TOUCH OF EVIL

REVIEW PAGE

For those who like the WHOLE story!  These are all of the reviews we've found for the book so far!

RENNE A. MALLETT, Horror.about.com. 4 Stars! Kate Reilly lives in a world were vampires aren’t fiction, they’re fact. Instead of misunderstood monsters, or a scary story to tell kids at night, they are actually parasites that live out in the open with everyone else. They have a careful hive system, several Queens with a brood of hosts waiting to take over, and a collection of sad humans who have sold themselves into the vampire herd, supplying blood to feed the Queen in exchange for money.

Against her will Kate finds herself in the unenviable position of being next in line to become a Queen of a vampire hive. It’s an honor she definitely does not want. With the help of her sexy new werewolf tenant Kate has to find a way to survive and keep her humanity intact.

Kate Reilly is a kick ass hero, finally a heroine in a horror/romance who takes the reigns of her own destiny. Kate is totally believable, she uses her brains and relies in her friends to save her own skin, she doesn’t fall back on to any convenient superpowers or abilities. There is a boatload of romantic and sexual tension between Kate and her new tenant, the werewolf Tom Bishop that will keep you reading even during lulls in the fight against the vampire queen.

The book takes a whole new spin on the traditional vampire novel and it works well. The only downside to this book is that it takes awhile for the action to start, a lot of the first half of the book is spent learning what got Kate to this point. The book would almost work better if it was split into two different novels, there’s a lot of back-story with this tale that is intriguing enough to warrant its own book

NEW! VAMPIRE GENRE.COM. Touch of Evil is a completely new twist on the vampire novel. These vampires are evil parasites that have evolved alongside humans. They are an intriguing and twisted combination of vampire, alien, and bee. It’s fairly complicated but luckily the book begins with a short introduction to these vampires and how they operate.

Six years ago, Kate Reilly was betrayed by her lover Dylan and turned over to the vampires that call themselves the Thrall. She managed to escape by killing the Queen but was bitten by Monica, a powerful vampire, in her struggle to get away. A truce was reached with the other Thrall Queens and she has been left in peace for years. Now, things are changing. Katie manages to avoid a suspicious accident only to be attacked at the hospital by Monica who has been the Queen for several years. Monica is now dying and she wants to exact her revenge on Katie by making her the next Thrall Queen. Katie would rather die than become a Thrall and she just might. With the help of her gorgeous werewolf neighbor Tom, her brother, and new friends, there may be a chance that she can stay alive until Monica dies. Tom arouses all kinds of feelings that she thought dead after Dylan betrayed her. Can Kate allow herself to love again with the sweet but secretive Tom, and still manage to protect herself from the Thrall? One wrong move and she’s dead.

This is the beginning of an exciting new series from two authors best known for their shape shifter Sazi novels. Their brand of paranormal fiction has a good dose of horror, romance, and cliffhanger plots. If you like heroines that are tough, competent, and can kick butt, you will love this book. It’s very imaginative and a fresh twist on vampire mythology.

SHANNON JOHNSON, Romance Readers at Heart. 4 Roses! I admit my prejudice up front; I love the Sazi stuff from C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp. Tony Giodone, the hero in those, just does it for me! Anyway, take away Tony and insert super heroine Kate and her paranormal enemies, The Thrall, and you have TOUCH OF EVIL. It's good, it's just not as good as the world of the Sazi.

Writing, not necessarily the characters, can be everything to a story and in this case, it is. Without the yarn spinning talents of Adams and Clamp, I can see this book being pretty confusing, despite the fact that the storyline isn't that complex. A contradictory statement, I know, but true, none the less. It's also not what I call character driven, with the exception of heroine Kate, though all the characters are made to do some interesting things and I like them. It's just that the plot is more essential to the story, and the characters, though defined, are merely players in the game.

TOUCH OF EVIL is a book you won't want to put down and also one you will anticipate the follow up to. Especially if you appreciate the gifted writers knack for thinking up new things in a genre that is currently being taken up by everyone.

