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Showing posts with label Regency Vampyres. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Regency Vampyres. Show all posts
Friday, September 16, 2011
Review: Never Been Bit
Never Been BitAuthor: Lydia Dare
Release Date: September 1, 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Regency Vampyre #3
ISBN: #978-1402245138
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (384 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book: |
The glittering world of high society is the playground for the rich, titled, and reluctantly undead...
Alec MacQuarrie's after-life has become an endless search for pleasure in an effort to overcome his heartbreak and despair. Wandering through the seedy world of London's demimonde, he's changed into a dark and fearsome creature even he doesn't recognize until he stumbles into a magical lass he knew once upon a time and sees a glimpse of the life he could have had.
But the ton is no match for one incorrigible young lady...
After watching each of her coven sisters happily marry, Sorcha Ferguson is determined to capture a Lycan husband of her very own. When she encounters Alec, she decides to save her old friend from what he's become, all while searching for her own happily-ever-after.
Over his dead body is Alec going to allow this enchanting innocent to throw herself away on an unworthy werewolf, but that leaves him responsible for her, and he's the worst monster of them all...
What I’m talking about: |
Never Been Bit is the third installment of the Regency Vampyre Series, and the 7th book in Ms. Dare’s paranormal/historical adventures, which started with the Westfield Brother’s series. For those that have followed the series (or my reviews), Never Been Bit is the conclusion of the stories about the sisterhood of Scottish witches, collectively known as the Coig. Youngest witch, Sorcha, finally finds her HEA (happily ever after) with long-time friend, Alec MacQuarrie.
If you are new to the series, you certainly can read this one as a stand alone, but like with most series, you appreciate the characters more if you’ve read their history. And Alec MacQuarrie is one of those characters that has changed and developed over the course of several books.
I have been looking forward to reading Never Been Bit ever since the dramatic conclusion of It Happened One Bite (review HERE) when Alec was transformed into a vampyre. It was done to save his life; however Alec found little happiness in continuing forward without hope and love in his life. Alec spent years pining for Cait, only to have her marry another (The Taming of the Wolf, HERE), so now he feels he has no chance of ever becoming human again like others of his kind. (A vampyre that finds true love will become human.) His character transformed from a overly-concerned friend to a heart-broken playboy, bent on ruining his own existence, yet not wanting to completely die. I was actually a bit shocked at how low Alec had gone - using whores and earning a reputation among the women who enjoy spending “quality time” with vampyres.
Sorcha, on the other hand, is a sweet and innocent young thing. She has spirit and determination and causes those around her to smile and enjoy life a bit more. She has supported each of her friends as they found true love and she’s determined to find a love of her own. However, along the way, she makes it her mission to save Alec from himself. As the two spend time together, Sorcha realizes that Alec is a lot more special than just an old friend. Sorcha’s purity gives her a refreshing outlook in even the darkest of situations.
As someone who has read the series, I have to say I was a bit put off by how badly Alec had changed. The introduction of Delia, Browning and Tillie (associates from the “gentlemen’s club”) seemed almost contrived to create conflict for Alec and Sorcha. However, I was able to look past it, even when Delia was found in Alec’s bed.
I was also frustrated with Alec’s continued disbelief that he would never find love. The author did a good job of building his case, but maybe it’s just the hopeless romantic in me - I felt that once he realized he didn’t love Cait, that he would have hope for himself.
Overall, the story was entertaining and a fitting conclusion for the series. And I am hopeful for more stories based on the ending of Never Been Bit (which was adorable and I enjoyed it!) When I met her at AAD in Philadelphia, I asked Ms. Tammy Falkner (one half of the Lydia Dare writing team) about future books for Radbourne and his brothers, and she smiled. That made me smile. Ms. Dare’s mix of regency and paranormal is one I’m not ready to give up.
My Rating: |
Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)
Labels:
Friday, July 15, 2011
Review: In the Heat of the Bite
In The Heat of the BiteAuthor: Lydia Dare
Release Date: July 1, 2011
Publisher: Sourcebook
Regency Vampyre #2
ISBN: #978-1402245107
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (384 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book: |
Chivalry is far from undead...
