Rajmund (Vampires in America Book 3)- D.B. Reynolds

Rajmund

Back cover summary-

RAJMUND GREGOR is a vampire . . . and the undisputed Master of New York City. He bows to no one but his Sire, Krystof, who is the Vampire Lord for the entire Northeastern U.S. Based in Buffalo, NY, Krystof is an old vampire—-too old, it would seem, because he’s slowly losing his mind. Summoned back to Buffalo by his Sire, Rajmund finds his master out of touch and rapidly weakening. He knows the territory will crumble if something isn’t done, and he’s the only one of Krystof’s children strong enough to seize power. But there’s also the matter of some missing women and a rogue vampire who seems to be moving in for the kill.
SARAH STRATTON has a secret, one she’s never shared with anyone–—at least not anyone who knows her now, not even her good friend Cyn. It’s a secret that could destroy her carefully constructed life, but it’s one she may have to share with a vampire, if she’s going to save the lives of the missing women.

Review (warning spoilers)-

Hmm,  I didn't love Rajmund , the latest installment in the Vampires in America series by D. B. Reynolds, as much as Raphael and Jabril  but not because it's not good.  Probably, I am just not as impressed by the story's heroine, Sarah Stratton.  I also can't shake a nagging feeling that even Rajmund, our hero, feels the same.  I have a feeling that he is also not so convinced by her.  She seemed schizophrenic, and unstable, totally unlike Cyn who is quite confident and self assured.  I guess D. B. Reynolds succeeded greatly in differentiating the personalities of her two heroines.

Rajmund and Sarah met when Cyn and Raphael visited Sarah in New York.  They accidentally crossed paths again as Rajmund started his investigation into the disappearance of several young women in Sarah's hometown.  The story centered on two things: 1. the investigation into the disappearance of the young women and 2. on how Rajmund tries to resist Sarah.  Coming very close to being Lord of the Northeastern territories, he felt that he doesn't need more complications in his life.  Of course in the end, he solved the mystery, became the Lord  and then complicated his life with Sarah.

Unfortunately, Sarah made this story weak.  She seemed so unstable, insecure, and  senseless that I really don't see what Rajmund could love about her.  She doesn't seem to know what she was doing and why she was doing it most of the time.  Truly a damsel in a distress of her own making. He also doesn't seem convinced about her most of the time.  He thought of her as a weak link rather than as someone who can strengthen him.  In the end, he did leave her returning to her only after she somewhat forced herself to be with him.

Even if I am not very fond of Sarah, this book is not bad.  The story is quite gripping even if it's quite long, I couldn't put in down. D. B. Reynolds tells good stories. I do love Cyn and I was happy to read about her and Raphael in the beginning of the book.

Rating: ***** Recommended

Jabril (Vampires in America 2) - D.B. Reynolds

Back cover summary- 

Houston, Texas-Cowboy boots, baseball and journeys to the stars . . . right? Wrong. Because Houston is also home to Jabril Karim, one of the eight powerful Vampire Lords who control all of North America. And as Private Investigator Cynthia Leighton will soon discover, not all Vampire Lords are created equal. For Jabril is the face of evil in the new world, a vampire who values no life but his own, who enslaves those he desires, steals whatever he covets and destroys anyone who stands in his way. Running from L.A. and its seductive Vampire Lord, Raphael, Cyn sees the Houston job as a welcome refuge, a place to get away and heal her broken heart. But Texas will be no vacation. For in Jabril Karim, Cyn will confront a true enemy, one who will go to any lengths to satisfy his lusts, enrich his coffers and expand his power. Fighting for the lives of two young sisters, Cyn's journey will take her through the streets of Houston and back to L.A., where the human police are determined to bring Raphael down for the murder of one of their own. But the danger doesn't end there. For Jabril has set his sights on Cyn, and he will stop at nothing to have her.

Review (warning spoilers)-

Jabril is D.B. Reynold's second installment in her Vampires in America series.  We see the continuation of Cyn and Raphael's story with a new antagonist in the vampire Jabril.  I love this series! Too bad that it's not that famous.   Jabril is a very good follow-up to Raphael.  The story is fast, smooth and action packed.  I read it in one sitting (or lying).

Cyn goes to Houston partly to forget Raphael and mostly to work for Jabril to locate his missing ward.  Unfortunately, Jabril just intended to use her to piss off Raphael.  Cyn realized Jabril's evil plot and foiled it.  Raphael, of course, quickly comes to her rescue, not that she needed it. They kiss and make up and (hopefully) will live happily ever after.

I just have one small comment about the story.  I don't understand why the vampires had to wait for Raphael to arrive to start rescuing Cyn considering that he had to take a plane and all to get to her.  Other vampires of Raphael's were already on hand, so why wait?  I guess it's for dramatic purposes.

I already discussed Cyn and Raphael's characterizations in my review of Raphael.  In Jabril, we see an evolution as they both accept and give way so that they can be together.  I guess that was their main problem as they are both alphas. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to the next one, Rajmund. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Rating: ***** Highly recommended