I love steampunk but to tell you the truth this one was very confusing - native magic with steampunk technology and dark magic = mechanical werewolves who want to procreate. And then we have Kit trying to figure out who she loves more which had the song "Torn Between Two Lovers" running through my mind. Since I hate the song, this wasn't a good thing. I just didn't like this book very much which is a shame because this author is one of my favorites.

I really, really liked this book. Usually I think time travel as some sort of do-over is a cop out but this was handled very well. I loved the romance and can't wait to see what happens in the next book in the series.

Opening line: "Got another letter from that Cyprien guy" Grace Cho said as she placed the office mail on Dr Alexandra Keller's desk."

Dr Keller is a reconstructive surgeon, and she's really fast with the sutures too, with a booming practice and her skills in demand she can afford to choose her cases. One patient in particular, Michael Cyprian won't take no for an answer and eventually has his people kidnap Alex, flying her to his mansion in New Orleans and forcing her to reconstruct his horribly disfigured face. Due to her compassionate nature Alex performs the surgery; its quite tricky though because once cut Michael heals immediately but she's up for the challenge. After the successful surgery Michael is beautiful once again but unfortunately for Alex he's also very hungry.

Filled with bloodlust Cyprian bites the good Doctor thus infecting her with the vampire virus. Alex then spends her time trying to figure out how to cure herself as she goes through some dark changes on her way to becoming a Darkyn. Lots of attention here is also given to her brother John. A very tired priest who travels to Rome and undergoes special training with some not so nice monks known as the Breathen. Their mission is to hunt down and torture (extensively) the Darkyn, ultimately destroying the race. Bad news for Alex who is on her way to becoming one of them.

I will admit I struggled through the first half of If Angels Burn. The amount of French spoken and Darkyn language without a glossary was overwhelming and the considerable sub plots and characters confusing. It came together a bit for me in the end and I really liked Alexandra's spunkiness as well as the old fashioned speech and mannerisms of Micheal.

This was a dark, violent ride but full of adventure and well written. However I wouldn't label it a romance and I definitly wouldn't call it erotic as the cover states. Its more (The Da Vinci Code) meets medical mystery with a little vampire love thrown in. The one and only love scene (if you could even call it love) doesn't take place until almost the end of the book and even then it's pretty mundane.

As a by-the-way does anyone else think the guy on the cover looks like Toby Mcquire from Spiderman? I'm just saying its a little weird.

To end my tribute to New Orleans, lets take a look at Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance set in this City That Care Forgot by far the most prolific of all the Romance sub genres to make this lovely place its home. 

Makes sense with bayous, voodoo queens, graveyards with above ground tombs, serial killers, and all that cobblestone. 

Some truely amazing Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy series are based here. 

1. Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 1) by Jeaniene Frost

2. Skinwalker (Jane Yellowrock, Book 1) by Faith Hunter 

3. Night Pleasures (Dark-Hunter Novels) by Sherrilyn Kenyon 

4. A Hunger Like No Other (Immortals After Dark, Book 1) by Kresley Cole 

5. A Quick Bite (Argeneau Vampire) by Lynsay Sands

6. Mind Game (Game/Ghostwalker) by Christine Feehan 

7. A Rush of Wings: Book One of The Maker's Song by Adrian Phoenix

8. Sookie Stackhouse 8-copy Boxed Set by Charlaine Harris

9. Covet: A Novel of the Fallen Angels by J. R. Ward 

10. If Angels Burn: A Novel of the Darkyn by Lynn Viehl 

Here some other lesser known worth reading Paranormal Romances set in the city.

1. Crux (Southern Arcana) by Moira Rogers

2. Hunter of Shadows by Nancy Gideon 

3. Villere House (Blood of My Blood) by CD Hussey, Leslie Fear 

4. Water's Blood (The Elemental Clan Series) by Elaine Calloway

5. River Road (Sentinels of New Orleans) by Suzanne Johnson 

6. The Shifters by Alexandra Sokoloff 

7. Everdark: The Dark Ink Chronicles by Elle Jasper 

8. Spellbound (The Djinn Series, Book 4) by Kathleen Nance 

9. Avenger's Heat: A Moon Shifter Novel by Katie Reus 

10. One with the Hunger (Shadow Dwellers, Book One) by J.C. Wilder 

To vote for the best of the best of lesser known Paranormal Romance Set in New Orleans, go to the Goodreads list: Nola: Lesser Known Paranormal Romance set in New Orleans

To enjoy a visual tour of the city and get even more recommendations, visit the Pinterest Board: Easy: Romances Set in New Orleans.