Matthew Halkett, Earl of Blodswell, is one of the few men in the ton who can claim to be a knight in shining armor- because that's precisely what he was before being turned into a vampyre. When he spies a damsel in distress in the midst of a storm in Hyde Park, his natural instinct is to rush to her aid...
But not every woman needs to be rescued...
Weather-controlling witch Rhiannon Sinclair isn't caught in a storm-she's the cause of it. She's mortified to have been caught making trouble by the imposing earl, but she doesn't need any man-never has, and is sure she never will...
But when Rhiannon encounters Matthew again, her powers go awry and his supernatural abilities run amok. Between the two of them, the ton is thrown into an uproar. There's never been a more tempestuous scandal...
What I’m talking about: |
The second book of Lydia Dare’s Regency Vampyre Series picks up shortly after the conclusion of It Happened One Bite (review HERE) with Matthew Halkett, the Earl of Blodswell, discovering Coig Witch, Rhiannon Sinclair in the middle of a self-made rain storm. Blodswell, a 650-year-old vampyre, is a valiant knight with a history significant with the Coig, and was a featured prominently in the last Regency story as the maker of Lord Kettering. Rhi is one of the five “sister witches” of the Coig from Edinburgh, Scotland. She has ventured to London to visit her younger sister, who is living with their Aunt Greer.
Although this is the second book in the Regency Vampyre Series, it is the sixth story in Ms. Dare’s paranormal-regency themed world that started with the Westfield Brother’s series. All of the books are set in the same society and contain many of the same characters. With that said, I feel that the book can be read stand-alone if you don’t want to start at the beginning (I started with the fourth Westfield Brother’s book, The Taming of the Wolf.) I have to admit, I was a bit confused BECAUSE I had read the earlier books... There was a significant event that occurred to vampyre Lord Kettering at the end of It Happened One Bite, and I was confused why and/or how Blodswell didn’t know about it. Although it was explained later in the book, I found myself wondering why Blodswell acted the way the did when he started “showing symptoms” similar to those Kettering had in the previous book. (Sorry for the vagueness here, but I don’t want to have any spoilers.)
The story was another enjoyable regency piece. Rhi is another strong woman who surrounds herself with close friends and a strong support network. Although she is young, she doesn’t allow others to push her around. I love her interactions with mentor, Duchess of Hythe, who deserves her own backstory - she’s a feisty one! I also love how the Duchess doesn’t take crap from any of the Hadley Brothers (Lycan) or the “evil step-motherish” Aunt Greer.
I fell for Blodswell in the last book and couldn’t wait to read his story. While I had hoped for more backstory and his detailed history, I still felt it was a satisfying and enjoyable tale. Blodswell was a true gentleman, caring for Rhi’s welfare above his own. Good thing Rhi wouldn’t let him get away with that! And *phew* were they HOT together! I enjoyed their forbidden rendezvous quite a lot. Their romance was innocent, yet sizzling.
There are two outstanding side stories I need to mention. First, the Hadley Brothers (brothers to the hero from book 4). Together the three men/wolves are a riot, but eldest brother, the Viscount Radbourne, is a standout. He is playful and charming, but fiercely loyal and protective. I hope we will see more of him soon. The second is the beloved Alec MacQuarrie. For those that have read the earlier books, you will enjoy seeing what has become of dear Alec after the surprising events at the conclusion of the last story. If you are new to the series, the author does a superb job of bringing you up to speed on his history. Alec is the focus of the next book, Never Been Bit (September 2011), and I look forward to watching him finally discover his destiny.
One thing I will suggest for new readers is to jot down notes to keep track of the characters because there are a lot. And when you toss in the fact that some characters have both given names and titles, it can get confusing. All-in-all another fun, romantic tale from Lydia Dare. I enjoy the paranormal spin on a regency romance. For me, each story in this series gets a bit better and more enjoyable.
