Exiled Wild Rose Press

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Author: L Rosario
Publisher: Wild Rose Press

REVIEW:

Nadia refuses to swear allegiance to the new Queen Vampire, jealous and bitter that her beloved Master has chosen a human, rather than her, to be his bride. As if that’s not bad enough, she finds herself exiled her from the coven. She must leave her trio of gorgeous blood-servants and go out alone into the world.

She recalls another vampire, Sera, who voluntarily left the coven and managed to survive. Nadia travels to San Francisco in the hope that Valentino, the owner of the male strip-club Captive Fantasy, will be able to help her find Sera. Before she goes to the club, she has an encounter with a hot hunk on the beach, then wipes his memory.

But Daniel, a marine biologist who makes more money stripping than he would ’saving Brazilian otters’, is wise to the tricks of vampires – his boss Valentino is one, and has taught him how to protect himself. Nadia intrigues him, and even though he knows she’s dangerous, he can’t stay away from her.

Can their relationship last the distance, or will jealousy, outside threats and their own differences as a human and a vampire destroy their happiness?

Okay, I admit it – I picked this to read because I was intrigued by the idea of a male stripper hero. Occasionally I really am that shallow. However, there was nothing superficial about Exiled - it promised a sexy escapist paranormal and it delivered on all fronts.

Exiled is part of a series set in and around the strip-club Captive Fantasy, but each story can be read as a standalone – but be warned, vampire erotica this good is addictive, and you may feel the urge to read the entire series.

Best exchange, between Daniel and Valentino:

“What I do when I’m off the clock and who I do it with are none of your business.” “I’m trying to protect you, Danny.”“From her?” Daniel snorted. “A bit hypocritical of you, isn’t it? Or have you had a change of lifestyle since I saw you last?”

Readers of erotica will appreciate the sizzling sex scenes in each chapter, each one varied and intimate. Unusually, this novella actually felt longer than it was – but in a good way. The characters are all bursting with personality and Ms Rosario makes every word count to express emotion and to further the plot.

While sex is the main focus, there’s also some real emotional tension here. The scene where Nadia realises that her bond with her three blood-servants had finally been broken is excellent – I could really feel her anguish and confusion. Also, I liked the way that Nadia is jealous, almost threatened, by Daniel’s job as a stripper. Even though she’s a powerful vampire, her reactions are like those of any normal woman, and in the second half of the story she struggles to overcome her jealousy of both Daniel and the Vampire Queen.

L Rosario has a strong authorial voice and a very readable style. I put off making my dinner for an hour so I could finish the story, and that doesn’t happen very often. A great read, warmly recommended.