Charmeine by Emily Guido

ORDER A COPY: Charmeine: Light-Bearer Series (Volume 1)

Publisher: PDMI Direct Publishing
Publishing Date: September 2, 2012
eBook: 143 pages

Rating: 3 stars

Can romance develop between a Heavenly Light-Bearer and a Hellish Vampire Blood-Hunter?

Tabbruis is an extremely attractive Blood-Hunter who has reconciled himself to be alone forever. Over millennia Tabbruis has wandered the Earth alone, aimlessly living through many historical events.

Charleen (aka Charmeine) was found in 1997 as a teenager, unable to remember where she was from or where her family was. She was sent to an orphanage where she met her best friend, Shane. With determination, she works hard and becomes a school teacher.

Tabbruis comes to her aid when she is attacked by a Blood-Hunter. Charmeine’s power as a Light-Bearer, one who throws lightning, is triggered when she meets Tabbruis, and it grows exponentially.

When they meet, the attraction is immediate, romantic and passionate. They are polar opposites and clash together in a dramatic way.

Will Charmeine and Tabbruis fulfill their destinies? Will they realize their importance in both the Blood-Hunter and Light-Bearer world?

Charmeine was an Angel of Harmony in the 9th Choir of Angels, and her true love, Tabbruis, was an Angel of Self-Determination in the 4th Choir of Angels. Yet, 8,000 year ago, Tab woke up on earth with no memory of who he was or his life with Charmeine. He knew nothing until he was suddenly hit with an unquenchable thirst for blood and knew he must be a “Blood-Hunter.”

Tab eventually learned to sate his thirst with the blood of animals and he avoided humans as much as possible to keep from being consumed with the evil need to drink from people. But recently something is drawing him towards the crowded City of New York. He keeps seeing the vision of a beautiful woman and he must find her. He will go insane unless he can find out who this creature is and why she it haunting him.

When he saves a woman from being a victim of another Blood-Hunter, he is shocked to find she is the woman from his visions. More shocking than simply finding his dream woman is the fact that she is a Light-Bearer. Light-Bearers and Blood-Hunters are enemies. How can he be so attracted to someone like her and even though she feels the same attraction, can two mortal enemies make a life together.

THOUGHTS:
I was warned by the author that Book #1 of the series is a set up story which will set up the basis for the entire series. We only get a brief introduction of Tabbruis and Charmeine from their heavenly life before we find Tab waking in the dessert with no memory.

There are some sections of the story which we learn many details of Blood-Hunters and Light-Bearers, and then there are other scenes that feel very rushed, especially when Tab and (now) Charleen meet for the first time and there is a lot of attraction and we quickly go through the attraction, we can’t be together, but I can’t walk away phase of the romance.

It was also a little oddly written where one paragraph was an internal debate by Tab and the next was an internal debate by Charleen. Usually scenes are more defined by who’s head we are in for that section or even that chapter. It was probably why some scenes felt awkward and rushed.

Although Charleen was a modern woman, Tab waffled back and forth from being very formal in his speaking and his attitude and using modern language. One moment he seemed very stiff and then the next he was laughing or crying.

My biggest problem with this story is that for a paranormal it was way too clean. What the…? Tab turned out to be a 8,000 year old virgin, who never had interest in women physically until he meets Charleen and the same goes with Charleen. For example when Charleen was scared and didn’t want to be alone, and although they desired each other, “He came to her, and she sighed with awkward relief to see he was wearing pajama bottoms as he walked to her.”  There was also a scene where Tab was injured and Charleen fills him a bubble bath to clean him up and she had him keep his shorts on until he was in the water first and then he removed them. She then washed him up, keeping her eyes on his to afford him some privacy. Although I am not that into erotica/bondage books, I’ve read Young Adult books with sexier scenes. These were two immortal adults that acted like bashful teens.

We never learn why Tab was sent to earth and why it took 8,000 years for Charmeine (Charleen) to come to earth also without any memory.  That is all part of the future stories which sound very good, but I don’t think I take all the formal, cleanliness to make it through the series.  I like my paranormal with a little hot and sexy to go with the fangs and the growling.

Received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

Favorite Scene:

He felt a wetness drop on his cheek it seemed to shock him. He thought, ‘Is she crying tears for me?’ Each time a tear of hers touched him, it was like an ocean of feelings pouring on his heart. He blinked and saw the beautiful woman’s face again not believing she was real; her deep brown eyes made his heart soar.

Charleen could see the man who had helped her was breathing, but was panicked by his semi-consciousness. If that wasn’t bad enough, her head was making her see stars. She thought the two of them might end up passed out on the pavement if she didn’t push through the pain.

When she touched the man, white electricity flowed through her fingertips. She could not comprehend what was going on. She thought, ‘Was I attacked and hit by lightning too?’

This gorgeous man came to her rescue and ended up badly bruised but his body was perfect. His face was strong with a prominent jaw. straight long nose, and wavy chestnut brown hair. Even bruised, his face was a work of art.

She was worried he was not coming around. Charleen stared to cry, because she felt helpless. Her tears were falling on his face, but she could not help it. She was patting him on his cheeks trying to make him wake up. His hands had been badly bruised and cut open. She held his bloody hand up against her face and a white light ran through her hand to his.

The man started to blink, revealing unfathomable green eyes. She sighed with relief when he opened his eyes. His brow was creased with questions as he looked at her. Feeling his pulse on his wrist was strong, she smiled in relief. “Oh thank God. Are you okay? Can you hear me?”

Tabbruis thought he saw light coming from her hand into his, but the light did not hurt, it felt wonderful! As he struggled to get up off the pavement, she tried to help him.

She clumsily knocked herself over and fell beside him losing her balance.

On the pavement, they laid next to each other face to face. Tabbruis and Charleen looked at each other intently.

Weakly, almost willing the breath out of her lungs, she gasped, “I wanted to listen to Billy Joel under the stars…but I didn’t think I would be doing it lying on the parking lot.”

Tabbruis looked at her through his blurry eyes focusing on her beautiful face and half growled, “I came on a whim and did not expect to be lying in a parking lot listening to Billy Joel under the stars.”

He saw her smile and laughed rolling her eyes around in her head. He could tell she was in pain. His listened because her small laugh was like a balm on his soul. Coming to he senses, Tabbruis struggled to sit up. “As much fun as this has been Miss, we cannot lie here all night looking at the stars and listening to music.”

She noticed his European accent right away and nodded while she held her head.

After struggling to get on his knees, Tabbrius turned and looked down at the face below him as if she was still a dream. She was magnificent! She had a round face with big bright brown eyes, tanned skin, a small nose. Her long hair looked like golden honey.

Hesitantly, Tabbruis extended his left hand to her, and put his right hand behind her head. Then he gently raised her into a sitting position. He saw she was starting to get up on her own, and took his hands off of her. Mostly because the more he touched her, the more he wanted to never let her go.