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Midnight Breed #11.5
Marked by Midnight
Determined to solve a string of brutal slayings in London, vampire warrior Mathias Rowan is forced to seek the help of Nova, a fiery tattoo artist who ignites an unexpected, yet undeniable, passion in the grim Order enforcer.
Nova’s shadowy connections and dark talents may be Mathias’s best hope of unmasking a treacherous enemy . . . but falling for a woman with her dangerous past will risk both their hearts and their lives.
Nova’s shadowy connections and dark talents may be Mathias’s best hope of unmasking a treacherous enemy . . . but falling for a woman with her dangerous past will risk both their hearts and their lives.
146 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 2014
221 people are currently reading
5939 people want to read
About the author
Lara Adrian
94 books11k followersLARA ADRIAN is a New York Times and #1 internationally best-selling author with nearly 4 million books in print and digital worldwide and translations licensed to more than 20 countries. Her books have been named among Amazon’s Top Ten Romances of the Year, and have also been nominated by readers multiple times as finalists for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance of the Year. Reviewers have called Lara’s books “addictively readable” (Chicago Tribune), “extraordinary” (Fresh Fiction), “strikingly original” (Booklist), and “one of the best vampire series on the market” (Romantic Times).
Writing as TINA ST. JOHN, her historical romances have won numerous awards including the National Readers Choice; Romantic Times Magazine Reviewer’s Choice; Booksellers Best; and many others. She was twice named a Finalist in Romance Writers of America’s RITA Awards, for Best Historical Romance (White Lion’s Lady) and Best Paranormal Romance (Heart of the Hunter). More recently, the German translation of Heart of the Hunter debuted on Der Spiegel bestseller list.
With an ancestry stretching back to the Mayflower and the court of King Henry VIII, the author lives with her husband in New England, where she is working on her next novel. Visit Lara’s website and sign up for new release announcements at http://bit.ly/LaraAdrianNews
Writing as TINA ST. JOHN, her historical romances have won numerous awards including the National Readers Choice; Romantic Times Magazine Reviewer’s Choice; Booksellers Best; and many others. She was twice named a Finalist in Romance Writers of America’s RITA Awards, for Best Historical Romance (White Lion’s Lady) and Best Paranormal Romance (Heart of the Hunter). More recently, the German translation of Heart of the Hunter debuted on Der Spiegel bestseller list.
With an ancestry stretching back to the Mayflower and the court of King Henry VIII, the author lives with her husband in New England, where she is working on her next novel. Visit Lara’s website and sign up for new release announcements at http://bit.ly/LaraAdrianNews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 326 reviews
September 12, 2018
3 I didn't feel the love Stars
Marked by Midnight was an okay short novella. I liked the plot and I liked Nova and Mathias as people but I wasn't feeling their relationship. The fact is I felt no chemistry between them. None! I think it just felt too rushed. But they maybe spent a total of like 8 hours together within a 2 day span including sex and that is being generous, and they were saying I love you and lets get mated. This insta-love didn't work for me. Still the Plot wasn't bad.
Marked by Midnight was an okay short novella. I liked the plot and I liked Nova and Mathias as people but I wasn't feeling their relationship. The fact is I felt no chemistry between them. None! I think it just felt too rushed. But they maybe spent a total of like 8 hours together within a 2 day span including sex and that is being generous, and they were saying I love you and lets get mated. This insta-love didn't work for me. Still the Plot wasn't bad.
July 9, 2014
3.5 - 4 ★'s
Mathias leads the Order for the London area and is helping JUSTIS with investigating some murders. That leads him to a tattoo shop and to Nova, a tattoo artist and...breed mate. Mathias knows she knows more than she's telling and he's going to find out what it is.
I really enjoyed this novella but it was just too short...it didn't really do the characters justice. And what great characters they are.
Mathias has always seemed rather imposing and aloof so it was great getting his POV and hearing how he felt about Nova.
Nova is a little different with being a tattoo artist and she has some unhappy things in her past that she's on the run from. It makes things really intriguing especially with her power.
Unfortunately with the book being so short, there is only one sex scene but it's a good one!
The drama is really interesting and gets even more involved when Nova tells Mathias that the killer is a Breed male. But we really never get more about what happened in Nova's past.
Eddie is sort of like Nova's adopted little brother and I loved their relationship. I definitely would've liked more of it.
Things ended well but it just feels unfinished. I really wish it was a full length book.
Favorite quotes
♥ “Always the unexpected with you,” he remarked, grinning through his teeth and fangs.
She smiled up at him. “I’d hate to be boring.”
♥ “Are you trying to sweep me off my feet or something, Mathias?”
His grin widened. “Like some kind of knight in shining armor, Nova. Yes, that’s exactly what I’m trying to do.”
Mathias leads the Order for the London area and is helping JUSTIS with investigating some murders. That leads him to a tattoo shop and to Nova, a tattoo artist and...breed mate. Mathias knows she knows more than she's telling and he's going to find out what it is.
