Reviewed by Lettetia Elsasser, Paranormal Romance Writers Official Reviewer
Overall: 10/10
Sensuality: 9/10
Realism: 10/10

Welcome to author, Elizabeth Guest’s original new world; one of ancient Egypt with all its myths and legends. From the opening scene of Merneptah Seti describing his "soon-to-be" embalming and mummification; I was hooked.

Warrior Pharaoh, Merneptah Seti, ancient god of the Nile, is betrayed by those closest to him in 1192 B.C.E... Reawakened by a sacred ritual to present day Las Vegas as Adrian King, the mighty Seti III once sat upon his throne and led his people bravely. Now he owns the most successful hotel and casino, The Royal Palace, in Vegas—as a vampire. He had secret dreams of a woman during his reign; The Beautiful One, he called her. He wrote poetry to her and even concocted a special fragrance just for her. Adrian still is haunted by dreams of The Beautiful One, and is soon to meet her in the person of Christine Day.

Renowned Egyptologist Christine Day is present at the Royal Palace for a conference of the world’s greatest archaeological minds and is stunned by the hotel’s breathtaking authenticity. Lost in thought, following a mosaic of the story of Osiris, Christine stumbles upon a fountain and pool where she has a "waking dream" of her dream warrior/lover. It isn't long before she is found by none other than her dream lover; who turns out to be Adrian King.

But there are evil forces at work; forces that will stop at nothing to destroy Adrian through any means necessary- even if it involves Christine; Adrian’s soul mate...

A powerful tale of desire and betrayal; exotic in every sense, NIGHT LIFE is teeming with mystery, evil and a wealth of passion. A full bodied cast of characters brings the story to life on the pages; rich in historical detail and substance, while transpiring through modern-day Las Vegas. Adrian and Christine’s passion is romantic and lush; perfectly portraying the couple’s devotion. Fast paced suspense culminating in a dramatic ending will leave the reader well satisfied. Bravo, Elizabeth Guest; you have created a fresh and exotic addition to the Paranormal Genre. I recommend this one highly!

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner:
5 out of 5
A superb second chance at life vampiric romance

He was a revered pharaoh, but was betrayed by those he held close to his heart. His benevolent reign and his life ended in assassination. Millennia pass Adrian King, that former ruler of the Ancient Egypt, has returned to life, if one can call being a vampire living as a ritual brought him back from the dead. He struggles to contain his desire to become a blood drinker even as his present kingdom is vastly different from the Nile Empire he ruled over as instead he owns the Royal Palace Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Egyptologist Christine Day is stunned with how authentic to the minute detail the Royal Palace emulates an Ancient Egypt palace. Adrian notices her and realizes she is the Beautiful One haunting his recent dreams. He desires her and feels obligated to tell the woman he believes is his soulmate the truth about his previous life. However, those who once killed Adrian the Pharaoh are also awake with an obsession to assassinate him again.

NIGHT LIFE is a superb second chance at life vampiric romance starring two wonderful protagonists who readers will adore and root for as they battle some evil adversaries. The story line is action-packed with the historical tidbits interwoven into the plot so cleverly and diligently that the audience will believe Adrian was indeed once a pharaoh. The irony of the come down from a major empire to ruling a Vegas hotel aside, fans of the sub-genre will appreciate this fine paranormal romantic suspense though the vampire elements seem less critical to Elizabeth Guest’s fine tale than most of the sub-genre entries.

Reviewed by Sue Burke, Fresh Fiction:

"Refreshingly original take on vampires makes this book a true winner."

Merneptah Seti lay on his death bed, his head swimming with memories of his all too brief life. With all eternity stretching out before him, Seti, known to history as warrior Pharaoh Seti III, felt fear for perhaps the first time in his 30-odd years. As his life slips away, Seti makes a desperate decision, one that will guarantee him eternal life.

Thousands of years later, the warrior king awakes. Changing his name to Adrian King, he trades one desert for another and relocates to Southern Nevada. Adrian opens a casino in Las Vegas and dubs it The Royal Palace. Here, Adrian houses a fabulous collection of Egyptian antiquities. A collection impressive enough to draw even the most knowledgeable of Egyptologists.

