Review - Key to Redemption by Talia Gryphon

Key to Redemption
Gillian Key, ParaDoc, Book 3
Talia Gryphon
ACE
September 30, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-441-01644-0

From the publisher’s website:
In Romania, the estate of master vampire Aleksei Rachlav has become the headquarters for those paramortals who stand against Dracula’s army. And soldier and paramortal psychologist Gillian Key finds herself with a new group of clients. One is straight out of legend—a disfigured, masked man who haunts a Parisian opera house— and who becomes Aleksei’s rival for Gillian’s heart.

My thoughts:
Gillian Key is a paramortal psychologist and a former Marine Captain from a Special Operatives Unit. She’s received a call from Helmet, her boss, advising her of a new group of patients he’d like her to treat. Among them is Perrin, a man who will require Gillian to use skills she’s trained in, but hadn’t thought she’d have reason to use. This could present a serious problem with Gillian’s vampire lover, Aleksei, who has already been kind enough to open his home to her patients.

Aleksei Rachlav is a master vampire who’s working to keep his people safe while he battles against Dracula who has proven himself an evil foe. Even with various governments coming together with the paramortal community it’s frustrating that they’ve been unable to stop Dracula from continuing to kidnap, murder and destroy everyone in his path. Gillian is by his side in the fight whenever she and her team are needed, but her patients are currently taking up any free time they might find to spend together. Her newest case is straining their relationship while it challenges his trust in her, and if he doesn’t find a way to cope with the situation he could end up losing her forever.

This is the third release in the Gillian Key, ParaDoc series. As the struggle against Dracula continues Gillian’s list of paramortal patients increases and one particularly needy patient drives a wedge between her and her lover, Aleksei. The story moves at a steady pace with the introduction of new characters, an expansion of the heroine’s job skills, and the possibility of new threats. Ms. Gryphon entertains readers with her paranormal world and takes Key to Redemption on a side trip that makes it steamier than ever. There’s a nice bit of humor where one particular character is concerned and you’re sure to think of it every time he’s mentioned afterwards. I’m looking forward to seeing where the author takes us in the next of Gillian Key’s adventures.

To learn more about the Gillian Key series, please visit the author’s MySpace: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Key to Conspiracy by Talia Gryphon

Key to Conspiracy
Gillian Key, ParaDoc, Book Two
Talia Gryphon
Ace – Penguin Group USA
April 29, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-441-01576-4

Though she’d prefer not to, Paramortal psychologist, Gillian Key, leaves Romania and her handsome Master Vampire, Aleksei Rachlav, behind when she’s recalled by the Marine Corps for a special mission. With her handpicked Re-Con team, Gillian is sent to Northern Russia under the cover of helping in a search and rescue after a major earthquake. Their true mission is tracking down kidnapped children in the hands of traffickers and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

While she and her team complete their mission in Russia, an unrelated job waylays her on her return trip and puts her in more danger than ever. Separated from Aleksei, Gillian is more susceptible to Dracula and his minions. When an evil she thought she left behind appears in the flesh, it’s all Gillian can do to get away. With a whole lot of help from her friends, Gillian plans to make it back to Romania and to Aleksei, the former patient she’s waited years to explore a relationship with.

Key to Conspiracy is the second book in the Gillian Key, ParaDoc series. Gillian enjoys her work as a Paramortal psychologist, but when the Marine Corps calls she’s duty bound to take on a new mission. With the dark prince Dracula still on the loose, danger is inevitable. Ms. Gryphon revs up her romantic urban fantasy series with new threats and action-packed danger. Chemistry sizzles between characters and their relationships move to a new level while the fight to break the dark prince’s hold continues. Key to Conspiracy can be read as a stand-alone story, but for a better understanding of the evil Gillian faces readers should start with Key to Conflict.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews