Book Review: Taken by Emma Knight

Taken (The Vampire Legends #2) by Emma Knight
Genre: Young Adult Fiction (Paranormal Romance)
Date Published: December 21, 2011
Publisher: Self

 Rachel Wood finally learns the secret that her new boyfriend, Benji, has been he is a vampire. But Rachel refuses to believe it. Thinking he is crazy, she runs from him, and resolves to never see him again. But despite herself, Rachel can’t stop thinking of him. As he comes to her in her dreams, Rachel can’t help wondering if maybe, just maybe, it is all true. Meanwhile, Rachel is back in high school, the day after her dreaded homecoming dance, and is left to deal with the fallout of the brawl. Rob’s football friends were injured, but that doesn’t stop Rob from falling for Rachel all over again. And despite herself, she realizes that she just might still have feelings for him, too. Rachel’s social pressures build from her group of friends, and she is forced to lie to her parents, and sneak out, in order to get out of being grounded and have any social life. Her sister, Sarah, covers for her, as those two start to develop a deeper bond. But problems only escalate for Rachel, as Benji comes back into her life, bringing danger with him. She discovers his world at his ancestral home in the mysterious Lyndvia Castle on the Hudson River. But just as their romance is blossoming, Benji’s twin brother shows up with a message that just might mean the end for all of them. Rachel will have to decide just how much she wants to sacrifice to be with the love of her life. TAKEN is book #2 of the Vampire Legends series (following Book #1, SWORN), yet is also a stand alone novel. Books #3==#6 in the series are now also available.

Taken is the second book in The Vampire Legend by Emma Knight. Well, things haven’t gotten better from book one. Both books need some serious editing. I usually overlook editing, because I read a lot of ARCs, and I know it’s not finalized, but these books have been published for some time now. It’s hard to ignore. Rachel is still not likable. I still don’t know Benji well enough, and there is some major insta-love going on here. It’s not realistic. It feels unnatural.. almost like they’re under some kind of love potion kind of thing. I don’t know if I’m going to read the next one or not. On one hand, I want to know what happens. On the other hand, I'm not sure.

Emma Knight is author of the bestselling vampire series THE VAMPIRE LEGENDS, consisting of six books and counting: SWORN, TAKEN, BITTEN, CHOSEN, AWAKENED and RISEN.

To learn more about Emma Knight and her books, visit her website. You can also find her on Goodreads & BookBub.

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Book Review: Bride by Ali Hazelwood

Bride (Bride #1) by Ali Hazelwood
Genre: Adult Fiction (Paranormal Romance)
Date Published: February 6, 2024
Publisher:  Berkley

A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love, Theoretically and The Love Hypothesis.

Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again...

Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….

Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.

Bride by Ali Hazelwood was a really good read. I’ve never read anything by this author before, but I liked the cover and the premise, so I decided to give a try. I fell in love with Misery and Lowe. I loved watching them get to know each other and get over each other’s prejudices. This marriage is an important and fragile thing for both the Vampyres and the Weres, and not everyone wants it to be a success. These characters and their World were so well built. It could easily be made into a series. And while it’s nice to have  an excellent stand alone story to read with all the series' out there, this is one I really want more from!! 

I'm Ali, and I write contemporary romcom novels about women in STEM and academia. I love cats, Nutella, and side ponytails. I'm also currently learning to crochet, so as you can tell I'm a super busy gal with an intense and exciting life!

To learn more about Ali Hazelwood and her books, visit her website. You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, & Instagram. 

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Book Review: Sworn by Emma Knight

Sworn (The Vampire Legends #1) by Emma Knight
Genre: Young Adult Fiction (Paranormal Romance)
Date Published: September 7, 2011
Publisher: Self

When her dad is transferred, Rachel Wood is uprooted from her home in Pennsylvania and forced to enter a new high school, in 10th grade, in an affluent suburb in Westchester, New York. She finds herself in way over her head, as she struggles to come to grips with meeting new friends, finding a boyfriend, avoiding the cliques of mean girls, and figuring out how to survive in such a hostile new world. She has trouble navigating this new world, where drinking and drugs seem the norm, and where social pressures build on her from every direction. Everything seems to go wrong for Rachel, until salvation comes in the form of Rob, a football player who takes a liking to her. But just as there romance is about to blossom, she finds herself confused by his actions. As things reach a low point, Rachel meets a mysterious boy from her school, Benji, a loner who keeps apart from the other kids, and who takes her on a ride on his motorcycle. They have an unforgettable night together in an amusement park-until something goes horribly wrong, and Benji shocks her by saving her life. Rachel knows that Benji is different from everyone else, and she knows that he is the love of her life. And as their romance deepens, she has to decide if she is willing to give up everything to find out his secret...

Sworn is the first book in the Vampire Legends series by Emma Knight. I’m not sure about this series yet. I need the main character to be a bit more likable. She falls for one guy without knowing him. Then falls for another guy practically a blink later. There was no “get to know you” of any kind with either guy. She makes bad decisions all around. Her friends are pretty awful. And, the vampire aspect doesn’t show up until the very end. I’ll give it another chance by seeing if things get better in the next book. We shall see.

Emma Knight is author of the bestselling vampire series THE VAMPIRE LEGENDS, consisting of six books and counting: SWORN, TAKEN, BITTEN, CHOSEN, AWAKENED and RISEN.

To learn more about Emma Knight and her books, visit her website. You can also find her on Goodreads & BookBub.

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Book Review: House of Royals by Keary Taylor

House of Royals (House of Royals #1) Keary Taylor
Genre: Young Adult Fiction (Paranormal Romance)
Date Published: June 21, 2015
Publisher: Keary Taylor Book Inc

Every town has its history and skeletons, but Silent Bend, Mississippi’s are darker than most. Ruled from the shadows by the House—the immortal Born and their aging, enslaved Bitten—everyone knows not to go out after dark and that the police will never look into crimes involving blood.

Alivia Ryan didn’t know the man who claims to be her father through a will even existed until she inherits the Conrath plantation. Instead of the sleepy house she expects, she finds a mansion and a staff who look at her with fear in their eyes.

Ian Ward tried to kill Alivia the first time they met, and then insisted he train her to defend herself against the House, who he claims will try to manipulate and take her in for their own political reasons. And the growing attraction between them will threaten their lives—Ian is a sworn enemy of the House.

In Silent Bend, people disappear, the threat of a demented King and the legend of his resurrecting Queen hang over everyone’s heads, and proving loyalty means far more than blood. You’d better watch who you trust in this town…

House of Royals is the first book in the House of Royals series by Keary Taylor. Alivia gets the surprise of her life when a father she never knew leaves her everything. Ian is complicated, but i love him and his personality. He’s what she needs, and vice versa. This was a fun book to read. A lot happened in a small amount of time, and I really enjoyed learning it all with Alivia. She’s a tough cookie. This isn’t going to be easy for her, and I feel like it’s just getting started.

Keary Taylor is the USA TODAY bestselling author of over twenty novels. She grew up along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where she started creating imaginary worlds and daring characters who always fell in love. She now splits her time between a tiny island in the Pacific Northwest and Utah, with her husband and their two children. She continues to have an overactive imagination that frequently keeps her up at night.

To learn more about Keary Taylor and her books, visit her website. You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, BookBub, YouTube, Pinterest, and Twitter.

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Book Review: Cursed by Kat Cotton

Cursed (Belford Vampire Brothers #1) by  Kat Cotton
Genre: Young Adult Fiction (Paranormal Romance)
Date Published: March 24, 2021
Publisher: Self

Her first love is the most forbidden love of all.

Vampires are immortal but not Flynn Belford. A family curse puts a timer on his life with only one way out: find his soulmate.

Rebel Miller yearns to grow up, yearns to leave her small town, and yearns for her first kiss. One glimpse of Flynn is enough to ignite an unquenchable fire within her and, while Flynn denies that wild and rowdy Rebel could ever be his soulmate, he can't fight their undeniable chemistry.

Two seemingly opposites, and yet, they're bound together, with binds heavy with family secrets and a dangerous past.

Rebel's falling hard for Flynn but will she the one to break the curse?

Cursed is a slow burn young adult paranormal romance. Warning: cliffhanger ending!

Cursed is the first book in the Belford Vampire Brothers series by Kat Cotton. I liked the main characters. I didn’t really like any one else. But, the storyline kept my interest. Yes, it made me think of Twilight and Vampire Diaries at times, but I still found it enjoyable. I’ll probably read the second book.

I’m a digital nomad (well I was until 2020 happened), although I hate that term because it makes me sound like a wanky hipster. Which I’m not. Okay, I am a bit snobby about coffee and I sometimes wear twee vintage dresses but that doesn’t make me a hipster.

On my travels, I love visiting weird and macabre places. Mummified hands that remove curses, museums of infectious diseases, collections of taxidermized frogs riding Penny Farthings - hell yeah!

Oh, and that profile photo isn't me, it's my rapscallion Bishon Frise called Hamish. Both of us highly motivated by treats.

To learn more about Kat Cotton and her books, visit her website. You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, BookBub & YouTube.

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