Excellent follow up - Rated 
"Kiss Of Crimson" is the follow up to "Kiss Of Midnight", a series very much in the Black Dagger Brotherhood mode, with vampires fighting foes, in this case renegade vampires, and trying to protect the humans amongst whom they live. The first book's similarities to J R Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood seemed rather over the top but this book was different, less like the BDB and more of its own story.
Dante, the hero of this book, is one of the vampire warriors who fights against the Rogues. When he finds himself injured he has to take the blood of a young vet that he finds in her clinic - but after he's done this he realises she's one of the Breedmates and consequently he has, in some ways, bound himself to her. Things get more complicated when Tess Culver and Dante meet again and he realises that her ex-boyfriend is involved in the production of a new drug, Crimson, which seems to be having serious effects on the young male vampires of the Darkhavens. In fact it appears that Crimson is causing some of these young males to turn into Rogues.
Dante and the other brothers are searching for the cause of the Crimson, along with Sterling Chase, a male member of the Darkhavens, but Dante finds his path tangled up with Tess Culver. However she's already had a frightening experience with a vampire and he's afraid of causing her more problems, especially as he knows she won't want him. But there's more to Tess than meets the eyes and her skills as a vet may have more behind them than just study and training.
This book, although focusing on Dante and Tess, also gives us insights into Sterling Chase and his long-term love for his brother's widow, Elise. Elise is apparently the heroine of the next book in the series, "Midnight Awakening", and I hope that Chase will also appear in that book as he was an interesting new character.
The writing style in this book was always enjoyable with great pacing, interesting locations and events and a rather touching romance between Dante and Tess. There were less scenes from the viewpoints of the Rogues or Minions, most of what we learned was either from Tess or Dante.
This is a very enjoyable series, especially now that it appears to be parting ways from its rather close relationship to the Black Dagger Brotherhood and finding more of its own voice. Lara Adrian's writing is good and her characters are varied and interesting. Originality isn't necessarily her strong point but there aren't that many truly original stories in this genre. Fans of the Black Dagger Brotherhood should love this series too!
Second in the Midnight Breed Series - Rated 
Carrying on from where Kiss of Midnight left off. Kiss of Crimson follows Dante, as he and his fellow Breed Warriors search for the suppliers of a drug called Crimson. This drug has the unfortunate effect of triggering a vampires change into a Rogue. When Dante is injured whilst fighting Rogues, he feeds from Tess, who unbeknownst to him is a Breedmate. Having started the blood bond, he now finds himself drawn to her. But Tess is more closely linked to the distribution of Crimson than she knows, putting both herself, her friends and Dante in danger.
I like that even though Dante and Tess are essentially fated to mate once he's fed from her, that they both don't immediately succumb to it. He fights it, knowing he's fed from a Breedmate, and she fights it because she doesn't understand it. Initially neither of them are particularly thrilled about the situation. It's handled in a very realistic way. There's no immediate jumping into bed together. Tess is understandably wary having just come out of a bad relationship with her ex-boyfriend Ben.
The subplot of both the Crimson dealing, and new guy Chase and his unrequited love for Elise are smoothly intertwined into the main story. I find myself hoping that Chase will be getting his own story, as he's by far the most complex character introduced so far. He initially joined the Warriors with his own motives, and because of his error in judgment towards the end of the story, it's too late to rescue two people who might otherwise have been saved.
My favourite bit of the story, is when Dante tells Tess he has a dog - which he doesn't - which he then spontaneously names Harvard - his nickname for Chase. Of course now he's told her he's got a dog, he has to get one. This so humanized him for me, the fact that this lie came out of his mouth, probably whilst his brain was going WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?
There are other nice touches. When Dante and Tess are discussing the myth of Endymion and Selene at the museum, there's this whole other subtextual conversation going on. The dead pool the other Breed Warriors have going on how long it's going to take Dante before he cracks and kills Chase. It's these little things that raise this story above other vampire novels around at the moment.
I'm still seeing some similarities here between the Black Dagger Brotherhood and Ukiah Oregon series. Rio - horrifically scarred and misogynistic confronts Tess (Z confronting Beth), and the Ukiah Oregon series has a drug called Invisible Red. Having said that I think the Midnight Breed series is slowly coming into its own. And I find myself impatiently looking forward to book 3 Midnight Awakening (Tegan's story).
Kiss this Book 2! - Rated
'He comes to her more dead than alive, a towering black-clad stranger riddled with bullets and rapidly losing blood. As she struggles to save him, veterinarian Tess Culver is unaware that the man calling himself Dante is no man at all, but one of the Breed, vampire warriors engaged in a desperate battle. In a single erotically charged moment Tess is plunged into his world-a shifting, shadowed place where bands of Rogue vampires stalk the night, cutting a swath of terror.