BEVERLY FOREHAND, Roundtable Reviews. Kate Reilly is used to danger.  After all, she makes her living as a bagman delivering goods around the globe that need speedy drop-offs and pick-ups.  But, Kate's already adventurous life takes a turn for the sinister when she is bitten by the Thrall Queen.  Luckily, Kate escapes becoming enthralled to the parasitic Vampire Queen herself, but her latent psychic abilities leave her with a connection to the Thrall and their evil Queen--a union that often leaves Kate at her wit's end.  And, just as Kate has gotten her life back together, she finds that the Thrall Queen is having her trailed--but to what end?  Kate, as a human who has outwitted the Dark Queen is, according to Thrall Law, above all harm.  But, Kate senses that the Queen's purpose can't be anything less than murder--or worse.  And, Kate's already tumultuous life is further complicated by handsome and charismatic Tom, a firefighter with a secret of his own.  Can Kate escape the Thrall--and what exactly do they want with Kate?  And, what hope do Kate, and Tom, have for a future when death and danger confront them at every turn?

A TOUCH OF EVIL is an amazing book!  As bright and original as HUNTER'S MOON and MOON'S WEB, A TOUCH OF EVIL expands the world of shapeshifters already explored in Clamp and Adams' former works and gives us the Thrall--a race of parasitic vampires with an agenda all their own.  As in their previous works, Adams and Clamp's characters are compelling, richly drawn, and full of life and vigor.  Kate and Tom are dynamic and adventurous.  Their relationship is magnetic and packed with raw energy.  And, the Thrall Queen and her minions are creative, completely original, and evil in the extreme.  Using their usual lush imagery and great sense of style, Adams and Clamp have created a story and a world that is not only horrifying and engrossing, but very, very real.  Imagine Ann Rice's Vampire Chronicles with a whole lot more bite and you have A TOUCH OF EVIL.  You simply will not put this book down until you read it from cover to final page--and surprise lurks in every paragraph.  Great work once again!  A sequel is certainly a must!

JANALEE, A Romance Review. Kate Reilly is in the fight for her life, you could even say her very soul is at risk. The Thrall Queen and her band of parasites are pursuing her. She is also dealing with the side effects from a bite by a master parasite. This tall redhead will have to keep her wits about her when a handsome and virile werewolf enters her already overactive life making it even more complicated, with lustful desires and animalistic attraction. Now if Kate can just keep it all together, while still keeping herself from the parasites!

Touch of Evil is the latest release and writing collaboration of C. T. Adams and Cathy Clamp. This book is the start of a whole new series for these two authors and what a dark and delicious beginning they have given to the series. With a completely different take of the paranormal /vampire tale, Ms. Adam and Ms. Clamp penned in perfect harmony on this novel. They give the descriptions a life of their own that is easy for the readers to connect with and stay connected to the characters, while the drama revolving around this tale unfolds.

This reviewer found this novel fresh and inviting to read, but it is not for the faint of heart. At times it is graphic and explicit in its descriptions.

Kate is over six feet tall with gorgeous, long red hair. She is a survivor and a well-honed fighting machine. She is also a kind and good-hearted woman that loves her family very much. Her desire not to be made into a parasite is the top priority right now in her life. But there is so much more going on in the background that Kate will still have to face and deal with in this action packed paranormal novel. Along with all these dramatic elements, Tom, her new tenant, is a werewolf and oh so sexy! So get comfortable because the characters in this book will grab you by the throat and keep you prisoner until the last page!

When different is your ultimate required reading, Touch of Evil by C. T. Adams and Cathy Clamp will be a definite must read for you! This novel is a dark paranormal that will keep you on your toes, with sexy characters, great dialogues—threaded together with excellent written duality. This reviewer can hardly wait for the next in the series to see where these two authors take there next grouping of paranormal characters!
 

JILL SMITH, Romantic Times BOOKclub, TOP PICK! Professional courier Kate Reilly is one of the few usually despised humans considered "Not Prey" by the Thrall Vampires. Kate earned this designation the hard way---by killing the reigning Queen Thrall Vampire of Denver. She didn't escape unscathed, however; she sustained a Thrall vampire bite. The Thralls themselves are actually parasites that invade their host's human body, which, regrettably, only lasts for a few years once invaded.

