Release-Day Review: Undying Embrace by Jessica Lee (The Enclave #2)

Undying Embrace (The Enclave #2)
Jessica Lee
Published: October 21, 2013 (Entangled Edge)
Purchase at: Amazon
Review Source: Copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

Reviewed by: Candace

Rating (out of 5): 4 stars

Arran MacLain is a broody vampire. He turns down a prostitute because she is not the woman he wants, and Gabrielle, the woman he loves, is the reason he left the group of vampires who keeps humans safe from Death Euphoria Addicts aka DEADs(those who get a high from draining their human victims dry).

The back story was concise, the reader is caught up to date quickly and all that Jessica Lee has to do at this point is make you fall for Arran MacLain.

That one is a no-brainer.

Gabrielle Stevens is a human employee of the Enclave, the agency made of up vampires that protect the humans from DEADs. Her sister has disappeared and she sets out to find her. She has to distance herself from Logan, the vampire who has fallen in love with her since Arran left. The only problem is that Gabrielle, or Elle, is still in love with Arran. Logan despises Arran for more than just his prior relationship with Elle. Logan and Arran have worked together before and Arran killed their former master.

If that wasn’t complicated enough, the one who has Alexandria, Gabrielle’s sister is Markus, who is former partner to Arran. Markus is on a power trip, feeding from Marguerite who is a seriously old, seriously powerful vampire.

Now to throw another monkey wrench in, Kenric is the current master of the Enclave and hero of book one, Undying Destiny. His happily-ever-after Emily was victim of Marguerite and Markus.

There are multiple plot lines being here (yes, I left a few out because they’re spoilers), but this shouldn’t be a deterrent.

The beauty with Undying Embrace is that with Gabrielle and Arran, you have a couple who have tried this before, didn’t get their HEA and now are forced into a situation together, which in turn forces them to confront their unresolved feelings. I was pulling for them the whole time and when they’re on page together, the sexual tension is palpable. But Arran, and keep in mind I’m definitely a fan, is a stubborn ass. I don’t know what it is in the blood of vampire males that makes them resist the love placed in front of them, but they do. He ran before, but now, the situation is entirely different. There are massively-extenuating circumstances and this heroic, broody, albeit stubborn-as-hell vampire is faced with a human woman who loves him.

Funny, isn’t it? Our heroes who are alive for hundreds, if not thousands, of years with many kills under their belts, and they can be brought to their knees by human women.

Another thing Lee does beautifully is leave you with an “oh, hell” moment at the end. She actually gives us several. This is my first novel by Lee, but it won’t be my last. Oh no. She’s left this reader with a gaped mouth, unanswered questions and definitely wanting more. Bravo.

Sexual content: Graphic sex