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Showing posts with label vampires. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vampires. Show all posts
Friday, December 16, 2011
Review: Destined Mate
Destined Mate
Author: Katie Reus
Release Date: Oct. 1, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin Nocturne Cravings
Genre: Paranormal Romance, novella
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Author
About the book:
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Almost a century ago, Angela Lavigne and Alpha werewolf Knox had a shared passion neither could control. Then Angela was turned into a vampire and disappeared.
The last thing Knox expects is for Angela to show up on his doorstep on a rescue mission, as sexy and irresistible as ever. And he can sense how much she still wants him, too. She’s gone against both their species’ rules and trespassed on his land. By law he can keep her as long as he wants—and Knox doesn’t intend to let her go ever again.
As their desire explodes once again, Knox is more sure than ever that he must claim her forever. But as vampire and werewolf, they are natural born enemies. Can she truly be his destined mate?
What I’m talking about:
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The story opens with our vampire heroine, Angela, infiltrating a werewolf stronghold to rescue her BFF just weeks before a historic peace accord between the two species. Angela is cunning and quick, but once she makes it to the mansion where she knows her friend is being held, she receives a shock: her once lover is this pack’s Alpha. Angela had run from Knox almost a century ago when she was turned into a vampire because she knew how much he and his kind detested vampires.
Knox is immediately attracted to his lost love. He gets all Alpha on her and forces her to stay after she finds out her friend snuck away from their coven when their leader forbade her to mate with a werewolf. He tries to balance his lust for Angela and taking the time to tell her how he really feels.
Destined Mate is an enjoyable novella-length, stand alone story. (If it’s attached to a series, I couldn’t find it.) Due to the shortened length, there isn’t much background on the two primary species: werewolves and vampires. However, Ms. Reus sprinkles the story with facts about her creations (like Angela is a daywalker, which is rare, or Knox heals faster than his pack, which is partly why he is the alpha), giving the tale a enough complexity to keep up interest and feed my curiosity. Of course with that said, I’d love to find out more.... like what is the history of the two species’ feuding, etc.
The story has two major conflicts, first when Angela confronts her coven leader and must choose to go home with the vampires or stay with the wolves. But it doesn’t end there, which is what gives this novella a plus in my book. Next, Angela and Knox must deal with the outfall of the Alpha wolf mating a vampire. It’s amazing that such a short story can adequately address both issues in a satisfying manner.
The attraction between the pair is immediate and intense, but both have been in love with the other for over 90 years. The smex is steamy and I really enjoy the interesting ramifications of a were and vamp mating.
My biggest complaint about the story is that I wish it was longer. Although it isn’t lacking because of its length, Ms. Reus has created a world that left me wanting to know more. This is a good little story to fit in between novels or, if you are like me, to read while in line at the grocery story, waiting at the doctor’s office, etc.
My Rating:
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Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Review: everafter
everafter Author: Nell Stark & Trinity Tam
Release Date: October 2009
Publisher: Bold Stroke Books
Genre: Paranormal Romance, GLBT
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Authors
About the book: |
When medical student Valentine Darrow is bitten by a Vampire on her way home to propose to her lover, Alexa Newland, her life becomes a nightmare. She is consumed—both by a craving for human blood, and by an obsession to find her attacker and bring him to justice. Alexa is determined to be everything that Valentine needs, but when Val's appetite outstrips Alexa's ability to nourish her, Alexa decides to undergo a dramatic and risky procedure in order to save her lover's soul.
Will Valentine be able to control her thirst—for blood and for vengeance? And can Valentine and Alexa's relationship endure against seemingly impossible odds?
What I’m talking about: |
On the what should have been the biggest night of her life, Valentine Darrow, daughter of political big wig, is brutally attacked and wakes to find her life drastically altered. She discovers that she’s been infected with a virus that consumes her red blood cells from the inside, and in order to live she must consume blood. Yep, she’s a vampire.
Ever supportive is Valentine’s true love, Alexa. Alexa is determined to make their relationship work under the strain of Val’s growing blood lust. Together they are introduced to a world they only believed to exist in fantasy. They are driven to find and bring down the mysterious vampire that not only attacked Alexa, but other socialites as well.
I will admit I had a tough time getting into this book at first. The story line was interesting - I loved the analytical view of the vampirism - breaking it down into medical terms and biological processes. But I wasn’t emotionally bonding with Val and Alexa. I think it’s because their love was fully and deeply developed before the book even began, and the reader is expected to take this as fact. However, without the slow development of the relationship within the context of the story, it was hard for me to connect.