Monica, the new queen, has a body that is dying, and she desperately wants to lay her eggs in a new host. Partially out of revenge, Monica has chosen Kate as the queen host. Of course, Kate is not about to cooperate, but with the vampires in the city out to get her, things are going to get rough. Kate's best shot may be an alliance with the werewolves, including her hunky new tenant, Tom Bishop. Unfortunately, Kate has too many hostages to fortune, and Monica knows just how to turn the knife.

Unveiling a new paranormal series, the brilliant team of Adams and Clamp craft an exceedingly intriguing heroine trying to survive a dangerous and complex world. Told in first person, the resilient Kate's struggles and choices are both vivid and terrifying. This is an unbeatably good paranormal!

SERENA, Fallen Angel Reviews.   Katie is a courier with a singular life. She has been chased by vampires, dumped by a boyfriend for her best friend, and did I mention that she’s psychic? Katie lives in a world with a different set of rules than ours. In her world there are werewolves who do not change with the phases of the moon, but with strong emotions. The vampires of fiction are not even close to the vampires in her world. In her world they are parasites that meld with their hosts and have a hive mind. You are either Prey, or Not Prey. Katie is Not Prey and expects a little respect from the vampires. Well, when the resident vampire Queen goes insane all bets are off. Enter a firefighting werewolf named Tom and Katie’s life has gotten that much more interesting.

I don’t think I’ve read a book quite this quickly before. I was so excited to see that I was able to review it and boy, even though I had high expectations already, Touch of Evil blew them out of the water. This is a very rare book, one like no other. There are a few parallels between this world and some of my favorite authors, but no one has combined them all into one seamless world. C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp have done a fabulous job in plotting out an entirely believable world with unbelievable facets. When I read their first two books I was slightly disappointed to hear that there next book was going to be based in a new world, I was wrong to be disappointed. I look forward to many more books from these two talented authors, both in the world of Touch of Evil and in the Sazi world from their previous books. I’m happy to see that their books are available through the Doubleday Book Club because I will want these in hardcover. Touch of Evil will be on my keeper shelf for a very, very long time.
 

RASHMI SRINIVAS, Curled Up With A Good Book, FIVE STARS!  Kate Reilly is a formidable woman both physically and psychically - she has to be. In her world, which looks and feels a lot like modern-day Denver, vampires are at the top of the food chain, and humans are either prey or potential vampires. Unlike traditional vampires, these are a sentient parasitic species that take over a human, use it to death, then move onto another body. The only requirement is that the human host have strong psychic powers, as the vampires use mind control to feed and grow. All of this goes on quite tacitly alongside normal day-to-day life.

Thanks to a previous triumphant encounter with a vampire queen in which Kate not only survived, despite being bitten, but also managed to kill that queen, Kate has reached the somewhat elevated status of “Not Prey.” Yet for some unknown reason, the minions of the current vampire queen, Monica, continue to attack Kate time and again. This is a complication that a beleaguered Kate could do without, especially since she has more than her share of personal trouble: a zombie younger brother, mounting financial bills, her persistent ex-fiancé, Dylan, who is now mixed up with vampires, and the latest – her sexy werewolf tenant, Tom.

The writing duo of C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp is fast becoming a formidable presence in the world of paranormal literature. They first mesmerized readers with their ongoing “Sazi” series. Now they launch their audience into a totally new world, where humans and a new breed of vampires uneasily co-exist. This is a completely new scenario, at once similar and alien, one that will leave readers bewildered unless they read the explanatory “Dear Reader” letter at the beginning of the book that provides vital information regarding the story about to unfold.

Armed like Buffy, with the agility of Catwoman, the attitude of a Terminator, and strong psychic powers, Kate Reilly is indeed a force to be reckoned with. Together with lycanthrope Tom Bishop, she is determined to fight for the underdog - in this case, the hapless human beings - against the growing hive of vampires. The characters are all tortured, flawed and intriguing, just begging to star in their own books. Needless to say, the turbo-charged plot has healthy doses of sex, action, drama and pathos – all with that near-palpable touch of realism.

