The Merzetti Effect by Norah Wilson
Paranormal Romance
June 2011
Self Published

Reviewed by Mandi

Ainsley Crawford is an OR nurse looking for a new job which is how she finds herself in a bad part of town in St. Cloud, New Brunswick looking for Dr. Bowen’s office. Dr. Delano Bowen advertised the need for multi-talented nurse; someone who can draw blood and help as his research assistant as he tries to unlock a cure for a particular blood disorder. As she looks for his office, Ainsley is attacked, but her attacker doesn’t want her money. He wants to suck her blood.

Unknown to Ainsley, Dr, Bowen has actually arranged this attack. Delano is pretty sure Ainsley is the last living person on Earth to carry “Merzetti blood.” Blood he thinks will reverse the disease of being a vampire. A vampire himself, Delano has devoted his life (his very long life) to find a cure for vampirism. After this vampire has sucked some of Ainsely blood and she passes out, Delano scares off the vampire and takes in Ainsely to care for her. After telling her that vampires do exist, he uses the lie that she might be infected with the vampire disease to keep her there, so he can secretly test her blood to see if in fact it can be used a cure. Soon though, there are too many questions, and Ainsley is too smart to be left in the dark. When Delano’s arch enemy, Radak Janecek, launces a full scale attack against Delano and his lab, Delano must tell Ainsley all his secrets.

The Merzetti Effect might be another paranormal romance with vampires but this one does offer a different premise. The heart of the matter is that Ainsley’s blood is thought to reverse the disease of being a vampire, which means if a vampire drinks this blood, in theory he or she will become human again. To further this war, after the vampire becomes human (and doesn’t realize it) if he or she then drinks a blood type that does not match theirs, they will die from a simple transfusion reaction. I like this set-up! Delano does set-up Ainsley to be attacked, for his gain and does in essence kidnap her to study her blood. But I think events unfold well. Ainsley is there under the presumption she might turn into a vampire, so she can’t leave. Soon, she wants to help Delano with his research and an attraction develops. I think Ainsley is a little too understanding at times, but overall I liked their relationship. As it becomes more romantic, Delano knows he can not bite her, because then he will turn human (or at the time he wasn’t sure exactly would happen to him). This is an interesting twist, since sucking blood and having sex go hand in hand together.

There is one aspect of their sex scenes I didn’t like. I’ll put it under a spoiler tag just to be safe.

SPOILER

Otherwise, I liked their romance. I also liked the supporting character of Eli, who is Delano’s assistant/body guard. He is a really good guy and added a lot to the story. I did sometimes wonder why Delano didn’t have more people working for him, or at least more that would interact with him on a daily basis.

Our villain Radak Janecek I think is evil at his core, but at some points I think he gave in too easily. He has a history with Delano, so maybe he felt a little remorse in his actions. But for example he is after Ainsley and at one point Delano asks Radak to give him an hour to regroup, and Radak agrees. That is not very viallinly! I would have liked to see him a little more evil, especially because he does things on such a large scale.

Overall I am pleased with the Merzetti Effect. I’ve already purchased book two to see what happens in this world next.

Rating: B-

Recent Reviews:
Urban Fantasy Reviews – “Good”
Realm of Romance – 5/5
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