As Val grew into her new lifestyle, her constant concerns over harming Alexa, her never-ending nightmares over her attacker and the drive to identify this elusive vampire began to grow old and repetitive. But right at that point when it began to bother me, there was a significant change in the book.
In the very center of the book, the story shifted from Val’s point-of-view to Alexa’s POV. It was introduced following a dramatic scene in the storyline. I enjoyed the dynamics, however, all to often I would get confused thinking Val was speaking, when it was truly Alexa. It seemed that in both situations, the woman who was behind the POV was strong and the partner was more needy or weak. Because both voices felt similar - down to using the same arguments to protect their partner, there were times I had to re-read a passage to clarify who was talking.
All gimmicks aside, there is a very good reason for the change in POV, and after this point, the book really picked up steam. I enjoyed looking at the world from Alexa’s POV, especially as she makes a daring attempt to create an ideal situation in which she will be able to safely satisfy Val’s need for blood.
In addition to the changes in POV, the story began to move forward at a much quicker pace. The women started tabling their anxieties over harming the other and began working on finding answers about the attacks.
The book ended with a satisfying conclusion in the mystery of “whodunit,” however, unanswered questions remain - namely WHY? and who is ultimately responsible for the attacks? I have my guesses... and at the top of the list is the head of New York’s Vampire community, Helen Lambros. Alexa is right to be leery of Helen!
everafter is a solid introduction to Ms. Stark and Ms. Tam’s everafter world. There was a lot of information to convey to the reader, and even with the bumps I encountered in the beginning, I find that I couldn’t put down the story after a while.
My Rating: |
Liked it, but I had some issues - recommend (B)
Labels:
everafter series,
GLBT,
lesbian romance,
Nell Stark,
paranormal romance,
Trinity Tam,
vampires
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comments
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.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Review: Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between
Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between
Author: J.A. Saare
Release Date: available now
Publisher: Eternal Press
Rhiannon’s Laws Series Book #1
ISBN: #1770650229
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
From the author’s website:
One bad corpse can ruin your whole day. No one knows that better than Rhiannon Murphy. She’s left behind the flash and sass of Miami for the no-nonsense groove of New York City, eager for a clean slate and a fresh start. A bartender by trade, a loud mouth by choice, and a necromancer by chance; she’s managed to keep her nifty talent hidden from those around her – until now.
The deliciously good-looking vampire Disco knows her secret, and when he strolls into her bar to solicit help investigating the mysterious disappearances of his kind from the city, she discovers he’s not the kind of person that appreciates the significance of the word no.
But in a world where vampires peddle their blood as the latest and greatest drug of choice, it’s only a matter of time before the next big thing hits the market. Someone or something is killing vampires to steal their hearts, and unlike Rhiannon, this isn’t their first stroll around the undead block.
What I’m talking about:
The story opens with our heroine, Rhiannon, working as a bartender in an exotic dancer bar. She knows the ropes and keeps the place running smoothly. Unfortunately, she is being pursued by not only Disco, but other vampire families because of her ability to see the twice undead (dead vampires) - a very rare gift. The only way to protect herself from the undesirables is to “join” a vampire family... but which one? And after a rough childhood, Rhiannon doesn’t want to be “owned” by anyone ever again.
Rhiannon is a heroine that I can get behind! She is smart, tough, looks out for herself, but doesn’t say no to help and helping others. I was worried that she would hem and haw in her decision making about joining a family, but she is smart and makes a great decision. She weighs pros and cons at each step of the way, knows how to compromise, but stays true to herself. She is a joy to read.
The beginning of the book was a bit tough for me to understand. The first chapter especially was chaotic and thoughts seem to jump all over the place. I wasn’t sure who was who, and I stumbled a bit. While that did emphasize the chaotic rhythms of the club scene, it made it difficult for me to follow at times. However, after the first couple of chapters, the writing smoothed out and storyline became much easier to follow.
As the story progressed, I become completely engrossed and couldn’t put the book down. I enjoyed watching the delicate friendship between Rhiannon and Disco blossom into a passionate love. I was riveted to the book trying to find out who/what was behind the vampire deaths. It is a great story and fun to read.
BUT I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you the one thing that really put a crimp on an otherwise wonderful story... The Ending. Without giving away spoilers, I will tell you that the ending basically sets up a subsequent story and leaves us in a MAJOR cliffhanger. I do not like cliffhanger endings. Plain and simple. And really, I have no problem with the direction Ms. Saare is taking her series. In fact, I actually like the concept. But, for me, this should have been the beginning of book 2 and not the ending to this story.
This is a fun, vibrant story and I recommend it to anyone that enjoys a good vampire, urban fantasy story. Just be prepared for an ending that will twist and leave you hanging.
My Rating:
Liked it a lot - recommend
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