[.ca] Dark Celebration (ISBN 0515143545)

A holiday treat indeed:
This book finally brings my favorite couples together. This book was great and long overdue. This makes `Dark Celebration' a great introduction for new readers and a treat for those who have followed the series intently. Don't expect it to be all bright and cherry because Christine Feehan likes it dark in this particular sequence. As the story opens, the Carpathians are in grave danger of extinction, not only from their enemies but also from the propensity of Carpathian women to have miscarriages. At Raven's suggestion, the Carpathians are gathering for their first community holiday event; but to her life mate, Prince Mikhail, it presents an excellent opportunity for their enemies to strike. Feehan brings us up to date with familiar couples, Raven and Mikhail, Desari and Julian, Shea and Jacques. She introduces the early stages of a possible new love story between Skyler and Dimitri. Feehan adeptly shifts between danger and humor, cooking disasters and passionate sex, as the group fights vampires and a dark mage, their oldest enemy. This book is everything that we have been waiting for. Having all our favorite characters together plus the added addition of an underline story that includes Skyler & her possible life mate has me counting down the days until this book is released. `Dark Celebration' feels more like an evolution book setting the table for some upcoming series (thank goodness). The plot is pretty tame and the best part is that no couple takes charge of the story line. Still this is well written and will help newcomers obtain a deep understanding of Carpathian customs, lifestyles, and natural enemies while long term fans will know that the treats of 'Dark Desserts.' Keep it coming Christine.