I really enjoyed this novella but it was just too short...it didn't really do the characters justice. And what great characters they are.
Mathias has always seemed rather imposing and aloof so it was great getting his POV and hearing how he felt about Nova.
Nova is a little different with being a tattoo artist and she has some unhappy things in her past that she's on the run from. It makes things really intriguing especially with her power.
Unfortunately with the book being so short, there is only one sex scene but it's a good one!
The drama is really interesting and gets even more involved when Nova tells Mathias that the killer is a Breed male. But we really never get more about what happened in Nova's past.
Eddie is sort of like Nova's adopted little brother and I loved their relationship. I definitely would've liked more of it.
Things ended well but it just feels unfinished. I really wish it was a full length book.
Favorite quotes
♥ “Always the unexpected with you,” he remarked, grinning through his teeth and fangs.
She smiled up at him. “I’d hate to be boring.”
♥ “Are you trying to sweep me off my feet or something, Mathias?”
His grin widened. “Like some kind of knight in shining armor, Nova. Yes, that’s exactly what I’m trying to do.”
April 15, 2015
I love the Midnight Breed Series and am always happy to read anything the author offers us about the Breed world.
Having met Mathias Rowan in previous stories, I was looking forward to his HEA.
Let me begin with what I liked:
The setting in London, where Mathias is now leading the leader of the Enforcer agency was pretty exciting and mysterious – with totally different locations and characters.
Nova was a pretty intriguing and interesting character. Totally different from most of the Breedmates. A black/blue haired tattooed artist, with a dark past, living on the edge……..wow!!!!
But I was left with….what!!!! They know each other 2 or 3 days and they’re in love forever!!!!
Apart from knowing that the dead bodies floating in River Thames have some connection to Nova’s past life…we never get to find out why and how!!!! We get nothing about Nova’s earlier life, why she’s been living under the radar from her Breed family, who are the bad guys!!!!
I know this is a novella….but nothing really happens that’s heart-shattering…….the bad Breed guy is discovered and killed and Mathias and Nova go off into the sunset!!!! Talk about a rushed ending!!!!!
I am more than grateful for a little bit more about the Breeds…..but just felt that these two characters deserved a bit more of a story!!!!
Having met Mathias Rowan in previous stories, I was looking forward to his HEA.
However, a few things stopped me from really liking it.
Let me begin with what I liked:
The setting in London, where Mathias is now leading the leader of the Enforcer agency was pretty exciting and mysterious – with totally different locations and characters.
Nova was a pretty intriguing and interesting character. Totally different from most of the Breedmates. A black/blue haired tattooed artist, with a dark past, living on the edge……..wow!!!!
But I was left with….what!!!! They know each other 2 or 3 days and they’re in love forever!!!!
Apart from knowing that the dead bodies floating in River Thames have some connection to Nova’s past life…we never get to find out why and how!!!! We get nothing about Nova’s earlier life, why she’s been living under the radar from her Breed family, who are the bad guys!!!!
I know this is a novella….but nothing really happens that’s heart-shattering…….the bad Breed guy is discovered and killed and Mathias and Nova go off into the sunset!!!! Talk about a rushed ending!!!!!
I am more than grateful for a little bit more about the Breeds…..but just felt that these two characters deserved a bit more of a story!!!!
September 12, 2016
Breed warrior Mathias
Special ability: Being able to feel the phychic aftershocks, the imprint of violence in specific places
Age: Over 100 years old
Breed mate Nova
Special ability: Being able to see the last memories of dead men when she touches them
Occupation: Tatoo artist
Mark place: Between her breasts
Settings: London
This is a pretty good short novella: The 7th dead body with a scarab tatoo is discovered in the river Thames. Mathias is called to investigate the case.
I liked Mathias since we met him in Taken by Midnight. He used to be the director in the Enforcement Agency in Boston before he moved to London. He is a good friend of the Order-especially Chase. Although I would prefer a longer book for him, I feel satisfied with his love story. I liked Nova and they fit well togethet. I also have high hopes for their reappearance at next books. Nova's story definitely needs expansion. There were secrets of her past that need to be explored.
Special ability: Being able to feel the phychic aftershocks, the imprint of violence in specific places
Age: Over 100 years old
Breed mate Nova
Special ability: Being able to see the last memories of dead men when she touches them
Occupation: Tatoo artist
Mark place: Between her breasts
Settings: London
This is a pretty good short novella: The 7th dead body with a scarab tatoo is discovered in the river Thames. Mathias is called to investigate the case.
I liked Mathias since we met him in Taken by Midnight. He used to be the director in the Enforcement Agency in Boston before he moved to London. He is a good friend of the Order-especially Chase. Although I would prefer a longer book for him, I feel satisfied with his love story. I liked Nova and they fit well togethet. I also have high hopes for their reappearance at next books. Nova's story definitely needs expansion. There were secrets of her past that need to be explored.
