Posts Tagged ‘vampires’

One of my all time favorite series (including the awesome “spin-off) - this is a MUST read!

• Halfway to the Grave
• One Foot in the Grave
• At Grave’s End (Night Huntress, Book 3)
• Destined for an Early Grave (Night Huntress, Book 4)
• First Drop of Crimson – Spade’s book (Night Huntress World “spin-off”)
• Eternal Kiss of Darkness – Mencheres’s book (Night Huntress World “spin-off”)
• This Side of the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 5) (expected release date: February 22nd 2011)

As per the author’s website:

Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father – the one responsible for ruining her mother’s life. Then she’s captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unlikely partnership.

Let The Right One In
It’s a creepy and dark vampire movie, and yet, I wouldn’t call it horror. I read about this movie a year ago, and was intrigued, and finally had the opportunity to watch it last Saturday (I was still in mourning over finishing Mencheres’s book, so I wasn’t ready to officially “move on” yet). It is based on a Swedish novel by author John Ajvide Lindqvist, (here’s the english version of the book: Let the Right One In: A Novel). It was also a Swedish film (but subtitled, and I’m a foreign flick fan – so it was all good). The “foreign” aspect of it actually lends to the movie’s surreal, eerie feel. 

It’s about an angelic faced twelve year old boy (Oskar), who lives with his single (and obviously harried) mom in a tiny apartment. He is poor, unpopular and severely bullied at school. One evening, he meets a young girl his age (Eli), ”mangy” in appearance, living with what seems to be her single father. Each night, they hang out together in the yard behind their apartment complex, cautiously talking, until they develop a natural rapport. 

Her “father” leaves during the evenings with a suspicious looking kit. He finds unsuspecting male teenagers, puts them out with chloroform, hangs them upside down and then slits their throat to gather their blood. You quickly realize the blood is for her, and that she is a vampire. You also suspect that he is not her father, but the relationship between the two is unclear (and least it was for me). Probably watching it again would clear up my questions, but I’m not ready to go there again  

After his latest bungled attempts at blood collection, she is forced to feed directly from humans, and is obliged to kill them (if she does not, they risk “turning”). In his last attempt, he is caught by the police, but to keep from being recognized, he disfigures himself by dousing his face with acid, and then later, in the hospital, sacrifices himself to Eli, before he plummets to his death (what a morbid scene that was – whoa!) 

Now Eli lives alone as Oskar’s neighbor, and he begins to suspect Eli is something other than normal. With her strange body odor, inability to eat the candy he offers (he spies her retching behind a building), and her reaction to his spilled blood when he tried to blood bond them as best friends, he confronts her. The movie features some of the usual vampire myths (burning in the sun, sleeping during the day and extraordinary physical abilities), but one of the most striking scenes was when she demonstrates exactly why she must be “invited” to enter. 

The scenes that proceed are just as harrowing. From her androgynous ambiguity, to an accidental turning of a victim, to Oskar’s continued bullying, events unfold that change both of their lives forever. An American version entitled “Let Me In” is expected to be released October 1, 2010.

Dark and eerie, but most certainly interesting and captivating, I would recommend it, if you were in the mood for something somber that affects you deeper than the usual horror flick fear tactics. But it’s weird – you’ve been warned.

The novel

The DVD

My Sister is a Werewolf
Cute and fun (and really really HOT!!)! I always feel like I can relate to Kathy’s characters. Unlike many of the paranormal books I’ve been reading lately, her characters aren’t as “ancient” and still retain many of their very human qualities. They continue to concern themselves with mainstream human lifestyles, are emotional, and experience a range of insecurities, that of which us “mortals” can comprehend. And, what’s more, they fall in love with “mere mortals” too!

I guess, when all is said and done, when I read a book and “escape” my world, I don’t want to escape too far. I want to feel like it’s “normal” (or still somewhat realistic, as if even I could be a part of it). Our world…just “cooler”. Kathy Love, Lyndsay Sands, and even Kerrelyn Sparks deliver these kinds of stories. Characters with a modern feel. Paranormal people you’d expect to have as neighbors, or maybe even work with,  meet in a bar… *ahem* OK anyway…speaking of meeting in a bar, onto this story:

Elizabeth, the recently reunited sister of the Young brothers, is lonely (and antsy). After having lived a long life with her rough, rude and obnoxious “werewolf pack” (a biker gang that was the complete opposite of her genteel ways), she has escaped. Now living (in hiding) in the same town as her brother Christian, she is desperately trying to find a cure to reverse her “werewolf-ness”. Succeeding would mean she could finally be free of being the pack leaders mate. Cheating, abusive and psycho, her “mate” forced her into a situation she might not have accepted knowing otherwise.

One evening, “antsy-er” than usual, she goes to her brother’s bar, and finds herself uncontrollably attracted to a man (Jensen) at the next table. Her new world quickly turns upside down (but in a good way).

The man was looking at her. She’d felt his gaze before she’d actually seen it. Their gazes met, and even in the dim light, she could see his eyes were a mixture somewhere between brown and green.

Again her body told her this was what she needed. This was what she’d been wanting. He was what she wanted. She continued to stare, meeting his gaze, until he looked away. Still she watched him. Unable to do otherwise. The need was in control now.

From Jensen’s perspective:

This was too damned weird. Yet he couldn’t stop glancing at the stranger. She sat, perfectly still, her attention trained on him. She didn’t even seem to register the man beside her. Jensen shifted, his body reacting to that steady gaze as if it was a touch, stroking over him, teasing his burning skin.

I’d liken it to “love at first sight”. While she might not admit that, her extreme, undeniable, reaction to him leads her to act in ways that would normally embarrass her. Regardless, she is unable to deny her lust for him. The “werewolf” in her forces her to claim what is hers, by whatever means she can. The human in her cringes when she recalls her actions.

And what actions they are! Wooooohooo hot hot – scorching hot! She practically stalks him in a predatory,way, over and over again, and while all of his senses let him know something is off, he can’t deny this gorgeous creature that demands he ummm…”give it up”. 

His fingers itched to touch her, but instead he said, “This is crazy.”

She reached out and caressed him again, her fingers tracing the line of his jaw. Soothing him, encouraging him. He caught her hand and pulled her back against him, kissing her. She caught the back of his head, tasting him with greedy demand.

While they sexually explore their obvious attraction, they begin to develop a deeper connection as they get to know one another. But things are never easy in a paranormal/human relationship.

Elizabeth shook her head. “You don’t understand. I can’t be with Jensen.”

“I know it’s scary, but – ”

“I can’t be with Jensen because even if he would accept me, I’m mated.”

Mina stared at her. “Oh.”

Not only does she have to contend with hiding her “nature” from him, she also continues to fear that her horrible “mate” will find her before she has found her cure.

And unbeknownst to her, Jensen also has a past of his own that he is still trying to get over – the loss of the love of his life, Katie. That, along with a few deep regrets and apprehensions, keeps the angst going strong in this tale.

There is one part of the book that I thought was going somewhere (it seemed like it was definitely set-up that way), but in the end, it didn’t happen. I’m not sure if the author abandoned that storyline, or if I simply missed a part, or if it will be explained in future books, but that would be my only complaint. I won’t say what it is, since I don’t want to spoil anything but it DOES have to do with Jensen.

Their emotional, physical and even life-threatening journey together will keep you entertained, and her protective brothers will have you laughing and feeling all warm and fuzzy (after they’re done bullying the new man in her life, that is). All in all it was a great, well-rounded, charming read!

Eternal Kiss of Darkness 
I LOVED it! In fact, I would have easily pulled an all-nighter, but my iPad quit before I was ready to (husband didn’t recharge it for me after his day of playing with it). But it held up well. I started the book late Friday evening and read straight through until 4am. It kept me captivated, on the edge of my seat, and I *sighed* my butt off throughout.

There was just something about this couple that sucked me right in, and they felt *right*. It was tense, exciting, chilling and heartwrenchingly sad – but incredibly and believably romantic. It had just the right amount of angst. I didn’t roll my eyes once! I know I’m *feeling* the book when my reading automatically slows down and I absorb and revel in the moments – does that ever happen to you? Conchita, you had it right! It WAS to be “savored slowly like a decadent desert”

But…I’m going to make a slight admission here, and I hope I don’t scandalize some too badly with this comment – because I DO love Cat and Bones (they are one of my favorite book couples): Cat and Bones show up a few times in this one, but incomprehensibly, they somewhat irritated me! I found myself wanting to get back to Mencheres and Kira. This couple gave them a run for their money.