My Rating: |
Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Review & Giveaway: It Happened One Bite
It Happened One BiteRelease Date: March 1, 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Regency Vampyre Trilogy #1
ISBN: #978-1402245077
Genre: Recency Paranormal Romance
Format(s): paperback (416 pgs), e-book
I received an ARC copy of this book from the PUBLISHER for the purposes of an honest review.
From the author’s website:
He's lost, trapped, doomed for all eternity...
Rich, titled, and undead, gentleman vampyre James Maitland, Lord Kettering, fears himself doomed to a cold and lonely existence-trapped for decades in an abandoned castle. Then, beautiful Scottish witch Blaire Lindsay arrives, and things begin to heat up considerably...
Unless he can persuade her to set him free...
Feisty Blaire Lindsay laughs off the local gossip surrounding her mother's ancestral home-stories of haunting cannot scare off this battle-born witch. But when she discovers the handsome prisoner in the bowels of the castle, Blaire has no idea that she has unleashed anything more than a man who sets her heart on fire...
What I’m talking about:
Although It Happened One Bite is the first book in this new series, it picks up the story line first started in Ms. Dare’s Westfield (Lycan) Brothers series. The story overlaps a bit with the 4th book of that series, The Taming of the Wolf (review HERE), and centers on five (unrelated) sister-witches of the Coig with a few other returning characters from the prior series. This book focuses on the warrior witch, Blaire. Last we saw, she and her brothers were off inspecting an inherited estate, when sister-witch and seer, Cait, predicts danger for Blaire.
In It Happened One Bite, Blair and her brothers begin the story by heading to the Highlands to Briarcraig Castle. Shortly after arriving at the abandoned estate, the trio of siblings discover a mysterious gentleman that has been locked away for an unknown amount of time. Blaire quickly surmises that the stranger, Lord Kettering, has been trapped a lot longer than a human could survive. She also realizes that her mother and fellow witches were responsible for his imprisonment. As both Blaire and Kettering attempt to uncover the truth, they find themselves falling for one another.
I have to say that I really enjoyed It Happened One Bite. The story had a bit of action, a lovely Regency romance and sexy gentlemen vampyres. Blaire is a powerful woman who holds her ground. She is strong-willed and sharp tongued. She doesn’t mince words and is an open book for the most part. I find her a refreshing change to some of the lead characters I’ve read lately.
James is a gentleman. He is caring and kind. Yet, when he has Blaire alone, he allows his inner-heat to show. He is upfront with his feelings and even when conflicted, lets Blaire know what is in his heart. I enjoyed their romance, especially the twist in the end (what happens when James discovers his true feelings).
The book also sported some wonderful side-charters. I adored James’ maker, mentor and closest confident, Matthew Halkett, the Earl of Blodswell. He is a valiant knight with a history significant within the Coig. We actually got a peek at Blodswell in The Taming of the Wolf. I sense a dramatic story behind this man and look forward to reading more of his history in the upcoming book, In the Heat of the Bite (July 2011). And readers of the earlier series will be happy to know Alec MacQuarrie is back - still heartbroken from losing the perceived love-of-his life, Cait. Alec’s life takes a significant turn while helping to defend his friend, Blaire.
Although this is a spin-off from the Westfield Brothers series, it could be read as a stand alone. However, having read the previous book, I was familiar with the characters and probably had a bit more emotional tie to them. It is a captivating tale, with engaging characters and plot. The climax was slightly disappointing, but in the end, did not diminish the story.
My Rating:
Really enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Be sure to come back tomorrow for my interview with the author, Lydia Dare.
GIVEAWAY: I have two (2) copies (two winners) of It Happened One Bite to giveaway here at That’s What I’m Talking About. Thank you to Sourcebooks (www.sourcebooks.com) for sponsoring the giveaway of Lydia Dare’s latest book. To enter, please leave a comment and your email at the end of today’s review or tomorrow’s interview with author Lydia Dare. Winners restricted to US and Canada mailing addresses, only. Contest open from March 16, 2011 until Monday March 21, 2011 at 9:00 PM EDT. Two (2) winners will be selected from the comment entries using random.org.
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