Doctor Christine Day has spent her life studying ancient culture, in particular Egyptian artifacts. In Las Vegas as a speaker at an international conference, Christine is a guest at The Royal Palace. When she first spies the collection, Christine is impressed and wanders from room to room enjoying the array of antiquities until quite suddenly, she realizes she has no idea where she is. She hears the sound of footsteps and turns around to find herself in the company of Adrian King, a man she's never met and so should be a complete stranger to her. But Adrian is no stranger—he's haunted her dreams for years.

Originally drawn by the scent of a woman's perfume, a scent he created himself for a dream lover thousands of years before, Adrian tracks Christine through the gallery until he comes face-to-face with her. Adrian is aware that Christine is the woman bound to him by the gods and fate. He's also aware that he can't tell her what he knows...yet. What Adrian cannot know is that, like him, Christine believes in fate and has already accepted him as her own.

Adrian believes that just as he has awoken in another time, there have been others to do the same thing. The first to follow him was his cousin. His general, friend and protector in life, his cousin continues to serve him now. And Adrian knows there have been others—traitors, vermin—those who betrayed him and have now followed him through death into the present. Adrian, as well as those who've followed him, has become Eaters of Blood and Breakers of Bone. What we today call vampires. Unhuman Demons who are coming for Adrian and Christine. Although it's Adrian who possesses the superhuman strength of the living dead, Christine is the one who holds the key to the traitor's ultimate destruction. But even with the traitor finally discovered and defeated, will Adrian choose to stay with his lover, or in his anguish, choose to face the dawn and give himself up to the void. Again, it may be up to Christine to thwart her warrior lover if she is to bind him to her for this life and beyond.

Elizabeth Guest really has done her research for NIGHT LIFE. The details are incredible. Her twist on the Egyptian vampires is completely original. I've never read anything like this before and that's a telling statement considering how many vampire novels are on the market today. Although this is the first book by Elizabeth Guest, the author has had a previous incarnation herself as Suzanne Simmons. It didn't surprise me when I found out—this isn't the work of a novice.

Desert Isle Keeper Review by Sandy Coleman, All About Romance:

I liked this one. Make that I really liked this one.

Fresh, pleasingly erotic, and totally free of anything to do with Regency England or an alliance of extra large paranormal warriors—in short, unlike about 95% of the books out there right now...Night Life had me from its very first pages when I was immediately caught up in the romance of an Egyptian king now living in modern day Las Vegas and a non-stiletto wearing, non ass-kicking Egyptologist heroine.

There's a bit of world-building involved here, but, thankfully, it's not heavy handed. In its simplest terms, Adrian King, AKA Egyptian King Merneptah Seti, was betrayed centuries earlier and died. Mysteriously awakened, along with others of his time whose presence he can sense, Adrian is now the billionaire owner of an Egyptian-themed casino. The former king, who still retains his Imperial demeanor, struggles against what he believes will be his eventual fate: to become an Eater of Blood and a Breaker of Bones, which is Egyptian-speak for vampire.

Egyptologist Christine Day visits his casino while in Vegas to attend a professional conference. Caught up in her admiration of the seeming authenticity of the Egyptian reproduction artifacts adorning Adrian's casino, Christine tumbles into what she calls one of her "waking dreams"—featuring a mysterious man who is her lover. When she spies Adrian beside a casino lotus pool, she knows immediately that he is none other than the man of her dreams. Adrian, too, recognizes Christine as the woman who has haunted his dreams and fantasies for centuries.

Basically, that's the plot. There is, of course, a bad guy or two and a few other characters from ancient Egypt now living in the modern world who feature in the book, but the author wisely devotes most of her efforts to telling a simple and compelling love story. Adrian is a fantastic character and, while he is decidedly larger than life, it is, thankfully, in a different way from all those paranormal warriors to whom we've grown so accustomed. The author does such a good job with his POV that he always feels like a king in the truest sense.

Christine, though far less vividly drawn, is, nevertheless, an appealing and likable heroine. What I appreciated most about her, though, is what she isn't—a stereotyped and cliched hip young heroine expertly kicking demon ass while wearing a tight leather skirt and Manolos. Christine is instead a believable academic bewildered by events and by her sudden overwhelming feelings for a powerful man with many secrets.

In case you can't tell by now, I really liked the fact that this book is different. Starry Egyptian desert nights and equally starry Las Vegas ones...with a generous helping of sex in lotus pools mixed inn...made for a delightfully invigorating read. And did I mention that I liked Adrian? Well, I did. A lot.