So here’s how it goes (but I’m going to keep it limited) because really, you need to experience this one for yourself, in all of it’s glory.

Mencheres is an old vampire. Very old. Ancient even. And he’s sick of “living”. After years of battling the one woman he truly loved – his evil wife Patra, and years of battling every other enemy out for his power, he’s ready to hand over the reins to someone else, and leave his seemingly meaningless, loveless “life” behind. His “visions” no longer coming to him, all he sees is darkness when he looks into the future. He deduces that his time has come. He’s tying up loose ends, and then he’s letting go.

“I am weary,” Mencheres said. In that moment, he felt the weight of all his years pressing on him; the countless strife, guilt, and toil swelling with merciless relentlessness. Suddenly he wanted Radjedef to know that his schemes for an elaborate vengeance would never come to pass. “You should have struck at me before, old friend. When I still have the desire to give you the fight you sought.”

Something passed across the Law Guardian’s face, as if he just now realized Mencheres wasn’t feigning his apathy.

“You would never abandon your people, Menkaure.”

Amidst his mental exhaustion, Mencheres felt a glimmer of satisfaction. Did Radje finally grasp that his chances for revenge were slipping away?

“That is true, which is why I gave Bones the gift of my power when I merged my line with his.”

One evening, as he is being attacked by ghouls in an abandoned warehouse, a human female (Kira Graceling) hears the commotion, and her law abiding, “save one life” mentality decides that she must help. Trained in the police academy, and toting a gun, she strides in ready to apprehend. Her world changes forever when she realizes the monsters she is seeing are real and unwittingly becomes a part of a vicious paranormal attack that no mortal can possibly live through (and she almost doesn’t).

Mortally wounded, she bleeds out, changing Menchere’s plans when he realizes he must abandon his original intentions and save her. He gives her his healing blood, and takes her to his home to recuperate, intending to erase her memories once she wakes. Problem. It’s not working.

“Look into my eyes, Kira. Nothing happened this morning. You never went to the warehouse. You never saw me. You went home, fell asleep, and nothing else happened…”

His voice deepened until it vibrated with something more than his usual accent. The pressure in Kira’s mind intensified, but her head didn’t feel like it was about to snap off her shoulders. Maybe he wasn’t trying to kill her. It hadn’t taken this long for him to kill the others at the warehouse. After several more moments staring into his impossibly bright eyes, Kira tried to reason with him again.

“That’s exactly what I’ll say. Whatever you are, whatever they were, I don’t want to know about it. I just want to forget about it.”

A frown creased his features. “Impossible,” he muttered. His eyes brightened even more. “Nothing happened this morning. You walked home, you went to bed…”

“Got it,” Kira said, blinking. Looking into his eyes was like staring into two green spotlights.

He was on the other side of the room before her next blink, looking at her with the same wary speculation she’d bestowed on him before.

“You are immune to my power.” A short laugh came from him. “This is a memorable day indeed. Perhaps it’s because I gave you my blood to heal you. That could interfere with my mesmerizing you now. Once you get it out of your system, you will be susceptible again.”

He chalks it up to his powerful blood in her system, explains the whole situation to her, and tells her to give it a week with his promise of release once he can mentally “undo” what she knows about the paranormal world. After an unsuccessful (but funny) escape attempt, she concedes.

During that week, she realizes that despite being held captive, her captor is extremely charming, respectful and treats her wonderfully. She has full run of the property, can use the phone, and essentially feels like she’s on vacation. She meets his human “donors”, his associates, and even somewhat gets to know him. And although she is suspicious of what he actually does with his “mind” techniques, she finds herself undeniably attracted to him.

A funny little moment when she finds him in his pool, and she mentions something that prompts him to leap out of the pool, panicked and shush her with his finger:

Kira’s eyes fastened there, widening. Oh. My. If the vampire hadn’t still had a finger to her lips, she would have licked them in reflex.

