The Cost of Eternity

Shayla Kersten
Ellora's Cave (2007)
ISBN 9781419908972
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (2/07)

Lorcan MacKenna is a vampire that is over 200-years old.  He appears to be in his thirties.  Lorcan has not taken a lover for over 100 years because it hurts too much to lose them.  He is addicted to the endorphins of sex so he uses anonymous prostitutes.   One night he rescues Kevin St. James from a gang rape.  Kevin is an out of work actor who had just begun working as an escort.  While he was raised with wealth, he was severely abused and had his self-esteem destroyed by his stepfather who is a Senator. 

Kevin is to come into millions, in a trust from his father’s estate, when he turns thirty in three years.  When Lorcan rescues him, he immediately falls for him.  He wants to continue to help him by sending him to college.  Lorcan suspects that the attack on Kevin was not random.  When he learns about Kevin’s estate, he figures that the senator is after his funds that would be inherited by his mom if something happens to him.  He assigns a bodyguard to follow Kevin.   Kevin suspects that it has to do more with the senator fearing that Kevin will talk about the abuse that he suffered at the hands of this evil politician now that he is running for president.

Kevin, who never considered himself gay, also finds himself falling for Lorcan.  For the first time since his father died, he feels like he is part of a family with Lorcan and his trusted employees.  Lorcan feels that he brings light into their lives.  They carry on a steamy sexual relationship.  Lorcan enjoys the experience of being able to feed off of Kevin.  They are both falling for each other.  Lorcan wants to get him out of the country however he finds himself unable to secure a passport for him.  Once again he suspects the stepfather’s involvement.  Then he has Secret Service people showing up at his door to check out Kevin’s background.  Not sure if they can trust the agent’s they are pretty evasive about what is going on.  When they finally trust an agent, it is almost too late because Kevin is kidnapped.  Lorcan has to rely on his vampire abilities to save him and to extract revenge.

This is a really good, sensual, love story.  The vampire elements add an extra touch to a good dramatic plot.  Kevin’s tortured past and coming to terms with his sexuality offer additional elements to the story that make it hard to put down.  Fans of homosexual, erotica and vampire stories will enjoy “The Cost of Etermity.”

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