Amazon Category:  Romance Publisher: Hard Shell Word Factory ISBN-10:  0759903670 Type: Fiction Pages: 225 Copyright: Oct 1 2000 She has the power to save him . . . if his secret doesn't destroy her first. Cursed for his father's sins, Desmond Lacroix will do anything to save his own daughter, including kidnapping investigative reporter Rebecca Morgan. Won over by the girl, and her father, Rebecca stays to help. As reluctant cooperation turns to love, can Desmond hide the secret of his 150-year curse from a woman who makes her living exposing secrets? More importantly, can he protect her from the dangers of his love? Excerpt "Let me go!" Rebecca shoved against the door. Lacroix grabbed her wrists, pulling her arms behind her back. She kicked backwards. Her injured foot betrayed her, and she pitched forward, slamming her cheek into the door. He took advantage of her unbalance and pressed up against her, using his weight to trap her against the door so that she couldn't move. "I do have a daughter," he whispered, his fingers tightening painfully around Rebecca's wrists. "Since her mother died, she means everything to me. But she's dying. I've thrown everything the Institute has into the search for her cure, and I'm barely able to slow the progression of her disease. Now you offer me the first ray of hope in three years." He leaned his forehead against the door so that Rebecca looked into his glittering green eyes. "I didn't want it to be like this. I was hoping you'd volunteer. But I have no choice. My daughter's life depends on it." She stared, captivated by the shimmering emerald reflections in his eyes, a thousand points of faerie fire that danced and leaped in strange, hypnotic patterns. She could stare into his eyes for hours. He eased away from her, no longer crushing her against the door, but she forgot why that was important. Her pulse sped up. It was important. She struggled to release the memory of why. Lacroix turned her so that she faced him, tipping her head so that she looked directly into his eyes. He slid his hands down her arms to capture her hands, and she remembered his gentleness as he comforted her after her panic attack. She had nothing to fear from him. Sighing, she relaxed into the warmth. Rebecca blinked. How had she gotten to the couch, with her hands tucked inside Desmond's and clasped close to his heart? "You do want to help my daughter, don't you?" he asked again. "Of course I do," she heard herself saying. Then she added, "But I can't."

Book Browser - 21st Century Vampire Romance
Genre: Speculative Fiction
Subgenre(s): Supernatural
Time Period: Near Future
Reviewer: Harriet Klausner
Reviewed: 10/21/2000

Reporter Rebecca Morgan investigate the shrouds of secrecy that hides the mysterious Prescott Institute and its CEO Desmond Lacroix from view. At one point Rebecca wondered if Lacroix exists as no records of him can be found and his company’s trail ends in an obscure holding company. She wonders if the facility conducts illegal drug research. That is why she agreed to Lacroix’s invitation to tour his facility. Lacroix informs Rebecca that Prescott conducts research into the blood and vascular system.

Lacroix introduces Rebecca to Dr. Andrew Chen, who explains he is doing research involving DNA. She asks him to show her, offering her arm for him to obtain a blood sample. After drawing blood, Dr. Chen notices that Rebecca’s blood contains a structure that could lead to a cure to a degenerative blood disorder. She might be the savior for Desmond’s daughter. As Desmond and Rebecca stay in close proximity, they fall in love. However, she still wonders if he is an elaborate con artist and he knows how frail life can be with his wife dead from leukemia and his daughter ailing. A lasting relationship between this pair seems remote.

DARK SALVATION centers on vampirism being a blood condition as opposed to a supernatural affliction. The engaging story line enables readers to believe. The lead protagonists are a charming pair, simultaneously struggling with their attraction, their doubts, and their responsibilities. The support cast augments the plot by making vampirism appear as a disease requiring modern day research to find a cure for it. Jennifer Dunne has written a twenty-first century vampire romance that will warm the blood of sub-genre fans.

US Times - A book with real bite
DARK SALVATION, by Jennifer Dunne, is sheer entertainment. She has adeptly taken a very old subject and put an entirely -- if you'll excuse the expression -- novel twist on it. DARK SALVATION is for those who want a light read -- no heavy messages here. Just plain fun. Dunne has given us a book with real bite.

Midnight Scribe - Five Stars
DARK SALVATION is the most unique, fresh twist in the paranormal romance vampire genre that I've seen to date. Jennifer Dunne weaves Science and Magic smoothly together in the way of a superb storyteller. DARK SALVATION is packed with excitement, suspense and paranormal elements that gives it a quality all of its own. Readers, if you love paranormal vampire romances you will love this book!