cover image Jared

Jared

Sarah McCarty, . . Berkley Sensation, $15 (374pp) ISBN 978-0-425-23240-8

Sparks fly and opposites attract when vampires meet in McCarty's second novel of four undead brothers caught up in a war among immortals. When Jared Johnson rescues Raisa, a rare female vampire, from a marauding pack of Sanctuary vamps, he treats her more as a treasure to protect than as a woman to woo. Over time, her irritation and frustration with the arrogant alpha male rancher deepens inexplicably into attraction and mutual desire, but Raisa's secrets could tear their relationship apart and bring down disaster on Jared and his family if the lovers aren't careful. The character-driven story lacks any real sense of place, and the well-written erotic interludes come at the expense of plot resolution, character depth, and suspension of disbelief. (Apr.)