#Review: Bite the Dust by Cynthia Eden - 4 Wine Glasses

Title: Bite the Dust
Series: Blood and Moonlight #1
Author: Cynthia Eden
Format: Kindle Edition, 244 pages
Published: October 6th 2015 by Hocus Pocus Publishing
ASINB:014JRV3M8
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Reviewer: Crystal
Source: NetGalley
Rating: 4 out of 5 Wine Glasses

Vampires. Werewolves. Beasts that hunt in the night...When New Orleans Detective Jane Hart investigates her first official homicide case, she never expects to have her world ripped apart. But the murder she’s investigating is part of a deadly war between vampires and werewolves…and now Jane is caught in that eternal battle. A battle that can’t end well.

Werewolf Aidan Locke has been running New Orleans for years. It’s his job to keep the vamps out of the city. But when a Master Vampire comes to town, determined to unleash hell, Aidan knows it’s time to fight with all the fury of his pack. Beast versus vamp, until the last breath. Then he meets Jane…

One look, one taste, and Aidan knows that Jane is far more than she seems. Far more than she even knows herself to be. She’s important in the paranormal war, not a pawn to be used, but a queen to be won. And if he can’t keep her at his side, if he can’t stop the darkness from descending on the town…then Jane Hart will become not just a fierce cop, not some guardian, but something deadlier. Darker. Aidan will fight heaven and hell to change her fate. To change their fate because he is more than just a predator.

And Jane is more than prey. Far more.

Crystal's Thoughts: 
When I see a new or recent release from author Cynthia Eden, I don't even have to read the synopsis to pick up the book. Just her name is promise alone that I am going to get a quality story that will captivate me from start to finish; and Bite the Dust held to that promise!

This isn't the first time that Detective Jane Hart has been called crazy, but when the body of a murder victim disappears and no one but her seems to remember the woman, she refuses to let that stop her from finding the woman's killer. When the victim appears a second time though with a completely new cause of death, Jane knows something is not quite right in New Orleans.
Despite what the human authorities may think, werewolf alpha Aidan Locke runs New Orleans, and he has no qualms about using his power to make the locals forget when they've seen something different. When Aidan tries to persuade the pretty new homicide detective to forget the victim of a vampire attack, he discovers that not only is Jane not quite human like he thought, but that she could also be the tipping point for the war between vampires and werewolves. What Aidan doesn't know yet, is that she is also so much more...
But Jane is keeping more secrets then even Aidan suspects, secrets that could mean the end for them all...

Cynthia Eden is a master at weaving together paranormal, suspense and romance to create an edge-of-your-seat page-turner like no other. In this first book in a brand new series, a supernatural war between werewolves and vampires is brewing, and Jane finds herself dead center in middle of it. But Aidan swears to protect her with his life, not only because her death can possibly mean the end of the werewolves in New Orleans, but because he can't live without the stubborn and independent detective.

"You're not what I expected. But you're exactly what I want." 

With each page more and more of these two character's past and present are revealed. They both are holding their cards tightly to their chest so it wasn't an instant connection for me, though I did like Aidan right away. Sexy alpha wolf, go figure, right? LOL Eden always does a superb job of unfolding mysteries bit by bit and Aidan and Jane are exactly that - a mystery! Aidan knows what Jane is, what she is capable of....Jane has a blood soaked past and a deadly secret. And not all secrets will be revealed by the end of the book...There is no denying the spark in the air when Jane and Aidan first meet though, a mix of anger and lust. These two, both with dominant personalities, sizzled together. I loved, despite that though, Aidan was always willing to compromise (or seem like he was compromising) with his need to protect that also allowed for Jane's need for independence. He was exactly what she needed. 

"Sweetheart," he told her softly, "I'll be your partner. I'll be your lover. I'll be anything you want."

With vibrant characters that leapt from the pages I couldn't help but get caught up in the passion and action of the story. Eden's meticulous writing style always gives the feeling of being thrust right into this modern day world of paranormal creatures along with her characters. Throw in a lethal enemy from the past, prophecy induced fear, and the inevitable betrayal, and you have another winning story from this must-read author. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book, Better Off Undead, to see what's next for Aidan and Jane! If you love a blend of paranormal romance and romantic suspense then you can't go wrong with Bite the Dust!



Suggested Reading Order:
Bite the Dust (Blood and Moonlight #1)
Better Off Undead (Blood and Moonlight Book 2)