Forced to make her own way in the world, Kate has never lived a conventional life. The older she became, the more she realized she needed to prepare for the future. Reading fortunes on a deck of cards wouldn’t last forever. She couldn’t stay in one place for long or risk exposure. All she had to do was make one big cash load, and she would be free to live her life in peace. 

As a vampire, Gian Urbano learned there were many unexplained things in the world. The moment he stepped into the room, Kate drew his gaze. She had a lot of skill for a fraud until she turned her attention to him. When she accurately read his future, he knew he had to learn more. But, when he returned to question her, she had disappeared. Though he wanted to search for her, he had a mission to take care of first - to retrieve a cursed stone and make sure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. It could not only kill any human it came into contact with, it would also –slowly and painfully- destroy any vampire who touched it. 

When Kate saw the stone, she knew this was her chance for freedom. Only, instead of a normal jewel, the stone enhanced her natural abilities into something more. Her lack of control both confused and frightened her. When a vampire came for the stone and threatened her, Gian swooped in and rescued her. To protect Kate and keep his promise to secure the stone, Gian spirited them away to safety. Unfortunately, the path he chose led them into more danger. Now, together, they must travel a hard road and risk their lives to do what’s right. It could be their last chance to stay together before the world tore them apart.  

I started the book hoping for the best, and Susan Squires didn’t let me down. Kate is a strong heroine, unafraid to take control, and I love her character. The imagery captured my attention from the first pages. Good tension, pacing and touches of humor made the book come alive. The engaging plot and fantastic characters easily took this story and turned it into a book I didn’t want to put down. The emotions pulled me into their world, while the sexual tension made me root for them to find a future where they could love one another completely. Don’t miss out on this great find, pick up your copy of ‘One with the Shadows’.

December 20, 2007