In a world where vampires and werewolves coexist among ordinary mortals, an undercurrent of danger pierces reality as dark as night. Secret organizations manage the affairs of vampires and how they relate to humans. And yet, not all wish to exist peacefully alongside their human brethren.
In Bloodlines of Love, Emily, a librarian at the New York Public Library, comes across an ancient tome, antiquated pages spattered with blood. Fascinated, she takes it home, and her life is never the same again. The tome tugs at her, filling her dreams and sickening her. But it’s not until Emily meets Alexander Knight that things start to, eventually, fall into place.
Alexander, a member of one of the vampire covens, must retrieve this book as it’s vital for continued peace. A rival organization, the Sanguine Nox, seeks the book as well for their own dark purposes. It seems easy enough for Alexander to become close to the lovely Emily and steal the book, so he thinks.
And yet, as their attraction towards each other grows, so do the stakes. Because not everything is as it seems, and secrets and danger lie closer to home than Emily ever realized.
Midnight Kiss is the first book in the Bloodlines of Love series, and is a promising start to an exhilarating series. The plot - though incorporating tropes common to vampire stories such as forbidden love, power politics, hidden secrets, and much more - doesn't feel worn out or overdone where other paranormal romance novels fall. Rather, it's engaging, fast-paced, and suspenseful, keeping readers at the end of their seats.
I appreciated how multi-faceted the characters were, as well. In a post-Twilight era, the primary female love interest can sometimes seem hollow, without agency of her own, and falls to the whim of her otherworldly lover. Emily, on the other hand, is intelligent, educated, and isn't just a damsel-in-distress - she has her own agency, making and abiding by her own decisions. It feels like a far cry from the Bella Swans of vampire romances.
Overall, those who enjoy paranormal romance, thrillers, and mysteries will find a lot to like about Midnight Kiss!