THE CARDINAL CODE
by
Avery Sterling
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by
Goddess FishPromotions.
Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Sterling & Ash Legacies
Publication Date: August 4, 2025
Page count: 322 pages
SCROLL DOWN FOR GIVEAWAY!
SYNOPSIS:
Vampires
are real. Powerful, organized, and nearly untouchable, they move through
society under the governance of the Cardinalis Order—an ancient system built to
protect their kind and punish those who defy its laws.
Michael
Chamberlain is one of them. A successful entrepreneur with a carefully buried
past, he returns to The Hamptons to take over his father’s elite nightclub—and
to secure a contracted blood source. Cold, controlled, and emotionally
detached, Michael has long accepted the rules of his world. That is, until he
meets Paislee Sullivan.
A
determined college student working nights to fund her future, Paislee doesn’t
know the truth about the Order—or that her presence at the nightclub is more
dangerous than she realizes. When her path collides with Michael’s, she’s
pulled into the shadows of a world built on power, secrecy, and blood.
As
their connection deepens, Paislee must navigate a society where consent is
contractual, love is forbidden, and ignorance offers the only safety. But some
connections can’t be denied—and breaking the rules could mean losing
everything.
The
Cardinal Code is a seductive and high-stakes romance set in a world where the
elite don’t just run society—they feed on it.
CLICK TO PURCHASE!
ENJOY AN EXCERPT:
Michael leaned forward, burying his face in his hands. His
chest felt tight, and his breaths were shallow and uneven.
He’d destroyed everything. The thought hit him like a blow
to the chest, stealing what little air he had left.
He couldn’t even bring himself to try and explain.
What would he say?
What could he possibly say to undo what he’d done?
Nothing.
He clenched his jaw, his mind racing but landing nowhere.
There were no answers tonight. Just silence. Just regret. Just the faint sound
of her heartbeat, muffled by the walls but steady enough to remind him that she
was still there. For now.
And for the first time in his long life, Michael was truly
afraid. Not of losing control. Not of the monster within him. But of losing
her—and knowing he had no one to blame but himself.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Avery
Sterling fell in love with romance novels as a teenager, drawn to the raw
emotion and sweeping adventures they offered. She wrote her first novel at
sixteen, chasing the thrill of crafting love stories that feel both authentic
and unforgettable.
Having
spent much of her youth traveling, Avery discovered that love is universal,
found in both the grand and quiet moments. Her stories aim to reflect that
truth, blending emotional depth with all the steamy romance readers crave.
REVIEW:
4 stars!
Exciting and sexy new vampire romantasy!
The Cardinal Code is a suspenseful and sexy new vampire
romantasy by author Avery Sterling that presents a fresh and intriguing perspective
of vampire lore. With its irresistible main characters, slow-burn romance, and
fascinating vampire social order, I was hooked until the very final page.
Michael Chamberlain is the cool, collected, wealthy scion of
his elite Sicilian cardinalis family now residing on Long Island. He’s preparing
to take over ownership of his father’s successful New York City nightclub,
Allusion, when he becomes enamored of a new waitress at the club.
Paislee Sullivan is a college student just trying to pick up
the pieces of her interrupted life after a terrible accident two years earlier
had almost ended it. With huge medical bills hanging over her head, she takes a
job as a waitress at the exclusive Allusion nightclub. One night, the unwanted
attentions of a persistent and obnoxious customer lead her to grab the first man
she sees, pretending he’s the boyfriend she’s waiting on, in hopes his presence
will discourage her pest once and for all. Her surprised rescuer turns out to
be none other than Michael Chamberlain, the club’s new owner, and the pest is
his estranged brother, Esben.
The couple’s attraction to one another is undeniable, and so
begins their slow-burning romance, which starts as a contracted business
arrangement. They experience several rocky moments as they learn about each
other, and Esben continues to target Paislee as a means of getting back at Michael. The back and forth between the two before convincing
Paislee to agree to the contract and then what their relationship was going to
look like went a little long for me as they rehashed their motives, emotions,
and intentions. Their relationship includes some sexy, erotic scenes as well as darker incidents
of anger and violence. Readers sensitive to these kinds of depictions should consider
this and proceed accordingly, taking into account their tolerance for such
scenarios. An author’s note at the beginning of the book accurately and clearly
details this.
The concept of the Codex and an all-powerful order to enforce
it was intriguing to me as a reader and intimidating to many characters in the
book. There are some surprising twists in the plot, not only regarding past
events involving the brothers but also the current action. The story concludes
with a cliffhanger ending, which absolutely begs for a quick sequel.
I recommend THE CARDINAL CODE to readers of darker, more
adult paranormal romance.
GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
Avery Sterling
will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
Virtual book tour services provided by
Thank you so much for featuring and reviewing THE CARDINAL CODE today.
ReplyDeleteThis should be an excellent novel. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the blurb and review. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds like an interesting read. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a interesting book.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read.
ReplyDelete