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The Guardians of the Night #2

Secrets in the Shadows

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Vampires

They hunt in every major city, hidden by the crowds, shielded by disbelief. They are Killers, and their prey is human.

Not all vampires are Killers. The Guardians of the Night sacrifice the superior physical and psychic strength that comes with feeding on humans to protect them.  But the Guardians walk a thin line, for even a single kill could leave them helplessly addicted to murder.

Jules Gerard has vowed that he will never become a Killer.  But when he discovers that the man who turned him into a vampire is dead and kicking in Baltimore, the allure of extra power is tempting.

Standing in his way is a human, spitfire Hannah Moore, who has followed him to Baltimore to help him confront his past. Hannah doesn't seem to realize how dangerous vampires can be--and despite his façade of disdain, Jules has a real soft spot for the petite P.I.

Jules is going to have to choose: vengeance or love? Damnation or redemption?

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 1, 2007

2 people are currently reading
642 people want to read

About the author

Jenna Black

54 books2,511 followers
Jenna Black is your typical writer. Which means she's an "experience junkie." She got her BA in physical anthropology and French from Duke University.

Once upon a time, she dreamed she would be the next Jane Goodall, camping in the bush making fabulous discoveries about primate behavior. Then, during her senior year at Duke, she did some actual research in the field and made this shocking discovery: primates spend something like 80% of their time doing such exciting things as sleeping and eating.

Concluding that this discovery was her life's work in the field of primatology, she then moved on to such varied pastimes as grooming dogs and writing technical documentation. She writes paranormal romance for Tor and urban fantasy for Bantam Dell.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/jennab...

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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Profile Image for Paranormal Romance.
1,300 reviews46 followers
March 27, 2025
The hero’s thirst for revenge on the man who made him is causing major instability in his un-dead life. The heroes temper has always run hot and is, in most cases, his major weakness as it causes him to lash out. When he finds out his maker is in Baltimore, the hero practically begs Eli, the master vampire of Philadelphia to be granted permission to hunt and kill. But he is denied. Stowing heavily in rage and knowing the one way or another, his life will forever be changed by the actions he's about to take, decides to deny the order and head into Baltimore himself. He packs his things as he can never return, his own true home since his family’s death is now lost to him but he himself is lost to the thirst for revenge.

The heroine is a private detective whose ex-partner decided to run with Vampires. She's vowed to have nothing to do with undead but when her friends ask for her help, she's hesitant to say no. Now, she's tasked with traveling to Baltimore and trying to contain an arrogant, vain and obviously stupid vampire from getting himself killed. The hero, to her, has always been a bit of a toff. Someone who cares more about their hair and their designer clothing than the people around him. She finds him attractive yes, but that's just because he's attractive, there's not much she can do about that. But she can sure as shit let him know not to think too much into it but the heroine is nothing if not a woman in control. As predicted, he is quite angry when he spots her, but there's no way he can make her leave. In fact, when he confronts his maker in an alleyway, it's the heroine with the gun to the vampire’s head-saving the hero from getting his ass kicked. But the maker is just far too strong for the hero and if the Master of Philadelphia didn't call an order to cease their fight, it's possible the hero would be truly dead. That's a hard pill to swallow for a man who desperately needs to have this scumbag dead. It's some time before he reveals his reasons why but the story only gets sympathy when heard and understanding as to why the hero is so passionately furious. But no matter what, killing the vampire is not going to be as easy as he thought, now he's got this sassy PI at his side, mouthing off to powerful vampire and making him damn well lose his mind with worry.

The heroine has never been very good at keeping her mouth shut and at times it gets her in trouble. But with vampires, they seem to find it amusing. Maybe not the hero who seems to want to strangle her most of the time. But he also seems to enjoy fighting with her, she sure enjoys fighting with him. He gives as good as he gets and she begins to see a break in that wall he's put up. It's only a matter of time before she falls for the tortured vampire but with the fight of their lives ahead of them, the hero fears the fall out will take her away from him forever.