August 7, 2014
Originally posted on The Book Nympho
Mathias Rowan, former director of the Breed Enforcement Agency in Boston, now heads the Order's London station. His team is investigating a series of murders of gang members all bearing the same scarab tattoo. They are searching for information about the latest victim whose injuries seem different from the others. The trail leads Mathias to a tattoo parlor where Nova, an extraordinary artist, appears to have something to hide.
I was glad to see Mathias again after having helped the Order before they moved to Washington DC. The story, though, is pretty short for the romance but the investigation is interesting. Not everything is resolved as Nova's history wasn't completely revealed and that promises to be part of a much bigger story in the future.
Nova's got some really interesting ink and Mathias certainly was drawn to it. It's worth it to just find out what she inked on him (it was fitting for this warrior). While their romance went from 0 to 60 in the blink of an eye, there still seems to be room for more with these two later on.
Mathias Rowan, former director of the Breed Enforcement Agency in Boston, now heads the Order's London station. His team is investigating a series of murders of gang members all bearing the same scarab tattoo. They are searching for information about the latest victim whose injuries seem different from the others. The trail leads Mathias to a tattoo parlor where Nova, an extraordinary artist, appears to have something to hide.
I was glad to see Mathias again after having helped the Order before they moved to Washington DC. The story, though, is pretty short for the romance but the investigation is interesting. Not everything is resolved as Nova's history wasn't completely revealed and that promises to be part of a much bigger story in the future.
Nova's got some really interesting ink and Mathias certainly was drawn to it. It's worth it to just find out what she inked on him (it was fitting for this warrior). While their romance went from 0 to 60 in the blink of an eye, there still seems to be room for more with these two later on.
Short and sweet. Stay tuned.
November 13, 2018
3+ "Love The Breed" Stars!
It's always good for me to be back in the world of The Breed, so I enjoyed it. However, because it's a novella, the story, the romance, the overall plot just didn't have time to develop. Everything was rushed and a little too insta. Had this been a full length novel, I think it would have been a very good one. I'd enjoyed Mathias's character from previous books, and Nova must have a heck of a history. Unfortunately, we only get the barest glimpse. So it left me a bit unsatisfied. I'm hoping these two will show up and play a roll in future books.
So, if you're a fan, I'd say go for it! It's a Midnight Breeds book after all! If you're not already a fan, this is a complete standalone. It will be just a teeny taste of the Breeds' world. Maybe it will wet your appetite for more. Happy reading!
It's always good for me to be back in the world of The Breed, so I enjoyed it. However, because it's a novella, the story, the romance, the overall plot just didn't have time to develop. Everything was rushed and a little too insta. Had this been a full length novel, I think it would have been a very good one. I'd enjoyed Mathias's character from previous books, and Nova must have a heck of a history. Unfortunately, we only get the barest glimpse. So it left me a bit unsatisfied. I'm hoping these two will show up and play a roll in future books.
So, if you're a fan, I'd say go for it! It's a Midnight Breeds book after all! If you're not already a fan, this is a complete standalone. It will be just a teeny taste of the Breeds' world. Maybe it will wet your appetite for more. Happy reading!
January 24, 2016
Longtime readers of the Midnight Breed series have been waiting a long time to get up close and personal with Mathias. Now that his story is here, I have to say it was something of a mixed bag. There are some pretty interesting things going on, but the ending is just not very satisfying.
The story follows Mathias as he works the streets of London, clearing out rogues for the Order. Only now, he has come across a case with no real ties to the Breed. A bunch of human thugs have been dumped into the Thames, each sporting a scarab tattoo. Intrigued, he decides to help the guys with JUSTIS solve the mystery. It brings him to the tattoo shop where Nova works.
Our heroine is a Breedmate with a dark past. She left her mysterious and abusive childhood behind and started over thanks to her mentor, the man who owns the tattoo parlor. It’s obvious that she knows more than she is willing to tell Mathias. But over the course of the story, her secrets begin to unfold and these two quickly fall for one another.
I liked Nova. She was tough, yet vulnerable. I loved the body art and sleeve tattoos. I loved that Mathias did not judge her based on her appearance. But these things were not enough to overcome my two serious problems with the story. One, an eye-rolling case of insta-love. They sealed the deal and exchanged the l-word on their third meeting. And two, I there were simply too many threads left dangling. There is all this build-up about Nova’s past, insinuations about the horrors she endured, and then… nothing. It’s all just dropped as though it was insignificant to the story. Not cool.
Don’t get me wrong, I want a HEA, but Lara Adrian spent all this time laying groundwork and then *poof* the story is over. I didn’t believe in their love and I felt kind of jerked around by Nova’s incomplete story.
