Book 13, 2013

Today, since I was off for the holiday, I finished reading Dark Thirst by Sara Reinke. It's part urban fantasy, part paranormal romance.

In the story, Brandon Noble is one of the Brethren -- a cloistered vampire clan that lives in Kentucky and remains isolated from humanity, except for the unfortunate migrant workers they feed on. Brandon was injured as a child and is deaf and mute as a result. He is horrified by his own nature, and he doesn't want to become a monster like the others. Brandon runs away, and he runs into Angelina Jones, the sister of the man who tutored Brandon and taught him to sign.

Lina is a cop, recently broken up with her self-absorbed boyfriend, and looking after her brother's plants while he's out of town. She finds Brandon in her brother's apartment and takes him under her wing. The attraction between them sizzles from the beginning. Brandon has bigger problems than his growing attraction to Lina, however. The Brethren are coming after him.

The book was fast-paced and interesting, but it contained some violent scenes that were downright disturbing. I do have one other book by the author, that I presume is a sequel to this. I'll read it eventually, but I don't think I'll be looking to buy/read any others. The story leaned more towards "horror", so if that's your thing, check it out.

★★★

Book 14, 2013

After finishing the book I brought home from work, I tucked into the book I'd been reading at home and polished it off, too. This one was 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover by Linda Wisdom.

The book featured Jazz Tremaine, who is a centuries-old witch that can't help but get in trouble, thus increasing the length of her banishment from the Witches Council. Her on-again, off-again lover is vampire Nick Gregory. Witches and vampires are like oil and water; they don't mix. Yet, Jazz and Nick can't help but gravitate to one another over and over. At the beginning of the story, the two of them are "off" again, but Nick needs Jazz's help to solve a case involving missing vampires. Of course, once they are working together, the sparks fly between them. Things get more intense when they find themselves confronting a powerful, supernatural entity.

The book was entertaining, although not engrossing. Still, it was an enjoyable read. I have other books in this verse, but I'm not sure if they will continue to follow Jazz and Nick, or if they may branch out and tell the stories of the other witches who were banished with Jazz centuries ago. I am looking forward to finding out!

★★★★