This series was a hit or miss for me but I am pleased to say that the last book I had to review ended on a good note. I found this book, and in particular the characters to be super amusing and entertaining. The relationship between the hero and heroine was almost like watching a buddy cop movie but with more sexual tension. The heroine was an extremely likeable character because she was- on the surface- so very unlikeable. She had verbal diarrhea and had the horrible habit of saying whatever was on her mind the second she thought it. She also was always reading with a snappy come back even if it was probably best to keep her mouth shut. She was a badass with her sassy confidence but she was not ruthless. She hated it but she couldn't kill, even when she had the gun to the makers head, she couldn't pull the trigger. She had her weakness and inside she was terrified of this dangerous world of mind control and blood drinkers but she refuses to let anyone- anyone but the hero, see it. The hero was the only man to see past that hard exterior she presented to the world. He saw brief moments of vulnerability and it was enough to spark within him a desperate need to protect him. He was always a bit of a quick draw when it came to losing his temper, but when the heroine was in danger? He went absolutely berserk. They bantered and fought for most of the book and got under each other’s skin but there was a sense of friendship before the sex and I found that extremely believable. This was a great story and I quite enjoyed it.
Profile Image for May Mostly Romance.
1,015 reviews73 followers
January 22, 2025
ไม่ใช่ชื่อหนังสือหรอกนะ แต่เป็นคำพูดที่แม็กซ์พูดกรอกหูตัวเองอยู่ตอนนี้ เพราะใจทั้งเต้น ทั้งสั่นไปตลอดเวลาที่นั่งอ่านหนังสือเรื่อง Secrets in the shadow ของเจนน่า แบล็ค

ด้วยความไม่รอบคอบแม็กซ์บอกกะร้านหนังสือไปว่า "ไม่รีบหรอกนะที่จะเอาหนังสือเรื่อง Shadows on the soul" ซึ่งเป็นหนังสือเล่มที่สามในชุด เพราะก็แหมเล่มหนึ่งกะสองยังไม่ได้อ่านเลย แถมเล่มหนึ่งที่อ่านไป 4 - 5 บท มันก็ไม่เห็นจะสนุก น่าตื่นเต้นตรงไหน

ก็แค่หนังสือชุดแวมไพร์อีกชุดนึงเท่านั้นเอง แล้วยังเป็นแวมไพร์ชนิดที่ทัศนคติน่ารำคาญอีกต่างหาก

นั่นเพราะ Guardian ในเล่มนี้เป็นแวมไพร์ชนิดที่ไม่ดื่มเลือดจากมนุษย์ ไม่ฆ่าคน และออกตามล่าแวมไพร์ที่ฆ่าคน ปัญหาก็คือ การที่พวกเขาไม่ฆ่า ทำให้มีอำนาจและกำลังสู้แวมไพร์ไม่ได้เลย

แม็กซ์เน้นว่าไม่ได้เลย

แล้วมีใครอยากอ่านหนังสือที่ตัวเอกสู้ผู้ร้ายไมได้บ้าง เท่านั้นยังไม่พอ ทัศนคติเกลียดตัวเองของเหล่าแวมไพร์เป็นสิ่งที่แม็กซ์ทนไม่ได้เอาจริง ๆ

แถมหัวหน้ากลุ่มที่แม้จะได้ใจแม็กซ์ไปที่ชื่อเหมือนกับนักกีฬาที่แม็กซ์ กรี๊ดสลบอยู่พอดีนั่นคือ อีไล ก็ยังไม่ได้เรื่อง น่ารำคาญมากกกกกกกกก

นั่นทำให้แม็กซ์อ่านเล่มแรกไม่จบ และไม่สนใจเลยที่จะอ่านเล่มสอง

หลังจากซื้อมาวางเล่นหัวเตียงอยู่เจ็ดเดือน เมื่อวันเสาร์ที่ผ่านมาก็หยิบมาอ่าน และพบว่า ตัวละครที่น่าสนใจที่สุดที่เคยได้อ่านตัวนึงปรากฎในเล่มนี้

เขาไม่ใช่พระเอก และอาจจะดูเหมือนตัวร้ายด้วยซ้ำ แต่กาเบรียลก็ชนะใจแม็กซ์ไปได้หมดแล้วตอนนี้

เล่มนี้ควรจะเป็นเรื่องของจูลล์ เจราด์ลซึ่งเป็นมือขวาของอีไลที่เดินทางออกจากฟิลาเดลเฟียมายังบัลติมอร์ เพื่อแก้แค้นแวมไพร์ผู้สร้างเขาขึ้นมา เขารู้ว่าการแก้แค้นจะหมายถึงการปิดฉากชีวิตของตัวเอง เพราะนั่นเป็นการกระทำที่อีไลไม่เห็นด้วยและต่อต้าน แต่เขาก็ไม่อาจเลือกทางอื่นอีกได้

