Review: Dancing with the Devil by Keri Arthur ★★★

Dancing with the Devil by Keri Arthur

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Nikki & Michael #1

Publication Date: July 30th 2013

ISBN: 9780440246510

Page Count: 368 

Rating: ★★★

Review Copy: ARC

Reviewed by: Lynsey

Synopsis: Private Investigator Nikki James grew up on the tough streets of Lyndhurst and believes there's nothing left to surprise her. All that changes the night she follows teenager Monica Trevgard into the shadows-and becomes a pawn caught in a war between two very different men. One fills her mind with his madness, the other pushes his way into her life-and her heart. Nikki knows how dangerous love can be, but if she wants to survive, she must place her trust in a man who could easily destroy her.
Michael Kelly has come to Lyndhurst determined to end the war between himself and another brother of the night. For 300 years he has existed in life's shadows, gradually learning to control the life from death cravings of a vampire. Nikki not only breaches his formidable barriers with her psychic abilities, but makes Michael believe he may finally have found a woman strong enough to walk by his side and ease the loneliness in his heart. But will his love be enough to protect her from a madman hell-bent on revenge? Or will it drive her into his enemy's deadly trap?

Only together can they overcome the evil threatening to destroy them both. But the secrets they keep from each other might prove to be the greatest threat of all.

 

Review:

This is the age-old story of girl meets vampire, girl falls in love with vampire, vampire tries not to fall in love with girl until other vampire tries to kill girl... etc., etc., etc..

The girl in question being Nikki James, a human Private Investigator with telepathic abilities. And the vampire being enigmatic Michael, who turns up with orders to save Nikki from a threat, who also happens to be an old adversary of his. Shenanigans ensue, and the pair grow close both emotionally and telepathically while they try to solve the mystery/get the bad guy.

In terms of romance, I have to say I preferred this over the only other thing I've read from this author: The Riley Jenson series. With its unabashed, unrestrained take on werewolf mating habits, public sex and multiple partners, Riley Jenson was always a bit too much for me, delicate little flower that I am. (I only actually read the first two books, but my reviews basically went like this: Book one "There's a lot of sex but I can totally handle it and it makes perfect sense within the story so it's FINE, guys! Chillaxitaxi!" Book two: "There's too much sex and I totally can't handle it.") I suppose that means I'm a traditionalist and better off with the one-on-one stuff with, like, romance and anticipation and buildup. So, in that respect, DANCING WITH THE DEVIL worked better for me and I'm glad there was some restraint going on between the two characters. Buuuuut..... it still kinda fell flat. Sorry! The pull between them just didn't feel authentic; I didn't believe it. And there's nothing more cringe-worthy than characters saying their I love Yous before it feels real to readers. It's just such a facepalm moment. And that's what was happening here. I was practically reading it through my fingers going, "Duuuuude, no." It was just all too much too soon, or maybe too little too late, depending on how you look at it.

Then comes the second problem: without the romance, all I was left with was the mystery, which also wasn't that great. It had a very one-dimensional villain who was basically just bad for being bad's sake with no real motive and no presence. And it was a very simplistic and straightforward plot, too. Kinda boring, in fact.

Eh, well. Can't win 'em all, I suppose. I don't think I'm going to continue on with this one (or the Riley Jenson series but for totally different reasons). Maybe this author and I just aren't meant to be friends...

3 Stars ★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 Reviewed by:

Posted in: 3 stars, Keri Arthur, telepathy, the shelf of meh, Urban Fantasy, Vampires