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When Darkness Comes (Guardians of Eternity, Book 1) | 
 enlarge | Author: Alexandra Ivy
Publisher: Zebra
Category: Book
List Price: $6.99
Buy New: $3.28
You Save: $3.71 (53%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  39 reviews
Sales Rank: 10425
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 384
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.8
ISBN: 0821779354
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780821779354
ASIN: 0821779354
Publication Date: January 1, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Over 600,000 Feedbacks Posted!!! BRAND-NEW IN-HOUSE READY TO SHIP!!! NOT A REMAINDER!!! WE ARE A FIVE-STAR SELLER
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
It's been a hell of a day for Abby Barlow. In just a few hours, she's survived an explosion, watched her employer die, had a startling dream, and now she finds herself in a seedy Chicago hotel with the sexy, unearthly Dante, a man she both desires and fears. For 341 years, Dante has stood as guardian to The Chalice, a mortal woman chosen to hold back the darkness. A terrible twist of fate has now made Abby that woman. Three hours ago, Dante would have used all his charms to seduce her. Now she is his to protect. And he will do so until his very death. A terrifying plan has been set in motion, one that will plunge Dante and Abby into an epic battle between good and evil - and a desperate race to save their love...
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| Customer Reviews: Read 34 more reviews...
 Steamy! December 28, 2008
Wow! If you like a lot of steamy, hot romance (or sex, however you prefer) that includes gorgeous vampires and (only in the beginning of course) not so willing women - then this is perfect for you! And even if you're not into vampires, any romance novel lover will drool over this!
You might be able to tell, I did. I loved it! And now I ended up buying the whole series since in every book a new yummie vampire gets introduced that ends up being the "hero" of the next novel ... Addictive. Definitely addictive. Can't wait for the next book to come out!
Plus, if you must know, the heroes and heroines in these books are remarkably witty and sometimes outright funny. Of course it is not world literature but there is even a halfway interesting story line.
 Not So Good December 24, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
It was a struggle to finish this book. There were some moments-really tiny ones-when it was kind of amusing. But for the most part, it's a dud.
The Plot:
When Abby's boss dies she becomes the new Chalice, a kind of anti-demon on earth. Dante, a vampire is the guardian of the Chalice and must now protect Abby at all costs. The two are faced with countless forces of evil who are now tracking Abby. Romance blossoms between the two.
The Redeeming Parts:
Dante is sexy. Abby is funny-I'm not sure whether that's intentional or not, but at times it was all that made the reading bearable.
Why It Failed:
There are moments when Dante and Abby are on the run, when the whole this just comes across as silly. It struck me as a badly distorted version of Buffy. It's vague, confused, and complex. I found Ivy's writing lacking in the style and imagination necessary to keep the reader drawn in.
I bought this book thinking it was paranormal romance, and to me it seems more like vampire spoof. I'm sorry to say I will not be carrying on with this series.
 Definitely not essential to a vampire romance collection December 24, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I'll start this review off with some of Abby's most used phrases:
"Yowza" and "Holy freaking cow"
Dante always refered to Abby as "lover", even months before she actually fulfilled that endearment; he rarely uses her actual name outloud. This became very irritating.
Unfortunately it went downhill from there. Early into his immortal life, vampire Dante was captured by blood-sacrificing witches and forced to become the protector of a very special spirit named the Phoenix. The Phoenix is everything good but too much good is bad. Her counterpart is the Prince, who is faithfully served by demonds and evil wizards alike. P.S. Vampires are a subcategory of demons which complicates Dante's allegiance quite a bit. When the Chalice (the technically human being the Phoenix inhabits and yes I agree that all these terms are getting annoying) has suddenly passed away, the Phoenix chooses Abby Barlow to reside in next.
So now all of the Prince's gofers are gunning for Abby. Despite 300 years of experience, Dante is barely an adequate protector. The bonus is that he is annoying (my opinion, not the heroine's unfortunately). Dante had all the potential to be heart-melting: self-sacrificing, truly loved the heroine, said the right things, and evenhad a wicked sexy accent. Somehow it just didn't add up. To not like the male main character is new for me as I'm usually overcritical of the heroine.
My other concern with this book was that the author failed to follow through. Abby says she has five siblings and mentions her four brothers, drunk pop and drunk ma BUT never the fifth sibling whom I assume is a sister. Maybe Ms. Ivy was having a bad day and just miscounted. There was also the situation with her employment. It was hinted that the former Chalice had possibly purposely chosen Abby as her companion as well as her successor and that Abby's way too-good-to-be true job was preplanned but it was never eloborated upon. Is it possible Abby was just an overpaid errand girl? And the sex scenes: their first and second and possibly third times together were in a wet, very tiny, disgusting cave. I had to skim over that entire bit as it was just so implausible. Finally, Dante's knowledge of pop culture wavered like a seesaw! He owned a TV and made some movie references but was completely clueless when Abby made her own references to movies.
