Review of Sunrise at Sunset by Jaz Primo

Title: Sunrise at Sunset
Author: Jaz Primo
Published by: Rutherford Literary Group
Pages: 430
Source: Obtained free from Amazon on June 18, 2012
Format: ebook
Rating: 2 stars

Summary from Goodreads: My name is Katrina Rawlings, and I am a vampire. I declare that with neither pride nor ego. I am simply nature’s most dangerous predator. On occasion, it’s a very valuable quality. It helped me protect Caleb Taylor one day when he was very young. But that single, traumatic day is behind him now; wiped from his memory, or so I hope.

Caleb has finally matured into a rather striking young man, and believe me, I like what I see. I’ll readily admit that there are issues for us to confront and overcome, though a sense of mutual commitment isn’t one of them. I’m feeling hopeful for our future together, in fact. But an adversary from my past has returned to haunt me, and she’s trying to get back at me through Caleb. That was her first...and last...mistake. I’ll protect my Caleb at all costs, and I’ll make her regret the day she was born.

 I had not heard of this book before the Why Buy the Cow? reading challenge decided to do this as a June read-a-long.  I normally enjoy paranormal romance novels so I was excited to read it, but this book did not click with me. 

It had the right elements...gorgeous but dangerous vampire chick, humble male love interest with a past connection to said vampire, blood, romance, and of course some action, but they didn't seem to come together. 

Katrina was bossy, controlling and overprotective.  If I were Caleb I don't think I could have handled how disrespectful she was in taking control of his life.  I felt she went a bit overboard with trying to protect Caleb against her enemy by secluding him from everything.  I did, however, like that Katrina wasn't portrayed as some harmless being.  She was vicious, dangerous and blood thirsty. For the other characters, Alton and Paige who were two vampire friends of Katrina's were an improvement.  You got to see more into their lives and who they were as "people."  They were interesting and lively and made you want to know more about them.    

The plot itself was lacking and needed some work.  I liked to overall story but I felt the execution was a little befuddled.  The "planing" scenes were drawn out, whereas the action was over in a few pages.   I also did fully believe Katrina's and Caleb's love for one another; it felt insta-romance, but without any real conviction. 

I enjoyed the beginning of this story but the rest didn't live up to my expectations. 

Happy Fourth of July for you all Americans.  I hope you all have a wonderful day and get to see some fireworks tonight!