✦❋Arianna✦❋'s Reviews > Cronin's Key

5 “M’cridhe, m’gràdh, gu brath.” STARS!!!
My heart, my love, forever.



I can’t say I was hesitant to read this book, because I love this author and I would have read it anyway, but I never expected to love it as much as I did. And, yes, because is PNR. “Cronin’s Key” was such an intriguing read. It was very different from what I usually read and very different from everything this author wrote so far.

Alec MacAidan (or Ailig, his Scottish name) is a NYPD Detective has always been good with weird. But weird becomes something else when he watches a man turn to dust. What Alec doesn’t know about himself is that he was born for something more, that he was born to live another life, that he was born to be with a vampire. Cronin is a vampire who waited for his fated one for 1300 years. He never expected his soulmate to be human, but he is more than smitten once he finds out about Alec and sees him. Alec and Cronin are drawn to each other from the beginning. While Alex accepts very easily what Cronin is, he has a hard time accepting the idea of a ‘fated one’, of a destiny. He struggles with his feelings towards Cronin. He can’t stay away from him, but he knows Cronin tells the truth and they are meant for each other, ionndrainn cridhe.

“I feel safe around you. I don’t know why. Everything in my head should be telling me to run… but it’s not. It’s telling me to stay.”

Alec and Cronin get to know each other a little and Alec finds out more about Cronin his two friends vampires, Jodis and Eiji. As the story progresses they find out Alec is important not only for Cronin, but for all the vampires and humans as well and that he’s ‘the key’. What comes next is a series of events who wowed me in a good way, left me speechless and left me wanting more. Needless to say I’m very happy there will be a second and maybe a third book in the series.

I loved this fast paced, action packed story. Loved it to pieces. I loved everything about it. I don’t know how original the story is and frankly I don’t care. Everything worked for me. The plot is captivating to say the least. Even for me who I’m not so fond of vampires. Yes, I liked Edward Cullen from Twilight, but I can’t say he surprised me in any way. Instead, Cronin really did. Maybe because he’s a ‘real’ vampire and he drinks human blood or maybe because he doesn’t sparkle in the sunlight. Hmmm…And let’s not forget that he is Scottish and speaks Gaelic.

Anyways, he was really something else. I never expected him to be so polite, so sweet and so considerate with Alec. He’s so caring and so tender he made me swoon at times. Alex was a great character as well. He’s smart and funny and I absolutely loved his sarcasm. I loved their banter and their teasing. I smiled and grinned more times than I can count. They both were great as individuals and together they were perfect. I truly believed they were fated and I was mesmerized by this aspect of the story. I felt their connection and their chemistry was off the charts. I also loved all their interactions and the way they are with each other warmed my heart.

“Cronin’s chest tightened and his whole body heated. He could taste desire on his tongue and feel it pulse in his groin. Alec’s breaths grew shallow, his pupils dilated, his heart rate spiked, and Cronin opened his mouth, feeling his teeth ready to flex.”

The mystery and the suspense are very well done and grabbed my attention from the beginning and all the details about pyramids, ancient Egypt, pharaohs etc. were simply captivating. The author did a really great job.

The side characters Jodis and Eiji are very likeable and I loved their relationship with Cronin and later with Alec. They were so cute together.

Overall, a fantastic read. I can’t wait for the next book!!

"Alec finally, finally, realized what fated meant.
He wanted to be everything to Cronin. And he would be. Everything he needed, everything he wanted, Alec was it.
As Cronin was to him.
And Alec had never wanted anything more."