Blood By Renee Angers
Reviewed By Kevin R. Tipple

ISBN # 1-58873-050-6
(http://www.renebooks.com)
Rating: ***

I had a very hard time with coming up with a rating for this title. While billed as erotica by the publisher because of several sex scenes, for me it was not erotic at all. Instead, the sex seemed to be sort of just thrown in and secondary to the main theme and story. The darkness that lurks in any man is the theme of this interesting thriller. The sex is relegated to a secondary role in order for the author to focus on the dark forces in any man. Any person can be driven to kill in the right circumstances; the real question is just how far do you have to push someone.

The mother of his old love, Mrs. Longten, contacts Robert. Mrs. Longten, overwhelmed by emotion, tearfully tries to tell him of Dana's breakdown and hospitalization in the nearby Levinson Institute. According to Mrs. Longten as well as the treating physician, Dr. Morgan, Dana has attempted suicide several times over the last few years. According to everything Robert is told, a violent, suicidal Dana who won't speak has replaced the happy Dana that he knew and secretly loved. Her only sign of communication is her artwork in which she repeatedly draws pictures of Robert.

Robert agrees to see Dana in an attempt to help her. It turns out that she always loved him as well and the sight of him appearing before her changes her outlook on everything. She reacts to Robert completely differently than what he was led to believe she would do and he can see the old Dana, the one he knew and loved, lurking within the terrified woman.

While Dana is definitely in trouble, her situation is far different than what he was led to believe by all involved. With almost no one to help him he must try to figure out exactly what is going on. Along with trying to help Dana he also must find some way to resolve some of the past involving her and his brother Dennis.

With roots in the past stretching tentacles into the present, this is an interesting and complex thriller. It is dark, but very enjoyable and has a rather surprising twist at the end. But, for purposes of this site, which is to review erotic fiction, it just does not fit. Therefore, it merits a three star from that perspective. At the same time, the book is too good to pass up and if erotica was not the focus, I would rate it much higher. If you are looking for constant sex, this one is not for you. But if you are interested in a complex story probing the limits of love and humanity, then this one is right for you.