Review: Coward's Way Out by Kallysten

Title: The Coward's Way Out
Series: Ward of the Vampire, #4 (Serial)
Author: Kallysten
Published: October 28, 2013
Format: Ebook provided for review

When she was first trapped in the Ward mansion, an unwanted guest to millionaire and vampire Morgan Ward, Angelina could think of nothing else but how to break the compulsion that kept her prisoner. Her reluctant warden was certainly sexy and intriguing, but his standoffish behavior was outputting to say the least.

After a couple of weeks, however, after several ‘mind-trips’ into a fantasy reality in which Morgan is a perfect gentleman – and perfect lover – Angelina finds herself falling for him and struggling to understand why he tries so hard to push her away. How can a man be charming and attentive one minute… and yet deliberately infuriating the next?

A visit from Irene, this time more interested in a stroll down memory lane than in murder, starts to explain Morgan’s fears. But can Angelina break down his barriers before it’s finally time to leave, or will his past prove to be too deep of a wound to heal?

I’ve only read a few serials before, and I think this one is definitely among my favorites. Every time a new one comes out, my fingers are itching to grab the kindle and read away.

So in this edition Angelina is trying to recover from her visit with Irene. She’s getting closer to Stephen, and even – dare I say it – Morgan. Let’s take Stephen, for instance. I feel like he is getting more comfortable around Angelina. Yes, he is a bit on guard, both of himself and of Morgan. I find this so endearing, and it really draws me to his character more. But now Stephen gets a bit talkative with Angelina at one point, and he lets her in on a bit of his own past. I could cry for this man. He has been through so much, but for his stoic demeanor, you’d never know it. There are some points in this part of the book where I feel Angelina is a bit thoughtless in her care of him. It did bring her down a notch in my book, but I am still digging her overall.


Irene is back too, and she isn’t done with her dirty, manipulative ways. The woman is scary, no doubt. Even as a reader, I can feel her power from across the room. She’s playing her cards close to the chest, but Angelina still thinks she is figuring it out. I’m very anxious to see if she’s right in her assumptions. Even Delilah is back, and I’m just not finding anything I really like about this woman. Time will tell though, I’ve not given up complete hope. I think that they both want Morgan to be happy, ultimately, so that’s something.

This time, he turned fully toward me, and I perused his lovely abs as he slipped on a white shirt and started to do up the buttons, starting from the bottom. 

"Enjoying the show?" he asked, that same eyebrow arching again. 

"Are you enjoying giving it?"  

His answer was only a twisted half-smile before he turned away again, this time to hunt for pants in the closet.

We get more sexy heat in this book!!! I just love the way Kallysten brings her characters together in her books. She doesn’t just throw them together and see what parts fit. There is work involved. Love, and its priviledges, is a treasure… a gift. And even though Morgan is more than a little hard-headed, all is not lost on this man. He is indeed a myriad of many things, kind of like a vampy sexy kaleidoscope. As always, I wait anxiously for every page he is on. And with Angelina’s determination to make him see things as she feels they are, well, there is definitely some drama brewing.

Something happens at the end of this book – and for the first time, I’m truly disappointed in Angelina. I understand she is young and naïve, and her emotions are all over the place – but man! I just want her to think about her actions, and how they could possibly play out in the future!! Morgan is a man who has already proved he has a wall around his heart, and it’s not like she has broken that down completely. One hole in that dam won’t destroy it, ya know?

There are some other scenes in this book that just made my heart break. In particular I’m talking about a bathroom scene with Morgan and Angelina. How my heart breaks for this man… so much as happened to him, and he got consumed by grief. The way it all affects him now is just enormous.

The story is progressing rather well. I’m anxious for each new part to come out, and I want to yell at Kallysten for her serial punishment LOL. No, really, I think it’s a great way to read a book. A tease here, a nip there, and I’m hooked. Now I’m hooked and waiting.

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Previous Kallysten Posts:
Demons & Lullabies Excerpt
The Edge for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Review - Bodyguards

Review - Ward Of The Vampire 

Review - On The Edge

Review - My Reluctant Warden

Review - Awkward Holidays

Review - Blurred Nights

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