Club Carousel: A Taste of Dawn is the story of Eric, a member of a vampire band, and Mercedes, his muse who is an organic vampire. As Eric King tries to compose music, he is suddenly bombarded with a melody from what he believes is his muse. Far away in a locked cell, Mercedes San Carlos reaches out to anyone who will hear her and bring some relief to the terrifying horror that has become her life. She connects with Eric and shares her love of music with him. The story jumps ahead from 1859 to 2006. For over a hundred years, Mercedes reaches out to Eric and has the ability to see him from her non-corporal body. After years of watching Eric with other women, Mercedes decides that she will no longer help him write his music. Eric has hit a brick wall when trying to compose and goes to the band's home far away from everyone to try to find his muse again. While reading his e-mails, he finds a mysterious e-mail from someone who knows a lot about his music and the composition of it. A partial song is attached to the e-mail, and the message reads that she will give him the rest of the song in exchange for a night of sex. Eric is both angry and intrigued by the unknown woman, and arranges to have her come to his house. When Mercedes arrives, she is cloaked in such a way that all he sees is a shimmer when she moves. Using his skills, he finds a way to reveal who she is, and is surprised to find that he recognizes her. The attraction between them is instantaneous and explosive. After multiple sessions of mind-shattering sex, he finds out who her guardian is, and wants to send her away to protect her. But what they do not realize is that her guardian is not the one they should fear. Mercedes' mother was from another dimension and now there are those who want Mercedes dead. With some help from her guardian and other dimension shifters, Eric has to help Mercedes complete the ritual of her "awakening" before she is killed, so she can take her rightful place as a powerful Day Warrior.

This story had it all: mystery, vampires, shifters, romance and great sex. Aubrey Ross gives us everything and more. The story is fast-paced and red-hot. The reactions between Eric and Mercedes from the first time they meet and touch are beyond hot and steamy—it's explosive. Mercedes' strong personality complements Eric's easygoing nature. Eric, however, is very possessive, but then again, so is Mercedes. That was evident by the way they couldn't keep their hands off each other. Eric was softhearted, romantic and sexy as hell. What woman, or vampire for that matter, wouldn't want him lusting after her? I would have liked the story to be a little longer, especially with regard to the shifters from the other dimension, as the battle between the entities happens quickly and was a little confusing. It was evident that some of the characters were from earlier stories, so it would have been nice to have more background before the vampires and shifters came together in a confrontation, if only to make it clear who everyone was. Overall, the story kept me spellbound, and I couldn't wait to read more. Maybe we'll see a story about the Day Warriors, and run into Eric and Mercedes again. We can only hope.

Reviewed by: Chris P.