Why Kate is being constantly attacked, the identity of the young girl the vampires are seeking, whether or not Tom is indeed her ally, and if Kate can even survive the ominous battle with the vampires that the whole story builds to – these and others questions keep the bone-chilling, nerve-wracking suspense going up to the spectacular finish. Even then it doesn’t end, for this is but the first highly recommended book in a much-anticipated brand new series.

[Note - Thanks to a confidential tip this reviewer has received from one of the authors, readers can rest assured that any unanswered questions regarding the complex relationships between Kate, Dylan and others in the past will be explored and answered in the upcoming books of the “Thrall” series.]

MARTINA BEXTLE, BookLoons.  The relatively new and prolific writing team of C. T. Adams and Cathy Clamp introduces a brand new series with Touch of Evil. This time they tackle parasitic vampires, the Thrall, whose objective is to infect and master all humans. The Thrall have a hive mentality and are ruled by a group of Queens who control individual Hosts and their human Herd. Thrall hate most humans and consider them Prey. There are only a few humans in the world who are Not Prey. One of them is Kate Reilly, a young woman who must put her life and everything she holds dear on the line to fight the evil vampire Queens intent on initiating her into their hierarchy.

Kate won't comply and makes it her mission in life to destroy as many of the Queens as she can. Though she managed to kill the Queen of Denver, she was bitten in the process, giving the Thrall access to her mind. But Kate's own psychic abilities have helped her learn how to cope with their constant mental summons to join with them. Since her fiancé betrayed her to the Thrall, Kate finds it difficult to trust anyone save her brothers and a few close friends. When a sexy firefighter (who also happens to be a werewolf) moves in next door, Kate's senses are acutely shaken; their attraction is immediate. Within days, Tom wants to take things to the next level, while Kate insists on keeping him at a safe distance. But Tom's honesty and growing love soon knock down her strong defenses. A good thing too, because he and his werewolf pack are just as adamant about defeating the Thrall Queens as Kate Reilly, and they soon learn that they make formidable allies.

As they did in their last series, the authors introduce a complicated and interesting world in Touch of Evil. The story is told from Kate's first person point of view. She's one tough, single-minded, kick-butt woman, but with enough vulnerabilities and insecurities to make her believable. As in their previous series (Hunter's Moon and Moon's Web), the authors spend a little too much time on background or moment-to-moment information or narrative, that at times has little to do with furthering the story, confuses things, or bogs it down. I would have preferred more information about the Thrall and their complicated hierarchy. Even so, the characters, writing style and involved plotting are engaging and make the story very readable. Once past the boggy middle, the action and plot soar to a satisfying conclusion, with plenty of dangling plot threads to run with in upcoming installments.

BELINDA S. MAYS, Romance Reviews Today. Denver, Colorado ~ Present Day

Kate Reilly is a bonded courier.  She spends most of her time transporting priceless items all over the world for her clients.  When home, she's driven to try to take care of everyone around her, on her own.  This habit unfortunately thrusts her into the world of the Thrall, a hive of parasitic, vampire-like creatures with a single consciousness and incredible psychic abilities.  But the Thrall isn't supposed to hunt Kate.  She's off limits based on its own rules.  After so many years of leaving Kate alone, why would the Thrall break those rules and begin hunting a woman who is supposed to be Not Prey?

Tom Bishop is a firefighter -- Mr. August in the firefighter's annual calendar, in fact.  He's also a werewolf on a covert assignment.  His task: keep an eye on Kate Reilly.  While performing his duties, he falls for the woman.  Tom is willing to risk the ire of his matriarch to be with Kate, and he's determined to protect her, even from her own stubborn self.

Monica, one of the Thrall queens, has grown immensely powerful.  The Thrall, who speak as one, with one will and one mind, can no longer control Monica nor keep her from breaking free of the collective to wreak havoc.  She's determined to have Kate succeed her as queen regardless of the Thrall's wishes.  If this happens, Kate will become the most powerful and dangerous queen ever.  Monica doesn't care that the Thrall has forbidden her to hunt Kate.  And she doesn't care that Kate would rather die than succeed her.