Rating: C/C-
The story follows Mathias as he works the streets of London, clearing out rogues for the Order. Only now, he has come across a case with no real ties to the Breed. A bunch of human thugs have been dumped into the Thames, each sporting a scarab tattoo. Intrigued, he decides to help the guys with JUSTIS solve the mystery. It brings him to the tattoo shop where Nova works.
Our heroine is a Breedmate with a dark past. She left her mysterious and abusive childhood behind and started over thanks to her mentor, the man who owns the tattoo parlor. It’s obvious that she knows more than she is willing to tell Mathias. But over the course of the story, her secrets begin to unfold and these two quickly fall for one another.
I liked Nova. She was tough, yet vulnerable. I loved the body art and sleeve tattoos. I loved that Mathias did not judge her based on her appearance. But these things were not enough to overcome my two serious problems with the story. One, an eye-rolling case of insta-love. They sealed the deal and exchanged the l-word on their third meeting. And two, I there were simply too many threads left dangling. There is all this build-up about Nova’s past, insinuations about the horrors she endured, and then… nothing. It’s all just dropped as though it was insignificant to the story. Not cool.
Don’t get me wrong, I want a HEA, but Lara Adrian spent all this time laying groundwork and then *poof* the story is over. I didn’t believe in their love and I felt kind of jerked around by Nova’s incomplete story.
Rating: C/C-
July 4, 2014
They knew each other for 48 from which they spent together less then 4(2 in which they were silent while she gave him a tattoo, and another 1 and 30 min while they had sex) and they frigging fell in love and committed to FOREVER? I can maybe understand insta-love in 1 week with lots of adrenalin and staying 24/7 together, but 4 HOURS? Too much even for me.
July 12, 2025
Marked by Midnight
Reread August 31st, 2020 brings it down to a 4 from a 4.5.
So my 1st read was more enjoyable than my 2nd. This time I felt like things between the MC's happened way to fast and certain things weren't dealt with.
Still enjoyed it. Just not as much.
Paranormal Suspense Adult Romance Novella by Lara Adrian. It is book #11.5 in the Midnight Breed series. I think it is the best Novella I have read by Lara Adrian so far. Although not as detailed and complex as her full length novels in this series, it still had all the elements that I love. There is suspense in the mystery of who the dead bodies with the odd scarab tattoos are. What is Nova's connection with them?
If you have read the series up to this point, you know Mathias Rowan from previous books. He was a director in the Enforcers, now he is a commander in The Order. It is his job to investigate why these dead bodies are showing up in the Thames. His investigation leads him to Nova. Mathias and Nova's connection to each other is fast and hot.
Some great twist in this one! I thought the culprit was going to be someone else to nearly the end. Suddenly it all made sense. Loved it. Not enough action for me to give it 5 stars. But if I could, I would give it 4.5 stars.
Reread August 31st, 2020 brings it down to a 4 from a 4.5.
So my 1st read was more enjoyable than my 2nd. This time I felt like things between the MC's happened way to fast and certain things weren't dealt with.
Still enjoyed it. Just not as much.
Paranormal Suspense Adult Romance Novella by Lara Adrian. It is book #11.5 in the Midnight Breed series. I think it is the best Novella I have read by Lara Adrian so far. Although not as detailed and complex as her full length novels in this series, it still had all the elements that I love. There is suspense in the mystery of who the dead bodies with the odd scarab tattoos are. What is Nova's connection with them?
If you have read the series up to this point, you know Mathias Rowan from previous books. He was a director in the Enforcers, now he is a commander in The Order. It is his job to investigate why these dead bodies are showing up in the Thames. His investigation leads him to Nova. Mathias and Nova's connection to each other is fast and hot.
Some great twist in this one! I thought the culprit was going to be someone else to nearly the end. Suddenly it all made sense. Loved it. Not enough action for me to give it 5 stars. But if I could, I would give it 4.5 stars.
October 19, 2019
3.5 stars
Marked by Midnight is a quick Midnight Breed read, and I love what we know of Nova. Despite the insta-love -->HEA, fully half of the story is unresolved, which is a little frustrating. I want to know about . It would be wonderful if this story were fleshed out into a full sized novel...
It would be understandable if this were a teaser story that introduced a sequel that answers these questions, but (per the book descriptions through book 13.5) it doesn't seem that is the case. Ms. Adrian, please give us the rest of the story; this was an intriguing start...
~~~~~~
Nova’s story is resolved 3 stories later in Bound to Darkness.
Marked by Midnight is a quick Midnight Breed read, and I love what we know of Nova. Despite the insta-love -->HEA, fully half of the story is unresolved, which is a little frustrating. I want to know about . It would be wonderful if this story were fleshed out into a full sized novel...
It would be understandable if this were a teaser story that introduced a sequel that answers these questions, but (per the book descriptions through book 13.5) it doesn't seem that is the case. Ms. Adrian, please give us the rest of the story; this was an intriguing start...
