Through anxious nerves, Chantel Demarko can't explain the strong compulsion driving her to attend her first Crimson Serenade against her father's wishes. It doesn't take long before she finds herself in the arms of the Serenade's host, Kenton Thorne, being swept across the dance floor and right into unconsciousness. The vision that completely takes over her is one of ancient, primal pain, blood and lust, leaving Chantel waking with a need she'd never experienced before. Thorne was definitely one of the vampires in the ultra-vivid scene, but who was his gentle companion?

Jaron Sandros knew grief. Not only had he spent the past three decades being utterly ignored and shunned by his partner, but it had come on the heels of losing their mate, of finding her brutally murdered once again by their life-long nemesis, Lorcan. Ishanna is the only one who can end their suffering and mend the mate bond Jaron and Thorne share with her, but her last death was agonizing. Happening upon Chantel Demarko at the Serenade has Jaron taking actions that may insight a war or it may just be the thing to end all of their misery.

Kenton Thorne knew that he was no longer mated. He'd felt the mate bond shatter beyond repair three decades ago and every time he looked at Jaron it was only a painful reminder of all they'd lost. So what in the world had his partner been thinking when he'd abducted Lorcan's child? Trying to sooth a brewing war, the last thing Thorne expects is to be whipped into a dream sequence on the metaphysical plain where he's faced with Jaron and Ishanna once again. However, when the dream begins to fade, it's not just Ishanna's face Thorne is staring at...its Chantel Demarko?

Crimson Awakening emanates lust from every dark shadow, every drop of blood and coursing through it all is the catastrophic power of a forged love determined to thrive no matter what horrific obstacles are thrown in its path. Aubrey Ross knows how to weave words so that her story unfolds in tantalizing glimpses that guarantees the pages are getting turned. Fast paced and packed with sizzling, graphic scenes is the way Ms. Ross works, insuring her readers won't be forgetting her beloved characters any time soon. I would have loved for the story to be longer, the plot details to have been drawn out a little more. But anyone who loves consuming emotions, blatant eroticism and characters that really complement each other will not be disappointed with Crimson Awakening.

Reviewed by: Cris