Review: AN UNEXPECTED EVENING

By Roxanne Rhoads

Samuel is a centuries-old vampire who prefers to be a recluse. He is always afraid of losing control and becoming the monster he once was. Falling in love with a young witch has pushed his boundaries and pulled him out of his comfort zone.

Katerina always encourages Samuel to be more open, to let loose, and to really "live" instead of only existing in the shadows.  One night, he finally grants her wish . . . in ways she never imagined.

An Unexpected Evening is a tantalizing short story about a night of passion between the vampire Samuel and his beloved witch Katerina.  The two have been together for some time, but Samuel has held back his true aggressive, dominant nature in fear of hurting Katerina.  She finally persuades him to let go and be himself.  The result is an unexpected evening of wickedly hot kinky sex.

Yet there is more going on in this tale than just the physical passion.   We discover that Samuel is struggling to come to terms with his violent past; Katerina is descended from a family of witches, yet she is late in realizing her powers; and there is a killer terrorizing the streets of the city, and because of his frequent "blackouts," Samuel is afraid he may be involved.

Because this was a brief 13-page story, An Unexpected Evening felt like a precursor of things to come.  We are introduced to two intriguing characters who obviously have more going on than what we see on the surface.  This story establishes the steamy chemistry and the newfound trust between Samuel and Katerina.  We are now left to wonder where the author will take the suspense element of the story in the future.  I received this story for free from the author as part of her book tour.

Favorite Quote: "A relationship full of sweetness, wine, and roses could get dull after awhile, without the occasional scratch from a thorn.  I loved thorns.  And I loved Samuel."