~~~~~~
Nova’s story is resolved 3 stories later in Bound to Darkness.
June 10, 2019
3.5 stars. I would have liked this one to be a bit longer, and in particular, having more about Nova's backstory. I hope that it will be explored more later in the series.
July 31, 2015
**** 4 Breed Stars ****
Great addition to the Midnight Breed series. I've always really liked Mathias and it's nice that we get an HEA for him. His breedmate Nova was unconventional and very different than the breedmates we've met in the past, I would have liked more, it worked as a novella but the potential for a more in-depth book was there. We get a hint of Nova's background but not the full story, hopefully we'll get more of them in future books along with some of the new characters we were introduced to belonging to The Order in London.
Great addition to the Midnight Breed series. I've always really liked Mathias and it's nice that we get an HEA for him. His breedmate Nova was unconventional and very different than the breedmates we've met in the past, I would have liked more, it worked as a novella but the potential for a more in-depth book was there. We get a hint of Nova's background but not the full story, hopefully we'll get more of them in future books along with some of the new characters we were introduced to belonging to The Order in London.
July 24, 2020
Since this is a novella our author had to get to the story and through it quickly. So we didn't get much of a backstory on our heroine, but the story is still very well done.
We know the hero from other stories so he isn't as much a mystery. But our heroine stays that way. I think this was just a way to introduce the time between what the world becomes in later novels.
We know the hero from other stories so he isn't as much a mystery. But our heroine stays that way. I think this was just a way to introduce the time between what the world becomes in later novels.
July 7, 2014
I really enjoyed this novella, reading about Nova and Mathias, how they meet and the mystery around her.
Because of the book being short, we don't really find out about the scarab outcome but I'm sure that this will be dealt with in the future, however, what we find out is that Lara Adrian is right on track with her writing as usual!
I have to say that Edge of Dawn kind of disappointed me slightly (still gave it four stars so it was only a slight slightly!!!) in comparison to the prior books, most of which I loved without a doubt. Having read this, I feel I'm stepping back into Ms Adrian's world with hope for greater books ahead and I feel as though I won't be disappointed.
I really enjoyed this novella and I look forward to Crave the Night.
Because of the book being short, we don't really find out about the scarab outcome but I'm sure that this will be dealt with in the future, however, what we find out is that Lara Adrian is right on track with her writing as usual!
I have to say that Edge of Dawn kind of disappointed me slightly (still gave it four stars so it was only a slight slightly!!!) in comparison to the prior books, most of which I loved without a doubt. Having read this, I feel I'm stepping back into Ms Adrian's world with hope for greater books ahead and I feel as though I won't be disappointed.
I really enjoyed this novella and I look forward to Crave the Night.
February 7, 2017
If you haven't read Midnight Breed series, you can skip this. It's not because it follows some particular plot line. It is more of a snippet in this world.
People are being fished out of the Thames. They all have the same tattoo. Matthias Bowen follows a lead that takes him right to Nova. They see each other four times in the story. The story is simply too short to be anything else but an okay glimpse into the Breed world. Even that only if you know the rules of the world since nothing about it is explained here.
In any case, it's a not a bad way to ease back into the series.
August 12, 2018
Insta-Love Alert!!!
Nova
Nova
September 20, 2015
It has been fun to catch these 'in between' shorter stories of the Midnight Breed universe while I wait for new releases of the next full-length story. This one jumped right into a murder mystery and a fast paced romance. It was tense and passion-filled.
This one was with characters that I don't recall encountering before, but its possible they appeared as minor characters in earlier stories so it could be read out of order. Although, I rather had the impression that this one might lead into a future story since there was a plot thread that was left temptingly dangling.
Matthias Rowan is the head of the Order in London. His team of Breed Warriors mostly clean out the rogues who prey on the humans and try to support the local law enforcement in the form of JUSTISS, the organization of cooperation between Breed and human.
There has been a spate of killings with bodies dumped into the Thames bearing a head shot and a tattoo on their hands. Except the latest body is killed differently and has a partially worked tattoo on the arm. Mathias and his men decide to check the tattoo lead. This decision has him confronting a less than honest beautiful and haunted tattoo artist that captures his attention as no woman ever has. He must tread carefully as she may or may not be innocent.
Nova is covering up a really brutal and rough past. She holds him at a distance and it stays that way until her vulnerability and fears that the darkness from her past may have found her again. She doesn't trust easily, but Matthias seems the only thing standing between her and danger.
I enjoyed this installment as I typical due with this series. The characters of Matthias and Nova were engaging if not too deep. He is a steady leader and lethal warrior with a sense of duty, but carries a gentleness and admiration for a tough woman who is doing the best she can. Nova is spunky even while on the inside she is barely holding it together after the damage done by a fiend in her younger years. Trust and opening up is a tough thing for her, but Matthias' caring and honesty break through her walls because he shows her that he is nothing like the male who raised her.
