Taken by Midnight: A Midnight Breed Novel    by Lara Adrian Order:  USA  Can Dell, 2010 (2010) Paperback, e-Book Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Martina Bexte Breed warrior Brock has the unique ability to ease a victim's suffering and absorb their pain within himself. That's what he does for former Alaska state trooper, Jenna Darrow, whose encounter with the escaped Ancient drastically changes her life and her human physiology. She's terrified by the mysterious changes going on in her body and the possibility that the device that the Ancient implanted inside her will ultimately kill her. Jenna's situation is something of a paradox; since surviving a traffic accident that claimed the lives of her husband and daughter, Jenna has battled suicidal thoughts on a daily basis. Now she craves life, especially when she realises she has feelings for Brock. While the Order knows that Jenna's transformation could mean a turning point in their hunt for the shadowy Dragos and his minions, Brock cannot view Jenna as merely an anomaly to be studied. He has feelings for her he can't explain and does not want, not at this stage in the Order's battle to stop Dragos. But as he continues to ease her pain, and her fears, neither can deny their burgeoning attraction. This rather disappointing instalment pares down the action in favour of more interaction with characters from previous stories. The warriors and their breed mates re-hash much of what's gone on so far as well as working around the clock to determine exactly what's happening to Jenna and what the consequences of her interaction with the Ancient could be for her - and the Order. Consequently, the love story between Jenna and Brock never really evolves. Jenna especially is a disappointing heroine. Rather than working with Brock and her other Breed rescuers to understand the Ancient's motivations for implanting her with an alien device, she makes a series of foolish decisions, including numerous escape attempts that seem nothing more than plot filler. She does eventually accept what's happened to her but by then it's hard to really like her. But though Taken by Midnight might be the weakest instalment thus far, it's always fun to step back into Adrian's intriguing Breed world. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Romance books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews