Nicole St. James hadn’t figured on falling prey to a vampire. Fighting to stay alive, she catches sight of another man and begs his help, not recognizing he’s an angel of death awaiting the inevitable. Keenan has been stalking Nicole for weeks, and his unwilling yearning for her compels him to kill the vampire instead. Retribution for disobedience is swift. Six months later, Keenan, now one of the Fallen, is drowning his sorrows when Nicole struts into the bar, manifestly no longer human. Keenan doesn’t know that Nicole is wanted for the murders she committed as a neophyte vampire, while Nicole is unaware that Keenan can regain his angelic status if he kills her. Motorcycle chases, bar fights, and Keenan’s discovery of lust drive this crisp, heart-pounding, smart thriller. Eden doesn’t bring much that’s new, but she puts it together far better than most. Agent: Laura Bradford. (Dec.)