Review: Redemption in Blood by Tara S Wood

Title: Redemption in Blood, A Novel of the Penitent
Series: No
Author: Tara S Wood
Published: March 2012, Belle Ombre Publishing
Tour: No
Format: Ebook provided by author for review

Murder is serious business among vampires. If you kill, so do they. They are the Penitent – a military order among vampire society charged with one task only. Execute the condemned.

Vesper Hyde is a model Penitent. Solitary. Skilled. Deadly. Only once has she ever lost a target, even though it almost cost her life. Now the one that got away is back with a vengeance, and this time he's determined to finish the job. She needs to overcome the whispers of doubt and let her instinct and training take over to redeem her failure. But on this second time around, she doesn't expect a sidekick. A very sexy, stubborn, human sidekick.

Homicide Detective Decker Price has seen it all, including the murder of his wife at the hands of a twisted serial killer. When another murder pitches him headfirst into a world of vampires, witches, and sorcery, he is given a chance to mend shattered parts of his soul. But Vesper's world is as dark and alluring as the Penitent herself and he will come face to face with echoes of his past in order to help her keep a vicious enemy at bay.

If they are to succeed, they will need to push aside both their failings and work together to ensure the balance of their worlds remains unchanged. Redemption comes at a cost – is their love worth the price?

This book turned out to be much more than I was expecting. I feel like the cover is a bit mismatched to what’s inside. Vesper (very cool on the name, btw) is this fantastic kickass executioner. She hunts down the sentenced vampire and kills them. It is really quite awesome.

Then a human detective gets a case, and it crosses over with Vesper’s case. They meet. Life will never be the same from that moment on. That detective is Decker Price (also another awesome name!) Decker has had his own share of tragedy, but the pain of that seems to ease when he is around Vesper. You know what that means? They have some super-hot-get-down-to-business nookie!

“This attraction between them was leading her down a lust-laden path of destruction. And she was skipping all the way.”

You know that feeling when you’ve made a decision, and you know it isn’t exactly what you should do, but it makes you happy anyway? That’s what Vesper and Decker have going on. I mean, here they are tracking down the bad guy and they are falling for each other hardcore at the same time. Everyone knows that when you are dedicated to your work like they both are, nothing good can come from an actual relationship.

And let’s talk about the bad guy, who shall remain nameless at this point. His name isn’t a big secret at all, but let’s leave some stuff for you to find out. He is SO bad. But you know what’s worse? His accomplice…er, partner….er, lover? That one is definitely a bad seed. If you look up sick and twisted in the dictionary, you’d probably find their picture. But that really helped make this story awesome. The bad guys are actually bad, and in a horrible scum of the universe way.

The supporting cast is also really great. Cain, a half witch half vampire platinum blond punk smart ass, is my favorite. The guy has some lines, that’s for sure. I loved him. He was some great comic relief at times, but also showed himself to be a true blue loyal friend. I would definitely love to see more of him in the future.

If you want to read a vampire story that is really a hidden gem, I’d suggest Redemption in Blood. It has a raw and dirty factor that will keep you turning the pages. At least, that’s how my experience went. Happy Reading!

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Review: Redemption in Blood by Tara S Wood

Title: Redemption in Blood, A Novel of the Penitent
Series: No
Author: Tara S Wood
Published: March 2012, Belle Ombre Publishing
Tour: No
Format: Ebook provided by author for review

Murder is serious business among vampires. If you kill, so do they. They are the Penitent – a military order among vampire society charged with one task only. Execute the condemned.

Vesper Hyde is a model Penitent. Solitary. Skilled. Deadly. Only once has she ever lost a target, even though it almost cost her life. Now the one that got away is back with a vengeance, and this time he's determined to finish the job. She needs to overcome the whispers of doubt and let her instinct and training take over to redeem her failure. But on this second time around, she doesn't expect a sidekick. A very sexy, stubborn, human sidekick.

Homicide Detective Decker Price has seen it all, including the murder of his wife at the hands of a twisted serial killer. When another murder pitches him headfirst into a world of vampires, witches, and sorcery, he is given a chance to mend shattered parts of his soul. But Vesper's world is as dark and alluring as the Penitent herself and he will come face to face with echoes of his past in order to help her keep a vicious enemy at bay.

If they are to succeed, they will need to push aside both their failings and work together to ensure the balance of their worlds remains unchanged. Redemption comes at a cost – is their love worth the price?

This book turned out to be much more than I was expecting. I feel like the cover is a bit mismatched to what’s inside. Vesper (very cool on the name, btw) is this fantastic kickass executioner. She hunts down the sentenced vampire and kills them. It is really quite awesome.