TOUCH OF EVIL is an interesting mix of worlds, both seen and unseen.  The story is written in first-person.  While not the typical writing style for most novels, the first-person voice allows us to see through the main character's eyes in a way that is fresh and doesn't hamper the pace of the book.  The attraction between Kate and Tom is not the main focus of the story, but does finally bloom into a sweet little romance.  The action is plentiful, and the supporting cast of good guys and villains is interesting without overtaking the story.  The world of the Thrall is painted with the emphasis on world building and paranormal elements expected in a Tor book.  The darkness of the Thrall, the loyal behavior of the werewolf pack, and certain suspenseful twists and turns make TOUCH OF EVIL a good read.

JANE JORGENSON, All About Romance. Grade: C/Warm (ah, well...can't please everyone! But we promised we'd post ALL of the reviews.) Reading a book is like going on a blind date; vulnerability abounds. When the author writes it and puts it out there, he/she becomes vulnerable to the reading public. It is what it is and nothing they can do will affect the outcome once it’s published. But the reader is at risk as well. They’re willing to get out there and meet the author half-way. They want to be entertained and moved, and most of all they want to like what they’ve read. Sadly, as with blind dates, some of what we read disappoints us. Case in point, Touch of Evil. I wanted to like it - oh so much more then I did.

In the complicated alternative world that Ms. Adams and Ms. Clamp have created vampires aren’t really vampires. They are the Thrall, a parasitic race who take over the bodies of human beings and eventually destroy them from the inside out. Anyone remember episode 25 of Star Trek: The Next Generation called “Conspiracy” where the broad earwig shaped things were invading the bodies of Fleet personnel? That’s sort of the idea here (at least as far as I can understand). The parasites invade the blood stream and move to the spine. For a few years the host human can survive but they are controlled by their parasite. Most who have this parasite are imply “hosts”. Every host is part of a group controlled by a queen. These queens must transfer to a new host when their human dies or their entire “family” will perish. Other humans are “herd”. They provide blood to the Thrall and are eventually used up as well. You got all that?

Kate Reilly is an international courier. Kate’s been bitten by a Thrall queen but has been able to avoid becoming a host. That’s not to say she escaped entirely. The bite has left her psychically attuned to the Thrall and though she is declared “Not Prey” by the most of the queens in Denver, the queen who bit her has other plans. Queen Monica is determined to take Kate as her next host body. Needless to say, Kate would rather die.

Is there a romance in there somewhere? Well, sort of. Kate owns an apartment building. Her newest tenant is Tom Bishop, a firefighter who was thrown out of his last apartment because he also happens to be a lycanthrope. Kate thinks he’s hot, Tom thinks Kate is hot. Must be a romance. Truthfully that’s about all there is to it. The couple spends so little time together (and what they do spend together is spent fighting bad guys) that it was hard to see this as anything more then an initial foray into a relationship. By book’s end they have feelings for each other but it’s a little hard to believe.

Tom is a likable hero. Though he’s a werewolf his pack is matriarchal and Tom is anything but an alpha concerning Kate. He cares but doesn’t try to run roughshod over her life. Kate is tough and no-nonsense, and I liked that. But she’s also occasionally pretty darn stupid. Kate is a woman under siege and yet time and time again she seems to forget that fact. Upon arriving at her home and finding a strange car blocking her parking garage Kate frets about having to call someone to tow the car and then goes on to explain how she only has the car towed to the street not the impound lot and how irritating it all is. Not once does she stop and think, hey maybe this is a bad guy come to get me. That’s just plain dumb. And it happens more than once.

Kate’s occasional idiocy aside, the biggest problem I had with the book is that it’s got big ideas that don’t go anywhere. Like the romance, the plotting happens in spurts. In many ways this feels like a first book in a series. If it is, then some of the slow build is understandable. But it still leaves the reader hoping for more.

I’ve tried this writing duo before and they have not hit with me yet. What they have done is intrigue me enough to keep me coming back, which is not something I’d say about many ‘C’ authors. Still, I can't recommend this particular book.

DIANA TIXIER HERALD, American Library Association BookList/Kirkus. STARRED REVIEW! Touch of Evil begins a new series for Adams and Clamp, who have built quite a following with their Sazi shapeshifter romances.  Eschewing recent trends, the vampires in this series are not sexy or funny, and this form of vampirism is spread by a parasite in saliva causing those bitten to become part of the herd, or "Thrall," a hive entity led by queens.