ฮันนาห์เป็นนักสืบเอกชนที่เป็นเพื่อนกับนางเอกเล่มหนึ่งได้รับการขอร้องให้ ตามจูลล์มายังบัลติมอร์เพื่อหยุดยั้งเขา (ทำไมถึงได้คิดว่าฮันนาห์จะช่วยจูลล์ได้แม็กซ์ก็ยังงงนะ เอามนุษย์ไปช่วยแวมไพร์ ฮามาก) แต่เมื่อมาถึงทั้งคู่ก็รู้ว่าการตามล่าศัตรูเป็นเรื่องเล็กน้อยมาก เมื่อทั้งสองเผชิญหน้ากับการแย่งชิงอำนาจของเหล่าแวมไพร์ในบัลติมอร์ (สังคมแวมไพร์ในเรื่องจะอยู่กันเป็นกลุ่มในแต่ละเมือง คนที่อ่านชุดอนิต้า เบลกคนจะพอนึกออก) และความลับอันดำมืด (มีความลับที่ไม่ดำมือบ้างไหมเนี่ย) ของอีไลที่ถูกเปิดเผยออกมา

จูลล์และฮันนาห์เป็นตัวละครที่โอเคนะคะ ไม่มีข้อเสียหายอะไร แม็กซ์ชอบจูลล์ด้วยซ้ำในความสำอางค์ของเขา แวมไพร์ที่พกเจลและสเปรย์แต่งผม ใส่เสื้อผ้ายี่ห้อชื่อดัง เจนน่าบรรยายให้เห็นภาพความหล่อของจูลล์ชนิดถูกใจแม็กซ์อย่างยิ่ง ปัญหาก็คือจูลล์ไม่ได้สำอางค์เฉพาะรูปลักษณ์ภายนอกอย่างเดียวเท่านั้น มันรวมไปถึงความสามารถในต่อสู้ของเขาด้วย

คุณอยากอ่านหนังสือทีพระเอกสู้ใครในเรื่องไม่ได้เลยหรือเปล่า (มันมีคำอธิบายนะ เพราะจูลล์ไม่ฆ่าคนก็เลยไม่มีพลังเพียงพอ แต่คุณอยากให้พระเอกต้องรอให้คนอื่นมาช่วยทั้งเรื่องไหมล่ะ)

ฮันนาห์เป็นนางเอกที่แม็กซ์ชอบ เราชอบที่เธอปากกล้าพูดในสิ่งที่คิด บางครั้งก็หลุดปากเรื่องไม่ค่อยสมควรออกมา บุคลิกของฮันนาห์ถือว่าสอบผ่านค่ะ

แล้วก็มาถึงตัวละครที่ทำให้หัวใจแม็กซ์เต้นแรง กาเบรียลเป็นลูกชายของคามิลล่าเจ้าแม่แห่งเมืองบัลติมอร์

รูปลักษณ์ภายนอกเขาดูมีอายุเพียงยี่สิบต้น ใส่ชุดหนัง มาดเถื่อน เป็นแขนขาในการซ้อมคนที่ไม่ถูกใจคามิลล่า แต่แค่เพียงแว่บแรกคุณก็รู้แล้วว่าเขาเป็นมากกว่านั้น นั่นเป็นเสน่ห์ที่แม็กซ์ไม่อาจห้ามใจตัวเองได้

เขาเป็นฆาตกร ร้ายมาก ๆ เมื่อพิจารณาจากสิ่งที่เขาทำกับตัวละครอื่น ๆ ในเรื่อง ไร้ความปราณี และทรงอำนาจ ในหนังสือเล่มที่พระเอกไม่เอาไหน ความทรงพลังของกาเบรียลเป็นเสน่ห์ดึงดูดอย่างรุนแรง

แม็กซ์บอกรึยังว่าเขาจะเป็นพระเอกในเล่มสามของชุด เมื่อเขาเดินทางมาฟิลาเดลเฟียเพื่อเผชิญหน้ากับอีไล

กำลังจะลงแดงด้วยความอยากอ่านค่ะ

คะแนน 70 (สำหรับจูลล์และฮันนาห์) ขอว่าอย่าถามว่าแม็กซ์ให้คะแนนกาเบรียลเท่าไหรแล้วกัน เพราะสเกลมันมากกว่าร้อย
Profile Image for Karen.
Author 72 books1,034 followers
March 27, 2008
"enter this enthralling world Ms. Black has created"

The Guardians of the Night are vampires that have sworn to protect humans at all cost. They do not kill or give in to the beast that resides within them. It would take just one kill to send them over the edge.

Jules Gerard is a part of this elite group. When Jules finds out his maker, Ian Squires is residing somewhere in Baltimore, he forgets his loyalties to the Guardians and sets out on his own to seek his revenge. Jules doesn't realize what he is up against. Eli, the founder of the Guardians, sends Drake after him.

