By 1787, Jean-Marie St. Just had already been a "companero" for many decades and the possibility of finding a "conyuge" (spouse) were very unlikely. While at a ball, Jean-Marie meets the beautiful Hélène d'Agelet. After several months of courting, he knows he's fallen in love, but he doesn't take their relationship to an intimate level because of what he is. However, when Jean-Marie's true nature is finally revealed, a night of heated passion with Hélène becomes a reality, even though they cannot remain together.

During the revolution, Hélène discovers she's a "firestarter," saving herself and her sister, Celeste, from the same death that took their parents. She and Celeste are then taken to England. Not having any family or friends there, they agree to become vampires and work for the English government. Celeste, however, blames Hélène for the death of her fiancé and is determined to seek revenge. While on a mission for the government, Hélène and Jean- Marie are reunited, but an explosion makes them believe the other has been killed. They are faced with living for an eternity missing each other and never knowing love again. In the meantime, Celeste, captured by the French, has the choice of going to America or being put to death.

In present-day Texas, Don Rafael Perez, Jean-Marie and others from the clan are fighting a war with Celeste and New Orleans. Determined to keep Don Rafael safe, Jean-Marie is willing to do whatever it takes to get rid of Celeste. Then Hélène comes into his life again, and they know they've been given the gift of "conyuge." When Hélène discovers Celeste is still alive and what Jean-Marie plans to do, she leaves him to return to the only family she has left. But Hélène soon realizes that her sister is up to no good. Is it too late for Hélène to get back to Jean-Marie?

BOND OF FIRE, the second full-length Texas Vampires book, is a fast-paced and sexy romantic suspense. Jean-Marie is a man who knows what he wants and Hélène is more than willing to give it to him, all the while fighting the bad guys. This series has been an excellent reading experience, and I highly recommend adding them to your book list.

Book Summary

Ever since they saw each other across a glittering ballroom centuries ago, Jean-Marie St. Just and Hélène d’Agelet have loved each other. Yet no matter how passionate their attachment, it’s always been blocked by demands of duty and honor that neither can break. Jean-Marie, conceived for profit then tormented for decades before being saved by the vampire knight Don Rafael, would rather die than betray the only family he’s ever known. Hélène, firestarter and British secret agent, longs to regain a simpler life, while always haunted by an unsettled legacy of family ghosts and eternal evil.

Now Jean-Marie and Hélène face each other over something far stronger than ancient ecstasies: Jean-Marie is determined to kill Hélène’s sister, Madame Celeste – the vampire Queen of New Orleans – before she can destroy Jean-Marie’s family.

But for Hélène, that means choosing between the love of her life—or murdering her own flesh-and-blood…