Still, do not let this turn you off Ivy's work. The second book in the series ('Embrace the Dark') was fantastic and miraculously managed to endear me to both Dante and Abby. There was a better plot and it flowed well. Even though the main characters, Shay and Viper, weren't all that appealing in 'When Darkness Comes'! Its shocking but I'm eagerly awaiting the delivery of the third book - Darkness Everlasting.
 DARKNESS COMES QUICKLY December 19, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
THIS IS MY FIRST BOOK BY ALEXANDRA IVY. MY HUSBAND BOUGHT IT FOR ME AND I AM GLAD HE DID I READ THIS BOOK IN ONE DAY COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. LOVE THE DARK VAMPIRE WHO EVEN THOUGH IS DEAD HAS A HEART FOR ONE WOMEN AND WANTS TO MATE HER. THE ONLY THING I WISH IS THAT IN THIS BOOK THE SEX WAS MORE DETAILED I MEAN DON'T GET ME WRONG IT WAS OK BUT NOT MIND BLOWING OFF THE PAGES I LIKE THE SEX IN BOOKS TO BE HOT. BUT OVER ALL THE BOOK WAS WELL WRITTEN AND I AM STARTING ON THE SECOND BOOK TO THIS SERIES. I LIKED THE DARKNESS AND THE CHASE THAT DANTE AND ABBY INDURED. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IF VIPER, DANTE VAMPIRE FRIEND HAS A HAPPY ENDING. ALEXANDRA VERY WELL WRITTEN WILL LOOK FOR MORE OF YOUR WORK.
VERY ENTERTAINING AND FAST PARANORMAL READ! LOVED IT!! November 3, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Alexandra Ivy (who writes Historials under the name of Debbie Raleigh) has penned a most delightful and intriguing new Paranormal series.
If Abby Barlow thinks she is having a bad day after breaking a priceless Ming vase, she I about to realize it is only the beginning of how her life is about to change - beyond drastically!
As she is trying to hide the evidence of the "accident" she is discovered by her employer's houseguest, Dante. Dante is an immortal - an ancient vampire bound to the owner of the house - Selena. After an explosion rocks the mansion, both Abby and Dante rush upstairs to find Selena dead.
Selena and Dante have been bound together for centuries by a coven of evil witches. Selena was the carrier of the Chalice and Dante her protector. Now, with Selena's death, Dante thinks the spell has been broken and he is finally free. He cound't be more wrong! When Abby touches Selena the Chalice is transferred to her and now Dante is forsworn to guard her.
Abby is thrust into a malevolent and dangeruous world she never known existed. She wakes up in a run down motel with Dante. Even after he explains what's happened - Abby is reluctant to believe him and thinks she has been abducted by a gorgeous guy who's sexier than hell and never has a hair out of place! No way she going to be putting up with an arrogant and cocky "do it my way or the highway" kind of vampire - not matter how delicious he might be. Abby's childhood has been a whooper. Putting up with a father who used his fists most of the time and a mother who lived at the bottom of a whiskey bottle - she's been taking care of herself most of her life.
Unfortunately, Dante's far-fetched explanations turn too real after zombies and demons attack them and they have to flee the motel. Its bad enough that she is very attracted to Dante, but as much as she might hate it, she has to depend on him if she wants to remain alive, as he has vowed to protect the Chalice with his life from the disciples worshipping the Dark Lord. For their Prince to rule the Chalice has to be destroyed.
Fighting the forces of evil fast on their tracks - Dante and Abby take refuge in Viper's mansion, an Ancient Immortal and Dante's mentor. Eventually, they succumb to the desires they have for each other and it quickly develops into a magnificent and passionate love affair. Dante is shaken to the core by the feelings of protectiveness he develops for Abby. After centuries guarding a disdainful and selfish Selena, he is surprised to find that his lust and physical attraction go deeper that just the ties that bind him to protect the Chalice.
WHEN DARKNESS COME is the first book in the Guardians of Eternity series. Alexandra Ivy has done a masterful job at creating a very fresh new Paranormal series. I was captivated by the developing relationship between Dante and Abby. Dante's dead heart can't fathom why he is utterly captivated by her naive yet refreshing demeanor and as you turn the pages you see how deeply he falls in love with Abby as well as how committed he is for her safety. Abby has been carrying emotional scars from her youth and is hard pressed to believe that this drop dead gorgeous vampire is now her vampire and wants her just for who she is!
There are some major LOL moments as Abby is a no nonsense and smart mouthed heroine! Some of her commentary will have you rolling as to how she banters with Dante and the comic responses to her dialogue from his lack of understanding!
This is a beautifully sexy (very steamy love scenes) and tender story - packed with paranormal demons, vampires, fairies and zombies! I highly recommend it and cant wait to read Viper's story in EMBRACE THE DARKNESS.
***Spoiler*** The only thing that had me slightly annoyed is Dante's constant calling Abby "lover". That got old after a while.
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