Brianna Rose lives in present day New York City and works for the Center for Demonic Activity, which is a secret government agency to fight the dark forces throughout the ages. Brianna works in the Historical Crimes Unit and is a gifted empath who can feel the pain of others. Lately, she has been having dreams and visions of Aidan, the wolf of Awe, who is a Highlander from 15th century Scotland. She feels his pain deeply and knows Aidan is suffering because of the loss of his son, who was killed by his evil father, the Earl of Moray. Both father and son have powers and can live as immortals. Aidan is one of the Masters of Times and can travel back and forth through time. But he did not reach his young son in time from being killed, and because of that, he has turned his back on all that is good and embraces the darkness in his soul.

Aidan wants revenge against his father and doesn't care who gets caught in the crossfire. When Brianna is attacked, Aidan saves her, only to take her back to the 16th century. Brianna wants to help Aidan, but he is so bent on hating and trying to destroy his father. If Brianna cannot find the inner goodness that is Aidan, he will end up hanged for treason. As Aidan goes into battle, he takes Brianna with him. He can't help but long for her touch, but knows they have no real future with one another. There may be a possibility to save Aidan if Brianna is able to reach into the heart of the man she has fallen in love with.

Those who enjoy a story with a tortured hero and the woman who can heal him will enjoy this latest by Brenda Joyce. DARK EMBRACE is a very dark story of demons, murder and death. Aidan is the one character who has the weight of the world on his shoulders. Some reader may find his emotional angst a bit too much to handle, but Brianna is able to calm the savage beast with love and devotion.

Aidan is very comparable to a wounded animal that lashes out and he mainly does that to Brianna because he doesn't want to feel anything, especially love. The love scenes between these two are very few, but you do get a good sense of how they feel for one another. Anyone who is an enthusiast of Brenda Joyce's writing will not want to miss DARK EMBRACE.