The Becoming by Jeanne C. Stein

The Becoming
Jeanne C. Stein
Ace – The Berkley Publishing Group
December 2006
0-441-01456-9

Anna Strong’s life as a bounty hunter requires her to be tough enough to deal with the criminals she brings in. On a job with her partner she’s assaulted by the man she’s been paid to take into custody. For her troubles Anna is bitten and turned against her will. She wakes in a hospital with no recollection of what happened, but as the night in question filters back into her memory Anna is more shocked at her own behavior than that of her assailant. Now with a little help from Avery, Anna pursues the renegade vampire who took her human life.

Avery is a doctor as well as a Night Watcher, a vampire who keeps an eye on their community. When Anna is brought in to the emergency room Avery knows exactly what has happened to her and it’s his duty as a doctor as well as a Night Watcher to keep her under observation. Anna’s boyfriend Max is away for the most part, so seducing her is an easy enough task. Avery will do everything in his power to push Anna into leaving her mortal life behind, but she’s not so easily swayed and it may just turn into a fight to the end.

The Becoming has all of the key elements needed to make it an intriguing and powerful start in this first installment of the Anna Strong Chronicles. Ms. Stein pens a well-built paranormal world for Anna’s introduction into the vampire ranks, and gives readers a taste of the dangers that come along with Anna’s new found immortality. Deliciously sexy and delightfully seductive, it will keep you riveted and craving more.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews