Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Blood Destiny: A Blood Curse Novel by Tessa Dawn

Blood Destiny (The Blood Curse Series)Tessa Dawn’s Blood Destiny was one of those books I could not put down from the first page to the very last!  Jocelyn’s character is tough, but completely overwhelmed when she is thrust into a world she only thought existed in horror films. Nathaniel is a sexy, seductive, and powerful vampire. However I loved the fact that Nathaniel and all his brothers have such a sensitive emotional side to them, making them seem more human than monster.  Blood Destiny was a perfect book to start the Blood Curse Vampire Series! Every one of the characters is so deeply woven into the story that it leaves you completely enthralled with them all. I anxiously await the second book in the Blood Curse series, Blood Awakening, coming later this year. Such a powerfully seductive group of brothers are sure to keep our eyes glued to the pages for many books to come.
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 As an agent for a special division of homeland security Jocelyn Levi has seem some pretty gruesome and vial things. Nothing she has seen can compare to the evil she encounters while following a lead on women being sold into slavery and murdered by a strange cult of some kind. When Jocelyn witnesses firsthand the true visage of evil, she runs for her life. Her mind won’t let her accept what she’s seen and her fear holds her hostage in the middle of the dark forest. As she screams in fear she has no idea that her life is about to change forever.
Nathaniel Silivasi and his family, the sons of Jardon, the Light Ones, have lived in the beautiful Rocky Mountain valley for centuries. As a descendant of Celestial Gods and humans, Nathaniel and his brothers are part of an ancient line of powerful vampires. His forefathers committed horrible crimes against the women of their civilization and were cursed, along with all of their future bloodline. Unable to produce female children, only twin sons are born of which the first must be sacrificed to appease the Gods. Coming to the aid of a terrified woman will either become his saving grace or leave him to an agonizing death.
Once Nathaniel and Jocelyn’s paths cross they are no longer in control of their own destinies. Bound by an undeniable power, they must overcome their own fears of the future and stand against the darkness that wants nothing more than to destroy everything that Nathaniel and his family hold dear. The Dark Ones, the sons of Jaegar, will stop at nothing to reign supreme and bring back their ancient ways.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Caressed by Moonlight by Amanda J Greene

Caressed by Moonlight (Rulers of Darkness)A wonderful debut novel in the Rulers of Darkness series, Amanda J Greene's Caressed by Moonlight takes us back in time when rumors and opinions from high society were enough to ruin a "lady". I loved Victoria's character because of her strength and wit. I found myself laughing at the way she continually put Dorian in his place even though he is such a powerful vampire used to being respected and feared. The relationship that starts as a matter of necessity and lust turns in to a love that can stand against any adversity. The secondary characters are all fascinating and worthy of their own books. I would love to read more about Falcon, Raphael, Jacques, and Sonya. Caressed by Moonlight is a story that any lover of romance literature will enjoy, whether you're a vampire fan or not. The vampire part just makes it all the more enjoyable!
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It’s early 1800’s England and Victoria Kensington is in a difficult situation. Orphaned and unable to care for her young sister she is forced to sell off her family’s estate and move to her Aunt’s home in the city.  There her Aunt, who makes no secret of her deep contempt for Victoria, give her 1 month to find a suitable husband or she will be thrown out of the house and lost guardianship of her dear sister.  Knowing she is penniless, she doesn’t see how she could bring anything to a marriage. With the help of her best friend Lana she begins her search through the eligible men in the city. During one of the many parties her friend Lana forces her to attend she meets the handsome Prince Dorian Vlakhos. Her friend, and the rest of society, warns her away from him. With a reputation as a libertine, he is not the marrying type and will do nothing but tarnish her already strained image as a “proper lady”.

Dorian Vlakhos is no ordinary gentleman. He’s actually a powerful Vampire King. He is fighting to save his clan from complete destruction while faced with a terrible curse that will inevitably end his immortal life, like so many kings before him.  When Dorian meets Victoria, he knows he will do anything to have her. After many failed attempts to seduce the headstrong Victoria, a single kiss throws them both into a storm of emotions. Bringing about feelings that both Dorian and Victoria know they would be best to ignore.

When Victoria comes to Dorian for help he offers his home and marriage. Knowing he will be going back to his country soon he feels it’s a win/win situation. He will have her in his bed and she will be free of her Aunt. He will leave her well suited to care for herself and her sister, without him having to worry about hurting either of them. What Dorian doesn’t know is that Victoria is no wilting flower to sit back and allow him to leave without her. Showing Victoria his true nature is sure to scare her off, but it changes nothing in her eyes. Determined to save her marriage and his soul they embark on one of the most dangerous journey’s either has faced. Death, deceit, and war are parts of Dorian’s life that may be too much for Victoria’s mortal soul to survive.

Breathless by Scott Prussing

BreathlessScott Prussing’s Breathless is a vampire romance novel that breaks out of the predisposed storyline that tends to follow the young vampire romance genre.
Breathless, while appropriate for a young adult, will draw in readers of all ages.  Prussing’s use of vivid visual details and captivating moving characters made it very easy for me to step into the story. All the characters are brilliantly built into the story and are impossible to forget. By the end of the story I was so emotionally connected to the characters I wanted to contact the author to find out what happened next. I even found myself liking the “bad guy”. Breathless is a breath of fresh air and a truly captivating read. I sincerely hope Scott Prussing adds additional books to continue this fabulous story!
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I don’t normally don’t include the “back of the book” in my descriptions, but I honestly couldn’t describe it any better than Scott Prussing has done himself.

Weston College freshman Leesa Nyland has been fascinated by vampires since she was three years old. That's when her mom started acting weird, insisting sunlight hurt her skin because she'd been bitten by a one-fanged vampire. But fascinated doesn't mean Leesa believes. Any more than she believes in blue fire, people who live for centuries, and kisses that can kill. But when her beloved older brother disappears after warning Leesa not to come looking for him, she is forced to consider all these and more. She also has to figure out what to do about her mysterious new boyfriend. She knows Rave likes her a lot-so why won't he kiss her? And why is he always talking about vampires? As Leesa draws closer to finding her brother, she faces some gut-wrenching decisions. Should she risk her mom's life trying to "cure" her? Should she continue seeing Rave, after he reveals his dangerous secret? And most terrifying of all, should she make the ultimate sacrifice-give up her humanity-to save her brother?