As for quibbles, the mythology seemed a bit muddled since I was never quite sure how or why the vampire stuff (the Eater of Blood and Breaker of Bones thing) worked. Still, despite my confusion, I have to admit that I didn't really care since the relationship between Adrian and Christine is the reason to come to this party.

A quick Google reveals that Elizabeth Guest is a pen name for Suzanne Simmons (also Suzanne Simms), a romance author for a number of years without many good AAR grades to her credit. I have to conclude that Night Life is a major step forward for the author and that a new pen name (and a fresh start) seem to be in order.

I have to admit I've sometimes granted DIK status to great books I knew I would never reread simply because they deserved an A or A- grade. Night Life is a DIK in the classic sense for me; this is an exceptionally well done romance I know I'll read again. If the premise appeals to you (as it did to me) or if you're simply looking for something you haven't read before, then there's a very good chance you will enjoy this book as much as I did. And if nude swims in lotus pools under starry desert skies hold any appeal to you (as they do to me), then don't even think about missing this book.

Reviewed by Jill M. Smith, Romantic Times BOOKreviews:
4 stars (HOT)

Utilizing the gods and legends of ancient Egypt as well as the Book of the Dead, Guest brings forth a unique and spellbinding paranormal story. Vampire mythology gets a fresh twist, which readers should find intriguing. Keep your eye on Guest!

Reviewed by Robin, Romance Junkies:

As an Egyptologist, Christine Day recognizes the authenticity of the breathtaking statues and artifacts exhibited at the Royal Palace hotel and casino. Christine has always had a sixth sense when it comes to ancient Egypt, and about one pharaoh in particular. That pharaoh is Merneptah Seti. Christine's family of archeologists has been searching for Seti's lost tomb for generations. As a child, Christine made a promise to her grandfather that she would find Merneptah Seti's tomb.

In his past, Adrian King's name was Merneptah Seti. Seti sat upon the Egyptian throne and he ruled the Black Lands of the Nile. Seti was always an honorable leader and a warrior without equal. Seti performs a sacred ritual, which allows him to reawaken years after his death. Upon his awakening, Seti realizes that someone within his trusted circle of family and friends was the instrument of his death.

In present day Las Vegas, Seti is known as Adrian King. Adrian is the owner of the Royal Palace casino and hotel. He still rules his people honorably. Adrian is haunted by dreams of a beautiful woman, the same alluring woman he dreamed of in ancient times.

While wandering the halls of the Royal Palace during her first visit, Christine finds herself beside a small, charming pool. A sensual waking vision overtakes Christine of a gorgeous man making love to her in a lovely lotus pool. She has dreamed of this man her entire life, but this is the first time she can see the details of his face. When the vision releases her, Christine finds herself face to face with the man of her dreams. Adrian King is astonished by the breathtaking beauty of the woman standing before him. The enchanting woman smells of the ancient perfume he created specifically for the woman from his dreams. Can this really be the woman Adrian has been searching for during his long existence?

Adrian knows that some of the men and women who were his trusted friends have also awakened in this new time. Are they friend or foe? Betrayed or betrayer? Whom can Adrian trust? Will Adrian be able to keep Christine safe now that he has finally found her?

Elizabeth Guest has created a new type of vampire in NIGHT LIFE. Guest has researched Egyptian lore and history and produced a remarkable story that grabs the reader's attention from the first paragraph. NIGHT LIFE is filled with spirit and intensity. Adrian and Christine's love story is wonderful and it touched me deeply. The idea of two people dreaming of one another for their entire lives is particularly poignant. I loved the characters, the action, the intrigue, and the ending to NIGHT LIFE. I look forward to reading more exciting books set in Guest's fascinating world of Egyptian vampires. Run out and buy a copy of NIGHT LIFE from your local bookstore; then sit back and immerse yourself in this captivating tale.

Reviewed by Lori Ann, Romance Reviews Today:

Thebes, Egypt, 1192 B.C. and Present Day Las Vegas, Nevada

Thousands of years ago:

King Merneptah Seti (Seti III) has been betrayed by those who should be most loyal to him. Knowing that his last moments are upon him, Seti uses the magic that is his right to guarantee that he will awaken one day and live again...

