Night Walker by Lisa Kessler
Series: Night #1
Published by Entangled
Published on: May 8, 2012
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 352
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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He gave up his soul for a second chance to love her...
Two and a half centuries ago, Calisto Terana lost everything when a zealous priest murdered the woman he loved. Now, desperate for another chance to love her, he wants redemption for the mistake that cost her life.
She's haunted by dreams of her own death...
After catching her fiance with another woman, Kate Bradley returns to San Diego to clear her head. The last thing she needs is romance, but after meeting Calisto she's drawn to him in ways she doesn't understand.
They've waited in the shadows for centuries...
Calisto has no doubt Kate is the reincarnation of his lost love, but the Fraternidad Del Fuego Santo has a new watcher with dark ambitions of his own. As old enemies reemerge and a new threat arises, the betrayal that enslaved Calisto to the night might destroy the only woman he's ever loved again.
I spend time on one of the paranormal book club sites on facebook, and Lisa Kessler’s name almost always comes up when it comes to recommendations. I had heard of her before of course, but this is the first book by her that I have read. And I think I picked a good one to start with!
Kate is a young school teacher from Reno that visits her friends in San Diego. She’s running from a broken engagement and since she grew up there, it’s the perfect place to lick her wounds. While doing the tourist thing with her friends, she visits an old Spanish mission. She meets Calisto, a handsome, old fashioned, Spanish gentlemen, that she immediately feels drawn to. What she doesn’t know is that her destiny and his are intertwined, and in fact, she is the reincarnation of his only love that died a couple of centuries before. Calisto is a former monk that committed the sin of falling in love. Through a series of events, he loses his love before they can have a life together. He chooses to become a Night Walker(vampire) so he can love her again someday, and this is the story of what happens when they meet again.
The story goes back and forth in time a bit, just enough for us to get the back story. I found both parts of the story to be well written, and in fact, I found Ms. Kessler’s style/tone of writing was a bit different. At first I wasn’t sure about it, but I found that I did enjoy it. I don’t know how to describe it other then, there’s a seriousness to the tone. No lighthearted read here, this is a true romantic drama. I hope that makes sense; if you read this, perhaps you will understand what I am trying to explain. I should mention that this is her first book, and I think she does an excellent job for a first book!
I enjoyed the world building involved. We get the story about how Calisto becomes a Night Walker, and also the story of the group of monks that are trying to kill him. So yes, this book also involves killer monks with both Calisto and Kate as their targets. And while I am talking about Calisto and Kate, I should say how much I enjoyed their characters. I thought they were fully realized and were interesting characters. Calisto, in particular, was well imagined in that he really did seem like someone that had lived centuries before.
This is a series, but I think this could stand alone because another couple are the main characters of the next book, and I am not sure if it intersects with this book at all. If it wasn’t for the very last part of the book, you would never know it was a series. I don’t feel the need to immediately read the next book, but I do want to read it, and have already bought it. I do love a different spin on a vampire book-although Calisto doesn’t consider himself a vampire, because as he says it, he is a Night Walker.
I’m Lorna and I live in Maryland. Since retiring, I spend my time mostly reading and reviewing books. My favorite reads are Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, and Young Adult. I read a lot of indie books in addition to traditionally published books. Favorite paranormal creature? Vampires, but I am really liking werewolves more everyday.
Enjoyed this review, Lorna. I’ll have to put this one on my list now. Thanks!
Thanks Dolly-I hope you like it:)
This sounds good, and I love the whole one love thing. My favorite kind of seriesin this genre are the ones that feature a new couple in each book
Yes I like that too with the different couples-unless it’s an ongoing favorite series-but I guess that’s more UF then 🙂
Alright, I am sold! I love the whole idea of reincarnation when it comes to lost loves. I am putting this one in the good ole TBR pile!
I have read several books like this lately. Must be the thing to do now:) I hope you enjoy!
Nice review, Lorna. I think I may actually own Night Walker but haven’t yet read it. I’ve always been curious about Lisa Kessler though, and you’ve made me even more curious. I’ll have to see if I do, in fact, have this one and if not, pick it up. 🙂
Thank you:) I hope you find it!
I saw this around when it first came out and I added it to my TBR to wait for the audio, and I’m still waiting after all these years…LOL
Great review, I hope I get to listen to it soon 🙂
Thank you! Maybe it’s just one of those books that won’t ever be in audio 🙁 Hope so for you 🙂
Lisa Kessler answered about the audio thing farther down in the comments if you are interested 🙂
I’d probably be one of the folks recommending Lisa’s books. The final book in this series was phenomenal and I know a lot of people who’ve read it first and are now going back through the series. If you like shifters though, her Moon series is a MUST read. Plus, Lisa’s one of the sweetest, most approachable authors I’ve met online, I’d dare say one of my favorite people, period.
🙂 Great review!
Good to know-I did look at a bunch of her books when deciding to read one and it was a tossup up between vampires or shifters. I will probably read those too 🙂 I did notice that she always thanks the people that recommend her books-probably why her name stuck in my head. And thank you!
Awww you’re one of my favorites too Rhi!!! *HUGS*
One of the best parts of this publishing journey by far has been the awesome readers I’ve met… <3 You make it all worthwhile!
Lisa 🙂
Thanks for reviewing Night Walker Lorna! 🙂
I’m so glad you enjoyed the book and I hope you’ll check out the rest of the Night Series…
And if Night Walker ever becomes an audio book I hope the narrator sounds like Antonio Banderas because that was who was whispering in my ear as I wrote Calisto’s dialog… LOL I never wanted him to stop talking! 😀
Lisa
You’re welcome! I enjoyed the book and will be reading the next one soon 🙂 And Antonio Banderes would be perfect!
Sounds good enough 🙂
Yep it was pretty good 🙂
Nice review Lorna, thank you. I think I have this one …
Thank you! Hope you enjoy it if you read it 🙂
okay seriously.. just the cover alone is yea..
Yea!