Book Review & Giveaway: Last Keeper's Daughter by Rebecca Trogner

Last Keeper’s Daughter

Last Keeper’s Daughter
Rebecca Trogner

Genre: Paranormal Romance/Mystery
Publisher: Crescent Moon Press

Date of Publication: February 10, 2013

Number of pages: 242

Cover Artist: Lilliana Sanchez

Available at the following retailers:
Amazon     BN     ARe

Born into old money, Lily Ayres lives at Waverly, her family’s estate situated at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Paris, Virginia. She is a strange, small, almost mute, young woman who has no idea that her father has given her to the Vampire King Krieger. Walter Ayres is the King’s Keeper and part of a secret society of historians who unearth, preserve, and attempt to understand relics of long forgotten civilizations.

Lily has never felt comfortable in the human world, but after she suspiciously falls down a flight of stone steps, and is healed and claimed by Krieger, she realizes there is another world. In this Other Realm she feels a sense of belonging, and begins to untwine the mysterious event which left her mentally and psychologically damaged. When Walter disappears in England, Lily works with human and supernatural beings to uncover his whereabouts. With each new discovery, she is pulled deeper into the vortex of magic, intrigue, and dark desires that permeates the supernatural world. The revelations revealed unfold a story of deception and betrayal that threaten to tear the thin veil between the supernatural and human world asunder.

Excerpt: 

Denying her would serve no purpose other than to appease his desire to seal her away. Carefully, he kept his demeanor calm, but inwardly he was reeling at the threat she was most assuredly facing. Could it be the Elder sending her these visions?

“Do you feel well enough?”

“I feel fine,” she said softly. “Stop treating me like I’m fragile.”

But you are, he thought. A stray lock of her hair, now the color of an angel’s wing, fascinated him; it glimmered in the light. “I like this, this quiet between us now.” He cupped the back of her neck and kissed the tender flesh of her ear.

“I don’t understand you.” She shivered. “Do you think he suffered?” Lily leaned into his chest.

“No,” he lied. “The injuries to his body were made after death.”

“Why? It doesn’t make any sense. Walter didn’t have any enemies.”

“It wasn’t just Walter. Gibson was killed with him, and Winston is still missing.”

“And this detective can help?” Her fingers had found the buttons of his shirt.

This bubble of closeness between them was a product of their blood exchange. She was wary of him, yet wanted to be near him. The feeling was impossible to explain or understand.

“The Elder thinks so.”

Review: 

I am always up for a good book that crosses genres and is hard to define.  This book looked like it would be a good fit for me, a Paranormal Romance that is also a Mystery.  After reading this book, I am not sure that I agree with the Romance portion.  It felt more Urban Fantasy/Mystery to me.  There is definite paranormal aspects, and there is some romantic aspects, but there was no HEA at the end of this story.  And an Happily Ever After is one of the primary criteria for me for Paranormal Romance.  Let's just say that if you like books that can't be easily pigeon holed, than this is a book for you.

The story starts with a Prologue and some back story on Walter Ayers.  This is important because it will be the only time that we will be able to actually interact with Walter.  He is an old man, father to Lily and the keeper for the North American Vampire King Krieger.   He basically makes a deal with the King for
Krieger to take care of Lily.

Chapter one puts us into Lily's head.  From the beginning you aren't sure whether she has some form of autism or some similar condition.  She doesn't speak and looks at the world in an odd and unique way.  Lily has no idea about the Others.  But when she falls and is seriously injured at a charity event held on the grounds of her family's estate, that she learns the truth and finally begins to understand that she is stronger than she knows.

This is also the story of Detective Dale Hunter.  He is drawn into the world of the others while on an investigation into the brutal murder of two men.  Detective Hunter is recruited by the Elder of the Others to investigate the murders and figure out what is going on.  His investigation leads him from Europe to North America and crosses with the mystery that is Lily and her Otherness.

This was a good book.  I am thrilled to see that the author is currently working on a sequel. The main mystery in this book was solved.  Unfortunately it left me with even more questions that needed answers. There were times that I was a little confused, especially while in Lily's head.  But I think those were deliberate, done to help illustrate how Lily is growing and changing.  I am going to go with 3 stars on Goodreads.  This series has a lot of potential and I want to see where the author takes it.

Giveaway: 

Rebecca will be awarding a $50 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

So follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.

Book Tour Info: 
Don't forget to check out the other stops on the Book Tour:

July 22:
Out of the Lockbox

July 23:
United By Books

July 24:
Andi's Book Reviews

July 25:
Mom With A Kindle

July 26:
Book Bling Blog

July 29:
Kristabel Reed

July 30:
Dawn's Reading Nook Blog

July 31:
Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews

August 1:
Caribbean Accent Book Reviews
Book 'Em North Carolina

August 2:
Sharing Links and Wisdom - Review
Susana's Morning Room

August 5:
Deal Sharing Aunt

August 6:
Dalene's Book Reviews

August 7:
Punya Reviews...

August 8:
Wicked Readings by Tawania

August 9:
Welcome to My World of Dreams

August 12:
Reader Girls - Review
Beyond Romance

August 13:
Fantasy Powered by Love

August 14:
Danita Minnis

August 15:
Musings and Ramblings - Review

August 16:
Smoldering Heat


Author Bio:

Rebecca Trogner lives in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia, and frequently crosses the Blue Ridge Mountains that were the inspiration for Krieger’s home. She always dreamed of being a writer, but got sidetracked by the day-to-day adventures of life. With the encouragement of her family, she has finished her first novel and is currently writing the next book in The Last Keeper’s Daughter series. Rebecca lives with her husband and stepson, and a rescue dog named Giblet. To find out more about the author visit www.rebeccatrogner.com.

To connect with the author online:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page