Then a human detective gets a case, and it crosses over with Vesper’s case. They meet. Life will never be the same from that moment on. That detective is Decker Price (also another awesome name!) Decker has had his own share of tragedy, but the pain of that seems to ease when he is around Vesper. You know what that means? They have some super-hot-get-down-to-business nookie!

“This attraction between them was leading her down a lust-laden path of destruction. And she was skipping all the way.”

You know that feeling when you’ve made a decision, and you know it isn’t exactly what you should do, but it makes you happy anyway? That’s what Vesper and Decker have going on. I mean, here they are tracking down the bad guy and they are falling for each other hardcore at the same time. Everyone knows that when you are dedicated to your work like they both are, nothing good can come from an actual relationship.

And let’s talk about the bad guy, who shall remain nameless at this point. His name isn’t a big secret at all, but let’s leave some stuff for you to find out. He is SO bad. But you know what’s worse? His accomplice…er, partner….er, lover? That one is definitely a bad seed. If you look up sick and twisted in the dictionary, you’d probably find their picture. But that really helped make this story awesome. The bad guys are actually bad, and in a horrible scum of the universe way.

The supporting cast is also really great. Cain, a half witch half vampire platinum blond punk smart ass, is my favorite. The guy has some lines, that’s for sure. I loved him. He was some great comic relief at times, but also showed himself to be a true blue loyal friend. I would definitely love to see more of him in the future.

If you want to read a vampire story that is really a hidden gem, I’d suggest Redemption in Blood. It has a raw and dirty factor that will keep you turning the pages. At least, that’s how my experience went. Happy Reading!

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Review, Shadow Cursed - Naomi Clark

Title: Shadow Curssed
Author: Naomi Clark
Published: 2012 Evernight Publishing
Format: ebook provided by author for review

Released from Ottevar Asylum after eight hard years, Lady Emmeline returns to Nachtholm Manor to reclaim her birthright. But she has a battle on her hands—Rainart Eckhard refuses to give up his position as lord of manor, and whilst his cold attitude enrages Emmeline, his smouldering kisses leave her weak at the knees.


Who is this dangerous, enticing stranger, and what secrets does he hide? Caught in a web of desire, curses, and self-doubt, Emmeline is not only fighting Rainart for Nachtholm Manor, but for her own heart as well.

Lady Emmeline of Nachtholm left home as a young girl - certainly not of her own volition.  Her parents put her in Ottevar Asylum so they could “cure” her of what they viewed as an affliction.  The story begins with her on her way home after her parents’ death after 8 years being away.   When she returns home she finds a man, Rainart Eckhard, who claims he has been running the manor in the interim.  However he is quite adamant that he is not leaving, and that he is the lord of the manor, and she is not. 

Emmeline has an instant heated attraction to Rainart, though she tries to deny it.  He also does, but this story is completely from Emmeline’s point of view.  There’s some stolen kisses that leave them both wanting more.   But this is as much a  story about Emmeline realizing her true inner strength and sense of self as anything else.  

                “She’d never been so close to a man before and she’d never even seen a man like Rainart, a man brimming with a power and authority that made her want to fall to her knees again.”

Emmeline becomes obsessed with Rainart, and I can see why.   The man is a mystery.  Sure, he’s handsome as can be and the attraction is undeniable, but where in the heck did he come from?  She seeks out answers from the local gypsies, thinking maybe they know.   Then she finds a book in the manor’s library that gives her a clue about previous owners, and perhaps Rainart’s lineage….but it couldn’t be.  Could it?  The final answer to his arrival is quite intriguing!

All in all, I really enjoyed the mystery of this story.   There was a touch of paranormal, although it was something of the past.  Rainart is a character shrouded in mystery.   You just want to know more and more about him.  Emmeline is quite young and naïve, although she claims to be anything but that.  I think that in her future she is going to be quite the force to be reckoned with.  She does have that inner strength that I do enjoy seeing in female characters.  And her time in the asylum is certainly something I would like to see more of.  Being quite familiar with Naomi Clark’s writing, I think this is definitely a storyline she should explore more!  I’m betting she can flesh that story out and make it something horrifyingly creepy and wonderful! 

As for the romance and erotic parts of this story… they were good.  I love the instant connection part to these two characters.  This author really has a talent for creating that troubled attraction, the one you shouldn’t have but do anyway because the heart wants what it wants, regardless of what the brain says.  The erotic portions weren’t quite as heated as I normally see, but I think there is definite future potential.  In any effect, the moment that Rainart and Emmeline put their battle of wills aside to see how much they want each other is fantastic.  If you are looking for high heat, I don’t think this is the story for you.  But if you are looking for a terrific mystery with a touch of paranormal, and hey there’s some romance too, then I think you will love this story.  As usual, I am a huge fan of Naomi Clark’s, and this story is just another hit to add to the arsenal.

