Byzantine Heartbreak

by Tracy Cooper-Posey

[Cocktails and Books]

Byzantine Heartbreak is a love story featuring vampires, psi-filers, adventure, drama, suspense, and a bisexual menage sexual relationship. This book is the second in the Beloved Bloody Time Series by Tracy Cooper Posey. It is the story of two vampires that run a time travel agency, Chronometric Conservation Agency. Nayara Ybarra and Ryan Deasmhumhain were lovers involved in a menage relationship, but time and heartbreaking circumstances broke their union apart. I would recommend reading the first book in the series, Bannock Binding. This story had many complex details that were explained in the previous book, and it is very difficult to understand what is happening if you don't know the backstory with all of the details.

I loved the complex layers to the main characters. Nayara's character was like many women very strong and independent, but she was hiding a heart that was shattered after losing one of her loves. Ryan accepted the distance between them and medicated himself with fine liquor and meaningless relationships. Into this mix of long denied love enters Cael Stelios, a human. He is determined to understand their relationship and become part of their life. I was kept off guard throughout the book because each time I thought I understood the motivation, thought process, or decision making of a character and could predict what they woud do the author revealed another complexity to the story or the character. It was absolutely brilliant writing.

The storyline for this one was a little weak for me. It didn't make sense that Nayara and Ryan would readily accept that they needed to reveal so much about themselves for the reason given. There was a strong cast of secondary characters that had well-developed storylines that intersected with the main one. However, the main storyline had so many jumps back and forth through time that it was difficult to keep track of everything going on in each character's life. I had to go back and read several sections make sure I was making the right connection. This was a minor distraction because overall the story moved along quickly, with many hot love scenes, and enough suspense to keep you riveted to the story.

This story was more than enough for me to anticipate the next installment of the series.


Reviewed by Michelle for Cocktails and Books