Embrace the Night by Amanda Ashley is the first of her vampire novels that I have read but it will certainly not be the last.

The setting is 1881 and Sara Duncan is a crippled orphan in a home where she believes no one will ever want her.  Thinking herself a burden on the nuns who care for her she resolves to take her own life but is stopped by her guardian angel who she names Gabriel.

Gabriel, as he is known is far from being an angel, he is a creature of the night and a tormented vampire.

Having taken Sara to the children’s home years before he has kept a close watch over her and sent many gifts over the years.  Her favourite gift was a ballerina even though it reminded her that she could not fulfill her dream of dancing.

Gabriel tries to keep his distance from the young girl but as she grows into a beautiful young woman he is unable to stand by and watch her take her own life.  And as they form a tentative friendship he shows her the world outside the confines of the home.

But a tragic fire at the orphanage prompts him to do more than offer her friendship; in order to save her life he gives her some of his vampire blood which heals not only her burns but also her legs.

Able to walk at last Gabriel gives her the opportunity to study dancing and for her own safety he sends her away from him to Paris.  He gives her unlimited access to his money but denies her his heart.  For many years he does not visit or contact Sara in any way, until finally he can bear the parting no longer and travels to Paris to see her perform on the stage…just this once.

Older but still ignorant to Gabriel’s vampire state, Sara is delighted at his appearance in Paris and admits to herself that she will have no other man but him.  Her co-star in the ballet, Maurice, has other ideas about that.  He has loved Sara for years now but has always known that her heart was held by Gabriel.

A little spying on the handsome vampire soon reveals what he is and Maurice decides to rid himself of the competition by trapping Gabriel in the house his lair is in.

Surrounded by crosses, holy water and without a living being in the building Gabriel gets weaker and weaker until at last help comes in the form of Sara.

Unable to hide what he is any longer he accepts the blood that she offers and she releases him from his prison.  And eventually he opens his heart to the woman who can see the man behind the monster.

Making a life together will not be easy though…there are others both mortal and vampire who will not rest until Sara and Gabriel are parted, one way or another.

The story continues in modern day when Sarah, Sara reincarnated, comes crosses paths with Gabriel once more.  This time Gabriel is ready to be with her at once, but he will need to convince her of this and help her to find the love that they shared a century before.

I have to say that I loved this story and could barely find any fault with it at all.

But please, WHY OH WHY did the novel have to start in modern times with Sara’s grave?  This is one of my pet peeves, as I am sure regular visitors to my site will know.  To know the fate of Sara before the first chapter is underway is something that I would rather not have known.

Other than that this story is a classic vampire novel and one that quickly persuades the reader to check out Amanda Ashley’s other vampire novels.
 

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Also by Amanda Ashley - Deeper than the Night, Sunlight Moonlight, Shades of Gray and A Darker Dream.

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