Kate Reilly is a kick-ass courier who travels the world over from a converted warehouse in Denver's trendy LoDo neighborhood.  She needs a tenant; firefighter Tom Bishop needs a place near the firehouse. As a lycanthrope, he isn't permitted to drive and his current landlord is illegally evicting him just because he's a werewolf.  Kate and Tom unite to fight off a vampire scheme to make Kate the new queen, and they make an amazing duo.  Adams and Clamp are adept at incorporating riveting plot twists into this fully imagined world, and they don't stint on the romance that builds between the sexy and oh-so-sweet Tom and the Laura Croft-like Kate, making this an outstanding paranormal romance.

SUSAN WHITE, Coffee Time Romance. Four Cups! Mary Kathleen Reilly has the distinction of being Not Prey to the parasitic vampires called the Thrall, who feed on society. She survived a traumatic encounter with them, which included being bitten, after her ex-fiancé left her to their not so tender mercies. Because she has proven her strength and intelligence, they have left her alone. That is about to change. They want her to be their next Queen and they will stop at nothing to make it happen.

As a fireman, Tom is used to dealing with people. As a werewolf, he is used to being shunned by some of them. Shapeshifters are often denied when trying to lease apartments and such. Tom is thrilled to find that Kate has a vacancy in the building she owns, and pleased that she is willing to lease to him. He is also very attracted to her. While moving in, he realizes the danger she is in and does his best to help protect her from the Thrall and their many minions.

This is a terrific book with a refreshing new angle on the old vampire myths and legends. The way the Thrall and their Hosts and Herd work is explained in intricate detail, makes the plot clear, and keeps things flowing smoothly. The dynamics of the relationships between the various characters are exciting and give a lot of support for the way the story unfolds. The contemporary setting is nicely described and makes an effective backdrop for the battle between good and evil. The story is so different and so intriguing that I could not put it down until I had read every word.

As Mr. August 2005 in a calendar that was printed to benefit charity, Tom is one sexy werewolf. He is a perfect foil for Kate's strength and perseverance. They strike sparks off each other from their very first encounter. The supporting characters are an integral part of the story. Monica, the Queen of the Thrall, is so maliciously evil one cannot help loathing her, even as her behavior fascinates. Kate's brother Bryan is a tragic figure: a drug zombie who scarred his brain with recreational drugs and now needs full time care. Both Ms. Clamp and Ms. Adams have extremely creative imaginations and a knack for using words to create such visual images that readers can easily picture the story in their minds. As I read, I could see events unfolding as if I were watching a movie. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys paranormal tales of vampires and werewolves, especially those who prefer the unique and different. More Thrall please!
 

TRACEY WEST, The Road to Romance.  Five Stars, Six years ago, Kate Reilly’s life was forever changed by the one man she thought she’d spend the rest of her life with. Dylan handed her over The Thrall, a group of vampire parasites. Kate’s psychic ability mixed with the venom from the Thrall transformed her, making her much more powerful. But it comes with a price that she’s can’t to take. Being as powerful as she now is, and the reason The Thrall wanted her, she is next to be Queen of The Thrall, and her days as a human are numbered. Though The Thrall’s venom runs through her body, the full transformation is not complete and Kate isn’t ready for it to be! Kate doesn’t trust many people, especially after Dylan’s betrayal years ago and she holds herself aloof from others, never letting anyone in. But Tom Bishop, a firefighter who sets Kate on fire with his charm and her attraction to him, she is determined to resist.

Can Tom help Kate against The Thrall and a full transformation? Or does Tom have secrets of his own – secrets that could be even more harmful to Kate than she could ever imagine….

C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp write first person, paranormal fiction like no other author(s). I love their first person tales that make a reader become the heroine who is breathlessly fighting for her life and feel the adrenaline that pours off the pages. Kate Reilly is such a heroine who a reader wants to become. Kate’s fear, determination and strength are insurmountable and the reader can definitely feel everything she’s feeling. Kate is one of these author’s best heroines and is unforgettable.

The danger surrounding Kate, her looking over her shoulder every minute, keeps the reader enthralled into this story. There are many questions that need answering and I couldn’t put this story down until everything was answered. Twists and turns, adventure, a fast pace and two fantastic elements of the paranormal – werewolves and vampires – mixed with Kate’s psychic abilities…you have one hell of a powerful trio that explodes within this book.

Touch of Evil receives The Road to Romance Reviewer’s Choice Award for all the above and the great writing of the author duo, C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp. This book has it all and more. Readers don’t want to miss this perfect example of fantastically vivid paranormal fiction.

CHERE GRUVER, ParaNormal Romance Reviews.  Katie Reilly is a courier by trade and is just coming home from a trip overseas. Since her best friend, Peg, is a stewardess, they run into each other at the airport. Of course, Katie isn’t exactly pleased when Peg tells her about her brother’s latest expenditure. This means Katie will have to shoulder more of the expense of their younger brother’s care. Six years ago, Katie was declared Not Prey by the vampire Queens after a battle wherein Katie killed the reigning Queen. On the way home, Katie ends up in an accident when someone tries to run her off the road. She goes to the hospital where her brother, Joe, works and ends up being attacked by a nurse. Okay, now Katie knows something is up. As Not Prey, this should not be happening. It turns out Monica, the current vampire Queen in her hometown, has decided Katie should be the next Queen, something Katie has no intentions of allowing to happen. Well, Katie has psychic abilities, something Monica desperately wants in her successor.

When Katie finally gets home to her remodeled warehouse, she finds out the man who was supposed to move into the just finished apartment has been transferred and won’t be taking it. Running into a fireman looking for a new apartment, Katie leases the place to him. Since Tom is a werewolf, his landlord has kicked him out of his current place. Not only is Tom very good-looking, he’s also attracted to Katie, just as much as she’s attracted to him.

Since Monica is just about ready to die, Katie knows she only has to avoid the Thrall and the Queen for a few more days and she’ll be home free. As Not Prey, she is not allowed to run.

Will Monica be able to get Katie? What of the attraction between Tom and Katie? Will anything come of it? Will Katie survive all the Thrall attacks? Will she become the next vampire Queen?

TOUCH OF EVIL is one of the most original vampire/shapeshifter books I have read in a long time. Authors C. T. Adams and Cathy Clamp take us into an alternate reality, one where vampires and werewolves share our world. Where vampirism is a virus and the Queen only lives three or four years and has to lay eggs into her heir. In their normal fashion, the author team of Adams and Clamp have written a gritty novel with non-stop action, plots and subplots galore, and filled their world with amazing characters. If I have one complaint about this author team, it would be that they don’t write fast enough. I want more from these two fantastic authors! Every book they write, just pulls me more and more into their worlds. If you like paranormal stories, don’t miss this one!

MEGAN, Rosemary's Romance Books (Brisbane, Australia). 10/10 Stars! In a world where vampires are parasites called the Thrall that shorten your life when they take you as host, being thrall is something most regular people avoid. Psychic Kate Reilly avoids it harder than most. Even though she has been designated 'not prey' after killing a Thrall Queen six years ago she once again finds herself being hunted. For only a strong psychic can be the Thrall Queen and she's the dying queen's first choice.

Kate not only has to dodge multiple thrall attacks without acting like prey and loosing her 'not prey' status but protect the girl who is the queens second choice at successor. Her ex, the guy who turned her over to the thrall six years ago, wants her back. A sexy werewolf fireman has moved into the apartment downstairs and is using every ounce of sex appeal he possess to draw her to him.

Maybe she'll end up with a guy, if only she survives the week.

There is one problem with reading ARC's...it's just that much longer before you can read the sequel and I am dying to see what happens next. This is an excellent paranormal read with characters that are rock solid and real enough to make you worry for them. This book is a definite keeper.