The plot grabbed me from the beginning. I liked these two together and how the trust developed as well as the passion. The mystery was interesting and was a good foundation for the action and forward motion of the plot. The solution was obscure, but made sense in the end. Really my only issue was how quickly the romance went from a few passionate encounters to whipping out the 'I love yous'. It's a novella and they did go through some traumatic stuff which formed a bond so I guess I wasn't too surprised about that.
Looking forward to the next Midnight Breed story. Those who enjoy vampires, a brotherhood of warriors, and sizzling hot romance should try this series.
This one was with characters that I don't recall encountering before, but its possible they appeared as minor characters in earlier stories so it could be read out of order. Although, I rather had the impression that this one might lead into a future story since there was a plot thread that was left temptingly dangling.
Matthias Rowan is the head of the Order in London. His team of Breed Warriors mostly clean out the rogues who prey on the humans and try to support the local law enforcement in the form of JUSTISS, the organization of cooperation between Breed and human.
There has been a spate of killings with bodies dumped into the Thames bearing a head shot and a tattoo on their hands. Except the latest body is killed differently and has a partially worked tattoo on the arm. Mathias and his men decide to check the tattoo lead. This decision has him confronting a less than honest beautiful and haunted tattoo artist that captures his attention as no woman ever has. He must tread carefully as she may or may not be innocent.
Nova is covering up a really brutal and rough past. She holds him at a distance and it stays that way until her vulnerability and fears that the darkness from her past may have found her again. She doesn't trust easily, but Matthias seems the only thing standing between her and danger.
I enjoyed this installment as I typical due with this series. The characters of Matthias and Nova were engaging if not too deep. He is a steady leader and lethal warrior with a sense of duty, but carries a gentleness and admiration for a tough woman who is doing the best she can. Nova is spunky even while on the inside she is barely holding it together after the damage done by a fiend in her younger years. Trust and opening up is a tough thing for her, but Matthias' caring and honesty break through her walls because he shows her that he is nothing like the male who raised her.
The plot grabbed me from the beginning. I liked these two together and how the trust developed as well as the passion. The mystery was interesting and was a good foundation for the action and forward motion of the plot. The solution was obscure, but made sense in the end. Really my only issue was how quickly the romance went from a few passionate encounters to whipping out the 'I love yous'. It's a novella and they did go through some traumatic stuff which formed a bond so I guess I wasn't too surprised about that.
Looking forward to the next Midnight Breed story. Those who enjoy vampires, a brotherhood of warriors, and sizzling hot romance should try this series.
November 28, 2021
And Lara Adrian did it again. Another great little novella.
This time it's Mathias Rowan's time to find what he secretly was looking for since he can think. The love of his life, his soulmate. His breedmate.
But it's unbelievable that all this will be find in that tattooed female named Nova. She's somewhat a crime suspect he can't just go for. He has a job to do. Just like the other Breed vampires back in Boston, he can't let his feelings go. The job, the Order comes first. Always!
But damn it, this woman is nagging on him and he gotta do something about it.
I enjoyed this little novella a lot and I did see me a bit in it. In Nova. Not as being a Breedmate, but as the tattoo oed woman.
This time it's Mathias Rowan's time to find what he secretly was looking for since he can think. The love of his life, his soulmate. His breedmate.
But it's unbelievable that all this will be find in that tattooed female named Nova. She's somewhat a crime suspect he can't just go for. He has a job to do. Just like the other Breed vampires back in Boston, he can't let his feelings go. The job, the Order comes first. Always!
But damn it, this woman is nagging on him and he gotta do something about it.
I enjoyed this little novella a lot and I did see me a bit in it. In Nova. Not as being a Breedmate, but as the tattoo oed woman.
September 23, 2022
I've been away from Lara Adrian's Midnight Breed series for a while, so this Paranormal Romance Novella was just the audiobook (narrated by Hillary Huber) to get me back into it. Mathias Rowen, now the commander of the Order, is searching for the tattoo ink artist who didn't finish inking a tattoo on a man who is now dead. He tracks the artist down to the owner of a tattoo shop named Ozzie. The ink artist is a woman named Nova. She admitted to starting the tattoo on the victim, but denies knowing anything about his death. Mattias knows Nova is lying. He leaves the shop, but returns later to question her without Ozzie being around. Mathias discovers Nova is a Breedmate and she also bears the scarab tattoo found on seven men pulled out of the Thames. She admits to being a Breedmate, but refuses to tell Mathias anything about the scarab tattoo. When the danger comes close to home, killing Ozzie, Nova and a boy Ozzie took in run from Mathias. Now Mathias has to find the killer, Nova and the boy. Will he find Nova and the boy before the danger finds them? Adult language and situations.
