ARC Review: Tess Hilaire - Deliver Me from Darkness

Paladin Warriors Series:

Book 1:

Deliver Me from Darkness: Roland and Karissa Donovan

Publication Date: February 1^st 012

Summary:

A little under a 100 years ago, Roland was one of the Paladin Warriors, a race of man descended from angels who fights evil in “His” name.  In a cruel twist of fate, he was turned into one of the very creatures he once battled with, a vampire.   Upon his turn he was shunned and hunted by his Paladin brothers, only one believed there was still good remaining in him and spared his life. Now almost a 100 years later, Roland has control of his darker desires, well mostly has control, but all of that is about to challenged when his once brother Logan brings a small woman to his place for him to protect.  Karissa has been warned her entire life of the creatures that lurk at night, in a small act of defiance against her Papa she enrolls in a night class at the local university. Within days, her home is invaded and her Papa slaughtered. In order to protect herself she runs to the man her Papa always told her to go to if anything ever happens to him, Logan Calhoun.  Logan suspects that Karissa is a female Paladin, the last female was nearly a hundred years ago, knowing the stir she would cause if she was to take her to headquarters he decides to take her to Roland instead. When Karissa wakes in a strange bed she finds a vampire looming over her, not willing to stick around and have her life sucked out of her, she attempts to run, but finds herself trapped.  In sleep Roland found Karissa intriguing but awake, he fears that she might just be “His”, his one soul mate that is gifted to a Paladin Warrior, but he knows that can’t be correct as he no longer has a soul. Terrified of Roland, Karissa asks Logan to take her to Paladin Headquarters, which turns out to be one of her biggest mistakes and she ends up running for her life…

Review:

I believe this is a first novel for Tess Hilaire, and I have to say I quite enjoyed it. Karissa was quite likable, she was fierce, stubborn and with incredible powers of her own. Once she stopped being afraid of Roland she had unwavering faith in him, more then he has for himself. I like a girl that stands by her man.  Roland is sexy, brooding and self sacrificing. He is willing to die for Karissa, even though he is convinced he could never have her.  He would do anything in his considerable power to make sure no harm comes to her, and when it does, watch out! Nothing is going to stand between him and protecting his woman, including himself.

I’ve read other series about Paladin Warriors, and I liked Tess Hilaire’s take on them. They are on a holy mission, as descendents of angels, yet they are so very human in their flaws.  It makes it so they are more likable and not quite so holier than thou. There was plenty of action to keep the story moving along and so that you don’t get bored.  There were a couple of parts that were like, huh, why is this here and why is this relevant, but it ends up being explained a bit better later. I enjoyed the side characters and am looking forward to future books, there is one potential pairing that has me quite intrigued.

Overall, I’d have to say this is a good book with a lot of potential as a series. Although, I am not going to give this one a perfect score, but the only reason for that is re-readability. I can’t see myself going back to re-read this novel.  I quite enjoyed it the first go around and it kept me up half the night, but it is missing the certain something that makes you want to go back for the re-read.

Rating: