Robin T. Popp, Tempted In the Night

Tempted In the Night

Robin T. Popp

Warner, January 2007, $6.99, 336 pp.

ISBN 0446617849

The Winslow family have been vampire slayers for centuries, and know how vampires are created. When a human is bitten by the legendary Chupacabra, the venom from the bite kills the victim and brings him back to life as a vampire. When there is not enough venom in the animal's bite the human becomes a half vampire or changeling, with all the advantages of a vampire and very few of the disadvantages.

When Jessica Winslow is chasing a vampire in the park she is stopped by Detective John Boehler, who thinks she is crazy carrying a sword and intending to use it. He locks her up, but before he can get some information from her, Simon Brody, who walked away a free man from a murder trial, is found killed in the park with John's badge near him. Because of the threats he made against Simon, John is suspended. He frees Jessica and takes her to his cousin's home where he admits that he knows the rash of killings of criminals is the work of the vampire. He wants to help them in their fight, but first they must stake Simon before he turns and kills indiscriminately just like he did in life. They fail, and he develops an obsession for Jessica, a notion that fills John with fear because he cares deeply for her. When she goes to New Orleans to investigate a house filled with chupacabra, John follows her, as does Simon.

Robin T. Popp has written an exciting paranormal romance that is full of romance, action and adventure. The way vampires are created adds another dimension to the vampiric legend, and gives readers something new to sink their teeth into. The heroine is stubborn, as is the hero, and together they make a great pair as they fight evil.