HARRIET KLAUSNER, Midwest Book Reviews. Former pro volleyball “Terminator” turned bonded air courier Mary Kathleen “Katie” Reilly travels the globe delivering valuables. However, the glamour and boredom of this jet setter comes from her war with the Thrall, vampires to the illiterate. The Thrall who considers humans as prey want Katie eradicated like a nuisance bug; however classify her as Not Prey following her rescuing her former fiancé Dylan Shea six years ago; ironically he dumped her for her best friend Amanda, took her cat Blank and became part of the human herd owned by the Thrall.

Most vampires recognize Katie as a formidable enemy who is clearly Not Prey until now. However, the Vampire Queen Monica decides differently sending her Thralls, Hosts, and Herds after Katie, but apparently has other uses for the human because her orders are not to kill the 6’1” athletic Amazonian adversary. Refusing to hide, Katie fights, but instead of her brother Joe having her back, werewolf firefighter Tom tries to keep her safe. However, the odds seem overwhelming in favor of the vampire queen obtaining her desire.

The reason supernatural fans will appreciate TOUCH OF EVIL is the orderly world developed by the two authors that make vampires, werewolves, and psychic phenomena seem ordinary even while the supernatural creatures are vastly different from the “normal” bloodsuckers and shapeshifters. The action-packed story line is driven by the heroine who readers will root for as the Thrall and their human slaves and fodder attack her. Besides trying to keep Katie safe -- though she is quite capable, Tom terrifically provides an interesting cross-species romantic element to a strong supernatural drama.

KELLEY HARTSELL, Love Romances. 4-1/2 Blue Ribbons. Readers, buckle your seatbelts, Touch of Evil is a non-stop thrilling ride.

Katie Reilly has been through a lot in her life. She’s traveled the world as an international courier, watched her brother become a drug “zombie,” and fallen in love only to have her former best friend steal the man. Oh, and she’s had her former lover sacrifice her to the parasitic vampire Thrall to save his own hide. This all happens before the story even begins…

Fast forward six years. Katie has discovered that being attacked by the Thrall has magnified her already strong natural psychic abilities. Now the new Thrall Queen, Monica, is near death and must find her successor before she and the whole hive die. Unfortunately for Katie, she has been hand picked to replace Monica, who will stop at nothing to get her.

When Tom, an incredibly sexy werewolf, rents an apartment from her things begin to change dramatically. For the first time since Dylan betrayed her, Katie feels stirrings of desire for a man. Just as their relationship seems to be getting good, Dylan comes to her to protect his niece, also chosen as a possible successor to Monica. Never did Katie expect the way that would affect her life. Tom knows more than he is telling… and her life, and those of her family and friends are in more danger than ever. Just why are the werewolves so intent on interfering with her job to protect the young girl? Can Katie get past her mistrust of Tom to experience the shifting love they share?

With Touch of Evil, CT Adams and Cathy Clamp prove once again they are a stellar writing team in the paranormal romance genre. The action starts immediately and carries readers through to the several peak moments that all lead up to the final confrontation between good and evil. The tension is gripping and the multiple minor story lines all work together to enhance the main plotline, never detracting from it.

Katie is a take charge kind of girl, insisting on doing everything alone. One of the lessons she must learn is that everyone has their strong traits, which complement hers to make the combined team a force to be reckoned with. Her history makes her who she is, and this reviewer loved her all the more for her weaknesses, as well as her strengths. Of course, one can’t forget her sexy werewolf, Tom, whose strong alpha wolf tendencies give him the desire to protect Katie at any cost, even when she doesn’t believe she needs his help.

One will especially love the authors’ vampire world. They use a completely different concept than this reviewer has ever read. The vampires are actually parasitic creatures that take over the human “host” in order to survive. There’s certainly nothing sexy about these bloodsuckers, unlike how vampires are so often portrayed in the romance genre. It’s also interesting to have the community of the Thrall being described as hives, very similar to what people think of in regards to bees. Some of the best descriptive scenes can be found when the behavior and actions of the Thrall are being illustrated.

If readers are looking for a completely different kind of vampire story, blended into a society where werewolves are common, though looked down upon as inferior, and featuring a leather-clad, tough as nails warrior woman like Katie, then Touch of Evil by CT Adams and Cathy Clamp will more than satisfy the craving. What’s even better? There are obviously many stories yet to be told about Katie and company.

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