paranormal tension that they will have to deal with later on.

[Aidee Ladnier · Rating 3 out of 5]

I normally like Jan Irving but I really couldn't see what Jaime saw in Arden. He was incredibly autocratic. And I really couldn't see what Arden saw in Jaime. He was a little too stubborn and impractical.

[Clover · Rating 4 out of 5]

really good story with hot sex scenes ! I hope we will have the story about Mondo !

[Marsha Spence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read! Definitely want to read about Mondo now!

[Pia]

I downloaded it because MLR offered it for free, but the blurb makes me wary.