THis was a great book...

Dark Desire is the 2nd book in Christine Feehan’s Dark (Carpathian) series. It picks up roughly 20-25 years after the events of Dark Prince. And this installment centers on Mikhail’s brother, Jacques.A quick review of the mythology of the series: There’s an ancient race of people who hail from the Carpathian Mountains of Romania. They drink blood; they can shapeshift and speak telepathically; they can’t go in the sun. And after about 200 years, their men lose their emotions and their ability to see in color. That is, until they find the other half of their souls… their lifemates. Over time, living without a lifemate leaves a Carpathian man with two choices: ending his life or turning into a vampire, an evil being who lives to torment and kills his victims.So, at the beginning of our story, poor Jacques has been kidnapped and tortured by some vampire hunters. Ironically, their strings are being pulled by a real vampire, and they are targeting the good Carpathians. Anyway, Jacques is tortured within an inch of his life, and is then buried alive in a coffin, where he suffers for seven years. During that time, his mind reaches out to Shea, the lifemate he has never met.By the time seven years are done, Jacques is just about crazy. He doesn’t remember who he is. And Shea is the only thing he knows, beyond his hate and quest for vengeance. He lures Shea from the US to Romania to free him. In all the years he had been making contact with her, Shea didn’t even believe he was real… until she found him.Once she comes to his gravesite, Shea frees Jacques and tries to heal him, as she is a doctor. He, not fully healed, ravages her and takes her blood. In fact, he goes on to perform the required three blood transfers required to turn a human into a Carpathian. Despite his brutality and his serious mental and physical problems, Shea feels connected with Jacques. She reveals that even before the conversion, she was different from most humans. It turns out her father, Rand, was Carpathian. She never knew him. In fact, he left her mother before she was ever born and the loss of him drove her mom crazy. Shea grew up basically alone and had to deal with her physical differences on her own.Jacques’ madness is very sad, since we knew him as a sweet and easygoing guy in Dark Prince (Book #1). And it’s wonderful to see Mikhail, Gregori, and others as they find the man they thought long dead.There’s plenty of action as the vampire hunters search for Shea and the other Carpathians. The love scenes are hot, and fortunately, not quite as flowery as in the previous book. And it’s high drama when the identity of the vampire is finally revealed.A great chapter in the Dark Carpathian series. 4 1/2 stars.

This is the second book in the Dark/Carpathian series. This is a very dark story that will have some feeling uncomfortable. What Jacques endures and lives through for seven years is truly terrible. I love how he finds his way back and is able to carve a new life from all the destruction. I also love the way the Mikhail and Gregori snipe at each other throughout the book. It is a nice touch of humor in such a dark story. Shea is also a very troubled character. There is so little love in her life and she is so afraid of commitment. She and Jacques are actually perfect for each other. Shea also has a smart mouth and a very sharp sense of humor that holds her in good stead. This is a good book if those that are reading it for the first time will remember when it was written. Story were so very different 11 years ago.

Ummm.... it's better than the first in the series, anyway. There's a bit of power-dominance-rape that the women like a LOT, but it's not nearly as annoying as it was in book one.There is also a lot of descriptions of the main character's 'masculine aggression' and 'masculine passion' and 'masculine power'... gag.Please, Feehan, can you SHOW us this passion and power and etc and stop telling us that it's so masculine?There isn't as much sex as in the first book either, but what is there is just as flowery (i.e. her velvety fire)... personally I like sex that is sex, not some adjective convention.Ultimately, though, it's only about half as 'eye-rolly' as the first book was.

I have to say that I like that the author is consistent with personality types but the one thing I do not like is the constant male domineering act. I think I remember that it gets less as the series goes on but in the first two books it was a little overbearing.

Jacques was my favorite from Dark Prince so when I seen that Dark Desire was his book I was so happy. I loved him and Shea together. I have read this book more than once!

This book is a classic for a number of reasons. It uses unusual characters, settings, and plot to create a beautiful love story. Jacques is a member of the Carpathian race, a unique group of people with special mystical abilities. To humans he is seen as evil. He has been captured by human vampire slayers, tortured, and buried alive. Years pass before Shea, a human doctor with psychic abilities, discovers and rescues Jacques. Through his madness and rage he recognizes her as his lifemate. And she, against all odds, finds herself equally drawn to him. Shea is a likable character, and her development throughout the story is both interesting and realistic. Jacques is surprisingly romantic for a mad man. He tries to take care of Shea despite his pain. The story of their love overall is intricate and fascinating. Anyone who has read Dark Prince, the first book in this series, will really appreciate the return of past characters. They continue to grow and develop. I highly recommend this series to fans of paranormal romance. In many ways it is the standard by which others are compared.