Nocturne Review

I read a lot of YA and this is my favourite genre, that’s a given. But, I’m also a HUGE fan of romance and it may surprise you to know that I still enjoy an adult book every now and then. Whilst combing through the blogosphere, I came across a giveaway for a book called Nocturne by Syrie James. I’ve never heard of the author or the book before but I was immediately captivated with both the beautiful cover and the mesmerising storyline. I didn’t want to wait for the giveaway to end (and hope that I won) so I immediately downloaded a legitimate copy onto my Kindle. I’m going to cheat with the synopsis for this one and post the Goodreads description:

When Nicole Whitcomb’s car runs off a Colorado mountain road during a blinding snowstorm, she is saved from death by a handsome, fascinating, and enigmatic stranger. Snowbound with him for days in his beautiful home high in the Rockies, she finds herself powerfully attracted to him and soon comes to realize that the feeling is mutual. But there are things about him that mystify her, filling her with apprehension—and Nicole can’t shake the feeling that he doesn’t want her there.

Who is Michael Tyler? Why does he live alone in such a secluded spot and guard his private life so carefully? What secret—or secrets—is he hiding? Nicole has secrets of her own and a past she is running from—but Michael understands her better than anyone she has ever known. Soon, she is falling as deeply in love with him as he is with her. But as the sexual tension between them builds, the clues mount up. When Nicole learns the terrifying truth—that her host is an ages-old vampire who is torn between his love for her and his desire for her blood—there’s nowhere for her to run but into the blizzard raging outside, and he’s the only one who can save her life.

Nocturne is a character driven novel and one that features only two characters in the entire book – Nicole and Michael. I wasn’t sure whether this would work but you know what? It does. The story carries you forward at a steady pace as more and more is revealed both to Nicole and to the reader. The best thing about this book is how believable everything is. Everything from the accident to the setting and how Michael came to live such a secluded existence. Initially, I was worried about how Nicole was finally going to realise that she was snowbound with a vampire but thankfully, I needn’t have. It was a realistic reaction and completely believable.

I have to say that this is the first book I have read on my Kindle and I really enjoyed it. I found myself reading at every opportunity just to find out what happened next. Syrie painted the picture so vividly for me that I could practically feel the snowflakes falling on me. The ending may not sit right with everyone but I can see why Syrie chose to end the book like she did. The kindle version of the book actually included an interview with Syrie which I would recommend reading if you can.

I wish I could remember the name of the blog that introduced me to the world of Nocturne and Syrie James’ writing so I could thank them for the very pleasurable reading experience I’ve had over the last couple of days. If you’re a romance fan, DEFINITELY pick this one up.

Syrie James is both an author and a screenwriter. To find out more about her and her books, visit her website here.