“Some things must never change,” a deep voice noted, as his finger left her lips to raise her chin.

Kira reluctantly tore her gaze away to meet Mencheres’s dark eyes. They were devoid of his former anger, and the corners of his mouth twitched. Her distracted mind finally translated that he’d repeated her earlier chastising remark, and she laughed.

“Guilty,” she admitted, resisting the urge to drop her gaze again. No wonder the vampire didn’t wear swim shorts.

Intent on not being a “Stockholm Syndrome” victim, she resists her feelings. She finds her attraction deepening, however, when on her last day with him, he helps her with something incredibly important in her life, and then releases her, trusting her to keep quiet, despite her knowledge of his world.

“Does this mean…that I’m never going to see you again?”

Kira’s voice cracked faintly as she asked, causing pain to slice through him. Did she feel something for him as well?

But by now, her world and her heart has changed forever and she finds herself unable to simply return to her previous life without him.

Despite its being several days since he let her go, Kira didn’t seem to be able to get Mencheres out of her mind.

It shouldn’t come as that much of a surprise. In the six days she’d been with Mencheres, he’d shown her that two other species existed alongside humanity, saved her life, saved her sister’s life, fascinated her, tempted her, bitten her, and against the best interests of his kind, released her. Why wouldn’t she be thinking about him? Every time she saw or spoke to her sister, Kira was reminded of Mencheres, let alone every time she walked past the warehouse on her commute from the subway to her apartment. His impact on her life had been enormous, and now that he was gone, Kira felt an acute sense of loss.

She begins taking steps to find him (his location and how to contact him – she never learned), and with these attempts, she lands herself in some serious hot water!

And THAT, my friends,  is where the story begins! You thought that whole first part was fun and intriguing…HA!

From her attempts to locate him, to the dangerous situations which force Mencheres to make rash and life altering decisions, to revelations that open a whole new world for both of them, this book is a thrill ride of peril and romance.

So that’s it. If you thought you weren’t at all interested in Mencheres and his story (like I found myself thinking when I heard his book was next), think again! I’m certain you will love him. There are TONS of parts that I wanted to quote (his thoughts and his deep emotions that connected me to him so deeply) but again, I don’t want to give it away. I’ll let the author’s genius slow buildup of who he is, his charm, and his sensitive and sensuous side work it’s magic on you.  He feels real and alive and he easily stole my heart.

YES! YES! YESSSSSSS!!!! Jeaniene DO NOT STOP!
This was….AMAZING! I will review this evening – I need to go get some air…

Pleasure of a Dark Prince (Immortals After Dark, Book 7)
This was another very fun read that adds to the series perfectly. The author is extremely consistent in her writing style, the “feel” of the characters, the humor and the incredible passion between the main characters, which I love. I remember when this book first came out, it was getting rave reviews from my fellow Twitterers. While I did enjoy it, it fell *a little* flat for me towards the end. Unfortunately, when that happens, I always wonder if it was my own environment that pulled me out of a book’s intensity (ie: busy schedule, constant interruptions etc…). This may be the case, in this instance, because overall, when I think back, the book was good!

What I think is neat about this series, is that all of these books occur within the same time period as the other books. Basically, each book is a glimpse into the life of a character (or two), and while they are “living” their lives, finding mates etc…the other characters are also having their own adventures, as narrated in other books. At some point, everyone comes together, their lives intertwine, secrets are revealed, questions answered etc…

Ok so as I mentioned in another blog post, the main character “Garreth MacRieve” (a werewolf) discovers that “Lucia the Huntress” (a Valkyrie) is his mate. Don’t ask how they know…it just “happens” – magic, I guess. It’s LOVE, it’s immediate, it’s unmistakable and it’s forever.

“You couldn’t find a more uninterested female”

“You forget I’m a Lykae. I can scent your interest.” Gods, her scent was like a drug to him, her arousal so sweet.

Her face flushed a light pink along her cheekbones. “Maybe I was interested in one of the other males on the field.”

Jealousy seared him inside. Never had he felt its equal. He was upon her before she could rise her bow again, his callused palm wrapping around her delicate nape.