Drake is a vampire and a killer. He only kills those that harm other humans, never an innocent. Drake knows Eli has secrets, but what he finds out in Baltimore is more than he expects, such as: a master vampire named Camille and her sidekick Gabriel; fledglings running amuck; and Hannah, a human who thinks she can protect a vampire by waving her gun. If Drake can't find a way to get them out of town before all hell breaks loose, they will most likely die.

As a favor to her best friend who is dating a vampire, Hannah Moore follows the arrogant Jules Gerard. Jules is furious and demands Hannah go home before she ends up as one of Ian's victims, but she is as stubborn as he is and refuses to go. Not only do Hannah and Jules battle vampires that want to kill them, they also fight the attraction that threatens to reveal who they really are.

Ms. Black has done it again with her new Guardians of the Night tale. Even though this is the second in the series, you won't have to read the first to truly enjoy the story. There are twists and turns to this cleverly plotted paranormal as the well-kept secrets start to unravel. Hannah and Jules' budding attraction is heartfelt and sincere where they learn surrendering isn't submission but signifies trust. Drake proves against all odds, his loyalty stands fast. The villains are truly diabolical with their acts of cruelty and vengeance. However, Gabriel as dangerous as he is, he also has a sense of honesty that cannot be ignored. There is obviously more to him than meets the eye. I look forward to reading about him in the future, Guardians of the Night tales.

Paranormal fans will want to enter this enthralling world Ms. Black has created where magic, mystery and vampires will leave you craving for more.

I also recommend Watchers in the Night, the first in the series.

Reviewed for PNR Paranormal Romance
www.paranormalromance.org
Profile Image for Theresa.
4,004 reviews14 followers
November 10, 2013
I love books that are more action, story-driven than just sex for the sake of it. Though that is nice too, if it's done appropriatly for the story. This series involves alot of detective work on the part of the humans helping the vampires in their war againist Killer vampires. JB's writing is spot on in her descriptions of the actions and relationships.

Hannah and Jules are perfect for each other. Their chemistry is obvious from the start. She's feisty enough to handle his stubborn, self-hatred, allowing him to finally release the demons of his past. He's strong enough in his own masculinity to allow her equal partnership in their relationship, so she can relax and just enjoy their lovemaking.

I love how the intense vampire action reveals which vampires are totally lost to their nature and which are still in contact with their humanity. And the final revelation of the history between Eli and Camille, while somewhat guessable, is still facinating to read about. I can't wait to read more about Gabriel's powers.

Favorite parts: Hannah's unexpected find in Julle's shaving kit, Camille's method to force her son to return home, and Gabriel confronting Hannah in the hotel while Jules is asleep.
Profile Image for Yolanda Sfetsos.
Author 79 books235 followers
January 1, 2011
This is the second book in the Guardians of the Night Series by Jenna Black.

We met both of these characters in the first book. And I have to admit that I was instantly interested in them. So, it was really cool to read Hannah and Jules' story.

I finished it last night, and boy was it good! It was an excellent story, honestly. I can't wait to get stuck into the third one... which is already on my bookshelf. Lol. This one's going to be Gabriel's story, and since I was intrigued by him in this book, I can't wait to see what happens there. Looking forward to reading about his redemption. Love redemption stories about bad boys. Though, I really liked him in this book. Even if he was a violent SOB, there was still something about him...

Anyway, there was plenty of action, romance, revelations, and just about everything else in between. Hannah's a very real character who has to deal with a vampire hellbent on revenge. Of course, when you find out why, you can totally understand why Jules wants Ian dead. I loved the way the relationship between Hannah and Jules developed. And was totally shocked at how the book ended. I loved that!
Profile Image for Rebekah.
118 reviews
November 8, 2016
So far this is an ok series. Jenna Black has not opened the world she created enough and there are a LOT of questions that need to be answered. For instants:
Why do the vampires need to kill when they feed?
It doesn't seem like the human will change if the vampire doesn't kill them, so how are they changed? (I finished the book and it sort of explains this one but not to my satisfaction)
So those are the most important ones so far.
We will see how this story progresses.
Profile Image for Carole Workman.
57 reviews1 follower
March 4, 2008
This is the second book in this series. I can not wait to read more by this author
Profile Image for Erotic Horizon.
1,738 reviews
Read
October 7, 2008
Secrets in the Shadows (The Guardians of the Night, Book 2) by Jenna Black (2007)
1,828 reviews18 followers
November 26, 2010
Jules goes to Phila to kill his maker Ian , Hannah follows him; get caught up in coup against master of Phil Camille
Profile Image for Audrey Moore.
216 reviews6 followers
March 7, 2015
I'm glad I had faith in this series cause it did get better. I prefer the focus of the character in this story. Much more interesting.
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