Rainbow Reviews

BOOK BLURB:
After the near genocide of his race, Teague Johnson now spends his life hiding in plain sight. In a city populated by humans and Nightfeeders alike, he and his brother are forced to cloak themselves in forged histories in order to blend in among the hierarchy of society. When he's not working at Oasis, the sex club he and his brother own, Teague keeps to himself. He relies on strangers to feed his sexual desires, but anything more intimate is off limits. A nosy boyfriend snooping around in his business is the last thing he needs.

Kyle Drake's arrival at the club makes Teague rethink his favorable stance on one-night stands. From the very first touch, Teague can't get enough of Kyle. Their weekly trysts give Teague a reason to anticipate the future ~ until Kyle unexpectedly disappears.

A visit from an old friend thrusts Teague's life under a microscope and endangers everything he holds dear. Allegiances are tested, and the lines of friendship blur in a race to stop an inhuman killer. Kyle's fate hinges on Teague's ability to untangle the intricate web of secrets and lies before it's too late.

BOOK REVIEW:
In the world of Secrets and Lies, mankind comes in many forms. In particular, there are two vampire breeds, the Daywalkers and the Nightfeeders. The Daywalkers are able to easily blend into human cities, but the Nightfeeders, created through the transmission of blood between a Daywalker and a human, are archetypal vampires with an extreme allergy to sun and need for immense amounts of blood to survive. Over time, the Nightfeeders resisted being bound to the rules of their kind, while the Daywalkers were quietly exterminated until it was thought that none existed. However there are two Daywalkers still living. Teague Johnson and his brother Cadge live in hiding, unable to claim their birthright out of fear of succumbing to the same fate as their parents.

The club Oasis is frequented by humans and creatures alike, including Nightfeeders. One in particular is Victor Manning, a member of the council which rules the immortal beings, who likes to feed off human visitors to the club. Teague, as the club owner, is forced to clean up the messes that Victor creates but when a recent feeding put a human on his deathbed, Teague made a snap decision that has deadly consequences. When his friend Redmond Taylor comes to investigate a rash of recent killings, Teague knows that trouble is brewing. The stakes are even higher when the trouble ensnares Kyle Drake.

Teague is drawn to Kyle, and has broken his own rules with a weekly rendezvous. Out of necessity, he has refused to allow himself to become attached to a human, someone to whom he could not expose his true self. They have intense, mind-blowing sex, but there is no kissing and no intimacy of any kind allowed. Kyle enjoys every moment of their sexual encounters, but he craves more. He has fallen in love with Teague and knows that he cannot accept anything less from the other man. Although it breaks his heart, he walks away from Teague. His absence forces Teague to confront his own feelings and decide to what lengths he is willing to go to protect Kyle.

Secrets and Lies is an intriguing tale with a unique spin on vampire lore. The hierarchy among the creatures and the inter-species relations are well developed and provide an interesting backdrop for the story. The interactions between Teague and Kyle are passionate and intense with extremely erotic, and frequent, sex. They are clearly made for each other but getting Teague to admit it is a challenge. Kyle admirably is willing to surrender amazing sex when what he really wants, and deserves, is a deep emotional connection.

The secondary characters of Red and Cadge are just as powerful. These men have a history, and a burgeoning relationship. Cadge is dealing with twisted emotions due to the loss of his lover five years previous and guilt at his inability to exact vengeance for the death of his parents. Red seems to be the one person who can reach Cadge, and what the future holds for these two will undoubtedly be electrifying.

I was immediately immersed in this world and the characters and definitely recommend this story. Thankfully there is a sequel already in the works, and I anxiously await the continuation of the story of these enthralling characters!

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