Infinite BetrayalAuthor: Gayle Donnelly & Robyn Mackenzie
Release Date: March 22, 2011
Publisher: Liquid Silver Books
The Infinity Series #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Author
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About the book:
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He would protect her with his life…
Mathias has been ordered to protect Mina Roarke at all costs while keeping her Father’s secrets concealed. But from the moment he sees her, the hunger he’s desperately tried to bury, roars to life. The beast within is awakened and wants only one thing…Mina.
But when his enemies target her life, Mina and Mathias become caught in a lethal game of revenge. To save her, Mathias must not only expose the truth…but also what lies deep within him.
She was just looking for answers…
Mina had always been told she was special. In what way, she never fully understood until her life and everything she thought she knew and believed in was turned completely upside down.
After the unexpected death of her mother, Mina finds clues about her past that trigger more questions than answers. Her quest to find those answers thrusts Mina deep into the Black Forest of Germany and into the arms of a man who tests her control…in more ways than one. She is wrenched from her own reality into a world filled with adrenaline-charged danger, blazing sexual heat, and the answers that have been hidden her entire life.
Mina alone holds the power to change her future but when she comes face to face with ultimate betrayal, can she still trust in the one man that has captured her heart?
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What VampBard is talking about:
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Infinite Betrayal is the first in what could be a powerhouse series by Gayle Donnelly and Robyn Mackenzie. To say that I enjoyed this book would be an understatement. I devoured it in a day. The authors artistically crafted a world wherein they created a race to act as liaison between the human population and the natural world without humans being aware of their existence. Me likey 🙂 Additionally, this race – the Coteri – are a strong, gentle presence. Although, a faction – the Valta – are wreaking havoc in the human world, and the Coteri, through their King’s leadership, are trying to squelch the chaos.
Where to begin… ah, yes… our hero, Mathias. Strong, stubborn and driven to complete his mission. Too bad he didn’t factor in falling in love with Mina, the King’s daughter. Kinda complicates his position as a General in the Royal Guard a bit, huh? Especially when the King doesn’t know, and Mathias’ is compelled to act on his desire to be with Mina prior to the end of his assignment. The internal conflict Mathias endures is beautifully depicted, and focuses on his inner battle to do his job and follow his heart. We get a decent description of Mathias near the beginning of the book when Mina sees him for the first time, and when she’s describing him to her bestie, Chloe. What’s better than the physical description of Mathias is the way he interacts with Mina, from start to finish. His protectiveness as well as the way he fights to retrieve her when she’s been kidnapped is nothing less than spectacular characterization.
The perfect compliment to Mathias is our heroine, Mina. Strong-willed, independent and taking control of her own life after facing the death of the only parent she’s ever known, Mina learns exactly how ‘special’ she is through the course of the book. Even while dealing with immense inner-conflict, similar to Mathias, Mina pulled-off the appearance of being confident and self-assured. Her psyche was further exposed during her captivity with the baddie, Luca, and she brought to the forefront some of the strategies she used to ensure that her sanity was retained during that ordeal, as well as at other times during her life. These coping strategies, as well as others Mina displayed, were excellent examples of strong traits that women world-wide need to embrace. Kudos to the authors for ensuring that their heroine exemplified what so many women struggle to emulate.
Roderick. We saw a lot of him in this book, and learned about his motives for laying low in Mina’s life until this point. He appears to be selfless, and appears to rule with confidence even when filled with self-doubt. He’s lost the love of his life, Mina’s mom, Julia. He’s in mourning, and while he should be allowed time to grieve, he is not afforded that luxury. My favorite scene involving Roderick, the King of the Coteri, also involved Mina. She was in his office, and on the mantle were keepsakes from her childhood that her mother had sent. As she took in how involved Roderick really was in her life, even if from afar, he simply sat in a chair taking it all in. Taking in her reactions, taking in the way she moved, analyzed the items, and the way she communicated her emotions. Well, that’s how it appeared anyway! He really did have the best interests of his daughter at heart when he distanced himself from their lives, all the while ensuring their safety and comfort through strategically placed protective measures and financial support.
There was one plot concern in the story. Mathias took Mina to Munich (say that fast 5 times!) for a shopping expedition. He told her prior to departure that she would be unable to meet with her father for a few days because he was tied up with business. Later, Mina indicated that she couldn’t wait to leave Munich so that she could meet her father. I felt this was a plot-gap, and either needed further development or a bit more clarification for the reader. I went back and re-read the entire section in question twice, to make sure I hasn’t missed anything – flipped a page without reading it accidentally, etc. It confused me as a reader.
Over-all, I really enjoyed Infinite Betrayal. It has tidbits that reminded me of Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling series (a favorite of mine), although I didn’t feel as though the plot at all mimicked the other series. The strong characterization, and the way the authors introduced the characters have set-up a great universe from which I hope to read several more installments in the future.
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VampBard’s Rating:
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Enjoyed – strongly recommend (A-)
*** Be sure to come back tomorrow when authors Gayle Donnelly & Robyn Mackenzie stop by for a visit. They have a book to give away!!!
First—love the name Mathias for a hero!
Second—this sounds like a fantastic read and one that I can’t wait to get my hands on. What a very interesting concept 🙂