***

BONUS!  If you like this story and want to read more, there is a free short story set in the same world, available from Evernight Publishing - http://www.evernightpublishing.com/bound-by-night-by-naomi-clark/ 

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Naomi Clark lives in Cambridge and is a mild-mannered office worker by day, but a slightly crazed writer by night. She has a perfectly healthy obsession with giant sea creatures and a preference for vodka-based cocktails. When she's not writing, Naomi is probably either reading or watching 80s cartoon shows, and sometimes she manages to do all three at once. 



Previous Posts:
Interview
Review - The Necromancer's Apprentice
Review - Demonized
Review - Ungrateful Dead
Review - Afterlife

Death's Hand - SM Reine

Title: Death's Hand 
Author: SM Reine


Format: Ebook provided by author for review


From Red Iris Books

Policing relations between Heaven, Hell, and Earth is messy and violent, but Elise Kavanagh and James Faulkner excelled at it-- until coming across a job so brutal that even they couldn't stand to see one more dead body. 

Now they've been pretending to be normal for five years, leaving their horrific history a dark secret. Elise works in an office. James owns a business. None of their friends realize they used to be one of the world's best killing teams. 

After years of hiding, something stirs. Bodies are vanishing. Demons scurry in the shadows of the night. A child has been possessed. 

Some enemies aren't willing to let the secrets of the past stay dead..

This was a fantastic story, first in a series.  I had expected it to be good, and I am so happy that it was even better than I had hoped.

It starts with Elise and James.  The opening scene of the book is a very creepy scene, and it instantly draws you in – you have to find out more.  I’m not going to ruin the surprise of it, but let’s just say that the book definitely starts off on the right foot.  

Then the story jumps back in time for just a short moment, giving you some more history on Elise.

See, Elise is a kopis.  Translated it basically means “sword”, a warrior.  And James, he is her aspis, which translates to “shield”.  They are bound together for life, warriors against the forces of Hell.  And they’ve been together nearly Elise’s entire life.  But now she’s trying to retire, trying to lead a normal life – as normal as she can.  Her last job nearly killed her, and she wants to be done.  But when you are a warrior against the forces of Hell, can you ever really retire?

Elise seems to be a pretty dark person.  She’s a bit pessimistic about normal things, and seemingly just going through some motions.  It’s very understandable given the past.  She is a tough girl though, you definitely get the feeling that she can handle any situation that comes her way.  She’s not just strong, she is tough and smart, cunning.  And a bit of a hot head at times.  Otherwise, the perfect heroine for a book!  James seems to be more of the optimist in this pair – which isn’t a romantic pairing at all.

Which conveniently brings me to a point.  If you are looking for romance, look elsewhere.  This book is very light on the romance.  And it doesn’t need it.  The story works perfectly without it.

This book has zombies, demons, a succubus, witches, necromancers, exorcism… it’s got it all, and it all flows together in a perfect rhythm. 

Jump to the present.  Elise needs to come out of retirement, and she doesn’t want to.  She fights it, but like I said – when you are a warrior against the forces of hell, can you ever really retire?  She takes on the exorcism of a child, a demon who can invade your dreams and make them nightmares, who knows how many fiends, zombie like dead people intent on hurting her, pissed off witches and a demon who *really* has it in for her.  Oh, and she also has to protect her friends and the people she loves while she’s at it. 

Can she do it?  Will she do it? 

I also used this book as my Tuesday Teaser.  Click the link to read a couple sentences about the book. 

Let me know what you thought of this book, I’d love to hear your opinions.  As for me, I can’t wait to read the second installment in the Descent series.

Available for purchase at:

Amazon, Barnes & Noble,Paperback, Smashwords 

  

The Voice of Waterfalls - Natasha Salnikova

Title: The Voice of Waterfalls
Author: Natasha Salnikova

Format: Ebook provided by author for review

From Goodreads:
Inga manages to escape from a "house of terror" where she was held as a captive along with other girls who were kidnapped. She is chased into the woods and runs onto the road, almost falling under the wheels of an approaching car. She thought, it would be better to die that way than to return to her captors. The driver of the car, to her surprise, saves her. He brings her to his house and introduces her to his family: his mother, his father and his younger sister. He gives Inga a key to a separate room and brings her food. She appreciates his help and calls him her knight from the road. All she needs now is a phone to make a call to her mother. Her savior, Alman, says they don't have one in the house. He's also not in a hurry to take her from his house in the woods to the town where she can talk to police. And Inga began to doubt the noble intentions of her savior. After some time she starts to think this house is worse than the one she was imprisoned in before, if that was possible. 

From the moment I read the synopsis about this book, I knew I wanted to read it.  I just finished it today.  Natasha Salnikova really has a wonderful book here.  And a little fact about it, it was translated from Russian!  That impresses me so much.  You can definitely see some of the author’s Russian heritage in the book from some of the names used, foods mentioned. 

So from the blurb we learn that Inga was kidnapped and held captive with other girls.  But then someone comes along and she is afforded a chance to escape, which she takes.  When this happens you are cheering!  She runs out into the night, her captors hot on her heels.  You think she isn’t going to make it, but then out of nowhere there is a car.  It’s driver, Alman, gets out, fends off her captors and saves her.  Thank goodness!!

Intricate Entanglement - Su Halfwerk

Title: Intricate Entanglement
Author: Su Halfwerk


Published: March 2011, Damnation Books
Format: Ebook provided by author for review


From Author Website:
Trapped in a lunatic asylum and compelled to listen to the stories of the deranged patients, Doug Pinkham becomes entangled in the twisted mind of a cold-blooded killer. As the reporter tries to get to the bottom of a mysterious murder case, he gets more than he bargained for. He must separate truth from fiction as he realizes he no longer controls his own world. But will Doug manage to escape the asylum, or will the killer's stories lure him into an enigmatic world full of mazes, each so fascinating that he can't stop listening?

This was indeed a very interesting story, a fresh approach at a compilation of stories.  I liked it quite a bit and would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a quick read with lots to offer via horror, thriller, mystery and dark fiction.

First we come upon Doug Pinkham, a reporter on his way to a mental hospital to interview Dr. Martin regarding some visits a recently deceased man had made.  On the way his car breaks down, and he decides to walk, or run, the rest of the way.  It’s already eerie and that’s the first chapter.  There is a scary thudding noise, a strange absence of other sounds and movement, and fog that seems to disappear.

When he gets to the hospital Dr. Martin is with a patient, and an orderly offers to give Doug a tour to kill some time.  This is where the creepiness begins.  The orderly begins to tell Doug a series of stories of the patients living in the hospital; some gruesome, some horrific, some just very unusual.  But one thing is certain - you wouldn’t want to be in any of them!  My favorite is titled “Odd”.  I found that one to have a slight little surprise twist, and I enjoyed that.  But they all definitely had a sense of flair, and were all so different.  

Stories within a story, you definitely get to experience everything that is Equanimity Psychiatric Hospital. 

As this story goes on you find yourself looking for clues and trying to figure out what the heck is going to happen next.  It is definitely a fun and imaginative read!  I kept questioning myself if things were as they seem, and each turn of the page brought another surprise. 

Available on:

Publisher's website

Amazon - Kindle

Barnes & Noble

The Kult - Shaun Jeffrey

Title: The Kult (Kindle) (Print) (Nook)
Author: Shaun Jeffrey


Format: Ebook provided by author for review


Notable Websites Related to book:
The Kult, Movie
The Kult, Amazon UK
The Kult, Smashwords
The Kult, Movie Trailer


From Amazon:
People are predictable. That's what makes them easy to kill.

Out of misguided loyalty, police officer Prosper Snow is goaded into helping his friends perform a copycat killing, but when the real killer comes after him, it's not only his life on the line, but his family's too. Now if he goes to his colleagues for help, he risks being arrested for murder. If he doesn't, he risks being killed.


"People are predictable. That's what makes them easy to kill."
"Look out, look out, there's a monster about."


And a quote I'm totally ripping off from a friend, but fits this book so perfectly: "The scariest monsters have human faces". 


This book was scary.  The beginning was pure horror.  10% into the book, and I was afraid to leave the house.  At one point near the beginning, I almost put the book down saying "no more".  But I didn't.  Putting the book down doesn't make the monster go away. 


Vengeance, Retribution, Bait... There's a lot of reasons to kill.  Detective Prosper Snow (coolest name ever, by the way) is now on a case to find The Oracle.  No one is safe from this serial killer.  If he gets ahold of you, you are definitely going to wish you were never born. 


I really enjoyed this book.  It had some very strong elements of horror.  In fact, I wouldn't recommend it for the very faint of heart or easily offended - unless you can skip over some parts.  In which case, you should get it, because the rest of the book is definitely worth withstanding some very scary parts.  