“Take it back, female.” He’d been able to rein in his agression from the game. With more difficulty, he controlled the adrenaline pumping through his veins after finding her at last. But the jealousy was overwhelming.

“Or what?”

“Or I’ll kiss you till you canna remember another.”

Garreth is the brother of the Lykae Clan King (Lachlaine – who met Emma in the very first book). Of course, as Valkyries usually go, they have disdain for other “others” (especially the uncouth Lykae), and this Valkyrie is particularly troubled because of course, this Lykae is HOT. However, due to a vow of chastity she made to a Goddess who healed her after a terrible suicide attempt as a young’n, she must resist. Or else! Or else what? Exactly! (sorry – inside “South Park” joke)…couldn’t resist

So Lucia – the “young’n version” was once sorta mated (on purpose but she was tricked and GREATLY regretted her mating decision) to an angelic faced male who turned out to be the devil himself (or pretty much – “The Broken Bloody One”). Gruesome, putrid, pus-filled, smelly grossness of a beast who tricked her into marrying him, ravaged her with his massive nastiness, and “fed” her meat and wine (more like decaying bodies and blood). UGH! Who wouldn’t vow eternal chastity after that?!

Anyway, she did what she had to, to escape (even if it meant potential death). Her sister Regin found her, brought her to a Goddess to be healed and her future was “cinched” at that point on. She was infused with the goddess’s powers (amazing archery abilities) and if she ever missed her target, she would suffer momentary but excruciating pain. Let’s just say, Lucia NEVER missed. Along with her powers, her new single and  “chaste” self, she is also responsible for keeping her ‘ex” in his prison, by shooting him in the heart with a special arrow each time he rises (every five hundred years).

This time however, she finds out about a “dieumort” – an artifact imbued with special powers that will rid the world of this evil immortal forever (which will mean she is finally free – well…of him at least). That alone, is a quest full of adventure that makes this book exciting. Combine that with Lucia’s deep attraction to a male she can never give herself to (or she will lose her powers), the MANY secrets she has to keep from him, attempting to escape him or keep him down (and her attempts are hilarious and outrageous) along with the danger of facing her ex once again,  we get non-stop action, and emotional connections out the wazoo in this one! Whoa…that was a “run-on” sentence for sure! I’m good at those… Lemme catch my breath….

*whooooooooo* – OK:

So they meet, both feel an instant attraction, and the chase is on.

One of my favorite  moments:

In the throes of battle (an attack on the Valkyrie), Garreth suddenly arrives and protects her and her sisters, but unfortunately has to change into his more “beastly” self, which scares Lucia (since she doesn’t really know him yet):

MacRieve. A monster of legend.

As he crept over to where she shook on the floor, she gritted her teeth but couldn’t move, crippled by pain.

Crouching over her, he reached for her face with his huge hands. When his claws glinted like onyx, she flinched. What would he do…?

He’s trying…to pat my tears?“Shhh, female.” He scooped her into his arms while she stared up with dread. “Do no’ fear me.” His voice was guttural, his ice-blue eyes burning with possession.

In an instant, she comprehended two things: why immortals feared the Lykae.

And that she was this one’s mate.

“Protect you.”

My favorite Garreth “jealousy” moment – when Lucia is eyeing another male (named Damiano or “sex on a stick”) diving into the water:

MacRieve stepped in from of her, clasping her nape, jealousy ablaze in his expression.

“Eyes on the prize, woman. It’s a werewolf you’ll have, or none at all.”

“Is that right?”

“Unless you like your men dead, because Damiano’s already at the top of my list.” He tugged her to him for a brief scalding kiss. “You’re mine, Lousha. Doona ever forget that.”

Oh oh!! And a funny moment (one of many), when Lucia is obliged to sneak into Garreth’s home, and she calls her sister, Regin:

“So what’s the kennel like?” Regin asked.

Lucia turned toward the building with narrowed eyes. Before or after I get through it?

“Do they have food bowls and chew toys all around?”

LOL!!!! God that was good! Yeah…this book’s awesome!

The Vampire and the Virgin
This book was pure sweet candy! I loved it, ate it up, and wished I had more. I was “needing” to cater to my reading “sweet tooth” and Kerrelyn Sparks sure serves it up.

