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I was very excited to start Book 2 mere minutes after finishing Book 1. Peter and Lucien are dealing with a very strained relationship at the start of the book because though Peter is going through changes and new cravings, Lucien won't fulfill his promise of turning Peter and making him a full fledged vampire. This comes as a bit of a surprise, but the author does a great job of explaining both of their points of view. Peter then turns to Xander in a short-lived bid to make Lucien jealous. Needless to say that doesn't last long. :-) I was happy with the introduction of new secondary characters, and grew to love the ones from Book 1 even more. LOVE the relationship between Xander and Peter and even though I didn't agree that Peter could actually beat Xander in a fight (in Book 1,) I love that Peter has someone that is solely loyal to him and that they truly love each other. Swooon. Lucien/Peter will always be my heart but Peter/Xander come a close second.

The plot this time was good for the most part. I especially enjoyed Lucien's rescue, and Peter's role in it. Everyone came together in a way that was believable and well executed. The ending (the scene in the kitchen) left me all warm and fuzzy inside. Peter having some practical input, and bringing new ideas to improve the coven was also well done. I love Silver, Xander, Nikolas and Peter as a team and their friendly banter made the book fun. All in all, a good read. I will definitely read it again.

Now for the issues:

While I enjoyed 'Deceptions', I didn't love it as much as 'Bound By Blood.' The main problem for me was Peter. Many people have compared this series to the Anita Blake series and I readily admit that the reason I haven't read the AB series is because authors almost always turn female protagonists into some sort of 'Mary Sue' character. Jourdan manages to do this with Peter this go 'round. Everyone's in love with him and everyone wants to sleep with him. Also, I understand that Peter is Lucien's mate but I couldn't buy into Peter as coven master, by any stretch of the imagination. Whenever he spoke about 'leading our people,' I cringed. To have Peter as Xander's alpha is one thing, but to have an uber male like Nikolas acknowledge Peter as his alpha, not just out of respect for Lucien, but because of 'some strength within him' was just laughable. Peter himself acknowledges that picking a fight with Nikolas would be a death sentence, so for Nikolas to keep insisting that Peter become Lycan leader defies logic. Peter is newly created and can't even fully shift! Peter is an awesome balancing force for Lucien and, as I said, I love their relationship, but they are not equals. The only reason we know Peter is supposed to be coven master is because everyone keeps dropping to their knees and addressing him as such. It would have made more sense to either make him second-in-command to Lucien or have Lucien turn him, and then have us live through his journey as a new vampire learning to use his power. At least the author shows that some in the coven don't respect him. I wouldn't have either.

The sex - Here again, I was a bit disappointed after reading Book 1. Yes, there was also a lot this time but it almost seems gratuitous because Lucien and Peter aren't 'playing' together. It just reads like Peter can't keep it in his pants. As soon as anyone says hello, he's ready and willing. Also, everyone Peter bites, or who bites him, taints him in some way and gives him extra powers. Is he a sponge?? And considering he knows biting strange creatures during sex ie Sabaan causes problems, how about he just not do it?? Like Caleb told him, 'Your bed is too full, even for my tastes.' Uh yeah, mine too Caleb, mine too. As for Caleb...Whyyy?? Whyyyyyyy? Just plain character assassination. Can Caleb sue? I guess I can understand what the author did with his character but I still hated it. Lastly, can we please get Xander a boyfriend of his own?? Geez! Is it too much to ask? :-)

Long story short, I did like this book but it was more flawed than Book 1 and many questions remained unanswered at the end. Why exactly was Logan accepted into the coven so easily?? Simon and Cyril, what's their story? Why is Peter such an idiot to Jack? Why does Lucien at times get deathly jealous and other times go with the flow? What is Peter's medical status? We waited the whole book for it and then it was just passed over in the end. Guess that's for Book 3, which I am off to read now... :-)

Happy Reading.

This is the second book in the series. I read this paperback in December 2009. It occurs six months after the end of the first book book. A lot is happening and not all for the good. There are a lot of problems within the coven caused by both Lucien and Peter. This is another long detailed story and again from Peter's point of view.

I expected to read about the relationships between other couples building - not the deterioration of the main characters'. All that went on between Peter and others led to jealousy envy & new friendships with demons, master vampires, angels, werewolves, and even a former vampire hunter.

Terrible things happened to Lucien & Peter as the attempted to rebuild their relationship with each other. Escaping death. Betrayal by someone very close to them. I enjoyed but got anger about stupid decisions the MCs made or when they just acted without thinking

Some other reviewers have been critical about this second episode and I find myself agreeing with them more than I would wish.

I like this episode because the setting is still strong and Ms Lane has a knack for involvin her reader suspending disbelief and attention to all the problems that a better editing could probably have avoided.
The atmosphere is duly angst-y here, Peter and Lucien conflicted and bitter as if it were a soap opera turned vampire: it is no mean feat that the author manages to keep a lot of tension in her page and the story interesting.

After having acknowledged that I had fun time reading, I will not deny that there are several problems.

The plot is a bit contrived. Many episodes do not push the story forwards or give us insight about one character: they are just there.
Characterization is also lacking:
Xander was described in volume one as being a handsome simpleton, understanding only elementary passions. Here we have a fully fledged, lovely character but no explanation why he has evolved this way. Nikolas is supposed to be tough, grumpy, dangerous but he is inexplicably attracted to Peter and submits willingly. Now, that could have been interesting IF the author had given the matter more thought. Logan is introduced just to solve a problem in finding the missing Lucien.
All in all it is as if whole chapters were missing, chapters where characterization should have been done. I understand this series is supposed to be a light read but more consistency would have been welcome.
Peter, being the main character here, is also the main problem. He is childish at times, mean, always at odds with his position of Master of the coven. This could have been interesting, conflicted characters often are, but too much is left unsaid or, if said, contraddicted by his behaviour. Sometimes he looks mature, in control, at others he has not got a clue. He treats his friend Jack from the first episode very cruelly and feel entitled to do so for reasons left unexplained (but one only suspect a lazy author's convenience).
And he cannot keep his pants on even in the most embarassing moments. Ever.

This lead me to the last negative remark: about two third of the sex scenes, while well executed, feel unnecessary, contrived and distracting the reader from the plot.

I am going to read the third episode hoping it is as compelling as this but better executed.

Bought into the series by the first book...so very different. all male cast of Vampires. Weres. Demons. and Angels and Peter our not 100 per sent human.

Jourdan Lane has woven a web of lust,sex and intrigue into this wonderful story.

Peter was the only one for Lucien...The first book set the love story. The second set the committment.

The weres/lycans want Peter for their Alpha. Lucien the Head Master Vampire of the coven has brought Peter the Human as the Masters Partner much to the dismay of some of the coven members. We are watching the innocent Peter. learn the ways of this world, learning thru sex,blood and touch who he can trust and always follow Lucien..

Book 3 will be interesting..