Possessed by an Immortal by Sharon Ashwood – a Review

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Description:
Can a mother in jeopardy melt the heart of a jaded vampire?

After witnessing a murder, Bree Meadows is on the run with her young son. But the bad guys are in hot pursuit. Dropped in the middle of nowhere amid a torrential thunderstorm, things look pretty grim. To make matters worse, her son is in desperate need of medical attention.

Mark Winspear has been alone for too long. When the vampire senses a gorgeous female nearby, he discovers that her swift, selfless courage pulls at his instincts.The doctor has history with the same men who are after Bree–and he’s ready for revenge. Working together now, they discover an attraction that might save them both–if they’re lucky

Review:

Barb emailed, “Would you like to review the Sharon Ashwood sequel?” My immediate thought: Can you deliver it today?!  Possessed by an Immortal is a fast-paced story heavy with action and rich with details; a noteworthy tale that follows the world building originated in Possessed by a Warrior (read review here). While my beloved Sam is no longer the central character, Mark Winspear…aka Plague…aka Dr. Winspear…he’s still a vampire (swoon) and holds his own as the next featured Horseman. Looooving this series!

Bree is on the run again. Dumped somewhere near the Pacific Ocean, she’s fighting hard to find shelter for herself and four year old son, Jonathan. Mark controls his lethal impulses to kill the trespassers for encroaching on his secluded “man cave in the woods” the second he identifies (through vampire sense/scent) that her young son is seriously ill. Thrust back into the role of protector/provider, a role long abandoned after the brutal murder of his wife and children, Mark is apprehensive, yet resolved to get them to safety and determine what exactly the nature of Jonathan’s illness is.

She’s the ex-mistress of Crown Prince Kyle of Vidon. That kid of hers is rumored to be his illegitimate son. She’s unofficially on the Vidonese most-wanted list.

Ah…subterfuge, but you’ll have to sort it out in the book. 🙂  For the present and most pressing matters, Bree and Mark may be invariably tangled in the same mess. Bree witnessed a murder a year ago and her silence is imperative. The group pursuing Bree also happen to hold a centuries-long vendetta against Mark. Birds of a feather…Which meant the his-and-hers sets of gunmen were probably the same people.

The details of Bree’s involvement fit perfectly within the larger puzzle Sam and Chloe were constructing. The invaluable wedding dress that almost cost Chloe her life (and Sam’s sanity)? Bree was not only a member of the design atelier, but assistant to the designer who was murdered for it! The plot thickens with layers of motive and cross purposes. It’s safer to be away from the danger Mark now poses to Bree (never mind pesky vampire revelation)…but what of the risk to his heart? Mark already assumed a role as Jonathan’s doctor, but his interest in Bree is intensifying and begging to be explored. It’s no small feat to turn away now.

…he was beginning to realize the situation had risks—and he was the danger. He was too powerfully drawn to Bree. She wasn’t just any woman—he could resist most with no problem. But she had inspired something deeper than ordinary lust or hunger, and that was treacherous for them both. He should walk away – leave before he took her, body and blood.

Bree tries to keep Mark at arm’s length; she admonishes herself for allowing Mark to take on such a fatherly role, but mostly for reveling in a few stolen kisses. No wonder: When Ms. Ashwood creates a hero, swooning becomes an involuntary function. Unlike Sam, however, Mark wrestles his nature into compliance and refuses to succumb to his beast. I found Mark loads more stoic and colder (internal battle scars that render you hopeless tend to cause withdrawal), but have no fear. Ms. Ashwood builds up the romance steadily and assuredly. I must have mentioned loving this series, right?

Mark and Bree have choices: Find a way to trust each other, to discover how wonderful it is to love again or remain lonely and detached and lose what ground they’ve gained. It’s a no-brainer, but when you’re not accustomed to asking for help, it has to take someone monumentally special to surrender such defenses. Possessed by an Immortal offers suspense, revenge, mad science, a beautiful relationship between mother and son, and alpha-induced swoons. The particulars are starting to align and I intend to follow its path. Possessed by an Immortal is a compliment to the series. I’m ready for book 3!

Human or horror, they shared the same shadows now.

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Publisher