3 ½ StarsBride of the Night is a paranormal romance set during The Civil War. Our main characters Tara and Finn are both half-blood vampires (human mother, vampire father). Tara had never met anyone like her before, she suspected there were more of her kind but had never encountered one until the day she meets Finn. Finn is a Pinkerton detective in charge of President Lincoln’s security, he knows others like him that also work for the president, but Tara is different, she doesn’t know much about their kind, what she knows is because she had discovered by herself. She doesn’t even know she has half-siblings. At first Finn sees her as a treat to the president, he knows there is more to her or at least that’s what he wants to believe because of his attraction to her, attraction that is making him careless and forgetful, things he had never been. Circumstances throw them together in a place where they need to work close to each other to survive. After spending sometime together Finn realizes she is as devoted to the president as he is. Tara finds Finn fascinating, it’s not just that he is the first one of her kind she has met but she admires his passion for his job and the president’s welfare.I really liked Tara, she is sweet, caring and strong. I really liked her determination, she has an objective and does whatever is require of her to reach it.Finn is dreamy, he is a “man” of principles and courage. What I liked the most about Finn was his ability to accept when he was mistaken. They relationship developed slowly, their attraction was believable and hot.The secondary characters are diverse and interesting. I really loved Tara’s best friend Richard and Tara’s almost step-dad Seminole Pete. But the one I loved was President Lincoln, he’s conversations with Tara were beautiful and inspiring, and I really would have loved to know more about him.Even though I had some suspicions about the villain I can almost say he was a surprise, I really liked that twist in the story.My final thought: Although Bride of the Night was an entertaining read I had some problems with it, it felt slow and a bit repetitive at times. The actions scenes were good but they became too much of the same and I wanted the story to move along a bit faster. After some stalling the pace picked up one third to the end and there Bride of the Night became a page turner difficult to put down.What I found fascinating about this book is the way Mrs. Graham intermingles accurate historical events and details of the time with the paranormal aspects of the story; she writes them so well that they feel real and easy to believe. Bride of the Night by Heather Graham ISBN 978-0373776153The book “Bride of Night” is a paranormal romantic suspense novel set during the Civil War in Florida. The Pinkerton Agent, Finn Dunne, has a duty of protecting President Lincoln and his duties take him from the President’s side to investigate a possible assassination attempt and into the very close proximity of the only possible threat, Miss Tara Fox, to the President that ever got away from him. This book is an enthralling read that holds true to the world the author created and the known history of Florida in the Civil War. The characters are hybrid vampires who strive to do their duty to friends and country while keeping their identities secret and their nature hidden. The mystery of the villain is kept well hidden until the very end when the heroine’s half siblings swoop in to save the day. For readers who like the paranormal and historical fiction – this novel is a treasure.The heroes Finn and Tara are surrounded by a cornucopia of great people: Tara’s childhood friend, Richard Anderson who is a Confederate blockade runner and closer than a brother and Seminole Pete, the man who acted as her step-father after her mother’s death. Finn comes down on a Union vessel and after an exciting experience they all end up on an island having to work together to survive. The real danger of untrained vampires is a very large threat on the island they are on and eventually Key West where Richard Anderson and Tara Fox grew up. Everyone needs to forget regional lines to work against a common enemy and that is a powerful aspect of both conflict and resolution.The time period of the Civil War has been well researched and the descriptions of battle and peoples’ thoughts about war seem accurate and well developed. The islands off of Florida mainland are beautiful and great time as been used in the setting selection. The Caribbean feel of some of the minor characters add depth to the setting and community that Tara grew up in and the reader understands how important this place is to her.A strong villain is essential to every suspense novel and I feel that I cannot say too much without giving away the book; however, the reader will be very satisfied with the ending for the author has crafted a story that is complete.“Bride of the Night” was a quick and compelling read. Be prepared for leaving the lights on too late and forgetting such menial tasks as laundry and dishes when you open this book. Tara and Finn have a whirl-wind story through the South as they work together to protect President Lincoln and help save the community that Tara calls home. This is one book that when you close you hope that you hope to seem Tara and Finn again! It is a great historical paranormal romantic suspense novel.