Today:

Adrian King is a billionaire, the owner of the Royal Palace casino in Las Vegas, and he wants for nothing. Except of course, the woman he has dreamed of for so long, the beautiful one who haunted his dreams even when he was known by his former name, King Merneptah Seti.

Egyptologist Christine Day is in Vegas for a prestigious conference. Upon arrival at the Royal Palace she is astounded by the realistic Egyptian surroundings Adrian King has recreated. Following a hallway with an incredibly detailed mosaic floor, Christine finds herself in front of a beautiful lotus pool and is plunged into a waking dream, the kind of dream she has been experiencing for years. When she comes back to the present, she is floored by the presence of Adrian King, not because he's rich or handsome, but because he's the lover she's dreamt of so many times before, the one who had no face, not until today.

It seems that Adrian is finally going to get the chance to spend time with the only woman who has really touched his heart; Christine is the woman he wrote a poem for, the one he has yearned for. But alas, Adrian is not the only one who has awakened, and not all of those he knew in the past are happy that their king lives again.

Wow! If you love paranormals or vampires in particular, you're going to adore NIGHT LIFE and the characters brought to life inside it. Adrian is sensual and handsome in that strong, warrior king way, a man to outshine all others. Truly, he wouldn't deny any of these terms; he is after all, a king; some would insist, a god. Despite his supreme confidence, his arrogance doesn't make you dislike him, if anything it makes him more attractive. Christine is an extremely intelligent woman who has had a deep connection to Egypt and the time in which Seti (Adrian) ruled. She has been haunted by dreams since she was a small child, dreams that, together with the influence of relatives in the archaeological field, convinced her to make her career as an Egyptologist. She promised her grandfather that she would find Seti III for him, sure she'd find his grave in the Valley of the Kings, but really, isn't finding him alive and well in Vegas much better? ;-) The connection between Christine and Adrian is intensely felt throughout the story, and readers will be on the edge of their seats praying that this couple will get the happy ending they deserve.

Rahotep is Adrian's security chief; in Egypt he served as a general in Seti's army. Ma'ya is Adrian's cousin; she was once his servant in ancient Egypt. Both of these characters have an important place in Adrian's past as well as his present. Bryce St. Albans is a colleague of Christine's, a man who doesn't hesitate to claim every advantage that comes his way, be it an introduction to Adrian, or coworkers who don't notice that he is stealing research from beneath their very noses. There are others among the secondary characters who are important, particularly the man who is determined to see that the plan he hatched thousands of years ago will finally succeed.

With incredibly detailed writing (I never knew how a mummy was created until I read this book), this story is rich and textured (even the terms Elizabeth Guest uses for vampires—Drinkers of Blood, Breakers of Bones—are unique). This is not the work of a talented first time author, it's from the imagination of a woman who has written many other novels using the pseudonym Suzanne Simmons. Don't miss the NIGHT LIFE, the first in the phenomenal new Pharaohs Rising series.

Reviewed by Wendy Keel, The Romance Readers Connection:
Rating 4 ½

Adrian King was once a powerful pharaoh, now he is a vampire who owns the Royal Palace in Las Vegas but still rules his world as king. Adrian has an unusual ability, one that leaves little to surprise him. However, when Egyptologist, Christine Day arrives at his hotel, she offers him plenty of surprises.

Christine Day is thrilled with the Royal Palace's authenticity and the owner's rare treasures. She is even more drawn to the man, himself. He is different from any man she's ever known, but somehow he feels familiar, and may be the only man who can understand her secrets.

Adrian knows that Christine is the one woman he's always loved, the one who has haunted his dreams for more years than she can imagine. However sharing the truth about his past with her may put her in extreme danger, for those who betrayed him have reawakened and will stop at nothing to see him destroyed. Will the past destroy the future?

This is all I feel I can share of this story, without giving away spoilers. NIGHT LIFE is a rare treasure in the sea of paranormal romances hitting store shelves. Ms. Guest has written characters you'll adore and a story that is both fresh and fascinating. I do not usually like stories dealing with Ancient Egypt, but once I began this book I found I couldn't put it down. It offers a new look at vampires and any fan of the movie The Mummy is bound to find Ms. Guests story a keeper. I for one, can hardly wait to see what the future will bring from Elizabeth Guest, it is my fondest wish that she will continue the story of these characters. I highly recommend NIGHT LIFE to all fans of paranormal romance with great characters, a fresh new idea, and a storyline that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Reviewed by Leslie Tramposch, ParaNormal Romance:

"A highly recommended second chance paranormal romance"

He had been a warrior and a king. He'd had many wives and children. He'd been revered as a god and had more wealth than most men could ever imagine but he had gone to his tomb without the one thing he desired most....his soul mate, the "beautiful one" who had haunted his dreams, dreams never to be realized. The great pharaoh had been betrayed by one of his own.

