Spade: the reluctant hero

First Drop of Crimson

(Night Huntress Word #1)

by Jeaniene Frost

I like this one…Cat and Bones not so much, but Spade…

Regal, smooth, sexy, and subtly arrogant! And…he chuckles. There’s something about a man that chuckles over a private observation, an intimate joke. Spade defines the charming bad boy, not the rogue, but the mature, sophisticated vamp with a heart; ironic for the undead.

The name Spade, he keeps, a reminder of his stint at the South Wales penal colony, where he met Bones and Ian.   Dehumanized, he suffers more humiliation as he loses his name, no longer the Baron Charles Thomas DeMortimer, just Spade; the name the prison guards call him by the tool he wields at the colony, and he keeps this name.

“I’d just as soon forget we were ever prisoners, but you’ve chosen to remind yourself of it every day(Ian)”

“Keeps me focused (Spade)”

From this hell, he forged an unbreakable bond, a friendship with Bones and Ian, and all, subsequently, Turned… into vampires.

Ok, ok, A Drop of Crimson…Denise contacts Spade. SomeThing killed her cousin Paul, and disappeared, dissolved into the night! No one saw this creature, and no one believes her account of the killing. She needs a master vampire to help her, refuses to contact Bones and Cat, and turns to Spade; albeit, reluctantly. 

Denise…

For, Spade reminds her of that horrendous New Year's Eve night, the night Randy, her husband died in a vampire attack. “Denise’s memory of Spade was irrevocably tied to blood”.The night that continues to haunt her, makes her physically sick, she suffers from frequent PSTD attacks. ”Vampires everywhere. Blood will follow. Death will follow.“  However, Spade is the only master vampire available that can help her find and return Nathaniel to Raum, and in turn, Denise can return to a somewhat normal life. She’s  worked hard to forget and to remove herself from the world of the undead. It’s been a year since Randy’s death, she’s removed herself from Cat’s life, and planned to never return to associate with any of the undead creatures. “Her panic attacks had only abated after she’d cut ties with Cat and anyone else who wasn’t human.” But, these killings continue and won’t stop.

Spade thinks she’s nuts! He’s cynical, doesn’t quite believe her story, but hey, she sounds terrified and desperate, so he agrees to meet with her. 

Meanwhile…

The murderous creature is Raum, a demon, who continues to terrorize Denise and threatens to kill her family! It seems that Nathanial, a distant cousin, entered into a bargain with Raum, and has reneged on his end of the agreement. Raum wants Nathanial, so much so, he marks Denise and holds her responsible to find and return Nathanial to him, or her entire family will be wiped out. No one will Ever be safe from him.

Spade arrives at Denise’s apartment  still reeks with Raum’s demon scent, and believes Denise’s story. He sees her brands, recognizes her predicament; albeit, dangerous, it’s Not His Problem! Denise freaks…and basically, blackmails Spade. She reminds him that she’s Cat’s best friend and how will Spade explain to Bones that he refused to help or protect her. Spade knows exactly how Bones, his best friend, and Cat will react! 

Thus begins Spade and Denise’s adventure…to find Nathanial.  

First Drop of Crimson gets the “band get back together” reunites us with Cat, Bones, and Ian, even Mencheres makes an appearance. An awkward meeting, at best, as Bones arrives unannounced at Spade’s home.To say that Bones is pissed, is an understatement!  He has unanswered questions, what is up with Spade? Ian is WTH, he knows Spade is acting out of character by refusing to answer Bones’ phone calls, and “Denise suddenly shows up at his side as his devoted lover” a human female? Spade comes clean, discloses the threat; Denise’s markings, Raum’s ultimatum, thus their desperate search for Nathanial. Spade’s certain that Nathanial is with Web, a  powerful master vampire who uses Nathanial’s blood as the source for his Red Dragon drug industry, an extremely expensive and addictive drug. Retrieving Nathanial from Web will get very ugly!

Do I like Spade?

Uh huh! Seductive beyond all measures. The shower scene belongs on the Top Ten Most Erotic. 

“Spade’s hands caressed down his chest, more of those suds covering them. His head was back, eyes closed, water splashing onto his face and sluicing down to clear away even as he lathered more across his skin. She’d see a few attractive naked men in her life, but none of them came close to Spade”. 

Provocative, flirtatious, he teases…

“You might want to shower first…I’d offer to join you, but it’s so small, you might not even fit (Denise)

A low laugh ticked her. ‘You can always watch… again’ (Spade)

She was confused, then understanding bloomed about that night in Vegas. ‘You knew?’ (Denise)

Another laugh, infinitely more wicked”

As a couple, Spade and Denise are a hoot… engaging and funny! It’s been awhile since I’ve enjoyed the witty quips and banter between a couple. Spade and Denise fit the bill, they complement each other, and the sexual tension… he can’t explain “the strange draw he felt toward her”.

“She’s not for you, Spade reminded himself sternly.”

He’s determined to protect, to help her with this macabre search. He will protect, he acquiesces to his possessiveness, to his attraction. 

“She’s not for you!” He remembers as his grief continues to consume him, memories of his Giselda, the human female he loved so many, many centuries ago. His beautiful, yet fragile Giselda, gang raped and killed, her death he blames himself; his inability to reach her,  save her in time. It’s déjà vu, (all over again) with Denise, another human, mortal,  vulnerable.  Spade cannot fathom losing another love. “And he wasn’t going through that again.” 

Frost shows the irony central to Spade and Denise’s connection. Both vowed to never become involved, or open themselves to someone of another species. Spade with a human, and Denise with the undead. However, “The heart

knows want what it wants!”

Overall, First Drop of Crimson is an entertaining, funny, action-packed romance adventure. Denise and Spade, an engaging compelling couple. And Spade…delicious!