ENCHANT THE DAWN (Enchant #2) by Amanda Ashely-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 23, 2022

Set in steamy New Orleans, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Amanda Ashley delivers a sensually-charged and intelligent vampire romance perfect fans of J.R. Ward and Christine Feehan!

Desire. Danger. Deception. The scion of the Falconer vampire clan inspires them all…

When a mysterious man rescues Madison Bainbridge from a random attack, she sees only his broad shoulders, his gray eyes, his kindness. But as she gets to know Dominic, her attraction wars with the certainty he’s keeping big secrets. Who is the menacing beauty following him around? What of the palm-reader who stops her in the park? And who’s watching them from the shadows?

Young vampire Dominic Falconer wanted nothing more than a few weeks in New Orleans, a chance to see the city on his own. He didn’t expect to be captivated by lovely Maddy—or for enemies to surround him, eager to use the stirrings of his heart to bring down his family.

A hostile rival is out for vengeance. Dominic’s fellow Hungarian vampires are vanishing without a trace. And the shadowy Knights of the Dark Wood want nothing more than to get hold of Dominic himself. But Dominic and Maddy have a connection worth fighting for—and a passion that will awaken the unexpected in them both .

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REVIEW:ENCHANT THE DAWN is the second instalment in Amanda Ashley’s contemporary, adult ENCHANT paranormal, romance series. This is twenty-five year old, vampire Dominic Falconer , and Madison Bainbridge’s story line. ENCHANT THE DAWN can be read as a stand alone but for back story and cohesion, I recommend reading book one ENCHANT THE NIGHT.

SOME BACKGROUND: Twenty-five year earlier, vampire Quill Falconer, killed the leader of the Knights of the Dark Wood, a brotherhood of warlocks whose goal is to rid the world of the blood sucking vampires.

Told from third person perspective ENCHANT THE DAWN picks up twenty five years after the killing of the last Elder Knight, and the Knights of the Dark Wood are seeking vengeance for the one that they lost. Unable to locate the vampire responsible, the Knights discover that Quill Falconer’s vampire son Dominic Falconer is currently living in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the Knights are determined to get their revenge targeting our story line hero. Dominic Falconer is protected by his great grandmother Ava, a powerful witch who knows a thing or two about revenge, herself, and with her magic, Ava intends to protect a young man who is determined to protect the woman he will love.

Meanwhile, a young woman is saved from an attack by our story line hero, a young woman with whom Dominic will fall in love. Enter Madison Bainbridge, a woman who is about to discover a world of supernatural creatures, creatures whose powers she knows nothing about. What ensues is the building but struggling romance and relationship between Dominic and Madison, and the potential fall-out as our couple are target by more than one predator, targeted for sins of the past.

There is more than one magical creature looking for our story line hero. From the Knights of the Dark Wood, to a warlock desperate for his freedom, to a female vampire whose lust for the Falconer blood knows no boundaries including past alliances and sins. Dominic is determined to woo the woman that calls to his heart, a woman who will quickly learn there is something more in the world in which she lives.

The relationship between Dominic and Madison is a slow building romance. Dominic struggles to reveal the nature of his beast, fearing Madison will not accept the man he has become. Madison struggles with the truth about the man with whom she is falling in love but quickly realizes it is the man that she loves, not the monster within. The $ex scenes are passionate but mostly implied.

The secondary and supporting characters include Elder Knight Gregory, warlock Jasper, Dominic’s great grandmother Ava Langley, vampire Claret, Madison’s parents, as well as the return of Dominic’s parents Quill and Callie Falconer.

ENCHANT THE DAWN is a detailed and complex story of revenge and obsession, magic and power, love and forever. I recommend reading book one as the events of the current time are as of a direct result of the events of book one. The premise is intriguing and entertaining but something was missing –there is more telling than showing; the characters are interesting and energetic; the romance is subtle .

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy