Following my heart, one book at a time...
A blurb from the author’s website:
Sirantha Jax is a “Jumper,” a woman who possesses the unique genetic makeup needed to navigate faster than light ships through grimspace.
Highly recommended by fellow reader, Susan:
“Chloe Neill’s Chicagoland vampire series is pretty awesome! Merit is becoming one bad ass vampire chick. You can expect relationships being tested, new bonds, and heart break over love lost all while her new life as a vampire takes her on adventures and investigations.”
Bronwyn agrees:
“Chloe Neill’s Chicagoland Vamps series is Brilliant.”
About the series:
Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn’t exactly glamorous, but it was Merit’s. She was doing fine until a rogue vampire attacked her. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker—and this one decided the best way to save her life was to make her the walking undead.
Turns out her savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now she’s traded sweating over her thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan “Lord o’ the Manor” Sullivan.
Fangs But No Fangs
First off…how clever are these book titles?? I just figured out that the neat little play on words actually hints at what the story will be about. Fangs for the Memories (book one) was about a vampire who gets amnesia…get it?
This book clued me in because Christian (the evil vampire brother from book#1), gets his conscience back in this story by attempting to become more human.
Due to devastating circumstances in book 1, Christian is determined to get a sense of his humanity back. He decides to move away from his luxuries, live closely amongst the human population (a trailer park seemed appropriate), and connect with others. Determined not to bite, he restricts his feedings to bagged blood, and even feeding is restricted to small portion sizes. He drinks just enough to allow him to “live” while diminishing his powers, essentially forcing him to become more human – even his fangs fail him, no longer reacting to stimuli. Fangs But No Fangs…get it? He’s a vampire, but not really…sorta.
As he lives his new life in a run-down trailer home, he become friends with his pretty neighbor, Jolee.
“I haven’t had many friends,” he admitted. None, to be exact. “I suppose I don’t know how to react at times. But I think you could help me.”
Hadn’t he just told himself that he needed to stay near this woman to protect her? Now he was the one asking for help. From a mortal. He waited for the rush of disdain for himself. For being weak and pitiful. But the flood never came. he only felt hopeful, and maybe a little uncertain.
Owner of a local karaoke bar, she too, is escaping her past, and her family’s questionable moral character.
Crushing on each other, Christian resists his feelings for her. Considering his destructive past, he doesn’t feel he deserves to be happy. He runs hot and cold throughout the entire novel, rudely rebuffing Jolee just as she considers getting to know him…
Here she’d been thinking her neighbor seemed attracted to her, and he essentially told her how unattractive he found her. Man, was she that clueless?
…yet always coming to her rescue (whether it be saving her from her knife wielding brother to helping her bartend, for free, at her bar).
Cooler heads do not prevail in this book. The passion is hot (and Kathy Love is a genius at teasing but not quite giving it up until later, especially in this installment), and their potential is promising.
Quick excerpt from a quick shopping trip for condoms (not necessary considering he’s a vampire, but if you’re gonna play the part of a human, you gotta go all the way, before going all the way 😉 )
“Do you have a favorite?” he finally asked.
“No,” she said , then smiled slightly. “But even if I did, it wouldn’t matter, because you’ve only got one choice, big boy.”
She pulled a box labeled ‘Maximum” off the hook and handed it to him.
A-hem *blush*…no further explanation necessary 😯
But as these things go, the whole “Hey, by the way, I’m a vampire…no, I’m not crazy, I’m really a vampire” section puts their whole relationship in a tailspin (I always love that part!). Especially considering the fact that his “fangs” no longer show up at will. Now how’s he gonna prove anything without those?
So this is yet another satisfying read from Kathy Love, with passion, but mostly, an amazing sense of self discovery and connecting.
She infuses Christian with quirky yet endearing qualities (such as his strange fascination with – completely useless to him – infomercial gadgets), and opens up their world with charming secondary characters.
By the way, my favorite brother, Sebastian, we don’t get much of until the end, but when he did show up, his reactions were hilarious.
“See.” Sebastian shook his head. “Loon. Total loon.”
I think his book is next. Ok, so let me try and figure out what it’s gonna be about by the title alone:
“I Only Have Fangs For You”
…well that’s obvious enough, he’s gonna find his one and only mate….wait, maybe there’s more to it? Okay off I go to immerse myself in his wonderful-ness.
4 stars
An excerpt from the author’s website:
When the world was young, twins were born. One brought light to a dark world; the other, darkness and danger. Their powers could not be denied, and they gathered others around them, men and women destined to use their gifts for good or evil. Today, their descendents walk the earth as the Chosen and the ultimate battle is about to begin.
An excerpt from the author’s website:
A thousand years ago, Konstantine Varinski roamed the Russian steppes. Driven by his craving for power, he struck a terrible bargain. In return for the ability to change from a magnificent warrior to a predator that could hunt down his enemies and kill them, he promised his soul — and the souls of his descedents — to the devil.
Christina Dodd also provides a free read:
…a glimpse of your favorite characters after the Darkness Chosen series has ended.
called “Wilder Halloween Story”
