Immortal Guardians - Night Reigns & Phantom Shadows

Oh, Dianne, I bow to thee! These guys are just... But I guess you all know that, too. It's hard to find a word for guys like Marcus, Bastien, Étienne and Richart... But, first things first. What's the book about?

Ami isn't much for trusting strangers. She has a hard time trusting anyone. But she's no coward, and she's no pushover in the protection department either. So when she comes across a mysterious warrior taking on eight deranged vampires on his own, she doesn't hesitate to save his bacon. Of course, that was before she realized what one little rescue would get her into . . .

Marcus Grayden has been an immortal protector of humanity for eight hundred years, and at the moment he's not interested in backup. From the moment Ami arrives in his life, he can't deny that she's strong, smart, and extremely skilled at watching his back. But she's also destroying his protective solitude and stirring desires he can't bear to awaken. After all, whatever her secrets — how can she defeat death itself?

I remember Ami from the first book and I know that I was terribly curious about her... Besides being curious about the rest of the guys in the whole group! I am really glad that we didn't have to wait that long to find out what the deal with Ami is. She is strong, smart and she can heal as good as any Immortal Guardian... Better even. Yet Marcus shows a protectiveness around her that is incredible and sweet. Not that he knows she is pretty safe, but still. 

Even with everything that she is keeping from him she manages to crack the walls that Marcus erected around his person and his heart.

I liked the book a little less than the first, but I still really, really enjoyed it. I have to admit, when we reached the revelation what Ami is I seriously had a wtf?- moment. I just didn't see that coming. Even with everything that's hinted. I just thought she was... Well, I don't know what I thought, but THAT I didn't think. It took me a while, but now I kinda am okay with it. I love how compassionate she is and that she really tries hard to see the good in people even after everything she went through. And it was a lot. Just the glimpses we get in the book about that... Whoa, crazy! 

I'm happy about the way the other couple from book one is not forgotten because sometimes, in a series, that happens and I hate it. I especially loved that Ami is still one of the very few people that stands up for Bastien... Our bad guy... Boy, was I glad that his book was next!

And just like that we get to the third book in the series. A friend of mine (S, you know I love you to pieces for suggesting that series to me) told me that she totally was excited for Bastien and his book and that she loved it a lot more than the second. I thought she could NEVER be right because... Well, Bastien wasn't my fav in book one, but slowly grew on me in book two... Very slowly.

Dr. Melanie Lipton is no stranger to the supernatural. She knows immortals better than they know themselves, right down to their stubborn little genes. So although a handsome rogue immortal seems suspicious to her colleagues, Sebastien Newcombe intrigues Melanie. His history is checkered, his scars are impressive, and his ideas are daring. But it's not his ideas that have Melanie fighting off surges of desire . . . 

Bastien is used to being the bad guy. In fact, he can't remember the last time he had an ally he could trust. But Melanie is different — and under her calm, professional exterior he senses a passion beyond anything in his centuries of experience. Giving in to temptation is out of the question — he can't put her in danger. But she isn't asking him . . .

The way Melanie basically leaves Bastien no choice is adorable. Really. His empath-gift is incredible and makes me wish I would possess it, too. Even if Bastien is seen as the bad guy all around, I love how he has troubles coming to terms with people being nice to him. I love as well how slowly but steadily Melanie and Bastien pull more and more Immortals on their side. Sarah and Roland are back and we are again reminded of Sarah's not backstabbing, but ass-stabbing, which again made me laugh. 

Dianne Duvall makes me want to be a gifted one... Or at least a lucky human working with those guys. Man, how much I wish this world was real. For real.

And yes, S, you were right. I adored Bastien and his book. *sigh* I hate when you are right! Just joking! *wink*

In love with Immortal Guardians is 

yours truly, Julie