Some rules are destined to be broken.
Loneliness. A concept with which Raphael Laurent is very familiar. He’s lived a solitary life for thirty-six years, shunning the excesses of the local vampire clan—until he spots Lord Aleric Vane, the handsome and dissolute third son of a duke. For three years Raphael has watched from a distance, for only when he is near Aleric does the hollow, empty ache in his chest ease.
Cut off from his family for refusing to follow his father’s dictates, Aleric’s nights are filled with vice. But after three years in London, the city has lost all appeal. Desolate and penniless, his future appears bleak. Until a mysterious man drops from the shadows to drive off a trio of murderous thieves.
When Aleric awakens, he finds himself forever changed. The itch for more that drove him to London is gone. In its place is the feeling that he’s known the beautiful Raphael all his life.
But to save Aleric, Raphael had to break the rules, giving him a chance to love the one man he never thought he could have—a chance that could be ripped away by Aleric himself…

From Afar by Ava March
February 23, 2010
M/M Paranormal Romance
E-Book, Novella
Samhain
Reviewed by Mandi

Favorite Quote: “But I will miss you more than the sun.”

Why I read: I am an Ava March fan girl.

Raphael Laurent is in love. Problem is the person he is in love with, Lord Aleric Vane, remains a stranger, one he has never spoken to. He watches him though – a lot. Aleric visites Madame Bettes brothel, and Raphael has found a tree that gives him the perfect view into the bedroom and all the indecent things Aleric does with his woman. Raphael also has seen Aleric do things with other men, and knows this is his secret desire. Aleric has been cut off from his family for not going into the church, and spends his last coin at the brothel. His life is going nowhere and he yearns for something different and more.

For three years, Raphael has followed Aleric from a distance, keeping him safe and battling lust so strong it pains him. His voyeurism is not his only secret. Raphael is also a vampire, and after following Aleric home one night, Aleric gets stabbed by robbers. Raphael is seconds too late to stop the thieves and now must make a decision. Let the love of his life rest in peace, or make a life changing decision for them both.

From Afar is Ava March’s first foray into paranormal romance. I really liked the character of Raphael and his desperation and need to get closer to Aleric. You could feel his pain as he watches Aleric with someone else, his anxiety to have a moment with him. And when that moments comes, Aleric is hovering near death. Oh the irony.

Ava March writes such wonderfully romantic, yet naughty love scenes and with a vampire in the mix, we get lots of biting. The passion between these two is scorching from the start. The book is quite short, so their lust is fast and furious. Ava March can write such emotional distress in characters that you can’t help but feel a connection with them, even with the novella length.

Raphael is very concerned the head vampire in London, Katernia will not approve of Aleric in her territory. Much of the story is a build up to a meeting with her and I felt the confrontation with her is a let down and nothing is really resolved. Raphael and Aleric make a decision at the end of the book, but we never hear back from Katernia and I just expected her to be sterner or more of a threat than what she ends up being.

We do meet two other vampires, Roman and Grant and although we only see them for a page or two, I am very intrigued and I hope Ava March revisits this world.

From Afar creates a world where there is definitely more to explore, and I am sure Ava March has more sexy men in store for us.

Rating: 3.5/5

Recent Reviews:
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Ava March’s Website.