Kiss of Surrender, Sandra Hill (3 stars)

About Kiss of Surrender

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher:Avon (November 27, 2012)

It’s not easy being a Vampire Angel.

No one knows that better than Trond Sigurdsson. In the centuries since he last went out drinking and wenching with his Viking buds, Trond has been a gladiator, a cowboy, a ditch digger . . . even a sheik. But now he’s the baddest of them all: a kick-ass Navy SEAL kicking butts of terrorist immortals with the help of his hotter-than-Hades female partner, police officer-turned-Special Forces operative Nicole Tasso—whom Trond dearly hopes to “partner” with very shortly in a whole different way.

The “cop” part of Nicole tells her there’s something bizarre about her gorgeous godlike teammate. But her “all-woman” side can’t help wondering how great it would be to have a virile Viking in her bed. Trond has secrets galore, but Nicole feels certain she can dig them out—and really get to the heart of this powerful, unnerving stranger whom she may be risking her soul to love.

Review

Vampire books have taken over many shelves of our libraries and bookstores, so it's refreshing to come across one with an interesting take on the creature. In Kiss of Surrender, vampires are angels, either created by God's messenger, St. Michael the Archangel, or Lucifer himself--Vangels or Lucipires.

Trond and his brothers are former Vikings who now protect our world by ridding it of the Lucipire demons. In his newest role, Trond is a Navy SEAL at the center of many dangerous missions. But evil humans like Osama Bin Laden are nothing compared to what he's trying to destroy. He has a singular mission, and has for centuries... that is until he meets Nicole, an ex-cop and current Navy operative.

When Trond and Nicole are partnered for a dangerous undercover mission, he finds himself more and more drawn to her. He tries to push her away, but she can't deny her attraction either. In the midst of pure evil, they find their way to each other--a combustible heat that sears the pages. Both have their reasons for not giving into each other without a fight.

Once the story gets going, it's mired down with a lot of setup and background details initially, there's plenty of action and teasing romance. The really hot stuff is saved for the last third of the book. With a title like Kiss of Surrender, it was a bit disappointing to have to wait so long for the building heat between Trond and Nicole to pay off.

For fans of action and paranormal intrigue, there are some bright moments. I particularly enjoyed the side story of one of the Lucipires, Zebulan, feeling conflicted about torturing soul after soul. His character was one of the more interesting ones in the novel. But, I was frustrated with the main undercover operation. It had a lot of potential, the SEALS were after Bin Laden's son, but it was over too quickly.

But the last third of the book does not disappoint, offering plenty of heat and emotional payoffs. By the end, I found myself rooting for Trond and Nicole and wondering what would happen to Zebulan in his quest. My best advice for readers... don't give up too soon in this story. Your patience will pay off.

Rating: 3 stars

About Sandra Hill

Sandra Hill is a graduate of Penn State and worked for more than ten years as a features writer and education editor for publications in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Writing about serious issues taught her the merits of seeking the lighter side of even the darkest stories. She is the wife of a stockbroker and the mother of four sons.

Find out more about Sandra at her website, follow her on Twitter, and connect with her on Facebook.

Thanks to TLC for my review copy.

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

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