Christine Amsden - Kaitlin's Tale

13. Kaitlin's Tale by Christine Amsden (2016)
Length: 270 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Started: 26 June 2016
Finished: 15 July 2016
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Christine Amsden for sending me a copy of this book to read.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 17 April 2016
Why do I have it? I like paranormal romance and have read and enjoyed several books by this author in the past.

When Kaitlin Meyer first decided to run away with the father of her son, she thought she was doing the right thing for her child. Granted, her son's father Jason was a recently-turned vampire hunter, whose own cousin Cassie Scot had once warned Kaitlin - as her best friend - to stay far away from him. Yet Kaitlin sincerely believed that baby Jay deserved to have his father in his life, even if Jason was a vampire.

However, after Jason invites her to join him in eternal life, Kaitlin slowly comes to understand that she could not have been more wrong in her decision. Obviously, no matter how much Kaitlin wants to deny the truth of it - Jason just isn't Jason anymore. So, five months after running away with him, Kaitlin finds herself on the run again. This time, she's running from Jason; his sire, Xavier - a vampire who has existed for over two centuries, and is rumored to be the most difficult to kill - and another recently-turned vampire named Sara; who had once been Jay's nanny as well as Kaitlin's only human friend.

Terrified for her young son's life, she seeks sanctuary with the Hunters' Guild. Kaitlin realizes that no matter how much they may dislike her, the members of this particular Hunters' Guild cannot possibly deny sanctuary to Jay - especially not once they learn that Jay is actually the son of one of their most prolific hunters, Jason. However, even though both she and Jay are treated well, Kaitlin still senses that something is not entirely right.

She can't put her finger on what it is, exactly - but the hunters' treatment of herself and Jay seems almost too conciliatory. It would seem that these hunters have their own plans for Jay, and those plans may or may not include Kaitlin. So, her hopes for continued safety are soon shattered. However, when Kaitlin runs into Matthew Blair - an old nemesis with an agenda of his own - she dares to hope for a new escape.

Matthew Blair is the scion of one of the most well-connected political families in the town of Eagle Rock, and his father is the town's mayor. Although the Blair family doesn't exactly advertise their magical abilities; each member is actually extraordinarily adept at creating illusions and other forms of magical mentalism. Matthew, himself, is an extremely powerful telepath. The closer Kaitlin gets to Matthew, the more she realizes just how much she will need his help to escape with her son.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean that Kaitlin trusts the mind mage. She has seen the aftermath of Matthew's mental manipulations firsthand, and so worries about the safety of her own secrets. Matthew Blair may well be a savvy politician, but he also is an extremely dangerous man to know - capable of using his position and power to help others, but only if that assistance ultimately benefits Matthew Blair. And Kaitlin's own past is full of dark secrets she has no intention of ever revealing...to anyone.

This is actually the second standalone book of Ms. Amsden's that I've had the pleasure of reading. Kaitlin's Tale is a companion book to the books of the Cassie Scot Series, and continues the story of Cassie's best friend, Kaitlin Meyer. The story follows Kaitlin's various trials and tribulations, as she falls in love with Cassie's arch-nemesis.

In my opinion, this story further develops the character and story of Kaitlin Meyer; not that she wasn't already well-developed to begin with as a character within the Cassie Scot Series. Kaitlin just seems to be less needful of a relationship within her own story. I would definitely give this book an A! Although I'm not sure if there are going to be more stories set within Ms. Amsden's world, I can certainly hope that there will be more to come in the future.

A! - (90-95%)

May you read well and often