This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

Summary

Charlotte Vintage and her best friend Gabrielle, are on the run. They live in hiding and secret from a dangerous man. Charlotte's brother and mentor were murdered, as well as Gabrielle's grandmother. Charlotte has unique abilities, and when she receives a vision of three men that are tracking their movements, Charlotte and Gabrielle decided to go on the defensive. They are tired of running and hiding and being afraid and never feeling safe. They head to a dance club, hoping to have some relaxation and fun and needing to do more than live away in secret. Tariq Asengard, is a ancient Carpathian. He runs a most popular dancing club, and is well known in society's circles. When he senses his lifemate close by, seeks her out and saves her and brings her and her friend to his highly guarded estate. Charlotte has never felt a connection like she does to Tariq, a man of mystery and power but is gentle and patient with her and encourages her gifts. But there is a threat, a dangerous master vampire who tortures, rapes and kills innocent women and children. Children that are under Tariq and Charlotte's protection...

Plot and Story Line

Dark Carousel is the 30th installment, in the Carpathian Series and man I can't believe we are on #30. Kinda crazy how many books are in this series and the way it has developed. The one aspect I love the most is the world building. And Feehan keeps you intrigued more and more. Now I admit I wasn't sure what to expect from this one. The past two heroes in this series, haven't exactly been my favorites at all, and I was curious to see what she would do with Tariq. But thankfully, he turned out to be good!! I was very delightfully surprised with this one. Tariq is a lot more tamer than most of the more recent heroes in the series. He is alpha male, very, but at the same time he isn't stuck in the old ages either. He doesn't try to force or demean Charlotte. He encourages her gifts and even wants her to learn how to fight vampires just in case its needed. We have a major villain in play here. And man he is one of the worst I have seen since I stumbled across this series. Tariq has adopted five children that he rescued from a master vampire who was doing experiments trying to sire his own children. Four girls and one boy. The girls had the worst of it and two of them are still suffering from intense forms of PTSD. Charlotte doesn't know if she can be a good mother or even friend to these children who need a therapist or someone capable of seeing to their needs. All of them are living a half life. Not fully in the human world yet not fully in the carpathian one either. The romance that develops between Tariq and Charlotte was different and had some upsides and downsides. First, it felt a bit rushed in my opinion even for a Feehan romance TOO fast. I like to see chemistry build up and a relationship grow, not happen in one night!! It's probably the one factor I would change about this story. Everything else I had a blast with, but their romance just happened to quickly to be believable. But man I loved the way Tariq does treat Charlotte. Like a partner, he puts her opinion above almost everything else unless she is in danger.

I am not going to tell you I don't have a dominant personality, because I do. That said, I don't want a submissive woman. I want an intelligent woman thinking for herself. I want a strong woman to help me figure out what to do with enormous problems I have facing me. Do I make decisions fast? Yes. Absolutely. I want my woman to be able to do the same. You're that woman. Will it always be easy? We have five children to look out for. Five. Two are already teens. All of them are traumatize. We have Fridrick and his bosses with their army coming after Emline, Genevieve and you. We have the threat of the three men following you from Paris. I don't need a submissive woman, Charlotte. I need a warrior. A woman walking beside me. Fighting beside me. Standing in front of those children beside me. I know that woman is you

But Charlotte although capable and strong-willed, is understanding of Tariq's nature, and knows when to put her pride aside and let him lead especially when its a dangerous situation.

I'm savoring every moment with you. Committing it to memory. The start of us. The beginning. I do not want to miss one single second with you

I did like how well these two complimented each other. The added factor of traumatized children was different and very emotionally driven. I did like the other Carpathian's that work with Tariq----especially the really ancient ones, it will be interesting to see how Feehan does their stories. I did adore how his friends are so protective of the children, and even though they don't feel emotion---the children bring out echoes of emotion for them. Definitely quite a few tear jerking moments in this one. And we got a hint of a future romance between one of the children Liv and Tariq's friend Val. But since she is only ten in this story----it will be a while before we get their book but I am curious to see if we will see hints of their relationship over the next few installments. Now as for the danger aspects of the story----well written in every form, intriguing and intense!!

The Cover

One of the best covers I have seen in this series ever!!! Just gorgeous and dramatic and I love it!! The Carousel theme is just perfect especially with the fire like effect.

Overall View

Dark Carousel is a story of romance, passion, and danger!!! We see growth, strength and courage develop and seeing a couple work together to bring down a dangerous villain to protect innocents----a nail-biting suspenseful romance that keeps you on the edge!!!



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