Review: Bound to Shadows

This is the 8th Riley Jenson Guardian Novel by Keri Arthur.

Book Blurb:


In the darkness, demons come out to play . . .
and someone must bring their sins to light.

Part vampire, part werewolf, Riley Jenson knows what can happen when vamps don't play well with others. But she's never seen anything like this: a series of brutal murders surrounding the latest hot spot for vampire-human hookups - and the victims aren't just killed, they're beheaded. Now Riley is launching into action, toying with a seductive - and highly suspicious - club owner, and finding herself in the middle of another mystery: women being killed one by one, without a trace of violence.

For Riley, solving multiple cases - in a world going mad with human and vampire passions - would have been tough enough. Instead she has two jealous lovers on her hands: Kye Murphy, the amber-eyed werewolf who makes Riley's wolf blood howl - and Quinn, the cool, elegant vamp who has over a thousand years' experience at fulfilling women's desires. While she's busy juggling these two sexy beasts, Riley's detective work takes a stunningly violent turn. Finding a murderer is now a matter of life and death. Especially since the killer has long since found her . . .

I loved this book - but I think I pulled out half my hair....

Yes, Bound to Shadows has Riley trying to solve several murders - but that is only half the story and for me, the other story is the more important one - Kye.

Riley has found her wolf soul mate in Kye and she hates that fate has stuck her with a hired assassin for a soul mate. To his credit - Kye is just as disappointed, but that does not stop either of them from feeling the physical attraction a wolf soul mate has for one another.

What bothers me about this book is the fact that Riley does not like Kye - yet she has a physical relationship with him. She is repulsed by the cold blooded assassin he is - yet burns for his touch. This is where the hair pulling began....

For several chapters I was so afraid that the tough as nails Riley was going to submit to the soul mate bond and become more or less a victim of domestic abuse.

I try not to go into too much detail with my reviews because I do not want to give away important parts of the book - but I have to say that one scene in particular had me putting the book down - shaking my head.

Riley has an encounter with a suspect - against her will, he mojo's her - then in the blink of an eye and without the use of a moist towelette - has an encounter with Kye - again, against the will of her heart - but the wolf soul mate bond urged her on. This disturbed me - I read this a Riley being forced against her will into a pair of sexual situations. At this time I hated the soul mate bond and believed my fears of domestic victim were coming to fruition.

But then - boom! I did not see that coming. Honestly, the ending of this book was awesome and I can't wait to find out how this series is going to end. I hope Riley finds her HEA - because if anyone deserves one - it's her. :)

I give Bound to Shadows 5 out of 5 stars. :)

M

Riley Jenson Guardian
1. Full Moon Rising (2006)
2. Kissing Sin (2007)
3. Tempting Evil (2007)
4. Dangerous Games (2007)
5. Embraced By Darkness (2007)
6. The Darkest Kiss (2008)
7. Deadly Desire (2009)
8. Bound to Shadows (2009)
9. Moon Sworn (2010)