Seattle, Washington and San Francisco, California - Present Day

Charlie Newcomb made some bad choices in the past; she did things that cost her a career as a gifted singer, her self-respect, and nearly made her lose her closest friend, her sister Jane. But Charlie is a new woman now, she’s got a steady job working at Cole’s Bar, she’s taking classes to improve her education, and she never, ever, succumbs to temptation. Charlie’s a strong woman, but there are some temptations a girl just shouldn’t try to resist, namely men like her neighbor, Ethan McCabe.

Ethan is strongly attracted to Charlie, but his real reason for spending so much time in her proximity is to protect her. Ethan is a Guardian (an immortal warrior with impressive powers), and Charlie is his assignment; she’s been targeted by a group of vampires who appear strongly interested in converting her, with or without her consent. It seems Jane, a scientist working for Legion Labs, is very important to some very nasty beings, and they believe Charlie is their ticket to controlling Jane.

Will Ethan be able to protect the woman he’s quickly learning to love, or will the vampires and their demon ally win in the latest battle between good and evil?

The main characters in DEMON NIGHT aren’t your average romantic hero and heroine. Charlie is a recovering alcoholic who works as a bartender (strange choice I know, but one that lets her prove over and over again that she will not succumb to the things that brought her so very low before). Unfortunately, the very stubbornness and strength that have enabled Charlie to make order out of the shambles of her life keeps her from asking for what she wants and needs the most from Ethan. Ethan is a cowboy in the truest sense of the word (for one thing, since he was born in 1854, he’s lived the life); he’s strong and brave, honorable and dedicated to whatever task he takes on, no matter how great or small. He’s also a huge man with a slow sweet drawl that could send shudders up the spine of many women and might make his enemies underestimate him, believing him to be nothing but a big ole lunkhead. I’m convinced that once he takes up his crossbow and plants a bolt between their eyes, they’ll soon realize (if too late) how wrong they are. Charlie falls fast and hard for Ethan, but the potential for a happy ending to their story seems dim if she can’t learn to accept what he wants to freely give and that she deserves to be loved. Passion flares brightly between this pair of lovers, but only Heaven knows if they’ll get their happily-ever-after. Okay, I know too, but I’m not telling. ;-)

Charlie’s sister Jane is a dedicated scientist and just as stubborn as Charlie herself. She’s recently fallen in love with another Legion employee, Dylan Samuels, a man who is still a mystery to her sister. Charlie’s boss, Old Matthew, is a terrific man. Though his first meeting with Charlie occurred under less than auspicious circumstances, he recognized that she’s a truly good person and deserved a chance to change her life. He loves Charlie and he’s proud of the steps she’s taken to clean up her act. Jake is a young Guardian mentored by Ethan, still apt to become enthralled with all of the distractions in the mortal world (Guardian senses are so enhanced it takes quite a few years to become used to them and gain the ability to block out things they don’t need to be aware of). Ethan’s nevertheless a considerable help in the battles Ethan and Charlie face. Lilith and Hugh Castleford from DEMON ANGEL (January 2007) as well as Savi Murray and Colin Ames-Beaumont from DEMON MOON (June 2007) are also important in this story, as are many others within its pages.

For a complete listing of all The Guardians stories, visit www.meljeanbrook.com. Each of the books in this series builds upon the others and leaves you hungry for more; DEMON NIGHT is no exception. What are you waiting for? Go get your copy today and find out for yourself if a barkeep and a cowboy can find lasting love while battling evil.

Lori Ann