Amara is one of the twelve Aikanaro of Rikashi Dragon prophesy. Just when she learns her father is about to force her into an unwanted marriage, her fellow Aikanaro task her with the job of flying to Texas to bring their twelfth and final member into the fold. While it's just the impetus she needs to flee London and her father's high-handed machinations, she knows full well that convincing Jett Houston to join her little group of "do-gooders" as he calls them won't be easy. The man's absolutely infuriating, but he's also the hottest hunk she's ever laid eyes on.

Jett is the half-breed son of an ostracized Rikashi female and a lowly human. After the way the Rikashi treated his parents, he wants nothing to do with the Aikanaro plan to avert war between the clans. All he cares about, until Amara turns up in Texas, is getting his law degree. Never mind that he has his own prophecy dogging him, one that dooms him to a solitary life filled with battles he must fight alone. Amara affects him like no other woman ever has. When she's stolen away against her will and Jett finds out that there's more to his prophecy than meets the eye, will the pair be reunited? Or will Amara be forced to marry her rather boring - and come to find out - brutally cruel fiancé?

I love this series!! Like its prequels - The Quickening and The Gathering - Black Velvet is written in the first person, with the chapters alternating between the hero and heroine's points of view. The first two books, which are both 5-Angel Recommended Reads, were tremendous solo works by Antonia Tiranth. For this one, she joined forces with Delilah K. Stephans to produce a seamless, if a bit more earthy, reading experience.

Jett is the quintessential tortured hero. Your first impression of him brings to mind the adjectives dark and brooding, but you soon learn that a heart of gold lies beneath his sexy bad boy exterior. He has a wicked sense of humor and a depth of emotion he guards with utmost care. As much as I liked both characters, I was disappointed in Amara when Jett walked away, thinking she'd played him for a fool. I expected her to at least strive to scratch and claw her way free of her father and Luthien, so she could explain away Jett'mistaken belief that she didn't love him.

Although Black Velvet can be read as a stand-alone, I don't recommend it. More enjoyment can be had by reading the books in order. You'll be able to keep track of recurring characters better as the underlying plot of the impending Rikashi war develops. I sincerely hope Ms. Tiranth plans to bring this primary plot, which is one of the most original and well thought out story concepts I've ever come across in romantic fiction, to a resolution with more stories very soon.

Reviewed by: Merrylee