Tuesday, April 26, 2011

What's Beside Your Bed? Blog Hop!



I am trying to read as many NetGalley books and books for review as I can - so my bedside table is FULL!
This is what I am reading today!
The Vampire's Warden by S.J. Wright

Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop Winner!

Thanks to everyone who entered and helped make this hop a success!!!
Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Hop Winner!
#31 ~ Diana!
(your book is on its way!)

Review: Forever Vampire by Michele Hauf

Forever Vampire by Michele Hauf
Pub. Date: 4/26/11
384 pages

* I got this book at NetGalley. NetGalley books are free of charge, but reviews are requested.

Amazon Product Description:
Vail the Unwanted is a pure-blooded vampire. But raised by Faery, he has neither home nor peace, and when his aid is sought in the recovery of a priceless diamond gown, his price is information. Specifically the whereabouts of his accursed father. His goal is revenge, and the supernaturally sexy Lyric, the icy blond vampiress with whom he must work, is a distraction he can't afford.
Outwardly as cold as the diamond dress in which she was kidnapped, Lyric has her own secrets. Desperate to break free from her criminal family, she aligns herself with the brooding Vail. Together they seek justice while each secretly works for freedom and a fresh start. For Lyric that means holding herself apart, even from the smoldering blue-eyed Vail. For Vail, it means a battle to the death for revenge—and for a temptress he can't deny.
My thoughts:
I love the secrets!  This is a whole new take on the vampire/faerie relationships.  
Vail the Unwanted - a fantastic character!  Vaillant - the dark prince...has so many issues.  He is a pureblood vampire raised in Faerie to hate his own kind, then banished to the mortal world and given back to his "family" - his stepfather is 1/2 werewolf 1/2 vampire, his brother is full werewolf, his mother is a vampire who is insane - made that way by his real father who is evil, mysterious and missing.  Vail's goal is to find his real father, confront and kill him.  He portrays himself as the ultimate bad guy, but the reality is he is searching for so much more.  He wants a family and acceptance more than anything else, he simply isn't willing to admit it to anyone - not even himself.  
Lyric is wonderful!  She, like Vail, is a pureblood vampire whose family is almost as screwed up as Vail's.  Her father is dead, her brother is a thief (which is basically the family business), her mother is overwhelmed, somewhat oblivious, and in love with a man who is trying to control their family and is also making their family fortune disappear remarkably fast.  It's this financial difficulty that ends up throwing these two characters together, and truly where their journey to themselves and each other begins.
Michele Hauf characters are well designed.  I loved them all.  Each of the characters has a depth that you don't see right away.  The belief structure that she gives them is fascinating.  It was so easy to get caught up in all the relationships between the various characters.  
The one main theme running throughout the story is the importance of family, and what family means.  
Back to the secrets - everyone in this story has a secret - some characters have many.  I don't want to include any spoilers so I won't elaborate on this part - but it is the secrets and who shares them with whom and when that makes this story intriguing. 
The plot twists and turns - leaves the reader wondering who's who and what's what!  Who really is the "bad guy" and who really is honest and good.  Will Vail find what he is so desperately searching for? Will Lyric?  
It's a page turner!  Couldn't wait for the answers, but didn't want the story to end!