Review: Sunrise in A Garden Of Love & Evil by Barbara Monajem

Title: Sunrise in A Garden Of Love & Evil
Author: Barbara Monajem
Series: Bayou Gavotte #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: April 30th 2010
Blurb:

Being irresistible sucks. Ophelia Beliveau learned that at puberty. When her friends grew breasts, she sprouted fangs as well. The effect on boys was even more dangerous.
Ophelia's peril has only increased. As a woman, there's been only one solution, but she can’t avoid men forever. Solitude satisfies no craving, and now her self-imposed exile must end. A vandal has destroyed her garden. A web of blackmail and murder is being woven across town, with Ophelia at its heart. And then there’s Gideon O’Toole, a detective sworn to uncover more secrets than she thirsts to bare…



This is the first book I've read of this author. It's set in a town where vampires , humans with a genetic trait that makes them irresistible to the oposite sex and also drink blood, are hidden and protected in the underground scene.

The lead characters, Ophelia and Gideon, are attracted to each other from the start, but I felt that the romance was forced. Ophelia treats Gideon badly, and still he keeps coming back to her. I know that she was scared because of something that happened in her past, but at some point, I just didn't care anymore. She's childish, angry at everyone and has trust issues. She also says that she doesn't need anyone's help, but there's always someone cleaning up her messes. I don't know how Gideon could be so in love with her. That's not to say that Gideon was perfect, it's just that at least he didn't burdened everyone with his problems.

The mystery fell short. I felt like it was streched too long and some scenes weren't necesary.
The best things of this book were Constantine, the town's bad-ass that scares almost everyone, and Zelda, Ophelia's niece that's going through the change (into a vampire).
This book starts a promising series, but don't expect anything out of the ordinary.


Memorable Lines:

"Put the gun away, Ophelia." He walked calmly toward her. "It's only me."
"I know who it is." Ophelia's voice broke, and a tear spilled treacherously down her cheek. She let out a scream of rage and fired, kicking up gravel far too close to Gideon's feet. He didn't flinch. He didn't move a goddamn hair. "Don't you get it?" she yelled. "I'm trying to protect you from yourself. I am not safe to be with!"
Gideon echoed her earlier words in biter mockery. "That's the stupidest thing I ever heard in my life. You could at least come up with an intelligent lie."
Ophelia opened her mouth but shut it again. Pissing him off was what she wanted. Still, the disgust in his voice tore into her.
"Don't worry," he said. "I'm out of here, and I won't come back unless you need me."


Next Book:
Tastes of Love & Evil with release date August 24th 2010.


Rating: