 Dark
Callings II: Inamorata - reviewed by IGW editor John Charles |
 Dark Callings II: Inamorata by Elizabeth Jewell ISBN 1-59596-051-1 Changeling Press LLC This second installment of Dark Callings picks up where Part I left off. Riordan, a unique blend of vampire and human and his fully vampire, 300-year-old lover, Roarke, are still together and still hunting vampires. Their relationship has evolved into one of co-habitation, and although Roarke has no difficulty with the word “love,” Riordan is struggling with it. That, and with Roarke’s desire for a deeper commitment. While searching for a more spacious home to share, they stumble across “Melinda,” who, surprisingly, isn’t a stranger to Riordan; they’re ex-lovers, and as a matter-of-fact, were once engaged to be married. When Riordan was made, he dropped from site and out of Mel’s life; now she’s found him again. Although reluctant to do so, Riordan reveals himself to Melinda, and explains why he disappeared. Melinda, nevertheless, is still in love. Roarke doesn’t feel exceptionally threatened by Mel’s reappearance in his lover’s life, and in addition to Jewell’s adept gay erotica, seen in both Parts I and II, she now gives us a fair dose of straight erotica as well. When vengeful vampires abduct Melinda, Riordan and Roarke dispatch themselves to her rescue. This, of course, is not without danger to both of them, and Riordan is attacked during the rescue attempt. It’s during the rescue that Melinda sees Riordan in all his vampiric glory, and this, more than anything he has thus far told her, allows her to see that he is, in fact, not the same man she once knew. During the course of this adventure, Riordan comes to realize a few things about his feelings for Roarke as well. Fast paced, well focused, this 60-page continuation of Jewell’s work is very entertaining for those who enjoy erotica and a good vampire story. She blends the two very smoothly, and succeeds in involving the reader from the outset. The characters of Riordan and Roarke are as developed as one can make them in such a short format, yet her formula works. One is again, as in Part I, left with the feeling that there is chemistry between the two, and a desire to know what comes next for them. Dark Callings II: Inamorata (meaning “a woman with whom one is in love”) is available in several formats: HTML, Adobe PDF, MobiPocket, and Microsoft Reader. |