July 6, 2014
This is a very short novella featuring Mathias Rowan, a member of the Breed from Boston, and ally to The Order – a group of badass warrior vampires who have dedicated their lives to protecting and defending their kind. Mathias is now based in London, as is the leader of The Order in the city. His investigations into a series of murders sees him entering a hole-in-the-wall tattoo parlour one night, and that is where he encounters tattoo artist, Nova.
Nova is heavily tattooed, heavily pierced, and has blue and black hair. She is guarded and mysterious, and she is also a breedmate – one of the very few humans who are genetically predisposed to be able to breed with a vampire. Although she dismisses the big, hot vamp as quickly as she can, there is a definite spark between them, and as Mathias’ investigation keeps leading him back to Nova and the huge secret that she is keeping, the two of them are drawn together into feelings and passion that neither of them have ever felt before.
I really liked the set up to this story, it was interesting, and the relationship between Mathias and Nova had some great potential. But it was just too short. Due to the shortness of the book, it’s insta-love to ridiculous levels, and while there were a couple of sweet moments, I feel like an opportunity has been missed as the premise could have easily been a longer book. Mathias and Nova are both really interesting characters, and I would have liked to get to know them better, have the opportunity to explore their background a little more (especially Nova’s), and see more of a build up to their relationship. The action/mystery element could also easily have been extended, and although the case was solved, there were still things left undone and I felt like I just skimmed the surface rather than getting involved in it.
I love this series, and this was still an enjoyable read, it just felt really rushed, and I wanted more.
3 stars.
Nova is heavily tattooed, heavily pierced, and has blue and black hair. She is guarded and mysterious, and she is also a breedmate – one of the very few humans who are genetically predisposed to be able to breed with a vampire. Although she dismisses the big, hot vamp as quickly as she can, there is a definite spark between them, and as Mathias’ investigation keeps leading him back to Nova and the huge secret that she is keeping, the two of them are drawn together into feelings and passion that neither of them have ever felt before.
“You don’t want to stop what’s happening between us. You can’t deny it, Nova. No more than I can.”
I really liked the set up to this story, it was interesting, and the relationship between Mathias and Nova had some great potential. But it was just too short. Due to the shortness of the book, it’s insta-love to ridiculous levels, and while there were a couple of sweet moments, I feel like an opportunity has been missed as the premise could have easily been a longer book. Mathias and Nova are both really interesting characters, and I would have liked to get to know them better, have the opportunity to explore their background a little more (especially Nova’s), and see more of a build up to their relationship. The action/mystery element could also easily have been extended, and although the case was solved, there were still things left undone and I felt like I just skimmed the surface rather than getting involved in it.
I love this series, and this was still an enjoyable read, it just felt really rushed, and I wanted more.
3 stars.
December 27, 2014
3.5 stars.
I normally don't do .5's but I wasn't so sure about this one. On the one hand I really liked it, and I was so looking forward to Mathias' story, but on the other, my I just couldn't bring myself to give it a 4. Go figure. I think it's because this story deserved to be a full novel. The kind of mystery Mathias and Nova had solve and Nova's past was not satisfying when told in a novella. I wanted more details, more time for Mathias and Nova's relationship to grow. This way, it all felt a bit rushed. So that's why I couldn't bump it up to 4 stars.
There was a good amount of action and passion in this one, but I wish we had more pages to enjoy the sexual tension between Mathias and Nova. And since it wasn't just about their chemistry, I think the crime and a few secrets of the past could've used more time to be explored.
This might be the first time reading this series that I was left a tiny bit unsatisfied. But that's all because Lara had made me addicted to solid plotlines and beautifully stretched romances.
I normally don't do .5's but I wasn't so sure about this one. On the one hand I really liked it, and I was so looking forward to Mathias' story, but on the other, my I just couldn't bring myself to give it a 4. Go figure. I think it's because this story deserved to be a full novel. The kind of mystery Mathias and Nova had solve and Nova's past was not satisfying when told in a novella. I wanted more details, more time for Mathias and Nova's relationship to grow. This way, it all felt a bit rushed. So that's why I couldn't bump it up to 4 stars.
There was a good amount of action and passion in this one, but I wish we had more pages to enjoy the sexual tension between Mathias and Nova. And since it wasn't just about their chemistry, I think the crime and a few secrets of the past could've used more time to be explored.
This might be the first time reading this series that I was left a tiny bit unsatisfied. But that's all because Lara had made me addicted to solid plotlines and beautifully stretched romances.
December 29, 2014
This book ,its characters and the plot had the potential to be a full length novel . Everything was solved too quickly ,it was the case of insta' love they said"I love you" the forth time they met which was the last scene of the book . There was something in the heroine past that we never found out . Overall I would have loved if it was a bit longer.
September 25, 2016
This novella is set in the Breed world but doesn't really move the overall plot along. It was a nice side trip.
I really enjoyed Hillary Huber's narration on this series. She does a great job with the male voices and accents.
I really enjoyed Hillary Huber's narration on this series. She does a great job with the male voices and accents.
January 2, 2015
Liked it, but it ended too abruptly and left too many questions open. Hopefully closure will come in the next book!
August 22, 2015
I forgot how much I LOVE this series. Cannot wait to read more of Mathias and Nova. So good!!
June 19, 2017
I liked Matthias and Nova, but their romance happened too quickly. It gave a whole new meaning to instalove. They deserved to have a full book. It was good but it left a lot of unanswered questions.
November 6, 2017
short insta love tale, but lara adrian Breed series can do little wrong.
February 7, 2021
I liked this story a lot but the climax and ending was too rushed to do it justice.
July 7, 2014
We first met Mathias Rowan back in Taken by Midnight when he assisted the Order in the fight against Dragos. Now he is working for the Order leading his own team in London. When he sticks his nose into a JUSTIS investigation, his gift leads him to a tattoo parlor where he meets Nova, the sexy tattoo artist who knows much more about the victim than she is willing to admit…
Obviously, these short novellas from Lara Adrian just aren’t doing much for me. It was way too short. Not enough time to fully develop a solid mystery or romance in a world like this.
It wasn’t that sexy with hardly any believable sexual tension. Then, Nova started crying during sex! WTF? That is not even a little bit romantic. I liked Mathias. And I liked Nova. They could have been sooooo hot together, but they weren’t.
It was insta-love. Less than a few days of knowing each other with only spending a few hours together tops. Then BAM, lets move in together and become Breedmates. Nope, I don’t buy it.
I liked the murder mystery, even though Mathias totally botched the job so he could go screw Nova. I’m still a little confused about what was really going on, but I totally fell for the decoy…which was an interesting surprise.
I still bugs me that this author fails to write any accent in the dialogue. It was said that Nova didn’t always live in London, but was she British? Or was she Russian? Her real name sounded Russian…
I’m planning to read Crave The Night very soon and it concerns me a bit that I haven’t been loving this author’s work lately. Seems to me that since she finished those first 10 books in the long, drawn out Dragos arc, the stories just haven’t lived up to my expectations.
Wish me luck with the next one…
Reviewed for The Blogger Girls
Obviously, these short novellas from Lara Adrian just aren’t doing much for me. It was way too short. Not enough time to fully develop a solid mystery or romance in a world like this.
It wasn’t that sexy with hardly any believable sexual tension. Then, Nova started crying during sex! WTF? That is not even a little bit romantic. I liked Mathias. And I liked Nova. They could have been sooooo hot together, but they weren’t.
It was insta-love. Less than a few days of knowing each other with only spending a few hours together tops. Then BAM, lets move in together and become Breedmates. Nope, I don’t buy it.
I liked the murder mystery, even though Mathias totally botched the job so he could go screw Nova. I’m still a little confused about what was really going on, but I totally fell for the decoy…which was an interesting surprise.
I still bugs me that this author fails to write any accent in the dialogue. It was said that Nova didn’t always live in London, but was she British? Or was she Russian? Her real name sounded Russian…
I’m planning to read Crave The Night very soon and it concerns me a bit that I haven’t been loving this author’s work lately. Seems to me that since she finished those first 10 books in the long, drawn out Dragos arc, the stories just haven’t lived up to my expectations.
Wish me luck with the next one…
Reviewed for The Blogger Girls
July 11, 2014
This Midnight Breed novella takes readers to London where the familiar Mathias Rowen now leads his own Order team. They are working on a case that has a couple of commonalities, all the men have the same tattoo, and they are all cooling it in the local morgue. The tattoos are assumedly gang markings, but it is of a gang that no one knows anything about. Mathias and his teammates seek out the tattoo artist in hopes that they may get some answers there.
The tattoo artist that Mathias seeks more than just answers from is Nova. She is quite familiar with exactly what Mathias is and has no desire to assist him in any way. Her life has been a series of lessons learned the hard way and she knows how to keep herself out of trouble. The problem is that trouble seems to come through the doors of her tattoo shop more often than necessary.
I really would have liked to have known more about Nova’s super-secret past. There is definitely something there. There is also mention of a specific male that has to do with that past. I’m hoping that some more light is shed on this in Crave the Night. I always dislike unanswered questions. I suppose there is a need for some so that I will continue on into the next book.
The tattoo artist that Mathias seeks more than just answers from is Nova. She is quite familiar with exactly what Mathias is and has no desire to assist him in any way. Her life has been a series of lessons learned the hard way and she knows how to keep herself out of trouble. The problem is that trouble seems to come through the doors of her tattoo shop more often than necessary.
I really would have liked to have known more about Nova’s super-secret past. There is definitely something there. There is also mention of a specific male that has to do with that past. I’m hoping that some more light is shed on this in Crave the Night. I always dislike unanswered questions. I suppose there is a need for some so that I will continue on into the next book.
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