This second book in the ‘Chain of Fate’ series has a lot to offer: lynx shifters trying to live in peace with vampires, newly established alpha Keith and his human mate, Jason, from ‘Whiskers of a Chance’, and two men fated to be mates but unable to be together because one of them has huge issues due to a past filled with domestic abuse. Add some vampire politics spearheaded by a meddling uncle, rival covens with dark intentions, and a developing relationship that desperately needs trust to build between the partners, and you get an intense story that is a great mix between a paranormal action/adventure and a romance with more obstacles than should be legal.

Trace puts up a good front: he seems to love going out and having fun, dresses nicely, and works hard for the council. Deep down he is hurt and as scarred as his back is from physical abuse. And when he discovers that a vampire prince, of all people, is his fated mate, he comes close to panicking. The one thing he can never do again is take a mate and be a sub – his fear will stop him from handing over that much power. His lynx has a different view – and that has some interesting consequences – but the man is stronger and that results in Trace refusing to give in.

Sasha is a powerful vampire prince and under all sorts of pressure. There is political subterfuge, his uncle’s insistence he take a mate, or at least a consort, and produce heirs, and his personal hell after meeting Trace five years ago. Sasha knows that Trace is his fated heart, but he also knows Trace does not want him as a mate and refuses to try to coerce him into it. Even when Sasha sacrifices his future by part-bonding with Trace to save his life, nothing is further from Sasha’s mind than making Trace accept the fact their fates are entwined.

Trace and Sasha face some unique obstacles: Sasha needs Trace to survive since only his blood will truly feed him, and Trace feels attracted to Sasha even as a human. Trace’s journey toward the ability to open up and trust another male is long and painful, and I loved how selfless and supportive Sasha was. The external pressure they face increases by the chapter, and I knew there would come a breaking point, but Tempeste O’Riley took her sweet time developing things, keeping me in sweet suspense the whole time.

If you like paranormal with interspecies couples who bring lots of baggage to a union that faces more than one obstacle, if you want to watch two men struggle to develop trust between them, and if you’re looking for a suspenseful read that is entertaining but thought-provoking and a slow build toward romance expressed in emotional as well as physical ways, then you will probably like this novel. It’s different from the first book in the series in both theme and tone, and I found it very worthwhile reading.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. ( )