Haunted by visions of a dark future, Dante lives and fights like there is no tomorrow. Tess is a complication he does not need-but now, with his brethren under attack, he must shield Tess from a growing threat that includes Dante himself. For with one reckless irresistible kiss, she has become an inextricable part of his underworld realm...and his touch awakens her to hidden gifts, desires, and hungers she never knew she possessed. Bonded by blood, Dante and Tess must work together to thwart deadly enemies, even as they discover a passion that transcends the boundaries of life itself...'
'Kiss of Crimson' is the second stunning novel in the new Midnight Breed series. This novel continues the journey into the world we were introduced to in 'Kiss of Midnight'.
Tess and Dante's story is intriguing. At some point both fight the bond they feel for one another, which leads to difficulties when they're enemies are intent on attacking them.
The war continues, a greater knowledge is shed with the plot of this novel and the intricacies of the Rogues are seen more.
Another 'unable to put down' read. I cannot wait for the third in the series this November, 'Midnight Awakening', with Rio and Dylan's story!
With every novel, the reader is pulled more than willingly into Lara Adrian's world.
Now We're Dealing with the Full Deck! - Rated
Kiss of Midnight didn't wow me, but it did hook my interest through some unique plot elements. I liked the pacing of Ms. Adrian's writing and the world she'd created was just different enough for me to want to explore it more as well. By the end of this series' first book, I could smell a truly great story right around the corner.
Dante, a Breed vampire warrior, is gravely injured one night after discovering a disturbing new addition to the war against the Rogues, vampires that have given over to bloodlust and kill without restraint. He finds his way to the office of veterinary doctor Tess Culver, where he thinks he's found the perfect solution to his blood loss in the beautiful woman. Intending to only take what he needs and see her mind wiped of the incident, Dante's plans go horribly wrong afterwards, when he learns a horrifying fact about the good doctor. He wishes after that he'd never taken her blood, but once he has, he can't wipe her sweet taste from his mind. Driven by more than just Tess, Dante's visions of the future soon lead him to believe she is part of his destiny, whether he wants her to be or not. In turn, Dante's embrace awakens in Tess desires she never knew she possessed and special, secret talents of her own begin to make sense after the strange warrior's appearance in her life. As she becomes further involved with the mysterious man, she soon find herself in the middle of a war, and a passion she cannot resist.
Kiss of Crimson was the "start" to this series that I was waiting for. Characters--true, heartfelt characters--shine through in this one and that was the glue I was looking for. I clearly read a good, unique plot in Kiss of Midnight and saw that carried through very well in this one. But Dante and Tess, they are where the magic lies in this installment. Dante's inner torment, his visions of the future, was a good solid conflict between him and Tess, but his passion for her kept the romantic angle flaring bright over and over throughout. Their first real romantic encounter, the sculpture show, was such an enigmatic insight to the sexy Dante and solidly hooked me into believing their romance would be rewarding to read. Tess was a heroine everyone wants--admirable, heroic in her own right and no dishrag. Like I suspect all of Adrian's heroines will have, she possesses her own talents that set her just apart enough from Dante that she ahs something to stand on her own with. And that's where Adrian deserves some definite applause, giving her heroines their own special voice amongst a rugged alpha group of vampires. Then, when hero and heroine begin to come together (and I speak of more than just the body, folks) what makes them both unique in turn makes them as a couple all that more special. Once again, a solid pacing of plot and revealing of more elements in the war, with plenty of great tidbits of secondary characters to keep me hooked for book three, Midnight Awakening, about Breed Warrior Tegan, which releases December '07. Great stuff, Ms. Adrian and looking forward to more.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.... - Rated 
.... in which case Lara Adrian is being very flattering to the likes of Lyn Viehl, Sherrilyn Kenyon and other who write about the good vampires vs the bad vampires.
I think I have read the story out of sync - I should have read 'Kiss of Midnight' first - but that didn't detract from the story in any way.
Dante is a warrior - determined to protect humans and the rest of his Brethren from the Rogues. A new drug has been manufactured turning the good guys into potential Rogues. With the aid of Chase, a member of the Darklord's, Dante's job is to find the dealer of 'Crimson', put him out of business and stop the tide turning in the Rogue's favour.
Tess is a dedicated veterinarian with a secret - an ability to heal that she feels is a curse following an incident when she is younger. Her attraction to Dante is unexpected, powerful, and pre-destined. But can she accept all that he is? And will they have the opportunity to see if their destiny can move forward together...
I enjoyed reading it, but don't expect anything fantastically original. Lynn Viehl has it covered with her Brotherhood, and in a sexier fashion too. Nice to read, and happy to get the rest, but not necessarily keepers for me.
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