While taking notes for this book, I wrote down "I don't immediately like Prosper.  He seems like he has a dangerous secret".  But my opinion of the man drastically over the course of the story.  Prosper snow takes you on his journey with him, and you feel it all.  Stress, regret, fear, love, some more fear, a dash of paranoia, and so on and so forth.  But who do you trust when the evidence pushes you in every direction it can?  


Something else I really liked about this book is that I instantly felt like I connected with the victims.  That only made it that much more difficult when they actually became the victims.  


The characters are well written around a story that is well written.  You get a history on everyone, and really feel like you get to know them. I felt it was fast paced, and I finished it in just a couple days. 


And a really terrific addition to this book?  It has a movie!  How exciting is that?  Here is the trailer:







I encourage you to read this book, tell your friends about it too.  And the author tells me that there is a sequel to this book, about to published soon.  I will definitely keep my eye out for that one!

Jigsaw - Ted Brogden

Jigsaw by Ted Brogden
340 Pages, Published January 2011
Format read:  Kindle, purchased by myself

From Goodreads:

Even in a drunken stupor it is hard for airline captain, Cape Thomas to ignore his recurring vision of a beautiful woman and the swaddled baby she holds. On a rare, sober day he begins a casual search through college yearbooks and yellowed courthouse records in hopes of finding the one who got away. Instead, an unrecorded codicil suggests their one union was fruitful and reveals a possible heir to an old-moneyed family used to scams and scammers making claims against the estate. After run-ins with a cabal of bankers, lawyers, in-laws, outlaws, and even the F.A.A. Cape begins to put the pieces of the puzzle together...

Deadly Night - Heather Graham

Title: Deadly Night
Author: Heather Graham


Format read: Print copy, borrowed from library


From Goodreads:
The Flynn brothers have inherited more than a New Orleans plantation. They've inherited a ghostly presence… and a long-kept secret.

Aidan Flynn, a private investigator and eldest of the Flynn brothers, scoffs at the haunted-house rumors—especially since Kendall Montgomery, a tarot card reader who has been living in the mansion, is the one to tell him the tale of a woman in white. But when he finds a human bone on the grounds and another by the river, Aidan delves into the dark history of the Flynn plantation.

Forced together to uncover the truth, Aidan and Kendall realize that a serial killer whose victims seem to vanish into thin air has long been at work…and that their own fates are about to be sealed forever unless they believe in the unbelievable.

I really liked this book. It was a great introduction to Heather Graham's work, and I will definitely read more books from her aside from this trilogy. I was expecting something totally different – I checked it out of the library in the Romance section. I wouldn’t classify this as a romancein my opinion, I would say Mystery or Ghost/Paranormal. Either way, it was a really good book, and the first book in the Flynn brothers trilogy. There were lots of twists and turns to make you think the “villain” was this person or that person, I never figured out who it was until it said who it was. Very clever! And it wasn’t who I thought it would be, so I really liked that (and I’m glad it wasn’t who I thought it was, cause I liked them!). On the “cons” side, I would have liked to see more romance or steamy stuff, but that’s just a personal preference. I don’t think the lack of it detracted from the story at all, in fact, if there were more it would have totally changed the book. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the trilogy!

This is the story of Aidan Flynn, the eldest of the Flynn brothers, and his brush with the paranormal as he and his brothers have just inherited an estate from a deceased relative.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2930659-deadly-night

Deadly Harvest - Heather Graham

Deadly Harvest by Heather Graham

Format read: Print copy, borrowed from library

From Goodreads: 
When a young woman is found dead in a field, dressed up as a scarecrow with a slashed grin and a broken neck, the residents of Salem, Massachusetts, begin to fear that the infamous Harvest Man is more than just a rumor. But out-of-town cop Jeremy Flynn doesn't have time for ghost stories. He's in town on another investigation, looking for a friend's wife, who mysteriously vanished in a cemetery.

Complicating his efforts is local occult expert Rowenna Cavanaugh, who launches her own investigation, convinced that a horror from the past has crept into the present and is seducing women to their deaths. Jeremy uses logic and solid police work. Rowenna depends on intuition. But they both have the same goal: to stop the abductions and locate the missing women before Rowenna herself falls prey to the Harvest Man's dark seduction.

I liked this book more than the first book, Deadly Night. I felt the action was pumped up, the drama was pumped up. I liked the characters more.

Jeremy Flynn, the middle Flynn brother, has come up to MA to help his friend and ex-partner find his missing wife. While there he and the woman he swore to himself that he should stay away from, Rowenna, become involved in an investigation on a larger scale than they had initially expected.