Kiss the Night Goodbye

A woman gambles the strength of her love against the power of a spell-casting vampire…she cannot afford to lose…

The Damask Circle is an association created by a group of paranormal beings that hunt down and destroy evil entities. Nikki James is determined to pass any test to join this group and work alongside her fiancé Michael. She first developed some psychic talents in her adolescence. When she became involved with vampire, Michael Kelly, her abilities increased and evolved at an amazing rate. Against his better judgement Michael had forged a psychic mind connection with Nikki because it had been a necessity to save her life, at an earlier time. The communication between the couple is much clearer than talking aloud because emotions are also relayed with the unspoken speech.

Some of the members of the Circle are under attack from a highly evolved vampire/sorcerer, Emmett Dunleavy. Michael and witch, Seline killed Dunleavy’s brother Weylin some years ago. Now he is hell-bent on revenge. Dunleavy intends to use Michael as a vessel to resurrect his brother. Michael is kidnapped and his present day memory wiped. He is re-living the events leading up to the slaying of Weylin and is trapped by the vampire’s sorcery. Nikki is desperate to get to Michael before he is sacrificed. She has come too far to lose him now. If she is to succeed she must fool Dunleavy and disguise herself as Seline. Michael no longer remembers or knows Nikki and they have lost their psychic contact. Dunleavy’s spells also mean that Nikki’s psi abilities cannot be relied on. Her first mission for the Circle will be the biggest challenge of her life and if she fails she will lose forever the only man she has ever truly loved.

The fourth book in Keri Arthur’s Michael and Nikki series is the most powerful so far. Nikki has developed into a stubborn, passionate character, prepared to sacrifice anything to get what she wants. She must now prove her mettle. Is her love and grit enough to take her beyond the crux of true evil? Michael has always had very strong beliefs, he is unbending and has survived by keeping to himself. Nikki must find a way to crack his tough exterior and reach his heart if she is to save them both. Ms. Arthur holds nothing back; this vampire is beyond malevolent and the gruesome deaths of his human sacrifices are depicted in a very clear manner. Nikki’s dilemma is also spelt out clearly. This is a book you will not want to put down; Nikki’s progress with her love is as compelling as their plans to thwart the vampire. Things are not quite what they seem and the reader is led down many wrong paths before the final battle of wills. Kiss the Night Goodbye is not for the faint-hearted. Readers who have enjoyed the first three books in this series (Dancing with the Devil, Hearts in Darkness, Chasing the Shadows) will definitely want to add this one to their keeper shelf!

Reviewed by: Naomi