Of course, as with my past experience with this series there was a fair bit of angsty, eye rolling silliness (drama for the sake of drama) but since it had been quite awhile that I’d read Kerrelyn Sparks, I was fine with it. This series was one of my “firsts” and holds a warm place in my heart. I find the author consistent in her writing, and the characters, likable…(and some even lovable…yum!)

OK, so this story is about Robby, the Scottish vampire that, in the last book, was rescued from being held prisoner and tortured by the “Malcontents” (bad vampires). Now, he’s angry at the world, and is struggling with anger management issues.

“I’m no’ crazy,” Robby growled.

“Nay, but ye’re angry angry as hell, and it makes you too unstable for work. No’ only would ye be risking yer own life, but the lives of anyone working with you.

Bugger. Robby ground the tip of his sword against the brick pathway. Angus knew exactly how to get to him. He could never put the lives of his friends at risk.

His crew insists he either begin therapy at a spa (he says NO WAY!), or take a long-needed vacation.

“Fine. Whatever. I’ll go for a week or two.”

“Four months,” Angus said.

Robby gaped. “What? The spa was only for three months.”

“The spa had a therapist,” Angus reminded him. “We figure if ye’re on yer own, ye’ll need more time. Of course, ye could change yer mind about therapy -”

“No. Hell, no.”

“The four months it is,” Angus said. “All expenses paid. Plus yer usual salary. Ye canna beat that, lad.”

Emma smiled. “We’ll see you at Christmas, and you’ll be so much better.”

Better, his arse. This wasn’t a vacation. It was a bloody exile.

And in Greece is where Robby meets Olivia. The woman who takes his breath away and consumes his very soul from the moment he sees her.

“I’ve never met anyone like Olivia before.” He looked at her and smiled. “She’s beautiful, brave and clever. I feel…at home with her, but at the same time, completely lost.”

Beautiful, delicate and inexperienced (read: virgin) Olivia is also in an exile of her own. She works for the FBI (she has an innate ability to read when people are lying – passed down to her by her Greek grandmother), but she is escaping an obsessed prisoner who seems to be stalking her from the “inside”.

Lemme warn you. In this book (and pretty much the entire series – which might be my “bigger” complaint)  the attraction and build-up to falling in love is but a “blip” in the screen. They fall head over heels with each other  – right away.

They see each other.
They see each other again and talk.
They see each other a third time and declare undying love.

“Lass, ye fill every dream in my head and every desire in my heart. I’m falling in love with you.”

But it’s all good. Why? Cause then the drama begins, and for some reason, they must separate (in this instance, Olivia’s stalker seems to have found her in Greece and she hightails it outta there.)

Logical thing to do, right? Thing is, she knows Robby is a high-end security agent/body guard, but she doesn’t bother to at least consult with him before she takes off. She just…disappears Perhaps, she could have allowed him the opportunity, considering how he’s already told her how much he loves her, to offer up a suggestion or two? It is his domain, ya know. But, for some reason, Olivia can’t “read” Robby (she still has no idea he’s a vampire – tee hee! I love it!)

She opened her senses to detect his feelings.

Nothing. In all her twenty-four years, she’d never met a person she couldn’t read. She closed her eyes and furrowed her brow with concentration.

Nothing.

She’s too insecure to take his word (and his physical demonstrations) for it. And that’s another aspect of the “silliness” in the book.

But their separation is fun nonetheless, because now, we get the nice, slow build-up to their potential reunion (and discovery of his “situation”).

“We need to talk.”

A chill skittered down her arms.

“How did you get out of the apartment this morning and lock the door?”

He looked away, frowning. “I’ll explain it next weekend.”

“Isn’t their an easy explanation? Like you took my key to an all-night hardware store and had a copy made while I was sleeping?”

“That would be an easy explanation.” He grimaced. But it would be a lie.”

It was funny, it was sweet, it was emotional. And of course what would a story be without an element of danger, betrayal and revenge!

Burnt Offerings
Hey there again. Just kick stuff out of the way to get in here. Ignore the giant 4 toed foot in the Kitchen. Someone has a crappy sense of humor and an obsession with LOST. Don’t look in the backyard either, Stonehenge is back there. I have no idea what I am going to tell the neighbors. Even better freaking Wrath refused to send me clean up help, I guess “That’s what happens when young vampires drink.” *using mocking tone* I guess my nasty hangover put me in a nasty mood and I didn’t use enough “verily’s” to get my way. Also Acheron and his Dark Hunters are on my “kill them and riverdance on their entrails” list. “Just because I can help you clean, doesn’t mean I should.” *used mocking voice again* Shutup! I could SO do without the god act right now. I would pout about it but since you’re here and everything we can talk about my last read. It was “Burnt Offerings” by Laurell K. Hamilton. Don’t judge me. Just cause I’m a vampire doesn’t mean I don’t like Anita. I finished “Burnt Offerings” which is actually book 7 in the series. I know things are going to go downhill from here, I have heard what a big ho bag Anita turns into later but in the meantime I am enjoying the ride.

The book kicks off with a bang, radical groups are getting stronger and hitting the vampires and were’s harder than ever. Anita and Jean Claude’s relationship is growing deeper and we get to see an intimate scene of them at dinner, because Jean Claude can not eat food, he gets to taste it through the marks:

“So just tell me what you like on the menu, and we’ll negotiate.”
“All that is required is that you taste what is ordered. You do not have to eat it.”
“No, no more of this tasting shit. I’ve gained weight. I never gain weight.”
“You have gained four pounds, so I am told. Though I have searched diligently for this phantom four pounds and cannot find them. It brings your weight up to a grand total of one hundred and ten pounds, correct?”
“That’s right.”
“Oh, ma petite, you are growing gargantuan.” I looked at him, and it was not a friendly look.

I laughed at that. How could you not love him when he says cute stuff like that? BTW I hated Anita in that moment – complaining about 4 lbs that bring her up to 110? Bite me. No seriously, break up with the cross toting heifer and join up with me.

Trouble follows Anita like a nasty cloud and more than ever is stirred up. Anita killed Gabriel – a were leopard who was the Alpha of his pack, leaving them without an Alpha, and making them more dangerous than ever. There is still the NASTY tension with Richard and to top of the crap cake there is the Council, the leaders of the Vampires and a really ugly and monstrous lot of evil. They are stirring up more trouble than anyone would have thought and Anita is just the one to remind them how bad they are. I love her special in this book because she is dropping some of those reservations she used to have about shooting the dangerous things. She is also getting more than enough of a good look at how inhumane humanity is. We also meet Asher, the one time vampire companion of Jean Claude and he is there to cause trouble as well. Will the danger around Anita ever end? I think not.

I loved so many parts of this book, and I think I want to actually call it my fave in the series. Anita has such witty dialogue not only with herself, but with others as well and I am compelled into loving her. She is tough. I do love this one part:

Asher was a vampire. How much more dangerous could he be with a gun? But I couldn’t do it. “Let me test my understanding. Is Asher going to ride in the car with us to the meeting?”
“I must to give you directions,” Asher said.
“Then lean against the Jeep.” He frowned at me in an amused, condescending sort of way.
“Excuse me?”
“I don’t care if you’re the second coming of the Antichrist, you can’t sit behind me in my own car until I know you’re not carrying a weapon.” Asher smiled brilliantly at both of us, flashing fang.
“I could rip you into pieces with my bare hands, and you’re worried I have a gun?” He chuckled, a low, skin-prickling sound. “That is so very cute.”

Yes, it really is. I’m sorry if you got anything on your clothes while here today, I have just given up trying to get this place clean. I tried to get everything to fit under the beds and behind the drapes, but with big claw marks down them from the freaking were’s there’s no chance of that. The pool is still purple, and so is my hair. I tried to bleach it out, and all my conditioner is missing, so I look like a fuchsia poodle is nesting on my head. My clothes are all stained from blood and other things I don’t even want to know about. I think it’s chocolate on my leg, but I am not brave enough to sniff it. I can’t find my shoes either and all my other clothes are missing. I look like an out of work MegaCon character. Maybe I can just throw myself on Maryse’s mercy when she gets back. Who am I kidding? The Devil lacks mercy. *sigh* See ya next time. If there is a next time.