On his deathbed the man now known as Adrian King had performed a special ritual thus insuring his return to life. He had awakened and is once more a man to be reckoned with in a new desert kingdom as owner of the Royal Palace hotel and casino in Las Vegas. But eternal life had its price, even for a pharaoh.

Egyptologist Christine Day has had "waking dreams" of ancient Egypt since her childhood. She believes this to be some form of genetic memory. Her grandfather had spent his life searching without success for the tomb of the great king and warrior Merneptah Seti. As he'd approached the end of his life Christine had promised that she would someday find his king for him.

Asked to share her knowledge at an international conference in Las Vegas, Christine finds herself exploring the Royal Palace. She is highly impressed with Adrian's collection of Egyptian antiquities even though many are reproductions. While wandering through King's domain Christine has another one of her "waking dreams" this time of herself and a mystery lover. Her dream is disturbed by none other than the enigmatic casino owner Adrian King, who inexplicably resembles her dream lover to a tee.

Adrian has been drawn to the woman's perfume, a secret recipe he'd created for the soul mate he'd met only in his dreams before his untimely death. He is puzzled as he is unable to read her emotions as he can with other humans until she smiles and he recognizes her as his "beautiful one." How ironic that he should find her now when he cannot have her. Adrian has already felt the urges that edge him ever closer to becoming what he most dreads, an Eater of Blood and a Breaker of Bones a.k.a. a vampire. Others have arisen as well, his trusted friend General Rahotep, Maya the instrument of his betrayal, and Seth the betrayer himself. He must keep his beloved safe even if it means sending her away. Fortunately Christine Day has always been a great believer in fate.

Though the vampire genre is currently in vogue, this tale was a true original. The world building is phenomenal. The vampires are woven into the intricate plot rather than the other way around. Christine is not the traditional alpha heroine either. She is strong, intelligent, and devoted but doesn't go around kicking vampire butt and instead relies on faith and love to rule the day. This story held the reader in its thrall from the first page straight through to the very last. Tears will flow as the mighty warrior is forced to choose between his rightful destiny, to lie in the arms of his beloved, or to sacrifice all to save the soul of his twisted betrayer. Ms. Guest has proven herself to be a gifted storyteller. I look forward to the next installment. I highly recommend this read.

Reviewed by Roberta, A Romance Review:

Merneptah Seti was a powerful Egyptian pharaoh, but his life was cut short by the betrayal of those close to him. After three thousand years he is awakened with his memories of ancient times intact, but at the price of being a vampire. Nowadays he rules over the Royal Palace, a hotel and casino in Las Vegas that is a modern day pyramid and he goes by the name Adrian King.

Dr. Christine Day is a renowned Egyptologist and has come to the Royal Palace to see the museum quality artifacts that are housed in a special gallery. Both Adrian and Christine are bit stunned when they first meet. Christine has been having what she labels "waking dreams" all her life and Adrian is literally the man of her dreams. Adrian dreamed about Christine in ancient Egypt. They each may feel they have found their soul-mate, but Adrian fears that he may have to make serious choices that will affect their futures. He also is afraid that pure evil from his past has been awakened that could claim them.

I love vampire stories and this well researched twist on that lore was pure pleasure to read. Paranormal novels are hot now and this author has the knack to craft an unforgettable one. The sensuous prose evokes the opulence of Ancient Egypt as well as modern Las Vegas. I felt totally immersed in the plot.

Christine and Adrian's love story is absolutely perfect. All romance readers long for an eternal love and this couple is surely the epitome of that. The love scenes are some of the most seductive I have read in a long time.

Elizabeth Guest is a pseudonym for author Suzanne Simmons. I have enjoyed books she has written under that name, but I feel Night Life is her best to date. I was thrilled to find out it is just the first in a series. I will be anxiously awaiting book #2.