Tag Archives: vampire

Blood Divine

Book Review: Blood Divine, by Greg Howard

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I received a copy of Blood Divine, by Greg Howard, from Netgalley.

Description from Goodreads:
Cooper Causey spent a lifetime eluding the demons of his youth and suppressing the destructive power inside him. But a disconcerting voicemail lures Cooper back home to the coast of South Carolina and to Warfield—the deserted plantation where his darkness first awakened. While searching for his missing grandmother, Cooper uncovers the truth about his ancestry and becomes a pawn in an ancient war between two supernatural races. In order to protect the only man he’s ever loved, Cooper must embrace the dark power threatening to consume him and choose sides in a deadly war between the righteous and the fallen.

Review:
I enjoyed this. I liked Cooper and Randy, but the book itself was a bit weak. I never felt the chemistry between Cooper and the man he was supposed to love. It was all based on a past, off-page crush. And I never believed that if they loved each-other they would have kept such distance. I disliked that Cooper went from knowing nothing to being all but all-powerful with no training (very deus ex machina). I felt cheated that the evil villain never seemed to actually do anything, even when threatened, and he was defeated easily, without putting up a fight. (I don’t consider that a spoiler. Did anyone think the good guys wouldn’t win?) And I didn’t believe that his grandmother would keep her secret and let him think he wasn’t safe to come out for his whole life.

All in all, it was a fine book to read for simple amusement. The writing is very readable and the plot does keep up a good clip. But it wasn’t anything super special.

Clean Sweep

Book Review of Clean Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles #1), by Ilona Andrews

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Clean SweepI bought a copy of Clean Sweep, by Ilona Andrews.

Description from Goodreads:
On the outside, Dina Demille is the epitome of normal. She runs a quaint Victorian Bed and Breakfast in a small Texas town, owns a Shih Tzu named Beast, and is a perfect neighbor, whose biggest problem should be what to serve her guests for breakfast. But Dina is…different: Her broom is a deadly weapon; her Inn is magic and thinks for itself. Meant to be a lodging for otherworldly visitors, the only permanent guest is a retired Galactic aristocrat who can’t leave the grounds because she’s responsible for the deaths of millions and someone might shoot her on sight. Under the circumstances, “normal” is a bit of a stretch for Dina.

And now, something with wicked claws and deepwater teeth has begun to hunt at night….Feeling responsible for her neighbors, Dina decides to get involved. Before long, she has to juggle dealing with the annoyingly attractive, ex-military, new neighbor, Sean Evans—an alpha-strain werewolf—and the equally arresting cosmic vampire soldier, Arland, while trying to keep her inn and its guests safe. But the enemy she’s facing is unlike anything she’s ever encountered before. It’s smart, vicious, and lethal, and putting herself between this creature and her neighbors might just cost her everything.

Review:
I have a really odd relationship with Ilona Andrews books. I enjoy them, but I almost never rate one higher than 3 stars. I like them but just don’t think they’re all that great…but taken together, I always want another. They’re like hard candies, not anything special but once you’ve had that first one you just want to keep popping them in your mouth until your tastebuds burn. That’s me and Andrews. I don’t think the books are great, but I always want another one. What am I supposed to do with that?

This is no exception. I thought it was a lot of fun, though bordering on utterly ridiculous and there were several too-coincidental-to-be-believed moments. But I liked all the characters; as always I appreciated the strong female and alpha male willing to let her lead, there are a ton of little easter eggs hidden in it and I’m already ready for the next one.

Bonfire

Book Review of Bonfire (Hours of the Night #1.5), by Irene Preston & Liv Rancourt

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BonfireIrene Preston and Liv Rancourt sent me a copy of Bonfire for the purposes of review. I reviewed the first in the series earlier in the year.

Description from Goodreads:
Thaddeus and Sarasija are spending the holidays on the bayou, and while the vampire’s idea of Christmas cheer doesn’t quite match his assistant’s, they’re working on a compromise. Before they can get the tree trimmed, they’re interrupted by the appearance of the feu follet. The ghostly lights appear in the swamp at random and lead even the locals astray.

When the townsfolk link the phenomenon to the return of their most reclusive neighbor, suspicion falls on Thaddeus. These lights aren’t bringing glad tidings, and if Thad and Sara can’t find their source, the feu follet might herald a holiday tragedy for the whole town.

Review:
If anything, I think this might be slightly better than the first in the series. The reader feels closer to the characters and Thaddeus isn’t quite so mired in his guilt. It was fun to see the him and Sara in a more settled, domesticated period.

It is of course a novella, so the plot isn’t overly involved and there is little build up to the climax that is settled with such ease as to be slightly disappointing. But it had a very sweet Christmas themed ending and is a wonderful little story to hold readers over until the next book comes out. Though, I think it would be most enjoyed if you’ve read Vespers, it does stand alone.

As a bonus, the authors happen to be running a giveaway for a $20 gift card. Why not check it out?
a Rafflecopter giveaway