ARC Review: Bane’s Choice by Alyssa Day

My Review:

When Bane goes to the hospital to take his mortally wounded friend in the hopes of turning him, he meets the fiery Dr. Ryan St. Cloud. Intelligent, sassy, and fierce, Ryan is the first person in a long time to challenge Bane, and he is instantly intrigued. Who is this fascinating and intelligent woman, and why does she move him so? On top of that, how does she resist his powers, and why does she glow?

Ryan is shocked when she sees a stranger trying to steal her patient. However, she never expected to be thrust into a world of vampires and a supernatural battle for power. She also never expected to fall for the mysterious and handsome kidnapper. As her feelings for Bane grow, can Ryan protect her heart and her patient?

Ryan is such an interesting character and one of my favorites in the story. A human immersed in a supernatural world that was previously unknown to her, Ryan hides her fear and stands up to Bane and his intimidating peers. I like her gumption, her take-charge personality, and her humor. Take a look at one of her more sarcastic moments:

“I’m not sure you should thank me, Doctor. I’m the villain in your story.”

She gave him a long look. “You’re taking too much credit. Maybe you can be part of a subplot?”

I love how Ryan’s humor and sarcasm not only brings a bit of light-heartedness to the story, but it also breaks down the wall that Bane built around his heart. As the leader of his motorcycle club and head of his household, Bane shoulders a lot of responsibility, and, as a long-living vampire, he’s experienced a lot of loss. Ryan makes him feel things he hasn’t felt in a long time, and Bane makes Ryan feel desired. They fill voids in each other’s lives, challenge each other, and are really attracted to each other, which leads to a chemistry-laden romance. Get a fan, because Ryan and Bane’s sexy scenes are swoon-tastic!

Bane’s sister Maera is another intriguing character. Like Ryan, Maera is a strong, independent woman who is unwilling to bend to the alpha males that fill her life. She is loyal to a fault and respected by her family. Sharp and fierce, Maera is also vulnerable and loving. Though Maera isn’t the main focus of the story, she leaves a strong impression, and I’m hopeful that her story will be further explored in future books. I also like that Ryan and Maera developed a friendship. Often, women become competition or rivals in romance novels, and I like that the author took Ryan and Maera’s relationship in a different direction.

Other minor characters, like Edge, Mrs. C, and Luke are dynamic additions to the story, and their camaraderie is funny and heart-warming. I also like the plot, which includes a battle for power among the supernatural. Warlocks and necromancers threaten the precarious peace among the vampires and wolves. As the battle heats up, Bane and his family must do everything they can to protect their people as well as themselves, which grows increasingly more difficult.

Bane’s Choice is a well-paced, immersive, and sexy story that will appeal to readers of supernatural romance. The story wraps-up nicely while still leaving some questions unanswered, which I liked. I’m curious to learn more about Ryan. What is she? How does she resist the powers of the vampires? What will happen to Maera and her potential love interest? Will the warlocks cause more trouble? I can’t wait to find out! Thanks so much to Netgalley, Alyssa Day, and Entangled Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Rating:

Favorite Parts:

• The romance, of course! Bane and Ryan have fantastic chemistry, and their witty banter is fabulous. I loved their love story!

• The humorous dialogue offers a bit of levity in this intense romance. The dialogue in general is well done.

• The representation of strong, independent women.

Favorite Lines:

Nothing was more important than family, even to a man who’d forgotten how to feel.

She offered a tentative smile of her own, and it was as if the sun itself had decided to shine through the roof of his home and down upon him. He wanted to curl up in the warmth of her smile and stay there for hours.

Your tears are merely your heart’s goodness overflowing.